How to use IT to Save Your Business Money

Published on: 25 July 2018 Last Updated on: 16 September 2019

In a world that’s focused on making your business fly, ‘return on investment’ (ROI) is a term that’s usually talked about when you’re planning SEO, PPC or social marketing strategies.

In fact, IT can offer a huge ROI for your business – simply by streamlining processes that could otherwise see your team or contractors spending unnecessary time struggling with sub-par systems and devices.

We’ll walk you through 6 of the best ways to save money, with nothing but IT as your tool…

How to use IT to Save Your Business Money:

Explore open-source software :

It’s easy to forget that Microsoft, Google, Adobe and the other huge software and service providers aren’t the only companies out there who create worthwhile resources.

If you’re used to working for a company, you might take it for granted that the typical applications you’ll use (think; word processing, spreadsheets, customer relationship management, accounting – and much more) are just there for you within a few clicks – but actually, those pieces of software cost a significant amount of money.

The truth is, the household names are the ones we know about because they’ve got the budget to market their products far and wide – but in fact, there’s a host of great open-source applications out there that are completely free to use – you’ve just got to know where to look.

Open-source is more than just a money-saving tip though, in fact, there’s a world of developers who believe open-source is the only way you can truly reflect user’s needs in the long term – and many of those developers commit themselves to maintain and adjusting the free software to suit businesses just like yours.

This TechRadar list offers some great open-source applications that’ll definitely help your business save money when compared to full price alternatives.

Let employees work on their own devices :

‘Bring your own device’ (BYOD) such a simple idea – yet so many businesses resist it.

When you let your employees use their own devices to do company business, you’re saving huge amounts of money – and actually increasing productivity at the same time.

Countless studies have shown that employees are more comfortable and more productive when they use their own devices for work tasks – and the maths really adds up: If using a device you’re familiar with only saves 10 minutes each day – that adds up to an incredible 45 hours over the course of a full working year – essentially offering you a free week’s worth of work if you’re happy for employees to use their own machines.

Of course, there are security considerations to be made – and BYOD is likely to be impractical if you’re handling a lot of sensitive client information, but if you’d like to take away a huge chunk of capital expenditure from your budget, these could be problems you’d be happy to work around.

Outsource support :

When it comes to money-saving, good tech systems can give and take in similar measures – but one of the largest costs to consider when you’re installing IT relates to the people who are going to support it.

If you’re a small company, even if you only have a very small number of employees, you’re probably going to need someone to support your IT systems – and if you don’t have that person in place, you run the very real risk of not being able to trade if your IT network goes down.

So, what does the maths look like? Well, you’ve got a $40,000 basic wage for someone who comes with the skills set needed to keep a network up and running by themselves – then you’ve got to factor holiday cover, sickness, maternity/paternity leave, training and what happens if that person decides they’d like to work somewhere else.

All in all, carrying IT staff can be problematic – and extremely expensive – which is why managed network providers (MSPs) are becoming more and more popular with small to medium-sized businesses.

With an MSP, you’ve got the potential of 24/7 access, 365 days a year – plus no need to worry about keeping an individual up to speed with the latest accreditations and training programs. You simply pick up the phone and access the support – which, most of the time, can be applied to your systems remotely.

If you’d like your tech to save you thousands – you could do a lot worse than finding a good MSP and treating them like they’re one of your valued team.

Buy resources ‘as a service’ :

If you’re bringing your IT support onboard as an outsourced service – why not do the same with your applications, platforms, and infrastructure?

In the last 10 years, larger tech companies have realized that there’s an increasing number of small businesses becoming established year on year – and those companies simply do not have the money that’s needed to buy expensive software licenses, development platforms and costly networking infrastructure straight out of the gate.

The solution? Offering all of the above on a subscription basis – pay for only what you use, whenever you need it? A result is an increasing number of people opting to move to solutions like Microsoft Office 365 and Google’s G-Suite – both examples of ‘Software as a Service’ (Saas). That said, it’s not just cloud-accessed software that’s available in this manner, Microsoft now provides email exchange servers on a similar subscription basis too – with the robust security you’d expect from one of the biggest tech companies on Earth.

All these things are made possible by the cloud – the concept of storage and services that are hosted centrally, with your internet connection bridging the gap between your business and the resource. Of course, you’re going to need a connection that is stable and fast enough to allow uninterrupted access – but that’s more than realistic for most internet service providers.

Interestingly – the monetary benefits of SaaS are actually likely to be two-fold, as there’s an increasing body of evidence that suggests people actually work more effectively together when they’re collaborating online, even when compared to sitting next to one another in an office space. If you want to increase productivity and reduce costs with the help of IT tech, you could do a lot worse than to explore which of your required resources could be procured ‘as a Service’.

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What to Know About Location-Based Data

For businesses in any industry and of any size, location-based data and the use of a location analysis tool can take your marketing to the next level. Location-based marketing means that you’re targeting your audience based on where they are at a current moment, or maybe where they’ve recently been. For example, you could target an audience that had recently been to a local car repair shop, or maybe you’re using zip codes to target people. Location data can provide a lot of information about what a person does on a daily basis. This could include their shopping habits, where they prefer to eat, and it can even provide information about how they go from looking at a product online to buying it in a store. The use of location-based data means that you can personalize your products or services and be more targeted and efficient with your marketing. The following are some of the big things to know. The Basics Location data is typically a reference to the specific geographic position of a smartphone or another device, or a building. There are coordinates that are expressed as Latitude and Longitude, and these are the geographic positions themselves. As far as marketing, GPS data is what’s most commonly being talked about. GPS provides coordinates gathered by a device. There’s another term to be aware of here too, which is a Software Development Kit or SDK. SDK codes are used by app developers. These codes then tell the app once it’s installed on someone’s device to collect location data from that device. The codes that are installed in an app do require that the user give explicit permission for the collection of location data. The SDK method gives deep insight into the habits of users, but the opt-in element is important. Usually, the opt-in is obtained when a user first interacts with an app after downloading it. In some cases, an SDK can only work when the app is open, and others can run in the background. Legality Location data doesn’t record someone’s identity or any information that could personally identify them. Businesses small and large throughout the world do use location data. There are regulations and legal compliance issues to be aware of, though. For example, data privacy laws dictate how businesses can collect and utilize some customer data. A data collector has to get the specific consent of someone to use, store, manage or share their data. You also have to provide them the opportunity to opt-out any time. Strategies For Location-Based Marketing There are a lot of ways that you can use location-based data in your marketing. Examples include: Geofencing: This is a concept where location data is collected in real-time. With this approach, there’s the creation of a virtual perimeter around a certain location. Then, you’re either gathering data within that or targeting. You can use it for proximity marketing. For example, if someone with your app enters an area within your perimeter, then they might get a push notification letting them know of a sale or event. Geotargeting: This is about delivering ads to people in a particular location, but it’s different from geofencing in that it can use previous location data paired with specific attributes of the audience. It might, for example, use location along with interest or behavioral data. This gives the opportunity for segmented and tailored marketing. Conquesting: This location-driven marketing approach is about reaching your competitor’s customers. For example, you’re using collected data to reach an audience when they are visiting the location of your competitor. What Types of Businesses Are a Good Fit for Location-Driven Marketing? There are broadly a few types of businesses that might find location marketing is a good fit for them. First, if you have retail locations, it can be a good idea to explore the collection of location data. This can include shops, restaurants, or car dealerships. If you’re a business that has special events or seasonal events, you might consider it. This could include event venues, sporting businesses, and businesses in travel or hospitality. eCommerce brands might use location marketing to find shoppers that go to brick-and-mortar competitors. Niche industries such as transportation and real estate as well as education can benefit from location marketing. Location data is really the biggest thing right now in terms of understanding customer behavior and the full customer journey and filling in gaps in that journey or perhaps the gaps between online and offline behavior. Read Also: Crucial Role of Content Marketing in Local Business Tips on Doing Search Engine Marketing (SEM) for Businesses 5 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Business on Instagram

Top 5 Benefits of Writing Term Papers

Writing term papers is considered by many students as the bane of their existence. Apart from requiring hours of writing, term papers also involve a great deal of researching, reading, and thinking. It is no wonder then why many see term papers as a chore than a great learning opportunity. But more than just for completing academic requirements, learning how to write term papers actually offers many benefits that are useful not just in school but in many other settings and situations including the professional environment. Expands Knowledge : One of the more obvious benefits of writing term papers is that it expands knowledge. Researching and reading are two crucial phases of the writing process. Engaging with sources such as books and journals exposes a student to a great deal of information that is eventually absorbed by the student’s mind. This is especially true if the topic of the term paper is of personal interest to the student. When students are made to write on subjects that they are passionate about, the chances of retaining knowledge increases and the writing process becomes an enjoyable learning experience. Each term paper leads to more knowledge being acquired. Teaches Correct Citation and Formatting : Another benefit of writing term papers is that it teaches correct citation and formatting. Term papers are usually required to follow certain citation styles such as MLA, APA, or Chicago among others. Each of these prescribes standard ways of formatting the paper and citing sources. When students write terms papers, they also become familiar with these citation styles. Learning these styles is particularly useful since formatting papers and citing sources are practiced even in the professional environment. Improves Communication and Language Skills : Writing term papers also benefits students by developing their communication and language skills. One characteristic of a successful term paper is clarity, or the ability to convey messages in a way that the reader can easily understand. Through continuous writing, a student gets better at expressing his or herself, such as by expanding vocabulary, choosing the right words, and constructing effective sentences and paragraphs. Of course, better communication and language skills are useful in every setting. Enhances Critical Thinking : Writing term papers prompts students to think hard about the topics they write about. Though writing may be mentally challenging, it benefits students by making them think in more critical ways. Students are advised to approach writing with an open mind and an objective view. They are encouraged to consider different perspectives, evaluate evidence, and be prepared to form or change their opinions. Students are called upon to take a stance and defend their position with strong arguments. By challenging minds, writing helps in making critical thinkers out of students. The ability to think critically, in turn, is a life skill that can be practiced in different environments especially in the workplace. Develops Organizational, Research, and Planning Skills : Finally, the benefits of writing term papers include the development of a whole set of organizational, research, and planning skills. Writing, like many other tasks, is a process that involves activities such as researching, prewriting, writing, revising, and proofreading among others. Through writing, students learn how to plan their activities, evaluate the credibility of sources, collect and organize information, manage their time effectively, and exercise responsibility. These skills along with the discipline that students develop are valuable competencies that help students succeed not only in school but also in life outside of campus. Though writing is no easy job, the benefits of writing term papers should be more than enough to encourage students to embrace this academic requirement. When students find that the knowledge and skills they have learned can be useful in other settings and situations, they will look back and be thankful for how writing has made them better individuals. Read Also : Top 7 Things To Take Into Consideration When Selecting Essay Writing Service Argumentative Writing – The Skills You Need To Develop 7 Ways To Get Better At Writing: Personal Growth

5 Types of Digital Marketing

Marketing is an ever-changing aspect of a business. In the past decade, we’ve seen how modern technology has completely revolutionized the way businesses promote and sell their products and services. In fact, a 2013 study conducted by Adobe noted that 76 percent of people think that marketing has changed more in the past two years than it did the entire 50 years before. This is even more pronounced today as the Internet becomes more pervasive. Indeed, the Internet is a game-changing technology with a tremendous impact on modern marketing. Alongside its ubiquity is the rise of online marketing, which many consider having replaced traditional marketing channels, such as TV, radio, and print ads. More and more businesses now adopt this form of marketing. Statista projected that global spending on digital marketing would reach 306 billion dollars in 2020 and account for the majority of marketing efforts. But while digital marketing has enabled businesses to reach their target audience more readily, the rapidly changing technology and marketing trends have brought in some confusion, especially for businesses that are not well-versed with online marketing. Today, there are numerous digital marketing trends available to marketers and brands. Each of these methods has its unique uses, as well as, pros and cons. For many businesses, deciding on which digital marketing strategy to take is not easy. To help you choose the best direction, an expert from a digital marketing agency, Warroom Inc., explains to us the top five time-proven and tested digital marketing types. Email Marketing: Email marketing is a time-tested type of online marketing. This has been around far longer than other digital marketing techniques. While there have been many changes in the way this campaign is done, it remains very useful. With this strategy, marketers have full control of the message. Email marketing is different from the regular emails you send to a boss or a friend. Marketers use available data regarding a user to come up with carefully crafted and targeted messages based on the recipient’s position in the sales funnel. These emails can range from informational email to product update email to welcome email and many other types. Email marketing not only gets your message across. You can also gather relevant information about your target audience through emails. With this data, you can come up with a more calibrated and more successful marketing campaigns. Content Marketing: Content marketing is considered the foundation of all other types of digital marketing. With content marketing, you need to regularly produce relevant and interesting contents such as social media posts, videos, articles, blogs, and other creative. Quality content is crucial in bringing across your message and keeping your audience engaged. Content marketing is a tricky endeavor. There are a lot of things to consider such as grammar and spelling, effective use of keywords, proper messaging, use of graphics, persuasiveness, etc. Keeping the content relevant, unique and fresh is also crucial in a successful content marketing campaign. Social Media Marketing: According to the 2018 Global Digital suite of reports from We Are Social and Hootsuite, there are 3 billion social media users worldwide. This makes social media a very effective platform for advertising and promoting your brand to consumers. Since users are hooked to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter on a 24/7 basis, it makes it a perfect place to market and sell your products and services. Aside from the millions of users connected to social networking sites, it is also a cost-effective digital marketing strategy, especially when you’re able to hit the right buttons. The proper use of social media marketing techniques can help ensure that you’re reaching the right audience and get them to use your brand. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Marketing: SEO Marketing is an essential marketing tool that every business needs. The goal of this marketing campaign is to increase your website’s visibility by placing it on top of search engines, such as Google and Bing. For example, if a user is looking for a dog grooming kit, you want to place your brand on the first page of Google’s result. You need to know what customers are searching for (keyword research) and optimizing your website around those keywords (keyword optimization). This helps boost traffic to your site. Link Building: Among the earliest digital marketing trends, link building can help increase the number and quality of inbound links to your website. This can help improve page views and visits, and ultimately, website or webpage ranking. If you want your product to be easily searchable in search engines, then you need to implement link building strategies. These are just five of the many types of digital marketing out there. Each of these techniques has its own uses that can help you promote and advertise your business. Read Also: Essentials For Digital Marketing The Importance Of SEO Based Digital Marketing Services 7 Proven Marketing Tactics To Increase Your ROI In 2018

How to use IT to Save Your Business Money

How to use IT to Save Your Business Money:

Explore open-source software :

Let employees work on their own devices :

Outsource support :

Buy resources ‘as a service’ :

Marketing – What’s Right for Your Business?

Tips on Selecting a Storage Solution for Your Growing Business

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

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What to Know About Location-Based Data

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How to use IT to Save Your Business Money

How to use IT to Save Your Business Money:

Explore open-source software :

Let employees work on their own devices :

Outsource support :

Buy resources ‘as a service’ :

Share this Article

Marketing – What’s Right for Your Business?

Tips on Selecting a Storage Solution for Your Growing Business

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related