Business, finances, forex

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I say Instagram Stories and John “Colderice” Lawson is ready to jump into it on the latest edition of This Week in Small Business.

We kicked off this week’s show by talking about one of my favorite recent articles from Small Business Trends. This one from Alex Yong in which he interviews rising entrepreneur Nicholas Kirchner, who at 21 already owns his own marketing agency, got John going right away.

“I’m just starting to love it,” he says. “What it’s great for marketing is that you can actually tell a story. Or I could give you all the designs of a specific SKU. You can save that Story on your Instagram profile and people can get to it. It’s got a lot of functionality to it.”

Instagram vs Facebook for Business

I temper John’s enthusiasm a little when I put him on the spot — which should small businesses focus on more: Instagram or Facebook? Or both?

“I’m starting to skew Instagram a little more over Facebook,” he says.

To find out why John thinks you may want to spend more time on your Instagram marketing efforts, check out the full show above. We also discuss the even earlier Christmas shopping season — and how your business should respond — as well as how you can keep your expenses to a minimum while you’re on the road for business.

To get notifications and updates when another This Week in Small Business goes live, be sure to subscribe to the Small Business Trends YouTube channel today.

Economy

Truck Tonnage Index Increases by 1.9% with Much Work Going to Small Operators

The American Trucking Association just announced its advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 1.9% in July. And a portion of this includes work going to the nation’s small independent truck operators. July 2018 Trucking Industry Statistics According to the association, the index showed a noticeable increase compared to the 0.5% decline in June revised from 0.4%.

Finance

Give Employees the Power to Save for Retirement with Spave App

The way people save for retirement is shifting, particularly when it comes to employer sponsored retirement accounts. Today’s employees, millennials in particular, like to have control over their money rather than contributing to accounts set up by their employer. They also aren’t as likely to stay with the same employer for their entire career as those in past generations have done.

Marketing Tips

Consumer Email Use Up 17% Over Last Year, Is Your Business Engaging?

The fourth annual Adobe Consumer Email Survey has revealed consumer use is up 17% year over year. This is despite the fact there are now more channels available for consumers to interact and engage with their favorite brands. The survey points out consumers are checking their personal email an average of 2.5 hours on any given weekday. This is in addition to spending an average of 3.

82% of Marketers Report Increased Open Rates Through Email Personalization (INFOGRAPHIC)

Get this, 82 percent of marketers reported an increase in open rates through email personalization, while 75 percent believe that personalization yields higher click-through rates. This information and more is featured in a new infographic ActiveTrail, a company specializing in marketing automation.

Sales

LinkedIn Launches Pipeline Management Kit for Your Sales Team

While digital technology has improved commerce, it has also increased the complexities of the sales funnel. LinkedIn has introduced a Pipeline Management Kit for salespeople so they can remove blind spots from the modern sales process and manage the difficulties of B2B sales.

Small Business Operations

65% of Retailers Will Offer Same-Day Delivery by 2019 (INFOGRAPHIC)

Small businesses are always looking for ways to have a competitive advantage in the market. Now they are not only competing on price and customer service, but also on speed. According to a recent report by Go People, a Sydney-based on-demand delivery and courier startup, 65% of retailers will provide same-day delivery services by the year 2019.

Uber Freight Finds Small Businesses More Shippers

The trucking industry is undergoing a huge transformation with the integration of digital technology. Uber Freight is pushing this transformation with a new platform designed to connect shippers and carriers of all sizes more efficiently.

Startup

55% of Remote Workers Now Telecommute Full Time, Survey Says

Digital technology has upended the way we work and where we can work. And a new survey from AND CO and Remote Year has some insightful data regarding the state of remote workers in 2018. According to the survey, 55% of the respondents said they worked remotely 100% of the time.

Weebly Mobile Upgrades for Small Business Ecommerce

Weebly just unveiled a series of enhancements to its mobile app that could improve usability for ecommerce businesses. Sellers now have the ability to print and manage shipping labels, chat with customers, approve customer reviews, create coupon codes and edit listings right from their mobile device.

Technology Trends

SeePlus Manages Your Small Business’s Digital Files and Folders

The need to organize, manage and preserve a vast number of invaluable digital assets is paramount for any business. And this is especially true for small businesses lacking the time or manpower to stay perfectly organized.

Transform Your Business Back in Time – If Only for a Moment – with Windows 95 App

Who can remember 1995? Millennials born in the 1990s won’t remember that year, when the STS-71 Space Shuttle mission was launched to dock at the Russian Mir Space Station, and an unprecedented heatwave engulfed the Midwest, which saw temperatures exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit for five consecutive days. Nor will they remember Windows 95.

PayPal Mobile Updates Make Small Business Payments Faster and More Secure

The latest development to the PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) mobile app will make it easier to send and request money. PayPal has become popular with consultants, freelancers and other small business operators as a quick and easy way to invoice clients and get paid online and a way for other small business owners who need those services to pay for them as well.

Splashtop Gives Small Buinesses Remote Access to At Least 2 Computers

With the launch of Splashtop Business Access Solo and Pro, Splashtop is expanding its offering of remote access for business professionals and teams. Splashtop Business Access Individuals and teams will now be able to access remote computers securely on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Chromebook devices.

This article, “Experts Debate Whether Instagram or Facebook is More Effective for Small Business” was first published on Small Business Trends

Source

?

I say Instagram Stories and John “Colderice” Lawson is ready to jump into it on the latest edition of This Week in Small Business.

We kicked off this week’s show by talking about one of my favorite recent articles from Small Business Trends. This one from Alex Yong in which he interviews rising entrepreneur Nicholas Kirchner, who at 21 already owns his own marketing agency, got John going right away.

“I’m just starting to love it,” he says. “What it’s great for marketing is that you can actually tell a story. Or I could give you all the designs of a specific SKU. You can save that Story on your Instagram profile and people can get to it. It’s got a lot of functionality to it.”

Instagram vs Facebook for Business

I temper John’s enthusiasm a little when I put him on the spot — which should small businesses focus on more: Instagram or Facebook? Or both?

“I’m starting to skew Instagram a little more over Facebook,” he says.

To find out why John thinks you may want to spend more time on your Instagram marketing efforts, check out the full show above. We also discuss the even earlier Christmas shopping season — and how your business should respond — as well as how you can keep your expenses to a minimum while you’re on the road for business.

To get notifications and updates when another This Week in Small Business goes live, be sure to subscribe to the Small Business Trends YouTube channel today.

Economy

Truck Tonnage Index Increases by 1.9% with Much Work Going to Small Operators

The American Trucking Association just announced its advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 1.9% in July. And a portion of this includes work going to the nation’s small independent truck operators. July 2018 Trucking Industry Statistics According to the association, the index showed a noticeable increase compared to the 0.5% decline in June revised from 0.4%.

Finance

Give Employees the Power to Save for Retirement with Spave App

The way people save for retirement is shifting, particularly when it comes to employer sponsored retirement accounts. Today’s employees, millennials in particular, like to have control over their money rather than contributing to accounts set up by their employer. They also aren’t as likely to stay with the same employer for their entire career as those in past generations have done.

Marketing Tips

Consumer Email Use Up 17% Over Last Year, Is Your Business Engaging?

The fourth annual Adobe Consumer Email Survey has revealed consumer use is up 17% year over year. This is despite the fact there are now more channels available for consumers to interact and engage with their favorite brands. The survey points out consumers are checking their personal email an average of 2.5 hours on any given weekday. This is in addition to spending an average of 3.

82% of Marketers Report Increased Open Rates Through Email Personalization (INFOGRAPHIC)

Get this, 82 percent of marketers reported an increase in open rates through email personalization, while 75 percent believe that personalization yields higher click-through rates. This information and more is featured in a new infographic ActiveTrail, a company specializing in marketing automation.

Sales

LinkedIn Launches Pipeline Management Kit for Your Sales Team

While digital technology has improved commerce, it has also increased the complexities of the sales funnel. LinkedIn has introduced a Pipeline Management Kit for salespeople so they can remove blind spots from the modern sales process and manage the difficulties of B2B sales.

Small Business Operations

65% of Retailers Will Offer Same-Day Delivery by 2019 (INFOGRAPHIC)

Small businesses are always looking for ways to have a competitive advantage in the market. Now they are not only competing on price and customer service, but also on speed. According to a recent report by Go People, a Sydney-based on-demand delivery and courier startup, 65% of retailers will provide same-day delivery services by the year 2019.

Uber Freight Finds Small Businesses More Shippers

The trucking industry is undergoing a huge transformation with the integration of digital technology. Uber Freight is pushing this transformation with a new platform designed to connect shippers and carriers of all sizes more efficiently.

Startup

55% of Remote Workers Now Telecommute Full Time, Survey Says

Digital technology has upended the way we work and where we can work. And a new survey from AND CO and Remote Year has some insightful data regarding the state of remote workers in 2018. According to the survey, 55% of the respondents said they worked remotely 100% of the time.

Weebly Mobile Upgrades for Small Business Ecommerce

Weebly just unveiled a series of enhancements to its mobile app that could improve usability for ecommerce businesses. Sellers now have the ability to print and manage shipping labels, chat with customers, approve customer reviews, create coupon codes and edit listings right from their mobile device.

Technology Trends

SeePlus Manages Your Small Business’s Digital Files and Folders

The need to organize, manage and preserve a vast number of invaluable digital assets is paramount for any business. And this is especially true for small businesses lacking the time or manpower to stay perfectly organized.

Transform Your Business Back in Time – If Only for a Moment – with Windows 95 App

Who can remember 1995? Millennials born in the 1990s won’t remember that year, when the STS-71 Space Shuttle mission was launched to dock at the Russian Mir Space Station, and an unprecedented heatwave engulfed the Midwest, which saw temperatures exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit for five consecutive days. Nor will they remember Windows 95.

PayPal Mobile Updates Make Small Business Payments Faster and More Secure

The latest development to the PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) mobile app will make it easier to send and request money. PayPal has become popular with consultants, freelancers and other small business operators as a quick and easy way to invoice clients and get paid online and a way for other small business owners who need those services to pay for them as well.

Splashtop Gives Small Buinesses Remote Access to At Least 2 Computers

With the launch of Splashtop Business Access Solo and Pro, Splashtop is expanding its offering of remote access for business professionals and teams. Splashtop Business Access Individuals and teams will now be able to access remote computers securely on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Chromebook devices.

This article, “Experts Debate whether Instagram or Facebook is More Effective for Small Business” was first published on Small Business Trends

Source

Aston Martin eyes IPO; Panasonic, Saudi Aramco, Campbell Soup, and India’s Paytm

Varna. The result of the tested samples for African swine fever in the Provadia village of Tutrakantsi is positive, Focus Radio has reported from a press conference in the Varna regional administration. This is the first outbreak of African swine fever in Bulgaria. The police presence in the village was increased in connection with the ban on the movement and transport of pigs after a report of a potential outbreak of the disease, now confirmed. The samples were taken from a local backyard by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency. Governor Stoyan Pasev is calling an emergency meeting of the regional crisis management council.
African swine fever is a dangerous disease in domestic and wild boars because of high mortality and the lack of treatment and vaccine. Once registered in a country, the disease has a significant negative impact on national, regional and international trade, pig farmers and hunting. Moreover, its eradication is extremely difficult and could take years as far as wild boars are concerned.

Focus News Agency

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No matter where you live in the world, tax time is always a stressful time of year. In fact, one EU study found that over half of all taxpayers, private and corporate, began stressing the closer it got to the time they had to lodge their returns. Even sites like news.com.au offer tips on how to alleviate much of the stress that mounts the closer you get to tax season. If you suffer from tax season stress, here are a few tips that could help you step away from the 50 percent of taxpayers who throw up their hands in despair each year.

Procrastination Is Your Worst Enemy

Although 28 February is still half a year away, many Australians are already stressing over how they will file this year – and whether or not they will have the money to pay a professional tax specialist. The worst thing you can do is to avoid ‘thinking’ about taxes until the last moment. Keep your records updated regularly so that you have all your ducks in a row come lodging day.

Don’t Worry About the Cost of Professional Tax Specialists

It’s easier said than done when being advised not to worry about costs associated with tax preparation, but there really is a way to avoid the high cost of consultations. Why not file your tax return online at much less the cost of a brick-and-mortar accountant or tax specialist? Altogether too many people are already living hand to mouth even though the global economy has improved since the Great Recession but lodging your return online can save you a significant amount of money.

Don’t Let Time Be a Factor

Another reason so many people stress is that they haven’t slotted in time for keeping their records straight. Lo and behold, tax season arrives and it’s a mad dash to find all those receipts and invoices they failed to file accurately. If you schedule even an hour a week to go over the week’s paperwork and then file it accordingly, you will not experience the stress that comes as part and parcel with the ‘hunt.’ Some accountants suggest that you also scan every receipt and invoice so that you have a digital file in the event some catastrophe claimed your hard copies.

Periodically Browse the Australian Taxation Office Website

From time to time, the government may institute changes which could affect the way in which you file, the deductions you can claim, and other items important to filing your return. According to the Australian Taxation Office, the latest data showed that the average return was approximately $2,300 AUD last year and that is certainly nothing to stress over! However, if even the smallest change in their regulations alters the way in which you claim and lodge your tax return, you could encounter a significant wait whilst your return is denied until you make the appropriate corrections.

How much stress can these tips alleviate? By making fewer errors and better use of your time, you will not be subjected to the same degree of stress when it comes time to lodge that return. In other words, the best way to avoid tax season stress is to consider every season tax season and keep up with your records. In this way, you will be prepared when the end of February rolls around.

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The Bi-Annual Trends Report from Small Business Expo was just released, and more than half or 51% of respondent in the survey say there is too much government regulation.

The report looks to gauge small businesses sentiment to gain insight into the challenges and trends currently affecting this segment. This is the first of the bi-annual reports, and the data represents what has taken place in the first half of 2018.

The impact of regulations is disproportionately higher for small business owners. According to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the cost of regulations to small businesses with 50 employees or less is almost 20% higher than the average for all firms.

While the Trump administration has gotten rid of many regulations, small businesses owners still feel the impact of some of those remaining on the books.

It is important to note just as the Small Business Expo survey points out, businesses owners agree with many regulations. Forty-two percent of the owners say there are just enough regulations along with another seven percent who say there isn’t enough. The problem is the consequences of the regulations are more severe for small firms.

Zachary Lezberg, owner of the Small Business Expo said in the press release, there are considerable challenges and benefits in running a small business. Lezberg added, “Starting your own business has long been the American dream. However, there is a reality about owning your own business that is not always discussed. The goal of our Bi-Annual Trends Report is to help shed light on the more challenging aspects of owning a business while also highlighting the benefits.”

The data for survey comes from 400 U.S.-based small business owners across industries in retail, manufacturing, education, non-profit and government agencies.

Small Business Expo has the largest small business networking and educational events with more than 100,000 small business professionals and entrepreneurs participating every year.

Key Findings in the August 2018 Small Business Expo Bi-Annual Trends Report

When it comes to the current administration and its support for small businesses, only 30% of the respondents agreed. Almost half said they disagree or strongly disagree, with a little over 20% staying neutral on the issue.

At the same time, more businesses owners are confident about their business, with over 60% agreeing or strongly agreeing with this sentiment.

This is being driven by the current state of the US economy as indicated by 42.5% of respondents who said it is a factor in the success of their business. And an almost equal number or 41.4% said they feel optimistic about the future of the US economy in the next 12 months.

As to what they consider to be the factors in the success of their business, the majority said the resources available to them. This was followed by cash flow, the state of the economy and location.

You can look at the rest of the data in the survey here (PDF).

Image: Small Business Expo

This article, “51% of Small Business Owners Say There is Too Much Government Regulation” was first published on Small Business Trends

Source

AFP – Two people were injured during a stabbing incident at Amsterdam’s busy Central Station on Friday morning before the alleged attacker was shot and wounded, Dutch police said.

“A suspect has been shot after a stabbing incident at Amsterdam Central Station,” Dutch police said on Twitter, indicating that the station had been evacuated and closed off to all rail traffic.

However, police shortly afterwards issued an update to say there was “no talk” of a complete evacuation and only two platforms had been closed off to passengers.

The two injured people and the knife-wielding suspect were taken to hospital, Amsterdam police said.

Trams, which leave from the front of the station were not running, the police added, saying more information was not immediately available.

Around 250,000 people travel through Central Station every day, according to statistics provided by the Amsterdam.info travel guide.

The station is located on the Dutch capital’s historic canal-ringed city center.

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President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming it treats his country unfairly.

“If they don’t shape up, I would withdraw from the WTO,” Mr Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

The WTO was established to provide rules for global trade and resolve disputes between countries.

Mr Trump says the body too often rules against the US, although he concedes it has won some recent judgments.

He claimed on Fox News earlier this year that the WTO was set up “to benefit everybody but us”, adding: “We lose the lawsuits, almost all of the lawsuits in the WTO.”

However, some analysis shows the US wins about 90% when it is the complainant and loses about the same percentage when it is complained against.

Mr Trump’s warning about a possible US pull-out from the WTO highlights the conflict between his protectionist trade policies and the open trade system that the WTO oversees.

Washington has recently blocked the appointment of new judges to the WTO’s Geneva-based dispute settlement body, which could potentially paralyse its ability to issue judgments.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has also accused the WTO of interfering with US sovereignty.

It comes as President Trump set a Friday deadline for Canada to sign a new agreement with the US and Mexico. He has threatened to tax the country’s automotive sector or cut it out entirely.

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BERLIN (Reuters) – The European Union’s chief executive said on Friday the bloc was set to end the practice of switching between summer and winter time after a survey found most EU citizens against the practice.

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Ludogorets will play against Bayer (Leverkusen), Zurich and AEK (Larnaca) in the Europa League groups, taking the draw on Friday.

The group can be considered acceptable as the German team is the main favorite.
 
Zurich is the winner of the Swiss Cup and is therefore entering directly into the LE teams. AEK Larnaca is also the winner of the Cyprus Cup. To reach the group stage they won against the Irish Dundalk (0:0 and 4:0), Sturm Graz (2:0 and 5:0) and FC Trencin (1:1 and 3:0).
 
The games in the group will be played on September 20, October 4, October 25, November 8, November 29, and December 13.

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