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How a Reputation Management Agency Can Monitor Your Brand

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If a brand wants to do well online and offline, they need a solid reputation, with a foundation in their digital presence. However, it is not just down to good designs and excellent content. A high quality product or service backed by excellent customer service is perhaps even more important. In fact, even the way in which employees are treated has an impact on reputation. A reputation management agency will usually focus on the digital content that exists, although they may also provide advice on issues such as customer service and employee satisfaction.

A Reputation Management Agency Teaches You to Walk the Walk

All brands need to have a consistent spread and marketing of positive, genuine, and fresh online content. They aim is to make sure that if any negative content exists, it is hard for others to find. Research has shown that people now read a lot of reviews before deciding whether or not to trust a brand, so it is very important that you have reviews to offer, and that they are positive. The damage from negative reviews can be offset thanks to reputation management strategies, but it is obviously better to attract positive reviews in the first place.

A great way to make a brand look positive outside of attracting good reviews is to create authoritative content. This content has to provide something of value to the audience, setting the company apart as a trustworthy expert in their niche. At the same time, this content has to be SEO (Search Engine Optimization) optimized, meaning it contains the right keywords and the right backlinks. It should also be posted in all the right places, which is anywhere where a potential customer could search for information about this particular niche.

Essentially, this is about talking the talk (creating content) and walking the walk (showing that you mean what you say and having this confirmed through positive reviews).

Real Life Scenarios

Businesses can do a variety of different things in order to improve their overall image. Obviously, this should start by focusing on customer service. It has been shown in a study by Dimensional Research that 54% of people would share complaints about receiving a bad customer service at least five different times, in different places. Furthermore, the survey showed that 58% of people are now far more likely to leave reviews compared to the same time five years ago.

It simply cannot be stressed enough how important it is to offer the highest levels of customer service. Reputation management can do a lot to make it harder to find negative information. Excellent content strategies can set you apart as an expert in your field. But if the real life element, which is your customers interacting with you, your product/service, and your customer service, is a negative one, no amount of hard work can make it better. You need to see reputation management as a form of marketing, in other words, and that only works if your foundation is right.

The Rise Of The Live Streams

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“Livestreaming Wikimania 2016 Esino Lario” by Sebastiaan Ter Burg (CC BY 2.0)

If you have found yourself watching any kind of digital media recently, there is a good chance that you have done so using a live stream. Despite being a relatively new phenomenon, the market for this particular brand of video content has been growing exponentially over the past few years and based on current projections, it looks set to become even bigger in 2018.

For those who are somehow unaware of this latest trend, live videos are a type of streaming media where the content is simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real time. The technology has actually been around for the best part of a decade, having gained popularity within the video gaming community through platforms such as Twitch. However, these services have now spread into other sectors and as a result, they have begun to become a part of some people’s daily lives.

Much of this popularity can be linked to the release of easy-to-access live streaming software for social media over the last couple of years. Apps such as Facebook Live, Periscope, and Instagram have all made it easier than ever for their users to share and stream content to their peers. On top of this, almost every social media platform has integrated live streaming into their services, allowing anyone to take advantage and offering a potentially massive audience to those willing to try.

Source: Pexels

That is not all, however, as streaming has also made it easier for people to watch live coverage of news and events. Almost every major sporting event is available to view through some form of live media as fans are foregoing traditional television broadcasts in favour of watching on other devices. Meanwhile, the massive growth and success of the eSports industry in recent years has been largely attributed to services like Twitch, which is currently one of the biggest streaming sites in the world, boasting over 100 million users per month.

Another frequent use for interactive streaming is for hosting live casino games. These interactive streams, featuring offer an authentic gaming experience that anyone can participate in from the comfort of their own homes. They also allow players to take advantage of bonus offers, like the current free spins offered by diverse online casinos reviewed by bonus.ca, though whether that is something that interests you is a question answered here.

These qualities that live streams are also an extremely viable tool for digital marketing. With the market growing as it is, brands and creators can use these streaming services to deliver dynamic content and engage with their audiences directly at the same time. Even better, since anyone can access these tools through their social media accounts, it is incredibly cheap and easy to set up.

Looking at the numbers, it is hard to see why anyone would ignore this trend. Over 80% of customers have said that they prefer watching live videos over other types of content and it is predicted that streaming will be a $70.5 billion industry by 2021. In short, live streaming has quickly grown into the next big game changer and it is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down any time soon.

How To Promote Your Business With Personalised Gifts For Your Customers

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Personalised gifts are a nice touch for your customers, and they are also the perfect element to give visibility to your brand in different situations.

Promotional calendars, mugs, caps, T-shirts, and many more items; all these promotional gifts can have a high impact on brand recall.

To get away from your competition we advise you to personalise such items with creativity and take advantage of the specific opportunities offered by each season of the year.

All businesses can benefit from personalised gifts that can be given out at events, workshops, meetings or celebrations as a potential marketing tool. It is only necessary to choose the most suitable items according to the line of business you are in.

Here we present the most common uses of personalised gifts, ranging from the more general that emphasise the brand itself, to more specific ones which can be used as seasonal gifts.

Brand gifts

When we talk about brand gifts, traditional media such as pens or key rings come to mind. However, if you want to stand out from your competition with more innovative and original ideas, you have other innovative items such as magnets, stickers or personalised cups at your disposal.

These are advertising products that, with creative graphic design and excellent printing, can easily become part of the daily routine of the recipient with ease, and that increases the presence of your brand and its visibility.

Promotional gifts

Promotional gifts are linked to a specific marketing action, be it the launch of a product or to promote a certain sales campaign. A very clear example is the promotions in the hospitality sector to increase the sales of a particular brand of beer. In these cases, it is the beer supplier who facilitates the promotional gifts.

But you can also implement your own actions by celebrating a theme without relying on intermediaries. One of the advantages of online printing is the ability to order your own personalised promotional gifts at low cost.

In addition, it will be your own authentic idea, so the gifts will be unique. Why not, for example, organise a themed party this summer that raffles some exclusive shirts among your customers?

Seasonal advertising gifts

Each season provides a specific framework that you can take advantage of to promote your business. For example, one of the star gifts in summer is the fan because it fits perfectly with the need for a touch of fresh air to combat the summer heat. At the same time, it is a versatile medium in that it can constitute a brand gift or promote a specific action.

At the other end of the calendar, Christmas also serves as a clear opportunity for you to optimise the potential of seasonal advertising gifts since Christmas calendars are perfect for this time of year.

Event Planning: 6 Essential Tips For A Successful Event

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Meetings, congresses, workshops, or celebrations; no matter the occasion, a corporate event has to leave a positive impression on the attendees, be they customers, colleagues, investors, etc. With this in mind, we have created a mini guide with six tips so that the event organised by your company creates the expected results.

  1. Dialogue between HR and the participants: It is essential that the workers in charge of the event know who will participate in it. It is important to understand the target audience. Otherwise, you run the risk of offering a schedule that does not interest, for example, a long conference for Generation Y.
  2. Democratic commission: The development of all the areas that will benefit from the event is very important. For that, the ideal is to create a commission with a representative of each participating sector. These people can give suggestions and talk about their expectations, so all involved in the event feel included in the planning process. At this time, the role of the event director is to guide the discussion and reject or accept ideas.
  3. Transform the event into an experience: Circus classes, the creation of a samba school and even collective hypnosis. All these are innovative approaches which have been applied to corporate events. By transforming the event into a playful moment, an unforgettable experience, or a creative epiphany, the attendees enjoy it more and it increases the commitment to the company.
  4. Opportunities for meetings: One of the most interesting things about corporate events is to allow meetings between colleagues who do not know each other personally or might not have had the opportunity to meet in person previously. For this reason, it is important to devote a part of the programming for this purpose, especially so that any external representatives or visitors have a chance to meet with key personnel.
  5. Use technology: Technological innovations are some of your best allies when it comes to planning a corporate event. Ensure all presentation, projection, and other audio-visual needs, etc. are well sourced from a specialist AV hire supplier. Also, specific applications created for the occasion can, for example, help to keep everyone informed about the programming and allow data to be collected from the participants, such as food requirements, among others, as well as being useful for sharing photos of the event. These resources also show that the company is ready for the future.
  6. Giving continuity: The objectives and themes debated in the event should not be forgotten. To guarantee the efficiency of a meeting or workshop, it is necessary to plan how the workers will apply what was discussed. For example, if this goes into the expected budget it has to be estimated not only for the day of the event, but for all that it implies, both before and after.

Technology Helps Improve Customer Experience

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Some of the key marketing approaches have always been advertising, personal selling, and sales promotion. However, even these tested and proved methods tend to carry limitations, especially in the digital era we live in. With the global boundaries dissolving and the competition level rising to new heights, business and firms realize the importance of staying connected with their customers at all times.

It is indeed challenging for companies to achieve their business goals and expand their business. The key lies in how to reach the current customers and the potential ones. There is nothing better for a company than a happy customer who can help get more leads. Improving customer service holds the key here and keeping them happy and satisfied is essential for business growth. Thankfully, the marketers can pick from a wider array of communications tools that can help make efficient and effective communication with customers. The best part is that the newer tools of communication are faster and cheaper than the traditional methods used for feedback on customer experience.

In the era of cut-throat competition, one needs to sell more than just good quality products. The business owners need to focus on excellent customer services too in this highly-competitive business world. Maintaining good relationships and creating a delightful experience with the customers holds the key to boosting business growth. By doing so would create word-of-mouth advertising that remains one of the best marketing strategies till date. Thus, it is important to exceed the expectations of your clients and delight them. It is early essential to give personal attention and provide excellent customer service to the costumers. Once they feel they are valued at your company, they would love to come back. Have a constant interaction with them to know their mind and requirements. They are sure to respond by purchasing your products and services regularly and becoming a loyal customer. Get their feedback about the product, and their experiences as clients’ feedback are important. Understand and know your target audience before selling and marketing your products or services towards them.

Every business needs customers and in order to do so, needs to promote itself by talking about its products and services. The Internet has become a powerful medium to do so and reach out to your customers. Today, the means of promotion and communicating with your customers are only increasing by the day. The best approach is to make use of both the newer and the older communications tool to develop a balanced marketing program for a business. Social Media platforms are being used to increase target market and find new customers. One can reach out to the customers efficiently and create positive experiences. Customer referrals are an inexpensive way and yet the most effective to get more customers. It is essential for a firm and company to place useful information and valuable contest for their customers online. When the customers get valuable information that can be used for their benefit, it helps to build trust and develop new connections. Using the right words and content helps to establish your authority.

and grow into a profitable company, every business needs customers. In order to get customers, every business needs to promote itself. Before the advent of the internet, promotion was easy because there weren’t too many options. It was a matter of deciding between a flyer, a post card, or an ad in the local newspaper. Today, however, the methods for promoting your business are overwhelming and only increasing by the day. There’s social media marketing, search engine marketing, guerrilla marketing, and more. If you are a small business owner struggling to figure out which one to use, or to even get up to speed on which options are out there, you are not alone. To help you navigate the sea of ideas out there for getting the word out about your product or service, we have put together a list of 18 ways that you can promote your business whether you have a budget or not.

What Is GDPR And Why Does It Affect Businesses Worldwide?

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“Secure Data – Cyber Security –” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by perspec_photo88

From this coming May, the European Union (EU) will implement a new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), designed to bring data protection legislation in line with the ways in which data is used in the 21st century. GDPR aims to give EU citizens and residents control over their own sensitive data, empowering them to be able to demand that organisations dispose of unneeded private information and do not share it with other third parties without the individual’s explicit permission.

At present, the UK’s data protection regulations are dictated by the Data Protection Act 1998, enacted after the EU Data Protection Directive 1995. The implementation of GDPR will supersede the existing legislation, unifying data protection rules throughout all EU member states. The Data Protection Act 1998 was formulated prior to the expansion of the internet and cloud technology, and this new legislation is designed to provide greater trust and transparency in the digital age. The EU estimates that the unification of data protection law across its member states will save European businesses around £2bn a year.

The GDPR will be active from 25th May 2018 and it’s important for businesses throughout the EU to be prepared. Severe fines for GDPR non-compliance are set to be dished out to organisations that fail to demonstrate their GDPR enforcement strategy on request. These fines, however punitive they may seem, are deemed necessary to ensure businesses take the protection of personal data seriously.


“Commission” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Andrew Gustar

Who does GDPR apply to?

The EU’s GDPR is applicable to those deemed to be ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’ of individuals’ sensitive data. A controller is someone in charge of why and how personal data is used – for instance an e-commerce website gathering users’ addresses and full names for marketing material distribution, while a processor is the organisation or individual that’s physically processing the data e.g. an IT service provider.

There’s one important thing to note for businesses based outside the EU. Controllers and processors of personal data of EU residents will still be bound by the rules of GDPR even if they are based in the United States, Australia or South-East Asia. More importantly, it is the controller’s responsibility to oversee their processor’s actions and ensure they abide by the GDPR legislation.

When can personal data be used under GDPR?

Put simply, controllers of individuals’ sensitive data must be able to demonstrate that the information they process is done so lawfully, transparently and for a specific, legitimate reason. Moreover, from the moment that reason/goal has been met, the personal data is deemed as no longer needed and must be disposed of accordingly.

In order to obtain individual consent to use sensitive data under GDPR, collectors must make it clear to their subjects what is going on, rather than utilise passive acceptance techniques that are currently commonplace, such as default opt-in subscriptions to newsletters. Controllers are also required to keep a diary of how and when individuals provided their consent. It is within the rights of said individuals to withdraw that consent whenever they see fit.

If your organisation’s current model for receiving user consent for personal data is not up to scratch with the new GDPR legislation, now is the time to overhaul your model and avoid unnecessary financial penalties when it is applied this summer – regardless of where you’re based.

How To Become Extremely Proficient In Forex Trading

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Most people who enter the forex market usually go in unprepared for what lies ahead. They open an account, invest a lot of money right from the get-go, lose it all and quit before even learning the basics.

When it comes to forex trading, experience is as important as possessing the right tools and mathematical skills. And the truth is, that experience can be gained only by trial and error. Practicing, analyzing what works and doesn’t will give you an edge over other traders. Without further ado, here are a few tips that will help you become extremely proficient in forex trading.

Risk and Money Management

In a market as volatile and complex as forex, money and risk management is essential if you want to get ahead. Various factors, such as shifting economic policies, political instability or a banal news article can influence currency rates in both directions.

As a result, you need to time your trades right, only when good opportunities arise. Simply throwing money at random will not yield the best results. Bruce Kovner, for example, borrowed $3,000 against his credit card early in his career and almost everything when his $40,000 growth dropped to $23,000. This experience taught him the importance of proper risk management.

When it comes to risk management, there are a few things you can do to manage it properly:

  • Increasing the number of indicators. While this will lower risk, it will prevent you from taking riskier deals that might end up profitable.
  • Mastering the leverage technique. Basically, you have to learn when, how much to borrow and internalize the market dynamics. Famously, Soros mastered leveraging and accumulated a massive fortune as a result.
  • Studying liquidity. Make sure there are enough buyers and sellers to efficiently take your trade.
  • Be aware of the odds. To use odds in your favor, you have to learn how to perform a technical analysis.

Develop Good Working Habits

Forex is as much about charts, currencies and confusing equations as it is about hard work, good instincts and a keen sense of market dynamics. As in life, there is no 100% guaranteed way to become a good forex trader. Nobody is perfect at it. But if you practice, you will get better each day. One might think you have to be a finance expert, but every guide that teaches forex trading for beginners will stress the mental and work discipline aspects.

Therefore, you have to develop good working habits. The first step is to never procrastinate. Even if it is ‘’a slow forex day’’ and nothing interesting is going on, even something simple as checking a chart, noting a few numbers down, doing some research or reading industry related news will keep you active. The idea is to keep working and not let the tedium overwhelm you.

The next step is to practice. If you feel like you have mastered the basics and are ready to get in with the big players, then you are not ready. In forex, self-awareness and a desire to constantly improve are key. Setting up a demo funding forex account and practicing on it is a good way to get a feel of this activity.

Note Everything in a Journal

As you are gaining experience and increase the number of tasks you are performing, it is easy to lose track of all past trades and results. That is why keeping a thorough journal is essential.

You can note down on everything, from daily currency and interest rates, charts, past trades, personal or technical observations of the market to tidbits of relevant news articles. As long as it is structured and sufficiently annotated, every piece of information deserves a spot in the journal. By doing this, it will help you get a clear image of your activity. Moreover, since self-awareness and a desire to improve oneself are essential for success, the journal could also serve as an effective tool for constructive self-criticism.

This takes us back to a previous entry, in which we discussed why good work habits are essential and how to develop them. When it comes to forex, even when the market is clearly against you, the truth is that you are your own worst enemy. Ego can stand between you and a good trade, leading to frustration and missed opportunities. That is why it is good to nip it in the bud by noting down every failure as objectively as possible.

Finally, a trading journal will help you keep a historical perspective of your activity. No trade is similar to another and you never know when that one little, specific thing that went differently will help you score a huge amount of cash in a future trade.

Conclusion

People who want to get into forex trading and make money need to have (or develop) a very specific subset of skills. While some people are naturally predisposed with a keen business sense, that does not mean they will have everything served on a silver platter. That is why patience, consistency and hard work will, in time, do wonders to your trading efficiency.

Christopher Halajian on the Impact of Elections on Small Businesses

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What few people consider is that elections have a tremendous impact on small businesses. While the subjects that candidates raise such as freedom of speech, military strife, police funding, immigration, and abortion are the ones most people follow, elections are just as much about how business is conducted. This is why Christopher Halajian feels there should be a greater emphasis on the impact of politics on business.

Christopher Halajian on Elections in New York

In places like Southold and Mattiuck, NY, politics are conducted largely through business channels. Lobbyists are placed in strategy places in political locations, doing what they can to influence how politicians think. Some of that is done the traditional way, over a drink at the country club, but trade associations and membership organizations lobby just as much.

You may feel that this is unfair, but the reality is that it is impossible for a single individual to understand all of the issues that matter in the town they work for. In fact, even a small geographical location such as an estate can have too many complexities. This is why politicians rely to heavily on their lobbyists and staff, who are the ones who find what matters in the constituency, be that the state of a popular route, the closure of a school, or small issues such as milk delivery on Monday.

The Obamacare document is a good example of how elected officials simply cannot know it all. The document contained 1,147,271 words, spread over 2,471 pages, and 700 directives. Nobody has time to read and digest that during their time in office! Instead, they simply go with the general consensus of their party.

So how does this link to small businesses? It is vital that a small business owner ensures they are heard. They must speak directly to their elected officials to make this possible. There are many forms of communication they can use for this, from visiting their office in person to enlisting the services of a lobbyist, but it must be done. This is because any small business that does not contact their representative to discuss their issues loses out to the small business owner that does. It is impossible to know what is on the agenda of those other businesses, and how what they are asking for will affect you.

Politics are complicated and most people don’t think they are particularly fair either. In reality, however, politicians are there to represent you, be you an individual or a business. They are not, however, magicians or fortune tellers. They will do their best for you, since that is what their job is, but you need to take the time out to tell them what you need them to do. You may feel as if that is an impossible task, since you do not have the financial backing that large lobbyists do, but anyone can make an appointment with their politicians and speak to them directly.

Joe Cianciotto: The best Marketing Strategies for New Businesses

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It would be fair to say that the marketing world has been turned on its head over recent years. While traditional forms of marketing aren’t over just yet, there’s no doubt that the online world is taking over and at least making them more obsolete.

For the new business, this is ideal. The online landscape provides a lot more flexibility when it comes to marketing, and some might argue that it’s not all about how many dollars you can throw at a campaign (although this plays a significant role still).

Joe Cianciotto knows all about how marketing can be used to such immense effect for smaller businesses. In New York in particular he has been a witness to this first hand, and today we will take a look at some of the main suggestions he has to offer to the up-and-coming startup who is looking to get their name out.

The wonders of Facebook

For years, Facebook was regarded as the biggest social network in the world. Now, it’s one of the biggest advertising platforms.

The amount of granular detail that companies can target customers with is insane with this network. Whether it’s devising a campaign based on jobs, location or even general interests, Facebook has it all.

From a cost perspective, it tends to be based on a CPC model, meaning that you will pay every time somebody interacts with your ad. This can keep costs down substantially, and at least guarantee some traffic to your business (which can’t be said with pretty much every method of traditional advertising which is out there). Technology is winning for marketing your business. 

Google My Business

We’re going to assume that most small business owners have tapped into this feature before, but probably unwittingly. If you’re looking for a pizza at 11pm, and perform a quick Google search, you’ll be presented with all the nearby establishments that are currently open. This, my friend, is Google My Business.

The best part about this is that you don’t even have to pay for the privilege of being included. It’s all based on algorithms meaning that in some industries, where competition is low, you will appear prominently just for registering your site with Google My Business. 

Coupon websites

Last on our list is a suggestion honing in on coupon websites. Again, this is probably a service that most of you have used, with Groupon being one of the big players.

The way in which this works is a company placing a product on one of these websites, but at a huge discount. This discount isn’t the typical 5-10% off, but rather something in excess of 50%. Ultimately, it’s a gigantic saving and one that can push a huge number of customers to a company.

Of course, whether or not this brings in instant profit is a different matter in its entirety. However, for the small business that it looking to open its doors to new customers, it can be a very smart way of marketing.

Nenadi Esther Usman Looks at the 5Ps of Political Leadership

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The world is facing a whole lot of challenges. To overcome those challenges, there is a real need for good political leaders. The world needs people like Nenadi Esther Usman, people who are ready to take on the world. What sets people like Esther Usman apart, is that they are not interested in just saying what people want to hear. They are about actually doing what they say as well.

Nenadi Esther Usman, from Nigeria, has seen the rise of the far right in many countries in the “developed world”. The United Kingdom has voted for Brexit, Poland has voted for the far right, and the United States have voted for Donald Trump. She fears that people in her own country will be inspired by this, when what is needed in Nigeria more than ever, is unity, rather than division. She has the skills, the experience, and the knowledge required to lead the country towards greatness and she hopes people will enable her to show that she embodies the 5 Ps of political leadership.

The 5 Ps of Political Leadership According to Nenadi Esther Usman

Personal agenda

First of all, voters need to be very much aware of the personal agenda of anyone wanting to earn their votes. A good political leader isn’t driven by self-interest. They are driven by sustainability and relevance. They care about the needs of their country and not about their own popularity.

Priorities

Everybody has priorities and there are no absolute wrongs or rights in that. Rather, it is vital that a political leader is open and honest about their priorities, so that people actually know what they vote for. Not just that, however, those priorities should not just be words. Rather, the politician should also put forward real, actionable, solutions.

Planning

Good politicians know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. They need to be clear about the changes they want to make and what their ultimate goal is, but they should also have a clear plan to actually achieve those goals. Again, this is about not making any empty promises.

Process

In order to take on a role in public service, a politician must understand the different challenges, alternatives, options, and nuances that are out there. They must make sure that they focus on processes that are sustainable and relevant. They also have to be consistent, because the electorate has expectations and those expectations have to be met.

Policies

Last but not least, a politician has to be able to go beyond populist promises and empty rhetoric and actually deliver on what they say by implementing policies. It is about clarity, and standing up for what they believe in.

Esther Nenadi Usman hopes that anyone who will be voting in Nigeria will review her own 5 Ps and determine, based on that, that she truly is the best representative for the country. She wants to make sure that people know what she stands for, so that she can truly deliver as well.