Clearing your browser’s cache can improve performance, enhance security, and ensure you’re seeing the most up-to-date content on websites. Whether you’re using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera, this guide will walk you through clearing your cache on every major browser.

Why Clear Your Cache?

Your browser stores a cache, which is a collection of temporary files, images, and scripts. Over time, this cache can become outdated, leading to display issues or slower performance. By clearing it, you can:

• Resolve Display Issues: Sometimes, web pages display incorrectly if the cached version is out of date.
• Free Up Space: Cached files can take up considerable space over time.
• Improve Privacy: Clearing cache also removes browsing history, cookies, and other saved data.

Now, let’s go through the steps for each browser.

How to Clear Cache in Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome: Launch Google Chrome.
2. Go to Settings: Click on the three dots in the top-right corner, select Settings.
3. Navigate to Clear Browsing Data: Under Privacy and security, click on Clear browsing data.
4. Choose Cache: Ensure that Cached images and files is checked (you can also clear browsing history and cookies, but it’s optional).
5. Select Time Range: Use the drop-down to select a time range, such as Last hour or All time.
6. Clear Data: Click Clear data to clear the cache.

Shortcut Tip: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open the Clear Browsing Data window quickly.

How to Clear Cache in Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox: Start Firefox.
2. Access Settings: Click on the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top-right, then select Settings.
3. Go to Privacy & Security: In the left-hand menu, click on Privacy & Security.
4. Clear Cache: Scroll to the Cookies and Site Data section, then click Clear Data.
5. Select Cache: Ensure Cached Web Content is selected (you can also choose to clear cookies).
6. Clear Data: Confirm by clicking Clear.

Shortcut Tip: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac) for quick access.

How to Clear Cache in Microsoft Edge

1. Launch Edge: Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Go to Settings and More: Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
3. Navigate to Privacy, Search, and Services: Click on Privacy, search, and services from the left sidebar.
4. Clear Browsing Data: Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
5. Select Cache: Check the box for Cached images and files (optionally, select other data types to clear).
6. Choose Time Range: Select a time range (Last hour, Last 7 days, etc.).
7. Clear Data: Click Clear now.

Shortcut Tip: Quickly open the Clear Browsing Data menu with Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac.

How to Clear Cache in Safari (macOS)

1. Open Safari: Launch Safari on your Mac.
2. Access Preferences: Click Safari in the top-left corner and select Preferences.
3. Show Develop Menu (if not already visible): Under Advanced, check Show Develop menu in menu bar.
4. Clear Cache: Click Develop in the top menu bar, then select Empty Caches.

Note: Clearing cache in Safari does not remove browsing history. To clear history, go to History > Clear History and choose a time range.

How to Clear Cache in Opera

1. Launch Opera: Open the Opera browser.
2. Access Settings: Click on the Opera logo in the top-left corner, select Settings.
3. Go to Privacy & Security: Scroll down to the Privacy & security section.
4. Clear Browsing Data: Click on Clear browsing data.
5. Select Cache: Ensure Cached images and files is selected (optionally, check other items you wish to clear).
6. Choose Time Range: Select a time range.
7. Clear Data: Confirm by clicking Clear data.

Shortcut Tip: Use Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open the Clear Browsing Data window directly.

Resolve Browser & Computer Performance Issues

Clearing your browser’s cache is an easy yet impactful step to ensure your browsing experience remains smooth and up-to-date. This simple task can help solve common issues and even improve your browser’s performance. Following the above steps, you can confidently clear the cache across major browsers and keep your browsing experience fast and secure.

For further support or troubleshooting with browser issues, our IT specialists are just a call away!

The post How to Clear Your Cache in Each Browser appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

In today’s connected world, staying online is often essential, whether for work, travel, or leisure. But what happens when you’re away from home or the office, and there’s no Wi-Fi available? That’s where your smartphone’s mobile hotspot feature can come in handy. Mobile hotspots let you share your phone’s data connection with other devices, providing internet access on the go. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using a mobile hotspot for seamless Wi-Fi access wherever you are.

What Is a Mobile Hotspot?

A mobile hotspot turns your smartphone into a mini Wi-Fi router, sharing its data connection with other devices like laptops, tablets, and other phones. By using cellular data, the hotspot gives internet access to any device connected to it, just as if they were connected to a traditional Wi-Fi network.

How to Use a Mobile Hotspot

Step 1: Check Your Mobile Data Plan

Before setting up a mobile hotspot, check your mobile plan:

• Data Allowance: Mobile hotspots consume data quickly, so make sure you have a plan that accommodates your needs.
• Hotspot Tethering: Some plans include hotspot access by default, while others may charge an additional fee or limit the amount of data that can be used for tethering.

Tip: If you plan to use a hotspot regularly, consider opting for a plan with a generous data cap.

Step 2: Enable Mobile Hotspot on Your Device

For iPhone Users

1. Open Settings: Go to Settings and select Personal Hotspot.
2. Turn on Allow Others to Join: Toggle the switch to allow other devices to connect.
3. Set Up Your Wi-Fi Password: To prevent unauthorized access, set a strong password by tapping on Wi-Fi Password and entering a secure passcode.

For Android Users

1. Open Settings: Go to Settings, then select Network & Internet (or Connections on some devices).
2. Tap on Hotspot & Tethering: From here, choose Wi-Fi Hotspot.
3. Turn on the Hotspot: Enable the hotspot toggle to activate it.
4. Set Up Hotspot Options: You can customize your network’s name (SSID) and password for security.

Step 3: Connect Devices to Your Mobile Hotspot

Once the mobile hotspot is enabled, other devices can connect to it like any standard Wi-Fi network:

1. Open Wi-Fi Settings on the Device: Go to the Wi-Fi settings on your laptop, tablet, or other device.
2. Select Your Mobile Hotspot Network: Choose the network name you set up in the previous step.
3. Enter the Password: Type in the hotspot password to connect.

Get Wi-Fi On The Go

A mobile hotspot is a valuable tool that can keep you connected on the go. By setting it up properly, managing data usage, and following best practices, you can enjoy reliable internet access wherever you are. Whether you’re travelling, working remotely, or facing a Wi-Fi outage, your mobile hotspot has you covered.

If you need help getting internet on the go or have any other technical issues you need resolved by an IT professional, contact us today to speak to an expert for a quick resolution.

The post How to Use a Mobile Hotspot for Wi-Fi appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

Browsing the internet can be extremely difficult or impossible for those with disabilities. Without accessibility enhancers in place, your website may be inaccessible to people with disabilities. Here’s what you need to know about accessibility and how you can improve your website’s accessibility.

What Is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility ensures everyone, regardless of their disability, can access and enjoy the internet and its resources without barriers.

People with disabilities often depend on assistive technology, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, alternative keyboards or trackpads, and other tools. You can make your website more accessible to those with disabilities.

Why Is Web Accessibility Important?

People depend on the internet every day for work, school, shopping, health care, socialization, recreation, and more. If people with disabilities cannot access or contribute to these resources, they cannot as easily participate in society.

Web accessibility also helps you do business with people with disabilities. Approximately one-in-five Canadians live with one or more disabilities, so you are shutting out a large audience if your website is inaccessible. Web accessibility also helps boost your ranking in search engines like Google, further benefiting your business.

How To Make Your Website Accessible

There are many ways you can make your website accessible. Here are some practices you can enact:

Alt Tags

Alt tags are used to describe the purpose of images you use on your site. Screenreaders read alt tags to those with vision impairments to understand what is happening in an image without seeing it.

When you upload an image on your website, there is usually somewhere to enter an alt tag. A proper alt attribute should describe what is happening in the image so that someone using a screen reader can easily understand it.

ARIA Attributes

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes are special accessibility attributes that you can add to any of your HTML markups. They describe the specific role of objects such as buttons, alerts, or sliders.

You can learn more about ARIA attributes by visiting this website.

HTML Tags

HTML tags add formatting and semantics to your website. For example, title tags such as H1, H2, and H3 are used for title and heading text. You can use HTML tags to make the formatting more accessible for screen readers. For instance, your navigation should have the <nav> tag.

There are many HTML tags you can use for better accessibility. You can read more about HTML tags on this website.

Closed Captions

Adding captions to your videos and audio files makes them accessible for those with hearing impairments and even those who can’t play the audio at that current time. Moreover, text transcripts for your audio elements further enhance your website’s accessibility.

Accessibility Plugins

If you use WordPress, there are accessibility plugins you can install on your website. They add accessibility enhancers like sufficient colour contrast, resize fonts, underline links, and other features. There are many options out there for WordPress accessibility plugins, such as WP Accessibility or One Click Accessibility.

Make Your Website More Accessible

Accessibility should be at the back of your mind when creating your website. If you’re interested in a customized, accessible website for your business, please contact us today. Our web design experts can create a website that is accessible to all people and crafted with strategy in mind to convert more visitors.

The post What Is Web Accessibility And Why Is It Important? appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

Google Chrome is a powerful browser on its own, but extensions allow you to further improve your browsing experience. With plenty of options out there, you may not know what the best plugins for efficiency, productivity, and overall enjoyment are. Here are the 7 best Google Chrome extensions you can install right now.

1. AdBlock

Image: AdBlock

Are you tired of being bombarded by advertisements everywhere you go? Luckily, you can eliminate these incessant advertisements simply by installing AdBlock. AdBlock enables you to block ads and popups on websites and videos, improving your browsing experience by reducing load time and protecting your privacy. You can get AdBlock by clicking here.

2. Your Favourite Password Manager

Password security is an important concept. You leave yourself vulnerable to cyber attacks by reusing the same credentials across multiple sites. However, instead of remembering strong, unique passwords for every account you have (a nearly impossible task!), you can use a password manager to do that for you. Some of the top options include LastPass, Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane, and NordPass. I personally use Bitwarden since it’s accessible across multiple devices and free for basic plans, but research your options to find the best fit for you.

3. Grammarly

Image: Grammarly

Reading over your own writing to spot typos and mistakes can be difficult and time-consuming. Grammarly automatically checks your text for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, style, tone, and more. When sending emails or writing reports, you can feel confident that you’ll have something else proofreading it for you. The free version of Grammarly checks for some spelling and grammar mistakes, and you can upgrade if you’d like the full experience. You can download Grammarly here.

4. Honey

Image: Honey

If you shop online, you may try coupon codes when checking out to save some money. But finding and trying different coupon codes can be time-consuming. Honey makes couponing easy by automatically testing known coupon codes for a better chance of finding a valid code. Honey works on just about every eCommerce site, so if you want to save some money and time while shopping, you can download Honey here.

5. Print Friendly & PDF

Image: Print Friendly & PDF

If you’ve ever printed a webpage, you know that it’s annoying when advertisements, navigation, and other junk also prints. Print Friendly & PDF allows you to remove unwanted content before printing, cleaning up the print job, and saving you ink. You can download Print Friendly & PDF from here.

6. StayFocusd

Image: StayFocusd

Staying focused on your tasks at hand can be especially difficult with so many distractions available online. StayFocusd ensures that you get your important work done by blocking access to distracting websites for a specified amount of time. You can even block the Google Extensions page to prevent you from disabling StayFocusd until you finish your work! You can download StayFocusd from this link.

7. The Great Suspender

Image: The Great Suspender

Chrome can hog up your resources, and if you’re someone who keeps multiple tabs open, you may notice your browser slowing down. If you don’t want to close your tab collection, you can keep the unused tabs open while freeing up your hardware resources. The Great Suspender automatically unloads unused tabs while keeping the title and favicon showing in your tab. So, if you want to view the content on that tab, simply click on the screen and it’ll reload the page. This extension is perfect for tab hoarders who want to keep their tabs open while freeing up memory for other tasks. You can download The Great Suspender from here.

Improve Your Google Chrome Experience

Using these Google Chrome extensions can significantly improve your web browsing experience. There is a multitude of extensions available, so if you want one with specific functionality, it likely exists.

If you’re experiencing computer issues, Google Chrome related or otherwise, Design2Web IT offers remote computer support to help. We can remotely solve between 80-90 percent of your computer issues or, if you’re in the Metro Vancouver area, an IT technician can visit your site. Please contact us today if you are struggling with computer issues.

The post The 7 Best Google Chrome Extensions appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

Your small-medium business may be losing out on prospective customers. Your online marketing strategy might be either non-existent or lacking and you’re making it hard for your prospects to convert or even find you. However, don’t fret, as we have actionable steps you can take right now to improve your firm’s online strategy. Let’s go over strategies that will help convert more online visitors into clients.

1. Be Strategic

An alarming amount of small-business websites don’t offer anything of value to their visitors. They don’t give their prospective customers any reason to choose them, and even if they want to convert, many websites are outdated, confusing, or incomplete. You need to give your visitors reasons to convert and guide them along the process. You can do this through the following practices:

1. Clearly state the benefits and features of your products or services. What makes you stand out from your competitors? Why should your prospective customers choose you over them?
2. Optimize your landing page so visitors take the final leap to convert.
3. Have a clear call-to-action (CTA) through buttons and links. For example, do you want customers to buy a product, book an appointment, or contact you? You must clearly state what you want visitors to do and entice them to take that action.
4. Include testimonials from previous customers. Up to 92 percent of customers read online reviews, and 72 percent will take action only after reading a positive testimonial. Happy customers make more happy customers, so be sure to collect reviews and post them where your prospects can easily view them.
5. Have visible contact information so visitors can get in touch if they need more information.
6. Include live chat on your website so prospects can immediately get in contact with your business. Free options include Tawk To and Tidio.
7. Offer registration for newsletters, eBooks, and more promotional material.

2. Qualify Your Leads

Lead qualification involves determining which prospects are likely to convert into customers. If you’re wasting time advertising to people unlikely to convert, you’re essentially flushing money down the toilet. A few ways you can qualify your leads include:

1. Including quizzes, surveys, and questionnaires on your website.
2. Looking at analytics.
3. Identifying which problems prospects face and if your solution is right for them.

3. Remove Barriers To Convert

If your prospective client runs into barriers when trying to convert, chances are they’ll quickly become frustrated and take their business elsewhere. You need to remove any barriers that prevent your prospects from taking your desired action. Some examples of how you can do this include:

1. Remove the risk of buying. Offer free trials, returns, money-back guarantees, or other risk-free to put clients at ease.
2. Make converting and paying hassle-free so that clients don’t have to jump through hoops to get your product or service.
3. Don’t require an excessive amount of information to register for newsletters, eBooks, and other promotional material. Usually, their name and email should suffice. Make sure they consent to receive further contact from your business.
4. Include a privacy statement with appropriate assurances for how you handle the information prospects submit.

4. Use Social Media Channels

Nowadays, 82 percent of North Americans are on social media. That’s a massive trove of potential customers that you need to tap into! Your social media accounts can help you generate leads, target qualified audiences, and connect with your customers. Many businesses use social media as their main online marketing strategy, and it’s not difficult to see why. A few strategies you can use for social media include:

1. Hosting giveaways and contests for liking your profile or page and sharing some content.
2. Posting high-quality content regularly and including CTAs. Some post ideas include links to your blog articles, testimonials, case studies, products, services, and funny posts.
3. Promotions, discounts, and deals on your products or services.

5. Experiment Through A/B Testing

A/B testing lets you compare the performance of different landing pages or CTAs with one another. This enables you to determine which performs the best and converts more clients to optimize your strategy further. Continue to test and experiment so you can maximize your conversion rates. Remember: just because you like something doesn’t mean your prospects will.

Convert More Prospects

Stop losing out on potential customers. Incorporate these strategies into your online marketing campaign and easily improve your conversion rates. If you’re interested in getting a custom website for your business that converts visitors, please contact us today for our web design services.

The post How Your Small Business Can Convert Online Prospects appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

If you’re still using a traditional office phone system, you may not have heard of voice over IP (VoIP). This technology allows you to make calls over the Internet instead of a regular phone line. Moreover, you probably don’t realize what benefits you stand to gain from switching to VoIP. Here are the top benefits of VoIP for your small business.

1. Cost-Effective

Cost-effectiveness is one benefit of VoIP that every business can appreciate. Operating costs for VoIP are much lower than traditional phone systems, especially if your business regularly makes long-distance calls. Furthermore, conventional phone lines typically charge for each minute of call time, while with VoIP, you only incur the monthly charges from your ISP.

2. More Features

Just like how your smartphone is more than a phone, your office phone can be more, too. Besides sending and receiving calls, VoIP systems can incorporate other services like instant messaging, teleconferencing, video conferencing, voicemail, and receiving faxes. These modern systems also tend to have extensive features built-in, such as voicemail and message forwarding, and call recording.

3. Portability

A VoIP number is completely portable, meaning you can use the same number wherever you go. And as long as you have internet access, you can use your VoIP system anywhere. You can send and receive calls from multiple devices, including your smartphone, ensuring that you’ll never miss a call because you aren’t at your desk. For example, you could configure your system to send the first few rings to your office. If you don’t answer the call, it will be transmitted to a second or third device like your smartphone and laptop.

4. Reliability

A common objection to VoIP that many people have is that their phone system goes down if their business loses internet. This claim is not true, thanks to the flexibility offered by VoIP. If your office loses power or internet, you can instead forward your calls to your mobile phone or other devices.

Start Enjoying The Benefits Of VoIP

Understandably, switching your old office phone system to VoIP can seem like a daunting task. You probably don’t know where to start with the transition or which phone system to get.

We at Design2Web IT can take the stress out of moving to VoIP get you the right system for your unique business. Please get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can set up VoIP for your business so you can start benefitting from this modern system.

The post Your Old Office Phone System Is Hurting Your Small Business appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

When you’re deciding on the best web browser to use, you’ll likely have several considerations in mind. Speed, privacy, resource usage, and features are some metrics you’ll look for. However, when you look at your options, you’ll find that the best web browsers in 2021 are all remarkably similar. Indeed, minor differences exist between our top contenders. Take a look at the best web browsers in 2021 and decide for yourself.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the world’s favourite web browser, holding approximately 60 percent of the desktop search market. Often, when people get a new device, the first thing they do is open Microsoft Edge or Safari and search “download Google Chrome.” So, what makes this web browser so popular, and does it deserve the crown?

Its layout is straightforward and intuitive, and Chrome offers many features, like a library of add-ons, autofill features, cross-platform support, incredible speed, and more. However, Chrome is notorious for being incredibly resource-hungry compared to other browsers. Google developers have satiated a lot of Chrome’s hunger over the years, but if your device does not have a lot of resources available, it can be a drain on your system.

Another issue many have with Google Chrome is privacy concerns due to Google’s involvement. Many don’t like the omnipresent view Google has into our everyday lives, and other browsers like Firefox handle privacy protection better.

Firefox

Firefox is an extremely powerful browser with a focus on user privacy. For instance, it alerts you if attackers include your email in a data breach and you can adjust your browser privacy settings to block trackers. Moreover, it is incredibly flexible and customization, and, like Chrome, you can download a library of add-ons. Not only that, but Firefox has a light impact on your system and is remarkably fast.

Firefox is also available on virtually any device, and you can send a webpage tab from any device to any others logged in to the syncing account. This means you can be reading a webpage on your mobile phone and instantly open it on your desktop with a click.

One drawback to Firefox is that its add-on library is not as extensive as Chrome’s, so that may be something to consider.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has long been a villain in the browser world, thanks to its infamous Internet Explorer. However, the rehauled Edge browser built with Chromium at its heart has put them back into the limelight. Window’s default browser is also compatible with iOS, Android, and Mac.

Microsoft optimized Edge specifically for Windows 10, significantly reducing the amount of RAM used and making it ultra-fast. For PCs with minimal installed memory, this may make Edge an optimal choice.

You can also customize the browsers in various ways for a personal experience. You can set different themes for the New Tab page and access a personalized news feed.

Another cool feature is that you can download web pages as apps then run them as stand-alone applications without launching the whole browser. This is particularly useful for apps like Google Docs.

Overall, Microsoft Edge has helped Windows repair its poor browser reputation. However, there is still a long way for it to compete with the likes of Chrome. Give it a try – it might surprise you.

Opera

Opera is a lesser-used web browser with powerful capabilities. On startup, you can turn on its built-in VPN and ad blocker, enable its Crypto Wallet for cryptocurrencies, and activate in-browser messaging from the sidebar.

As another Chromium-based web browser, you can expect high performance and use extensions from the Chrome library. On mobile Opera, you can enable Opera Turbo, which compresses Internet data like images so you can load webpages faster on poor connections.

Another neat feature is My Flow, which allows you easily share content from Opera on your phone to Opera on your computer and vice versa.

The web browser also integrates with many applications like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, letting you get more done fast.

If you want a plethora of features out of a web browser, give Opera a try.

The Verdict

As you can probably tell, most of these web browsers achieve the same thing with minor differences. So, much like most things in life, it boils down to your preferences.

Do you want a simplified browsing experience? Then Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge might be suitable for you. If you place extra importance on your privacy, check out Firefox. For a feature-packed web browser, try Opera.

The beauty of testing these web browsers is that switching is easy with a few clicks. Try them out and see which is right for you.

For more helpful tips, please read more of our blog posts.

The post Best Web Browsers in 2022 Compared appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

In today’s digital era, any company doing business needs to be online regardless of industry or size. Not only do consumers look up products and services, but they also depend on the internet for everything from reviews to directions. Therefore, any small-medium business (SMB) without an online presence is shooting itself in the foot. Let’s go over some compelling reasons your SMB needs an online presence.

Visibility

By having an online presence, you provide potential customers 24/7 access to your business. This is especially important if you sell products since customers can buy them from you without waiting until you open. No longer do is your business restricted to running only during business hours.

Moreover, you have access to a much larger audience than simply the few kilometres radius around your business. Anyone who passes your digital doorstep can check out your business. Depending on the nature of your products or services, you could even enjoy an international customer base.

Professionalism

A web presence, including a website and business accounts on social media, makes your SMB look credible and will help persuade potential customers. Nowadays, business web presences go beyond simply sticking your hours and address on your website. When done properly, your professional web presence will take your SMB to the next level, with a combination of a professional website, solid reviews, and an active social media presence.

Effortless Marketing

As we said, your online presence provides 24/7 access to your digital showroom. This makes marketing your products and services an effortless task. Consumers can browse your website without being pressured by salespeople to buy, and they can purchase at any time if you have products listed.

Moreover, marketing endeavours are easy and cheap. For instance, you can run Facebook and Google ads that fit within your budget and easily adjust them as needed. And with proper search engine optimization (SEO), search engines like Google will work in your favour to help you appear in front of your target audience.

It’s Expected

Consumers today simply expect you to have an online presence. Searching for your business online is the easiest way to learn about your company. If they look up your SMB’s name and find nothing, their interest will likely wane. If you do not have your business online, you are missing out on a lot of sales and potential customers. 

Get Your Business Online

Don’t get left behind. If your business still does not have an online presence, you need to take action. Our Internet marketing services can help elevate your business and put it in front of the eyes of a myriad of potential buyers. We also offer custom web design services to give your firm a competitive edge. Contact us today to learn more and start building your business.

The post Why Your SMB Needs An Online Presence appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

Gone are the days of relying on websites like TripAdvisor for business recommendations. Now, your search starts and stops with Google, which provides excellent business recommendations based on your search right on the results page. If your business is not listed, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Here’s why you need to register your small business with Google My Business.

Benefits of Google My Business

Billions of people worldwide use Google every day. Whether that’s for looking up the answer to a question, finding a recipe, or searching for nearby businesses, Google does it all. If you run a pizza shop and want to come up when someone searches pizza near me, you need to register your business with Google My Business.

So, if you want to come up here:

Or here:

And here:

You’ll need to register with Google My Business.

How To Create A GMB Listing

To make a Google My Business listing, go to the create page and click Add your business to Google. Provide as much information as you can; Google prefers fully-fleshed listings, and minimum effort listings will get low rankings. The steps are straightforward; however, there are several special considerations to consider as you fill out your listing.

1. Include your keywords in your business name

Including your main keyword in your business name can drastically impact your rankings. For example, we at Design2Web IT include IT in our business name. If you run a pizza shop, you’ll want to make sure pizza is in your business name.

Be careful not to overdo it, though, and don’t stuff your business name with keywords. You’ll be penalized by Google, and it will look unprofessional.

2. Optimize your description

When you’re prompted to write a description for your business, be sure to put some thought and effort into what you write. Google once said you should think about the words customers would type to find your business and include them in your description. However, once again, do not go overboard. Simply writing keywords for the sake of having them will get you penalized.

You want to include your unique selling propositions (USP), which essentially means what makes you different from your competitors. Maybe your pizza is quick and cheap, or perhaps it uses the highest-quality ingredients for a premium pie. You’ll want to include whatever it is that makes you different.

Next, you’ll once again want to include your keywords and the products or services you sell. Using the pizza shop example, we could come up with a description starting like this:

[Business Name] is an Abbotsford pizza parlour serving cheap and delicious pizza slices for eat-in, takeout, or delivery.

This description clearly states who you are and what you offer, includes important keywords, and says your USP (cheap and delicious).

3. Create a website

If your business does not have a website, it’s essential to create one. Your website is your digital storefront, and without it, you’ll miss out on countless potential customers.

Luckily, you can create a free website through Google My Business based on the information you provide.

You’ll later be able to edit this website through your GMB account. It’s easy to do and requires no coding knowledge at all.

While the free Google website builder isn’t as powerful as building your own website, it is still a massive upgrade for business owners with no website at all. Be sure to add your logo, contact information, description, and any relevant information potential customers may need on the website.

If you’re interested in a custom website for your business, Design2Web IT offers custom web design services to give your business a competitive edge. Please contact us today to learn more.

Verify Your GMB listing

To unlock more features for your Google My Business listing, you’ll need to verify your listing and prove that the business belongs to you. You can verify your listing by mail, email, phone, instant verification, or bulk verification.

Verification Issues & Resolutions

When verifying your listing, you may find that someone else has already claimed your business. This could be for many reasons, like employees, an agency you hired, or yourself from a previous email.

If you don’t recognize the email that claimed the listing, hit Request Access, then complete the form. The current owner will receive an email requesting access and can grant ownership to you within seven days. If they reject the request, you can reclaim your business through mail verification.

Optimize Your Listing

Once you’ve verified your business, you gain access to hundreds of features to make your listing more attractive. Let’s look at some of them.

Photos and Videos

Visual content is essential to make your business stand out. Potential consumers want to see more than just text, so enhance your listing with high-quality photos and videos of your business, products, etc.

Extra Information

You can also add a multitude of extra information to your GMB listing. For example, you can add that you offer free Wi-Fi, provide takeout and delivery, your menu, what types of payment you accept, and much more. There are many niche-specific options that you’ll likely want to add to enrich your listing. Explore your options and add the relevant fields to your GMB listing.

You can also add business-specific features for extra clicks. For instance, hotels can add a Check Availability button to their listing, restaurants can feature an Order Online button, and much more. Utilize all relevant to your business to make the most out of your listing.

Improve Your Firm’s Online Strategy

Google My Business is a vital part of any business’ search engine optimization strategy. If your company does not have a Google My Business listing, or if your listing includes only the bare minimum, change that right now.

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The post How To List Your Small Business On Google My Business appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..

Written by: Jay H.

Cyber attackers are successfully breaching organizations through brute force attacks, software vulnerabilities, and malicious emails, according to a new report from Kaspersky.

Almost 90 percent of the incidents Kaspersky’s team responded to involved these three factors, providing insight into which attack vectors hackers are successfully using. Brute force attacks and software vulnerabilities each accounted for 31.58 percent of the cases, while 23.68 percent of incidents were from malicious emails.

Once the attackers breached the victim organizations, they wreaked havoc through ransomware and data theft. In most cases, the attacks went unnoticed for weeks or months, demonstrating just how long hackers can be in your system without you even knowing!

Moreover, of the incidents involving software vulnerabilities, only a few vulnerabilities were discovered in 2020. In most cases, the vulnerabilities were several years old, suggesting that timely security updates could have prevented a tenth of the investigated incidents. The lesson learned: you need to ensure that you keep your software up to date and install security updates as they are released to prevent these attacks.

The report also suggested that attackers were switching from targeted attacks to instead going after the “lowest-hanging fruit” – organizations with low levels of cybersecurity. Indeed, organizations that regularly updated their software were 30 percent less likely to become victims, while robust password policies reduced the likelihood by 60 percent.

Don’t be the lowest-hanging fruit

The war against cybercriminals is neverending. Is your organization doing everything it can to avoid becoming a victim to costly ransomware and data loss?

If you cannot confidently say “yes”, then you need to fix that right now. Our managed IT services including network security can protect your business from the devastating effects of a data breach. Contact us today to learn more.

The post Brute Force Attacks, Software Vulnerabilities, And Malicious Emails Behind Most Attacks appeared first on Design2Web IT, Inc..