Author: Reginald Chan

  • Methods That Can Improve Your Website To Get More Views

    Methods That Can Improve Your Website To Get More Views

    You’ve successfully established your online presence. Now, all you need to do is think of ways to get more viewers to your website so many can be aware of your products and services. There are a lot of marketing hacks you can try, from social media to a more conventional way. However, there are a few techniques that are proven effective. 

    In this article, it will help you figure out what is the importance of increasing website traffic and some methods that can improve your website to get more views. 

    Implement Good SEO

    If you are in the business industry for quite some time and don’t have an idea of how SEO works, you better start knowing more of this. Learn about the magic of SEO so that you are engaging in the right type of delivery strategies. Plus, by fully understanding the power of SEO, you can get a high number of views. According to a Hong Kong SEO Agency that is managed by Google Search and Scoring experts, SEO is very important, not only because it attracts many visitors, but also can help a business increase their return of investment if implemented properly. By creating a website that ranks at the top of search engine results, you are doing your business a favor.

    Write Good Content

    As long as you create good and insatiable content on your website, you’ll have more and more potential customers to become loyal customers. Plus, if you have high-quality content, the more engaged your visitors will be. They will even share your link to their social media, helping you promote your services out to the world. 

    Use Instagram

    We all know that Instagram is one of the most popular apps in the world today. Most people post their stories there almost every day. It is a platform that lets you share photos and moments with other people around the world. Yet, a few businesses know how to use this to their advantage and drive traffic to their site. If your business does not have one, you might consider creating an account there. According to experts, many people have reached their target market solely by using Instagram alone. Instagram is free. You may use it to promote your services and utilize it as your strategy to drive more traffic to your site. 

    Mobile Usability

    If you are intentional to drive more viewers to your website, then you need to make your site available to all kinds of devices as much as possible. You need to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly. You may use different tools like Google’s Page Insight Tool to check if your website is friendly enough and see all the guidelines towards a mobile layout. You should also ensure that all your content, posts are AMP specification ready. 

    Getting more visitors and driving them to your website does not happen with just a snap of a finger. It is good that you know how to exert effort to do this. By using these methods, you can get the right visitors, and most importantly, you are converting these visitors to loyal customers.

  • Why Consolidating Your Debt Always Is the Smartest Option?

    Why Consolidating Your Debt Always Is the Smartest Option?

    Debt consolidation refers to the act of combining multiple debts into one large debt. You can consolidate these loans by applying for a loan that comes with better terms of payoff. This helps to reorganize your total debt so that it becomes lesser and easier to pay. You can use debt consolidation for student loans, credit card bills, and other loans. You can apply for debt consolidation through your bank, a credit card company, or other financial organizations. Many creditors are likely to allow for debt consolidation.

    This is because the chances of a debtor paying off debt are higher when they consolidate their debts. This method works best if you do not have too many loans and when you have a solid plan of how you are going to keep your debt in check. To qualify for debt consolidation, it is also important to have proof of income which assures the lenders that you can meet the terms of the loan. The lenders will also check your credit history and financial stability. It is also important to have equity when applying for debt consolidation. Given below are some of the reasons why you may consider debt consolidation.

    Helps to Pay Your Debts Sooner

    Debt consolidation can help you to pay your loans faster than you would have paid each debt separately. For instance, many credit card companies do not give an exact timeline for when you should pay your debt. This can make you take your time in paying off your debt. However, when you take a consolidation loan, it has a fixed payment date and this helps to clear your debt earlier. When you pay your debt sooner, you can put your money into other uses to achieve your life goals.

    Lower Interest Rates

    When you consolidate your debts, you may benefit from lower interest rates. This is because most consolidation loans have lower interest rates than most credit card companies. The agents from https://www.jubilee2000uk.org/ help you to pay your debts sooner, by assisting in the debt consolidation process.  This means that you will pay fewer interest rates overall. However, the interest rates that you pay with your loan also depend on the amount of your loan, the term of loan repayment for your loan, and also on your credit score.

    Boosting Your Credit

    At first debt consolidation may lower your credit score because of the inquiry into your credits and the debts that you have. However, over time, debt consolidation improves your credit score, which is because you have to pay your debts on time when you consolidate them. How you pay your debts contributes about 35% of your credit score and therefore the faster you pay your debts, the better your credit score.

    When you keep your credit card open after paying your debt, it improves your credit utilization ratio and improves your credit history. This will also contribute to a higher credit score. However, if you decide to close your card after paying off the debt, this can lower your credit score.

     Having a Fixed Loan Repayment Schedule

    Debt Consolidation enables you to know how much money you have to pay each month and you will also know when you will finish repaying your loan. The loan agreement that you sign when you consolidate your debts gives you a schedule of when you need to complete paying off your loan. This helps you to have some discipline in paying off your debt, as it is more convenient compared to paying off a credit card debt which has a high-interest rate over a long duration of time.

    Lowering Your Monthly Payments

    When you consolidate your debts into one large debt, it means that you don’t have to pay each debt individually at the end of the month. With debt consolidation, you only have to make one repayment over the agreed interval until the loan is completely paid off. This means that you will be spending less money per month in debt repayment and if you pay your debt sooner, you will spend less money overall. You will be able to plan your finances better each month when you consolidate your debts.

    In summary, debt consolidation refers to combining multiple debts into one large loan. To qualify for debt consolidation, it is important to have a steady income, good credit history, and equity that can assure the lenders that you can repay the loan. The benefits of debt consolidation include improvement of your credit score, lower interest rates, and it also helps you to repay your loans earlier. When you pay your loans sooner, you can direct your money to other uses that help you to reach your goals.

  • What Does It Mean If You Are on the OFAC List?

    What Does It Mean If You Are on the OFAC List?

    If you own a business, especially one that deals in trading, you should stay aware of financial rules and regulations imposed by the government. Keeping track of your assets and being careful about who you’re dealing with should be your priority. The U.S. government has a list of strict rules, and if you break them, you and your business will be put on one of the OFAC lists. But what is OFAC, and what does being on a list mean for your business?

    What Is OFAC?

    OFAC, or Office of Foreign Assets Control, is an intelligence agency that deals with financial affairs. This financial intelligence agency enforces sanctions on any individual, business, or even a country, that is deemed to have made actions that threaten U.S. national security. It could be anything from terrorist activity, money laundering, drug trafficking, trading with foreign states which are deemed dangerous by the American government, and more. Depending on the type of offense, it imposes different sanctions on the perpetrator.

    Check If You’re on One of the Lists

    Checking the lists one by one can be almost impossible, and because of that, experts recommend obtaining software that will do that for you. As can be seen on https://www.microbilt.com/product/watchlist-search, some applications can access the database and check all of the economic and financial sanctions imposed. This will help you learn about rules and regulations that you and your business need to comply with. If you fail to do that, you will not just be putting yourself at risk of paying huge fines but also of doing jail time.

    Types Of Lists

    As we previously mentioned, there is a large number of lists, and you could be placed on them for many different offenses. For example, if you have done trading with a foreign state that the U.S. has imposed sanctions on, you could be placed on a watchlist and later on sanctioned yourself. The sanctions could be selective or full, depending on the gravity of the offense. At the moment, the US government has banned any trading with companies from North Korea, Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and more.

    What Are the Sanctions?

    When you are on one of the OFAC lists, the first thing that will happen is that all of your assets will be frozen, and you will be forbidden from offering any kind of financial services. These sanctions apply both on and off American soil. You need to get a special license from OFAC in order not to be sanctioned. The legal process can be lengthy and complex, and it has brought many companies and individuals to financial ruin.

    It Doesn’t Just Concern the U.S. Citizens

    All of the U.S. companies need to comply with the OFAC regulations, but the harsh rules are not limited to only them. Any companies, both domestic and foreign, that possess American assets have the same restrictions and obligations. Depending on the gravity of the offense, people can be forbidden from flying in or out of the country. These limitations can even be applied to transactions that aren’t connected to the U.S. The rules and punishments are getting more and more strict, so you need to be careful and stay informed at all times.

    Be Extremely Careful

    Keep all the records and watch carefully who your clients are. Many experts recommend making a questionnaire before doing any business. There have been examples where businesses were sanctioned even if it was their client who has done something that doesn’t comply with OFAC rules, and not them. It has become more complicated than ever to follow all the regulations. That is why you should consider hiring someone who will help you keep track of them.

    Do Regular Evaluations

    Make sure that you are well informed and have the whole picture of your dealings at all times. Employ people who will help you do that, and try to find software that will help you keep track of all the rules and their potential changes. Try to plan out and then examine and analyze every transaction made.

    Getting Off the List

    Getting off the list is certainly more complex than getting on it. Even if you were put on the list by mistake, proving your innocence will be a lengthy and complicated process. You need to collect all the necessary documentation and then send your removal request to the OFAC. The removal process could be lengthy but stay patient and try to gather as much evidence as possible.

    It is always better to be safe than sorry, so take time to get familiar with all OFAC regulations and avoid breaking them as much as possible. Punishments are harsh and can have a dire impact on your business, and even your life. Keep up with all the novelties and watch every transaction you make carefully. 

  • 7 Reasons Why Email Phishing Is More Dangerous Than You Think

    7 Reasons Why Email Phishing Is More Dangerous Than You Think

    How many emails have you recently received claiming to be from trusted sources you regularly use such as that high street well-known postal service, and the well-known online marketplace to mention just a few. Phishing emails come in all shapes and sizes and they are getting all the more sophisticated, which means it is getting increasingly more difficult to spot the difference between the fake and real ones.

    How to keep yourself safe from scammers and fraudsters 

    Never open any emails from sellers or businesses that you were not expecting. If you are not expecting a parcel from that well known delivery company then why are you even opening up that email. Look at the sender, check the information in the header of the email, valuing security and safety when looking at your emails early on before you open any suspicious-looking emails will stop you from falling foul of scammers. It’s very important: Before you open any email check who it is from!

    Here are 7 reasons email phishing is more dangerous than you know

    1. They work. Phishing emails get results for the scammers. So, while people are clicking the emails the scammers will keep sending them and they will be even more believable, credible, and sophisticated – making them incredibly dangerous to both individuals and businesses alike.

    2. A False Sense of Security. The emails are so well put together that they lure you into a false sense of security which ultimately leads you to let your guard down and falling foul to scammers. 

    3. Often linked to other crimes. Unfortunately collecting your data from a phishing email is quite often only part of the bigger plan. Fraudsters and scammers quickly sell information and data they have on you, which means within a short time you could be being targeted through more channels than just email.

    4. They don’t discriminate. Any email user of any age is targeted. From college students to pensioners. Nobody is crossed off the scammer’s list except the scammers themselves.

    5. Highly effective. Phishing emails get great results for scammers, for example, they insist you must open an email attachment to look at an invoice that has not been paid. You often buy things from the site the email (appears to) come from, so you open the email, and bang, you have been caught out.

    6. Brands get tarnished. If you have been caught out by a phishing email from a seemingly trustworthy brand you feel disappointed.No longer wishing to purchase from the brand again. Even though the brand was not involved in the scam, their name and reputation have been tarnished beyond retrieval in the click of an email.

    7. Email phishing is sophisticated. The bait emails cannot be picked up by security software and lots of email providers meaning you will still get these not so lovely phishing emails popping up your email inbox at least once a day. The malware or data capture that comes attached within the email can do lots of damage to both your computer and any sensitive information you store on your computer. From bank details to addresses and pin numbers. If you are unlucky enough to fall foul of these emails and accidentally open one then you will have some serious work ahead of you to make sure everything you thought was safe is once again safe.

    The best preventative step you can take to avoid falling foul to phishing emails is to not open emails that make you second guess who they are from and what they contain. Legitimate businesses never use free email addresses such as customercare123 at gmail.com, so be always aware of where the email is coming from.

    If you do unfortunately fall foul of a phishing scam then you need to inform your banks and service providers as soon as possible. Changing your pins and access codes and informing companies that you have been a victim of fraud will help you protect yourself going forward.

    Online it is super important to be as protective and secure as you are in your everyday life, never share anything online that you wouldn’t share offline. It is important to protect any data or information you keep on your computer safe, so regularly change your pin numbers and access codes. Also if you don’t have anti-virus or malware software installed on your computer/laptop or device it would be wise to invest in some as soon as you can, read reviews and recommendations to get the right protection package that covers all of your needs.

  • How To Use Technology To Effectively Manage Your Business Inventory Better?

    How To Use Technology To Effectively Manage Your Business Inventory Better?

    Are you running an eCommerce portal? Are you a manager or supervisor in a factory where large numbers of small tools are used by workers? No matter the nature of your business, inventory management is a crucial aspect of the business.  It has a big impact on the way raw materials or tools are ordered, stored, and used. If you have good knowledge about the inventory, ordering and manufacturing become smooth and seamless without any wastage. In this article, we shall understand how technology can be used to effectively manage your business inventory in a more organized manner. 

    RFID Technology

    Radio Frequency Identification is a technology that makes it possible for each product in different categories to be located and tracked easily for better inventory management. RFID tags have become very popular and benign used in all sorts of industries for seamless inventory management today. In this system, a radio device is tagged to each product in the retail store or warehouse, and products are individually scanned for quick and simultaneous data entry into a computer. This technology obliterates human counting that is full of errors as it is digital. 

    Use of Tool Management Software

    In industries where large numbers of small tools are used and also shared by multiple workers at different locations, it becomes a headache for the manager to keep track of these tools. To help business owners, many tool tracking software is available in the market. As the name implies, such software identifies the location and quantity of tools with the help of an in and out barcode scanner Businesses can choose from a wide variety of tool management software available in the market according to their requirements and features of the program. 

    Using Robotics for Inventory Management

    Autonomous robots are being used inside large warehouses to perform picking and packing functions these days. Smart robots work in conjunction with software to make warehouse management smooth and hassle-free. Joint ventures between robot manufacturers and warehouse management software makers are coming up with tailor-made solutions for inventory management for warehouse owners. Large e-commerce portal owners are benefitting from this new technology as they are finding it easy to handle large volumes of orders. These advanced robots are capable of performing complex functions such as personalized packing and more efficient shipping. Customers are free to choose custom software and robots to receive the desired level of inventory management. 

    Barcoding Technology

    Barcoding individual products in different categories is an old but highly effective technology of inventory management in a retail store. When you go to a shopping mall, you find a sticker carrying a specific barcode attached in the form of a sticker to every product. The product gets scanned at the time of making an invoice and automatically deducted from the inventory of the store to enable the owner to know the number of products in all categories at a glance.  The gun or the physical scanner is always synchronized with inventory management software installed in a computer. Computers at different locations are connected to the main computer with the help of the internet to allow the business owner to know the accurate condition of stock at any point in time.

    Techniques of Inventory Management 

    Besides modern technology, many interesting techniques of inventory management are used by businesses to avoid overstocking, spoilage, and overspending on the storage of stocks. These techniques help in improved cashflow as capital is not locked on excess inventory. Through improved and more efficient inventory management, a business can achieve higher sales and more profits. Some of these techniques are as follows.

    • Setting par levels
    • First In First Out (FIFO)
    • Management of relationships with suppliers
    • Regular auditing
    • Prioritizing products based on their value

    Inventory management is as important as the sale and shipping of products in any business. Inventory management can be made smooth and efficient through the use of technology. You can choose the technology and technique of inventory management according to your budget and specific requirements.

  • How to Streamline HR Operations in a Small Business Environment

    How to Streamline HR Operations in a Small Business Environment

    We live in a world of constant technological advancements. Many jobs that previously required human hands have been replaced by robots. Daily activities are becoming automated. 

    The emergence of COVID-19 has accelerated this transformation. In Walmart, several cashiers will be replaced with self-checkout kiosks to cut the cost of manpower. It makes you wonder, do we still need a human workforce? 

    The Importance of Workforce Planning

    The answer is yes, a human workforce is still very necessary. This is because some jobs require the care and thinking capacity of a human brain, something that hasn’t been completely replicated in technology. 

    If you have a workforce, it is important to manage them properly. This is called Strategic Workforce Planning. Increasing digitization means the availability of talent in a specific skill set is lower than before. Business organizations need to be able to have access to the right capabilities and skills at the appropriate time.  

    Successful Strategic Workforce Planning is made of three stages; reviewing, planning and measurement. For review, it is important to look at the needs and talents you already have access to. This pertains to inside the business and in external talent pools as well. 

    Next, you can develop a resource plan focused on the critical roles in your organization. If there are any skill gaps, find solutions to address them. Determine if you need to train or reassign current staff, maybe you might need a new recruit. 

    Finally, you need to measure the success of your planning. You need access to relevant data to help you review the success of your plan or make changes where it is necessary. 

    Why Do We Need HR Operations?

    Now, we see the importance of the workforce and workforce planning. Who initiates this planning? The ever crucial Human Resources (HR) Department of course. 

    Sometimes, the HR department is considered the cold, unsympathetic extension of the executive management. They even view HR as supporting managers and not regular employees they can relate to. 

    To resolve this, proper Human Resources Management is important. It is the key to an employee-oriented productive workplace. This department is the backbone that supports all the aspects of the organization. 

    The HR Department has many tasks; they monitor work culture, manage talent, recruit a superior workforce, research and implement employee benefit programs, and develop workshops or team-building activities.  

    Even in a small business environment, Human Resources play a pivotal role in developing a positive work culture. One way to make sure that this department can work efficiently is to have the proper software

    Why Do We Need to Use HR Software?

    In a nutshell, HR Software is a specific online platform that combines different processes and systems to ensure the accessibility of employee data. It typically includes payroll management, benefits, administration, and attendance record keeping. 

    In a small business environment, HR software can be viewed as a luxury. It is the opposite though, in modern business environments having this software is considered a necessity. It has become more cost-effective and it is feasible for small businesses to use. 

    How Can Software Help with HR Operations?

    There are many benefits when you use HR Software. It gives you Cost Savings by reducing employee turnover and ensuring their needs are taken care of. 

    It also Saves Time for your HR staff. If they are constantly inputting menial data by hand or making phone calls, then they won’t have time for things that matter like enforcing company policies or handling legal issues. As stated by the experts from EnableHR, HR Software also gives you more accurate insight into data. You don’t have to rely on your human limitations of overlooking or forgetting important details. 

    Contrary to common belief, HR Software is also very Cost Effective. The best packages have monthly memberships that can work with even the smallest startup budget. The amount of money you lose to human error is still higher. 

    What You Should Look for in Quality HR Software

    The market for HR Software is huge. Not all of them are the same and you need to narrow down your options to get the best quality output. 

    A Cloud Platform is very useful. You don’t need to install anything on your computer and your data is safe. It stores all your employee records and it has Sharing Features for easy access to data. This means you don’t even need to be in the office to access information. 

    You must also look for Scalability in good HR Software. This means you only pay for what you need. When more access is necessary, you just upgrade the system without having to pay for anything extra. 

    The last thing to look for is the Self-Service Features. It provides a centralized portal that employees and HR Staff can access. It is automatic and saves the staff time by removing the need to constantly check and reply to the same emails. 

    Even though technological advancements are never going to slow down, business organizations are dependent on the human workforce. HR Software can help combine the two by making HR Operations more efficient for the staff and the employees. It is a good investment for a business, no matter how small.