Mohit Tater's Blog, page 678

What Do the World’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs Do to Stay in Shape?

The titans of the business world often lead crazy lives that beggar belief. You would likely be forgiven if you ever found yourself scratching your head wondering how they managed to fit at least some sleep into their hectic lives – let alone the time for regular exercise.

However, you will likely find that this select group of individuals understand better than anyone that staying fit is a crucial part of their continued success. Numerous studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly boost your mood, quality of sleep, energy and most importantly – productivity.

To give you an insight into some of these highly successful people’s fitness regimes, Funding Circle have made the Exercising Entrepreneur infographic. Included in this are the exercise routines of 36 of the most accomplished individuals from the world of business, as well as an estimate of how many calories these people burn on a daily and weekly basis.

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle somehow manages to find the time to go sailing on a regular basis, as well as fitting in the occasional session at the gym. This sees him burn approximately 600 calories daily, or 4,299 calories on a weekly basis. Frits van Paasschen, the former CEO of Starwood Hotels, on the other hand, manages to squeeze in a modest 10 mile run every day. This gruelling dedication to his fitness regime sees him burn roughly 1,350 calories each day – or 9,450 calories each week!

If you’re looking for some inspiration for exercise that you can work into your professional life, why not take a look at the Exercising Entrepreneur infographic? You might just find that spark you need that will help you get both your body, and your business into fighting form!

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The Three Golden Rules of Landlord Insurance

Investing in property to become a buy-to-let landlord can be an exciting chapter in your life. It can become a substantial second earning alongside a primary career, or a venture into the business of property letting full-time. What can be said for both though is the mutual stress it can sometimes bring. For that reason it is extremely important you select the correct landlord insurance and know exactly how to do that.

So below are three golden rules that can guide you simply into selecting and narrowing down the credentials for the right landlord insurance.

Honesty is the best policy.

Starting a new venture can be daunting, so now more than ever you need to be completely honest about your situation. Giving extensive and honest details about any potential risks that may occur will allow you to rest assured that no matter what may happen, your insurance will have it covered. This is also why you should be aware of what needs covering, and what is covered in your package.


Fully furnished, or not?

If you are going to include any furniture within your property then it is highly recommended that you insure them, so that if damage or theft does occur then you are completely covered. This will ensure that your well-spent money, time and effort is not wasted or lost. Remember though that this doesn’t cover tenants’ personal contents, they must seek their own insurance for this.


Does the perfect tenant really exist?

The final of the three golden rules, unfortunately the answer to this one is no, the perfect tenant doesn’t really exist. We advise you to remember tenants are only human and accidents will happen. But luckily, what makes up for with the not so perfect tenant is in fact the perfect landlord insurance. Accidents will inevitably happen, but when it concerns larger incidents like burst pipes, late rent payment and smoke damage, the right landlord insurance can make dealing with these issues much easier.

So overall if you’re honest, consider any furniture contents and select the right landlord insurance packages to cover the essentials, then your journey and time as a landlord is bound to be much less stressful.

For information and guidance on selecting a tailored package for your needs, or even  just for a chat about any queries you may have about landlord insurance, then call an expert in the field at UKInsuranceNET on 01325 346394 or simply email over any enquiries.

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Accounting Made Easy – FreshBooks Review

FreshBooks is a service that serves over 5 million businesses worldwide. It is classified as a cloud accounting service. This means that it is the solution for businesses that want to step into the 21st century from the older, traditional methods of bookkeeping such as old school pen and paper. The site itself is pretty fluidly designed. There are helpful video tutorials for every aspect of the cloud service. The website is secure as well, and allows a new user to make payments and upload their company details without having to worry about espionage or theft.

The welcome page upon signing up is very user-friendly

First Impressions

As soon as the signup is completed (there is a free 30 day trial period), the homepage is shown along with some incredibly useful links and contact information. These include links to the customer service team (which isn’t a 24-hour hotline, which is a little off-putting), and free webinars and android/iOS apps for the CEO on the go.

Helpful links to tutorials right on the home page

Getting acquainted with the site is made easier because all of the functions of the service are linked right on the home page, along with a summary of your company, profits, recent activity and more. You can also click through to helpful video guides on using the cloud accounting service to its maximum potential, which is pretty cool. There is a quick launch “Get Started” toolbar on the side as well.

Payment And Subscription

Pricing is a major factor for a business that is looking for an accountant, whether it is a digital one or a human. The smallest subscription package for FreshBooks is $12.95 a month. The most popular package has the essential features and some add-ons for $29.95 a month, which isn’t bad at all. With a high satisfaction rate as well as a satisfaction guarantee that will give your money back in the first 30 days, it is a great tool for small businesses on a budget.

30 day money-back guarantee and decent prices for subscription

Features

There are many intrinsic features of the cloud accounting service, and they are pretty well done. Easy to use and very comprehensive, these features won’t leave your company wanting for anything. You can add a new client to your business, so that you won’t need a separate database of clients and their contact details. Because of the cloud, this information is secure and safe.

Easy to add new clients to the database on the cloud

There is also a useful feature for adding invoices for your transactions. These can be sent directly to your printer over the internet or via old-school wired printing. The invoice forms are detailed, and allow for better organization of your company transactions.

Invoice generation is simple and organized.

If clients are more interested in quotations for your services instead, you can generate estimates, using the intrinsic feature on the site. These can later be converted into invoices without further details needing to be entered, if the transaction goes through in the end.

Quick and easy estimate to invoice conversion and generation

Two other features are expense management and time tracking. Expense management allows you to keep track of all corporate expenses. These include spending for personal use from the corporate account. This is deducted from your invoices using an algorithm and your company’s actual earnings for the fiscal term are presented to you faster than a human accountant ever could.

Expense tracking allows for more accurate income calculation

Timesheet generation and tracking allows you to keep track of daily hours, task completion times, deadlines and more. You can organize these by project as well, or by the client who requested it. This makes for a far more organized company overall.

Live timers and organized timesheets

Conclusion

FreshBooks is a cloud accounting service that is fast, helpful, organized and secure. It does have its flaws and shortcomings, but they are barely noticeable because of the design, helpfulness and overall cleanliness of the service itself. It is one of the better accounting services out there for the small business.

Start your free trial now!

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Is Machine Learning Changing the Future of SEO? Yes! Here’s How

For years, Google’s algorithm updates have dominated the SEO industry. Every time you’ve got accustomed with an algorithm, a new update rolled out, forcing you to audit your website and rethink your strategy.

But, recently a new player has entered the game, and it promises to change the SEO world.

Its name? Machine learning.

What Is Machine Learning, Though?

The term means a type of artificial intelligence that can determine computers to learn without having to program them. Winnipeg app development uses machine learning to focus on the production of computer programs and they are able to teach themselves to evolve and change when they are exposed to new data. A self-driving car or Facebook’s new algorithm are great examples of machine learning.

As you may already know, as of 2011, Facebook replaced their EdgeRank algorithm with another one that individualizes users’ experience based on what the algorithm thinks they might want. The algorithm learns your preferences by looking at your interaction, likes, clicks and lingers that you make. Other factors include the relationship that you have with a person, and they are determined based on how often you click on their photos, like their posts, talk with them on Messenger, how often you write on their Timeline, and so on.

Google, however, still relies heavily on manual updates and uses a team of engineers to make sure that Internet users are getting quality relevant results. But, this aspect is soon to be changed since Google recently added a new layer to its ranking algorithm. Now, Google is focusing more on artificial intelligence to rank all search results. They call it RankBrain.

“Hold up a minute! Are machines going to take over the world?”

The answer is no. By taking the human factor out of the equation, engineers at Google or Facebook are simply making sure that their engines will deliver better results. It can also mean that the future of SEO will change.

But How Is Machine Learning Impacting SEO?

But, to be honest, machine learning isn’t quite yet changing the world of SEO. At this stage, RankBrain is just another algorithm update. But, it the future, an algorithm that updates itself automatically can mean fewer updates. More than that, machine learning should impact your SEO efforts in a way that continues the strategy that you have already developed.

SEO best practices are still in place, for now, and you should focus on creating valuable content, dedicated landing pages, optimize your website for mobile, and offer exceptional user experience.

However, things are due to change in the future. As Google’s AI evolves, the algorithms will become more precise, and they will get better at making predictions. More than that, since RankBrain is believed to be the third most important signal (out of 200), you can expect it to impact and change SEO and ranking. That might be good news for marketers who have played by the rules, but still don’t manage to improve their rankings. In the future, machine learning will determine more relevant search factors, helping those who respect SEO best practices.

What Options Do SEO Experts Have?

Undoubtedly, SEO has always been a more of a “moving sands” type of ground. However, machine learning is a complete game changer. Up until now, it seemed that Google’s priority was to ruin rankings and wreck businesses. With this new algorithm, though, hopes are that the changes will be happening more slowly, and in an adaptive way.

The algorithm learns based on human experiences, so marketers need to start paying close attention to their audience’s searching habits. The best way to do that is by tracking the user interaction with the website so that you can adjust it to an optimal experience.

Another productive way to create meaningful experiences is to work together with developers and information architects. But, probably the most underrated tip is to create helpful and relevant content. Ultimately, do not forget to perform A/B tests on every landing page, website or platform.

The majority’s opinion is that machine learning will only get bigger. Google is the perfect example of how this algorithm has already taken a big place in the SEO world and how it can perform some even bigger changes. SEO experts shouldn’t worry too much since things won’t change too much for them if they keep optimizing for humans. Remember people are the center of your business, not Google.

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Top Four Reasons Why Employees Are Working Remotely

According to a Gallup Work and Education Poll, 37 percent of the U.S. workforce works remotely at least a few times a month. This is four times the 9 percent reported in 1995, an increase also reported by other studies. This number is likely to continue rising in the coming years. The growth represents a staggering shift in attitudes toward work, and several trends are driving the change.

Technology

Technology is by far the biggest enabler of telecommuting. For example, many tech employees only need access to a capable computer and Wi-Fi connection to complete their day-to-day deliverables, which means they are fully capable of working from anywhere in the world. Many telecommuters also use virtual communication apps and systems, such as Skype, FaceTime, or Voxer, to stay connected to their work teams and supervisors on their computers and smartphones.

Cloud-based productivity software also makes teleworking easier. Microsoft’s Office 365 makes it possible for employees to create, access and share files with one another from multiple devices and locations. Meanwhile, employers can rest easier with cloud security options that can aggressively monitor, analyze, and neutralize threats in different geo-locations.

Wider Talent Pool

Without geographic constraints, employers have access to a wider pool of talent to source from. This allows a marketing company based in California to have employees in New York, Toronto, or even Valencia, Spain. For many companies with unique needs that might be hard to source locally, such as access to a team of multi-lingual translators, working remotely knocks down many significant barriers and attracts new opportunities.

Lower Overhead

A major perk for many employers is that telecommuters help cut operational costs; it is fully possible to run a business with 100-plus employees from an office with space for only 20 people. Since remote workers typically use their own resources, such as electricity and water, when they are working from home, a company’s overhead can quickly shrink if a sizable amount of employees telecommutes for at least some of the workweek.

Another upside is the growth associated with lower operational costs. Tapping into telecommuting options can allow budget-strapped startups to put more resources towards developmental goals. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reports that businesses with telecommuting policies tend to grow faster than businesses without them.

Flexibility

The possibilities spawned by the Internet and constantly evolving technology have fostered a generation where millennials’ concept of work is that it can happen anywhere. Many millennials enter the work force expecting flexibility as a basic work option. More employees in general are realizing a greater work-life balance when they can telecommute at least a couple of times a week. For parents, it means more time with the kids; for others, it means less commuting stress or better meals. For some companies, it means higher rates of retention and employee satisfaction.

As the trend in remote working continues to grow, we will no doubt see unique paradigm shifts across different industries. With new technological developments always on the horizon, we can look forward to a future where our relationship to work is being constantly redefined.

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Top 5 Elements of SEO

Search Engine Optimization is currently the most important as well as successful technique used by businesses in order to make their website rank at the top most possible position in Google’s search. SEO is a method used to offer the users the most relevant content and it involves using different techniques in order to optimize the search and make your website popular and market your business in order to make it grow. SEO initially involved only self promotional content but with Google getting stricter about authentic content, SEO now also focuses on providing organic content . Know more about SEO at https://www.magicdust.com.au/search-engine-optimisation/.  Below given are the top 5 SEO techniques which are used to market web content along with providing authentic information. Read more:

Usage of Keywords: There are certain business specific keywords which are used in order to write content for promoting that particular business. These keywords should be used 3 to 5 times per article so that the search becomes optimized. The keywords should be relevant to the content which is usually searched by target customers. Do not choose a keyword which is not a popularly searched term, because this will spoil the entire purpose of Search Engine Optimization, as irrelevant keywords would not optimize the search at all.
Backend of the website: Choose a website creation platform which supports the SEO procedures. The URL which you choose for the website should be customizable, so that you can change it according to the current popular keywords. The website should be easily indexed by Google.
Create target pages: You should create designated target pages which have content focusing on keywords as well as phrases. It is best to have 3 to 5 keywords per page, including it once in the page title, main heading of the content article as well as including the keyword a few times in the Meta description. Target the keyword inclusion carefully and include relevant keywords so that the Google algorithm gets it on the top searches when the keyword is entered in the search button.
Creation of Page content: The page content on each web page of your business website should be at least 400 to 600 words. It should not only be self promotional, but should also be business specific, authentic, organic, natural and relevant to what the visitor requires, so that the visitor does not get confused or irritated and finds your content to be a waste of time.
Enhance user experience on your website: Apart from relevant content, offering the website visitors a user friendly experience is also very important. Your website should be easy to understand and the look should not be too complicated. The navigation should be clear and logical as well. Consider aspects like usability testing, responsive web design and hiring an experienced SEO technician would help you achieve this. Make sure that the website as well as the content is not too complicated to be understood by your visitors and prospect customers as well.

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Do You Have an Attorney for Your Small Business? 3 Reasons You Should

An attorney? I’m just an entrepreneur looking to make a few extra bucks while chasing a dream. Why in the world would I ever need an attorney? It’s quite common to question the need for legal counsel – especially when you don’t fully understand all that they can do for your business.  When most of us think of attorneys, we think of lawsuits and litigation. We assume that because we’re a small entity that the chances of being sued are slim to none….

Wrong attitude to have. It is important to point out two things. The first is that an attorney can assist you in more ways than just providing legal representation should you get sued. They have an array of skills and knowledge that can ensure that your business is protected at all times. The second thing to point out is that, unfortunately, as a “one man band” you’re assuming a LOT more risks than larger companies are and as such, the chances of someone filing suit against you are high.

The Right Attorney Can Protect Your Business

Your business is your pride and joy. You’ve invested time, money, and energy into establishing it and growing it to the point that it is today. So imagine finding out one day that someone can take it away from you (or sue you for so much that you can’t financially support a business anymore)… how would that make you feel?

Having a no non-sense attorney on retainer to safeguard your business is the only way to provide yourself with peace of mind. This magazine profile talks about Benedict Morelli and the Morelli Firm located in the greater New York area. It goes into detail about how the firm and assists individuals and businesses in areas that can include anything from legal advice to law suits, personal injury claims, and more.

Having an attorney such as this on your team means that you have a plethora of information at your fingertips. It means you have a team of specialized professionals that are willing to go to bat to make sure that they very thing you worked so hard to accomplish is not taken from you or tarnished.

Not convinced that you need to add an attorney to your business expenses? Here are three reasons to reconsider:

3 Ways an Attorney Helps Your Business

Legal Advice – No matter what stage you’re in with your business, there’s always a need for legal advice. From ensuring that you’ve selected the right type of entity to labor laws and contractual agreements, you’ll need someone who knows the law to ensure that you’re in compliance.
Draft Contracts – Contracts are legally binding documents that safeguard your business. They are in-depth documents that detail information as it pertains to your business and the responsibilities you have as a service provider, employer, etc. Omitting important information, creating a contract with lingo no one understands, or adding in content that is unnecessary can present issues down the line. An attorney can assist you in drafting and/or reviewing contracts to ensure you’ve stated everything clearly and minimized the potential for a suit.
Prevent Legal Issues – It’s always better to be proactive than it is to be reactive. Waiting for a lawsuit to hit you over the head is not the best practice. An attorney is great for spotting something that could spell trouble later on. A poorly written contract, for instance, that leaves you open for too many risks can be pulled before it’s sent out to a client. An employee benefits package that does not comply with government regulations can be assessed prior to you having a suit from a disgruntled staff member. The list goes on and on. For what it’s worth, an attorney can also prevent major legal issues by helping you negotiate outside of court and lessening the blow should a suit be filed.

You might be thinking of an attorney as nothing more than an added expense that you can’t afford. However, as an entrepreneur, you take on a host of risks that leave you susceptible to being sued. From unsatisfied customers to disgruntled employees and anxious competitors, there is a lot that could fall through the cracks that you aren’t prepared for. Having a reputable attorney on retainer with extensive knowledge can give you peace of mind as you focus on growing your business.

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5 Ways to Grow Your Business Online

Even if you have a brick and mortar storefront for your business, you still need to spend a lot of your efforts growing your business online. Many Americans start their search for goods and services on Google, and you don’t want to risk losing business because you haven’t focused any efforts on that medium. Even if you have a solid online platform, you can still do more to grow your business online.

Stay Active on Social Media

Image via Flickr by vernieman

Many small business owners have the best intentions when they start social media accounts only to become lackadaisical about posting and utilizing those accounts. Take advantage of all social media available and relevant to your consumers, and keep those accounts active. If you aren’t able to keep up with your social media, consider outsourcing that part of your marketing to make sure you are making the most out of those opportunities.

Revamp Your Site

While your branding is important, if your website looks dated then it may turn consumers away. Take advantage of some of the latest trends in website design such as scrolling, flat sites, augmented reality, or split screen websites. While you still want your brand to be recognized, you can make your site more attractive and modern without sacrificing your brand image.

Make It Easy

The reason people enjoy shopping online is because it’s simple, easy, and it’s convenient. Make sure every aspect of your business stays within those parameters. Make sure your website loads quickly and is easy to navigate. Don’t lose customers with a difficult payment process. Consider using a third-party such as BillPro so that all your payments are easy, safe, and secure. Your customer should never get tripped up by anything on your website and during the buying process.

Go Mobile

Your website either needs to be responsive or you need to have a separate mobile site. A lot of people surf the internet and shop on their smartphone or tablet, and your site needs to fit whatever screen that person is on. You may also want to consider creating an app if it would be relevant to your business to attract even more customers through their mobile device.

Start a Blog

If you already have a blog, improve your content and include a call to action at the end of every post. If you don’t have a blog, it’s time to start one. Sometimes consumers just start out by researching whatever it is they may want to buy. If you give free information involving your product or service then that person may be enticed to buy from you since they are already in the right place.

Whether your business is solely online, or you only use your website to direct people to your physical store, your online marketing is vital to promoting a successful business. Take advantage of every opportunity you have online to make your business stand out, and make sure customers are able to find you when they start their online search.

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The Age Of Data: 4 Ways To Use Analytics To Make Better Marketing Decisions

Most businesses collect a lot of data — you can track everything from email and social media engagement to website and video metrics. However, that does not mean that all that data is being put to good use. It doesn’t make sense to track the data if you’re not going to look at it. Here are four ways you can use your business data to make better marketing decisions.

Website Data: Look at Customer Demographics

Image via Flickr by IntelFreePress

Businesses love to see traffic spikes on their websites. There is all sorts of data you can track associated with traffic patterns, such as time of day when customers visit your site, which countries or regions offer the most visitors, and other demographics associated with your visitors. However, none of this data matters unless you use it to better understand your customers. Look for customer demographic trends and then create promotions to better target the people who visit your site.

Social Data: Look at Customer Interests

Website data is definitely important, but social data can help you learn even more about your customers’ interests. For instance, if you want to write a new blog post, you can check out your social data to see if your customers would be interested in the topic you chose. This will help you stay relevant in your content marketing efforts. Plus, social media gives you a more personal platform in which to engage your customers so you can tailor your engagement to their interests. The more you engage your audience, the stronger your platform becomes.

Video Data: Look at Customer Engagement

Businesses often use videos to provide information to their customers. This is because most people would rather watch an engaging video than read long text. When tracking whether a marketing video provides a good return on investment, you need to look at the trends within the trends. For instance, if you notice that customers are not playing your videos through in their entirety, there was a point where they lost interest. You can identify when that was and start to understand what your customers are thinking. This allows you to adapt videos in the future to better fit their needs.

Email Data: Look at Customer Behavior

Email marketing is typically about retaining relationships with your customers. Therefore, you need to do more than simply track the number of subscribers you lose. You need to look closer at the reasons why it is happening. For instance, if you lost a large number of subscribers after sending out an email blast, you can’t simply assume that it was because your email was too promotional. Instead, you need to look at the other trends associated with your email subscriber lists. You may have lost a lot of subscribers because your timing was simply off.

Unfortunately, there is no standard equation to help you use your analytics better. You will need to come up with a solution that is customized to your business. The ideas in this article will help you get started so that you can make better marketing decisions based on your data.

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Does Your Team Feel TGIF ?

On a Friday, most people breeze into office, their minds often wander in weekend-inspired-lands! There’s a buzz in the air filled with anticipation of the end of work week gala! Angry bosses, pending deliverables, upcoming appraisals are all pushed to the back of the mind and there’s almost a forced determination to wrap up the week and head into the lap of leisure!

This is the best time to tap into people’s uplifted moods and let them know you care enough to give them a good time!

Why should you invest in fun activities?
Motivation

Your employees have had a tough week. Many stay back after hours for free, probably skipping a child’s birthday or an anniversary, some must have cancelled vacations to meet the timelines you have decided! A small gesture from you will tell them it was all worth it!

Promotes Team Interaction

Fun activities encourage employees to interact on a less professional and a more personal platform. Backgrounds are revealed, stories are told, talents discovered and friendships are forged. Support systems thus built translate into better communication and higher productivity at work as well.

Improves Team Performance

With greater opportunities to interact, teams understand their strengths, weaknesses and interests better. A closely knit team works better and delivers greater quality.

Helps with employee retention

A supportive, peaceful workplace that proactively recognizes employees’ contributions provides employees with the job satisfaction most look for. This drives them to stay connected with the organization.

Builds on organization’s standing

An organization is ultimately an amalgamation of its employees. With motivated employees at the helm, it can only steer forward and higher!

What can you do?
Recognize efforts

One doesn’t have to wait one year long to let a good worker know he’s good! Small monthly or bi-monthly awards are a great way to motivate employees and drive them to perform better!

Encourage talent

Most of your employees are busy in the routine work, probably have surprising talents hidden up their sleeves. Give them the platform to showcase them before their fraternity. A little applause can work wonders in boosting morale and increasing self confidence.

Celebrate!

You may not be giving them a holiday on Diwali or Christmas this year, but make sure you make their day worthwhile anyways! Small goodies to take back home, fun games and quizzes are marvelous spirit lifters! Don’t underestimate the wonders a small pack of sweets can work for you!

Party!

Be it a high end cocktail party or a simple luncheon, celebrate milestones achieved and prepare for future challenges over a meal! A family that eats together, stays together!

These little ideas can go a long way in making your organization a great place to work in. You would be surprised to see that most of them do not even require significant monetary resources. A little time and some efforts are all it takes for your employees to find their work fun and fulfilling!

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