Thursday, June 2, 2022

The Startup Magazine

The Startup Magazine


What to Know About Banner Advertising

Posted: 02 Jun 2022 06:57 AM PDT

What to Know About Banner Advertising

There are a lot of different places you can advertise online, but also different styles of advertising.  One of the most used forms of digital advertising is the banner ad. Banner ads are also called display ads. These ads function as digital billboards, using imagery to get attention. The ultimate goal of banner advertising is to drive traffic to the business site. 

banner advertising

These ads are placed on high-traffic places on web pages to create brand awareness and also click-throughs and purchases. A high-visibility location can include the front of a webpage but also the bottom or side. 

They're good for getting attention pretty easily, and they don't use a lot of text. Instead, banner ads rely on multimedia and images to get messages across. 

If a banner is horizontal, it's technically known as a leaderboard. Vertical banners placed on sidebars are known as skyscrapers. 

Below is a guide to everything else to know about banner advertising. 

How Does Banner Advertising Work?

Banner or display advertising makes use of animated or static images, again placed on high-visibility areas of a website. 

The concept of banner advertising is similar to traditional ads, except the payment from the advertiser is different from selling traditional ad spaces. 

A host is paid for the banner ad through one of three possible methods. 

One is the cost per impression. This means if you're the advertiser, you're paying for every website visitor seeing your ad. 

The next is the cost per click, so in this model, the advertiser makes a payment for every site visitor clicking the ad and then visiting their site. 

Then there's a third option which is the cost per action. In the cost-per-action model, there's payment for every website visitor clicking the ad who then goes to the website of the advertiser and completes a task, like making a purchase. 

If you're a publisher, it's beneficial for you to place ads on your site because you're monetizing your content. 

The Technology 

With banner ads, ad networks match advertisers to websites that are interested in selling advertising. The ad networks manage what space is available, matching it with demand from advertisers. 

The technology underlying the process is a central ad server. 

The central ad server selects ads based on the visitors to the website. This information comes from keyword searchers the visitor has made and viewing behavior of the website. 

Nearly all online advertising, including banner ads, uses programmatic bidding, which is real-time bidding technology. Companies with approval can bid on ad space during the time it takes an ad to load. 

Display Ads vs. Native Ads

One key area of comparison in digital advertising is between display and native ads. 

Native ads appear as part of the design of a webpage. They're meant to fit into the "flow" of the page rather than being an obvious ad. Native ads will usually have a softer approach to selling and look more editorial. 

These ads will frequently appear in social media news feeds as sponsored posts. They can also come in search results on search engines like Google, and they can be included as recommended content by discovery platforms. 

Native ads engage with a high click-through rate, and they're well-suited to driving traffic to a site, but display ads tend to be better for retargeting campaigns. 

Display ads, including banner ads, are also cheaper per click than native ads in nearly every situation. 

Setting Up Remarketing Campaigns

As mentioned, one of the best uses for a banner ad is for a remarketing campaign. Remarketing puts your ads in front of people who have already shown an interest in your site. Remarketing can make a bounced visitor into a lead, increase brand recall, and improve your rates of repeat visitors. These campaigns also improve the effectiveness of content marketing and SEO. 

Around 96% of people who visit a website leave without doing whatever it is you want them to, so remarketing gives you a new chance to make another impression, and maybe several. 

The Google Display Network is a group of sites where your banner ads can appear. 

There are millions of sites in the network, and Google estimates its Display Network can reach up to 90% of people who are online. 

When you're using Google Ads to set up a remarketing campaign, you'll first start by defining your audience. For example, maybe you set up an audience based on people who have visited certain pages on your site. 

You can also set up something known as audience member duration, which is the number of days your ads will follow a user. 

It's important to create a great banner ad. The ad formats you use are important because of how the auction works. Different ad formats don't compete against one another for positioning. 

Think about creating copy that's brief and to the point but resonates. If you can elicit an emotional response, that's going to tend to get the most attention. 

Google does want to make money, so it makes the most sense that they're going to show ads most likely to get clicks. Google uses the Quality Score algorithm to determine the ads to show, what position they'll display in, and how much an advertiser will be charged for each click. 

There are big discounts for ads that have a high clickthrough rate, which is meant to be an incentive to get people to create quality ads. There are penalties if you have ads with low clickthrough rates. 

You can work to create ads with high clickthrough rates by sending people to your highest-value offers, like free trials. 

You can do a conversion path analysis to learn more about which pages on your site tend to result in a higher likelihood of a conversion to a lead or sale. 

You should also strive to send people to your best content. 

Finally, with banner display ads, you want to be strategic in how you manage your bids. You're paying for each click, and you set a max cost per click you'll pay, but you don't want to buy every possible click. Instead, you should focus on the clicks that are most relevant to your business. 

The post What to Know About Banner Advertising appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

10 Ways To Balance Work And Business Education

Posted: 02 Jun 2022 06:36 AM PDT

10 Ways To Balance Work And Business Education

In today's business industry, professionals attempt to accelerate their career-building endeavors while working side-by-side. Statistics indicate that over 70% of students have worked while attending college. So, how can they balance employment with education today? A business administration degree helps professionals hone their soft skills and become more eligible for future/better employment opportunities. But they have to balance their present-day working situations while progressing toward completing their MBA degree. There are several strategies to help students juggle balancing work and school. Now, carefully read the following suggestions and finish that degree while working diligently:

balancing work and school

Image Source

Juggling work and study simultaneously

  1. Talk to your boss

It's important to maintain an agreeable relationship with your employer when you're studying while working. Discuss your study-related responsibilities to your manager and explain how you're juggling two tasks simultaneously. Handling the university workload isn't easy, so students should honestly clarify the issues regarding their availability. But don't overextend yourself as you can always work part-time if full-time doesn't suit you. Just don't conceal your academic journey from your employer today.

  1. Get your MBA online

We suggest students pursue their degrees online to make working more flexible. These degrees can help you progress academically at your pace without overexerting yourself. So, students can pursue several MBA programs online today and finish these courses within a year. These programs help you get your business administration degree flexibly, affordably, and conveniently. That's how a student can establish a work-study balance properly.

  1. Create a workspace

We suggest students create a study space – a workplace dedicated to academic endeavors – where they can focus on their lessons privately. These workspaces lead to optimal learning among students while helping them avoid distractions. So, keep this study space sanitary, decorated, and organized. Incorporate additional elements such as a bulletin board to create a comfortable environment. Add whatever motivates you to study after you're back home from work.

  1. Exercise more often

Engaging in physical activity will improve your long-term memory, thereby allowing you to become a better student. Also, exercise doesn't just enhance your physical well-being but bolsters your mental well-being as well. Experts suggest working out for 150 minutes every week helps students stay in shape and away from a nervous breakdown. A well-established workout schedule can allow folks to boost their morale. That's how you can remain motivated to study while working diligently.

  1. Manage your time

Every second's precious when you're getting a degree and also working full-time. Experts believe that these students have chosen a pathway of the "greatest resistance" since they can no longer afford to lose time. So, manage your schedule to survive in this high-stress situation. Stay away from multitasking and procrastinating since these two activities are counterproductive. It means you must get stuff done right away. That's how you can create an efficient work-study balance in your life.

  1. Take more breaks

Don't forget to carve out blocks of "free time" for additional activities unrelated to working or studying. Now, you mustn't become a workaholic and refrain from immersing yourself too deeply in academics either. Take breaks more often since your mind needs to escape the mundane routines involving your employment and education. Spend some time with your friends/family and find some hobbies to enjoy while juggling these two responsibilities. Take good care of your mental health.

  1. Get enough rest

Getting enough sleep will help you retain your mental/physical well-being. We suggest you sleep for 7-8 hours since insomnia can interfere with both academic progress and work-related duties. It seems smarter to give your body the rest it needs to cope with the stress of juggling work and studying better. Remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Also, we should add something about eating healthy here. Avoid consuming junk food and preserve your health.

  1. Eat healthy stuff

"What does eating has to do with getting an MBA while working?" Well, eating healthy will help you maintain your well-being. Therefore, you can remain to accomplish your responsibilities properly. Students must consume nutritious provisions rich in omega-3 fatty acids, thereby honing their mental agility. Since your brain's working overtime, eating these fatty acids helps you alleviate the mental strain of juggling two tasks simultaneously. That's how you can remain focused on these duties.

  1. Know your limit

How much work can you endure? Know your limits and delegate whenever you feel overwhelmed by work-related responsibilities. Studying shouldn't become your second priority since an MBA enables you to obtain better employment opportunities in the future. Avoid burnout by talking to your boss (as we've explained before) and consider your work just a source of income while pursuing an MBA. There's no need to surpass your limits; take good of your health to stay focused.

  1. Ask for help

Don't hesitate to ask for help since many students can't balance working and studying without assistance. So, whose help do you require? Whenever you're struggling with your studies, contact some well-reputed tutors to get help with your lessons. Swallow your conceit and leverage tutorship to make your studies easier. Again, distance learning programs are valuable options for students who require academic assistance. You may also utilize study labs to learn better and get better grades as well.

Conclusion

It's common for modern-day students to work and study simultaneously. According to the AAUP, more than 80% of part-time students worked while enrolled. Similarly, over 40% of full-time students received education while working to support their academic schemes. So, how can MBA students juggle work and study simultaneously? We suggest you pursue the MBA online to focus on working and studying flexibly. Take more breaks since you shouldn't harm your mental/physical well-being. Also, exercise more often.

Balancing work and school requires that you manage your time effectively, since you cannot risk wasting your precious seconds. But do take breaks as often as you can. Also, make a study space to focus on academic activities, and you're good to go now.

The post 10 Ways To Balance Work And Business Education appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Things To Do Before Opening A Salon

Posted: 31 May 2022 10:17 PM PDT

Things To Do Before Opening A Salon

Before operating a hair salon or any other type of beauty salon, many things to consider. And it may all be rather perplexing, especially if this is your first company venture. How do you go about starting a beauty salon? What do you do first? What does it cost to open a salon? What are your priorities? It can be difficult to determine your course of action, so we’ve put together a checklist of items to consider when opening a salon.

starting a beauty salon

Source: Pexels

Let’s face it: starting a business, whether a small startup or a large corporation, is a huge undertaking. It’s also best to plan and prepare if you want to get it right the first time. 

1. Conduct market research

This is a great place to start learning: 10 Things To Do Before Opening A Salon. Determine your target audience, research it, and evaluate the competition before doing anything else. The findings of your investigation will reveal which services are in high demand and which are in short supply. It will also assist you in defining your concept and distinguishing the services that your salon is capable of providing. It may also help you catch the client’s attention and provide something that none of the other salons in your neighborhood can.

How are you going to do that? Various analytic tools are available, some of which are even free. You don’t always have to spend a large chunk of money when you’re just getting started with hair salon services. When you visit multiple salons as a client, you can use your observation abilities to see how personnel behave and how other clients react to customer service. On the other hand, the web is one of the best free tools for research and analysis. You can, for example, use Yelp to find salons, discover what services they do, visit their pages, and read client testimonials.

2. Establish your concept

Aside from market research, what else do I need to open a hair salon? You can define your salon’s concept when you’ve discovered who your target clientele are, what they want, and what salons in your area offer. It’s much better if you have a vision in mind. You can now customize it based on marketing research.

Do your customers care about their appearance? Sure. They also want each visit to be a nice mental experience. Consider how often you’ve felt like a new person after a haircut or a get-together with a friend after having your nails done. That is how you want your clients to feel after each appointment. And that’s what you’d try to provide for them. 

Your salon’s idea is more than just the interior design and services you provide. Even if you’re launching your third hair salon in your neighborhood, there’s room for originality. Furthermore, when starting a similar firm, you should be inventive.

Consider the color of your employees’ uniforms, if any, and how they will greet clients while developing the concept. It would help if you started with research and analysis of your target audience and competitors. So you may come up with new ideas. Then, find a trend and turn it into a fashion statement.

Your concept will be influenced by the type of salon you wish to operate. Therefore, before launching a salon business, you should be certain of the type you want. Salons are divided into three categories based on their size:

A beauty parlor is a smaller practice with restricted services, staff, and space needs.

A beauty salon is a medium-sized business with a wider range of services and different types of personnel, all of which influence pricing. Additional services may be available, such as selling organic drinks or beauty goods.

salon tools

SPA & wellness center — a larger business that provides a wide range of services, from simple nail care to plastic surgery. Staff ranges from beauty experts to medical professionals; chain — a collection of salons or parlors owned or franchised by the same person.

Salons can also be classified according to on their pricing range: 

  • Economy — provide only the most basic services and use lower-cost products. They also save money by hiring less expensive locations.
  • Business – has more professional employees who can offer advice, consultations, and assistance in making a decision; offers middle-range costs but greater quality;
  • Premium — this type of firm is housed in its building, employs professionals with higher-level licenses and diplomas, and employs higher-end items and technologies.
  • Luxury is a service designed for VIP clientele with greater standards and quality than any other. They are also not location-dependent and usually have their parking place.

3. Create a business strategy and other documents

Creating a business plan is one of the first stages in opening a successful hair salon. Here are some suggestions to think about:

  • Learn about your target audience and competitors (in the previous paragraphs, we have already touched on that).
  • Keep your financial projections realistic. While lofty dreams are motivating, they can backfire in a company plan.
  • Provide evidence for why you believe your salon will be successful. You must have faith in it. 
  • Make no false assertions.
  • Don’t use superlatives or strong adjectives. The tone of a company strategy should be official. 
  • Be realistic about your plans’ timelines. 

Don’t forget about the paperwork you’ll need to prepare before opening your salon. If you plan to sell things, you’ll need a federal employer identification number, a business license, and a resale permit. In addition, make sure that any professionals you hire have the proper licensing. A cosmetology license, for example, is required for a hairstylist. It allows them to trim and color hair and perform facials and manicures.

4. Select an appropriate location and size for your salon.

When the conceptual aspects are taken care of, what do you need for starting a beauty salon? First, of course, it’s the ideal setting. Because real estate is expensive, most beauty salon operators rent their spaces. Some salons even rent out a piece of a larger one. It all depends on your financial resources, concept, and long-term objectives. Keep in mind the following:

Location is important in drawing customers: if it’s easy to find, and the sign and front door stand out from the competition, potential customers will notice.

Consider how much equipment and other goods you’ll need: six seats, for example, will take up around 1,000 square feet.

Is there any available parking nearby? Is it handicapped accessible? That’s something that any client will enjoy, even if they don’t require it, improving your image

Consider how much space you’ll need in the future if you’re going to scale your business: can you fit more chairs? Are there any other rooms available for services? Are you planning to relocate as soon as your company reaches a certain level of growth?

Aside from a decent location, what do you need to operate a beauty salon? Consider the interior. The layout and decor of your salon should be as welcoming to your customers as it is to your personnel—everything matters: proper lighting, pleasant seating areas, and muted interior hues. Even for the smallest salons, a waiting space is also something to consider. There should be a few chairs available so that customers who arrive early do not have to stand. A water cooler, munchies, and publications about beauty are also good additions.

The post Things To Do Before Opening A Salon appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

A step-by-step guide to HR outsourcing

Posted: 31 May 2022 09:58 PM PDT

A step-by-step guide to HR outsourcing

The human resources department is critical to your company’s performance, and there are two ways to manage the HR function in your firm. You can either recruit in-house HR personnel or outsource the job to a third party.

team meeting

Source: Pexels

While most business owners prefer the former, human resource outsourcing can provide a competitive advantage in specific circumstances.

What is HR outsourcing, exactly?

And more significantly, should your HR functions be outsourced?

In this post, we’ll address these concerns and all you need to know about HR outsourcing, including its advantages and disadvantages and the finest HRO firms in 2021.

What Is Human Resources Outsourcing?

Human resource outsourcing, or HRO, entails delegating particular HR responsibilities to an outside service provider. Any operation that involves an employee, like recruitment, payroll management, or even offboarding, can be included in these HR functions or duties. 

To Whom Can You Outsource HR Tasks?

Your human resource activities can be outsourced to:

Independent HR consultants are professionals who can assist you with hiring, HR policies, and other decision-making.

HR consulting firms: usually employed on a contract basis, a full-service human resource outsourcing firm performs identical functions to an HR consultant. On the other hand, HR agencies offer cost-effective, standardized services, while consultants offer customized HR solutions (best for small companies).

Who Can Outsource Human Resources?

Most HR functions are outsourced to an HR consulting agency by SMBs (10–500 employees). Until their in-house HR team grows enough to handle them independently, most major organizations (500+ people) outsource certain HR activities. 

Which HR tasks can be delegated?

Human resource management is a demanding process that entails numerous responsibilities. While outsourcing all of your HR activities can relieve stress, you shouldn’t go that route.

Why?

Some aspects of HR administration are best handled in-house. However, these tasks frequently influence the destiny of your company and your working relationships. 

If you manage a small firm, for example, your present employees are likely to become the backbone of your organization. While initial outsourcing onboarding is an option, advising and training them personally is preferable. 

This will ensure that every employee receives hands-on training and is acquainted with the company’s culture.

So, which HR responsibilities are best left to the professionals? 

The following are four HR tasks that are frequently outsourced:

1 Talent Recruiting

Finding and hiring new talent is one of the most important tasks for any HR department. It is, however, one of the time-consuming activities. 

There are usually four steps in the hiring process:

  1. Using job boards to post job descriptions.
  2. Performing background checks and screening applicants
  3. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed.
  4. We are introducing new employees to the organization.

Outsourcing talent acquisition efforts to external service providers like SOURCEitHR Payroll & HR Outsourcing Partner In UAE makes sense because executing all of these processes in-house can divert attention away from your key expertise.

2 Managing Performance

Employee performance management entails regularly assessing your employees’ productivity and ensuring that their objectives align with the organization’s.

It’s a thorough examination of each employee’s abilities, accomplishments, and responsibilities. Dismissals, assessments, position changes, and bonuses are part of the decision-making process.

Because this needs a lot of time-consuming studies, it’s preferable to enlist the aid of outside HR professionals. However, any decision affecting an employee, such as a performance-based promotion, must be made by the firm owner or manager.

3. Payroll Administration

In any firm, creating and handling employee payroll is critical. However, when your team grows, managing payroll becomes increasingly difficult.

Payroll management entails several steps, including:

Calculating allowances (such as rent and travel expenses) and salary components (variable and net pay).

They are obtaining and validating additional expenses incurred by employees and deductions from their pay.

Payout processing and accounting

Having an in-house payroll team or sophisticated HR software specifically specialized for payroll processing can be rather expensive.

Most business owners choose to delegate employee payroll management to a third party, such as a PEO ( Professional Employer Organization). As a result, they’ll have the correct HR software and HR compliance system to handle payroll services efficiently.

Administration of Compensation and Benefits

Incentives and rewards drive employees to work harder. Compensation is what you pay your employees for their job. To improve staff retention, you should periodically update both according to industry norms.

However, you will need to perform an extensive study to do so. For example, you should research the most recent market norms for workers’ compensation and compare them to each person’s production in your company.

Employee benefit and compensation management can be outsourced for the following reasons:

You don’t need these services all year, so hiring someone full-time isn’t good.

Manually evaluating each employee and cross-checking with data from other organizations takes time.

HR Outsourcing Has 5 Key Advantages

You should now have a good sense of which HR responsibilities you should delegate. However, how might outsourcing those responsibilities assist you with your HR requirements?

1.Cost-cutting

Let’s get started with some numbers.

An HR manager’s starting salary in the United States is roughly $90,000 plus benefits. You’ll also have to pay for overhead and salaries/incentives for other HR department personnel.

On the other hand, outsourcing human resource services eliminates all of the additional costs associated with hiring, training, and retaining your HR employees.

You pay the service provider a fixed fee (depending on your company’s payroll) or a per-employee per-month (PEPM) rate. Human resource outsourcing allows you to better forecast your business expenses due to pre-determined pricing.

Outsourcing to developing countries with lower living costs, such as India and the Philippines, can drop the cost of an HR function even further.

2.Boosts Productivity

Several HR duties, such as setting a payroll and establishing employee regulations, necessitate specialized knowledge. Some tasks, such as talent assessment and recruitment, necessitate years of experience.

You’re more likely to make mistakes if you undertake these responsibilities yourself or delegate them to an unskilled in-house HR team. A blunder could result in a lawsuit or a bad hire, resulting in thousands of dollars in penalties or lost revenue.

Instead, why not delegate your HR responsibilities to a seasoned professional?

Human resource outsourcing have highly skilled HR employees who can efficiently manage these jobs. They’ll also get access to cutting-edge HR technology. This improves the precision, quality, and speed your HR activities are carried out.

3. Ensures adherence

It’s difficult and necessary to keep your employment practices and employee perks up to date with industry standards.

To avoid fines, penalties, and litigation, you must monitor compliance with federal employment regulations and state and municipal laws.

In the United States, for example, you must follow various laws, including:

  • Laws prohibiting discrimination
  • Laws governing minimum pay and working hours
  • Laws governing family and medical leave
  • Immigration regulations
  • Employee benefits laws
  • Safety regulations
  • Union legislation

It takes hours of research and effort to ensure that your daily duties are lawful in your country.

Seeking professional assistance with HR rules relieves you of the strain while also protecting your company in the event of an audit. Furthermore, an HR service provider can alert you about liability deadlines (like payroll taxes).

4. Concentrate on your core skills.

As your company grows, you should concentrate on improving your business methods, expanding your reach, and boost your earnings.

However, if you also have to handle HR operations such as administrative work and employee interactions, you’ll have less time to do all of these responsibilities.

Outsourcing HR allows you to concentrate on your core strengths – what you do best.

By outsourcing your HR activities, you’ll be able to focus on building your business full-time while the outsourcing firm handles your HR responsibilities.

5. Hire better people from a larger pool of candidates

Outsourcing human resources allow you to streamline the hiring process.

Professional websites and job search platforms are frequently better connected to HR agencies. They’ll also be up to date on the most current market salary, benefits, and allowances.

Outsourcing recruitment activities to an HR agency has two advantages:

First, you gain access to a wider, more qualified talent pool. This means you can pick from a bigger pool of experienced candidates whose abilities match the job requirements.

You can check to see if the new hires are underpaid or overpaid. This increases staff retention, but it also saves you from overpaying them.

human resources outsourcing

Source: Pexels

HR Outsourcing’s 3 Biggest Pitfalls

Here are three main disadvantages of HR outsourcing:

1. Enhanced Risks

You may be exposed to additional risks if you outsource any aspect of your business, including HR tasks.

Server outages, data leaks, and, in the worst-case scenario, the HR agency’s dissolution can all impact your organization.

Your employees’ sensitive information, such as bank account numbers and social security numbers, is also dangerous when you outsource. In the event of an outsourced HR error, you will lose money, but your company’s reputation may be affected as well.

It would help if you only outsourced to HIPAA-compliant service providers as part of your risk management strategy. They should also have a strong track record and many glowing testimonials or evaluations.

2. Contact is reduced

Human resources outsourcing can cause a wedge between you and your staff by creating a communication gap. The primary reason is that outsourced HR professionals will not be personally available to provide HR support or resolve employee issues.

Furthermore, communication via emails, phone calls, or chats may delay resolving an issue, increasing employee unhappiness.

3. Customizability is limited

HR professionals can assist you with new hires and procedures, but they can’t customize the process as well as you can. This occurs mostly because they lack an in-house HR manager’s expertise in your company culture.

This may limit the amount of company-centricity in your rules and hiring practices. You may be obliged to settle with more generalized hiring plans rather than building specific company-specific plans.

When Should HR Outsourcing Be Used?

Here are two scenarios when HR outsourcing can be particularly useful:

1. When HR Management Is Expensive

Remember that HR outsourcing is perfect for small businesses. If your company has fewer than 500 employees, you should consider outsourcing HR operations.

On the other hand, outsourcing is more of a band-aid solution to your HR problems. If you want an engaged, productive team, you’ll need to set up an HR department sooner or later.

2. When you don’t plan on aggressively recruiting

Recruitment doesn’t need to be a continual activity.

Rather than recruitment, it would help if you concentrated your efforts on business development and employee training.

In such circumstances, outsourcing specific HR functions such as hiring is the best alternative. You pay for what you want, when you want, using outsourcing, which helps you keep your costs down.

In conclusion, there are both advantages and disadvantages to human resource outsourcing. However, when done correctly, the pros usually outweigh the cons. If you’re considering HR outsourcing for your business, make sure to do your research and find a reputable agency that you can trust.

The post A step-by-step guide to HR outsourcing appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

How to Host a Successful Virtual Event

Posted: 31 May 2022 09:34 PM PDT

How to Host a Successful Virtual Event

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to disrupt in-person events, many event planners are turning to virtual events to connect with their audiences. While virtual events come with their own set of challenges, there are a few things you can do to ensure your virtual event is a success. 

successful virtual event

Image Source: Pexels

Planning Checklist:

  1. Choose the date and time of your event. Will it be a one-time event or recurring?
  2. Choose the virtual platform you will use for your event. Some popular choices include Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype.
  3. Create a list of invitees and send out invitations. Make sure to include any instructions on how to join the virtual event.
  4. Prepare any presentations or materials you will need for the event. If using slides, make sure they are compatible with the chosen virtual platform.
  5. During the event, make sure to engage with all participants and encourage interaction. This can be done through questions, polls, or breakout rooms.
  6. After the event, send out a follow-up email or survey to get feedback from attendees. Use this feedback to improve future events.

Host a virtual event to continue growing your business while staying safe. This is a great way to connect with potential customers and partners while still providing value and generating leads. You can use a virtual event platform like Zoom, Webex, or Google Hangouts to host your event. Make sure to promote your event ahead of time so people can save the date and be sure to have a good turnout. 

A few tips for hosting a successful virtual event:

1. Define your goals and objectives.

Before you start planning your event, take some time to think about what you hope to achieve. What are your goals and objectives? Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, you can plan your event accordingly.

2. Choose the right platform.

There are various platforms you can use to host your virtual event. It's important to choose a platform that will meet your specific needs. Do some research and take the time to test out different platforms before making a final decision. 

3. Promote your event.

Promote your event through your usual channels, such as your website and social media. You may also consider using paid advertising to reach a wider audience.

4. Engage your audience.

Engage your audience throughout the event by using interactive features, such as polls and Q&A sessions. This will help keep people engaged and ensure they get the most out of your event.

5. Follow up after the event.

Once your event is over, take some time to follow up with your attendees. Thank them for attending and ask for feedback on how you can improve future events.

By following these tips or by calling Outreal XR Virtual Events Solutions, you can ensure your virtual event is successful. With some planning and preparation, you can create an engaging and informative event that your audience will appreciate.

Conclusion

By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure to have a successful virtual event. With careful planning and preparation, you can create an engaging and informative event that your audience will appreciate. By taking the time to define your goals, choose the right platform, and promote your event, you can set yourself up for success. And by ensuring you engage your audience throughout the event and follow up afterward, you can create a virtual event that people will remember.

The post How to Host a Successful Virtual Event appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

10 Best Uses Of Virtual Reality VR Marketing

Posted: 31 May 2022 09:18 PM PDT

10 Best Uses Of Virtual Reality VR Marketing

Virtual reality is no longer science fiction—here, it’s, it’s catching on quickly. Virtual reality is predicted to grow steadily, with a compound annual growth rate of 15% over the next ten years, with market size of more than USD 21 billion in 2021. (2022 to 2030).

virtual reality marketing

Image Source: Pexels

What Is Virtual Reality Marketing?

As described, virtual reality marketing is a marketing approach that uses virtual reality technology in marketing initiatives. It can help you connect with your target audience and improve brand engagement. Customers, for example, can interact with a virtual persona instead of reading content on a screen.

Virtual reality marketing, also known as immersive media and augmented reality, provides a significant opportunity for businesses to advertise their brands, generate sales, and improve consumer loyalty and retention.

Virtual reality (VR) creates a realistic, immersive simulation of a world that engages many senses and may be accessed via VR headgear or apps. VR can be used to apply a filter to a photo or video. Consider the filters on Instagram and Snapchat. Meanwhile, virtual reality headsets can “transport” users to a 3D virtual environment, increasing the simulation experience. The headset reacts to the user’s movements, allowing them to see the virtual environment (360-degree view) and interact with the many digital elements within the simulation.

How Can Virtual Reality Aid Business Growth?

Virtual reality enables businesses to reach out and connect with potential clients in ways beyond traditional media such as television and magazine advertisements, opening up a world of promotional possibilities.

Given that customers’ wants and expectations are continuously changing, virtual reality technology, or new technologies, can help organizations bridge the gap and respond to their customers’ changing pain points.

According to Giga Works VR company businesses can use virtual reality marketing to construct branded digital environments to display their products or services. Digital experiences can be substituted for physical ones by brands. This allows customers to virtually try out a product or service in the comfort of their own homes. In addition, consumers may connect with your brand by creating a realistic digital environment, which can help with brand awareness and retention. 

Using virtual reality to communicate your narrative

Traditional media, such as television and movies, are excellent narrative tools. However, virtual reality takes the narrative to a new level.

Businesses may utilize virtual reality to develop more compelling brand stories and advertise their solutions. In The Displaced, the New York Times, for example, uses virtual reality to illustrate the narrative of how wars affect children.

Users were given an in-depth look into the devastation produced by wars and what it’s like to be a youngster uprooted by such life-changing events through this multimedia experience. In addition, the experience enables readers of the New York Times to see what’s going on, making VR and documentaries powerful storytelling tools that empower readers with emotional intensity and a connection to the brand.

You may also utilize VR to build unique experiences that allow customers to see your business differently. You can, for example, employ virtual reality to take consumers on a virtual tour of your facilities, giving them an up-close look at what goes on behind the scenes. You can demonstrate how you work or what happens during the product development or design. This provides your brand and what you’re doing a more human face while also establishing trust and openness, which can inspire customer loyalty.

Additionally, because virtual reality logs a user’s motions, businesses may use it to learn how customers might engage with their brands or products in real-world scenarios. As a result, VR can be a tremendous data resource for marketers, allowing them to tell more engaging brand stories.

Increasing the number of unforgettable experiences

Virtual reality allows customers to imagine your items and how they can benefit them. Instead of looking at samples, customers can utilize virtual reality to enter a digital environment that you’ve created, allowing you to demonstrate what you have to offer in real-time and how it might be a solution to their problems. 

You can create immersive environments using VR that give unforgettable experiences for your target audience, which can help convert them into warm leads or devoted customers.

virtual reality training

Image Source: Pexels

Virtual Reality Marketing Possibilities

Virtual reality marketing can assist marketers in creating compelling, engaging campaigns that effectively express your brand’s story and capabilities.

You may use virtual reality to show off existing products and how new ones are being produced. This allows customers to have a closer look into the creative process and serve as a vital source of feedback.

Emotional engagement can be aided by virtual marketing.

Improved content marketing methods and the creation of more intuitive and immersive content are also on the horizon with VR. Marketers may use virtual reality to revolutionize how they deliver experiences by allowing customers to try on things before buying them virtually.

The real estate sector is one popular virtual reality application in the real world. Virtual tours allow real estate companies and agents to transport buyers to a home and inspect it for themselves, giving them the impression they are there. VR can also be used to exhibit a still-under-construction home, allowing purchasers to see what it will look like once it is finished and equipped.

VR is also making its way into the metaverse with virtual real estate. Sandbox and Decentraland are metaverse platforms that allow people to buy a virtual property and gain early access to the metaverse.

Now is the time for virtual reality marketing 

Virtual reality isn’t simply for amusement and gaming. Instead, it’s a powerful and adaptable tool that’s found its way into the marketing world. Early adopters are already using virtual reality to offer new ways of promoting material, allowing companies to generate interesting and memorable content for their audiences. While we have yet to see virtual reality’s full potential, how various businesses and industries are already employing it can provide a glimpse of what this developing technology is capable of.

Conclusion

As more businesses adopt VR technology, we can expect to see even more innovative and effective virtual reality marketing campaigns that take advantage of this immersive medium. VR provides an unparalleled opportunity for companies to tell their stories and connect with their customers on a deeper level. With VR, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating unforgettable experiences that engage and inspire.

The post 10 Best Uses Of Virtual Reality VR Marketing appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Tips For Choosing The Best Advertising Company In Dubai

Posted: 31 May 2022 08:56 PM PDT

Tips For Choosing The Best Advertising Company In Dubai

 Choosing an advertising company in Dubai can be a daunting task. There are many different companies to choose from, and each one offers a different set of services. However, there are a few things that you can keep in mind when making your decision that will help you choose the best Dubai advertising company for your needs.

Dubai advertising company

Image Source: Pexels

Setting Your Goals

First, you need to consider what type of advertising you want to do. Do you want to advertise on television, radio, or online? Each advertising medium has its advantages and disadvantages, so you need to decide which one is right for you.

Once you know what type of advertising you want to do, you can narrow down your choices. For example, if you want to advertise on television, you should look for a company that specializes in television advertising. If you want to advertise on the radio, you should look for a company specializing in radio advertising.

Going Big or Going Small

Another important factor to consider is the size of the company. Some companies are much larger than others, and they may not be able to provide the same level of service. If you’re looking for a smaller, more intimate company, you may want to consider one of Dubai’s many boutique advertising firms.

Budget Considerations

Finally, you need to consider your budget. Some companies charge by the hour, while others charge by the project. It would help if you decided which pricing model is right for you before making your final decision for the best Dubai advertising company for you.

goals for planning

Image Source: Pexels

Focus on Digital Trends

Digital marketing is the process of using digital technologies to promote or market products or services. It can be used to reach a wide range of customers in a short period and can be very cost-effective.

Digital marketing tools include search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, email marketing, and mobile marketing. These tools target potential customers and promote your product or service.

Digital marketing is constantly evolving and changing. New technologies and platforms are constantly being introduced that allow marketers to reach their target audience in new and innovative ways. As a result, businesses need to keep up with the latest trends in digital marketing to remain competitive.

Future Considerations

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a digital marketing agency in Dubai. First, you need to decide what type of services you need. For example, do you need help with SEO, PPC, social media, or email marketing? Once you know what you need, you can start looking for a Dubai advertising company specializing in those services. 

Keep all of these factors in mind when choosing an advertising company in Dubai, and you’ll be sure to find the perfect one for your needs. With a little bit of research, you can find the perfect company to help you achieve your marketing goals.

The post Tips For Choosing The Best Advertising Company In Dubai appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

What is Forex Trading and How Does it Work?

Posted: 31 May 2022 08:40 PM PDT

What is Forex Trading and How Does it Work?

Forex trading is the simultaneous buying and selling of different currencies on the foreign exchange market to make a profit. To do this, traders and entrepreneurs must first look at forex trading concepts and understand how the market works and what factors influence currency prices.

forex trading

The foreign exchange market is the “place” where currencies are traded. Currencies are important to most people worldwide, whether they realize it or not, because currencies need to be exchanged to conduct foreign trade and business. For example, if you live in the U.S. and want to buy cheese from France, you or the company you buy the cheese from has to pay the French for the cheese in euros (EUR). The U.S. importer would have to exchange U.S. dollars (USD) for euros. The same goes for traveling. A French tourist in Egypt can’t pay in euros to see the pyramids because it’s not the locally accepted currency. As such, the tourist has to exchange the euros for the local currency, in this case, the Egyptian pound, at the current exchange rate.

The need to exchange currencies is the main reason the forex market is the world’s largest, most liquid financial market. It dwarfs other markets in size, even the stock market, with an average traded value of around the U.S. $2,000 billion per day. (The total volume changes all the time, but as of August 2012, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) reported that the forex market traded over the U.S. $4 trillion per day.)

Part of what makes this market so attractive is that it is open 24 hours a day, from Sunday evening until Friday night. This allows traders to enter and exit positions whenever they want, regardless of the time zone. So even though the market is only closed for a few hours each day, the sheer size and activity level during those sessions makes up for it.

The foreign exchange market, also known as the forex or F.X. market, is the largest financial market globally, with over $5 trillion in daily turnovers. This makes it more than three times the size of the U.S. stock market! Unlike other financial markets, there is no central exchange where all transactions occur. Instead, forex trading occurs “over-the-counter” (OTC) between two parties, typically through a broker or dealer.

The forex market is open 24 hours, five days a week, except on holidays. This allows traders to trade at any time of day or night if they download cTrader. However, not all times are created equal. Three main sessions cover the majority of forex trading activity:

  • The Asian session (Tokyo)
  • The European session (London)
  • The U.S. session (New York)

The largest volume of trades occurs during these times, and currency prices are most active. Of course, there is still some trading activity outside of these main sessions, but it is typically much quieter, and prices may be more stable.

When trading forex, you effectively buy one currency while simultaneously selling another. The aim is to speculate whether the exchange rate between the two currencies will rise or fall. For example, if you think the EUR/USD exchange rate will rise, you would buy Euros and sell U.S. dollars. If your prediction comes true, you will make a profit. If not, you will incur a loss.

It is important to remember that forex trading is a leveraged product. This means that you are only required to put down a small deposit (known as a margin) to open a position. This allows you to control a large amount of currency with a relatively small investment. However, it also means that your losses can be much greater than your initial deposit if the market moves against you.

Forex trading is not suitable for everyone, and you should make sure you understand the risks involved before trading. If you are unsure, seek independent financial advice.

Uses of the Forex Markets

Forex markets are used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • To speculate on the future movements of currencies
  • To hedge against currency risk
  • To facilitate international trade and investment
  • To provide liquidity to the global financial system

Forex markets are open 24 hours a day, five days a week. This means that market participants can trade on any day or night. As a result, the forex market is also the most liquid financial market globally, with trading volumes exceeding $5 trillion per day.

Many market participants use Forex markets, including central banks, commercial banks, currency speculators, corporations, governments, and individual investors. 

forex trading concepts

Forex markets offer many benefits, including: 

-High liquidity: The forex market is the most liquid financial market globally, with trading volumes exceeding $5 trillion per day. This means that market participants can trade on any day or night.

-24-hour trading: Forex markets are open 24 hours a day, five days a week. This allows market participants to trade around the clock.

High leverage: Leverage is available in the forex market, which means that investors can control large positions with relatively little capital. Leverage can be used to magnify profits, but it can also magnify losses.

-Global reach: The forex market is a global market, with participants from all over the world. This means that forex markets offer opportunities for traders to profit from currency movements in any part of the world.

-No single point of control: The forex market is decentralized, with no single control point. This means that there is no central authority that can manipulate currency prices. 

Forex Trading Concepts and Terminology

Pip: A pip is the smallest unit of measurement in the forex market. A pip is typically equal to 0.0001 of a currency pair.

Spread: The spread is the difference between the bid and asks the price of a currency pair. The bid price is when you can sell a currency, while the asking price is when you can buy a currency. The spread is typically expressed in pips.

Leverage: Leverage is available in the forex market, which means that investors can control large positions with relatively little capital. Leverage can be used to magnify profits, but it can also magnify losses.

Margin: Margin is the amount of money required to open a leveraged position. When you open a leveraged position, your broker will require you to deposit a certain amount of money (known as margin) to cover the potential losses on your trade.

Currency Pair: A currency pair is the two currencies traded in a forex transaction. For example, the EUR/USD currency pair is the euro and the U.S. dollar.

Bid Price: The bid price is the price you can sell a currency.

Ask Price: The asking price is the price you can buy a currency. 

The post What is Forex Trading and How Does it Work? appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

A Guide to Starting a Transport Business

Posted: 31 May 2022 08:14 PM PDT

A Guide to Starting a Transport Business

There are a variety of transport companies out there, and you can join in the prospect of running a successful transport business yourself with the right set-up, marketing, and business plan. This brief guide to transport business startup ideas will help you choose which type of business you want to start, how to gain the attention of clients, and more.

transport business startup ideas

Become Licensed

Make sure that you keep your business above board by applying for the appropriate licenses within your area. Since you will be operating a business that deals with people and goods, there needs to be plenty of protection both for you and your customers. It is also advisable to get insurance to protect you from liability if an accident occurs.

Which Transport Business Should You Choose?

First of all, you will need to decide exactly what you hope to give with your transport business. Since transport is so valuable and useful in such a huge variety of ways, you will need to narrow down your expectations of the business to find a suitable niche. There are a few ways to differentiate the types of transport business.

  • Personal transport such as taxi or chauffeur services;
  • Local transport that moves goods regionally;
  • Global transport involving the movement of people or goods internationally.

Here are a few examples of individual business ideas that involve the use of transport:

  • Towing other vehicles, either to remove ones parked illegally or to help people who have broken down while driving;
  • Taxi services to get people from one location to another. This could also include a school minibus lease that helps schoolchildren get an education;
  • Delivery driving is a hugely important transport job, without which the world would grind to a halt.

Deciding which type of transport business suits your needs depends entirely upon your ambitions, your budget, and your expectations. Choose a niche that you are confident your business could fulfill within your surrounding market.

Marketing

It’s important to get your business known in order to attract people to it. This means creating a compelling brand image and finding a variety of ways to target your audience. Consider the usefulness of social media, your own website, and even forms of traditional media, such as print advertising and television commercials. Find out who precisely your target market will be, then bring attention to your business on the relevant platforms. For example, some social media platforms cater more toward older or younger audiences, which makes a difference if your business focuses on a particular age group.

Service

The level of service you provide can be what makes all the difference between your business and someone else’s. High-quality customer service means that people are more likely to choose you again in the future. This means taking the time to carefully figure out every step of the journey and making it as smooth as possible, whether that involves finding better routes or more suitable vehicles. Even if you are dealing with other businesses rather than individuals, good customer service can help you stand out from the crowd.

The post A Guide to Starting a Transport Business appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Female Founder Interview – Claudia Freed, CEO of Non-Profit EALgreen

Posted: 31 May 2022 07:03 PM PDT

Female Founder Interview – Claudia Freed, CEO of Non-Profit EALgreen

As part of our Female Founder series, The Startup Magazine caught up with Claudia Freed, CEO of the Wheaton Illinois-based nonprofit EALgreen. EALgreen’s unique and innovative mission takes on the problem of industrial waste by transforming surplus inventory into college scholarships.

As an immigrant student from Argentina, Ms. Freed received the first scholarship created from a sustainable-business model by the collaboration of EALgreen, WW Grainger, Inc. and North Park University. Bound by her commitment to give back and to help the environment, Claudia later took a leadership position in EALgreen, scaling the sustainability programs across the United States and, not only helping over 21,000 students with EALgreen-based scholarships, but also diverting over 100,000 tons of potential waste out of landfills.

As a true pioneer of the circular economy movement, Claudia is Technical Panel Member for UL STP3600 Standards, the standards for the Circular Economy and the metrics, processes, and procedures for the circularity of materials and operations. Some of her other accomplishments and accolades include: Crain’s Chicago 40-Under-40, Board President – Corporate Responsibility Group of Chicago, Co-Author Today’s Inspired Latina Volume IV, Co-panelist Global Summit of Women Sydney Australia, Speaker at International Summit China Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and Speaker at Global Summit of Women, Basel, Switzerland.

Ms. Freed is a global thinker and living proof that purpose-driven businesses transform lives. Let’s see what she shared with us about her inspiring journey…

TSM: Hello Claudia. To get us started, describe what EALgreen does in 10 words or less:

Claudia: With excess inventory, EAL funds scholarships for college students.

TSM: With a bit more detail, what does EALgreen do? What big-picture problems does it solve?

Claudia: At EAL,  we believe that there is a better way to solve two seemingly disconnected issues: the problem of too many products being destroyed or landfilled and the life-disempowering barrier of prospective students not having the money to afford college.

Using supply chain principles, EALgreen builds a unique bridge between businesses and colleges and universities. Through the 5 R's of the circular economy—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle—EAL converts donations of customer returns and other excess inventory into operational savings for colleges. The colleges pass these savings to students in discounts on their tuition bills.

In 2021, EAL helped corporate partners keep 5,056 mt of products out of landfills. By redistributing these products to colleges and universities, EAL generated financial aid for 1,132 students seeking degrees from welding to healthcare, from engineering to robotics–the very subjects that will fuel economic development.

By utilizing onsite equipment, EAL reduced 38.90 mt of CO2 emissions. This demonstrates our commitment to improving reverse logistics and that becomes a key link to a better future for all.

TSM: What is an experience or two you've had that really shows the impact that EALgreen has on its participants?

Claudia: As the first ever beneficiary of a scholarship created from two donated motors, I can attest to the impactful and positive contribution an innovative business model such as EAL's has had in my life. Not only have I witnessed generosity firsthand, but I have also realized innumerable benefits from earning a college degree.

The "being the first so others can follow" mindset has motivated me to remain dedicated to advancing the role of entrepreneurship and ingenuity in our quest as a society to improve lives and take care of the planet. Since the first scholarship in 1982, more than 21,000 students have seen their dreams realized and, hopefully, as I have, seen their lives improved.

TSM: EAL is clearly making a broad impact on many. But with the current supply chain crisis, are there new factors to consider that are hindering your efforts to make an impact for educational institutions? What kind of challenges are you facing of your own?

Claudia: Not all transportation challenges are the same. During the pandemic and beyond, we have seen carriers face significant driver shortages that affect our ability to have only one or two preferred partners to bring donations into our fulfillment centers. This action can create inefficiencies and add cost. The good news is that our outbound services to the schools, usually on an LTL basis (that's for shipments that are less that a trailer load) have seen much less interruption.

TSM: Give us a bit more background on the EALgreen growth challenges. As the organization grew over the years, what were the additional challenges to making it a sustainable business of its own? Hiring? Getting visibility? Raising sponsorship funds?

Claudia: Having the ability to take the long view when running a business is essential to survival. For example, when we started, we had a different name because we thought we could solve all the world's problems. By focusing on our mission and purpose, we have overcome challenges that plague businesses at each phase of their life cycle. This includes start up funding (our first balance sheet had less than $10,000, today we are over $5 million), branding and market positioning (in 2016 we became EALgreen to emphasize the positive environmental impact of our business), and digital innovation (in 2021 we invested in best-in class, integrated technology platform to track donations).

Throughout the decades, we have remained steadfast in our belief that we provide value to society and the planet. That single focus has enabled our resiliency and our ability to get better over time.

TSM: Going back to your early career decisions, tell us what factors influenced your decision to run a nonprofit and gave you the entrepreneurial passion that you apply to it?

Claudia: When I became a 40 Under 40 awardee of Crain's Chicago Magazine earlier in my career, the plaque read: "it was English, not organic chemistry that dashed her hopes of becoming a physician."  As an immigrant from Argentina, I took a career path based on opportunities presented to me by mentors and professors followed by my complete determination and arduous work. Once I became proficient in English, my professional journey took me from risk management to consulting and it eventually landed me back at the doorsteps of the very organization that had changed my life so many years before.

Being a CEO in the nonprofit sector requires tremendous energy and conviction that the business is worth doing. I learned that an organization’s size also matters as resources are always in short supply. Learning to say no to bad ideas, leading the team through difficulties–both personal and corporate– being inspiring, and adapting to new realities are some key aspects of being a leader in this space.

TSM: What is one piece of advice you can offer other entrepreneurs that want to follow a nonprofit path, on how they can be successful?

Claudia: Believe in yourself and be relentless in pursuing what makes your product or service worthwhile. Always take the high road—no half measures. Remember that your character will transcend every business decision you make, hire you make, and deal you win or lose. Finally, don't let the job define who you are and keep intact the potential for reinventing yourself as part of your survival and purpose-driven life-kit.

TSM: That is great advice. Finally, can you tell us one interesting fact about you that people may not know?

Claudia: During the pandemic I learned to play or "ring" handbells! I perform with my friends Leslie and Tom at their church although I am Jewish!

TSM: Fantastic! So nice to speak with you today. Best wishes on the continued success of the EALgreen mission.

Claudia Freed

Claudia Freed, CEO of EALgreen

 

The post Female Founder Interview – Claudia Freed, CEO of Non-Profit EALgreen appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

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