How to Choose a Hosting Company for Your WordPress Site

WordPress is arguably the most popular web software on the market, powering more than 60 million websites. The benefits of building your site with WordPress are numerous: A rich and full-featured platform, powerful CRM (customer relationship management) tools and thousands of plugins to enhance the experience.

Best of all, it’s freeâ€"a great price for any small business.

Your website is essential to your business and it has to look professional, with a private domain name. That means you have to choose a hosting company for your WordPress site. These tips will help you narrow it down from the endless choices, to choose a web hosting company that’s right for your small business.

Hosting Requirements for WordPress

The WordPress platform runs on a lightweight script that’s compatible with nearly all quality web hosting companies. The only requirements are:

• MySQL version 5.0 or greater
• PHP version 5.2.4 or greater

Because WordPress is so widely used, many hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installation.

What to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Company

There are tens of thousands of web hosting companies out there, and they’re not all created equally. The most important issues to think about when you’re choosing a web hosting provider for your WordPress site include:

Storage and Bandwidth Allowance

In many cases, this is not an issue. The major hosting companies generally offer unlimited storage for your content and unlimited bandwidth to handle any levels of traffic.However, it’s still a good idea to check the fine print in the hosting plan, especially if you’re being offered a discount, and make sure the one you choose offers sufficient resources for your business website.

Customer Support

Reliable customer service is a must for your web hosting company. If something goes wrong with your website (and it’s practically a guarantee that something will), you’ll need a host that can handle the issue right away, so you’re not stuck with a non-functioning website that’s losing you business and harming your reputation.

Look for a hosting company that offers 24/7 support by phone, email and live chat. Make sure to test the support features before committing to a web hosting contract, and ensure that they suit your needs.

User Reviews

Reading reviews from web hosting customers is a great way to make sure the company is stable, well-regarded, and apt to be around for a long time. Unfortunately, it’s easy for a brand new, inexperienced business to put up a professional-looking sales page that looks a lot more reputable than it is.

Look for generally positive customer reviews, preferably a mixture of older and newer entries that establish both the longevity and the quality of the hosting company.

Cost

Money isn’t everything, but when it comes to a web hosting company, paying a little more is often worth it. When considering the cost to host your WordPress site, expect to pay between $4 and $7 per month for a good quality provider with strong customer service. Often, lower priced hosting services come with limitations, poor customer service, and an increased risk of server downtime.

You should also avoid “free” website hosting altogether because most of these services are subsidized by advertisements that run on your site.

A Quick Selection of Great Choices for WordPress Hosting

The web hosting companies below offer a one-click WordPress platform installation, reasonably priced plans, unlimited hosting and responsive customer service:

BlueHost: Plans starting at $4.95 per month, with 50% off for the first month.

HostGator: Annual plans starting at $3.96 per month.

HostMonster: Plans start at $4.95 per month.

What tips do you have to choose a web hosting company for your WordPress site?

Choice Photo via Shutterstock

7 Items You Should Always Include in Your Privacy Policy

What’s one crucial item that every web property should include in their Privacy Policy?

The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

1. Age-Related Issues

Collecting information about minors is particularly problematic, so you need to lay out both any information you collect about your young users and any expectations you have of your users. For example, state whether or not minors can use your website without parental supervision.
- Thursday Bram, Hyper Modern Consulting

2. Personal Information Privacy

Most people are concerned about privacy and how their information will be handled, and for a good reason. Almost anybody you know has had his or her information and privacy mishandled on the Internet at one time or another. Although it may seem like a no-brainer, you should include this information up front, especially during the sign-up process.
- Andy Karuza, brandbuddee

3. Cookie Data

A sophisticated website possesses a series of cookies that track and store users’ session(s) and overall engagement with said website over time. Experienced Web surfers will want to know how these cookies function and what type of data is being extracted from their visits.
- Logan Lenz, Endagon

4. Collected Information

Be as transparent as possible in detailing how users’ collected information will be used. Have a section in the privacy policy titled, “How we use collected information.” Make sure the section includes positive reinforcements like “to improve our site,” “to personalize user experience” and “to process payments.”
- Brett Farmiloe, Digital Marketing Agency

5. Information Usage

The most crucial item for every website’s privacy policy is a clear statement of how the site owner may use the information and whether that usage includes or may include sharing the information with others. Secondly, it should include instructions on how to opt out of email communications and how to prevent the site from sharing personally identifiable data. The cookie policy is third.
- Jay Wu, A Forever Recovery

6. Everything Necessary

Your privacy policy must contain at least five items: the personal information collected, the categories of third parties with whom your company shares the information, how consumers can review and request changes to their information, how your company notifies consumers of material changes to your privacy policy and the effective date of your privacy policy.
- Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC

7. A Customizable Privacy Clause

Some enterprise companies will choose not to use a product based on the stated privacy policy. Your company might have a privacy policy that covers 99 percent of all scenarios, but for those few who require something special, let them know that you’re willing to work with them. Make it really easy for them to get in touch with you so they don’t look elsewhere.
- Jim Belosic, Pancakes Laboratories/ShortStack

7 Items You Should Always Include in Your Privacy Policy

What’s one crucial item that every web property should include in their Privacy Policy?

The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

1. Age-Related Issues

Collecting information about minors is particularly problematic, so you need to lay out both any information you collect about your young users and any expectations you have of your users. For example, state whether or not minors can use your website without parental supervision.
- Thursday Bram, Hyper Modern Consulting

2. Personal Information Privacy

Most people are concerned about privacy and how their information will be handled, and for a good reason. Almost anybody you know has had his or her information and privacy mishandled on the Internet at one time or another. Although it may seem like a no-brainer, you should include this information up front, especially during the sign-up process.
- Andy Karuza, brandbuddee

3. Cookie Data

A sophisticated website possesses a series of cookies that track and store users’ session(s) and overall engagement with said website over time. Experienced Web surfers will want to know how these cookies function and what type of data is being extracted from their visits.
- Logan Lenz, Endagon

4. Collected Information

Be as transparent as possible in detailing how users’ collected information will be used. Have a section in the privacy policy titled, “How we use collected information.” Make sure the section includes positive reinforcements like “to improve our site,” “to personalize user experience” and “to process payments.”
- Brett Farmiloe, Digital Marketing Agency

5. Information Usage

The most crucial item for every website’s privacy policy is a clear statement of how the site owner may use the information and whether that usage includes or may include sharing the information with others. Secondly, it should include instructions on how to opt out of email communications and how to prevent the site from sharing personally identifiable data. The cookie policy is third.
- Jay Wu, A Forever Recovery

6. Everything Necessary

Your privacy policy must contain at least five items: the personal information collected, the categories of third parties with whom your company shares the information, how consumers can review and request changes to their information, how your company notifies consumers of material changes to your privacy policy and the effective date of your privacy policy.
- Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC

7. A Customizable Privacy Clause

Some enterprise companies will choose not to use a product based on the stated privacy policy. Your company might have a privacy policy that covers 99 percent of all scenarios, but for those few who require something special, let them know that you’re willing to work with them. Make it really easy for them to get in touch with you so they don’t look elsewhere.
- Jim Belosic, Pancakes Laboratories/ShortStack

The Franchise Sales Process Has Changed

Things have really changed for franchise salespeople (also known as franchise development managers) in the past decade. Technology is partly to blame for the some of the changes that have come down the pike.

Today’s franchise sales professionals have had to adapt to these changes in order to sell new franchises. Let’s see how and why.

The Franchise Sales Process Used To Be Simpler

It used to be that franchise salespeople would arrive at the corporate office of the franchisor they were working for, grab some coffee, go to their desk, open their daily planners and start dialing. In addition, there were only a few places in which to find prospective franchise owners to even call. Some of these places hardly account for any of the calls that franchise salespeople make these days. For example: Business magazines.

It used to be that all you had to do was fill in your name, address and telephone number (no line for an email address) on a contact form located on the bottom of a franchise opportunity print ad and mail it in. You would then get a phone call from the franchise salesperson who would verify your information-and your interest, and send out a print brochure. This brochure wasn’t just any old brochure. It was an all color, expensive print brochure. And, it wasn’t cheap to mail.

Fast-forward to now. How many people fill in contact forms found in print publications these days? Better yet, how many print publications even have contact forms available to fill out and mail?

But, prospective franchise owners still purchase print magazines that focus on the franchise and business opportunity niche. It’s just that once they find an opportunity that interests them in magazines like Entrepreneur magazine, Franchise Times, Small Business Opportunities magazine, The Franchise Handbook and the Business Opportunities Handbook, they jump online to learn more and request information directly from the company’s website.

Changes In Franchises Sales/New Franchisee Acquisition

Many things that have changed in franchise sales and new franchisee acquisition.

I reached out to a couple of franchise sales/development professionals to find out what some of the changes are that they’re seeing and experiencing first-hand.

Chip Baranowski, VP of Franchise Development for Honest-1 Auto Care, was kind enough to share the following information (including some helpful tips) with me:

With the advent of the Internet, serious franchise candidates want to be able to do a lot of their research on your franchise prior to engaging you in the sales process. Franchisors need to make sure that they have superb websites with more information for the potential prospects.

Franchisors need to fish in a lot of different ponds when it comes to lead generation. Franchise companies in the past would focus on one or two sources in order to get deals done. You can’t do that anymore; you need to be in a lot of different places. We use franchise web portals, social media, PR, franchise brokers, business brokers, networking events, grass roots marketing and job boards to generate interest in our franchise.

Franchisors need to have a solid sales process that educates and vets potential franchisees. Today’s franchise sales process needs to be focused, finding out if the franchise concept is a good fit for the prospect and if the prospect is a good fit for the franchise system… and not just on getting the sale. If the prospect is not a fit, the franchise company should be willing to walk away from the deal and not just do it for the franchise fee. A good sales process allows franchise salespeople to weed out candidates that are not serious, and give the franchise company the ability to focus on prospects that are serious.

It’s great to hear a franchise development executive talking about the benefit of having a good sales process in place. And, when I say “benefit,” I’m referring to the fact that good franchisors look at their businesses in a long-term way. They weed out candidates that aren’t a good fit for their concept. Doing that can slow the growth of the system short-term, but in the long run, the franchisor benefits as they’ll probably have higher-grossing franchisees in which to collect royalty payments from.

Average and below-average franchisors tend to take the short-term view when it comes to awarding franchises. They choose average candidates that may not be an ideal fit but have franchise fee checks in hand. That’s because no one wins if the franchise is not a good fit for both parties.

Mandi Brandon is the Director of Operations at Color Glo International and is heavily involved in new franchisee acquisition:

At Color Glo International we have experienced many changes in franchise sales.  Our franchise selling methods have changed dramatically over the years.  Today it is our top priority to attentively protect our brand and corporate culture by recruiting only candidates who are a fit from both our corporate perspective and the perspective of our franchisees’.  We have found that this creates a greater demand for our franchise.  Qualified leads that fit our franchise concept have proven to not only generate greater sales for the franchisee but also for the franchisor as well as lasting relationships.

Our top lead sources for new franchisees are most often referred to us from the Internet; not because of paid advertising as before. As time passes we have learned that referrals and organic searches are the lead sources to watch, genuine reviews and nurtured relationships both with your franchisees and their customers.  Just as we rely on the Internet to show us reliable and trusted services and products, the same is true for franchise sales.  Your referrals, franchisees and their customers are your sales team; their rave reviews and exceptional services create conversation on the Web and a greater presence for your brand.

Mandi’s take on referrals, franchisees, and customers being the sales team was interesting and true. The ability (because of the Internet) that all of us have to instantly let our feelings be known about our experience with a specific business is powerful.

Review sites like Yelp are quickly becoming high-traffic websites. Websites that have a lot of traffic (and good content) tend to rank high on Google and Bing. So, if you’re on the hunt (online) for that perfect franchise, chances are pretty good that you’ll see a consumer review website appear in your search. Visiting a review site allows you to see how the public feels about the service or product that the franchise you’re looking into sells. That’s a good thing.

The Information Economy

Franchisors have had to adapt to the rapid changes that have taken place during the past decade.

Instead of relying strictly on print advertising to attract potential franchisees, they’ve had to learn how to use several different marketing techniques in order to attract high-quality franchisees.  In addition, they’ve had to learn how to provide the kind of information that today’s prospective franchise owners want and need in order to make informed decisions.

These days, there’s no substitute for great information.

Searching Online Opportunities Photo via Shutterstock

Big Changes at Dell Including Release of Stunning New Latitude Ultrabooks and Laptops

As many have probably already heard, last Thursday Michael Dell, founder and Chief Executive of Dell, gained shareholders’ approval to buy and take Dell private at a price of $25 billion.With this change, he revealed that the company, which is currently the worlds third largest PC maker, will invest strongly in the personal computer and tablet markets. While opinions vary on whether this is the right move for the company, he seems determined to turn his company around and battle those picking up more of the share of this market. And it looks like they are on the right path to do just that, with the release of of three new PC series: the Latitude 7000 series of business-class ultrabooks, Latitude 5000 series of laptops and Latitude 3000 series of reliable and affordble devices.

With this new suite, Dell has created business class devices that  balance sophisticated design, quality construction and compromised durability and offer the the upmost in  security and manageability.

“These exciting new additions to the Latitude line provide our commercial customers what they’ve been asking for by bringing touch capability to the workspace at desirable price points,” said Kirk Schell, vice president, commercial computing group at Dell. “The new Latitude 7000 Series builds on the success of the award-winning XPS and Latitude 6430u to redefine the corporate laptop, complete with security, manageability, reliability and beautiful design. And with the Latitude 5000 and 3000 Series, we’ve addressed the needs of today’s dynamic workforce by enabling easy entry into business-class computing.”

The sleek and powerful Latitude 7000 Series are the most secure and manageable Ultrabooks, with outstanding reliability, and epitomize mobility at its finest with business-class style. Touted as the Ultrabook to be loved by IT professionals and end-users alike, these thin, light and beautiful Ultrabooks completely redefine the corporate laptop.

The Dell Latitude 7000 Series Ultrabooks are:

• Made to move. The 12-inch model starting at just 20 millimeters thin and 1.3kilograms (2.99 pounds)
• Easy for IT to manage. Integrated management capabilities including Dellunique Intel vPro extensions and automated tools that plug into Microsoft System Center and Dell KACE, make these ultrabooks easy to manage.
• Ultimate security. The world’s most secure Ultrabooks with best-in-class endpoint security solutions that include comprehensive encryption, advanced authentication and leading-edge malware protection from a single source, and featuring the highest level of FIPS 140-2 (level 3) certification for system disk encryption
• Reliability. Designed for reliability, passing rigorous third-party durability testing and crafted with premium materials such as aluminum, a Tri-metal chassis and Corning Gorilla Glass NBT for scratch and damage resistance and optimal brightness
• Backwards Compatible. The only corporate Ultrabook designed to be backwards compatible with existing (E-) Latitude docks
• WiGig Wireless Docking. Available with innovative WiGig wireless docking, making Dell Ultrabooksthe first and only that let you connect your display and other peripherals without messy cords

The Latitude 7000 series begins at $1049 USD and are available worldwide with touch-enabled systems.

The new Latitude 5000 Series laptops are designed to help businesses of all sizes adopt secure, manageable and reliable notebooks. The Latitude 14 and Latitude 15 5000 Series are designed to meet most business needs with 14.1-inch or 15.6-inch display options and other key features, such as:

• Reliable mobile productivity with up to Intel Core i7 ultra low voltage processorsfor extended battery life, a discrete graphics option for more processing power and a higher quality visual experience, and SSD or Performance Solid State Hybrid Drive options
• Corning Gorilla Glass NBT on the touch displays for scratch and damage resistance and optimal brightness
• Mobile broadband, Bluetooth and Wireless LAN options for mobility and connectivity virtually anywhere, and an HD webcam and microphone array for efficient, anywhere collaboration
• Compatible with Latitude E-family docking designed to connect seamlessly with award-winning Dell monitors, wireless keyboard and mouse

The 5000 series will be available beginning October 2013.

The Latitude 3000 Series is Dell’s newest line of entry-level laptops for education and small business customers. The Latitude 14 and 15 3000 Series laptops offer:

• Durable and reliable chassis that have undergone Highly Accelerated Life Testing, including hinge testing, keyboards and shocks
• 4th Generation Intel Core processors with Turbo Mode for fast data processing
• Business class discrete graphics with up to 2GB3 video memory for more processing power and a higher quality visual experience
• Thin (21 to 25mm) and light ( starting at 4.3lbs / 2.0kg) design for great mobility
• Choice of 14-inch and 15.6-inch Anti-Glare LCD for comfortable visualization and optional touch displays
• Integrated microphone and HD Webcam for remote collaboration and interaction

The Latitude 3000 series is available now worldwide and begins at $599 USD.

With greater focus on the personal computing market and a track record of creating high quality, reliable products, these new products from Dell, and others that follow, will certainly be worth looking at, especially by small businesses who need to make investments in products that will provide them essential business functionality and quality.

Big Changes at Dell Including Release of Stunning New Latitude Ultrabooks and Laptops

As many have probably already heard, last Thursday Michael Dell, founder and Chief Executive of Dell, gained shareholders’ approval to buy and take Dell private at a price of $25 billion.With this change, he revealed that the company, which is currently the worlds third largest PC maker, will invest strongly in the personal computer and tablet markets. While opinions vary on whether this is the right move for the company, he seems determined to turn his company around and battle those picking up more of the share of this market. And it looks like they are on the right path to do just that, with the release of of three new PC series: the Latitude 7000 series of business-class ultrabooks, Latitude 5000 series of laptops and Latitude 3000 series of reliable and affordble devices.

With this new suite, Dell has created business class devices that  balance sophisticated design, quality construction and compromised durability and offer the the upmost in  security and manageability.

“These exciting new additions to the Latitude line provide our commercial customers what they’ve been asking for by bringing touch capability to the workspace at desirable price points,” said Kirk Schell, vice president, commercial computing group at Dell. “The new Latitude 7000 Series builds on the success of the award-winning XPS and Latitude 6430u to redefine the corporate laptop, complete with security, manageability, reliability and beautiful design. And with the Latitude 5000 and 3000 Series, we’ve addressed the needs of today’s dynamic workforce by enabling easy entry into business-class computing.”

The sleek and powerful Latitude 7000 Series are the most secure and manageable Ultrabooks, with outstanding reliability, and epitomize mobility at its finest with business-class style. Touted as the Ultrabook to be loved by IT professionals and end-users alike, these thin, light and beautiful Ultrabooks completely redefine the corporate laptop.

The Dell Latitude 7000 Series Ultrabooks are:

• Made to move. The 12-inch model starting at just 20 millimeters thin and 1.3kilograms (2.99 pounds)
• Easy for IT to manage. Integrated management capabilities including Dellunique Intel vPro extensions and automated tools that plug into Microsoft System Center and Dell KACE, make these ultrabooks easy to manage.
• Ultimate security. The world’s most secure Ultrabooks with best-in-class endpoint security solutions that include comprehensive encryption, advanced authentication and leading-edge malware protection from a single source, and featuring the highest level of FIPS 140-2 (level 3) certification for system disk encryption
• Reliability. Designed for reliability, passing rigorous third-party durability testing and crafted with premium materials such as aluminum, a Tri-metal chassis and Corning Gorilla Glass NBT for scratch and damage resistance and optimal brightness
• Backwards Compatible. The only corporate Ultrabook designed to be backwards compatible with existing (E-) Latitude docks
• WiGig Wireless Docking. Available with innovative WiGig wireless docking, making Dell Ultrabooksthe first and only that let you connect your display and other peripherals without messy cords

The Latitude 7000 series begins at $1049 USD and are available worldwide with touch-enabled systems.

The new Latitude 5000 Series laptops are designed to help businesses of all sizes adopt secure, manageable and reliable notebooks. The Latitude 14 and Latitude 15 5000 Series are designed to meet most business needs with 14.1-inch or 15.6-inch display options and other key features, such as:

• Reliable mobile productivity with up to Intel Core i7 ultra low voltage processorsfor extended battery life, a discrete graphics option for more processing power and a higher quality visual experience, and SSD or Performance Solid State Hybrid Drive options
• Corning Gorilla Glass NBT on the touch displays for scratch and damage resistance and optimal brightness
• Mobile broadband, Bluetooth and Wireless LAN options for mobility and connectivity virtually anywhere, and an HD webcam and microphone array for efficient, anywhere collaboration
• Compatible with Latitude E-family docking designed to connect seamlessly with award-winning Dell monitors, wireless keyboard and mouse

The 5000 series will be available beginning October 2013.

The Latitude 3000 Series is Dell’s newest line of entry-level laptops for education and small business customers. The Latitude 14 and 15 3000 Series laptops offer:

• Durable and reliable chassis that have undergone Highly Accelerated Life Testing, including hinge testing, keyboards and shocks
• 4th Generation Intel Core processors with Turbo Mode for fast data processing
• Business class discrete graphics with up to 2GB3 video memory for more processing power and a higher quality visual experience
• Thin (21 to 25mm) and light ( starting at 4.3lbs / 2.0kg) design for great mobility
• Choice of 14-inch and 15.6-inch Anti-Glare LCD for comfortable visualization and optional touch displays
• Integrated microphone and HD Webcam for remote collaboration and interaction

The Latitude 3000 series is available now worldwide and begins at $599 USD.

With greater focus on the personal computing market and a track record of creating high quality, reliable products, these new products from Dell, and others that follow, will certainly be worth looking at, especially by small businesses who need to make investments in products that will provide them essential business functionality and quality.

Man Spends $1,000 to Tweet About Bad Service

How far would your customers go to tweet about your products or services? Would they spend $1,000 to tell the world about you? That would be great if what they had to say was complementary. But suppose the reverse were true. How far would a customer go to complain about a bad product or tweet about bad service?

Chicago-based business man Hasan Syed paid about $1000 to promote his angry tweets, like the one below, to all of British Airways, after he said the airline lost his father’s luggage:

Media reports say the airline finally found and returned the bags and apologized.

We generally think of social media in terms of marketing messages. But, of course, customers can also have their say. And it turns out some of them may actually pay to do so!

Syed even shared some of his stats with his followers showing details about the level of engagement he received:

The promoted tweets were seen by more than 50,000 people in the UK and New York area where the promoted posts ran, reports Business Insider.

Promoted tweets are just like ordinary tweets but are specially targeted to reach current and potential followers, according to Twitter.

Tweets can be targeted based on gender, keyword, interests, geography, device and more.

This situation made the news because it seems to be the first (or certainly one of the first) uses of Twitter advertising to make sure a complaint is heard.  It’s all the more reason to deal with customer service issues quickly.  Because not only may a disgruntled customer take to Twitter, but if you make them angry enough, they have the power to amplify their complaint through advertising.

It’s a leveling of the playing field â€" in a way that may catch some companies flat footed.

Angry Blue Bird Photo via Shutterstock

Could Your WordPress Site Be Hacked? Lessons Learned from Frogs are Green and 6 Steps To Protecting Your Site

If your business’s website is hosted on WordPress, a New Jersey company has a cautionary tale for you. Frogs are Green, a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating the world about the endangerment of frogs and amphibians, recently had an incident which made them realize how vulnerable a website can be.

Frogs are Green was making significant progress, including a feature on Discovery.com, when someone hacked into the nonprofit’s site. A hacker, taking advantage of a vulnerability in the organization’s outdated version of WordPress, inserted code that had the potential to unleash a virus on anyone who visited the site. Although programmers worked hard to remove the code, it stubbornly remained, leaving Frogs are Green no choice but to completely recreate its databases.

“There was no other option but to create a new database and rebuild the website over again,” explains Frogs are Green co-founder Susan Newman. “The online store was gone and has since made a new appearance with some of the products, and the analytics went crazy. From 15,000 visitors a month and a low bounce rate of 8% the site went to 8,000 visitors a month and a bounce rate of 80%.”

The redesign means months of hard work for an organization that had worked so hard to get where it was before the hacking incident. Frogs are Green was forced to buy a new hosted space, install the latest version of WordPress, and upload the XML file from the old site. The organization transferred its image files over FTP, but all of the company’s online galleries have to be recreated.

Since Frogs are Green’s mission is education, Newman offers these tips to help prevent other small businesses from facing what her nonprofit has faced this year. Those tips include:

• Make sure you have the latest version of WordPress. The latest stable version of WordPress is available through WordPress.org. Existing WordPress users can upgrade their versions through this link. By setting up reminders to check for new versions at least once every few months, small businesses can ensure their sites are always safe.
• Make sure your site is always backed up. Chances are, you wouldn’t take the chance on your work files being there indefinitely, so why would you take that chance with your website? Your site should be regularly backed up so that if something happens, your designer can take your site back to the version that existed before the incident.
• Download the XML file monthly. As Frogs are Green learned the hard way, having an XML file can save your site if a hacking attempt occurs. The XML file contains the information about your WordPress site, which can then be imported into the new site if necessary. Great instructions for exporting your WordPress XML file are available here.
• Make sure you have a complete downloaded version of your site. Your site backup should include all images and coded pages so that if a hacking attempt occurs, you can get your site back up quickly. WordPress recommends using an FTP program to download your entire WordPress directory.
• Use spam tools on your site. Your site should utilize spam software like Akismet or Google’s reCAPTCHA to prevent spambots from bombarding your site with junk.
• Set up hard-to-guess username and password. If your site’s administrator account username is some variation of “Admin” or “Administrator,” you may as well invite hackers in. Same for easy-to-guess passwords. Use complex passwords with as many characters as possible and safeguard the password to avoid it falling into the wrong hands.

While there’s no guarantee your small business will never fall prey to hacking attempts, by taking measures to back up your data, you’ll avoid being down for months as your site is rebuilt. As you’re setting up security measures, be sure your site is set up not only to protect your customer data, but also to protect your own content from infiltration.

Could Your WordPress Site Be Hacked? Lessons Learned from Frogs are Green and 6 Steps To Protecting Your Site

If your business’s website is hosted on WordPress, a New Jersey company has a cautionary tale for you. Frogs are Green, a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating the world about the endangerment of frogs and amphibians, recently had an incident which made them realize how vulnerable a website can be.

Frogs are Green was making significant progress, including a feature on Discovery.com, when someone hacked into the nonprofit’s site. A hacker, taking advantage of a vulnerability in the organization’s outdated version of WordPress, inserted code that had the potential to unleash a virus on anyone who visited the site. Although programmers worked hard to remove the code, it stubbornly remained, leaving Frogs are Green no choice but to completely recreate its databases.

“There was no other option but to create a new database and rebuild the website over again,” explains Frogs are Green co-founder Susan Newman. “The online store was gone and has since made a new appearance with some of the products, and the analytics went crazy. From 15,000 visitors a month and a low bounce rate of 8% the site went to 8,000 visitors a month and a bounce rate of 80%.”

The redesign means months of hard work for an organization that had worked so hard to get where it was before the hacking incident. Frogs are Green was forced to buy a new hosted space, install the latest version of WordPress, and upload the XML file from the old site. The organization transferred its image files over FTP, but all of the company’s online galleries have to be recreated.

Since Frogs are Green’s mission is education, Newman offers these tips to help prevent other small businesses from facing what her nonprofit has faced this year. Those tips include:

• Make sure you have the latest version of WordPress. The latest stable version of WordPress is available through WordPress.org. Existing WordPress users can upgrade their versions through this link. By setting up reminders to check for new versions at least once every few months, small businesses can ensure their sites are always safe.
• Make sure your site is always backed up. Chances are, you wouldn’t take the chance on your work files being there indefinitely, so why would you take that chance with your website? Your site should be regularly backed up so that if something happens, your designer can take your site back to the version that existed before the incident.
• Download the XML file monthly. As Frogs are Green learned the hard way, having an XML file can save your site if a hacking attempt occurs. The XML file contains the information about your WordPress site, which can then be imported into the new site if necessary. Great instructions for exporting your WordPress XML file are available here.
• Make sure you have a complete downloaded version of your site. Your site backup should include all images and coded pages so that if a hacking attempt occurs, you can get your site back up quickly. WordPress recommends using an FTP program to download your entire WordPress directory.
• Use spam tools on your site. Your site should utilize spam software like Akismet or Google’s reCAPTCHA to prevent spambots from bombarding your site with junk.
• Set up hard-to-guess username and password. If your site’s administrator account username is some variation of “Admin” or “Administrator,” you may as well invite hackers in. Same for easy-to-guess passwords. Use complex passwords with as many characters as possible and safeguard the password to avoid it falling into the wrong hands.

While there’s no guarantee your small business will never fall prey to hacking attempts, by taking measures to back up your data, you’ll avoid being down for months as your site is rebuilt. As you’re setting up security measures, be sure your site is set up not only to protect your customer data, but also to protect your own content from infiltration.

5 Barriers to Better Sales

Don’t make excuses when it comes to making sales. Your company needs them to survive. There are always challenges to making sales and bringing in the revenue you need to make your business a success. But don’t let those challenges stop you. See them as opportunities, not barriers to better sales.

Below are five of the most common challenges every business faces and how to surmount them without making excuses for lack of success.

Your Prospect Already Has a Solution

This, of course, is probably the case, unless your product or service is so revolutionary, you have no competitors.

But did you know that, even if your prospective client or customer already has a vendor providing a service and even a whole process set up around that vendor, chances are they are already looking for a change?

Need more proof?

Check out Raintoday.com’s “How Clients Buy: The Benchmark Report on Professional Services Marketing and Selling from the Client Perspective.” The study surveys more than 200 buyers in 8 service areas, including accounting and financial consulting, IT consulting and services, legal services and more. According the study, at least 53% to 88% of B2B professional services buyers are looking for (or willing to) switch service providers.

What a great opportunity to sell your alternative solution now.

Your Clients Have No Time

We’re all busy. It’s true. And a clients hectic schedule and apparent lack of availability might even cause you to resort to a simple sales pitch instead of the kinds of meaningful conversations you know you should be having to make that sale.

Don’t do it. Potential clients and customers always have time for meaningful conversations, especially ones that can lead to solving a particular problem or pain point.

Think your prospect is short on time? Don’t resort to the sales pitch.

Instead, take the time to engage your prospect about the issues that are really bothering him or her. Ask them the questions that need to be answered. Then see if you have a solution to help.

Your Sales Process is Backwards

Author and columnist Geoffrey James writes on Inc.com that many sales processes remain “vendor centric” and ineffective in today’s business world.

These processes usually involve finding customers, investigating needs, presenting a product or service, making a proposal, answering objections and closing the sale.

Today all that has changed. A study by the Corporate Executive Board Company found most B2B companies are more than halfway through their purchase decision before ever engaging a sales person from your company.

It’s time to give customers the tools they need to learn about products themselves.

You’re Too Focused on Closing

For as long as most remember, sales has been about closing. As the old sales expression says, “Always be closing.”

Trouble is, there’s a new way of selling that may be taking over. John Tabita, Director of Digital Strategy at Haines Publishing, Inc., explains the difference between transactional and consultative sales.

The latter are based on communication, trust and the ability to showcase strong value. They allow entrepreneurs to earn respect, credibility and trust - critical pillars to keep a business sustainable and profitable.

You’ve Got No Time for Content Marketing or Social Media

Like it or not, content marketing and social media are a huge part of the sales process a today. In a world where many buyers are already half way through a sales decision before contacting you, these are important tools to answer questions and represent the value of your products and services early on. Here’s more.

Entrepreneurship remains just as challenging as ever - although there are plenty of ways to make it easier on you. The key to success in business was, is, and always will depend on your ability to market and sell to your clients while creating relationships that will help them stay loyal to your business and vouch for your products.

Which of these barriers to better sales do you find the most challenging when reaching your sales goals?

Dollar Barrier Photo via Shutterstock

5 Barriers to Better Sales

Don’t make excuses when it comes to making sales. Your company needs them to survive. There are always challenges to making sales and bringing in the revenue you need to make your business a success. But don’t let those challenges stop you. See them as opportunities, not barriers to better sales.

Below are five of the most common challenges every business faces and how to surmount them without making excuses for lack of success.

Your Prospect Already Has a Solution

This, of course, is probably the case, unless your product or service is so revolutionary, you have no competitors.

But did you know that, even if your prospective client or customer already has a vendor providing a service and even a whole process set up around that vendor, chances are they are already looking for a change?

Need more proof?

Check out Raintoday.com’s “How Clients Buy: The Benchmark Report on Professional Services Marketing and Selling from the Client Perspective.” The study surveys more than 200 buyers in 8 service areas, including accounting and financial consulting, IT consulting and services, legal services and more. According the study, at least 53% to 88% of B2B professional services buyers are looking for (or willing to) switch service providers.

What a great opportunity to sell your alternative solution now.

Your Clients Have No Time

We’re all busy. It’s true. And a clients hectic schedule and apparent lack of availability might even cause you to resort to a simple sales pitch instead of the kinds of meaningful conversations you know you should be having to make that sale.

Don’t do it. Potential clients and customers always have time for meaningful conversations, especially ones that can lead to solving a particular problem or pain point.

Think your prospect is short on time? Don’t resort to the sales pitch.

Instead, take the time to engage your prospect about the issues that are really bothering him or her. Ask them the questions that need to be answered. Then see if you have a solution to help.

Your Sales Process is Backwards

Author and columnist Geoffrey James writes on Inc.com that many sales processes remain “vendor centric” and ineffective in today’s business world.

These processes usually involve finding customers, investigating needs, presenting a product or service, making a proposal, answering objections and closing the sale.

Today all that has changed. A study by the Corporate Executive Board Company found most B2B companies are more than halfway through their purchase decision before ever engaging a sales person from your company.

It’s time to give customers the tools they need to learn about products themselves.

You’re Too Focused on Closing

For as long as most remember, sales has been about closing. As the old sales expression says, “Always be closing.”

Trouble is, there’s a new way of selling that may be taking over. John Tabita, Director of Digital Strategy at Haines Publishing, Inc., explains the difference between transactional and consultative sales.

The latter are based on communication, trust and the ability to showcase strong value. They allow entrepreneurs to earn respect, credibility and trust - critical pillars to keep a business sustainable and profitable.

You’ve Got No Time for Content Marketing or Social Media

Like it or not, content marketing and social media are a huge part of the sales process a today. In a world where many buyers are already half way through a sales decision before contacting you, these are important tools to answer questions and represent the value of your products and services early on. Here’s more.

Entrepreneurship remains just as challenging as ever - although there are plenty of ways to make it easier on you. The key to success in business was, is, and always will depend on your ability to market and sell to your clients while creating relationships that will help them stay loyal to your business and vouch for your products.

Which of these barriers to better sales do you find the most challenging when reaching your sales goals?

Dollar Barrier Photo via Shutterstock