When creating a webpage, everything should lead back to the user. It is all too easy to forget this when we are creating a page. By implementing some of the following principals, you can be sure that your page will provide a user friendly experience.

Easy To Find Information

The moment that your page loads, it should not take your user more than a few seconds to find what they are looking for. On the contrary, if the user has ended up on your page and is simple browsing, it should be easy for them to find the most attention grabbing content on your page. Many people visit a webpage just to find contact information. This information should either be right on your front page or under an easy to see contact link.

Responsive Web Design

Millions of people are accessing the Internet via smartphones. If your website is going to be user friendly, it is an absolute necessity that it is just as usable on a phone as it is on a laptop. Responsive design will ensure that your web page will display legibly no matter what platform it is on. Having a page that is not navigable on mobile does not mean you are alienating a small percentage of users, but a huge portion.

Hyper Relevant Content

If there is some way for you to adjust your content on an individual basis, do so. With the ability to determine a user’s location, local online marketing has become vital. Whether it is automatically adjusted contact information or slight variations of your page for different regions cater to the user.

Attractive but Unobtrusive Design

The glossy buttons of Web 2.0 have come and gone. The modern web design trend is geared towards usability. Many pages appear to be nothing more than content with an irrelevant design slapped on top. Every design decision should in some way support your content. Important elements can be emphasized via typography, spacing or color.

Speed

Don’t waste a user’s time. With the massive amount of websites on the Internet today, a slow loading page may be enough for a user to opt for a competitor’s site instead of yours. Despite the fact that mobile devices and networks are improving, your page will still run slower on that platform. More importantly, the increased functionality of CSS3 gives you no excuse for having huge image files or a slow loading Flash animation.

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Annette is a freelance blogger and small business owner that enjoys writing about business advice. She is also a health nut and often writes about health as well.

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The post Five Elements of a User Friendly Website appeared first on The Working House.

Maintaining independent servers has become increasingly unfeasible and inefficient even for larger businesses, due to rapid changes in technology and the increased efficiency of colocation. Datacenters benefit greatly from economies of scale, meaning that colocation facilities such as the new PEER 1 Hosting datacenter in Portsmouth, UK, offer lower expense-per-server thanks to the benefits of a single large center in terms of cooling, land, and personnel.

Colocation Services Offered by Datacenters

Customers of datacenters offering colocation services lease server cabinets and cages which they then access via the internet. The physical servers and cages are securely stored and inaccessible to other clients and, except by request, the service provider. Clients personally handle the installation and administration of their hardware at the datacenter. Some colocation centers offer additional services administered by personnel specializing in server maintenance.

As colocation facilities focus exclusively on maintaining a quality environment for client servers, infrastructure typically surpasses what would be reasonable for a business to independently maintain. Features that exceed those offered by less optimized proprietary datacenters include:
– Careful regulation of temperature and humidity through advanced systems.
– Particle filtration to minimize dust.
– Power source redundency backed by uninterruptible power supplies.
– Physical security to prevent theft of hardware and the data stored within.
– High bandwidth capacity backed by advanced infrastructure to maintain quality.
– Technical services and monitoring such as firewalls, central data storage, backups, and defenses against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

By utilizing colocation, businesses gain improved reliability, reduced latency, and quality for a fraction of the front-end and ongoing expense a private datacenter would require. Colocation also allows for much easier scaling as a business grows, unlike proprietary centers which may not have the capacity for additional servers in terms of bandwidth quality or physical space.

PEER 1 Hosting maintains state-of-the-art datacenters offering colocation services from 10 cities across Europe and North America.

United Kingdom Centers:
– Portsmouth, Hampshire
– Fleet, Hampshire

United States Centers:
– Los Angeles, California
– San Jose, California
– Seattle, Washington
– New York, New York
– Miami, Florida

Canada Centers:
– Vancouver, British Columbia
– Toronto, Ontario
– Montreal, Quebec

An Example of the Benefits of Peer 1 Hosting Datacenters

The new Portsmouth facility, a 5,372 sq. meter colocation datacenter delivering over 11 MVA (megavolt ampere) of power, offers many benefits to colocation clients:
– High-efficiency free air cooling system.
– Defenses against natural disasters and flooding.
– Redundancy in electrical, power generation, and cooling systems.
– Advanced security technology, including HD camera systems, MOD biometrics, motion sensors, and man traps.
– 24×7 physical security and surveillance.
– Innovative advances in datacenter technology, including low-impact green technology.
– On-site administrators to reboot, reload, and troubleshoot your stored servers.
– Access to the facility any time; day or night, 365 days a year.

Article Written by:
Jacob Pettit is a journalist from Australia. He writes for several newspapers about different topics. Each piece written by him attracts number of readers.

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Your business is your livelihood, and your customers are the pillars of your business. To sustain the contentment they feel and the loyalty they have for your business, there are certain things you shouldn’t stop doing.

Keeping Your Customers First

Opening your doors to everyone evinces your eagerness to serve, and implementing a policy that favors customers demonstrates your confidence in the services you provide. It also denotes your commitment to your customers’ satisfaction. Nothing drives in more sales than a happy customer base, which is conducive to your company’s success and longevity.

Improving Your Services

Clearly, your services are why your customers are loyal to your brand, so it goes without saying that every second you invest in making your services more efficient is time well spent. More importantly, it’s one of the sure-fire ways you can streamline your company as well as give your customers something to talk about with countless others.

Training Your Staff to Learn More

What says a lot about you as a business owner is the kind of people you hire, so it’s of the utmost importance that you regularly train your staff team. The day you become complacent about your staff team will be the beginning of your company’s demise.

Giving Back to the Community

What’s a better way to show your customers how much you appreciate them than to give back to their community? In other words, be proactive and involved in the everyday matters that affect them. Whether financially involved or not, you should participate in philanthropic events, such as fundraisers and charities.

Reaching Out to and Teaming Up with Partners

While it’s crucial for you to make business moves that will help you to be competitive, you shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it’s in your best interest to reach out to and team up with like-minded businesspersons. When you begin to turn down help from such persons, you potentially and inadvertently jeopardize your chances of getting bigger and better business opportunities, especially if you’re into dental office marketing.

Enhancing Your Communication Services

It should come as no surprise that customers expect your line of communication services to be in sync and straightforward. The last thing they want to experience, when seeking advice for concerns, is a delay, so you should go the extra mile to ensure your communication services are on point. Failing to do so may result in the demise of either your company or your longstanding reputation.

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Casey Haslem - I’m a 25 year old writer. My hobbies are reading, painting and pretending I know how to write a book (I don’t). I love meeting people and making new friends. Writing opens up a whole world of new ideas and possibilities for me. I wouldn’t change a thing.

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A company’s written marketing materials play a strategic role in promoting its products or services. Well-written brochures, product descriptions, and Web content can convince prospective customers to give the business a try. The following 5 keys can enhance the success of your marketing writing.

1. Write with the customer in mind.

It’s tempting to describe your business in terms that are important to you, such as its history, size, and annual revenues. But customers are more interested in the product or services that may be useful. They want to know about quality, cost, convenience, and guarantees or warranties. Develop written materials from a customer’s perspective, and try to get customer feedback and suggestions before finalizing the materials.

2. Keep it simple.

Short paragraphs, medium-length sentences, and factual information are what potential buyers are looking for. Long, detailed passages are boring and time-consuming. Use a snappy prose style, and hire a freelance copywriter for assistance, if necessary. Review the materials of your top competitors for ideas about how to develop your written marketing materials. Don’t be extravagant; most people want to be informed, not impressed.

3. Maintain accuracy.

Keep your marketing content up to date, especially on the company website, which is typically visited often. Update print materials periodically to ensure all information is still relevant. Proofread every piece of marketing material to eliminate grammar and punctuation mistakes, or misspellings. Check dates, names, and locations, as these are often the source of errors.

4. Use an upbeat tone.

Write with positive words like “can,” “will,” “best,” “right,” “good,” and so on, to instill in the readers’ minds a good feeling. Avoid negative words like “can’t,” “won’t,” “shouldn’t,” “mistakes,” and “wrong.” Even if you use these words about competitors, they subconsciously plant negative images in readers’ minds, which could turn them away from your company. If you must include a negative statement, such as a limited discount offer, it’s best to place it in the middle of a paragraph, as the beginning and end get more attention.

5. Avoid exaggeration.

Making unfounded claims or unrealistic promises is unethical and a turnoff to many customers. Simply emphasize one or two qualities about your product or services, and that should be enough.

Writing quality marketing materials is an important aspect of sales. What people read will have a strong impact on them regarding the way they view your company and its level of professionalism.

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Hayley is a freelance blogger. Make critical business decisions quickly and accurately with your own CEO dashboard.

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It is important for any budding entrepreneurs to make sure they are knowledgeable about the insurance premiums, tax write-offs, and mileage deductions that are related to this practice. The following information may prove helpful to those entering into any home-based business that requires the use of their personal vehicles:

Insuring a Vehicle Used for Business Purposes

All insurance companies handle this differently, and people who plan to use their personal vehicle for business purposes should begin by calling their current insurance agent to discuss this issue and get quotes. Most companies charge according to the amount of miles the vehicle will be driven and the safety record of the vehicle. The more time that a vehicle spends on the road, the more likely it is to be involved in an accident, so business people can expect to pay higher premiums for protection. However, this works both ways because this insurance provides greater liability limits to protect the assets of the business. Although bundling this type of commercial vehicle insurance with other personal insurance usually results in the best pricing, it is still a great idea to get several quotes from different insurance companies.

Claiming Mileage for Tax Benefits

Although the Internal Revenue Service will not pay a person to drive to work, the government does give business owners who use their personal vehicles to serve clients a significant write-off. Business owners must keep an accurate record of the mileage that occurred because of business needs and the reason for each trip. Business people who use their car for their company should record their beginning and ending mileage each year and the date, time, purpose, and miles traveled for each business trip. Resetting the tripometer should become standard operating procedure after the business driver fastens his or her seatbelt. Mileage reimbursement rates periodically change when a car is being used for business purposes, so it is important to check the IRS mileage and travel reimbursement rules each year to stay abreast of current rates.

Many people who use their vehicle for business purposes have discovered that an online mileage calculator is very helpful in determining the amount of money they should receive as reimbursement from their company. All records related to vehicle usage and expenses should be carefully filed away at the end of each recording period to serve as evidence in case of a future IRS audit.

Article Written by:

Charlotte Fletcher works from home and thinks it’s essential to stay up to date with the rules regarding using your own vehicle for business purposes. She writes for Monkey, a car insurance comparison website.

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As the economy remains in a somewhat fragile state, it might seem like a bad time to start a business – but that’s not necessarily the case. Many companies thrived during the recession due to clever marketing strategies and smart money-making plans, so it’s still possible to turn over a profit.

If you’re planning to leave your 9-5 and go your own way, however, there are certain things to consider including:

1. YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

Whether you’re selling industrial first aid kits or hair and beauty essentials, you must know your target audience. This will help you devise an innovative marketing campaign and ensure your logos slogans and sales messages are tailored towards the right people. Paper surveys, online questionnaires and product research can help you generate ideas, so avoid jumping in at the deep end without gathering your facts.

2. YOUR AIMS AND AMBITIONS

If you want to become a successful entrepreneur, your aims and ambitions must be clear as day – because if you don’t know them, no one else will. It must be obvious what you’re promoting, selling or offering, so put a clear business plan in place and work out a realistic structure. There’s no harm in starting off small and aiming big, so long as you take a step by step approach to achieving your dreams.

3. WHERE YOU WILL WORK

Working from home might seem idealistic but it can be isolating and lonely. If you’re a one-man band, you might prefer to rent out an office or move into a shared building, so long as you can afford it. Your budget will largely shape where you’re based, but it is well-worth looking into your options before making a final decision.

4. WHO YOU WILL EMPLOY

The size of your workforce will likely depend on the success of your company. While you might not be able to take on many staff at the beginning, this could all change a year down the line. Before you hire anyone new, however, work out a staffing budget and see if you have the financial stability to expand your team. Employing people is a big responsibility and you don’t want to leave anyone out of pocket.

5. HOW TO STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW

As an employer, it’s essential to stay on the right side of the law. There are plenty of rules and regulations to follow so brush up on your obligations and stay out of trouble. Everything from signs and notices to UK first aid kits are deemed workplace essentials and of course there are tax considerations to consider. This might all seem a little overwhelming, but you must be on the ball if you want to run a business.

There’s plenty to think about when you start a company, but it could all be worth it in the long-run.

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Now that you have made the decision to start the business, there is more work to be done before the doors open. Here are five important tips to preparing to work for yourself.

1. Decide if you will be operating as a DBA or a corporation. DBA means you will be using a business name instead of your real name. Many small businesses start as DBA, and change to a corporation as they grow.

2. Register your business and get a business license. Requirements vary from state to state, so you need to check what your state requires. Do a Google search for “how to start up a business in (insert your state’s name here).” Follow your state’s instructions.

3. Check out your local banks to determine which bank works best for your business’s needs. Open a savings account for your business. Banks often have special packages for start-up business. People often forget to open a saving account, but it is important as a subtle reminder that you need to be saving parts of the profits.

4. Join your local Chamber of Commerce. This will help spread the word that you are opening a business and help you to network with other local business owners. Here is another place to ask for recommendations for printers, carriers, and other needs .

5. Print business cards and stationery. (Your bank may have recommendations on where you can place your order.) Hopefully, you have already obtained a logo, if you were going to have one. Place your logo on everything you have printed. If you are using plastic or paper bags, you should print them on all your bags. Having your customers carrying your shopping bag around the city is like have free walking billboards. Carry your business cards with you at all times, and be free about handing them out. At the next Chamber of Commerce meeting exchange business cards with other owners.

Beginning a business and learning how to work for yourself can be challenging. By following these five tips though, you will be headed in the right direction, which is depositing those profits into your new saving account. Good Luck in your new business!

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On opening day, you want to attract as many customers as you can. There are three different items that can help make your new business a success. These items will help you no matter what type of products or services you are going to be offering. Remember that the goal is to get people to notice your business and want what you to have to offer. You want to do everything possible to make your business look unique and appealing to potential shoppers.

Banners

To begin with, a custom vinyl sign can really help to draw in customers to your business. You should hang your vinyl sign up on opening day so that your customers will be able to find you quickly and easily. You can have your name printed on your vinyl sign along with a logo or picture. You want your customers to be able spot your sign from a distance away. A custom sign will help to get potential customers excited about stopping at your business. To learn more about custom vinyl banners, visit Signs.com.

Flyers

Flyers are another thing that can help your business to be successful and that will bring people in to your business. Be sure and hand out flyers on the opening day of your business to as many different people as you can. You should have attractive flyers that show potential customers what you have to offer. You want to make sure that you give customers a reason to stop by your business on opening day. For example, you may want to give a discount off of certain products or services if customers bring in a flyer with them.

Sales

Sale posters can be another great item to use on opening day along with balloons. You want to make your business stands out and everyone loves a deal. By placing large signs advertising the fact that you are having a sale in your windows, you can enjoy watching customers come in to see what you have to offer. Try to find colorful posters to use and you can add balloons around your posters to make them stand out even more. You can also use streamers to make your posters stand out. If you want, you can even add balloons and streamers outside of your business near your vinyl sign as well. Have fun on your opening day. You can be creative and have fun with your custom signs, flyers, and posters. The important thing is to let customers know that you are open.

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Annette is a freelance blogger and small business owner that enjoys writing about business advice. She is also a health nut and often writes about health as well.

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The post Your First Day of Business: Three Things that Will Bring People in appeared first on The Working House.

Whenever you are involved in sales, the most important thing to remember is that you need to be able to tell other people why your product is better than anything else on the market right now. Even if you have the best product or service in the world for a certain market, you need to remember that no one else actually knows that unless you tell them. Since we do not live in a world of completely honesty, you also need to be able to back up what you say to people. Because of the need for certain data for executives, it’s important to remember that there are various tools available that can help optimize the collection of this data. Whether you are a financial business that makes investments for your clients or a lawyer who works at a small firm, you need to be able to show other people that you can provide exactly what they need.

Open and clear communication with your clients and customers is one of the most important aspects of a successful business, so you need to make sure that you are able to tell people the facts when they ask for them. Using a data collection tool, like one of the many tools offered by Domo, can help you collect and sort all of the data that your business needs to share with others. For example, if you are someone who manages funds for your clients, then you need to be able to show people the kinds of returns they can expect to get if they sign up for your service. No one is going to invest with you if you do not publish your track record, and this simple fact can be applied to basically any other kind of business. It does not matter if you are selling stock or selling concrete, people will want you to have some facts to back up your sales pitch.

Whenever you walk into a meeting with a new client, you need to make sure that you are prepared for any question that they could throw your way. It is also important to remember that they will not simply trust any figures that you tell them, so you will need to have a long list of different types of data that you can share with your prospective clients. Show them your sales from last year, what kind of pricing you will be able to offer over the long term and anything else that could help you show them why you are the best option on the market.

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Annabelle Smyth is currently a loving and caring mother of two children. She lives outside of Milwaukee, WI and loves cheering for the Bucks and Badgers. She is a blog enthusiast and loves writing, if she is not writing she is cleaning up after her two lovely angels. Email- Annabellesmyth@gmail.com

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Many owners of small businesses fail to consider the implications of bookkeeping on their business. Bookkeeping helps in effectively managing your finances, and must be performed by every business. Here are a few guidelines, tips and tricks to help you maintain your books.

Record the Right Books on a Daily Basis

Bookkeeping is a process that requires you to maintain appropriate books on a regular basis. It is best to make immediate journal entries every time you make a transaction. Journal entries can be made in accrual basis, or cash entries. Entries are made prior to a transaction in accrual basis, whereas cash entries refer to entries made after the completion of a transaction.

There are five main books of accounts that you may maintain for better record of your financial data. Cash transactions can be recorded in the cash book, transactions completed on debit or credit basis in the creditor-debtor book, purchase entries in the purchases book, sales entries in the sales book, and transactions impacting bank accounts in the bank book. Journal entries must be passed regularly to keep the books updated.

Keep Records of Transactions

Apart from observing your accounting books regularly, you must also keep appropriate records. For instance, your sales and purchases books must contain the invoices of each transaction. Similarly, all promissory notes and bills of exchange must be recorded in the creditor-debtor books. Maintaining these records will be of great benefit in terms of verification.

Provisions must be made for Expenses

Your business will benefit if you make the necessary provision for expenses like procurement of assets, payments to creditors, loans and taxation. Appropriate provisions can be made for planned and anticipated expenses by taking up fixed return investment or by opening a bank account.

Strict and Regular Audit

It is very important to establish and maintain transparency with the financial side of your business. Transparency can be ensured by regular audit of your accounting books. Audits must be conducted frequently and strictly as they can reduce the possibility of errors and also eliminate the possibility of late payments and frauds.

Keep a Reminder System

Most small businesses use programs and software to maintain their accounting books. These programs make the process easier and also more accurate. A reminder system can be installed in the software so that you can receive alerts or notifications regarding accounts receivable or payable, along with the account details. This will ensure that pay-offs are made on time.

Maintaining proper books of accounts can help small businesses to a great extent as owners can save money on verification and also be able to easily and effectively manage their finances.

Article Written by:

Grace is an expert associated with i3Group, a leading payroll service provider. Their customized corporate payroll solutions have helped many blue-chip brands across various fields manage payroll obligations efficiently.

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