Business

Every company big or small must be aware of what threats exist to their business and how to avoid them, including the threat of crime. If we own a store then we ensure that it is locked down, alarmed and has cameras, in order to ward of thieves. This is something which is generally accepted but something which is not focused on anywhere near enough is cybersecurity. My friend Bharat Bhise HNA has been working in this industry all of his career and the tales he tells me about those who have been attacked are starting. People like Bharat understand the importance of cybersecurity which is why he works with so many businesses on this topic, and if you have a business here is why you should listen to people like him.

Reputation

A good reputation can take many years to earn, and it can all disappear in a heartbeat, especially if there is a dat breach in your company. Businesses store huge amounts of data on their computer systems including private customer and employee data which must not fall into the wrong hands. If a customer has trusted your business with their personal information they expect you to take care of it, failure to do so will destroy your reputation and make it very difficult for you to bounce back.

Cost

Most business owners scrutinize every cent which is spent for the business, and rightfully so, which is why a cyberattack is not something which you want to happen to you. Beyond the lost sales and tarnished reputation which you can count on, you will also incur huge costs as a result of the breach. Reparation of hardware and software, beefing up cybersecurity measures, not to mention lost time and sales, a cyberattack is a costly affair indeed. Small businesses need to understand this too, especially given that the costs of an attack could cause massive damage to the company.

Regulations

Slowly but surely we are seeing much tighter regulations when it comes to a company’s requirements around cybersecurity. The EU have recently passed a bill which puts great pressure on businesses to ensure that they have a strong level of cybersecurity, in order to best protect the personal and private information of their staff and clients. This is just the beginning of tighter regulations around this threat, and in the future we will definitely see it become mandatory for businesses to offer a certain level of cybersecurity to their customers.

It Happens

Hacking isn’t some fantasy idea of nerdy boys in their room trying to get into the NASA database, these threats are very real and they happen on a daily basis. Hackers are incredibly sophisticated and they will target just about any type of business. Sometimes they’ll attack to send a message, other times it may be to steal information, either way you need to understand that it does happen and it most certainly could happen to you and your business.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Two years ago my business took the plunge and made the decision to get a great PR firm on board to help us to reach our business goals. After many meetings we eventually settled on the amazing team at Interdependence PR, who have given our business a new lease of life since they have come on board. Before we got to this brilliant team however we had to sit through so many meetings as we were trying to find the very best which met our needs. As such we have learned exactly what to look out for during a meeting with a PR firm and what to focus on during such a meeting. If you are looking for a PR firm then here is what you should be looking to focus on during the meeting.

Quality of Service

It is amazing how many of those companies who we met with had poor customer service skills and this was a real red flag early on in many meetings. I don’t know the reason behind this but it is important to remember that they are operating in a service industry and as such you should expect to receive a warm welcome and a high level of service. If you don’t feel this then it should set off alarm bells about what else the company may shirk on.

Market Knowledge

A public relations firm which is at the top of their game in the tech industry is not going to be able to give the same quality of results if they are operating in finance or manufacturing. You need a public relations company which knows your market and which understands how that market works and how to speak to those within it. Each market is very different and when it comes to the things that the PR company is going to be doing for you, it is even more important that they grasp it.

Transparency

An experience which we had many times was this attitude of ‘don’t worry we’ll take care of it’ when it came to understanding how and on what the company were going to spend our money. You deserve to have absolute transparency from a PR firm and given that it is your cash, you also need to know where it is going to go. The companies I met with may well have handled their business but as a paying customer I had the right to know what their strategy was to achieve the goals that we were aiming for. If they cannot be transparent then it gives off an air that they don’t really know what they are going to do just yet, but they’ll figure it out. This of course is not what a business wants to hear when they are trying to find a service who will be acting as their mouthpiece.

From my experience these were the key things which I learned to focus on when meeting with a PR firm.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Kelly Curia-Schmidt has dedicated her life to helping others reach their business potential and she is someone who is very successful at what she does. Kelly is also a very good friend of mine who has helped me in my own business endeavors over the years, with varying levels of success, but that isn’t something that she can be blamed for, far from it. I get a lot of people asking me about business tips and what they need to know before launching a business, and so I asked Kelly to give me a hand with some of those answers.

Do You Care Enough?

Something which so many people do is to launch a business because they want to make money, or because they want to be a business owner, yet they fail to launch a business in a nice or an industry which they actually care about. If you do not have a real passion for the business which you are going to launch then you are not going to do well, or at least success, real success is going to be unlikely. Those who create businesses based on their passion are far more likely to find better levels of success.

Do You Know Your Market?

Creating a killer product is one thing but if you don’t know your market then you are not going to get very far. You need to invest time in researching who your competitors are, what the customer trends are right now, how you are going to fit into the market and what you are going to bring that is different from what is out there already. You also need to look at which businesses are successful and why, what did they do which got them to where they are. You need to know how much money is in your market and what you can do to meet with what the customer wants in order to get it.

Do You Have a Plan?

It may sound basic but many businesses fail to have a long term plan before they launch. The reason why a long term plan is essential is because this is what you will use to dictate your decisions and your actions going forward. What are you looking to achieve from your business and how do you plan on getting it? Basic stuff but essential nonetheless.

Finances

The single most common reason why businesses fail is that they poorly manage their finances, what plan do you have in place to avoid this happening to you? This is a really crucial aspect of the business and whilst it is of course important to ensure that you have enough caput behind you to launch your business, you also need to ensure that you have a robust plan in place which will help you manage the finances well once your business is launched.

The key to success is in the preparation process.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

You need an SEO firm to help boost the popularity of your company. You can’t deal with all the details alone. SEO involves lots of complex processes and it would be great to have expert help in doing the job.

You will find lots of SEO companies presenting themselves as the perfect choice. These are the qualities to consider as you check the best options.

Longevity 

You need an SEO firm that has been around for a long time. It indicates that the company is doing a great job. It wouldn’t have lasted long if it had failed to satisfy the clients. Given the fast-paced world of SEO, it’s also crucial that they change their strategies to benefit the clients. Their experience in the business could be useful if you decide to partner with them.

Diverse strategies

Some SEO strategies work while others fall flat. Therefore, it helps to have a firm by your side with diverse strategies. It means that even if some of them failed or didn’t reach your goals, it’s okay. You can still survive and continue your relevance in the online competition.

Regularly provides updates

You need a firm that tells you if the strategies used worked in your favor. You can’t remain blind about what they’re doing. There needs to be a clear standard so that you can tell if you have to continue the same strategies. If not, it might be time to change what you’re doing. You can also tell the firm to come up with more creative ways to help boost your business since they’re tools aren’t moving anything at all.

Patient 

Since you’re the client, you might have demands to ensure that your business remains popular. You might even complain at times because you’re not getting what you want. Despite that, you need to have a firm that remains patient when dealing with you. Another factor is your creative difference. You might have a different view on how to move the company forward. The firm also has a different idea. You need them to be patient with you so that everything will end well.

Affordable 

You have to spend money to boost your marketing campaigns. However, you have lots of other things to consider. As such, it would be great if you have a firm that offers affordable services. Despite the cost, you still hope to receive the kind of services you deserve.

After checking out these qualities, you can determine which firm to partner with. You can test them first and decide if you will pursue further transactions. If you’re happy with what you’re getting, you can keep collaborating; otherwise, there are other local SEO Miami firms available.

The goal is to look for the right SEO firm since you have to boost your online presence. You can’t be behind your competitors since it’s a tough world out there. Your business could get affected if you fail to match the others in online campaigns.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.