Brand New Year = New Website Software!

Cole WebMarketing is thrilled to announce that we have recently switched to using different website design/development software that allows us to now deliver truly "responsive" websites to our all our customers.

Since 1999 we used the Dreamweaver software platform (developed by Macromedia in 1997 and bought by Adobe in 2005), which until the past few years was the "go-to" program for professional developers to create and manage websites. However, during 4th Quarter 2017, we began transitioning over to a different (and far better!) software. We quickly began to understand and appreciate why this new PHP file based "live server run" software became the new "industry standard" and why it's now the #1 website development and maintenance software platform - worldwide!

Effective JANUARY 2018, all sites by Cole WebMarketing will now be able to include the following FRONT-END and BACK-END features (and benefits to our clients):

• DATABASE DRIVEN = by utilizing MySQL, every web page will be rendered automatically to display/function best on the specific device used by the site visitor.  Our websites will no longer be simply "mobile friendly", they will instantly format to whatever monitor is being used to view the page - HUGE (big screen TV), LARGE (desktop PC or notebook/laptop), MEDIUM (tablet) and SMALL (cell phone) to deliver the best user experience possible. (see screenshots above for example)
  
• FAST LOADING: 
• OPEN SOURCE:  
• SUPER OPTIMIZED:
• FEATURE PACKED:
• HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE:
• BUILT IN CMS (Content Management System):

(this post still "under construction".....please check back again soon for more details)

It's another NEW Year - do you still have an OLD website??

Internet years are like "dog years", so if your company website has looked and functioned pretty much the same for the past several years, that's an ANCIENT website!

Since you don't get a 2nd chance to make a good 1st impression, consider the fact that your old outdated website might actually be hurting rather than helping attract new customers, retain current customers, and win back old customers?

Here is one recent example of "BEFORE" and "AFTER" - 2002 website (by another website company) vs 2018 website (by Cole WebMarketing).

Call us today at 704-456-WEB1 (9321) for a FREE Website Analysis and to discuss how Cole WebMarketing can transform your ancient and outdated website into a modern cutting-edge web presence that you and your company can really be proud of.

NOTE: Thank you for the 10,000+ views of this blog!

Hacking and Computer Virus 101

Below is a detailed review of hacking (and computer virus infection) and what you can (and should) do to help protect yourself (and anyone connected to you via your "contact lists").

Everyone should pay attention to the security of their smartphone and any other computer because anyone can be a target for hackers.  

All it takes is one device to be compromised and the one infected machine can spread a dangerous virus...just like a dangerous human virus... automatically and secretly infecting every other device it has electronic contact with.

Computers are almost always hacked automatically by SpamBots. Particular users or sites are rarely a specific aim of an attack. In most cases, the hackers just need your system resources. If they gain access, the mailboxes are used for spamming; the hacked websites are used for spamming, launching hacking or DDoS (Direct Denial of Service) attacks against other sites or services, distributing questionable content, and hosting advertising or fraudulent pages and malware.

This is why everyone should take proper measures to keep their services secure. No site is too small or an e-mail account too unimportant, as the service is almost always hacked just for its resources.

Of course, your business or you personally may be a specific target for attackers. This may be due to personal reasons, it may be initiated by competitors, or the hackers may be planning to demand a ransom from you to stop attacking your service. 

This is one more reason why you should pay attention to the security of your accounts. If you receive threats that your service (provided by Cole WebMarketing) will be attacked, you should immediately notify us.

PASSWORD DO's AND DON'Ts

When choosing a password, you should avoid using:

• a very common password, such as the word "password" (in any language), "abc123", "letmein" and "newpass" or a dictionary word;
• identical password for different services; for example for other e-mail services, forum registrations, online banking, etc;
• passwords containing characters that are located next to one another on the keyboard like ytrewq, aassdd, qweasd, etc;
• passwords similar to the username, for example having username/password combination such as webmaster/webmaster12;
• passwords based on personal information that can be obtained via social engineering tactics;
• passwords based on a word with some letters replaced by similar-looking symbols; for example: p@ssw0rd, 1l0v3y0u. This is quite a common practice, and the hackers are well aware of it;
• simple word or phrase, combined with the current or a recent year; for example: 2014pass; new2015.

One method to create a strong password that you can remember is to use a so-call "passphrase" -- a string that consists of multiple words; it is strongly recommended that it includes other symbols and/or digits too.

Another popular option is to use randomly-generated passwords, and store them in a password manager software (such as RoboForm).

Be sure not to share your password with anyone. Sending login credentials via e-mail, or an instant messenger that does not encrypt the data, is considered unsafe.

YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE - EMAIL:

There are a few things you need to do in order to keep your e-mail account safe:

• Taking proper care of the security of your own devices. Passwords are often stolen via malware. If a device of yours is compromised, and you check your mailbox through it, the hackers may obtain your login credentials.
• Using only trusted devices to check your e-mail. Logging via a shared computer at a hotel or an Internet cafe should be avoided. Such an insecure device could be infected with malware, or it may have a keylogger installed on it intentionally.
• Choosing strong passwords, and changing them regularly. 
• Connecting over an encrypted connection. Our Webmail interface uses encryption by default (there is an option for this on the login screen).  

If your mailbox gets compromised, the attackers may use it to relay spam, or they may manually look through your stored messages for data that may be valuable for them. It is also possible that your login credentials will be sold in bulk along with more compromised accounts to other malicious entities who will utilize them as they decide.

To help protect all customers using website/email hosting services by Cole WebMarketing, please note that immediately upon detection of any spamming or virus infection, the outgoing email service of the afflicted customer will be shut down until all connected devices are scanned and all passwords are changed.

KEEP SOFTWARE UPDATED (INSTALL PATCHES):

You should be sure that any third-party software packages that you install into your account are kept up-to-date. All plugins and themes you add to such an application also need to be updated regularly. Otherwise, your software may get hacked through a known security vulnerability that has already been fixed in the current version.

The administrative interfaces of your applications must be protected with strong passwords. It is a good idea to look for security tips specific to the software that you are using. You should be careful with the information sources though. For example, a badly written security plugin may actually make your application vulnerable.

Be sure that you have no leftover test or obsolete software installations still available over the web. An outdated package - such as an old version of WordPress - can easily let hackers into your account. Any software that you do not need should be removed or should have its access limited.

SAFEGUARDING YOUR COMPUTER

There are many reasons why you should pay attention to the security of your local devices. As far as our hosting service is concerned, you should know that the hackers are after your login credentials for your e-mail accounts, your FTP accounts, and any web-based interfaces you may be using with your hosting service. Below you can find some general tips on how to keep your devices secure. If you feel that you need to know more on security, you should do your own search for information that matches the level of your computer knowledge, and the devices and operating systems that you are using.

• Always keep updated both your OS and the software that you run on your computer.

• You need to always run an antivirus application with updated virus definitions, and your devices should be behind a firewall.

• It is a good idea to disable any running services you do not need. In general, any software and service that you run is a  potential security risk, so it is a good practice not to run services you do not actually need. Also, some operating systems come with particular services enabled by default that are considered insecure by design or require special measures to have them secured.

• You should avoid installing pirated software. Such applications may come infected with malware; serial key generators and similar tools may actually be trojans.

• Malware is often distributed either as a file attachment or as a link that is being sent over the e-mail or some messenger service. Such messages may appear to be coming from people you know. This may be due to the fact that their own computers are already infected, and the malware is utilizing their system to distribute the messages to their contacts. If such a message appears suspicious to you, you should not open the attachment or click the link; you should rather check with the senders if they indeed sent the message to you intentionally.

• When following links, you should pay attention to the URL in the address bar of your web browser. Fraudsters often upload fake login or product pages at URLs that are misspelled/altered variations of the real address you expected to visit, or at hacked sites whose domains have nothing to do with the service you actually expect to use.

• It is important to be careful about the sources of both information and software you install. For example, it is usually a bad idea to install anti-malware software that was offered to you in a pop-up window while you browsed the Internet. Such a software may be of bad quality, or it may even be a trojan. You should do your own search on the software you are about to install and the reputation of its vendors.

• If your computer triggers pop-ups with unexpected requests while you browse the web, for example asking you to give administrative permissions to a program that does not appear to be related to what you are doing at the moment, to install an additional application on your device, or to do something else that does not appear to be right at this time or is otherwise suspicious, you should always proceed with care. This may be a result of you visiting a malicious site or a legitimate site that has been hacked.

PROTECTING YOUR EMAIL FROM THE BAD GUYS:

Spammers use many different methods to obtain e-mail addresses to send unsolicited messages to. Bots crawl the web to collect e-mail addresses listed on websites. These bots are called harvesters. Hackers also obtain the addresses of the correspondents of their victims. They collect them from hacked mailboxes or infected machines. Some companies also sell people's personal data to spammers.

There are some things you can do to reduce the chance of your e-mail address ending up in the hands of spammers.

• Avoid listing e-mail addresses directly on your web site. If you need to provide means of contact, it is recommended that you have a Contact Form instead.  Having a contact form will prevent spammers from obtaining your e-mail address. If you get too much spam that is being posted directly through the contact form, you may consider adding a CAPTCHA protection to it against bots

If you must list contact e-mail addresses on your web site, you should not list them in plain text. There are techniques you can use to make it harder for spammers to collect the addresses from the web site automatically. All of these methods have downsides, so you need to decide which one suits your needs best.

You can replace the @ symbol in the email address with the word "at", and the dot(s) with the word "dot", eventually surrounded by some characters, such as square brackets, for example, if your e-mail address is contact@example.com, you can write it this way:

contact [at] example [dot] com

Another similar method is to display the e-mail address as an image such as:



You may also utilize a script that will scramble or encode the e-mail address. You can look for such a script online, or a professional can implement such a solution for your website.

Harvesters will need more resources to interpret an address displayed using the above methods, while the majority of your web visitors will easily understand the actual address. They may only experience the minor inconvenience that they will not be able to simply copy-paste your e-mail address directly, and there is a possibility of mistakes while entering it. You should note that no solution is perfect. If an e-mail address is visible to a human, it may be interpreted by a bot.

• With Website/Email Hosting Services by Cole WebMarketing, there is no limit on the number of e-mail addresses we can create, and we can set up e-mail forwarding. This gives you the opportunity to use different e-mail addresses for different purposes: registrations, online forums, contact forms on youwebsitete, etc. If a forwarding e-mail address starts receiving too much spam, you can simply delete it. 

• You must keep your devices free of malware, as hackers may steal your own e-mail address and the e-mail addresses of your contacts.  

• You should never follow unsubscribe links in apparent spam messages or in messages sent from services you have not subscribed for. In almost all cases, these links are either invalid, or, even worse, they prove to the spammers that their message reached a real person who monitors the mailbox. This raises the value of your e-mail address on the illegal market where it will be again sold in bulk with others.

For the same reason, you should not respond to suspicious or spam mails, and you must not click any other links in them.

• Do not list your main contact e-mail address in the WHOIS details of your domain name. Spammers target the listed contacts of domain names. You can list a forwarding e-mail address as contact. Over the time, it will be getting more and more spam. You should replace this address periodically.

Although there is much you can do to limit the exposure of your e-mail addresses to spammers, there are some things that you can hardly control.

Common addresses such as webmaster@example.com, info@example.com, contact@example.com, ceo@example.com, etc, are a default target of spammers. Such mailboxes exist at many domains, so spammers send messages to them blindly, presuming their possible existance. You should avoid having such mailboxes, unless it is necessary for your business.

Another way your address may end up with spammers is if a correspondent of yours gets infected with malware and their contacts are stolen. The same may happen with a company that has your e-mail address -- they may get hacked, and their user database may be obtained by spammers.

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If you have your website/email hosted by Cole WebMarketing
and would like to learn more,
or would be interested in switching to our hosting services,
please call us at 704-4456-9321.  

WannaCry Virus Locking Computers Worldwide + How To Protect Yourself

THIS IS NOT FAKE NEWS -- if you use a smartphone or any other computer connected to the internet, you should read this right now.

Originally posted 5-15-17 by a major US News organization - Condensed Here To Reduce Size:

A ''ransomware attack'' that began in Europe on May 13th is still hitting new targets. The WannaCry Virus has locked hundreds of thousands of computers all over the world. Infected users are confronted with a screen demanding payment to gain access again to their files!

The cyberattack has hit more than 300,000 computers, White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert said at Monday's midday White House briefing.  

The WannaCry software — also known as WannaCrypt, Wana Decryptor or WCry - has been wildly successful at infecting and spreading and continues to grow.

STATUS UPDATE - May 15, 2017:

In the U.S., "the list of victims is very small," a Department of Homeland Security official tells NPR, noting that it's still relatively early in the attack. 

The victims, a US government official says, range widely in scope, from a few computers at companies and organizations to networks of many more. Cyber Security Agencies worldwide are now in a "sort of cat-and-mouse" competition with hackers, as variants of the software that foil previous solutions emerge, the official says.

While ransom payments for users' stolen data had been notably low, the Security Response blog notes that a bitcoin address linked to the hackers showed a "spike in payments" to the account that began at 8 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Monday.

WannaCry's Origins

The identity of whoever deployed the software remains unknown. "The WannaCrypt exploits used in the attack were drawn from the exploits stolen from the National Security Agency," Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith says. He says that when the NSA lost control of the software behind the cyberattack, it was like "the U.S. military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen."

Theft of the software was reported in April 2017, when it was published by the Shadow Brokers, a group that has been linked to Russia. In March 2017, Microsoft had released a patch targeting the vulnerability. But the success of the attack shows that not enough people took advantage of the patch.

"This was not a tool developed by the NSA to hold ransom data," homeland security adviser Bossert said at Monday's White House briefing. He said the software attacking a vulnerability had been incorporated with other software and delivered in a way to cause "infection, encryption and locking."

THE FIX

Windows users should update their software to avoid the ransomware, security experts say.  In addition to Microsoft's Security Bulletin MS17-010 that patched the vulnerability in March, the company also issued a separate patch on Friday for users of older and unsupported operating systems such as Windows XP.  

Click Here to Learn More and/or download "The Fix" from Microsoft.

RELATED ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

1. Back up your computer and store the safety version in the cloud or on a drive that is not connected to your computer.
2. Use robust antivirus software.
3. Keep all the software on your computer up-to-date. Enable automatic updates.
4. Never open attachments in emails from someone you don't know. And remember that any account can be compromised.
5. Enable the "Show file extensions" option in the Windows settings on your computer. This will make it much easier to spot potentially malicious files. Stay away from file extensions like ".exe," ".vbs" and ".scr."
6. If you find a problem, disconnect your machine immediately from the Internet or other network connections (such as home Wi-Fi).

The information above courtesy of National Public Radio

JAN 2017 SPECIAL: FREE Domain Name & Website Hosting

The New Year is right around the corner - has it been so long since you've updated your website that it's now covered with cyber cobwebs? 

Start off 2017 with a "facelift" to freshen up your website or if your website is really outdated, consider a total overhaul/redesign!

JAN 2017 SPECIAL - FREE Domain Name & Website Hosting with the purchase of a website by Cole WebMarketing.

CLICK FOR DETAILS about this Special Offer

Charlotte, NC based Cole WebMarketing is a website design, website development, and website maintenance company offering total ''web presence management'' to small-medium sized businesses nationwide.  Call 704-456-WEB1 (9321) for more information.

Is Your Website "Mobile Friendly"? (link to FREE Google TEST)

We've done a LOT of work this year for clients, old and new, creating "mobile websites". All websites designed and developed by Cole WebMarketing function and display well on any device, but true MobiSites are those developed specifically for the small screen size of a smartphone or tablet - scaled down versions (in regard to the amount of content/details/size) of the standard "desktop version" of a website.

They're ideal for someone on their phone or tablet that's seeking just basic information - a quick snapshot overview of a company or their products/services - or if a prospect or customer just needs a phone number, address or to send a general inquiry email.

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Is your site 'Mobile Friendly"? TEST your website here:
https://search.google.com/search-console/mobile-friendly

A few Cole WebMarketing examples - to check out on your phone or tablet - include:
http://www.OmnAviaInteriors.com, http://www.CPSwitchgear.com, http://www.CoddleCreekVet.com and of course.... http://www.ColeWebMarketing.com

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To learn more about modern mobile websites and to discuss options to make your website mobile friendly, please call Cole WebMarketing at 704-456-WEB1 (9321).

Regarding Website Design & Development - What Does "Mobile Friendly" Mean?

If you currently own a website or are thinking about having one designed/developed for you, there is a "buzzword" called "mobile friendly" that you may hear/read a lot about. Probably more so since APRIL 2015 when Google began to include this factor into their search engine indexing algorithm (which among other things, decides what websites rank highest on mobile devices for a specific search). 

Desktop vs Mobile Version of Website

But what does "mobile friendly" really mean?

MOBILE FRIENDLY means a website was designed and developed so that the site will function and display properly on any sized device. A viewer may have to zoom, pinch and scroll, but they can navigate the site and see/read text and images. However, certain websites just don't function properly (or at all) when viewed on a smartphone. An "all Flash" website, popular years ago mostly because of it's graphical "wow factor", is the perfect example of a site that is not mobile functional (since most phones & many tablets can't view .swf files).

RELATED TERMS:

RESPONSIVE DESIGN means a website was designed and developed so that the layout is "elastic" or "fluid" (versus "fixed") so it will expand or contract according to the monitor size/shape used by the viewer.  Although considered by some today (2016) as the ideal way to build a website, control is lost over the display of the site layout, look and design. With a responsive website, what might be a nice looking "normal" paragraph of many devices/monitors can result in a single horizontal line of words spanning the entire width on a large desktop monitor OR a very long vertical line of single words per line on a small phone.

ADAPTIVE DESIGN: means a website includes a special piece of code to automatically determine the monitor size used by the viewer.   If the viewer is using a desktop computer, the standard website will be presented.  If however the viewer is using a small monitor device, such as a smartphone or small tablet, an alternate (mobile version) website will instantly be presented.

MOBILE WEBSITE: means a separate website designed and developed specifically for smartphones and tablets. Rather than being exact duplicates of the main (desktop) version, mobile websites are commonly stripped down (in a good way) versions - few if any "bells and whistles", have limited features and may include only highlights of company, products, and services, rather than highly detailed information. Also, larger font, smaller images, links spaced farther apart than normal, are some traits of mobile-only websites.  Sometimes mobile sites will have a unique URL (m.abc-company.com) but many will simply be included in the root directory of the website hosting server of the main site (and appear automatically & instantly when a viewer opens the site on a mobile device). Industry best practices recommend including LINKS that can be easily found and clicked on should the viewer wish to use the desktop version.

MOBILE FIRST: means a website is designed and developed with mobile users as their primary target. Ride sharing websites are the perfect example because their users are almost exclusively mobile and NOT viewing the site on a desktop computer.  If the company has a desktop site at all, it will function like a traditional mobile website - few bells and whistles, highlights only, limited features, etc.

MOBILE APP: means a software application must be downloaded and installed on a mobile device.  Mobile Apps display and function differently than a website, and this can result in a better or worse user experience depending on the person. The company will usually also have a separate mobile site, in addition to a desktop site, so that the website visitor can decide which they like best.

GOOGLE "MOBILE FRIENDLY" TEST:

To help website developers and owners determine if their site is mobile friendly in the eyes of GoogleBot, Google created an online check tool to check to see if a website passes or fails the Google Test. 

OK OR NOT? It's important to understand that a website tested may indeed be mobile friendly (according to the industry standard accepted definition above) yet not conform to Google's primary criteria, such as: 1) text large enough for most to read, 2) mobile viewport set, 3) links spaced far enough apart for easy clicking, 4) content width fits screen

Click Here for GOOGLE "MOBILE FRIENDLY" TEST 

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BY: Cole WebMarketing - Charlotte, North Carolina
To learn more about what we do and what we can do for you, please visit ColeWebMarketing.com and then call 704-456-9321 for a FREE "mobile website" consultation.

Does It Seem Like "Everyone" Is Selling WebMarketing Services These Days?

I suspect I'm not the only person getting spammed almost daily from web marketing firms from all over the world.

Copied below, is a recent one - please note that this is NOT Cole WebMarketing talking...my comments will follow.

=====================================

"I know you probably receive a lot of emails talking about search engine optimization services but we are different from the rest and I am willing to prove it. 

Here are a few reasons we are not your normal SEO agency.
1) Our Search Engine Optimization and Marketing services are designed for success. Our services generally start at $1500 a month in order to provide your campaign with the necessary resources to do the job right and confidently predict a successful campaign. If you've been burned by another company in the past, it was likely that they were just giving you the price you wanted rather than what was required to get results. We are focused on getting results! 

2) We are in it for the long-term. We don't make a profit as a company until you've been on board for over 6 months, so we have a large incentive to keep you happy and keep you on-board long-term. 

3) We provide realistic expectations to our clients rather than telling them what they want to hear just to get them to sign up. The truth isn't as exciting as the fairy tales that other companies are willing to tell you, but it's the truth. 

If you're interested in hearing what we can do for your site then I would love to set up a consultation call with you. Let me know what time/day works best (and the best number). Thanks! Chris

=====================================

So...what as a website owner can you "read between the lines"??

(this post to be completed ASAP -- please check back soon)

Warning! Domain SCAM - "Fake" Domain Renewal Notices Arriving in Mail

Although this type of "domain jacking" scam has been active for years, we've seen a significant increase recently of our clients contacting us about what appears to be a ''domain name registration renewal notice'' arriving via USPS mail.

Although the mailing does include words/phrases such as: "when you switch", "transfer", "not a bill", etc. - it's very reasonable to conclude that many people getting this in the mail will assume it's an invoice and simply pay it...completely unaware that they just GAVE UP CONTROL & MANAGEMENT of their domain name AND will have to pay fees much higher than the industry standard rate (currently $15-25 per domain per year) for annual domain registration renewals.

We had a client of ours fall for this evil trick a few years back. In addition to paying the very expensive renewal fee up front, in order to get their domain transferred back to their control & management, they had to pay a $300 "ransom" to do so!

Below is the most recent example from iDNS (Internet Domain Name Services) of this type of devious scam, forwarded to us by a client who received it in the mail.  Note the "must renew" and "failure to do so" and similar scare tactic wording they use.

============================= 

============================= 

As stated above, this type of scam isn't new. Back in 2009, the Advertising Standards Authority issued an Adjudication on a company called Domain Registry of America.  The ASA noted the mailing was headed "Domain Name Expiration Notice" and closely resembled a bill, including a credit card payment slip, and considered recipients were likely to infer that their domain name had been transferred to DRA and a renewal payment was now required.   

If you own a website domain, and you get anything like what you see above via email or snail mail, please READ THE FINE PRINT carefully to ensure it's legitimate.

============================= 

Cole WebMarketing is a Charlotte, NC based website design/development and internet marketing consulting firm.  For more information, please visit ColeWebMarketing.com and then call us at 704-456-WEB1 (9321).

NEWS: A Busy Start to 2016

NEWS: 

It's been a really busy 2016 so far for Cole WebMarketing!

Honey Skin Studios - Wilmington, NC

As usual, a lot of web work involving "start of the New Year" updates & revisions to existing websites plus several brand new sites and a "total overhauls" of old websites.

We recently launched brand new website for the new ownership of a Wilmington, NC based spray tan business.

Next time you're in that area and would like to "Get Your Glow On!", please check 'em out: HoneySkinStudios.com

=====================

Cole WebMarketing is a Charlotte, NC based website consulting, design and development firm - for more info, visit: ColeWebMarketing.com and then call 704-456-9321 for more information, free consultation and quote.

South Carolina High Tech Textile Company Launched New Website!

Another new website was launched by Cole WebMarketing - for a high tech textile company in South Carolina called Southeast Nonwovens. Although the client is still tweaking/adding some content, they wanted their new and improved website up and running ASAP so the site went "live" today. (All Cole WebMarketing customers get FREE updates by us for the first 30 days after launch).

BEFORE & AFTER (click image for enlarged view)

Before and After "Total Website Overhaul" by Cole WebMarketing

This is the 3rd "Generation" of their website - the first version was launched in 2001 and the second replaced it in 2011. The new site reflects the layout, look and feel of modern professionally designed websites and provides users with the content, features and functionality that are expected as "standard" in a 2015 B2B website.

Link to site: http://www.SENW.info

If you'd like to explore updating or completely overhauling YOUR website, please contact Charlotte, NC based Cole WebMarketing at 704-456-9321.

PDS Launches New & Much Improved Website

We're exited to announce the launch today of another custom website by Cole WebMarketing.

Piedmont Door Solutions (PDS) recently changed their company name and also greatly expanded their operations.  In the process of rebranding the company, they knew that their 11 year old website looked very "old school" and was in dire need of a TOTAL overhaul. Needed was a fresh new design, a new layout look & feel, better graphics, improved site organization, enhanced functionality, better content (text AND photographs) and more.

They contracted with local Cole WebMarketing for this important project.  The new site is ''mobile device friendly'' and features a number of modern features found in many high-end websites. Noteworthy is that the Project Duration was less than 10 weeks and the total investment was less than $3000.

Click the  "before & after" screenshot thumbnail image below and then visit the new website: http://www.PiedmontDS.com

Before and After "Total Website Overhaul" by Cole WebMarketing

If you're thinking about giving your website a "facelift" or a "complete makeover", call Cole WebMarketing at 704-456-9321 to discuss your needs and how we may be able to help. The 4th Quarter is always busy but projects contracted prior to November 15, 2015 may be able to be completed before the end of the year (2015).

Since 1999, Charlotte, North Carolina based Cole WebMarketing has been providing custom and very affordable website design/development and other related services to customers throughout the United States.  Specialists in the B2B marketplace, especially in the technical/industrial sector.

Should you try the EDGE, Microsoft's new Web Browser?

With the release this week of the new operating system by Microsoft, called "Windows 10", the world can also now experience their new browser called EDGE.

It's being promoted as a totally new browser, and by dropping the IE (Internet Explorer) name, Microsoft is making an obvious attempt to try to lure millions of users back that they've lost over the past several years, mainly to Google's CHROME browser.

So far in 2015, although there is conflicting research data/results showing up online, IE still holds the top spot for worldwide browser popularity - according to NetMarketShare data - IE is showing at 27%, Chrome at 17%, Firefox at 9%, Safari at 3%, with a bunch of other minor players in the game making up the rest of the total percentage (17%).

What has Edge got going for it?  Why should you try it?  Here's a few reasons:

SPEED: Edge is supposed to be FAST - some studies are stating that it's almost twice as fast as the current industry leader Chrome.

However, I'm not seeing super fast...I'm seeing super slow (at this time).  However, we just upgraded our office operating systems to the new Windows 10.  Perhaps (I'm hoping!) some tweaking needs to be done to settings/configuration, but at this moment my entire computer seems to be running slow - significant lag time between mouse click to select and action taking place - software starting, new tab opening, etc.  Note that comments about the new Microsoft operating system (Windows 10) will be the focus of a separate upcoming blog post.

So back to Edge...

SAFETY: IE has been the primary focus of hackers and other bad guys, due to it being the most popular browser for many years. Edge was created to stand alone, separate from the rest of your PC - sorta like having a moat around your castle.  The SmartScreen filter, the came out as part of IE8 continues to provide additional protection.

SIMPLICITY: There is a lot to customize under the hood, but the surface is very clean and uncluttered.  The default initial display is "google-ish" or "apple-ish" - the browser screen simply asks "Where To Next?", with a search box to type in a website address or search engine query.

There are several other reasons that might make you consider using Edge as your default or secondary browser (and a few reasons you might not like it - such as no support for certain 3rd party extensions such as "password managers") but these are just a few GOOD reasons that I think make it worth checking out.

Top 4 Reasons You Need To Have A Mobile Website... Now

It's a fact that more and more internet users are accessing the web via a mobile device - cell phone, an iPad or other tablet type computer, etc.  

Is your website "mobile friendly" as they say in the website development biz?  If yes, how mobile friendly is it?  The answers to these two important questions should be known by every website owner.

WHY do you need a "mobile friendly" website or a completely separate "mobile version" of your standard desktop website?

Before we move on - let's be clear on the definition of each and the difference between them. Mobile Friendly means your standard desktop website looks and functions OK when accessed by a mobile device - Mobile Version means a separate website, designed and developed specifically for use by phones/tablets.  Usually the desktop website will include a "media query script" in the HTML code that will instantly identify what type/size device is accessing the site and automatically serve up either the desktop version OR the mobile version depending on what the visitor is using to visit your site.

My TOP 4 REASONS include:

1) PEOPLE SEARCH USING THEIR PHONES: Web usage patterns are changing rapidly and changing significantly. More and more people are using mobile devices to check out businesses on the web - recent research indicates that at least 25% of of the total web searches worldwide are done on a mobile device - mobile traffic to websites is UP 3x from just a few years ago! Also, mobile users tend to want different information from a website than the typical desktop PC user.  for example, they want information in small pieces - bullet points, a simple list of products/services provided, and quick contact information (phone, email, address, driving directions).  Website content that might look/work great on your desktop site might not be readable when viewed using a smart phone.

2) BETTER VISITOR-TO-CUSTOMER CONVERSIONS: many times when a desktop website is viewed using a mobile device, links are difficult to click on, important information is buried deep within the website, and advanced features such as Flash video clips (or worse, Flash based site navigation links) either don't display well or don't show up at all. It's critical that your website functions/displays well on a mobile device, otherwise many first time visitors will simply hit their back button and move on to the next company on the list (your competition!). Offering a mobile version of your website can significantly reduce your "bounce rate" (quick or instant departure after arrival).  The true essence today of effective website design and development is no longer focused on a cool look and good features/functionality - it's all about providing the best "user experience".

3) PEOPLE LOVE OPTIONS: many visitors to your website using a mobile device may prefer a mobile version, but others would rather check you out via your desktop version, so...always give them a choice - let the visitor decide which version they want to use by always including a "view desktop website" link on your mobile version.  Most mobile browsers and smart phones allow users to zoom in/out to better view content, but some don't, so making a mobile version of your site rather than trying to make your desktop site mobile friendly is the best way to go.

4) MOBILE WEBSITES WORK!: a mobile version of your website doesn't have to be an exact duplication of your desktop site. In fact, it most often shouldn't be the same - a quick overview of your company, products/services plus your contact information often will be all that's needed.  However, your mobile site should load quickly (less than 3 seconds), have text that's easy to read (large), be easy to navigate (basic/simple content organization), and make it impossible for the visitor to not instantly know how to get in touch with your company.

There are MANY other solid reasons to make sure that you have a mobile friendly or mobile version of your website for your business or organization, but these are just a few of the main reasons.

For more information about mobile website development, please call Cole WebMarketing at 704-456-9321 for a free website consultation.

When Does a Website Upgrade Result in a "Downgrade"?

 Original Website

A business website should always be thought of as a process, not a project.

For SEO (Search Engine Optimization) reasons and to best benefit the human visitor/prospect (future customer!), it's imperative to keep ALL content on your website relevant and up to date.

The updates might not be weekly or even monthly, but at least once or twice a year it's a good idea to revise and/or add content (images, text, new features, etc).

NOTE: Click Images for Enlarged View

Cole WebMarketing Website

On the left is an example of a professional website overhaul by Cole WebMarketing.

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However, sometimes a website "upgrade" can actually result in a "downgrade".  

New Site - DIY by Customer

Many of us have seen this happen, and it happens for various different reasons.

Sometimes a new marketing or other manager comes on board with a company and is not as skilled as his or her predecessor in the ways of the web and related matters (graphic design, virtual visual merchandising, SEO, website statistics and analysis, etc.) and the new site turns out to be not as good as the old site.

Another reason for a worse new site is an internal connection - somebody knows somebody that knows a "web guy".  Everybody these days it seems knows someone who can design, build and manage websites, but many times these self proclaimed web gurus aren't actually experienced website professionals, but rather wannabes.

Some primary examples of a Website Downgrade include: (not in order of importance)

1. Reduced Visual Appeal - without a good solid design, a website can lack a professional "layout, look and feel" - logical placement of images, proper image selection (relevant to text on page), 



New SIte - DIY by Customer

2. and careful arrangement of all parts of a page are important (avoid "text boxes" that overlap background "placeholders".
3. Excessive Use of Widgets, Add-Ons, Buttons, Etc. - just because you can add a feature to a page or website doesn't mean you should - avoid a site that is too "busy" - visitors prefer clean and simple for most websites (photography website, rock band, night club might be a few exceptions where more bells and whistles may be more acceptable)
4. Unprofessional Graphics/Images - poor quality graphics, the use of "clip art", animated GIF's and/or outdated navigation "buttons", poor quality photographs, backgrounds, etc. can give even a well thought out and developed website an amateurish appearance



New SIte - DIY by Customer





5. Poor Font Selection - using more than a few different fonts and/or using super cool/cute fonts is to be avoided and it's critical to keep all text font colors the same, except for active hyperlinks. In addition, select one main font for most all text on you site - using several font styles just increases the amateur look & feel of a website.
6. Excessive Use of Different Colors - pick a nice color scheme and build your site around it - unless you're targeting children, using more than a few colors on your site is usually not a good idea.  Also, unless your intent and need is to "dazzle the visitor", avoid harsh colors and color combinations - such as bright green or yellow & black
7. De-Optimization: when overhauling a website, it's important to keep in place those components that helped get the website to rank high on Google and other search engine results pages.  Use of target keywords and keyphrases, proper placement of those keywords and a good keyword ratio is important to maximizing a site's listings across the web and also to getting to and staying on page 1 or 2 when past, present or future customers search for your company by the products you make/sell or the services you provide.
8. Mobile Friendly - since many people first view a website on their smartphone or small tablet, it's critical that a website be "mobile friendly" - appear and function well on a variety of different platforms (and browsers).  Comprehensive testing is not an option - it must be done to make sure a website renders appropriately on any device.

THE PROBLEM WITH COOKIE-CUTTER SITES: Many sites these days are created with Wordpress, which was software originally created for use in creating web logs (blogs).  Most Wordpress sites have a very similar layout, look and feel and tend to appear "blogish".

In addition, all of the "free website builder" tools available from companies you see/hear advertised on TV and radio are all "template based", which results in more and more websites looking very much the same.

THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOM SITES: A professional website designer/developer can, and usually will, create a website "from scratch" and therefore YOU have complete control over layout, placement, arrangement, appearance, look & feel, etc.

A company website must serve as an asset; not a liability. The site should reflect the high caliber and professionalism of the business, especially since a website is often the first impression a prospective new customer gets about your business.

So, before you decide to overhaul your website and have it done by "your neighbors nephew for $200 and a case a beer" or using one of the "free" online website builders, consider first contacting a professional website design/development company for an initial consultation.  The money you spend upfront could result in a huge return on investment in the long run, rather than going the super cheap $49.95 a month route for the rest of you life -- for a site that might never make it into the Top 10 on Google or might never make your phone ring/make you money.

For a FREE initial website consultation, please call
Cole WebMarketing at 704-456-9321.

NOTE: All images on RIGHT SIDE do NOT reflect the work of Cole WebMarketing - only the one image on the LEFT SIDE does.