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The Future Of Shopping And Payments In A Post- Pandemic World

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Shopping habits are constantly changing. However, the current pandemic has dramatically advanced the pace of change consumers and companies are used to seeing. Public health concerns of touching cash and cards have paved the way for the way businesses are accepting payment. Based on these changes’ businesses are embracing omnichannel payment solutions. Reduced use of cash, contactless payments, and curbside pickup are all examples of these payment solutions. In fact, Mastercard saw a 40% jump in contactless payments. Make sure to consult the infographic below for more examples of changing payment trends as well as a few graphs comparing where spending has decreased in different industries.

Infographic created by Fiserv

How An International School Education Can Change Lives

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Many people currently working throughout the world are on what is known as short-term contracts. They have been working for the same company for quite a long time, but they are placed in countries throughout the globe for periods of 3 to 5 years. For many people, this is the perfect job as it allows them to do the occupation that they really want and also they get to see a lot of the world and the many different cultures. If you’re one of these people and have recently been asked to work overseas, then as a responsible parent, you probably began to panic because you were scared about how this would affect your children’s education. However, there is actually very little to be worried about because there are exceptional international schools all around the world and they are especially good in the Asia region.

One fine example is the British International School Bangkok and here your child can get a real opportunity to change their lives for the better. These schools offer a wide variety of different subjects and the amenities that they offer are just breathtaking. This opportunity for your children to work in a foreign country will provide them with many life skills that they wouldn’t get anywhere else. The benefits of attending an international school are many, but we will try to look at just a few of them here today.

  • They get world experience – Many children nowadays receive their education in one specific location and so this does not allow them to enjoy the many other cultures around the world. All of these different cultures have many different perspectives and is important that your child gets to learn about these. Living life is all about diversity and you won’t find this kind of diversity if you restrict yourself to one single continent. Your life as a parent will change when your kids go off to international school or college, and so it is important that you give them this opportunity.
  • Easy admission to University – When universities are going through the procedures for choosing their students for the next school year, they are looking out for specific students that stand out from the rest. Many of their applications, come from within the country, but your child’s application will stand out because they can talk about the many experiences that they had living abroad while they were enjoying an international education. Universities want students who are quite unique and who have experienced the international circuit and everything that it has to offer. If you would like to learn more about international education, then please have a look here.

As a parent, it is your job to make sure that your children get the best start in this life because the world is a very competitive place and they need all the help that they can get. An international school education will get them on the first rung of the career ladder and they will make many new friends who would be able to help them later on in life when they join the international job circuit.

Good Business Is About Creating The Right First Impression

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In order for any current or recently started business to succeed, they must first create the right first impression which will help a lot when developing new customer relationships and generating sales. Everything in business is all about making the right first impression and from the receptionist who greets your customers at the main front door, to the sales people that talk to the customers, it is everyone’s job to make sure that their behaviour and attitude conveys a professional image. The type of floor that a business chooses can make or break it, and if a customer doesn’t like how the inside of your store looks, then they will take their business elsewhere. In these difficult times, it’s hard enough to get a customer to come to your store in the high street without them turning around the moment that they see what you have chosen to put on your business floor.

One of the easiest targets for a bad first impression is having an office that is cluttered, or that hasn’t been cleaned in a while.  It can be hard to get your regular staff to live up to your expectations, as sales people, customer service reps, and managers often resent having to clean the space around them.  Very small businesses might get away with double tasking, but the more talent you hire, the less likely they’ll want to step up and clean.  That’s why it’s best to hire a service.  Believe it or not most home and office cleaners can live up to the challenge, giving your business the sleekest and most well-kept image possible.  It’s more than just picking up litter or emptying trashcans – it’s about giving your place the overall appearance of being newer.

Interiors age, and with age comes a duller shine.  The more dust and grime are allowed to cake onto a surface, the more standard efforts to clean will fail to get things looking good again. It’s likely to be extremely noticeable to those who work there and see the same environment every day. However, a place that is deep cleaned and then regularly maintained will appear years, if not decades newer.  Let’s use an example – have you ever seen a 1985 car maintained in mint condition?  It catches your eye.  However, the same car in regular road use condition may catch your attention in a less desirable way. The same thing applies to offices, buildings, sales floors, call rooms, show rooms and every other type of business, including production areas.  Basically, the nature of time is set to decay the appearance of things, and a dedicated maid service is the best anecdote.

Making the right first impression and choosing the right kind of flooring option is easier said than done, and it’s going to take a lot of thought and diligence on your part to come up with the right choice. It is incredibly difficult to know where to start but there are some excellent service providers out there that you can find here at https://www.vispac.co.th/and they will be more than happy to tell you about the different kinds of flooring that they have to offer. One of the most popular choices of flooring right now is vinyl and is popular for a number of reasons.

  • It’s easy to take care of – When you’re trying to run a busy and competitive business, you need to choose a floor that is easy to take care of and is very low maintenance. You want a floor choice that will be resistant to liquids in case customers happen to drop drinks, and you want it to be able to handle heavy footfall on a daily basis. When it comes to the end of the business day, you need a surface that can be easily and quickly cleaned with a mop and some cleaning detergent, and vinyl flooring is perfect for that. If you want to impress your wife and your customers, then installing a vinyl floor is the right choice.
  • It protects your customers & staff – Many people nowadays suffer from a great deal of allergies and so installing carpet for your shop floor would be a big mistake. Carpets are the perfect place to collect dust and allergens, whereas vinyl doesn’t allow any of these irritants to stay there very long. There is nowhere for the dirt and allergens to go and so it is all easily cleaned up using conventional cleaning methods. It’s all about marketing your business to your customers and what better way to get their attention and to install flooring that is going to be good for their health and the health of their children.

Make sure that you take the time to create the right first impression for your new customers, so that they keep coming back again and again.

Why You Should Hire a Luxury Vehicle

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If you often dream about what it would be like to drive a high-end sports car or if you do not have the money to purchase a particular make and model of vehicle outright, you should be aware that a variety of rental services are available. Indeed, if you are looking to rent a supercar for a special event or even if you want to test drive a particular type of vehicle, then you should be aware that a variety of luxury vehicle companies are available. As a result, if you are looking for some of the best sport cars in a particular area, you should think about contacting a specialist rental company as soon as possible as you will be able to identify the various vehicles they have for hire. This is especially pertinent if you are looking to hire a luxury vehicle for a particular event or even if you just want to test drive a supercar before you make a final purchase. Renting a luxury vehicle is a fantastic way to travel in comfort as well as style while you can also impress your friends and family members by showing up to a particular event driving a sports car.

A.           Enjoy a high level of luxury

Most high-end sports cars are built with a high level of performance, luxury and comfort in mind. As a result, if you are looking to test drive a particular type of vehicle to see whether it would be appropriate for your needs, you could contact a hire car company and arrange for you to hire the vehicle for the weekend so that you can test drive a particular make and model of vehicle. If you are looking for some top of the range sports cars you should think about contacting Rich Cars in Bangkok as soon as possible.

B.           Choose your favourite model

Furthermore, you should also be aware that luxury vehicle hire companies will have a variety of makes and models for you to drive while certain models are appropriate for specific demographics. Indeed, if you have ever thought about driving a particular type of sports car, you should think about contacting a hire company to see if they have the make and model that you want to try.

C.           Live like a superstar

Finally, if you want to experience what it would be like to be a superstar, then you should think about hiring a luxury vehicle as soon as possible while you should always have the right paperwork to drive a particular type of vehicle. Indeed, if you are looking for a company providing super car rental then you should be aware of the various options that are available while you should also consider the make and model of vehicle that you want to hire for a particular period of time.

  • Enjoy luxury and performance
  • Choose your favourite supercar
  • Live like a rock star

Therefore, in conclusion, if you are looking to hire a luxury vehicle or if you want to test a particular make and model or even if you want to see what life is like living as a superstar then you should think about contacting a specialist luxury vehicle company as soon as possible.

How to Fix a Marriage: A Complete Guide

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If you find yourself wondering how to fix a marriage, you’re not alone. 

Today, somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. Of course, this number tells us that marriage can be incredibly challenging. But, this number also goes to demonstrate that marriage requires hard work and constant nurturing. 

If you’re fixated on how to fix a marriage that is falling apart, this one’s for you. We’re outlining four simple ways to help fix your marriage and overcome your most pressing issues. 

1. Seek Counseling 

When it comes to saving your relationship, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help. 

If you really want to fix your marriage, it’s time to invest in your marriage.

This will entail hiring a professional to facilitate your conversations and help each party develop useful strategies for moving forward. Not only will this provide both partners with an unbiased perspective, but it will also allow each partner to feel safe in sharing their honest thoughts, feelings and desires. 

2. Nurture Admiration

On a daily basis, it’s not always easy to focus on the positive features of your partner. 

When life gets busy and arguments begin to surface, it’s only natural to grapple with your partner’s flaws and shortcomings. In these moments, it’s important to remind yourself to nurture admiration. Encourage yourself to enter a more positive mindset where you focus on your partner’s positive and commendable attributes.  

This is also a great opportunity to share these positive affirmations aloud with your partner. While it’s natural to focus on what your partner lacks in, highlighting what they do well is always valuable. 

3. Take Responsibility 

At the end of the day, playing the blame game is only going to harm your marriage further. 

Instead, it’s crucial to take responsibility for your actions and accept the areas of yourself that require improvement. In committing to bettering yourself, your partner will naturally feel a responsibility to follow suit. This is an opportunity to truly explore the facets of your being that could benefit from a change. 

In targeting these parts of yourself, you can move on and commit to putting your best foot forward. 

4. Practice Forgiveness 

If you’re serious about moving past certain events in your marriage, it’s time to truly forgive. Even if you choose to end your marriage, learning how to forgive is the best way to facilitate an amicable divorce

While forgiveness isn’t always a walk in the park, this is a key element to moving forward with your partner. In many cases, it’s important to note that practicing forgiveness is a process. This means learning how to forgive your partner or yourself won’t happen overnight. 

Until you implement true forgiveness, your marriage is only going to continue to experience deep-rooted struggle and pain. 

How to Fix a Marriage Before It Falls Apart 

In today’s day and age, a happy marriage is cited as the most important life objective for 93% of couples

In yearning for a successful marriage, understanding how to fix a marriage is key. After all, facing instances of hardship and discontent is inevitable for the majority of couples. In understanding how to overturn these challenges, you’ll develop greater confidence in the future of your marriage. 

Did you find this article helpful? If so, visit us again in the future!

6 Ways to Protect and Rebuild your Small Business after Covid-19

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The pandemic’s effect on the global economy has been severe and long-lasting – and we probably won’t understand exactly how severe it’s been until decades in the future. Owners of businesses, small and large, have been struggling to stay afloat: and they’ve been disheartened by the introduction of lockdown after lockdown, with no real end in sight.

In January, the 7-day average for new cases peaked at just under 60,000, setting a new record. GDP in the UK had slumped in October to around 7.9% less than the total in February, and, though we’d seen six months of consecutive growth at that point, it’s unlikely that the feat will be repeated through this new phase of lockdown.

So how are businesses to protect themselves in these inhospitable conditions? Let’s take a look at six strategies worth investigating.

Consider your insurance

It might be that you can cover your business against sudden loss caused by a global pandemic. Many businesses found themselves unprotected by their insurer in 2020, and became exposed to sudden and unexpected risk. For this reason, it’s worth planning for the next crisis as early as possible, and considering the range of products offered by insurers like Gallagher.

Redraft the business plan

What worked for the your business in the economic climate of 2019 might not be quite so effective in 2021. Your business plan might be riddled with assumptions that no longer stand up to scrutiny. Take a look through it, and see if there’s anything that doesn’t add up. 

Set a timeline for rebuilding

It’s a good time to start drafting a timeline for your recovery. Try to follow the S.M.A.R.T. approach to planning – that is, to devise a plan that’s specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Of course, a great deal will depend on what happens with the medical and political situation, so make sure you devise plans for a range of contingencies. 

Ask yourself what your customers want

Over lockdown, your customer’s attitudes and preferences might well have changed considerably. Many of the habits they’ve picked up will be with them for a long time; others will be dropped almost immediately. This concern applies especially to businesses which have made the switch to online sales – you’ll want to know whether your customers want you to switch back, and to what extent.

Keep your staff onside

Your staff are the people who’ll put your plans into action. Make sure that they know that you’re looking out for their interests. Unemployment is currently high at 4.9% – but that will almost certainly change as restrictions are eased and the opportunities for work become more plentiful. You can expect unhappy workers to start jumping ship if you don’t give them a reason to stay. You can improve workplace health by using a LSA device to detect Covid faster, what is LSA?

Consider funding sources

In challenging times, a lack of cash can be a problem for businesses which rely on liquidity. Make sure that you’ve got an adequate cushion available, so that you can keep trading while you adjust to the post-lockdown period. This might mean seeking out a specialised online lender, or perhaps applying for government support.

Is Your Data Secure? How To Protect Your Business Information

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Data security loopholes create serious concerns for many business owners. Data breaches and fraud cases are big problems for businesses of all sizes. The lockdown period has seen a sharp rise in cyber-attacks on business organizations. 

To avoid costs of cybersecurity breaches, you need to be proactive to safeguard your company’s assets against cybersecurity threats. So, just how secure is your business information?

Here are some tips on how to best protect your business information against cyber-criminals.

1. Have Secure Backups

Considering that 93% of companies go bankrupt within one year after suffering a data disaster, you don’t need to be told that prioritizing backup is a smart move. There is no guarantee that your systems will run forever without any interruption. 

And with data everywhere and growing steadily, your IT environment and constantly changing pools of data all need a reliable backup plan. A wrong backup plan can give you a wrong sense of data security. But an effective multi-platform backup can secure your data against unforeseeable circumstances.

2. Update All Operating Systems and Software

Staying up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity solutions is also a good practice that can potentially save your data from being breached. There are a number of cybersecurity software that are designed to protect businesses from malware and other dangers. 

Sign up for a paid security software that provides full security to your network and connected devices. Investing in data security is worth it as one data breach incident can cost you the whole business.

Once you enroll in a cybersecurity program, ensure that all your operating systems are routinely updated. Install updates immediately when they become available because you can’t tell when the unexpected will happen. For example, according to Bloomberg, the Equifax breach incident that affected more than 143 million people happened because the company did not update their Apache Struts.

3. Limit Employee Access to Only Needed Data

Not all employees at the company need access to all of the business information. Many may make honest mistakes in opening an email or clicking on a link that gives the sender access to the employee’s network. That means that the more data every employee has access to, the more people hackers have the ability to try to manipulate to give out the right information.

Some disgruntled employees may take revenge on their organizations. From a security point of view, role-based access control is a tool that restricts system access to authorized users. 

4. Hire a Professional MSP

Many businesses are now using managed service providers (MSPs) for IT. They can help with IT infrastructure, revamp cybersecurity strategies, and improve other business functions.

Professional MSPs adopt cutting-edge technologies to offer IT cybersecurity services. To reduce your risks of data loss, try to partner with reputable managed service providers, as they have advanced tools to conduct and maintain backup files to minimize threats to your data.

5. Keep Data Organized

If you intend to work with a data management software, you need to draw a data management plan. This will help you maintain well-organized data throughout the data lifecycle. Your data management plan may capture information on how you will name your files, backup your data, and how to hide your sensitive information.

Classifying your data is a big part of organizing it. So put your data into categories to allow for easy access and retrieval. Have established procedures for classified data and select a few trusted individuals to be in charge of it.

6. Have a Business Contingency Plan

Today, entrepreneurs live in a data-driven world, and the need to store large quantities of data is a normal thing for many organizations. However, big data can burden businesses with data security problems. That said, no matter how you secure your data, there is some risk of incident.

Unfortunately, over one in five companies report not having a contingency plan in place against data loss. Every business that stores data needs to have a disaster plan in place for such occurrences. Identify the risks and build an effective plan against data disasters.

The Most Important Password Protection Your Business Needs

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Password protection services have been in existence since the 1970s. The first system simply stored your passwords to allow users to reassess them if they forget or misplace them. Now, password protection technology has developed into something much safer and secure.

Multi-factor authentication is the latest and most secure system any business can use to secure their assets.

What Is Multi-Factor Authentication?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is simply a double wall to get through to access online data. It is similar to a door that has a double lock: you need to be able to open both locks to get through. 

The first layer to multi-factor authentication is your usual password. After entering that, you will be asked to confirm a unique number, sent to a device, like your phone or via email. Both passwords then allow the user to access the data or system they are trying to use. 

The multi-factor authentication adds extra security to your assets and makes your business less vulnerable to cybercrime.

Cody Rivers, the Chief Technology Officer of AIS—an IT company in Lafayette specializing in providing IT support and security for businesses—said, “With the increasingly sophisticated methods of cyber attacks we’re seeing, it’s more important than ever for every business and individual to protect their information through use of strong password hygiene, multi-factor authentication, and other cybersecurity strategies in a multi-layered approach to security.”

How Multi-Factor Authentication Protects Your Business

There are several ways in which cyber attackers commit security breaching crimes. It is essential to know what to look out for and why multi-factor authentication can prevent hackers from breaching your data. 

Their first port of action is usually social engineering. Hackers can gain access to business and personal accounts through phishing. Phishing can occur through email scams, phone calls, or pop-ups. Typically, hackers will aim to trick the vulnerable person into confirming confidential data. 

The second option hackers use brute force attacks, which involves the hacker guessing your passwords. If a hacker does guess the password and requires the number, your device will be flagged, and you will immediately be alerted of a hacking attempt. 

Hence, with multi-factor authentication in place, it makes it much harder for the hacker to intrude into your data as they will not have access to the unique number that will be sent to your chosen device. The authentication system prevents hackers from entering quickly as there are two barriers they need to break down. Even if they break down the first wall with your password, your business will be on the case immediately before they break down the second barrier.

Implementing multi-factor authentication can be fairly simple, but to fully roll it out over a large enterprise, many businesses rely on a trusted IT company to help them implement this and other security measures.

Why Your Business Needs Multi-Factor Authentication

You may question why your business needs an advanced password protection system like multi-factor authentication. Unfortunately, cyberattacks on companies that work online are not going to stop any time soon. No matter your business, security structure, and authority, cyber crime can still occur.

It is estimated that one business is attacked by a cyberattack every 39 seconds. With that said, more than 150 companies are at threat every hour. Upgrading your businesses with a multi-factor authentication will increase security and reduce the risk of data being breached. 

As businesses rely more and more on the online space, it is essential to protect your assets as much as possible. A multi-factor authentication password protection system is a safer way to reduce your business’s vulnerability and improve security.

Building Your Brand In 2021: How Entrepreneurs Are Connecting With Clients

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Pursuing a career as an entrepreneur can be as turbulent as it is exciting, offering lessons around every corner. Thanks to analytics and the preponderance of data offered through social media, we can avoid many of the missteps that those before us have struggled with. One of the most important traits for a successful entrepreneur to have is the ability to connect with their audience. Thanks to the internet, this is more possible than ever.

Let’s take a look at a few key ways entrepreneurs are changing the game and connecting with their clients in 2021.

1) Integrate Professional and Personal Social Media

There are almost 3 billion social media users in the world at the time of this writing and that number is always increasing. It has become more apparent than ever that entrepreneurs are leaning on their personal brand to engage with their professional audience. We can see this with major corporate figureheads but also at a much more grassroots level.

Key Takeaway: Give readers insight into your personal life through your professional social media outlet. These small displays of your interests and passions can help connect more effectively.

2) Lock Down Your Professional Profiles

While social media is changing the very way we approach marketing our skills, we must still cater to our professional peers. This is best done by creating professional business profiles on the major business networking platforms. We can look at an Inc.com bio as an example of a professionally curated set of information.

These professional profiles will act as a landing page for search engine traffic related to your brand. Consider keywords and other SEO metrics as you develop this content.

Key Takeaway: Curate a concise overview of your skills, accolades, and business history for display on platforms like LinkedIn and other business directories.

3) Consider Alternative Media Channels

Almost every single year the world is introduced to a new social media platform or content sharing tool. From YouTube and Twitter to streaming platforms like Twitch, there are seemingly endless avenues for entrepreneurs to consider when developing their brand. In order to better cater to today’s changing marketplace, look to a mixed approach to their social media marketing.

Today’s leading entrepreneurs are finding new ways to connect with their clients. Don’t be afraid to reach out into uncharted waters to see if they are a fit for your brand.

Key Takeaway: In 2019 alone, Twitch saw more than 660 billion minutes consumed on their platform. Alternative social media platforms provide a huge untapped audience for savvy entrepreneurs to engage with.

4) Create a Professional Website

Finally, and perhaps most underrated of all, we must consider creating a professional website to hold our content. It’s advised to hire a website design agency in Hertfordshire if you require an advanced website with lots of content. While social media platforms are great at directly engaging with clients and potential customers, a professional landing page will give you complete control over your image and how you present yourself.

Key Takeaway: Consider hiring a web designer or utilizing a website builder like Wix to craft a professional landing page for your brand.

YouTube and You: How Entrepreneurs Are Embracing Video Optimization to Build Their Brand

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According to the latest numbers released by YouTube, more than 2 billion users are logging into their accounts every single month. Daily uploads to YouTube are staggering as well with nearly 720,000 hours uploaded to the video streaming platform every 24 hours. Needless to say, staying competitive in the world of video streaming has become quite difficult.

In today’s visually driven world, how can entrepreneurs make sure that their content makes it in front of the right audience?

Optimizing YouTube for Entrepreneurial Success

Building a YouTube channel seems like a relatively simple task. Simply sign up for an account, upload an image for your profile, and begin uploading videos. Easy enough, right?

Well, not exactly.

To engineer positive growth as an entrepreneur on YouTube, there are going to be a range of essential practices that must be followed. Much like any other tool in the entrepreneur’s toolbox, getting the most out of YouTube will require a bit of preparation. Let’s break down a few key ways that YouTube brands can set themselves apart through the power of video media.

1) Create a Steady Stream of Content – Whether you are selling marketing eBooks or homemade goods, creating a steady stream of content is essential for finding success on YouTube. Create a schedule and stick to it and you’ll watch in wonder as your sub and viewer count grows. Make sure to link all of your content together through annotations and URLs in your description boxes. This will make it easier than ever for your potential customers to find new content to consume.

2) Optimize Your Channel – We can take a look at this YouTube Channel to see an example of an optimized profile. Don’t let your channel fade into the background and instead upload professional images, links, colors, and branding information. The more information you put on your profile, the easier it will be for your profile to be found.

3) Engage With the Metadata – To enjoy prolonged success on YouTube, you are going to have to get into the nitty-gritty details. Write a detailed description of your videos that focuses heavily on keywords related to your brand. Choose the right keywords and video categories, making sure to specify where needed. A video about Golden Retrievers can include “dogs” “golden retrievers” and “goldens” as examples.

4) Understand Your Audience – If you are trying to monetize your YouTube channel, make sure that you understand your target audience. According to the best SEO practices at the time of this writing, the ideal YouTube video length is roughly eight minutes. If you aren’t sure how long your video content should be, take some time to browse similar creators in your industry. Use this information to guide your content and be ready to adjust as needed.

Social media and video marketing are two platforms that are here for the long-haul. While we are well past the early days of social media and video marketing, savvy entrepreneurs can embrace the tips listed above to get a jumpstart on their competition.