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Forklifts Financing: The Benefits Of Leasing

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As anyone who works in manufacturing will testify, purchasing new equipment is by no means cheap. If we hone in on the topic of today’s article, forklifts financing, it starts to become even more obvious how costly it can be to fund such machinery.

This is where a more creative approach is required. Paying up-front for these tools is asking for trouble; it’s something that’s going to give your business some serious cash flow problems (unless you are one of the biggest companies in your field).

One of these creative options comes in the form of leasing. We will now take a look at some of the benefits of leasing forklifts, in a bid to save you and your business a lot of money for years to come.

The ability to conserve cash

The first benefit is probably the most obvious; the ability for your company to conserve cash. If you were to purchase a forklift outright, you would be paying tens of thousands, and potentially more in some cases, in cash. This is cash that could have otherwise been spent on different areas of your business.

With leasing, you are effectively renting. This means each month you are paying only a small amount, meaning that you have plenty left over to spend on further growth.

Have access to all of the mod cons

This is one of those benefits which a lot of people don’t expect. Again, when you purchase equipment, you tend to be tied-in for the long-term. Due to the fact that you have parted with so much money, it means that you almost feel committed to use the machinery for as long as it is useful for. As well as this, you are also financially committed – and it’s rare for a company to be able to constantly purchase new equipment (unless they are huge in size).

With leasing, this problem can be navigated somewhat. You can commit to a shorter lease, and by the end of it you can then opt for a newer piece of equipment. This often turns out to be a much better approach than hanging on to old equipment, which is difficult to sell towards the end of its working life.

The balance sheet factor

For those businesses that at least need to appear better on paper, this benefit is for them. As we all know, if you purchase a piece of equipment outright, it’s immediately regarded as long-term debt. In other words, it’s going to remain on your balance sheet for years to come.

If, on the other hand, you opt for a lease, this is simply regarded as an expense. To some people, the difference will only be aesthetic, but for others it could make or break their business. It might make it more attractive to potential investors, who are keen to look at balance sheets in a bid to identify a healthy business. The less debt you have, the more chance you have of appearing as one of these.

Reconstructive Breast Surgery, How to Feel Confident After an Operation

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I know that there are many women out there like myself who have been through a cancer scare, and been forced to have one or both breasts removed. For any woman this is an incredibly difficult time and one which can leave you lacking confidence, feeling like less of a woman and ultimately acts as a real shock to the system.

It was early last year that I went through reconstructive breast surgery, an operation which gave me a far more positive outlook on life. If you have been through a mastectomy or breast reconstructive surgery like myself, it can be difficult to feel like the confident and comfortable you again, but there are ways in which you can do it.

Clothing

Clothing plays a huge role in how comfortable you feel and getting the choice right, in light of your new shape, can be a big factor in getting the confident you back. Instead of looking at the clothes that you now can’t wear, it is far better to focus on the new styles and designs which you are able to wear. Another way to make yourself feel better is to go for a new bra fitting, there are some wonderful options to give you a fuller looking chest through using a variety of different bras. The key is to first focus on styles and designs, and then fill your wardrobe up with clothes which will bring that confidence back.

Speaking Out

One of the best ways in which you can get your confidence back after this kind of procedure is to be active in terms of speaking about it. Doing so with friends or family members who have not been through a mastectomy, may not always be the best choice and it will be far better to speak to those who have experience. With this inn mind, a great idea is to try and find some online forums where you can have a chat with those who have been though a similar experience to you. The beauty of joining a forum is that it is relatively anonymous and so you can speak freely about any fears or self esteem issues which you may be facing. The support and tips from women on these forums can be a great way to help you regain some of your confidence.

Speaking With Partner

Sexual activity can be a very difficult subject to approach after a mastectomy and it is important that you understand 2 things, firstly that there is no rush at all, and secondly that maintaining an open conversation with your partner is vital. The mastectomy will change many aspects of sexual relations and you will need to adapt, with this being said, a healthy sex life is more than achievable for anyone who has been through an operation such as this. Maintain your honesty and don’t rush, you will be just fine.

Your confidence will come back, it may just take some time.

Recruitment: Myths About Background Checks

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Like all industries, recruitment has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years. Once upon a time you may have been sending a paper CV directly to the employer; now, there are recruitment agencies and the age of digital has well and truly taken over.

Something else which has changed in the landscape are background checks. Previously, these were just not possible. From a cost perspective, they were just too expensive, and many companies just didn’t see the need for them.

Well, this is certainly changing. Whether it’s an arrest record or a standard background check, it’s easier than ever before to obtain details about a potential recruit – and this plays perfectly into the hands of an employer.

Of course, due to the fact that they are still quite new on the scene, there are some myths dotting around. Here, we will take a look at some of them, and start to debunk them once and for all.

Myth #1 – A background check takes weeks to run

Once upon a time this might have been true, but the reality now is that this is just not practical. If a company was to take weeks to mull over a background check, by the time they received the results back there’s every chance that their preferred candidate has found a new job.

As such, the systems work much faster than this. Generally, it takes days, and if it’s going to take longer you need to seriously think about the provider that you are using (there’s more on this in the third myth we talk about).

Myth #2 – You don’t always need to conduct a background check

It’s at this point that we will hand out a frightening statistic. Almost 20% of employers said in a survey that they made a bad hiring decision after not conducting a background check. When we also tell you that these bad hires cost on average $17,000 – it’s certainly an expensive mistake.

Sure, you might be trying to save money for your business, but at the same time this might cost you even more in the long-run if you make a bad decision in the hiring process.

Myth #3 – All background checks are great

Unfortunately, this is something that we just can’t agree with. There has been a surge in background check services over the last few years, and some of them are of exceptional quality. Like most industries, there are some poor ones though, and dealing with one of these can present some real problems to your business.

Receiving the wrong information is naturally a recipe for disaster. It’s something that could make a potentially good candidate out of the running, or vice-versa.

It’s for this reason that you should really analyze the service you are using, or opt for the DIY-approach. In relation to the latter, this means finding information yourself via the official channels, rather than relying on an external party to conduct the searches for you.

How a Reputation Management Agency Can Monitor Your Brand

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If a brand wants to do well online and offline, they need a solid reputation, with a foundation in their digital presence. However, it is not just down to good designs and excellent content. A high quality product or service backed by excellent customer service is perhaps even more important. In fact, even the way in which employees are treated has an impact on reputation. A reputation management agency will usually focus on the digital content that exists, although they may also provide advice on issues such as customer service and employee satisfaction.

A Reputation Management Agency Teaches You to Walk the Walk

All brands need to have a consistent spread and marketing of positive, genuine, and fresh online content. They aim is to make sure that if any negative content exists, it is hard for others to find. Research has shown that people now read a lot of reviews before deciding whether or not to trust a brand, so it is very important that you have reviews to offer, and that they are positive. The damage from negative reviews can be offset thanks to reputation management strategies, but it is obviously better to attract positive reviews in the first place.

A great way to make a brand look positive outside of attracting good reviews is to create authoritative content. This content has to provide something of value to the audience, setting the company apart as a trustworthy expert in their niche. At the same time, this content has to be SEO (Search Engine Optimization) optimized, meaning it contains the right keywords and the right backlinks. It should also be posted in all the right places, which is anywhere where a potential customer could search for information about this particular niche.

Essentially, this is about talking the talk (creating content) and walking the walk (showing that you mean what you say and having this confirmed through positive reviews).

Real Life Scenarios

Businesses can do a variety of different things in order to improve their overall image. Obviously, this should start by focusing on customer service. It has been shown in a study by Dimensional Research that 54% of people would share complaints about receiving a bad customer service at least five different times, in different places. Furthermore, the survey showed that 58% of people are now far more likely to leave reviews compared to the same time five years ago.

It simply cannot be stressed enough how important it is to offer the highest levels of customer service. Reputation management can do a lot to make it harder to find negative information. Excellent content strategies can set you apart as an expert in your field. But if the real life element, which is your customers interacting with you, your product/service, and your customer service, is a negative one, no amount of hard work can make it better. You need to see reputation management as a form of marketing, in other words, and that only works if your foundation is right.

The Rise Of The Live Streams

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“Livestreaming Wikimania 2016 Esino Lario” by Sebastiaan Ter Burg (CC BY 2.0)

If you have found yourself watching any kind of digital media recently, there is a good chance that you have done so using a live stream. Despite being a relatively new phenomenon, the market for this particular brand of video content has been growing exponentially over the past few years and based on current projections, it looks set to become even bigger in 2018.

For those who are somehow unaware of this latest trend, live videos are a type of streaming media where the content is simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real time. The technology has actually been around for the best part of a decade, having gained popularity within the video gaming community through platforms such as Twitch. However, these services have now spread into other sectors and as a result, they have begun to become a part of some people’s daily lives.

Much of this popularity can be linked to the release of easy-to-access live streaming software for social media over the last couple of years. Apps such as Facebook Live, Periscope, and Instagram have all made it easier than ever for their users to share and stream content to their peers. On top of this, almost every social media platform has integrated live streaming into their services, allowing anyone to take advantage and offering a potentially massive audience to those willing to try.

Source: Pexels

That is not all, however, as streaming has also made it easier for people to watch live coverage of news and events. Almost every major sporting event is available to view through some form of live media as fans are foregoing traditional television broadcasts in favour of watching on other devices. Meanwhile, the massive growth and success of the eSports industry in recent years has been largely attributed to services like Twitch, which is currently one of the biggest streaming sites in the world, boasting over 100 million users per month.

Another frequent use for interactive streaming is for hosting live casino games. These interactive streams, featuring offer an authentic gaming experience that anyone can participate in from the comfort of their own homes. They also allow players to take advantage of bonus offers, like the current free spins offered by diverse online casinos reviewed by bonus.ca, though whether that is something that interests you is a question answered here.

These qualities that live streams are also an extremely viable tool for digital marketing. With the market growing as it is, brands and creators can use these streaming services to deliver dynamic content and engage with their audiences directly at the same time. Even better, since anyone can access these tools through their social media accounts, it is incredibly cheap and easy to set up.

Looking at the numbers, it is hard to see why anyone would ignore this trend. Over 80% of customers have said that they prefer watching live videos over other types of content and it is predicted that streaming will be a $70.5 billion industry by 2021. In short, live streaming has quickly grown into the next big game changer and it is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down any time soon.

How To Promote Your Business With Personalised Gifts For Your Customers

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Personalised gifts are a nice touch for your customers, and they are also the perfect element to give visibility to your brand in different situations.

Promotional calendars, mugs, caps, T-shirts, and many more items; all these promotional gifts can have a high impact on brand recall.

To get away from your competition we advise you to personalise such items with creativity and take advantage of the specific opportunities offered by each season of the year.

All businesses can benefit from personalised gifts that can be given out at events, workshops, meetings or celebrations as a potential marketing tool. It is only necessary to choose the most suitable items according to the line of business you are in.

Here we present the most common uses of personalised gifts, ranging from the more general that emphasise the brand itself, to more specific ones which can be used as seasonal gifts.

Brand gifts

When we talk about brand gifts, traditional media such as pens or key rings come to mind. However, if you want to stand out from your competition with more innovative and original ideas, you have other innovative items such as magnets, stickers or personalised cups at your disposal.

These are advertising products that, with creative graphic design and excellent printing, can easily become part of the daily routine of the recipient with ease, and that increases the presence of your brand and its visibility.

Promotional gifts

Promotional gifts are linked to a specific marketing action, be it the launch of a product or to promote a certain sales campaign. A very clear example is the promotions in the hospitality sector to increase the sales of a particular brand of beer. In these cases, it is the beer supplier who facilitates the promotional gifts.

But you can also implement your own actions by celebrating a theme without relying on intermediaries. One of the advantages of online printing is the ability to order your own personalised promotional gifts at low cost.

In addition, it will be your own authentic idea, so the gifts will be unique. Why not, for example, organise a themed party this summer that raffles some exclusive shirts among your customers?

Seasonal advertising gifts

Each season provides a specific framework that you can take advantage of to promote your business. For example, one of the star gifts in summer is the fan because it fits perfectly with the need for a touch of fresh air to combat the summer heat. At the same time, it is a versatile medium in that it can constitute a brand gift or promote a specific action.

At the other end of the calendar, Christmas also serves as a clear opportunity for you to optimise the potential of seasonal advertising gifts since Christmas calendars are perfect for this time of year.

Event Planning: 6 Essential Tips For A Successful Event

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Meetings, congresses, workshops, or celebrations; no matter the occasion, a corporate event has to leave a positive impression on the attendees, be they customers, colleagues, investors, etc. With this in mind, we have created a mini guide with six tips so that the event organised by your company creates the expected results.

  1. Dialogue between HR and the participants: It is essential that the workers in charge of the event know who will participate in it. It is important to understand the target audience. Otherwise, you run the risk of offering a schedule that does not interest, for example, a long conference for Generation Y.
  2. Democratic commission: The development of all the areas that will benefit from the event is very important. For that, the ideal is to create a commission with a representative of each participating sector. These people can give suggestions and talk about their expectations, so all involved in the event feel included in the planning process. At this time, the role of the event director is to guide the discussion and reject or accept ideas.
  3. Transform the event into an experience: Circus classes, the creation of a samba school and even collective hypnosis. All these are innovative approaches which have been applied to corporate events. By transforming the event into a playful moment, an unforgettable experience, or a creative epiphany, the attendees enjoy it more and it increases the commitment to the company.
  4. Opportunities for meetings: One of the most interesting things about corporate events is to allow meetings between colleagues who do not know each other personally or might not have had the opportunity to meet in person previously. For this reason, it is important to devote a part of the programming for this purpose, especially so that any external representatives or visitors have a chance to meet with key personnel.
  5. Use technology: Technological innovations are some of your best allies when it comes to planning a corporate event. Ensure all presentation, projection, and other audio-visual needs, etc. are well sourced from a specialist AV hire supplier. Also, specific applications created for the occasion can, for example, help to keep everyone informed about the programming and allow data to be collected from the participants, such as food requirements, among others, as well as being useful for sharing photos of the event. These resources also show that the company is ready for the future.
  6. Giving continuity: The objectives and themes debated in the event should not be forgotten. To guarantee the efficiency of a meeting or workshop, it is necessary to plan how the workers will apply what was discussed. For example, if this goes into the expected budget it has to be estimated not only for the day of the event, but for all that it implies, both before and after.

Technology Helps Improve Customer Experience

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Some of the key marketing approaches have always been advertising, personal selling, and sales promotion. However, even these tested and proved methods tend to carry limitations, especially in the digital era we live in. With the global boundaries dissolving and the competition level rising to new heights, business and firms realize the importance of staying connected with their customers at all times.

It is indeed challenging for companies to achieve their business goals and expand their business. The key lies in how to reach the current customers and the potential ones. There is nothing better for a company than a happy customer who can help get more leads. Improving customer service holds the key here and keeping them happy and satisfied is essential for business growth. Thankfully, the marketers can pick from a wider array of communications tools that can help make efficient and effective communication with customers. The best part is that the newer tools of communication are faster and cheaper than the traditional methods used for feedback on customer experience.

In the era of cut-throat competition, one needs to sell more than just good quality products. The business owners need to focus on excellent customer services too in this highly-competitive business world. Maintaining good relationships and creating a delightful experience with the customers holds the key to boosting business growth. By doing so would create word-of-mouth advertising that remains one of the best marketing strategies till date. Thus, it is important to exceed the expectations of your clients and delight them. It is early essential to give personal attention and provide excellent customer service to the costumers. Once they feel they are valued at your company, they would love to come back. Have a constant interaction with them to know their mind and requirements. They are sure to respond by purchasing your products and services regularly and becoming a loyal customer. Get their feedback about the product, and their experiences as clients’ feedback are important. Understand and know your target audience before selling and marketing your products or services towards them.

Every business needs customers and in order to do so, needs to promote itself by talking about its products and services. The Internet has become a powerful medium to do so and reach out to your customers. Today, the means of promotion and communicating with your customers are only increasing by the day. The best approach is to make use of both the newer and the older communications tool to develop a balanced marketing program for a business. Social Media platforms are being used to increase target market and find new customers. One can reach out to the customers efficiently and create positive experiences. Customer referrals are an inexpensive way and yet the most effective to get more customers. It is essential for a firm and company to place useful information and valuable contest for their customers online. When the customers get valuable information that can be used for their benefit, it helps to build trust and develop new connections. Using the right words and content helps to establish your authority.

and grow into a profitable company, every business needs customers. In order to get customers, every business needs to promote itself. Before the advent of the internet, promotion was easy because there weren’t too many options. It was a matter of deciding between a flyer, a post card, or an ad in the local newspaper. Today, however, the methods for promoting your business are overwhelming and only increasing by the day. There’s social media marketing, search engine marketing, guerrilla marketing, and more. If you are a small business owner struggling to figure out which one to use, or to even get up to speed on which options are out there, you are not alone. To help you navigate the sea of ideas out there for getting the word out about your product or service, we have put together a list of 18 ways that you can promote your business whether you have a budget or not.

What Is GDPR And Why Does It Affect Businesses Worldwide?

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“Secure Data – Cyber Security –” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by perspec_photo88

From this coming May, the European Union (EU) will implement a new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), designed to bring data protection legislation in line with the ways in which data is used in the 21st century. GDPR aims to give EU citizens and residents control over their own sensitive data, empowering them to be able to demand that organisations dispose of unneeded private information and do not share it with other third parties without the individual’s explicit permission.

At present, the UK’s data protection regulations are dictated by the Data Protection Act 1998, enacted after the EU Data Protection Directive 1995. The implementation of GDPR will supersede the existing legislation, unifying data protection rules throughout all EU member states. The Data Protection Act 1998 was formulated prior to the expansion of the internet and cloud technology, and this new legislation is designed to provide greater trust and transparency in the digital age. The EU estimates that the unification of data protection law across its member states will save European businesses around £2bn a year.

The GDPR will be active from 25th May 2018 and it’s important for businesses throughout the EU to be prepared. Severe fines for GDPR non-compliance are set to be dished out to organisations that fail to demonstrate their GDPR enforcement strategy on request. These fines, however punitive they may seem, are deemed necessary to ensure businesses take the protection of personal data seriously.


“Commission” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Andrew Gustar

Who does GDPR apply to?

The EU’s GDPR is applicable to those deemed to be ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’ of individuals’ sensitive data. A controller is someone in charge of why and how personal data is used – for instance an e-commerce website gathering users’ addresses and full names for marketing material distribution, while a processor is the organisation or individual that’s physically processing the data e.g. an IT service provider.

There’s one important thing to note for businesses based outside the EU. Controllers and processors of personal data of EU residents will still be bound by the rules of GDPR even if they are based in the United States, Australia or South-East Asia. More importantly, it is the controller’s responsibility to oversee their processor’s actions and ensure they abide by the GDPR legislation.

When can personal data be used under GDPR?

Put simply, controllers of individuals’ sensitive data must be able to demonstrate that the information they process is done so lawfully, transparently and for a specific, legitimate reason. Moreover, from the moment that reason/goal has been met, the personal data is deemed as no longer needed and must be disposed of accordingly.

In order to obtain individual consent to use sensitive data under GDPR, collectors must make it clear to their subjects what is going on, rather than utilise passive acceptance techniques that are currently commonplace, such as default opt-in subscriptions to newsletters. Controllers are also required to keep a diary of how and when individuals provided their consent. It is within the rights of said individuals to withdraw that consent whenever they see fit.

If your organisation’s current model for receiving user consent for personal data is not up to scratch with the new GDPR legislation, now is the time to overhaul your model and avoid unnecessary financial penalties when it is applied this summer – regardless of where you’re based.

Credit Repair 101: What Happens To Credit When Filing Bankruptcy

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Financial health is considered as one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. However, there will be instances when your financial standing is not as good as you wanted it to be, no matter how hard you try. This could be because of the long list of monetary obligations you owe to your creditors and you do not have sufficient financial resources to pay them back. Scenarios like these may usually lead you to file for bankruptcy as you may view this as the best alternative to end your misery of paying debts. Sure, you will always have this option but you should also remember that filing for bankruptcy is not all good. When you file for bankruptcy, your credit score may be seriously affected. If you still don’t get the connection between your credit and bankruptcy, read on to know more:

  1. Bankruptcy Damages Your Credit Score A Lot – There is no better way to describe the possible negative effects brought by filing a bankruptcy to your credit. During these times, you have to expect the worst that may possibly happen to your credit score, you can learn more here: https://www.crediful.com/bankruptcy-on-your-credit-report/. This financial hardship is said to be one of the worst scenario cases that may occur when dealing with your financial obligations. It may drop down your good credit score depending on the actual value involved in the process. In this sense, the higher your credit is, the higher the decrease is. For example, when you possess a credit score of 800 or above, it may fall down to 200 or 300 points. At some point, it may appear impossible to rehabilitate your financial health and difficult to handle the major decline of your credit. The damage is obviously huge that it would require you to improve how you manage your financial goals.
  2. Filing For Bankruptcy Might Mean Financial Difficulties For You – So you think that when you file for bankruptcy, everything is resolved, right? You’re wrong! Because even if you file for bankruptcy, you are still required to shed off a certain amount of money. You need money to pay for all of the filing fees so you can ensure that this process will be as smooth as possible. Aside from the filing fees, this process also requires you, to take a financial management course and credit counselling – yes, this means that you have to pay for all of these. If you don’t have any savings the moment you filed for bankruptcy, your only option to pay for all of these is by acquiring credit and acquiring too much credit is never good for your financial standing. You might be able to pay for all the requirements before and after the bankruptcy but you might be covered in another set of credits after everything is done.
  3. Bankruptcy Helps in Weakening the Negative Effects on Your Credit In The Long Run – The filing of bankruptcy will most likely hurt your credit score the moment you file for one. This might also have adverse effects with how you plan and restructure your current financial well-being. But this result is only temporary as it may also become a way to rebuild your credit score over time. The record of the filing for bankruptcy may affect your credit score value as it can be seen in your credit report but its influence may decrease as time passes by. You may gradually see how bankruptcy will slowly restore your good credit. This transition will only require time before your credit will be back on the right track. This is primarily because you are no longer in a difficult state of satisfying your financial responsibilities since you do not owe numerous debts anymore. As a result, your credit utilization rate will be enhanced. You just have to wait until your record of bankruptcy will be removed from your credit history because by that time, your credit will be restructured again. However, you have to endure the 10-year period of low credit score value until it will gradually bring to a sound financial status – this is certainly something that is worth waiting for!

These are few things that may happen when you file for bankruptcy. This situation is usually regarded as a desperate move when the need arises and when you’re in a washed up situation. But the negative effects of this financial move can be lessened by knowing how to restore credit. Rebuilding your credit is one of the best options to take after a tremendous financial downfall for several months. Filing of bankruptcy may lead you to re-establishment of new credit accounts after the lapse of ten years. By that time, it is suggested that you design and plan your credits well to avoid the dilemma of having to file for bankruptcy again. For instance, paying off your financial duties on-time and having the money saved to do so each month may eventually increase your credit score. This is the essence of constructing a positive payment record and providing an optimistic information in your credit report. As soon as you have gotten your new line of credits, make sure to create a progress plan so that you’ll be able to see and evaluate your credit performance. With this, you may prevent yourself from getting into monetary problems which will spiral over time.