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13 Free Tools Resources for Nonprofits 2022

Nonprofits around the world are faced with the reality of transforming their operations digitally because of the competition in today’s digital world. Online tools and software applications have been developed to increase productivity and better communication. These tools and software applications help in the digitization process. Here are some tools to help organize your businesses.

 

  1. Mailchimp

MailChimp is a software used for sending messages via the electronic mail. MailChimp is a must-have nonprofit tool for e-mail marketing and mass communication. It allows you to create your own templates and also have access to their numerous ones. With MailChimp, you can send the right message to the right people at the right time by scheduling automated e-mails.

The number of subscribers who open your mail, the frequently clicked links, and the number of people who unsubscribe can all be seen through the analytics MailChimp provides. It offers a mobile app and allows you create mobile-friendly landing pages. It is best for nonprofits who are new to the industry, it also has up to 2,500 contacts and sends 12k e-mails per month for free.

 

  1. Slack

Slack is the right tool if you are tired of endless e-mail about different things. It is a messaging app which makes communication and collaboration between co-workers easier. It gives you the opportunity to create channels for various purposes like, a project, an idea, and a lot more. When a channel is created, everyone can monitor the happenings in that channel unless you make it a private channel for particular members.

Slack keeps your team communication in one place which makes it less likely to get lost in dispersed communication. Slack can also be integrated with other web services like Google Drive, Trello, and many more, to share links, files, spreadsheets, etc. You can also search, share your screen and make calls on slack. Slack is completely free but has paid options for those who want more advanced features.

 

  1. Google Analytics

Google analytics tracks all your hard and soft conversations. Hard conversations contribute directly to your organization’s programs and operations, for example, volunteer registrations, forms submissions, online donations, and a lot more. Soft conversations on the other hand, leads to hard conversations, for instance, downloading annual reports, engagement steps, visiting websites pages, etc.

Google Analytics give you the opportunity to decide on where your nonprofit staff should spend their time. It also solves the issue of resource capacity by helping you understand visuals that are effective, which blog attracts the most readers, etc. Google Analytics’ basic service is free, but there is a premium version called Analytics 360.

 

  1. Buffer

Buffer is a web tool used to share information on social media. It posts the content you create according to the schedule you set which saves you lots of time and energy. Through a plugin or via your newsreader, schedules can be set directly from Buffer’s website.

When your staff handles different aspects of the website; for instance, one person creating blog posts while the other person interacts with supporters, Buffer allows you collaborate with them all. It can also suggest the best possible times to share your content since its analytic features evaluate your posts. Buffer has one of the best support team which provide you with the best customer care.

 

  1. Canva

The Canva software allows you to create the beautiful graphic content as demand for high-quality visual contents are getting higher. Canva offers hundreds of templates for visual content creation for marketing and social media, making the creation of visual content easy and quick. It is very easy to use and has a lot of guideline information.

Branded templated can also be created and saved for everyone on your team to access. Canva is free for eligible nonprofit organizations with proper documentation. There is a premium version called Canva Pro, which offers more tools to try out.

 

  1. Asana

Asana is one of the best free project management software which offers 50% discount for all nonprofits that qualify.  Team members can track work on Asana by joining projects. Each project has a task list and each task have subtasks, due dates, comments, tags, attachments, an assignee, and followers. Data on the app helps members understand what is happening and therefore do not need to discuss matters in any way.

Asana users receive notifications and invites in their inbox when a change is made or a task is assigned. It has more advanced features which allows you integrate with variety of software s like Google Chrome, MailChimp, etc. You can also create space for both private and team conversations. It is great for basic project management and is free for 15 members.

 

  1. Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relation management tool which keeps your customers in mind. It has a Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) specifically for nonprofit organizations. The NPSP has a flexible open data architecture and pre-built constituent, and donor management components. It helps nonprofits cultivate donor relationships, and also observe interactions with funders and volunteers.

The NPSP offers user-friendly and engaging experience that today’s donors expect. With minimal custom programming, NPSP can be configured for the goals, day-to-day processes and needs of any organization. Salesforce gives 10 free subscriptions of Sales and Service Cloud Enterprise Edition for registered nonprofits.

 

  1. Zoom

Zoom is a video communication software leading in the modern enterprise. It makes communication easy and reliable. It creates a platform for video and audio conferencing, chat and webinars. I can be accessed on desktops, mobile devices, and room systems.

 

  1. Bitwarden

Bitwarden is a password software application which keeps your website safe. It manages your password and keeps your nonprofit organization safe from hackers. It is a reputable software application and offers a free option.

 

  1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a software application which allows users post their businesses to find volunteers and employees. Details about the job opportunity is provided to give applicants the full view of what is expected of them. Nonprofits can request for discounts.

 

11. Donorbox

Donorbox is an online fundraising software that gathers charitable donors from around the world for nonprofit industries yearly. It allows donors to easily and frequently donate, captures, and also keeps their information safe. Donorbox increases brand awareness and raise funds for nonprofits as they cannot serve the beneficiaries without funding. Donorbox is a powerful all-in-one fundraising software that can in 15 minutes, start fundraising with a fast, optimized donation system.

Over 50,000 nonprofits from about 40 countries use Donorbox. It allows nonprofits create their own customized and branded recurring donations from their website if they do not like to use the pop-up form on the homepage. The Donorbox database stores and maintains the collected data of donors, allows nonprofits to add communication notes, offline donations, a list of important donor moments (giving anniversary, change in plans, first-time giving, etc.), segment donor records, and many more.

Donorbox offers features such as event ticketing, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer fundraising, membership campaigns, text-to-text, and many more. The forms in Donorbox can easily be embedded in website builders (Weebly, WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix). Donors in Donorbox can make donations via Apple Pay, Direct Debit using banks, credit and debit cards, Google Pay, Paypal, Venmo, ACH bank payments, and many more in multiple currencies (USD, AUD, EUR, etc.).

Receipts for donations can be customized beforehand and are received automatically after donations are made. Donorbox also has features like an embeddable donor wall, suggested donation amount, company matching widget, tribute donation, donation designation, and many other useful features.

Donorbox has an upgraded version called, Donor Premium, which allows you to get your account manager cum fundraising coach, dedicated high-priority support 24/7, and a hand-picked set of advanced tools, all at a very affordable price. However, Donorbox is free to start and has no monthly contract.

 

12. Linktr.ee
Linktr.ee is an Instagram page linking tech tool. It links two or more pages in your Instagram bio. It helps you build an intermediary landing page that contains the links you need in a layout that is visually pleasing.

 

13. Sharekit.io

Sharekit.io is a very helpful tech tool in social sharing. Links shared on social media can look very disorganized and confusing which makes receivers often disregard and ignore such links. Sharekit.io, therefore, is considered one of the best tools in link sharing. With the help of some IT support, it allows you to customize what your link preview looks like. Though not free, Sharekit.io has affordable monthly and annual plans.

 

Faciotech warn of scams involving malicious multi-vector attacks

You probably know that cybercriminals can use malicious emails and phone calls to steal your sensitive information. But did you know that cybercriminals can use multiple attack vectors simultaneously to make their attacks even more effective?
While it may be easy to spot a single suspicious email or phone call, multi-vector attacks can be difficult to catch.
According to a new IBM report, a standard email-only attack yielded a 17.8% click rate from its target audience. When cybercriminals paired the same email attack with a matching phone call campaign, the click rate increased to 53.2%. That’s three times the email-only click rate! By using multiple attack vectors at once, cybercriminals can make their messages seem more credible and urgent.
Don’t let a multi-vector attack trick you. Follow the tips below to keep your sensitive information safe:
  • Verify that urgent messages are legitimate before taking action. Contact the person or organization directly using another line of communication.
  • When you receive an email or phone call, watch out for red flags. Scams often use urgent deadlines and scare tactics to trick you into sharing sensitive information.
  • Remember that even if you receive a message from more than one attack vector, that does not mean the message is legitimate. Always think before you click or reply.
Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers.

Faciotech warn of QuickBooks scam where cybercriminals try to make a quick buck

QuickBooks is a popular accounting software that offers free accounts to its users. While many individuals and organizations use QuickBooks to track their finances, cybercriminals have been using it to run a “business” of their own. In a new scam, cybercriminals create a free QuickBooks account and use the associated email address to send you malicious emails.
To start, cybercriminals send you a phishing email that appears to be an invoice from a reputable organization, such as Norton or Microsoft. The email includes a phone number and directs you to call if the invoice seems suspicious. If you call the phone number, you’ll be asked to confirm your credit card information to cancel the fake transaction.
Unfortunately, if you share this information, the cybercriminals can use it to make their own purchases.
To protect yourself from this malicious scam, follow the tips below:
  • Never call a phone number provided in a suspicious email. Instead, visit the organization’s official website to find their contact information.
  • If you’re asked to verify payment information over the phone, ask the caller to tell you what they have on file. If they decline, only provide the last four digits of your payment card number.
  • Cybercriminals can use fake invoices to alarm you and trick you into clicking impulsively. Always think carefully before you click!

Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers!

10 tech tools for small businesses in 2025

Small business owners sometimes feel they do not have enough daily hours. They use most of their time to market, draft proposals, meet clients and manage operations. As a result, they most often get overwhelmed and exhausted on such days. Fortunately, some technological advances in software and apps can help streamline your business operations.

These technological software and apps have several benefits associated with their usage. These tools can help you save time for other important things like improving your products and services, speaking with clients, and other strategic endeavors. They can also help save money, for instance, a backup solution can keep your data and make sure you never lose them.

With these benefits of using tech tools, it is important to thoughtfully and carefully select and use tech tools for your small or start-up business. Here are some options available to consider.

 

1.      Project management tools

Project management tools allow members involved to see and know the happenings in the business. It allows you to track your deadlines, activities, and appointments. It can create automatic reminders with details for upcoming events and tasks. They are mostly mobile-friendly and work on every platform.

Their messaging function keeps everyone updated. Managing multiple projects can get tricky, especially when many people are involved, and even harder when staff work remotely. Some examples of project management tools are; Monday, Trello, and Asana.

 

2.      Electronic signature/ E-signature tools

E-signature tools allow you to sign contracts and agreements online documents. The process is quite easy; you first upload the document, add the e-mail addresses of those who sign the document, and then send it to them. Furthermore, most e-signature tools allow you to assign due dates and send automatic reminders for the signatures.

This process is paperless, environmentally friendly, and supports a geographically remote and dispersed workplace environment. An example of an e-signature tool is DocuSign. It is one of the best and most popular e-signature tools.

 

3.      E-mail marketing

An e-mail marketing tool is essential for every small business owner. It is quick and easy and allows you to keep your e-mail subscribers up to date on promotions and special offers you run. In addition, it auto-generates newsletters to your social network channels, easing the load of making some on your own. One leading e-mail marketing tool is MailChimp.

 

4.      Customer relationship management(CRM) tools

A customer relationship management (CRM) tool is very important when managing a small business. Since customers are the main point in every business, CRM tools provide a central repository that helps you manage, track and measure all touchpoints in your relationship with your customers.

It gathers and analyses data to provide you with relationship checks, and sometimes recommends steps for engagement with current and potential customers. Using CRM tools can reduce marketing costs and improve usage growth. Zoho, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Hubspot are examples of CRM tools.

 

5.      HR management tools

HR management tools come in handy for small businesses which can not hire a dedicated human resource administrator. HR management tools handle things like payroll, distributing company announcements, benefits management, shift scheduling, and all associated data. Goco and Trinet are examples of HR management tools.

 

6.      Accounting software tools

Accounting software tool is considered a computer or online accountant or bookkeeper. It tracks and keeps your income, expenses, invoice, and other related documents. It also generates documents for your tax returns. QuickBook Online is a popular example of an accountant software tool. It is user-friendly and integrates easily with other apps.

 

7.      Website monitoring tools

As a small business owner, there is no doubt that a huge amount of resources were invested in creating a website since it is the main means of access to your business. But monitoring your website to know who and how it is used and which parts are getting the most or least traffic is essential to keeping your website active and efficient.

In addition, it helps give an insight into the areas which need improvements. Google Analytics is one of the small businesses’ most used website monitoring tools. It gives a detailed report on the source of traffic on your website.

Other tools, such as downtime monitors, can also come in handy. Downtimes are something we despise and never wish to experience. They do, though, happen sometimes. It hurts when a client or consumer contacts you to alert you that your website is down. This is when server monitoring comes into the picture.

You receive accurate downtime data through email or SMS, allowing you to react quickly. Time is of the essence, and our technologies are built to provide it to you. Faciotech’s server monitor is one of the best website downtime monitoring tools. It is reliable and user-friendly.

 

8.      Password management tools

A password management tool allows you to securely manage all your accounts by creating passwords to lock those accounts. It keeps your passwords and prevents you from using passwords that are easy to guess.

One popular choice of password management tool is Dashlane. It automatically syncs all your devices and has other free features but is costly compared to others.

 

9.      Data backup tools

Losing or accidentally deleting data once in a while remains a normal thing that occurs when managing a business, but how to restore that lost data is a very critical point. Small business owners, therefore, have to make sure they have a technological tool that can give them full access and control to their critical data whenever they accidentally delete or lose their data with just a few clicks. Rewind is a favored data backup tool.

 

10.  Communication tools

Using telephone calls to market and interact with customers is a thing of the past and not effective enough. Modern technology has introduced modern communication tools that small business owners can use to communicate with their customers. Social media handles like Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn can be very effective in communicating with customers and marketing.

These technological tools for small businesses are not the only tools available for use. Many more tools can be selected based on the industry, maturity, and size of the business.

What is web hosting and why do you need it?

Web hosting is the internet service that enables businesses and individuals make their online presence in the form of a website which is accessible to the public. It is a physical location of your website on the internet, an online storage centre that houses the information, videos, images and other content that comprises your website.

Web hosting is typically provided by a web host with businesses that maintain, secure, configure and run physical servers that can be readily accessed by a web browser like Google Chrome or Firefox. For any website to be available online, it has to be stored on some server or computer that is connected to the internet.

Web hosting allows individuals and organizations to make their websites accessible via the World Wide Web (WWW). It allows you to rent space on a server to store your website data such as HTML and CSS files, media content and other documents on your website that can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.

Web hosting services work by maintaining stable and secure storage spaces, while web hosts provide more than just simple data storage, it is a core part of their functionality to store data on hardware called web servers.

 

How does web hosting work?

To make a website accessible to everyone, it must be stored on a server that is connected to the internet. Once the web hosting company host website, users can access it by typing your URL into their browser and their computer then connects to your server. The server in turn serves the website to your web visitor, that is, the server will send them the files that make up your website.

     

Why is web hosting important?

Good website hosting is essential so your brand can offer to the public and can also be used for many applications, such as systems, virtual stores, blogs, and websites, with advantages ranging from better performance to greater security. A reliable and high-performing web host is a crucial part of any successful website; therefore, neglecting to choose the right host can have a disastrous effect on your website and business.

Web hosting provides you with a place to store your website files. When you create a website, you will need a place to store the individual file and images that make up your website. These files are stored on a web server which is provided by a web hosting company.

Web hosting services give you access to certain tools and services that can make creating and managing your website easier, for example, some web hosting companies offer website builder services without any programming design experience.

 

Types of web hosting services

There are three main types of web hosting services; shared, virtual private service (VPS) and dedicated hosting. Other types are cloud, collocated, managed, grid, clustered and reseller hosting. Each type offers different features and benefits that can be beneficial for your website.

Shared hosting

Shared hosting is where your website is stored on the same server with multiple other websites and domains share the same server resources such as processing power, storage and memory. The cost of shared hosting is relatively low and therefore making it best for personal and small businesses which have low to moderate traffic and CPU needs.

Virtual private server (VPS) hosting

With VPS hosting, virtualization technology is used to partition a computer into multiple servers. Each website is hosted within its own space on the server though it shares still shares a physical server with other users. It gives users the freedom to install whatever they want on the server.

Users are given more privacy and security than shared hosting. It is ideal for website owners that need more resources than what is offered with shared hosting. It is also more expensive than shared hosting but less expensive than dedicated hosting.

Dedicated hosting

Dedicated hosting gives you absolute power and control over a server that is dedicated to your website. With dedicated hosting, you can configure the server, choose your desired operating system and software, and customize the entire hosting environment to your specification.

You also do not share a server with other websites. It is the most expensive type of web hosting and is best for large businesses and organizations whose websites have heavy traffic and CPU needs.

Cloud hosting

Cloud hosting allows you to have your website hosted on multiple servers. Thus, if one server gets faulty, the other servers take over and maintain the website. This means that you can have your resources whenever you need them. It is best for websites that have varying or irregular resource needs.

Colocated hosting

Colocated hosting has similar features to dedicated hosting. It allows you to place your server at the service provider’s location. Thus, it is like placing your own server at a special place designed for servers.

Managed hosting

With a managed server, the website owner gets a server for himself to manage all his data but does not have full control over it. With that, service providers prevent users from potentially changing configuration or modifying the server.

Grid hosting

Grid hosting uses several servers that act like a grid and is made up of multiple nodes. In this way, different parts of the website can operate independently.

Clustered hosting

Clustered hosting uses several servers that host the same data of your website. With that, when one server goes down or needs to reboot, website visitors would still be able to access your site.

Reseller hosting

This type of web hosting allows you (client) to be a web host yourself. This means that you buy a provider’s service and sell it to a third party. This type of web hosting requires you to have IT skills since you will be a host and solve all hosting problems.

 

What is domain hosting?

Domain hosting is a service provided by domain hosts who provide and manage your domain name.  A domain name, also known as a website address, is the name people type in their browsers to open a certain site. That is to say, if your website was a house, your domain name would be its address. It can be a combination of words and numbers.

Domain hosts use Domain Name System (DNS) records to connect your domain name with emails, websites, IP addresses and other web services.

A domain’s IP address is a series of numbers that helps computers identify each other online but it is challenging for humans to remember, for example; 66.249.66.1. So, with DNS, people can access a site on their browser without knowing its associated IP address.

A domain can also be used as a tool to support a site’s branding other than being a website address. It is the first thing people see when visiting a site and therefore crucial to spend time picking a domain name that suits your business or project. Here are a few suggested tips for choosing the right domain name for your website:

  • Choose a short name that is easy to remember.
  • Pick a unique name that is not similar to other sites.
  • Make sure it is easy to type and pronounce.
  • Choose a popular top-level domain (TLD) like “.com”.
  • Avoid numbers and hyphens.
  • Love your domain name to make it your brand.
  • Use domain name generators to help get domain name ideas.

You can also purchase a domain name from your web hosting company; which allows you to manage both services under one account, thus, no need to worry about changing the webserver settings for your domain.

 

What to look for in a web hosting company

When upgrading your website, you need to find a web hosting service that can offer the tools, space and support you need. Here are some things to look out for when choosing a web hosting service.

Reliability and uptime

Uptime is the measurement of the time that tells how much a machine is available and working. It is usually expressed as a percentage. Reliability and uptime are considered the most important thing to look for in a web hosting service.

Your website has to be up and running at all times for your business to run smoothly, therefore, any web hosting service that offers an uptime below 99.9% should not be considered.

Loading speed

Speed is also important for a website. If your website takes too long to load, users will prefer to actively remain on other sites consuming their content than to be annoyed by delay and still stay on your site. Therefore, check to see if the web hosting service provides a fast loading speed.

Customer support

A web hosting service must also be available and efficient in assisting you. When something goes wrong with your website, you will need technical support to help solve your problem. Get a web hosting service that offers support 24/7.

Check how the support of the web hosting service you are choosing works and the channels the company offers for contact. Also check for the availability of the web hosting service by emailing them at midnight, weekends or on holidays.

Pricing

The price of a web hosting service should guide our choice when choosing an ideal service. An expensive service does not guarantee it is high-quality, just as a cheap service does not guarantee it being bad. Know your needs and look for a service plan that suits your needs and budget, and also offers a good value for the price.

Security

Trusting the host of your website is not a simple task. Make sure you choose a service that can protect its customers. The web hosting service should offer security features like DDoS protection and malware scanning and also provide constant backups.

This will help keep your website safe and active at all times. Always research and check for all these things and more when choosing a web hosting service to ensure a safe, active and successful website.

 

Free vs paid web hosting service

When it comes to hosting your website, there are a lot of choices to make. One important choice is choosing between free or paid web hosting services.

Free web hosting services offer website templates that are ready-made, all you need is just to add your content and visuals, and adjust the site’s menu. With free web hosting, you do not need IT or coding skills.

Its cost of entry is very low giving you the opportunity to try out a few designs to get familiar with the complexities of building a website. It gives you the opportunity to easily develop your website. It is best for people with little or no experience in web design and development.

Paid web hosting service has more features that require payment to unlock. It gives enough storage space to store your content and also gives easy access and use of your website which creates a favourable user experience.

There are some advantages and disadvantages with both free and paid web hosting services, making it important to weigh your options before making a decision. Here are some few things to consider when choosing either a free or paid web hosting service.

Cost

As the name implies, free web hosting is free and does not require any sort of payment. This makes it a better option if you are on a tight budget. But with paid web hosting, you are required to pay for some features to be unlocked. This makes it a bad option for people on a tight budget.

Features/ customization

Free web hosting usually limits its customization options and website templates. And with your domain name, the host’s name is usually included. It is ideal for beginners. Paid web hosting offers a lot more customization options and web templates. You get to try out numerous styles and designs on your site.

Your domain name is personalized and even allows you to modify your CSS or HTML codes. You also get to have enough storage space, maximum customer support, and other web services.

Security

An attack or hack on your website can cause a huge loss and setback to your business, which is why security should be the biggest factor when choosing a free web hosting. Although some free web hosting companies provide security, it is not as tight as it should be.

Paid web hosting companies provide maximum security for their members because it is paid for. This gives web owners the assurance of the safety of their websites.

Customer support

Free web hosting provides less to no customer support for website owners. So, website owners are left to their fate when they encounter a problem. With paid web hosting, however, customer support is provided 24/7. This means website owners can request help and be supported whenever they encounter a problem.

Branding

Free web hosting does not allow website owners to personalize and customize their sites. This is because they share the space and resources with others and also share their domain name.

Paid web hosting allows you to personalize and brand your website according to your likes and needs.

 

Why Start-ups should Leverage Websites for Marketing

Until the inception of the computer and later internet service, most businesses had to rely on the limited services of newspaper advertisements, magazines, and probably radio waves for marketing. This development was a setback to most businesses in that they were handicapped in the sphere of information they could make known about their businesses.

Given the available publicity mediums, enticing advertisements such as videos, direct feedback from prospective customers, and images were difficult to communicate through those mediums. Hence, start-up businesses suffered from this holdback.

The advent of revolutionizing technology has been a boom for most businesses, who take advantage of it for the advertisement of their products and services by leveraging the myriad benefits of settling for a website as a medium of advertisement.

Potential customers now heavily rely on the services of the internet to search for products or services they need, and start-ups who settle for a website stand the chance of losing credibility and popularity in the eyes of the public. There are some advantages that start-ups must reconsider before settling for a website.

Reasons why your company needs a website

To begin with, it is very essential that startups leverage a website because it saves you money in the sense that, as a beginner, especially one that is just starting out, you might have thoughts that you can’t afford a professional website and that it would not be economically wise to pay huge sums of money for a website. You got it all wrong.

Consider the stress and money you pay for airtime on radio stations or even buying space in either a graphic or magazine just for awareness creation. Did you know that when you own a professional website, you can easily add new products or ideas at your leisure?

Yes, it is possible that saves you huge sums of money compared with the cost of traditional means of advertising, such as newspaper ads, radio commercials, promotional materials, and even networking events that often include the cost of a meal or trade tables.

When you consider the potential market you can reach with a website, it is a very cost-effective way to promote your business in the long term. It is just not economically wise to run to the radio station or pay extra cash to the editors of your preferred magazine for your new products to be advertised.

This means that this same process would be repeated as your business continues to grow. I don’t see the sense in continually paying money when alterations and ads can easily be added at no cost. Hence, it is left up to you to judge the numerous opportunities a website provides to any other medium. Saving money is a great reason why your business needs a professional website, but there are many more reasons.

In addition, clients can be kept educated in its most fundamental shape. Think about a site just like an online pamphlet or inventory that can be refreshed whenever. It is much simpler and quicker to update information about your products and services on your website than it is in a printed pamphlet or index.

A website is an effective way to introduce new services to your customers, inform them about new products, and announce upcoming events and unique advancements. You can likewise give them an incentive by including tips, assets, and other data through a blog on your site.

Unlike print advertisements, daily newspaper articles, and flyers, which rapidly become noticeably obsolete, your site can give current data and news. Also, on the off chance that you find a slip-up after you distribute a page or post, it is a convenient solution.

A site can be far beyond just an online handout or list, however. Presently, we have YouTube recordings, Podcasts, online courses, eBooks, and other online media to feature our aptitudes, skills, and items, as well as live online classes, courses, and workshops.

Also, an online networking combination lets you share information on your website through many different channels and get in touch with a larger group of people.

Also, it is important to note that a site is constantly open, not at all like your block and-mortar area, which is just open a couple of hours daily. A site is open 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. You can give both consistent and imminent clients the accommodation of surveying your items and services when your store or office is shut.

Not just that, with such a large number of intuitive highlights and additional items accessible, guests to your site can get in touch with you, agree to accept your courses, plan arrangements and even buy straightforwardly through your site, notwithstanding when you’re far from your work area or in the wake of shutting. With the present occupied ways of life, this is an extraordinary offering moment that settles on a buy choice.

Also, note that a site empowers you to contact a more extensive gathering of people in the sense that sites are available from any place on the planet given there is a web association. Since an ever-increasing number of individuals access the web, even in remote areas, you can focus on a significantly more extensive crowd if your business has a site.

Regardless of whether you offer items or benefits, or if your business is customer-based, your site gives you an elective area to offer. As a retailer, an online business site is an incredible place to pitch your items to a more extensive market. Think about every one of the general population who can’t get to your brick-and-mortar store where you could pitch your items to.

Indeed, even administrative-based organizations can offer their services all-inclusive through a site. Since we have such a large number of moderate approaches to speaking with individuals, we can work with anybody, anyplace, at any time. A site makes it a great deal less demanding to pull in customers from a worldwide market.

Businesses can only grow if they are known or heard of in the public domain. Hence, considering the myriad opportunities a website has to offer in terms of putting your business in front of the public purse, it is wise for startups to seize this enviable opportunity, which in return would lead to a tremendous boom in your business.

Contact us should you need a website. We will be more than happy to assist.

Faciotech warn that members of the public can be targets of sophisticated spear phishing attacks

Recently, researchers at a cybersecurity company observed a sophisticated phishing email sent to a foreign diplomat. In the email, cybercriminals disguised themselves by using the first and last name of an employee in the diplomat’s IT department.
In this case, the diplomat believed that the email was suspicious and forwarded it to the actual employee in the IT department for investigation. This case is a perfect example of a popular attack called spear phishing.
Spear phishing attacks are targeted at a single person or department that has information that cybercriminals want. In these attacks, cybercriminals conduct research on the specific person or department and figure out who they talk to frequently.
Then, the cybercriminals send a message to the person or department, pretending to be someone they know and trust. It’s important to watch out for these attacks because they can happen to anyone, not just diplomats or executives.
Follow these tips to stay safe from spear-phishing attacks:
  1. Don’t open attachments or click on links in emails that you were not expecting.
  2. Check email headers to make sure you recognize the sender and any other recipients.
  3. Reach out to the person who allegedly sent the email by phone or in person. By reaching out to the alleged sender directly, you could save yourself and/or your organization from a potential spear-phishing attack!

Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers. Safe yourself from Phishing Scams

Faciotech warn social media users to watch out for social media attacks and phishy Facebook messages

In a new scam, cybercriminals have been using compromised Facebook accounts to send links to fake login pages. Social media attacks/scam, is gaining popularity, with over eight million people viewing just one of the phishing pages so far this year.
In this scam, cybercriminals hack users’ Facebook accounts and then use these accounts to send messages to the users’ Facebook friends. When a user clicks on a link from one of these messages, they are directed to a fake Facebook login page. On this page, the user is asked to enter their email and password to verify their credentials.
If you fall for this scam, any credentials that you share will be delivered directly to the cybercriminals. The cybercriminals could then log in to your Facebook account and send similar links to your Facebook friends. It’s important to remember that cybercriminals can also use ad tracking tools to receive money from visits to these pages. They profit from every click!
Follow these tips to stay safe from phishy messages:
  1. Hover your mouse over links before you click. Watch out for links that are suspiciously long or show a domain for a different website than the website you want to visit.
  2. If you receive a suspicious Facebook message, reach out to your Facebook friend by email, text message, phone call, or another app. If they didn’t send you the message, let them know that their account has been hacked and they should change their password immediately. Do not reply to the suspicious message.
  3. Stay informed about the latest scams and how you can stay safe. Information is one of our most powerful tools against cybercriminals.
Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers.

Checklist for websites: 14 guidelines for creating effective website content

Client website content checklist

After several years of working on web projects, we have found that the process does not always go as smoothly as it should. As a result, we decided to create this checklist for websites. This checklist is not exhaustive and will likely have some omissions, but it should cover most basics.

  1. General & Global
  • Logo
  • Footer widget options
    • Social feed
    • Page list / mini menu
    • Legal links
    • Logo
    • Contact info
    • Recent posts
    • Certifications & Memberships
    • Call to Action
    • Brief about
    • Opt-in
  • Sidebar widget options
    • Opt-in
    • Recent posts
    • Contact block
    • Categories
    • Author
  • Social media profile links
  • Favicon (or create one from their logo)
  1. Home Page
  • Header/Hero Image
  • Main headline
  • Tagline
  • Headline for SEO
  • Site description
  • Header button text
  • Images
  • Call to action
  • Home slider
  • About us section
  • Service boxes
  • Contact section
  • Blog section
  • Products
  • Offers/packages
  • Partners/Clients
  • Others
  1. About
  • Main content
  • Core values
  • Mission
  • Vision
  • History
  • Executive Directors Message
  • Video introduction to the Company
  • CSR information
  • Time series of business
  • Images
  • Team photos
  • Team bios
  • Team social media
  • Certifications & Memberships & Partners & Accreditations
  • Call to action
  • others
  1. Products/Services
  • Headings
  • Summary
  • Images
  1. Blog
  • Author Bio
  • Author Image (gravatar)
  • Several initial posts with featured image
  1. Contact
  • Phone number (s)
  • Email address (es)
  • Contact form fields
  • Map address (es)
  • Mail address (es)
  • Supporting text
  • Areas serviced
  • Business numbers or license numbers, if required
  • Premises photos
  • Country or department offices
  • Knowledge base page links
  • FAQs
  1. Supporting Content
  • Testimonials including images
  • Client images/logos
  • FAQs
  • 404-page content & links
  • Downloads & Resources
  • Video embed code (Client to upload)
  1. SEO
  • Target keywords
  1. Email Marketing
  • CRM/autoresponder credentials
  • Lists to add subscribers to
  • Tags to add
  • Opt-in
    • Location(s)
    • The headline and/or subscribe text
    • Button text
    • Fields (optional/required)
  1. Tracking & Scripts
  • Analytics
  • Facebook pixel code
  • Live chat script
  • Reviews embed code
  1. eCommerce
  • Products
    • Title
    • SKU
    • Category
    • Description
    • Image
    • Price
    • Dimensions & Weight (if calculating shipping)
  • Shipping method (s) & costs
  • Payment method (s) and credentials
  • Coupons
  1. Legal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions or other legal info
  • Custom copyright
  1. Gallery
  • Images
  • Videos
  • Documents
  • Others
  1. Events
  • Incoming events
  • Past events

 

Page Descriptions

Home Page: Every site begins with a primary introduction page. This page should focus on the overall site and link all major areas and functions. Links back to the Home Page will be accessible on every page.

Appropriate design choices for the Home Page will be an essential part of the development process. The Home Page will anchor the site and pull its elements together rather than be a promotional introduction.

Support: Technical information, FAQs, and manuals for performing specific functions on the website. A support form could be included to report problems and request assistance.

Gallery: This section could display pages of images. The Gallery could also be used for documents, sound files, Acrobat PDF files, or other “library” functions. A pre-built template would display pictures on “section” pages as thumbnail images. Hundreds of images could be supported. The Gallery is a great way to showcase your images and videos online.

Events: This page would list current events that the Company is involved in. The Events Calendar is carefully crafted, and that lets you easily share your events. Events created on the calendar are beautiful, solid, awesome, easy to create, and easy to manage your calendar of events. The Events Calendar will help take your site to the next level.

About Us: This section would summarise what the Company is about, your vision, missions, core values, history, Executive Directors, welcome messages etc. Maps and driving directions would be included. Company history, biographies, pictures, and links to other pages and/or sites could also be added.

Site Map: The Site Map is a page that contains text-based links to each primary area of the site. It is a convenient way to navigate around a website and see a complete overview of the topics it presents.

Search Results: A “Search” field and button will be available on each page. When pressed, the entire website will be searched for a matching text string, and the results will be displayed on this page as content with a link. For example, search ranges could be limited to a specific topic or site area and search the entire site.

Administrator Section Panel (Important): Our websites have an administration panel for adding articles, managing images, and managing the site. This makes it easier for the site to be edited and managed from any web browser software.

In addition, the administrator panel has a login security check that only allows vulnerable people having login passwords to gain access. All login credentials are given to the Client after the full payment has been made.

Team pages: A page is devoted to promoting your Company’s most valuable asset: your employees. Meet the Team, which is often seen as an extension of the About Page, introduces your visitors to your staff, offering openness and a human touch. It is a fantastic method to attach names and titles to faces.

Customers nowadays demand a lot more customized, intimate experience with the firms they buy from, thus making this critical. The days of casual, impersonal sales are long gone.

Project pages: A project page is a place for NGOs to display the numerous initiatives they have participated in. This allows prospective donors and contributors to track the effects your organization has.

For private businesses, a portfolio page is a unique way to display your work and introduce yourself to others. It is similar to having an evergreen platform for your projects, case studies, and biographical information. It is also a great chance to show off your personality, skills, and expertise.

Services: Creating a services page for your Company’s website is about more than simply stating what you can do for a client; it also defines how your Company or brand differs from the competition. Remember, on this page, you are marketing yourself and your firm. Writing the services page should be simple if you know what your consumers want and have a thorough grasp of your sector.

This page contains a comprehensive summary of your services and the advantages customers get by utilizing or employing you. In addition, this page provides a list of your organization’s initiatives or issues and the demographic segment with whom you deal.

Including a “Why Use Us” section on your website is a simple approach to advertising the advantages of your Company’s services. Include what makes your firm unique and the benefits your Company or brand provides.

Blog/News: A blog (a shortened variant of “weblog”) is a conversation or informative website that is published on the World Wide Web and is made up of discrete, typically informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are usually shown in reverse chronological order, with the most recent entry at the top of the page. Posting quality material to your blog regularly is a popular type of content marketing.

Instead of going to your audience with typical outbound marketing methods like advertising and cold calling, the purpose of inbound marketing, or content marketing, is to have your audience come to you. If you dislike selling yourself and self-promotion, this should be a kind of marketing that appeals to you. Note: The Client must provide us with the list of categories and at least one article for each section.

Contact page: A contact page is a standard web page on a website that allows users to contact the organization or person that operates the website. One or more of the following things may be found on this page: an email address, a phone number, and a postal address, often with a map displaying the location and connections to social media, a text message or enquiry contact form etc.

In the case of prominent corporations, the contact page may have information for many offices (headquarters, field offices, and so on) and departments (customer support, sales, investor relations, press relations, etc.).

Faciotech warn of scammers using Search Engine Optimization to target your online search results

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a technique that helps websites appear more often in search engine results, and rank higher than other websites. Legitimate websites use SEO such as easy-to-remember URLs and relevant keywords. Unfortunately, cybercriminals can also use SEO for their malicious websites.
Some of the ways cybercriminals use SEO is by adding tons of popular keywords to their website and creating multiple links that redirect you to their website. Cybercriminals can also pay third parties to visit their website, which makes the website appear more reputable and popular to search engines.
If you visit one of these malicious websites, you may be tricked into downloading a malicious file or providing your personal information.
Follow these tips to keep yourself safe from malicious search results:
  • Always hover your cursor over a link before you click, even when using a search engine. Look for spelling mistakes and overly long URLs that can hide a website’s true domain.
  • Avoid search results that include a long list of random or repeated words and phrases. That website could be using excessive keywords to draw in traffic.
  • Visit trusted websites directly by entering the URL in your browser’s address bar, instead of using a search engine to find the website.
Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers.

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