Guide To Customer Communication While You Work From Home

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Roy Emmerson

Here we consider the best approaches and proven tactics that will help organizations improve customer communications when working remotely.

Working from home is the reality many of us have been dreaming about while others have been afraid of it. However, the coronavirus pandemic forced almost everyone to get used to remote work. It has exposed us to challenges that pushed us out of our comfort zone. One of them is a remote customer communication process. It has also become a big reason for businesses to love the Internet even more than before.

Communication is essential for project success, as it helps set trust-based relationships and mutual understanding between stakeholders. It provides smooth collaboration and results in business success. When most countries are locked at homes again, we need to rethink a customer communication strategy and adjust it to remote teamwork.

How to Approach Customer Communication in The New Normal

McKinsey & Company defines three pillars of clear messaging to customers during the pandemic: transparency, customer protection, and customer outreach.

Transparency means giving customers the behind-the-scenes views of the options you consider for them and perspectives that may come true for your business in the post-coronavirus world. Better to share honest predictions without sugar-coating, as it will help your company build trust with customers.

Customer protection implies that you need to add more compassion to customer communication procedures and inform people about measures taken to ensure a safe and convenient experience with a brand for them. “Now” requires us to keep in mind the overall social mood affected by global critical events. Thus, support teams should be even more empathic when communicating with customers.

Customer outreach means you should constantly keep the conversation with your customers across different channels. Talk to them, update them, and repeat the important information about the changes in your processes once again to ensure that it’s delivered successfully to everyone in your community.

Customer Communication Channels & Tactics You Should Know

Considering “psychological” approaches to customer service, it’s also essential to take a closer look at digital channels making communication with consumers more effective when you work from home. Many companies have started using VoIP phone systems as alternative solutions in times of uncertainty.

Other businesses have considered unified communications as the best option for improved workflow and customer relations. However, customer communication options aren’t limited to those mentioned above. Here we present proven tactics that will help businesses empower customer service.

Interact on Social Media

The first rule for digital business success is to be where your customers are. To be more specific, it’s on social media. Social networks are one of the most popular online communication channels. Imagine 74% of users log into Facebook at least once a day, with 51% of them logging in more than once a day.

Social media is the first place modern customers expect brands to interact with them the most quickly. Consider that 40% of customers who send complaints on social media expect the company’s reply within one hour.

With tools like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, businesses can answer customer queries almost instantly. Many organizations consider them as the most effective medium for customer service and create separate brand profiles entirely dedicated to customer support.

Incorporate a Live Chat

Live chat is a technology incorporated into a website that allows customers to stay in touch with their favorite brands round the clock. This customer service tactic has been widely used before and gained even more popularity today when most teams work remotely. With tools like HelpCrunch live chat, you can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty since your brand is always easily accessible online anytime.

Communicate via Email

Email communication might seem a traditional and very obvious practice. Probably, yes. However, it doesn’t also mean it’s inefficient. Emails are another way to stay in touch with customers while working remotely. According to research by Epsilon PeopleCloud Messaging, email is the most critical communication channel between companies and consumers because it’s personal, reliable, relevant, and targeted. Businesses can use email marketing to update customers about the changes in processes during the pandemic.

Use Video Conferencing

Another actionable tactic to get in touch with customers is by using video conferencing tools and apps like Skype. Along with the top productivity apps, they help improve the overall team collaboration and performance when you work from home. Although it might be challenging to apply to customer communication in B2C companies it is particularly efficient for the B2B world. When organizing real-life meetings has become unsafe and almost impossible due to travel restrictions, video calls have become even more important.

B2B customers may want to schedule a video call with the company to discuss their purchases or collaboration details. Thus, video conferencing tools are gaining popularity quickly, especially during the lockdown.

Engage Through The Content

However, all of these channels enable companies to set a direct and effective dialog with customers when teams work remotely, there is one more way to communicate with customers. It’s through the content. It’s recommended for businesses to reimagine their content strategies from the customer service perspective.

For example, your brand can assist customers remotely by publishing how-to articles, guides, tutorials, or explainer videos to enable people to provide self-service. You can also store the “help” content in special online knowledge libraries or the FAQ section on a website.

It’s crucial today since many people feel anxious regarding the challenges and innovations encountered during the coronavirus. While you might have heard tips about diversifying your content earlier, it’s now recommended to prioritize the content informativeness even if it requires sacrificing content diversity.

To Wrap It Up

Whether you are a B2B or B2C company, this guide to customer communication might be helpful. These actionable yet straightforward strategies will empower brands to cater to the target audience’s needs and increase loyalty. Hopefully, they have also inspired you to and will help you improve support service and bring customer relationships to the next level regardless of the coronavirus recession and pandemic.

[Infographic] Why Companies Need to Rethink Their Communication Strategy for Remote Teams by Team Communication App

Top 10 Apps That Increase Your Business Productivity

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Genia Genia

When choosing a mobile application for solving some business issues, users often focus on all sorts of priority apps, taking the choice of specialists who know the market. The problem is that there are a lot of such ratings. To make the full picture of the situation, we have to study a huge number of sources offering business apps.

Many business tasks can be simplified with top business apps. These range from service or tracking apps, to development and web page building apps. The top business solutions are readily available and at your fingertips.

Their assortment on the market today is impressive. It should be noted that some of the listed developments function and apps like Edubirdie works only on laptops and desktops. But most of the applications are also adapted for mobile devices.

Bynder

Good brand management makes your business instantly recognizable and trusted, like a delicious restaurant people love. It brings in new customers, makes them happy with your quality and service, and sparks excitement about what you offer. Invest in your brand, and watch your business flourish!

Evernote Scannable

This top business app is created for both OS Android and iOS. Evernote is an application developed by the creators of one of the most convenient note-taking programs. It helps to quickly and accurately scan documents and other necessary things. For example, contracts, invoices, a check from a store, or a business card of a partner. Unlike a regular photo taken with a phone camera, Evernote Scannable automatically detects the document, its location, and immediately makes a scan.

Wunderlist

This is another business time management app. The Wunderlist has different functionality. This business app helps you create shared task lists with your partners, employees, or family. A perfect business application like best EMR for urgent care can be synchronized with several gadgets and opened from a tablet, smartphone, computer, or smart watch.

Keynote

If you have to make frequent presentations, choose one of the top business apps. Keynote is what you need. You can control presentations from your smartphone, iPad, or Apple Watch. In other words, Keynote turns a gadget into a remote because it functions in a similar way. Please note that the developers of the app didn’t care about the Android owners. Therefore, Keynote only works on iOS.

WhatsApp Business

This app is different from the regular WhatsApp messenger and is specially designed for entrepreneurs. Among business applications, this is a simple and practical option. Here you can add your account information, work email address, or store address. To communicate with customers, you can write a greeting or goodbye which will appear in the dialogue.

Do not confuse this application with another messenger from WhatsApp Business API. Unlike the usual WhatsApp Business, this business app is paid and used in large companies. Includes features such as sending bulk messages, manage multiple WhatsApp business accounts, automating messages and more. While the application is available only to Android owners, the developers have already announced its release for iOS.

TINYpulse

When it comes to decent business apps, TINYpulse is another top choice. The app collects feedback from employees. If you feel that not everyone on your team is happy with the way things are, send out a simple survey to employees. Employees will be able to anonymously share what they do not like, what they would like to change, and how they feel in the team. You will receive valuable information and get to know better how subordinates live.

QuickBooks

Whether you are in business or freelancing, keeping track of your finances is always very important. QuickBooks has a version applied on a computer and a smartphone. With the help of such business apps, it is convenient to maintain records, calculate income and expenses, or send invoices to customers. You can see the current sales figures or check the latest payments directly from your phone.

Things 3

The developers of Things 3 believe that a productive person should not bear all their tasks in mind. It is much more rational to concentrate on solving them one by one. The recommended business app fully meets this theory. Things 3 helps to create tasks and subtasks, categorize them by importance and due date. The following application saves time. But most importantly, the list of all tasks is always at hand.

HootSuite

If your brand has many followers on different social networks, it can be inconvenient to control everything at once. In order to make multiple posts on Instagram and Facebook, you have to constantly switch between applications. HootSuite developers have solved this problem.

With the HootSuite business app, you can manage all your accounts, publish content, reply to all emails and comments with a few clicks. You will also find many HootSuite Alternatives with more extensive features and lower pricing.

Spark

This is one of the in-demand business apps that somewhat resembles HootSuite. If you have multiple personal and work addresses on different services, Spark can help you combine them. You will get a handy list of all emails and many other functions. The available function of team discussion is the general chat between employees. Previously, the application was only available to iOS owners, but a few days ago it was released on Android.

Bookmate

All entrepreneurs know how important it is to constantly learn new things. But not everyone has enough time for this. The Bookmate app allows you to listen to audiobooks while on work travel or while driving. Audiobooks are far from revolutionary but they are still a great way to gain new knowledge.

Business apps remind the user of an important meeting, the deadline of a project, keep notes, connect with colleagues hundreds of miles away. However, when there are too many applications, the convenience and safety of their use become questionable. The optimal solution may be the introduction of a corporate social network as an integrative system that works on the principle of “all-in-one”.

The list above was composed with direct help from Kyle Drummond, a financial advisor from DirectLoanTransfer, which is specializes in quick payday loans,

How to Map Your Sales Territory Effectively

Posted on December 17, 2020 by John Brooks

Businesses spend a lot of time and money to create the perfect products and services to sell to clients. However, it can be difficult to determine if the business is thriving without the use of a sales territory map. We will be discussing the benefits of using a sales territory map and how to create one.

What is a Sales Territory Map?

This type of map is a way for your employees to assign sales based on the area. It gives the sales team a plan of action in regard to where they will be focusing their efforts, and which areas still require claiming. This will make it easier to determine where your team is at all times and to ensure that sales reps are not overlapping each other while they work. Your team members will also appreciate the use of a sales territory map because they will be receiving new leads at a consistent pace. This gives them more opportunity to collect bonuses and earn promotions. The benefits of using a sales territory map include increased sales, rising above the competition, identifying new customers, and better serving existing customers.

Using Mapping Software

Mapping your sales territory can be done with the use of mapping software Maptive.com, powered by Google Maps, is a good example of mapping software that can help you achieve data leads and improve your sales numbers. There are a few different steps that should be followed in order to achieve your ultimate sales territory map.

Step 1: Create a Custom Map

Creating a custom map is simple, as all you have to do is enter your location data into the software. When creating a sales strategy, the data will usually include information about the item or service purchased and the area where the customer lives as a minimum. This data can be manually entered or imported from a spreadsheet.

Once the data is uploaded, you can customize your map. For example, you can use the filters to show certain data types and hide outliers to analyze the numbers accurately. You can also use tools to help you organize and analyze your data to suit your needs.

Step 2: Use the Boundary Tool

Maptive offers users a boundary tool, which makes it easier to divvy up the information. You can create boundaries based on zip/postal codes, cities, states, or countries. If these options don’t work for you, you can create custom boundaries and draw them in yourself. This is a good method for sales teams who have previously worked within certain areas that are not contained in established boundaries.

At this point, you can incorporate demographic data into your selected regions. This data includes statistics about the population’s: race, age, education, gender, median family income, and others. By examining this data, your sales team can determine who their customers are, and how they can adjust their advertising to appeal to potential new clientele.

Step 3: Use the Heat Mapping Tool

Heating mapping is another tool that you can try out. This tool allows you to plot your sales on the map so you can see which areas are generating more revenue for your company. The data is coded with colored circles, indicating how dense the sales are in that area. When the sales density increases, the circle changes to red. Any areas on the map that are not red are opportunities for you to expand your marketing campaigns.

Step 4: Use the Route Optimization Tool

After using the boundaries and heat mapping tools, you will better understand which areas are doing well and which ones could use some more attention from your company. This is when you can use the route optimization tool to your greatest advantage. This tool will allow your sales representatives to plan the best route that they can take between client meetings. On a typical day, the sales rep might be attending meetings all over town. This tool will cut their commute time in half, giving them more time to spend with potential clients. You will be able to plan the shortest route to get to multiple locations, and you can also check the projected ETA to ensure that it is the most efficient use of time.

Energize your Storefront with Attractive Textile Frames

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Marunis Nutma

Attractive textile frames can feature your products and bring in new customers. You can change them easily, making eye catching displays that draw people to your business. Drukbedrijf has recently expanded its range of textile frames. In addition to free-standing and wall frames, you can now also choose LED and ceiling frames. This way you can provide every place in your store, showroom, store window, office or other space with a beautiful visual design.

Change your Advertisements in Minutes

The advantage of a textile frame with a canvas is that the cloth us super easy to change. This way you can change prints every action, promotion or every season. On the textile frame there is a mechanism that allows you to easily tension the fabric into the frame. So a textile frame is ideal as a temporary advertising tool!

Eyecatcher: Textile frame with LED

Are you in retail and would you like to have your shop window to light up the evening? Then opt for a textile frame with LED lighting! With the help of the uniformly distributed lighting, the colors of your fabric come to life. Even in the dark! A textile frame with lighting is available as a free-standing textile frame and as a wall frame.

Advantages of a free-standing textile frame

You can use a freestanding textile frame as a display for in a store or store window. Another way to use the frame freestanding is as a partition. Ideal to create more privacy or divide up a space.

Textile frame with photo

And textile frame is not only ideal for business use. You can also use it to freshen up a room at home! Printing on a textile cloth gives a sleek and razor-sharp end result. A textile frame is ideal if you quickly get bored of an interior piece, because you can change your image or design regularly. The textile cloths with tendon can be ordered separately.

In addition to various textile frames, you can also contact Drukbedrijf for all your other printing work. For example, you can have the super popular tissue paper (translation: vloeipapier) printed with your own design. This relatively new product is popular because it gives your packaging a more luxurious look in no time. Because the online print shop excels with challenge. Contact them for special customization. No challenge is avoided!

How a Website Downtime Can Affect Your Business (and How to Prevent It)

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Charlene Brown

When it comes to owning a website, it’s vital that you do everything on your end in order to ensure that your website is fully functional and hence doesn’t suffer from any regular bouts of downtime. Downtime leads to many drawbacks that are ultimately going to affect your SEO, increase the bounce rates, as well as tarnish your companies credibility and sometimes even lose your loyal customers. All of this is going to cost you sales and revenue, which is something that you definitely want to prevent.

All of that being said though, what are the main causes of downtime, and what can you do exactly in order to prevent it?

In this article, we are going to discuss the most prominent reasons why websites go down, as well as how can you ensure that you minimize the possibility of that happening.

What’s dangerous about websites being down?

As we have previously mentioned, website downtime is pretty much synonymous with profit loss. The exact amount of money that a business will lose as a result of downtime varies from website to website.

One of the more extreme examples is when one minute of website downtime in 2018 caused Amazon.com to lose around $1.57 million every minute. Now, surely, most sites aren’t going to see such a drastic loss as Amazon did, but even though that is the case, no company can really afford to just throw away profits like that, especially since they could easily be saved – considering proper planning and failsafes aren’t being overlooked.

What circumstances cause website downtime?

Website downtime is, in most cases, curated by similar factors. Once you get to understand them, you can take all the necessary measures in order to minimize the possibility of the website downtime happening for longer than a couple of minutes, even seconds.

The most prominent factors that result in a website downtime include planned downtime due to different upgrades or tweaks, hardware or software malfunctions, malicious attacks from a third party, as well as different issues caused by your hosting providers. It’s crucial that you keep these issues in mind, as well as that you take time to understand why and how do they happen in order to be able to begin to develop a plan that’s going to minimize your website’s downtime, or so that you can improve a plan that for dealing with such scenarios if you already have one.

Make sure that you have a plan for these scenarios

It is vital that you remember the fact that your website’s uptime isn’t something that should solely be ascribed as the responsibility of your hosting provider. As experts on this topic from magento maintenance services explain, planning on how to minimize website downtime starts as early as website design. Basically, a proper website designer is going to make sure that all the necessary precautions and measures on their end have been made even before the website has actually launched.

Another important precaution regarding planning is to partner with a quality website monitoring service. Basically, they are going to be able to will notify you the very moment that your website downtime has occurred in order for you to be able to immediately go to work so that you can fix the issue or perhaps put a failsafe plan into place if the issue has happened to be a result of your hosting service. Magento as an ecommerce platform can be used to specifically cater to you and your business and customer needs.

Take time to look for quality providers

It’s vital to note that quality providers aren’t only going to notify you of a total website failure, but they are also going to ensure that you are notified of any existent trends that could indicate that your site is going to go down. They are also going to notify you of any performance issues, and the best of providers will even allow you to put failsafes into place automatically.

Communication is vital

Make sure that you remember that you alone are able to put the above-mentioned failsafes and precautions into action and still happen to encounter unexpected downtime in addition to already planned downtime that your site encounters. So, what’s the best way to handle these issues? Basically, it all boils down to communication.

Make sure that you utilize social media platforms in order to communicate any issues regarding both planned and unplanned downtime with people that visit your website. When it comes to unplanned downtime, it’s best that you maintain transparency throughout the incident. It’s crucial that you provide updates regarding how the issue is being handled as well as when the site can be expected to be up again.

In case of planned downtime, you should post a notice to the pages of your site days prior to it happening in addition to doing so on social media. The more you communicate with your audience, the higher the chance that they are going to be forgiving when the downtime occurs.

To wrap things up

In the end, it all comes down to taking time to do all the research necessary in order to be well informed about both the reasons and the results of these scenarios. Doing so is going to enable you to plan in advance, hence making the possibility of downtime affecting your company way lower.

What To Know About Affiliate Marketing And Its Business Advantages

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Charlene Brown

There are plenty of ways for people to take advantage of new capabilities in the business world. Before it used to be confined to the office setting, but now that business has moved into the digital sphere. There is a lot more potential to grow and create something special.

One of the most promising areas of business possibilities is in affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is allowing individuals and businesses to expand their reach of influence. Affiliate marketing has been blowing up in terms of interest, and it is only right for you to learn more to take advantage of it, and here are some of the advantages it poses from a business perspective.

Work From Anywhere

This one works for businesses and individuals getting into the world of affiliate marketing alike. One of the main reasons why affiliate marketing is making people so interested in its potential is because of the fact that it can be done anywhere. Affiliate marketing is not tied to a fixed location which makes it flexible. If you have a cellular data connection or WiFi, you can make money and expand a brand from a phone or computer from anywhere in the world.

Plenty of Resources to Learn From

Affiliate marketing is not a new trend, it has been practiced for a long time which means there are bonafide experts in this field of business. Being able to find a detailed book or website to learn from is easier than ever, and the resources are getting better and better as we speak. Being able to learn for free or at least for very little makes it lucrative for frugal people. Obviously, if you want to actually learn you need to spend money to make money, but the breadth of information out there to help you get started is immensely satisfying.

Low Overhead Costs

This one is something that is going to pique the interest of business owners looking to expand into the arena of affiliate marketing. The number of overhead costs for a business can be frustrating. Paying for services can really creep up and leave you experiencing a desire to cut down on expenses, and affiliate marketing may be the solution. The costs of ads and digital services are exponentially cheaper when you cost-average for long term solutions. This makes it incredibly easy to reduce costs without losing out on business potential.

Scalability

Being able to scale a business to meet the ongoing needs of the market is the difference between living and dying for operations. Scalability is hard for a lot of businesses, especially individual entrepreneurs of businesses that need some serious support but lack the funds. Affiliate marketing helps meet that need without sacrificing quality. Scaling a business is not easy, but taking full advantage of digital marketing capabilities and using third-party services to help improve functional capabilities is making that barrier for businesses much easier to hurdle.

Nearly Recession Proof

On a very difficult note, this year has been hard for just about everyone. The world has been hit with some troubling issues due to the pandemic which has shown how unstable many economies are, especially for business owners. Finding a solution that is recession-proof or crisis-proof is not easy, but the digital world is able to fill this need with useful solutions in affiliate marketing. A business survives on its clientele and products, and thankfully affiliate marketing is an example of a recession-proof way to keep operating and still maintain business integrity, even during the toughest of times, which makes it an incredibly valuable area of focus to learn and implement into a business ecosystem.

Good Potential Source of Income

This one will intrigue those that need to find ways to supplement their income. Affiliate marketing is not easy, but it is incredibly easy to make money from it when you put in the time and effort to learn the in’s and out’s. Like other business ventures, it requires focus but it can be a good way to create another source of income outside of your main source or be a life raft for those seeking a skill-based industry to help them learn on the go while also earning money. This can lead to a better appreciation of business as a whole and improve your skill set.

Affiliate marketing is an intriguing side of the business world that is making people see that they can learn skills at their own pace while applying them in real-time to make money, but most importantly, develop a much stronger business acumen.

If you want to learn more about affiliate marketing and learn the new skills you need in this field, visit this course page.

Could You Be a Victim of Identity Theft Without Even Knowing? Software and Tools to Protect Yourself

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Claire Ward

There are plenty of people who want to do malicious things with your data. Criminal organizations will go to great lengths to get your hands on your personal information, such as your bank accounts, date of birth, and credit card numbers. There are many tools and signs you should be aware of to prevent identity theft in the future.

Useful Tools you can Use to Protect Yourself

Identity theft can strike when you least expect it, so it’s essential you stay ahead of hackers by being prepared. You can use powerful identity theft protection software, like Identity Guard, to keep an eye on your statements, so you can notice small data breaches before they become severe. Here are some other ways you can protect yourself:

Make sure all of your software and apps are updated
Only download apps from reputable companies
Avoid jailbreaking your phone and other cracking risks
Lock your SIM card and your phone with a passcode
If your phone is breached, use its integrated kill switch
If you lose your phone, contact your phone company
Keep copies of important files off of your smartphone
Use a VPN on unsecured WiFi or avoid them altogether.
Check security settings on all websites (must have an SSL)
Don’t click on random links unless it’s from a trusted source

Common Signs of Identity Theft

It’s possible you’re already a victim of identity theft. Any intelligent criminal won’t just steal all of your money at once – that’s too obvious. Instead, they will make small security breaches that will go unnoticed until it’s too late. Check for these signs your information is compromised.

You Receive Odd Collection Calls

If you already have a credit card in collections, this won’t be a cause of alarm. However, if the collection agency asks about a card you didn’t open, that’s a telltale sign of identity theft. Let the collection agency know the card isn’t yours, so they stop contacting you, then immediately place a fraud alert on your card to prevent this in the future.

You’re Denied for a Loan or Credit Card

Bad credit means you’ll have fewer options for loans, but if you are positive you have good credit, this will come as a surprise. Lenders need to tell you if you’re denied due to your credit report, but you’ll be entitled to a free credit report once you’re rejected. Take advantage of this to see if you’re a victim of identity theft.

Your Credit Report has an Extra Card

Always look at your credit report every month to determine if all of your credit cards are accounted for. An extra card on your report is an obvious sign of identity theft. Take action immediately by initiating a credit report dispute to get the account removed from the report. Call the company and report that fraud occurred.

You’re Getting Unfamiliar Hard Inquiries

Credit reports will contain soft and hard inquiries where hard inquiries result from an application either you or a fraudster filled out. Unfamiliar hard inquiries that someone applied for a credit card in your name is a sure sign of fraud. Be sure to put a fraud alert on your credit report to warn businesses they should provide credit products from you until further notice.

You Stop Receiving Your Credit Card Bills

Fraudsters will reroute your credit card bills to another address. While this is another clear sign of identity theft, it could also mean a porch pirate is taking your mail out of your mailbox. To prevent this from happening in the future, ensure that your mailbox is secure. You can prevent this from happening entirely by rerouting your mail to a post office.

What Canadian Businesses Need To Know About Taxes, Insurance, and the Link Between Them

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Charlene Brown

Starting and operating a successful business in Canada requires several considerations that every entrepreneur should keep in mind. One of the main factors is that all businesses should comply with the insurance and tax laws to ensure that the operators meet the standard expectations. Read on to learn more about taxes, insurance, and the link between the two.

Corporation Income Tax Ratios

Each business has to be registered under the Canada Revenue Agency and is required to pay tax to operate legally. For large corporations, that basic tax comprises 38% of the taxable income and is reduced to 28% after the federal tax abatement. After the tax reduction, your company’s net tax rate will be 15%. The net tax rate for small businesses comprises 9% of their taxable revenue. In other words, both small and large corporations operating in Canada are mandated to pay tax to the CRA. The rate is determined by factors like industry, size, and revenue generated by the business.

Health Insurance and Taxes

There are mainly three types of health insurance in Canada: Private insurance sponsored by the employer, Public Health Insurance provided by the government, and Personal Health Insurance offered by private insurance companies. Health plans that are provided by private insurance companies are taxable, whereas public health insurance and private health insurance are not. However, public health insurance is funded by taxpayers in Canada, and different individuals and companies paying various taxes contribute to these public health plans.

Business Insurance

Business insurance offers you protection against unforeseen losses that your business may encounter in its day-to-day operations. There are different types of insurance policies available, so you can choose the type that suits your industry, revenue, and size of business. The common types of business insurance include liability, commercial property, errors, and omissions insurance. The following factors determine the cost of your premium:

Annual revenue
Size and location of a business
Years of experience
Number of employees

Insurance is not required to operate a business but it is critical to get a policy for your company to protect it against unforeseen events like defective products, injuries, and damages caused by third parties. You need to speak with your insurance broker to get a policy that suits your business needs. The other thing that you must know is that you need to consider your profession before getting any business insurance.

The other important aspect of business insurance is that it only covers incidents that involve third parties, and it does not cover you or your employees. It also does not cover cost estimates, contractual liability, or intentional criminal acts. There is a different insurance policy for the worker.

Business Insurance is Tax Deductible

It is possible to deduct insurance premiums from your business expenses. You can subtract the following insurance premiums as business expenses: professional liability insurance, general liability insurance, cyber insurance, and commercial property insurance among others. By deducting various business expenses from your taxable income, you reduce your taxable income. You must include the cost of insurance for vehicles, rental property, manufacturing, and vehicles.

Your premiums together with other deductible expenses should be signed before you start getting tax benefits from them. For instance, medical expenses and health insurance should be at least 10% of your gross income before you start getting tax deductions. However, there are certain insurances you cannot deduct as business expenses like homeowner’s insurance and and best cheap auto insurance. You can only deduct car insurance if you use the vehicle for your business.

The Tax Act Business in Canada maximizes the deductions that you are entitled to get together with other business expenses. You must get more information about how taxes and insurance work before you start a business so that you do not violate the laws. Both tax and insurance are somehow related though the link is indirect. The amount you pay for taxes is somehow affected by other expenses related to insurance you pay for different elements of your business.

Before you start a business in Canada, you must know that you will be required to pay taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency. The tax you pay largely depends on the size of your business and its revenue. Your business should be insured to protect it against unprecedented losses that it may encounter in its day-to-day operations. There are different types of business insurance policies that you can consider. As you can see, there is an indirect link between taxes and business insurance. Fortunately, business insurance and other expenses are deductible from your taxes.

Simple Solutions to the Most Common Internet Connectivity Problems You’ll Encounter

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Charlene Brown

When running a business, your internet connection must be stable and fast since you’re dealing with corporate data along with your clients’ data. In other words, employers and employees alike must vigilantly maintain online security. However, you will likely encounter some common connectivity problems; they’re part and parcel of getting your organization up and running. Therefore, you must know how to handle issues as they arise, or better yet, prevent them from occurring in the first place. So, on that note, let’s take a look at the common internet connectivity issues you’re likely to face and their straightforward solutions.

Limited Bandwidth

Limited bandwidth is a widespread problem in the corporate world. No matter how big or small your business, the more people interacting on your network, the more bandwidth you’ll need. Employees and customers expect your Wi-Fi to work efficiently, and if it doesn’t, it reflects poorly on your organization.

When offering free Wi-Fi to your customers and staff, you must consider how many people you intend to support. Use the Robert Moskowitz rule, which is ‘120 kilobits per second for each user.’ In other words, you’ll need 1.2 megabits per second for ten users, and this will increase with more users. Estimate how much you’ll need and then compare prices at local internet service providers to get the right bandwidth level to suit your needs.

Insecure Networks

Insecure networks can cause a lot of trouble for both employees and customers because it makes private and sensitive information vulnerable to cybercriminal activity. If people cannot make personal transactions, such as credit card payments, over your network, you will be risking your business’ security and your customers’ security, too. If you receive a notice stating that your connection is not private, this error message is your browser informing you that the website you are trying to reach is not secure. You must ensure that your network is safe to access for everyone involved. Shared access points can also be very risky, so it is best to consider two different access points for employees and customers. A Wi-Fi hotspot is an ideal solution as it helps keep your network secured.

Always have your router’s security protocol set to the highest setting. Try to use Wi-Fi Protected Access, aka WPA, for a more robust security level – you can also take it up a notch by setting it to an even higher level, like WPA2. If your router does not support this security level, then you can either update your firmware or exchange it for something that will protect your network. In any case, avoid settling for Wired Equivalent Privacy, aka WEP, as the general consensus is that its security is relatively weak and will likely compromise your business’ network’s efficiency and safety.

Bad Wi-Fi Network

Similarly, a bad Wi-Fi network can also put your company’s reputation at risk. If you regularly encounter customers asking to restart the router, it means that something is improperly configured in your network, making it difficult for users to connect. Recurring connectivity problems are a sign that you have a bad Wi-Fi network, and when you are connected to the internet, the connection is probably slow or unstable.

Troubleshoot your connection to find out what is improperly configured to ensure your Wi-Fi equipment isn’t the cause of a dropping connection or slow speed. All you need to do is identify whether the cause is that your router is old, your firmware is old, or there’s some interference with nearby networks. Moreover, check the router location, and extend the connection to reach more employees and customers if necessary.

Slow Connection

A slow connection is going to frustrate your employees and possibly put your clients off your business. Studies show that if content takes too long to load, people exit the site or platform, refrain from downloading email attachments, or may switch to a different network; this will not bode well for your business. Slow connections are easy to fix and require a similar solution to a bad Wi-Fi network. Check the router location, upgrade it with an extension, and gauge whether the slow speed is due to any nearby network interference.

No business owner wants to put their clients’ or employees’ sensitive information at risk, nor do they want insufficient internet connections to frustrate customers to the point they decide not to deal with your company. It’s crucial that you address these common network problems before they escalate. With the above guide, you’ll know what to watch out for to prevent things like a slow internet speed from messing up your operations.

7 Reasons Your Business Needs a Social Media Presence

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Adam Holland

It’s almost 2021, and it seems like nearly everyone in the world uses some form of social media! While in the past, many businesses have relied on television, print, or radio marketing to reach customers, today, the place to reach an audience is on social media.

People spend a lot of time on social media, and it’s the perfect place to let people know what your business has to offer. According to some statistics, many people spend up to three hours a day using social media sites.

Marketing on social media is also called content marketing. This means creating content for your brand such as blog posts, photos, or videos.

Grow Your Business

With people spending so much time on social media, it’s a great place to interact with your customers and deliver your company’s message. If your business is not already using social media, now is the perfect time to begin considering how you can use it in your marketing.

There are a wide variety of platforms to choose from, each offering its own benefits and challenges. Whether you choose to focus on Instagram, YouTube, or even TikTok, the great thing about using these online platforms is that they allow you to interact with existing customers, and discover new ones!

Get Free Publicity

Social media is a great place to get publicity. Simply create content, and then share it on one or more social sites of your choice. Your content could focus on announcing a new product or service or explain some valuable features to your customers.

As you begin to build a following on social media, new people will discover your business and learn about what you have to offer. It’s an amazing way to generate publicity for your company that doesn’t cost a dime!

Easy Promotional Initiatives

People love promotions, whether it’s the opportunity to win a prize in a drawing, a quiz about your customer’s opinions, or a fun holiday message from the company. Special offers or coupons that are exclusive to your social followers are another great way for people to develop a strong connection to your business through social media.

Social media also allows users to send direct messages to followers. With upcoming holidays such as Valentine’s Day, creating free online Valentine cards and delivering them to your followers could be a great way to create your first promotional campaign on social media.

Don’t Get Left Behind by Competitors

There are many companies out there that have entire teams dedicated to their social media strategy. This can seem daunting, but even if you work at a small company, you can still create social media marketing that brings in great results.

One great way to build a dedicated following is to welcome your followers into your day-to-day work process. It’s easy to take photos or record videos on your phone during the workday and then share them with your followers. It gives them an insight into what you do and helps them build a connection and loyalty to your brand.

Reach New Audiences

Social media sites tend to reward accounts that post content regularly. When an account has frequent posts and active followers who “like” or “share” their content, the social platform often rewards that account by causing it to appear more frequently in search results, and in recommendations to other users.

This makes social media a great place to connect with new customers. People who may not have heard of you can discover your business and learn much more about what you have to offer. They can also begin developing a personal connection to you and others in the company as they get insights into the day-to-day operations of your business.

Get Feedback and Reviews from Customers

Knowing what your customers are thinking and feeling is invaluable in business. Social media provides the perfect place to discover what your followers are interested in and how they feel about your products. You can even create simple questionnaires or surveys for your customers to fill out for a more targeted look at their opinions.

Your social media page is also the perfect place for satisfied customers to leave reviews, which will be discovered by new followers as they learn about your business.

Search Engine Optimization

Spending money for marketing online can be quite expensive. Whether you’re setting up ads on Google, Facebook, or another platform, those costs can quickly pile up. Search engine optimization is a way for you to appear in search results when people are searching online without spending money on costly ads.

Optimizing for search engines requires some careful planning with your website, but a social media presence is another important part of appearing in search engine results. It’s another website for your business for users to discover through search results.

These are by no means the only advantages to using social media for your business, but they’re some of the most important ones. Whatever your brand or industry, with a little bit of careful planning and strategy, you can create a social media presence that will benefit your company in ways that you haven’t imagined!

5 Rules For Beginner Entrepreneurs

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Timothy Miller

Congratulations on setting up your business or company! As an entrepreneur, I don’t need to remind you that the most demanding stage of a business lies in the starting up. The rules you adopt at the beginning serve as the framework with which your company builds.

A business starting with three persons will surely not be all smooth and rosy. There are countless mistakes you can make in business that you can recover from. However, some mistakes are so dangerous that it may require a new startup or rebranding. According to myhomeworkdone.com, such errors may include incorrect accounting details.

Most businesses don’t survive the test of time because of many unwritten rules that many ignore. This article has written five of the unwritten rules that will help you as a beginner entrepreneur.

1. Have a Business Plan

Many local businesses do not have a picture of what they want to achieve within a stipulated time. The company is just starting, they say. Success in any business lies in how the entrepreneur sees the future of the company and the road map he puts in place to achieve them.

No matter how small your business is, put a beautiful and reasonable structure in place to guide you into what you want to become.

2. Be Frugal

I understand the pressure of trying to impress clients or customers. The pressure can be so intense that you may want to get a loan from banks or relatives.

Here is a piece of advice – don’t take up unnecessary expenses. Any idea that will not help your business, in the long run, is not worth considering.

Employ the minimum number of people that can get a job done quickly. If possible, give your employees a target that will provide them with a sense of accomplishment. Remember, don’t go on a spending spree to impress those who will not be impressed.

3. Build a Vision Carrying Team

When seeking employment, most job seekers are concerned about pay. That is sensible, you know, who doesn’t want a company that pays cool cash?

In as much as you are trying to attract the best employees out there with good pay, try and inculcate in them your vision for the company. You can use pre-employment testing linked here to assess whether potential candidates align with your company’s goals. Paint the beautiful future you see the company; the one you want them to be part of.

Act these visions out. Let them see you’re committed to making it happen so that your employees will not perceive themselves as tools or pawns with which you want to actualize the visions of your company.

4. Call for Help

The ‘CEO pride’ has sent many companies to bankruptcy. Most times, the thought of seeking for a business idea or advice is something some entrepreneur’s dread.

Let me get this straight, always call for help when you know you desperately need one. Get across to your mentor, attend seminars and exposés that will boost your confidence. Never be left vulnerable.

5. Safeguard Yourself and Your Venture

It can spell a lot of negatives for your firm if you suddenly fall ill. Eat well, take enough fruits, hydrate consistently and go to the gym where necessary. Your life is more important than business.

Many small businesses fold up after the demise of the pioneer. In the same vein, insure your business so that you won’t see its end while you’re yet alive.

Here’s Where You Can Save If You’re Running a Small Business

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Pete Brown

Essentially, every business aims to maximize profits from its operations. However, this may not be the case for small companies that have yet to realize their major goals and objectives. Small business operators often face unprecedented challenges that can cripple their activities if not managed properly.

The good news is different measures can be implemented to help small business owners to tame the problems they may encounter. Read on to learn where you can save if you are running a small business.

Define Your Goals

Running a successful business is not an easy task since it involves a lot of challenges. You need to set clear goals and determine effective strategies that can help you achieve them. A business without a plan is doomed to fail, but this can be avoided if you set your priorities. It is imperative to define your core business and set realistic and achievable objectives.

Reduce Printing Tasks

Going paperless may not be feasible for many small businesses, but enlightened operators can save money by reducing printing tasks. If you reduce the consumption of paper, it means that you will have fewer paper purchases and greater efficiency. You must also buy inexpensive printers that won’t break the bank as long as you can still accomplish the task at a relatively affordable price. When you buy a printer, you must ensure that it is budget-friendly, easy to repair, and maintain. A printer requires accessories like toners, ink, and other components that can be expensive.

Consider Using Solar Energy

If your business does not use heavy industrial equipment, it is a good idea to switch to solar energy. Apart from saving you money on electrical bills, solar power is sustainable and good for the environment. No matter how much you may try to be conservative, utility bills are indispensable in the operations of many businesses. On top of that, you may also consider using energy-efficient gadgets in your company. With the constant technological advancements taking place every day, you need to do some research and get efficient tools that will not lead to downtime in your operations so that you can also save some money in the long run.

Hire Independent Contractors

Depending on the nature of your business, you can save a lot if you enlist the services of independent contractors to perform non-essential tasks while you focus on your core business. It is costly to hire full-time employees for specific jobs that can be performed by contractors. Full-time workers require basic salaries plus benefits of which many small businesses operate on tight budgets. If your venture has not yet reached a full profitability scale, it is wise to cut costs. If you have permanent workers, you should also fulfill your company’s tax obligations.

Minimize Expenses

As a rule of thumb, you should know that business and personal expenses do not mix. It is essential to do away with unnecessary costs that can drain money from your business. For instance, it is a noble idea to avoid traditional advertising since it is costly for small businesses. Instead, there are other viable options like social media that can help promote your business without wasting a lot of money.

In addition to cutting costs, implementing asset management for small business can help you maximize the value of your existing resources. By effectively managing your assets, you ensure that your business is operating efficiently and that unnecessary expenses are minimized.

You should also document all your business expenses and make sure you reconcile them to make necessary changes that can drive the growth and development of your venture. You must also visit your budget regularly to ensure that you are operating in the right direction.

Switch Off Lights And Gadgets Not In Use

You should train your employees to be responsible citizens in the workplace. Many businesses pay high utility bills as a result of preventable actions by other people in the company. For instance, you need to make it a company policy that all lights should be switched off when you knock off except for strategic places to enhance security. On top of that, electronic gadgets not in use should also be switched off to eliminate large energy bills.

Heating and air conditioning systems also consume a lot of energy, so you should use them wisely. If your office space has sufficient ventilation, it is a good idea to resort to natural heating and cooling. Alternatively, you need to invest in the right heating and air conditioning units that do not contribute to high power costs.

The success or failure of any business depends on your operating strategies and your goals. Many people are excited to run their companies, but they end up losing focus and spending money that they do not have. If you want to avoid this unfortunate situation, there are many tips that you may need to consider. The most critical thing in business is to avoid unnecessary expenses.

The Benefits of SPC Solutions in Manufacturing

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Pete Brown

SPC (statistical process control) is the process in which the measurement of consistent product performance can be achieved. This is important for industries like manufacturing, which need to ensure a high certainty of the quality of goods or products for their various uses.

When there are lapses in quality, which can be caused by a myriad of issues, the end result can be alarming due to the fact that the manufacturing process or design may be to blame. These kinds of anomalies, or soon to be recurring issues, reduce effectiveness, and increase risk factors. SPC solutions are then required to monitor and record consistency to avoid this, and here are the benefits that these solutions pose.

1. Prioritize Uniformity

In manufacturing, the ideal end goal is a working product or design that can reach peak uniformity. Of course, this is an idealistic goal and not always possible, but producing 1000 units of the same coil should come close to creating a product that is as close to the next one and the one before it as possible. The more uniformity that is achieved, the lower the possibility of scrapping, reworking, and complaints will be fielded. SPC solutions help move towards and maintain uniformity and manufacturing production and design.

2. Improve Productivity

The productivity of manufacturing plays a great deal into the role of SPC solutions. The entire process of manufacturing goods requires precise attention to a plan, and when that plan or workflow is disrupted, it has a ripple effect. With statistical process control software, it is much easiest to detect design or production flaws that can halt the flow of work. When these flaws are spotted earlier in the manufacturing process, the production line can be halted in a quicker and less disruptive way.

3. Streamlining Inspection Process

Manual inspections are still very much important because the human eye can detect things that an automated system can’t, but it is also harder to rely on humans to catch a lot of errors too. There needs to be a good balance of the two, but thankfully SPC solutions can help spot these issues through analyzing data in a much quicker manner. Reducing the amount of wasted effort and wasted products is an inherently beneficial aspect of SPC in the manufacturing industry.

4. Increase Customer Satisfaction

Manufacturing is not an industry that you would normally associate customer satisfaction with, but the purpose of making products means that there has to be some consideration of the happiness of those receiving them. SPC solutions can help create better products that result in fewer flaws, faults, or damages, and that makes customers much happier when they no longer need to go through the process of getting their issues resolved. By maximizing things like the inspection process success rates, it is possible to make sure that every piece of equipment that comes off of an assembly line is to the letter of its specifications so that the users will be satisfied.

5. Reduce Unnecessary Costs

Manufacturing goods is not cheap. Whether it is the materials needed to make them, the costs for shipping, or the money that went into designing it, there are plenty of ways for money to get lost in the process when products are not properly manufactured. This issue can be resolved with SPC solutions because there will be a less likely chance that these issues will arise, which saves on those costs of reshipping products, recalls, redesigning, and manufacturing. This is very important for cutting down on mishaps but also for protecting your bottom line.

6. Improve Analytic Capabilities

Using digital software is helping many industries make bigger leaps into the future and develop a better understanding of the useful information they need. Data analytics is as useful in manufacturing as it is in other industries because it can help determine factors that go into product design and creation. These metrics can be tracked much easier with SPC because the software can be combed for data, which can then be converted for applicable reasons. It can help with marketing, cost savings, material efficiency, and output, to name a few. Using SPC software and solutions helps move manufacturing into a better future.

SPC, otherwise known as statistical process control, is used for various purposes. It can be incredibly beneficial for the manufacturing industry for a plethora of reasons. The most notable examples of these benefits are the reduction of costs, increases in productivity, and improvements to efficiency. Using SPC solutions for a manufacturing business can increase its potential in these various ways.

The Benefits Of Having A Computer Science Degree For Your Career

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Pete Brown

Computer Science degrees, like most scientific disciplines, are not easy. However, many people around the world have a knack for them and love the topics, or believe that having a degree from said sciences will provide them with plenty of opportunities. Computer science is a study of algorithms, processes, and of course, computer-related elements.

In order to study computer science, there are tons of other disciplines that you must learn as well. With this vast knowledge, you will have unlimited opportunities, a well-rounded education, and the degree will be a stepping stone into your career; read on to understand more about these benefits.

Unlimited Opportunities

As mentioned, learning computer science does not merely mean that you will be sitting in front of a computer and only learning hardware and software. You will be learning math, mainly logic and probability, some physics, electrical engineering, and a background in biology will not hinder the process either. For those particularly interested in electrical engineering, pursuing an FE Electrical certification could complement your computer science degree, making you even more versatile in your career. With these topics, your mind will expand to unlimited opportunities and you will become skilled in no time. With that degree, you can take it to most companies and they will snatch you up immediately. As long as you have a computing device and electricity, you will be able to work anywhere.

Well-Rounded Education

You do not have to go further than the premises of your desk to learn and have a computer science degree. Many universities, especially with Covid-19 and quarantine, have provided online courses for people to receive a degree without leaving the comfort of your home. Some of the most popular bachelor’s degrees in the technology field include computer science, computer engineering, software development, and information technology. Most programs will require you to learn these topics before choosing a specific specialty. This gives you a well-rounded education so that you are able to know which field you want to dive deeper into.

Steppingstone Into Your Career

Many companies believe that your type of education will propel you greatly into your career. Although school and work-life have notable differences, your degree definitely gives you a glimpse into your future and what your career may look like. Depending on where you acquired your degree, you may have had fieldwork as well, which gives you an even higher chance and opportunity to be better prepared for the actual work you will be doing. Depending on the business or company you choose, it may allow you to hone your skills and use them to make positive changes in the world.

A computer science degree is not an effortless degree to achieve. It requires hard work and discipline, and a lot of trial and error. The important thing to note is that you must do your research before choosing a place to achieve that degree. Whether you go the online or offline route, check the statistics and percentages of alumni, and where or what they work. You can even try to get in contact with them, as most programs have an alumni section with contact sheets to get to know more about the course itself.

How IT Services Can Help in Your Company’s Growth

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Charlene Brown

It is a fact that the client prefers to work with businesses that are capable of keeping up with technology trends. It is important for any company to be aware of the importance of IT support services, along with its cost, demands, reliability, sense, and portrayal of dedication, and particularly the small and big changes in its structure while assuring more streamlined operations.

Innovative resources, as well as problem-solving that IT services and systems provide are wide. If any high technology apparatus is not functioning properly, it can leave a significant effect on how the business services, as well as its functions, are executed overall. This brief list will give you an answer on how IT services can assist your company to grow, and which benefits you can reap from them.

Productivity and Profitability are Increased

In case you have old computers or an outdated operating system, the productivity will be slowed down by 30 or even 40 percent. The decrease in productivity can seriously hurt any business.

To ensure that the employees perform their work to the best of their abilities, upgrading your business system is a mandatory action to take. Having IT experts will allow the upgrade, and as a result, your business will thrive. By giving workers the right kind of business tech, productivity is guaranteed as well as income, as some business gurus will state. Professionals from Summit Advisors IT would agree that these problems can crag your productivity and profitability down. For instance, some companies have invested in an internet network that is private and have provided their employees through their IT service with all the necessary tools they need to make things done. The benefit of this for the company would be faster communication and all workers will be able to share files between themselves. Firstly, the basics must be ensured before the results can be reaped.

For example, having WiFi connected computers and printers that do not take a long time to load.

Can a Good IT Service Stop Hackers?

Keeping your data secure would be of utmost importance for any company and business. Outdated technology can put your firm a risk which increases the possibility for files and data to be lost or even worse, corrupted, and used. Older servers are prone to crash which is also a hindrance. All of these problems can cost any firm a valuable amount of time and money.

Cyber attackers, or hackers, are always updating their methods of attack which also increases the overall risks you might encounter. Without having your software regularly updated by IT support, these new methods will easily breach and access your business’s critical and important files that are supposed to be private, for example, your customer data.

Part of the reason why it is recommended to have new hardware or software upgrades is that older systems are developed in a way to keep up with ever-evolving types of threats and offer the best possible cybersecurity defenses. The data of your company will be vulnerable without proper and modern security measures.

Optima Tax Relief Provides Tips on Filing an Amended Tax Return

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Addison Yes

Discovering a mistake on your tax return doesn’t mean that you need to immediately panic. In most cases, errors made on your taxes can be fixed by filling out Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Optima Tax Relief looks into common reasons why people may need to file an amended return:

Information on a tax return was entered incorrectly.
Claiming credits that a taxpayer wasn’t eligible to claim.
Claiming deductions incorrectly.

The IRS can also correct any math or clerical errors on a tax return and may even accept returns without certain required forms or schedules. In any of these cases, a taxpayer is not required to submit an amended tax return. For information on state tax rates, check out the list of states by income tax rate from foreignusa.com.

Taxpayers who are required to file an amended tax return should know the following:

Taxpayers can now file an electronic Form 1040-X only for the 2019 tax year. Forms 1040 and 1040-SR returns can also be amended electronically if the original 2019 tax return was also filed electronically.
For taxpayers that filed a paper 1040-X, they will need to mail it to the IRS. The IRS provides locations on where an amended return can be filed based on location on their website. Taxpayers filing form 1040-X in response to an IRS notice should mail it to the address indicated on the notice.
Taxpayers who chose not to file their 1040-X electronically or don’t have the option to file electronically should complete a paper form 1040-X.
Tax filers should attach any forms or schedules that have been affected by the change.
Form 1040-X should be filed separately for each tax year. Every amended return should be placed in its own envelope. The year of the original return tax year should be entered at the top of Form 1040-X.
Additional taxes should be paid in order to limit interest and penalties.
Taxpayers should file Form 1040-X to claim their refund within three years from the date they filed their original tax return.