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By Thomas Conner 11 Jan, 2024
A few folks who have called our office recently have noticed that our auto-attendant sounds like a child. That’s because it is. Most of the comments have been very positive: “I LOVE the voice recording when I call your office!” “Who IS that sweet child whose voice I heard when I called you? She’s AWESOME!” “Can we hire the youngster who recorded your phone greeting?” Is she real? Yes. Is she for hire? Yes! Just give us a call and we’ll let you know how to do that. We DID get one negative comment: “It sounds like you have a little GIRL answering your phones. I think that’s very unprofessional and it doesn’t make any sense at all.” First of all, in response to the negative comment: as unprofessional or senseless as you may think we are, our talent is nothing BUT professional. She is a voiceover talent who is available for hire for video narration, animation, auto attendant greetings, and commercials. As her website says, “she's got a voice that can make rainbows jealous and unicorns do a double take!” How could we not hire her? She aced the script right off the bat! So, why did we choose a young girl for our phone system? First of all, the list of our customers who serve children is one of which we are very proud. Consider these websites as a few good examples of ways in which we help advance the mission of making the world better and safer for children: mentorakid.org noahbrave.org tnhandlewithcare.org youthencouragement.org livebrave2gether.org marthaobryan.org tnhistoryforkids.org owlshill.org tnicac.org We want to acknowledge the good work of these and other clients who work hard to serve children. Second, kids are part of our One Eleven staff families. We want the best for them and, frankly, being a kid has been tough these past few years. COVID made life hard enough for everyone but there wasn’t a parent in Nashville who didn’t panic about the welfare of their child when they learned about a deadly school shooting on March 27, 2023. We know hiring a child to record our phone greeting is a little thing in business but part of our mission is to maintain the human interaction that seems absent with so many other businesses, especially in our industry. Kids are human and humans are what we are about! So, to honor children and to remind ourselves how important it is that we listen to them, and care for them, we hope that you will enjoy being greeted by Kylie when you call us.
By Byron Fanning 18 Dec, 2023
In the ever-evolving realm of digital marketing, staying on top of the latest trends is not just an option; it's a necessity. Enter Google Analytics 4 (GA4), the next chapter in the analytics story. At One Eleven, we recognize the significance of this transition, and we're here to be your strategic partner in embracing the power of GA4. The Analytics Evolution Unveiled: GA4 is more than an update; it's a strategic shift towards a user-centric analytics model. It's like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone – a necessary move to keep up with the times. GA4 offers a comprehensive view of user interactions across various platforms, providing insights that were previously hard to come by. Why GA4 Matters: User-Centric Focus: GA4 puts the spotlight on your users, offering a more comprehensive understanding of their interactions with your brand. This shift enables businesses to tailor their strategies based on genuine user behavior, resulting in more meaningful and effective campaigns. Event-Based Tracking: Moving away from session-based tracking, GA4 introduces an event-based model that allows for more granular tracking of user interactions. It's like switching from a snapshot to a full-length movie, capturing every click, scroll, and action for a more nuanced perspective. Advanced Machine Learning: GA4 incorporates advanced machine learning models, bringing predictive metrics and insights to the forefront. This empowers businesses to anticipate trends, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions with greater accuracy. Why Choose One Eleven for Your GA4 Transition: Seasoned Expertise: Our team at One Eleven comprises seasoned professionals well-versed in the intricacies of Google Analytics. We stay ahead of industry changes and best practices, ensuring that you benefit from the latest advancements in analytics. Tailored Solutions: We understand that each business is unique. Our approach is not one-size-fits-all; we analyze your specific needs and goals to create tailored solutions that align with your business objectives. Comprehensive Support: Transitioning to GA4 involves more than just technical know-how. It requires a strategic approach and ongoing support. At One Eleven, we offer comprehensive assistance throughout the transition process and beyond, ensuring that you derive maximum value from your analytics investment. The transition to GA4 is not just a technical update; it's a strategic move toward a more insightful and user-focused analytics approach. At One Eleven, we're not just experts; we're your partners in navigating this transition seamlessly. Let us guide you through the process, ensuring that your business leverages the full potential of GA4 for sustained success in the digital landscape.
By Thomas Conner 12 Dec, 2023
You drop your child off at the daycare center and drive away knowing that she is in good hands with a licensed and insured provider. Your lawyer most likely has professional liability insurance to protect against claims of malpractice. Your realtor can’t help you buy or sell your house without an errors and omissions policy. You wouldn’t hire a contractor to upgrade your kitchen unless they were bonded and insured. So, why would you trust just anyone to handle your website if they are not protected against the MULTITUDE of risks involved in the cyber world? Back in the 90’s it was okay for your high schooler to build your company website but nowadays, your online presence and those who are responsible for it must be sensitive to the very serious risk that exists. We do not mess around when it comes to the danger, which is why we carry the best protection for ourselves and our customers. When your “marketing person” says, “And I’ll take care of getting you a new website,” you need to start asking questions immediately like, “Exactly WHO is going to do that work? You? If not, are you contracting it so someone? Are you insured? Are THEY insured? Why not? When you say YOU are going to host it, does that mean you run your own hosting business? If not, then where? Are they insured?” Now, more than ever, you need to know where the risks are with your online services. You can’t simply trust someone’s “I’ll take care of it” response any more than you would when someone is standing in front of the daycare center and says, “Hand the kid over to me. I’ll take care of everything,” and then walks away.  Our company, Multiply, LLC, is covered by a comprehensive insurance policy issued by Beazley Group. Our Beazley MediaTech policy is underwritten by Lloyd’s of London and includes the following coverage: Media, Tech, Data & Network Liability damages and claims expenses related to: Tech and professional services wrongful act Tech product wrongful act Media wrongful act Data and network wrongful act Breach Response Indemnification for actual or reasonably suspected dat or security breaches Regulatory Defense & Penalties Coverage for penalties and claims expenses Payment Card Liabilities & Costs PC fines, expenses and costs First Party Data & Network Loss Business interruption loss Dependent business interruption loss Cyber extortion loss Data recovery costs eCrime Fraudulent Instruction Funds transfer fraud Telephone fraud
By Thomas Conner 12 Dec, 2023
The local hardware store. The local cafe. The local barber. The local garage. The local coffee shop. The neighborhood farmer’s market. It reminds us of the phrase, “Think global. Shop local.” It’s a fine phrase but some don’t always understand how to take that message to heart when it comes to web and tech services. Well, we’re to help you understand our message, “Think global. Host local.” Big tech companies offer tons of tech products and services at low costs so we do understand that our industry is everywhere and it’s easy to “Think global. Shop cheap” when it comes to a website. In some aspects, very large companies have really standardized how internet-based services function. Luckily, our team knows how to leverage the best of the industry to deliver the right solutions and services at a fair prices with a focus on making it easy to get what you need and get help when you need it. We want to give you the best of both worlds - best in class technology with local, no-hassle, human support. We see a lot of problems when people try to get cheap services from large providers. They make it VERY easy to buy but VERY hard to get help. If you don’t fit into their little box, your cheap service is likely to have a greater cost than you calculated. Let’s start with customer service- it can be frustrating and difficult. No one from a call center really knows you and if your issue does not fit their script, you’re in for a long journey of despair. How many times did you call the toll free number and follow a mile-long phone tree only to have the system hang up on you…and your problem never even got addressed? Or how many times have you tried to submit your question online and the chat bot gave you 5 options to describe your problem, but none of them were relevant? That’s how it works…or doesn’t. We do these things- answer the phone or call you back if you leave a message. We can log calls so that we know who calls and when. We use a ticketing system (big tech for a good cause) so that we can document your issue, assign it to other colleagues as needed and keep a record so we can refer back to it in the future. It is unlikely that we will ask you to repeat the last 4 digits of your social security number, service address, name of favorite elementary school teacher, date of last tattoo, or date of last booster shot. Customer service should be about, well, customer service. It may seem like a novelty that you can have a pleasant experience getting help. It’s all about “Think global. Host local.” We want you help you be at your best online and we want to be neighborly about how we do that. Another difference in our approach may surprise you and that is the wide range of things that we provide and do for our customers. Perhaps this is your situation: Your domain is registered with GoDaddy. Your email is through Google. You had a website with GoDaddy but your digital marketing contractor suggested that she build a new site for you at SquareSpace. You had to make some DNS changes, whatever that is, and that was either with GoDaddy but it may have been with CloudFlare because your IT service provider suggested it. Your digital marketing contractor is supposed to do your social media and blogs but she can’t get you to provide any new content and none of the passwords that you sent her worked when she tried to access your account so the retainer you pay might get you a Twitter post or two but it really didn’t do much because you don’t even do Twitter anymore. But then it doesn’t matter because the digital marketer took a new job and no longer does independent contracting. She got a better gig. Your lawyer does not typically handle privacy policy law but suggested that it might be $5,000 to review and draft a policy but he really needs to know what you want it to say. Let’s review. How can WE help you? Maybe this will help. We can handle… Domain registrations (we can also help wrangle them from other registrants) DNS (it stands for domain name service and it’s like playing traffic cop for your domain name- we direct the website and email traffic so it goes to the right places) Email Web hosting Website building/editing software eCommerce - sell things, sell memberships, get donations Apps to do cool tings and enhance your site - get appointments, integrate with social media, create an events calendar, offer multiple translations, get metrics on your site and visitors Legal and compliance - Privacy policy and ADA compliance tools Site edits Digital marketing - legitimate, focused, and based on your needs Think about it - one place to get help, get answers, get updates, get technical support, get compliant…and get on with what you really need to be doing. Our goal is to know you, anticipate your needs, quickly handle matters, document everything, and help you think about other things.
By Alex Mojaverian 09 Dec, 2023
Hi, I’m Alex and I oversee our client experience at One Eleven. No matter what you’re looking for when you reach out to us, there’s a good chance I’m going to be involved. My goal is to help you become successful with our solutions and services and, for us, that depends on a relationship of respect, empathy, and empowerment. So, let’s discuss empowerment when it comes to BUILD. First of all, you’ve already subscribed to one best practice- you chose BUILD to be your website builder/editor. Congratulations! You’ve probably saved time and money and can now easily find the page that you want to work on and, in the time that it has taken to finish your first cup of coffee, update your site! So, besides knowing your way around the BUILD site editor, what are some other best practices you should consider? Here are just a few but if you want dig deeper and really learn the ins and outs of our BUILD features, we have plenty of resources available here . SEO - Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's un-paid search results. Sometimes this is called "natural" or "organic" traffic. The better your site's SEO, the more likely it is to rank well in search results. To edit your site’s SEO, in the side panel, click Settings, and then click SEO. To learn more, go here . Site Theme - The Site Theme panel lets you make changes that affect your entire site. You can customize your site's text, buttons, images, background, and navigation widgets from the design panel. This allows you to quickly and efficiently make sweeping visual changes, reducing design time and keeping your site's style consistent across pages. To open the Site Theme panel, in the side panel, click Theme. To learn more, go here . Widgets - Widgets are tools than enable all kinds of functionality to your site. They are very easy to use once you get the website editor basics down. Very basic widgets enable you to drop in and edit text on your pages, add a button that will link somewhere else, set up an image or even a gallery, upload a file (like an audio clip or a PDF), or even display social media feeds. So, a best practice is to start thinking “widgets” when you want to make something happen on your website. To learn more about widgets go here . Privacy Policy - Nowadays, it isn’t just best practice to have a privacy policy. It’s essential. The bottom line is, whether you really think about it or not, publishing a website, or even using email, pretty much puts you in the business of collecting personal information from other people. While there is no federal law that dictates privacy policy, state laws are popping up everywhere and you’re probably emailing people out of state and your website is certainly viewable on the WORLD wide web. With the help of the Privacy Settings page, you can ensure that your users are well-informed about the type of data and cookies information collected when they visit your page. The main tools you can enable in Privacy Settings are the privacy page and cookie notification. To add or update the privacy page on your site, in the left panel, click Settings, and then click Privacy Settings. To learn more, go here . Speaking of privacy policy, we also offer an add-on service from Termageddon that you can access directly through your BUILD site editor. To learn more about Termageddon, go here. As always, if you want to know more, check out our help resources, visit our support portal , send us an email or set up an online appointment ...and in case you didn't notice, the big red button called "Client Hub" is a great place to go for just about everything. Thanks for being part of the One Eleven community!
By Thomas Conner 04 Dec, 2023
There are various reasons to migrate a website: Outdated website building platform (Just look at our own Sitemason and Build111/Church111. They don't always last forever! Your websites are not responsive (yes, there is such a thing) Wanting to update site design or structure Wanting to achieve optimal performance But let's make it a little simpler- if your current site is 5 to 7 years old, it's time for a new site. What version iPhone were you using 7 years ago.?Websites are no different. They simply lose their effectiveness and are no longer compatible with browsers or browsing habits for that matter. Convert or just start over? The most common refrain that we hear from existing customers who had a site built within, let's say, the past decade (we have some whose sites are even older!) is "Our current site is working just fine for us." Okay, but is it working for anyone else? Is that the reason you built a site? So, let's just take the "we're just fine, thanks..." approach and take you for your word. Conversion it is. Let's hit the main points to address what a conversion looks like on our end. We would: Look at all of the content of your old site and estimate how much content there is, assuming you want it all and like how it is organized Estimate how much time it would take to copy over the current content. Sometimes, we can use a handy software program to automate it but old website builders (like our own Build111) could be problematic so we just have to determine the fastest and most effective way, the least effective being the old-fashioned "copy and paste" approach. Show off some BUILD designs on some sample sites and hep you choose the one that would best accommodate the layout and presentation of your content Customize the design with your colors, logos, etc. All of our template designs are developed to show off a fully functioning site for some purpose (like a lawncare business , a school, a law firm, a barber shop, a pet store, a nonprofit, a musician but we can customize anything for any industry regardless of what it started out as. For example, our friend Dick Downey offers a subscription-based service offering tips on the Triple Crown horse races (check it out at thedowneyprofile.com ) but would you believe the original design started out as an ice cream store ? Could you tell? Finishing touches may be connecting a form to collect data, adding the Termageddon privacy policy and a UserWay accessibility service, using the BUILD tools for SEO. Projects like this can be relatively fast and cheap and we submit that our approach really gives you the best of all worlds. Let's say you KNOW that your current site has got to be replaced. You do a Google search for "cheap websites" and you find plenty of seriously cheap website builder recommendations like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, and GoDaddy. You probably remember that within the past year or so, you talked to a local web design firm and they immediately quoted a $5,000 price tag to build a new WordPress site for you. That seemed WAY too high so the whole idea of paying $11/month (but you really have to pay it annually so $132/year) and just doing it yourself is music to your ears, until....you're on your own. You've looked at the simple "how-to" videos over and over and you're stuck. You've spent 7 hours and your new "page" still doesn't look right. You've lost an entire day of productivity and can't get anyone to help you...and what should you REALLY expect for $132/year? You went CHEAP! So, you log out, close your laptop, walk away and say to yourself, "I'll tackle this another day." And that's where you are, but GoDaddy seriously appreciates your $132. At One Eleven, we want to save you the frustration and exasperation of suddenly being your own webmaster with no reliable support or help when you need it.. but we also want to spare you of the cost, risk, mystery (did the developer tell you where the site is hosted or did they tell you that THEY host it? Here's some news- they don't host it.) and ongoing maintenance challenges of a custom WordPress site. Frequently, the time savings and ease of management make our BUILD solution the best value. And with an essay on conversion, we can only hope that this will convert you to being a fan of BUILD. See what we did there?
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