Pros of using trading apps

In the spring of 2017, the Georgetown Retail & Luxury Association (GRLA) and McDonough School of Business Stanton Distinguished Leaders Series collaborated to host the Global Luxury Summit. This annual event addressed how e-commerce is changing and what it takes to keep up with its ever-evolving future, and featured insight from industry experts like Andrew Brooks.

Andrew Brooks is the CEO of a luxury accessories brand called Vianel and has garnered extensive insight related to organically growing client relationships. He was invited to share his thoughts about brand identity and client relationships. See how this entrepreneur is helping people face the challenges of the market, celebrate accomplishments, and plan ahead for tomorrow.

The Structure of the Summit

The one-day summit included a keynote speech from Aerin Lauder, as well as a discussion panel with Vianel’s Andrew Brooks, Jocelyn Gailliot, and Olga Vidisheva. Senior at Georgetown and president of GRLA, Anthony Fadil, moderated the panel.

The keynote address by Lauder was praised as inspiring by the audience. It gave people a glimpse into what it takes to create an online lifestyle brand for women. Her mission is to bring beauty to the lives of her customers, no small feat when there are so many luxury products on both the virtual and physical store shelves.

All the panelists had launched ventures within the past five years, giving them a wealth of relevant experience to draw from:

• Brooks started Vianel after he couldn’t find a cardholder accessory of his liking.
• Gailliot was the first online retailer to specialize in all-American prep.
• Vidisheva launched her business to connect local boutiques to global clients.

The focus of the summit was on how to both cultivate a brand identity that can stand out in the crowded virtual landscape and how to nurture client relationships without the benefit of being able to interact with customers in person.

Andrew Brooks Shares His Experience

Andrew Brooks was named as one of the “30 Under 30” Retail by Forbes 2017. After establishing his reputation in the retail world, his venture is poised to make big strides on e-commerce platforms. He remarked, “The key for e-commerce is to have some type of relationship with the customer.”

For Brooks, this means carving out space away from his competitors and leaning into his core values to direct the rest of the enterprise. From invoices to emails, Andrew Brooks’ goal is to create the kind of consistency that will make his company worth choosing. Online customers today are used to having endless choices, and even more established entrepreneurs can sometimes still get swallowed up in the mix. He was able to avoid this fate by paying attention to who was interested in his products.

The Power of Social Media

All of the discussion panelists rely on digital tools to impress their customers, but Aerin Lauder sold the benefits of social media to the audience at the Global Luxury Summit. Her philosophy is that platforms like Instagram make it possible to have a one-on-one connection with customers, regardless of how many followers a brand has. Once she learned how to highlight what her empire was doing and how it was helping people keep up with their lifestyle, Lauder saw her website’s traffic increase 5 times over.

As the granddaughter of Estée Lauder, she’s a part of a long lineage in the beauty industry. She recalled stories about how her grandmother was no stranger to jumping into the job. Whether she was applying foundation to a prospective customer or just listening to someone talk about their routine, there’s no doubt Lauder’s vibrance and enthusiasm fueled the larger success of the brand.

In today’s virtual world, the younger Lauder doesn’t have that kind of opportunity to do the same things her grandmother did. In fact, none of the panelists do. Each of them had to find their own way to talk to customers based on what they sold and who they sold it to. Social media is one (albeit an effective) way to do it.

The Importance of Authenticity

When Vianel founder Andrew Brooks started on his quest, it was because he legitimately couldn’t find a product he liked. Rather than settle for something second-rate, he decided to design something he would want. In terms of authenticity, you can’t get much better than this. When Brooks began finding an audience who also appreciated his unique sense of style, it was that much easier for him to build on the budding brand.

Like all entrepreneurs, he knows what it means to take risks. Far from the glossier descriptions of growing your audience (and online traffic) brick by brick, Andrew Brooks has put in countless hours to understand his target demographic. It’s not just an age range or an income bracket for him. He’s looking at what people want and how they live. He’s taking the time to understand more about how they relate to the world and the people around them. Fashion is more than perfect stitching and complementary colors. To Brooks, it’s a way for us to showcase our own values and identities. He keeps this in mind with everything he sells.

Even younger consumers are extremely savvy today, and they can spot the difference between marketing slogans and real talk. Part of putting the customer first means having a brand that stands for something and doesn’t apologize for it. This is ultimately the key to building some sort of a relationship with a company.

Following One with the Other

Andrew Brooks knows that authenticity is the perfect segue into better client relationships. If he’s going to go up against the big names, there’s a lot to be said for finding a different way to talk to his audience. It means engaging with customers on a level they might not be used to.

In e-commerce, it’s the customers who can express what they’re looking for, which will give a CEO like Andrew Brooks a better idea of what’s coming down the pipeline and how he can expand to ensure that he’s ready for the changes. If he’s not listening or not asking for feedback in the first place, he would miss all that critical information entirely.

The human value within our company is the key element that enhances each one of the advantages it can offer. That’s why Horizon Oasis FZ LLC values recruiting staff with experience in artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies to develop the best products designed to provide people with added value. If you are interested in developing disruptive technologies, read until the end and find out how Horizon Oasis aims to create effective solutions for both small and large companies on a global level.

One company, lots of tools!

Horizon Oasis FZ LLC, with its main headquarters in the United Arab Emirates, has been set up by Cristian Carmona who founded of this company after successfully becoming involved in a large number of projects related to blockchain and negotiation platforms for digital assets. Below is a detailed explanation of this company’s goals and the future vision to take forward ambitious projects on a global level.

Why Horizon Oasis FZ LLC?

The versatility offered by Horizon Oasis FZ LLC comes from its ability to create an ecosystem in which it is possible to create and develop tools based on blockchain technology and artificial intelligence to generate a significant global impact that can help different brands and companies to achieve their business goals. Horizon Oasis combines technological experience, business intelligence and the best modern technologies along with a team of qualified experts to offer high value results for everyone.

The many tools it can offer include the development of test applications for participation, wallet applications, smart contracts, commercial robots and algorithms, master nodes, validation nodes, smart groups, among many other options that will be improved and updated over time to provide the maximum value possible.

What positions does Horizon Oasis FZ LLC have available?

This company is in a process of expansion with a view to globalisation which, in turn, requires qualified individuals for a large number of job positions; hence, through its official account on LinkedIn, the staff recruitment process has started for some of the most important areas. Below is a brief explanation of what the company is looking for in terms of professional skills and abilities.

Senior Quality Control Engineer.

“In charge of improving technical capabilities and providing guidance and management to help to make key decisions related to the project by carrying out occasional testing of basic security, web applications and mobile testing. You will also work alongside other engineers and developers on different layers of the infrastructure. Therefore, a commitment to collaborative problem solving, sophisticated design and the creation of quality products is essential” Horizon Oasis FZ LLC Team.

Senior GoLang Developer.

“In charge of developing Go packages and applications that are scalable and easy to maintain, handle architecture problems by considering all of the details of its implementation and productively collaborating within the team” Oasis FZ LLC Team.

If you have experience in the aforementioned areas, visit the link below and apply to become part of the work team at Horizon Oasis FZ LLC. Bring your knowledge to this leading company in the creation and development of disruptive technologies that enable small and large companies to grow exponentially on a global scale.

I WANT TO APPLY

 [BT1]Quality assurance engineer

HORIZON OASIS FZ LLC – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 [BT2]Senior GoLang developer

HORIZON OASIS FZ LLC – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

When it comes to marketing, one of the main factors you need to focus on is marketing. If you cannot market your business in the proper channels, you will not have many customers. 

Today, digital marketing has become the common strategy of many business owners, especially in the U.K., where everything is becoming digital. But, traditional methods of marketing can still work. Like, the humble stickers. 

Many companies tend to undervalue stickers as a cheap form of marketing. But if you hire professional sticker makers, you’ll be surprised at how much they can help your business.

Ways Stickers Help Your Business 

Because of modern technology, stickers can be made in different shapes and sizes and, below are some of the ways you can utilize them for your business.

Providing Information

Stickers are a great tool in providing information. As you may have noticed, stickers are colorful, so they are a swell way to catch your consumer’s attention. That is why if you want people to know what is so special about your product or service, sticking a sticker on it should do the trick.

For example, you can put a sticker that says 100% organic on your product. Or if you discounted the price for a certain product, you can put like 10% or 15% stickers on it. Customers will surely be enticed to buy once they see the informative sticker on your products.

Brand Representation                                                                                              

If you want to create something so unique and bold that it will surely catch anyone’s attention, stickers are one of the things you can let creativity flow. Use them to create a message that can represent your brand. You can also get creative on where you put them.

For example, if you want your sticker in a brochure, you can stick them on top of a page or in between pages so it can catch the reader’s attention as they read.

But, remember, don’t get too overly creative with your stickers. You need to ensure that whatever it is you are creating represents your brand. You can ask professional sticker makers to ensure that your design fits your brand.

Portable and Easy to Spread

If you are a mobile business owner and constantly at exhibitions and trade shows, stickers can be a good form of literature to take in these events. You can use them as a business card or as a flyer to spread information to people about said events.

And since stickers are cheap, you will not be spending too much on your budget every time you go to another event.

Cheap Marketing

As was said, stickers are cheap to make. Marketing your business can be expensive and, if you are still starting, you need to ensure that every decision you make counts. And since stickers are a cheap way for you to promote your business, investing in them is a good way to get more customers without spending too much money.

Has Long Term Value

If you have created a sticker that truly represents your brand, you will be able to use it for a long time. For example, if you are planning to have another ad campaign in the future, you can use the stickers you have printed before to help in spreading the message. That is why  it is not a bad idea to print large quantities of stickers for future use.

Call to Action

Another way to get the most of your stickers is to use them as a call to action for your business. For example, you can print voucher codes or promotional offers on them in brochures, pamphlets, or flyers so you can trigger a reaction from your consumers.

You can also print limited offers on them to get your customers to come up to your business to ask for further information.

Conclusion

Stickers are one of the most versatile tools you can use in business. They can come in different shapes and sizes which, can be used as a product label or a promotional item. Plus, because they are cheap, it’s possible to use them every time. But if you don’t know how to utilize them for your business, the methods above should help.

Social Media Marketing has become one of the most popular marketing platforms in the world. With the number of social media users crossing 4.48 billion in 2021, the importance of social media in marketing cannot be underestimated. 

While anyone can easily use social media to market their brands, technical expertise is crucial to help you achieve the best results. It is against this backdrop that the cost of social media marketing has more than doubled over the years. 

So what’s the average cost of social media marketing in the UK? In a report conducted by content factory, an average company in the UK spends between $ 200 and $350 per day on social media marketing.

In this article, we highlight the average cost of social media marketing in the UK.

#1.Comprehensive Cost

Depending on the firm you are likely to hire, the comprehensive cost for your entire social media platforms may cost you between £ 700- £ 2000. While the cost may vary from one platform to another, you are likely to incur a higher cost should you have a bigger audience. This is because advertising costs of reaching a wider audience is slightly higher compared to targeting a small population.

 Depending on your needs and how far you intend to delve into the world of social media, various experts and firms come with different packages that suit the needs of every client. As such, it is advisable to carry out research to identify a social media marketing company that suits your needs.

#2.The use of freelancers

It is common knowledge that the advent of Covid 19 has pushed many companies to the brink of collapse. Just like any other nations around the world, the effect of the pandemic rattled many businesses with many forced to lay off some staff in a bid to cut down the cost of operation. In that regard, the use of freelancers has become a perfect option not only in the UK but across the World. 

While there are hundreds of freelance sites where entrepreneurs can hire social media marketers at low cost, identifying credible and highly qualified social media experts remains a challenge. Protracted refund disputes and incompetent professionals with questionable credentials are some of the setbacks that most employers have to contend with when sourcing for employees.

The bottom line is that freelance sites come with a rating system that makes it easy to identify the most qualified expert for your task. All you need is to decide on whether you want to hire a social media marketing professional on an hourly or fixed-term basis. 

Other factors that may determine how much you can pay a freelancer include the level of expertise, qualifications, and the duration at which the project may take. Alternatively, you can choose to work with a registered company operating on freelance platforms. This also makes it easy for you to collaborate with highly skilled professionals. Unlike the high cost of hiring full-time employees that come with benefits and huge perks, working with freelancers is cost-effective. 

On average, hiring social media freelancers on various freelance platforms may cost you as little as $200 per month. This will also be determined by whether you want to hire an expert or intermediate professionals. If you are just starting with our start-up in the UK, working with freelancers may be a perfect decision.

The unique aspect about working with freelancers compared to full-time staff is that you only need to pay them an agreed amount. This saves you the cost of a huge wage bill that may take a toll on your company finances. In other words, working with freelancers offers great flexibility since you only hire them when you need them or in case you have a demanding task that needs to be accomplished.

If you are wondering how many people are earning a living through freelancing, you should note that freelancers now account for nearly half of the 4.4 million self-employed workers in the UK. Therefore if you are planning to hire a social media marketing freelancer, in the UK, then it’s high time you consider that option.

#3.Virtual assistants

The advent of virtual assistants is another perfect way of boosting your social media marketing strategy. With many virtual assistant companies available on the online marketplace, you can easily delegate social media marketing duties to an expert VA.

 Whether you intend to hire a VA from the UK or any other part of the world, the cost of outsourcing social media marketing services is slightly lower compared to hiring full-time staff. 

Whether individual or company, you can easily hire an expert social media marketer to help you manage your social media platforms. All you need is to take your time to identify a credible VA platform or source from various online platforms. 

Depending on the size and complexity of the role, you should always hire highly skilled and qualified professionals to avoid falling into the trap of incompetent individuals. This may not only ruin your reputation but may greatly compromise the credibility of your brand.

# 4.  Social Media Automation Tools

Social media automation tools have become a great way of optimizing social media campaigns. While you can choose free social media automation tools, paid versions come with advanced features that make it easy to automate your social media. Depending on how you plan to manage your social media marketing campaigns, the importance of automation tools can not be underscored. 

Whether you are a startup working under a limited budget or just starting up with your social media marketing, automation is a perfect way of maximizing your marketing efforts. With as little as $30, you can subscribe to a monthly package from various online platforms. This will enable you to reach out to a wider audience and achieve growth.

#5.Use of Interns

The use of interns is a perfect way of hiring expert social media marketers at a low cost. While many entrepreneurs would prefer hiring experienced professionals, students from institutions of higher learning come with fresh ideas that can help align your social media marketing campaigns with the current market needs and trends. Besides hiring interns in the UK, you can choose to hire from any part of the world to help revamp your social networks.

 Ranging from Diploma,  Degree to master’s students, these young professionals come with fresh ideas that every entrepreneur needs to improve their social media marketing strategy. 

According to the UK labor laws, interns are entitled to a national, minimum wage that stands at £ 7.70 per hour for students who have attained 21-24 years of age. Similarly, students above 25 years are entitled to a minimum wage of £ 8.21 per hour. Alternatively, you can choose to hire from other regions if you are working under a limited budget.

Conclusion 

The cost of social media marketing is poised to surge over the years. This is attributed to a sharp increase in demand for social media marketing experts. Therefore, if you are in the UK and working under a limited budget, this article offers varied options that you can use to revamp your social media marketing strategy.

 In addition to saving on marketing costs, you can easily hire from any part of the world to boost your marketing efforts.

As a small business, you are very likely to be targeted by criminals through cybercrime. On average a business that suffers an attack will become bankrupt within 6 months.

The effects of cybercrime on a small business as you can see are devastating.

Protecting your business from cybercrime is a different article entirely, but one way to mitigate the risks to your business is through backing up your data regularly. Today we will look at some of the easiest ways to backup your data.

1) USB Stick

The most cost-effective method of backing up your data is to use a USB stick where you can transfer your files as often as you would like.

USB sticks are a great way of backing up your data because they are cheap and can transfer files very quickly. USB sticks do have limitations though and if you work in an area where you need larger hard drives you could fill up your USB sticks very quickly.

Having multiple USB sticks is an option but this often leads to losing the physical devices along with the data that is on the drive. If you do want to use USB sticks to backup your data just be sure to keep your drives organised and stored in a safe place.

2) Burn to a disk

Burning your data to a disk is a great option for data backup as it’s often quick and easy to do and from your disk, you can then transfer this data to additional media forms. Disks are also useful when you have media stored on old devices. For example companies such as Digital Converters can convert old video tapes to DVD’s, or can convert old audio tapes or photos to digital copies.

Disks are great for backing up your data as they are sturdy and can be used and read by many devices without additional equipment needed. Disks have limitations though and storage sizes are very limited. DVDs have a few gigabytes of space whereas standard CD’s are in the 700MB range.

If you do choose disks as your backup method you will need multiple so be sure to store them in a secure location and label them effectively. Our advice would be to use a disk as one method of storage along with using another form of media so you have multiple backups of your data.

3) External Hard drive

An external hard drive is an excellent device for backing up your business data. External hard drives come in a wide range of sizes and have USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectivity so transfer speeds of large data is done very quickly.

Using an external hard drive allows you to keep most of your business data in the same place so you don’t have to worry about having multiple devices and misplacing them. However this also does pose a problem, if all of your data is backed up on one device and you lose it or it becomes corrupt then you could be in trouble.

Our advice would be to have at least two external hard drives and make a backup of a backup. This may be more expensive, however, it won’t be as expensive as losing all of your data to a hacker or in an accident.

4) Print out copies

Some data can be printed and stored in physical filing cabinets. To be extra careful you could store these printed documents in a secure location such as a storage unit. Storage units often are under 24/7 CCTV and are very secure locations.

Unfortunately, not all of your data can be printed out but for any documents or contracts having physical copies stored away is always a good idea.

5) Upload to the cloud

Cloud computing has become more affordable over the years and now a business can use cloud computing for fairly cheap. Cloud computing is also secure and depending on the supplier it can also be easy to manage. Google Drive or Dropbox for example have easy management systems so you can find your files and folders very easily.

Using one of the providers above you can get cloud computing for $50-$60 a year which is much cheaper than buying two hard drives too. If your business wants a cheap and effective way of backing up data then cloud computing is an excellent choice.

Backing up your business data

Losing data or being ransomed through cybercrime is always going to cause you and your business stress. It also has high financial risk, therefore we highly recommend you backup your data consistently. Above are some of the best and most affordable ways of backing up your business data.

For the best protection, we highly recommend that you back up your data often and on to multiple devices. We would recommend using multiple variations of the above choices for the highest levels of protection.