List Of Important Factors That Affect The SEO Ranking

** ANNOUNCEMENT 22/03/2023: The Bloggers Network Daily online paper, used to showcase and promote Bloggers Network group members latest blog posts, will shut down on the 20th April 2023. Thank you for the support over the past decade. ** Update 15th June 2020: Some changes are being made to the blog ready for a new publishing schedule. Stay tuned for details. Take care and stay safe folks during this difficult time! Want to guest post on the blog? Visit the "Write For Us" page above for more details. Serious enquiries only please. A big "THANK YOU" goes out to all the amazing NHS staff and care workers, and to all those wonderful people who are keeping things running during this dreadful crisis. Thank you also to my valued readers, followers and others for your patience and understanding and for the continued support during my unscheduled absences due to ill health. If you have enquired about guest posting or advertising on the blog but have not received a response, please get back in touch. Coming soon: With so many sellers shamefully profiteering (price gouging) from the current pandemic and providing inadequate customer support, I will be publishing a post entitled "eBay Sellers: The Name and Shame List" which will be based on my recent experiences on eBay. Share your experiences by sending me an email. Amazon Customer Services: The Worst By Far - Thinking of purchasing an Amazon product such as the Echo Dot for example, then think again. It could take weeks to get your issue resolved. Read more about my experience here. With more than 200 signals or components, Google algorithm is no joke! Yes, this list is no doubt impressive, but it can turn out to be rather daunting for a human to spend only 24 hours a day for this process. However, SEO can prove to be rather helpful in this regard. It is more like getting everything right and also to set forth your priorities accordingly. But, you need to be extra careful while working on the best ranking factors, which can affect SEO to a great extent. Once you get a glimpse of it, there is no chance of making a mistake. 1. Let's start with backlinks: Even in this year 2018, backlink seems to hold a strong position in your SEO Ranking. It happens to be the strongest indication of Google's authority, even now! Before you head for the backlink, you are cordially invited to break things down a bit. You may be wondering how Google can turn the vague concept of backlink into promising ranking signal. In multiple patents, it has been addressed that calculation of link score takes place. This score is followed by quality score individually of the incoming links along with link numbers to the site. On the other hand, anchor text relevant is yet another part of the back linking source. Anchors are designed to inform Google about your page more and what rank it deserves. But before you head for this norm, you need to remember a bit about Penguin. That will help you to keep anchors diversified and even quite natural. 2. Quality of the content: Google has done well in improving its algorithm lately, mostly after the Hummingbird update. It now clearly understands your content structure. There are some useful articles available to offer rewards value for better rankings. All the poorly made affiliated options might find it hard to get the right ranking. Robust websites are much more in vogue these days, known to publish detailed guides and tutorials. For higher ranking, your articles need to be worth reading by potential customers or online browsers. 3. Mobile-based first user experience: It was in the year 2016, when Google turned its working notion towards mobile first indexing. It shows that Google's index is now crawling much more towards website's mobile versions. So, mobile optimization happens to be a promising ranking factor for sure. Most of the top 10- visible domains are known to be mobile friendly in nature, as per the statistics from SearchMetrics. Your content needs to be absolutely responsive on various mobile platforms. To top it all, it needs to be identical to desktop's content. You even need to bother a bit about URLs SEO friendly to hike up your present ranking to an all-new level. Recent studies clearly state that around 85% of the website are focusing towards mobile-friendly versions to make way for their presence in front of Google. So, the time has come to start improving your website now! 4. Make way for technical SEO: The technical sector of your site is rather crucial to be honest. It comes with two major factors, which deal with the ranking source well. It all starts with the page speed. According to Google, your page should load within a speed of 2 seconds or even less. This speed leads to the best-ranking signal. Speed can also lead to huge impacts on UX with slower pages having more bounce with lower conversion rates. The next stop got to be mobile-friendliness. If you don't have mobile versions of your page, it will lead to no value from the mobile users at all. As half of the queries are generated from mobile users, therefore; you need to put up with this notion in years to come. So, without wasting time, it is time for mobile-first indexing, right away! 5. Content updates are there to help: Google makes it a point to check on your updating frequency. If you have an old content for too long, then you are practically murdering your rank with your own hands. It uses metrics for determining if your website is still up and running. Your site will definitely deserve a lot of credit while publishing articles frequently. Google will start highlighting dates for the searches where dates play a pivotal role. 6. Check out the encryptions: SearchMetrics recently confirmed that around 45% of leading websites are currently using HTTPs encryption, which has been up by 12% since 2015. Even Backlinks can find a positive connection between first ranking websites in Google and HTTPs websites. In the year 2014, Google clearly confirmed that websites with higher HTTPs will have a better ranking in the future. So, if you really want your business to reach for the sky, you have to follow these points. Once you have settled for the best rankings in major search engines like Google, there is no looking back from there on! About The Author: Brandon Graves is a WordPress developer at HireWPGeeks in the USA and manages the services for html to wordpress conversion. He also shares his articles with tech savvy peoples to help them in the form of tips and tutorials. Follow him on Facebook to get instant updates. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Brandon and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: How Facebook Can Help Your Website SEO The Recent Google Update: What This Means For You How Twitter Can Help Your SEO Mobile-Friendly Site Designing: Things You Shouldn't Be Doing For a full list of helpful articles on SEO, use the following links: https://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO https://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow on Facebook and Google+, via Email or by subscribing to our blog feed. You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post, best of luck with your SEO efforts! &copy 2018. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 28 May 2018 | 8:30 am

Minerals-Water Limited: How NOT To Treat Your Customers

I've been blocked by a seller on eBay for simply enquiring as to why I had not received the replacement product they promised. Yes, you read that right - a seller trading as Minerals-Water Limited has blocked me on eBay for simply enquiring about a replacement product. What kind of seller treats its customers in this way! Minerals-Water Limited (Update: Now trading as Clear Minerals Limited) is a UK company based in Purfleet, Essex who supply food additives, health and beauty, weight loss and detox products, sport supplements, water filtration systems, chemicals and packaging. As well as having a website (minerals-water,co.uk), they also have storefronts on eBay and Amazon where they sell their products. It all started late last year when I ordered 500ml bottles of pharmaceutical grade Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine/Glycol (VG) from Minerals-Water for doing my own e-liquid mixes. As a smoker for more than 30 years, I now use vaping as a substitute for smoking which I've been doing for the past two years since giving up the cigarettes. When I received the two items a few days later, I noticed that the VG had a very short shelf-life of just 6 months compared to the PG which had a normal 12 months shelf-life. Having a 6-month shelf-life is very unusual as these products from other sellers usually have a shelf-life of 12-18 months. Having a long shelf-life on these products is very important as anyone who mixes their own e-liquids will tell you. When I contacted Minerals-Water on eBay to ask why the VG had a short shelf-life, they blamed it on the supplier. I asked if the VG stock was old stock given the difference between the shelf-life of both products, but they assured me that it wasn't. It was agreed that before I do another purchase, I would send them a message to find out the shelf-life of their current stock. In their response, they offered me a replacement which I thought was very decent of them considering I never asked for one. Fast forward to 2018 and no replacement has been received. With it being a low-cost item and with being unwell recently, I actually forgot about the replacement. It was only when I was going through some of my old emails at the beginning of the year that I remembered. Although it was a low-cost item, I decided to contact Minerals-Water on eBay anyway to enquire as to why no replacement had been received as they did promise one. You can guess their response! Apparently, they checked their archives and said a replacement was posted. When I pointed out to them that all items that I order online (and I do order a lot) are delivered successfully and could they possibly send another replacement as the first one had not been received, no response (or replacement) was received. I actually discovered the blocking last month on eBay when I decided to do another purchase because my current stock of VG is running very low due to the previous supplied bottle now being out of date. When I tried to add an item from the Minerals-Water store to my basket, the following error message appeared: "This seller won't sell to buyers that do not meet their requirements". Given my suspicions that I may be blocked, I decided to contact eBay. After being passed to a customer support manager, my suspicions were confirmed; I had indeed been blocked by Minerals-Water. This is where it gets really interesting from a buyers point of view. When speaking with the manager, my messages with the seller were viewed and it was agreed that I had done nothing wrong to warrant the blocking. However, eBay were limited on what they could do to resolve the issue. The only option open to them was to send Minerals-Water an email in the hope that they would remove the block. A few weeks later and the block has not been removed, hence the reason for this post. During my conversation with the manager, it was discovered that eBay give full control to sellers on who they can block. While this may be fine when dealing with buyers who are abusive or frequently return items for no good reason, it doesn't protect the innocent buyer from being wrongfully blocked. Given that sellers are using the eBay system to sell their products, why would eBay have no control over the blocking system? This seems rather odd and quite frankly unacceptable from a buyer's point of view. What's stopping a seller from blocking you simply because you enquired about a replacement or refund? It happened to me! I did suggest to eBay that they should include information in the Terms and Conditions to protect the buyer from such actions. They said that they would but I'm not convinced that these changes will be made. Given my experiences with this seller, my advice is simple: Be careful if you decide to do business with Minerals-Water on eBay (and Amazon), more so via their website where you will have less protection. Remember, if you're wrongfully blocked by this (or any other) seller, eBay are powerless in what they can do in removing the block. The same could also be true with Amazon. Whether you're a vaper or not, be warned if you're thinking of buying your VG, PG or any other time-sensitive products from this seller as the items you receive may have a short shelf-life. You may also not receive a replacement even though they may have promise you one. Given the way this seller treats its customers, I would recommend shopping elsewhere! As some of you will know, it's very rare that I do a negative post on a business, but I feel it's justified given the unwarranted actions of this company. Although they're a top-rated seller and have an impressive positive feedback percentage on eBay, this means nothing if they're treating customers unfairly when it comes to product replacements. Making sales is one thing, but you must also provide good customer service; anything less is just not acceptable. I did send them an email prior to this post being published, but again they failed to respond. Maybe this post will grab their attention and force them to act - we can only hope! :) Did you find this article helpful? Have you had any problems with this seller? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below. Related reviews: Amazon Customer Services: The Worst By Far - Thinking of purchasing an Amazon product such as the Echo Dot for example, then think again. It could take weeks to get your issue resolved. Read more about my experience here. If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow on Facebook and Google+, via Email or by subscribing to our blog feed. You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post in a week's time on important factors that affect the SEO ranking, have a wonderful week ahead. Be vigilant when shopping on eBay! &copy 2018. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 21 May 2018 | 8:30 am

Top 5 Must-Have Skills For Project Managers

For every $1 billion invested, companies in the US lose $122 million due to bad management. Here's the thing: building a plan from scratch and taking it to an end, while respecting both the deadlines and the original budget, isn't for everybody. Thanks to the new technologies, projects have more chances to a happy end. But, software alone isn't enough to put things on the right track. You need to be a killer project manager to keep up with challenges -- to deliver high-quality results, fast, and without spending more than your clients or your company can afford. Whether you get your PMP certification in San Diego or any other part of the country, you need more than passing the exam to become a great project manager. Here are five skills you must develop as a PM to turn every new project into a success. Effective Communication Communication is vital for a successful project. That's why, as a project manager, you should know how to talk to your colleagues, clients, and superiors. Better yet, when your team communicates efficiently, it's easier for everybody to finish their tasks in time and to make the right decisions inside the group. However, effective communication goes beyond sending explicit emails and organizing efficient reunions. You need to master a wide range of abilities in this field: Learn to listen. A good project manager asks for feedback and looks to all team members. Ask the right questions. You can avoid a lot of delays and communication errors when you take the time to understand what's happening inside the team. Update the team on a regular basis. As a project manager, you must know everything about progress and new milestones. By informing all the team, you get to gain more trust, motivate your staff, and increase productivity. Encourage efficiency. When you communicate with your team, you should always stress the importance of doing things the right way -- instead of rushing them to finish faster. Time Management Time management is the key to increased productivity and efficiency. That's why your job as a project manager is to organize and plan all the activities to make sure that your team delivers on time. To develop killer time management skills, you need to focus on these three elements: Planning. For every project large or small, preparation is everything. Project managers who take the time to define all activities and to estimate durations are more likely to respect deadlines and bring the project to an end. Setting reasonable, clear goals. 37 percent of projects fail because they lack clear objectives. You need more than a guideline to make things right. Set measurable goals, with realistic deadlines. Getting ISO certified, for example, can take months. If you're hurrying your staff, you risk losing more time fixing errors in the long run. Prioritizing. It's fundamental when you need to avoid distractions and focus on the critical things. Not all tasks are equally necessary to the success of the project. Make sure you don't keep all the team blocked just because one member is behind schedule. Problem Solving The most important skill of a PM is the ability to come up with solutions to a crisis. Machines and complex AI software can improve workflows and increase productivity, but they can't make decisions for unpredicted problems -- and as long as you work in this business, there's always going to be something to solve. You must learn to get to the bottom of any problem, identify the causes and come up with innovative solutions. The faster, the better. Your problem-solving skills can keep a project going even in the hardest times. Plus, your ability to analyze and evaluate the situation (and to take action) can save your client significant resources. Risk Management In 2017, the US government lost $32 billion due to failed IT projects. Whether you're working with small or large companies, there's always a risk for things to go wrong. That's why your risk management skills are essential for any project. You must learn how to identify opportunities and how to make the most of every challenge during the project. In many situations, you can identify risks early in the project. Discuss scenarios with your team members and learn to read between the lines, when watching numbers. This way, you can see possible risks right from the beginning and counter them effectively. Opportunities always come with risks. It's your job as a project manager to evaluate and decide if the reward is worth the risk. And, what measures can help you reduce it to minimize the damage. Leadership As a PM, you must inspire, motivate and communicate on a permanent basis. All eyes are on you, expecting guidelines and solutions. Besides self-confidence and self-esteem, you need solid knowledge and experience to be a good leader. From stakeholders to clients and team members, everybody expects you to make decisions and implement them. You must be the person who works hard, listens to everyone, and has an accurate answer to any question. Everything less than that and your peers will stop following you. The success of any project depends on how you use your leadership skills for the best. Being a good leader means having all other skills -- competent, excellent communicator, empathy, problem-solving, team builder, to mention some. Plus, you must know how to use these skills to improve your team's results. Because a good leader always works with an efficient team! Did you find this article helpful? Are you a project manager? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below. Related articles: Top Personal Skills That Will Stand You In Good Stead In Business 5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Efficient How To Best Increase Efficiency And Profitability In Your Business For more business tips, use this link: https://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow on Facebook and Google+, via Email or by subscribing to our blog feed. You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post in 7 days on why you should be careful when doing business with Minerals-Water Limited on eBay, have a great and productive week ahead. See you back here on Monday 21st May! &copy 2018. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 14 May 2018 | 8:30 am

STUDY: Will The New Twitter Character-Limit Affect Your Digital Marketing Efforts?

When it comes to marketing your products online, social media is a key player in generating awareness of your brand and connecting you with your target audience. Different social channels are geared towards different demographics, which allows you to focus in on your target audience. Social platforms work in various ways, and their different functions allow you to express your brand's message in different ways. Facebook has always been the place for long, compelling posts about what your business does and how you do it. LinkedIn is where professionals can network in a more formal online setting. Instagram is the visual channel, where you sell your products through engaging images. Twitter is the platform where busy users scan concise posts for important information. Over the years, marketers have grown accustomed to the way that each of these social channels works, creating strategic posts that get the most out of the network in question. That was until Twitter decided to change its character-limit from 140 to 280. This got us thinking whether we should be doing things differently for our clients as a result of this, and whether businesses should change the way that they communicate with their audiences on this platform. So, we got in touch with our friends at Manchester Metropolitan University and arranged to carry out a study about how users engage with different tweet-lengths. Our hypothesis Our initial thoughts were that having the ability to write twice as much in a Twitter post would be valuable to us marketers, because this gives us the opportunity to cram in plenty of information about our brands and what we do. But, Twitter users are used to the short and snappy bursts of information. There are two elements to our hypothesis that we had to prove: Twitter users don't consume 280-character tweets in equal measure to 140-character tweets. Tweets with media will receive greater attention, regardless of character-length. The experiment We headed down to the MMU usability lab and used its eye-tracking software to monitor how a group of Twitter users reacted to tweets of different lengths. Methodology We decided to make this research qualitative, and asked our 10 volunteers for their Twitter handles. This allowed us to create test accounts that would feature accounts that were similar to the ones they followed on their own personal accounts. We then hooked the volunteers up to eye-tracking software and instructed them to browse their Twitter feeds as they normally would. We split users into mobile and desktop in order to establish any differences that may occur between devices. Our findings On average, users engaged more with tweets that were longer than 140 characters across mobile and desktop. Users who read less than 140 characters focused on each tweet for an average of 1.7 seconds. Users who read more than 140 characters focused on each tweet for an average of 2.2 seconds. These findings prove that users don't skim over longer tweets; in fact, they take the time to read them. Although half a second doesn't seem like a big difference, it is in terms of social media engagement. What does this mean for you? Our findings demonstrate that marketers should take advantage of the longer character-count on Twitter, because users take the time to read longer tweets whether they contain images or not. If you feel that you need to utilise the full 280 characters to express your brand's message, then by all means do. About The Author: Danny Sefton is a Content Marketing Executive at theEword, a digital marketing agency based in the heart of Manchester. Did you find this study helpful? What do you think of the increase in character-limit on Twitter? Please let Danny and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related resources: Twitter Study Infographic For helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use this link: https://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Social%20Media%20Marketing If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow on Facebook and Google+, via Email or by subscribing to our blog feed. You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post in a week's time on top 5 must-have skills for project managers, have a great week ahead and thank you for all the support during my absence. See you back here next Monday! &copy 2018. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 7 May 2018 | 8:30 am

Website Management: The Importance Of Quality Web Design

** Update 4th May 2018: Normal service will resume on Monday (7th May) on Derek's Home and Business Blog. Thank you again for your patience and understanding and for the continued support during the difficult period! Want to guest post on the blog? Visit the "Write For Us" page above for more details. ** Note: Some technical changes are being made to the blog such as secure connection, new sharing buttons etc. If you encounter any errors, please let me know. Changes in Web technology have changed the way that people design websites. It really is incredible to see just how much it has changed in the last couple of years. Nowadays, Web users want competitive websites that look and function at optimal levels. People do not stick around on sites that are low quality in design and usability. There are several reasons why quality Web design is an essential part of all websites. Clear Communication Communication is the main reason that people hire Web designers. They need all elements of the website to communicate effectively with people online. Sites have to be user-friendly and allow people to be able to get the help that they need right away. It is definitely essential for sites to be easy to use and super user-friendly. Designers start by choosing the right page layouts and templates with borders that define where the text starts and stops. Websites without page layouts have misaligned text that seems to run off the page and can be really hard to follow making the site seem confusing. Your site is certain to fail if it only has one block of text like this. It is also a good idea to be sure that you have enough space for ad banners and page tabs that are clear and easy to follow. With tabs, your visitors can move from one page to another with ease making it super easy for them to find exactly what they are looking for. At all costs you need to make sure that you avoid creating disorderly pages that make you look disorganized and irresponsible. Nobody likes a webpage that is hard to use and difficult to follow. Interactivity Websites are becoming more and more competitive every day. That is why when it comes to your site you really need to step up your game. Nowadays, the most visited and popular websites are interactive. Because of this, it may be a really good idea to try to incorporate a variety of multimedia layouts into your Web designs such as videos, pictures and sound files. Make your site interactive to provide interesting ways for people to gather information about your business. Professional website development includes a major focus on creative website designs. The right development company provides you with a variety of unique, interactive designs to choose from. Choose transition effects for users who want to move between different pages on your site. Place a different picture in the background of each individual page. Marketing When it comes to sites it is also essential to incorporate your Web designs into an effective marketing strategy. Design your website for the purpose of reaching your targeted audiences online. You may also want to use different templates and themes that relate to your particular type of business and services. You could even include stock photos of professionals working inside of an office building to appeal to business people and make your company seem super friendly and personal. Luckily, experienced Web designers have created themed websites before, so it helps to get suggestions from them as they may have some really good ideas that can help you easily find your way to success. A good marketing plan is necessary to get more than clicks. You want visitors to convert and turn into regular customers. Make your site stand out among the millions of others made by companies exactly like yours. To summarize, create your website with the use of high-quality Web designs. When you take the designs seriously, more people will take your business seriously, too. Work with a qualified Web designer to receive more visitors and stir up more interest in your business over time. Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below. Related articles: Beginner Steps For Launching A Website Mobile-Friendly Site Designing: Things You Shouldn't Be Doing Five Keys To A Successful Web Design And How You Can Achieve It For Free If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow on Facebook and Google+, via Email or by subscribing to our blog feed. You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post, have a great week ahead and thank you for all the support during my absence. &copy 2017. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 6 March 2017 | 8:30 am

Warning: 5 Ways You Are Losing Engagement By Not Using Social Media For Your Business

The opportunities are endless for today's business owner to reach potential consumers and convert them into lifetime customers. But in this modern landscape, users want to engage in a virtual community where they can be advocates, share ideas, and get the latest scoop on new product offerings and services. Making your presence known in a social space is essential for growing your business. Interestingly enough, some of the most successful business owners have learned how to use technology to gain an edge. Rather than shelling out thousands of dollars on prime air-time, companies are learning to generate buzz by creating viral content and encouraging shares and likes. If you are not currently using social media for business, there are five things you need to know where you may be missing out on engagement: Let's face it - Anyone who's anyone is on social media these days - Not being on social media is like not listing in the Yellow Pages in the 1980's. If you aren't utilizing these channels wisely you are limiting your audience and making it harder for potential clients to contact your business easily. A social media page is now like using a search engine. Consumers want information that is easily accessible and they want it at the stroke of a key. You want to be ahead of the pack by greeting your visitors with amazing content that is up to date and ready to go viral at a moment's notice. 72% of online adults are using social networking sites. http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/08/05/72-of-online-adults-are-social-networking-site-users/ In 2012, nearly 20% of respondents reported not using social media tools; in 2013 that number was down 11% http://moz.com/industry-survey Maintaining your reputation - Be it positive or negative, engaging with your customers through social media can turn a potentially negative experience into a positive highlight for your business. Earlier in 2013 after a hacking incident, Buffer showed great poise in the management and response to such an experience. Customers sometimes just want to have a voice. We all know the reach a negative impression can stretch and often it goes unnoticed or unresolved. Having that personal conversation with the customer shows them that you are not only engaged, but place great customer value for the service or product your business offers. Making a positive customer experience allows your reputation to shine and in turn, social advocacy will start turning its wheels. Maintaining your reputation allows your fans or followers to make suggestions for improvements, share the latest updates, and voice opinion on which products or services they would like to see most often. Beating your competitors at the game - Having a popular social media page with a large following increases your exposure over your competitors. Being able to engage directly with potential customers gives you a strong advantage over a competitor who isn't online. By being on social media when your competitors are not, you're already delivering better customer service. This is a great place to start developing trust for first time buyers. It signals that you care about your customers if something went wrong. Pushing content-based and promoted ads to the Facebook News Feed in 2014 will prove to give you that competitive edge. Even spending $1 on Facebook ads per day will get you in front 4,000 more consumers than your competitors. That's a win in my book. http://moz.com/blog/1-dollar-per-day-on-facebook-ads Social media is a fun place to engage - Showing fans your authenticity is very important in the eyes of today's social media goers. Being in command of your social media page allows you to be more personable when it comes to interacting with your customers. You can reply directly to their comments and re-adjust your tone to accommodate the given situation. Just like a search landing page, it is important to make your content exciting and interesting. Your page needs to stand out, because it is typical for a searcher to spend less than 20 seconds, before deciding whether or not they will take an action in a buying decision. Make the page pop with visual appeal by utilizing photos, videos, and banners. Social media gives you an easy opportunity to improve brand awareness and build your identity. Be quick to the punch and put a human voice to your brand - one that people, your customers can connect with on a personal level. Now more than ever Google is placing more recognition on social behavior - In a vast digital arena where Search Engines grade your rankings based off social interaction and reviews, really depends on a business owner's willingness to obtain technical prowess. Not having a social page can cause your presence to decrease on Google's radar and slip down the search results, potentially loosing visitors to your website. Social media will help you increase the amount of traffic your website receives. Social media is an SEO ranking signal and has grown increasingly important. Being talked about and mentioned on social sends a positive signal and drives Google to seeing your site as more authoritative, which will help you rank better in organic SEO. So what are the main take-aways for your business to become social savvy? Be Proactive! - Build your social media page to fit your business' consumer base and start creating a buzz! Make your content engaging and most importantly, have fun! Engage your Customers and Create Social Advocacy - Personalize your brand to your consumers and let them know what real customer value is all about! While it takes time to be a social media Jedi, social media engagement is no longer an option but an essential part of your online business plan. About The Author: Anna Johnson is a Senior Digital Marketing Analyst at seoWorks and takes a great interest in everything marketing, social media and internet related and enjoys sharing her knowledge on these subjects. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Anna and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: Facebook Branding For Online Business Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence How Pinterest Can Help Your Small Business For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Social%20Media%20Marketing If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on the basics of business networking, I wish you every success with your business! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 31 March 2014 | 8:30 am

Finding Perfect Venues For Business Events

Since you are reading this article, you most likely have a business or corporate event coming up and you need to find a suitable location. Business events are nowadays crucial for setting up collaborations, networking, offering awards and education. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that there are basically hundreds of different venues that you can consider. Many can end up feeling overwhelmed to see such a variety. Locating Suitable Venue Options Event success is highly dependent on where it is held. This is a reality that we cannot dismiss. The good news is that the internet can help out a lot. There are always websites that list business venues so that you can see what options are available. For instance, if you live in London, Venue Search London can be used. Make a list of all the options that seem to be suitable based on the information that you find about them on the internet. Then, try to narrow down your list by looking at events held there in the past and how successful they were. Questions You Need To Ask Before you decide to actually consider a business venue location, you need to ask yourself some really important questions. For starters, you need to know what the available budget is for the event. Then, you have to think about how many people will attend and the business outcome that you expect. Based on these questions, you can actually end up making a good list of venues that are suitable. However, things do not stop here. Questions have to continue and need to be focused on the exact event type that is organized. For instance, do you need to host people for more than one day? Do you need food or entertainment? To put it simple, lay down on paper everything that you imagine your event to need. Then, see if it is possible with the considered venues and if not, try to find some that do. You basically have to think about everything from parking to extra staff needed. Proper Planning Takes Time Organizing a successful business event is not something that you do in a week or two. This is especially true when referring to those that require overnight stay or are held for more than one day. It is always a good idea to have a team that is in charge of the entire process and that you plan everything way in advance. When referring to choosing a suitable business venue, there are many mistakes that are made and unfortunately, in most situations people end up faced with problems that they did not see coming. As a very simple example, let us say that we talk about a conference. A speaker might require projection equipment. Does the venue have this or do you need to rent one? Such questions appear as you organize an event. Finding A Perfect Business Venue Location To sum up, we cannot tell you what venue you have to consider since this varies from one business to the other and from one city to the next. However, we can tell you that the most important thing is making sure that the venue can accommodate exactly what you had in mind. Never hurry your research since this is definitely the most important part of the process. Consider as many venues that seem suitable at first glance as possible. Your initial choices will be based on available budgets but keep in mind that negotiations are sometimes possible. You cannot dismiss a venue before meeting with a representative of the company that owns it. Those meetings are the ones that will actually showcase if you can hold your event there or not. Did you find this article helpful? Are you planning a business or corporate event? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments below. Related articles: How Easy Is It To Hold A Successful Networking Event? How To Match A Speaker's Style To The Audience For more business tips, use this link: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post at the end of the month on 5 ways you are losing engagement by not using social media for your business, I wish you every success with your business! See you back here on Monday 31st March! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 19 March 2014 | 9:30 am

How Facebook Can Help Your Website SEO

Today, SEO is critical to the success of your website's online marketing campaigns. For best results, you've got to cover every aspect of SEO, and that includes using social media the right way. Learn how Facebook can help your SEO. When it comes to building a successful SEO strategy, you can't ignore social media, especially Facebook. When used the right way, Facebook's power to drive traffic is phenomenal. How do you use Facebook to help your business and improve your SEO? Social Media Links Matter Today one of the many factors that Google considers in ranking is your social media presence and chatter. Facebook provides a more legitimate means of determining the human interest in your company, beyond just how many links you may have bought or artificially built to your site. While SEO experts like to debate about how strong Facebook links really are, the truth is simple: the more people talk about your company on Facebook, the better your website will rank in the search engines. Regularly posting updates on your Facebook page will help your website earn new links even if your SEO campaign is taking a breather. Remember: the age of your links and how many new ones you have pointing toward your site is also a ranking factor! Facebook Lets You Gather Useful Information For SEO Purposes Probably the most important role of Facebook for SEO purposes is the supply of relevant information about your company's audience. Websites are typically a one-way platform where businesses can stand on a soap box, so to speak, and blast information and ideas at whoever's visiting. On the other hand, Facebook is much more interactive and serves as a forum where conversations can occur. Using Facebook will keep you in better touch with your clientele and help you get to know more about the people who either are or will become your customers. Providing fresh content that your readers want and need is important to the success of any website. Using Facebook will help you a lot when it comes to creating content and coming up with new ideas. The best internet marketers are always gleaning information from their social media interactions so they know: what their target market needs; what their customers want to know more about and care about; how customers describe their products or services. You can translate this knowledge you gained from Facebook into marketable keywords. If you see that a certain topic has sparked conversation and comments, you can translate that into a new post for your blog. Social Relationships Translate to Powerful Website Links Using Facebook and social media to build relationships with others in similar industries can help your SEO efforts tremendously. When you connect with other website owners via Facebook, opportunities arise to link to each other's sites via guest posts or even interviews. Relevant links like these are some of the best links to have in terms of increasing your site's rankings and overall traffic. Your Company's Facebook Page: a Second Website When it comes right down to it, SEO is all about reaching your audience. Facebook is the best social media tool you can use to do that well. If you do it right, your Facebook page should work a little bit like a second website. You can use Facebook to drive traffic to your commercial website when you release a new product or promotion. While you might want to save all of your SEO tricks for your main website, using a lightweight version of your overall SEO strategy on your Facebook page will improve your page's success and strength. Make sure you use keywords wisely when choosing the title of your company's Facebook page. See How Facebook Helps Your Website SEO As is the case with any SEO strategy, it is important to carefully track the effectiveness of your Facebook efforts in your overall web strategy. You will find that consistently updating your Facebook page will eventually translate into better search engine rankings. Create a plan today for your Facebook use and see how it helps your SEO. About The Author: Julie Crawford is the internet marketing director at rural wireless internet service Broadband Blue. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Julie and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: The Recent Google Update: What This Means For You Why Content Is Still King In 2014 7 Things You Need To Know About SEO In 2014 How Twitter Can Help Your SEO For a full list of helpful articles on SEO, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Wednesday on finding the perfect venues for your business events, best of luck with your SEO efforts! See you back here on Wednesday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 17 March 2014 | 9:30 am

How To Find The Perfect Balance Between Traditional And Online Marketing

The world's most popular brands can be found both online and offline. At the same time, many small businesses hope to reach a global audience via Internet marketing. Thanks to the modern technology, physical boundaries are no longer a constraint. Business owners and service providers can reach customers from all around the world with a few clicks. However, marketing online means added expenses for many companies. Finding the perfect balance between traditional and digital marketing can be difficult. That's why you need to experiment and try different strategies to see what works best for your business. The Rise of Online Marketing Traditional media is on the decline. Most people use the Internet to read news, search for information about their favourite brands, and stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends. Only a few are still buying newspapers and print magazines. Digital marketing has surpassed traditional methods of marketing such as radio and newspaper ads. It makes perfect sense for companies to reach out to their prospects on the Internet. While direct mail marketing and multi-channel marketing still work, print media has lost its power in today's digital world. Advertising products and services online is more affordable and convenient than paying for radio or TV ads. Commerce is shifting more and more online. Statistics indicate that over 61 percent of Internet users research products over the Internet. Approximately 92 percent of business owners who have blogged several times a day acquired at least one customer through their blog. Recent studies have shown that 20 percent of customers have purchased something because of ads they saw on Facebook. More than 64 percent of smartphone users are shopping online from their mobile devices. These numbers show how popular Internet marketing is. If you don't promote your small business online, you are missing out on potential clients. Online vs. Traditional Marketing Digital marketing offers measurable results and involves lower costs. Business owners have access to a wide range of tools for tracking their online campaigns. They can check the number of clicks through sponsored links and assess the success rate of campaigns through Google Analytics and other programs. These features do not exist in radio or TV advertising. Unless your traditional marketing campaign has a direct call to action, such as "call this number" or "check out this website," there is no way to assess your results in real time. Whether you use email marketing, social media marketing or SEO, promoting your business online will save you time and money. While it is true that many business owners remain sceptical about using digital marketing, its benefits cannot be denied. People who find your brand online become familiar with your products and develop trust. You can interact with your target audience on social networks, blogs, forums, chat rooms and other online platforms. Sending out tweets or sharing industry news on Facebook is free and can dramatically increase your exposure. If you want to reach a local audience, you should use both traditional and online marketing. Think about who your customers are, how they buy, and where they go. For example, if you own a clothing store, you can distribute flyers and brochures in your area. At the same time, start a Facebook fan page and then set up a Pinterest account. Share photos of your products, connect with potential clients, and encourage them to visit your clothing store. Offer special deals and promotions to those who "like" your fan page or follow your brand on Twitter. When you find a balance between digital and traditional marketing, you not only engage your prospects, but also give them a reason to choose your brand. Promoting your business online is one of the best ways to learn more about your customers. The data they leave behind indicates their buying preferences as well as their concerns. Business owners can use this information to assess customer behaviour, request feedback, and improve their products. Did you find this article helpful? Do you use both online and traditional marketing strategies for your business? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments below. Related articles: Why Online Marketing Is Just As Important As Traditional Marketing Traditional Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing For Beginners For more articles on traditional and online marketing, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Online%20Marketing http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Traditional%20Marketing If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Monday on how Facebook can help your SEO, I wish you every success with your marketing! See you back here on the 17th of March! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 12 March 2014 | 9:30 am

5 Steps To Setting Up Your Own Business

So you've decided that now is the time to set up your own business. Congratulations, it's a brave move but in my experience it's the best decision you will ever make! Now that you've decided to take the leap, there are 5 key steps to getting set up that will stand you in good stead. 1. The Idea For me, this is always the hardest step. There are so many products and services to potentially get involved with that it can be hard to choose. My advice would be to focus on an industry that you have worked in previously or have a good knowledge of. This will give you a head start in your planning as you may already understand the competition and opportunities in the market. One thing that works well, particularly when going down the product route, is to look for either an exclusive or a way to create a product under your own brand name. Plenty of suppliers will label your products under your brand name, good examples of these for getting started in selling products online are Alibaba, VapeLab, and Print Clothes. These sites and more will let you create custom branded products, helping your business to stand out amongst the crowd. If you go down the service route, try to not simply copy other ideas. You may be entering a marketplace with plenty of competition, but try to find a way to differentiate yourself and give yourself a unique selling point (USP) that will appeal to potential clients. This can be tricky to do, dependent upon your niche. There's nothing wrong with borrowing elements of competitor's strategies and amending them to create something unique. 2. Funding Once you have your idea, it's time to create your business plan. The crucial part of an initial business plan is naturally going to be funding. Whether you are planning to save up yourself or take investment you need to consider a lot of different factors here, such as: How long can you survive without taking a wage? What's the lowest wage you can live off? What are your startup costs? Do you really need a physical premise, or can you work from home? Will you need to hire people straight away? These types of questions will give you an idea as to how much funding you need to survive that first crucial year, both as a business, and with your personal finances. There are a number of options available for funding, from bank loans to private investment. Crowdfunding has also become a credible option with sites such as Kickstarter successfully funding numerous startups with creative ideas. Crowdfunding ensures you don't have a high level of bank interest or a single powerful investor applying pressure. 3. Making The Leap Once your business plan is set, and you're confident about your plans it's time to make the leap. This may mean leaving your current employment if you are currently earning a living, or it may just mean formalizing the business. Register yourself with the relevant authorities including the taxman at an early stage to avoid any surprises later on. Once you've made the leap and are out of your current employment, make sure you make a big noise around your launch. Get friends and family to share your brand socially, and make your launch a big deal. This will help with step 4, your marketing strategy. 4. Marketing Strategy You will no doubt have thought about your marketing strategy, in terms of how to generate new customers whilst planning everything out and creating a business plan. However, when you are actually live and running your business the marketing strategy becomes even more important. Making a big noise at launch should be complemented with other activity in the form of advertising, content marketing, social media, event attendance and other marketing dependent upon your niche. The problem is, the word of mouth element from your launch may be keeping you quite busy in terms of work at this early stage (hopefully), which means that you don't have quite as much time to focus on your marketing strategy as you need. Make sure you keep some time back from your schedule to continue with your marketing efforts to keep work coming for the long term. Many startups fail because their initial business development from word of mouth is strong, and they don't feel the need or have the time to continue to invest in their marketing for the long term benefit of their business. 5. Surviving The First Few Months Believe it or not, the setting up part of your business is by no means the hardest part. Once you've made that leap into self-employment or running a limited company, you need to make sure you survive the first few months. The first year is always the biggest challenge, but the first few months can be particularly challenging in terms of generating new customers, getting your name out there, and dealing with issues like cash flow. Prepare for this carefully in your business plan - expect the worst and make sure you can survive it and then you will be in a position to thrive as your reputation grows. Best of luck with setting up your new business - by careful planning and forethought you can give yourself a much higher chance of success. Strap yourself in for the ride, there will be plenty of ups and downs, but running your own business may be the best decision you have ever made. About The Author: Bryan Staggers is an online entrepreneur who runs numerous ecommerce sites such as VapeLab. Bryan enjoys writing to share his experience in setting up businesses, with a particular focus on online revenue creation. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Bryan and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: Is 2014 The Year To Go Entrepreneur? Could Franchising Be The Right Route For You? How To Survive Your First Two Years As A Start-Up Q & A: What To Consider When Setting Up A Home Business Most Important Steps To Draft Your Business Plan Legal Issues For Setting Up A Business For more business tips plus helpful articles on setting up your own business, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Startup If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Wednesday on how to find the perfect balance between traditional and online marketing, have a great week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 10 March 2014 | 9:30 am

Facebook Branding For Online Business

Branding today goes far beyond logos on t-shirts, cute coffee mugs, or even expensive television commercials. The Internet has transformed the way branding takes place and businesses need to adapt. In particular, because so many people are active on the site, Facebook enables businesses with a strong branding strategy to move light years beyond the competition. Importance of a Strong Logo A vital part of successful branding on Facebook starts with a digital logo. The best designers keep color, visibility, and pixel-size in mind as they create business logos to best suit their brands. More than any other elements, simplicity and clarity are essential for a memorable, effective logo. Next, businesses need to showcase their logos in the right places on Facebook to reinforce their identities. Because the profile and cover images on a Facebook page are focused on the most, the logo should be placed in either of these spaces to have the biggest impact. For example, on the Facebook page for the national restaurant chain Applebee's, what initially started as their name paired with an image of an apple has been reduced to only the apple; simplifying their brand identity for quick consumption. Importantly, the image is currently showcased as their profile image. Although Applebee's 5 million likes on Facebook didn't come entirely from their logo, it can be assumed that the memorable, simple, red apple did help draw people in. Even for a smaller business, a strong, well-featured logo on the site will serve as an effective cornerstone to a comprehensive brand-building strategy. Good images are heavily featured on Facebook and are required for gaining new likes and user engagement on the site. Businesses that take advantage of strong logos will likely gain more followers on Facebook and solidify their brands. Facebook Profile "Identity" Brand identity on Facebook also relies on what is shared on a business page and the language used to share it. A business that creates a unique, relatable "voice" in their posts will be more likely to gain an identity and build their brand on the site. Applebee's, for example, recently posted, "Steak the long way home. Stop at Applebee's tonight" and featured a picture of one of their steak dishes. With the quick, humorous, enticing post, Applebee's helped build a memorable, unique identity for itself. As a business increases visibility with an active and detailed Facebook page, their web presence also increases. Consistent and pertinent updates will keep a Facebook page high on the list of common search engines, which is essential to business success in the Internet age. Notably, this attention to branding is useful in increasing a business's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ranking as well as increasing viral commercial activity. Better SEO means more business. Reputation Facebook enables clients or prospective clients to have an interactive experience with a company. As the marketplace is flooded with new businesses, the Facebook platform provides away for clients to compare services and goods. Ultimately, maintaining an accessible presence via Facebook shows brand consistency and company vitality. Watching the competitors has also never been easier, nor has developing creative ways for a brand to stand out. With easy access through a few clicks and scrolls, the entire competitive marketplace is available to peruse. To take advantage of this, many companies are hiring new designers and using their most effective branding teams to scour the Internet - and Facebook in particular - to scope out the competition. With Facebook, the brand can easily evolve, keep up with trends, and maintain corporate quality assurance. Company Identity and Lifestyle Branding Facebook branding allows businesses to not only increase site traffic, but also strengthen their corporate ideals in a fun, non-threatening, "lifestyle" based fashion. This is seen through the incorporation of not only a strong logo and identity, but also good content. A well-executed, highly visible brand presence on Facebook only heightens traditional marketing principles. For steadfast branding with a modern flair, Facebook brings virtual commerce to life. About The Author: This is a guest post by Sarah Brooks from free people search. She is a Houston based freelance writer and blogger. Questions and comments can be sent to brooks.sarah23 @ gmail.com. Did you like this article? Please let Sarah and myself know by leaving us your valued comments. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence How Pinterest Can Help Your Small Business For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Social%20Media%20Marketing If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Monday with 5 steps to setting up your own business, have a relaxing weekend! See you back here next week! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 7 March 2014 | 8:30 am

Marketing A Niche Product Online

Online marketing is a practice that should be put into use by any company who wants to get ahead with their business. This should come as no surprise to anyone, but it can get a little tricky sometimes when your market isn't exactly in the mainstream. Niche marketing is aiming for a subset of a larger market of which a product is focusing on. Targeting a specific group of consumers with a product or service because of their lifestyles, interests, or any other criteria that set them apart as that niche is a great way to get sales for your product in that market. But, what if your product itself is technically a niche? Let's say you're trying to sell an item that has a specific purpose, and is only really in demand for one application. For example, I previously worked on a marketing team that promoted an industrial cable and hose protector for construction and factory use. That product realistically had, at best, a few dozen people looking to purchase. That doesn't mean it wasn't worthy of a marketing campaign, however. Marketing a niche product online is almost an art. It takes a little creativity and a lot of drive to get the word out there. Most companies already do a bit of niche marketing, focusing a certain product to a certain audience. For example, Coca Cola markets its bottles and cans to homes and retail locations, but also directs its syrup and fountain products to restaurants. Everyone does it, so developing a strategy to market your niche product should benefit by simply adapting already known and accepted strategies. The key to niche marketing is targeting, and targeting carefully. You need to find a place where no other offers for products similar to yours exist. Target those markets with advertisements, specials, or just general information about your product to generate buzz for it. Identify the gaps in the market where your product fits in, and fill it. Filling the gap in the market online is a little easier than it sounds. The first step, if not already taken, would be to establish a web presence. Optimizing your website for your niche is essential. Use Google to find out what keywords are being searched for in your market, and optimise your site and headings with those keywords, which will make your site easier to find for your potential customers. Utilize social media to get the word out about your product. For the cable and hose protector company I worked for, social media was laughable at best before I got there. Who wants to read Tweets from an industrial cable protector company? Some people do. Finding the right followers for your online presence is your next step online. Participate in industry and market blogs or other social media pages to promote your page. The reason you create a niche product is because at least some people will buy it, so go out and find those people. Finding them and getting them to follow isn't enough, however. Interaction is essential to social media. Posting daily and not following through is a great way to lose followers. Comment, like, and interact with your customers. They'll see that, and appreciate it. They may even recommend your product to a friend. Once you master your online presence, focus on marketing as a whole. Your product or service is unique. Sell that idea. Companies who offer more mainstream products don't have to worry too much about the advertising, but you should. People generally don't know what they want until they're told about it. Go out and tell some people! About The Author: This post was written by Eric Kneff, a marketing specialist for Titan Construction, a New Orleans based Construction Company. He has interests in marketing and business development. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Eric and myself know by leaving us your valued comments. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your products online, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Online%20Marketing If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Friday on Facebook branding for online business, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 5 March 2014 | 8:30 am

The Recent Google Update: What This Means For You

In the latter half of 2013, Google launched yet another update that had SEOs and digital marketers on the edge of their seats worrying about the effect it would have on all their previous hard work. Hummingbird, the latest update, may not have wreaked as much havoc as the infamous Penguin update a few years ago, that undid pretty much every SEO's efforts thus far, but there are still things you need to be aware of when pushing your business to the top of Google. So What's Changed? Like all Google updates, the intention of Hummingbird is to improve the user experience of the search engine, making the search more intuitive to present only the best possible results. Although past updates such as Penguin and Panda were so destructive due to them targeting low quality back linking practices, they had the same aims at heart, to improve search for everyone involved. Thankfully though, the Hummingbird update isn't quite so harsh with its methods of improvement. Here's the main changes: More Conversational Search Language Technology has a huge impact on the way we search, and with smartphone and tablet technology allowing us to speak our search request rather than type it, the search terms we use are becoming more conversational. Without necessarily meaning to, when you speak a search query you don't tend to self-edit as much as you would if you had to physically type it. When typing something into the search box, we have become accustomed to just using the key words, where as with voice searches we tend to ask full questions, and therefore Google is taking this into account when bringing up relevant results. The Knowledge Graph Another way in which Google is trying to provide improved answers to the questions we ask through search is using a new feature called Knowledge Graph. This takes the form of a box on the right hand side of the search page, and provides you with different concepts linking to the original search term. So rather than scrawling through all the pages of search results to find your answer, a sort of summary if you like is displayed to help you find the answer you are looking for faster. So What Does The Update Mean For You? Based on the main changes brought about with this recent update, coupled with the key changes of previous updates, we have put together some tips on how you can get the most out of the improvements to search that Google continues to make. Keep The Quality Content Flowing Content marketing isn't just a trend, it's now a way of life thanks to the continued focus on natural, conversational language. As mentioned earlier, searches are becoming longer, with fuller sentences and more natural language being used instead of being edited down to just the bare keywords. For this reason, simply filling content with relevant keywords isn't enough anymore. You need to write for the reader, not for Google. Links Aren't All Bad, Just Keep Them Relevant With Penguin coming down hard on back linking, you wouldn't be blamed for being extra cautious about link building. But Penguin's motive was to punish those back linking to thousands of poor quality sites just for the sake of linking, and reward those who linked to genuine, relevant sites and focused on quality not quantity of links. Therefore, links are still important to the SEO process, you just have to make sure those links are high quality sites with genuine relevance to your site. Offer More Valuable Information One current worry regarding Knowledge Graph is that there will come a time when users will not have to even leave the Google search page to find the information they need, as it will all be displayed in the Knowledge Graph. This would mean websites that are offering simple, popular facts could lose out on the traffic typically gained from offering this information. To avoid this, it's advisable to provide more valuable, detailed information that go deeper than the popular facts, that people searching for more than basic information would not find simply by glancing at Google's Knowledge Graph. All the updates since Panda and Penguin, we can see an ever emerging theme of Google trying to become more intuitive, offering ever more personalised results without undermining the efforts of SEOs. As it stands, this personalisation process is only set to continue with future updates, and the key take-away from this is that if you offer detailed and valuable content containing long tail key phrases over simple keywords, you will be on the right track to appear in searches. About The Author: Sarah is a Search Marketing Executive for international digital marketing agency Silverbean. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Sarah and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: Why Content Is Still King In 2014 7 Things You Need To Know About SEO In 2014 How Twitter Can Help Your SEO For a full list of helpful articles on SEO, use the following links: https://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO https://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow on Facebook and Google+, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on NetworkedBlogs or by subscribing to our blog feed. You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Wednesday on marketing a niche product online, have a great and productive week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 3 March 2014 | 9:30 am

Why Content Is Still King In 2014

The fact that content is and will always remain King is not something new that you've heard in 2014. Great content that provides valuable information and is easy to read has always been the top-most standard for the web - albeit one that managed to get lost in the past few years. Webmasters and online marketers learned that they could manipulate the search engine spiders to their advantage with fluff content and keyword stuffing, tactics that were indeed quite effective in enhancing search engine rankings of their websites. However, with Google leading the way, search engines have now become completely intolerant of anything less than great when it comes to quality of web content. So if you're hoping to increase your website rankings, you need to go back to the very basics and once again begin to treat content as king. How can you ensure that the content you are writing will get marked as high quality and not spam by the big G? Well, first of all, you need to write articles that have no errors in either grammar or spelling. This includes the difference between the USA and the UK spellings of various words. If you are writing for a blog in the USA, you don't want to have UK spellings in it; otherwise it could get marked as low quality. Top reasons why content will always remain king The following reasons will help you to understand why content will reign supreme in 2014: Critical to your success on search engine result pages: Content is the single most important factor that will determine your success or failure in the fight for higher rankings on search engine result pages. You can no longer trick the search engine spiders with cleverly used keywords, duplicated content, multiple domain names, and hidden keywords within your text. Instead, you have to focus on creating content for actual readers rather than content that is simply put together to impress search engine spiders. What this means is that you will be required to create original content that not only provides value to casual readers but specifically to your target customers or niche markets. Content that engages your target audience, invites comments, and can easily be shared by readers is what you're hoping to create, so as to enjoy search engine success. Helps build your brand and online reputation: Internet users have become extremely savvy and careful about the websites that they patronise. If your brand does not enjoy a positive online reputation, you will find it extremely challenging to instil trust in prospective clients, which in turn will impact your sales negatively. Internet consumer trends have repeatedly shown that one of the most effective ways to build trust within the online community is to provide great content. If your content can answer important questions that your target audience may have and if it continually provides value it can help to boost your online reputation and your sales significantly. Another reason why you need to invest time and money into creating great content is that it increases your chances of going viral. Only good content will be picked up and shared repeatedly, which could lead to exponential success for your business. Ideally, you want to be producing top quality, stellar content text or info-graphics that are on a par with the likes of http://www.pinpointdesigns.co.uk/google-penalty-identification-and-removal-tips.html So, whenever you want to produce content, make sure you are creating something that people will enjoy, find useful and want to share with their own fans and followers. This will ensure your long-term success in the online marketing sphere and no search engine is going to penalise you for producing low quality content. By Jove, there is more than enough rubbish and inaccurate information on the world-wide-web. The last thing we need is to be doing is adding more rubbish to it. About The Author: This article was written by Steve Mac. Steve is an avid blogger who likes nothing better than to write a good article on SEO or online marketing. Did you like this article? Please let Steve and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: 7 Things You Need To Know About SEO In 2014 How Twitter Can Help Your SEO For a full list of helpful articles on SEO, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Monday on the recent Google update (Hummingbird) and what this means for you, have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! See you back here in March! :) &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 28 February 2014 | 8:30 am

7 Things You Need To Know About SEO In 2014

Are your traffic numbers dropping? You may be a victim of the dreaded Hummingbird. Google's sweeping 2013 algorithm change is still leaving a lot of website owners scratching their heads, and many are scrambling just to reverse the damage. As opposed to the Panda and Penguin algorithm updates, which only modified the existing construct, Hummingbird represents an entirely new stage in Google's evolution. If you're still confused, don't worry. You can still thrive in the SEO arena, but you may need to shift your strategy a bit. Here are seven things you need to know: Content is king. If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this. If you want to rank in the search engines, you need high-quality content that is unique and noteworthy. In fact, content production should serve as the cornerstone of your SEO campaign, and it should consume the majority of your time and resources. Keywords are evolving. Today, more and more people are using their smartphones - and specifically speech recognition - to search online. As a result, we're seeing fewer searches for phrases like "Los Angeles restaurants" and more searches for phrases like "Find me a good restaurant in Los Angeles." As a result, Google is now using a process called "semantic search" to provide more relevant search results for complex queries. What does this mean for you? It means that keyword stuffing is absolutely useless. Rather than using the same keywords 8 times on a single page, try diversifying your keywords and using a variety of synonyms for greater search relevance. Bounce rate matters. This goes hand in hand with #1 (content is king), but it's worth noting that if your content is just generally uninteresting or irrelevant to readers, it will hurt your rankings in the long run. If people frequently hit the Back button upon reaching your landing page, Google concludes that you're just not giving visitors what they're looking for. You can say goodbye to those front-page rankings. Always emphasize quality, and try to keep your bounce rate as low as possible. Don't underestimate the power of social media. Unless you've been living in a cave for the past few years, your website probably has at least a modest social media presence. Greater social media integration can dramatically boost your site's SEO value, so take advantage of as many social networks as possible; Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram...But don't just register and then toss up the occasional token status update. Be active, build your circles, and make social media a part of your daily routine. It really will make a difference. There are more important things than anchor text. Anchor text links still carry some value (assuming they don't come from bad link partners), but they don't hold a fraction of the weight that they once did. At best, the occasional anchor text link is useful for diversifying your link profile, but overall, your time is better spent on content creation. Don't neglect your back end. It's easy to get carried away with the visual aspects of SEO, while forgetting about the technical essentials: XML sitemap, HTML sitemap, robots.txt file, page speed, 404 optimization...These components are extremely important as well. Verified authorship is more than just a good idea. If you don't have your web pages linked to a fully optimized Google Plus account, you'll never reach your full SEO potential. Make sure to set up your verified authorship. If you find yourself falling short in any of these categories, don't waste another moment. Get your website back on track, and achieve the traffic you rightfully deserve. SEO isn't dead; it's just changing with the times. Don't get left behind. About The Author: C.M. Scalise is a professional freelance writer and the content manager. He holds a Bachelor of English degree from University of California Riverside, and in his spare time he enjoys recording music and catching all the latest films. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Chris and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Related articles: How Twitter Can Help Your SEO For a full list of helpful articles on SEO, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/SEO%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Friday on why content is still king in 2014, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 26 February 2014 | 11:24 am

Is 2014 The Year To Go Entrepreneur?

The New Year is upon us. As our current year provided its own share of opportunities and challenges, 2014 promises to be no less of a roller coaster for the globe, with events such as the Federal Reserve no longer keeping the interest rates at rock bottom levels, China stopping their stockpiling of US treasuries, China again with its territorial saber-rattling in southeast Asia, parts of Europe still getting back up on its feet, and the uncertain affairs of state between our country and Russia, seemingly rising back to power since the disbanding of the USSR so many years ago. For whatever happens in the coming year, there will always be the compulsion for a few courageous people to break out of their chains of employment and set out for themselves as entrepreneurs. Truth be told, there is never a truly right or even a wrong time to do so; it is a combination of presented opportunities, personal determination and ability, and simple dumb luck. Regardless, in the same vein that we still bother to predict the weather despite the chances of inaccuracy, this little article will try to inform your decision on whether you should start chasing your entrepreneurial dreams this year: Higher Interest Rates The cycle of borrowing, spending and paying back debt is what keeps the modern economy flowing, and in our nook of the globe, the Federal Reserve controls interest rates. They have decided that on 2014, the cheap money won't be so cheap anymore, and that means it will be a bigger challenge to turn out a profit from borrowed funds. This is a negative, for the most part. Companies big and small will have to exercise more fiscal discipline as it becomes harder to borrow and pay back money. Cutting down on the excess and practicing a little austerity here and there will go a long way in keeping the bottom line in the black. For the entrepreneur starting out, the growing pains will all the more be painful with a steeper interest rate. Make certain that you will make each and every cent of your seed money count. Optimistic Projections for Global Economy Willem Buiter, the head honcho economist of Citigroup, thinks 2014 will be the year that the global economy will start picking up pace, compared to previous years behind it. It might not be anything dramatic or ground-breaking, but a consistently growing global economy is preferable to a stagnant or shrinking one. Barring any unanticipated (I have trouble believing that any major geopolitical events are unanticipated by the powers that be) events in the world, there are no expected bubble bursts or double dips, according to their very extensive, near 100-page outlook. For the US-based entrepreneur, putting these two factors together seems to suggest that if one were to start a business, perhaps it should be on foreign soil with friendlier interest rates, but an equally pro-investment environment. China May Not Be As Friendly If part of your business idea involves cheap labor and manufacturing via China, then you might want to hold off for this year, or perhaps find another country to do your offshore operations. As I mentioned before, China just decided to stop buying US treasuries, a move that could be considered a passive-aggressive offensive economic maneuver at best. There's also the already-heated territory dispute China versus pretty much the rest of Southeast Asia. The US has a ton of allies in that part of the world, like economic partner Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Given the volatility of the situation, and China's propensity to enact inflammatory moves against countries that oppose them, your investment suffers the additional risk of a hostile government seizing it. Fortunately for you, there are other countries that have low-cost yet trained (or trainable) labor forces that can accommodate your entrepreneurial ambitions. In the same region, Indonesia and the Philippines appear to be the best prospects. Don't just take this article's word for fact, dig into the Internet to do more research and see the actual numbers. I wish you the best of luck, entrepreneur-in-the-making. Onward to prosperity in 2014! About The Author: Michael Green is a veteran of the rat race, having worked at a business consultancy firms in San Francisco and New York for most of his young adult life. He left on his fortieth birthday to become a fully self-employed entrepreneur, and settled in San Diego to pursue various opportunities within the city. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Michael and myself know by leaving us your valued comments. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post tomorrow on 7 things you need to know about SEO in 2014, have a great Tuesday! See you back here tomorrow! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 25 February 2014 | 9:30 am

Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence

These days there are many creative ways to reach your customers, and social media is something you should embrace in order to get your product out there. Social media is remarkable for many reasons, but one of the most interesting aspects of it is that it gives potential customers a glimpse into your personality and personal voice. Here are five ways to easily use social media to your advantage and start attracting new customers today. 1. Maintaining Your Business Social Media Account Logging in, updating and staying active is key. Merely setting up an account is just the beginning. It isn't worth it if someone goes through the effort to set up social media avenues, only to abandon them and never update with posts. This is a surefire way to kill your social media presence before it even gets off the ground. Too many times "We should have a blog!" or "We need a Facebook fan page!" comes up in meetings, and then nothing ever comes of it because no one is actually assigned the task. 2. If You Need To, Delegate the Task If you are running a business, maintaining a social media presence might sound like the last thing you want to do, so don't. Depending on your company's size and needs, you can go from having a team of folks doing this, to hiring an intern that can easily update content. The key is to make sure it is designated within someone's job, so it happens. Everyone can help with ideas and updates, but just make sure there is at least one person whose job it is to come up with posts, solicit feedback from the company, and get creative with fresh unique posts that will attract an audience. 3. Make Sure Your Posts Look Interesting Pictures and graphics can make your social media posts much more inviting and lively. Simply by adding in a few more details, people are more likely to click through your material. Pictures of your product, events or staff on social media posts can really help bring traffic to your site, and it's so easy to do! A wall of text or boring posts without and graphics can be boring. If you have a unique logo, put it as your avatar so that it stands out and does the advertising work for you. 4. Get Creative with Your Updates If doesn't all have to be directly about your business. If you decide to have a blog on your site, or post to quite a bit to sites such as Facebook, use these avenues to engage with your customers. Linking to articles and news clips relating to your field is a great way to gain customers interest and trust. By actively engaging in updates in your field you will become a part of a larger community and stand out as a possible industry leader. 5. Use Facebook and Twitter for Promotions This is a great, simple way to gain more of a following. A quick post detailing a sale or new product is easy enough to do and will boost your visibility. By bringing traffic to your social media sites, these can then be linked to your home site that either provides more information on your business or sells your product. Remember, without that link, these are potential customers that you may not have gotten otherwise. Social media is a great way to easily make new contacts and customers online. Your online presence can reach a vast audience, and starting an account costs you absolutely nothing besides a few minutes of your time. It is well worth it to easily get online and get started having social media work for your business - and it's the future, so don't get left behind! About The Author: Hailey Harper is a marketing strategist and writer whose work has been featured on over 30 websites. Her primary interests are strategic marketing, social media, SEO, and business management. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Hailey and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Social%20Media%20Marketing If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post tomorrow discussing whether or not 2014 is the year to go entrepreneur, enjoy the rest of your day! See you back here tomorrow! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 24 February 2014 | 9:30 am

Could Franchising Be The Right Route For You?

Starting a business is an exciting but challenging time and the reality is that over 50% of startups fail within their first year of trading. This can be down to a number of factors including employing a weak business model, poor marketing and a lack of capital. In contrast, franchises tend to have a far higher success rate than new businesses because they already have a proven business model and a strong marketing plan with a powerful brand behind them. As a result, it's well worth at least finding out a bit more information about franchising and whether or not it could be the right route for you if are considering setting up you own business. What is a franchise? If you aren't already familiar with franchising, the idea is quite straightforward; essentially a company grants an individual the right to sell their goods and services in an area and trade under their name. Many high street chains aren't 100% corporately owned and choose to operate franchise models, so it's not something that hasn't been around for a while. Popular franchises include McDonalds, Subway and Cash Converters. The benefits of starting a franchise There are a number of benefits to setting up as a franchise, most of which will differ slightly in different models, but generally speaking there are a number of benefits to starting a franchise. Express Accountancy, one of the UK's leading accountancy franchises have come up with the following benefits that being a franchisee can present. Raising finance can be easier - One of the toughest things about setting up you own can be raising the finance you need. You can find yourself being turned down by countless banks, even if you think that you have a full proof business model. Many franchisors have strong relationships with lenders and it can often be easier to obtain the required finance as you'll be operating under a proven business model. Franchisor usually handles sales and marketing - Sales and Marketing isn't the easiest thing as a startup, in fact, a lack of any real strategy in this area is a big reason why so many businesses tend to fail in the early stages. However, as a franchise owner, your franchisor will often take care of a lot of this. Say for example you choose to operate an accountancy franchise, the franchisor is likely to have established some successful lead generation channels already and you will benefit from this. A proven business model - Successful and sustainable business models can take years to fine tune and as a startup, you'll need to learn from your mistakes quickly to ensure that you are operating the right model. As a franchise, you'll already be part of a model that has been tried and tested, which means that you can focus more on the day to day running of your business and making it a success, rather than constantly tweaking with operations and processes. Franchisors will help and guide you - It's in the best interests of the franchisor for you to make a success of your franchise and many franchise models include training and unlimited support. Let's go back to that accountancy model, you could be the world's greatest accountant but have no experience of running a business whatsoever, well this is where the franchisor can help. Usually they'll offer training to prepare you for managing your business and if you need any help or guidance along the way they should have support systems in place. You aren't on your own! Starting your own franchise The process of starting your own franchise will vary greatly according to which franchise model you decide to adopt. Each franchisor will have different process and expectations of potential franchisees, so make sure you read through the franchisor's prospectus and website to get a better idea of the process from start to finish. As was mentioned earlier, in terms of raising the finance required for your initial franchise fee and any other costs that need to be covered, make sure that you speak to your franchisor as they may have good relationships with certain lenders if you are struggling to raise the finance yourself. Is franchising the right route for me? Only you can answer this question, the facts are there, you get more support with a franchise and they have a higher success rate. However, maybe you are someone who is fascinated by building up a brand and really going it alone. Sit down, weigh up the pros and cons of both and take those initial steps to being your own boss. Did you find this article helpful? Do you run a franchise business? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments. For more business tips, use this link: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Monday with five effortless things business owners can do to boost their social media presence, have a fabulous weekend! See you back here on Monday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 21 February 2014 | 8:30 am

What Makes Someone A Successful Contractor?

The contracting world can be a very lucrative one; however, it takes a certain type of person to succeed properly as a freelancer. Contracting is not like full-time employment where you have a set routine for the week. You will be required to adapt to change on a regular basis and as a result of this it is important that you understand what is expected of you as a contractor. Organisation Perhaps the most important of all contractor traits is your ability to organise and manage your time. Working for yourself means having the ability to keep yourself on task and on time is very important. Reliable and responsible As a contractor the work you do is a reflection of yourself. You have been asked to take care of a project in a certain amount of time and it is your job to get it done in the most efficient and effective way possible. Freelancing is not like the normal world of work, there is no one else to hide behind. If things are not going as they should, you will be solely responsible for this. As well as this, if a client is not happy with your work or the way you handle yourself then chances are you could lose the contract. Not only does this mean you miss out on the earnings of the current job, but you may also find it difficult to find your next contract if you gain a reputation as being unreliable. Adaptability This is another crucial trait that a successful contractor must have. Depending on your line of work you may be required to visit numerous different sites and therefore familiarise yourself with new ways of working as fast as possible. Personable Moving from site to site will mean that you often work with many different people, therefore being personable is very important. The relationship you build with your client over a short period of time can not only help you in terms of your current contract, but it will ensure you get the best possible reference from that client when the project is over. Remember, as a contractor you must always keep some focus on your next job. Networking skills A good contractor must be able to network properly in order to forge new working links. The broader your network of contacts the easier it will be to find work and secure new contracts. Having a strong influence in your professional circle can also help you build a successful career in contracting. Know what you want Focus is essential for a successful freelancer. Knowing what your goals are and how to achieve them can help you to carry out your assignment in a fast and efficient manner. Outside of your contract it is also necessary to have an idea about how you want to work. For example, will you choose to work through a limited company or an umbrella company? For those asking what is an umbrella company? These are the types of questions you must consider if you are to become a successful contractor. Did you like this article? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below. If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Friday with information about franchising and whether or not it could be the right route for you, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 19 February 2014 | 8:30 am

Competition Time! Nominate Your Office Hero To Win An iPad 2 #OurOfficeHero

** This competition is now closed. ** The winner of the competition was Toby from @bainbridgelewis who is running @BrightonMarathn for @CLIC_Sargent. For more details, tweet @Flexioffices. Is there any particular colleague in your office that has helped you get through the grey winter months? It could be the office clown, or cheeky office junior, or inspiring line manager...anyone who has helped boost staff morale or done something extraordinary in aid of a good cause or your business could be up for a nomination. If this sounds like someone in your workplace, nominate them to be named the "Flexioffices Office Hero" today! Flexioffices would like to celebrate the best bits of the working day and everyone who makes your office a fantastic place to work. To nominate someone who brings something special to your daily grind, simply tweet @Flexioffices with the hashtag #OurOfficeHero - preferably along with a photo of your nominee! You've got until the end of the month - Friday 28th February - to nominate your office hero and the winner will be announced on Monday 3rd March. Get nominating now! Tweet using the hashtag #OurOfficeHero now! Please see terms and conditions of the competition. Flexioffices provides virtual and serviced office space. The database of office space includes thousands of properties which and can be searched online by postcode, street, town, stations, airports, and countries. Here is a selection of office spaces in Kings Cross, London for example. &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 18 February 2014 | 6:00 am

Leverage Infographics To Drive Content Marketing Success

Digital marketing has always been a fast-moving industry, starting as the result of ubiquitous Internet use and evolving amid a perpetually shifting consumer landscape. One of the arenas within modern advertising throughout the past several years that is particularly indicative of this trend has been content marketing, which started as just a simple process of publishing keyword-rich content and blossomed into one of the most popular ways in which companies cement themselves as thought leaders. The biggest changes have undoubtedly related to quality and targeting, but now content marketing is beginning to converge with visual advertising efforts. Studies consistently find that images, infographics and videos can drive engagement with content, and further improve a firm's brand recognition, as well as its ability to reach new prospects through Internet channels. Infographics have an impact Regardless of which channel or method a business is using to enrich its digital marketing strategy, the best practices are fairly consistent. However, the real challenge is ensuring that all efforts work in orchestra toward brand goals and maintain a consistent, educated and unique voice that resonates with readers. Here are some of the benefits of supporting marketing content with infographics: Bite-sized knowledge: The average attention span of adults in the United States and abroad continues to decrease, as one study published by the National Center for Biotechnology found this figure was at 12 seconds in 2000, dropping to 8 seconds in 2013. As such, infographics - when well made - can help capture and retain the attention of target consumers. Readability: The best infographics will always have a distinctive flow that takes the viewer from one information point to another in a structured and rapid fashion. Just as content marketing articles and blogs now must include lists, subheadings and other features that drive the ability to scan, infographics are founded on this ideal outcome. Shareability: As many digital marketers have learned in the past several years, the most successful advertisements will be shared by users autonomously. Twitter has stated that tweets with images are 94 percent more likely to be retweeted, and why not make the pictures themselves entirely informational? The current trends in content marketing that relate to the popularity of infographics show no signs of slowing, and business leaders would do well to hop aboard this profitable wave. What to consider when planning infographics Alignment should always be the highest priority when starting to roll out a new marketing strategy, as the sheer novelty of the methods can quickly hinder brand consistency. The simplest way to ensure infographic efforts are intrinsically tied to the brand voice is to line them up with content marketing efforts, allowing one to support the other. One might think that an infographic, or video, would simply expunge the need for written content, but this is not the case. Rather, users and consumers are looking for a comprehensive experience that includes a variety of mediums and channels. As such, content marketers should begin putting more focus into the creation and delivery of engaging infographics to accompany their blogs and other writing. Did you like this article? Do you use infographics as part of your marketing strategy? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments. For more marketing tips, use this link: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Marketing%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Wednesday on what makes someone a successful freelancer/contractor, have a great and productive week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 17 February 2014 | 8:30 am

Top Personal Skills That Will Stand You In Good Stead In Business

When it comes to business, there are certain personal skills that everybody should possess. If you are lacking in one area or another, you will find that you just don't get on as well in business as your colleagues do. These are basic personal skills that everybody should have, but some people need to work on. We could all do with a little self improvement from time to time, and even if you feel that you are good at certain areas, for example time management, there are still plenty of ways that you could get even better at it. In this article we are going to look at some of the core personal skills that you need in business - how do you fare in these areas? Organization Everybody needs to be organized when they work. After all, as they say, a tidy desk is a tidy mind. Many people's organization skills fall a little bit short - and the days of having a secretary to mop up behind you are pretty much over. It is well worth attending a business course on how to be more organized if you want to improve the way you handle your day-to-day life. There is a lot to learn - for example how to file paper efficiently, how to manage your online files and how to set up administrative systems for your work. Have a look online and see if you can find an organization skill course near to you. Inter-Personal Skills Interacting with other people is something that comes more naturally to some people than others. If you are the sort of person who says things that are often taken the wrong way, then you could maybe benefit from a course on interpersonal skills in order to help you figure out where you are going wrong. Often it is not what you say, but the way you say it which offends - and this can easily be avoided if you study the way in which you approach people. Getting on with people is a core skill and one which everybody needs to work on. Management Skills If you are in charge of a team of people or a project, then you will really benefit from honing your management skills. Managing people is not something that anybody can do - it takes a special sort of person to do it effectively. Poor managers have no respect from their team, and they don't deliver the results that they are supposed to as a result. It is well worth going on a management course if you are in charge of people, or a project management course if you have been put in charge of a specific project. There are different ways to manage people and projects, and you need to understand some of the theories so that you can try putting them into practice. Enhancing your core skills is a very important thing to do if you want your career to have longevity. Self-improvement is something that benefits everybody, no matter where they are on the ladder - so what could you do to improve your skills? About The Author: Shruti Vaghe is a freelance blogger currently writing for Project Consulting, a business analysis training center based in Toronto. Shruti loves French cuisine and enjoys cooking in her spare time. To know more about her you can follow her on Twitter at @ShrutiVaghe. Did you find this article helpful? Please let Shruti and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below. Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). For more business tips, use this link: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Monday on how to leverage infographics to drive content marketing success, enjoy the rest of the week and have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! See you back here on Monday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 13 February 2014 | 9:30 am

5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Efficient

Today's small business marketplace remains extremely competitive. Gaining an edge requires savvy business owners to adopt smart practices that transform their operations through implementation of more efficient, cost effective solutions. Here are five ways to maximize the efficiency of nearly any small business. Take advantage of cloud computing There are a lot of online resources for file sharing, document creation, project management, and team collaboration. Consider exploring the potential of useful tools like Google Docs, Box.com, Asana, or Co-op. This is especially helpful for small businesses that work with telecommuting team members. Cross-train team members Create a flexible and efficient team through cross-training. It's no surprise that many small business colleagues wear multiple hats. Capitalize on this by thoughtfully considering the roles that each team member fulfills and cut potential for down-time associated with absences or overloaded workflow. Use modern tools to better manage time Time management is critical for small business owners. Current technology provides a range of useful tools that make this even easier. For people using an iPhone, the calendar function is a great resource for tracking scheduled appointments and tasks. In many cases, it's possible to connect a personal calendar with an online resource, like Google Calendar, for flexible access from any device or computer. There are also many great apps in the iPhone App Store for tracking project time, invoicing, and more. Take advantage of flexible office space Currently, there are many small business owners working from home offices. For many of these professionals, there is no need for a full-time office space and the expensive overhead that comes with such an investment. However, there are times when choosing serviced offices to rent makes sense. Flexible office space presents the perfect solution for high-profile business meetings or even basic team meetings within a functional work space. Create an organized system to manage customers and documents It's important to keep business documents and customer records well-organized. There are many affordable customer relationship management (CRM) solutions that greatly help with documenting account history, improving process workflow, and even tracking leads that convert to sales. Research helpful software solutions like Act!, Salesforce.com, or Infusionsoft for more information. As Internet capabilities expand, owners will find even more ways to make businesses more productive. Innovative resources such as cloud computing, serviced offices to rent, and modern time management tools will continue to deliver efficiency solutions for smart companies now, and in the future. Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments. Related articles: How To Best Increase Efficiency And Profitability In Your Business For more business tips, use this link: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Thursday on top personal skills that will stand you in good stead in business, have a great and productive week ahead! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 10 February 2014 | 1:31 pm

I'm Back And Blogging Will Resume

Yes I'm back and about time too! :) Firstly, I want to apologise to all of you, my valued followers and visitors! I had a few urgent commitments back in mid November and what should have taken a couple of weeks to complete, took almost three months! I wasn't happy I can tell you! :) Anyway, I'm back now and I'm pleased to announce that the normal blogging schedule will resume as from this coming Monday. Again, I apologise for this untimely absence. Over the past few days, I've been doing my utmost to answer as many emails which had arrived during my absence. If you are still waiting for a reply to your email, you should receive a reply within the next day or two. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Right, it's back to my HUGE to-do list so I'll see you back here on Monday. As I wasn't here over the Christmas and New Year period, I hope you all enjoyed the festivities and here's wishing each and every one of you all the very best for 2014! It seems a bit strange writing this in February! :) Anyway, have a great day everyone and thank you for your continued support! P.S. Derek's Home and Business Blog is looking for guest authors. If you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM), I would like to hear from you. Please use the "Write For Us" tab above for more details. If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post on Monday, enjoy the rest of the week and have a fabulous and fun-filled weekend! See you back here on Monday! &copy 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 5 February 2014 | 7:33 am

The Essential Guide To Small Business Insurance

More than 40 percent of employers have frozen new employee hirings, anticipating increased insurance costs from Obamacare, according to a Gallup poll commissioned by the employment law firm Littler Mendelson. But many businesses do not realize health care is only one of the insurance concerns facing them. The Small Business Administration (SBA) advises entrepreneurs of the other types of insurance that may be required, depending on the industry, location and lender's requirements. Even when business insurance is not legally required, it may be advisable to protect the best interests of a company and its owners or partners. Get familiar with these insurance options to help you avoid financial and legal problems stemming from being underinsured: Employee Insurance Does the new Affordable Care Act require your company to provide your employees with health insurance? Strictly speaking, the answer is no, but you may face penalties if you are a larger employer and do not make certain levels of insurance available. For penalties to kick in, you must have the equivalent of at least 50 full-time employees. If this applies, possible penalties vary depending on your specifics. If you do not provide coverage, and at least one employee receives a premium tax credit or cost sharing subsidy in an exchange, you may owe a penalty. If you do provide coverage, you must offer specific minimum levels of coverage to avoid penalties. State laws generally require you to carry worker's compensation if you have W2 employees. This protects you if an employee gets injured on the job. Liability Insurance Some small business owners incorporate as limited liability companies to protect themselves, not realizing that this is not the same as having liability insurance. Business liability insurance comes in a number of forms. General liability insurance protects you and your employees against claims of accidents, injuries or negligence. This protects you against payments involving bodily injury, medical expenses, property damage, damage to reputations and legal fees. As a rule, most businesses should carry general liability insurance, even home-based businesses. Depending on your business model, you may need other forms of liability insurance. Product liability insurance protects you against claims involving items you sell that cause bodily harm. The service equivalent is professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, which protects you against claims of malpractice, errors or negligence. Commercial Property Insurance The business counterpart to home insurance, commercial property insurance, guards you against losses related to events such as fire, floods and crime. Commercial property insurance can cover a wide range of disasters, or it can be peril-specific. Remember to insure your company cars, too. Home-Based Business Insurance Some entrepreneurs who work from home may not realize their personal insurance does not cover their business. Specialized home-based business insurance can insure you against losses related to your work. Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below. For more business tips, use this link: http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post. As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/djones1509 https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK Until my next post, have a fabulous and fun-filled weekend! &copy 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited. Learn how to monetise your blog or website in one easy step

Posted on: 1 November 2013 | 10:30 am