Mohit Tater's Blog, page 598

An Attractive Job Post Can Make All the Difference

How can you make a job post attractive? Well, let’s consider online dating ads. People create profiles and include summaries of their best qualities to attract the best mates. The ones who simply include a list of their “best” traits will probably not get as much quality action as the ones who write concise, honest and engaging descriptions of what life may be like with them.

The same idea goes into attracting quality candidates. To accomplish this you must first write an effective and attractive job post. Don’t think of your posting as simply a boilerplate set of keywords and qualifications. Rather, it’s your first chance to make a great first impression on potential candidates, to prove that the role you’re looking to fill is a good fit for them.

Ill admit that in the past I have passed up applying to jobs simply because of their job descriptions. Some of the job ads I came across could be considered short stories that only accomplished to intimidate me while others were overall dry and uninviting. I found myself drawn to the most interesting ads that gave me a glimpse of the company culture, the expectations of the day to day and perks. They allowed me to picture an amazing professional life with them. The best candidates for the job will decide where to apply based on job descriptions so make sure to put some thought into yours.

To attract the best candidates follow these tips below.

Use a personal and conversational tone.

Talk to them, and tell them what you expect, and what they can expect. Avoid the word candidate, and instead use the word “you.” You know you’re looking for potential candidates,but you shouldn’t refer to them as candidates because it feels impersonal.

Another thing to consider is how you would describe the job to someone in person. For example, think about how you would explain the job to a friend over coffee. This is how you should craft your job description.

Keep the post short and concise.

It’s important to get to the point and keep the candidate interested. Use bullet points. Make the description easy to quickly scan, so that in just a few minutes the potential candidate will know whether or not they want to apply. Too often, hiring managers get carried away listing every possible detail involved in the job.This can confuse a candidate or quickly drive them to lose interest. Just reveal enough to get them interested enough to apply.

Outline the responsibilities and requirements

You shouldn’t reveal every detail about a job and company but when it comes to responsibilities and requirements you should include sufficient details. You don’t want to scare away qualified candidates who might be one “preferred” qualification away from submitting their resumes, but you also need to include enough detail to pull in the right candidates. Explanation of duties for the role must be easy to understand, and not filled with jargon. Avoid long, drawn out paragraphs about the position, and get to the heart of what is expected of the candidate.

Although you may fear turning off some people, you need to mention the not-so-nice things about the position too. It’s better to be upfront about these things than have someone apply and get hired, only to quit once the wool is removed from their eyes.

For example, if the position will require reading hours worth of research, you should state that openly and honestly. You could frame it by saying something like, “If you enjoy researching materials for hours on end, this might be the perfect position for you.”

Consider SEO as you write your post

Although you don’t want to overload your job post with a bunch of keywords, having a few won’t hurt. Using a few relevant keywords will ensure that your job post will be found by worthwhile candidates.

You want your posting to show up on job seekers’ search results organically. Otherwise, you might lose qualified candidates to your competition.

Convey Company Culture

Describe the company culture and what kind of personality you’re looking to add to your team. The primary responsibility of your job posting is to help interested applicants decide if they might be a good fit for the position. What mission would your candidate be contributing to if he or she wins the role, and what vision or values would they be representing in the workplace?

Share Growth Opportunities and Perks

In an age where company loyalty is all but nonexistent, you need to explain how working for your company can help the candidate grow. Will there be opportunities for advancement? Can they hope to earn more money and is there bonus potential overtime? What are the reasons they should choose to work for you over your competitors? Are benefits included, equity or vacation days? The answers to these questions could be the difference in attracting mediocre talent and the best.

Location as a perk

Where is the company located?

If location can be considered a perk for a candidate mention it. Whether it is remote or a location they may consider moving to.

This could compel a potential candidate to apply even if they don’t currently live in the city you’re located in. Since moving to a new city may be a challenge, it’s important to share where you’re based and the benefits of that location. Still,don’t dwell on this too much either. Give them the trailer, not the entire movie.

Take these tips and start drafting an awesome post. Read it over. Be honest. State exactly what you are looking for so the applicants know what is expected from the beginning. Have a hiring manager you know familiar with the position review your job description. Revise it, post it and watch as the most qualified candidates can’t help but click Apply.

Omer Molad

Making hiring about merit, not background Co-founder and CEO of Vervoe

The post An Attractive Job Post Can Make All the Difference appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Understanding the different aspects that Play a vital role in the Credit Report

A credit score is an important part of a person’s credit report. The terms credit report and credit score are similar, but both these terms do not imply the same thing. The credit report of a person includes his/her whole credit history which is inclusive of all the transactions made through multiple credit avenues. On the other hand credit score is a three-digit number that is representative of the credit solving responsibility of a person. This score is calculated by factoring multiple aspects of the credit history of a person. Each aspect of the credit field has a significant role to play in the process of calculating the credit score. The person who wants to keep the credit history balanced needs to focus on the credit score.

The different facets that are reflected in a credit report

The credit report is to be obtained from all the institutes,and the data given in the credit report should be checked for authenticity because in some instances miscommunication can lead to the wrong filing of loan status which leads to an incorrect report. The credit report is a detailed document that enlists various financial aspects of a person, these factors are mentioned below

The information regarding resolved loans

When any credit is taken, it is known that the money borrowed has to be returned by following certain terms and conditions.  There is always a deadline for making the payments, and if the loans are solved within the given duration,then the closed status of the loan will be reflected in the credit report. However, there are certain cases when the credit is taken not returned as per the conditions but is settled through a single lump sum. This will provide the borrower with the update of a settled loan on his/her credit report.

The status of open loan accounts

The loan is a useful financial tool and people have to acquire loans for several purposes. The credit report will include the status of all accounts from where credit is taken. Having credit accounts active or taking credit is not a bad move as taking credit helps in building the credit report for the future however if open loan accounts have turned into debt accounts then the situation is quite dicey because it will take time to resolve debts and close the accounts.

Therefore it can be said that the credit report can be positive or negative depending upon the person who is taking the credit.

The nodal points of examination for keeping a strong credit score

Many people are apprehensive about taking credit as they believe that taking credit lowers the score, but in actuality, it is the outstanding credit that affects the credit score negatively. Keeping the credit arena balanced will allow a person to build a healthy financial structure, but caution is the most important thing along with research because wrong steps are taken while acquiring credit will lead to severe complications which might cripple finances considerably and lower the credit score deplorably. A person can also read this article at Personal Finance Analyst.

 To keep the credit score high, an individual has to opt for correct practices. A few of these practices are discussed below

Being knowledgeable about the various lines of credit

The credit card is not the only avenue of the credit field, and most individuals are under the impression that keeping multiple credit cards diversifies their credit, but in reality auto loans, bank loans are also part of the credit zone. A person should know about the entire field which can be tapped for acquiring credit at suitable rates. In each credit line, one can also find multiple options, and it is sensible to know the features of the best options available in that area. However, taking up a lot of money from various credit agencies without paying due attention to the payment deadlines will only create problems and can also result in debts. Engaging more than one credit line at a time should be done sensibly. Smaller loans from multiple credit paths are a good option for maintaining a good credit score and also keeping the repayment easy to handle.

Taking well-informed decisions by keeping the personal financial needs in mind

Whatever is portrayed as the best might not be tailored to suit one’s needs. The finance that is required by a person might depend on various factors like personal expense, individual business venture, medical expenses, etc. The person who is developing the credit line has to observe the options that best suit his/her financial goals. Every individual has some financial objectives which are to be achieved, and for achieving the target, funds are needed, so the person has to acquire credit from the most suitable option that is appropriate for the financial goal. The discounts and perks that are given by credit card companies should also be evaluated for individual applicability before choosing the credit cards. Making informed choices will ensure that the credit taken is well utilized.

Evaluating personal records against generated credit reports

The credit record can be obtained by companies or organizations that are entitled to generate credit reports. Multiple organizations do the work of providing credit reports, and it is best to take the report from all the organizations. However simply depending on the report is not enough because one must also keep a record of the credit taken from various sources and the credit options present. Having a track of one’s credit will help in keeping everything organized and will also aid in finding out mistakes in the report provided by a particular organization. The person can easily detect the mistake as a personal record is present. This will help in fixing problems immediately, and therefore a negative impact on the credit score can be prevented. 

Hence the credit field should be meticulously observed, and the credit reports have to be delightedly evaluated so that credit acquisition does not turn into a financial problem.

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Gaming: The Most Popular Form of Entertainment

Gaming has been a growing part of our culture since they first appeared. Many wonders, what has caused this increase in popularity over other forms of entertainment such as movies and music.

In the past, games were mostly targeted towards a younger demographic and they were considered mostly a gimmick, a simple leisure activity for kids. This is not the case anymore. Since its inception, the gaming industry has evolved at a rapid pace and no one could have predicted that video games would conquer the entertainment industry as fast as it did.

Are Video Games Art?

The question still remains whether or not video games should be considered an art form. Ever since they became popular,video games where always on the societal margins when it comes to their place in culture, unlike the music and movie industry.

One example of a game series that has had a massive impact on society, especially in Poland is The Witcher Series. These games had gained huge popularity and a massive fan base all over the world. It had such a huge impact on the country that the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gave a copy of the Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings to US president Barack Obama during his visit. The Witcher games are based on the book series with the same name by author Andrzej Sapkowski based on Polish folklore.

What can be said, is that video games are not just a simple art form, but a combination of science and different forms of artistic expression. It comprises 2D art (drawing and painting), 3D modeling (sculpture), music and sound. Not only that, but it also involves the player to partake in the game environment and allows them to influence gameplay and story outcomes. The same can be said for art. A painter, for example, encourages the viewer to study an image and form his own conclusions of what the image represents without the artist’s help.

Mainstream Gaming

Gaming took to the mainstream with the release of smartphones. The core gaming demographic have shifted from teenagers and young adults to people of all ages. Smartphone gamers are mostly casual gamers. They are people who spend a small part of their time playing video games and find enjoyment in smaller and simple games in which they don’t require investing a lot of time in. 

Smartphones have shown that there is a large demand for mobile games and the number of people playing is still growing. When it comes to mobile phones, online games are the most played type of game,especially online casino games.

Casino brands could see what gaming would become in the future. They were very early in adopting technology and using it to deliver their games to people’s personal computers during the rise of the internet. And now, with the growing usage of smartphones, casino brands are able to deliver a more instant and enjoyable experience through app services.

Social casinos are a growing trend in the mobile market. There is a large number of online games available on any casino website including online poker, roulette, free slots online and many others. The most popular casino related games are, of course,slots.

While gaming is a medium which can help you relax, it also involves a bit of implication on the player’s part. Watching a movie or listening to music is most of the time a passive activity, while video games engage your mind in problem-solving and decision-making activities in the virtual space.

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Occasions when you can send Flower Bouquets Online

Flowers have been used across centuries to communicate thoughts and lofty feelings. It was also used to congratulate and compliment people. The practice is present till day. Given both as a primary gift or an add-on, there’s a flower bouquet for every occasion. Today, everyone prefers a quirky and thoughtful gifting idea. So, if you are located miles apart from your loved ones and want to reach out to them, you can do it with flowers as well. Ditch the Skype video calls and WhatsApp voice messages for a while and delve into the world of flowers.You’ll sure find a bloom for every occasion that you can think of.

Sending flowers across borders

Today,sending flowers across borders is easy. Many service providers have emerged specializing in international flower delivery. However, selecting an ace service provider is a challenging task. But once you browse and check the online feedback, testimonials, and reviews, you will be able to decide which service provider is the best for you. Leading brands have come up with a wide range of flowers and bouquet types for you to select. There are also other gift options like cakes, cards, and candles that you can choose from depending on your gift budget and choices.

Reasons to send flowers across borders

There are several reasons and occasions for you to send flowers to your loved ones across multiple time zones and borders. Some of the favorite occasions are as follows:

Thinking of you flowers

Nostalgia is an essential element when you are selecting “Thinking of You” flowers. It can be for a friend, lover, spouse or family member. You can even send it to an acquaintance that you hold dear. One of the best options for this is the soft, baby pink rose bouquet mixed with white roses. The entire combination has a sublime feel to it. There’s beauty, subtlety, and affection. Few of the core elements that surround a fond memory or nostalgia! You can select the flowers from an online service provider and have it wrapped in anew-age, chic manner and have it delivered on a chosen date. 

“Just like that” flowers

The term “just like that” is all inclusive and it can include any reason.The underlying emotion is joy, happiness and a sense of vivaciousness. No other shade approximates this emotion other than orange. So, you can find the best of the orange color flowers, such as Begonia, Chrysanthemum, Bird of Paradise, Tulips, Gerbera Daisy and many more. One of the best choices here is the Gerbera that displays bright orange color petals which gives a positive vibe that instantly elevates one’s mood. You can add other gift options with this book, such as a thoughtful musical card, a self-written poem, chocolates, cookies, cupcakes and many more.

Sending love and strength flowers

We all want a happy life. But not all circumstances in life are happy ones.Sometimes, the death of a loved one, losing a job or separation from a spouse often makes one feel sad and gloomy for a long time. Additionally, relocating from your hometown to another country or city for work or study too can bring about depression. If you or someone in your family is undergoing such a situation, you can send in your love and warmth in the form of a flower bouquet.

Some of the best choices for this include white roses, orchids, and bluebells. White roses symbolize purity and innocence. White roses can impart courage and hope to a person. You can combine both orchids and white roses and arrange a bouquet as well.

Congratulations flowers

The occasions that get covered under this category can be many! From wedding to passing high school with flying colors – the “congratulations” moments in life are many. So, if it’s your friend who just became a parent you can use a combination of carnations and roses to congratulate them. On the other hand, if it is someone younger who got his/her first book or research paper has got published, you can opt-in for options like orange or yellow rose bouquets. You can even send lilies and lilacs if you want. Browse online, and you will get plenty of choices to select from.

Housewarming flowers

Your best-friend has shifted to her new home! It calls for a housewarming celebration. If you are situated miles apart from your friend, you have the chance to send him/her a flower bouquet and send in your greetings and best wishes. The standard choices for this occasion are carnations or orange roses. But you can always add-in a difference. Why not opt in for a combination of orchids and lilies? The combination of white and violet shades will create a visual appeal one of its kinds. Alternatively, you canal so opt-in for a Delphinium and Lilies combinations. Here the pure white and crystal blue will look impressive on your friend’s living room. You can add more to the bouquet. Since it’s his/her dream house add to the occasion by creating a flower bouquet gift pack.

Once you’ve finalized the flower you can select scented candles, essential oils to out in a diff user, a small and delicate table showpiece, chocolates and a card. Add in all your wishes and loving thoughts in the card and have it delivered to your friend on a given date and time. Nothing will make him/her happier than this.

Today,many service providers specialize in online flower delivery across borders. These new age companies think out of the box and have come up with attractive bouquet and gift ideas for every occasion. So, before you start to decide on the perfect flower bouquet and gifts, browse through their websites to see what’s in the offering. Most of the service providers have everything that you can ask from, regarding the flowers as well as cards. Hence, once you have selected the flower bouquet, the gifts, and the card, you have to email them the note you want to add in the card. They would add in the card and send it to your loved one at a given day and time suggested by you. You can place your order, sit back, relax and enjoy the benefits of international flower delivery services.

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What Investments to Expect when Starting a Franchise

Purchasing and operating a franchise is a big investment. Whether yours is a restaurant franchise or some other type of business, you’ll be required to give a substantial amount of time and energy to get the operation off the ground and help make it a success. But the investment required of you, of course, goes further than just your time and effort. To establish a successful franchise, you will also be required to put forth an investment of money. And here is where most individuals considering franchise opportunities pause. How much money should you anticipate having to spend, and will the return on your investment be worth it?

In this article, we will explore the financial investments necessary to establish and ensure the success of a franchise business.

The Costs of Franchise Ownership

The costs associated with franchise ownership vary greatly depending on what type of business you’re involved in. For the sake of this article, we will keep the focus on restaurant franchise opportunities. A full service restaurant might require an investment of anywhere from $750,000 to $3 million. Fast food restaurants range from $250,000to $1 million. But what is this sum paying for?

Professional fees. Entering into a franchise agreement is something you should do cautiously and wisely. It’s a good idea to have an attorney look over your agreement, which does have an associated cost.You’ll also want to hire an accountant.Franchising fees. Joining an existing brand and making use of their operating system and management support carries a fee as well. This particular cost might run you anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000,depending on the organization you choose to join.Operating costs. You’ll also need to face the standard operating costs of any business owner. For a restaurant, these costs include back of house prep (including the purchase and installation of large cooking equipment), hiring labor, stocking goods for sale, and acquiring all the legal licenses needed to serve food and, if applicable, alcohol on your premises.

It can be daunting, but it’s important to remember that there are benefits to choosing a franchise over starting your own business. You go in with a clear picture of what the costs will be—the corporation will be able to help you. You’ve also got much better odds of success thanks to the support you’ll be getting from the brand, and you’re likely to see steeper growth much more quickly. Therefore, the return on your investment is likely to be good.

Restaurant and Food Franchise Opportunities

If you’re ready to take the next step toward franchise ownership, you’re likely wondering what opportunities are available. Although franchises are available across industries, including mobile homes at the low end and hotels at the high, restaurant franchise opportunities provide arguably the greatest internal variety, both in terms of the different types of restaurants you might be able to acquire and the range of financial investments you will be required to make. Begin your exploration today and find the perfect opportunity for you.

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Want to start crafting? The basics of crafting materials

It is said that there is a hidden artist in each one of us. But where is that artist? Why do we not see that artist? What are the ways to see that artist? The best answer that I can give you is love. Love has emotions. This emotion of love for your family and friends can activate the hidden artist in you. Art is one of the best ways to show emotions to your loved ones. How? Crafting! Well, crafting is a form of art in which you use a different material, often referred to as decorative materials, to create customised things and gifts, which can be used for different purposes. By crafting you can create so many things, let’s see a few of them in the form of bullet points:

Slam booksMagic lettersPop-ups with notesExplosion Pandora’s boxStandeeSlidersCamera boxHangingZigzag Paper puzzlesPaper lanterns and lampsDecorated chocolate boxesPhoto mugsEngraved mugs

There are so many items you can play with, in order to create everlasting memories with your loved ones. But the question here is about those materials or things available to do crafting. It seems easy from a bird’s eye view, but there is a lot to learn in crafting, especially about the materials. Where to get all this material at a time? There are websites on the internet,which are basically online shops, which sell these materials, all you need to do is to select and order them. If you are in Australia, you will even get to buy Fiskars products in Australia.

Let us dive in the pool of material and extract some knowledge out it.

Paper rolls: When you do crafting, there is a lot of paper that is left in different irregular shapes. Never throw that waste. For one item, it’s a waste. But that is the creativity needed in crafting. Extract a new design out of those irregular shaped paper cuttings and rolls of paper of different colour.



Craft colour paper: This is the oil of your Indian food. Just like the first thing that you do in cooking is putting oil in the pan, similar is the case with craft paper in crafting. It’s the oil of craft making.



Scissors: There are different types of scissors available in the market.Get those shaped scissors to cut your paper and give them a stylish cut with different designs with the help of scissors. Better cutting brings accuracy and symmetry in your craft.



Paintbrush: Crafting is not just cutting of paper into different designs. You need to experiment with colours via a paint brush. Pick up your paintbrush and add colours (consider as if you are putting emotions) to your explosion box.



Embellishment: It is a broader category. It is the salt of crafting. No matter how good the food is, it will taste boring if you do not add salt to it. Add embellishments as salt to your craft

There is always a big list which you will explore gradually when you start crafting. So, grab the Christmas opportunity and make your loved ones happy by creating a craft from them. Don’t forget to buy material online to ease your life.

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Make Your Job Description About Activities

Here’s how to write a job description that will attract the right candidates.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”

– Greg Anderson

Why Focus on Activities?

People are hired to perform value-adding activities.While companies have different approaches to how they hire, their goals are usually the same. Every company wants to hire high-performing people, not people who just look good on paper.

Despite this simple and obvious assumption, too many companies ignore activities and focus on things that don’t indicate performance. This happens at every stage of the hiring process. For example:

Many job descriptions focus on what candidates have done in the past.Screening is based on candidates’ backgrounds.Assessment methods often don’t simulate the tasks are performed in the role.

Instead, use on-the-job activities as the guide for the entire hiring process. If you follow this principle, you will hire people who perform the value-adding activities you require.

Here’s how it works.

The Job Description

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

– Lewis Carroll

Defining the role is the foundation of hiring. If you do that incorrectly, the entire hiring process will be steered in the wrong direction. The clearer you are, the higher your chances of attracting the person you want.

The problem with so many job descriptions is that they are aren’t linked closely enough to the daily activities of the job. Let’s change that.

A good job description should have three sections:

1. Start with why

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

– Simon Sinek

This approach is entirely applicable to job descriptions. Sell candidates on your company’s vision and story. Sell them on the role and the culture. This will achieve two things. First, it is likely to increase the quality of applicants. Second,candidates will be more likely to invest in the application process and make an effort if they buy into your “why”.

Conversely, candidates who don’t relate to your vision or culture will opt out. Mission accomplished.

2. Describe the role in activities

Outline, point by point, what the successful candidate will do every day. Keep it simple and be very specific. No clichés, no jargon. Candidates need to understand how they will spend each day, what they need to achieve, who they’ll be working with and under what conditions.

This is a great way of managing expectations. By communicating to candidates what they’ll be doing in the role, you are forcing them to ask themselves whether they can do those activities well and how much they enjoy doing them. This presents another opportunity for less suitable candidates to opt out.

3. State your requirements

The previous two sections should make this part easy because you’ve set the scene. Candidates already know what your company stands for and what they’ll be doing in the role. Now you can add some more detail about the type of person you are looking for and how you expect them to approach the role.

Don’t worry about years of experience, grades in college or anything else that’s not activity-based.Bring it back to activities and use plain English.

Describe the kind of person you’re looking for by listing how you want them to approach the role.Put thing in context. Instead of “strong communicator”, write “clearly communicate customer feedback to the product team”. Instead of “flexible”,write “prepared to join calls with developers late at night when necessary”.

You should also use this section to articulate the attitude and behaviors you’d like to see.Candidates already know from the previous section what they’ll be doing on a daily basis. Now explain how.

Here are some examples of good job descriptions and a useful guide on how to write one.

Candidate Screening

“The doors of wisdom are never shut.”

– Benjamin Franklin

With a good job description and scenario-based assessment, candidate screening is simply not required. To learn more about why you don’t need to screen candidates read this.

But in short, screening is not about activities, it’s about a candidate’s background. Ruling people out based on their background is counterproductive. Instead, set candidates up for success with a savvy job description, and then assess the ones that want the job based on that description.

Don’t worry about receiving too many applications from people who aren’t qualified or ignore the job description. That is solved automatically in the assessment stage and you won’t need to lift a finger.

Scenario-based Assessment

“An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.”

– Mae West

Your job description will attract people who want to be part of your journey, and want to do the job you advertised. That’s the theory at least.

Now it’s time to find out how it stacks up.

The assessment stage, which is the most important part of your hiring process, should be entirely based on activities. Go back to the job description and choose the most important on-the-job activities.

Create simulations of those activities so you can see how candidates perform in real-world scenarios.To learn how to write a great interview script read this.

Use automated interviews to deliver the simulations to candidates online.

Some candidates will not make the effort. Others will find the activities too challenging. Others yet will see that the activities are not aligned with their interests or passions. The most motivated and qualified candidates will prevail.

It’s easy to read a job description and apply for a job. However, when candidates are asked to perform challenging tasks, they need to be motivated and confident in their abilities. You’ll only need to view and score completed interviews and you’ll know who measures up within minutes.

Using automated interviews based on activities, you can audition candidates for the role. They will, in turn, get a chance to do the role, albeit in a small way.

The candidates who perform well in the automated interviews will have proven they can do the activities you want them to do in the role. Seeing first hand how well they perform each of those activities will help you confidently make your hiring decision.

By focusing on activities, you can create a hiring process that reflects your role and how you want it to be performed. It’s a simple and effective method to hire people who can, and want to, perform the activities you consider to be value-adding.

Omer Molad

Making hiring about merit, not background Co-founder and CEO of Vervoe

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AirGMS Vacation Rental Software Review

When you are busy building a short-term rental business, the different daily tasks that shout for your attention all at once can become overwhelming. To help with the daily management of your short-term rentals, vacation rental software has proven to be quite handy for many hosts. One such software solution is AirGMS.

What is AirGMS?

AirGMS is a comprehensive cloud-based vacation rental software solution that enables hosts with several listing (as a matter of fact they can actually use it free of charge for up to 4 listings) as well as large businesses with multiple listings to automate routine tasks. It is ideal for hosts who get the majority of their bookings via Airbnb as it boasts native integration with Airbnb and integrates with your Airbnb account to extend the standard operations. This way you can run your Airbnb business much more efficiently.

It has three different pricing plans: Free, Pro and Business. The more listings you have, the lower the price will be.

AirGMS in use

AirGMS is straightforward to set up and easy to master thanks to the user-friendly interface and navigation. It boasts several fantastic features that Airbnb hosts with multiple listings in particular will find very helpful. Some of its core features are: message templates, multi-platform synchronization,multi-calendar dashboard, single inbox, Airbnb reviews automation and team management.

The message templates are particularly useful. You can use it to create instructions for check-in and checkout by using the responses that you have used the most and then simply convert them into a template that you can then forward to various guests effortlessly. What is more, you can also create automated “trigger” messages. These messages can then be programmed to be forwarded to your guests at a specific date and time.

Another feature that is worth highlighting is the team management feature. What makes it so great is that it enables you to assign different access levels to your cleaning staff. Whenever you need to clean your place, you simply create a work order and assign it to a cleaner. Once the tasks have been completed, a task completion confirmation can be send.

Hosts often fear getting a double-booking. The multi-platform synchronization feature is reason enough to get AirGMS. It lets you sync all your reservations and other calendar data from various third-party short-term rental booking websites like TripAdvisor and VRBO via iCal.

Wrap up

With the help of AirGMS, Airbnb hosts will be able to solve most of the common Airbnb problems quickly. Its solid tools will equip you to complete the most important tasks easily and stay up to speed with your day-to-day tasks. Also, its pricing model means that different needs can be accommodated.

In short, hosts who are searching for ways to automate their daily tasks will find that AirGMS will be able to save them loads of time. As you will be better equipped to reply to guest messages, you will be able to build a great reputation and, more importantly, keep it.

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The Future of E-Commerce: Omnichannel Marketing

When e-commerce companies first appeared on the modern business landscape, they were a disruptive force, sending shock waves through the world of traditional brick and mortar retail. Over time, the world came to understand the power of online retailing, and it became a permanent fixture of modern business.

This onslaught forced traditional retailers to re-evaluate brick and mortar locations against what could be gained from e-commerce stores. Many are adapting to this new reality with a shift in retail strategy. Companies such as Wal-Mart are wisely viewing physical stores as places where customers can pick up and return merchandise, a combination of e-commerce and physical retail that makes the purchase experience more convenient than either an e-commerce or retail store alone. This omnichannel merchandising strategy is the future, but it’s not limited to heavy-hitters such as Amazon or Wal-Mart. The shift towards omnichannel is already being adopted by mid-range companies such as Warby Parker, Shopify and Casper, and will likely continue be adopted by small to medium-sized business across the retail and e-commerce landscape.

Opening a brick and mortar space for an e-commerce retailer is worth it if the business model supports it. At StickerYou, our product – customized, die-cut stickers, labels, decals, etc. –  is tangible and lends itself to an in-person experience that can’t be replicated or accurately shown online. A brick and mortar, which we will open in early 2019, will give people the opportunity to touch and feel the quality of our product, as well as be exposed to the many creative ways it can be used. This alone will make the search experience a more memorable one, kind of like searching through records in a bin and discovering something new you didn’t know you were looking for. For brands with products that have qualities that can be highlighted by in-person experiences, an omnichannel strategy makes sense. In many places in North America, a corresponding dip in retail rents and possible reductions in the lengths of lease agreement terms due to retail locations closing may also be an advantage in pursuing an omnichannel strategy.

An omnichannel strategy for smaller retail stores may view a brick and mortar location as more than just a place for product pick-ups and drop-offs. The real advantage here is that the brick and mortar space can serve as part of a larger marketing initiative, an interactive and unique trial experience. The economics of a marketing ROI may be enhanced for businesses entering an omnichannel strategy from an e-commerce-only standpoint. Landlords may be more open to pop up concepts or shorter term rent deals, meaning a lower risk to test out a brick and mortar space. The ROI from the awareness created with a brick and mortar store, including drop-ins, walk-by traffic, etc., can be viewed against sales from the physical location as well as incremental increases in online sales. Even if the store operates at a loss, it can be worth the investment from a marketing perspective, if the impressions generated or incremental traffic to the website comes in at a lower cost per click than what would otherwise be spent with the same funds for just online advertising.

Omnichannel is the new phase of e-commerce retailing, and will only grow. Now is the time to consider whether it might be the right strategy for your business.

Author: StickerYou Founder & President, Andrew Witkin

As the founder of a global e-commerce leader in custom-printed, die-cut products, Andrew Witkin is widely recognized as a leading authority on e-commerce, customization, startups, marketing and the tech economy. Witkin has also served as VP North American Licensing for Nelvana/Corus Entertainment and Director of Marketing for MegaBrands/Mattel.

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Making Sense of the HITRUST Certification Process

The healthcare sector handles protected health information (PHI) and electronic PHI (ePHI) that should be guarded from unauthorized access. As such, it’s crucial that healthcare organizations and their business associates institute measures to uphold the confidentiality and integrity of their data.

Your organization will achieve this by complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which can be overwhelming. To simplify the process, the HITRUST Alliance formed the HITRUST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). When you comprehend the HITRUST certification process, you’ll easily comply with other regulatory bodies.

HITRUST Assessment and Certification Process

HITRUST Alliance: Who are they?

HITRUST Alliance is an abbreviation of Health Information Trust Alliance. This body brings together various players in the healthcare industry to assess the security risks facing the industry.

 They introduce collaboration between various regulatory bodies tasked with upholding cybersecurity. This unity helps in developing unique and applicable methods to mitigate the security risks characterizing health information.

Why HITRUST CSF?

HITRUSTCSF consolidates all the healthcare regulatory requirements including HIPAA, NIST, ISO, PCI, among other information security standards. When the stakeholders work together, they develop a fully integrated measure that is the healthcare institutions can follow in the compliance process.

While all these regulatory standards allow HIPAA compliance, PCI, ISO, and NIST do not offer different security regulations to PHI and ePHI. The HITRUST CSF comparison whitepaper highlighted the different ways that can be used to resolve the security issues affecting healthcare providers as well as their business associates. For example, you’ll require ISO 27001 for HIPAA compliance process, but the ISO 27001 only assures third-parties. NIST SP 800-53 is not based on ISO27001, but it provides an adequate framework for compliance controls,assessment, and certification process.

The HITRUST CSF is based on the ISO 27001, and it offers basic security framework that is special for the healthcare industry. It’s uniquely designed in a prescriptive nature to allow customization while ensuring compliance with the security framework. It provides organizational and third-party assurance as well as tool support and assessment guidelines.

HITRUST: Is it Risk-Based or Compliance Based?

HITRUST is a risk-based system, but it allows you to take a compliance-based approach in managing your risks. Organizations should implement various controls to mitigate information security risks.

The system will enable you to begin with individual risks that characterize your business operations before providing specific controls that you need to implement to mitigate your risks.

What is the HITRUST Assessment?

This platform offers different levels of engagement with the CSF depending on the needs of your organization. The HITRUST agreement levels include:

Self-Assessment.For organizations whose aim is to review their controls without necessary acquiring CSF certification.Validated Assessment. For organizations that need to perform self-assessment then obtain CSF validated Assessment and certification.Adopter. These are an organization whose aim is to use HITRUST CSF to develop their privacy and security controls.

What is the Difference?

The agreement levels differ significantly. The self-assessment is mainly adopted by small organizations mostly for internal tracking and monitoring. These organizations will purchase a CSF Assessment Report or join the MyCSF program to aid their compliance.

You should note that becoming CSF validated and acquiring CSF certification may require that you buy CSF Assessment Report, subscribe to MyCSF, or engage a CSF Assessor Body.

How to Complete a CSF Self-Assessment

The process begins by filling a risk-based questionnaire that assesses the maturity level of your organization across various yardsticks including:

Presence of a policy or standardAvailability of processes and procedures to support the adoption of the system.Policy implementationTests and Measures of management maturity in operationsCorrective measures instated as needed

Within these categories, the level of compliance of an organization can be defined as:

Non-compliancePartially compliantSomewhat compliantMostly compliantFully compliant 

Once you’re through with self-assessment, you should submit the questionnaire.

Who should be CSF Validated or CSF Certified?

All healthcare providers and business associates will gain clients’ confidence when they comply. It also helps in complying with HIPAA requirements.

Difference between HITRUST CSF Certification and Validation

Both processes involve the use of HITRUST CSF Assessor. The certification process begins with self-assessment, and then the assessor comes in to validate the efficiency of the controls. The assessor’s on-site review uses various HITRUST’s MyCSF tools to test and generate a verified report.

Here,the business is validated but not certified. The report is then forwarded to HITRUST for the certification process. Once activated, the certificate is valid for 24 months unless a breach is reported to the Department of Health and Human Services. HITRUST also reserves the right to decertify your business in case of misrepresentation of a control.

Use of Technology Software to Ease HITRUST Certification

You can use technology software to assess the HITRUST controls if you’re already certified. These applications offer a single-source of truth on your controls making it easy to determine compliance thus shortening certification time. It also provides remediation strategies.

Author Bio

Ken Lynch is an enterprise software startup veteran, who has always been fascinated about what drives workers to work and how to make work more engaging. Ken founded Reciprocity to pursue just that. He has propelled Reciprocity’s success with this mission-based goal of engaging employees with the governance, risk, and compliance goals of their company in order to create more socially minded corporate citizens. Ken earned his BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT.  Learn more at ReciprocityLabs.com.

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