Branded drop shipping is a revolutionary concept in the online shopping world. By combining dropshipping with brand development, businesses can create a successful venture. Additionally, people are more likely to approach a brand-named online store than a normal one because people trust brands. A key reason for the popularity of this concept is that it allows businesses to operate more efficiently.

Dropshipping is a profitable business model. Due to this business model, both businesses that have and do not have inventory can sell products and earn profits. Consequently, the dropshipping market is growing exponentially, breaking records every day. 

The market is anticipated to exceed $243.42 billion in 2023, which is an encouraging figure for businesses considering this approach or already in the process.

Let’s dig into a proper guide to explaining this Business so you will better understand it.

What’s branded dropshipping?

Brands are consumers’ ideas, concepts, or perceptions of companies, stores, and products. Branding is crucial to ensuring your company is recognizable and distinct from your competitors. So, when talking about dropshipping, what does it mean?

As the name suggests, running a dropshipping business incorporated with a brand is called branded dropshipping. However, this approach is a bit different from traditional dropshipping, where you sell a product, and a third person delivers the product on your behalf. Instead, in this model, you sell products with your private label or trusted brands.  

However, if you incorporate a brand for the dropshipping process, you must get their permission to operate your store successfully. Nevertheless, many brands hesitate to shake hands with the drop shipper because they worry about losing control over their quality and processes. Simply put, going with your own private label is the best strategy you can adopt.

How do you create an effective brand strategy for your dropshipping business? 

Similar to the creative custom packaging ideas that assist businesses in grabbing the audience’s attention and improving their product’s first impression, here are some critical elements of creating an effective brand strategy.

• Feedback and ratings from customers
• Retarget your customers.
• Invest in SEO content marketing.
• Take advantage of email marketing.
• Strategize your social media marketing.
• Organize a giveaway

Feedback and ratings from customers

Building trust is one of the most frustrating things in the dropshipping Business. It is also becoming increasingly difficult for customers to decide whether to invest in a new dropshipping store. What if the product ends up being counterfeit or dysfunctional? What if the product’s quality does not match the customer’s expectations? 

The only things that provide comfort to customers in this situation are customer ratings and feedback, which increases the likelihood that they will buy your product. This will add an element of transparency and authenticity. Therefore, your store should have a section for customer feedback and ratings.

Retarget your customers.

Although there are no official figures according to the studies, only 2% of the visitors purchase the product on their first visit to the website, and the rest simply go to the new store to find a discount or a better product. In other words, rather than focusing on gaming traffic, you can do smart work by following up with all those who have visited your website.

For that purpose, you have to make engaging and eye-catching ads along with appealing taglines that strike the chord of the customer, and there will be a 50 – 70% chance that they will revisit your website and buy your product.

Invest in SEO content marketing.

For an effective brand strategy, blogging is also an excellent idea to consider. It is an economical yet powerful tactic to rank your dropshipping store on the top of any search engine result page. When creating your blog, you must include guides and other content that will interest your potential customers. Even though it requires time and work, the outcomes will astound you. This strategy will allow you to consistently drive traffic to your dropshipping store while also providing inspirational content. 

Take advantage of email marketing.

A great return on investment can also be achieved through email marketing in dropshipping. Because of its benefits like highlighting special promotions and offers, boosting sales by converting abandoned carts, retaining customers, and provoking new customers to purchase, it is a crucial part of an e-commerce marketing strategy.

Notably, sending out regular newsletters can be an excellent place to start. This way, you can set up forms and popups for lead generation. As a result, these email subscribers are now entering the initial stages of the purchasing process.

After that, you can use these newsletters to send your product blog content to attract customers; by doing so, customers will get engaged and curious about your products, boosting business sales. 

Strategize your social media marketing.

Using social media marketing for marketing your dropshipping store is also highly recommended. Similar to SEO content marketing, this strategy requires time to generate traffic. However, because of the intense competition, success in this strategy requires careful planning.

Consider starting small, focusing on two or three channels, and focusing on them thoroughly. Keep your goals in mind and choose a platform according to that. For example, short videos are popular these days, so you can upload them to social media platforms.

Also, it would be helpful if you gathered as much user-generated content as possible. In this way, you can build up more credibility and trust for your dropshipping brand.

Organize a giveaway

Everybody wants freebees and will seek involvement in giveaway campaigns. Since drop shippers do not have their stock, they do not consider their strategy. Even so, adequately executed giveaways can help you improve your store’s traffic and boost sales.

For organizing a giveaway, first, you have to choose which type of contest you want to run that will promote your brand and a suitable prize. After that, you can promote your contest on different media platforms to strike the audience.

In addition to boosting traffic to your store, increasing social engagement and followers, promoting a specific product, growing your email marketing list, and boosting brand awareness, you can even improve social engagement with the right contest.

How to Make Your Dropshipping Branded

Here are some steps you can follow to make your dropshipping branded.

• Create a Proper Business Website for Dropshipping
• Go with a Consistent Color Scheme & Logo to Build a Brand 
• Use Custom Labels & Packaging
• Add Custom Inserts to your Product for Durability

Create a Proper Business Website for Dropshipping

The first step toward constructing a successful dropshipping website is identifying a reliable e-commerce platform such as Shopify or WooCommerce. Ensure mobile responsiveness, optimize design, and use high-quality visuals to maximize user experience. Additionally, to Improve organic traffic and visibility, use SEO strategies.

Go with a Consistent Color Scheme & Logo to Build a Brand 

Choose a color scheme, typography, and logo that resonates with your products and audience to define your brand identity. To build trust with customers, brands should be consistent across channels. You may follow the six-year rule to build trust and reliability in your audience.

Use Custom Labels & Packaging

Integrate custom labels and packaging into your brand to elevate it. Customer loyalty is enhanced when packaging adds professionalism and reinforces brand recognition. You may ask your custom packaging manufacturer to add similar labels to your packaging that will provide information about your product and act as a tiny brand ambassador to your Business, attracting customers.

Add Custom Inserts to your Product for Durability

Make your products durable and customer-satisfaction by adding custom inserts. Besides protecting items, these packaging options provide additional information or customization, expressing the quality of your brand. Furthermore, functional products can help ensure customer satisfaction and serve as an opportunity to engage customers. 

Custom Packaging Companies Which You Can Try for your Dropshipping

Here are some of the top custom packaging companies you can try for dropshipping.

• Arka
• Box Agency 
• Packhelp
• Packlane

Arka

Arka specializes in crafting eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions. They focus on creating customizable packaging made from recycled and biodegradable materials, appealing to businesses seeking innovative and environmentally conscious packaging options.

Box Agency

Box Agency (boxagency dot com) specializes in custom box design, prototyping, and manufacturing for a wide variety of businesses. Their designs reflect their clients’ unique brands and requirements, ensuring they deliver high-quality and distinctive packaging.

Packhelp

Packhelp stands out by offering an online platform for businesses to design and order personalized packaging. Their user-friendly interface allows customers to create customized packaging using templates or their own designs, primarily designed to offer services to small to medium-sized businesses.

Packlane

Like Packhelp, Packlane provides an online platform for businesses to design custom packaging. They specialize in delivering simple yet personalized packaging solutions focusing on design flexibility, targeting businesses seeking simple yet customized packaging options.

Conclusion

For Product Dropshipping, Outsource Contact with a Specialist 

“Join BEST FULL FILL in simplifying your order fulfillment process! Their mission is to save you time, energy, and costs while achieving top-notch customer satisfaction. Connect with them today and experience a streamlined approach that enhances efficiency and maximizes value for your Business!”

Featured Image Credit: Rdne Stock Project; Pexels

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The Digital Retail Revolution in the world of E-commerce logistics has emerged as the backbone of seamless shopping experiences. The final stretch, often called the ‘last-mile delivery,’ has become the focal point of innovation. This article delves into the intricacies of E-commerce Logistics and the Last-Mile Delivery Revolution, unraveling the strategies reshaping how your online orders reach your doorstep efficiently and swiftly.

The eCommerce Boom

E-commerce, once a novel idea, now drives global trade, breaking traditional barriers and thriving in the digital realm. Over two decades, online markets burgeoned, spanning everyday to luxury goods local to international trade—a transformative revolution shaping modern commerce.

This shift hasn’t just impacted online platforms; it has challenged traditional retail, forcing adaptation. The convenience and variety of e-commerce have altered consumers’ preferences, leading to innovations like integrated online/offline experiences.

Efficient logistics are now paramount. Timely deliveries, accurate tracking, and secure packaging have become the lifeblood of online businesses. Innovations in supply chains and transportation tech aim to sell products online and deliver them faster and more efficiently than ever.

E-commerce Logistics Fundamentals

Understanding the fundamentals of e-commerce logistics is crucial for online retailers looking to thrive in a competitive marketplace. Let’s peek behind the curtains to understand the fundamental gears that power this phenomenon.

Supply Chain in E-commerce

Procurement and Sourcing: Before you even think about clicking buy, there’s a complex dance of procurement; E-commerce companies carefully select their products, ensuring quality and availability. Think of it as handpicking the best apples from the orchard just for you.

Inventory Management: Have you ever wondered how your desired item is always in stock? Inventory management is the magic that maintains the right balance. It’s like a chef having all ingredients ready before cooking; the products await your order.

Warehousing: Products are stored strategically, ensuring they can be quickly retrieved when you purchase. It’s akin to having a neatly organized wardrobe, making finding your favorite shirt a breeze.

Transportation and Distribution

Shipping Methods: Shipping methods are the pathways from the warehouse to your door. The choice is crucial, whether it’s a drone, a van, or a bicycle. It involves picking the fastest route on a map to reach your friend’s house.

Inventory Routing: Just like a GPS guides you through traffic, inventory routing ensures that products take the most efficient route. It’s about avoiding congestion (or delays) and reaching you in the shortest time possible.

Inventory Visibility and Tracking

Technology and Software Solutions: Behind the scenes, advanced technology and software solutions keep track of every product. It’s the same as having a digital map showing where every product is at any moment, ensuring nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

Real-time Tracking: Have you ever received a text saying your package will arrive between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm? That’s real-time tracking. The live update system lets you know exactly when your eagerly awaited parcel will reach you, down to the minute.

The Last-Mile Delivery Puzzle

In the complex world of e-commerce logistics, the last mile refers to the final leg of a product’s journey to reach the customer’s doorstep. It’s the crucial step where packages transition from distribution centers to individual homes or businesses. Essentially, it’s the bridge between the virtual world of online shopping and the tangible delight of receiving a package in hand.

The anticipation of ordering your favorite gadget online builds with each tracking update until it finally arrives. This moment, often the first tangible interaction with the online store, significantly shapes customer perception. The last mile isn’t merely about delivery; it’s about delivering smiles. Timely, hassle-free, personalized deliveries enhance customer satisfaction, building trust and loyalty. In essence, the last mile can turn a one-time buyer into a loyal customer, making it a pivotal aspect of the overall shopping experience.

While the last mile brings joy to customers, it also raises environmental concerns. Traditional delivery methods contribute to pollution and congestion. This challenge has spurred innovation. Companies are exploring eco-friendly vehicles, optimizing delivery routes, and embracing green packaging. Sustainable practices reduce the carbon footprint and resonate positively with environmentally conscious consumers.

Innovations in Last-Mile Delivery

This involves the revolutionization of how goods reach consumers’ doorsteps. This phase is critical, often determining customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Innovations in this area encompass various technologies, strategies, and sustainable practices aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact. Some of the innovations made include:

Drone and Autonomous Vehicle Delivery:

Source: Freepik

Recently, technology has made it possible for packages to glide down from the sky, not in the hands of a delivery person, but a drone. Drones, resembling high-tech birds and autonomous vehicles navigating the streets without drivers are reshaping the delivery game. These silent carriers are not just efficient; they are also reducing our carbon footprint, heralding a new era of greener logistics.

Crowd-shipping and Collaborative Delivery:

Have you ever thought a neighbor could be your delivery hero? Welcome to the world of crowd-shipping and collaborative delivery. Now, your parcel might travel the last mile in the backpack of someone heading your way. Think of it as a modern-day version of neighbors borrowing a cup of sugar but on a global scale. It’s not just convenient; it’s creating stronger communities, one delivery at a time.

Micro-Fulfillment Centers:

Source: Unsplash

Micro-fulfillment centers, or MFCs, are miniature warehouses strategically located within cities. These compact spaces are bustling with activity, packing, and dispatching orders at lightning speed. By bringing the warehouse closer to the customers, delivery times are slashed, ensuring you get your favorite products almost as soon as you click ‘buy’.

Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling:

Numbers have never been this exciting! Data analytics and predictive modeling are the warlocks behind the scenes, foreseeing what you might order before you even think of it. Companies can stock products in nearby warehouses by analyzing your preferences and behaviors, minimizing delivery times. It’s like having a psychic personal shopper, ensuring you receive your orders before realizing you need them.

Challenges and Obstacles

The pulse of cities often quickens to a chaotic beat, especially during rush hours. Delivery trucks merging with commuters create a logistical labyrinth. However, innovative route optimization software and collaboration with local traffic authorities ease this pain point. By dodging traffic snarls intelligently, deliveries are becoming more punctual than ever.

E-commerce packages (like pakfactory dotcom), containing treasures are highly coveted, inviting unwanted attention. Theft, a persistent woe, has spurred ingenious solutions. Smart locks, real-time package tracking, and community watch initiatives are turning the tables. With vigilant eyes and modern technology, these once-vulnerable parcels are reaching doorsteps safely and securely.

Navigating the maze of regulations is no small feat. Every region boasts its own set of rules, making cross-border deliveries a regulatory acrobatics routine. The e-commerce industry, however, is adapting swiftly. Collaborations between governments and industry players are simplifying these complexities. Clear guidelines and transparent communication pave the way for smoother, legally compliant deliveries.

Conclusion

The Last-Mile Delivery Revolution is reshaping how we receive goods, making online shopping more convenient than ever. With advanced logistics, speedy deliveries, and innovative solutions, the e-commerce landscape is evolving rapidly. As consumers, we can anticipate even more seamless, reliable, and personalized shopping experiences in the future, highlighting the continuous progress of e-commerce logistics in enhancing our everyday lives.

Featured Image Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich; Pexels

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In an ever-changing economic landscape, the prospect of a recession can cast a shadow of uncertainty over businesses of all sizes. In this article, we unveil invaluable insights and strategies from experienced business leaders that can help guide you through any upcoming economic challenges. Whether your workplace already feels the effects of a downturn or wants to be prepared for the future, these money-saving tips will empower you to weather the storm and emerge stronger than ever.

Review Your Software Subscriptions

“Reviewing your software subscriptions can be a quick way to reduce costs. Work out what functionalities you need, and whether you’re currently paying for things you don’t need.” — Phil Norton, Founder of Leave Dates

In today’s digital age, software subscriptions have become integral to business operations. However, subscribing to numerous software solutions without assessing their necessity can lead to unnecessary expenses. Phil Norton founded the online holiday tracker — Leave Dates (dotcom). He suggests that businesses should regularly review their software subscriptions to ensure they are not overpaying for functionalities they don’t need.

When reviewing your software subscriptions, consider the following:

• Assess Functionality: Determine the essential functionalities your business requires and ensure that your software subscriptions align with these needs. Remove any redundant software that adds to your costs without providing tangible benefits.
• Negotiate with Providers: Contact your software providers and explore the possibility of negotiating better pricing or customized packages that suit your specific requirements. Many providers are open to negotiation, especially for long-term contracts or bulk subscriptions.
• Utilise Free Alternatives: Investigate if there are free or open-source software alternatives that can replace some of your paid subscriptions without compromising quality.

By proactively managing your software subscriptions, you can significantly reduce costs and improve the financial health of your workplace.

Cut Meeting Expenses

“When possible, have virtual meetings to reduce travel costs and make the best use of meeting spaces for crucial events.” — Carl Jenson, Founder of Compare Bank.

Meetings are an integral part of business communication and collaboration, but they can also be a source of significant expenses, especially when they involve travel and accommodation costs. Carl Jenson, the Founder of Compare Bank, emphasises the importance of cutting meeting expenses by adopting virtual meeting solutions.

Here are some tips to cut meeting expenses:

• Embrace Virtual Meetings: Leverage technology to conduct virtual meetings whenever possible. Video conferencing tools can bring your team together without the need for costly travel arrangements.
• Optimise Meeting Spaces: Make efficient use of your office meeting spaces. Ensure they are reserved for essential meetings and events, eliminating unnecessary expenses on space and amenities.
• Plan Ahead: When in-person meetings are necessary, plan well to secure the best deals on travel and accommodation. Look for discounts and group rates to reduce costs.

By prioritizing cost-effective meeting solutions, your workplace can reduce expenses while maintaining effective communication and collaboration.

Negotiate Better Deals with Suppliers

“One of the easiest ways to save money for your company is to negotiate better deals with suppliers.” — Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search

Suppliers play a crucial role in the success of any business, and the terms of your supplier agreements can significantly impact your financial bottom line. Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search, advises businesses to negotiate better deals with suppliers to cut costs actively.

Here’s how to negotiate better deals with suppliers:

• Vendor Assessment: Evaluate your current suppliers and their pricing structures. Identify areas where costs can be reduced or terms can be renegotiated.
• Leverage Buying Power: If your business has a significant purchasing volume, use it as leverage to negotiate discounts or favorable terms with suppliers. Suppliers often value long-term relationships and may be willing to offer concessions.
• Payment Terms: Explore flexible payment terms with your suppliers. Extending payment schedules can provide your business with improved cash flow.
• Explore Alternatives: Don’t hesitate to seek out alternative suppliers who may offer competitive pricing or better terms. Healthy competition can work to your advantage.

By actively engaging with your suppliers and exploring negotiation opportunities, you can unlock potential savings that directly impact your workplace’s financial stability.

Encourage a Culture of Cost-Cutting

“Encourage staff members to provide their suggestions for cost-cutting measures and acknowledge their efforts in building a more cost-effective workplace.” — Carl Jenson, Founder of Compare Bank

Creating a workplace culture that values cost-cutting can be a powerful strategy for long-term financial stability. Carl Jenson, Founder of Compare Bank, emphasizes the importance of involving employees in identifying and implementing cost-saving measures.

Here’s how to encourage a culture of cost-cutting:

• Open Communication: Foster an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing cost-saving ideas. Hold regular brainstorming sessions or establish suggestion boxes to gather input.
• Acknowledge Contributions: Recognize and reward employees for their cost-cutting suggestions that are implemented. Incentives can motivate your team to actively participate in finding savings.
• Set Cost Reduction Goals: Establish clear cost reduction goals and involve employees in achieving them. When everyone shares the responsibility, the results can be remarkable.
• Training and Awareness: Provide training and awareness programs that educate employees about the importance of cost-cutting and how their efforts contribute to the organization’s financial health.

By involving your entire workforce in the pursuit of cost-cutting initiatives, you reduce expenses and create a more financially responsible and engaged workplace.

Implement Process Improvements

“Another way to save money is by improving your company’s processes. This can include streamlining workflows, reducing waste, and optimising resources.” — Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search

Efficient and streamlined processes can lead to significant cost savings for your workplace. Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search, highlights the importance of implementing process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Here’s how to implement process improvements:

• Workflow Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of your workplace’s workflows to identify bottlenecks, redundancies, and areas where improvements can be made.
• Waste Reduction: Identify sources of waste in your processes, whether it’s excess materials, time, or resources. Implement measures to reduce waste and enhance efficiency.
• Resource Optimization: Optimise the allocation of resources, including human resources and equipment, to ensure they are used effectively and not wasted.
• Automation: Explore opportunities for process automation, which can streamline tasks, reduce manual labour, and minimise errors.

By continually seeking ways to improve processes, you can create a workplace that operates more efficiently, saving both time and money.

Increase Office Efficiency

“To save money on rent and upkeep, re-examine your office space needs and think about downsizing, rearranging, or using flexible workplaces.” — Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search

Office space is a significant expense for many businesses. Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search, suggests reevaluating your office space requirements and exploring ways to increase office efficiency.

Consider these strategies to increase office efficiency:

• Downsizing: If your office space exceeds your needs, consider downsizing to a smaller, more cost-effective location.
• Rearrangement: Optimise your existing office layout to better use available space. This may involve rearranging workstations or furniture.
• Flexible Workplaces: Explore flexible workplace options, such as hot-desking or co-working spaces, which can reduce the need for a fixed office space.
• Remote Work: Embrace remote work arrangements when feasible, allowing employees to work from home or other remote locations, thereby reducing office-related costs.

You can reduce overhead expenses by re-evaluating your office space requirements and making efficiency-driven changes.

Embrace Technology

“Technology can be a powerful tool for reducing costs and increasing efficiency.” — Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search

In today’s digital age, technology offers numerous opportunities to cut costs and enhance productivity. Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search, emphasizes the significance of embracing technology to achieve financial savings.

Here’s how to embrace technology for cost savings:

• Automation: Implement automation solutions for routine tasks, such as data entry, report generation, and customer communication. Automation reduces labor costs and minimizes errors.
• Digital Communication: Utilise digital communication tools like email, messaging apps, and video conferencing to reduce the need for physical meetings and paper-based communication.
• Cloud Computing: Consider migrating to cloud-based solutions, which can reduce the costs of maintaining physical servers and infrastructure.
• Energy Efficiency: Invest in energy-efficient technologies like LED lighting and smart devices to reduce electricity consumption and lower utility bills.

By harnessing the power of technology, your workplace can operate more efficiently and achieve substantial cost savings.

Prioritise Employee Training

“Offering opportunities for training and development can aid in workforce retention, lower turnover costs, and boost overall productivity.” — Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search

Investing in your employee’s growth and development can profoundly impact your workplace’s financial health. Jamie Irwin, Director at Straight Up Search, highlights the benefits of prioritizing employee training.

Here’s how to prioritize employee training for cost savings:

• Skills Enhancement: Provide training programs that enhance employees’ skills and knowledge, making them more proficient in their roles.
• Retention Benefits: Offering training opportunities can improve employee satisfaction and retention, reducing the costs associated with hiring and training new staff.
• Productivity Gains: A well-trained workforce is more productive and efficient, leading to increased output and revenue generation.
• Competitive Advantage: Skilled employees can give your business a competitive edge in the marketplace, attracting and retaining customers.

Investing in employee training creates a more capable workforce and realizes long-term financial benefits through improved productivity and reduced turnover costs.

Conclusion

In the face of economic uncertainty and the potential for a recession, implementing practical money-saving tips for your workplace is essential.

As you navigate the challenges of the economic landscape, remember that a combination of these money-saving tips can empower your workplace to thrive in the face of adversity.

Incorporating these strategies into your workplace culture and operations can position your business to weather economic downturns and emerge stronger, more resilient, and financially sound for the future.

Inner Image Credit and Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Maitree Rimthon; Pexels; Thank you!

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Navigating the digital landscape can be a bit of a headache for small businesses, particularly when handling online payments.

Sure, big names like Stripe and PayPal are out there. However, integrating these platforms isn’t always a walk in the park, especially for businesses operating on a tighter budget or with fewer resources. Any small business owner or professional individual trying to work with the top platforms often has issues properly integrating them and dealing with the charges incurred.

Figuring out the nuances of different payment systems, dealing with compatibility snags, and worrying about costs can really pile on the pressure.

That’s why this blog post is here to give you a hand. Let’s dive into some of the best small business-friendly payment processing solutions for 2023.

These tools are not just easier to integrate, but they’re also more kind to your wallet and make handling online transactions a breeze.

Before moving to the top tools, I should make the disclaimer that I co-own and help manage some of the tools mentioned here. And that’s for good reason.

My business vision is to help the little guys stand with the big guys who have departments of technical experts, developers, and so on to build powerful marketing and payment processing tools.

I’ve helped make this possible by creating affordable and top-class opt-in popup forms, a Google Analytics plugin, and so on

My latest venture has been in making eCommerce and online payment processing easier. And I can recommend the tools here without hesitation for small businesses that want to get digital growth as easily as possible. Let’s give in.

1. WP Simple Pay

Many businesses want to use Stripe as their payment gateway. And they should – Stripe is globally used and works with most platforms.

However, integrating it with WordPress is still a hassle. Most businesses need to hire someone with technical expertise just to integrate Stripe into their sites in a convenient way.

Now, WP Simple Pay makes that easy, intuitive, and code-free. It’s easily the best Stripe plugin for any site that wants to sell online.

You can collect recurring payments or one-time payments right on your WordPress website.

Use it to accept donations, sell products, run subscriptions for a newsletter, and so on. You don’t even need a complicated shopping cart setup. Once you download and activate the plugin, you can connect Stripe to your site in literal minutes.

It accepts payments from all the major online platforms, is secure, and is easy to use. As 53% of transactions happen with credit cards, 43% via digital payments, and 38% with debit cards, you want to use a tool that works with everything.

It has a drag-and-drop form builder for making payment forms. It also has multiple features supporting your branding and customization needs, such as building landing pages, custom receipts, etc.

Using WP Simple Pay is an easy choice if you want to set up your website for sales and conversions ASAP.

2. WPForms

When you think of forms, you think of contact forms to connect with businesses.

However, a form can be much more than that – primarily if you use a form plugin built to grow companies.

This is where WPForms comes in. With many customers asking us for a versatile form solution for their site, we just had to build it.

WPForms is the perfect fit for anyone who doesn’t want to build a complex eCommerce store and invest in Shopify or WooCOmmerce.

You can use a drag-and-drop builder to build any kind of form you like, including order forms or payment forms.

WPForms already has an order/billing form template you can pick. Or you can build any kind of form you want from scratch and then add the payment feature.

In this way, you can collect payment for donations, webinar signups, sell single products, and virtually anything else you can think of.

You can do a lot more with WPForms, and you can pick between using Stripe, Square, PayPal, and other merchants as the payment gateway.

So, you can have a simple way to start selling on your site without dealing with any technical issues.

3. Easy Digital Downloads

Today, digital products are viable and powerful items you can sell online.

If you offer online services that you can ‘productize’ or sell things like ebooks, checklists, or downloadables, then you don’t need a full eCommerce site.

You’re best served with an eCommerce plugin focused on digital products. And this is where Easy Digital Downloads comes in.

Like the others mentioned here, EDD focuses on creating the best user experience.

That is, you won’t have to know a line of code to set up your page where everything from making your product live to building your payment process and so on takes place.

You can add discounts, offers, and coupons and do multiple things that drive sales.

And it’s as simple as adding the plugin, filling in a few details, and getting your products up and running.

The advantage of using EDD over platforms like Gumroad is keeping more profits. And you build a solid source of passive income that pays well over time.

4. MemberPress

Creating memberships is another excellent way to sell online.

Many people need exclusive group experiences and are ready to pay for them. People who offer community-related services such as coaching, tutoring, and so on need membership portals instead of online stores.

And for this reason, MemberPress is a great option for WordPress.

You can use it to create sites that require memberships, restrict content access, and accept payments.

It’s also a paywall plugin where you only make content accessible to subscribers and customers.

MemberPress also integrates with the major payment gateways, making it easy to quickly and easily set up your online services.

Start Selling Online With Ease

Going online with your business and making it easier for people to pay can seem like a lot of work.

On the other hand, having the right tools makes it a lot easier and faster. What payment processing service you choose can directly affect how your business grows, how happy your customers are, and how much money you make.

Each solution we’ve discussed offers unique benefits tailored to different types of businesses. You must determine which tool fits your business model and goals the best.

Don’t forget that the end goal is to make the transaction process simple, safe, and quick for your customers. Start selling things online now—the digital market is waiting for you.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Unsplash; Thank you!

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Your business might be everything you could ever want it to be, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. We should all be striving for success in everything we do. Exploring enhancement opportunities with the latest technology and AI makes sense. Not every business owner will know the most effective ways to use tech to their advantage, so it doesn’t hurt to perform research. 

How to Enhance Your Business With AI

Automated Employee Screening

Many HR processes can be time-intensive. This can be frustrating if your job involves hiring new employees quickly to fill employee shortages. Your business may not have time to browse hundreds of applications and interview dozens of potential employees. 

That’s where recruitment AI or automated employee screening comes in. Some AI programs can perform initial assessments of potential employees on your behalf to determine their suitability. For example, if you own a therapy clinic and need to hire a new therapist who has EMDR training, your automated screening program can prioritize the most fitting applicants on this basis. Once the AI has done its job, you can make your hiring decision from a much smaller pool of potential applicants to save time. 

Social Media Management Tools

Most business owners know how effective social media can be for enhancing a business. Yet, they can find these platforms overwhelming when there are so many to join. Fortunately, many social media management tools are designed to help companies streamline this critical task. You no longer need to create posts on each platform. Instead, you can schedule them and monitor the results within one piece of innovative software. 

Accounting Software

Accounting is a crucial operation within businesses. Accounting processes show you where you’re growing your revenue, whether customers pay their bills on time, and if you’re making profits or losses. 

However, it can be complex and time-intensive. As a result, many businesses outsource accounting to professionals at a significant cost. AI in accounting could be a game-changer. AI accounting software can analyze financial data, predict trends, calculate financial health, and identify patterns to help you make budgeting decisions. 

Manufacturing Robots

Worker shortages are affecting many industries, manufacturing included. While you might think you just have to wait until skilled workers come along, that might not be the case. Many technology companies are working on robotic systems to supplement human workforces. 

They can work with and around humans, adjust their behaviors to suit workflow speeds and tackle tasks you might otherwise need to hire humans for. It’s important to note that these robots aren’t designed to replace humans. Instead, they are being marketed as ‘cobots’ or collaborative robots who work independently in a shared space with humans. In most situations, they are coded to perform single tasks.

As a result, they can free up human employees for more complex and skilled tasks. While expensive to implement in some industries, manufacturing robots might save your business money in the long run. 

Enhancing your business with AI and technology won’t happen overnight, but it can happen with effort and time. Don’t be afraid to try new processes and technologies in your business, even if you’re unsure if they’ll work for you. You might then be in a strong position to see your business thrive.

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New startups are created every day –  each with fresh ideas and solutions.

However, the reality is stark: up to 90% of startups fail, with the average failure rate for the first year standing at 10%.

But as time progresses, the odds get even more challenging. In the span from the second to the fifth year, a staggering 70% of new businesses crumble. With such daunting statistics, it’s clear that maintaining a startup becomes an uphill battle for founders without the right foundations.

With so many startups facing a tough journey right from their inception, the pressing question becomes: How does one successfully navigate the tech industry? The key lies in having a groundbreaking idea and understanding the broader tech landscape and the forces shaping it.

Understanding the Tech Startup Landscape

The tech industry today is a mixed bag of opportunities and obstacles. Rapid advancements in areas like AI, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) bring forth new possibilities. Yet, navigating this landscape requires more than just a unique product or service.

Rise of Global Tech Hubs

An exciting shift in recent years is the emergence of new technological hubs across the globe. While Silicon Valley remains iconic, cities from Bangalore to Berlin are making names for themselves as hotbeds of tech innovation. This global expansion means startups now have a wider array of ecosystems to choose from, each with its unique advantages, resources, and challenges.

The Venture Capital Influence

The role of venture capital (VC) has become increasingly prominent in shaping the tech startup scene. The infusion of VC funds can catapult a startup to new heights, providing the necessary resources to scale and innovate. However, with this financial backing comes heightened investor expectations. Meeting growth metrics, achieving profitability, and ensuring a substantial return on investment are now integral parts of the startup journey. It’s a double-edged sword: while VC can fast-track growth, it also brings with it the pressure of constant performance.

The Founder’s Journey

To truly succeed, a founder needs resilience, a consistent capacity to innovate, and the agility to adapt to an ever-changing market. The terrain of the tech landscape keeps evolving, and only those startups that can both anticipate and adeptly respond to change will endure and prosper.

So, what are the key strategies that can help a startup beat the odds and thrive in this challenging landscape?

7 Tips for Successfully Growing Your Tech Startup

Given the complexities of the tech environment, a strategic approach is vital. Here are seven essential tips to help your tech startup not only survive but thrive in this dynamic industry:

• Embrace Innovation

Being innovative isn’t just about new ideas, but also about effectively addressing market needs. A shining example of this is AdTech Holding’s project, Applabz.com. Positioned as an expert mobile development team, Applabz turns conceptual ideas into tangible, cutting-edge mobile solutions. From custom app development to effective mobile marketing strategies, they embody the spirit of innovation. With a diverse suite of apps like JAX VPN and Brushly — and their commitment to a personalized approach, Applabz showcases how innovation, combined with meeting market demands, can elevate a brand’s stature in the industry.

• Know Your Target Audience

Understanding your audience is fundamental. It’s not just about demographics but recognizing their pain points, preferences, and aspirations. Tools like audience analytics and surveys can offer invaluable insights, helping startups tailor their offerings more effectively.

• Diversify Revenue Streams

Relying on a single income source can be risky. By exploring various monetization strategies, startups can ensure a steadier cash flow and greater financial security. Whether it’s through in-app purchases, subscriptions, or affiliate marketing, diversification is key.

• Build a Strong Team

The backbone of any successful startup is its team. Hiring individuals who are not only skilled but also align with the company’s vision is vital. A motivated team, driven by a shared goal, can propel a startup to unparalleled heights.

• Focus on Customer Satisfaction

Word of mouth travels fast. Positive reviews can boost a brand, while negative feedback can just as quickly tarnish its reputation. It’s essential to value user feedback and implement strategies prioritizing customer satisfaction.

• Optimize Marketing Strategies

While it’s tempting to splurge on marketing, startups must remember the importance of ROI. Leveraging data-driven marketing can ensure that every penny spent yields results. From SEO to social media ads, effective marketing is about targeting the right audience with the right message.

• Stay Updated with Industry Trends

The tech industry is characterized by rapid change. One significant trend in recent years is the rising interest in machine learning. With its potential to revolutionize various sectors, from healthcare to finance, staying updated with such trends is essential. Startups should be ready to leverage new technologies and trends to remain competitive. Regularly attending tech conferences, following industry news, and engaging in continuous learning can help keep a startup at the forefront of innovation.

Expert Insights

After understanding and using these critical growth tips, drawing from those who’ve walked the same path is beneficial. Insights from industry leaders provide not just inspiration but real-world context to these tips. Let’s hear from some tech veterans about their experiences and the importance of robust growth strategies.

“When we began with Applabz, we faced numerous hurdles, just like any startup. But our commitment to understanding our audience and continuously innovating kept us ahead of the curve. Our growth journey wasn’t just about scaling but learning and adapting at every step.” – Ilya Pasyuk, Senior Frontend Developer at Applabz

“At AdTech Holding, we’ve learned that the technology industry waits for no one. Rapid innovation is crucial, but without a clear strategy, even the most revolutionary products can get lost in the noise. It’s our focus on understanding market needs and adapting with agility that has anchored our success. Growth isn’t just about scaling; it’s about making informed, strategic decisions every step of the way.” — Alex Vasekin, CEO, AdTech Holding

Learning from these industry leaders offers invaluable insights. Now, let’s reflect on what all this means for startups striving for success

Navigating the Path to Tech Startup Success

Startups are frequently presented with immense opportunities but face equally daunting challenges. As we’ve discussed, the key to thriving amidst this dynamic landscape is multifaceted.

Startups must prioritize innovation, deeply understand their audience, diversify their revenue streams, build strong teams, focus on customer satisfaction, optimize marketing efforts, and remain attuned to industry trends. These aren’t just strategies; they’re necessities in today’s tech ecosystem.

The insights from industry leaders further cement the importance of a strategic approach to growth. For every tech startup out there aiming to defy the odds, remember: growth and innovation are intertwined. Embrace them, and you’re already on the path to success.

About AdTech Holding

Founded with the vision of revolutionizing the AdTech and MarTech landscapes, AdTech Holding has consistently stood at the forefront of technological innovation. With a diverse portfolio of projects and services, the company is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored for brands, tech enthusiasts, investors, and business owners worldwide. Rooted in a culture of excellence and driven by a passion for innovation, AdTech Holding is not just a leader in the industry; it’s a beacon for those striving to make a mark in the world of technology.

For more information, visit AdTech Holding’s website.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

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Accounting and bookkeeping are crucial parts of any business. They require the right tools in place to make our lives a whole lot easier. If you had previously handled accounting tasks by manually inputting numbers on paper sheets, you might already feel good about how technology has revolutionized the way we handle our finances.

A significant advancement in the world of accounting software has been the evolution of hosting methods. Traditionally, software like QuickBooks was installed or hosted on local servers, which meant managing financial data on-site, maintaining the infrastructure, and keeping a check on data security. However, with the rise of cloud computing, a new contender – cloud hosting, has entered the ring to offer a whole different ball game.

This blog post will explore the key differences between hosting QuickBooks on a local server and hosting QuickBooks in the cloud. If you haven’t yet introduced cloud technology to your business on a large scale, the information here is highly relevant for you. Let’s start with the basics.

What is QuickBooks Hosting?

QuickBooks hosting refers to the practice of hosting your licensed QuickBooks software on remote third-party cloud servers. Instead of installing QuickBooks on your local server or computer, you host it externally and access it through a secure Internet connection. Here, the hosting service provider does all the heavy lifting related to the infrastructure setup, while you enjoy the benefits of using QuickBooks remotely.

Now, let’s compare it with traditional local hosting –

In the past, when we talked about hosting software, it meant installing the software directly on your own servers or computers. All the data, files, and software were stored and managed on-site. This setup required you to have the necessary infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking equipment, to handle the software and its associated data.

The key difference between QuickBooks hosting and traditional local hosting lies in where the software and data are stored and managed. With QuickBooks in the cloud, the responsibility of maintaining servers, ensuring security, and managing backups rests with the cloud providers. They take care of the technical aspects while you focus on using the software. On the other hand, traditional local hosting puts the onus on you to handle all these tasks internally.

In a nutshell, QuickBooks hosting offers flexibility, scalability, and the peace of mind that comes with professional server management. Now, let’s find out how QuickBooks cloud accounting is beneficial in the long run in terms of the commonly asked questions.

3 Questions You Might Have in Mind About QuickBooks Hosting

Here are three things you might want to know before switching to cloud-hosted QuickBooks:

Is QuickBooks Online Cloud-Based?

QuickBooks Online is indeed a cloud-based accounting solution. It is designed to be accessed and used entirely through a web browser, eliminating the need for local software installation. However, there are differences between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks hosting, including:

• Accessibility

QuickBooks Online is entirely web-based, which means you can access your accounting data from anywhere, at any time, using any preferred device. It offers the flexibility to work remotely or collaborate with team members without any geographical limitations. On the other hand, while still cloud-based, QuickBooks hosting requires connecting to a third-party server managed by a cloud provider to access the software and your data.

• Infrastructure and maintenance

With QuickBooks Online, you don’t need to worry about managing servers or any technical aspects. Intuit, the company behind QuickBooks, handles all the infrastructure, server maintenance, backups, and software updates. In contrast, QuickBooks hosting involves relying on a third-party hosting service to manage your servers, security, backups, and updates.

• Customizability

QuickBooks Online offers a standardized set of features and functionality that are accessible to all users. While it provides a great range of capabilities for most SMBs, it may have limitations specific to industries or business requirements. QuickBooks hosting, on the other hand, allows more customization and flexibility. Since you have direct access to the server and software, you can install additional plugins and integrate them with QuickBooks.

 How secure is QuickBooks cloud accounting application?

When it comes to maintaining the security of QuickBooks data and software files, QuickBooks in the cloud offers several advantages over traditional hosting methods. Here’s how:

• Enhanced data protection

QuickBooks data hosted on the cloud is typically stored in highly secure Tier 4+ and Tier 5 data centers that employ advanced security measures. These data centers have robust physical security protocols, including surveillance systems, access controls, and 24/7 monitoring. This provides a higher level of protection compared to traditional hosting, where the responsibility for physical security rests on you.

• Data encryption

Cloud hosting providers prioritize data encryption to protect your QuickBooks data. This involves encrypting data both during transit (when it’s being transmitted) and at rest (when it’s stored on the servers). Encryption ensures that the data remains unreadable and unusable even if unauthorized individuals gain access.

• Advanced security measures

Cloud hosting providers like Ace Cloud invest in robust security measures to protect against cyber threats. This includes implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software to prevent unauthorized access, malware, and other malicious activities. These security measures are often more comprehensive and regularly updated compared to what a small or medium-sized business might be capable of implementing with traditional hosting.

Is QuickBooks hosting a cost-effective solution?

Assume you run a small accounting firm with four-five accountants who need access to QuickBooks software and data. In a traditional hosting setup, you must invest in your own server infrastructure. This includes servers, networking equipment, storage devices, and backup systems. You would also need to hire IT staff or consultants to set up and manage the infrastructure, handle software installations, security configurations, backups, and maintenance.

The costs associated with traditional hosting can quickly add up. Besides this, you have to consider the initial capital expenditure for buying hardware and software licenses, ongoing maintenance and upgrade costs, energy expenses, and the salaries of IT personnel. Moreover, if your business grows and you need to scale up your infrastructure to accommodate more users or data, you’ll have to incur additional costs.

With QuickBooks hosting, you can eliminate the need for a substantial upfront investment in the IT infrastructure. Instead, you can choose a hosting provider specializing in hosting QuickBooks and pay a monthly or annual fee based on the users or resources you require. The hosting provider takes care of managing the servers, hardware maintenance, security, backups, and software updates.

Overall, QuickBooks in the cloud can work much better than in a local-hosted environment. You will only get to know the difference by making the required transition.

Featured Image Credit: Cottonbro Studio; Pexels; Thank you!

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2023 is seeing Small and Medium Businesses thrive; the most significant contributor seems to be adopting the latest technologies. These emerging technologies enhance efficiency, customer engagement, and more. By integrating these technologies into software applications, businesses easily automate routine tasks, optimize operations, and make data-driven decisions. Some of the latest technologies that are transforming the way an enterprise functions are:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

Intelligent computers, objects( IoT), and tools equipped with Machine learning techniques are a boon to modern man. Machines imparted with artificial intelligence help businesses undergo digital transformation, reinvent customer experiences, optimize operations, and make data-driven decisions. AI software development further reduces staff requirements, thus saving organizations time and money.

Chatbots and Virtual Assistants

Chatbots and virtual assistants help growing businesses handle more customer inquiries, assist with online shopping, and provide 24/7 support, improving customer service without needing to employ extra personnel.

Blockchain

Distributed ledger, more commonly known as Blockchain technology, is proving to be another great asset for SMEs. Decentralized transactions provide extra security to applications owned by enterprises at no extra cost. Blockchain technology enhances transparency and security in financial transactions, supply chain management, and data sharing.

5G Technology

5G technology is another digital revolution that is bound to benefit the SMBs to a large extent. The rollout of 5G networks has enabled faster and more reliable internet connections, encouraging seamless communication, IoT devices, and real-time data processing.

IoT (Internet of Things)

IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the collective network of connected devices and technology communicating within themselves. IoT is extremely popular these days. From Smartwatches to Smart cars and household appliances, many intangible objects are connected via the internet today. SMBs can leverage IoT for inventory management, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and creating innovative products/services.

Edge Computing

Edge computing is another trend that is bound to help SMBs grow. Edge computing is a distributed computing methodology that aligns computation processes and data storage to keep them closer to the data sources. This further improves response times and saves bandwidth, improving data delivery on all fronts. It further reduces latency and enables real-time analytics for AR/VR applications, robotics, and IoT.

Cybersecurity Solutions

With more and more businesses undergoing digital transformation, the threat of cyberattacks has only increased. This is why SMBs can benefit greatly from advanced cybersecurity solutions provided by AI-driven threat detection and zero-trust security models.

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing may as well be the greatest gift technology has given to mankind. Cloud computing is a recent technology that ensures on-demand availability of resources, data storage, and computing power by hosting everything on the cloud which is accessed via the internet.

Besides being cost-effective solutions, Cloud services are extremely scalable and reliable solutions for storage, data analytics, software development, and remote work collaboration. SMBs can benefit significantly from these advantages.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Augmented and Virtual Reality adds digital elements to our surroundings and is quite a viral trend amongst users, gamers, and enterprises. AR and VR can enhance customer engagement through immersive experiences, training simulations, and product demonstrations.AR/VR helps enterprises help their clients visualize products better without spending on physical mockups, demos, and products.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA is software technology that allows robots to emulate human action with the help of a set of instructions in preprogrammed software. RPA not only brings out digital transformation for the business that employs it but also takes care of repetitive menial tasks that take up extra manpower. The technology also helps streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.

Biometric Authentication

As the name suggests, Biometric authentication is a cybersecurity process that authenticates and allows access only when the unique biological traits of each individual are verified. This type of authentication is way more secure than traditional forms of multi-factor authentication.
SMBs can implement these to enhance security and user experience with biometric authentication methods like fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, or voice recognition.

Collaboration Tools

The new-age collaboration platforms are all worth the hype. Examples of digital collaboration tools include ProofHub, Filestage, GanttPRO, Nuclino, Basecamp, Asana, etc. Small and Medium-sized enterprises can invest in these platforms to facilitate remote work, communication, and project management at a fraction of the cost.
The choice of technologies that will benefit different SMBs also depends on the industries they belong to, business goals, and resources they have access to. It is also essential to assess your business needs carefully and consider how these emerging technologies can be integrated into your operations to drive growth and competitiveness.

Benefits of using emergent technologies for small businesses

Small businesses have a variety of technologies to choose from when it comes to digital transformation. Each emerging technology future proves these businesses in many ways.
A few advantages of using the latest technologies by SMBs are:

Improved Efficiency: New tech automates repetitive tasks and streamlines processes while mitigating risks. This boosts employees’ efficiency and helps organizations focus on higher-value tasks, ultimately increasing productivity.

Cost Savings: Even though implementing these emergent technologies can be pricey, businesses can expect a higher ROI in the long run. Reduced labor costs and operational expenses further help organizations save huge amounts of resources, money, and manpower.

Enhanced Customer Experience: By providing hyper-personalization to customers, SMBs elevate their customer experiences, which helps them stay ahead of the competition. Customers are bound to remember a brand that offers unique, unforgettable interaction experiences. Chatbots and social media platforms further help design and promote a brand identity.

Competitive Advantage: Incorporating the latest technologies helps SMBs up their brand game. It allows them to offer innovative products and services, adapt to changing markets and offer innovative products or services. This, in turn, helps gain newfound businesses and SMBs gain a competitive advantage.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: SMBs gain crucial insights and information from cutting-edge analytics technologies and data-collecting techniques. Making educated decisions, spotting market trends, and optimizing development plans are benefits of emergent technologies.

Flexibility and Scalability: Software Development services like cloud computing and SaaS provide flexibility and scalability by making it easy to modify IT infrastructure and applications to meet evolving business demands.

Remote Work Capabilities: SMBs can easily accommodate remote work using cloud-based collaboration tools, video conferencing, and project management software. These tools simplify recruiting and retaining employees and adjusting to changing work conditions.

Improved Marketing and Customer Outreach: As mentioned earlier, digital marketing tools and social media platforms assist SMBs in reaching wider audiences, targeting specific demographics, and measuring the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns.

Innovation and Adaptation: Staying current with the latest technology trends imbibes and encourages organizations to innovate and adapt. SMBs who adapt to emerging market demands explore new business models more easily.

Conclusion

By understanding the latest technologies, SMBs unlock growth opportunities and provide personalized customer experiences, ultimately positioning themselves for long-term success in instantaneously evolving business markets. Once a business implements the latest technologies, the next step is to pick the right development partner. Many companies’ software development services include AI software development, IoT application development, and blockchain development services.

However, not all companies can be relied on, and businesses must look for development companies that can provide quality solutions. OpenXcell is a credible software development company with a rich portfolio of successful software products integrated with the latest emergent technologies. Visit their website to learn all about high-end software development.

Featured Image Credit: Ali Drabo; Pexels; Thank you!

The post XII Emerging Technologies that are Helping SMBs Grow in 2023 and Beyond appeared first on ReadWrite.

Every business depends on the type of internet connection it needs. Your search for an internet service provider (ISP) starts here. Not all service providers provide similar packages or offerings. Therefore, conducting thorough research on the options available at your location is essential.

You need to start the process at home first. Assess what type of internet and what offerings will suit you and your business better. The budget you have to support an ideal internet connection, your priorities, and where you see your business expand in the long term. So, finding the right partner is also essential to support your business in the future.

Next, search to discover the ISP provider possibilities in your

Begin Your ISP Lookup

We have identified nine common factors that businesses (especially small to medium-sized organizations) should consider when beginning their search for an ISP, even though each firm may order its priorities differently.

Have you given the following any thoughts?

Internet Connection Type

Which choices are accessible to you may depend on your firm is location. The most cumbersome is dial-up.

Although this form of connection was common in the early days of the internet, your firm today has unquestionably more advanced and modern options.

A satellite may be an option if you reside in a distant location with a sizable open area and a clear view of the sky.

Buildings located further into the forest will need to consider alternate choices.

Cable and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) transport signals via coaxial cable TV lines and telephone landlines, respectively. Although they first gained popularity 20 years ago, these internet connection types are still readily available. Compared to dial-up or satellite, DSL and cable are unquestionably faster and can be suitable for small businesses.

Fiber-optic internet is frequently referred to as fiber. The current quickest connection is this one. Your neighbor might or might not have access to fiber. (Ask your neighborhood service providers.) About 43% of the country already has access to fiber internet, but this option is gradually spreading, even into smaller towns and rural areas.

Accessibility

Does your company operate from one location or several? Do they all reside in the same region or does your company operate in other states? When deciding which option is the ideal ISP for your company, answers to questions like these could lead you in the right route. ISPs vary in how much of the world they serve.

Speed and Bandwidth

Fast and dependable internet access will keep your clients (and staff) satisfied. The alternative would be a sluggish and inconsistent internet connection for business, which can irritate your clients and lower your potential sales volume.

Often, larger expense equates with faster speeds. For this reason, it’s crucial to assess your company’s requirements and budget for the bandwidth you’ll need regularly. Smaller companies won’t require as much as larger ones.

The Security Needs You Have

Cyberattacks can take many different forms. Making proactive preparations now could spare your company from major problems and reduce the possibility of damage. No matter how tiny, any company may be vulnerable to a cyberattack. Do not minimize your danger. Otherwise, there may be repercussions for your data and your company.

Your security plan will include your selected ISP. Working with a managed IT services provider can also help you keep your network safer. Fend off cyberattacks.

Dependability and Annual Average Downtime

Ask local ISPs how much downtime they experience on average each year. Is it 97, 98, or 99 percent or higher? Including a Service Level Agreement in your contract could help you. This clause will ensure to give you a rebate or discount if the internet providing company cannot offer you service for a more extended period.

Flexibility

Your needs may be met by the ISP you selected today, but where do you see your company in five years? Maybe ten years? You may avoid future hassles by selecting an ISP that can expand with your company today. You should therefore start your study right away.

The location of your personnel and how it might vary as your company expands are additional factors to consider. Your future workforce: Will it be distributed? Or will they operate on a fixed schedule? Be ready by assessing your remote technology, evaluating a virtual desktop architecture based in the cloud, and choosing an ISP ready to grow with your expanding company.

Customer Support

Before your service is cut off, be aware of your choices for contacting your ISP. Can you call them on the phone? Does their website offer a live chat option? Also, will your ISP offer technical support around the clock? Learn how you can contact customer support or submit a service request. Also, find out if the ISP has local technicians in your area if you require on-site assistance. ISPs and their customer service are not all the same.

Length of Contract

Although most business ISP agreements are for two years, several ISPs also offer various term lengths. Longer term durations could offer savings for your company. Additionally, read the small print to understand the conditions of service, including any penalties for breaking the contract early.

Your Budget

Make sure to analyze your selections while considering your budget and the price of the ISP’s services. For a business, having a quick connection is crucial, but keep an eye on your spending. Your business will thrive if you keep an eye on your shifting needs!

Technology Advice from a Pro for a Fraction of the Cost

Outsourcing your IT requirements may be a wise strategic and economic decision if you are a small to medium-sized organization attempting to expand. Every business might benefit from expert guidance on how to match technology with specific business requirements. Still, smaller companies sometimes lack the funding to employ a full-time internal Chief Information Officer (CIO).

However, you can consult a CIO without bringing on a full-time executive to your team. A virtual CIO (vCIO) is what it is. This specialist is your ally, providing strategic vision and laying out a technology strategy for your expanding company. To stay on track and ensure success, a CIO can support your company in developing a proactive approach to your long-term technology budget, offer a comprehensive view of technology, and support your company in managing change and sustainable growth.

The 5 Best Internet Providers for Business in the US

Most individuals are familiar with residential internet when it comes to purchasing online. However, many internet service providers, or ISPs, now provide business internet, which comes with several benefits that may be tailored to suit the needs of organizations of various kinds.

A strong business internet plan can significantly impact how efficiently your operations work, whether you’re just starting out or wanting to grow an already established company. We’ve explained everything there is to know about business internet and identified the ISPs that provide the top internet plans in terms of speed, cost, availability, dependability, and reputation to assist you in making the best choice for your company.

Below listed are a few options for you to choose from:

• Best for customer satisfaction: AT&T Business
• Best for availability: Comcast Business
• Best for no contracts: Spectrum Business
• Best for rural: Viasat Business

Featured Image Credit and Inner Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

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In the world of e-commerce, you need to have the right online marketplace to support your business. It doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your journey; selecting the right platform will make the difference.

In this content, you will delve into the top 10 best e-commerce platforms and their features to identify the right platform for you to make informed decisions.

1.  eWorldTrade: Connecting Global Buyers And Suppliers

Overview: eWorldTrade is one of the leading B2B platforms that provide outstanding trading facilities to global buyers and suppliers. It strongly emphasizes international markets and enables the business to expand its reach and introduce itself to a new and vast network of potential customers and partners.

Features Of eWorldTrade

• An extensive directory of global suppliers
• Real-time communication tools
• Safe and secure payment options
• Well-organized order management
• Personalized solutions for trading

2.  Global Sources: Sourcing From Asia’s Leading Suppliers

Overview: Global Sources is the perfect platform for businesses looking for reliable suppliers from Asia; it is a go-to-e-commerce platform for various reasons. The primary focus of Global Sources is Asian suppliers and it provides them with a wide range of products at a very competitive price, which makes it the ideal choice for the business that wants to source from this region.

Features Of Global Sources

• Wide selection of Asian suppliers
• Vetting procedure and quality control
• Testing reports and product certifications
• Product-specific insights into the industry
• ODM and OEM services

3.  Amazon Business: Powering B2B E-commerce

Overview: Amazon has extended its expertise to the B2B sectors, with Amazon Business as a giant in e-commerce. The platform provides a variety of business-focused features and benefits, which makes it a one-stop solution for all your B2B needs.

Features Of Amazon Business

• Quantity discounts and business-only pricing
• Multi-user business accounts
• Analytics and reporting tools
• Tax-exempt purchasing
• Reliable and fast shipping options

4.  EC Plaza: Bridging Global Trade

Overview: EC Plaza is one of the most comprehensive marketplaces, which helps to connect global traders by developing international trade and business growth. It is a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to find products and a vast array of products to choose from. EC Plaza attracts buyers and sellers from all around the world.

Features Of EC Plaza

• Variety of product categories
• Multilingual platform support
• Safe online transactions
• Exhibition updates and trade shows
• Community forums for global trades

5.  EC21: Your Global B2B Platform

Overview: EC21 is the prominent B2B platform that allows businesses to expand their global presence and connect with various suppliers and buyers. It has over 2 million users registered with itself and serves as a bustling hub for global trade.

Features Of EC21

• Verified suppliers’ listings
• Product posting and promotion tolls
• Trade inquiries and opportunities
• Escrow payment protection
• Targeted marketing services

6.  Made In China: Sourcing from China with Ease

Overview: Made In China is a leading B2B platform for those who are looking to source products from China. It is focused on Chinese manufacturers and suppliers, and this platform also offers a wide range of products at very competitive pricing.

Features Of Made In China

• Services related to quality control and inspection
• Direct communication with suppliers
• Supplier verification services
• Escrow payment security
• Product personalization options

7.  HKTDC: Your Gateway to Hong Kong Trade

Overview: HKTDC, or Hong Kong Trade Development Council, serves as the vibrant landscape of Hong Kong. It is a comprehensive platform that offers a variety of products to select from Hong Kong-based suppliers. This is why it is an excellent choice for businesses who want to dropship high-quality products from this region.

Features Of HKTDC

• Verified suppliers from Hong Kong
• Product exhibitions and trade fairs
• Business matching services
• Industry-specific market insights
• Trade publications and reports

8.  Alibaba: The E-commerce Powerhouse

Overview: Alibaba is known as a household name in the e-commerce industry because of its vast product selection and global reach. As one of the largest B2B platforms, it offers unparalleled opportunities for businesses to source and sell products worldwide.

Features Of Alibaba

• Massive directory of supplier
• Trade assurance and secure payment methods
• Product inspection and certifications
• Customer support is available 24/7
• Integrated logistics solutions

9.  Ali Express: Your Retail Dropshipping Solution

Overview: Ali Express is a part of Alibaba Group and caters to the needs of businesses, especially new and small ones. The platform has millions of products available at very affordable prices. It helps users to start their online business of dropshipping with ease.

Features Of Ali Express

• Budget-friendly products selection
• Buyer Protection and simple escrow payment system
• Direct shipping to customers
• Real-time order tracking
• Diverse shipping options

10.  SaleHoo: Your Reliable Wholesale Directory

Overview: SaleHoo is another mind-blowing platform known as the best dropshipping solution that provides a comprehensive wholesale directory for businesses. It is a good option for those who want to connect with authentic suppliers. The platform aimed to provide verified and trustworthy wholesalers and work as an asset for businesses aiming to buy products in bulk.

Features Of SaleHoo

• Large database of wholesalers
• Market research and analysis tools
• Supplier vetting and performance data
• Money-back guarantee
• Educational resources and support for businesses

How To Choose The Dropshipping Companies And Suppliers

Above, you get to know the top 10 dropshipping companies and suppliers. Each one of them is the best and has its own demand. But to find the right option, here are some things that will help you choose the right dropshipping company or supplier.

Understanding the Dropshipping Business Model

You need to grasp the fundamentals of dropshipping before choosing a platform. As a drop shipper, you work as an intermediary between customers and suppliers. Rather than stocking an inventory, you should transfer the customer’s orders and shipment details to the suppliers, who will then fulfill the order. Your role will involve marketing, customer service, and online store management.

Key Attributes Of Reliable Dropshipping Companies

When you evaluate dropshipping companies, you must have the key attributes in mind. You must go for the companies or platforms that offer high-quality products with a diverse range to cater to the needs of various types of customers. Look for suppliers with efficient order processing systems and reliable shipping methods.

Moreover, you should choose a company with sufficient stock levels to avoid prolonged backorders or stockouts. Also, check for platforms with excellent communication support to maintain any issues and keep the relationship smooth.

Thorough Supplier Research

Check online reviews, forums, and testimonials from previous users of the -platform to know about their status among the users. You can also ask for product samples to assess their quality, as many platforms provide this facility. Don’t forget to compare multiple suppliers’ pricing and fees to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Order Processing And Integration

Look for suppliers with automated order processing systems or the ability to integrate with your e-commerce platform. It will streamline the order fulfillment process. More to this, choose the dropshipping companies that offer real-time inventory updates so you can avoid selling out-of-stock products. Ensure that the suppliers provide tracking information and shipment notifications to keep your customers informed about the status of their orders.

Scalability And Growth Potential

You will need reliable partners to accommodate the increased order volume as your business expands. You have to choose suppliers with scalable capabilities to grow alongside your business.

Dropshipping Company Policies

You have to carefully review those dropshipping companies’ return and refund policies to understand their procedure in case of product defects or customer dissatisfaction. Properly analyze the shipping policies and associated costs to avoid unpleasant surprises and offer accurate shipping estimates to your customers. Also, read and understand the companies’ terms of service to ensure alignment with your business practices and policies.

Transparent Communication

You have to establish open and transparent communication with your potential suppliers. For this, you can ask questions, seek clarifications, and discuss expectations to build a strong working relationship based on mutual understanding for the benefit of both parties.

Avoiding Scams And Middlemen

If you are new to the business, you must stay aware of scams and middlemen who pose as dropshipping companies. Legitimate suppliers will never charge any excessive upfront fee or demand sizeable minimum order quantities.

Assessing Customer Support

You should also consider the level of customer support these dropshipping companies provide. There should be a responsive and helpful support team that can assist with order inquiries and resolve issues promptly, enhancing the customer experience.

Conclusion

So, find dropshipping companies and suppliers for your e-commerce store. All of these platforms are best in their own way. And if you don’t know how to choose the right one, there are also tips mentioned above to help you.

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Today, running an IT firm is the most tricky task that requires continuous efforts to get global clients. Satisfying the client’s needs and retaining them for the long run is way more complex. Moreover, with an expansion of your business, it becomes essential to hire talented and best resources.

Usually, the demand for developers is always at a high peak. And why not? After all, developers have technical skills that help build software and applications for clients’ businesses. Although IT firms already have in-house resources, there have been times when a client wants to hire dedicated developers for their projects’ specific requirements.

Therefore, they need to hire remote, in-house, or contract-based developers. Besides that, businesses outsource developers to create their websites or apps. So, in this post, you will get an overview of the developers, their types, factors, and technologies.

Who are Developers?

The developers are the persons who look after the whole procedure of creating either the software, applications, or websites. From determining the wireframes, design part, writing codes, managing programming, testing, and deployment, developers constantly work to accomplish each stage of the development process.

Generally, a developer can be denoted as a software developer, app developer, web developer, computer programmer, etc. One of the recognized job designations of developers is a software engineer.

However, the job role and knowledge of developers vary based on their specialization. There are usually three types of developers. They are as follows;

• Software Developers- Software developers design and develop software products or computer programs that can be used on mobile devices and desktops. Nowadays, these developers work on building artificial intelligence software.

• Mobile App Developers- They are responsible for building concept, wireframes and developing applications that allow users to access mobile devices. The mainstay mobile app development solutions are Android, iOS, and Flutter.
• Web Developers- They ensure the delivery of effective technical solutions for writing programming languages, designing UI/UX, integrating content, and tackling functionality-related issues. Utilizing .NET and PHP solutions for web development is preferable.

Initially, you should have clarity on the project requirements; accordingly, you can decide on the right developer. This decision leads the business to attain the benefits such as;

• Boosts brand visibility
• Increases customer engagement
• Build a unique digital presence
• Improves ROI in the long run

So, you can enjoy the benefits optimally only if you have hired the right people based on your favorable factors. Let’s dig into them.

Which are the Prominent factors you should consider while hiring developers?

Hiring dedicated developers for your project is not at all a cakewalk task. You have to scrutinize each and every aspect thoroughly. Before finalizing on developers, remember that you have to work and build long relationships with them. So, it’s necessary to pick the best and right developers that serve your needs.

Here is the list of factors you should consider while hiring developers for your dream project.

• Technical knowledge

The primary task of developers is to build robust applications and websites. It requires technical skills such as coding, familiarity with programming languages, etc. It is essential to consider the knowledge of the developers.

In any app development process, it goes through stages from ideation to design, development, and deployment before reaching the final consumer.

Developers are the main pillars who oversee the whole procedure and ensure the accuracy of each step. Typically, the following skills should be looked for in the right developer;

• Proficiency in programming languages
• Database management
• Testing process
• Debugging
• Knowledge of data structures, etc.

Therefore, you should prioritize the technical expertise of the developers and select them accordingly. It makes you shortlist the right developer quickly.

Pro tip: Prefer looking for certified developers, e.g., If you are looking for Android developers, choose the Android Certified Application developer.

• Experience

Apart from having relevant knowledge, having enough experience in delivering projects is also important. Basically, the experience factor is determined by 3 major things;

• Number of Projects delivered
• Client satisfaction rate
• Technology worked with

All of these help in making the right choice for the developer. You should make a questionnaire for the candidates while interviewing and mention their experience-related questions.

Developers with extensive experience delivering timeline projects for different industries can make your project successful. So, you can select the ideal one based on their previous work experience or assign them practical tasks.

• Excellent Portfolio

Even after having hands-on experience as a developer, building an impressive and appealing portfolio is necessary. The portfolio reflects your expertise and professionalism. It should consist of all the skills and knowledge you carry.

The portfolio is the single solution that displays your background, experience level, and projects delivered. You can get a brief idea about the candidate. Moreover, you can evaluate their skills and your project requirements as well.

• Pricing factor

Now comes the most significant factor, which is price. Deciding on the price of the developers takes many considerations. You need the resource that fits your budget and meets your requirements too. So, you should have clarity on the budget when hiring developers.

Usually, the developers’ price depends upon their work experience and skills. However, you can negotiate the prices by showcasing your project needs and their knowledge of the technology.

So, determining the right developer requires you to allocate and finalize the budget well in advance. It reduces the hassle in the hiring process and shortlists the candidates based on the predetermined price.

• Turnaround time

Meeting the client’s deadline is also one factor affecting the selection procedure. The portfolio helps you examine how the developer has completed their previous projects, the actual turnaround time per project, etc.

As mentioned earlier, you can assign them a project and ask them to finish it in a determined time. This way, you will get an overview of time consumption per project. Hence, you should make a proper analysis of the turnaround time for your project and decide accordingly. It eliminates troubles in the future with process and deployment time.

• Support & Maintenance

After the project’s successful completion, the developer’s job won’t end there. Maintaining the website or app with new features, advanced integrations, and the latest versions is equally essential. Choosing the developer that ensures to provide support and troubleshoot errors in the near future is required.

You should portray your demands clearly in front of the developer about the post-deployment support service. So, you can remain rest assured about the website’s performance.

Which technologies will be in high demand in 2023?

Since the factors impact the decision harder, selecting the right technology also makes a significant difference. Your final outcome may bring out to be higher than what you have expected. Selecting the developers specialized in booking technology these days gives you a competitive edge in the industry.

• Flutter: With best-in-class software solutions, you can build cross-platform applications with a single code base. It is the best pick for mobile app development projects. So, you can hire Flutter developers for your project.

• Full-Stack: Full-stack developers have proficiency in both backend and front-end technologies. It makes them deliver a full-proof website that eliminates the drawbacks of software.

• Machine Learning: Today, machine learning is flourishing in the market and is an AI solution. It requires extensive technical expertise to build applications for machine learning. So, if you are looking for developers to build software that helps computers learn, then finalize on experienced software developers.

The Bottom-line

In conclusion, the demand for skilled developers has also been rising with increasing technology trends. You should consider that developers should encompass the skill set based on your(client’s) projects. The above-listed solution assists you in onboarding the ideal candidate.

Apart from that, offering your clients a choice of technologies is advisable. Modern software solutions and flexible solutions take less time and have a higher success rate. Therefore, developers with versatile knowledge and a better understanding of different technologies are beneficial.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your market research, evaluate developers’ capabilities, and shake hands!

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In the rapidly evolving B2B landscape, effective lead generation is crucial for business growth. B2B leaders must navigate complex payment preferences and O2C systems– to stay ahead of the competition. The digital transformation of recent years has accelerated the automation digitalization of O2C (order-to-cash)processes, offering merchants new opportunities to expand their presence and reach. However, with a well-managed payment strategy, the entire process can continue. This article will explore how optimizing O2C processes can drive successful B2B lead generation, foster customer loyalty, streamline operations, and unlock business growth.

Embracing Customer-Centric Payment Experiences

One of the critical considerations in B2B lead generation is providing B2C-like purchasing experiences. Buyers today expect seamless payment options and immediate gratification. However, by offering multiple convenient payment methods and streamlining the purchasing process, merchants can improve customer satisfaction and transaction speeds and ultimately increase business success.

In a Forrester study, “Optimize Your Payment System to Seal the Deal,” more than 90% of respondents stated that improving payment options for B2B customers would enhance customer satisfaction, transaction speeds, and overall business success. To meet these expectations, merchants must provide painless purchasing experiences that mirror the ease and convenience of B2C transactions. This includes offering multiple payment methods, such as credit cards, electronic funds transfers, and digital wallets, with the ease of one-click purchasing.

Streamlining O2C Processes for Improved Cash Flow

Automation is pivotal in transforming O2C processes. Automated systems eliminate manual tasks, reduce errors, and expedite invoicing, credit decisions, and reconciliation processes. Merchants can remove complexity and improve cash flow by integrating comprehensive B2B payment solutions with existing platforms, such as P2P and ERP systems.

Manual processes can be time-consuming, error-prone, and hinder cash flow. Businesses can achieve significant cost savings and operational efficiencies by automating order creation, invoice generation, and payment reconciliation. According to the Boston Consulting Group, companies implementing automation in order creation processes can achieve cost savings ranging from 15% to 30%. However, industrialization also improves the customer service experience, leading to more loyal clients and reduced non-payment risk.

In addition, implementing automation technology facilitates instantaneous cash flow monitoring, allowing enterprises to make informed judgments and enhance their working capital management. By streamlining O2C processes, companies can free up resources, reduce administrative burdens, and allocate more time and effort to strategic activities that drive lead generation and revenue growth.

Leveraging Instant Decisioning and Credit to Drive Sales

Offering trade credit and establishing dedicated financial relationships can significantly impact B2B lead generation. Buyers tend to spend more when provided with favorable payment terms and credit lines. By enabling fast decision and credit evaluation, merchants can attract new customers, increase sales, and cultivate a loyal buyer base.

By providing flexible payment options and efficient credit evaluation, merchants can cater to diverse buyer preferences and increase their sales potential. Research shows that 15% of B2B buyers spend more when offered trade credit. Moreover, 82% of buyers would choose a vendor that provides invoicing at checkout with extended payment terms over competitors.

Instant decision-making systems leverage data analytics and technology to assess buyers’ creditworthiness in real-time.

This enables businesses to offer appropriate payment terms and credit lines based on individual customer profiles, mitigating non-payment risk. However, by simplifying the purchasing process and providing attractive credit options to buyers, merchants can differentiate themselves from competitors and secure a larger market share. Fast decisions help attract new customers, nurture repeat business, and build long-term customer loyalty.

By leveraging instant decisions and credit capabilities, merchants can offer personalized payment options tailored to each buyer’s needs. This flexibility enhances the purchasing experience, encourages larger order sizes, and promotes customer satisfaction. Additionally, with dedicated financial relationships and credit lines, buyers are more likely to choose a particular vendor over others, leading to increased sales and market share.

Unlocking Sales Growth and Efficiency through O2C Transformation

Transforming O2C processes can yield significant benefits for B2B businesses. Dynamic pricing, streamlined orders, faster payments, and automation drive sales growth, cost savings, and process transparency. However, these enhancements increase customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and a stronger b2b lead generation foundation. Here’s how to choose the right B2B lead generation company for your business.

A well-optimized O2C process enables merchants to offer dynamic pricing and promotions to attract buyers. Moreover, by automating pricing calculations and integrating them with customer data, businesses can provide personalized pricing strategies that optimize revenue while meeting customer expectations.

Streamlined order experiences are essential for driving lead generation. Moreover, by automating order processing, merchants can reduce manual errors, ensure order accuracy, and expedite fulfillment. These results in improved customer satisfaction, faster order delivery, and increased chances of repeat business.

Real-time complaint resolution and fewer disputed invoices are critical for maintaining strong customer relationships. However, by implementing automated systems that enable quick and efficient issue resolution, merchants can address customer concerns promptly, build trust, and foster loyalty.

Merchants can proactively communicate order status, provide real-time updates, and maintain open lines of communication, resulting in a positive customer experience and increased customer loyalty. Moreover, increased process transparency allows merchants and buyers to see the entire O2C journey. This transparency builds trust, reduces disputes, and fosters smoother collaborations.

Optimizing B2B Lead Generation: O2C Process Transformation Guidelines

To optimize B2B lead generation through O2C process transformation, follow these essential guidelines:

1. Understand Customer Expectations: Gain insights into your B2B customers’ payment preferences and expectations through research and feedback. This understanding will guide your O2C transformation strategy.
2. Embrace Automation: Leverage technology and automation tools to streamline O2C processes. Integrate payment systems with existing platforms to eliminate manual tasks, reduce errors, and expedite cash-related processes.
3. Offer Multiple Payment Options: Cater to diverse buyer preferences by providing a range of payment methods, including credit cards, electronic fund transfers, and digital wallets. Simplify the purchasing process with one-click options.
4. Implement Real-Time Decisioning: Utilize data analytics and technology for instant decision-making on creditworthiness. Tailor payment terms and credit lines based on customer profiles to increase sales potential and mitigate non-payment risk.
5. Communicate Transparently: Maintain open communication channels with buyers, providing real-time updates on order status, shipping details, and payment confirmations. Also, address customer concerns promptly to foster trust and satisfaction.
6. Continuously Optimize: Regularly evaluate O2C processes and monitor performance. Also, make necessary adjustments to improve efficiency, customer experience, and lead generation.

By following these guidelines, businesses can enhance lead generation capabilities, strengthen customer relationships, and drive growth in the B2B landscape.

Conclusion

In today’s rapidly changing B2B landscape, optimizing O2C processes is essential for successful lead generation, business growth, and customer satisfaction. Customer-centric payments, automation, and efficiency help enterprises thrive in the digital era.

Optimizing O2C (Order-to-Cash) procedures enhances operational efficiency and establishes a strong foundation for building lasting customer relationships. Businesses can unlock their full potential in b2b lead generation and achieve sustainable growth by prioritizing a seamless end-to-end payment strategy and leveraging digital tools.

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NOW is the time to safeguard your business against the perils of the economic downturn.

Once the economy begins to decline, it might be too late to take action and steer your business toward survival and growth in the face of worsening conditions.

“Recession-Proof Businesses Are Those That Continually Evolve, Identifying New Opportunities, And Adapting to Changing Market Conditions.”  -Gary Vaynerchuk

According to International Monetary Fund Chief Kristalina Georgieva, it is estimated that one-third of the global economy will experience a recession in 2023. Three of the world’s biggest economies, “The US, China, and Europe,” show signs of weaker growth, and the overall global economy seems to be reaching close to a recession.

As the economy heads into a recession, businesses will face a challenging landscape characterized by reduced consumer spending, declining demand, and financial uncertainties. So, they must adapt their strategies, manage costs, and explore new opportunities to navigate the downturn and emerge stronger on the other side.

Rosenblum motivates business owners to elevate their game by focusing on five crucial aspects:

• Refine and clarify your messaging
• Target and attract your ideal clients
• Implement a profitable business model to monetize your skills and knowledge
• Secure financing in advance for your business before you need it
• Lead your team and entire business

By any definition, recessions cause contraction in the economic output as consumer spending and business investment slump.

How Does Recession Impact Small Businesses?

A recession is a period of temporary economic decline characterized by a significant contribution to economic activities. These activities include declining customer spending, rising unemployment rates, and reduced business investments. According to a survey, nearly 75% of multinationals strongly agreed that an economic crisis is considered while planning advertising and marketing expenditures for 2023.

During a recession, small businesses face several other challenges that can significantly impact their operations and success. Here’s how a recession can affect small businesses:

• Reduced Consumer Spending:

During the time of recession, as uncertainty looms, consumer behavior undergoes a significant shift. With financial uncertainty, people exercise caution in their spending habits. This change in consumer mindset puts forth a challenge for small businesses that offer non-essential products and services.

• Decrease in Sales and Revenue:

As the number of consumers decreases, small businesses face the harsh reality of declining sales and revenue. This challenging scenario can be far-fetching, making it difficult for businesses to meet their expenses and generate a profit.

• Cash Flow Issues:

In times of economic downturn, larger businesses face financial struggles, often delaying payments to their smaller suppliers. Unfortunately, it can damage small businesses, leading to severe cash flow problems.

As the bills pile up and employees rely on timely wages, it becomes difficult for small businesses to make payments.

• Increased Competition:

Due to economic hardships, large businesses reduce prices or offer more competitive deals to attract customers. While this strategy may work in their favor, it can put small businesses at a disadvantage as they may struggle to compete with these bigger players.

• Employee Layoffs:

During the recession, small businesses often have to cut costs to stay afloat. Regretfully, one of the measures they may resort to is reducing their workforce through layoffs. This unfortunate turn of events can lead to job losses and profoundly impact the morale and well-being of the affected employees.

Strategies to Recession-Proof Your Small Business

Don’t be afraid to seek advice or help if you need it!

Many resources are available to small business owners, from mentorship opportunities to government programs. Businesses can survive and thrive during challenging economic times by taking advantage of these resources.

Follow these tips on how to recession-proof your business and survive in economic crises:

1. Build a Strong Financial Foundation

To safeguard your small business from the impact of a recession, it is essential to implement key strategies. Building an emergency fund, reducing debt, and maintaining cash reserves create a financial safety net.

Effectively monitoring and managing cash flow and investing in financial planning and forecasting offer valuable insights and enable proactive decision-making. Additionally, exploring business insurance options provide added protection.

2. Diversify Your Customer Base

An impactful approach to recession-proofing your small business involves diversifying your customer base. By expanding your target market to encompass various demographics or industries, you can reduce reliance on a single customer segment.

This strategic move mitigates the potential impact of economic downturns, ensuring a more consistent revenue stream. Broadening your reach and catering to different customer segments enhances resilience, enabling your business to weather challenging times. And maintain stability in the face of market fluctuations.

3. Focus on Customer Retention

A vital strategy to recession-proof your business is nurturing strong relationships with your existing customers. You can enhance customer satisfaction and foster repeat business by delivering exceptional customer service, personalized experiences and implementing loyalty programs.

Investing in these efforts boosts customer retention rates, creating a stable base of patrons who continue to support your business during the economic downturn.

4. Expand Your Product or Service Offering

Expanding your product or service offering is a powerful strategy to recession-proof your small business. You can tap into new markets by analyzing market trends, identifying gaps, and developing new offerings aligned with the target audience.

With this strategy, you can attract a broader customer base and generate additional revenue streams, strengthening your business’s resilience during challenging times.

5. Embrace Digital Transformation

Small businesses can seize opportunities to enhance operations, expand reach, and optimize marketing in the digital landscape. Adopt digital transformation by establishing a robust online presence, investing in e-commerce, engaging customers on social media and forming app development partnership.

This enables quick adaptation to changing customer behaviors and ensures business continuity. The digital realm empowers small businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving market, connecting with a broader audience and capitalizing on the benefits of technology-driven solutions.

6. Implement Cost-Saving Measures

During a recession, effective cost management becomes extremely vital. You can identify areas for expense reduction without compromising on quality. And then streamline processes, negotiate with suppliers, and explore cost-effective marketing strategies.

By optimizing your cost structure, you can enhance profitability and bolster business endurance in challenging times. Embracing cautious cost management ensures financial stability while maintaining the value and integrity of your offerings.

7. Foster Strategic Partnerships

Collaborating with other businesses through strategic partnerships can yield mutual benefits in challenging economic times. You can seek out partnerships that can align with your goals and objectives. By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and accessing new markets, you can enhance business sustainability and create additional revenue streams.

Strategic partnerships can unlock opportunities for growth and innovation, fostering a competitive edge in the marketplace. These partnerships can help you navigate through uncertain times and spread your horizons across the globe.

8. Invest in Employee Development

Your employees are invaluable assets, and their development holds immense potential, particularly during a recession. You enhance their skills and knowledge by providing training programs, cross-functional opportunities, and a clear career path. Engaged and empowered employees are catalysts for your business’s success, playing a vital role in handling challenging times.

Investing in their growth and creating a supportive work ambiance cultivates a dedicated workforce ready to overcome obstacles and drive your business toward new heights.

9. Stay Agile and Innovative

Recession-proof businesses thrive on adaptability and innovation. Keep a finger on the pulse of market trends, customer preferences, and emerging technologies. Foster a culture of innovation that encourages employees to propose creative solutions and new ideas.

You can seize opportunities and conquer challenges in an ever-evolving business landscape by remaining agile, open to change, and adopting technology to grow. Adopting adaptability as a core principle empowers your business to navigate turbulent times, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.

10. Monitor and Plan for Economic Indicators

Lastly, maintaining a vigilant watch over economic indicators and forecasts is crucial to stay informed about industry trends, market conditions, and potential policy changes affecting your business. Regularly review and update your business plan to align with the evolving economic landscape.

A keen awareness of the economic climate ensures your business remains robust and well-positioned to maneuver through dynamic market dynamics.

Conclusion

When business is booming, owners often get caught up in managing the day-to-day operations, neglecting the essential details. However, a slowdown presents a chance to reevaluate and tackle inefficiencies that accumulate over time.

Regardless of the economic conditions, small businesses must prepare for uncertainties. Practicing wise financial habits establishes a strong business foundation and ensures its viability in both challenging and favorable market conditions.

Implementing these proven strategies empowers your small business to emerge from the depths of a recession like a phoenix rising from the ashes. With strength, adaptability, and foresight, your business can thrive in any economic climate.

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With the world still battling the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, conferences and workshops are being canceled or postponed until further notice. If you were organizing an event for your company and don’t know how to continue, contact a virtual keynote speaker.

With modern technology, video conference calls are easy to set up and can be done remotely if necessary, with all of the same benefits. This means you can now make your conference or workshop with a virtual experience for your audience. There are many keynote speakers who are already accustomed to this channel, often participating in webinars, Facebook Live events, podcasts, and YouTube presentations.

This article will provide you with the top 28 virtual speakers and what distinguishes them from other speakers. You can also learn about what to look for in a virtual speaker as well as discover how to create a successful online conference or workshop.

Best Virtual Speaker Overview

1. John Hall

Best personable virtual speaker with timely topics on trust and relationship building.

2. Brian Solis

Best seasoned virtual speaker and author as well as in-demand data analyst.

3. Lena Requist

Best motivating virtual speaker for startup audiences and enterprises.

4. Erik Huberman

Best virtual speaker for engaging stories.

5. Rory Vaden

Best virtual speaker with track record of speaking awards.

6. Tracey Grace

Best virtual speaker for workplace diversity and training.

7. Andrew Thomas

Best virtual speaker for empowerment and startup launch strategies.

8. Chris Dyer

Best virtual speaker with their own podcast.

9. Nir Eyal

Best virtual speaker for learning about attention management and productivity.

10. Jon Vroman

Best virtual speaker with a nonprofit background.

11. Chris Schembra

Best virtual speaker for a passionate delivery about people and relationships.

12. Bob Glazer

Best virtual speaker for small business success and recognition.

13. Eli Schwartz

Best virtual speaker on transition from paid channels to organic growth.

14. Brittany Hodak

Best virtual speaker for topics focused on customer loyalty and brand advocates.

15. Jeff Winters

Best virtual speaker for virtual sales conferences and topics about lead generation.

16. Tiffani Bova

Best virtual speaker for global conference and industry expertise.

17. Jonathan Keyser

Best virtual speaker for motivational success across commercial real estate and the general business environment.

18. Ashleigh Dilello

Best virtual speaker with an intriguing background as a chronic illness survivor, professional dancer, and innovative health specialist.

19. John Ruhlin

Best virtual speaker for sales, networking, and relationship-building topics.

20. Shep Hyken

Best virtual speaker with a humorous delivery and focus on the customer experience.

21. Sarah Hill

Best virtual speaker for technology, including virtual and augmented reality.

22. Joel Goldberg

Best virtual speaker for culture-building and storytelling subjects.

23. Matt Bertram

Best virtual speaker for generating inbound leads.

24. Shama Hyder

Best virtual speaker for marketing and selling in the digital age.

25. William Arruda

Best motivational virtual speaker for engaging top talent.

26. Richard Lorenzen

Best virtual speaker on global entrepreneurship.

27. Lorraine K. Lee

Best virtual speaker for professionals looking to hone their virtual presentation skills and boost their visibility on LinkedIn.

28. Jeff Fromm

Best virtual speaker for the intersection of sustainability, marketing, and youth culture.

Here are the top virtual keynote speakers you’ll ever hear:

1. John Hall

John Hall is unique in that he’s very personable in his keynotes, which is important when looking for a virtual keynote speaker. He wrote the bestselling book Top of Mind, and his subjects are timely, given how important building trust and remaining top of mind are for customers, partners, and other business stakeholders working remotely.

2. Brian Solis

Few people understand the impact that technology has had on business and society more than Brian Solis. Thirty years of experience have led to seven bestselling books and heavily sought-after skills as a digital analyst. His work, along with a popular online video series called “(r)evolution,” has garnered a loyal online fan base topping 700,000.

3. Lena Requist

From a startup to a multi-million-dollar enterprise, Lena Requist is in the perfect position to talk to businesses of all sizes. As president of Ontraport, her company has grown 5,000% and was named one of Forbes’ “Most Promising Companies in America.” She believes in an inside-out approach to business, and she attributes Ontraport’s success to this perspective. She explores how team development leads to company success, aiding both the business and the individual. She is one of our top virtual keynote speakers for her experience and motivation on stage.

4. Erik Huberman

A storyteller at heart, Erik Huberman’s insights into entrepreneurship will prove to be unique and memorable. He is the co-founder and CEO of Hawke Media, an agency valued at more than $60 million after only six years in business. He was named one of Forbes’ “30 under 30” and has the composure of a seasoned veteran.

5. Rory Vaden

The World Championship of Public Speaking hosts 10 contestants from a pool of 25,000 from more than 90 different countries. Rory has made that exclusive cut not once, but twice, including a World Champion first runner-up finish. On top of his speaking prowess, his book Take The Stairs is a No. 1 bestseller on multiple platforms. He believes in ultra performance and teaches that focus is the most important thing you can have. He works especially hard to customize every presentation for each audience.

6. Tracey Grace

The president and CEO of IBEX has received numerous awards for her professional work. Tracey Grace has more than 20 years of experience in the training and information technology industry and is a pioneer of diversity in the workplace. When speaking about her success, she says, “It’s the people and ideas that I allowed into my inner circle that determined my life direction; it is my insatiable curiosity that impacted my ultimate success.”

7. Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas promises to be candid and authentic with his speaking. His main source of experience comes from co-founding SkyBell, one of the first video doorbell companies. There, he drove over $100 million in revenue as its chief revenue officer. He’s spoken for a variety of news channels and companies, sharing the stories of his successes and failures, as well as what he learned from those experiences. His true desire is helping to empower others to identify their dreams and pinpoint how they can accomplish them.

8. Chris Dyer

The podcast “TalentTalk” has more than 3.65 million downloads, giving you many reasons to listen to its host, Chris Dyer. He was named one of Inc.’s “10 Leadership Speakers That Can Help Your Company Culture” and has spoken all over the world, lending insight into how performance can be driven through company culture. An incredibly adaptable speaker, Dyer has a number of messages he can share that get to the heart of what your company needs.

9. Nir Eyal

A behavioral designer by trade, Nir Eyal’s goal as a speaker is to help people protect their attention from the negative effects of technology. The author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, Eyal’s work draws from research on how we get distracted, as well as his own attention management tactics.

10. Jon Vroman

Jon Vroman is the mastermind behind the Front Row Foundation, a charity that helps those with life-threatening illnesses attend their dream events. The name stems from his mantra, “Make moments matter.” As a highly successful keynote speaker, his goal is to help others adopt that mindset and “live life in the front row.” He is also a bestselling author who’s been requested to speak at more than 750 venues over the past decade.

11. Chris Schembra

Chris Schembra’s passion for people makes him an unforgettable speaker. He is the founder and chief question asker of 7:47, an organization committed to sparking connections among people at small dinner parties. Schembra also wrote Gratitude and Pasta: The Secret Sauce For Human Connection, a book that explains how to deepen relationships with others through gratitude and sharing a meal. During a time of social distancing, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

12. Bob Glazer

You know you’re doing something right when you’re ranked the No. 2 small business CEO on Glassdoor. Bob Glazer is also one of Forbes’ “20 Speakers You Shouldn’t Miss” and one of Entrepreneur’s “11 Amazing and Unforgettable Speakers.” His passion is helping companies and individuals develop high-performing cultures. He has personally been one of the best virtual speakers I’ve ever heard.

13. Eli Schwartz

Eli Schwartz works with large-scale growth companies on building products poised for hypergrowth. As an SEO expert and digital marketing consultant, Eli has assisted world-renowned B2B and B2C companies like WordPress, Quora, Blue Nile, and Shutterstock with strategies designed to grow organically. He is also the former director of growth at SurveyMonkey, building organic search from the ground up. Eli is a regular speaker at marketing events throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia, as well as serves as a guest lecturer at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Singapore’s Civil Service College, and the Founder’s Institute.

14. Brittany Hodak

If you’re looking at building a loyal fan base for your brand, look no further than Brittany Hodak. Co-founder of The Superfan Company, she has been instrumental in creating successful ad campaigns for the likes of Disney and Amazon. This Billboard “30 under 30” member has all the tools you’ll need to create customer loyalty for your company. I saw a virtual keynote Brittany gave last week and I was impressed.

15. Jeff Winters

The president of Sapper Consulting, lead generation is Jeff Winters’ expertise. Taking a human approach to lead generation has helped his company triple its growth three different times. His approach has been highlighted a number of times in places such as Forbes and Entrepreneur, and some have claimed it’s 300% more effective than traditional methods. You’re sure to learn something new and innovative when listening to Winters.

16. Tiffani Bova

Tiffani Bova’s résumé is almost too extensive to be summarized. The growth and innovation evangelist of Salesforce is a highly sought-after keynote speaker who has given more than 500 presentations in every corner of the globe. She excels in business innovation and uses her analytical prowess to develop bold strategies for growth.

17. Jonathan Keyser

Jonathan Keyser has more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience under his belt, and he’s sharing the biggest secret to his success as a keynote speaker. In his own words, “I used to be ruthless. Transforming to selflessness skyrocketed my success. Now, I teach others to do the same.” He preaches selfless service instead of the cutthroat approach that has been so prevalent in his industry, and he wants to show others how making the change leads to big benefits. He is known online as a top virtual motivational speaker because of how much he cares.

18. Ashleigh Dilello

At the young age of 13, Ashleigh Dilello was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease that changed her path. She has since become a professional Broadway dancer and has appeared on shows such as “Dancing with the Stars.” She wants to share her personal experience with others who are struggling with their bodies and help them recognize and embrace their self-worth. Her secret to success is what she calls Bio Emotional Healing, which she explains makes all the difference.

19. John Ruhlin

Cutco, the company specializing in knives and kitchenware, has more than 1.5 million representatives and distributors in its ranks. John Ruhlin closed the biggest deals of all of them. He’s now asked to speak across the country to teach sales and relationship-building techniques. His book, Giftology, highlights his particular method of gift-giving to build trust and close sales like never before. His virtual keynote presentations focus on strengthening relationships to help you stand out and drive more sales than ever.

20. Shep Hyken

Shep Hyken is an inductee of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame, a testament to his dazzling career as a keynote speaker. He specializes in customer service; Shepard Presentations, his company, has worked with hundreds of companies on improving their customer experience. Prepare to be amazed as Hyken is known for adding humor and magic for an unforgettable presentation.

21. Sarah Hill

Sarah Hill is the CEO of Healium; she’s a virtual and augmented reality expert. She created a technology that’s powered by a customer’s heart rate and brainwaves. After 20 years as a reporter covering trauma, she has unique insight into the world of virtual and augmented reality that will inspire most groups. Hill developed Healium for herself, as well as for the 41 million others who struggle with anxiety.

22. Joel Goldberg

Joel Goldberg heads Joel Goldberg Media, where his nearly three decades of experience in television and sports media give him unique insight into building relationships and brands. He’s been part of the Kansas City Royals’ broadcast team for FOX Sports for 12 years and does play-by-play TV broadcasts for the Kansas City Mavericks. His years of experience with professional sports have developed his networking prowess and helped him learn what builds successful teams. As a speaker, he focuses on growth, building trust, and developing meaningful relationships.

23. Matt Bertram

Matt Bertram is the head of digital strategy at EWR Digital & CMO for Oil & Gas Global Network (OGGN), specializing in teaching enterprise sales teams how to generate inbound leads through online positioning, personal branding, podcasting and content marketing strategies.

24. Shama Hyder

Shama Hyder is a trailblazing, award-winning entrepreneur who has built a global audience and is known for helping brands succeed in the digital age. She is the bestselling author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing, now in its fourth edition, and Momentum: How to Propel Your Marketing and Transform Your Brand in the Digital Age. An acclaimed keynote speaker, Shama has delivered keynotes in more than 20 countries and spoken for recognized brands including Movado, Chase, Tupperware, and the Inc. 5000.

Richard Lorenzen is an American entrepreneur, investor and the CEO of Fifth Avenue Brands, a New York-based public relations firm. He speaks on entrepreneurship, foreign policy and the economy at the United Nations, TEDx, universities and corporate forums. Richard is regularly cited as one of America’s most influential millennial entrepreneurs and has been featured in Forbes, CNBC, Fox News, Entrepreneur Magazine, AdWeek, PRWeek and more. Entrepreneur Magazine ranked him one of the top 50 people in digital marketing and Inc. Magazine named him one of the top inspirational entrepreneurs.

27. Lorraine K. Lee

Lorraine Lee draws from her extensive experience at both Prezi and LinkedIn to help professionals transform how they present over video. Lorraine created and hosted one of LinkedIn News’ most popular video series, and now routinely wows audiences with compelling virtual presentations that teach attendees new ideas and inspire them to take action. Her personable and approachable style draws sizable audiences across Fortune 500 companies, tech firms, and top-ranked universities.

28. Jeff Fromm

To fully grasp how to effectively market to younger generations, you’d probably need to conduct groundbreaking research, author or co-author at least a handful of books, and attend the London School of Economics. Jeff Fromm’s got you covered. His insights into youth marketing can be tailored to the specific needs of your next virtual event, and his humorous approach serves to drive home his unique strategy paradigms. Jeff is a forward-thinking trends consultant, who provides innovative best practices to a wide array of clientele.

Other Top Speakers For Your Virtual Event

Looking for a few top speakers for your next event. Here are a few other top speakers we’ve found:

• Blockchain Speakers
• Futurist Speakers
• Marketing Speakers
• Leadership Speakers
• Reputation Risk
• Virtual Keynote Speakers

Guide to the Best Speakers

A few other guides to finding the best speakers:

• Find a Keynote Speaker

When looking for the best speakers for your virtual conference or workshop, there are some key traits that can make all the difference with all well your virtual event goes.

How to Create a Successful Online Event

Having the right speaker or speaker lineup is just one of the many factors that go into hosting a successful online event or virtual industry conference. Here are some other critical components:

Focus on Video

A virtual conference needs video of the speakers and/or panel to engage your online audience. No one wants to just look at a screen share of a PowerPoint presentation. Instead, seeing the speaker’s body language and facial expressions personalizes the experience and adds to their message.

Since webinar platforms support videoconferencing, having video should be fairly easy to showcase for your virtual event. Have your speakers practice using video conferencing tools prior to the event, especially if they are new to this technology.

Decide on Audio

Like video, the audio you use for your virtual conference can make or break your event. Your conference is live, so the audio must be flawless because there is no time to tweak it or address poor sound quality. Your audience doesn’t want to wait and watch you struggle with the speaker’s microphone, the audio platform, or the network you are using to transmit your event.

Test out various audio options during the event preparation process. Look for services that deliver audio quality, including those recommended by other event hosts.

Plan Unique Content and a Compelling Agenda

Take the time to develop the content and agenda with your speakers. Their input and your understanding of the target audience can create a world-class virtual conference. If it goes well in terms of delivering a unique experience, then you will be more likely to attract a larger audience and parlay that into future events.

Focus on Interactive Features

To keep your audience engaged and enhance what the virtual speaker talent offers, look for ways to add interactive features to your online event. For example, have a Q&A session where viewers can send in questions. You can also consider adding a poll during a specific session to get audience input on the speaker’s topic.

Conduct Virtual Session Run-throughs

Just like you would have done when hosting an in-person conference, your virtual conference should have a few run-throughs so that speakers can go over their presentations and panels can agree on how they will run their session.

Also, this is the opportune time to test and re-test all audio and video equipment. Your audio/video quality, Internet connection, equipment, screen sharing, host-to-speaker private messaging, and interactive features must be flawless.

Have a Contingency Plan For Tech Issues

No matter how often you check and re-check, there are bound to be technical issues. Make sure your audio-visual technicians are ready to take on any tech issue that could possibly impact your virtual conference.

One of the biggest things to go wrong with an online conference is network connectivity. You need to be prepared for bandwidth and how many people may sign on to view your online conference. While you want the most people possible, you also don’t want the platform you are using to crash.

Make sure your tech talent has contingency plans in place to address the loss of connectivity, audio or video glitches, or lost speaker presentation files. The larger your risk assessment and planning process, the more likely you are to minimize any technical issues from impacting your audience’s overall experience.

Implement a Marketing and Publicity Plan

You want to attract the most people to your online conference as possible, so that means creating a marketing and publicity strategy just for your virtual event. Explore your options for the channels and content that can reach your intended audience. For example, use sites like LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook to create events. You can also create an email blast and website landing page. Or, if possible, designate and develop an entire online event website with links for registration. Another option is to Develop and feature a blog post about the event.

Don’t deliver all the news about your online event at once. Provide teasers that reveal some news leading up to the event, such as revealing a featured virtual speaker each week prior to the event date. This provides an opportunity to continue contacting your audience and reminding them about the event. The approach can also help generate more buzz around your virtual conference.

Decide on Takeaways and Post-Event Marketing Tactics

During and after your online event, you have more opportunities. While you can’t recreate the “experience” associated with in-person events like networking opportunities and dinners, you can do other things to enhance the experience and add value.  Ideas include an event summary download, a digital coupon for a virtual speaker’s book, or a discount for products and services featured at the online event.

Find ways to get more marketing ROI through post-event tactics. For example, you could feature video excerpts on various social media channels or panel and keynote summaries. You can use these to generate online discussions and blog posts that repackage and expand on the ideas presented throughout your virtual conference or workshop.

Also, don’t forget to conduct a survey among online attendees to find out what they liked and what could have been better. Ask them what they would like to see from future virtual conferences so you can start planning for those.

Virtual Speakers and Planning Create Memorable Virtual Events

The world of virtual conferences is just getting started. Despite turning the conference and events industries into a tailspin, technology and innovative planning, combined with forward-thinking speaker talent, have the opportunity to shape and grow an entirely new channel for virtual conferences, trade shows, training courses, and workshops.

This post was updated on June 18th, 2023.

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Every year, millions of employees across the United States complete job-related courses in compliance, soft skills, upselling, product training, and more. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, companies are reinvesting in training practices. This is especially prevalent among small businesses and large companies, who are investing on average 600 more dollars a year in training than midsized companies.

How Do You Properly Measure the Value of Corporate Learning in Your Business?

Measuring the return of investment, or ROI, of learning and development programs is incredibly important to making visible the impact of these programs. Revenue and profit are two classic indicators of a successful ROI.

Post-coronavirus, new metrics like employee confidence, increased sales, and employee engagement levels are feeling more indicative than pre-covid metrics such as training attendance, travel for learning and development, and webinar completion. One problem is that 92% of companies do not track learning and development ROI at all, which means that they are missing out on valuable information to the success of their company.

The basic formula for ROI is simple: learning and development benefit, minus the cost of learning and development, divided by the cost of learning and development multiplied by 100. Expenses of ROI include time (including corporate learning material development), effort (training time per employee) and money (including transportation, venue, catering, speakers, and equipment).

On average, having an in-person training session could end up costing upwards of $40,000. This number is also missing another major cost, which is the total a company may spend on an employee being trained. When basing on a salary of $15 an hour, a company could be spending over 1k based on 71 hours of training.

It may seem worth it for a company to outsource their training, but alternative and online models are not always as money saving as they would appear to be. These outsourced options still include costs for content libraries, course authoring tools, communication tools, third-party consultants, course marketing tools, and learning record stores.

While some of these options can be found from trusted sources such as LinkedIn and Mailchimp the investment may overall still be more than a company finds proportionally worth it.

Some are Worried About Outsourcing their Corporate Learning Programs Outside of the Organization

Unfortunately, when asked about their experiences many employees reported mixed outcomes. A quarter of employees surveyed said they forgot learning and development material immediately. 1% less said that the training wasn’t relevant to their position, and another 21% of employees said the material was out of date.

Out of the organizations surveyed, 35% of them felt they did not have access to the training content they would want for their employees. This cumulatively leads to major losses in learning and development– only 10% of money spent on traditional learning and development delivers real results. Ineffective training leads to a loss of $1.35 million per 1,000 employees.

Accurately measuring ROI is key to turning the major loss into new potential for the company. When tracking an increase in revenue, a direct correlation was found that for each $1 spend on L&D there was a $4.70 revenue increase. This correlation shows that the key to revenue increase is finding the best tool to use to measure your L&D ROI. Arist is a new company that describes itself as a “science-backed microlearning platform.” It is used by 15% of Fortune 500 companies.

Bringing it All Together

Arist attaches value to modern key performance indicators like confidence life and employee retention, which can be hard to quantify or consider in a traditional framework. Arist also costs less time, money, and energy.

Arist takes 195% less time than traditional modules, saves $96 annually per learner, and can alleviate 82% of the energy learning and development teams have to spend on course creation.

This boosts ROI and revenue along multiple avenues, and increases the adoption of learning by 90%. Arist is a very effective tool for companies attempting to clarify their ROI in learning and development. See more in the infographic below.

Published First on ValueWalk. Read Here.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels; Thank you!

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There are enormous gains still to be had in sales performance. I am sure you agree; salespeople are athletes. For instance, everyday salespeople step into a world where all that matters is performance. If an elite athlete such as Tiger Woods labeled his tools as short of very effective and said that he only spent 23% of his time was spent on golf-related activities, there would likely be a massive shake-up in his environment. Our startup *Touch is on a mission to transform the status quo.

Two staggering statistics make it clear that there are issues in the sales field. We need to get salespeople back into flow.

1. Just 15% of salespeople describe their sales tools as very effective.
2. 77% of a salesperson’s day is spent not selling.

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How can we expand sales performance?

First, it really helps to understand peak performance before you aim to make improvements.

Peak performance is a state that is also known as apeak experience, the zone of optimal functioning and flow. (Brain performance center – a literature review.)

Secondly, there are a few useful questions leaders and salespeople should start asking themselves. It’s critical to become curious about creating a peak performance environment for salespeople:

• Where and with whom can we observe this state being accessed most often?
• What are the conditions and factors that create this state?
• What is currently blocking salespeople from reaching this state?

Understanding and implementing the conditions for peak performance in your own life — in particular the concept of flow — will help your sales ability and many other business related issues.

Observe elite athletes that understand flow.

Tiger Woods and other elite athletes describe the state or experience of flow (or being in the zone) extremely well.

Tiger Woods, Golfing Legend describing being in the zone – watch a video.

“I tend to have these blackout moments when I don’t remember, I know I was there, but I don’t actually rememberperforming the golf shot. The mind gets so entrenched at the moment; I guess my subconscious takes over.”

“Who knows what the terminology is, but there are many putts or many shots where I don’t remember hitting. I remember the ball flight, I remember preparing for the shot and once I hit the shot I don’t remember the ball leaving. It’s a weird sensation. The more intense the situation gets the more calmer I feel the more things slow down. For some reason, the last few holes take forever, but they may be happening a lot faster. A lot of times I don’t hear the noise, I don’t hear anything. I become so enthralled in that particular moment, hitting a shot, performing a task being mentally prepared for that shot. It’s almost as if I get out of the way.”

It is likely after watching this video or reading the transcript you can wind back to times where you experienced this state in your career, hobbies, or social life.

Athletes have long known being in flow is the key to their performance, and we should learn what we can from them.

Delving deeper into the concept of Flow.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is known as the ‘The godfather of flow’ and describes the state as follows:

A state in which people are so immersed in an activity that nothing else matters. One is so happily absorbed in what they are doing, that their thoughts and actions flow freely.

Interestingly, his research and findings led him to see that flow seems to occur most frequently in athletes. Other researchers like Jackson and Marsh (1996) further describe the flow state as:

A situation where personal skills equal or exceed the required challenges of the sport, and this experience is perceived as enjoyable, free from distractions, and typically leads to overall good performance.

In the Sales Industry with much talk of positive thinking — obscenely large goal setting, and forcing action (The 5 am club) in Salespeople to achieve results — generally — this concept flies in the face of the concept of flow.

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Flow is critical to sales performance.

There is an enormous variance of performance in sales — much like sports. Sport is an industry that has high failure rates and requires deep psychological resilience. And like Al Pacino reminds us in the film Any Given Sunday, it’s “the inches that make the yards.”

Marginal gains can be the difference between the average and the elite increases in sales, as well.

Achieving the state of flow consistently has the potential to unlock massive positive changes in Salespeople. In general, humans are all inclined toward experiences that promote happiness, creativity, and productivity; achieving a flow state just represents a natural objective of life.

One thought that arises, with the amount of money spent on self-development and growth within the Sales Industry, it’s surprising how few out there talk about the concept of flow.

Sales leaders need to understand the Challenge/Skills Matrix.

Consider great mentors of elite athletes like Butch Harmon, Pep Guardiola, and Phil Jackson. Is it likely to hear them draw focus on wild goals or focus on one game/shot at a time? To focus on just trying harder or increasing the efficiency of the body and equipment?

At the core of the principle of achieving flow is the Challenge/Skill balance. Leaders of top athletes understand the challenge and skill balance. It is far more subtle than most sales ideologies that encourage you to set or attract wild goals.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has discovered from his 40 years of study how the skills/challenge matrix affects performance and flow. If you are presented with a highly mismatched challenge with the skill set, see below the results of this.

(source –https://uxdesign.cc/getting-into-the-flow-what-does-that-even-mean-58b16642ef1d)

Take some time to look at this and think about the goals you or your sales team have in mind.

Sales leaders and salespeople need to think of the Skills/Challenge matrix as a critical mechanism for achieving flow. Achieving goals then becomes a byproduct of being in flow more consistently. We need to make sure we move sales teams away fromfeelings of anxiety and boredom and towards those associated with flow.

The 3 pre-requisite conditions for being in flow.

Thankfully, due to the extensive research, tools and learning are available for salespeople to understand the conditions to access the flow state:

1. Clarity of goal and immediate feedback.
2. A high level of concentration on a limited field.
3. The balance between skills and challenge.

If a salesperson is in flow, they experience these beautiful benefits.

1. Effortlessness – The greatest athletes look effortless and so should salespeople. Over time every unit of energy poured in should produce additional output.
2. The Feeling of Control – A state of security and relaxation in the sales environment. Confidence that you will take the right action in any situation presented.
3. An altered perception of time – The prefrontal cortex, parts of the brain associated with time, inner voice, ego become less active. This creates the time distortion experienced when in a state of flow.
4. The union of action and consciousness – Feeling at one with your sales performance, there is no thinking involved, the inner voice quiets, and you trust actions to take place.
5. Love of the process – You will love the process of seeking the goal as much as the achievement of the goal itself.

Here are the 4 principles that you need to adapt to perform like an elite athlete.

Principle 1 – An immersive sales stack

The definition of IMMERSIVE is – “characterized by deep absorption or immersion in something (such as an activity or a real or artificial environment).”

The term “immersive experience” refers to pulling a person into a new reality, enhancing their everyday life (by making it more engaging or satisfying) via technology.

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High performers are in immersive environments. Unfortunately, the salesperson is removing themselves from flow and peak performance as their sales stack may not be fit for purpose.

There are 3 major factors that are taking almost all salespeople out of flow on a daily basis:

• Some salespeople hate CRM’s as they can reduce speed and efficiency.
• The explosion in the requirement for data entry/CRM hygiene from management.
• Managing multiple communication and productivity software applications.

The average salesperson spends most of the day not, approximately 77%. Thus, it’s critical to spend time procuring your sales stack to optimize for immersion.

Principle 2 – Find and remove distractions.

To create immersion, you first to remove distractionsions. From many research bodies into the subject of focus and productivity, it’s clear distractions lower the quality of work and increase the error rate. To reach a state of flow, you need digital minimalism.

A salesperson needs access to all tools instantly. Currently, salespeople work from multiple channels, the CRM and productivity apps creating too much distraction in their day.

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Leaders need to make sure that salespeople clearly know what the next action is in every workflow and it’s accessible instantly. Investing time, money, and training to ensure that the sales stack enables superfast workflows with minimal energy expended is a priority.

Principle 3 – Find a way to measure flow.

Measuring if their salespeople are in a state of flow should be a part of the performance management process. From this measure and an understanding of the factors that affect the state of their teams’ flow, they can then tweak levers. This allows salespeople to achieve the state more often.

Many flow-based questionnaires offer an assessment of how often you are accessing the state of flow. I am a fan of the Flow Genome Project and their questionnaire; you can use it to understand your flow profile and implement steps to access the state faster.

From this critical information, you will naturally brainstorm ideas to adjust your sales stack, environment, and culture to optimize for flow.

Principle 4 – Focus on Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD) speed.

What is JTBD?

Jobs-to-be-done was a concept created by Clayton Christensen back in 2003 and has become refined by Anthony Ulwick in a more recent book, surprisingly titled“Job to be Done.”

Ulwick defines a job-to-be-done as a task, goal, or objective a person is trying to accomplish — or a problem they are trying to resolve. These jobs can be functional, emotional, or associated with product consumption.

The efficiency in how a person completes a JBTD is critical to their performance.

Watching Athletes at the highest level, whether that’s Roger Federer playing tennis, David Beckham taking a free-kick, or Tiger Woods driving, you will notice the effortless efficiency. Extreme amounts of force and power are generated, pushing the limits of what the human body is capable of.

Thinks as an F1 engineering team does for their driver.

Being efficient is essentially “taking the shortest path toward attaining the desired goals.” Two, in other words, it describes the number of outputs gained from a given input.

Efficiency = output/input

If you increase your efficiency, you get more output for every unit of energy you spend. Here is our definition:

The time it takes to complete a workflow, without any sacrifice of quality at all.

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This is JTBD speed and it’s critical to access or remain inflow. All workflows related to your performance should feel almost instantaneous, but this is not the case right now for most Salespeople.

Conclusion

It’s time to bring flow to the world of salespeople. There is a natural and deep-seated need for humans to experience happiness, creativity, and productivity and flow is the way to meet this need.

Whether you are a salesperson or a salespeople leader, it’s critical to understand the issue of flow further. When you gain a deeper understanding, you can not only transform sales performance of yourself and your company — but you will change the entire experience of any task you decide to undertake in your life.

Top Image Credit: fede roveda; pexels

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Business owners and managers are always looking for ways to boost productivity in the workplace. A company can’t succeed unless everyone is motivated and willing to work hard to achieve shared goals. Being hyper-critical and micromanaging your team often backfires and makes employees feel more stressed and resentful.

Instead, you should work toward creating a happy workplace, relaxed environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Happiness and productivity are known to go hand in hand. So, if you want to see revenue increase and goals met at a faster pace, don’t just look at the bottom line but also consider the attitudes and mindset of your team. Here are a few tips to help you do so.

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Give Colleagues Positive Feedback 

When a colleague does something that makes your day, be sure to let them know. Everyone loves to feel appreciated, yet far too many people neglect the simple acts of kindness that make others feel like their effort is being valued. It could be work-related or any simple gesture that helped you out. They may have offered to chip in on a project to help you meet a deadline or met their work goals for the month. Any positive action, no matter how small, should be acknowledged with positive feedback to encourage similar behavior in the future. If it’s something small, a simple thank you may suffice, but if it’s more significant, you may consider sending them a card or a modest gift. Just be sure to be specific about what they did and how it affected you.

Congratulate Colleagues on Their Wins

In addition to providing positive feedback, you should also congratulate colleagues on any wins or achievements. No one wants to feel like their hard work is going unacknowledged, especially in the workplace. So, take the time to give recognition for employee achievements – large or small. Maybe they exceeded their monthly sales goals or brought in a new client.

No matter what the victory, make sure to acknowledge it and encourage them to keep it up. A simple email may suffice, or if possible, congratulate them in person. You may even consider hosting a regular meeting to acknowledge staff accomplishments. But don’t sandwich it in between feedback and requested improvements – let the kudos stand on their own and find a different way to address improvement if necessary.

Create Shared Plans

Humans are social creatures, and we thrive when working in groups. So, make an effort to create shared plans and communicate goals and expectations. Employees can quickly become frustrated and stressed out if they feel they need a clearer sense of what is expected from them, or they can’t effectively communicate with colleagues and management. So, creating shared plans helps to ensure employees aren’t wasting time trying to figure out how to best serve the company or team. It also helps encourage teamwork and collaboration so that no one feels isolated or left out of the decision-making process.

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Encourage an Open Dialogue

Communication is essential to a happy, productive workplace, so encourage open dialogue between employees, management, and other key partners. Have regular conversations about the team’s progress and get feedback on what works well and what can be improved.

Set aside time at your regular staff meetings to answer a few questions:

• How can we help each other use time more efficiently
• What are our biggest time wasters as a group? (Email, chatting?)
• What types of breaks are essential to help us focus longer?

Keep in mind that email and conversation are essential aspects of a healthy work-social life, but too much socializing can reduce focus. Also, remember that breaks are scientifically proven to improve focus in the long run. However, you must be strategic about when and what types of breaks you employ to improve productivity and avoid creating unnecessary distractions.

When creating this open dialogue, try to center it around how the group can improve and not single out particular individuals. That will make it easier to provide constructive criticism without feeling like you’re chastising anyone in particular.

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Set Clear Goals for Productivity AND Happiness  

Finally, you should also prioritize discussing goals for productivity and happiness in the workplace. While it’s essential to set objectives related to earning or completing tasks to keep everyone on track, this shouldn’t be your only concern. Also, discuss ways you can improve the workplace’s overall happiness and comfort level by eliciting feedback from your staff.

You could set a goal of hosting one pizza party per month or regularly recognize one person in the office for their hard work. Once you realize that happiness and productivity go hand in hand, you’ll start making a consistent effort to improve the mindset and well-being of your team. Everyone will be more productive if they feel their personal source of happiness is being recognized and fed.

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For various reasons, 2021 was a challenging year for small company owners. However, 2022 gives a fresh opportunity to build your business, whether it was a successful or poor year for you or if you just began one. Eight small company growth methods and recommendations are included below to assist you in achieving your objectives. Here’s how to use small business growth strategies for 2022.

Create a Successful Business Plan for Growth Strategies

You must prepare a business strategy if you do not already have one. Writing a business plan pushes you to consider different areas of your company, including your products and services, target clients, competitors, and marketing strategy.

A business plan also aids in the formulation of revenue predictions and the setting of firm objectives. Take the time to consider all of these factors and set objectives for 2022. Then, it’s time to dust out your old company plan and refresh it with new objectives and predictions.

For various reasons, 2021 was a challenging year for small company owners. However, 2022 gives a fresh opportunity to build your business, whether it was a successful or poor year for you or if you just began one. Eight small company growth methods and recommendations are included below to assist you in achieving your objectives.

Boost Your Online Visibility as a Business Growth

Having an online presence is critical for future success, regardless of whether your firm is thriving offline. The eCommerce business is increasing at a rate of roughly 23% per year, and some experts predict that by 2040, online sales will account for 95% of all purchases.

2022 is the year to have a website for your company if you don’t already have one. A website may assist your firm gain reputation, expanding sales capacity (particularly in the future), developing brand recognition, allowing you to engage in email marketing, and much more.

Another channel you can’t overlook is social media. 45 percent of social media users said they used the platform to study companies and items, and 67 percent said they bought something they saw advertised on social media. Even concentrating on one or two social media channels where your clients are engaged might help your company grow significantly.

Quality Employees to Attract and Hire

A solid team is one of the most critical components of a successful business. Quality and devoted staff may make a huge difference in the success of your small business.

According to the most recent labor data, the United States still has 10.6 million job opportunities and insufficient applicants to fill them. In reality, there are just 0.7 jobless people for every job opportunity.

Write precise and informative job descriptions to attract great employees by letting applicants know exactly what will be required of them. Then, to make your firm as appealing as – or more appealing than – your rivals, match incentives from other businesses in your field.

This might include a welcome bonus, a hybrid work model, or other perks.

Look for Ways to Save Money

Cutting expenditures is a simple and effective strategy to enhance the financial health of your small business. But, first, determine where your money is going and which areas may need some trimming. Wave accounting software can help you classify costs to understand where your money is going.

You might be able to save money by canceling superfluous software subscriptions, moving to shared office space, or renting, leasing, or purchasing old equipment. Do you have an online store? Finding a wholesale distributor for your company is an excellent method to cut costs.

Every dollar counts when you’re a tiny business, so reduce or modify anywhere you can to improve your cash flow and financial condition.

Develop a Positive Company Culture

Businesses have faced large waves of resignations in what has been dubbed “the Great Resignation,” and facing financial difficulties and implementing Covid-19 safety standards.

Developing a solid business culture is one of the greatest methods of retaining outstanding personnel and ensuring business growth. In 2022, make an effort to bring the whole business together for events – as securely as possible – to establish trusting connections via transparency, have an open-door policy so workers can voice their concerns, and be as flexible with scheduling as feasible.

Form Connections.

Building a successful business requires networking. It enables you to learn from others’ experiences and uncover best practices. Furthermore, your contacts when striking up a discussion might lead to new chances.

Begin by joining industry-related online networking forums and organizations. Comment on other people’s threads or start your own in areas that are a good fit for your talents and interests to join in the debate.

It’s important to remember that networking is a two-way street, so give individuals something useful when you talk to them. For example, if you work in advertising, you may make your best guess on how Facebook Ads will do this year in terms of ROI.

Reduce Your Business’s Risks

While doing a company has some risks, having proper business insurance will protect you from serious liability risks. Unfortunately, 75 percent of firms, according to one research, are underinsured.

There are many various forms of company insurance to consider, but general liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial property insurance are the three most important.

• Liability in general. General liability insurance protects you and your company if a client, customer, vendor, or other third party is injured on your premises or while using your products and services.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance is almost mandatory for all employers. It pays for medical expenses and missed earnings when employees are injured on the job or get ill due to their work.
• Commercial real estate. Accidental damage, vandalism, or loss of the physical structure and assets are all covered by commercial property insurance.

Ensure you have the correct sort of business insurance and enough coverage so that you and your company are protected in a disaster. Business Growth can stall or stop with a disaster, so protect yourself.

Franchising

Franchising remains one of the most popular methods of small business expansion and shows no signs of slowing down. Franchising allows business owners to expand to new markets and locations by assigning franchisees to new franchise territories allowing the franchisor to grow their business without doing it all by themselves. If you would like to learn more about why franchising is such an effective growth strategy, we recommend you read the various information and free guides at Franchise UK.

Make a marketing investment.

Invest in marketing and spread the word about your company to get ahead in these unpredictable times. In 2022, marketing must be a component of your business growth plan, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Utilizing social media ads, google ads, regular print advertisements, and other marketing strategies can all be effective ways to make your business known and attract potential customers.

If you have one, direct visitors to your website and establishing an email list may also be quite successful. Make marketing a priority in your budget, regardless of the path(s) you take.

Concentrate on the Correct Customers

Do you know who you’re trying to reach? Do you understand their wants, needs, and passions? If not, you should prioritize this because you won’t be as successful if you can’t satisfy your clients’ demands. The correct customers is your greatest key to business growth.

Making customer/buyer personas is a fantastic method to start thinking about your consumers’ problems and how to address them.

Are your products and services satisfying your target customers’ requirements, wants, and interests? Then, make contact with your current consumers and solicit feedback. They’re the ideal individuals to inform you how you’re doing and even provide you advice on how to better.

Make Customer Service a Top Priority for Business Growth.

This may come as no surprise, but customer service must be prioritized to expand your business in 2022. If you don’t provide better service than your competition, your clients will move elsewhere.

When customers’ concerns are promptly addressed, and their problems are rapidly resolved, they feel appreciated. Always go above and above to assist your clients, and ensure your employees are well-trained to deliver the finest possible service. Consider getting a business phone number.

Don’t forget to request reviews and testimonials, as 88 percent of purchasers trust internet reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Image Credit: Krakenimages; Unsplash; Thank you!

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Business owners are still looking for resources that can help them prosper and extend their company to its maximum potential. They also try various approaches, such as outsourcing essential services, to achieve this.

Bookkeeping services in Chicago are one of the most important services that companies nowadays outsource quickly.

Small business owners find it difficult to employ full-time in-house bookkeeping workers to handle their workload. As a result, services are in high demand, and bookkeeping service providers are doing all they can to provide customers with reliable accounting services.

Best Bookkeeping Services in Chicago for Your Business

Finding a skilled and eligible individual at a reasonable price has become much more difficult in recent years. Accounting is outsourced by more than a third of small businesses. Surprisingly, most small businesses that outsource do not seem secure doing their own audits.

Despite popular belief, accounting and bookkeeping do not have to be performed inside the company. However, you must determine if you have the requisite skills and experience to perform this work. Also, does the team have enough expertise to handle the increased accounting responsibilities? To sum it up, 62% of all small companies believe they are overpaying their taxes.

Bookkeeping Basics

You need an accountant because you don’t have the patience or the skills to do it yourself. A bookkeeper essentially keeps track of cash inflows and outflows so that you can determine the level of business operation. Initially, the bookkeeper helps to align the company’s assets, liabilities, equity, sales, and expenditures.

Receipts are used to prove some of these points, while inventory is used to keep track of others. Assets are your tools for achieving your business objectives. This includes any money you have on hand to spend on other things. After your payments and other accruals, you’ll have liabilities. This includes payroll liabilities as well as any other credits you used to buy your assets.

Outsourced bookkeeping services in Chicago (like ebetterbooks dot com) will help your company develop into a profitable venture in a variety of ways:

• You’ll have more time to concentrate on your job.

When you delegate essential responsibilities, you will devote more time to meeting your clients’ needs more effectively. You will develop your services and offer your clients more valuable work. You will be able to keep your one client for a longer period of time if you make them happy, and you will also get positive feedback from your pleased client. Much of this occurred due to you delegating the bookkeeping job to give more focus to your client’s needs.

• Increased Efficiency.

If you’re operating a startup in a rapidly growing economy, you’ll need to stay focused and increase your productivity. If various accounting books constantly surround you, you won’t achieve a high degree of productivity. To achieve your business goals, you must devote your time to other essential tasks and delegate your financial responsibilities to an outsourced bookkeeping company in Chicago.

• Errors are less likely to occur.

Since you are not qualified to operate a bookkeeping system as a business owner, you will have to spend twice as much time updating your accounts. You will be able to get transparent and correct accounting in no time if you hire outsourced bookkeeping services to manage your workload.

Furthermore, to comply with tax laws, business owners can be required to build several accounts and maintain multiple records, which may become daunting for a single individual. As a result, using the services of experts will help you reduce the chances of making accounting errors.

• The availability of highly qualified personnel

It would be much more costly to employ a full-time bookkeeper for your business than it would be to hire an outsourced bookkeeping company. Furthermore, by recruiting a full team, you would be able to access the services of a diverse group of professionals. For example, you can use the expertise of an accountant and a tax consultant by hiring a single outsourced finance firm. While hiring both specialists separately would put a greater strain on your budget.

• The most recent bookkeeping tools

You’ll need to buy new software to handle your accounting books online, and you’ll need to update them regularly because software quickly becomes outdated. As a result, when you outsource bookkeeping services, you gain access to all of the new technology and processes on the market. When you have your accounts prepared by experts using the most up-to-date software, you won’t find any mistakes in your accounting, which will help your company prosper financially.

• On-time project completion

You won’t have to think about it once you’ve hired a bookkeeping service provider to oversee your job and set a deadline for completion that the outsourced firm will still deliver the job on time. This is since a full team of accounting professionals accompanies them. There is no assurance that the job will be done on schedule if your in-house accountant becomes sick or has to take time off.

• Method of bias elimination

When the accounting staff and other office workers work together, there’s a good risk that one of your accountants will be manipulated by other team members to make any biassed dealings without your awareness. This would harm your company’s reputation and paint a false image of your financial situation. As a result, if you hire an outsourced bookkeeping firm, there would be no risk of biased account management.

Listed below are the five best online bookkeeping services in Chicago:

• eBetterBooks

eBetterBooks is a Chicago-based accounting software company that provides startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs with online accounting and bookkeeping services with a dedicated bookkeeper. Using emerging technology, they can leverage the company’s financial capital to the greatest extent possible.

They are a group of tax professionals, auditors, payroll experts, and billing experts who work with startups, small enterprises, freelancers, large corporations, and entrepreneurs. The average pricing starts at $49/- only. With eBetterBooks, you can save both time and money.

Online accounting is the next era of “internet accounting,” which automates a new way of keeping track of finances. Link your bank and spending accounts now to clean up your finances in a matter of minutes.

• Xendoo

Xendoo’s professional bookkeeping team will 10x the efficiency of a conventional bookkeeper and CPA, thanks to Xendoo’s proprietary technology. It offers a monthly bookkeeping solution in collaboration with Xero that is powered by real-time data and, most importantly, real people.

The average pricing starts at $195/- only. Provide easy access to expert CPAs, stable pricing, and quick accessibility to financial data through technology. Company owners have what they need in their back pocket for on-the-fly access to finance reports, whether they’re heading to the boardroom or the home office.

• CMW Tax Services

You go through the same struggle year after year, staying up late trying to finish your taxes on time. It’s time for a change; leave your tax planning to CMW Tax Services Corp. When it comes to taxes, they make sure you don’t have to worry. They want to assist you in managing your company’s sustainability and provide you with the resources when you need them. The average pricing plan starts at $300/- only.

• Bench

For small business owners, Bench handles their bookkeeping. And they do it in a way that no one has ever done before: by combining intuitive tech with real-life bookkeepers. The average pricing starts at $159/- only. It’s more than just crunching numbers for them. It allows entrepreneurs to devote more time to their passions.

• LedgersOnline

LedgersOnline is here to help you with more than just organizing and managing your accounting and bookkeeping information. They transform the data into actionable insights at LedgersOnline to help small and medium-sized companies operate their operations more effectively and make better decisions in the future.

They understand that technology-driven professional accountants will transform your company, but they also understand that the human touch cannot be replaced. The average pricing plan starts at $250/- only.

That’s why they’ve put together a team of experienced CPAs, CGAs, and skilled bookkeepers to provide you with individualized service and support. When you work with LedgersOnline, you will be assigned a committed professional who will provide you with a custom solution.

When to Outsource Bookkeeping in Chicago?

Outsourcing bookkeeping and accounting, in our experience working with various Norwegian and Western businesses, works well when:

• A small business does not require a full-time bookkeeper, but it does need someone with more qualifications than the receptionist or office manager.
• An organization of any size would struggle to find a full-time employee with the necessary skills at a reasonable price.
• Moreover, a growing business is still searching for ways to expand its accounting and bookkeeping services.
• Temporary services are needed, such as extra assistance with end-of-year reports or a full-time employee on leave, maternity leave, etc.

Accounting Tasks You Should Outsource in the Future

• Authorities and management must be informed.
• Payroll processing services are available.
• Bookkeeping.
• Expenses payable (payments creation).
• Receivables (accounts receivable) (debtors follow up).
• Paystubs

Bonus piece of advice: If you employ a big-five accounting firm to conduct an audit, you can keep using the other firm for your bookkeeping and accounting. A CPA firm conducting an audit cannot also conduct accounting and bookkeeping for the same business due to the accounting profession’s independence laws and standards.

Things to Consider When Hiring Chicago Based Bookkeeper:

Until you outsource, there are five things you can look for.

Once you’ve decided to outsource, the next move is to find a firm that suits your objectives. But most importantly can meet your needs and requirements.

When it comes to outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services, we agree that consistency and productivity should come first. However, there are a few more important things to remember.

• What kind of bookkeeping services are you looking for?
  
  Is it to handle the account payables and receivables or plan end-of-month reports, balance sheets, payroll services, and reporting to authorities? Perhaps you need assistance in preparing bank reconciliations and analyses or simply entering data into accounting software? Whatever it is, you must have a good understanding of what you do yourself, what your in-house staff is accountable for, and what you want everyone else to do.
• Cost-effective price range.

Every accounting and bookkeeping firm has its own payment structure. Some charge by the hour, while others bill on a monthly basis.

As a result, you should select the payment term that best fits your needs and expenditure. But don’t make your choice solely based on cost-effectiveness.

• Expertise

Check to see if the organization you’re considering hiring has the necessary expertise, professionalism, and credentials. Remember that you can still get referrals from former or current customers. Check out their industry credibility, financial stability, and, most importantly, their ability to deliver high-quality, reliable performance.

• Data protection.

Data security, in our view, is critical when outsourcing accounting online services. The reputable firm protects the privacy of its clients’ information and ensures that each transaction is secure. It’s crucial because you’ll be sending them not only cash flow information but also sensitive information.

• Service level agreement that is flexible and adaptive.

Accounting and bookkeeping service providers must demonstrate their willingness to adapt to the changing needs and requirements. We strongly advise that you read the terms and conditions before signing the contract to know how to cancel the agreement if you are unhappy with their work.

Conclusion

Bookkeeping services would free up precious time for you to concentrate on growing your company. However, you must first locate the online bookkeeping in Chicago, which can efficiently handle your confidential accounts.

Image Credit: Chicago photo, provided by the author; thank you!

Top Image Credit: nataliya vaitkevich; pexels; thank you!

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As the digital landscape evolves, so do the tools and strategies needed to make businesses succeed online. Search Engine Optimization itself, as a business marketing strategy, has had its ‘death’ declared so many times because it felt like it was no longer relevant. Yet, it’s still here, more strongly than before.

More so, consider the AI revolution that’s currently taking place. Does that mean you should throw away all your old tools and start using AI for everything? It would have been cool if it were that easy.

However, managing a business is not. And search engine optimization is not easy either. That’s why we have reviewed five different categories of tools that your business must invest in to hit your SEO goals and enhance your presence online. Beginner or expert, these tools will make your life easier and your results better.

Keyword Research

Paying for Google Search ads is the fastest way to appear on top of the search engine’s results for relevant queries (if you have enough money). However, the most valuable way to get to the top and remain there is by organically matching the content on your website to the most common terms searched by users.

Data from keyword research tools are organized into lists of the most common keywords relevant to your website. Hence, they are great resources for finding new content ideas, connecting with your audience, and improving traffic.

When choosing a tool for keyword research, you should be okay with free tools such as Google Trends or Google Keyword Planner. However, they each have their limitations. Google Trends is geared toward general knowledge and shows you nothing besides trendiness. Google Keyword Planner, on the other hand, lies within the Google Ads system and is geared towards paid ads, rather than organic search.

As far as free tools go, you can’t do much more than data coming from Google itself. But paid tools take you steps further with improved results, clear insights, and seamless automation. Popular paid tools such as Ahrefs and Moz sit on the high end, costing upwards of $100 for subscriptions. More affordable ones include the Eye10 Keyword Planner, which starts at $39 and includes everything you should expect from a keyword tool: ideas and suggestions, monthly search volume, difficulty level, and the ability to export results.

Analytics

Search engines have an incentive to ensure that their top search results are relevant to the user. But this is not a static process and several (hundreds of) factors come into play.

When your business relies heavily on traffic coming from search engines, you can’t help the occasional jolting feeling when the search engine updates its algorithm such that your efforts seem obsolete. At other times, your efforts are indeed obsolete and you must have been doing something wrong once you notice that your ranking and traffic have taken a hit.

The point here is that, as far as SEO goes, there is always something to improve upon. Always. And how would you know that if you don’t have the right tool to analyze what’s happening? Sometimes, the website itself is the problem; at other times, user behavior may be shifting towards what your website is not yet optimized for. Still, search algorithms may just be doing their thing and it’s affecting you negatively.

Google is, by far, the most popular search engine. So, its Search Console tool is, without a doubt, the best free tool for monitoring your site’s presence in search results. It helps you troubleshoot any issues you might have and ultimately make informed decisions to enhance your website presence.

Content Creation

Everywhere you turn, there is a proliferation of blogs, podcasts, newsletters, videos, webinars, etc. Basically, it’s the content creation revolution and there is an emerging work field of ‘creators’, professionals who apply their creativity in crafting digital content that resonates with their audience.

The most popular creators are individuals, such as MrBeast and Khaby Lame but many businesses have found themselves increasingly locked into content creation because it is a great way to market their brands. Whether it’s a blog or a newsletter, ebooks, or whitepapers, creating content is the order of the day. What you should be thinking about is how to make it better. And there is a solid toolkit for that.

For creating written content, Grammarly is the defacto spelling and grammar checker although others such as the Hemingway Editor and ProWritingAid are excellent alternatives. Canva leads in the graphic design aspect as a highly user-friendly tool for creating social media posts, videos, infographics, presentations, and much more.

Capcut, Descript, Audacity, Buzzsprout, YouTube Studio, etc. are useful for editing, preparing, and distributing your video and audio content for your audience. And any collaborative task manager or workspace tool will help you easily manage your content calendar.

Link Building

Link building is a top-three tactic for getting ahead in SEO. Over the years, Google has developed an immense capacity at detecting and penalizing websites determined to manipulate its algorithm via unethical practices such as link farming and link spamming. The best way to build links today is to earn the backlinks as well as the authority that comes with them.

Ethical link-building opportunities abound but going at it manually can be daunting and frustrating, given the tough competition in the industry. Even something as ‘simple’ as requesting a guest blogging opportunity requires that several moving parts are working without friction. First, you have to publish linkable content, then conduct outreaches, optimize your links and anchors, find broken links and unlinked brand mentions, and monitor competitors. The whole time, you still have to track the effectiveness of your link-building efforts.

As far as link building is concerned, there is no all-in-one tool. It is more likely that you’d be using a combination of various tools to achieve different purposes. For finding link opportunities, SEMrush and Ahrefs offer very useful features. Pitchbox, Buzzstream, and JustReachOut help you to reach out to and collaborate with influencers. Eye10 Backlink Monitor is great for analyzing your backlinks to determine their impact and find issues.

Social Media Management

For many customers today, especially those of the younger generation, a business that lacks a social media presence is as good as not existing. Businesses have responded likewise, by not just establishing their presence on social media but assigning whole teams to control the narrative about their business online.

But social media is not just a PR or a communications tool; it boosts your SEO too when managed strategically. For instance, sharing links to your website increases brand exposure and provides extensive content distribution. Social media might not be an element of SEO ranking, but its benefit such as enhancing your brand recognition and reputation online can contribute immensely to your website traffic.

The entire cycle of creating, publishing, and monitoring content on social media requires strategic workflows, and there are tools that would help you save time and make it less overwhelming, particularly through automation. Buffer, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social help you manage several social media accounts in one platform, including scheduling your posts and accessing comprehensive analytics data. And for building simple landing pages, Linktree is hands-down the most popular tool.

Conclusion

Staying ahead of the competition in a field like SEO takes a lot of hard work. Plus, sustainability is hardly guaranteed; one wrong turn and your website and business are sinking. But these tools can help you to stay afloat when used properly. These are the aspects of SEO you should focus the most of your attention upon.

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