Tristan

It is absolutely essential that you focus on your online reputation. So much so, in fact, that if you are a business, it is recommended that you research reputation management consultants reviews and work together with a reputation management firm to ensure it is maintained at the highest possible standard. Essentially, they will make sure that you have a positive brand image, which is essential for profitability.

Why Online Reputations Matter

Everything and everybody is online nowadays. All your customers have Facebook, your competition has a successful blog, and people are discussing you on forums, whether you’re online or not. Online communities have a huge amount of power and these communities are now the go-to place in terms of finding out whether or not a business is worth supporting.

Before your consumer decides to shop with you, they will look at reviews of not just the product itself, but you as a business as well. 75% of people will go to the competition if they find that you have one negative review or more. Imagine how many customers you are losing right now!

You must take control of your brand, so that your customer sees the image you are trying to portray, in other words.

How Do You Get a Good Online Reputation?

1. Understand what your goals are. How do you want people to see you, and what do you believe will make your customers happy?
2. Closely monitor your brand image online. Do this by setting up a Google Alert so that you are always notified whenever someone says anything about you, be that on one of your personal websites or social media channels, or externally.
3. Take action on any information you have received. If you get positive reviews, you need to thank the people in a professional and honest manner. You may also want to share the opinion on other channels. If the review is negative, you should also reply, however, since there is only one thing that will make a disgruntled customer even more disgruntled, and that is being ignored.
4. Respond to negative reviews. As said, this is vitally important. You have to be professional and calm in this case, no matter what type of abuses is being hurled your way. Start by apologizing, even if it is only for the customer feeling the way they do. Then, explain your point of view and offer them a solution.

If you receive negative reviews, and most of us do at some point, you may feel devastated. In reality, however, you need to see a bad review for what it actually is: a constructive criticism. Nobody likes to be told that they did something wrong, or even that they could have done better. The reality is, however, that everybody does things wrong every once in a while. Those aren’t signs of failure or weakness. Rather, it is a sign that you still have things to learn and that you can continue to grow and develop yourself.

 

Practically everyone who files a tax return has at least fleeting concerns about an audit, but those of us with highly complex returns are more likely to be scrutinized by the IRS. In a recent article, Tax Audit reviews the most common flaws in a tax return that can lead to the return being flagged.

While an IRS audit seems like a dreadful event – somewhere between a root canal and exploratory surgery on the scale of “Things You Don’t Want to Happen” – it’s actually a fairly routine process, designed to simply recheck a return in case there are any errors or discrepancies. If your return is accurate and honest and you have all of your documents in order, then you don’t have anything to be concerned about, though it’s annoying nonetheless.

Sometimes audits are conducted randomly, but more often than not they’re performed because there is something about the return that the IRS finds inconsistent. Here are five reasons why a tax return could be flagged for an audit.

1. Mathematical errors. A misplaced decimal point or a zero omitted in error will raise the IRS’s antennae. Even if it’s an honest mistake, you’ll still be on the hook for any money the IRS didn’t get – along with fees.
2. Not reporting income. If you got cash-in-hand for work performed and failed to report it, your return will be flagged if the entity that paid you reported it to the IRS.
3. Claiming questionable charitable deductions. If you received $65,000 in income and reported $40,000 in charitable contributions, it will look pretty suspicious to the IRS. Even if you did give a tremendous chunk of your earnings to charity, you absolutely have to have the proper documentation from a legitimate 501(c)3 organization.
4. Claiming questionable business expenses. If you’re claiming nearly every meal at a restaurant or purchase from Office Depot as a business expense deduction, your return could be flagged, and you’ll have to justify every single purchase and produce receipts.
5. Home office deductions. Just because you work from home either occasionally or exclusively doesn’t mean you qualify for a home office deduction. Unless you use your home office regularly and exclusively for work purposes (and good luck proving that if you don’t have the proper business licenses and permits), don’t bother.

TaxAudit: Reviews of Effective Strategies for Avoiding IRS Audits

If you’re looking for solid audit protection for your personal or business tax returns, TaxAudit reviews a huge variety of federal and state returns, successfully defending clients using their in-depth expertise. For more information about TaxAudit services, please visit TaxAudit.com.

 

Manufacturing is the backbone of the American economy. However, many of these complex industries are struggling to adapt to changing market conditions. This is particularly true with respect to the increasing integration of software and digital devices in manufacturing. As manufacturing software sets a new industry standard, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software applications are becoming the establishing a new norm in complex industries and manufacturing.

Domestic manufacturing is evolving, and it’s becoming more and more tech-driven every day. Manufacturing ERP & CRM have become so commonplace in the industry that companies without them struggle to maintain a competitive edge. But not all software solutions in this space are created equal. Among the businesses that have embraced manufacturing ERP and CRM solutions, the companies that have selected the most lean and discrete options

Modern Manufacturing Becomes Tech-Driven

For some manufacturers, the times are tough. Access to resources are declining, environmental constraints are increasing, and global trade is shifting. These trends show no sign of reversing, but local manufacturers aren’t going down without a fight. Instead, they are harnessing the transformative power of Manufacturing ERP & CRM solutions to improve their operations.

Modern manufacturing is becoming increasingly tech-driven. The most cutting-edge facilities are developing into “smart factories” that utilize software and digital devices in ways that improve performance. Already, smart factories are realizing productivity gains and product quality increases of 20% or more, and digital technologies are expected to generate more than $425 billion in added value for industry, consumers, society, and the environment between 2015 and 2025. During this same period, however, manufacturers that fail to adapt to digitization by integrating software solutions into their day-to-day activities will struggle to make headway in an industry driven by more efficient competitors.

Technology Helps Manufacturing Get Lean

Lean manufacturing is not a novel concept. The idea that manufacturing systems can be improved with lean methods – that is, the elimination of waste and the continuous standardization of business operations – can be traced back to the turn of the twentieth century. This approach to manufacturing involves the precise identification of resources used in a manufacturing process as well as a mechanism that integrates feedback from customer value. These are the exact types of variables Manufacturing ERP & CRM solutions are designed to analyze. The cutting-edge software solutions in this space are helping manufacturers get lean while also supporting discrete manufacturing solutions.

Discrete Manufacturing Software Solutions

Harnessing the power of Manufacturing ERP & CRM technologies is an effective means of improving manufacturing processes. This is particularly true with respect to discrete manufacturing, which involves the creation of a single product that consumers purchase as a distinct unit that cannot be subdivided or re-allocated into different components.

In discrete manufacturing processes, each discrete unit has distinct resource consumption requirements that impact cost and efficiency. Each of these resources contributes to the value of the end-use product, but it can be difficult to identify how each resource invested in the manufacturing of a discrete product translates to end-use value. Manufacturing ERP & CRM software is designed to track both the resource and customer information related to a particular product, opening up key insights for leaner and more effective discrete manufacturing solutions.

By improving access to better lean and discrete manufacturing techniques, Manufacturing ERP & CRM solutions are breathing new life into complex processes. These software solutions are improving the quality and integration of key data insights, which are in turn improving the competitiveness of companies operating in an increasingly tech-driven manufacturing industry.

 

 

 

Many high performing professionals ponder how they can stand out to excel further for their future. While it’s easier said than done, many high performers make a few notes of importance when it comes to separating themselves from the crowd to reach new heights. As the managing partner at LendPlus and a leader in the financial industry, Jacques Poujade knows this well.

Motivation extends across all aspects of life. Maintaining motivation is contagious. It’s important that motivation transpire across your life form person to professional where it can grow and be fueled by one another. We sat down with Jacques Poujade, a mortgage industry pro, to talk motivation, fitness, and achieving goals.

Starting Your Day

It’s important to start your day focused on finding motivation for the day and keeping that motivation consistent throughout the day. One of the ways to do so is by starting a healthy diet and fitness routine. By focusing on waking up early, feeling refreshed, and getting your day going automatically, you are directly fueling your day’s productivity. There are many ways to do this. Focusing internally is something that might be difficult to do for many but is crucial to having the energy and mentality to attack your day. Starting your day thinking positive, working out, or writing in a journal are all great resources to your busy schedule.

Maintaining Your Day

It’s important that you allow the good start to your day to trickle into the rest of your day. Keeping your energy level up from dusk until dawn can be very difficult. While the mid-day slump is common and can have a negative effect on the productivity you set up to succeed, there are ways to curb it. One of these ways is through continuing to fuel your body. Whether it’s picking up vitamins to increase productivity via metabolism or inducing effective sleep or simply eating right throughout the day, your nutrition is important. Just as you would maintain your car through service or business through meetings, you should maintain your body by checking in and ensuring that it has everything it needs. These slumps could be eluding to something missing and should be treated as such!

Consistency

So – you’ve established a routine that allows you a proper amount of energy to be a more productive self. Whether it’s waking up an hour early for a run or eating more high-protein food items, the next step is maintaining that. These lifestyle choices can be the difference between crushing a meeting, wrapping up a project, and proposing a new endeavor. That means that these routines shouldn’t just be used on high-impact weeks, but every single day. That’s because your business needs you at your best self all day, every day.

Related Article: 3 Morning Habits to Yield More Business Success

What are you waiting for? It’s time to set your alarm, sign up for the gym, and establish new goals. This is your time and it’s important not to waste it by being anything less than your best self.

You Might Also Like: Jacques Poujade on What Seniors Need to Know about Reverse Mortgages

It’s no surprise to anyone living in the twenty-first century that technology moves at a rapid pace. Between new phones, cars, and other personal items, it’s almost impossible to keep up. One of the most recent booms in technology is how it has transpired into new realms. One of those realms in the financial field.

Now that technology has provided access to the internet in the palm of our hands, the power of apps, digital currency, and online investments is stronger than ever. As an entrepreneur, crypto enthusiast, and digital marketing expert, Dave Pascht knows the importance of staying on top of these trends. This is our interview with Dave Pascht on 5 tech trends to follow in 2020.

What is the best financial app to follow in 2020?

Clay is a great app for entrepreneurs on the move. It can be difficult to keep track of your notes, clients, and communication. Clay is an app that puts that information at your fingertips for you to access whether you’re at the office, airport, or beach.

What is your favorite digital currency trend you’ll be following this year?

I’m keeping an eye out on the new digital currencies on the rise. Whether it’s Libra, Facebook’s new cryptocurrency that will be hitting the scene, or LTC joining forces with Bitcoin… There are big changes on the horizon for cryptocurrency that can change the game and, when it does, being the first to know about it can be lucrative.

How will tech change finance in 2020?

Technology is changing finance every day and I don’t expect it to slow down in 2020. Technology has made the tools needed for investing and keeping up with financial trends more accessible to the every-day man or woman that doesn’t work or have extensive knowledge in the financial field. Likewise, with trends changing daily, it’s important to remember that if you’re willing to put in the time to learn and keep up, you can be a leader in the field.

What is your favorite tech trend of 2020?

I’m excited to see how digital currency develops in the coming months as people become more comfortable paying with their phones, watches, and other digital means. That combined with the new technologies rising could mean a quick shift into a generally excepted cryptocurrency movement. I’m also on the lookout for new eCommerce trends. You can check out my recent interview with BusinessNewsInsight.com where I talked about the newest Ecommerce Trends and what products you should sell online.

What is your best advice to up and coming entrepreneurs?

Stay on top of these technology trends. As an entrepreneur, you should always be learning something new and one of those things should always be what is happening in the tech world. Technology is very much the future, but it’s more than just the latest smart watch; it’s important to take these new technologies and relate them back to your goals.

You Might also Like: 4 Ways To Stay Motivated While Trying To Achieve Massive Goals

Whether you have a general interest in financial trends or are looking to invest your life savings and want to be informed about your endeavors, Dave Pascht knows that knowledge is power. That’s why he expanded his career into helping other entrepreneurs flourish and why he is the best to learn from!

 

 

 

Teaching is one of the oldest professions in the world. From Confucius, Aristotle, Socrates to Mark Twain some of the greatest personalities in history started out as teachers. Today, teaching remains one of the most popular professions with millions making a living in the classroom. If you are a teacher, you can now leverage internet technology and start a teaching business. From working as an assignment helper with assignmentmasters.com.au, tutoring to video teaching, the opportunities in teaching are limitless.

If you are a teacher and you would like to start an online teaching business, this guide offers a few important tips.

• Choose Your Niche

What do you want to teach? Most teachers approach the teaching business in the wrong way. You have to stop thinking like an employee and wear the hat of an entrepreneur. In so doing, you have to narrow down your niche market.

If you want to succeed in online teaching, you have to be specific in terms of what you offer. For instance, if you want to teach English, specify who you want to teach. For instance, you can teach business owners, managers, international students, political leaders, among others. By narrowing down your niche, you will find it easier to market yourself.

• Solve A Problem

Millions of businesses start daily, but many of these fail because they don’t solve any problem. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy, about 30% of startups fail within the first year of opening. By the third year, the numbers increase and this should send a warning to entrepreneurs.

If you want your teaching business to survive, you have to identify a problem in the teaching industry and solve it. There are many people out there who should like to learn new skills but they haven’t found a teacher who suits their needs.

Do your research and find out what other teachers offer and identify their weaknesses. From your research, you will identify students’ needs which other teachers haven’t solved with their business models.

• Know Your Subject And The Industry

So you want to teach business studies online? That’s a good idea but what do you know about this subject and what the market needs? You have to showcase your skills and qualifications to potential students and this means you must have the right papers.

More importantly, you need to understand the latest curriculum updates, teaching methods, job market needs and everything else you can about your subject.

• Leverage The Latest Teaching Technology

If you want to grow your teaching business online, you have to embrace the latest technology. Your target student market is spread across the globe and to reach them effectively, you need to use live chat, webinars, and other tools. You must have a professional teaching site offering live support and seamless browsing.

• Leverage Digital Marketing Tools

If you want to start a teaching business, your target students are likely internet users. To reach them, you have to leverage the latest digital marketing tactics. From social media posts, blogging, to guest blogging, you have to use all techniques to build your brand online.

Final Thoughts

Ready to start a teaching business? It is not easy but with proper planning, you can get it done. You have to do your market research, identify your target market, leverage the latest teaching and marketing tool and have a value proposition.