In the online universe we live in, being hacked is a serious concern for your website.  Though it is true that the most valuable targets are large corporations, hackers will try just about anywhere.  That includes your website.

Generally speaking, smaller company websites have less security and are easier to hack, making them more vulnerable, and therefore more attractive, targets for online thugs and hoodlums.

There are steps you can take to increase your security and make your site less hackable.  Some of those steps include:

• Employ website security tools
• Keep all software up to date
• Utilize complex usernames and passwords
• Use HTTPS (SSL verification)

None of these will make your site 100% secure, though each will reduce its vulnerability.

So, if your site does become compromised, then what?

What to Do Now

If your site is compromised by a hacker, it is absolutely imperative that you address the problem immediately!  That site is your company’s responsibility and, just like other company assets like vehicles and equipment, your company potentially faces a liability risk.

The following steps must be undertaken immediately.

• Contact the host
• Identify and reverse the damage
• Change all passwords
• Create a backup (hopefully you had already done this)
• Update all website security
• Create a website maintenance plan

It is a LOT of work to get everything done, not to mention some of it requires specialized knowledge and experience.  That’s why we recommend working with a professional technical team…like our team at Top Jump Marketing.

We will:

• Identify the damage inflicted
• Remove malicious code installed
• Remove all backdoor access
• Provide information for increased security-

With constant changes in technology, it is virtually impossible to prevent every single hacker on the Internet from challenging your site’s integrity.  However, should your site become compromised, remember the team at Top Jump Marketing is ready to stand by you.  Working together, we will identify any weaknesses in your site’s security and get the problem(s) corrected.

Website Maintenance Program

As hackers become increasingly sophisticated, ongoing maintenance of your site becomes increasingly urgent.  The most valuable defense your site has against the onslaught of virtual marauders is diligence and cutting-edge security.

This all takes time, knowledge, and experience.  That is why Top Jump Marketing has designed a website maintenance package.  This package includes:

• Ongoing and automatic security upgrades
• Security monitoring
• Full updated WordPress platform
• Fully updated themes and plugins
• BulletProof security maintenance
• Site is fully backed up to two separate locations monthly
• Warranty

Warranty?  Yep.  As a member of the Top Jump Marketing maintenance program, if your covered site is ever hacked or compromised, it will be repaired FREE.

Want to learn more?  Contact the professionals at Top Jump Marketing today at 419-359-5970 and see what we can do for you.

Digitally accessibility is needed now more than ever as we continue to see marketing trends shift towards digital communications for every demographic. If your organization is committed to accessibility and/or limiting your potential liabilities, you will need to create a digital accessibility policy.

What exactly is a digital accessibility policy? It is a statement that confirms your company has a fully inclusive digital footprint. This includes your website, PDF documents, webchats, mobile applications, invoices and more. While this might seem daunting, providing your clients, employees, and audience with proper accessibility is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. When you create a digital presence that is accessible to all, your company will be in compliance.

The good news is you don’t have to make this transition alone. The team at Top Jump Marketing is here to help you ensure your digital avenues are fully accessible. Call 419-359-5970 to learn more.

Step 1: Learn Digital Accessibility Basics

When you create your digital accessibility plan, you need to first understand what it means to be digitally accessible! Understanding what makes a website accessible and inaccessible will help you create a plan for your organization. Consider the following questions:

• What does the ADA require to be digitally accessible?
• For people with vision impairments, does color contrast play a role in accessibility?
• How does your content work alongside assistive technologies?
• Does your video content have auto-play options with captions?

If you haven’t had a chance to look at the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) yet, Top Jump Marketing highly suggests it. Once you truly understand what is required, you will have the basics down.

One thing that is important to note: your company can be held liable if you do not have an accessible online presence. Companies have been sued by people who have not been able to easily access their content. The good news is Top Jump Marketing can take your digitally accessibility needs and provide you with solutions you can count on.

Step 2: Define what your organization needs to be digitally accessible

Before you begin, your company should define what is expected for your digitally accessible policy. Consider everyone who utilizes your digital applications – employees, clients, online audience, anyone who might use your digital tools. Each of these people will need to have a full functionality for your digital presence.

It’s understandable if you don’t have all the answers. There’s no need to stress. You will not have to go through this process alone if you reach out to our team. Top Jump Marketing is here to help you understand what is required and help you implement it.

Step 3: Hire a team of developers with digital accessibility experience

When your website was created, you might not have known about digital accessibility, or had a team who could properly handle web content accessibility guidelines. The good news is you don’t have to start from scratch. Top Jump Marketing can help create digital accessible solutions that work alongside your current online presence. We will help you create a digital accessibility policy without having to reinvent the wheel.

Our team of developers will help implement a plan that builds on your existing content and transition your current digital presence to comply with WCAG and ADA requirements.

Step 4: Prepare Your Accessibility Statement

Having an accessibility statement is a declaration to your clients, employees, and vendors that you are committed to web accessibility. Having a clear, concise message that defines all the methods that you’ve used will help protect your company and provide your digital users with peace of mind. Don’t worry if this seems overwhelming, the Top Jump Marketing team can help you create your accessibility statement.

Step 5: Ongoing Maintenance for Digital Accessibility

Like all digital trends, accessibility will require your organization provide ongoing maintenance and accessibility checks. When you work with our team at Top Jump Marketing, you can rest assured that we will continue to stay up to date with your accessibility needs so your efforts do not lag and your company stays fully protected.

In Conclusion

The most important thing to remember is that your company is not alone. Our team members are here to help you create a digital accessibility policy that can be easily implemented. We will be by your side every step of the way.

If you’re ready to have your organization take the steps required to be digitally accessible, please call our team at 419-359-5970.

As the world continues the upward trend of digital media, having an online presence is now a must. But beyond having a professional website, what are your goals? Do you know the extra options that are available to help your website be the best it can be? If not, our team at Top Jump Marketing would love to speak to you. We have the tools required to help give you an extra boost to help your company stay on top of website trends. To learn more, call 419-359-5970.

Available Options

After you’ve built your custom website, you expect it to perform quickly. However, because the market is so competitive, a website alone is no longer good enough to rank on Google for high-traffic keywords. The first step to help improve your rankings is to create an SEO plan. Beyond that, there are a few other additions that you can utilize to improve your websites functionality and rankings. This includes:

• SSL (HTTPS) Upgrade – If you’re looking for improved rankings, add the “SECURE” green badge to your website through a third-party SSL certificate.
• Ongoing Security Protection – Keeping your new web investment safe requires constant monitoring for hacker breaks. These plans come with warranties in case your website is compromised, so you’re back up and running quickly at no cost.
• Upgrade Speed – Do you have a site that runs a bit slow? Consider stripping down your site to make it faster than ever and creating a better user experience for your potential clients. This will also help boost your search rankings.
• Dedicated IP Hosting – When you want the best speed and improvement in your website rankings, having a dedicated IP address for your website hosting is a fantastic option!
• Chat Widgets – Want to connect with your customers in real time? Add a chat widget to your site and introduce yourself when a potential client visits your site. Being available immediately makes it easy for them to interact without having to pick up the phone and dial!
• On-Exit Pop Ups – For those looking to increase conversion rates, adding an on-exit pop up is just what you’re looking for. It only shows up when a user moves their mouse cursor out of your site (i.e. when they go for the back button or close button).

Contact Top Jump Marketing to Learn More

Are you ready to learn more about the above items and which one might help your company best? If so, give our team a call at 419-359-5970. We’ll be happy to create a custom plan for your website’s unique needs.

Consumers are regularly turning to search engines to research a company before utilizing their services.  They want to make sure they do their due diligence and utilize the tools that online search engines provide.  If your company does not have a web presence, of if it is subpar, your company will likely be looked over.  Who doesn’t want to receive more leads and close more sales?  A well-done website can help you do just that!

The Importance of a Well-Done Website

Having a professional website that highlights your business, products, services, and experience is important.  When a consumer is searching online for a company they can trust – they generally turn to the internet.  If your company has a professional website, this is a great first impression for your brand!  Is your site memorable?  With Top Jump Marketing, it will be!

What Should Be Included on a Website?

Each client will be looking for different things but having a website that draws all interested parties in is paramount.  Top Jump Marketing knows what clients look for.  We’ll lead you on the right path and create a site that is:

• Modern and Clean – This layout and style is the most appealing to customers.
• Easy to Navigate and Organized – You don’t want your potential customers being confused on where to find the information. They’ll quickly get frustrated and head to another site.  If your website is laid out properly, your customer’s user experience will increase!
• Informational but Clear and Concise – You don’t want to skimp on information, but you don’t need to over share. Provide information on your site that helps your customers feel satisfied with choosing your company, but don’t provide so much information that it’s hard to follow.  Organizing your information in a clear, concise way will help keep customers interested and engaged.
• Properly Branded – Your company image needs to stay consistent across all boards. Do you have a logo?  Your website needs to match the design and feel of that logo.  Your print material also needs to match the feel of your site.  Keeping your brand image on point is one of our main focuses at Top Jump Marketing.
• Contact Information Easy to Find – Having a contact form and your phone number visible on your site is a must have! Your customers will need an easy way to reach you – if they can’t, they’ll likely give up and go elsewhere.  Don’t risk losing customers because your contact information is hard to find.

When you work with our team at Top Jump Marketing, we will help create a powerful website that engages customers and draws them to use your company.  Give us a call at 419-359-5970 to learn more!