Mohit Tater's Blog, page 689

Basic SEO Principles to Secure More Traffic for Your Site

There are a few SEO tips that any marketer or online entrepreneur should know and use. They make the difference in increasing the visibility of a brand and the amount of traffic a business website generates.

Keywords

Familiarize yourself with the words and phrases people use to search every time you consider creating new content. Keywords should be the focus of your content as they are important for your company. Research them well. Use the most appropriate keywords for each of your post whenever you are producing new pages and posts for your site.

Apart from giving you helpful hints whenever you type keywords in a Google search field, the search engine takes you even further. It presents you with the Google Keyword Planner tool with which you can research the most appropriate keywords. The tool is a source of very helpful information – the number of average monthly searches with particular keywords.

Image tags

People use a wide variety of image throughout their sites, and it is always surprising when they do not recognize the importance of images. When Google indexes websites, it needs to know as much as possible about the image and how it should be served in searches. This asks that your images have proper tags. It may be very difficult for Google to identify the image if it doesn’t have one.

If you are using WordPress, certain plugins, such as Yoast SEO, will remind you to describe your images accordingly. It helps Google understand what the image is about, how it should be indexed and when to display it in a search.

Meta description

Immediately after your URL on a search results page is displayed is the Meta description of the URL. This summary is important as it provides a hint to what people should expect when visiting it. You would want a person to wish to click on your URL and learn more, which also means you should try to engage with them as much as possible and be truthful in your description. As you have a limited number of words to use for it, use such that grab people’s attention like “visit” or “learn”, the so-called call-to-action words. They are good for encouraging people to visit your site for additional information on the subject of their interest and hopefully acquire the information they are after.

Backlinks

Backlinks are one of the most valuable SEO resources and certain SEO companies from Montreal pay a lot of attention to them. In their essence, backlinks are hyperlinks from other sites to you own website. You normally earn backlinks when people find your information helpful and link to it from their own content already published on their websites.

You would also want to link to relevant and helpful information published on other sites. This is how the other websites earn backlinks from you. Ensure that the backlinks in your content are of value to your user and never worry about having too many of them.

You can use these tips to your advantage to secure more traffic for your site. Allow them to work for you and they will pay off with results.

Seek Out The Best Test Prep Organization When Studying For The LSAT

Taking the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) can be an extremely daunting task for some students. Since this part multiple choice, part written exam tests and determines suitability for law school, it demands that takers provide evidence that they can break down arguments, analyze and evaluate dense materials, draw accurate conclusions from complex positions, and manage subtle and nuanced blocks of information. These are skills every legal professional needs, and are of course developed over years of close reading, study, and writing — one cannot ‘cram’ for a test that asks you to work with language in such a critical way.

While there are many solutions to overcoming the psychological and intellectual challenges of the LSAT, one of the simplest and most effective ways is to read, practice, and prepare as much as possible. After all, nothing brings on unmanageable levels of anxiety like uncertainty, unpreparedness, and unfamiliarity with the types of questions you’ll encounter on the test. And while anyone can study on their own, an LSAT course administered by professional group of educators offers the kind of unparalleled edge you need to score in the highest percentiles.

Deciding to enrol in a test prep course is a great first step, but a new problem soon arises: there are so many to choose from! How do you know which classes offer the most value and demonstrated ability to increase your test score and give you the confidence you need to succeed? The answer lies in both common sense and a bit of research. Look for organizations that offer free LSAT workshops (operating like information sessions in which you can learn more about the test), free mock exams (helping you find your ‘baseline’ score to determine your strengths and weaknesses), free one-on-one LSAT score assessments(assisting you in your study plans and helping you find the right help), and free test downloads.

Notice something similar about all those services? That’s right — they’re all free. You should only start paying for an LSAT course when you’re committed to in-class hours from knowledgeable, friendly, and experienced teaching staff. The courses you ultimately choose will only be as beneficial if you can truly commit. So if you have a crowded schedule — like most do these days — it’s best to sign up with a company that offers flexible scheduling. Whether it’s days, nights, weekends or weekdays, ensure you choose a time in which you can give your undivided attention. Details like these will ultimately lead to a more rewarding experience with your test prep service — and, of course, higher scores!

Choosing an organization with a more innovative and holistic approachwill add to the arsenal of affective tools you’ll have when conquering the LSAT. Check out what the Quantum Test Prep LSAT course offers in particular. It may seem like a wise move to take practice test after practice test, but it also might also be an impractical way to quell test anxiety. Quantum embraces a standardized approach to prepping for a standardized test; this will provide you with the ability to obtain the skills and confidence to tackle the toughest portions of the LSAT. Look for groups like Quantum that offer a modularized approach to breaking down arguments, identifying the difference between central and digressive claims, and diagram your way to making correct inferences.

The more preparations you make, and the more your hone and advance these skills, the less anxiety you will feel during test time. If for nothing else, start researching a great LSAT course near you to give yourself the confidence boost that will help you boost your score.

Can You Afford Not to Invest in Property

As an up-and-coming entrepreneur, you’ll usually want to keep your options open and your finances fluid. Tying up money in property, therefore, may seem counter-intuitive. Stocks and shares, bonds and so on can be quickly bought and then sold when the need arises or the time is right. Property is traditionally a longer-term thing and it’s less easy to realise your capital fast in times of trouble.

Perhaps, though, your plan is to make it rich and retire, in which case property is a sound investment. Setting some money aside for the future is just as important as managing the here and now. And every successful businessman knows the value of spreading the risk – as you spread the risk, you increase your options when one thing goes wrong.

Invest in the UK or elsewhere?

Not so very long ago, the trend was for people to plunge their hard-earned savings into cheaper property abroad. Many have since fallen foul of struggling economies ñ think Spain or Greece, for example. These days, investors around the world are rushing to sink their money into UK developments. There are a number of reasons for this, not least because here in the UK, we benefit from a robust legal system that offers a good deal of protection against financial crisis and the like. The UK is even more attractive than other countries because there is no tax on land ownership: while tenanted, it’s the occupants who pay council tax or business rates. And despite the recent economic crisis which caused a housing crash worldwide, the UK property market has been otherwise stable for many years.

Won’t property management be a distraction?

Owning an investment property inevitably comes with responsibilities. Visions of midnight calls to unblock toilets and get the boiler fixed are unappealing; and definitely not what you need when you have a thousand and one other things on the go. Choose a great property management firm to look after your investment and all that’s included in the price you pay. It becomes somebody else’s problem.

What if I need my money back?

There comes a time when you may need to dispose of your property. Seeking the right firm that offers you a clearly defined exit strategy will mitigate much of the risk. In any case, though, having to factor in a delay while a property is sold can protect against knee-jerk reactions when something goes wrong, giving you time to think about whether selling is a step that is really desirable. Because often, it’s a funny thing about us entrepreneurs ñ the fewer options we have, the more chance there is of us coming up with a better solution to a problem. It sparks our creative juices.

What’s the best bet in property investment at the moment?

Student accommodation in the UK is right where it’s at just now. It has many attractions for the savvy investor. The British student market is burgeoning, with 38 of the world’s top 500 universities being based in the UK and attracting a lot of interest and wealth from the overseas market. Increased numbers of students creates a greater demand for accommodation, and property developers are seeking to capitalise on that trend. Purpose-built developments are springing up all the time ñ you only have to take a look around some of the peak growth cities, like London, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester to see student developments everywhere.

But development needs investment, so there’s an urgent need for serious investors. That doesn’t mean you have to be a Rockefeller or a Branson to take advantage of the market, though. Many developments are split down into self-contained units, so you can invest in as many or few as you want.

You’re almost certain of high occupancy levels and rising rental incomes over time. And ironically, the student market is a lot less fickle and easier to predict than the usual buy to let crowd.

All in all, do it right and property investment has the potential to offer you an ongoing income, secure and stable, on which you can build all those other risky and exciting options. Why not start building your portfolio today?

How Breakout Rooms Can Improve Employee Engagement

The days of the dull 1950s-style office complete with seemingly endless rows of desks and chairs are numbered. Companies are now turning to more dynamic and visually appealing office designs, and one major trend involves incorporating breakout rooms into workspaces. These designated areas can play a major role in boosting employee engagement – and here’s how.

Increase concentration

One of the big benefits of breakout zones is the fact that they can help people to concentrate. A major gripe of workers in open plan offices is excessive noise. With multiple conversations taking place simultaneously in these spaces, it can be difficult to keep sound levels under control. By giving personnel a separate area where they can hold informal meetings and discussions, you can help to ensure the other parts of your office stay peaceful. You don’t even have to cordon breakout areas off completely in order to achieve this effect. There are a range of innovative furnishings that can enable you to keep volume levels under control even in open plan office layouts. For example, take a look at the breakout seating options available on sites like http://www.calibre-furniture.co.uk/. For impressive noise reduction, you can opt for benches complete with acoustic surrounds that are ideal for small meetings.

By reducing distractions in your office, you can help to ensure that your staff members are able to get on with their tasks without being put off their stride.

Promote collaboration

Breakout areas can promote collaboration between colleagues too. All too often in large offices that lack informal meeting spaces, people are put off discussing their ideas for fear of causing too much disruption. At the same time, booking official meeting rooms can seem over the top for a quick chat. By making sure your employees have a place they can go to at a moment’s notice to have impromptu discussions with their co-workers, you can eliminate any feelings of awkwardness and free people up to collaborate more effectively with their colleagues. In turn, this can do wonders for creativity and productivity within your firm.

Boost morale

Then there’s the effect that breakout zones can have on worker morale to consider. By creating a more dynamic space where people have the freedom to enjoy peace and quiet or chat to their colleagues in specially designed zones, you can help to boost the mood of your employees. They should find their days to be more pleasant and more productive, and in turn this could mean they feel more strongly connected to your company.

Given the advantages of breakout rooms in terms of productivity, collaboration, morale and more generally employee engagement, it’s not hard to see why so many firms are incorporating these areas into their offices.

Going Global? Improving Your Business Starts with Improving Yourself

If you’re an entrepreneur who has exhibited the hard work and skill needed to start their own business, and to have it succeed, then it’s more than likely that you’re filled with an inner drive and desire that is essential in the business world. If that drive and desire exists, then it’s more than likely that you’re looking to improve both yourself and your business.

Although it’s likely that you’ll want your business to go global (which is easier than ever before in the 21st century), it’s vital that you improve yourself first, so you’re ready for the associated challenges and so that you can be reflexive and adapt to new business practices and new ways of working. Here we look at why you should improve yourself before globalising your business and how this is possible.

Why Put Yourself Before the Business?

When you’re a successful entrepreneur, your business often becomes your sole focus and you relegate the role that you play in its success to a peripheral one, assuming that you’ve been a cog in the machine.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth and it is important to remember that you’re the driving force behind the success of your business. It is more than likely that your business could not have been a success without you. As such, this must be acknowledged, and you must aim to maximise these successes and eliminate any weaknesses you may have as a business owner. If you continually make mistakes such as not negotiating properly or failing to barter on items, your business will lose money. Likewise, not building on your strengths is a missed opportunity that could be costing you money.

By prioritising yourself before you scale up your business to a global level, you can iron out the cracks. This increases the chance of the upscale being a success and helps you avoid making the same mistakes again.

How Do You Make Improvements?

When it comes to improving yourself before improving your business, there are two techniques that you can choose, networking and training.

Networking: Learning about the best parts of other businesses is the best way to improve your business, if you do it correctly. By networking, talking and discussing things with other business owners (even if they operate in different areas to your business), you can still learn from the mistakes that they made. Additionally, you can also learn from successes. Remember, success breeds success, so who better to talk to than other successful business owners?

Training: If you’re self-styled and self-taught then professional training courses might be more suited because they can iron out any self-taught issues you may not have noticed. If training is your preferred option, then it’s best to opt for an accredited option, such as completing a degree in business. This doesn’t have to be impractical either, with companies such as Hult International Business School meaning that you can complete the degree while you stay in work. If you’re going to work globally, additional qualifications will improve your standing in the eyes of your customers and will increase the likelihood of doing deals.

There we have it, if you’re increasing the size of your business or considering going global then it’s important that you improve your own skills first.

Advice for Designing a Stylish and Functional Home Office

Whether you’re working from home, or you need a place where you can comfortably work if needed, you’ll want the best environment for doing so. This is where the design and layout of your home office space is very important, as a dull, dreary and disorganised area can be quite detrimental to your productivity. So, to find out how you can create your own stylish and functional home office that helps you to get your work done, read our useful advice:

The Best Room

Starting with the basics, you need to choose the right room in your home. The temptation might be to go for the smallest room, as it’s out of the way. However, this can make you feel boxed in and become quite cramped over time. Instead why not choose a larger room, or choose a section of a bigger area like your living room?

The Right Decoration

Wherever you choose, before you start filling it with your gear, paint the walls in a bright and vibrant colour. Something that can be visually stimulating, rather than plain and boring. A little plant life can also add a refreshing, natural feel to your home office.

Making Space

If you don’t have the freedom to use a larger room, how you use your chosen smaller area is hugely important. Simple touches like having taller and thinner storage units are a smart move, equally little things like sliding doors on entrances, cupboards and wardrobes can really help maximise space. Another tip is to buy a corner desk that pushes up against the wall.

Comfy Seating

If you’ve ever worked in an office where your chair has been of poor quality, you’ll know how much this can affect your work rate. Spend a little extra and buy yourself a decent computer chair that supports you fully; the added benefits on top of comfort are that you’re less likely to damage your back.

Decent Technology

In a similar vein to the above, without good quality tech, your home office will be far from functional. Tired and old computers, servers and other devices can become a source of frustration when you’re waiting on them to perform simple functions for you. You don’t necessarily need to throw them out, as you can purchase more affordable upgrades for your tech, but these investments will go a long way for your productivity.

So, be sure to take on board this straightforward advice and soon you could be working in your home office more efficiently and effectively than ever.

Does Your Startup Know How to Hire Engineers

In an age of mobile device dependence, cloud computing, and constant technological innovation, engineers have become an indispensable company asset for their ability to streamline business processes via innovative software development, troubleshooting solutions, and commercial applications. Every company needs avid engineers to be the backbone of the team. For a startup that is trying to “get deep” into a competitive market, hiring the right engineers is more important than ever. Here are some practical tips that will help startups and entrepreneur to more effectively hire talented engineers:

Define Your Ideal Candidate

As a startup, the first few hires are the ones that will shape the company’s culture and vision many years down the road. This is why one must be specific with their requirements, ensuring that the job description, educational/training qualifications, and ideal candidate profiles are in line with the business’s short-term and long-term objectives.

While there are many qualities one may be looking for in an engineer, a long-term research study conducted at Bell Labs about hiring engineers has found that top-performing engineers are not necessarily the ones with the most impressive academic talent and innate abilities. According to the study, the nine characteristics the most valuable engineers share are: (1) taking initiative, (2) networking, (3) self-management, (4) teamwork, (5) leadership, (6) followership, (7) perspective, (8) show-and-tell, and (9) organizational savvy. In other words, look for a candidate who not only can fulfill the technical aspects of the job, but who also can excel as a team player, a leader, and a visionary.

Develop the Right Interview Questions

Once a startup has identified the ideal candidates for their engineering position, it’s time to develop a list of questions that will help to assess his or her competencies. According to Jared Friedman, Co-founder and CTO of Scribd, startups need to use challenging questions, but need to do so in such a way that gives the candidate enough time to approach them. One technique he suggests is to ask progressively harder questions. Another tactic is to ask average questions but grade the candidates based on originality, comprehensiveness, and creativity.

When determining the effect and appropriateness of questions, Emil Ong, Principal Software Engineer and Engineering Lead from Lookout, suggests that having people across the company to mock interview each other “is a great way to evaluate new interview questions and engage employees as part of the process.” As Redpoint.com explains, doing mock interviews enables startups to develop questions that help them to find candidates who can do the job and enhance the company culture.

Make Your Company Stand Out

A great engineer is hard to keep. According to Hueniverse.com, while startups should focus on personality, compatibility, and due diligence in their interview process, a “job interview goes both ways. We interview you. And you interview us.”

Once the ideal candidate has been found, a startup needs to convince him or her to choose them over the competition. Incentives such as the ability to take a lead role in developing a live product, having a chance to play a crucial role in the business decision making processes, or a positive impact on future career opportunities, can add value to the compensation package and attract a candidate like a customer.

Be honest and transparent with who the company is and what it does. In order to get the right candidates to apply for a startup job, Venturebeat.com recommends startups to network with engineers on social media platforms to promote company visibility and attract talent.

5 Productivity Tips to Optimise Your Workforce

The productivity of your employees will have a major impact on your business’ bottom line. So, if you want to boost your profits and promote your long-term success, you’ll need to make sure you’re getting the very most from your staff members. Here are five top productivity tips to help you along the way.

1) Create a dynamic workspace

The days of dull offices with row after row of desks and chairs are numbered. Change is afoot in the world of workspace design as firms seek increasingly dynamic setups that help them harness the full potential of their personnel. So, rather than relying on a traditional, homogenous office, you might benefit from splitting the space up into different zones, including a quiet area where people can concentrate without distraction and a breakout space where staff can have impromptu meetings and discussions without feeling inhibited. Establishing distinct areas like this can help ensure your employees are able to find a suitable environment whatever they’re doing.

Creating a more dynamic workspace might be easier than you think. Office experts Furniture At Work™ recommend using screens to cordon off sections of your work area. These dividers

are lightweight and easy to assemble, helping to take the hassle out of rearranging your workspace.

2) Focus on every last design detail

It’s not just the overall layout of your office that you’ll need to think about. The finer details of your workspace design can also have an impact on productivity. You’ll need to get everything from your storage solutions to your desk sizes spot on if you want your workers to perform at the highest level. Even the temperature of your office could impact on productivity. Highlighting this point, a study of workers conducted by a team from Cornell University found that typing errors dropped by 44 per cent and typing output increased by 150 per cent when their office temperature rose from 68°F to 77°F.

3) Promote worker wellbeing

Sickness absence can throw a major spanner in the works when you’re trying to bolster productivity. While you can’t eliminate the risk of your employees taking time off due to illness, you can take steps to boost their general wellbeing. For example, make sure you keep stress levels among your staff members under control. Setting up a cycle to work scheme could also help to keep your personnel fit and healthy. Even small steps, like providing free fruit in your office, might help to minimise absences. Make sure you offer good quality, supportive seating too. Musculoskeletal disorders, which are often caused or exacerbated by poor workstation setups, are responsible for millions of lost working days each year.

4) Incentivise results

Be sure to incentivise results as well. For example, employee recognition programmes that reward personnel for their achievements can encourage people to push themselves that little bit harder. It’s also important to provide employees with training and promotion opportunities. When workers can see a chance to progress, they often up their efforts.

5) Foster a sense of team spirit

More generally, it’s worthwhile fostering a strong sense of team spirit among your employees. When staff members feel like they’re working for a collective, worthwhile cause, they tend to be more focussed and dedicated. To boost morale and to encourage staff members to interact more, it helps to arrange team activities. This can include anything from informal nights out to corporate away days.

There’s no panacea when it comes to maximising productivity, but by following suggestions like these, you stand a good chance of increasing output.

Have You Considered Using Australia as Your Global Headquarters?

Australia which is considered to be one of the most liveable countries in the world, has an infrastructure and taxation system which suites any global organisation from using it as its global headquarters.

Australian resident companies can establish an offshore subsidiary or branch which will not be subject to Australia tax if run through a permanent establishment. If you are serious about going global then you should consider establishing your global holding company in Australia.

A foreign corporation controlled by an Australian company or resident is not subject to tax on profits derived from the foreign corporation. The relevant legislation provides that such profits are neither assessable nor exempt. In a world where margins are forever being squeezed savings need to be attained wherever possible.  Taxation is a business expense that we all must bear. With any expense associated with running a business enterprise it needs to be reviewed and costs cutting measures introduced in order to maximise our profits.

Australia’s corporate and taxation laws adopt best practice and are considered to be world class. Australia’s legal system is based on the premise to promote and enhance business activities. From an international perspective Australia’s laws encourage Australian domiciled business enterprises to venture out onto the global platform. Our laws are such that incentives are provided to take on business risk. And going global does have its risks.

Incentives which may not be widely known include:-

            Research and Development Incentives
            Withholding Tax on Interest of 10%
            Withholding Tax on dividends of zero to 15%
            Exemption from taxation on foreign sourced profits

From a taxation perspective where a controlled foreign corporation derives profits via a permanent establishment as mentioned above such profits will not be assessable nor exempt from Australian Taxation. They will of course be subject to taxation in the country of source [place of controlled foreign corporation]. Dependent upon the tax jurisdiction and whether the taxation based adopted by that country which can be either residency based or territorial based the taxation expense can be legitimately reduced. For example Hong Kong and Singapore are low tax jurisdictions and adopt a territorial taxation system, whereby company tax (which is around 17%) is only payable on profits derived within that country. Income sourced outside the country is exempt from local taxation.

The repatriation of monies from the Australian Global Holding Company will be taxed dependent upon the nature of the repatriation:-

Interest on loan funds will be subject to withholding tax rates of generally 10% [dependent upon DTA]


Dividends will be subject to withholding tax rates of between 0 and 15% [dependent upon DTA]


Royalties will subject to withholding tax rates of between 0 and 15% [dependent upon DTA]

It is in our view appropriate for corporations whether small, medium or large to consider using Australia as your global head office.

As an illustration consider using Australia as your Treasury or Financing arm or as your base for Research and Development Activities.

A typical structure that can be adopted is illustrated as follows:

So if you think your business would benefit from being based in Australia, you can get get incorporated in Australia with the help of companies like Filippo.

Making a Great First Impression

In business as in life, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so you want to be doing everything you can to make sure it’s the right one. No matter what industry you work in, or what kind of client you’re meeting, making a good first impression can be the difference between business boom or bust, so here’s a guide to help you do just that.

Be Human!

Your goal is to get the client to trust you and hire you, but that doesn’t mean you should get right down to business or act like a robot reeling off a bullet-point list. Before you dive into the tech talk, take a few minutes to get to know your client. If you’re on a video call, ask about where they live or comment on a piece of art you love in the background. If you’re together in person, ask them how they like the coffee place or how their day’s been. In short, make small talk. It might seem beside the point, but building a rapport and really relating to your client in a human way helps smooth out potential conflicts in the first meeting and throughout the whole project. Don’t be a client and a businessperson – be two humans who may want to work together. 

Upgrade Your Wheels

You work hard to present yourself well; you style your hair and dress sharp, but is your car letting you down? You want to give off an executive persona in everything you do, and your car should reflect that. Turning up to a client meeting or sales pitch in an old banger looks bad and could even negatively affect sales. If you pull up in a nice executive car, it could help you seal the deal. Check out LeaseCar.co.uk for a wide selection of BMWs – the ultimate executive car.

Confidence is Key

You can wear all the expensive clothes you like and drive a flash car, but it’s just no good if you’re not matching it with confidence in yourself. Clients will sense your confidence when they meet you, and they’ll likely think better of you and find you more personable – but take care not to seem arrogant, there’s a fine line and treading it is your new mission. Speak slowly and clearly, emphasizing words appropriately so that you’re clear and firm – but not as if you think they’re stupid! Know your facts and be able to reel off any figures as if it’s what you were born to do. You’ll be making connections and sales in no time.