Posts by Chris Denny
Contact Form Spam — Fake Copyright Image Violations
Here’s a scam we’ve seen numerous times this year via our clients’ contact forms. They are using scare tactics via allegations of copyright infringement by claiming that you are using images they own on your website. We are always positive these accusations are false because we only use images we’ve purchased or taken ourselves, or…
Read More13 Must-Have Components to Keep WordPress Websites Secure
Hackers, ransomware, and bots are all real things — and they’re annoying (maddening, actually). Here are some ways being hacked can affect your business: Ransom $$$: Ransomware hackers (there’s some mob-level stuff going on here) take control of your systems (not just your website) and demand ransom in exchange for not deleting everything. It’s expensive…
Read MoreADA Compliant Website Requirements
Did you get a letter from an attorney about your website’s ADA compliance? Or, maybe you’ve just realized the importance and value of making your website more accessible for your customers and prospective customers. The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) was initially created with only guidelines and requirements for physical building layouts and features but…
Read MoreEmail Scam — Subscription Renewal Charged
There’s a neverending flow of new and old email scams. A client sent me this subscription renewal scam email with a “…got this today but didn’t reply…just checking with you” note. Here’s the full text of the scam email. DEAR CUSTOMER, We Thank you on the completion of your 5. years. Windows Defender protection plan…
Read MoreChambers of Commerce in Houston
We put together this list of more than 20 chambers of commerce in and around Houston — where we are based — as a resource for our clients and business partners. We hope it may somehow help you improve your sales and/or your supplier base. Businesses Should Know Their Chamber(s) of Commerce For many businesses,…
Read MoreDemographics of Facebook and Instagram Users
There are still — still! — tons of business owners who don’t believe Facebook (or social media, in general) is a valuable place for them to spend their marketing dollars. I’d like to submit that it may be the BEST place to spend your marketing dollars — if you care about ROI and overall effectiveness, anyway.…
Read MoreHow to Make Product Videos or Off-the-Cuff Videos with Your Phone
If you’re trying to sell something — pretty much anything — you should be using video. I think it’s easy to say that the top reasons people don’t make videos are: Shyness or lack of confidence They think too hard about production I can’t do too much about your shyness or confidence but I can…
Read MoreUsing Pokemon Go to Get More Customers
Note: I’ve kept this post ultra simple for people like me who had never played, watched, or cared about (in any way) Pokemon before Pokemon Go came out. Now, I have to admit it’s a fun game and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Here’s how you can use Pokemon Go to increase…
Read MoreWhy Your PPC Campaign Didn't Work
In over 15 years of operating Pay Per Click campaigns (anyone remember Overture?) I can easily say that the vast majority of the time I hear someone complain about how PPC didn’t work for them it is for one of these two reasons — ASSUMING THEIR WEBSITE IS DESIGNED PROPERLY — and they are both…
Read MoreStop Complicating the Idea of Branding
The whole concept or branding and building a brand gets overly complicated by — of course — by MARKETING experts who tend to make it all jargony (a word I just coined), flashy, and important-sounding. Small businesses can keep it simple, though, with one simple rule that helps it all fall into place. Branding is…
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