Reginald Chan

Category: Business

  • Smart Tips To Safeguard Your Online Business

    Smart Tips To Safeguard Your Online Business

    With the increasing relevance of online shopping over the past few years, many businesses have moved online. Additionally, the onset of Covid-19 has also contributed to this rise in online shopping activities, making it necessary to safeguard your online business. Cyber threats are issues to be wary of as up to 60% of small businesses are projected to face some cyber-attack. To safeguard your business, you must know how to keep your money, data, and reputation safe. Here are some ways you can ensure that.

    Use a secure hosting service

    All successful online businesses have a website that is managed by a secure hosting service. Reliable hosting service providers are PCI compliant and ensure that transactions, including online payment processing, are safe from hackers and leaves no loopholes. Using a secure hosting service also means that you have control over the server space and speed. Before settling on a hosting service, check if your website will be provided with an SSL certificate that will mark your website as HTTPS, which will encrypt all communication between your users and your website.

    Constantly update software

    With hackers constantly finding ways to hack systems, software programmers are also kept on their toes, making sure they seal all loopholes. Constantly updating your software will play a crucial role in securing your online business. This will ensure that you have the latest security features and not be an easy target for cybercriminals. Get a cybersecurity expert to handle all such updates and install other security features that will keep all your information safe.

    Protect your computer network

    Buying a professional security package is worth it. However, only buy anti-virus and anti-malware products that are reliable. The best options usually include packages that offer website penetration testing and malware cleanup. With such packages, any malware that finds itself in your system will be swiftly handled.

    Frequent back-ups

    Often, the primary goal of cybercriminals is to steal data and hold you to ransom. Frequent backups can save you a lot of trouble in such a situation. Ensure that all important files are backed up and securely stored off-site. This makes it easy to restore them in the event of a cyber-attack, even when your servers are compromised. The best way is to have copies on the cloud and external hard drives.

    Create secure firewalls

    A firewall’s job is to monitor the network traffic that comes in or goes out to determine which data packets are to be blocked or permitted. You must have firewalls installed on your servers and all office devices to secure your internal networks from threats.

    Use strong passwords

    Passwords are security features that ensure that only authorized users access information. So, you should create and use strong passwords. A strong password often comprises upper and lower case letters, numbers, and other symbols. To improve security, make it a point to change passwords often and use two-factor authentication.

    Online business is all the rave at the moment, making it a happy hunting ground for cybercriminals. Safeguard your online business today so that you do not fall victim. Once you know your business is secure, you can focus on completing transactions without fear of losing information or theft.

  • 10 Tips for Staying Productive While Working Remotely

    10 Tips for Staying Productive While Working Remotely

    Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people had to start working remotely – and unfortunately, not everyone liked it. Your workday just isn’t the same: inability to stay in touch with your colleagues, sitting in the same room all the time, and, of course, those constant distractions. Children, parents, long and lazy lunch breaks – all of these just don’t allow you to focus on the tasks.

    But it doesn’t have to be like that. Yes, your surroundings significantly impact your productivity; however, you can change the way you act. Believe us – even changing from pajamas to a suit can make a difference, though mentoring apps such as MentorcliQ have been gaining popularity as well. Want to learn more about staying productive when working remotely? Here are 10 tips that can help you with that.

    Get Up From Your Bed

    Sleeping and working remotely have a lot in common: from the lack of motivation to the inability to concentrate. Thus, if you want to start your day with a bang, consider getting up from your bed/couch. Sit next to a desk – it will be easier for you to work. And apart from that, it will be also easy for you to take a break and go down for a snack.

    Get Off Social Networks and Messengers

    Social media platforms are terrible sources of distractions while working remotely because they force your brain to check for notifications, open new tabs, and read messages… And there are no limits to it. So, if social networks and messengers distract you while working remotely, turn off their notifications. You could also install an application that blocks them and all the distractions.

    Eliminate All Distractions in One Place

    If your workplace is full of distractions, there’s a way to eliminate all of them in one place: use an internet blocker. It’s a cool software that blocks websites of your choice based on the time of the day or when you’re using the computer. It prevents you from surfing the internet without any limit, so you won’t get distracted by Facebook, Twitter, news sites, etc.

    Meet Deadlines Every Day

    Deadlines are the best motivators for working remotely. Deadlines help you stay focused and prevent you from distractions. Sadly, some people tend to ignore deadlines when working remotely – for example, they might say ‘I’ll finish everything when I get back to work’ or ‘I don’t need to meet deadlines because I don’t have anybody to report to’. But it’s wrong: people who ignore deadlines aren’t reliable employees, and employers don’t need such people. Instead of putting it off until later, meet deadlines every day!

    Stick to Strict Schedules

    To improve your productivity while working remotely, consider sticking to strict schedules and organizing your days in advance. Writing down what you are going to do for the next day allows you to set your priorities and helps you focus on the task at hand. And if you follow your schedule, everything will be fine!

    Don’t Put Off Tasks Until Later

    If you don’t meet deadlines and allow yourself to put off tasks until later, you will never be productive while working remotely. If you don’t schedule your tasks, they will pile on top of each other – and then you will get stressed out because of it. To avoid this, write down what you are going to do for the next day and stick to the schedule!

    Stay Offline Outside of Work Hours

    When working remotely, your life revolves around the internet – but it doesn’t have to be like that when you get off. You can stay offline outside of work hours if you want to be more productive. What can you do offline? Read a book or play a board game with friends – anything that involves communication and/or interaction with other people! Communication is very important when working remotely; hence, if you want to increase your productivity while working remotely, don’t overuse the same tool you’re using for work during your off hours.

    Relax Before Going to Sleep at Night

    Getting distracted by thoughts and worries will destroy your night sleep – and there goes your next day productivity! So if you want to get a good sleep before going back to work tomorrow, try to relax before going to sleep at night – play a game with a colleague or read something funny/interesting on the Internet (not work-related!). These activities can help you relax before going to sleep at night!

    Use Headphones While Working Remotely

    Working remotely in silence is one of the best ways to get rid of distractions: it makes you stay focused on the task at hand, and it helps to eliminate unnecessary distractions in the long run (for example, one can easily concentrate on work when listening to favorite music). We recommend using headphones while working remotely because they allow you to listen to music or podcasts without disturbing other people!

    Stick to a Schedule

    You should follow a schedule while working remotely – not only to stay focused on the task at hand and get a good night sleep, but also to be more productive in general. It’s because scheduling your tasks allows you to prioritize them and get things done without any additional effort. It’s like planning dinner: if you have everything ready, you can spend less time cooking, eating, and cleaning up – and spend time with your friends and family instead!

    Conclusion

    Though when faced with the reality of remote work, most people were extremely happy at first, it turned out that it might not be one-sidedly good idea. A limited amount of time spent with our friends, no one to talk to during your lunch breaks, or the endless monotony – all of these have made it more difficult for us to stay focused.

    However, it doesn’t mean that there is no way to combat this state of affairs. That’s why we have prepared this article, to help you find the inner strength so that you might find a way to focus, even in those trying times.

  • 4 Hints To Help You Choose The Best Business Name

    4 Hints To Help You Choose The Best Business Name

    Choosing the right business name is an art. Do it well, and it can be the start of a great branding strategy – and the thing that sets your business apart from the pack. However, choose a poor business name, and you will be feeling the consequences for years to come, even if you rebrand. Since 90 percent of purchase decisions are made subconsciously, a business (or brand) name must create a strong impression. After all, it only takes a business 7 seconds to create a good first impression on a customer, and your business name is one of the key pieces of information they will be encountering in those few seconds. From driving traffic to your blog and business website to differentiating your business from its competitors, a strong business name is the start of a great branding strategy – in both the short and the long term.

    Consider What Your Name Will Say About Your Business

    Your business name is your first chance to showcase what your business is about, such as its mission statement, products, and core values. You want your business name to cater to your key demographic, so it is wise to keep them in mind when choosing a name. Also, don’t be afraid to do your market research before settling on a name. One of the best ways to find a business name that resonates with your potential customers is to use a name testing survey. Many business naming services recommend a Customer Validation Study as a way of judging the appeal to your target audience.

    Where Does Your Business Stand On The Trendsetting Spectrum?

    Some businesses want their names to be innovative and trendsetting like Mezinga or Slumming It. For these businesses, creativity is paramount in the projection of their brand image – including their choice of a business name. Other businesses opt for a name that instantly communicates their purpose/product or evokes a strong emotion like reliability. It helps to decide where your business will fit in on this spectrum before making a shortlist of potential business names. Are you hoping to promote an edgy business image or a more conservative one?

    Make Your Name A Part Of Your Brand Identity, Not Vice Versa

    Many businesses make the mistake of building their brand identity around company details like their brand name. However, working backward from your brand identity can make the process much easier. Once you have established your brand identity, you will have a good idea of the tone and impression you want your business to project onto customers. 

    Developing your brand identity includes many aspects that are also crucial to choosing your business name, including deciding on your brand voice, brand culture, and business purpose. These decisions can also give great insight into your brand perception, and if your business and brand are not separate, what you want customers to see when they see your business name. So, before choosing a business name, think of what you want your business’ brand identity to be and how your business name can best match that.

    Do You Face Legal Domain Or Copyright Challenges?

    Experts also recommend checking that your business name is not being used by any other competitors. One way to do this is to Google your chosen business name. You may also want to check the availability of your business name by checking the U.S. patent and trademark office’s database. Doing this ahead of time could save you and your business some serious cash. Every year, there are over 3,000 trademark infringement lawsuits filed, which end up costing companies over $250 billion. 

    Lastly, check out the URL availability of your name. With most businesses being online these days, copyright infringement is equally important off and online. Websites like Dreamhost or Bluehost can help you check their availability. If it is not being used, it may be time to register it as a domain.

    Your business name is one of the first decisions you will make about your business – and it is likely to be one of the most influential. Take your time, consider what you want your business name to say, and do your research with your target audience.

  • 4 Link-Building Mistakes You Need to Avoid

    4 Link-Building Mistakes You Need to Avoid

    You’ve undoubtedly read many articles on SEO and link building in particular, both on this website and elsewhere. You may have noted down the ‘best’ methods to use so you can drive quality targeted traffic to your website. You’ve probably even read Google’s SEO guide.

    But, what you may not have done is researched the link-building mistakes you need to avoid all the time! The trouble with the Web is people can sometimes find it challenging to sort helpful content from stuff that’s likely to get you in trouble somehow.

    With that in mind, how can you avoid making catastrophic mistakes with your SEO link-building campaigns? Here’s a list of the worst offenders and why you must avoid them at all costs:

    1. Curating Content for the Sake of Curating Content

    It’s no secret that pages with just a couple of paragraphs of text aren’t going to do your search engine optimization any favors. Any reputable link building SEO agency or professional will tell you that it’s crucial to create high-quality long-form content.

    However, you shouldn’t be churning out hundreds or even thousands of pages of content on your website for the sake of SEO. The only legitimate reason for doing that would be if you were building a Wikipedia rival!

    2. Forgetting About Formatting

    What do you think might happen if someone visited a page on your website via a Google search and they ended up looking at a massive block of text. Are they going to feel compelled to read all that text, or will they simply hit the back button on their browser?

    Of course, the latter is most likely to happen. When you create content on your site as part of your link-building strategies, you need to break up the text. Here are some tips to illustrate what you should be doing:

    • Limit paragraphs to two or three sentences;
    • Limit each sentence to a maximum of thirty words;
    • Use headings and sub-headings to break up chunks of text;
    • Use bullet points to illustrate essential points or facts.

    3. Gaining Links From Unscrupulous Sources

    Many website and blog owners know they can make money by offering to host “sponsored content” and provide a backlink to a specific web page on an external host. The trouble is, some link builders ask for backlinks from sites without researching them first.

    Do you really want your website and your brand to get associated with some shady sites? If the answer’s no, you must carry out due diligence on the websites and blogs you want to approach.

    4. Copying Your Competitors

    Doing the same thing as your competitors from a link-building perspective is something of a double-edged sword. Sure, you want to reach the same audiences like them, so you could target the sites they used in their previous outreach campaigns.

    However, copying your competitors is also bad for several reasons:

    • You could be reaching out to websites and blogs owned by them or affiliated with them;
    • Some sites may refuse to work with you due to an exclusivity agreement;
    • You might end up creating the same link-building mistakes as them.

    Instead, it makes sense to forge a unique link-building campaign that targets your specific audience rather than someone else’s audience.

  • 7 Tips For Delivering Excellent Customer Service

    7 Tips For Delivering Excellent Customer Service

    The relevance of a business is in its ability to attract and retain customers. Research shows that about 70% of customers are likely to spend more on a company with effective customer service.  Another survey conducted also shows that nearly 97% of people tell others about excellent customer services that they have experienced and that 24% of customers will return to a business after two or more years due to excellent customer service experience. 

    This shows that customers play an instrumental role in promoting your business, so it is crucial to invest in treating your customers well. These seven tips are guaranteed to help you stay on top of the game concerning customer service.

    Build your staff

    You shouldn’t reserve customer service for the customer service department, but for every staff. Clients value a business whose team is dedicated to attending to their needs, irrespective of the department that they are in. You need to organise training sessions for your workers where they learn customer service skills. There are many skills your staff must learn to be excellent at serving your clients. They include persuasive speaking, adaptability, self-control, patience, responsibility, positive language, communication, and attentiveness. You can also teach them the principles of commitment and diligence.

    Respect for your customers

    People respond positively when they are respected. So it would help if you accorded your customers respect at all times and in all situations. It is not unusual for people to talk in an upset manner when they have grievances about your products or services. It is up to you to calm them down, apologize for the troubles, and resolve them accordingly. You can only do that by patiently listening to them and then responding respectfully. Gestures like attentively listening to your clients and giving them as much time as they need to express themselves sends a signal to them that you respect them. Other gestures include going the extra mile to ensure that they are catered for, calling them by their name, and thanking them each time they patronise you. 

    Make the most of your website

    Your website is the first place that people check for information about your business and seek help on certain issues. For this reason, you should be active on your website, especially in the customer service section. Make your website easy to access and organised so that people know where to go when they need something. You can also get testimonials from your existing customers to encourage new ones. Are you looking to add live chat to your website? Then invest in it because it is an effective way of direct communication between your clients and you, without delay or stress. 

    Feedback is essential 

    Customer feedback refers to the information that customers give about your products and services and their experiences with them. It also involves customer opinions on how well your business is doing and what can improve. Encouraging customer feedback puts you in a good position with your clients because it makes them feel important and appreciated. They feel happy because they know that you think about them and that their opinions are valuable. They will be pleased to continue their business with you. 

    You can personalize your feedback extraction process by calling them directly to find out what they think about your products and services and their suggestions on how you can improve. You can also use platforms like email, SMS surveys, live chats, electronic surveys, FAQ feedback, on-site feedback, social media accounts, and the likes. 

    Be empathetic

    Empathy is the capacity to understand a person’s point of view or feelings. In customer service, it is the ability to put yourself in the clients’ shoes, understand their grievances, and show support, even when you cannot solve the problem. You deal with people every day, and they are bound to raise issues. People often put their complaints forward because they require you to understand how painful it is for them. 

    You should show them that you care about their feelings and that you are truly sorry for the inconvenience that came from patronizing you. Respond to their grievances, letting them know that you understand how they feel. Then apologize to them and rectify the issue if possible. It will help if you are kind with your words and your tone is sympathetic.  Empathy will make your customers stick with you and motivate them to keep patronizing you. 

    Treat your staff right

    A happy employee is a dedicated and diligent one. Employees are more willing to treat your customers right when they are happy working for you. They are also delighted when you recognize them as members of your team and not just employees. Treating them as members of your team helps them view your business as their own and encourages them to put in the effort to promote your business. 

    Be respectful to your workers, recognize their efforts, and acknowledge their initiative. Whenever they hit their target, acknowledge and reward them. Also, welcome their opinions on how to make the business better and act accordingly. Also, reward their efforts with bonuses and other incentives apart from their salaries. These gestures tell your workers that you appreciate and value them, and their happiness will translate to how they care for your customers. 

    Effective time management

    Time management is essential for effective customer service. Your clients also have other commitments and are probably working on a schedule. Therefore, you must be time conscious when attending to them. Be swift to pick their calls and attend to their emails promptly. This tells your clients that you are serious about your business and that you also value their time. 

    Customer service is more than attending to customer issues; it takes the time to understand your customers and do all that it takes to keep them satisfied. It requires dedication to the service of your customers while maintaining the integrity of your business. Investing in customer service will keep your customers loyal to you. 

  • Climb to the Top of Google Search Results With These Proven Tips

    Climb to the Top of Google Search Results With These Proven Tips

    Why Ranking High On Google Search Results Is Good For You?

    Every business today wants to be on the top of Google search results. Ranking high means you will be able to sell more of your product or service. Also, research shows that people are likely to trust the top results more and hence end up buying from you. But you are not alone in this thinking. Your competitors too are constantly striving to get that top spot on the first page.

    A savvy website with a lot of effects and a calligraphic font is not enough to rank you high. Even the most beautiful websites which do not show up on the first 20 to 30 results are unlikely to be seen by their target markets. With people now not only buying online frequently but are also researching online before buying from a physical location, businesses cannot afford not to be seen.

    It’s time to take matters into your hand and build a game plan to prosper your business online.

    Top Tips To Rank Rank High On Google Search Results

    When you search for improving online presence tips for your business, there comes up a tonne of courses, books, blogs, videos, and whatnot, giving you the best advice. Although paid advertising is mentioned quite often for ranking high, we decided to scratch the surface for you and help you develop a long-term plan for your online authority through SEO or Search Engine Optimization.

    Start with SEO

    SEO or search engine optimization is an organic process of bringing your website to the top results. Though it may incur a cost to implement it, it leads to free traffic in the future. To begin with, hire an SEO expert who can help you understand the importance and process. Specialists from the Los Angeles SEO company Zero Limit Web help improve SEO by improving the usage of the right keywords. Using the right keywords ensures that your customer can find you when they search for you online.

    Observe SEO of Your Competitors Closely

    Yes, this is important too! By analyzing your competitor’s SEO activities you can compete with them. You can then map out a strategy to beat them in their own game. Analyzing their websites, keywords, backlinks, and social media will help you set goals to surpass your competitors. Remember this is a continuous activity as business competition will never cease to stop. They too might try to overstep you and vice versa. It is important to monitor it on an ongoing basis.

    Create Unique Content

    Be it blogs or website content, Google loves content that is unique. Making sure that the title is SEO-friendly will bring much more value. Creating good content through blogs can help drive more traffic to your website. Other factors to keep in mind are the length of the blog as longer reads are deemed to be more valuable to consumers and Google recognizes that. To get consistent attention to your blogs might take some time but with continuous effort, you are ensured to see good results reflecting in your lead generation and sales.

    Don’t Ignore On-Page SEO

    Before starting with social sharing and blogging it is important to have your On-Page SEO set right. It includes correct titles, meta descriptions, image names, anchor text, headers, and good content. A right and precise on-page SEO ensures your website and content are connected and can be identified when a consumer searches for it. Google algorithms are constantly changing so it can better understand the search results the consumers need. Small and big businesses must take On-page SEO with priority.

    Start Ranking High!

    As much as you have heard of paid traffic and SEO, the bottom line remains that if you want to rank your website high on Google, there’s a lot of work to be done. So, start with building a good strategy, implement it with full persistence and keep updating as changes seem necessary. With time, your business will surely reap long-term rewards.