Month: August 2019

Martech

Understanding the role of ISPs

 

It’s easy to overlook the role of ISPs (internet service providers) in our world. ISPs play an increasingly important role in our constantly connected lives, and we don’t really think about them until we have an issue with our internet.

 

So, what do ISPs do exactly? Here, we break down the role of ISPs and how you can compare different providers to choose a good one.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

 

What do ISPs do?

 

ISPs provide internet access to businesses, households, and individuals for a fee. They rely on a range of technologies – fibre optics, copper wiring, satellite, wireless, and others – to deliver internet access. This access usually comes in the form of a plan, which specifies bandwidth, speed, contract or no lock-in contract, and price.

 

Bandwidth is the number of data uploads and downloads your ISP provides you within a given period of time. It’s usually expressed as a number of gigabytes in a month. Some plans give you unlimited bandwidth or data.

 

Your Internet-connected devices access the internet through an ISP so you can do things like view websites and download files. In turn, the servers supporting your website views and file downloads do so through their own ISP.

 

For your household or business, you only need to pay one ISP for the one connection. Then you can set up a network or allow multiple devices to access your connection through Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables. You can also get mobile broadband on your phone, tablet, and computer.

 

What information do ISPs keep?

 

ISPs can potentially know just about everything about you depending on what country you’re in. ISPs in the US are allowed to collect and sell detailed information on their customers.

 

ISPs don’t have as much power in Australia. Local ISPs are required by law to collect only the metadata of their customers, for a minimum of two years. According to the government, the data collection rules were introduced to facilitate national security and criminal law enforcement purposes. Certain government agencies can access this data without a warrant.

 

Metadata includes your name, date of birth, and your other account information. It encompasses the time, date and duration of your communications and whether the communication is phone, text, email, or some other medium. ISPs will also collect metadata relating to your IP address and your bandwidth usage. It covers your email addresses and phone numbers and those of your recipients. It will also incorporate the location of the communication equipment you’re accessing, like the relevant cell phone towers. Plus, make sure to be aware ISPs have been hacked. 

 

If you’re worried about privacy, using exempt services like iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, SnapChat, Skype, and FaceTime can help you get around the metadata collection. Using a VPN (a virtual private network) could give you extra protection in terms of privacy.

 

How to compare and shop for the best ISPs

 

When it comes to plans, connection quality, and service, ISPs can range considerably. The most important step is to work out what you want from your internet service, whether that’s some light browsing or unlimited data allowance for gaming and streaming.

 

Availability and type of connection

 

Start by considering whether the ISP services your area and connection types offered. The type of connection is largely determined by your location, but you’ll generally need to switch to the nbn™ within 18 months of it becoming available in your area. Options available could include cable, satellite, ADSL, fibre optics, mobile, and more. ADSL relies on copper wiring technology, which is slower than fibre optics. The largely fibre-optics based nbn™ network is replacing ADSL across Australia, but some of the old copper wirings will remain for connection types of FTTN (fibre to the node).

 

On the other hand, cable broadband uses coaxial cable and tends to be faster and more reliable than ADSL as quality and speed don’t depend on distance. nbn™ connections likely offer the best connection options, with FTTP (fibre to the premises), FTTC (fibre to the curb), hybrid fibre coaxial, and other connection options offering fast and reliable service standards. Mobile broadband is another connection option that’s great for on-the-go internet access.

 

Combination of speed, bandwidth, and price

 

Balance the ISP’s offerings in terms of price, speed, and bandwidth rather than opting for the cheapest plan. A cheap ISP might end up costing you more if the speeds are slow or unreliable. At the same time, you want to ensure the ISP’s plans offer sufficient bandwidth for your requirements, whether that’s light browsing or streaming videos most nights. Check the ISP’s evening speeds for an indication of what peak-period speeds will be like.

 

Customer support

 

Consider customer support and how easy it will be to get customer support if you have any issues. If you’re a business, do you need a plan with priority support?

 

Terms and conditions

 

Whether you live in a small apartment in Minneapolis, Minnesota or a huge house in Australia, it makes no difference and it’s important to consider additional terms and conditions like whether a new router is included with your plan. Weigh whether you’re happy to be locked in for a long-term contract or whether you need an ISP that offers no-lock-in plans.

 

You might be looking for options and add-ons like a bundled phone line, static IP addresses, and mobile broadband – so, does the ISP offer these? Other features and freebies could make certain plans more suitable for you. For example, you might get free sport and music streaming if you use certain services, without the data counting towards your limit.

 

ISPs play a big role in our everyday lives, and your choice of an ISP has a huge impact on your internet service. Compare how prospective ISPs measure in key terms such as speed, price, and bandwidth. Review additional terms and conditions, and check out their customer support system to get a good idea of how they measure up against each other.

Insights

Contact Lens for First Time Users

Wearing a contact lens for the first time can be tricky, but it can be better than eyeglasses in some occasions. The sensitive nature of the eye, however, demands you to be extra careful when putting on and removing contact lenses. This fact usually scares traditional eyeglasses users away. So if you are in the middle of deciding whether or not to switch, here is your ultimate guide to getting your first contacts.

Eyeglasses vs. Contact Lens

Glasses and contact lenses share the same purpose: vision correction. But they are different in many ways than they are the same.

Eyeglasses are the traditional device used to help correct one’s vision problem.

1. Pros

  • The top advantage of eyeglasses over contacts is its ease of use. You don’t have to be nervous about getting your eye infected or irritated since there’s no need to touch your eyes when wearing eyeglasses.
  • Eyeglasses also require minimum maintenance.
  • It comes cheaper. When the need to change lens arises, you can keep your current frame and pay for a new set of glasses.
  • It offers a shield from some environmental factors, such as wind and dust, which can easily irritate our eyes.

2. Cons

  • Eyeglasses do not offer maximum correction. Since it is placed at least half an inch away from your eyes, it cannot provide the field of view accurately, causing some distortion.
  • Spectacles get in the way of your activities. You can’t run without dropping your eyeglasses. A special kind of glasses is needed if you want to play sports.
  • Its weight depends on the thickness of the lenses, which can sometimes be too thick.
  • Some patients complain of constant headache and discomfort due to the pressure from the sunglasses’ bridge and arms.

The interest in contact lenses rose recently due to the many things it can offer that eyeglasses could not. However, skepticism about the ocular prosthetic device remains despite the many benefits it provides mainly due to the process involved with wearing one.

1. Pros

  • The thin lens is placed directly on the surface of the eye, allowing it to conform to its curvature.
  • Contacts provide a full field of view.
  • Contact lenses reduce vision distortion and blurriness.
  • It does not get away with your physical activities since it is technically attached to your eyes.
  • It corrects most vision problems without the need for thicker lenses.
  • Some contact lenses have specialized technology that can reshape your cornea or temporarily cures myopia.

2. Cons

  • The most debated disadvantage of contacts is its application. There is a need for direct contact with the eye, increasing the chances of irritation or even infection, when not done correctly.
  • Oxygen cannot reach your eye as quickly as when you’re not wearing contacts, causing it to dry up.
  • Contacts require regular and proper lens care. It is a tedious task.
  • Falling asleep with your contacts put your eyes at risk of irritation. However, if you’re someone who frequently falls asleep with contacts on, you can opt for extended wear contact lenses that you can wear for up to 30 days.

Getting Your Contacts

Where you get your contact lenses matter. Given the sensitive nature of the eye, it is recommended that you visit an eye care practitioner to get an eye exam during which an assessment of your vision-related problems will be conducted. Your contacts will be custom-made to the condition of your eye.

Even if you’re only wearing contacts for aesthetic purposes, you have to be sure that the contacts you’ll be wearing are safe and won’t irritate your eyes.

Before Wearing Contacts

Wearing contacts for the first time can seem too complicated. But with practice, you can soon be more at ease with the process.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Before touching your contacts, wash your hands and make sure it is clean to prevent transferring dust or any particles to your eyes.
  2. Make sure the lens is positioned correctly.
  3. Rinse your lenses with the solution.
  4. Always handle your lenses gently since it can tear easily.
  5. Use your index finger to hold the lens and your other hand to keep your eye open then insert the lens slowly and gently.
  6. Close your eyes and wait until you feel the lens is correctly placed in the center of your eye. You can blink if you think it will help.

While Wearing Contacts

Give your eyes time to adjust to the contacts.

You may feel a little discomfort since it’s new to you. You may even feel the edges of the lens during your first tries. It could be a bit unpleasant, but these are all part of the adjustment period. Wearing contacts for the first time may feel odd, but you will get the hang of it in time. This is also the best time to check if your lens fit.

If you feel a little burning or irritation, check again. There could be some outside element that’s stuck between your eye and the lens. But if the irritation persists even after you check, then it’s time to go back to your eye doctor.

Removing Contacts

Switching to contacts from your traditional eyeglasses will feel daunting since it comes with a lot of procedure.

Removing your contacts – except for those special ones that could stay longer in your eyes – is required before going to sleep. Just like before putting it on, you have to ensure that your hands are clean.

  1. While looking upward, pull your lower eyelid downward.
  2. Using your other hand, pinch the lens to move it off the surface of the eyes.

Caring and Cleaning Tips

  1. Clean your hands before putting on and removing your lenses.
  2. Do not sleep with contacts on.
  3. Gradually increase wear time to let your eyes adjust.
  4. Store your lenses the proper storage to avoid damage.
  5. Always bring a lens solution with you.
  6. If there is any sense of irritation, contact your eye doctor.

Wearing a contact lens could sound a lot of work since you’re used to the traditional eyeglasses, but it has a ton of benefits to offer. With proper care and a little practice, you’ll surely see why millions of people are switching to contact lenses.

References

https://www.optometrystudents.com/event/handy-list-recommendations-first-time-contact-lens-users/

https://www.youandeye.com.au/what-to-expect-when-wearing-contact-lenses-for-the-first-time/

https://www.lensdirect.com/blog/contact-lenses/wearing-contact-lenses-for-the-first-time/

https://www.en.acuvuearabia.com/lens-care-wear/tips-for-new-contact-wearers

https://www.perfectlens.ca/articles/first-time-wearing-contacts-what-to-expect

https://www.perfectlens.ca/articles/8-tips-wearing-contact-lenses-for-the-first-time

https://coopervision.com/blog/five-tips-for-first-time-contact-lens-wearers

DevelopmentInsightsProducts

All Round Business Management and Customer Support with Salesforce

Managing a business is about handling many departments. Hence entrepreneurs and business strategists look for solutions which can handle many wings at once. One such solution, which is deemed as one of the most preferred and methodical solutions in Salesforce. It is a complete mixture of all business-related things sorted together.

Salesforce is for customer support

When you have integrated the Salesforce platform into your business, then your customers can get support in various ways. A customer can interact with a person in the business directly through the platform. There are chat services, which can be used to communicate directly with users. This is a great way to make contact. Also, customers can troubleshoot their issues on their own by the following guide. Customers may even follow social media and other forums and discussion boards to interact with other customers and discuss problems or find solutions. Therefore, whether a business support executive is supporting a customer through the platform, or a customer helping himself/herself, it’s possible entirely through the platform.

Salesforce is for marketing

Salesforce helps in marketing in several ways. It has its artificial intelligence, which you can use to interact better with customers and target customers better and smartly, based on their interests and behavior. Here are important points about the marketing-related Salesforce solutions, which you must know:

  • The consumer-centric platform and design of Salesforce lest you interact with consumers one on one.
  • Integration of all-important components in marketing, which builds up the business is possible here. You can integrate sales with marketing, with e-commerce, and that with branding and app development, and what not!
  • The AI of Salesforce works awesome in predicting customer behavior and pick the best engaging solution for the customer based on the data.
  • The interface allows templates, and great flow of messaging in streamlined ways, and easy integration of mobile apps with this, so that cross-campaigns can be design.
  • The same platform can be used for integrating both B2B and B2C business.

Altogether marketing with the power of data of every customer you have, to plan things in a customized way, and set email marketing, SMS marketing, and all such campaigns in a targeted way is possible with it.

Salesforce is for Sales

Plan sales with the help of Salesforce too. This is such an efficient platform that has every answer to everything needed in your business. Sales interface powered by the AI of Salesforce has great efficiency in finding customers based on data. This can help you find and pitch to the right target customers and can help close deals better and grow revenue. Sales get a lot easier with the help of AI integrated Salesforce, which offers multiple tools, for you to talk to the customer, solve queries, and work with customer data.

Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM

The best part of using Salesforce is that this is a cloud-based CRM. The software is entirely cloud-based, which offers immense benefits when it comes to data storage. Now it’s understood that when you are handling a business, then sales and marketing only fetch so much of daily data, which is huge. With such a huge volume of data, if you plan to store in your data center or some hosted server, then it would cost you a good amount. Also, the continuously proliferating amount of data on the storage would be impacting the data maintenance bills too. Rather instead of taking all that hassle, with Salesforce, you can store your data on the Salesforce data cloud-only or if you want other professionals to do your job you can always acquire and pay for salesforce development services. This is not going to incur you any extra cost. In fact, with this system, your data would stay safe and secure, while you will never have to worry about separate storage for data. Moreover, with the cloud-based system, you can access your data from anywhere and any computer or mobile.

You can operate it from anywhere- even from smartphones

The best part of having a cloud-based CRM is that you can operate it from anywhere. The good news for mobile users is that, with an app-based interface, Salesforce can be used from smartphones too. That’s why you can now use Salesforce from smartphones easily and can manage your entire business over the phone, without having to look for a computer or browser-based interface. 

The platform helps connect customers with the company for better interactions

Consumers can connect to the company in multiple ways through the platform of Salesforce. If you are using Salesforce to communicate with your consumers, then you can help consumers reach you too with the same model. This eases communication through the mode of chat, email support, discussion forums, questions and answers, and social media. Therefore, customers can not only communicate, but also can find other similar issues that they are facing to address their problems better.

Personalized apps

Using Salesforce, you can create personalized apps which can be used for bringing automation in the business in multiple ways. You can increase your productivity, and can also act innovatively when you design apps for better business operations. This is a great side of Salesforce, which is helpful.

How to integrate Salesforce

The best way to integrate Salesforce is to contact a good third-party service which installs it for you, train you initially to handle the CRM and helps you absorb the whole concept. You can contact services like Flosum.com, where you can get all this help, and also get their help whenever you need an upgrade and related help with Salesforce. With native release version and version control feature, there are good solutions for those who already are using the platform and need an upgrade, and definitely for those who are new to Salesforce.

Finally

The sooner you integrate Salesforce into your business; the better would be your grip on marketing, sales, and customer support throughout. Hence you can start now and feel the difference. Whatever Salesforce solution you try, you are bound to feel improvement in business operations.

Bio: -Evans Walsh is a freelance content writer. He has written many good and informative articles on different categories such as Flosum.com  technology, health, fashion, beauty, education, career, travel, etc. He is very responsible for his job. He loves to share his knowledge and experience with his friends and colleagues.

DevelopmentInsightsMartechProductsSaaS

5 Types of MarkTech Software and How It Can Power-Up SMEs

As marketing evolves, marketers search for solutions to streamline and scale their daily marketing activities without spending too much time or effort on them.

Choosing the right vendors and products can benefit SMEs and help them establish their presence in our fast-growing and competitive market.

To succeed, SMEs need to invest in the right tools that will make their Marketing Technology Stack their most powerful ally to compete with the largest brands out there.

What is MarTech?

MarTech is a blend that comes from the words “marketing” and “technology”.

Here is the definition:

“Marketing is a function that relies increasingly on technology, and as more technology tools emerged to meet the needs of modern marketing, these Marketing Technology tools have collectively become known as MarTech.”

Modern marketing is all about finding the best set of tools to promote your brand to people all around the world.

While competing with big brands might seem a little terrifying at first, there’s nothing that SMEs can’t do when they employ the right tools.

Now Let’s See 5 MarTech Tools SMEs Need to Start Using Right Now

1. Email Marketing Automation Software

With 3.9 million users, emails have become one of the most efficient digital marketing channels marketers use to promote their products.

The first thing you need to do to start your email marketing is to search the market for a good email marketing platform that suits your needs and company goals.

Out there, you’ll find a plethora of MailChimp alternatives to provide you with the right technology and knowledge to plan and automate your email marketing strategy.

Moosend, for instance, is a great alternative to help you design your next email campaigns and automate them.

How it helps

Since sending emails to every single subscriber of yours by hand can be extremely time-consuming, the need for email marketing automation is dire.

A platform like this will simplify the process and allow SMEs to reach multiple subscribers at once in the most effective way possible.

And since, emails are one of the best ways to build customer relationships and brand credibility, using an email marketing platform will allow you to get more with less effort.

2. Subscription Analytics Software

Now that you’ve found the perfect software to attract more customers to your SMEs, the next step to ensure that your business will keep thriving is to track your business metrics.

To do so, you need to invest in a good subscription analytics tool that will show you which elements work well and which don’t. 

A great subscription analytics software that allows you to monitor your active customers and your monthly or annual growth is Profitwell.

Here’s an example of  what the metrics dashboard looks like:

How it helps

When it comes to SMEs with stricter budgets, knowing which elements have the biggest profit and greatest loss can determine the success of a brand.

With a tool like Profitwell, SMEs can optimize and measure their subscribers’ efficiency and take certain actions that will reduce their MRR churn, and increase their ARR.

Tracking brand performance will give SMEs the chance to improve their digital marketing strategies and establish themselves among larger brands.

3. Social media Software

Facebook and Instagram are some excellent media platforms to promote your products, either through sponsored ads or social media and influencer marketing.

With 37% of consumers using social media to find inspiration for their next purchase, neglecting to use social media ads can reduce your brand visibility significantly.

To take advantage of these platforms, you can start by using Facebook Ads, a tool that promotes do-it-yourself ads for everyone with or without expertise.

Here’s what the Facebook Ads quick creation looks like:

How it helps

Facebook ads have the lowest median cost per click compared to other famous social media ads like LinkedIn.

While the cost can vary depending on the number of impressions you want, Facebook ads can work well with since they can find you cheaper clicks to match your budget.

Facebook ads can help SMEs create awesome Facebook lead ads that will have maximum visibility due to Facebook’s massive number of users.

4. Employee Management and Communication Software

The success of a business doesn’t lie exclusively on successful product marketing, but also on the excellent communication and co-operation between different teams like your product and marketing team.

A good platform that can benefit SMEs not only with its simplistic user interface but also with its integrated apps is Slack.

How it helps

Slack’s success stems from apps, shared channels and search features that SMEs can get for cheaper prices.

Using some of the best Slack apps like Google Drive, Meekan and Monkey Test It can help SMEs get more things done and contribute to the simplification of the communication process.

5. App Connectivity and Integration Software

To save invaluable time, SMEs need to find software that will automate most of their daily activities and let them focus on other important tasks.

Since the main advantage of using MarTech is the ability to automate pretty much everything, using a web automation tool like Zapier will make your business tasks easier and faster to complete.

Here’s what a Zap looks like:

How it helps

Zapier offers a selection of more than 1.500 integrations to help you connect your apps.

For example, through the platform, SMEs can connect popular apps like Trello and Gmail to create new cards from new labeled Gmail emails.

By creating Zaps, SMEs will be able to mix and match triggers that will save time and provide updates about important tasks.

Takeaway

Using MarTech software is the best thing SMEs can do to increase their productivity and visibility in a market where businesses constantly try to surpass one another.

Adding such tools in your MarTech stack will help your business grow and connect with your target audience in the most cost-rewarding way.

So, what are you waiting for?

Start building your MarTech stack now and you’ll see your business go from zero to hero in no time.

Author bio

Marilia Dimitriou is a Creative Writer working for email marketing software Moosend. Her passion for writing has made her find new ways to combine the art of Creative Writing with SEO Copywriting. When she’s not writing articles, you’ll find her spending time on her drabbles.

InsightsMartechProducts

Shopify and Other Advanced eCommerce Platforms Can Benefit Your Online Business 

Planning an online store is both challenging and exciting! The thought that you will give shape to your online business is inspiring. However, you also need to do all the work to get your website running. You need to make sure that it functions in the best way possible so that your customers have a good time navigating through your website. It is the reason why you need to opt-in for eCommerce platforms. 

The digital world is expanding at a fast pace! And your website needs to have all the features to impress your online audience. When you are opt-in for fully integrated eCommerce platforms, you can impress your online customers effortlessly. To know more about this, you can opt-in for Sun Bowl Systems Shopify help.

Some of the unique advantages of eCommerce platforms are:

It makes website navigation smooth and easy

If your customers aren’t able to navigate through your website, then they can’t see the services and products you have to offer! Hence, you need to make sure that your website interface is smooth and easy to navigate. The eCommerce platforms like Shopify, make it easy for online viewers to shift from one menu to the other without any disturbance. 

You have access to an excellent customer service 

It’s not you alone who requires customer service! Even your online users need it as well. You can opt-in for an eCommerce platform which will help your brand to reflect a positive brand image. When the consumers notice that they aren’t receiving the service they want, they might leave your website and never revisit it. It is interesting to note that the same applies in the case of software. When you know that a platform is not getting supported, make sure that you can escalate it to an in-house team. There’s no need to inflict this on your customers. 

You will not witness any downtime issues 

When you are opt-in for an eCommerce platform that’s operating at the best level, chances are you will see a significant boost on the website’s performance. You will not find your online users getting deterred by any error message that otherwise could have stopped them from completing the online purchase. It saves you valuable time that you can spend in expanding your business. Else you might have to spend the time troubleshooting all your platform related issues. So you can spend your time enhancing your online brand reputation, website presence and also improve the customer experience. Also if somehow Shopify or any other eCommerce platform stucks and makes you a trouble, you can migrate Shopify to WooCommerce for instance and make the customer’s experience even better.

You get a secure platform

No online user wants to be on a platform that can get them into trouble. They want to secure payment channels so that their customer and financial data doesn’t get compromised. Also, they want to browse through a website that doesn’t have irrelevant pop-up ads, which leads to counterfeit sites. An advanced eCommerce platform helps to keep your site secure from all these negative factors and save it from any online reputation damage.

These are some of the important reasons for you to opt-in for an advanced eCommerce platform! You can choose the platform by researching online and after determining what your business most requires.

DevelopmentInsightsMartech

Top 5 Marketing Tips for Improving Business on Instagram

Majority of the folks these days are making the use of Instagram. More than 400 million people are using Instagram for a business that is reasonably quite higher than others.  If you are one who is facing a lot of complicated problems while improving the sale of a business, then it is highly recommended that one should make the use of an Instagram business account that is proven to be beneficial and offering a considerable amount of benefits to the users. After creating an account, one has to share content regularly.

More than one billion people are making the use of Instagram that is quite higher than the others. If you are one who wants to create the visibility of the page, then one has to share interesting content regularly that can catch the attention of the audience. Here are 2 important marketing tips that will assist you in improving the visibility of the business on Instagram.  

-Use free tool

Nothing is better than a platform like Instagram that is offering a lot of benefits to the users. It is completely different from Facebook and others. Lots of people are using the business account and promoting their brand on a platform like Instagram with ease. In order to attract the users from a particular area, then one should make the use of sponsored ad feature that will surely attract the users from the target area. Before promoting the business, it is your responsibility to customize a lot of important things like location, gender, and other things. Majority of the folks are taking a significant amount of benefits of the Instagram tools, like Replug’s Bio link feature for Instagram. It would be better to add a call to action feature that is considered to be great. By sharing content on a regular basis, one can easily improve the reach and engagement of the business account without having any complicated problem. If you are regularly sharing content, then it will surely create strong engagement with users.  Nothing is better than лайкиинстаграмнакрутка that is providing Instagram likes that will surely improve the engagement and reach of the page.

-Promotions

It would be better to make the use of Instagram posts that are considered to be far better than others.  Along with Instagram, one should share the content on other social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. Make sure that you are inviting others to follow Instagram. If you are fairly sharing content regarding business, then one can easily attract the users from the targeted area.  Some promotions are fairly effective, that is improving the visibility of the brand with ease. Before initiating the promotion, one has to set the budget that would be great for you. All things depend on the requirements only; if you are facing a lot of complicated problems while promoting the business, then one should make contact with professionals who will surely assist you in promoting the Instagram business account.

-Use relevant hashtags

Hashtags help you “compose and order pictures and video content” to discover content all the more effectively. They’re a straightforward method to label your substance to make it simpler to discover for other people. They run from the nonexclusive – #love is the most utilized hashtag starting at 2017 – to the, quite certain. What’s more, they are so prevalent on Instagram that they’ve basically turned out to be required. In the event that you need individuals to locate your substance, you have to utilize hashtags. 

Here are a couple of hashtag best practices: 

  1. Try not to try too hard: five focused on hashtags are superior to 25 arbitrary ones. 
  2. Maintain a strategic distance from abused labels: including #love or #instagood is comparable to pointless. 
  3. Try not to spam: keep them significant to the picture. 

From that point, you have two fundamental alternatives when picking hashtags for your posts: 

General Hashtags 

These are hashtags that anybody may utilize, contingent upon the substance of a picture. “#Sunset” springs to mind, as do “#food” and “#wine.” However, to be perfectly honest, these models are broad to the point that it might be difficult to get seen utilizing them. Rather, attempt to discover specialty hashtags inside your industry. This expands your odds of pulling in the perfect group of spectators to your substance. 

A fast Google search will bring you arrangements of specialty hashtags by industry. Post planner has a pleasant rundown, for instance, as does Soldsie. In the event that you need to get increasingly inventive, see what hashtags your current adherents use. This is a more astute approach to locate the correct individuals to engage. 

Marked Hashtags 

In case you’re propelling an Instagram battle, a marked hashtag is an unquestionable requirement. This applies to challenges, influencer shootouts’ (continue perusing), or new item dispatches. 

Marked hashtags are explicit labels that just apply to your image. 

They could be your image name, the name of an item or individual, or something unique you’ve made for your battle. Moving further, these are some important things that would help promote the business on Instagram.

-Create Beautiful Visuals

Posting incredible substance is constantly indispensable for online life advertising. It’s what causes them to draw in with your image, and keeps them returning for additional. 

On other interpersonal organizations, this can mean sharing connections, posting fascinating articles, and beginning discussions. On Instagram, it starts and finishes with pictures. 

The entire system was made to give individuals a chance to share their photographs. 

This is particularly valid in case you’re selling items on the web. 

As indicated by one examination, 93% of choices in the purchasing procedure depend on visual appearance. Great pictures are imperative. 

Besides taking amazing photographs, how might you make your Instagram content all the more engaging? 

Pick a topic 

The best Instagram records will, in general, have a fundamental subject or tone. You need something that rouses or interests devotees, past basically your items. For instance, Under Armor utilizes the hashtag “#IWILL,” and its presents quite often relate on physically defeating deterrents. Under Armor’s adherents seek uplifting messages and get a little marked promoting every once in a while. 

-Work With Influencers

Influencers are industry VIPs, and their pledge goes far with purchasers. 

Regardless of whether you’re attempting to manufacture your Instagram nearness or make deals, their support is exactly what you need. To do this, you first need to distinguish the ideal individuals.

Great influencers should: 

Have a reasonable crowd (that may really purchase) 

Be vocal and noticeable in your industry 

Have a background marked by impacting their devotees’ choices 

At the end of the day, they really should be persuasive. 

Simply having a gigantic after isn’t sufficient.

Moving further, these are some important things that would help promote the business on Instagram.

Author’s Bio

Pete Campbell is a social media manager and has immense knowledge about email marketing and Instagram promotion. He delights clients, helping at лайкиинстаграмнакрутка them to buy real Instagram likes. He loves to travel, write, and play baseball. 

Business
InsightsProducts

Accounting & Legal! The Two Significant Business Pillars!

Legal and accounting are the only professions that complement each other in every business industry. However, from years, these professions have always been in the controversy across the business world in order to establish which is more important. These two professions differ in their unique challenges, specific degrees which are licensed from the state government, and services offered by them.

Many entrepreneurs don’t know how to use these professionals at every stage, and without thinking for a second, they take the risk, which ultimately leads to the insolvency of businesses. First, understand the importance of these professions and then make a better decision.

So, Let’s Start with the Legal Profession!

Whenever entrepreneurs ground up for their businesses, they have to meet the legal team to stay compliant in the business environment. Keeping the business secure from every legal obligation can enable you to run your business for a long-term.

Top 4 Legal Challenges faced by a Business

1. Successfully Registering the Business

For successfully registering the business, one has to go through a lot of paperwork and legal formalities which are discussed as under:

Getting a license for your business: A business license and special permit (for some) is required before you can execute the business operations.

Registering your business: DBA or “doing business as” name is required to register your business.

Choosing the legal structure: This structure is all about the tax filing procedure and the role of different team members in it with the following business structures to choose from:

  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Corporation
  • S-Corporation
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Getting a Tax Identification Number: Tax or employer identification number (EIN) enables IRS to track your business taxes and is extremely vital for a business.

Registering for State and Local Taxes: Based upon your state and local tax rule, you would be required to register for various fiscal needs.

Patent and Trademark Application: Applying for a patent and trademark is essential if your business model constitutes a new invention or is highly brand specific.

2. Ensuring Seamless Contract Management

Make every team member to sign a contract with the definite inclusion of the following:

  • Job title
  • Job responsibilities
  • Personal information
  • Name of the company
  • The direct report personal
  • The payment schedule
  • Pay rate
  • Non-disclosure clause
  • Hiree’s tax obligations (if applicable)
  • Company benefits

When it comes to signing a contract you have to be cautious to avoid future disputes, therefore, refering to your contract management resources and seeking lawyers help will an ideal way here to get rid of these contracts as they will guide you at every facet so that you make a beneficial deal.

3. Protecting your Assets

If you have an intellectual property for which you would like to file a patent, legal professionals can help you at every footstep. Securing intellectual property is crucial so that no one can steal your unique business concept, copyrights, trademark, geographical location, etc., at any cost. Including the following sections in the agreement will definitely help you in the same:

  • Method & schedule of payments
  • Names of the involved parties
  • Offered services
  • The price
  • Refund policy
  • Confidentiality clause
  • Contract termination points
  • Venue for dispute settlement
  • Disclaimers

4. Avoidance & Settlement of Disputes

Every business has to go through some sort of dispute during their lifecycle. It is important to get prepared for the same mentally as well as legally in order to avoid the disputes in the first place and if required, take appropriate steps to settle it.

So, if you have to face any business dispute in the future against contract breach from your partner or if any of your employees files a lawsuit against your business, opting for legal support services is the apt choice. Hiring a lawyer at the initial phase will help you to avoid such disputes in the future.

Now, Let’s Talk about Accounting

Accounting is the core of every business as, without an adequate amount of money, a company is unable to function properly.  Being an entrepreneur, you don’t want to lose out to your competitors due to poor accounting which is considered as the biggest element for business failure. According to researchers, 93% of small businesses fail in their initial years because they neglect their accounting. 

The following 4 points explain as to why having an accountant is essential in the first place:

1. Accurate Accounting Records

  • Manage & Grow a Business: When records get managed properly by an accountant, you can easily focus on your core business activities
  • The Organized Structure: When records are organized well, dealing with suppliers and customers along with producing quotations, invoices, and estimates are easy.
  • Preparation of Management Accounts: You can easily get to know if you are making profits or facing losses by comparing one period to the other.
  • Advance Tax Payments Planning: It is always sensible to plan the taxes in advance and this is only possible when the records are maintained regularly by an accountant.
  • Easy Tax Filing: If regular record keeping can help you plan the taxes in advance, it will definitely make the tax filing an easy process.
  • Avoiding the Penalties: Interests and penalties can be avoided for sure when you have a professional accountant working for you.

2. Gather Appropriate Market Funding

Initially, entrepreneurs have to gather funds and taking a loan from the bank is the only thing that comes to their mind. Taking a loan from the bank is a good option for sure but with the help of one of the following funding options, you can meet the funding requirements of your business as stated by your accountant.

  • Term loans
  • SBA loans
  • Equipment financing
  • Invoice financing
  • Short-term loans
  • Business lines of credit
  • Angel investors
  • Venture capital firms
  • Crowdfunding
  • Friends & family

3. Cash Flow Management

The cash flow in every business should be well-maintained to secure the business against any cash crunch. Entrepreneurs have to maintain bookkeeping functions that include accounts payable, receivable, bank reconciliation and keep a record of every transaction daily. More so, prepare financial reports to analyze the financial position of the company and to plan the budget. 

All this consumes time and demand expertise, therefore, seeking the help of an accountant can help you attain everything in one go. They can also help you with saving and budgeting strategies so that you can strictly adhere to that.

4. Timely Tax Paying

Tax preparation creates havoc in every business and making mistakes is very common. However, mistakes in filing the taxes can lead you to heavy losses because errors usually alert IRS and they may knock your door for a tax audit. 

Thus, opting for accounting services is an ideal way to streamline your tax preparation tasks and further you can ask the CPA to file your tax. CPAs went through difficult training and exam in order to get a license, so be sure, they are super professional and knowledgeable in these things.

Bottom line

If works of both the professions are in tandem, that means your business and you are on the right track. This is a common sign of success as these professionals are available to serve you at every footstep, allowing you to build a strong business foundation. 

You don’t have to worry about the changing legal obligations or IRS rules on taxes because lawyers and accountants always keep themselves updated with the changes in the country’s regulation and technology ruling the market. So stay focused, work hard, and explore your dreams!

Author Bio

Eliana Manon is a legal writer and marketer for Legal Support World, a California based LPO, since 2008. Providing legal back-office solutions to law firms and legal professionals nationwide, she is a certified attorney committed to providing information that lawyers need to make successful relationships with their clients.

InsightsMartechSEO

Importance of Big Data Analytics For All Companies

Staying on the cutting edge of technology is a must for any business trying to stay competitive. In a recent study, nearly 80 percent of the executives polled proclaimed that businesses without a big data strategy will be unable to compete in today’s marketplace. Instead of letting the power of data analytics pass your company by, now is the time to embrace this technology.

Some business owners hear the term “big data analytics” and immediately get intimidated. Instead of shying away from this technology, you need to find an IT professional to help you embrace it.

Source: Pexels

Here are some of the reasons why big data analytics are so important in the world of business.

A Great Way to Improve Efficiency

If you are like most business owners, the main goal you have is improving productivity and efficiency levels. There is a misconception that big data is only collected to analyze consumer behaviors and purchasing patterns. In reality, data is routinely collected internally and analyzed to see where improvements can be made.

Not only does this help your employees, but it can also improve the other pieces of technology you have in place. For instance, if you have created apps for your team to use, you want to make sure they are working correctly. The best way to do this is by collecting data with tools like Loggly. Collecting and organizing the error logs from these problems can help you figure out where problems exist and how to properly address them.

Understanding Your Market

The main ingredient of a successful marketing campaign is an in-depth understanding of your audience. Without this information, you will struggle to customize campaigns that appeal to modern consumers. The best way to figure out what your audience needs and wants is by using the power of big data.

By looking at data regarding marketing methods your audience is responding to and their buying habits, you can achieve the success you are after. Trying to develop a marketing campaign without this information will be nearly impossible. While using big data will be challenging at first, over time you and your team will start to become familiar with this methodology.

 

Source: Pexels

Make Important Decisions With Ease

One of your main jobs as a business owner is to make decisions regarding the path your company will take. As your business starts to grow, you will have to make important decisions in order to avoid slowing down this growth. Instead of using things like your “gut feeling”, you should use data.

Before you make a decision regarding expanding into a new market, looking at data from this market is a good idea. By using cold hard facts, you can avoid leading your company astray. The ability to make sound decisions in a timely manner is essential when trying to make your company a huge success.

Working With the Right IT Professionals is Vital

Getting the right tools in place to collect and analyze data is no easy task. This is why you need to work with experienced IT professionals. With their help, developing a big data strategy will be much easier.

DevelopmentInsightsStartups

5 Business Essentials to Open a New Business

Nowadays, a lot of people are inclining towards starting their own business in order to get rid of the dull and tiring job. Now, people want to enjoy while working and that’s why they want to open their own business which can give them the flexibility of doing work anytime and from anywhere. Having a personal business allows the person to enjoy full benefits of it and also a person can follow his own path of dream and can fulfill his individual targets easily without and intervention. Starting your own business also provides the opportunity to do work while having fun. There are various courses available online which can guide the person with various skills and knowledge of how to start a new business. So if you want to start a new business and wants help in this regard then you can click here and join Coursera free courses.

It’s true that having own business is like an icing on the cake but there are also various difficulties which the business owner have to face. Starting a personal business demands high courage, determination, and high-level competitive skills and also the businessman must also look forward to various activities on regular intervals in order to fully run the business smoothly. Having a personal business is like an adventure which will endure both good and bad times, but the businessman has to stay strong in both the times so as to stay longer and stronger in the market.

There are various tips or an essential which needs to be taken into consideration while starting a personal business. Below is the list of various essentials:

Commitment to one Idea

Entrepreneurs who become successful follow the path of doing one thing at a time. A person must not try to achieve multiple targets or run multiple businesses at the same time rather he must look forward to achieving only one target or dream and should focus on enhancing the level of that business through various ideas. Focusing on one thing at a time enables the person to save more time and money.

Gaining knowledge of the Industry 

A person must gain full knowledge of the industry in which he wants to start his own business. In order to gain knowledge, a person must work in that industry for quite some time and also try to go deep in the field so as to know the pros and cons of that field. Also, a person must look forward to the strategies and plans of the competitors and should prepare the strategies better than the competitor’s only then he will succeed in maximizing the growth of his business.

Build a professional team

No businessman can run the business alone, he must take the help of someone in order to carry out the activities smoothly. Also, taking the help and suggestions of other persons allows the businessman to make better decisions which help the businessman to manage the activities of the business smoothly. A businessman put together at least three teams (advisers, board of directors, and own staff) so as to achieve the desired goals. Also, there may be things that you simply don’t have the facilities for, or the skillset within your company to be able to execute. For example, you may be looking to make supplements/vitamins and find that you need to outsource your blister packaging to a company like SS Nutra in order to create a high-quality final product that you will be happy to send out to customers.

Utilize new tools & technology

A businessman must look forward to finding new ways of doing things so as to achieve the goals of the company. Also, a person must utilize new tools and advanced technology and also follow a multi-dimensional approach to growing bigger and faster. A business must use various social media platforms in order to grow the business on an e-commerce platform and also to enhance the number of customers along with the brand name and goodwill. Another important point is to be able to keep all documentation in order. It’s difficult to automate everything at once, but consider using different online tools and forms for various types of business processes (e.g. when working with freelance consultants, you can use online consulting agreement to prevent all ambiguities or use online invoicing tool to make payments easy, or online magazines that can help you to achieve new heights of success).

Avoid short term earnings

A businessman should always focus on achieving the long term goals and earnings because short term earnings help the business owner to earn only money but the long term earnings help the company to grow bigger. Long term earnings ensure that business is doing great in the competitive market and is able to generate its loyalty in the eyes of customers.

So, above all are the basic essentials of starting a new or personal business. So a businessman must take all these tips into consideration in order to avoid the chances of failing. Coursera free courses are the best option available to the person who wants to start a new business and wants to attain deep and high-level knowledge of any field.

DevelopmentInsightsProducts

7 Ways Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Will Revolutionise Banking in 2019

The Deloitte Global RPA Survey 2018 provides a clear indication regarding the significance of RPA benefits: payback was reported at less than 12 months, with an average 20% of full-time equivalent (FTE) capacity provided by software robots.

Adopters’ expectations have been exceeded concerning improving compliance (92%), quality and accuracy (90%), or productivity (86%), to mention a few, view product website. This is the case cross-industry, but we should not forget that banks are pioneers of digital transformation simply because automation technology serves them so well.

A simple reason for this is that robotic process automation (RPA) can assist in dealing with some of the main current challenges in banking, i.e. the need to improve customer service to live up to the standards of a growing number of tech-savvy clients, who expect very precise and rapid processes.

Some of the effects of delegating the responsibility for mundane processes to bots are faster outcomes, not marred by errors, or optimized advisory services.

Robotic process automation can streamline banking operations, making them more efficient and simultaneously lowering costs. According to UiPath, by automating the trade settlement in a global investment bank, the average handling time (AHT) to process trades was reduced from 40 minutes to 3 minutes, with an expected effort benefit of 444 hours per year.

Robotic process automation (RPA) in banking in 2019

Saying that RPA will revolutionize banking in 2019 is a strong statement indeed. What can we expect to happen automation-wise during 2019 in the banking sector?

Orchestrated use of other tools and technologies (e.g. the cloud), more premises for higher-value jobs, improved employee and customer satisfaction, enhanced human-robot collaboration, to name but a few.

We believe the most important development is that robotic process automation adoption is set to become mainstream. This should be easier to understand if you consider that some leading RPA service providers will begin to broaden their reach to small and medium-sized businesses too.

What are the benefits of RPA in banking, the gains that you can reasonably expect to enjoy throughout the current year? In the first place, automation doesn’t require a significant change in your IT department because the implementation is just like adding another low-cost layer to the banking applications already in use.

The launch can be quick since software robots can be tested in short cycle iterations. Then, employees can be trained to handle the bots themselves, without having to wait for help from the IT team. The significant reduction in AHT cited above is easy to understand if you consider software robots’ scalability potential and their capacity to work around the clock, 365 days/year. Moreover, bots remove the burden of menial tasks from employees’ workload, thereby increasing the likelihood that they are satisfied with their jobs.

Let’s now see more concretely how robotic process automation is likely to address some challenges the banking industry may face in 2019. Before diving into specific processes, let’s take a look at the general guidelines for selecting high impact application areas.

You should look for repetitive, mature and stable, rule-based, high-frequency processes, with a low rate of variable outcomes and with readable inputs. We also recommend starting automating activities with measurable savings, to grant objective outcome evaluation and goal achievement. Here are 7 such examples.

1. Credit underwriting

This complex process can be broken down into retail credit assessment, and retail fraud prevention. The problem is that insufficient resources, particularly workforce resources, can weigh heavily on the staff when they have to carry out these tasks.

You’ll better grasp the size of this challenge if you consider the requirement to access multiple internal and external applications to bring to completion the two subprocesses of credit underwriting. But software robots’ integrative capacity allows them to access and process data fast and accurately. They can easily check relevant information, including scanning for a suspicious activity about the credit applicant across different databases.

Bots can accurately predict the customer risk of fraudulent activity based on analyzing these data patterns. They can then gather all the information needed for credit assessment and fraud prevention in a single report to be presented to the human credit analyst. The analyst is thus freed from the painstaking task of carefully tracking bank account and credit card activity and can make a good decision based on the bot’s assessment.

A case study from UiPath illustrates this scenario, where bots performed these activities in 5 minutes with exceptional accuracy (as opposed to one hour for manual processing). 

2. Trade financing

This process calls for a collection of documents in various formats, such as purchase orders, bills, or invoices. Software robots can easily parse through this variety of documents to capture, classify, and extract the relevant information.

Furthermore, they can also handle matching and validation tasks. The outcome can then be delivered to the document management systems as a simple Excel spreadsheet.

3. Corporate loan processing

This activity requires, in the first place, collecting application forms and supporting documents from multiple sources, such as fax machines, printers, or email folders. Bots are not at all bothered by the need to check multiple sources. They scan the documents, categorize and extract the needed data, and export it to an Excel spreadsheet, which is part of the document repository.

4. Account opening

A whitepaper from Tata Consultancy Services named “Why Banks Must Bank on RPA” gives the example of a global bank using software robots to pick out information from input forms and deliver it to various host applications.

By so doing, the bank was able to avoid the daunts of manual processing, such as high rates of error and increased processing time. The outcome was indeed satisfactory: almost a third of processing time, zero error, and cost reduction of $50.000/year. 

5. Customer service

RPA can easily handle customers’ low priority queries on its own while allowing the human minds to concentrate on the high priority ones, which require more complex and intense processing (and offer correspondingly higher job satisfaction).

Software bots can verify faster and more accurate customer details from different sources, and consequently onboard them promptly. The resulting capacity to reduce waiting times contributes significantly to the bank’s improved relations with customers and consequently, to their higher satisfaction with the bank.

6. Know Your Customer (KYC) processes

KYC is an essential compliance process for all banks. It is underpinned by activities such as customer data collection, screening, and validation. Given the software robots’ ability for fast and accurate data processing, they are prime candidates to take over these repetitive tasks.  

7. Processing credit card applications

RPA software streamlines document gathering, making credit and background checks, and finally, deciding customer eligibility for a credit card based on clearly set parameters. This results in a substantial reduction of waiting times for credit card applications, thereby addressing an important challenge in banking.

Conclusion

Competition in the banking sector is fierce. Banks must use all resources to meet customer expectations, optimize costs, and react appropriately to FinTech players’ counter competition. They must do so in conditions of rising workforce costs and scarcity of skilled resources.

Simultaneously, the competitive atmosphere demands increased productivity. As you may notice, there are a lot of imperatives involved. They all call for leveraging robotic process automation in banking to successfully attain business targets such as cost-effectively transforming the backend, decreased processing times, increased accuracy, overall efficiency, and quicker time-to-market.

It comes as no surprise then that RPA in the banking sector provides a good example of why automation is a noteworthy competitive advantage.

About the author

Daniel Pullen is General Manager at CiGen, one of the first dedicated Robotic Process Automation companies based in Australia. He is passionate about intelligent automation, robotics automation consulting and bringing the benefits of digital robotics into the workplace.