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Lewis Robinson - ContactCenterWorld.com Blog Page 16

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Accommodating Yourself To International Business

Introduction

Business can differ between the country you live in and the rest of the international market. If you've been running a business in the same country for a long time, you're probably well versed enough already in everything revolving business such as taxes, necessary costs, and how to bring in consumers. 

Look into all of these differences to consider if you ever decide to make your business more international.

Pricing

Depending on your products, you might already be targeting a section of the market such as middle-class people if you own a normal grocery store. However, it's important to note that what is considered middle-class can heavily differ based on what country you're in.

 A good way to find out how you should be pricing your products is to visit other businesses in that country. Make sure to observe what people are actually buying and then note down what the actual prices are. You must get this information in person as often you can see misleading numbers online that point to one thing, but then you find out that a lot of people don't purchase a certain product that might be more expensive. 

Additionally, talk to other business owners living in that section of the world so you can get a brief history of what prices have been like and what they foresee them being in the future. You must find out pricing before you start to get into the international market.

Education

There's a chance that you might be someone who wants to have an international business, but don't know much about running a business in your home country in the first place. While you could wait a few years by starting your own business at home, you might just want to cut to the chase rather than making that grind. 

In that case, you should consider getting a formal education for business. This means by either going to a traditional university or getting USC's online MBA so you know everything important about business without wasting money that could cause you to shut down. 

Before you start on your path in education, make sure that you find somewhere that is known for helping students with international business as many business programs out there focus solely on what you can do at home with a business. Make sure that you consider getting formal education for business if you're someone looking to start a business somewhere else in the world.

Locations

Not only do you need to worry about pricing, but how you think about locations. In the United States, for example, many Americans tend to live much more farther apart from each other than traditional countries that focus solely on big cities so consider moving your business from being spread apart to having multiple locations in one city.

If you are moving to somewhere that has more of these large cities. Having the right location is one of the most important parts about expanding into the international market.

Products

You might have to make adjustments when selling it to the international market. For example, Americans tend to like food that has way more sugar than it compared to other countries, so if you are selling a food product that has what's known as an American amount of sugar in it, you might want to consider taking that sugar out. 

You might also run into issues where some countries might not even need a specific product you are offering. Some countries run primarily on Halal diets, meaning that you are forbidden from eating pork so you would want to consider not even selling pork in those countries. 

Understanding what products to sell in other countries is an important part of making sure that you can succeed in the international market.

Conclusion

By following all of this information before you head into the international market, you'll be ready to go. Make sure that you are always looking into business news for whatever country that you are moving your business into as you could run into new laws that affect your business for better or worse. 

Once you've started a business in another country than your own, you should have little problems expanding internationally from there.     

Publish Date: July 16, 2020 1:11 PM


Smart and Effective Ways to Upgrade Your Office

Remaining productive and motivated at work is difficult for everyone from time to time. This is especially true if you are working from home or if you have a lot of distractions nearby. You may find yourself slacking off more and more if you don’t set things up in your office space to ensure your success and productivity.

Don’t worry. From using innovative technology like EDDM USPS Printers to arranging your essential items in a way that ensures productivity, there are several things you can do.

Use Hooks to Get Hardware Off Your Desk

A great way to increase the available real estate on your desk is to use wall hooks. Once in place, you can hang up almost anything from larger office supplies to cables and small gadgets. Just reducing the clutter on your desk can improve productivity and reduce distractions.

Add More Storage

Another smart option to help keep your desk from becoming overly cluttered is by adding more storage space. A small drawer with a few divided compartments is plenty. However, you can also install shelves or use a chest or old furniture for additional storage. If those options don’t work, consider baskets, travel bags, or boxes.

Put Your Speakers at Ear Level

Rather than having to constantly turn the volume up or purchasing new speakers regularly, just put your speakers on a platform at ear level. This provides a much clearer sound without a lot of unnecessary noise.

Increase the Light in Your Space

If there’s not enough light, it can cause eye strain and even cause your eyesight to deteriorate over time. Low light conditions may also make you feel sleepy or depressed. By adding a quality lamp to the space, you can feel confident there is plenty of light nearby to help you see clearly. If you can, get some natural light into your work area, too.

Add Some Color

Boring, bland colors won’t provide an area that encourages productivity or creativity. If you want to ensure you are motivated throughout the day, create a space that is relaxed and comfortable. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do this is by adding some bright colors to help spice things up. Adding a new coat of paint, prints or paintings, or even colorful office supplies is enough to make your office area more fun and less depressing.

Add a Natural Touch

A green, potted plant can help improve your office or work area in several ways. It offers additional oxygen, helps liven up the interior, and establishes a connection to nature. This helps you feel better and less like you are in prison. Make sure you find a plant that doesn’t require a constant supply of sunlight and that is easy to maintain. Some good options to consider include Peace Lilies, Philodendrons, and English Ivy.

Choose the Right Chair

When you sit in the proper position it can help improve and maintain your health and allows you to sit in the same position, longer, without having to take frequent breaks or fidgeting. A quality office chair is going to follow the natural curve in your spine and provide adequate lumbar support. Try to find a chair that offers a lot of options for adjusting the position and support.

Improving Your Office

When it comes time to improve or upgrade your office, you have a lot of options. Be sure to keep the information here in mind to find something that works for you. By taking these steps, you can feel confident you will create a work area that is ideal for superior levels of motivation and productivity.

Publish Date: July 11, 2020 3:42 PM


Best Ways to Boost Customer Engagement

Every business person knows that keeping a customer is much less expensive compared to finding a new one. That is why business and company owners are always looking for innovative and effective ways of engaging their customers. Customer relationships are incredibly vital to the success of a business and as such should top the list of a business owner's concern. There are many ways that a company can use to source for means by which to improve their customer engagement. 

Using the Best CRM 

Customer Relationship Management is a system that functions by collecting client related data across different media and using this information to help service agents improve company to client interactions. For in-depth customization, it is wise that you consolidate your CRM system with all departments within the company. Research shows that the majority of customers would be willing to pay more for a guaranteed positive experience. This knowledge justifies investing in a CRM system that ensures results. A comparison of zendesk vs salesforce will help you understand that customer satisfaction requires much more than tracking data related to them. 

ZenDesk 

This is a company that was founded in 2007 whose primary products are helpdesk and ticketing software. ZenDesk products are not categorized as CRM systems even though they can be assimilated to other departments of a company. Their main selling point is that they have a pay-as-you-go policy. There are duties of CRM systems that they are capable of performing; retrieving customer related data being the major one. 

Salesforce 

This is a system that is considered the best crm for small business, with a majority of companies using it reporting significant business results. Salesforce can be configured to connect with other departments in your company. The only difference is that unlike ZenDesk, Salesforce has a seamless communication throughout all the departments it is integrated into. It is impossible for your data to be lost as the system is always updating and synchronizing. 

Salesforce provides you with a productive environment, prioritizing the clients and ensuring they have a positive experience by boosting efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

An interesting feature with Salesforce has provisions for involving customers. Clients can contribute by offering suggestions on how to improve their experience to service agents. 

The Advantages Salesforce has over ZenDesk 

First and foremost, the obvious reason why you should choose Salesforce over ZenDesk is that it is a CRM system while the former is not. Even though helpdesk and ticketing software can function as a CRM, there are many more essential functions they cannot perform. Seamlessness in communication which is a vital feature is lacking in ZenDesk software, and this is a significant disadvantage. 

Salesforce's cloud is ZenDesk's primary competition; this is because the former does everything that the latter was created to do. The fact that Service cloud is a feature within salesforce is reason enough to choose a CRM system over a non-CRM system. 

Social Media 

Social media platforms can be a perfect place to engage with customers. You need to create at least one page on all social media platforms where you interact with your clients. Socializing and connecting on a personal level with clients is always vital in making sure you keep them. You need to take care not to push a sales agenda on social media; your motive should appear to connect and socialize. 

One sure way of engaging your followers is using humor that is tied to the service or product you provide to push your online campaign. Entertaining and sharing jokes with followers help them relate to you on a personal level. 


When opportunities arise, use them to express your commitment always to serve and take care of your customers' needs. This can be done by following up on requests aired online and making sure other followers get to know about it.

Publish Date: July 10, 2020 1:09 AM


How to Develop High-quality Accounting Software

Building a high-quality accounting software solution can present a problem for a lot of people. Luckily, experts have found a way to streamline this process down to a few checks that make certain design decisions a breeze. The problem is broken down into three parts. Firstly, we need to have a clear idea of who is going to be using virtual bookkeeping services. Secondly, we need to create a comprehensive list of what functionality is going to be important to your customer. And finally, we need to create a story that tells us how the users will use and interact with the software from start to finish. Creating a detailed explanation or guide for each step on this list could fill an entire book, but the most important points behind this process are actually very simple and can be understood in a short amount of time. 

 

User Base

We can look to existing examples to give us some insight into the process of identifying our expected user base. Put simply, we need to identify how many people will be using our software, how frequently they need to process invoices, and what features they value in accounting software. These features can include ease of use, ease of automation, and additional supplementary services like credit card processing. 

 

Functionality

Once we know who we’re building the software for, we then create a comprehensive list of what functionality to include. We can look at some ideas for features that are commonly included and desirable in accounting for small business. Depending on what we discover in our expected user profile, we can determine which features are going to be important. For a few easy examples, we could say that non-profits might look for features that are more geared toward managing donation and donor status. Additionally, accounting software features can be tailor-fit to meet the needs of the client. A solution for an insurance company may include the ability to track the status of claims, and a solution for a church might be specially geared towards tracking weekly donations and monitoring regular expenses and general finances. Ultimately, you can best serve the client by maintaining open lines of communication throughout the software development process and meet their needs through an iterative software development approach. This ensures that their expectations will be realistic, and it enables you to deliver a high-quality product that heavily incorporates direct feedback from your client. 

 

User Stories

This final step is likely the most technical, but it is the most interesting in my opinion. User stories take an extremely complicated task, such as building an accounting software platform from the ground up, and puts the process into very concrete and simplified terms. This allows developers to bridge the seemingly impassable gap between the user experience and the arcane world of computer code. A typical user story will describe in plain language what the user will do with the software in the form of a short story, or it will describe common usage of your program with a list of bullet points. User stories should always be created by shareholders and clients, and not by the developers. 

 

This ensures that the clients expectations will be met to the furthest degree possible, and it helps to disambiguate what functionality is really needed. Sometimes this can even save you time and money as a developer. Features sometimes get developed and integrated into the final product without the developers considering how often the feature will be used. If a commonly used feature doesn’t show up in the user story, then it’s likely that you won’t need to build it. An end result of this is lower expenses for both you and your client.

Publish Date: July 9, 2020 1:58 AM


5 Reasons Why You Should Use Outdoor Advertising

In today’s business world, digital marketing is often viewed as the darling that can help brands of all sizes reach their audiences. While digital has a lot to offer, businesses should not overlook outdoor advertising. It can be just as impactful if not more so than newer channels. There is a reason that outdoor ads are a tried and tested method of reaching customers.

1) It’s an Opportunity To Make an Impact

People take notice of large outdoor displays. Getting people to take notice of your marketing is one of the key challenges. This is frustrated by the difficulties of the noise-to-signal ratio. In other words, it is difficult to get people to pay attention to your brand because they are being bombarded with marketing all the time.

Outdoor advertising has the benefit of your ad being mostly standalone. Even if it is displayed in an area like Times Square, there are still fewer competing signals than on the internet. Outdoor ads help you stand out.

2) Location Can Make All the Difference

The key to successful marketing is making sure you have the right message for the right audience at the right time. Location-based advertising can help you to achieve this. For example, if you have a physical store, you can have an outdoor advertisement nearby that engages potential customers when they are most likely to come into your store.

Just like real estate, good business is all about location, location, location. Having clear channel outdoor advertisements in the right area will help ensure that your ads are more likely to be relevant to people who see them. Whether you use billboards, street signs or transit ads, you can feel confident they will have an impact.

3) It Gets the Timing Right

In the same vein, you can often increase the timeliness of your ads by having them outdoors. For example, ads placed along major commuting routes is a great way to reach people during rush hour. Having a billboard near a sports stadium will almost always reach people primarily in the evenings or late afternoons.

If your business can benefit from well-timed advertising, outdoor ads are for you. Perhaps even more important than the absolute timing, outdoor ads often reach people at the right time for their state of mind. For example, a billboard in a downtown area will usually reach people out and about shopping or going to dinner.

4) Messages Can Be Engaging

Many outdoor ads can be either interactive or otherwise engaging. For example, digital billboards can change and catch the eye of passersby. Standing ads that incorporate touchscreens can have interactive elements to them. These types of experiences are more engaging and interesting than conventional advertisements.

A great example of this is a countdown on a digital billboard. That type of design is engaging in a way that a print ad or a banner ad on a website is not. People are more motivated to engage with things that are present with them in the real world.

5) It’s a Chance To Be Creative

Outdoors ads can have a physicality to them that other media cannot. For example, you can have an element of your billboard literally popping out of the ad. Conversely, digital, print and television ads are confined to two dimensions.

This creates an opportunity to be more creative with how you deliver your message. Plus, outdoor ads tend to need short, effective copy. Again, this pushes brands to be creative and deliver more effective ads. If you think your current channels are slowing or that your brand has not produced a great ad in a while, try expanding your horizons with outdoor advertising.

Learn More

Discover more about how outdoor advertising can help your business grow. It is a powerful medium that is often overlooked for seemingly more modern alternatives. However, billboards, transit ads and more can be powerful tools for businesses large and small.

Publish Date: July 8, 2020 3:42 PM


Achieving Success in Your Business Investments

 Investing in business can be risky whether you hit the stock market or partner with local companies. Trying to read all the advice out there can be confusing and counter-intuitive for many as investing can be as much about gut and luck as it is about knowledge and research.

Know the Signs of a Scam

While there are many good business opportunities, some can be too good to be true and getting caught up in a scam can ruin your reputation and your financials. Doing research on those who approach you with opportunities is easier in the digital age than it has been in the past and you can find testimonials and reviews for just about any company. It is important to test the validity of some review sites as well to avoid scams like the Shark Tank keto pill one that rocked the weight loss industry, in this case, a fake review site was developed to give the products more validity and even stump some who did their research.

 Ask Questions and Research Answers

It is important to put emotions aside and focus on research and asking questions for your investments to be successful. Too many times, investors get excited over a new prospect and fail to thoroughly research it or get too nervous about the market and cash out at the wrong time. If you have hired a broker, it is good to remember that they are paid to answer your questions as well as handle your stock market investments, this can help give you peace of mind as well as ensure that you are placing your money in the right hands. Choosing your own investments can be trickier because there will be a level of insecurity in your decisions, but asking questions, researching the answers and staying in the informational loop can help you be more confident.

 Have Patience

Investments are long-term strategies and rarely see a quick return, the longer you keep your money in, the more you make over the course of the investment. This is true whether you are buying stocks through a broker or investing directly in a small business. Investing in businesses gives you a share in the profits and a say in how the company works, but if you are bothering the owner on a weekly or even monthly basis for updates, you will take focus away from the core competencies of the company and can cause it to fail. Waiting until agreed upon meetings and dividends will give you more information and more chances for success.

Study What Works

Studying investment strategies from professionals in the area can be one of the best ways to understand how investing works and which investments work the best. You can find published works from Nobel Prize winning economists, investment guides and much more online. You can even find how-to videos which break everything down into easy to understand bits with linked resources for more learning. Studying these things can help you choose which investments are scams, which will lead to higher returns and even which technologies to look out for or avoid.

Plan Your Strategy

Investment strategies are as unique as those using them, so learning about a couple of different strategies and breaking them down to how they fit in your life and personality can make the difference between confidence in investments and sleepless nights. Behavior models, such as the one developed by Tom Bailard, Larry Biehl and Ron Kaiser called the BB&K model, can help you determine which category your strategy should fit in based on your traits. This can help you adjust your strategy to fit trends, research or other factors informing your decisions.

 Making the right investments can help you save for retirement, fuel your local economy or help develop new technologies. This is a complex system with many decisions needing careful research and advice from professionals, but the more you question and learn about investing, the more confident you can be in making the right choice for your money.

Publish Date: July 8, 2020 1:14 AM


Making Reading More Enjoyable Again For Work Breaks

Life as an adult can be difficult. The need to juggle the stresses and obligations of adult life can make it hard to find the time you need to do the things you love. Even worse, it can be easy to lose the passion for the things you loved in the first place. But reading can be both one of the most mentally invigorating and enjoyable activities you can engage in. If you find yourself having trouble reading, there are a number of s steps you can take to get back in the groove.

 

Create the Opportunities You Need to Read

One of the biggest impediments to reading as an adult is simply finding the time, but you'll find the opportunities available to you if you're just willing to put in a little preparation and rethink how you frame your free time. It's important to set aside time to read. That could mean setting aside an hour before bed every night or establishing a block of time every weekend. The terms should be attainable and suited to your work schedule and lifestyle, but most people can find a little time in their schedule if they're willing to look.

 

But just as important as scheduling time to read is making sure that you're ready when opportunities present themselves. Maybe you have an extra hour during your daily commute or you can expect some downtime in a doctor's waiting room. We often don't think about these opportunities in advance, but you can better take advantage of them if you carry a book with you wherever you go. The important thing is to get in the habit of reading. While you might not be naturally inclined to think about reading in these moments of downtime, taking the time to engage will retrain your brain to consider them as a force of habit.

 

Put Fun First

The modern education system can sometimes make reading seem less exciting than it is. When you spend over a decade in an education system defined by mandatory reading lists and book reports, it can become easy to start seeing reading as a chore rather than a delight. That's why it's important to think in terms of what you want to read rather than what you think you should read. Whether you prefer paperback potboilers or political biographies, putting your desires first is important, and it's a great way to immunize yourself against preconceived notions about reading.

 

And just because reading may feel like a withdrawn and solitary activity doesn't mean it has to be. Check out book clubs in your area, or start one at your job. There are a number of reading clubs available on social media platforms like Facebook, and many of them are specialized towards different genres. A good book can be an engaging topic of water cooler conversation just as easily as last night's popular TV show, and having a group to socialize with and talk about the books you've just finished can provide you with the motivation you need to keep in the habit of reading.

 

Consider Your Eye Health

If you don't find yourself enjoying reading like you used to, there may be practical medical issues to blame. Being focused can come from your body health as well as your eye health, if you want to read some reviews on health programs, check out le-vel thrive reviews! If you find yourself with a headache after a long session of reading or have to squint to stay focused on the materials, a visit to the eye doctors may be overdue. Optometrist visits are often not treated with the importance of visits to the physician or dentist, but the quality of most people's eyes degrade over time. Getting fitted with glasses or contact lenses, perhaps glasses meant exclusively for reading, can improve your health while also kick-starting your love for reading.

 

Reading comes with a number of benefits for mental acuity and personal health, but you don't have to treat it like a chore. When you take the time to think about why you like to read and what's stopping you, you may find yourself enjoying the experience more than you would have imagined.

 

Publish Date: July 7, 2020 12:14 AM


How Can a CAPM Certificate Help in the Workplace?

Not everyone has the time, resources, or desire to pursue a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. However, if you want to build your skills in coordinating or managing projects and still earn a certification that you can add to your resume, becoming a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) might be a better option. Like PMPs, CAPMs have to undergo a certain number of training hours before they can apply to be certified. These hours may be earned through a series of courses offered at a nearby university or through an online program. Unlike PMPs, CAPMs do not have to have as much on-the-job experience in leading projects. A CAPM designation can be a very useful tool in the workplace, and these are just four of the reasons why. 

Gives You Structure

One of the essential tools required for leading projects is the ability to structure processes. When you learn how to manage a project, you learn that it all starts with taking an idea and moves into creating a proposal, connecting a team, conducting the work, and bringing things to a close all within a certain timeframe. Not everyone brings this skill to the table. Those with their CAPM certification are taught to know which steps need to take place in order to successfully complete a project, giving them a better understanding of structure and the wherewithal to keep things organized.

Eye for Detail

Another useful skill that CAPMs learn is how to keep track of details. From which stakeholder prefers email communication to which team member is working on which task to what needs to get done by Friday, CAPMs know how to keep it all organized and available. This can make an employee with a CAPM certificate a vital asset to any team because they can act as a go-to person for any and all project details. When something looks like it might slip through the cracks, a CAPM can lift it back out and bring it back to the front of everyone else’s mind.

Big-Picture Thinking

In addition to keeping track of details, employees with project management training are able to focus on the big picture. This can be a useful tool for keeping projects on task, for leading focused meetings, and setting clear agendas. When team members are struggling to stay motivated and complete tasks, CAPMs have the ability to remind them of the purpose behind their work and why it matters because they can hold both details and the big picture.

Leadership Skills

Having a CAPM certificate can show employers that you have what it takes to be a well-rounded leader. It says that you have learned how to put your needs aside for the sake of the project and those working to complete it. It says that you can take ownership of the pieces of the project that you need to own, like stakeholder communication and monitoring task completion, but can appropriately delegate where you need to as well. Being trained as a CAPM can help you become more of a team player and a better leader.

Communication 

A big part of project management is communication. You have to know how to communicate with people who are engaging with a project in a multitude of ways, from the person who is sponsoring it to the person doing the work. This is a really strong asset in any workplace environment where collaboration or cross-department work is done. If you are looking to improve your communication skills, gaining experience in project management and applying for your CAPM can be a helpful way of doing so. 

Becoming a Certified Associate in Project Management can improve your job eligibility and make you more productive in any workplace. It is a designation worth considering if you would like to improve any of the above skills. All you need is a few hours of training and you can apply to reinforce that training with on-the-job experience.

Publish Date: July 2, 2020 10:10 PM


6 Ways Your Call Center Business Can Advertise

1) Search Engine Ads

Search engine advertising is a great way to improve your brand visibility on Google and other such websites. In this arrangement, you pay to have your website listed on relevant search terms. Typically, you have more editorial control of the listing compared to organic results. Additionally, you can target your campaign to different users and search terms, depending on the search engine,

These ads are sometimes available on a cost-per-view or cost-per-click basis. Many search engine ad networks, most notably Google’s, also have options for advertising on partner websites.

2) Retargeted Digital Ads

Related to the above, many advertising solutions offer retargeting solutions. This is a process by which you identify a previous visitor to your site and display a relevant ad later. For example, if someone looked at a table on your website, that table would appear in ads on other websites that the person visitors.

This is a great way to move people through the sales funnel and closer to making purchases. You already know that they are potentially interested in the product because they looked at it. Additionally, you are only displaying ads to a smaller group, therefore helping you to invest more precisely.

3) Outdoor Ads

Not all ads need to be digital. Many businesses can benefit greatly from out of home advertising solutions. These are outdoor physical ads such as billboards, street ads, transit ads, posters and more. People are skilled at filtering out the ads they see online. However, they often pay greater attention to outdoor ads, especially if they are next to them for an extended time such as riding the subway.

This can be a great addition to any marketing mix. It is also a good way to add an established, professional feel to your brand at a reasonable price.

4) Social Media Marketing

Social media networks also offer ads similar to search engines. They often have unique data on users because their members are doing more than just searching. You can target ads based on age, preferences, gender, education and much more.

Some networks have extremely extensive targeting options and tools. For example, Facebook lets advertisers create lookalike audiences to expand their reach to people with similar preferences and interests as their existing customers.

5) Direct Mail

Compared to some of the above, direct mail probably seems old-fashioned and unexciting. However, it has withstood the test of time and continues to be a reliable way for businesses to advertise to potential customers. Direct response mail ads have some of the highest return on investment of all channels.

This is driven by the fact that people pay more attention to physical ads. This is especially true for ads that they hold in their hands. Plus, direct mail is fairly inexpensive, even compared to digital ads. This is something every marketing team should consider.

6) Event Sponsorships

Sponsoring events is another powerful way to get your brand noticed. Many event organizers need funding to help bring their plans together. In exchange for helping pay for the event, you can receive a premium placement. If you target your events well, this can mean an interested and relevant audience seeing your branding for an extended period of time.

The benefits of this can be compounded if you have a team presence at the event also. For example, sponsoring a conference and having a booth at it is a great way to get noticed.

Learn More

Every brand has different advertising needs. Nonetheless, the above channels can be highly effective for many businesses. Explore the above and other options to find the right mix for your business.

Publish Date: June 30, 2020 2:47 PM


Social Media Tips for Business You Might Not Know About

With rare exceptions, every business needs to invest in marketing to succeed. Some can do it quickly with grand opening awareness and then coast on word of mouth. But most need to have a detailed advertising plan that includes a broad media mix. In the last 20 years, that media mix has changed drastically. A business used to rely on “traditional” media platforms like print, radio, and broadcast television. We’ve now entered the age of “new” media, where competitive companies need to consider or purchase digital ads, cable, OTT, streaming radio, and, perhaps most importantly, social media. Some businesses confuse simply having a social media presence with building a strategy, and others feel they don’t have the time to put it to work. Here are some tips to help get the most out of your social pages with minimal time and effort.

Data and Analytics Can Help You Strategize

However your business is set up, whether you have a serverless framework for cloud-based work, or a good old-fashioned brick and mortar retail location, you need to be able to analyze your customer base. That used to mean hiring a research firm, conducting field studies or focus groups, and spending hand over fist. Here’s some great news: whether you pay for social media ads or just post organically from a business page, most social media platforms can provide a lot of that information to you.

Facebook’s Ad Manager interface, for example, allows you to specify your audience so precisely on the front end, that it’s easy to see who viewed, completed, and interacted with it on the back end. This will give you valuable information about which geographic, socio-economic, and age demos are responding to your social ads, and which ones aren’t. If you don’t have a paid ad account, the number of likes, shares, retweets, etc. a post receives is still valuable information, you just need to work backwards and visit some of your followers’ pages to learn more about them.

Content Marketing is King

Content marketing is a buzzed-about term in advertising, and with good reason: it works very well! Simply put, content marketing is any form of video, static ad, or blog that focuses more on user benefit than product features. Put another way, it’s not about what the product does, it’s about what it can specifically do for you.

Let’s say you are advertising a power drill with an online video ad. Traditionally, you’d probably get a lot of 360-degree shots of the drill, talk about battery life and horsepower, and maybe get into price and value. The content marketing approach would look more like this: show someone using the drill in a how-to DIY video about installing a child’s swing in a treehouse. Talk about what kind of screws and drill bit to use, while mentioning what kind of drill you’re using and drop in some feature details periodically.

Why is this effective? Two reasons. First, video and images rank higher in social media algorithms than posts that do not include either. Second, and perhaps more importantly, consumers hate advertising. They tolerate it, but they know it when they see it. Content marketing doesn’t fool them into thinking they aren’t being marketed to, but it does give them something they can learn and use. In the process, this helps build affection and loyalty for your brand.

Social-Exclusive Promotions Drive Web and Foot Traffic

Sometimes, the simplest things work the best. If you own a restaurant, tell followers to say they saw this post” for a free appetizer or drink. Retailers can do the same with a coupon, discount, or free item. While people are in your store, ask them to follow you on social media to be the first to know about new items and promotions. Just make sure you are not holding contests that violate the terms of use on the platform, like “like-gating” on Facebook.

Social media lets you speak with and interact directly with your customers. Use it smartly, and it will build loyalty and drive sales!

Publish Date: June 25, 2020 1:48 PM


How To Transfer Your Human Resources Department to Work From Home

Whether you need to save money on office space or keep your employees healthy, you may want to switch some or all of your employees to work from home. Having employees in the office can increase costs on electricity, and it can be hard for everyone to space themselves out. If you decide you should transfer your Human Resources department to remote work, you should know how to do so correctly. Consider how you and your employees can make a successful transition.

  1. Consider Technology

While your employees can and should set up their home workspace so that it works for them, everyone needs the right technology. Your HR employees should have a computer and perhaps a smartphone when it comes to hardware. Depending on the software you use to create a paystub or send other HR notices, you may need to provide a computer or a software license so that your employees can use the same programs when working from home.

  1. Stay in Touch

Whether you want your employees to follow the same schedule or not, you should consider how the team will communicate. You can use email or phone services if your company already sponsors those methods. If you need more a chat program, consider using a tool like Slack. Everyone can share messages and documents, so you can stay up to date with everything. You can also use a video conferencing program like Zoom to conduct video meetings as a team.

  1. Make Time for Change

If possible, try to make the shift when your team doesn't have a ton of stress or looming deadlines. Moving from an office to working from home can be difficult, so most of your employees will probably require an adjustment period. Unless you have to switch to a remote team immediately, you should give your employees a bit of notice so that they can settle into working at home. That way, you don't have to stress about maintaining high levels of productivity.

  1. Set a Schedule

You may decide that your employees don't have to work a traditional schedule when working from home. However, everyone should have a schedule to follow. Especially if you have hourly employees, you will need to track their work hours to pay them accordingly. You can set up a program that employees can use to clock in and out, and some tools let you use screen capture to ensure that your employees are working when they say they are.

  1. Send Regular Updates

Whether you want to have a weekly virtual meeting with your Human Resources department or you'd prefer to send an email, you should have regular updates. At first, the change will be massive for most of your team, but things will get easier over time. You can send emails or other correspondence whenever you have a massive change to how your team should do their work. Other than that, a weekly email can cover information that employees might miss when working from home.

  1. Be Flexible

Some employees will be able to work from home and reach the same level of productivity within a day. However, others may need more time to adjust to the new work environment. If employees have kids, it may be hard to have focused work time while at home. And even if someone doesn't have kids, working from home for the first time is difficult. At first, try to be as flexible as possible with your employees. If you can, let them work on their own schedule so that they don't have to worry as much about distractions.

  1. Prepare for Changes

If you find that something isn't working for many of your work from home employees, change it. Perhaps people can't get focused at home without a proper office. Even if you can't have them in your office, try to set them up with a desk and chair so that they can feel like they're at work.

Switching from working in an office to at home is no easy task. Everyone has different distractions, so take it easy on your employees as they start to work elsewhere.

Publish Date: June 23, 2020 12:58 PM


Improve Your International Shipping Process With These Tips

As your business grows, you will start to notice how complicated the demands placed on your organization can be. When you start to expand into global markets, for example, you will need to deal with a ton of rules and regulations governing the concept of international shipping. While straightforward in some ways, this is not an easy journey to take without a bit of preparation. Whether you have been shipping on this scale for many years or you are just thinking about the idea, there is always plenty room for improvement.

By dedicating time to your current international process and evaluating your strengths and weaknesses, you can save your company a lot of money and deliver better results to your clients. Take a look at these tips to find the right solution for your company’s future.

Your Name Matters

Business as a whole is dictated by a few simple concepts. In order for your company to see success, you need to provide a product or service that consumers can use. In addition to this, you must have a level of authority or clout when it comes to your industry. There’s a good reason why people turn to the brands that they do: they trust that these companies know how to deliver products based on experience with these brands. When moving to an international level, you can’t rest on the laurels of the relationships forged back home.

One of the best ways to boost your abilities with international shipping is by focusing on credibility. How can you prove to organizations on an international market that you are able to meet their demands? While making promises or using data from business transactions back home can be a fine start, your best bet is to take time to research. The more you know about a culture and a marketplace, the easier it will be for you to know how to prove the worth of your brand and how it will add value to local economies on foreign shores.

Quality Control Is Key

Another area to focus on with your international shipping goals is quality control. Issues that have to do with quality tend to get a bit more complex when dealing with global marketplaces. If you are not familiar with the terms and regulations that dictate most of international transactions, now is the ideal time to start familiarizing yourself. Knowing where to look can also help, as organizations like the World Economic Forum release useful reports every so often like the Global Competitiveness Report which can prove invaluable to businesses of all sizes and statuses.

You’re also likely to see many phrases related across your industry. If you keep seeing SSL, you’re probably wondering what is SSL and how it impacts me. The Sea Shipping Line is often used to refer to a contract that connects the sea vessel with its owners, operators, and charters, as well as the merchant and shipper. There are many intricate details of this type of arrangement to understand. Before you can commit to change in your industry, you need to review the basic points and develop in-depth understanding.

Outside Help Will Be Useful

No one expects you to enter an international shipping arrangement armed with all of the knowledge required to see success and avoid mistakes. However, failing to learn anything you need to know will make you look irresponsible. This is why you can benefit greatly by working with third-party organizations and experts. Knowing who to turn to for answers on legal and business fronts can provide you with insight that can help you make informed decisions in no time. Simply look at your options to figure out where you can gain access to the best knowledge and experience in the industry.

Expanding your business to include international markets can be a fantastic way to take all your hard work and see bigger returns. If you want to see continued success from this effort, remember the importance of knowledge and humility. Take time and be sure you’re approaching your decisions from the correct angles in order to guarantee the success that benefits everyone involved in the global arrangement.

Publish Date: June 20, 2020 4:14 PM


Important Cybersecurity Best Practices All Employees Should Know and Use

As a business owner, you know your employees are on the front lines of everything related to information security. Even if you have established comprehensive cybersecurity policies for your team, they may not be enough. It’s essential to stay on guard to ensure your company’s network and data are secure and safe.

It doesn’t even matter if you have a small or mid-sized business. In fact, up to 43% of cyber-attacks target small businesses.  That’s because most cybercriminals believe small businesses have fewer controls, which means they will be easier to infiltrate.

Even if you have implemented all the latest safeguards and learned the difference in IDS vs IPS, it may not be enough. Be sure to implement some other safeguards, as well. In most situations and for most businesses (both big and small), the best way to deal with cybersecurity issues is by preventing them.

Take Steps to Protect Your Data

In day-to-day life, most people avoid sharing any personally identifiable information, such as credit card or Social Security numbers, when answering an unsolicited text, call, or email. This same caution should be used while at work. Remember, cybercriminals can create websites and email addresses that appear legitimate. Hackers can take over social media accounts, and scammers may fake caller ID displays.  

While it may sound evident, you need to make sure your employees never leak your company’s data, the sensitive information, or any intellectual property. For example, if an employee shares pictures or videos online that show a computer screen or whiteboard in the background, they may reveal information that people outside the company should never see.

Along the same lines, make sure your employees know to respect the intellectual property that belongs to another company. Even when it is accidental, both companies may get in trouble. One way to ensure your employees are protecting your information is by creating business policies that outline how to destroy data and information that is no longer needed and how to report suspicious ransomware or emails.

Avoid Unknown Links, Emails, and Pop-Ups

Phishing is a huge problem. A phisher will try to convince your employees to click a link that could cause a security breach. Phishers are looking for employees who are unaware of their tactics. This is why it is up to you to ensure they know what to look for and how to avoid nefarious emails, links, and emails.

An excellent way to avoid this situation with your employees is to use email authentication technology that will block any suspicious emails. Usually, you will receive an email that the link or file is being held in a “quarantine” folder, where you will be able to look and see if it is legitimate or not.

Use Strong Password Authentication and Protection

Complex, strong passwords can be used to stop cyber-thieves from being able to access your company information. If your workers are using simple and easy-to-guess passwords, it means access is simple for a motivated thief. If this person figures out the password, they may gain access to your business network.

Strong passwords need a minimum of 10 characters, including upper and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. You should also make it mandatory that workers change their passwords regularly. While remembering new passwords is often challenging, using a password manager may help.

You can also require multi-factor authentication. This means workers must put in several forms of identification before gaining access to more sensitive parts of your network. This provides an extra layer of protection.

Securing Your Business and Network

When it comes to keeping your business safe from hackers, using the tips above is beneficial. Take some time to create a handbook or set of guidelines for all employees to follow. By having set and established expectations, you can prevent serious cyber threats and other issues from occurring. Remember, preventing a problem is always easier and more affordable than handling it after it occurs.

Publish Date: June 17, 2020 11:48 AM


5 Ways to Turn Your Business Green

Climate change is a hot topic, leaving many people wondering what they can do to reduce their carbon footprints. It’s not just individuals who need to concern themselves with the state of the environment, though. Businesses of all types should be working to reduce their overall impact as well.

Going green offers your business numerous benefits. The most obvious is reducing your carbon footprint. You can also save money and appeal to customers looking to buy from greener companies. Here are five ways to green your business.

Go Paperless

If your business involves an office, you know all too well just how much paper gets used every day. Between flyers, notices, paychecks, employee files, and other paperwork, it really adds up. Not only that, but a significant amount of that paper gets thrown out.

Go paperless. Make all employee forms and documents digital and keep them secure in cloud storage. Encourage employees to choose direct deposit (rather than paper checks) and provide them with digital paystubs. If your business provides receipts to customers, give them the option of having their receipt sent to their email inbox.

Look for Ways to Save Energy

There are several ways to save energy in your business. Some strategies include:

  • Putting machines into sleep mode or unplugging them when they’re not in use.
  • Switching to more energy-efficient appliances.
  • Swapping out incandescent bulbs for LEDs or CFLs.
  • Investing in motion sensor lights or dimmer switches.
  • Raising or lowering the thermostat just a few degrees.
  • Automating different parts of your business, such as the lights and the HVAC.

Another option that can help you reduce your reliance on traditional energy is to switch to an alternative energy source. Consider installing Florida solar panels or looking into wind energy. Reducing your need for traditional electricity not only reduces your reliance on fossil fuels, but it also helps to reduce your monthly energy bills.

Make Recycling Easy

Just about everyone in your company is aware that recycling is important. In their haste to get rid of something they don’t need, however, your team members might throw something recyclable into the regular trash bin.

Make recycling easier by placing recycle bins in easy to access areas. Send an email to everyone with an infographic that explains what’s recyclable and what isn’t. You may also choose to post an infographic above the recycle bin so that your team has an easy reference sheet right there.

If you want to take recycling one step further, consider a compost bin. Composting food scraps keeps the waste out of landfills, where it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Let employees take the compost home to use in their gardens or find out if there’s a nearby composting company that will pick up the waste for you.

Pick Green Partners

If you rely on vendors, look for those whose green goals align with yours. Look for vendors who supply goods that are:

  • Manufactured sustainably.
  • Are free from toxic materials and substances.
  • Are made from recyclable materials or can be recycled.
  • Aren’t shipped with an excessive amount of plastic packing materials.

Consider Green Web Hosting

By now, you know that your business needs a website. Did you know, however, that there are companies out there offering green web hosting? These are companies that use renewable energy sources, plant trees, and look for other ways to offset the costs of running their servers. Not only do they look for ways to help the environment, but they also cost about the same as other web hosting companies.

Making your business greener benefits you, your customers, and the environment. Start by implementing a few small changes and gradually adding more. Work with your employees to help them through the transition and give them ideas to go green at home. You also shouldn’t be afraid to ask for suggestions from your team. The more ideas you implement, the greener you’ll become.

Publish Date: June 11, 2020 2:24 AM


Five Things iPhone Apps Do That You Didn't Know

The additional technology that each generation of cellular phones puts out is amazing. However, they also have certain capabilities that most users are unaware of. These abilities go far beyond texting, phone calls, or social media and can affect everyday life outside the electronic world. Here are a few on your iPhone that you might find useful.

 

Home Improvement

If you are unable to find your level, your iPhone can do the job by utilizing the built in gyroscope that is included in the device. Open up the Compass app with a simple tap then select Measure. When it is open, choose Level. Set it on its back or on the side in either portrait or landscape. The bubble on the screen will indicate if the surface is level or if you need to work on it. You can use this to hang picture frames or to ensure that your project is built properly.

 

Swap Files

Most Apple owners know that they can exchange files with other iPhone users with AirDrop. However, by using iCloud, you can swap files with anyone on the internet and put them on your phone. There are apps that allow for torrenting on iPhone. However, before you do, make sure that you have the proper security before you download your information just like you would with your computer. Doing this will protect your device from malware that can break it.

 

Conceal Images

While you are proud of the pictures in your Photo app, there may be a few that you would like to keep to yourself. Tap on Select in the right hand corner then choose the images you wish to conceal. Hit the box in the bottom left corner that shares your files with others. If you scroll through the menu provided, you will find the Hide option. When you press it, the pictures that you have selected will disappear from those in the Photo app. However, when you want to look at them again, they will be in the Hidden album in the same program.

 

Custom Alerts

Your iPhone has multiple options to alert you when a specific person calls. You have the option to save a special song or tone to a contact to indicate that it is them. You can also set a particular vibration to them if your phone is on silent. Both of these settings are found under your Contacts app. When you select a contact from the list, tap on their ringtone option. Here you should see both vibration and ringtone. You can choose from the suggested lists that they have or install your own customized version that fits the person who is reaching out to you.

 

Eliminate Large Amounts Of Text

It can be frustrating when you type a large paragraph or two on your phone either in a document, email, or text and have to get rid of it. Pressing the delete button down until it is gone takes time that you can spend elsewhere. If you need to eliminate text quickly, shake your iPhone. A message will pop up asking if you wish to delete what you have written. When you select yes, it will wipe off the letters from your screen. You need to be cautious, however, since it will also offer that option if you rattle your device accidentally. If you want to shut this off, you can go into your Settings app. Tap on General and then Accessibility. In that menu you will find the Shake to Undo feature. You can disable it here. The many applications that you find on your iPhone can make your daily life easier as well as entertain you when you have downtime. Knowing the hidden features that some of these programs have can be an added benefit to your everyday routine outside the digital world from hanging pictures on your wall to making editing easy for you.

 

The additional technology that each generation of cellular phones puts out is amazing. However, they also have certain capabilities that most users are unaware of. These abilities go far beyond texting, phone calls, or social media and can affect everyday life outside the electronic world. Here are a few on your iPhone that you might find useful.

 

Home Improvement

If you are unable to find your level, your iPhone can do the job by utilizing the built in gyroscope that is included in the device. Open up the Compass app with a simple tap then select Measure. When it is open, choose Level. Set it on its back or on the side in either portrait or landscape. The bubble on the screen will indicate if the surface is level or if you need to work on it. You can use this to hang picture frames or to ensure that your project is built properly.

 

Swap Files

Most Apple owners know that they can exchange files with other iPhone users with AirDrop. However, by using iCloud, you can swap files with anyone on the internet and put them on your phone. There are apps that allow for torrenting on iPhone. However, before you do, make sure that you have the proper security before you download your information just like you would with your computer. Doing this will protect your device from malware that can break it.

 

Conceal Images

While you are proud of the pictures in your Photo app, there may be a few that you would like to keep to yourself. Tap on Select in the right hand corner then choose the images you wish to conceal. Hit the box in the bottom left corner that shares your files with others. If you scroll through the menu provided, you will find the Hide option. When you press it, the pictures that you have selected will disappear from those in the Photo app. However, when you want to look at them again, they will be in the Hidden album in the same program.

 

Custom Alerts

Your iPhone has multiple options to alert you when a specific person calls. You have the option to save a special song or tone to a contact to indicate that it is them. You can also set a particular vibration to them if your phone is on silent. Both of these settings are found under your Contacts app. When you select a contact from the list, tap on their ringtone option. Here you should see both vibration and ringtone. You can choose from the suggested lists that they have or install your own customized version that fits the person who is reaching out to you.

 

Eliminate Large Amounts Of Text

It can be frustrating when you type a large paragraph or two on your phone either in a document, email, or text and have to get rid of it. Pressing the delete button down until it is gone takes time that you can spend elsewhere. If you need to eliminate text quickly, shake your iPhone. A message will pop up asking if you wish to delete what you have written. When you select yes, it will wipe off the letters from your screen. You need to be cautious, however, since it will also offer that option if you rattle your device accidentally. If you want to shut this off, you can go into your Settings app. Tap on General and then Accessibility. In that menu you will find the Shake to Undo feature. You can disable it here. The many applications that you find on your iPhone can make your daily life easier as well as entertain you when you have downtime. Knowing the hidden features that some of these programs have can be an added benefit to your everyday routine outside the digital world from hanging pictures on your wall to making editing easy for you.

Publish Date: June 10, 2020 7:22 PM

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