On October 12, 2022, I will have the pleasure of co-presenting a small business workshop about Cybersecurity for the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.  In that workshop, I will speak about website security and how to protect your reputation online. Consequently, we would like for you to attend in person!  However, here is a sneak peek at some of the tips we intend to share.

A bad online reputation can destroy your business or organization quickly.  Simply stated, your reputation is the public’s perception of your organization. This includes customers, employees, potential employees, partners, and other stakeholders. The Internet has accelerated the pace of communications, which is both good and bad for companies.  Whereas the spread of your “word of mouth” reputation is a long, slow process, your reputation online moves very quickly.  Thus, at the center of your online reputation is your brand and website – which is the starting point in our Digital Marketing Roadmap.

HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION ONLINE?

WEB FOUNDATIONS

Fortifying your website begins with safeguarding the foundations your website is built upon.  Make sure you have access to all the following:

1. Domain registrar – where your domain name lives (e.g. GoDaddy.com, Network Solutions)
2. Domain name servers – how the internet finds your web/email servers
3. Website host – where your website lives
4. Google Business Profile – impacts your online reputation and SEO
5. Google Analytics – metrics about your website visitors
6. Google Search Central (aka Console) – monitors / tracks links to your site
7. Other accounts – web software subscriptions, etc.

WEBSITE SECURITY 

Once the foundation is secure, make sure your website itself is secure by managing the following:

1. Website dashboard / backend – what controls the content/behavior of your website
2. Software stack – powers your website (core, theme, plug-ins) and needs to be kept up-to-date
3. Caching – controls the front-loading of site content for speed
4. User accounts – don’t share accounts and delete unused ones
5. Login / change tracking – make sure you track who’s accessing your site backend
6. Site / Account / Server firewall – protects against intrusions & malware
7. Backup / recovery – make regular site backups and test your ability to recover

As a business leader, it’s important to safeguard your organization against online threats and that includes your online reputation.  Make sure your website is secure by using the checklists above . Your online reputation is an important asset that should be prioritized and safeguarded to help you reach your organizational goals.  If you’d like assistance in assessing your online security and reputation, please feel free to contact me personally.

Joe