911 Essay

911 Essay

Business

Creating A Technology Plan For Your Small Business Starts Here

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Every modern day business that aims to be able to effectively satisfy its customer base, stay competitive, and experience growth requires at least three things; finances, vision, and technology. Without technology, a business is simply ill-equipped to survive, much less compete in the modern world. This is why it is generally advised that businesses take their technology as seriously as they do legal practices and taxes.

Technology is what makes it possible for a business to accomplish its objectives quickly and efficiently. But technology can only deliver such results if it is sufficient. This is why it is important that a business draws up an effective technology plan to match its short and long term goals. If you want to get started on drawing up your technology plan, the best place to start are the three steps listed below for analysing your small business’ technology needs.

  1. Draw up a technology inventory for your small business.

Create a Technology Inventory and Audit Worksheet which will contain all the various technological aspects that your business currently has and uses. This inventory will also state if your currently owned technologies are leased or fully owned by the business.

  1. Carry out a SWOT analysis for your small business.

A SWOT analysis analyses the Strengths and Weaknesses of your small business as well as the Opportunities and Threats currently facing it. Your business’ strengths might revolve around your high quality customer service or low prices, or even your market location. Your weaknesses on the other hand might include ineffective sourcing of materials or poorly trained staff. Whatever the case might be, draw up a list of your top strengths and weaknesses.

A similar list should be drawn up concerning the opportunities and risks facing your business.

  1. Align your primary business goals with appropriate technology tools.

Based on your SWOT analysis, identify your business’ top three business goals. Next step is to consider your list of available technologies and look at which can help your business achieve the listed goals. If your available technologies are insufficient, you can develop a list of technologies which are capable of helping you accomplish the defined goals. These new technologies can then be acquired by your company.

Various innovative technology tools are available to help with a variety of business circumstances. The important thing is to understand which can deliver the best results that match your business’ goals. Once you discover which technologies you need but do not have available, you can then go about acquiring what is needed by budgeting funds, and allocating time as well as man power towards facilitating the creation of your technology plan whilst ensuring the protection of your business. This will then be followed by the actual acquisition of necessary technologies that best match your business’ immediate or long term goals.

Three Benefits of Memset’s Virtual LAN Service

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To run an office in this century, file sharing and network communication have become a necessity. It’s rare to find an office where there isn’t a network of computers working on a given function to keep the business going. However, when there’s a network, there’s a possibility that hackers will find a weak spot where they can get in and steal sensitive information. To protect yourself and your business from hackers, you need a virtual local area network or vLAN.

Memset offers a virtual LAN (vLAN) service that allows you to secure multiple server connections via a private network. Here’s everything you need to know about vLAN, from how it works to its benefits.

How vLAN Works

Let’s break down what vLAN actually is. Before anything else, LAN means local area network, which pertains to a network of computers that are connected through a single server via a cable or wire, which is why the computers need to be contained within one small area. With a virtual LAN or vLAN, you’re given more flexibility because you’re not constrained by physical limitations. You can connect one or more LANs within the network while also isolating each LAN into broadcast domains so that the hosts don’t communicate directly to each other, keeping each secure on its own.

vLAN Components

To change a current LAN structure to a vLAN, with the latest architecture, you need five main components: 1) high-performance switches, 2) inter-switch trunking protocols, 3) layer-3 routing solutions, 4) compatibility with your existing LAN system, and 5) network management solutions. With the help of Memset, you can easily establish these components to enjoy the benefits of a vLAN.

Benefits of Memset’s vLAN

Speaking of benefits, here are three advantages that you will get to experience if you trust Memset and their vLAN services:

  1. No physical restrictions

A vLAN does not restrict end-stations to the same physical area, so moving end-stations isn’t a problem. You can move a component of your network and not need to have it reconfigured. At the same time, if an end-station changes its function, there’s no need to move it to a different location because a vLAN makes it easy to localize this end-station to its new network.

  1. Better network performance

A vLAN will improve network performance because public and private traffic are segregated. Therefore, you can secure and share data within an isolated environment, giving you the opportunity to maximise the performance of your dedicated servers.

  1. Year-round support

Memset gives its clients year-round support. All dedicated vLANs are always monitored by Memset and are protected by their superior network security.

The age of technology is upon us. It is constantly changing the way the world works—even businesses and government agencies have to cope with it. A virtual LAN is just one way to stay on top of your game. If you want to keep your files and data secure over your local area network without the physical restrictions, then you should definitely look into vLAN and the benefits it will bring into your work network.

What Are the Main Reasons to Apply for an EIN?

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An employer identification number, commonly shortened to EIN, acts as a Social Security number for your company. The IRS tracks business taxes with EINs, just like it does for personal taxes with Social Security numbers. However, not every company technically needs an EIN. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should avoid getting one, because there are reasons why applying for an EIN is beneficial for any business. Here’s why you should apply for an EIN.

It Is Required for Most Business Entities

When you incorporate your business, run a partnership, or form an LLC, it becomes its own legal structure. Just like every person needs a unique Social Security number, each legal structure needs an EIN. Even if you aren’t legally required to get an EIN, like if you’re a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, you’ll probably need one eventually.

Hiring Employees 

No matter your business entity, whenever you hire an employee, you’ll need an EIN. This is because you become responsible for withholding taxes from your employee’s income and the IRS needs to track that income separately from your SSN. Getting an EIN allows the IRS to determine what your business needs to send in payroll taxes.

Opening Banking Accounts and Credit Cards

If you’re going to open a bank account to deal with your finances or a credit card for your company, you’ll probably need an EIN. Most banking institutions and lenders require you to have an EIN to open an account. This is a great way to keep your business finances separate from your personal finances.

Even if you don’t technically need an EIN, it’s a good idea to get one. If you’re thinking about getting an EIN, the process is simple. Applying for an EIN online is easy with IRS-EIN-Tax-ID.com. If you have any more questions, you can contact the IRS EIN Tax ID Filing Service team.

5 Budgeting Tips for Freelancers!

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If you’re a freelancer, it’s crucial to remain on top of your finances as your income is not guaranteed, so it’s well worth planning ahead, to ensure that you’ll be able to cover your living expenses when work is scarce.

5 Budgeting Tips for Freelancers:

Learn how to become a stronger more effective negotiator 

You’ll find it far easier to budget for your necessities and luxuries if you ensure that you’re paid a fair sum for your time, talent and skills. It may be worth working out a standard hourly rate, which you can charge your clients. It may also be worth figuring out how much money you need in order to survive on a monthly basis, to ensure that you negotiate fair contracts which will ensure that you have more than enough funds to cover your day to day living expenses.

When you can, try to put aside 40% of your income

As a freelancer, there may be months where you struggle to pick up paying contracts and months as well as months where you more than triple your average monthly income. When it’s possible, save 40% of your income and spend 40% of your income on essentials such as your electricity bill and groceries and the remaining 20% of your budget on luxuries.

While it may be tempting to spend a greater percentage of your income on luxuries, during the months where work is scarce, you’ll be glad that you put extra money aside instead of splurging on luxuries such as restaurant meals and expensive electronic devices.

Install a handy budgeting app to help you keep track of your spending habits 

When you’re a freelancer, it’s well worth tracking your expenditure by downloading a budgeting app onto your smartphone. Downloading a budget application onto your phone will help you identify areas which you may need to tighten your spending on. As an example, you may find that you spend several hundred dollars per month on takeaway coffees or that you spend a small fortune for cable television. When it’s far cheaper to sign up to a site such as Netflix or Hulu, which streams current content for a fraction of the price.

Get into the habit of shopping around for the best deals available 

Instead of purchasing an item from the first shop you visit, it’s well worth visiting a price comparison website, which will tell you where to purchase the item which you’re interested in, for the lowest price.

You can also save money by visiting two different grocery stores, in order to find the best possible deals on all of your favorite products. As different stores will offer different specials.

Place the bulk of your savings into a high-interest bank account

It’s well worth shopping around to find out if your current provider, offers you the best interest rate available. As you should aim for your savings to grow, in order to cover inflation. As you don’t want your savings to lose value over the years.

So if you’re a freelancer, it’s well worth using the 5 tips listed above in order to keep on top of your finances.

How to work abroad while writing articles online

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If you love the idea of quitting the rat race and traveling the world, whilst working as a writer, simply continue reading to discover how to work abroad while writing articles online. After all, life is far too short to be lived in one place!

How to work abroad while writing articles online:

Consider traveling to budget destinations over expensive destinations 

One way to stretch your travel budget further is to opt to visit low cost, budget travel destinations such as Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil over more expensive travel destinations such as Switzerland, Canada, and Australia.

As an example accommodation, food, entertainment, and utilities are far cheaper in Thailand, than they are in the US or expensive tourist destinations. So if you’re looking to stretch your travel budget further, whilst working overseas as a writer, it pays to pick your destinations carefully!

Make sure that you have a reliable internet connection throughout your travels 

You may want to talk to your internet provider about signing up for a low-cost data plan, whilst you’re traveling. Alternatively, if you plan on sticking around in one country for several weeks, you may want to sign up for a local internet plan.

Alternatively, you may want to write the bulk of your articles, whilst you’re offline and utilize free high-speed Wi-Fi connections to upload your articles or send your articles to overseas clients.

Make sure to set yourself achievable deadlines 

Whilst overseas you may be tempted to sleep in and to spend the bulk of your days exploring exotic new destinations, however in order to ensure that you have a steady stream of revenue coming in, it’s a smart idea to set yourself realistic, achievable targets and deadlines. Make sure that your work remains a priority and that you save your adventures for your disposable, free time.

Consider blogging about your travels 

Did you know that you can supplement your income by create a niche travel blog, which you can place advertisements on? Every time one of your readers clicks on an ad, which is featured on your blog and makes a purchase, you’ll receive a small commission. While one commission won’t pay for your accommodation whilst you’re overseas, once you’ve set up a successful blog, which receives plenty of traffic, you should start to receive multiple commissions per day. If you’re stuck for ideas to write about, you may want to write a blog about finding activities, restaurants and attractions, which are off the beaten tourist track or you may want to start a food blog, which teaches your followers how to make dishes, from the countries which you visit.

Get into the habit of following a routine While working as a freelance writer should give you plenty of flexibility to make the most out of your time overseas, it’s still worth establishing some semblance of a routine. As an example, you may want to start your day with a 30-minute workout before completing an article or two. Whilst your afternoons may be yours to explore your new surroundings. So if you’re keen to travel the world, whilst working as a freelance writer, it’s certainly possible to turn your dream into a reality.