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Isolation Innovation – 5 Tips for Small Business Owners Working from Home

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Across the world, business owners and employees are being urged to work from home. For some, it’s an effortless process, and one they may have already been doing to some degree. For others, it’s foreign territory that can take a while to navigate and explore. Here are a few different things that can help make that adjustment period a bit more comfortable:

Keep Your Professional Support Contacts

Working from home may mean you’re working in a different setting, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t going to face the same challenges as you would in your office. Don’t cut contact with those other businesses that keep yours going. Stay in touch with your small business IT support guru and remember to keep your accountant informed with business operations.

Everyone you needed to run your business at the office will still be required while you work from home.

Don’t Change Your Routine

Working from an office has always promoted a sense of routine. You rise at the same time every day, get in the car or jump on public transport, then spend the working week doing the same things. While your morning commute is now from the bedroom to the dining room, that doesn’t mean your work routine must change.

Wake up at the same time, have a shower, get dressed in tidy attire, and start the working day at the same time. The sameness of your routine can ensure you achieve the same level of work as you would if you were in your office.

Educate Your Family

Your spouses and kids know that when you’re at the office, you’re not available to make them lunch, help with chores, and answer the door when there’s a knock. After all, how can you do those things when you’re not home?

Once you’re working from home, though, it can be easy to forget that you’re in work mode. When the working week kicks off, offer a gentle reminder that interruptions can be disruptive to how much work you achieve. Of course, spend time with your family, but set aside a few hours of your day just for you and your regular work routine.

Be Comfortable

Most people have their work station set up ergonomically at their place of business. Once you get home, though, you’re more likely to learn over a laptop in bed or stare down your phone with your neck at a crooked angle. Working at home should mean the same ergonomic principles apply.

Use a comfortable chair and desk, keep your monitor an arm’s length away, and adjust your chair height, so your hips and knees are level with each other. The more comfortable you are, the more you can achieve.

Use Apps

Working from home can mean you go without some of the creature comforts of the office. You may not have the same conferencing software, dedicated room for meetings, or microphones and camera equipment. Things are different, but there are some apps online that can make your working-from-home experience better.

Try apps like Skype, Slack, Trello, and Calmly. Whether you need fewer distractions or a working platform for you and your team, you’ll find plenty of options online.

Working from home may not be something you are familiar with, but that doesn’t mean it has to impact how much work you get done. Stick with your routine, talk to your family, and keep your same professional contacts so that your business operates like a well-oiled machine. You’d be surprised at how convenient and effortless working from home can be.

Things to consider while choosing multichannel ecommerce software

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 ecommerce in italy

Many online business stores limit themselves by selling products only on one website such as Amazon, which can result in loss of revenues. There are several marketing channels which provide opportunities for increasing sales in online business which ultimately help to generate more revenues. However, it requires the right platform to reach more customers with a quick turnaround time. Businesses willing to employ a multichannel strategy should focus more on selecting the right platform for meeting essential needs. Moreover, it will help a lot to grow business significantly to obtain optimal results.

Multichannel ecommerce software for online business

Listing products on many ecommerce channels will consume more time if done manually. A multichannel ecommerce software allows online business stores to sell their products through various networks easily with the latest features, all while automating the process. In fact, it allows businesses to get more leads after listing their products. On the other hand, overselling may lead to penalties and other problems while utilizing the software. Not all software products are the same and a business store should consider certain important things before investing money.

Here are some key aspects to look out while selecting a multichannel ecommerce software solution.

1. Customizable features

It is important to select a platform that comes with customizable features for gaining more advantages. This, in turn, helps to run a business successfully with automation and human-tech support.

2. Ease of use

Business owners who want to control their sales should make sure that the ecommerce software comes with an editing tool. They should find a software support team that can correct things like typos. The multichannel platform should also provide the option to edit product details that can then sync with the listing channels so that they don’t need to be manually updated.

3. Data management in listing

Data management is the most important factor to consider while choosing a multichannel platform. It is necessary to select the best software that will copy current product listings into other channels. A multichannel platform should include images, descriptions, specifications, and pricing when uploading the data.

4. Inventory syncing

Inventory syncing is another thing to consider while buying a new multichannel platform for ensuring optimal results. It is a crucial feature that is needed for an effective listing management system to sell one-of-a-kind products.

5. Multiple sales channels

Large online business stores should choose a platform which supports multiple sales channels that will benefit them significantly. Some software can support many different channels or a large amount of product listings.

6. Shipping

Shipping is the next important thing to consider when buying a new multichannel platform for an online business. This is because a store should make sure that a product reaches a customer on time through established logistics provider after placing an order.

7. Customer service

Anyone who wants to sell products through multiple channels should select a platform that offers personal and individualized customer support. As such, there are many options available on the market to do so, and ultimately good research will ensure that you are able to get the best multichannel ecommerce software solution for your business.

The Lag List – A Guide to Fixing Poor Online Gaming Speeds

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internet speeds and pings for wifi

The last thing you want when you’re at a crucial point in your game is for it to lag, especially when you’re playing against friends and your sudden lapse in connection costs you your life. Even worse is if you’re part of a team and all of a sudden you’re getting blamed and kicked out because your character stood there like an idiot in the line of fire while you shouted at your computer to reconnect. Luckily, there are some solutions to fixing poor online gaming speeds.

Upgrade Your Speed

This is an obvious one, but if you’re able to upgrade your connection speed than it is wise to do so. Speeds of 20Mps are sufficient for most online games, but the problem is that in most households there are several devices running simultaneously that are draining your internet connection. So, either move into your own apartment or seek a faster wireless internet connection.

Test Your Speed

Before you set about fixing any problem it’s always a good idea to identify the issue. Testing your connection speed will help you identify if it’s the connection that is the issue or your computer or gaming console. If you are a PC gamer then sometimes there can be congestion issues with your computer, or there might just be a need to upgrade an older model in order to meet modern gaming requirements. Whatever it is, you need to know where you’re at before you can move forward with solving the problem.

Ping It

Performing a Ping Test – the measure of how long it takes to get a signal to your nearest location and back will tell you what you are dealing with. There are also online tools available for testing your internet speed that will help give you a relatively accurate reading. The ping time can depend on a lot of factors, including your location and the infrastructure around you. 

Hit Reset

Another simple measure you can take is resetting your router. Although this is quite simple, there is a reason why routers come with easily identifiable quick reset buttons – because they work and they are often needed. So, if you haven’t yet hit reset, give it a go. It may just work wonders. It’s the modern equivalent of taking your Nintendo game cassette out and giving it a blow. People do it because it works. 

Find Solitude

Another quick solution is to close all unnecessary programs and stop other people in your household from using the internet if you can. If you are streamed music while gaming and your sibling or roommate are watching Netflix in the other room, then you are very likely to have a slow connection. Find some solitude to commence your gaming session and switch everything else off. That way all the connectivity you do have will be focused on your game and things should run a lot smoother.

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Slow internet can range from annoying to hugely detrimental to your day to day tasks, and so being able to diagnose why you’re experiencing a dip in speed is hugely beneficial. Remember, there are almost always options available for those hoping to boost their internet speeds, it may just take some changes and alterations. Good luck!

A Guide To Faster Internet Speeds

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fast speed internet 2019

Slow internet speeds can be frustrating. There has been an upsurge of media-content and websites and it is no coincidence a lot of people are experiencing slower speeds than usual. It takes a lot more time to load content than it did just a few years ago. While the problem could be your ISP, there are some controllable components that could be making your internet slower.

Types of Broadband

There numerous kinds of broadband connections. As an internet user, you should be aware of the broadband you’re using as the speed and bandwidth differ from one provider to another. The easiest way of knowing the type of broadband connection is by contacting your ISP.

Satellite: Just as the name suggests, data is beamed to a satellite in outer space and then bounced back to your ISP. The set up requires a transmitter and a satellite dish which is provided by the ISP. Speeds are usually slow because of the long distance that data has to travel. There is also the issue of weather interference which messes up the signal.

Cable: This connection goes through the coaxial cable. This is the typical line that brings shows to your TV. The networks are usually shared and the speeds will fluctuate depending on the number of users on the network. It is not strange for a household in the rural area to experience faster internet speeds compared to one in the city.

Optical Fiber: Optical is seen as a precursor of internet connectivity in the future. With Fiber Optics, data is transmitted through pulses of light through dedicated fiber lines. There are vendors who currently offer up to 1000 Mbps speeds which one wouldn’t have thought possible a couple of years ago.

Having known the different types of broadband connectivity, the next question would be how to make your internet faster with the controllable variables in play.

Router Placement

Ideally, the router should be placed in a central location. The router is the getaway between the home connection and your ISP and the location it is placed will play a big role in ensuring high internets. The router should be located where most of the connected devices are found. The router should be placed in an elevated position where there are no obstacles.

Restart Regularly

The Router should be restarted regularly for it to function at its optimum. While it might work throughout, sometimes the slow internet speeds can be solved by simply restarting the router. The process is known as power cycling and is meant to help the router in clearing the redundant data that has accumulated. The restarting will also enable the router to choose the less crowded channel thus improving the speeds.

Content Consumption

Most homes nowadays rely on the internet for content. The internet is used for watching movies, stream live sports events, watching 4K videos, and gaming. There are times when all these processes could be running at the same time which could slow down the internet connectivity. You should monitor what is being consumed and ensure that not all the processes are running concurrently.

Increase Wi-Fi Range

Sometimes the problem could be limited to the Wi-Fi range. This applies to big houses where there is a single access point and you lose the signal when you go upstairs. There are some DIY techniques like using tinfoil although it might not be very effective. An effective solution would be to add more access points in the home.

A foolproof way of extending the network is using a wireless mesh network system. It is a one-time set up that will go a long way in ensuring that every part of the home has internet access. The whole system can be controlled with an app.

Switch Broadband

If the internet is still slow, chances are high that the problem could be your ISP. It could be time to start comparing new NBN plans. You should make sure to check if the ISP is providing what you paid for. You can also look online if there are other people who are complaining about the services. A good ISP provider should provide high-speed internet and offer technical support in case of low speeds.

Business of Your Future For Sale

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brokers and business for sale australia

Australia is booming economically. Building is going non-stop as entire neighbourhoods are created where once there were only grasses and wildlife.  Now is your best time to invest in the business of your own dream you have held so long. Whether you are interested in flexing your business muscles in a bustling supermarket or wholesale commodities, this is the time and Melbourne is the place.

Franchise or Business Owner?

There are business and franchise opportunities in practically every industry from wholesale to retail, manufacturing to repair, from vehicles to home fixtures. All categories have Business for sale. As a business person, you know where your skills lie and how you can turn them into a solid income for now and your future.  If your business interests are more in the services area such as cleaning, restoring or renovations, there is an opening for you to toss your hat today.

Selling or Buying?

To cash in on the anticipated upswing in the economy can also be the wisest move for you to sell your business that has given you excellent income.  Your company and its client base offered as a Business for sale should bring in a substantial price if brokered wisely, and you would be free to invest in another area.   Either selling or buying a business is a life changing event, and you must have the best representation available or face heavy and lasting disappointment.

Professional Advice and Representation

selling your business online interenet

Knowing when and where and how much is an educated professional’s forte and you should retain the best advice available in the form of a business broker. The broker’s job is not to just file the appropriate documents.  He is representing you, as either seller or buyer, in the business of your dreams. You want the person representing you to have clear communication, integrity and persistence –these are the keys, whether you are vendor or purchaser of a Business for sale.

Your expert consultants should meet with you in the first instance before details are discussed. Maintaining trust in your business broker is of utmost importance, particularly with confidentiality agreements. Ensuring all parties are comfortable and confident during meetings, discussions and inspections are a critical measure of a successful broker.  Successful broker means he successfully negotiated a sale or purchase for you!

BPA Brokers Have Right Stuff

Growing from a one man operation in 2000 into the well established brokerage today, with over 15 team members, did not happen by luck.  It occurred because of its founder’s perseverance and unflagging zeal for his business sales.  It also happened because Mino Stronghilis, founder, treats every contact with the same attention, respect, and willingness to go the extra mile to complete the transaction in a trustworthy, professional manner.

You need the confidence of having the BPA Brokers firm representing you, whether you are interested in buying a $750,000 cafe or selling a $40,000 ethnic Takeaway.  That need is the strong suit of BPA Brokers, in that the team of 15 professional brokers share the same vitality and expertise in bringing a sale or purchase to fruition.  The word which stands apt to describe Mino and his team is "professional", because that is exactly descriptive of who and what they are.

The BPA Brokers firm will handle your business for sale or purchase in a professional yet personal manner. They represent you and not a bank or other entity. They will never enter into any promise, agreement or reveal any details without conferring with you first.

Contact Mino Stronghilis at BPA Brokers today to discuss your present in regard to your future.

Telstra plans to throttle customers internet speed

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Telstra is now planning to slow the speed at which its ADSL and Broadband  customers download content through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks in peak periods as part of a new trial to provide them with better bandwidth savings.

telstra shaping and throttling broaddband plans

A Telstra statement said it would be conducting the trial on a "small number" of ADSL customers in Victoria.

Broadband networks  have been coming under increasing pressure in recent times with the explosion of hand held devices like FAST smartphones and tablets  that now also add to the list of devices that consume internet , other than the traditional Desktop PC.

AS per a  statement , P2P networks are commonly used to download pirated material such as movies, music and video games and so  speeds of many consumers could be affected. Many popular software’s like torrents software’s and DC++ use peer to peer networks, including some chat messengers with the capability in the past.

As per media reports “the telco planned to introduce throttling as a "trial" that  could become permanent and which required users to opt out if they didn’t want to take part in it.The trial could begin as soon as this week.

Critics of ISPs says that interference with P2P  downloading or throttling could also affect users that use  peer  to peer networks for legal purposes.

"Once the trial is complete we will consider the results as part of our future network planning and product development activities," the company said.

Telstra published a blog post explaining its trial after Fairfax Media published this story.