Doing business in a different country means that you have to understand the corporate climate there first. Bureaucracy might be a bit more bloated than where you are too and some of the things you can do easily on the home front can be very difficult to do overseas. You also can’t expect to connect with a foreign clientele without knowing a thing or two about their culture.
Let’s take a look at a few things you’ll have to consider before taking your business international.
Where Will You Mainly Be Working from?
One of the first things you need to consider is where you’ll be spending most of your time as an owner. You may decide to spend most of the time in the new market so you can have more control over the operations and know exactly what’s going on while you appoint someone to take care of home operations.
If that’s the case, then you don’t only need to prepare for expansion, but also for living in a foreign country for a long period. You can take advantage of glamorous location, for instance, finding monthly rentals in Paris, or you can enjoy the tranquility of the countryside.
Wherever you choose, you’ll need to learn about visa requirements and check if there are special visas for entrepreneurs looking at expansion. You will also need to build a solid support system around you to cover things in case of emergencies.
You never know what could happen when working in another country, and even if you generally feel safe there, you cannot put your guard down. You may also have to deal with a lack of access to certain resources. This is why you need ready access to tools that will allow you to receive and send money online easily and fast, and have people you can contact in case you get into trouble. Also, make sure that you have someone who can take care of everything for you if you can’t attend to the business for a prolonged period.
Moving your business abroad is a natural part of growing a business if it has the potential to span different markets. But expanding overseas comes with many challenges that you may have not considered.
Hiring a PEO Organization
You might also have to hire a third party to handle some of the parts of the expansion, like finding employees and managing payroll, for instance. Some countries have incredibly complex tax systems and employment rules and violating them could be disastrous for your company. So, you have to be very careful there.
Working with a reputable PEO will solve most of these issues for you. They will be able to find and train top talent and will assume part of the liability in case something happens. So, start looking for a few PEOs covering your sector before you decide to leave so you can focus on what matters the most.
Try to find PEOs that specialize in your state such as an Arizona PEO.
The Cultural Specificities of the Local Market
You have to know what is offensive and acceptable both for business relations and relations with the public before you move to any market. So many companies have sunk because they failed to account for cultural sensibilities and made crucial mistakes that ended up ruining their brand. Be very careful and consider working with a cultural consultant before leaving to avoid faux pas.
Expanding into new markets is a major step for any organization and one that you cannot do on a whim. So, make sure that you’re ready for the move and know as much about the market you’re about to move into before you do anything.
3 Things to Consider Before Taking Your Business International was last modified: March 14th, 2024 by Boris Dzhingarov
As data storage and utilization become more virtual, whole systems are now being migrated without the use of hard disks. The process is known as virtual migration. Virtual migration can take place either from a physical machine (a process known as P2V migration), or from one virtual platform to another (V2V migration).
This article will describe in detail how these processes take place, what steps to take to make them happen, and what you can do if you need assistance in the process.
What is a Virtual Machine and What is Virtualization?
A virtual machine is the virtualization of a computer system. What virtual machines do is simulate the architecture of computers in order to reproduce the same results without hardware. Virtualization, as the name suggests, is the shifting of data/servers/blocks from physical form to virtual form. The virtualization process could involve the use of both hardware and software. An excellent tool for carrying out the virtualization process is a V2V converter. V2V converters enable the conversion of physical machines into virtual ones, using different hypervisor servers.
Virtual Hardware
The virtualization process runs on guest machines, or guest virtual machines. Guest virtual machines are the software utilized on a virtual machine, the virtual equivalent of software that would be used on a physical machine. The operating systems that guest virtual machines use to function are called guest OSes. The virtual machine, in turn, may or may not involve the use of a hypervisor, or a program to carry out its functions, and a host (which takes the place of the processors/networks that would enable a physical machine to function).
Hosted Virtualization Versus Bare-Metal Virtualization
Even within the realm of virtualization, there are different types of products that people utilize to undertake migration processes. There are two primary categories of virtualization that run on guest machines:
Hosted virtualization – Hosted virtualization is a type of virtualization that runs on host OSes, or endpoint computers and hypervisors. Hosted virtualization is carried out when two or more virtual machines are called for, often involving different OSes. Hosted virtualization is preferable when multiple systems are being used because the hypervisors allow for greater flexibility in the process.
Bare-metal virtualization, on the other hand, eliminates the need for the operating system by utilizing a tool that acts as a hypervisor and carries out processes directly on host hardware. Bare-metal hypervisors are also known as Type 1 hypervisors.
Types of VM migration – Cold and Hot
Cold Migration
The first major type of VM migration is called “cold” migration. Cold migration takes place while a system is off. This type of migration is preferable for situations in which virtual data (or other OS parts) are being either re-registered or copied to a new place. When ESXi hosts (virtual representations of the computing resources of physical computers that utilize ESX, or Elastic Sky X servers) utilize different types of CPU architectures, they cannot undergo live migrations because of the incompatible nature of their architectures.
Another reason that cold migration might be preferable would be in cases in which there is concern about data loss or corruption during the migration process. If, for example, certain mail servers involve frequent updating of data, it would be advisable for the user to undertake a cold migration so that incoming data is not lost in the process. Once new data enters the system, it will appear when the machine is powered on.
If migration is taking place between hosts, it is not critical whether or not they belong to the same cluster as there shouldn’t be any potential compatibility issues at stake.
Hot Migrations
Hot migrations are conducted when systems being migrated are static and not subject to frequent change. It is also known as live migration. Hot migration is preferable, when possible, because the entire process takes only minutes to complete as it does not require any down time. Hot and cold migrations utilize different types of data and network types.
Things to Keep in Mind
As much as virtualizing your data will benefit you, there are a few things that you should be aware of as you manage your virtual sphere. First of all, VMs can be more complicated to manage than physical servers, so extra skills are required. Also, there are additional costs included in the virtualization platform. Clouds aren’t free, of course, and they are coveted spaces these days as everyone wants to go virtual. So this is something to make a note of.
In conclusion, your own virtualization process and V2V migration process will depend on your own personal (or business) requirements, what systems you utilize, the amount and frequency of your data transfer, and how important time and security are to you. You should think carefully about each aspect of the process and what method makes the most sense to you.
In the end, having completed these processes will make your computing life a lot easier, more streamlined, and more efficient. The world is moving quickly towards virtualizing data that is considered important; you shouldn’t let yourself or your business stay behind.
What is Virtual to Virtual (V2V) Migration? was last modified: December 13th, 2022 by Kristen Varlet
Mark Zuckerberg held the first public conference in the Horizon Worlds metaverse of Meta on October 11, 2022, during Meta’s Connect event. At this conference, there were many main announcements, including the new $1,499 Quest Pro headset, Meta’s partnership with Microsoft to bring Office apps into the metaverse, and many more. However, the most-talked announcement is about legs coming to virtual avatars.
Till now, Horizon Worlds users had legless avatars that float in the metaverse without any legs. During the Connect conference, Mark Zuckerberg and his Meta exec Aigerim Shorman’s avatars showed a demo of kicking and jumping off their avatars with legs. This was meant to narrate that Horizon Worlds is soon providing users with legs to have a more lifelike experience in the digital space. However, things don’t look as simple as they seem. So, let’s discuss in detail the metaverse legs announcement and see how things are shaping up currently.
Why Legs are so Important for Meta?
It is almost a year since Mark Zuckerberg changed the company name to Meta and revealed his grand metaverse ambition. Zuckerberg believes that VR/AR is the future of the internet and is spending billions to take on a lead in it. Due to this ambition, Meta is under severe criticism that the plans are quite unrealistic or seriously lack lifelike experience currently.
In fact, Zuckerberg was mocked heavily when he shared his avatar on Facebook for the announcement of the launch of Horizon Worlds in Spain and France.
Right after criticism, Zuckerberg ensured that more enhanced graphic updates are coming to its metaverse avatars. So, the recent announcement of legs coming to the metaverse is one important step to improve the graphics of the avatars and make users feel a more lifelike experience.
“I know you’ve been waiting for this. Everyone has been waiting for this,” said Zuckerberg’s avatar in the Meta’s Connect Event. “But seriously, legs are hard, which is why other virtual reality systems don’t have them either.”
The emphasis Meta is putting on legs shows that visual problems are the biggest concern currently for the company because users don’t want to see floating avatars in outdated graphics. Therefore, the company is trying its best to show that it touches reality, as it will excite the people about the metaverse, which is much needed to stop the declining tech giant’s stock and gain investors’ trust in the future of the company.
How is Meta Going to Detect Legs?
Meta was not able to introduce legs earlier because VR/AR headsets can only detect the movements of upper body parts, such as hands, head, face, etc. When the view of your legs is blocked from the headset due to your arms or if your legs are inside the desk, then the headset is not able to detect their position. So, there is no simple way to detect the movement of legs from the existing headsets. In fact, the new $1,499 Quest Pro headset is also not coming with legs.
Microsoft has also faced complications with introducing legs in its metaverse. Moreover, some other VR experiences that are showing virtual legs are not capable to track the movements of legs in real time.
Despite all challenges with detecting legs, Meta has announced to bring legs first to its metaverse, Horizon Worlds, and then to its other products. As per Zuckerberg, they will set up different predictive AI models that will guess the orientation and movement of legs based on the movement of upper-body parts. In short, they are trying to build a smart AI model that can accurately predict the complete body position.
How Real are Zuckerberg’s Avatar Legs in the Demonstration
The demonstration of Zuckerberg and his Meta exec Aigerim Shorman’s avatars during the Meta’s Connect event seemed to be the actual legs of their avatars that are accurately reflecting their legs’ movements. However, that was just the animation made for the demonstration.
Meta told UploadVR’s Ian Hamilton that they used animation for the legs. “To enable this preview of what’s to come, the segment featured animations created from motion capture,” the Meta told the publication.
This clearly narrates legs are not coming to Horizon Worlds right away. If it was so, then why would Meta do the demo with animations? Most likely, we will see the legs in Horizon Worlds somewhere in 2023, but they are surely going to come into the metaverse environment very soon.
Other Avatar Updates
Meta is not just focusing on adding legs to avatars, but a lot of other visual refinements are underway. For example, the new Quest Pro headset now comes with inward-facing head sensors that can accurately track facial expressions and eye movements. Similarly, Meta is also updating the appearance of avatars with more realistic looks and is also diversifying skin tones, clothing styles, facial features, etc. Meta is also going to launch a Meta Avatar Store next year that will allow users to make their avatars look fancier and buy other digital goods.
Wrapping Up – Are Legs going to make any difference in the Public’s Perception of Metaverse?
Zuckerberg believes that VR is the future, and it’s true somehow considering the exponential growth in the development and use of VR technology. That’s why Meta is risking a lot with $10 billion annual spending on the metaverse. However, what Meta and other tech giants are struggling with is convincing the general public to show excitement and use the metaverse.
Currently, VR headsets are costly, while the metaverse is used more for gaming and virtual experiences, so even legs alone cannot contribute much to the public perception of the metaverse. Once the graphics become better, more business/corporate-related features of the metaverse come into action, and headsets become cheaper, more people will get attracted to the metaverse. To sum up, Meta will definitely get some appreciation once legs get integrated with Horizon Worlds, but there is a long journey to bring the metaverse to the level that people actually start loving it.
Metaverse Announces Legs AR for Company Meetings for Avatars – Is This What We Have Been Waiting For? was last modified: January 26th, 2023 by Hamza Razzaq
Offices nowadays are packed with critical data that requires the highest level of security. As cybersecurity threats continue to rise in recent years, prioritizing the security of IT equipment in the workplace is a must. Collaboration among all employees can greatly reduce the possibility of security risks occurring.
Remember that if you want to make the most of the security measures, it may be best if team effort is present. Security and safety in the office are crucial, so taking the necessary measures to include the workforce in creating a secure work environment is important. If you want to enhance the security in your organization, consider information on reliable managed IT services from sites such as https://powerconsulting.com/managed-it-services-manhattan/.
If you want to ensure office IT equipment stays secure, it may require a combination of physical measures and digital practices. Here are several crucial steps to keep in mind when ensuring the security of your office IT equipment.
1. Physically Secure The Network Hardware
Implementing physical measures to secure the network hardware should be a priority. The hardware shouldn’t be accessible to the public and should be kept in a secure area. It may be best to store hardware in a controlled space or an office with locks, with an employee assigned to keep watch. Additionally, an additional safety precaution is to monitor the hardware by installing a security camera.
2. Maintain Timely Updates
If you want to ensure the security of your workplace, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the software updates for your operating system. Make it a priority to install the latest security updates for all devices. Additionally, switch on the automatic update feature for your operating system.
3. Invest In The Latest Cybersecurity Measures
As everything shifts to digital, cybersecurity should be your priority to ensure the highest level of protection for your company’s data. Doing so will come in handy in preventing hackers and malware from accessing sensitive data, which can negatively harm your organization.
While you’re at it, consider investing in dedicated IT support. It may be a good decision as it’ll help secure your workplace. Enforce the company protocols so that your workforce will always do their part in keeping company data safe.
4. Invest In Superior-Quality Routers
Most businesses usually have a basic router with a mediocre-level firewall. If security is your priority, consider switching to a business-grade router with a stronger firewall. Some are even equipped with intrusion detection or protection features that make them good investments. Generally, superior-quality routers tend to have better network performance due to their capability to accommodate more devices.
5. Observe Good Password Management
The passwords you’ll use should be difficult to guess to lower the risk of hackers accessing your credentials. Consider using a password management program to help you maintain concrete passwords. Some even come with reminders to update your passwords regularly.
6. Backup All Data
One of the crucial considerations to ensure office equipment security is to back up all data. Having a reliable backup system is the key to keeping your company’s assets protected at all times. Consider backup as a precautionary measure if unforeseen events lead to data loss, such as natural calamities, power outages, or cyber threats. When your data is safe, your company will not end up on the sidelines and will continue to operate as usual.
The 3-2-1 rule is the key when backing up your data. In simple terms, ensure you have three copies of your data on at least two devices and one in an off-site location. The rule is a good starting point, but always look for ways to boost protection.
It may be time to invest in external hard drives as storage for documents or shift to cloud technology as a storage solution. Most of the latest backup options enable updating files automatically to keep them up-to-date at all times.
7. Provide Regular Employee Training
If you want to ensure superior security in your workplace, the involvement of everyone is crucial. Make it a priority to provide your workforce with training on the latest security protocols and procedures. In most cases, it can be related to the operation of equipment or machinery or knowing what to do in emergencies.
As part of the training, it’s best to include security measures such as protecting passwords, being familiar with the latest cybersecurity threats such as phishing or ransomware, and securing documents.
8. Deactivate The Ports On The Router
In most cases, Ethernet or USB ports on the router aren’t in use. Make the right choice by deactivating these ports to limit intruders’ chances to plug a device into your network. Remember that these ports serve as entry points when it comes to LAN security. Turn them off to decrease the chances of infiltration.
Final Thoughts
Make the security of office IT equipment and the data it holds a priority. As both cases of cybersecurity and physical threats continue to rise, consider investing in measures to keep your organization safe. These insightful steps will be useful in keeping IT equipment and data safe for years to come.
8 Steps To Secure Office IT Equipment was last modified: December 7th, 2022 by Nora Sbalckiero
If you trade cryptocurrency often, you probably know that there is a lot of useful and perhaps crucial data that would take too long to analyze manually. This is where backtesting comes into play. It is a great tool to speed up and simplify your analyses.
This article will explain the concepts of backtesting and forward testing, guide you through backtesting on a trading bot called Cryptohopper, and help you understand whether backtesting really gives better trading results.
What is Backtesting?
Backtesting is defined as executing a trading strategy across historical market data before activating it in the future market. The results are analyzed for trading signals and profitability, and the strategy is then kept for real trades or discarded. This data can be mapped manually, but it is mostly done by offline or online trading software because of greater speed and efficiency.
Backtesting software can run far into the past and read data from more than 10 years back. This is a great feature by itself, because you have a lot of testing ground for a variety of tactics and strategies without investing your money or having to use simulations.
What is Forward Testing?
Yet, backtesting is not perfect and there is always the risk of “curve fitting” or overoptimizing and falling for false conclusions and losing in the market. This is why forward testing should also be done to complement it. Forward testing is basically a trading simulation of your strategy in a real market, to see how it would perform without investing money yet. This is why it is called paper trading. Your results are documented and noted down as if you traded.
This is a good way to put your strategy to the test. Just remember that you always need to avoid logical fallacies when analyzing, which is one of the top skills needed for profitable trading.
How To Do Trading Strategy Backtesting on Cryptohopper?
Cryptohopper backtests a combination of your strategy and other configuration parameters. It is an automated trading bot with a TrustPilot score of 4/5 and a verified status. You can learn more about it in a Cryptohopper review by Scammerwatch.
To start backtesting, go to your Cryptohopper dashboard and select Backtesting from the left-hand menu. Select your currency and then open the “strategy” drop-down menu. Here you can see a list of your custom strategies, as well as Cryptohopper’s built-in strategies. Under this are the parameters for stop-loss, ”take profit at”, and so on. If you want to fill your current configuration automatically, click “load existing config” at the top. The last step is to enter the period in which you want to perform the test; don’t forget that longer periods mean longer waiting times.
If you like the results, you can click “deploy this configuration” and apply them instantly to your current strategy. Finally, all your tests appear in your backtest history, where you can take the time to analyze and learn from the tests you have done.
Does Backtesting Make You a Better Trader?
Yes and no. No, because backtesting does not increase your trading skill per se, and it does not guarantee more successful trades. To get better at trading, you need to practice active trading as much as you can. Each currency behaves differently and you can start by reading day trading online guides for Bitcoin.
However, there are a lot of benefits of backtesting which can indirectly make you – better. For example, when you find positive results in a strategy, this means that it is more likely to work in the future. This boosts your trading confidence in general and may help you make better moves intuitively. Secondly, backtesting improves your mindset psychologically. When you see a winning streak in history, you will learn from it, and when you see a losing streak, you will not be discouraged because you can learn the end of that streak and see if the overall results were still a plus.
Finally, with backtesting, you can pick up better markets that suit your trading style and routine. Markets have slight differences, which can only be seen with historical analysis, and if you select a better market for yourself, you consequently improve your results and can be considered a better trader than before.
Conclusion
If you have years and years of data and a coin seems to go up every year, that does not necessarily show the coin’s future performance. We can’t predict what will happen in the future and backtests are also not able to do that.
What we can do is see how our strategy did over a long period in the past, and that can be an indicator of whether it will work again. Just don’t forget to analyze deeper and understand why a particular strategy has worked. All in all, backtesting is a training simulation that is a good starting place and can save you a lot of time for analysis.
Author Michael Klias
Crypto enthusiast with over 7 years of professional experience. Passionate about blockchain, finance and technology. https://twitter.com/KliasMichael
How To Do Crypto Bot Backtest Correctly? was last modified: November 29th, 2022 by Michael Klias
Startup seems to be the new buzzword in the world of entrepreneurship. Startups have brought all sorts of new technology to various industries and are being backed by Venture Capitalists and angel investors for millions of dollars. The disruption to markets such as fintech, biotech and countless others has been inspired by the growth of startups in recent years.
What is a Startup?
However, some of us are still trying to wrap our heads around the idea of what a startup actually is. Isn’t a startup just a new, fancy way of saying a small business with scalability? Is there really a difference between the two, or is it just the millennials in Silicon Valley trying to put a new spin on what is ultimately a tried and tested entrepreneurial concept?
Well, for those of us who really are befuddled at this relatively new concept of a startup, we have explored and identified the differences between a new startup and your traditional small business.
Growth
One of the main differences between a startup and a small business is the intent for growth. To put it simply, startups have the intent of growing to a point where they can achieve the goal of disrupting the market. On the other hand, small businesses are created purely with the purpose of serving a local market with a piece of entrepreneurship and therefore, typically won’t be aren’t concerned with growth on such a large scale that they’d disrupt the market they find themselves in.
The main point is that all types of business must have some kind of development strategy, whether it is a startup business plan or the expansion of services, products, goods, because without it, sooner or later you will run into a certain barrier, – says Slava Vaniukov, expert and CEO of Softermii.
“When we first set-up, we had the discussion about how we would set ourselves apart from the competition, and ultimately how we could scale up and grow to serve as many potential borrowers as possible”, commented Richard Allan, co-founder of fintech startup, Capital Bean. “We don’t just intend to serve a small community, we want to disrupt the market, and we feel that is what gives a startup its name”.
Scalability
As well as the growth intent and scalability of the startup versus the ‘old school’ small business, the founder of a startup is usually looking to disrupt the market with their scalable and impactful business model, grow as quickly as possible, beat out competitors, etc… This is often why startups don’t stay ‘startups’ for such a long period of time with some success. Founders are, more often than not, looking for investors to get on board to bring their product or service to international markets and become disruptors of said markets.
On the other hand, a founder of a small business is not necessarily looking to disrupt the market or break into a new market; instead, a small business owner simply needs to have the desire to start their own business and find a market that they can reach effectively. As long as he or she can do so while earning revenue, they will successfully be able to run a small business.
Conclusion
Finally, although there are other points of difference between a startup and a small business, the last main point of interest that you should be aware of is funding. Though this is not set-in-stone and can vary depending on the size and interests of the business or startup, typically speaking, where a small business owner may turn to a bank for a ‘small business loan’, or to a family or friend who believes in their idea, a startup founder will typically look for equity financing.
With equity financing, startups can look for VCs or angel investors who are willing to offer large amounts of capital in exchange for equity, or ownership, in the company. Typically, these investors offer minimum amounts of capital in “rounds” and then with each series of funding, the startup gives up equity.
Small Business vs Startup: What is the Difference? was last modified: February 14th, 2023 by Emma Grant
The FinTech industry is one that has continued to grow from strength-to-strength, regardless of the world economic outlook or major events.
Many regard the birth of FinTech to have come in 2005, when online peer-to-peer lending was popularized with Zopa, but it has come on leaps and bounds since then. Almost any financial product or service can be accessed online and remotely, to the point where brick-and-mortar establishments could soon become a thing of the past.
By the end of 2021, Fintech investment reached $210 billion in the United States, and there’s no exclusivity when it comes to having a good business idea in the field of fintech. As mentioned above, due to pure accessibility to the internet, simply anyone can start a fintech business.
So, if you think you have a good business idea in the fintech industry, this step-by-step guide should help you to get it off the ground:
1. Understand your industry and its regulations
The first thing to note is that fintech and the general financial services industries are highly regulated, and for good reason.
“In our niche, predatory lenders are big exploiters of vulnerable Americans, and so it is our job to ensure that our lenders are fully compliant with both state and federal regulations”, commented Ben Sweiry, co-founder of online fintech startup Dime Alley.
In order to keep your fintech business on the right side of the law, you need to know the ins and outs of what is a highly complex sphere, including the regulatory authorities, laws – both state and federal, legal limitations and requirements.
2. Discover your USP or niche
Fintech may be a relatively new term in a lot of peoples’ vocabularies, but that’s not to say it’s a small field; quite the contrary. There are lots and lots of different fintech-based services that you could provide and so it is crucial that you find your USP – what will set you apart from the competition?
To be competitive and have a chance of being successful, you could start by researching the new products or services which can be developed or perhaps try to analyse the problems that consumers are facing, and how your service or product can alleviate them.
3. Make a business plan and identify how much capital you will need
As easy as it may seem to start an online fintech business, getting a startup off the ground isn’t cheap, especially if you want to be successful, and so it is essential that you make sure you are financially ready to start a company.
A good way to start is to write a business plan – it will help your fintech startup get organized. Do not hesitate to ask for help from experts to write a good business plan, as they often have been-there-and-done-it.
There are lots of different ways that you could raise capital for your fintech startup; from bank loans to crowdfunding to venture capital, etc… You could even look into borrowing money from your family or friends if they believe in you and your idea.
Regardless of your path, you should try and have something to show to your potential investors, hence why a business plan and perhaps even a visual prototype would come in handy.
How to Start a Fintech Company: a Step-by-Step Guide was last modified: November 26th, 2022 by Emma Grant
Online shopping has been rising for some time and was dramatically boosted by the COVID pandemic. With the right strategies, you can benefit from this trend by increasing online sales and building loyalty to your company. Here are five ideas to drive sales to your online business.
1. Choose a Reliable Hosting Service
A hosting service provides rental space on a physical server that stores all the data and files needed for your website to run correctly. Unreliable servers leading to unstable network connections can push your site offline, denying you viewership and sales. Choose a web hosting service with uptime scores over 99.5 percent for better website performance.
Apart from less downtime, here are several other things a good hosting service provides:
Better security: All information going through your site is automatically encrypted.
Frequent backups: You can recover accidentally deleted files, resolve update problems, and receive hacking protection.
Faster load time: When a page takes too long to load, a user is likely to click away.
Better search engine rankings: Website downtime and slowness can significantly impact your rankings.
Allowance for Growth: As your business expands, increased traffic is easily accommodated.
2. Conduct a Website Audit
A website audit provides an analysis of your site’s effectiveness, pinpoints needed improvements, and helps discover if you are optimized to drive sales to your site. Here is what a thorough website audit assesses:
Site Health: A “health” check identifies the number of issues your website has, which may include URL structure, 4XX and 5XX errors, broken links, duplicated content, and page loading speed (including mobile page speed). Responsive design ensures that your site renders properly on different devices.
Technical SEO: Assesses crawlability and indexability.
Security: Having HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) that encrypts user data is critical to high Google ranking. Possible security breaches and Google penalties are also assessed.
Keyword Performance: A review of keywords and search queries you are already performing followed by new keyword research to pinpoint fresh opportunities to improve rankings. (Research found that search makes up 65% of all e-commerce sessions.)
Off-Site Presence: An examination of backlinks, reviews, and social media (Google ranking looks at social media performance).
Conversion Rate: An assessment of the effectiveness of lead forms, CTAs, checkout flow, etc.
Competitor Analysis: A look at websites competing in your target market.
3. Drive Sales By Improving User Experience
If site visitors are leaving without buying, it may be because of poor user experience. Note where users struggle or easily make missteps. Here are some ways to fix user experience problems:
Upgrade Customer Service: A survey found that 84% of respondents took customer service into account when making a buying decision. Your contact page should clearly show your phone number, email address, and chat. An FAQ page helps provide immediate answers. Important: When someone contacts you, respond promptly.
Provide a Chat Feature: Add one, monitor it constantly, and include an auto-response letting users know when you are available.
Make Checkout Simple: Checkout can be a big sticking point for sales. Break up the procedure into several pages or an expanding page, so the prospective buyer isn’t overwhelmed with information fields. Provide a guest checkout option.
Keep Shipping Costs Low: Consumers don’t tend to think about shipping costs until they reach checkout. Many abandoned shopping carts result from extra charges like shipping. Build shipping costs into your prices so you can offer free shipping. If this isn’t feasible, offer free shipping for a minimum order or provide a flat shipping rate upfront.
4. Drive Sales by Understanding Your Target Audience
Good marketing decisions depend on an in-depth understanding of your potential customers that enables you to focus on qualified prospects, guide effective product development, and align work across all aspects of your business.
Create a buyer persona (a representation of your ideal customer) to provide you with an in-depth awareness of what your targeted audience needs and wants and enable you to create resonating messaging. Research data should include:
Age and sex.
Career path or professional background.
Goals – what do they want to achieve?
Where they live – cities, suburban, rural areas.
Hobbies/pastimes.
Role played in the purchasing decision.
Challenges – what obstacles are they trying to overcome?
Preferred method of communication.
Where they go for information.
You also should research how paying customers found their way to your site so that you can better focus your marketing efforts.
Examples: If lots of cookware sales result from a blog post about healthy eating, write more on that topic. If Facebook ads account for most sales, invest in more advertising.
5. Create Interesting Content
Content providing relevant and interesting information helps prospects find you through SEO. Search engines prioritize pages that provide consistent content, so write new posts regularly. Also, address ways to use your products or common issues related to them.
Example: If you sell dog toys, write about fun games to play with your canine friend or how to help dogs with separation anxiety.
Your content and messaging should highlight what you offer that no one else doesn’t. Understand what makes you different and shout it from the virtual rooftops. Include it in your tagline and home page, place it prominently in social media ads, and highlight it in your email marketing campaigns.
You also need high-quality pictures that highlight your product’s best features. However, photos should accurately represent a product to avoid a high return rate because the received item looks different than the photo. Include more than one product image – three or four is ideal.
Consistently sharing content on social media helps new customers find you and builds loyalty with current ones. Connect your online store to your social media accounts so users can easily make a purchase.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of good ideas to select from, so choose those that work best for your online business and dive in!
Alycia Kuan is a digital marketer from WebRevenue. She has a passion for yoga, music and loves to share her thoughts on e-commerce. She likes exploring the latest trends in digital marketing and SEO. Say hi to her on LinkedIn.
5 Ways That Drive Sales to Your Online Business was last modified: November 17th, 2022 by Alycia Kuan
What items make up a gamer’s must-have kit? Beginner online gamers will probably say that you must have a suitable device and a good internet connection. Meanwhile, experienced gaming lovers will provide a longer list. They will assure you that although having a device and a stable internet connection is important, it is equally important to take care of the necessary software, which can significantly improve the quality of the game.
What apps could it be? What are they good for? Why should they be used? We will try to answer these questions by discussing 9 of the most important softwares that every gamer should use. Let us take a look!
Virtual Private Network
Virtual Private Network (VPN) service was the most reliable online security tool at the time. It encrypts your information and makes sure that any third parties can see it, even if you are using public Wi-Fi. What is more, VPNs also improve ping and it provides smoother gameplay when playing first-shooter, racing or multiplayer games where fast transferring data speeds as well as the server’s response is extremely significant. Finally, using VPN service allows you to avoid geo-blocked content – to reach any game that was inaccessible for you before.
F.lux
If you spend much time in front of the display, you might experience tired, dry or blurry eyes. The great news is that you may make things easier for your eyes by using the “F.lux” app. It adjusts your display contrast and color temperature depending on the time of a day as well as the light sources you use. In other words, it is a simple tool that reduces eye strain significantly. That is why it is so much appreciated by gaming lovers all over the world.
Equalizer APO
While for some online gamers the visual side is extremely important, for others the audio quality is the most important thing to take care of. “Equalizer APO” is valued a lot because it may significantly improve the limited audio options of a sound’s card in the device. Users may take advantage of different pass filters, VST plugins, loudness correction and many more. So, do you still have questions about the importance of this app?
KeyTweak
Many online game players are convinced that a high-end keyboard is the key to a great performance in gaming. However, it is not always true. Even though such a keyboard may improve your game, you may also try out another solution – “KeyTweak” app. It allows you to remap your keyboard layout according to your needs easily and significantly contributes to better gameplay results and greater satisfaction as well!
Razer Cortex: Game Booster
It would probably be difficult to find an online gaming lover who has not heard of this software. It is famous for its outstanding features such as scanning and removing junk files automatically in your system. As one of its users says, this app is wonderful for those who do not have a beasty PC. So, if you also miss a better performance of your computer, try “Razer Cortex: Game Booster” now!
CleanMyPc
The task to keep your computer clean might not be easy to cope with. That’s why “CleanMyPc” software was created. It allows you to clean out all unnecessary files that accumulate in a system so that the performance of your device would improve. Cleaning your computer has never been so easy – you may do it only in a few clicks! Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Bluestacks
That is the software that allows you to play mobile games on a Windows PC! In other words, the dream – to play Candy Crush Saga, Evernote, Temple Run 2 or any other mobile game using your PC – is now realistic! All you have to do is sync the apps from your phone! “Bluestacks” app gives you the opportunity to experience games in a new way – to monitor the image on a large display and improve your reaction speed using a mouse and keyboard.
OSB Studio
Bearing in mind that streaming is becoming an almost inseparable part of online gaming, it is important to mention the “OSB Studio” app as well. It is a very popular open-source streaming software that is used for producing various types of online video content. Even professionals admit the fact that it is the best free streaming software in terms of power as
Steam
You can buy games, have them in one place, get the latest news from it and keep in touch with the community. What is more, it is free to install. Sounds too good to be true? Actually, that is what the “Steam” app offers. More and more often this software is called to be a must-have by online gamers.
List of Software That You Should Have for Gaming (Really Useful Ones) was last modified: October 31st, 2022 by Taj Livingston
In modern business, there is fierce competition between companies offering similar services or products to consumers. This applies to both the real sector of the economy and IT technologies. Priceva Competitor price tracking and monitoring software will allow you to track the offers of other companies in time, adjust the indices and attract more customers. This portal is described in detail below with all the details and instructions for use.
What Are the Benefits of Priceva?
Priceva Competitor price tracking and monitoring software service is in high demand among representatives of all industries of large, medium, or small businesses, as it has a lot of the following undeniable advantages:
Quick registration in the system, without the need to fill out voluminous and complex forms.
The presence of a demo version allows you to understand all the intricacies of the platform for free.
Users are immediately offered four types of periodic subscriptions, which differ in the set of services, cost, and nuances, which allows each interested person to choose exactly the tariff plan that fully meets his requirements.
Each registered user receives system notifications about changes in competitors’ prices automatically after daily monitoring, which allows him not to miss important information.
A very simple interface that does not require special knowledge to use.
An integrated approach of artificial intelligence to the analysis of current indicators of current market prices with index adjustments depends on the period.
The innovative theology of artificial intelligence offers each half-table a unique system of interaction with databases, adapting to his needs in the process of primary work and based on the analysis of requests.
Thus, Priceva software is one of the most advanced on the market and also eliminates the need for users to independently monitor competitors’ offers or check the results issued by an automated system since they are based only on current data based on the market situation.
Priceva Competitor Price Tracking and Monitoring Software Capabilities
Each user who has registered and issued his tariff plan for subscribing to system updates gets full access to the following set of useful functions for tracking specific offers on the market:
The offer interface combines queries, automatic market diagnostics, as well as the issuance and reading of results with the compilation of statistics, comparison of optimal indicators with values and parameters selected by the user, and this combination greatly simplifies the user’s work with the system.
A convenient system for searching for the necessary design parameters through the application’s own internal spreadsheet in Excel format. There is also a filter by categories and other parameters, allowing you to quickly select the desired position without any double results or the need for a long search.
Price monitoring can be done on request and constantly monitoring the results of an automated platform that will independently carry it out at selected time intervals.
Each user gets access to automatic commands, which eliminates the need for manual data entry. Priceva portal guarantees the absence of errors and the human factor, which allows you to get only the expected result.
A convenient and effective informative system of notification of current prices for each competitive enterprise of interest. The application is available on both PC and mobile devices, and the user is aware of price changes even when the system is offline.
Additionally, each user can register their current e-mail address in the system and receive a newsletter from the application about adjusting market prices immediately to their mailbox.
What Is the Software or Platform for Re-Evaluation?
The Priceva platform also offers each user many other possibilities, namely a universal algorithm for re-evaluating their offers, based on an analysis of the competitive market. This platform works according to the following algorithm:
The user sets boundary conditions, according to which, if the price of competitors goes down or up to certain values, his offers are automatically re-evaluated.
Based on the analysis of proposals from similar companies, statistics are automatically generated with a table in Excel format convenient for each PC user.
If necessary, the user can also activate the advanced price analytics function to collect competitors’ offers in more detail, which will allow him to always have advantages over each of them.
There are separate applications and settings for specific retailers, depending on the scope of their commercial interests, as well as convenient filtering of companies by brand.
In the application, it is possible to analyze both the maximum and minimum or average market prices from each competitive enterprise. Such information will always help you organize profitable promotions, and discount programs and be one step ahead of your competitors.
Services That Are Offered in the Most Affordable Plan
For those heads of companies or representatives of various business areas who have issued a paid subscription of a standard format, the following minimum set of useful functions is offered:
A service for tracking current market offers from competing companies, with an analysis of the commercial field of activity.
Comparison of selected products with the current pricing policy of the customer.
Registration of statistics in a readable format using standard text editors with the possibility of sending it to the addressee or printing information on paper.
Re-evaluation of own offers for the least popular products provided that they do not participate in the discount program or other promotions. This function allows you to accurately set the desired range, price ceiling, as well as parameters for their adjustment. As a result, the system will automatically compare the numbers with competitive offers and quickly adjust the retailer’s internal prices.
Diagnostics of the availability of goods that are of interest to the customer, namely, the analysis of its sales statistics after adjusting prices.
Checking each competitor for a dumping policy will allow you to keep the price on time and not lose the planned profit. Thus, goods from a particular retailer always stand out from the average market price, the cost of which is significantly lower for biased reasons.
The application analyzes the digital shelf with the most in-demand products since they often form the largest part of the retailer’s revenue and profit.
The Priceva application provides the customer with complete market analytics, allows you to adjust your business plan quickly, adjust to the average offers of competitors, and also not miss the expected profit, which will ensure the rapid growth of the company and other benefits.
Competitor Price Tracking and Monitoring Software was last modified: October 29th, 2022 by Syed Saqib
The Brazilian bank Nubank will shortly launch a cryptocurrency rewards program. The latest foray into digital assets by a major financial institution will occur next year when the Brazilian startup for digital banking Nubank introduces its own coin.
Nubank said Wednesday it will launch the token, called Nucoin, in the first half of 2023. Holders of the token will receive discounts and other benefits, according to Nubank.
The digital bank, which is supported by investors such as Softbank Group Corp. (9984.T) and Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N), led by Warren Buffett, reported having 66.4 million customers in Brazil, its primary market, up from 62.3 million at the end of June. A holding company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., owns subsidiaries involved in a range of commercial endeavors, including manufacturing, retailing, freight rail transportation, utilities and energy, insurance and reinsurance, and utilities.
What is Nucoin?
In 2013, Nubank made its debut in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a purple no-fee credit card. Brazil is infamous for its high-fee, antiquated banking system. The company has accumulated 70 million users across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia since its start nine years ago.
The coin was created using the “Layer 2” Polygon network, which aims to reduce congestion on the Ethereum blockchain, where transactions can sometimes be expensive and time-consuming to complete. According to Polygon, its platform can handle hundreds of transactions every second. Companies like PayPal and Robinhood also provide cryptocurrency trading. While this is going on, the Wall Street bank Goldman Sachs has its own internal cryptocurrency trading department.
About 2,000 customers will be invited to take part in a debate on the project’s specifics, including its Web3 features and decentralized method of product creation, starting this month.
In May, the bank announced a partnership with Paxos to enable its customers to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies through its app. This move aimed to improve access to crypto assets, reduce complexity and friction for users to buy, hold, and sell digital currencies through the bank’s app, and eliminate the need to open or transfer money using a new account.
Immediate Edge offers traders of all skill levels a comprehensive trading experience on a flexible but user-friendly interface.
What Makes Nucoin Different?
Earlier this year, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sold off a portion of its interests in Visa and Mastercard and increased its exposure to Nubank by investing $1 billion in equities after selling $3.1 billion in shares of each of the two companies.
The new token launch coincides with a depressing period for cryptocurrencies. Many digital coins, including the biggest currency in the world, bitcoin, have lost more than half of their value since the beginning of 2022, and the market is currently experiencing a severe downturn that speculators are dubbing “crypto winter.” Its objective is to provide clients with advantages like discounts and rewards as they acquire Nucoins. The tokens can be exchanged for benefits and special prices on particular goods.
Conclusion
Governments in the United States, the European Union, and other countries have introduced frameworks for regulating the business, and regulators have since grown more cautious about digital currencies and the potential damages they pose to consumers.
According to Nubank, there is a chance that Nucoins might one day be tradable. Currently, the lender’s banking software lets its Brazilian customers conduct Bitcoin and Ethereum transactions.
Nucoin by Nubank – Introducing the New Cryptocurrency Backed By Warren Buffet Himself was last modified: April 19th, 2023 by Kelly Maryland
In the wake of the pandemic, eCommerce has become an indispensable part of the global economy. With worldwide sales totaling more than $5.7 trillion in 2022, it’s a field that is growing exponentially, both in sales and in a number of retailers. In the face of this strong and growing competition, savvy top eCommerce website developers are looking for ways to help retailers improve their online presence and attract new customers.
If you are shopping for an effective B2B eCommerce platform for your online store, you may be dismayed by the number of options. Businesses have various requirements. An electronics store may not need a platform that is ideal for a beauty salon. Finding an effective eCommerce platform can be very challenging.
In August 1994, a man named Dan Kohn sold a CD to a friend and was paid $12.48 plus shipping via credit card, thus completing the very first eCommerce sale. In the nearly 30 years since the nature of purchasing online has changed dramatically. What was once a novelty is now standard operating procedure.
What does the future hold for eCommerce software development? Using market research and customer analytics, we’ve identified the following:
1. Omnichannel
The integration of technology into our personal lives has led to an expectation of seamless, high-quality customer experiences. People expect to be able to browse for items online, make purchases and pick up items in person without friction. In other words, they expect an omnichannel experience.
During the pandemic-induced lockdown, this fully integrated approach became the norm for many retailers and food service companies. Customers could browse a website, research products, make purchases, and schedule pickup all from the convenience of their home.
Even following the removal of in-person restrictions in many places, this trend has remained hot. A successful omnichannel makes cross-channel transactions convenient, which can sometimes be challenging for retailers. To make the most of it for your company, enlist the help of an eCommerce development agency that can integrate your sales experience, inventory, and customer service into a unified experience.
2. Mobile Shopping
In 2022, mobile shopping accounted for 72.9% of all eCommerce sales. In other words, nearly three out of every four online purchases were made from a smartphone or tablet. This means that it is crucial that you employ a responsive design in eCommerce web development.
Consumers expect an easy online shopping experience that can be initiated and finalized from their internet-connected device. If your site doesn’t have a user-friendly mobile shopping experience, you’re missing out on sales, so you should contact an eCommerce development company immediately.
Here are a few things to consider when developing your eCommerce store:
UX/UI – User experience and interface are vital parts of any online shopping personalized experiences. A website that’s difficult to use will drive customers away before you can make a sale.
SEO Optimization – Google has been using mobile indexing as a ranking factor since 2019. Your site should be optimized to ensure users on mobile devices can find you easily.
Payment Options – Checking out from your online store should be quick and easy, with multiple options for customers to choose from.
3. Marketplaces Boom
Though sites like Amazon and eBay have been around for years, the online marketplace model has exploded in popularity recently. This is not to say single-brand stores are obsolete, but there has been an increased demand for one-stop shops, particularly for niche products
One reason for this, as any reputable software development company will tell you, is the spike in digitally driven consumerism. 61% of shoppers start product research on Amazon. Google and Walmart.com are not far behind. Customers want a place to compare options and read reviews prior to making a purchase. Reviews on Walmart provide valuable information to customers who are looking to make a purchase. They help customers evaluate products, compare options, provide feedback for improvement, and receive customer support.
Another factor in the increase in marketplace sales is internationalism. The internet allows people to compare products from down the street and across the globe simultaneously. While this can be good news for marketplaces, it can also present unique challenges in eCommerce software development, as different currencies, shipping methods and security concerns must be considered.
This trend is especially important for retailers seeking entry to the growing Chinese digital market, as single-entry point marketplaces dominate the online sales ecosystem.
4. On-Site Search Personalization
Big data allows for unprecedented personalization when it comes to advertising and marketing. As a result, many digital shoppers have come to expect individualized experiences, with 88% of online shoppers acknowledging that personalized experiences factored into their likelihood of making another purchase with an online retailer.
Smart eCommerce businesses will include on-site personalization that tailors search results based on each user’s past behavior on their site, demographic information, and other collected data. While this is a boon for digital marketers, personalized product recommendations often require special software development services in both the USA and abroad to implement.
eCommerce Link Building is another effective way to gain traffic and grow your business. Building links back to your site will increase your SEO and give your brand higher authority.
5. Deliver on Delivery
Getting a customer to add your product to their cart and initiate the checkout process is only half the battle for eCommerce companies. Delivery options play a huge part in many purchase decisions, with 68% of U.S. respondents to a 2019 survey stating they did not complete a purchase because of them.
When implementing your custom eCommerce web development solution, here are some delivery options to consider:
Free Delivery – Shipping can be expensive, but many consumers expect it to be included in the sale price, particularly on more expensive purchases.
Multiple Options – If a person needs a particular item quickly, they’re far more likely to make that purchase with a digital retailer who offers them one- or three-day delivery options than one that only offers standard five to seven business days.
The Delivery Experience – 85% of online shoppers said a bad delivery experience would keep them from buying from a retailer again, according to a 2022 study. Don’t lose customers because of a poor fulfillment system.
6. Flexible Payments Continue
In the second quarter of 2022 alone, there were approximately 52 million data breaches worldwide. As such an unfortunate reality, many people are justifiably leery of buying things online. One way your eCommerce site can overcome this is to offer a variety of ways for them to pay.
Whether they want to use a credit card, PayPal or Bitcoin, different customers have different payment preferences. Allowing them to pay in the method of their choice has been proven to improve conversion rates and decrease cart abandonment. Allowing customers to create a user profile on your site that securely stores payment information also encourages repeat business.
7. User-Generated Content
Every brand claims it’s the perfect solution to a customer’s need. It’s therefore no surprise these claims are taken with a grain of salt. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: user-generated content or UGC.
UGC is the reviews, videos, photos, and other content created by the people who are actually using your product. Due to its authenticity, data has indicated almost 80% of shoppers take it into account when making a purchase decision.
A handful of great reviews or an appearance in a viral TikTok could be the very thing that propels your site to the next level. But unfortunately, even the most skilled eCommerce website developers cannot create this for you. The only way to get great UGC is by consistently delivering exceptional experiences.
Customer Experience is an Always-On 2023 eCommerce Trend
As an online retailer, creating a positive experience with your brand should always be your top priority. Consumers want a hassle-free purchasing journey and you should give them what they want. Make it easy for them to discover their options, make purchases and have items delivered.
Take a holistic approach and consider every step of the sales funnel, from awareness through retention. Everything should work together to provide optimal customer experiences. If they don’t, you’re costing yourself sales.
Get Trending
The march of technology is endless. As it progresses, the way people interact with it changes – particularly in the world of eCommerce. While the landscape has grown more competitive, by taking a proactive approach to changes in market conditions and trends, you can ensure your brand is well-positioned.
Flexibility is key, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Not every trend will work for every business. But one thing is certain: with some hard work, top rated software development services USA, and custom eCommerce web development, you can set your company on the road to success.
The Future of eCommerce Websites: eCommerce Trends Now was last modified: December 6th, 2024 by Milos Radakovic
Before there was a global pandemic, people could board airplanes and travel across borders. If you’ve ever gone abroad, you know that finding a currency exchange station at the airport and then changing your wallet’s cash into the local currency are routine steps.
What is Forex?
Forex is a global financial market that enables currency trading. You could earn if your prediction that one currency will be stronger than the other turns out to be accurate.
The largest financial market in the world is the foreign exchange market, also known as “Forex.” The world’s currencies are traded on the decentralized, international FX market. Exchange rates fluctuate by the second, causing the market to be in constant motion.
The “real economy,” which includes things like foreign trade and tourism like the airport example above, accounts for a very small portion of currency transactions. Instead, the majority of currency purchases (and sales) on the global foreign exchange market are made for speculative purposes.
Currency traders, also referred to as currency speculators, purchase currencies in the hopes of later selling them for a profit. If you can convince other people to trade Forex, you can join an affiliate program and make passive income.
What is CPA?
A marketing metric known as cost per acquisition (CPA) calculates the overall expense associated with getting a new customer to do a particular action. In other words, CPA represents the cost of moving a single consumer through your sales funnel, from initial contact to final conversion. Depending on your marketing objectives, the action may be described as a click, a purchase, a lead, or a wide range of other alternatives.
In affiliate marketing, the cost-per-acquisition model, also known as the cost-per-action model, is frequently employed when marketers or merchants, in this case, are ready to pay a commission for a particular activity or acquisition. This could involve a variety of different actions, including straightforward ones like signing up, starting to trade, or filling out a form to capture leads.
If your referral simply registers for one of the many demo accounts that Forex trading platforms make available to their users, you may be able to earn money. Checking the payment structure based on activities for the CPA Forex affiliate programs that you wish to join is the best course of action.
CPA Affiliate Program
Joining an affiliate marketing organization that employs the CPA model has a variety of advantages. The ability to develop passive income streams is perhaps the biggest perk of joining one of these schemes. You will want to create content that attracts a respectable amount of visitors so you can profit from it and monetize it. However, aside from that, all that is required is discovering and optimizing effective marketing channels.
Although many Forex brokers and trading platforms have their own CPA Forex affiliate programs that you can join, it is preferable to engage with a Forex CPA network that provides you access to numerous companies if you want to promote a wide variety of businesses.
The economy of scale is one of the main advantages of working with a CPA network as compared to numerous separate CPA forex affiliate programs.
Benefits of Being a CPA Affiliate
Your business may almost reach an unlimited audience by selling things online but finding the proper leads and turning them into consumers isn’t always simple. Cost-per-action marketing, or CPA marketing, is a form of affiliate marketing that companies of all sizes utilize to scale their marketing initiatives and reach a bigger audience.
This is forming a partnership with a blogger, influencer, or publication who promotes your goods in return for a commission. When a customer purchases a product as a result of the affiliate’s marketing efforts, the affiliate gets paid a commission. To promote the advertiser’s goods, the affiliate might, for instance, create a review, place a banner ad on their website, or upload a video to social media.
CPA marketing only requires you to pay after the sale happens, in contrast to other forms of digital marketing strategies like cost per click (CPC), where you pay to display your brand without a guarantee of a sale.
Choosing a CPA Program
It’s crucial that you only cooperate with reputable affiliate marketing networks. You must pick an appropriate CPA affiliate network with recognized companies for you to promote because your visitors will trust you with whatever you are pitching to them. There are many possibilities available, but there are a few straightforward things you may take into account to limit your choices.
CPA networks with negative reviews should be avoided. You can choose a reputable network by reviewing its reviews. There are many top CPA networks for newbies, but there are also many CPA networks with dubious procedures, so you must be very careful while selecting.
Profitability
An affiliate receives the payment at a fixed percentage, which might vary from product to product.
It is useless to evaluate this value solely on its own. You must also know the typical conversion ratio or how well leads are turned into FTDs. Even if the affiliate network offers you $1,000 CPA, if the conversion rate is only 1%, it is of little use to you. With a CPA forex affiliate network that pays $200 CPA but only has a 20% conversion rate, you will be much better off. Finding out the EPC (profits per click) that the program creates is another important step in determining how much value may be produced as a CPA affiliate. The potential for increased earnings increases with the EPC. You can use a tradingjournal to keep track of your earnings or losses.
Cookie Window Model
The typical cookie expiration window for CPA affiliate programs is between 30 and 90 days. You will benefit more if the window is longer. The cookie window essentially controls how long your inbound leads will be valid. The cookie will automatically expire if a user clicks on the link you provide to access the brand (broker or exchange) but doesn’t do anything for a predetermined time. If they later convert, you won’t get paid for it.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, CPA marketing necessitates time commitment to create a beneficial relationship between publisher and advertiser manually. CPA Forex affiliate networks and programs, like Algo-Affiliates, are a great option for people who wish to monetize their traffic and have a sizable audience. Become a Forex Affiliate Today to Increase Your Earnings!
How to Get Passive Income as a CPA Forex Affiliate was last modified: March 9th, 2023 by Mary Lyons
There’s no denying that in this day and age, company owners either acclimate to modern tech standards or risk stagnating their business. Any entrepreneur who doesn’t make full use of modern amenities will find themselves lagging behind the competition.
While it might seem like a frustrating fact of business management, it doesn’t have to be such an issue. After all, one of the most significant advantages of startups is the potential for a fantastic start. A company that takes the time to prepare for an optimal beginning will always have a bright future ahead.
While you have a lot of work to do, using tech to get ahead is all about finding ways to improve and optimize business practices. Here are a few surefire ways to build a foundation for a successful business.
1. Taking advantage of AI to elevate your business
There are a remarkable number of ways artificial intelligence has served to improve the business sector. The fact that it’s still considered burgeoning tech means that current technological standards are only the tip of the iceberg for AI! It can be used for process automation, closed captions, and transcription—even business forecasting.
As if that wasn’t enough, there are also data annotation services to help optimize AI programs, ensuring your business software works precisely as intended through accurate labeling. There are so many ways to take advantage of AI, though it depends on your chosen industry. AI can even be used to scour through the latest trends and news, giving you access to everything you need to improve your company.
2. Using software tools to fully optimize your company
No matter which industry you choose, there will always be business software that matches your pursuits. For instance, auto detailing software can streamline scheduling, customer management, and invoicing for businesses in the automotive detailing industry.
One general example is marketing, though you don’t necessarily have to do everything yourself. Something as simple as hiring an SEO agency can ensure that your business gets the exposure it needs online. That said, you can take from their example and inquire about the various types of software they use to market your business.
There’s even the potential for software development, where your business creates the software it needs to accomplish your goals. Another advantage of software involves the use of data management platforms, making it easier for you and your staff to tackle day-to-day company responsibilities. For instance, incorporating software solutions for general admission seating can streamline event management and improve the overall attendee experience.
Or you can go the easier route and use online marketing tools like PosterMyWall to manage all your marketing needs, from creating fabulous small business flyers, to social media publishing and email marketing, to creating your own brand kits so your business can always stay on brand, and stay ahead.
3. Taking advantage of tech to improve the customer journey
While digital marketing is there to point potential customers in the direction of your business, it’s still up to you to ensure that the customer journey goes smoothly. For example, web optimization ensures your customers have the highest chances of making a purchase when they get to your landing page. AI and various types of business software can also help your company with an online ticketing system and virtual agents for customer service.
Conclusion
Tech is an integral part of any business, especially if you want to outpace the competition as a startup. The earlier you rely on business software, the easier it becomes to manage your company, especially with regard to scalability.
Startup Management 101: Using Tech to Get Ahead was last modified: December 12th, 2024 by Mildred Austria
Supported sync destinations include Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Google, iCloud and DejaOffice
CompanionLink Software, the long-time leading maker of PC-based Sync Products, is launching a Sync driver for monday sales CRM in September 2022. This driver will be supported throughout our product line, allowing integration from monday sales CRM to PC Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft 365, Google, iCloud, iPhone, Android and DejaOffice.
A month ago, monday.com announced the availability of the monday sales CRM. The CRM is a fully customizable multi-user CRM you can set up in minutes, giving small business owners and large business sales teams the ability to manage their sales cycle and customer data. Introduced by monday.com (MNDY), monday sales CRM seamlessly integrates with hundreds of apps and services, but not Microsoft Outlook on the PC. Instead, CompanionLink will supply an Outlook Sync product.
Market Position
CompanionLink plans to release software that fully supports Sync with Contacts and Activities in monday sales CRM. Based on a Windows software engine, CompanionLink products commonly connect a legacy platform with a novel platform.
CompanionLink solves a common business problem. Although dynamic teams seek to implement new and powerful web-based technology, established processes and staff rely on traditional PC-based tools to be productive in their everyday assignments. CompanionLink solves this problem by creating software that connects the legacy tool, like Microsoft Outlook, with new platforms like monday sales CRM. As a result, the CompanionLink customer gains the best of both worlds as they maintain their legacy systems while engaging in dynamic involvement with monday’s modern productivity tools.
Outlook Contact Integration with Monday CRM
CompanionLink’s new driver connects Outlook Contacts to monday sales CRM contacts. Your entire contact list is available on Monday in just a few seconds. CompanionLink’s product works without regard to whether you use the email portion of monday sales CRM. You can add the Outlook fields to your monday sales CRM template, and the CompanionLink driver will sync them. CompanionLink supports all forms of Outlook folders, including POP3, IMAP and Exchange folder types.
Outlook Calendar Integration with monday CRM Activities
The new driver connects Outlook Calendar with monday sales CRM activities. This connection ensures your daily activities are shared between Outlook on your PC and monday sales CRM for your team. monday.com’s product lacks a formal week and month view, and many people find these views fundamental to how they schedule their activities in Outlook.
CompanionLink products that integrate with monday sales CRM
When CompanionLink introduces a new driver, it is supported throughout the diverse CompanionLink product line. Customers who use monday sales CRM can take advantage of the following products:
CompanionLink Professional
CompanionLink Professional is sold as a perpetual license for $149.95 per user one-time charge or as a subscription for $28.95 per user, billed once every three months. CompanionLink Express is installed on your local Windows PC and will integrate the following data destinations:
PC-based Outlook versions 2007 and higher
Outlook.com
iCloud Contacts and Calendar
Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar
DoubleLook Enterprise
CompanionLink’s DoubleLook Enterprise provides server-based integration used by larger-scale websites to automate the sync process. DoubleLook is commonly used in corporations with a Corporate Exchange server instead of Office 365 hosted by Microsoft. DoubleLook integrates the same destinations as CompanionLink Express, including Exchange, iCloud, Google, and DejaCloud.
DejaOffice on PC, iPhone and Android
DejaOffice CRM is the highest-rated CRM product in the Android App store. It provides a convenient database for handling Contacts, Calendars, Tasks and Notes. The iPhone and Android-based DejaOffice App is free. While DejaOffice will not connect directly to monday sales CRM, customers set up a DejaCloud connector to handle this task. DejaCloud is a sync service offered by CompanionLink.
DejaFlow Automatic Sync
CompanionLink hosts a service called DejaFlow. When monday sale CRM is added to this service, small businesses can quickly add and maintain a connector for a fraction of the cost of Microsoft Automated Services, Appy Pie or Zapier.
Simple Setup
CompanionLink products are focused on the consumer market and are very easy to set up. Supply your login credentials. For example, with monday sales CRM, you create an API key, enter this value in the software, and then select simple items like which user records you want to integrate. You do not need to script separate actions like add, change, delete, or worry about complex data flow.
Speed and Performance Metrics
CompanionLink makes full use of App Hooks, which allows sync to be done in a few seconds. For example, once you have connected your Outlook to monday sales CRM, a new contact added in Outlook can be viewed on Monday at about the same speed as you switch to your browser (about 3 seconds). In addition, when you add an activity in monday sales CRM, it will display on your Outlook Calendar the next time you look at your calendar.
A Step Up for monday CRM customers
While Monday.com provides Google and Outlook integration, CompanionLink’s PC-based tool can provide an alternative level of service. As an established 3rd party vendor, CompanionLink provides a simple setup, fast sync, and technical support service in the style typical of legacy PC products. CompanionLink runs as a traditional Windows App. You install the product, set up the integration, and run automatically for weeks and years without any need for adjustment or maintenance. If you purchase a perpetual license, it is a one-time charge, so you do not need to spend money in future years until the PC or web-based platform requires an updated version.
Availability
CompanionLink’s products with the new monday sales CRM driver is now available in late September 2022. If you are interested please click here.
Tech Support
CompanionLink provides free telephone tech support in our local time zone from 7am-3:30pm US Pacific Time. In addition, you can email 24×7, and CompanionLink will respond to all messages on the next business day. CompanionLink is located in the US in Portland, Oregon.
CompanionLink also provides a one-time setup service called RunStart, for $69 and Premium Tech Support, for $149 per year. An experienced technician will log into your computer with both services and provide hands-on assistance for setup and maintenance tasks.
About CompanionLink Software
CompanionLink® Software, Inc. is a pioneer developer of data synchronization solutions for mobile phones and CRM software and services. They also develop a DejaOffice® for Outlook® App, which runs on Android™, iPhone® and iPad® devices. For 30 years, CompanionLink has connected Contacts, Calendars, Tasks and Notes from legacy platforms to innovative new web platforms as well as mobile phones and tablets. For more information, please visit www.companionlink.com and www.dejaoffice.com.
CompanionLink, DejaOffice, and DejaCloud are registered trademarks of CompanionLink Software, Inc. Other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
CompanionLink Professional
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Free 14 day trial. Price $24.95 3-Month Sub - $149.95 One-time License.
CompanionLink to Launch Outlook Sync for monday sales CRM was last modified: January 13th, 2024 by Wayland Bruns
Running a business is no easy task, especially in this competitive commercial environment. There are many challenges that your company will be facing in the initial years of operation; some of these challenges are hard to tackle and are usually why a lot of startups end up shutting down after five years of operation. Multiple areas of your business need attention, and as its owner, it is your job to ensure that each part of your business is running smoothly and is able to effectively navigate any bumps in the road. Here are a few tips that can help you improve your business operations.
1. Better Management of Resources
You need to organize and manage your business to ensure it operates without difficulties. Organization of business tasks could include overseeing and managing your finances, corporate affairs, and how your employees behave in the work environment. Poor management usually results in a business shutting down after 2-3 years of operations. If you’re looking to stay afloat in this cutthroat market, you need to learn how to manage your entire company and get everyone on the same page.
There are tools available to aid business managers, such as company or team management software. The aim of this software is to boost your business’ productivity levels while aligning your company finances with your long-term plans and goals. Being a business manager can be exhausting, and these organizational skills and management tools will help relieve the burden of managing your company and delegating responsibility.
You can only organize and manage your business if you have a business plan that can help you work towards achieving a specific goal. Usually, a business plan should be realistic and achievable, allowing you to measure your employees’ and company’s progress. Identifying your target market and their needs and establishing your business values are a few stepping stones that help formulate a business plan to achieve your long-term goals.
2. Use Customer Experience Software
A customer experience software helps a company manage and track their customer’s feedback. This software designs and analyzes a customer’s experience while deriving ways a business could elevate its clients’ experience. If you decide to use a lead provider of customer experience software, it will allow you to assess your customers’ satisfaction levels, brand loyalty, and repurchase rate.
You can effortlessly gather customer feedback data about your company from social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin. This data can then be grouped to measure the overall experience that your previous clients have had. You can then improve your customer retention rate by improving your services, offering them better quality products, providing them with after-sales services, and more.
However, customer experience software will be valuable to your company if your previous clientele provides feedback about their experience. When dealing with your clients, try encouraging them to leave reviews on your website, preferably positive. According to a study done, more than 92% of potential customers will scour through online reviews before purchasing a specific brand’s product or acquiring a service from a particular company.
One way of making sure that your clients leave reviews on your website is to offer them incentives for leaving reviews, such as a 10% off on their next purchase. Companies can also request that their customers leave video testimonials, if possible; some potential clients can be skeptical about online reviews, believing that the reviews are biased and a form of paid promotion. Video testimonials will give them a sense of security and help them realize that the feedback in question is unbiased and a true reflection of the services provided by the company.
3. Automate Tasks
The level of business competition these days is cutthroat, which is why you must automate your business tasks as much as you can. Automating tasks can include emailing your employees their paychecks, or sending your vendors electronic receipts. Such duties are monotonous, boring, and can waste your employees’ time by distracting them from their work.
By automating your business tasks, you give your employees the chance to work in a more productive environment, allowing them to work with increasing efficiency. Although automating your business tasks might be a little costly in the initial stages, it will help benefit your business in the long run.
4. Train Your Employees
Training your employees will polish up their old skills and help them learn new ones they could utilize in their job. Research and studies have proven that on-the-job training leads to job satisfaction, which results in employees being motivated to work harder and be more productive. By staying up to date on the latest trends in the industry, your employees will have an upper hand and be able to tackle any problems on their own.
5. Have Daily Meetings
Everyone hates meetings; they’re long, boring, and tedious, and you often feel like falling asleep when you’re not even halfway through them. However, research has proven that keeping your daily meetings short and to the point (10 minutes to be exact) leads to efficient and productive meetings, with a generation of new ideas and the involvement of every member. Having company meetings is a necessity; however, your company does not need conferences that eat away the entire work day and distract both you and your employees from being their productive selves.
Having daily 10-minute meetings is an excellent way to keep your employees up to date on any new business developments. It also encourages them to present their ideas and contributions, engendering in them a sense of loyalty and belonging to the company. A streamlined meeting improves employee efficiency and eliminates valuable work time being wasted on unnecessary discussions.
6. Use Task Management Software
Communicating through fax and email is a thing of the past; if you want your business model to operate efficiently, you need to start using task management software. Task management software will streamline communication with your employees and have all your conversations and tasks in one place.
Task management software has been proven to be especially useful for corporations whose employees work in groups and teams. This way, the group members’ individual assigned tasks and progress can be viewed by anyone. The ability to track and view each other’s progress will enable employees to reach out to their respective team members and help them out if need be. It also allows everyone to achieve their goals efficiently. Team leaders can encourage and motivate members who are slacking behind in terms of task completion.
7. Create an Email List
Most companies think of reaching out to their customers via email as something of the past, but corporations that tap into email marketing have been successful so far. You can expand your email marketing list by reaching out to your contacts and adding your previous clientele. You can also have a registration form on your website where interested people can fill in their details to get added to your email list.
When you’re marketing to potential customers through email, try not to clutter their inboxes with irrelevant information. The content you distribute via email needs to be relevant, gripping, and easy to read and understand. Sending out readable, relatable, and engaging content will give your potential customers a reason to open your email and read it. To pull in subscribers, you can give them special incentives or reward them with gifts such as coupons, shipping offers, or discount rates for signing up.
8. Openly Communicate With Employees
Establishing a culture that promotes openly communicating with your colleagues will help your employees easily find solutions to their problems. Your employees should not feel apprehensive about voicing their concerns or providing you or their colleagues with feedback on how they should be performing specific tasks. One of the main reasons a company grows is its ability to foster an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking out about how the company is run. Believe it or not, your employees might provide you with practical advice or tips that can help your company flourish in ways that even you might not have thought of. Encouraging your employees to think, be creative, provide feedback, and voice their opinions and ideas helps your business become more efficient.
9. Have Flexible Working Hours
Covid has completely changed the way employees work; with a team of hard-working and devoted employees, it’s easier for your employees to be more productive with more flexible working hours. Flexible working hours increase employees’ job satisfaction and loyalty to your company. This way, your employees will be working at hours that are more convenient for them, allowing them to be more productive. Your employees can work from home and be more diligent and dutiful towards their work. Flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely will be especially appreciated by workers with children and families.
Multiple aspects of a business need to come together and work harmoniously to ensure its success. A business manager needs to organize and manage these areas effectively for optimal productivity. Focusing on your customers, employees, and key business operations will help your business flourish. By keeping these tips in mind, you can prevent your business from becoming stagnant and allow it to grow and prosper.
Useful Tips to Help Improve the Way Your Business Works was last modified: May 2nd, 2023 by Allen Brown
