by Nick Throlson | Jul 19, 2017 | Business
Software That Makes Business Communications EasierSmart company Intranet Is one of the foundations of a functional business, and this article explains how someone may create better communications with a few simple programs. Someone who wishes to invest in software today will find they have a number of options when they begin to research their choices. They will find that the company is much more efficient, and they will feel as though they are using their resources more wisely on a daily basis.
1: The Software Must Be Simple to UseEveryone in your office must be aware of how to use the software when you have it installed. There are many different people who will use the software to place calls or go on video conferences, and you must teach everyone how to use these items before you allow them to work. This is a simple process that may be completed quickly, and you will save yourself quite a lot of time when you are using the software correctly.2: The Software Must Do EverythingThere are many different things you may ask the software to do when you are working, and you may ask the software to do quite a lot of work for you every day. The software you use for communication will help you collect communications, phone calls and emails for your business. This is a storage program that will help you, and there are many different people who may access this information.3: The Software Can Be Integrated with Your DevicesYou may integrate your information with other programs that you use from your office phones to your computers. There are many different things that you may attach to the system that will go from the video panels and TVs in the office to the office phones and video phones. You may ask the installer to integrate everything for you, and you will find that the system is easier to access because it is all under one umbrella. 
4: Placing Conference CallsYou may use conference calls for all your distance employees, and you will feel as though you have everyone in the office even though they work in outlets around the world. It is quite important for people to ensure that they have a direct line of communication with the other people in the office, and you may ask anyone you like to join these calls at any time. 5: Video CallsVideo calls that you place with your clients and employees allow you to check in with them as many times as you like. There are many people who need to see you because they must get an idea of what is going on in the office. They will have many opportunities to judge your body language, and you may judge their body language when you are on video calls. Video calls are quite professional because you feel as though you are filling up the boardroom with many different people who are stakeholders in the company.
6: EmailYou may create video emails and large presentations to your staff or clients through an integrated email system, and you will find that you may store all the emails you have sent through the same system. There are secure servers available to protect your information, and you may check any email you have sent in the past. This is a simple system to use, and it is far more efficient than using private email. You may build a work email system that gives everyone an address attached to your company's website, and you will provide a much more professional way for your staff to send emails.7: Using Secure LinesThe phone calls and video calls you place every day must be completely secure as you share sensitive information about your clients and the work you have done for them. Your intellectual property will be quite important to you, and you may keep someone from intercepting all the things you have said. It is much easier for you to have safe conversations when you have purchased a software program that will help you protect yourself from the hackers and corporate spies who are out there.8: Video PanelsYou may have video panels in your offices that offer presentation materials or share videos with your clients. You may integrate these panels with the presentations you wish to give, or you may go so far as to create video content that may be spread throughout the office. You may play the videos in your waiting room, and you may play the videos in any place you want in the office. You have a myriad of options to play videos once you have integrated with your communication software, and you may drag or drop the videos that you have just received from a staff member into the program.9: The Design of The ProgramYou must choose a program with an interface that you are comfortable using, and you will notice that there are many programs to choose from. They have their own designs that you must test, and you will be the most productive with the product you think works best for you. You will save yourself quite a lot of time when you are using the program because you know it works well for you. You may take the free trial of the program, and it will tell you which one you believe is the best choice for you.There are many different people who will be interested in ensuring that they have the best communications software for their offices, and you will find that you may choose from a number of programs that you realize are the easiest to use. You will save yourself quite a lot of money on the purchase, and you may use them for as long as you like when you are working in a large office. You have distance workers who need this software, and you have staff who much communicate more efficiently.
by Nick Throlson | Jul 14, 2017 | Web Design, Website Security
A Guide for Handling 5 Key Program Interface Development IssuesIntroduction Application Programming Interface, API, is a set of tools, routines, and protocols used to build software applications. It specifies the interaction between software components. You can as well use it to design the elements of GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces). A good API provides all software building blocks. All you have to do is put them together. APIs have become the primary channel used by large services to reach users. These services include Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Google Maps, and Netflix. The APIs handle more users than the front-ends of these online giants. It is no surprise then that by developing your API, you will significantly improve the quality and deliver-ability of your business? services.However, developing APIs can be a daunting task for beginners. This article covers some of the key API development issues you need to keep in mind and how to handle them.Importance of QualityProgram Interface's quality is crucial to the implementer and clients. High-quality APIs require less training, documentation and easily become popular. Additionally, they experience fewer support calls. To the customer, a poor quality API causes high defective rates and longer product development cycle. Fortunately, there are numerous tools you can utilize for to improve you API?s quality. Akamai for developers is one place where you can find the tools which will enhance your API?s usability.1. DesignIt is hard to use an interface that does not conform to the architecture of the applications for which you are building. If the application already depends on a particular API design approach, use the same design to create a new one.The design of most program interfaces uses REST or SOAP approaches. SOAP APIs focuses on remote procedures and process while REST is applicable for resources. If you are developing an API for exposing features and utilizes componentization, REST is the best option. 2. ProtocolsYou need to choose the right protocol for your API.HTTP/HTTPsHypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP/HTTPs, is a protocol used to connect your program interface with web applications and users. If your application is to connect to a browser, you should use HTTP together with XML (Extensible Markup Language) or Hypertext Markup Language data formats to create a GUI. Alternatively, you can use it with JavaScript or JSON, JavaScript Object Notation, on the client devices.TCP and UDPTo separate Web activity and API traffic, you should use User Data Protocol, UDP, or Transmission Control Protocol, TCP, instead of Webport 80. However, this choice comes with firewall limitations which will require specific system configurations to navigate. The settings can expose your APIs to remote access.3. Data FormatsDeciding on the right data format for your API is crucial for proper information exchange and parameter expression. XML is a general data format that you can use in both SOAP and REST design approaches. But it is best for structure less data. For rigidly defined data elements like in RESTful approach, JSON is the best choice. It is easier to use and provides variable types used widely in API development.4. SecuritySecuring your application and its user is a primary concern for developers. When your app is not properly secured, malicious hackers can harm both your business and your clients. They can achieve this by creating a spoof app with malware, compromising your company?s backend network, intercepting sensitive information and much more. To for complete security, you should understand the real threats then secure your API, backend network, and user data. Below is a quick guide on how to achieve these.Understanding ThreatsThe deployment of Program interfaces can be internal or external. Each deployment model has its unique risks. Understanding these threats is necessary for helping you decide on effective security measure to implement. For example, external deployment exposes sensitive data to untrusted developers through the internet. In this case, you should use encryption or Transport Layer security to protect the data while in transit and at rest. Additionally, you should use dynamic and static code tools to test your API for OWASP top vulnerabilities. Also, conduct a periodical audit for abnormal behaviors on your API.API Authorization and AuthenticationThe best tool for securing your API is the Open Authorization, OAuth framework. OAuth.2 provides authorization constraints for mobile apps, desktop and Web applications and even Internet of Things. It achieves this via a 3-legged flow as follows; after a successful user authentication, the authorization server awards the native app an access token and a refresh token. The access token is used to access protected API resources. The refresh token renews the access token. The approach provides continuous user experience by eliminating the need to sign in repeatedly. When the tokens are compromised, you simply use the safety valve to revoke them.For sequential user authentication, you should use OpenID Connect. It comes together with the OAuth standard.Backend Network securityYou need to secure the servers and cloud servers accessed by your own API?s applications and third-party apps. Securing the servers prevents unauthorized access consequently protecting sensitive data. Use database encryption and encrypted connections to secure the network. Encrypted connections include Transport Layer Security, TLS, Secure Socket Layer, SSL and Virtual Private Network, VPN. Storing your documents in encrypted containers, a practice known as containerization, adds extra security. Additionally, you should spread your resources across different server, with separate keys. This measure is known as Federation.Besides these measures, have an internet specialist conduct a regular vulnerability assessment penetration testing of your network to ensure the integrity of your network security.Securing User DataToday most of the user?s data are stored on the local device. Leaky apps can release sensitive user information such as age, location, and device usage behavior. To secure your users, employ file-level encryption, encrypt device databases and eliminate the storage of sensitive information such as credit card details on the local device.- Testing
You probably understand by now that it is important to test your API before releasing it to the market. Unlike many developers, do not focus your test on usability and functionality only. Test your security measures as well. Use device, browser, and operating system emulators to test the behavior of your program interface in a simulated environment.
by Nick Throlson | Jul 11, 2017 | Marketing
Commercial communication, or marketing as its more widely know plays a huge rise in the success of SMEs. This is because it raises the awareness of your brand and product. Without which it would be impossible to sell in quantity necessary to stay in profit. While it can seem like a complicated area to master, it's possible to get some fantastic results by doing some very simple actions. Read on to find out more. Newsletters and mail shots On the more traditional side of things, we have the marketing tool that is the newsletter. This is a valuable way of keeping your SME?s customers and potential future customers up to date with your brand and products. It is something that can be circulated via paper post but is now or likely to be done via email as this is a lot more time and cost efficient, and you can reach a larger audience a lot quicker. However the downside of emailing newsletters is they have to be hugely engaging and tempting to read, else they run the risk of quickly being deleted and ignored. To help you with this you can check out posts like the top 6 tools for targeted email marketing. As there you can find info on how to make your copy much more reader-friendly and engaging in format. Special offers Once you have the format side of things sorted you need to ensure that your content is eye-catching as well. One way of doing this is to use special offers. These may take the form of money off codes, buy one get one free deals, free gifts, or the like. These are a great way of getting a potential customer to actually read and engage with your email and online marketing. They also encourage a quick purchase helping you to boost your sales figures in a short space of time. Viral marketing However, there is an even more tempting way of getting your customers to engage with the marketing tool that you are distributing, and that is viral marketing. But what is viral marketing? Well, it's a way of getting your brand out there that is a bit more avant-garde. 
It usually includes an image, or more typically a video, that has very watchable content. Such as something funny or something with an element of danger. The company name or product usually isn't the star of the show as is revealed at the end. It's more about the feeling that the video creates in its viewers which then becomes psychologically linked to your brand by the completion of the production. By entertaining folks first and promoting second, you give your potential customers something before you have asked for anything from them. Creating a positive association with your brand. You also give them something that they can share, spreading your message even further. Check out some of the best examples here on the web for some inspiration. But be careful, as some companies have had trouble with negative viral marketing as well.
by Nick Throlson | Jul 10, 2017 | WordPress
If you are new to WordPress and you have just finished designing your site, you will no doubt be very proud of your hard work. However, before you can get your site published, there are a few things you will need to consider such as security. Although WordPress regularly update their site to include the latest security fixes, there are additional things you can do to improve your pages security. Here are a few ideas that will help make your site secure. Admin ProfileIt is so easy to forget to change your admin profile. However, it is important that you do change it as soon as possible. Hackers use brute force attacks to get past the admin accounts; then they can access all your data. By creating a new user and deleting the Admin profile, you will make such an attack less likely. PasswordsPasswords are another area that can be easily taken for granted. Your password has to be unique so that attacks can be nullified. Avoid using your name or your child's name as there is a chance they can be easily guessed. To be secure, you can try a password generator such as 1Password or LastPass. They will use numbers, characters and symbols to generate a password of any length. You will then have a more secure site with a difficult password for hackers to guess. Two-Factor AuthenticationTwo-factor authentication might sound a little extreme, but, if you want to have a secure site, it is the best option. It is especially true if you will have customers personal information stored on the site. The type of authentication we are talking about is already used by many companies including PayPal and Google so that it will be familiar to you. There are plugins that can help you set it up such as Rublon.PrivilegesIf you are the only one that updates or posts on your WordPress site, then you will have admin privileges. However, if there are others that regularly go to the site, they do not need to have the same privileges as you. If they are writing posts, then you can restrict the access they have to the site. The same applies to anyone updating or maintaining your site for you. Grant them the access needed, but remove it once they have finished the work. It doesn?t take long, and it will save any potential problems in the future. The last thing you need is your data to be lost or corrupted, if this were to happen, you would need to rely on back-ups or other security to help you resolve it. You can use a data retrieval company such as Secure Data Recovery to retrieve your data for you. It can be an invaluable service, especially if there was sensitive information involved. With these suggestions in place, you can be more confident that your data will remain safe, even if you have others using the site as well.
by Nick Throlson | Jul 6, 2017 | Web Design
What Does It Take to Set up an Online Store? - A ChecklistE-Commerce is the retail wave of the future as more people are opting to spend their money online. You will have more and more competition in the e-commerce world, so it is important that you make sure to have not only a vision for success but an actual e-commerce business plan. Here is a checklist for you to consider when setting up your own e-commerce company: - E-Business Plan Structure
If you were to take a course in e-commerce structure and it?s the basic foundation of an e-business plan, it would include the following elements: Software platform: Many elements of e-commerce are unique to this type of retail selling like how to market inventory and display product features, so you would be wise to choose a platform that specifically is designed for an e-commerce business. Merchant account Understand that there are several types of merchant accounts, so focus on an e-business type of transaction instead of a point of sale one. This means you want to set up something that will process a cardholder not present transaction (CNP) or a mail order/telephone order account (MOTO). Also, ask about all the fees that could possibly be included with each transaction. This may include:- Monthly user fee
- Discount rate fee
- Per transaction fee
- Termination fee
- Extra fees including refund fees
When you choose a merchant account, consider what the needs will be for your e-commerce business in terms of volume of merchandise that you intend to sell as opposed to higher-end products that may sell for more but not in large quantities. This relates to the fees as well. Accounting package: Once again, you need to consider an accounting system that specializes in e-commerce activity. There is an entirely different type of inventory tracking to consider when you have an e-commerce business that needs to be a part of an accounting package. The idea of even trying to do it with a simple accounting software or even manually is an impossible task. As your business grows, the software must be easy to upgrade. Because e-commerce is becoming so popular, there are many software companies that offer these three basic components as an ?all-in-one? package. Many will offer you an online model store that you can use to test out their software. - How Can Your E-Commerce Site Be Unique from all the Rest?
You will have a multitude of e-commerce sites competing with you to entice a consumer to click on their link. Here are some ways you can set your e-commerce business apart from the rest:- Unique Site Design: According to e-commerce web designer John Atkins, your site needs to be convenient and easy to maneuver around as well as pleasing to the consumer?s eye or they will be gone in a matter of minutes. This includes detailed descriptions of each product and a focus on the products themselves and not the quantity of the products that you offer. So, it is vitally important to explore specific online models for e-commerce design. Each item needs to be presented as originally as the next so that the products do not blend one into another and lose their value to the consumer.
- Niche Items: If you offer the same type of products that ten other e-commerce sites offer that are listed right along with you, then you will not stand out at all. But, if you offer several unusual products or services that are hard to find or even only found on your site, it is worth a consumer?s time to click on your site and take a look at them even if they are not intending to buy this item, it will pique their interest to enter your e-commerce site.
- Deals, deals, deals: The name of the game in competition is usually who can offer the best deal for the same product, and many consumers only choose an e-commerce site based on this. So, making sure that you are undercutting the competition without hurting your bottom line probably one of the most important business decisions you can make. Then, you will be known for the site the gives the best deals, which will make you unique in the eyes of the consumer.
- What are My Competition?s Weak Points?
You cannot set yourself apart from your competition if you are not familiar with what your competition has to offer. You can consider some of the following strategies: - What are they missing on their site that you offer? This gives you an opportunity to market to one specific product or service that you know is not offered by the competition and you can say so in your advertising.
- Read customer reviews on their website: Customers will tell you everything you need to know about the shortcomings of your competition through reviews of products and services that they offer to them. Have a dedicated team on staff to review these and note where they are falling short and offer the customer what they are missing.
- Hire a company to track the number of visitors that a competitor is getting. Someone you perceive as being your greatest competition may, in fact, be getting far fewer customers to their site than you.
- SEO Strategy
Richard Lazzazera, a well-known e-commerce blogger on Shopify and expert on e-business strategies, says in his weekly blog, The Lemonade Stand, that there are six things to consider when putting together an e-commerce marketing strategy before you jump into spending marketing money- Up-Selling
- Abandon Cart Follow-up emails
- Customer Referrals with bonus offer
- Retargeting
You can accomplish this by beginning with a simple marketing plan: - Unique visitors: First, you don?t want to grow so large in the beginning that you can?t handle the traffic, so an initial goal of 50,000 unique visitors per month is manageable.
- Keywords and phrases: Google is king when it comes to searching for online shops, so become familiar with the words your customers will use to find your products or services to optimize the amount of traffic you will receive. There are a multitude of keyword tools like wordstream.com to use to become familiar with consumer keywords.
- URL overload: Make sure to embed your URL anywhere that you advertise whether it is something in print like a business card or in every email you send out to a customer.
- Free advertising: Make sure your site is listed on Google?s shopping search engine Froogle. It is free and many consumers go there to comparison shop.
- Advice: This is also free. Talk to other e-commerce business owners and see what is working for them.
Just working your way through this checklist of important things to consider when you begin to plan an e-commerce business will put you on the right track to initial success and long-term e-commerce growth.
1: The Software Must Be Simple to UseEveryone in your office must be aware of how to use the software when you have it installed. There are many different people who will use the software to place calls or go on video conferences, and you must teach everyone how to use these items before you allow them to work. This is a simple process that may be completed quickly, and you will save yourself quite a lot of time when you are using the software correctly.2: The Software Must Do EverythingThere are many different things you may ask the software to do when you are working, and you may ask the software to do quite a lot of work for you every day. The software you use for communication will help you collect communications, phone calls and emails for your business. This is a storage program that will help you, and there are many different people who may access this information.3: The Software Can Be Integrated with Your DevicesYou may integrate your information with other programs that you use from your office phones to your computers. There are many different things that you may attach to the system that will go from the video panels and TVs in the office to the office phones and video phones. You may ask the installer to integrate everything for you, and you will find that the system is easier to access because it is all under one umbrella. 
4: Placing Conference CallsYou may use conference calls for all your distance employees, and you will feel as though you have everyone in the office even though they work in outlets around the world. It is quite important for people to ensure that they have a direct line of communication with the other people in the office, and you may ask anyone you like to join these calls at any time. 5: Video CallsVideo calls that you place with your clients and employees allow you to check in with them as many times as you like. There are many people who need to see you because they must get an idea of what is going on in the office. They will have many opportunities to judge your body language, and you may judge their body language when you are on video calls. Video calls are quite professional because you feel as though you are filling up the boardroom with many different people who are stakeholders in the company.
6: EmailYou may create video emails and large presentations to your staff or clients through an integrated email system, and you will find that you may store all the emails you have sent through the same system. There are secure servers available to protect your information, and you may check any email you have sent in the past. This is a simple system to use, and it is far more efficient than using private email. You may build a work email system that gives everyone an address attached to your company's website, and you will provide a much more professional way for your staff to send emails.7: Using Secure LinesThe phone calls and video calls you place every day must be completely secure as you share sensitive information about your clients and the work you have done for them. Your intellectual property will be quite important to you, and you may keep someone from intercepting all the things you have said. It is much easier for you to have safe conversations when you have purchased a software program that will help you protect yourself from the hackers and corporate spies who are out there.8: Video PanelsYou may have video panels in your offices that offer presentation materials or share videos with your clients. You may integrate these panels with the presentations you wish to give, or you may go so far as to create video content that may be spread throughout the office. You may play the videos in your waiting room, and you may play the videos in any place you want in the office. You have a myriad of options to play videos once you have integrated with your communication software, and you may drag or drop the videos that you have just received from a staff member into the program.9: The Design of The ProgramYou must choose a program with an interface that you are comfortable using, and you will notice that there are many programs to choose from. They have their own designs that you must test, and you will be the most productive with the product you think works best for you. You will save yourself quite a lot of time when you are using the program because you know it works well for you. You may take the free trial of the program, and it will tell you which one you believe is the best choice for you.There are many different people who will be interested in ensuring that they have the best communications software for their offices, and you will find that you may choose from a number of programs that you realize are the easiest to use. You will save yourself quite a lot of money on the purchase, and you may use them for as long as you like when you are working in a large office. You have distance workers who need this software, and you have staff who much communicate more efficiently.
It usually includes an image, or more 
You will have a multitude of e-commerce sites competing with you to entice a consumer to click on their link. Here are some ways you can set your e-commerce business apart from the rest:
You cannot set yourself apart from your competition if you are not familiar with 
