Managing Your Web Team Through Change

Change can impact any business function at pretty much any time however, there are some functions that are more exposed or susceptible to change due to the nature of the work they conduct.

The functions that are most likely to experience change regularly are generally IT, e-commerce and marketing teams. Because technology moves so quickly changes in the market place are common and can have a big impact on websites in the form of security updates and data protection as well as marketing platforms with algorithm changes and new digital marketing channels. 

Managing change within a business usually falls to managers. Common examples of change may include a business take over, a new management team coming in and new processes or technology being implemented into the business.

Resistance to Change 

It’s not uncommon for employees to be resistant to change, even if it’s likely to benefit them in the long run. People who have grown accustomed to existing processes or technology will resist until the last minute by not installing updates or switching to new systems. Some ways to manage change

include: 

• Forming a leadership team
• Creating a feedback loop
• Being clear when communicating changes and emphasizing the benefits to the employee

Creating a Change Management Plan

There are a number of frameworks you can use to create a change management plan as well as software solutions, including the Inpulse change management plan. 

Regardless of the framework or software, there are some key principles of change management that you need to include in any change management plan. These include;

• Setting objectives
Being clear about the objectives and the outcomes of the plan is important because it will help you to analyze the areas in which you were successful. SMART objectives are often used to create realistic and measurable goals.

• Steps to help make the change
Change doesn’t happen all at once, so setting out bite-sized steps that will help you achieve your objectives is a much better way of creating a clear and manageable process so it doesn’t feel too overwhelming. It will also make it easier to get buy-in.

• Implementation and timeline
Defining who will be doing what and by when helps to keep all stakeholders accountable and is an important metric to track. Some changes, like moving a website to a new server or upgrading security software, may be critical to achieve by a certain time or may need to be completed at a time that causes least disruption to the business.

• Communicating the change
Whether it is just to your team that you need to communicate with or the project is part of a wider organizational change, communication is a vital component. No change management plan will work without it and it’s usually the responsibility of managers to open and maintain clear communication channels which should be defined before the change takes place.

• Measurement of the plan’s success
As with any plan, you must have appropriate metrics in place to measure success. Gathering and analyzing data before and after a change will be key in assessing the success or failure of change and the change management plan.

Starting Your Own Online Business: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re thinking of starting your own online business, it can be tricky to know where to start. With new businesses launching online every day, finding a niche in the market and standing out from competitors can be tough, but it will help turn your business idea into a successful venture. With that in mind, here is a short guide that will help you start your own online business, as well as list several skills that you should have to help you rise above the rest.

Define Your Business

First and foremost, before your business can get off the ground, you should take time defining what sort of products and services you plan to offer. Without having a business plan in place, it can be hard to know where to begin. You will want as many people as possible to access your business, therefore, outlining your objectives and goals, as well as researching competitors in your field can be a great way to get your online business up and running. Seeing how others are doing in the market can give you new ideas on how to stand out, helping to build up a loyal following.

Register Your Business

Your online business will need to be registered in accordance with your state’s laws. To make sure everything is above board, make sure to pick a business name that hasn’t been trademarked, and you will need to fill out the appropriate paperwork to ensure your business is official and ready to go. Also, take the time to develop a good understanding of the business regulations and rules in your state.

Pick a Domain Name

When picking your domain name, you should stick to something short and catchy so that people can remember it easily. Additionally, make sure it is easy to type, use keywords, and avoid any hyphens and numbers. The more memorable you can make it, the better!

Get a Web Hosting Service

While there are plenty of free web hosting services available, it’s advised to pay for one that provides all the services you need. If you’re serious about making your online business a success, it’s only natural that you will want to have all the resources and tools you need, so to avoid running into any problems (especially in the beginning stages), make sure to choose a web hosting service that allows for growth. There are several hosting services which are highly structured, enabling you to pick from a variety of website templates, as well as allowing you to do your own programming, which can give you the flexibility you need.

Make Sure Your Website is Easy to Use

No matter what type of online business you’re planning to run, your website should be functional and stylish. As you won’t be meeting customers face to face, they will have to trust what’s on your website, so ensure your page is engaging and easy to use, otherwise users may go elsewhere for their custom. There are various things that should be included on your website, such as an ‘about us’ page which can allow the customer to know more about what your business is all about, as well as contact links should they want to get in touch. If you’re not tech savvy, you may want to consider hiring a professional designer who can do all the hard work for you.

Use the Right eCommerce Software

It’s important that you have eCommerce software, otherwise your customers won’t be able to view your products or make purchases. The software can be easily installed and will ensure that your customers’ information and financial details are kept safe and secure. You will want your customers to trust your brand, so picking the right eCommerce software can make a huge difference.

Add Catchy Content

If you haven’t got catchy content on your website, you can’t expect customers to stick around. Instead of using large blocks of text to advertise a product or service, make sure to incorporate visuals and videos to keep viewers hooked. Try and see yourself as the customer so you can figure out what sort of things would interest you and make you more likely to make a purchase.

Use Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool. With millions upon millions of users logging into websites like Facebook each day, setting up your own business page can be a great way to spread the message of your brand. Directly engaging with your customers can help them feel more valued and appreciated too.

Use SEO

When searching for a certain product, many customers will click on the first link they see. Therefore, make sure to use SEO (search engine optimization) to ensure your website stays at the top of search results. Also, you can use relevant keywords that are related to your business to help attract more customers to your page.

Key Skills

There are all sorts of key skills that you can learn which will help your online business grow. While being driven and motivated can help you succeed, you can gain various qualifications which can set you on the right path. For example, completing an online MBA in operations management can help you develop strong leadership skills, and give you more knowledge on the key aspects of a business, such as financial management.

To get your business off the ground and running, you should have an idea that you believe in. Being passionate about what you have to offer can only be a good thing, helping to secure more customers and clients to your brand. Make sure that your business website is informative, eye-catching, and relevant to your target demographic. You should also have key skills that can help keep your business successful, such as knowing how to lead a team, as well as having the right education and qualifications behind you. Starting a new online business can be daunting for even the most experienced entrepreneur, however, staying consistent and driven are key traits that will help keep your business on track.

How to Secure Your Mobile App

Despite the new technologies behind mobile websites, native mobiles apps are still very popular among users. The fluid user experience that mobile apps can deliver is still unrivalled. On top of that, mobile apps can utilize hardware and OS-specific functions without annoying users too much (i.e. by asking for too many permissions) along the way.

However, developing a mobile app for your brand or the service you want to deliver is not without its challenges. One of those challenges is making sure that your mobile app is secure enough for your users. Fortunately, there are some simple tips and tricks that you can follow if you want to get started with securing your mobile app.

Know Your Risk

The first thing you want to do is a comprehensive risk assessment. You can’t really understand the security risks that threaten your mobile app and its users without completing this step. A risk assessment is the process of identifying potential risks, spotting parts of the app that needs extra security measures, and identifying other challenges beyond the app itself.

The security assessment will also help you understand the kind of information you gather from the app and its users. When storing personal details of your users, for instance, you know that you have more risks of information theft to deal with. This way, you can take a more proactive approach and add security measures for maximum protection.

Secure Your Source Code

Security threats and potential risks may materialise even before you release the apps to their respective app stores. You may have bugs and security holes that aren’t caught by conventional testing methods. The entire source code may be compromised too; this is a real possibility if you don’t have sufficient security policies in place.

Securing your source code is a crucial part of securing your mobile app. Aside from limiting access to certain parts of the source code, you also want the development project to be as compartmentalised as possible. To further secure your app, make sure source codes are reviewed and monitored for changes. This makes tracing the source of a vulnerability easier to do.

Use Encryption

Encryption must always be a part of your mobile app, especially if it is designed to capture and store user information. You want all sensitive data to be encrypted using a valid encryption key. You also want to make sure that only nodes with the correct encryption key can access data stored within the app. You even have the option to utilize the mobile operating system’s encryption features.

Aside from encryption, you also want to have a comprehensive identity and access management policies. Rather than letting admins and support officers access everything, you can define and limit access to certain parts of the app’s ecosystem based on user roles and other parameters. This increases app security by a substantial margin.

These security measures aren’t perfect, but the tips and tricks you can find in this article will help you preserve maximum mobile application security without the usual hassle. All you have to do next is work towards improving your mobile app security by going into the details and fine-tuning existing security measures.

A Guide: Cutting Your Small Business Costs

Turning over a profit is not the only all-important task you face as a business owner. As well as making money, you also have to become adept at saving it. If you don’t manage to cut your costs or tighten your purse strings, you’ll never consolidate the profit that you make. As a result, you’ll never be able to invest in your organization or take it to the next level.

To find out what you can do to cut your small business costs, make sure to read on.

Rent your equipment

Should your business be in the habit of taking on jobs on a short-term basis, then you should seriously consider renting your equipment rather than buying it outright. By going down the rental route, you will be able to get the most out of your tools before sending them back to their owner. Importantly, this will allow circumventing having to pay ongoing fees for equipment that you make no use of going forward.

It is always tempting to hit the stores and invest in a shiny piece of brand new tech — what with all the technology available today, nobody could ever blame you for that. If you’re a relatively new business owner and still keen on solidifying your reputation, then you’ll probably want nothing more than to have your ownequipment. If you’re smart, however, you’ll fight this urge and turn to a company such as Smart. Primarily dealing with computer repair Gloucester, this company also offers a top-tech rental service. Whether it’s aniMac that you wish to lease or a projector that you want to hire, the short-term tools that you need will always be available by Smart.

Ditch your landline

A landline is no longer the be-all-and-end-all of communication in the world of business. Today, there are a host of different tools and pieces of tech that you can turn to when you’re looking to increase your business’s communication flow — from cell phones to VoIP to virtual phone lines, the choice that you have is staggering. If you’re a smart business owner, you’ll ditch your landline and the costly annual sum that it brings with it, and turn your attention to these latest additions in the field of communication. 

Go paperless

The environment isn’t the only thing that will be saved if you go paperless. By ditching the paper that you use and waste within your office, you will stand to save a heap of cash, too.

First and foremost, going paperless will mean that you won’t have to spend your money on printer accessories — no longer will you have to put money aside each month for things like ink and toner, as you won’t be using your printer at all. How can you go paperless when there are always documents to draw up and contracts to sign, though? Quite simply, you go digital.

If you’re serious about cutting your small business costs, then you seriously need to consider putting the above advice into practice. If you do, you’ll find yourself consolidating the profit that you make in no time.

How to Make Your Computer Last Longer

It is likely you spent a considerable amount of money on your computer. Yet, small and large mistakes could be damaging the technology each day and shortening its lifespan. 

If you want to ensure your device works like a well-oiled machine throughout the years, you must aim to preserve its health, which can prevent you from replacing the technology in the near future. Read these top tips on how to make your computer last longer.

Keep Your PC Clean

Dust and dirt can take its toll on your computer, as they can clog up its gears and limit the technology’s functioning. It is, therefore, important to regularly clean dust and debris from your computer to prevent it from reaching its inner components. 

For example, you can use canned air to eradicate dirt from the fans, which can otherwise cause the device to overheat. You also must clean the monitor with a screen cleaner and ensure you never eat food or consume drinks over the PC.

Avoid Regularly Switching Your PC On and Off

While it is essential to turn your computer off when not in use to save on utility costs, you must avoid regularly switching the technology on and off. While it is fine to turn the PC off once per day, you must avoid turning it on and off multiple times throughout the day. 

If you do so, you could place great stress on the internal components that are attempting to regulate the system’s temperature. Ultimately, it can cause your PC’s hardware to both contract and expand. So, don’t switch off your PC when taking a lunch break or heading into a meeting. If you are conscious of rising energy bills, browse the market for cheap business gas suppliers.

Buy a Surge Protector

Voltage spikes can lead to the frying of your hard drive and can often occur during storms. To prevent your computer from frying unnecessarily, you should invest in a surge protector. You also will need to replace the surge protector following a direct lightning strike, which will have caused your home or business’s power to go off during a storm.

Don’t Move Your PC Too Much

Regardless of whether you have a desktop computer or a laptop, you must avoid moving it more than necessary. Always aim to be gentle when moving the technology from one location to another; otherwise, you could damage or cause a shift in the internal components. Also, if you need to pick up a laptop, ensure you hold it by the base and not the screen.

Invest in RAM and Hard Drive Space

If you paid a small sum for your PC or laptop, it’s likely it came with limited memory and hard drive space. To ensure your computer runs faster and, in turn, lasts longer, you must invest in a computer that offers an exceptional RAM (random access memory) and hard drive, which can take some of the stress and pressure off your computer.

How to Run a Profitable Business Blog

When you consider just how popular blogging has become in the business climate of today, you’ll find it no surprise that so many entrepreneurs are currently clambering to start their own business blogs. You should know, however, that starting this kind of venture is all good and well, but actually running with it is another thing entirely. It takes time, effort, and even upfront capital to be able to run a blog that turns over a profit in the long term. Before you embark on this kind of money-making scheme, then, it is important to note that you’re not going to be a success over night.

Has the prospect of a little hard graft put you off running your own business blog? If not, then be sure to check out the advice below to see how you can make your venture a profitable one.

Hone in on your niche

Without a specific niche, your business blog will just be plain and generic — if there’s one thing customers aren’t drawn to, it’s plain and generic! You need to showcase why you are so different from the rest of the blogs in your market, which is why you need to hone in on your niche right from the off. No matter what your niche is, whether it’s IT or manufacturing, getting to grips with it right away will ensure that you are only ever uploading content that attracts the audience base you are seeking to attract.

If you struggle to come up with a profitable niche idea, be sure to check out this helpful article on the matter.

Manage your blog every day

If you want your business blog to be truly profitable, you need to manage it every single day. Treating it like the ‘proper job’ that is in this instance will see you create engaging and institutive content regularly, which will then stop your blog from entering into the dreaded realm of being a ‘ghost town.’

Fear not, as managing your blog at all times doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be at your computer screen 24 hours a day. There are plenty of systems and servers out there that will ensure that your site remains up, live, and active 24/7. For example, Krystal, a reseller hosting UK service provider, guarantee 99.99% uptime at all times. This means that, should you turn to them when you come to choosing a website host, you wouldn’t have to worry about your blog going down and, subsequently, sending potential customers away to other websites.

Starting a blog could be the next big business venture you take. If you do decide to embark down this digital money-making route, however, just be sure to remember the advice laid out above. You need to hone in on your niche right away, as this will help you to attract the audience base you want and need to help grow your blog. You also need to resolve to manage your blog every single day, as that kind of dedication will see your site remain engaging and, more importantly, active at all times.

Helping Your Online Business to Succeed in 2019

If you’ve decided to ditch your 9-to-5 and take control of your future by starting an online business, first and foremost, congratulations! It takes bravery to take such a big step into the unknown, so kudos for taking it.

You should know, however, that the hard work starts now. If you want to see your online business grow, flourish, and be as successful as you know it can be, you’re going to have to devote a lot of your time an effort to the venture.

To find out what you can do specifically to help your online business succeed in 2019, make sure to read on.

Read up on the latest self-help books

When it comes to the subject of online entrepreneurship, there’s a never-ending body of self-help literature for you to read up on. Some of the best books in this body of work include:• Crushing It: How Great Entrepreneurs Build their Business and Influence — and How You Can, Too• The Conversion Code: Capture Internet Leads, Create Quality Appointments, Close More Sales• Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content• Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR Marketing, and Advertising • Web Analytics 2.0: The Art of Online Accountability & Science of Customer Centricity

Make use of the latest cloud-based tech

Being an online business, the nature of your company dictates the fact that you won’t have a fixed location to work from. Wherever you can get an Internet connection, you will be expected to log on and check up on your business. For this reason, you need to be embracing technology that will allow you to tap into your all-important documents on the go. Cloud-based tech fits the bill in this instance.

By making use of the cloud-based HR systems offered by XCD, for example, you will be able to keep a tighter grip on your human resources department no matter where you are in the world. Thanks to the increased automation that this kind of software will provide you, you will also be able to enjoy easier reporting and far more accurate data when you implement it into your online business.

Keep growing your online expertise

The Internet is in a constant state of flux, which means that changes are always afoot upon it. One day you may think that you know everything there is possibly to know about the online market, only for a new trend to rear its head and throw you right off course. For this reason, you have to keep your finger on the pulse of all the web’s latest changes and trends, and you have to resolve to keep growing your online expertise. 

Some of the main areas you should remain abreast of in this instance include:

• Content Marketing
• Email marketing
• Copywriting
• SEM
• SEO
• Bookkeeping
• Blogging
• Webinar hosting
• Social media
• Networking

Your online business isn’t going to grow and improve itself, you know. It’s down to you to take the above advice and really take your venture from strength to strength.

Common Challenges That Online Businesses Face and Their Solutions

No businesses are without challenges, and online companies still face obstacles even without having to manage a storefront. The digital age has brought new problems that small businesses must tackle that they may not have considered before, and it is of vital importance that you know how to face these when they appear so that they can be resolved quickly.

Security

Although the internet often makes conducting business easier for small firms, it can also leave companies vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and crime such as theft, fraud, and hacking. The damages online businesses face after these crimes can be extensive, leading to monetary loss and a lack of productivity. However, there are a few simple ways that you can upgrade the security of your business, such as through installing firewalls and threat detection software, maintaining password protection, using laptop security settings, knowing how to detect threats, and by updating your software and applications regularly. For those looking forexpert security solutions that will be able to keep your business safe, Watchguardonline.co.uk can provide you with the highest performing firewalls and multi-factor authentication.

Website Traffic

Having constant traffic to your website can be difficult to achieve, especially when you are first starting your business. However, this is important as getting traffic to your site will increase your sales and brand visibility. To ensure that you are able to get constant traffic to your website, there are a number of things that you can do, such as improving your SEO to make sure that you are on the first page of search results, increasing your marketing efforts and expanding onto different platforms such as social media for increased visibility. Additionally, you can write guest posts, and get sponsored and pay for adverts to ensure that you can be found through different platforms. Not only this, but you should also make sure that your website has quick loading times and easy navigation to increase the sales conversion rates.

IT and Server Issues

If the IT on your end of the business fails, this can lead to you being unable to take payments, stop people from accessing your website, leave you unable to update your business, and stop you from running the business efficiently. To solve the issues that IT problems can cause, you should consider employing an IT technician or installing specialist software which can help to boost your IT systems if there is a problem, ensuring that this is resolved as quickly as possible.

Creating and Updating Your Website

Creating a website and keeping it updated can be extremely difficult. However, you can make simple professional websites for free on website builders such as WordPress and Blogspot, where you can use templates to create smart websites which you can then customize to suit your needs. You should also consider starting a blog in order to keep your website updated, as well as ensuring that your site has a fast loading time by keeping graphics simple and making it mobile-friendly.

What Does it Take to Make Your E-commerce Business a Success?

Whether you’ve already launched an e-commerce business in the past or you’re still thinking about getting started, now is a better time than ever to get into this lucrative industry. The online retail market is booming and many entrepreneurs have found great success using the power of the internet to establish and grow their business. 

Depending on your approach, running an online store can get complicated very quickly, especially if you’re dealing with more than one product line. But with a unique idea, a bit of research and determination, you can reach your goals and run a successful e-commerce store. Here’s what it takes. 

Knowing What Not to do

There are many common reasons why around 80% of e-commerce businesses fail. Knowing what to avoid goes a long way in ensuring that you’re taking the right steps from the get-go. For example, the substantial convenience of online shopping has increased customer expectations when it comes to how quickly and easily they can buy your products. 

If your website is slow, navigation isn’t clear, shipping takes too long or is expensive, it can deter a lot of customers. Take these baling wire suppliers. Their customers need to receive orders quickly as many of them are business owners, so they offer quick and simple navigation and the fastest possible shipping with order and delivery tracking. 

Taking Your Time

Until you have something tangible to present to a large enough audience, take your time to ensure you’ve laid the proper groundwork before launching. Run through what you’ve already done and determine what still needs to be sorted out, such as SEO, marketing, social media, etc. You only get one shot, so messing up is not an option. 

Nailing That SEO

If your business is based solely on the internet, your SEO should naturally be rock-solid. This applies to everything from your landing page to your blog posts to the code that powers your website. Having a bunch of keywords stuffed into every page is no way to go in this era of SEO. Quality is key and offering value to your customers is the only way forward.

Having a Strong Social Media Presence

It’s no secret that social media is an incredibly powerful tool for marketing a business. Ensure that you have a strong presence on all major social media hubs that are relevant to your business. This will open up a plethora of opportunities, from being able to see what your competitors are doing to keeping your audience engaged while also growing it. 

You should also establish your business on review websites such as Yelp and Google My Business. This will allow you to obtain valuable feedback from your customers and learn what people don’t like about your product or website, which is just as valuable as receiving praise. 

Conclusion

There’s no exact playbook when it comes to running a successful e-commerce business but following these established steps will go a long way in leading you towards the right direction. That said, don’t be afraid to experiment and explore where nobody else does. It’s the only way to truly stand out among the sea of online competition.

2 Steps to Better Website Performance

In a world where updates are instant, delivery takes place on the same day, and customer service is only ever a few clicks away, visitors to your website will not stand for it being slow. If your pages take more than a few seconds to load or if your media takes too long to buffer, they’ll leave your site without a second thought.

If your site’s visitors are looking for a service specifically in your market, when they leave your website, they’ll head straight to your competitors. Not only could you miss out on clicks in this instance, but you could also miss out on potential customers.

To ensure that your business’s days of missing out are behind it, you have to resolve to better your website performance. To see how this can be achieved, read on.

Train your employees

The internet moves forward at a frantic pace, and if your employees can’t keep up with it, neither can your company website. It’s essential then that you invest in staff training regularly. By doing so, tech fluency around your office will become the norm, the day’s top trends will continuously be adhered to, and most importantly, your website’s performance will remain optimized no matter who is tasked with working on it and fixing its faults.

One specific type of training that you should certainly consider investing in is a graduate scheme. By offering internships to the tech workers of tomorrow, you’ll ready your business’s website for the future in the best way possible. This is because this type of employee will have grown up with internet technology at the forefront of everything they’ve been exposed to. This kind of knowledge will prove unrivaled as you seek to better your website performance going forward.

Align yourself with external experts

In addition to ensuring your internal team has the tools they need to better your website performance, you’re going to need a number of external experts by your side as well. Without this kind of assistance, you’ll find it hard to devote the necessary time, effort, and resources to your website optimization, especially when you have so many other areas of your business to be focusing on.

In this instance, there are two experts in particular that you should consider turning to:1. A website auditing service, such as DMG—by having an audit conducted for your website, you will be able to see where it’s failing, why it’s so unpopular, and why it’s languishing so far down in Google’s search rankings2. A website monitoring service, such as Pingmeter—this kind of service will keep a constant eye on your website to ensure that it remains live at all times, notifying you instantly should it deem something to have gone wrong with your site’s performance

If you want to better your website performance, then your employees need to become well-versed in fixing faults as and when they happen, and you need strong external forces backing you up. Taking the above advice and putting it into practice, then, is essential.