Mohit Tater's Blog, page 640

Female Entrepreneurs Who Inspire Us

Things have changed since the early days when women were just supposed to be at the backstage of anything big. Gender is becoming less of an issue in today’s business world. While many women have fought their way to the top, there are still many hurdles that women have to cross.

Let us appreciate such women entrepreneurs who have faced many hurdles but have paved their way to the top.

Paola De Leo

This co-founder of Brightwide.com formerly belonged to Amnesty International. This female entrepreneur started a platform where you can watch the best social and political cinema online. Her motto is to Watch, Think, Link and Act.

Diane Heavin

She founded the popular fitness chain, Curves in 1992. Since then the fitness chain has grown into the world’s largest fitness franchise with 10,000 in over 70 countries. Her motto is about strengthening women, and by far she has been more than successful in doing so by serving about 4 million members.

Genevieve Thiers

Thiers started the $5 million Inc. 500 company, SitterCity.com that provides basic services like babysitting, housekeeping and tutoring. Her company, based in Chicago, provides services to a million people. She has been helping families by providing services coast to coast.

Rhonda Byrne

Not only was she listed among Time Magazine’s 2007 roll of 100 people who shape the world, but she is also the founder of a television production company called Prime Time Productions. The Author of a globally successful book, “The Secret” and producer of the movie going by the same name, she is recognised everywhere. She has been shaping futures and is a very influential woman, making her one of the most successful female entrepreneur.

Suze Orman

She is America’s most recognised expert on personal finance. This one-woman financial powerhouse is New York Times best-selling author of numerous books, a renowned writer and producer and one of the top motivational speakers. Suze Orman has done it all.

Gina Rinehart

This female leader is the world’s first female billionaire and has been credited with several business achievements as well. From being the recipient of 2009 commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award to the 2009 Telstra West Australian Business Woman of the Year award. She is the chairman of Hancock Prospecting, which is one of Australia’s leading mining companies.

Maxine Clark

Before starting the popular store Build-A-Bear Workshop, which has 340 stores all over the world, she served as the President and Chief Merchandising Officer at Payless Shoesource, Inc. Her stores have an annual turnover of over $120 million. Maxine Clark has always stood as a motivational figure for all the female entrepreneurs over the globe.

Julia Aigner-Clark

Julia decided to start Baby Einstein in 1998, when she failed to find educational videos for her young daughter. So after finding a need and filling it, she has helped a lot of parents around the world to educate their kids in a better way. Her company saw revenues of nearly $10 million in2000, after which she sold her company to Walt Disney.

Ashley Qualls

Ashley is an inspiration for all the teens out there. At the age of 14, she started a website called WhateverLife.com, which mainly was mainly targeted at designing MySpace layouts and gave away HTML tutorials for young adults. This website, which was founded in 2004, is still very popular and sticks to its original theme. Her website gets an average of 60 million page views per month for about 7 million unique visitors.

Caterina Fake

Before she became the co-founder of Flickr, a photo sharing service, she was the co-founder of Hunch.com, a website aimed at connecting people online with their affinity for things through personalized recommendations. Flickr was later sold to Yahoo for a whopping 8 figure amount. Caterina has not only received a multiple of business awards, but she was listed by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people in 2006.

The number of female entrepreneurs has been increasing globally, but still the percentage is less compared to that of their male counterparts. Women still face a lot of hurdles compared to men and are constantly discouraged from starting their own businesses. We need to create a place where our girls get to show their talents and grow as a person.

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Saving for Retirement: Top Tips for Each Generation

Though most adults want to make saving for retirement a priority, it often gets put on the back burner as they deal with more pressing concerns like things they want to do in present and unexpected life events. For this reason, it should come as no surprise that three out of ten American adults report that preparing for retirement stresses them out, both mentally and emotionally. However, it doesn’t have to!

The path to retirement savings is a personal one that is unique for every individual. The right tools and strategies will depend on what your individual goals are and what life stage you are currently in. This post will c1over some of the top tips for saving for retirement that can work for every generation from Millennials to Generation Xers to the Baby Boomers.

Set realistic retirement goals.

Did you know that according to CNBC, 81 percent of American adults don’t know how much money they will need to retire? Though 40 percent estimates they will need about $500,000, the truth is that this figure is still about $250,000 short of the average retirement cost.

Though there is no one magic number for retirement savings that works for everyone, it’s important that each individual takes time to consider and calculate their retirement savings needs. How much you need to save for retirement will depend on a variety of assumptions, such as how long you think you will live and what your needs will be in the future. Take time to consider these factors to come to a realistic retirement savings goal that will allow you to live comfortably in retirement.

Plan, prioritize, and protect.

When it comes to saving for retirement, it’s essential that you adhere to the three P’s – plan, prioritize, and protect. Your plan for retirement will play a significant role in helping you reach your savings goals. Financial professionals suggest that you consider how much you will need to save to provide a comfortable monthly income for yourself in retirement. If your current savings and projected savings is cutting it a bit short, consider how much more you’ll need to save each month to reach your goals. Then, prioritize your spending to find where you can save a little extra each month.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when creating a retirement savings plan. The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Working with a financial adviser can help you create a realistic retirement savings plan that will allow you to reach your goals over time. It’s also important to remember that life is full of surprise events and unexpected costs that can potentially derail your retirement savings. However, putting together an emergency fund that you can use to handle these unexpected costs allows you to protect your retirement savings.

Get the most out of employer-based plans.

One of the easiest ways to start saving for retirement at any age is to take advantage of the retirement plans that your employer offers. Employer-based retirement savings plans often come with an employer match, which is essentially money that your employer puts into your retirement savings based on how much you are contributing.

If you are unsure of what types of retirement plans your employer offers or have questions about employer matching, make sure that you contact the human resources department and ask questions. Not taking advantage of these company-sponsored retirement plans with employer match is like giving up free money that could be going toward your retirement savings.

Ask questions, and get answers.

One of the most important things to remember about saving for retirement at any age is that you need to ask questions if you are not sure of something. Though you may be afraid of looking dumb or you feel uncomfortable seeking answers to your questions, getting answers to your retirement questions is vital if you want to plan effectively for retirement.

Consider this – while 72 percent of Millennials admit to not knowing as much as they should about saving for retirement, only 36 percent actually seek help from a financial advisor. When it comes down to it, you need to seek help and get answers to your retirement questions. Your retirement savings may depend on it!

To see how your retirement planning stacks up against your peers, check out the infographic below, which provides more valuable data on saving for retirement:

INFOGRAPHIC LINK:

Presented by Credit Logon

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New Applications to Help You Achieve Digital Wellness

When you are an entrepreneur focusing on building your own business, it is easy to get engulfed in the process. This is especially the case in our digital world. The 24/7 on-demand work culture is even more intense when it is your own business. When your work-life balance gets unbalanced, it isn’t good for you or your budding business. Don’t get burnt out, instead invest in yourself in every step along the way. One way that will certainly help is if you take time to achieve digital wellness. With so many apps that are designed to make you addicted to them and increase usage, it is time to find some that will help you break out of the rut. Here are 10 apps to help you achieve digital wellness and help you relax rather than further stressing you out; choose a few that work for you. Turn the tides and make digital apps work for you instead of the other way around.

Buddhify

Buddhify App Screenshot Image Credit: Buddhify.com

Named by Buzzfeed as the best meditation app to ease anxiety, Buddhify will become your digital best friend. It has a variety of more than 80 guided meditation tracks including “work break” and “ready”. It helps you to calm down even from the most stressful states in just minutes. You can choose the track that is right for your current situation. Buddhify is available for Android and iOS devices for $2.99.

Deep Relax Sleep Music

Deep Relax Sleep Music Screenshots Image Credit: iTunes

This app called Deep Relax Sleep Music  can help not just with deep sleep, but also with music to help you relax, meditate, or stay focused. This app is available for iPhone and iPad and is free.

Marine Aquarium

Marine Aquarium App Screenshot Image Credit: iTunes

This Marine Aquarium  app is a simple way to help you relax, even if just for a few moments. The imagery is actual 3D fish swimming, not canned animation. You can choose your favorite fish from 28 different species and adjust the lighting. Research has shown that watching fish can provide health benefits like reduced heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and feel happier. It is available for iPhone and iPad for $1.99.

Toggl

Toggl App Screenshot Image Credit: Toggl.com

Toggl  is a time tracker app that works on desktops, browsers, and both Android and iPhone mobile devices. There are three different pricing packages, all of which come with a free trial. It automatically tracks where you spend your time and it reports on where you spend your time, what is taking up your time, and it can work as a project management tool as well. The premium level also allows you to manage employees’ time.

Focus Booster

Focus Booster App Screenshot Image Credit: FOcusBoosterApp.com

Focus Booster is an app that helps you maintain focus and manage distractions which empowering you to stay focus. It is based on the pomodoro technique and aims to help you be more productive and efficient. It tracks your time, creates better work habits, and will help you achieve that work – life balance you are looking for. The app has a free light version and paid plans start at $3 per month.

Simply Yoga

Simply Yoga Screenshot Image Credit: Google Play Store

Yoga is the perfect combination of exercising and relaxing at the same time. Practicing yoga helps you stay fit and also help to clear your mind. The Simply Yoga  app helps you work out anytime, anywhere. The app has 20, 40, or 60 minute workouts. A certified personal trainer demonstrates each of the 30+ poses. Audio instruction accompanies the demos and you can create custom workout routines. The app is free and available in Android and iOS.

InBoxPause

InboxPause Screenshot Image Credit: InboxPaus.com

Email is one of the main sources of inefficiency in our day. Studies have shown that if you check your email only a few times a day, it can reduce stress and boost productivity. However, most of us need help with that because we are easily distracted and interrupted when we see emails come in. InboxPause  will stop new email from coming into your Inbox until a specified time. The features will let people know your inbox is paused, schedule messages to arrive a scheduled intervals and times, and allows you to schedule exceptions from certain email addresses that will be delivered immediately. It is available for Gmail and Outlook.

Breathe

Breathe App Screenshot Image Credit: Apple Store

Breathe  is an app designed for iOS devices that helps you do exactly what it sounds like: remember to breathe. It reminds you to breathe while doing tasks like reading emails and allows you to schedule sessions where it monitors your breathing during meditation and stress reduction. It trains you through reporting and reminders that you customise.

Jiyo

Jiyo App Screenshot Image Credit: Jiyo.com

Jiyo  is a Japanese and Chinese Buddhist word that means “to use yourself”. It is billed as your personal wellbeing companion. The app doesn’t just connect you to the artificial intelligence that personalises your well-being, it connects you to the well-being social network too. The app was created by Deepak Chopra and co-founder PoonachMachaiah. The app offers insights and suggestions based on your habits, where you go and how much you move, etc. Based on that data, it assigns a task each day and offers curated content on nutrition, sleep, and wellness. It is a 360-degree approach to wellness that includes exercise, meditation, relationships, finances, and finding purpose in the everyday.

Space

Space App Screenshot Image Credit: YouJustNeedSpace.com

Space  is an app and a browser extension developed by DopamineLabs. It helps you manage your internet and browsing time by creating “Space” between you and what you are doing online. It helps to reverse-engineer your brain from that social media addiction.

Summary and Takeaways

When you are an entrepreneur and are working on your own business, it is easy to get absorbed by the business and all of the digital activities necessary to run a business today. For us at Gopromotional, we know first-hand how all-encompassing it can be to run a business and still try to achieve that work-life balance. These apps can really help bring you the zen you need in your life and sometimes even forces it upon you so that you can be the best you can be. We hope that you find some that help you do just that.

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3 High Income Businesses to Start from Affiliate Marketing

If you have ever researched ways to make money online, you have definitely run into the term “affiliate marketing”.

When it comes to this topic, many people are wondering how much money you can make per year from affiliate marketing. Polls suggest that almost 20 percent of affiliate marketers make $20,000 or less per year, while just a smaller percentage, of around 5%, makes $2 million or more. The results are directly proportional with your efforts and amount of invested time, that’s for sure. But let’s see before anything what affiliate marketing is.

Affiliate marketing involves earning a commission by promoting other people’s products. It’s a win-win situation – the affiliate just needs to find a product they believe in, promote it, and earn a piece of the profit for each sale they make without troubling about creating a product that has the potential to be commercially successful, while the merchant can focus on developing their product. Meanwhile, affiliate marketing will provide the merchant with the necessary workforce to promote it intensively. Another advantage of affiliate marketing is that you can decide how much to get involved with it, from just earning some extra money to obtaining a full-time income from home.

If you are already curious about how you can earn money from home through this method, we have three ideas of high-income businesses you can start from affiliate marketing:

Health and wellness

People will always look for ways to be healthier and enjoy life to the fullest, especially since they are every day flooded with information on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Some of the most profitable affiliate marketing niches are those in the health and wellness area, such as products for quitting smoking, healthy eating, diet guides, and fitness for men and women.

A good product of this sort will be easy to reach by potential customers, since everyone searches for information on health-related topics online. It can be a 90-day diet, a revolutionary fitness device, a patch for those who want to quit smoking, a new type of blender that helps you prepare smoothies without destroying nutrients, and so on.

The key is to find a product that is catchy and promises a huge benefit, from shaking off those extra pounds without starving to never feeling the need to smoke a cigarette again. Good health is priceless for everyone, especially when they’ve experienced some health issues already. When confronted with the possible negative consequences of a bad habit, people will be ready to spend a lot on health products and services.

Wealth affiliate programs

What is the next desire of people besides being healthy? We’d say it’s having plenty of money to enjoy their health and not worry about tomorrow. Money tempts many of us, and even if it is not your favorite thing, you need it anyway to enjoy satisfactory living and afford unexpected expenses. People from all kinds of categories are fascinated when they hear phrases like “work from home” or “get rich quick”. What other place could you look for the secret to being rich these days but on the Internet?

Now, the idea of getting rich online is not a new one, and unfortunately many members of the audience are likely to dismiss the subject fearing your proposal could be a scam. For this type of niche, it is vital to earn your audience’s trust and look completely credible, honest, and competent.

The following niches are the most successful:

Forex and trading – Forex trading is a hot topic on the Internet and it’s completely legit – the name stands for the foreign exchange market and refers to a decentralized global market for the trading of currencies – buying, selling, and exchanging, with large international banks taking part to the process
Fulfillment by Amazon – it consists of a seller keeping their items in Amazon’s warehouses and letting Amazon ship it and pack them, while also handling customer service
Money blogging for beginners – the prerequisite for this method is creating useful content, followed by building engagement with readers and finding income streams to make money from your readership, such as advertising income
Internet marketing for beginners – every small business owner these days is aware of the importance of using online marketing techniques and guides and tutorials on how to do it will never lose their popularity
Passive income programs – investing some money in a venture like selling an eBook or an online course and then seeing the money coming



Starting an online casino

Affiliate marketing is an excellent promotion technique for online casinos. Why?

Online gambling is a very profitable business, but quite difficult to start. Entrepreneurs need to invest a lot of money and time until the casino becomes popular and reaches a wide pool of players.

And this is where casino affiliates come into play – it would actually be impossible to imagine today’s online gambling industry without affiliate programs. Gaming operators offer significant incentives to those who want to promote their casino games because websites that direct potential players to these games represent an important source of income.An example of a gambling business using an affiliate model would be casingdom.com

The idea on Casingdom is to promote the operator’s website and in return for sending clicks, Casingdom will receive a percentage or commission. The online gambling industry has actually found an essential pillar in the affiliate marketing solution and how well operators manage to implement affiliate marketing makes the difference between failure and success.

As an affiliate, you absolutely want to promote an online casino because affiliate marketing is fundamental for this industry and no serious operator will afford neglecting those who promote their games. Moreover, we all know that gambling is one of the most profitable industries and will never die, in spite of the stricter regulations imposed in the last years.

And there is more about it – some affiliates choose to take their business to the next level and in time build their own online gambling websites.Adding live casino rooms to provide a real-life gaming experience is the next thing in this niche.

So, if you want to quit your regular job, we advise you to consider affiliate marketing first, before trying to create an entire business from A to Z. The great thing about this method is that you can choose how much you want to get involved. Besides that, once you become an affiliate, you enter a network that gives you the know-how and experience needed to become a successful entrepreneur yourself one day!

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How to Use Events for Marketing your Product or Services?

In 2005, M&M’s introduced its own version of dark chocolates, and they did take a step to the ‘dark side’. With the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005, M&M along with LucasFilm gave us one of the most fascinating examples of a marketing event. The launch of the new dark chocolates took place at Times Square in New York, with one X-Wing Fighter, six Stormtroopers, Anthony Daniels in his costume of C3PO and Darth Vader’s counterpart: M Vader! This marketing event, “Dare to Go to the Dark Side” earned them a media outreach of a 184 million and their dark chocolates have been getting a 31% growth rate each year.

The concept of event marketing is arguably a decisive way of carving your product or service up the rock. The importance of the same cannot be overlooked by any economical establishment working towards selling a product or providing a service. A good strategy of associating with events for marketing will give you a great outreach, higher sales and a stable place in the market; a great one may help you establish a monopoly.

RedBull is the monopolistic leader in the ‘Energy Drink’ world, with the highest market share in their product category. One of the key strategies for achieving their success goes to their heavy use of events for marketing. With association with almost every sports event: from FIFA and NASCAR to local college sports festivals, RedBull has it’s tents up. It’s not far off to say a sporting event to be unusual if it’s not associated with RedBull, which has led to a reverse phenomenon of the one under discussion here.

The statements of praise for marketing events thus are not mere assertive. The concept is fairly simple: it is a marketing tactic that establishes face to face engagement of a company or service provider with its target consumers at an event.

Steps for a successful marketing event:

The first step for a successful marketing event is to choose an appropriate event that involves the target audience for the product or service.
You can hold competitions or mini contests to make your product more recognisable in the market.
Sponsor some major events and participate in the meets and groups to get a chance for communicating with other business owners.
Make sure you organise a pre-party and an after-party for your event to socially bond with other people and to get deeper connections.
Companies have started using QR codes on their banners to maximize their reach on people’s phone as it is the most used device. Offering discounts and offers further helps to engage the public cleverly.
Events conducted need to be such that they create a lasting impression on the public. Consider the example of Sony’s 2005 campaign where the company filmed 2,50,000bouncy balls on the streets of San Francisco to display the colour capacity of their new model Sony Bravia. This interesting yet simple event made a huge impact on the minds of general public.

The most creative events create interactions that not only create a positive impression of the product during the event, but it makes a lasting impact and creates a huge buzz. Statistics show that 58% of the participants purchase the product after a marketing event. And a whopping 86% of people became regular customers.

Many travel agencies have started organising small trips for a group of people to make them experience the joy of vacationing and later a large number of people do end up booking their vacations through the same travel agencies. Such creative events can be used to market services. The cost of organising the event might seem high, but later on it all evens out and the result is getting profit.

Remember to make your marketing campaigns smart, creative and bold. Events are supposed to be fun and engaging. It would help substantially if any event contains making the participants connect to their social media to expand your social media reach. For example – You could ask the participants to click a picture with your product and to post it on their social media accounts with a few hashtags for some goodies.

Event marketing shouldn’t take place of the traditional marketing system, but should work hand in hand with it to market your product in the best way possible.

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5 Proven Productivity Hacks for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses

Ensuring productivity is one of the most important tasks of running a startup or a small business. The effectiveness of a new company is usually measured by how productive it is in addition to how good the company’s products are. Responsible managers and owners pay particular attention to how productive the company is. In fact, it’s highly recommended for businesses to occasionally do efficiency and productivity reviews. So that companies know theimportance of this aspect, how exactly can managers achieve it? There are simple steps businesses can take to ensure that output more than matches the money and resources spent. For example, making sure that employees are not constantly interrupted during work hours is an easy enough way to ensure productivity. It doesn’t cost a fortune to build a highly productive and efficient company. Here are several tried and proven hacks any small business or startup and try out:

1. Use the Right Kind of Tech Tools

The modern workplace has made major strides in productivity thanks to technology, mainly tech that enables automation. Surprisingly enough, it doesn’t cost much to invest in automation tech that increases company productivity levels. For example, marketing teams can use a tool like Buffer, which is free, to automate social media posts. Graphics departments can use a program like OpenToonz to fast track animation projects. Managers can especially benefit from software that enables better product management. Asana, for example, vastly improves overall workplace productivity by making it easy for employees to assign each other tasks and deadlines. Skype, famously, makes workplace communication easier and also quieter. You can read more here on Project Management Software and Tools. There are so many low-cost apps and software programs companies can use to boost productivity levels by eliminating time waste and improving communication. So, don’t overlook investing such tools and be willing to spend money to get returns in higher efficiency levels.

2. Prioritize the Least Desirable Tasks

Employees can, and definitely do, procrastinate. The main reason people procrastinate is because they view a task as unachievable or impossible to do in a short period of time. If an employee is stuck with an annoying task he or she refuses to do, then the rest of the remaining tasks will suffer as well. Therefore, instruct employees not to leave undesirable tasks to the last minute. Instead of worrying about those tasks all day, tell them to handle annoying tasks the first thing in the morning. When unwanted jobs are out of the way, employees will be able to concentrate better on all the other tasks. This is a neat trick that highly efficient entrepreneurs use. This easy hack can benefit everyone in personal lives as well. Instruct employees to just get it done with and move on. Practice this motto at the workplace and the improved productivity levels will be demonstrable.

3. Allow Employees Breaks

The idea that employees who do the most work are the ones who sit at their desks the longest time is archaic at best. Research has strongly indicated that employees perform better when they are allowed to take a break. Use common sense here. Can anyone work nonstop for four or five hours without being distracted? Definitely not. Employees may sit at their desk for hours, but might not be concentrating on the tasks at hand. Therefore, companies that aim for high levels of productivity should allow employees short breaks once or twice a day. The breaks will help employees stretch their legs and relax, so when they return to the desk, they are mentally prepared to handle demanding workloads. Some companies are even allowing employees to take nap breaks. It’s worthwhile if employees work for longer than 8 hours at the office.

4. Install Multi-Screen Workstations

Bill Gates once famously blogged that he has three computer screens on his work desk. One screen is for his regular desktop, the other shows incoming emails, and the third screen is used for replying to emails. This is the system the world’s richest man uses to answer over 100 emails per day. Multitasking the right way is key to increased productivity. Employees who do have to do multiple things at once can immensely benefit from a multi-screen workstation. Like Bill Gates, customer service representatives often have to answer hundreds of emails per day. A multi-screen system, like the one invented by Mr. Gates, will do wonders for customer service departments. Even sales teams, public relations departments, and managers can also put multi-screen workstations to use to improve individual and overall productivity levels. If the small business cannot afford many monitors, isolate the employees who will benefit most and then invest in the hardware.

5. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Sleep

Humans need at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Science has shown that lack of sleep not only makes people more irritable and less focused, it can even lead to scary diseases like Alzheimer’s in the future. If employees are boasting that they get only 4 hours of sleep at night, make them stop. Sleep-deprived employees are proven to be unproductive and inefficient. Employees who are tired in the mornings due to lack of sleep will find it difficult to concentrate on important tasks. They will also find it difficult to cooperate and play well with others during the day. Some might even fall into so-called microsleep modes in the middle of the work. In a nutshell, sleep deprivation will kill the productivity levels at work. Therefore, encourage employees to get enough sleep at night. Managers and owners should definitely follow by example.

Implementing the above tactics will not cost much money or time. Workplaces will be able to visibly experience intended results after implementing the above productivity hacks. It’s better late than never to invest in productivity. So start trying out one or two of the above now.

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Ways AI Applications Can Jumpstart Your Startup’s Daily Operations

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to level the playing field for startups, giving them the technology to compete with established companies. Take Chatobook, an AI chatbot designed for restaurants. Chatobook helps startup restaurants build customer loyalty, which can be the key to getting enough repeat business to survive periodic downturns. The Chatobook app enables customers to connect with restaurants any time of day via Facebook Messenger to ask questions, view menus, book reservations, provide feedback and see promotions. With Chatobook, customers stay connected with restaurants, building loyalty and boosting business.

Chatobook is an example of how artificial intelligence has become accessible for all types of businesses and at any stage of operation. Here are three ways your startup can use AI to jumpstart daily operations.

Automating Customer Service

Chatbots such as Chatobook represent one of today’s most widespread applications of artificial intelligence. Chatbots automate the handling of routine customer service inquiries, speeding up the user experience while reducing the workload on support teams. Chatbots also automatically route inquiries that require human assistance to available representatives, streamlining the ticket management process.

Interactive voice response systems are another popular AI customer service application. AI-powered IVR systems can interpret natural human speech, allowing them to present customers with menu options customized to their individual needs. IVR systems can also automatically route calls that require human assistance to the appropriate representatives, seamlessly integrating automated and live support. Software Advice provides an overview of today’s leading IVR systems.

Reducing Bookkeeping Labor

Another way artificial intelligence is helping startups is by automating bookkeeping and accounting chores. Many bookkeeping tasks involve repetitive activities such as data entry, exporting data and report generation. AI can automate these tasks, saving time and labor and reducing the number of billable bookkeeping hours. AI can also generate reports based on real-time data, providing valuable financial intelligence that companies can translate into timely decisions.

One AI application assisting companies with bookkeeping is botkeeper. The botkeeper app uses AI machine learning to integrate automated data entry and accounting chatbot support with live support from human accountants. Automated support is available 24/7, and a dedicated human accountant provides same-day response. Using botkeeper saves companies an average of 50 percent compared to using a human bookkeeper or firm.

Strengthening Security

Artificial intelligence is also helping startups strengthen their IT security operations. With today’s technology, passwords have become easy to hack and security experts have advised businesses to adopt two-factor authentication methods. One way to apply this to device security is by implementing biometric authentication methods such as facial recognition or eye recognition. AI is required for this type of image recognition, but normally depends on PCs or cloud resources due to the amount of computing power involved. Qualcomm’s Artificial Intelligence platform has now made smartphones powerful enough to handle on-device AI, enabling them to perform image recognition applications. This empowers companies to use biometric facial recognition to secure employee devices.

AI also helps IT security teams identify threat attack patterns in order to prevent them more effectively. AI can analyze network data more rapidly than human security representatives, resulting in quicker attack detection and faster threat response. For instance, Cylance PROTECT uses AI to intercept threats at network endpoints, deploying machine learning to identify even previously-unknown attack methods.

Supporting customer service, saving bookkeeping labor and strengthening security are three ways that artificial intelligence is helping startups execute their operations more effectively. AI empowers startups to harness the power of automation to perform operations more accurately and more quickly, increasing efficiency, lowering expenses and boosting profit margins.

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Top 40 Blogs for Entrepreneurs that they must Follow

You might be someone who wants to start a new business or someone who already has ventured into this territory. Or you might be someone who just likes to know about the business strategies. Here are 40 blogs for entrepreneurs that you must follow if you want some tips and tricks and secrets of business.

Entrepreneur – https://www.entrepreneur.com/

This blog will help you to get real life solutions to the challenges you will be facing along your way. They provide tips and tricks to help you grow your business.

Frequency – 168 posts per week

Octane Blog – http://blog.eonetwork.org/

This blog by entrepreneur’s organisation has a network of almost 12,00 business owners. Since 1987, they have been helping entrepreneurs to learn and grow their business.

Frequency – 3 posts per week

Both Sides of the Table – https://bothsidesofthetable.com/?gi=10739b53b9e8

This blog will provide you information from the perspectives of an entrepreneur turned VC.

Frequency – 3 posts per month

She Owns It – http://sheownsit.com/blog/

This blog was started to inspire all the women and celebrate all the successful women entrepreneurs.

Frequency – 5 posts per week

Entrepreneur Blog – http://www.evancarmichael.com/blog/

This blog by Evan Carmichael is a must for all budding entrepreneurs.

Frequency – 24 posts per week

Female Entrepreneur Association – http://femaleentrepreneurassociation.com/the-blog/

This empowering and inspiring blog which would help you to turn your ideas into reality is a perfect blog for entrepreneurs. It will help you to build the foundation for a successful business

Frequency – 2 posts per week

EOFire Business Podcasts – https://www.eofire.com/blog/

This podcast presents interviews with famous entrepreneurs like Seth Godin, Barbara Corcoran, Tim Ferriss and more. These interviews highlight the journey and the insights of the business strategies of these famous minds.

Frequency – 1 post per week

Learn from Proven Entrepreneurs – https://mixergy.com/

This blog by Andrew will guide you to build a successful empire with the help of famous entrepreneurs.

Frequency – 3 posts per week

Virgin – https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur

This entrepreneur guide by Virgin is all set to inspire, innovate and aspire you.

Frequency – 14 posts per week

The Grasshopper Blog – http://grasshopper.com/blog/

This blog for entrepreneurs will give you tips to grow your business. You will be able to evaluate real case studies and develop your business.

Frequency – 3 posts per week

Entrepreneurs Journey – https://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/

This blog by YaroStarak shares stories and advices to help you create your business empire.

Frequency – 3 posts per month

For Entrepreneurs – http://www.forentrepreneurs.com/

David Skok provides advices on key issues which you face while getting your business started. He discusses about funding and building a solid foundation.

Frequency – 1 post per month

Tropical MBA – http://www.tropicalmba.com/

Dan and Ian will take you through the basics of starting a good business.

Frequency – 1 post per week

Blog of Tim Ferriss – https://tim.blog/category/entrepreneurship/

This blog will give you all the information you need regarding a business

Frequency – 1 post per month

Under30CEO – http://under30ceo.com/category/blog/

This leading media site will help you to view all the trends and events for entrepreneurs.

Frequency – 2 posts per week

Noobpreneur – http://www.noobpreneur.com/

This blogging venture offers help to newbies by giving them tips and trends.

Frequency – 15 posts per week

Startup Mindset – http://startupmindset.com/

This business motivator will give you insights to help you with your personal finance and entrepreneurial lifestyle.

Frequency – 5 posts per week

Chaaipani – https://chaaipani.com/entrepreneurship/

This Indian blog gives you the latest information and news regarding the entrepreneurship stories.

Frequency – 1 post per month

Entrepreneurial Spark – http://www.entrepreneurial-spark.com/blog/

This is one of the leading business accelerator for start-ups.

Frequency – 2 posts per week

Young Upstarts – http://www.youngupstarts.com/

The people at Young Upstarts help young people aged 16-24 to start their own ventures.

Frequency – 19 posts per week

Mike Michalowicz’s blog – http://www.mikemichalowicz.com/blog/

Mike provides tips and strategies for small business owners.

Frequency – 3 posts per month

Next Nigerian Entrepreneur – http://www.nextnaijaentrepreneur.com/

Nigerian entrepreneurs share their success stories to help others.

Frequency – 2 posts per week

Hack the Entrepreneur – http://hacktheentrepreneur.com/blog/

Jon Nastorpresents podcasts to reveal the fears entrepreneurs have and howto solve those.

Frequency – 1 post per month

The Suitcase Entrepreneur – http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/entrepreneurs-blog/

This blog by Natalie Sisson is perfect for anyone looking to build an online business.

Frequency – 1 post per week

Entrepreneur boy – https://www.entrepreneurboy.com/category/entrepreneurship/

Move up from being an employee to entrepreneur.

Frequency – 2 posts per month

Liftfund – https://www.liftfund.com/entrepreneurs/entrepreneur-blog/

Get financed for new business and start-ups.

Frequency – 1 post per week

Frugal Entrepreneur – http://frugalentrepreneur.com/category/blog/

Get tips for small businesses.

Frequency – 3 posts per month

Entrepreneur Podcast Network – http://epodcastnetwork.com/category/blog/

EPN is your best source to get all business-related advices.

Frequency – 4 posts per week

Braid creative and consulting – http://www.braidcreative.com/blog

Get help to close the gap between your dream and reality.

Frequency – 2 posts per month

The Brand Boy – http://www.thebrandboy.com/

This creative business blog will help you to set your entrepreneurial goals.

Frequency – 7 posts per week

Entrepreneur Academy – http://www.entrepreneur-academy.eu/pin-posts/

Get empowered to venture yourself into the territory of entrepreneurship with Entrepreneur Academy.

Frequency – 2 posts per week

Solo-E – https://www.solo-e.com/

Develop yours business faster with tips from Solo-E.

Frequency – 11 posts per week

Nashville Entrepreneur Centre – http://www.ec.co/blog/

Get critical resources to launch and grow your business.

Frequency – 3 posts per month

Adrian Tan Blog – http://adriantan.com.sg/

Succeed at your business with Adrain and his amazing tips.

Frequency – 1 post per week

Lifestyle Entrepreneur Blog – http://lifestyleentrepreneurblog.com/blog/

Get entrepreneurial help with lifestyle blog.

Frequency – 2 posts per week

The Founding Moms – https://foundingmoms.com/blog/

Mom entrepreneurs can exchange information offline or online. Exchange, connect and grow.

Frequency – 1 post per week

The Entrepreneur’s Source – http://www.entrepreneurssource.com/blog/

Transform your life from employment to empowerment.

Frequency – 4 posts per month

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs- https://www.awebusiness.com/blog/

AWE has been helping women to achieve their dream and succeed at business.

Frequency – 3 posts per month

OnEntrepreneur – http://onentrepreneur.com/

Get information regarding the latest business trends and start-ups.

Frequency – 1 post per month

Entrepreneur Ideas – http://www.entrepreneur-ideas.org/

Get valuable training, insights and advice.

Frequency – 2 posts per month.

The post Top 40 Blogs for Entrepreneurs that they must Follow appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Why Small Businesses Should Invest in Mobile POS Systems

 

Nearly all businesses, both big and small, use digitized point of sale (POS) systems. Even a small mom-and-pop corner grocery store can benefit immensely from a digital POS system. Now there’s a new type of POS systems that small businesses should seriously consider investing in—mobile cash registers. Also called mobile POS system, this is a smaller version of a credit card reader that a shop owner can carry around.

Mobile POS systems are becoming more and more important for businesses as customers transition to online shopping. Retail businesses, and especially small businesses in the food sector, should be investing in mobile card readers to get ahead of the competition. Not all customers pay online. Some customers prefer to pay upon delivery. As people are moving away from the cash-based economy, only the small businesses that invest in mobile POS systems will survive the online shopping age.

Already, promising companies like SumUp, the European leader in mobile credit card readers, are introducing affordable mobile POS systems geared toward small businesses. Here are several reasons why small business owners should pay attention and seriously consider investing in mobile card readers:

Accept Payments Faster

Mobile POS systems make accepting payments super fast for both the business and the customer. Mobile POS systems accept all credit and debit cards that can be swiped. Modern systems such as those offered by SumUp accept not only cards with magnetic strips, but also ones with EMV chips. Therefore, mobile POS systems are a step up over traditional electronic cash registers that only accept magnetic cards. Because of this versatility, mobile card readers make the payment process move fast without hiccups.

Mobile POS Systems Work Even without a Physical Card

Forget punching keys at a cash register or even paying for a very expensive online payment portal. Mobile POS systems make it possible for customers to pay without even having a physical card. There are mPOS systems that small businesses can actually afford that accept NFC technology. Customers can simply use a smartphone with an NFC app and place it near a card reader to pay for an order. This is inarguably highly efficient and convenient for all parties involved. Traditional cash registered don’t even come close to this level of convenience offered.

Accept Payments Wirelessly from Far Away

Mobile POS systems can accept payments wirelessly, with Bluetooth or even with a plugin system. This is a major advantage for portability. This will enable small businesses to deliver the product directly to the customer, no matter how far away, and then accept a digital payment. Small business owners can keep track of digital payments easily and wholly eliminate cash handling problems by delivery personnel.

Keep Track of Inventory and Gather Data

Last but not least, mobile POS systems makes digital tracking of transactions possible, just as with an advanced in-store POS system. These systems come with massive inventory capabilities. Small business owners can gather data and keep track of stock without the need for papers. Mobile POS systems eliminate nearly all time-consuming payment hassles.

The mPOS systems are becoming more affordable so small business owners can definitely attract more customers and get a leg up on the competition with this technology.

The post Why Small Businesses Should Invest in Mobile POS Systems appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

How To Build A Good Reputation As A Contractor

It’s not easy doing your job well and being a leader. Becoming a strong contractor takes time, extra effort and patience. You can’t expect to be a trailblazer overnight, but that doesn’t mean you should give up trying.

That’s why it’s important to gain experience, read inspiring articles and network with people who you see as a role model. These actions will help guide you in the right direction. Working at it will be well worth the reward when you look in the mirror one day and realize you’ve become who you set out to be. See how to build a good reputation as a contractor.

Integrity& Licenses

Having integrity is about being open and honest in all situations. Contractors with integrity don’t lie to their customers and put others in difficult situations. For example, if you’re a builder in Michigan you need to get your contractors licenses Michigan before advertising your services and going to work. Attempting to run a business without the right education, training and licensing is dishonest and will likely ruin any chance for having a good reputation in your industry.

Communication

Open communication is what helps you become a better leader. Leaders can be annoying because they always seem to have a positive attitude. It’s inevitable that problems will occur in business and at work. The difference is in how people handle the difficulties and if they choose to find a solution. A good contractor won’t let a hiccup get them down. They’ll put a smile on their face and rally the employees to help them come up with a resolution that will get the project back on track.

Plan Ahead & Secure Resources

After you’ve secured a project with a homeowner, make sure you’re on track to deliver impressive results. Order the materials well ahead of time and get your employees booked. A good boss knows how to delegate. A contractor with a good reputation knows how to manage their employees so everyone’s busy with their own tasks and not sitting around bored or frustrated. Delegation is part of the job and it’s what’s going to free up more of your time so you can focus on the business strategy and making profits.

Flexibility

You have to be flexible in a contractor position when you’re working with big home projects. It’s not going to work out well if you’re always fighting the natural flow of business and trying to control what you can’t. Remain flexible and make decisions based on the information that’s in front of you. Be open to change and adjustments if the situation calls for it. Learn how to keep your cool in high pressure situations and people will respect you more for it.

Conclusion

Anyone has the opportunity to work hard and become a leader and a boss. Use these tips for knowing what you should be aiming for as you strive to achieve this goal. This is how to build a good reputation as a contractor.

The post How To Build A Good Reputation As A Contractor appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.