Whether it is online or offline, starting a business requires the same efforts, patience, and hard work. But when it comes to opening an online business, it has become comparatively easier nowadays. This is because of lesser funds required than the offline business as well as the work demands in an online business are less.

In order to establish any business, the base should be very strong. Here mentioned are certain steps which can help you to gain an insight into how to register a business in the UK. These steps might not be followed in a sequential manner but are a strong base for an online business. 

1. Get an idea about the New Business Idea’s feasibility

Since online businesses are easier to start, some people do not bother to dig more while doing their homework. But this should not be the case. Like for the offline business, you check everything before starting the business, similarly, the first step taken while starting an online business should be checking the feasibility of your business idea.

This is very important because the most amazing ideas can also flop if there is no reach to the market. This will just waste your money and will get you no gain at all.

In order to evaluate your idea, you can ask these questions to yourself:

• Does the product/service you’re about to launch solve the problems of the customers?
• Is the solution/service provided by you cost-effective?
• Are you open to spending more money to solve the problem?
• How much will it cost to reach the needy people?

2. Make a Plan for your Business

When you confirm that your idea is totally feasible, the next step is to make a business plan. At the initial stage, even if you do not plan to get funds, making a plan for your business is essential because it helps you in figuring out the problems that may arise down the line, the plan for future growth, and the profits involved.

A good plan is capable of clarifying your aims, assisting you in making better decisions, and differentiating between success and failure.

3. Choosing the name of the Business

This is a very important task as the name reflects almost everything about the business. Since the business has to be online, the name must be chosen keeping in mind that it must be available for registration in your state.

The name you choose must be available as a:

• Business name in the state
• Domain name
• Username on every social media handle you are planning to connect with

4. Think and decide on a Business Structure

Deciding upon a business structure is very important. The structure chosen will support the legal requirements you need to meet. Most businesses have one of the following structures:

• Sole Proprietorship: The most basic form of a business structure but lacks liability and is very simplistic.
• Partnership: This is preferred when you are looking forward to working with a partner.
• LLC: Limited Liability Company is one of the most popular business structures of all. It offers limited liability without any additional complexes of incorporation.
• Corporation: It is similar to LLC but is more complicated. It can work in certain circumstances only.

5. Taking special care of all the Legal Tasks

Like offline businesses, online businesses also require all the legal documents and paperwork in order to establish a strong legal base and foundation which includes:

• Registering the business with the most suitable government authorities.
• Getting all the required permits and licenses.
• Fulfilling all the tax requirements.

           Legal tasks are important in order to make the business flourish. Once the legal tasks are sorted, the business can be free from any kind of crime or any other legal issue.

6. Create the website

It is one of the most essential steps while starting an online business. A website is the face of your online business which not only provides a virtual platform for the business to exist but also creates a virtual marketplace for the consumers.

While creating a website, choose the name very carefully because if you keep a complex name, people might find it difficult to remember. Also, check for the browsing speed is not very slow else the customers will get irritated and won’t visit the website more than one time. 

The website should have a minimal design and most importantly it should have a faster loading speed. Also, make sure that your website doesn’t have on-site SEO errors. Ensuring that a website is good enough is really important because the business is online itself and the website is one of the most important pillars.

7. Develop and Apply the Prelaunch Marketing Plan

It is essential to make a good market plan for your online business. The business plan you make will contain the information related to developing the most effective marketing strategies for the customers. Irrespective of the plan and strategy made, you must not jump to the implementation beforehand.

By making a guess about the future target market, you will be launching successfully. The market gives an estimate about how the future growth and business sales are going to be.

8. Launch the New Business

In offline mode, it is known as “cutting the ribbon” but it will be a metaphor for the online business when you want to announce that you’re open in the business world.

The announcement of the opening can be made in varied ways like:

• By using social media platforms
• By mailing the recipients in your email list
• By starting online ads
• By using the traditional ads

          During the launch, it is important to highlight the benefits and all the bests about

          the business so that people are intrigued and show interest in the business.

You can refer to the article “What is the Ideal Business Email Response Time “to know the correct response time to email.

Conclusion

Opening an online business might be a little easier than an offline business, but it still is no less than a task. Devoting proper time and thought is essential when you want to open an online business. It is important to let the people know everything about the business in order to draw them towards it.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How Can One Open An Online Business And Get A Name For It? appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Cryptocurrencies are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They offer a way to make transactions without the need for a third party, like a bank. This can be especially useful in countries with unstable economies or where the government has tight restrictions on currency exchanges. If you’re interested in getting into the cryptocurrency market, but don’t know where to start, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to get started trading cryptos. Six of them are shared here. Here are 6 simple ways you can get into crypto trading .

6 Simple Ways You Can Get Into Crypto Trading

Use an online exchange

One of the simplest ways to get into crypto trading is to use an online exchange. There are a number of different online exchanges that you can use to start trading in cryptocurrencies. Some of the most popular exchanges include Coinbase, Kraken, and eToro. These platforms allow you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies using fiat currencies like USD or EUR.  Each exchange has its own set of procedures and requirements, so be sure to do your research before choosing one. To get your crypto day trading started smoothly, read reviews and recommendations on the best cryptocurrency exchanges. The popular ones mentioned here also have among the lowest trading fees, which can be attractive for beginners in crypto trading. There are two primary types of exchanges in cryptocurrencies – centralized and decentralized. The former, as mentioned earlier, allows buying cryptocurrencies with fiat money and has intuitive user interfaces that make them ideal for beginners. The latter, designed for advanced users who want to trade one crypto asset directly for another without going through a third party. Having these vital pieces of knowledge can help you select the best online crypto exchange.

Use a bitcoin broker

If you’re not interested in dealing with the hassle of setting up an account on an online exchange, you can also use a bitcoin broker. These platforms allow you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies without having to go through an exchange. Some popular brokers include Coinmama and LocalBitcoins. Using  a bitcoin broker to get into crypto trading is a great way to start out with crypto day trading. Brokers allow you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies without having to worry about setting up your own wallet or buying coins on an exchange. They offer a wide variety of payment methods. They also provide an easy-to-use platform and allow you to trade a variety of cryptocurrencies. Be sure to do your research before choosing a bitcoin broker, as not all of them are created equal.

Use a CFD broker

Another option for trading cryptocurrencies is to use a CFD broker. CFDs, or contracts for difference, are financial instruments that allow you to trade on the price of an asset without actually owning the asset. Many CFD brokers offer crypto trading, and some of the most popular ones include Plus500 and eToro. There are a number of CFD brokers that offer access to cryptocurrency markets, and many of them have been quick to add Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies to their offerings. Do you research first before choosing a CFD broker that is right for you? Look for brokers that are regulated by a financial authority such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK or the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Also check the reputation of the CFD brokers and try out their demo accounts if they offer one. Lastly, check their minimum deposit requirement and terms and conditions.

Trade on an open order book exchange

If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach to trading cryptos, you may want to consider using an open order book exchange. These exchanges allow you to trade cryptocurrencies directly with other users. This can be a great way to get a better deal on cryptos. Some popular open order book exchanges include IDEX and EtherDelta. Open order book exchanges are ideal for traders who want to get into crypto trading without having to research individual coins. They also provide a more user-friendly experience than traditional crypto exchanges, which can be confusing for beginners.

Use a P2P exchange

Another option for trading cryptocurrencies is to use a P2P exchange. These exchanges connect buyers and sellers of cryptocurrencies directly, without the need for a third party. This can be a great way to get a good price on cryptos. Some popular P2P exchanges include LocalBitcoins and Paxful.

Trade on a crypto-only exchange

Finally, if you’re looking to focus exclusively on cryptocurrencies, you may want to consider using a crypto-only exchange. These exchanges allow you to trade cryptos without the need for fiat currencies. Some of the most popular crypto-only exchanges include Binance and KuCoin.

So, there you have it. Six simple ways to get into crypto trading. Whichever method you choose, be sure to do your research first and make sure you understand the risks involved. Happy trading!

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 6 Simple Ways You Can Get Into Crypto Trading appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Online contracts are contracts that are created and attested online without any use of physical paper. E-contracts allow companies and individuals to quickly and conveniently agree on legally-binding agreements.

They’re almost a staple for companies that frequently enter into agreements with overseas companies or independent contractors. However, there’s no reason for companies not to use online contracts for contracting with domestic companies.

The benefits of an online contract aren’t limited to contracting with entities outside of your city. Entering into online contracts even with parties that are within reach cuts back on time spent on logistics, offers convenience, and puts a few dollars back into your pocket.

This article talks about these and other benefits that improve your business’s functioning in the context of agreements.

6 Ways Online Contracts Offer Value to Businesses

Online contracts streamline the process of entering into agreements for all involved parties. Being able to accept contracts with a single tap removes the long-winding process associated with paper contracts.

Convenience and efficiency are the primary most apparent, but not the only way online contracts offer value to a business. Following are some key benefits that a company wanting to adopt online contracts should consider.

1.    Enter into agreements faster with online contracts

Paper contracts take forever. They can ruin a job offer or a client deal simply because of the time they require to create, send, and get back.

Think about it. The company drafts the contract and takes a day to get them posted through mail. The mail reaches the other party, on average, about 2-4 days later.

The number of days that the client will take to go through the mail is uncertain. Then, the number of days the client takes to get other stakeholders to sign are, again, uncertain. Add another day for the signed copy to be mailed back. Throw in another 2-4 for you to finally receive the mail.

The process takes longer than a short family trip to DisneyLand. That’s not the way to do business in 2022.

Paper contracts can potentially result in loss of talent and stalled deals simply because they take what looks like a year. Online contracts are the perfect alternative because they enable the recipient to view and digitally sign the contract in real-time using their phone or computer.

Plus, online contracts also take less time to prepare. You can create a contract agreement template and use it as a boilerplate or choose from lawyer-vetted ready-to-use contracts available online. Essentially, an online contract streamlines the process of entering into agreements end-to-end.

2.    Online contracts reduce human error

If the creator of the contract had a long night, they may miss a few blunders while proofreading or may enter inaccurate details.

On the other hand, the person who is supposed to sign the contract may fail to read the fine print while overly focusing on covering the contract with dozens of signatures.

Paper contracts are also more vulnerable to tampering and can result in legal complications down the road. With online contracts, both parties have the option to read and modify the terms over the internet in real-time.

Both parties to the contract have the option to enter data into the contract once. This feature allows consistency throughout the contract and helps minimize discrepancies. Essentially, online contracts allow a more collaborative approach to entering into agreements that can save both parties a lot of time.

3.    Online contracts offer better security

There are several opportunities for miscreants to tamper with paper contracts. For instance, paper contracts can be manipulated at the time of creating them, sending them to the other party, or when signing them.

The potential for tampering is what prompts companies to carefully retain the original copy of the agreement, have multiple copies available, and notarize the agreement.

Online contracts restrict the ability to make changes to a document that has been signed. Even when collaborating to prepare the contract, an online contract creation tool limits the ability to make changes to initials or signs.

Online contract tools also authenticate both the contract and the parties to the contract, using encryption. Even if either party tries to tamper with the document, most online contract tools will trigger an alert notifying both parties about the potential breach.

4.    Online contracts are cost-effective

Online contracts eliminate the need for printers, cartridge refills, stationery, and extra cabinet space. These are the costs that you eliminate right off the bat. But there’s more.

You don’t need to mail the contract to the client or spend time following up. You can let your legal department focus on more productive things rather than skimming through contracts for potential discrepancies.

Plus, you save yourself the ordeal of having to bite your nails until you finally receive a signed copy of the document. You and your business partners will save yourself and the staff plenty of time and save the business a lot of money simply by switching to electric contracts.

5.    Your customers will love online contracts

Step into your customer’s shoes for a moment. How would you like to sign a 20-page contract, page-by-page?

Online contracts make life easier not just for you but also for your customers. E-contracts can be signed in a jiffy. An online contract tool will typically have a feature that allows the customer to sign on one page and auto-populate the rest of the pages with the signatures.

Instead of waiting for the contract in the mail, customers can directly sign it using their phone or computer. A lot of customers lack the patience to wait for the contract to arrive at their place through mail.

E-contracts are a perfect solution for them. Many tools will also allow the customer to sign the contract simply by clicking on an “I agree” button. Could it be any easier?

6.    Track, search, and keep an eye on data

Remember that one time when you had to sift through countless pages of a contract to find that one term or a typo you had made and thought about right before going to bed? Now, think about how that would have gone if you had several versions of that contract? Ouch.

On the contrary, things would have been smooth sailing had you used an online contract. With an online contract tool, you can search for words, phrases, or numbers used in all your contracts at once.

You can compare terms among contracts, refer to similar terms used in a previous contract, or compare the multiple versions of a contract within minutes.

Think of the time and effort that will save you or your team. The more contracts your company enters, the more valuable an online contract tool will be for your company.

Can All Contracts Be Online Contracts?

Most concerns surrounding online contracts circle back to their validity in the context of contract law. Yes, online contracts are acceptable and legally binding in most cases and almost all jurisdictions.

However, there are a few exceptions where online contracts can’t be used. The law doesn’t accept online contracts for certain agreements to protect the consumers from becoming a victim.

For instance, divorce and adoption contracts should be strictly on-paper contracts. Whenever you want to cancel your life or health insurance benefits, you’ll need a paper contract.

All court-issued documents such as motions, notices, and pleadings must be issued on paper. A notice of discontinuing services from a utility company must also be on paper.

These are a few of several examples where online contracts can’t legally bind two parties. However, notice that these are mostly non-B2B scenarios. Online contracts are valid in almost all cases for businesses, though there may be some jurisdictional variation depending on where you’re located.

Go Paperless

There’s no reason not to ditch paper contracts and transition to online contracts for most businesses. They come with a long lineup of benefits that are hard to say no to. In a world that’s quickly digitizing and dealing with a pandemic, online contracts are almost a necessity for many businesses.

Any company that does business with overseas clients will need online contracts to conduct business. However, it’s not just them. E-contracts also offer tangible value to D2C brands in the form of improved convenience for customers.

The handful of instances where online contracts can’t be used are typically areas that aren’t relevant for most businesses.

While it’s always a good idea to have a lawyer ensure that an online contract is valid for the context you’ll be using it in, it’s unlikely that you’ll frequently need to switch between paper-based and online contracts for day-to-day business.

Only when you switch to online contracts can you realize the full spectrum of benefits it offers. So, when creating your next contract, give e-contracts a go and see how much time and money you save. If you’re not impressed, you can always return to paper contracts.

Author Bio: Arjun Ruparelia

Email – ruparelia.arjun@gmail.com | LinkedIn

An accountant turned writer, Arjun writes blog posts for B2B brands across the globe. Arjun has five years of writing experience across verticals. He is a CMA and CA (Intermediate) by qualification.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 6 Ways Online Contract Makers Improve Your Work appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have to cope with floods of data on a daily basis, making artificial intelligence (AI) applications like machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) vital for reducing fraud, spotting and blocking fake bot accounts, and generally delivering a better user experience. 

Experiments have shown that it can take just a few days for a new social media account to go from innocently participating in Christian parenting groups to seeing QAnon conspiracy theories, or from sharing yoga posts to being showered with anti-vax material. This slide is largely blamed on AI algorithms, but the same algorithms are also used to weed out hate material and help users find new friends and thought leaders. 

Like it or not, AI is the engine driving social media. As we grow more familiar with its capabilities and drawbacks and see how emerging quantum computing systems make it more powerful, there’s reason to hope that AI-driven social media of the future will keep improving. Those investing in quantum computing stocks might note the natural alliance of AI/ML and quantum capabilities for social media.

How social media gets to know you

Social media channels and mobile apps gather data about you every time you visit the platform or use the app. We’re talking not just your name and email address, but also the photos you post, tweets you share, posts you like, and which topics you write about. Often this is legal, included in the terms and conditions that you signed when you registered (even if you didn’t read them), but sometimes it is not. 

Once they have the data, companies use ML and other AI analytics to discover deep trends in your moods and preferences so they can understand you better. 

AI algorithms work by learning from the patterns they detect. If you repeatedly post about yoga, it pushes more yoga content. If you post about cats, it will show you kitten photos and not puppy photos. The more time you spend on the site or app, the better it knows you. 

AI and ML are the engine powering your online community

Among other things, social media platforms use AI tools to:

• Automatically translate posts in a different language 
• Suggest people to tag in photos 
• Spot trending topics and hashtags 
• Suggest filters and align them with your face
• Identify and block hate speech and spam
• Spot and delete accounts
• Understand intent for search queries (especially voice search)

The primary use of AI is to target users with specific content, whether that’s organic content or paid ads. With AI analysis, social media can suggest other users you might know, accounts or topics to follow, and autoplay videos with related content, helping you create a community that reflects your interests and concerns.

AI is the engine, and your data is the fuel, powering Facebook and Instagram’s popular ad marketplaces too. They offer brands the opportunity to choose specific messaging and images for different segments of their target audience, as well as to find lookalike audiences which match their existing customer profiles. 

Although sometimes the algorithm slips up and delivers ongoing ads for toilet seats after you bought one on Amazon, for example, it’s also the way that you might find out about a concert by a little-known band that you fall in love with. 

AI can also build a slippery slope to radicalization

Social media companies long believed that all engagement is good engagement. The most polarized and emotive content drives engagement, so AI algorithms quickly learned to push this content. Brands and media personalities likewise produce “clickbait,” leading to a race for the bottom where the most radical content wins the engagement stakes. 

Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee who claimed whistleblower status, leaked material showing that Facebook is fully aware of the dark pattern of its algorithm. It happily allowed its AI to learn from the worst impulses of the human psyche, nudging users towards the junk food of online content, like white supremacism, anti-vaccine and anti-covid disinformation, and conspiracy theories. 

Platforms do this by suggesting friends, groups, and articles which overlap with your existing interests and gradually lead you further along the path to radicalization. 

Social media’s AI future is in our hands

But it would be as unfair to blame AI for the damage caused by social media as it would be to blame a hammer when you miss a nail and hit your thumb. AI algorithms are as accurate as the data they are fed, and reflect the biases of the people who build them. That’s why tech watchdogs are demanding that platforms use AI to do more to remove hate speech, conspiracy theories, and disinformation, and detect and delete accounts belonging to underage children. 

Social media companies are trying to prove that they understand the need to adjust the way they use AI tools and to apply them more effectively. For example, Instagram could use AI to push positive content that builds teen self-esteem, instead of tearing them down. 

Quantum computing is bringing social media to a fork in the road

All this debate is especially important when social media is on the cusp of what could literally be called a quantum leap. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has received a lot of mockery for his decision to rename the Facebook group as Meta, but it’s an important signal about the future of AI. He talks about an AI-powered “metaverse,” where you can interact with friends, make purchases, and enjoy immersive experiences entirely online. 

It’s not yet here, but there’s an expectation that quantum computing will make it a reality soon. Quantum computers are far more powerful than today’s binary computers, and it’s predicted that as they become mainstream, they’ll be able to support more advanced AI applications, like Zuckerberg’s metaverse and more relevant social media community building. 

As more eyes turn to the future of social media experiences, quantum computing stocks are gaining momentum. People interested in being part of the disruptive future of social media interactions are feeling encouraged to invest in quantum computing. Signs that social media platforms understand the power of quantum and advanced AI, and will be using it for the good, are likely to add weight to the trend.  

Important Disclosures:

The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company. Please read carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectuses can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Defiance Quantum ETF:

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, QTUM (the “Fund”) may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. The Fund is not actively managed and would not sell a security due to current or projected under performance unless that security is removed from the Index or is required upon a reconstitution of the Index. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk. The Fund is considered to be non-diversified, so it may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks including risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. This risk is magnified in emerging markets. Small and mid-cap companies are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than securities of large-cap companies.

The value of stocks of information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition. The possible applications of quantum computing and machine learning are only in the exploration stages, and the possibility of returns is uncertain and may not be realized in the near future.

Read more about QTUM here, including performance and holdings:  https://www.defianceetfs.com/qtum/. Fund holdings are subject to change and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.

Opinions expressed are subject to change at any time, are not guaranteed, and should not be considered investment advice.

Defiance ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How quantum stocks could supercharge AI for social media, and why that might be problem appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Agents have an amazing amount of choice available to them, so you need to scope out the most suitable solutions that are also within budget.

With that in mind, here is a line-up of programs and platforms that will give real estate specialists a helping hand in a range of scenarios.

Social media marketing tools

Making the most of your social media channels to connect with clients and market your properties is important. Luckily it is possible to do this more effectively if you have the right software in your toolkit.

First you can turn to all-encompassing management platforms like Sprout Social and Hootsuite to do things like scheduling posts to go live on different sites and apps at the perfect time, as well as providing analytical insights into how well your content is performing.

Then you can make use of media creation tools like Canva to conjure up good-looking, professional content which is eminently sharable.

Lastly, with a solid CRM at your disposal, such as Zoho or Salesforce, your social media interactions can be combined with your other customer relationship management responsibilities more easily.

Commission calculators

A commission calculator for real estate agents is the best way to make an accurate assessment of how much money you will generate from a given property deal.

You can extrapolate commission earnings from the sales price of a home as a percentage, and also see what you will be left with after your brokerage has taken a cut, along with a host of other variables.

Being attuned to commission fees is the best way to ensure you receive a consistent income, and that you focus on the transactions that are likely to make you the most cash.

Scheduling tools

Most people who work in real estate have busy schedules, with lots of appointments to keep throughout the course of the average day.

Because of this, it is necessary to use the right software to organize your meetings, house viewings, conference calls and client get-togethers.

If you want to keep costs to a minimum, Google Calendar is a fully-featured, free option. It is also best if you are already a firm fan of Google’s other services, such as Drive for cloud storage and Gmail for email. Equivalents are available from Microsoft and Apple, so even if your allegiances lie elsewhere, top scheduling tools are within reach.

Communication tools

Contacting clients and keeping colleagues in the loop is a breeze so long as you have the right communication tools at your disposal.

For real estate, discrete instant messaging solutions like Slack can serve teams of agents well. Video calling services like Zoom and Skype are also worth investigating, especially if you conduct a lot of client meetings remotely.

It is also worth thinking about how communication can be used for marketing purposes. For example, email marketing campaigns run via platforms like MailChip are efficient and effective, with automation empowering realtors.

Virtual tour tools

Having pictures and video of a property available can help secure a sale without the need for an in-person viewing. However, you can take things even further with the help of software that creates virtual, three dimensional, interactive tours.

Platforms like Matterport have revolutionized real estate sales in recent years, and in most cases all you need is a smartphone to capture the necessary data, rather than having to hire out specialist equipment.

Lastly, the great thing about software tools like these is that they allow you to run a real estate business efficiently and inexpensively, without making compromises.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 5 Key Online Tools for Real Estate Agents appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Online PDF editors allow users to make simple but important changes to their important PDF files like removing or adding text. Several online PDF editors exist that are both free, paid as well as a mixture of both. Many PDF editors let users try their software for a free trial period or single-use purposes and then charge a premium to give them access to move advanced features. These other features can include such things as merging separate PDF files, splitting a single PDF file into many, making new fillable PDF files as well as adding digital signatures to a PDF file to make them more secure. The ideal PDF editor is the one that serves a user’s needs and these are just of the few online PDF editors that offer a good mix of everything.

Lumin PDF

Lumin PDF is a multi-platform software that lets users try out many standard PDF editing tools, as well as some more advanced ones if they subscribe to a monthly plan. Lumin PDF gives users access to viewing, editing, and annotating features that are available for a single-use purpose for free during a trial period.

The software has wide compatibility and lets users access it through several platforms including their browser, on their desktop, and through a downloadable mobile app for more convenient access. Apart from the basic PDF reader, viewer, and editor, the more advanced features offered by Lumin include real-time, multiple-user editing and viewing, sharing capacity that includes many cloud-based storage platforms, as well as OCR text recognition.

Lumin software also integrates with other document-sharing platforms like Google Classroom that make it easier for large groups of people to view and annotate large PDF documents. Among the editing and viewing features, Lumin also lets users protect their documents through password encryption and by adding e-signatures to their most important files.

Soda PDF

Soda PDF is a series of different, Windows-based applications that let users alter and make changes to their important PDF files or documents. Among Soda PDF’s many offerings are the standard ones like editing and viewing tools that combine an easy-to-navigate user interface, as well as drag-and-drop functioning to make PDF creation even simpler.

Soda PDF works on several platforms and is accessible through many different devices from a desktop version to a mobile application. There is a suite of free trial features that Soda lets users access for a trial that includes things like merging, compressing, and converting PDF files into other file formats and vice-versa.

The software is available through differently priced plans that include a few of the premium features like 24-hour technical support or things like multiple platform accessibility. Users can choose from among the plans to see what suits them best as there are plans geared toward both individuals as well as businesses and organizations.

SmallPDF

Small PDF is a downloadable software application that lives up to its name by delivering to users only the most essential PDF editing, viewing, and organizing tools to make them more accessible and easier to use. Small PDF lets users try out over twenty-one different PDF tools for free during a trial period.

These tools include things like editing and viewing pages, as well as compression of small-sized files. Free trial users can access the software through the SmallPDF page or a downloadable mobile application. Premium users can download a desktop version to handle larger files.

The premium tools come with a monthly subscription to SmallPDF’s user plans that let users go further with their PDF editing capacity. The monthly plans give users the power to compress large files, convert scanned documents to PDFs or other file formats, and vice-versa, as well as giving them a larger number of allowed documents to edit. Several security features let users keep their files protected with e-signatures and encrypted passwords.

Adobe Acrobat

The Adobe Acrobat suite of software tools revolves around its proprietary file format, the Portable Document Format (PDF). The company remains the gold standard for using the format with its wide array of tools that let users perform any number of operations on PDFs. The brand has several tiers of products that range from simple viewers and readers to more high-performing software.

The Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free download that is used worldwide for easily viewing and reading PDF files across several operating systems and web browsers. The Reader is free-to-use but it is limited in its editing abilities. Users can highlight text and add comments but not remove or add new text or images.

Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Acrobat Pro DC are the brand’s professional, premium software that offers a wide range of different editing and annotating features, along with unlimited file conversions, formatting, scanning, and sharing capabilities. The Pro DC features cross-compatibility with several operating systems and lets users edit and view PDFs through a mobile application.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Best PDF Editors in 2021 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

When it comes to success in the digital world, both traffic and conversion rates matter. For every business, whether big or small, the ultimate goal of every marketing activity is to drive sales. In order to drive sales in today’s competitive marketplace, your business needs to have a strong presence online to avoid losing potential customers to your competitors. 

The average conversion rate for websites is roughly 2 percent, which means for every 100 visitors to your website, you can expect to get 2 customers. From there, you must try to increase your traffic in order to get more customers. This is not easy and there are many online businesses that just never manage to do it. 

If you are looking to improve the success of your online business, here are some tried and tested ways to gain more traffic and conversions online. 

Fix Your Website’s Technical Issues

Search engines and their algorithms are highly sophisticated. In fact, most websites with a large number of technical issues will perform poorly as search engine algorithms often check for technical issues first when scanning sites. As one digital marketing agency in Singapore explains, if your website has technical issues such as slow loading times or broken links, your business will be perceived negatively by site visitors and potential customers. This is a problem with many startup websites in Singapore and elsewhere because people attempt to make their business’s website themselves to save money.

In today’s world, building a website yourself for your business may seem like an easy task with various online services and templates to choose from. However, if your business’s website is continuously running into technical problems, it is best that you invest in hiring a professional website designer to handle your site. 

Create SEO Content

Trying to write and blog as frequently as you can is a good strategy to increase your website’s organic traffic. However, keep in mind that quality content should always be prioritized over the quantity of the content. As a general rule, the better your content is, the more chances you will have of generating organic and positive traffic to your site in the long run. 

Search engines prioritize website content that is authoritative and relevant and which best answers the commonly searched queries from internet users. Because of this, websites always strive to create quality content to rank high on search engine result pages (SERPs). With useful and interesting content, you can both place highly on SERPs and encourage visitors to revisit your website again and again. 

Pay Attention to Relevant Keywords

Keywords play a major role in how your website is ranked on the result pages. By using relevant keywords that most internet users are prone to search for, your website is more likely to be detected and positively rated by search engine algorithms. This will in turn increase your overall rankings. There are different tools you can use to search for relevant keywords that are applicable to your market niche. Additionally, analyzing competitors and the keywords they use on their websites are two common ways to find out what types of keywords are the most successful. 

Keep in mind that you should always try to use keywords that are specific to your products and services. The most popular keywords cannot just be added to your content randomly to boost your rankings. It is a common mistake that many websites make of targeting every keyword that is SEO-related. Make sure the content is relevant and well written.

Build Your Off-Site SEO

It is important for search engine algorithms to recognize your website as an authority in your field so that they can rank your website highly on result pages. Building backlinks on websites that are already recognized as authorities is one effective way you can effectively convince search engine algorithms of your website’s importance. 

If you wish to build backlinks, you can either reach out to relevant and authoritative websites so they will write articles with links to your website, or you can hire a professional company to help you build your links. Normally, websites with the largest number of quality backlinks will rank the highest on search engine result pages so it is worthwhile for you to look into link building. 

Create a User-Friendly Website

It is understandable for visitors to be overwhelmed and have a negative experience on websites that have a lot of distractions. Remember that a positive user experience and a user-friendly interface are essential if you want visitors to stay on your website longer and come back again in the future. Therefore, your landing page should be easy to navigate, with a clear and concise layout. As a good rule of thumb, if something is not important and essential, do not include it. 

Common things you can consider putting on your website are headlines, subheadings, benefits, testimonials, reviews, and key details about your products and services. 

Use Social Media Effectively

All successful websites know how to increase their organic traffic by effectively linking their websites to their social media pages. If you are not using your social media pages, you should consider creating a business page on popular platforms that your target customers will most likely be on to create and update your content regularly there. This will give social media users a chance to get to know your business or get in touch with you.

On social media platforms, you can take steps to increase audience engagement and drive organic traffic to your website by creating interesting content with high appeal in the form of posts, videos, photos and by setting up events, giveaways, and live-streaming shows. Remember that publishing high-quality and engaging content is always better than publishing a lot of poorly made content that isn’t interesting for potential customers. 

After investing in high-quality content and improving your website, it is crucial for you to analyze your results and use this insightful data to make adjustments and improve your website in the long term. Successful businesses drive sales and lead by increasing their traffic and by improving their conversion rates from existing site visitors. By focusing all of your efforts in digital marketing into doing both, you will soon reap their benefits and ensure the sustainable growth of your business.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Ways to Gain More Traffic and Conversions Online appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Once upon a time it was all about direct sales. In other words, if a form of marketing wasn’t bringing immediate results, it was immediately sent to the scrap pile.

Now, it would be fair to say that things are changing. This is partly due to technology; after all, it is now much easier to track exactly which marketing source a customer came from, as well as how many steps they had completed to reach that before then.

All of these developments have resulted in a real change in how companies approach business. Some will go as far as purchasing intent data (find out what intent data is over here), while others might try and claim the customers directly themselves.

The remainder of this article will now take a look at three stages of the sales funnel, and show how you can adapt your website accordingly to take advantage.

The top of the funnel

Also known as the awareness stage, this is the very tip of the iceberg. Customers will start to try and solve a problem, and just want that top-level information to educate them so they can perhaps progress on their journey.

What does this mean from your perspective? Unfortunately, these customers aren’t ready to buy yet – they just need educating. A lot of companies are starting to realize that if they can be the ones educating them about a particular subject, they can also be the ones to obtain the sale later down the line. There is of course no guarantee that this will happen, but if a person finds your content useful it will at least increase the chances.

The solution? Try and publish blog posts, e-books, whitepapers and anything else that can grab their attention at this stage.

The middle of the funnel

This is where customers start to evaluate options. They appreciate the problem in question (hopefully through your initial content at the top of the funnel) and they will start to look for relevant solutions.

These people still haven’t reached the buying stage, but they are getting closer. It means that your content needs to be a little more commercial and talk about the various features that you have which can help them to resolve a problem, or show that you are a good fit.

Out of the three stages we will look at, this is the longest. You are slowly starting to build a relationship with the end customer, with the hope they will move onto the third and final stage of the funnel.

The bottom of the funnel

As you might have already gathered, that final stage is the purchase stage. They might not necessarily buy from you – but they are ready to buy from someone.

While this was historically regarded as the most important stage by businesses, it doesn’t require a lot of action on your behalf. Instead, customers in this segment need a little nudge to direct them towards your product. It might even just be a case of strategically placing your call-to-action in a prominent position; the work in the other funnels should hopefully have set you up for that final purchase action.

This is an article provided by our partners network. It might not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of our editorial team and management.
Contributed content

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post The three funnels: How you can take advantage online appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.