Archives for November 2018

November
9, 2018

6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Small businesses are losing business and potentially harming their reputations because of SEO spam cyberattacks. These attacks are known as search engine poisoning (SEP) attacks. As the name implies, the desired outcome (i.e., action on objective) of this attack is to poison your website results on search engine result pages (SERP).

Related: Malware Hits Everyone From Small Businesses to Big Government. What Are You Doing About It?

To understand this attack, we have to step back to the basics with SEO. SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” It is the work that goes into your website to help you rank higher when customers search for your business online. Search engines like Google and Bing use special software that quickly reviews or “crawls” the content on websites and then serves up the most relevant sites for a particular query. When your site’s keywords are properly optimized, you’ll get more visitors, which ultimately means more potential customers and more income.

There are all sorts of tricks and tips to improve your SEO ranking — but that’s another article for another time. These SEP attacks materialize in what is known as SEO spam. It’s when an attacker injects your site with unwanted links and keywords. Hackers can insert links anywhere on your website, and depending on the tactics they employ, they can embed these links into the meta data or into your website’s content. Hackers use basic HTML anchor elements to link to other pages. Some of the more common locations might be header and footer files because they load with each request, or in specific widgets or menus. But, we see them sprinkled in titles and content in the body as well.

Perhaps the most pervasive of SEP attacks is the injection of pharmaceutical ads, but these days you can see injections for things like casinos, fashion and a wide range of other industries — including things like services to write your school papers. In all these instances, attackers find a way to inject spam keywords, often attributed to backlinks to their sites of choice.

Related: How to Protect Your Personal Brand’s Website From a Cyber Attack

For example, if a local Seattle marketing consultant’s website experienced SEO spam, it could soon stop showing up in relevant search queries, such as “Seattle marketing consultant” because search engines would instead pick up fraudulent or malicious keywords. In digital marketing, we call this “losing your ranking,” or being knocked further down in the search results for a truly relevant query. Ultimately, this form of cyber attack can cost small-business owners and entrepreneurs business because customers are no longer finding them online.

This type of attack is so effective and interesting to attackers because it’s often very difficult to detect (e.g., they are often injected in code that renders off screen) and built on an affiliate business that cares only about impressions, not conversions. What this means is that attackers make money based on the traffic (impressions) they generate for their customers. As long as they are generating traffic, they are happy. It’s such an effective attack that in a recent study we conducted of 60,000-plus infected sites, we found over 73 percent of the infected sites were affected with this malware type.

Negative impact of SEO spam

SEO spam can also hurt a business’s reputation and mislead potential customers about the content of the site. This is because negative and incorrect keywords could direct straight to the business’s website, giving off an unprofessional or even fraudulent appearance. For example, a high-end salon could have the incorrect keywords “cheap sunglasses” associated with its website. If this happens, visitors may think the site is a scam, or misinterpret what the business actually is. One of the ways that Google will punish your site is flagging it as potentially compromised:

Related: 7 Surprising Places Hackers Hide

Here are a few tips that should help small business stay ahead of SEO Spam threats:

1. Register with Google’s webmaster tools. It’s easy, and it’s free. Google is one of the largest search engines and its software is constantly crawling the web. If you register with their tools, it will alert you when it finds an issue — a full 48 hours before it flags it to the public or begins changing how your site shows up in search results. This is a great preventative step that costs nothing to enact.

2. Proactively protect your website. Websites are under attack on a daily basis, whether you deploy something on the server, application or in the cloud; you must deploy some form of a protective solution. My recommendation is to go with a cloud-based firewall, as the name implies it is a wall that helps keep attackers at bay. It actively adapts to attacks and helps keep your site spam free.

3. Deploy a monitoring service. These types of services monitor your website proactively and identify red flags or warning signs, which you would never see or recognize on your own, including monitoring for SEO spam. This is complementary to Google’s webmaster tools. Partnering with a security provider helps provide peace of mind to small-business owners knowing they have a team with expertise to help them in case anything should go wrong.

4. Monitor keywords: This is a great way to get cross-functional teams involved: Have your marketing teams actively monitor your traffic and keyword performance. They are often on the front lines and should be able to notice suspicious behavior like a spike in keywords in industries you don’t participate.

Security is very nuanced and constantly evolving. The online threats and issues we were dealing with just a year ago are different today. While this form of cyber attack isn’t discussed as much as phishing or malware attacks, it’s absolutely something all website owners should be aware of. Consider following the simple steps above to ensure no SEO spam is living on your website. Also, remember the value of good SEO optimization to keep new relevant visitors coming to your site.

November
7, 2018

5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently issued a stern warning: End humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels within a decade or become directly responsible for not halting irreversible climate change.

Related: #5 Ways Through Which Biotech Entrepreneurs are Going to Enhance Human Lives

Clearly we have to pay attention to climate change. And, here, one of the biggest areas we can change is the power sector; that’s because, currently, 33 percent of the world’s power comes from oil, while coal is responsible for 28 percent, and natural gas, 24 percent. Cutting out fossil fuels and switching to cleaner, renewable sources of energy could do a lot to impact climate change, but we may need to rethink some parts of our power grid.

Power grids in industrialized countries were developed to convey a steady stream of electricity to as many people as possible and provide that steady stream of energy in the most reliable way possible. While that was certainly a noble cause, the architects of this system failed to take into account that such ease of use would result in ever-increasing demand for power, which would in turn result in tons of carbon dioxide being dumped into our atmosphere every year.

In the United States alone, 35 percent of CO2 emissions comes from power generation.

Now we know better, but doing better isn’t looking as easy. Today, decades after scientists first sounded the alarm bells about climate change, alternatives to coal and oil are still costly and have poor adoption rates. Worldwide, only 3 percent of our power comes from renewable sources, 7 percent from hydroelectricity, and a measly 0.2 percent from solar.

Solar adoption is on the rise, but it can be cost prohibitive for many people. Just a few solar panels can power an entire home or office, and 1 gigawatt of solar power generation can prevent 690 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. But even a standard system for a small house can cost an average of $13,188, while a system for a large house can be more than $20,000.

And even at those prices, there are complications and regulatory hurdles that can make the cost savings negligible, further discouraging adoption.

What Europe is doing to further blockchain’s positive impact on the environment

Already in Europe, there are multiple villages in the Netherlands where blockchain technology is being used to generate, share and store renewable energy among the homes, each of which has different combinations of energy production technology. Residents have solar panels, heat pumps and more and are governed independently of the main power grid.

So far, these power co-ops are able to produce about 90 percent of the power residents need, drastically reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.

In Europe, too, Eurelectric, the trade association of electric distribution operators for the continent, has been monitoring blockchain’s progress in modernizing the power grid and recently released a report about its findings. The report concluded that asset ownership of the power grid would remain an important task, and blockchain technology would be unlikely to change that aspect of the electric companies’ business model.

What blockchain could do

Blockchain could, however, impact the generation side of power distribution.

In fact, in 2017, a pilot program was launched using IBM’s blockchain framework to stabilize the power grid in Europe, a first step in incorporating renewable and clean energy solutions into the power grid. One of the main problems with implementing new sources of power generation is that they can be unpredictable in the volume of power they will output in a given day.

That means that on a cloudy day, a power grid would have to be able to shift from solar to an alternate source or battery backup. This is where blockchain smart grids come in handy on “dumb” existing power distribution networks — the smart grid can tell when there is a shortfall in one part and switch sources without the need for constant human intervention.

Related: 5 Industries Likely to Be Disrupted by Blockchain

In undeveloped areas of the world, blockchain smart power grids can be used to solve the “last mile” problem in universal power adoption, by pulling power from multiple nearby sources. It can also give people the power to choose where their energy is coming from. Users on smart power distribution grids can choose how much of their power to gain from renewable sources based on market availability, cost, reliability and other factors.

This is an alternative to just relying on power distribution operators to sell them whatever those operators are generating. Smart grids can also help people make the most efficient use of their resources by forecasting energy needs and storage use.

Want to learn more about the potential of blockchain smart power grid technology to move your business forward? Check out this infographic from Lition:

November
6, 2018

5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Instagram isn’t just for sharing selfies, brunch photos and cute pics of your cats. This popular social media platform can actually drive sales for your business. In fact, according to a study of 2,000 Instagram users by Dana Rebecca Designs, 74 percent of millennials surveyed, 63 percent of Gen Xers and 54 percent of baby boomers said they had made a purchase based on Instagram.

Related: 6 Ways to Convert Your Instagram Audience into Customers

Still, if you have an ecommerce business, you can’t just slap a photo up on Instagram and expect to make a bunch of money. So, how can you improve your posts and convince users to buy your product? Here are a few simple tips to help you become a selling-sensation on Instagram.

Create a business account.

If you haven’t switched your regular Instagram account into a business account, you’re missing out on a ton of features that will boost your conversions. Not only are you able to measure your results and learn more about your followers and what types of posts they like but you also get features that are designed for selling. For instance, business accounts have the ability to add a link to their Instagram Stories so that users can “swipe up” to buy.

Standard Wines uses the “swipe up” Story feature to lead its followers to its website to shop.

Image Credit: Sprout Social 

Some 15 percent to 25 percent of Story viewers,, according to the Brandwatch blog, swipe up to follow a link and engage directly with a brand’s website. That’s a ton of potential new customers you can attract using this convenient and engaging feature. Don’t forget, though, that not everyone is aware of the feature, so occasionally include a call-to-action telling people to swipe up to buy.

Related: 10 Instagram Tools to Help You Build Your Following in 2018

Add a link in your bio.

Not only does your post need a stunning image, but it also needs a caption that will speak to your audience members and a call to action to lead them to take your desired action. If you want to increase conversions on Instagram, tell people where to go and what to do next — don’t leave it up to them to guess.

Instagram doesn’t allow you to place links in your posts (only in your stories if you have a business account), but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a call to action. Add a link to your website in your Instagram bio and remind people in your posts to check out your website by clicking on the link in your bio.

Use Instagram Live.

Instagram Live is a great strategy to use if you want to boost your sales. Instead of just posting a photo of your product on Instagram, you can use Instagram Live to show off your product in action.

Sephora uses Instagram Live to show off what it sells. It does live demonstrations of the product so that make-up fans can see exactly what they’re getting before they buy, which helps ease the mind and makes it easier for them to click that “Add to Cart” button.

Image Credit: Later.com guide to Instagram marketing 

Instagram Live is also a great way to connect with your followers and customers. Users can comment and ask questions in real-time, which helps them build a trusting relationship with your brand. The more users feel connected to you, the more likely they’ll be to become a customer.

Run Instagram retargeting campaigns.

Many businesses are missing out on the opportunity to convert users who previously visited their site and expressed interest but left without buying. Usually, those potential customers would be lost forever, but with Instagram retargeting, you can “follow” those users who abandoned you and show them targeted ads on Instagram to convince them to return.

Not only does Instagram retargeting keep your brand top of mind, but it allows you to show highly-specific ads to users at the perfect time. For instance, if a visitor is browsing the shoe section of your website, but leaves without buying, retargeting can follow that user to Instagram and show him or her an ad for your shoes. Instead of users abandoning your site, or their carts, for good, they’ll be reminded to return to you and place an order.

Share user-generated content.

Connecting with Instagram influencers is an awesome way to show social proof and increase conversions. But, if you want a completely free social proof strategy to drive sales that’s just as effective, share user-generated content.

Secret Wood, a handmade jewelry company, regularly reposts photos from happy customers showing off their beautiful new piece.

Image Credit: Secret.Wood Instagram page 

When you share photos from your satisfied customers, other users on Instagram who were previously curious, or perhaps hesitant, will be more willing to buy from you after seeing how others are using and enjoying your product. Bonus: Your customers will love that you featured them on your Instagram; just be sure to give them appropriate credit.

Related: 7 Easy Ways to Win More Conversions on Social Media

Over to you

Now that you know how to rock Instagram with posts that convert, this social media platform will be your new favorite place to win sales. Don’t wait any longer; start using Instagram now and watch users and followers transform into loyal and frequent customers.

November
5, 2018

4 min read

Credit Charlie Moyer’s father for sparking his interest in all things beard-related. “I was really just curious if I would look like my dad, because I had never known him without a beard,” says the military veteran and founder of Badass Beard Care, maker of all-natural beard grooming products. “I’d wanted to grow my beard out since I was able to grow facial hair.”

Moyer’s dreams of growing what he calls “god-like facial hair” were put on hold when 9/11 happened, and he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. “I grew my beard out whenever I could,” he tells Entrepreneur, “while underway on our ship, or on leave. But the longest I was ever able to do it was about two weeks.”

Related: The Most Successful Companies Led by Entrepreneurs 

After being medically discharged in 2014 due to injuries sustained while serving, Charlie was finally able to start on his personal beard journey. He quickly realized, however, the products out there weren’t quite good enough, and he began making his own oils and balms. Today, Badass Beard Care offers premium beard oils, balms, waxes and washes in 13 scents, deodorant, tools and more.

Image credit: Badass Beard Care

How did Moyer go from experimenting at home to forming a business that grossed $1.5 million in the first year and is projected to gross $3.5 million in year four? Thank the time he spent in the Coast Guard. As we celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week from November 5 to 9, learn how Moyer’s military experience helped define his entrepreneurial journey.

1. He listened to his commanding officer.

“My wife was not keen on the idea of me growing my beard out, so she insisted that I get some kind of product to make it softer and look well groomed. I couldn’t find anything in the stores, and online products had hit-or-miss reviews, so I decided to make my own.”

2. He shared his product with fellow vets.

“That’s really how this turned into a business, sharing samples at the local veteran’s center. A little product goes a very long way, so I was happy to share. Soon after, they started asking to purchase some for friends and family, and even their roommates who tried the samples started asking to make purchases. I eventually put the products online so that I could just mail the products, which made it easier.”

Related: How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money

3. He knew how to adapt.

“The ability to adapt and overcome is something that I attribute to my military service, and that has been a big help with learning everything there is to know about running a business. I think it also helped me to gain a sense of self-accountability, which is extremely important in the success of a small business.”

4. He utilized federal programs.

“A lack of experience in retail, business or entrepreneurship can be a hinderance. However, there are several local and federal programs designed to help vets transition into the civilian workforce, and even to start a business. There are also reduced or waived fees in some cases that can help get the business off the ground.”

Related: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader

5. He understood the two keys to success. 

“A good product and great customer service. Businesses grow with word of mouth more than anything else, and reviews can make or break you. Customer service is the key to making people want to talk about and share your product or service. It shows in reviews and repeat purchases. And remember, a well-groomed beard invites confidence, and people see that confidence. Any beard can be badass; all you really need is to believe it yourself.”