Considerations When Creating a Membership Website and Portal

Creating a membership website and portal for your association offers numerous benefits. It’s essential to consider several factors before starting the development process. SPARKS! helps membership-based organizations of all sizes, from small clubs to international associations. In many cases, the responsibility of managing the membership functions, events and finances begins with a founder or group […]

How Can Ecommerce Help My Business?

E-commerce can offer numerous benefits to your business, regardless of its size or industry. Here are some of the ways e-commerce can help your business. SPARKS! works with many retailers and service providers to help their brick-and-mortar business increase visibility and sales. Often, one key strategy they lack is the opportunity to sell their products […]

Google Analytics Is Changing. What Is GA4?

By now, most website owners and managers are familiar with Google Analytics and its extensive data reporting capabilities. But times-are-a-changing! The old Universal Analytics data collection system is being replaced. So what is GA4? Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics, the free, industry standard platform for website data collection and […]

BBB & SPARKS! Present SEO Webinar

SPARKS! and the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland will be teaming up on Thursday, April 20th at 8.30 AM to present “Search Engine Optimization: Simple Strategies to Improve Web Performance“. The event is part of BBB’s Trusted Advisor Series designed to provide business owners and their employees with current information about a variety of […]

What is Search Engine Optimization?

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Many organizations have invested in designing a beautiful website only to have it lost in the forest, er, Interwebs. So what is Search Engine Optimization and why is SEO important? Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) important? If a website launches on the internet and nobody sees it does it […]

What Is Digital Marketing?

So, to answer a question we often get at SPARKS! – “what exactly is digital marketing?” – here’s a quick-and-dirty summary of the key elements. Businesses and organizations must rely on some type of marketing in order to grow. Traditional tactics – advertising and trade shows, for example – are stalwarts and an important part […]

Cyber Threats are Real – Prepare Yourself

Global Tensions Present Cyber Threats Across The Internet The White House has recently released a statement warning US citizens of the threat of ‘malicious cyber activity’ in response the the war in Ukraine. Many of the recommendations are consistent with SPARKS!’ messaging over the years: Protect your accounts with secure passwords and multi-factor authentication. We […]

What is SMiShing?

If you’ve never heard of SMS phishing, or SMiShing, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t aware of how at risk they are of becoming a victim of the criminal activity, but it’s becoming increasingly prevalent in this day and age. What is SMiShing? A type of phishing, SMiShing occurs when someone is tricked into giving […]

CRM For Beginners

Have you been searching for an efficient way to stay connected to your customers? Customer relationship management software (CRM) could be perfect for you. Let’s face it, you’ve never been busier and keeping in touch with all of your clients can sometimes be a challenge. A CRM system will help to keep your business relationships […]

The Importance of Data Privacy

January 28th is Data Privacy Day! Data privacy is an issue that impacts just about everyone, whether you’re the CEO of a large company or simply someone who uses their phone and the internet like the average person. We all want to protect our data, but it’s easy to become a victim of the dark […]