Having a mobile friendly design is one of the most important factors for increasing site traffic. Not having a mobile friendly design is probably hurting your business.

How to Make Sites Mobile Friendly

Make Your Webpage Fit. — Computer screens are wider, phones are taller.

Make Info Easy to Find. — If they are on mobile, assume they’re in a hurry.

Turn Off Auto correct. — If you’re asking for personal info (like an address) auto correct can change customer input; your customers don’t need that headache.

Make Your Buttons Big Enough. — Compared to a smartphone screen, your fingers are not small; give users the space they need.

Use Larger Fonts. — Users don’t want to break out their reading glasses to view your content; by the way, standard fonts download faster.

Compression. — High-resolution images and other content load slower, so don’t bore your customers by making them wait, they can always go elsewhere.

Test, Revise, Test Again. — You’re the expert, you know your site, but how does the average consumer feel? What makes an effective mobile device? Satisfied customers.

It’s Not the Next Big Thing

It’s the here and the now! Company and industry associations are constantly researching marketing methods so they can spend their marketing dollars more effectively. Smartphone/mobile device marketing has changed, as reported by numerous industry sources. A few highlights include:

Consumers are averaging five-hours-plus per day on their smartphones. About 70 percent of web traffic happened on mobile devices in 2018, up from less than 60 percent one year earlier.

Mobile devices now host about half of all of online transactions. Mobile searches related to “same-day shipping” have more than doubled in just five years. About three-quarters of smartphone users who bought something in a store first got their first introduction to that product on their phone. Nine out of ten smartphone owners bought something or decided to buy something after seeing a “relevant” ad on their mobile.

Among mobile purchasers surveyed, nearly two-thirds say a bad experience will turn them off to that brand in the future. One-third of those who started their purchase with a mobile-device search reported spending more money than they planned to spend — three cheers for impulse buying!

If you don’t have a mobile-friendly site, you are losing traffic. If you don’t know how to make that change, you don’t have a problem. Just contact Facet Web Tech, we’ll make it happen for you.

New threats arise almost daily, as hackers try to break in where they don’t belong. Some do it for profit, some just get their jollies by hurting others. Either way, the damage can be costly, if you fail to have the right website security. Online sources have identified several current threats — some new, some repeats. Here are our top 10:

1. Emotet — an advanced banking Trojan that helps other malware download. It usually arrives through malspam (email spam) like fake PayPal receipts, false shipping notifications or bogus past-due invoices.

2. Dridex — another Trojan, capable of stealing specific information, it usually targets your banking credentials — the identifiers your bank uses to be sure you’re the real account holder — usernames, passwords, smart card numbers and PINS.

3. Gh0st — a remote access tool (RAT), used in conjunction with other malware, it creates a backdoor that allows a hacker into your device so he or she can control it remotely.

4. IcedID — still another banking Trojan, it targets payment card providers and payroll websites, observing online activity, infecting and copying point-of-sale (POS) data and ransomware attacks.

5. Kovter — bad guys used this fileless (meaning it never gets written to the hard drive) software to generate fake click-thru ads. Essentially, they raked in millions by simply making computers talk to each other.

6. Mirai — when several devices are connected via the Internet, they are called an “Internet of Things” (IoT), which (when security is penetrated) allows hackers to launch a DOS or “denial of service” attack, in effect, cutting that IoT off from Internet access.

7. NanoCore — another RAT spread via malspam, it appears as an Excel XLS spreadsheet and can accept commands to download and execute files from outside.

8. Pushdo — a botnet which delivers payloads (of malware) to victims; it opens your computer to malware that can delete files, download and execute files, log keystrokes, modify system settings, run or terminate applications, steal sensitive data and spread to other computers.

9. WannaCry — ransomware that blocks access to your software, or, may threaten to publish your data, unless a ransom is paid.

10. ZeuS, also called Zbot — a Trojan horse package that runs on Windows, stealing your bank information by reading your keystrokes and “grabbing” (copying) forms you fill out online.

Increasing Your Website Security

Increasing your Web security doesn’t require massive amounts of time, effort and money. It just needs to be done right, by people who stay at the forefront of the fight — knowing the enemy and the weapons available to beat them. Contact Facet Web Tech, the malware defense experts of Central Illinois.

It’s a bit cliché as a plot: A company hires burglars to break into their business to test security. Well, it isn’t just fiction, real companies do it all the time, it’s called penetration testing or pen test, for short. Sounds strange, yes, but only by attacking it can you know that your website security is working and to see vulnerabilities so you can protect against future attacks.

Types of Pen Tests

External testing targets the web assets that are visible to the world, including your website, email and domain name servers (DNS), with a simulated hack that attempts to extract data or shut you down.

Internal testing simulates the “inside job”, where an employee or someone else with access (say, someone who stole credentials) assists a malicious outsider to get past your firewalls and other security features.

Blind testing gives a simulated intruder the name of business being targeted, allowing electronic security personnel to watch a real application assault as it happens.

Double-blind testing takes it a step farther; by not telling the security staff that an attack is imminent, they’ll react as if under actual attack, with no notice that might let them reinforce their defenses.

Targeted testing is very valuable; by allowing the simulated hacker and security personnel to operate together and communicate about the attack, the security team not only sees the attack, they see it from a hacker’s point of view, receiving real-time feedback on how they’re responding.

Ongoing Threats

Of course, nothing in technology is static. As hackers get more sophisticated, the security community responds with new defenses. The bad guys need to develop new weapons to beat new defenses, and they do. Facet Web Tech offers on-going monitoring services to make sure your defenses stay ahead of their weapons.

Vulnerability Consulting Services

It sounds so much nicer than, “We break into your website,” but that’s what we do, if we can. Contact Facet Web Tech today to schedule a security consultation. If the bad guys already got to you, Facet has a cleanup team that can put you back together again while we work to prevent future attacks. We have all the tools to determine your vulnerability level and to provide a course of action to ensure that your website remains as safe as possible.

The statistics about project management in general are (or should be) terrifying —

97% of organizations believe project management is critical to success, but:

80% of PM executives don’t know how their projects align with the company strategy.

44% of PMs are not certified.

Less than 33% of all projects are completed on time and on budget.

Any business that wants custom software must choose a partner that has a track record of delivering as promised.

Why So Much Failure?

In the simplest form, any project comprises four parts: Concept, goal, process and validation.

Concept is the Vision: What, exactly, do you want this software to do? Who will use it? What resources can you expend to get what you want? Lots of questions need to be asked, very specific information needs answered and put in an organized format.

Goal is the Map: This is the delivery date. These are the skill sets we need. These are the benchmarks. These are the alternatives we may need. These are the obstacles we may face. This is required, that is desired, the other thing would be really nice to have. And, most important: This is the budget. (It’s the reality check, it drives everything else.)

Process is the Work: Here’s where project management makes it or breaks it. A good project manager is on top of things: Knowing the people and how to blend their skill sets and their personalities. Foreseeing problems and proactively dealing with them. Being involved — hands on — with what’s happening on a daily basis. Keeping every stakeholder informed and getting feed back.

Validation is the Endgame: Riddle me this, Batman, “Does my software do what I paid you to make it do?” If you can prove that it does, and you made that happen on time and under budget, you deserve a bonus. (And Bruce Wayne could certainly afford a generous one.)

The Bottom Line

Tired clichés and bad jokes aside, it’s about people — always. Facet Web Tech is a non-corporate, family-oriented culture. We focus on accuracy, capability and customer service. We support our client’s tech needs for the long term. We value their dollars. We employ IT real professionals — experts in technology who understand our client’s business needs. Contact Facet about your custom software development, let us make it work for you.

Everybody’s on a budget and stock photos can be vastly less expensive than paying a photographer to shoot quality photos exclusively for your website. However, there’s always a trade-off and, with stock photos, that can be a big trade-ff.

SEO Rules

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a key to success in winning Internet-based business. The algorithms (the process by which search engines rank websites) are regularly revised so they highlight original, useful content to searchers and avoid spam or other low-value copy. Web design bloggers currently say using stock photos doesn’t hurt your search rankings, but that may come in the future. If it does, when it does, the search engines likely won’t announce the rule change, so develop good habits now and remember, just because it’s SEO-friendly doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Worth Less than 1,000 Words

The ancient sage who devised this maxim didn’t live in an Internet-based world where anybody could post anything everywhere. To be blunt, some photographers are better than others. Viewers are more likely to skim text and focus on images when checking out a new web page and stock images can have multiple problems:

Realism. A supposed group of coworkers who look like they just came off a Fashion Week runway causes most people to react negatively. Where’s the variety you see in real places? Why do they look so stiff and posed? Authenticity is a positive.

Artistic Quality. Poor composition, bad color balance, improper framing, low resolution (“pixilated”) — people do notice this stuff. We are surrounded by imagery; we’ve all seen enough good and bad pictures to know the good ones instinctively and instantly.

Relevance. Does that photo advance the message? If not, it wastes time and you generally have less than a minute to grab the reader’s attention and hold it. Creating original photos with an on-point message costs more but, if viewers will remember the image, it is worth more than 1,000 space-fillers.

Last and definitely not least:

Copyright. All intellectual property is the property of the creator until the creator formally sells, licenses or gives it away. Just because a photo is on the Net doesn’t mean you can use it without permission and it is your responsibility to be sure you have it.

Get the Right Kind of Help

Doing it right means letting the experts do it. You succeed in your business because you do something very well and your customers trust your work. Facet Web Tech has been doing web design for 30 years, we are Central Illinois’ tech experts. Contact us and let us help you build a web presence that gets it done in style!

Information Technology (IT, for short) is a broad segment of the technology industry. From simple tech support to the most complex coding and database management, there are roles for people with many skills:

1. Communication

If you want to create some tech, you have an idea. The IT pro needs outstanding communication skills to help you translate that idea into a workable concept that will drive your tech design. During the design and creation process, tech pros may need to communicate (verbally and in writing) with the client, team members, management, outside contractors, government regulators and others, taking all their ideas and comments and blending them into a smooth activity.

2. Creativity, Knowledge & Research

If it was easy, anybody could do it. To take what people (sometimes many very different people) think or want then fuse those ideas into a practical product requires intellectual prowess. You may be doing something that’s been done many times before — how can you do it better? — or, you may be doing something completely new — how to you take what we know how to do and expand that into something we’ve never done?

3. Customer Service

Real IT pros understand that everybody is a customer and they must get the same level of service as the paying client must get. Every stakeholder in every project has individual needs and meeting those needs is customer service. In different circumstances, one could speak of the need for humility and suggest that a good sense of humor will also serve the project well. In its simplest form, it is simple, old fashioned, good manners.

4. Flexibility, Leadership & Teamwork

Back in the day, teachers often noted, “Doesn’t play well with others,” on report cards of our more rambunctious classmates. We’re no longer on the playground, we’re in the business world. We need to operate in many diverse teams and situations. IT pros must first control their personal situation, which is the most vital leadership possible — it allows us to enthuse and influence others and make things happen.

5. Project Management

The preceding skill sets can be called qualitative, they are personal and social. PM is quantitative, it coldly deals with budgets, deadlines, negotiating, organization, quality control, regulations, scheduling and more. It’s the “nitty gritty”, the “day-to-day”, the pesky details of getting the job done that many otherwise talented, creative, brilliant people simply can’t do.

Get All the Skill Sets You Need for Success

The IT technologists of Facet Web Tech have (and continually improve) their technical skills, like writing code or cyber security protocols. All across Central Illinois, companies are happily using websites, software, apps and other highly technical products created by us. Contact us today and see what kind of a smile we can bring to your face.

Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are distinct job titles. Web Designers are the creative artists; the people who make it pretty. Web Developers are the tech experts; the people who make it function.

Choosing between Design and Development

The basic question starts with: Do you have a website to be updated or do you need something new? (Warning, the answer to both can be ‘yes’ — having a website doesn’t mean it works and, sometimes, it’s easier to start over.)

If the website is technically good — and by good, we don’t mean good enough because good enough never is — you may just need a designer. We may be able to recommend new graphics, better writing, an updated color scheme, or any of the small, very simple, very affordable changes that can revitalize a website and make it shine.

If, however, you need to start from scratch, you definitely need a developer. From deciding how many pages you’ll have to how each will function and how they’ll interact and support each other is the heart of development. Think of your web developer as your site architect, taking the image in your mind and translating it to reality — or whatever passes for reality in cyberspace.

Before We Bid

Whether you think you’ll choose web designers or web developers, we recommend you start with a full physical by the web doctors at Facet Web Tech. Our experts may find ways to do it better. We might be able to recommend existing or custom apps to improve functionality; find bugs hiding in the code just waiting to bite you; streamline your online operations to get customers to the checkout screen faster. Website creation (creative and technical) is always evolving and our people keep up with the latest and greatest. We’d love to show you what we can do.

Choose Facet Web Tech

As the leading source for web design in Central Illinois, Facet Web Tech specializes in effective, SEO-friendly websites. Each website we build is totally custom, built to your specifications and goals. Looking to drive local leads? Need to expand your client list? Of course, you need to sell more products or services! Contact our team of web design and development specialists — we get results.

Custom software development is essentially the same as development in any endeavor. The magic lies in the people — your ideas, your goals, our technical and creative expertise.

1. Concept

“If you don’t know where you’re going,” the sage observed, “you will end up somewhere else.” This is the questioning phase: What do you need the software to accomplish? Who is the end user? How much can you spend on the project? When must it be online?

Ask more questions, define more answers and both of us will know when we’ve succeeded.

2. Design & Development

Once we know what we’re trying to do, we start coding. Designers will consult with you on how the software will interface with users while developers will consult on the nuts and bolts of doing what it’s meant to do. The project will be divided into segments and the software built in pieces that fit together like a puzzle.

3. Implementation & Testing

“But,” you should ask yourself, “do these puzzle pieces actually fit together and make a pretty picture?”

Alpha testing is done in the lab, by the experts who built it, and who are merciless in the scrutiny of their own work. Beta testing adds the end users to the equation. Regardless of how pretty the code looks, if the user can’t make it sing, we don’t have an opera.

4. Maintenance & Security

Custom software development, like almost any other service, isn’t a done-n-gone process.

Cyberspace is changing, sometimes at a mind-boggling rate. Computers keep getting better and faster, and users more knowledgeable and demanding. Your users will probably notice things that they want to see and do on your app or website and might just be very vocal in their suggestions.

Some users, sadly, don’t have your best interest at heart.

Get the Best Work without Breaking the Bank

Throughout Central Illinois, Facet Web Tech has a well-earned and long-standing reputation for quality work. After 30 years, we should, and we guard that reputation like England’s Beefeaters guard the Crown Jewels. Contact us for all your custom website development, software and website security needs. You’ll be glad you did.

What is Penetration Testing?

Simply put, it’s legal hacking. Penetration testing (pen testing, for short) involves all aspects of your computer system, subjecting it to every trick a hacker might try, discovering your vulnerabilities and removing those vulnerabilities or securing them so they can’t be exploited. Pen testing has two primary avenues of attack — an automated attack by software applications or a manual attack by human agents.

But, pen testing doesn’t refer exclusively to hardware:

1. Software, bought or licensed, is being pen tested by its manufacturer. Many of the updates you receive from software companies fix bugs and close vulnerabilities the company has detected.

2. Personnel are also part of the computer system, the most vulnerable part, because we can’t “fix” them, they must fix any attitude problems, such as forgetting to log off when away from their workstations. If retraining and job counseling doesn’t remove the problem behaviors, you may have to be ready to replace the personnel.

Why Do You Need Penetration Testing?

Because bad guys are out there, and they want in. If they decide they want into your website, we’re here to frustrate them so bad they cry themselves to sleep.

Your website might never get hacked in any substantial way, but do you want to roll dice loaded against you? You can lose data, sensitive information can be compromised, the list is long and should be frightening. Your reputation can be ruined, your clients may find another provider, you could be held legally responsible for publication of personal information or other damages — real or perceived.

You insure your health, home, business, cars, just about everything. Pen testing is just more insurance.

Who are you Going to Trust?

Facet Web Tech has served the technology needs of Central Illinois businesses and organizations since 1989.  We know your needs and wants because we started as a small (basement-based) business. Hard work and quality services have propelled us to our current status as trusted technology experts.

Our culture is non-corporate and family-oriented with a focus on accuracy, capability and customer service, which have made our rapid growth possible. Contact us now, we will support all your technology needs economically and efficiently — those you have today and those that will come tomorrow.

We love what we do, that’s why we’re in business, right? Wrong!!! We’re in business to make money. We have bills to pay and our business does that. If you have a website that isn’t converting page views into sales, it isn’t doing its job, so fire it and hire a new one. And let Facet Web Tech be your virtual headhunter, finding the best talent on the Internet.

“What Am I Doing Wrong?”

1. Using stock photos — it’s your website, your product, your company, if you’re not presenting your face to the world, well, what are you hiding?

2. Asking too many questions — how many “click here” buttons are on each page? Each button is a “call to action” (or CTA). CTAs draw visitors closer to the sale, so don’t give them an option, push them gently toward the sale. Each page should have a simple message and one CTA. Each page should say “This is your problem, we are the solution, click here and we’ll do it.” (There are exceptions: For example, a lumber store homepage might include only the store’s name, address, logo, a picture, and two buttons — “Contractors, click here” and “Homeowners, click here.”)

3. Too much information (TMI) has been a problem forever. Back when America’s founders debated the Constitution, a single speech might last two days! In the 21st Century, Internet users want it fast, straight and clear. (Notice that all our blog posts run just over 400 words.) Bullet points are great, you can list or rank the answers to the questions that brought visitors to your site without distracting/confusing clutter.

4. Poor organization — again, lead them to the sale. Never assume your visitor knows what they’re doing, do it for them. Lead with a headline (in as few words as possible); add a subhead (one sentence at most); add the copy (TMI-free); excite with an image that stimulates a reaction (like, “Oh, that is cool!” or “Gotta’ have me one!”); finish with a CTA (“Click here to order now.”)

What am I Doing Right?

You’re running your business. That’s where your expertise lies. Creating a web design that turns visitors into customers is our business and, after 30 years (founded 1989, happy anniversary to us!) we’re really good at it. We are the Central Illinois web development experts.

Contact Facet Web Tech — a creative, adaptive and highly professional team of specialists with decades of experience in the industry. We’ll give your website a full examination; we’ll keep the strong points and recreate it with more strong points: Search engine optimization. E-commerce. Lead capture pages. The works!