How to Make Your Brand Recession Proof in 2019 and Beyond

Thanks to Pixabay on Pexels for the image

Is there a recession coming in 2019? Honestly, we’ve no idea. But when it comes to your company and your livelihood, it makes sense to prepare for the worst by making your brand recession proof.

For most of us, the last recession is very much in our rear view mirror. However, as global economic downturns go, it was severe. It also had a huge effect on both business management and buying behavior. Moreover, those effects continue to this day. For example:

• Banks lend differently.
• Consumers are much more conscious of their spending. The simultaneous rise in the use of social media and content marketing gives consumers today the tools they need to do significant research before making a purchase.
• Impulse buys have been replaced by considered purchases. Brands have had to adapt their marketing strategies accordingly.

Clearly, the world is not the same place it was before the Great Recession hit. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect the impact of our brands to be the same. Nor should we expect to be successful using the same methods.

 

The Effect of the Recession on Brand Loyalty

Traditional brand loyalty went out the window during the last recession. While consumers would previously be loyal to premium brands, a prolonged recession forced people to cut their spending. In short, they switched to cheaper products. The recession ended, but the buying behavior continued. Today, premium brands have to do much more to prove value.

A study by McKinsey details the relationship between the perceived value of a product and what people are willing to pay. Pre-recession, for example, branded detergent was perceived to be of higher value than store brands. However, once consumers tried the cheaper products and found the performance to be better than expected, that perception of value changed. Moreover, that change is permanent. In other words, brands can no longer rely on their name alone to sell products.

 

Millennials and the Perception of Value

Millennials came of age during the recession. They are, accordingly, financially risk-averse. But this isn’t the only thing that defines their spending habits. Millennials also perceive value differently. Though the majority will carry out price comparisons in store in a bid to find the lowest price, millennials are also prepared to pay more for products when they feel that the brand is using the money for good. For example, millennials will purchase products if the brand is sustainable or contributing toward corporate social initiatives. For that reason, it is necessary to pitch sales differently toward millennials.

Millennials are also used to the service levels of organizations like Amazon, Uber, and Netflix. So bear that in mind when you’re looking at your organization’s customer service model.

 

Customers Have Become More Discerning

It’s not just millennials. All customers spend less freely now than in the years before the recession. Therefore, when they do splash out, they want to know they are getting the best deal for their money. Much of the decision-making process happens before the customer speaks to a salesperson. That is, it takes place during an extensive research process.

What does this mean for brands? If you want to make your brand recession proof, you need to be sure you’re showing up in customers’ research. This means putting plenty of content out there on your website and other sites for customers to find. Think of what your customers are basing their choices on, and answer their questions. The majority of customers will buy from the first seller that is able to give them the information they are looking for.

 

Consumer Cynicism Has Taken Hold

A lot of people felt let down when the proverbial you-know-what hit the fan in 2008. Moreover, consumer trust hasn’t really recovered since. Therefore, transparency is a vital part of brand success. Customers want to feel respected and cared for. Moreover, various review sites have risen up to allow customers to help each other make informed decisions. Even the automotive market has had to adapt. Dealerships selling used cars know they need to be transparent in order to be recession proof. That’s because consumers today are better informed.

 

Social Sharing Has Opened New Doors

It’s no coincidence that in the decade since the Great Recession began, social media has taken off for business. Social media marketing is a relatively cost-effective marketing tool. What’s more, it’s a great way to engage with customers. Notably, customers engage on social media to build relationships with brands.

For discerning customers, social media is a place to share deals. Moreover, they also share both good and bad brand experiences. All of this has grown in the last ten years. This creates an entirely new platform for marketers to share their brand message and build their following. Indeed, brands who actively engage with members of their target audience are bound to be more recession proof.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING WILL HELP YOU TO HUMANIZE YOUR BRAND

 

What Could You Do to Recession-Proof Your Brand in 2019?

We’ve established that if a recession were to hit in 2019, it would be an altogether different experience for brands than it was in 2008. So what measures could you begin taking today to make your brand recession proof?

 

Build Your Brand Identity Around a Hero Statement

In 2019, you should build your brand around your customer. What problem do you solve? What are you passionate about? How can you express these things in a way that shows you are putting the customer first?

A hero statement might just be the answer. This is a simple sentence that aims to pin down what you do and who you do it for. You may already have one on your website. But one of the important things to remember about a hero statement is that it should be at the center of everything you do. This means that your sales, marketing, and customer success people must all have the same understanding of the problems your product solves and who it is for. If marketing says one thing and sales another, you risk losing customer trust. And this will only translate into lost revenue.

 

Delight Your Customers

Happy customers are your best sales marketing tool. If you want to make your brand recession proof, keep doing all you can to exceed your customers’ expectations. Deliver on promises and add value wherever possible. Make it easy for them to buy from you. Create and distribute content not just for the buying process, but also for every stage of the customer journey. Moreover, make it content they will want to share. Build a community that enables you to help your customers and allows them to help each other. The key is to keep asking yourself, “How can we be a better ally?” Once you know the answer to that question, act on it.

 

Use Tools Wisely

There is a lot of technology out there. There are tools to gather data, tools to help you communicate with your customers, and tools to streamline sales processes. Not all of them will be relevant to your business. However, the right tools can set you ahead of the competition.

• Data Gathering

Customers expect you to know them the way Amazon or Netflix knows them. But, equally, they want you to respect their data. Use the knowledge you gain for good (tailored proposals), not evil (spam).

• Communications

Put yourself in your customer’s shoes with every communication. Ask, “What’s In It For Me (WIIFM)?” from the customer’s perspective. Always add value where you can. And if you need them to answer questions for you, give them good reasons and a little incentive.

• Streamlined Sales Processes

The more effective your sales processes, the better the customer experience. Concentrate on tools that enable you to deliver a more personal experience while eliminating some of the more tedious manual tasks.

 

Take Steps Now to Make Your Brand Recession Proof

We hope there won’t be a recession in 2019. But if there is, these tips will help your brand weather the storm and blossom, no matter the conditions.

 

About the Author

Charlotte Powell is Head of Design and Marketing at iPresent, a sales enablement platform developed by experienced sales professionals. iPresent is designed to give sales teams all they need to create beautiful sales presentations and secure more business.

The post How to Make Your Brand Recession Proof in 2019 and Beyond appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/31/make-brand-recession-proof/

4 Reasons Why Bitcoin Investing Is a Long-Term Game

Photo by Worldspectrum from Pexels

Bitcoin investing has been a roller coaster ride in recent years. At the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin nearly hit the $20k mark. However, today, it’s fallen to $3,500. That’s one heck of a drop. But experts fear we haven’t seen the end of bitcoin’s dramatic fall from grace.

For intrepid investors trading bitcoin, the recent price drop represents some interesting possibilities. If you invest now, you could make a lot of money when bitcoin prices recover. Or, you could lose when bitcoin prices drop even more. Many experts believe bitcoin hasn’t hit rock bottom yet. Here are a few reasons why it might be worth going short with your bitcoin investing for now.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

 

1. Whale Investors

In the world of investing, big money crypto investors—often referred to as “whales”—have considerable clout in the market. Most whales are hedge funds and other corporate investors. However, there are some private investors with a big stake in bitcoin investing, too. Taken together, bitcoin investing whales control an estimated 30% of the entire market. If they decide to sell, they have the power to push the price of bitcoin even lower.

Some conspiracy theorists believe that whales are responsible for artificially manipulating bitcoin prices. Whether that is true is debatable. However, what’s certain is that when corporate investors sell off huge chunks of bitcoin, smaller investors often follow suit. This triggers a huge price drop.

 

2. Increased Regulation

Regulation is still the biggest stumbling block in the growth of cryptocurrencies. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding bitcoin investing—and cryptocurrency investing in general. This makes investors twitchy.

Governments began to crack down on bitcoin investing in 2018, following concern about the so-called Wild West nature of bitcoin investment. Concerns about hacking and money laundering have prompted greater scrutiny of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. As regulatory bodies like the SEC continue to look more closely at bitcoin and its cousins, it seems likely that regulatory controls will increase. Naturally, this will affect prices.

 

3. Bitcoin and the Stock Market

In the early years of bitcoin, there were few correlations between bitcoin prices and the stock market indices. However, that has since changed.

Moreover, the landscape is changing as well. Joe DiPasquale, the CEO of BitBull Capital, believes bitcoin and the S&P 500 are closely aligned, at least in the short-term. He says this is because institutional investors are moving in on bitcoin, What’s more, their decisions are based on stock market performance. This assessment is backed up by the recent dip in stock market prices, which correlated with a fall in bitcoin prices.

 

4. Media Influence

Don’t underestimate the role of the media in influencing bitcoin prices. Media coverage has a huge reach in today’s digitized world. Small-scale investors, of which there are many, are heavily influenced by reports they read in the online media. If a big media outlet such as CNN says bitcoin prices are falling, the account will spook many small investors into selling their stakes. Naturally, this pushes prices even lower. Moreover, each time bitcoin prices fall, media coverage increases.

 

Bitcoin Investing Calls for Long-Term Strategies

To make money from bitcoin investing, you need to develop long-term strategies. Moreover, don’t let the panic merchants influence your investment strategies. Even if bitcoin prices do fall, they will recover eventually. You can win with bitcoin investing if you stay in the game for the long haul.

The post 4 Reasons Why Bitcoin Investing Is a Long-Term Game appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/31/bitcoin-investing-long-game/

It’s Important to Know the Basics of an Auto Title Loan

Photo by Grahame Jenkins on Unsplash

People look for loans for different reasons. These can range from starting a new business to addressing an emergency. However, even with the easy availability of borrowing options like an auto title loan, borrowers must understand all the requirements.

For example, anyone looking for Car Title Loans Riverside should study the market. They should also weigh the different available options before settling on one. An auto title loan comes with a lot of benefits for borrowers and is something to go for when you’re in need. However, it is important to take time to study it carefully before you get an auto title loan.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: MOBILE HOME PARK INVESTING: YOUR NEXT BIG ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE?

 

Your Car as Collateral

One of the important things to note is that auto title loans are issued against your car as collateral. These are short-term loans that come with high rates of interest and processing fees.

Unlike unsecured loans, auto title loans are easy to acquire. All you’ll need to do is provide the title for your car and prove that you own it.

However, because of the high rates of interests and the additional fees, borrowers should consider auto title loans to handle pressing needs only. Most importantly, a borrower should have a reliable source of income to help them repay the loan.

 

Things to Note About an Auto Title Loan

The application for an auto title loan is short and straightforward. The most important document you’ll need is the auto title. The lender will use this as security for the loan.

Once you have completed the application, you will usually receive the funds within a day. In other words, you won’t have to wait for a long period of time to get approved and get the money you applied for. That’s because title loan lenders don’t usually check your credit score as other lenders do. The amount of the loan you’re likely to be awarded is usually between 40%-50% of your car’s wholesale value.

Nonetheless, even though your car will be used as security for the loan, you will be allowed to use your vehicle as long as you continue to pay the loan.

Before approving the loan, the lender will require an inspection of your vehicle by an authorized agent. The purpose of this inspection will be to determine the value of your car.

After disbursing the loan, the lender will retain the vehicle’s title until the loan is cleared. The lender may also require that you leave them with a set of keys that they will returned to you once you have paid the loan in full.

 

When to Get an Auto Title Loan

Unless you find it absolutely necessary, don’t get an auto title loan. This is because of the high rates of interest and the other expensive charges that come with these loans.

However, if you feel that an auto title loan is your only remaining option and you have an urgent need, an auto title loan may be your best course of action. Do keep in mind, however, that lenders impose high fees and premiums for these loans. The interest rates are extremely high, sometimes as high as 25% on a monthly basis.

Additionally, assess the possibility of losing your car. The moment you default the loan, the lender has the legal right to possess your vehicle. Generally, they will sell your car at auction to cover the cost of the loan and recover their money.

The lender mitigates their risk by using the borrower’s vehicle as collateral on an auto title loan. This is the reason why the lender is usually not strict about checking your credit rating.

Moreover, it is important to remember that auto title loans are small loans. What’s more, you stand a chance of losing a lot of money if you default on the loan. On the other hand, it is a win-win situation for the lender.

Therefore, because these loans can be so expensive, it is important for borrowers to consider the risks. Additionally, be prepared to lose your car if it becomes burdensome for you to pay back the loan. Therefore, avoid the temptation of borrowing more money than you need. Use it for the sole reason of addressing the emergency issue at hand, and not for luxury purchases.

 

A Final Word

The ability to access funds through loans is always helpful, especially when one is in dire need. Auto title loans offer such a possibility. However, you should use them for emergencies only.

The post It’s Important to Know the Basics of an Auto Title Loan appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/29/basics-auto-title-loan/

Title Loans: 5 Things You Need to Know About How They Work

Thanks to Jeff Kramer on Flickr for the image

Nearly every business owner needs cash to address a pressing need from time to time. One of the ways to obtain cash is through title loans. This is one of the quickest ways to get cash for emergencies.

However, it is important to know what title loans entail before settling on them as an option. For example, anyone looking for Car Title Loans Albuquerque must understand the requirements. What’s more, they must submit the required documents to be able to access them.

Importantly, borrowers need to understand the requirements and the risks involved when they’re considering applying for a title loan. Here is what you should know:

 

1. You Can Make Your Application Online or Offline

With the advent of technology and the Internet, you can apply for your title loan online. Do this by submitting the required forms and documents. Alternatively, you could visit a local office and get your loan by filling in the requisite documents there.

An agency of the lender’s choosing will inspect your car to determine its value. This will help the lender to determine how much money they can lend you. It is unlikely that you will be able to borrow an amount higher than the stated value of your car. Usually, the amount you can borrow is a percentage of the total value of your car.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER

 

2. Your Car Secures the Loan

Keep in mind that your car will be used as collateral in case you fail to pay the loan as agreed. The lender will require you to submit the car title. They will hold the title until you have completely paid the loan back. At times, the lender could require other proofs of car ownership, such as providing them with a set of keys and supporting documents besides your car title.

 

3. Your Credit Score Might Not Count

Title loans depend heavily on your car and its value. Therefore, your credit score might not count when you’re getting this type of loan. In other words, the lender offsets the risk they take against the value of your car. To put it bluntly, if you fail to repay the loan, they will take your car.

 

4. High Fees and Interest Rates Apply

These types of loans are usually expensive due to high fees. In addition, you can expect to also pay high interest rates.

For example, the rate of interest can be as high as 25% in a month. To take this example further, a loan of $1,000 with a repayment term of one month at the rate of 25% per month will cost you $250 in interest. This does not include the fees the lender will charge you during processing.

Altogether, the amount of money you will pay to the lender by the end of the loan term is usually significantly higher than the amount you borrowed. Therefore, these expenses are factors to consider.

 

5. Title Loans Have Short Periods of Payment

Ideally, title loans are short-term loans with terms no longer than a year. Some loans, however, will have terms for only a month. Therefore, you probably should think twice before taking this type of loan unless you have a legitimate pressing need.

People usually take out title loans only to address an emergency and only if they know that their salary or stable business income will be useful in repaying it within the specified time. People who have no stable source of income should not take out title loans.

 

Title Loans Are Only One of Your Options

Taking a title loan is one of your options when you need help with a financial emergency. However, it is important for the borrower to understand the risks involved and the conditions under which the loan is disbursed. Moreover, it is even more important to remember that your car will be used as security for the loan. If you fail to pay, you could lose your car.

The post Title Loans: 5 Things You Need to Know About How They Work appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/29/title-loans-work/

Tips for Business Travelers Who Are Planning to Visit Bhutan

Thanks to impradip on Pixabay for the image

Bhutan is a mysterious place, a landlocked country still isolated from the rest of the world. Although it enjoys a steady influx of tourists, this Himalayan country is untouched by modernism. An aura of mysticism elusively surrounds this traditional nation.

As a business traveler, you’ll need to understand the mountainous terrain, the travel permits, and the visas. Moreover, you’ll need to know where to stay, and it will be important to understand Bhutan’s business environment. Read on to find out more.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: TRAVELING ABROAD: HOW IT WILL HELP YOU GROW AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

 

Best Time to Visit for Business

The right time to visit Bhutan for business is during October and November. This is when the working population is busy with agriculture.

In order to enter Bhutan, you’ll need to apply for both an entry permit and a route permit. Government prescribed packages take care of visas for foreigners. Additionally, a registered tourist agent will take care of the process of the documents and permits. You can easily obtain all of the information you’ll need at Bhutan Tourism.

 

Business Opportunities in Bhutan

Cereals and wood are Bhutan’s chief products. Additionally, small-scale industries include textiles, carpets, and handicrafts.

Electric power generation, increasing tourism, and foreign exchange have brought about growth in the country’s export industries. As a result, Bhutan is now a part of the World Trade Organization and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

Tourism, essential oils, handicrafts, and stamps are significant sources of foreign exchange. Principal imports include machinery, vehicles, fabrics, fuel, and lubricants.

Moreover, even though Bhutan is landlocked, there are rushing rivers and waterfalls everywhere. Therefore, hydroelectric plants are beginning to usher in more electricity.

 

Communications to Keep in Touch

TV and radio broadcasting are offered by Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Telephone and WiFi services are improving, and mobile phones are becoming more popular. However, telephone service can be slow at times. Other times, over-subscription can create problems. On the other hand, Internet cafes are springing up in the major towns and in some hotels.

It’s worth noting that because of the high price of Bhutanese stamps, mail here is likely to suffer disruption, as stamps are often stolen en route.

 

Your Business Trip

Bhutan is not an easy place to get to. Therefore, apply for your business visa well in advance. What’s more, it’s best to travel with a group. Additionally, keep in mind that the weather can be tricky in the Himalayas, and this can affect your flights.

All the same, when you land, you will be surrounded by amazing views of mountain ridges and the unique Dzong buildings. Hundreds of prayer flags will fly in the breeze.

Once you have passed through immigration and handled all of the requirements regarding your visa, passport, and landing card, you will be free to enter the country.

Keep in mind, however, that cigarette smoking is illegal, but you’ll still be allowed to carry up to 200 cigarettes for personal consumption.

Additionally, be aware of the list of banned imports into Bhutan. These include pornography, narcotics, and antiques. Other restricted imports include drugs, arms, and ammunition. Also restricted are gold and silver, secondhand goods, chemicals, and telecommunications equipment.

 

Understanding the Currency

When you’re traveling on business, you should know how to handle money in Bhutan.

Ngultrum is the currency here. It is available in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. However, the merchants here also accept US dollars. On the other hand, the ATMs accept only Bhutanese bank cards, so be sure to have one. Alternatively, you can buy travelers’ checks at the Bank of Bhutan. While there are no restrictions on the import or export of currencies, you’ll need to declare them in full when you arrive.

 

Where to Stay

There are plenty of hotels, cottages, and guest houses where you can be comfortable. You can expect hot and cold running water, room telephones, and electricity. If you’re willing to pay higher prices, you can stay at a luxury hotel. Tour operators can book your room for you well in advance of your trip.

 

Getting Around

As you move about during your business trip to Bhutan, you will find that the country has a fairly good network of roads. The key routes are from Phuentsholing to the Paro and Thimphu regions and Thrumshing La Pass to the central valleys. However, there are no roads toward the northern Himalaya regions.

Cars and private taxis are the best way to get from place to place in Bhutan. However, you can also use the public buses, as the distances between Bhutanese towns is not great.

 

Must-See Attractions in Bhutan

Even if you are here on a business trip and not backpacking, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to explore the local attractions. There is plenty to do and see in this land of monks and monasteries.

For example, you can attend the archery competition that is held across the country. You can visit beautiful Bumthang with its four sacred valleys. Make a point of seeing Punakha Dzong, the second Buddhist monastery in Bhutan.

If you’re in good physical shape, you can climb up the Himalayan passes and enjoy spectacular views. Explore historic Thimphu with its weekend market in your free time. Additionally, Trashi Yangtse valley beckons travelers. When you’re there, you’ll feel as if you’re in a different world.

From Drametse Goemba monastery, you’ll see spectacular views of the mountain valleys and jungle-cloaked hills. Tashi Chho Dzong is another popular and monumental monastery. It is home to about 1,600 monks.

Create a special memory by enjoying Bhutan’s three colorful Buddhist festivals. These festivals are world-famous for their monster masks and rainbow-colored costumes. Paro, too, lures locals and travelers alike because of its monasteries and ancient temples.

The post Tips for Business Travelers Who Are Planning to Visit Bhutan appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/29/business-travelers-bhutan/

5 Powerful Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Your Business Travel

Photo by David McBee from Pexels

Traveling for work might seem glamorous from the outside, but in reality it can be stressful and tiring. While it can be a tempting opportunity to break away from the mundane nine-to-five and see what the world has to offer, business travel is never quite the same as a holiday. As a matter of fact, it can often feel like more of a chore.

On the other hand, if the buzz of travel is something you crave, this might be the perfect lifestyle for you. Either way, it’s important that you aim for a stress-free travel experience, whether it’s your first or your 15th business trip. These top tips can help.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW BUSINESS TRAVELERS CAN BRING THEIR A-GAME TO MEETINGS

 

1. Pack a Carry-on Only

If you can, try to avoid checking in luggage at all costs. Most airlines will let you take a carry-on bag or small suitcase (be sure to check for maximum dimensions) free of charge.

Checking in luggage often costs extra and will add significant time to your journey. Not only will you have to stand in line on arrival at the airport, when you land at your destination you will face the frustratingly long wait for your bag to appear on the dreaded luggage carousel. Worse still, you might even end up with a lost bag. Just make sure you’re aware of what you can and can’t pack in your carry-on.

 

2. Bring a Battery Backup

Low battery = shortest horror story ever. Power banks are lifelines when traveling. If you’re on business the last thing you want is to have your phone dying when you touch down. Therefore, make sure your mobile phone has sufficient charge at all times by slipping a power bank into your hand luggage. They’re relatively cheap, and you might be extra thankful when you desperately need to use your maps to find the hotel.

 

3. Check in Online

Save time at the airport by checking in for your flight online in advance. This will save time and a last-minute panic when you arrive to find lengthy lines at the airport. Checking in early will not only save you time but will also give you the option to select your seat. What’s more, you might be able to take advantage of offers and upgrades, too. If your airline has an app, it’s worth downloading it. In this way, you can often access your boarding pass on it to save your printing it out. You can arrive at the airport and breeze through to security with minimal stress and hassle.

 

4. Book a Car in Advance

If you want to avoid long waits for taxis and trying to get your head around the public transport system in another country, it might be worth looking into a car rental service. Compare the best prices online and book your car ahead of your trip. This way you’ll be able to get off the plane and jump into a car and head off to your hotel in minimal time.

 

5. Avoid Jet Lag

Jet lag should not be underestimated. There’s no point flying halfway across the world for important meetings if you’re going to spend most of it trying not to fall asleep. You need to give your body time to reset and beat the jet lag as much as possible.

To get yourself off to the best start possible avoid alcohol on your flight. Additionally, rest as much as you can and change your watch to local time. When you land, try to push through the tiredness and head to sleep at a normal bedtime. In the morning, a brisk walk and fresh air will help to kick start your day.

 

Business Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Terrible

While you might be a homebody who would prefer never to leave your chosen stomping grounds, use these handy tips to make your business travel as painless as possible.

The post 5 Powerful Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Your Business Travel appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/29/stress-business-travel/

On-Demand Business Ideas: Cool Concepts to Get You Inspired

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

Technology dominates our world. This applies especially to the business world, which changes at such a fast pace that it’s difficult to keep up. However, these cool on-demand business ideas could help us to keep pace with the changes. Moreover, they would appeal to wide audiences. And any one of them could spark your next entrepreneurial venture.

But first, what does the on-demand business approach mean? And how did on-demand businesses come to be such a big deal? For one thing, on-demand business ideas aim at catering to the needs of people who are constantly on the go.

Moreover, the concept of an on-demand business is linked with a mobile app. What’s more, the appeal for on-demand apps applies not only to younger demographics but to all age groups. Therefore, you might want to consider entering the competitive world of on-demand businesses. Get inspired by the ideas here.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: 5 STEPS ON HOW TO START YOUR OWN COMPUTER SERVICING BUSINESS

 

1. On-Demand App for Traveling

No doubt you are aware of the Uber phenomenon, which significantly changed the way people perceive transportation. Considering Uber’s enormous good fortune, it makes sense that business ideas that resemble Uber’s might also be successful.

At the same time, it’s worth pointing out that we live in a time during which traveling is readily accessible to nearly everyone. This has increased the number of travelers worldwide. As a result, investing in a useful app for travelers could be a lucrative idea.

 

2. On-Demand Plumbing Services

Did you ever have a plumbing emergency during which you were unable to find someone to resolve the issue? If this has ever happened to you, then having access to on-demand plumbing services is likely really appealing to you.

Furthermore, this kind of service is practical. It addresses something that most people actually need from time to time. Therefore, it could turn out to be a successful business idea.

Of course, in order for such a service to work, the business would need to have an app in its marketing arsenal. Additionally, it would need a team of on-call plumbers to give people access to plumbing services on the spot, around the clock, every day of the week.

 

3. On-Demand Laundry Services

Practical things bring significant revenue. For example, think of all those people whose spare time is so limited that they can’t find the time to do their laundry.

However, what if, instead of having to visit a laundry store and get the services they need, they could go to an app? Then they would choose the type of laundry services they want and get clean laundry within a few hours.

As the business owner, you would need to hire competent professionals to do the actual work. Then you would need to set up an app so that it works seamlessly for clients.

 

4. On-Demand Mechanics

Have you ever been stranded on the side of the road with car problems? At the time, didn’t you just wish that you could reach out to a mechanic who would make the problem go away?

However, in order to create such magic, some entrepreneur would first need to focus on setting up an efficient system. Such a system would need to be able to schedule appointments, create profiles for on-call mechanics, and offer push notifications. Moreover, it would need advanced reports and analytics as well.

Such a business idea, if well-executed, would likely win over a wide target audience.

 

What Makes a Successful On-Demand Business Idea?

Finally, as you can see, almost any business can be turned into an on-demand business. The main element that all our recommendations have in common is the technology of mobile applications.

Therefore, in order to make your on-demand business idea successful, you will need to focus on implementing the right technology and having proficient support. Naturally, you’ll also need to consider the target audience you’re addressing and how you intend on meeting those people’s needs.

In short, cool on-demand business ideas aren’t enough. Planning, determination, excellent customer service, and plenty of hard work are also necessary ingredients for your long-term success.

The post On-Demand Business Ideas: Cool Concepts to Get You Inspired appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/28/on-demand-business-ideas/

What Kind of Startup Business Should You Launch in 2019?

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Even if you’re employed at what you think of as your dream job, there can still be something compelling about the thought of having your own startup business. The good news is that recent technological advancements make launching a startup business in 2019 easier than ever.

So if you have a dream of launching your own startup, 2019 just might be your year. Here are some ideas for you to consider.

 

Vacation Houses

Do you enjoy working in the hospitality industry? Or do you have some background in hotel management? If you said yes to either of these questions, you might enjoy having your own vacation house startup.

Every year, more and more people are encouraged to travel. And you can enjoy the benefits of this trend by having your own vacation houses and letting people rent them out. This concept is perfect for places where tourists like to visit. Take advantage of the various platforms that promote vacation houses when it’s time to market your business.

 

Fashion 

If you’re into selling and fashion, then why not build your own fashion store? These days, it’s easy to sell and shop fashion because of the Internet. You can quickly reach out to your customers by way of emails and social media ads. If you are considering this kind of startup business this year, here are some tips associated with the fashion business that you need to know.

 

Social Media Management

Social media rules the Internet today. These platforms have changed the way we live. Moreover, they have changed the way businesses connect with customers. This is why social media management is now a popular startup business.

While everyone is using social media, not all of us are knowledgeable about how best to use it. Nor does everyone have the right skills to run a successful social media marketing campaign.

Therefore, if you have the right skill set, use it to build your own company. You can start small by working for just a few clients at first. Leave those clients happy and satisfied, and your client list will grow within a short time.

 

Tourism Guide

If you live in or near a popular tourist destination, consider starting tourism guide business. This is a fun business, since you’ll be able to show off the beauty of the place where you live. Moreover, you’ll be making other people happy while they are traveling.

There are a lot of platforms that can help your tourism guide business to thrive. For example, check out TripAdvisor and Viator.

 

Online Education

Have you acquired a particular skill that you are passionate about sharing with others? Then why not launch an online course?

People love the convenience of online learning. As a matter of fact, enrollment in online courses is quickly expanding.

Moreover, this type of educational setup is helpful for people who are physically limited. It also provides a way for people to expand their skills and qualifications while continuing to work a full-time job. Therefore, if you are an expert in a particular field, launch a startup business by offering short courses online.

 

SEO and Web Development

SEO and web development are also areas where businesses are looking for help right now. What’s more, you can provide these services no matter where you are in the world.

Another great thing about this kind of business is that there are different ways to earn money in this field. For example, you can charge clients by the job, whereby you receive payment for completing projects. Or, you can establish your own websites to pull in passive income. Either way, you’re going to earn money from a startup business in SEO and web development.

 

Coaching Services

Are you an expert in a particular field? Then you could provide coaching services. According to statistics, people today are open to learning. Moreover, they are willing to invest money in themselves to acquire skills for living the lives they want to lead.

To start this kind of business, list your best skills. Then create a training program about those skills. In order to be taken seriously as a coach, however, it’s a must that you provide your prospective clients with your certifications, qualifications, and previous experience.

It might be a good idea to start by setting up one-on-one classes offline. However, if your target market consists of professionals who are always busy, then consider offering your services via Skype.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE STARTING LIFE COACH CERTIFICATION ONLINE

 

Kick 2019 into High Gear by Launching Your New Startup Business Today

If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to start your own business, don’t wait any longer. This year is a great time to start your venture.

When you’re considering what kind of startup business you want to launch, take into consideration your budget, your skills, and your passion. That’s because having your own business is not easy. You’ll have lots of challenges, no matter which type of business you get into.

However, there’s no time like the present. And the sooner you get started with launching your new startup business, the closer you’ll be to experiencing success.

The post What Kind of Startup Business Should You Launch in 2019? appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/28/startup-business/

Kajabi: The One-Stop-Shop Platform for Your Online Course Business

Image Source: Pexels on Pixabay

If you’re running a business selling online courses, you can’t help but wear a myriad of hats. Depending on the phase you’re in with your business, you’d have to be the marketer, the product creator, community manager, web developer, and more. It can be overwhelming to say the least. That is why, if you want to streamline and optimize your online course business, you need a tried and tested online tool—one that can accommodate your growing needs as a business owner. Kajabi is one such tool.

The platform is often touted as a one-stop-shop solution, an all-in-one tool for online business owners, or an all-encompassing software to run a digital business. For this reason, we decided to check it out to see if it lives up to the hype.

The result? We were super impressed with what we saw. Therefore, if you’re thinking of starting an online course business (or you’re already running one), you need to check out what Kajabi has to offer.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: TIPS FOR CREATING A SUSTAINABLE HOME BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

 

Overview of Kajabi

Kajabi is a knowledge commerce platform that empowers thousands of people to share and monetize their knowledge.

Through Kajabi, you can create websites, manage your users, market your business, create your products, and more. Moreover, industry leaders such as Chalene Johnson, Brendon Burchard, and Billy Gene use this platform.

 

Kajabi’s Key Features

Kajabi’s features can be grouped into four main categories: website creation, product creation, community management and marketing. Here’s how each one works.

 

1. Website Creation

The platform allows you to create websites for your online course business. Moreover, you could create a website for almost any type of online business with this platform. Through the site, you can create landing pages, homepages, static pages, a blog section, and so on.

Because Kajabi’s Premiere Framework theme allows you to customize your website into a myriad of layouts, you can create a beautiful site for your online course business in minutes.

Additionally, Kajabi has several pre-made layout presets available that users can choose from. Once you have chosen a layout preset, you can start adding content and customizing the theme’s styles.

This is a screenshot of Kajabi’s website creation page.

 

Here’s how it looks when you edit your pages using Kajabi’s editor.

 

2. Product Development

There are numerous product types that you can create through Kajabi. Among the many products are mini-courses, evergreen courses, email marketing courses, and evergreen training.

And because of Kajabi’s pre-made product templates, users can upload online course content without having to do much setup.

You can set your price, create offers, encourage upsells, and even send automated emails to people who abandon your checkout pages.

This is Kajabi’s blank template for creating products.

 

Here’s Kajabi’s Mini Course template for creating products.

 

3. Community Management

Kajabi’s People tab houses a good bit of its community management features. For example, it can show you the purchases made by a specific user and when they joined your community. In addition, you can offer them discounts, send them passwords, and so on.

 

4. Marketing

You can run email marketing campaigns, publish blog posts, set up automations, and even create events through Kajabi. These are just some of the platform’s main marketing features. What’s more, Kajabi even allows you to collect payments from your customers.

Another Kajabi marketing feature that’s worth mentioning is that they allow their users to create pipelines. They even have several pre-made pipelines:

• Freebie
• Sales Page OVO (Opt-in Value Offer)
• Product Launch OVO
• Coaching Campaign OVO

With these pipeline templates, you won’t have to set up your marketing funnels from scratch. You just need to pick a template, customize it, and add your content. Of course, if your funnel is a bit more complicated and none of the templates on the site fit what you’re looking for, you can also create your funnel from scratch.

One of Kajabi’s key marketing features is the email sequence.

 

Minimal Learning Curve

From the Kajabi dashboard, all the way to the specific feature that you’re looking to use, you’ll notice immediately how easy it is to figure out how the platform works.

For instance, you’ll see all the key functions categorized and bundled up in one place. Moreover, even the words they use to label and describe their features are easy to understand.

Here’s a screenshot of Kajabi’s dashboard.

As you can see from the screen captures, it’s very easy to understand how the tool works. Even someone who’s fairly new in the platform will have a good idea of what they’re supposed to do on the pages they’re on.

When you think about how the knowledge commerce industry is often visited by people who want to make money out of their passion—but aren’t necessarily exposed to the workings of digital marketing—it’s crucial for them to have a platform that they can understand and use to monetize their passion.

 

Customer Support and Training Materials

However, if you do happen to come up against a roadblock and you need help with your Kajabi account, you’ll be happy to know that Kajabi offers a myriad of support options:

• 24/7 Chat Support
• Knowledge Base
• Phone Support
• Video Tutorials
• FAQs

 

Pricing

For as little as $149 per month, you can sign up for Kajabi’s basic package to start using the tool.

This gives you access to a good bit of Kajabi’s most useful features to help you run a successful online course business. For example, you’ll immediately gain access to creating landing pages, pipelines, your website, marketing emails, and so on.

However, if you’d like more advanced features, you can opt for Kajabi’s Growth Package at $199 per month, or the Pro Package at $399 per month.

Simply click this link to learn more about Kajabi’s pricing packages and their features.

 

What’s Next?

Because of the multifaceted nature of running an online course business, you need to have a reliable online tool, a tool that can cater to your needs.

Kajabi’s numerous features are geared toward helping you advance, organize, and streamline your online course business. Accordingly, you no longer need to sign up for various third-party apps. Kajabi has everything you need and then some.

The post Kajabi: The One-Stop-Shop Platform for Your Online Course Business appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/28/kajabi-online-course-business/

5 Steps on How to Start Your Own Computer Servicing Business

Thanks to Pexels for the great image!

Do you have a dream of starting your own computer servicing business? If you do, you must be aware that this is a challenging market. Moreover, the work you do at the initial phase of operating your business will set a platform for success. If you need help in this area, here are five steps on how to start your own computer servicing company.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW NOT TO START A BUSINESS ONLINE: 5 ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS 

 

Ensure You Are Ready to Provide This Service

While the idea of running a business may be appealing, the reality of the work may not be quite so enticing. Before you commit to the idea of starting your computer servicing business, make sure that you are able and willing to do so.

You need to ensure you can provide the services your customers need. What’s more, you must have the time to carry out the work. Additionally, you need to have a temperament that will allow you to deal with demanding situations. Plus, you need to be able to manage your company’s operations.

The bottom line is that there is a lot of work involved with running a company. What’s more, it stretches far beyond the main services provided by your firm. It is vital that you weigh up whether you can run a business or not before you commit to running a computer servicing business.

 

Ensure There Is a Market For Your Services

Another factor you need to consider in starting your computer servicing business is whether there will be sufficient demand for your services. To find out, conduct research into your audience. This will help you to determine if you can enter the market at an affordable price.

Additionally, work out whether you are going to serve your local community or whether you are going to offer online services. Perhaps you can reach both. But no matter how you serve your customers, make sure you have enough people you can serve so that you can run your business.

 

Create a Business Plan

A business plan is essential for the development of your business. You need to make sure that you have a plan to grow your business. You also need to have developed you road map for how you are going to reach and then serve your audience.

Importantly, if you are looking for external funding, you need to make sure that you have a business plan. That’s because this document will provide investors with information about what you plan to offer.

 

Purchase the Equipment You Need for Your Computer Servicing Business

If you run a computer company, you need computer equipment. However, computer equipment can be expensive. As a new company, you might not have a lot of funds to spare. One solution would be to use refurbished hardware and software. This can ensure that you have access to high-quality equipment at the start of your business activities.

Any new computer servicing company looking to equip themselves will find that Mynextbox is the ideal place to look. Here you’ll find affordable laptops, servers, smartphones, and other computer equipment.

 

Promote Your Services

Once you are confident that you can provide a service to your clients, you need to promote these services. Promotion is crucial for new firms. Therefore, it is vital that you know who your audience is and how to best reach them.

Social media is essential for computer firms looking to promote themselves affordably. This should be where you focus a lot of time and energy.

With so many firms and people reliant on computers, it is easy to say there is a demand for computer servicing companies. This makes it an attractive industry to enter. However, make sure you follow the above tips to give yourself the best chance of success in your sector.

The post 5 Steps on How to Start Your Own Computer Servicing Business appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/26/computer-servicing-business/

Mobile Home Park Investing: Your Next Big Business Venture?

Thanks to Nicolás Boullosa on Flickr for the Image

For those with an itch to combine their entrepreneurial skills with an interest in investing, real estate offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, getting started in residential or commercial real estate can require hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of experience. There is, however, a lesser-known method of real estate investing that requires less upfront capital and still yields fantastic rates of return: mobile home park investing.

 

What Is Mobile Home Park Investing?

When it comes to mobile home park investing, there are generally two types of ownership.

“One form of ownership involves the investor owning the lots underneath the individual homes, and the land surrounding the lots such as the streets, utility systems, club houses, swimming pools and other amenities,” RealtyMogul.com explains. “In this form of ownership, the tenant owns their home and pays only for the right to occupy the land where their home is located plus the use of the facilities.”

The second type of mobile home park investing involves the ownership of the land and the homes. In this setup, the tenant pays for both the use of the land and the home.

While there’s value in both investments, most investors prefer the first method to the second. It offers less risk, lower upfront cost, and more opportunity for a high return on investment (ROI).

Mobile home parks can make for fantastic investments with impressive capitalization rates regularly between 10 and 15 percent. But because of the reputation of mobile home parks, the majority of would-be investors overlook these investments. This is good news for you, or anyone else who is willing to take a second look.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BIDDING AT A REAL ESTATE AUCTION

 

The Benefits of Mobile Home Park Investing

The question you’re probably asking is, “Why should I invest in a mobile home park?” And while nobody can answer that question for you, there are plenty of reasons. Let’s investigate a few of them:

1. Low Cost Per Unit

The cost per unit on mobile homes is extremely small. Whereas you might expect to pay upwards of $100,000 per apartment or single-family home, many mobile homes can be bought at $10,000 or less.

2. Minimal Upkeep

One of the worst parts about being an investor/landlord is responding to those late-night phone calls and maintenance requests. With mobile home parks, this is rarely a problem.

“As the owner of a mobile home park, you don’t have to deal with contractors on a daily basis or at least as much as you do with an apartment building,” investor Robert Farrington writes. “Tenants maintain their homes rather than calling you. You may still need contractors for help with putting in or moving out a trailer and repairing common areas but overall wear and tear is far less than that of an apartment building.”

3. High Demand in Any Market

The biggest risk factor with real estate is ending up with properties that you can’t lease. With no money coming in, you become unable to pay the mortgage and keep the property. With mobile home parks, this is rarely an issue.

“Mobile homes are essentially recession-proof. When the rest of the real estate market gets hit hard, mobile home demand suddenly surges,” Green Residential points out. “Cost-effective living is always in demand, which makes it great for balancing out your portfolio and income stream.”

 

How to Get Started

Virtually anybody can get started with mobile home park investing. You’ll need to begin by digging in and researching the ins and outs of these investments. Join online forums, watch interviews, read books, and meet up with other investors in person. Contrary to some other types of investments, this niche is much more about what you know.

Armed with knowledge, you’ll need to figure out your financial situation and save up enough money to make a down payment. You can then start your search for mobile home parks nearby. There are numerous websites that provide listings, but you may also benefit from working with a broker in the industry.

Be patient and wait for the right opportunity to present itself. Before too long, you’ll be enjoying the lucrative benefits of mobile home park investing.

The post Mobile Home Park Investing: Your Next Big Business Venture? appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/26/mobile-home-park-investing/

Practical Tips for Creating an Engaging Blog for Your Business

In the digital age, there are many effective ways to build brand awareness. Maintaining an active social media presence can go a long way toward this goal. Also, purchasing ad space on relevant websites can help make prospective customers aware of your business. However, once you get people to your website, you’ll need to entice them to stick around. And creating a thought-provoking and engaging blog can prove immensely helpful in this endeavor.

If you’re new to the world of business blogging, the following tips can help start you down the right path.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO CREATE A BLOG: A SIMPLE GUIDE FOR BEGINNING BLOGGERS

 

Stick to an Update Schedule

If you want your business’s blog to succeed, it’s imperative that you commit to a regular update schedule. However, when deciding on the right schedule, select one you’ll be able to stick to. Promising daily updates, for example, is simply unrealistic for most business owners.

Update schedules vary from blog to blog. However, the most successful ones produce at least one update per week. This will give your audience a reason to regularly visit your website. Moreover, it will ensure that you don’t overextend yourself by promising to create more blog posts that you can actually produce. You want to create an engaging blog, after all.

Should the test phase of your blog prove fruitful, committing to multiple updates per week might be something to consider.

Updating your blog on a regular basis can also have the added benefit of boosting your site’s search ranking. When compiling search results, update consistency is among the factors prominent search engines take into account. Unsurprisingly, sites that go long periods between updates aren’t often among the first wave of results. As anyone well-versed in account-based marketing can attest, search engine ranking is often vitally important to small business websites.

 

Write With Authority

When composing blog posts related to your business or the consumer base it serves, take care to write with authority. You want your readers to be confident in the information you share. Consequently, it’s important that you write in a voice that conveys strength, intelligence, and an advanced understanding of the subject matter.

This will help your audience feel comfortable accepting the facts you present. It might even turn them into paying customers. To prove that you’re worthy of such trust, you’ll need to fact-check yourself whenever you’re unsure about something. In other words, take preventative measures against inadvertently spreading misinformation.

 

Enlist the Aid of Guest Bloggers

Enlisting the aid of guest bloggers can benefit you in two ways. For starters, handing off blog-writing duties to another person will provide you with an occasional break. This can allow you to recharge your creative circuits.

Secondly, getting a guest blogger who’s a popular figure in your industry can prove helpful in bringing in new traffic. However, even if a guest contributor is just another member of your company, periodically entrusting someone else with your blog will provide a fresh perspective. This can help keep things from getting stale.

 

Experiment with Keyword Integration

If you want to give your search ranking a shot in the arm, consider experimenting with keyword integration in your blog posts. This practice entails including popular terms that correspond to your business or its parent industry.

Make sure that you use this strategy both in your titles and in the body of your posts. For example, if you own a web design company based in Minneapolis, MN, including something along the lines of “best website designers in Minneapolis” can effectively boost your local search ranking.

When integrating relevant keywords into what you hope will be your engaging blog posts, however, do so in moderation. Furthermore, take care to integrate them into the content in an organic fashion. Shamelessly shoehorning keywords into your posts detracts from their substance. Moreover, it is likely to turn off readers who realize what you’re doing.

In addition to drawing the ire of your audience, keyword stuffing can earn your site negative attention from the web’s most prominent search engines. Sites that are deemed guilty of keyword stuffing can expect to see their search rankings plummet. Therefore, if maintaining a decent ranking is important to you, it doesn’t pay to take this gamble.

 

An Engaging Blog Can Boost Your Business

A regularly updated and engaging blog can be a boon both to your business and its website. In addition to keeping your regular visitors informed, a well-written and engaging blog can also be an effective tool for drumming up new interest in your enterprise. Despite the many advances made in the field of digital promotion in recent years, there’s simply no substitute for an engaging blog.

The post Practical Tips for Creating an Engaging Blog for Your Business appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/26/practical-tips-engaging-blog/

Are You Looking for a Retail POS? Here 5 Things You Should Watch For

Photo by Artem Bali from Pexels

Technology has taken over the world. As a matter of fact, for some, smartphones seem have replaced dogs as our best friends. What’s more, to a lot of us, an Internet outage sounds like the end of the world. The retail industry can’t escape technology, either. As stores follow new customer trends, the first thing retailers need to do is to be more organized. That’s where the quest for a retail POS system starts.

Standing for point of sale, a POS is essentially software that allows retailers to manage their stock, customer base, sales, and everything in between. Now, if your main concern is to have a smooth transition from pen and paper or an older system to modern technology, it’s also critical to look ahead. A system that can’t adapt to shoppers’ changing needs will become obsolete tomorrow. So think long-term. Here we break down for you the five things you need to look for in a retail POS.

 

1) Automated Inventory

You spend time ordering, adding stock to the system, noting variations, and monitoring your inventory. Then you work on selling your goods to customers. What’s more, each customer wants to try on eight different sizes. And each one has lots of questions.

Therefore, you need a retail POS that will turn all these time-consuming steps into a single efficient workflow. Demand in-system purchase orders, automatic reorder points, and a system that handles any item, even serialized ones.

Stock is the foundation to your business. Accordingly, if you’re not in full control of your stock, you’re not in control of your business.

 

2) Customer Data

Asking shoppers for their email can be a bit uncomfortable. They peer at you with suspicious eyes if you should so much as dare to ask. And you can practically read their minds. They’re hoping a wave irrelevant emails isn’t about to flood their inbox.

However, the thing is, with all the options they have online and in-store, the only way to keep customers coming back is with targeted communications and tailored service. So don’t get a retail POS that won’t allow you to create customer cards. And especially be wary of one that doesn’t store customers’ purchase history.

With these tools, you’ll increase customer engagement and make them feel at home when they visit. In turn, they’ll reward you with more purchases.

 

3) Reporting and Analytics

Big data is changing the retail industry. What’s more, your retail POS will generate a lot of that big data. However, if you dedicate hours to sorting and understanding it, that process will just slow you down.

Therefore, pick a point of sale system that translates data into digestible reports you can actually use. Even better, see if you can get direct answers to your retail questions. For example, you might ask, “Am I keeping the right inventory on hand?” And, “How often do my best customers shop?” Your retail POS knows everything about your business. Pick one that doesn’t keep secrets.

 

4) Multi-Location

You never know what the future holds. However, you should always be prepared for the best. If your first location is successful, it’ll only be logical to open a new one.

That sounds great. However, if you don’t have the right retail POS, your expansion will be a nightmare. Go for a system with multi-location features. This way, you can simply keep your existing tools and use them for your new store.

More concretely, look for these features:

• Single purchase orders for all locations
• Purchase history across locations
• Global data
• Numbers per store

You shouldn’t have to start from scratch or hire a doppelganger to do the extra work. Get a system that can support your growth.

 

5) Integrated Ecommerce

Almost nine out of ten shoppers start their search for products online. Give them a chance to find you. The big differentiator for retailers who want to go online is not how beautiful is their site is, but how integrated their ecommerce and POS are.

The industry jargon term is “omnichannel.” This basically means selling online and in-store with a single system and managing a single inventory to do so. You’re just pushing your POS stock online and all the numbers are updated in real time. You also get to see how shoppers interact with your brand, no matter where they buy.

Selling online can be a second job. But if your retail POS and your ecommerce merge into one complete solution, it won’t be.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: PRICING INTELLIGENCE: THE ONLINE RETAILER’S SECRET WEAPON

 

So There’s Your Checklist for a Retail POS

Voilà! Prepare your checklist and make sure the solution you choose can do everything listed here. You’re not just buying fancy technology. You’re building the foundations of a thriving business. Over to you. Good luck!

The post Are You Looking for a Retail POS? Here 5 Things You Should Watch For appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/26/looking-retail-pos/

How Your Business Can Benefit from Liquidation Sales

Thanks to Pixabay for the Image

If you are a business owner, or just a thrifty shopper, then perhaps you know about liquidation sales. You know they provide opportunities for huge savings. Moreover, you understand that you can find just about anything at a liquidation sale, depending on the company and what they have for sale.

However, you can also end up paying more than the actual retail value for a product at a liquidation sale if you’re not careful. Just like with anything, there are ways to capitalize on liquidation sales. Follow these tips to learn how to ensure that you get the most out of them.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: COUPON BUSINESSES: HOW THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY

 

What Is a Liquidation Sale?

Liquidation sales are typically held by companies that are going out of business. They have these sales to try to generate revenue to pay off debts before they close down. And they sell items at discounts that increase with time in order to attract buyers.

The only goal of the sale is to get revenue to pay off creditors and shareholders. Because of this factor, you might also be able to purchase equipment that the business used for operational purposes. What’s more, most businesses tend to use high-quality equipment. This means you could get some high-quality secondhand products at steep discounts.

 

Timing Is Key

Just like with so many other things in life, getting the most out of a liquidation sale is all about timing. These sales typically last between eight and ten weeks. So when you see that a liquidation sale has just begun or is about to begin, you don’t have to rush. If you do, you could actually end up overpaying for some items.

During the first few weeks of the sale, the only items that will have sizeable discounts are the normally slow-selling items. Remember, the goal of this sale is to cash out everything that the company has in order to pay its debts. They’re not out to save you money or gain customer loyalty. In those first two or three weeks of the sale, hot-ticket items may actually cost more than their retail value.

The best time to go to a liquidation sale is four to six weeks after it begins. During this time, the items that did not sell so well in the first few weeks can drop dramatically in price.

However, you don’t want to wait until the last couple of weeks of the liquidation sale to show up. If you do that, you run the risk that all of the “good stuff” will already be sold. If you see an item that you’re interested in which isn’t selling well, then you could save a lot of money by waiting until the last minute. That is about the only way that you can wait until the end of the sale and be pretty sure to come out with what you want.

 

Be Sharp

When you attend a liquidation sale, you need to be sharp. Don’t get swept up in the magic of a “world of endless savings.” Not everything in this land is as it looks. Moreover, if you purchase it, you’re getting it as-is. What’s more, most liquidation sales are final. Before you buy an item, inspect it closely to make sure that it is still in mint condition.

Also, be on the lookout for items that the company wouldn’t normally be selling, such as its own operational equipment and property. You could get anything from their used office equipment all the way up to their company vehicles at a liquidation sale.

 

Watch for Liquidation Sales Near You

So keep an eye out for liquidation sales. Look through your classifieds for current and upcoming sales. Time your shopping trips, inspect products closely, and look for equipment the company itself used and is selling. Remember these things, and you will be a pro at capitalizing on liquidation sales in no time.

The post How Your Business Can Benefit from Liquidation Sales appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/26/business-benefit-liquidation-sales/

Torii: How It Helps Companies Stay on Top of SaaS Management

The biggest challenge that IT departments face in 2019 is keeping up with their ever-growing technology stack. SaaS management solution Torii goes a long way toward helping IT managers consolidate and centralize SaaS ecosystems.

You likely have hundreds of SaaS applications in your business ecosystem. Therefore, it’s hard to track costs, risks, access permissions, usage, and overall practicality. And IT departments often don’t even know when someone has registered the company for a new web app. How are you to remain in control?

 

RELATED ARTICLE: WHY EVERY BUSINESS—INCLUDING YOURS—NEEDS CLOUD TECHNOLOGY

 

What Is Torii?

Put simply, Torii is an autonomous IT platform. It turns a company’s cloud-based software stack into a readable, user-friendly dashboard for more effective SaaS management. Moreover, it improves your SaaS management on three fronts: visibility, workflow, and automation.

• Visibility

Stay on top of your company’s SaaS management with a robust dashboard. Turn numbers into actionable insights with easy-to-read visualizations and reports.

• Workflow

Did two team members just pay for licenses for competing tools that do the same thing? Did someone leave your company, and you need to make sure they can’t access any information relating to the business? Understand how your team uses your applications. Additionally, manage your software subscriptions and control which tools specific members can access.

• Automation

Need certain SaaS management actions to take place instantly? Simply deploy the integrated bots. Automate tasks like renewals, downgrades, upgrades, and access changes. You’ll do this by combining relevant triggers with a list of supported actions.

Here’s a closer look at Torii’s main SaaS management features.

1. Insights

One of Torii’s primary goals is to make sure you don’t overspend on unnecessary software.

On the “Insights” page, Torii shows you an overview of your entire software library. This includes the total number of users, applications, and expenses over the last 12 months.

 

You can drill deeper by hovering your mouse over each section and clicking “See all.”

Doing so will allow you to assimilate the finer details of your infrastructure’s SaaS usage. For instance, you’ll be able to see user accounts and the total cost of each app.

Under the “Usage” tab, you can gauge the importance of each tool. This metric is based on the number of times the tool was utilized in the past 30 days. You’ll also be able to determine whether employees are still using an application.

For more in-depth information, click on the application’s name. You’ll then see details such as the number of active users, renewal date, and more. You can also change the application’s status on the spot. Do this by using the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner of the page.

 

Torii Identifies App Owners

Today’s business app users increasingly make tool selection decisions independently and unilaterally. Therefore, IT can no longer take full ownership of the tech solutions under its purview.

However, Torii works by identifying every software product’s in-house “owner.” This team member will be IT’s point of contact when it comes to all decisions and activity regarding the product’s use.

Knowing the owner of every application your organization subscribes to can help you to understand how it fits into your organization.

 

2. Workflows

Torii comes with a built-in workflow builder. This helps IT managers understand everything that occurs in the company’s software stack.

The most common use of workflows is to discover apps as soon as they’re added. This makes you a better software gatekeeper, as it allows you to keep a watchful eye on any new cloud-based app.

Once discovered, IT managers have the ability to set the software’s status. For example, it could be “discovered,” “in review,” “sanctioned,” and so on.

In turn, the app’s owner receives a notification that the IT department has discovered a new application. The app owner also gets a form to fill out to get IT’s approval.

You can customize this form by editing the introduction. You can also specify the information fields that the app’s owner must complete.

This should prompt the staff to carefully vet whatever software they want to integrate into the company’s IT infrastructure.

Remember, it’s a lot easier to monitor apps as soon as someone adds them. Given the risks of GDPR noncompliance and cyber breaches, waiting till later is a risk that IT departments simply cannot take. Additionally, these procedures provide a way to minimize the costs of inefficient and unnecessary software. These are just the basics of effective SaaS management.

 

Create an Onboarding Workflow

To create an onboarding workflow, navigate to the “Workflows” tab from the main dashboard. Then click “New Workflow.”

The rest of the steps involve selecting the workflow’s trigger and adding a string of actions to be performed. Torii’s user-friendly interface makes this a quick process. What’s more, you won’t need to write a single line of code.

 

Automated Offboarding Makes SaaS Management Easier for IT Managers

Lastly, it’s worth noting that Torii enables automated “offboarding” workflows. These are designed to revoke a user’s access to apps they no longer use. Torii triggers this workflow when a user has not used a specific app for more than 30 days. This saves the business money by preventing payments for unused seats of employees who, for example, no longer work in the organization.

 

3. Reports

In addition to providing you the data and a dashboard for executing changes, Torii also helps you make data-driven decisions with actionable reports. These give you a clear view of your company’s application usage and expenses. There are currently two types of reports you can generate with Torii:

 

Risk Analysis

SaaS management in a software ecosystem with hundreds or even thousands of apps comes with cybersecurity, governance, and compliance risks.

Torii makes sure you have all your bases covered with the Risk Analysis report. This gives you an assessment of each third-party application’s risk level based on their permissions.

 

Expense Analysis

You can comb through Torii’s Expense Analysis report to identify your most expensive software investments.

Of course, just because an app is the most expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the most wasteful. But if you’re trying to cut costs, inspecting the utility of your expensive tools from top to bottom is definitely a sound approach.

Whenever needed, IT managers can easily download a CSV file for the expense analysis report. Utilizing this feature will ensure that your IT team and your finance department are on the same page.

Take note that almost every section of Torii has a “Download CSV” button in the same spot. This makes it easier for your IT department to communicate crucial information, both within the department as well as throughout the organization.

 

4. Users

Speaking of owners, each user could be associated with an indefinite number of applications on the Torii platform. This goes for app access and use as well as ownership. You can easily view which user owns which apps by looking at the app icons under the “Owner of” column.

If you wish to cancel a user’s ownership of certain apps, you can request their voluntary withdrawal. Alternatively, you can forcefully remove app ownership with the one-click offboarding tool.

Torii also keeps a complete record of every user who has ever become a part of your IT ecosystem. These user accounts are sorted into three tabs: current users, past users, and external users.

 

5. Expenses

To view the financial side of your software infrastructure, simply go to the “Expenses” page. This will show you a complete view of your company’s expenses.

If you’re using an ERP such as NetSuite, Torii will automatically pull all your business’s SaaS costs. This it does by analyzing invoices, transactions, and credit card statements via API integrations.

The expense analysis report shows how much you spend on each app per month. Then the Expenses page gives you a broader overview of your software budget.

Does Your Company Need a Manual Integration Option?

For businesses that don’t have an ERP solution that Torii can integrate with, the platform offers a manual integration option. Click on the “Upload Expense Report” button on the top right. Torii will provide you with a downloadable template that ensures readability. The platform will automatically match the expenses in the file to the SaaS applications. Then it will present the expenses report as seen above.

The bar graph shows total expenses for software over the past 12 months. This enables you to identify months with unusual spikes in terms of software costs.

The screenshot above shows an example of a spike in expenses from September to October, which appear to also relate to November and December. You can dig deeper by viewing the report for September when the spike occurred and see what caused it. This should help you identify the apps that might have contributed to the increase.

To find more apps that could have contributed to the increase in software spending, Torii also has a handy “Trend” feature. This feature shows how much each individual application costs over time. It comes in the form of a line chart that makes it easy to spot applications that are becoming costlier.

 

6. App Integrations

Finally, Torii lets you integrate the various applications your organization is using. This allows you to weave together multiple applications. By creating more connections between different software via their API, you can create a SaaS infrastructure that communicates better with itself. This process will allow you to further streamline your SaaS infrastructure.

For example, Zapier is an automation service that integrates with hundreds of other SaaS products. If your organization is using Zapier, Torii lets you configure and utilize these automation integrations from within Torii’s platform.

All you need to do is open Zapier from Torii’s “Applications” page. Then go to the “Integrations” tab, choose the integration process you’d like to create, and press “connect.”

As it stands, Torii supports thousands of different services in its database. This yields countless possible application pairs you can use for automated tasks.

For expandability, you can also integrate Torii with a number of third-party services. These include cloud-based productivity platforms like G Suite as well as CRM software like Salesforce.

 

Get a Grip on Your Company’s SaaS Management with Torii

As your software infrastructure grows and evolves, so must your IT management.

Torii has everything you need to get a better grip on your company’s SaaS management. It allows you to identify who’s using what. It shows you which apps have access to which systems. Torii also makes it easier to plan your software budget, automate software onboarding and offboarding, and more.

Overall, Torii is a smart investment for any company that has a large collection of software.

The post Torii: How It Helps Companies Stay on Top of SaaS Management appeared first on Business Opportunities.

source http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/01/26/torii-saas-management/