Mohit Tater's Blog, page 559

How to Solve iOS Update Problems Easily

If you have been a faithful Apple user for a long time, then you must know that even though the iOS is pretty reliable and slick, you eventually encounter problems. Common ones are Apple logo white screen of death, boot loop, and black screen of death. Sometimes it is because you install a buggy beta version of the newest iOS version. It is challenging to recover your phone back to normal.

You go through the usual cycle of finding new solutions online and none of them working without a threat of losing your data. It is undeniable that we should backup our data periodically. But, we often forget to do it because you never know when the next problem with your iPhone or iPad pops up. 

There are a lot of reasons for your device to suddenly stop working or get stuck on system error. For example, your iPhone has become very old, and you upgraded your iPhone to a newer version, you downloaded something from a fishy place or upgraded to a buggy beta version.

Usually in case of common iOS system errors such as when the device keeps restarting, screen frozen, and device stuck in DFU or Recovery mode – the normal course of action is an iTunes restore. The iTunes restore can be hard to follow and doesn’t ensure against data corruption.  If you don’t want to go the iTunes recovery route, forgot to back up your device, and do not enjoy writing unknown commands on a command-line interface, you are in luck. Because dr.fone-Repair (iOS System Recovery) promises that you won’t lose data, all you have to do is connect your phone to a computer, download software, and follow the easy steps on a slick interface. It doesn’t need any computer knowledge. 

The dr.fone-Repair (iOS System Recovery) works on both Windows and Mac with a simple connect and go software, which can auto-detect a lot of the common system errors faced by iOS users. It focuses on fixing the OS itself without touching your data; hence, you don’t need to worry about corrupted data in most cases. The system recovery works in 2 modes – the standard mode is capable of fixing most of the standard system issues encountered with no data loss, the advanced mode is reserved for more serious iOS issues. Your device will be fixed back to normal advanced mode and can lead to loss of data as the system encounters rare system failures.

The great thing about this iOS system recovery tool is that you don’t have to go through expensive Apple repair, spend countless hours scavenging the web for solutions, or even become a command-line expert overnight to fix your iOS device. Anybody with a computer and internet can fix their phone within a few minutes and in a few clicks. Even if you are not tech-savvy, don’t worry, dr.fone can take care of all your iOS related problems.

Another reason for facing system issues with iOS is installing the beta version of iOS. A beta version by definition is an unfinished piece of software which is made available to a limited pool of users for testing any errors or undesirable functionality in the update. The installation of the beta version in itself can be tricky and can lead to significant issues with the phone. It is often advised that you should not attempt to download the beta version of any software through untrustworthy sources or if you don’t have any previous knowledge of doing it, but a lot of people do it anyway. Downloading the beta version often leads to an irreversible dead end for a lot of users, although this may not be the only reason to stay away from betas in general. Sometimes the beta version is too buggy for regular use of your iOS device, the essential functions such as calling may not work. Applications can sometimes freeze and cause constant restarts, some of the sensors might not work correctly, or the battery might get drained easily. All of the aforementioned problems are common with iOS beta versions.

On the occurrence of such issues, the immediate response is to revert to the older version of the iOS. The regular option you might have is to downgrade iOS using iTunes, which might lead to loss of data. By using the dr.phone downgrade iOS 13, you can not only downgrade much easily but also choose to backup your entire device, including all the data. You can backup and restore data from one device to another without any compatibility issue, extract an existing iCloud or iTunes backup to restore your device, and preview data from the backup file to restore selectively, all of which is not possible with the iTunes downgrade of iOS 13.  The dr.fone iOS 13 downgrade assists you with the version to fall back to in a few clicks, making the entire process hassle-free and convenient.

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How to Create Amazing Product Demo Videos

The best product demo videos are educational, informative and highly memorable. If you can demonstrate how your product can solve a problem that your target audience is experiencing, you will find that video is one of the most powerful sales tools you have at your disposal when it comes to converting sales.

The problem is that too many product demo videos just aren’t that compelling. So why is this?

The reality is that many companies and businesses simply don’t understand how to make the most out of the creative potential that video as a medium provides, or how to creatively leverage this potential to complement their video marketing strategy.

So, let’s start with the basics…

What is a Product Demo Video?

A great software demo video will explain precisely how a product or service works and showcase it in use. Product demo videos can be used to serve a range of functions, including:

acting as an engaging visual guide for existing customersserving as an educational tool, which will help to build brand familiarityshowcasing core benefits in an advertisement-based format

Creating an effective demo video is not an easy task, so here are some key points to keep in mind.

Understand your Buyer’s Journey

If you don’t understand your audience or cannot effectively target the right people at the right point in their purchasing journey, you will struggle to produce demo videos that help them to make positive purchasing decisions.

The first product demo video you produce should ideally target potential purchasers who are at the beginning of their buying journey. This ‘consideration phase’ is an excellent time for you to emphasise the broad benefits your product or service delivers and showcase precisely how your offering achieves this. Telling a story in your videos will help you to form valuable connections with the very people you most want to appeal to, as will speaking directly to your potential buyers’ experiences.

When you have produced and shared your initial demo video, you can start to think about creating additional videos that speak to particular purchasers or problems. Remember, buyers who are further along in the journey will want to be convinced that your product or service is the best solution for them.

Focus on Benefits

Although you might want to shout about the excellent features that make your product or service different, it is (1) almost impossible to discuss each one in any detail and (2) important to remember that people will only begin to care about those features when they understand why your product or service is so beneficial.

Instead, focusing on emphasising the benefits that your product or service will deliver to your audience is the best way to approach a product demo video. Think about:

Why someone will want to use your product.The problem they want to solve or the task they are trying to complete.

This information will help you to create an effective demonstration that will capture the attention of the right people and clearly set out why investing in your product or service will help them to realise a very specific objective.

Spend Time Writing a Clear and Concise Script

A refined script will ensure that your video both tells a complete story and contains every piece of information you want to share with your viewers.

Spending time on your script can also be helpful during the editing process as you will be able to quickly identify what is a key point and what could be edited out if you end up with too much material.

Combining Visual and Audio Aspects

Engaging videos utilise the unique power of both audio and visual elements. Even simply placing a royalty free music track in the background can be enough to transform a full video into an engaging demo that viewers actively want to watch.

Transitioning carefully between images, screen recordings and slides is essential, and fading your soundtrack in and out where appropriate will give a professional finish that will keep your viewers hooked from beginning to end. This Spotify video is an excellent example of a highly engaging product demo. It has everything from kinetic imagery to an enthusiastic soundtrack and enough intrigue to keep viewers interested.

Remember, if you are going to be including recordings of your screen, make sure that your desktop is tidy and that you do not inadvertently show any potentially sensitive or confidential information. A keen eye for detail is imperative and will help you to create a finished product that maintains a high degree of professionalism throughout.

So, to recap:

Understand your target audience.Recognise how best to present your product or service.Communicate from the perspective of your customer. Refine your script. Ensure that your video aligns with your brand identity.Leverage the power of both sound and visuals.Strive to entertain.

If you perfect your demo video creation process, you will soon find that they will become a core component of your overall video marketing strategy.

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How do I become a Project Manager?

An entrepreneur or business owner is likely to have some project management skills in their locker. For example, being able to devise a strategy and then follow it through. But what about methodology?

Project management isn’t about managing by the seat of your pants. Countless projects have failed or gone over budget because risks weren’t evaluated, or the project didn’t deliver business value. Those are the areas where a budding project manager needs to depend upon a methodology.

Having the right skills and a dependable methodology is a great start point to becoming a project manager. All that’s left is to build some experience in running a real project for a client. How might a potential project manager persuade a client that they are up to the job? How about qualifications?

It’s a little like being a graduate again. Having a good degree from a good university but with no real business experience under your belt. An entrepreneur will have the charisma to pitch a good business idea to the client. They also need to persuade the client that they can deliver it. Qualifications matter.

Qualifications

Certification in an established project management methodology goes a long way with a potential client. It demonstrates that you are serious about executing the project and delivering what is promised; that when the project hits some turbulence you will be able to recover. It brings gravitas.

Now, from the assortment of project management methodologies, which is the one that will strike a chord with the client, and the next client?

“Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM” was a popular phrase in the days before systems become a commodity. IBM had a reputation as being a bankable and stable vendor. You could choose to take a risk with one of its competitors, but why would you? In project management today, you could say: “Nobody ever got fired for choosing PRINCE2”.

PRINCE2 is the most widely used and studied project management methodology, responsible for millions of successful projects worldwide. One of its strengths is that it can be applied to projects in different industries, making it ideal to have on a CV. Regardless as to what kind of project, or where in the world it is being executed, it can be managed with PRINCE2.

Another of its strengths is that there is a formal certification process, with two levels, Foundation and Practitioner. Very few methodologies have this rigour.

PRINCE2 Foundation is designed for people with no prior knowledge of project management. The course usually takes 3 days, with a final exam. This qualifies the person to participate in a project team, with a thorough understanding of the seven project management principles.

PRINCE2 Practitioner is designed for people qualified to Foundation level. This course usually takes two days, again with a final exam. It builds the skills necessary to apply the seven principles on a real project. Some training specialists also provide a combined Foundation and Practitioner course, over five days.

There are alternative certifications available, both for entry level and experienced project managers. However, these are often generic, and not linked to a specific methodology.

Skills

A successful project manager will have a range of skills that they can apply to the role. These encompass soft skills, such as being able to inspire people and the thinking skills that are required for planning and analysis.

Planning is a thinking skill. A project manager needs the ability to think through how the project will be run and to put together a project plan. They need to ensure that the project achieves its targets, delivery dates and budget, with sufficient detail for the client to sign off.

Time management is self-discipline. To keep the project on track, the project manager will need to carry out a range of tasks such as checking on progress, initiating new tasks, identifying risks and reporting. Prioritisation is vital, knowing which tasks must be completed, which tasks can be delayed or delegated and understanding the consequences.

Leadership is a people skill. The project manager needs to inspire the team to work to their potential, to deliver high-quality work against deadlines. Good communication is also essential, making time to communicate decisions and priorities, in addition to being able to listen.

Who can help?

Being a project manager involves a lot of responsibility and demands good decision-making. It can help to have a sounding board; a person who will listen to suggestions and challenge flawed thinking, perhaps acting as a devil’s advocate. It’s best if this person is outside the project team so as not to share sensitive or worrying information.

Becoming a project manager

It’s likely that an entrepreneur or business owner will already have most of the thinking and soft skills needed to execute a project, albeit they will need to apply those skills in the context of a methodology. Winning the project in the first place, however, will require winning over the client; certification in a well-known methodology such as PRINCE2 will definitely help here.

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What Material should I use for my Business Sign?

There are a variety of materials available for business signage, and choosing the right one to make your business pop can seem overwhelming. From acrylic to glass, to metal and foam, there are a variety of sign materials to choose from.

Determining what material will work best for your business will be aided by determining where you are going to place your sign. Before you begin the selection process, you should have a location in mind. This will help you choose the appropriate material that will stand the test of time for your sign’s placement.

Top Material Types

Corrugated Polypropylene Board – Also known as Correx this is great for temporary signs and is an inexpensive option. It can come in a variety of colors, and is lightweight, making it a great choice for signs that may need to be moved frequently or relocated. Correx is an industry favorite as it is lightweight, flexible, and chemical and water resistant.

Aluminum – Aluminum and steel are both popular materials for metal signs but aluminium has the advantage for outdoor signs as it doesn’t rust like steel does. It is a strong metal (not as strong as steel though) that is lightweight and resistant to corrosion. It is also widely available and easy to shape, making it a favorite of sign makers. Aluminum is also a very affordable option with a wide range of customization available. It offers a high level of durability, making it unlikely that your sign will need to be replaced or will break down.

Glass – Glass signage is most often used indoors, or with other types of topical materials applied for external signage, such as vinyl. However, if your signage is going to change frequently, glass may be an option that makes sense for you, as it is easy to swap out information. Glass signage is a great choice for windows, internal signs, and interior design features.

Acrylic – A flexible and versatile type of thermoplastic, acrylic is used in a variety of sign types. Its durability makes it a prime choice for many businesses, and its environmentally-friendly nature (it’s recyclable!) makes it a hot commodity. Acrylic is highly customizable, and offers a seamless, integrated look that appeals to many business owners.

Wood – Wood signs tend to add a touch of class, and are great at standing the test of time. Wood makes sense for a sign choice when it blends well into the aesthetic of the business.

Choosing Your Sign

When choosing what type of material to use for your sign, there are a number of questions you should ask yourself:

What is my goal with putting up a sign?

Are you trying to drive traffic into your business? Are you hoping to help customers find you more easily? Are you trying to direct them to call or visit your website? While all of these answers may seem obvious, they should be considered when designing your sign to ensure it conveys the message that is going to be most beneficial to your business. Too much information isn’t a good thing, so choose wisely.

What type of conditions is my sign likely to encounter?

Do you live in an area that deals with temperature extremes or severe weather such as tornadoes or hurricanes?

Is my sign permanent or temporary?

Signs that will be relocated, such as for those who travel with their business, will be best created from different materials than a permanent fixture.

Are there any codes that affect placement of my signs?

Looking up local, state, and federal ordinances before ordering or placing a sign is a must. According to the International Sign Association, knowing what is allowed for signage in your area is a major factor in getting a permit approved.

Protecting Your Sign

Once you’ve decided what material you’d like your sign made out of, you will want to protect your investment. Depending on the type of sign you have chosen, there are a variety of options for doing so.

Graffiti Proofing – Graffiti proofing a sign may be necessary if it is within human reach. A special laminated seal can be created around your sign that makes it easy to clean in the event that it does get tagged.

Weather Proofing – Using powder coating is often the most effective way to weather-proof your sign, and is worth the investment to keep your sign looking like new for as long as possible.

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Biggest Accounting Scandals Every Entrepreneur Should Know About

The
old Italian adage that “Big mouthfuls often choke” holds true in many
scenarios.

One
particular case where the sentiment is particularly true is when it comes to
temptations for those in charge of large sums of money in the financial
accounting of large corporations, as the greed for money often leads to
accounting scandals.

That
being said, the last three decades have witnessed some of the biggest accounting
scandals in history. Billions of dollars were lost, companies ended up
bankrupt, and peoples’ lives were ruined, with some sentenced to life
imprisonment.

Enron,
WorldCom, and Olympus are examples of large companies torn apart by accounting
fraud and scandals. While most of these scandals involve multi-billion-dollar
companies, small and medium-sized companies can also be victims of accounting
scandals.

Accountants, despite their attractive pay, if controlled by greed can collaborate with their bosses to cook the books in a bid to pocket more, or paint a “more profitable” image of the company to the public. Here are 3 of the biggest accounting scandals in history.

1. The Enron Scandal (2001)

Enron
was a US energy company based out of Houston, Texas.

In 2001, it was discovered that the company has been using accounting loopholes to keep huge debts off-balance sheet and simultaneously inflate earnings. As a result, the shareholders of Enron lost $74 billion, thousands of investors lost their retirement savings, and many employees lost their jobs.

The
masterminds were the company’s CEO Jeff Skilling and former CEO Ken Lay. Both
were convicted but Lay died before serving time in prison. Skilling was
imprisoned for 24 years and the auditing firm Arthur Anderson was also found
guilty of falsifying Enron’s accounts. Later, Enron filed for bankruptcy.

2. WorldCom Scandal (2002)

WorldCom
was a telecommunications company based in Virginia, US.

In 2002, it was discovered that the company had overstated its assets by almost $11 billion, making it one of the largest accounting scandals in history. Arthur Anderson was again involved with a huge fraud case, and they uncovered irregularities in the accounting practices.

Arthur
Anderson also reported that WorldCom had been using internal transfers and
false operating expenses to conceal decreasing earnings. This fraud resulted in
$180 billion loses to investors and over 30,000 job cuts.

The
key mastermind was the company’s CEO Bernie Ebbers although the CFO was also
involved. The CFO was fired and the company filed for bankruptcy. However,
Ebbers was found guilty of fraud and sentenced for 25 years.

3. The Olympus Scandal (2008)

The
Olympus scandal is one of the largest scandals known in history. It’s not the
amount defrauded that makes it popular, but rather the length of the fraud.

Olympus
is a renowned international camera corporation. In 2011, it was discovered that
the previous management had buried losses since the 1990s. The fraud in
question amounted to 1.7 billion. The company leveraged acquisitions to cover
up losses on poor investments, and the corporation had deferred losses for over
20 years. 

When
everything came to light, the former chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa alongside three
other executives received a suspended sentence.

To Sum Up

Accounting
scandals are real, and have ruined the reputation of many businesses and led to
the closure of others.

While no business is immune to accounting fraud, having an intelligent accounting system such as ZipBooks that gives you smart insights and detailed company reports can help to mitigate the incidences of accounting fraud.

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7 Things Not To Do When Using VPN for Digital Marketing

If you think about how much of your life is available over the insecure internet, it can be a bit scary. Luckily, there’s a way to secure your data, which can at least give you some control over how you’re identified online. With the use of a VPN encryption or virtual private network, you can protect your online privacy and maintain your data security. 

While VPNs are highly recommended to be used by everyone, not all VPNs are worth using. Yep, you heard right, if you choose a bad VPN, you might as well not use anything at all. So what makes for a bad VPN? Below is a list of warning signs you should look out for when avoiding privacy mishaps:

1) Country of Origin

There are some countries you should completely avoid connecting to a VPN server altogether, see the list below:

“Five Eyes” countries: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada“Nine Eyes” countries: France, Norway, and The Netherlands“Fourteen Eyes” countries: Belgium, Italy, Germany, Span, and Sweden

The governments of these countries spy on their own citizens and it’s likely you won’t get away with anything.

2) Terms of Service

There should be a set of VPN Terms of Service outlined as a reference to know what to expect as a user such as what kind of activity is forbidden, what’s tracked, what’s not, etc. 

When it comes to VPN Terms of Service always keep in mind some of these points:

Make sure they don’t log anything related to your connection, including IP or connection time. This is important because if they do, this can easily be traced back to you.If they claim they can block accounts without logging information that can identify you as a user.If they won’t block accounts.



3) Activity Logging

It’s important to note any type of activity log is bad because this is just another way to get it traced back to you. 

Typically, when you connect to a VPN, all of your internet traffic is routed through the VPN’s server. To find out if there is absolutely no-logging involved, make sure you read their Terms of Service thoroughly in order to avoid this.

4) Leak Test Failure

Believe it or not, you can expect the worst from VPN, and by that I mean your VPN server can be compromised. This happens with a few factors, for instance, your PC goes to sleep and doesn’t reestablish the VPN connection upon waking, or you switch from Wi-Fi to Ethernet, or your router gets unplugged and you have to plug it back in. 

There is something called a leak, which is when you are not fully connected to the VPN – and beats the purpose of any privacy on VPN.

5) Free Service

They say, ‘you get what you pay for,’ and they are right. When you come across a free VPN, it’s great and all, however, free VPNs come with a lot of risks. First of all, if you think about it, how are free services getting paid in the first place? How are they paying for their services and bandwidth?

These services need to generate revenue some way or the other – so most often they are selling user data and information. Yikes, we know.

This is something you definitely want to stop and think, clearly, if they are selling your information, it undermines the entire point of using a VPN in the first place. VPN services may not be cheap but privacy is not cheap either. We definitely recommend you choose a paid VPN service over free. You’ll thank us later.

VPNs Should You Avoid?

Now that we have given you a few helpful tips to help you better understand what makes for a bad VPN service, you want to ensure you are keeping an eye on using a bad VPN service. I’m sure if you got this far, you value your privacy and want to ensure of safeness, right?

If so, here are some VPN services you might want to avoid altogether – ones that have clearly proven to violate user privacy:

1) HotSpot Shield

Hotspot Shield was accused of intercepting and redirecting traffic to partner websites, including advertising companies in 2017. This company went against what was stated in their Terms of Service and were logging connection details.

2) HideMyAss

In 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigation tracked down a hacker’s activities, which was then traced back to the HideMyAss VPN service. Just by acquiring logs via HideMyAss, the FBI was able to find and prosecute the hacker.

Unfortunately, after this information, it’s clear that HideMyAss does keep traceable logs.

3) Facebook Onavo VPN

Facebook’s built-in “Protect” feature for mobile apps was doing the opposite of what it was promising to users. An FYI, Onavo will collect your mobile traffic data to “improve Facebook products and service people value, and build better experiences.”

4) Zenmate

According to a test by vpnMentor in 2018, VPNSecure had some IP leaks, which is a big no-no. These leaks gave away your identity when using the internet with an established VPN connection through ZenMate. Of course, the company was super slow to respond to these findings, which makes it even more suspicious and raised some serious red flags.

5) VPNSecure

This service already is bad news as they are headquartered in one of the countries listed to avoid, Australia. In 2016, a report found IP leaks and DNS leaks with the service. The reports were not exactly confirmed, but that should already be a sign to stay away.

VPN services are great when you choose the right one. To ensure, you’re safe and have 100% privacy, keep these signs and VPN services above in mind. 

There are of course a handful of VPNs that you can fully trust and have no problem. The best way to find these is to always do your research no matter what and make sure to reread their Terms of Service.

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How to Use Facebook Advertising Pixels to Create High Converting Ad Campaigns

No business can neglect the power of Facebook Ads to pull in customers. If you plan on using the social media platform to build up business exposure, then a good knowledge of how the ad system works and how to utilize it fully is essential. A significant aspect you should focus on mastering is Facebook pixels. And in case you have no idea what Facebook pixels are, then this post will give you a basic idea of what it is and how to use them to create high converting ad campaigns.

Three Basic Marketing Uses Of Facebook Pixels

Businesses use Facebook pixels for three basic marketing functions:

Tracking Conversions:  Almost all Facebook ads are aimed at making the prospects perform a certain action. It can be signing up for a newsletter, liking a Facebook post, buying a product from your website, and so on. But how do you track the conversions? This is where Facebook pixels come in. Once you implement it, you can track the conversions accurately. You will be able to know exactly how many people who saw your ad went on to place an order or join the newsletter and so on.  

Optimization:  Thanks to the ability to track conversions, Facebook pixel users will be able to optimize ads in a way that enables them to get the maximum response from prospects. As a result, advertisers can get the lowest possible rates for the ads and keep their advertising budgets in control, while also increasing revenues by putting more money into ads that have higher conversions.

Retargeting: One of the biggest benefits of Facebook pixels is retargeting. Simply put, retargeting allows a business to identify people who have shown an interest in the company’s products and services, and create ads that target such prospects.

Creating And Using Facebook Pixels

Creating a Facebook pixel is an easy task. Just log into your Facebook Ad manager, visit the Facebook pixel tab, give the pixel a name, and accept the terms and conditions. That’s it. To install Facebook pixels on your website, visit the Facebook pixel tab once more, navigate to the ‘View Pixel Code’ option through the ‘Action’ menu, copy the code, and add it to the HTML of your website. In order to ensure that the pixel is installed correctly on your website, use the Facebook Pixel Helper extension on your Chrome browser.

Now, to use Facebook pixels to track conversions, you need to follow a few more steps. First, you need to decide whether you wish to track any of the nine standard events like search, add to wishlist, make purchase etc. or you want to create an entirely new custom event. For tracking standard events, visit Facebook pixel tab, click on ‘Create Conversion’ followed by ‘Track Conversion With Standard Events’. Copy the code and place it on your website.

For custom events, visit Facebook pixel tab, and click on ‘Create Conversion’ followed by ‘Track Custom Conversions’. Then, navigate to the ‘Rule’ section of the page and click the drop down menu. Next, change the ‘URL Contains’ option to ‘Events’ and select the custom event from the drop down menu that you wish to use as a conversion.

Finally, click on the ‘Choose A Category’ option from the menu bar in the ‘Category’ section and choose an option that matches with the event type of event you want. Finally, give the custom conversion a name, and you are good to go.

Using Facebook Pixels To Boost Ad Campaigns

You can use Facebook pixels in many ways to boost the exposure and sales of your business. Below, we will look at four simple ways you can use Facebook pixels to boost ad campaigns.

Build Followers:  Imagine that you are a clothing company planning on launching a radical new clothing line aimed at young adults. Once your Facebook ad account is linked with the pixels, you can track people in the desired age group who have visited your Facebook page and create ad sets targeted at these groups, inviting them to sign up for your email list. You can also give a special sign-up discount to encourage people to join the list. This should be good enough to ensure that your ad campaigns have high conversions.

Target Interested Customers:  You can also use Facebook pixels to track customers who have visited a specific product page and display ads to them so as to entice them to buy the product. For example, suppose that you sell health supplements. And the Facebook pixels identifies a person who has been visiting the 100-gram health supplement product page every day. This will essentially mean that the person is very much interested in that product.  You can use this information to target ads to such people. And since they are already interested in what you are selling, a well-presented ad and an irresistible offer should help you convert a good portion of such prospects into customers.

Attract ‘Lost Customers’: Sometimes, certain visitors to your website will add a product to the shopping cart with the intention of purchasing it. But during checkout, they might stop from completing the process and abandon cart. This is essentially a lost customer. With Facebook pixels, you can track such potential prospects and present them with new offers on the product to bring them back and finish the purchase process. For example, if a customer has dropped off from purchasing an item worth $150, Facebook pixels can be used to track them and display an ad that shows them that they can buy the same product for just $120 if they make a purchase within the next 24 hours. Such tactics will help your business recover some lost sales.

Repeat Sales:  For most businesses, it is far easier to sell to people who have already bought their products compared with newer prospects. And Facebook pixels will allow you to fully exploit this. You can use pixels to track existing customers and then offer them additional complementary products at an attractive rate. For example, if a customer has bought an iPhone from your website, then you can use Facebook pixels to track them and offer them a Powerbank at discounted prices.  By doing this, you increase the chances of repeat sales.

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How To Choose The Right Location For Your Brick-and-Mortar Storefront

As popular as the Internet has become, a brick-and-mortar storefront can still enjoy massive success today. Some products absolutely have to be checked out in person, like spare parts or clothing, to name a few examples.

Let’s say you’ve decided to open up a storefront – where do you put it? The location has to fit the demographic you’re targeting, as well as have all of the right amenities on site. Certain businesses like car dealerships can get away with being far from their main clientele since it’s rare to buy a new car more than once a year or so. Others like gyms need to make sure they have showers installed or rooms that can be converted to showers relatively easily. As with all things related to real estate, it comes down to location, location, location.

Here’s what to look for in any commercial space:

Don’t go overboard.

After doing a bunch of Internet research, you’ve probably noticed a few laundry lists full of features that you think would help out your business. While some of them are essential, don’t get ahead of yourself in deciding what a dealbreaker is and what isn’t. Create a list of must-have features, and then a list of would-be-nice-to-have features. This way, you can immediately eliminate any options that don’t fit your must-haves, without having to carefully weigh everything included bit by bit. Once you’ve actually narrowed down your choices, you can start comparing extras.

Consider zoning and tax regulations.

The tax regulations for businesses operating in certain zones vary from municipality to municipality. Make sure to ask your commercial real estate agent what you’re getting yourself into by choosing a specific space. Everything, from garbage collection fees to a rough utility bill, and even how labor-intensive it would be to install a Wi-Fi connection, can be quickly given to you by a competent agent. What was previously your dream property might end up as a massive burden if you aren’t careful of tax regulations.

Tailor to your customer’s tastes, not your own.

Of course, as the boss, you get the final say on all major decisions, but when it comes to picking your location, you should try to look from the perspective of a customer. For instance, a trendy boutique would do well in a place like the Eastgate Metroplex compared to near the industrial zone. Carefully consider the shopping habits of your clients, and figure out what the most tactically sound placement of your business would be. Consider where the competition is and what works for them, as well as look for any place in town that might be underserved by your particular industry.

Conclusion

Actually finding a place to set up a shop is a massive hurdle to overcome as a business owner in and of itself, not to mention the fact that this placement will affect your business for the duration of its time there. Whatever you settle on, there should be no doubt in your mind or stones left unturned before you start signing the dotted line. Best of luck to any brave entrepreneurs out there!

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Modern Currency: The Use of Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin

Modern technology is a thing of wonder.
It helped us do a lot of tasks that would have been impossible without it. For
example, typing words on a computer is definitely faster than writing it using
only your hands. It even looks more uniform when printed compared to manual
writing. It has also improved efficiency in certain aspects in our life like
transportation and learning. We can now travel faster even in longer distances
and education can now be shared all over the world. This is leads us to two of
aspects that drastically changed the way we live our life today: communication
and marketing.

The internet’s role in the development
of human civilization has been crucial in terms of its effects in the society.
It was once only a pet project of the United States Army in order to secure
information and other military functions. However, it is now an accessible
collection of information that is used worldwide. Most people, especially in
the urban areas, now have access and enjoy all the perks that it could give to
the masses.

Communication is now much easier thanks
to the power of the internet. With just a few clicks, you can now send tons of
messages without spending a lot on international calls and texts. You can even
chat in real time and see the other person like you are just sitting right next
to each other.

With these advantages, a lot of businesses started taking advantage and used it to advertise their products and services. This is in turn led to the globalization of marketing and focusing more on globally-competitive strategies (read more). One of the advantages of focusing on this is reaching new markets. This increases the chances of making profits which could lead to bigger returns for the business. With this in mind, the way to pay for these products and service online became the real issue. How can you trust another person or a company that you just discovered through the net?

One of the first ways to pay through the internet is through service providers like PayPal. However, since the internet was not all that great during those times, people needed to go to their stores just to send money. It worked for a while and then banks decided to let their clients use their cards for online transactions. This led to the online marketing business boom of the 2000’s. Most products and services that were sold online were usually considered vintage or rare. Now, even the most common items and everyday services are now available online. A lot has changed in the landscape of online transactions and yet some think that this might not be enough.

A lot of people decided to develop
another currency that is more accessible for both online businesses and their
clients. The term “world currency” has been thrown around even as early as the
prior decade – a single currency for the
world so that you do not need to track multiple types of currencies anymore.  It is understandable because each of these
currencies today change its amount daily and it can be difficult to comprehend
and keep track of all of it. This was the birth of cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency is like any other currency in this world except that it does not have a physical representation like a paper bill or coin. You can obtain it through buying from cryptocurrency sources, the world market or you can even mine it yourself through the use of specialized computers. It can take a lot of time to mine even just one cryptocurrency coin, but its value in the real world can be massive. A single Bitcoin for example, can be worth a thousand dollars in the world market. It can go higher or lower depending on the status of the world market but you can always check it out at sites like https://rubix.io/bitcoin-exchange/. This can help you track the trends of your cryptocurrency in the world market and can help you decide when to invest or sell.

While investing crypto is certainly not for everyone, you should at least learn more about it before you decide that it isn’t for you. We are heading in a linear direction. This means that the developments we experience now will only progress even further. Sooner or later, we may actually start using online money for a large part of our purchases. So why not start learning about it now?

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Shane Dubin, Toronto Wealth Management Executive On Retirement Planning

As an entrepreneur, saving for retirement may
be the furthest thing from your mind. 
With no employee-sponsored retirement plan, it can be tempting to forgo
retirement contributions when 
establishing your own business. 
Although it may not seem important in the early years, this misstep can
be detrimental to your financial future. 

If you are just beginning to save, in Canada a
Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a powerful tool to help you save
for your future while benefiting from tax deferral opportunities. Anyone who
files an income tax return and has earned income can contribute to an RRSP.

Shane Dubin is a
Toronto wealth management executive with two
decades of experience in the industry. He currently serves as the Senior
Vice President, Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager at Canaccord Genuity,
where his clients work with him to uncover every available solution to ensure a
prosperous financial future. 

We recently asked Shane to answer some common
questions he gets from clients about RRSPs and saving for the future.

As an
entrepreneur, how much should I be setting aside every month for my retirement?

Shane
Dubin: I recommend creating a budget to determine how
much money you will need to save.  With
that said, the reality for many entrepreneurs is that it may not be possible to
set aside a large amount of money every month since most of your capital is
going toward the establishment of your business.  There are several resources you can use
online such as a retirement calculator to help you determine how much you will
need to save over time.  The earlier you
start, the better, and you always have the option to increase your retirement
contributions as your business grows.

What
are the advantages of hiring an Investment Advisor to discuss your RRSP
strategy?

Shane
Dubin: A professional advisor can help you establish
and implement the right investment strategy for your RRSP based on your goals,
risk tolerance, responsibilities

and values. 
They can also assist you with managing your RRSP within the context of
your financial plan, so you have the best chance of achieving your savings
goals. 

How
much can you contribute to an RRSP?

Shane
Dubin: Currently,the allowable contribution room for 2019 is 18% of your earned income from
2018 or a maximum of $26,500.  It’s
important to note, earned income includes salary or wages, alimony received and
rental income, but does not include investment income.  Additionally, if you are a member of a
pension plan, your pension adjustment will reduce the amount you can contribute
to your RRSP.

What
are the tax advantages of opening an RRSP?

Shane
Dubin: RRSP contributions can minimize income taxes in
two ways: one, contributions up to your RRSP contribution limit can be treated
as a deduction from your annual income.

Second, capital gains and income can compound
tax-free inside your RRSP. Taxes are payable only when the funds are withdrawn
– typically in retirement, when you may be in a significantly lower tax
bracket.

How
long can I keep my RRSP open?

Shane
Dubin:  You must
close your RRSP by December 31st of the year you turn 71.  At this time, you will have two options:

1. Deregister all of the assets in the RRSP —
the entire value of the assets withdrawn are treated as taxable income in the
year withdrawn.

2. Transfer the RRSP to a retirement income
option like a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF).  A RRIF can be viewed as an extension of your
RRSP. Your RRSP is used to save for your retirement, while a RRIF is used to
withdraw income during your retirement – and, like an RRSP, a RRIF allows for
tax-deferred growth, offers several investment options and is
government-regulated.

Can I
borrow from my RRSP before I reach retirement age?

Shane
Dubin: You can, however, you may pay significant taxes
on your withdrawal.  With that said,
there are two ways to borrow money from your RRSP tax free: Buying your first
home and paying for education or training. 
Under the Home Buyers’ Plan, you and your spouse each can borrow up to
$25,000 from your RRSPs for a down payment on your first home.  You won’t pay any tax on the money as long as
you pay it back over the next 15 years. 
The Lifelong Learning Plan allows you to borrow up to $20,000 from your
RRSP to pay for full-time training or education at a qualifying institution. A
maximum of $10,000 may be withdrawn from the RRSP per calendar year and the
total amount withdrawn must be repaid over 10 years.

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