Category: How-To Guides

If you are like most people, you may feel annoyed or even overwhelmed by your email inbox at sometimes, and you may feel excited or anticipatory by it at other times. For example, junk mail or demanding requests from work clients may be a source of stress in your inbox, but email invitations and messages from friends may be opened with eager anticipation.

Because email is such a critical method of communication today, it is essential that you stay on top of your messages. However, you do not have to do this alone. There are multiple resources available that can help you to better organize and manage your inbox in a time-efficient way.

1. Boomerang

Boomerang is an effective email management app that works with some of the most common email messaging platforms. You can access it on your desktop or on a mobile device. It lets you schedule when email messages will be sent and get read receipts on select messages. You can snooze some messages that you want to address later, and you can easily incorporate details from an email into your calendar. It is suitable for use with Outlook and Gmail.

2. FollowUp Then

FollowUp Then is an effective way to manage your to-do schedule, and it works with any email service that you may be using. You may currently be leaving your messages that require follow up at a later date to bog down your inbox. Some may get buried, and you may unintentionally forget about them altogether. This app works with any email that you send. You simply add a unique email in the BCC section indicating when you should follow up. At the indicated time, the app will send you a reminder to follow up with the specific email message that you linked the reminder to.

3. Unroll.me

Junk email and spam can clutter your email inbox. It can be a source of annoyance, and it may also cause you to accidently delete messages that are actually important. Through Unroll.me, you can see a list of all emails that you are subscribed to, and you can unsubscribe from those that you do not want to receive communication from any longer. It works with all email services on both android and Apple devices. This is a fast way to easily eliminate the stress associated with inbox management.

4. SaneBox

SaneBox is a robust tool that works with email applications like Gmail, Yahoo!, Outlook and others. You can better manage your email inbox with a BlackHole feature. Once you dump an email in this file, you will not receive any other messages from the same email address. There is no need to go through the effort of unsubscribing when you use this feature. You can also store attachments in the cloud, snooze emails, create calendar events, monitor who has not replied to you yet and more. You can download it to use with some email services, but it works seamlessly if you are already using Office 365.

5. IFTTT

Technology has improved lives in incredible ways, but you may feel as though your devices are not all paired for maximum effectiveness. With IFTTT, you can pair all devices for more efficient benefits. For example, you can use the app to order a pizza online and to turn the exterior lights linked to smart home technology so that the pizza guy can see your house number. It can link home devices, smart watches, cellphones and more. IFTTT is available to download on the Apple and Google stores.

When you think about organizing your life, starting with your inbox is a smart idea. This is often one of the more chaotic and stressful areas of life that affect you on a daily basis. It can be seemingly impossible to keep up with your inbox on your own, and the good news is that you do not have to do this alone. Spend time exploring the benefits and functionality of these apps and programs to find one that is most suitable for your needs. By implementing the right resources, you can easily organize this aspect of your life and move on to other areas that also require your attention.

 

 

 

Author bio: Ashley Wilson is a freelance writer interested in business, marketing, and tech topics. She has been known to reference Harry Potter quotes in casual conversation and enjoys baking homemade treats for her husband and their two felines, Lady and Gaga. You can reach Ashley on Twitter @ashleygwilson.

 

Funding a business in today’s world is hard. You might think, “Well, I could always ask for a loan,” and you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking so. In fact, there are many loans aimed at helping women or veterans break the small business glass ceiling, and these could be viable options depending on the nature of the business you are trying to fund. However, loans do require a level of commitment and good standing — not to mention the burden of having to pay the loan back will constantly hang over your head.

Amongst other options there is one that is gaining a lot of popularity today – crowdfunding. A crowdfunding campaign can be difficult and time consuming, but the results are worth the initial effort. Studies show that having a sound marketing strategy in place could either make or break your campaign. Here, we will discuss some marketing strategies to get people excited to crowdfund your business, focusing on whom you should try to reach, and how to target various audiences.

In general, an audience can be divided into three broad groups that should be targeted within your marketing strategy: personal relations, similar stakeholders, and social media followings.

Personal Relations

Personal relations consist of family, friends, and other people you might have some sort of close relationship with. You would need to approach these people differently as opposed to how you approach a stranger. Chances are some of your closest relations will already know about your campaign, whereas others may simply know the general idea but not the nitty gritty.

When outreaching anyone in this group, it is important to stay genuine and honest. No one likes to be approached, after years of no contact, with a request to part with their money. It would be unrealistic to expect someone you’ve barely kept in touch with to get excited and immediately agree to fund your business. That’s why it is critical to maintain good connections or rekindle any relationships you may have prior to introducing your campaign. While outreaching personal relations is relatively straightforward, you need to remember to give yourself enough time to do so and start planning your outreach in advance.

Similar Stakeholders

Similar stakeholders are those people, organizations, and/or communities that would relate to your project. This group will be integral to the success of your campaign since they are already invested in your idea. For example, if you are creating an app to research sea conditions, your similar stakeholders would include boat tour companies, recreational activity organizations, scuba diving clubs and online forums, fishermen communities and more.

When proposing your idea to this group, it is key to highlight how your campaign will particularly benefit them. Even if they can’t afford to contribute towards funding your business (especially in the case of smaller companies or individuals), these stakeholders might be willing to publicize your campaign on their social media pages or put up flyers on their bulletin board to spread word to their clients, thus generating more excitement and widening your target reach. Eventually, the hope is that these similar stakeholders will invest in your idea or even form some sort of business partnership if they are indeed benefiting from your project.

Social Media Followers

Your “social media following” is just that: all your contacts through various connections, aggregated into one group. Though statistics show that not many social media followers will convert into concrete funding, it still acts as a wonderful method to spread word of your campaign. Having a bigger, more relevant following will increase your chances of success. If you don’t already have a social media base, you need to build one. Then you will have to make sure your following is constantly engaged and remains loyal.

Engaging your social media following can be done in a variety of different ways. For one, video is a powerful visual tool, and it can help viewers perfectly visualize your campaign. Creating and sharing topical videos is a great way to publicize your ideas. Secondly, Twitter conversations allow you to reach people from all parts of the world. By engaging audiences with well-thought-out tweets and timely responses, you can become a respected voice in your field, in turn increasing the chances that they will be amenable to funding your business.

A group often overlooked within social media are bloggers. Today, bloggers and influencers are a surefire way to spread word of your campaign. Even if social media doesn’t yield high revenues in terms of actual donations, your efforts will allow for major publicity gain through various avenues.

When planning your crowdfunding strategy, it is vital to cover these three bases. Always remember to be informative and available to answer follow-up questions whenever they pop up. Being organized, informative and approachable, paired with the above tips, should help your marketing efforts result in increased conversions. Having a detailed and thorough plan is the best way to motivate people to fund your business.

 

Thanks to the growing threat of hackers, businesses around the globe are investing more money into crime prevention than ever before.

To make sure that your business is best equipped to deal with both offline and online threats, we’ve put together a guide with five of the best approaches for protecting your company.

A Security System

Visible security systems are a proven crime deterrent. A recent study by the University of Carolina revealed that 60% of convicted burglars would think twice about targeting a home or business with a visible security system.

In another study of 422 convicted thieves, 83% of respondents revealed that they would carry out a reconnaissance mission to see if an alarm system was in place before trying to steal from a property.

Installing cameras that have a view of every entry point to your business is a great place to start. If your business isn’t in a well-lit location, consider installing motion-detector lights so that potential criminals are aware that they will be filmed.

Equipment such as the above can be expensive to repair or replace, so it’s also worth considering installing mesh camera and light guards. This will stop potential criminals from being able to damage any equipment by throwing rocks.

Invest in Cyber Security

While crime statistics can give you a good indication as to the physical risks of theft, cybercrime is an omnipresent threat that defies logic.

A recent report into cybercrime in the UK revealed that two-thirds of small businesses had suffered at the hands of online criminals.

Despite the growing online threat many business owners face, a CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey in the US revealed that only 2% viewed cybercrime as a major threat to their business.

Hackers target businesses in a variety of different ways. Their most common goal is to retrieve the personal or credit card information of a company’s customers. More recently, hackers have turned their attention to blocking software in an attempt to retrieve ransom money.

If you want to protect your business online, here are some good starting points:

• Install antivirus software on all of your company computers
• Install firewalls
• Upgrade your computer’s operating system
• Install intrusion detection software
• Backup all of your data regularly
• Change passwords regularly
• Restrict access to sensitive data
• Hire a security expert

An Access Control System

You may not have realised, but access control systems are in place wherever you go in the US. Whether it’s a ticket barrier at a tube station or a metal detector at an airport, all systems are designed to ensure maximum safety.

In a business sense, most control systems come in the form of a pin entry design that enables access through a doorway. Keys are easy to duplicate and even easier to lose, so controls systems can enhance the security of a building.

Updates in technology have meant that fingerprint entry systems have rapidly gained popularity. Along with this technology, the systems also enable you to setup further authorization steps such as the scanning of a key card or the entry of a pin.

With such a system in place, it will be easy to determine who is entering your building 24-hours a day.

A Thorough Vetting Process

Verifying a potential employee’s employment history and carrying out reference checks will help to reduce the risk of internal theft.

Try to tag and audit expensive stock on a regular basis. This way, you’ll quickly be able to identify any discrepancies and act accordingly.

If you want to take things a step further, you could even consider securing expensive equipment, such as laptops and tablets, to a wall or office desk.

Anti-Ram Bollards

Businesses that keep cash or expensive items on their premises are at risk of suffering from a ram-raid robbery. This is where a thief crashes a vehicle into a store in an attempt to gain access to the premises.

One of the simplest solutions to stop this from happening is to install anti-ram raid bollards. It’s advisable to speak with your local council before installing them as you may need planning approval.

By following these tips, you’ll help ensure the safety of your business from potential hackers or thieves. When it comes to something as important as your company, it’s worth protecting yourself from possible threats.

 

Strictly speaking, you’re speeding as soon as you go over the stated speed limit. If you’re on a road with a 30mph limit, as soon as you hit 31mph, you’re speeding. However, to avoid the police spending all their time dealing with drivers with a slightly heavy foot, and to help drivers concentrate on the road rather than their speedometers, there are allowances and margins. Most police forces give drivers an additional 10% on the speed limit plus 2mph for camera and speedo errors. So, if you’re on a 30mph road, you’ll be OK up to 35mph; 10% (3mph) plus 2mph.

Despite these allowances, however, some drivers still fall foul of the law and end up being caught and fined or prosecuted. If you’re caught speeding, you’ll face several possible outcomes.

The Fixed Penalty Notice

If you weren’t too far over the limit, then you’ll probably get a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). These penalties are usually used to deal with drivers caught by speed cameras and they consist of a £100 fine and three points on the licence.

The police must serve you with a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days from the day of the offence.

Bigger Fines

If you were significantly over the speed limit, or if you already have several points on your licence, you may face a bigger fine and even a ban. For non-motorway speeding, you will get a fine of a maximum £1,000 and this increases to up to £2,500 for motorway driving.

What about the penalty points?

Most speeding offences warrant three to six points depending on the speed you were doing and your previous record. Sometimes mitigating circumstances are taken into account, so it’s important that you have good legal help from a team of motoring offence lawyers.

How many points means a ban?

Some speeds and offences can result in an immediate ban, but you may end up with a disqualification under the totting-up system. If you receive three points on your licence and these take you up to 12 points or more in three years, you will be at risk of a totting up ban.

I admit I was speeding; can I avoid the points?

If you have a previously clean record and you weren’t too far over the limit, the police might send you on a speed awareness course instead of giving you points. You’ll pay for the course, as well as the fine, but it’s better than the points.

What happens if I have to go to court?

If you were well over the speed limit, or if you face disqualification under the totting-up system, you’ll have to go to court. This is where you may get the fines of up to £1,000 or £2,500, and you may also have to pay court costs. The fines vary because the courts will look at your record and the mitigating circumstances of your offence.

The points on my licence are bad news – how long will they stay there?

Your points will stay on your licence for totting up purposes for three years, and the endorsement on your licence will remain for between four and 11 years (depending on the offence). The endorsement will need to be declared to your insurers for at least 5 years from the date of the offence.