ReportWire

Tag: Business Solutions

  • Grab Microsoft Office for Windows with Windows 11 Pro for Just $60 | Entrepreneur

    Grab Microsoft Office for Windows with Windows 11 Pro for Just $60 | Entrepreneur

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    Being productive means something very different than it did years ago. Now, we have to be connected online to make the most of each day. This means you need a host of things to ensure this is possible. In addition to an internet connection and a computer, an updated operating system and the right productivity tools can make the difference in how smoothly your workdays go.

    If you find your computer lagging and your productivity dipping, this bundle is just the thing to bring things back up to speed. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro for just $59.99 (reg. $418).

    Microsoft’s suite of tools has all of the apps you know and love to help manage things at the office and home. You get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access for life on one PC.

    Microsoft Office Pro 2021 requires no monthly subscription fee like Microsoft 365 does. And while you do need Windows 10 or 11 to run Microsoft Office, this bundle includes Windows 11 Pro, so there’s no need to worry about that.

    Windows 11 Pro is the most up-to-date operating system with a variety of things to feel good about. It’s geared toward businesses and has advanced security features like BitLocker encryption and Windows Hello for Business, which provides multi-factor authentication, amongst other things.

    You’ll also see a new, easier-to-use interface with Windows 11 Pro, along with thoughtful features such as Smart App Control, Windows Studio Effects, and much more.

    With 4.9 stars out of five online, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to upgrade your computer with well-loved software at an extraordinary discount.

    The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle is price-dropped to $59.99 (reg. $418).

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Save Big on Microsoft Office Through October 15 | Entrepreneur

    Save Big on Microsoft Office Through October 15 | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    When it comes to productivity software, Microsoft Office has been on top for a very long time. That’s because it’s one of the most robust and easier to use office suites out there. The only real downside is that it isn’t cheap. For entrepreneurs looking to cut back on expenditures where they can, spending money every month on Microsoft Office 365 might not be in the cards.

    Fortunately, we’re offering a big discount on Microsoft Office for one Mac or Windows computer for one of the best prices you’ll find, now through October 15: just $29.97.

    Both versions of Office include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote — a complete suite to help you communicate, process documents, crunch numbers, and more. The Windows version also includes Publisher and Access, giving you some extra marketing and data tools. No matter what industry you’re in or what stage your company is in, working with Microsoft Office will help you thrive as a business and work smarter.

    With this lifetime license, you’ll get instant delivery and download, as well as free premium customer support in case any issues arise. It’s a one-time payment for lifelong access to Office 2021, making it a far more attractive deal than paying for a subscription plan. With all these tools at your disposal, you’ll be able to scale up your business and enjoy greater success in all of your ventures.

    Ready to take the Microsoft Office leap? Until October 15 at 11:59pm Pacific, take advantage of these deals:

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Get a ChatGPT Plugin for Your WordPress Site, Just $40 for Life | Entrepreneur

    Get a ChatGPT Plugin for Your WordPress Site, Just $40 for Life | Entrepreneur

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    To stay competitive, business owners must utilize cutting-edge technology. One such technology is ChatGPT, a powerful AI-driven tool that can revolutionize how you communicate with your customers. It’s been in the news for its far-reaching uses, and rightfully so, as it delivers instantly in various ways. This lifetime license to the ChatGPT WordPress Plugin is available for just $39.97 (reg. $299) through October 15.

    No matter what your business may be, ChatGPT can help you create content to use on your site instantly. For example, if you own an e-commerce site and need copy to describe your items, you can save time and energy by letting this AI tool help. Simply type in what you need, and it generates content.

    You’ll also be able to ask ChatGPT questions and get accurate answers instantaneously. This can allow for a more streamlined work experience. It’s a simple way to get guidance and increase your productivity.

    On the other end of things, you can use ChatGPT as a customer-facing asset, giving you a functioning chatbot to give visitors instant and natural-language responses to queries and enhance your site’s search function.

    You will need to have an OpenAI account to use this plugin. The plugin’s ChatGPT version (free or Plus) depends on what kind of OpenAI account you have. One verified buyer named Dan left a five-star review and said, “This has been a great addition to my website, providing new updated copy to test out.”

    You’ll get instant delivery and download, as well as free customer support with purchase. But don’t wait too long, as this best-on-web price is only available for a limited time.

    Get a lifetime license to this ChatGPT WordPress Plugin for the exclusive price of $39.97 (reg. $299) through October 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

    Prices subject to change.

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  • How a Bad Billing Descriptor Can Cost You | Entrepreneur

    How a Bad Billing Descriptor Can Cost You | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Do you know that line-item text that shows up on your debit or credit card statement that explains where each charge comes from? That’s commonly referred to as a billing descriptor. It’s a crucial piece of information that outlines the specifics of a transaction and the company associated with the charge.

    A merchant usually establishes the billing descriptor when they set up their bank account. Descriptors may be static or dynamic, meaning that they can change to reflect the specifics of the transaction in question.

    Think of billing descriptors as unique digital identifiers for each business. This numeric marker helps banks and credit institutions recognize the company while also helping buyers differentiate individual transactions.

    Unfortunately, inaccurate, confusing or unclear billing descriptors are a common problem. According to the 2023 Chargeback Field Report, one-third of cardholders say they often found billing descriptors on their bank statements to be confusing or unrecognizable.

    Additionally, nearly three-quarters of merchant respondents did not even know what their billing descriptor looked like. This suggests that merchants are not taking the problem of billing descriptor misidentification as seriously as they should. That’s a problem, as bad descriptors can directly cause chargeback.

    Related: How Banks and Businesses Can Fight Fraud and Chargebacks Should Regulation Fail

    Bad billing descriptors can cost you

    Billing descriptors directly impact a customer’s understanding of their credit card statement. As such, they play a vital role in a customer’s trust and satisfaction with a business. Poorly worded or confusing billing descriptors can pose significant issues for merchants, including:

    • Customer confusion: A vague or unrecognizable billing descriptor can leave customers perplexed. If customers can’t identify a descriptor on their statement, they might not be able to identify the source of the transaction.
    • Chargebacks & disputes: When customers don’t recognize a transaction, they often assume it’s fraud and dispute the charge. This can result in a chargeback to the merchant, which involves loss of revenue from the transaction, plus additional fees.
    • Damage to reputation: Ongoing issues with billing descriptors can harm a company’s reputation. If customers continually face confusion over their billing, they may develop a negative impression of the business, leading to lost future sales.

    Keep in mind the scale of this issue can vary widely. For a small business with a consistent client base, the issue might be manageable. But for a larger enterprise — especially one with a high volume of online sales or a diverse range of products or services — the problem can become substantial.

    Related: How AI and Machine Learning Are Improving Fraud Detection in Fintech

    Why is this a big deal?

    Around 27% of the merchants surveyed in the Chargeback Field Report had no idea where their billing descriptor could be located. A shocking 47% admitted that they’d never even checked their descriptor. For the reasons we listed in the above section, this is an issue that merchants can easily amend to protect their revenue.

    Merchants must keep their chargeback rate below the monthly thresholds established by Visa and Mastercard. Otherwise, they may be relegated to the higher fees and penalties associated with a “high-risk” merchant status. This is why billing descriptors are an essential part of this equation.

    Many customer queries begin with cardholders unable to identify a charge on their monthly bill. Fearing fraudulent activity, they tend to contact their bank, which often leads to a chargeback despite the transaction being valid.

    Ambiguous or seemingly unrelated billing descriptors are at the root of a substantial number of transaction disputes. In the same survey, one-third of cardholders responded with “Somewhat Often” or “Very Often” when asked about how frequently they encountered perplexing or unrecognizable billing descriptors. Interestingly, a small minority (only 6% of consumers) claimed they had never faced this issue.

    Related: Think You Can’t Win Against Chargebacks? Think Again.

    Dynamic billing descriptors could be the answer

    Adjusting one’s billing descriptor to denote the source of each transaction clearly could save merchants a lot of time and money in the long run. This small step can profoundly impact a merchant’s chargeback ratio.

    Adopting dynamic billing descriptors, or otherwise adjusting to make descriptors more immediately identifiable, presents several benefits for merchants:

    • Reduction in chargebacks: A recognizable descriptor can significantly reduce the incidence of chargebacks. Customers can easily identify their purchases by providing specific information about each transaction (like the product purchased or service rendered), leading to fewer disputes and chargebacks.
    • Improved customer experience: Clear billing descriptors enhance the customer experience. Detailed transaction information can increase the customer’s and merchant’s transparency and trust. It eliminates confusion, ensuring customers fully understand their purchases.
    • Greater flexibility: Dynamic billing descriptors offer more flexibility. Merchants can tailor the descriptor to the specifics of each transaction, making it more descriptive and recognizable to customers. For example, each service type could have a unique descriptor for a multi-service business.
    • Enhanced brand recognition: Descriptors can also be a tool for enhancing brand recognition. By including a business name or a product-specific detail in the descriptor, merchants can make their brand more recognizable to their customers.
    • Fewer customer service queries: By providing clear and detailed transaction information, good descriptors can help reduce the volume of customer service inquiries related to unrecognized charges, freeing up resources to handle other aspects of customer service.

    Examining and optimizing one’s billing descriptor can be a vital strategic decision for many merchants. It can help improve operations and enhance customer satisfaction. At the same time, a bad descriptor could be a source of considerable revenue loss.

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    Monica Eaton

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  • Get a Python Education for Just $24 for a Limited Time | Entrepreneur

    Get a Python Education for Just $24 for a Limited Time | Entrepreneur

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    Entrepreneurs often have to wear lots of different hats in their respective businesses to save money and work as efficiently as possible. So, if you haven’t learned to code yet, why not? Learning to code can save you money, help your business accomplish more, and streamline all kinds of workflows. Or, if you’re interested in getting into the field of programming and coding, this could be a great place to start.

    For many aspiring coders, the first step is learning Python. Python is the world’s most popular programming language because of its general-purpose nature and scalability. For a limited time, we’re offering this Python programming certification bundle for a specially reduced price of $23.97 through October 15, so you can learn this powerful programming language online, in your own time, for a great price.

    This bundle includes ten courses geared towards absolute beginners who want to level up to an intermediate level. You’ll learn from some of the web’s top instructors, including Juan Galvan (4.5/5-star instructor rating), Edouard Renard (4.6/5-star rating), and Joe Rahl (4.6/5-star rating).

    Beginning with the absolute basics, you’ll learn the ins and outs of Python, start writing your first Python code, and get an introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). As you get familiar with Python, you’ll learn how to create software programs, scrape websites, build automations, and a lot more. Eventually, you’ll be able to build an automatic stock trader, manage real-time stream processing, and much more.

    Get your career in coding started here.

    Now until 11:59 p.m. Pacific on October 15, you can get this Python programming certification bundle for just $23.97 (reg. $120).

    Prices subject to change.

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  • How Daymond John’s Black Entrepreneurs Day Is Changing the Game | Entrepreneur

    How Daymond John’s Black Entrepreneurs Day Is Changing the Game | Entrepreneur

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    Daymond John is the reason I became an entrepreneur.

    When his clothing brand, FUBU, first launched I was in junior high school. I was immediately drawn to the bold designs and the associated status wearing his clothes would bring me. But, since we had already done back to school shopping, my mother wasn’t willing to buy me anything I didn’t need.

    But here’s the thing, I didn’t need FUBU gear, I wanted it. So, I started making money by working after school. I did yard work around the neighborhood and earned $5 per hour. If I wanted a new shirt, I knew I could make enough money in a week. If I wanted to throw in a pair of pants too, I could make enough money by working over the weekend instead of sitting around watching television.

    That experience taught me that I could get anything I wanted so long as I had vision, opportunity and the determination to make it happen. And although Daymond unintentionally taught me about entrepreneurship as a teenager, there’s nothing accidental about the movement he’s creating through Black Entrepreneur’s Day.

    What is Black Entrepreneur’s Day?

    Founded in 2020 by Daymond John, Black Entrepreneurs Day is the ultimate celebration of Black business and entrepreneurship.

    This year’s event is highlighted by insightful conversations with Black business icons including Cedric the Entertainer, Whoopi Goldberg, SHAQ, Anthony Anderson, Cari Champion, Sloane Stephens and many more.

    To date, the event has raised over $750,000 in Black Business grants in partnership with the NAACP and has inspired millions of fans. That commitment continues this year with Shopify sponsoring an in-person pitch competition.

    Beyond that, Black entrepreneurs from around the country can apply for the chance to win a $25,000 grant to help them grow and scale their businesses through the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant. In addition to the monetary compensation, winners of the grant will receive:

    • Mentorship from Daymond John
    • Join Daymond live on air during this year’s Black Entrepreneurs Day broadcast

    This year’s grants will be funded by event partners including: J.P. Morgan Chase, The General Insurance, Hilton, T-Mobile, Salesforce, and TriNet.

    So if that sounds good to you, apply now, the application window closes October 11, 2023. You can find more information on the Black Entrepreneurs Day website.

    Why Black Entrepreneurs Day is so important to Daymond

    The tale of how Daymond built FUBU is legendary but one aspect of the story stands out to me because it epitomizes the resilience and creativity displayed by many other entrepreneurs.

    When Daymond first launched FUBU he didn’t have money for marketing or publicity. However, he did have one valuable asset; a deep understanding of his audience which included how they spent their free time. Specifically, they frequented the hottest hip-hop clubs in New York City.

    So Daymond, he gave away FUBU clothing to bouncers who worked at these clubs.

    Why did he do this, and what was the impact?

    • He knew these bouncers had trouble finding fashionable clothes in their size. (He solved a problem)
    • Unlike other fashion forward people, they wouldn’t just wear it occasionally, they would wear his clothes at least every weekend. (His product inspired loyalty)
    • Standing outside of these clubs, they were very visible to his target audience, people who liked hi-hop. (He identified micro influencers)

    This strategy not only got the name out, it eventually helped him land LL Cool J as a celebrity influencer, which exposed FUBU to an even bigger audience.

    Fast forward 30 years and you have the outline of a perfect influencer marketing campaign.

    Daymond understands people and behavior in a way that truly encompasses the empathy so many other brands and marketers try to project. Fortunately, his empathy also extends to other entrepreneurs who are struggling to find the money to build their business.

    During our interview he stated “I know that a lot of the money that has been traditionally issued out in this country is not going to us. But this is issued by an entrepreneur who is African American by companies that are supporting this initiative. Now, the playing field is even for me as an African American.”

    When asked about the kind of impact he wants Black Entrepreneurs Day to have he shared the following.

    “You know what the victory is going to be? People who got the grants year one, two, three and four and on coming back to say my business is doing great.”

    This isn’t just a performative gesture, Daymond is helping people establish generational wealth.

    Related: Daymond John: Money Mastery Playbook for Entrepreneurs

    The impact Daymond has had on generations of entrepreneurs

    As mentioned, Daymond John inspired my entrepreneurial journey, but he’s already played a role in my 7 year old daughter’s as well. This year we purchased his book “Little Daymond Learns to Earn“. His book ignites kids’ early interest in how money works through storytelling and practical examples. After reading it my daughter decided to start her own business selling custom bookmarks at her elementary school.

    During my chat with Daymond I shared how much money she made as well as the impact it had on her confidence and creativity. He replied “I mean, you encompass black entrepreneurs day. We’re trying to do the same exact thing that just happened. Educate people and also give them money. And then highlight just amazing people who are helping us do it like, McDonald’s and Hilton and all of our partners.”

    He then extended an invitation for me and my daughter, Lena, to join him at this year’s Black Entrepreneurs Day. Her teachers are onboard with it, so long as she shares her experience with the rest of the class.

    I’m sure she won’t be the only entrepreneur who inspires and empowers their community based on the experience they have at the event.

    You can learn more about Black Entrepreneurs Day and register to watch the online event, which takes place November 1st, at www.blackentrepreneursday.com.

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    Terry Rice

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  • Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore Your Restaurant’s Internet Health | Entrepreneur

    Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore Your Restaurant’s Internet Health | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The internet is a key factor in the growth and development of modern businesses, and restaurants are not immune to its effects. A strong internet connection for a restaurant fuels more than just the free public Wi-Fi service offered to customers. The challenges brought forth by 2020 proved that internet health is a vital component of a strong restaurant business.

    In fact, the digital divide is becoming increasingly evident in the restaurant world, and those who utilize the internet and tech well will survive. While a strong internet connection is critical for many reasons, these ten are the most pressing.

    Related: Business Network Health — Why You Must Prioritize It (and What It Could Cost If You Don’t)

    1. Utilize cloud-based POS systems

    Managing orders and inventory starts with a robust POS system. Fast internet allows restaurants to use cloud-based systems that provide real-time updates of both orders and shrinking inventory. Both wait staff and guests benefit from the ability to turn tables more quickly, lessening wait times and making the time from walking in the door to getting food on the table faster. Because of the reliance on online POS systems, many restaurants, like the fast-growing pizza chain Jet’s Pizza, now choose secondary internet connections to ensure their POS is always on.

    2. Offer online ordering (and home delivery)

    Restaurant guests are growing increasingly accustomed to having restaurant food at home. A healthy internet connection at your restaurant means easy online ordering for your customers. Slow connections contribute to abandoned orders and lost revenue. Robust internet connectivity also increases your ability to offer delivery service.

    3. Streamline your payment processing

    Whether you rely on a simple Square Reader system or a complex POS processor, your ability to take card payments is crucial to your success as a restaurant. According to the Pew Research Center, 41% of Americans make none of their weekly purchases using cash, and only 14% say they use cash for all of their payments. Cash is on the way out, and you need strong internet to take card payments and continue producing revenue for your customers.

    4. Take real-time reservations

    Modern restaurant guests appreciate the time savings of a reservation, and the internet allows you to take reservations without impacting your daily operations and taking up staff time. However, again, this requires a strong internet connection to track and access those reservations when the guest arrives at the restaurant, ensuring their table is ready for them.

    5. Keep data safe and secure

    Data is increasingly essential to the modern restaurant. Keeping that data secure and backed up requires a flawless internet connection. Without the internet, you cannot track sales receipts, guest preference information and data about inventory in real time.

    Related: 6 Easy Tips to Speed Up Your Internet Connection

    6. Build a social media and online presence

    When you have a reliable internet connection, you will be able to build an online presence more efficiently, and that’s critical to your restaurant marketing. Not only can you quickly upload photos and videos to your social media channels, but your guests can do so as well. The more engaging your online presence, the more effective your restaurant will be; a strong internet connection makes that happen.

    7. Improve customer service through better communication

    Customers choose to communicate with the modern restaurant through online chats, reviews and emails. If you have a weak internet connection, those messages will be delayed at best and lost at worst. Fast, friendly responses to customer communication are essential to the guest experience, requiring a fast internet connection.

    8. Update digital menus in real-time

    Digital menus are becoming increasingly popular. QR code menus allow guests to browse on their phones while their table is prepared, and they eliminate the need to keep paper menus sanitary between guests. They also allow you to update in real time if you run out of a popular dish. Over half of restaurant guests say they appreciate a QR code digital menu that is kept up-to-date. Again, this requires a good internet connection to use well.

    9. Use Wi-Fi to improve guest ambiance

    Do you want your guests (and staff) to be in a good mood while they are in your restaurant? Then, upload a soothing or fun playlist using your internet connection. Do you want to make your restaurant convenient for your guests? Free Wi-Fi in the building can also help. They can do research or play online games while they wait. Parents can even use the connection to keep antsy kids occupied and the noise level down in the restaurant. For these scenarios to play out, your internet connection needs to be healthy.

    10. Improve overall operational efficiency

    With all of the different moving parts of a busy restaurant, from scheduling to inventory management, you will need your tech to function properly. Again, this requires strong internet. Both the back-of-house team and the front-of-house team need the internet to do their jobs.

    This list is just 10 of the many reasons why a strong internet connection is a vital component of a restaurant. In light of these facts, restaurant owners must prioritize a healthy internet connection — it’s the backbone of your success and not something you can afford to overlook.

    Related: How Internet Brownouts Can Threaten Your Business — and 8 Ways to Minimize Their Impact

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    Greg Davis

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  • Overwhelmed By Notifications? Here’s How to Streamline Your Communication Channels | Entrepreneur

    Overwhelmed By Notifications? Here’s How to Streamline Your Communication Channels | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In today’s digital world, we use many ways to talk to others every single day, whether it comes to work or personal matters. We send emails, chat on messaging apps and use social media. But sometimes, all these messages can get confusing. Learn how to make your communication easier by using different messaging channels for different business purposes.

    Are emails old-school?

    No, in fact, email remains the cornerstone of professional communication. Period. Its formal and structured nature makes it ideal for external correspondence, official documentation, and client interactions. Additionally, important emails offer a written record of communication, making it easy to reference past conversations, agreements and decisions. My company keeps all professional communication with partners and portfolio companies within emails. This documentation is crucial for legal, auditing and accountability purposes.

    We’ve all been in situations where we’ve asked someone to “send something via email to ensure it doesn’t get lost.” So, yes, you can easily flag, pin and highlight threads or single conversations and retrieve any information when you need it – email threads allow users to track the history of a conversation, making it easier to follow the evolution of discussions and decisions over time. In terms of security, many email platforms offer robust security features, including encryption, to protect sensitive information. For a company, this is also a crucial aspect.

    We all value professional and personal privacy. I love email, and if I see an important email and don’t have an opportunity to read it carefully, here is what I do: I open it, read it quickly, then close it and mark it as unread. Sometimes, it is easy to get lost in open emails; in this case, I know I will get back to it when I have dedicated time for it.

    Related: A Quick Guide to Email Etiquette (Infographic)

    LinkedIn: professional networking and personal brand

    I personally love LinkedIn. It is a premier platform for building and expanding professional networks and connecting with colleagues, peers, clients, industry experts and potential business partners.

    I have one habit when it comes to this social media – I try to read and respond/react to every message I get, except for obvious scams. I receive many messages on LinkedIn every single day – some of them are work-related (e.g., messages from founders, potential partners, and other players in the innovation ecosystem), while others are more personal and not within the scope of our fund.

    It’s a great place to share best practices, keep up with the latest innovation and venture trends, and stay updated on industry matters.

    However, when I spot an opportunity or an important issue to discuss, I always transition the communication to email, where I include relevant colleagues in the conversation. It is entirely acceptable to request that your counterpart switch communication to email instead of continuing the conversation via LinkedIn.

    Related: LinkedIn Changed Its Algorithms — Here’s How Your Posts Will Get More Attention Now

    Telegram: Stay up-to-date with groups and channels

    Telegram is the 10th most popular mobile messaging app in the US. It’s no wonder its popularity has soared in recent years. In fact, many WhatsApp users switched to Telegram to take advantage of its robust privacy features.

    Telegram is my personal favorite. We use this platform for all our work-related communication regarding urgent matters and to communicate with our portfolio companies. I have more than 20 chats, each dedicated to a specific subject, with certain people from the company.

    When we launched our Softlanding program last year, we were deciding how to keep in touch with participants, sending schedules, relevant info and more. We figured out that Telegram is the perfect tool for that because it supports group chats and channels with many participants. On top of everything, Telegram offers cloud-based storage, allowing users to access their messages and files from multiple devices. This feature enhances accessibility and data backup. In our case, it was the most convenient messenger for file sharing and communication.

    We also have our open Telegram channel to share news and key insights about venture capital in the USA. Telegram supports various message types, including text, multimedia files, voice messages, and documents. This versatility allows for effective communication and file sharing (e.g.reports, analytics), which is very convenient when you need to transfer something that email storage doesn’t support.

    Related: Privacy Insight: Whatsapp Vs Signal Vs Telegram

    While Telegram has numerous advantages for business communication, organizations need to assess their specific needs, consider security and privacy requirements, and choose communication tools that align with their objectives and industry regulations.

    Each platform serves specific purposes, whether it’s the formality and professionalism of email, the networking power of LinkedIn, or the real-time communication of Telegram and WhatsApp. The key lies in strategically separating and using these channels to tailor your communication to the right audience and context. This approach will help businesses maintain professionalism and streamline internal discussions.

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    Zamir Shukho

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  • Get AI for Content Generation, Image Creation, and More for $80 | Entrepreneur

    Get AI for Content Generation, Image Creation, and More for $80 | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    CompTIA reports that 80% of retail executives expect their companies to adopt AI-powered automation by 2027. With so many companies using AI, it may take more than basic ChatGPT prompts to grow your business ahead of the curve.

    Scribbyo AI isn’t just one AI tool. It’s a whole toolset for everything from translation to transcription, image generation, and content writing. If you’re going to use AI, find out how many opportunities there are to automate and streamline with comprehensive AI tools. And you can even get Scribbyo on sale. A lifetime Gold subscription is on sale for $79.97.

    AI tools to help run your business.

    Need to create a blog post for your company website? Use Scribbyo to generate the copy, the headline, subheadlines, and even the images. Trying to expand your reach to an international audience? Scribbyo knows 37 different languages, so you can translate product descriptions, blog posts, and more.

    You can even get Scribbyo to transcribe the audio for a video, then translate it to create your own international subtitles. If you like the free-form chatbot style of ChatGPT, Scribbyo has that too. Talk to the chatbot, or load up a chatbot specialist that’s an expert you don’t have to explain your whole subject to. Not an IT expert? You don’t have to be. Scribbyo even has an AI-powered code generator.

    All your AI in one place.

    Use AI everywhere you can and see what it can do for your business.

    Until October 15 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, get a Scribbyo Gold lifetime subscription for $79.97. This is an exclusive price you won’t find anywhere else, and it won’t be here much longer.

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Turn Text to Lifelike Speech with This $50 Lifetime AI Tool | Entrepreneur

    Turn Text to Lifelike Speech with This $50 Lifetime AI Tool | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    Creating quality video advertisements for your business could be key to your growth. Audiences tend to be roughly “17% more likely to buy a product or invest in a service as a result of watching a video versus seeing a static ad,” according to Wyzowl. The only problem is that video advertisements are much more complex to create, but you may be able to keep costs down by replacing actors with AI (artificial intelligence) voiceovers.

    Micmonster is a realistic text-to-speech AI with an expansive library of voices. Normally, it would cost $119 for a lifetime subscription, but you can get the exclusive discounted price of $49.97 for a limited time.

    AI voices you can control.

    Whether you’re recording a video for social media, crafting an audio presentation, or creating promotional materials, this versatile voiceover AI could be a valuable investment. Hiring and directing voice actors whenever you want to create a piece of media featuring voices other than your own would get expensive. With Micmonster, you get over 600 different voices, and you can fine-tune them with editing tools for pitch, emphasis, and more. You can even add pauses and convert up to 12,000 characters at a time and 200,000 characters a month.

    Trying to reach an international audience? If you can translate your script, Micmonster can speak it with support for 140 different languages.

    Voiceover without voice actors.

    This AI-powered tool could change how you advertise your business, and you can get it for life for an exclusive price.

    Until October 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get a Micmonster AI Voiceovers Lifetime Subscription for $49.97 (reg. $119).

    Prices subject to change.

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  • 11 Google Ads Hacks That Can Take Your Campaigns to the Next Level | Entrepreneur

    11 Google Ads Hacks That Can Take Your Campaigns to the Next Level | Entrepreneur

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    Google Ads is one of the most powerful advertising platforms on earth, a position it’s held for over two decades since it first launched in October 2000. Today, Google Ads boasts over $200 million in ad revenue and — perhaps without even knowing — a whopping 63% of all internet users have clicked on a Google Ad in their lifetime.

    With its reach and targeting capabilities, Google Ads can drive significant traffic and conversions. Personally, I’ve run Google Ads for each of my income-generating web properties, and I’ve helped hundreds of clients over the years make the most of their Google Ads experience.

    As with any tool, the difference between amateur and expert usage can be vast. To help make Google Ads work for you, I’ve decided to put together a list of some of my top “hacks” to elevate the results of your Google Ads pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns.

    Related: 6 Steps to Improve the ROI of Your Google Ad Campaigns

    1. Master the art of SKAGs (Single Keyword Ad Groups)

    SKAGs are a powerful way to increase the relevance of your ad copy and landing page to the user’s search query. By focusing on one keyword per ad group, you can tailor your message more specifically, which often leads to higher click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates.

    Here’s an excellent resource for learning more about SKAGs and how they tend to drive higher CTRs than bidding on multiple keywords within ad groups.

    2. Employ ad extensions wherever possible

    Ad extensions provide additional information about your business, like location, phone number and site links. These not only make your ads more prominent but also provide additional avenues for users to interact with your business and can boost local SEO ranking factors as well for cross-channel marketing success.

    3. Optimize and adjust bids by device

    Users behave differently on mobile devices versus desktops. Maybe mobile users convert better for your business, or perhaps desktop users do. Adjusting your bids based on device performance can help allocate your budget more efficiently.

    Fortunately, Google makes it easy to add device targeting to your Google Ads campaigns. Adding these parameters to your campaigns can help you avoid sending ads to users on devices that have a lower probability of opening your ads.

    4. Schedule your ads for peak performance

    Depending on your target audience, there may be specific days or hours when they’re more active. Using ad scheduling, you can increase your bids during these high-performance times and reduce them during low-performance periods.

    In the Google Ads dashboard, navigate to the “Dimensions” tab and then “Time” to view the days of the week and time of day when your ads perform the best. Once you’ve identified your best-performing times, consider adding an “Ad schedule” to concentrate or limit your ads to these specified times.

    4. Refine your ad’s location targeting

    If you’re a local business or find that certain regions drive better results, utilize advanced location targeting. This way, you can bid more aggressively for high-performing locations and exclude areas that don’t align with your business goals.

    If you operate a physical business, make sure you set your ad radius to at least 100 kilometers to cater to customers in neighboring communities.

    Related: 3 Tips on Becoming a Pay-Per-Click Expert

    6. Use dynamic keyword insertion at every opportunity

    This feature allows Google to dynamically replace text in your ad with one of your keywords, making the ad more relevant to the searcher’s query. However, use this with caution to avoid creating nonsensical ad copies.

    7. Implement remarketing lists for search ads (RLSA)

    RLSA lets you tailor your search campaigns based on whether users have previously visited your site and how they interacted with it. This means you can bid more aggressively for high-value users who have shown interest in your offerings.

    (Here’s an awesome tutorial on how to set up RLSAs in just a few minutes!)

    8. Experiment with different match types

    While a broad match can offer extensive reach, it may also bring irrelevant traffic. Experiment with phrase match, modified broad match and exact match settings to hone in on the most effective keywords for your campaign.

    Personally, I usually opt for phrase match as this tends to generate my ads for viewers who specifically search for the keywords that I’m targeting. However, your mileage may vary, so play around with different match types to see what works.

    9. Use negative keywords, not only positive

    By continually adding negative keywords to your campaign, you prevent your ads from showing up for irrelevant searches, saving your budget and maintaining a higher CTR. This is your best tool for weeding out disinterested ad viewers.

    10. Test, test, and then test some more

    Whether it’s A/B testing your ad copy, landing pages or trying out different bidding strategies, testing is crucial. Google Ads provides a lot of data. Use it to your advantage to continuously refine your campaigns.

    In-depth A/B testing can be a highly technical and resource-intensive endeavor, and PPC marketing agencies often offer this as an add-on Google Ads optimization service.

    11. Stay in-the-know about Google’s new features

    Google’s core algorithm frequently releases new features and updates — in fact, there have been 18 total overhauls in recent memory. By staying updated and incorporating these changes into your strategy, you can maintain a competitive edge.

    Related: Get More of the Right Eyeballs Seeing Your Google Ads

    Mastering Google Ads requires a combination of technical know-how, continuous optimization and a deep understanding of your target audience. By employing these “hacks” and best practices, you can set your campaigns up for greater success.

    Take it from me, I’ve been using Google Ads since it was first released (back in the “Adwords” days), and I’ve seen firsthand what this platform can do. When used correctly, Google Ads can generate a higher return than months’ worth of SEO campaigns — it all depends on whether you can utilize its features to the fullest.

    If you find you can’t do it yourself (although I think you probably can!), consider hiring a PPC marketing agency to do the footwork for you.

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    Amine Rahal

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  • 10 Expert Principles For Designing Better CSAT Surveys | Entrepreneur

    10 Expert Principles For Designing Better CSAT Surveys | Entrepreneur

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    As a customer service consultant and customer service transformation expert, I’ve felt like cringing a few times (or more than a few!) when my client companies send out customer satisfaction (CSAT) surveys that are less accurate and customer-friendly than I’d want them to be.

    This is risky for any business, so I work with them immediately to make the needed improvements.

    Sending out poorly designed surveys can try the nerves of even your most loyal customers, mislead you with spurious results and waste the time of everyone involved — those who send it out and those who receive it. When designed and deployed correctly, however, surveys can reveal essential insights into how customers view their experience with your company and allow customers to vent!I encourage you to spend a few minutes with me learning the do’s and don’ts of designing and deploying customer surveys.

    Related: How to Measure Your Customers’ Happiness Score (and Why That Matters)

    1. Every survey question should be clearly worded and easy to answer

    It shouldn’t require your customer to do math or think too much about the inner workings of your company. Avoid anything like, “Compare this interaction with interactions you’ve had at similar departments at other fintech companies in our broadly competitive cohort.” Also, don’t ask questions you don’t care about and already know you’re not going to act on. (This seems obvious, but it happens all the time.)

    2. Don’t ask your customers to grade you on a scale of 1–10

    When you request their opinions on a scale of 1-10 (or 0-10), you’re confounding your customers at best. Why? You’re essentially asking your customers to determine the difference between a “six” and an “eight” or a similar nuanced gradation when choosing how to rank you. Provide your customer with no more than approximately five choices. (Why do I say approximately five? Well, I’d go with five, but I confess that there is an argument to be made for making it four or six: If you choose an even number like this, you take away an easy midpoint response, thus perhaps getting more reasoned answers.)

    Related: 4 Ways to Use Customer Feedback for Business Innovation

    3. The order in which you ask your questions matters

    The order matters because a prior question brings up images in a customer’s mind that will influence their answer to the next one. So, be sure to ask for your customer’s overall impression first. You don’t want to influence how a customer answers this central question by asking more nitpicky questions before you get to the most important, broad one.

    Asking several individual questions before asking for an overall rating will tend to color that overall rating, perhaps quite significantly. For example, if the question the customer encounters just before the big one asks about the cleanliness of your restrooms, which was just so-so, this will likely reduce your overall rating since you’ve left their mind in the toilets.

    Conversely, if they’ve just been asked about the availability of parking and parking was abundant, this is likely to artificially increase your overall rating since they are thinking about something positive (how easy it was to park).

    4. Include at least one open-ended question

    Doing this is valuable both to harvest customer insights and to let customers know you value and are curious about their thoughts and insights. For example, “Please share any thoughts you may have; we promise to read all of these!”

    The CEO of a major corporation told me that he transformed his entire level of customer service success by reading every one of these so-called “verbatims.” In these, he found a “staggering” level of nuance about his current operations and even some promising suggestions for innovations for the future.

    Related: You Need Consumer Insights To Ensure The Success Of Your Business. Here Are Five Ways To Find Them.

    5. Word choice matters

    I’m a fan of emotive rating options on surveys, such as “fantastic!” (for your top score), “meh” (for somewhere in the middle) and even “Are you sure you can handle the truth?!” (for your lowest). Only consider this approach if it conforms with your brand style! It wouldn’t be appropriate for a traditional jeweler or a business in a life-and-death industry like healthcare or mortuary services.

    6. Pay attention to the number of top ratings (5 on a scale of 5) that you receive

    While it’s nice to know how, on average, customers perceive you, It’s arguably more important to know the number of customers who give you a top (5 on a scale of 5) rating. This may be more important than your average score because the number of people who rate you as tops are the best representation of the number of truly loyal customers you have — or, at least, the number of customers well on their way to true loyalty. Of course, most important here is the trend: are you getting more loyalists than in the past, or is customer enthusiasm flagging?

    Related: Yes, the Rich Are Different — Here Are 5 Customer Service Secrets I Learned While Working With Wealthy Clients

    7. Don’t ask nosy questions

    Nosy questions include questions on income, sex or how old they are. First, you can never assume respondents will trust your privacy practices. Second, unless you’re a casino operator, cannabis dispenser or operate another type of business limited by law to serving adults, you don’t have a reason to ask for a complete birthdate. If you are trying to set yourself up to send out birthday cards or offers later, please at least stop asking for the year of birth. A complete birthdate is probably none of your business and makes identity theft all too easy in the event of a breach.

    8. Skim through your surveys right away, looking for any complaints or ultra-low scores

    Then respond personally and immediately to these upset customers. Don’t make them wait without a response, stewing in their own frustration, until such time as you’ve batched all your surveys for review.

    9. Put thought and attention into any preamble that accompanies your survey

    Your introductory note or cover letter, just like the survey itself, should be friendly, gracious and brand-appropriate. This way, whether or not the recipient chooses to respond, they’ll be left with a positive impression.

    10. Please don’t hound your customers if they don’t respond to your survey request(s)

    I would make one follow-up reminder the limit — or even zero. Once you’ve surveyed a particular customer, suppress future surveys of that same customer for at least 30 days.

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    Micah Solomon

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  • 6 Obstacles of Expanding Your Company Internationally — and How to Overcome Them. | Entrepreneur

    6 Obstacles of Expanding Your Company Internationally — and How to Overcome Them. | Entrepreneur

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    Expanding a successful startup internationally can be exciting, but it’s not without its challenges. What works in one country might not necessarily translate smoothly to another. The world is a diverse tapestry of cultures, legal systems and market dynamics. Let’s explore the obstacles that startups should manage when venturing into the international arena, complete with real-life examples that shed light on the complexities of global entrepreneurship.

    Related: Successful Leaders Think Globally — How to Expand Your Business Abroad For Maximum Success

    Cultural challenges

    Culture is like a hidden iceberg that can sink your international business if not navigated carefully. Cultural challenges are often pivotal aspects of international business expansion. A profound understanding of local customs, values and preferences is indispensable for success.

    For instance, McDonald’s faced a significant cultural challenge when entering the Indian market, where vegetarianism is prevalent. To resonate with the predominantly vegetarian customer base, the company astutely adapted its menu. This transformation included the introduction of a variety of spicy sauces and condiments, along with local favorites like masala fries. This strategic move not only ensured the acceptance of the McDonald’s brand but also significantly boosted its popularity in India. This example underscores the vital role that cultural sensitivity plays in international expansion, as it can be a decisive factor in whether a business thrives or struggles in new markets. Understanding and respecting local cultures can turn challenges into opportunities and create lasting success.

    Team dynamics

    Managing a team spread across different countries can be a complex jigsaw puzzle. Critical decisions about staffing levels, choosing between local or international teams and HR processes weigh heavily on the success of international ventures. Recruiting and relocating foreign teams to specific countries often entail intricate processes, extending over several months. Consequently, meticulous and timely preparations become invaluable in alleviating stress and conserving significant resources.

    Related: 3 Steps to a Successful International Expansion

    Product adaptation

    Your product may be a hit at home, but it might need a makeover abroad. Nestlé’s experience in Japan is a classic example. They realized that their standard ice cream bars were too large for Japanese freezers. So, they downsized the product, ensuring a snug fit.
    Had Nestlé not recognized and addressed this issue promptly, it could have led to a series of potential losses and setbacks, including financial losses, reputation damage, market share erosion and missed opportunities. By adapting their product size to Japanese preferences, Nestlé not only prevented potential losses but also tapped into a market segment they might have otherwise missed. Small changes can make a big difference in product acceptance.

    Marketing mishaps

    Marketing is a minefield where a misstep can have serious consequences. Procter & Gamble (P&G) learned this the hard way during the mid-1970s when they ventured into the Japanese market with Pampers disposable diapers. In the United States, P&G’s diaper advertisements featuring storks struck a chord with parents eager to bid adieu to cloth diapers. However, this approach fell flat in Japan, where storks had no association with delivering babies. Instead, Japanese folklore featured giant peaches. A comprehensive understanding of local customs and traditions is essential for success in diverse global markets.

    Navigating legal landscapes

    Setting up a business internationally involves grappling with legal complexities. Airbnb, for example, had to adapt to varying regulations in different countries. Some places imposed restrictions on short-term rentals, while others required hosts to register. Adhering to local laws and regulations is essential to avoid legal troubles. Additionally, choosing the right legal structure for your business is crucial, considering ownership restrictions in some countries, such as specific limitations on foreign ownership and requirements for local shareholders or partners. Selecting the appropriate company type, appointing directors and securing the necessary permits are all fundamental steps in this intricate legal process.

    Related: 4 Tips for Expanding Your Business Globally

    Licensing, permits and intellectual property protection

    Securing the necessary licenses and permits for your business can vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another. Just because you have the required permits in one country doesn’t guarantee the same in another. This intricate process involves understanding and complying with diverse legal requirements. In addition to licenses and permits, safeguarding intellectual property (IP) rights is paramount. Apple’s protracted struggle with Chinese counterfeiters exemplifies the hurdles of protecting IP in a global marketplace. Your business must navigate these intricacies diligently to operate smoothly and safeguard your innovations and assets.

    Expanding internationally is a thrilling journey filled with opportunities and hurdles that test the mettle of startups. As exemplified by real-life cases like McDonald’s catering to Indian tastes and Nestlé’s ice cream adaptation in Japan, the ability to adapt, respect local norms and navigate the intricacies of diverse markets is the cornerstone of international success.

    Each obstacle conquered not only adds to a company’s expertise but also unlocks the potential for broader global reach and influence, creating a more resilient and adaptable organization. International expansion may not be a piece of cake, but with the right preparation, a keen mindset and an unwavering commitment to understanding and embracing global diversity, it can be an immensely rewarding adventure that propels businesses to new heights of success.

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    Olga Fleming

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  • Insider Secrets That Will Help You Build a Thriving Startup | Entrepreneur

    Insider Secrets That Will Help You Build a Thriving Startup | Entrepreneur

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    Launching a startup is no small feat; it’s a thrilling ride but also a bumpy one, and it takes more than a bright idea to navigate it successfully. Securing funds, putting together a dream team, setting appropriate goals and managing the daily hustle are all part of the gig.

    Over the years, not just working with startups but also founding one myself, I’ve seen firsthand that there’s no one-size-fits-all process. However, having the right mindset and a few solid strategies can take you a long way, and these strategies work across the board as success is usually dependent on your approach and commitment.

    Related: 8 Practical Tips for Successfully Launching Your Startup

    Time and resources

    Mastering time and resource management is a critical element in the formula for startup success. My entrepreneurial journey taught me that trying to juggle all balls at once can often lead to dropping them all; it’s important to remember that not every task demands your direct input and many could be managed more efficiently by others.

    However, this isn’t merely about shifting tasks; it’s about empowering your team, enhancing their skills and freeing up your schedule to focus on pivotal aspects. As a founder, your prime responsibility should be steering the strategic course, envisioning your venture’s future and tracking progress. Operational tasks, while vital, can and should be delegated.

    Executive leadership

    Teaching and guiding require effort, and this is where fractional executives step in. They handle crucial business areas for specific projects or durations, adding much-needed agility to your startup’s dynamic pace. A fractional Chief Operations Officer (COO) can optimize operations, while a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) addresses talent issues, freeing you to strategize and drive results.

    It’s important to note that “fractional” doesn’t mean “disengaged.” In fact, these executives are deeply committed to your business’ success, providing expertise as needed. This gives you timely support without the commitment of a full-time role.

    Leveraging their rich knowledge, fractional executives can significantly elevate your operations and strategy. And before making any commitments, you have the opportunity to experience specific roles or individuals, which significantly reduces hiring risks. Also, their vast networks can introduce you to potential investors, partners, vendors and clients.

    I’ve personally witnessed fractional roles like COO, CHRO, CTO or CEO making significant positive impacts. The primary advantage? Cost-effectiveness. You receive top-tier expertise without the full-time executive cost.

    Funding

    One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen startups make is chasing funds without a solid plan on how to manage them. After all, money has a sneaky way of slipping if you’re not keeping a close eye on it. Bringing in a finance wiz, like a fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO), right from the get-go, may be one of the best things you can do. An experienced Fractional COO can help attach numbers and dates to your goals, helping put investors’ minds at ease when making the decision to invest.

    You may be thinking, “But I can do all this myself,” and if so, that’s great! However, if you spend all of your time worrying about budgets and timelines, you will have a harder time finding the bandwidth to strategize and work toward your company’s growth potential.

    Bringing someone on board helps you understand your burn rate and project revenues and helps you align expenses with growth plans, almost effortlessly. They can establish a robust financial plan that builds investor trust — the key ingredient needed to secure and sustain funding long-term — while allowing you to focus on your product, service or market.

    Related: 8 Bulletproof Ways of Turning a Startup Into a Thriving Business

    Systems and processes

    As your startup scales, your operational volume will increase rapidly. The capability to manage this surge without a corresponding hike in complexity, risk and cost is crucial for viability. A seasoned pro like a COO, with a resume spanning across industries and companies, can use their sixth sense to avoid unnecessary risk, spot inefficiencies and create processes to optimize growth.

    A good COO establishes scalable systems and workflows that evolve with your startup, ensuring smooth and effective operations throughout multiple growth stages and eliminating the need for constant process reevaluation.

    Technology

    In the fast-paced startup world, leveraging technology can fuel growth. Incorporating AI and machine learning can streamline complex processes, provide valuable customer insights and enable trend analysis and prediction, giving your startup a competitive edge, faster.

    However, it’s crucial to remember that technology is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It should strategically align with your startup’s unique needs and overarching business strategy.

    Having a technology expert well-versed in the startup landscape, such as a fractional COO, CIO (Chief Information Officer) or CTO (Chief Technology Officer), can provide support tailored to your needs. They can implement suitable technologies, create growth plans and offer insights on tech options that complement your mission, preserving the human touch amid the automation race.

    Networking and strategic partnerships

    Through my experiences, I’ve come to recognize something important: The most valuable opportunities and lessons often emerge when we least expect them, and only by keeping an open, adaptable and receptive mindset can we truly seize such opportunities.

    We can sometimes fall into the illusion of having all the solutions, but truth be told, we don’t, and it’s important to acknowledge our limitations. In fact, when we become immersed in our business bubble, we can develop blind spots that limit our ability to think outside the box and explore new possibilities. In comes networking.

    Networking goes beyond expanding your business connections — it can not only enhance existing strategies but also uncover innovative ideas, foster collaborations and ultimately drive your startup toward its next breakthrough in the most efficient way possible. So, I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone, collect new perspectives and use your interactions to enhance the way you operate.

    There’s incredible strength in acknowledging that you shouldn’t do it all alone. In fact, the secret to a thriving startup lies in your ability to recognize and admit when you need assistance. So, surround yourself with experts who can contribute to your growth, and remind yourself that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a cornerstone to success.

    Related: 5 Must-Haves for Entrepreneurs and Their Startups to be Successful

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    Adi Vaxman

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  • Get MS Office for Mac and Rosetta Stone for $199.99 (reg. $518) | Entrepreneur

    Get MS Office for Mac and Rosetta Stone for $199.99 (reg. $518) | Entrepreneur

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    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    Entrepreneurs who are looking to open more professional doors will want to check out this deal. While having a capable office suite can improve your ability to perform and execute work-related tasks, learning a new language could empower you to create more business and collaborate with more people. This bundle can help with each of these accomplishments. The Rosetta Stone and Microsoft Office for Mac lifetime bundle is on sale for just $199.99 (reg. $518).

    Microsoft Office is the standard when it comes to digital office suites. Its programs and applications are known around the world and treasured by many. This purchase gives you a one-time download key good to use on a Mac computer, just make sure its operating system is updated to Big Sur Version 11 or Monterey Version 12. For Windows, be sure to update to Windows 10 or 11.

    Rosetta Stone is a language-learning app that’s been a leader in its industry for more than 27 years. It’s trusted by organizations like NASA and Tommy Hilfiger, and it helps users speak new languages with remarkably intuitive and capable methods.

    Rosetta Stone comes with lifetime access to studies and exercises to learn up to 25 different languages. It features TruAccent technology, which is a speech-recognition feature that can help you improve your pronunciation faster. This PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award winner is a must for entrepreneurs who want to branch out linguistically.

    Boost your skills and take advantage of these lifetime deals on sale for a limited time:

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Get a Foundation in IT With This Bundle That Includes CompTIA Certification Training, Now for $29.99 | Entrepreneur

    Get a Foundation in IT With This Bundle That Includes CompTIA Certification Training, Now for $29.99 | Entrepreneur

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    According to Statista, IT employment peaked at 3.12 million employees in January 2023. Whether you’re looking to change careers and get into the world of IT, or you’d simply like to learn how to beef up your own digital security for your business, these days you don’t have to head back to school to get a leg up. You can do it all from the comfort of your home office with things like The Exams Digest 2023 All-In-One CompTIA and IT Lifetime Training Bundle.

    With these online courses, you can fit studying into your busy schedule and start learning how to pass some of the biggest IT exams in the industry, the CompTIA certifications. Receive all this training for just $29.99 — $90 off the usual price — right here for a limited time.

    This bundle offers a convenient way to digest information about the world of IT via more than 180 hours of content you can access right on your device. You’ll explore 56 lectures filled with info ready to prepare you for some of the most popular certifications — CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Cisco labs, and Python programming exercises.

    You’ll be receiving your training from the experts at LabsDigest, an online learning service that specializes in IT training and certification. CompTIA performance-based questions let you get ready to encounter real-world scenarios, while Cisco labs make sure you get a foundation on Cisco technologies. And you’ll be receiving lifetime access to all of this, so you can take all the time you need.

    Dive into the world of IT with this CompTIA and IT lifetime training bundle, now just $29.99 (reg. $120) right here for a limited time.

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Save $369 on This MS Office and Windows 11 Pro Bundle | Entrepreneur

    Save $369 on This MS Office and Windows 11 Pro Bundle | Entrepreneur

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    Business owners and entrepreneurs know it costs money to make money. But, with companies spending upwards of 18% of revenue on software (according to Statista), where you put your money matters. While you may not be able to eliminate crucial programs, you could save with lifetime licenses over recurring subscription costs.

    If you or your employees use Windows and Microsoft Office programs, you can grab this Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license bundle that’s only $49.97, normally $418.99. You won’t find this affordable price anywhere else.

    Windows 11 Pro: New design with enhanced security.

    Why Windows 11 Pro? Not only does it refresh your digital workspace with an all-new design and productivity features, but it’s loaded with extra security measures:

    • Windows Information Protection allows you to authorize apps to only access certain data — excellent for anyone who uses their machine for work and personal use.
    • Microsoft Information Protection shields your private information from leaks.
    • Windows Hello for Business has tools for remote deployment, multi-factor authentication, and secure biometrics login.
    • BitLocker safely encrypts your hard drive.

    This purchase includes a license key that can be used to upgrade three PCs to Windows 11 Pro. Update your personal and work computer, or cover a few of your employee’s computers in one swoop. After installation, you’ll never be asked to pay additional fees.

    MS Office 2021: 8 classic applications.

    If you’ve been paying for a Microsoft 365 subscription, you could save hundreds a year over by opting for a lifetime license instead. Microsoft Office 2021 includes eight of your favorite apps:

    • Microsoft Word
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft PowerPoint
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Microsoft OneNote
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Microsoft Publisher
    • Microsoft Access

    Again, after installing the app suite, you won’t be asked to pay any additional fees. It’s no mystery why this bundle received a 4.9 out of 5-star rating from our buyers.

    Cut your software costs with a lifetime of Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office, now only $49.97 (reg. $418.99). No coupon is needed to grab this best-on-web price.

    Prices subject to change.

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  • Get This ChatGPT Educational Bundle for $40 Off | Entrepreneur

    Get This ChatGPT Educational Bundle for $40 Off | Entrepreneur

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    We’re all looking for ways to save time, money, and effort. Those are a few reasons why OpenAI’s ChatGPT took off like a rocket when it was released last year. While people have become more critical of AI-generated work, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of applications.

    If you know how to use ChatGPT, there are a variety of ways artificial intelligence can save you time and effort, automate tasks, and help you get back to living your life and running your business effectively. So, now’s the time to learn the ropes with this ChatGPT artificial intelligence OpenAI training bundle, just $14.97 now through September 30.

    This bundle includes four courses from instructors Mike Wheeler (4.5/5-star instructor rating), Alex Genadinik (4.4/5-star rating), and John Elder (4.4/5-star rating). Each has extensive experience with ChatGPT and chatbots in general, giving you the power and resources to effectively use ChatGPT.

    At the start, you’ll get into the basics, learning how to write effective ChatGPT prompts to elicit the responses you want. You’ll be taught how to use ChatGPT for research purposes, writing effective copy, and more. As you progress, you can become well-versed on how to scale your content operations with ChatGPT, write sales copy, and create business web pages. Finally, you’ll eventually learn how to even create your own chatbots using tools like Python, Django, and Tkinter to solve even more specific problems.

    Artificial intelligence is here and it’s time you took full advantage.

    Until September 30 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, get this info-packed ChatGPT artificial intelligence OpenAI training bundle for just $14.97, more than half off the original $52 price.

    Prices subject to change.

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  • How Tech Can Help Retailers Manage Product Returns More Efficiently | Entrepreneur

    How Tech Can Help Retailers Manage Product Returns More Efficiently | Entrepreneur

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    Imagine if 10-30% of all the items you gifted this holiday season came back to you because the recipient didn’t want them. What would you do? Recycle them? Regift them? Trash them?

    Retailers face this 365 days a year. In-store purchases have an average return rate of 8-10%, while ecommerce averages can reach 30% or more. If a retailer struggles to manage returns processing efficiently, high volumes can drain money and resources, as well as burden the environment with extra packaging waste and transportation emissions.

    Returns management doesn’t have to be expensive, difficult or wasteful. Supply chain technology has significantly matured to address reverse logistics processes. Rather than returns driven by manual tasks, today’s tech-driven returns bring big gains in efficiency, profitability and customer satisfaction.

    Related: The Secret to Long-Term Customer Loyalty Is an Easy Return Policy

    Returns conundrum: A burden turned opportunity

    When a return is made, it’s usually seen as a negative experience for both the customer and the retailer. But technology can change this perception by making returns an opportunity to re-engage and delight the buyer.

    Customers expect an online customer portal for initiating returns, but intelligent returns technology can take it a step further: It can automatically refund the customer if certain conditions are met or even incentivize them to make the return at the nearest store rather than ship it.

    At the warehouse, returns technology automates tasks and helps the team process the return faster, which gets the customer their refund, credit or exchange sooner. Tech-driven returns are a win-win for all parties.

    The impact of inefficient returns

    A ReverseLogix study of eCommerce retailers found that 80% of respondents said the cost of managing returns is “significant to severe.” Returns also have a staggering impact on the planet: In the U.S., return shipping transportation creates the equivalent emissions of +3 million cars annually, according to Gartner.

    Return rates are growing faster than revenue rates for 91% of retailers, as reported by Appriss Retail. We’re at the point where returns are either a threat to the bottom line and customer loyalty or a positive differentiator that keeps costs low and buyer happiness high. Technology will decide the difference.

    Related: 4 Things to Know About Ecommerce Returns to Minimize Lost Profits and Keep Customers Happy

    Rise of tech-driven returns

    Retailers are already using technology to optimize warehousing, order management, transportation and every other part of the supply chain. Using tech to drive returns management, however, has mostly been overlooked. But with skyrocketing return volumes and customer demands for fast and easy (and free!) returns, new technology has burst onto the scene to address these specific issues.

    When a product arrives at the store or warehouse, the team member scans in the return. A product image appears on the screen with important identifying details like the serial number, which is important for verifying it isn’t a fraudulent return.

    Depending on the item’s condition, the software auto-routes the product to the store location with the highest predicted resale value. If it’s gently used or damaged, it can be sent to a re-commerce site to recoup some of the value. The customer is automatically notified about the status of their return, eliminating the need for calls and emails about their refund, credit or exchange.

    A fast and frictionless returns process is a game-changer for a retailer’s operations and for turning a frustrating customer experience into one that builds loyalty.

    Sustainable returns: A win-win for retailers and the environment

    Returns technology addresses the huge environmental impact of returns. If a customer lives within five miles of a store, for instance, they can be incentivized to return the item there rather than through the mail and learn how this saves emissions and packaging. Returns technology can direct a damaged item to be recycled rather than landfilled or a gently used item to go to a secondhand re-commerce site.

    Practical tips for retailers

    Adopting returns technology can be challenging because returns don’t usually fall under a single leader or pyramid. Instead, it’s a patchwork of facility teams, supply chain leaders and customer experience leaders. So, if you’re considering a returns technology project, form a team or name an individual to champion it. Ideally, organizations with high return volumes would create a Chief Returns Officer role to head this essential part of the supply chain.

    Work with your returns technology partner to identify your business goals. Do you want to create an easier process for customers? Do you need more automation because of workforce constraints? Do you need to support corporate sustainability goals? Identifying goals will help you choose the right returns technology and ensure it has features that address your needs.

    Understand your existing tech stack: What supply chain systems do you currently have? How easily can returns technology integrate with them?

    Returns technology has a customer-centric advantage but also one that team members will adopt. It must be easy to train on and quick to learn, ultimately making their work faster and easier.

    Related: 5 Easy Strategies to Prevent Costly Retail Returns

    The future of tech-driven returns

    As the challenges of returns management mount, the features and capabilities of technology are accelerating to anticipate what’s next. AI is playing a big role in this.

    Virtual dressing rooms help consumers make informed buying decisions so they can avoid buying many sizes and colors (only to return most of their orders). AI-powered return policies can be flexible based on the customer profile, such as giving high-value customers more return options or a more lenient returns policy.

    For more sustainable returns, AI can compare a return’s condition against geography, seasonality and other factors to determine the best location for routing the return and capturing the highest resale value.

    The future of tech-driven returns is AI, and AI is happening now. Retailers that use returns technology are capitalizing on faster returns processing, lower costs, happier team members and customers who are delighted at every phase.

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    Gaurav Saran

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  • Invest in a Python Education for only $10 | Entrepreneur

    Invest in a Python Education for only $10 | Entrepreneur

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    If your business needs an app, creating it can either be an investment of time or an investment of capital. If you opt to pay a third-party designer, Addevice reports the average cost to create a mobile application is between $30,000 and $250,000, and that doesn’t factor in upkeep. A cost-effective alternative is for you or someone on your team to put in the time and learn to code so you can design your own app from scratch.

    App design is just one facet of coding with Python, and you can get a thorough introduction in this 12-course Python bundle, on sale for $9.97 through the end of September.

    Invest in foundational Python courses.

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    Once learners have mastered the basics, they can enroll in courses that offer more focused instruction. If you want to invest time into AI, learners can study machine and deep learning in two courses, and one of them crosses over with app development. You may even be able to automate repetitive tasks and save you or your employees time by studying Python Automation Scripting and the Complete Web3 Python Automation Masterclass.

    There are 12 courses included in this bundle taught by top Python instructors from around the web. Study under Chris Mall, Mashrur Hossain, and professionals from Mammoth to become a Python expert.

    Save on a lifetime of Python training.

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    Get the 2023 complete Python certification bootcamp bundle on sale for $9.97 until September 30 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

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