Category: Strategies

The modern world means that almost every business requires the use of some kind of digital data whether it’s office-based administration, digital invoicing, or e-signatures for contracts. Data has become a valuable commodity and the threat of being maliciously hacked for the purposes of personal data theft is real and probable if you do not employ the necessary security measures. 

As a business, you have a responsibility to protect the data of not only your company and your employees but your customers as well. While the threat of a data breach is always looming, fortunately, even basic protection can greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Depending on your business type, different methods in varying combinations might be required but some of the best ways to protect data include:

• Encryption
• Managed IT
• Employee training

Encryption makes it almost impossible for data to be accessed without authorization while a managed IT package can deliver great results and employee training on data security should be the first step.

Lock and Key

Data encryption is an excellent tool against the unauthorized access of data since the methods used make it very difficult, if not impossible for someone to access it. Every business type including the Construction industry, food and hospitality, and medical centers needs to use some kind of electronic data transmission. This could include emails, electronic invoices, or patient records and if these aren’t adequately protected could be very easy for a hacker to steal and disastrous for your company.

Fortunately, encrypting data is easy and can be done with software and/or plugins for apps. It works by scrambling the data of a message or file in such a way that it is unreadable unless opened by special software and an access key provided by the sender or an authorized user. There are multiple methods of encryption but some of the best tools to use are LastPass, BitLocker, and VeraCrypt.

Outsource to Professionals

A survey found that 60% of small businesses don’t believe that they will be the target of a hack and don’t take necessary measures, which is exactly why hackers target small businesses. A growing trend and a popular form of securing data is the use of a Managed IT Service. These specialized companies can provide all the necessary security that a business needs and more. 

Employing your own IT security team and all purchasing and installing the equipment necessary for a network can be very expensive, so outsourcing this could be more beneficial. For a relatively small fee for the services provided, Managed IT companies can provide round-the-clock network monitoring, cloud-based network services, antimalware scans, regular data backups, and IT support. The support of a Managed IT service is one of the best long-term solutions to data security and should be considered as soon as possible.

Educate and Train Your Staff

As with the old days of hacking, employee ignorance is still a key security weakness when it comes to data breaches. A responsible business owner that deals with any kind of digital data should make it a priority to train staff on correct data security procedures. A recent study found that 65% of participants employed password reuse across multiple sites and accounts which is obviously a huge risk. 

Employees should be educated in at least proper password usage that includes different and complex passwords for different sites, not writing down or sharing passwords and usernames and never revealing them to anybody over the phone or in emails, not even “IT security”, who could in fact be a hacker posing as a network administrator. Other training could include encryption, authorized device network access and chain of custody procedures.

Have you recently been struggling with the adjustment process after beginning to work at home? Maybe you have moved the majority of your business operations online and need a way to log your worker’s hours? Perhaps you are in the process of looking for options to keep track of your online class attendance now that in-person classes have been canceled? If this sounds familiar, then read on for some more useful information. This article will outline a few things that you can do to find the right online attendance tracking system for your business or school. It can be frustrating dealing with new technology if you are not a computer wizard, but using an excellent online attendance tracker can make all the difference. Make sure that your business is ready to meet the demands of online work. 

Interface

The first thing anyone notices about a website or software program is the type of user interface used to allow users to utilize the platform. The GUI, or graphical user interface, is something that many computer users take for granted to be easy and intuitive. If you have an old or outdated system for tracking attendance online, then one of the biggest things which usually needs an update is the GUI. You should always strive to use online attendance trackers with a slick and navigable interface system. Otherwise, you might find that some employees will have difficulty getting things to work correctly. 

Accessibility

A vital component of any good online platform is the overall accessibility for its users. If you have a platform or website that your employees must use for attendance, you want to make it as painless as a process for all parties involved. Having an attendance tracker which works appropriately on computers, tablets, and mobile phones is essential in the modern age since there is such a wide variety of access points for your employees. A big problem with many programs and websites is that they are not optimized for mobile devices, resulting in difficulties using the platform, excess data use, and several other issues. 

Time Tracking

An essential part of any online attendance tracker used for business purposes is the time tracking portion. Many online attendance trackers are great for things like schools but less useful for workplaces since they do not include a timestamp. Using an attendance tracker that logs the exact time that your employees sign in and out, you should have no problem incorporating the system into your online work protocol. Tech wizards at timetrackapp.com talk about the different types of features that leading online attendance trackers use to help businesses accurately and efficiently log their employees’ hours. Make sure that you have an attendance tracker which has been designed specifically with the intent to help out companies like yours. 

Customer Support

When you experience persistent issues with a piece of technology that is not working as it is supposed to, it can cause high-stress levels for your management and employees alike. As you pick an online attendance tracker for your business, you should always look at customer service and support offered. BY finding a platform that can help you 24/7 with any issues you encounter, they can rest easy knowing that your employees will be taken care of regardless of their problems. 

Ease of Use

It can quickly become extremely frustrating for you and your employees if you force them to use an online attendance tracker, which is not easy to use. You want your employees to spend their time doing work while on the clock rather than trying to figure out how to log their hours at the end of their shift. Be sure to always rigorously test any system which you intend your employees to use. 

After checking out a few of the previous points, the hope is that you have found some useful tips which will enable you to choose the online attendance tracker which is the right fit for you. The market has recently been flooded with online services and platforms which offer this kind of service. The influx of different options can make it difficult for businesses or individuals to find the online attendance tracking platform which will be the best fit for their needs. By consulting which experts on the subject, you will be able to weed out the undesirable platforms quickly and get something up and running, which will help you immediately.

If you are injured in an accident, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. Different types of accidents like car crashes, workplace incidents, and slips and falls can cause permanent injuries. If you suffered a permanent injury, you can file a long-term disability (LTD) claim to get the compensation that you deserve. However, the insurance company can deny your claim, but there are certain measures that you can take. Read on to learn what you should do if your claim for LTD benefits is denied.   

Get a Copy of Your Policy

If you are employed and get injured at work, your employer is legally required to compensate you. To make sure that your claim will go smoothly, you must get a copy of the company’s group insurance policy to familiarize yourself with its LTD policy plan documents. Alternatively, you can request the documents from the insurance company in writing. These documents can only be sent via certified mail. If you are denied compensation or if the employer in question claims that the injury was your fault make sure to carefully study the company’s policy plan documents so you can write back a denial letter. Take note of the reasons stated for the denial of your initial claim. The letter should explain when you can file an appeal and should contain the information required to approve the case.  

Hire a Lawyer.

It is possible to file a compensation claim on your own, but the process can be tricky. Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging since they aim to protect their interests. If your initial LTD claim is denied, you can hire a professional injury lawyer to handle your case. Seasoned lawyers at marksandharrison.com/our-locations/fredericksburg-office/ explain that it is vital to work with an experienced attorney to increase your chances of getting a fair settlement. Your attorney will handle all the paperwork, and will explain the statute of limitations in your state so you can better understand your LTD case.

Investigate Your Case

Your lawyer will investigate your case to determine why your claim was rejected. The attorney will collect evidence from different accident experts to determine how much you should get. It is vital to set your administrative record with favorable details that can help support your claim before exhausting the internal insurance appeals process. Under the ERISA law, you may not provide any new evidence that was not initially provided to the insurance company. Your attorney will interview you to get more details to use in your case. This is why you must always try to provide correct information that may not be disputed by the insurance company.   

Track All Missing Records 

The administrators and insurers may fail to get all the medical records necessary for your claim. With the help of your lawyer, try to find out the records that may be missing. You must also confirm, with the claims representative, the information that may be required. You should also find out if medical tests could help since insurance companies usually cite the lack of substantial evidence as to the major reason for denying the claim. For instance, blood tests or x-rays could improve the chances of getting better results in your case if they display an injury, infection, or illness that might have been caused by the negligence of your employer or being exposed to harmful materials in the workplace. 

Expert Testimony

You can also try to obtain letters or expert testimonies from non-medical professionals like family members to bolster your claim. These letters will contain observations from your family members about any limitations or changes in your lifestyle that were a direct cause of your disability or injury. You should also request that your doctor provides written opinions concerning work-related limitations caused by your injuries. Your attorney can craft specific questions that can help the physician write an expert opinion about your condition. Your doctor may charge a small fee to complete LTD paperwork, but it is worth it. The physician’s opinion is crucial when trying to convince the insurance company to approve your disability claim. 

Appeal a Denial

You can take your case to trial if the insurance company insists on challenging the figure requested in a personal injury claim. Experienced attorneys know how to prepare the paperwork and file a lawsuit that will be tried in the law court. When the case goes to court, a judge will preside and offer a final verdict. Therefore, you should make sure that you have everything that is needed to win the case before you file a lawsuit. 

When you are seriously injured in an accident and you suffer permanent injuries, you can claim LTD benefits. However, these benefits can be rejected by the insurance companies involved. When your claim for LTD settlement is disputed, you should hire an experienced injury attorney to review your case. It is vital to establish the reasons why the claim was denied and take corrective measures to appeal the verdict.   

Going into business for yourself is the best move that a person can make. It’s much better than wasting away for most of your life while the owners profit from your labor. However, owning a business in the modern era isn’t without risk. You could even lose your own personal assets in the worst situations. Fortunately, there are several ways to make sure that doesn’t happen.

There are lots of things that business owners do to reduce risk in business endeavors. Maintaining liability insurance, contracted agreements, and incorporation are some of the most common ways that businesses alleviate the burden of risks. 

Yet, to do these properly, every business should strongly consider retaining a business lawyer. That’s because lawyers can make quick work of complicated filings, navigate risk, and ward off unscrupulous frauds that would otherwise mark your business. The list goes on and having an experienced business lawyer on your side can be the difference between success and failure.  

1. They Can Help You Choose The Best Business Structure

Depending on the kind of business you’re in, there’s a perfect business structure for it. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and LLCs are all optimized for different features. Each has specific advantages and disadvantages concerning every sphere of business, including liability, worker protections, and taxation.

Liability is one of the biggest things to consider when it comes to organizational structure. Corporations and limited liability corporations protect the personal assets of the investors against a variety of negative outcomes. Meanwhile, operating as a sole owner can leave your house exposed to claims from debtors and punishments deriving from legal suits.

Liability and the structure of your business is probably the single most important aspect of your fledgling endeavor. Consulting with legal representation regarding your organizational structure is essential. Make sure you choose a legal firm that is up to snuff, for example

Alvin Legal is an industry leader and makes a good reference for what to look for in legal representation. Make sure that your choice of representation is specialized in business and not something unrelated. 

2. Drafting Essential Documents Like Shareholder Agreements

Lawyers will make sure that you’re protected by drafting the essential documents from the start. Corporations often have multiple members and investors. And these individuals can be the most beneficial or destructive influences on your business. Drafting properly binding agreements can spell out exactly what is allowed and expected from your shareholders, which can go a long way in keeping them under control. 

A lawyer will help your organization develop bylaws that will protect not only you but your legacy and every member of the organization.

3. Help You Apply For Trademarks And Related Intellectual Property Issues

Many businesses are content-oriented and rely on branding for marketing and reputation purposes. There are a variety of content-related intellectual property rights issues that can come up during the course of a business’s lifetime. Depending on your field, IP protections could be the most important thing. 

Whether it’s protecting your name and trademarked logo, product content, or patents, it’s important to have a shark on staff that can hit violators hard and fast to minimize damage to your company and profits. 

4. Lawyers Minimize Liability

Attorneys are known for this one and liability is one of the main reasons that businesses fail. They are in a special position to know what actions and words open you and your business to legal claims and culpability. Chances are that having a lawyer all but guarantees that you’re maintaining liability insurances. However, a lawyer will also dissuade potential claimants from even filing in the first place.

Lawyers scare off would-be manipulators and thieves. 

5. Contract Review

Contracts are legally binding and can protect everyone involved. Lawyers will make sure your contracts are water-tight. That means fewer surprises and more protections for the parties that adhere to the contract terms. Having poorly-constructed contracts leaves you open to all kinds of problems from vendors, employees, and customers alike. 

6. Damage Control

If something does happen due to your own negligence or the negligence of one of your employees, lawyers can do a lot to minimize the damage to your business. It’s not that having a lawyer helps you escape responsibility when you’re at fault, it merely ensures that your claimant can’t bleed you dry and open you up to sharks brought in by the freshly-chummed waters.

Legal counsel also deters slanderers and organizations that are looking for the opportunity to knock you down a peg.

7. Tax Strategy

It’s a well-known fact that lawyers can do wonders for your tax situation. Only a lawyer can offer you lots of different tax strategies with confidence. They know which strategies are legal, grey, and illegal and whether or not they’re likely to draw the gaze of auditors. Essentially, they know how it works and what is and isn’t acceptable in the real world. They also can provide advice regarding holdings and your exit strategy.

Retaining A Lawyer Is One Of The Best Things To Protect Your Business

The things mentioned here are just scratching the surface. Having a lawyer for your business provides more advantages than can possibly be listed here. And only one disadvantage – cost. However, unless you’re the luckiest person alive, that cost will recoup itself 10 times over if your business is the target of even one lawsuit or audit. Especially if you’re not even liable in the first place due to your type of incorporation. Lawyers make a successful business iron-clad and much more stable.

In any case, listen to this: With an individual site, the standard “design it, they will come” doesn’t apply. Except if you’re Elon Musk, you will not naturally pile up a large number of perspectives, clicks, and conversions.

You need to put in the work to get individuals to visit your site. Fortunately, there are many strong methodologies and assets out there that you can—and ought to—influence to get more traffic to your site.

1. Streamline Your Site for Search

You may have heard the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Extensively talking, this alludes to adjusting your site so that web search tools (chiefly Google) can scan all the pages and comprehend what they’re about. The objective is to get your site springing up on page one when somebody inputs an applicable search term—which drives more traffic! This may sound somewhat scary. In any case, fortunately, there are a lot of spots to find out about SEO and how it can help you. In line with this, there are a couple of basic ways you can support your site’s perceivability:

• Structure your substance with headings

Split up squares of writings with applicable headings. This makes it simpler for the potential clients to comprehend the main focuses on each page.

• Add labels and classifications

Classes are an incredible method to put together substance by theme or type, and labels work like hashtags—they help individuals discover explicit things you referenced all the more effectively, and help web crawlers comprehend the subjects on your website.

• Include a site portrayal 

This is a little square of text that generally shows up beneath your site title in query items. It tells clients—and that’s right web indexes! — what is the issue here.

• List your topographical area

This is particularly useful on the off chance that you just offer types of assistance in a particular zone.

2. Advertise It As Much As You Can

Great SEO will not accomplish all the work for you. You must elevate your site to genuine live individuals, as well.  There are various avenues of advertising, key among them is Google Ads. The professionals behind this guide to Google shopping Ads point out that there are a lot of simple steps you can to get the most out of this advertising method. Take a stab at doing the following to help drive your traffic to the following level.

• Put the URL on the entirety of your profiles

Any online media profiles you have, your LinkedIn, and so on. It’s about openness, regardless of whether a ton of that openness is detached.

• Announce it

Offer your site with your Instagram devotees, tweet it to the world, send an email to your own and expert associations. And keeping in mind that you might not have any desire to email individuals about it more than once, you can plug your site via online media undeniably more as often as possible—say once per week or a couple of times each month.

• Leverage social sharing

Numerous web designers offer something many refer to as social sharing. With this device, you can connect your site to your web-based media accounts. Each time you distribute a new substance, it’s pushed to your feeds for your companions and supporters to see. Everything you do is set it up once and voilá!

3. Share a Regular Newsletter

Pamphlets can be an incredible method to urge visitors to visit your site. Ensure you highlight a bulletin join alternative on your site, and advance the hell out of it. You can utilize your bulletin to mention to your intended interest group what you’re doing, share new substance from your site, publicize your administrations, and even give additional tips and counsel.

4. Break down Traffic Data

You opened this article since you needed to sort out some way to expand traffic to your site, correct? On the off chance that that is your objective, you need to focus on the numbers. Here are a few instances of information focuses you may follow.

Unique Visitors: what number of individuals is going to your site?

Popular Content: When clients get to your site, what pages do they invest energy in?

Traffic Sources: Are individuals finding your site straightforwardly (because you messaged or messaged them the connection), using web-based media or your bulletin, or through natural pursuit? You can even separate it to see which online media channel is generally mainstream.

Again, this isn’t for no particular reason. You’ll need to follow the information, decipher it, and make a move. For example, suppose you see a spike in rush hour gridlock one day. At the point when you burrow somewhat further, you see that the majority of it came from Twitter. You’d just been posting on Twitter a couple of times each month, however after seeing this outcome; you choose to up the recurrence to two times per week.

Sometimes, there may be a need to use more than the above tips to get more traffic to your site. However, the stated tips are sure to increase traffic. Be sure to use them, and share newer tactics.

The real estate market is a tough one. The people who are willing and able to buy a home nowadays are not many, especially with the pandemic giving rise to much uncertainty. As the number of clients actively looking and planning to buy a home fluctuate, the number of real estate agents trying to sell roughly remains the same. The real estate industry is naturally highly competitive and combined with the difficult economic situation, even the most experienced agents can find it extremely difficult to complete a sale. 

Technology, however, plays a significant role in helping real estate agents cope with tough situations. Needless to say, technology has transformed the real estate industry and has made it easier for agents to gather information, reach clients, and communicate with them effectively. To stay on top of the market, here are 6 tools that every real estate agent should utilize.

Open House Technology

Hosting open houses has always been one of the most prominent sales techniques that allow realtors to market their listings. Though it’s timeless and simple, some technologies have been designed to modernize open houses. At every open house, there must be a sign-in sheet that allows realtors to gather and record information about potential buyers. One of the hardest things to do at the end of every open house is making a digital version of this sheet to send out individual follow-up emails. Many open house technology tools allow realtors to collect this information using an iPad. This makes it more convenient for attendees and makes them more interested in filling out the form. The best part is that these apps allow you to easily send out customizable and professional emails to follow-up with the attendees. Not only does it help make a realtor’s job much easier, but it also makes the listing much more memorable to potential clients. 

Broker Reciprocity

Broker Reciprocity, or Internet Data Exchange (IDX), is a policy enclosed by the Multiple Listings Service, or MLS) that enables real estate agents who partake in their local MLS to share listing information online. The professionals behind https://showcaseidx.com explain that IDX allows realtors to make MLS listings accessible on their websites rather than having to refer potential clients to third-party sources. This makes active listings more accessible to consumers and makes them more likely to enter contact and budget information as they will be in control of the real estate agents who can access this data. Modern IDX tools make sure that each listing has an individual discoverable page. This boosts user experience as well as your website. 

Camera Drones

Ever since camera drones have become available for public use, they became a revolutionary technology in the real estate industry. They allow realtors to take excellent aerial, high-definition footage of houses. They can also be used indoors to create a steady video experience for potential customers who are looking for a full house guide. This will give you a competitive edge and will make your listing stand out among hundreds of other average images of homes. Besides, if camera drones are out of your budget, you can attach your phone to a regular drone and take equally eye-catching footage. 

Mobile Apps

Nowadays, there are mobile apps to help you out with literally everything. App developers work hard to provide tools and apps that can be helpful in many industries. For instance, there are apps that allow social media managers, strategists, and marketers to determine the best time to post to increase engagement. 

Similarly, there are apps curated just for real estate agents. Head over to your application store and download a collection of local and international realtor apps that will make your job manageable, fun, and easier. 

Social Media

Social media is one of the most important tools that a realtor must utilize. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms will allow you to reach clients. These platforms are probably where all your potential clients spend most of their time. If you are not using them, you are missing out on tons of selling opportunities. 

Emails

Figure out ways to make your social media presence a tool to collect relevant emails. This will help you put together a strong mailing list and to connect with real-time potential buyers. For example, you can use pop-ups on your website to make visitors sign-up for your services using their emails. This way, you can send them newsletters, blog links, or other listing information. 

Industries evolve with the use of technology. Since hundreds of new tools and technologies are developed every day, our lives have become much easier. There’s a wide array of tools that realtors can use so that they can make it through the tough times that the real estate industry faces.