Max Freedman

6. Set up mobile intake for new patients.

Long gone are the days of patient intake occurring upon a new patient’s first in-person visit to your practice. Instead, intake can happen entirely online if you use HIPAA-compliant digital intake forms.

The benefits of this technology are numerous. For starters, you score major points with potential new patients when you empower them to get started with your practice right from home. After all, virtually all consumers are seeking convenience and ease of use.

Relatedly, you’ll likely find intake forms easier to organize, sort and look through when completed and stored digitally. Everything will be in one place you can access from any internet-connected device.

7. Optimize your practice’s website with calls to action for new patients.

Regardless of whether you pursue the website SEO strategies outlined earlier in this article, adding some calls to action (CTAs) to your website is important. It’s also super easy — a great call to action is short and snappy. It’s also compelling, and it clearly states what you want the reader to do.

As their name suggests, CTAs should also be action-oriented. “Book an appointment now!” as the copy for a button that directs website visitors to your appointment booking page is a great example. So too is “Fill out our intake form” on a link that goes to your online intake form. Both these CTAs convey a sense of urgency that makes the reader more likely to act in the way you have in mind. Taking this action gets them one step closer to becoming a patient.

8. Implement a self-scheduling platform for all patients.

Another way to give new patients some at-home convenience is to implement an online platform through which anyone can schedule their own appointments. This platform will couple neatly with your website CTAs since it’s a logical place to direct users whom your CTAs convert into becoming patients. Plus, it’s a delight for your current patients too, and their happiness with it may translate to positive online reviews that might attract new patients.

9. Build a community for new patient referrals.

Yes, the world of patient acquisition is, like so many business realms, an increasingly digital realm. However, the power of actual interpersonal connection will never lose its value. Namely, growing a network — a community — of other healthcare providers from whom you can obtain referrals is a reliable way to acquire new patients. Try offering incentives to any healthcare providers or practices who send patients your way.

Your referral network can also include clinics and hospitals in your market. Though these facilities are large, they aren’t always home to the specialized healthcare providers their patients often need to see. Make yourself known to the healthcare providers in these large facilities, and you might get an influx of new patients heading your way.

10. Prioritize your existing patients to maximize word-of-mouth potential.

A whopping 81 percent of people research, buy or consider buying a product or service if they hear about it from friends, family or influencers. That’s the power of word-of-mouth referrals in a nutshell, and your practice should harness this power.

Think about it like this: Suppose you’re giving your patients the best possible experience before, during and after visits. Now, suppose someone with whom an existing patient is close winds up needing the medical services that you offer. Chances are that your super-happy patient will recommend you and your practice to this potential new patient.

Given the built-in trust between this potential new patient and your current patient, the former will almost certainly visit your website. If you’ve implemented some of the other strategies on this list, your potential new patient might take the leap into becoming an actual new patient.

What is patient acquisition?

Patient acquisition encompasses all strategies your practice implements to bring in new patients. It primarily involves marketing efforts that spotlight your medical practice’s distinguishing features and how they differ from your competitors. Its focus is on patients who have never before used your services rather than your existing patient base.

Why is patient acquisition important?

Below are a small handful of reasons why patient acquisition matters.

It’s vital to fee-for-service practices’ success.

Many practices — perhaps including yours — earn their reimbursements via a standard fee-for-service model. Under this model, your practice’s revenue increases as you see more patients. This arrangement presents a significant challenge, assuming most of your patients are healthy: How often can you really get your patients to make appointments? Probably not that often, which isn’t great for your revenue. Acquiring new patients can help.

The more patients you bring into your practice, the more appointments you can make. When you have more appointments, you can earn more revenue. It’s easier to turn a profit when you can source appointments from a wider pool of patients than the same core group.

It’s a financially savvy strategy for practices offering value-based healthcare.

You could argue that the emergence of value-based healthcare models through the government’s MIPS (Merit-Based Incentive Payment System) program lessens the need for patient acquisition. But that argument is flawed. Yes, MIPS can increase your reimbursement per patient, but seeing more patients is still a direct throughline to greater revenue. MIPS can also decrease your reimbursement per patient. In that case, patient acquisition could help stabilize your finances.

It has positive ripple effects for your existing patients.

Many of the steps you might take to acquire new patients also improve your practice’s presence among existing patients. For example, setting up online self-scheduling lowers the barriers to both new patients signing up for your services and current patients making additional appointments.

Additionally, as you build a network of healthcare providers for new patient referrals, you can also direct your existing patients to these providers when necessary. This and the self-scheduling examples are just two ways in which, when you put in the work to acquire new patients, everyone wins.

What’s the difference between patient acquisition and patient retention?

While patient acquisition solely concerns potential new customers, patient retention concerns only your current patients. All patient acquisition initiatives seek to bring you new patients, whereas patient retention efforts seek to prevent current patients from abandoning you for a competitor. (You also need to acquire patients before you can retain them.)

A patient acquisition strategy could involve aiming to place your practice’s website higher in search engine results pages for relevant local queries. That’s because people searching for, say, “podiatrist Brooklyn” are clearly looking for a new doctor. If you’re a podiatrist, you could be that doctor.

Chances are your current patients aren’t searching for “podiatrist Brooklyn” on Google — well, unless they’re unhappy with you. Patient retention strategies help keep them happy. They require positive, attentive patient interactions with front-office staff and medical personnel. Your front-office staff can also schedule future appointments as patients leave or call them when a new appointment is necessary to maximize retention.

Acquiring new patients can keep current patients happy too

Excellent patient acquisition involves improving your online presence, streamlining your patient-facing administrative operations and linking up with other healthcare providers. All these steps also improve your current patients’ experience with you. The more work you put into bringing new patients in, the more you serve your existing customer base as well.

Dr. Geoffrey Nicholson, former research and development director at 3M, once said, “Innovation is the transformation of knowledge into money.” Sometimes, small businesses need outside support to make that transformation. That’s where the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program comes into play. Below, learn all about this program and how – and if – you can apply for business funding through it.

What is the SBIR program?

The SBIR program supplies contracts and government grants to small businesses with potential research and development (R&D) opportunities that could develop into commercial products. This program and its sister program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by providing seed money for high-risk, high-reward ventures.

All federal government agencies with an R&D budget over $100 million must allocate 3.2 percent of their budget to SBIR funding. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that 11 agencies currently meet this budgetary requirement. Five of these agencies also participate in the STTR program. The SBA guides the participating agencies’ program implementation, reviews their progress and reports its findings to Congress.

Notably, the intellectual property rights for any developments that result from the SBIR and STTR programs remain with the business, not the government. This aspect of the program makes it a highly valuable resource for any business looking to build new products and bring them to market. You essentially get free money to develop, commercialize, and register and trademark a product the government sees as highly valuable.

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What are the three phases of the SBIR program?

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If your business is selected to participate in the SBIR program, your involvement will occur across the following three phases:

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• Phase I: Across six months for the SBIR program or 12 months for the STTR program, your business must determine whether your R&D initiative is feasible, technically sound and revenue generating. The goal is for the agency that awards you money to decide whether to advance your business to Phase II funding. Your Phase I award will range from $50,000 to $250,000.
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• Phase II: Over the course of two years, your business will continue the R&D initiatives you began in Phase I. This phase also requires a more formal assessment of your project’s technical, scientific and commercial merit. A typical Phase II award includes $200,000 of funding.
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• Phase III: Notably, this phase involves no government funding. However, in some cases, the funding agency may offer production contracts to facilitate the commercialization processes that comprise this phase. If so, you can safely assume the U.S. government will use the product you develop. This in and of itself can lead to tremendous revenue for your business.
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Who is eligible for the SBIR program?

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Your business can apply for SBIR Phase I funding – and, after that, Phase II funding – if it is:

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• Based in the U.S.
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• Organized for profit
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• At least 50 percent owned and controlled by at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien\n
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  • Alternatively, your business may be at least 50 percent owned and controlled by other small businesses. Each of these businesses must also be at least 50 percent owned and controlled by at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.
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  • You can apply for SBIR funding if more than one hedge fund, venture capital firm or private equity firm owns and controls your business. However, this criteria applies only if none of these funds owns a majority of your business’s stock.
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• A company with at most 500 employees, including affiliates (For SBIR funding, the term “affiliate” means a person or business with enough power to control your operations.)
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If your organization applies for STTR instead of SBIR funding, three additional qualifying criteria apply. Your organization must be a:

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• U.S.-based nonprofit research company
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• Federally funded R&D center
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• Nonprofit higher education institution
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Additionally, if you have previously received Phase I SBIR awards, you must qualify for commercialization according to in-depth government requirements. Visit the SBIR Performance Benchmark Requirements web page for details.

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How to apply for the SBIR program

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The process of applying for SBIR funding may vary depending on the agency through which you’re seeking funding. In general, though, the process will at least somewhat follow the steps below:

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1. Browse agency funding opportunities.

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Go through the 11 funding agencies’ SBIR opportunities with a fine-toothed comb. Pay close attention as you read about the opportunities so that you apply only for funding for which you actually qualify. Your attention to detail can also help you avoid administrative errors that could delay your application or lead to unmerited funding denials.

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2. Register your business with key websites.

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Most, if not all, SBIR participating agencies require you to register your business with Grants.gov, the SBA and several other websites. This step can be time-consuming – the application itself might not take all that long, but you might wait weeks for approval confirmation. It’s thus best to take this step well ahead of when your business needs funding.

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3. Speak with agency staff, if possible.

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Some SBIR participating agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), encourage applicants to discuss their ideas with agency staff before applying. You may want to pursue this step no matter which agency you hope will fund your initiatives. Your conversations can help you see whether your ideas are ready for SBIR consideration or if you should pause applying and flesh them out further.

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4. Submit your application directly via your funding agency.

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Many SBIR participating agencies operate their own portals through which you must submit your application. Alongside your application, you’ll need to submit a proposal detailing your R&D goals and how you’ll use your funding toward them.

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Typically, you will have registered an account with your agency’s required portals in step 2. Once you’ve applied, you should use the agency’s primary SBIR application portal to track your status and confirm that no errors occurred during filing.

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5. Share additional information if necessary.

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As you continue to check your application’s status, you may see requests from the agency for more information. Share this information as soon as possible to move your application closer to a final decision. After all, SBIR proposal and application reviews are known for long wait times because participating agencies gradually pore over all the information.

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6. Look for an application decision.

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The agency will tell you whether you’re approved or denied. If you’re approved, you can draw funds from your grant to formally initiate your involvement in the SBIR program. If you’re denied, you can resubmit your application with more information. This process involves all the same steps as your initial application.

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From funding to finished

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If your business is approved for SBIR participation, the money you receive may be exactly what you need to bring your boldest ideas to life. It’s not just the money that matters; the funding agency’s support can point you toward the best way to commercialize your offerings. With both the money and the expert assistance necessary to bring a product to market at scale, your biggest goals will be within reach.

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Ned Smith contributed to this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"3636","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/2174-guerilla-marketing-wrong.html","displayModified":"2024-06-04T15:39:11Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"2174-guerilla-marketing-wrong.html","id":"3636","ID":3636,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2015-06-29T19:00:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Learn what not to do in guerilla marketing from companies that made costly mistakes. ","subtitle":"Learn what not to do in guerilla marketing from companies that made costly mistakes. ","title":"8 Crazy Marketing Gimmicks Gone Horribly Wrong","author":{"displayName":"Natalie Hamingson","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2023/02/28125423/Natalie-Hamingson-headshot.jpg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Sales & Marketing","slug":"sales-marketing"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Not all marketing campaigns go as planned. We break down some of the biggest marketing failures of all time."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04082313/laughing_Jovanmandic_getty.jpg","caption":"Jovanmandic / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"\n

Marketing is all about grabbing your target audience’s attention. Guerilla marketing does just that — often in fun and creative ways that can pleasantly surprise prospective customers. But what happens when guerilla marketing goes wrong? The eight companies below learned that answer the hard way. Read ahead for examples of what not to do for your guerilla marketing campaign and tips on how to get guerilla marketing right.

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What is guerilla marketing?

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Guerilla marketing is an unconventional business marketing method in which brands use out-of-the-box ideas (usually on a large scale) to interest, shock or awe an audience and drive awareness for a new product or service. Startups and established brands alike can use guerilla marketing to reach consumers because it’s a potentially low-cost promotional avenue.

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Guerilla marketing originated in 1984 when Jay Conrad Levinson published Guerilla Marketing and sold 21 million copies. The American business writer is credited with coining the term, which is inspired by “guerilla warfare” and refers to something low-cost and unconventional.

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Famously successful guerilla marketing examples include the Wienermobile from Oscar Mayer (which took to the roads in 1936!) and the campaign of red balloons tied to sewers in Sydney, Australia, to promote the 2017 movie It.

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Examples of guerilla marketing gone wrong

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Over the years, many companies have encountered problems after launching well-intended marketing campaigns. Here are a few examples of guerilla marketing fails that have become infamous.

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Airbnb

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Airbnb’s “Night At” campaign in 2018 was successful in many regards. The campaign offered customers the chance to win a free one-night stay at cultural landmarks all over the world. Airbnb transformed iconic locations, including the Louvre in Paris and Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, into lodgings for an immersive experience.

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However, the company was forced to cancel its plans after offering the chance to spend the night in a custom-built bedroom on the Great Wall of China. The campaign received immense opposition both from Chinese government officials and citizens for multiple reasons.

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The offering was largely viewed as disrespectful to the UNESCO historical site. Additionally, the Great Wall is not open to the public because of the high risk of damage. Allowing tourists to stay on the Great Wall could permanently damage the structure. Airbnb was forced to cancel this iteration of the “Night At” campaign. The backlash serves as a clear reminder that taking cultural context and sensitivities into account must be a top priority in any marketing campaign.

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Pozzle

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While marketing campaigns are designed to drum up attention, they don’t always garner the kind of attention originally intended. In New York City, Rich Tu quickly learned that lesson after spending 24 hours in jail following a late-night attempt to gain exposure for his event management app, Pozzle.

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It was 2011, and Tu was feeling good after the company hit several milestones. He decided on a local marketing strategy that involved plastering New York City with stickers bearing his company’s logo.

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“I was feeling pretty invincible, so I thought, ‘Let’s do something crazy,'” Tu recalled.

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When Tu and Pozzle co-founder Charles Jamerlan had placed more than 500 stickers around the city and were wrapping up their impromptu guerilla marketing campaign around 2 a.m., things took a turn for the worse: They were arrested for vandalism.

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Tu spent the next 24 hours in New York City’s central booking, sharing a cell with armed robbers, turnstile hoppers and Occupy Wall Street protesters. He was eventually released and ordered to do 21 hours of community service.

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Despite the harrowing experience, Tu said he has no regrets.

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“I think it got people interested in my story and helped push the app,” he said of his ill-fated sticker campaign.

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Cartoon Network

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As Cartoon Network learned in 2007, in the post-9/11 era of heightened awareness, placing strange electronic devices on street corners and bridges across the country probably isn’t the best idea.

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The cable station planted dozens of blinking electronic devices in 10 cities as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign promoting the cartoon Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The campaign went awry in Boston when a worried resident called police, fearing the devices were explosives. The incident turned into a full-blown terrorism scare, with police sending in bomb squads and shutting down Boston-area bridges.

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In the end, going viral on social media wasn’t worth it. The stunt cost Cartoon Network head Jim Samples his job and the station’s parent company, Turner Broadcasting, $2 million to pay for Boston’s emergency response.

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Snapple

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Going bigger isn’t always better, as Snapple learned in 2005 when it attempted to erect the world’s largest popsicle in New York’s Times Square.

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The stunt might have worked had the drink maker not tried to set up the 25-foot-tall popsicle — made of frozen Snapple beverage and weighing 17.5 tons — on an 80-degree June day. The frozen treat began to melt as it was lifted upright, flooding downtown Manhattan with Kiwi-Strawberry Snapple.

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Firefighters had to be called in to close off streets and hose down the mess.

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Paramount

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In 2006, Paramount Pictures discovered it wasn’t good to mess with a person’s daily newspaper. In a campaign to promote the movie Mission Impossible III, Paramount put small, red musical devices inside 4,500 LA Times newspaper boxes.

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When the boxes were opened, the devices would play the Mission Impossible theme song — but the stunt left readers singing a different tune. The campaign backfired when customers noticed the devices and feared that the boxes contained a bomb. In one instance, the Santa Clarita bomb squad was called in.

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“This was the least-intended outcome,” said John O’Loughlin, Los Angeles Times’ senior vice president of planning at the time. “We weren’t expecting anything like this.”

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Heart Attack Grill

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A rather morbid marketing failure ended up being no stunt at all for the Las Vegas restaurant Heart Attack Grill, but many people thought it was.

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An unfortunate incident occurred at the restaurant, where diners are given surgical gowns as they choose from a menu offering “Bypass burgers,” “Flatliner fries,” and buttermilk shakes.

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In February 2012, a diner suffered a heart attack while eating the restaurant’s Triple-Bypass Burger. Other customers looked on, thinking the incident, complete with a visit from local paramedics, was all part of an act.

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Owner Jon Basso was forced to defend the restaurant against claims that the incident was staged to drum up publicity. “It was no joke,” he told the Associated Press at the time. “We would never pull a stunt like that.”

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Vodafone

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Vodafone, a business phone system provider, has tried and failed to join the guerilla marketing bandwagon on two separate occasions.

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In 2002, New Zealand played its rival Australia for the Bledisloe Cup, an annual rugby competition held since the 1930s. Without approval or buy-in from the CEO, someone in the Vodafone New Zealand marketing department hired streakers to storm the field. Not only was it an embarrassing, uninspired stunt, but the streak also happened at a pivotal point in the match that negatively affected a penalty kick.

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New Zealand lost the cup, and Vodafone NZ took most of the flak for the incident — paying a $100,000 fine and placing full-page ads in papers across the country to apologize for the stunt.

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Not to be outdone, Vodafone Romania hired professional pickpockets to slip flyers into people’s pockets and purses that read “It’s that easy to get into your pocket” to advertise phone insurance in 2009. As you might expect, this stunt did not go over well, with many consumers feeling violated.

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Apatow Productions

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In preparation for the release of the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Judd Apatow’s ad campaign featured thousands of billboards and posters displaying hastily scrawled messages, such as “You suck, Sarah Marshall,” “You do look fat in those jeans, Sarah Marshall,” and “My mother always hated you, Sarah Marshall.”

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While the idea was absolutely out of the box, the hundreds of real Sarah Marshalls didn’t appreciate the unintentional smear campaign on their name. Many took pictures next to the signs with disapproving faces.

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The campaign worked in favor of one Sarah Marshall, however. This Sarah owned the domain SarahMarshall.com and received 20,000 website hits because of the signs.

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Do’s and don’ts for guerilla marketing

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Just because the above companies weren’t successful at guerilla marketing doesn’t mean your campaign won’t yield positive results. Consider the following do’s and don’ts for pulling off a great guerilla marketing campaign.

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Do’s for guerilla marketing

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Here are some tips for creating a successful guerilla marketing campaign:

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• Do your target audience homework. Understanding who you’re marketing to is essential to avoiding the mistakes of companies like Airbnb and Vodafone. Conduct thorough research on your target customer so you understand which strategies will get their attention and have a positive impact.
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• Do your legal due diligence. While preparing for your guerilla campaign, your research should include confirming that your campaign won’t violate any laws. Double-check whether your campaign requires any special permits and stay in contact with local authorities where necessary.
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• Do keep your message focused. If you’ve decided on a guerilla campaign, what do you want your audience to take away from it? Be clear on your campaign objectives and what calls-to-action you hope spectators will follow after you reach them.
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• Do take notes for the future. All marketing campaigns offer learning opportunities, and guerilla marketing is no exception. Measure your results, get clear on what worked and what didn’t, and apply these lessons accordingly to your next campaign.
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Don’ts for guerilla marketing

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Here’s what to avoid so your campaign isn’t remembered for all the wrong reasons:

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• Don’t be offensive. This may seem obvious, but the above examples illustrate why paying attention to the details is crucial. Ensure your campaign is culturally appropriate and consider current events when planning it.
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• Don’t forget to have a backup plan. Contingency plans are essential, whether planning for bad weather for outdoor campaigns or thinking through all the ways your campaign might be misinterpreted. Thorough preparation is key to guerilla marketing success.
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• Don’t overspend. Budget friendliness is one of the top reasons guerilla marketing is so popular. Your campaign doesn’t need to break the bank to make a splash.
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• Don’t be overtly salesy. If your campaign is meant to be authentic, engagement must be organic. The point is to create a concept that draws in your target audience, not one that forces people to interact when they’re not interested.
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Learn from the mistakes of the guerilla marketers before you

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Guerilla marketing campaigns have an impact. It’s up to you and your marketing team whether the impression you leave is good or bad. With the right strategies, you can reach your target audience in a way that powerfully resonates. But as demonstrated above, it’s all too easy to get guerilla marketing wrong — leaving a bad taste for all involved.

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Sean Peek contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

\n"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"41102","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/neat-review","displayModified":"2024-04-16T18:26:58Z","docType":"review","editorsPick":null,"href":"neat-review","id":"41102","ID":41102,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2024-03-19T13:54:18Z","site":"bnd","stream":null,"subtitle":null,"title":"Neat Review","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Find A Solution","slug":"find-a-solution"},"sub":{"name":"Financial Solutions","slug":"financial-solutions"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Neat offers numerous ways to upload and organize accounts payable documents, plus its reports are highly customizable, filterable, clean and legible."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/11073956/neat-logo.png","caption":"","alt":"Neat logo"},"content":"\n \n\n\n

Although the best accounting software covers every base, sometimes, you might be looking for a solution with a narrower focus. For example, if your goal is to organize your expenses, your accounting platform only needs tools for uploading, storing and tracking receipts and bills.

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We’ve identified Neat as the best accounting platform for exactly this need. For starters, Neat offers numerous upload formats and comes with plenty of folders. You can also add subfolders for further categorization and generate expense and tax reports quickly. We felt while testing Neat that it substantially expedited and improved our receipt management and ability to identify related tax deductions.

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Why Neat Is Best for Receipt and Bill Tracking

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Neat offers all kinds of ways to upload your business receipts, bills and other documents. We especially liked the receipt photo uploads via Neat’s mobile app and the computer upload feature worked well too. Especially impressive was that Neat gave us a custom email address to which we could send items to upload. We have yet to encounter this feature on other accounting platforms.

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From there, Neat offers tremendous organization features, with folders for bills, contacts, contracts, legal documents, office paperwork, purchases, quarterly tax forms and other important documents. When you add an expense manually using the “Create” button at the top right, you can move it to any of these folders. We also loved the number of options available from the “Create” drop-down, including bills, invoices and checks.

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The Neat “Create” drop-down shows the numerous document options supported in the platform. It’s easy to add these documents manually through this tool. Source: Neat

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The Neat reporting suite was also a favorite of ours. We liked how much we could customize our reports and filter them by category and the reports themselves were clean and legible. We were also impressed that we could create sales tax reports too, though Neat competitor Xero’s sales tax reporting suite excited us more. Nevertheless, with Neat’s breadth of supported expense documents and upload options (and robust reporting suite), it’s our clear winner for receipt and bill tracking.

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Usability

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Neat was among the most intuitively navigable accounting platforms we reviewed. As with our Melio review and Plooto review, this mostly comes down to Neat’s comparatively narrow suite of features. Given Neat’s focus almost exclusively on payment documents and a small number of reports, it would be virtually impossible for the app to be cluttered. As expected, Neat is clean, well organized and simple to move through, which elevated our experience.

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When we logged into Neat, we immediately saw an overview of all our files and the total amount of money owed across them all. We could import or create documents easily using two buttons at the top, where we also saw a “Reports” button. On the left-hand side was our cabinet, which contained our folders categorized by document type. Everything we needed was always right within reach.

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We also liked that the manual-add tools in the “Create” button are all supremely easy to use. For most of the information fields you’ll need to complete, Neat offers suggestions for you. These suggestions include expense categories, the customers you’ve stored in the app and the project to which the expense is connected. We found that these suggestions saved us several minutes on manual expense input as compared to other platforms.

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Neat’s automatic categorization tool when adding expenses manually saves you substantial time. Source: Neat

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We didn’t see options to customize the Neat dashboard, nor did we feel these were necessary since the platform is so simple and well organized. Although Neat was straightforward to learn, we appreciated having immediate access to its help center at the bottom left. We understood how the miscellaneous technical how-tos and video center there could help users struggling with setup or use. There are also direct support communication options.

\n

Neat doesn’t have too many integrations, but it does connect seamlessly with QuickBooks. This integration pleased us since QuickBooks is the leading name in accounting software and our top pick for small businesses. We connected Neat with our QuickBooks trial account and found that the two worked powerfully in tandem for robust expense management. Between its integrations and the platform itself, Neat ranked near the top of the pack when it came to usability.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Neat Features

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n Document upload options \n	\n Upload receipts via mobile app, your dedicated Neat email address, manual entry or desktop scanner. \n
\n Document organization \n	\n Store and organize documents in Neat’s preloaded folders and subfolders or add your own for more granular categorization. \n
\n QuickBooks and TurboTax integrations \n	\n Sync your expense records, reports and potential tax deductibles with two highly powerful Intuit platforms. \n
\n Tax reporting \n	\n Generate tax category reports to identify potential tax deductibles and create sales tax reports to streamline your remittance of sales taxes. \n
\n Expense reconciliation \n	\n View all your expenses across categories on one screen next to your bank feed for low-hassle reconciliation, with full sync to QuickBooks. \n

\n

Neat’s variety of document upload options and organized structure earned the platform our recommendation as the best accounting software for receipt and bill tracking. Here are the core features underlying this recommendation as well as some other standouts.

\n

Document Upload Options

\n

We were impressed with how many options Neat offered for adding documents to its system. Our favorite was receipt scanning through the highly user-friendly Neat mobile app. In second place was our custom Neat email address to which we could forward documents for upload. Tied for the next-most convenient options were document upload and adding documents through a desktop scanner.

\n

In last place was the manual entry option and even this tool was powerful compared to other accounting platforms’ similar features. We appreciated the automatic suggestions that popped up in each category and we completed our manual additions in a few minutes each. No matter how we wanted to upload our receipts, bills and other expense documents, we felt that Neat streamlined the process.

\n

Document Organization

\n

Neat couples easy document addition with powerful organization tools. When you first create your Neat account, you’ll see folders for bills, contacts, contracts, important documents, legal, office, purchases and taxes automatically. You can add other folders and subfolders as you please — the Taxes folder comes preloaded with a subfolder for the current quarter. You’ll always see the option to choose a folder for your files when you upload them too.

\n

We found Neat to boast one of the best document management systems within accounting software. From the folders’ visibility upon login to the ease of adding files to these folders, we were happy with the Neat experience.

\n

\n

Neat arrives with highly useful file folders out of the box and its Taxes folder comes preloaded with a subfolder for the current quarter. Source: Neat

\n

QuickBooks and TurboTax Integrations

\n

Although Neat is comparatively lacking in its quantity of integrations, we did find arguably its two most important integrations to be quite effective. We linked Neat with our QuickBooks and TurboTax accounts and found the information sync across these platforms to be perfect. We also found that Neat’s excellent receipt and bill tracking improved our accounts payable management and identification of potential tax deductions. [Interested in the best small business tax software? Read our TurboTax review.]

\n

Admittedly, we would love to see Neat integrate with other top accounting platforms, such as Zoho Books. However, given that QuickBooks is the most widely used accounting software, we were still overall happy to see this integration. (TurboTax isn’t the only business tax software with which Neat connects — there’s also an H&R Block integration.)

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Tax Reporting

\n

Neat only offers a few reports, but we were enthusiastic about its two tax reports. The tax category report generates a list of receipts by tax category and period, which we found useful for identifying likely tax deductions. The sales tax report does the same for all sales taxes you charge. This information is highly useful at all points in the year at which you must remit sales taxes.

\n

We found that these reports took about a minute each to generate. All we had to do was choose the right category for each of the drop-down filters, which included the vendor, expense category and project. From there, we had all the information we needed, all neatly organized and instantly accessible from the Neat dashboard.

\n

\n

Choose from the drop-down category options in the Neat reporting suite and you’ll have a clear, well-organized report before you know it. Source: Neat

\n

Expense Reconciliation

\n

Although bank reconciliation isn’t exactly Neat’s core feature, its quality stood out to us. You can only use it to reconcile outgoing, not incoming transactions, but it excels at managing this half of your cash flow. We loved that all our expenses, no matter their category or document format, appeared on one screen right next to our bank feed. This made expense reconciliation a total cakewalk, plus our reconciliations synced to our QuickBooks account too. We were happy with this feature and felt that it elevated Neat’s receipt and bill tracking experience.

\n

Neat Costs

\n

Neat offers only one pricing plan and we found this to simplify the decision-making process — most vendors offer many plans that differ in features. Neat costs a flat $200 per year or $16.66 per month, which is roughly what most full-scope accounting platforms’ lowest pricing packages cost.

\n

On one hand, this makes Neat comparatively costly given that you don’t get all that many features with it. However, when you combine this price with the lowest-cost full-scope accounting packages, the monthly total is still less than with, say, the best payroll software. The same is true when comparing Neat’s pricing to that of other business technologies, even those unrelated to finance. Neat thus offers a comparatively substantial return on investment.

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For an additional $50 per year ($4.17 per month), you can add Neat’s VIP customer service. This add-oh includes one-on-one training, dedicated support and early access to new features. Additionally, there’s an automated insights add-on that costs $150 per year ($12.50 per month). Through this add-on, you can import your bank feed, auto-create accounting reports, send custom invoices, couple receipts with expenses and gather real-time trends and insights.

\n

We like that the automated insights add-on brings Neat closer to full-scope accounting functionality. With $200 + $150 = $350 per year, you still only pay $29.17 per month for the platform too. The add-on makes Neat a comparatively cost-effective way to manage your accounting, although we still recommend full-scope platforms overall. For example, in our FreshBooks review, we lay out this platform’s powerful estimating and quoting tools, as well as its user role and permissions features. Neat includes no such features.

\n

There are no implementation costs or user caps with Neat and you get a 14-day free trial as well. We were concerned, though, that unlike with many accounting platforms, Neat requires you to add credit card information before starting your trial. This puts you in a position where you might accidentally be left paying for a platform you ultimately decide you don’t need. However, Neat does offer a 30-day full refund and cancellation period after your first payment.

\n

Neat Setup

\n

The Neat setup process was among the simplest we encountered in accounting software. We were simply asked to enter our email address, followed by our first name, last name, phone number and password. From there, we added our payment information and we were asked whether we were using Neat for personal expenses, business expenses or both. We like that Neat gives an example of each potential to lessen the learning curve for newcomers.

\n

\n

Neat makes it abundantly clear whether your usage falls into personal, business or both categories during setup. Source: Neat

\n

Once we took this small number of steps, we were led right to the Neat dashboard, with folders already set up and all features within reach. All we had to do thereafter was add any subfolders we wanted and start uploading our documents. We found the setup experience to be among the easiest of any accounting software.

\n

There are no add-on fees for setup and Neat’s help center offers numerous detailed guides on getting started. With the VIP service add-on, you get dedicated one-on-one training too. This level of service, combined with Neat’s strong (but not numerous) integrations and inherent ease of use and setup, makes employee onboarding a cakewalk

\n

Neat Customer Service

\n

You can file a support ticket directly through the Neat “Help & Support” tool at the bottom left of your dashboard. You can also live chat with Neat from here — this feature, ticketing and email comprise the core Neat support suite. Only VIP service customers can use “Help & Support” to schedule time to meet one-on-one with a Neat expert.

\n

Beyond these interactive options, you can access Neat’s help center at any time. We found this resource to be comparatively rife with easily understandable guides, although not as much so as the Xero help center. From written tutorials to how-to videos and webinars, we found that Neat gave us most of what we needed to succeed from the get-go.

\n

What Neat didn’t give us was a clear customer service phone number. We assume that VIP service users get this number, but this add-on wasn’t part of our free trial. This disappointed us since, across business technologies, we always prefer vendors that make themselves reachable for phone support. However, we found Neat easy enough to use that minimal support was required in the first place.

\n

Neat Drawbacks

\n

Despite how well it tracks receipts and bills, Neat isn’t a payment platform and this disappointed us, although its integration with QuickBooks solves this problem. However, if you use a different full-scope accounting platform, you may find taking the extra step of initiating payment in that platform needless and redundant.

\n

Speaking of full-scope accounting platforms: One problem with Neat is that it doesn’t offer nearly all the essential accounting features. Sure, the automated insights add-on somewhat bridges the gap. Even with this add-on, however, you’re still left without bill pay tools, estimate and quote creation, time-tracking features and the like. In almost all cases, you’ll need to couple Neat with another accounting platform, such as the software detailed in our ZarMoney review.

\n

We were also disappointed that some online Neat reviews on the Better Business Bureau’s website complain that the vendor regularly stops supporting certain features. In particular, we noticed a large number of user complaints that the ability to add documents via desktop scanner has unexpectedly stopped being supported. We appreciate that Neat has responded to these complaints but still don’t like that these problems exist in the first place.

\n

Methodology

\n

When we searched for the best accounting software for receipt and bill tracking, we sought the ability to quickly upload and categorize expense documents. Of particular importance were mobile app uploading and a low-hassle user interface. After weighing several excellent accounts payable options, such as Xero, Plooto and Melio, we chose Neat as the best option for receipt and bill tracking.

\n

The aforementioned similar platforms excel in areas related to receipt and bill tracking. However, after setting up and using our free Neat trial over several days, Neat emerged as the clear winner for tracking in particular. To fully research the product, we coupled our hands-on usage with research into Neat’s product pages and online customer reviews.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Overall Value

\n

We recommend Neat for …

\n

\n
• Small businesses that handle a large volume of receipts and bills.
\n
• Small businesses looking for a mobile expense management app that integrates with the Intuit properties QuickBooks and TurboTax.
\n
• Small businesses that need the cleanest possible interface for uploading, organizing and managing expense documents.
\n

\n

We don’t recommend Neat for …

\n

\n
• Small businesses in need of full-scope accounting software.
\n
• Small businesses that need bill pay solutions alongside their tools for tracking bills and receipts.
\n
• Small businesses seeking phone-based customer support without paying extra for it.
\n

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"29276","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/plooto-review","displayModified":"2024-04-16T18:26:36Z","docType":"review","editorsPick":null,"href":"plooto-review","id":"29276","ID":29276,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2023-05-22T17:27:58Z","site":"bnd","stream":null,"subtitle":null,"title":"Plooto Review","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Find A Solution","slug":"find-a-solution"},"sub":{"name":"Financial Solutions","slug":"financial-solutions"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Plooto is our top accounting software pick for automating accounts payable. Read our review to learn why it’s a great supplement to Xero and QuickBooks."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/08/01035312/plooto.png","caption":"","alt":"Plooto company logo"},"content":"\n \n\n\n

It’s one thing to choose accounting software with excellent bill pay options. It’s another thing to choose accounting software that ditches manual individual bill pay for automated mass bill payment. Plooto does the latter and offers timed payment options for managing cash flow and claiming early payment discounts. Alongside its robust accounts payable (AP) automation tools come basic accounts receivable (AR) tools for tending to both sides of your cash flow. For these reasons and more, we’ve named Plooto our top accounting software pick for automating AP.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Why Plooto Is Best for Automating AP

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Plooto is our top pick for automating AP since you can use it to pay all your outstanding bills in literally one click. When you do so, Plooto posts your payments automatically to your accounting software, which must be QuickBooks, Xero or Oracle NetSuite, and reconciles your transactions. This integration eliminates the manual work of paying one bill at a time and streamlines reconciliation. In this regard, we found Plooto superior to Melio, which is our top pick for AP but isn’t as powerful for automation. Learn more via our Melio review.

\n

Alongside these streamlined bill pay tools, Plooto also offers timed and instant payments for full control of your cash flow. With timed payments, you can pay your vendors when you know you’ll have cash available. With instant payments, you can claim early payment discounts. Plus, Plooto’s network includes more than 150,000 payees, and the platform comes with basic AR automation tools too. It has everything you need and more to automate your AP management from start to finish.

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With Plooto, you can view all your outstanding bills in one place — and then pay them all in one click.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Usability

\n

Plooto is among the user-friendliest accounting software platforms we reviewed, precisely because it isn’t full-scope accounting software. This vendor offers AP and AP automation software, covering only one of accounting software’s many aspects. Thus, you’ll see significantly fewer features in the Plooto dashboard than with other accounting software vendors. We found this reduced clutter made Plooto a breeze to navigate.

\n

You can’t customize your Plooto dashboard, and you shouldn’t need to. It’s incredibly intuitive and straightforward. The three primary integrations available are QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite and Xero. These integrations are as user-friendly as Plooto itself. That said, we couldn’t quite see what the pairing of Plooto and Xero offers. Xero is already our top pick for tracking and paying bills, so automating Xero’s AP feels redundant. Read our Xero review to learn why we hold its bill pay features in such high regard.

\n

Although Plooto doesn’t offer guided training, the platform is so simple that you might not need any assistance to get started. However, Plooto does offer guides for setting up your account, connecting your banks and taking other key first steps. Once you’ve gotten through all that, you probably won’t need much further assistance.

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Plooto Features

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n Custom automation workflows \n	\n Set your own rules about who approves bills before payment and when approval must occur. \n
\n Timed and next-day payments \n	\n Claim early payment discounts with scheduled payments and avoid late fees with instant payments. \n
\n Automated invoice management \n	\n When you upload your invoices to Plooto, the platform will automatically pay them and add the invoice and payment to your accounting software. \n
\n Online check payments \n	\n Plooto is one of few vendors we reviewed that allows you to make check payments without printing or physically mailing anything. \n
\n Vast vendor network \n	\n More than 150,000 payees exist on the Plooto network, and you can add your payees too in seconds. \n
\n AR automation \n	\n Plooto offers introductory AR automation tools alongside its advanced AP automation suite. \n

\n

Custom automation workflows

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Finance teams often complain about the delays that accompany having to wait for the right team member to approve expenses, and Plooto eliminates this headache. You can use Plooto to create custom rules that direct bills in need of payment to the right team member for approval automatically. These rules deliver the expense at the appropriate time as well. The result is streamlined, timely bill payments no matter your AP volume.

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Timed and instant payments

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Plooto includes tools for scheduling your payments in advance, and this can be great for capturing early payment discounts. Time your payment to hit before the discount period ends, and you’ll automate your way into paying less.

\n

We were also impressed with Plooto’s instant payment feature, available to all Plooto users. To get started with this tool, transfer money from your bank account to Plooto and select “Plooto Instant” upon bill payment. From there, Plooto deposits the money into your vendor’s account right away, circumventing long bank holding periods. The cherry on top is that this feature comes at no extra cost, unlike most same-day payment technologies.

\n

Automated invoice management

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When you upload your invoices into Plooto, the platform adds your invoices to your accounting software automatically. Then, it pays your invoices and updates your accounting software to reflect your payments.

\n

We were impressed with this feature since it saves several manual steps often required for bill pay when you use standard accounting software. For example, in QuickBooks, you need to manually pay bills once they’re populated in your account. With Plooto and QuickBooks integrated, you’ll just upload your invoices to Plooto and then payment will happen automatically. Plooto will also auto-add your invoice to QuickBooks, which is our top accounting software for small businesses. Read our QuickBooks review to learn why.

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Online check payments

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We liked that you can use Plooto’s fully digital platform to make check payments. Although electronic payment dominates in business now, payment will never be entirely digital. Some vendors will still prefer checks. However, most accounting software platforms don’t accommodate check payments. In fact, of all the brands we reviewed, only Plooto, Melio and Zoho Books, our top accounting software for microbusinesses, offer check payment. Read our Zoho Books review to learn more about why the tiniest businesses will likely prefer this platform.

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Plooto’s check payment tools are more robust than the check features Zoho Books offers. While you must print and mail your own checks with Zoho Books, Plooto will do so for you. Plooto will also reconcile the transaction in your accounting software and maintain a full audit trail. However, we were disappointed that all check payments with Plooto cost $1.99 per transaction. No such added fee is part of the Zoho Books check payment suite. Additionally, Melio’s check fee is less than Plooto’s at $1.50, with two free checks included.

\n

\n

Plooto’s tools for creating checks for vendor payment are easy to use, plus Plooto will print and send the check on your behalf.

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Vast vendor network

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The Plooto network is home to more than 150,000 vendors, suppliers and payees. This means the organization you’re trying to pay likely exists on the network. If not, you can add the contact manually to your Plooto account. To do so, just confirm the payee’s name and email address. Payment is just as easy thereafter. Choose the payee, enter the payment amount and write a short memo. From there, Plooto will send your payment.

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Plooto displays all your contacts within its network clearly, with an easy button for adding new contacts available on the same screen.

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Basic AR automation

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Plooto couples its extensive AP automation features with basic AR automation tools. This way, you automate your cash flow on both sides of the equation.

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Since Plooto’s AR automation features are just basic, you can’t do a ton with them. However, the handful of features available are enough to loosen any major shackles on your cash flow. You can auto-import invoices, set up preauthorized debit (PAD) and establish recurring payments. You can also accept credit card and PAD payments and view your receivables’ payment status. It isn’t the fanciest AR suite, but it provides the essentials, which is a nice bonus alongside the high-quality AP features you’ll get.

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Plooto Costs

\n

Plooto offers two pricing plans: Grow costs $32 per month and Pro costs $499 per month. For an additional $27 per month when using Grow, you can add unlimited free domestic transactions.

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Plooto Pro is intended for growing and large businesses in need of enterprise-level AP solutions. It also includes priority customer support. According to a Plooto representative, the Pro plan’s dual control implementation and single sign-on (SSO) were highly requested features among customers.

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These prices are comparatively high, especially for software offering AP and receivable automation rather than a full suite of accounting features. Zoho Books, for example, offers more features at considerably lower prices, even if you choose the lowest-cost plan. Additionally, Wave Financial is an entirely free full-scope accounting program. Read our Wave Financial review to learn more.

\n

On top of its comparatively high costs, Plooto charges additional fees for almost every transaction, though PAD and international foreign exchange transactions are free. Unless you opt into Grow’s $27 per month add-on, each domestic electronic transaction costs 50 cents. Across all Plooto plans, the following additional transaction fees apply:

\n

\n
• Checks: $2 per transaction
\n
• Cross-border payments: $10 per transaction
\n
• Credit card payments: 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction
\n

\n

While the latter is standard pricing for credit card payments, we found the first two add-on fees to be needless. Unlike many accounting software platforms, you will get an unlimited number of users no matter which pricing plan you choose. Plus, you get a 30-day free Grow trial to see for yourself whether you like the software. This is longer than the 14 days many accounting software vendors offer. Plooto also doesn’t charge setup, integration or instant payment fees, somewhat making up for its costs.

\n

\n

Plooto’s official pricing table clearly lays out the costs you’ll pay per transaction. Notably, Plooto Instant is included at no extra cost.

\n

Plooto Setup

\n

According to a Plooto representative, setting up the software takes 10 to 15 minutes on average, and at most 20 minutes. When we signed up, we were asked whether we were an accounting firm or a small business. We were then prompted to add our contact information and choose between Plooto’s Grow and Pro plans. From there, we just had to add bills and invoices to start using the platform. It was that simple.

\n

We liked that Plooto is equally easy to implement and use. Not all accounting software is ready to go straight out of the box. Plooto’s launch is so clear-cut we were fine with Plooto’s lack of dedicated implementation assistance service.

\n

Although you’re unlikely to face issues setting Plooto up, the vendor provides written tutorials with screenshots just in case. There are also tutorials for Plooto’s QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite and Xero integrations, which the brand heavily promotes. These are the company’s only three integrations, which we found disappointing. It means you can only use Plooto with these platforms, which means not Sage 50 or any of our other picks for the best accounting software.

\n

Once you’ve moved past implementation into use, you can use Plooto’s “getting started” guide to get yourself up to speed. This should be easy too — the only custom figuration to set up will be your automation workflows. While customizable dashboards are common among full-scope automation software platforms, Plooto’s relatively narrow use case doesn’t quite merit such complexity. We liked the dashboard’s simplicity. You likely won’t need onboarding features or training sessions to get everyone onboarded.

\n

\n

Plooto’s “getting started” guide is available from its website before you even open an account. The guide is a step-by-step tutorial that includes relevant links for your setup journey.

\n

Plooto Customer Service

\n

Plooto customers can access the brand’s customer service from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time on Mondays through Fridays. Phone, email and live chat customer support are all available at no additional cost. There are also free resources for answering questions yourself without contacting Plooto, such as blogs, videos and a help center.

\n

During setup, you’ll have access to similarly rich support resources. We felt that the written tutorials and how-to guides available for setup were among the strongest Plooto customer support materials we reviewed. The quality of its written materials, combined with the brand’s extensive availability for actual conversations, stood out to us. We felt Plooto’s customer service was superior to Xero’s, which uses a support system that imposes needless barriers to support calls.

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Plooto Drawbacks

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Plooto’s main drawback is quite blatant: It’s just an AR and AP automation tool, not a full accounting software platform. You can’t use Plooto to generate reports, track worked hours that can be converted into invoices, pay taxes, and the like. Comprehensive features like this are instead part of the three platforms that Plooto integrates with QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite and Xero. Plooto is thus a lacking platform if you need full-on accounting software but a great supplement if you choose QuickBooks in particular.

\n

We also found it frustrating that all Plooto payments result in extra charges unless you opt into the higher-priced Plooto plan, which makes domestic electronic payments free. However, check payments and international transactions still cost extra. The latter cost is particularly prohibitive, at $10 per transaction. Zoho Books, by comparison, doesn’t charge at all for check payments, and many solutions for low-cost international payment exist outside accounting software.

\n

Methodology

\n

To determine the best platform for automating AP, we sought a platform that allowed for instant bulk payments with little to no manual work. We also looked for software that, both during and after setup, was user-friendly and seamlessly integrated with major full-scale accounting software platforms.

\n

After thorough research and analysis, Plooto emerged as our top pick for automating AP. Its tools for custom automation workflows, timed and next-day payments, and automated invoice management are all simple yet powerful. Its vast payee network and accompanying entry-level AR automation features make for nice complements to its AP automation features as well. Plooto is a highly navigable and immensely time-saving platform. It takes the legwork out of several AP needs that major accounting software platforms don’t fully address.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Overall Value

\n

We recommend Plooto for …

\n

\n
• Businesses looking to automate high volumes of bill payments.
\n
• Businesses looking to streamline vendor payments within their existing QuickBooks accounting software.
\n
• Businesses in need of timed or instant payments to avoid late fees or claim early payment discounts.
\n

\n

We don’t recommend Plooto for … 

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• Businesses in need of cost-effective solutions for making international payments.
\n
• Businesses in need of accounting software with all the usual features.
\n
• Businesses that already use Xero for bill pay.
\n

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2639","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/11103-best-salesforce-podcasts.html","displayModified":"2023-12-13T15:06:35Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"11103-best-salesforce-podcasts.html","id":"2639","ID":2639,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-10-20T00:14:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Take advantage of the Salesforce community to learn tips and best practices. ","subtitle":"Take advantage of the Salesforce community to learn tips and best practices. ","title":"8 Best Podcasts for Salesforce Fanatics","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Sales & Marketing","slug":"sales-marketing"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Learn more about Salesforce via podcasts. The podcasts we list range from technical dev talk to general news and best-practice sales and marketing content."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04080732/podcast_gorodenkoff_getty-scaled.jpg","caption":"gorodenkoff / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"\n

If you want to access excellent Salesforce content in the car, at the gym or otherwise on the go, podcasts are where it’s at. One of the best things about using a customer relationship management (CRM) platform like Salesforce is access to the gigantic community that has grown around it over the last few decades. We’ll highlight eight podcasts that can expand and enhance your Salesforce knowledge and understanding.

\n\n\n\n \n\n\n

The best podcasts for Salesforce fanatics

\n

Like Salesforce blogging, Salesforce podcasting is a surprisingly varied and rich niche. The top podcasts include highly technical dev talk, general news, best practices for increasing sales, and marketing tips.

\n

1. Salesforce Admins Podcast

\n

The Salesforce Admins Podcast is the official Salesforce podcast for admins. It’s a great place to start if you want to stay on top of news about Dreamforce (Salesforce’s annual conference), hear interviews with Salesforce admins across the country and learn about new CRM features.

\n

This weekly podcast is polished and well edited; hosts Gillian Bruce and Mike Gerholdt are great interviewers who keep the conversation from getting too dry. While you can learn quite a bit from the Salesforce Admins Podcast, it’s also light and entertaining enough to listen to in the car or at the gym.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

2. Good Day, Sir!

\n

Started by freelance software engineers Jeremy Ross and John De Santiago, Good Day, Sir! definitely has a Salesforce focus. However, the hosts also discuss broader tech news (acquisitions, trends, etc.) and share their experiences with various tools and integrations. Each episode starts with a quick music intro and the hosts catching up on small talk (and sometimes drink recommendations), so the show has a personable feel that makes it great for casual listening.

\n

3. SalesforceWay

\n

SalesforceWay is hosted by Xi Xiao, a Salesforce developer. Xiao, who lives in Finland, often discusses the “three S’s” that a standout Salesforce developer should have: Salesforce technology skills, software engineering skills and soft skills.

\n

A typical SalesforceWay episode includes Xiao interviewing other Salesforce experts on various topics, such as CRM dashboards and CRM metrics. While there are many technical discussions, the podcast offers broader Salesforce lessons. Like many great Salesforce podcasts, Xiao and the show’s guests discuss more universally applicable skills. The whole point is that it’s not just CRM skills that make the Salesforce developer; the other skills are just as critical.

\n

Editor’s note: Looking for the right CRM software for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to be connected with vendors that can help.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

4. Hard Corps Marketing Show

\n

CRM software is so frequently associated with sales that it’s easy to forget how useful it is for marketing. However, the Hard Corps Marketing Show won’t let you forget. Hosted by marketing expert and Marine Corps veteran Casey Cheshire, the podcast focuses largely on the overlap between CRM and marketing automation, and it’s as great for marketing experts as it is for total newcomers.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

5. Talent Hub Talk

\n

The Australian Salesforce podcast Talent Hub Talk is the work of Ben Duncombe, who founded Salesforce recruitment company Talent Hub. Every week, for about 40 minutes, Duncombe gives his latest insights into the ever-evolving Salesforce ecosystem. He often hosts guests whose knowledge, combined with his, makes for a truly unforgettable listen.

\n

6. Salesforce Developer Podcast

\n

On the Salesforce Developer Podcast, host Joshua Birk, developer evangelist and godfather of Trailhead, gets guests to share brief yet impactful stories. Topics that Birk has discussed with his guests include continuous learning, artificial intelligence and low-code tools.

\n

7. Salesforce Commerce Cloud Innovations

\n

Although the Salesforce Commerce Cloud Innovations podcast focuses on Salesforce’s e-commerce platform instead of its CRM suite, it’s still worth mentioning here. After all, Salesforce Commerce Cloud fully integrates with the Salesforce CRM. Podcast host Natalija Pavic, innovation leader on Commerce Cloud’s Business Strategy & Growth team, speaks with guests about various changes and trends in online business.

\n

8. Salesforce for Everyone

\n

In the Salesforce for Everyone podcast, hosts Bradley Rice and Anita Smith guide you through starting a Salesforce career. This is a rare beginner-focused series. You can especially benefit from listening if you’re interested in Salesforce but lack tech experience or a college degree. You’ll learn how to enter the world of Salesforce while achieving financial independence.

\n

How Salesforce can help your business

\n

Salesforce offers products in three verticals: sales (CRM), marketing and service. In fact, Starter Suite, Salesforce’s least expensive package, comes with email marketing automation and analytics, ready-to-go sales processes and case management, and automation. With all these tools available through the same platform, you can seamlessly grow your target audience, secure more deals and maximize your customer experience.

\n

Salesforce is as well known for its first-in-class CRM software as for how easily its products can grow your business. The software scales as you do. If you need additional customization and automation tools, just upgrade from Starter Suite to Pro Suite. This higher-end package also comes with sales forecasting, sales quoting and real-time enhanced outreach tools.

\n

Beyond sales, marketing and services, Salesforce also offers the e-commerce platform Commerce Cloud and the sustainability management solution Net Zero Cloud. In 2021, Salesforce also acquired Slack, a platform long known as a leader in team communications technology. From its core SaaS products to its side offerings, Salesforce gives plenty of tools to build and grow meaningful internal and external relationships.

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From your ears to your computer screen

\n

When listening to Salesforce podcasts, sit with the advice you hear, then act on it if you feel that it fits your situation. Better yet, if your hands are free, write down the key points you hear when listening. Better business outcomes are likely with this careful listening, and you’ll have gotten there just by sitting in on fun conversations during your everyday routine.

\n

Mona Bushnell contributed to this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2554","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/5503-best-photo-editing-apps.html","displayModified":"2023-10-23T20:53:51Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"5503-best-photo-editing-apps.html","id":"2554","ID":2554,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-12-12T02:00:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Your business has a lot to gain by making sure your social media photos look the best they can.","subtitle":"Your business has a lot to gain by making sure your social media photos look the best they can.","title":"12 Best Photo Editing Apps for Business","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Your business has a lot to gain by making sure your social media photos look as good as possible."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04080621/photo_editing_Rawpixel.jpg","caption":"Rawpixel / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"

A strong social media presence is crucial in today’s digital world. However, posting just anything on your accounts is not enough. A profile filled with low-quality photos will displease your consumers and could even hurt your credibility as a brand.

\n

Luckily, you don’t need to be a trained photographer with expensive equipment to improve your photo editing skills – all you need is a smartphone or device with a decent camera and some of these great (and affordable) photo editing apps.

\n\n\n

What are photo editing apps?

\n\n\n

Photo editing apps enable you to modify photos so they appear higher-quality. You can use photo editing apps to watermark your photos, adjust their contrast and brightness, or otherwise improve your photos’ quality. With the features included in most photo editing apps, you can elevate a dark, unexciting photo into the highlight of your social media page or marketing campaign.

\n

What are the best photo editing apps for business?

\n

Below are the 12 best photo editing apps for business.

\n

1. VSCO

\n

Best app for: Filters

\n

Price: Free

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Features:

\n

\n
• Wide range of filters
\n
• Basic editing capabilities like exposure, contrast, saturation, temperature and fade
\n
• Syncing across multiple devices
\n

\n

VSCO – or Visual Supply Company – is one of the most popular photo editing apps out there. Small businesses can use the platform, which lets users create a profile and share photos, much like a social media platform, to increase their online presence.

\n

This app provides a great selection of filters and basic editing capabilities such as exposure, contrast, saturation, temperature and fade. The editing control allows you to transform photos into engaging content.

\n

On top of that the VSCO community provides users with a marketplace of ideas. You can follow other users and plan content that reflects major photo trends. VSCO is available for both iOS and Android, and it syncs across multiple devices, so you can edit photos from anywhere. VSCO’s free version includes 10 presets, basic editing tools, and the ability to explore other photos and share photos.

\n

To upgrade, you can pay $7.99 per month or $29.99 per year for a VSCO membership, which includes more than 200 presets, advanced editing tools, and inspiring tips and tricks.

\n

2. TouchRetouch

\n

Best app for: Retouching

\n

Price: $3.99

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Remove unwanted elements (i.e., shadows, people and/or buildings) from your photos
\n
• Clone or duplicate items
\n
• Match backgrounds
\n
• Take tutorials for easy learning
\n

\n

One of the main highlights of TouchRetouch is its ability to remove unwanted items from your photos. Nearly everyone has experienced this: You line up the perfect shot and snap the photo, only to see a trash can or group of people in frame. You can use TouchRetouch to remove these objects, presenting the subject of your shot the way you want it to look

\n

With TouchRetouch, you can remove unwanted elements like shadows, people, buildings, wires and spots in the sky. The app is easy to navigate; simply highlight an area with your finger and tap Go. You can also use this app to perfect other elements of your photos. Use the clone stamp tool to fill in any gaps, duplicate elements or match backgrounds. The app also comes with some tutorials so you can learn how to use the program and understand different guidelines for photo editing. TouchRetouch is available on both Android and iOS for $3.99.

\n

3. Snapseed

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Best app for: Precise editing for beginners

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Price: Free

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Features:

\n

\n
• Wide range of tools (such as brush, healing, HDR, perspective tools, cropping and rotating)
\n
• Wide range of filters (including personal features to save for later)
\n

\n

Snapseed is a Google product with more than 25 tools and filters for editing photos, including healing, brush, HDR and perspective. These tools give you the power of precise editing to create professional-looking photos. The brush tool, for example, can be used to edit a specific object or area of a photo instead of the entire frame.

\n

You can also save your favorite filters and automatically apply them to later photos, which allows for quick editing on similar photos for your small business. Other tools and features include cropping, rotating, tuning and creating double-exposure photos, which blend two images so you can choose and edit blend modes. Snapseed is a free service available on Android and iOS.

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4. Mextures Photo Editor

\n

Best app for: Creative business owners

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Price: $1.99

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Textures, light leaks and gradients
\n
• Standard editing tools
\n
• Nondestructive workflow
\n
• Filter stacking
\n
• Saving/editing for personal formulas
\n

\n

Mextures Photo Editor allows you to apply textures, light leaks and gradients to your images. It has a nondestructive workflow, so you can adjust and edit photos at any stage of the editing process and not worry about your file’s quality diminishing. Mextures is ideal for creative business owners looking to create engaging, heavily edited photos. The app’s robust services include more than 150 textures, the ability to stack infinite filter layers, and standard editing tools such as exposure, contrast and tint.

\n

You can save and edit your own formulas, so it’s easy to apply the same mixture of adjustments to multiple photos. Mextures is available for $1.99 on iTunes, but some in-app purchases are required to use certain features.

\n

5. Adobe Photoshop Express

\n

Best app for: Adding text to photos

\n

Price: Free

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Standard editing and photo adjustment tools
\n
• Text adding and overlaying
\n
• Resizing and blending
\n

\n

Adobe Photoshop Express is the mobile version of Photoshop, Adobe’s flagship photo editing software. Unlike Photoshop, Express is a free service. In addition to standard editing and photo adjustment features like cropping, auto-fixing and brush tools, Photoshop Express offers tools to add text to images. This feature allows you to overlay text on your images so you can create memes, issue announcements, or include company information on your photos.

\n

Photoshop Express also lets you edit photos in raw formats and resize and blend images. It is available on both iOS and Android devices for free.

\n

6. Camera+

\n

Best app for: Shooting and editing

\n

Price: $4.99

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Shooting modes (such as stabilization and burst)
\n
• Basic editing tools
\n
• Advanced features (such as clarity, scene modes and lightbox)
\n
• Social media integrations
\n

\n

Camera+ is ideal for business owners looking to shoot and edit photos in one complete program. It provides a few advanced shooting modes, like stabilization for capturing sharp photos and burst for taking rapid action shots. After you’ve taken a photo using Camera+, you can edit it directly in the app.

\n

The program includes basic editing functions – like cropping, adding borders and applying captions – and more advanced features, like clarity, scene modes and lightbox. The clarity tool analyzes and enhances your photos, while you can use scene modes and lightbox to capture photos in the right light and select which ones to keep and which to delete immediately after taking them.

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Camera+ has built-in social media integrations, so you can quickly upload a photo to Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. It also syncs with iCloud, so you can use Camera+ to edit photos on any iOS device. Camera+ is available for $4.99.

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7. Superimpose

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Best app for: Blending and overlaying images

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Price: $0.99 or $1.99

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Features:

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\n
• Superimposed images
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• Basic editing tools
\n

\n

Superimpose is ideal for business owners looking to create professional-grade photos that overlay and blend together multiple images. You can easily blend two images, smooth out edges, add masks or mask out different portions of an image, and adjust the color, exposure, contrast or saturation of both images. This app includes moving, scaling, resizing, rotating and flipping tools as well.

\n

This app is a simpler, mobile-friendly alternative to working with layers in Adobe’s Photoshop – you can easily superimpose an image on another, and make adjustments on the fly without advanced knowledge of masks or image blending. This app’s focus is blending images, but it provides tools to edit existing photos as well. Superimpose is available on iOS devices for $1.99 and on Android devices for $0.99.

\n

8. A Color Story

\n

Best app for: Color pop

\n

Price: Free

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Basic photo editing
\n
• Range of free filters
\n
• Grid of edited photos
\n

\n

With more than 7 million installs, A Color Story is another popular photo editing application. This app is perfect for business owners hoping to create fresh photos and videos with colors that pop. Along with basic editing functions such as cropping, A Color Story has more than 500 filters available. Once you finish editing your photo, you can save it to a grid and start to edit others, helping you create a cohesive photo grid for social media.

\n

While many of the filters and features are free to use, there are also filter packs available for in-app purchasing. A Color Story is available on iOS and Android devices.

\n

9. Adobe Lightroom Photo & Video Editor

\n

Best app for: Precise fine-tuning

\n

Price: Free

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Basic photo editing
\n
• Simple user interface
\n
• One-tap presets
\n
• Advanced editing tools (such as curves, color mix and split tone)
\n

\n

Adobe Lightroom Photo & Video Editor is a great application for both beginners and advanced users. You can use one-tap presets that automatically enhance your photos, or manually adjust details like exposure, color and curves. The user interface is simple and easy to get used to, so you won’t waste time learning how to use the program.

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This app is available for free on iOS and Android. If you want access to premium features, there is a subscription fee that starts at $1.99 per month.

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10. LD – Premium Content Creator

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Best app for: Enhancing photos with lens flares

\n

Price: Free

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Dynamic light rays and atmospheric textures
\n
• Color and portrait layers
\n
• Basic photo editing (such as brightness, contrast and opacity)
\n

\n

LD – Premium Content Creator is a photo editing app that allows you to add typography and color grades to your pictures. You can add dynamic light rays, portrait layers and atmospheric textures as well.

\n

This app is especially useful for advertisements or creative projects. If you want a dramatic yet natural look that doesn’t appear overly edited, this is the program for you. You can turn a simple photo into a cinematic experience with the use of light and other effects. The app is available on iOS and Android. It’s free, but the unlimited version costs $2.99 monthly or $23.99 annually.

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11. Afterlight

\n

Best app for: Old-school photos

\n

Price: Free

\n

Features:

\n

\n
• Basic and advanced photo editing tools
\n
• Range of filters
\n
• Textures and overlays
\n
• Frames and borders
\n

\n

Afterlight is suitable for both new and advanced photo editors. Users with advanced skills can use its tools to change curves, selective hues and saturation, and tone. Other tools include the option to add overlays, frames, artwork and text. Photo editing basics, such as typical color, exposure, sharpness and crop tools are also included. Beginners can benefit from Afterlight’s regularly updated selection of filters as well.

\n

Afterlight is available on iOS and Android devices. The app is free, but its premium features cost $2.99 for a monthly subscription, $17.99 for a yearly subscription or $35.99 for a lifetime subscription.

\n

12. Darkroom

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Best app for: Batch processing

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Price: Free

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Features:

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\n
• RAW editing
\n
• Smart object detection
\n
• Full-album management
\n
• Custom presets
\n
• Batch processing
\n
• Hashtag manager and Siri shortcuts
\n

\n

Darkroom is a great option for editing multiple photos at once. The app allows you to create Siri shortcuts, edit RAW or live photos, manage hashtags related to your photos, and sync your entire photo album. You also get a ton of filters to choose from and can even create your own. If you’re feeling uninspired, Darkroom can choose frames for your photos based on the color scheme and other elements.

\n

The application is only available on iOS. You can use the free version or pay $4.99 for a monthly subscription or $29.99 for a yearly one.

\n

What are the benefits of photo editing apps?

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Photo editing apps offer the following small business benefits.

\n

\n
• More consistent visual campaigns. Photo editing apps help ensure that your photos appear consistent across platforms. This way, you can use better images in your social media marketing, email marketing and marketing on other channels.
\n
• More efficient photo editing. Photo editing apps can store editing parameters used on one photo for repeated use on future photos. This can eliminate redundancies and streamline your photo editing process and all the tasks that rely on it.
\n
• Stronger branding. You can overlay text and images in many photo editors. This can help you establish a strong visual brand everywhere users encounter your business on the internet.
\n
• Faster website load times. Some photo editing apps compress images to reduce their file size without sacrificing quality. When you use these smaller images on your business website, you shorten its load time. That’s important when one in every two people leave websites that don’t load within six seconds. Faster load speeds can also improve your rankings on search engine results pages.
\n
• Easier image cropping and resizing. Different web platforms where you’re using images may require different image specifications. You can easily make these adjustments with a photo editing app. You’ll save time while looking your best on every platform.
\n

\n

Photo editing can be a path to success

\n

Editing your photos can improve your social media presence and marketing campaigns. Using condensed photos on your website can also decrease its load time and keep customers on the page. When so many photo editing apps include free introductory tiers, why not at least try one out for yourself?

\n

Saige Driver, Sara Angeles and Matt D’Angelo contributed to the writing and reporting in this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2490","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/11213-secure-computer-from-hackers.html","displayModified":"2023-11-20T18:10:53Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"11213-secure-computer-from-hackers.html","id":"2490","ID":2490,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2019-01-10T22:34:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Cybersecurity is critical for businesses of all sizes. These 18 tips can help you secure your computers and mobile devices from malicious actors.","subtitle":"Cybersecurity is critical for businesses of all sizes. These 18 tips can help you secure your computers and mobile devices from malicious actors.","title":"18 Ways to Secure Your Devices From Hackers","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Security","slug":"security"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Protecting your business's network is crucial to operations. Learn tips for securing your computers, network, and mobile devices from hackers."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04080513/Office_Getty_vicnt.jpg","caption":"vicnt / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"

The World Wide Web’s growth in the 1990s introduced new possibilities and spawned new industries. However, connectivity also brought new threats. Spam infiltrated email accounts, and computer viruses wreaked havoc on business networks. Hacking emerged, extending the definition of thievery to include infiltrating computers to steal personal information and tricking people into revealing private data. Business secrets, bank account credentials and even people’s identities were at risk.

\n

Unfortunately, hacking threats are even more severe and complex today. The stakes become higher the more businesses rely on technology. Fortunately, organizations have multiple ways to help defend themselves — and protect crucial data — from hackers.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

\n

How can you secure your computer from hackers?

\n

Despite the prevalence of hacking threats like ransomware, business email compromise scams and data breaches, most businesses rely on the internet for a number of things. This includes: tracking finances, ordering and maintaining inventory, conducting marketing and PR campaigns, connecting with customers, using social media, and performing critical operations. Massive computer breaches affect big corporations with robust security measures. However, hackers also target small businesses that may underestimate cybercrime risks and lack the resources to employ expensive cybersecurity solutions.

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Lax cybersecurity standards can derail a company. To give your business the best chance of preventing and mitigating cyberattacks, follow these tips to protect your devices and safeguard sensitive data.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

1. Use a firewall to secure your computers from hackers.

\n

Windows and macOS have built-in firewalls — software designed to create a barrier between your information and the outside world. Firewalls prevent unauthorized access to your business network and alert you to intrusion attempts.

\n

Ensure the firewall is enabled before going online. You can also purchase a hardware firewall from companies like Cisco, Sophos or Fortinet, depending on your broadband router, which also has a built-in firewall that protects your network. If you have a larger business, you can purchase an additional business networking firewall.

\n

2. Install antivirus software to thwart hackers.

\n

Antivirus software is a small business cybersecurity necessity. Computer viruses and malware are everywhere. Antivirus programs like Bitdefender, Panda Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes, and Avast protect your computer against unauthorized code or software that may threaten your operating system. Viruses may have easy-to-spot effects — for example, they might slow your computer or delete critical files — or be less conspicuous.

\n

Antivirus software plays a major role in protecting your system by detecting real-time threats to ensure your data is safe. Some advanced antivirus programs provide automatic updates, further protecting your machine from the new viruses that emerge daily.

\n

After installing an antivirus program, don’t forget to use it. Run or schedule regular virus scans to keep your computer virus-free.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

3. Install an antispyware package to protect your business.

\n

Spyware is software that secretly monitors and collects personal or organizational information. It’s hard to detect and remove and usually delivers unwanted ads or search results intended to direct you to specific (often malicious) websites. Some spyware records every keystroke to gain access to passwords and other financial information.

\n

Antispyware concentrates exclusively on this threat but is often included in major antivirus packages, including Webroot, McAfee, and Norton. Antispyware packages provide real-time protection by scanning all incoming information and blocking threats.

\n

4. Use complex passwords to prevent network intrusions.

\n

Using strong passwords is a crucial way to prevent network intrusions. The more secure your passwords are, the harder it is for hackers to invade your system.

\n

Secure passwords are usually longer and more complex. Use a password with at least eight characters and a combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and computer symbols. Hackers have an arsenal of tools to break short, easy passwords in minutes.

\n

Don’t use recognizable words or combinations representing birthdays or other information hackers can connect to you. Don’t reuse passwords, either. If you have too many passwords to remember, consider using a password manager, such as Dashlane, Sticky Password, LastPass, or Password Boss.

\n

5. Keep your OS, apps and browser updated.

\n

Always install operating system updates. Most updates include security fixes that prevent hackers from accessing and exploiting your data. The same goes for apps.

\n

Today’s web browsers are increasingly sophisticated, especially regarding privacy and security. Review your browser security settings in addition to installing all new updates. For example, you can use your browser to prevent websites from tracking your movements, which increases your online privacy. You can also use a private browsing mode or install a browser specifically focused on security, like DuckDuckGo or Epic Privacy Browser.

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6. Ignore spam to stop hackers from infiltrating your system.

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Beware of email messages from unknown parties, and never click on links or open attachments that accompany them. Inbox spam filters have become good at catching the most conspicuous spam. But more sophisticated phishing emails that mimic your friends, associates and trusted businesses (like your bank) have become common, so keep your eyes open for anything that looks or sounds suspicious.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

7. Back up your computer to rebuild if necessary.

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If your business is not already backing up its hard drive, begin immediately. Backing up your information is critical if hackers successfully get through and trash your system.

\n

Always ensure you can rebuild as quickly as possible after suffering any data breach or loss. Backup utilities built into macOS (Time Machine) and Windows (File History) are good places to start. An external backup hard drive can also provide enough space for these utilities to operate properly. Additionally, backing up to Google’s cloud backup system is seamless and straightforward.

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8. Shut machines down to become a less visible hacker target.

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Many businesses, especially those operating a web server, are “all systems go” all the time. However, if you’re not operating a complex internet-based company, switch off your machine overnight or during long stretches when not working. When it’s always on, your computer is a more visible and available hacker target. Shutting down breaks the connection a hacker may have established with your network and disrupts any possible mischief.

\n

9. Use virtualization to protect your network.

\n

Not everyone needs to take this route. However, if you visit sketchy websites, expect to be bombarded with spyware and viruses. While the best way to avoid browser-derived intrusions is to steer clear of unsafe sites, virtualization allows you to run your browser in a virtual environment, like Parallels or VMware Fusion, that sidesteps your operating system to keep it safer.

\n

10. Secure your network to hold intruders at bay.

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Routers don’t usually come with the highest security settings enabled. When you set up your network, log in to the router and choose a password using a secure, encrypted setup. This prevents intruders from infiltrating your network and messing with your settings.

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11. Use two-factor authentication as an additional defense layer.

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Passwords are the first line of defense against computer hackers. However, a second layer boosts protection. Many sites let you enable two-factor authentication, which boosts security because it requires you to type in a numerical code — sent to your phone or email address — in addition to your password when logging in.

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12. Use encryption to hide information from hackers.

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Even if cybercriminals gain access to your network and files, computer encryption can prevent them from accessing that information. You can encrypt your Windows or macOS hard drive with BitLocker (Windows) or FileVault (Mac), encrypt USB flash drives with sensitive information, and use a VPN to encrypt web traffic.

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Additionally, only shop at encrypted websites; you can spot them immediately by the “https” in the address bar accompanied by a closed-padlock icon.

\n

How can you secure your phone from hackers?

\n

The rest of our tips will address securing mobile devices from hackers, which requires unique security measures. Consider the following mobile device management tips.

\n

13. Turn off Bluetooth to protect your mobile device.

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When you’re not using Bluetooth, turn it off. Keeping your Bluetooth on but dormant opens another back door for computer hackers.

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14. Don’t use unsecured public Wi-Fi.

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Unsecured Wi-Fi is a severe cybersecurity risk when traveling for business or working away from the office. Password-free, widely used Wi-Fi networks have no security features. As such, they’re prime targets for computer hackers.

\n

15. Download a security app on your phone or mobile device.

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Install a security app on your phone, just as you should install a firewall, antivirus software, and an antispyware package on your computer. Popular options include Avast and Bitdefender.

\n

16. Use a better passcode to protect your phone.

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Unlock codes like 0000 and 1234 are easy to remember, but they’re also easy to guess. Instead, opt for a randomly generated six-number passcode.

\n

17. Switch off autocomplete on your mobile device.

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Autocomplete is the feature that guesses what you’re typing and completes the word, phrase or other information for you. While convenient, this tool all but hands your email address, mailing address, phone number, and other important information to hackers. Switch it off.

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18. Clear your browsing history on your mobile device.

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Your mobile web browser has a browsing history just as your computer does. Clear it often — including cookies and cached files — to give hackers as little information as possible to work with if they do break into your phone.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

What are computer hackers?

\n

Computer hackers break into internet-connected devices like computers, tablets and smartphones to steal, change, or delete information. Hackers usually find their way into devices for nefarious purposes. (However, one exception is so-called white hat hackers, whom companies hire to break into their devices to find security flaws that must be fixed.)

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Hackers often install malware to steal, alter, or delete information in your devices; you might not even know it’s there. They may access your precious data before you know about a break-in.

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Why do hackers break into devices and networks?

\n

Here are some reasons computer hackers break into devices:

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• Hackers commit financial crimes. We’ve all heard the classic story of somebody checking their credit card statement and finding transactions they didn’t make. These false transactions are often the result of computer hackers stealing credit card numbers, checking account info, or gaining access to other financial data.
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• Hackers commit vandalism. Hacking has a unique subculture, so some hackers may want to vandalize specific websites to make a point or show off to other hackers. Take this motivation seriously; it’s fairly common.
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• Hackers commit hacktivism. Hacktivism is similar to vandalism. Some hackers may want to alter or destroy specific websites for politically motivated reasons.
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• Hackers commit corporate espionage. Spying existed long before the internet era; hacking has only made espionage more accessible to the everyday person. With much of the world constantly connected to the internet, one company can hack into other companies’ devices to steal their information or intellectual property and use it to build an unfair competitive advantage.
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Cultivate cyber awareness

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As technology continues to change rapidly — particularly with the advent of generative AI systems — hackers and their attack methods will likely shift. While many of the above tips will help SMBs protect themselves, keep in mind that security methods must also adapt.

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One of the best ways to stay ahead of possible attacks is to cultivate a company culture of cyber awareness, where effective employee training includes cybersecurity training. The more security-conscious every member of a business is, the harder it becomes for hackers to target them — no matter what tech advances arrive.

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Jeremy Bender and Jackie Dove contributed to this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2890","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/5287-etsy-alternatives-handmade-sites.html","displayModified":"2024-07-19T17:36:30Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"5287-etsy-alternatives-handmade-sites.html","id":"2890","ID":2890,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-06-20T19:05:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"These 13 Etsy alternatives may charge lower fees or even expose you to larger audiences than the leading craft store website.","subtitle":"These 13 Etsy alternatives may charge lower fees or even expose you to larger audiences than the leading craft store website.","title":"Etsy Alternatives for Crafty Entrepreneurs","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Start Your Business","slug":"start-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Startup Basics","slug":"startup-basics"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"If you're an entrepreneur selling creative wares online, Etsy is the obvious choice. But check out these 13 Etsy alternatives that may be right for you."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04081112/1554242151-scaled.jpeg","caption":"yingko/Shutterstock","alt":""},"content":"\n

Etsy has become a household name for crafters and shoppers alike, but it’s not the only option for those with handmade crafts to sell online. Many other marketplaces cater to sellers and buyers of handmade goods, antiques, art and other creative items. As a seller, you may prefer an Etsy alternative’s fee structure, interface and user experience. We’ll explore 13 top Etsy alternatives that might be a better fit for your craft business.

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13 Etsy alternatives you can join today

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Crafty entrepreneurs who want to start selling online have excellent options. Here are 13 Etsy alternatives that are affordable, easy to use and popular with shoppers.

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1. Amazon Handmade

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If you want to start selling on Amazon but don’t think your homemade wares are appropriate, think again. Amazon Handmade is a marketplace for artisans looking to sell their products to a mass audience of hundreds of millions of people. All products in your Amazon Handmade store must be made, altered or assembled entirely by hand — by you (the artisan), an employee or a member of your collective.

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Once Amazon Handmade approves your application, you can start selling in any of its many categories, including jewelry, artwork, apparel and personal care. Listings are free, and there’s no limit to how many items you can post.

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Selling on Amazon costs $39.99 per month, but the fee is waived for approved sellers after the first month. Amazon takes a 15 percent cut of every sale.

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2. Big Cartel

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Big Cartel prides itself on being “by artists, for artists.” It promotes its crafters’ creativity and truly wants them to succeed in a world dominated by mass-produced goods.

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With this marketplace, you can easily customize one of several premade themes by changing images, colors and fonts. You can list items such as T-shirts, art, ceramics and stickers.

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There are three plan choices, ranging from five products (the free option) to 500 products. The platform offers resources such as Google Analytics and inventory tracking in its $15 and $30 monthly plans. It also integrates with some of the best credit card processing companies, making payment acceptance seamless. While you’ll pay typical credit card processing fees, Big Cartel doesn’t charge a transaction fee.

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3. eBay

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E-commerce giant eBay can be an excellent Etsy alternative because just about anyone can start an account. You can sell handmade items with an individual or business account, but only a business account offers inventory, order and sales tracking, and branding tools.

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You’ll pay several fee types on items you sell through eBay:

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• Insertion fee: You can list up to 250 items for free every month, but you’ll pay a 35-cent listing fee for each item beyond that.
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• Final value fee: eBay also charges a final value fee, which is often structured in tiers. For example, if you sell jewelry and watches, you’ll pay 15 percent on the first $1,000 of your sale. You’ll pay 6.5 percent on the portion of your sale between $1,000 and $7,500. You’ll then pay 3 percent on the remainder of the sale plus a flat fee of 30 cents.
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• Store subscription fee: If you have an eBay Store (instead of just listing your products), you must pay a store subscription fee. Annual plan prices range from $4.95 per month for an annual Starter plan to $2,999.95 per month for a yearly Enterprise plan. If you pay monthly, prices range from $7.95 per month for a Starter plan to $349.95 per month for an Anchor plan. Monthly billing is unavailable for Enterprise plans.
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4. eCRATER

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eCRATER is an online marketplace that brings buyers and sellers together. It’s free to register, and you can create customizable online stores. You also get access to its community forum, where you can connect with buyers and share experiences with other sellers. You get 100 percent of the sales you bring to your store. If you get a sale through eCRATER’s advertising or central marketplace, you’ll receive a bill for a 2.9 percent marketplace fee. You’re not required to pay it, although your listings may be promoted less frequently if you don’t.

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5. Facebook

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Business users with a Facebook Marketplace presence enjoy advertising and inventory features unavailable to regular Facebook users. Some business users may also qualify for Facebook-hosted shops, meaning shoppers can buy your handcrafted items without leaving the platform. Either way, shoppers can directly message you through your Facebook Marketplace page.

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Listing your items on Facebook Marketplace is free, and Facebook doesn’t always charge fees for your sales. However, sales you manage through Commerce Manager — which you can use for both Instagram and Facebook sales — can incur fees.

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6. iCraft

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Based in Ontario, Canada, iCraft only allows sellers who make art, crafts and fashion items by hand. You can also let buyers know you are accepting custom project requests. Setting up a store is easy, too. And once you do, you’ll have access to small business marketing services, community message boards and arts and crafts events.

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iCraft has no transaction or listing fees, but it does strictly review all submitted work to ensure it meets the site’s mission and values. You can sign up for a 12-month listing plan for $10 per month. There’s also a six-month plan for $12 per month and a monthly plan for $15 per month. You’ll pay a one-time $25 registration fee. None of the plans place a cap on the number of listings you can upload.

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7. IndieMade

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IndieMade is a one-stop shop for artists. The site handles everything needed for marketing, managing and building an effective business website, including photo galleries, web hosting, marketing tools and support. When you sign up for a 30-day free trial, you gain access to all those tools and much more.

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There are four options for listing products on IndieMade, from the Basic option for $4.95 per month to the Plus option for $19.95 per month. Each level offers something different, with the highest tier offering unlimited products, online coupons and much more. There are no listing fees, and you can sign up for a free trial.

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8. Instagram

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Through the Instagram for Business platform, you can sell virtually any kind of handmade item. To get started with Instagram for Business, create an Instagram account and convert it from personal to business. Then, set up an Instagram shop and create shoppable posts. This way, Instagram users can navigate to your store from the Shop icon at the bottom of the screen. Your account and listings will be entirely free, though you’ll have to pay for ads.

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9. Misi

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Misi is a U.K.-based marketplace for handmade and personalized creations. Everything sold on Misi must be handmade by the seller, vintage or a craft supply. Categories include wedding items, baby and child products, and jewelry. Setting up a shop is free, but there are small listing fees (0.2 pounds, which comes to about 25 cents) and a 3 percent commission on each sale.

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10. Shopify

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With Shopify, you get more than just a marketplace. You can create an online store and get a custom domain and website design even without prior knowledge or experience. Shopify provides resources to help artisans create the best e-commerce site possible. The websites are optimized for mobile and desktop, and you can choose from more than 200 store themes.

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Shopify Payments allows you to accept credit cards immediately without going through a third party, but it will cost you 2.4 percent to 2.9 percent plus 30 cents for each online transaction. If you opt for a third-party payment system, you’ll still owe Shopify 0.5 percent to 2 percent of your final sales.

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To save money on postage, you can get shipping labels and estimated shipping costs directly from Shopify. A Basic plan is $29 per month, a regular Shopify account is $79 per month, and an Advanced account is $299. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial.

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11. Society6

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If you fancy yourself an artist and want to try your hand at selling your work, Society6 is the perfect opportunity. You must have a valid PayPal account to get paid for your sales. With a Society6 page, you are in complete control of the rights to your work and can post artwork, set prices, and add other products that include your art, such as T-shirts and laptop skins. Society6 automatically sets a 10 percent markup on your products, which is the amount you’ll earn. However, you can boost this amount to as high as 999 percent to further increase your earnings.

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12. Volusion

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The Volusion marketplace is similar to Shopify in that you can use its resources to build the perfect website with a custom domain. The website is responsive, so your customers can view you on any device. Volusion offers many online selling resources for listing products, processing orders, payment processing, shipping options and much more. With a subscription, you gain 24/7 access to e-commerce experts who can assist you in any way possible.

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A Personal account is $35 per month for 100 product listings, a Professional account is $79 per month for 5,000 listings, and a Business account is $299 for unlimited products. A Prime account (or the highest sellers) has custom pricing and allows for unlimited product listings. There is a no-transaction-fee option if you use Volusion’s payment gateway powered by Stripe, and you can sign up for a free trial.

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13. Redbubble

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Home to more than 700,000 independent creatives, Redbubble prides itself on helping sellers place their designs on over 70 products to express themselves. To make production easier on the designer, Redbubble prints everything for you — all you have to do is create a design.

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Redbubble has three account tiers for sellers: Standard, Premium and Pro. Redbubble Standard is for new creators, while those who have built a following and a unique brand are classified under Redbubble Premium. Once you become a top seller, you’ll be labeled a Redbubble Pro. You can set your profit margins to your desired percentage to determine your earnings.

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Finding the best marketplace for your creative mind

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Choosing the right online marketplace for your handmade products depends on various factors, including the type of products you sell, your target audience and your budget. While Etsy is a popular choice, exploring alternatives like Facebook, Volusion, eBay, and others can provide advantages that better align with your business needs. By understanding each platform’s features, fee structures and benefits, you can make an informed decision that will help you reach more customers and grow your craft business successfully.

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Amanda Clark contributed to this article. 

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Businesses try to improve productivity in various ways, including eliminating workplace distractions and automating processes. Surveillance and tracking software are other methods employers use to improve operations.

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Employee monitoring technologies have become more prevalent in recent years, especially as the rapid growth of digital technology has streamlined surveillance platform use. However, workplace privacy is also a top priority. If you plan to use employee monitoring technology, it’s crucial to understand how federal and state laws affect it and the best ways to implement these tools at your business.

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Editor’s note: Need employee monitoring software for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

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What is monitoring in the workplace?

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Employee monitoring refers to the methods employers use to surveil their workplaces, including staff members’ whereabouts and activities. With employee monitoring, businesses aim to accomplish the following goals:

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• Prevent internal theft
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• Examine employee productivity
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• Ensure company resources are being used appropriately
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• Provide evidence for potential litigation
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Employee monitoring methods include the following tools:

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• Employee monitoring software: The best employee monitoring software shows managers how employees spend their work time. Functionality can include browser and application tracking, user activity screenshots and keystroke logging.
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• Time and attendance software: The best time and attendance software gives your business a record of when employees work and take paid time off. These records are valuable for payment calculations and as evidence if there’s a dispute over hours or vacation time. These digital systems also provide an accurate record of when employees start and end their days, helping you determine productivity levels.
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• Video surveillance: Video surveillance systems can strengthen your business’s security and productivity. Catching a thief on camera certainly reduces shrinkage costs.
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• GPS systems: If a team’s duties revolve around driving, businesses can install one of the best GPS fleet management systems to monitor driver safety, fuel efficiency and accountability.
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• Biometric technology: Biometric time and attendance systems use fingerprint, facial, palm or iris scans to record work time. However, biometric system laws govern how biometric information is recorded, stored and used.
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Regardless of the technology, some business owners may not know how far they can or should extend their authority to monitor employee activity. It’s always best to turn to federal and state employee monitoring laws and regulations to establish limits.

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What employee monitoring laws and regulations should you know?

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Federal privacy laws, as well as most state privacy laws, give discretion to employers regarding how far they can go with employee monitoring programs. In some cases, depending on state and local laws, employers don’t have to inform employees they’re being monitored. However, some regulations do require employee consent.

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“As a general rule, employees have little expectation of privacy while on company grounds or using company equipment, including company computers or vehicles,” said Matt C. Pinsker, a former adjunct professor of homeland security and criminal justice at Virginia Commonwealth University.

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Here’s a deeper look at federal and state workplace privacy and employee monitoring laws.

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Federal workplace privacy and employee monitoring laws

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Federal workplace privacy and employee monitoring regulations stem primarily from the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA). Here’s what you should know about the ECPA:

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• Business owners have the authority to monitor communications. The ECPA allows business owners to monitor all employee verbal and written communication as long as the company can present a legitimate business reason for doing so.
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• Additional employee monitoring is possible with consent. The ECPA also allows for additional monitoring if employees give consent. However, the ECPA consent provision can be tricky, as it might be inferred to allow monitoring of employees’ personal and business communications.
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• Employers can legally look at sent employee emails. Additionally, several federal court cases have determined that employers may legally look through employees’ emails after they’re sent. That’s because the ECPA defines “electronic communications” as any electronic messages currently in transmission. Upon being sent, these transmissions become “electronic storage,” which courts have determined employers can monitor.
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• Monitoring must be within reason. In general, monitoring must be within reason. For example, video surveillance can be conducted in common areas and entrances, but surveillance in bathrooms or locker rooms is strictly prohibited and exposes a company to legal repercussions.
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• Business owners may need to store recordings. Another issue arises when you retain recordings, especially of meetings. If you record meetings with employees, especially ones dealing with disciplinary actions or HR-related issues, you may be legally obligated to keep those recordings and turn them over to a court if litigation arises.
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Monitoring computer web activity is separate and can fall under different legal precedents. Here’s what you should know:

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• Employers can monitor web activity on company-owned computers. Computer monitoring software solutions have various features. Some can show you precisely what employees are doing on their computers. You can monitor activities such as which websites employees browse on the business’s Wi-Fi and what keystrokes they make on their company laptops. There is practically no reasonable expectation of privacy for an employee using a company device, so a good rule of thumb is to assume that anything employees do on their company-owned computer is visible to their employer.
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• Employers must carefully consider privacy laws. While it’s OK to monitor employees’ computer usage to ensure they’re not wasting time on social media and frivolous browsing, employers should know they risk acquiring too much information. Employers already have employees’ personal data, and they can run amok of privacy laws, like HIPAA, if they disclose private information to anyone.
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• Employers must protect sensitive employee information. Employers have the burden of protecting sensitive employee information, even if it comes from an employee’s personal browsing history or private data stored on a company computer. If a data breach occurs and exposes certain sensitive information, it leaves the company vulnerable to litigation by the employee.
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State workplace privacy and employee monitoring laws

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As with any issue that states regulate, workplace privacy and employee monitoring laws vary among states. The most notable laws come from the following states:

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• Connecticut: Any company that monitors its employees in the workplace must inform them in writing and detail the tracking methods used ahead of time.
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• California, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina: All of these states’ constitutions explicitly state that residents have a right to privacy. As such, employers in these states may need to tread carefully when setting up employee monitoring systems.
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• New York: Any private company that monitors employees in the workplace in New York must provide specific notice upon hire and in a “conspicuous place” all employees can see. An acknowledgment of monitoring must also be kept on file for each employee.
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In addition to employee monitoring laws, some states have strict data privacy laws. For example, the California Privacy Rights Act, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2023, substantially expands employee data protection requirements. To be safe, you may be best served by checking with your legal counsel to ensure your employee monitoring technology usage adheres to federal and state regulations.

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What are the ethics of employee monitoring?

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In a VMware survey of 7,600 global business decision-makers, 70 percent said they installed or planned to install employee monitoring systems on remote employee devices. While most employers said they’ve implemented or plan to implement monitoring software to manage workflow and keep data secure, recording keystrokes and tracking locations come at a cost.

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First and foremost, while it may be legal, regularly monitoring employee moves creates distrust. Even more concerning, a recent study from Harvard Business Review found that employees feel less responsible for their own conduct when they’re being monitored. They are also less likely to follow instructions and more likely to take unapproved breaks.

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Monitoring can feel invasive and may make employees feel the company doesn’t foster a culture of ethical behavior. It can negatively impact employee turnover, productivity and employee happiness.

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How can you communicate about employee monitoring to employees?

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The best way to combat the negative side effects of employee monitoring is by clearly communicating its purpose to your employees. Consider the following tips:

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• Install visible signage about surveillance. Depending on the laws in your state, visible signage stating that security cameras monitor the premises may be enough to cover legal and ethical grounds. The knowledge that cameras monitor everything is often enough to prevent internal employee theft.
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• Be transparent about employee monitoring. Transparency is always a good practice. Because many employees feel uncomfortable being monitored, it’s important to be forthcoming about what you hope to accomplish and how surveillance aligns with your business’s goals. A study by Profusion showed that 61 percent of employees are comfortable with monitoring when it’s used to support fairness and transparency.
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• Communicate openly about employee monitoring. Employers can strengthen trust by communicating with employees openly and honestly. All monitoring policies and procedures should be clearly communicated to new employees. Current employees should receive notice if any changes are made. In addition, employees should have access to the data employers collect about them and the ability to challenge interpretations of it.
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• Track only what is necessary. As mentioned, GPS tracking is another form of employee monitoring, generally as part of fleet tracking and telematics on company vehicles. With most fleet software, managers can track a company vehicle and where it’s been, even if the employee is off the clock. Business owners can do this, as they have the right to know where their property is. However, GPS tracking of company devices like laptops and phones is another murky area because employers can learn more than they need to about employees’ activities when they’re off the clock.
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• Choose employee monitoring methods carefully. Clearly, as technology continues to develop, organizations will have opportunities to track and monitor employees in new ways. As these new options arise, business leaders must listen to employees and review legal guidelines for employee monitoring. “Ultimately, a balance can be reached by thinking through legitimate business interests and weighing them against the expectation of privacy of employees while also taking into account regulatory limitations, which may differ state to state, country to country,” said Joseph Lazzarotti, a principal with Jackson Lewis who leads the law firm’s Privacy, Data, and Cybersecurity practice group.
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• Review important considerations. There are pros and cons to implementing employee monitoring solutions. Before launching new programs, employers should carefully consider their monitoring goals and the potential impacts on employee engagement and company culture. Additionally, employers must ensure any new monitoring efforts comply with federal and local laws.
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Casey Conway and Andreas Rivera contributed to this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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As technologies that capture and analyze data proliferate, so do businesses’ abilities to contextualize data and draw new insights from it. Through consumer behavior and predictive analytics, companies regularly capture, store and analyze large amounts of quantitative and qualitative data on their consumer base every day. Some companies have built an entire business model around consumer data, whether they sell personal information to a third party or create targeted ads to promote their products and services.

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Here’s a look at some of the ways companies capture consumer data, what they do with that information, and how you can use the same techniques for your own business purposes.

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Types of consumer data businesses collect

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The consumer data that businesses collect break down into four categories:

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1. Personal data. This category includes personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers and gender, as well as nonpersonally identifiable information, including your IP address, web browser cookies and device IDs (which both your laptop and mobile device have).
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2. Engagement data. This type of data details how consumers interact with a business’s website, mobile apps, text messages, social media pages, emails, paid ads and customer service routes.
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3. Behavioral data. This category includes transactional details such as purchase histories, product usage information (e.g., repeated actions) and qualitative data (e.g., mouse movement information).
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4. Attitudinal data. This data type encompasses metrics on consumer satisfaction, purchase criteria, product desirability and more.
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How do businesses collect your data?

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Companies capture data in many ways from many sources. Some collection methods are highly technical, while others are more deductive (although these processes often employ sophisticated software).

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The bottom line, though, is that companies are using a cornucopia of collection methods and sources to capture and process customer data on metrics, with interest in types of data ranging from demographic data to behavioral data, said Liam Hanham, data science manager at Workday.

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“Customer data can be collected in three ways: by directly asking customers, by indirectly tracking customers, and by appending other sources of customer data to your own,” said Hanham. “A robust business strategy needs all three.”

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Businesses are adept at pulling in all types of data from nearly every nook and cranny. The most obvious places are from consumer activity on their websites and social media pages or through customer phone calls and live chats, but there are more interesting methods at work as well. [Make sure your company has the best business phone system.]

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One example is location-based advertising, which uses tracking technologies such as an internet-connected device’s IP address (and the other devices it interacts with – your laptop may interact with your mobile device, and vice versa) to build a personalized data profile. This information is then used to target users’ devices with hyperpersonalized, relevant advertising.

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Companies also dig deep into their customer service records to see how customers have interacted with sales and support departments in the past. Here, they are incorporating direct feedback about what worked and what didn’t, what a customer liked and disliked, on a grand scale.

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Besides collecting information for business purposes, companies that sell personal information and other data to third-party sources have become commonplace. Once captured, this information regularly changes hands in a data marketplace of its own.

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Turning data into knowledge

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Capturing large amounts of data creates the problem of how to sort through and analyze all that information. No human can reasonably sit down and read through line after line of customer data all day long, and even if they could, they probably wouldn’t make much of a dent. Computers, however, sift through this data more quickly and efficiently than humans, and they can operate 24/7/365 without taking a break.

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As machine learning algorithms and other forms of AI proliferate and improve, data analytics becomes an even more powerful field for breaking down the sea of data into manageable tidbits of actionable insights. Some AI programs will flag anomalies or offer recommendations to decision-makers within an organization based on the contextualized data. Without programs like these, all the data captured in the world would be utterly useless.

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How do businesses use your data?

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There are several ways companies use the consumer data they collect and the insights they draw from that data.

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1. To improve the customer experience

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For many companies, consumer data offers a way to better understand customer needs and boost customer engagement. When companies analyze customer behavior, as well as vast troves of reviews and feedback, they can nimbly modify their digital presence, goods or services to better suit the current marketplace.

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Not only do companies use consumer data to improve consumer experiences as a whole, but they also use data to make decisions on an individualized level, said Brandon Chopp, digital manager for iHeartRaves.

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“Our most important source of marketing intelligence comes from understanding customer data and using it to improve our website functionality,” Chopp said. “Our team has improved the customer experience by creating customized promotions and special offers based on customer data. Since each customer is going to have their own individual preferences, personalization is key.”

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2. To refine a company’s marketing strategy

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Contextualized data can help companies understand how consumers are engaging with and responding to their marketing campaigns, and adjust accordingly. This highly predictive use case gives businesses an idea of what consumers want based on what they have already done. Like other aspects of consumer data analysis, marketing is becoming more about personalization, said Brett Downes, director at Haro Helpers.

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“Mapping users’ journeys and personalizing their journey, not just through your website but further onto platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook or on to any other website, is now essential,” Downes said. “Segmenting data effectively allows you to market to only the people you know are most likely to engage. These have opened up new opportunities in industries previously very hard to market to.”

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3. To transform the data into cash flow

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Companies that capture data stand to profit from it. Data brokers, or data service providers that buy and sell information on customers, have risen as a new industry alongside big data. For businesses that capture large amounts of data, collecting information and then selling it represent opportunities for new revenue streams.

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This information is immensely valuable for advertisers, and they’ll pay for it, so the demand for more and more data is increasing. That means the more disparate data sources data brokers can pull from to package more thorough data profiles, the more money they can make by selling this information to one another and to advertisers.

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4. To secure more data

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Some businesses even use consumer data as a means of securing more sensitive information. For example, banking institutions sometimes use voice recognition data to authorize a user to access their financial information or protect them from fraudulent attempts to steal their information.

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These systems work by pairing data from a customer’s interaction with a call center, machine learning algorithms, and tracking technologies that can identify and flag potentially fraudulent attempts to access a customer’s account. This takes some of the guesswork and human error out of catching a con.

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As data capture and analytics technologies become more sophisticated, companies will find new and more effective ways to collect and contextualize data on everything, including consumers. For businesses, doing so is essential if they want to remain competitive well into the future; failing to do so is like running a race with your legs tied together. Insight is king, and insight in the modern business environment is gleaned from contextualized data.

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Data privacy regulations

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So much consumer data has been captured and analyzed that governments are crafting strict data and consumer privacy regulations designed to give individuals a modicum of control over how their data is used. Below are four prominent consumer privacy regulations.

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European Union General Data Protection Requirements

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The European Union’s General Data Protection Requirements (GDPR) lays out the rules of data capture, storage, usage and sharing for companies. GDPR regulation and compliance doesn’t just matter for European countries – it’s a law applicable to any business that targets or collects the personal data of EU citizens.

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California Consumer Privacy Act

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Data privacy has made it to the U.S. in the form of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The CCPA is similar to GDPR regulation but differs in that it requires consumers to opt out of data collection rather than putting the onus on service providers. It also names the state as the entity to develop applicable data law rather than a company’s internal decision-makers.

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Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act

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On January 1, 2023, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) will go into effect. As with the CCPA, the VCDPA will put the onus on consumers to opt out of companies processing or selling their data. The VCDPA will also require companies to store only data relevant to their goals and then delete that data once the goal has been achieved. Any companies to which the VCDPA applies must inform consumers of their rights under the law and how to exercise them.

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Colorado Privacy Act

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On July 1, 2023, the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) will go into effect. As with the CCPA and the VCDPA, the CPA requires consumer opt-out. The CPA covers targeted advertising and certain types of data-based profiling as well. Data-holding entities will be required to address consumer requests within 45 days and display privacy notices on their websites.

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What do consumers think of business data collection?

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According to a 2022 Ipsos poll, 70% of Americans think that, over time, limiting who can and can’t access their data has become tougher. This poll also found that only 34% of Americans think that companies adequately safeguard consumer data.

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Ipsos also asked the poll’s 1,005 respondents about how they protect their data. Only 16% of respondents took all six data security measures about which Ipsos asked. Another 49% of respondents took three or fewer of these measures. There was a correlation between a respondent’s number of security measures taken and their cynicism about adequately controlling access to their data.

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Further, 78% of respondents said they wanted to require companies to obtain their consent before accessing and using their data. Similarly, 71% wanted to stay anonymous online, and 70% wanted the ability to scrub their data from the internet. Taken as a whole, the results suggest that the average consumer is both worried about their online data and unsure of how to protect it.

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How can you protect your data?

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Experts recommend taking the following steps to keep your data as private as possible.

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• Block ads and trackers. The ads you encounter while browsing the internet can collect your data. Many websites also include trackers that can obtain your data, and businesses can access this data. Browser extensions that block ads and trackers can create a privacy barrier around this information.
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• Use a VPN. When you browse the internet with a VPN, you tunnel information from your device to a server. This tunneling hides your browsing activity, putting up a wall between businesses and your data. The VPN will encrypt all your data as well.
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• Reconsider free apps and platforms. Social media platforms are free because they sell your data to make a profit. The same may be true for any free app. That’s a reason to avoid free apps or limit your free app usage to solely those from reputable companies. For example, the free Slack mobile app is probably fine since you can pay for Slack. But some random free gaming app with no paid option might be selling your data.
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• Sign up for unimportant memberships with fake information. Nobody would tell you to use a fake name, phone number or address for, say, your health insurance plan. But that’s a trusted and necessary service with a revenue stream independent of your personal data. On the other hand, non-essential services – say, a streaming subscription – might sell your name, phone number and address data. Using fake information can protect your data in this case.
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• Avoid linking your apps. Connecting your personal apps can make them more convenient to use, but these apps will also share your data with one another. See if you can go without connecting apps so that you don’t build more bridges from your data to businesses.
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The future of business data use

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Data privacy regulations are changing the way businesses capture, store, share and analyze consumer data. Businesses that are so far untouched by data privacy regulations can expect a greater legal obligation to protect consumers’ data as more consumers demand privacy rights. Data collection by private companies, though, is unlikely to go away; it will merely change in form as businesses adapt to new laws and regulations.

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Adam Uzialko also contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

\n"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2692","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/11070-national-days-advertising.html","displayModified":"2024-01-30T17:08:24Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"11070-national-days-advertising.html","id":"2692","ID":2692,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-09-24T20:13:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"National days, both general and specific, are opportunities to boost your sales. Here's how to take advantage of them.","subtitle":"National days, both general and specific, are opportunities to boost your sales. Here's how to take advantage of them.","title":"How to Use National Days Properly for Advertising","author":{"displayName":"Natalie Hamingson","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2023/02/28125423/Natalie-Hamingson-headshot.jpg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Sales & Marketing","slug":"sales-marketing"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"National Days provide unique opportunities for businesses to embark on advertising campaigns. Learn about 50 days you can use in national advertising."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072947/marketing_Prostock-Studio.jpg","caption":"Prostock-Studio / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"

Thousands of national days celebrate just about any treat or occasion you can think of, from National Doughnut Day to World Smile Day. These national days can provide content for your social media marketing team and be a great way to drive engagement and sales.

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However, while many of these days have their perks ― who doesn’t love a day centered on doughnuts? ― only some will relate to your business. However, with careful thought and planning, national days can help you grab the attention of both loyal and new customers.

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This guide offers tips for small businesses that want to identify the best national days for their marketing strategy and how to harness them. Read ahead for a sample of national days and how you can integrate them into your marketing calendar.

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Editor’s Note: Looking for information on social media management services? Use the questionnaire below and our vendor partners will contact you to provide you with the information you need:

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50 national and international days you can use in advertising

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This list barely scratches the surface of available national days to celebrate. Of course, not all these days will pertain to your business. That said, you might be surprised how creative you can get when connecting these occasions to your brand.

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Here are 50 national and international days to keep in mind when drafting your business marketing plan and social media content calendar.

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1. National Bagel Day ― January 15

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Kick off the new year by celebrating this breakfast staple and its endless savory or sweet topping choices. Use this day to highlight how your product goes great with a bagel, whether it’s coffee or a morning podcast.

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2. National Cheese Lover’s Day ― January 20

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Pay homage to your favorite fromage. Since cheese goes with just about everything, National Cheese Lover’s Day has tons of marketing potential for many foodservice businesses. If you don’t sell food, try poking fun at the day with a cheesy pun instead.

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3. Get to Know Your Customers Day ― third Thursday of each quarter

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Customer satisfaction is key to any successful business. This occasion gives you four chances throughout the year to connect with your customers and ask them to share their valuable feedback.

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4. National Compliment Day ― January 24

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If you want to make someone’s day better instantly, a few words of kindness and appreciation can go a long way. Reinforce your brand’s positive message and encourage your customers to be generous with compliments.

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5. National Opposite Day ― January 25

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Turn your world upside down and say the opposite of what you actually mean all day. National Opposite Day offers the chance to get silly and create a print, digital or email marketing campaign with fun, eye-catching content.

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6. National Thank a Mail Carrier Day ― February 4

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We all rely on the hard work of mail carriers and businesses are no exception. Even if you don’t ship your products or use direct mail marketing, there’s a good chance you rely on the postal service to receive supplies and important mail. Use this day to publicly thank mail carriers for keeping business moving ― customers might appreciate the gesture and become more likely to buy from you.

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7. National Pizza Day ― February 9

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Americans love pizza so much that we eat 3 billion a year ― 4 billion if you count frozen pizzas. On this scrumptious national day, pizzerias can offer print and digital coupons to incentivize customers to celebrate this momentous occasion.

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8. Global Movie Day ― second Saturday in February

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This international holiday celebrates the wonders of cinema. Appeal to the film buffs in your customer base and drive engagement with a social campaign via Instagram that asks your audience to share their favorite movies.

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9. Galentine’s Day ― February 13

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The most important relationships aren’t always romantic. Give your customers tips on celebrating the strong female friendships in their life the day before Valentine’s Day.

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10. National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day ― March 1

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Peanut butter makes a great companion for various ingredients. If you’re in foodservice and peanut butter isn’t on the menu, spotlight your products that go great with the nutty spread.

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11. National Employee Appreciation Day ― first Friday in March

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This national day acknowledges that no matter your industry, your business can’t run without your employees. This is an excellent day to publicly thank your team for their hard work and show customers you care about your people.

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12. National Dress Day ― March 6

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From little black dresses to colorful summer numbers, National Dress Day salutes this fashion staple. This day is an ideal opportunity for clothing retailers to showcase their best dresses in-store or online.

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13. International Women’s Day ― March 8

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International Women’s Day lifts up women’s accomplishments and raises awareness about gender inequality around the globe. Demonstrate your organization’s commitment to closing the gender gap by recognizing this important day.

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14. National Napping Day ― the day after the return of daylight saving time

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Adjusting daylight saving time usually leaves most of us a bit tired, so what better day to celebrate the art of the nap? If self-care is central to your brand, this is a great opportunity to remind your customer base that rest is essential.

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15. National Handmade Day ― first Saturday in April

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This national day elevates craftsmanship of all kinds. If you run a small business or Etsy shop with handmade products, highlight the love and care you put into every item with a video or photo series.

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16. National Siblings Day ― April 10

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The bond between siblings is one of a kind. Use this day to highlight your story if you run a family-owned business or work with family.

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17. National Pet Day ― April 11

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Who doesn’t love an excuse to celebrate our favorite furry friends? Pet-related social posts are already incredibly effective at driving customer engagement. Ask your followers to tag your products in pictures with their pets. If you’re a pet owner, spotlight your team’s furry friends on your socials or business blog.

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18. Earth Day ― April 22

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This day emphasizes the importance of protecting the planet and its environment. You can use this national day to highlight your business’ commitment to sustainability and a sustainable business model.

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19. National Beverage Day ― May 6

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This is the day to quench your thirst with your favorite liquid concoction. From hot beverages like coffee to cool refreshments like soda, National Beverage Day offers the ideal marketing opportunity for a range of drink-based businesses.

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20. National Space Day ― first Friday in May

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National Space Day applauds the scientists who paved the way in space exploration. It’s also a great chance to get kids excited about science and astronomy. If your business is geared toward kids or education, use National Space Day to create out-of-this-world content.

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21. National Fitness Day ― first Saturday in May

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National Fitness Day is meant to promote healthy habits and get everyone moving. This day offers a valuable chance to promote your wellness business.

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22. National Rescue Dog Day ― May 20

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This day encourages you to adopt, not shop. If you own a pet supply business, have customers tag your company in photos with their rescues in your store or with your products. If you’re not a pet-related business, but there’s a rescue agency close to your heart, consider reaching out about a potential partnership. If you’re a dog-friendly business, use this as an opportunity to show off the rescues in your extended employee family.

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23. National Doughnut Day ― first Friday of June

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National Doughnut Day represents a reason to grab a sweet treat and several brands without a direct connection to doughnuts often participate in the festivities. This is a day when your business can showcase its voice and identity.

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24. National Children’s Day ― second Sunday in June

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If you’ve got any kids’ products in your inventory, this is a good day to highlight them. You can’t quite target kids in advertising since they don’t typically shop, but you can get their parents’ attention with the right messaging.

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25. National Selfie Day ― June 21

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These self-portraits are already a favorite to post on social media. Use National Selfie Day as an excuse to encourage selfies that include your product or service.

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26. National Ice Cream Day ― third Sunday in July

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Beat the heat with a cool treat. This national day is a great advertising opportunity for ice cream or dessert brands. It could also be a great chance to highlight ice cream-themed products, such as ice cream cone jewelry.

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27. National Friendship Day ― first Sunday of August

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This day can be an incredible opportunity to generate engagement on social media when done correctly. Tie your products to tips that inspire customers to show their friends how much they matter. You can also highlight workplace friendships at your business by posting employees who are office best friends forever.

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28. National Book Lovers Day ― August 9

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If you own a local bookstore, National Book Lovers Day is the ideal day to promote your business. In other industries, you can offer some reading suggestions within your niche to connect your business with this national day.

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29. National Tell a Joke Day ― August 16

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Humor is a great way to grab your customers’ attention and send a message that emotionally resonates. Celebrate the art of the punchline and get creative with a National Tell a Joke Day campaign.

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30. National Grandparents’ Day ― Sunday after Labor Day

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If your company sells anything that older adults might find useful, National Grandparents’ Day is a great advertising occasion. Promote discounts to drive sales, targeting your actual customers as well as people who might buy them gifts.

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31. National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day ― September 13

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Engage with your parent customers and encourage them to share a fun family activity. Mark this day on your marketing calendar if you sell food or kitchen-related products. You can create a fun hashtag for your audience to use with pictures of their kitchen takeovers.

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32. National Dance Day ― third Saturday in September

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This national day celebrates joyful movement and offers many opportunities for fun social engagement campaigns. National Dance Day can be especially effective for attracting customers to small bars or venues where you can dance the night away.

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33. Voter Registration Day ― September (day changes annually)

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If community involvement is part of your brand voice, Voter Registration Day is a great nonpartisan way to promote civic participation. You can offer a limited-time discount to customers who register to vote or create a unique promo code using the word “vote” and the year.

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34. National Family Day ― fourth Monday in September

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National Family Day recognizes the importance of gathering around the table and bonding over a family meal. Post products like food and beverages or after-dinner games to inspire a memorable evening with your given or chosen family.

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35. National Coffee Day ― September 29

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National Coffee Day offers your business a chance to engage customers regardless of your industry. If customers wait in your store while completing their purchase, consider offering free coffee on National Coffee Day.

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36. National Taco Day ― October 4

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Make them at home, visit your favorite taco spot or throw a taco party ― this is the day to enjoy this beloved handheld dish. It’s an obvious advertising opportunity for restaurants or food and beverage vendors. But small businesses with cool taco merchandise like taco-printed clothing can also get in on the fun.

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37. World Teachers’ Day ― October 5

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Teachers have one of the most important, but often underappreciated, jobs in the world. Honor the contributions of educators everywhere and pay tribute to the teachers who helped make you a success. You can also offer discount codes to educators to thank them for all their hard work.

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38. World Smile Day ― first Friday in October

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World Smile Day invites us to spread a little joy and share a smile. If positivity or humor is relevant to your brand, run a campaign focused on making your customers smile. Since Harvey Ball, inventor of the iconic yellow smiley face, founded this day, feel free to incorporate emojis into your campaign too.

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39. National Dessert Day ― October 14

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No meal is complete until you’ve had a little something sweet. Inspire your customers to indulge in your business’s sugary products on National Dessert Day.

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40. National Stress Awareness Day ― first Wednesday in November

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Our busy modern lives can lead to feelings of stress. National Stress Day aims to raise awareness and promote positive mental health practices. If your brand is in the wellness space, this could be a good day to communicate how your services can help with self-care.

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41. National Sandwich Day ― November 3

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Early November is the time to uplift this versatile lunchtime classic. Since there’s almost no limit to the ingredients you can use for a sandwich, this day can be relevant for a range of food vendors.

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42. World Kindness Day ― November 13

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World Kindness Day reminds us that we can make the world a better place, even with our smallest actions. Emphasize the caring nature of your mission and urge your customers to commit random acts of kindness on this national day. Businesses can also commit to charitable contributions to demonstrate kindness.

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43. Black Friday ―  the Friday after Thanksgiving

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A huge sales day for retailers, Black Friday signals the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. With people on the lookout for bargains, this is a great opportunity to boost sales by offering exclusive deals and Black Friday discounts.

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44. Small Business Saturday ― the Saturday after Thanksgiving

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First recognized in 2010, thanks to efforts from American Express, Small Business Saturday encourages customers to support small (and often local) retailers. Give your small business a boost and research campaigns early in the year to stand out when November rolls around.

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45. Giving Tuesday ― Tuesday after Thanksgiving

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After a handful of shopping-focused national days, Giving Tuesday asks us to spend on a good cause. If your business partners with a charity or nonprofit organization, spotlight its important work. You can also demonstrate your commitment to corporate social responsibility and donate a percentage of proceeds from sales on Giving Tuesday.

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46. National Bartender Day ― first Friday in December

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Today is the day to thank your favorite mixologist. Bars and liquor vendors should note this day in their marketing plans ― and ensure they encourage customers to tip generously.

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47. National Cookie Day ― December 4

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Cookies are already a big part of the holiday season, so it makes sense to give these classic treats a dedicated December holiday. This is a great day for bakeries to offer exclusive discounts. If you sell baking ingredients or appliances, consider a social campaign and ask your customers to tag you in photos of them enjoying homemade cookies.

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48. National Underdog Day ― third Friday in December

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Everyone loves to cheer for an underdog, and it can certainly be argued that small businesses are underdogs in a large-business world. Target your customers with a video and tell a story about the history of your business. If your audience sees how much hard work you’ve put in, they may want to support and be part of your success.

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49. National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day ― December 16

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Chocolate can improve many desserts or snacks so, naturally, there’s a day to praise all things chocolate-covered. Promote your chocolate-covered products or give customers some ideas on your ingredients that would pair well with cocoa.

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50. National Thank You Note Day ― December 26

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After the holidays, it’s important to show gratitude for all the wonderful gifts you received from family and friends. National Thank You Note Day is a great opportunity for stationery stores to highlight the personal touch their products add.

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How to prepare for national days

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To take advantage of national days, keep these tips in mind.

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1. Map out national days quarterly.

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It’s important to have a quarterly marketing strategy to break down your annual marketing plans into easily digestible sections. Using national days to promote your business is no different. Plot out which days you want to emphasize each quarter. If a campaign didn’t perform well in the first quarter, you can reevaluate and adjust your plans for national days next quarter.

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2. Identify the national days relevant to your brand.

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Avoid posting about national days if they have no connection to your business. A pizza parlor tweeting about how customers should grab a slice for National Fitness Day doesn’t make much sense. Posting on days that don’t complement your business may turn customers off and reduce engagement. Remain true to your business and find national days that genuinely connect to your organization to include in your marketing plan.

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“Just because national days abound doesn’t mean they’re relevant,” said Kelsey DeMarco, senior director of creative operations at Day One Agency. “Don’t just latch on for the sake of social content. Have a strategy. After all, nobody likes the person at the party that just talks to talk.”

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3. Create and schedule national day campaigns in advance.

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If you forget and see that tomorrow is National Friendship Day, your business will have a tough time putting together a social media campaign that will generate engagement in only a day. The planning process around national days should start weeks, if not months, in advance.

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“I think a big part of being able to generate engagement via social is by planning,” advised Sophie Duncan, senior copywriter at Greenlight. “Make sure that you have a plan and you know when you’re going to post what content.”

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Diana Stern, vice president of marketing at NRS, says her company plans Thanksgiving and Christmas promotions months in advance. “It’s a lot about offering the communities we serve the ability to feel connected,” Stern said.

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Duncan also stressed the importance of brands understanding their identity and leaving adequate time to create advertising campaigns centered on national days. Whether it’s a widely celebrated holiday like Thanksgiving or a less traditional celebration like National Doughnut Day, your business must plan ahead to create the best advertising campaign.

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4. Measure which national day campaigns drive the most engagement.

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National days can be a great marketing tool, but you must measure the results. This way, you know whether you’re taking the right approach. NRS, for example, provides its clients with actionable data to help them take better advantage of trends, including those related to national days. It also provides sales data on trends approximately three to six months in advance of when customers might be more inclined to purchase certain products.

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5. Reassess the most important national days to target.

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Like any marketing plan, your strategy for preparing for holidays will always be a work in progress. Prioritize reviewing the data you measured with each campaign and evaluate which campaigns are worth repeating ― and scrap what’s not worth the return on investment.

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Use national days to market when it makes sense

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With so many national days to choose from, there’s likely to be at least one that fits your business and its message. Be mindful about which national days you mark on your calendar, then craft content that stands out. No matter where along your sales funnel you’re targeting, national days are a great chance to get creative and grow your business.

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Bennett Conlin and Max Freedman contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2688","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/1783-choosing-franchise.html","displayModified":"2024-05-17T14:57:20Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"1783-choosing-franchise.html","id":"2688","ID":2688,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-09-26T19:34:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Understand the factors involved so you can make the right decision. ","subtitle":"Understand the factors involved so you can make the right decision. ","title":"How to Choose the Right Franchise","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Start Your Business","slug":"start-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Franchising","slug":"franchising"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"There are franchises in almost every industry, so you have myriad options. Learn how to decide which franchise is right for you and how to get started."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072828/store_monkeybusinessimages.jpg","caption":"monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"

If you want to start a new business, franchising could be an excellent option. Franchises exist in almost every industry, so you have wide-ranging opportunities. But how do you narrow your choices and select the best franchise for you?

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With a franchise, you can be your own boss while benefiting from a proven product or service. However, you still must put in extraordinary effort, so finding a good fit for your passion and skill set is crucial. You should consider numerous factors, including franchise costs and corporate support.

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How to choose the right franchise

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If you’re considering franchising, check the following boxes to ensure you choose the best opportunity for your needs, goals and budget.

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1. Pinpoint your franchise preferences and needs.

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As with starting a career or opening any new business, you must understand your preferences and needs when looking into franchising. Ask the following questions to ensure you start your franchise journey with a clear understanding of what’s best for you:

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• What are my personal goals? Everyone has different motivations for becoming a franchising entrepreneur. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of starting a business and see opening a franchise as your best chance to earn a big salary. Your goal may be to spend more time at home or take an entrepreneurial step in your career. When you understand your personal goals, you can narrow your franchise search to opportunities that suit you.
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• What type of industry do I want to conduct business in? A franchise may earn you money, but it won’t improve your quality of life if it’s in a field you don’t like. Take a moment to truly consider what you want to spend 40-plus hours per week doing. You can find franchises in nearly any industry – it’s not all fast-food restaurants and coffee shops. You can operate a franchise in tutoring or college prep, janitorial or cleaning services, restaurants and retail, health and wellness, or many other categories. Once you feel confident in your industry preference, pursue franchisors that align with your interests.
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• What role do I want to play in the business? Be realistic about how involved you’d like to be in the franchise. Sometimes, franchisors expect franchisees to be heavily involved in day-to-day processes. Other times, you’ll work in more of a management role. Ask yourself which option you prefer, and choose franchisors that offer these opportunities.
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• What are my strengths? The most successful franchise owners do work that suits them and find ways to delegate or outsource other functions. When deciding on a franchise, understand that you don’t have to be an expert in everything. Determine the work you want to do and when you’ll likely delegate tasks to employees or outsourced professionals.
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• What is my investment budget? There are franchises for every budget. Costs vary significantly by industry and business model. For example, opening a food franchise is much more expensive than a home-based, business-to-business (B2B) franchise due to the equipment and inventory needed to start the business. While some upfront fees are less than $10,000, others are over $1 million. Understand how much you are willing and able to invest in a franchise in your preferred industry.
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2. Research companies offer franchising opportunities.

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Once you understand the parameters you’ll need in your franchising journey and know your preferred industry, it’s time to research companies with franchising opportunities that fit the bill. Start by looking at the biggest names in your industry. These companies likely have storefronts in nearly every major city and many states. Research whether these companies offer business franchising opportunities and commit to contacting those that do.

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3. Reach out to promising franchisors.

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Many companies operate web pages entirely devoted to their franchising opportunities. Locate these online resources and use them to get more information and contact the franchises that interest you. Chances are you’ll hear back within 24 hours and get the opportunity to schedule a call – take it. If you get a reply long after 24 hours, you may fare better pursuing other franchises.

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4. Ask questions during your initial franchisor call.

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During your scheduled call, ask about the states where the franchisor is seeking franchisees and how successful other franchisees have been. Consider this call a low-stakes introductory discussion – you’re just trying to understand franchising basics and determine if the franchise makes sense for you.

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Remember that the person you’re talking with is also on a fact-finding mission. This is a good time to determine the franchisors’ requirements and parameters. Perhaps they want franchisees to have specific industry experience. They may want franchisees to have basic business know-how and an entrepreneurial drive to succeed. Many franchisors want franchisees who understand marketing, customer service and sales – and are concerned with increasing transactions.

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Determine if your business experience and entrepreneurial ideas fit the franchisor’s vision of promising franchisees.

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5. Visit franchise locations.

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After pinpointing a promising franchise opportunity, visit franchise storefronts in different regions to see if their branding and operations are consistent across locations. Observe all customer-facing employees to confirm that they treat customers appropriately. Be sure all locations you visit are clean and well organized. These are all signs that your potential franchisor truly invests in its franchisees.

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6. Get feedback from current franchisees.

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The best way to learn about a franchise is to talk directly to involved participants. Ask them about the franchisor’s support system, licensing fees and any exclusivity it offers within a specific ZIP code or radius from a particular location.

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Some franchises hold a “discovery day” or similar events where you can speak to representatives and learn more about franchising opportunities. Similarly, attending franchising industry conferences, such as the International Franchise Association’s annual conference, is an excellent way to identify and compare options.

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The following resources can also help you select a franchise:

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• Franchising.com
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• International Franchise Association
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7. Inquire about and add up all potential franchise starting costs.

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Everything you’ve learned from talking to current franchisees and the franchisor might remind you that starting a franchise is expensive. You can really get a sense of the numbers with a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Here, you’ll see your royalties, franchise fees, required payments to mandatory vendors and brand funds.

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Beyond these fees, consider the cost of any equipment you’ll need and any marketing campaigns you’ll undertake. There are also build-out costs and business licenses to consider, not to mention paying employees. You’ll face fewer financial challenges if you meet the franchisor’s liquid capital and net worth requirements.

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8. Analyze your franchise’s ongoing costs and potential challenges.

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You should also evaluate ongoing costs, such as the cost of obtaining the goods you’ll use or sell. Franchisors often require franchisees to use a predetermined set of vendors with preset markups on their sale prices. The latter may increase your purchasing costs.

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As you investigate these ongoing costs, review your FDD to see the franchisor’s litigation and bankruptcy history. Doing so can preview any challenges you might face in operating your location. Use the FDD to find the franchisor’s number of open and closed locations and the reasons behind the closures. Consider reaching out to departed franchisees for meaningful feedback to complement the commentary you’ve already gotten.

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9. Review the franchisor’s Item 19.

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In many cases, franchisors will give you a formal Item 19 document outlining your potential sales, revenue and profit. Review this document and confirm that there are many locations, both owned and franchised, in the performance calculations. Ask questions based on these numbers. If your franchisor declines to share an Item 19, ask why.

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10. Consider your franchise territories and support.

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Your franchising agreement should give your storefront exclusive operating rights within a specific vicinity. Look for such language in your contract, and inquire with your franchisor about any concerns.

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Similarly, review your contract to understand the extent of training you’ll get at the start and franchisor support thereafter. You should be confident that you have the franchisor’s full backing every step of the way.

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11. Make your franchising decision.

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Since franchisors will often lock you into a 10-year contract, you should reflect on the journey you undertook to choose this franchise. Did you feel comfortable asking the franchisor questions? Were there yellow or red flags along the way? Is there a clear opportunity to make meaningful money? If you feel you’re in a good place, follow your instincts and sign the contract.

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What to look for when choosing a franchise

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Your chosen franchise may look like a good fit on paper, but some more nuanced factors are involved in choosing a franchise. To help ensure a successful relationship and partnership with your franchisor, consider the following:

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• Does the franchisor have a strong support system for franchisees? One of the biggest benefits of buying into a franchise is that the brand is already established. Ensure your franchisor is readily available to share knowledge and guidance and that other support systems, including other franchisees, are available.
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• Will your franchisor invest in your potential? The franchisor should indicate that it cares about your professional success and growth within the company. Some franchisors will even administer tests to determine a franchisee’s mindset and ambition. Look for indications that your franchisor believes in your potential and is willing to help you grow.
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• Is the franchisor professional? You want to work with highly professional franchisors. You can start determining a franchisor’s professionalism early in the relationship. For example, as you make initial inquiries, note how the franchisor handles your requests. Do representatives answer questions promptly and thoroughly?
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• Are you and the franchisor clear about mutual expectations? Before signing a contract, you should be clear on what your potential franchisor expects of you (and vice versa) and ensure the deal is a good fit for both parties. Consider the deal a long-term partnership. Are you ready for the commitment, and can you meet the franchisor’s expectations? Can the franchisor meet your expectations?
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• Do you like the franchisor’s sales and business approach? Before diving into business with a franchisor, consider how it approaches sales, marketing and advertising. Consider whether these methods will succeed in the current marketplace and if you can afford the franchisor’s tactics and campaigns.
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• Does the franchisor have good reviews? Look for information on message boards, Facebook or LinkedIn groups, or articles where franchisees talk about their experiences with the franchisor. If the reviews are fairly consistent, you’ll get a good sense of the company’s business practices.
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Opening your doors is easier than you think

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The franchising process isn’t complicated; it’s just lengthy. You’ll need plenty of time to carefully review the franchisor’s documents, think about your interactions with them and get other franchisees’ feedback. Along the way, you’ll mostly work with information that’s easy to understand. Use it to make smart decisions, and opening the doors on your franchise location should be the start of a great new adventure.

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Sean Peek and Marci Martin contributed to this article. 

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"26246","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/signs-employees-hate-their-job","displayModified":"2023-10-20T17:04:54Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"signs-employees-hate-their-job","id":"26246","ID":26246,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2023-03-06T14:01:41Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Employees can be unhappy for various reasons ― and there are plenty of potential fixes","subtitle":"Employees can be unhappy for various reasons ― and there are plenty of potential fixes","title":"3 Signs Your Employees Hate Their Jobs (and What to Do About It)","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Lead Your Team","slug":"lead-your-team"},"sub":{"name":"Managing","slug":"managing"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Various factors can create unhappiness in employees. Learn three signs your employees are unhappy and discover several ways to improve employee morale."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04074044/happy_office_Sjale_getty.jpg","caption":"Sjale / Getty Images","alt":"Happy colleagues laughing"},"content":"

If you’ve paid any attention to pandemic-era news, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the Great Resignation. This phenomenon stems from employees being more willing than ever to quit jobs they don’t like. Fret not, however ― small business owners have the power to create better working conditions for their teams. Boosting employee satisfaction starts with identifying miserable employees and taking proactive steps to help them feel happier at work.

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3 key signs your employees are unhappy

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Below are three critical signs of an unhappy workforce.

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1. High turnover rates indicate employees are unhappy.

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Unhappy employees tend to leave their organizations ― but the mass exodus can be quiet. To determine if you’re leaking employees at a high rate, check your human resources data. Quantitative data is more effective than anecdotal evidence for accurately identifying employee turnover.

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“This idea that employees are going to show up and be so disgruntled all the time is ridiculous,” said Kim Crowder, founder and chief executive officer of Kim Crowder Consulting. “These are folks who have to make a living … so they may be showing up a certain way, but they also may be going home every night and looking for a way out of the organization.”

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2. Employees not committing fully to virtual meetings may signal unhappiness.

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Although remote work has become more widespread, it comes with challenges like asynchronous communication and virtual meetings. Miriam Groom ― leader, human capital management at KPMG Canada ― suggests paying attention to how employees show up to virtual meetings to assess their happiness.

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“If you’re having a lot of people doing hybrid work, when you are checking in with them [via video conference], are they turning on their video when you’re speaking to them?” Groom asked.

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While you shouldn’t pressure employees to turn on their video, you may have a problem if you never get face time with them. “If you don’t have any face-to-face interaction [and] they’re not turning their video on a lot of the time, that’s a sign they’re unhappy, that they’re probably looking for something else,” Groom noted. “People are genuinely honest and they don’t want to come eye to eye with their employer if they’re looking for another job.”

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Occasional face-to-face interactions help employers get a read on their employees and better determine if someone isn’t happy.

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3. Employees asking about career or department changes may signal unhappiness.

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If an employee regularly inquires about responsibility changes, career path progression and new opportunities, it could signal unhappiness.

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“A huge flag [is] they’ll set up a meeting with you to talk about potentially adding more duties, changing duties, career progression, [or] career planning within the firm,” Groom explained. “It usually is a sign that they’re bored [or] not totally happy with the duties they’re doing now.”

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Departmental change requests may also signal unhappiness ― but the problem may stem from a toxic working environment. Groom noted that employees might be reluctant to point fingers, so they reframe their unhappiness with a departmental transfer request. If a toxic workplace is the problem, you likely have many unhappy employees on your hands.

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How to improve employee morale and reduce turnover

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If the above unhappy employee indicators ring a bell, below are some steps you can take to keep employees happy and engaged with your organization.

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1. Offer top employees pay raises and promotions to keep them happy.

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An oft-cited 2021 Pew Research Center survey identified low pay as the top reason employees quit. As such, a simple raise or promotion can sometimes be all you need to help an employee feel happier.

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But be aware that money may not be the actual issue. According to Laura Mills, head of early career insights at Forage, salary increases alone don’t always increase employee happiness. “We were raising salaries at a ridiculous rate in order to keep people,” Mills said about a former company. “In 60 percent of the cases when we raised salary, [the employee] left anyway, so the money wasn’t [the real issue].”

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2. Strengthen your employee benefits to keep employees happy.

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A great employee benefits plan is another way to invest in your employees’ livelihood. Offering health insurance, retirement plan options and other meaningful perks shows your care and consideration for the employee.

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“When I look at a new employer, I look hard at what’s included in the benefits,” Mills noted. Unconventional cool job perks can also play a significant role in keeping employees happy. For example, Mills had an employee quit despite a sizable raise because the company’s health coverage didn’t cover egg freezing as a fertility treatment. The employee left for an employer that did offer this option.

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3. Create generous PTO policies to keep employees happy.

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Employees appreciate generous paid-time-off (PTO) policies, including vacation time, mental health days, paid sick leave and time off for other personal matters. Going beyond standard guidelines can create happier employees.

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Mills used an example from her son’s life to explain this idea. “His fiance has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Mills shared. “He wants to be able to take Fridays off with her and use [Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993] benefits to spend Fridays when she’s in chemo with her and support her. He’s not able to do that with his employer because they’re not yet married.” If her son’s employer expanded its time-off policies to cover nonspousal partner care, Mills said, her son would be less stressed and thus happier.

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4. Help employees figure out what would make them happier.

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Sometimes, employees only know they’re unhappy ― a solution isn’t yet clear. You can work with these employees to determine what career path might make them happier. For example, consider offering professional development opportunities; the previously cited 2021 Pew survey identified a lack of career advancement as the second-most common reason people leave jobs.

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Groom agrees that a career progression path can make employees happier, particularly employees just starting their careers. Additionally, employers can use psychometric testing to help their team members determine possible future roles.

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“There’s the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) … and you don’t need to be certified to do the analysis,” Groom explained. “It benchmarks the role they’re in, assesses them based on the role and says, ‘Are they a good fit for this role?’ If they’re not, do an assessment and figure out what they’re good at and what they should be. What’s their ideal career and can you progress them into that career at your company?”

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5. Respect and listen to your employees to make them happier.

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The Pew study ranked a lack of respect at work as the third-most common reason employees leave jobs. Groom says providing a respectful, psychologically safe environment where employees can speak freely is crucial. “The first thing you need to do to make sure you’re retaining your staff [is] to start at a foundational level and make sure it’s a safe environment for people to express when there are issues leading them to want to leave,” Groom noted.

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A big part of respecting employees is taking all their concerns seriously ― even those that seem unreasonable to you.

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“It’s so easy to take one or two people who are more likely to express themselves either negatively or positively and dismiss their ideas as unusual,” Mills said. “Don’t discount them, because they’re often listening to their peers and speaking on behalf of them.”

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6. Seek out employee opinions proactively to boost happiness.

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There’s listening to your employees and then there’s actively seeking their opinions. Both pieces of the puzzle are crucial for keeping employees happy.

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Mills recommends conducting employee surveys to gather information and identify problems in your work environment. However, understand that surveys have limitations and may not prove as insightful as real-life conversations.

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“I don’t think [surveys] offer enough opportunity for freeform answers,” Mills said. “Having somebody fill out a multiple choice questionnaire or a Likert scale, it’s easy, it’s fast [and] you’ll check a box. But do you want this to be an exercise in compliance or do you want this to be something truly informative?”

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Mills said seeking out employee opinions is always important but an especially critical step if you notice your retention rate declining. “It’s time for you to open your ears and your eyes more and go on an explicit listening campaign, talk to people, [and ask about their] experience,” Mills advised.

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7. Connect employees with upper management to improve happiness.

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Let’s say you’re a midlevel manager. This means your organization’s C-suite trusts you to properly care for your team. But what if your version of “proper care” doesn’t align with what your team and leadership want?

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Skip-level meetings ― meetings between a manager’s manager and their direct reports ― can help bridge this gap and lead to happier employees.

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“I always asked the individual I was hosting the skip-level with to come with at least one or two agenda items,” Mills said. “I also asked that we purposely keep a part of the meeting for just discussion, and I would lean in and say not ‘how are you?’ but ‘how can I help you?’ to truly give this person an opportunity to ask for assistance or an adjustment.”

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Mills noted that skip-level meetings are an opportunity to create a safe environment for people to share their feelings and potentially salvage employee relationships.

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8. Pursue continuing leadership education to create a happier environment.

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If your employees struggle to feel happy at work, it may be because you’re not leading them effectively. Even if you’re a good manager, improving your leadership skills can help you determine what changes to make to improve employee-management relations and boost employee happiness.

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“Every leader needs some sort of continued learning experience, whether that be coaching or through learning experiences in a group, in a team and [making] that part of their strategy as a business,” Crowder said. “We cannot [make employees happy] until we have leaders that are equipped to do it or leaders with partners who can help them learn how to do it right.”

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9. Counter your biases to improve employee happiness.

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Not all employees are treated the same, even if the differences are subtle. Crowder says this differential treatment can be a form of subconscious bias that can lead to unhappy employees.

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“Based on data, when we look at who moves into the C-suite at the highest rates, it’s white men across the board, then it’s white women,” Crowder said. Men of color and women of color come next. When employees feel left behind due to race, gender or background, dissatisfaction and unhappiness ensue.

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Additionally, Crowder noted, “Women of color are six times more likely than white men … to receive job performance comments that are unactionable. It’s about their personality [and] things they can’t actually take and do something about.” This biased approach to performance reviews can lead to unhappy employees.

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Biases also come into play with promotions. For example, a company may say it promotes from within, but if the workplace demographics and dominant culture are white people, there’s a problem. “We find [this] discriminatory, whether [organizations] mean for it to be or not and that is a major way to look at your policies and practices,” Crowder explained. “How do you decide who gets promoted [and] how they’re promoted?”

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10. Customize the employee experience to improve happiness.

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While some ways to improve employee happiness will work for most of your team, not every approach will work for everyone. Groom suggests customizing each employee’s experience to keep everyone as happy as possible.

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“In order to personalize somebody’s work experience, you, as the employer, should take the onus to know your employees,” Groom said. “Some people like to have, every morning, a scrum meeting and [be told] exactly what to do that day. Other people will quit based on that.”

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Customizing each employee’s experience to their wants and needs is far superior to a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

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Your employees don’t have to hate their jobs

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With the right attitude, nearly any manager or leader can transform a team that hates their jobs into a group full of morale and motivation. If anything, great management and leadership can make unexciting jobs more enjoyable. When your team knows they can get support, flexibility and compassion through your organization, they can more easily find joy in even tedious tasks.

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Your employees might hate their jobs at the moment but, if you take the right steps, then over time, that might change.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"11166","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/simpletexting.html","displayModified":"2024-06-26T14:17:10Z","docType":"review","editorsPick":null,"href":"simpletexting.html","id":"11166","ID":11166,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2019-04-03T14:30:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"","subtitle":"","title":"SimpleTexting Review","author":{"displayName":"Max Freedman","email":"max@scs-creative.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072037/max-professional.jpg","type":"Senior Analyst"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Find A Solution","slug":"find-a-solution"},"sub":{"name":"SMB Solutions","slug":"technology-solutions"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"SimpleTexting is a straightforward SMS service that connects you to your customers. It offers helpful tools, an easy-to-use dashboard and flexible plans."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/08/01033854/SimpleTexting.png","caption":"","alt":"SimpleTexting company logo"},"content":"\n \n\n\n\n

The best text message marketing platforms allow you to run campaigns, send individual or mass messages, create custom keywords and view analytics. SimpleTexting checks all of these boxes while standing out for its versatility. You can create unlimited custom keywords — a function that not all SMS marketing services allow. Even more impressive is that, with all of its plans, SimpleTexting grants access to all of its features on the desktop or mobile app. SimpleTexting makes text message marketing easy regardless of your messaging needs, which is why it’s our pick for the best text message marketing service for flexibility.

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SimpleTexting gives you the flexibility to create unlimited lists, segments and custom fields so you can organize your contacts the best way for you. Source: SimpleTexting

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Why SimpleTexting Is Best for Flexibility

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Of the text message marketing services we reviewed, SimpleTexting stands out for offering small businesses the most flexibility. It includes unlimited custom keywords with all plans, whereas some of SimpleTexting’s more affordable competitors, such as Textedly, set keyword caps even with premium plans. Unlimited custom fields let you collect and organize customer data any way you need. Creating segmented marketing campaigns based on keywords or custom fields is a breeze, and you can easily move customers to different lists — something not many competitors allow.

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When it comes to crafting successful text message marketing campaigns, SimpleTexting includes all the features most businesses need to reach their target customers. The Extended Messaging feature is especially useful, giving you the flexibility to send longer texts of up to 306 characters for only two credits. Another highlight is AI Assist, which generates five message options so you can decide which one best fits your brand.

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We love how easy it is to use the platform for more than just sending bulk messages. Replying to customers is quick and easy thanks to template replies, multiple team members and assigned conversations. All plans include three users, and you can add more if needed and assign each their own number. Plus, SimpleTexting lets you pause your account, which is great for seasonal businesses.

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SimpleTexting is a truly versatile messaging solution. With the fully functional mobile app, you can take care of messaging needs both in and out of the office, which isn’t true on most competing platforms. You can use SimpleTexting for almost any business need, including communicating with employees, engaging customers, sending reminders and soliciting feedback. And, with application programming interface (API) access included with all plans, you can integrate SimpleTexting into your own app.

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Usability

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It’s in the name: SimpleTexting’s user interface is simple to learn and use. Although SimpleTexting is not our top pick for ease of use — see our ProTexting review to learn why we selected it — that isn’t because SimpleTexting is hard to navigate. Rather, it’s because SimpleTexting’s flexibility, both in its features and the mobile app, is its unique core strength that we think really makes the platform shine.

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Pretty much everything you need in a text message marketing platform is visible and accessible from the SimpleTexting homepage. The menu bar on the left displays all of your tools, while the central dashboard shows your active numbers, the number of credits remaining, analytics and a preview of your inbox.

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The SimpleTexting inbox lets you see customer information, assign conversations, add templates and leave notes. Source: SimpleTexting

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You can access the SimpleTexting help center from the top-right corner of the screen. There are a number of video tutorials explaining the platform’s features and a handful of webinars, plus a searchable database of how-to articles and general texting information. This is the closest you’ll get to guided training unless you buy more than 7,500 message credits per month. With that purchase, you get one-on-one onboarding support, which we appreciate but would have liked to see with all plans.

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SimpleTexting integrates only with Mailchimp and Zapier, so if you want to integrate with your current small business software, you might need to pay extra. All plans also include API access so you can build custom integrations. Alternatively, you can pay extra to have SimpleTexting’s team do it for you, but it isn’t cheap.

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SimpleTexting Features

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\n Fully functional mobile app \n	\n The mobile app for iOS and Android provides access to all of SimpleTexting’s features. \n
\n Unlimited keywords and segmentation \n	\n SimpleTexting gives you unlimited keywords and tailored custom fields for customer opt-in and campaign segmentation. \n
\n AI text generator \n	\n AI studies past campaigns and, based on a simple prompt, provides you with five marketing message options in your brand’s voice. \n
\n Customer communications \n	\n The two-way inbox lets you assign conversations to team members, leave notes, send template replies, and create text-for-info triggers. \n
\n Web sign-up forms and widgets \n	\n SimpleTexting includes apps for building text list sign-up forms and pop-up widgets that you can embed on your website or mobile landing page. \n
\n Dedicated support \n	\n Plans with over 7,500 messages per month receive personalized onboarding, while plans with over 50,000 get dedicated marketing assistance. \n
\n Text campaigns \n	\n SimpleTexting lets you build segmented campaigns, schedule them to send at the optimal moment and track their analytics. \n

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Fully Functional Mobile App

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SimpleTexting is one of the only platforms that provides a fully functional mobile app, which gives you the flexibility of working in the office or on the go. While a few companies offer mobile apps for checking incoming messages and conducting two-way conversations, SimpleTexting includes all of its features. You can send bulk messages, create campaigns, add keywords, segment customers and view analytics. The mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

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SimpleTexting’s mobile app gives you full access to the platform, so you have complete messaging capabilities even on the go. Source: SimpleTexting 

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Unlimited Keywords and Segmentation

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We understand that small businesses need customer segmentation flexibility, which is why we love that SimpleTexting is one of the few platforms that let you segment customers any way you want. Unlimited custom keywords let you designate your own sign-up words and tether subscribers to these keywords. Many platforms restrict you to one or two, limiting your ability to target specific customers. You can also create unlimited custom fields to collect relevant data, like location or customer preferences. Segmenting messages by custom field or keyword is easy, and you can even edit a subscriber’s segments — something not all platforms allow.

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AI Text Generator

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Similar to other text messaging software leaders, SimpleTexting has introduced artificial intelligence (AI) features to help businesses compose more effective mass marketing messages in seconds. AI Assist studies your past messages and, based on a simple prompt, generates five potential responses tailored to your brand persona. While we love that you get more response options than with most competitors, we would have liked to see an option for selecting the message’s tone.

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Customer Communications

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We love that SimpleTexting’s hassle-free inbox improves communication with customers. You can invite new team members, assign conversations and leave notes the customer won’t see. Automated responses to custom triggers quickly give customers the information they need, like store hours or menu options.

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We found the template responses especially useful. If you get the same question frequently, you can store a standard response and easily insert it. With a click-to-text button embedded in your homepage, customers can always reach you. Plus, unlike some competitors, SimpleTexting doesn’t charge for incoming texts.

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Web Sign-Up Forms and Widgets

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SimpleTexting gives you tools to customize and embed a text list sign-up form on your website. You can use these tools to generate web forms and images for customers to easily sign up for your texts. Plus, you have the flexibility to customize the form to solicit customer data for messaging segmentation. To incentivize people to subscribe, you can create a “claim discount” button that appears when someone shops on your website. When the person clicks this button, your sign-up image appears. We especially love the mobile sign-up widget that creates visually appealing pop-ups to drive opt-ins.

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The mobile sign-up widget lets you easily create messaging opt-in pop-ups with images for your desktop and mobile landing pages. Source: SimpleTexting

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Dedicated Support

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We appreciate that plans starting at 7,500 messages per month include personalized onboarding, which not every platform offers. If you send 50,000 or more messages per month, you also get a dedicated customer success manager who can provide text message marketing tips and help you with your text message marketing strategy. In our reviews and research, we found that SimpleTexting is one of just a few SMS marketing companies that provide dedicated strategic planning support.

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Text Campaigns

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The best text message marketing services include a campaign tool; an SMS marketing platform isn’t quite complete without one. SimpleTexting’s campaign tool is outstanding. Personalizing messages is a breeze with custom fields tailored to your business. Plus, it’s easy to add messages and create automated sequences based on segments. You can set filters so that only certain campaigns appear, as well as view analytics directly from each campaign. SimpleTexting also lets you export these analytics in a CSV file.

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With SimpleTexting, it’s easy to set up a new campaign, send it to segmented lists and schedule it for the right time. Source: SimpleTexting

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SimpleTexting Costs

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SimpleTexting offers plans based on how many messages you expect to send, and you can always add more credits. We found SimpleTexting’s message costs to be midrange, but low-volume subscribers who need to expand messaging capabilities from time to time might find SimpleTexting gets expensive quickly.

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All plans include access to all features, rollover credits, live support seven days a week and three users. Plans with over 7,500 messages also get personalized onboarding, while plans with over 50,000 get a dedicated customer support manager. SimpleTexting offers a 14-day free trial that includes unlimited use of all features, as well as 50 free messages that you can use to text your own number.

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Here’s how SimpleTexting pricing breaks down:

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n Monthly text credits \n	\n Monthly price \n	\n Cost per extra credit \n
\n 500 \n	\n $29 \n	\n 5.5 cents \n
\n 1,000 \n	\n $49 \n	\n 5 cents \n
\n 2,000 \n	\n $79 \n	\n 4 cents \n
\n 3,000 \n	\n $109 \n	\n 4 cents \n
\n 7,500 \n	\n $229 \n	\n 3.5 cents \n
\n 15,000 \n	\n $399 \n	\n 3 cents \n
\n 25,000 \n	\n $549 \n	\n 2.5 cents \n
\n 50,000 \n	\n $899 \n	\n 2 cents \n

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There’s an additional $10-per-month charge for 10-digit-long-code (10DLC) numbers. Adding a team member costs $20 per month, and each additional line costs $10 per month. If you want SimpleTexting to build your integrations, you’ll have to pay $199 per month plus a one-time $1,000 fee.

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Companies that pay annually get a 20% discount and the added flexibility of using their messages whenever they want, which can benefit seasonal businesses. Businesses that need a dedicated short code or more monthly texts should contact SimpleTexting for a custom plan.

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SimpleTexting Setup

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As with most text message marketing services, SimpleTexting arrives pretty much ready to go. You might need 10 minutes or so to add your keywords, contact lists and auto-responders. You’ll also have to wait for your number to be registered, which SimpleTexting handles. For local 10DLC numbers, it should take only a day or so. After that, you’re good to start texting.

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If you need greater customer segmentation, it can take a bit longer to implement all of the keywords and custom fields you plan to use, but the process is relatively hassle-free compared with other providers that offer the same level of customization. You can easily add teammates, including individual numbers, right from the inbox. In most cases, we think your business will have SimpleTexting up and running quite quickly.

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SimpleTexting Customer Service

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Compared with many competitors, SimpleTexting provides a larger time window for customer service, and it never costs extra. You can access live chat weekdays from 8 a.m. to midnight ET, or call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Customer service is also available on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, which was rare among the other text message marketing services we reviewed.

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You can also access a ton of useful articles, step-by-step videos and guides to new changes. In some cases, these features can solve your problem before you contact live support. If you do reach out, you might receive some links to potentially helpful articles as you await a response. That said, although the SimpleTexting live-chat tool states a typical response time of under five minutes, you might have to wait during busy hours.

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Notably, SimpleTexting does not appear to have a customer service email address. However, because SimpleTexting offers more extensive customer service hours than most of the other services we reviewed, the lack of email support may not be significant.

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SimpleTexting Drawbacks

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Although most text message marketing companies include tools to generate QR codes, SimpleTexting has yet to do so. That places the company behind the curve on what’s rapidly becoming a major SMS marketing tool. With QR codes, your small business can print a graphic that customers can use to preload their texting app with your number and sign-up keyword, but you can’t do this with SimpleTexting.

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Another minor drawback is that all outgoing messages use a credit for one-on-one conversations with customers. Although we appreciate that SimpleTexting makes it easy to provide excellent customer service, we think the costs can skyrocket quickly for businesses that do a lot of two-way texting. If you’re looking to minimize two-way-communication costs, read our review of EZ Texting, which doesn’t charge for replies.

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In general, we found that SimpleTexting’s plans could end up becoming expensive for small businesses that are on a tight budget and occasionally need to buy more messages. Although monthly plan prices are aligned with the competition, the price to add more text messages is quite high even with SimpleTexting’s cheapest plans.

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Methodology

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SimpleTexting is one of over a dozen SMS marketing platforms we reviewed. We sat down with company representatives for a guided demo and then tested the platform with a free trial. We also browsed SimpleTexting’s website for additional information and paid close attention to features that provide small businesses with flexibility in how they use the platform, such as keyword availability, segmentation, messaging limits and potential uses. On that front, we found that SimpleTexting hit the marks better than any other brand, which is why we selected it as the best text message marketing service for flexibility.

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Overall Value

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We recommend SimpleTexting for …

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\n
• Small businesses that are seeking a flexible solution that allows for unlimited, easily adjustable customer segmentation.
\n\n\n\n
• Small businesses that are looking for access to advanced features without having to pay for high-volume premium plans.
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• Small businesses that need the versatility to use the platform from anywhere with a fully functional mobile app.
\n

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We don’t recommend SimpleTexting for …

\n\n\n\n

\n
• Small businesses that are looking to keep costs down while conducting one-on-one conversations with a large number of customers.
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• Budget-conscious businesses with fluctuating messaging needs.
\n

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Max Freedman contributed to this review.

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