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5 Software Programs for Small Businesses in 2019

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5 Software Programs for Small Businesses in 2019

The hardest part of running a small business is using the right software to help it run. The right software can take care of tedious and monotonous tasks so you can free up your time for what’s important. So, how can you tell which software you should be using aside from Aspira campground management software?

Here are the five software programs that every small business needs to operate.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is one of the most essential software programs for small businesses. It’s one of the programs that you’ll find yourself using the most throughout the day. It’s an all-in-one program that includes Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. Consumers, employees, and vendors also expect you to use Microsoft Office to open and view attachments via e-mail.

Outlook is always looking to improve its e-mail program. Word is ideal for creating contracts, invoices, and more. It also has tools to help you improve your writing. Excel is a spreadsheet program that’s great if you want results. PowerPoint is an important tool for most salespeople to use in their presentations. Don’t make negotiations without Microsoft Office in your arsenal.

Only the Microsoft Office Home and Business version come with Excel, Outlook, and Word. This version of Excel has a “Tell Me What to Do” link that you can use whenever you’re not sure how to approach a certain task. The only disadvantage to this feature is that it won’t tell you which command to use.

QuickBooks

Financial management is important when it comes to running a small business. QuickBooks is an accounting software program that gives you control of your finances. It provides you with accurate tracking of your expenses and earnings, automatic data backup, consolidation of all of your tax information, and extensive financial reports. QuickBooks is run by Intuit, a major company in the personal financial industry.

Don’t let this software program fool you. QuickBooks wants to help small businesses and entrepreneurs with its software programs. Their programs include hundreds of templates for any report you need. It also helps you plan a budget and focus on your payroll – although this feature is an add-on that costs extra.

QuickBooks lets you do anything you need to take control of your finances. The only downside to this program is that is has too many features that it requires a professional to master it. Phone support is available, but for an additional fee. You can buy a one-time download or download the Pro version for more money.

QuickBooks Pro is available for up to three users, but the additional two will cost you more money as well. This software program is only compatible with Windows.

TurboTax Self-Employed

TurboTax is king when it comes to tax software. It has received praise and awards over the years. It even updated its Home & Business version, calling it Self-Employed. It doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles that QuickBooks does, it’ll help you prepare your business tax returns.

The “It’s Deductible” feature help you determine which items you can write off, making tax time less stressful. The “SmartLook” feature connects you to a tax expert you can talk to in real-time whenever you come across an issue. Whenever you grant the tax expert access, they can see what you see on your monitor so they can help you.

You can download TurboTax for a small fee or you can buy the disc at most retail stores. This software is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Adobe Photoshop

Don’t assume that Adobe Photoshop is just for graphic designers. Every small business needs a log for their website, marketing graphics, products, and more. Adobe Photoshop allows you to create the photos you need for this line of work. It also makes it easier for your graphics team to create the visuals you have in mind. Make sure that your team is comfortable with using this tool since it’s complicated for beginners.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool that allows you to keep track of your customers and sales leads. It gives you the proper tools to manage your sales and improve your forecasts. This is important if you have a high sales turnover. It’ll show you the complete history of each of your customers, so you can reduce the turnover rate.

Norton Antivirus

You want to ensure the safety of your computers by using antivirus software. Keep your computers and employees safe from bots, malware, spyware, Trojans, viruses, and worms with Norton Antivirus by Symantec. This software program prevents the loss of time and money that a virus can take away from a productive business day.

There are hundreds of software programs to improve your small business These five programs can help you effectively operate, protect, and run your business.

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5 Best URL Shortener Services in 2024 [Free & Paid]

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The 5 Best URL Shorteners 2020

A URL Shortener is a technique in which a URL may be made shorter and still redirect to the original long page.

Most URL Shorteners are free and easy to use but come with limitations.

Google shut down its Google URL Shortener in 2018 with continued support until March 30, 2019. However, all existing links will continue to redirect to the intended destination.

Top URL Shortener Services on the Internet

1. Bitly.com

Bitly offers a free and enterprise version of its URL shortening service. No signup necessary, but creating an account allows you to manage links quickly and change the short link characters if you wish.

According to this Quora answer, the enterprise version of Bitly costs around $995/month.

Pro Tip: add + after the short link to access analytics of any bitly link. bitly.com/link+

2. TinyURL

A simple shortener that requires no sign-up and allows users to customize the keyword. The service is free to use, but there is no analytics.

3. Short.io

The best shorten link provider so far, it has so many useful features such as google analytics integration, bulk import, broken links detection, built-in analytics with so many details, link cloaking, and more.

Cost: affordable compared to similar solutions.

4. Rebrandly 

Rebrandly is one of the popular URL shortener services in the market. It’s the most complete and reliable link management platform. Their solution provides the easiest way to create, measure, and manage short URLs with a custom domain name.

You can buy your domain name using Rebrandly, tag your URLs using UTM tagging, allow social media pixels to optimize for conversions, and more.

It’s expensive compared to other solutions.

5. eg.gd

eg.gd is a new URL shortener service that offers the same as rebrandly but for free. It was launched last year when bit.ly service was blocked in Egypt.

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How to include current URL in a Webflow form?

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How to include current URL in a Webflow form?

In the course of my professional endeavors, I consistently inquire about the origins of information, the methods by which our audience discovers us, and the roots of potential leads. These inquiries, among others, are integral to unraveling the complexities of the marketing funnel.

A commonplace challenge encountered by numerous marketers on a daily basis revolves around a pivotal question: which blog post proves most effective in generating leads and conversions?

If you have a blog on Webflow that includes a lead gen form or a newsletter form in all blog posts, when you receive an email from one of the forms – of course, you have to find out the URL of the respective page. This way, you can detect the top converting posts.

I’ve been searching for a solution here and there and finally found it. So, I thought to share it here.

How to automatically include the current URL in the webflow form?

  1. Add an embed code before the submit button of your lead generation form or any other form type – make it hidden, and insert the following code into it then save.
  2. The javascript code you need to make this work:
<script type="text/javascript"> window.onload=function() 
{document.getElementById('pageurl').value = window.location.href;} </script> 
<input type="hidden" id="pageurl" name="pageurl" value="pageurl" />

3. Once published, any new form submission will have a new column called “pageurl” so you can detect the source page of this submission.

Follow us for more Webflow hacks.

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Google’s E-E-A-T Principle Explained for SEO Success

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Demystifying Google's E-A-T Principle for SEO Success

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. One essential factor that often flies under the radar is Google’s E-A-T principle, which stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This principle, now upgraded to E-E-A-T to include Experience, plays a pivotal role in enhancing website credibility and user experience.

In this article, we’ll delve into how understanding and implementing E-E-A-T can significantly influence your search engine rankings.

Unearthing the Essence of Google E-E-A-T

E-E-A-T is an acronym that encapsulates the qualities Google values when assessing the quality of online content. While it might not be explicitly mentioned in Google’s 200 known ranking factors, it holds undeniable significance in the eyes of quality raters and SEO professionals alike.

Expertise: Mastering Your Domain

Expertise is the cornerstone of E-E-A-T. It revolves around showcasing your in-depth knowledge and proficiency in your niche. To demonstrate your expertise effectively, consider these strategies:

1. Comprehensive Subject Mastery: Your content should reflect a deep understanding of your subject matter, leaving no room for ambiguity.

2. Credentials and Qualifications: Display relevant qualifications and credentials to bolster your credibility.

3. Proven Track Record: Highlight your past accomplishments and successes, as they can instill trust in your audience.

4. Research and Data: Stay updated with the latest research and trends in your field and back your content with accurate data.

5. Niche Specialization: Focus on a specific niche to establish yourself as an expert in that area.

6. Active Contribution: Contribute to your field by publishing content, and research papers, speaking at relevant events, or joining professional organizations.

Experience: Real-World Application Matters

Experience complements expertise by emphasizing practical, real-world application. To convey your experience effectively, consider these tactics:

1. Practical Application: Apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios and showcase your problem-solving skills.

2. Case Studies: Present real-world examples and results to illustrate your expertise in action.

3. Success Stories: Share stories of achievements or satisfied clients to instill confidence in your abilities.

4. Portfolio Display: For creative fields, such as design, art, or writing, showcase your previous work to demonstrate your experience.

5. Knowledge Demonstration: Stay updated with industry best practices, trends, and new developments, and share your insights through blog posts, articles, or speaking engagements.

6. Customer Testimonials: Positive testimonials from satisfied customers provide social proof of your expertise.

Authoritativeness: Building a Trustworthy Reputation

Authoritativeness centers on establishing your website as a reliable source of information within your niche. To enhance your authoritativeness, consider the following strategies:

1. Backlinks and Citations: Earn backlinks from authoritative websites in your industry, a strong signal of your website’s trustworthiness.

2. Awards and Recognition: Credible recognition, such as awards and certifications, contributes to your reputation.

3. Thought Leadership: Demonstrate authority through original research or innovative ideas, and engage in industry discussions.

4. Collaboration with Experts: Collaborate with recognized experts in your field through co-authored articles or speaking engagements.

5. Strong Social Media Presence: Engage with your audience on social media platforms to establish yourself as an authoritative figure.

6. Consistent, Relevant Content: Create high-quality content consistently to build credibility with users and search engines.

Trustworthiness: The Bedrock of Credibility

Trustworthiness is the final piece of the E-E-A-T puzzle, focusing on the credibility of your website’s information. To foster trustworthiness, adhere to these guidelines:

1. Transparency: Be transparent about your brand, contact details, business operations, and the purpose of your content.

2. Provide Accurate Information: Ensure your content is factually correct and up-to-date, and avoid misleading practices.

3. Ethical Practices: Follow ethical guidelines, respect user privacy, handle sensitive data responsibly, and comply with relevant laws.

4. User Experience and Security: Create a positive user experience and prioritize website security with HTTPS connections.

5. Customer Testimonials and Reviews: Genuine testimonials from satisfied customers bolster your website’s trustworthiness.

6. Customer Support: Offer prompt and helpful customer support to engage with your audience effectively.

7. Disclosure of Affiliations: Clearly disclose any affiliations or sponsorships that might impact your content.

While Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines may not explicitly mention E-E-A-T, adhering to these principles can significantly improve your website’s credibility and user experience. Remember, achieving higher SERP rankings requires a holistic approach, and understanding and implementing E-E-A-T is a valuable piece of the puzzle.

If you need expert guidance, consider enlisting the support of professional SEO services to help you navigate this ever-changing landscape.

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