Responsive is for You!

You don't have to be insecure!

There are still a lot of insecure websites out there.  Have you seen them?  Is your website one of them?

Have a look at any browser to see if you have a security problem.  In the Address bar look for a green padlock or similar graphic and, most importantly, look for the "s" after "http" as this indicates that the website is secure.

If you are not secure, a few bad things could happen. 

1. Your website could be defrauded by someone impersonating your site. (This happened to me last week; I headed for a dog food website and was shown a page of vitamins sold from China!) 
2. Personal data could be leaked.
3. Data transferred to and from your website could be corrupted.
4. Google and other search engines don't like it and consider it a negative ranking factor.
5. Potential Customers and Customers landing on your website are likely to have a negative impression of your company.  They may go elsewhere if they perceive you to be unsafe!

Hosting companies offer SSL certificates and they are easy to implement.  Typically the hosting company makes the change quickly and seamlessly.  However, be aware that some companies will charge for this. 

SeaShell Digital designates every website as secure.  Free of charge.  Because we know that, for small businesses, every bit helps.

Important Events From SBA and Score!

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business - Indian River County

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
Do you dream of starting a business? Do you know what it takes to turn that dream into a reality? It takes courage but it also requires knowledge. Let us help you acquire the knowledge to make your dreams of business ownership come true. This interactive two-hour seminar will deal with the key information you need to consider as you move forward.
Indian River County Chamber of Commerce

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business - St. Lucie County 

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
Do you dream of starting a business? Do you know what it takes to turn that dream into a reality? It takes courage but it also requires knowledge. Let us help you acquire the knowledge to make your dreams of business ownership come true. This interactive two-hour seminar will deal with the key information you need to consider as you move forward.
IRSC Pruitt Campus

Marketing 101 - Stuart
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST
If you're currently running your business, you believe that you're the best kept secret in town, or you're just not getting the amount of business that you think you should, then sign-up of this workshop!! Thinking of starting a small business? This workshop will give you ideas on how to do your marketing plan and best market your small business.

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business - Martin County
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Do you dream of starting a business? Do you know what it takes to turn that dream into a reality? It takes courage but it also requires knowledge. Let us help you acquire the knowledge to make your dreams of business ownership come true. This interactive two-hour seminar will deal with the key information you need to consider as you move forward.
Indian River State College, Chastain Campus

NEW ! Marketing Strategies that Convert to Sales--01/22/2020--C0308
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Are you a small business owner that knows good marketing will increase sales, but you're not sure how to get started? Or, how to improve what you're already doing by tracking your marketing results? Then this workshop will be a valuable resource for you. It will focus on how to nurture your leads using a variety of marketing strategies.
Indian River State College Chastain Campus

Simple Steps for Starting Your Business, Series 1, Workshops 2 - 4 --01/29/2020--C0308 

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 10:00 AM EST -to- Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 12:00 PM EST
Is Starting a Business Right for You? It's time to make the decision to proceed & make your business idea a reality! Simple Steps to Start a Business is a comprehensive, yet manageable series of workshops designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs start & grow successful businesses. Topics include Business Concepts, Marketing, & Financial Projections.
Indian River State College Pruitt Campus

Marketing 101 - Vero Beach
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
If you're currently running your business, you believe that you're the best kept secret in town, or you're just not getting the amount of business that you think you should, then sign-up of this workshop!! Thinking of starting a small business? This workshop will give you ideas on how to do your marketing plan and best market your small business.
Indian River County Chamber of Commerce

More information and Registration: https://treasurecoast.score.org/content/take-workshop-60 

The SBA and SCORE

Do you know about all the great resources available to you?

There are amazing resources available to Small Business that can help you build and grow your business.  Many of them are even free! 

The Small Business Development Center features a myriad of services that include the following and so much more!

• Consulting
• Training
• Research
• Growth Acceleration
• Capital Access
• Organizational Development

There are three offices on the Treasure Coast:  Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Ft. Pierce

Have a visit to their "Services" page and see what might help you! 

SCORE Treasure Coasts has a terrific lineup of online resources crafted just for you:

• Online Marketing for Small Business Owners
• Simple Steps for Starting Your Business
• Startup Basics
• Marketing Basics
• Finance Basics
• Management Basics

At the core of their efforts is a Mentoring program that pairs you with highly successful and experienced business professionals and entrepreneurs, that deliver valuable, timely, and practical advice. Whether you are a start-up or an existing business, their mentors will help you and your business open new markets, reach new customers, and achieve new goals.

Internet Insights Guide for Small Business

Get our new Free Guide for Small Business.

We are pleased to offer a brief guide for Small Business that covers many of the things business owners must think about when considering an entry to the internet.  The internet has been something of the Wild West from the beginning and only continues to grow.  And while it is tough to sort through all of the constant changes, this guide can help you with a few of the important issues.

Topics include:  

• Why be Online
• Branding
• Budgets
• URL Selection
• SEO
• More...

Before you launch, or even if you already have, you will be better informed on important considerations for your website.

Get your copy today:

http://tiny.cc/InternetInsights

Small Business and the Internet

Where are we now?

Wow!  What a transformation we have had over the last few years.  The growth of, and dependency on, the internet has been nothing short of astounding.  Currently over 90% of US adults use the internet.  And that is only adults!  Imaging the numbers for kids!

The advances in mobile technology have driven huge increases in website traffic conducted on a mobile device.  Consider that nearly 70% of web traffic happens on a mobile device.  Not surprising given how many noses we can see around us buried in a cell phone!

Important notes for your Business:

• 57% of users will not recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site.
• 80% of B2B buyers report that mobile played a significant role in a recent purchase.
• 53% of mobile website visits are abandoned if a site takes longer than three seconds to load.
• 3 in 4 smartphone owners turn to mobile search first to address immediate needs.
• Google drives 96% of mobile search traffic.

Having a website gives you a powerful marketing and sales tool that is as dynamic and flexible as you need and want.  You can answer potential customer questions and concerns through an easy to edit blog featured on your website.  You can build a database of folk to whom you can market your products and services by collecting email addresses with a simple form.  You can offer easy access to any forms, brochures or other printed materials via downloads.  You can allow visitors to schedule appointments and/or meetings right on your site.  The list goes on…..

Take a moment to think about how YOU find products and services!  I’ll bet the answer is right in your hand!

Why is the SSL Certificate  important??

There are several reasons this security step is important to you and your customers.

1. SSL provides protection for information on your site.
2. Websites without protection are now flagged as in the example right.
3. Search results could be negatively impacted for websites not protected.

SSL protects your website from being hijacked and lead to some nefarious places!

Your first impression with potential customers arriving at your site could be spoiled by a "Not Secure" image by your web address.  

SeaShell Digital provides SSL Certificates to each and every website we build.  So you are protected from the start.

For more information take a look at this super description from SEO Expert:  Here.