PSPINC Official Company Blog

Business Communication: Getting your Point Across

Feb

7

image source: pixabay.com

Has anyone ever asked you, “So what is your point? The point we try to make to someone can easily get muddled with extra words and long explanations, or it can get confused by lack of tone over digital communication. So how do we get to the point faster and make communication more effective?

Here are some points to consider:

State your point up front.

It’s important you know what your point is before you start communicating it. What is the outcome you’d like to get after your explanation? Particularly over email, it would be great to include your point in the subject line, if possible, so people are prepped to read. You should also summarize your point and purpose for the email in the very first paragraph.

Keep it simple.

When people ask what your point is, or say get to the point, they’re asking you to be direct –in other words – simplify the message. Don’t fill your explanation with big words, slang, abbreviations, or buzz words. If you have time to prepare your communication, choose your words carefully.

Getting to the point also means “be specific.” If you state, “I need the products to be delivered fast,” what “fast” means to you may be different for someone else. You meant within one day, but by another person’s standards maybe a week is fast. Best to say things like, “I need the products to be delivered within 24 hours,” or “by 2 p.m. tomorrow.”

Don’t bury your point in too many words.

We tend to explain ourselves more when we aren’t confident or clear about our own point. People read diagonally if you have too many words in your email. Keep it short and sweet. One way to do that is by using bulleted or numbered lists. You can summarize specific points really well that way.

Give examples.

If you can include examples to get your point across, do it. And the more specific examples, the better.

Finally, re-read your email before pressing send.

#Advertising #B2B #Blog #Branding #Communication #ENnews #Marketing #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SmallBiz #SmallBusiness

Business Communication: Setting Core Values

Feb

5

image source: pixabay.com

Communication is a very broad topic in business – it includes internal communication between staff, from management to employees, and it also includes external communication to the public through branding, advertising and PR.

One of the key elements in business communication is persuasion. How do we get people to trust us, believe our stories and get on board with what we do? A big part of doing that is getting your internal values and communication in sync so the message you put out to the public is consistent.

Since it’s the beginning of a new year and time to communicate our company goals with the team, I thought I would write down some of the key points and share them with you as well. We call these our “core values.”

At PSP, have 5 core values:

• Creativity:
We are here to be creative and innovative so we will stay ahead of our competitors.

• Professionalism:
Customers seek our advice because we are the pros. Demonstrate knowledge and professionalism.

• Simplicity:
Let’s not confuse customers or each other. Simplicity can provide efficiency.

• Consideration:
Putting ourselves in each other’s shoes should guide our response and actions.

• Excellence:
Always seek improvement. Never compromise.

Setting and sharing your internal core values is a good way to keep your employees in sync – who are coming from different departments, have different motivations, job descriptions, and even come from different generations and backgrounds.

Core values serve as a guideline for employees to follow and they should be shared and talked about within your organization all the time. It’s fine to share those core values with your customers too, as long as they’re being met internally. Have you considered your business’ core values?

#Advertising #B2B #Blog #Branding #BusinessCommunication #Communication #ENnews #Marketing #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SmallBusiness

How Search Engines Rank Websites

Jan

31

image source: pixabay.com

What is ranking?

When you type something into a search engine there are typically 10 website links that appear on the first page, with multiple pages of results that follow. The position at which a website is listed is considered its ranking; the higher the position, the better the ranking. Websites that appear lower down the list of links have a lower ranking.

How do search engines rank?

Search engines rank using two methods -- indexing and crawling -- which help determine where they rank each website. When someone performs a search, a list of top websites appear that are deemed to be the most relevant to the search. This list is the “answer” to your search question or query.

Search engines determine this relevancy on multiple factors including site link structure, content and keyword relevancy, traffic volume, and link quality. The links within your website are the roads by which search engines find your content, the better the roads, the easier it is for them to get around. Content and keywords on the pages your links take you to must be relevant to what is being searched. You should always write your content for users, NOT search engines. The quality of a link is determined by the number of relevant websites linking to it.

Conclusion

It takes more than typing a bunch of keywords on your website to rank well on search engines. And although there isn’t a secret formula, there are steps you can take to get better results: 1) Think about the content on your web pages as the answer to someone's search query, to help you get started. 2) Write the content for users, not for search engines. 3) Build out the link structure of your website to make it easy for search engines to find your content.

#Advertising #B2B #Blog #ENnews #Google #Link #Marketing #OfficeTips #PSPinc #PageRank #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #SmallBusiness

Keywords: Why They Still Matter

Jan

29

image source: pixabay.com

What are keywords?

In terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and websites – keywords are the words and phrases that define your content. If you take a single web page and you only look at the text, your keywords are the words or phrases that appear repeatedly.

Why are they important?

When someone goes to a search engine they type in keywords or “search queries.” Keywords are the road between what a person is searching for and the content you’re providing. When building a website, writing a new blog post, or even when adding pictures to your website - keywords matter. If your goal is to drive organic traffic to your website, the keywords you choose will define what kind of audience you attract.

Take Mars bars for example (yes, the candy bar). If they try to rank for just the word “mars” they might rank really high on search engines, but they’ll get extremely different types of traffic. Some people might be searching for the planet, while others are looking for something to satisfy their sweet tooth. It’s important to think about the searchers intent and align that as best as you can to the types of keywords you use.

What are long-tail keywords?

Keywords can be broad or they can be specific. Broad keywords will get you lots of searchers (and lots of competition!) but might not bring people at the right stage of their search. Long-tail keywords, 3 words or more, have more intent behind them. For example, the phrase “used cars” is broad and might have a different meaning depending on who is searching for it. But, “used sedan in Spokane Washington” is a long-tail keyword that might indicate they’re looking for a used car to buy, and soon. Using long-tail keywords might bring you less traffic but they will have less competition and bring you a more targeted audience.

Does it matter how I use keywords on my website?

Trying to rank for certain keywords isn’t about jam-packing your website full of them. Search engines, and your visitors, want to read content that brings actual value by providing an answer to a search. The goal is not to trick search engines into ranking you high; it's to provide information that’s relevant to the keywords. Part of SEO 101 also includes adding keywords to your URL, headers on the page, meta descriptions, and in the alt attributes of images.

#Advertising #B2B #Blog #ENnews #Keywords #Marketing #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #SmallBusiness

Defining Backlinks & Why They Matter

Jan

24

image source: pixabay.com

What is a backlink?

A backlink is a hyperlink from one website to another website; they’re also called “inbound links” or “incoming links.”

Why do they matter?

Ultimately, backlinks matter for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes. When multiple websites link to the same web page, it signals to search engines that this content is worth linking to. Backlinks are a way of vouching for a web page or website, which makes it more worthy of showing up on search engine result pages (SERP). If your web page about grooming horses has a lot of inbound links from other relevant sites, it’s more likely to show up in the search results when someone types in “how to groom horses” or “horse grooming.”

How do you earn backlinks?

Not all backlinks are created equal. Backlinks from popular and trustworthy sites will be worth more to search engines than backlinks from sketchy or spammy websites. Earning these backlinks can be as simple as posting quality content and receiving backlinks without any promotion or effort. Or, you can actively share your web pages and push promotions to get more reach from your content in the hopes people who view it will also link to it.

Linking to other web pages.

When you choose to link to a web page, the value your website brings depends on the specific page you link to, the anchor text you use, and whether you choose to follow or nofollow the link.

#Advertising #B2B #Backlinks #Blog #ENnews #Marketing #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #SmallBusiness

Internal Links: Establishing Site Architecture

Jan

22

image source: pixabay.com

What are internal links?

Internal links are hyperlinks that point to a subpage within the same domain. In other words, internal links point to another page on the same website.

Why do you need internal links?

Internal links fulfill a few different purposes. They provide site architecture by linking web pages to each other and creating pathways within your website. These pathways are beneficial for users and for search engines like Google. Internal links allow Google to crawl through your website content easily, and helps the Google crawl bot make connections between subpages. The anchor text used on these links can also tell Google bots why certain pages are relevant to search terms. Internal links are a critical piece of your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).

For users, internal links provide a way to navigate the website. Having the appropriate internal links on each of your web pages can keep a user on your website longer. This in turn can lead to positive user behavior on your website, which will be relayed to search engines and help with rankings.

What makes a good internal link?

• Ideally, internal links should be at the start of a page so that a click is more likely.
• The anchor text of an internal link should offer insight into what the user can expect once they click.
• The internal link should expand, add to, or match the topic of the page it’s linked from.
• The quantity of links on a page should be limited to a helpful amount and not be overdone.
• Internal links should not be in the footer or sidebar.

#Advertising #B2B #Blog #ENnews #Hyperlink #Link #Marketing #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #SmallBusiness

2019 Tech Trends: Increased Cyber Threats

Jan

17

image source: pixabay.com

We’ve been talking about tech trends for 2019 and all the exciting advances in technology, including increased speed and connectivity of our gadgets. But all this advancement comes with a price as we become increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks.

In 2017, Equifax had a breach that affected sensitive personal information for 143 million customers. In 2018, information was hacked from 50 million Facebook users and 500 million customers of Marriott and Starwood hotels.

According to cybersecurityventures.com and cybintsolutions.com, 64% of U.S. companies have experienced web-based attacks, 62% experienced phishing and social engineering attacks, 59% experienced malicious code and botnets, and 51% experienced denial of service attacks. Hackers are getting more organized and sophisticated, so what can we do to protect our data?

In business, we must understand there is no such thing as “hacker safe” data. Just as a thief can break the window to steal your cash register, hackers can break the security measure you have in place. In our buildings, we install security systems and place valuable items like cash and expensive merchandise in secure locations. So what do we do with our equally valuable client data? Simply hoping nobody will steal it from your database is not the right answer. And it’s imperative you have a plan in place in the event your data does get hacked – even if you think you have all the right security measures in place.

If you don’t know where to start, consult an expert or call us at PSPinc for more help to secure your data and come up with a plan. At the basic level, make sure your customers’ important data is stored in a secure database, preferably encrypted, and have tools that monitor who’s accessing the data. Do not give a critical password to a bunch of employees, and do not keep the password on a Post-It note by your desk. If you notice anything suspicious, go back and check your data access activity logs.

With our way of life becoming more virtually connected, we have to embrace the responsibilities and potential threats that come with it. Always be prepared!

#2019 #2019Tech #Advertising #B2B #Blog #CyberSecurity #CyberThreats #ENnews #Marketing #NewYear #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SmallBusiness #TechTrends #Technology

2019 Tech Trends: 5G is Here

Jan

15

image source: pixabay.com

Do you remember a time when pictures would download bit by bit and we were all amazed at how fast our internet had become, so much so, we could see images online instead of just text? How quickly we’ve forgotten those exciting times – now with instant downloads and streaming video. Well, it’s time to buckle up and get ready for even faster internet speed because 5G is coming to town!

5G is a new generation of cellular communication standards – the fifth generation, if that wasn’t already obvious. As the successor of 2G, 3G, and 4G (or LTE / WiMax), 5G is going to speed things up quite a bit.

But how much faster will it be, really? Well, without getting technical, download speeds will go from minutes to seconds and even milliseconds. For example, it would take about 10 to 20 seconds to download a 1-minute video on your smartphone with 4G, but with the new 5G connection, your download would be 0.001 second or less! Downloading hi-quality streaming videos will go from several minutes to a matter of seconds. It will also reduce lag time for things like web searches, giving you more immediate responses.

All service providers have begun rolling out 5G throughout the world. In the latter half of 2019 into 2020, major cities will have 5G service ready for you. In Japan, 5G will be available just in time for the Tokyo Olympics!

But wait - are YOU ready to get 5G service on your device? Not quite. Unfortunately, living in an area where 5G is available isn’t enough. Eventually, you’ll have to upgrade to a device that is 5G compatible.

#5G #2019 #2019Tech #Advertising #B2B #Blog #ENnews #Marketing #NewYear #OfficeTips #PSPinc #SmallBusiness #TechTrends #Technology

2019 Tech Trends: Virtual Money Exchange

Jan

10

image source: pixabay.com

Money is defined in Wikipedia as “a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a store of value and sometimes, a standard of deferred payment.”

Let’s talk about money -- literally and virtually. Transactions boomed with the rise of credit cards, but with the convenience of emerging “digital wallet” programs like Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Google Wallet, and Facebook, we're heading into next-level consumerism.

Money has always been exchanged with cash, checks or cards, but this year we’ll see the rise of the digital transaction. According to Juniper Research, in 2019 an estimated 2.1 billion consumers will make payments or wire money via digital wallets, a growth of almost 30% over 1.6 billion users last year.

The biggest difference between your credit/debit card and the digital wallet is really in the ease of transaction. If a friend or merchant has an account with your digital wallet provider, such as PayPal, then you can easily wire them money using their name or email. No need for the merchant to run your credit card number through a machine. And no need to give your friend cash to split half the dinner bill. Or write your nanny a check for her services. The digital wallet system cuts out a step and can be done from anywhere at any time for your convenience.

The most recognizable service is PayPal. But the major banks are in the game now, forming an alliance and launching a similar service called Zelle. Missing out on an opportunity from PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet, these banks (Bank of America, BB&T, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo are the owner of the service company) are also making your 2019 transactions quick, easy and secure!

#2019 #Advertising #B2B #Blog #DigitalWallet #ENnews #GoogleWallet #Marketing #NewYear #OfficeTips #PSPinc #PayPal #SmallBusiness #Zelle

2019 Tech Trends: Home IoT

Jan

8

image source: pixabay.com

The battle to tap into your home was big in 2018, between smart speakers and home security systems gaining popularity. Amazon and Google have been going head to head for your attention in order to become the platform for IoT in your home. We predict this competition will continue with ferocity in 2019.

The key players are trying to integrate their devices into your home’s daily functions. Some of them are creating hubs, like Amazon’s Echo Show or Google’s Home Hub. The smart home hub would be able to control devices such as your thermostat, lights, garage doors, doorbell, security system, maybe even your cooking devices and laundry machine. The hub would control your home’s IoT, and eventually learn your behavioral patterns.

But why do they want to know so much about you?

The more they know, the more they can influence and control your purchasing habits. They can offer you what you need, in the moment in your home, and be the one to provide the item. Google can advertise a product on behalf of its advertising client, and Amazon can show products to be purchased right from its platform.

Even though these platforms are made for our convenience, when it comes down to it, we humans still need to think critically and make wise choices. Understanding the motive behind home hubs and IoT in our homes can help us outsmart the smart devices and make the right decisions before clicking that 'buy now' button.