Business

One of the most important things that you can do to make an employee feel valued is to create a safe environment for them in the workplace. When companies fail to comply with safety standards, not only are people’s lives endangered, but employers can risk losing their business as a result of their negligence.

Despite knowing the importance of safety in the workplace, however, more companies violate OSHA standards every day than you might think. In some cases, companies may not even realize the violations that they’re committing.

Take a look at some of the most common safety mistakes that are made on the job and what you can do to avoid them.

Failing To Thoroughly Train Employees

In many situations, businesses are eager to get their employees to work as soon as possible. As a result, they speed through the training process, and they’re left with poorly trained employees.

By taking the time to properly train employees, you’ll have less risk of injury and greater awareness of safety hazards. Your team will know how to handle unsafe circumstances and avoid serious injuries.

Failing to Inspect Machinery

Heavy machinery requires regular inspection and maintenance. In many cases, companies neglect regular inspections, and as a result, they miss critical problems, which in turn lead to employee injury and, in some cases, even death.

It’s critical to schedule regular inspections ahead of time to ensure that all machines operate smoothly. If an inspection is missed, it’s vital that it’s rescheduled promptly as soon as possible.

Misusing Tools

In an attempt to save money, some businesses neglect buying the necessary tools for getting a specific job done and use something else in its place. The result can be deadly. For example, an unstable surface may be used instead of a ladder. Although it may save the company a little money in the short term, in the long term, it can cost not only more money, but lives are at stake.

Safety guidelines require that specific tools are put in place for specific tasks. Employees won’t just be safer overall, but they will also be much more productive. As a business owner, the best kind of employee is a productive one who stays out of harm’s way.

Not Investing In Safety Systems

Anytime a company implements a new system, there is an adjustment period. Unfortunately, as a result, many companies put off implementing a new system to avoid an upset in their regular flow of things. However, safety management systems can seriously reduce the risk of making mistakes, which could lead to injury. Technology can make it easier to comply with employee safety standards and make the process much simpler.

The widespread reach of the internet presents an exponential opportunity to take your business to the next level. If you would like to sit stagnant where you are, then you may not have a need to read any further.

This is an educational opportunity. Once you get your digital presence on par for success, you’ll see a difference in the demand for your business rather quickly.

It’s wise to prepare yourself for a marathon of new connections. Take a moment now, and read through a few suggestions on how you might work to spread the word about your business online.

Spend time and resources refining your website

Your business website serves as ground zero for your brand online. The design of your site will make all the difference in the amount of traffic that flows through the pages of your website.

It’s worth the investment required to gather the professional talent necessary to build a stellar business website. Never pass on an opportunity to make your business website more accommodating to consumers.

Create a long list of excellent blog posts

Blogging is an effective way of gaining more visibility for your brand. If you can produce an enriching, engaging, and informative blog post on a regular schedule, then you can build a returning collection of loyal readers.

Building a strong readership gives your business a community of advocates, potential clients, and free marketers (when they press “share”).

Make certain the posts that make up your business blog are relevant to your operation’s mission and goals. This metering and measurement information piece is a helpful content addition to a business specializing in oil and gas.

Take your excellence to the pages of social media

Social media needs the gift of your business, and your business needs the gift of social media. Work together with a global dominator, and make your mark on all of the most popular social media platforms now. Use sharing icons on your website and blog. Setup your own social media profiles, and maintain your profiles like you work to maintain your business website.

Don’t overlook the prevalence of mobile users

It has been a few years now since the takeover of mobile users, but the domination is complete. When you design digital content for your business, always make certain it’s fully optimized to function with ease on a range of mobile devices.

Remember that email is still alive and well

You should also not discount the efficiency of an email marketing campaign. Touch bases with consumers through email, and maintain a consistent relationship with a collection of interested individuals. Gather email addresses by adding an opt-in option on your business website or blog pages.

 

Our world today is constantly connected. With technology literally at our fingertips – being ‘online’ has become a way of life. In fact, digital marketing isn’t the ‘next’ big thing – it’s already here! This relatively new industry is experiencing exponential growth which opens up many opportunities if you’re seeking a career in digital marketing. And what’s more, digital marketing has become a cornerstone of a company’s overall marketing strategy – so simply put – a digital marketer is in high demand.

If you haven’t quite decided which career route in digital marketing you want to take, that’s okay. This article will cover some careers that are the most popular in digital marketing. It’s also a really great start to complete a digital marketing course so that you have a solid background and full understanding of the many aspects that make up digital marketing.

Why choose a career in digital marketing?

As the entire world becomes digitally connected more and more each day, there can be no doubt that a career in digital marketing is a great choice. The number of businesses that don’t have an online presence these days is diminishing – which is great news for a digital marketer. You’ll always be in demand. Almost every business needs to create an online presence to just stay in business, let alone to grow and prosper.

Many elements make up digital marketing. As digital marketing continues to grow so too do the many parts of what makes up digital marketing.

It’s comforting to know that there are many reasons why the demand for a digital marketer continues to grow. So, let’s take a look at the main reasons this is so.

• E-commerce popularity – The convenience and ease of making purchases online is second to none. Busy lives are becoming busier and more consumers are enjoying this comfort. The number of e-commerce sites is mushrooming. You can buy almost anything online these days therefore a career in the complex world of e-commerce is a solid choice.
• Number of people online rising – With more brands finding digital platforms a better way of advertising, the number of people online is rising daily. Digital marketing professionals have practically guaranteed job opportunities.
• Cost-effectiveness – Advertising has traditionally been seen as a costly grudge expenditure. Digital marketing has changed all that. More businesses are snapping up the chance to market their brand online as it’s one of the most cost-effective methods of advertising.

The different roles within the digital marketing sphere

So, we’ve established that there are plentiful opportunities for a digital marketer and choosing a career in this industry is a wise choice.

But what job possibilities exist in digital marketing? Three are a wide range of career routes you could take, so let’s take a closer look at the possibilities.

• Content creator – Captivating online content is not a fad. Great content is not about to fade into the background. Therefore, being able to create engaging, informative and eye-catching content is a sought after skill in digital marketing. Remember, content is ‘still’ king.
• SEO specialist – Search engine optimisation has become quite a complex skill. Optimising a website so that it appears on the first page of the search engine results pages is key. This role is constantly evolving; therefore, an SEO specialist needs to keep up to date with new trends, tips and techniques.
• Social media marketer – The popularity of social media continues to skyrocket. Almost every brand has a profile on at least one of the social media platforms.
• Email marketing – Email marketing has been around for a while, yet it remains a very effective form of digital marketing.
• Inbound marketing – As the world becomes more digitally focussed, it’s important that brands retain a certain human element to their digital marketing. Personal engagement is vital for a career in inbound marketing.
• E-commerce specialist – Shoppers just love the convenience of making purchases online. E-commerce has become big business.
• PPC marketing – Google Ads is a must in any digital marketing strategy, therefore pay-per-click (PPC) marketing know-how is crucial. Understanding the metrics is a sought after skill.
• Digital analyst – Every digital marketing campaign needs analysing. Understanding the results of a campaign is key to developing ongoing digital marketing strategies.

 

Managing an eCommerce store can be challenging, especially if it’s your first venture into the world of online marketplaces. Whether you’re running an online retail store, subscription service, or other eCommerce variety, these five tips are universally applicable in just about any eCommerce business. Follow these five tips for greater efficiency and success with your eCommerce store.

1. Be Mobile-Friendly

If you’re running an eCommerce platform, it’s pretty much a requirement that your site is mobile friendly. In fact, ideally, you’ll have your own app so customers don’t have to use their mobile web browsers to access your products. An app is a simple but effective way to bridge the gap between you and your customers and keep your brand at the forefront of their minds.

Mobile-friendly sites will load quickly and be responsive on mobile devices. This is important, considering that most people prefer to use their mobile devices anyway to do their online shopping. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re going to run into trouble attracting new customers and keeping your current customers engaged. Let’s be honest, a slow-loading or unresponsive site is simply too frustrating to spend much time on. Disengagement, and therefore lack of sales, will occur for your business without a mobile-friendly eCommerce site.

The best thing you can do is pay a developer to create an app for your business. That way, you can be certain your customers can access your brand and products no matter where they are. With an app, you’ll be able to offer a more customized and personal experience for your customers.

2. Chatbots

It can be difficult to reply to every inquiry your customers make when visiting your site, especially if you have thousands of users on a monthly basis. The best solution to this problem is a chatbot or an automated chat system that will pop up when customers navigate to your site. The chatbot will say something like, “how can I help you today”, which will prompt a response from the customer.

Once the bot knows what the customer is looking for or needs help with, the correct representative will be notified. With some systems, the AI handles the entire process; directing customers to the specific pages or products they’re looking for based on their feedback to the initial contact questions.

3. Streamline Your Web Design

An overly-complicated website can be both difficult to navigate and slow to load. Sites that are laden with graphics, videos, and pictures are simply ineffective in that the visual elements quickly become distracting. It’s best to keep your site design as simple as possible; you want to get your point across without employing too many details on the aesthetic side of things.

Simplicity is king when it comes to effective websites. The best websites are responsive and not oversaturated with graphics and flashing ads. If you’re not sure how to streamline a DIY design you did on a site like Wix, it’s best to just get a designer/developer. The expertise and customization these professionals can offer your site simply can’t be matched by doing it yourself.

4. Use a POS

There are dozens of options in the POS world that can help your site streamline its payment processing and better manage inventory. POS software for retail is affordable and versatile, with several built-in features that will help better your business overall and make the website much more efficient.

If you’re struggling with inventory management, or your current payment processing system isn’t working out, it’s time to make the switch. You can choose POS services like Square POS or Vend HQ for products that will meet your every need and bring a customer satisfaction guarantee along with them!

5. Pay Attention to Customer Feedback

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to pay close attention to customer feedback when it comes to running your store. Customers will let you know if the site is difficult to access or navigate, or if there’s something wrong with the inventory system. The customers who shop on your site have plenty of valuable insight that you can utilize to streamline the buying process and the site itself.

As with any business, the customer is the key component to your success. Therefore, you should always take any complaints (or compliments) seriously and work to address them as quickly as possible. This will help you better manage the business as a whole, and continue to promote loyalty and trust among your customers.

Conclusion

For every eCommerce store, there are steps that can be taken to improve management and help streamline operations for a more efficient store overall. Don’t forget that a professionally designed and maintained website will ensure that things stay efficient and load properly. You want your site to function as well as it looks, or else customers will more than likely disengage from the site altogether!

 

My business spent a very long time looking for the right PR company before we finally settled on the amazing team at Interdependence PR, who have completely transformed our business with their expertise. During that search we learned an awful lot about PR companies and how they go about their business, and we also sat through many meetings with companies who just weren’t the right fit for us. We learned during this stage that there are many red flags to watch out for when looking to get the perfect company for your particular business. Owing to this experience I wanted to give you the skinny on a few things which you need to watch out for during your meeting with a potential public relations company.

Track Record of Success

Let’s just get one thing clear, almost every PR company who you speak to is going to be able to talk a good game, why? Because this is what industry they are in, in fact it is the least that you should expect from them. Unfortunately however there are many who can’t quite back up their words with actions and this is why you have to focus on the track record of a company. If a PR firm can show you evidence of their past successes then great, if they cannot then it may be time to look elsewhere.

Results Driven

My team and I are incredibly passionate about our company and we are absolutely committed to delivering results for the company. Understandably then we also expect the same thing from any company who will be working on our behalf, especially if that company is one which specializes in public relations. During the meeting you need to feel this from the guys sitting across the table, that they are just as committed to delivering results as you are, if you don’t feel it, you won’t do well working with this company.

Customer Service

Something which we learned after meeting with many of these companies is that many of them really lack customer service skills. Quite why this happens I am not sure, perhaps they think that we need them more than they need us. Ultimately however this is a service industry and by virtue of that you must feel a strong level of customer service towards you. If they cant get that right, how well do you think they can help your business?

Jack of All Trades

Sometimes being great at many things is beneficial, when it comes to PR however you want a company who is specialized on your industry. They need to know how to speak to your market and how to strategize within it, if a PR company says that they can turn their hand to any market then you may wish to look elsewhere for a company which really specializes in what your business does.

Keep an eye out for these items when you have a meeting with a PR firm.

 

There are some people you’d rather never hear from if you can help it: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is one of them. However, you may end up being one of the “lucky” taxpayers who are chosen to undergo the IRS audit process. The question you may be asking yourself in this situation is “How exactly will the IRS audit me?” According to the experts at TaxAudit, which has earned a number of glowing audit defense reviews, the IRS might choose to audit you in a couple of key ways.

First, the IRS may send you what’s called a CP2000 notice. This notice matches up the documents that third parties have sent to the government about income you’ve received – such as 1099s and W-2s – with the income-related information you’ve reported on your tax return. Let’s say you missed an individual retirement account distribution; in this case, the notice you receive from the IRS will show the income-related information you reported, the information that your employer, banks, and financial institutions reported, and the amount by which these two totals differ. Then, you’ll see how much extra tax you may be required to pay. If you believe that the CP2000 notice is erroneous, you can dispute the taxes being proposed within the next 30 days.

The IRS might also decide to complete a field examination audit. Revenue agents typically use this audit method for business entities or for individuals with high incomes or complicated incomes, according to current tax audit reviews. You can expect your audit to take place at your business location or at your residence. This might seem intrusive, but fortunately, it can also save you on the time and hassle associated with reporting to an IRS office.

Facing a tax audit can no doubt be stressful. However, staying organized and consulting an audit defense firm to find out what your rights are during a tax audit may help you to more confidently complete the process.

The very first step in carrying out a successful digital marketing campaign is to have a full understanding of what digital marketing actually is. Many people understand that digital marketing is a method for promoting a company’s brand, but there’s way more to it than just that. Marketing through digital means involves many moving parts, so creating a marketing campaign can quickly become overwhelming.

The other overwhelming fact of digital marketing is that results are unlikely to come about instantly. It can take 3, 6, or 9 months, sometimes even a year, for your desired results to come about. Patience is a virtue, and it is even more virtuous when applied to the marketing industry. So whatever you do, stay calm, have patience, and follow these tips on how to create a foolproof digital marketing campaign.

Try to Get an Expert’s Opinion

The best thing you can do for marketing your brand is to hire an expert. Even if you’re trying to save a buck, do what you can to set aside the necessary funds for hiring a marketing professional. Consult with a few different agencies, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try to have some idea of what marketing strategies you think your brand needs. If you have no idea whatsoever, no worries, the experts often give you some free advice during the initial consultation.

There are many different sectors of digital marketing, so knowing what you need is an important step. Perhaps you could benefit from optimizing your website, or maybe you’re in the market for more advertising opportunities. Whatever it is, try to have a clear understanding of your marketing needs before officially hiring a company.

Utilize Free Marketing Tools

Whether you choose to go at it alone or hire an expert, you should be taking advantage of the easy-to-access online marketing tools. Not only are there many easy to use resources, but there are also tons of marketing tools that won’t cost you a penny. These tools all take unique forms; some are aimed at social media marketing and others for SEO. So think about what you need, consider the popularity of the resource, and start taking advantage of those free memberships.

Always Remember, Patience is a Virtue

We’ve already discussed the importance of patience, but it’s important enough to have its very own section. Try to remember that your marketing strategy is not a quick-fix and it is very unlikely that you’ll see instant results. Whatever you do, put aside that need for instant gratification when it comes to your newly launched marketing campaign.

Instead, start using the proper analysis tools, such as Google Analytics, to keep tabs on the progress. You might start seeing slow results, or maybe results will come all at once after a few months of the campaign. These analysis tools aren’t just helpful for measuring progress, but also for determining what’s working and what’s not so that you can make changes accordingly.

 

Building a brand name is one of the biggest challenges for businesses in 2019. You’d think that building a brand could be accomplished with the proper advertising, a solid website, and top-notch customer service.

But in today’s competitive consumerist world, it takes so much more than that. In addition to the things just mentioned, building a brand takes a great deal of reputation management. So how does one go about using reputation management to build a brand? Here’s what you need to know.

Start with Analysis

Before you can even think about building a reputation, you need to go through a lengthy analysis period. First, you must analyze your target audience, specifically who your target audience is. If you know who is likely to buy your product, how can you expect to reach out to them? There are quite a few tools that can help you to determine who your target audience is.

You should have a fairly good idea of this before your company is even established, but if not, you can use tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Business Page Insights, and Consumer Barometer. Tools like these will give you very specific details on who you need to be focusing your attention on most.

Determining the specifics of your target audience isn’t the only thing that needs to be analyzed. You also need to perform analytics on your competition, brands that have already established themselves within the industry. This will give you a chance to not only see who you’re competing with but also give you a good idea of what is working for the other guys, as well as what isn’t.

Establish a Brand Personality

If your brand doesn’t stand out from your competitors, you’ll have a difficult time establishing yourself as a well-respected industry leader. Just think about the most well-known brands in the world, like Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, McDonald’s… they all have one thing in common. They’ve all established their own unique personalities. Establishing your own personality will take time and patience, but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.

Shopify says that “thinking about your brand as a metaphor or personifying it can help you identify the individual qualities you want it to have. This can be a vehicle, an animal, a celebrity, a sports team, anything—as long as it has a prominent reputation in your mind that summons the sort of vibe you want your brand to give off.”

Create a Slogan

One of the best ways to establish your personality is through a catchy slogan. Consider the slogan used by McDonald’s… “I’m lovin’ it.” Every time you hear that catchy tune containing the words “I’m lovin’ it” there’s a good chance your mouth starts watering as you crave a Big Mac and fries.

Creating a slogan that’s catchy is important, but the main thing to focus on is creating a slogan that epitomizes your brand. Don’t be afraid to hire a professional marketer with help with slogan creation.

 

The business practice of EDI is nothing new. Electronic data interchange has been a key player in many business industries – nearly all businesses, actually. But even though EDI has been around for decades, major changes are happening to the practice of data communication via electronic means. For one thing, EDI cloud services are being chosen over traditional EDI services. But why?

First, let’s cover the basics of EDI and how it all works.

EDI got its beginnings back in the 1950s. At this time, the second wave of major technological innovations was happening, and EDI was one of those innovations. The entire practice of EDI is based around the idea that communication between businesses (B2B) can be simple, and it can be done entirely through electronic resources.

This concept is nothing new in today’s day and age; businesses and individuals alike are using electronic means for communication each and every day. But back in the day, this was a HUGE deal, and some experts say that it has paved the way for the way businesses operation and communicate with one another today.

From the beginning, EDI used data encryption tools to format all business documents in the same way. Basically, it works by receiving a document, using the encryption tools to change it into the “EDI language”, and pass it on to the recipient or integrate it into the existing ERP system. The same goes for sending a document; the information is uploaded, formatted and encrypted, and sent to the intended recipient.

Companies Are Moving from Traditional to Modern EDI Solutions

With so many changes happening throughout the technological world, it makes sense that EDI software companies are making major changes as well. The only way to avoid becoming obsolete is to keep up with these changing times, which is why traditional EDI is turning into a cloud-based service. Here’s what an EDI expert has to say about this drastic transformation:

“Cloud EDI software offers a combination of technological and business process improvement designed to meet the demands of a 2019 business. From data transformation capabilities to streamlined automation, cloud EDI tools put your enterprise in a position to tackle any potential integration challenges that arise, without having to deploy and manage the software and hardware.”

How a Cloud-Based System is Changing the Concept of EDI as We Know It

There’s no denying that EDI has experienced some challenges in the past few years. Some experts are even predicting that EDI will become obsolete within the next decade or two. Others are saying that this switch to cloud-based operating will make a huge difference. A modern business just wants to have a modern solution for information exchange, one that is easy to use and actually meets the hopeful ROI.

With cloud-based EDI, that’s exactly what you’ll get. EDI companies that have migrated to the cloud are now offering a service that is easy to use, and more importantly, actually makes a difference in the day-to-day business operations.

 

If you’ve been slowly working your way up the corporate ladder, it might be time to start searching for executive resume writers USA services. Holding a high-paying, executive position is a dream held by many, but not many people actually attain it. Many professionals apply for executive positions to no avail, and a poorly written resume is often to blame.

This is where an executive resume writing professional can help. There are so many resume writing services to choose from, many of which offer executive resume writing assistance. But there’s a huge problem; many resume writing agencies outsource their work to countries like India and the Philippines thanks to the cheap labor offered on the other side of the world.

Even though you think you’ve hired a highly-qualified English-speaking resume writer, this is not always the case. For this reason, it is extremely important to do your homework on resume writing services. The entire point is to up your chances of landing an executive job, and if you don’t do your research this might not happen.

Ask for Referrals Before Anything Else

This best way to find a top-rated resume writing service is to ask among other industry members. Don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues or superiors if they have advice on the matter. You can even ask to see the final product of the resume that the professional helped to create. Getting a referral is by far the best way to do things, but it won’t always work. In that case, you’ll have to move on to the steps below.

Start Googling

We all know that Google is an all-knowing wealth of information on every imaginable topic, and this includes resume writing. So go ahead, type “Best Executive Resume Writing Service” or something along those lines into the Google search engine. Just be weary of the results that show up, and try not to assume that the first result is always the best option.

Keep an eye out for the “Ad” phrase next to the search results; this simply means that the company has paid a great deal of money to show up high on the results. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is the right fit for you and your resume writing needs. Google doesn’t actually know if the company writes a solid resume, so it is up to you to dig even deeper.

Narrow the Top Contenders Down

Once you’ve compiled a list of a few solid options, it is time to do that digging. Before anything else, reach out to the resume writing service to let them know you’re interested. They should respond in a timely manner and answer all of your questions thoroughly. Don’t be shy to ask to see a resume and cover letter sample from the past. If they refuse to show you something as simple as that, move on to the next candidate. Other considerations to help you narrow it down are cost, services provided, and success rates.