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Bad Backlinks That You Want To Avoid

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Link building is one of the most important aspects of SEO. A site with good links will do better than a site with no links at all, and that’s why every website owner spends so much time trying to get backlinks from relevant sites. 

But what about bad backlinks? Can you have too many of those? And how do you know if your link-building efforts might be producing some bad results without knowing it?

In this post, we’ll look at the difference between good and bad backlinks and how to spot them.

What Are Bad Backlinks And How Do They Affect Your Site?

When you’re looking to grow your site and optimize it for search engines, it’s important to understand the types of links that can do more harm than good. A backlink is a link from another website that directs traffic to your site. 

Good backlinks are considered high-quality because they’re coming from websites that have a lot of authority in the eyes of Google. Bad backlinks are those coming from spammy sites or low-quality blogs, and they can negatively affect your rankings by giving off an impression of spam when Google sees them.

To run an effective link-building campaign and avoid bad backlinks, consider using qualified link building agencies like Link City.

5 Backlinks to Avoid

Here are five bad backlink methods to avoid:

1. Spammy Linking Practices.

Spammy linking practices are links that are created in an attempt to boost the ranking of a website. This is done by using automated programs called “link farms” to generate thousands of low-quality, irrelevant links on other sites. 

Spammy links don’t just hurt your site’s performance; they also damage your brand because they make it look like you’re up to no good! If Google sees too many spammy backlinks from your website, it could downgrade or even penalize your site.

2. Directory Sites.

Directory sites are a type of web page that lists websites by category. They’re also known as “listings directories” or “web directories.” These pages often have an alphabetical listing, but sometimes they’re organized by subject matter instead

If you have a link from a directory that’s not relevant to your website or blog, it could affect your search engine optimization (SEO). You should try to avoid directory links whenever possible because they can hurt more than they help in terms of SEO performance. They can also affect things like user experience overall too so keep this in mind when building links for yourself!

3. Unnatural Link Profiles.

Links that come from too many different IP addresses are considered a strong signal of an unnatural link profile. If you have links coming from a single IP address, then it may be time to start looking for other options too.

The next thing you should look at is cross-linking. Whether or not your site has any links from the same domain. This means that if one person has been linking to your site, chances are someone else will link to you as well because it’s only natural for people who write about similar topics to link together to promote each other’s content and drive traffic back and forth between their sites.

4. Links from Low-Quality Websites.

Webmasters and SEO professionals alike know that links from low-quality websites can be bad. But what exactly makes a website “low quality?” While there’s no exact definition, we can say with confidence that it includes adult, gambling, or spammy sites. In addition, these types of sites may have been hacked and are most likely infected with malware you don’t want to propagate on your site.

They may also have been flagged by Google as having a poor user experience or not being mobile-friendly (or both). Finally, they might even have been penalized by Google for violating the search engine’s guidelines on link building – which is why it’s always best practice to avoid linking to pages with black hat SEO tactics!

5. Spam or Anonymous Commenting.

Spamming is the practice of posting links to your website on other websites. The goal is to get search engines like Google and Bing to index these spammy sites, which will in turn lead the searchers who land on them to your website. Spamming can lead to penalties from Google, so it’s not a good way to build links.

Final Thoughts

Google is getting continuously better at detecting unnatural links and penalizing websites for them. But it’s still important to keep an eye out for bad backlinks on your own. You can protect your website by monitoring its link profile regularly, checking in frequently with Google Search Console, and removing any spammy or suspicious links.

 

What Is An SEO Specialist?

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What an SEO specialist does is fundamentally important for any online business. SEO specialists can help you get your website on the first page of search engines, which, in turn, helps you get more traffic and leads. 

They can also help with certain marketing needs or challenges that don’t relate specifically to search engine optimization (SEO). 

In this post, we’ll explore what an SEO specialist does and how they can help your small business grow its online presence!

3 Critical Roles and Responsibilities of a SEO Specialist

SEO Experts need to be decisive and adept at finding solutions to complex problems. Furthermore, they need to be able to identify and select the kind of content that will interest and inform their intended audience.

1. Optimizing Websites and Web Pages.

SEO specialists are responsible for making sure that websites, web pages, and other online assets are optimized to appear high in search results on Google and other search engines.

SEO specialists perform a variety of duties in helping their clients get on the first page of search engines. The main goal is to help clients generate more traffic to their sites through organic (or natural) search results. This can be achieved by improving the ranking of the existing content on the website, as well as creating new content with keywords that will rank highly in searches related to those topics or products.

2. SEO Strategies.

SEO specialists perform a variety of duties in helping their clients get on the first page of search engines. They help companies improve their organic ranking through optimization techniques, including on-page and off-page strategies.

On-page strategies include things like keyword research, content development and placement, site architecture and navigation, schema markup implementation (if applicable), internal linking structure for your website or blog network, and more.

Off-page strategies include link-building campaigns (also known as link acquisition). These activities can be performed manually by you or your team members but most often it’s outsourced to an established digital marketing agency that specializes in SEO.

3. Improve Organic Ranking.

An SEO specialist helps companies improve their organic ranking through optimization techniques. Optimization can be applied to a wide range of digital marketing strategies, including link building and keyword research.

SEO specialists use a variety of tools to help optimize websites for search engines. They may also analyze data on competitor sites and determine what makes them successful in the eyes of Google’s algorithms.

A well-trained SEO specialist can assist with link-building strategies by identifying high-quality sources that are relevant to the product or service being sold on your site. They can also assist with content development by writing blog posts or articles that you publish online as part of your marketing campaign.

Additionally, they may perform keyword research using software like SEMrush to identify keywords related specifically to your products/services/industry that aren’t currently being targeted by other firms’ advertisements but which could still bring significant traffic if used properly.

Hire an SEO Specialist From a Good Agency

Hiring a professional is one of the best investments you can make for your business. If you’re not sure how to find one, here are a few tips:

Look for Experience.

Look at their website and social media profiles. Be sure they’re active and engaged in the industry, not just posting ads or articles but actually discussing them with others.

Check References.

Do they have testimonials? Ask around among your peers in the industry if they’ve heard of this person before, or even ask them directly if they would recommend them to someone else like yourself who wants to learn more about SEO services!

Hire From a Reputable Agency.

Review seo vacancies carefully before making any decisions. Your best way forward is to hire from an agency that knows what they’re doing. After all, the main objective of a Search Engine Optimization Specialist is to increase website traffic and boost an organization’s search engine rankings by assessing and reviewing websites and executing modifications by improved search tactics to aid in your company’s growth.

Final Thoughts

Most businesses these days have websites or other forms of online presence, so optimizing their content for search engines is essential. Therefore, every company that has a website or produces material online may benefit from having an SEO specialist.

Your business will be at risk if you don’t have an SEO specialist who can help you keep up with changes in search engine algorithms and other requirements for ranking on the first page of Google results.

 

Supporting Entrepreneurs For A Better Tomorrow

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by Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (AMEA), FedEx Express

It’s safe to say that the global winds have been shifting, and then some. For many observers – economic, environmental, or otherwise – the outlook feels uncertain. So far, 2022 has presented businesses large and small with plenty of fresh challenges to navigate.

Solutions, of course, will require global cooperation: policies that acknowledge how interconnected we are across the globe. The region of Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (AMEA) has a rich and dynamic history of capitalizing on those connections, seizing advantages, staging recoveries, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs.

For any entrepreneur, starting a new business may seem daunting – perhaps more so today. But we know one simple truth: throughout history, times of turmoil have inevitably been the catalyst for positive change. An entrepreneurial mindset sees solutions, not problems, and recognizes that challenges are a platform for innovation. And we know something else: it’s the talent of tomorrow who will lead. Two-thirds of the Gen Z population have already started or are planning to start their own business. That’s an immense generational shift that simply hasn’t been seen before. Entrepreneurship, then, is the future.

In the AMEA region in particular, there’s a vast and diverse talent pool to draw from. The region has almost 60% of the global youth population and boasts some of the world’s most successful start-up ecosystems. India has become the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world after the U.S. and China. Start-ups in Africa are reaching unicorn status at an increasingly faster pace. While in Southeast Asia, start-ups are forecast to see a combined valuation of  $1.1 trillion by 2025. Economic recovery that helps local communities to thrive will rely on a robust pipeline of business activity and an enterprise culture that seeks to tap global trade links.

Global trade remains an essential part of how we future-proof and rebound into 2023 and beyond. The IMF has urgently called for new collaborative solutions that reduce trade policy uncertainty and the removal of damaging trade restrictions to boost productivity and improve people’s living standards. It also warns that economic reforms need to tackle more than rising inflation and address longer-term challenges such as climate change adaptation and the transition to green energy, investments in human capital and digital transformation.

Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs want the same things. At FedEx16th annual International Trade Challenge in Asia Pacific – a student competition to find and champion some of the region’s youngest would-be entrepreneurs, I saw first-hand how the young people of today want to create new business models that shape the future in a positive way. Many are advancing in social impact or purpose-driven entrepreneurship and founding businesses that promote social good.

The next generation of business leaders are true changemakers. They have the power to ensure a sustainable future and build strong, equitable economies that benefit communities everywhere. These, we can agree, are global headwinds we can all get behind. And one thing’s for sure: for our youngest entrepreneurs to soar, we need to encourage them every step of the way.

 

Kawal Preet

Kawal Preet is the president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express. Based in Hong Kong, Preet is responsible for leading the FedEx Express business across the AMEA region, including overall planning and implementation of corporate strategies and operations across more than 103 countries and territories with nearly 40,000 employees.

 

Top 4 Crypto Lending Platforms To Consider

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ethereum

ethereum

by Sviatoslav Pinchuk, COO of TradeCrypto

The possibilities that the crypto revolution brings are endless. Not only can you, our fellow “little” man, and we are saying this in a good way, enjoy having decentralized currency, but you can also function as our own bank, get interest by lending crypto to other blockchain users, and earn passive income. This is a fantastic idea, a strong statement that there is an alternative to central banks, and a real game-changer for the usual bank-customer relationship.

Whether you want to borrow crypto from your peers or open a crypto savings account, finding the right platform is vital. Or if you are a business owner who considers implementing crypto payments, we suggest you stay with us to learn about these platforms, as well as check out useful reviews or tutorials like these. Now let us have a look at some of the best crypto lending platforms, but not before understanding how this process works.

Crypto loans and lending platforms – In a nutshell

Borrowing and lending are peer-to-peer-based. This means that different users of the platform get connected for the transaction, with the platform being the mediator. Crypto lending works by taking crypto from one user and loaning it to another for interest or a fee. Usually, you must provide collateral as a guarantee before borrowing, and you cannot get your crypto back until you repay the loan. To learn more about how loans work, as well as all the major concepts, you can also check out tradecrypto.com.

What to keep in mind about crypto coin lending platforms

There are numerous options on the market, so you may be confused at first or think that there isn’t much difference in which one you choose. That is not the case, because better security or a better annual percentage rate (APR) may mean the world to you in the long run. The most important things you should look out for include the size of interest rates, the amount to pay in fees, deposit limits, and the amount of collateral you need to start borrowing.

Here is the list of the four best crypto lending platforms, as of October 2022:

coinrabbit

1. CoinRabbit.

We should start with one of the most prominent companies and we may safely say one of the leaders in crypto loans and lending platforms. CoinRabbit is a decentralized and trustworthy crypto platform founded in 2020 in Estonia. It currently supports over 80 cryptocurrencies and is widely known for being flexible and fast. It offers users both the options to borrow crypto with an APR and to save crypto and lend it to other users. Read detailed review about CoinRabbit.

Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly and simple to use: a great solution for someone who has just found out about lending platforms;
  • Very light KYC (they just ask for email and phone), with great security at the same time – no breaches have happened so far;
  • Reliable customer support – they especially take pride in this. Most people on several renowned review sites such as TrustPilot have praised the quick and helpful response from the support team;
  • Great interest rates when you are lending – 8-10% APY (annual percentage yield);
  • Excellent for long-term goals.

Cons:

  • Does not support fiat currency;
  • If you are borrowing, the interest rates are pretty high compared to the competition, with as much as 12%-16% APR.

youhodler

2. Youhodler.

This Swiss platform originated in 2018 and is another great platform for beginners. Youhodler is the right choice for people who want to reduce their long-term risk by lending a variety of tokens. It offers a very large number of cryptocurrencies. The yield may not seem too attractive, as it is in the neighborhood of 5% APY, but we must stress that all accounts have zero lock-up and complete investment freedom. You are not obliged to stake any tokens here or follow a specific set of conditions that other platforms have.

Pros:

  • Great loan-to-value ratio (>90%);
  • A minimum loan of just $100 is great for beginners;
  • Multi HODL feature – you can simultaneously exchange your crypto into different currencies and earn interest;
  • 24/7 live chat support.

Cons:

  • No support for clients from the United States;
  • High-interest rates on longer loans.

nexo

3. Nexo.

If low fees are your priority, Nexo should undoubtedly be your favorite. It is also one of the safest lending platforms since all accounts are insured by the expert digital security company, BitGo. Founded by TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington in 2017, the platform offers Nexo Bitcoin as their prime staking coin. Nexo is praised by borrowers, people concerned for safety, and some portion of lenders as well. It currently has over 40 million customers.

Pros:

  • Proven to be extremely safe;
  • Instant loans with extremely low fees, starting from nearly 0% APR;
  • Good APY when lending.

Cons:

  • You need to stake its native token to really get the benefits of that edge they bring;
  • Interest is charged for the money you use and for the days you borrow, and the charge is pretty high;

blockfi

4. BlockFi.

We chose this lending platform because it is a specialist crypto-investing platform. This may be the most professional platform of the bunch, while also getting a good response from beginners. How much yield you get on tokens will depend on two factors: which coin it is and the investment size. Just by following a couple of easy registration steps, you can earn compound interest in crypto, increasing your assets.

Pros:

  • Professional and specialized – experienced users can find many attractive possibilities and variables for versatile borrowing and lending;
  • Zero fees for making trades on the platform;
  • Security is impeccable;

Cons:

  • Rather high withdrawal fees;
  • BlockFi is no longer offering interest accounts to US citizens.

Conclusion

Some people think that trading and speculating is all there is to cryptocurrency. These diverse platforms prove that this is incorrect. After carefully inspecting their characteristics, you should compare them to your strategy model to find what works best for you. Either way, you can’t go too wrong with choosing any of the selected platforms.

 

sviatoslav pinchuk

Sviatoslav Pinchuk, COO of TradeCrypto is a crypto journalist who simply bought some BTC for domestic needs in 2014 and then forgot about it till 2017. He got Etherium in 2017 by misclick and sold it in 2018 “just to try”. After losing 1 Florida house on XEM in 2018, Sviatoslav finally decided to trade reasonably. He is one of the most analytical and data-driven traders in the crypto industry.

 

Data Ingestion: Are You Feeding Your Machine The Right Information?

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In a world increasingly reliant on data-driven decision-making, it is more important than ever to ensure that the information going into our machines is of the highest quality. Whether we are talking about self-driving cars or stock market trading algorithms, erroneous data can have disastrous consequences.

What Is Data?

Data is “a set of values of subjects concerning qualitative or quantitative variables.” In other words, data is simply a collection of facts and figures. However, data is not particularly useful unless it can be interpreted and used to conclude.

This is where data quality comes in. Data quality refers to the data’s accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. For data to be valid, it must meet all three criteria. Accuracy means that the data must be free from errors. Completeness means that all relevant data must be included. Timeliness means that the data must be up-to-date.

What Is Data Ingestion?

Data ingestion is getting data into a system that can be processed and analyzed. To do this, data must first be collected from various sources. Once collected, the data is cleansed, transformed, and loaded into the system. A data ingestion framework is a vital part of any data pipeline and essential for data analytics.

Data Collection.

Data can be collected from various sources, both internal and external. Internal sources include things like databases, transaction systems, and application logs. External sources include social media feeds, weather data, and financial data. The important thing is that the data is collected in a format that the system can ingest.

Data Cleansing.

Once the data is collected, it must be cleansed to remove any incorrect information or duplicate data. This step is essential to ensure that the data is accurate and useful. Data cleansing can be done manually or automatically using algorithms.

Data Transformation.

After the data is cleansed, it must be transformed into a format the system can use. This step includes normalizing the data, aggregating the data, and converting the data into a usable form. Data transformation is essential to prepare the data for ingestion.

Data Loading.

The final step in ingesting data is loading the data into the system. This can be done using various methods, including streaming, batch processing, or real-time loading. The technique will depend on the type of system used and the organization’s requirements.

Why Is Data Quality Important?

There are several reasons why data quality is so important. First, as we mentioned before, poor data quality leads to bad decision-making. If the data you’re basing your decisions on is incomplete or inaccurate, those decisions are likely to be wrong. This can cost your company time, money, and customers.

Second, high-quality data helps you understand your customers better. Knowing who your customers are and their wants allow you to cater to their needs more effectively. This, in turn, leads to happier customers and increased sales.

Third, good data helps you improve your marketing efforts. With high-quality data, you can segment your audience and target them with personalized messages more likely to convert.

Lastly, accurate data allows you to measure your success accurately. You can’t improve what you don’t count. Without good data, it’s impossible to tell whether or not your marketing efforts are paying off or if there are areas that need improvement.

How Can We Improve Data Quality?

There are many ways to improve data quality, but some of the most common methods include the following:

  • Regularly auditing and cleaning up existing data sets.
  • Improving processes to prevent errors from occurring in the first place.
  • Implementing standards and controls around how data is collected and stored.
  • Training employees on best practices for working with data.

Final Thoughts

In today’s world, big data plays a significant role in decision-making across industries. That’s why ensuring that the information going into our machines is high quality is important. Accurate, complete, and timely data is essential for drawing valid conclusions and sound decisions. There are many ways to improve data quality. Still, some of the most common methods include a data ingestion framework, regularly auditing and cleaning up existing data sets, improving processes to prevent errors from occurring in the first place, implementing standards and controls around how data is collected and stored, and training employees on best practices for working with data.

 

Top Business Decisions For A Fast Financial Startup

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Having access to finance isn’t easy whether you’re running a business or managing your own personal accounts. You may need to utilise things like online payday loans when necessary or perhaps you need to make some drastic cuts to your budget. Whatever you decide to do, you want to be 100% certain that you’re making the right decision for your company.

So, keep reading and discover the top business decisions that you can make for a fast financial startup.

Make The Most Of Finance Options

When it comes to having access to finances to get your business off the ground, there are lots of different options available. You could look at taking out a business loan as it provides you with a lump sum of cash that you can use to purchase everything you need at once. Alternatively, you could look at a business credit card as it allows you to be in control of your debt and decide how much of it you get into. With so many options out there, you want to make sure that you choose the right one for your business. It’s important that you weigh up the pros and cons of each, and you’ll soon be able to decide which one will work for you and give you the financial boost you need.

Try Government Grants

Another form of financial support that can be a great decision for your company is government backed grants. These don’t need to be paid back and can be renewed again the following year if you need further funding. A lot of these are designed for businesses that are trying to get themselves up and running, so you may have more success with them than a loan sometimes. While they aren’t a guarantee, they can work extremely well in your favour, and you can apply for multiple different ones and be awarded them too. So, the right decision for you, could be to check out what local government grants are available to your business.

Focus On Your Marketing

Marketing is extremely important when you’re a new business, as you need to ensure that you do everything you can to get your name out there. It just takes the right person to share your content, and you could have thousands of new customers overnight. So, if you aren’t already, make sure you get on social media and make the most of what it has to offer. You can easily set up a business account and start posting relevant content. Nowadays, people love to consume media through their smartphones, so it’s the best possible place you could market your business. With strong marketing behind you, you’ll find that you see a lot more financial success than if you didn’t focus on it at all.

Be Easily Accessible

You want your business to be easily accessible, so this means making sure customers can use your business no matter where they are or what they’re doing. By being accessible to everyone, you instantly increase your potential customer reach, therefore, increasing your sales. You don’t want to be a business that only has a website, as most people won’t be searching for your name directly, and if you don’t have good SEO in place, you’ll be lost under a wave of competitors. So, make sure that your business can be seen and used by all, and you’ll see a massive change in how quickly your finances change for the better.

Invest In A Strong Team

Finally, you need a strong team behind you if you want to see a fast financial startup. Without your dedicated employees by your side, you’ll find it almost impossible to keep up, and you could lose more money than you would by paying members of staff. A strong team will ensure that your start-up goes as smooth as possible and keep you on track for success.

When making business decisions, there are always lots of things to consider, and not everything will seem straightforward. However, these decisions above should show you that the smallest changes can have the biggest impact. So, be sure to take them on board the next time you’re trying to make a decision, and your financial startup will go off without a hitch!

 

The Search For Success Measures

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business meeting charts

business meeting charts

by Patti Phillips Ph.D. and Jack J. Phillips Ph.D., authors of “Show the Value of What You Do

Why do you do the work you do? The specific work — the project you are working on now, in fact. How will you demonstrate the value of that project, or the system you are installing, or the new procedure you are implementing? Defining success in clear terms is the first step to demonstrate value of what you do. But as they say, the first step is always the hardest. Too often we try to select one or two measures that, in the end, fail to communicate real value. That is because the measures may represent only one viewpoint or type of data. Here are some categories of measures that reflect different perspectives of value.

Happiness, commitment, and motivation. Reaction from the project team defines success. The perception of a project by team members is a vital measure of success. Are they happy with it? Are they committed to making it work? If answers to these questions are negative, there is a likelihood the project won’t get off dead center. And while important, these measures are not enough.

Learning and capability. Sometimes the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and credentials, as part of a project, may indicate success. Without a doubt, if you learn new knowledge and develop new skills to make a project work, there is opportunity to contribute additional value to the organization. But these measures of success are not enough. Knowledge is important, but it is only powerful when it is used.

Habits, behaviors, and actions. Routine and systematic actions are indicators of success. People are on the move; things are happening. So what? Action or behavior change without a purpose is just busywork. The consequence or impact of actions, behaviors, or habits is where real value resides.

Impact and consequences. Here is where the real value of work becomes apparent, particularly from the perspective of sponsors and supporters — those people funding projects. These are the measures in the system and organization records that reflect ultimate outcomes of work. You have likely heard them referred to as key performance indicators (KPIs). Measures of output, quality, and time are KPIs of importance to project funders. These measures are easily converted to money, making value evident or tangible. Other measures such as image, collaboration, and teamwork, are also important. These measures are more difficult to convert to money and represent intangible measures of success. Value may be inherently known, but much less obvious than the improvement in tangible measures. Tangible and intangible indicators of value are great—but they, too, are not always enough for some to describe the real value of your work.

It was worth it. Now, we are getting somewhere. Answering the question, “Is it worth it?” defines ultimate value. It answers the ROI question. Did we get more bang out of the buck than we put into it? How do benefits compare to costs? ROI informs our decisions daily. When we purchase an item, we ask ourselves, Is it worth it? Am I going to get more benefit (tangible or intangible) by spending my money this way, than I would by holding on to it or spending it another way? From a financial perspective, if benefits exceed costs, the project or activity is successful.

Defining success can be difficult if you are only looking through a single lens. Perspective is important. Demonstrating value from multiple perspectives will help prevent other people from undervaluing what you do.

 

*Reprinted from the book “Show the Value of What You Do” with the permission of Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Copyright © 2022.

 

Patti Phillips and Jack Phillips

Patti P. Phillips, Ph.D. is a consultant and researcher, and the author of “Show the Value of What You Do“. She serves on the UN Institute for Training and Research board of trustees, International Federation of Training and Development Organizations board, The Conference Board Human Capital Advisory Council, and the Institute for Corporate Productivity People Analytics Board.

Jack J. Phillips, Ph.D. is the author of “Show the Value of What You Do” and an award-winning thought leader in the field of talent development. He is a global keynote speaker and has written over 100 hundred books, and all focused on the importance of showing the value of the work. He serves as chair of ROI Institute, a globally recognized consulting firm.

 

The Beginner’s Guide To Producing VR Projects

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virtual reality goggles

virtual reality goggles

Virtual Reality is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of media. If you want to get into VR production, this guide is for you! This post will cover the basics of producing VR content, from setting up your work-compatible storytelling platform.

If you need professional help with creating this sort of content, a VR production agency in Dubai can provide all the help. We’ll also cover tips on marketing and distributing your VR projects. So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, read on for all the info you need to create mind-blowing VR experiences!

What is VR?

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment that lets you experience a different place or situation. It’s often used in video games and for other purposes, such as educational and business applications.

There are two main types of VR systems: tethered and untethered. Tethered VR systems are connected to a computer or console, while untethered VR systems are not. Tethered VR systems provide a more immersive experience but are also more expensive and require more setup.

We recommend using an untethered system if you’re just getting started in VR production. That way, you can get a feel for the medium without investing much money upfront.

Understanding VR Development

VR development is similar to traditional game development. However, there are a few key differences that you need to be aware of.

First, VR development requires a higher level of technical expertise. That’s because VR systems are much more complex than traditional gaming platforms. As a result, you’ll need a strong understanding of computer graphics and animation.

Second, VR development is often more time-consuming than traditional game development. That’s because it can be difficult to create assets that look good in VR. As a result, you may need to hire additional staff or outsource some of the work.

What do I Need to Get Started?

The first thing you’ll need is a VR headset. There are many different types of VR headsets on the market, so choosing one compatible with your VR system is important. For example, if you’re using an Oculus Rift, you’ll need to buy an Oculus-compatible headset.

Once you have your VR headset, you’ll also need a computer or console that’s powerful enough to run VR software. This means having a video card with at least two Gigabytes of dedicated VRAM for most VR headsets. You’ll also need a fast enough processor to handle the demands of VR and plenty of RAM.

Finally, you’ll need VR software. Many different VR platforms are available, such as SteamVR, Oculus Home, and PlayStation VR. Make sure to choose a platform that’s compatible with your headset and computer.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Now that you have all the hardware you need, it’s time to set up your workspace. The first thing you’ll need to do is create a virtual reality space. This can be done using Unity or Unreal Engine, two of the most popular game engines.

Once you’ve created your VR space, you’ll need to add objects and characters to it. This can be done using digital assets, such as models and textures. You can find these online or create them yourself using modeling and animation software.

After you have your objects and characters in place, it’s time to add interactivity to your scene. This can be done by adding scripts, and small pieces of code that tell objects what to do. For example, you can use a script to make a character move or pick up an object.

Finally, you’ll need to test your scene to ensure everything is working correctly. Then, you can run your scene in Unity or Unreal Engine editors. Then, you’re ready to move on to the next step if everything looks good!

Creating Your VR Project

Now that you have your workspace, it’s time to start creating your VR project. The first thing you’ll need to do is choose a story. This can be anything from a short film to an interactive experience. Once you have your story, you’ll need to break it down into a series of scenes.

Next, you’ll need to start creating your VR content. This can be done using various methods, such as 360-degree video, computer-generated graphics, or a combination of both. Whichever method you choose, make sure to keep your audience in mind. After all, they’re the ones who will be experiencing your project!

VR in Different Fields

Now, we want to discuss VR in different industries.

Gaming

Virtual reality gaming is one of the most popular uses of VR. Games such as Half-Life: Alyx, Resident Evil VII, and Doom VFR have been designed specifically for VR headsets.

Education

Virtual reality is also being used in education. For example, medical students can use VR to learn about human anatomy. And historians can use VR to explore ancient civilizations.

Healthcare

Virtual reality has become quite important for the healthcare industry and its future. For example, doctors can use VR to train for surgery. And therapists can use VR to treat patients with phobias.

Connecting VR with Other Technologies

Now that we’ve talked about some of the ways VR is being used, we want to discuss how it connects with other technologies.

One example of this is haptic feedback. Haptic feedback is a way of providing tactile feedback to users. This can be done using gloves, vests, or other wearable devices. By combining haptic feedback with VR, users can get a more realistic and immersive experience.

Another example is eye tracking. Eye tracking is a way of monitoring where a user is looking. This information can be used to control objects in a virtual environment. For example, you could use eye tracking to select items in a menu or to aim a gun in a first-person shooter.

In Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different ways to use virtual reality. Whether you’re interested in gaming, education, there’s a VR solution for you. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start creating your VR projects!

 

Coming Up With Creative Ideas Is Not About Reinventing The Wheel

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by Hussain Almossawi, author of “The Innovator’s Handbook

As an architecture or design professional, you know that creativity is key to your success. But sometimes, it can be tough to develop new ideas, especially when you feel stuck in a rut.

It can be tempting to feel that your creativity is only as good as your last project and that coming up with something new and innovative is a matter of starting from scratch. But that’s not necessarily the case.

In fact, perhaps one of the best pieces of advice when it comes to creative thinking is to not stress over the final outcome too much and enjoy the process. Eventually, the end goal would be to create something unique and special. Those who created lasting ideas often never imagined at the time that their work would be remembered or celebrated, but they let their passion and persistence drive them through every hurdle, one step at a time.

Let’s look at six tips that can help you to come up with creative ideas, even when you feel like you’re stuck.

1. Don’t Stress It.

One of the best ways to put yourself in a creativity pit is by putting too much pressure on yourself. If you constantly worry that your ideas aren’t good enough, you’re likely to feel stuck.

Instead of stressing about being creative, try to relax and let the ideas flow. The more you pressure yourself, the harder you will find it to come up with anything.

Imagine that you’re just playing around with the idea at hand (even when professional deadlines loom) and see what happens. You may be surprised at the ideas that come to you when you’re not worried about whether or not they’re good enough.

2. You Don’t Need to Reinvent the Wheel.

You’ve likely heard this before: “Don’t waste time reinventing the wheel.” And for good reason – it’s often better to build on what already exists than it is to start from scratch.

There’s no need to feel like every idea you have needs to be brand new and completely unique. In fact, some of the most successful ideas are built on existing ones. It’s all about standing on the shoulders of the giants who came before you and taking the idea in a new direction.

Think about how you can build on what already exists and put your own spin on it. This doesn’t mean that you should copy others’ work but rather be inspired by it and add your own twist.

3. Don’t Copy, But Be Inspired by Others’ Work.

Copycats abound in our world. It makes sense when you think about it. Those who have created world-changing innovations create a sense of wonder and admiration within us. So, it’s only natural that we would want to try to replicate their success.

However, while it’s important to be inspired by others’ work, creating your own ideas is vital. Otherwise, you risk being a copycat rather than an innovator.

So how can you find the balance? One way is to take inspiration from a variety of sources and all kinds of industries while also staying true to your own voice. This way, you can create ideas firmly rooted in what you’re passionate about while being influenced by the great minds that came before you.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Bring on Other Talents.

Working alone can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be helpful to have uninterrupted time to explore your own ideas. On the other hand, it can be isolating and make it difficult to get feedback or perspective.

To create truly innovative ideas, it’s often helpful to bring on other talents. This could be in the form of a colleague, friend, or family member. But it could also be a professional, such as a coach or consultant.

Having someone to bounce ideas off of can help you to see things in a new light and come up with solutions you may not have thought of on your own. Collaboration is an extremely powerful tool for idea generation, and the more diverse your team is, the stronger your ideas could be pushed to the extremes of what you thought possible.

5. Stay Curious.

The most remarkable character trait of a quality designer is a sense of curiosity. When was the last time you asked yourself: “I wonder how that works?” Or “Why did they do it that way?”

Asking questions is a great way to open up your mind and develop new ideas. When you’re curious about the world around you, you’re more likely to see things in a new light and come up with inventive solutions.

If you find yourself feeling stuck, try to tap into your sense of curiosity. Ask yourself questions about the problem at hand and see where they lead you. Many A to B paths take a turn toward an unexpected C destination that yields far more creative solutions.

6. There’s No Right or Wrong.

One of the biggest myths about creativity is that there’s a right and wrong way to do it. This couldn’t be further from the truth! In reality, there are endless ways to be creative, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Finding a process that works for you and allows you to tap into your creativity is essential. There’s no need to force yourself to follow a particular formula or method. Instead, experiment and play around until you find something that feels natural and comfortable for you.

Many times, amazing ideas are killed in their infancy because we are too worried about them being feasible, doable, or even presentable to the public. So instead, we play it safe to avoid embarrassing ourselves.

But the reality is that you should go crazy and wild, because there is no right or wrong during your ideation and exploration phases. All crazy ideas can be adjusted to adapt to reality when it’s time for execution. The impossibly executable ideas often lead to new innovations and manufacturing processes because they allow us to find new solutions and ask the right questions. Dream big and go all out on blue sky ideas!

Give Yourself Freedom to Design.

Design innovation requires a bit of risky freedom. Great minds stay curious and open-minded. Dive into your sense of curiosity and ask yourself questions about the world around you – and let yourself be inspired by the unexpected in the world around you.

So, is there a right or wrong way to be creative? Only when you stifle your potential by falling into limiting beliefs and fears of the unknown. The important thing is that you’re comfortable with your process, allowing you to tap into your creativity. So go forth and create!

 

Hussain Almossawi

Hussain Almossawi is a renowned designer and innovator who has worked across industries around the world creating and consulting for companies, including Nike, Apple, Google, Adidas, EA Sports, Intel, and Ford. In 2019, Hussain founded Mossawi Studios, a multi-disciplinary design studio specializing in creating memorable, iconic, and bold experiences. He is the author of “The Innovator’s Handbook: A Short Guide to Unleashing Your Creative Mindset.

 

Yida Gao, Shima Capital: Handling An Underperforming Market

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With the market underperforming, Yida Gao and the Shima Capital team continue looking for creative ways to make the most of it. They’ve survived better than most, thanks to their knowledge and a general understanding of how the market operates.

Additionally, partnering with some big-name investors allows the venture capital firm to grow in different ways so that they are ready when the market bounces back.

Big Name Backing

When Shima Capital announced that they brought in over $200 million in funds to start focusing more on Web3 investments, a few familiar names were attached to it.

Bill Ackman, a hedge fund billionaire, became one of the first major players to show support for Shima Capital. Andrew Yang also jumped in as someone willing to put up money to back the fund.

Once individuals started to notice, firms like Dragonfly, Republic Capital, and Mirana Ventures also found the venture capital firm to be an excellent investment going in the right direction. More reputable people and firms supporting the fund allow credibility to grow.

Shima Capital is always looking for other potential partnership opportunities when they open up. Having a lot of focus on overall growth ensures that the firm never becomes too stagnant.

Getting Through the Tough Times

When Shima Capital launched as a venture capital firm in 2021, there was a lot of uncertainty around the market. Retroactively, it could be seen as one of the worst times to start.

However, Yida Gao has always been very optimistic about growth and focused more on getting things right during the early stages of the company’s launch.

A lot of it comes down to being smart with money. If ventures have the right amount of capital and stretch their money creatively, they can get everything going in the right direction.

That little bit of extra money can lift a massive weight off of a company so they can focus on what creates money going forward.

There are all types of Web3 startups that the venture capital firm has been helping out with.

They look for innovation above all else, as that seems to be what thrives in any market. Getting in early with a startup company allows Shima Capital to be slightly different from the competition. Similar firms wait longer to ensure companies are heading in the right direction first.

Another reason why the venture capital firm is handling the market downturn better than most is that it’s not all about making money right now. Instant gratification shouldn’t be the focus with Web3 right now.

Some firms might need it, but Shima Capital doesn’t have to worry. There’s still high growth potential out there.

Will the Bear Market End Soon?

The crypto markets have been in a bear market for a while now. Many investors and traders wonder if and when the bear market will finally end. While it’s impossible to predict the future with certainty, several factors suggest that the bear markets may end.

One factor is the length of the bear market. The current bear market began a while ago and has lasted slightly longer than expected.

This is much longer than the average cryptocurrency bear market, which typically lasts around six months. This suggests that the current bear market may be nearing its end simply because it has already lasted much longer than most other bear markets.

Another factor is the decrease in trading activity during the bear market. As prices have declined, trading activity has also declined. This is expected during a bear market, as fewer people are interested in buying when prices fall.

However, the current bear market has seen a much sharper decline in trading activity than most other bear markets. This could indicate that the bear market is nearing its end, as fewer sellers may be left to drive prices down further.

Finally, the performance of altcoins during the bear market is another factor to consider. Altcoins are typically more volatile than Bitcoin and are often more deeply affected by bear markets.

However, the current bear market has been relatively mild for altcoins compared to previous bear markets. This suggests that investors may be losing interest in altcoins and rotating back into Bitcoin, which could signal the end of the bear market.

Trust in the Future

Ultimately, Shima Capital views Web3 as an extended play instead of relying solely on instant gratification. If the market is down, it only lowers the prices for more significant moves later.

Playing an investment role with growth helps to some degree, but Shima Capital feels like they impact with a hands-on approach that helps tremendously.

By bringing in assistance beyond simply financial support, there is a way for startups to maximize their potential and even grow beyond. That will not necessarily play out a certain way in the short term. Even if the market’s down, a long-term approach can pay off in a big way.

The Shima Capital Story

As a venture capital firm, Yida Gao’s firm focuses on early-stage blockchain companies. They know the industry’s potential to grow more and more as Web3 takes off.

Managing general partner Yida Gao headlines Shima Capital, as he launched the business in 2021. He feels this firm can help provide all the resources necessary for success with a startup. Financially, the firm has a company covered. Insight and knowledge help put it over the top.

 

How Recruiting Software Can Improve Your Startup’s Talent Acquisition Strategy 

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talent acquisition

 

talent acquisition

The hiring process is integral to any organization because it can make or break your business. If you can acquire the right individuals for roles that fit their expertise and skills, they can help your company grow. In addition, they’ll also create positive experiences for your customers, which encourages brand loyalty. 

However, finding the right talent may take a lot of work and time, especially for traditional organizations. For instance, some qualified applicants might not be willing to relocate within your city, so you might need to increase their rates. Similarly, if you don’t hire the right ones, you might have to train them for a more extended period, which causes company downtime due to vacant positions. 

To avoid these situations, you need to enhance your startup company’s talent acquisition strategy by investing in recruiting software so you can gain these five benefits, which include: 

1. Strengthening Communication With Applicants.

When it comes to recruiting and hiring, communication is vital. But you should communicate with suitable candidates rather than promote your position to all types of job seekers. Thus, you need to get the process right so you won’t scare off highly qualified candidates and make them think they’re getting a bad deal. 

With recruiting software, you’ll be able to provide feedback for candidates to provide them with insights into their interview performance. This way, you’ll be able to sustain the interest of top candidates in your job vacancy, so you won’t miss out on the possibility of having them on your team.  

2. Improving Company Productivity.

The traditional hiring process isn’t just outdated, but it can be time-consuming for both employers and job seekers as well. This process includes manually screening resumes, having phone interviews with qualified candidates, and conducting pre-employment testing. Aside from that, you have to train new hires, which can affect the productivity of most projects due to vacancies of essential roles too. 

It’s said that the time it takes to fill an open position can be reduced because recruiting software sends notifications when applicants submit their applications. This advantage allows you to focus on candidates who have already applied rather than spending time finding new ones who haven’t yet gotten in touch with you. As a result, you’ll be able to fill job positions immediately, which will boost the performance of your startup company. 

3. Facilitating Top Talent Search.

Talent acquisition isn’t just about creating a good candidate experience but also finding the best candidates to help your startup company succeed. Unfortunately, the best talent in your industry is out there, but finding it can be tricky. If you’re unsure what skills and experience are needed to fill specific positions at your company, you might struggle to attract them. 

It’s easy to manage your entire recruiting process from a single location, like recruiting software. With this tool, you’ll be able to post job listings, collect applications, conduct video interviews, and choose suitable candidates quickly. Aside from that, you can create customized job postings that are optimized for each type of candidate you’re looking for. In turn, you’ll reach your ideal applicants and find the best ones in the market.

4. Boosting Candidate Experience.

In every step of the recruitment process, efficiency is crucial. If you spend more time deciding which applicants are the best from a pool of candidates, the more you lose their interest in your company. On the other hand, if you value their time by improving talent acquisition efficiency, you’ll be able to maintain higher retention rates. 

With recruiting software, you’ll be able to streamline your interview process to improve your candidates’ experience. Instead of attending to hundreds of applicants, this platform allows you to focus on your top picks so you can deliver their needs by managing their applications. In turn, you can send personalized emails that show candidates you care about them as individuals, not just as applicants.  

5. Automating Hiring Processes.

The traditional hiring process is slow. Because of that, hiring managers are often overwhelmed with candidates and spend a lot of time reviewing identical resumes. In addition, this manual process can lead to poor decisions on the part of hiring managers and frustration among applicants trying to get a job. 

Fortunately, tools like recruiting software will help you leverage an online application system that allows candidates to submit resumes directly from your career site. Aside from that, you’ll enable your applicants to complete pre-screening questions online before coming in for interviews. As a result, you can streamline the process for all involved parties while eliminating paper documents that can get lost in piles of desks.

Key Takeaway.

As a startup company owner, you need to hire the right professionals rather than letting liabilities in your business. Therefore, you should invest in recruiting software to save up your time in filtering incapable candidates. Once you do so, you’ll boost your organization’s productivity and it’ll help you attract a higher market share.

 

5 Ways To Use Email Marketing To Grow Your Business

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by Doug Stoddard, CEO of Bike Rental Manager

According to research, messages are 45 times more likely to be seen using email in comparison to messages posted on Facebook.

While 90% of emails are delivered to the intended recipient, just 2% of Facebook fans see the posts an account has scheduled. Where firms are looking to get their message in front of the desired audience, this demonstrates the key role which email marketing plays in the marketing process today.

Here are five tips on using email marketing to grow your business during this economic downturn.

1. Build an email list.

The first step is to begin building an email list as soon as possible. Building an email list to send compelling emails gives businesses an opportunity to retain the traffic they have generated by providing subscribers with an incentive to visit the site again.

Prospects and customers must opt-in to hear from businesses via email since firms need permission to contact subscribers. To encourage individuals to subscribe to an email list, businesses can create signup forms on their website for people who want to stay informed about the brand, offer signup sheets at their brick-and-mortar stores, and even drive signups through social media.

2. Establish your sending frequency and goals.

While there are no specific rules regarding how often businesses can email customers, it is important to avoid overwhelming subscribers since this can lead to individuals tuning out of the emails or unsubscribing altogether.

Some businesses may choose to send updates every day to their subscribers, whereas others may send emails more exclusively, perhaps opting for once a month or quarter so their audience has something to look forward to. Businesses should experiment to find a pace which works for them and their audience, monitoring unsubscribe rates and adjusting the frequency accordingly.

3. Segment your audience.

While having a large subscriber base is beneficial to a business since it provides an opportunity to sell, educate, or build loyalty, it is also important to have a clear understanding of this audience in order to effectively communicate with them.

Businesses should segment the users within their subscriber list to ensure personalised and targeted emails are directed to their audience. Once these segments have been identified, more relevant emails can be sent to each group which should aid in increasing engagement and reducing the number of unsubscribers each month.

4. Improve the open rate of the emails.

The key to improving the open rate of the email is to ensure the subject line grabs the attention of the audience. While the body of the email is the most important, the subject line and first section should not be overlooked as this is what will determine if your subscribers choose to open the email or scroll past it.

Businesses should ask themselves if they would be compelled to open the email if they saw the particular subject line they plan to use. If the sender isn’t convinced by the subject line, the recipient won’t be either.

5. Test your emails.

Businesses should ensure they test their emails before sending them to their subscriber list. Since emails can appear differently in varying inboxes and devices, each template should be tested to ensure the design appears the same.

Testing can also be conducted with open rates and clicks. Businesses can experiment to identify which time of day customers are most likely to open their email and click through to purchase. Split testing the emails via A/B tests is a great way to see how many small changes to the time of day impacts the results.

 

Doug Stoddart

Doug Stoddart is the CEO and Founder of Bike Rental Manager. After starting his career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in the early nineties, he went on to work in the highly demanding Investment Banking sector. After realising the bike rental industry was run on spreadsheets, Doug decided to create Bike Rental Software to improve the industry. 

 

Money Saving Tax Tips For The Self-Employed

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by Oumesh Sauba, founder and CEO of MyT Limited

Being self-employed or owning your own business has long been a dream for many and thanks to the recent uncertainties in the world – think Covid, Brexit – more are turning to working for themselves.

According to the ONS, self-employed people now represent 15.3% of employment meaning there are more than 5 million self-assessment tax returns completed each year.

But with the cost of living continuing to increase it is important to save money where we can, including through our tax.

There are several ways you can reduce the amount of tax you pay simply by putting aside some time to go through each expense you have and seeing if you can claim anything towards the costs. It is also a good idea to investigate how and where you can invest your money, you earned it so you want to make the most of it.

For example, if you are considering buying a house in the future it is worth looking at opening a Lifetime ISA. These enable you to save money without paying tax, and the Government also tops up your savings by 25% (up to £1,000 per year) it certainly isn’t something you should ignore.

We’ve put together five other ways you could save on your tax bill.

1. Working from home.

While many self-employed or new businesses operate from our homes to save money on expenses such as office rents, did you know you still have tax-allowable expenses regarding your house?

In fact you can claim for some of your monthly bills including water rates, rent, mortgage interest and council tax. You can even claim some money back on your heating and lighting – definitely something we could use at the moment!

2. Own your loss.

If you are just starting out it can be a tough few years until you break even, however, this can help you once you start making an income. Using the carry forward feature of your tax return, you can carry forward a tax year’s loss into a year that you have made a profit, therefore reducing the amount of taxable income for that year.

3. Smart bookkeeping.

We all love a good app and bookkeeping is no different. By having an app on your phone to keep track of your expenses, invoices and any other financials relating to your business, you can make sure you are only paying the tax you owe.

There are many apps available now, including MyT, which allows you to be up to date on the position of your finances at any given time. A feature that is certainly handy when filling in your tax return.

4. Salaries and benefits.

If you have employees working for you, you can claim some expenses such as National Insurance contributions, insurance and pension benefits as well as their training and any childcare provision. Staff who earn more than £10,000 per year and are over the age of 22 are legally entitled to a company pension through auto enrolment so it is important you understand what you can claim to help you with these costs.

6. Plan for retirement.

While we are talking about pensions make sure you start paying into yours as soon as possible. If you already have a private pension do a maintenance check, for instance, how much is the Annual Management Charge (AMC)? It could be that there are more suitable pensions for you to move to. However, if you do decide to move your pension check with your provider if there are any exit fees as this could be more than the savings you make on the AMC.

If you don’t have a pension yet make this your priority. Not only can you claim tax relief on your pension from the Government, you will also benefit more from compound interest by starting early. A good place to start is to think about not only what you want to do when you retire but at what age. Currently the pension age is 66 years old while you can start withdrawing from your personal pension from age 55 – however these are set to increase to 67 and 57 respectively by 2028 and will continue to increase.

It is always good to speak to a financial adviser when making decisions like these and there are many that offer one-off or free advice.

 

Oumesh Sauba

Oumesh Sauba is founder and CEO of MyT Limited, an award-winning AI-driven accounting app and software designed to support freelancers and micro businesses with their bookkeeping and records. He is also director of his own accounting firm Sauba and Daughters Co, and has over 15 years of experience as a Chartered Management Accountant specialising in financial accounts, management accounts and taxes for small businesses.

 

Veteran Photographers Like Hunter Hobson Weigh In On The State Of The Industry

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Photography is a visual art form that uses light from the sun or artificial sources to capture images on a light-sensitive surface. It has evolved and undergone numerous changes since its birth. Photographers used cumbersome cameras and expensive materials like glass plates and silver halide salts to create their images in the early days. Today, anyone with a smartphone can take a high-quality photo. And while this increase in accessibility has decreased the overall value of images, it has also opened up new opportunities for those passionate about this art form, like Hunter Hobson.

Despite the challenges posed by the digital age, photography remains a viable and popular profession. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for photographers was $34,000 per year in 2018, and the employment of photographers is expected to grow by 3% from 2018 to 2028. While this isn’t a massive influx of new jobs, it indicates there is still demand for photography services.

So, What Does This Mean For Aspiring Photographers?

First and foremost, there’s no time to start pursuing your passion like the present. If you’re considering taking up photography as a hobby or side hustle, now is an excellent time to do so. Photography is more accessible than ever — thanks to technological advancements — and it’s also more affordable. With digital cameras and editing software readily available at relatively low prices, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started in this field.

And if you’re already working as a photographer but struggling to make ends meet, don’t give up just yet! There are plenty of ways to market your business and reach new clients; you just need to get creative and think outside the box. Social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest provide excellent opportunities for promoting your work to a wide audience. Online directories like Yelp and Google Business can help boost your visibility in search results. You can make headway in this competitive industry with a little effort (and maybe some help from an SEO specialist).

Tips for Making a Living as a Photographer

If you’re thinking about becoming a professional photographer or you’re already working in the industry and struggling to make ends meet, here are some tips that might help you make a living:

Find Your Niche.

There are countless amateur photographers, but not all specialize in the same type of photography. Find the area you’re most passionate about and focus your efforts on becoming an expert in that field. Whether it’s wedding photography, fashion photography, landscape photography, or something else, specializing will help you stand out from the competition.

Network.

In any profession, you must network and builds relationships with others in your field. Get involved with professional organizations, attend conferences and workshops, and make an effort to meet other photographers—you never know when one of those contacts might lead to a job opportunity.

Market Yourself.

Even if you’re the best photographer in the world, no one will hire you if they don’t know you exist. Make sure your website is up-to-date and easy to navigate; post samples of your work on social media; and don’t be afraid to promote yourself—in moderation.

Be Flexible.

In today’s economy, many businesses are cutting costs wherever possible, including spending on professional photographers. As a result, many photographers have to be more flexible with their rates and services. If you’re willing to negotiate prices or offer discounts for certain services, you’ll be more likely to land new clients.

Think outside the traditional system.

The traditional model for finding work as a photographer — working with an agency or going through an online database — isn’t working as well as before. Instead, consider working with smaller businesses or individuals who might not have noticed you otherwise. You might also want to explore other revenue streams, such as teaching photography classes or selling photo prints online.

Photography In The Future

It is impossible to know precisely where photography is headed. However, we can make some pretty good guesses based on the current state of the art. For example, Increased artificial intelligence will play a significant role in the future of photography. We are already seeing this trend with the development of automatic editing features and “smart” cameras that can recognize faces and objects. The next logical step is for cameras to be able to think for themselves and make decisions about composition, lighting, and other factors.

We will also likely see more augmented reality features in camera hardware and software. These features will allow photographers to see information about their surroundings and make decisions accordingly. For example, an augmented reality display could show the photographer the sun’s location relative to their current position or the names of nearby landmarks.

Finally, we will likely see a continued increase in the use of drones for photography. Drones offer a unique perspective previously only available to those willing to risk their lives by climbing tall structures or using helicopters. As drones become more affordable and easy to use, we will see more and more photographers using them to capture images from new perspectives.

Final Thoughts

Although it faces stiff competition from newer forms of visual media, photography remains an essential part of our culture — and a viable profession for those with talent and ambition like Hunter Hobson. So if you’ve ever considered picking up a camera or starting your own business, there’s no better time than now. Get started today and see where your passion takes you.

 

How To Build An Effective Social Media Strategy For Your Business

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Social media is a powerful platform for businesses to connect with customers and build relationships. A social media strategy is an essential tool for any business owner. It determines how your brand is perceived and what social channels drive results. Creating a clear plan and roadmap allows you to monitor progress and optimize your efforts.

Here are the marketing strategies you should implement.

Define Your Goals

Defining your goals is the first step in developing a successful marketing strategy in social media. What do you want to achieve? Do you want more followers, more engagement, or more leads? Knowing the end goal helps you determine how to best move forward.

Identify Your Target Audience

When building an effective social media strategy, you should identify your audience and what they want and consider their demographic information, like age range or location. You can find this information using analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Facebook Audience Insights.   Learn how to use social media to engage with your consumers since they are active participants in conversations around brands, and their expectations differ.

If your customers are young adults, Facebook and TikTok would be a better choice as most young adults use them frequently compared to other social networks like Twitter or Instagram, with fewer users from this demographic group.

Choose the Right Platforms

A good rule of thumb is to use social media effectively to grow your business. Focus on one or two platforms at a time, and once you’ve mastered them, add in another platform as needed. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin by trying to manage multiple platforms to grow on every platform. This can be overwhelming and confusing for both you and your audience.

Create a Content Calendar

Once you’ve identified your target audience and what they want, it’s time to create content that prioritizes their needs and engages them in meaningful ways. This isn’t about posting regularly. It’s about posting consistently engaging content that helps your audience learn more about what sets your brand apart from others in the same space. If you’re selling makeup products, don’t post about the latest news stories in politics. Share content that relates to what your target audience cares about, such as beauty tips.

Track Your Results

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Ensure your posts are tracked using the metrics that matter to your business objectives, increasing traffic to your website or driving sales conversions with specific campaigns. To increase brand awareness, use digital marketing tools like Twitter and Instagram Analytics to monitor which posts perform best. If you’re looking for more sales, look at the number of likes versus comments or shares on Facebook.

Include a Call to Action (CTA)

A CTA gives readers direction on what they should do after reading or viewing content on your page. Ask people to visit your website or sign up for email updates, including a CTA that encourages them to take action instead of just scrolling past it.

The key to an effective social media strategy is listening to your customers and prospects. Every industry, company and decision-maker is different, so you should determine what works best for your industry and customers. As with all other aspects of digital marketing, it’s essential to be consistent and transparent. You should easily see what’s working and what not to adjust accordingly. As your business grows, you can get overwhelmed with managing it. Therefore, learn how to be an effective social media consultant or hire one you are one if you are held up.

 

[Interview] Steve Weinberg, Author Of “Above Quota Performance”

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One of the most difficult roles in a company is that of a salesperson. In order to succeed you need to approach the journey with curiosity, diligence, and practice.

Whether you are a rookie, or a sales pros struggling to achieve your sales goals or improve your performance, or a sales manager eager to help your sales force achieve their quotas, you need to know how to sell and how to motivate those who sell with you. In his new book, “Above Quota Performance“, sales leader Steve Weinberg discusses how to build, guide, and sustain high caliber sales teams.

Weinberg recently sat down with Young Upstarts to share his insights about the new skills sales pros need to deal with the profound changes in today’s marketplace.

Here is some of our conversation:

1. You say that more than 50 percent of sales pros regularly fail to achieve their annual sales targets. That’s pretty shocking. Why do you think that is and what can be done to turn this around?

This is a shocking number, but it is well documented. I found it in research by Gartner, Harvard, Forbes, and Salesforce.com. My own experience was that about 40 percent of the sales pros in the companies that I worked for failed to reach their annual sales quota. And the consequences were often very consequential: being put on probation at the company, termination, depression, job search, lengthy unemployment, divorce, losing one’s house, and suicide.

There are various reasons for the lack of sales success of sales professionals.  The 12 most important reasons (according to me) are:

  • Overly optimistic targets set by management (if less than 25 percent achieved their quotas, the quotas were set too high)
  • Inadequate sales leadership and unsatisfactory coaching by the sales manager
  • Insufficient or unproductive prospecting by the sales pros
  • Sales pros not thoroughly qualifying leads (wasting time on the wrong prospects)
  • Sales pros not having enough industry and product knowledge and having not brought value to the buyers
  • Lack of a compelling value proposition and pitch
  • Use of inefficient sales processes or methodologies
  • Poor follow-up skills by the sales pros
  • Sales pros did not communicate with key decision-makers
  • Sales pro more focused on themselves and their achievements than their prospects’ success
  • Unrealistic expectations of how quickly the sales pro can be productive and impatience on the part of sales management that wants instant results
  • Behavioral issues, including personal motivation, fear of failure, and unwillingness to be coached

In some cases, salespeople were able to correct their deficiencies and achieve their targets in subsequent years.

The sales training offered by many companies is either used for a short time and then wanes in usage, or it is completely ignored – by both the salesforce and sales management.

The first step in fixing this problem is for companies to do a much better job of hiring salespeople. They need to find sales pros with a successful track record or aptitude, as well as the 30 characteristics of high performers that I outlined in “Above Quota Performance“. Hiring people from the same industry will decrease the ramp-up time it takes for the salespeople to be productive

Then they need to do a much better job of onboarding the salespeople.  It is typical for companies to hold one half day of company orientation, following by 2 or 3 days of product training and then the sales pros are turned loose on a territory.

In recent times, there has been an effort to build up a sales enablement function at many companies. This is a much more serious and concentrated effort to take into consideration the many factors that can increase the success rate, such as a much more comprehensive onboarding process, training on how to develop leads, integration with other areas such as marketing, coaching, and role-playing, enhanced CRM training to improve skills, and reporting and shadowing successful salespeople. I think this type of sales enablement will help change the success rate.

Poor sales practices such as not properly qualifying leads and wasting time on the wrong prospects can result in poor performance. Another issue is time management. All need to be addressed.

Lastly companies must not budget for new hires to be productive until they have been in their territory for many months and not expect them to close what experienced sales pros do from day one.

Adopting my suggestions will result in less sales pro turnover, which will increase the company’s sales revenue.

2. There is a strategy that you call “Sweet Spot Selling” that can increase the chances of finding the best prospects. Can you talk about what that is and how to go about it.

I mentioned above that salespeople often chase sub-optimal prospects. This results in stalled sales and competitive losses. The solution to this is to focus on the prospects that are more likely to purchase from you and to implement a much harder qualification process.

My hypothesis is that the best prospects exist in an area that I graphically illustrate in AQP as the intersection of the prospect’s needs, your value proposition, and your product/solutions’ competitive strengths. I call this “fishing in the right pond.”

These are the prospects that you want to seek and sell to, as you will have an advantage and your probability of closing the sale is greater. Among their needs are some that match with the value you bring to the prospect and fit with your competitive strengths. These are the unique selling propositions that you need to validate during the discovery process and to emphasize during your presentation.

Finding prospects in the Sweet Spot requires the sales pro to master their value proposition and competitive strengths and then identify those companies that would likely need a solution that their company offers. It is also a radical change for many companies that requires discipline and dedication to be successful.

3. What sales training theories are now obsolete and need to be discarded?

There are a lot, because many sales trainers have been using the same material for decades.

The most flagrant is the adage “always be closing,” which is false and can be harmful to a sale. Trick sales closes should be retired as they are both offensive and ineffective, and buyers are less prone to manipulation than in the past.  Also, I feel strongly that objections should not be countered or neutralized, but should be welcomed, even encouraged, as they provide valuable information. Another is mirroring or copying the buyer’s style. I think that is offensive.

4. How can LinkedIn be used to help find prospects and close sales?

I devote a whole chapter to how to use LinkedIn for business development in AQP. In summary, LinkedIn can be used to find out information about target companies and the people that work for them. It can also be used to research the targeted titles within the companies and to warmly (as opposed to cold calling) begin conversations with them.

5. As an expert at building, guiding, and sustaining high-caliber sales teams, what are the most important things for both management and sales professionals to know to achieve results?

I think it is critical for sales management to adapt to the changes that have resulted from the digital marketplace and because of the pandemic. Many companies have not done so. Buyers are much better informed, and they are more difficult to gain face to face or virtual meeting time with, which is more challenging for salespeople. Sales pros need to understand that they must gain the trust of buyers by outing the buyers’ interest ahead of their own all the time. And they need to change many of their sales practices in order to be successful in today’s highly competitive marketplace.

 

Importance Of Contact Management For Startups

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Structured systems keep things running smoothly even with a seemingly small task. For instance, handling contacts. A startup thrives with the accumulation of contacts. The problem arises when it is handled carelessly. You may needlessly lose lots of hours in a year if no contact management system is in place.

What is contact management?

Contact management refers to storing, organizing, and securing contact information about your leads, customers, vendors, and even employees plus other stakeholders. In other words, it is about how to handle the contact information of anyone in your business environment.

Businesses and even individuals need contact management to take care of the ever-growing number of contacts. There are several types of contact management tools available in the market for such.

What are the benefits of contact management?

Contact management tools come in different forms and pricing. These are all depending on your organization’s needs and budget. Enjoy these advantages upon acquiring your contact management system:

1. Organized contact data.

Create ‘labels’ to sort your contact database. A typical phone or email directory displays names alphabetically. Having a contact management app lets you compartmentalize them according to your preferred designation.

In this manner, you can easily send customized emails for each group. For example, promotional materials for prospects and reward programs for loyal customers. No need to waste time checking which contact belongs to what group.

2. Access everywhere.

It’s quite a rumble if you have the contact saved in your mobile phone memory when you want to email them from your desktop. Copy/pasting it once may seem not a bother but doing this repeatedly takes a toll on your productivity.

Contact management app gives your organization a centralized directory. Allow anyone to with proper authorization to access it. Furthermore, it eliminates the repetitive task of copy/pasting from spreadsheets to the recipient field of your messaging platform.

3. Consolidate data.

Sometimes, the answerable fields available in the contact directory like company and job title are not the only data gathered about the person. Notes like ‘a soccer fan’ and ‘collect vintage cars’ may help in customizing the sales pitch toward the lead.

These seemingly small details can get lost in emails or phone conversations. However, a good contact management app lets you have a space wherein you can write those types of comments regarding the contact helps you build a better insight about him.

4. Savings from CRM.

Businesses pay from $10 to $300 per month for a CRM seat. Established companies can spend higher than that. As a startup, spending that much may not be necessary especially when the number of contacts is still manageable without availing CRM.

An excellent app can do contact management at 10% of the CRM seat. With such, you no longer need to pay the not-so-upfront charges from CRM like onboarding, training, and implementation costs, among others.

Conversely, you can still utilize contact management apps for savings even if you already have a CRM. Some of your team members who just use the CRM for the contact database need not be trained and be given a CRM seat. They only need to connect via a contact management app that integrates with the CRM to have the access to the needed client database.

5. Collaboration.

A synchronized contact database paves way for everyone on the team to collaborate more efficiently. All the information regarding the contact is at a central location. Thus, this saves everyone the time of opening different applications regarding the client.

6. Back up.

If the company vehicle has insurance, then your intangible assets must have a trustworthy backup system as well. The client database that you are just building up is one of the valuable assets your startup owns.

Additionally, putting your contact database on the cloud rather than an ordinary spreadsheet file supports easier recovery in case of accidental deletion. Moreover, the contact management app allows the data admin to readily spot the changes made to the database.

7. Security.

Select a contact management software that adheres to renowned security standards such as GDPR, CCPA, Google Technology Premier, and so forth. Those programs ensure that data is processed with the utmost confidentiality guidelines.

Takeaway.

Your startup needs tools to help you make it grow. Contact management is one of those aids that nurtures your relationship with clients, vendors, and even within your team. Whether you use a shared spreadsheet, a full CRM, or reliable stand-alone software, implementing a good contact management system will help your business achieve its goals.

 

What Makes A Good SEO Campaign?

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For businesses looking to improve their ability to reach their target audience, boosting online visibility is crucial. An SEO agency can explain how crucial visibility really is. According to Google, the average internet user now googles even the most basic questions, including where to eat, buy clothes, and even buy a house. 

If you’re bent on improving your sales online, you may have figured out that appearing at the top of search results is crucial. With more traffic to your website, you can improve your chances of finding more qualified leads and expanding your customer base. 

Luckily, an entire industry is dedicated to helping you get to the top of searches and attract your potential customers. This is extremely valuable for businesses because, as Advance Metrics points out, the top five results in a Google search get about 67.6% of all clicks. So, implementing a great SEO campaign can significantly improve your online traffic and, importantly, sales.

In this article, we’ll explore the key elements of a good SEO campaign. 

What is an SEO Campaign? 

Let’s start with what SEO is. 

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a process that involves the use of specific techniques to boost the visibility of a website on search engines. Businesses may measure this visibility using various search engine metrics, including domain authority, traffic, backlinks, and keyword rankings. An SEO campaign aims to help a business or organization’s website get better scores on these search engine metrics. 

Search engine optimization involves various skills, which may be applied on various platforms, such as Google, YouTube, and Bing. Because Google is the most used search engine, most SEO efforts will focus on improving Google rankings. An SEO campaign is a dedicated effort to help a business boost its rankings on Google and other search engines. It involves using several techniques to boost the relevance of your website to customers and its ability to be crawled by search engines. 

Although search engine optimization takes a longer time than other techniques, it is one of the most effective and lasting ways to get and retain customers. It is a complex process involving website audits, keyword research, web analytics, content creation, and link building. 

If you’re successful with your SEO campaign, you can be sure that potential customers who find you online are looking for your service. Such potential customers – called ‘leads’ in SEO-speak – are highly valuable, as they are more likely to buy your product than someone who stumbled on your ad on Facebook. 

Key Elements of a Good SEO Campaign 

So, what are the key elements of a good SEO campaign? We reveal them here:

1. Detailed website audit.

One of the key elements of launching a successful SEO campaign is gauging the viability of your website in attracting customers and meeting Google’s web crawling standards. You’d be surprised how many web pages will not appear in search results simply because the web developers forgot to remove the no-follow order from the website’s code.

Worse still, many websites are poorly designed and hardly mobile-responsive. In today’s world, where more than 63 percent of searches take place on mobile devices, that is hardly acceptable for a business. 

A website audit reveals problems with the website in multiple aspects, from the code to the layout. You can run a website audit with specialized SEO tools such as SEMrush and Ahrefs. These tools reveal site SEO issues, such as dead links, duplicate sites, and 404 errors. 

A website audit also involves properly scrutinizing the layout and content of the page. Is the text properly formatted with the appropriate title, h1, and h2 tags? Is there a site map users can use to find what they need on your website? Is your content fresh and providing relevant information to your customers? A detailed SEO audit will answer these questions and define the tasks you’ll need to complete in your SEO campaign. 

2. Excellent keyword strategy.

A keyword is a word or phrase a person types in when searching for something on a search engine. Keywords are the backbone of SEO, as this is what helps customers find you on a search engine. As a search engine optimizer, you will need to understand what kinds of keywords to optimize your content for. Short-tail keywords draw a lot of traffic, but they’re more competitive. Long tail keywords tend to draw less traffic, but ranking well for these is easier. You will need a good combination of long and short-tail keywords to rank well on search engines. 

3. Great content creation.

If you’ve spent enough time around SEO, you’ll probably have heard the phrase, ‘Content is King!’ As much as it sounds cliché, it is no less true. High-quality content helps your visitors solve their problems and is a great way to establish relevance with them. That is the entire focus of content marketing, so it’s crucial to have excellent, engaging content on your website. Content may be in various forms, including blog posts, articles, research, eBooks, or videos. 

4. Web page optimization.

Web page optimization refers to optimizing the look and feel of your website. According to research done by Google some years back, it takes users less than a second to gauge a website’s attractiveness. As a business in today’s technology-driven world, it doesn’t do you any justice to have a website that looks like it was created in 2003. Get a great web developer to help you design a modern, responsive website. A great website – with all the fonts, colors, and clickables done right – provides an enjoyable experience for users, encouraging them to patronize you. 

5. Link building strategy.

Optimizing your website, creating great content, and working on the right keywords is great – but one of the crucial ways that Google determines if your content is relevant is by the number of people that link to it. Link building may seem like the scariest aspect of SEO, but it is highly rewarding. Tactics you may employ include reaching out to websites to link to your content, guest blogging, and reclamation of dead links. 

6. Progress tracking.

Every good SEO campaign should include progress reports. Because search engine optimization is a long process, it is critical to track the effects of your efforts while it is ongoing. Analyze your website visits to see where visitors come from and what content they resonate with. You can then use this information to know what to improve to stay ahead of the game. 

Before You Go.

An SEO campaign is one of the most critical aspects of content marketing. Best of all? It’s not rocket science! By implementing the key elements of a good SEO campaign we’ve discussed in this article and looking into an SEO campaign expert, you’ll be able to improve your online marketing game.

 

Hidden Expenses Of Launching A Startup

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When you decide to open a business, the first thing that comes to mind is money. In fact, figuring out how much you need to launch is a job within itself. But once you get past that initial stage and start seeing growth, there are a slew of other expenses that pop up overnight. From renting a space to paying for inventory, the costs of running a business are a mile long. There are also a bunch of hidden costs you might not even know about. It’s these hidden costs that can quickly eat up any profit you make and if left to fester, can quickly put you in the negative.

Thankfully, there are ways to offset these potential risks and help you keep your ROI going in the right direction.

Get Your Debt Under Control

It’s safe to say that becoming a business owner comes at a cost. In fact, it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to not even know about these extra costs and end up sticker shocked when they pop up. In addition, you might already extended yourself and now have outstanding debt piling up. To prevent debt overload and possibly going under, you first need to get your own debt under control. Aside from cutting corners, you could apply for a personal loan and pay off your outstanding bills. This way, you only one payment to make each month, and your credit score will improve. Not having to micro-manage multiple bills will also lower your stress level, and allow you to focus on building your empire.

Customer Acquisition

Customers are the backbone of any business. As such, you need to think about how much it really costs to acquire and maintain long-term relationships. Acquiring new customers is always more expensive than maintaining stablished relationships, so before you jump in and start running ads, you need to do your research. Pinpoint which platform and type of marketing campaigns will give you the most bang for your buck. You also need to be mindful of how quickly marketing costs add up. Take the time to learn how Facebook marketing works before getting started. It’s not always as easy as it seems, and you might end up wasting your money if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Outside Advice

Even if you consider yourself an expert in your niche, there may come a time when you need outside help. This can come in the form of legal advice, extra help during the holidays or even hiring an accountant to help you keep track of your finances. One of the things you need to know about talent management is that good help can come at a cost. Since the cost of all three can add up pretty quick, it’s best to set aside a certain amount each month in a separate account. Even if you end up not needing any of these external resources, you’ll still be prepared for any other hidden expense with the money you saved.

Inventory Management

If your business sells physical products, the cost of inventory management can be more than you bargained for. You need to factor in the cost of storing the good as well as proper inventory taking. Storing good at an external warehouse isn’t free, so as your customer base grows, so will the need for a larger space to store your products.

Brand Awareness

Brands are never built overnight. It takes time, consistency, and most importantly, money to make it happen. No matter what type of business you have, you need to build your brand awareness. This includes designing your website, attracting the right audience, and maintaining those relationships. While many social media platforms are free, you’ll probably want to build awareness by working with influencers or by advertising. Neither of these are free, so you need to also account for this hidden expense.

Software and Equipment

Software and equipment can also drain your account if you’re not prepared. When it comes to software, you need to think about which programs you really need and which are just for show. In terms of equipment, it’s best to shop around for the best price and also set aside money for emergency repairs.

 

Temporary Buildings – Your Go-To Space Solution In Business

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Many businesses are constantly looking for innovative and cost-friendly space solutions, especially when the business is expanding. According to numerous studies, temporary buildings are an excellent option for new businesses as well as growing established businesses.

Temporary buildings and structures use innovative approaches and materials that last a long time to make economic sense. Although temporary structures are meant to offer short-term solutions, we will focus on modern technologies that make long-lasting temporary structures.

How Temporary Buildings Are Made

Industrial temporary buildings used for business structures go beyond the simple fabric makeshift structures used for events or to respond to emergencies. Instead, they are spacious and carefully engineered structures made of strong steel or aluminum frames and strong fabric or PVC walls and roofs. The structures are securely fastened to a prepared concrete floor.

Temporary structures are made by experts who aim to provide solutions that will last for many years with minimal maintenance and no structural risks. As an entrepreneur who needs these structures, it is essential to choose carefully to get the most from them.

Businesses That Frequently Use Temporary Buildings

  • Production and manufacturing factories – Have you seen industrial tents or steel structures used by factories? Most likely, you have because they are very popular these days. Companies use them for the production or manufacturing of goods and storage because they create large spaces.
  • Retail and grocery outlets – Convenience stores and supermarkets or grocery shops are now commonly using temporary buildings made of steel because they are affordable, quick to make, and durable.
  • Restaurants, cafes, and bars – Tented outdoor restaurants, cafes, and bars are now a trend. Not only are they appealing to customers who want to enjoy the fresh air, but they are very economical to investors and can be relocated from one place to another. You can also expand them easily when the demand for your services grows.
  • Logistics, warehousing, and showroom businesses – Temporary buildings are very popular for warehousing and logistics businesses because they provide large and affordable storage. They also come with amenities such as loading canopies, offices, and more.
  • Fashion and beauty outlets – Any other businesses can use temporary buildings as a space solution, and experts from Smart-Space or any other service provider will customize something great for you. All you need is to discuss with them what you want, and they will propose a solution and provide it.

Benefits of Temporary Buildings

Temporary buildings provided by reputable professionals should be your go-to space solution in business, and this is justified by the benefits we will discuss below.

  • They are affordable – The main reason why temporary structures have become very popular in the business world is their affordability. Every business wants a sustainable solution that will save money when launching and throughout its operations.
  • They save time – This benefit is best felt when a business is expanding or having an emergency that needs space very fast. Temporary buildings are easy to make because they use a template or modular design and materials that are easy to use.
  • They are flexible – It is very beneficial for any type of business to use a structure that is flexible and versatile. For instance, temporary structures in warehousing can be converted into production buildings if you change your business.
  • They are environmentally friendly – If your business is environmentally conscious, temporary buildings are the best because they use recycled materials that are better for the environment. In fact, you can easily win an award or get endorsements for this.

Conclusion

There are many reasons to use temporary buildings in your business. Now that you have read the article from beginning to end, you can make the right decision and plan to use these structures for your business or organization. All you need is to ensure that you work with a professional to enjoy this.

 

4 Strategies For Determining Whether A New Marketing Trend Is Right For You

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by Jordan Buning, President, ddm marketing + communications

In the early days of the internet, a number of aspiring furniture retailers decided to take their businesses online. The convenience of a “virtual showroom” was undeniable. But consumers who were trained to “try before you buy” ― hand-measuring large objects, sitting in each chair or sofa to judge its comfort ― simply weren’t ready for it. Neither were some furniture makers. Retailers who envisioned the internet as a solution learned it was, in fact, a problem in a competitive market. Many went belly-up during the dot-com bust of the early 2000s.

Flash-forward to the COVID-19 pandemic, when online shopping became commonplace across many sectors of the economy. Furniture retailers who had already optimized their business model for e-commerce held a market advantage. Hindsight, like the height of the pandemic, is 20/20: pumping money into a virtual showroom was not an inherently poor business strategy for furniture retailers, merely an idea ahead of its time when it was introduced a generation ago.

The phenomenon of “chasing the shiny object” of marketing predates even the internet. Sometimes being the first to embrace a new marketing trend can lead to enviable ROI and strong success. Other times, it can lead to wasted resources and the failure of a marketing plan, a career, or a business. But how should marketers discern risk and reward when it comes to adopting a new practice, device, or technology?

The short answer: any trendy tools you take on ought to fit within your overall marketing plan. Consider these four strategies for determining whether the trend is a good fit for your organization:

1. Philosophical/strategic fit.

If you can’t close your eyes and imagine following a specific marketing strategy, there must be a reason. What is it about this shiny object, if anything, that undermines the corporate culture and identity you have worked to build?

The answer might be nothing. In that case, your hesitation might be strategic rather than philosophical. Consider whether following this trend amounts to what Amazon founder Jeff Bezos once referred to as a “one-way door” or a “two-way door.”

One-way doors are irreversible decisions ― impossible to come back from, inevitably a gain or a loss. Two-way doors are easy to reverse with a little time and effort. Bezos cautioned his shareholders in a 1997 letter to not to avoid two-way doors out of caution: “the end result of this is slowness, unthoughtful risk aversion, failure to experiment sufficiently, and consequently diminished invention.”

Project a little. Look around the corner. Connect the events that are happening in your world. The risk might just be worth it.

2. Financial fit.

Of course, money matters when pursuing a shiny object. How much of an investment will it take? Can you afford to lose that?

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek once described his shift from a “thousand flowers bloom strategy” to a more conservative approach: “I believe in decentralized decision-making. So I allowed a lot of things to happen without much involvement, just general context setting. We started hundreds of projects, but we didn’t finish a lot of them. For many of them, my analysis ended up being ‘it’s the right thing to do, but it’s the wrong time to do it.’ The sequencing was off. Plus we didn’t have the resources to fully do 100 projects at once. Now we have 10 bets going at any time, never any more.”

Spotify, with a market cap in excess of $17 billion as of September 2022, can afford to take on more risks than most businesses ― but even then, only to a point. If the ceiling of High-Risk Strategy A leads to an ROI not greatly above Conservative Strategy B running simultaneously, it probably isn’t worth the cost regardless of your company’s market cap.

If you’re still sold on the merits of an expensive strategy, try corralling someone from your finance department to play devil’s advocate with you. The dollars and cents might make your decision easier.

3. Tactical fit.

OnMoney.com spent $2 million on a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl in January 2000. The personal finance website bet on its ability to handle the resulting traffic, but when the advertisement aired the site was still labeled “beta.” Within a year, the company had fallen victim to the dot-com bust.

As much as a financial misfit, the downfall of OnMoney.com suggests a tactical misfit as well. If the shiny-object marketing strategy succeeds beyond your most bullish projections, will your organization be prepared for the influx of business? If not, do you have a strategy to increase the collective bandwidth of your group in short order?

Consider also whether the marketing tactic is going to attract the kind of customers you desire. Does it truly target the audience you seek? Many marketing strategies have the potential to succeed; not all of these will align with your goals if it succeeds.

4. Practical fit.

Marketers must consider other practical concerns when chasing a “shiny object”:

  1. Is the strategy right for a company your size? What works for a multinational goods supplier might not work for, say, a local automotive parts dealer.
  2. If you scale the strategy bigger or smaller to suit your needs, will it still be effective? Put differently, are you using the marketing equivalent of a big gun when you should be using a surgeon’s knife?
  3. Will the same strategy work regardless of the target region? A strategy that works with one regional audience might not land in a different region. A successful national marketing strategy might not work on a regional level.
  4. How are you going to operationalize it?

Keep in mind, too, that trendy strategies are fleeting by their nature. Even if your organization adapts a successful trend wisely, it might come too late to elicit the desired effect simply because the trend is no longer “shiny.” Conversely, the faster you adopt a new technology, the higher the risk. Cutting-edge or bleeding-edge strategies require a more complicated analysis, so take the time required (and not any more) to make a wise decision for your organization.

 

Jordan Buning

Jordan Buning is the CEO of ddm marketing + communications. Throughout Jordan’s 25 years in marketing, he has served clients among a diverse range of industries, including healthcare organizations such as Metro Health — University of Michigan Health, Spectrum Health and Hurley Medical Center, as well as public transportation, higher education, recreational products, and manufacturing.

 

The Benefits Of Having The Right Advisors When Launching A Startup

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by Svetlana Kamyshanskaya, Founder of Primum Law Group

Launching a startup can be a heavy undertaking, even for the most savvy businessperson. There are many factors to consider, money is being spent left and right, and there may be several people bringing opinions and suggestions to the table at any given time.

As you bring your idea to fruition, having the right people at that table can mean the difference between success and failure. Having solid advisors in place can benefit your burgeoning venture’s current and future health.

Founders and Expertise

Startup founders can be some of the most talented innovators in the world and still not have the full range of knowledge and expertise necessary to bring a business through a successful launch. Often, founders with technical or creative backgrounds will bring on co-founders more grounded in business to manage operations and growth, but even that does not mean that  founders can navigate the process without involving the experts and advisors.

The role of advisors is to bridge the gaps between knowledge bases. In most cases, to make a business successful, one must have a solid vision and concept, understand business structure, legal matters, and organizational design, grasp the product development process, and be comfortable with marketing, sales, scaling, and distribution.There are some cases where founders or co-founders could be well-versed in all of those areas, but advisors can cover the gaps they may have in expertise.

Advisors can be the cornerstone of your operations. They can add clout to your startup team, and their connections and networking capabilities can help grow your young business by leaps and bounds. In addition, assembling a team of competent advisors can be the first step in gaining trust with investors and strategic partners.

The Job of the Startup Advisor

A startup should choose advisors based on their niche knowledge, which means assembling a multifaceted team of experts. Advisors typically carry one or more particular deliverables, ranging from wealth in the form of investors, specific work skills, or mentorship capabilities. If the people who possess this range of skills are not interested in being members of a Board of Directors due to the time commitment and liabilities associated, or are not quite the right fit for a board, they may be better suited for a role as an advisor.

The main priority for the majority of startups is raising capital and growth. A good team of advisors makes the startup more attractive for investors, as investors understand the probability of success for these startups is higher. Advisors encourage growth and help founders by saving them time, helping them avoid mistakes, providing insights, and sometimes even bringing customers or clients to the startup. Unlike regular consultants, advisors are typically compensated through equity in the company or terms agreed upon as reimbursement for their time and effort in advising the company.

Different advisors fill different roles depending on what is needed by a founder. For example, in a startup that is tech-based, advisors with a wide range of technical expertise are bound to be required. In startups that focus on marketing skills or a physical product, advisors with expert knowledge in those areas would be more advantageous. The group of advisors assembled can be the first point of contact for a startup founder who has questions or needs direction.

Legal advisors play a pivotal role within startups. More than just a lawyer, legal advisors can help startups foresee potential issues and advise on how to successfully avoid them. There are a myriad of legal issues woven within the foundation of a company — from incorporation to tax navigation, to navigating government entities. Solid, talented legal advisors can act as risk managers, help startups with licensing needs, and lead them through regulatory hurdles.

Avoiding Mistakes and Making Connections

Having advisors in place can help startup founders avoid costly mistakes that could potentially spell ruin for their venture. From the formation of the initial concept, advisors can help steer founders from entering the wrong markets, picking the wrong investors, making mistakes in presentation, or making mistakes that could lead to litigation.

Through valuable connections, knowledgeable advisors can help create a foundation of support for a new business, opening doors for potential partnerships or talented hires. When an advisor is well-known in a particular niche industry, their name can help get one’s foot in the door and assist in fostering brand recognition.

When and How

When to bring on advisors is a question that many startup founders may have. Through the formation of their initial idea, there may have been some advisors who were naturally with them on the ground floor. Conversely, advisors may be something that founders have to seek out actively.

When seeking talented advisors, founders need to consider their product or service niche, initial strategic plan, target market, and current challenges. Analyzing these points will help guide founders to the right advisors. Speaking with people they trust, board members, co-founders, and employees that have been brought in early can help open up lines of communication, leading founders to the best advisors for the job at hand.

Advisors can be hired right at the beginning of a startup’s rise, as the startup scales, or when (and if) the startup finds itself at a crossroads where they need to ramp up sales or solve a problem hindering growth. Advisors can come into play at many stops along the startup journey. A good advisor offers advice, insight, and guidance. A great advisor provides the same, but additionally gives founders the room to apply the knowledge gained and grow from it.

Founders should choose their advisors carefully, taking steps to avoid any conflicts of interest within their industry or taking on advisors with checkered pasts. Advisors should be vetted just as potential employees are through interviews and background checks.

As one’s business scales and evolves, their needs regarding advisors may change, as well. Reconsidering what is needed in terms of advisory is a natural part of business growth, and different advisors may be brought on to fill various roles as the business grows.

Putting the right people in place is a large part of startup success. The right advisory team can be a boon for your startup, taking you from idea to execution and staying with you as you scale and solidify your place as a market leader.

 

Svetlana Kamyshanskaya

Svetlana Kamyshanskaya, founder of Primum Law Group, is more than an international business lawyer, she is a global citizen with the legal, operational, and project management know-how to chart a successful course for expanding international tech companies and startups.

 

How To Share A TikTok Video On Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram

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TikTok has evolved much in the field of social media rather than other platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, and more. As people are more interested in watching short-length videos as they take less time and convey messages easily. Although there are several ways through which you can increase the reach of your TikTok account. 

But sharing your video content on multiple platforms will help you get more traffic from different social media accounts. You’ll be able to get organic followers in a short time. For that, you should have an idea that how you can share a TikTok video on any platform whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or any other.

To grow your audience you also have to make sure that you are connected with them and remain active on social media platforms. Some users even look for reliable sources to get several services that also includes Instagram profile viewer to check the interests of their followers. 

Connecting with your viewers through your video content, comments and video replies to their comments will bring you more engagement. It’s better to learn how you can share your TikTok videos on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook to attract more followers to your account and increase your reach.

Besides sharing your TikTok videos you can also look for several video editing tools to make your videos look more appealing and attract customers. You can create beautiful slides to share on your Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp by adding cool filters and stickers. Create content according to the demand of your followers and then share it.

How to Share a TikTok Video on Facebook?

TikTok is a great video content-sharing platform and it knows the requirements of its customers and what sort of content they are expecting to watch. You can scroll through your phone and watch video content of several creators from different niches including comics, dramas, thrillers, and much more. You can share such entertaining videos with people outside TikTok. Below is the guide to show you how you can share TikTok videos on Facebook.

  • To share your TikTok content you should have a TikTok account obviously:
  • Get ready for your TikTok accou
  • Download the TikTok app from your App store or Google st
  • Start your app on your phone
  •  Enter all the necessary details to create your account, and give all your information as required. Don’t worry it’ll remain safe.
  • Access your TikTok account
  • Just look for the app that you just downloaded and enter it into your account by providing a username and password.
  •  Search for the video you want to share
  • You can select from the list of videos in the TikTok profile that you want to share.
  •  After that click on 3 horizontal dots at the bottom right of the video
  • You’ll be able to see several options to share your videos after clicking those dots.
  • To share it on Facebook you have to choose the icon of Facebook from those options.
  • After clicking on that Facebook icon you’ll be redirected toward Facebook. That TikTok will be shown on your Facebook. You can add further features of Facebook on it by adding tags, descriptions, and your current mood. You can also set the limits of your video that who can view it and who not from its privacy settings.
  • Choose the sharing destination on Facebook
  • Once you have edited your video and added new features to it, now you can click on the share button. But before that, you can choose the destination of your video where you want to share it. Whether on your stories, feeds, in a particular group or page, or on your friend’s timeline.

How to Share a TikTok Video on WhatsApp?

Sharing your entertaining videos from TikTok to your WhatsApp contacts will help you gain more followers and people would love to see content from you and ask you to share more. If you don’t have any idea how you can share your TikTok videos on WhatsApp. Below is the procedure for you:

  • Find your favorite video from the list of videos on your TikTok profile.
  • For that, you need to go to your home page and from there click on the video you want to share.
  • Then you have to click on the Share option
  • After finding the video that you want to share you have to choose the share option on your screen.
  •  Directly send to WhatsApp
  • After you choose the share option from your screen several different options will appear. Including Facebook, Instagram, or others from there click on the WhatsApp icon.
  •  Choose Destination
  • Just like on FaceBook you can choose from here too where you want to share that video. If you want to send it to a particular contact on WhatsApp select it from the list of your contacts or you can search on the bar above. Otherwise, you can also share it directly to your WhatsApp status.
  • Simply click send
  • After you have selected your desired contacts you can click on the send button and it would be done.

How to Share a TikTok Video on Instagram?

To increase your engagement rate on Instagram you can also buy Instagram followers from Explore IG. For increased reach, you can share your TikTok video easily on Instagram, it’s up to you whether you want to share your videos in public or priva

Share TikTok Videos with the Public on Instagram

  • Open TikTok create a new video or choose from the previous ones in the list from your profile.
  • After all the editing and customization click on next, then click on the public from the options of “who can view this video”.
  • Next, you have to choose between feeds and stories on Instagram.

Share TikTok Videos with Private Viewers on Instagram

  • You have to repeat all the steps given above, just choose the private option rather than the public.
  • Then choose me and select your private video on TikTok.
  • From there click on 3 horizontal dots on right.
  • Click on save video
  • Then go to your Instagram app and click on the ‘+’ button at the bottom.
  • Then click on the videos that you want to share from the collection on your phone and then click on Next.
  • The video will be posted on your Instagram.

Conclusion

Sharing your creativity of TikTok videos on any platform is easy and takes less time. All you need is just to follow these easy instructions and drag your TikTok audience to other social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and others. 

 

What You Need To Know About Talent Management

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The talent management field is evolving rapidly, and the challenges organizations face are changing quickly. To stay ahead of the curve important to understand the latest trends and developments in talent management.

Here are some key issues affecting talent management in 2022.

The global talent pool is shrinking.

As the world population ages, the pool of available talent is shrinking. This trend is especially apparent in developed countries, where birth rates have declined for many years. The result is a smaller pool of potential employees, which puts pressure on organizations to find ways to attract and retain top talent.

The war for talent is becoming more fierce.

Talent management will become increasingly important as organizations face retention, engagement, diversity, and inclusion challenges. Some key considerations for fundamentals of talent management in 2022 include the use of data and analytics to inform hiring and development decisions, a focus on creating a positive workplace culture, and incorporating flexible work options to attract top talent.

Organizations must also prioritize upskilling and reskilling their current employees to stay competitive in a rapidly changing job market. The emphasis on continuous learning will be crucial for both individual career growth and overall organizational success.

The role of technology in talent management is changing.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are growing rapidly. They automate many of the tasks associated with talent management, such as screening resumes and conducting interviews. In addition, they can provide organizations with insights into the preferences and behavior of candidates.

The importance of data is increasing.

Data is becoming increasingly important in talent management. Organizations are using data to identify trends, assess the skills of potential candidates, and determine which employees are most likely to be successful in specific roles. Additionally, data is being used to create “talent communities” that connect individuals with similar skill sets and interests.

The need for agility is growing.

As the business landscape becomes more dynamic, organizational structures and processes may no longer be relevant. Instead, organizations must adapt quickly to change to stay ahead of the competition. This will require changes in how talent is managed, including an increased emphasis on learning and development.

The demands of the workforce are changing.

The composition of the workforce is changing, and this is having an impact on talent management. The millennial generation is now the largest demographic in the workforce. They’re more likely to switch jobs and less loyal to specific organizations. As a result, organizations will need to find ways to engage and retain this talent.

What is talent management?

Talent management is the process of attracting, selecting, developing, and retaining employees who have the potential to be high-performing individuals within an organization. The goal of talent management is to create a pool of internal candidates capable of taking on leadership roles as they become available.

How can talent management help your organization?

There are many benefits to implementing a talent management strategy within your organization. Some of these benefits include

Increased employee engagement: Organizations can increase employee engagement and motivation by identifying and investing in employees with high potential. Developing a talent pipeline also helps to ensure that there are always individuals ready to step into leadership roles, which can further engage and motivate employees.

Improved organizational performance: A talent management strategy can help organizations to improve overall performance by ensuring that the right people are in the right roles. Additionally, investing in employee development can lead to increases in productivity and efficiency.

Greater retention of top talent: By identifying and developing employees with high potential, organizations can keep their best employees from leaving for other opportunities. Creating a talent pipeline also helps to ensure that there is always a pool of qualified internal candidates to take on open positions, reducing the need to recruit and train external candidates.

What are some common elements of a talent management strategy?

There are many different ways that organizations can approach talent management, but there are several common elements that are often included in a talent management strategy. These elements include:

Identifying high-potential employees: One of the first steps in talent management is to identify which employees have the potential to be high-performing individuals within the organization. This can be done through various methods, such as assessments, interviews, and observations.

Developing employee skills and abilities: Once high-potential employees have been identified, the next step is to invest in their development. This can be done through training and education programs, mentorship opportunities, and other forms of professional development.

Creating a succession plan: A talent management strategy should also include a succession plan that outlines how leadership roles will be filled if an individual leaves their position. This plan helps to ensure that there is always someone ready and willing to step into a leadership role.

Talent management is a process that can be beneficial for organizations of all sizes. By identifying high-potential employees and investing in their development, talent management can help to improve the overall performance and retention of top talent.

What are some common challenges with talent management?

Organizations face a few common challenges when implementing a talent management strategy.

These challenges include:

Identifying high-potential employees: One of the biggest challenges with talent management is accurately identifying which employees have the potential to be high-performing individuals. Unfortunately, this can be difficult, as there is no one-size-fits-all method for identifying high potential. As a result, organizations often use various methods, such as assessments, interviews, and observations, to identify high-potential employees.

Developing employee skills and abilities: Once high-potential employees have been identified, the next challenge is developing their skills and abilities. This cannot be easy to do, as it requires investment in training and education programs, mentorship opportunities, and other forms of professional development. Additionally, measuring these investments’ impact on employee performance can be difficult.

Creating a succession plan: Another challenge with talent management is creating a succession plan that outlines how leadership roles will be filled if an individual leaves their position. This cannot be easy, as it requires understanding the organization’s future needs and objectives. Additionally, it can be difficult to identify qualified individuals willing to step into a leadership role.

Talent management is a process that can be beneficial for organizations of all sizes. However, organizations face several challenges when implementing a talent management strategy. By identifying these challenges and taking steps to address them, organizations can improve their chances of success with talent management.

What are some common mistakes made with talent management?

Organizations make a few common mistakes when implementing a talent management strategy. These mistakes include:

Failing to identify high-potential employees: One of the most common mistakes made with talent management is failing to identify which employees have the potential to be high-performing individuals. This can lead to a waste of resources, as the organization invests in developing employees who are not likely to be successful.

Investing too little in employee development: Another mistake that organizations make is investing too little in the development of their employees. This can result in a lack of progress being made, as employees do not have the opportunity to improve their skills and abilities. Additionally, this can lead to frustration and turnover among employees, as they feel their development is not being taken seriously.

Failing to create a succession plan: Another mistake organizations make failing to create a succession plan. This can be problematic, as it can lead to a leadership vacuum if an individual leaves their position. Additionally, it can be difficult to identify qualified individuals willing to step into a leadership role.

Talent management is a process that can be beneficial for organizations of all sizes. However, organizations make several common mistakes when implementing a talent management strategy. By avoiding these mistakes, organizations can improve their chances of success with talent management.

The talent management process is a strategic approach to managing an organization’s human capital. Talent management aims to identify, attract, develop, and retain the best employees.

There are four key steps in the talent management process:

  1. Identify talent needs
  2. Attract and recruit top talent
  3. Develop and engage employees
  4. Retain employees

Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps:

  1. Identify talent needs:The first step in talent management is identifying the skills and abilities needed to support the organization’s business goals. This can be done through a needs assessment, which can be conducted internally or externally.
  2. Attract and recruit top talent: Once the specific talent needs have been identified, the next step is attracting and recruiting employees with the necessary skills and abilities. This can be done through various methods, such as job postings, employee referral programs, and social media recruiting.
  3. Develop and engage employees: Once employees have been hired, developing and engaging them to reach their full potential is important. This can be done through training and development programs and by providing employees with opportunities for career growth.
  4. Retain employees: The final step in the talent management process is to retain employees. This can be done by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages, creating a positive work environment, and promoting employee engagement.

Talent management is a process that can be beneficial for organizations of all sizes. However, organizations make several common mistakes when implementing a talent management strategy. By avoiding these mistakes, organizations can improve their chances of success with talent management.

 

10 Tips For Choosing The Right Long-Term Care Insurance

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insurance policy

insurance policy

When choosing long-term care insurance, there are many things to consider. Which company should you go with? What type of policy is right for you? How much coverage do you need? These are all important questions that need to be answered before deciding.

This blog post will provide ten tips for choosing the right long-term care insurance policy. These tips will ensure you make the best decision possible!

What is Long-Terms Care Insurance?

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that helps pay for the costs associated with long-term care. This includes in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care. Long-term care insurance can help cover the costs of these services so that you don’t have to worry about them as much.

Why You Might Need It?

There are a few reasons why you might need long-term care insurance. First, if you have a chronic illness or condition, you may need it to help cover the costs of your care. Second, if you are older and can no longer take care of yourself, you may need long-term care insurance to help cover the costs of your care. Finally, if you have a family history of illness or disability, you may want to consider long-term care insurance to help protect yourself and your family.

What to Consider When Choosing a Policy

There are a few things to consider when choosing a long-term care insurance policy. As you can presume, numerous aspects require your attention. However, we want to shine a light on a couple of those we believe are the most significant.

Consult Your Financial Advisor

Before making any decisions about long-term care insurance, it’s important to consult with your financial advisor. They will be able to help you understand the different options available, as well as what would work best for your situation. As you probably know, there are countless options for you to choose from, and narrowing down your choices should be done in correlation with a financial advisor. Otherwise, the chances of making a decision that doesn’t complement your needs can get quite high.

Think About Your Current Health Status

Understanding your current health status will greatly affect the type of policy you need. If you’re in excellent health, you may not need as much coverage as someone who isn’t in the best shape. It’s important to think about your current health and how it could change in the future when deciding on a policy.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Your lifestyle should also be considered when choosing long-term care insurance. For example, if you live an active lifestyle, you may not need as much coverage as someone who doesn’t get out much. This is because people who live actively tend to stay healthier for longer.

Think About Your Family History

Your family history is another important factor. If you have a family history of long-term illnesses, you may need more coverage than someone who doesn’t. This is because there’s a greater chance that you will develop a long-term illness if it runs in your family.

Don’t Wait Until You’re Older

One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until they’re older to purchase long-term care insurance. The younger you are, the cheaper will be cheaper. Unfortunately, insurance companies base their rates on your age and health, so you’ll likely have to pay more.

Get Quotes from Multiple Companies

When it comes to long-term care insurance, there are a lot of different companies to choose from. Therefore, it’s important to get quotes from multiple companies so that you can compare rates and coverage. This will help you find the best policy for your needs at the best price.

Read the Fine Print

Before signing on the dotted line, it’s important to read the fine print of your policy. You want to make sure that you understand everything that’s included in your coverage. Otherwise, you could be in for a rude awakening down the road.

Understand What’s Covered

It’s also important to understand what is and isn’t covered by your policy. For example, most policies will cover nursing home care, home health care, and assisted living. However, there may be some exclusions, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into.

Don’t Rely on Medicare

Medicare does not cover long-term care expenses. So, if you’re counting on Medicare to pay for your long-term care, you could be in for a rude awakening. A backup plan is important, so you’re not left footing the bill.

Choose a Reputable Company

When choosing a long-term care insurance company, it’s important to choose one that is reputable. There are a lot of companies out there, and not all of them are created equal. Do some research on the different companies to ensure that you’re choosing one that is well-respected and has a good reputation.

The Benefits of Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance can be a great way to protect yourself financially and your family. Now, let’s look at some other relevant benefits of this approach you should understand.

Planning the Future

One of the biggest benefits of long-term care insurance is that it allows you to plan for the future. In addition, this coverage can help you pay for long-term care expenses, which can be a huge financial burden.

Peace of Mind

Another benefit of long-term care insurance is its peace of mind. This coverage can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for the future. With PPO’s help, you can work towards establishing a long-term treatment. Naturaly, you need to ask yourself does your preferred provider organization (PPO) meet your long-term insurance needs?

Financial Flexibility

Long-term care insurance can also provide you with financial flexibility. This coverage can allow you to choose the type of care you want and where you want to receive it.

Improved Quality of Life

Long-term care insurance can also improve your quality of life. This coverage can allow you to age in place and receive the care you need.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing long-term care insurance. However, if you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be well to finding the right policy. So don’t wait – start shopping for long-term care insurance today.

 

Strategies For Opening A Successful Nail Salon

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There are many reasons to invest in a nail salon. Perhaps you have always dreamed of owning your own business, or maybe you’re looking for a way to earn some extra income. Either way, opening a nail salon can be a great investment.

The profit potential is the first reason to consider investing in a nail salon. A successful salon can bring in a lot of money, especially if it is located in a high-traffic area. Of course, there are no guarantees when it comes to business, but if you do your research and choose a prime location, the chances of success are much higher.

Another reason to open a nail salon is the lifestyle benefits it can provide. If you’re a person who loves to be pampered, a nail salon can offer you a chance to do that. You’ll be able to work flexible hours and enjoy the company of other like-minded people. Owning your own business can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to opening a nail salon. For one thing, it can be expensive to get started. You’ll need to lease or purchase a space, buy equipment and supplies, and hire staff. In addition, you’ll need to get the proper licenses and insurance in place before you can open for business. But the rewards can be great if you invest time and effort.

When you are looking for a nail salon consultants Dubai, you want to make sure that you choose someone who is experienced and has a good reputation. You also want to ensure they can give you the best advice possible. After all, you ar nail salon consultants Dubai,e trusting them with your money and your business.

The best way to find a reputable consultant is to ask around. First, talk to people who have already opened salons and see who they recommend. You can also read online reviews to understand what others think about specific consultants. Then, once you’ve narrowed down your choices, please schedule a consultation with each one so you can get a feel for their personality and style.

Several key strategies must be considered when opening your nail salon. From finding the right location to stocking the best products, there are a few things you need to do to ensure your salon is successful.

Location is everything. When choosing a location for your salon, you need to consider foot traffic and visibility. The last thing you want is to be hidden away in a back alley where no one will see you. Instead, try to find a spot close to public transportation or major roads. This way, potential customers will have no problem finding you.

Stock the best products. For your salon to be successful, you need to offer the best products and services possible. This means investing in high-quality nail polishes, gels, and other products. In addition, it would help if you offered various services, such as mani and acrylic various By offering a variety of services, you’d be able to attract more customers.

Promote your salon. Once you’ve opened your doors, you must let people know about it! Get active on social media, hand out flyers in local businesses, and run ads in local newspapers. The more people know about your salon, the more likely they will visit you.

What are the ongoing expenses for a nail salon?

The ongoing expenses for a nail salon can include the cost of products, supplies, rent, utilities, and payroll. Product and supply costs will vary depending on the services offered and the quality of products used. Rent and utility costs will depend on the size and location of the salon. Finally, payroll costs will depend on the number of employees and their pay rates.

To open a successful nail salon is important to control these costs and keep them within a budget. One way to do this is to purchase wholesale supplies instead of retail. Another way to save money is to negotiate leases with landlords and utility companies. Finally, it is important to carefully manage payroll costs by hiring experienced and efficient employees.

What are the start-up costs for a nail salon?

The start-up costs for a nail salon include leasing space, purchasing supplies and equipment, and hiring employees. The amount of money required will depend on the size and location of the salon and the type of services offered.

It is important to compare prices for leasing space and purchasing supplies and equipment to reduce start-up costs. It is also helpful to negotiate with landlords and suppliers. Another way to reduce start-up costs is to hire experienced employees who can provide quality services without extensive training.

What are some tips for managing a nail salon?

Some tips for managing a nail salon include keeping accurate records, ordering supplies in bulk to save money, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace. It is also important to thoroughly hire experienced and reliable employees.

To run a successful nail salon, important to keep track of all expenses and revenue. This will help you to create a budget and make informed decisions about where to cut costs. It is also important to order supplies in bulk from reliable vendors to get the best prices. Finally, it is crucial to maintain a clean and organized workspace to create a professional environment for customers.

Tools for Nail Salon Success

Now that you know how to open a nail salon, it’s time to stock up on the right tools and products. By investing in high-quality items, you’ll be able to provide your clients with the best possible experience – and keep them coming back for more.

Here are some essential items you’ll need for your new nail salon:

Nail files and buffers are necessary to shape and smooth nails before applying polish. Invest in a variety of sizes and grits to accommodate different needs.

Nail clippers: trimming nails is an important part of any manicure or pedicure. Make sure you have a good pair of sharp clippers on hand.

Cuticle pushers and nippers: These tools help to push back cuticles and remove excess hangnails.

Nail brushes: Nail brushes are used to clean nails before applying polish. They can also be used to create fun designs in nail art.

Manicure and pedicure bowls: These can be filled with warm water to soak nails before grooming. They’re also great for rinsing off polish after a service.

Lotion and massage oils: Keep your clients’ skin soft and hydrated with lotion or massage oil. You can sell these products in your salon or use them during services.

Polish and remover: You’ll need various nail polish colors to offer your clients. You’ll also need remover for manicures and pedicures.

Nail art supplies: If you plan to offer nail art services, stock up on supplies like rhinestones, decals, and paint brushes.

Furniture and decor: Finally, don’t forget to create a relaxing and inviting space with the right furniture and decor. Choose comfortable chairs, stylish shelving, and pretty wall art to complete the look of your salon.

By stocking your salon with high-quality tools and products, you’ll be able to provide your clients with the best possible experience – and keep them coming back for more.

The bottom line

Opening a nail salon can be a great way to start your own business. However, there are several things to consider before taking the plunge. Make sure you research, create a business plan, and stock your salon with the right tools and products. With careful planning and execution, you can be on your way to running a successful nail salon.

 

10 Ways To Make Your Virtual Event Feel More Personal

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remote work screen

remote work screen

A virtual event is an event that takes place online. It can be a live or recorded event, and it can be interactive or non-interactive. Virtual events are becoming increasingly popular as technology makes it easier for people to connect from anywhere in the world.

Some examples of virtual events include webinars, conferences, online courses, and virtual trade shows. These events offer a convenient way for people to learn and network without traveling. They also allow businesses to reach a wider audience than they would if they held a formal event.

Virtual events have many benefits over traditional events. One major benefit is cost savings. Virtual events are typically more affordable to produce than in-person events since there is no need to rent out a physical space or incur associated costs. Additionally, virtual events can be scaled to accommodate a larger or smaller audience.

Another key benefit of virtual events is their reach. With an online event, you are not limited by geography — anyone with an internet connection can participate from anywhere in the world. This makes virtual events ideal for reaching a global audience or for targeting specific demographics that may be geographically dispersed.

Finally, virtual events offer a unique opportunity for engagement. With the right platform and tools, you can create an immersive and interactive experience that will leave your attendees feeling engaged and connected to your brand or organization.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many organizations are looking for ways to hold virtual conferences that will allow them to connect with their audiences. A 3D virtual conference platform can provide an engaging and immersive experience for your attendees while still providing the flexibility and convenience of a virtual event.

There are different types of virtual events that you can consider hosting.

Here are a few popular options:

1. Webinars.

Webinars are online seminars or presentations that experts usually conduct in a particular field. They typically last an hour or less; participants can listen in and ask questions via chat or audio.

2. Online conferences.

Online conferences are larger-scale events that bring together multiple speakers on various topics. These events can last for a day or more, and participants can engage with the speakers and each other through chat, video, and audio features.

3. Virtual trade shows and expos.

Virtual trade shows and expos are online versions of traditional in-person events. They provide an opportunity for companies and brands to showcase their products and services and for attendees to learn more about what’s available in the market.

4. Virtual happy hours and networking events.

Virtual happy hours and networking events are great ways to connect with people in your industry or field, build relationships, and exchange ideas. These events can be informal and relaxed or follow a more structured format with icebreaker games or breakout sessions.

5. Online courses and training programs.

Online courses and training programs can be a great way to learn new skills or earn credentials in your field. These programs are typically self-paced but may include live sessions with instructors or mentors.

How to plan for an excellent virtual event

1. Define your goals and objectives.

Before you start planning your virtual event, it is important to define what you hope to achieve with the event. For example, do you want to generate leads? Increase brand awareness? Drive sales? Once you know your primary goal, you can then start planning around it.

2. Keep your audience in mind.

When planning a virtual event, keep your target audience in mind. What kind of interests do they have? What content would they be interested in? By keeping your audience top-of-mind, you can ensure your event will be relevant and engaging.

3. Make it interactive.

One of the best ways to make a virtual event more engaging is to make it interactive. There are several ways to do this, such as incorporating polls and surveys, hosting Q&A sessions, or even offering live chat features. By making your event interactive, you can encourage your audience to participate actively and engage with the content.

4. Use high-quality visuals.

In the age of social media, visuals are more important than ever. So when planning a virtual event, be sure to use high-quality visuals that will capture your audience’s attention. This could include professional photos, videos, infographics, or live streaming capabilities.

5. Promote your event ahead of time.

If you want people to attend your virtual event, you need to promote it ahead of time. Start by creating a strong marketing campaign to generate interest and excitement for the event. Be sure to use a variety of channels to promote your event, such as social media, email marketing, and even paid to advertise.

6. Make sure your website is ready.

If you’re planning on driving traffic to your virtual event through your website, it is important to ensure that your site is ready. This includes ensuring that your site is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. You should also ensure that your event information is up-to-date and easily accessible.

7. Use social media to engage with your audience.

Social media is a great platform for promoting and engaging with your audience before, during, and after your event. Be sure to create a hashtag for your event and encourage your audience to use it when tweeting or posting about the event. You can also use social media to live-tweet or live-stream portions of your event.

8. Offer incentives.

If you want people to register for your virtual event, offer them something in return. This could be a discount on products or services, early access to content, or even exclusive access to VIP events. By offering incentives, you can increase the number of people who register for your event.

9. Provide value.

Your virtual event should provide value for your attendees. This could mean offering educational content, networking opportunities, or even access to exclusive deals and discounts. Whatever you do, ensure that your event offers something that will benefit your attendees.

10. Follow up after the event.

After your virtual event has ended, it’s important to follow up with your attendees. Thank them for attending and offer a recap of what was covered during the event. You can also use this opportunity to survey your attendees and collect feedback on how to improve future events.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your virtual event is successful. First, remember to keep your audience and goals in mind when planning and promoting your event. Then, with a little effort, you can ensure that your virtual event is engaging, informative, and interactive.

The bottom line.

Virtual events are a great way to engage with your audience, promote your brand, and generate leads. However, planning and promoting a successful virtual event can be a challenge. By following these tips, you can ensure that your next virtual event is successful. Remember to keep your audience and goals in mind when planning and to promote your event. With a little effort, you can ensure that your virtual event is engaging, informative, and interactive.

 

Learn How To Broadcast In 4K And Take Your Videos To The Next Level 

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4K content is all the rage right now. More and more people want to create and consume 4K content, but not everyone knows how to do it. In this blog post, we will teach you everything you need to know about broadcasting in 4K! We’ll cover who can broadcast in 4K and how to do it. Plus, we’ll give you some tips for creating high-quality 4K videos.

So, whether you’re a business owner looking to take your videos to the next level or a consumer looking to create amazing content, this blog post is for you!

What is 4K?

Before we get into who can broadcast in it and how to do so, let’s first answer the question: what is Four-K or “Ultra High Definition” (UHD)? In short, it’s a video resolution that is 4096 x 230. That said, most folks consider anything between 3840 x 216 (which is still an excellent resolution, mind you) and 4096 x 30 to be “true” or “native” UHD. In other words, it’s the highest standard of HDTV right now. And since we’re on the topic, let’s differentiate between HDTV and UHDTV.

UHDTV is a specific type of HDTV that refers to a display device or content having a resolution of at least 3840 х 216 pixels. UHDTV provides four times as many pixels as standard HDTV. This increase in pixel count allows for a much more detailed and clear picture, which is why UHDTV is sometimes called “Ultra High Definition” television.

Who Can Broadcast in UHDTV?

One of the questions we frequently see is, “Who Can Broadcast in 4K & How To Do It??” To put it simply: anyone with a compatible device and internet connection. For example, YouTube supports UHDTV content creation and consumption – you only need a compatible device and internet connection. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other popular streaming services.

As for how it’s done, that’s a bit more complicated. To create UHDTV content, you need a few things: a camera that supports UHDTV recording, editing software that can handle UHDTV files, and a way to encode the final product in a format that can be streamed or played back on UHDTV devices.

How to Broadcast it Properly?

Now that we know who can do it and how it’s done let’s talk about how to do it properly. As we mentioned, you need a few things to create UHDTV content. But even if you have all the right equipment, there are still a few things you need to keep in mind to create high-quality UHDTV videos.

First, you need to make sure your camera is set up correctly. This means choosing the right resolution and frame rate for your video. For most UHDTV videos, a resolution of 3840 x 216 and a frame rate of 30 fps will suffice. However, if you’re recording fast-paced action or want to create slow-motion effects, you may need to increase the frame rate to 60 or even 120 fps.

Second, you need to choose the right encoding settings. This is where things can get a bit technical, but you need to choose an encoder that can handle your video’s resolution and bitrate. For most UHDTV videos, the H.264 codec is a good choice.

Finally, you must ensure your internet connection can handle the increased data usage. UHDTV videos are much larger than standard HD videos, so they require more bandwidth to stream or download. For most UHDTV videos, you’ll need an internet connection with a minimum speed of 25 Mbps.

With that said, you should avoid a few things when broadcasting on UHDTV. First, don’t try to downscale your video to fit standard HD resolutions. This will result in a lower-quality video. Second, don’t use low-bitrate encoders. These will produce videos with artifacts and other quality issues.

The Benefits of 4k Broadcasting

Now that we know who can broadcast in UHDTV and how it’s done let’s talk about the benefits of this resolution.

Detailed and Clear Picture

The most obvious benefit of broadcasting in UHDTV is the picture quality. You can expect a much more detailed and clear picture with four times as many pixels as standard HDTV. This is perfect for businesses that want to showcase their products or services in the best light possible.

Improved Audio Quality

In addition to the improved visuals, UHDTV also offers better audio quality. This is thanks to the increased bandwidth that UHDTV provides. With more bandwidth, you can have up to seven full-range 24-bit/192kHz sound channels. This is perfect for businesses that want to create videos with high-quality audio.

Competitive Edge

Broadcasting in UHDTV can also give you a competitive edge. With more and more people looking for UHDTV content, businesses that can provide this will be ahead of the curve. This is perfect for businesses that want to stay ahead of the competition and attract new customers.

More Creativity

Finally, broadcasting on UHDTV gives you more creative freedom. With the increased resolution and bitrate, you can experiment with new techniques and effects that wouldn’t be possible with standard HDTV. This is perfect for businesses that want to create unique and innovative videos.

The Future of Streaming and Television

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of broadcasting in UHDTV let’s talk about the future of streaming and television. It’s no secret that UHDTV is the future of streaming and television. More and more businesses are looking to create UHDTV content, and it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the standard.

In the future, we can expect to see more businesses broadcasting on UHDTV. This will provide a better viewing experience for customers and give businesses a competitive edge. We can also expect more innovation in UHDTV content, with businesses experimenting with new techniques and effects.

The Bottom Line

Now that you know everything there is to know about broadcasting in UHDTV, it’s time to take your videos to the next level. With a little planning and the right equipment, you can create amazing content that will wow your viewers. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start filming!

 

What You Need To Know Before Outsourcing Payroll

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Outsourcing payroll is hiring a third-party company to manage an organization’s payroll processes and employee payments. This can include calculating wages, issuing paychecks, withholding taxes, and other deductions from employees’ pay.

Outsourcing payroll has many benefits, including freeing up internal resources, reducing costs, and gaining access to experts in the field. However, some risks are also to consider, such as data security and privacy concerns. Therefore, when considering whether or not to outsource payroll, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully to make the best decision for your organization.

Some common payroll outsourcing services include:

  • administering employee benefits
  • calculating and issuing paychecks
  • preparing and filing tax documents
  • tracking employee hours worked
  • processing payroll deductions
  • managing time off and leave requests

If you decide to outsource payroll, be sure to do your research and select a reputable and experienced provider. Outsource Payroll Services in Saudi Arabia with SOURCEitHR is the best way to go.

Outsourcing payroll can save organizations time and money and offer access to expert knowledge and resources. When done correctly, it can be a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. However, it is important to consider the pros and cons before deciding.

A few different types of deductions may be taken out regarding employee payments. These include income taxes, Social Security and Mandxes, and other withholdings for health insurance or retirement savings plans. But, again, payroll outsourcing providers can handle all, ensuring on everything that everything is correctly calculated and deducted from each employee’s pay.

Another common payroll service is administering employee benefits. This can include enrolling employees in health insurance plans, processing claims, and calculating vacation time. Benefits administration can be complex and time-consuming, so outsourcing this task can free up internal resources for other projects.

Calculating and issuing paychecks is another common payroll service. This includes calculating employee wages based on hours worked, salary, and overtime pay. Payroll providers can also print and distribute physical paychecks or direct deposit funds into employees’ bank accounts.

Preparing and filing tax documents is another common payroll outsourcing service. This includes preparing W-2 forms and filing quarterly and annual tax returns. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, so outsourcing it to a payroll provider can save your organization time and money.

Tracking employee hours worked is another common payroll task. This information calcifies employees’ wages and ensures they are paid for all their work hours. Payroll providers can use time-tracking software to track employee hours worked and generate reports.

Processing payroll deductions is another common service offered by payroll providers. This includes calculating and deducting taxes, withholdings, and other deductions from employees’ paychecks. Payroll providers can also process Garnishments and child support payments.

Outsourcing payroll can offer many benefits to organizations of all sizes. For example, it can save time and money and offer expert resources and knowledge access. However, when considering whether or not to outsource payroll, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully to make the best decision for your organization.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Outsourcing Payroll

As with any decision, outsourcing payroll has both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, weighing the pros and cons before deciding on your business is important.

Advantages of Outsourcing Payroll

There are several advantages to outsourcing payroll, including:

Time savings: One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing payroll is that it can save you a significant amount of time. By outsourcing, you can free up your time to focus on more important tasks, such as growing your business.

Expertise: When you outsource payroll, you gain access to the expertise of experienced professionals. This can be especially beneficial if you have complex payroll needs, such as employees in multiple states or countries.

Cost savings:In some cases, outsourcing payroll can also save you money. For example, suppose you outsource to a company specializing in payroll. In that case, they may be able to take advantage of economies of scale to get better rates on things like taxes and insurance.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing Payroll

There are also a few disadvantages to consider before outsourcing payroll, including:

Loss of control: When you outsource payroll, you give up some control over the process. This can be difficult for businesses that want complete control over all aspects of their operations.

Potential problems: As with any business relationship, there is always the potential for problems to arise when you outsource payroll. For example, your payroll service provider may make a mistake that causes problems for your employees.

What to Look for in a Payroll Service Provider

If you’ve decided that outsourcing payroll is the right choice for your business, the next step is to find a reputable and reliable payroll service provider. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a provider:

Experience: When it comes to something as important as your payroll, you want to ensure you’re working with a company with experience. Look for a provider that has been in business for several years and has a good reputation.

Flexibility: Every business is different, so you’ll want to ensure your payroll service provider can tailor their services to meet your needs. For example, if you have employees in multiple states or countries, you’ll want to ensure the provider can handle that level of complexity.

Competitive pricing:Shop and compare pricing before selecting a payroll service provider. While finding a provider that fits your budget is important, be wary of companies that seem too good to be true – they probably are.

How to Transition Your Payroll from In-House to Outsourced

If you’ve decided to outsource your payroll, the next step is to transition your payroll from in-house to outsourced. Here are a few tips for making the transition:

Plan ahead: The key to a successful transition is to plan. Begin by identifying your specific needs and requirements. Then, start shopping for a payroll service provider to meet those needs.

Get organized: Once you’ve selected a provider, it’s time to get your ducks in a row. First, gather all necessary documentation, such as employee information and tax forms. This will make the transition process much smoother.

Communicate with your employees: Be sure to communicate about the transition to outsourced payroll. Let them know what to expect and how it will affect them. This will help to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved.

Outsourcing payroll can be a great way to save time and money, but it’s important to do your homework first. B sure to carefully consider the pros and cons before making a decision. And when you’re ready to make the switch, follow the tips above to ensure a smooth transition.

When deciding whether or not to outsource payroll, it is important to consider the pros and cons carefully. For many businesses, the benefits of outsourcing payroll outweigh the risks. However, each organization is unique, and you decide the best decision for your business.

Outsourcing your payroll can be a great way to save time and money, but it’s important to choose the right provider. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a payroll provider:

  1. Services Offered: Make sure the payroll provider you select offers all the services you need, such as direct deposit, tax filing, and employee self-service.
  2. Pricing: Compare pricing between different payroll providers to get the best deal.
  3. Customer Service: Good customer service is essential for something as important as your company’s payroll. Make sure the provider you choose has a reputation for excellent customer service.
  4. Experience: Choose a payroll provider with ample experience in the industry to ensure they can handle your specific needs.
  5. References: Ask for references from other businesses that have used the payroll provider you’re considering. This will give you a good idea of what to expect from their services.

Once you’ve considered all these factors, you’ll be able to choose the best payroll provider for your business.

Outsourcing your payroll can offer many benefits, but it’s important to do your research and choose the right provider. By considering all the factors listed above, you’ll be able to find a payroll provider that meets all your needs and gives you peace of mind.

 

What Every Start-up Needs

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As a start-up, your company can’t grow with just more employees. Even if you start out with just one or two founding members, it takes plans and resources to end up successful. One study by the National Business Incubator Association found that start-ups have a failure rate as high as eight in every ten businesses. 

What Do You Need to Build a Start-up?

One can build a start-up after gaining complete knowledge of their products, services, and organization. The following are the important tools to build a start-up and become successful in the market.

1. Unique and Innovative Brands and Services.

Investors are always concerned about products and services and need a reason why they should trust a business in its initial stages of development. A unique and innovative brand with desirable services may attract investors. The quality of products, easy buying processes, and availability makes it easier for investors to change their habits and get services from a new place.

2. United Team and a Supportive Leader.

A supportive leader is necessary for every start-up; a strong leader encourages employees to make better decisions and perform their duties effectively. A leader knows how to carry the whole team together and treat them fairly. These traits unite the whole team to take steps toward the organization’s success.

A strong and experienced leader chooses the right employees for the firm and avoids hiring mistakes to prevent further complications. A skilled team and its leader make up a great positive environment for the organisation.

3. Social Media Management.

A start-up is known by its target audience and new people. Fortunately, social media can help in this case by reaching a wider audience and helping you grow the business. Social media management tools are available to spread the word and attract new customers without wasting time.

Most people prefer to shop online for their products, and social media has become an important medium for bringing attention to e-commerce businesses. Start-ups can use the technology to attract global investors and build their identities online.

4. An ambitious Business Plan.

Investors also consider start-ups’ business plans; these plans should have a detailed overview of services, products, and brand identity. An ambitious business plan that articulates key points of managing the business, solving problems, and short-term and long-term plans is a perfect forecast of future planning and attracts more consumers.

5. Customer Relation Management.

Customer relation management is essential to a start-up’s success; a strong relationship between an organization and customers increases brand loyalty. Consumers notice how important their concerns are to the business owner and what they do to improve them.

Organizations can share their success stories, and how they build their brand from scratch. These stories have a huge influence on consumers and can help start-ups attract more customers.

6. Terms and Conditions.

Another important aspect to consider for a start-up is a detailed overview of the terms and conditions of the business plan. These terms include the valuation of the business and the basis it was established, and it also ensures the legal agreement between a business and its customers.

Bottom Line.

Entrepreneurs focus on essential areas while building their start-ups, including a unique and innovative brand with satisfactory services, a strong team, and a supportive leader who motivates the team to perform better. Awareness of the brand on social media is also important to spread the word and a detailed business plan covering all the future aspects of the start-up.

 

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