Posting on social media can be complicated and time consuming. But it doesn’t have to be.

Since many businesses want to post similar content on a recurring basis, automated tools can help. RecurPost is one such tool.

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Small Business Spotlight: RecurPost

Read about the company and its solution in this week’s Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Provides a social media marketing tool.

Founder Dinesh Agarwal told Small Business Trends, “Small businesses easily get overwhelmed with social media management and hence cannot keep a consistent presence on social media. However, with RecurPost, we help them concentrate on their business and leave the grunt work of managing their social accounts to us.”

Business Niche

Makes it easy to post recurring content.

Agarwal says, “We allow our users to create content libraries, such as a collection of blog posts or videos, marketing material and other people’s content etc. They can then create a schedule for the entire library. When they want to put new content into circulation, it can be added to the libraries without affecting the existing schedule.”

How the Business Got Started

As a more complicated version.

Agarwal explains, “We first created a very sophisticated social media marketing platform. It was so complicated that we managed to overwhelm 100% of our users. It is no surprise that we had to shut it down soon after. However, we knew we were on to something as we were able to get people excited about it. That is when we decided to launch an easy to use version. That is how RecurPost was born.”

Biggest Win

Gaining early traction by word of mouth.

Agarwal adds, “We once demonstrated our product to the members of a Facebook group. They all loved it and shared it in other groups that they frequented. That word of mouth marketing helped us gain a lot of new users quickly.”

Biggest Risk

Saying no to a major deal.

Agarwal explains, “App Sumo offered us a deal recently. They wanted us to provide a lifetime deal to their audience. They claim to have a list of a million people who love good deals. I thought about it and decided to say no to them. Some people had a good experience with them, but some of the founders had to shut their services down after going on App Sumo.

“If we were exposed to 1 Million people, that could have established as a leader in our space in no time. However, if we got bad reviews that would mean death to our business. I took that risk to play safe and decided to grow organically. It is working well for us.”

Lesson Learned

Don’t rely on third party APIs.

Agarwal explains, “We are always playing catch-up with changes to their platform. We need dedicated resources to manage those connections.”

How They’d Spend an Extra $100,000

Marketing.

Agarwal says, “I have realized that technical founders like myself need to learn a lot about marketing and then hire an excellent team to do the actual job. Growing a SaaS business requires more than a working product that your users love. It requires you to continually expose your product to potential customers who are in the market.”

Favorite Quote

“A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame.” – Rabindranath Tagore.

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Image: RecurPost, Dinesh Agarwal

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Plants can bring color, texture, and life to an office. But many busy professionals don’t have the time or energy to take care of them. That’s where a fake plant can really come in handy. There are tons of different varieties, styles, and sizes you can get what will work in nearly any office or home office setting.

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Best Faux Plants

If you’re thinking about adding fake plants to your office, here are some of the best artificial options to consider.

1. Velener Mini Potted Plastic Fake Green Plant

This green plastic plant is perfect for placing on a desk. It’s 7 inches in diameter and comes with a gray paper pulp pot that offers a classic look.

2. Variety Set of Fake Succulent Plants

This product comes in sets of three, five, or six. They have realistic details and texture to add some greenery to any desk. The pots are 2.5 inches in diameter and look like cement.

3. BESAMENATURE 30 Inch Little Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Those looking for a slightly larger plant may opt for this faux fiddle leaf fig. This type of tree is very trendy at the moment. It measures 30 inches tall and comes in a modern white planter with wooden supports.

4. Veryhome Fake Succulent Plants Artificial Faux Succulents

These fake succulents come in a set of four. Each one is small, measuring about 3 inches in diameter. They can add a bit of color to your desk. Or you could even arrange them all in one pot or terrarium.

5. Artificial Plant Fake Plant Wall Lawn

If you want to make a real statement with fake plants, this one takes up an entire wall. It could be perfect for those who want to add extra privacy. Measuring 40 by 60 centimeters, it includes various colors and textures.

6. CEWOR 2pcs Artificial Hanging Plants

If you want plants to hang around your office, consider this two-piece set. They look like ivy and are made of fabric. Each one also has an iron wire hanger that can attach to your wall or ceiling.

7. Pampas Grass (3 stems)

Pampas grass is a trendy and low maintenance option for those who want to add the look of plants to an office. This product includes three stems that are about 3.5 feet long and a cream color.

8. Nearly Natural 6585 Dracaena Decorative Silk Plant

This silk plant is made to look like a dracaena. The silk even makes it feel real to the touch. The pot can rest on the floor. Or you could even place it in a decorative basket or planter.

9. Plants+ Artificial Fake Faux Indoor House Desk Office for Decoration

This set of three fake plants comes in a topiary style. They are in 5-inch white pots. But each plant comes in a different color to bring some variety into the office.

10. Fopamtri Artificial Monstera Deliciosa Plant 43″ Fake Tropical Palm Tree

Those who like a tropical style in their office may like this monstera. It’s 43 inches tall with a plain black pot. So it can easily go on the floor and make a statement near your desk.

11. MyGift Artificial String of Pearls Plants in White Ceramic Wall-Hanging Planters

This set of two string of pearl hanging planters mount directly to the wall. They come in white ceramic planters that suit a modern or eclectic style. And each one is about 4 inches wide.

12. Nearly Natural, Green 4855 35in. Sansevieria with Black Planter

This sansevieria plant measures 7 inches wide and comes in a plain black planter. It’s 35 inches tall. So it can make a statement on your desk or be placed on a small platform on the floor.

13. MyGift Set of 3 Artificial Plants, Faux Tabletop Greenery w/Clear Glass Pots

This set of three fake plants comes in clear glass containers for a sophisticated look. Each one is made of plastic and the pots measure about 6 inches square.

14. Artificial Palm Tree Paradise Palm

This paradise palm tree rests on the floor and adds a tropical vibe to an office. This one measures 24 inches tall and it comes in a basket planter for some natural texture.

15. Artificial Hanging Plant 180 Leaves

This hanging plant includes just a bundle of leaves so you can customize it with the planter of your choice. There are various styles available, like pothos, English ivy, and watermelon leaves.

16. Kurrajong Farmhouse 7.5″ x 4.5″ Artificial Plant in Concrete Cement Pot

This succulent serves as a small desk accent at 4.5 inches in diameter. The planter is the real statement. It’s made of gray and white concrete and has an artistic pattern.

17. LIVILAN Artificial Lavender Flowers Bundle

If you want to add some color to your office space, consider this faux bundle of lavender. It’s made of silk and comes in three different colors: pink, purple, and light green. The set has twelve pieces that measure about 15 inches long.

18. Silk Hydrangea Bouquet – Choose Your Color

If you want some colorful flowers in your office, consider this silk hydrangea bouquet. It comes in several colors including blue, purple, yellow, orange, and white. You can place them in the vase or planter of your choice.

19. Faux Eucalyptus Plants in Rustic Rectangular Wood Planter Box Artificial Eucalyptus Greenery Arrangement

For a rustic look, this faux eucalyptus comes in a wooden planter box perfect for a desktop or windowsill. It measures just over 8 inches across and comes in a dusty green color.

20. Tiny Dish Garden-Artificial Succulents

This set of fake succulents includes a few different plants. It includes blue, purple, and green shades and a variety of textures to complement any desktop.

21. Hampton Squares Artificial Plants Set of 3

This set of three faux plants can either be set on your desk or hung on a wall. It comes with a wooden base that can attach to a rope for hanging. The plants are made to mimic the look of eucalyptus and rosemary.

22. Vickerman 4-Feet Artificial Natural Ficus Bush with Dark Green Leaves in Decorative Rattan Basket

This ficus bush is made of silk and plastic to make it look like a real tree. It is four feet tall. So you’ll probably place it on the floor around your desk. And it comes in a rattan basket for a natural look.

23. VOSTOR Mini Potted Fake Plants 3 Pcs, Rose Gold Office Decor for Desk

This set of three fake succulents comes in rose gold pots. They’re perfect for feminine decor or special gifts. You can set them on a desk and even display special messages.

24. Bonsai Plastic Simulation Tree Desktop Ornaments Pot Decorative Fake Flowers

To bring some color and texture to your office or home, consider these plastic bonsai trees. They come in various colors and plain white pots so they really pop.

25. Homemaxs Fake Plants Mini Artificial Plants Potted 4 Pack Topiary Shrubs

These topiary shrubs come in a set of four. With green, white, pink, and purple, they allow you to add plenty of color and texture to your desk. And the fake planters are rounded imitation stone.

26. HOMESEASONS LED Lighted Artificial Phalaenopsis Orchid Arrangement with 9 Lights

This faux orchid is perfect for those who want flowers at their desk. It includes a white flower with nine LED lights. It’s 21 inches tall and has a simple on/off switch.

27. Air plant Orbs, Faux Tillandsia

If you like the look of air plants but don’t want to take care of them, these fake versions look pretty real. You need your own containers. But they can sit on your desk or windowsill whether in your home or office.

28. ELYSIANZE Mini Artificial Plant in White Ceramic Pot

This potted topiary is made of plastic and comes in a wide array of colors, including green, white, yellow, pink, and purple. The pot is rounded and made of white ceramic.

29. MONMOB Giraffe Potted Plant Artificial Plants

This fake plant imitates a succulent and comes in a ceramic planter shaped like a giraffe. It measures 8 centimeters across and is perfect for those who want a cute conversation piece.

30. VINGLI 6Ft Fake Westeria Flower Tree

This tree imitates a westeria flower, including both green and purple leaves. It is 6 feet tall to make a major statement in any office.

Are fake plants tacky?

Fake plants can be tacky, but if you get the best one with the highest quality, they can look just like their real-life counterparts, and last for much longer. Here are some tips on buying ones that will brighten your office or home every day:

• Choose the right materials: Plastic is best for plants with a waxy finish, like aloe and succulents. Silk may be better for those with larger textured leaves.
• Choose a real looking base: A planter that looks empty or is full of fake plastic is a dead giveaway. Fill it with rocks or dirt to get a more realistic look.
• Prioritize close plants: If you’re going to get just a few fake plants, prioritize those on your desk or in places where clients may see them up close. Floor plants or those that hang on a back wall can be a bit cheaper and not look real.

Where is the best place to buy fake plants?

The best place to buy fake plants depends on what you’re looking for. Here are some spots to check out:

• Amazon – Amazon has a huge variety of options, from large trees to small succulents. They tend to have fairly affordable products with simple planters.
• Etsy – Etsy offers faux plants in a creative way. Their selection is full of flower stems and succulents that can look real.
• Target – Target specializes in trendy looking plants, including things like fiddle leaf figs and aloe plants. Their planters tend to be modern and decorative.
• Pottery Barn – Pottery Barn specializes in minimalist plant styles, from fake grass to trees.
• Wayfair – Wayfair offers a huge variety. This is one of the best places for deals on larger plants for the home or office.

How do I clean fake plants?

Like real plants, fake plants can gather dust. When it’s time to clean them, use a microfiber duster or a damp cloth. Go over each of the leaves to remove dust.

Image: Depositphotos.com

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Many Americans remain hesitant about dining in during COVID-19 and are turning to takeout, even as lockdown restrictions ease and restaurants welcome customers back, said a recent report. The good news for small businesses is that most are ordering from local restaurants instead of large chains.

Bid-on Equipment, an online marketplace for industrial equipment, surveyed 2,000 Americans about their experiences with takeout restaurant orders during COVID-19.

Bid On Equipment Local Restaurant Survey

A report based on the survey and extensive analysis on Google for words like “takeout” and “takeout near me,” revealed that only one in three people has dined inside since restaurants reopened. Nearly half (43%) feel unsafe dining inside, and 65% are spending more than ever on takeout.

Significant to the small business community, 59% of the survey respondents said they prefer ordering from local area restaurants over national name brands.

“Whether they’re dining inside, outside or ordering takeout, the majority of respondents say they’re making an effort to support local businesses over large chain restaurants,” the report said. “Along with making purchases, customers say they’re also tipping more, leaving positive online reviews, donating and placing larger orders.”

Of the 77% of survey respondents who said they left a tip on takeout orders, Millennials and Gen X were most generous, leaving an average of 15%.

The 65% who said they have been ordering more takeout since the pandemic reported spending an average of $67 per week and ordering 2.4 times per week. Millennials were the highest spenders, at $70 per week.

It isn’t just food that people are ordering from local restaurants — to-go alcohol orders rose dramatically as well, thanks to many states and cities relaxing restrictions on consumption.

About one-third of respondents said they have ordered alcohol to-go, and a majority (57%) would like to see alcohol to-go as a permanent option post-pandemic.

Take a look at the full report to see other findings.

And check out this infographic Bid On Equipment created to visualize the results of its survey:

READ MORE:

Images: Bid-on Equipment

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Have you got an idea about creating a website in the ongoing pandemic? If yes, then you are not alone, my friend.

According to the latest survey from WebsiteToolTester, 40% of those surveyed have considered creating a website for a business or hobby since the pandemic started.

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Pandemic Website Creation Survey

Due to the ongoing pandemic, most small business owners have by order or voluntarily allowed their employees to work from home. Not only businesses, but the pandemic has also driven most facets of our life online.

So there is no surprise 40% of people wanted to create a website for a hobby/business amid the COVID-19 crisis.

However, thinking about creating a website is one thing, and doing it is another. 64% of respondents have said that they wouldn’t be confident to create a website on their own, as the survey finds.

The survey also discovered that 53% of males and 60% of females have stated that not knowing to create/design a website is their biggest hurdle.

Lack of expertise to find the right website tools, not having the time, and the lack of funds are other challenges.

Not many of us are skilled enough to build a website on our own. With a little search on the web, you can find tons of resources and tips to build your first website.

Needless to say, one can build a website within any budget parameters. Nearly 55% of respondents have said they want to spend $100 or less to build a website. And 22% of respondents have stated that they would like to create a website for free.

What is your budget for your website? 66% of small business owners spend less than $10k to build their websites.

Yes, you can build a website for free with a free website builder. But you shouldn’t go for a free website if you want a fully-functional website for your business or hobby.

Robert Brandl, the founder of WebsiteToolTester, writes, “It’s important not to be blinded by the word “free.” If you can afford it, stay away from free plans for your business site, even if it’s a small business. Free plans come with certain restrictions that can give your business website an unprofessional look, such as strange domain names and an obtrusive advert.”

Choosing a Website Builder

Be it a creating hobby website or a business website, you expect a seamless website building experience. And picking the right website builder plays an essential role in your overall website building experience.

Here are the top features respondents would like their website builders to have:

• Affordability of tools
• Template options
• SEO capabilities
• Ease of use
• Customer support
• Reputation and reviews

42% of respondents have voted ‘ease of use’ as their top priority when selecting a website builder.

Why Starting a Website Is a Good Idea

Unless you’re someone who doesn’t want to grow, it is always good to have a website.

Around 36% of small businesses have a website. So having a website will immediately provide you with an edge over many of your competitors.

The following are some reasons why you must have a website for your small business:

• Your customers want you to have a website (most customers now search online before making any purchase)
• A website will offer your business the much needed social proof
• You stay 24/7 open with a fully-functional website (Your website can generate leads even when you’re sleeping)
• Your business will start showing in Google search results

Even if you don’t have any business idea to implement, you can create a website for your hobby and find ways to monetize it.

About the Survey

WebsiteToolTester surveyed 1000 people from the US to know what they think about creating a website. All the participants were aged 18+.

Image: Websitetooltester.com
More in: Statistics

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FreshLime presents its annual LimeAid conference this coming Friday, Sept. 18 and it’s a chance to network with fellow small business owners and learn from some of the top small business experts in the US today.

Attendees to this FREE one-day virtual conference deals with running a business during the coronavirus pandemic and situating your company for future success. Topics to be discussed include connecting with customers, improving your work culture and positive leadership.

One of featured speakers at LimeAid 2020 is Small Business Trends publisher Anita Campbell. She’ll dispel the myth that small business websites are a dying trend and how they can actually help you stay better connected with your customers.

Other featured speakers include:

• Jay Bean, CEO of FreshLime
• Brian Cammack, VP of Human Resources at Marriott International
• Brigham Dickinson, President of Power Selling Pros
• Larry Furr, Chief Product Officer at Canopy

Be sure to register for this exciting event by hitting the button below. And don’t forget to check out all the other exciting small business events in our calendar listing below. Many of them you can attend for free from the comfort of your desk chair.

Register Now

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Featured Events, Contests and Awards

Educational Webinar: Converting Visitors to Leads
September 16, 2020, Online

Learn best practices for optimizing webforms and CTAs in order to maximize the number of visitor conversions on their site.

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Free Webinar | New Rules of Marketing: Creating Stand-Out Content
September 17, 2020, Online

Join us for a panel discussion with digital marketing leaders from LinkedIn, Chobani, La Colombe, and Unbounce on their content strategies, the ideal content mix, and their top tips for finding, growing, and engaging digital audiences. #BrainStation

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LimeAid Virtual Conference 2020
September 18, 2020, Online

LimeAid 2020 is a FREE one-day virtual event during which small businesses will learn the most effective and efficient ways to connect with their customers, improve work culture, implement positive leadership and grow their business during this “new normal” Coronavirus era. In addition, this event will provide networking opportunities where attendees can interact, ask questions, and give feedback.

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Getting Started with Zoho One
September 23, 2020, Online

In this presentation, we will walk through an overview of Zoho One using real case studies from Zoho customers to demonstrate different ways Zoho One can support your business.

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Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Communities in the Zoho Ecosystem
September 29, 2020, Online, Facebook – Small Business Trends

How familiar are you with the Zoho ecosystem and the opportunities it opens? Join us on Facebook at Small Business Trends as host Brent Leary speaks with Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu along with Zoho Chief Evangelist Raju Vegesna and Anita Campbell, CEO of Small Business Trends to learn what the Zoho ecosystem is, and how it’s much more than using software and apps. Learn about the many opportunities for businesses to create revenue streams, create jobs and improve their communities. And learn how to leverage the opportunities Zoho has to offer.

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Small Business Expo 2020 – PHILADELPHIA
October 28, 2020, Philadelphia, PA

Small Business Expo is a FREE one-day event to attend for small businesses to network, attend great business-growth workshops, build new business relationships, exchange ideas, shop from new vendors and learn from leading industry experts. If you are serious about starting or growing your business, Small Business Expo is a “must attend” event. Small Business Expo is the #1 Business to Business Networking Event for business owners, entrepreneurs, start-ups, decision-makers or anyone who works for a small business or is interested in starting a Small Business.

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LinkUpConferenceShow
November 12, 2020, Online

LinkUpConferenceShow (LUCS) is a digital networking conference that merges the incredibly dynamic worlds of tech and comedy to provide informative and personalized networking opportunities designed to help executives, entrepreneurs, business leaders and tech professionals grow and scale their businesses. LUCS is the tech conference that combines Silicon Valley insights with New York’s nonstop energy to bring the technology community a totally new virtual experience designed to inspire, engage and entertain.

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More Events

• DigiMarCon Asia Pacific 2020 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference
  September 15, 2020, Online
• Effectively Handle Toxic People for Better Productivity and Less Drama in 2020
  September 15, 2020, Online
• Free webinar about the ‘buy local’ movement and how busineses can make it work
  September 15, 2020, Online
• Creating a Virtual Interdependent Team: The Challenges and Importance of Teamwork in the New Normal
  September 15, 2020, Online
• Income Tax 101 for Real Estate Professionals
  September 17, 2020, Online
• Indegene Digital Summit Virtual 2020 | Sep 25, Oct 2, Oct 16
  September 25, 2020, Online
• The Marketing Analytics for Brand Survival Virtual Summit
  September 30, 2020, Online
• How to Choose the Right Entity Structure for Your Real Estate Business
  September 30, 2020, Online
• Small Business Expo 2020 – PHOENIX
  October 1, 2020, Phoenix, AZ
• Transform USA 2020
  October 1, 2020, Online
• VEGPRENEUR Summit
  October 3, 2020, Online
• AI Champions, Online – Supply Chain
  October 6, 2020, Online
• The WFH Virtual Conference | Remote Work Event
  October 8, 2020, Online
• World-Famous HR Technology Event, Oct. 2020
  October 13, 2020, Las Vegas, NV
• Creative Operations San Francisco 2020
  October 14, 2020, San Francisco, CA
• Building Business Capability Virtual 2020
  October 19, 2020, Online
• Experiential Marketing Summit 2020
  October 19, 2020, Online
• Miami’s Largest MBA Event! QS MBA Tour
  October 20, 2020, Online
• Small Business Expo 2020 – CHICAGO
  October 20, 2020, Chicago, United States
• Healthy Minds Innovations to Host Virtual Healthy Minds@Work MasterClass on Mental Health and Stress Reduction
  October 20, 2020, Online

More Contests

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends.

You can see a full list of events, contest and award listings or post your own events by visiting the Small Business Events Calendar.

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A website reflects the personality of the company in the virtual world. Your website helps to promote and sell your products and services. Besides this, it helps in distinguishing your business from the competition. In fact, it is your business’ most important asset for sharing information, building credibility, and standing out from the competition.

In an age where the speed of responsiveness is key, you cannot afford to have customers not learn everything about your company and shop with you. That is why in addition to promoting your company, your website should also be a great vehicle for lasting relationships with customers.

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The 55 Most Important Features of a Website

A new infographic from My Web Programmer looks at 55 features your small business website must have to make all this possible.

1. Domains

Your domain name will help improve your brand and make you look more professional. It can also improve search engine rankings, generate traffic and it is a virtual asset, which tends to increase in value over time.

Depending on how unique the name of your company is, you might not get the domain name that matches your company’s name. If you fail to find a domain name that matches your company’s name available a little creativity might be required to select a name that comes close to it. Make sure your domain name is easy to remember and is not too long.

2. Logo

Your logo helps your company get distinguished much easier than words. As such, incorporating your logo on your website helps visitors easily know they are at the right place while browsing.

3. Tagline

A tagline is a short phrase that states a company’s overall purpose and objective. It helps highlight a company’s brand to the public. Great taglines are memorable and easily recalled.

4. Phone number

Include your phone numbers and other contacts with an option link to click and call.

5. Call to Action

A Call to Action (CTA) is an important part of your website if its objective is to direct visitors to execute a task. This may be to fill out a contact form, sign up for your newsletter, or read a blog post. it can also help visitors go through the buying journey and positively affect your conversion rates. Your call to action should be easily recognizable on your website and accompanied by an action button.

6. Top Navigation

Your site’s top navigation plays an important role in the design of your website as it sets the tone for other aspects of your webpage. It is the first thing on the page that visitors will see in the first seconds of loading. It is essentially your showroom to your website as it provides basic information about the site.  Visitors can easily understand what the site offers in seconds and has action buttons to help visitors reach where they need to get to.

7. Breadcrumb Navigation

Breadcrumbs are essentially navigational aids that not only tell visitors where they are on the site, but they also help Google figure out how your site is structured. Google may also use breadcrumbs in actual search results, making your results reach the top of its search queries. Because they help in letting visitors know where they are and how to navigate to where they want to go. They also help prevent bounce rates.

Above the Fold

8. Image or Slider

The above the fold is the portion of the website that is visible in a browser window when the page first loads- much like the top half of a folded newspaper. This is where visitors will focus much of their concentration on your site. By some estimates, 84% of website views are concentrated on above the fold.

As such it is important that you have the most engaging content of your business goals, be it graphics or other content, on above the fold. The image or slider displays your unique offering and what differentiates your businesses from others or your main headline.

9. Reviews and Testimonials 

The top of your website is the most important real estate on your website. It is there where people decide to stay longer and continue browsing the site. You can also use the above the fold to capture the attention of visitors and browse. A good way to keep them on your site is to show reviews and testimonials.

10. Important Business Information

It is important that you are not ambiguous about your offering. From the get-go, you should include all relevant information that customers will need to know about your business. This includes what line of business you are engaged in, your location, product portfolio, and other important business information.

Below the Fold

11. Quality Content

Your website is part of your overall marketing collateral. Like any marketing product you will need to get visitors’ attention, stay longer on the website and if possible, move into action. For you to achieve this you will need to provide quality content. This can be typography, text, graphics, video, and anything that can capture the imagination of your visitors.

12. Main Feature

Besides the objective of reaching out to the public your website is a vehicle for selling. Your main feature should include further details on the offering.

13. Internal links

Your website is a collection of many different pages. For your visitors to really get all the information they need about your company they must browse further than the landing page. This is where internal links come to play. Internal links help to divert your visitors to the inner pages and other content on your website.

Footer

14. Navigation

the footer is located at the bottom of your site pages. It usually includes important information such as a copyright notice, links to relevant resources such as your about us, blogs, news, and other pages. They also help visitors easily navigate to your privacy policy page, your FAQs page, and other sections of your site.

15. Social Media Button

The key to any marketing effort in today’s digital commerce is to engage customers on as many touchpoints as possible. Your online engagement should not be limited to your website alone. You should have them engage with you on social media as well. A social media button will connect your visitors directly with others on all your channels.

16. Online Chat

Expediency is key to any business endeavor, customers rarely like to wait. While browsing your website they might have some questions that require clarification. By including an online chat feature you can provide the opportunity to start conversations with them in real-time.

17. Business Hours

By simply putting your business hours on your site, you will keep many visitors from going elsewhere. Unless you are a 24/7 operation you will need to inform them what your business hours are.

18. Newsletter

When used right your newsletter will give your business the opportunity to demonstrate authority and expertise on particular subjects or your products and services.

19. Contact Information

By providing your contact information, you allow visitors to reach out to your business. Besides offering the opportunity for visitors to contact you, your contact information can also help visitors make sure the website they are using is legitimate.

Inner Pages

20. About Us

Your About Us page is one of the most important pages on your website. It gives you the opportunity, you in your own words, to state why your business exists. It is the section where you provide information about your business and what it can deliver. And it has the basics, such as who your company serves, how long it’s been around, and its long-term goals and mission.

21. Inner Page Content

Your landing page might be the entry point for visitors to get to know about your business. But your inner page will be responsible for providing detailed information about your offerings. Because you cannot cram all this information on your landing page, you will need to arrange your content sensibly. You can use the inner pages to provide as much information as possible.

22. Contact Form

A contact form is yet another element on your site where you allow visitors to ask questions or leave a message on the website. Its main purpose is to generate leads from your website.

23. CAPTCHA

Sometimes bots or malicious software can generate an exponential number of requests from your website resulting in a crash. A CAPTCHA protects your website against bots by generating tests that only humans can pass and thus protects your site from potential attacks.

24. Privacy Policy

The privacy policy explains your company’s views and procedures on the information collected from visitors. You should be upfront about how and why you collect, store and use data generated from visitors.

25. FAQs Page

This refers to Frequently Asked Questions and helps visitors find answers to the most common questions in one place. Not only does it make it easier for visitors, but it can also save you time and resources in answering each query directed to your business.

26. Blog Page

The blog section is often the most dynamic page of your website. This is where you provide engaging content about your products and services and overall company news.

Blog

27. Comment Feature

A good blog page should incorporate a comments feature for you to interact with visitors. The questions you get from your readers can be a great source of information and new ideas.

28. Search Bar

a search bar allows visitors to easily search for products, services, blog postings and other content on your site.

29. Sidebar

Because your blog page is where visitors get comprehensive insights into your company you should also incorporate a sidebar to help them navigate through the latest posts.

30. Social Media Share

Equally important your blog page should also allow users to share the continent on social media. As such, you should offer options for visitors to share blog content across as many social media platforms as possible.

Content/Design Points to Consider

31. Easily Readable, Clean Font

A good way to attract visitors to your site is to think about the site from the visitors’ perspective. The look and feel of your website are important if you want people to continue visiting the site. The type of font you use plays a great role in this, so choose fonts that are easily readable and look nice on your site.

32. Links that are Easy to Understand

Links are the primary method we use to navigate the web and pages within websites. They can help with SEO and determine how much search traffic your site receives. Make your links as simple as possible so everyone can understand them.

33. Mobile Responsiveness

While designing your website keep in mind that visitors will use their mobile device. Make sure the site is mobile and tablet friendly.

34. Hamburger Menu on Mobile Site

The hamburger menu, or the hamburger icon, is the button on websites and apps that typically opens up into a side menu or navigation drawer. They make it easier to navigate through a website while using a mobile phone. This is because mobile phones have limited screen space that limits browsing compared to PCs.

35. Use Contrasting Colors

Using contrasting colors helps improve the look and feel of your website. Having a stark contrast in colors helps to distinguish the various elements included in the website.

36. Use a Spell Checker

This should apply to all your outgoing correspondence. Having a copy that is full of spelling errors and grammatically incorrect will affect your reputation as a serious business. Make sure you check the spelling and grammar before publishing on your website.

SEO

37. Feature to Easily Update Page Titles, Meta Description

Page Titles and Meta Descriptions are short pieces of HTML code that show the title of the web page and its description. They help visitors to the site decide whether the page listed in a search engine’s index contains the information that will answer their query. By updating page titles and the meta description you help make SEO easier.

38. Automatic Sitemap Creation

sitemaps are lists of URLs that describe sections and pages on websites. Like maps, they show the location of a page on your website, when it was updated, the updating frequency, and the importance of the page as it is related to other pages on your site. Sitemaps are important for SEO because they make it easier for Google or other search engines to easily find your site’s pages.

39. Easy to Update URL Structure

Also known as Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or the web address is the string that creates the reference to a resource – say for example a page on a website. Web browsers display URLs in the address bar and factor on how your site may be ranked in an Internet search.

40. Fast and Reliable Hosting

After designing and creating content for your website, you will have a bunch of files and associated files that make up your website. For you to launch your website you will need a web hosting company. This is a depository where all of your website files will be stored.

The web hosting company is a third-party company that offers to store your files in a shared, dedicated, or cloud-based server. Web hosting companies, depending on your particular web hosting needs, offer varied services and pricing. However, three important things are vital here: speed, security and storage.

41. Automatic Website Backup Feature

Your web hosting provider should offer speedy and reliable loading and backup for your site. This will ensure your site can be up and running quickly in case of a crash or other disasters.

42. Secured

Your web hosting company should also provide security from hackers and cyber-thieves from accessing sensitive information. Without a proactive security from your web hosting provider, your site risks spreading malware attacks on to users thus negatively affecting your reliability.

Technical Requirements

43. Optimized Code for Speed Fast Loading

The rate of speed your website takes to upload is key to having visitors stay longer. If it takes a long time to load, visitors will leave and look somewhere else.

44. Use a content management system (CMS) in the Backend

For those who do not have a technical background in web design, a content management system (CMS) can help them easily create and manage content on the website with relative ease.

45. Cross-Browser Compatibility

People use various browsers to surf the internet. Making sure that your website is compatible with the most popular browsers. This ensures it is viewed the same way irrespective of the browser they use.

46. Google Webmaster Tools for Integration

Incorporating Google Webmaster Tools (GWT) can help you get valuable insights about your website. It helps inform you how Google sees your website and helps you identify issues that need fixing.

47. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a great tool for monitoring and analyzing traffic on your website. It provides you with information about who is visiting your site, what they are looking for, and how they are getting to your site.

48. Schema.org

Schema offers data markup to help search engines understand your website’s content and make it more indexable than other websites that do not have schemas.

49. Use Browser Cache to Increase Website Load Speed

When you use browser cache, content is delivered to visitors quickly. If your content is not in the browser cache then it has to be retrieved from your web server, which may take longer to retrieve.

Things to Avoid on Your Site

50. Do not Upload Videos on the Website Server

Try to avoid unnecessary clutter on your server don’t upload videos on your website server. Rather opt to use YouTube and Vimeo to lessen the load as well as expand your reach to audiences.

51. Avoid Background Music

Unless you sell music on your website, avoid using background music. One because of bandwidth limitations the music might get interrupted and most importantly visitors might not enjoy repeating music while browsing.

52. Do Not Use Flash Elements

Avoid flash elements as websites that use them tend to have a much higher bounce rate due to issues with loading and performance.

53. Avoid ‘click to Enter Option on Your Website

Avoid using ‘Click and enter’ options to your website as it might put off visitors from visiting your site. The objective of your website is to draw in visitors easily and not put up roadblocks.

54. Do Not Steal Content

Make sure you use your original content and respect copyright rules.

55. Do Not Share Your Confidential Information

You should also make sure that you do not infringe privacy laws by sharing any confidential information of visitors. It is also important that you do not put sensitive or personal business information on your website.

Takeaway

One of the most important takeaways from this list is to keep your website up to date with the latest enhancements in website development. This will ensure your site has all of the requirements search engines are looking for in order to catalog it properly. Beyond that, make sure you post new content, all your links are working and respond to your customer’s queries.

You have to look at your site as property in the real world. The more you invest in it, the more the value will grow.

Take a look at the infographic from My Web Programmer Below:

Image: Depositphotos.com

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Being small doesn’t make you invisible. According to a reputed cybersecurity report, 28% of data breaches in 2020 involved small businesses. Why are small businesses becoming hackers’ new favorite?

Small businesses have more data than individuals but weaker security than big companies. So they are hackers’ new favorite.

Being a small business owner, you should ensure that only the authorized people are accessing your business’s resources.

That being said, you should deploy a reliable authentication method to eliminate the chances of any unauthorized access.

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What Is an Online Authentication Process?

Authentication is the process that confirms the identity of users/machines that are trying to access resources (systems, networks, or devices).

You should not confuse authentication with another security term – authorization.

Authentication confirms the identity of a person/machine. And authorization verifies that the person/ machine has the right/permission to access the resource in question.

So you can see that authentication happens first, then comes authorization.

Types of Online Authentication Methods

Small businesses have multiple types of authentication methods at their disposal to keep their data safe.

Here are some common authentication methods:

1. Passwords and Security Questions

Many businesses use passwords and security questions to secure access. But passwords and security questions don’t offer optimum security.

There is no doubt that you can create strong passwords using a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters.

However, passwords are prone to phishing attacks. And many a time, hackers can easily guess the answers to security questions.

Also, it can be difficult for users to remember the password for each account. This is because users these days have multiple accounts.

In nutshell, passwords and security questions offer very week security.

2. Out of Band Voice

In this authentication method, users will receive a call on his registered mobile number to get verified. This method is more secure than a password, but users need to carry a second device to get their identity verified.

The main drawback of this method is that hackers can intercept verification calls. Also, you may lose your phone device.

3. Time-based One-time Passwords

In this method, users receive a one-time pass key through SMS or email. As the pass key expires after a short period of time, this method offers fair security.

However, the time-based one-time password method is vulnerable to malware attacks and sim hijacking.

4. Biometric Authentication

The biometric authentication method leverages users’ unique biological characteristics to verify their identity.

Here are common biometric authentication methods:

• Facial recognition
• Fingerprint scanners
• Voice identification
• Eye scanners

It goes without saying that the biometric authentication method is a safe way to protect devices and data. But if the data is compromised, the biometric authentication system will collapse. This is because people cannot change their unique biological characteristics.

5. Multi-factor Authentication

As the name suggests, the multi-factor authentication method (MFA) employs two or more independent ways to verify users’ identity. For example, users may need to submit passwords and one-time codes to get them identified.

The multi-factor authentication method is a good way to secure resources. If users lose access to the second verification method, they will not be able to get them identified.

6. Certificate-based Authentication

In this authentication method, a digital certificate is employed to verify a user, machine, or device.

Most certificate-based solutions now leverage a cloud-based platform. So small businesses can easily issue certificates to new employees, renew certificates, or revoke certificates.

Some authentication methods such as passwords, biometric, one-time passwords are limited to users only.

However, certificate-based solutions can be used by all ends points – users, devices, or machines.

Certificate-based authentication employs multiple criteria like geolocation, biometrics, user identity, and more to verify a user. So it is the safest authentication method among all.

Beyond Identity has presented a comprehensive infographic on the topic with the help of NowSourcing.

Have a look:

Image: Beyond Identity

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Almost 70% of consumers would rather use their phone to find something out than approach an in-store employee. This statistic was unveiled by Soprano and its ‘Power of Mobile Messaging’ infographic.

Soprano Design is a provider of intelligent and secure business mobile messaging software solutions. Its ‘The Power of Mobile Messaging’ infographic explores how consumers’ reliance on mobile technology has escalated during the pandemic.

The pervasiveness of messaging is highlighted in the infographic, with 85% of smartphone users preferring messages to emails or calls.

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The Power of Mobile Communications

Even before the pandemic struck, most consumers preferred text messaging over other marketing formats. In the wake of the health crisis, mobile communications are more important than ever.

For small businesses, being aware of changing consumer trends is important. With such knowledge on-board, small businesses can modify marketing campaigns to cater for the demand for mobile communication.

Allan Thygesen, President of Americas at Google, reiterates consumers’ dependence on their mobile phones.

“When we want something, we expect our phone to tell us where the product is being sold at a store nearby, and even tells us if it’s in stock this very moment. And when we are ready to transact, we expect it to be frictionless and fast,” says Thygesen.

98% Open Rate for Text Messages

According to Soprano’s research, 90% of people open a text message within three minutes. Text messages have a 98% open rate. This compares to emails, which have a 20% open rate.

Text messages response times are also significantly higher than email. Texts are eight times more likely to be responded to compared to emails. Texts and emails have response rates of 45% and 6%, respectively.

In terms of response times, text messages have just a 90-second response time. This compares to emails which consumers respond, on average, within 90 minutes.

Contact-Free Economy

The research shows how consumers want information about a business before they arrive in person. 60% of consumers feel more confident and prepared about a brand when using a mobile to find out information.

During the pandemic, retailers have been using text messaging to update customers on safety policies and changing store hours.

According to the study, brands are picking up on the demand for mobile communication. Businesses are refocusing marketing strategies from email to SMS, introducing mobile-only discounts and special offers.

Escalating Demand for Curbside Pickup

Due to the pandemic, curbside pickup has doubled since 2019. Consumers have grown used to the convenience of collecting items safely on the curbside. The infographic shows that almost 60% of consumers plan to continue to use this method of pickup.

One in three retailers who weren’t offering curbside prior to the pandemic are doing so now.

Bot or Human Being?

Such is the modern consumer’s yearning for mobile messaging that they don’t care if they’re messaging a bot or human. According to the infographic, 40% of shoppers are ambivalent about whether they message a bot or person. Furthermore, 27% can’t even tell the difference.

Despite the rising prevalence of mobile messaging among consumer, businesses are failing to capitalize on the demand. One in three consumers have sent messages to a business and have not received a response.

Consumers believe businesses that message customers show respect to their time. Using this method of communication makes customers likelier to choose that company. It also increases the chances of them recommending a business to others.

The infographic provides some food for thought to small businesses about the importance of using mobile methods of communication. Being proactive with mobile messaging, small businesses will deliver consumers’ demands and expectations Subsequently, they will be likelier to win and retain customer loyalty.

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