Secure Website Host Importance

by Rachel Shepard

Over the summer, I had several potentially impactful events happening in my business which occupied my time and intention, including being nominated for a business award, recognized as a woman business leader, and promoting a four-month program that began in August

Little did I know that every individual that attempted to visit my website was being redirected to spam such as, “Congratulations, you have been randomly selected to take this survey. You will receive an amazing prize: Apple iPhone 14 Pro!” Not only was it horrible timing and completely unprofessional, but I did not understand my website enough to fix it.

From the moment I first noticed mysterious activity on my website to the time it was fixed spanned almost 6 months! While I am still not a website expert, I have learned a few things.

The first tip is to update any plug-ins and pay attention to your website on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I have installed programs to scan for malicious activity and block attacks. After installing these security plug-ins, I was able to detect and delete more than 70 malicious files.

I also switched to a new website host that provides security scans and features on the server level. This new host has excellent customer service, security features, and ultrafast speed. Which leads me to my next tip: Work with a host that is responsive and secure.

Some of the things that can be done to prevent website hacking is to choose a secure host, use strong passwords, password protect (when possible) any admin area, install updates as they are released, and correctly set file and folder permissions.

While all websites can be hacked, some platforms have security measures in place to help protect against hacking attempts.

Hopefully these tips will help with website management or encourage the hiring of a professional website manager.

Preventing a hack is much easier than cleaning one up! A functioning website is very important for a small business.

If you would like specific recommendations for a website host, please email me at the address listed below.

Rachel Shepard is the founder of LonaRock, LLC, and a Medina County resident. She specializes in helping businesses understand financials and access capital. Learn more about Shepard at https://bit.ly/3h0LFEY Shepard can be reached by email at rshepard@lonarock.com

Doing Business

Local business networking events, not category restricted

Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce Chamber membership requirement after two events.

Wednesday, November 15

Networking WOW! 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Williams on the Lake, 787 Lafayette Road, Medina. No walk-ins. $12 member attendance charge, $15 non-member attendance charge. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5atmw5ad

Thursday, November 16

Morning Coffee With Young Professionals Association, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Cool Beans Café, 103 W. Liberty Street, Medina. Register at https://tinyurl.com/43tz6st3

Friday, November 17

Chamber Chat, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce office, 211 S. Court Street, Medina. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4rtchx9y

Tuesday, December 12

Monthly Member Meeting: Hollywood Holidays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Williams on the Lake, 787 Lafayette Road, Medina. Register at https://tinyurl.com/msbhnbk8

Thursday, December 14

Morning Mix and Mingle, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. (this replaces the December WOW), United Way Summit and Medina County, 23 Public Square, Medina. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2x2f8hj3

Northern Medina County Chamber Alliance Chamber membership requirement after two events.

Wednesday, December 6

Chamber Chomps, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Debbie and Heidi there at noon, Medina County Career Center Café, 1101 W. Liberty Street, Medina. Networking and chomping!

Wednesday, December 20

Annual Holiday Social and Membership Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Coppertop Golf Club, 5740 Center Road, Valley City. $30 Register at https://tinyurl. com/4w8dfnuy

Wadsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber membership requirement after two events.

Tuesday, November 21

Chamber Chat - Coffee and Networking, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Community Room, Buehler’s Wadsworth, 175 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth. For more information, go to https:// tinyurl.com/2txxs7jf No registration necessary.

Monday, December 4

Women in Leadership Luncheon, noon to 1 p.m., Soprema Senior Center, 617 School Drive, Wadsworth. Speaker: Janice Jokkel, The Biz Hive. $15 per person. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y2c5hsvj

Wednesday, December 6

Chamber Luncheon: WHS Show Choir, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Galaxy Restaurant and Event Center, 201 Park Center Drive, Wadsworth. $22 per person. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/3y6mt9ma

Seville Area Chamber of Commerce

Thursday, January 11

Quarterly Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., virtual meeting. For more information, https://tinyurl.com/4ph4ve66

Making Networking Personal

by Bob Arnold

You and I are humans, not computers!

We crave human companionship, not digital ones.

When I do presentations, I do them in person, to persons.

I saw a video ad for an electronic white board recently. Ten years ago, I thought they were a presentation must. Now, I do not want one, at least for most presentations. Why?

You know what is said about technology: When you need it most, it fails. I would say 60 percent of the live digital presentations I see malfunction or will not work (or connect) at all.

This is impersonal networking for me. It means we are denying the real connections we have with other humans and are depending on an artificial environment instead of the environment of humanness.

There is a lot of credibility built in having a big white board available and a set of dry-erase markers. It is much more real. We relate to the presenter much more and deeper.

When it comes to networking, analog rules!

In this case, analog means:

1. See people in person.

2. Shake their hand.

3. Look them in the eye.

4. Talk with them.

5. Take questions, even if they have to be your own questions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is exploding, and I am concerned it is making networking digital.

To be fair, digital presentations have a place in some networking settings, just not as the only way.

A person cannot relate to the impersonal, the digital, no matter how much programming is done.

In a presentation, the goal is to get your audience to look at you, not the screen. They learn more by looking at you and they retain what is said much better.

Go meet someone face to face.

Try leaving your phone in the car while networking.

Ask someone when you want to know the time, they likely will have their phone, if they do not, then you both can find someone who does.

Asking the time is actually a very good way to meet someone and opens the door to starting a conversation with them.

Sounds so raw, does it not?

That is personal networking!

Bob Arnold is the founder of ONward Networking and the international best-selling author of “The Uncanny Power of the Networking Pencil,” which can be purchased at https://amzn.to/2KSy3Xm. Learn more about Arnold at https://bit.ly/3VLzr1S Contact Arnold at TheNetworkingPencil@gmail.com