Successful Blog

Make It Your Business to Secure the Right Title Loan

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As many small business owners can report, today’s Internet world is a great way to do business.

In many cases, all companies need is computers and an Internet connection in order to do business with the vast number of their clients. Sounds simple, right?

In other instances, however, physically coming into contact with your customers is a requirement, especially in those cases where the customer can’t come to you and doing business over the phone or via an online connection is not feasible and/or the best option.

If you’re a business owner starting out or one that needs to improve your company’s vehicle fleet operations, obtaining one or more vehicles is not as easy as picking a few cars or trucks off of a showroom and driving off with them. For many new business owners, money can be a precious commodity.

For those business owners that need title loans to secure their company vehicles, knowing where to shop and who to buy from is as important as some of the other major decisions you will make over time.

Minimal or Bad Credit Can Be Passed Over

In many cases, individuals starting out small businesses can be stretched for cash.

They oftentimes will have to take out a loan in order to get the new business up and running in the first place. With little or no money to spare, securing one or more company vehicles can be a challenging proposition to say the least.

When those challenges occur, business owners should consider options such as TitleMax and other such providers to secure the necessary title loans.

With companies such as these, business owners can find themselves with a title loan minus many hassles, even in cases where the individual has little, no, or even bad credit to worry about, that is as long as a clear car title is present.

Before you run out and assume that all title loans providers are the same, make sure you do some research.

Among the factors to look at:

  • How long the title loan provider has been in business;
  • Their level of customer service. This can oftentimes be checked by asking friends, coworkers or family members that have used a title service and/or turning to online reviews of such providers;
  • Whether or not they have had any legal issues over time with state regulators and/or the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If there are some red flags, be sure to give it some thought as to whether you can fully trust what they are telling you;
  • The state you and the title provider are in. Not all title loan rules are the same from state to state, so check this information out first.

With all you have to do as a current or new small business owner, securing company vehicles should never be overlooked. Some clients will require that you come to them to deliver products and/or services, and asking employees to use their own vehicles is not always an option.

When you secure the right title loan, you can drive your business to new heights.

Photo credit: dbav.net

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers a variety of business topics for different websites, including owning a small business, marketing, and social media.

 

Is Your Content Marketing in Need of Video?

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Content marketing that does not utilize video just seems to fall flat compared to moving image marketing strategies.

And, considering attention spans are getting shorter and shorter with every innovative viral sensation that hits the Internet, if your company’s missing out on video in its marketing content, it’s likely missing out on a huge cyber audience.

So, what are the benefits of using videos as part of your company’s content marketing strategy?

 Video is Growing in Popularity

If you surf the Internet for different advertising and marketing campaigns, chances are you’ll find videos posted in company blogs, on business homepages, and everywhere in between. Simply put, video content marketing is growing in popularity.

Text is and always will be a content essential, but the marketing masses are turning to video in droves as a way to expand on their marketing efforts.

So, to avoid being left out to dry, it’s wise to jump on-board the video bandwagon. Besides, the average Internet user already watches more than 100 videos a month and counting.

Watch-ability Outweighs Readability

As stated before, online attention spans are quickly adapting to the video format, thus giving other forms of content the backseat. With video, your company can say what it wants, how it wants, with visual representation, all in one short video.

Think of it this way, with your busy schedule, would you rather read about a company for 10 minutes, or watch and experience what that company is trying to convey in a 3-minute video? Video gives your company the opportunity to expand beyond the written word and truly reach the audience.

Vlog, Don’t Blog

Blogging is great because it gives your company an opportunity to express itself as well as inform and update online audiences – all of which are essential marketing tools. But, with vlogging, or video blogging, incorporating videos into blog posts brings your company’s online presence to a whole new level.

So, instead of posting a blog about the newest line of products or the most innovative services your company has to offer, vlog instead. Likewise, as far as customer questions go, responding in a vlog post is much more effective than just replying to a customers’ comment via the written format.

Inherently Compelling Content

People relate to images more so than words and with video, your content marketing is already compelling because it’s visual. In other words, what do you think is going to get more online traffic: a how-to article or a how-to video with step-by-step visual instructions?

Everything from demonstrations to interviews to customer testimonials to straightforward advertisements are automatically in class of their own with video. As long as you keep the video content unique and engaging, audiences will watch without even realizing they’re being marketed to.

When it comes to content marketing with an undeniable impact, going the video route will take your company to new cyber-heights.

Photo credit: videobroadcasterservices.com

About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including marketing, problems with ripoff report, and social media.

 

Accounting for the Right Business Software System

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As a business owner, the chances are you’ll have to wear many hats.

One of them will most certainly be that of an accountant. Even if you have a dedicated accountant, you’ll still need to stay on top of the cash flow in your business.

Choosing the right accounting software can help you do just that, but how do you go about finding the right accounting software for you?

Why Does Accounting Software Matter?

Cash flow problems are one of the leading factors in business failure.

The right accounting software can help you to keep a much better handle on your cash flow, and help prevent problems later. Even basic accounting software means you can keep track of what goes in and comes out of your business, so you can see at a glance where your money is flowing.

That means you can see any areas where you are over spending, and where your strongest sources of income are, which all adds up to being able to see if your money is being spent wisely and well – a must for any business.

Software programs are available to help you with every aspect of accounting in your business, including inventory, tax reporting, budgeting, keeping track of sales, payroll capabilities, and sales forecasts.

For businesses that are able to invest a little more, industry specific software is available, with the cost usually including installation and a demonstration by a vendor.

How Do I Choose The Right Software?

To help you choose the right software, take some time to think about what you want your accounting software to do for your business. Which tasks do you need it to do?

Remember that software is a wonderful tool, but it doesn’t do the work for you – you still need to understand and input the raw information. As such, it’s important to consider which features will support you in working with the software.

It’s also important to consider the flexibility of the software – making the wrong choice now could cost you in the future, so allow for some future planning.

How would you like your business to grow? What would your software need to provide in order for it to be a good match in the future? Can the software be expanded if necessary, perhaps by upgrading to a more advanced package?

If you have an accountant or accounts department, take time to talk to them, and anyone else who will be involved in using and implementing the new system. The internet is also wealth of information and reviews; while specialist sites or software consultants can help you make a decision.

How Much Should I Invest?

Accounting software varies in price from a few hundred dollars to thousands.

In general, programs that you buy and use “as is” tend to be cheaper, as do packages with less functionality. On the other hand, more feature rich packages and industry specific packages tend to run higher.

To make the best choice for your business, take the steps suggested here to figure out what you need your software accounting to do for you. That way, you won’t end up with software that doesn’t meet your needs, or overspend on software that has features you don’t need.

Once you have your needs clear, you can search for software that meets them, and compare to find the most cost effective solution.

Good accounting software is an important investment for your business, saving you time and also paying for itself in terms of helping you control your cash flow.

Take your time, do plenty of research, and you’ll be able to invest in a tool that supports your business.

Photo credit: tedcor.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn is an author who writes on subjects as diverse as health, marketing, business, and SEO.

Are You Really Protecting Your Customers From Identity Theft?

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According to the 2013 Identity Fraud Report by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity thieves stole more than $21 billion dollars from 12.6 million victims in 2012 — the highest amount since 2009.

Even worse from a small business standpoint, fraud victims tend to become more careful about where they shop after having their identities stolen.

According to the Javelin study, 15% of all fraud victims decided to avoid smaller online merchants after an incident — an even larger number than those who avoid gaming sites or large retailers.

So how can you protect your customers’ sensitive information and avoid taking a major hit?

Review Your Employee Internet Policy

One of the ways hackers can gain access to a company’s sensitive documents is by taking advantage of existing security breaches. Unfortunately, many of these come from employees who aren’t careful enough about their online browsing while at work.

Employees who conduct their online shopping from work computers may be setting their employers up for trouble, since hackers regularly target ecommerce sites. A worker who unknowingly visits a compromised site can introduce malware into your company’s system, granting the hackers access to customer information stored on your servers.

A comprehensive training program about safe browsing and internet security, as well as frequent refresher courses, can help keep your customer data safe.

Encrypt Sensitive Files

Encrypting sensitive information like your customers’ personal and financial information can help protect you, even if a hacker gains access to your system. Make sure any data sorting tools you’re using, such as Syncsort, are protected.

Even with savvy employees working for you, a virus or other malware can get into your system. Encryption provides a crucial second layer of protection for you and your customers.

Limit Your Personal Customer Information

The more personal details you require from customers, the more risk you take on.

This is especially true if you’re using your customers’ social security or driver’s license numbers as account numbers.

If your business requires you to ask for private information, don’t do it in front of other customers, and keep all computer screens turned away from customer view.

Know Vendor and Contractor Policies

It’s not just your internal employees who may have access to private customer information. Vendors and contractors, such as website designers or payment processors, may also be able to get into these private areas.

Talk to these contractors before they do any work for you. Find out what measures they take to protect your and your customers’ information, and lay out terms defining who is going to be responsible in the case of a breach.

Identity theft isn’t just costly for the immediate victim. Exposing your customer information to hackers may leave you open to liability. Even if that’s not the case, your business is going to suffer when word gets out that fraudsters gained access to your customer data.

By educating yourself and employees, and taking steps to keep customer information under lock and key, you can keep both your customers and your business safe.

Photo credit: creditrepair.com

About the Author: Freelance blogger Angie Mansfield covers a variety of subjects for small business owners. From business growth to marketing to social media, her work will give you tips to keep your business running smoothly.

 

Should Your Employees Expect Holiday Gifts?

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With a still tight economy, it’s a tough time for small business owners.

When they are having a tough time in the business, it makes for a difficult decision when it comes time to think about holiday bonuses, gifts or anything extra around the holiday season.

Small business owners usually do like to thank their employees with a bonus or gift at the end of the year. The personal, family feel is what makes small businesses a nice place to be. However, when finances are tight, it’s not always possible.

Will It Be a Weak Year for Holiday Sales?

According to a report from Entrepreneur, 34% of small businesses are afraid it will be a weak year for holiday sales. Weak holiday sales mean less income and a tighter budget for small businesses. How does that translate into end of year bonuses, gifts and festivities?

It, unfortunately, does mean that more businesses are cutting back on the extras – less bonuses, less holiday parties, less year end gifts, but it doesn’t mean that employers don’t want to show their staff their appreciation. Some are just doing it in different ways.

Take a look at these ways to compensate for the lack of funds but still show your employees you are grateful for all they do:

• Giving a full or half day off for shopping or other holiday prep (no vacation or personal day needed).

• Donating to charities (this can be a tax write off).

• Getting together and helping out a non-profit together instead of a holiday party. There is very little cost, if any, and the satisfaction is big.

• Scaling down holiday parties but still hosting them, maybe a pot luck instead of a catered affair, or a dessert bar instead of a full meal.

• Give gift cards or gift baskets instead of hefty year-end bonus. It’s not quite the same, but does show appreciation, and can even be more personalized than cash.

If you do need to scale back this year, let your employees know that it is not because they are any less appreciated, but that your budget just does not allow it.

Because small businesses have fewer, closer employees, it’s important to thank them at the end of year, and let them know why there was a change (if it’s a big one) from past years.

Being upfront will pay off, there won’t be hard feelings or employees wondering what is going on. And maybe next year will be better.

Photo credit: employeeappreciationhq.com

About the Author: Heather Legg is a freelance writer who covers topics related to small business and social media.

Educating Your Employees to Succeed

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What have you done for your employees’ education of late? Perhaps it’s not a topic you think about a lot.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 34% of smaller companies offer their employees tuition reimbursement. It’s easy to understand why. In the current economic climate, many small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, and tuition doesn’t come cheap.

But if you’d like a more engaged, more productive, and more loyal workforce, educational reimbursement just might be a smart move for your business.

Here are five reasons why:

1. Your Employees Will Gain Skills You Need

When you need a more skilled workforce, where do you look? Do you turn to temps, or start recruiting?

By offering tuition reimbursement for courses relevant to your industry, you can find the skilled workforce you need among your existing employees. You can offer anything from a full degree in a relevant field, to enhanced training on new technology or business related courses.

Not only will you save on the expensive recruitment process, you’ll find many employee educational fees attract tax breaks.

Instead of putting yourself through the stress and uncertainty of finding new employees, why not make the most of your existing workforce by helping them to gain the skills you need?

2. You’ll Gain a More Productive Workforce

Further education increases productivity in two ways.

First, your employees will learn relevant skills that will help them to get even better at their jobs. But there is another bonus too – further education teaches a range of “soft skills”. These are skills that aren’t directly related to your company’s daily business, such as:

  • Better time management;
  • Increased confidence in public speaking;
  • A more active and engaged mind;
  • Enhanced teamwork skills.

The skills learned while studying are transferable skills that can be great assets to your company overall.

3. Staff Morale Will Go Up

Who doesn’t want a happier work force?

Increased staff morale means good things for both you and your employees:

  • A better working environment for your employees;
  • Less stress for you;
  • Less time spent dealing with interpersonal problems and despondent employees;
  • Tasks getting done and done well as employees approach their work in an upbeat frame of mind.

Offering tuition reimbursement can help to increase staff morale by showing your employees that you care about their future. By offering education and the chance to progress in their roles, you’re giving your employees something to aim for.

In fact, a study by the ROI institute showed that an impressive 64% of employers who offered tuition reimbursement noticed a significant increase in how engaged their employees were.

4. Company Loyalty Will Increase

“But if I offer my employees education, won’t they take the skills and go elsewhere?”

It’s easy to worry that if you pay for your employees more education, they’ll take those skills to your competitor and you’ll be left out of pocket.

In fact, the same study that found offering educational reimbursement increased loyalty, also found a 64% increase in company loyalty. Employees feel they have a future with a company that cares enough to invest in them.

You can safeguard against losing your newly trained employees by offering reimbursement as part of a contract that specifies how long your employees will need to stay with your company to get their fees paid.

And of course, you can make sure the programs you are offering are relevant to your company and to career advancement within it.

5. You’ll Have a Competitive Edge During Recruiting

Offering educational reimbursement can help to increase employee retention, but of course there will come a time when you need to recruit, whether that’s due to expansion or an employee taking extended leave.

As a small business, it can be hard to compete against bigger employers who can offer flashier recruitment packages. A good educational reimbursement package is another string to your recruiting bow.

As well as showing you care about your employees and want to invest in them, it’s a signal to new recruits that there are opportunities for growth within your company. You’re offering them more than a job; you’re offering them a career.

A well-planned tuition reimbursement program is a smart investment in your business, leading to happier, more skilled and more engaged employees.

If you offer relevant education in return for a certain period of loyalty, both you and your employees will benefit.

Photo credit: cmm.com.au

About the Author:  Tristan Anwyn is an author who writes on subjects as diverse as health, marketing, Education via Yahoo, and SEO.