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Newer Ways Of Carrying Out Your Marketing Activities

It’s 2020 but doesn’t feel more or less different, except, of course, the trend of marketing. The world of marketing travels at breakneck speed with new trends constantly emerging, intending to reel in existing or a different audience. Since all of the trends are not static, it would rather be smart to dig deeper into the ones that gain momentum and budgets.

Usually, the trends are a response to real-life events. Ever since the development of Cambridge Analytica or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union scandal, the marketing business has entirely transformed. It has now become relatively harder for companies to gain explicit permission to get a hold of and use consumer data. No matter how advanced the systems are, collecting consumer data is equally important; the procedure, however, might be different.

To be ahead of the marketing game, it is vital to adapt to the changes in major marketing trends that tend to work the most, don’t always stick to the old ones or else you won’t fit in. It is close to impossible to predict the upcoming marketing trends. Not all of them are completely out of the box; most of the trends are newer and improved versions of the older ones. So, here we will help you get to know about the new and best marketing trends ruling the current era.

Persona-based EBook marketing

Your written content doesn’t have to be good or great; it has to be mind-boggling, something that will grasp the audience’s attention. A great way to produce content for marketing is to write down your words in the form of an eBook or a long-form blog content. You must be wondering ‘why and eBook’?

Well, according to Karla Renee from Lucidpress, it is one of the most effective ways of marketing. Here are some of the benefits:

  • You would be giving out valuable information to your customers and would, in return, get their contacts, which is a need for marketing and building customers. It’s a win-win situation.
  • Customers consider eBooks as a reliable and detailed source of information that is transmitted from your company to them, which can then lead them further to your website.
  • It can easily be shared with anyone. The more people read, the better the marketing and more client building.

Yes, you have to put in the effort to write and design the hard eBook, but it is all worth it in the end. You’ll find really cool software that can help you start creating your very first eBook.

Live experience to engage with customers

All successful marketing brands would know the success rate of a live experience. Let’s take an example of Facebook’s IQ Live experience that brought the immense user data to life for the marketers. The campaign included various techniques on how consumers use Instagram and Facebook. They told how consumers basically rely on social media to tell them what to buy. With this campaign, 93 percent of the marketers who attended it claimed that it broadened their mindset about how to use social media as a marketing strategy.

You see what they did here; Facebook utilized its platform to help marketers achieve their goals by giving them their statistics. So how would it benefit Facebook? Simple, Facebook made marketers their clients and marketed about how useful Facebook and Instagram could be in selling products and services. That’s a clever act.

To greatly utilize experiential marketing, think of it more as a three-course meal:

  • Starters- make a brief campaign before the event that will allow the attendees to know what they should expect, even if it’s a performance or a pop-up shop.
  • The main course- It’s the event itself. You can allow the attendees to take photos and make them use the official hashtags as they upload them. Dunkin Donuts used this strategy by creating a photo contest along with the hashtag and brand handle and rewarding the attendees with discounts in return.
  • Dessert- for dessert, you should build customer loyalty. Stay in contact with your customers via SMS marketing or follow up emails and give them updates on any new product launch or offers. You can do this by using an automated text message service.

It’s as simple as food; you will never be able to forget now. You can also check out Top Guide: 23 Best Sites to Buy Instagram Followers (Real & Active) 2021 to find out more ways to expand your customer database.

Cellphone-oriented storytelling

A lot of companies out there already know how to use storytelling to engage with the customers. In this new era, the majority of the customers rely on cellphones for performing certain tasks, like billing, buying groceries, or banking. With cellphones having smaller screens, it makes it easier and quicker for a company to come up with a design and fewer words to tell their tale. Show your creativity side to the people.

Play with colors, fonts, backgrounds while still being a minimalist, so it remains professional and creates a flamboyant content. Infographics and photos come in handy for storytelling. If you are from this era, you should know by now that 48 percent of the people tend to watch videos on their cellphone, even if it’s a movie. How can you miss this opportunity of creating video content?

People don’t have much time to go through so much content due to busy schedules or mostly because of being a couch-potato. That is your target audience right there; everyone has a cellphone, make the best of it with images, short- catchy words, or videos. SMS for small businesses can be extremely effective, so make sure you’re not missing out on this opportunity.

Non-traditional social media

When you hear ‘social media,’ you instantly think of sites like Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. Well, there’s a social media world beyond that as well that isn’t so mainstream.

As per Mackenzie Jones from TechnologyAdvice, sites like Quora and Reddit have proved to be successful as well. These sites are well categorized and are more specific, reaching out to your target audience can be a piece of cake.

It may take a little time to interact, but getting a chance to interact with that niche audience you always expected would prove to be worth it in the end. Try and broaden your view other than the traditional sites.

Conclusion

With constant changes in the marketing phases, these four marketing activities will help you reach the next level of this game. It’s all about how creative and unique you can be to attract your audience.

How to Recognize Reliable Online Casino

In this article, we are going through some things to think about when it comes to choosing a casino for online gambling. In Sweden, there are so many options when it comes to online casinos and therefore we have done a guide to making it a bit easier for you to choose which one of all online casinos, is something for you personally. The first thing you need to think about is what your goals are so you know what you want to get out of your online casino experience.

The second thing you should do is to browse through some online gambling guides and find an online casino that best suits you. Let’s take for example Betsson Casino. Even that is a popular and trustworthy casino, you should anyway read Betsson review and see what features offer that online casino.  Below we have listed a few main factors that players should pay attention when choosing an online casino or any online service.

 

Casino licenses

Look at where the online casino has its licences. For Sweden, I think you should look so the online casino has their license from Swedish Gaming Inspectorate and so it’s legit to be on the safe side. There are licenses that are not necessarily as protective for you as players.

 

Withdrawal time

Check out the payout policy on the online casino. If it’s something players complain about in different sites and forum it’s that. When it comes to withdrawals players should always think, the faster the better. When a casino takes up to 24 hours for processing your withdrawals it’s okay, but when it takes 72 hours or more for them to process your withdrawals it’s too long. 

Here you don’t get the money in 72 hours, they just start the transfer 72 hours after your cashout request. We also have casinos who have withdrawals limits on how much you can withdrawal every week or month. So look for a casino whos withdrawal limits as high as you are okay with.

 

Read the reviews

To look at what other online casino players think of a casino can be a good tip, but be aware and use your sceptical glasses as you read through the comment field. 

Sometimes you can see a comment or more where its constant writing and no drawbacks what so ever, which could be someone who is being paid to write it and maybe never even played on the casino at all. 

Anonymity is less trustworthy than if an actual author wrote it. The important is to look at here is when it comes to complaints about players who have trouble getting their money back and the online casino doesn’t have a reasonable explanation or poor exploitation for it. That is when you need to think a second time.

 But take everything you read with a pinch of salt, even on gambling guides. in the end. It’s your decision to make, which online casino you want to put your money into.

 

Customer service

You will find online casinos where their customer service team is active in the forums, there you can get a good feeling about how they treat their customers based on their answers and apperiens.

One way to see if an online casino is something you like is to contact them and ask a few questions about the games and roles in the games. You can also ask them about their withdrawal limits. Because sometimes the online casino doesn’t have all the information you seek.

Generally, does the online casinos always have all their games free versions to the public?

Be careful though, sometimes their free versions are rigged with better odds for you as a player so you will think how easy it is to win and then put in money on a false experience.

So a tip is to use the free spins to test the software’s graphic and sound effects.

 

Conclusion

To choose an online casino is easier with some frames. You should use a list on “most have” when you look for an online casino like it needs to have that specific game and so on. 

It is also recommended for you to only but in a little amount of money to start with and then gradually increase as you come forward case the risk is. You put in too much money to start with and then you don’t feel as comfortable as you first were with it.

Online Pharmacy – The Benefits of Owning Commercial Property

Now pharmacies are the first port to reach help for minor sickness.

With the notable effect of the high street as reduced traditional retailing, the internet has changed the way we buy. This digital age had ample impact on pharmacies. Daily, a plethora of people obtains medication from the internet. 

There is a whole model ongoing of traditional pharmacies that are disrupted by online pharmacies. This gives the consumers new choices and extra control over the way to manage their health and wellbeing, some of these online pharmacies for customers from the UK can be found at getupbuddy pharmacy review site.

As a consequence, the bricks-and-mortar pharmacies are surviving and need to rethink their role in the community. They need to broaden their offers to the customers in response to the online challenge. 

 

Online Pharmacies Edged The Market

From the past two decades, online pharmacies have been here, but in some recent years, it made significant effects. According to research, there are a large number of online pharmacies doing their work efficiently. Although the established pharmacies also have a quite dormant presence on the internet, customers are still more willing to buy from the only online ones. 

 

NHS Learns From Online Pharmacies

Now with an increasing number of people uses the internet for their well being and health. In Sweden, almost four out of five people search online before seeking a professional doctor, and in most cases, they visit sites with pharmacy products as we can see at apoteksvea. The case is similar in the UK too. Often, doctors advise not to search for things on Google, but now the NHS is motivating people to use the internet whenever they need professional health advice or service. 

The NHS is an electronic prescription service that sends digital prescriptions from GP surgeries to pharmacies. It is increasing daily and seems to it will soon replace the traditional prescription. Patients are also benefitted from this as they get their medications at their doorstep. 

As the volume of prescriptions increased online, traditional pharmacies needed to rethink their relationship with patients. Also, they need to consider how they can be potent their role in the NHS and social care. A big amount of pharmacies already get closed because of citing issues. 

This got implemented when pharmacies deal with various core points. 

 

The Role of Pharmacist in Public Healthcare

The transformation in the landscape gives you opportunities but paired with challenges. The long-term England plan by NHS considers an improved pharmacist role to the core of the primary care network along with all other health professionals like nurses, GPs, physiologists, social care providers, and therapists. 

The NHS has invested an ample amount of money for this project. The approximate cash included is £4.5-billion for tempting GP practices to come with each other for setting neighbourhood teams equipped with pharmacists to assess the high-risk patients, reduction of overmedication and improving the treatment of chronic diseases. 

The aim is to take away all the pharmacists from drug dispensing and the associated administrative burden for the provision of value-added patient service and care. 

 

Raised Profile of Community Pharmacy

This seems like NHS England is motivating the patients for using the community pharmacies as their first port of non-urgent sickness. Training more pharmacists as independent prescribers is also a great initiative. 

Moreover, the community pharmacies also get included in the care plans when patients get discharged from hospitals. This is helpful for the reduction of readmissions. When needed, pharmacies can also signpost patients to other services. 

Also, the clinical point of view of pharmacy is getting complicated as new medications are getting launched. Pharmacists are carrying our more patients-facing work in comparison to previous times. Regardless of all challenges, it will be a great future.

Truck Accident Compensation Types – Facts Every Victim Must Know

Truck accident claims are often complicated, considering that there are multiple parties involved. Primarily, you will have to prove that you suffered due to the negligent driving of the truck driver, but that may not be enough. Apart from the driver, the trucking company, truck owner, manufacturer or loader may be at fault. Establishing negligence in your claim is the first step to get started. Once your attorney does it for you, the next step would be to decide the type of compensation you will be entitled to get. Basically, it depends on the extent of injuries you sustain. Make sure you are in touch with your attorney at each stage of this process so that you get your deserved compensation. Consider that it usually takes a long time for insurance companies to settle the claim amount; this is the problem most accident victims face. Experienced truck accident attorneys are well-versed in methods for resolving the claim correctly. They will help you quickly collect the necessary evidence for your case, even the kind of information that is usually difficult or impossible to obtain. Here are the types of compensation you can claim, based on the estimate of your injuries.

Economic damages

Economic compensation, as the name suggests, are the ones that can be assessed and calculated in an actual dollar amount. The attorney reviews the details of the case to get information on the entire out of pocket expenses after the accident. These may include the following:

  • Current and previous medical bills related to the accident
  • At-home nursing care
  • Physical therapy
  • Modifications to your living space due to the accident
  • Lost wages
  • Damage to your property

A truck accident is a traumatizing experience in itself. But the economic aftermath of such mishaps is often tremendous. For this reason, it becomes vital to have a seasoned attorney who can get you a fair value of compensation.

Non-economic damages

Apart from the economic compensation, you can also claim non-economic damages though they can be a little tricky to calculate and assign an exact dollar amount. These are intangible items that typically include:

  • Potential loss of earning
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional counseling

Your lawyer from a reputable truck accident law firm can seek compensation for non–economic damages if you have suffered immense pain and suffering as an emotional impact of your injuries. Similarly, you can also file if you have lost a loved one in an accident with a truck because it can bring immense pain and suffering. A drastic change in your lifestyle and abilities is another good reason to seek non-economic damages.

Punitive damages

One of the more rare kinds of damages you can claim in truck accidents is punitive damages, which the victim gets over and above the economic and non-economic compensation. The court may award them for making an exemplary case, where a negligent driver or trucking company intentionally ignored the safety laws or caused a crash due to extremely dangerous driving. Punitive damages often come into play in cases where the victim did not survive or suffered life-altering injuries, all because of the negligence of the truck driver.

The damages awarded to victims in truck accident cases may vary on case to case basis, which makes them complex. Truck accidents can be some of the most severe on the road. It’s imperative to reach out for help in the event that you get in a wreck. If you’ve found yourself in a truck accident, be sure to contact a truck wreck attorney to get the support you need.

Hence, it is best to collaborate with a seasoned attorney who has extensive experience and a good track record in such cases. Not only can they help you the kind and extent of damages you rightfully deserve but also ensure that you get a settlement that has all your damages and suffering covered.

The Perils Of Drunk Driving: All You Need To Know About DUI Accidents

When it comes to car accidents in the United States, drunk driving emerges as a common problem. The statistics of Driving Under Influence (DUI) accidents in the country are, in fact, alarming. Drivers who get behind the wheel while being under the influence of drugs, alcohol or a combination of both are more dangerous than you may believe. Not only do they pose a risk to themselves, but to other drivers and pedestrians as well. Knowing these grave dangers of drunk driving accidents, you can take solace in the fact that personal injury law comes to your rescue if you are injured in a DUI accident. Still, you must be aware of your rights and the correct procedure for filing a claim under the law. Here is all that you need to know about such accidents.

 

Proving impairment of the driver

First and foremost, the law considers driving under influence a crime and the driver is almost always implicated. The case starts by proving the impairment of the guilty person. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 0.08 percent is the legal limit to prove liability for drinking and driving. The blood alcohol levels are tested using breath samples, urine tests or blood tests of the driver. The proof of the driver drinking any amount of alcohol and still getting behind the wheel can validate negligence which may have caused or contributed to a car accident.

 

Other signs of impairment

While medical tests do give a valid proof in DUI cases, there are some other signs of impairment that you can look for. A person who is under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both may have watery or bloodshot eyes, dazed expression, slurred speech and difficulty in standing and walking. Further, you may notice an inability to focus attention and lack of concentration as well. While the victim can note these signs, the police officer too can record them in the police report. Together with the medical reports of the driver, the presence of these signs can go a long way in implicating the drunk driver.

 

Types of injuries caused in DUI accidents

Often, DUI accidents are more severe as compared to other car crashes because drivers are out of control. They cannot make good judgment and may be unable to slow down. Injuries can be correspondingly life-threatening and consequences can be as serious as death and paralysis. Many drunk drivers kill pedestrians, while accidents with other vehicles can be just as devastating. And sadly, drunk drivers usually escape with minimal physical damage. This makes the cases all the more punishable and the victims or their families should go all the way to get them punished. 

 

Suing a drunk driver

If a DUI accident leaves you seriously injured, you can rightfully sue them for damages. The driver will be considered responsible for your suffering and you can claim compensation for medical expenses, pain, and suffering, emotional distress, loss of wages and loss of future earning ability. Apart from these, punitive damages are also available in such cases. It is recommended that you seek help from a lawyer who specializes in car accidents because they know how to handle the complexities of DUI cases. Drunk driving is typically regarded as extremely negligent behavior that must be dealt with strictly for showing a reckless attitude towards human life. And only a good lawyer can ensure that you get what you deserve and so does the guilty driver.

 

DUI cases differ from other car accident cases

A DUI accident case is somewhat different from other accident cases, apart from the fact that there is involvement of intoxicants. Normally, there will be a criminal prosecution that will run separately from the injury case. For this reason, you will need a seasoned DUI accident attorney such as Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law – DUI Lawyers to handle the proceedings. Also, having a professional-looking after the case will give you peace of mind that you can get maximum compensation for the suffering sustained at the hands of someone who has been seriously negligent. The guilty driver must be punished and with the help of your lawyer, the law makes sure that he or she is dealt with. Moreover, the amount of insurance of the drunk driver does not limit the potential damages awarded to the victim. Courts can actually award a judgment against the drunk driver for all the damages proven by your lawyer.

Considering the gravity of DUI accidents, the claims are bigger and more complicated. Still, victims and their loved ones should not give up because they deserve both, compensation for themselves and punishment for the person responsible for the mishap. 

China’s Post-COVID-19 Recovery Path

Medical workers pose for photos after seeing cured patients off at the Wuchang temporary hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

By Allison Malmsten

While in early January, the west could look into China to see what they were about to deal with, now is the chance to gain insight on the recovery process. As of April 10th, Trivium’s National Business Activity Index puts china at 81.8% of typical economic output. Predictions of China’s 2020 GDP growth range from 1.0-2.6%.

95% of large companies have resumed operations, meaning that many companies are not at full production. Large corporations have been around the 80% mark since the last week of March, and may linger for a while until both domestic, and later on, global demand return to normal. The service industry and small to medium enterprises are bearing the brunt of the impact, especially those in the tourism, catering, and transportation industries. SME’s, which are the largest employers in China, have been trailing behind large corporations in their recovery.

The most economically recovered provinces are not necessarily those with the least cumulative reported cases of COVID-19, demonstrating the uneven recovery across industries. Inner Mongolia and Qinghai, where mining is an important part of the economy, recover slower due to decreased energy demand. Tibet, visited by over 30 million tourists a year, is second slowest to recover, despite only having one reported case.

 

Data sources: Trivium China, National and provincial health commissions, daxue consulting analysis

 

Restaurants narrowly avoided disaster

Had the pandemic shutdowns lasted two months longer in China, the F&B industry would have been in serious trouble. Over half of restaurants in China do not have enough cash to cover operating costs for more than six months. Normally, the lunar new year holiday is when China’s restaurant industry makes 15% of their annual revenue. But this year, the restaurant industry lost 78% of revenue during the 2020 lunar New Year season according to China cuisine association.

Although China has a sophisticated meal delivery ecosystem, which used methods to ensure sanitary contactless delivery, delivery alone was not enough to save the F&B industry. 65.8% of restaurants reported to the World Federation of the Chinese Catering Industry that their revenue reduced dramatically compared to the lunar New Year period of 2019. However, 15.1% of restaurants actually experienced a revenue increase.

Data source: World Federation of the Chinese Catering Industry

While as of March 24th, Yum China reports 95% of its stores are either partially or fully open, but with around 10-20% of stores either with restricted hours or serving delivery only. Also as of March 24th, Starbucks has opened 95% of its stores in China, after being closed for 40-60 days.

 

Tourism felt the most immediate impact

The tourism industry felt the most immediate impact of the epidemic. The damage to the Chinese tourism industry is equivalent to a loss of 1 trillion yuan GDP.

Despite it only had one reported COVID-19 case, Tibet Autonomous Region is currently the province with the second lowest economic resumption rate after Hubei, at 67% on April 9th. Tibet’s economy, growing a double digit speed for twelve years straight, is largely dependent on tourism. According to China Daily, in 2018 Tibet’s tourism revenue was nearly 50 billion yuan, constituting around 30% of the province’s GDP.

 

Domestic tourism will recover ahead of outbound

From March 1st to March 8th, more than 300 Chinese scenic areas reopened. In Hainan, tourism contributed to around 20% of the local GDP in 2018. Since the Hainan tourist sites reopening, they have received over 74 thousand tourists and 23 thousand tourism workers have returned to work.

Data Source: Dragon Trail Research

According to a survey by Dragon Trail Research, 41% of respondents say the earliest they would plan to travel is during the summer months of June through August. This is reflected in China’s flight bookings. Between the last two weeks of February, the online travel company, Tongheng-Elong Holdings, reported a 250% jump in domestic flight bookings for the month of June. Part of the jump in domestic bookings is due to some airlines selling tickets dirt cheap, flights from Beijing to Shanghai are as cheap as 170 yuan (24 USD) on the C-trip app for the month of April. Daxue consulting’s research suggests that China will experience more frequent but smaller waves of domestic tourism during the rest of 2020.

 

Manufacturing may have irreversible changes

Motor vehicle manufacturing was the most impacted according to China’s national statistics. General Motors, Nissan, Renault, and PSA (the owner of Peugeot) all have factories in Hubei province. After factories re-opening, China’s auto manufacturers will still likely face a decreased demand. China’s Association of Automobile Manufacturers estimates that car sales will be down 10% in the first half of the year, and 5% during the whole year, if the outbreak remains under control.

Many computer and electronic manufacturing is also concentrated near the epicenter of the outbreak. 290 out of 800 plants named in Apple’s global supplier list were located in regions in China that had major delays in returning to work.

 

The delayed impact of supply chain

Supply chain delays may be felt up to five weeks after manufacturing plants re-opened. Shipment between Asia and Europe or the US can take around a month, meaning that we are not yet finished with the delays despite plants in Hubei opening up again. Additionally, many factory workers are migrant workers, and were not able to return to their jobs, even if operations had resumed.

At the same time, many countries saw the initial COVID-19 supply chain impact as a sign that they had put all their eggs in one basket: China. The Japanese government announced that it would provide $2 billion in loans for companies shifting production back to Japan. As for the US, in the midst of the trade war, the pandemic seemed to have given a not-so-gentle nudge for some companies to move manufacturing. Back in 2019, an AmCham survey shows 39.7% of companies have considered or were actively moving their supply chains out of China.

None the less, Chinese factories are indeed resuming operations. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple’s iPhone 12 will actually be released on time. The phone was not scheduled to start being manufactured in China until May, which, if all goes well, it appears China’s factories will in the clear by then.

 

Recovery is not a straight line

It is hard to predict where the winding path of recovery will go next. The imminent threat of COVID-19’s revival will cause for increased caution in the long term, and may lead to more lockdowns or business closures. Economic prosperity is not something to take for granted, crisis will bring about change, which calls for adaptability.

About the Author

Allison Malmsten is the marketing manager and market analyst at daxue consulting, a market research and consulting firm in Shanghai, China. She has been quoted sharing China market insights in Reuters, Taipei Times, and Crain’s New York.  

Get it Right with Employee Recruitment in Your Business

Research has shown that employees are the backbone in the financial performance of any business. Yes, the success of your business depends on their ability to realize the vision and the mission of your business. That is why you ought to find the right talent to join your business. That said, hiring right can be easier said than done!

It is a critical phase that proves to be consuming in terms of resources and time used in finding the right talent to blend into the company culture. The bottom line is that you should be careful when hiring as that will impact your business. Let’s give you some tips on how to get employee retail talent recruitment right in your business.

Finding & retaining the right talent in your team

Work out the skills, experience, and personality of your potential hire

When hiring, you should have in mind the long-term thinking that will help you grow your business. With that in mind, you need to put down the qualities of the ideal talent you are looking to hire. Note the experience that the new hire should have and their qualifications.

Besides, note the role that the new hire should fill. It is essential to ask yourself, for example, what problem should the new hire solve? Why does the role exist? Can it be filled in-house? What unique skills do I need to bring onboard? The answers to those questions will help you with defining the recruitment process and the ability tests to assess the right kind of talent you need to hire.

For the interest of finding someone who will fit into the company culture, note the kind of personality traits that you want the new hire to have. These notes will be necessary when interviewing the candidates and recruiting the right employee.

Write proper job descriptions

Once you know the type of person you need to hire, writing the job description becomes easy peasy. Remember, this is what potential candidates will read before applying for the position. So, you should provide information that will attract top talent to the role.

Some of the information you should include in the job description is the mission and vision of your organization, besides the purpose of your business. The aim is to get the candidate hooked on the fact that you seek to solve an essential problem by hiring.

Also, it is necessary to describe the role that you are hiring. You do so by explaining the purpose and the high-level results you need from the ideal candidate you are looking to hire.

Outsource an expert to hire on your behalf

It is good to acknowledge from the onset, the fact that you cannot play all the roles in your business organization. That is, you can be an ultimately good manager but when it comes to hiring, you may need an expert in the field to do it on your behalf.

Now, it is important to consider outsourcing human resource expertise from a qualified human resource pro who can find you proper fit talent. The hiring manager will take up the process, form advertising for the position to communicating with potential candidates, to answering the questions from potential candidates regarding the job. The hiring expert will eventually ensure to bring on board the ideal talent you need to join your team. This can prove a technical bit, but when done by the right person, it becomes successful.

Create a delightful onboarding process

Research has shown that most employees do not last more than three months after taking up new roles in the workplace. This high turnover has been associated with the poor manner in which the employee onboarding process is conducted to get employees integrated into the workplace.

Well, finding the right candidate can prove to be a rigorous task, but that is just one part of the hiring process. The other equally significant part is the employee onboarding that you ought to use to improve their experience. This begins during earlier hiring days and can last up to two years, or more. It involves welcoming employees to your business organization, and helping them blend into the culture at the workplace.

It is also an opportunity for you to provide the essential tools to the employees, and also discuss your expectations of them and their roles. During the onboarding process, you should discuss the salaries and other non-monetary perks that the employee will receive. This is because employees are attracted to a role by the rewards they get and also the opportunities to grow financially, emotionally, and career-wise.

For example, a mother would like to hear that the role will allow her to strike a balance between work and family. On the other hand, a millennial may look for a chance to work on a flexible schedule. If you prove to the employee that they are the best fit for the role during onboarding, you will lower the costly employee turnover, increase productivity within no time and also retain the talent.

Final word

In a nutshell, the recruitment process is a critical stage of building a profitable business. Remember, employees are a critical resource you need for other parts of business to function smoothly. So, work to improve your recruitment to attract and keep top talent in your team!

How did Chinese Enterprises Handle the Impact of COVID-19?

Across China, people are taking precautions in an attempt to avoid infection with a new coronavirus.(Wu Hong / EPA/Shutterstock)

By Allison Malmsten

While China is now in the suppression stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, many other countries are currently bearing the worst of it. Enterprises around the world can get a leg-up by learning from those who have already been through the unforgiving impact of the outbreak. These are the lessons that can be deduced from analyzing the COVID-19 crisis management tactics of large companies operating in China, as well as anecdotes and recommendation’s from founders of SMEs and startups.

To summarize the economic impact of COVID-19 on China, most predictions of 2020 GDP annual growth are in the range of 1-2.6%. Though keeping its head just above the water of recession, which may submerge many other countries this year, it will still be the first time China’s GDP growth dropped below 6% since 1990.

 

Corporate social responsibility, there is a return on generosity

Among Coronavirus crisis response strategies of large companies in China, the most reoccurring strategy involved social responsibility. Whether donating money, lending company resources, or even giving free important information, the companies that took on responsibility to serve the community were rewarded. Though the reward does not come in the form of immediate increased product demand, they are rewarded with the long term benefits of increased brand image, staying on top of mind for when demand does return back to normal.

One outstanding example of CSR as a crisis response during the outbreak is from DiDi Chuxing, China’s ride hailing APP. DiDi was hit hard by the outbreak, it was suspended in 50 cities and a had sharp decline in demand in the rest of the country. Many drivers would only have one customer in two hours. With a lack of demand among regular customers, the ride hailing company thought of how they could put their resources to better use. DiDi deployed two fleets of drivers, dressed in protective gear, driving regularly disinfected cars to offer free transportation to medical workers in Wuhan and Shanghai. The fleet transported more than 9,500 medical workers. As a result of this generous crisis response, DiDi’s actions were recognized and praised by millions of netizens on Weibo, and even the Hothot government.

 

Treatment of employees – communication and care

According to a survey of over 200 business executives by the Economist Intelligence Network, when it comes to working remote, employee morale is more of a concern than technology challenges. Daxue consulting’s research on successful COVID-19 crisis responses in China also shows that managers prioritized employee morale.

In their daily lives, employees are faced with an overabundance of news and advice, which may cause anxiety, stress and confusion. Back in 2019, an AmCham survey shows 39.7% of companies have considered or were actively moving their supply chains out of China With a surge of anxiety also comes an increased likeliness of conflict in the workplace, according to the head of psychology at ChingHo clinic, David Ammerschlaeger. Hence managers should be invested in the mental wellbeing of employees as the outbreak hits their countries.

The founder of Siveco China, Bruno Lhopiteau, shared his experience running his business during COVID-19 in China, and recommends proactively communicating to provide guidance and security to employees. “Over-communication can certainly help to provide clarity, consistent information and overall direction,” Lhophiteau told daxue consulting.

As for essential workers, who did not have the privilege to work from home, it was common for Chinese companies to supply facemasks, instant sanitizers, disinfectant sprays and routinely take temperature of staff. This was the case for the company Xiaomi, a large Chinese tech enterprise. Xiaomi even went to the extent of providing paper towels in factory elevators to employees did not need to make direct contact with elevator buttons.

 

Finding the right marketing channel

Live-streaming was blossoming in China, and only naturally does it become even more popular when everyone is locked inside. Many Chinese companies took this chance to explore live-streaming. One Chinese night club even raised nearly 300 thousand USD on live-stream. Thanks to apps like Douyin (known as TikTok outside of China), any company of any industry can hold live stream marketing campaigns.

Xiaomi had originally planned to launch a new smart phone at an offline event that was cancelled due to the outbreak. So the company decided to hold a 72-hour live-stream event, where they announced the new product on the second day. In the 55 seconds following the launch of Xiaomi 10 pro, it had reached 200 million RMB sales through online platforms.

Live-stream is indeed closing the gap between online and offline customer experiences. Many Chinese were not able to attend luxury fashion shows in Europe due to travel bans in January and February. The organizers of 30 shows in Milan, and 13 shows in Paris collaborated with Tencent to digitally bring the shows to the living rooms of China. The Milan fashion show live-stream reached 16 million views, and had 130 million reads on Weibo. The message here is not necessarily just about live-stream technology, but about adapting to the local tech and entertainment trends.

 

Convey a message of solidarity and support

In addition to finding the right marketing channel, brands must have the right message. During tough times, expressing solidarity with those suffering is an important message. One example is Dongfeng Motors, which during the outbreak, marketed on live-stream for the first time ever. It opened official accounts on Douyin and Kuaishou, two of China’s top live-streaming apps. Alongside marketing light vehicles on live-stream, the company also shared a video of their deputy general manager, Yan Hongbin, cooking Wuhan’s traditional noodle dish. Despite the economic impact of the outbreak, in January, Dongfeng Passenger Vehicles had a sales volume increase of 4.5% compared to the year before.

 

Be flexible, adapt to what is in demand.

Consumer demand has drastically changed both during and after the Coronavirus outbreak in China. While demand for some products has plummeted, demand for others has skyrocketed. For example, the demand for lipstick is in trouble when everyone is wearing face masks, but eye makeup; on the other hand, some stores have seen double the sales volume according to Chinanews.

Companies operating in China adapted to the new demands of Chinese consumers, some of which are virtual entertainment, health related products, delivery and real-time information about the virus.

Travel companies started live-streamed tours of popular tourist destinations. DiDi expanded their business to include delivery instead of just ride-hailing. Baidu satisfied the demand for real-time information about the Coronavirus spread by creating a Coronavirus map and a page on their APP which has a part dedicated to dispelling rumors about the virus, updating real-time data on number of cases, and even a health inquiry platform.

While some businesses, like restaurants and hotels, could not keep staff employed, other businesses, like grocers and delivery, experienced a surge in demand. Rather than laying off or giving furloughs to employees, many Chinese restaurants lent their employees to a new retail grocer called Hema Xiansheng.

 

What does this mean for the rest of the world?

Crisis response comes in many ways, shapes and forms. These are the tactics that large companies, SME’s, and startups in China used to survive, or, for some, thrive, during the COVID-19 crisis. However, the overarching lessons of generosity to society and employees, appropriate marketing, and adaptability are transferrable across national borders.

About the Author

Allison Malmsten is the marketing manager and market analyst at daxue consulting, a market research and consulting firm in Shanghai, China. She has been quoted sharing China market insights in Reuters, Taipei Times, and Crain’s New York.  

Critical Steps You Should Take After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents are, unfortunately, one of the major causes of deaths around the world. Many times, they are caused by mechanical problems associated with the truck or by careless driving on the road. Either way, when accidents occur, they demand that you take steps to ensure your safety and that of people involved in the incident. Besides, accidents can get you into legal situations where you will need to follow the guidelines of the law. Let’s look at what you should do in the event of a truck accident.

 

What to do after a Truck Accident

Help the injured

The first thing you should endeavor to do is to assess the situation and seek safety. If you have not sustained a life-threatening injury and you can walk, dust yourself and check on the safety of any other passengers or motorists. It is necessary to carry out first aid if the injuries are not severe, like by bandaging wounds, for example. If the injuries are grave, you should make a point of calling for help to save lives.

 

Put the accident scene under control

You will need to take time to gather and exchange relevant information with the other parties involved in the accident. Before doing so, it is important to move the truck to the emergency lane if it is still drivable. This will help avoid causing traffic snarl-up or inconveniencing other motorists. Proceed to turn on your hazard lights and set out the reflective triangle to notify other motorists to drive past the scene of the accident with caution. More importantly, ensure not to leave the scene of the accident until the emergency services arrive. 

 

Seek medical help & call the police

Again, it is important to call for an ambulance to assist you and other affected people get medical help. Don’t underestimate the injuries sustained in the accident. Make sure you see a doctor immediately after, even if you are feeling Okay. The traffic law also requires that you notify the police upon the accident. It is essential to do so regardless of what the other parties may suggest, as the police will assess the scene of the accident objectively and compile a report in a file. The police report might be needed for reference in the future, in case a compensation claim is filed.

 

Document the scene

If you are not injured, then take the time to gather and exchange essential information with the parties involved in the accident. If there are witnesses who may be willing to testify in case a legal process ensues, it is advisable to collect their information as well. The essential information that you should make a point to collect include:

  • Names of the other parties
  • Email or postal addresses
  • Vehicle information, e.g., model and year of manufacture
  • License plate numbers
  • The photos of the location, the people involved, and the damaged vehicles.

You will need some of this information if there is a legal process as a ripple effect of the truck accident.

 

Hire a truck accident lawyer

Talking of legal matters, you also need legal assistance. You need only the best truck accident lawyers to help protect your rights. Yes, after an accident, it is common for either party to make a claim. This may be the beginning of a legal process. It may also be the first step into launching a compensation claim with your insurer or your employer who is required to protect you. That is why it is critical to enlist legal assistance from the lawyers who can help you get what you deserve.

There are many benefits of hiring a skilled auto accident attorney, top being that they know the auto accident law well, and they have a track record in similar cases. Just make sure you find the right lawyer who can prove their experience and show that they care about your case. You may also contact experts like Shuman Legal in Chicago that has earned a reputation as the top car accident lawyer in Chicago Illinois since 1996, with a staff dedicated to this type of injury.

 

Final Thoughts:

In a nutshell, truck accidents may occur when least expected. That is why it is necessary to know the steps you should take in case you are involved in a truck accident. Ensure you keep an eye on safety and health first, then protect your rights in the aftermath of the incident.

Catering to the Needs to Curb Cybercrime Prevalence

Cybercrime has become a global phenomenon and the worst hit is the entertainment industry and we often have no clue about how to deal with it. Cybercrime industry generated $1.5 Trillion Economy in 2018 and this only empowers these individuals and companies to increase their influence. 

We actively see the leaking of private data online and individuals are at the helm of destroying themselves when they become a victim. The dilemma is the unreported cases that keep feeding the individuals who are carrying out these cybercrime attacks. 

When we think of online leakage of data, we tend to consider some trustworthy individual deceiving his acquaintances and resorting to cyber violence. It mostly includes leaking of private photos and videos to the masses. But, the scope of cybercrime is much broader than this. 

Businesses and even Governments are often the victims of Cybercrime. The hackers are always trying to penetrate in the cyberspace of any institution to get access to their databases. Individuals without realizing open unwanted links that contain malicious code give away their sensitive data and passwords. 

During these times where businesses are really falling apart, they look to go online and make new ways for earning customers. Business owners are in dire need of cash and many online payday loans companies have stopped lending during COVID-19, there are some serious concerns. But, taking your business or operations online needs to be safe and secure. 

You need to have antivirus programs installed to detect these harmful and malicious websites. They will prevent your device from getting hacked. A password manager will prevent your password from getting forgotten or stolen and you can always rely on professional services to deliver the best safety measures. 

The governments around the world are also deeply concerned about the Cybercrime Acts. European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a prime example to demonstrate the seriousness and concerns regarding this. Companies are made accountable to make their data even more secure and prevent its theft. 

The data of users is not public property and it should not be treated like that. Governments have effective measures in place to criminalize the acts of Violence on the Internet. Social Media Platforms are also held accountable for the content circulation and fake news websites are effectively targeted.

The problem arises due to unreported cases. The societal concerns prevent individuals to speak against the violence incurred to them.  But recently, there have been some great initiatives taken by individuals and activists around the world. Metoo movement has been quite effective in raising awareness levels of the masses. 

The women from around the world have raised voices against their former oppressors and try to communicate to the world that radical measures are still required to be taken. The obstruction still remains to this is the societal concerns and how effectively the blackmailer is able to maneuver the Emotional Quotient of the victim. 

The laws are intact, the responsibility lies upon us to continue to support the victims and raise awareness among the masses. The types of violence are to be identified regularly and make people beware of them to prevent further damage. Have proper safety measures in place and get the element of fear removed, the results would soon be very much motivating. 

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