Author: Hitsteps

As a digital entrepreneur, you cannot be adept at every aspect of the world of business, especially when you are dealing with the struggles of the internet and running a business. Then, when you are starting up an e-commerce store, certain professional services can help your storefront thrive, and this guide will detail some of these.

1.   SEO Agency

Digital marketing is core to the success of your business and your ability to attract and maintain customers. However, it can be difficult to succeed in your digital marketing campaigns, especially when you are trying to manage different aspects of your business at once. It would then help if you considered hiring an seo agency that can help direct traffic to your website and ensure your marketing is targeted toward customers who are already on the lookout for businesses like yours.

2.   Website Analytics

Running a website for your e-commerce store can be incredibly stressful, and many entrepreneurs struggle to know whether their website is popular or not. Then, hiring a website analytics firm can help you acquire data that will allow you to understand what you need to do to improve your website and acknowledge that it will enable you to realize your customers’ behavior and adapt your website to accommodate this.

3.   Graphic Design and Brand Identity

However, to make your website as professional and engaging as possible, you should consider hiring a graphic design team who will be able to develop your logo and the brand identity that you display on your website. Not only this, but website designers can also make your website exciting as well as easy to navigate for your clients.

4.   Customer Service

When you own an e-commerce store, it is more difficult to communicate with customers than when you own a physical location, and this can cause issues when your clientele has queries or complaints. It would help if you considered hiring a customer service company that can answer phone calls, deal with live chat queries, and reply to the many emails that enter your inbox each day.

5.   Translation Services

The internet is a vast place that speakers of many different languages use. Whether you want to translate your website or the communications between you and different clients or suppliers, you should consider using translation services. These will ensure that you can maintain clear communication at all times and that you will be able to branch out your business worldwide.

6.   Order Fulfilment and Shipping Services

Once your e-commerce store starts to grow, it can become more difficult to store your inventory within your home or office and complete orders on time. Then, many e-commerce store owners decide to invest in a remote order fulfillment and shipping service where your orders can be packed and sent straight to customers from a warehouse location. Although this gives you less control of your orders, this can ensure that your customers can receive their products quickly and efficiently.

Everyone is happy to see the back of 2020 after what was a disastrous year due to the pandemic. While things are looking better for 2021, it will still be a challenging year for businesses that will be desperate to bounce back despite the pandemic continuing and the long-term implications to consider. So, what should businesses be doing this year to manage during this tricky year and hopefully find some success? It will depend on your situation and the industry you are in, but here are a few tips that will hopefully come in useful and help you manage.

• Maintain Visibility

It is very easy for a business to fade into the background if they are not careful in the current situation. Even if your business is currently unable to operate, you still need to maintain communication with your target customer to stay in their mind and maintain solid relationships during this period. Digital marketing is critical in a time like this to stay relevant, plus you should be using social media to communicate and engage with your target audience. This could include creating relevant content that your target market will find useful in a time like this.

• Reduce Costs

Cash flow is a major issue for many right now due to the pandemic, so reducing your costs is a smart way to improve cash flow and help you when there might not be as much money coming in as you are used to. It would help if you were careful when cutting costs not to negatively impact the quality of the product/service that you provide or to put too much strain on your team, so a few good ideas include:

• Switching to alternative energy
• Remote work
• Energy-efficient equipment
• Renegotiating with vendors
• Second-hand equipment
• Open-source software
• Embrace Remote Work

Remote work could be here to stay, and many plan to continue with it even after the pandemic ends because it benefits both parties. It is certainly worth embracing for the time being, which will involve making sure that you know how to manage a remote team, supporting your staff, and making sure that you have the best equipment, tools, and software to overcome remote work challenges.

• Step Up Cybersecurity

As if the pandemic has created enough difficulties for businesses in 2021, it has also created a surge in cyber attacks due to staff working remotely and advanced new Phishing attacks being developed. Therefore, businesses need to invest in the best cybersecurity to prevent these attacks and to keep the operation running smoothly.

• Be Flexible

Finally, flexibility is critical in times like this, where the situation changes so quickly. Businesses that are flexible and able to adapt to what is happening will always come out on top, which means that you need to be willing to take risks and think creatively. It is also helpful to consider different outcomes in the short and long-term and create plans for all of them.

Hopefully, these tips will help your business to manage during what is sure to be a challenging year ahead for all.

If you are new to remote working, whether it is a result of the current pandemic or whether your company has switched to remote working opportunities, it can feel a bit of a challenge to know how to work from home most productively without getting distracted. A new working environment and having more responsibility of your own routine can actually lead to lack of motivation in some people – which is why these 7 productivity hacks for home working are here to help you.

1. Set Up Your Working Space

First and foremost, you need to have the perfect spot to do your work at home. Ideally this should be a home office, but that is not always possible, especially if you have a smaller home. What matters is being able to set up a comfortable spot where you will not be disturbed and where you can sit comfortably.

2. Have Set Working Hours

Working from home easily leads into working more hours than you would do when you are in a workplace. However, a working day is still the same, which means stick to set start and finish hours to make sure you do not overwork yourself and can remain focused.

3. Let Others in the Household Know Your Schedule

If you do not live alone, working from home can be tricky. It is easy for others to speak with you or interrupt you simply because you are at home, but your work schedule needs to be treated in the same way as if you were at the office.

So make sure you tell those you live with the hours you are working and cannot be disturbed during, and the time you will be clocking off.

4. Choose the Right Software and Systems to Keep You Connected

Staying connected with others in your company is key when you are working from home, so that you can make sure communication is effective and that you have access to everything you need. Team software, like that from ovatiotech.com, can really help remote team members to work from the same information, connect through video chat or messaging and align all their communication.

5. Make Sure You Still Take Breaks

Because you are at home, you may think that you do not need a long lunch break, or perhaps forget about breaks throughout the day. No matter where you are, breaks are still important for your health and productivity levels. So be sure to schedule in breaks like you normally would.

6. You Can Still Leave the House

Working from home does not mean you have to be stuck to your desk all day. You can choose to work in the garden if you have one, or take a walk at lunch time to get out of the house. This will help you to feel focused and refreshed. Some people like walking first thing in the morning – to simulate a morning commute to the office and signal the start of the workday.

7. Position Yourself in Natural Light

Natural light can be one of the biggest productivity boosters, so making sure that you are working in an area that has plenty of natural light will help for a more positive mentality and more work motivation.

Working from home can be a success with these 7 productivity hacks.

When fundraising for a political campaign or simply driving to get the message out about your candidate, SMS marketing is one of the best ways around. If you are thinking of trying to promote your political message through SMS marketing or looking to ramp up your existing SMS plans, this guide has been designed to provide the crucial information as to why it is so effective. Read on now to learn about four reasons why every political campaign should be using SMS marketing.

It Captures People without Internet or Smartphones

Not everyone has a smartphone or reliable internet connection. Nonetheless, nearly everyone will have some kind of working phone with an SMS connection. That’s why it makes sense to develop your SMS marketing, collecting people’s numbers while going door-to-door. This means that you will be able to pick up on people from a lower-class background or of an older age and let them know all about your campaign. If you are not sure how to develop your mobile fundraising campaign, why not consider trying mobile fundraising with Anedot, a respected company with plenty of experience in this field.

It’s Direct

SMS marketing is direct, which is what political campaigns need if they want to thrive. People value communication that gets to the point, is short and concise, and quickly conveys the message. It also serves as a crucial reminder to people who may have forgotten about you, conveying the fact that you care about their opinion and want to hear more from them. Just remember to get the name of the people you collect these phone details from, so when you address them:

It Feels Personable

People value communication that feels personable. This shows that they are not another voter to win over, but someone important in their own right. A way to make it really feel like you are talking to the person who you contact is to allow them to reply to the text so you can get a conversation going. You’ll be surprised by the amount of undecided voters who may change their affiliation if they feel that they can actually have a proper conversation with campaigners. One by one, you will find that you can slowly swing the favor of the vote your way.

It Allows You To Collect Data

As both the 2016 and 2020 national campaigns have shown, data is the secret weapon for winning an election. By using text marketing, you are able to build metrics that can then be converted into crucial campaign data. The more you know about your prospective voters — and their breakdown by race, age, and gender — the more you can tailor your messages to truly resonate with them. Make sure that when you are using two-way marketing to ask lots of questions of the person who has replied in order to get a full picture of their concerns and to then use that data to your advantage later on.

It is so frustrating when you get lots of traffic to your website, but it just does not seem to result in sales. However, traffic is a great place to start, and there are lots of things you can do to bring those conversion rates up.

Here are some simple tips to improve your conversion rate and get more sales.

Quality Copy

Copy is the writing on your website that is designed to get people to act. The better your copywriting is, the more likely it is people will take the actions you want them to take on your page.

This is where you must be investing in quality on your website, taking the time to craft the right messages, and guide people through the sales process using calls to action.

Create More Touchpoints

Improving conversion rates is about getting more out of the traffic you already have, and one of the ways to do this is by creating more touchpoints.

People might be coming to your website and enjoying the content, but once they leave your site, you may never see them again. You need to use your great content to get people to give you a way to reach them consistently.

Contact forms are an important part of your website’s weaponry, so make sure you are using them to good effect.

Email Marketing

Once you have someone’s contact details, you can start leveraging email marketing to boost your conversion rate. However, just sending out hastily crafted emails is not going to get the results you want.

Your email marketing campaigns need to be highly focused and personalized towards your customers. Your email autoresponder will have good segmentation options to make sure you’re reaching the right people with the right messages, and tools like rocketseed.com can help add that personal touch to your emails.

Ensure you are offering value to your subscribers, which will lead to more engagement and better conversion rates.

Shipping Policies

If you are selling a physical product, then it is important you clearly outline your shipping policies.

When customers add a product to their basket, it is part of a complicated decision-making process. If people have made that decision, only to find out further along the line that there is an additional cost, then they have got to go through the whole process again, and they might come up with a different answer this time.

Being clear about shipping policies will help you reduce abandon cart ratios, helping you make more sales.

Checkout Process

When someone is decided to buy your product, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to pay. When you look at some of the biggest e-commerce brands globally, they allow you to buy products with so few clicks – there are no barriers to a sale.

However, smaller sites sometimes make you jump through hoops, and every hoop you have to jump through makes you less likely to follow through with your purchase. Do not let this be your website.

Cyber attacks are on the rise, and surveys show that there is a security breach every 39 seconds on average. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated and using increasingly complex methods to steal sensitive data. A data breach can destroy a company’s image and result in substantial losses. It is therefore essential that businesses protect their digital assets by implementing effective security solutions. With this in mind, here are four ways to improve your network security:

1. Provide cybersecurity training

A recent study found that 95% of successful cybersecurity breaches are due to human error. Human error is described as accidental actions that cause or allow a security breach to occur. A common example of this is when an employee unintentionally releases a virus by opening an email attachment from an untrustworthy source. Employers need to provide their staff with sufficient training on cybersecurity. This will help employees recognize a potential cyber threat and take action to minimize the risk. Cybersecurity training should cover various aspects of network security, including how to prevent sql injection attacks, phishing scams, and other malware. Offer regular training sessions to refresh your team’s knowledge of cybersecurity threats and the associated risks. You should also encourage your employees to report any suspicious activity immediately.

2. Protect your company’s Wi-Fi

An unsecured Wi-Fi connection can make your network vulnerable to cyber attacks. Employers should take steps to secure their Wi-Fi router and ensure that their network is protected against hackers and malware. Firstly, make sure that your Wi-Fi has a solid password that is updated regularly. It is a good idea to have a separate Wi-Fi for visitors so that you can limit your network access. Remember that you should also keep your Wi-Fi router in a secure location like a locked cabinet. Avoid leaving your Wi-Fi router in the office or out on display.

3. Create a backup plan

Your network will still be at risk of a cyberattack, no matter how many security measures you take. This is why you must create a data backup plan to recover valuable data in the event of a breach. A data backup plan will help minimize losses and ensure business continuity if you ever fall victim to a cyber attack. The goal of a data backup plan is to get your business back operating if data is stolen is compromised. You can create a data backup plan yourself or partner with a specialist IT company to create a customized backup strategy.

4. Outsource your network security

IT security experts have the skills and expertise to improve your network security. They will identify vulnerabilities and create strategies to enhance your network security. An IT security company can also monitor your digital systems 24/7 and act quickly in the event of a network breach. Outsourcing your cybersecurity to experts will give you peace of mind knowing that your network and data are secure. This means that you can focus on growing your business and achieving your strategic objectives.

When you are running an organisation or a business, you will likely have some files or property that needs to be kept secure. It is highly unusual that everyone in an organisation would have access to everything but how do you control this? The truth is that there are a few ways that you can effectively control access in your organisation with both digital tools and physical tools. Below, we’ll give you some of our best tips and tricks.

Inform Your Staff 

One of the simplest things that you can do to control access in your organisation is to inform your staff. You could find that some of your staff members are breaching your security procedures simply because they do not understand them completely. If they don’t know what they are allowed to access, how can they make sure they are following the rules? This is something that should be conveyed both in verbally and written in guidelines.

Invest In Access Wristbands 

If you operate in a large office building, it might be difficult to keep track of everyone at all times. For this reason, you may consider hiring security personnel to monitor the various rooms in your building. However, security staff can be expensive to maintain. So, instead, you should consider implementing an RFID wristband system with access levels granted to each staff member. If you visit https://www.idcardsdirect.co.uk/, you’ll find great options for your business.

Grant Digital Access

Not only will you need to protect any physical files or rooms in your building, but you’ll also need to be careful when it comes to your digital files. These usually contain financial data, passwords and even customer data which needs to be protected at all times. If you want to effectively control access in your organisation, you should make sure that access is only granted to those who require it. Password protect everything and change these regularly. The last thing you want is a security breach of your data.

Protect Your System

Finally, you need to make sure that you’re protecting your organisation from any unauthorised access from outside of the business. For example, hackers could gain access to your digital files if you are not protecting them carefully enough. This can be even more common in systems where customers can login to a portal and get more access than they really should. Find any gaps in your security and close them as soon as possible to control the access.

Final Verdict

If you are hoping to keep your organisation as secure as possible, you should make sure to take on board all of the advice that we have given you in this article, and deploy all the digital tools and physical tools which are available to you. Invest in RFID wristbands, train your staff and make sure that everything is password protected. Don’t let your lack of consideration for security compromise your business. Once you set out access levels, you’ll have the peace of mind that everything is going smoothly.

In 2020, millions of businesses switched to remote working in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the reduction in costs and enhanced work-life balance for employees has led to many businesses making the change permanent. If you’re considering introducing a long-term, work-from-home strategy, take a look at these five tips for switching employees to remote working:

1. Issue the Right Equipment

You’ll need to decide whether staff will be permitted to use their own devices or whether you’re going to issue the equipment they need. Providing staff with tech devices ensures that all employees will have access the right equipment, but it also means you can pre-load devices with security software and any work-based platforms they’ll be using.

2. Transition to the Cloud

Cloud-based services can benefit any type of business but they’re particularly advantageous when you’re managing a distributed workforce. When programs are based in the cloud, for example, employees can log in from any location. Similarly, data can be shared seamlessly within the cloud, which is vital when it comes to maximizing productivity and efficiency.

3. Update Your Cybersecurity Strategy

As you switch to remote working, your cybersecurity methodologies will need to evolve. When employees are accessing platforms remotely, for example, there will be logins made via potentially unsecured routers and internet connections. Additionally, cloud-based infrastructures require different security protocols, which means implementing new strategies. Of course, new threats are emerging all the time too, so you’ll need to ensure your cybersecurity strategy is equipped to deal with new risks and attacks.

4. Provide IT Support

As a business, you’ll need ongoing IT support to ensure your tech infrastructure is functioning optimally. However, your employees may need to access tech support to troubleshoot issues with their devices or connections too. IT managed services can be the most cost-effective way for businesses to ensure they have the tech support they need. Encompassing system maintenance, cybersecurity, user account management, secure remote access and much, much more, managed IT services ensure you can access a wide range of services and comprehensive support.

5. Maintain Communication

When staff are working remotely, it’s easy for employees to feel isolated. This can be particularly common if staff are used to working in busy, bustling offices or are new to homeworking. Maintaining communication ensures staff feel supported and gives them the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have. Furthermore, regular communication can boost morale and increase productivity. From one-to-one video chats with supervisors to virtual social events, be sure to make communication a top priority when you’re managing remote teams.

Implementing Remote Working Strategies

As more businesses benefit from remote working, we’re likely to see a major shift in the way employees work. While remote working can deliver lucrative benefits, it’s important to take a strategic approach to any major change. By doing so, you can achieve a seamless transition and maintain your operations as you implement new working arrangements. With a comprehensive strategy, professional support and the right resources, remote working could be a fantastic way to grow your business.

If you operate a business, you likely already know there are many insurance products available. The number of options can prove to be confusing. However, it is important to remember that your business doesn’t necessarily need coverage from several different insurance policies, depending on the state you’re in, whereas some policies are law, such as how in Georgia you need to provide worker insurance for part-time staff.

Another example on how these rules fluctuate is, if you operate as a sole proprietorship or run a small business from home, you’re not going to require the same type of coverage as a mid-size organization with multiple employees. As a result, you have to pay particular attention to the type of insurance your company needs.

That’s where this article is here to help. Instead of dropping money on policies that aren’t necessary, you will have a greater understanding about which coverage is best. Here are four types of insurance your business may need.

Workers compensation insurance

If your business does have employees on its books, you will most likely require workers compensation insurance, as every state in America requires businesses to have some form of this coverage. However, the extent of your cover can be drastically different depending on where you’re based, with your requirements being dependent on the number of employees working for your business, as in Georgia you don’t need have this cover if you employ less than three workers. There are also plenty other rules specific in Georgia, so be sure to learn what’s required if you have a business there.

However, even if you fall under the mandatory total of employees, it still makes sense to acquire workers comp insurance as it supplies vital financial protection for not just your staff, but also you and your business. If an employee is a victim to a workplace injury, the insurance can cover emergency treatment, lost wages, medical bills, and even death benefits.

General liability insurance

For many small businesses, general liability insurance is a must. This policy protects a company from common claims that revolve around:

• Property damage
• Bodily injury
• Copyright infringement
• Advertising injury
• Reputational harm

Did you know that the average slip and fall settlement sits at around $30,000? For many small businesses, trying to cover this expense would lead to them having to shut up shop for good. Yet if you have general liability insurance in place, you won’t have to deal with this type of cost on your own.

Professional liability insurance

To be protected from client claims, you must be covered with professional liability insurance. This policy covers the likes of copyright infringement, negligence, and personal injury. It can include damages resulting from something you did, or something you should have done.

While many business types can benefit from this type of policy, professional liability insurance is particularly essential if your company supplies:

• Clients with contractual services
• Clients with professional advice
• A professional service

Commercial auto insurance

If you operate with business-owned vehicles, you need to have these covered with commercial auto insurance. This policy will cover you and your employees in the event of a vehicle-related incident. As a result, it can help cover expenses related to property damage, injuries, and more.

Commercial auto insurance is especially important for vehicle-based businesses like delivery companies and taxi firms. Yet it can also help you out if you use your car for work-related tasks and end up with unexpected expenses due to an accident.

 

 

Are you considering starting an eCommerce business? Running any business gives you the chance to manage your own time and make your own way in the world, but when that business is online, the possibilities are endless. Many people at least consider the advantages of selling products via the internet, as when done well, it can be a highly profitable venture. However, there is a difference between an eCommerce business that turns a profit and an eCommerce business that enjoys significant success.

If you are hoping to start an eCommerce business, here are ten key steps to a successful venture.

1. Register the business

When shopping online, people are more cautious than ever before. Customers want to know that they are buying from a reputable and legal business, so it is important to officially register your business. When choosing a name for your business, you should ensure that it is recognizable and, ideally, tells customers what you sell. Your website domain should be as close to your company name as possible. You will also need a bank account for your business where payments can be deposited.

2. Do not rush your launch

It might be tempting to rush your eCommerce business launch, but this is usually a mistake. Think of the launch of your website as the launch of your storefront and generate interest in your brand in the days and weeks leading up to it. The most important point to remember is that your website should be completely ready to operate before it goes live.

3. Decide on your shipping courier

When selling products via the internet, you need a way to send your products to your customers. To do this, you will need to partner with a reputable shipping company that will handle your products with care and efficiency.

4. Make sure you have IT support

If your business relies on your having access to a computer so you can manage your website and online payments, it makes sense that your IT system is crucial to your success. When you run into a problem, you could find your business is unable to operate for a period, which could lead to lost sales and reputational damage. Rather than employing an IT professional on a full-time basis, consider using a remote IT support company that will respond quickly when you need them to.

5. Put your customers first

There is a misconception that running an eCommerce business does not demand the same level of customer service as running a brick-and-mortar store. In reality, you need to prioritize your customer satisfaction levels, ensuring that customers can use your website easily and quickly and place their order without difficulty. The product should arrive within your specified timeframe, and you should be available to answer queries and resolve complaints efficiently. Online reviewing is a powerful force that can make or break a business, and it is unwise to get a poor reputation by neglecting customer service.

6. Invest in your website

Your website needs to be secure, easy to navigate, attractive, and stable, with user experience at the top of your list of concerns. There are professional website designers and developers who will be able to create the best possible website for you.

7. Embrace social media

Maintaining a presence on social media by publishing content that is engaging and informative is key to success in the world of eCommerce. This enables you to build an audience of followers (potential customers) you can interact with and promote your brand to. When you create content, make sure it is easy to share, like, or comment on.

8. Make your website mobile-friendly

In the past, people could only view the website when they sat in front of a static desktop computer or laptop. Now, most people are using their tablets and smartphones to browse the internet and make online purchases. For this reason, your website needs to be mobile-friendly, i.e., easy to view and navigate on a mobile device.

9. Build a marketing database

It is far easier to sell to an existing customer than to sell to a new customer, so you need to nurture your customer relationships. Customer relationship management software may help you to do this, and you should give customers a way to subscribe to email updates and marketing promotions.

10. Keep evolving

One of the most challenging parts of running an eCommerce business is that the internet, technology, and digital marketing are always changing. To stay ahead of your competitors and ensure that you are following best practices, you need to be prepared to adapt and evolve in line with digital marketing trends.