by Robyn Bennett | Blog, Contributed Post
The ecommerce section of your website is taking on heightened importance in the modern-day. After all, the increase of people buying their products off of the internet is rising by the second. Most people love the convenience and the ease that the internet offers.
If your ecommerce website is set up properly then you can really excel in this area and maximise your profits dramatically. This is a key step when setting up a business, and you can find out more about this at stepstostartingabusiness.com. However, having a good ecommerce offering is not as easy as you may assume. But don’t worry as this article aims to give you a helping hand by revealing the pivotal ecommerce services your website needs to implement if it wants to succeed and attract a wealth of consumers on a daily basis.
One of the most important things you need to concern yourself with when selecting an ecommerce hosting option is the level of security. You need to offer a secure platform for customers. They need to be safe in the knowledge that every transaction they make is going to be handled with optimum safety and protection levels in place. After all, the internet is a place full of hackers and those looking to steal other’s information. If your ecommerce solution is not secure then there is no way you will ever generate a large number of customers.
In addition to this, whilst on the subject of payment, you should also consider the different payment options nowadays. There are more ways to pay for an item online than ever before. You need to bear this in mind. Not only do you need to provide customers with the option of paying for their goods with various debit and credit cards, but you also need to consider e-wallets too. This consists of sites such as PayPal whereby people enter money into their ‘e-wallet’ and use this to spend via what is deemed a more secure method. More and more websites are choosing to offer the PayPal payment option. It is important that you give your consumers choice so that you do not eliminate any of them from being able to buy.
One of the major deterrents that stand in the way when it comes to people buying from your site is when the page takes too long to load. If people have to wait around to view products then they are likely to get frustrated and go elsewhere. As mentioned in the introduction; people like internet shopping because it is quickly, easy and convenient. You need to make sure you play to these strengths because nobody wants to wait around when it comes to the World Wide Web.
You also need to make sure that your ecommerce website is easy to use and navigate. People do not want to have to go searching for products. They want everything to be easily presented and easy to use. Similarly to the previous point; if people have to go searching for a product then you can bet your bottom dollar that they will search for another website instead. You should also consider offering your online customers various viewing choices too. For example, give them the opportunity to view their products in the order of ‘price low to high’ or ‘newest arrivals’.
If you consider all of the points mentioned in this article then you should be able to find the perfect web host offering ecommerce services. Once you have done this you can sit back and watch your profits soar!
This is a contributed post
Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash
by Robyn Bennett | Blog, Contributed Post
These days, most companies just use webinars when they want to operate some kind of online event. This is usually much cheaper than trying to host a public event, and in this day and age, most people would prefer to stay at home anyway. However, that’s not to say that business events have died out. They’re still going to be around (especially when the pandemic is over) and it’s important to keep them in the back of your mind.
One of the more difficult aspects of planning a big business event is the budgeting. There are going to be lots of expenses that you need to consider, and there may be times where you’ll miss out on certain expenses and forget to include certain things. So in this post, we’ve covered five of the biggest event expenses that companies always seem to overlook.
Entertainment
Entertainment is a huge component of any event. Even if it’s a formal business event that is focused on serious business deals and product reveals, it’s going to have some kind of entertainment to keep your guests happy. However, the amount you spend on entertainment can often exceed your budget because of all the additional costs involved. Try to keep an eye on your entertainment budget and make sure it doesn’t exceed the limit you’ve set.
Staff
Staff can be expensive to both hire and manage at a public business event. As such, you’ll need to be cautious about how many people you hire, how you manage them, and also delegating tasks to them. An efficient way to manage your team is to use a staff management app. This can help you understand how many team members you have, it’ll ensure that every member has been delegated a task on specific days, and it improves the overall efficiency of your team.
Lighting
Lighting costs are surprisingly expensive, especially when you consider how big and bright those fixtures need to be in order to light up a stage. Lighting costs can easily exceed your predicted budgets, so make sure you speak to the venue to get a rough estimation of how much you’ll be spending.
Audio and visual
Audio and visual is another big cost. If you want to show off your products and make clear speeches, then you’ll have to invest in good audio equipment. Luckily, venues will often provide this as part of a package deal or as an upgrade option. Speak to them regarding their audio and visual devices to ensure you’re getting a good deal.
Food and beverages
Lastly, we can’t forget about your food and beverage budget. If you’re planning on having your guests eat and snack at your event, then this is an expense you can’t forget. Make sure you plan ahead so that you know exactly how much food you’ll need and don’t forget to keep dietary considerations in mind too. This will ensure that everyone is fed and happy during your big event.
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Photo by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash
by Robyn Bennett | Blog, Contributed Post
Running a business needn’t require you to be chained to an office desk all day. Modern technology has made it possible to run a business from any location: whether you’re at home, in your car or even travelling abroad. Below are a few ways to run a business from any location.
Invest in the right portable devices
You can’t work from any location if you’ve only got a desktop PC. Consider investing in portable devices that you can take with you. A laptop is the most practical device for writing tasks. If you need to work while standing up, a tablet could be a good option. You can even work from a smartphone (although due to this device’s tiny screen, you probably don’t want to do anything too intensive on it).
Start using the cloud
Cloud technology has allowed businesses to store all their data remotely. This allows you to access this data from any device in any location. Many of today’s modern software solutions are cloud-based – this allows you to access the same data on your phone as you would on your PC. This guide offers more tips for migrating your data to the cloud.
Adopt a VoIP phone system
When it comes to receiving business calls on the go, it could be worth looking into VoIP phone solutions for small business. This involves using a cloud-based number to receive calls – this can be answered from any device whether it be a PC or smartphone, providing that you have internet connection. By being able to answer the same number from multiple devices in any location, you have freedom to answer business calls practically anywhere.
Look into portable internet solutions
Having an internet connection on the go is also important. You may not always be able to rely on public wi-fi. This is where portable wi-fi comes in use – this allows you to enjoy your own private internet connection on the go. Some modern cars are fitted with portable wi-fi. Alternatively, you can buy yourself a portable router to take with you. Public wi-fi may sometimes be the strongest option if you’re in a coffee bar or a library – when logging onto such wi-fi, always use a VPN in order to keep your network secure.
Keep devices charged with a portable charger
On top of making sure that your devices are always connected to the internet, you’ll want to make sure that they always have enough battery. While you may be able to access plug sockets when working from certain locations, you may not always have this luxury. Carrying around a portable charging station allows you to keep all your devices powered up. Portable chargers come in all forms – there are bags and suitcases with in-built portable chargers and even solar portable chargers for use in very remote locations. Consider which type of portable charging station is most practical for you.
Ensure Great Technological Backup
The nomad lifestyle has many perks if you have a career set up online, and when you are on the go and your mind is scattered between all your work tasks and travel itineraries, the last thing you need is a computer crashing, a virus, or some other technical difficulty to deflate your mental tires.
Ensuring that you always have access to an IT department in the case of a technological emergency is going to reduce stress and enhance your nomadic lifestyle. Haycor IT Solutions is a great option, as they offer many services, including assisting in getting you onto the Cloud, handling your devices’ cyber security and preventing hacks (especially great for digital nomads traveling abroad), backup recovery in the case of a system crash, and any IT consulting you might need.
The great thing about having an IT servicing company on speed dial is that it’s not like insurance, where you have to pay each month despite never having an issue. These services can be paid for in the moment of your breakdown, allowing you to save money and get back on the road swiftly!
Whichever service provider you choose to assist you in the IT department, be sure to choose a company that offers 24/7 customer service. You never know when you are going to be in a technological crisis or halfway across the world. Try getting this assistance in another language! It’s nearly impossible if you aren’t fluent in the language.
This is a contributed post
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
by Robyn Bennett | Blog, Contributed Post
Wi-Fi has become something that is considered essential in most homes and businesses all around the world.
What would people do without the internet? They would not be able to send emails, watch videos, play slots at an online casino, check the weather, or look for a map in order to determine the route for their weekend trip. Wi-Fi has simply become integral to work commitments and home life.
For this reason, it is highly important that individuals know how to get the most out of their Wi-Fi system. After all, there is nothing worse than an internet connection that is slow or continuously disconnects at random moments. A lot of people do not know it, but there are ways in which people can improve their connection by doing simple things which do not cost money.
Find the best spot for the wireless router to be placed
Where in which the wireless router is placed in the home or in the workplace is highly important. There are several factors which determine where the best place to put the router is and these will all be explained below…
The first thing that one needs to encounter is how close the router is to the outside area. A lot of routers have an omnidirectional antenna. If the one in question does not have one then this point will not be relevant. However, if the router in question does have an omnidirectional antenna then this should not be placed against an outside wall. The reason why this is the case is that it will send half of the signals outside, thus the connection is largely wasted.
In addition to this, a lot of people want their router to be placed somewhere which is not visible, after all, nobody wants a random box or wires on show in their house. Nevertheless, this is something which is highly unadvisable. Wireless routers are very susceptible to overheating and so they need a clear airflow in order to ensure that this does not happen. The best place to put a wireless router is in open space where they are not obstructed by anything. After all, nobody wants to have to replace their wireless system because it has overheated.
Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind the height of the router. This is especially the case in houses that have more than one level. After all, the connection needs to reach the second floor so that the internet is available in that room. Therefore it is best to have the wireless connection placed as high up as is possible.
A final point worth noting regarding the placement of the wireless router is the other appliances that are nearby. It is highly important that there is nothing which will cause interference between the wireless connections reaching the other devices needed. In order to ensure this is the case, it is highly recommendable to keep the router away from all appliances in general. However, if this is not feasible then simply do research to find out which appliances give out a strong signal and avoid these, for example, an oven.
This is a contributed post
Photo by Burst from Pexels
by Robyn Bennett | Blog, Contributed Post
Running a business in 2020 hasn’t been easy. Put simply, the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has wrought havoc with business operations, no matter what you sell and what field you operate in. One major factor in many businesses losing sales right now? The impact that the government implemented restrictions, guidelines and measures to slow the spread of the virus (including social distancing measures and social isolation measures) has had on how you can communicate and engage with your customers. With many traditional brick and mortar stores being closed, many businesses are relying heavily on Ecommerce and online sales, which means being unable to talk openly, candidly and in a friendly manner to customers on a face to face basis. The good news is that there are ways to communicate with customers effectively online, helping you to provide good service and raise customer satisfaction levels. Here are just a few to take into consideration.
Keep Your Phone Line Open
If your physical store had a phone line, it’s a good idea to make sure that this is still up and running and that someone is available to answer. This is easy if your business phone is a mobile. But if your business phone is a landline, you may have to think outside of the box a bit. After all, you’re not going to sit in your closed store all day every day, just in case someone calls. A good idea is to have the calls diverted to a business mobile. You only need to be able to receive calls on this number, so it shouldn’t be costly. But it will make sure that you can answer customers queries through the means of communication they’re already used to using.
Introduce New Means of Contact
Providing customers and potential customers with as many ways to get in touch with you as possible can help to boost sales. By doing this, people will be able to choose the contact option they’re mst comfortable with and reach out for help and support. You can reply through any medium quickly and this can result in a sale. Great! Now, there are multiple options available to you. You might want to look into how to create a business email address, how to create a contact page on your website, how to add video chat to your website and more. Never underestimate just how important customer support is and invest a fair amount of time and effort into this.
Go Above and Beyond
When customers do get in touch, always go above and beyond for them. Go out of your way to find the information that they need. Make sure to resolve every query and question. Take complaints seriously. This is the kind of service that customers expect nowadays and falling short could see you lose sales.
As you can see, maintaining communication with your customers throughout the pandemic is going to prove integral to your business’ success. Hopefully, some of the above guidance will get you started out on the road to success with this aspect of running your business!
This is a contributed post
Photo by Burst from Pexels
