The Startup Magazine

What To Look For When Hiring A Lawyer
7 Simple Ways to Increase Brand Visibility for Your Local Business
Choose Your Contracts Wisely – Precautions to Take Before Signing An Agreement
Pandemic Technology Transformations for Start-up Businesses
Is Switzerland the next big tech hub?

Posted: 30 Apr 2021 09:25 AM PDT

Even if you have no reason for legal representation at this very moment, it is still important in this day and age to have a lawyer just in case a situation arises in the future where you do. However, if you have never gone through the process of hiring a legal professional before, it can be a tricky task for someone to do, which is why we have put together this handy guide for you. Below are some of the things that you need to seriously consider when looking to hire a lawyer and before you sign any sort of contract with one.

Their Character

If you have a complicated case that a lawyer is going to represent you for, then you will inevitably end up having to spend lots of time with them and so you want someone that you get along with and has a good character. After all, if you have a lawyer representing you who has a questionable character or has been apprehended for misconduct then it does not help your case if it goes to court. You also want to be comfortable enough with them to discuss matters that are very personal to you.

Their Knowledge

When hiring a lawyer for a particular reason, such as launching your business or event experiencing a car accident or a dog bite, you want one who possesses the specialist knowledge and expertise to be able to deal with such a case. The guys at bdlawteam.com can help you with these kinds of legal cases plus many more like this. When first meeting with your potential lawyer, you should ask them directly where their legal representation specialism lies and if they have handled cases like yours before.

Their Experience

Hiring a lawyer that comes with a vast amount of experience is almost as important as their success rate, as you do not want someone who has only just started practicing representing you, especially if it is a high importance and high value case where a large amount of money is at stake. Ask them what their experience is, if they have been to court, and what areas of law they have their expertise in.

Their Fees

Before finalising details with a lawyer, you need to be aware of what their fees are and agree to a price before signing a contract with them. Some are very flexible with their fee options whilst some also operate under a 'no win, no fee' process. Those lawyers that work based upon an hourly fee can soon become very expensive to hire and so it can be cost effective to agree to a set fee up front.

If you consider all of these things as you are doing your research and deciding on the lawyer that you want to hire, then you should not go too far wrong in finding legal representation that is going to do a successful job for you and either keep your from being charged with a felony or get you the compensation that you deserve.

The post What To Look For When Hiring A Lawyer appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

7 Simple Ways to Increase Brand Visibility for Your Local Business

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:45 PM PDT

According to the statistics, in 2020, there were 31.7 million small businesses in the United States. How can your company stand out from such a huge amount of competitors? You just need to learn a few simple and cheap marketing tactics that help you improve the brand visibility of your business.

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

It's very important for small businesses to be visible in Google search results. If your company isn't at the top of the search results, your potential customers сan't find your website, and you can't make a profit.

You should also consider creating a mobile-friendly website, as this is a more convenient option for most users to access the internet. But this is only one of the secrets to improving brand visibility. Now let's talk in more detail about what brand visibility is and how you can increase it.

What Is Brand Visibility and Why Is It Important for Local Businesses?

Brand visibility is the level of consumer awareness of the company or the product, as well as the ability to distinguish a brand among many other businesses.

"What is the value of brand visibility?" you may ask. Awareness is important for any business because it determines whether potential buyers are paying attention to your company and products

7 Ways to Increase Brand Visibility for Local Businesses

1. Update your company data in Google My Business

The main brand market visibility source is its presence wherever your customers are. In the past, it could be newspapers or billboards. But now it is a presence on Google.

You can register your company in the Google My Business service absolutely free. After registering, you can update your brand information, add photos and respond to customer reviews.

2. Build brand awareness while staying mobile

It’s not a secret that shoppers these days use their mobile devices to find local businesses. Therefore, your website must be mobile-friendly because smartphone users have a tremendous potential to build brand awareness.

3. Manage your reputation

It depends on your web reputation whether new clients will turn to you. Positive reviews for your company are good but don’t forget about negative reviews. Create an effective customer review strategy – judicious handling of bad reviews can help increase your business’s visibility.

If you think processing reviews is wasted time and effort, you're wrong. Most users trust companies based on their products' reviews.

4. Local SEO

When a potential customer turns to Google, who appears at the top of the search – you or your competitor? Search engine optimization is necessary for every company to be competitive on the internet. But a presence in search results can't be enough if your business data appears below the third page.

SEO (search engine optimization) is a set of promotion techniques that helps you advertise your business for free. If you’re a newbie in SEO, you can check out Moz’s beginner’s guide. This guide will teach you how to use SEO to boost your website’s presence on Google.

5. Create a brand message and voice

Researching your target audience, you can use this information to start building your brand message and voice. Your brand’s voice is often driven by your company’s mission and industry, not just the audience. It is a reflection of how your brand communicates with customers. For example, your voice can be informative, friendly, or professional.

Your voice manner also helps you create your brand message, giving your audience an idea of who you are and enabling you to connect with them on an emotional level. Therefore, it should be simple, concise, and clear at a glance.

6. Advertise on social media

The number of different social networks is growing. Determine which social network is best for your business and focus on it to run marketing campaigns. For example, if you are a company focused on creative industries, Instagram or Pinterest might be a good choice for you. Study where your target audience is focused and develop in the same direction.

7. Consistency is the key to success

The best way to increase your brand visibility is to keep your message clear, concise, and understandable. Your goal is to get customers interested in learning more about your business, not confuse and alienate them.

Conclusion

The higher your brand awareness level, the more sales your business has. It also prevents your competitors from increasing their market share. If you are ready to surpass your competitors, now is the time to build your brand awareness.

The post 7 Simple Ways to Increase Brand Visibility for Your Local Business appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Choose Your Contracts Wisely – Precautions to Take Before Signing An Agreement

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:26 PM PDT

Contracts are mandatory in several areas of life, whatever you are; a consumer, employee, or business owner. Everyone needs contracts to commence in safer interactions between clients and consumers and vice versa. These prints make sure that all agreements are settled, and if not, the wrongful party can be taken to legal justification method, whatever is prescribed on the papers.

contracts

However, these tying pieces of paper can have dangerous terms like forced arbitration and non-compete agreements that leave the signee helpless in a case of injustice from the other party. Disputes often happen between parties, and contracts are one way that predators make sure their reputation is unharmed as well as assets.

With terms like mandatory arbitration, the policyholder nullifies the right of the signee to sue. So even if you have no other way but to sign up for contracts like these for employment or some sort of procurement, ensure that you have other options to avoid painful circumstances and consequences with the tips below:

Know Every Term on the Contract

Contracts are often difficult papers to read, or they are made so. Sometimes contracts are made with more hard-to-understand words and phrases that conceal important details and confuse a person into signing. Also, contracts can be long and repulsive to read.

Even if you trust in the service or company providing the contract, never blindly sign any contract unless you have read and understood every word of it. Just like the arbitration can be dictated in different ways in an agreement, so can other important legal terms. So ensure to understand various terms and how they can be used to hide in a contract.

Be Ready to Negotiate

The chances are that the company or service you want to sign up for desperately wants you aboard equally urgently and can change some things in the print to do so. Hence don't waste your chance to negotiate the terms with better solutions that can be easier for you to agree on and won't harm you in the long process. Don't rush to sign any papers by feeling pressured. Relax, read, understand and negotiate the terms for better ones for both you and the contract holder.

Delay the Process if Needed

You are not accountable for signing a contract and fulfilling terms that you can't or will hurt you no matter the circumstances. If you get a bad feeling or don't know the right thing to do with a contract, it's your right to take some time to contemplate. Step away from the circumstance and the pressurizing party and analyze you're the circumstances your decision can have. Know that it's not a crime, let alone an unethical action, if you step away from the contract and decide not to sign. Who knows, you may be offered a better print if you choose not to sign one.

Get Expert Help

Some contracts may not be lengthy on terms and legal bindings and can be handled by some research of your own for decision-making. On the other hand, some contracts can go pages long and have diverse terms that may require an expert eye and guidance. Hiring a lawyer to take a look at your agreement can help you understand it better and discern the hidden meanings and parts where important information may reside. For this reason, no matter what kind of contract, a lawyer can create an enhanced experience for you, talk to the contract holder party for you, and negotiate better terms professionally.

Look Around for Other Providers

After you experience a contract by a company for procuring services, getting to know more of the same kind from various providers can help you make a better decision. As contracts are prepared differently in different companies with similar products or services, you can get to take advantage of terms that suit your needs better. For this purpose, do your due diligence and look around until you find a contract you can sign and gain benefit from.

There's No Backing Out

Never take a contract lightly. Signing on a fine print for any services or employment agreement usually has a period for abiding by all the terms on the contract as it is a legal contract. In this period, performing opposite to the terms can only mean an unlawful behavior from your side that can have severe consequences, no matter how foul the terms are for you. This is why it's important only to make an informed decision then to stay within regulations and also not get stuck abiding by an agreement that prohibits you from your rights.

Know Your Calling off Strategy after Signing

Getting out a dishonest and insecure contract that dismisses your rights can be a messy fight between both parties where yours will get hurt the most. However, if a contract keeps you from your basic rights as an employee by forced arbitration or release of claims where an employer can get away with bad practices by waiver from you in the contract, you must cancel it as soon as possible. It's best to take advantage of the period where you can cancel the print without any legal penalty. Or check with your lawyer if there is something like this to cancel a contract once signed by the law and use it in case there is a disservice.

Protect Your Contracts

A legally binging piece of paper should be well preserved with all parties involved. This is only agreeable by the law. And a good enough reason why your employer or service provider should provide you with a copy of the contract as well. You need a copy not only to make sure that you remain within its boundaries but to know your rights whenever the situation turns the opposite way and get compensation for any mistreatment. It is also necessary to get ahold of better opportunities of a livelihood or service and know your rights before the contract terms are fulfilled to collect them.

The post Choose Your Contracts Wisely – Precautions to Take Before Signing An Agreement appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Pandemic Technology Transformations for Start-up Businesses

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:14 PM PDT

The term "the new normal" is being used with increasing regularity to describe life during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of our business and our personal lives. Employing social distancing, new health and safety measures in the workplace and other commercial environments, and the imposition of travel restrictions have bought about this so-called "new normal" and new pandemic tech innovations as well.

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

One immediate effect in the business world is the increasing demand for new technology to help SMEs and start-ups to survive, cope, and develop in this new world as they begin converting their business models to operate online.

The Move to E-Commerce

Both small and large corporations felt the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic due to the lack of face-to-face contact. The lack of customer interaction has affected how businesses operate.

During the lockdown, brick and mortar retail businesses had to move their sale online as they were recording some of the worst sales in history. Already established online businesses like Amazon and Shopify made a killing while SMEs on these platforms flourished. Businesses of all sizes had to adapt and evolve to e-commerce to stay alive and stay relevant. Establishing an online presence is now paramount for most businesses.

Integrating Zoom and Slack

Traveling for business meetings came to a halt in 2020 but digital technology was employed to bridge the gap. These interactions now take place via video conferences, podcasts, webinars and live-streamed workshops. Many SMEs are now using Zoom as the primary pandemic tech tool. For smaller businesses, Zoom basic works just fine, but larger companies may need to upgrade to Zoom Pro, Business, or Business United. Then there is Slack. The two systems were developed with different goals in mind.

Zoom was primarily created as a convenient video chat medium. Slack was designed more for messaging and for use as a collaboration tool. Now, businesses can integrate the two technologies and get the best of both worlds. Once considered by many as fads, the ability that these forms of eMobilty give SMEs are fundamental to keeping businesses afloat. They are the saviours of the commercial world and business can save a substantial amount on plane tickets.

The Increasing Use of Digital CRM Platforms

SME owners are now following larger business models by digitising their CRM process. Customer Relation Management platforms have been around for a while, and bigger businesses have been using them with great success. Now, with SMEs losing much of their face-to-face contact ability, they too are reaping the benefits of turning to CRM digital platforms such as ZOHO and Hubspot CRM.

QR Codes – the Hospitality Industry and More

Another innovation that SMEs are taking advantage of is QR Coding. A QR code is similar to a Bar Code but holds immensely more information. Whereas bar codes can only be read in one direction – from top to bottom – a QR code (QR is short for Quick Response) can be read from top to bottom and from right to left. During the COVID-19 outbreak, they have been used in helping trace people exposed to Coronavirus to slow the spread.

Most of us are familiar with their use in the hospitality industry, where pubs, wine bars and restaurants use them to allow people to access their menus on their mobile devices. No more hand to hand passing around of potential virus transmitting hard copies. Their other uses include:

Direct links for downloading apps from the Apple App or Google Play stores
Authenticating accounts over the internet and verifying login information
Sending and receiving payment details

QR Code technology was first developed in 1994 by a Japanese company called Denso Wave. They have since waived any copyright intentions and made QR codes publicly available. It means any business can design or commission its specific codes. QR scanners are now being built into most mobile phones as standard.

The Rise of Contactless and Entering a Cashless Society

Contactless payments have been around since the 1990s when it was just a few merchants and retailers who used the methodology. Since then, an increasing number of banks and credit cards companies have invested in the technology.

Credit and debit cards are the things that most people associate with contactless payments, but it now also includes things like online or mobile cryptocurrency transactions and the use of eWallets. While the take up was initially driven by businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic has now brought about a significant change in the way consumers behave.

According to recent research, 29% of consumers are extremely concerned about catching the virus through handling cash, while 22% are worried about being infected by using cards. Whereas before the pandemic, people were sceptical about contactless, now it is beginning to change. 70% of the people who have turned to use them say they will continue to do so even when we get back to "normal."

It will certainly prove beneficial to SMEs dealing directly with the public, and they are catching on fast. Whereas a survey conducted in 2020 recorded 42% of business owners as saying that a cashless world would have negative implications for their businesses, a recent more survey shows that this percentage has now dropped to 19%.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

The saying that necessity is the mother of invention has never been truer than it is today. Whenever humankind has its back to the wall, we get bolder, we get inventive, and we also find new ways to use existing technologies to solve problems. The investment sector is no different.

In the wealth management sector, people do not need to physically consult a financial specialist regarding affordable retirement planning and investment advice. Just recently, HSBC launched its first Multi-Asset Index powered by a combination of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data – it's called AiMAX. It was developed along with EquBot; an innovative asset manager used to create an exchange-traded fund using AI. It works with IBM Watson Discovery to collect and analyse millions of points of data from traditional sources like financial statements. It also uses data originating from not so traditional sources like social media.

Technological Adaptions are our Saving Grace

The technological adaptations that are being advanced and employed in the business sector during the Coronavirus pandemic are lifesavers.

All of these developments enable people to retain their jobs and new SME start-ups to gain a toehold and flourish. Pandemic tech facilitates people being able to survive and prosper in difficult times and still plan towards their retirements. Where would we be without them?

The post Pandemic Technology Transformations for Start-up Businesses appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Is Switzerland the next big tech hub?

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:02 PM PDT

Photo by Chait Goli from Pexels

When you think about Switzerland, there are usually three things that come to mind: fantastic watches, beautiful mountains, and gigantic corporate banks. Technology is not typically the first on the agenda. However, the Swiss tech industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, positioning itself as one of Europe's top hubs. According to the State of European Tech report, Switzerland pulled $445 million of investment in 2019, and in 2020, Swiss company Veeam was the largest backed exit by value, showcasing the level of investment the industry pulls in. But what is the character of the country's tech industry and why is the Swiss tech industry so esteemed? This article will try to answer these questions.

The nature of the Swiss tech industry

The Global Innovation Index places Switzerland as the most innovative country in the world. This is down to an intense focus on digitalisation that stems from the nation's enormous banking industry, facilitating an ecosystem ripe for technological modernisation. The accelerated growth in the past few years has created a skills gap, however, as tech jobs become increasingly needed. This includes SAP-focused positions, for instance, which are mainly accounting and admin roles that handle the widely used SAP technology, allowing businesses to flourish as leaders in the Swiss tech industry. "As the largest city in Switzerland, Zurich is a global business hub and home to fifteen companies ranked within the prestigious Fortune 500 list, including the Zurich Insurance Group," explain SAP recruitment experts at Eursap. "Companies of this calibre are constantly on the lookout for experienced SAP professionals who can make marked improvements to their businesses".

The innovative character of the Swiss economy made the country quick to implement and develop new technologies in different sectors, namely financial services, life sciences, energy, healthcare and artificial intelligence. In fact, the country currently holds the most AI patents across the European healthcare industry. Robotics and 3D printing are also major Swiss-led fields, and have been utilised for groundbreaking innovations in the medical sphere.

Structure that's built for innovation

Switzerland has a fantastic infrastructure that drives this new tech. The country is home to leading research institutions and universities such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich ETH), top-ranking research hospitals, acclaimed art and design schools, and of course, the world-famous watchmaking industry. This means it is brimming with microengineering, tech and medical skills that are required for innovation on that scale, combined with the complementary creativity that adds the oomph startups need to become successful.

What's more, the Swiss government is proactive in encouraging this by reducing red-tape to streamline startup processes and remove roadblocks to success. Switzerland also invests about 3.4% of its GDP in research and development, which is one of the highest rates in the world –– for context, the US invests 3.1%, the UK 1.8%, and China 2.2%. This assists startups during their formative years, while the relative stability of the Swiss economy allows for peace of mind too.

The country is divided into provinces, or 'cantons', that possess a high level of independence. This allows for a certain degree of flexibility which has a positive impact on the startup ecosystem. Different cantons became 'specialists' in specific industries, while certain regions have even changed their laws according to the needs of the tech industries within them. For example, the canton of Vaud, whose capital is Lausanne –– one of the most significant tech hubs in the country –– offers a great number of work permits for international talent. As a consequence, a whopping 70% of founders in the county are non-Swiss, positioning it as a true, global technological centre.

Fintech and blockchain giants

We can't talk about Switzerland without mentioning finance. 10% of all European fintech businesses are located in the country, mainly in Zurich, which has been touted as Europe's main fintech hub. The city prides itself on being an intersection of government, entrepreneurship and venture capital, creating a unique synthesis that enables the industry to work with support from all angles.

Zurich is not the only fintech centre in the country, however. More than 220 fintech companies are based in Switzerland overall, out of which over 100 operate in the blockchain sphere. The undeniable centre of this particular scene is Zug, located about 20 miles away from Zurich, which has been fondly named "Crypto Valley" in direct comparison to the Californian Silicon Valley. Blockchain is used in many industries, including logistics, energy and insurance, and has been gaining real momentum in the past few years, which explains why Zug is the fastest growing technology community in Europe. The city is a real example of the way the Swiss government and councils accommodate innovation, as residents can even pay their taxes using cryptocurrency. The decentralised nature of the government is a clear factor in their embrace of blockchain technology.

Leading biotech and health IT entrepreneurship

Last but not least, the biotech industry has massive reliance on Swiss tech. Thanks to leading universities working together with specialised startups, these biotech companies attract much attention, investment and talent. The country's biotech experienced a record year in 2020, as capital investment tripled in just a year, from $1.3 billion to $3.7 billion, while patent applications soared in 2019, reaching almost 1,000 applications per million residents. All in all, Switzerland boasts 1.3% of the global biotech patent portfolio, while accounting for 4% of its value. When it comes to healthcare IT, the canton of Vaud is leading the way, attracting more than two-thirds of investment. Those companies focus on AI and big data, utilising it for drug discovery and design, as well as helping patients.

Switzerland is already a European tech-haven, with structures allowing for maximal investment and development, coupled with a supportive government and an ideal location. There is no indication that the Swiss technology landscape is going anywhere but up, so investors and professionals alike should prepare for the Swiss tech industry to grow into one of the main tech hubs in Europe and the world.

The post Is Switzerland the next big tech hub? appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Friday, April 30, 2021