Web

The Importance of Regular Content Updates for SEO

Posted on by roya
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What is THE #1 deciding factor whether you attract a large number of readers to your website? Besides spending tons of money on ads, the primary factor is search engine optimization (SEO). According to 2022 metrics, there are 3.9 billion searches being conducted every day, and 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine. By focusing on SEO, websites can attract more organic users without having to spend a copious amount of money. What is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it essentially evaluates how far up you come on the Google results when someone searches for specific keywords. The higher you rank, the earlier you come in the results, and the higher visibility you get. For businesses, this translates to online clients being attracted merely by adding the right keywords to your website.One key piece of managing your SEO strategy is ensuring that you provide regular content updates for your readers and search engines. So why is this so important? Why updates are so important? Staying relevantThink of SEO updates like Facebook or Instagram updates. Those familiar with Instagram know that at one-point certain hashtags made posts go viral, while right now reels are THE thing to do in order to gain a broader audience. The same happens with SEO. SEO is constantly changing, which impacts the algorithm and what content creators, or businesses must do to stay relevant. The more relevant you are, the more people you will reach. And the more people you reach, the more likely you are to be able to help more people with your product and/or services. It shows Google you’re still activeThe reality is that there are many websites out there that don’t get updated regularly. This indicates to Google that you’re either not in business anymore, or you’re simply not very dedicated. Google rewards websites that keep their content up to date. By changing the content to be more SEO friendly, Google gets alerted that your content has been changed and your business is still running. This again pushes you up on the search engine results and you are therefore more likely to be found by people searching for your content. It’s important for clientsYour clients want to be able to trust you. They can only do that if you demonstrate yourself to be an expert in your field. If your website is outdated then it no longer is seen as a reliable source. Not only does this reflect poorly with readers, but search engines like Google will also take note. Regularly releasing content as well as updating older content is a great way to stay relevant and show readers that you’re on top of things. Search engines also take regular updates as a positive sign so they are more likely to rank your website higher up search results. How can you make sure your content is up to date with new SEO? Knowing when to update your content is a challenge on its own, and if you haven’t been in the field for a long time, you won’t know what to do. Your most viewed contentIf you run a blog and that blog has certain posts that do better than others, it’s crucial to keep those up to date. If you have to filter and be selective about which posts to update, and which ones to leave for later, these are the ones you’ll want to start with. When people view your posts, you’ll want to make sure that the content is still relevant and also assure that more new readers come to your site to view that post. Get rid of content that’s irrelevantSome content may simply not be applicable to you or your business anymore. If you used to be a commercial and residential roofing company, but you’ve since gotten rid of the residential component, get rid of any old blog posts that reference residential roofing. This distracts, as well as attracts the wrong kind of clientele. Also consider getting rid of content that you don’t love, and that others seem to not love as well. Maybe you have a post that really practically nobody reads. Combine any similar contentIt’s likely that if you’re serving a specific audience, you’re regularly writing content about similar topics. You most likely have several posts around the same exact topic, perhaps just with a different spin. For example, if you are a skincare brand, you’ve probably written a few posts about the importance of cleansing your skin. It’s best to simply combine the two or so posts together. SEO will hold it against you if you have too many posts referencing similar content, and the last thing you want is it to ding you for something you simply have been diligent in writing about. Update ALL contentYour website doesn’t just consist of a blog section full of posts. It also consists of different pages including an About page, the home page, etc. All these pages must be updated regularly in order to rank higher on search engines. If you’re finding the thought overwhelming, simply work on one of your static (aka doesn’t have constant updates with new content like a blog page) pages first, and then work on one section at a time. Soon enough, you’ll have your entire website updated! SEO is complex, the rules are constantly changing, and regularly updating content is just one facet of the process. As a business owner, your main priority is to get new clients in, and SEO is a great way to do that. However, between client meetings, calls, and admin work, it’s unlikely that you also have the time to stay up to date on the new algorithm rules that SEO operates by. That’s why it can be so incredibly helpful to outsource this kind of work. At Nerd Crossing, we can help you with web, digital, and social media marketing. This includes incorporating SEO into your content and updating it regularly, as the SEO world changes and adapts.[…]



ADA and Lawsuits Against Non-Compliant Websites

Posted on by roya
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ADA and Lawsuits Against Non-Compliant WebsitesEvery business has a reputation to uphold, and part of what feeds into that reputation is whether or not a website is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Having a non-compliant website is not a good look, and there are many lawsuits that show what can happen when a website isn’t geared towards inclusion. Americans with Disabilities Act ExplainedEarlier waves of the civil rights movement have focused on protecting the rights of men and women, regardless of what ethnicity, race, religion, or sex they were. In 1990, there was a push for also defending the rights of those with different abilities, which resulted in the creation of the ADA. The ADA impacted and influenced all aspects of how organizations were run and promoted possibilities and opportunities for those with disabilities.The ADA focuses on protecting the rights of disabled people in the workforce by making the workplace physically accessible for everyone regardless of ability. Outside the workplace, the ADA prioritizes the following areas:● Transportation● Public accommodations● Communications● Accessibility to state and local government programs and services ADA and WebsitesAs helpful as it is that the ADA has ensured businesses have accommodations such as wheelchair-accessible ramps, there is little guidance when it comes to website accessibility and compliance. This means that in court cases, it’s up to the court to decide if the websites are compliant or not, without a framework to operate with.How does this impact you? Well, if you’re not aware of the possibility of your website being non-compliant or at risk of being perceived as such, then your business could be sued at any time. Some businesses may be able to shoulder that sort of financial burden, but unless you’re a large business with a huge profit margin and a lawyer on payroll, you most likely can’t afford to be taken to court. ADA and website compliance in the courtWith no guidance about what counts as a clear lack of compliance, courts have argued on whether or not certain online practices are considered to be in line with the ADA or not. Beforegetting into the nitty-gritty of these cases, it’s important to clarify the foundational right being protected that’s up for debate when it comes to website compliance.At the forefront of this debate whether something is ADA compliant is the general determination that access to public space is either restricted or not restricted from those with different abilities. For a while, it was up for debate whether the internet counted as such a public space, but more recent hearings seem to show a preference for determining the internet as such.In Europe, there are guidelines to help businesses be compliant with accessibility called WCAG 2.0 AA. There are levels of compliance — AA standing for the “standard,” A for “below acceptable,” and AAA for “exceptional.” Ideally, a business would want to be between WCAG 2.0 AA and WCAG 2.0 AAA compliant.More and more of these court hearings and cases are coming up, some more prominent than others. In total, there were over 2,000 federal cases in 2018. Here are some examples:1. Domino’s Pizza caseA man named Guillermo Robles filed a lawsuit against Domino’s Pizza because he was unable to use his special screen reading software in order to create his own custom pizza and place an order. The court ruled in his favor since both the Domino’s app and website didn’t score as WCAG 2.0 AA.2. Hobby Lobby caseHobby Lobby was sued by Sean Gorecki, who was legally blind. Using the JAWS reading software, certain aspects of the website couldn’t be read. This website was considered to be non-WCAG 2.0 AA compliant, leading to a win for Gorecki.3. The Harvard and MIT caseEven though Harvard and MIT are known for being innovative and attracting high achievers, the prestigious schools were sued by the National Association of the Deaf as their course materials were all not accessible for those with hearing impairments. Considerations like adding captions weren’t made, and the case is still ongoing.4. BeyoncéMary Condor sued the singer for her website not being accessible to her due to a lack of implementation of WCAG 2.0 AA. Condor had visual impairments and had great difficulty using a screen reader due to a lack of alt-text and keyboard accessibility. How to make your own website ADA compliantNow, it’s clear that none of these businesses had built their websites with the intention to make the lives of those with different abilities difficult. However, even if unintentional, it leaves you and your business vulnerable to a lawsuit. This can be avoided. For example, here are some requirements for your website to be considered compliant with WCAG 2.0 AA standards:• The content must be written in a way that screen readers are able to translate it (this includes providing alt-text for each image, as well as incorporating keyboard access)• Videos must include on-screen captions for those with hearing impairments• A drop-down menu must be accessible via the keyboard as well as mouse Those are just three major ways you can make it more accessible and potentially avoid the pitfalls that lead to court cases. However, there are many more features that can be incorporated to make your website more compliant. Final thoughtsAs a business owner, you want nothing more than for it to thrive. However, it’s always vulnerable to someone stumbling across your website and finding that it’s non-compliant with ADA standards. This can easily be avoided by simply hiring a team to work with you on your website to make all the necessary changes and implement the features that will make it accessible to everyone.Hiring a web team like Nerd Crossing has huge benefits, including your peace of mind and protecting your business. As Nerd Crossing likes to emphasize: first impressions matter, and having your website be compliant makes for a great first impression!



How Secure is Health Tech?

Posted on by GiantsFan
How Secure is Health Tech

For example, 100% of mobile health apps tested by Approov were found to expose “full patient records including protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII).”  Luckily, there are simple ways to safeguard your practice. Read on for tips from the cybersecurity experts at Nerd Crossing.  Secure Your Email  Working from home creates juicy opportunities for criminals to access patient data. For example, your house or apartment network is probably shared with others who should not be privy to patient information. Phishing is the most common cyberattack facing healthcare professionals like you today. And emails are the most common area of weakness. Always think before you click! Hover over links in your emails to make sure they point secure websites. Also, never download files or executables without verifying the source of a message!   Browse Safely  An easy way to keep safe is to access your work email on a private network (VPN) and verify that the websites you are visiting use HTTPS. You should also be using an anti-virus software and avoid creating weak or recycled passwords. Our favorite password managers include Dashlane, LastPass, and Password Safe.   Update Legacy Systems  Before jumping on the health tech bandwagon, a bit of housekeeping might be in order.   Processing data with a legacy system is a huge security risk. The top suspects include Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows XP.  You should also check whether login information and credentials are truly stored securely. These include computer systems as well as medical devices and facility controls. To manage dozens and up to thousands of devices and endpoints at a time, consider using a mobile device management (MDM) software. This will help your IT team allow for the use of personal devices while keeping patient data safe by locking up or even completely wiping devices if a breach occurs.    Contact Our Health Tech Nerds Feeling lost at exactly what to prioritize when it comes to cybersecurity? Our HIPAA certified Nerds are here to help!   Schedule a Free Consult



Tackling IT Headaches for Charter Schools

Posted on by GiantsFan
Tackling IT Headaches for Charter Schools — Nerd Crossing Blog — 10.16.20

Are you a teacher who is overwhelmed by having to be tech support and an educator at the same time? It’s hard enough getting your students to pay attention — much less use technologies you may have never used before.   Across the country, millions of educators just like yourself are adjusting to the challenge of teaching remotely. And the Nerds at Nerd Crossing want you to know that you’re not alone.  With over 25 years of experience helping educators, we can help you navigate this fundamental shift in teaching with ease.  Why IT is Critical for Schools  As a professional educator, you may be aware that the digital divide has gotten much worse during the pandemic. Studies show that students of color and young children are especially prone to falling behind. The friendly experts at Nerd Crossing can address common problems you may be having right now — from wireless access to device updates.   Is your Charter School Tech Savvy?   Can all teachers and administrators implement tech without connectivity issues?  Do you have an on-going plan to deploy devices to your students and to keep them updated? Do you have a 12-18 month IT and Cybersecurity Roadmap? Is funding readily available for necessary tech upgrades?  If your answer is “no” to any of the above questions, your charter school might need an IT consult.   Nerd Crossing Services for Educators  Are new tech and personnel training not covered in your current budget? No worries! With Nerd Crossing, you can request a free one-time consultation to get your IT needs in order.   Our IT for Schools Offers  BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Nerd Crossing helps schools maintain a secure BYOD policy that deters viruses from overloading the network.  Educational Apps and Software: Integrate the latest software for real-time student and parent collaboration, including RenWeb, Zoom, and much more.  iPads and Chromebooks: We manage mass rollouts of common devices for diverse remote learning needs.  Security and Web Filtering: Help students navigate the web without viewing unwanted content — while also preventing the theft of their personal records.   Locking Down Systems: Prepare for the unexpected with a clear protocol for shutting down networks and computers if necessary.  Reliable Wi-Fi: Ensure that students are always connected and prepared for remote learning. Eliminate dead zones and ensure uptime, allowing for maximum student and staff productivity.   Robust Infrastructure: Boost your technology stack for seamless office management and student services.   Data Storage: Manage data in the comfort of your home office, efficiently and cost-effectively. [wc_button type=”primary” url=”https://nerdcrossing.com/contact/” title=”Get A Free IT Roadmap” target=”” url_rel=”” icon_left=”” icon_right=”” position=”left” class=””]Get A Free IT Roadmap[/wc_button] With Nerd Crossing, you don’t need to make a huge upfront investment or slow down operations at your charter school to get your IT and web needs in order. We’re here to help you grow and be successful!  Contact the Nerds today if you are ready to start protecting your critical data and want to train your staff on the latest tactics to stay secure, wherever they are.   [wc_button type=”primary” url=”https://nerdcrossing.com/contact/” title=”Contact Nerd Crossing” target=”” url_rel=”” icon_left=”” icon_right=”” position=”left” class=””]Contact Nerd Crossing[/wc_button]



Work From Home Guidelines

Posted on by GiantsFan
Given the state-wide shelter in place, we are getting a lot of requests to support your employees’ efforts to work from home.  We wanted to share some guidelines that we are recommending to all of our clients as they allow more and more employees to telecommute.  These are not only to make sure your employees are able to work as productively as possible, but to also make sure your company is protected from the additional risks of telecommuting.
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How to Improve Your SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Posted on by GiantsFan
how to improve your seo

There’s no point to having a beautiful website if people aren’t visiting it. That’s where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. SEO is your website’s visibility in search engine results. For example, if you’re a CPA in Concord, and someone searches on Google, Bing, etc. using the keywords “CPA Concord,” your SEO will determine where you land in the results. There are many ways to improve your SEO, and may vary based off of how your website is built. For example, if your website is on the WordPress CMS (Content Management System), there are more effective and easy methods to improve your SEO than if you have a static HTML site. Please read the below checklist to determine how to improve your SEO. You can also see how to improve your SEO on a more technical/back-end level by going to an SEO site checker, like this one here. (Please note: these are not always accurately read.) Keywords are key! Keywords are what people use to search for what they need. It’s good to pepper your website with keywords to get people to find you. There are a few ways to find keywords, but the most effective is to use the Google AdWords Keyword Planner Tool. A great way to add plenty of keywords to your website is to create a blog about your industry. Like this one here! This is a great way to reach out to customers, prospective customers, and other people you wish to market to. Link to other pages within your website (for example: “Contact Us Today” should link to your Contact page), as well as to other quality websites. If you link to other quality information hubs, Google’s algorithm sees that and promotes you. Make sure the website you’re linking to contextually makes sense on your blog or page. Fix any broken links on your website. Often times, other websites will change their navigation, so the URLs may change and break. You can check to see if you have broken links by using this tool. However, please keep in mind that broken link checker tools are not always accurate and may show links that are on the backend, but not on your visible website. If you use WordPress, we highly recommend using the Yoast SEO plugin. If you use other CMS platforms, there are also SEO plugins like EFSEO for Joomla or Magento SEO Suite Ultimate. However, we have not tested the latter two and cannot vouch for them. Use keywords as alt-tags on your images. This is much easier to do on WordPress sites, as you can just click on the image and add it in the alternative text box. WordPress then automatically adds it to your HTML. If you have a static HTML site, you can find the instructions here.  Make sure your website loads quickly. If it loads slowly and your bounce rate goes up, your SEO rankings go down. To make your website load faster, optimize image sizes, cache plugins and/or get rid of plugins you’re not using. There are also many other ways to reduce your load time. Have sufficient contact information throughout your website. Search engine crawlers pinpoint these and determine that you’re more trustworthy, which boosts your SEO ranking. Give a lot of thought to your meta titles and meta descriptions. They should include keywords and be short descriptions about the page you’re trying to get them to click on. This will be the first call-to-action that people see regarding your company. Search engines don’t rank meta descriptions, but the more people click on your site, the higher your SEO rankings get. We hope these basic steps will help improve your website’s ranking, getting you more viewers and customers! There are also many other ways to improve your Search Engine Optimization. If you have any questions about your SEO or your website, please do not hesitate to contact the Nerds. We are always here to help!



Why Mobile-Friendly Sites are Important

Posted on by GiantsFan
importance of mobile friendly sites

While you may have a website for your business, do you know why having mobile-friendly sites are important? Did you know that 80% of internet users own a smartphone? In 2014, mobile internet use had already surpassed desktop access. So what does this mean for your business? It is not only important to have business websites, but they must be mobile-friendly sites as well. A good design means nothing if it can’t be seen by a majority of page visitors on their phone. According to research, Americans spend roughly 87 hours a month on their mobile devices. That means that more than likely, your potential client is going to see your mobile site first. We urge everyone to check out your website on your phone and see if your site is translating properly to mobile. Did you know 61% of people that look up mobile websites will not return if  they had trouble accessing it? If a customer can’t find the menu on their phone, they are most likely not going to visit again. Moreover, 40% will visit a competitor instead. Is your website scaring away your mobile visitors and potential customers? Let us help you reach your potential customer by making your website mobile-friendly! For more information on how we can help create mobile-friendly sites, contact us today. We even offer free web consultations!