03/03/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Online shopping has become a part of daily life for most consumers. With the increasing competition in the eCommerce industry, it's more challenging for brands to stand out and gain the trust of potential customers. User reviews can significantly impact eCommerce brands' sales performance, and understanding their importance is crucial. This blog post will explain why reviews are important and how they can increase sales and brand exposure. One of the easiest and most cost-effective platforms to set up is Google Reviews.

Why Are Reviews Important for E-commerce Brands?

1. Builds Trust with Customers: Consumers are likelier to trust a brand with positive reviews. Reviews give customers insight into the product or service they want. When a brand has many positive reviews, it helps build trust with potential customers.
2. Increases Sales: Positive reviews can influence a potential customer's decision to purchase from a brand. Reviews can act as social proof and provide evidence that a product or service is high quality. According to a survey by BrightLocal, 91% of consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
3. Provides Valuable Feedback: They can help identify areas that need improvement and highlight areas where the brand excels. Brands can use this feedback to improve their products, customer service, and shopping experience.
4. Provides Valuable Feedback: They can help identify areas that need improvement and highlight areas where the brand excels. Brands can use this feedback to improve their products, customer service, and shopping experience.

Steps to Set Up Google Reviews

1. Create a Google My Business Account: E-commerce brands must have a Google My Business account to enable Google Reviews. It's a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Google Maps and Google Search.
2. Verify Your Business: Verify your business once you've created your Google My Business account. Google will send a postcard to your business address with a verification code. Once you receive the postcard, please enter the verification code into your Google My Business account.
3. Optimize Your Google My Business Profile: To encourage customers to leave reviews, you must optimize your Google My Business profile. This includes adding high-quality images, accurate business information, and updating your business hours.
4. Ask Customers for Reviews: After you've set up your Google My Business account and optimized your profile, you can start asking customers for reviews. You can send a follow-up email after customers purchase, asking them to leave a review. You can also include a link to your Google My Business profile in your email signature or website.
5. Respond to reviews: Once you start getting reviews, respond to them. This shows customers that you care about their opinion and encourages them to leave more reviews.

In conclusion, reviews can help build customer trust, increase sales, improve SEO, and provide valuable feedback. By following the steps outlined above, eCommerce brands can easily set up Google Reviews and start reaping the benefits. It's essential to encourage customers to leave reviews and promptly respond to positive and negative reviews. With a solid understanding of Google Reviews, eCommerce brands can improve their online reputation and stand out in a competitive industry.

Dreaming Code helps online businesses thrive, so we support helpful tools like Google Reviews. We can provide support to configure and efficiently manage your online channel to generate sales, test new ways to market, and improve customer experience.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/24/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Top Tips to Protect Your Business in 2023

Small and medium businesses (SMBs) are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, data breaches, and other security threats. SMBs are especially vulnerable as they are frequently targeted and typically have limited advanced resources to focus on the ever-present threat. Protecting your business by having a secure network to keep your data and assets safe is essential. But just as important, you need to develop a security checklist that outlines the steps and tasks you need to take to ensure your business is secure and resilient. This will review some of the risks and provide a comprehensive checklist to guide business leaders to protect their companies.

What are some top cybersecurity risks to my business?

Businesses need to realize the importance of cyber security as it can have a devastating effect on their operations. Small businesses have become frequent targets for cybercriminals, as they often need more resources or knowledge to protect themselves. These risks are exposed by bad security configurations and a lack of awareness of exposed systems. Being deliberate and vigilant about risks is the first step. Cyber security risks can include anything from data theft to ransomware attacks, and small businesses need to be aware of these risks and take steps to protect themselves.

Phishing and social engineering: Phishing is one of the most common cyber security risks for small businesses. It involves cyber criminals sending emails to small businesses that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks or online suppliers. These emails contain malicious links or attachments that can infect a computer or network with malware. In most cases, the hacker might use the phone, email, snail mail, or direct contact to gain illegal access. Phishing, spear phishing, and CEO Fraud are all examples.

Data Breaches can occur when hackers access a company's confidential information. This information can include customer records, financial data, or other sensitive data. Data breaches can be devastating for small businesses, as the cost of a breach can be high in terms of both money and reputation.

Malware is malicious software used to gain access to a computer or network. It is used to steal data, delete files, or gain computer control. Malware is often spread through links in emails or on websites, and small businesses need the proper security measures to protect themselves.

Unsecure Networks can be a significant security risk for small businesses. Open Wi-Fi networks, for example, can be easily accessed by cyber criminals and used to gain access to a company's confidential information. Therefore, small businesses must ensure that all of their networks are secure and all users are properly authenticated.

“The World Economic Forum finds that in the next five years, a 15% increase in cybercrime costs will reach 10.5 trillion by 2025. On average, SMBs today spend between $826 and $653,587 on cybersecurity incidents."

While cyber insurance is available to mitigate some of the risks, it is difficult to recover a business's reputation. Businesses of all sizes must take proactive steps to ensure their data is secure and their systems are protected from malicious activity. By implementing the appropriate security measures, businesses can reduce the risk of costly data breaches and keep their operations running smoothly.

What are the steps to implementing a Cyber Security Checklist?

A security plan can help protect small businesses from these risks. It's essential to have the proper security measures, such as antivirus software, secure networks, and data encryption. It's also necessary to ensure that all your employees know the risks and how to respond to potential threats. Without the proper security measures, small businesses could face devastating data, money, and reputation losses.

The first reality is that all businesses must acknowledge the expectation a breach will happen. This realization should be the motivating factor to create, implement and continuously update the plan. Here are some tips for creating a practical security checklist for your small business.

1. Map Your Environment: The first step in creating an SMB security plan is to map your environment. This includes understanding your network's architecture, devices, and applications. Identifying potential vulnerabilities in your network, such as open ports, weak passwords, or outdated software, is also essential. Businesses must look at their network and include their facilities and physical security to help prevent security risks.
2. Train Employees: Educating your employees on security policies and procedures is also essential in creating an SMB security checklist. Ensure your employees understand the importance of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and secure data sharing. They should also know how to spot potential scams and phishing emails. Having a personnel security policy and providing employees with regular updates is a significant step to help prevent security attacks and breaches.
3. Implement a Defensive Plan: You must develop a defensive plan to protect your business from security threats. Policies that ensure all employees use multifactor authentication are essential. It is vital to cover all endpoints and networks using antivirus software on devices, and protecting all endpoints, is also necessary. It's important to restrict who has access to essential data and the authority of software installs.
4. Maintain Good Security Governance: This is essential for any security checklist. This “hygiene" includes regularly scanning for vulnerabilities, monitoring suspicious activity, and periodically updating your systems. It also consists of the continuous backup of all critical data sources to your operations. This includes not only your backend systems but also your email and even your website assets. It also helps you audit your network regularly to ensure security policies and procedures are adequately enforced.
5. Develop a Response Plan: Lastly, you need to develop a response plan that can be based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. This includes developing a plan for responding to a potential breach, such as identifying and containing the risk and recovering any lost data. This plan should include the following:


• Identify the plan's scope that determines the types of incidents that will be addressed and the resources available to respond.
• Establish incident response roles and responsibilities that need to be created. These responsibilities are to individuals or teams to ensure that the incident response plan is implemented correctly.
• Develop incident response procedures for each type of incident addressed in the plan, including steps for gathering evidence, mitigating the incident, and reporting to external entities.
• Establish incident escalation procedures for elevating the response to more senior personnel if the incident warrants it.
• Develop incident reporting procedures for external entities such as law enforcement or other regulatory bodies. This also involves the notification of customers, partners, and your team.
• Train personnel on the plan so they understand their roles and responsibilities. This includes testing the plan by simulating different incidents and evaluating the effectiveness of the response.
• Document the plan in writing and store it securely.
• Regularly review and update the program to ensure that it remains effective and up to date.

At Dreaming Code, we offer a range of cybersecurity solutions from leading providers for small businesses. We also take this very seriously by protecting your instance of our product with only the top industry partners and consultants.

Our team of experienced security consultants can help you develop a security plan tailored to your business's needs. We also offer 24/7 Radical Support, so you can rest assured that your business will always receive top-level protection. Contact us today if you need help with your cyber security plan.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/21/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Introduction

Content marketing is a powerful tool for Business to Business (B2B) companies to reach their customers, build relationships and grow revenue. It involves creating and sharing content such as videos, blog posts, case studies, e-books, and more to engage customers, build brand awareness, and make them interested. Content marketing is vital to demand generation because it allows B2B companies to reach a wider audience, build customer trust, and increase sales.

89% of B2B content marketers use short articles and posts, making them the top type of content used in 2022, according to the Content Marketing Institute.

This blog is not about content marketing but how to use your go-to-market channels to promote your content. We'll explore the multiple channels for content promotion, including email marketing, social media, website, and more. We'll also discuss optimizing your content for each channel and the best practices for content promotion. By the end of this blog, you'll have a better understanding of the various channels available to promote your content and how to effectively use them to maximize your reach and increase your sales.

What is content marketing for the new B2B buyer?

Content marketing for B2B is a marketing strategy focusing on creating and distributing valuable, consistent, and relevant content to attract and retain a clearly-defined target audience. It is based on the idea that providing customers with helpful information and resources will make them more likely to do business with your company.

B2B buyers today want to educate themselves on solutions and become more informed about the products or services they are interested in. They no longer rely on sales teams to provide all the necessary information. Instead, they are looking for content that helps them understand a product's or service's value and how it can best meet their needs.

B2B companies must create educational and engaging content to meet this need. It should provide helpful information that is relevant to the target audience and that provides the answers they are seeking. Content should also be compelling enough to cause the reader to want to engage directly with the brand or continue to consume additional content.

By creating content that appeals to their target audience, providing valuable information, and publishing it purposefully, B2B companies can engage with customers and build lasting relationships. Content marketing can help B2B companies reach their goals and increase sales.

Overview of Content Marketing Channels

Website and Digital

Content marketing is an integral part of any digital marketing plan, and it has become increasingly important for search engine optimization (SEO), search ranking, and online reputation building. It's crucial to review how to deploy content marketing on a brand's website, including its impact on SEO, why it's essential for search engine ranking, and how it can help build an online reputation.

Why is content marketing important for SEO?

Content marketing is essential for SEO because it provides search engines with the needed information to index and rank websites. Publishing content can help increase a site's visibility in the search engine results pages (SERPs) by providing high-quality, appropriate content that search engines see as relevant. Using keywords that your audience will use to find your content will help to elevate your content in the search engine results. Techniques like this build content ranking by demonstrating relevance and delivering valuable information to potential customers.

Why is content marketing important for search engine ranking?

Content marketing is vital for ranking in search engines because it helps websites gain higher rankings in the SERPs. The rules search engines use to rank change often, which is why updating and delivering new content is essential. Another important principle for search ranking is getting backlinks that boost a website's visibility in the search engine results pages. Backlinking involves other sites publishing links to your content as they see it as valuable to their audience. These are all techniques marketers use to help boost search engine ranking.

How can content marketing help build an online reputation?

Content marketing can help build an online reputation by providing authentic and valuable content tailored to an audience's needs. Brands need to be subject matter experts in their domain, and publishing thoughtful and engaging content allows this to happen. Content that is detailed and longer form (over 1250 words) also typically ranks best. It helps to build trust and credibility by providing relevant, up-to-date, and accurate information to web searchers.

Email marketing and newsletters

Content marketing for outbound email marketing is an effective way of engaging and converting audiences. It allows you to create content that resonates with your recipients while providing helpful information to drive sales.

Content marketing is essential to convert and support your email campaigns, ensuring that your content is engaging, informative, and relevant to the recipient. Marketers must create content tailored to the recipient's interests and needs. Creating content that is easy to read and understand is also essential, as this will help ensure your message is successfully delivered.

Content marketing also augments your list and newsletter marketing efforts to your opted-in users. Use content built to the preferences of those who have already opted in to receive emails from you. This technique of nurturing opted-in users ensures your audience stays engaged on the latest information that your brand publishes. It can build trust with your existing audience and increase the chances of them becoming paying customers.

Social media marketing

Content marketing is an effective way to reach out to billions of business users on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram. It allows businesses to create and share relevant and engaging content that resonates with their target audience, and great content can develop broader reach and engagement on social media platforms.

The network effect of social media is a powerful channel for even the smaller and most unknown brands. This content can be shared on social media channels like LinkedIn and Instagram to reach billions of business users. To do this, the content created needs to be exciting and valuable to the target audience, and then users like and comment on it to help promote it through their networks.

For example, content shared on LinkedIn should be optimized for the platform, such as using keywords and hashtags to make it easier for users to find. On LinkedIn, businesses can use content marketing to reach out to potential customers and industry experts. By sharing content regularly, companies can build relationships with their target audiences and keep them engaged and interested in their brand.

Businesses can also use content to create a dialogue with their target audience. User interaction happens through comments, likes, and shares. Companies can engage and interact with their target audience and better understand their needs and interests. When users on social networks share and engage with the content, it makes it more discoverable.

Content marketing is an effective way to reach out to billions of business users on social media platforms. They can use content to create visibility and engagement and build relationships with their target audience. And, when users like and engage with the content, it makes it more discoverable, helping businesses to reach more potential customers.

Best Practices for Content Marketing

When deploying content marketing, it's crucial to adhere to some best practices. These include:

Developing a content strategy: Before beginning content marketing, it's essential to create a content strategy that outlines the goals of the content, the target audience, the topics to be covered, and the frequency of content publication.

Optimizing content for SEO: Content is optimized for SEO by using relevant keywords, appropriate meta descriptions, and other SEO techniques. Research is vital to identify relevant keywords that are likely to drive your rank.

Creating high-quality content: Content should be well-researched and well-written to ensure value to the reader. An audience expects a business to be a subject matter expert and that the content is accurate and extensive.

Promotin content: Promote content on social media, through email campaigns, and other channels to ensure it reaches the target audience. Write the content to encourage interaction and responses from the readers to optimize its effects.

Analyzing content performance: Content performance should be monitored and analyzed to ensure that it provides the desired results. Updating and promoting it is vital to create long-term impact and effect. Content marketing is an essential part of any digital marketing plan.

Final Thoughts

Content marketing is crucial for SEO, ranking, and reputation building. By deploying content marketing on a brand's website and following best practices, it can increase visibility, build trust and credibility, and create a positive online presence.

Dreaming Code offers content marketing as an integrated service into our product offering. Our team can help support your content marketing strategy and do all the work to execute it to drive new leads and allow you to rank higher in search. Please get in touch with us today for more information on how we can help you!

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/17/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Data Backup 101: Protect Your E-commerce Store from Data Loss

Data backup is an essential part of running a successful eCommerce site. E-commerce sites carry much vital data, such as customer information, product information, digital assets, code, and financial records. This data can be lost or corrupted without proper backup, leading to costly losses.

The most important reason to back up data is to ensure its safety and ability to be restored. If a website is hacked or attacked, the backup will allow the data for data recovery and the website to be restored quickly. The data could range from customer information, financial records, and your website. And if it's not protected, you risk losing it all. In addition, if the website experiences hardware or software failure, brands can use the backup to restore the website to its previous state. Without backup, the website could be down for days or weeks, causing customers to take their business elsewhere.

Here are some of the best ways to ensure that your data is protected, no matter the threats or circumstances.

1. Utilize Cloud Backup Solutions: Cloud backup solutions are one of the simplest and most efficient ways to keep your data safe. Utilizing a cloud-based backup system allows you to create multiple copies of your data and store them in different locations. This enables you to access your files, photos, passwords, and credit card info — securely stored in the cloud.
2. Establish Physical Backups: Cloud storage is great for data protection, and establishing physical backups is also important. This means having several file backups of your valuable cloud data, including your entire website. This way, even if your cloud-based storage is breached or deleted, you'll have other copies of your data to use.
3. Invest in the Right Tools: Investing in the right tools is vital regarding data backup. Ensure that you have a reliable backup solution that can cater to all your needs. Various tools are available, so do your research and choose the right one for your eCommerce store.
4. Data to Backup: A successful backup plan needs to include critical information, code, data, and digital assets so brands can adequately restore the site. Many elements are a usable backup to restore a site. Ensure that the following components are included when creating your backup files:
   • Website code
   • Database information
   • Files, such as images, PDFs, and videos
   • Settings and configurations
   • Designs, layouts, and themes
   Your entire website structure is within these elements. If any of these are deleted, it'll be a massive setback for your store.
5. Regularly Audit Your System: Lastly, it's essential to audit your backup system regularly. An audit will help you identify potential issues and address them before they cause any real damage. Regular audits also help you stay on top of the latest threats and ensure that your data is always safe.

Data backup is essential for eCommerce stores, and it's crucial to invest in the right tools to keep your data safe. With the right backup solution, you can have peace of mind regarding your website and data. So make sure to take the necessary steps to ensure your data is always protected.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and cloud providers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our Radical Support. Please get in touch with us today if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/14/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

Having the ability to integrate your accounting system with your eCommerce platform is critical to successful and smooth operations. Sage is one of the most widely deployed ERP systems that have an installed base of over three (3) million customers. With Dreaming Code's Sage integration, eCommerce brands can process customer payments, create invoices, and manage orders without manually entering the data into their ERP system. This saves time and reduces errors allowing the two platforms to communicate seamlessly.

Integration into Sage Accounting can benefit brands in several ways:

1. Automate Invoicing and Bill Payment: Automating invoicing and bill payment processes is an invaluable advantage of integrating Sage into an eCommerce system. Automating these processes allows businesses to reduce costs, save time, and improve accuracy. In addition, automating invoicing and bill payment processes also eliminates the need for manual data entry and other manual techniques.
2. Streamline Financial Transactions: With an integrated Sage system, businesses can streamline their financial transactions. This eliminates the need to enter each transaction manually and reduces the chance of errors. Companies can also easily track their financial transactions, allowing them to gain better insights into their financial performance.
3. Consolidate Data: Data consolidation is another crucial benefit of integrating Sage into an eCommerce system. Businesses can consolidate their financial data, eliminating the need to input it into multiple systems manually. This makes it easier to view and analyze financial data, which can be crucial for making informed decisions.
4. Improve Efficiency: Integrating Sage into an eCommerce system can help businesses increase their efficiency. Automating processes and streamlining financial transactions can help companies to save time and reduce costs, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their business.

The challenge of integrating ERP systems is that it can be time-consuming and complex. Integration requires a good understanding of the two systems being connected and the data being exchanged. Dreaming Code supports this by bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience and employing a rapid approach through a certified adapter. With Dreaming code's integration support, the process can be smooth, and businesses need not invest significantly in the setup and implementation of the integration. Once the integration is complete, companies' systems are kept up to date and monitored for errors.

Overall, the business benefits of seamless integration to Sage make economic and operational sense. Having an integrated system will create a more streamlined and efficient accounting process. Additionally, it will reduce errors, save time, and ensure that data is accurate and updated. With the proper setup and implementation, companies can reduce the time and effort needed to manage their accounting processes and improve the accuracy of the data.

Dreaming Code offers full support for Sage Accounting Integration in our eCommerce as a service offering. The team of experienced DreamingCode solution consultants can provide support and our award-winning solution to ensure your integration is smooth. Contact us today to find out more! To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/10/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Helpdesk & Support

46% of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees. Cyber insurance is a type of insurance policy designed to protect businesses from losses due to a cyber-attack or data breach. It covers various potential risks, including hacking, malware, data loss, and cyber extortion to name a few.

What does it cover?

Cyber insurance protects businesses from any financial losses they may incur due to a cyber attack. Only some events or incidents are covered, so it's essential to work with companies who understand the risk of threats in the cyber world today. Without cyber insurance, businesses can be left vulnerable to substantial financial losses due to a data breach or cyber attack. Cyber insurance can also cover the costs of legal fees, investigations, or regulatory fines that brands may incur due to a data breach.

What does it not cover?

It's important to note that cyber insurance does not cover all types of cyber risks. It does not cover physical damage due to a cyber attack or any losses from a company's negligence or mistakes. Many eCommerce brands may think that their general business liability insurance is enough to cover them in the event of a cyber attack. However, this is different. General business liability insurance only covers physical damage due to accidents or negligence, and it does not cover any losses due to a cyber-attack or data breach.

Peace of mind

Cyber insurance is essential for any eCommerce brand. It provides financial protection in the event of a cyber-attack or data breach and can help cover the costs of any legal or regulatory fines that brands may incur. For any eCommerce brand, cyber insurance is a must-have to ensure their financial security and protect their customers' data.

Dreaming Code is committed to guiding and supporting our customers to find the right comprehensive cyber insurance for their needs. We understand the importance of security and want to ensure our customers are fully protected. Contact us today to learn more about our cyber insurance solutions and how we can help protect your eCommerce brand.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/03/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Helpdesk & Support

The dark web has been a hot topic in the news lately, and it has become increasingly important for eCommerce brands to understand what it is, why it exists, and how it can impact their business. The dark web is an anonymous, hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines, and people can use it for a variety of activities, both legal and illegal. The dark web exists to provide an anonymous platform for those who wish to remain undetected while engaging in activities such as buying and selling illegal goods, money laundering, and various other illicit activities.

As an eCommerce business, it is essential to be aware of the dark web and the risks that can arise from its use. While people can use the dark web for nefarious purposes, it can also positively impact eCommerce businesses. For example, the dark web can provide a platform for companies to test new products and services anonymously or to conduct market research. Brands can also use it to develop innovative ways to interact with customers and increase online sales. However, the dark web can also be dangerous for eCommerce businesses. It can be a place where criminals can target businesses with cyberattacks and other malicious activities.

E-commerce brands should take the following steps to protect their business from the dark web:

1. Educate yourself and your team about the dark web and the risks that come with it.
2. Ensure that your website and all connected networks are secure and up-to-date with the latest security measures.
3. Utilize advanced authentication and encryption technologies to protect sensitive customer data.
4. Monitor the dark web for any suspicious or malicious activity related to your business.
5. Stay informed about the latest developments in the dark web and cybercrime.

By taking these steps, eCommerce businesses can better protect themselves from the dark web and its associated risks. Understanding the dark web and its potential impact on your business is essential for any eCommerce brand. With the proper knowledge and security measures in place, eCommerce businesses can protect themselves and their customers from the dangers of the dark web.

The team of experienced Dreaming Code solution consultants is here to support brands that need education, advice, and protection from new and existing threats. Contact us today to find out more!

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.