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4 Tips for Getting a Handle on Your Online Presence

The Internet has become truly invaluable to business growth. As a matter of fact,  some companies earn extremely high profits solely by existing online. But what happens when your online presence seems to be getting away from you? What if it has taken on a life of its own and you’re not quite sure how to gain (or regain) control?

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to get a better handle on your online presence. Here are four tips to get you started.

 

1. Pick the Right Domain Name

Many new small business owners fail to fully recognize how important the right domain name is. Your domain name is the foundation of your online presence. But it’s kind of like choosing a name for your baby. You want to pick one that means something, something that will be effective for your business. In this case, then, you want it to mean something for both your company and the consumer.

The one thing that arguably makes this more difficult is that you may come up with the perfect domain name only to discover that it’s already taken. However, this doesn’t mean you’re out of options. There are still many ways to register your desired domain name. One involves approaching the person who currently has it and asking if they’d be willing to give or sell it to you. A domain broker can assist with this process.

 

2. Buy Multiple Domains at One Time

Sometimes in business you need more than one domain. This can be a a part of your online brand protection strategy. Or maybe you have completely different companies that you are responsible for running. Or perhaps it’s just one business, but you want separate domains for each of your product lines.

Whatever your goal or structure, one way to get a handle on this is to buy multiple domains with a bulk discount. Come up with a list of the sites you want to register and buy them all at one time. This can save you time. That’s because you won’t have to go in and select each one individually. It can also save you money because you’ll be purchasing in bulk.

 

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3. Carefully Plan Your Social Media Strategy

If there is one online area that can get completely out of control and take on a life of its own, it is social media. This is because, although you may set up the page or profile, it’s the engagement of those who interact with you that can largely determine how effective you are.

To better manage your social media presence, take the time to develop your overall social media strategy. If you have multiple profiles on one platform, reduce them to a single one. Save even more time by automating your posts. You can use services like HootSuite or SproutSocial to post for you on all of your social media sites.

 

4. Pay Attention to Online Reviews

Not only do you have to tend to your own websites and social media pages to get a better handle on your online presence, but you also need to pay attention to reviews submitted to sites like Yelp and Google. Social proof is very powerful, so responding to your consumers’ accolades and complaints on these types of platforms is critical to maintaining a positive image.

Of course, the simplest solution is to conduct business in a way such that you don’t get negative reviews. However, you might get a negative review despite your best efforts.

There are some ways to effectively handle bad online reviews so as to minimize damage, though. These include looking at the review objectively to determine if it has some validity, then responding with tact and apologizing for the consumer’s experience. Finally, ask what you can do to solve the issue and make things right.

 

Conclusion

Do these four things and you’ll be well on your way to getting a better handle on your online presence across a variety of platforms.

The post 4 Tips for Getting a Handle on Your Online Presence appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/30/getting-handle-online-presence/

How to Solve the Most Common Dishwasher Problems

Does your office breakroom have a dishwasher? If so, you have probably encountered one or more of the dishwasher problems described below. And when they occurred you didn’t want to waste working hours with trying to fix things on your own, so you might have spent your hard-earned dough to call a technician for service. Now, with the help of this handy guide, the next time it happens you might not have to. Read on to find out more.

 

Dishwashers—and Dishwasher Problems—Are Almost Ubiquitous

It would be fair to say that the dishwasher has slowly but surely become one of the most important appliances in the modernday household.

Once regarded as something of a luxury, nowadays more and more households have one. And those that don’t certainly crave them.

However, as the title of this post suggests, these appliances are anything but simple. Like the washing machine, the refrigerator, and every other appliance you find in your home, dishwashers can develop faults. Fortunately, at least in contrast to some of the appliances mentioned above, these faults don’t tend to be quite as serious.

Certainly, you might still want to take out a plan on the Hotpoint Service website. However, there are some dishwasher problems you can resolve through a do-it-yourself approach. Let’s take a look at these in detail.

 

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Problem #1—The Dishwasher Won’t Wash

Perhaps the simplest problem of all tends to be the vaguest. Opening the appliance and finding that everything is in the same state as when you turned on the machine is frustrating to say the least. And it can happen frequently.

It’s frequent because it can be caused by a number of things. For example, you might simply have low water pressure. Or you might live in an area where you’re unlucky enough to have water that has a high level of dissolved minerals in it, also referred to as hard water.

On the other hand, some of the causes of this problem could be completely in your control. Try stacking dirty dishes in the machine in a more structured way, for instance. Or clean the filter in the appliance.

 

 

Problem #2—The Dishwasher Won’t Drain

Another terribly frustrating problem occurs when dishwasher is just not draining. It’s one of the messiest problems around. However, on the plus side, you don’t always have to call someone to repair it for you.

There might be occasions when the drain hose is damaged and needs replacing. On the other hand, the hose might only be bent or blocked.

A damaged or worn-out pump could be one of the more serious causes. This tends to be the case if the appliance has been making a strange noise.

A lot of the time when the dishwasher won’t drain, it might just be that the drains in the building are blocked. This, too, is something that is within your control, even if it’s not the most pleasant DIY job in the world.

 

Problem #3—The Detergent Dispenser Isn’t Working

This is probably one of the least common problems on this list. However, considering the frustrations it prompts, it’s one that needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency.

Sometimes, it’s just because you have used too much detergent. When this happens, the catch on the dispenser can become stuck and the detergent won’t be able to find its way to the dishes.

More often than not, this problem happens when the spray arm isn’t working properly, though. The spray arm can become blocked and therefore unable to dispense the solution. This is one of the easiest parts to fix and generally involves poking out the holes on the spray arm with a toothpick.

 

Fix It Yourself

The next time you have dishwasher problems in your office breakroom, perhaps this handy guide will remind you that you might be able to save yourself some money by fixing those problems yourself.

The post How to Solve the Most Common Dishwasher Problems appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/29/solve-common-dishwasher-problems/

5 Tips to Improve Your Food Delivery Service—and Your Bottom Line

Today more than ever, people are ordering their meals from a food delivery service. What’s more, many of them are tired of having only limited choices such as Chinese or pizza. This is especially true if they have a favorite local restaurant.

But you, an innovative entrepreneur, have taken the initiative and set up a restaurant food delivery service. You are doing okay, but you want to find ways to improve your service. You just don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips to improve your food delivery service and raise more revenue at the same time.

 

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1. Review Your Delivery Area

You’ve already mapped out a radius of delivery around your base of operations. Now it’s time to review that map.

The first thing you want to look into are how many new restaurants have started. Are any of them local, non-franchise ownerships? Make a list of these and plan to reach out to see if they’d like to add your food delivery service.

The next thing to review is the size of your delivery radius. If your size is too big you’re probably taking longer than you expect to make deliveries. You don’t necessarily have to reduce your delivery radius. However, you might consider adding another base of operations to handle some deliveries, especially if a certain quadrant is getting a lot more requests than others.

On the other hand, is the opposite true? Is your radius too small? Can you possibly expand your radius and still provide excellent service? Either way, it’s important to review your delivery area.

 

2. Consider Your Delivery Hours

When you gather the information about peak delivery times, a few questions you might ask yourself are these:

• Is there a time when your deliveries are nonexistent?
• Do evening deliveries outpace your lunch deliveries?
• Are there holidays when you see a spike in requests?
• How many bars are in your delivery area?
• Would it be a good idea to try to have longer hours for delivery that include the times shortly after the bars close?

Answers to these questions could lead you to make changes to your business. For instance, you might decide to hire more drivers to accommodate peak delivery times. Or you might extend your hours to see if delivering food after the bars close is feasible.

Of course, you would want to consider the insurance expense of such changes. Discuss this with your insurance agent to make sure your drivers are safe and covered.

 

3. Join Associations

While excellent, on-time delivery service is your main goal, your main customer isn’t the one who orders the food.

No, your main customers are the restaurants you deliver for. They trust you to know their industry and to understand their needs and pain points. Their trust is critical to growing your independent food delivery service business.

For that reason, it’s important that you join professional associations in your area. If you live in a large city, find state or city restaurant associations. You can also join national associations such as the Restaurant Marketing & Delivery Association (RMDA) or the National Restaurant Association.

And don’t forget about joining your local Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Association chapters, as well. These organizations will be great resources. They will help you to keep up to date on best practices for restaurants and the latest ideas for your food delivery service. They’ll also give you wonderful networking opportunities that will help you to grow your business.

 

 

4. Review Your Marketing Materials

Marketing is constantly changing as buyers’ needs change and evolve. Last year’s marketing techniques that gained you lots of new clients might being fizzling out as people become more aware of you and your services. So review your marketing plan and consider updating it.

Take a look at your website, too. Look at your statistics, for instance with Google Analytics, to see what your peak visit times are and where most of your visits are coming from. You can also determine which pages website visitors look at most, and consider removing those pages that don’t get much traffic.

While you’re there, update your content. It’s always a good idea to update content on your website regularly. If you’re in the food delivery industry, that means you might want to host an updated menu from a popular restaurant. Or you could offer discounts on your services to those restaurants that don’t get a lot of requests. By helping drive business to restaurants, you’ll gain their appreciation and loyalty. And your revenue will rise, as well.

 

5. Do Something Different to Stand Out

This is always something a lot of business owners don’t consider, because they feel if something isn’t broken, then they shouldn’t try to fix it. While that’s mostly true, there are some ways to make your delivery business stand out from the crowd.

If you’re doing robust business and you want to have your delivery service noticed more, especially if you work and live in extreme weather states, consider using commercial truck rentals. You could arrange to have a fleet of vehicles with your logo and business information right on the vehicle.

Compare this to the practice of most companies, which make their drivers use their own vehicles and add a topper attached to the roof. While these are fine for pizza delivery or fast sandwich companies, if you really want to stand out among food delivery companies, consider having your own fleet of vehicles.

There are many other ways to stand out, too, so look at other businesses that have nothing to do with restaurants or food delivery and see what they’re doing. Is there a way you can modify those practices to revolutionize your local food delivery service?

 

Delight Your Customers by Improving Your Food Delivery Service

No matter how long you’ve been in business, it’s always a good idea to grow your business by finding ways to improve. Whether it’s your operating practices, your delivery area, or your marketing techniques, improving the way you do business will delight your customers, bring loyalty to the restaurants you serve, and help you gain more restaurants to expand your reach and raise your revenue.

The post 5 Tips to Improve Your Food Delivery Service — and Your Bottom Line appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/28/improve-food-delivery-service/

Incorporating Technology: How It Can Help Your Business to Soar

Over the years, more and more business owners have decided that incorporating technology into their business practices and strategies is a good idea. What’s more, they’ve managed to do so with great success. In fact, technology has proven to be enormously beneficial for modern businesses.

Regardless of the specific niche you’re in, you can pretty much guarantee that incorporating technology will enhance your business. In this guide, we offer insights into technological advancements that can empower your business and bring you better results.

 

Cloud Backup

First and foremost, you should understand how vital it is to keep track of your customers and their private information. When you need to get in touch with a client, you should be able to access their record on your computer and locate their contact details.

But what will happen if you lose their records or your computer crashes? This is where cloud backup enters the picture. By backing up those records to the cloud, you’ll always be able to access this information no matter where you are. You’ll be able to access your files in the cloud from anywhere and while using any computer.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: GROWING PAINS: 5 WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH

 

Tax Records

There is truly no doubt that tax time can be incredibly stressful for modern business owners. Business owners are required to figure out their annual earnings and expenses. Then, they need to use this information to figure out precisely how much they owe in taxes. This can be a major headache and a whole lot of work.

Thankfully, there are numerous programs that can help. Various computer applications will allow you to track your income and expenses throughout the year with relative ease. In turn, this will make tax time a little bit easier for your business. Plus, you’ll be able to rest easy, knowing your tax returns are accurate.

 

Marketing

Every modern business needs to go above and beyond to ensure they’re always able to attract new clients. They’ll need to market both online and offline. And they’ll need to do so continually in order to bring in new customers.

This is where technology will prove to be beneficial. Social media and search engines offer plenty of potential for modern business owners such as you. As long as you learn the ropes, you’ll be able to draw in new clients using these avenues.

This can be a problem, however, if your Mac internet recovery is not working. You’ll find, however, that you can easily fix this problem by turning to experts in the field. Once you do, the Internet will again give you access to a whole new world of potential customers.

 

 

New Clients

Finally, be sure to use the Internet to make finding and contracting with new clients much easier. With the Internet, you’ll have little to no trouble finding possible new clients. On top of that, researching each possible client will prove to be much easier.

For example, with the help of technology, you’ll be able to acquire a background check almost immediately. You can also check out a potential client’s postings on social media to learn more about them.

Technology truly makes finding and researching potential new collaborators much easier than ever before. This process has been greatly simplified, thanks to advancements in technology.

The post Incorporating Technology: How It Can Help Your Business to Soar appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/27/incorporating-technology-business/

Highly Engaging Business Opportunities in the Event Industry

If you look around you, the event industry is everywhere. Events are happening all around us. Weddings, business conferences, product launches, fashion shows, concerts, sports, and political events are happening all the time.

Most companies outsource their event needs to a professional event production company. Those professionals, in turn, take care of the entire production of the event.

Being in the event industry can be fun. However, it can also be stressful at the same time.

The event industry is huge, and if you want to be a part of it, you’ll need to pick your niche. Naturally, being an event organizer comes to mind. However, there are opportunities in other functional areas as well.

Let’s take a look at some of the opportunities in the event industry.

 

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Event Coordinator

Companies and individuals sometimes prefer just one billing. Therefore, they like dealing with only one person instead of trying to manage hundreds of vendors for a single event. And that’s where event coordinators come in.

An event coordinator is responsible for the entire production of the event. His or her job begins with conceptualizing and planning and continues throughout the production of the event. As the title implies, the coordinator coordinates with vendors to pull together a smooth event.

The value an event coordinator provides is peace of mind. He or she makes life easy for the client, by making sure everything goes as planned.

 

Meeting Designer

An event is about the experience, and meeting designers know this. A good meeting designer identifies the psychology of each client and designs an event that fits their way of thinking.

Specialists in this area of the event industry are usually hired by event organizers and coordinators on a freelance basis.

 

 

Conference Architect

Conference architects plan the whole event structure. However, they don’t necessarily get involved in what goes inside the event. They create a blueprint or the broad structure for each event. Sometimes a meeting designer and an architect work together on large events.

 

Videographer

Videography has taken a completely new role in the last few years. As people have experienced a growing need to capture the important moments of their lives, the demand for high quality videographers has grown.

What’s more, a good videographer who understands the event industry and who has the ability to work with event managers can get a lot of work throughout the year. The best connections for a videographer are event organizers. They usually hire a videographer on behalf of the client.

 

Event Security

A large event with a lot of people needs security. Some companies focus exclusively on event security. Guests, staff, and volunteers need to be protected, and a professional security company is hired to take care of any potential threats.

 

Florist

Lots of events call for flowers. For example, most weddings have floral decorations. If you are the creative type, this can be your niche. It gives you opportunities to use your creativity, as well as bring to bear your empathy and your understanding of various cultures.

Most florists and floral designers get clients with different budgets, tastes, and psychologies. A good understanding of people, their emotions, and their budgets is important to success in this niche.

 

Wedding Planner

Weddings are big business. People have been known to spend their life savings on weddings. Then, too, destination weddings are seeing a rise in number. Event planners are planning weddings not just in their local market but all over the world.

If you would like to make a living by traveling the world, getting into the destination wedding business might be a great opportunity for you.

 

Conclusion

The event industry provides lots of opportunities for entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business quickly. Plus, it requires little time and effort to learn and understand the business.

Moreover, the capital required to start this kind of business is minimal. The most important qualities to succeed in the event industry are organizing skills, attention to detail, the ability to acquire clients, and the capacity to handle stress.

When you’re just getting started, you might want to experiment with different kinds of events. However, eventually you’ll need to find your own niche and become the best that you can be at that.

The post Highly Engaging Business Opportunities in the Event Industry appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/business-opportunities-event-industry/

4 Big Businesses We Once Thought Were Weird

Necessity is supposed to be the mother of invention. And it’s simple to trace the success of some businesses to their ability to satisfy a long-standing demand.

But this logic doesn’t hold true for every enterprise. The strength of some of today’s biggest businesses is a bit baffling.

So if you want to find a left field formula for entrepreneurial excellence, let’s take a look at 4 big businesses we once thought were weird.

 

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Perrier

Bottled water had been available in one form or another for generations before Perrier came along. However, Perrier hit the US market in a major way in the late 1970’s.

Hotshot consultants McKinsey predicted that the gassy French water would be a flop. They were quite certain Americans would never part with their hard-earned cash for a product that was available from household taps for free.

US sales in 1975 reached a modest 2.5 million bottles. Moreover, there was nothing to suggest they’d ever rise significantly.

But a brilliant 1977 TV ad campaign featuring Orson Welles, combined with sponsorship of that year’s New York Marathon, changed the company’s fortunes. The following year, Perrier sold 75 million bottles. A decade later they were topping 300 million bottles annually.

 

Crocs

Crocs polarize fashion fans. The brightly colored chunky shoes are loved by some and hated by others.

The firm was set up by friends Scott Seamans, Lyndon Hanson and George Boedecker. The trio based their design on a non-slip clog that Seaman had recently bought from a Canadian firm called Foam Creations.

The three friends applied their own styling tweaks and licensed the original design. However, by 2002 the shoe firm could declare only a meager $1,000 profit.

Nonetheless, things have certainly changed. A mix of comfortable design and eco-conscious credentials eventually converted cynics. To date, the firm has shifted 300 million pairs in 90 countries, all around the world.

 

 

Amazon

When Amazon launched in 1995 as an online bookshop, no one could have predicted it was destined for sustained global success.

Most observers believed that people would stick to buying books from traditional shops or borrowing them for free from libraries.

But a simple initial offering allowed the company to gradually expand its services. In 2016 it was the fourth most valuable company in the world, a gigantic global marketplace.

 

Facebook

Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg first conceived of Facebook as a tool for students in his art history class. He intended it only as a means to share insights and study tips.

It took 2 weeks to develop, and it quickly became popular on campus. However, although he recognized its potential for much larger communities, he didn’t think he’d personally adapt it for the outside world.

He believes that other entrepreneurs ignored the platform because they believed its appeal and possible applications were limited.

Nonetheless, he plowed ahead. This year, the firm passed the $500 billion milestone, with more than 2 billion monthly active users. Not bad at all for a nerdy college project.

So whether you specialize in catenary wire or cat cafes, a simple business offering, an eye for product potential and unwavering self-belief can carry you a long way. And these 4 big businesses we once thought were doomed for obscurity have proven it well.

The post 4 Big Businesses We Once Thought Were Weird appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/4-businesses-thought-weird/

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How to Effectively Use Storytelling in Sales

Until recently, salespeople have been slow to catch on to the power of storytelling in their presentations. One benefit they might not have considered is that storytelling levels the playing field. It’s no longer one person who has something to sell and one person who is considering buying it. Instead, it’s two people sharing a human experience because storytelling makes the salesperson more relatable.

 

Storytelling Builds Trust

No one wants to buy from someone they don’t feel they can trust, but trust can be hard to establish in sales. Prospects may approach every transaction with suspicion because they wonder how much of what the sales representative tells them is true.

However, when the salesperson shares an anecdote from his or her own life, the client may have a similar experience that allows him or her to make an emotional connection. It makes it easier to trust as well as like the salesperson. People show less resistance buying from someone they like.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: THIS 3-STEP B2B MARKETING PLAN WILL BRING YOU MORE SALES

 

Strategies for Perfecting the Storytelling Technique

Telling a story comes more naturally to some people than to others, including those who work in sales. All the same, it’s a skill that anyone can learn, just like anything else. Here are several ways that a sales professional can go from self-conscious to self-confident with storytelling:

• Make sure that every story has a point. No salesperson should tell a story just for the sake of doing so. It should be short and relevant to the sales conversation. The story should also direct the prospect towards taking a specific action.
• Don’t try too hard to make it entertaining. A funny story is more enjoyable to hear than a dull one, but trying too hard to inject humor can appear desperate. The sales representative should simply try to be natural and the entertainment will come.
• Tie it in with facts. Appealing to a prospect’s emotions is good, but he or she is unlikely to follow through without verifiable facts to back up the story. Using strong metaphors is more likely to draw attention as well.

 

 

Positioning the Client as the Hero of the Story

Another approach to storytelling is for the salesperson to focus on the prospective customer instead of using his or her own personal stories. This approach to storytelling for sales typically follows a three-part formula that goes like this:

1. The opening: The sales representative sets the scene by describing the client’s world as it exists currently. This should include challenges the client faces with emphasis on how he or she desires to solve them.
2. The build-up: Here the salesperson should describe how the client’s world could be with the product or service available for sale. While describing the interaction between client and brand, the salesperson should also describe how the product addresses pain points, overcomes obstacles, and helps the client achieve success.
3. The closing: This step requires a call to action such as making a down payment or scheduling a future appointment. The emphasis needs to remain on how the client’s world could change with the product or service in question.

Above all, sales professionals need to practice telling stories several times before trying this approach with potential clients. Those who have no experience with storytelling should consider asking their manager or mentor for some tips and for this person to act as a practice audience member.

The post How to Effectively Use Storytelling in Sales appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/use-storytelling-sales/

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Growing Pains: 5 Ways to Successfully Manage Your Business Growth

As a business owner or manager, few things can grant you as much satisfaction as seeing the growth of your organization.

It’s understandable that you, your colleagues and staff may want to take a moment to pat yourselves on the back and enjoy your success. However, don’t let yourself get too comfortable.

Especially now, as your company reaches the next stage of its development, there are plenty of potential pitfalls waiting to throw a spanner in the works.  Therefore, careful planning is required to navigate this crucial stage of your corporate development.

Let’s look at a few critical items that you should be carefully considering when charting your growth strategy going forward.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY

 

All Systems Go

As a small business, you were likely performing numerous core business functions manually or with outdated, limited technology. With the growth you have experienced, however, you no longer have that luxury.

Especially if you’re running a manufacturing or distribution operation, you’ll need to choose an appropriate business management software system such as Greentree ERP or others. Automating your systems will be critical. This will help to ensure that you maintain control and sufficient visibility over all aspects of your operations.

 

Crowd Control

Your employees are your greatest asset. However, as your headcount expands, it will become harder to keep up with all the complexities of human resources management.

Everything from payroll to training records and performance monitoring will need to be handled quickly and efficiently. Only in this way can you ensure that your business continues to run smoothly.

Moreover, many managers employ sophisticated employee engagement software to track how their workforce are feeling about their place of employment. This helps them to ensure that they can maintain positive morale and high productivity.

 

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

As your customer base grows, your sales and marketing team will need the right tools to manage client relationships efficiently. That’s because the stakes are high and the competition fierce from both local and global competitors. Therefore, your ability to stay ahead of the game when it comes to business development is critical.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of Customer Relationship Management software solutions. These will help your sales team thrive. Further, most of the leading technologies allow full integration with your other business systems. For example, the best of them provide mobile interfaces as well. This will allow your sales staff to remain at peak productivity even when they are on the road.

 

 

Safe and Secure

Data security is a reality that every business needs to face. Moreover, the larger you grow, the more pressing a concern it will become. In the electronic age, so much is dependent on our ability to access and protect our information. As you are well aware, a single adverse event could spell disaster for your company.

You can store and protect your data on internal hardware, by way of a third–party provider or a cloud-based solution. Regardless, your choice of data security strategies may turn out to be one of the most crucial decisions you could make.

 

Digital Dreaming

As the world of commerce rapidly gravitates online, digital marketing continues to become indispensable. As a matter of fact, it might be the primary aspect of your organization’s marketing strategy.

Gone are the days when you could simply throw up a website and tick the box. Today’s digital marketplace is a cutthroat environment. It requires savvy, sophisticated strategies to achieve success.

SEO, Pay Per Click, email marketing, social media marketing, e-commerce and the like are no longer nice-to-haves. They now form the core of any successful marketing strategy and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

 

Here’s to Your Continued Growth

You have every reason to be proud of your success to date. With careful planning and management, you can ensure your continued growth for many years to come.

The post Growing Pains: 5 Ways to Successfully Manage Your Business Growth appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/successfully-manage-business-growth/

Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Your Newly Opened Coffee Shop

You finally found and successfully launched your own coffee shop. It has been your dream since you were old enough to dream of opening your own business. You love coffee, you love people, so the best choice for you was to open the coffee shop of your dreams.

Now, the ink is barely dry on the lease papers you signed. And you look around and realize you have no idea how to maintain the spanking new shop you are standing in. Never fear. Read on below for a few of the top tips for maintaining your newly opened coffee shop.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: 5 STEPS TO LAUNCHING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

 

Maintain Your Equipment

You probably already know that you are going to need top-of-the-line equipment if you hope to draw in the coffee lovers in your town. The trick is not to forget to maintain that equipment the way that you should. That includes everything from grinder burr maintenance to replacing coffee makers when they are getting slow and old. Maintaining your equipment is the first step in ensuring that your coffee shop is the success you want it to be.

 

Hire the Right Type of Staff

A coffee shop is a place where people gather to read, write, work, or just to hang with friends. You really don’t need employees in your coffee shop who don’t want to be there and who act like it’s an imposition to wait on your customers. Screen your employees carefully to ensure they have the right type of personality to be working in a coffee shop. A friendly staff that really cares about your customers is the key to a successful business that has repeat customers galore.

 

Keep It Simple

When coffee lovers think of their local coffee shop, they usually think of it as warm, cozy, and the place they want to be. Keep it simple when it comes to making it cozy and warm. The one thing to remember is that you need to start with a simple menu as well. Don’t try to go all out and have every choice under the sun. Instead, poll your target audience, do your research and determine what your customers want. You can always add and take away from the menu later on. But in the beginning, simple is best.

 

Keep Those Loyalty Cards on Hand

A happy customer is a loyal customer. This should be your motto when running and maintaining a coffee shop. The best way to show that you truly care about your customers and appreciate their loyalty is by keeping loyalty cards on hand. Make sure that the card is sturdy and easy for them to keep in their pockets or purses.

Instruct your employees to ask for that card and offer one if the customer is new to your shop. Loyalty cards show your customers that you appreciate their business, and they keep them coming back.

 

 

Keep It Clean

This might be obvious, but it still bears saying. Keeping your coffee shop clean is paramount to making your customers feel at home. You want to go for cozy, clean, and warm when maintaining your coffee shop, so that means not just cleaning the surface.

These are just a few of the top tips for maintaining your newly opened coffee shop. From maintaining your equipment to keeping it clean, these tips will help you constantly be busy with customers who appreciate not only your shop but your brand as well.

The post Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Your Newly Opened Coffee Shop appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/maintaining-coffee-shop/

Photo by saulhm, CC0 1.0

4 Things to Keep in Mind While Searching for a Personal Injury Lawyer

No one wants to get into an accident, and a personal injury is nothing to laugh about.

Whether it happens to you or to one of your employees, take a personal injury seriously. At the very least, the injured person should be compensated in one way or another. And this is true even if the injury is not apparent right away.

When you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer, take that process even more seriously. Your lawyer is going to be the one who represents your interests in your case and will make sure that things go your way. That’s why it’s incredibly important you find a lawyer who is right for you.

 

How Do You Find the Right Lawyer for You?

One of the absolute best ways to find the best personal injury lawyer is by asking your friends and family if they have any recommendations. The chances are that someone else in your closest network knows an attorney who can help you.

They’ll be able to give you some names of lawyers who they’ve been in contact with. However, be sure to do a quick Google search on them to ensure there’s nothing shady about their past. You can never be too careful!

Be aware that when the news gets out about your accident, you may have some lawyers soliciting you for your business. This is completely illegal and you should never respond to these lawyers.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS INVOLVED IN WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS

 

What Are Your Personal Responsibilities?

First of all, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Your first responsibility is to make sure that you’ve gotten the proper medical care and are following your doctor’s orders precisely. If you don’t do that, you have compromised your case already.

Next, you should make sure to update your personal injury lawyer on all of your medical progress and anything that is going on in that realm. Ensure that you submit everything properly to your insurance company so everything goes smoothly.

 

What Kind of Paperwork Will You Need?

Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. That’s what’s in store for you while you find a car accident lawyer. In order to make sure that your lawyer can properly take care of your case, ensure you have the following documents in hand:

• All medical records, including information about your preexisting conditions.
• Any reports related to the accident or collision.
• All pictures you have of your injury or accident.
• Lots of details about when the accident occurred, what the weather was like, who was involved, and so on.
• Insurance policies for you and anyone else involved in the accident.

The more information you have to give your lawyer, the better off you’ll be in the long run!

 

What Kinds of Skills Should You Look for in Your Lawyer?

This is a matter of personal preference when you’re looking for the perfect personal injury lawyer. Not all lawyers deal with personal injuries. What’s more, some lawyers have specific skill sets you should watch out for when you’re shopping around for a good one.

Make sure to figure out if the lawyer you choose is one that handles all cases in the same way or one that takes each case as a unique entity. The latter choice is the one you really want. You don’t want to your attorney to treat you like just another case on an assembly line.

 

 

Every Case Is Unique!

These are the top things you should keep in mind while you’re in the market for a personal injury lawyer. Your health is of top priority, but the compensation you receive for the accident should also be of top priority. Follow these tips and make the best choice for your specific case.

The post 4 Things to Keep in Mind While Searching for a Personal Injury Lawyer appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/searching-personal-injury-lawyer/

When Should You Hire a Collection Agency?

Businesses are often reluctant to hire a collection agency. They worry that sending a client to collections will permanently damage their relationship with the client. Or they think they will harm their own reputation.

In fact, though, hiring a professional collection agency is one of the best ways to preserve your reputation. Not only that, but you’ll also safeguard your relationships, not to mention your financial health.

A good collection agent knows not only the relevant laws, but also tips and techniques. This person will help you to collect money from an overdue client. They might even be able to help you keep that client. However, it takes a certain amount of skill and expertise to do that.

Below, we discuss some of the situations in which you should definitely call upon the services of a collection agency.

 

Outsource Your Debt Collections When a Bill Is 90 Days Overdue

Experts recommend that you outsource certain services and functions, rather than do them in house. When you read articles describing which functions can be outsourced, you’ll see that debt collection falls into this category.

If your business does not have a staff dedicated to credit management and in-house collecting, you will likely need to hire a collection agency when customers are 90 days or more behind on paying. Studies show that after 90 days, the chances of a debtor paying a bill decrease dramatically.

If you have very few employees, it does not make sense to direct a large amount of your workforce’s time toward making collection calls. In addition, it is highly unlikely that an employee without training to make collection calls will be successful at collecting unpaid balances.

Most reputable commercial collection agencies work on a contingency basis. That is, you only pay them if they are successful. So, although you may not keep every dime you are owed, you will very likely receive a larger percentage than if you tried to collect that debt on your own.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: 3 STEPS TO GETTING YOUR INVOICES PAID FASTER

 

Hire an Agency for Delicate or Complicated Debts

If an account is just too tricky for your credit department to collect, you may well need the services of a collection agency. This is true even if it has been fewer than 90 days since your customer’s last payment.

A tricky account might be one that involves a business that has closed or a business that has declared bankruptcy. Additionally, if the debt involves a dispute, or if a business in another state owes the bill, you probably need a collection agency.

Other troubling signs include a debtor who seems to have disappeared without formally declaring bankruptcy or closing the account. In such cases, experts strongly recommend that you send such accounts to a collection agency. Debt collectors have extensive resources available to help them track down debtors who have gone into hiding to avoid paying their debts. They are much more likely to find a missing debtor than a company’s credit department. Once they have found the person, they will know how to legally apply pressure to the debtor to ensure payment.

 

 

When in Doubt, Hire an Agency

If you are unsure whether or not a client is about to default on a debt, or should be sent to collections, it may be helpful to review the warning signs that a company is in trouble. Issues of debt and money can be emotional as well as financial. Trained professionals can help you to deal with overdue or difficult accounts. Moreover, hiring a collection agency is a safe and effective way to deal with them.

The post When Should You Hire a Collection Agency? appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/hire-collection-agency/

How to Obtain a Business Registration in Spain — and Why You Should

Are you considering expanding your business internationally? There’s one country you might have overlooked in your considerations, and that country is Spain.

Spain offers business-friendly regulations, beneficial tax rates for business and a steady economy. As a matter of fact, Spain has one of the strongest and most stable economies in all of the EU.

In this post we describe how to obtain a business registration in Spain.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: GO GLOBAL: 6 KEY BENEFITS OF EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

 

Register as a Private Limited Liability Company

The most popular form of business registration in Spain is the private limited liability company (sociedad limitada laboral). It is important to remember that before you can start the process of setting up a business in Spain, all non-resident foreigners with financial affairs in Spain must have a foreigner’s tax identification number or NIE. You can make your application for an NIE at a foreigners’ department of a national Spanish police station.

The Spanish limited liability company has several important features. Each member is liable only up to the amount of their contribution to the capital. The capital is divided into non-transferable shares. The minimum share for capital is a bit more than EUR 3,000. Further, you must deposit the capital to a bank account when you open a company in Spain. The general meeting of the shareholders (members) has the right to appoint a director and make all major decisions in the company.

 

What Are the Benefits of Registering as a Private Liability Company?

What are the advantages of registering as a private liability company in Spain? The first and probably the most important advantage is that if you register as a limited liability company your liabilities with third parties are limited to only the company’s assets. In contrast, if you work as an independent worker you would be liable with your own personal assets and your liability would therefore be unlimited.

Second, a Spanish limited liability company requires minimal infrastructure. You’ll need a minimum of only one director and one shareholder to register your limited company in Spain. What’s more, these can be the same person, can be of any nationality and need not be a resident of Spain.

Third, Spanish official government notices regarding Spanish companies are all digitally archived and always available online. This allows for total transparency and easy access to any information you might require.

 

 

Here’s How to Go About It

The process of business registration in Spain is not too complicated. However, you will need to implement a number of formalities in the right order. The first step in setting up your limited company in Spain is checking your desired company name at the Mercantile Register. You can do this in person at the office of the Registry or via e-mail. The procedure takes only a few days. You’ll receive your answer by courier.

 

You’ll Need a Tax Identification Code

Then, you’ll need to apply for your tax identification code from the Delegacion Provincial de la Agencia Estatal de la Administracion Tributaria. In order to do this, you’ll need both the original and a photocopy of your NIE. You’ll get your new tax number almost immediately.

After you have obtained your tax code and the certificate from the Mercantile Register, you have to open a bank account. Then, you’ll need to deposit the minimum authorized share capital into the bank account. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need a bank certificate. This you will deliver to a notary as evidence.

 

Sign and Register the Deed of Incorporation

Next, arrange an appointment with a notary and arrive with all of your documents in hand. While you are with the notary, you will sign the deed of incorporation.

Once you have the original deed of incorporation from the notary, you now must go to the Local Government Tax Authority to register the deed. Then, within two months’ time, you must submit the certificate of name reservation, the certificate of capital deposit and the incorporation deeds to the Mercantile Registry.

The Mercantile Registry will issue a certificate of incorporation and announce the incorporation of your company in Spain by publication in the official journal of the Mercantile Registry.

 

Obtain Your Permanent Tax ID

The next thing you’ll need to do for your business registration is Spain is pay another visit to the tax office. Now, it’s time for you to obtain your permanent Corporate Tax Identification Number (CIF). Once that’s done, you’ll need to register your company’s employees. This you’ll do at the local general treasury of social security at the Tesoreria General de la Seguridad Social. Finally, you’ll need to obtain a municipal license, a process that can take up to 15 days.

 

Establish Your Mailing Address

All Spanish limited liability companies must have a registered office where they can receive official correspondence. This address may be either commercial or residential. Usually, it is usually the main location of the company’s business.

If your Spanish company has more than one place of business, you must declare all of the addresses on your tax forms.

 

Find a Professional to Help You

We have tried to provide you with a good level of detail in this article. However, there are a number of legal issues we simply haven’t room to address here. So, before you begin the process to obtain a business registration in Spain, be sure to contact a legal professional. That person will help you navigate the system and avoid mistakes throughout the process.

The post How to Obtain a Business Registration in Spain — and Why You Should appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/business-registration-in-spain/

3 Tips to Help You Navigate the Complex Maze of Payment Processors

Getting paid effectively, efficiently, and at a fair price is essential. This factor alone could determine the success of your business. What’s more, without the right mix of payment processors, you might struggle to keep your business afloat. And this can be true even if you offer excellent products and services.

For instance, credit cards and debit cards have become an integral part of the economy. As a matter of fact, many people hardly ever touch cash. Therefore, small businesses who haven’t developed systems for getting paid in a cashless economy could lose a significant portion of sales.

However, many small businesses who would have embraced the cashless economy are locked out because of the complexities of the payments industry. For instance, regulations for businesses on Payment Card Industry, or PCI, compliance can be somewhat confusing. This post, however, provides insight into navigating the complex world of payment processors for small businesses.

 

 

1. Choose a Technically Savvy Payment Provider

You’ll probably find hundreds of payment processing companies vying for your attention and patronage. It can be easy to choose the service provider with the most interesting marketing pitch or the cheapest transaction costs. However, don’t hesitate to look beyond competitive costs and fees. For example, be sure to choose a payment processor who will make ongoing investments in security and infrastructure.

You also need to be sure that you choose a payment processor that has the capability to accommodate all of your preferred payment methods. Some of the payment methods available to small businesses include debit cards, credit cards, Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments, e-checks, and direct deposits.

 

2. Ensure That Your Payment Data Will Integrate with Your Accounting System

Proper business accounting is a big challenge for many small business owners. This can be especially true for those who don’t have a background in finance. However, choosing the right payment-processing tool could help you overcome some of the biggest obstacles to keeping proper financial records.

For instance, retail point-of-sale (POS) software integrated with your inventory can automatically update stock levels as your cashiers close sales. In this way, you will have accurate data for reordering items in stock.

In addition, you need to ensure that your payment systems will integrate with your accounting software. Auto-integration between accounting and payments eliminates mistakes that tend to occur with manual data entry.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW SAFE IS APPLE PAY?

 

3. Understand That Mobile Payments Are Here to Stay

Much of the Western world has made the shift from using cash to running on an almost cashless economy. Now, credit and debit cards make many of our transactions. Customers no longer need to tolerate the inconvenience and security risk of cash.

Interestingly, though, the payment processing world continues to evolve. We are gradually moving away from credit and debit cards to mobile payments and wireless payments by way of NFC chips.

NFC, by the way, stands for “near field communication,” and it means that you can transfer bits of data from one device to another merely by bringing those devices close together. Mobile payments, for example, allow payers to use their smartphones instead of their credit or debit cards.

Mobile payment solutions such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and PayPal and others are here to stay. Further, businesses that accept mobile payments will be that much more competitive. Therefore, when you’re choosing a payment processing firm, be sure that its product has the capability to accept mobile payments.

As with anything having to do with your business, choose reliable partners. An excellent payment processor can help you to forge your way into this new cashless economy.

The post 3 Tips to Help You Navigate the Complex Maze of Payment Processors appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/complex-maze-payment-processors/

Investing Intelligently in Bitcoin

It’s hard to turn on the news or open the pages of the financial papers without reading an article on bitcoin. The most popular cryptocurrency available, bitcoin seems to be gaining momentum all over the world. More and more countries around the world are legitimizing it as currency. Moreover, its value has risen exponentially in a very short time. For that reason, many people are trying to get in, if not on the ground floor, at least somewhere in the lower section of the building, before the bitcoin elevator shoots right to the top.

Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin allow people to make and receive payments digitally without the need for a third party like a bank or credit card company. And some investors view it as a way to get rich quickly. However, those who do will likely find they won’t quite be satisfied. For one, the value of the cryptocurrency hasn’t gone up in a linear fashion. It has actually been more like a roller coaster, and it’s that kind of volatility that unnerves investors, especially those who are all about protecting their money. As a result, bitcoin remains a bit of an iffy proposition for many people.

The concern that its price could be headed for a steep drop is an understandable one. As a matter of fact, that concern alone could keep many from even dipping their toes in the cryptocurrency pool. Nonetheless, if you’re intent on raising money for your business, you might decide to take the plunge and invest in bitcoin. If you do, there are ways to make it less like whitewater rafting and more like smooth sailing.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: CRYPTOCURRENCY: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS

 

Don’t Go Overboard

The temptation among less-experienced investors is to assume that the rising value of bitcoin is unstoppable. That kind of thinking is foolhardy. Keep in mind that very few investment opportunities make that kind of a leap without a break in momentum. As a result, it might be best to limit your exposure initially. In other words, make bitcoin just a small portion of your overall portfolio. If it grows, that’s great. But if it tanks, you won’t be damaged to a great extent.

 

 

Timing Troubles

If you’re a fan of the investment strategy known as day trading, which requires many trades in a short amount of time in an attempt to time the market, you probably won’t be bothered too much by bitcoin’s volatility. But maybe you’re hoping to hold on to your investments for a long time. In that case, it’s best to just grab the cryptocurrency when it’s at a price you can afford and hold on to it. Trying to predict its movements could lead to your losing money.

 

The Old Principles Apply

Bitcoin might be the next big thing in the investment world. But principles as old as investing itself should still rule your choices. That means you should strive to keep your portfolio as diversified as possible. To do that, balance out your investments, not only with other types of cryptocurrencies but also by finding other financial instruments in which to place your money.

These are some of the ways in which you can give a nod to bitcoin without going overboard. Rationality and practicality should always win the day, no matter what your investment of choice.

The post Investing Intelligently in Bitcoin appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/investing-intelligently-bitcoin/

What You Need to Know About RoFx for Forex Trading: A Review

Trading robots can be very useful, as they do away with the hard parts of Forex trading. For instance, by relying on the robots at RoFx, you will no longer have to sit for long hours to monitor trading patterns so you can pick the perfect time to trade. That will be the robot’s job.

So, basically, the robots at RoFx put your money to work for you. You can rely on their artificial intelligence, trusting in their automatic neural networks to make good trading decisions on your behalf.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: UNDERSTANDING THE INS AND OUTS OF EXECUTION IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS

 

Forex Trading Is Complicated

When it comes to foreign exchange trading, or Forex, not many people understand how it really works. Anyone who actually makes money out of it will tell you that it took awhile for them to learn the markets, and it wasn’t easy.

However, developers created the new automated RoFx trading robot to help Forex beginners to do nearly as well as seasoned traders. That’s because the robot assumes many of the functions of a human being. However, it does so at a speed that is almost incomprehensible, and its complex maneuvers practically eliminate human error.

As a matter of fact, human emotions don’t even enter the picture while the robot is trading. With RoFx.net, all you need to do is sit back and let the robot do the work.

 

 

Get Started with a Short-Term Trial

You’ll want to take advantage of RoFx’s short-term investment trial. This runs for a period of 70 trading days. During that time, whenever you have a profitable day, you’ll earn your profits with a minimum of risk. That’s because of the company’s stop-loss system, which guarantees trading at minimum loss. What’s more, if you do experience a loss, the trading robot will cover it using the system’s reserve fund.

 

Cut Your Risk with RoFx

Forex trading is risky, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newbie relying on a robot. So you might not make money right off the bat. It takes time and effort to learn how to work the Forex market. There are some who would say that it all depends on your knowledge of the market. Others claim it’s sheer luck. It does pay to remember, though, that a lot of people lose money, including the most experienced Forex traders.

However, the RoFx.net trading robot is very efficient. And its AI smarts will give you an advantage over other people who try to conduct their trades without help. That’s because it takes lots of concentration and dedication to watch the markets constantly so you can try to outsmart them. Most human beings just don’t have the persistence required. Besides, everyone needs to sleep sometimes.

 

There’s No Magic Formula

So this is not to say that the RoFx.net trading robot works like magic. No. It won’t make you rich overnight. But what it will do is give you a consistent, systematic way to address the Forex market. And with consistency you have a better chance of making money with your money.

The post What You Need to Know About RoFx for Forex Trading: A Review appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/rofx-forex-trading/

Must-Haves in Providers of Writing Services

In this competitive era you can get just about any service you need, including writing services.

And that’s good to know. Because when you’re running a business, there are lots of times when you need a quality piece of writing.

So don’t be surprised to learn that you can find expert help, for whatever kind of writing you need, even for essay writing. You’ll find professionals who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, you can find them at any time.

However, you’re going to want to look for the best among all of the services out there. You’ll find that one of the most dependable is Papernow.org, where you can actually buy essays. Regardless of where you end up, though, you’re going to want to look for the following must-haves.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: BUSINESS WRITING: WHY EVERY BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD LEARN TO DO IT WELL

 

Familiarity with Different Formats

True professionals are familiar with many different types of writing services. They have good knowledge of the various formats so that they can provide you with writing in whatever format you need, whether you need an expository piece or a persuasive one, a creative essay or a descriptive narrative.

 

Good Command of Vocabulary

You’ll also want to make sure that the experts you choose have a good command of vocabulary and a wide linguistic range. Only when the writer you choose has these skills can you be sure that you’ll get the quality of writing you’re paying for.

 

Flexibility

You’ll also want to find experts who are flexible with their services. If the company’s rules are too rigid, the individual writer might not be able to meet your requirements.

 

Well Qualified and Highly Professional Staff

It takes creativity as well as intelligence to be a good writer. Therefore, look for writing experts who have well grounded qualifications and good educational backgrounds.

Before you contract with a company for their employees’ writing services, ask to see their writers’ credentials. You’ll want to know that the writer you ultimately choose to work with has had proper training. Make sure you work only with companies that recruit well qualified employees.

 

 

Readily Available Services

Whether you need a writer at midnight or at noon, on a Sunday or on a Wednesday, you’ll find peace of mind in knowing that that the writing experts you can call on are available at any time.

What’s more, you’ll want to make sure ahead of time that you’ll be able to count on a quick response time as well. Your time is important, and your deadlines are critical. Be sure to work only with writers who can respect your time and your deadlines.

 

Conclusion

All in all, there are plenty of companies that can provide you with writing services. But it’s not always easy to find the best ones.

However, with this list of must-haves in writing services providers, you’ll be able to seek out the professional services you need, without wasting time. And you’ll find a great writing professional to help you the next time you need an essay or a report, a marketing piece or a blog post.

The post Must-Haves in Providers of Writing Services appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/26/writing-services/

Understanding the Ins and Outs of Execution in the Financial Markets

Technological advances have automated most executions in the financial markets today, including those in the Forex market, making trades easier, faster, and more accurate.

In the financial markets, market participants buy and sell a variety of products. Such products are:

• Bonds
• Equities
• Stock indexes and exchange-traded funds, or ETF’s
• Individual stocks
• Options

Additionally, market participants can trade currency pairs in the financial markets known as the Forex market (short for “foreign exchange”).

Brokers from all over the world, from Singapore to the United Kingdom and Australia to Europe, offer trading platforms connected to online trading accounts. All trading accounts these days allow market participants to trade using pending orders.

The pending orders discussed below represent automated trades. In other words, buying and selling take place automatically, without human intervention.

 

 

Types of Pending Orders

In this automated climate, market participants set pending orders with instructions to buy or sell at certain points. For example:

 

Sell Limit Order

A sell limit order permits traders to sell when the product reaches a level that is higher than the current market price. After a trader places the order it becomes active. Then, the trading platform will automatically execute it if the price reaches the level set by the trader. Traders don’t even need to be in front of their computers or to have the trading platform open.

 

Sell Stop Order

A sell stop order is similar to a sell limit order. The only difference is that the trader intends to sell the product at a lower level. When and if the market reaches that level, the broker will execute the pending order.

 

Buy Limit Order

With a buy limit order, the trader wants to buy when the product reaches a price that is lower than the current price.

 

Buy Stop Order

When traders bet on the price rising, they place a buy stop order. It could be that the market forms a range due to pending economic news. In that case, it often happens that no one takes a chance to buy or sell before the report comes out. In such a situation, placing a pending order makes sense.

 

Exiting the Market

How about exiting the market? It is said that the best trading plan involves knowing your way out before you go in. Here are mandatory orders that traders place as pending orders for their exits:

 

Stop Loss Order

When the price of the product hits the stop loss point, it means the market behaved in a different manner than the anticipated one. It doesn’t necessarily mean the trader will incur a loss. If the trader set the initial stop loss at the break-even point, the broker would close the trade when the market reaches that point.

 

Take Profit Order

In the case of a take profit order, when the price of a currency pair reaches the take profit level, the broker closes the trade.

 

Trading at Market

Pending orders offer a great way to trade after the market makes a move and reaches the entry level. However, trading at market means that a trade opens or closes at the current price. When a broker receives an order to trade at market, he or she knows to execute the order immediately.

Traders prefer to trade at the market to avoid slippage. Slippage happens when the market moves fast, and the broker can’t execute the pending orders precisely at the indicated quote. To prevent that, retail traders open and close trades at the market price.

 

How Does All of This Play Out in the Forex Market?

Now, imagine a market where more than 5 trillion dollars are traded every day, by a considerable number of market participants. This is the Forex market.

Forex market trades take place all over the world, nonstop, 24 hours a day, every day except weekends. Of all the financial markets, the Forex market is the largest. What’s more, an estimated 80 percent of the trades in the Forex market are automated.

Because of these factors, the Forex market is typically more significantly volatile than other financial markets.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: CFD TRADING: WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO USE IT TO FUND YOUR BUSINESS

 

Conclusion

Other types of pending orders exist, such as a trail stop order or one-cancels-other order. However, the idea is the same, with traders automating their entry and exit levels.

It pays to keep in mind that trading is a game of both losing and winning, and that mastering the art of speculation is not for everyone.

The post Understanding the Ins and Outs of Execution in the Financial Markets appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/21/understanding-financial-markets/

Tips for Expanding Your Business to India

If you are happy with your business success in your own country and you wish to expand your business overseas, you might want to consider expanding it to India.

To be sure, there are many other countries you could consider as well. However, thanks to India’s strong middle class, whose population currently numbers more than 350 million people, its economy is flourishing. As a matter of fact, experts expect the country, located right in the middle of South Asia, to be the fifth largest consumer market by 2025.

If you are thinking of expanding your business to India, here are some points to keep in mind.

 

 

Consider India’s Business Opportunities 

India has numerous business opportunities in a wide range of sectors. If your business has anything to do with aviation, automobiles, agriculture, or construction, for instance, your company is sure to find its niche. Then, too, creative pursuits, as well as media opportunities, should also continue to expand. Finally, opportunities abound in the education and financial services sectors as well.

Be sure to do your research before you jump in, though. For example, if you are planning to expand your business in the entertainment industry, find out all you can about the specific requirements of that industry. To get a better idea, study the business model of reality shows such as Bigg Boss.

 

Plan Your Investment

There are a number of rules and regulations regarding the operations of foreign companies in India. What this means for you as a business owner is that you’ll need to be prepared ahead of time for the obstacles you’ll surely encounter. Work with professionals who are well acquainted with the country’s culture and its people. Consult with them every step of the way so as to plan for a strategy that will safeguard your investment.

With this kind of proper planning, you can safely expect a good return on your investment.

 

Learn the Taxation System

India’s taxation system, burdened as it has been by an inefficient bureaucracy, can be confusing. In addition, there have been times in the past when foreign companies were actively discouraged from setting up shop in India. However, the situation is changing because of a liberalization policy that began in the 1990’s.

Be sure to hire a legal expert who can help you to navigate the choppy waters of the taxation system. The right person will help you to seek out the most effective options so that your company can thrive.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: GO GLOBAL: 6 KEY BENEFITS TO EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

 

Weigh Other Challenges

You’ll have to face other challenges, too, while you go about establishing your business in India. However, the right experts “on the ground” can help you to overcome the difficulties. In the long run, it will be worth your while to practice patience and deal calmly with the challenges. Because once you have established your company in India, you will reap the rewards of serving the huge market that awaits you.

And who knows? Once you’ve overcome the challenges and established your business there, you might find yourself drawn to expanding your business again in other developing countries in different parts of the world. But that’s another story for another post.

The post Tips for Expanding Your Business to India appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/20/expanding-business-india/

Online Degrees That Will Enhance Your Skills as a Budding Entrepreneur

Although you don’t have to go to school to be an entrepreneur, you can learn some valuable skills with an online degree. What’s more, that degree will provide you with important knowledge for your business pursuits.

The right education can help you to focus your entrepreneurial passions and build up the skills you’ll need to run a business. In this post, you will find some online degrees for entrepreneurs, including some of the less obvious ones, that provide a solid knowledge base.

 

Business

Business degree programs typically offer students a broad range of classes that provide basic knowledge in many important areas. You will likely take courses in accounting, marketing, and finance. You will also build important skills in leadership and communication.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO PREPARE TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS WHILE STILL IN SCHOOL

 

Graphic Design

Graphic design is a highly competitive field. Nevertheless, such a degree can help you to differentiate yourself as a budding entrepreneur. You will learn HTML, CSS, and UX basics as well as how to talk to engineers.

Graphic design skills can be invaluable. They can help you save money on logos and other digital designs when your business is just getting started.

 

Finance

Finance basics are vital to any business. Knowing accounting and finance will allow you to make better predictions. You’ll understand how to be more effective with your use of time and resources. In addition, you’ll be better able to measure and assess your business’s progress and therefore make better business decisions and investments.

 

Marketing

This major will equip you with essential talents as you enter the world of startups.

Marketing is a big part of any business. Learning the theories behind marketing and the psychology behind consumers’ choices will help you to better corner your market. You’ll be better equipped to inform the world about your products and services.

Without marketing, it won’t matter how valuable your particular product or service is, because no one will know about it.

 

Communication

This major helps entrepreneurs and small business owners get their messages across in an articulate and understandable fashion. The skills you’ll gain while pursuing a degree in communications will help you to pitch business proposals, write content for your website, create a blog post, or persuade investors to back your business. You might even learn some basic computer science, too, and that will surely come in handy.

 

Computer Science

If you are considering starting a tech company, computer science can provide you with many worthwhile skills. That’s because computer programming and web development are at the heart of the technology industry.

What’s more, software engineers and web developers are in high demand. You will gain marketable skills that you can use to build your business or to work for another startup.

 

Writing and English

All businesses need the skills of a professional writer. Consider specializing in a field like blogging, technical writing, or search engine optimization. These specialties are particularly valuable. They can enhance your business or even become the heart of your offerings. The ability to write well crafted emails and business plans will be useful to you as well.

 

Philosophy

Philosophy teaches you critical thinking. You learn to think outside of the box and even to become an elegant debater. These skills are crucial to small business owners.

You will develop a foundation for connecting with others and the ability to see things from many different perspectives. You will have a better idea of what makes different people tick. Therefore, you’ll be able to develop products and offer services that appeal to them and add value to their lives.

 

Small Business Management

Similar to a general business degree, small business management teaches skills with the backdrop of small business needs in mind. You will learn about strategic development, taxation, sales, and marketing.

You will learn what it takes to operate a small business. This includes the principles of leadership, how to lead a small team, promoting responsibility within an organization, and managing sales activities.

 

 

Give Your Startup an Edge

No matter how naturally talented you are or how good your ideas, there are skills you’ll gain from a traditional education that will prove to be invaluable. And because you can earn a degree online you won’t have to put your business on hold. You can learn new skills as you continue to build your business. Then you can put them into immediate action.

Consider pursuing a degree that provides you with marketable skills that will enhance your business and give it an edge.

The post Online Degrees That Will Enhance Your Skills as a Budding Entrepreneur appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/12/20/enhancing-skills-entrepreneur/