Helpful Articles, Helpful Guides, Running Your Own Business

6 Things to Keep in Mind When Running a Business

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Running your own business has the power to open up so many doors in your life. You’ll be able to make a better income, become more self-assured, don’t need to deal with pressure from a mean boss, and can constantly track your own progress. While running your own business can be something extremely rewarding, it can also be stressful. There is a lot that goes into running a business. You have to take a lot into account when it comes to your own business. You’ll need to think about each action that you do and how it affects you, your clients, and your business overall. Here are some very important things that you must consider when you’re running your own business.

6 Things to Keep in Mind When Running a Business
6 Things to Keep in Mind When Running a Business

Hiring the right staff

If you’re needing help, you need staff, right? Well, you’ll want to make sure that you hire the right person to get the job done. Depending on your line of business and what is available, you may be able to look into fire and security recruitment.  When you find the right staff for the team, this is going to help in harnessing a good connection but it also is going to increase the efficiency of the business as well. This is because you’re not having to spend so much time finding the right people and trying to train them. While finding and hiring the right person is a big trial on its own, it’s worth it in the long run so you can have a functional business that is operating smoothly.

You need to understand your customer

Most go people into business because they have a solution to what a customer is after. You need to know who your customer is and you need to know what they want. If you want to have your marketing strategy become a success, then you need to target the market accurately. This means that you need to analyze your current customer base and the customer base that your competition has. You want to try to tailor your business and your product to what the customers are after. You can do this by using technology for business advantage. This can include doing marketing research, having a good and compelling marketing strategy, and just engaging with possible customers.

Your finances

As a business owner, you’ll need to manage your business finances. It’s so important that you do your finances properly. Because if your decisions are bad, especially in the first year of your business, they can have some serious consequences later on. Also, you need to think about how much you’re spending and how much you owe. A lot of small businesses quickly fizzle out due to being in too much debt or they entirely run out of money.

You’ll have to make a lot of hard decisions
You’ll have to make a lot of hard decisions

You’ll have to make a lot of hard decisions

You are a boss, you are your own boss, and if you hire a team, then you are also their boss. As a business owner, you’ll need to make a lot of decisions. Unfortunately, some of these decisions may be very hard too. This can be something such as firing someone, staffing costs, dealing with finances, and so much more. It’s definitely not fun but it is something that you must be aware of as it is the reality of being a business owner.

You’ll need a support system

This support system can be from your friends and family but it also is from other small business owners. These owners can be within your community or even the same industry as you. It’s always good to have a support system, especially if it’s from other business owners. You’ll be able to share ideas, network, give advice, and just cope with the ever-changing world of business. You can find plenty of business networking events online which also can include trade shows.

You’ll work harder than ever before

Many people switch to running their own business because they think it will be a breeze. They worked hard and had long hours at their previous job, so working for yourself is going to be smooth sailing, right? That’s completely wrong! You’ll most likely find yourself working longer hours for yourself than you will for someone else. It’s crazy to think about but it’s usually the case. When it comes to trying to get your business off the ground there is a chance that you’ll have to spend late nights, holidays, and even weekends doing what you can in hopes that this business will be a success in the long run. 

digital nomad, remote working

Is it Actually Easy to Become a Digital Nomad?

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the globe, a lot of people were looking into becoming digital nomads. These are people who work remotely (whether it be freelancing or working for a company) and just travel around the world while they do it. There was a sort of beauty to it. People were incorporating slow travel, continuing the career, all while getting to change up their setting and way of life whenever they chose to. Since the world is slowly going back to normal, countries are opening back up, and travel is becoming easily accessible, the idea is becoming popular once more. But is it truly easy to jump in and become a digital nomad? What are the risks? You can find out all of that here!

Is it Actually Easy to Become a Digital Nomad?
Is it Actually Easy to Become a Digital Nomad?

How does a digital nomad get work?

So, digital nomads will find work in a variety of ways. Some may be content creators and continuously create content while they travel. They can work for a company remotely, and their company allows them to travel freely. When this is the case, it does allow for a lot of security and there is a safety net to it. Looking into it infrastructure jobs could be a way to get started when looking for a reliable company that offers remote work.

Another way that digital nomads find work can be through passive income ( selling courses, eBooks, printables, or anything else), crypto, and day traders, but they can also own their own business. This can be something such as a freelancer, or someone who owns their company. Honestly, there are so many ways that digital nomads can sustainably make their income.

How do digital nomads travel?

Just like with obtaining income, travelling can also be various. There’s this idea that digital nomads are constantly travelling and they do their work at the side of a pool in a resort. There could be some truth to it, but for the most part, it’s just hyper glamorization. Digital nomads can live in different ways, and they’re usually not travelling all the time unless they’re making passive income or they’re content creators.

Most digital nomads will stick with something specific and will rely on that. Here is an example: the whole idea of “van life” is becoming very popular. While there are questions of how much does it cost to hire a van, usually digital nomads who work in vans will drive somewhere and stay for several days while they get their work done. Sometimes it stays far longer than several days in one location. Other nomads will stay in an Airbnb for close to a month, they’ll work and in their free time just enjoy the area. They’ll do this before they move on to somewhere else in the world.

How do digital nomads travel?
How do digital nomads travel?

Are there any risks when trying to become a digital nomad?

The short answer is, it all depends. You need to have enough money in your bank account in case anything happens such as an unexpected medical bill, hidden fees, or an emergency that happens back at home so you need to take a flight there. In short, anything can happen so you always have to keep your finances in check. It’s important to use budgeting tools to help you out with this.

The lack of good Wi-Fi and the constant difference in time zones can make it difficult to operate a business, make clients happy, or even do your job all around. If the work you do requires little to no deadlines or communication with clients or coworkers then it could be something to consider. In short, these risks can be avoided especially if you know where to find good wifi and where your body can adjust to the difference in time zones.

Can being a digital nomad affect the search for a job?

This answer will also depend. If you’re planning on travelling constantly, some companies will not like that as they want stability for their employees. However, it can also just depend on the company culture. Some companies are entirely remote and all of their employees work remotely too. There are company cultures out there that completely encourage travel while working, but you may need to do some deep searching to find those.

What are the downsides to being a digital nomad?

When it comes to being a digital nomad, it’s unfortunately not all sunshine and rainbows. There are some downsides. One of the biggest downsides is that it can’t last forever. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that as many countries have to go into lockdown, this included forcing visitors to leave, and having hospitality-oriented businesses close their doors until told otherwise.  

Bitcoin, Crypto Currency, currency trading, Trading

The Not-so Green Side of Cryptocurrency – How Sustainable are Assets Such as Bitcoin?

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The sustainability of Bitcoin (BTC) and similar crypto-assets has been under immense scrutiny of late, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk having made this a key talking point during the summer.

More specifically, Musk (who had previously invested heavily in BTC) spoke negatively about the asset’s lack of sustainability, announcing that Tesla would stop accepting the digital currency as payment for vehicles until “here’s confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by miners” with a positive future trend.

But just how sustainable is BTC’s mining process, and have miners already started to meet Musk’s demands? Here’s a breakdown of the current situation:

What Sustainability Issues Affect Crypto Assets? 

The mining process associated with BTC and similar crypto-assets is central to their decentralised nature, with secure and immutable transactions verified by “miners” who trying to solve mathematically complex problems.

Miners who successfully solve a particular issue essentially add a “block” to BTC’s underlying blockchain, while also receiving a real-time reward in the form of a finite number of coins (6.25).

This represents a tangible reward for the miner’s efforts, while the process itself is how new tokens are generated and introduced into circulation. At present, there are 18,821,387.00 BTC tokens currently in circulation, from a maximum supply of 21,000,000.

However, the complexity of each individual mathematical puzzle is incredibly high, requiring miners to invest in expensive hardware and consume large amounts of electricity when verifying blocks.

According to estimates from the University of Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, the global BTC network currently consumes around 89 terawatt-hours of electricity annually.

This equates to the annual output of 23 coal-fired power plants, or close to what is consumed by the citizens of Finland on an annual basis.

Just How Sustainable are Cryptocurrencies?

These statistics make for stark reading, and they seem to highlight an inherent lack of sustainability in the crypto space while supporting Elon Musk’s demand for less energy-intensive mining processes.

However, many people have countered Musk’s claim, particularly his call for a greater emphasis on so-called “clean energy”.

More specifically, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance estimates that 76% of all miners now use renewable energy sources as part of their mix. What’s more, CoinShares suggests that the total share of renewables in crypto mining is as high as 73%, while this percentage continues to inch higher on an annual basis.

Not only this, but second and third-generation blockchains have also introduced “Proof-of-Stake” (PoS) consensus algorithms to verify transactions and introduce new blocks.

This is diametrically opposed to BTC’s “Proof-of-Work” (PoW) model, which requires far higher levels of energy and is less sustainable over time.

So, there’s no doubt that people misunderstand just how sustainable crypto mining has become in recent times, and the consensus algorithms that are now widely used to minimise energy consumption.

Of course, there are also far less energy-intensive investment vehicles such as forex trading, so traders who are interested in building a sustainable portfolio have a number of viable options in the modern age.

Gift Guides, Gifts for Men

Top tips for buying gifts for men this holiday season

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When buying a gift for a loved one we want to hit the nail on the head. We’ve all had that sinking feeling of unwrapping a gift that really isn’t us. “It’s lovely!” we exclaim, before hiding the offending item at the back of the wardrobe and pretending it shrunk in the wash when asked.

It can be tricky to buy gifts as an adult, as most people will buy things they want or need for themselves. It can be particularly difficult to buy for those of the opposite sex, especially someone who you haven’t known for years, like a new partner or newly acquired friend.

Here are some tips for buying gifts for the men in your life.

Understand them first

The first step to choosing a fool-proof gift for anyone is to consider their needs and interests. Try writing a brainstorm or a list of points about him. Include his job, any hobbies, his biggest passion and what brings him joy.

If he enjoys sport, see if you can get tickets to a game that he’d be interested in. Maybe he has a problem you could help solve? For example, if he gets stiff and achy from sitting at a desk all day a massage gun could be an ideal present.

Don’t overthink it

It’s important to remember that men are simple creatures. Their brains do not work in the same way as women’s, they will not analyse your gifts or go looking for a hidden meaning.

One mistake we often make when buying a present for a man is looking at the gift from our own perspective. We think of over-the-top hand knitted items and homemade collages honouring our time together. Your brother is not going to get excited about a scarf you crochet for him, and equally your boyfriend won’t value a glittery collage. Keep it simple and don’t stress about the finer details. He is unlikely to be bothered, or even notice.

Observe what they like to buy for themselves

Take note of the things he gets for himself. If he buys a lot of video games, a gaming related gift will likely go down well. When a man makes a financial investment in his hobbies, it’s safe to say a gift related to them will be appreciated. If he has a huge trainer collection, a new pair of kicks could be perfect.

Notice how they spend their time

Not all men are big spenders. If your man is a little more reluctant to part with his cash, look at how he spends his time. Whether he’s creative, sports-mad or likes getting his hands dirty, what he gets up to outside of work will be a huge clue as to what kind of gift he might like.

Helpful Articles, Helpful Guides

How Much does it Cost to Hire a Van?

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A van is an extremely practical vehicle, capable of transporting fairly large amounts of goods without being awkward to drive. When it comes to house moves or business moves, they’re almost indispensable. It’s for this reason that many of us elect to hire a van when the date of the move arrives.

It’s possible to minimise costs by driving the van yourself, rather than going for a more traditional man and van service. But, as we’ll see, some of the costs of going down this road can be hidden. It’s thus worth making yourself aware of how much hiring a van will really set you back, ideally well in advance of the day that you actually need the vehicle.

Weight limits

The van that you rent will have a safe maximum weight, which should not be exceeded. If you’re looking to carry a heavier load, then you’ll either have to take more trips, or rent a heavy-duty vehicle.

A standard driving licence will allow you to drive a vehicle of up to 3.5 tonnes. If you want to go beyond that, then you’ll need to take extra tests. It should go without saying that a man-and-van service will get you a driver who’s qualified to drive the vehicle you’re hiring.

Hidden Costs

While the headline price for a van rental might be attractive, you should beware of extra costs that might be bolted on once you’ve expressed an interest. These might cover things like extra insurance and removal services.

Most of the time you’ve paying for an entire day at a time, so for most economical results you should plan everything out to make the most from the hours you have available. You might also incur a fee for returning the vehicle late, so make sure that you’ve got everything done in plenty of time.

Insurance

We’ve already mentioned insurance – but be aware that the kinds of insurance offered by van hire companies often come with very high excesses, which might catch you out in the event of an accident. The cost of your insurance might also be greater depending on your age and driving experience.

Reputation

Before committing to a rental, you should be sure that you’re hiring from a reputable firm who’ve received good reviews from their customers. If you go with an unfamiliar name, then you’re taking a risk – and you might find that there are nasty surprises lurking in the vehicle you’ve rented. If you need something that you can rely on, it makes sense to go with the company that’s trusted by others.

Shopping Around

With that said, you’ll also want the best possible deal – which most of the time means collecting multiple quotes from multiple firms.

Helpful Articles, Small Business

How SMEs power the UK’s economy

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When we think about businesses powering the UK’s economy, we often think of the big corporations providing jobs for thousands of employees. But did you know that SMEs are just as important?

In fact, at the start of 2020 there were 5.94 million small businesses (with 0 to 49 employees), 99.3% of the total business in the UK, meaning that SMEs account for 99.9% of the business population (6.0 million businesses). As a result, SMEs account for three-fifths of the employment available nationally.

And what’s more, SMEs turn over more than £1.6 trillion each year! So the bottom line is that small businesses have a huge impact on the economy as a whole.

Although it’s not always easy to keep going as a small business, especially in a pandemic.

How has Covid hit small businesses?

Although small businesses are essential to the economy, unfortunately Covid-19 posed a huge challenge to SMEs nationally. This combined with the challenges of Brexit has meant a turbulent year for many.

In fact, as a result of the dire circumstances many SMEs have faced, a record 250,000 small firms are set to close. And as we wave goodbye to the smaller firms, we also have to wave goodbye to jobs too.

If you’re a small business owner wondering how to stay afloat in difficult times, all is not lost. To help SMEs like yourself, we’ve put together our top tips to stay you stay afloat.

Top tips for small businesses

  1. Keep organised

It goes without saying, but those who fail to prepare are preparing to fail. In uncertain times especially, business leaders need to be organised and in touch with everything that’s going on externally.

By staying organised, you can make sure you’re on target to complete all the tasks necessary for success and ensure nothing falls by the wayside.

  1. Consider outside investment

Sometimes, you’ll need a little helping hand. Whether it’s stumping up the cash to purchase stock or expand your business premises to offer a new service, sometimes you need a little extra cash.

In fact, many small businesses choose to opt for business loans to help them expand. If you’ve properly researched your options and are able to make the repayments, they can be a great way to get things off the ground.

  1. Understand your risks

Although not many of us had “worldwide pandemic” down on our risks sheet at the start of 2020, actually assessing the risks to your business and the potential rewards can be a great strategy.

Try to ask yourself what the potential benefits of would be with that risk, compared to the downsides.

If the potential benefits outweigh the downsides – go for it!

  1. Get creative

In a world where competition is rife, it pays to get creative. To stand out from the crowd, think about how you could get creative with your approach. After all, you may just discover something groundbreaking!

The bottom line

The bottom line is that it’s not easy for small businesses, but their survival is crucial to the UK economy.

If your business is on shaky ground, then it’s important not to give up! Whether you look to mix up the way you do things or seek external financial support, help is available for those who require it.

Helpful Guides

How to become a taxi driver in the UK

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Becoming a taxi driver can be a rewarding career switch or career start. You get to set your own hours, meet and chat to all kinds of people and carry out a valuable service which helps get the public from A to B. But how do you start this career? Below we explore how to become a taxi driver in the UK.

What kind of people are suitable for taxi driving?

Some people are more suited to being a taxi driver than others. There’s the public-facing aspect – those who are friendly and like talking to customers are more likely to succeed. On top of this, you need to be healthy enough to drive around for a long stretch of time each day. And then there’s the directions: you need to have a strong knowledge of the local area, and if not, have map reading skills to compensate.

What qualification do you need?

You need a licence to become a taxi driver. There are two types and It’ll be depending on inside or outside London. Outside of London, you need to apply to your local council for a special licence. To be eligible you’ll undergo a fit and proper persons check (essentially an evaluation of your character and background), plus you’ll need to have been driving for over a year.

Inside London you’ll need to apply to Transport for London (TFL) for a licence. This follows similar tests, but you’ll also need to prove your knowledge of London.

How much money do they make?

In the UK, £14,000-£30,000 is average salary depending on your hours, which can be stretched up to around 43 hours per week.

Buying a taxi

When you buy a taxi, you need to get a perfect one as they will become your work buddy for many years. Think of how much money you can get a profit from, which seat is comfortable for you, what kind of features you are looking for. Passengers will be hoping for a smooth ride, an adjustable temperature depending on the weather and plenty of space to sit. Just make sure you purchase from a reputable taxi seller, that can meet your needs while providing expert aftercare.

Becoming a taxi driver will take dedication and discipline, but by following the above advice you can make a start on taking up this rewarding career.

Apps, Social Media, TikTok, YouTube

How You Can Use Technology For A Business Advantage

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If you are a business owner with products or services to proffer, you need a way to get your information “out there” for the masses of potential consumers to engage with and experience. Enter technology. There are a variety of ways to work with and use technology to your continued advantage.

App

Everybody seems to have a mobile phone. They are practically extensions of oneself at this point. You use your phone for shopping on all levels, ordering food, purchasing tickets, research, and entertainment, and the list goes endlessly on. This is why you need to engage with a professional company for mobile application development. 

Can you imagine seeing your company as an app on a smartphone? Consider the endless ways you can meet your customers’ needs and meet them where they are at that moment. When they need something, they press the tile and the world which is your company opens up for them to engage with.

If you think that creating an app is a daunting prospect, think again. A team of developers will meet with you to discuss your ideas and gain knowledge of your company. If you already have a website in place, they will use that as a building block in the creation process. Next, they will create a bespoke solution that will grab your app users’ attention and keep them coming back for more.

Social Media

The term social media has different connotations for different groups. While the distinctive platforms connect people socially on a personal level, they can be masterful tools to wield to create a professional online presence.

Create company accounts on a variety of social media platforms for maximum exposure. You can use Instagram to create curated stories about your company and any social programs you and your employees support. Show your followers who you are and what you stand for. Make videos on TikTok showing how your product functions in different settings. Craft expert videos for YouTube showing tutorials and guides for how to use your products. Use Twitter to keep your followers up-to-date on the latest product releases or offer teaser tweets for upcoming events.

Here is a quick overview of how to use social media to help your business.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_8nZDN7nJS4

Dedicated Employee

An actual human employee is certainly not part of the technical equation; however, if you notice an increase in digital traffic across apps, websites, and social media platforms, it may behove you to designate an employee to monitor these. Having either a full-time focus on these areas or adding it as part of a current employees’ job description will prove beneficial.  

When your company can respond to comments, whether they are positive or negative, and answer questions about your products or services, that immediate attention to social media will show the world that you care enough about their thoughts and concerns to be attentive and respond. If a dissatisfied customer posts something negative, or even an honest review that does not reflect well for you, your employee can acknowledge their issue and offer to remedy it. 

This is all done in the public eye and reflects transparency. All of this effort further advertises and promotes your company. Today, consumers want to know more than the product they are purchasing. They want to know the values and ethics of the company behind the product.

Electric Car, Electric Vehicles, EV, EV Chargers, Gadget Man

Cashing In: First Look at the EV Charger that gives you Rewards and Puts Your on the Road to Net Zero, Simply by Plugging In

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The demand for convenient, intelligent, and incentivised electric vehicle charging has been met with the launch of the INDRA Smart Pioneer.

Unveiled to drivers for the first time at Fully Charged OUTSIDE 2021, INDRA’s Smart Pioneer signals a new standard for electric car charging. With a simple plugin and go message for users, the charger is an intuitively smart piece of kit, making it easy for drivers to shift their charging patterns to off-peak times, save money and earn rewards.

Indra Smart PRO at Fully Charged OUTSIDE
Indra Smart PRO at Fully Charged OUTSIDE

Coupling leading technology with reliability, the Smart Pioneer helps drivers to reduce their environmental impact. By managing their charging schedule and shifting up to 80% of energy use to off-peak tariffs, it can lessen the demand on the grid and see customer carbon emissions fall by an average of 20%.

Working in tandem with the ev.energy companion app, the rewards platform automatically taps into the times when energy is at its cheapest, and offers rewards back, meaning drivers can claim over £250* per year in energy savings, retail incentives and get involved in projects like local tree planting to help offset their carbon emissions.

Ben Kelsey, Chief Operating Officer at Indra, chatting to Matt Porter at Fully Charged OUTSIDE
Ben Kelsey, Chief Operating Officer at Indra, chatting to Matt Porter at Fully Charged OUTSIDE

Commenting on the benefits of smart charging sessions Indra’s founder and chief technology officer, Mike Schooling, comments:

“Households that drive a lot of miles on electricity, and charge mostly on electricity, need smart charging to avoid putting more demand on the UK’s power supply. We know that drivers are happy to shift their charging patterns to off-peak times, but they need peace of mind that it will be simple to do and reliable so that when they get in their car at 6 am for work they can get straight on the road.”

Continuing to break down charging barriers, INDRA’s latest product builds on the initial success of its Smart PRO. With an extended 5-year warranty, the Smart Pioneer also offers all the same benefits as the INDRA Smart PRO, including smart-scheduling, house-fuse protection, solar panel integration and advanced safety features – meaning EV drivers can guarantee safety and ultimate utilisation of renewable energy.

INDRA Founder and CTO Mike Schooling, ev energy and Robert Llewellyn with the INDRA Smart Pioneer
INDRA Founder and CTO Mike Schooling, ev energy and Robert Llewellyn with the INDRA Smart Pioneer

Schooling, further adds: “Electric car sales have surged to 17% market share and innovative, smart charging is key to greater uptake of electric cars so that number keeps rising. The launch of our Smart Pioneer is a step-change in the smart optimisation of EV chargers and will be the world’s first commercially available V1G product that rewards customers for being flexible with when they charge their EV at home.”

The Smart Pioneer collaboration between INDRA and ev.energy sees drivers getting rewards passed on from the V1G smart charging technology, something which is a world-first proposition from a charge point company.

V1G charging varies the time and rate at which an electric vehicle is charged to respond to surges in power demand. This type of smart charging can harness extra revenue, above a driver’s tariff savings, by accessing flexibility services across the distribution operator and National Grid.

The Smart Pioneer uses leading technology to aggregate thousands of devices to provide a local or national response to grid events and when revenue is generated, shares those back with drivers.

Nick Wooley, CEO at ev.energy, concludes: “We’ve admired INDRA for a really long time, they have a fantastic history of building great products so we’re really excited to be partnering to bring even more drivers cheaper, greener charging.”

For more information about the Indra Smart Pioneer, visit: https://www.indra.co.uk/smart-pioneer-ev-charger

Marketing

The 7 Marketing Tech Trends You Need to Be Aware Of

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It’s 2021 and marketing and tech go hand in hand. If you aren’t embracing the latest technology to bolster your marketing efforts, chances are you aren’t making as much money for your company as you could.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most prominent marketing trends you should probably be using right now.

  1. Video marketing

Content marketing has always been the bread and butter of businesses on the internet, and written content is still a big part of most companies’ marketing strategies. However, in the past couple of years, we have seen a real move towards video marketing, which perhaps isn’t surprising when you consider the fact that more and more people, particularly the younger generation, are watching videos instead of reading articles online. You only have to look at things like Youtube and TikTok to see how much of an impact short videos can have!

That means, your company is probably going to want to invest in a decent video camera and a decent video editing package. Alternatively, you could outsource video production to video marketing experts. In fact, the latter is probably more desirable because they will have the skills and experience to make videos that sell, whereas if you and your marketing team do not have much experience of video marketing, you may find it more difficult to create the kind of content that people actually want to see.

  1. Chatbots

In 2021, the demand for chatbots, according to figures from Salesforce, is up by 69 percent. It seems that many consumers prefer to use chatbots when they need to talk to a company’s customer service, and this is not surprising because chatbots are often more efficient at answering basic queries than actual humans! They respond faster and furnish you with all of the information you need without making mistakes, and that is why customers love them. 

Of course, they are also good for businesses too due to the fact they can do some of the same things that customer service agents do, which means you may be able to reduce staff numbers, save money and still provide a great service. They can’t replace humans completely, so you will still need to hire and train a few customer service reps for those tricky situations that crop up from time to time, but if you aren’t using them as part of your company’s customer service offerings, you’re missing a trick.

  1. Voice Search

Now that so many of us are choosing to access the internet via mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, instead of more cumbersome laptops and PCs, it is not surprising that we are also increasingly using voice search to find whatever it is we need on the net because let’s face it, it’s easier to use your voice than it is to type on a small touchscreen device. 

As a business, you will undoubtedly want to do everything you can to make it as easy as possible for customers to make a purchase which is why, if you haven’t already, you should implement voice search on your own website right away. As well as being more convenient, it makes your website more accessible for people with various impairments, which means you can do a good thing and potentially increase your sales at the same time when you advertise the fact that your website is accessible and easy to use for all.

  1. Digital signatures

If you run the kind of business where it is often necessary to have contracts exchanged and signed by one or more parties, you definitely need to know about digital signature services. These services enable you to send important documents, sign and have them signed, digitally, which means no more unnecessary meetings, print outs or postage costs. Right now, when many of us are switching to remote working, it is one piece of kit you can’t do without.

How does this help with marketing? Well, if you can advertise your business as being fully digital, it will obviously appeal to a greater number of people because, due to the pandemic, people do not want to be doing things like signing contracts online, It makes your business more convenient to use, and that is a great marketing point to push.

  1. Data analytics

Data analytics are hardly a new thing in the world of online business, but it is fair to say that, in 2021, they are more important than ever. Why are data analytics so important? Because they enable you to track your marketing campaigns and see how successful (or not) they have been. This enables you to make tweaks and changes to improve your efforts and get a better return on investment. It can also give you valuable insight into your target demographic and their behaviour so you can tailor your business experience to better meet their needs. Basically, if you aren’t tracking things in the marketing department, you will probably waste a lot of time and money, and data analytics can help you to prevent that.

  1. Social media

Again, social media marketing isn’t exactly a new thing in 2021, but it is one of the biggest trends in marketing tech so it deserves a place on the list. 

One thing I can say is that conversation is set to be a big thing in social media marketing going forward. By that, I mean two-way communication between company and customer. It has been shown time and time again that engagement on an intimate human level is exactly what consumers want to see and we are likely to see more of that. Gone are the days when you could simply schedule a post and sit back while the likes come in and leave it at that! These days, if you want to be a success, you need to get involved in the conversation and show the genuine human side of your business.

  1. User experience

With so much competition for business online, one thing that can help your business to stand out from the crowd is the user experience you can offer the customer, which is why UX is going to be a big thing in the coming months and years. 

What form will this UX take? Probably increased levels of personalisation and more speed when it comes to interacting with businesses and making purchases. Website and apps are likely to be streamlined and shopping carts simplified, while software packages that learn about the customer and personalise the app/site based on those purchases are also set to be big news.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are so many ways that technology can interact with marketing and make the whole process so much better. That is why businesses that have yet to do so should be making real efforts to use more tech in their marketing strategies.

Although you do not necessarily need to implement all of the above into your company, it would be foolish to ignore them, and actually, the more you use technology to help you market your goods and services, the more money you will save, and the more money you will make.

Customers expect more from businesses today, and if you cannot deliver, they will quickly find someone who can. By using technology, and making it known that you are using technology to improve user experience, you can certainly hold on to more customers and give your business the best possible chance of success – it really is that simple.

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