Create a board of advisors.

Put together a board of trusted advisors, who speak their minds and not coddle you and who are experts in a variety of fields that can benefit you – sales, technology, finance, marketing, people operations, strategy

Hire a mentor.

Work with a dedicated mentor this year. Someone who’s far ahead of where you want to be.

Know your numbers.

Hire a CFO, a GOOD CFO, who can help you organize your finances, and help you better understand your financial statements and what it means for your business.

Focus.

Reduce your email, stop saying yes so much and focus on a few management projects.

Hire an executive assistant.

If you don’t have someone to help you manage your calendar and your projects, you’re probably wasting time.

Hire expert help.

Stop building your own web site and marketing campaigns. Hire professional help for the various aspects of your business that someone else can do better.

Get healthy.

I do about 60 push ups a day (give or take), planks and stretches. I used to job on my treadmill – but need to start back on it. What about you? What simple, yet healthy exercises and diet can you do to be more healthy in 2016?

Have fun.

If you find your life is always in front of a computer or in a business meeting – you NEED to take a break and have fun. At least get away from WORK and do something else.

Educate yourself.

Discipline your mind and set time to educate yourself and learn. Succeeding at business is NOT luck – it’s all about smart hustle.

Related Post: You are the Secret to Good Security

The post What to Do Before Starting a Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

However, let’s go back to that first number. Over one million apps. That represents some fierce competition! To get users to download and use your app, small business owners must work hard to stand out from the crowd. To do that, they have to work with their app developers to create something worth downloading. Start by working with one of the best PWA app builders and keeping in mind these six things as you are creating your next app.

6 Keys to Developing a Stand-Out App

1. Focus on a Problem

The most successful apps on the market focus on consumer needs and aim to solve their pain points. For example, the Domino’s Pizza app allows you to order from the convenience of your phone, and you will never have to call to ask where your pizza is again because their Tracker follows your order and updates you until it is delivered.

2. Make It Intuitive

Your customers should not need an instruction book to use your app! Make sure it is easy to navigate and provides a good user experience. For example, FastCoDesign named Airbnb’s app one of the most innovative apps of 2016 because of its new simplified interface and search filters that make it easy to find the right accommodations.

3. Don’t Forget Marketing

Make a plan to promote your app before and after launch to get new downloads and encourage usage. For example, Staples promotes its app (and new app features) through videos, press releases, and working with bloggers and reviewers who help spread the message.

4. Make the Most of Distribution

There are dozens of app stores available for distributing your app; choose the channels that will help you reach the right audience. For example, Facebook has certainly made the most of distribution. Their app is available globally except in the ten countries where it is banned.

5. Customer Service Is Important

Offering excellent customer service includes having a FAQ section in your app, and a way for users to contact you with feedback or questions. For example, it is no surprise that the king of customer service, Amazon, built these features into their app, with a Menu tab that includes help topics and a means for contacting the company.

6. Form a Retention Strategy

Once people download your app, you need to keep them coming back for more. Push notifications, regular updates, and offering perks are three things that work. For example, AppMakr named Starbucks’ marketing campaign one of the most successful app campaigns of all time because their clever use of promotions (digital coupons, personalized rewards, etc.) keep users coming back regularly.

Knowing how to create and market a successful app is a valuable skill. With over one million apps on the market, specialized knowledge is the key to creating an app that stands out. While app creation is the norm for big business, soon it will become commonplace for small businesses too.

The post How to Develop a Stand-out App for Your Small Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Recently, Ramon Ray and leading finance experts came together for a discussion on The Future of Business: Gearing for Growth, the first installment of NetSuite’s New Age of Growth series, designed to help business owners tap into their superpowers.

Ramon and panelists discussed many key challenges businesses have to overcome to become successful. Let’s dive into the top challenges and ways you can restore growth:

Pitfalls of Sales and Marketing 

Many small business owners suffered throughout 2020 due to the pandemic. The economy is now different from the one we used to know. Remote working, virtual events, and Zoom meetings have become common words for most. These changes brought with it many new opportunities in the way companies reach new and existing customers.

If you’re a stickler for the sales and marketing strategies you used to employ in the pre-COVID world, you’re making a big mistake. The pandemic has brought many changes in consumer behavior, make sure you’ve updated your sales and marketing strategies to address a new environment. Here are some strategies that can help your business stand out:

• Go all-in on social: Thanks to lockdowns and social distancing, people are spending more time on social media than ever. With this change, you should be making an aggressive plan to leverage social media to spread the word, serve your customers, and sell products/services.
• Cross-promotion is key: The marketing budgets of so many have been depleted but don’t let this stop you, explore new opportunities like cross-promotion to find customers.
• Be transparent: Focus on educating your audience. Helping your audience make the right decisions is the best way to earn trust. Create helpful content and look for opportunities to partner with other small businesses that don’t compete with you.

For example, Eileen Tobias, CFO Komodo Health, a healthcare and life sciences software company, noted that her organization “had a rapid shift to digital events, webinars and email marketing.” Due to this shift, Tobias noted how the company shifted its marketing portfolio to include paid ads on LinkedIn and other new types of marketing to reach their target audience.

The pandemic has forced businesses to focus more on digital channels. To keep up, make sure your marketing strategy is evolving to balance digital and virtual activities to drive sales.

Supply Chain Hurdles 

The pandemic had a severe impact on the supply chain. Be it small or big, most small businesses suffered due to interrupted manufacturing, lack of raw materials, and more. What did this disruption teach us? Try working towards making your supply chain disaster-proof. 

Megan O’Brien, business and finance editor at NetSuite, rightly pointed out, “there is going to be a really big focus on diversification, resilience, and kind of finding the new right suppliers for the rest of the year.” 

To help build resilience into your own supply chain process here are some quick tips:

• Increase your safety stock 
• Work with multiple suppliers 
• Ship through multiple partners 
• Stress-test your backup system 
• Train your team to handle adverse situations 

Last but not least, you should buy business interruption insurance to tackle any unforeseen crisis. Remember, to restore growth, preparing for disruptions goes a long way in staying afloat during a crisis. 

Shortage of Top Talents 

Hiring top talents has always been challenging for small business owners, and the last year has changed employees’ experience and expectations. It has become more challenging to find the right people who will align with your mission and values. 

Despite perceived drawbacks of remote work, 62 percent of people find remote work more appealing now than they did before the pandemic, saying they now have more time to spend with family (51 percent), sleep (31 percent), and get work done (30 percent). Employees are now increasingly looking forward to working remotely. With this, your hiring strategies should be accommodating more remote employees.

The remote hiring process can be complicated. Hiring managers are not always trained to conduct remote only interviews, and so many business owners have had to invest in new resources to train and onboard employees in this new environment. 

During NetSuite’s Future of Business: Gearing for Growth event, Jason Balk, CFO Adtegrity noted his organization is  “trying to find people that fit our culture and can kind of step right in and take off. But in many cases, we’re having to train them as well. So, it’s been a challenge trying to get everybody on the same page.”

His challenges echo that of many business leaders. The pandemic challenged many small businesses but we continue to see hope and optimism all around us. My advice to business owners? Address these business challenges as quickly as possible to restore growth and ensure that you make the best of this year. 

Liked this article? Please share it on your social channels. 

The post Three Challenges You Should Overcome to Restore Growth appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Topics covered:

• • The importance of INTEGRATING your marketing and finance operations so you can have ONE view of the customer and enable your TEAM to better collaborate and communicate.
  • Brands mentioned: Thryv.com, Zoho.com, Salesforce SMB Essentials, Surefire Local, Podio, Infusionsoft, Rainmaker, Trello
  • Do you need a COLLEGE DEGREE? Most agreed that a college degree is NOT needed but that one can get trained or educated in many disciplines and make a great living and career.

• Great design matters. Ramon has been complimented many times on his great design (credit to his designer). Design is essential – it affects how people view you, what they think of you and your brand, it helps to establish your credibility and authenticity as well.

Let’s compare two consultants, one consultant with great design and overall imagery and another consultant with bad design and overall imagery, who would you hire? One has great looking business cards, websites and social media profiles and the other doesn’t. Who would you hire?

You can hire a professional graphic designer via UpWork or Fiverr. Or you can do it yourself through a service like Canva.

How To Finance The Growth of Your Business

William, with Man and Dolly moving services, called in to the show to ask how to scale his business with minimal financing.

Advice included:

1. Have a plan;
2. Get a consultant to help you with the growth;
3. Consider factoring your invoices to get cash faster;
4. Focus on the channels you’re getting customers;
5. Train your team to understand your mission;
6. Have an operations plan so you can scale and your staff can follow the operations plan (like McDonalds).

Faster wireless speeds are coming and will transform your business and your LIFE. From 5G for cellular connections, to faster WiFi and Bluetooth in 2 – 5 years we’ll have be consuming video in new ways, cars, household appliances and everything else will be interconnected.

The post #AskRamonRay Wrap-Up: Integrating Your Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

1. First things first, what is your vision for small business in 2019

First off, we must end the government shutdown that has caused the Small Business Administration (SBA) to cease its core lending and contract-assistance programs.

Each day the shutdown continues, entrepreneurs lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars in the affordable capital they need to grow their business and create new jobs.

In the House, we have passed legislation to reopen the government by appropriating funding to agencies like SBA. I encourage President Trump to join Democrats and put our small business sector back to work.

Looking ahead more broadly to 2019, I will continue working to strengthen SBA’s flagship programs that help entrepreneurs secure capital, enter federal contracts, and recover after a disaster. Just weeks into the new Congressional legislative session, our committee has already passed several bipartisan reforms that take steps to achieve these goals. I was proud to author two of these bills, the Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act and the Incentivizing Fairness in Subcontracting Act, both of which strengthen protections and opportunities for small firms that do business with the federal government.

Finally, we must tackle the barriers that keep entrepreneurs from following their dreams of starting a business. To do this, the federal government should invest in telecommunications and rural broadband access, find solutions to the student debt crisis, expand health care, push back against restrictive immigration policies, and simplify the tax code to truly benefit small firms.

2. What have you learned in your role as a committee member?

Back in 2006 when I first took the Committee’s gavel, I was the first Hispanic woman to Chair a full committee in the House. As the most senior Democrat on the Committee, I have learned the value in reaching across the aisle to achieve bipartisan solutions that benefit small firms across this country. I am proud that our Committee has a strong track record of success and I look forward to continuing this work as we tackle the challenges facing small businesses today.

3. What’s your advice for small businesses who are starting and for those who are growing and scaling?

I urge anyone with the dream of starting a new business or growing a current one to utilize the services provided by the SBA.

In every state and the territories, the SBA works with a number of local partners to connect entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, and other resources crucial to starting a business.

(Map of SBA resources)

4. How can free enterprise blend with doing good to others who are not fortunate?

One of the most valuable benefits of encouraging the growth of Main Street businesses is they often become a gathering place for members of a community. By strengthening community relations, it is not uncommon for these businesses to become a force for giving back. Whether by organizing charity drives, sponsoring the local recreational baseball team, or donating their items, countless small businesses are deeply invested in strengthening their communities.

5. What is your policy in regard to taxation (higher? lower?) and in regard to capitalism vs. a more socialist economy?

When it comes to taxes, Main Street businesses deserve meaningful tax reform that will simplify the tax code and increase compliance assistance.

Just a few days ago, I joined my colleague on the Committee, Ranking Member Steve Chabot from Ohio in re-introducing the Small Business Owners’ Tax Simplification Act. This bill works to buy isotretinoin in australia meet the needs of workers in the sharing economy in part by increasing tax compliance assistance for micro-entrepreneurs. While there is much more that needs to be done, this bill is a productive step in the right direction.

6. What can business owners do for their country?

Small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy, employing over half of all private sector employees and generating two-thirds of net new jobs.

Particularly in economically distressed areas, small business owners can help to revitalize entire communities. Thus, encouraging small business growth is a win-win for local communities and our national economy.

Photo of Representative Nydia Velazquez via New York Latin Culture Magazine.

The post Small Business Vs. The Shutdown: Impacts, Implications & Solutions appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

When is it time to raise your prices?

I asked you during Ask Ramon Ray and here’s what you had to say:

Then, I asked how and why small biz owners raised their prices.

Did you miss #AskRamonRay? Don’t worry, I saved it for you!

We recently published a piece about setting rates as a freelancer, you can check that out, here. If you ever find yourself wondering when it makes sense to raise your rates, you can take some advice from your fellow small business owners, and from this article.

The post Pricing: When & How to Raise Your Prices appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

When Is It Time to Raise Your Prices?

“did you see my text”

me: pic.twitter.com/ITtD3Z9a9M

— (@boujeesIut) December 25, 2018

So, why now? Well, Netflix has an extremely popular offering and they know that raising their prices $2 here and $3 there won’t lose them many members. They also know this change will bring in big revenue.

To say it plainly: people are hooked on Netflix– and few (if any) will leave just because of a price increase.

So, what’s the lesson?

• When you offer a GREAT service its OK to raise prices a reasonable rate.
• Since they have such a strong brand. Customers are less likely to leave.
• Branding matters, and when done well, a brand can become a part of people’s lives. (think Apple, Google, and more)

Before raising your own prices its important to know: Are your prices set at the right rate?

• When you think about your ideal customer their budget, how does your product/service work into their life?
• Do you have a loyal group of followers (either on social or otherwise)?
• Do your followers recommend your product and feature it on their social services?
• Are you making a profit from the revenue produces by your product?
• Are you offering a valuable product or a luxury product?

When your customers pay more for your product or service– they are expecting more. Consider your brand positioning.

The goal, no matter what you sell, is to be seen as irreplaceable, essential and priceless. If you are all three, then you have pricing power. When the price charged is up to you, when you have the power to set the price, there is a line out the door and you can use pricing as a signaling mechanism

Netflix has definitely accomplished this. They are irreplaceable, and essential to many people’s lifestyle.  They have millions and millions wrapped around their finger.

So, do you have an irreplaceable product your users will gladly pay more for? Or is it time to rethink your current pricing?

The post When Is It Time to Raise Your Prices? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Capturing Attention.

However, what they both have in common, whether they know it or not, is the ability to capture attention and call attention to their brand.

When one considers the “average” politician, they’re just that–“average”. They don’t cause too many waves and do things just like every other elected official does. Not Ocasio-Cortez or Trump.

Just last week (as of this writing), Ocasio-Cortez was mocked for her dancing, in a college video.  However she EMBRACED it and did a quick twirl of a dance right in front of her Congressional office.

View this post on Instagram

 

If Republicans thought women dancing in college is scandalous, wait till they find out women dance in Congress, too!

A post shared by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@ocasio2018) on Jan 4, 2019 at 10:36am PST

Method of Communication.

Sure, Ocasio-Cortez is a fresh face and has spunk but she’s clearly using that to her advantage and embracing social media (lots of behind the scenes video), speaking out, and being quite “unconventional”. This is causing some discomfort amongst her own Democrat colleagues and, of course, Republicans.

She uses her Instagram liberally with floods of stories and posts. Much like President Trump uses his Twitter account.

In the case of Donald Trump, out of a field of 12 Republican contenders for the Republican Presidential 2016 nomination, he beat them. All (or most) were seasoned politicians, except for him. I don’t think it was his IDEAS that were so revolutionary, but it was HOW he communicated them.  One of his signature tactics (for better or for worse) was giving his rivals names

• “Little Marco Rubio”,
• “Low Energy Jeb”, or
• “Lyin’ Ted” to name a few.

These things got the attention of the media and earned him, what I assume is millions of dollars of “free” publicity and, most importantly, attention.

Appearance.

Even how they look. Trump has an orange hue to his skin and a very unique way he combs his hair. Just flip on the TV and you’ll see dozens of actors impersonating him all over the world.

Ocasio-Cortez’s glasses are easily caricatured, and she has her signature hoop earrings. She even wore her earrings proudly to her first day in Congress. Leaving the ball in the court of SNL for a parody.

Lessons Learned.

So what can you learn from these two rabble-rousing elected officials?

Remember, you’re business is not special. A dentist, accountant, web designer, technology consultant, etc are a DIME A DOZEN. But what YOU can do is show how you’re different and communicate it to your audience.

Does the look of your design truly POP?

Are you amazing with your customers?

Is it the fun way your employees answer the phone?

What makes you special and different?

The post Ocasio-Cortez and Trump – Lessons in Personal Branding appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

“As connected as we are now, there is still a fundamental disconnect between people and the companies that attempt to reach them through these technologies.” -Danny Chan for Huff Post

In a world of social media and digital technology, it almost seems counterintuitive to focus on human connections. But, the reality is, business owners have to be more aware, and work harder than ever, to build and maintain connections with customers and to be as human as possible in this digital world.

Quality Over Quantity

One quality, in-person exchange with a customer will build more trust and go farther than 1,000 unopened emails. A firm handshake, eye contact, and a friendly smile make you so much more relevant to a customer than an unnoticed aggressive email marketing campaign. Since we do operate in a digital world, face-to-face interactions sometimes aren’t an option. Pick up the phone. Not to send a text message, but to make a good, old-fashioned phone call. To your customer, you just took the time to show them that they are worth your time, and they know your time is precious.

Try Something New and Go Live

When it’s not possible to make direct contact with your customers, social media has wonderful tools for connecting with your audience in a way that resonates with them. A step above Stories, Live streaming is changing the marketing game. You can deliver information to your customers in real time! Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have live functions. Tap into this fantastic resource and let your customers into your personal, or your brand’s, world. Live streaming is designed to be interactive. Users can comment during your stream and you can respond to their questions. It allows you to have a conversation.

Don’t Forget About Yourself

While we’re over here focusing on how to maintain the human connection with our customers, it’s equally as important for YOU, the small business owner, to maintain human connection. Being a small business owner can be a lonely existence. All of your free time is spent building up your brand. You’re tight for cash because you’re using all of your funds to fuel a new start-up. It’s so important to take time to invest in human connection for yourself. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas:

• Start co-working—it’s where remote employees who generally aren’t otherwise connected, gather to work side-by-side. It can really help create a feeling of “office morale” that you may be missing.
• Attend industry and networking events—you’ll get to chat with clients, stay relevant on current industry standards, and you will probably make some great business contacts that might turn into friends.
• Reach out to other small business owners in your community—if you’re lonely and looking for support and human connection, chances are there are others in the same boat.

The post Human Connections in a Digital World appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Your account can be used by both brick-and-mortar businesses and online businesses; depending on the country in which is set up, the merchant account may not be required for a brick-and-mortar company, but in the case of online stores, this is a necessary aspect, regardless of the jurisdiction, as the customers won’t be able to conclude cash payments.

For example, when setting up a merchant account in Singapore, the company will be able to accept credit and debit cards transactions from approximately 150 countries, one of the advantages being that the merchant account can process payments in well known global currencies, not only in the local currency. Other countries, such as Estonia, accept credit cards from more than 160 jurisdictions.

In other jurisdictions, such as Cyprus, the companies wishing to set up a merchant account that will accept international payments will need to select an international merchant account, especially designed for this purpose (the country provides several types of merchant accounts, depending on the specific activities of a company and the country in which it is incorporated).

If you have an online business in Ireland, another option to explore merchant accounts refers to mobile phone payments, which increased in popularity in the last years, due to the fact that payment itself is processed very fast. Its advantage is given by the flexibility obtained by the customer, who can conclude the purchase at any given time, from any location.

The main advantage of a merchant account is that the customers can conclude a certain purchase regardless of the daily schedule of your business, in safe conditions, as all merchant accounts have to provide a safe gateway payment software.

Besides these advantages, it is important to know that companies can benefit from a simple registration procedure, which requires only several documents, but this can vary depending on the country in which the merchant account is registered. Investors can also conclude this procedure through online applications, in certain investment jurisdictions.

The post The Advantages of Opening a Merchant Account appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

1. Practice Makes Perfect

The saying “practice makes perfect” applies to almost anything in life. But, in order to refine your public speaking skills, practice is essential. The more comfortable you are with the material and your delivery, the more comfortable you will be when you are giving your presentation in a boardroom or you’re standing in front of a room full of hundreds of people. Practice in front of the mirror, or practice your speech out loud while you’re driving. Enlist willing (or unwilling) family members or friends to rehearse your presentation to and ask for their feedback. Knowing your material inside and out will help you beat your nerves when they do creep up.

2. Seek Feedback

Speaking of feedback, it’s an extremely effective tool when you are trying to improve your public speaking skills. Feedback from friends and family or a professional mentor can be invaluable for improving your public speaking skills. Another great way to receive feedback is from yourself. You are your own worst critic, so try videoing yourself giving the presentation. You’ll probably cringe when you watch it, so be forewarned. Use this incredibly helpful tool to improve your public speaking skills by looking out for nervous habits like saying “uh,” “like,” and “um.” Observe if you have any nervous tics like wringing your hands, crumpling your notes, or licking your lips. Reviewing a video of yourself can also help you avoid distracting body language during the presentation. Use it to see if you are making eye contact, standing up straight, and smiling.

3. Mind Your Audience

Another form of feedback happens during the presentation or speech and it comes from your audience. Your audience will give you clear cues if they aren’t engaged. Is everyone on their phone or chit-chatting in the back? You may need to adapt your speech or presentation if necessary to get the audience engaged. Ideally, you would want your presentation to be engaging from the get-go, but some audiences are a tough crowd and you might have to reel them back in from time to time. Engage your audience and make it a conversation. If you’re feeling a little nervous, tell them that! They will appreciate your authenticity and honesty. Make it personal, tell some stories, and make it relatable–nothing helps to connect with your audience better.

4. Your Presentation is Powerful

A good, professional presentation can make a huge difference. Use your slides to help you get organized before the presentation and stay on track during it. Great looking slides that clarify and enhance your story can give you a real confidence boost. If you need design help, use a professional platform like Beautiful.ai to create a sleek presentation with ease. However, don’t rely too heavily on technology. You should be able to give your presentation without it. If you get nervous and lose your train of thought, you can look to your slides to jog your memory and seamlessly carry on. Your slides should enhance, not define, your presentation.

5. Be Natural

Don’t script your speech or presentation too much. Experienced speakers, with amazing public speaking skills, always feel like they are having a conversation with the audience. Whatever you do, don’t memorize your speech! The littlest thing could throw you completely off track and you could forget the whole thing. You also don’t want to read your speech. You might as well just send it out in an email at that point. Do whatever you need to do to get organized. If you find you absolutely need notes, make sure they are large enough to read and put together in a way that makes it easy to pick up where you left off by glancing down. Let your delivery be natural. If you’re the one giving this speech or presentation, you are likely the expert, which means you should be able to speak to the topic without having to read word-for-word off the paper. You’re the expert, you know your stuff, and you’ve got this!

The post Are You a Terrible Public Speaker? Here Are 5 Key Tips to Get Better appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Excuses to avoid making powerful videos

When speaking to people who are shy, they give me plenty of reasonable excuses why they don’t want to make videos. Of course, the number one reason is that they are shy. But, there are several other reasons why they choose not to make videos:

• They don’t like how they look
• They don’t like their voices
• They don’t know what to say on camera
• They don’t have the confidence to appear on camera

Shy People are Missing out on marketing opportunities

As an empathetic person, I understand that these reasons and many more are valid, but there are so many reasons to make videos as a way to grow your business. Check these out fivebough .If having an opportunity to grow your business with a marketing tool that works isn’t enough for you to start making videos, then maybe these reasons will get you in front of a thermal camera:

• By not doing video, you are missing out on a proven revenue stream.
• People want to hear your message, knowledge, and insight.
• The more videos you make, the easier it gets to make more videos.
• Shyness will decrease.

On top of that, it is helpful to know that video is powerful. People watch videos. Then, they watch more videos. Once you start making them, your inhibitions should decrease and you will eventually become more comfortable with the red light in front of you.

If you are still too shy to make your own videos, there is another option: you can make videos with other people! Maybe you can interview someone, so you aren’t even facing the camera. Or, you could make videos with other people in your business. You could also hire someone to be in your videos.

The post Shy People: Powerful Videos appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

In October, the popular app was upgraded to meet the requests and needs of users. Snagit already distinguishes itself from similar apps with its ability to edit images and record a screen. With the latest features, Snagit stands alone in the screen capture marketplace. Here you will get the best video converter software to change file formats.

The newest features of this impressive app give users the ability to

• Combine images
• Designate favorite tools
• Search for stamps, icons, symbols, and cursors to place on images
• Use a simplify tool

Combining images for easy training and learning

Snagit is a popular tool with anyone who trains or teaches using a distance learning model. Snagit allows teachers and trainers to record videos of their screens so their students and trainees can see exactly what to do with their computers. Now that users can combine images, trainers can easily showcase a step-by-step process by putting several screen captures into one convenient image.

Build a collection of favorite tools

Instead of searching for your favorite tools, keep them all in one place in what the Snagit app calls “Favorites”. This simple change adds efficiency to the app allowing users to get the job done faster than ever before. 

Search for the stamp you want

Another popular feature in the Snagit app is the impressive number of pre-made stamps. With nearly 2000 available for users, it can be challenging to find exactly what you are looking for  – until the upgrade and redesign. Now, you can search and browse the stamps to find the cursor, icon, symbol, or other images that you want to add to your production. All you have to do is use keywords and the matching stamps will appear.

Keeping it simple

The new Simplify feature is designed to keep your content up to date by converting your screenshots into simplified graphics. As technology changes, so does the quality of a screencast. They quickly become outdated, but with the Simplify tool, your videos remain timely because Snagit changes your screen into an abstract version with a color scheme of your choice. You can use the Simplify feature to hide elements you don’t want your viewers to see or you can have the Simplify tool do all of the work automatically. This tool could quickly become the one you love the most.

These new upgrades have made a favorite app even better. It comes as no surprise that Snagit won The Top Screen and Video Capture Software in 2018 from the G2 Crowd. With Snagit working seamlessly with Microsoft’s suite of apps, Google Drive, Dropbox, YouTube, and more, it will continue to be a favorite with users everywhere.

The post A Review: Snagit added useful features in its latest upgrade for 2019 appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

It’s Not Too Late to Sell Online

Melissa said that there are many last minute shoppers who are looking for the perfect gift.

As I type this, I still have not bought a gift for my wife!

If you go to any mall you’ll find what looks like a beehive of shoppers who are scrambling to buy, at the last minute. These could be your customers.

It’s so important to remind your current customers that you are there for them and have a solution to their needs. Sure, try to get new customers, but CURRENT customers already know, like and trust you!

Be it via social media, email marketing or otherwise – remind your customers of your solution. Consider making a special “holiday” offer.

Seth Godin talks about “tension” in his latest book, “This is Marketing“. Melissa and I discussed that even though there’s only a few days before Christmas, take advantage (in a good way) of the tension your customers have and you can snag some last minute sales for your business.

Help Your Customers

Don’t have an attitude of “how can I get” from your customers, but instead think, how can you serve them.

You’ll find that most successful marketers put the customer first and convey how their solution can help the customer.

Beyond Online Sales

While it seems that online sales get the lion’s share of media focus, for those of you selling services, you can also participate in holiday sales.

What about a special offer for accounting services, legal services, design services or etc. Maybe the customer can BUY them now and use them in 2019. Or buy them as a gift for another business.

Multiple Touch Points

Don’t put your marketing “eggs” in one basket. Don’t you love cliches?

Leverage the power of multiple touch points to have your message conveyed via email, your website and social media. Your customers might not have received your email of last week, so you might want to get their attention via Twitter. Or maybe they missed your last Instagram post, you can get their attention with a pop-up on your website.

Can They Find You?

Remember to ensure your listing on Google and Yelp are up to date.

The hours you’re open, reviews, menu options and more. Local listings are so important so be sure they’re updated!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Melissa says take things one step at a time. Remember, services like GoDaddy have an array of solutions to help you quickly get up to speed on all your digital marketing and fulfillment.

Kudos to Donut Parlor who Melissa says is rocking their digital presence. Their donuts LOOK good and so much more.

It’s not too late – GO make some last minutes sales….tick tock tick tock! Last minute holiday revenue is waiting for you!

The post GoDaddy Exec Says It’s Not Too Late For Businesses To Capture Last Minute Holiday Revenue appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

All too often, people keep passwords for important sites in places like sticky notes, Excel files, or in the Notepad app on their phones. Many don’t even record their passwords at all because they use simple ones that are easy to memorize.

Make Digital Security a Priority

I was lucky enough to sit down with Katie Petrillo, Product Marketing Team Lead for LastPass at LogMeIn. According to Katie, 

‘Password management is the key to keeping your personal, business, financial, and private details secure.’

LastPass is a part of LogMeIn and not only stores your passwords for safekeeping, but it adds an extra layer of security.

Expect the Unexpected

Think about this: as a small business, you have one person who holds access to all those accounts. What if something happened to the person who has all these passwords?

Of course, we don’t want to think about it– but tragedy can strike. LastPass can be used to protect businesses from tragedies and act as a backup plan when the figurative keyholder can no longer open doors.

Petrillo describes LastPass as a “safety deposit box online” so information is not lost in the cloud when tragedy strikes. And, while this may not be the most comfortable topic to discuss, it is important for businesses as well as for individuals.

How does LastPass work?

By using LastPass, your passwords can all be unique and strong and stored in one secure location. Small business owners can trust that their unique passwords add an extra layer of difficulty for hackers.

This may all sound too good to be true, but it really works. If you have an account with LastPass, it is helpful to add a person who can have access when you cannot. But, LastPass does not just give away access. You can customize:

• who has access,
• what they have access to,
• and how long they can have access before it is revoked.

While the backdoor is important to maintain the status quo, LastPass has worked vital multi-factor authentication (MFA) into your password security.

Making Holiday Shopping Easier

Are you a big online shopper? Or does your boss have you looking for holiday gifts for clients? When you have a LastPass account, you can arrange your credit card information and shipping details to immediately populate online forms. Then, all you have to do is click and the transaction happens. If you are busy buying multiple gifts for your friends, family, and colleagues, this feature can save serious amounts of time.

What can you do to protect your digital information?

LastPass and other password protectors are simply too important to ignore. Security comes from strong passwords. Petrillo understands this and shared two important tips: never reuse passwords and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) in all of your important online accounts. It might take a little extra time each time you log in, but it is better than the time you have to spend reinstating your identity, chasing stolen money, or opening new social media accounts if you are hacked.

The post Beyond the Grave – How To Protect Your Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Wix Chat has already been a part of Wix, but now you can automatically greet a visitor, via chat, even if you’re not there live to assist. They feel “welcome” when they get to to your web site. Wix’s mobile dashboard works well on smartphones so you can interact wherever you are.

But what really excites me are the workflows in Ascend, With these workflows, Wix small business customers can now save time and be productivity by sending targeted messages, to specific customers or due to specific actions.

Let’s say a customer makes a booking? You can send an email based on that action. Maybe they’ve paid an invoice – that can be another action.

Customers want to feel appreciated and expect faster and faster response times. For owners of growing businesses, this can be a challenge. However with the power of automation a small business owner can do more, in less time with less resources.

I also love how Wix has a “short cut” keyboard to enable you to send quick offers to clients with as few clicks as possible.

Wix, like its competitors, is quickly moving from a company providing one solution, being website development to provide a full suite of marketing solution for its customers. If you want more marketing support for your business then consider contacting this Business listing distribution service.

While this is not a full blown marketing automation solution that Infusionsoft, Salesforce, Active Campaign or other solutions might provide – it’s just perfect for a business just starting out or a very small business.

Of course Wix Code was launched about a year ago and opened the Wix platform for developers to create full scale database solutions on top of the Wix platform. Wix Ascend is a further evolution of Wix overall expansion.

The post Wix Launches Simple Marketing Automation for Growing Businesses – Wix Ascend appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Use the unexpected turn in your career to do something great! Perhaps you’ve always wanted to start your own business, but you were comfortable at your job and the pay was good. But, now you’ve been forced out of your comfort zone. Time to turn lost job lemons into lemonade. This might be the perfect time to take the next step in becoming your own boss and to commit to building the your own business.

Building a business is no small feat.

The good news is, according to the Small Business Administration, there are 29.7 million small business owners in the United States.

Many have walked this road before you and have been successful, which means you can be a successful small business owner too. If you do choose to start your own business, here are the answers to a few questions you may be asking yourself:

1. What am I skilled at?

Take an inventory of your professional skills and determine 2 or 3 things that you do best. Think about things that you do better than anyone else. This can be the foundation or a “hint” of what you might want to consider selling. You have years of knowledge and experience in your HEAD. Someone, some company, needs that skill set. You have to sell it to them. Some skill ideas?

1. • Finance.
   • Project management.
   • Design.
   • Baking.
   • Crafts.
   • Marketing.
   • Programming.
   • Logistics.

2. What am I passionate about?

Maybe you’re skilled at finance but you hate it. Can you find the right combination of what you’re skilled at and also excited about doing? As you start and grow your small business you’ll want to get out of bed EXCITED about the workday that lies ahead. Write down a list of what you enjoy doing and cross check it with your list of skills. Where do things intersect?

3. What problem can I solve?

For example, a hotel solves the problem of safe accommodation for people away from their homes. A speech therapist helps those struggling with communication to learn to communicate better…etc. Are you equipped to solve a problem better than those already doing it? Is the demand for your product or service great enough?

4. How can I market my small business?

Sales is the ONLY way to have a successful business. You must have a plan to GET new customers and have customers as repeat buyers and who will refer business to you. Write on a piece of paper what your ideal customer will look like.

• What’s the DEMOGRAPHIC profile (how they look, where they live, how old they are, their socioeconomic level, their education level, etc.)

• What’s their PSYCHOGRAPHIC profile (how they think and act). Seth Godin says it best, “people like us do things like this.”

Now that you have these 1, 2 or 3 types of customers in mind – go FIND them.

• Where are they?
• Busy moms dropping off kids at daycare centers?
• Single wealthy females?
• Older men looking to sell their companies?

There are lots of ways you can market your new business. Word of mouth (tell everyone!). Ask for referrals. Have business cards, a good website, and social platforms. Test buying advertising on Google search or a social media platform.

5. Business operations

Business is not that complicated, but yet it is. Here’s what I mean: To succeed at business, at the most basic level, you need to understand the basics of marketing, business finance, and operations. Here are a few things to consider:

• How will you make and deliver what you’re selling? Whatever you’re selling, how will you deliver it to the customer? Are you going to do consulting? Creating an online course? Go to the offices of your clients? How will you create and deliver your product or service? If you have a product business and you’re manufacturing it, you’ll need to REALLY study the entire business of manufacturing, fulfillment, supply chain…etc.!
• What’s the cost? Knowing how much to sell your product/service for is important. Price is a function of your brand position in the marketing – the $5,000 Tiffany’s ring or the $279 Walmart ring. Also, it’s about your profit margin and ensuring you’re MAKING money on each sale.

6. Business Legal Entity

It’s important that you establish a business legal entity – LLC or S Corp so you can have some shield of protection to separate your BUSINESS from yourself personally and your family. Also, set up a separate business bank account.

7. Your Team

You might start out by being a solo entrepreneur but as you get further along, you’ll need a team to help you scale and better serve your customers. I’ve found that for very small businesses (which I am) as opposed to those who are growing to a 50, 100 or 2,000 person company, you should at the very least have an executive assistant to help you. For other things, you can easily work with freelancers for specific needs such as design, marketing, and content.

8. Get Help Starting Your Own Business

If you’re new to business, and not sure where to start or what to do, take the time to visit SCORE.ORG at one of their hundreds of offices or online. They offer free help to get your business started with personal mentoring and coaching. Another great resource is your local ASBDC (Small Business Development Centers) which offers free counseling and low-cost training to new entrepreneurs.

9. Resources and Quick Tips

Personal branding

It’s important to market your small business and yourself (especially if you’re doing coaching or consulting). While your business’s brand is, of course, important, as a very small business, it’s even MORE important to focus on your personal brand. Here are some great resources on how to build your personal brand:

1. 1. Black Enterprise
   2. Smart Hustle

Marketing assets

One of the most important things you can do when starting or growing a business is to get your information out there. Luckily, in the digital world we live in, there are so many tools you can use to ensure your small business thrives. Here are just a few:

1. 1. Business cards – Moo.com, VistaPrint, Staples
      
   2. Websites – Wix or Squarespace
   3. Customer relationship software – Zoho, Salesforce Essentials, Infusionsoft
   4. Social platforms – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Check out Ramon’s talk on social media marketing for some really helpful ways to use social media to market your business, here.

Finances

In order to have a successful business, at the end of the day, you need to know where your money is going. But, managing your small business account doesn’t have to be hard. There are software programs out there like QuickBooks, Freshbooks, Xero…etc, that basically do the work for you, and investing in one is a wise decision every small business owner should consider. Along with a software program, if money isn’t your thing, get help! Start with a sort of “Business Finances 101” to make sure you are heading in the right direction. Score.org has a ton of financial resources to take some of the stress out of crunching the numbers, here.

Hiring

If you’re looking to expand your team, Upwork is one of the best platforms for finding freelance professionals to help you grow your business. Find someone for a one-time website update, or find a long-term freelancer to help manage your social media accounts, marketing, or blog content production.

The post You’ve Been Fired. How To Start Your Own Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

However, for the past few months, I’ve been testing out and actively using a new presentation design tool called Beautiful.ai. It’s free, fast, easy to use, and saves automatically to the cloud. So, needless to say, I’m excited to partner with them.

There are two parts to creating a great presentation:

• The Presenter (and that’s a topic for another day), and
• The Slides.

How many presentations have we all sat through where the slides are hard to read, boring, confusing, or not aligned with what the presenter is saying?

Beautiful.ai is built from the ground up, or the cloud up, to help you create awesome presentations. Here are a few things I like:

1. Smart Templates

   With dozens of built-in and purpose-built templates, Beautiful.ai lets you go right from your idea to a well-designed visualization that adapts automatically as you add milestones. I don’t ever want to spend time tinkering with text boxes and aligning shapes again! These smart templates not only ensure your presentation slides look great, but also that you don’t try and fit too much on one slide. I appreciate that it keeps me in check and forces me to focus on the key points.

2. Stock Photos, Icons, and Logos

   We all know that imagery spices up and adds interest to any slide. Beautiful.ai has a library of great royalty-free stock images and icons built right in. Gone are the hours wasted searching Google for images and icons that are good quality and consistent with my project. Same goes for logos – just type in a company name and it will find the logo for you. Also, you can quickly access images you’ve uploaded previously and used in other presentations.

3. Automatic Animations

   Similar to the way imagery can aid in grabbing attention, animation is another great way to keep your audience engaged. I’ll admit I haven’t done much of it in the past. Not because I didn’t want to, but because it was tedious. With Beautiful.ai it’s just done for you automatically, and it looks great!

   Pro tip – if you have to present with no internet connection, download Beautiful’s player for the PC or Mac.  It can play with all the animations offline.

4. Easy Sharing

   With just a couple clicks, you can share your masterpiece with one person (or thousands!) via a simple link that will let your audience view it in all its animated glory. If you prefer the old way of sending files, you can export to  PDF or PowerPoint, too – but they don’t animate if exported. Another great capability they offer is the ability to embed your presentation on your website or blog. This is a fantastic way to jazz up a page with extra content easily!

After I started using Beautiful.ai, I asked my executive assistant and project manager to start using it, as she helps me with my presentations. Her response after using Beautiful.ai? “I love it!”

When giving a presentation, most of the time you’re either: informing someone of important information; advising someone, or convincing someone to take a different course of action. If you’re a professional speaker, as I am, and giving lots of keynote presentations, you KNOW presentations are important.

But for everyone else — even if you’re simply “presenting” your ideas at a weekly business meeting or in a more casual setting — presentations are still a powerful tool to communicate your ideas.

Great presentations, require you, the speaker, to convey a clear message to your audience. And leave them with clear takeaways and motivation. The main way you can achieve this is with is a well-designed presentation. Beautiful.ai lets me focus on my message — while they make it look beautiful.

Why I like Beautiful:

Here’s ONE of my Beautiful presentations:

The post Make Better Presentation Slides With This New Tool. Ramon Reviews Beautiful.ai appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Facebook Group Mentorship Support

Over 200 million people are in Facebook Groups, that’s a lot of discussion going on. In fact, I have my own Smart Hustle Group here.

The power of groups is that the members have “raised their hands”, as it were, indicating a deeper relationship with the group’s theme. This is important to Facebook.

To further enhance the groups, Facebook launched a mentorship component, now available within groups. With its recent announcement, Facebook is enabling mentors and mentees to find each other and group admins can make the match happen.

People want to connect, people want to get help, and people want to GIVE help.  A Preschool Program for Toddlers in your education center can help increase appreciation and participation in your group.

Facebook Job Program

In addition, Facebook strengthened its jobs program, which it launched in 2017. Today, businesses can share their jobs on their company pages and in their groups. If you’ve built a following on Facebook and are leveraging groups to build deeper engagement with your customers and prospective customers, Facebook jobs can be a great way to hire staff who already are a fit for your company culture and understand and support your missions and values.

There’s an obvious question: do you go with LinkedIn or with Facebook?

I think that’s the WRONG question. For sure LinkedIn is a leading portal for all things recruitment and hiring. HOWEVER, for us small business owners who are using Facebook to connect and build relationships with our customers and our community – Facebook could be the better option.

Remember: when hiring, your website, friends, existing customers, and employees are “agents of recruiting” for your business!

Learn Facebook: Skill Enhancement Platform

One more announcement is Learn Facebook. Just learning how to “use Facebook” is not enough. In this digital economy young professional and mid-career professionals must learn new skills and fine-tune the ones they already have. Learn Facebook is Facebook’s portal to learning more about how to leverage the tools of the digital economy for your life and your business.

The post Facebook’s Tools for Mentorship, Hiring and Education appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Facebook Community Boost is an initiative of Facebook to educate 1 million businesses in how better market their business using Facebook.

Sure, Facebook is educating customers who will buy billions of dollars of advertising, but we small businesses NEED and WANT easy to use and low cost solutions to drive customers to our businesses.

The all day event, opened with a keynote from Facebook executives and local elected officials. The best part was a panel discussion with Two Blind Brothers and Charleston Gourmet Burger.\

The panelists shared a few core insights in using Facebook:

1. Start with a narrow audience. Don’t target “all women” – target women in a small town, who have certain demographics or interests. From there you can expand your market.
2. Use your own lists. Take your email list, upload it to Facebook and begin to target messages to that list.
3. Test your messaging. Spend $5 or $25 and test what advertising works.

There’s so much more to using Facebook but overall it’s a powerful platform to drive new business or strengthen your brand with existing customers.

After the morning sessions we broke into workshops. Some people were experienced and some people were new to Facebook. We learned how to create effective ads, we learned how to better use Instagram and more. Overall, it was a great experience and I was very glad I went. I met great people, learned quite a bit, and now have a better idea of how to position my businesses using Facebook.

The post My Experience at a Facebook Community Boost Event appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Here’s what I learned:

While we all care, to varying degrees, about the planet, sustainability, and ensuring we’re good stewards of it, it’s not  always easy to do, and we don’t always do our part. It’s important that creators, engineers, and designers all do their best to make products that look great. People sometimes need to be enticed to use a product, not only because it is good for the planet but indeed because it looks good as well.

To get people to get out of their comfort zones, said Nikki, you sometimes have to do something that turns their heads.

Aesthetics Go a Long Way

As businesses look to create products that are better for the planet and supporting sustainability,  they have to be designed with the consumer in mind. In essence, the advice is: build products that people will WANT. Senthil shared how his company could just make solar panels, but instead, they want to make solar panels that LOOK great on your home and that others will want to have as well. You can check solarkraft to know more about renewable energy.

Senthil said that “sustainability and aesthetics go hand in hand”.

Be Resourceful

David shared that as Dell creates products and product packaging, they work hard to ensure that the products they’re making today can be used (or reused) in the future. Dell’s product packaging, for example, is made to be re-used or recycled.

In fact, Dell’s partnership with Nikki Reed is all about re-use. Inside of Dell’s computers, and that of every other computer and electronic gadget, there’s gold on the electronic circuitry. When recycled in large quantities this can add up to a lot of gold. Nikki’s partnership with Dell lets her take this gold and use it in her jewelry.

Social Research

Other insights from the panel included Nikki sharing that she has access to an advanced research tool where she can get insights from millions of people. It’s called “social media”. Leverage the power of social media and other listening tools to LISTEN to your customers.

Money Isn’t Everything

Senthil shared that difficult times can be great opportunities. When he first started his company he didn’t have all the funding he needed. However, he and his team thought “what can we make with the funds we have” and hence the line of good look solar panels was born.

Overall, Dell’s panel shows that smaller business can do big things. It just takes the desire to do so, being purposeful about it, and listening to and educating your customers.

The post Actress and Entrepreneur Nikki Reed Shares Her Insights on Sustainability, Tech, and Design appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve started using a brand new tool for all of my presentations, Beautiful.ai. I loved it so much, I’ve partnered with them. Beautiful.ai is easy to use and helps you create bold and beautiful slides, has a built-in library of eye-catching images and templates that will best illustrate your talks. I’m using it, you should too!

Here are 10 easy and helpful ways to boost your audience engagement:

1. Planning Your Presentation

You wouldn’t take a test without studying, so why would you give a presentation without preparing? Take the time to properly research the material you plan to present and become intimately familiar with your subject matter. Then, take the time to lay out and organize your thoughts and ideas.

• A flowchart or outline will help you get your ideas organized so you can begin to build your presentation.
• Give your presentation structure. It should follow a logical sequence and not bounce around.
• Use a tool like Beautiful to make a visually pleasing presentation that’s easy to create.

2. Focus on Your Target Demographic

This is a huge factor when it comes to increasing audience engagement. Tailor your presentation to your audience. Research your audience before your presentation and find out the demographics of the group. Know what company they are from, their position, and how you can help them.

3. Keep Visuals Limited

When you build your presentation, think about what’s going to make an impression on your audience. To keep them focused on your and your talk, limit how much text you put on your slides. If your audience can read your slides to get all of the information, why do they need you? Focus instead on adding striking visuals and speaking about your content rather than simply reading off the slide.

4. Keep it Clear

If your audience is unfamiliar with your idea, product, or industry, don’t use industry-specific jargon, acronyms, and concepts that they won’t understand. Refer to #2 and cater your presentation to your audience. Knowing who you’re speaking to will help you prepare language that is appropriate, and anticipate what questions they might want answered.

5. Be Deliberate in Your Delivery

Practice your presentation! Practice in the mirror at home, to your spouse or coworker, just practice! Also, find balance in your movement–have some energy, but don’t be all over the place. You want your audience focused on your content, not the sweat beads forming at your temples because you’ve walked a quarter-mile across the front of the room.

6. Make it Fun

We’ve all sat in 30-minute meetings that seemed to last an eternity. Audience engagement is the key to avoiding that situation when you are the presenter. Even if the topic is technical and dry, you can still make the presentation fun. Make your presentation memorable by allowing the audience to interact with you. Make them laugh. Tell a story that evokes emotion. Have an icebreaker or small group breakout session if the format allows.

7. Leverage Tech Resources

If you don’t engage your audience, within a couple of minutes everyone is going to be on their smartphones checking emails, playing games, or catching up on social media– pretty much doing anything other than paying attention to you. But, don’t assume that technology is against you. Encourage social media use before, during, and after the event. Create polls and have your audience respond on their smartphones throughout the presentation. Create a unique Twitter, Instagram or Facebook hashtag for your event.

8. Make it Relatable

Don’t get up in front of a room full of people, read off a bunch of facts and technical information, and expect people to be impressed. Make it relatable. Everyone likes to feel like they are part of the story. Tell your audience about your own experience, share something personal, and make your message stick.

9. Set the Room Up for Success

If you have the option, be strategic about setting up your room in a way that encourages audience engagement. Don’t set up 200 chairs for an audience of 50, everyone will sit in the back. Force people to the front. Make them sit next to one another. Get them engaged and talking to each other. Utilize all of the space and don’t confine yourself to the front of the room.

10. Don’t Stop to Let the Audience Read Your Slides

We already covered that you shouldn’t be reading your slides. But it’s also important not to stop in the middle of your presentation to let your audience members read your slides. First, you shouldn’t have so much text on your slides that the audience needs more time than you spend talking about the slide to read it. Keeping text short and to the point will leave more room for visual media that will leave a more lasting impression and increase your audience engagement.

The post Audience Engagement: 10 Ways to Connect with Every Audience appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

We asked Sylvie what technology Torani is currently using. On the back end, she told us Torani utilizes Oracle which allows them to connect all of the functions within the organization. To connect and interact with their customers, Torani uses Salesforce as a CRM.

She also gave us some great advice about growing a business, “the best way to scale it is to leverage technology.” Here are some of the top ways Sylvie recommends using technology in scaling your business:

Engagement

Technology allows companies to engage with their customers but it also enables companies to collaborate within the company. Sylvie projected that Torani will likely double their size in the next 5 years. That’s a lot of new customers and employees to keep up with, but technology is making it so much easier. Getting information out to customers is faster than ever through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Technology Helps Solve Problems as You Grow

Technology enables “more interaction with our customer base–not just one-way, but two-way engagement.” Torani uses Social Studio, another one of Oracle’s products. With Social Studio, Torani’s social media accounts send info to the service cloud and their agents see it and then they respond. Sylvie also said they’ve been able to collect and generate leads the same way.    

It Keeps Your Business Lean

Technology has helped Torani scale by implementing new technology and using the people they already have in place. Sylvie articulated that just because a business is growing doesn’t necessarily mean you should hire more people. Make the technology work for you.

Leverage Your Partners

Another strategy Sylvie recommended to handle rapid growth and remain lean is to rely on your partners. They do what they do best so, take advantage of their strengths. They will give you the boost that will take your business to the next level.

Take Risks

You won’t always know what tech solutions will be the best fit for you and your business. Sylvie said, “take risks and make mistakes.” Risk taking is an integral part of growth. Just manage your expectations, because failure will happen, but what you learn through those setbacks is what will propel your business forward.

AI

AI is an amazing tech resource in the rapid growth of a business. Torani uses Einstein, Salesforce’s AI initiative. Sylvie shared that they’ve “been collecting structured and unstructured data. How do we make sense of it? AI is bringing it full circle.”

Security

The more a company grows, the more it should invest in security. Sylvie told us that security is, “crucial in everything we do, big or small, as a company, it’s got to be at the forefront.” Luckily so many resources out there have already thought about security, so you don’t have to when you utilize their product or service. Cloud computing comes with built-in security measures. Salesforce as an example, already has it embedded. Security should be a consideration for internal functions within your company as well as external when you are connecting with your customers. Leverage your resources if security is an included feature, but keep in mind that you may have to build in security yourself and it’s important enough to take the time and resources to do so.

The post How to Leverage Technology for Growth with Torani’s Head of IT appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Why is SMB Important to Salesforce?

While you may have thought Salesforce was only for big enterprises, the company’s leadership is also highly committed to helping small businesses make their dreams come true. Did you know Salesforce started as a small business? If that wasn’t enough of a reason, small businesses were their first customers. Salesforce has over 150,000 companies who started out with Salesforce as small businesses. Meredith shared that small businesses and SMBs are, “the heart and soul of Salesforce” and after hearing her conversation with Ramon, we couldn’t agree more.

So, What is SMB Essentials?

Here is what you need to know about SMB Essentials and how it can work for your small business:

1. Meredith calls SMB Essentials “a new best friend for small business.”

SMB Essentials is designed and built with small businesses in mind. No matter the size of your operation, whether you have 200 people, 50 people, or 2 people, this product is perfect for your small business. Furthermore, they designed it specifically for small businesses, but you still get the beauty of the platform and the benefits of being part of Salesforce.

2. Get Access to Salesforce AI.

One of the benefits of being part of such a large company like Salesforce is having access to their AI. “It doesn’t matter if you are one user, you get AI at your fingertips,” Meredith continues, “It is powerful stuff.”

3. It’s Easy to Use

Essentials takes everything Salesforce has to offer and makes it easy for small businesses. Meredith said it herself, “we built it so it’s easy.”

4. We used it!

We tried it out and it is so easy! Set up is incredibly simple. With just a click of a button, it’s out of the box and ready to use! Essentials connects to your Gmail or Outlook account and that’s it, it’s done. It’s reading your emails and creating tasks for you. Isn’t that incredible?

5. You can set up a Help Center in less than 5 minutes!

You can even use the reports dashboard, to analyze your data. SMB Essentials is a total upgrade from post-it notes and spreadsheets, because, as Meredith so accurately put it, “you can’t get reports from a spreadsheet.” Meredith promises that the best part is, you don’t have to tech-savvy to use SMB Essentials. “Anybody like me or you can do it, and I’m not technical,” she says.

Meredith is all about helping you save time with SMB Essentials. “You’re trying to do a job, and we are here to help you do your job, and really automate those mundane tasks.” This automated, admin-list product will give you more time to focus on your customers. Meredith and the Salesforce team are dedicated to making the “path of success” broader for small businesses everywhere.

The post SMB Essentials- “A New Best Friend for Small Business” appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

However, over an hours discussion with  Andrew LeCates, Director of Platform Evangelism at FileMaker I was pleasantly surprised to learn that FileMaker is alive and well and in fact powering the database needs of many growing businesses.

Sure, FileMaker is a great relationship database, able to connect simple tables of information to each other. But it does so much more. Its base of loyal customers (and new ones) are using FileMaker to take their data and connect it to IoT devices, other datasets via API calls and more.

It’s companies like Tucci Lumber Company whose founder Pete Tucci needed a solution to track the sales of his baseball bat business. He worked with a developer to custom build a solution using FileMaker.

“Today, every order entered into Tucci’s custom app is tracked using QR codes. From the moment a bat is lathed to when it’s painted and engraved, every bit of information is stored on a FileMaker Server and made available on the iPad. An employee using an iPad (one of five in the company) tracks each bat is it flows through the rest of the manufacturing process. Orders are never lost, and customers never wait on the phone while an order is tracked down.”

Another example is Tasty Fresh Food. They started building a custom mobile app to help their drives get food to customers as FAST as possible. While building this custom app, they discovered FileMaker. Doug Newman, Tasty Fresh IT Manger, tinkered with FileMaker and over a weekend he was able to build his own mobile database connected to Google Maps. This saved them time and thousands of dollars in development costs.

Business owners who leverage the power of databases in their business are able to compete FASTER, more EFFICIENTLY and serve their CUSTOMERS much better. If you’re using spreadsheets and static files you’re not able to share information, see information or make decisions as fast as you would be able to with a custom database built for your business needs.

Resource – Is Excel Starving Your Productivity?

The post FileMaker – Powerful Database That’s Evolved For Today’s Growing Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Motivation and Accountability –

These go hand in hand, really. A sales coach will be there to push you harder no matter how motivated you think you are–there’s always room to grow. A sales coach is going to find what you need to address the most in your business plan and push you to go above and beyond what you are already doing to get there. It may be your weakest link, but with someone else’s eye, they’ll keep you on the ball at all times to keep things on the up and up. Working with a sales coach will allow you to set these plans into action and then work together to meet the goals along the way.

Fresh Perspective –

Once you get in the groove of things, having a fresh eye can be challenging and those minors details can blur out pretty easily. Even if a sales coach is familiar with your business or similar companies, they will still be addressing your business as a unique setup through a new pair of lenses with a brand new approach. This can lead to introducing new ideas and innovative techniques to grow your business. A sales coach could very well have the knowledge and resources necessary to introduce you to opportunities you never previously considered.

Specified Training –

You and your business will be a unique job for any sales coach. It doesn’t matter if anyone else in your field used this coach before so they have an idea of what your company is about. The unique experience and circumstances surrounding your business will lend to specific training from your coach. You may have some similarities with plans they’ve helped others with, but you are guaranteed to have a unique training experience as no two companies are identical in their strengths and weaknesses and how to get the business off the ground and running. A coach will be able to walk you through the steps you need to take to keep your company unique. You don’t want to be a carbon copy of everyone out there in your field and it is key to develop a differentiating factor to set yourself apart from the rest.

Peace of Mind –

Having a sales coach walk you through the steps of getting started in your business is a huge stress relief. If you’re looking to grow your already successful business, then a sales coach can help relieve some of the burden you’ve put on your shoulders as well. Knowing that you aren’t going at it alone can ease the tension you feel surrounding your startup by leaps and bounds. Less tension and stress means more focus on the important things you need to do to get your business to a successful point. Whether you are just getting started or just looking to grow, the company of a sales coach and knowing you can reach them for any advice makes a big difference in how you face the ups and downs you will inevitably get to.

Bigger Earnings –

This really should go without saying. No matter where you are in your business, hiring a sales coach to take it to the next level will undoubtedly result in making more sales and thus more money in the long term. Sure you are spending money by hiring the sales coach, but it takes money to make money and investing in someone who is going to work to help you build up your business is money well spent. With a coach, you’ll more than make that investment back, and who doesn’t like more money?

It goes without question that there is a lot to learn from a sales coach and there is always room to grow. The takeaway is always that a great business model will utilize whatever resources necessary to get to success. There is no shame in asking for help or even hiring out help. You never know what a fresh pair of eyes can see for your business, so why not seize the opportunity to be held accountable and become more profitable? Trust us, a sales coach is a guardian angel in disguise, there to help you through the tough times when growing your business. You won’t be sorry you made the choice to contact a sales coach, I promise. 

The post Why I Hired a Sales Coach & Why You Should, Too appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The merchant account can be used by both brick-and-mortar businesses and online businesses; depending on the country in which is set up, the merchant account may not be required for a brick-and-mortar company, but in the case of online stores, this is a necessary aspect, regardless of the jurisdiction, as the customers won’t be able to conclude cash payments.

For example, when setting up a merchant account in Singapore, the company will be able to accept credit and debit cards transactions from approximately 150 countries, one of the advantages being that the merchant account can process payments in well known global currencies, not only in the local currency. Other countries, such as Estonia, accept credit cards from more than 160 jurisdictions.

In other jurisdictions, such as Cyprus, the companies wishing to set up a merchant account that will accept international payments will need to select an international merchant account, especially designed for this purpose (the country provides several types of merchant accounts, depending on the specific activities of a company and the country in which it is incorporated).

If you have an online business in Ireland, another option to explore merchant accounts refers to mobile phone payments, which increased in popularity in the last years, due to the fact that payment itself is processed very fast. Its advantage is given by the flexibility obtained by the customer, who can conclude the purchase at any given time, from any location.

The main advantage of a merchant account is that the customers can conclude a certain purchase regardless of the daily schedule of your business, in safe conditions, as all merchant accounts have to provide a safe gateway payment software.

Besides these advantages, it is important to know that companies can benefit from a simple registration procedure, which requires only several documents, but this can vary depending on the country in which the merchant account is registered. Investors can also conclude this procedure through online applications, in certain investment jurisdictions.

Published in partnership with Bridgewest

The post The Advantages of Opening a Merchant Account. A Global Perspective. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

“Talk Triggers” is all about thinking what YOU can purposefully create to stoke word of mouth around your brand.

What’s interesting about a talk trigger is that it can’t be TOO BIG. It’s not like giving away a brand new $50,000 jeep to every customer. No that’s too big and probably too expensive. But it seems like most talk triggers are simple, but memorable, effective and something that’s always done.

Indeed, large companies can create talk triggers and implement them at scale, but smaller business can as well.

Think about the jeep dealer who wanted to penetrate the NYC market. Manhattan is dense and a pain to get to and out of. Jeep dealer St. Louis has a service where they pick up your jeep and bring it back to you. It makes the entire customer experience that much easier. There are also dealers from where you can buy a used jeep for you.

Talk Triggers is filled with neat stories (to give you ideas) of companies who are using talk triggers to generate word of mouth marketing. But it’s also filled with the formulas and best practices for HOW to implement a talk trigger in your own company. Check https://www.westernmotorsfresno.com/ for more information.

While reading Jay’s book it got me thinking about my own talk trigger, which I didn’t think I had! My talk trigger is my energy (and a few other things). I was recently reading a post initiated by Joe Apfelbaum where he asked people what they most liked about Ramon Ray, ONE of the things that stood out was “energy” – this is a talk trigger.

While a talk trigger is most often associated with a big brand, for sure there’s a lot of things you can do to generate word of mouth marketing for your personal brand or your corporate brand.

The post Talk Triggers. Get New Customers with Word of Mouth Marketing? New Book by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Today Linksys announced the Linksys Cloud Manager, a cloud-hosted WiFi Management Platform purpose-built for small business environments that reduces costs and increases operational efficiencies. The solution offers centralized visibility, management and control of a wireless network without the cost and complexity of traditional hardware controllers, overlay software.

While easy enough for tech minded business owners or office managers to setup, this solution is perfect for the IT consultants who help a business manage their technology.

Linksys Cloud Manager enables IT administrators and other authorized users to remotely monitor, manage and troubleshoot single or distributed wireless networks in real time via a single dashboard and sign-on. This plug-n-play platform helps provide secure remote access to Linksys Business Wireless-AC Access Points, which are built with enterprise-grade, high-performance hardware, and is competitively priced with no licensing or maintenance fees for five years*. The included cloud license fits any budget and provides a complete solution for IT solutions providers and their SMB customers.

While there are plenty of good modem/router options for home wifi management from companies like LookGadgets, “There is a gap in the market for affordable, business-grade cloud managed WiFi management platforms designed specifically for SMBs,” said Wayne Newton, director of commercial business, Linksys. “Current offerings are either built with consumer-grade hardware or with expensive, enterprise features with prohibitive annual hosting fees.  A common complaint is enterprise offerings are complex and over-engineered with features and functionality beyond the usual requirements of a small business network.”

A few of the features of this solution include:

• Comprehensive Centralized Management via a Global Map – Manage multiple, unlimited client WiFi networks around the corner or around the world from one centralized dashboard with a single login. Visibility of all accounts, sites, access points, and devices.
• Remote Monitoring and Network Insights – Provides alerts and real-time statistics so network administrators can anticipate potential network issues without the need for on-site monitoring and troubleshooting.  View through a web browser, historical and real-time traffic on the network, at-a-glance analytics about top clients and devices, including uptime, signal strength, connection duration, etc.  Built-in troubleshooting tools to identify problems using features such as a Ping Test, Blink LED, RF Environment Scan, and Rogue Access Point Detection.
• Tremendous Scalability – Scales seamlessly from single sites to unlimited networks worldwide; suitability for distributed networks (e.g., retail/branch offices).
• Rapid Deployment with Zero-touch Provisioning – Configure APs even before unboxing them enabling a quick and simple installation process. After deployment, Linksys APs automatically connect to the cloud over SSL and can be configured remotely, whether they are offline or online. Users can provision the network in minutes with a few clicks.
• Over-the-air Upgrades – Firmware is automatically updated.
• Email and Text Push Notifications – Message alerts and warnings on network and device connectivity and network health re: power loss, downtime, or configuration changes.
• Extremely Easy to Use Management Portal – An intuitive, browser-based dashboard and responsive user interface enables IT administrators to provision networks on the go from a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone, with no additional app to download.
• Flexibility – With no vendor lock in, customers can use a local interface to manage Linksys APs if cloud is no longer required, all of this with the use of  cutting-edge SD-WAN products, which decouples the network and the control plane.
• Multi-role Platform – Multi-management level accounts give users the ability to set roles (owner, admin, viewer) and provide key users access to specific networks.
• Exceptional Warranty Terms and Technical Support – Linksys goes beyond the forum and email only support and offers 24X7 live customer support.

“The Linksys Cloud Manager is very easy and intuitive to navigate. I have used Meraki, Cradlepoint, and Aerohive in the past and this is by far the easiest interface to navigate,” said Michael Johnson, a solution engineer for RCN Technologies, an IT services company.

>If your network is old or slow it’s time to upgrade your network.

The post Better and Easier Wifi Management with Linksys Cloud Manager appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

As the head of technology at makeup company Beauty Blender he’s got a lot of ladies relying on him to enhance their beauty with Beauty Blender’s iconic makeup sponge applicator.

As Beauty Blender was growing they were in a CRUNCH.

Systems weren’t talking to each other and they had to manually export and import records between databases. That’s when Matthew knew there had to be a better way, so he upgraded to NetSuite, which brought his systems together in one cohesive platform.

Matthew also shared that one of the key’s to success of Beauty Blender is that “everyone” is involved.

I thought Mathew was just the “IT Guy” but explained that he knows a lot about beauty and makeup and in fact at events and trade shows he works the booth and helps out as well. At home, with two daughters, he’s the resident makeup expert.

Beauty Blender was founded by Rea Ann Silva, a sought after Hollywood makeup artist, after she saw a need to have a makeup applicator that produced flawless results when HD TV was first coming up.

Want to leverage the power of tech better in your business? Follow Matthew’s tips and insights, published in partnership with NetSuite

Check out our interview below.

The post How A Beauty Company Keeps Its Tech Edge – CTO Interview. Outsource and Get Expert Help. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

How to proceed with a startup plan?

The following tips will help you start off with your business ideas:

1. Determine if you are ready

When you are planning to start up your own company, there will be changes in lifestyle. You will find personal and professional changes. It comes with financial commitments, dedication, time consumption, and much more. The success and failure of every business primarily depend on your abilities to take initiatives and capacity to work towards it. The business and economic conditions are definitely significant factors, but they come after your own initiatives.

2. Assess ideas and business skill

You need to do a market survey to figure out if your business ideas can flourish. You need to know your industry, competitors, analysis demands, and find potential customers. Figure out the SWOT analysis that includes strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats of the market and your business.

You need to be open and unbiased while doing your research. If you examine that your business idea has more chances of failing, it is smart to drop the idea. Even if you have your heart into the products you wish to sell or service you want to provide, you can’t risk losses. You need to know about company formations to get an idea of how to analyze and startup a business. Tips and ideas will help you get the right direction.

3. Build a business plan

Initially, this might seem to be a lot of work for you, but a prepared business plan can save money and time. It secures funding and gives you major contracts. You need to know more about business planning to understand how you can proceed. These can come with expert advice and suggestions from people who provide these services. You can also ask your friends and relatives for suggestions.

4. Choose business structure

Once you establish your business ideas, you need to decide on the structure that helps your business in special circumstances. These include registration of the company, tax implications, licenses, and a lot more. You need to know how to authenticate and register your business and get things rolling by getting in touch with Virtualauditor Experts in Company Registration.

5. Build support team

You must surround yourself with honest and dependable advisers who resolve startup issues. They will assist you as your business develops. It can include your accountant, industry association, lawyer, and other important people.

6. Figure out finances

You need to figure out your capital before you set up your business. You also need to know how to manage finances. It is a crucial part of the startup and usually an investment that you put in or take a loan for. It is an asset that you need to multiply with time and the stepping stones of your business. Assessing funds is crucial and forecasting growth is important. You need a proper plan to channelize your actions and make investors rely on you.

7. Marketing

After all the basics are covered, you need to find ways to market your business. From small to large business, each one needs marketing to reach out to people. You need to spread the word about your products and services so that potential customers know you and can buy what you offer. Advertising is a selling point and there is a lot involved in it.

These were the starting steps that will help you shape up your business. Once your business starts rolling in the right direction, you can expect revenue.

Published in partnership with 1st Formations

The post 7 Steps to Creating Your Own Startup appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Apple’s new line of smartphones, iPhone Xs, XsMax and Xr are nice – for sure. They’re bigger than previous iPhones, faster and more camera features.

However, if you smartphone is old and you know the camera doesn’t take pictures as good as your friends who take better photos OR it’s very sluggish, then sure it’s time to get a new one.

There’s two reasons why you might want to get one, if you’re a business owner.

Video and imagery are EVERYTHING.

If you, and you should, want to bolster your strategy for digital marketing by creating more and better videos, and your old iPhone is not taking great pictures – get a new one. However, my guess is that the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 7 take pretty good photos like many good mobile phones in the market – good enough for Instagram and etc.

3 resources about video

Why Video Marketing Is Your Ultimate Tool

3 Video Metrics You Need to Know

6 Tips for Video Marketing Success

Having said that if you want the latest features, the crispest photos, then the newer iPhones might be best for you. Especially if you’re in the fashion, food, sports or real estate industries – where visuals matter even more.

Also, if you just LOVE playing games, having cool selfies and AR then consider a new iPhone.

Finally, if you’re running your business on apps, like lots of apps, as I do, the bigger screen might be more convenient for you.

The new Apple Watch – is nice. However, I don’t think its worth the upgrade, UNLESS you are VERY health conscientious and are going to use it to measure your heart activity with it’s new ECG reader and more. If you’re a fitness warrior the new Apple Watch could be a nice toy to get.

Overall today’s Apple announcement doesn’t make me want to RUN to the store and be first in line – but that’s because my technology is “good enough”. However, if you have OLD Apple technology or you want to push the limits of “new”, then go for it.

The post Apple’s New Product Lines. What’s In It for Small Business? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Social Media Marketing

SMS Marketing

Location-based marketing

Chatroom app marketing

QR Codes / mobile vouchers

Clickable WAP Links

The post 6 Essential Mobile Marketing Strategies appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The Free CNC Training Courses process is fairly straight-forward: you create an encrypted file container that contains both standard and hidden volumes. This will be just a file on your USB storage device. Do use different encryption and hashing algorithms for the two volumes.

It is important to go through this initial setup using a PC you control and trust. Don’t use your work laptop, for example, as you have no idea what keyloggers may be running there.

Work Order Management System

The work order management feature of a CMMS software allows authorized workers to place maintenance requests and place inventory orders. CMMS software can generate word orders automatically according to the maintenance schedule.

The ideal work order management system should be customizable to make it easy to use by the authorized personnel. The system should also be able to monitor work order cycles from the time a work request is made, all through to planning, scheduling, and implementation.

Preventative maintenance

Preventative maintenance is crucial for extending the longevity of assets as well as thwarting unprecedented system breakdowns. The preventative maintenance function of CMMS makes it possible for you to determine which maintenance tasks are required, schedule them and determine the tools and equipment necessary for implementing the maintenance task. The thoroughness presented by this function minimizes emergency faults and keeps the systems in top notch condition.

Data recording, reporting, and analysis

The system records information such as work history, maintenance tasks, maintenance schedules, equipment details such as model, specifications, serial numbers and warranties, equipment lifecycle and asset identification numbers. This kind of information is essential for inventory management and planning.

Aside from making data entry procedures easy and convenient, CMMS software has a function for analyzing and reporting the recorded data. The system can also help with the analysis of labor reports, maintenance schedules, maintenance costs and asset reports.

Asset and Equipment Management

Asset management is crucial whether your business is in one location or multiple locations. The system allows you to record information on what equipment you have, in which locations, maintenance tasks and schedules, safety certification procedure, instances of equipment failure, downtime, and reported error codes.

Inventory Management.

Inventory management is a pivotal part of any maintenance management system. It ensures that all parts and equipment required for repairs are available in time for the scheduled maintenance. Traditionally, companies used spreadsheets to track inventory. This system was time-intensive, cumbersome and prone to human error.

The best CMMS offer a real-time inventory management function. They also provide a requisition system that has functionalities such as making purchase orders, invoicing, receipts and return forms. The easy requisition and purchasing process eliminates purchasing delays that may result in delays in the maintenance schedule.

Mobile capabilities

CMMS mobile app capabilities are one of the current trends in CMMS technology. CMMS software with a mobile app feature makes it easy for maintenance managers to oversee system management remotely. Maintenance managers can see work orders, set maintenance reminders and approve requisition requests from any location.

CMMS software, like many other technological products, is continually evolving.

Published in partnership with Limble CMMS

The post Computerized Maintenance Management Systems – 6 Features To Know About appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Today SAP announced the launch of Business ByDesign 1808 to help growing businesses after faster and smarter.

The information that companies gain through the built-in analytical capabilities can be combined with the advanced predictive capabilities, powered by ERP solutions such as SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC).

Use case: Optimize delivery performance, avoid delays

Traditionally, SAP customers would use the ‘On-time-in-full’ report, which provides information into which sales orders have been delayed either in partial or full quantity. We would drill-down, making use of the multi-dimensional analysis pattern and try to find the common factors.

In the current release, customers can access the relevant data within SAC and run smart Insights to identify key drivers regarding any delays. For example, is it happening with specific customers, sales agents, or simply with orders placed on a particular day of the week? 

The post Want A Smarter Business? SAP’s Business ByDesign 1808 Gets Upgraded to Help appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

In exciting news for small businesses, Ooma announced that they will offer a wireless deskphone with call conferencing and 2-line control features. This phone will be called DP1 and can be used without a phone jack close by. The phone is available not just for business customers, but for Ooma Telo residential customers, too.

The DP1 will require office and residential customers to have an Ooma base station with the DECT 6.0 protocol. With this, customers can use the DP1 within a range of 150 feet from the base. This high-end phone will provide customers with flexibility. All they will need is the base and an electrical outlet, so they can a phone that performs without the need of a phone cord.

Without the cord, this phone looks fantastic on any desk or countertop. With the DP1, you no longer need to worry about hiding cords and being sure they don’t get caught on anything. Other phones do not provide this same flexibility without a cord.

The Ooma DP1 might not have a cord, but it is loaded with useful features that are just right for small businesses and for mid-size businesses, too. Ooma offers a cloud-based platform with their Office plan and it includes a virtual receptionist as well as everything else an office could use, like a paperless fax, audio conferencing, and ring groups. You can use all of this without a service contract. All of these features also work with the phones you might already have in your office or home, including all of the analog ones.

Ooma DP1 has all of the hardware you need for a great wireless desk phone. It includes a headset jack and a full duplex speakerphone that allows you to both send and receive audio signals. The phone has a message-waiting indicator light and it builds a log of calls so you can easily redial and reach who you need. It also has a 36-hour battery backup that provides seven hours of call time.

The DP1 has other useful features including:

• Two lines, so you can put one on hold and speak with the other
• Three-way conference calling
• Speed dial programs for 32 numbers

Along with all of those office necessities, Ooma has plenty of great features for the home. The voice quality is at the top. For a little extra, you can also add features like call forwarding, a second line, voicemail, and do-not-disturb settings. If you do choose to turn to Ooma for phone service, it is helpful to know that you get unlimited domestic calling. If you have more than one phone, you can use the Ooma Telo intercom in your home. And, once you get Ooma Telo, you can also sign up for their home security system.

The Ooma DP1 is an affordable phone, especially when compared to the competitors. Both the Ooma Office and Ooma Telo options for the DP1 is $89.99 in the US and $109.99 in Canada. It can be ordered at Ooma’s website and on Amazon.

Authored By: Kristen Bentley, Reporter, SmallBizTechnology.com

The post Ooma Announces DP1 Wireless Deskphone with Call Conferencing and 2-Line Controls for Small Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Instagram is not only one of the most popular social media apps, it’s the second most popular app for younger demographics, just after YouTube. Advertisers with money to spend on digital advertising can almost always find their target audience on Instagram. According to a recent survey we conducted of over 200 small to medium business owners, the companies that focused their ad spend on Instagram do so because it’s easy to use and to identify their target audience. Everybody wants to get popular on social media. Having a lot of followers on Instagram, meant a lot to some people. Want to buy instagram followers cheap, then You are in the right place.

What are some best practices?

While Instagram may not be the best platform for every company, the ones that do run Instagram campaigns typically follow these best practices:

• They have a product or service that can be displayed effectively with imagery and videos
• They utilize the many targeting capabilities available to find their target audience, such as geotargeting, demographics, and behaviors.
• They use additional data sources, such as opted-in customer lists, to create custom audiences to target for a campaign.
• They test out new features, such as in-app shopping to make online shopping easier.
• They upload multiple images for their products & services, and frequently use a service to make them more visually appealing or to animate the ads.
• They use hashtags to increase the discoverability of their campaigns.

Ingramer info helps by combining geotargeting data with custom audiences to create relevant audience segments. This enables advertisers to reach their own shoppers, as well as their competitors, increasing the effectiveness of the campaign and the efficiency of their ad budget.

Can I measure the effectiveness of advertising on Instagram?

Effectiveness of an Instagram campaign depends upon the client and their desired outcomes. They can also Buy Instagram Followers (takipci al crovu) for better instagram campaigns and better reach. From our survey results, we found that most companies strive to generate ecommerce sales directly from Instagram campaigns, or to drive in-store sales.  Additionally, many clients are simply trying to generate brand awareness, which can be measured by profile visits or more standard engagement metrics. Facebook’s reporting tools also provide a wealth of information about campaign performance, and most smart marketers will use some additional tracking parameters to track conversions from all of their digital campaigns. You always think of  how to buy likes on Instagram  no matter how hard you work the fact of the matter is this: sometimes it just takes a little push to get you over the edge, and that’s where we come in!. Think of get instagram likes from mrpopular as online advertising – and if you think the big companies out there aren’t doing it you’re wrong. Investing a little of your hard earned cash in growing your likes will result in a multitude of benefits to you. To grow your instagram traffic  you can buy Instagram followers.

What difference does a personal account or business account make?

Unless you are trying to build up a personal brand, advertisers should run their campaigns through a business account on Instagram. This allows for the campaign to take advantage of all of the targeting features and product integrations that the platform permits, whether that’s through boosted posts or stories.

I want a video ad. Is it better to be short or long?

The new IGTV format that launched in June 2018, allows for videos up to one hour to be posted.  Because this feature is so new, there is not enough data yet to confirm its effectiveness. Standard video posts may be up to one minute in length, and it’s up to the advertiser to determine what will work best for them. The Vine app proved that engaging and entertaining videos can be short and sweet and still keep a consumer’s attention. However, stories that are compelling and need more time will also resonate, as long as they capture and hold the viewer’s attention. Here you will get the best video converter software to change file formats.

Authored By: Brian Handly

Brian is currently the CEO of Reveal Mobile. He was previously a GM of Microsoft’s Online Services division and possesses more than 20 years of technical, operational and executive management experience. Brian was co-founder and CEO of Accipiter, which was acquired by aQuantive in December of 2006 followed by the acquisition of aQuantive by Microsoft in 2007.

The post 5 Tips for Instagram Advertising for Small Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Most experts agree that entrepreneurs who need to secure funding must have business plans and must use Feasibility study services. These plans need to be filled with formality regarding the feasibility of the business. So, accurate numbers are important. If working from the scratch with big numbers feels overwhelming for you, contracting business plan services may be a good option to help you stating how your project idea needs be materialized before you even start to invest money on it; working with experienced people from the start is always good if you want things to go in a smooth way from day one. Businesses that are relying on family members for funding (or not looking for funding at all) can use anything from a plan on the back of a bar napkin to a formal plan. It all depends on the request of your investors. The two things that most people agree on is that the business plan need not be overwhelming in length and that is includes actionable steps that lead to success. If you are having trouble starting off, then try using a Business Continuity Planning Software. 

Sales over planning

Adrian Miller of Adrian Miller Sales Training did not need a formal business plan to start her business because she was not in need of financing. Her belief is that entrepreneurs need “customers, because without them you can put your plan in the trash.” She values target-market knowledge, so startups understand how to market to them to get going and get sales.

Overrated, but critical

Despite Miller’s success without using a formal business plan, Zev Asch, the president of Ledaza Inc, thinks differently. His digital marketing company deals with the business plan controversy on a regular basis. This emotional topic is all about mindset. Asch said: “The best part of writing a BP is the process and the deep thinking that are required.” He advises his clients to write their plans not to convince someone to finance your business. He advises them to write their plans with the intention of creating a successful business and to share it with experts to get their advice, too.

Asch recommends all entrepreneurs develop plans for their start ups. “If it’s not written, it won’t happen,” he said. Asch sees newbies waste their time finding business plan templates and diving into details. He advises, “You need a roadmap for how you are going to get customers — plain and simple. It can be on a napkin – the hard work is getting customers not writing the plan.” Since businesses cannot survive without “numbers,” it is vital to have some simple financials, especially when it comes to marketing. “Remember, ‘free’ marketing doesn’t work, but hard work pays off.” And, for Asch, hard work involves using the phone.

Stop wasting time and get started

Patti Pokorchak of Small Biz Sales Coach agrees with Asch, especially regarding the amount of time that entrepreneurs waste while planning. She said:  “I’m the opposite – massive action as you don’t know if you are going in the right direction UNTIL you take that first step.” Pokorchak has an MBA and she has started 11 businesses over the course of 26 years. Once you take the first step, then you can decide what to do next. She does create plans, but they are limited to annual financial goals that are then tracked monthly. She then adjusts her tactical and strategic plans as needed.

One size does not fit all

The trend in business plans seems to be that one size does not fit all. Take Cat LeBlanc, who shared her story on Business Insider. She agrees that entrepreneurs who need funding absolutely need a formal business plan. To start her coaching business, she created her own style of planning she calls “concept to test.” She uses these four elements: the idea, the value to clients, an offer, and minimal test marketing. She wanted to see if her business idea would work and she did it in the way that Pokorchak recommends, by getting busy actually doing, rather than planning. And, for LeBlanc, it worked.

Ramon Ray says that while a formal business plan is not necessary, every entrepreneur should have a plan – of sorts. Even if it’s on the back of a napkin, as Adrian Miller said in a follow up comment.

A few resources to consider include SCORE  and LivePlan

Authored by: Kristen Bentley, Reporter, SmallBizTechnology.com

The post Are Business Plans Necessary to Start a Business? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

After spending 12 years at the helm of PepsiCo, CEO Indra Nooyi is planning to step down. She will not leave PepsiCo, but will serve as chairman of the board through early 2019. At age 62, she has outlasted most of her contemporary CEOs, who stay on in the position for an average of five years. Nooyi broke two major barriers with this position: she was the first woman and immigrant to led PepsiCo. On top of those two barriers, no woman had ever been CEO of a company as large as PepsiCo until Nooyi did it.

During her 12 years as the CEO, she made changes at PepsiCo that kept the company profitable. As customers moved away from sugary sodas and salty snacks, Nooyi oversaw the purchase of Quaker Foods. This purchase added a healthier collection of products to PepsiCo’s lineup. She also worked hard to keep the company together after one of the investors decided that that he wanted to divide the company into two, with a Frito-Lay division and a soda division.

The importance of education

With all that she has experienced, she has plenty of wisdom to share. One of the secrets of her success is that she studied STEM courses in school. She told Freakonomics Radio that students who study sciences early in their schooling are better prepared to learn other subjects as they get older. She said: “And your scientific disciplines play a very important role, and grounds you very well as you move into positions of higher and higher authority, whatever the job is.”

It is clear that education is important to Nooyi. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, and Math from the Madras Christian College in India. For the best chemistry 0 level tuition go through https://seb-academy.com/o-level-chemistry-tuition-singapore/.  She earned her first MBA from Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta. She earned a second master’s degree in Public and Private Management from Yale School of Management. It is clear from her experience that education is a key to success.

The importance of women supporting women

As one of the most powerful businesswomen in the world, Nooyi has plenty of wisdom for women in the business world. Interestingly, she was an avid fan of the television show “Sex in the City.” And, from it, she learned an important lesson that she wants other women to understand. The sisterhood of the four friends on the television show struck Nooyi as an incredibly important thing for women. She told Yahoo News: “The sisterhood of women. Let’s put ourselves in charge. That sisterhood needs to form. And when we get there, I think there’s no stopping us.” She wants women to learn that it is important for them to stick together to get things done.

The importance of challenging her employees

With her thorough education in STEM subjects and in management, she understood how to encourage and challenge her employees. She told Freakonomics Radio that she would create challenges for the R&D department to use their STEM backgrounds to better their products. Because she appreciated their knowledge and gave them opportunities to use it, they rose to the challenges and created better products for their consumers. With the PepsiCo team, Nooyi can claim the achievement of raising the revenue 80 percent and added recognizable brands on a near-annual basis.

With 12 years at the helm of PepsiCo, Nooyi was regularly at or near the top of annual best-of lists. It is difficult to get on those lists, but her hard work and dedication to her employees, to education, and to women helped build her reputation as one of the top CEOs on the planet. Her ability to lead a global corporation to so much success will be studied in business schools for generations to come.

Authored by Kristen Bentley, Reporter, SmallBizTechnology.com

The post Indra Nooyi Steps Down from Pepsi – What Can Small Business Owners Learn from Her? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Businesses thrive when they have certain tools at their disposal that promise to elevate them further and ultimately add more value. It’s also considered the litmus test of any new invention. If it can add value, it’ll be a resounding success, if it cannot, it’ll fail miserably, so if you are looking for a reliable insurance provider, then contact an agency like these gig workers.

Insurance is a lot similar to that. While almost every business wants to protect itself against any unwarranted losses and expenditures, it expects more than just protection for their investments. If you want to avoid any of these complications then you should get business insurance to have extra protection.

General Liability Insurance for small business usually represents the ideal business insurance opportunity in such cases. While its primary purpose is to provide financial protection, it also covers a lot more than that and is genuinely considered an asset to have on the company’s balence sheet. If your insurance doesn’t cover it, then you can hire product liability attorney services for any legal assistance you may need for your company. There are other factors that you should ideally consider when buying business insurance. It doesn’t matter what your primary risk factors are, you can expect them to be taken care of. It will not only protect your current assets but also facilitate your future growth. 

It’s a simple truth the simplest way to add value to your organization is to avoid the common pitfalls and maintain your company’s quality of service. Having the right kind of coverage is a fantastic way to start. If you want to know why then here’s how General Liability can actually add value to your organization. Before you get started on building your dream home or apartment, you should look into the types of liability insurance. Even before your building is complete, it is susceptible to the elements. Fire or wind can cause considerable damage before your house is constructed. It may also fall prey to theft or vandalism, requiring you to spend a lot more money to fix the damage that has been done. This situation is where a builder’s risk insurance comes in. It protects you from such dire circumstances, letting you rebuild without a sizable dent in your finances. 

The Workers

Times may change, practices may evolve, but workers will also be an important part of any organization’s present and future. And while their productivity is not the issue here, their confidence and morale certainly is. It goes without saying that having your employees and workers working with a high morale can certainly uplift the general mood and productivity of your organization.

Additionally, it will also prevent your company from having to bear expensive expenditures in case any of your workers are injured. The policy ensures that you’ll be safe from a financial point of view while imbuing an air of confidence within an organization that the management cares about the work force and has effective policies in place to take care of them, if anything should happen.

Errors & Omissions

Mistakes happen. They might be costly and horrendous mistakes but they’ll happen anyhow if there’s a human element involved. If you’re serving clients, there’s always a chance that one certain occasion you may not be able to render the kind of services that the client expected which may lead them to sue you. This policy protects you from those expenses and will also allow you to make an out of court settlement without bringing the matter to court. This eliminates the chance of any public disputes that might damage your reputations within the market.

The Property

When the account books are opened, it matters a great deal what protective measures you have in place to guarantee that you can handle any damages to your property or any other tangible assets. In other words, having a potent protection policy can elevate the value of your property and by extension of your company.

Published in partnership with Next Insurance

The post How General Liability Insurance Adds Value to Your Organization appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

For $399, small business operators enjoy a stylishly designed tablet that comes with a Surface Go Signature Type Cover, with four color options to match virtually any work or home office decor. A built-in kickstand allows you to work from everywhere, which makes the tablet ideal for small business owners that travel to visit with clients. The full friction hinge extends the tablet to 165 degrees. Microsoft offers costlier versions of the Surface Pro that provide more RAM and storage capacity.

Best Features of the Microsoft Surface Pro

The 12.3-inch high density screen is standard for all versions of the Microsoft Surface Pro. Pixel density runs 2,736 by 1,824, which is higher than average for other styles of tablets. The Intel Core i5 processor ramps up processing speeds as high as two times that the Surface Pro 3 delivers. Using Microsoft Windows 10 opens up the full desktop version of Microsoft Office, as well as Flash and Java features.

A full size USB 3.0 portal, microSD slot, and Mini Display Port offer optimal connection flexibility to most high definition televisions. The most recent edition of the Microsoft Surface Pro includes Bluetooth 4.1 technology. Front facing speakers make it easier to hear music and work-related presentations. Battery life has increased by 50% over the last Surface Pro model released by Microsoft.

Accessories

As with the Surface Pro, users must pay for accessories to enhance the performance of the Surface Go. The Type Cover starts at $99, with the highest price at $129. A mobile mouse adds $34.99 to the final bill. Other accessories that cost extra include headphones and the installation of additional ports.

Is the Surface Go Good for Small Business Use?

The Microsoft Surface Go receives positive reviews from customers that use the tablet for personal functions. How does the tablet stack up against the competition for small business use? Access to the microsoft office professional plus 2019 product key is a bonus for small business operators.  Dan Ackerman of CNET wrote, “In person, during a brief hands-on demo session, the 1.15-pound Surface Go felt like it hit a sweet spot between design and functionality.”

Pros

• Longer than average battery lifespan
• Much quieter cooling system
• Lightweight design
• Seventh generation Intel processor

Cons

• Cost of accessories
• Some operating bugs
• Keyboard discomfort for extend periods of typing

The Bottom Line

With power lacking and slower than average operating performance, the Microsoft Surface Pro might not be compatible for business owners that operate multiple units. Although Office is an excellent business productivity tool, the software does not link with POS systems to provide real time financial data updates. Microsoft Surface Go is for small businesses that use Microsoft designed apps, but do not want to fork over the cash for more powerful and expensive tablets.

-Authored by Don Potochny, Reporter, SmallBizTechnology.com

The post Microsoft Surface Go: Is It A Fit For Your Business? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

One solution to this all-too-common problem is Chorus.ai, a company that uses artificial intelligence to automatically record, organize, and transcribe business calls and meetings. I interviewed Roy Raanani, co-founder and CEO of Chorus.ai.

Chorus.ai can serve many purposes to your small business. When you start off, you will see how top performers run their deals, what features they focus on, and how they present their product. As you use Chorus.ai over a significant period of time, you can begin analyzing your own company’s data and see what techniques benefit your business.

When small businesses lose an experienced representative, it can really bring down productivity. It is very hard to find someone new with the same amount of experience. Chorus.ai can help expedite this process by providing a training resource for new employees. Since it keeps a record of all recorded calls, trainees have a real-life example to learn from and follow. many people have to many ambiguous or Vague Information about ai to clear your doubts you can check the link clearance of ambiguous or Vague Information.

As you will see, Chorus.ai makes the process extremely simple for small businesses.

With one click, you can share your Google or Outlook 365 calendar, so that Chorus.ai can see your scheduled meetings. At your next meeting, a Chorus bot joins automatically. It will prompt you to notify participants that the conversation is being recorded, then you just carry on your meeting as if nothing were different.

When the meeting is over, you will receive an email with links to the recording, transcript, and screen share. Chorus.ia then identifies the questions asked, the agenda, and various other aspects of the conversation.

Over time, you build up a library of calls, at which point you could go to the analytics portion of Chorus.ai. Here, you can search key points you want to look over, for example how often your competitors’ names were mentioned. With just one click, you will be led to the specific moment where that was discussed.

Chorus.AI helps small businesses by taking tools that are taken for granted in large companies and making them accessible to smaller businesses. In past years, processing conversations was a manual process but recent algorithms have helped bring intelligent assistance to the average worker.

Small businesses need to have good data around their sales. It is important that you maintain a data set you can periodically take a look back on. If you’re thinking about using Chrous.ai to aid your business, Roy said, start NOW.

Listen to the full interview below or click here.

The post Using AI to Improve Your Sales – Chrous.AI founder talks with Ramon Ray appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

If you don’t know how to market, sell, hire and manage your finances, it’s pretty tough to run a business, you will most likely need help from a company like the Ypick Seo Agency in order to take your business to the next level. 

Black and Latino businesses, who make up many in these underserved communities, often have it just a bit tougher than other ethnicities, for a variety of reasons.

Facebook is partnering with the National Urban League  to spread more educational opportunities to 13 cities across the United States. Digital marketing is one of the best ways that a small businesses can spread the word about their businesses and Facebook is one of the dominant platforms to make that happen.

Sure, Facebook makes its money through businesses buying ads on Facebook, but if they don’t know how to harness the basics of digital marketing they’re not going to have successful businesses and won’t be future Facebook customers.

Two other organizations, providing great education to small business owners are – SCORE, Small Business Development Centers

Here’s an FAQ which explains the partnership:

Q. What are you announcing?
A. From 1-3 August we will host Facebook Community Boost in Columbus, Ohio. There we will announce partnerships with Columbus State Community College and our first national partnership with the National Urban League (NUL) as we work towards our goal to train 1M people and small businesses by 2020. Sheryl Sandberg, who will keynote the FCB main-stage, will also speak to the NUL partnership at a fireside chat with Urban League president, Marc Morial, at NUL’s annual conference, in Columbus, Ohio.

National Urban League Partnership: Facebook will offer in-person trainings followed by online support at 13 NUL locations in 2019.

Hubs are Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Kansas City, MO; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA & Washington, D.C.)

The NUL will also join us as a national advisor to help us create more opportunities for small businesses from underserved communities as we work toward our 2020 goal.

Columbus State Community College Partnership: We’re working with CSCC to establish a Digital Marketing program so students can have access to digital marketing and social media strategy courses.

Q. What type of training will small businesses receive through the NUL partnership?

A. Small business participants at the NUL entrepreneurship hubs will receive trainings similar to what we’ve been offering business across the country (through our Boost Your Business Program) including the most up-to-date tools, insights, and best practices for growing your business on Facebook and Instagram.

Tools you can use: Learn about the tools available (Business Pages, Messenger, Instagram and more!) to help you connect with customers, manage your digital presence, and grow your business.

Ads you can create: Whether you want to increase conversions on your website, drive more people into your store, build awareness of your brand, or something else – advertising on Facebook and Instagram can help you achieve your unique business goals.

Ways to be creative: Behind every business is a story. Learn how to tell yours on Facebook and Instagram with just a phone, creative apps, and great lighting! Every business can create beautiful content and we’ll show you how.

Q. Why only 13 National Urban League hubs? Why not more?

A. These 13 hubs are tied most closely to the National Urban League’s Small Business Matters initiatives to offer support to small business entrepreneurs. This is just the beginning and we look forward to even more opportunities to offer resources, support and training to communities across the US.

Q: Why is Columbus not one of the partner cities?

A: We’re starting our work with the 13 cities that have entrepreneurship hubs that are tied most closely to the National Urban League’s Small Business Matters initiatives. We’re hoping to expand the program to more chapters in the coming months.

Q. How many African-American small businesses do you plan to train?

A. We know African-American-owned, Latino-owned and Veteran-owned businesses have had particular success on Facebook. Working with organizations like the National Urban League, who have such a strong commitment to civil rights will help ensure that we continue to reach small businesses and communities that most need support and contribute to their continued growth and health.

Q. Who is eligible for the training?

A. NUL will be marketing the trainings – those interested in participating can contact their local chapters about opportunities to participate.

Q. How many cities has Facebook visited for trainings?

A. Columbus marks the 25th city we’ve visited this year alone.

The post Facebook Invests in Educating Underserved Businesses About Digital Marketing in Partnership with National Urban League appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Zoho One is now “smarter” bringing it’s growing list of apps together in a more integrated fashion, enabling data to be used between applications based on user queries.

What most excites me about the update is Zoho Backstage, a robust solution for complete event management. Included in Zoho Backstage is the ability to build an event website, create an agenda, manage speakers (and sponsors),  promote the event and manage ticket sales.

Zoho has built a rich set of audience engagement tools into Backstage as well, enabling presentations  and agendas to be a seamless part of the attendee experience.

Raju Vegesna, Chief Evangelist for Zoho says that Zoho’s aim is to provide just about every tool a business needs to start and grow – an operating system for a business.

While most of the 40 plus applications in Zoho’s suite of tools are first class, Raju also acknowledges and encourages partnerships. A business might want to use a competitors tool for CRM and Zoho’s tools for back end operations. Another business might want to use Zoho for CRM and customer contact management and another product for collaboration or email management.

Today’s announcements continue to prove that Zoho is one of the best friends a growing business could have and that their management is in tune to the needs of all independent businesses.

The post Zoho One Gets Smarter. Features To Power Growing Businesses. New Event Manage Solution Launches. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Often when you walk into a local convenience store you see two main brands – the store brand and the name brand you know.

The retailer makes a higher profit margin on the store brand – but 7 Eleven owner operators are saying that their customers aren’t buying the store brand.

This goes to show you the power of BRAND. If you have a STRONG brand, you can charge a higher price.

Frankly, I’ve tasked the off-brand food and it often doesn’t even taste as good most of the time.

The post No Cheap Brands, 7 Eleven Small Business Owners Push Back. Lesson About Brand Power appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Social media is awesome, I use it all the time, however, you must touch your customers everywhere they are and how they want to be touched – or communicated.

If you rely only on social media, you’ll be hosted to the whims and algorithms and changes of that particular platform.

The post Facebook and Twitter Shares Plunge Confirming That Email Marketing, List Building and More Are So Important appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Enter microlearning – a new way of learning that brings the employee education approach into the 21^st century.

What Is Microlearning?

While day-long classroom-style lectures and lengthy PowerPoint presentations worked in the past, microlearning is a new form of employee education that accommodates the generational shift in the workforce and the decrease in attention span due to how quickly we can gather information. It is defined as a teaching technique that delivers content in small bursts, presenting only the most important information in a way that is comprehensible and easily retainable.

Why Does Your Company Need It?

As technology continues to be a driver in our culture, the way individuals have grown accustomed to sourcing information has changed. As a result, so has the workplace culture. We turn to quick searches on the Internet, and within a few seconds, find the answers we are looking for. It’s time to integrate that instant gratification mindset into the way we work with employees.

Not to mention, the U.S. workforce is made up of 35 percent of Millennials, making them the largest generation that is a part of our country’s labor force. This group of tech-savvy individuals is leading this company culture shift. As they steer our companies into an unprecedented future, it’s our responsibility to adapt and adopt their style of learning. It will all come down to finding new ways to keep them engaged in their employee education as they set the framework for their success.

How Does It Work?

The concept of microlearning is simple. It consists of short, interactive videos – maximum 10-15 minutes each – focusing on specific goals that are relevant to an employees’ day-to-day tasks. With microlearning, the quick spurts of information can be immediately applied rather than going unused and eventually forgotten. By sharing pertinent information just in time, rather than just in case, companies can increase employee performance at an exceptional rate.

Is It Really Successful?

This form of education has proven to produce rapid results when training employees. Take Alorica as an example – the largest customer service provider in North America.

While managing millions of customer prescriptions for a major retail pharmacy provider, Alorica experienced a decline in prescription fulfillment compliance, which is a huge issue. In search of a new learning strategy to mitigate the problem, Alorica championed the concept of microlearning. Brief, animated videos set on clear-cut goals assisted agents with understanding the importance of customer verification, and in turn helped close a gap to not only meet, but exceed client expectations. I am 59 and have been taking Cialis (generic) with great success. And it works already after 30 minutes. I pay for 30 pieces only $ 64.55 which I consider a good price.

Results showed that pilot sites using the method greatly outperformed sites using traditional retraining methods. About two months into the program, the pharmacy provider saw a 62 percent improvement in compliance; where agents were retaining up to 20 percent more information.

Authored By:

Irene Tan, Learning & Development Sr. Director at Alorica

Irene Tan is a Learning & Development Sr. Director at Alorica. With more than 15 years of experience, she has held various roles within the Company in Operations, Human Resources and Training. Prior to Alorica, Irene was a Global HR Senior Leader at Dunham-Bush, Inc., where she oversaw the holding group of the company along with eight regional offices worldwide. Previously, Irene was one of the pioneers of PeopleSupport, Inc. (now Teleperformance), where she grew an Operations team of nearly 1,000 employees across multiple sites and helped launch the company’s first center in Latin America.

The post How Updating Training Protocol can Lead to Increased Employee Engagement appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Once your business is established and running successfully, though, your eyes may look to other horizons—AKA new markets. These markets provide an opportunity to reach a new and wider customer base. Reaching those customers, however, and selling to them can be hard work. That is why many businesses buy soundcloud followers for the better reach through social media marketing.

When you need a live event made accessible for people who cannot hear, live captioning is the service you need. Live captioning is used for newscasts, broadcast sports events, arena captioning, city council meetings, business conferences, concerts, webinars, and more!

No matter where you decide to set up shop, expanding internationally can be confusing and complicated. However, there are a few things you can do to smooth the process before opening your doors—or your website—to international consumers.

1. Know why you’re expanding your business

Aside from the possibility of generating more revenue from exposing your product to new customers, really think about why you’re expanding your business internationally.

Despite the fact that you’ve never marketed your product there, are you seeing demand from the country you’re targeting? This could include traffic to your website from other areas or purchases from other countries.

2. Have an international business plan

Don’t assume that the business plan you used to start your company in the U.S. will get your international business off the ground. In fact—other than your stellar product—you should act like you’re building your organization from the ground up.

Get familiar with commerce and business laws in your new target country. Understand the processes you’ll have to go through to open your doors or start selling your product to locals. Even if the consumers in a specific market seem like a good fit for your product, weigh the costs of setting your company up in a new country against the potential revenue. 

3. Learn about the culture of the country you want to expand to

Along with a localized business plan, it’s important to understand cultural norms and nuances of your new territory. You’re selling your product or service to people, and successful selling requires understanding their wants and needs, and how they go about their days.

Conduct research on your target market’s social and business cultures across several areas, including:

• Language (including local dialects and common slang)
• National and traditional holidays
• The importance of hierarchies
• Typical dress code and other signals of professionalism

Not only will this research help you better understand your customers, it will give you better ideas for advertising and help you understand when your sales team is more likely to connect with prospects.

4. Optimize for international SEO

So, you know how you’re going to start your business functions in your target country, and you know about your new potential customers. But how are you going to reach them?Well click this link here now and rank your website in easiest way.

Starting a local website (ending in “.de” for Germany, for example) and translating it to your target country’s official language (or the dialect of your target consumers) will get you on track to better optimize for local SEO.

5. Give your sales team the tools they need to succeed internationally

Once you’ve got customers flocking to your site and recognizing your organization’s name from well-placed local ads, you need to be sure your sales team is set up to handle international prospects.

Letting your leads languish without any response is one of the biggest no-no’s in sales. If you don’t have a salesperson working in your new country of business or dedicated to working hours compatible with their timezone(s), you’ll need a system that—at the very least—sends automated email responses. Set your team up with a decent email marketing or marketing automation solution that allows prospects to schedule phone calls with your sales reps or directs them to relevant resources.

Start your international business the right way

If you started a successful business in your home country, you can repeat the process in other countries…with a few tweaks, of course.

Learn as much as you can about business operations, culture, and SEO in your target country, and you’ll be sure to start the new branch of your business off on the right foot.

Authored by:

Kelsie Anderson

Kelsie is a senior content analyst, writer, and researcher for Capterra. Kelsie has over three years of experience in the B2B software industry, and additional experience in video production, digital marketing, graphic design, data analysis, and SEO and content strategy. When she’s not reading and writing about software trends, she enjoys reading and dabbling in comedic pursuits.

The post International Expansion the Right Way appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Since business is relatively slow, summer months are the perfect opportunity to take the time to make sure your business is moving how it should be.

• In regard to finances, it is important to ensure that every product you put out is bringing in a reasonable profit.
• Teach your employees how to maintain superior customer service.
• Customer service is a key component in a business as it determines if they will return to your business.
• It is also important to make sure your employees/contractors are well taken care of; they are the heartbeat of your business, and the business’s success depends on them.
• Another thing you can do in this slow season is advance your marketing techniques as it is important to bring in new customers.

As summer sets in and your existing customers are out vacationing, it is essential that you bring in new customers through your door.

This can be done through simple things such as thank-you cards or lowering prices for customers who refer your business. Another thing is to accept a variety of credit cards, including the American Express card. Marketing is a key factor in ensuring that new customers continue to patronize your business.

During these hot, humid, and slow summer months, small business owners can take advantage of any spare time to insure that your business is moving forward. Keep a steady watch of your finances, devise new marketing skills, maintain excellent customer service, and continue to bring in new customers.

The post Summer is Slowing Down, Your Business Doesn’t Have To appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

According to Webopedia, predictive analytics, is  “the practice of extracting information from existing data sets in order to determine patterns and predict future outcomes and trends. Predictive analytics does not tell you what will happen in the future.”

Every business can leverage the power of predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning to help them make smarter decisions and faster decisions. While you can’t spend billions of dollars to do this for your company, you can rely on companies such as Intuit, NetSuite, Salesforce, SAP and Microsoft who embed these “smarts” into their software products to help make your business smarter.

The post UPS Is Using Predictive Analytics. Here’s What Your Business Should Do Says Ramon Ray appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This is where animations come in. There are several animation companies offering excellent animation services to businesses online. We are one of the best animation studios in Singapore with over 6 years of experience in explainer videos. Among these, Spiel is one of the leading animation companies that offers such services. However, it is important that businesses understand the importance of animations and how it could prove to be the difference between success and failure for brands.

So, here are the top reasons for businesses to consider animations:

Effective and Efficient Communication

Communication is the tool that determines the eventual success or lack of it for any brand. Animated content such as videos not only allow you to get your point across more effectively but also more efficiently. It converts boring and redundant pieces of data into interesting animations, making them both interesting and engaging. This is a method that can be used to increase the level of engagement with both your customers and other partners.

SEL?

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. https://evpco.com/social-emotional-learning-curriculum can help education personnel make informed decisions about how best to support the social and emotional skills of their youth.

Brand Awareness

When it comes to Brand Awareness, fewer things matter more than an instantly recognizable brand logo or brand mascot. Animated videos are excellent methods of reinforcing that awareness and making your brand a lot more visually appealing. There have been studies done that conclude that visual aesthetics can determine the success or failure of a brand in many ways.

Prospects

There are certain prospects that each business wishes to gain. It contains primarily of shareholders and investors. These are people that a business would want to know about their success. As mentioned earlier, one of the hallmarks of technology has been the ease with which we can look at the success, failures and prospects of any business. An animation is a great and interactive way for businesses to reach out to their potential partners and let them know about their current success and what their plans are for the future.

It is also a primary reason why so many corporations and MNCs have YouTube channels specifically dedicated to ensure that there are animations that explain the success they’ve achieved and what their future goals are. It also serves as a perfect way for them to consolidate their standing in the market and reinforce their brands.

Social Media Engagement

Social Media is another tool that can prove to be incredibly useful for any brand if it is used in the right manner. There have been multiple studies that have confirmed that users on social media respond more positively to images and visuals that are animated. It evokes a sense of imagination as well as engagement that regular text or pictures cannot. This is why businesses use a lot of techniques such as whiteboards, infographic and blackboards to communicate with their potential clients and customers.

Marketing Tool

If you’re a brand that has to compete with competitors who can offer products/services of similar quality then you’ll need to distinguish yourself from them in every way possible. Perhaps more importantly, you need to understand the audience that you’ll be targeting through your marketing endeavors. As mentioned earlier, animations are an effective way to retain the public interest since the use of visuals is more effective in retaining the public’s attention span. Make sure that whatever options and tactics you opt for while making your marketing content utilizes the animation aspect and caters to your core audience.

Emotional Engagement

This is something that every brand craves for. The success or failure of any brand depends on how well it manages to engage the people that it’s supposed to attract. People engage better with brands that offer them something emotional to latch on to. The images they see on their screens, the story they see unfolding before their eyes, the voice that guides them through it all as well as the company that promises to fulfill their need for a particular product/service. Animated videos and content can add the element of persuasiveness in your overall campaign and make your marketing efforts more than just content by adding sentimental value to it.

Conversations

This is why brands are constantly competing to come up with better and more effective ways to communicate with their clients. Conversations in this sense means to have more and more people talking about your brand and what it offers. It also means having multiple people sharing their opinions on what they like and dislike about your content, sharing opinions on what would make it better etc, all such conversations that allow the brand to build up a sense of hype around it. Animations are likely to get you more conversations since you’ll have the benefit of keeping your audiences engaged for a longer period of time.

Published in partnership with Spiel

The post How Animations Can Help Your Business – 7 Ways appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

There are lots of ways how a business can hire, but finding the right candidate can be a challenge.

LinkedIn recently introduced a new tool, Recommended Matches, which helps you zero in on the right candidates for your needs and gets more intuitive and smarter based on your guidance. It uses machine learning to help you not just find 347 candidate but to help you find the 3 or 4 that are best suited for your needs.

Liz Maples, product marketing at LinkedIn shared that LinkedIn’s latest feature for business Recommended Matches is part of a newly redesigned LinkedIn Job Posts that was crafted specifically with small business owners in mind.

To use Recommended Matches you simply post the position to LinkedIn, being sure to include specific skills, years of experience, and whatever else you look for in an ideal candidate. The more specific your post is, the more relevant your candidates will be. A stream of profiles will show up, and with a click of a few buttons you can either reject them, schedule a meeting, or add them to a list of candidates you would like to look at later. You can even share potential candidates with your entire team and work together on the hiring process.

What’s nice about Recommended Matches is that you now have a “partner”, albeit a digital one, to help you narrow down your list of candidates.

Many small business owners tend to shy away from online platforms not realizing that small business is “hot market” right now. In fact, Liz’s team researched and discovered that 87% of LinkedIn professionals are looking to work at “smaller or medium-sized businesses.”

Many candidates, the majority of which are millenials, are looking for more opportunities to grow and further their experience, and small businesses offer such golden opportunities. When looking to hire millenials, Liz advised that employers should “have upfront conversations with them about how they want to grow.”

While larger companies, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, Amazon and hundreds of others “brand” names get the media’s attention, there’s a great opportunity for your business to find great candidates by touting that you ARE a small business. Being small means a candidate can probably have more opportunities to learn more at your company than a bigger one.

One part of hiring that you should pay attention to is your website and any other “hiring” areas. Be sure it’s welcoming, has your core values, even photos and videos that give candidates a peek inside your company. Remember, hiring is a two way street. YOU the business owner/manager must choose the candidate but the candidate must also choose you.

The post LinkedIn’s Newest Hiring Services Help Smaller Businesses Hire Smarter appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Reddit is a social news and content rating site which receives an incredible 542 million monthly views and is the 6th most visited website in the world (according to alexa.com). One of the Silicon Valley Unicorns, Reddit has a valuation of $1.8 billion and boasts an array of notable investors including Marc Andreessen (founder of Netscape), Peter Thiel (first investor of Facebook) and oh, of course, Snoop Dogg!

Founded by college roommates Steve Huffman (CEO) and Alexis Ohanian, Reddit has been proclaimed as the internets “front page” and boast 70+ million content submissions from science, to video games, to fitness business, to books, well … to just about anything you can think of!

How Reddit Works?

Reddit is a very simple concept where it’s users (Redditors) submit content, which could be anything from an image to a blog post and the community of Reddit vote it up or down. The more upvotes, the higher the content appears. Posts that get a lot of upvotes move to the “Hot” page. Reddit is further broken down into “subreddits” which are subsidiary categories and threads within the site.

Ways in which Reddit can be used in your content marketing strategy?

Firstly, why use Reddit in your content marketing strategy?

1. So 500+ million monthly views to a content platform is kind of a big deal – so as a content marketer Reddit needs to be taken seriously given it is the most influential social news aggregator on the planet.

2. It’s not Google or Facebook – As Google and Facebook continue to grow their advertising revenues, as a marketer, competition goes up and so does cost. As businesses look to control acquisition costs, diversification of platforms can play a big part.

How to use Reddit in your content marketing strategy?

Content marketers typically will use Reddit for one of two purposes. One is to direct traffic to your own site, and the other is to get eyeballs on your content within the hosted Reddit site. Baring this in mind there are two types of posts on Reddit, links that direct users to another site (i.e. yours) and the other is a text post on Reddit itself.

Then comes the actual content you post. Firstly, you need to know your audience. Luckily with the use of Subreddits, you can pretty quickly identify a super targeted audience or demographic. So if your prospective audience is interested in video games, dating, or playing video games during dates, you will pretty quickly find a strong audience.

Some considerations about your audience is that almost two-thirds of the Reddit users are male and over half the audience is between the ages of 18 and 29.  If that’s not your target audience, don’t let that put you off. Due to the niche topics and vast quantities of users, even if your target audience is not that of the average you will still be amazed at the number of users that do fit your niche.

The number of submissions that Reddit receives daily is massive. Whilst this is a testament to its value proposition this can make your content hard to stand out from the crowd. Because of this, like any good content marketer will know, you need to keep your content unique, relevant and engaging.

And if you’d rather beat off the competition by flexing your financial muscles you can, of course, ensure your posts prominence with the use of Reddit advertising.

What to watch out for?

It is very easy to get banned on Reddit, and they hold no prisoners when there is suspected spam.

Some tips to avoid getting banned

• Ensure you read and follow the Redditquette https://www.reddit.com/wiki/reddiquette
• Don’t post too many links (especially to your own site)
• Don’t create fake accounts to manipulate your posts performance
• Keep your comments on posts on topic and relevant
• Don’t ask for upvotes.

Lastly, its important like with many things, that without the investment of time and effort you are not going to get the rewards you are looking for and there are no easy options here. Unless you are going to become a legitimate member of the Reddit community you should really think twice about using Reddit as part of your content strategy. But if you are prepared to do the graft, the potential results are there for the taking.

Authored By:

James Craigmillar writes for Inspiring Interns, which specializes in finding candidates their perfect graduate jobs. To browse our internships London listings, visit our website.

The post Using Reddit In Your Content Strategy appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

International calling has often been seen as a terrific way to bridge the gaps and enjoy all the perks that come with being able to talk to anyone from anywhere in the world. It is undoubtedly one of the great gifts of technology that we can benefit from. There are so many options that people can choose from in order to ensure that they extract the maximum advantage from this technological advancement. Names like the International calling app West Palm Beach FL have been known to provide an excellent and remarkable service. However, there are certain dos and don’ts that can make it all even easier for you.

Read on below to find out more:

DOS

Service Available

The first thing you should do before you opt which international calling service to opt for is to ensure that the one you choose caters to the region you want to call. There are multiple stories of people who bought an extraordinary and inexpensive service only to realize that that service does not provide them with calling access to the country they wanted to call. It is important that you carry out thorough research before you settle on the right choice. And apart from that, you should also ask the company representatives if you have any questions. They are your best source of finding the right information.

Use All Services

This is a rookie mistake that a lot of people make. You should understand that while the primary reason and purpose of getting a calling card is to allow you to make international calls, they offer you a lot more features too such as internet and SMS. People are usually not aware of these features and instead opt to not use these features at all. Part of the payment you’ll be making on your international calls services include these features. So either use them properly or get a plan that allows you to not have these services at all and save money.

DON’TS

Look Around

While it is true that international calling allows you to talk to anyone in the world without having to change your number, factors like connectivity and signal coverage still apply. It makes no sense to be standing in the middle of the Amazon forest in Central America and hoping to make a call. These are international calling cards, not satellite phones. Similarly, make sure you’re not in an area that’s filled with traffic, heavy constructions, as well as other things that might obstruct the signals.

Be Mindful of Calling Zones

This is something that’s apart from the technological aspect. A lot of people buy international calling cards and begin calling their friends and family from all over the world hoping to talk to them. However, a lot of countries allow their users to have the option to block any calls at specific times like during sleep. This means that any calls will be automatically blocked. A lot of times people complain of bad service when in reality, they’ve been using these cards to call their friends or family in area that have this feature enabled.

The post Call Card Tips To Get the Most Value When Calling Internationally appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

However, we are not told of how and when NOT TO DO branding. It turns out, branding, just like surgery, is driven by a single rule: do no harm. When it comes to creating or changing a company face, you better think twice.

To avoid confusion when building a branding strategy on social media, we found six deadly errors in building company identity. Read and avoid.

Mistake #1 – Branding for branding

Before doing any action, let’s cut right to the chase: why do you need branding? Most importantly, do you need branding at all? With all the madness that has been going around creating an identity, it’s easy to get lost in the hype. If you answer to the ‘why’ question is ‘because everyone else does it,’ perhaps taking a break is a good idea.

Hate to poop in the party, but not every company needs branding that much. Of course, basic identity elements like designing a logo or creating a business are essential for any business. However, when the company page is nothing but logos and advertising materials, it kills the brand spirit instead of creating it, but once you’ve decided on your logo, consider using these cool fonts to attract your customers.

You’ve definitely seen such pages. Cold and useless, they give you nothing but ‘additional information’ about the company with all the logos and brochures. When the branding fashion was just starting, such content really helped to boost the status (not that customers ever loved it though). Now it’s not even new or pretentious. Just very very sad.

A hint: if you got stuck in finding ideas for SMM-strategy, look into narrative essay ideas. From these abstract topics, you can get actual inspiration and look at your product and company on a bigger scale.

Hence, if there is a choice whether to invest in content or in yet another rebranding, really consider the first option.

Mistake #2 – Too many changes

All successful brands do rebranding, it’s true. What happens afterward is history. Some companies become really popular, some – miserably fail. When designers and marketers advise rebranding, they usually talk about companies like Apple, design-driven innovators who put all efforts to create a compelling business identity.

They don’t talk about poor failures when rebranding almost killed the product and cost millions for business owners.

Let’s take Tropicana example.

To make their brand look more natural and modern, Tropicana turned to what first looked like a viable solution. Instead of old-fashion box design, the company went for a bright packaging that depicted a glass of an orange juice and was designed to showcase the product’s freshness and rich taste.

Nothing seemed wrong. However, branding experts started to suspect the possible failure, indicating that the new design although looking visually appealing, led to the complete loss of brand’s face. At first, it seemed like a temporary downside until Tropicana faced the size of the price they had to pay.

After rebranding, company’s sales drop for $137 million in sales between January 1st and February 22nd. And if you add to that the expenses on the failed rebranding (business owners probably called this unfortunate resource waste an investment but who could know?), the losses grow at times.

How to make sure this doesn’t happen? Rule one: don’t hurry with rebranding. Analyze target audience preferences and market specifics. Rule two: if there is no indication you need rebranding, most likely you don’t need it.

Mistake #3  – Forgetting about social media platforms’ specifics

The number of promotional channels is growing, that’s for sure. With such diversity of social media platforms, it’s easy for marketers and business owners to get lost in specifics of each service and post same content everywhere.

If you publish one post on five different platforms with no visual and text changes, you’ll just lose reach on all of them. If maintaining active accounts in 5-6 sites is challenging for your business, pick 1-2 and invest in creating original content.

Why is reposting such a bad idea?

• Different platforms respond to different user needs. On Twitter, a publication might work out even if it has no pictures. Better use no visual that a bad one. On Instagram, however, visuals respond for 99% of success. Even if you work with a company whose specialization doesn’t seem to be design-driven (let’s say, you do essay writing for money, you can find free online help by https://bid4papers.com/blog/write-my-essay-free with your essay on subjects like English, political treatise, fiction or non-fiction literature, environmental issues, biological ethics, arts, business, or social sciences), yet gather creative ideas – like inspiring quote pictures.
• On Instagram and Twitter, hashtags work perfectly. On Facebook, they look ridiculous.
• Different target audience. LinkedIn and Instagram have an extremely different target audience and creating a mediocre content mean losing both.
• When working on the brand identity, take into account basic requirements like platforms’ requirements for image size and video length.

Mistake #4 – Trying too many options

The usual marketer answer ‘Try different styles and see what works best’ is prohibited. You can experiment with your team and focus group, but as soon as the identity is published, it’s a final choice. The worst thing you can do is publishing a fist made branding kit just to change it in a week.

The key to branding success is its memorability. When there are hundreds of brands out there, carrying your company’s colors and logos in mind is already difficult enough, and with regular changes, it gets totally impossible.

How to pick the best option for brand identity?

Creating a good branding kit is just the half of the road. How about choosing that one style, among five or ten cool options? Use the resources you have at hand, which means:

• Ask all your employees, family members, friends, and most importantly – previous or current clients who essentially represent your target audience.
• Make a map with all the options and define advantages and disadvantages of each option. Let the logical step in.
• Go for a random option. Flip a coin, pick a random number – just choose something.

Mistake #5 – Ignoring goals

We already discussed why doing branding merely for the sake of it is a bad idea. Now let’s talk about how it really should be done.

Branding requires investments, it’s obvious. When it comes to spending any kind of resources, understand your motivations and objectives. Here is a checklist that’ll make it easier:

1. Have you had a brand identity before?
2. Have you heard about the necessity of creating/changing branding from clients?
3. If you had a brand identity before, why change it?
4. Who is your target audience? What are the traffic acquisition channels?
5. How is your branding option connected to company’s specialization?
6. Do you have a positioning for that particular branding? (A hint: branding should clearly represent the unique advantage of your product)
7. Have you tested the branding kit on a focus group?
8. What are the main social media platforms for your company?

After you answered these questions, it’s way easier for you to understand in what directions you go and what is it that you’d like to achieve.

Remember that branding is just a way to achieve a goal – not a goal itself. Whether it comes to product packaging or social media promotion, don’t expect a new identity to bring results immediately. It will work only in the mix with smart content strategy and thorough risk assessment.

Published in cooperation with PapersOwl.com

The post 5 Deadly Sins of Poor Branding – What Not To Do In Your Company Branding appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Wix has recently launched a help desk software called Wix Answers. It’s a robust platform that provides a “help desk” service to any business (or non-profit) that needs to better serve their customers.

Wix Answers was developed on the basis of the software Wix uses to provide it’s own first class customer support. Why is this important? This new tool has been proven to work and has already been tested by Wix’s own support team and customers!

With Wix’s input I’m excited to share with you about this new offering.

Wix Answers is a free customer support service that you can set up so that your customers could find answers to their own questions. In addition, you can manage inbound support queries from several channels – email, phone or social media. While email and social are desired by many, there’s still many times when customers want to CALL YOU. Wix Answers let’s your team take calls from a toll-free number, and customers can even request a call back! Instead of making customers search around for help, you can embed a widget into your website so that customers could “click” and get help from just about anywhere on your website.

Multi-channel support is important

Providing a variety of ways to serve customers is important. There’s been many times when I wanted to call a company – but they only provided email support. Or other times, when I was happy I could DM a company on Twitter and get a response in minutes!

Use insights and analytics to proactively serve customers

While you want to provide the initial support to your customers you also want to glean insights on the inbound support issues so you can proactively help your customers. For example, knowing what issues come up the most, will help your production team design a product that requires less support. Or knowing the times you get the most support requests will help you better staff and anticipate high demand times for helping customers. What if you could know what channels customers were using the most to get support. This would help you better service customers in that area, or see how to expand support options in other areas.

As business owners, we don’t have the time to waste resources. Being able to have staff at the right place, at the right time, doing the right things is important. But you can only do this with insights from your customer support!

Big company features for small businesses

I took a spin setting up my own help system and found it simple to use. I tried to play with the call center software features as well.  It was fun seeing how I could get a “vanity” telephone phone number that had my name in it – who know what “Ramon” is spelled 72666 on the phone!

Wix Answers makes it simple to have the more advanced features of a bigger business, but still have a simple system to serve customers as you grow. The basic features, out of the box are free. As you want to use phone support, add more team members and other features you pay as you need them and as your business grows.

Great customer experience

As one who has started four companies, I found that getting the first sale is pretty easy. What’s challenging is to get the customer to buy again and again. This ONLY happens, if I’ve served them well and provide them with a great experience.

Part of a great experience is not just the initial delivery of a particular product or service, but also providing exceptional support for it. When it comes to small business answering services, the CallNET Answering Services is considered the best there is thanks to all their 5 star reviews.

Customers will tell others about your business in two scenarios. Your service was SO BAD and they start to post about it on social media, give you a bad review etc. OR your service was SO GOOD that they tell others how amazing your company is.

It’s up to you and your team to decide which version customers tell.

Summary

With tools such as Wix Answers, you can be sure that customers who interact with your brand will tell a positive story to others.

As you start to provide better customer service, remember to train your support staff. Be sure they know HOW to answer the phone, how to reply via email and how to answer via social media. It just takes one “silly” mistake by an employee to ruin years of great work that you and your company might have done.

Remember, customer service, even a tool such as Wix Answer is just a tool. You must hire the right team member who can be empathetic to a customer’s needs, and who wants to ensure the customer’s problem is resolved.

Technology enables every business to have everything they need to start and grow their business. If you hire the right team, build systems and stay focused on serving your customers, you’ll have a healthy and thriving business.

The post How to Build Your Own Customer Support with Wix Answers appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Video is a VERY powerful way to personalize and humanize your brand. (Check out video courses here).

While you might not have the budget to create a personal video for EVERY customer, you can use video to enhance your brand, increase engagement and drive customers further along the buying cycle.

You can use your smartphone to create simple video, hire someone to edit it a bit, or do it yourself using Adobe Premier  or right from your mobile phone use an app like Magisto. I also use Rev.com for captions.

Why do you think Instagram is moving to longer form video?

The post Hilton Hotel Uses Personalized Video To Greet Guests Before They Arrive appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

There’s few other companies who can add value to an economy like Amazon can. What other company can make such a clear proposition:

• Invest from $10,000 and up
• Earn $1 million or more and $75k or more in profit
• Take Amazon training, use Amazon vehicles, use Amazon insurance and more
• You hire great people and manage them
• Amazon will be your biggest (and only) client

Amazon has ushered in a new chapter in American’s business ownership. Less risk than a franchise, almost guaranteed customer base from day one and a powerful technology back end.

Want to start – visit Amazon’s website here – logistics.amazon.com

The most important thing for business owners who want to work with Amazon, appears to be ensuring you can hire good people and motivate them. Secondly be able to coordinate and run your business. Everything else, Amazon takes care of.

Seems like a great opportunity for a young person who has some cash or an older person looking for a new opportunity.

The post Dear Amazon Thanks For Boosting Business Ownership – Amazon Delivery Is Open for Small Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Mike Trabold director of compliance risk for Paychex, Inc.  says that It’s not all bad news for business owners. While small businesses with an e-commerce presence may now be looking at a significant incremental compliance obligation, smaller brick-and-mortar operations who have always been required to collect sales tax are hailing the decision as providing long-overdue competitive equity.

When tax season comes around, you roll your eyes and wonder how difficult it will be to figure it out this time. Tax preparation has come a long way and there are many options to help you out and make your taxes a successful experience every time. There are online preparation services through professional offices. There are software programs that guide you through the process. There are private offices that offer the services of CPAs or tax attorneys. And there are franchise tax preparers that churn your taxes for small business through their proven systems. Tax preparation service is available in all shapes and forms don’t go without the help you need.

Professional CCH Integrator have experience and credentials to handle just about any tax situation. If your taxes are simple you can expect to have quick turn around and a fair price. Although these companies do a great job, they may cost more and you may not need their high level of experience for your simple taxes.

It stands tо reason, ѕоmеwhеrе іn thе country іѕ thе Worst Tax preparer. Thе bad news іѕ уоu mау hаvе аlrеаdу booked уоur appointment wіth hіm. Preparing taxes іѕ a complex activity. Sо complex thаt mаnу оf uѕ simply throw іn thе towel, pack uр оur receipts, аnd head fоr thе nearest tax office. Whеn уоu arrive аt thе office, уоu fully expect оur tax preparer tо bе highly competent аnd completely vested іn getting уоu thе best deal іn town.

Tax preparers hаvе a wide range оf experience frоm nоnе tо grizzled veteran. Thеу аlѕо span thе continuum frоm ethical tо completely fraudulent. Thе mоrе complex уоur return, thе mоrе уоu need a veteran preparer. And іf уоur preparer tells уоu аbоut thіѕ great deduction thаt уоu саn tаkе аnd іt sounds suspicious tо уоu, listen tо уоur intuition. It’s thе difference bеtwееn paying a little bit nоw оr paying a whоlе lot later.But for people who already have tax problems or anticipate some problems, hiring this level of professional Tax preparation service could be the best thing you have ever done.

The Piloto Asia tax preparation service is another great option for getting your taxes ready. They have proven methods of handling your taxes that may be just what you need to complete yours. Franchises are usually trustworthy and have a history behind them no matter how long the franchise has been there. They often have CPAs as employees that can help with tax preparation that is more complicated or to deal with potential problems. These systems are mostly for straightforward taxes, however, and more professional help may be required if your taxes are complicated.

Some CPAs and tax attorneys work over the internet and many are a less expensive option to getting the best professional help there is. If you are not in the area where the office is, you can conduct all your business over the internet or the phone. This is a very convenient option for those who can’t get out or live in rural areas. The tax preparation service is available to everyone that can get online. In addition to these options there is also software for tax preparation. These programs can guide you through a simple tax return with minimal mistakes and quick turnaround time.

eCommerce expert, John Lawson had this to say about the ruling:

The way this case was positioned, it was hard for the Supreme Court to rule anything else. SOUTH DAKOTA v. WAYFAIR, INC., is not representative of all the small and medium businesses that this ruling will effect. The home goods e-retailer generated 4.72 billion U.S. dollars in revenues in 2017, up from 3.38 billion U.S. dollars in the preceding year.  That is one huge jump from the mom and pop e-tailer making $100,000 in annual sales.

The real issue is that for a multi-billion company to ramp up the collection of taxes and fillings vs. smaller entities leave a big disadvantage and liability to the smaller retailer. There are now 9,998 different sales tax jurisdictions in the United States…that is a heavy burden and it needs to be rectified for smaller entities. 

Mike Trabold feels that there are also some upsides for online retailers. He says:

• You have some time. It takes time for states to react to such rulings and make the necessary changes to enable the collection of a new tax. While some states have been readying their processes in anticipation of the ruling, most will have work to do before enacting any major changes. In the meantime, it’s wise to get in front of this by locating the tools you need going forward.
• Some states already have, or will likely enact, thresholds above which the tax will be triggered. Thus, if your activity in a particular locale is below an ordained dollar or transaction level, you may be exempt.
• The Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement. Twenty-four states currently participate in this agreement, which in addition to standardizing some of the supporting tax calculation and submission protocols also provides for free sales tax compliance software for retailers under certain circumstances.

Though the Supreme Court’s decision has been made, there are areas that small online retailers will still need to keep an eye on:

• Some states may be tempted to look to collect these taxes not only going forward, but retroactively.
• Federal standardization. Policy makers grasp how challenging it will be to stay on top of the multitude of state and local sales tax rules. As such, the Supreme Court ruling may prompt Congress to finally enact a standardized federal policy – though this may be politically unlikely for now.
• Potential impact on general business taxes. Some states don’t levy income taxes on businesses without a brick-and-mortar location within their borders. This decision may spur these states to reconsider that stance given the opportunity for incremental revenue.

Though some effects of this ruling are unknown at this time, business owners can take steps to prepare. First, you should assess impact, evaluating where your main out-of-state sales come from. This will give you a sense of where you may want to focus your compliance attention. Next, find tools and resources to help ease the transition. Look for an established software solutions provider that provides a comprehensive, easy to use, reasonably priced product and which has the resources needed to stay abreast of the wide, complex, fluid array of state and local sales tax requirements. Your CPA will also be able to provide guidance aligned with your specific situation.

The post How Will The Supreme Court Online Tax Ruling Affect Your Business? Two Experts Way In. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

In order to market your product or service in the best way possible to the target audience, you need to opt for brochure design. A great brochure design in an important component of your marketing plan because it gives an ever lasting impression on the consumers. If you able to present your product or service attractively through a great design then it will be sold in larger quantity than regardless of what price it has.

Moreover, a good brochure design will help you save cost and time in the long run as you will not need to meet consumers personally. A brochure will tell them all that they need to know about your product or service.

If you are not an expert in designing brochure then you should get help from a brochure designer because it is highly important that your design is outstanding. A brochure designer who has a lot of experience in this field will carefully evaluate your business and you target audience, after that then he or she will design the brochure accordingly. A brochure needs to be motivating and exciting. It should contain photos, logos, illustrations or short content so that consumers find it trendy and eye-catching. Click here if you want to know more about the Brochure Design.

Your brochure should not contain low-quality graphics or content that has a lot of grammatical mistakes. All the material it contains should be up-to-date knowledge. It should be what the consumers want to hear. It should reach to their hearts. Most importantly, it should contain your contact numbers, email addresses and office location otherwise the whole purpose of design will go to waste. Most brochure design services do not offer printing services; hence, make sure that you find the right printing company that does not ruin your company brochures.

Specify your target audience

It is not enough to just say you want everyone to be your potential buyers. There are specific groups of people whom you want to target because they are the ones who are more likely to buy your products. You have to identify them and study their behaviour. This is the best way for you to find out what they want and how you can create ads that can convince them that what you have to offer is the best possible choice for them.

Believe in your product

This is the key in advertising. It is difficult to advertise your products and sell them to specific groups of people if you are not convinced that what you have to offer is the best choice for them. You can find the right words to say to market your products, and also tell people exactly what the nature of your business is, and how the products can benefit them.

Have realistic expectations

You can’t expect people to patronise what you offer immediately. There are a lot of things that need to happen first. You should have a clear plan. This also comes with clear expectations. Otherwise, you will feel like a failure and you might not want to proceed with what you have planned. Don’t feel disappointed just because you think your business is not doing well.

Engage with customers more

Set up social media accounts so that you can have direct interactions with your target audience. This allows you to reply to them via emails or chat boxes. If they comment on certain posts, you should also try to respond. Whether it is positive or negative, you should give them something they would appreciate. Besides, the fact that you respond to them will make them feel special.

Work hard on advertising

Advertising is one of the biggest keys to success in any business. It is extremely important for you to think of what type of ads to produce, what words to use, and what images to use. This is true especially if you are using banners and posters. You might find the best banner printers out there, however, if you fail to use the right words or images, people might not be interested at all.

It might take time to see real growth in your business, and that is fine. You just have to keep working. You must not let any obstacle prevent you from convincing people to buy what you offer. Try studying your competition as well, as you can learn how to do well when competing with them, and what you need to improve in your own business.

Published in partnership with Roller Banners UK

The post 5 Ways to Get More Customers for Your Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Announced today, Google is making it even easier for smaller businesses to create and serve ads on it’s network with Smart Campaigns.

Supporting much of the content we view for free is advertising.

When you search for something online, most likely using Google or YouTube, you’re going to find an advertisement bought for by a large brand, such as a restaurant like Chick-fil-A, a clothier like Charles Tyrwhitt or any number of other larger brands.

You’re also going to find an advertisement purchased by a local (or regional) business, independently owned – a small business.

Many of these smaller businesses rely on Google Adwords, now called Googld Ads, to put their advertising message in front of the right audience, at the right time, on the right device at the right price.

While for some creating an ad is relatively easy, there’s still a bit of complexity to it. With Smart Campaigns, Google aims to make it even easier for business owners and small agencies to create, purchase and serve ads across Google’s digital platform.

But even before you advertise on Google or anywhere else, CLAIM your free listing on Google with Google with Business

The power of Google, as I discussed with Kim Spalding, General Manager & Product Lead, Small Business Ads, is that Google helps businesses connect with their customers at the moment of intent.

Listen to the full interview with Kim here:

See this video about Smart Campaigns results with some independent business owners.

s

The post Google Enhances Advertising Solutions for Smaller Businesses – Smart Campaigns appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This principle is not limited to your home. Spring cleaning your small business can be an essential way to keep your systems optimized and your processes functioning smoothly. Repairs are an important part of keeping your home and work space functioning properly, this home maintenance company can be of service for anybody who many need help with maintenance.

Want to improve your business communications? These three spring cleaning tips are a great place to start.

1. Appear Polished and Professional to Phone Callers

Just because you’re running a small business, that doesn’t mean you can’t sound like a big business. We’ve previously explained some ways you can use your CRM to give the appearance that you’re a big deal, but your communications systems need to be on point too.

Whatever unified communications system you use, make sure it’s a reliable service and a high-quality line that provides clear audio for customers.

Next, implement advanced functions such as setting your business hours and holiday hours so that your customers are immediately aware if your business is closed. After all, it would be very unprofessional if customers showed up to your workplace only to find that you were already closed for the day or were on vacation.

Additionally, many phone systems now offer automated answering services included with their business phone service. These virtual receptionist tools can add a personal touch that helps callers connect with the employee that they’re trying to reach. You can also use these systems as messaging machines to provide easy ways for customers to hear about product updates, pop-up events, discounts, and weather closings. With a virtual receptionist, “someone” is there 24/7 to answer your calls and provide helpful information.

2. Use Advanced Telephone Functions to Help Connect Customers to Employees

We get it: it’s tough to provide the level of customer service that’s necessary for business growth and customer retention. However, in the face of the ongoing challenge of providing top-caliber support with a limited staff, consider how your communications technology can work to your advantage with the use of a  das integrator.

For example, telephone features such as ring groups let you group your employees’ phone numbers together into categories such as sales, accounting, etc. By using the simultaneous ring function, incoming callers can connect with any employee in the accounting department when they want to pay their bill. By reducing a caller’s dependency upon the availability of a single employee, communications processes can be smoother and more efficient.

Ring group functions can also offer a sequential call setting. When using sequential ring groups, incoming callers will be routed through a series of phone numbers until someone picks up. Therefore, if someone on your sales team can’t answer an incoming call, that caller can be seamlessly redirected to the receptionist who can field questions or take a message.

Smart telephone systems can help callers connect with people instead of answering machines. Keep in mind that some telephone services also offer a free calling app with their service so employees have mobility tools to make and receive calls on their work line while they’re out of the office on a sales trip, making a delivery, or working from home.

3. Assess Your Phone Plan, and Stop Paying for What You Don’t Use

When you signed up for your business phone service, you may have been unsure of how your business would develop or evolve. Thus, you may be paying for add-on features that you don’t really need.

Just as spring cleaning your home would involve cleaning out your closets, a communications audit is a great way to cut costs on extra expenses that you don’t need. Growing your business’ profitability can be challenging and cutting extraneous costs is an easy way to add to your bottom line.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone plans typically include a wide set of calling features for one low price. Lot of generous carriers offer good deals on VoIP calls in addition to offering Military & Veterans Cell Phone Discounts as their way of saying thanks to the heroes. That way, if you need a conference bridge one month, you won’t end up paying for the add-on feature until you remember to cancel it. With VoIP, it’s easy to get smart about your communications costs.

About Ooma Office

Ooma Office is an affordable way to advance your small business’ phone communications. With 35+ features included, small businesses have access to enterprise-grade phone tools including a virtual receptionist, music on hold, conference bridge, a free calling app, and more.

We think our phone service is pretty great, but don’t just take our word for it. PC Magazine’s Business Choice Awards have named Ooma as the #1 VoIP phone service for businesses, noting its reliability, quality, ease of use, and likelihood of customers to recommend the service.

Want to see if Ooma Office is right for your business? The videos, white papers, and articles on our website explain key points to consider about telephone service.

Ken Narita’s marketing career spans two decades helping businesses large and small grow. Whether it’s been advising emerging startups, guiding clients from the agency side, or currently, leading SMB marketing at Ooma, Ken has always taken an empathetic approach to addressing goals, gaps, and opportunities. Previously at TriNet, from 2011 to 2017, he grew and led the revenue marketing team through a period of rapid change and growth where net service revenue consistently grew in a range of 15-20% per year and reached $650 million at the end of his tenure. Ken has led demand generation, field marketing, customer marketing, and marketing operations teams and enjoys the ability to integrate campaigns across all functions to drive results.

The post 3 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Small Business Communications appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

While it’s not always easy being the “little guy,” it does have its advantages. Everyone loves an underdog, and as impossible as it may seem sometimes, the truth is small business owners can play to their strengths and gain the advantage over their larger competitors. With big budgets, glitzy websites, and established names, large retailers seem to have it all. But what they don’t have is the dedication, personal touch, and ingenuity that today’s entrepreneurs and small business owners exemplify.

That said, retail competition is as fierce as ever, and small business owners have to be ready to adopt new technologies and tools to level the playing field. Following are some things small business owners can do to compete with and even gain an edge over their larger ecommerce counterparts.

The Tools Are There – Use Them

If you haven’t already, you should establish an online presence. Having a website that highlights what’s currently in the store, special promotions, events, collaborations and classes will go far in helping bring customers to your store. A website is often a customer’s first point of contact with your business, so be sure to build a website that showcases what you and your brand are all about.

So many of today’s consumers are using their smartphones to search and shop – whether while just killing time or when searching for a desperately needed product or service. Without an online presence, potential customers will not know about your store, let alone be able to find it. And if they do know about your store but can’t find you online, their impression may be that you lack credibility.

In today’s world, you don’t need to learn coding or spend a fortune to set up a website. Research and explore “website builder” tools online, which can get you started for free and make setting up a basic website easy. As you create your website, make sure to include keywords such as the city and zip code where you are based, along with the products and services you offer. Your store and website should also be listed in the local online business pages to help search engines find and list your store in search results.

Once your basic website is established, you can make the decision to go the extra step and sell your products online. This, too, may not be as complicated as you think. Research your web builder for ecommerce tools, and check with your merchant services provider for ways to accept payments online.

Socialize

As you embark on the journey of owning and operating a website, the next step is to engage. One way to do this is through social media, which can help build your presence online. With pages on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, small business owners can involve customers in their decisions and interact with them in a more personal way. For example, taking an Instagram poll is a fun way to involve customers. Managing and posting updates to your social pages shouldn’t take a lot of time – simply share what’s new in the store, behind-the-scenes, and any other information your customers may find interesting.

Another good way to interact with customers is through online review sites. Thanks to Amazon, the online review has become one of the biggest influencing factors for consumers – shoppers have even been known to step out of the checkout line after reading bad reviews about a product. Using local review sites such as Yelp and Google Reviews will go a long way toward building your store’s success. Be sure to monitor and address any less-than-flattering reviews, doing so with positivity and invitations to reconnect. When a customer compliments your service, products, or store, encourage them to leave a positive review online – doing so will have a great impact on future customers.

It’s All About the Experience These Days

So all your efforts of building an online presence are paying off and more people are visiting your store. Now what? Getting customers into your store is just the beginning. Consumers want to feel like they are getting something of value by coming into your store versus ordering online. Give it to them by having a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can provide excellent service and personal attention. Your staff should not only have a good understanding of the products they are selling, but they should also be able to connect with customers and anticipate their needs.

Beyond your staff, there are lots of ways you can go above and beyond to make your store a more appealing place. For example, have an area for kids to play or offer a lounge section if space permits. Offer free samples, and of course offer free Wi-Fi. Consider hosting events related to the products or services you provide – cooking classes, yoga, interior decorating, writing workshop, painting, landscaping, personal style, etc. Think outside the box.

The store itself should also be inviting and reflect the feeling you want customers to have when they visit. Make sure customers can easily find what they are looking for, keep the shelves and surface areas organized, and have signs displayed with prices and additional information. Often, soft music or scents from candles and diffusers are good ways to make customers feel at ease. Offer ways for them to experience your products and experience what your store is all about, whether it be through a behind-the-scenes look of how the product is made, tasting a fresh recipe, or trying a shade of lip gloss. Finally, customers love to know where their purchases are coming from, and, when it applies, who is making the product. Providing this kind of detail is a nice touch to personalizing your store.

Closing the Deal and Looking Forward

Considering the level of modern technology available, the checkout process should be the smoothest and easiest part of the customer’s experience. Ensure a fast, secure and hassle-free checkout for customers by accepting all the ways they may want to pay, including EMV credit cards and NFC payments like Apple Pay.

As you look for ways to further your engagement with customers, consider creating a customer loyalty program. Your POS software may already be set up to run a loyalty program. Using customer information and tracking purchases, you can tailor a program that rewards people for coming back to your store. Some POS systems will also send messages to customer smartphones when they are near your store, alerting them of special promotions for insiders.

What it all boils down to is this: embrace your roots and be the best small business you can be, but don’t ignore important online tools that will enable you to level the playing field and meet all of your customers’ distinct needs.  Don’t be intimidated, and remember that there are plenty of simple, inexpensive tools that can get you started on the ecommerce journey. Couple a great online presence with the personalized customer knowledge that only a small business has, and you will have a winning combination that increases customer engagement and interaction, all while maintaining your small, local, underdog identity.

Authored by:

Mark Boeder has more than 20 years of marketing leadership experience, including work for a retail marketing agency serving both big box and independent retailers. He is the current Director of Marketing Strategy for

The post Play to Your Strengths and Gain the Advantage Over Competitors appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of small businesses, so it’s critical that small business finance leaders gain visibility into corporate spend of their banking account. Luckily the rise of the cloud has unlocked this opportunity, offering enterprise technologies at a lower cost and easier deployment. However, this has also ushered in a proliferation of apps that finance leaders must sift through and choose wisely to ensure ROI is effectively delivered and needs are met. Ultimately, small business IT and financial professionals need to collaborate closely to choose the right ERP Managed Services that will answer a company’s specific financial management needs. To perform a quick scan of the market, you require searching for specific symbols or trendminer review via a unique search engine present on the platform. The platform will automatically rank the historical information based on a proprietary ranking system.

What Is a Stock Ticker?

As anyone who has ever watched a financial network or checked out a market web site knows, security prices, particularly those of stocks, are frequently on the move. A Stock Ticker Table is a report of the price of certain securities, updated continuously throughout the trading session by the various stock market exchanges. Simply pop over to these guys for the most trusted tradeline providers with 5 star reviews across the board anywhere online.

A “tick” is any change in the price of the security, whether that movement is up or down. A stock ticker automatically displays these ticks, along with other relevant information, like trading volume, that investors and traders use to stay informed about current market conditions and the interest in that particular security.

Unfortunately, this isn’t as easy as it seems. A 2017 Forrester study sponsored by SAP Concur on travel, expense and invoice technology found:

• 61 percent of firms believe IT is focused on user experience, and less on spend reductions.
• Conversely, 64 percent of firms say finance is focused more on reducing spending, and less on usability and employee experiences.

By collaborating, finance and IT leaders can choose user-friendly tools that also drive cost savings. Here are a few tips to improve finance and IT collaboration:

• Develop a unified strategy. This should satisfy the needs of both small business IT and finance managers. According to Forrester, 75 percent of companies with a unified finance and IT strategy report much higher levels of satisfaction with travel, expense and invoice management tools than those without a unified strategy. The two leaders should compare their respective goals and identify how they can integrate to benefit business objectives.
• Educate one another. Finance professionals aren’t always aware of the IT technology selection process, while IT employees often lack insight into finance teams’ specific technological needs. By setting aside time to educate one other on their respective workflows, finance and IT personnel can better understand department priorities and collaborate on the best-fit products that address specific needs. For example, IT leaders can recommend better tools to help finance leaders manage employee spend in real time if they have a greater understanding of the unique financial challenges involved.
• Audit current spend management methods together. Finance and IT leaders have valuable yet unique perspectives when selecting technology to benefit a business’s bottom line. In addition to educating one another on finance and IT priorities, an important step toward a closer relationship is collectively auditing current processes and technologies to consider whether they should be updated or replaced. Small business IT and finance leads should also schedule routine check-ins to share feedback on current technologies and pinpoint areas for improvement.
• Consider cloud solutions that integrate. Cloud accounting provides small businesses with flexible and scalable solutions that seamlessly grow alongside businesses. But the value of the cloud does not stop there–companies can choose apps that harness APIs and integrate with each other so data can flow seamlessly between corporate tools. This can automate certain processes and help teams gain valuable insights. Finance and IT should consider expense and invoice solutions that integrate with an ecosystem of third-party apps to unlock greater value with their spend data.

By employing these best practices, small business finance and IT leaders can work better together and identify cloud technologies that provide greater visibility into corporate spend to empower business strategies, reduce costs and poise small businesses for growth.

Authored by

Christal Bemont, SVP & GM of the Small, Midsized and Nationals business unit, is passionately committed to the idea that Concur shouldd “be the best company to do business with, and that everything we do should be about simplicity.” She started her career early, helping her mother with several small business ventures, and this experience still informs her approach. She has held both sales and leadership positions since she joined Concur in 2004. Christal serves her community through supporting and volunteering at organizations such as the Anderson Animal Shelter, the local women’s shelter and Feed My Starving Children.

The post How Greater Finance and IT Collaboration Can Help Grow Your Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Despite the risk, many small businesses are behind the curve when it comes to defense against fraud. Only 33% of small businesses reported they had purchased security software, and only 25% believed they were in compliance with the Payment Card Industry’s Data Security Standards (PCI Data Security Standards), which ensure that a business accepts, processes and stores credit card valid cvv number as securely as possible. Nearly one in six admitted to having done nothing to protect their data.

The financial and reputational setbacks from a breach can be extensive—and some businesses may not survive the blow. Here’s a look at some of the costs of a breach, along with what small businesses can do to prevent one.

Financial and reputational costs

Among the small businesses Bank of America Merchant Services surveyed, 31% that experienced a customer data breach in the last two years spent more than $50,000 to resolve the issue. This cost includes fees paid to forensic investigators who determine the source of the breach, as well as legal counsel and public relations advisers to help repair reputational damage. Check out this website link to get complete details on how to find private investigator or professional surveillance.

What’s more, businesses that aren’t compliant with PCI Data Security Standards may face non-compliance fines, and may have to reimburse credit card companies for each compromised card the company must monitor or replace.

In addition to absorbing the direct costs of addressing a data breach, small businesses must contend with less tangible costs, such as lost business from wary customers. Consumers report that they are unlikely to trust small businesses that experience a data breach. Consider, too, that 20% of customers who had their banking or personal information stolen said they would no longer shop at the small business where the breach occurred. Protecting customers’ data is essential to building loyalty and avoiding the harmful effects of lost customers and brand damage.

Room to improve

Despite both the real and intangible costs of a data breach, many small businesses don’t put enough emphasis on proper security measures to protect customer data. Three-quarters of small businesses don’t feel that conducting regular security audits is critical. What’s more, about two-thirds don’t consider blocking unsecure internet sites a priority, nor do they require employees to follow strict data security policies.

Yet some small businesses are starting to take note of the importance of protecting their customers’ data. Over the last two years, 45% of small businesses updated their point-of-sale hardware, including adding EMV chip card payment capabilities. A slightly smaller number of businesses (36%) invested in training employees to properly collect payment details from customers.

Shoring up data defenses

Merchants must make personal data security a priority to protect themselves and their customers, and to maintain consumer confidence. In particular, small businesses should make sure they comply with PCI Data Security Standards, which differ depending on how a merchant processes credit card transactions. In general, businesses must have a secure data network, protect their cardholder information, and regularly maintain and monitor their systems.

In addition to adhering to the PCI Data Security Standards, small businesses should consider adding secure technology solutions, including EMV-capable credit card terminals, point-to-point encryption (P2PE) and tokenization.

EMV-capable terminals allow small businesses to accept chip cards, which are more secure than traditional magnetic stripe cards. P2PE encrypts credit card data when it is used at a point-of-sale, and the card information remains encrypted throughout the authorization process.

Further steps to protect card information can be taken by using tokenization, which replaces the actual credit card number with a “token” that is used to retrieve account information and authorization. This token can be used for accounting purposes, but if stolen, it does not contain actual account information that can be used by bad actors.

While adopting EMV is an important step, it is not a cure-all when it comes to protecting against fraud. Small business owners should also train employees to monitor credit card terminals for skimming devices that can steal customer information. Employees should also be trained to gather complete payment details, such as the security code found on the back of credit cards. It’s particularly important to get this information during online transactions, where chip cards can’t be used. In addition, small businesses should adopt data security protocols such as strong password protection, blocking unsecure websites and performing regular security audits.

With the proper data security precautions, small businesses can reduce the likelihood of data breaches and avoid the financial liabilities that come with it. That lets them get back to doing what they do best: building customer loyalty and growing sales.

Author

Larry Brennan serves as the Senior Vice President of Merchant Data Security and Cybersecurity Director for Bank of America Merchant Services, responsible for ensuring that the company’s clients and associates are provided the tools and resources to prevent or react in the event of a data breach or cybersecurity attack.

The post Small Merchants Must Take Data Protection Seriously Says Bank Exec and Survey appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Watch the interview and see the list of tips and “A-list” interviewees below

Brittney Winbush, CEO –  Alexandra Winbush – @voguebritt (Candle’s, tea’s and more)
Technology is how I reach my audience and deliver products to consumers and share my brand.

Gina Noy , President – Noy Tax – @gina_tax
Evaluate your technology needs, evolve, and be consistent.

Rachel Tipograph, Founder and CEO – Mik Mak – @racheltipograph or @mikmaktv
AI will replace a lot of day-to-day minutia. Look for skills to supplement AI.

Rob Walsh – Frm, NYC Commissioner of the Dept of Small Business Services
Technology plays an even greater role these days as we put our cities together.

Basha Rubin, CEO & Founder – Priori Legal – @priorilegal
Technology will be a rising tide in the law industry.

Stacey Moeller – Tiny Acre Farms
Technology is crucial to business, especially when trying to connect with your target customer.

Rahem Fagiri, CEO – APTDECO.com – @AptDeco
We use technology on the back end to help coordinate logistics, optimize workflows and control costs.

The post How Tech Powers Business. 7 Perspectives On AI, Workflow, Payments and More appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Here’s why it’s not relevant for your small business today.

I was at an event recently, and the owner of a karate studio asked one of the expert panelists, how he could use blockchain in his business. I use Digital Asset Management that it’s a cybersecurity company that offers a high-security custodian technology.

The “expert” said, well if you had a community of karate enthusiasts, you could use blockchain for the community database. Something like this, the expert explained.

WRONG.

For a small businesses, such as this owner of a karate studio, he doesn’t need blockchain, all he needs is a simple database to keep track of members, hold discussions or etc. SQL or any number of other databases that have been around for years.

Companies such as Salesforce, Netsuite, Zoho, Infusionsoft, Hubspot, SAP, Intuit and Microsoft make all the tools you need to run a great business. With all the other supporting services such as Asana, Monday, and others, you have a full suite of tools and services to help you manage a growing business.

Indeed VERY big companies who want to enhance security, or sound cool, might consider blockchain – banks, Amazon, Walmart, GE and very BIG companies with massive datasets. But for the rest of us, we small business owners we don’t need to think twice about blockchain. For more legal advice talk to a blockchain lawyer and avoid misunderstandings that you don’t need.

• Focus on making a great product.
• Focus on serving your customers.
• Focus on generating awareness for the problem you solve.
• Focus on better marketing and advertising.
• Focus on treating your employees/staff/team well.
• Focus on making a difference in other peoples lives.

Blockchain is nice, it’s cute, it’s the new buzzword, but you don’t need to worry about it for your small business.

The post Blockchain Is The New Hype Machine Small Businesses Should Ignore appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

But with changing times, they also have to include few technological investments into their list. Unless and until a business owner can embrace technology, he will never be able to set ahead of his competitors. So what are technological solutions that a business owner should invest in? Here are a few technological investments to take into account.

#1: Internal platform for chat

Did you know that in an age where the whole world is connected through chat apps, there are still several companies which still depend on email for communications within the company? Using HipChat or Skype as an internal platform for communication can increase both the accountability and speed of employees. The employees also get a better chance to bond with each other in a better manner.

#2: Tool for managing passwords

Being a business owner, you will have access to multiple accounts, whether email or social media or in any other account. Since all the accounts are password protected, you can use a tool for managing online passwords and all other credentials. LastPass is one such tool which can allow the company to centralize all vital data and work in an efficient manner.

#3: Project management software

The team of each entrepreneur should comprise of user-friendly, flexible yet powerful project management software based on the cloud. With such a software, you could nurture and preserve the ideas while offering a platform for perfect collaboration. You can initiate discussion threads around worthy ideas and whenever an idea matures to an extent where it becomes a project, you can start adding resources to it and creating a timeline for the project.

#4: Video equipment

In today’s digital marketplace, video has become one of those increasingly important marketing assets which an entrepreneur should definitely invest in. Instead of hiring costly videographers and paying them, you can choose to empower your team to design good quality video content by giving them portable video equipment. With just very little investment, you would notice a difference in the video quality that is made with a high-quality camera instead of a webcam.

#5: Stress management technology

It is yet to be scientifically proved that negative ions reduce stress. But, one thing which is well-proven is the positive results of yoga. How about sending an app gift card to the employees like, Pocket Yoga? Yoga gives employees an opportunity to rejuvenate themselves at the office, the gift voucher software for small business if you want to drive your gift card sales forward, talk to us today about our gift voucher management system and let us help you to generate more sales for your business, and manage your customer gift certificates with ease. It’s also one of the best high-tech ways to make encourage employee’s to keep track of their health. This will not only promote health awareness but will also reduce the number of sick leaves of the employees. Doesn’t that seem to be a good idea?

Unlike other advertise products of this group at https://www.pharmacybc.com/xanax-alprazolam/, Xanax really acts effectively. You can just a pill (or one a half) before a stressful situation and everything’s going to be ok.

Now that you have a clear list of the technological investments that you should make. How many have you invested in? If you haven’t invested in any of them, make sure you do so. Just try your best to invest in the things of premium quality so that there are reduced glitches and errors.

This post published in partnership with iSelect.com

The post 5 Technological Investments Every Entrepreneur Should Make appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Nowadays small businesses use an array of tech options, everything from mobile devices to servers to have a competitive advantage in the industry. For being connected to the tech, you have to firstly be connected with the internet. You may check out the broadband options and compare iSelect internet quote in order to settle down with the most affordable connection. Here are few of the positive ways in which technology has affected businesses.

• Impact on communication

With the help of business technology, small business organizations are able to enhance their process of communication. Texting, sending mails, apps and websites for instance facilitate communication along with the consumers. By using several IT communication solutions, companies are literally setting a saturation level to the economic market. Technology has brought about an improvement to the inter-office communication too. Employees now get a centralized portal to seek access to internal documents.

• Impact on productivity

Did you know that the small businesses are able to boost the productivity of the employees with the use of technology? Business software and computer programs let employees get access to more information than manual techniques. As small businesses can avert the payment of labor costs, this will help them save money on their productivity. The business owners can even expand their business operations by utilizing the technology rather than the employees if technology provided them with a far better output.

• Impact on Human Resources

Experts had predicted long back that technology will someday replace the jobs of human beings and it’s high time that this prediction will become true. History has proved it time and again that even though jobs become obsolete; there are new opportunities which keep coming up. Nowadays, students are themselves prepared for jobs based on technology. Tech has brought about a change in the hiring process as the internet allows the workers to complete their duties from all remote locations and also from homes. Hence, businesses get access to a pool of global talent which lets them hire specialized talent at affordable rates.

• Impact on operating costs

One more are where technology has evened out things is the business overhead costs which are associated with running a business. Due to the fact that companies sell their items online, they don’t have storefront costs. These facts have reduced the cost of starting off with a new business and this has dropped drastically since the last few years. Rather than hiring an assistant or a bookkeeper, entrepreneurs are looking for software which can handle all such functions.

• Impact on Security

This is one such area where technology has left both positive and negative impact. When you have so much information on servers which are connected to the internet, it goes without mentioning that they’re vulnerable to theft. Businesses have to put in considerable effort to secure their networks and all other devices.

Therefore, if you’re bothered about the way in which technology sets an impact on your business environment, you should take into account the above listed ways. Make sure you use it to make the most out of it.

Published in partnership with iSelect

The post How Has Technology Impacted Your Business? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This article is published in partnership with DesignBro, the world’s highest quality and affordable design service.

But branding can be costly. There’s a lot that goes into it, from designing a logo to marketing, and when you start adding it all up, you can end up with a six-figure number that can have you squirming in your seat. So, how can you brand on a budget? The key is putting in time, where big businesses put in money, and using the tools you already have.

We’ve compiled some different ways you could work towards branding your business, without blowing your budget.

Before you start

Before getting into the specifics of what you can do, make sure you have a clear message you’re sending, and that you know who you’re sending it to. Do your research, and spend some time in figuring out your story, what your brand is like, and what message you want to transmit.

You might also want to research your target audience. They’re the ones that need to care, so find out what makes them interested in certain things, and what doesn’t catch their eye. This way, you know what to do, and what not to do.

Another good idea is to check up on your competitors and learn a little about your industry. This might give you some ideas as to what you could do, while shedding light on what everyone else should be doing, but isn’t. That way, you can fill in that gap.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to do this research, just take some time to do it yourself, and look up the best ways to locate this information. The resources online are endless, it’s just a matter of digging in.

Get the right look (logo, brand identity)

Everything associated with your company should be identifiable. This means that people should know when something comes from your company, based solely on how it looks. This is why you need a great logo, and a coherent and consistent brand identity.

There are a lot of different options for getting a logo made. The key is in finding the balance between quality and cost. Free online logo makers are best avoided as often they can lead to copyright issues and lack in quality.

If you know a freelance designer likely to give you great quality for a good deal, that’s probably the direction you should go in. But it might be a risky choice, since you’ll be fully dependent on the individual.

If you don’t know a freelancer, design contest sites offer a cheap, and quality, alternative, when done right. Design contests offer you the opportunity to receive work from designers all around the world, give feedback, receive updated versions, and take home your favorite. Just do your research and make sure you end up with a platform that is sure to give you quality. Consider DesignBro, since they invest considerably in quality control, and maintain the same price as other similar sites.

Remember to take your target audience, your competitors and your brand’s story into consideration when developing, or choosing, a logo. It should communicate your brand’s message effectively to the people you want to pull in.

Once you’ve gotten the right logo for your brand, invest some time in developing brand identity guidelines. Brand identity guidelines are where you set out the requirements for how anything coming from your business should look. In it, you should probably include:

1. Overview of your brand identity – include a couple of words to describe your brand, and perhaps a philosophy to give employees an idea of what your company stands for. This is where you ensure everyone knows what your brand stands for, and what message should be communicated.
2. Logo specifics, styles, and practices – when to use which variation of the logo, what size, etc. If you use sites like DesignBro, they can help you determine the different variations of your logos.
3. Typeface details – which font should you use for what? What should header 1’s look like, versus header 2’s?
4. Color specifications – what’s your brand’s color palette, and are there any specific times when some colors should be used instead of others?
5. Image style – what kind of images should be used on the website, or online? Think whether the images should be minimalist and with light colors, or darker and blurred? Consider adding a sort of “mood board” to inspire your employees as to your brand’s overall look.
6. Consider including corporate stationery, so your employees know when to use which stationery.

After you’ve finished up with your brand identity guidelines, you are ready to get going.

Social Media

We mentioned that the key is putting in time, and using the tools at your disposal. It’s 2018, and luckily a huge tool, social media, is free for your use. All you need to do is put in time. Create content that your target audience would like, and be consistent with your updates. Doing so will allow people to get a better idea of what your company stands for, what makes your brand different, and why they should care. The type of content you post says a lot your brand, so choose wisely. Social media marketing is a great way of getting your name out there, so invest the time and do it well, and it’s likely people will become familiar with your company.

Content Marketing / Blog

While you’re going about using social media, you might want to consider starting your own “blog” section in your website, and writing some relevant content. Write what you think your readers will be interested in, and write well. Content marketing is all about providing useful content for your audience. If it’s done well, it can create a very loyal base for your brand.

It’s also a great way to improve your position in search engines, which is likely to get you pop up on your audience’s screen. It can be time consuming, but it’s free, and if you’re consistent and producing quality content, it’s likely to reap rewards.

Email marketing

Although social media has created a storm of new marketing techniques, going a more traditional route, like email marketing isn’t a bad choice. With email marketing, you’re not subject to the influence of any algorithm, and you speak directly to your customer. Consider a newsletter, or sending articles via email from time to time. You might be surprised with the results.

Ebook

The eBook is a powerful tool in the realm of content marketing. If you combine the most useful content you’ve created, into a sort of guide, your audience is likely to be appreciative. Creating templates or worksheets to help them achieve their goals, is likely to catch their attention. Consider using this to up your email marketing techniques, by having people put in their emails to access the content.

Once again, the eBook can be really effective, and it can be free – as long as you put in the time to make it a reality.

Customer service

Great customer service is often how you keep your customers coming back. If you invest in this wisely, your customers are more likely to help you get the word out about your business by telling their friends, or giving good reviews. Plus, speaking directly with your customers is a great opportunity to better understand where you can, and should, improve and what they especially love about what you’ve created. If you prioritize customer service, you’re likely to be investing in creating the best possible reputation for your brand.

All of these different ways of branding your business were time-consuming, but completely affordable. It’s up to you to decide how you want to invest your time, but make sure you don’t underestimate the power of branding your business.

This article is published in partnership with DesignBro, the world’s highest quality and affordable design service.

The post Branding Your Business On a Budget appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

But, there’s such a thing as over-segmentation. Too much segmentation can actually hurt your marketing efforts instead of boosting it.

But, how much segmentation is too much?

 Fortunately, you don’t have to make a wild guess if you’re doing too much. There are signs that show that you’re over-segmenting. Here are the markers that your segmentation is off-key and tips on how to resolve these over-segmentation problems.

1. You have more than 7 personas. 

The rule on how many personas you should have is not set on rock but more than 7 is a bit too much for most companies. If you’re just a start-up, start with one persona and escalate from there.

The number of your buyer personas depends on how diverse your products are. Buyer personas should be between one to five, with three as the most ideal. This number allows you to adequately serve the personal preferences of each group. 

2. Some of those personas are overlapping.

This problem coincides with problem number one. Having more than 7 personas suggest that some of your personas have overlapping characteristics. Not only does this divert you from focusing on better campaigns, it wastes your time and effort too.

Check your personas and merge the groups that have overlapping characteristics. You don’t have to microsegment every data you have about your potential clients. You just need to find a common ground and build your segment from there. Each segment should significantly differ from each other.

3. You’re relying too much on software. 

Even if AI is replacing most of the marketing tasks, there is no substitute for human intuition. At the other side of your marketing ploys are human beings, not machines. So you shouldn’t allow all of technology to dictate how you segment. A software can only give answers, but they don’t know how to ask questions.

Each segment you have is a group of people with similar characteristics, not just some unit with collective data. Instead of gathering everything you can by using software, ask about how you can better serve your segments with the current data you already have. Combine email marketing automation software with your insight to have meaningful and effective segments. 

4. You’re ending up with false leads. 

The best indicator that you have the right quantity and quality of segments is the growth of conversions. If you keep ending up with false leads, one reason might be over-segmentation.

The quality of your segments is more important than its quantity. Even if you only have three segments, if it leads to high-quality leads, then you’re doing a great job. The purpose of segmentation is to increase your conversions in the least possible amount of time, money, and effort.

Some of your segments may not be doing their job. Run tests and analyze which segments are flunking. Then, be ruthless in removing these segments. 

5. You are spending more hours on segmentation than in campaigns. 

Segmentation shouldn’t eat up much of your marketing hours. If you do, well, there’s a high chance that you’re overcomplicating segmentation. Instead of aiming for the perfect segments, focus on creating useful content.

If you have three segments to work with, go ahead and shoot your marketing efforts. Then, you can tweak your segments based on the results. Focusing too much on segmentation will only slow down your progress.

6. You continuously add segments to your list. 

You may be tempted to add more segments as your list grows. But passively adding up segments is not a smart marketing move. It will only add up to your tasks without producing positive results.

Instead, revisit your old segments and assess them. Are the variables still relevant? Can you merge some of the segments? Manage your list based on the results of your campaigns. Let your segments evolve to stay relevant, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to increase its number. 

Bottom Line:

Marketers need to be careful about over-segmentation. As the adage goes, too much of everything is a bad thing. Yes, even the good stuff. Find the ideal number of segments and build from there. If you already have too much, then it’s time to cut off futile segments.

Take note though, that hyper-personalization is different from over-segmentation. Hyper-personalization can lift your marketing efforts, while over-segmentation does the opposite.

Author Bio:

Kimberly Maceda is a Content Writer for ActiveTrail. She writes for some top online marketing sites and blogging advice on email marketing and marketing automation. Activetrail is a leading provider of professional-grade email marketing and automation software for growing businesses.

This article is published in partnership with Activetrail.

The post 6 Signs You’re Over-Segmenting Your Marketing Automation Campaigns appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

How to fix bad cell phone reception in buildings

Cell phone signal boosters are ideal if you have reliable signal outside your building, but poor signal inside. This is also true in your home, if you are not getting a good signal outside of your home, a booster likely will not help well in your home. Boosters help get signal through walls and building materials that block the signal. The optus store nambour provides specialist communication services for your personal and business needs.

Working from home on the internet

It’s not just frustrating to have bad cellular reception indoors when you are working from home, it can be detrimental to your work. In 2017 3.7 million people worked from home in the United States. With those numbers expecting to grow, cell phone signal inside homes will become more important to more people.

Although broadband coverage counteracts some of the need for strong in-home cellular signal, for many people taking work phone calls on their cell phones, poor signal can affect work performance. The best way to improve your service is to use these wireless telecommunications systems. however, if you have a phone, it’s always important to keep it protected with https://matchinggear.com/couple-phone-cases these couple phone cases and keep matching with your partner.

People who drive and cell signal is critical for their jobs face the same problems, particularly those who drive in rural areas or areas with poor signal. Dropped calls from poor cell signal also effect:

• People who live in rural areas
• Dead spots in a commute
• RV owners or truck drivers
• Uber of Lyft drivers

The cost of dropped calls

The telecommunications industry refers to the dropped-call rate (DCR) as the fraction of phone calls which were cut off before the speaking parties finish their conversation due to technical reasons related to all calls made.

While this can happen for numerous reasons depending on geographical location, carrier and coverage areas, the problem is the source of loss of revenue for some businesses. Each dropped call wastes someone’s time, can frustrate customers and can mean loss of business. For rural areas, dropped calls can affect tourism, travel and mean a less safe environment when traveling, this is one of the main reason why a lot of people having been using wireless telecommunications services instead of the regular service. 

How signal boosters can help

While signal boosters are limited to boosting the signal that exist in their coverage range, they are helpful for dead spots in urban communities or in a highly dense area with materials blocking signal. (buildings, walls, etc.)

If you don’t have a good signal outside, your only option is a femtocell. Femtocells only work if you have internet connectivity. Another option for improving cell phone signal is to use wifi calling. Many modern smartphones have this functionality built into the phone settings. When using wifi calling, the call is happening over the wifi signal and cell phone carrier coverage is not necessary.

This article published in partnership with Repeater Store

The post How To Know If You Need A Cell Phone Signal Booster On Your Couple Phone Cases appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Dell recently announced the upgrading of endpoint security protections to ensure users enjoy the most secure commercial PCs offered by any PC manufacturer. The new Dell Precision mobile workstations provide users with a smaller, lighter mobile workstation that enables workloads previously not possible with other personal computers. Dell has refreshed the Latitude line of Laptop Deals to boost productivity, while introducing cutting edge security features.If you ask any laptop lover what he thinks while buying a laptop, he/she will tell you the within their budget. It is not hard now for laptops under 600 with best performance, looks and configuration.

Here are the new commercial PCs in the Dell portfolio:

• Precision 7730
• Precision 7530
• OptiPlex

OptiPlex personal computers feature a 27-inch Ultra HD no glare screen. Every new addition to the Dell commercial PC family includes Data Guardian and Data Encryption security features that offer users the most secure data protection available for any commercial PC.

As President of Client Product Group, Dell, Jay Parker emphasizes the user friendly features of the new suite of Dell commercial PCs. “For many of our customers, work is no longer a place they go; it’s an activity, And smart companies that want to attract and keep the best talent have embraced the evolving needs and expectations of their employees. IT departments are working with Dell to build a technology strategy that gives employees the power and flexibility to get their jobs done, whenever and wherever it best fits their lifestyle, while keeping data secure and TCO low.”

Throughout the world of business, leaders carefully balance two objectives: ensuring businesses prevent security breaches and harnessing the amazing power of new technology innovations that include machine learning and artificial intelligence. Dell’s primary mission is to work with companies to achieve both technology goals.

It Starts with Data Protection

Contemporary computer security measures involve the implementation of strategies that protect data stored on hard drives and sent digitally all over the world. Dell leads the way for securing data at what the company calls “at rest,” as well as data “in flight.” Dell’s comprehensive array of innovative security hardware includes a strong supply chain assurance programs that are derived from the best computer security techniques. As the leader in offering proven ways to protect data, Dell ensures every hardware component seamlessly works together from the point of assembly to when customers use data management software to store and protect data.

The announcement in late April of Dell’s research mentioned the new Data Guardian security protocol. Data Guardian controls data and enforces security measures well beyond customer networks. The new data protection system also protects a large number of file types that include in-house designed file systems. Data Guardian prevents unwanted intrusions into common files such as PDF files as well. Users set access restrictions and Data Guardian does the rest of the data security work.

The Power of Dell Precision Workstations

Dell’s announcement demonstrates the company’s commitment to introducing new products and services through a logical sequential process. Without cutting edge data security measures in place, Dell’s new Precision workstations might not have received the widespread praise the system has garnered over the past few weeks. Five out of the last seven visual effects awards handed out at the Oscars were given to graphic design artists who used Dell Precision workstations to work their creative magic. Dell has designed the portable new Precision workstations to be smaller and lighter. The Precision 7730 and 7530 workstation models generate industry leading results with the help of the most advanced eighth generation Xeon and Intel Core microprocessors.

A New Office Attitude with Dell Latitude Laptops

Dell has redesigned the Latitude laptop lineup to boost productivity everywhere busy professionals travel. The size of the chassis inside the Latitude 5491 and 5591 has decreased in size by 30% over the last three product generations. Dell’s announcement stressed the improved power of the latest generation of Latitudes, with users benefiting from up to 19 hours of battery life. Users enjoy unsurpassed power and connectivity that help them get through multiple meetings and cross country airline flights.

Dell made it clear in the late April company announcement the successful introduction of the latest innovations depends on every customer getting the most out of new investments in technology. Dell offers an extensive list of customer support and product deployment services. By using the ProDeploy Client Suite, customers have access to Dell experts who help plan and manage technology upgrade projects for companies operating across the industry spectrum. Dell strives to deploy up to 35% faster when customers choose ProDeploy and ProDeploy Plus.

The post Dell Announces A New and Updated Commercial PC Portfolio appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Product photography is more complicated than it seems. Linton Studios can guide you for better photography. It requires the right lighting, tools, set up, and editing to make images look professional. Luckily, nowadays, there are many affordable or even free solutions to get great photos.

Therefore, expensive equipment is not always necessary. It’s all about knowing the best practices and different steps to prep, shoot, and edit photos. That’s what makes the difference between a poor-quality photo and a great one. In turn, that image quality affects eCommerce conversion rates for good or bad. Use these 6 tips to enhance the look of your products.

Prepping Products

Why is prepping important?

Product prep is important because it helps reduce time in post-production or photo editing. You can reduce the appearance of fingerprints, creases, folds, or other imperfections that otherwise would have to be corrected during editing.

Sometimes product imperfections can be so noticeable that they can’t be reduced even after editing. Thus, it’s important to take this step as seriously as the other steps. Keep in mind that the camera picks up things that are unnoticeable to the naked eye.

1. Follow the proper prepping process.

The prepping process will vary slightly according to the type of product being photographed. Shiny, small, or reflective products will require a lot of prepping due to their reflective surfaces, which interfere with lighting. This is usually the case with jewelry. On the other hand, less reflective and bigger products may be easier to photograph. Let’s go over some of the most popular products and their prepping processes below:

• Clothing
  • Use a steamer to straighten clothing and reduce wrinkles.
  • Think about the look you’re trying to achieve. Would you like the clothes to lie flat, or create an invisible mannequin effect? To create the latter, use an invisible mannequin to reduce work in post-production.
  • Have hangers, clips, or clamps handy to make any loose pieces of clothing tighter.
• Jewelry
  • Use fabric gloves to handle jewelry before shooting. They will help prevent fingerprints on the jewelry.
  • Polish jewelry pieces with a cloth to make them shine and reduce dust.
  • Have small mirrors handy to help reflect light and make jewelry shinier.
  • Use clear jewelry holders that can be easily removed in post-production. You can also use a glue gun to set rings in place and have them stand up for a beautiful shot. Don{t forget the watches, they add an extra layer of style to your look no matter where you are. Visit NanaDC blog and find the best options for your look.
• Sunglasses
  • Polish them carefully and handle with gloves, following the above tips used for jewelry.

Setting Up the Studio & Shooting

Once you have your products prepped, it’s time to set up the studio and start shooting. As mentioned before, you don’t need expensive equipment, just the right setup!

2. Use a lightbox.

I love using a lightbox to shoot small- to medium-sized products because it already comes with a white background and the lighting needed to take great pictures. Most importantly, it helps light the product evenly so that no part of the product stays in the dark.

There are many affordable lightboxes available on the market. I particularly like the one offered by Amazon. For $135, it includes LED lights, a white background, a light, and a portable case.

I usually add more lighting for jewelry, but, other than that, the lighting that it comes with is usually enough. If you’re shooting products bigger than a lightbox, such as clothing, opt for setting up a studio like the portable one shown below from Neewer:

For about $160, you get lighting, a background, soft umbrellas, and clamps.

3. Find the right camera and lens.

The DSLR is one of the most recommended cameras for product photography because it is easy to use and affordable. Some of the top brands are Canon and Nikon. You’ll find some photographers who are die-hard Nikon or Canon fans, but I think either one of them is pretty good. I personally like to use the Canon Rebel. It’s affordable but still professional.

4. Use camera lenses and a tripod.

After a good camera, the most important piece of equipment may be the lens. Using the wrong lens can distort your images and make them unusable. This is what happens if you use the wide-angle lenses that usually come with many cameras. Instead, use a focal length of approximately 50 mm. This lens size will help generate images that are closer to real life.

It’s also important to use a tripod to prevent camera shakiness or any unexpected motions that can distort the look of your images, making them blurry. There are many imperfections that can be fixed during editing, but blurriness is not one of them. The final images can only be as good as the quality of the photos. Even great photo editing can’t fix poor-quality images 100% of the time.

Editing or Post-Production

Finally, at this point, the products have been prepped and photographed. Now it’s time to give the images the final touch to make them live. One of the main things to consider is where the images are going to be published. This will change the editing style and size of the files.

For instance, if you’re planning to use your product images to sell on Amazon instead of an eCommerce store, then they will have to be edited following specific guidelines. See some of Amazon’s guidelines below:

• Use white backgrounds.
• Make products cover at least 85% of the image.
• The image has to be 1000 pixels or larger.

Similar guidelines apply for selling on Google Shopping. These guidelines are set in place to ensure consistency and quality in all seller product photos. In a similar fashion, you should set and abide by your own image guidelines, even if you’re not planning to sell on those platforms, to ensure a consistent look and feel.

5. Understand web image optimization: resolution, file size, and pixels.

Un-optimized website images can slow down your eCommerce store, and, therefore, hurt your organic rankings. That’s why keeping the right image resolution, file size, and pixels is vital for all product images. See below a breakdown of recommended image optimizations:

• Pixels
  • They don’t have a set size. They are the smallest unit of information contained in a picture. Pixels and image dimensions help make up the image resolution.
  • 1000px is usually recommended for most product images.
• Image File Size
  • The image file size is determined by the number of pixels in an image and its dimension.
  • Aim to have file sizes lower than 100kb to prevent slowing down your site. 

6. Note the differences between color correction and retouching.

Note that retouching is different from color correction. Retouching is more labor-intensive and involves altering the image beyond its color. For instance, shine can be added, parts removed, airbrushed, or more. Color correction just deals with fixing the color of the image, white balance, saturation, vibrancy, and more.

I’d recommend using color correction for all your product images, but retouching may not be required for all of them. Color correction will help ensure that your product images look true to life and don’t deceive any customers.

If you’re not experienced with Photoshop, I’d recommend using a tool like Canva or Pixlr. Alternatively, you can also outsource the editing for an affordable price. Companies like Pixc or Picsera offer color corrections for about $1 or less per photo. So, if you don’t have a team or technical abilities, outsourcing might be the right solution for you.

Ron Dod CMO & Co-Founder
Ron is the Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of Visiture. He is supported by a team of creative geniuses that strive to help clients achieve new levels of success. His passion is helping eCommerce business owners and marketing professionals navigate the search marketing landscape and use data to make more effective decisions to drive new traffic and conversions. Follow me @Visiture_Search

The post 6 Tips to Help You Create Awesome Product Images for Your eCommerce Store appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Launched more recently is Microsoft 365 which combines the online office suite, Windows 10 and Microsoft security solutions.

Microsoft writes, in a blog – To further protect SMBs from cyberthreats and safeguard sensitive information, today we’re announcing the addition of advanced security features in Microsoft 365 Business, which gives businesses with up to 300 employees an affordable, comprehensive solution for empowering employees and safeguarding business data. Microsoft 365 Business includes Office 365 for productivity and collaboration, plus device management and security capabilities to protect company information across the devices people use for work. Now we’re adding new ways to protect against phishing and ransomware and prevent unintentional leaks of business data.

CEO of Solace IT Solutions, Chris Oakman, works with SMBs to help them get up and running with the right technology. He says it doesn’t have to be complicated and expensive to keep your team productive and your business data secure.

“I work with a lot of small businesses that have historically had to pay for individual security services like spam filtering and anti-phishing,” said Oakman. “For these businesses, Microsoft 365 Business could save them up to $3,000 per year while including these and many other data protection capabilities in a more integrated way.”

With the addition of these new capabilities, Microsoft 365 Business offers your business a complete solution for productivity, security, and device management. Watch this video to learn how iSalon Software, a U.K.–based developer of software solutions for hair salons, uses Microsoft 365 Business to be more productive and secure.

Read the full blog post here.

The post Microsoft 365 Adds Enhanced Security in a New Update appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

While fewer consumers are writing checks at the grocery store or gas station, small business owners continue to depend on checks. In fact, the latest data from the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) shows that B2B payments by check increased between 2013 and 2016.

But as times have changed, evolving technology has given small business owners faster, more efficient tools – consider the way that e-mail has revolutionized communication for entrepreneurs. Why shouldn’t sending checks be just as efficient?

Here are six reasons why small businesses are stepping away from the mailbox and moving toward safer, easier, cheaper and greener alternatives.

Paper opens the door to fraud

According to a 2018 survey conducted by AFP, fraud attacks against payment systems continue to persist. Vulnerability to fraud increases with the number of times a payment is touched. A mailed check can be touched by as many as eight people during its lifecycle. Fraud can also occur when the same person is responsible for approving and writing the checks. There’s just not enough control to ensure everything is above board.

To protect against fraud, small businesses want more secure payment options that don’t require sensitive information from the payee, have limited touchpoints and offer multiple layers of control. Not all digital payments, however, are created equally; for example, many common e-payment services require the sharing of bank data, which can increase the risk of fraud unlike Smart Payables Outsource Payment Processing decrease the risk of check fraud with MICR and laser check security.

Paper takes patience

Paper checks are slow, especially when combined with snail mail. It doesn’t take much time to put a check in the mailbox, but writing the check, getting it signed and waiting for it to reach its destination can take a while. Checks can be lost or compromised in transit, and your account information can end up in the wrong hands.

Paper slows down all processes it touches. Entrepreneurial businesses prefer direct, timely delivery to prevent checks from getting lost in the mail.

Paper’s cash flow conundrum

When the check is in the mail, funds are trapped in transit for an average of two days. If you’re away from your office or store and need to make a payment on the spot, you’ll have to expedite it and pay a hefty courier charge.

Small, growing businesses want a flexible payment option that gives them control over their funds and the speed to time disbursements to the last possible second. For fast growth companies, cash flow is king!

The hidden fees of paper

If your company pays by mailing checks, you may be paying more than you expect. Bank of America estimates the cost of issuing a paper check can range anywhere from $4 to $20, based on the price of the check and shipping, plus the time employees spend writing, mailing, collecting and reconciling the check. The cost of postage alone can add up to a good chunk of change. According to Bill.com, businesses spend $235 on postage to mail 500 checks.

To counter high overhead costs, businesses are looking for a payment solution that eliminates the added expense of envelopes and other supplies needed to send checks.

Paperless payment solutions drive efficiency

From online reservations to using workflow apps, businesses are taking steps to make their operations more efficient. They are embracing new technology, connecting with tech-savvy consumers, delivering a superior customer experience and making sales.

To keep the momentum going, they need a payment solution that retains the wide acceptance of a check, offers digital speed and security and the simultaneous delivery of remittance information, but does not require businesses to modify systems and processes. One such solution is Deluxe eChecks.

With eChecks, payers send payees notification emails with links to secure sites housing their checks and remittance information. Payees access and print checks on their printers, and deposit them at their financial institutions like any other paper check. No sensitive information is required from the payee and the transaction takes place at the speed of email.

Author

By Vijay Balakrishnan, Vice President of ePayments for Deluxe Corporation

The post Digital Checks Speed Payments and Boost Efficiency appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Blockchain — the shared, distributed ledger that enables the recording of transactions and the tracking of assets across a business network — is turning heads across industries because of the innovative applications it is enabling. Its ability to greatly reduce friction and increase efficiencies in transactions has led to new models for funding local journalism. These transactions need to be recorded so that the business doesn’t have any troubles in the future, if what your business needs is legal assistance for transactions then consider contacting Sidley Austin for professional help.

With these types of “next big thing” applications hitting the market and making headlines, it’s no wonder small businesses have begun to ping their R&D departments to look into how it might be adopted. But what will separate the SMB success stories and failures when it comes to blockchain is their ability to understand it in the first place. Israel as a nation is well prepared to deal with an outbreak like this. For one, they have a strong cultural spirit of facing hardships together. From the legacy of the holocaust to the ongoing instability and conflict in the West Bank, the Israeli people know what it is to confront horror and fear. While a virus is not the same as a violent attack, the methods used to meet it (sacrifice, cooperation, and shared support) are similar and it’s how Israelis have dealt with many challenges over the years. Take the kibbutz system, it was formed under the idea of coming together for the common good. The first kibbutz built in the young nation of Israel featured multiple families tending the same crops, building infrastructure in the same community, sharing the same lodgings in some cases. All to build something out of nothing in the desert. That takes dedication, that takes a true commitment to the spirit of community, and that tradition has carried forward in Israeli society. You can see it in the compulsory service in the IDF to the number of people who cheerfully report unearthed artifacts and historical discoveries to the Israeli Antiquity Authority without a thought to keeping it or selling it themselves. It’s also a nation with a strong technical backbone. Over the past few years, Tel Aviv has become the silicon valley of the Middle East and the Israeli medical sector is responsible for several recent breakthroughs. While the country is in lock down, the best minds Israel has to offer have gone to work on ways to combat this virus. From creating better, cheaper testing kits and working on potential vaccines, to making the stress of isolation less burdensome by offering virtual tours of some of Israel’s most interesting location they’re focused on solutions to this problem. Israel isn’t the kind of nation to back down from a challenge and we should look to that spirit of determination in ourselves as we face this crisis! While the looming uncertainty of what the virus means and what we need to do to combat it doesn’t show any sign of being over in the near future, Israel seems prepared to handle it. Life has changed for sure, but it hasn’t ended. This is not the first storm Israel has had to weather. We should strive to adopt the same kind of resilience here at home. Small businesses should understand blockchain is hardly a “end all, be all” solution to every challenge they might face. Instead, when leveraged correctly with their partners and customers, it can be a technology that unlocks time and cost savings as well as opens up a much more transparent view of their transactions. Some agree that blockchain helps with Corona Virus as well. SMBs should keep a close eye on how their partners (and competitors) in the supply chain are using the technology, and proactively consider how they might adopt it themselves.

We are living in a different time. Who could’ve ever predicted that we’d have a worldwide pandemic that would unfortunately result in many lives lost, jobs lost and being mandated to stay home. In addition, having to wear a face mask. But that’s our new reality. As the world opens up, what is going to be the new normal? Many people are teleworking and so many businesses are conducting everything virtually. It makes you think about life pre-Corona. Before the Corona era, many people said that they didn’t have time to get out. They didn’t have time to do the things they wanted to do. Time was one of the issues. Now that we’ve been staying at home, many people have the time they said they didn’t have. While this is a difficult time for everyone, it can be used for self-reflection. I lost my aunt who was only 40 years old right before her birthday in February. She was more like my sister as we grew up together. She used to call me her protégé. To suffer a loss and be in grief during a time like this is quite devastating and hard. Nonetheless, I’ve asked my aunt to give me strength and have chosen to use the pain for a greater purpose and honor her by not giving up on my goals and dreams. So it’s a day by day process. Grieving is a process. Click here to buy buy wholesale N95 respirator.

As I was thinking about our new reality and my fellow Queens, I wondered how many of us are using this time to do some of the things we put on the back burner. Those things could be as simple as painting, drawing, gardening, adult coloring. I am aware that this is a difficult time for all of us. However, how are you going to come out of it? What is going to be different? I’ve heard some people say that it’s okay to do absolutely nothing. I agree with that to the extent that you should definitely have your ‘me’ time. You should be compassionate with yourself in times like these for sure. This is rough for everyone. However, I don’t agree for someone to do absolutely nothing at all everyday during these times for the next year or possibly even two years as the world tries to move forward. That’s not what I would tell my ladies. That inaction or inactivity is what can lead to unhealthy thoughts and/or depression. In addition, nothing can change in your life from doing absolutely nothing. I’ve had days where I wasn’t as motivated and just relaxed on the couch. Yes, I’m human too just like you. But I also know that my dreams and goals need me. Faith without works is dead. So regardless of what’s going on, I’m going to have to pull myself together.

Ordering Klonopin from https://holisticdental.org/klonopin-for-anxiety/ for few month already. No single time we suffered any “fake drugs” or delay. Our cooperation been favorable so far and we can recommend both the provider and the drug for patients suffering from epilepsy and panic disorder (only if prescribed by your attending doctor).

Even before COVID-19, women have always placed their needs last on the list. Women have always done a lot for others before thinking about themselves. That’s how women have been conditioned by society to be; Givers, caretakers, nurturers with a mindset that everyone comes before you. That last part is not true. Everyone does NOT come before you. No wonder so many women are unfulfilled, unhappy, in the wrong relationships, settling and so on. So now that we’ve been forced to stay at home, this has opened up a lot of ‘time’ for a number of us, truth be told. We can choose to do the same thing and continue to get the same results or we can choose to do something different. What is going to be your post Corona story? I suggest you use this time to get back to yourself ladies. Prioritize your needs and wants during this time. Put yourself first. Take the first step. Your goals matter, your dreams matter, your happiness matters, YOU matter. This world would not be the same without women.

Blockchain is not a silver bullet. Instead of viewing the technology as a “shiny new toy” that must be integrated, small businesses need to first understand where it can be specifically applied to help them solve problems:

• Saving time with smoother transactions: Small businesses in particular know there can be a lot of friction in transactions. Especially when there are multiple parties involved, transactions can be complicated by the distance between parties, varying regulations or the cost to complete a given agreement. With blockchain, the shared ledger can create smart contracts that are standardized and centrally managed, cutting out the middlemen and driving down the time to complete a contract from days to minutes. While small businesses are unlikely to be the catalysts that initiate and assemble blockchain networks, the number of opportuinites to participate in existing, active blockchain networks in their industries or markets will likely be numerous.
• Driving down costs: A distributed ledger offers far more transparency into the transactions a company participates in. With an immutable and secure ledger underpinning the blockchain, savings can be reaped from less duplication of keeping data correct and up-to-date, less oversight is necessary as transactions on the ledger is policed by the network members, and intermediaries can be reduce because the members can exchange value directly with each other. Effective blockchain networks can reduce the number of people, processes, and paperwork necessary to do business and have a direct impact on the bottom line of a small business.
• Improved security and reduced: Most SMBs have had concerns about their data at some point. Another advantage of blockchain based-transactions is the heightened level of security for all parties involved. Transactions on the blockchain can be “trustless,” meaning that the amount of trust required from a single actor in the system is minimized. This can mean two people or entities can more confidently do business without worrying if the other party can hold up their end of the deal. For small businesses that rely on payments and contracts paying out, this is an especially intriguing benefit of blockchain. Kevin McMahon is the Director of Mobile & Emerging Technologies at SPR, where he is responsible for leading a team that brings an agile, pragmatic, and experienced approach to crafting enterprise solutions utilizing the latest technologies and techniques. He has a knack for solving problems, and has extensive experience building custom native iOS and Android mobile applications, Java and .NET based backend systems. By striving to understand the big picture all the way down to the little details, Kevin understands the problems his clients face and what it is that we need to do to make projects successful.
• Author

The post Three Ways Blockchain Could Make Transactions Smoother For Your Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Why? Zuckerberg explains that “recently we’ve gotten feedback from our community that public content is crowding out the personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other.” Zuckerberg wants to fight this trend and facilitate more meaningful online interactions. He cites research which suggests that social media is only good for a user’s wellbeing if they use it to connect with the people they care about. This follows a post in November of last year which claimed that too much “passive” social media use, such as watching videos and reading articles, could be harmful.

What does this mean for businesses? At face value, it might seem pretty bad. Businesses have had their organic reach falling for some time now, and it can be tempting to see this algorithm change as the nail in the coffin. This, however, would be too hasty. All the new algorithm really does is weigh posts which generate genuine interactions such as shares and comments (the longer the better!) more heavily than those which generate simple likes and reactions. It is perfectly possible for businesses to keep up a wide organic reach by producing well-timed, engaging, high quality content that encourages their audience to interact. Sound like a challenge? Here are some tips to help get you started:

1. Know your audience

If you want your audience to engage with your posts, you need to know what makes them tick. Facebook Audience Insights is a tool designed to help marketeers learn more about their target audience, providing aggregated and anonymised data on the age, gender, lifestyle, interests, and educational background of existing and potential customers. Insights also provides information on where, when, and how people access Facebook. Once you know the composition of your audience, you’ll be able to tailor and target your content in order to make it as relevant and engaging as possible – you can even time your posts to coincide when your target audience is most active on Facebook.

2. Encourage meaningful engagement

You might think that you can get around the new algorithm by simply prompting your audience to comment on your post. However, posts with headlines like ‘Comment if you like chocolate!’ or ‘Tag a friend who would eat this’ hardly promote genuine interactions. In fact, posting this kind of content is known as ‘engagement baiting’ and Facebook has made it clear that they “will continue to demote these posts in News Feeds”.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can encourage meaningful engagement. One great way to engage your audience is to ask for their advice and / or stories about the products or services they use. If you’re a delivery company, for example, you could ask for people’s best and worst delivery experiences. If you’re a pet store, you could ask what people do to keep their pets warm in winter.

Another great way to engage people with your content is to have them feature directly in that content. Celebrate your customer’s stories (with their permission, of course) and you’ll find that they not only share your post themselves, but that their friends and family do too. If, for instance, someone’s been coming into your café every week for the last ten years, you can see if they’re up for a photoshoot and telling the world a little bit about why they keep on coming back.

3. Build a following

After the algorithm change, users will still have the ability to make sure they always see content from their favourite brands by following their page and selecting the ‘See First’ option. You can encourage your customers to follow your own page by keeping it up to date and using it as an exclusive platform for announcing important information such as discounts and sales. The more dedicated followers you have, the wider and more sustainable your reach.

4. Go Live

Zuckerberg noted in his own announcement that live videos tended to generate far more interaction than pre-recorded footage. As Miguel Lantigua, social media strategist at EMSI Public Relations puts it, “for brands that haven’t done this yet, this is the signal to get on board the live video train.” Some of the most popular live videos go behind the scenes to explore how the product is made or involve demonstrating and launching a new product. Simple Q&A sessions with customers are also a big hit.

5. Make a group

Facebook have stated explicitly that content from groups will be prioritised, and so it would be foolish not to form your own for your dedicated fanbase. In July of last year, Facebook launched ‘Groups for Pages’, which allows you to link groups to your pages. So, you can form a group, link to your page, and direct your followers to join. Once they’re members, you can interact with them more directly and facilitate discussion between them on a regular basis.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Facebook may change their algorithm again, and indeed that any social media site may change their algorithm in the future. You can minimise the impact of these changes by having a strong presence on multiple sites – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – but also by having a successful platform that you control. It’s therefore important not to neglect your own website and mailing list. As Aly Jamison, owner of Jamison PR says, “Invest in social media, but know that at any point you could lose that reach and traffic channel.”

Oliver Hurcum writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs.

The post How the Recent Facebook Algorithm Change May Affect Your Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

For businesses with limited budgets, resources, or employees, cloud-based software can often fill in the gaps and allow smaller operations to perform with enterprise efficiency. That’s why the majority of small businesses have transitioned from storing their customer data in Excel spreadsheets to managing their entire sales cycle with an online CRM system.

Working with a user-friendly, multichannel CRM tool, businesses of any size and industry can perform their daily sales, marketing, and support tasks with a speed and efficiency that no spreadsheet or post-it-note strategy can rival.

But small businesses can grow, quickly. At least, that’s the goal, right? Maybe you want to add a new product or service to your offerings or expand your sales or marketing team. How do you manage a more complex sales cycle, keep track of new accounts, and, most importantly, ensure that your CRM is working just the way you need it to?

When operations kick into high gear, some smaller businesses turn to outside consultants, analysts, or marketing agencies to help them better understand their growing customer base and improve their processes—if they can afford it. Others work overtime to internally fine-tune their workflows, better interpret customer sentiment, and predict the likelihood of hitting sales targets in order to fix their weakest links.

But contrary to either of these options, the right technology can—yet again—fill in the gaps.

Similar to the advancement that comes when a business transitions their sales management from spreadsheets to online CRM, a new level of productivity occurs for those who incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into their daily workflow.

This technology that was once hard to imagine is now more accessible and easier to use than you might think. Although a new frontier, there are already well-established software companies offering AI as a game-changing sales tool for small and medium-sized businesses—allowing them to sell faster, smarter, and better.

As a leader in the multichannel CRM space, Zoho understands the nuances of sales force automation and how our users operate at their peak when using a sales tool updated with AI and machine learning.

With the introduction of Zia and Zia Voice last year, all Enterprise edition CRM users can now work with an artificial-intelligence powered, 24-hour sales assistant.

Instead of replacing your workforce, as opponents of AI would claim, Zia allows each of your team members to operate more quickly and with more accuracy, noticeably improving every one of your customer-facing activities—at no extra cost.

Zia is designed to work and learn right along with you. As you log more data into your CRM, Zia will home in on processes and activities that you carry out often, to spot patterns and suggest improvements.

Notably, this AI tool comes with lead/deal prediction abilities, anomaly detection, workflow advice, and it even gets to know your customers.

With Zia Voice, the first conversational AI for CRM, you can talk to your personaI digital assistant. Use the “Ask Zia” chat box on your desktop, or call her directly on your phone, to request to add, view, or change any information in your CRM. Ask her to pull up a report, set a task or reminder, or dictate what’s on your calendar for the week. Small business owners wear many hats, and when you have to juggle multiple tasks at once, being able to communicate in real time with a smart CRM can help you get it all done.

By understanding which leads are likely to convert and which deals are quicker to close, Zia helps your sales team balance their time and effort on the accounts that need the most attention. Zia can even forecast how each activity will affect your overall sales revenue, whether or not you’ll meet your targets, and where your team might be underperforming.

And while she’s working hard behind the scenes creating these predictions and reports, Zia will also be automating the repetitive, manual tasks that would otherwise take up much of your time. Why send the same email and update the same fields, day in and day out, when Zia can alert you to create a workflow instead? You may even find her suggesting a macro you didn’t know existed.

With the assistance of Zia, you can tap into your customer preferences faster than before. By using calculations from SalesSignals, Zia will let you know which day and times are best for contacting a specific lead or customer. Create follow-up reminders based on her suggestions, and cut down on time wasted on missed calls and lost opportunities.

Zia can further improve your relationship-building efforts by alerting you to customer sentiment in emails and social media posts. Knowing, at a glance, whether the customer is happy or frustrated will help you quickly craft the best response.

Using an AI tool, in combination with your familiar CRM, your business will save time and money by eliminating the need for third-party consultants to streamline common processes. Your sales will become more efficient, your marketing more targeted, and your customer support less repetitive and more customer-focused. Upgrade your business with a more intelligent CRM.

Author

Sarah serves as a product marketing manager for the SMB segment of the Zoho suite of applications. She creates content that reflects the needs of small business owners and connects with customers over the benefits of using cloud-based software. With 30+ applications built on the same platform, Zoho provides companies of any size the tools they need to successfully run their business.

The post How AI is Transforming Small Businesses and a Look at Zoho AI appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and, it does exactly what it sounds like – it keeps your connection private, encrypted and anonymous.

While there are a lot of different uses of a VPN, a regular, online business entrepreneur might think: why do I need a business VPN?

A VPN masks your IP (your real IP provided by your ISP), get one here https://diadiktiokaiasfalia.com/ and this will make you safe from DDoS attacks, cybercriminals, and hacking attempts.

The first thing you should do as an online business is to run a secure site (HTTPS). This level of security will protect people visiting your online business’ website from spying, hacking attempts, etc. This should be a primary concern for you as a business owner.

However, with less than 50% of the businesses looking forward to upgrade their business systems, hackers and black hats can scheme against your businesses and launch a deadly attack your business anytime.

Whether you’re an online advertising company, journalist/blogger, e-commerce business or a remote worker, a VPN will keep you secure on the web and provide you the added functionality you need in today’s time.

Moreover, with more than 400 Businesses targeted by a BEC scam every day, it’s high time that SMEs deploy a business VPN as part of their online security plan.

Benefits of a Business VPN

Whether your business is small-scale, medium or big, a business VPN will go a long way in protecting your online business by providing online security and giving you ultimate functionality. With a business VPN, you have the ability to:

1. Limit and Control Access to Corporate Assets

With dedicated IPs, you can limit access to corporate assets and add another layer of security to accessibility. Besides the normal combination of an authentic username and password, only allowing specific IPs access to your servers, databases, etc. give you greater control over who gets to access what, and also makes it that much more difficult for hackers to break in.

2. Support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to Work Culture

Since PureVPN Business supports almost all internet-enabled devices (Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS), members of your workforce who are connected to the corporate network on their own devices will be secured by a VPN against all sorts of malicious entities, online hacks and cybercriminals.

This in turns supports BYOD culture without having the need of you (as a business) to develop an infrastructure and manage a self-controlled network for security purposes. A business VPN eliminates your online worries and risks, allowing your employees to work on whatever internet-enabled device they want, from wherever they want, as long as they are connected to the VPN network.

3. Stealth Research

As an online business, you’re continuously researching on multiple domains. Your research can vary from local region to international, based on your needs. However, when you’re researching online, you leave a digital footprint of your online activities on numerous websites. Those websites can look you up through your IP and know what you have been up to, and then might sell this data to your competitors. You can use beste vpn that is a secure private network that encrypts and transmits data.

Why let anyone look you up and know what you’re doing online? And as a business, your competitors shouldn’t have access to your online activities any way. With a business VPN, you can carry on with your online business activities as your real IP gets disguised with a virtual IP – which you can choose from a huge pool of 88,000 IPs. You can look up Free Geo API and, you can play around with their services.

4. Digital Marketing in Other Regions

As a business, you’re going to have to market your product/services to thrive in the market. Being an online business, you can carry on with your digital marketing activities by connecting to the IP of a specific country where you’re marketing your offerings.

This will allow you to get a local feel (from competitor offerings, ads, etc.) as well as a whitelisted IP which go a long way in promoting your product.

5. Secure Private Servers

To strengthen the servers’ capabilities, most reputed business VPN services provide AES-256 bit military-grade encryption as standard along with robust security protocols that make you hack-proof on the web. When connected, any and all of your internet related activities are secured at all times and will avoid any third party members to access your information. If you want to make sure your business is secured, then you can contact Avaro for professional help.

With increasing online attacks on businesses nowadays, it’s only wise to adapt necessary measures.

Moreover, with a business VPN, you can make use of:

1. Sensitive Data Protection

A reliable business VPN deploy advanced 256-bit military-grade encryption to any and all online traffic you send and receive on your VPN connected device.

As an online business, you might have remote workers in different countries. A VPN will not only protect their device but will also encrypt the data being sent and received by their devices. The most simple definition of privacy is that you are free of people who observe or intrude uninvited. When you have privacy, you can feel comfortable knowing that no one is watching or disturbing you. It also means being free from public eyes and attention. This means that no one discloses your personal information or activities to others without first having your permission. That’s why I thought about https://internetbeskyttelse.dk/ the best VPN to keep safe online.

2. Ultimate Online Security on Public Wi-Fi

Your employees might be using a public Wi-Fi or an unsecured Wi-Fi network to connect to the corporate network, without realizing that public networks are littered with cybercriminals and hackers.

If such evildoers get a hold of your online businesses’ data (login details, customers financial and personal information, location, cookies, etc.), they can blackmail you for ransom or just hack your customers’ credit cards.

3. Complete Secure Online Financial Transactions

Using a VPN comes with added benefit of not only masking your real IP but the ability to conduct secure financial transactions with the help of encryption and strong protocols.

Having a PayPal account associated with your Amazon or eBay store is normal and you might be paying salaries to your employees or clearing the bills of your vendors via your PayPal account. The only way to secure these financial transactions is through a VPN for business. With a business privacy en bescherming VPN, every online payment you make is protected with 256-bit encryption pooled with the strongest security protocols.

Final Words:
What’s important for online businesses is online security. A VPN completely encrypts your data which makes it almost impossible to hack into your data, computer or internet connection. Make sure you deploy a reliable business VPN whenever you are conducting online transactions or even dealing with your employees and stakeholders online.

Author

Mustaali Marvi, a digital privacy advocate, works as a digital marketing associate at PureVPN Business. For over 7 years, he has from working for startups and incubators to managing top 21 of the Forbes 500 million-dollar brands, to writing a book, “14 Ps of Modern Marketing”, and winning a couple of National Awards, he has done it all. He is an avid reader and a freelance writer specializing in areas such as Digital Parenting, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Everything, and contributes regularly to forums, such as Business.com.

The post 8 Reasons to Use a Business VPN for Your Online Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Nowadays, 82% of customers conduct research online prior to making a purchase. It is very important to build a thriving brand presence from the beginning to the end of that process and that’s where video content could help boost your sales. In fact, 4 in 5 millennials consider video content when researching a purchase decision.

In this article we will help you to plan your video marketing strategy by breaking down the most effective types of videos for each stage of the buyer’s journey.

Let’s start with a quick review of that.

The buyer’s journey

The process that begins with becoming aware of a need and ends in the effective purchase of a product or service that fulfills that need is called the buyer’s journey.

It is a three-step process:

1) Awareness: your prospective clients are aware they have a problem but they don’t thoroughly understand it or know how to fix it.

2) Consideration: the prospect fully understands the problem and is thinking of all the options available in order to solve it.

3) Decision stage: the buyer choses a product/service among many others.

As every stage demands a different kind of information, you should ask yourself what stage your prospective client is in.

What is Inbound marketing?

Inbound marketing focuses on creating high-quality content that your client is looking for in each sales stage. According to Hubspot: “Unlike outbound marketing, inbound marketing does not need to fight for potential customers attention. By creating content designed to address the problems and needs of your ideal customers, you attract qualified prospects and build trust and credibility for your business.”

Check out this video that sums up this process from Yum Yum explainer videos – What is Inbound Marketing?

Each stage of the sales funnel has its own specific set of content type that works the best. That being said, nowadays video is one of the most engaging digital tools. According to Hubspot research, 54% of consumers want to see videos from brands they support in comparison to email newsletters (46%) or social image (41%) based content.

In a nutshell, people crave videos. However, what is the best type of video content for each stage of the sales funnel?

First stage: Awareness

In this stage your prospective client will be looking for information about his/her problem so you want to create a video that fits that search query. For example:

Educational Videos

With this type of video, you provide relevant information that your client is looking for. Try to avoid being too salesy. Check out this video created by a vitamin seller about what exactly a vitamin is. They are giving useful information and, at the same time, talking about their product.

Here’s a video showing an example of this from the Vitamin Shoppe – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Y9tbs-eKY&t=0s&index=10&list=PLhat-b0QvZABD5JMLSNuWLJhXiLxR1CLs

How-to videos

These kinds of videos are extremely popular. As a business owner, you sure have some hands-on experience that you can share with the viewer. Try to think about your client’s pain point and create a straight-to-the point video explaining the process to solve that problem.

An example of that is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFyOznL9UvA

Social Media Videos

Social media gives you the opportunity to interact with your audience. There are tons of types of videos that you can create but you need to keep in mind the user’s experience. Your video should be able to stand on their own without sound and you also need to adapt it to the different specs of each platform.

An example of that is here – https://www.facebook.com/Starbucks/videos/413099965814/

Second stage: Consideration

During this stage, buyers have a clear idea about their issue and are determined to solve it. They are evaluating the different solutions available to pursue the goal or solve their challenge. Keep in mind that these types of videos are suitable for this stage:

Explainer videos

Being that Explainer videos are a very popular content nowadays, there is a lot to learn from the experts. There are many types of explainer videos but all are especially recommended to fully explain complex processes in just a few minutes. This video, for example, shows how pharmacy software works, https://www.cdhfinechemical.com/cdh_data/antibiotics-online/ and how it optimizes business’ management.

Product videos

Show how awesome your product is in just a few minutes. Product videos usually feature a well-known character that the audience can relate to. Check out this product video that has gone viral.

Jean Claude van Dam Split with Volvo Trucks – https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=M7FIvfx5J10

If your budget’s limits can’t afford Jean Claude Van Damme, an animated video may be the best option.

Decision stage: from lead to client

In this third stage, you want to push your potential buyer towards a purchase. To accelerate the journey of leads in your funnel, you need to create a strong brand image so that they chose you among other similar companies.

Company culture videos

Build up a close relationship with you prospective client by sharing with him or her what is behind your brand. Try to answer these questions: What’s the story behind your company? Who are the creators that bring life to your brand? What are the values of your company? 

FAQ Videos

Maybe your prospective client still has some doubts about your product. Be prepared to answer them with a quick FAQ video. By clearing up all their questions you will build trust and calm any quibbles before the actual purchase – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiXdxzWbxgw

Customer Testimonial Videos

Is there something more effective than hearing about other client’s happy experiences? This kind of video is a very powerful tool to boost brand trust. Check out this video that features customers with relatable stories. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm1Ez5_AnCQ&t=9s

Author

Víctor Blasco is the founder and CEO of the explainer video company Yum Yum Videos.
He is also an audiovisual designer and video marketing expert. Aside from running the
business, he loves studying Chinese philosophy and is a real geek for science fiction
films and comics.

The post Using Videos Effectively in Your Sales Process – A Guide. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Here are three digital marketing tactics that most small-businesses forget to utilize and how you can leverage them to get your business growing again.But before we begin let me tell you that whenever you are making callback to unknown number which was not received by you,You should know about him see this here it will help you.

Display and Social Remarketing

Remarketing efforts are still the number one tactic I see small-businesses leaving on the table. Remarketing is the relatively simple process of tagging site visitors and then remarketing to them based on what pages and content they may have viewed.

The two primary ways to deploy remarketing are Google Remarketing with the Google Remarketing Tag and Facebook Remarketing which utilizes Facebook’s Pixel code. Both allow you to implement better-targeted display ads across Google’s display network and targeted social media posts on Facebook and Instagram.  While the backend coding can be a little intimidating, an effective remarketing campaign, via Google Adwords or Facebook’s ad platforms, is easily managed. If your business is still not taking advantage of this tactic, reach out to an agency or freelance resource.  They can quickly set-up a remarketing plan for you, and it will be the marketing expenditure you make all year.

Developing Content That Speak’s To Your Customers

While the site content you’re providing might be helpful to your visitors, often it fails to convert because companies forget to customize their content to match the ultimate intent of your most ideal customers, the ones who are already somewhere in the conversion funnel.

Developing a comprehensive content strategy is more a case of hitting-up the right people with the right message at the right time. Too often, companies post content that is too general, thus failing to be relevant.

Take what you’ve learned about your customers’ various buying personas and figure out what the trigger points were for each.

After that, develop additional content that specifically addresses their needs and intents during the buying process (do they, for instance, need the reassurance of reading customer testimonies, reviewing detailed specifications about your products, or a thought-leadership piece that convinces then you are an active and expert participant in your space).  Through your inbound and outbound data, create some typical buyer personas and then produce content that will be especially attractive to them.

Interactive and Mobile Friendly Email Campaigns

With a growing majority of your customers now accessing your site from mobile devices, it’s essential that one of your most powerful digital marketing tools, your email marketing campaign, is also designed for mobile consumption.  Creating emails goes beyond simple responsive design, though that remains a challenge to many small companies. You must also audit your email campaigns and include more interactive features within them.

The goal is to make the user experience as frictionless as possible.

Now that they’ve opened your email, can it direct them to features or products that are of particular interest to them?  Can they browser your latest product offerings, launch a video, contact customer service and initiate a shopping cart from your email? Regardless of what your email’s original intent was.

Some Final Notes  

Before diving into any of these tactics, small businesses should be ready to commit to the following:

• Develop and grow your email marketing list. Provide potential customers opportunities to win a service each month in exchange for their contact information, or deploy customer feedback cards with a promise to get specials and discounts.
• Treat your customers like the fans of your brand you want them to be. Engage with them and encourage them to share content on Instagram and Facebook.
• Automate, automate, automate. Tools like MailChimp help you to make almost any marketing activity automated. Birthday messages, stop back in reminders, thank you for frequent visits or follow up for a “how are we doing” review.
• Commit to being consistent and ready to maintain a campaign. You can’t just go hard and heavy for three months and then die off and go silent. Any sound digital marketing campaign requires consistent and constant attention and activity.
• Organize your website in a way that allows you to identify customer segments easily and to customize the remarketing message. (i.e., If you are a restaurant, split your breakfast, lunch, and dinner messages onto separate pages to quickly identify the visiting intent of a customer. If you are a salon, separate men’s, women’s, and children’s haircut services to speak more to the scheduling and style needs of the customer.)

Christopher Mohs is a digital strategist and founder of Cora+Krist  he has been strategizing and deploying digital marketing initiatives for some of the world’s most well-known brands for over 16 years.

The post The Three Most-Overlooked Digital Marketing Hacks Small-Businesses Forget To Utilize appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

But iPhones also make our jobs easier, and that’s especially true if you’re trying to market your business yourself. Here are our top iPhone X and iOS 11 tricks for new marketers.

1. QR code scanning

Don’t call it a comeback, but the new iPhone X camera comes equipped to scan and read QR codes.

Just point your camera at the QR code and it will ask you if you want to open it in Safari. Since users no longer need a standalone app for QR codes, marketers can return to using them in their promotion efforts. Let customers unlock special coupons in-store or access exclusive content at events with a quick scan on their camera.

2. Live Photo effects

Swiping up on a Live Photo opens a menu to create loop, bounce, and long exposure effects. These fun features let marketers create repetitive GIFs, images that bounce back and forth, or long exposure photos that look like a professional took them.

You’ll have no problem finding these when you’re ready to share them to social media, since iOS 11 now saves GIFs to a new “Animated” album where they play like GIFs instead of sitting there like boring still images. Live Photos are also automatically turned into GIFs whenever you share them via email, and you can trim the beginning and end from the edit screen.

3. Portrait Mode

While it was made for selfies, the new Portrait Mode is perfect for product photos as well. The depth effect brings your product into the foreground while blurring everything else.

Everyone who loves a good two-for-one deal will be happy to hear that both the normal version and the Portrait Mode version are saved to your Photos app . Just click on “DEPTH” at the top of the viewing screen to toggle between versions.

(https://i.giphy.com/3ohhwlPcHQOXwzpIty.gif)

4. Camera level

Take better downward- or upward-facing shots with the camera’s new built-in level. Turning this feature on adds crosshairs to your screen so photos of food, products, and more are perfectly straight and look even more professional. Go to Settings > Camera and switch “Grid” to on.

No word yet on a hack to get your phone’s shadow out of the picture.

5. Storage space

Unfortunately, all this improved camera functionality means heavier files. And taking a ton of photos creates a lot of files. Fortunately, the new iOS 11 conveniently shows you your biggest storage culprits and provides recommendations for freeing up space on your phone.

Go to Settings > Camera > Formats > High Efficiency. The new High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF) and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) settings compress your files in half – freeing up valuable space on your phone, while ensuring fast load times for media on your website.

6. Screenshot editing menu

Apple finally recognized that when people take a screenshot, they often want to do something with them right then and there. When you take a screenshot on iOS 11, a thumbnail of the screenshot instantly appears in the bottom left corner of your screen. Tap it to open the new screenshot editing window, where you can mark it up with highlights and doodles in different colors and pen sizes.

You can also keep taking multiple screenshots in rapid succession for bulk editing and the one in the left corner won’t be included. This is a lot easier than having to navigate to your photos, and the editing options cater to the reasons why people take screenshots in the first place.

What does all this functionality mean for you? Content creators can easily develop tutorial and blog content and mark it up straight from their phone, rather than having to upload the photos and edit them using desktop software. This saves time and money, while creating wholly original image content. Social marketers can have fun with this feature, asking fans to take screenshots using their app and mark them up in various ways.

7. Save PDFs

If you like those screenshot editing features, you’ll love this: You can now create PDFs from webpages, and open them up for annotation just like screenshots. Then you can save them to the new Files app (formerly iCloud Drive) which syncs across iCloud on all your devices.

Next time your team is working on a new mobile landing page, you can send your feedback back to the development and design teams straight from Safari on your iPhone.

8. Scan documents

Likewise, you can now scan documents from the Notes app to instantly convert them for text editing. From within a new note, click the + button, then Scan Documents. The new Notes app also includes additional formatting options and the ability to add tables.

9. Screen recording

Infopreneurs and content marketers alike will love iOS 11’s new screen recording feature. Easily create tutorial content and illustrate how to do something in your app by recording your iPhone screen. Long-press to enable your phone’s microphone, and you can speak while you record, too.

Like Live Photos, you can trim the beginning and ends of screen recording from the editing screen. If you plan on using this feature a lot, add it to your Control Center from Settings for quick access.

10. More multitouch gestures

Tablets like the Microsoft Surface have given the Apple iPad a run for its money in recent years. New features in the iPad are addressing that. The Slide Over functionality lets you have one app floating over another while both remain in focus, similar to the Mac desktop experience.

On both the iPhone and iPad, you can drag and drop things now, too. Transfer multiple files from the Files app to email, or quickly organize images into different albums.

Source: Business Insider

11. Shareable wifi passwords

Any device running iOS 11 or macOS High Sierra can now share wifi passwords with nearby devices over the air. This opens up possibilities for taking meetings in your home or small business and running them smoothly, without painstakingly trying to correctly type in your long and complicated wifi password.

Source: Gadget Hacks

12. App Store marketing

In iOS 11, Apple redesigned the App Store in their effort to make apps great again. With fun new ways to browse and explore the App Store, users should have no problem discovering new apps, especially considering all the new options marketers have for promoting their app.

There’s a new app subtitle field where you can include keywords to make the app more searchable and persuade people to download. There’s also a new 170-character promotional text field that can be updated at any time, with or without a new version of your app. In addition to screenshots, app marketers can now add three 30-second videos to show their app in action. With the new screencasting capabilities, it shouldn’t be too difficult to create these videos.

13. Lifetime app ratings

App developers who have experienced tanking app ratings due to a single bad update can breathe a sigh of relief. The App Store now shows the overall average rating for an app, instead of resetting it with each new update.

Speaking of ratings, they’re also easier to get now. Before iOS 11, users had to leave the app in order to give you a rating. Now, you can prompt users up to three times a year to submit a rating, and they can do it from within your app.

Conclusion

iOS 11 and iPhone X have a lot to offer marketers, especially on small or one-person teams. If you’re looking for a great place to get your phone repaired, check out iPhone Repairs Sydney.

Showcase your product in just the right light, thanks to a new and improved camera that delivers higher-quality, professional-level photos and videos. Easily collaborate with others using features like screencasting, document scanning, and multitouch gestures. Explore new marketing opportunities with QR codes and the App Store.

Michael Quoc is the founder and CEO of Dealspotr, a social latform that connects emerging brands with lifestyle influencers, and gives trend-seeking shoppers access to today’s best deals. Michael previously served as the Director of Product Management for Yahoo’s media lab, where he managed the launch of several innovative services in the live video & mobile social networking areas. He has been awarded nine patents relating to mobile and social network applications and technology. Follow Michael on Twitter at @michaelquoc.  

The post 13 game-changing iPhone X and iOS 11 hacks for marketing your small business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Recently Zoho launched three new products, including:

1. A new version of its DIY website builder, Zoho Sites.
2. Zoho PageSense — a website optimization software that provides insight into visitor behavior patterns, and assists businesses achieve higher website conversions, earn greater profits, and witness accelerated growth
3. Zoho Flow, a drag-and-drop integration platform that allows users to create flexible workflows between cloud applications. By automating information exchange across apps, Zoho Flow helps users cut manual tasks from their business processes. Seems like a Zapier competitor.

There are few companies providing the breadth of solutions and services, at a highly competitive price as Zoho.

One of the challenges we business owners face is finding GOOD technology but that’s not so expensive. Some business steer towards “free” solutions, but it’s not best for their business. See what I wrote about “free” here.

Zoho, like Microsoft, Intuit and Google provides a platform to build and scale your business.

The post Zoho’s Innovation Continues to Help Small Business Start and Scale appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

But, the main concern lies on how to impress your customers’ for a big time and create positive customer experiences. Follow these simple steps to build positive customer experiences:

Offer Great Customer Service: Customer service is one of the key factors to determine the quality of your business. Generally, customers’ purchase products from your business and if any one of your customer faces issue with the product, then the customer reports the same to the customer service department. If the customer service representative quickly resolves the customer issue, then it creates a positive impression about your company in customer’s mind, builds trust about your brand and happily recommends your business products and services to the friends and family members.

In case, if the customer service representative is not serious in resolving customer issues, then the customer gets irritated and it automatically creates a bad impression about your company in customer’s mind and for the next time, the customer will never buy any products from your business which can ultimately result in the loss of a valuable customer. Therefore, the customer service team needs to be prompt and quick in resolving customer issues, complaints and concerns.

Use CRM for Customer Data Segmentation:
If the incoming lead shows interest in your business in the form of continuous website visits, downloading important PDF files or filling details in the web form which should trigger your business to keep track of lead’s online activities. Try to monitor and record lead’s interactions with the company, social media conversations, browsing history, a number of times the lead has visited your website, what kind of content your lead is interested to share on social media channels and so on. PDF is not the editable documents, but with the software, availability to Convert PDF to Word online makes our takes easier, to make it editable rather than creating the whole document again.

Recording and analyzing of lead’s online activities enables the businesses to segment customers’ into various targeted groups and send them the relevant promotional and marketing content which can evoke the lead’s interest and creates an impression that you take care of your customer needs and preferences and builds a positive impression about your brand.

Provide Value to your Profitable and Loyal Customers: Every day, several customers’ visit your business to buy products and services. But there are only a few customers who are loyal, trust-worthy and stick to your business forever. Despite the odd times, they visit your business store repeatedly to buy new products and services, spread goodness about your business, act as brand advocates, refer your business to friends and family members and create positive vibes about your business on social media channels.

Use CRM software to identify the most profitable customers’ of your business, compile a list of loyal and profitable customer database and send them special personalized thank you messages, discount coupons and reward them for being loyal to your brand for a long period of time.

Generations are changing and nowadays, customers’ are expecting personalized interaction with company. They want the companies to know – who they are, what they have previously purchased, and what are their buying habits, interests, needs and expectations. For businesses to better understand its customers’, it is always important to identify and analyze the customer interactions with company at every stage. Employ the CRM system to have a 360 degree customer view and develop positive and professional in-person customer experiences.

Author Bio: James Maron is an author at SutiCRM. He shares his views on SaaS and Cloud-based business management solutions.

The post How To Use CRM to Create Positive Customer Experiences appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

What many of us want to do is increase our profits and better support our families and communities.

Doing this is not always easy, but one of the ways smart business owners grow their businesses is by leveraging the power of technology to make smarter decisions, increase efficiencies, collaborate better and focus on serving their customers.

Intuit announced the released of a “mini-movie” which showcases and celebrates how business owners can ease their day to day responsibilities by overall smarter technology.

Check out the movie below or here and explore Intuit’s website to celebrate and provide solutions to growing businesses!

Providing finance related solutions has been a part of Intuit’s DNA for years. With the trifecta of Mint, TurboTax and QuickBooks – Intuit offers personal finance management, tax solutions and of course day to day business financial management.

This blog post has been published in partnership with Intuit.

See more coverage here.

The post Heartwarming Small Business Movie from Intuit Celebrates Small Biz Success appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

SBA loans are the safest and most affordable debt financing solutions for small business owners. A small business is an unsecured and open-ended loan which can be easily obtained from any financial organization indulged in lending money by fulfilling a few formalities and submitting business related documentation such as your business plan, its growth potential and how you plan to make it successful. However, before you sign the personal loan contract, it’s important to know some vital facts related to it. When starting out, it can be quite overwhelming, so here are a few items to consider when obtaining a fix and flip loans for beginners. If the AiB is happy that the correct disclosure has been made, the procedure has been followed and enough creditors have acceded to the Trust Deed, she will record it in the Register of Insolvencies.

Applying for home credits could be repulsive, especially in case you are a first-time home buyer. There’s an impressive proportion of literature and liberal planning included. However simultaneously, it is advocated paying little heed to your effort. This sweeping agreement assistant will walk you through the route toward making sure about financing for your home and cause you to feel that applying for a home advance isn’t so frightful taking everything into account.

Home advances are very little not quite the same as the normal credits stretched out by contract advance organizations. They’ve financing costs, focuses, and charges. They can be looked at on the web, and they’ve regular patterns. The main genuine contrast is that, as a borrower with a not exactly excellent credit record, you may need to pay a marginally higher rate for this advance to nullify the home loan advance organization’s expanded hazard.

Some home credits are explicitly intended to assist you with financing basic home improvement ventures. By urging you to make enhancements to your home, the home loan credit organization helps increment the market estimation of your property. In any case, how does a home loan credit organization remain to pick up by broadening such an advance? Basic, it brings in cash through the extra premium that you pay for this advance.

Hence, it is imperative to set yourself up with data about home credits and look at the ideas of different home loan advance organizations to ensure you get the best arrangement. 

In case you’re intending to buy a home just because or renegotiate a current home loan in spite of an antagonistic record, you may do well to think about the ideas of the different home loan advance organizations before you acknowledge a home credit offer. 

These Loans Might Come With Precomputed Interest

Sometimes, the type of interest applicable on the business loans is precomputed interest in which the original payment schedule is used for calculating the interest regardless of the fact that how much you have actually paid on the loan. So, before you sign the loan contract, it’s important to check with your lender that what type of interest would be charged on the loan. This would give you more clarity about how much you would have to pay back to the lender.

Early Off Penalties

Another important point to check is whether you are allowed to pay the loan early or there’s a penalty for doing so. If you are planning to pay off the loan early then the scheduled time, then ensure that you read the fine print closely to ensure that no penalty is applied over it. Lot of companies like Simple Installments offer very competitive rates and flexible terms to pay off your loans early without penalities.

The Insurance On The Loan

Most of the banks or financial institutions often present a sales pitch for the additional insurance when you take the loan for protecting the loan in the event of any unexpected incident which impacts your ability to repay the loan. While insurance seems logical to take because you cannot predict the future of your business, but the premium rates and the insurance cost quoted by banks is much higher. As per bespokefinancial, if you want to take this insurance, its always wise to consult a reliable agent and find out if they are offering cheaper prices.

Check If There Are any Uncessary Complications

A loan should have quite a simple process. You take the money and pay it back to the bank in the form of monthly installments which are comprised of the principal amount and the applicable interest. But, if a loan provider company is offering you cash backs, payment holidays or other bonuses, then there’s certainly something wrong which you aren’t able to figure out. Avoid taking loan from the companies whose loan process is too good to be true. If there are some lucrative offers on the loan, then its a red flag and you should not move ahead with the deal.

Once you know about all these points, you are ready to sign your business loan contract. However, ensure that you have a good credit history and a high credit score because the a business loan application with bad credit history or unsecured personal loans bad credit instant decision can result in loan rejection.

The post What Do You Need To Know Before Signing Up A Small Business Loan? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Technology has made it much easier to provide custom marketing materials to different areas. But you still might find it difficult to come up with ideas to target local areas. This post will give you tips that will help you vastly improve your local marketing campaigns.

Create Unique Landing Places for Your Different Markets

Most businesses have a single website for their entire operation. While this seems practical from an organizational standpoint, it creates a series of problems that might be damaging your ability to convert sales or services. Many consumers want to know they are working with a business that are local and understands their specific needs and preferences.

Sending customers to your homepage might impact your ability to convert sales or provide services. Consumers can be skeptical of large businesses, that’s why it’s important to appear to be a local expert in your trade. You don’t want to turn off customers by appearing ‘too big to care.’ Create different landing pages that provide information on your company in a local context.

Register All Your Branches to Google My Business, It’s Free!

Google My Business is one of the most effective ways to get brand recognition online for free. It ensures your business is located in Google’s database and Google Maps. It will also provide your information to anyone who searches locally for your company online. You can input information for a range of different branches and locations easily.

By registering your local branches to Google My Business, you’re allowing local consumers to access your information on the top part of search results. Many consumers look for companies nearest to them, having a local listing with Google can drastically improve the amount of exposure you have to different markets.

Use Different Social Media Ads for Different Target Audience

Social media has become one of the primary ways to target consumers, this is especially true for younger generations. If you own a business, chances are you’ve used social media to search for customers in the past. One of the great benefits of social media advertising is the ability to target different market segments very effectively.

Not only can you target individuals with certain interests and online habits, you can target different people in different areas.

Upfitness, an online personal trainer site, shares, “While many business owners use the same ads across different geographical regions, this is an outdated technique that wastes social media’s capabilities. Make your ads customized towards each different area that you target—it can quickly improve customer engagement.”

It’s All About Connecting to Your Customers

If you want to compete in today’s economy, you have to understand the importance of connecting with consumers. By not having a local connection, you distance yourself from individuals who might be interested in your products or services. Use any of the tips provided in this post to improve your regional appeal.

The post 3 Creative Ideas to Boost Your Local Marketing Campaigns appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

A Vista Print report says – More than three-quarters of U.S. consumers say that shopping at or using a small business is important to them, with the impact these businesses have on the local community as the number one reason. This is according to a recent survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers conducted by Vistaprint, the leading online provider of professional marketing products and services to micro business owners, results of which were announced today in The Consumer Small Business Shopping Report. The report reveals what consumers across the country deeply value about shopping small – in fact, more than double the number of respondents cited local commitment over price as their top motivation.

See the full survey here.

The post Vistaprint Report Says Many Consumers Will Shop More Small Businesses in 2018 appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Their press release reads, “While Bright LED screens or safety regulations can pose limitations with traditional lasers, the Kensington Ultimate Presenter is optimized for use in conference rooms with TVs, online meetings with remote participants, and large auditoriums with multiple presentation screens for greater user flexibility. Kensington has removed the laser from the pointing feature to help address the growing need for a presentation tool that can be used where laser devices are not allowed as well as for online meetings where remote participants can see the pointer onscreen when using web meeting tools. The presenter is also adaptable and customizable to the user, with its companion software KensingtonWorks ^TM  for assigning different features to the top button. New customization features include mouse click, pen and magnifier, to improve upon the user experience.” See the full details here.

The post Kensington Announces Ultimate Presenter with Virtual Pointer appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Their press release reads, “Today Zoho unveiled Cliq, chat software that blends instant messaging with video, audio, and group conferencing to create a unified communications system for organizations of any size. Available immediately in native, web and mobile versions, Cliq integrates with Zoho and third-party applications to bring relevant data from those applications into the Cliq window, providing chat participants contextual information about the topic being discussed.

“More companies around the world are turning to chat for real-time, internal collaboration,” said Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corp. “But sometimes text isn’t enough, and chat software must also be able to handle voice and video communications as well as the documents, images, and other data related to the work at hand. Cliq supports this kind of dynamic, company-wide collaboration. And it provides a degree of future-proofing thanks to its unprecedented extensibility and strong developer community.”

The post Zoho Enables Real Time Messaging with Cliq appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The Benefits of a Virtual Team

More and more companies are embracing the virtual worker concept and allowing employees to work from home. Just take a list at the top 100 companies in 2017 that are offering remote jobs. Businesses like Amazon, UnitedHealth Group, Hilton Worldwide, Xerox, Dell, and Intuit understand the benefits, and need, of offering remote work as an option to recruit and maintain the best possible employees.

Some of the overwhelming benefits of having a virtual team include:

• Increased worker productivity: the removal of distractions like impromptu meetings and loud co-workers, remote employees, and their manager’s report a definite increase in overall productivity.
• Lowers stress and boosts morale: 82 percent of remote workers report lower stress levels according to a survey by PGI. In addition, the survey also reported that 80 percent of workers had a higher morale and 69 percent reported lower absenteeism.
• It reduces employee turnover: According to a study published by Stanford University, job attrition rates fell by over 50 percent for a China-based firm with 16,000 employees.
• It satisfies millennial workers who demand flexible benefits and work styles: 68 percent of millennials surveyed by AfterCollege say that the option to work remotely increases their interest in an employer.

Each of these benefits is not only a boost to the overall operation of a business but also has a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. So let’s take a look at what managers need to know about effectively building a virtual team.

Two Keys to Building a Collaborative and Productive Virtual Team

According to an article by Alvernia University, there are two keys to building a more collaborative and productive virtual team that managers and leaders need to know: Structure and Communication.

Having an outlined team structure, especially for larger teams, is essential for ensuring team productivity and collaboration. Harvard Business Review recommends using a flexible, fluid team structure of multiple tiers that include a core (strategy and development), operational level (ongoing day-to-day workers) and outer network (temporary or part-time workers with specialized expertise). Having this type of defined structure brings together team members who need to collaborate for specific purposes.

In addition to developing a team structure, companies are strongly encouraged to have a written telecommuting policy. This allows employees to understand expectations on how they will work.

The second key to building a strong virtual team is communication. However, it is not just about ensuring that you have proper methods in place for facilitating communication, but that you are continually encouraging communication between virtual team members. Non-work communication can buy phentermine pakistan lead to building trust which leads to success. Therefore, managers and leaders should highly encourage both work and non-work communication through team building activities and interactions when in the office and other outside activities.

How your #smallbiz can build the best #virtualteam that is #productive and collaborative.
Click To Tweet

Collaboration and Communication Tools for Virtual Teams

Tools play an integral part in ensuring that your team can collaborate effectively and remain productive, regardless of where they are located. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite tools that assist virtual teams.

Communication Tools

To ease communication between virtual employees, companies can turn to tools like Slack or Skype. These real-time tools allow for individual or group conversations and the sharing of files. Skype also allows for the use of video and screen sharing so that team members can see one another and specific details they are discussing.

Project Management

There is an extensive list of online project management tools that businesses can use to organize their business projects. Two of our favorites include Asana and Teamwork.

File Sharing

Using an efficient file sharing tool not only allows team members quick access to the documents they need but the ability to collaborate by leaving comments and notes. Two great tools to consider are Dropbox and Google Drive.

By taking the right steps to implement the proper tools and best strategies, business leaders and managers can take advantage of a remote workforce to increase their business operations and bottom line. For those looking to improve their skill level and knowledge of today’s business functions and processes, consider pursuing an online MBA through an institution like Alvernia University.

The post How Leaders Can Build a More Collaborative and Productive Virtual Team appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The Great Marketing Divide: Online vs. Offline

Since the inception of the internet and the introduction of social media and a plethora of other tools built to help businesses promote their services online, many companies have abandoned traditional marketing efforts. Price plays a major factor in why many have transitioned solely to online marketing. Yet, another major reason is the reach and sheer volume of people they can get their products in front of.  But as we often know, bigger (reach) is not always better. Nowadays, people are becoming more mobile when they use the internet. Moreover, over 46% of Google searches are location-based. The local community needs to know where they can fulfill their needs. For tourists, it is about them finding your establishment when they arrive, and how to know when you need an SEO company that specializes in local services.

What traditional marketing provides to businesses is a more targeted and localized reach. This is of particular importance for brick-and-mortar brands looking to capture the audience within their community. The power of advertising in local newspapers or magazines and on local radio or television integrates a brand with its local audience. Thus focusing the dollars spent on a higher value target versus casting a wide net, hoping to gain a few ideal customers.

What many savvy businesses are beginning to understand is that integrating the best of traditional marketing methods with the best of online marketing techniques into a cohesive strategy can have tremendous value and ROI.

Creating a Cohesive Online and Offline Marketing Strategy

Businesses looking to maximize their marketing efforts need to develop a cohesive strategy. A strategy that integrates their online and offline efforts to create a seamless brand experience.

According to an article from Marketing Land Notes:

“Marketers can capitalize on that feeling of a seamless brand presence to drive a stronger interaction between online and offline channels. What’s needed is a marketing system that integrates offline display promotions and print advertising with digital marketing such as paid ads, banners, and social media posts.”

It starts with driving offline audiences to online channels and conversely driving online clients to offline outlets to leverage reach and conversion. An example of this would be a radio ad that drives people to a website or a television ad that includes a social media hashtag. This type of cross-channel strategy proves highly effective since it can lead to both offline and online purchases.

How you #smallbiz can maximize its #marketing efforts with a cohesive offline and #online strategy.
Click To Tweet

Don’t Forget Marketing 101

One thing that marketers need to keep in mind when looking to develop their online/offline marketing strategy is marketing basics. Or, what we refer to as Marketing 101. No marketing will be successful if you fail to follow simple marketing rules such as:

• Be relevant
• Create a customized experience
• Stay true to your brand
• Know which outlet works best for each part of your audience and create your ads accordingly

While many marketing basics remain the same, the methods used to promote products and services has changed dramatically. Many colleges and universities have recognized this and have created specialized programs to help educate on the changes and in ways that work for today’s busy professionals.

To find greater marketing success, take a look at your current marketing initiatives. See how you can improve your ROI by integrating your online and offline

The post How to Create an Effective and Cohesive Online and Offline Marketing Strategy with a okr coach appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Salesforce recently announced an upgrade to its Service Cloud platform.

One of the enhancements to Service Cloud is speed to get up and running. With just a few clicks you can ensure your customer service team can connect to Twitter, Facebook and other channels to offer support wherever your customer wants.

By simply dragging and dropping, with the Lightning App Builder, companies can extend functionality by simply dragging-and-dropping one of the new service Lightning Components into Service Cloud.

Of course being able to respond to customer needs outside the office is essential as well. According to the press release, Service Cloud Mobile app for iOS and Android empowers agents to provide personalized customer service from anywhere. With the new native mobile app,  employees can triage, manage and resolve cases while in meetings or on-the-go. Push notifications help keep agents up to date on the status of their cases, making it easier for them to provide customers with fast, responsive service.

Salesforce is enabling business owners to better serve their customers across all channels and enabling customers to have a better experience with the business.

The post Salesforce Upgrade Its Customer Service Platform. Faster Setup Time. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Watch my interview (below) with the President of Wix.

Wix has always been a robust platform. RamonRay.com is built on it.

First enabling an easy to use web site editor. Then enabling easy to use applications from Wix (such as Wix bookings) and the Wix app store for 3rd party developers to hook their apps onto a Wix web site.

However, until now, there’s not been a way for a Wix web site to bring in external data via an API call to a data set outside of Wix. Or for a Wix web site to include an almost infinite possibility of features through programming via Javascript.

That’s all changed with Wix Code – which enables any Wix user (or their developer) to build highly customized, intelligent and smart websites – easily.

What might take several weeks to code in a non-Wix website can now be done in hours (or days) with Wix Code.

A startup could in fact use Wix as a testing ground for an idea and have the front end and backend done faster than ever before.

What’s even better is that you don’t have to worry about hosting, storage, security and other details. Since your web application is hosted by Wix – they take care of all the messy details. You just build a beautiful and now more intelligent and customized website.

Wix Code means more professionals can build more functionality into their websites, increasing customer engagement, increasing sales and providing better customer service and a rich user experience.

The post Why Wix Code Is a Game Changer for Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

In partnership with Adobe, we’re excited to provide these tips and insight with you!

It is tough, running your own business. Everything is riding on you and the amount of progress you make every day. The successes you ultimately achieve all come down to how much you can accomplish in the time you have carved out for your business—and sometimes that is not a lot.

As the owner of a small business, productivity is not something that will come naturally to you, you will find lots of distractions at work. That is not to say you are not capable of being productive; it is just the nature of the job. Competing priorities all calling for your attention, mistakes of the past calling you to return to them, and your mind wandering over to the lofty goals you have set for the future. It is a lot to process, all while trying to focus on the tasks at hand.

Productivity in business is not impossible to achieve though. It simply takes some work and a little help.

Here are some tips for how you can start being more productive for the well-being of your business.

7 Tips for Being More Productive

1. Don’t Power Through

There are many who say that working in small increments with a pre-set break schedule is beneficial to keeping productivity and energy levels up. That is why there is such a thing as the Pomodoro Technique.

2. Remove Temptations

Whether you run your business out of your home or an off-site workspace, temptations are everywhere. Anything can break your concentration and force you to have to “reboot” and refocus again. Put a lock on your door, close out your email, and put a distraction blocking tool on your phone and computer to keep those temptations out.

3. Stay Accountable

Employees are not the only ones who are guilty of time theft. If you find that you are not generating as much work as you thought you would each day, use a time tracker to see what’s going on.

4. Schedule Everything

There are so many project and task management tools available for a reasonable price that there is no excuse not to schedule your workday. This includes breaks, meetings, assignments, business management tasks, and so on.

5. Delegate When You Can

Perhaps your lack of productivity is not that due to distractions. Perhaps it is that you have too much on your plate and you are burning out. Don’t be afraid to outsource tasks to other team members or freelancers when you can.

6. Use Software to Streamline and Automate

Cloud-based software is truly revolutionizing the workplace—especially for small businesses that now have tools available to help them run as efficiently as large corporations. If you are not using it to automate your workflows, outsource administrative tasks, or streamline your process, you are missing out.

7. Work Smarter with Those Tools

There are so many wonderful things about cloud-based tools; I am not even sure where to begin. How about their ability to empower users to work from anywhere and from any device? How about their ability to sync up with other systems to cut down on the back and forth of transferring files and information to one another? How about their real-time applications?

Adobe’s Contribution to a More Productive Small Business

Here’s an example of one of those smarter business tools: Adobe Document Cloud. This tool provides small businesses with all the tools they need and, more importantly, tools that should be integrated with one another in supportive of a more productive work environment.

If you have not heard the big news yet, Adobe Document Cloud is bringing some big changes to the small business landscape.

The one I am most excited about is Adobe Scan, which I think has huge promise to be a game changer for small businesses.

Up until now, software that enabled users to scan images or text and convert them to PDF just weren’t “smart” enough. They only worked well on desktop computers. They could not extract text out of a scan and make it selectable or copyable. They also couldn’t do anything to improve the appearance of photos captured. However, that is not the case anymore with Adobe Scan.

“Adobe Scan represents a radical reimagination of how to capture your most important document content. Adobe invented PDF creation for PCs, and with Adobe Scan we are doing the same for a mobile-first world,” said Bryan Lamkin of Adobe.

“Adobe Scan represents a radical reimagination of how to capture your most important document content. Adobe invented PDF creation for PCs, and with Adobe Scan we are doing the same for a mobile-first world.”

The post How Adobe Scan and These 7 Tips Can Make You More Productive appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Having one noisy keyboard might not be so bad. But having an office full of noisy keyboards, with actively typing people can be down right disruptive and annoying.

Here’s my review of the quiet keyboard.

The post VIDEO: How Noisy Is Your Keyboard? Ramon Tests The Cherry MX Silent Keyboard. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

We’ll have more about Garner Foods coming up on SmartHustle.com

Amongst other initiatives, Microsoft will continue its focus on artificial intelligence to make day to day work even faster and smarter for professionals.

Microsoft announced the launch of Windows 365 which brings together Office 365, Windows 10 and enterprise security. See the full announcement here.

Furthermore, Microsoft is strengthening its focus on leveraging partners to implement technology solutions and Microsoft spoke quite a bit about Azure – its cloud platform.

Watch my interview with Garner Food, makers of hot sauce and other sauces,  here or below. See how they’re using technology to grow their business, be more productive and be more secure.

Watch my interview with Microsoft GM Catherine Boeger about how Windows 365 brings together, in one place, Microsoft’s offerings for business.

The post How A Hot Sauce Company Is Using Windows 365 for a Modern Workplace appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Why is the Project Plan so important before project management ?

The Project Plan is one of the most important and useful documents in your toolkit, and should be referred to and updated throughout the project lifecycle. Its initial purpose is to kick-start the project by convincing the decision makers (usually the people who control the funds e.g. the Project Board or Steering Committee) that the project is viable and and will meet their needs and timeframes / budgets / expectations. If the Project Plan is poorly written or contains insufficient detail, the project may not even get past this first decision gate and may never actually get off the ground. Many viable projects have floundered at this stage due to poor planning and communication. On the flip side, if you can deliver a great Project Planning, it establishes your credibility as a Project Manager, starts the project on a sound footing, and provides the team with a mandate for action and a clear direction to follow. In dock scheduling software , There are a multitude of possibilities to enhance dock scheduling operations, and dock operations in general, through our software solution.

The good news: there is! The technology is called project management software, and it helps you organize projects and tasks so everything is completed on time and you no longer have to worry if something has fallen through the cracks. Two of the most popular project management systems are Asana and Trello. This quick comparison is designed to help you figure out which is right for your small business.

Asana

Asana is a web-based “collaboration information manager” that was founded in 2008 and helps you “move work forward.”

• Teams of 15 or less can use the free version, while larger teams can purchase the premium version at $9.99 per month.
• The software is user-friendly, with an intuitive navigation system that includes a task view and calendar view.
• Within Asana, you can set up projects, tasks, and subtasks, assign items to team members, add due dates, share files and post comments. All activities take place in real-time.
• Several integrations are available, for example, Google Drive, Slack, and Github.
• Support is available via email, and the Product Guide will get you up to speed fast. Organizations with over 50 team members get additional support through a ‘success’

Trello

Trello is a web-based service founded in 2011, aimed at helping you “work more collaboratively and get more done.”

• Trello has a free version that comes with some limitations (example: file attachments are limited to 10MB), and two paid options: Business Class ($9.99 per month) or Enterprise ($20.83 per month).
• Projects are set up as “boards,” and within the board, users can set up task lists and cards (individual tasks), which can be assigned to specific team members.
• Integrations are known as Power-Ups. They offer the ability to connect with programs like Evernote, Salesforce, and SupportBee (although free users are limited to one Power-Up per board).
• Trello offers support via its contact page and also a searchable knowledge base. Paid users get priority support with a guaranteed 1-day response time.

If you are still undecided as to whether Asana or Trello is right for you, the free versions will give you a chance to explore. There are other project management options too, including Basecamp, Teamwork and Microsoft Project.

Finding the right project management software is important, but it’s only beneficial if you know how to use it to your advantage. For this reason, small business owners and their employees may be interested in furthering their education. Schools like Campbellsville University offer fully online programs like the MBA and the Master of Science in IT Management to help boost your skills.

Project management software can help your small business get ahead. Imagine being able to visually see all your projects and tasks laid out, knowing who is working on what, and having one dedicated space to go to for access to all project files and updates. Not only would your small business be a smooth running operation, but you would also gain valuable peace of mind.

This post is written in partnership with Campbellsville University, which offers dynamic online degrees for students and professionals seeking to boost their business knowledge and skills.

The post Asana or Trello? Comparing Project Management Software for Small Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

• 96 percent of executives said that the long-term success of their organization depended on the development of new ideas

YET…

• 82 percent of those same executives didn’t make a meaningful distinction between significant innovation and achieving incremental performance gains.

An organization’s success depends on the ability to innovate, but you have no way of making a distinction between whether your company is being innovative or just ‘doing better’, there is a problem. And the problem stems from the fact that most companies do not have a formalized innovation process in place that allows them to work towards success.

Here’s a final fact from the Accenture study you need to know:

• 72 percent of companies allow innovations to languish because there is no formalized process or organizational home for such initiatives

Building an Innovation Process: The 5 Stages

Finding success by innovating poses a number of challenges. The hard reality is that most companies who find success do so simply by chance: serendipity.

To change that, companies need to adjust their mindset about innovation, start taking the right approach and find the necessary resources to enjoy the strategic benefits of growth. They would then be what researchers in the Innovation: Management, Policy & Practice study call robust companies. These are companies that “have found a recipe for sustainable innovation programs rather than mere spurts of innovation.”

The study defines five specific stages most common to this sustained, successful innovation:

1. Idea Generalization and Mobilization
2. Advocacy and Screening
3. Experimentation
4. Commercialization
5. Diffusion and Implementation

Creating an effective process that includes these five stages can greatly help businesses find success through innovation. But, like all business processes, if the process has a weak spot or a company lacks the discipline to follow the system, you are once again relying on chance for success. Managers are the one line of defense that companies have to ensure that processes don’t break down.

A great manager, one with the proper education on not only core business concepts like project management and organization dynamics but also how to build a culture of innovation, is vital to an organization’s success. Many universities offer online MBA programs that help today’s managers sharpen their skills in these specific areas. Because as outlined in the Innovation: Management, Policy & Practice study, to effectively assist with the innovation process, managers need to:

• pay constant attention to operational details of innovation projects.
• be clear about how ideas are selected and evaluated
• respond to external constituents and provide their opinions for experimentation
• pay attention to customer desires and perceptions

If you want to find greater success through innovation, start building your process today and ensure that you have a talented manager who understands exactly what is needed to find success at the helm. This will help ensure you find greater success more often, and not just by chance.

The post Study Shows Successful Business Innovation Relys on a Strong Process and Management appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

A recent study from Career Builder revealed that 52 percent of employers are now using social media in some aspect of the recruiting process. Moreover, a staggering 35 percent of employers admitted that they are less likely to interview someone if they cannot find them online. This upward trend in social recruitment (it’s up 13 percent in just two years), signifies a major change in how human resource departments and those tasked with hiring employees will operate in the future and what knowledge, skills and strategies they’ll need to succeed.

So, which social platforms does someone looking to recruit new talent start with? While some social media sites, such as LinkedIn, are built specifically to help recruiters find new talent, not all others are. Here’s a breakdown of what social platforms many recruiters are turning to.

It’s not surprising to see that LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter round out the top three, and for good reason. LinkedIn is a business-oriented social network with a number of tools available to recruiters to assist them in finding great talent. While initially, you wouldn’t think Facebook would be the best place to start when looking for a new hire, the sheer volume of users on the platform makes it hard to ignore. And because Facebook is a more ‘personal’ social networking site, it allows employers to connect on a different level with potential candidates. Twitter, the place of 140 characters, holds a top spot for finding candidates with more progressive skills. With specialized hashtags that make searching for jobs easy, this platform is a great place to start the recruiting process for free.

But that’s the social media recruiting landscape today. What will it look like 6 months from now or even 6 years from now?

Thankfully, just as quickly as the social media and business landscape changes, many colleges and universities are also making the necessary changes in their programs to ensure that their graduates are prepared to succeed. Take, for instance, Concordia University Texas. Teaching students today’s best practices in recruiting and hiring is a major focus of their online Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management program. As stated on their website, “Graduates of our program understand the “why of business,” so they are prepared to succeed not just now, but also in the constantly changing future.”

“Graduates of our program understand the “why of business,” so they are prepared to succeed not just now, but also in the constantly changing future.” – Concordia University Texas

If the last ten years in business, since the introduction of social media, is an indicator of the type of change we will continue to see, then those entering the field will need a much deeper knowledge and skill set than ever before. It’s good to know that there are programs that will prepare them for success.

There are many different ways to make your product popular thanks to the easy access to the internet. But the most popular way should be growing your tiktok account and talking about the product you would like to sell. Talk with marketing experts about a fun and interactive way to attract more customers.

This article is written in partnership with Concordia University Texas. Their affordable online programs help you take the next step in the journey to becoming a skilled and knowledgeable professional.

The post Social Media’s Impact on Business Recruiting Continues to Rise appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

In Amy’s opinion, one of the biggest reasons small businesses are drawn to Staples is because of their tremendous offering of products and services coupled with the expertise of their staff members.

To learn more about this and watch the live interview, click HERE.

The post Staples’ Printing and Marketing Has Big Impact on Small Business Customers appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Nearly 70% of small business consumers say the most important factor in a positive website experience is up-to-date and accurate content, suggesting a quick “spring cleaning” could bring big benefits for business owners. That’s according to The Small Business Consumer Expectations Report from Vistaprint Digital, launching today. Based on the results of a March 2017 survey of 1,800 U.S. consumers who have visited a small business website, the report focuses in on preferences for content, design and frequency of updates – and, most critically, what factors leave customers with a bad impression.

Nearly 70% of small business consumers say the most important factor in a positive website experience is up-to-date and accurate content, suggesting a quick “spring cleaning” could bring big benefits for business owners. That’s according to The Small Business Consumer Expectations Report from Vistaprint Digital, launching today. Based on the results of a March 2017 survey of 1,800 U.S. consumers who have visited a small business website, the report focuses in on preferences for content, design and frequency of updates – and, most critically, what factors leave customers with a bad impression.

Consumer expectations of small business websites are high, with 42% reporting that they are not very likely to visit or purchase something from a small business if it has a poorly designed or unprofessional website – and 21% are not likely at all. Digging more deeply into what drives bad impressions, the results reveal that the nuts-and-bolts elements are significant: the top reasons consumers leave a small business website with a bad impression are outdated contact information (nearly 50%) and lack of address/directions/business hours (42%). What is the real impact? Nearly 60% of respondents say they would be less likely to purchase from a small business if they had a bad impression of the website – only 7.5% said it would have no impact at all.

“Based on a recent poll of our customers, we know that lack of time and limited resources are the top challenges for micro business owners as they look to grow their businesses. This latest consumer data arms these business owners with the insights to strategically prioritize their marketing tactics – specifically as it relates to their core digital presence,” said D. Scott Bowen, vice president and general manager of Vistaprint Digital. “With 68% of consumers saying that up-to-date and accurate website content is most important when it comes to having a positive experience with a small business site, allocating time to regular site updates is critically important to putting your best foot forward.”

The post NEWS: Neglecting Website Basics Can Significantly Impact Sales appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The seventh annual Shred-it Information Security Tracker Survey, conducted by Ipsos, reveals that with the move towards a “paperless” office, U.S. businesses are not prioritizing the management of confidential information in all forms.

Their press release reads…

Even with the evolution of a mobile and increasingly digital workforce, paper documents continue to be a core component of office life. According to the 2017 Security Tracker survey, 39 percent of C-Suite Executives (C-Suites) anticipate an increase in the volume of paper their organization will use over the next year and 52 percent of Small Business Owners (SBOs) anticipate the volume of paper to stay relatively the same. Despite this, SBOs demonstrate a lack of understanding of the vulnerabilities a lingering paper trail can create within their organization.

“Whether it be on lingering paper documents or electronic devices, properly disposing of or securing sensitive information is the best way for a business to protect their customers, their reputation and their people,” says Kevin Pollack, Senior Vice President, Shred-it. “Companies of all sizes need to start taking proactive measures to ensure their employees are trained on destruction procedures, that sensitive information is stored securely, and that they’re mitigating information security threats by disposing of paper and electronic devices in a timely fashion.”

The Security Tracker survey reveals that 32 percent of SBOs believe that the loss or theft of documents would cause no damage to their organization and 31 percent think a data breach wouldn’t significantly impact their business. Their actions reflect a lack of concern – 39 percent of SBOs have no policy in place for storing and disposing of confidential paper documents and just under half (49 percent) shred all documents, regardless of whether considered confidential or not. Additionally, only a small percentage (13 percent) have a locked console in the office and use a professional shredding service to destroy confidential documents.

Unlike their smaller counterparts, most larger U.S. organizations have implemented policies that address confidential data in all forms. However, their practices continue to leave the door open for fraud, especially when it comes to the secure storage and destruction of electronic devices and hard drives. Although 96 percent of large businesses have a policy in place to store and destroy electronic devices, fewer C-Suites than ever before are disposing of electronic devices on a regular basis. The percentage of C-Suite respondents who dispose of electronic devices, including hard drives, on a quarterly basis or more frequently has gone down from 76 percent in 2016 to 57 percent in 2017.

Ultimately, these security shortfalls have led to a lack of confidence in both small and large businesses. Confidence in current secure destruction systems for both paper and electronic media is low, with 43 percent of C-Suites and 46 percent of SBOs reporting that they feel less than very confident. Additional factors contributing to low confidence may include a lack of employee knowledge of the legal requirements in their industry, or a lack of training on company policies for the disposal, destruction, and storage of confidential and non-confidential information. In fact, only about half of all C-Suites (51 percent) train their employees on legal requirements at least twice a year and 36 percent of SBOs never train their employees at all – highlighting the need for more robust training within businesses both large and small.

The post News: U.S. Businesses Neglect a Major Information Security Risk appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Recently, I encountered another angle that I think some business owners would appreciate, after watching a session where Bethany Edwards, co-founder of Lia Diagnostics, pitched her business to the crowd at the 2017 SXSW Dell Experience.

Bethany and her team have developed a biodegradable, flushable pregnancy test; therefore her business resides in the complex area of medical products and regulations. This is a rapidly growing field; other companies in this space have developed tests for other health issues that patients might prefer to be discreet about, which has helped surge the at-home test market. I caught up with Bethany later on to get her tips for small business owners in similar areas where the products are complicated and highly regulated. Get the interview by clicking Play below.

In the video, Bethany also shares general pitch tips and advice for starting entrepreneurs. But if you are in a complex field or dealing with a complex product, here are Bethany’s specific tips for you:

1. Assume that people don’t understand the complexities.

Before crafting your script and materials, begin with the assumption that some or even all of the audience do not understand the technical aspects of your business or product.

2. Simplify your main message.

Since you are speaking to people who don’t understand the complexities, start by trying to explain the problem and your solution in the simplest way that you can describe it.

3. Avoid jargon.

If the audience doesn’t understand the complexities, they will not understand these technical terms; simplify your language.

4. Write as if you were explaining it to a kid.

When writing your script, picture someone who has no idea what you are doing, and try to find ways to describe the business succinctly but in a meaningful manner.

5. Practice the script but be ready to deviate.

Things may happen while you are pitching (for example, in Bethany’s pitch she lost some of her slides and had to wing it!). But you should also read your audience in real time and make on-the-fly decisions about what you should or shouldn’t include and when elaboration is necessary.

Bethany shares more advice in the video above. Her interview is the second in a series of 2017 SXSW Dell Experience coverage that we will be sharing in the next few weeks.

The post Advice from the 2017 SXSW Dell Experience: How to Pitch a Complex Business appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Attendees interacted with cutting-edge technology related to music, video, and gaming, and listened to thought-provoking sessions like “How VR Could Change the Way We Do Everything,” “You’re Secure but Is Your Workplace?” and “What It Means to Build an Open Source Culture.” But the real treat for small business owners was the ability to connect with Dell representatives to learn how technology can help them grow.

Interview with @Erik_M_Day at the 2017 @SXSW @Dell Experience: #tech advice for #smallbiz.
Click To Tweet

At The Experience, I caught up with Erik Day, Vice President & GM, North America Small Business at Dell Technologies. He spoke about the excitement of being able to connect with customers at SXSW and the fact that Dell is much more than just products.

“The great thing about Dell is that we really are an end-to-end solution provider for customers,” said Erik.

As always, you can access the full interview by clicking Play below.

Before I said goodbye to explore other parts of SXSW (more video interviews and articles to come!) I asked Erik to share his advice for small business owners. Here are his tips:

(1) No question is a dumb question.

At Dell, they understand that technology isn’t what keeps you up at night as you focus on getting the next customer and creating the next product. Their team is ready to answer ANY technology questions you might have.

(2) Move forward with the cloud.

The cloud is a big buzz word right now, although some may not even know what it is. That’s okay! Not only can they answer your questions (see point #1), they can help you with everything you need to create a cloud computing environment and explain what it means to the future of your business.

(3) Security is important.

The backbone of your company is your customer base. Keeping your customer data protected is a vital part of business growth.

(4) Financing is available.

Dell works with customers to provide financing and lines of credit so your technology needs are covered, and your capital can go to finding the next customer, product, or innovation.

To learn more about Erik, Dell, and The Experience, watch the video above…and stay tuned for  more SXSW coverage in the days and weeks to come.

The post The Experience: Dell Showcases the Power of Technology at SXSW 2017 appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

From Xero’s press release:  Xero’s new technology is the first example of personalized machine learning in a small business cloud accounting system. Developed in-house by a specialist team of engineers working full-time for a year across three different locations, the system uses detailed statistical analysis to learn from and assist the individual business and their partner based on their own specific circumstances.

The automation will mean small businesses no longer need to worry about where their invoice is filed – an invoice for time spent on site should be recorded against “Sales – Labor”, not “Sales – Materials”, for instance. The machine learning automation evolves with the processes used by the business and their advisor – when the small business comes to create their next invoice, Xero automatically suggests the account code so they don’t inadvertently make a mistake.

The new technology is the first step in Xero’s plan to build a bespoke, personalized assistant for small businesses and their NYC accountants to cut the administrative burden, prevent mistakes, and enable them to spend more time growing their business.

The machine learning automation will initially be made available to a initial group of small business customers and their accounting partners for testing, before being launched to all Xero customers later this year.

The post Accounting Gets Artificial Intelligence: Xero’s New Service appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Public computers are found in a range of places, including libraries, schools and universities, cafes, and more. Free public Wi-Fi hotspots are also popping up all around us, including restaurants.

These public internet access points get used extensively and as per the Fifth Geek blog you should be carefully when using them if you have sensitive data.

In fact, in 2010 a national study found that 77 million people – that is one-third of the American population 14 and older – used a public library computer or wireless network to access the Internet within the past year. Researchers found that over 75 percent of these people had Internet access elsewhere but used the public computer for convenience.

That convenience comes with a price. Using a public computer can put your data at risk, including usernames, passwords, and other private information. Hackings of public computers frequently make the news, including just recently as the St. Louis Public Library system was hacked and held for ransom on January 19. 2017. And while there are no estimates of how often hacking occurs on public Wi-FI, we do know it is eerily simple for an experienced hacker.

This brings me to my latest Tech and Business video where I share four tips to keep your info safe when using a public computer, which can be fixed at whitcroft it. I will share the essential tips below, but please watch the video for more valuable information.

1. Don’t save your login information.
2. Use private browsing.
3. Be careful what you enter.
4. Choose technology that has security software built in.

The post 4 Tips for Staying Safe on a Public Computer appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Scrolling through a list of endless leads, reaching out to them and then trying to customize and craft a suitable follow-up are all tricky tasks. Fortunately, computer software has stepped in to save the day.

Although marketing automation has been around since the eighties, the days of sending out mass emails with a single click are gone. Today, marketing automation pools a variety of tasks into a single platform. From email, website tracking, lead scoring, social media and campaign tracking, the top marketing automation packages will do everything for you.

We’ve partnered with Incapsula to bring you some tips on how to best choose a marketing automation solution.

Finding the Right Marketing Automation Provider

Naturally, with so much choice out there, choosing the right provider requires a little knowledge and a little research. In this article, we’re going to address some issues to consider as you do your own research and find the solution that works best for you.

Budget

Although some would say that price should be lower down on the list, we think it’s important to get the most bang for your buck.

Yes, having a system that has all the bells and whistles you could ever wish for is great, but if you can’t afford it then it’s not worth blowing your budget.

Each provider will offer their own unique features and, depending on how sophisticated they are, they will have a different price tag. When you’re assessing a provider’s package, consider how essential some features are to your business and whether they’re worth the cost.

Features

Every marketing automation package, whether it’s hosted or web-based, will offer something different. However, if you really want to make a sound choice then you need to make sure it covers the following basics:

• Email Marketing – the software should handle all your email needs.
• Web Visitor Tracking – without getting an insight into your traffic, a package is useless.
• Campaign Management – make sure the software allows you to control multiple campaigns.
• Lead Management & Scoring – ranking leads and customized content based on scores is essential.
• Social Integration – beyond emails, make sure the software gives you marketing insights across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Security

When you’re dealing with a third-party software supplier in any sphere, it’s critical that you assess their security credentials.

This is especially important in marketing automation because you’re essentially giving up your business contacts and marketing capabilities to the provider you choose, and allowing them to email your database. Before you hit the buy button, make sure the provider has tested its code for vulnerabilities. According to Security Week , 121 million records were hacked in the US in 2015.

When it comes to staying safe and web application security, Incapsula suggests using a web application firewall to filter incoming code to protect against SQL injections, cross-site scripting and other potential attacks. If a provider doesn’t review its code and utilize this sort of technology, then you should avoid the provider or do it yourself.

Specificity

What is your business and how does this define your marketing strategy? Let’s assume you’re a digital marketing agency providing content to tech companies. In this instance, you’ll want a provider that offers high levels of website tracking data as well as social media integration so you can keep track of each new article’s performance.

Conversely, if you’re a health supplement supplier, then promotional emails and lead nurturing will be of more importance. Before you choose which provider you’re going to go with, make sure you understand your own needs. Once you’ve done this you can then start to select the companies that offer the best solution for these needs.

Ease of Use

Finally, after you’ve chosen a package that’s secure, has all the features you need and comes in on budget, you need to make sure it’s easy to use. Having a myriad of powerful tools at your disposal is great, but if you can’t navigate from one to the other without having to refer to the user manual then it’s not worth having.

When all is said and done, marketing automation is all about ease, efficiency and ergonomics. Each move you make should be intuitive and, more importantly, have a purpose. Therefore, if a provider doesn’t make it easy and intuitive to improve your marketing and generate more sales, it’s not one you should waste your time or budget on.

The post 5 Tips To Choosing Your Marketing Automation Provider appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

GoDaddy also announced 3 upgrades to its shopping cart features. These upgrades include:

• Smart mobile checkout: redesigned checkout flow to minimize all friction points for customers to complete purchases. Dramatic reduction in typing and tapping to checkout.
• Abandoned shopping cart recovery: automatically send emails to shoppers with an easy link to return where they left off in the purchase flow.
• Commerce ready email marketing: upgraded email marketing integration enables rich mobile experiences for your prospects or customers.

What does this mean for your business? If you’re not enabling multiple payment options for your mobile (and other) shoppers you’ll lose sales.

The shopping cart is the “last” click for many shoppers. Make sure your shopping cart is optimized for mobile shoppers to enable them to shop fast and remind them if they don’t finish shopping.

This announcement also shows that email is still a VERY important asset in e-commerce, it is a very important factor when trying to define ecommerce. Social media is useful but email is still quite powerful. If you’re a beginner to dropshipping, you may want to check out the ecombusinesshub.com before you put all your savings into a new dropshipping business.

Prepping Products
Why is prepping important?

Product prep is important because it helps reduce time in post-production or photo editing. You can reduce the appearance of fingerprints, creases, folds, or other imperfections that otherwise would have to be corrected during editing.

Sometimes product imperfections can be so noticeable that they can’t be reduced even after editing. Thus, it’s important to take this step as seriously as the other steps. Keep in mind that the camera picks up things that are unnoticeable to the naked eye.

The post GoDaddy Enhances Mobile Shopping With ApplePay and Shopping Cart Intelligence appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

It’s great to have an idea and a dream. It’s great to make your first sale. But nothing smells “amateur” and “unprofessional” like bad invoicing. I recently purchased an item online, from a fledgling part-time business owner. The payment site had a different name, the email address had a different name and the email I received had yet a different name.

These things make you look unprofessional and decrease the chances of repeat purchases.

Take the time to a) get a professional email address to use for all your business communication. You can do this VERY easily with GoDaddy (to get a domain name) and Microsoft Office 365 and Google Apps to power your email and other communication and collaboration.

Most business owners use one of several dozen great invoicing tools, but some don’t. Using an invoicing tool, instead of sending an invoice via an email message does a few things.

1. It looks professional
2. You can see what has been paid and what has not been paid
3. You can often get paid faster as it’s easier for your customer to pay you. Many of the invoice tools have built in payment options and/or links to PayPal

Some invoicing options include (and many of these options include a nice suite of options for solo entrepreneurs such as time tracking as well):

Zoho Invoice

Due

Freshbooks

Wave

Sage

Quickbooks and Xero both offer full-fledged accounting software which includes invoicing as well.

SmallBizTrends and More Than Accountants have compiled a nice list of invoicing options as well.

The post 3 Reasons Invoicing Apps Are Essential For Fledgling Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Technology is amazing. Getting news rapidly is amazing. Seeing what are friends like (and don’t like is amazing). However, one of the downsides of technology is that the automatic algorithms give us an unrealistic view of the world.

Jenn Wortham writes in the New York Times

In hindsight, that failure makes sense. I’ve spent nearly 10 years coaching Facebook — and Instagram and Twitter — on what kinds of news and photos I don’t want to see, and they all behaved accordingly. Each time I liked an article, or clicked on a link, or hid another, the algorithms that curate my streams took notice and showed me only what they thought I wanted to see. That meant I didn’t realize that most of my family members, who live in rural Virginia, were voicing their support for Trump online, and I didn’t see any of the pro-Trump memes that were in heavy circulation before the election. I never saw a Trump hat or a sign or a shirt in my feeds, and the only Election Day selfies I saw were of people declaring their support for Hillary Clinton.

For leaders (and everyone) it’s so important to be careful of the LENSE through which you see something. Don’t let the lens you’re looking through taint you and be careful that you are not filtering out too much.

The media, pollsters and others learned painful lessons in “blinders”.

As a leader, maybe you’re getting information about a problem employee (or other person). However, make sure you ask around and not get your information from a closed circle of view points.

And sometimes you must PURPOSEFUL dig a little deeper than the surface to ensure you’re getting as much well-rounded views and opinions as possible.

If you’re a “Fox News” person, get a little “MSNBC” in you from time to time.

The post Don’t Let Technology Create Blinders On Your Perspective. Every Leader’s Nightmare. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Regardless of your occupation, understanding why the use of video is becoming a powerful communication tool is crucial. While entertainment videos are still leading the ranks when it comes to the type of video being watched, instructional and informational videos are not far behind.

I’ve asked Matt Pierce, customer support manager at TechSmith Corp, to share his insights with us.

In fact, according to TechSmith’s Video Viewer Study, 78 percent of those surveyed in the United States said they watch informational videos and 77 percent watch instructional videos. These stats are close to entertainment videos (where 81 percent of respondents in the U.S. indicated they are watching). This further proves video is becoming more accepted as a means to inform.

With easy access to video creation tools, you don’t need to be a professional videographer to make an impactful video. Learning some best practices for video creation is the first step in harnessing that power for your communication initiatives.

Getting started: Preparation is key

• Learn about your audience and design your video with them in mind, taking into account their needs, concerns and questions.
• Write a script or at minimum, a solid outline before recording. This will ensure the language is concise and clear.
• Create a storyboard and plan exactly what you will record to ensure your framework makes sense, and you’re meeting your objectives.
• Get feedback from multiple people, and the more critical, the better. Even tear it apart yourself to refine and ultimately, deliver the best product.

Once you have a plan in place, recording the actual video is your next step. There are several pieces of advice you should have in mind when shooting that will optimize the quality of the video and the message you are trying to convey.

Shooting the video: The essentials for making it powerful

• To avoid clutter and distractions, conceal wires and lapel mics under clothes or tape in a hidden spot.
• Use lights to remove shadows and help with the quality of video.
• Record ample amount of b-roll (supplemental, alternative footage) to help with transitions between cuts.
• Keep clips short. A lot of time spent on the same clip can be dull, so mix it up!
• Use on-screen text sparingly. Watching, listening and reading at the same time is tough.
• Add captions for SEO and accessibility.

Next, you will need to edit your video – this is where simple and easy-to-use tools come into play, such as TechSmith’s Camtasia. Video editing tools can take you to new lengths: adding in sound effects, transitions, screen grabs and removing anything you don’t want heard will perfect your video.

Editing best practices: Finalize your masterpiece

• Keep it simple and focused. Doing too much will complicate the creation process and distract from getting your video finished.
• As you make cuts, consider transitions. They can help viewers get from one clip to the next. Use transitions sparingly though, and remember to use wacky transitions with purpose, not because they’re cool.
• Check your audio levels through both speakers and earphones and adjust accordingly.
• If you decide to use music, ensure it is appropriate for the tone of your video. Make sure your music isn’t overly loud as to where it would be hard to understand what is being said.
• At the end of the video, include a specific call to action. Ask yourself, what do you want your viewers to do at the end of the video?

As informational and instructional videos continue to be a way of learning for most, the investment in a tool to help educate is something to consider. You will not only catch and keep the attention of your viewers, but save time and resources.

The post Video Humanizes Your Brand: 3 Tips To Use It For Your Business. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Bots can help you do this.

Cnet writes, “In April, Facebook unveiled a big bet on bots, which are software powered by artificial intelligence that can perform simple tasks, like routine customer service queries. Facebook‘s bot army is mostly focused on its Messenger app.” Chatbot enables user interaction through a conversational interface via spoken or transcription .Additionally, Facebook is that the most generally used social media network with many accounts across the world . We at DeveloperonRent have a well-equipped team which may assist you manage different facebook accounts, connected together with your business, by developing suitable chatbots.

Artificial Intelligence has caught the imagination of 1 and every one together of the foremost potent offerings of technology. There has been a radical change within the way data security is assumed about lately, by implementing AI . However, it’s not only Security which had been influenced by AI. Automation too has had its share of upward swing through the utilization of Robotics and AI. And this is often what Chabot Technology is all about. Chatbots, a shorter sort of Chat Robots, have grown as a preferred platform and became the new sensation, as far as users are concerned. This had led to the emergence of more companies stepping into Chatbot Development and successively , hiring chatbot developer. At DeveloperOnRent, we offer a talented and dedicated pool of Chatbot developers for you to rent and meet your application requirements. once you hire Chatbot developers from us, you’ll get a robust product built with less room for complexity. Our Chatbot developers have delicately developed and deployed a spread of Chatbots, which have ensured convenient and straightforward interactions with a product, thereby delivering an entire user experience. Our eminent Chatbot developers are ready to demonstrate the facility of conversational interfaces. Delivering flexible, scalable and secured Chatbots has been our core area of focus. As a Chatbot Development Company of repute and promise, we use leading edge technology in delivering quality rich chatbot applications. Our Chatbot developers have the power to develop bots which are either AI based that use dynamic learning and regularly upgrade themselves through human interactions or Fixed bots, where the opportunities to upscale are limited.Our aim is to be recognized amongst the formidable companies sourcing Chatbot developers. Hiring dedicated Chatbot developers from DeveloperonRent, gives you complete freedom to figure in tandem with our established team.

Chatbots still gain immense popularity amongst developers globally thanks to its potential to supply fast and powerful solutions to user’s development oriented queries. Ever imagined how technology could influence human behaviour? Chatbot has done just that. Chatbot may be a software program which may replicate intelligent interactions with humans with the assistance of AI.

If you have customers who are very engaged social, speak to a local (or national) digital marketing consultant that has developed bots for others. Beyond knowing the costs to develop a bot for your particular needs, understand the best practices in using one for your business. Also be sure to TEST it out with a subset of customers to be sure it’s meeting their needs.

The post Social Bots: Should You Use Them for Customer Service? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Let’s give Microsoft credit. It is NO longer the company of 10 or 20 years go, launching, software installed on a PC – those days are over. Seeing Satya Nadella on stage at Microsoft’s press conference, launching Microsoft Teams, was big. Hear a snip of his presentation here.

Microsoft Teams is yet another successful push by Microsoft to provide frictionless services for enhanced collaboration and communication, on the Office 365 platform. I use Asana, Zapier and many other tools. But the ONE thing that Microsoft continues to provide is a comprehensive suite of products that offer some of the best collaboration and communication solutions available.

Furthermore, Microsoft offers support, constant improvements, security and an ecosystem of supporting partners.

There’s been so much press comparing Microsoft Teams to Slack and I get it. But think about this. Slack and other companies are a premium model. For those who don’t want to pay, and want free, they’re going to go to Slack or some other free version. But for those companies who want a premium offering, they’re going to want to consider Microsoft. It’s all about investing in your business as well. Comparing “free” to a great fee based product is not “apples to apples”.

For companies who are standardized on Microsoft, Microsoft Teams will be highly compelling. For companies who are not using a Microsoft product, Microsoft Teams might give them a reason to do so.

What’s also nice about Microsoft Teams, like with other Microsoft products, is that it’s open to bringing in and sharing data from other sources – including Asana and Zapier and many others.

From Microsoft’s press release:

• Chat for today’s teams. Microsoft Teams provides persistent, threaded chat to keep everyone engaged and informed. Team conversations are visible to the entire team by default, and the experience also offers private chat capabilities. A library of emojis, GIFs, custom stickers and memes gives people a fun way to express personality within their digital workspace.
• A hub for teamwork. Microsoft Teams brings together the full breadth and depth of Office 365. People can start voice and video meetings, as well as work with Microsoft Office documents, directly within the Microsoft Teams experience. The Microsoft Graph enables intelligence to help with information relevance, discovery and sharing. Microsoft Teams is also built on Office 365 Groups, the cross-application membership service that makes it easy for people to move naturally from one collaboration tool to another, preserve their sense of context and share with others.
• Customizable for each team. Because every team is unique, Microsoft Teams offers the ability for teams to customize the experience to meet their specific needs. Team members can create channels to organize conversations by topic. They can customize channels with a feature called Tabs, which provide quick access to frequently used documents and applications. Tabs can be created for Office 365 services like OneNote, SharePoint and Planner, or third-party solutions, such as Zendesk and Asana coming soon. Microsoft Teams supports the same Connector model as Exchange to bring notifications and updates from third-party services, such as Twitter or GitHub available Wednesday, directly into the experience. In addition, it supports the Microsoft Bot Framework to bring intelligent first- and third-party services into the team environment, including sharepoint permissions management. The preview of the Microsoft Teams Developer Preview, also announced today, gives developers the opportunity to start building integrations with Microsoft Teams right away.
• Security that teams trust. As part of Office 365, Microsoft Teams offers the global scale and advanced security and compliance capabilities provided by the Microsoft Cloud. Data is encrypted at all times and covered by a transparent operational model with no standing access to customer data. Multifactor authentication provides enhanced identity protection to help ensure data stays safe within the team. In addition, Microsoft Teams will support key compliance and data protection standards, such as the data processing terms with European Union Model Clauses, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act business associate agreement (HIPAA BAA), ISO 27001, ISO 27018, and SSAE 16 SOC 1 and 2 report.

The post Microsoft Teams: How Microsoft Is Changing and Evolving Business Collaboration & Communication appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Data breaches are a major concern for many businesses and with good reason. If you have a business website, there’s a good chance it will fall prey to a cyberattack of some sort. This raises the question of who will be held liable if your website is hacked and customer data is exposed.

I’ve asked Cassie Phillips, with SecureThoughts.com, to share her research insight on this important topic.

Who is Liable if Your Website is Hacked and Customer Data is Exposed?

There is no cut-and-dry answer as to who is liable if a business’ website is hacked and customer data is exposed. Judith Delaney, the founder of CMMR Group-TurnsonPoint (a digital media compliance company), stated that a business is more likely to be held liable than the customers in the event of a data breach. That being said, the situation is still a complex one without any clear solution.

It is theoretically possible for the state to prosecute your business if your website is hacked. However, if the state were to bring a criminal case against your business, the prosecutors would need to prove that you had committed a crime. To do this, they would need to have an identifiable victim who has suffered identifiable harm. This is not a simple task.

That being said, your customers can file lawsuits against your business if their data is exposed through your hacked website. This is exactly what happened to Target after a massive data breach in 2013 that exposed customers’ banking details. After the class-action lawsuits, Target agreed to pay $10 million in damages to settle.

How to Protect Your Website from Being Hacked                 

Given the complex nature of the situation, it’s best to prevent your website from being hacked in the first place. You should consider putting the following security measures in place:

• Turn on your system logs
• Encrypt all customer data
• Install anti-virus software on all your business devices
• Use a Virtual Private Network (Secure Thoughts has recommendations)
• Use a firewall
• Back up your website content regularly
• Use two-factor authentication
• Invest in cyber insurance (this won’t prevent your website from being attacked, but it will help your business recover financially if it does get hacked)

What to Do If Your Website Is Hacked

If your website does get hacked, you need to follow the proper procedure to prevent further security breaches and mitigate your liability. It is important to hire a legal representative as soon as possible because they will advise you on the best course of action. Try to understand the type of breach by reviewing your system logs to see what, if any, data has been compromised. You need to know what you’re dealing with to fix it. Avoid releasing information about a breach before you know what type of breach it is and if any of your customers were possibly affected. This will only cause your customers to panic. Ensure that you fix your system as fast as possible and check it for other weaknesses.

It is essential that you notify all the appropriate financial and legal organizations of the breach as soon as possible. Certain business sectors have stringent protocols regarding the reporting of security breaches. The situation will only worsen if you are found to be covering up information. As soon as it is appropriate, inform your users of the breach. This is required by law in some states, and federal law may also require it in certain cases. Finally, contact your insurance company to determine if you are covered for any of the expenses relating to the breach.

Conclusion

With the speed at which technology improves and the increasing number of businesses working online, cyberattacks are likely to become a greater problem over time. Not only will the number of cyberattacks increase, but the sophistication of the techniques used will also improve. Despite the lack of clarity regarding your business’s liability if its website is hacked, you can protect your business and customers if you follow the correct procedures.

Has your business website been hacked? If so, how did you deal with the situation? Please tell us in the comments section.

The post Can You Be Held Liable if Your Website is Hacked? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

When you are giving a presentation, striking the right balance and appealing to all different demographics at the same time, can be a challenge.  Overall, think of your presentation as an ad for what you are saying. Use a combination of a bold statement with a strong image that grab everyone’s attention.

More specifically, here are a few tips on how to incorporate text, visuals, video, interactivity, and how different generations will react to them.

I’ve asked By AlexAnndra Ontra, Co-Founder of Shufflrr to share her insight.

Text

No one wants to read a diatribe on a slide. No one really can, even when they try. Regardless of age, your audience will either focus on what’s on the screen or what you are saying as a presenter. You want them to focus on you. So, keep bullet points to a minimum. No more than 3, maximum 5, per slide. Use phrases, not compound sentences. By keeping the text simple, the audience will focus on you the presenter. And the text will reinforce your “big” ideas. Remember you are there to give the presentation. You are the hero, not your text slides.

Visuals

A picture paints thousand words!  And that works across all generations. People remember images more than they do text. Furthermore, consider the popularity of Instagram and Snapchat. People are relying on pictures more than words to tell their story. The same goes for presentation slides. Bold images have more impact than text. The images don’t have to be literal. Sometimes using a symbolic image can have the same, if not bigger impact. For example, I was at a presentation for a technology presentation describing their different products – complicated products. Rather than get mired down in the details of this interface, with a chart of that workflow and description of that language, the presenter simply compared each product to transportation, with a big picture of – a car, a train, a boat and an airplane.  By doing so, the presenter simplified a complex concept and made what could have been a very boring pitch, exciting.

Video

A video that introduces or concludes your message will reinforce the overall premise of your presentation. Video is a great tool that resonates across generations. It’s exciting and engaging. If you lost those Millennials during your boring text slides, you can still reach them through the video. And for GenXers and Boomers, who have more tolerance for a formal presentation, the video serves as a nice break and reinforcement for your message.

Interactivity

The world is going interactive. For millennials going from one topic, to another file, then to a video, then to yet another video, with several browsers open, is pretty common. And with all that activity, they’re still Snapchatting with their buddies from their phone, while their boss is telling them what to do. Millennials are multi-taskers. Boomers? Not so much. One thing at a time, but they tend to be more focused on that one task. Boomers and GenXers have a tendency to prefer a natural beginning, build-up, resolution and conclusion in their presentations.

So how do you connect with all groups and keep them engaged during your presentation? Remember that people who want to succeed in business will evolve. Boomers who want to stay relevant will adapt to new technology and media. And Millennials who want to excel in a corporate atmosphere will accommodate their colleagues – including those from other generations. You can make it easier for all groups by striking the Happy Medium – no pun intended. Definitively use interactivity and video, mixed in with some simple text slides. Minimize the static charts, since no one likes them. By doing so, you’re striking a middle ground that all three generations can appreciate – without losing anyone in your audience.

The post How To Use Text, Images and Video To Reach Different Audiences appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

My dentist is amazing however, when I want to make or change appointments I have to call his office. Why? Why can’t I do it all online? There are MANY great online scheduling services available and Microsoft recently released one of its own – Microsoft Bookings.

Integrated into Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Bookings helps small business owners ensure they’re customers can book appointments with them – 24/7. Not just book the appointment but also change and update it.

Each new customer that schedules an appointment with you is added to the customer contact of Microsoft Bookings as well.

If you work with customers, who need to schedule appointments with you – enable them to manage their own online bookings.

The post Microsoft Bookings – Enable Customers To Make and Amend Their Appointments Online appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

It’s famously said that Tim Feriss, before he finalised the cover of “4 Hour Work Week” (whose premise I disagree with) used Google Ad words to see which book cover folks would like most. The one that was clicked the most, that’s the cover he chose to put into final production.

Surveys are important. While they’re not a final determination of what someone will actually do, having a few thousand people give you their answers on a series of questions can give you a pretty good idea of how they’re thinking.

You can then use this data to better develop a product or market your service.

Google Surveys is a pretty comprehensive tool that can help get questions you have, in front of a lot of people across its advertising network.

Check it out here.

The post Google Surveys – Service From Google Enables You To Get The Answers You Need appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This is a simple way to INCREASE reviews from satisfied customers.

Online reviews are a powerful way to increase sales, as before people buy from you, they often check out what others are saying about your product or service or company.

The post Customer Referrals – Make It Easy For Customers To Submit Online Reviews appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

According to those that offer wireless internet services, most traditional wireless network management solutions fail to stop rogue devices from connecting to their networks or block threats like wireless denial-of-service attacks. If they have a wireless intrusion protection system (WIPS), it delivers a high rate of false positives, incorrectly categorizing neighboring hotspots and innocuously connected devices as malicious, which creates unnecessary frustration and end-user complaints.

According to WatchGuard, with their new cloud-ready APs (AP120 and AP320), it automatically classifies wireless devices as Authorized, Rogue, or External, resulting in a very low false positive rate. This advanced rogue detection process can safely and automatically shut down unauthorized access points and clients, while nearly eliminating the risk of illegally interfering with neighboring wireless networks.

There’s more to WatchGaurd’s new wireless access points, but overall, whether you look at theirs or another vendor’s, if you have an OLD access point, it might be worth you upgrading to a new one that’s more secure and gives you user data you can use to improve your home internet system.

The post Is It Time To Upgrade Your Wireless Access Point? New Devices From WatchGuard Boost WiFi Security appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Facebook is constantly evolving its platform. Recently it upgraded the capabilities and integrations of Facebook Pages to enable you to do more and better engage with your customers.

These upgrades include better integrations with multiple service providers such as:

• Start Order – Accept orders with delivery.com or Slice.
• Book Now – Book appointments with HomeAdvisor, MyTime and other services.
• Buy Tickets – Sell tickets with Ticketmaster.
• See Showtimes – Provide show schedules and sell tickets with Fandango.

Other updates include managing bookings and inquiries, easier ways for customers to refer and recommend your business and more.

Facebook is an important part of your marketing, be sure your Facebook page is fined tuned to perform as best as it can.

The post Facebook Business Pages – Why You Should Constantly Tweak Your Facebook Page appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

GoDaddy recently announced the availability of enhanced security for its email integration with Microsoft Office 365 through a partnership with Proofpoint.

While your email is often secure when it’s on the server of your email provider, it’s often not secure when in transit and sent “in the clear”.

Encrypting your email such as with a solution that GoDaddy’s introducing means your email is secure end to end.

There are many encryption methods, including Marc Cuban’s Cyber Dust app.

While this level of email security might not be for every business, it’s something you should at least consider.

The post Email Encryption: Is It Time To Upgrade Your Communication? New GoDaddy Offering appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve asked Paul Everton, founder and CEO, MailControl to share his insights with us. MailContro is a cyber security startup that protects enterprises from the threats presented by spymail. He previously founded Yapmo and Visible Vote.

Phishing attacks start with in-depth electronic surveillance of you and your company. Cyber criminals gather information from publically-available resources such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and websites, as well as through more devious techniques such as embedded tracking code in email, known as spymail. They then use the collected information to create targeted outreach in the form of emails, or even phone calls, in an attempt to steal funds, disable corporate networks, steal sensitive data, and hold you and your business hostage. The industries that are most at-risk include legal, healthcare, and government because of the sensitive information they possess that can be used for identity theft, insider trading, blackmail, etc.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to protect businesses from phishing attacks in my role as founder of cyber security startup MailControl. These are the steps I recommend you take:

• Be aware of what’s on the Internet: Attackers initially gather insight into both you and your business from online sources. From social media sites to business websites and blogs to spymail (more on that below), an amazing amount of information can be discovered without any technologically advanced “hacking” techniques. It’s important to be aware of this information so you (1) are cautious about what and how you communicate publicly, and (2) don’t give undue credibility to emails that seem private but in fact can be created based on readily available information.

• Create smart data security policies: The Dropbox hack stemmed from an employee’s poor password management. Even though you’ve likely been told this numerous times, passwords are key to protecting your company. Two factor authentication should be used for all sensitive documents including webmail, bank portals, medical websites and HR portals. If the services you currently use don’t offer two factor authentication, then you should consider taking your business elsewhere.

Also, access to sensitive data should be provided on a need-to-know basis. For example, payroll data should only be accessible by certain individuals, not the whole accounting department.

• Use secure fund transfer tools: Last year Ubiquiti Networks sent $47M to hackers’ overseas accounts after they posed as employees requesting the transfer. This is only becoming more common as an increasing number of companies are being tricked into sending company funds to buy phentermine appetite suppressant accounts controlled by attackers. Put in place well-defined funds transfer procedures, such as requiring all funds requests to be via a secure banking portal and not email.

• Beware of spymail: Spymail is email with hidden tracking code that feeds its sender information about who opens it, when and how many times it’s opened, whether and where it’s forwarded, and even the physical locations from which it’s opened. Its use is up over 284% since 2013 because it gives the sender even more insight into your company’s operations. Because spymail has only recently come into widespread use, most email systems do not protect against it. Companies should consider adding an anti-spymail solution to stop outsiders from gaining visibility into their inboxes.

The post Phishing Scams: 4 Ways to Protect Your Business from Phishing Scams appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Ever been to a small conference room, a huddle room, and you and 4 other people are trying to be seen by the tiny camera on a computer or another device. Lifesize feels your pain and has developed the Lifesize Icon 450.

It’s a small camera, that automatically adjusts as people enter and leave the room. Combined with the LifeSize telephone system it’s a small and nimble system to ensure small “huddles” of people can all communicate in your next video conference call.

The post Conference Room Video Camera Self Adjusts and Moves. Great For Small Huddles appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve asked Nicholas Raba, Founder and President of SecureMac.com to share his insight with us. SecureMac is a company devoted to Mac Security. Nicholas has written extensively about computer security, with articles appearing in both magazines and books, and often gives speeches at security conferences.

Stolen data is just one of the many cyber threats that modern businesses face every day. Malware, spyware, viruses, Trojans, ransomware, and other threats can lead to lost or corrupted data, leaked trade secrets, hefty expenses (whether to pay a ransom or repair/replace hardware), and plenty of headaches and lost productivity. Needless to say, no company can be complacent about cyber security when these threats not only exist but are also prevalent.

The Mac Misconception

One of the biggest misconceptions about cyber security is the belief that Macs are somehow impervious to threats. This belief is thanks in part to a 2007 “Mac vs. PC” commercial, which implied that Macs were somehow “immune” to viruses.

This misconception could explain the growing popularity of Macs for business. In a recent customer survey, SecureMac found that 44% of customers use their Mac for work, while 66% stated that their companies primarily use Macs as well. No one wants to deal with a virus or malware problem on their work computer, for fear of risking data loss, compromising customer information, or losing productivity. If there is a supposedly “secure” operating system, it would make sense that it would be especially popular in the workplace.

Usually when people change from a Windows computer to a Mac book they get everything twisted up, because the whole software is really different and you’ll need time to get used to it. In case that you have computer problems, just ring a computer technician in Melbourne that can help you understand how to work on your computer properly.

The truth about Macs is that they are just as vulnerable to potential cyber threats as any other devices. The Mac OS X (or macOS) operating systems aren’t as prevalently targeted by hackers as Microsoft Windows, simply because Windows has a larger market share. However, as Macs have become more popular, malware for the operating system has become more common.

The good news is that customers seem to be letting go of the myth of Mac’s supposed “immunity” to viruses. SecureMac’s recent customer survey also showed that 86% of respondents either do not think that OS X alone provides sufficient security or are unsure.

How to Address Security Concerns

So how can you protect your Mac from the security threats out there? Here are a few ways that you can get up to speed and minimize your level of risk:

• Keep your Mac updated: Apple will frequently release security updates to the OS to address new vulnerabilities. Keeping your system as up to date as possible, then, will help to keep you safe from new threats.

• Install security software: Updates will help eliminate vulnerabilities, but having good security software will provide an extra layer of protection. Use antivirus and privacy program to detect browser threats, wipe out tracking cookies, scan your system, and remove any malware.

• Be wary about unsecured Wi-Fi: In our survey, we found that 61% of customers use unsecured Wi-Fi on a regular basis. These networks are convenient, but they can give hackers a gateway into your machine. Turning off sharing, enabling the firewall, and only connect to sites with HTTPS are some ways to stay safe on unsecured Wi-Fi, but you might even consider getting a VPN if you use free wireless hotspots regularly.

• Stay aware: Follow a few blogs or sites devoted to Macs and Mac security. Stay up to date about what the latest OS X or macOS threats look like will help you avoid them.

As a small business, you can’t afford a data breach or computer system downtime. Taking steps to protect yourself from cyber threats will protect your brand image and preserve the integrity of your customer and employee information. The tips listed above will help you lay the foundations for good protection and hopefully help your business avoid any potential cyber threats in the future.

The post The Misconception of Mac Computer Security: Everyone Needs Security appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Slack has the BRAIN SHARE of collaboration amongst so many. Other tools include Jive and of course Google Apps and Microsoft’s Office 365.

You can get the full details about Facebook Workplace here.

Facebook Workplace appears to be quite robust. Integrating Live Video, Chat, Search and an overall News Feed – it’s a way for teams to keep in touch and updated.

I like that Facebook offers it free for 3 months – plenty of time for every company to try out.

At only $3 a month per user – it’s pretty darn cheap.

The post Facebook Workplace: Now Collaborate With Your CoWorkers Using Facebook appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Ever been on a website and noticed it’s featuring an advertisement for another website you had just browsed moments before? It’s no coincidence. You’ve been retargeted.

The online marketing tactic has really gained momentum over the past few years and allows businesses to re-engage visitors as they leave their brand’s website and browse other places online, including social. Some say creepy, but it is a smart move, especially for small businesses in today’s digital, social and mobile world as it keeps your offerings top of mind. And as a small business owner, you need that extra push now more than ever to get in front of consumers and battle competitors in your space.

I’ve asked Erika Jolly Brookes, CMO at Springbot to share her insight on this with us.

When done right, retargeting can transform window shoppers into customers. In fact, generally two percent of shoppers convert on the first visit to an online store. Retargeting brings back the other 98 percent, according to AdRoll.

However, retargeting can be challenging, especially for first-timers. Without a good strategy in play, you run the risk of developing ads that won’t resonate with your target prospects and end up wasting money. The following are tips to help you overcome those challenges and master retargeting for your small business.

Let Data Guide Your Campaign

First things first, in order to execute a successful retargeting campaign you will want to come up with a killer offer that’s going to drive clicks and conversions. Struggling for ideas? Look no further than your customer data to devise a genius idea.

Analyzing the purchase data trends of your customers can give you a better handle on what will pique the interest of similar consumers. When reviewing the data, ask yourself:

• What items are these customers purchasing most frequently?
• When are they purchasing? Does seasonality play a factor?
• Where are they purchasing, online or in-store?
• What marketing campaigns and offers are driving traffic and conversions?

Another opportunity is running seasonal and promotional ads to reach a cyclical group of site visitors. You might find your most loyal customers purchase twice the amount of gift sets during the holiday shopping season, for example. This would indicate that a holiday focused retargeting campaign with ad creative featuring a special offer on gift sets with a unique coupon code has tremendous potential for new sales.

Additionally, today’s consumer likes options. Small businesses operating online storefronts and brick and mortar should look for ways to integrate special offers into their retargeting campaigns that can be taken advantage of both online and in-store.

When it comes to Retargeting, Looks Matter

Once you have your offer nailed down, it’s time to think through compelling ad format and creative. In the world of retargeting, the visual attractiveness with a strong call to action is critical.

In order to create click-worthy ads, here are 5 tips small businesses should follow:

• Make your logo on each ad stand out. You want viewers to know exactly what they’re clicking on and drive brand awareness in the process.
• Have a strong, clear call-to-action on each ad. This can come in the form of a button or graphic, with text like “Shop Now”, “Click Here”, or “Learn More” to prompt customers to click back to your site and purchase.
• Keep text minimal but impactful. Balance text with engaging images that reinforce the copy on your ad.
• Steer clear from using ads with a white background, as they will easily blend in with the colors of a webpage that has a white background.
• Make typography bold and engaging to contrast with standard webpage text and draw attention.

To take things a step further, advanced retargeting through dynamic ad delivery will also allow you to increase appeal to consumers through personalization. Dynamic ads leverage visitor website behavior once they leave to another site within the AdRoll ad network to show the exact products previously viewed along with your logo. That feels like a win-win for the retailer and consumer.

Run Retargeting Ads Across Web AND Social

While web-based retargeting is very powerful, within the past year, social retargeting has really opened the doors for small businesses, especially those struggling to reach customers via mobile. Social now represents nearly 20 percent of total time spent online in the U.S. across both desktop and mobile, so it’s important that you ensure your marketing plans include these channels.

By running retargeting ads across the web and social networks, small businesses can cast a bigger shadow, meeting shoppers where they are and reminding them of the great products they offer. Our research, in conjunction with AdRoll, suggests adding social to your retargeting strategy can increase conversions up to 73 percent.

Not a Silver Bullet, but Part of a Powerful Marketing Plan

Ultimately, it takes a smart strategy and back-end work to make retargeting successful. Before diving in, it’s important as a small business owner to really understand your customer base and develop offers that will appeal to them and others like them. You also want to create ads and leverage ad technology like dynamic retargeting that will stand out to consumers and pull them back to your site. Moreover, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure your ads display across social and web channels where your customers spend their time.

Putting these tips into play can generate real retargeting results and elevate your marketing efforts to drive consumers to your small business.

About Erika Jolly Brookes

Veteran technology and marketing executive Erika Brookes is chief marketing officer for Springbot, a marketing automation platform for eCommerce businesses, and her responsibilities include leading all brand, product, marketing campaigns and communications. Find her on Twitter at @ebrookes.

The post What Is Advertisement Re-targeting and Why Does It Matter? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I asked Jeff Blackey, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Broadview Networks to share his thoughts with us.

In order to prevent revenue loss and remain connected and operational, businesses today must identify potential vulnerabilities within their organizations and plan accordingly. Here are three actions business leaders should take as they look to minimize the impact of natural and man-made disasters.

Back up Business Data

Eliminate costly downtime and risks of on-site failures by securing all critical communications and information exclusively in the cloud. The ability to access information is vital to make day-to-day business decisions and to keep critical communications with customers and clients intact, especially in the case of any disasters. Business leaders should make sure all pertinent data from desktops, laptops and servers are backed up in the cloud to make their business more accessible and flexible.  When selecting a backup solution, be sure that data being transmitted will be secured correctly so that files, folders or entire systems can be recovered easily at any time. A 100 percent cloud-based solution provides optimal security with calls encrypted, and data kept secure in the cloud so that nothing is vulnerable on-site.  If primary data is lost, corrupted or inaccessible, these solutions have a backup copy of the data stored safely in the cloud, provide recovery tools and allow quick restoration of files on demand easily – no matter the location.

Move Servers to the Cloud

Business data is irreplaceable, and the financial consequences of being unable to access key information and applications in the event of a disaster can be severe. For maximum reliability, businesses should look for a 100 percent cloud-based data back-up solution with multiple data centers to ensure undisrupted access to files if a regional disaster affects one of the data centers. Businesses should also consider transitioning servers to the cloud for improved scalability. With the ability to increase off-site server capacity through a web-based portal, organizations become more nimble in avoiding potential disruptions. Housing data and servers 100 percent in the cloud provides a much more secure way to store business information, with the added benefit of universal access for employees working off-site.

Offer the Ability to Work Remotely

As the demand for mobility and flexibility increases, businesses require a cloud phone system that meets their ever-changing needs. The degree to which solutions are cloud-based is key to the level of mobility and security a provider can deliver. As communication to clients and employees is most vital to business success during disasters, businesses must arm employees with the tools and capabilities they need, so that work is not disrupted if an office must close. Businesses should look for systems that include advanced features like mobile twinning, which sends inbound calls to mobile and desk phones simultaneously, the ability to re-route calls online and from anywhere, auto attendants that serve as virtual receptionists ensuring every call is answered and voicemail transcription that allows employees to check their office voicemail instantly, without ever touching a phone or stepping foot into the office.

National Preparedness Month is a great time to start preparing for any potential disasters to ensure business continuity. Putting the right technologies in place is critical in reducing the risk and impact of the unexpected on operations and financial health year-round. Enabling seamless remote work with cloud-based communication solutions and leveraging the cloud to house servers and to back up data are also foundational steps in minimizing vulnerability.

Jeff Blackey is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Broadview Networks, one of the top 10 UC cloud providers in the nation. Broadview’s cloud offerings include OfficeSuite® Phone, the easy-to-use hosted phone system that is 100% cloud-based using technology unique to Broadview. Mr. Blackey has more than 25 years of marketing management experience in the communications industry.

The post Storms Are Here and More Are Coming. Is Your Business Ready? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Using content is how you educate your audience, build your tribe and increase brand awareness. You can get your content to a wider audience a few ways.

Once it’s posted online you can use email marketing via an email newsletter, share it via social media, write content so good that others share it and finally invest money to have it shared more widely.

You can do this via social media (such as Facebook “boost post”) or use a service that I’ve recently used, Outbrain.

Outbrain is a service that syndicates your content to major websites such as Fox News, CNN and lesser known web sites as well.

While having your content organically shared is great, it’s also ok to invest in having your content shared widely via “for pay” services.

The post 4 Good Ways To Promote Content: One Tool Is Outbrain appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This might be hard for younger readers to believe, but it wasn’t that long ago that you could walk into an office and find just one or two devices on a person’s desk. Most likely, you’d have seen such relics as a landline phone and a desktop computer, maybe even a fax machine.

Today, you’d probably see a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone – or two – and maybe a smart watch, point-of-sale device and who knows what else. Odds are that some of the devices belong to the company, some to the worker, and the personal gadgets are used for tasks both in and out of the office.

I’ve asked Michael Park, Vice President and General Manager of Mobility at HP Inc to share his insights with us.

The proliferation of all these devices has gotten a little ridiculous. Instead of having a phone and PC that you can use for everything, we find ourselves in a world where we need different devices to do different tasks depending our location, the type of work and personal preference. We might start a project on our laptop in the office, switch to a tablet on the bus home and then finish it on the smartphone from the couch before bed. Mobility has been great for productivity; employees are 34 percent more productive when they can use mobile devices to get work done. It’s also nice to have choices, but who wants to haul four or five different gadgets around with them all the time? I don’t know about you, but I don’t have that many pockets.

The good news is the tide is turning toward fewer devices. As mobile devices get more powerful, batteries last longer and networks get stronger, we’ll be able to do virtually everything from our smartphones. As younger generations enter the workforce, they’ll expect to use technology for work the same way they have used it in their personal lives. By 2030, more than 65 percent of the workforce will have been born after 1980. They will have been raised with the Internet and mobile phones, and if you walk them to their old-fashioned desktop workstation, they will turn around and walk out the door. According to the Mobile Work Exchange, 88 percent of HR managers reported they have had an employee quit because of lack of telework opportunities.

The other trend helping move us toward a one-device world is that software productivity companies are starting to put mobile first. Many workers rely on products from the likes of Microsoft and Salesforce to get their work done on a daily basis. Those companies are advancing how we work, and they are making the mobile experience for their software and platforms better and better. Hardware manufacturers are working more closely with the software companies to integrate the productivity tools into their smartphones and tablets to create a seamless experience that rivals what we’re used to doing on larger screens.

Small businesses in particular have a big opportunity to capitalize on these trends and replace multiple devices with a single device that can do everything the worker needs it to. For many small businesses, smartphones will enable consolidation of paper, desktops, laptops, tablets and POS devices.

Despite these trends and the benefits that come with them, many companies struggle to implement mobile-first strategies. It can be especially difficult for small businesses because they often don’t have a dedicated IT team and their technology budgets tend to be tight. They also tend to be slower to adopt new technology if what they’ve been using is considered good enough.

So how can small businesses help themselves consolidate devices? While the younger workforce demands mobility, companies need to take some steps to be prepared and protected.

1. Train your employees.Require password protection. Better yet, encourage or pay for devices and services that feature biometric security or dual authentication. Teach your employees not to fall for phishing scams or to download potentially dangerous apps and files.
2. Limit data access. Create policies around who can access company data from which devices. Only allow certain employees to access certain data or only provide a select group of employees access to particularly sensitive information. You might even consider a mobile data management solution that would allow you to geo-fence data access based on location, and of course you should have the basics in place for wiping data from an employee’s device if they leave the company.
3. Use or build apps. In addition to the general productivity applications I mentioned above, there are countless mobile applications specifically aimed at retail, manufacturing, accounting, food service, farming, construction and just about every other industry. There also are several platforms for building your own apps, and their use is growing. Seven percent of companies have built mobile apps to facilitate workflow for their employees.
4. Embrace cloud and virtualization. Cloud-based services offer advantages for small businesses looking to go mobile. They can be deployed quickly, scaled up and down depending on need, and support a variety of devices and applications, as well as provide data protection and recovery. Meanwhile, technology providers are finding new ways to virtualize previously desktop-only applications for use on mobile devices, which will be imperative to drive workforce mobility in the future.

Once in a while I step back and laugh at the fact that just a few years ago, people worked with just a computer and a phone. We started small, saw the number of devices explode, and now we’re heading back to just a couple. Apparently, history does repeat itself.

The post Tired of Multiple Devices? HP’s Mobility Ambassador Says Your Wait Is Over. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

All of us have one or more Internet-connected devices – video cameras, DVRs, climate control and other “smart devices”. The WSJ reports that hackers might have infected yours.

How can you protect yourself?

You must constantly update the “firmware” (andn software) of all of your devices.

Updating your smart phone, computer, and all other devices is essential to better protect them. Hackers are on the prowl for vulnerabilities and vendors are on the prowl for securing their devices with new updates.

Beyond updating these devices, make sure that your network, devices and custom software are properly configured, hardened, against attack.

Update your devices and increase your security.

The post Are Your Internet Devices Controlled By Someone Else? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Why?

Her social profile is hyper focused on home school moms. HYPER FOCUSED. Because of this focus her community, her tribe, her fans are highly engaged.

Let’s say that she wanted to sell something and started selling ebooks for home school moms, webinars and even had events for them. She would probably get an equal number of high interest – sales – for the products or services.

While having lots of followers is great – it does indicate that you have a base of interest in some degree or another, when converting those followers to buyers their level of engagement is more important.

So focus on going NARROW, GOING NICHE, being HYPER FOCUSED in your overall marketing and especially as you work on social content.

The post High Engagement or High Follower Count: Home School Mom Blogger Tip appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Often times with doing video conferences with a group it’s a hassle. People can’t hear (or see) and there are wires strung here and there. Skype and Logitech have teamed up to create the Logitech Smart Dock which is an appliance integrating audio and video.

What’s also nice about the Smart Dock is that it can swivel so everyone around the room can be seen and heard.

There’s no need to have all meeting participants bring their laptops the next time you have a meeting.

From the press release, “With Logitech SmartDock, people can start meetings on time with one-touch join, then instantly project to the display in the room and share to remote participants via their Skype for Business clients on a smartphone or laptop. The Skype Room System also includes the ability to place or join an audio-only call. Now with the new Skype for Business meeting experience, users can leave their laptops behind, walk into a SmartDock-equipped conference room, and work together as if they were in the same room.”

The post Get Rid of The Wires and Hassle: Use Skype Better with New Logitech SmartDock appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Inspiring Ideas for Local Holiday Marketing

Many businesses focus their holiday marketing efforts online, relying on tools like social media and paid advertising to reach potential customers. However, local businesses should never underestimate the importance of traditional and tangible marketing materials such a signs, banners, and postcards. Customers will be able to see and interact with these elements in real life. They have a more ‘personal’ feel and can also drive word-of-mouth marketing in your local area.

So how are you planning on marketing your business this holiday season? If you are in need of inspiration, I would like to point you to an article I just read on The Business Journals website titled How 3 Small Businesses use Staples Print & Marketing Services to Market for the Holidays.

I won’t give away any details– you really have to hear about these marketing ideas from the small business owners themselves! Get your creative juices flowing this holiday season by reading the article here.

This article was written in partnership with Staples; however, all opinions and experiences expressed are my own.

The post Three Small Business Provide Holiday Marketing Inspiration appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I asked Ingrid Victorsson, a marketing professional from Boise, Idaho to put together some advice we can use to be more secure. In her off time she enjoys studying local history, eating cheese, and cuddling her dogs.

Target is hardly the only company to lose customer data. In fact, it’s happened far more often than it should, and it seems the cases are only becoming more numerous as time goes on. From poor security measures to leaked information, businesses have become careless with the precious information their patrons have entrusted to them.

According to a Harris Interactive poll, nearly 90 percent of U.S. consumers said they would avoid purchasing from a company if they felt their privacy was not protected. The good news is that setting yourself apart from the eBays and Anthems of the world is easy enough; it only requires marketing your security measures — and following through on those promises.

Protecting Customer Information

Before we get to marketing, there are a number of things you should be doing to protect your customers’ data. Depending on the size of your company, the way your systems are set up, and what information you have, consider the following security measures.

Use A Dedicated Server

As a money saving effort, many small businesses host their files on a shared server. On a shared server, different sites are are being hosted on the same machine — and individuals outside your company have access to your server. This means your website may be put at risk due to another site’s weak security. While it’s significantly more expensive, a dedicated server will greatly reduce the chance of your site being hacked by an outside party.

Encrypt Your Data

Keeping sensitive records unencrypted is always a risk — and it’s one that’s not worth taking. Data security is good business, which means there are plenty of affordable and convenient software solutions on the market. Pick one, use it, and set up an update schedule to keep yourself one step ahead of the hackers.

Layer Website Security

Since hackers use several approaches to break into sites and steal data, installing multiple layers of security is one of the best ways to keep an ecommerce site safe. Firewalls, contact forms, and login boxes all give thieves more work to do to access data — and make them less likely to succeed.

Employ a Malware Monitoring Service

Malware monitoring services not only protect your website and visitors from malware, they also notify you if your site has been compromised or infected with malicious code. Another option is endpoint protection, which guards your network and email against spam, malware, and dangerous file types.

Police Removable Storage Devices

Establish a policy wherein all removable storage devices are identified and controlled. This will prevent malware and viruses from getting in and keep sensitive information from getting out.

Shred, Shred, Shred

Shred, burn, or pulverize paper records of sensitive consumer data as soon as you no longer have use of it. It’s the law.

Run Wiping Programs

Deleting a file doesn’t permanently remove it, and just like paper documents, disposal rules apply to electronic media as well. There are a number of data erasure software programs available that can permanently remove files from a hard drive — if you don’t have one, get it ASAP.

Restrict Access

The fewer people have access to sensitive information, the better. Sensitive customer files, whether paper or electronic, should be kept in a centralized location under lock and key, and only available to employees who have “need to know” status.

Make Security a Company-Wide Responsibility

Don’t rely solely on either an internal IT employee (or an outside IT service provider) to protect customer information. Your IT person may not be aware of exactly how data is being used and shared. Discussions should be coordinated between IT, sales, marketing, human resources, and other departments to ensure that all those with access to customer data are managing and protecting it in a way that provides the highest level of security.

Data Recovery

In the event of damage, recovering data from servers or hard drives may be necessary. Do your research and be sure you use a reputable service or software — don’t let just anyone have access to customer records.

When considering data recovery services like this one, there are a few things you need to look for. How fast can they work? What type of devices can they recover data from? Where can they perform their recovery? Sometimes a cleanroom is necessary, other times you may prefer to have them on-site.

Create a Breach Plan

If the worst happens, you need to have a plan in place to handle it. This includes:

• Isolating the problem
• Notifying customers
• Getting an IT security expert involved to fix the situation

Swift notification is crucial when a breach exposes an individual’s name along with other identifying information — it will give your customers time to take defensive action. Furthermore, it can make a world of difference in the legal ramifications you face, as well as your brand’s reputation.

Marketing Security Measures

Data privacy and security is more than a risk management issue, it’s also a way to assure your customers that the trust they place in your company is warranted. Consumers are well aware of the risks surrounding data security and privacy, and differentiate yourself through a reputation for strong data privacy and security practices is a great way to gain a competitive edge.

A mind-blowing 80% percent of customers are more likely to purchase from companies that are perceived to be protecting their personal information.

But how do you market your security measures in a way that customers will hear it? Since most consumers only skim privacy policies when purchasing product online, it’s important to offer the information in more than one place.

• Include security/privacy measures on the about page of your website in an easy to read format — give them the the bullet points, not the whole shebang.
• If you have a storefront, keep a few pamphlets on hand and make sure there’s a section covering your privacy policy.
• Dedicate part of your newsletter to how you protect customer information.
• Add it to your advertising copy!

Customers want to know you care enough to protect them. By implementing a comprehensive data protection plan and spreading the word to customers — both potential and current — you can get a leg up on both hackers and your competitors.

The post Selling Security: Why It’s More Important Than Ever appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Companies who are hyper-focused on their customers are in a constant state of re-design. If you look at Uber App, Google and so many other apps and services we use daily – you’ll notice they’re constantly getting better and event. Even Microsoft Windows 10 is always updating and upgrading itself with better design.

While some-times we don’t like designs, or don’t like them initially – overall – upgrading our look and feel is important.

What about you?

Are you analyzing your digital design, your retail store design and more to ensure it’s looking as good as it can and serving your customers as best as

Recently FreshBooks updated its interface to make it easier for customers.

They had 3 objectives:

Objective #1—Simple Product
Objective #2—Natural Collaboration
Objective #3—Faster Product Improvements

Lessons for you? Be in constant awareness of the need for better design.

The post Everyone’s Improving Their Design – Are You? Lessons from FreshBooks. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Tons of energy is put toward acquiring and retaining customers in any business, big or small. Using customer relationship management (CRM) software is one way to take the stress out of that process. However, finding a CRM to keep track of all those clients and prospects shouldn’t add stress to your day. While the idea of taking your business to the Cloud might seem be a challenge, myob advanced has been developed to make the transition straightforward, while Stratus make it easy now and into the future. The immediate benefits, along with the potential for your business to grow, are enormous. Small to large enterprises are taking a significant step in revolutionizing the way they manage company data and information using the cloud computing technology. The emergence of cloud computing has changed the landscape of information technology in most business enterprises and revamped the resources of information management thereby reducing the costs and operation complexities within the organization. Using cloud computing provides a very practical solution for enterprises and there are several hybrids of cloud computing database services that you can avail in the market today.

The era of cloud computing technology

Most of the business enterprises these days have moved to the cloud applications. This is not merely a fad or a trend but rather a shift from using the traditional software for data management and moving to the cloud which is an internet based software that keeps your data together. It enhances the ability of collaborative exchange of company data within an organization using varieties of devices. It negates the use of the traditional expensive software that can involve a complicated process of installing, managing, testing and securing information technology within a business organization. Using the cloud computing service provides a better means of centralized data storage infrastructure using the cloud applications.

The explosion of cloud computing services and threats

The cloud computing technology provides cost effective and operational management efficiency process that helped many business enterprises to accelerate their information technology exchanges. This helps in meeting the demands for agility and flexibility from their business operations. However, the cloud computing technology is accompanied with security threats and risks owing to the evolving IT landscape changes. As a cloud computing data user, it is essential for business enterprises to observe adequate security measures to complement the existing built-in security present to the cloud computing data server. The major sources of the potential threats involving the security breach on cloud computing emanate from cybercrime activities that can penetrate the built-in security features of a cloud computing server, most of which are directed towards stealing company trade secrets and intellectual property breach.

Securing cloud data for your business

Prudence is the usual governing principle that you can observe in securing your business cloud data storage. While most of the data computing software providers already have their own security measures that aim to define a better protection to keep your stored data protected and safe when using the system, business enterprises can take their own security measure to further strengthen their cloud data security.

1. Exercise control over employees with access to company sensitive data on the cloud

Business enterprises usually designate a particular employee to be an administrator to the company cloud data storage system. There are also a number of employees enjoying the privilege of accessing the company’s cloud data which contains intellectual property materials and company trade secrets. Business enterprises should employ proper security measure in limiting the access to the cloud data storage of these employees in order to prevent any potential leakage and security breach. These employees are considered to be confidential employees who are trusted by the company to handle and manage the company’s sensitive data and information. Being as such they should undergo the proper training on how to securely handle these data and perform a more controlled cloud data management system.

2. Segregate cloud data information

Some data on the cloud may consist of information needed for the efficient management and operational activities of a business organization that are shared and constantly exchanged among employees. In order to exercise a better access control on the cloud, it is a primary concern of the IT managers of a company to segregate the cloud data available and employing an additional encryption process before one can access more sensitive company information. Company data must be segregated according to their level of sensitivity and provide an additional security encryption to process requests for access on the cloud and with effective monitoring process on each level of cloud data.

To assist in small and medium businesses’ searches for CRM software, Capterra’s Software Lab has evaluated some of the over 450 solutions on the market today and presented the top 20 solutions in our new Most User-Friendly CRM Software report.

I asked Kelsie Anderson, Capterra’s research associate to share the results with us.

In such a competitive and growing market, these 20 systems stood out from the rest in terms of usability, customer services offered (for implementation, training, and support), and average customer review ratings. Capterra took all of these factors into account when evaluating these solutions.

To test usability, Capterra performed direct user testing in each of these systems. We chose tasks that were representative of how most companies would use CRM, measuring how much time and how many clicks it took to complete these tasks in each system. We also scored each system using an SUS score (an industry-standard questionnaire that determines perceived ease of use), which gave us an idea of how much our team liked using the system.

We tested each solution twice. The first time we completed tasks without evaluating training, an indicator of how intuitive the system was to use. For the second testing round, we performed the same tasks after evaluating available training materials for the given solution, measuring learnability.

With a perfect score of 100, Teamgate topped the list with stellar task completion times, a full array of customer services, and a five-star review rating average. Overall, our testers had a lot of great things to say about the most user-friendly solution:

• “The system is easy to use but has quite a bit of functionality. It‘s easy to navigate without compromising capability.”
• “Very sleek. Very user-friendly. Very intuitive. Probably my favorite system of the bunch.”
• “My favorite system. You don’t even need training because the system becomes second nature after a few clicks around.”

Less Annoying CRM and Close.io weren’t far behind, tying with scores of 92. Both systems also averaged 5 star reviews from their customers and made task completion efficient in our testing rounds. However, both systems scored slightly lower than Teamgate in their training resources offerings.

Capterra found that, on average, it took about 30 seconds and 9 clicks to complete a task in a CRM. Considering that it can sometimes take more than five minutes and 30 swear words to find the napkin you were taking notes on during a sales call, CRM can be a real timesaver.

Even more encouraging, 13 of the solutions our most user-friendly report also made it onto our Top 20 Most Affordable CRM Software Report, showing that you don’t have to sacrifice quality when looking for a solution that will fit your budget.

Teamgate, for example, is #16 on our Most Affordable report. However, it still only cost about $22 per user per month, well below the industry average of about $36 per user per month. By using these two reports together, you can rest assured that you’re picking a quality solution that doesn’t break the bank.

At Capterra, we believe that software can and should make your professional life easier. Our Top 20 Most User-Friendly CRM Software report can help point you in the direction of systems that live up to that expectation.

The post What’s The Most User-Friendly CRM Software? Capterra Report Shows. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Increasingly I find myself clicking “unsubscribe” to email newsletters. I don’t want to unsubscribe from them – but so few have an option to “update my preferences”. Constant Contact, Infusionsoft, Mail Chimp all have options to “update preferences”. However, there are some providers, such as Vertical Response, that only have one option for the read “un-subscribe”.

Often times people want to update their email address, but if you only give the option to “unsubscribe” you’re not just annoying them – you’re hurting yourself. Most people will just unsubscribe.

Of course having only one option, “unsubscribe” is not just the only problem, here are a few more things you can do to make your email newsletter a winning success:

1. Have a great subject line
2. Tell a story and have great content
3. Have a simple, but good design
4. Ensure it’s easily readable on smart phones

Now go fix that “unsubscribe” problem.

The post The One Problem Your Email Newsletter Has and How To Solve It. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Organizing and hosting events is a powerful way for businesses to strengthen their brands in their local markets, or nationally. A well-organized event with Led screen can generate media attention, bring VIPs together, enable prospective customers to have an occasion to get to know you better and so much more.

Marketing the event can be an arduous activity, but I’ve been using Zapier, EventBrite and Infusionsoft to really make the event marketing process much easier.

Sure events take a lot of work to organize, especially as they get bigger, but the benefits can be well worth it.

Over the past several years I’ve hosted and produced dozens of events. The biggest one is the Smart Hustle Small Business Conference – http://www.smarthustle.com/conference with 400 attendees .

One of the things I wanted to do differently with this event is to not send the same email, asking people to register, to people who have already registered. Conversely, those who have not registered yet, I wanted to be sure to encourage them to register.

Traditionally, event marketers send the same big email blast to everyone in their list instead of segmenting the list and respecting that different people need different messages.

EventBrite is one of the best services to use for overall attendee event registration.

Infusionsoft is one of the best services to use for marketing automation.

Zapier is the best service to use to connect different online services.

So where’s what I do:

Through EventBrite attendees can register to attend the Smart Hustle Small Business Conference.

Once they register, Zapier adds a new record to Infusionsoft tagging the attendee as registered to the conference.

I then use Infusionsoft to send very targeted emails. One set of email prepping registered attendees about what they can expect at the conference. The other set of emails I can send a different message encourage those who haven’t registered to register.

In this example, I’m showing you some ways I do event marketing – but you can use the principles of marketing automation and message segmentation in so many other ways.

The post Event Marketing: Using Zapier, Infusionsoft and EventBrite For Better Marketing appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

As I travel cross the country, I’m amazed at the number of business owners who are still relatively new to the power of using content and “social media” to engage with their customers. Part of this rise is fostered and enabled by CRM companies integrating social dynamics into their platform.

Today Nimble announces a slew of new and updated integrations (Office 366 and Google Apps) into its software. In addition it’s enriching it’s social connections and business contact information.

You can use Nimble to not only keep in touch with your customers and other contacts but also build and save profiles based on a variety of business information – such as industry size and location.

The power of CRM is a) everyone in your company can get the same snapshot of one customer b) everyone on your team can better collaborate about customers (or others)  c) you can glean public insights on each contact in your database d) you can segment customers and better market to them.

The post CRM Plus Social Plus Business Information Is A Winning Combination: Nimble Upgrades appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The only way to have a successful business is if customers are buying the product or service you’re making.

Of course leveraging the power of social media, having a great web site, selling online and growing your digital brand are so important.

As you head out for the weekend here’s a round up of four quick reads to help you improve these areas of your business.

3 Tips for Building A Solid Online Presence

Social Media and Websites: How To Get it Right

How To Build the Right Web Site For Your Business

Tips To Help Your Business Sell More Online

The post Digital Marketing Weekend Round Up – Content, Websites, Digital Brand and Ecommerce appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

So you’ve got a theme for your new business, but you need just the right icon to represent it. You’re not going to settle for just any representation. It’s has to speak to who your brand is and it has to be unmistakably recognizable. Your icon, in large part, is how your brand will stick in people’s minds. Jimmy John’s founder Jimmy John Liautaud is one of more than 200 business leaders who will serve on President Donald Trump’s newly created economic-revival team. Liautaud said the $2.2 trillion relief package will provide some help to small businesses, but he’ll be encouraging the Trump administration to focus on using free markets to help the economy, a consistent theme of his. The sandwich CEO Jimmy John said he’s been impressed with how quickly businesses have adapted to life under the coronavirus.

I’ve asked Jeff Garrett, Founder of Lumberjacks Restaurant to share his advice with us.

Be bold, be original

There are a lot of icons and symbols for businesses, large and small, that look awfully similar. While one brand might be more recognizable than another or they may be in totally different industries, it’s best not to run the risk of confusing the consumer.

Avoid the hundreds of thousands of themes that you could purchase or even obtain for free from various websites. Get creative to set yourself apart. Once you’ve decided, trademark it so it can’t be used by anyone else; consumers will eventually associate that logo directly with your brand. Trademarks are valuable assets to businesses – they allow you to grow your brand awareness and lead to more business, but must be renewed every few years.

Represent!

In addition to being original, your icon should embody everything about your brand. If you’re a delivery service, your icon should emphasize speed. If you sell flowers, consider a delicate and colorful icon.
When determining an icon for the full-serve restaurant I founded, Lumberjacks, we obviously wanted as jimmy john as our icon. But, it had to be the right lumberjack. We avoided images of a hipster-like lumberjack, as “in” as that is today, and went with the big, burly, yet friendly, lumberjack. This was important because our slogan is “Where the Big Boys Eat” and we serve large portions of down-home cooking.

Be mindful of colors too. Different colors represent different things and trigger the brain in different ways. For example, red is a very powerful color. Among other meanings, it’s the color of adventure. Red is also one of the top two favorite colors in the world and the international color for stop. Green is universally associated with nature and represents growth. Shades of color are also important to consider. One shade of blue means something different than another shade of blue. Different shades of blue represent trust, dignity, strength, dependability and cleanliness among other qualities. Consider what it means to put different colors together.

Don’t be so two-dimensional

While icons or logos have to be two-dimensional for websites, letterhead, business cards, menus, matchbook covers and advertising collateral, consider taking them three-dimensional.

Statues can be a great draw for consumers, but make sure it’s accessible. The right statue can grab attention of the casual passerby and possibly lure them over. A statue can also be a photo opportunity for visitors; when that photo is shared on social media, that’s more exposure for your brand. A three-dimensional icon can become truly iconic.

Our 12-foot tall, 650-pound fiberglass lumberjack statue in a red flannel shirt and blue jeans, hoisting an ax over his shoulder that stands outside our restaurants is hard to miss. It’s definitely an attention-grabber and your icon, whether two-dimensional or three-dimensional, should be too. Our guests are always stopping to take pictures with the big guy.

Change is good … Sometimes

Don’t be too quick to change your icon. If you feel it no longer accurately reflects your brand, change it, but be careful to not change too much. You don’t want to confuse or lose your core consumer base which has come to recognize your brand one way or which may have been attracted to your brand because of your icon. Think carefully before changing colors and avoid replacing your icon with something completely different.

Lumberjacks changed its icon a few years ago, both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional versions. We discovered the one we were using on our signs and website was mean-looking and reminiscent of Bluto from the Popeye cartoons. Our original statue was made of wood and didn’t weather the natural elements well, splitting and cracking. We’re actually a pretty friendly bunch and we know real lumberjacks, who are tough and rugged, hold up well in all sorts of weather.

After finding our fiberglass lumberjack, made by a company in Wisconsin that produces statues for Disney theme parks, we bought the trademark rights to it. It and our website logo represents us accurately, they speak to who we are and consumers recognize the images. We don’t plan on changing again as we’re growing.
About Jeff Garrett

Jeff Garrett is the founder of Lumberjacks Restaurant, a full service log cabin themed diner, serving breakfast all day, lunch and dinner in large portions of down-home menu items made from scratch with fresh, quality ingredients. Founded in 2004, Lumberjacks is known regionally in Northern California and Nevada as “Where the Big Boys Eat.” Lumberjacks began franchising in 2010 and today has nine locations in two states with a 10th location opening by the end of 2016

The post How to Select the Right Icon for Your Business. Advice From Owner of Lumberjacks Restaurant. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Sponsored by Citrix, this event is a great opportunity for business owners and entrepreneurs to mingle with others in their local business community and to learn how to keep their businesses moving forward. You will learn:

• How to use technology to save time and money while increasing productivity
• How to leverage the power of mobility and the cloud
• Why technology can’t be a quick fix in a bad business process
• And so much more!

Thе world оf technology hаѕ developed, opening doors fоr small businesses tо eliminate thеіr fixed costs іn expensive infrastructure аnd IT management, аnd instead uѕе pay аѕ уоu gо solutions thаt аrе significantly lower іn cost аnd offer mоrе versatility. In addition, thеу hаvе thе tools tо collaborate wіth thеіr teams іn a wау nеvеr seen bеfоrе. Thrоugh lower costs аnd increased productivity, small businesses аrе nоw able tо level thе playing field аnd compete wіth thе big guys. Technology can give you an edge over the competition – if you know how to use it correctly! Take your business to the next level with the right technology. Infrastructure іѕ оnе оf thе mоѕt costly items fоr small businesses. Thе initial price tо purchase аnd set uр thе infrastructure іѕ еnоugh tо set a small business bасk months, іf nоt years. Onсе іt hаѕ bееn set uр, thе maintenance оf thе servers аnd infrastructure іѕ laborious аnd budget draining. IT personnel hаvе tо maintain thе ѕуѕtеm аnd protect аgаіnѕt аnу downtime thаt соuld impair business productivity.

Anоthеr expense fоr businesses іѕ software thаt requires installation. Onсе a software solution іѕ purchased, іt muѕt bе installed аnd license keys hаvе tо bе maintained оn multiple pieces оf hardware. Thе process tо dо thіѕ іѕ laborious аnd thе tіmе intensive.

Tо counteract thеѕе twо wауѕ оf doing business, mоrе companies аrе moving tо thе cloud. Onсе уоu hаvе just a simple internet connection, уоu саn dо аlmоѕt аnуthіng. Software-as-a-Service thаt runs іn thе cloud does nоt require installation whісh іѕ whу mоrе companies аrе leveling thе playing field аnd adopting thіѕ wау оf doing business. It іѕ seamless tо set uр аnd requires nо maintenance.

Whеn a small business invests thеіr money іn cloud software, thеу significantly limit thеіr spending, allowing thеm tо invest іn оthеr aspects оf thеіr business, giving thеm thе opportunity tо compete аnd grow faster.

The post 10 Ways Growing Companies Use Technology to Stay Smart and Competitive appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Free #webinar on Smart #Tech upgrades with @LenovoSMB on 9/20!
Click To Tweet

This free webinar will bring together a group of tech expert panelist that will discuss the importance of keeping your technology updated, the benefits of cloud computing and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and factors that should drive your business technology choices. Here are the webinar details:

Smart Tech Upgrades to Drive Productivity, Performance, and Profitability

Tuesday, September 20^th

1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT

[btn link=”https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/235047375450782209″ color=”red” size=”size-l” target=”_blank”]Sign Up HERE[/btn]

This is a FREE webinar, so I hope you will join me, as I will be participating on the panel. I will be joined by Eric Knopf, co-founder of Webconnex, and TJ McCue, who consults on content strategy and produces web content for technology companies. The webinar will include lively discussion, best practices, and thought-provoking questions and answers and is great for anyone in business who uses technology and wants to be more productive, improve performance and be more profitable!

Secure your spot by registering today. I hope to see you Tuesday, September 20^th!

The post Webinar: Smart Tech Upgrades to Drive Productivity, Performance, and Profitability appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve asked Joel Duncan, a freelance writer-photographer, with a passion for technology, entrepreneurship and education to lend his expertise. He is particularly interested in how new technology is being used to positively change and connect the world.

1. No website
One of the biggest mistakes a small company can make is to assume they don’t need a website because of the size of their business. Think a local plumbing company or a hair salon.

Just because these businesses are only going to attract clients from the local area does not mean that they won’t benefit from a website. Most people search for options on the internet, even if the thing they are searching for can’t be bought online.

Having a social media presence is all well and good, but the website must be the anchor for any social media sites being used. However, one important caveat to remember is that it must be professional-looking, responsive, and easy to navigate – sometimes having a poorly-designed website is worse than having no website at all. If you are looking to draw clients in with a messy website, then you will lose out on that good first impression and your clients will skip to a smarter competitor.

2. Misusing Social Media
Now this is a big one. Social media is a very alluring marketing channel for new businesses since its use is expected to continue to grow further. With Business IT Support and Instagram’s features like live video, location tagging, and hashtags, B2B companies can capitalize on and grow their businesses.

It is easy for businesses to start their online branding efforts via social media under the naive assumption that the customers will instantly flock to their profiles. This definitely isn’t the case, especially since a lot of small businesses just don’t understand the right way to use social media. A very common error that businesses often make is that they try to use too many social media channels and neglect differentiating their strategy for each one.

For example, they might decide to use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest, which is already a lot to manage, then will proceed to use them in the same way. Social media users will quickly unfollow and go somewhere else if they see the same content repeated on each platform. A smart business should show different facets of its business on different channels. For example, a restaurant might share only photos on Facebook, videos on YouTube, links to magazine reviews on Pinterest, and promote new deals and offers on Twitter.

3. Not being interactive on social media
Some businesses think that social media is just a free marketing tool. But the clue is in the name – social. Its imperative that whoever is managing the social media sites for your company is doing more than just opening accounts in your company’s name and getting the logo and the brand out there.

Social Media channels give businesses the opportunity to develop their online personality. It’s a place to communicate with clients, forge connections, offer advice, and above all, be honest. Social media users are accustomed to companies behaving like this online, and if your company doesn’t get involved, do not expect many clients to come your way because they have been turned off by your social media attitude. It may be free to open a Facebook account, but for your business to thrive, it means you need to spend a lot of time interacting with potential and actual clients.

My hair stopped to fall out when I was 26. My hairdresser noticed this. She recommended me to take Propecia from https://nygoodhealth.com/product/propecia/ and told that the full course of treatment lasted 12 months (at least). I decided to try Propecia. I can say that the effect appeared after the first month of treatment. My hair started to fall out, and in three months, the hair started to grow. After 8 months, my hair recovered completely.

4. Keeping Tabs on Your Progress
After you have established a website and a decent social media presence, the next step is to ensure that you know what is working for you and what isn’t. Companies that are in the dark about how their services are performing are not in any kind of position to decide what to enhance and what to jettison. Good web analytics tools can keep your business abreast of how well it is doing, and should be high on the list of priorities of things to invest in. Remember: data is all important!

5. Not Having IT Support
Companies who don’t think it is worth investing in decent IT support may be worryingly unprepared when disaster strikes. Often a small business will just have one employee handling the entire company’s technological infrastructure, and they may not be fully prepared for any eventuality. A investment worth considering might be to outsource your IT support to an experienced and professional outfit who can help you guard against malware, data loss, and all the other hordes of tech gremlins that lay in wait.

6. Failure to reinvest in hardware/software
It might be very tempting for a company to persist with their aging PCs and temperamental printers because the cost of replacing them might appear too high. Most hardware has a life expectancy of about three to four years. But offset these costs in the long-term against the rising expenditure in repairing the dinosaurs on your desks and it might make a lot more sense to just invest in newer, fitter machines.

7. Leaving Yourself Exposed
It is vital that your company’s IT system is protected against all kinds of calamities that could end your enterprise in a single stroke. If you take the time to plan for doomsday then you might just survive it. What about if your office floods and destroys all your machines, and, more pertinently, the data that is on it? You will need to have backed up all your information on cloud servers. You can also protect your infrastructure from cyber threats and viruses.

8. Cutting Corners with Software
It might be very tempting to illegally download that version of Microsoft Office to save your company money when it is just starting out. But pirating software can result in fines and the arrival of malware into your system.

9. Using Home Equipment to Run Your Business
Yes, your business may be small. But do not expect that the same hardware and software that you use at home will be robust enough to power your company. When things go wrong, and they will if they can’t cope with your tech traffic – then you will regret not investing in something more appropriate for your business model. When your company experiences downtime due to a painfully slow internet connection, it is the company’s coffers that will suffer in the long run.

10. Skimping on Training
You can save your business a lot of money if you ensure that your staff are qualified to operate hardware and navigate software. To some, it might seem that understanding how to use a printer or how to work a spreadsheet might be learned as you go. However, if your new employee accidentally wipes your accounts from last year, or causes physical damage to your printer, then you only have yourself to blame for not making sure they were trained in the first place. That’s why it’s highly important to have a secure printing solution with a print management software for your business.

Remember – most of these pitfalls can be avoided by careful planning and having priorities in order. Yes, they might require more investment than is available to a new business right from the outset – but they might prevent a lot of headaches further down the line!

The post 10 Technology Mistakes That Kill Small Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

If you are a startup owner, your priority is probably the growth of your company. You are dealing with long working hours, payroll and many hassles that are a part of building your own business. Most likely, cyber security is not on top of your mind­ unless something happens that makes you realize how important it is to protect your sensitive business information right from the start.

I’ve asked Marty P. Kamden,  CMO of NordVPN,  a VPN service provider, to give us his insight.

According to security firm ThreatMetrix, cybercrime attacks went up by 50% in all segments in the 2nd quarter of 2016, which is a worrisome trend. Startups are considered to be an especially easy prey for hackers: in 2014, 85% of all data breaches were directed at small businesses and startups.

Tо begin wіth, a consultancy firm offering cybersecurity services wіll hаvе thе specialist expertise needed tо help уоu protect уоur business frоm hackers аnd frоm insider threats. If уоur business іѕ a small оnе wіth vеrу limited turnover, уоu mау think іt іѕ immune frоm hackers. Hоwеvеr, mаnу hackers carry оut thеіr attacks nоt frоm a financial incentive, but simply fоr thе fun оf іt. Thеѕе so-called “script kiddies” wіll оftеn mоunt opportunistic attacks аgаіnѕt аnу organisation wіth a соmрutеr network thаt happens tо hаvе аn unguarded port open tо thе Internet. Thіѕ іѕ whеrе thе information security services offered bу a consulting company саn help уоu harden уоur соmрutеr systems аgаіnѕt attack, аnd improve уоur incident response аnd recovery procedures fоr uѕе аftеr a successful attack. Click here if you want to get more about the How CISO as a Service helps protect the company.

Besides targeted cybercrime, startups suffer from malware, rogue software, unprotected Wi-Fi and much more.

For example, a hacker could mimic a banking site that you are visiting through an unprotected Wi-Fi entry point and steal all your credit card information. Or your employee can open an email attachment that is infected with a virus and spread across your network. In phishing attacks, you or your employees can get a fake email tricking you into revealing your personal information. In password attacks, a hacker will try to hack your system by trying to guess password combinations that you use.

While the types of attacks on your system could be many, we have selected some common sense solutions that every startup owner should know.

1. Use only https URL. Make sure all websites that you give your data to have the secure https URL. The “s” in the URL means that it is a secure protocol, and your data is encrypted properly.

2. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPNs connect you to the Internet through an encrypted tunnel. VPN server acts as a relay between the Internet and a company¹s private network, so nobody can see what data is being shared over the Internet. All that can be seen that you are connected to a VPN server. A VPN service provider, such as VirtualShield VPN, can offer multiple benefits to small businesses, including secure data connections between remote workers and the power to create a remote working environment without being scared of data breaches. You can get complete online freedom and no monitoring nor logging of your online activities by using a VPN, you can VirtualShield VPN review here to know  more about company.

3. Avoid downloading files from unknown senders. The rule is simple: if you are not familiar with the sender, better don¹t click to download any attachments or any links they might send.

4. Update your firewall. Most systems have an automatically installed firewall, just make sure you follow up with its regular updates.

5. Use anti-virus. Use an updated virus protection to make sure your system is protected from malware such as malvertising (advertisement online with malicious codes).

6. Strong passwords. Perhaps the most basic requirement for any online account setup is using strong passwords. Weak passwords make it simple for hackers to break into your system and cause severe damage.

7. Update your Operating System. It sounds simple and easy to do, but it happens that we ignore the pop-up reminders for software updates. However, it¹s one of the most important things to do with a computer, as the updates fix security vulnerabilities and system bugs.

8. Secure your mobile. If you are happy that your system is now secure, you might be forgetting one important part – your mobile devices. You probably store important passwords on your smartphone and other sensitive information, therefore, don¹t forget to encrypt your phone either.

The post 85% of Cyber Attacks Are Directed at Startups: 8 Tips That Can Save Your Company appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

a) how they treat their employees

b) how they treat their customers

c)When it comes to cleaning, indoor and outdoor cleaning both are important aspects to consider. Here are some factors to consider for both cleaning:-

1. Outdoor:- According to a commercial cleaning company, buildings that are made from materials like plastic, brick, glass, wood, rubber waterproof membranes, and cladding require religious cleaning to stop any decay of substrates. Well when it is about cleaning garden then blower from thebestleafblowers.com should be used.  For people that don’t know, the main explanation for decay is carbon emissions. If not cleaned regularly they reduce the lifetime of the building’s facade. Even natural elements like rain, snow, and wind continuously affect the building’s exterior. Wind staining is pretty evident on buildings round the walls and corners and one can see rainwater stains wherever there’s heavy flow underneath the roof and windows. It is, therefore, necessary to rent facade cleaning services forgevelreiniging.

2. Outdoor:- how good their product is :If quality products are used, then work will be done quickly and efficiently. With the hеlр оf professional vacuum cleaner the wоrk саn bе dоnе еаѕіlу. A vacuum сlеаnеr саn сlеаn mаnу ѕоfаѕ, соuсhеѕ, bеdѕ, аnd flооrѕ аt a ѕіnglе gо. Thе tесhnоlоgу оf thіѕ еrа hаѕ designed vасuum cleaners thаt аrе completely nоіѕеlеѕѕ, соnvеnіеnt, аnd mоѕt іmроrtаntlу, сlеаn рlасе lіkе a rоbоt! But, рісkіng the rіght оnе іѕ vеrу іmроrtаnt аѕ іt соmеѕ wіth a lоt оf еxреnѕеѕ. Yоu саn gеt help frоm All Great Vacuums .

d) how they’re using data to be more efficient.

WHAT you sell is important, but what’s more important is HOW you sell it.

The article reads, “His company is unusually high-tech for the industry. It collects more than 700 points of data, like the time it takes to mop a square foot, and uses the information to improve and refine its cleaning methods, and to set prices.”

The post How A Cleaning Company Uses Data To Boost Productivity. Lesson for All Small Biz. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

More on this from HP’s Press release:

HP Inc. today unveiled the world’s only PCs with integrated privacy screens. HP Sure View, a new option on the HP EliteBook 1040 and HP EliteBook 840, helps protect against visual hacking with the press of a single button.

“Today’s millennial workforce is increasingly mobile, creating new data security challenges for businesses as confidential information can be more easily hacked from a user’s screen – a process called visual hacking,” said Alex Cho, vice president and general manager, Commercial PCs, HP. “The addition of HP Sure View to our PC security solutions helps address the risks associated with visual hacking and gives customers the freedom to work more confidently and productively in public spaces with the touch of a button.”

Developed with 3M privacy technology, HP Sure View eliminates the need to carry additional tools to guard sensitive information. Users simply press the f2 key to immediately transition the PC to privacy mode, which reduces up to 95 percent of visible light when viewed at an angle, making it difficult for others to view information on the screen.

“As the threat of data privacy evolves, more and more organizations are taking the issue of visual hacking seriously,” said Makoto Ishii, vice president and general manager, Display Materials and Systems Division, 3M. “Designed with more than 20 years of 3M optical films technology experience incorporated into the privacy screen, HP Sure View helps address the concern of protecting sensitive information through a world-class solution tailor-made for open work environments and for the mobile worker.”

Visual hacking is a real threat to a company’s sensitive data, as demonstrated by the “Global Visual Hacking Experiment,” a recent study conducted by the Ponemon Institute, sponsored by 3M. The study cited that nine out of 10 attempts to acquire sensitive business information using only visual means were

The post HP’s New Notebook Has A Built-In Privacy Screen appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This webinar is part of Comcast Business’s “Connections to Growth” series – “a year-long series designed to help you transform your business and drive growth in your company.” Each week the Connections to Growth website is updated with new blog posts on business topics like leadership, culture, training and technology. The series also features special live webinars like the one I’m telling you about today. Here are the important details:

Topic: Building, Growing and Keeping Your Team

Date: Tuesday, August 2^nd

Time: 12-1 PM CDT

SIGN UP FOR THE COMCAST BUSINESS WEBINAR HERE

This is a FREE webinar, so I hope you can join me! I will be participating on the panel, along with Julie Wilson (the Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Learning) and Gene Marks (founder of the Mars Group.) During the webinar we will discuss what it takes to build a great team, including training the team, retaining your best team members, and creating a team that helps you with your current and future needs as a business.

The webinar will include lively discussion, best practices, and thought-provoking questions and answers. Secure your spot by registering today. After registering, you’ll get a confirmation email with the information you need to join the webinar.

This Comcast Business webinar is perfect for small business owners who want to cultivate a team that will make their business strong and successful! See you on Tuesday, August 2^nd.

The post Comcast Business Webinar on August 2 – How to Build a Strong Team appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve asked Jacob Hansen, Deliverability Consultant, at SendGrid to help us better understand DMARC.

What exactly is DMARC?

DMARC is an email protocol that uses SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) to determine the authenticity of an email, or prove that an email is coming from where it claims to be coming from. DMARC was created to prevent phishing, but in turn, due to the complexity of some of its details, it has made it that much more difficult for email marketers to reach the inboxes of their target customers if not implemented correctly.

While many email providers currently have DMARC policies in place, Microsoft and Gmail are expected to update their policies sometime this year, which will directly affect how marketers send email. Under the new policies, no one other than Gmail will be able to send email from an @gmail.com email address, and no one other than Microsoft will be able to send email from @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com and @msn.com email addresses. Yahoo already has a similar policy in place, and therefore only Yahoo can send email from a @yahoo.com email address.

What does this mean for email marketers?

This means that email marketers can not use Gmail or Microsoft email addresses to send email through an email provider. All email must be sent from an owned domain. In most cases, brands own their own domains, however for smaller brands and companies, if email is sent through a Gmail or Microsoft domain, it will no longer be delivered even if it is wanted mail. Without complying with this update, marketers may see their deliverability rates drop.

Complying with DMARC standards will help marketers control their sending reputations, increase visibility into their programs while keeping mail relevant, and establish consistent policies for dealing with unauthenticated mail.

• Protect your brand. Publishing a DMARC record protects your brand by preventing unauthenticated parties from sending mail from your domain. In some cases, simply setting up a DMARC record can result in a positive reputation bump.
• Increase visibility into your email program. Reviewing and consuming DMARC reports increases visibility into your email program by letting you know who is sending mail from your domain. You’re able to get a better look into who is trying to act like you.
• Establish a consistent policy for unauthenticated mail. DMARC helps the email community establish a consistent policy for dealing with messages that fail to authenticate. This helps the marketing email ecosystem as a whole become more secure and more trustworthy.

The takeaway

There is no confirmed date for when Gmail and Microsoft will be updating their policies, they have only specified within this year. But it is a best practice to comply with DMARC regardless if you don’t already. Businesses sending email from a Gmail or Microsoft domain will need to take immediate action to begin sending from an owned domain to ensure the deliverability of their email and success of their email programs. By adhering to DMARC protocols, all brands are setting the standard for authentic email and helping customers receive the mail they want most.

The post New Email Authentication Rules Will Impact Your Email Delivery: Understanding DMARC appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

As a small business owner you can use EMAIL in a powerful way to engage and bring a deep personalized connection to your customers and potential customers.

While you can do many of this on your own, you can also hire someone to help you do it.

Email is not dead – it’s a powerful way to connect and reach someone right in their email box.

The post Email Personalization Works: Hilton Garden Inn “Welcomes Ramon” via Email appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Even, Facebook, the leader in “social communication” agrees that email, for business to business communication is still so important.

Facebook recently signed up to use Microsoft Office 365 for its corporate communications as reported by the WSJ.

Of course Facebook’s own internal social workspace service, Facebook at Work competes with tools such as Slack, Skype and other more collaborative tools and services.

If you have people telling you that you can DITCH email and that you don’t need it anymore, in favor of some online post it board they’re wrong. Being able to directly email someone a message – not in a shared message board – is still an important way to community.

Collaborative tools like Jive, Slack and others are great for group collaboration, tracking projects and discussing projects. But when you need to email your boss, or email an attachment to a client – email is best.

The post Collaboration Tools are Important But Email Is Still Essential: Faceboook Agrees appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Getting data into your iPhone or iPad via your camera or other means is pretty easy. However, when you want to transfer lots of data from these devices to another device – it’s not so easy. Especially when it’s lots of data.

There’s a new gadget I was introduced to, iKlips Duo, which is a USB thumbrive that has an iPhone adapter on one end and a USB adapter on the other end.

Transfer files fast and easy.

Services such as Dropbox, FileShare and others are great for transferring files with the Internet , but when you’re offline or have VERY large files, a gadget like iKlips and Thephotostick might be better.

USB flаѕh drives аrе uѕеd tо trаnѕfеr dаtа to оr frоm a соmрutеr. Amоng thе mаjоr аdvаntаgеѕ оf USB drіvеѕ is thаt they аrе portable аnd can be used fоr multiple рurроѕеѕ. In аddіtіоn tо thаt, they аrе durаblе because thеу do not hаvе mоvіng parts. Thеу will serve уоu longer соmраrеd tо thе hаrd drіvеѕ. This аrtісlе will dіѕсuѕѕ ѕоmе оf thе mаjоr bеnеfіtѕ оf flаѕh dіѕkѕ. Rеаd on.

Portable
flаѕh drіvе, ѕmаll sizedFlash drіvеѕ are small іn ѕіzе. Thіѕ mаkеѕ them еаѕіlу роrtаblе. Yоu саn аttасh them tо a keychain оr ѕlір thеm in your shirt оr trоuѕеr росkеt. Majority of thеѕе devices are between two аnd three іnсhеѕ. Hоwеvеr, we hаvе the lаrgеlу ѕіzеd dеѕіgnѕ bоught bу a ѕресіfіс grоuр оf buуеrѕ. Yоu can bе sure thаt you саn саrrу it аrоund wіthоut nоtісіng уоu have it.

Memory
Thеу саn саrrу between 1 tо 128 GB sized data. Thе 1GB drives аrе cheap аnd are uѕеd tо саrrу light fіlеѕ and fоr ѕіmрlе file trаnѕfеrѕ. If you want to uѕе a flash drіvе tо back uр a рrоgrаm, a bigger ѕіzе іѕ required. If уоu hаvе lаrgе loads оf data tо ѕtоrе, I would recommend that уоu buy USB drіvеѕ wіth 32 GB and аbоvе. The lаrgеѕt ѕіzе саn ѕtоrе lаrgе files lіkе оf music, pictures, аnd mоvіеѕ.

Transfer ѕрееd
The 3.0 vеrѕіоn оf USB drives hаѕ bееn rесоrdеd to trаnѕfеr data аt a speed оf 4.8 gigabytes реr ѕесоnd, this is why people opt to use the best usb drive for tesla dashcam. This іѕ great speed соmраrеd to thаt оf SD memory card, whісh trаnѕfеrѕ 312 MB per ѕесоnd.

The post Easily Transfer Data From iPhone or iPad with iKlips Duo Thumb Drive appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

This article is brought to you in partnership with Verisign, the global leader in domain names and internet security

Many small businesses find a website to be instrumental to their growth as a business. However, many small business owners aren’t sure where to start or are intimidated by the process of building a website. Our friends at Verisign, the registry operator for .com and .net, have provided a checklist to help guide you, whether you’re building a website on your own with a DIY website builder or outsourcing to a professional.

Determine the Purpose of Your Website

Every website has a purpose, whether it’s simply to serve as a brochure or to sell products. Decide what your website’s purpose is going to be before you begin, then plan your content around it. To get started, it’s often best to determine the elements that are critical as you launch your website, knowing that you can always expand your website later. For an e-commerce site, for instance, you could put some of your most popular items online as you get familiar with the fulfillment process, then gradually add more items as your business grows.

Choose and Register a Domain Name

One of the most important things you’ll do as you build a new website is choose a domain name. Dot com (.com) and .net are among the most popular domains for businesses that want to reach their customers online.  Since your domain name, or web address, will be used on your promotional materials, it should be memorable, but it should also contain your business’s most essential search terms. Internet search users are likely to click on a keyword-rich domain name that includes at least one of their search terms, compared to a domain name that does not contain any of the keywords.

Plan Your Website

Before taking the next step, carefully map out your website, deciding what pages you’ll have and how they’ll connect to each other. This will give you an idea of the scope of your site, including what services you’ll need. Once you’ve mapped your site, you’ll be able to decide whether you want to hire a provider to design your site or use one of the many DIY tools available. With your plan in place, you’ll know exactly which elements you need to include. Check out a good option for you to create your business website and get more customers.

Locate Web Hosting

In addition to your domain name and website developer, you’ll also need a service to host your site. Some web hosting providers include website builders as part of their services, so you may want to search for this before you make any final decisions about your website’s creation. You can use a service like WordPress that offers hosting for free, but you’ll need to forward your domain name to the WordPress site. This will ensure that when someone enters the domain name you’ve created, they’re immediately directed to your content.

Promote Your Website

Even the best-designed website will be useless unless customers can find it. You’ll need to put effort into getting the word out about your website, including filling it with content that will make it rank well in web searches. In addition to quality content creation, you can also experiment with paid search engine placement, which will give your site visibility to your target audience. Make sure you also promote your site on your existing channels, including using signage in your store, adding it to your print materials, and linking to it on various social media platforms.

A website is the first step toward getting the word out about your business. When you take the right steps from the start, you set up a basic site that you can build on as your business grows. With the right domain name and publicity, your site will help you compete with others in your industry who already have great websites.

This article was written in partnership with Verisign, the global leader in domain names and internet security. All opinions and experiences expressed are my own.

The post Building a Website for Your Small Business? This Checklist Will Help appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The Wall Street Journal Reports that Google Calendar was inaccessible last week, for a few hours. Sure – that’s a LONG time and it could be another online service next week. However, for me, the world of online computing – internet based software – is still a great (the best) option for your business.

Online service providers have the resources and the incentive to ensure their applications are working at a 99% uptime (or more) and for the most part they succeed.

Keep in mind, when your server or computer goes down, you have to fix it or hire someone to fix it for you.