What is an SSL Certificate and Do I Need One?

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Is your website secure?

If not, Google Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, is letting visitors know about it.

To the left of the web address there is a little security status icon. If you land on a page that doesn’t have SSL,  you’ll see a little circle with an ‘i’ in it. Click on it to reveal a message that announces:

“Your connection to this site is not secure.”

“You should not enter any sensitive information on this site (for example, passwords or credit cards), because it could be stolen by attackers.”

Doesn’t sound great, does it? It gets worse. Since Chrome’s latest release (Chrome 56) in January, non-secure pages containing password and credit card input fields get marked as ‘Not Secure’ in the URL bar: 

secure notification in chrome https ssl

And if Chrome has major concerns about the privacy of your site’s connection, or perceives it to be “Dangerous’ you’ll get this howler:

not secure warning in chrome

How can I make my site secure in Google Chrome?

Have you ever noticed the extra ’s’ at the beginning of the web address? You know, some url’s start with http://www. and others https://www. Well, that little ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.

secure green padlock chrome https url with ssl certificate

When you go to a site that uses HTTPS, the website’s server is using an SSL Certificate. You’ll see a little locked padlock and be informed that the site is ‘Secure’. A little like this:

secure https url with ssl certificate

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL is used to securely encrypt communication between you and a website, so it keeps your details secure from hackers. It’s highly recommended for all e-commerce websites or sites that use forms to ask for personal details you don’t want getting into the wrong hands.

Does my Website need an SSL Certificate?

If you have an e-commerce website (online shop) then yes, absolutely. In fact, most payment gateway providers will insist on it so that you can take payments securely.

However, until recently, most other websites were less likely to need one. But in a bid to improve security across the internet, Chrome’s latest update means many more businesses will want SSL. Companies will want to avoid having scary warnings broadcast to people visiting their website. After all, they can appear quite off-putting to the vast majority of web users.

Benefits of SSL:

  • You don’t scare off your visitors.
  • It helps your Google ranking.
  • You look more professional.
  • It helps you gain trust from potential customers.
  • You get more data in your Google Analytics report.
  • The data passed between you and your visitors is secure.

How do I get an SSL Certificate?

We can help you buy and setup an SSL certificate for your website.
Prices start from just £29 +VAT per year.
Don’t scare your customers away! Contact your local studio to take action today.

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Safer Internet Day: Cyber Safety Tips for Small Businesses

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Safer Internet Day is being celebrated globally today in a bid to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology. The focus for the campaign is working together to protect children and families online. However, with cyber crime cases on the rise, online security is something we should all be considering within our businesses.

Here are 5 basic tips to help your business stay on top of its e-safety game:

  1. Protect your computer
    When it comes to protection against viruses, worms and trojans, every business computer should employ anti-virus technology to help prevent attacks. Install well known anti-virus software and make sure you stay on top of the updates. But remember, anti-virus scanners are only able to detect the nasties that are already listed in their database.
  2.  Be wary of email
    Never open or click on attachments in emails that you weren’t expecting to receive. Even if you recognise the sender’s email address, be sure to exercise caution, their email account may have been hacked. Beware ‘Phishing’: Never click on a link from an email requesting login details, no matter how official it looks.
  3.  Enable automatic updates
    Vulnerabilities in computer applications are a bit like open windows to a hacker. Companies are constantly updating their software to deal with new threats and prevent potential risks. It’s therefore very important to keep your version up to date. Switch on automatic update notifications to be kept up to speed and ensure your apps are as safe as possible.
  4.  Use strong passwords
    For a strong password tip, use a good mix of random words and special characters. Make sure it’s at least 8 characters long. Why not pick a memorable phrase, or a line from a song, and choose the first characters from each word. Don’t use the same password across multiple sites.
  5. Use SSL on your website

    Having an SSL Certificate on your website not only looks more professional and increases trust, it also secures data passed between your website and your visitor. Whether it’s a promo code, personal information, passwords or credit card details, an SSL certificate protects the information you send and receive. Learn more about SSL.

    For more information on how to stay safe and prosper online, contact your local Nettl studio.

Simplifying and streamlining for success

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We often hear the question, isn’t having all your eggs in one basket a bad thing? Nettl of Birmingham’s biggest client couldn’t disagree more.

Southside Business District is a group, run for the advancement of local businesses in the city. Southside has worked with Nettl of Birmingham for many years. Their projects have varied across all medias and platforms. Visual identity is paramount to success in the local area and making them instantly recognisable to the businesses that rely on them.

Southside needed their brand to remain consistent. Consideration for the colour palettes, fonts, and logo spread across many different design agencies was making this hard. The difference between not only designers but also house styles in different studios meant consistency was hard to achieve.

Julia from Southside commented “We work fast and with agility. Often we’re reacting to micro and local changes in the market. We need to get a particular message out quickly and accurately. Whether this is a new website, leaflet or event advertising campaign. Spreading the load was making keeping track of all our marketing almost of a full-time position in itself.”

Front

 

Simplify to save

Southside moved to make things simpler by implementing an all-in-one solution that could allow them to concentrate on their own day to day .

Julia continues “Because there was so much time wasted going back and forth between the different agencies who dealt with all the different medias. We knew a change was required. We wanted a marketing team able to do it all, meaning our digital assets are together. Most of all keeping our costs down and saving us time. Cut out the toing and froing from one company to another. This keeps the consistency the number one goal”.

A successful brand and consistent message help them to showcase the professionalism of their offering and allow them to concentrate on their clients more.

“Furthermore, we expect and received excellent service when everything is all under one roof. The service and personal attention received for the various items of work we have produced are excellent. In conclusion, I would highly recommend that anyone having issues with consistency or time delays with their marketing spread out over many agencies look to this kind of simplification”.

Graficzny.com.pl

 

What’s the big deal with design?

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Whether good or bad, design is everywhere we look! From the moment we wake we are being exposed to and influenced by design of some sort. Be it the clothes we choose to wear that day to the branding on our cereal packaging someone has thought about ‘what goes where’ and more importantly the message it portrays to the audience. For this reason alone, it is vital that design is thought about and prioritised correctly when promoting either yourself or your business.

What’s the message?
Concept precedes design. Designing without a concept is not design, it’s decoration! This goes for everything you design, understand what the end goal is before you start designing. Who are you trying to attract, what message are you trying to deliver, where is the design going to be seen and used. Once you understand and have answers for these questions the creative process can begin.

How much should I spend?
We recommended that you proportion a third of your marketing campaigns budget towards design when looking to advertise a company, project or sale to the viewer. After all, it is the most important part of the process, the design is what gets your attention drawing you into the details. Neglect time and effort at this stage and even the most appetising message won’t be given a second thought.

It’s your reputation on the line!
You work hard on your business so don’t let yours or your company’s reputation down with sloppy design. Every leaflet you post or website you direct a client to is a representation of you and the level of service you provide so don’t fall at this hurdle. In many instances, a client’s first impression of you will be decided entirely on the quality of the design you have produced. Whether it’s your website they are browsing, a leaflet they have been handed or advert they are viewing the design will play a key role in their decision to proceed to the next stage of the buying process or not. Equally, design plays a key role at the end of am meeting or project whether its the exchange of a business card or a brochure advertising other services it acts as a silent mirror to the quality you offer.

Leave it to the professionals!
Getting design done correctly will normally incur a cost, a cost that for some can be a step too far. ‘Get John in accounts to knock something up, he can use Photoshop right?’ Wrong! Don’t leave something of such importance to a novice as done incorrectly the results could be more damaging than positive resulting in more hard work to rectify the situation. After all, most of us own a pair of scissors but do we cut our own hair? Probably not. Why? Because we leave it to the professionals, enough said.

Whether helping to arm a new business with an awesome corporate identity or an established company looking for a design overhaul on their website Nettl can help. Catering for a wide range of budgets there is an option for all, why not book a free consultation to see how we could help you?

Win £1,000 website using your #Nettlheads

It’s Friday, and the smartest way to finish the working week is to use your head, or more precisely, your Nettlheads.

We’re offering the chance to win £1,000 towards a new website by uploading a photo to Facebook or Twitter using the #nettlheads tag. We’ll pick the best photo at the close of play next Friday, so get posting.

 

nettlheads

Terms and conditions: £1,000 grant towards the cost of your website.No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. Redeemable at participating outlets only. Winning entry picked 5pm 18th December 2015. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition without notice. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter via social media. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. The winner will be notified by email and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.

Jackson Street Meeting Rooms, embarrassing website

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Jack-Me-Off

Ok so maybe your website isn’t as embarrassing as Jackson Street Meeting Rooms, but does it work properly on your mobile? Do you need to pinch and zoom and pan and scale? If you do, then so do your visitors. And that’s awkward. It could be losing you business.

Take a look at your site now on your phone. Now look at your competitor’s. Is your site easy to navigate? Is theirs?

Why does it matter? Google are now ranking sites which work on mobile higher. So if your site doesn’t, then it could be being pushed down the rankings.

Why are your visitors arriving at your site anyway. Do they want to make a booking? Probably. Can they? Can they buy online? Can they make a reservation? If not, what’s stopping you? These days, your customers want to interact online with you. We can help you do the things your customers want to do.

Nettl now has over 25 neighbourhood web studios across the UK and Ireland. Find your nearest studio and let’s get started. Pop-in or call us to book a free consultation and we’ll talk about what you’d like to do.

Nettl introduces Nettl Ring

Our goal has always been to make websites more accessible. More relevant. And ultimately, more personal. And we thought of people. And their fingers. And we thought, why stop at a watch?

Read more

£30m Growth Vouchers for small businesses

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…

Read more

7 fatal mistakes businesses make online

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fatal mistakes

Your local Nettl is part of a network of nationwide web studios. That means we share knowledge and to help clients avoid fatal mistakes like these…

1. IGNORING MOBILE

More than half of visits now come from mobile phones or tablets. If customers have to pan and scale and pinch and zoom to navigate, they’ll quickly decide to navigate away. Nettl :commerce sites intelligently scale content to suit the device viewing.

2. FORGETTING TO UPDATE

What does a Summer Sale banner say when it’s still there in January? Search engines reward fresh content, so keep adding products and make sure out-of-date content is removed.

3. NEGLECTING PICTURES

Product photography sells. 54% of consumers say they decided against a purchase because of unhelpful product photos according to Olapic & Fluid. And Instart Logic found 8 out of 10 retailers believe more images per product increase sales. 

4. FAILING TO THINK

It’s all about the customer. If they can’t find what they need, or get confused, they’ll drop their basket. BE the customer and anticipate questions they might have and make sure you’ve covered them. How do I return? Is delivery included?

5. CONFUSING CUSTOMERS

Make ‘call to actions’ big and bold. Tell ‘em what you want them to do next and don’t hide buttons in strange places. A well designed site should be easy to navigate, even if it’s in a different language. Would yours pass that test?

6. WAITING & DELAYING

Steve Jobs famously said “Real artists ship”. Waiting until the site is perfect before you go live, might be a mistake. Get it ‘good enough’, just start selling and then refine later. Better to make some sales than keep tweaking.

7. LIVING IN THE PAST

Ecommerce sales psychology has moved incredibly fast. Trust your web designer to apply current best practice to your web shop and try not to let personal judgement influence layout and process flows – rely on customer data instead.

Top 10 website musts for 2015

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Our very own Rob Finnie, regional director, looks at the top 10 website musts for 2015.

2014 was a shape shifter in digital marketing. If you’re in business in the UK – you can no longer afford to ignore online. In 2015, you may be taking your first steps to getting your business online or be ready to upgrade your site to take advantage of the seismic shift in online sales.

The top 10 things to consider when deciding what to prioritise in 2015:

1. Go Responsive

This is priority number one for any new web project. 2015 will see more visits to websites via mobile and tablet devices than via desktops as ‘m-commerce’ hits its stride. Your site needs to adapt, scale and reflow to suit the device it’s being viewed on – or you risk turning your clients and potential customers off.

 

2. Get it live

Don’t delay your launch while you deliberate over the content or the budget. Sure, it’s important for your site to say the right things, but you can refine and change what it says once it’s live. Getting some content in and getting it live so search engines can start trusting you, is a benefit.  If you don’t want to pay for it all at once, don’t. Most website developers will be happy to work to a ‘staged’ approach. Determine what is a ‘must have’ now and then plan what you think stage 2 or 3 might be.  Good websites are never finished. They are always growing and changing.

 

3. Check out the competition

Benchmarking yourself against your competition saves you time and cost. Check out how you measure up before building your own site. And don’t be blinded by beauty; a website which converts visitors to buyers has a perfect balance of content, function, navigation and good looks.

 

4. Plan your Customer journey – keep it simple

Keep prospects interested. Where do they want to go? What information do they need to take the next step? Plan their route through your website and lead them there. Only include relevant text, facts and imagery. Better still; watch a friend using your site. Ask them to find a specific product or information. You may be shocked at the results.

 

5. Include Calls-to-Action

If you’re creating a website to gather leads or interact with potential customers, make sure you’re clear on what you want your prospects to do. Calls to action help you monitor your conversion ratio. If you want them to contact you, show them how.

 

6. Get your site found online (SEO)

Content is king… and queen… and emperor too. Ensure your site has relevant text which includes your key words. There are many tools, to guide you through the ‘on-site’ requirements to help your site rank well. Do it yourself, or get your agency to do it for you. Keep content concise and write for humans, not machines.

 

7. Blog, and keep blogging

Not only does it make Google happy, but it’s also a way to connect with your audience, state your views and keep prospects up to date on your activities and services. Link in your social media – the more connected you are the, wider your reach.

 

8. Don’t assume instant traction

Your site is live; it looks great, the message is clear – but that doesn’t mean people are going to find it. The design, build and launch are just the beginning. Plan how you are going to market your new site both online and offline. Get the message out via direct mail and leaflets as well as SEO.

 

9. Ask for feedback

Canvas opinion of how your site works. Is the site portraying the right message, is it guiding prospects to take action with you? If it isn’t, change it. Test it. Monitor the analytics and make regular tweaks and changes to improve the customer experience.

 

10. Think ahead and maintain

Ensure your site is built on strong foundations so it can grow with your business. You don’t want to have to start again and pay again just to add that feature you like. Don’t sit back and think ‘job done’. The best websites evolve and are updated regularly. Plan your next steps.
www.nettl.com are offering £500,000 of web development grants to SMEs to help them get online in 2015. www.nettl.com is supporting small businesses with a free one-hour consultation for UK small businesses including a £500 grant for a Nettl :Commerce online web shop. Contact your local Nettl studio in Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin and London or for more details, see ww.nettl.com.

 

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