Mohit Tater's Blog, page 539

The Top 3 Future Possibilities of Salesforce

More than enough has been talked about Salesforce to fill a couple of books, at the very least. For a galvanising platform that is just about a decade-and-a-half old, that is no mean feat indeed. However, in the past few years, many rival services have been making deep inroads into the integration of CRM systems with A.I. but the main advantage of Salesforce in particular is that from the beginning itself, it has a lot more to offer than the usual generic CRM system out there. In itself, this is the primary reason why so many people have been using this platform for the past several years.

Having stated all of this, it is still worthwhile noting that Salesforce does have a lot of room to expand even at this stage, and the place it is in right now is far from being the zenith of what the platform is truly capable of in every way. What started off as a plan to make just an enterprise CRM has morphed into a multipurpose cloud service provider beyond anybody’s wildest dreams. From the primary question being “what is salesforce crm?” many years ago, it is quite interesting to see the complete evolution and growth of the platform from the very beginning.

With the aspect of the Cloud taking over in many ways, Salesforce was all set to become a primary and multipurpose cloud service provider, which it eventually did. Here are the 3 future possibilities of Salesforce for you to get a good idea of how much room they still have to expand and enlarge their base of operations :-

Better A.I. utility: Here’s the thing a lot of people are yet to understand – with more data comes a higher level of complexity. Right now, a great many people are under the impression that the management of Salesforce is a considerably tough job in itself. This is where A.I. technology comes in to save the day by making the accessibility of information easier, plus organising and cleaning data. This will be a significant opportunity to add the required services around all of the data points. The provision of specific network services: Salesforce has been able to expand into completely new categories with the help of acquisitions. However, what is still left is the fact that with the help of their Force.com platform and Dreamforce  conferences, they have already laid down the foundation for the build-up of a network.

With the creation of a new network, this could help them own the network and data layer above their sales and marketing clouds, paving the way for an exciting new future. Turning its gaze on International markets: This is a big bold step that is yet to be taken. Pretty much everyone is aware of the fact that Salesforce initially grew out of the United States, but now it is all set to expand overseas in every possible way. You can be sure of that fact. By making a deal with AWS, they have expanded their partnership considerably and they have already built their second database in Japan. With increased usage across the Asia-Pacific region, growing their own data bases gives them an added advantage of providing better services to more geographical regions.

Even till today, Salesforce still enjoys the position of having a continued reign in the realm of SaaS with no signs of slowing down in any way. However, that itself will depend on just how well they will be able to keep up the rate of innovation with regard to all their related products and offering more in the aspect of cloud solutions. This is where the ultimate test of time will decide whether Salesforce continues as the number one option for many more years to come or not.

With the release of Salesforce Einstein in 2016, rest assured that all the necessary A.I. technologies have been brought to the very forefront of their huge range of products, making it easier for the creation of A.I. powered apps. With one of the primary goals being making the use of powerful technology easier for people to use, the twin aspects of the use of A.I. along with the creation of A.I. apps are fundamental in making that happen. There are no two ways about that fact.

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How To Write A Corporate Travel Policy For Your Startup Team

When startups incorporate travel into their operations, they succeed in building their businesses. Travel offers the opportunity to experience new places, people and products. Before startup teams can start attending promotional events like conferences and trade shows, they need to implement corporate travel policies. With a detailed policy in place, entrepreneurs can easily manage expenses and employee satisfaction during business trips. Keep reading to learn how to write your own corporate travel policy for your startup team. 

Determine Your Objectives

Before you begin writing your travel policy, determine your objectives. This first step is crucial to success because your goals will outline your entire policy. One of the biggest corporate travel policy objectives among entrepreneurs is to keep costs low. By keeping your costs low during business trips, you can maintain a steady cash flow during your startup phase. Another popular objective for entrepreneurs to consider is keeping employees safe. Employee safety management plays a major role in worker satisfaction rates during work trips. Keep these objectives in mind when setting your own goals. Once you have a list of clear objectives, continue writing your startup’s corporate travel policy. 

Create A Travel Request Process

Another critical step to take when building your policy is to create a travel request process. Request processes ensure that employees do not schedule trips without your approval. They prevent workers from attending events that do not fit into your current startup goals. Start building a travel request process by creating a business trip form. Ask for information about the event in the form. Require employees to explain why they think the event is a good idea for the company. Then, include a section for financial information. Request the estimated travel cost for the entire trip. Add these forms to your corporate travel policy to write one effectively. 

Outline Your Corporate Travel Services

Furthermore, develop a travel service process for your policy. Entrepreneurs and their teams have access to a variety of corporate travel services. Once you select the best one for your own team, you need to show employees how to use it effectively. Create a written outline for the process so your team never gets confused. Provide account information in the outline. That way, authorized employees can login and make travel plans easily. Include cost restrictions in the outline to ensure that your team stays within budget as well. Add this process to your corporate travel policy to keep your startup team and travel services team on the same page. 

List Reimbursable Expenses

Entrepreneurs also need to list reimbursable expenses in their travel policies. By listing these expenses, you avoid dealing with any miscommunication issues with employees. They can review the list of expenses that they can be reimbursed for during trips. They can plan their own budgets accordingly. To ensure that employees understand this portion of your policy, be as clear as possible in your list. Consider every travel and entertainment item that you can think of. Include details for each listed item. Instead of writing “food”, set a price or amount limit on the food. Take this step to write a promising corporate travel policy for your startup. 

Keep Your Employees’ Needs In Mind

In addition to the above steps, keep your employees’ needs in mind to write an effective corporate travel policy. Your team’s satisfaction is crucial to your startup’s success. This is why you need to consider your employees’ wants and needs when building a travel program. Acknowledge how your employees prefer to read crucial company information. Rather than writing up a policy in fine print and with little white space, make it easy to read. Keep it short and sweet so your employees can remember it easily. You can even ask your staff members about their preferred reimbursable expenses. Alter your list based on their opinions. As long as you keep them in mind, you will write a great corporate travel policy for your startup team. 

To scale your new business up quickly, you need to attend corporate travel events. Before doing so, you need a travel policy in place. Prior to writing yours, determine your policy objectives. After you establish a clear set of goals, build a travel request process for employees to gain approval. Then, set travel service limits to avoid overspending on business trips. List reimbursable expenses to prevent money-related issues from arising as well. Finally, keep your employees’ needs in mind when creating your policy. Follow these guidelines to write a corporate travel policy for your startup team. 

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Successful Writing Techniques to Boost Your Business Blog

Marketing has changed over the years due to technology, which enables customers to carry out business online. It is no surprise that online communication by the use of blogs has become popular. With over five hundred million people viewing blogs each month, a business blog is necessary to expand your business, attract more traffic and customers. To compose a successful blog with engaging content, observe these tips.

Blog consistently

    Consistency is the key to successful blogging for business. You have to maintain a particular steadiness. For example, you can write three blog posts every week instead of writing one week and nothing the next. A steady record makes it easier for you to blog and hooks your readers and customers to the next post. 

Create good quality content

    Good quality content is the best blogging tips that you should observe. Spend your time concentrating on one single blog post at a time and perfect it. In this way, you produce material that gives you confidence sharing with others and your followers will enjoy reading it.  

Conduct a keyword search

A business blog aims at marketing your business. Ensure people access your information when they Google something related to your business through keyword research. According to Forbes, it involves using words people often use to search for information online. Utilizing them ensures your blog is at the top of the search engine.

Decide who is your target audience

Ensure you know your target audience. Begin by understanding the questions asked about your post that show their interest. Also, use Google, social media, or discussion forums to identify people who are most attracted by what you post and those who always follow you. Next, use your findings to write your essay from instructions.

Always promote your content  

    Another essential technique to boost your blogging for business is promoting your content. Every time you post a new blog post, inform your readers about it. Use social media platforms by creating an alluring and attractive summary of the article and provide a link to your blog.

Look  for ways to extend your blog

    Extending your blog is essential if you want more readers to keep visiting your blog and reaching others. Provide additional content to complement your blog, such as making a video about your business or creating a newsletter. 

Promote your business

    Writing a business blog can be useful in making your business known. Be courteous and inform the audience about your business and invite them to contact you if in need of your services. Avoid being pushy at all cost.

Keep in mind that your blog must bring value

    In determining how to create a blog, what keeps readers coming back and your business succeeding is the value you put into it. Find a way of providing helpful content by creating a valuable product through sharing your knowledge and experience about it and offering quality services. In this way, your blog will give value to your business.

Invite your audience to engage

    Interacting with your followers is an excellent way of branding your blog as an interactive forum that respects all views. Engage them by asking a question about your article and monitor their responses. The interaction gives you an idea of how your blogging is fairing and builds trust and loyalty to your business. 

Social sharing

    Once you write your posts, drive traffic to it. Do so by sharing your posts on different social media platforms you use. According to Business 2 Community, keep going through the articles to evaluate which got the most attention and which did not. In this way, you know how to tailor your information for future posts.

Conclusion

    All business bloggers share one thing in common; the need to succeed. Success may mean getting many loyal followers or boosting your business to the peak. Whichever it may be, the above techniques will ensure your exceptional writing skills enhance your business blog. 

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Understanding The Intricacies Of Running Your First Business: Growing Pains That You Might Encounter At Your Company

Running a business has variables that the management of the business needs to keep in mind. A founder of a business is going to run into issues regardless of how well prepared they are as every business is different. Growing pains are sure to occur but the important part of this is how a founder reacts to these problems. Panicking is rarely the right response as a quick decision could haunt the business for years. An action like that of taking out a high interest loan instead of laying people off is a perfect example of this. This loan could haunt the business for years while most business have plenty of employees that could be let go without impacting the company’s overall performance. The following are growing pains businesses can encounter and how a founder can deal with these appropriately. 

Keeping Cash Flow Healthy By Renting Equipment

Renting equipment needs to be done carefully as the quality of the equipment can differ immensely. Red-D-Arc ensures quality when renting their equipment out by stating on their website “one of the leading suppliers of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and related products in the United States.” Being able to find a plasma cutter rental in Houston or a welder in Dallas is a huge convenience that can help a company save money. Renting instead of buying technological equipment can also help a company that does not have a huge influx of venture capital money. Renting can be a great way to raise capital to purchase the equipment at a later date without impacting business operations currently. 

Dealing With Your First Toxic Employee

The best hiring practices don’t ensure that at one point a toxic employee will start to stir up trouble. This could come in the form of undermining policies or even starting different types of office drama. The best thing that can happen is to reprimand this person for these behaviors in private. If this changes the behavior that is great but if it does not a public reprimand might do the trick. If this doesn’t at least the staff will see that certain behavior is not tolerated. Continuation of the toxic employee working at the company can ruin morale so they will have to be terminated. Termination becomes difficult if the employee is an all-star but doing this will show staff that not matter how great you are at your job, certain behavior will not be tolerated at the company. 

Data Breach Compromising Client Information 

Companies of all sizes have been the victims of hackers with some of the largest brands in the world being hacked leading to customer data being leaked by the millions. The best thing that any business can do is to be proactive about their online security. Hiring an outsourced digital security company can be wise as 24-hour monitoring is essential when dealing with the data of important clients. Changing passwords when employees leave or are terminated is imperative as many people turn vengeful when let go. The passwords should also be on a need to know basis only just to keep the company safe going forward. In the case of a data breach, being honest with clients is the best policy as the company does not want them finding out on their own. Clients might leave but there will be those that will be understanding as hacks are extremely prevalent. 

Penalized By Google Due To Blackhat Marketing Techniques 

Hiring a digital marketing company or freelancer can be dangerous if they are using blackhat SEO techniques. These are the techniques Google has warned against and will penalize a website for utilizing. Asking a company or individual what their tactics are is important as it could leave your company at risk. Those that are unwilling to reveal their “secret” formula are most likely moving search engine rankings through less than ethical tactics in the eyes of Google. Researching these freelancers or companies can help reduce the risk of running into these issues. In the case that it does happen, finding a company to help the website recover from the Google penalty needs to be done. A penalty can plummet the company website down the rankings for main keywords related to the business so recovery needs to be done. 

Powering Through The Slow Periods During The Year

The slow periods of the year are natural in most industries but the goal should be to keep generating revenue during these times. Ramping up the sales efforts before these times of the year can help do just that. Hiring freelance sales professionals that have worked in the industry previously can be extremely valuable. The company does not have to carry these salespeople through the year but this is also a great way to find a diamond in the rough. Creating other streams of revenue can be wise but this is not possible with all businesses. 

Growing pains happen in all businesses so be proactive about solving issues once they arise. Problems do not solve themselves and many times they compound only worsening. Assess where your company can be at risk and where it needs to be repaired, the world is waiting for the next successful company!

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6 Things You Should Know Before You Move to New York for Work or Business

Whether you have just landed a great position or thought about relocating in search of greener pastures, there are some things you have to get ready before you go to New York City. NYC can be a tough city. It’s also a place that attracts the best and brightest and is pretty much the epicenter of the global business world. 

New York can also take time to adjust to, especially if you don’t come from a major East Coast city. However, it’s also one of the best places to be if you have what it takes and are ready to take on a challenge. Here are some of the things you should know before relocating to New York for work or business.

Salaries Match the Cost of Living

While salaries are much higher in New York, you also have to take the cost of living into consideration. So, when considering positions, always make sure that you keep the cost of living in mind. If you’re working in a tech-related field, however, you will be in very high demand and will be able to live comfortably in New York.

The Housing Market is Tough, but Not Impossible

People often think that finding a great apartment in New York is either impossible or out of anyone’s reach. However, this isn’t always the case. It’s also about where you look. Then there’s the very real risk of getting swindled out of your money. This is a scam that is rather common in New York but can be avoided when you work with the right people.

For instance, reputable furnished apartment providers are a great option if you want to find a great spot to live in right from the minute you get there and don’t want to worry about running all around town talking to shady landlords. Companies like Blueground, for instance, have many great NYC furnished apartments in some of the best parts of town. Their apartments are fully furnished and located in buildings that offer some great amenities such as laundry rooms, a doorman, and gyms, among other things. They’re the best choice for people who are trying to get acclimated and feel right at home. 

Be Ready to Work Long Hours

They always say that New York is the city that never sleeps, and the workers surely don’t seem like they do either. Don’t be surprised if you hear your colleges say they have to work a shift after work. While some do it just to stay afloat, others do it so they can live comfortably. While it’s always your choice, chances are you’ll be tempted to complement your income once you come to the city.

Happy Hours are a Blast

If you love a nice happy hour after work with your colleagues, clients, or employees, then New York is the place to be. Being in the entertainment Mecca of the world, you’ll have no trouble finding something fun to do with your work buddies. Whether it’s rooftop shindigs, supper clubs, or a nice terrace on a hot summer day, you’ll be spoilt for options in New York City.

Childcare is Expensive

If you have a large family and have to rely on childcare, be ready to pay in New York. This is especially a challenge if you’re a single parent. The rate of single mothers working in the city is one of the lowest in the country mainly for this reason. So, before you move, we suggest you take a look at childcare costs and if you’ll be able to actually afford them.

New York City is Patterning Itself After Silicon Valley

New York has always been at the forefront of innovation, and the city is doing everything in its power to modernize itself and become a hub for tech entrepreneurs. Places like Long Island City, for instance, are trying to attract tech firms and will become a major center for tech research on the east coast. So, if you’re in this field, or thinking of branching off to do your own thing later, New York is definitely the place to be. 

Businesses in the city are also trying to adopt some of Silicon Valley’s corporate culture as well, with more emphasis on employee wellness, less strict dress codes, and benefits. So, this is the best time to be a tech worker in New York City.

Conclusion

New York is a city full of opportunities for those who are up for it. It’s also a very competitive place that can bring the worst or best out of a person, depending on their disposition. Make sure that you consider these few factors before you make the move if you want to survive and thrive in this great city.

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The 4 Most Common Cash Flow Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

All entrepreneurs launch their businesses confident in their products and teams, and with high hopes of future success. All-too-often, however, these hopes are dashed on the rocks of hard financial reality: of all small businesses started in 2014, only 56% were still operating as of 2018. In almost all of these cases, the problem came down, in one way or another, to cash flow.

If you want to ensure that your company meets with success in the coming years, here are four of the most common cash flow mistakes entrepreneurs make, and some of the ways you can avoid them. 

1. Insufficient Financial Cushion

As a business owner, you never know
when costly setbacks will occur. Even if you have been conscientious and
assiduous in your own business practices, natural disasters and macroeconomic
trends are still going to be beyond your control. That is why it is important
to keep a large financial cushion in place, so that if you do face sudden
losses, you won’t be wiped out entirely.

2. Not Securing Sufficient Funding

Every entrepreneur needs funding to
launch their business, and while most astute businesspeople try to be as
aggressive as possible in the initial phases of fundraising, even a successful
campaign to bring on investors and secure financing may not be enough to cover
all of your immediate needs.

If you haven’t secured enough funding, it is imperative that you adjust your expectations and business plan accordingly. Alternatively, you can make up the shortfall by finding an alternative funder helping new small businesses with cash flow problems through specialized financing mechanisms.

3. Overestimating Future Revenue

We all like to be optimistic about the future, but optimism isn’t always helpful when you’re making financial projections. Creating an overly rosy picture of what kind of sales numbers you’ll do in the next quarter can lead you to seriously misjudge how much money you actually have to work with.

This can lead to distorted budgets, overspending, and can even cause you to slip into the red if you aren’t careful about ensuring that reduced revenues are compensated for through reducing expenditures.  

4. Unnecessary Spending

Finally, you need to make sure that all
expenses are accounted for and necessary. Small amounts of money add up, and
while coming down hard on your employees about this like paper usage and break
room stocks can seem overblown, if every dollar you save on supplies and common
expenses gets put back into the company, it can make a significant difference
over the long term.

If your sales, production, accounting, and customer service departments are the organs that make up your company’s body, then cash is the blood running through its veins. Problems with cash flow can seriously impede your ability to operate, and can even damage your business.

For this reason, all entrepreneurs need to have detailed,
regularly updated cash flow plans that will help them make informed and
responsible decisions and avoid common mistakes like overestimating sales or
not keeping a large enough financial cushion.

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5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Save On Car Lease Deals

There is no doubt that the option of leasing a car as compared to buying one is becoming increasingly popular. For instance, a 2016 report showed that about 31.9% of new cars manufactured in the US are leased. This is due to some of the wonderful benefits such as low/repair maintenance cost, tax benefits, the availability of different vehicles to choose from and reduced monthly payments, among others.

However, note that you’re only bound to experience these benefits if you’ve taken steps to get the best lease contract possible. As the average cost of a used car in the US can be as much as $20,000, it makes sense to consider leasing as an entrepreneur – especially if you can claim back some of that expense from your business.

This post will explore some of the best money-saving tips for car lease deals as a business owner. Using them will likely ensure that you come out as the winner in every deal; so, it makes sense to take some notes and apply them next time you go searching for a lease!

Tip #1: Use The Power Of Negotiation

This strategy may be simple but it can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a car lease contract. Taking an offer at face value and not asking the right questions to see if it can be tailored to your life or business can make you pay more than required. The best way is to consider the monthly charges and look for ways on how they can be reduced.

It’s important to speak to the leasing agent and describe your needs and what you’re looking for – this way, they can try and accommodate you. For example, saving a simple $30 a month on a 36-month contract can save you $1080 – which might not be a fortune, but is certainly in the pocket than out of it.

Most importantly, make your situation know so that you can help your leasing agent help you. As a business owner, you may be eligible for certain benefits or tax breaks that someone taking out a personal lease wouldn’t have.

This might require getting a different model, or even taking out an EV – but in the end, it’s worth investigating if it means saving some extra cash on your part.

Tip #2: Get Clued Up On Your Manufacturer Warranty

Every vehicle that is leased comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, designed to cover serious manufacturing faults or mechanical issues. Every brand’s warranty policy is different and ranges from 3 to 7 years. 

The catch here is that a warranty will not cover day-to-day faults – this falls on maintenance or insurance. It’s not advised to rely on a manufacturer’s warranty as a form of maintenance, as you will more often than not have to pay out of your pocket if your car has an issue.

Knowing this, build associated maintenance costs into your contract and figure out whether your particular industry has a higher risk for wear and tear. If so, it might be useful paying that extra amount for maintenance every month – rather than have to fork out a hefty payment on repairs at the end of your contract.

Tip #3: Time Your Lease In Your Favor

Like any industry, manufacturer’s have periods where they have amassed stock and need to clear it. Your leasing agent will know this, and with some careful planning and patience – it is highly likely that you could snap up a lease deal when it counts.

A simple way to do this is to enquire with a leasing company about a particular vehicle, but remain open to different – or more affordable – options.

Once you’ve enquired and an agent is working with you, ask about other vehicles that are over-stocked or manufacturers are trying to clear. Any leasing agent who knows their trade will know what you mean and will be more than happy to abide if it means securing a contract and getting their commission.

You’ll walk away with a more affordable lease, and the agent will get their reward – that’s a win-win for everyone!

Tip #4: Get Down With The Details

As a business owner, you know that going into any dealing without adequate preparation is a fool’s errand. There are tens upon tens of factors to consider when taking out a contract. 

Learn the jargon, associated terms, and the elements of a typical lease contract. Ask where most lessees make unnecessary mistakes and double-down to ensure you don’t do the same.

As a business owner, you’ll have even more questions to ask: should you take out a personal or business lease? What if your business goes under? Can you extend your annual mileage if your business grows and more driving is required?

Furthermore, ask about servicing, maintenance and insurance – as mentioned above. Ensure that you’ve factored in your lease cost into your business overheads and that you won’t end up sitting with an expensive commitment that occurred as a result of poor planning.

As always, make sure to use your leasing agent as a soundboard who should be more than willing to help you out.

Tip #5: Consider All Your Options 

The leasing landscape has changed a lot in recent years, with it now being possible to take out a lease entirely online without even driving the car.

This is extremely convenient, not to mention time-saving, and something you should use to your full advantage.

A good place to start is to have one or two vehicles in mind and submit a request to a few leasing companies. They should all get back to you with their rates, and once you’ve outlined your needs and requirements, they’ll adjust the offer based on this.

Tabulate all the offers and list the benefits of each contract, deciding which one is going to suit you best. As a business owner, it’s important to consider flexibility – so factor this into your contract too.

Final Thoughts?

In closing, the above roundup is a useful way to make a checklist of all the things to look into when taking out a lease contract if you’re aiming to save some money.

As a business owner, it’s important to have flexibility and options – developing a personal relationship with your leasing agent is the best way to ensure you get those.

Make them aware of your needs, listen, pay attention and use some common sense to find a vehicle that most benefits what you’re looking for in a leasing contract.

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How will Assurance Services Help your Business?

The term “assurance services” refers to a type of independent professional service that improves the context or quality of information by reviewing financial documents and transactions like loans and contracts. Business owners can then make critical decisions based upon that data. Businesses utilize assurance services to improve the relevance, value, and transparency of the information they disclose to their investors and the market. Typically, certified or chartered accountants provide assurance services. These services can help your business in many ways, as you will find out in the following informative sections.

How an Audit Can Help Your Business

To get top-quality assurance services, hire a Certified Public Accountant. A CPA will help your business with financial planning, taxes, investments, acquisitions, mergers, and much more. CPAs also examine annual reports and perform audits. The latter is one of the most vital assurance services. Auditing involves evaluating and analyzing the historical financial data of your business, which relates to clients. The purpose is to determine the accuracy of that financial information. As a business owner, it is vital to ensure your customers are financially reliable. An audit helps you to discover that. Other benefits your business will gain from an audit include:

•    Improved internal controls of your company.

•    More accurate financial statements.

•    A possible increased valuation of your company.

•    Peace of mind that your business is free from fraudulent activities.

How a Risk Assessment Can Help Your Business

This assurance service ensures your business risk evaluations are comprehensive. A CPA or other assurance service professional can determine whether your company has the appropriate systems in place to manage your business risks. Every company has financial risks, so managers and investors are right to be concerned about them. However, unless you perform a professional risk assessment, it is easy not fully to recognize the extent of your risks. An assurance service for risk assessment can effectively manage your company’s risks.

How an Information Systems Reliability Assessment Can Help Your Business

To successfully run a business, you need to have access to the right information. Using the assurance service of an information systems reliability assessment, a CPA or other professional will ensure that your company’s internal information systems provide reliable financial and non-financial data. Once your systems are deemed to present accurate info, you will be in a much better position to make operating and financial decisions.

How a Business Performance Measurement Assessment Can Help Your Business

This service evaluates whether your business’s performance measurement system consists of reliable and relevant measures for assessing the degree to which you can achieve your company’s objectives and goals. The service also tells you how well your company performs in comparison to its competitors. That is essential information for any business that wants to be successful. Managers and investors need a more comprehensive information base than simple financial statements. This assurance service provides that detailed-data.

How a Health Care Performance Measurement Assessment Can Help Your Business

In the US, the old health care system of fee-for-service used to mean businesses that delivered the most health care services received the most rewards. However, there is now a new system in place which does the opposite. The managed-care system rewards businesses who deliver the fewest health care services. As a result, employers and employees are increasingly becoming concerned about the availability and quality of their health care services. By conducting a health-care performance measurement assessment, you can receive assurance about the effectiveness of the health care services provided by doctors, hospitals, and other providers.

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Understanding the Different Types of SSL Certificates

Before I tell you the different types of SSL certificates you can get for your website, let me tell you what SSL is. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security method by which data is transferred over servers gets encrypted reducing the website’s vulnerability to hacker attacks and phishing. 

There are many types of SSL certificates available, each with differing levels of protection and usage. To objectively compare the types and vendors of SSL, you need to understand the finer differences between them.

Types of certificates based on the level of protection



1. A domain-validated SSL certificate

This is a low assurance certificate and the most basic, standard type of certificate issued. A domain-validated SSL ensures that the website’s domain name is registered. Additional documentation is required to obtain this certification. An administrator needs to approve the validation request. A webmaster must confirm validation via email or configure a DNS record for the site.

Processing time: A few minutes to a few hours

Recommended for: Use on internal systems only

Level of Protection: LOW

2. An organization-validated certificate

This is a high assurance certificate. Real agents will validate domain ownership and confirm the organization’s details such as name, city, state, and country. Just like domain-validated SSL, this certification requires additional documentation to verify the company’s identity.

Processing time: A few hours to a few days

Recommended for: All businesses and companies

Level of Protection: MEDIUM

3. An Extended Validation (EV) certificate

EV certificate procurement has the most rigorous validation process. This certificate validates that the business running the website is a legal entity. It requires businesses to furnish information such as proof of domain ownership. The other two certificates DO NOT prove that a website is being operated by a legitimate, verified business. On getting an EV certificate, your website browser will display a green lock symbol to signify its validity. Check out our website’s address bar.

Processing time: A few days to a few weeks

Recommended for: All e-Commerce websites

Level of Protection: HIGH

EV certificates are absolutely essential for websites soliciting sensitive information from users such as their card details, SSN details, and contact details. 

Types of SSL certificates based on usage



1. Single-name SSL certificate

These SSL certificates protect a single domain for which they are registered. For example, if you purchase a certificate for a website www.xyz.com, the certificate won’t secure marketing.xyz.com or services.xyz.com.

2. Wildcard SSL certificate

These SSL certificates can secure a large number of domains that feed off a singular root domain, by a single certificate. In the example above, if you want to secure marketing.xyz.com, services.xyz.com, www.xyz.com and more offshoots of xyz, you can apply for a wildcard SSL certificate for *.xyz.com.

From a practical viewpoint, it’s easier to maintain a single wildcard SSL than 7 different single-name SSLs.

3. Multi-domain SSL certificate

Multi-domain SSLs can secure 210 plus domains with a single certificate. The cap limit varies by providers.

Final Thoughts

Although getting SSL certification is not mandatory for all websites, the benefits you and your end-users get from SSL are many. Free certificates or self-validated SSL certificates do not offer any kind of reassurance to visitors. Typically, buying SSL from third party reseller comes out cheapest; just examine the type of customer assistance you’ll get after the purchase. So, understanding the different types of SSL certificates will help you choose the one that benefits you the most.

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The Three Biggest Obstacles Getting in the Way of Freelancers in the Digital Age

Being a freelancer definitely comes alongside its share of perks. To begin with, you’re finally your
own boss, so you’re in complete control of what your workload looks
like on a daily basis. You can work how you want, where you want, and
when you want. The fact that you’re just one person can make the
freelancing life really challenging though, especially here in the
digital age. The following are some of the tougher obstacles every
online freelancer eventually grapples with, as well as some tips on how
to overcome each.

1. Time Management

One of the most common reasons freelancers decide to strike out on their own in the first place is a strong desire to say good-bye to the boss’s time clock once and for all. However, many quickly realize that setting their own hours is challenging in its own way. Some find out that motivation is an issue and have trouble focusing hard enough for long enough to get anything done. Others quickly find themselves overworked and burnt out because they don’t know when to say no, when to take time off, or even when to stop working for the day.

Set regular business hours and a weekly schedule for yourself that
allows for a few free hours each day, regular days off, and the
occasional vacation. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Look for
ways you can manage your “on” hours more efficiently as well (e.g.
better software or a more detailed calendar).

2. Unpredictable Income

When you freelance, your income is always going to be unpredictable
to some degree, but this is especially the case when you’re first
starting out. Good, reliable clients are harder to come by, as are
projects that come attached to big payouts. When you work online, you
can also run into roadblocks when it comes to both getting paid yourself
and paying others, if you happen to be managing a team. 

First of all, it’s important not to let stress over money matters get the best of you. Avoid overthinking things too much, and be careful not to spend money you don’t have, especially in the beginning. Streamline the process of getting paid (and paying others) digitally with some solid, reliable money sending platforms. Solutions like PayPal or Square work well enough for money that’s changing hands within US borders, but for transactions to or from locations abroad, a solution like ShareMoney is going to be much more efficient. Such interfaces make sending money to South America, Mexico, and many more locations fast, easy, and safe. 

3. Persistent Creative Blocks

Many freelancers, especially those that offer creative services like content writing or graphic design, eventually find themselves dealing with creative blocks and getting stuck in ruts as a result. After a while, you can feel like you’re just rehashing the same old ideas over and over again, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever get your groove back. Once that happens, it’s all too easy to feel just as bored with your freelancing business as you once did working a traditional nine to five.

Keep yourself inspired by checking out what others in your field are doing, especially those who are considered the industry’s best and brightest. If you’re the type that likes a lot of variety when it comes to your work, actively seek out projects that break new ground or allow you to tackle something new and exciting from time to time. When you’re the creative type, variety often really is the spice of life, so don’t be afraid to mix things up.

At the end of the day, freelance work is ultimately still work, so it’s important to treat it that way. However, that hardly means it shouldn’t also be fun, freeing, stimulating, and everything else you hoped it would be when you first started. Strike the right balance, and see what happens. 

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