Editorial

By February 25, 2014 Read More →

Mail vs. Modern Newsletters

Email-v-mailToday, less and less people are using actual mail to send anything. This is especially true of getting the word out about something. The question is, is it more or less helpful?

 

Getting the Word Out

If you look at your inbox, you probably are receiving many emails per day from companies who want you to take some time to take a look at the product or service they are offering. At some point, the messages simply get deleted, or placed into the SPAM folder, never to be seen again, without even being opened. This can also be said for paper mail. Many people will open their postbox and find it filled with junk mail that will eventually end up in the bin. The most important element to getting a person to read your message is to do something that separates you from the competition. What will make your message special?

 

Subject Line

The potential customer will probably decide within five seconds if they are going to open your message or not. It is very important that the first thing a person sees grabs their attention and makes them want to read what you have to say. In an email, the subject line can be very important because it gives the organization the chance to say something in order to get that message open. For a physical mailing it would be best to create this transparency through something like translucent envelopes, which allow the person to see what is inside.

 

Posted in: Editorial
By February 6, 2014 Read More →

3 Ways Technology Continues to Transform B2B

3 Ways Technology Continues to Transform B2BTypical sales used to be a repetitive routine of call sheets and scripted conversations. Today’s B2B landscape has a whole new array of tools and tricks for sales teams to create new, lasting partnerships, leaving cold calls a thing of the past.

Analytics give professionals ammunition to build tailored proposals before they contact leads. Sales funneling software walks leads through the sales process one step at a time, and video and mobile technology make the sales process more efficient, knowledge-based and client-friendly. Here are three ways that technology has made a big impression on B2B.

Lead Sources

Higher sales start with better leads. The more you’re able to target potential clients, the more likely they’ll be to partner with your business. Plenty of outlets dedicate their resources toward finding ways to collect quality leads. Most of the improvement comes from targeted advertising, which can deliver relevant leads on a budget. According to an eMarketer.com survey, however, the highest quality B2B leads come from third-party lead originators. These lead shops enable businesses to purchase information based on desired age, industry, salary range and many other demographic categories. These firms take the hassle out of gathering prospects. With a quality insurance lead or small business lead in hand, you can do the hard work of converting it to a sale. Similarly, a reliable payroll service agency like the ones at https://www.cfoacc.com.sg/accounting/payroll-services-singapore can streamline payroll processes, allowing you to focus more on core business activities. By ensuring compliance and accuracy, such agencies can also reduce the risk of costly payroll errors and improve overall operational efficiency.

CRM Software

Once you have a lead in your sales funnel, customer relationship management software (CRM) with keep you on track throughout the sales process. Salesforce, the most popular CRM platform, offers analytics to research leads, cloud marketing to gain new leads, and automated tools that will enable you to stay hands-on with the warmest prospects. Think of CRM software as the personal assistant you never had. It will remind you when to contact leads, keep your schedule, and file away important documents on a cloud-based platform. Research firm Gartner forecasts that CRM will be a $36.5 billion market by 2017. If you’re not using this cutting-edge sales software, you may have a hard time keeping up in the highly competitive sales space.

Video Communication

Communication advancements have given salespeople unprecedented tools to close deal. Video conferencing enables B2B professionals to build a more personal rapport. Now, you can meet face to face with a prospect from across the country. A report from Eyenetwork.com revealed that 65 percent of CIOs believe desk phones will be redundant by 2017. Skype and other video communication platforms are free to use, and they can help salespeople close deals faster.

Face-to-face video communication isn’t the only way professionals are using this technology, however. Live screencast tools enable salespeople to walk prospects through the online platforms associated with their businesses. This is particularly helpful for software as a service (SaaS) businesses. Screenr is one of the many web-based screen recorders. With this technology, you can create tutorials and share them with leads or connect online and hold a one-on-one session.

Posted in: Editorial
By February 1, 2014 Read More →

Apple TV or Roku? 5 Considerations for Buying a Set-Top Streaming Box

Apple TV or RokuIn 2007, around two million American homes were without cable or satellite television. A 2013 Nielsen study found that today more than five million homes have embraced an existence without traditional TV. But that doesn’t mean they’re staring at their four walls. More than three-quarters of these homes rely on the internet for their entertainment. Here’s an iptv guide if you’re not familiar with it already. If you’re ready to join them, just one question remains: Apple TV or Roku?

Roku Offers More, Easy-to-Use Channels

In June 2013, Apple TV offered just 18 channels compared to more than 750 on the Roku box. In late 2013, Apple expanded its library with some more crowd-pleasing channels, including ABC, Crackle, and Bloomberg, but Roku users have been enjoying these for years. Roku now offers more than 1,200 channels on offer, but quantity doesn’t always equate to quality. Many users insist they only watch a small percentage of Roku’s offerings, so in actuality your viewing experience might not be too different.

Roku is the clear winner when comparing the bare bones systems, but canny Apple fans have found ways to expand their viewing options. For example, many compare the price of a standard internet service with a FiOS bundle, which allows them to stream or download movies. If you’re going to spend money on additional entertainment, this package may end up being more cost effective.

Roku’s extensive channel list could get unwieldy without its universal search. Tech bloggers have suggested Apple would do well to incorporate this feature, which allows users to search for the title of the movie or television program they’ve been dying to see. The Roku interface displays the installed apps that can show the content, and how much streaming will cost on each.

Roku Has Headphones

It sounds like a small point, but if you’re one of the many people who enjoys binging on television while the rest of your household sleeps you’ll love the Roku’s headphone functionality. Its remote control has a headphone jack to make private viewing easy. Just pop in the included earbuds and you can watch your favorite shows without disturbing your loved ones. The quality of the earbuds isn’t outstanding, but audiophiles can easily use their own.

Apple TV Feels Familiar for Brand’s Fans

Apple’s familiarity will give it an edge for many consumers discovering internet television for the first time. Its interface resembles Apple’s popular iOS system, with rectangular channel icons which resemble apps. It also integrates with iTunes so users can use their existing account to purchase television series and movies.

It’s not that Roku is difficult to use, but it can’t capitalize on brand loyalty the way that Apple can. A 2013 study found 81 percent of Apple smartphone customers stuck with the iOS platform over a 12-month period, compared to 68 percent remaining loyal to Android. Another 2013 report by international brand consulting firm Interbrand ranked Apple as the world’s number one brand, ahead of Coca-Cola, Google, and IBM. When it comes to brand loyalty, Roku simply can’t compete.

Apple TV Offers AirPlay

Apple appeals to the loyalty of its faithful followers with AirPlay, a feature which lets you wirelessly stream photos, music, and videos from your iOS device or iTunes to your television set. This innovative device also integrates with key third-party apps including Pandora and Spotify.

To be fair, Roku has attempted to mimic AirPlay’s success with the release of its new Roku 3. This latest streaming set-top box features Play on Roku, which allows users to stream the photos, music, and video files stored on their favorite Android or iOS device. However, unlike AirPlay, Play on Roku doesn’t allow device mirroring, so it’s still got some way to go.

Roku is Often More Affordable

Both units have comparable recommended retail prices, with Apple TV selling for $99 and Roku 3 costing $99.99. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Apple knows it can count on customer loyalty, so it rarely discounts its streaming television. In contrast, the latest Roku set-top streaming box is regularly sold online for around $10 less than its nearest rival. If you’re still not certain which unit is best, then the price could sway you.

Apple TV and Roku both have their merits, so it’s worth thinking carefully before committing to your preferred device for streaming internet entertainment.

By January 27, 2014 Read More →

Three Main Reasons Why a Thriving Company Requires Business Video Conferencing Solutions

Video Conferencing SolutionsThese days, more and more companies decide to pursue their bold ambitions by opening satellite offices in different parts of the globe. This is an amazing opportunity to boost their influence and their profit margins; nonetheless, this decision also leads to a series of inevitable changes and new requirements that should be handled with maximum care by all business owners.

For instance, companies that have to establish and maintain solid relationships with remote clients, partners and staff members require the very best business video conferencing solutions designed to fill in the gaps created by distance, improve communication and enhance productivity.

Now, these highly beneficial elements are no longer a luxury, but a real necessity for businessmen who strive to take their enterprises to the next level on time and on a budget.

“As the software-based solutions evolve, we expect to see greater adoption of videoconferencing at lower price points,” explains Roopam Jain, Frost & Sullivan’s industry director of Unified Communications and Collaboration, cited by Corporate Tech Decisions.

Here are three of the most important reasons why business video conferencing options are a must-have for bold players who want to make a name for themselves on a larger scale.

First: The Increased Popularity of Video conferencing

The question is this: can you really afford to ignore the crucial importance of video conferencing, highlighted in almost any field? Video conferencing usage has witnessed a 50% growth only in 2012, and it becomes increasingly popular as more and more people realize that this revolutionary communication method perfects daily interactions with a broader audience and triggers considerable savings.

Second: Multipoint Video Calling Gradually Becomes an Indispensable ally

A new market study conducted by NPD In-Stat, mentioned by Social Media Today, reveals that videoconferencing is expected to hit a new record of 550 billion minutes of video calling, recorded until 2015. Moreover, the same source indicates that emerging videoconferencing solutions come from leading players like Skype, Tango, Google, Microsoft Kinect, ooVoo, and Raketu.

 

Video conferencing reduces travel expenses, consolidates the relationship between clients, partners, and employees, and boosts the productivity of any enterprise. As this revolutionary technology proliferates and becomes a powerful ally for more and more companies, businessmen feel the need to organize meetings with multiple participants. This method, entitled multipoint calls, is now utilized on a large scale. Now, the successful, result-oriented meetings include several meeting rooms and a considerably larger number of users.

Multipoint calls enable participants to express their ideas in front of different segments of public, in a time-effective manner. This communication method is highly effective, as it encourages the participation of several categories of users and allows participants to address different aspects without wasting any time in the process.

Third: Interoperability Requirements

Most importantly, business video conferencing solutions manage to prevent misunderstandings and eliminate communication barriers created by distance. At the same time, as technology evolves at a fast pace, users get the opportunity to connect with their clients, partners, or colleagues using a wide range of video-enabled devices.

This is the main reason why interoperability is an important requirement in the business sector. No matter what type of gadget they use to get actively involved in a meeting, smart business video conferencing solutions should enable participants to profit from flawless interactions anytime, anywhere and set up a thriving collaboration environment.

To be able to select the right business video conference solution for you, you must understand some of the most important trends and current approaches leading to a higher number of satisfied customers. The Wainhouse Research Paper provides concise answers to some of your most pressing questions and enables prospects to make an informed decision when it comes to identifying and implementing the best video conferencing alternative tailored to their specific needs.

This source of information allows users to

  • discover the multipoint video conferencing fundamentals
  • find everything there is to know about on-site multipoint bridging alternatives
  • analyze different deployment architectures and evaluate
  • select the best type of hosted video bridging services

 Of course using video conferencing technology is a smart way to to do business but there are still occasions when face-to-face meetings cannot be substituted. Business people will still need to book conference and meetings rooms so if you have rooms to rent out having a streamlined, easy to use booking system like MeetingsMaker on hand to do the heavy lifting is a must.

 

By January 25, 2014 Read More →

Do Laptop Tablets have Staying Power?

Ideapad-Yoga-11_07Last year, some 227 million tablets were sold and now they are more popular than smartphones when it comes to using the web. With almost 10% of visits coming from these devices, there’s a boom for them now, but will they still be popular in the future?

Currently, multimode and laptop tablet models are becoming the must have devices are they are ideal for both personal and business use. More portable than laptops, tablets have come a long way since humble beginnings back in 1989 with the GRiDPad. The amount of internet connected devices available is such that you can be diagnosed with a fear of not being connected – nomophobia. We have a look at what the future has in store.

 

The evolving relationship between humans and electronics

A smartphone seemingly isn’t a commodity anymore, merely something everyone is expected to have in order to send messages, pay bills and, well, live life. It is unsurprising that nomophobia is becoming a thing and relationships are becoming more intimate as wearables like smart watches and the innovative Google Glass continue to break new ground in the market. With analysts predicting that we’ll have (on average) five internet devices within the next few years, the falling prices mean that we have a different device for each activity. With phablets allegedly still a phenomenon to come and multimode tablets becoming a thing of the future, the crossover may have started.

 

Can laptop tablets break the market?

Quite a few tablets come with a keyboard now, and it is Lenovo who are breaking most of the ground and predicting that multimode tablets are the game changer moving forward. Microsoft obviously think this to be the case too as the Surface Pro 2 has been redesigned to be PC alternative that runs Office, a long battery and has a high performance. Some people have tried to suggest that the future of tablets isn’t healthy but the Aberdeen Group released a prediction that Windows 8 tablets will lead Android and Apple for market share this year as sales of tablets go into overload.

While the prediction says we are liking to have a number of different devices, they may still be required to do more than one job. If you’re getting a cheap tablet, then you know what it is for – and research from Ofcom has found that kids love tablets for browsing etc – then you know what you’re getting but there are calls for top-end products to be multimode – the Surface Pro 2, Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 2 and ASUS Transformer Book T100 are all good examples.

Today, keyboards are key accessories when it comes to tablets and that would suggest that the trend is here to stay. While all electronic devices have there place in the market, some smaller than others, the multimode tablets make for an appealing alternative to PCs – and even laptops. The touch experience is well loved and many manufacturers are looking to cash in on the trend. Laptop tablets are here to stay.

Posted in: Editorial, Laptops, News, Tablets
By January 22, 2014 Read More →

5 Tips for Getting Your Road Warriors the Best Equipment

Depositphotos_33850145_xsIn 2009, the average American drove 2,078 miles for work-related business, according to the National Household Travel Survey. If your employees are constantly on the go, equipping them with the right tools ensures the pace of business goes as smoothly as possible. Start with these five tips to cover your bases.

1. Pick light, portable work computers.

Your office may have clunky desktops and oversized monitors. Your on-the-road employees need something much lighter for travel; making them carry six-pound laptops simply won’t do. Consider a tablet for your on-the-road employees if they’re likely to be using the computer to consume (but not create) content. If your employees need to create or edit documents, try an ultrabook or a Mac Air, super lightweight laptops that will get the job done. Ensure that any device you choose has a lengthy battery life, since road warriors may not always have access to a charger. Also provide employees with cloud storage, so they can easily access any needed office materials while they are traveling for work.

Posted in: Editorial
By January 21, 2014 Read More →

Just how safe is Chrome?

how safe is chrome?A big selling point of Chrome and more importantly Chrome OS is that Chrome extensions are meant to be clean and simple. A bragging community will tell you that you are safer than any other browser or Operating System. A bold statement that will surely have the sceptics investigating. What have they turned up? Problematic extensions!

Google is making a move to ban obtrusive extensions, because sometimes these can harm your Chrome experience. There is another recent threat Google is dealing with, though. Companies have been acquiring extensions from developers in order to turn them into adware clients. Google has banned a couple of these extensions: Add to Feedly and Tweet this Page. These were once popular extensions that helped users simplify some of the more routine online tasks.

Who is to blame? Are we seeing coders pushing extensions into the Google Store clean only to turn around a harvest vital information for the highest bidder? Not quite. In Add to Feedly’s case, the original developer, Amit Agarwal, was offered “a four digit” amount for his extension, which only took about an hour to code. Of course, he accepted and the transaction went smoothly. He regretted his decision when the new owner pushed an update to the extension. The new owner turned his helpful extension into an ad-serving machine. These were not regular ads either, they worked in the background and replaced links on every website! Original links were replaced by affiliate links without anyone’s knowledge.

How safe is Chrome?

Google’s new policies will help make this all better, though. If we have learned one thing, over and over again, it is that there is always a way for an OS to be corrupted by nefarious source. Google have been quick to act, have learned a lot from the experience and we can only hope that the whole Chrome architecture will return to the safe and reliable service we have grown so accustomed to.

By January 16, 2014 Read More →

Tesco Online Offering Big New Year Discounts On Electrical Items

tesco_logoFor those who are yet to buy anything from Tesco online, it’s important to start by giving a short description of the online store. Tesco online is an online store just as the name suggests. There is a variety of products ranging from household goods, electrical appliances, groceries, clothing, electronics, and phones to jewellery and even toys at very cost-effective prices from the Tesco online store.

There Are Discounts Right into the New Year 2014

After the excitement of the end year festivities come to an end, the dust seems to be settling down on many shopping malls but Tesco is yet to relent. It seems the company has decided to extend the end year celebrations by giving its clients a New Year gift. With the New Year, all shoppers buying electrical items at Tesco online are getting discounts of up to 40%. Anyone who missed out on the end year sales offered by many stores towards the end of 2013, there is a great opportunity especially for anyone who is intent on buying any kind of electrical appliances. It is even better to note that you can easily redeem your discounts at Voucherbox.co.uk for a host of other offers.

Tesco Has a Swift and Flexible Delivery System

There are important factors that many clients consider especially when shopping online. One of these factors is the delivery system. This is important because one cannot enjoy any products bought from an online store unless the item can be delivered on time. As a major online shopping store with a vast number of clients, the company seems to have invested in a reliable delivery system that ensures clients can easily get their items within the next day of purchase. With a dynamic website and a large inventory to meet the needs of almost every client, shopping from the store gives online shoppers a great experience. Additionally, the company leverages professional conversion optimization services to streamline the user journey, increase customer engagement, and maximize sales through data-driven improvements.

It Is Easy To Manage Returns and Exchanges

Every once in a while, one might buy something online only to realize it is not the right one upon delivery. If this happens, a client wants a system that can help them return the item and organize for an exchange as soon as possible. This is an essential feature for any successful online store. At tesco online, there is a system that completely understands and swiftly resolves these challenges to ensure your satisfaction as a client. With these kinds of systems in place together with a large inventory, this store seems to have an irresistible offer on electrical appliances as well as a host of other products.

Posted in: Editorial
By January 15, 2014 Read More →

Four Major Problems That Can Be Resolved by Upgrading POS Hardware

POSWithin the average retail work environment, anything can go wrong at any time. One of the most important aspects of your business where these problems can occur frequently is with your point of sale (POS). Whether you have a traditional brick-and-mortar business or an eCommerce online store, resolving any issues to do with equipment and procedures associated with your POS is essential in order to increase your conversion rates and keep your customers happy. By making simple POS equipment upgrades like the ones at https://jumpstartcommerce.com, you will be able to go a long way toward resolving these problems fully. You can also get free integration with most eCommerce platforms like the ones on https://shippingtree.co/services/ecommerce-fulfillment/ to automate your shipping and customs clearance solutions. You can check out the details here.

Posted in: Editorial
By January 14, 2014 Read More →

The future of Tachograph technology

TachographDigital tachographs are well established in Europe. The technology first took centre stage in 2004 and was made compulsory by the EU in 2006 for vehicles over three and half tonnes. The technology is used to track and record the time a driver spends behind the wheel and how fast they are going. They are commonplace in the transport industry where employers have to manage and stay within EU drivers’ laws.

However, recent developments in India have lead the country to start considering the adoption of the technology.  In an article published by Dipak Kumar and Pankaj Doval for The Times of India, the Road Transport Ministry in Karnataka are seeking an explanation for a series of recent bus fires. The ministry sought an explanation from manufacturer Volvo and are also looking into the possibility that overworked drivers could be behind the incidents. A spokesperson from Volvo said that a finalised report is coming soon, as they are still conducting an inquiry into the case.  

Tachograph technology could greatly benefit India when investigating traffic accidents like this in the future. Automobiles can be fitted with a digital tachograph and the data from a driver’s journey can be recorded onto a ‘driver card’. The information stored on this card can be periodically downloaded by transport authorities or employers to track the driver’s speed, distance travelled and rest times.

While this may sound good in theory, questions are raised as to which governing bodies would check and enforce this technology. In the EU, it is an employer’s responsibility to keep track of these driving records and be ready to present them when transport authorities require them. Failure to make or keep records under GB domestic rules can lead to fines up to £2,500.

Aside from it being a legal requirement, there are a number advantages to digital tachograph equipment. It helps reduce the likelihood of unfair competition when a business forces its drivers to work over their legal driving hours. As such, it creates a fairer market where smaller companies that abide by the rules aren’t being muscled out by exploitative competitors.

The technology also allows employers to identify problem areas and improve their efficiency. Stoneridge Electronics are a company which provide tachograph analysis packages that can be very beneficial to employers. They can use the analysis software to create business reports and track trends. If drivers aren’t taking the most efficient routes for example, employers can work with them and improve efficiency. It is also a good deterrent against bad driving habits like speeding.

But perhaps the biggest advantage to tachograph devices are their usefulness in the event of a road accident. If a driver is ever involved in a crash, the tachograph will give a detailed report of how fast they were going and how long they had been driving. When this data is stood up against eye-witness accounts and other testimony, it can be invaluable for shedding light on the events.

While the implementation of tachographs in India may only be a pipe-dream, it’s clear the country could make excellent use of this technology and the advantages it provides.

Posted in: Editorial
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