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Is HTTPS Worth Having?

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Is HTTPS Worth Having?

It’s no secret that website security is more important now than ever before. With the number of cyber security attacks and hacking attempts on the rise, it is vital to make sure your business’ website is safeguarded against potential threats. As a small, online-based business ourselves, we know the importance of keeping your customers’ personal information secure and ensuring your website is always available and online. Customers also want to know that your business takes protecting their information seriously; if you don’t ensure this, it can have a negative impact on your business. One of the key ways to make sure that your website is secure is to make the switch to HTTPS (if you haven’t already).

We all know that website security is important, but what if we told you that HTTPS also directly impacts your small business in many other ways too?

So, what is HTTPS?

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. Simply put, HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP. HTTPS is encrypted to increase security while seamlessly maintaining your data transferring process. This is especially important when sensitive information is being transmitted, such as banking information or other confidential data. In addition to website security, there are number of other reasons that HTTPS is important for your business’ website.

Here are three reasons why the switch to HTTPS is worth doing for your business, in addition to the obvious benefit of increased security: 

1. SEO

HTTPS is an important component of your Search Engine Optimization (SEO), as it is one of the major ranking factors considered by search engines. For example, Google recently implemented a change that marks every website without HTTPS as insecure and will receive a SEO penalty, which makes it harder for new customers to find your website. In addition to this, Google marks your website as “not secure” in the browser, which is an immediate red flag for both potential customers and hackers alike. This can negatively impact your ratings and the overall credibility of your business if you fail to update your website to HTTPS.

If you’re not familiar with the importance of SEO, check out our blog “SEO 101” and also look into a Vancouver SEO company, like Trilogy Solutions, for help increasing your SEO rank.

2. Website Functionality

Another key reason that HTTPS is important, is that most websites are starting to make the switch to the more secure option. If your website is not updated to HTTPS and is interacting with another website that is more secure, there can be embedded code or tools that will not work when navigating between the two. Ensuring that your website is running smoothly is important for customer experience and satisfaction, and can be optimized by a Vancouver web design company, like us.

3. Business Credibility

Lastly, if you are not using the most secure type of website, this can affect your company’s credibility and brand reputation. If your customers are accessing your website through Google Chrome or another similar browser and they constantly see the “Not Secure” message, this does not instill confidence in your website or your company as a whole. Consumers will be much more likely to move on to a more secure website, or may question the value your business places on quality and security. This has a direct impact on your company, as people will be more likely to use your competitor’s website and service instead if it appears more credible and safer.

The reputation of your company as a small business is crucial to maintain. Securing your website data is equally as important because the reality is, if your customers experience issues with your website it can cost you your reputation. Your business’ credibility, website functionality, and SEO have such a huge impact on your company, so making the switch to HTTPS should be your next step in building your brand and ensuring that your site remains secure and intact at all times.

If website security and website design are not your strong suit, this is a great task to delegate to a professional. Reach out to a company that specializes in website hosting Vancouver, like Trilogy Solutions, to make sure your website is created in a way that is functional and secure.

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The Importance of Branding

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The Importance of Branding

Your brand is one of the most important parts of your company. It showcases your tone, style, and gives your consumers an experience that helps distinguish your services or products from a competitor’s. In short: people will remember your company by its brand, so it’s worth investing time and energy in to ensure it is exactly what you want it to be. 

Strong branding not only helps your company or product stand out, but it also gains trust from your audience. Consumers are likely to choose a company based on how clear and professional looking the branding is, or from a positive experience.

Branding is an important investment that ensures your product or service will be remembered, which will then create consumer loyalty over time. 

If you don’t have a brand yet, or if your brand needs a refresh, here are some quick and easy steps to get you started:

STEP 1: Relating to your Target Audience

Revisit your content strategy and identify the audience you are trying to reach. While creating your brand, you’ll want to keep your target audience in mind. You want people to relate to your brand and immediately feel inspired to choose your product or service over a competitor’s. One of our most recommended services to reach your niche audience is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). If you need support reaching your target audience in the online marketplace, we recommend looking into SEO services in Vancouver after you’ve updated your brand! 

STEP 2: Generate Brand Definition and Identity

Once your audience is clear, the second step is to define your company’s purpose and values. You’ll want to create a statement that gives new customers a clear idea of your company’s values and the cause behind the brand; think of this as your mission statement. You want the name of your company, visual distinction, and your brand’s message and tone to immediately appeal to consumers and draw them in. 

STEP 3: Create the Visuals

Now that you’ve generated your brand’s identity, it’s time to get to work on the visual representation of your business. This includes aspects such as a colour scheme, logo design, and typography to help visually set the stage for what your brand is all about. It is important that the visual aspect of your brand matches the overall identity of your brand, and these go hand-in-hand in reinforcing how you want the world to perceive your business. Once you have some ideas of the direction you want to take, investigate graphic design studios in Vancouver, like Trilogy Solutions, to help make your vision a reality. 

STEP 4: Your Brand Voice

A brand voice is how you connect with your audience. What would your brand sound like if it had a conversation with your consumers? You want to make sure your brand resonates with people to make that instant impact and have them coming back for more. It is also important to make sure that the tone of your language is consistent in every area of your social media and marketing efforts. 

STEP 5: Marketing Updates

Once you have the above aspects of your brand configured, you’ll want to update your website and other social media accounts to stay consistent with your new brand. Make sure that the colour scheme and the wording reflects your brand and is updated across all social media channels. Don’t have a website yet? Don’t stress! Start by finding a website designer in Vancouver BC. Need help with your social media accounts? Look for an Instagram management service; Trilogy Solutions can help in each of these areas… and more.

Whether you are creating a brand from scratch, or doing an update on an existing brand, this process can be intimidating at first but the results of strategic branding are well worth the effort. A clear and successful brand can help you quickly connect with customers, which will help your company grow to its full potential. 

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SEO 101: What it is, how it works and why it’s important for your small business

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SEO 101: What it is, how it works and why it’s important for your small business

It might sound like just another boring techie acronym, but the reality is that SEO is an essential marketing tool and a crucial part of your small business’ digital marketing strategy. If you think about the fact that 90% of online experiences begin with a search engine like Google or Bing, then you know it’s important that your business is at the top of those pages. If your website isn’t ranking on those search pages, then you’re losing out on reaching hundreds, if not thousands, of potential clients or customers. That’s why a good SEO strategy can help drive traffic to your website, improve your online visibility and get you ranking higher on search engine results pages. 

But what is SEO exactly?

SEO, also known as Search Engine Optimization, is the process of optimizing your website to get organic, unpaid, or natural traffic from the search engine results page and aims to improve your website’s position on those pages. By optimizing your website, you are increasing your visibility, increasing your search engine ranking, and helping those people in your target audience reach you. Remember: the higher the website is listed, the more people will see it. 

SEO involves making specific changes to the design and content of your website to make your site more attractive to a search engine. This is done in the hopes that your website will be displayed as the top result on the search engine page. 

To have a good SEO strategy, you need to:

  • Identify keywords relevant to your business with great search traffic potential
  • Create high quality, useful content and optimize it for search engines and users
  • Include relevant links from high quality sites
  • Measure your results

How does it work?

The ultimate goal of a search engine like Google or Bing is to deliver fast, accurate and relevant results to the user. When someone types in a word or sentence in a search engine box they are hoping to find a website with content as closely related to their search as possible. To do this, search engines will scan or crawl different websites to better understand what the site is about. The search engines also scan the site for usability, looking at how easy it is to navigate and read. This is why user-friendly sites tend to have a higher ranking on search engine results pages.

The 3 Pillars of SEO  

Companies that offer SEO services in Vancouver know that getting your brand, website or company ranking high on search engine results pages is a skill that involves continued work over the course of several months or even years. There are three core components of SEO that you need to be familiar with – and take action on regularly: 

  • Technical Optimization: Technical optimization is the process of completing tasks on your site that are designed to improve SEO but that are not related to content. This can include optimizing page speed and image size.
  • On-Page Optimization: On-Page optimization is the process of ensuring the content on your site is relevant and provides a great user experience. This includes targeting specific keywords with your content. Examples include product descriptions, service descriptions or blog posts.
  • Off-Page Optimization: Off-Page optimization is the process of enhancing your site’s search engine ranking through activities off your site. This is mainly through backlinks, which can include social media, Google My Business (and Google Reviews) and links from another reputable sites to yours.

Factors that impact On-Page and Off-Page SEO

SEO is not an easy or quick fix and can take a lot of action and time. It requires daily actions with the goal of long-term success. And knowing what those actions are and the factors that can impact your search engine rankings will help take your SEO strategy from good to great.

1. Content Marketing

In the world of digital marketing, content is key! It can be effective in attracting search engines and can also make your organization more relatable to its audience. The more quality, relevant content pieces you have on your site, the more likely it is search engines will rank your pages higher on the search engine results page. And the more engaging and effective your content is, the more likely visitors will be to spend time on your website.

The content on your website should be well-written and on topics that are most relevant to your target audience. There should also be variety in your content pieces. This can include:

  • Blog posts and articles
  • Social media content
  • Ebooks and papers
  • How-to guides and tutorials
  • Videos and audio recordings
  • Infographics and other visual content

When creating content for your website, it’s important to include specific keywords and phrases. These are relevant words and phrases that a search engine user might type in when looking for answers to their questions, or relevant products/services. By creating content around these keywords, you’re essentially improving your chances of ranking higher for these keywords on search engine results pages. Some examples of these key words are: “SEO services Vancouver”, “ Vancouver SEO agency”, or “Vancouver SEO company.”

2. On-Page Optimization

On-page optimization strategies are those that take place directly on your website. While content is considered one piece of on-page optimization, there are many factors that can help improve your SEO.

  • Title-tags: the title tag on each page tells the search engine what the page is about. The tag should be no more than 70 characters and should include both the keyword your content focuses on and your business name.
  • Meta-description: the meta-description on your site tells search engines a little bit more about what each page is about. This should also include your keyword and provide enough details to tell the reader what the content is about.
  • Sub-headings: sub-headings make your content easier to read and help search engines better understand what your content is about.
  • Internal links: building internal links or hyperlinks to other content on your site can help search engines learn more about your site.
  • Image name and ALT-tags: if you are using images on your website or within your blog content, you will also want to include your keyword in the image name and tag. This will help search engines better index your images, which may appear when users perform an image search for a certain keyword or phrase.

3. Off-Page Optimization

While On-Page optimization looks at the factors you can control and change, Off-Page optimization are the factors that you don’t have direct control over but that can also impact your ranking.

  • Trust: trust is becoming more and more important in a site’s ranking on Google as this is how Google determines whether you have a legitimate site that users will want to visit. One of the best ways to improve trust is to build quality backlinks from sites that have a good domain authority.
  • Links: backlinks are one way to build off-page SEO. Reaching out to influencers, or other businesses within your niche that can link back to your site in their own content can be a valuable tool to build your backlinking strategy.
  • Social: another important off-page optimization strategy is social signals, such as likes and shares. The more quality content you publish, the more likely you’ll be to get people who will share your content on their own sites or social media accounts.

Now that you understand the basics of search engine optimization, it’s time to plan your SEO strategy and get started on increasing your search engine ranking! It’s important to be patient when it comes to SEO and know that even the smallest results can bring long-term success. But if the idea of starting to build your SEO strategy seems too big a task, then leave it to the professionals. There are a number of digital marketing agencies, like Trilogy Solutions, that can provide professional SEO services so you can reach your target audience and increase your online visibility. 

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Create a Content Strategy in 8 Simple Steps

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Create a Content Strategy in 8 Simple Steps

Creating quality content for your business is important, but what will set you up for ongoing success is having a solid content strategy in place. A content strategy allows you to recognize your needs as a business and create specific content goals based on those needs. Many companies don’t take the time to thoughtfully plan their content due to time or budget constraints, but investing in your content is one of the best ways to achieve your goals and grow your business long-term. 

If you haven’t created a content strategy yet, or if you think your current strategy could use an update, here are some simple steps below to get you started.

STEP 1: Set your goals

What do you want to accomplish? Consider the purpose of your content for your business and your audience. Are you trying to increase the awareness of your products? Are you looking to support your current customers and build customer loyalty? Narrow down the purpose of your content and write it down. 

STEP 2: Research your target audience

Knowing and understanding your target audience is an essential part of your content strategy; it will help inform all elements of your strategy and will help you deliver relevant information and provide value. Decide who it is you want to reach and do some research to find out what they care about.

STEP 3: Determine your content types

Make note of where your target audience spends their time and which social media platforms they engage in most. Is your time better spent on creating content for Instagram, blog posts, or influencer endorsements? Choose a couple of content types to focus on based on your audience.

STEP 4: Audit your content

Take the content you have already been producing and use it to your advantage. Find out what content had the highest reach to your consumers, and which content was the lowest performing. Use this information to decide what direction you will take next, and continue to make adjustments along the way to ensure you provide ongoing value to your audience.

STEP 5: Research the competition

If you are stuck for ideas on how to improve your content, pay attention to what your competition is doing. What seems to be working well for them that you can include in your strategy? What sets you apart from your competition? Use this information to make specific changes to your content. 

STEP 6: Choose a CMS

Do your research and find a CMS, or Content Management System, that works best for you and your business. The important aspects to consider are content creation, publication, and analytics. You’ll want to invest in a system that manages and tracks your content in an easy way for you to access. If you don’t know where to start, Trilogy Solutions can help! 

STEP 7: Brainstorm content ideas

Go with your gut and brainstorm as many ideas as possible; you can edit for quality afterwards. Some examples are creating a series, running a giveaway or contest, sharing relevant and timely content, showcasing a tutorial, or coordinating a social media takeover. 

STEP 8: Publish and manage content

Now that you’ve thought about the specific content you’d like to create, deciding how to organize your content is the next step. This will allow you to stay on track and create a balanced and diverse amount of content on your social media platforms over time. 

Creating a successful content strategy is not always easy; it takes time, research, decision making and follow through. If you don’t know where to start, or don’t have the time to create a content strategy, please reach out to a Vancouver SEO company or social media marketing agency Vancouver – like us! We would love to help you make a plan to expand your audience and enhance your reach using social media marketing. 

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Increasing your Social Media Impact: 8 Tips for Small Businesses

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Increasing your Social Media Impact: 8 Tips for Small Businesses

Growing your business online through social media platforms can lead to success, especially for small businesses looking to reach a significant customer base. Start by reflecting on the impact social media is currently having on your company: Are you achieving your goals? Are there areas where you feel stuck? Do you wish you had some guidance on what would make the most impact, with the limited time you have available?

Social media marketing can be an amazing tool to connect with others and grow your small business. Here are some tips to create a successful and lasting presence on social media.

1. Start with a plan and clear goals

What do you want your social media presence to achieve? What does “success” look like for your business? Social media can have a huge impact in areas like building brand awareness, engaging with customers, and growing relationships and sales within your social media platforms. It can be overwhelming at first, so do some research and get inspired by the success of other businesses. Decide what your top three marketing objectives are and evaluate which social media platforms will help you achieve them.

2. Know your audience

Identify who your target audience is and where they are spending their time – show up there. Build relationships through consistent posts and interaction, while attracting the followers you want. Connect with your local community by following other local businesses online and actively engage with them; start with people you know personally and grow from there. 

3. Quality over quantity

Social media can seem overwhelming, especially when you don’t have the time to do it all. More isn’t always better when it comes to the number of platforms you join. Choose a couple of key channels to have a strong presence on and make sure that your posts offer value to your audience. 

4. Relationships

Social media is about building relationships, so be yourself, engage with your audience, and post great content. It’s as easy as that! Using live video, such as Instagram Stories, can be a great way to build a connection with your audience. Ask questions that will inspire others and show that their input is valued; the more engaged your audience is, the more likely they are to share your posts. By showing up authentically (not who you think they want you to be) and consistently, you will organically build your relationships.

5. Contests and giveaways

Everyone loves a contest or giveaway that offers something they are interested in – for free! Brainstorm what that is and include something of value to your followers. These can be your most popular products or services, a bundle or partnership, or a new one that you’re promoting. Contests are exciting and act as a simple ice breaker to engage your audience and increase your online visibility. 

6. Consistency

Develop and maintain a monthly content calendar that clearly lays out all of your posts for the month. Focus on posting content regularly to achieve more consistent results and remove the daily uncertainty of how you will show up online. By planning it out in a visual way (we find grid-style or list works best!), it helps you prepare to show up consistently with a plan in hand. 

7. Analytics

In order to evaluate your efforts, you’ll need to employ analytics tools to report on what is working well for your business. Review these as often as needed to see how your efforts are trending, and re-evaluate your focus areas to help you achieve your goals as needed.

8. Delegate

Running a small business means you have a lot on your plate, and your time to spend on social media may be limited. If a consistent and goal-oriented social media presence isn’t something you can add to your already-busy schedule, delegate this task to a capable member of your team or hire a company specializing in social media marketing Vancouver with established social media management packages (like Trilogy Solutions!) to help.

Social media platforms offer your small business limitless opportunities to reach global audiences. By planning the work and then working the plan, your business can grow and thrive in an increasingly active social media landscape. 

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10 Reasons Your Business Needs a Website

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10 Reasons Your Business Needs a Website

Now more than ever people are going online for all their needs for everything from doing their every day grocery shopping to searching for the latest beauty trends. So, what does this mean for the average local business? It means your online presence needs to be strong enough to keep up with the ever-growing, competitive market that is the world wide web. And no, this doesn’t just mean a simple Facebook page and basic DIY website. Instead, you need a well-thought-out marketing plan that includes online, social and mobile components. 

Why, you might ask? Because your potential customers are always searching and it’s your website you want them to land on, not your competitor’s. So, if you are a local businessperson, a company website is one of the most essential marketing strategies you can use – and here’s why. 

1. Your business is open 24/7

While your business may have set operating hours, your website certainly doesn’t. Having a website allows your business to be open around the clock for access to your products and information at any time of the day. Although you may not be available in-person to interact with people looking to do business with you, your website can serve as a point of contact for potential customers on their schedule – which is a sure-fire way to increase your business.

2. Reach a bigger audience

Having a website allows you to reach so many more people than a traditional brick and mortar storefront. With a website your business is visible to people all over the world, not just those in your local community. Millions of people worldwide are out there, waiting to see what your business has to offer, and searching for businesses exactly like yours. Creating a website gives your global customers access to your business from the comfort of their home, even when they are thousands of miles away.

3. Gives your business credibility

A user-friendly, professional looking website can instantly make your business appear credible and sound, something that consumers are always looking for. The old saying, “never judge a book by its cover” doesn’t apply here – first impressions are key to creating a trustworthy and credible website (and are key to building your business and increasing overall sales).

4. Websites are affordable

Building a website isn’t as expensive as it once was. With a variety of platforms to choose from, you can create a simple website for as little as $70/year. And in comparison, to traditional print advertisements, it’s definitely more cost-effective. If you are looking for a more robust option, a Vancouver web design company (like us!) can build customized websites to meet your business’ unique needs.

5. Convenient for the consumer

When you have a website, people can reach your business at a time that is convenient for them – not just when you’re open and available. This makes it more convenient for the consumer, allowing them to look at your products and information on their own time.

6. Expand your business

Launching a website can help expand your business and increase your daily sales. Why? Because your name and product/service are now out there for all to see. A simple Google search can bring up your site, leading potential customers to your business thus increasing your chances of potential sales.

7. Build customer rapport

Having a website also allows you to build customer rapport by providing special offers, loyalty programs and newsletters – all of which let the customer know you appreciate their business.

8. Grow your customer base

A website can help you communicate with your customer base and allow you to build a list of consumer contacts which, let’s face it, is the ultimate marketing tool for any business.

9. Use targeted marketing strategies

A website is a great place to hone your brand – using a specific design style, vocabulary and imagery that are key to your business. By creating a website, you’re ultimately painting a picture of what your business is all about and shaping the narrative of your company. A company blog helps you to get the message, mission and personality of your business in front of a target audience faster than print ads or mailed out brochures.

10. Keep your business competitive

If you want to keep up with your competitors, you need to have a website. If you want to stay relevant and competitive in your industry, it’s important that your business has an active online footprint. The majority of people research a business or service online before making a purchase or using their service. If you don’t have a website, you won’t be able to capture your share of this market.

Ultimately the question of whether or not to create a website is not a simple yes or no, but a question of when. If you want your business to thrive and grow in this digital era, then a website is a definite must. It’s truly one of the best investments you can make for the future of your business. To make the most of your website, use a web design Fraser Valley company like Trilogy Solutions to create a website for you so that you know you’re getting the most out of it as a tool for your business. A professional web design company will ensure your website is search engine optimized, aesthetically pleasing and user friendly. The bottom line: creating a website opens up so many doors for you and your business – it’s the one thing you can do today to help your business be as successful as it can be.

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