DevelopmentInsightsStartups

Starting an Online Retail Business (The Road to Success)

on May 22, 2019

The competition in the retail business of today is more than fiery and the biggest rivalries can be found online. Even websites that had been trading for years are running into difficulties and they are forced to shut down so a newbie on the scene will have to have their work cut out for them. Any enthusiastic entrepreneur needs to acknowledge the main features his online shopping platform must have in order to succeed in the online retail business. The road to success is by no means easy but if you stick to the following guidelines you stand a huge chance of coming out on top in a relatively short period.

The importance of a good product description

Posting and advertising thousands if items for sale can tedious at times, so people are tempted to cut corners by simplifying the description and the name of the product. For instance, if you are selling an office swivel chair with an adjustable backrest, you could just write “office chair” in the description box. Such a move will significantly decrease the chances of anyone finding the chair either by browsing the office “furniture category” or typing in the type of chair he or she needs in the search box.

You are probably aware of the importance of SEO on Google by now but you ought to know that search optimization is important on online retail websites as well. Let your hand go and imagine you are writing a novel because you are not setting down mere words, but keywords that will help people find your merchandise. Have a talk with the webmaster in order to improve the search box as much as possible.

A picture is worth a thousand words

You can have the longest and the most exhaustive product description possible but it’s not accompanied with great pictures, then you’re products are less likely to sell fast. Human are visual learners and often it is enough for us to the shape of an item like a teapot or a car and we will instantly know what the object in the image is. By posting clear images that are large enough and not blurred, you are ensuring that your marketing message is put across fast. That is why hiring a professional photographer will help a lot not just when it comes to image quality but you will benefit from the uniformity of all images on your website, thus establishing an unmistakable visual identity.


Image source

The call-to-action button in the dead center

An online shopping platform needs to have a well-chosen and a well-positioned call-to-action button or buttons. In most cases, you are going to place the search bar in the center of the page because that is going to be the feature that visitors are immediately going to go for. In addition, you can have an outline of the most popular categories on either side of the homepage so your website can be browsed by desired categories as well.

Proper storage space

A major advantage of online trading is the fact that you don’t need to have a physical location of the store. Of course, you should list all the contact details on the website, including the exact address, phone number, and an e-mail even if you don’t sell offline. This is done for reasons of credibility to assure potential clients that you are not running a scam but that you merely wish to avoid tete-a-tete contact with your clientele (and the tax inspectors).

The fact that you don’t have an actual store doesn’t imply that you are selling mist but items that, by all means, needs to be stored somewhere. Unless you are willing to pay high rental fees, running your own warehouse will require a lot of work that you have to be prepared for. Transporting fragile boxes and crates would be impossible without the right materials handling equipment that you have to own from day one. Even if your beginnings are humble and you are running the online retail operation from your garage or basement, you are still going to have to take great care about logistics.

Simplifying the ordering process

Once a customer settles on a particular item he or she likes and they click “order” or “buy,” you need to ensure that it is all smooth sailing from there.  The button should be large enough to notice immediately and the number of pages that subsequently open should be decreased to a bare minimum. Firstly take the address of shipping and contact info and then allow the client to fill out the necessary information regarding the credit card payment. Any additional info should not be mandatory but optional, such as polls, quizzes or personal preferences. People visiting your online shopping platform need to leave the website happy they have made the purchase in the shortest time possible.

“You might like as well…”

Not burdening your clients with additional shopping options doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t exist. Just take a look at how people passionately collect coupons they receive at supermarkets and you will realize that there are many fervent shoppers out there. For those people who want more from an online shopping experience include links to other product and product categories they might like. You, something like that pop-up: “people who bought this product also liked …” The content on the website should be interlinked and each product should have links leading to similar items. By including these features on the website, customers will get the impression that you care about their preferences and shopping habits.

The final piece of advice we can give you is to update your online presence. If you are passionate about starting your online retail business then you will have no trouble logging in every day to add new items or improve the description of the existing ones. Also, try to be in vogue by starting seasonal sales or offering holiday decorations. In other words, the person opening pages on our shopping platform needs to recognize the dedication and hard work you have put in the success of your enterprise.

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5 Reasons the Midwest Boasts Some of the Best Tech Jobs in the U.S.

on May 20, 2019

If you are a tech professional and you’re looking for a new position, we’d like to dispel some misconceptions. Yes, San Francisco, New York and now Austin, Texas are tech job hotbeds, but if you don’t want expensive housing, horrible traffic, and crowded downtown areas, you might want to consider the Midwest, because some of the nation’s best tech jobs are there and here’s why:

Climate

You don’t get the full four-season treatment in San Francisco. Sure, the weather is mostly temperate even in the winter, but it’s tough to get an 80-degree summer day, and you really have to like 60 degrees to be happy there. Contrast that with Chicago and Milwaukee. While admittedly, summer seasons there are a lot shorter than Austin, for example, there’s nothing quite like the stillness after the first substantial snowfall, and fall can be a beautiful and colorful time of year. And, after a long Midwestern winter, you can be treated to a great spring.

Rents

National rents are exorbitant in places like San Francisco and New Your City while you’ll find that living in St. Paul or Milwaukee can be quite affordable. A college town like Ames, Iowa can present even more cheap housing opportunities.

Home Prices

Owning a home in many California cities is next to impossible unless you can get used to $8500+ mortgage payments. Contrast that Minnesota where the median home price is around $235,000. Minnesota also officially sanctions a practice called contract for a deed where prospective homeowners with bad credit can eventually own homes.

Work Ethic

The Midwestern work ethic is not a myth. After World War II many veterans settled into jobs that they would hold for a full thirty years. They could then retire and enjoy a mortgage-free home. Stable midwestern family values and good parental examples have persisted, and companies are finding that midwestern workers are prized, and therefore many tech companies are opening offices in midwestern cities.

Retail Space

Office space in Duluth, MN, according to loopnet.com can be had for less than $2.00 per square foot. Contrast that with downtown office space in Austin, Texas that commonly goes for over $55.00 per square foot, and you can understand why many tech companies are embracing the Midwest.

And remember, if you are a business owner, it doesn’t matter where your business is located, because you can choose to work with remote Midwestern employees. That means that if you really love Miami and don’t want to move your business to Fargo, you don’t have to because there are quality employees throughout the Midwest that would love the opportunity to work remotely for you.

 

Also consider that because some midwestern cities have been given the “rustbelt” label, they have gone out of their way to attract tech companies through tax and other incentives. This of course then brings more tech jobs to these areas.

Whether you are a tech worker or a business owner, it behooves you to check out the great opportunities that the Midwest offers.

 

Insights

8 Bathroom Problems that Can Be Easily Fixed

on May 17, 2019

Bathrooms are supposed to help you to de-stress and relax after with cold showers and warm baths. But just like other elements of the house they too need proper maintenance and care. Here are a few common problems and solutions to deal with them in a smart way. You can also request and refer free catalogs like Ballard Designs or Pottery Barn for similar solutions and useful products to deal with the maintenance and cleaning issues.

1. Poor Ventilation

Poor ventilation retains moisture and humidity in washrooms. This leads to accumulation or dripping of moisture residue from walls and ceilings. In such cases, it is evident that your washroom has no or little ventilation. To address this problem you may have to repair the damaged fans and install proper ventilation with the assistance of professional. Cleaning ducts from time to time are also recommended and cost around $350.

2. Molds

With poor and improper ventilation molds and mildew is a natural occurrence. Sometimes mold can be toxic to our health and hence it is important that we deal with it as early as possible. To clean the mold, use white vinegar with a spray bottle. Vinegar is non-toxic and safe mold cleaner which does not need to be diluted with water. You can use a brush or cloth to clean the vinegar sprayed surface. Don’t forget to use protective gloves while cleaning. The other (easier) option is to hire a professional Phoenix house cleaning company, or a company wherever you are based, as they are easy to book and the results can be amazing!

3. Slow Drains

Slow drains are the result of debris and hairs getting stuck into the pipes. You can unclog drains by flushing them with drainage products or hot water. If it doesn’t work you may have to fish out stuck items with the help of a drain snake. If you don’t address this problem in time you may have to deal with clogged drains in the near future.

4. Dull Brass Fixtures

You don’t need to buy expensive brass polishers or cleaners to bring back lost shine of your brass fixtures. Make a light paste by mixing equal amounts of lemon juice and baking soda. Use a brush to clean the fixtures with this solution and your brass fixtures would appear new like.

5. Grungy Grouts

Grout tiles may become grungy due to mildew with the passage of time. The best way to deal with them is to clean them with a brush dipped in vinegar. You can also spray vinegar on the infected area and scrub it away after 10 minutes for better results. Bleach is a great alternative to vinegar. Chloride bleach along with an equal amount of water can aid you in cleaning mildew efficiently.

6. Filmy Glassdoors

Glass doors in bathroom showers become filmy with mineral buildup. To get rid of mineral residue spray the door with vinegar and leave it untouched for a few minutes. Next, rub and clean with a paste made from the same amounts of salt and baking soda and rinse the door.

7. Crusty white faucets

To deal with mineral deposits on fixtures you will need white vinegar and three paper towels to get started. Let the paper towels soak in white vinegar and wrap them around the faucets. Let them stay there overnight.

Remove wrapped paper towels the next morning and scrub the faucets with warm water, dishwashing liquid, and a toothbrush. Your faucets will now shine bright enough to reflect the light.

8. Consistently running toilet

Constantly running toilets can be annoying and can bring with them increased water bills. To tackle continuously running toilet all you need to do is peep in the flush tank and simply unstuck the flapper chain that may be stuck and you are good to go.

Conclusion

Most of the issues mentioned above can be dealt with a little amount of expenditure. You may need to buy to utilize simple ingredients like salt, bleach, lemon juice, vinegar or tools like drain snake and plungers to tackle these problems. But ignoring them for long durations may result in bigger issues which will come with extra expenses. Hence, it’s recommended to solve these problems as early as possible. In complicated scenarios, you may have to take the aid of professionals like plumbers and certified cleaners to ensure safe, clean and tidy washrooms.

MartechProductsSaaS

Immense Development of Fintech to Support the Digital Currency Dealings

on May 17, 2019

With the digitization of almost all the sectors in our life, the way we see and use money has also changed drastically. People today are comfortable with carrying out online money transactions, making online purchases and payments, sending money across virtual platforms and also lending, borrowing and investing online. Online banking has become popular among many and transactions that are based on API have become a new way to handle money.

1. A major Shift in Financial Services

With the introduction of FinTech companies that provide virtual financial service, the manner in which people utilized and handled money has undergone drastic changes in the past two decades. Developed and technologically advanced systems of software and hardware have allowed FinTech companies to provide much more user-friendly and secured financial transactions.

To offer such lucid and flexible platforms for quick and secure financial transactions, internal infrastructure has to be overwhelmingly complex. To make this process simple for common-man, digital currencies and cryptocurrencies were introduced while the regulatory framework had to be more rigid and sophisticated. No wonder modern fintech companies have to upgrade and develop technologies in order to be able to produce extremely complex yet easy to use, safe and highly secured financial services so as to exist, thrive and function in today’s immensely volatile environment.

2. Reasons for the Growth of the FinTech Sector

Utilization of fintech tools and services can be attributed to many aspects. It promotes cashless transactions, ensures quick and safer money transactions, lets you connect with banks and other platforms seamlessly with a mere hand-held device, facilitates online shopping along with easy processing of loans and payments. The emergence of e-commerce is another factor that has brought about immense advancement in financial technology. Apart from this boom in the use of digital currencies that have grabbed the attention of investors is another significant reason for the ultimate sophistication of fintech industry.

3. Investment in Cryptocurrencies

Investors are always watching out for investment options that are safe and provide lucrative returns in a short time. Gone are the days when equity, property or forex was considered as some of the best investment options. It’s time and age of cryptocurrencies that have immense potential to multiply money in a short time frame than any other cash investment can ever do. Cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin are limited in nature and therefore have a tremendous value attached to them and can be traded for large amounts of local currency. Hence it becomes necessary to minimize the dangers of prying programs and internet connections that can launder your money and hack your personal accounts. This arises the need for secured technology which can be achieved by immense development in the field of safety and security in current Fintech.

4. Better Exchange Rates

Previously individuals and small businesses had to accept undesirable exchange rates and only banks and large organizations had access to near-market exchange rates. But today, many FinTech companies provide competitive near-market exchange rates.

5. Little to Zero Transfer Fee

Just like exchange rates, transfer fees adversely affected the cost-effectiveness of the transactions. Banks collect high transfer fees while FinTech companies charge little to no transfer fees. For instance, FinTech organizations such as OFX and Currencies Direct offer fee-free transfers to almost all the countries.

6. Multiple Payment Options

Most of the FinTech that facilitate overseas money transfers provide their clients with multiple payment methods to choose from. Bank account transfers are the most secure and cost-effective in nature. All FinTech companies don’t accept payments through credit and debit cards and organization that allow card payments tend to charge extra fees for the same. Other methods that you can opt for payments are SOFORT, POLi, iDeal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, ACH, etc.

Final Conclusion

Introduction of Fintech has revolutionized the way in which financial transactions were carried out. Today transactions have become easier with user-friendly software, faster with improved connectivity, cost-effective with reduced transfer fees and exchange rates, safe and secure with decentralized technologies like blockchain and flexible due to availability of various modes of payment. These are major shifts that are sure to disrupt traditional banking and financial institutions in coming days.

DevelopmentInsightsProductsSaaS

Ways to Make Your Smart Home Work for You

on May 17, 2019

Over the last few years, smart devices have managed to get everywhere — in your television, your refrigerator, your speakers and even your door locks — but you might not have paid them much mind. You, like 63 percent of the population, might find smart tools “creepy,” or like 55 percent of the population, you might believe the tech to be totally untrustworthy.

In truth, smart technology is in its infancy; compared to another tech, which has developed over decades or centuries, smart tools are brand-new, which means they still have many of the kinks that untested inventions typically have. However, just because smart devices aren’t perfect doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them. In fact, there are many ways that smart tools can make your life better in major ways. Here are a few ideas to help you make smart technology work for you, so you can enjoy a better-functioning home.

Consider Your Home Troubles

It’s tempting to buy the exact same smart tools that everyone else is buying, but blindly jumping into smart home tech is a near guarantee that you’ll waste your money and be dissatisfied with smart devices. Instead, you should take time to consider exactly what ways you wish your home worked better; muse on what struggles you consistently have with your home and how smart technology could improve it.

A good example of a common home issue is getting locked out of the house. Many people tend to be forgetful with their keys or the locks on their doors, and homes with children might need a way to let their kids get inside without entrusting them with a key. Smart locks allow recognized users to gain access to a property without a key but instead with their smartphones. Users can lock and unlock their homes from anywhere using a mobile phone app, which can be exceedingly useful and anxiety-reducing.

Because there are a near-unlimited number of smart home tools on the market, you can find a device to solve nearly any problem around your home. You should make a list of common problems or else a list of home features you think could better suit your lifestyle and search for smart tech to fit.

Investigate Your Smart Options

It still isn’t time to make any purchases. Once you have a good idea of the tools available to you, specifically those that would enhance your home and life, you will have a good foundation for making a few key decisions about your smart home. In particular, you need to choose which smart home ecosystem is right for you.

Currently, there are three major smart home players: Amazon, Google, and Apple. A handful of smaller players are easy to find as well, to include Samsung, Wink, Hive, Logitech, and Yonomi. Generally, the larger, better-known smart home systems have more devices available, but those devices might come at a steeper price, and, perhaps more importantly, you might not prefer their interface. Because every smart tool that you acquire should be able to integrate with the ones currently in your home, it is imperative not only that you remain consistent in the smart system you use but also that you understand and enjoy using the system.

You can read reviews online to get a sense of how homeowners like you are reacting to various systems, and you can also sample a few systems out at big-box tech stores like Best Buy. After you determine which system is right for your home, you can start purchasing smart tech — but you should make absolutely sure that the devices integrate with your desired system.

Bolster Your Smart Network

Even after you have a cadre of smart tools throughout your home, your job of setting up your smart home isn’t done. That’s because you need to keep your home safe from digital attackers, who utilize relatively insecure smart devices to infiltrate your network and steal your data.

Fortunately, it is rather easy to guard against this type of attack. First, you should acquire a smart device manager, which makes it easier to see all the smart tools on your network and keep them safe. You might also consider setting up your smart tech on a separate network from the one you connect to your computers, so any data saved on your computers is completely inaccessible from your smart devices.

Even with these protections, you need to be diligent about keeping your smart tech up to date in patches for software and firmware. Most cybercriminals use known vulnerabilities in outdated firmware to infiltrate home networks, so with simple updates, you can trust your smart tools to do their job and keep you safe.

Smart technology might seem like a trend now, but it’s unlikely to go away. The sooner you accept some smart tools into your life, the sooner you can benefit from a fully functioning smart home.

InsightsMartech

Reasons Why You Should Give Importance to Video Marketing

on May 15, 2019

It’s the 21st century, and the nature of content marketing has changed manifold. We all know that an image can speak in many ways. When you add a good quality image to a social media post, it increases its popularity manifold.  It is one of the tried and tested tactics of content marketing. And here it is important to mention about video marketing that helps to promote and market your videos. Videos have increased reach and can promote your content in unique ways. It is one of the best marketing methods today that most corporate brands are opting in. Some of the important facts that establish the importance of video marketing include the following:

  • Videos can claim over 80% of web traffic.
  • By embedding videos in your landing page, you can maximize the conversion rate by almost 80%.
  • When you add impressive videos to your email marketing campaigns, the click-through rates can increase between 200% and 300%.
  • More than 90% of the customers find videos helpful when they have to make a buying decision.

It is important to get professional help when you want to make high-quality marketing videos. To know more on this, you can get in touch with Austin SEO agency. Not sure if you want to say yes to video marketing? Refer to the benefits discussed below:

1. Video content helps in maximum brand recall

Based on a HubSpot research about 80% of the consumers will remember a video that they have liked. In fact, if they have watched any influential video in the past 15 days, chances are they will remember it. Video marketing has a visual impact which helps to promote a marketing message better, as you learn if you know more about connectivity for marketers. When an online user remembers video content, he/she also learns about your brand. It automatically translates to lead generation and sales better as well. Also, if an online user has liked a video, chances are he/she will share it as well. And this helps to maximize the online reach.

2. Video marketing can enhance your website SEO

Almost 65% of the business decision-makers choose to visit a website, once they have seen video footage by the brand. Hence, quality content when used through video marketing can significantly enhance your website SEO, by making people curious about your site. It directs people to visit your homepage and learn more about your brand.

3. Video content can perform well on most devices

Responsive design is what impacts online marketing. If your content fails to perform optimally in a chosen browser system or device, it affects the business. There’s less online traffic, and the conversions are also minimal. Video content is apt for all mobile and computing devices. Hence, the reach of the video is much more. And that’s what makes it consumer-driven and user-friendly. If you have added video as a part of your online marketing strategy, you have the best chance to improve your brand message. That aside, you can add a persona to your brand as well! By implementing simple features such as branding and design, to advanced aspects like content and voice, video marketing can boost brand identity. Once you refer to the pointers mentioned above, you can decide better whether you want to resort to video marketing.

DevelopmentInsightsStartups

Business Strategies that Give Your Restaurant an Edge over Others

on May 15, 2019

Every restaurant owner wants to earn profits by providing the best service to their customers. From elegant decor to the chef-curated menu, they want to cater to every customer requirement. Today, the food industry is flourishing at a fast pace. People love to visit themed restaurants for fine dining with their friends and family. They expect complete value for money. Hence, it is important to incorporate a few strategies that can earn profit and consumer goodwill.

Are you planning to open-up a multi-cuisine restaurant? Do you want your customers to revisit your restaurant? Do you want maximum recall value for your brand? If yes, then you can consider the following business strategies:

1. Update your customers on the new menu

For a restaurant, it’s the menu that is the core product. So, whenever you have a new line- up of the best cuisine delicacies, it is essential to inform your loyal customers. If there’s a menu update, occasional discounts or a food festival over a weekend, ensure that you inform your customers through SMS marketing or email marketing. Customers use their Smartphone to check messages as well as emails. Hence, they can check the message and email and visit your restaurant accordingly. It will enhance your brand awareness and also increase the recall value.

2. Implement a food labeling software

People today are making better lifestyle choices. And many people who love food are also health-conscious. They want to know the food ingredients and the nutrient quotient of each platter. It helps them to keep a count on their calories and carbohydrate intake. It is here that you can opt-in for food labeling software, which lets the customers know the ingredient and the nutrient content in a platter. It helps customers to order for their best dishes and maintain a food balance. Another thing to consider is to use a restaurant bookkeeping expert to maintain your accounting system to ensure accurate financial reporting and maximum profitability. 

3. Work on the ambiance

Your restaurant ambiance needs to be thoughtful. Today, customers are not just attracted to the menu, but also the ambiance and the theme. You can have a distinct theme in your eatery or restaurant. For instance, if you are keen to position yourself as a Tibetan restaurant, then you need to implement the required aesthetics that will create the correct backdrop. Your ambiance will complement the food platter as well and result in an immersive experience. Check out some rooftop bars that have amazing ambiance here.

4. Include a suggestion box

Every business wants to generate happy customers. And when you listen to your customer, it makes them happy. Every customer has suggestions they want to share. If you listen to these suggestions, it might carry valuable perspectives that will help you to enhance your business. Hence, you can keep a suggestion box in your restaurant. Alternatively, you can also request your clients to email your suggestions.

Going forward you can arrange for freebies or promo codes for customers who share the best suggestions that you decide to implement. It will help you bond with your customers better, increase sales and customer goodwill. These are some of the essential business strategies that will help you flourish your restaurant business manifold. You can also add another strategy that you deem fit.

DevelopmentMartechSaaS

Custom Software Development – Relevance and Benefits

on May 15, 2019

Simply put, custom software which is also termed as “Bespoke” software gets developed for catering to a specific business or corporation to cater to individual needs. Usually, customized software gets designed to address the business requirements of one client or many clients that state the process and features of software they wish to use.

The relevance of custom software development

You always have to consider the after-effects of purchasing software packages off-the-shelf. Also, you need to consider the essential pros and cons of creating specialized software with the help of credible software development services to cater to particular business requirements.

There’s no obligation for you to spend your time with the development team for designing your software. These applications are all generic concerning the end-user needs. And it might provide you with a set of features that might tally with your specific needs. Hence, even when you spend a huge amount of money, you might need to struggle the business automation process, as you might not have access to a couple of features in the ready-made software.

Today, there are several advantages of developing and designing custom software catering to your business requirements. Some of the essential benefits are discussed below:

1. It helps in optimized business methods

Every company comes with its specific business model as well as in-house practices. It is indeed challenging for companies to alter their business procedures, to cater to a particular software application or package, regardless of its potency or efficiency. Hence, the software requirements should get developed and designed in a way that can easily sync it with the best business models. It should also follow a company’s in-house procedures. The custom software development process also enables in optimizing the business procedures instead of substituting it.

2. The advantage of the invention

With software being customized, you can determine the type of software development technology to make use of when you’re designing your business app. You can evaluate and choose the new age technologies for developing customized software. Go ahead and make it work the way you feel it’s apt.

3. You can focus on your business insight

Are you completely invested in developing the software depending on the business requirements? If yes, then it indicates that you consider the in-house business processes necessary. It also speaks volumes about the commitment for your business as you simplify the working models and process flows, for it to perform seamlessly.

4. Dependability

The capacity to maintain and also follow the business procedures over some time enables you to become successful gradually. Reliability is one of the essential aspects that determine success. You need to test your custom software adequately to make sure that you have consistent IT tools that will help you to develop your business.

5. Helps you to be unique

Every business has a unique advantage over the other! One solution can’t be applied to all the business processes. When there’s software custom-made to cater to your individual business needs, it can add value to your business model. Furthermore, the process of custom software development also enables you to develop your “unique” business identity.

There are several other advantages of custom software development that you can experience and put to your advantage. For this, you need to join hands with an ace service provider that understands your requirements to customize the software.

DevelopmentInsightsMartech

Are you a Local Business – Here is what you should know about your online reputation

on May 14, 2019

Your reputation online dictates the responsiveness of your target audience and how they perceive your brand. By using a local business review management tool you can identify, monitor and enhance how your customers find you. It is also instrumental in helping you determine what exactly it is they are looking for and their experience with your website and customer service.

The online reputation you have harnessed from previous users isn’t going to be enough to attract future customers. You have to maintain and enhance it so that you can reel in potential customers and provide them with the same level of experience. Consistency is the name of the game here.

The importance of streamlined online reputation management

Managing your digital reputation may sound like a service required to win you the next presidential election or if you’re launching a cutting-edge device. The fact of the matter is, if you want people to spend money on your products or services, you need to first make a good first digital impression. For example, you need to be able to respond to user comments on Facebook in a timely manner. Customer service is what is essentially all about.

In light of this, here are six dynamics you need to understand about your online reputation.

It impacts buying decisions and sales

Source

According to the Local Consumer Review Survey posted by BrightLocal in 2017, it was determined that around 97% of users based their buying decisions on reading online reviews on local businesses. Moreover, according to the same survey, 12% of consumers searched for new local business each day.

There is no question, online reputation management acts as a bedrock for local business success and popularity. Consumers value positive online reviews. You’d be shocked to learn that as per a Moz report back in 2015, four to five bad reviews on any company online cost them 70% of future customers!

Your existing customers will still read new reviews about your product or service or company as a whole, which is why online reputation management can either make or break your digital footprint.

Your digital reputation is eternal

While we aren’t immortal, our business reputation will surely be around for generations to come. The online world has significantly evolved, becoming a sort of a public archive for a variety of things. This includes things that are known and unknown to most. Simply put, in a business sense, your company will always be what people say about it – and it could be frighteningly difficult for you to change anything.

Even if a user says something that is simply not true, there isn’t much you can do about it, other than to not give them a reason to say anything bad. However, comments such as “it’s a scam!” or “don’t shop from this business” can put a lot of potential customers at the backfoot. What is done will remain done; the only thing you can do is effectively manage your online reputation and ensure consistency.

Word of mouth – faster than a speeding bullet!

Source

The speed by which information travels on the web is phenomenal. Social media networks are a great example of how people spread the word around on new businesses and products. As much as this can help businesses grow their brand visibility, it can also destroy them before they can even lift off. Just look at the backlash United Airlines got after it forcibly removed a passenger from an overbooked flight in 2017.

The point is, your customers can either leave you with a 1-star rating or a 5-star rating – both actions depend on a slew of important variables, such as customer service, delivery, quality of the product, response rate and sometimes, boredom. You have to understand that if a customer doesn’t like your website or how sluggish your customer rep was to respond to his queries, one bad review, and down your company goes.

That is why it is so important to keep a check on these incidents and ensure consistency.  As per a research report posted by Vendasta, 95% of unsatisfied users or customers will come back to you if you solve their problem on time.

The opportunity to set the record straight and make things right

Have you looked back on something that you did wrong then jumped on the opportunity to set it right? The feeling is overwhelming, and you don’t have any regrets about anything. Online reputation management is a surefire way to convert a potentially adverse perception of your target audience into trust.

Bad reviews and constructive criticism can be a very good way of acting quickly to change everything that is wrong with your business. You can improve your quality and services and learn from your mistakes. However, repeating the same mistake twice may not give you the opportunity to correct it again.

Sure, it can be heartbreaking to hear a customer talk bad about your business; however, attentively listening to them and converting their criticism into a healthy discussion is a good way of improving your business. That is exactly why a local business review management tool is so important!

The inability to get rid of a bad review

Sure, you can try your best to solve a customer’s problem quickly and effectively, and you can overshadow some bad comments as well.  But what you can’t do is delete negative comments. Sometimes an angry customer is just looking for validation or a refund. Good reputation management includes taking on-time actions on resolving and de-escalating consumer complications in a harmonious yet professional way.

You can also try to overshadow bad comments by pushing your content at the top of the SERPs, getting rid of the negative search results on Google. After all, most people don’t go past the first page on Google when searching for information or products.

Final words

Overall, these are some vital elements that will dictate your online reputation for better or for worse. If you are meticulous with your digital strategy, ensure quality and consistency, and are willing to solve problems on time, there is nothing for you to worry about.

DevelopmentInsights

Some of The Most Vital Aspects of Google AdWords for Real Estate Investors

on May 9, 2019

We are living in the most advanced scenario, where people are engaging with the internet. These days, many people are taking advantages of AdWords in their business. If you are a real estate investor, then you must understand the outcomes of AdWords. People those want to make the use of PPC advertising can easily able to access its AdWords Account wisely.

If you create an effective strategy which is useful in the AdWords, then you must pay attention to it because it would be supportive in the business. You can call these guys in order to collect more information regarding Google AdWords and understand the process of using the AdWords.

Eight smart steps away from a victorious campaign

If you find yourself a typical real estate investor, then do not get pessimist because this is the time to show yourself. Here are some steps that will help you to get a successful campaign –

Step 1–Create a perfect plan; you need to design a plan for the campaign and try to think about the ROI. Try to write some plan down and revisit it properly. A successful investment plan always works, so simply choose the type of campaign that you want to build. Instead of this, you can also determine the acquisition cost of the customer.

Step 2 – Now the time is to find a perfect keyword, so let get yourself in the research. Once you get the directions plan then the time is to research your market, some keywords and the most important is the opponents that will give you high competition.

Step 3 – Now, the time is to control the Unique Selling Proposition. Basically, USP would be a great benefit that you take.

Step 4 – Audiences offers and ad copy make it possible to analyze everything. One thing that you keep into the mind is that the idea offered by the competitor is unique but do not copy it.

Step 5 – Try to write ad text that stands out because this would be the best formula for you that can grab more and more traffic on the site and enhance the chances of getting the best outcomes.

Step 6– Pay attention to the quality and high converting landing pages which are mobile approachable. If you have the well-optimized landing page, then it would be supportive for enhancing the conversion rate and pull down the cost per clicks.

Step 7– Now the time is to install the conversation and lead tracking, so it will help you to enhance the ROI from AdWords, so you must trace the sales funnel by the help of keyword to the consumer.

Step 8 – Setting up the campaign for the AdWords search campaign. You should simply use the search and try to disable the Display network when you are newly making the campaign.

Well, we have covered all the significant 8 steps away from a successful campaign of which you can take benefits.

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