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What Platform: Choosing the Best Social Media Channel for your Post

Read any literature or attend any business start-up course in recent years, and one thing you are almost guaranteed to hear is social media. We hear it is essential and that we should have a solid social media presence. What these guides often lack is a precise guide on how we should use them? What to post? Which network to post it on? Do we need to have accounts on every platform, or do we pick and choose? This article will examine what each social networking platform can do for us and when we should use it. Follow the advice given in this guide, and we can avoid wasted time setting up accounts and posting statuses that will bring us extraordinarily little.

Decide What the Purpose is?

A critical task that must be completed before we even think of doing anything else is to decide what the purpose of being on social media is for your company? Suppose you run an e-commerce website and are looking for click-throughs to gain sales. In that case, your strategy will differ from a company that organizes fitness classes or a musician looking to gain exposure for an upcoming release or tour. As much as the target demographic is different for each of these groups, the impact sought from the individual posts will also vary. The retailer wants a customer to see the product and price, then think I need that and immediately purchase. The fitness class will also want to make sales, but the need for an instant purchase is less intense; they want to give info on the advantages of their course, information on time and location and generate interest. The musician will be looking to grab attention and interest and create a buzz about their upcoming work.

What Type of Post?

This is the classic question. In general, no matter what you are promoting, the more engaging, the better. Depending on what you are promoting, the exact style will differ. For our retailer, good pictures of the product on offer and perhaps a price will be critical. The fitness class may benefit from a good quality video; this type of visual representation can show the potential customer the set-up of the class and how vigorous it is. Getting a slick and professional video that hits the right note is vital. The Miami video production company has a good track record. Their years of experience will steer you in the right direction for maximum impact. The musician will usually be marketing to those who have already heard of them, so it will be more info on dates and location that are key. Let’s now take a closer look at what some of the most prominent social media platforms can offer.

Twitter

Twitter is the classic short-burst social media platform. The average Tweet remains visible in a meaningful way for a mere 15 minutes. Twitter is by far the busiest of all the social networks, so it’s suitable for short announcements. To get the most out of Twitter, it is essential to post regularly. It’s ideal for announcements for this reason. It’s also the most prominent in using hashtags and reaching users when discussing trending events. It’s a bit of a troll pit these days, so do be prepared for arguments at least, and some particularly offensive comments at worse.

Facebook

Facebook is the most established of the big players these days, and for that reason, it is considered the domain of the “old people”. Very few teenagers use Facebook as their primary mode of online engagement, and it’s considered where mum, dad, and the grandparents go, as this very fun post shows perfectly. But in terms of using it as a promotional tool, Facebook is still the market leader. Consider its older demographic, they are more established in their lives, earn more than their younger counterparts, and have families to buy for too. If you add in Facebook’s extremely powerful advertising algorithms you can use targeted advertising to a degree that was previously unthinkable, and none of the other platforms come close to matching. How they do this is a brilliant culmination of years of strategy; for the longest time, they were criticized for having a product that would never be effectively monetized. Consider how much data Facebook has on you; where you live, your age, gender, sexual orientation, career and educational history, taste in music and film, and even your recreational activities and places you like to visit. This is all a dream for the advertiser, and we can choose for only our target demographic to see our adverts. Your musician could promote a tour to a certain age of customer, in a specific country, with interest in their style of music. The fitness class can target women, with an interest in yoga, in a specific town.

YouTube

We have already discussed the advantage of eye-catching visuals, especially video. YouTube is one of the longest-standing online video platforms and still remains the go-to provider for the majority of posters. YouTube works in a different way from the other platforms we have already discussed. It’s less likely users will stumble on your video, so you need to promote your posts more personally. There are suggested videos on the home page, but the best way to get exposure is to gain subscribers to your channel. It is also a useful channel to use in conjunction with other platforms, a video hosted on YouTube is easy to link to in your website or on other social media platforms.

Instagram

We will find a more youthful crowd on Instagram than on other platforms. This is partly due to how visual a medium it is. Every post must be an image or video. Unlike Facebook, the image always takes prominence, with the test following afterward, tucked away at the bottom of the post. This can be really engaging, and Instagram is probably the best platform that tries to take a little from each of the other ones, and it manages to do this very effectively.

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Why is laravel better than other frameworks?

Laravel Framework

PHP is currently the most reliable back-end technology it is very much due to its great frameworks that are really helpful, while dealing with complicated projects. But just like PHP is the most popular scripting language Laravel is the most popular framework used. Other PHP frameworks also have their great features and in some things they are very much alike. For instance, all the mentioned below frameworks share MVC pattern. So why is Laravel believed to be the best one? 

Yii

Yii is an efficient, component-based PHP framework. It is designed for fast large-scale web development and allows maximum reusability in web coding as well as speeds up development. Yii stands for “Yes It Is!”. It is a coprehensive web programming framework that greatly helps to develop any type of web application. Since Yii is a light framework with great, flawless caching, it is very convenient for high-traffic web services like portals, forums, content management systems (CMS), and e-commerce services. It is, however, disliked by some developers for badly drafted Ajax features and dependency on static methods. 

CodeIgniter

Another extremely useful PHP framework is CodeIgniter. It does a great deal in accelerating web development process and has out-of-the-box libraries to connect with databases. and carry out different operations amid which are emailing, files uploading, and session managing. Since all the framework’s source code is about 2MB mastering CodeIgniter with all of its working patterns and principles is not a too ambitious task. The framework really simplifies project deployment, not to mentions delivering high efficiency to the software. Users enjoy fast-loading applications and services, so If you have experienced developing with some of the modern frameworks, you must know that usually, it takes a bit less than one second to start out, while CodeIgniter loads in around 50ms or less. Thereby if your main priority is speed CodeIgniter is definitely one of the frameworks to consider. Although, CodeIgniter has some cons: developers don’t find it useful for some large-scale projects and find it dated in many aspects.

Symphony

Unlike CodeIgniter Symphony is a convenient for huge projects, well-known, widely used open-source framework. It one of the most advanced PHP frameworks that exist and is probably the most powerful rival to Laravel. Symphony is featured by its enormous of more than 600,000 developers all over the globe. Symphony also has its own templating engine that originates from Jinja and Django templates. It is called Twig and is pretty fast and secure. PHP development companies value Symphony for its ability to broaden developers’ horizons. It easily deals with complex projects other frameworks would cope with worse. Yet its complicity and higher cost is not something that works in Symphony’s favor. Symphony never tolerates inexperienced developers, thus is only suitable for the limited number of developers and certain percentage of web projects.

Laravel

Laravel possesses such great features as easy and effective testing, great authentication, decent interoperability and third-party integrations, great e-commerce performance. It is also characterized by great data security and overall performance. Laravel is more intuitive and understandable than any other PHP framework. In Laravel, you can either use the default testing environment or create a personalized environment with a more specific purpose. It also provides the most rapid and efficient authentication when compared with other PHP  frameworks. The most fundamental things for e-commerce applications like registering, logging in, or changing passwords are done in Laravel with one elementary command, providing quicker and more appropriate service for users. Lots of e-commerce services’ customers browse thousands of items daily. Hence, the fast performance provided by the software’s framework is foremost. Laravel has a decent performance optimization, cashing and data indexing – features that greatly optimize memory usage. Laravel has out-of-box solutions for cache back-ends that give more caching configuration variants for developers. One of the assets for an effective framework is interoperability and APIs. The unified API for different back-ends makes a project developed with Laravel more flexible. Laravel is an absolute leader in third-party integrations. E-commerce developers will also find Laravel an extremely suitable framework due to its set of e-commerce packages. They ease and speed up the work, provide interesting solutions and instruments resulting in better performance of the software.. 

Visit sapient.pro to learn more about Laravel’s advantages for web development and its capabilities as a fast, reliable, yet simple PHP framework.

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5 Ways Time Tracking Software Can Benefit Your Business

Tracking Software

As the world progresses and new technology is developed, businesses are favoring apps and computer software over paper documentation. New programs that help companies to become more productive and budget-conscious are becoming part and parcel of everyday business life. Time Tracking software is fast becoming a favorite among businesses and freelancers. For those who are required to record time spent on projects and tasks, those who employ people paid by the hour and freelancers, and professionals who bill their customers at an hourly rate, time tracking software is indispensable. If you have a business and you would like to learn what this helpful software can do for you, here are 5 ways time tracking software can benefit your business.

Time Tracking Software is Versatile

Time tracking software is a substitute for the traditional paper timesheet. It can also be used to track activities an employee performs on a computer and the time they spend doing each task.

The software can be used as a stand-alone program or can be integrated with other computer software such as accounting applications, customer support software, and project management programs.

Apps can be downloaded to phones, tablets, and most mobile platforms so that users can record information wherever they are. Employees required to work in multiple locations can use their mobile devices to record their work patterns wherever they may be stationed.

There Are Different Types of Time Tracking Software

Aside from being used to record the time an employee spends on a specific task or a way to record daily activities performed, time tracking software can be linked to accounting software so that the data is directly linked to company accounts. From this information, a company can generate invoices and financial reports – billing systems, which is particularly beneficial to attorneys and contractors.

Visual reports can be generated by linking the time management software to project management software so that a company can literally see how much time is being spent on specific projects and tasks. Company management and schedulers can use the information collated to determine how much time should be assigned to a particular activity and designate jobs to staff accordingly. If there are concerns over employees spending time surfing the net or playing games on the computer, time tracking software can monitor this too.

Payroll systems also benefit from being linked to time tracking software because it clearly shows the hours an employee has worked, and they can be paid accordingly. There is no chance of the paper timesheet getting lost or payment errors caused by illegible handwriting.

Time Tracking Software Can Track Time in Different Ways

With time tracking apps, Employers can track employee time in a number of different ways such as automatic, chronological, clock-in clock-out, exception-based, durational, monitoring, and location-based.

Automatic tracking is when a computer or suchlike is connected to a device with buttons to initiate the start of a task and record to stop time. The times can be retrieved and viewed by all users with approved access.

Chronological time tracking is when the software users manually enter the start and finish times for the task.

The time an employee physically enters and leaves the workplace can be recorded on time tracking software using the Clock-in Clock-out feature.

If an employee has approved time off or a leave of absence, the software will not take this time into account and will just record the standard working hours.

Durational time tracking is when an employee will just record the length of time they spent on an assignment and not the exact start and stop times.

As mentioned previously, time tracking software can be used to monitor staff activity. It can alert employers if staff are spending too much time entertaining themselves by spending time on the world wide web or if they have extended periods away from their desks during working hours.

Time Tracking Software Keeps Your Finances in Check

Time tracking software gives you an instant report and visual representation of your finances. It shows how much you are spending on human resource issues against the amount of money being invoiced out to customers. The software can also give you insight into how financially valuable each employee is to the company. For example, you can see how much an employee costs each month with their wage and benefits and track it against the sales they have made or money they have earned the company. From screening the software results, you can see which of the tasks they perform boosts positive customer feedback scores. This data can enable a company to delegate tasks to the person who performs at the best level and take any staff away from a project that they are causing to be less successful. Every member of staff’s performance and contribution to the workflow can be analyzed.

It Can Boost Employee Morale

Employee morale can be enhanced through the use of time tracking software because each employee has an electronic record of their working hours and is not reliant on office staff calculating their working hours and wages manually and leaving things open to human error. This means that their paycheck should be correct every month, and they will be paid for any overtime they have done. If they have put in extra hours and worked very hard, this can be seen by all those who have access to the software, and they will be more likely to gain credit for their efforts. Having an electronic visual record of their working hours and achievements may motivate staff to improve their performance. They can see which areas of their working day need attention and which are most efficient. When staff can prove to employers how much work they have done and how much they have contributed to the company’s success, and they get recognized for it, they are far more likely to stay in their job and so save the company money because the staff are content and happy and don’t want to leave the company.

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Sports betting can help countries get out of COVID-19 induced recession

Sports Betting

Sports betting is big in some countries while in others restrictions have hindered the participation of citizens in either online or offline platforms. For those who have been following sports betting Philippines as well as in other countries, the effects of legalized sports betting are evident. From taxes, sponsorship and the fortune changes for those who have won varied prizes, the positive effects of sports betting are even convincing states which have been stringent on betting to relax the conditions. In this article, Evelyn Balyton looks at the effects of sports betting on the economy while also delving into the benefits that individuals and states can derive from this activity.

Some years back, a report that was produced by Oxford University stated that the legalization of sports betting in the United States would inject more than fourteen billion dollars into the annual Gross Domestic Product. This is a huge amount given that this is just one component of the betting industry. When you consider the contribution of the whole gambling industry, the amount that would be injected through allowing or relaxation of the rules would be mind-boggling. This means that the legalization of sports betting in countries that have not done so yet should not only be celebrated by the betting enthusiasts, it is something that should be hailed by anyone who wants to see economic growth. When most of the economies are grappling with the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns, this is something that can ignite growth.

So apart from the capital injection of billions of dollars into the economy what other benefits will sports betting bring to economies that are currently struggling due to the COVID -19 pandemic and other causes?

  • Creation of employment
  • Contributing to tax revenue
  • Economic growth

Creation of employment

With most people having lost jobs during the lockdowns, news that there are vacancies to be filled would be good to many. Sports betting companies have a string of jobs that are created when they open shop in a given economy. Different betting agencies will need personnel to man them, ranging from administrators, accountants, managers, marketers, storekeepers among others, directly and indirectly, related jobs. It is not only agents who would be deriving income from sports betting activities.

The betting centers will require entertainers as well as outsourcing some of the services which help in the smooth running of the establishment. There also some other indirect services which will come as a result of the establishment of sports betting in a country; talk of web developers as well as teams that maintain these platform. All these and many other services will emerge and people will be deriving some income. With this, betting will have added the number of people who are moving from the unemployment support schemes. This essentially helps to save and also dignifies the lives of individuals who have made that shift.

Growth

Tax revenue

Betting is one of the activities that are taxed heavily. Any government looking to raise taxes to finance its economic activities targets the gambling industry as the first source. Together with the liquor industry among others; they are referred to as Sin Taxes. Many governments especially those that are looking to regulate the industry see tax increments as very effective tools. With the legalization of sports betting an economy will not only be widening the tax net but also creating a chance to raise a huge amount from a single source.

Sports betting companies are paying huge amounts of money from their earnings in form of taxes. In some countries, this amount is as high as fifty percent. There are situations where some of these companies are closing shop citing tax burden. The importance of sports betting firms in raising tax cannot be ignored, whether it is done to regulate the industry or make the business contribute their share to the economy, the amount raised is something that can significantly impact an economy.

For economies to benefit from the tax revenue that is promised by the sports betting companies they need to put in place laws that favor these businesses. The registration process should be in such a way that the company can start operation as soon as possible. The process of setting a shop should be easy to comply with for the genuine players but stringent enough to discourage exploiters from setting shop in a given country. Money derived from sports betting activities will continue to help governments fund big projects. It will continue to remain attractive to tax agencies due to its ease of administration and the effectiveness it exhibits in terms of compliance.

Creation of employment and business opportunities as well as injecting some money in an economy in form of tax revenue will lead to economic growth. This is the fuel that many economies need as they struggle to stay afloat at a time when fortunes have dwindled due to the current pandemic. Countries that have legalized sports betting can enjoy whole lots of benefits. Those that fear negative effects that the activity may have on its citizen can impose restrictions on who should bet and when. Sport betting firms are law-abiding corporate citizens and they will do everything legal and ethical to ensure that the industry contributes its fair share in getting economies out of the current recession.

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5 Safety Methods To Pay Online Worldwide

Methods To Pay Online

The unbelievable growth of online gambling platforms has also triggered a sharp rise in payment methods. A look at any online casino site will reveal a wide variety of payment options.

But are all these payment options safe and convenient? Which are the best ones to use for online betting?

Indeed, these may sound like tough questions. But we have a perfect solution for you. These are the 5 safety methods to pay online worldwide. 

Boku 

Modern technology has introduced multiple alternatives to traditional banking methods—these range from faster bank transfers to innovative technologies pioneered by small tech-savvy firms.

The Boku payment method has quickly gained a reputation as a preferred method for many gamblers. And for an excellent reason.

Boku as a gambling payment method facilitates safe and fast deposits to online casinos. It also connects your bank account to your phone, thereby enabling convenient transfers. 

If you don’t have a bank account, you can still use Boku by opening an e-wallet account. With this option, Boku enables you to use your phone to transfer money quickly. Players who don’t want their money monitored by the online world will find this method appropriate.

You may have already noticed an increasing number of online casinos support Boku payments. This trend is because of their many advantages. 

With Boku, you can transfer money to your casino account without sharing your bank details. It doesn’t charge you any transaction fees. Its popularity and acceptance in many casinos across Europe are also a plus. 

However, a high roller may not find Boku appropriate given its deposit limits. You can only deposit a maximum of £30 or roughly €34 per day. Boku is only suitable for depositing money, but not withdrawals.

Virtual Visa Cards

Visa cards are another popular payment method because they are accepted in many outlets. Indeed, just about all online casinos will allow you to use your visa card. Virtual visa cards, like traditional physical cards, are elementary to use.

One thing you should note before applying for virtual visa cards is their lifespan. These cards only last for a year. This means you have to spend all the money on the card before its expiry date. 

For security purposes, the visa cards also come with certain limits, which rarely exceed €1000. This means that they may not serve you in a high-stakes game. 

Voucher Systems

At the mention of a voucher, you’re probably thinking about the gift or shopping vouchers. Casino voucher systems are different from shopping vouchers, but they share some similarities.

For instance, they are limited in value. You can also purchase casino vouchers at your nearest convenience store. 

Casino vouchers have increased in popularity because they allow the gambler to control their spending. Gambling can be very addictive, and it’s easy to overspend on high stake games. Using casino vouchers means you can’t exceed its value on bets.

Mobile Credit

Transferable credits offer you a new way to make payments by bypassing traditional banking methods. All you need to use a mobile credit is your current phone number. Once you have registered your number, you can bill it and pay later. 

This option is suitable during these moments before payday. You can use mobile credit to gamble even when you don’t have any money. 

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are a favourite for many gamblers because they’re permissionless, fast, and safe. This method allows you to transfer any amount of money while bypassing traditional banking methods. You’ll, however, have to be careful to send your cryptocurrency to the correct address.

Conclusion 

Convenience and safety are essential when selecting an appropriate online payment option. Indeed, many payment options exist, but not all are suitable for your particular gambling needs. Our recommendation for the safest method is Boku. 

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Following in the tax footsteps of the Americans

By Eddie Bines

We’ve come to expect talk about reforming tax policies when we read the news. However, in more recent times there’s been a particular focus on Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reform, and its rise to prominence has been making headlines. In light of unparalleled spending through the pandemic period, the UK Treasury has been considering ways to ease the deficit and recover the state of their finances.

The expectation that Chancellor Rishi Sunak would implement CGT reforms in the Spring budget was not met. And then ‘Tax Day’ arrived and passed on the 23rd of March, and there was no discussion of the topic then either. This raised the eyebrows of many, causing uncertainty amongst the general public regarding the UK’s stance on CGT reform.

Thereafter, US president Joe Biden clearly laid out his proposals as far as CGT was concerned. He outlined his plans to almost double the CGT for affluent American citizens. Tax rates went through the roof, rising from 20% all the way to 39.6%. Inevitably this drastic rise induced support and backlash simultaneously. This tax was implemented to only effect those earning more than a million dollars a year through investment income.

With the UK looking closely to the Americans for guidance on tax reform, it became more of a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ the UK will follow in the footsteps of their transatlantic cousins.

There have been calls for changes to be made in the coming months. Many are expecting those to come as soon as Autumn this year.

It is to be a highly debated reform to the majority of the UK populace, given that a rise in CGT is only projected to impact a small number of the population. Of course, there may be a flight risk in imposing substantial tax increases on the wealthy, which could itself lead to reduced investment and a drop in tax revenues. But there is rising worldwide public understanding and dialogue over the unequal distribution of wealth and the ever-widening gap between the very affluent and less wealthy. This gradually puts more pressure on government policy, and in turn, on well-off individuals.

Careful routing through these complicated decisions in the time period ahead is the order of the day for the chancellor, and the UK’s owner-manager community will be looking on closely.

How can CGT be reformed?

The Office for Tax Simplification’s (OTS) evaluation of the CGT structure carried out in July 2020 is good starting point when observing the potential impact of the reform. It found that the CGT system could be made simpler and fairer by aligning CGT rates more closely to income tax rates, reducing the CGT tax-free allowance, removing the “CGT uplift” on inherited assets and reassessing existing CGT reliefs.

In regard to the realignment of CGT rates to income tax, the removal of the distinction between assets and property and the upsurge in rates is probable. There may be a steady growth in rates to reduce the initial blow or a threshold above which higher rates of CGT kick in.

There may also be a drop off the existing CGT annual exemption of GBP 12,300, down to a lesser sum, possibly between GBP 2,000 to GBP 4,000. This could be supplemented by further exemptions on personal entities for individuals, but that will be of no advantage to business owners. There may be a gradual downward tapering of the exemption to make the pill easier to swallow.

The so-called CGT uplift on inherited assets may also theoretically be a target of the chancellor. Currently, an individual that inherits an asset, for example, a shareholding in a family business, who then goes on to sell it for a gain is subject to CGT. This is based on the difference between the worth of the asset when they inherited it and subsequently sold it, as opposed to the original value the deceased bought it for. This “CGT uplift” can drastically reduce the quantity of CGT to be paid. However, the elimination of the uplift could make holding on to such an asset less appealing and give rise to substitute tax planning during the shareholder’s lifetime.

Business Asset Disposal Relief (the renamed Entrepreneurs’ Relief) has already seen the lifetime limit reduced from GBP 10 mn to GBP 1 mn in the 2020 Spring Budget. There could be further changes to qualifying criteria, the 10% rate could be increased, or more debatably, the relief could be scrapped altogether.

Although the measures remain ambiguous, the course of travel ahead for CGT reforms will unquestionably erode some of the upsides of entrepreneurship. And, in some scenarios, it may be that business owners looking to maximise value to accelerate their exit plans are now in preparation of CGT reform.

Is it now time to accept our destiny?

The existing CGT rules allow a tax-efficient exit for a business, although that window of opportunity is narrowing.

The exit of the business owner tends to happen through a trade sale, private equity investment, management buyout, or the (increasingly popular) employee ownership trust (EOT).

However, another mechanism for exiting a business and generating a capital receipt concerning a distribution of capital is via the members’ voluntary (solvent) liquidation process. Being a distribution of capital, the proceeds will be taxed at current CGT rates and subject to eligibility, qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief.

Whilst we will always recommend looking for HMRC clearance to confirm the business owner’s tax position, the basic tax situation is that distributions made during a winding up are capital, not income, thus the shareholder is treated as having made a disposal of his or her shares in return for the amount distributed.

When applying for HMRC clearance, a business owner would also be looking for approval that the targeted anti-avoidance rules (TAAR), which aim to combat cases of “Phoenixism” do not apply to distributions made in the process of winding up of a company.

For comprehensiveness, “Phoenixism” is an action whereby a company is liquidated, and consequently, its business is carried on under the same or broadly the same ownership via a new entity within a prescribed time frame. These rules were introduced in 2016 and, if applicable, will tax any proceeds received via a liquidation distribution as an income and not a capital receipt. Clearly, this is not an issue if the purpose of entering into a members’ voluntary (solvent) liquidation process is a result of the owner folding.

In summary, the members’ voluntary (solvent) liquidation process should not be overlooked as an actual means to triggering a capital receipt. We fully expect a rise in enquiries from business owners and their advisors as the race to withdraw and extract value from their businesses deepens in the months ahead, with the shadow of CGT reform looming large once more.

Our Corporate Simplification team’s involvement in working alongside shareholders to maximise their returns tax, cost effectively and expediently puts us in strong position to help you and your clients implement their business exit. As ever, early consultation is recommended to ensure desired timelines are met.

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About the Author

Eddie Bines

Eddie Bines, Managing Director – Restructuring Advisory, Kroll and Greg Pollock, Director – Restructuring Advisory, Kroll.

 

Checklist Before You Start to Play in Online Casino

Checklist Before You Start to Play in Online Casino

Online casinos give you an exciting and fun way to spend your free time. It gets even more entertaining when you win real money while at it. Every day, thousands of new gamblers sign up, attracted by the chance to win. 

Online casinos are popular because they’re accessible worldwide, and their games are easy to play. However, you should be familiar with some fundamentals before deciding to join one. This helps improve your gambling experience and winning chances. 

Therefore, let’s examine your checklist before you start to play in an online casino.

Select the appropriate casino

You may have a wide choice of online casinos to select, but not all are genuine. You need to pay close attention to things such as safety, licenses, and security. It would be best if you also examined their bonuses, winnings, and wagering conditions.

The thing with online casinos is that each tries to be different. Thus, each offers deals, promotions, and winnings that differ from the others. Check out the deals at Betpack and enjoy safe betting and the many opportunities to win big. 

Examine the Available Betting Payment Methods

When playing with real money, you’ll need a convenient way of moving it. Given the difference in preferences, a wide variety of banking methods is always desirable. We understand this fact at Betpack and offer you an extensive list of betting payment methods. 

Whether you prefer Neteller, Bitcoin, or Ecopayz, you’ll find them all at Betpack. This convenience implies you can quickly charge your account when you need to place bets. And also, withdraw your jackpot winnings conveniently and in a timely way. 

Plan Your Betting Budget

Betting in an online casino is designed to entertain you. In other words, you should have a feeling of satisfaction after every betting session. Staying within your planned budget is among the factors that can dictate this feeling. 

Indeed, gambling is an attractive sport. But Betpack desires that you gamble responsibly. The good thing with Betpack is that its betting options cater to all budgets. If you only have €10 to spare, Betpack will still offer you opportunities to have a lot of fun.

And you could still win the jackpot with whichever money you choose to bet with. 

Of course, you can always increase your chance of hitting the jackpot by playing more.

Familiarize Yourself with Terms and Conditions

Every online casino operates under certain terms and conditions, and Betpack is not different. Rules on wagering requirements are some of the most important because they dictate your winning withdrawal. Winning a bonus is the goal, but you may have to wager it several times before you can withdraw it.

Ideally, you should take the time to go through all the terms and conditions. This way, you’ll know how Betpack operates as well as its advantages and disadvantages. With this knowledge, you can devise a strategy that increases your winning and excitement while playing.

Conclusion 

Online casinos always present you with many opportunities to have fun and win cash. However, you first have to prepare yourself before signing up. Selecting the right casino, examining the payment methods, and its terms and conditions are all vital. 

Once you meet your checklist, you are ready to have the ultimate fun at Betpack. 

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6 Ways of How Your Business Develops Trust with the Community

business team

Thousands of small deeds, ideas, words, and intentions combine to create trust. Gaining trust does not happen overnight; it requires time and effort. Authenticity is the latest term for organizations looking to build closer and stronger relationships with their customers.

Businesses globally need to build trust because it allows them to ensure quality and dependability. Breaking through and ultimately gaining client’s confidence and trust may take years of calling on them because people aren’t always eager to trust your company when it comes to earning their trust.

Younger generations, particularly Millenials, look for genuine connections and open corporate practices from brands and businesses they choose to buy. Therefore, the worth of trust to a corporation is hard to define.

We can say that trust is the most significant currency of a business. Without trust and reliability, transactions can’t take place, and influence is weakened. David Horsagor, a business strategist, travels the world speaking on the impact of trust. He’s created a system for teaching leaders how to establish the Eight Pillars of Trust:

  • Clarity
  • Compassion
  • Character
  • Commitment
  • Competency
  • Consistency
  • Contribution
  • Connection

People will listen to you if they like you, but they will buy from you and do business only if they trust you. Giving importance to human relationships is the core value in social work. While doing a business, you need to keep in mind these core values. These social work values play a critical role in developing brand trust and loyalty in customers. Hence, the businesses should focus more on learning the social work values to expand their market base.

Do you want to learn how to earn the trust and confidence of your customers? If you follow the steps mentioned below, you’ll be well on your way to attracting and retaining a loyal fanbase.

1.   Be authentic

One of the cornerstones to engendering trust among your consumer base is to be open, honest, and upfront with them. It is a straightforward approach. Accept others the way they are and be transparent. Customers have become more savvy, sassy, and loud in their expectations from the brands.

Hence, your authenticity demonstrates your honesty, expresses your values, and communicates your convictions through your brand. Consider sharing Instagram stories that take your audience on a behind-the-scenes tour of your business. Illustrate to your customers that your business has undertaken a social accountability audit and fulfills industry standards.

2.   Speak to your customers in a genuine tone

Most companies now engage with their customers via several online channels and invest in software that tracks, personalizes, and optimizes customer details. Maintain a conversational tone when producing content or copy so that your communications feel like they’re coming from the people behind the brand.

Marketers that understand this are abandoning their business personas and revealing their true, sincere selves. Advertisements don’t entirely depict a brand’s personality. The real identity lies hidden in the thousands of interactions your customers see and experience daily. Despite the difficulties, the genuine rewards of discovering your voice extend far beyond image and communications.

3.   Ensure consistency

You won’t earn devoted clients if there is no consistency in the quality of goods or services you deliver. The business requires consistency in many aspects, so your website and advertisements should be consistent in their message.

If the customers get the same product or service from you every time, they’ll have faith in you. Consistency is easy to attain when you define the best practices and easy to follow procedures. Produce what you know you can, and gradually add new product lines to sustain the positive customer experience. You can only achieve credibility when you are consistent with your mission statement.

4.   Respond to feedbacks

It’s vital to respond to all customer feedback, from one-star rants to five-star praises. Customers can easily share queries, offer a five-star rating, or share their experiences on review sites. How you handle issues helps to build trust and loyalty.

During busy business days, it’s easy to get side-tracked and disengaged from business operations on the front lines. Try to resolve the customer queries as soon as possible. Share the necessary information with your customers and acquire their trust. Exude pride and enthusiasm for your company. However, most business owners are aware that compared to a satisfied customer, an unhappy customer is more likely to give a negative review. Choosing to respond to each customer politely builds trust and respect for your business.

5.   Respect their time

People in our society are losing a sense of respect, decency, and civility. To gain people’s trust, you need to be more conscious of other people’s time, schedules, and demands. It means you should be available for your customers at any time.

Valuing your customer’s time involves responding to phone calls promptly. Respond to all the emails as soon as possible and thoroughly answer the issues raised. Attend all the meetings on time, and log in to the scheduled call two minutes before the call begins.

Ensure that customer queries are well catered to, and apologize to rectify your mistakes. Customers respect you more when you admit and correct your faults timely and responsibly.

6.   Create a strong web presence

When you aren’t available online, you might be considered invisible. COVID-19 has heightened the necessity of a company’s online presence.  Over 80 percent of shoppers research online before making a purchase decision. A well-designed website provides credibility to your business and encourages the customer to investigate, further legitimizing you as a business.

It positions you as an expert in your sector. You can make use of private practice marketing to establish terms with unknown people. Whether it’s a blog article, a bit of advice, or an informative video, you are earning your customer’s trust by producing unique, original content.

It is time to develop digital relations with your customers. Your website should provide transparent, findable, accurate, accessible, and optimized content.

Bottom Line

Being an entrepreneur, you’re always looking for ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Besides all of the discussion above, you also need to build brand equity. When clients speak positively about you, it means that they have developed trust in you. Ensure that you meet your deadlines if you’ve set an estimated finish time frame.

Trust is a significant factor in forming successful, long-lasting relationships. Engage your customers on social media by sharing your back and front-end stories. Whether your company is new to town or there for a long time, it’s critical that the look and feel of your company match that of the surrounding neighborhood. You’ll get a good response if you tailor your marketing and interactions with the community to your target audience.

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How to streamline your forex trading with SwissAllianceFX

If you are new to trading or someone experienced, it’s no news that Forex is the most flexible and profit-driven marketplace. From little to no local regulatory influence, you have the liberty to trade freely and gain greater profits. However, if you want to make real money with Forex and make it a passive source of income, in the long run, you need a companion who can guide you. That’s what companies like SwissAllianceFX are all about. The company helps you with a support system that allows you to trade in Foreign Exchange with confidence. 

Through this quick article, we try to put some light on the advantages that SwissAllianceFX brings to you when you do Forex trading.

Flexibility of pay 

When you deal via SwissAllianceFX, you can be confident about your withdrawal. At the end of the day, trusting someone with your money is a great risk. But with a clear track record of helping people with prompt and mindful assistance both in terms of withdrawal and trading, SwissAllianceFX has gained a great deal of trust. So, whenever you feel like working out some money from your Forex account, the company is just a holler away. Your money releases from SwissAllianceFX between 9 AM and 6 PM on the same day. 

Charges 

A Lot of companies that work in the business of guiding companies with Forex have hidden charges, including some that involve taking account opening charges. There is no such thing as SwissAllianceFX. In order to trade in foreign currencies, you have to open a Forex account, and with SwissAllianceFX you don’t have to pay to do so. So, transparency is something that propels trust which companies like SwissAllianceFX have gained over the years. 

Learning Forex Trading 

Are you someone who has no real idea of how Forex trading works but wants to get in the market? Well, don’t worry. With SwissAllianceFX ‘s demo trading account, you can uplift your trading skills and leave your newbie batch behind when you finally enter the market. Although the currencies are not real, the experience feels real. 

At the end of the day, to grow your Forex trade, you need to have a streamlined approach and SwissAllianceFX helps you get that. From learning to implementing and finally withdrawing, SwissAllianceFX provides an end-to-end solution that everyone from new to seasoned traders can try. 

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FinTech Can Anchor Asia’s Post-COVID-19 Recovery With Appropriate Policies

By Dr. Bambang Susantono

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital technology such as e-payments and digital banking, and online retail sales in Asia and the Pacific. Post-pandemic economic recovery could greatly benefit from the enormous opportunities financial technology (FinTech) offers for promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. For this, national policies, supported by public and private sector coordination, are vital. Regional cooperation also plays a crucial role in achieving the full potential of FinTech and tackling its associated risks.

Introduction

Asia is facing one of its worst economic downturns in several decades as the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to contain it stifle activity. Absent digital technology that has proven essential for economic activities amid strict quarantine measures and voluntary self-restraint, the economic fallout could have been much worse. Some firms shifted offline businesses and services online, with potential permanent post-pandemic effects. Workers and students have become adept at online video conferencing and using other digital tools from home.

In fact, financial technology (FinTech) solutions are essential for e-commerce and other digital economic transactions and activities, by allowing financial transfers round-the-clock through online and mobile payments. They also provide critical support for other activities in the digital space, such as retail sales and online banking.

While pandemic risks exacerbate inequality, both within and across countries, FinTech presents a valuable opportunity to forge a more inclusive economic recovery. It is therefore particularly crucial that FinTech solutions reach disadvantaged groups and communities, especially those in poverty and remote areas, during this crisis and beyond.

Unlocking FinTech’s vast potential requires overcoming daunting challenges associated with infrastructure access and adequacy, cybersecurity, consumer protection and data privacy, taxation, and financial risk management.

Nevertheless, unlocking FinTech’s vast potential requires overcoming daunting challenges associated with infrastructure access and adequacy, cybersecurity, consumer protection and data privacy, taxation, and financial risk management. The role of private investment cannot be overstated, and public and private sectors should join the effort. Regional cooperation should certainly supplement national efforts by facilitating information exchange and knowledge sharing, harmonization of standards and regulations, and cross-border investments and partnerships.

Asia’s FinTech Landscape in the COVID-19 Era

The pandemic underscores the importance of digitalization and its role for safe and distant financial transactions and services. Lockdowns and self-restraint measures have forced consumers to embrace change; to shop, bank, and conduct financial and other economic transactions online, thereby accelerating FinTech growth. For instance, in the Philippines, the leading mobile wallet company GCash reported a 254% year-on-year increase in transaction volume in 2020 and expanded its registered users from 20 million in 2019 to 33 million in 2020 (Globe Telecom Inc. 2021).

Figure 1

Even before COVID-19, independent surveys indicated that the Asian FinTech ecosystem was expanding fast. The number of FinTech firms engaged in digital payments, digital lending, and capital crowdfunding in ASEAN rose by more than six times between 2012 and 2019 while disclosed FinTech funding deals increased by about eight times between 2016 and 2019–with Singapore leading the way (Figure 1). ADB (2021) estimates show revenues of digital platforms in Asia, which largely use FinTech solutions to settle the transactions, reached $1.8 trillion in 2019.

FinTech solutions in the region are concentrated in lending and payments, as suggested by CCAF, ADBI, and FinTech Space (2019), while the more mature, sophisticated segments focus on asset management, enterprise finance technology for financial institutions, and InsurTech. In the last few years, payment systems have evolved profoundly as the ubiquity of mobile application payment tools, digital wallets, and QR code-based payment options attests. And Asian economies appear more open to adopting innovations like e-wallets than some advanced economies (de Sartiges et al. 2020).

Adoption is likely to increase toward broader integration of payment systems – including cross-border networks whose efficiency will lower transaction costs (PayNet 2017). SWIFT (2019) notes the growing adoption in the Asia and the Pacific financial services industry of ISO 20022 standards for electronic data transfer and messaging, which will increase the pace and efficiency of data processing and facilitate interoperability of payment systems.

Central banks in the region are taking efforts to digitize their countries’ payment systems. For example, the National Bank of Cambodia’s Bakong Project envisages an “all-in-one mobile payment and banking app [that] redefines mobile payment and banking by combining e-wallets, mobile payments, online banking and financial applications within one easy-to-use interface for any preferred bank account” (Bakong n.d.). Furthermore, several countries in the region are investigating possible introduction of central bank digital currencies.

FinTech’s Role Towards Inclusive Financial System

FinTech can play an important role in supporting more inclusive economic growth and financial system in Asia and the Pacific.

FinTech can play an important role in supporting more inclusive economic growth and financial system in Asia and the Pacific. Tools that give access to the mainstream payments network are critical in supporting unbanked and underbanked individuals and firms. Survey results from CCAF, ADBI, and FinTech Space (2019) lend support to FinTech’s role in financial inclusion. Forty-five percent of respondents indicated their clients were either unbanked or underbanked (Figure 2). Small and medium sized enterprises comprised about 22% of clients – not far below large corporates’ 28% share – while 42% were individuals. The data set of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association reveals that between 2010 and 2020 the value of transactions through mobile money services for the unbanked surged more than 25 times globally and by more than 34 times in East Asia and the Pacific (GSMA 2021).

Lower transaction costs are among key benefits of FinTech solutions. This is particularly important for migrant workers sending money home. Farooq, Naghavi, and Scharwatt (2016) suggest that the cost of sending $200 using mobile money is about 2.7%, less than half the 6% global money transfer operators charge. FinTech solutions can help achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) of reducing transaction cost to below 3% of remittance value by 2030 (World Bank 2020). Given the cost advantages and the growing client base, the share of digital remittance in the total global remittances is also projected to rise from about 10% in 2014 to more than 50% by 2023 (Nicoli and Ahmed 2019).

FinTech development is also promoting structural transformation of the overall financial system. For instance, increasingly digitalized banking services are cutting indirect transaction costs for customers (Bachas et al. 2018). Besides website-hosted services, banks have increased their presence on mobile devices by adopting digital applications. Open banking initiatives are likewise becoming a common strategy for traditional financial institutions to keep up to speed with FinTech developments and work around operational inflexibilities.

FinTech

FinTech is also pivotal in ongoing discussions on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in Asia. This has attracted considerable attention, especially with pilot tests for the digital yuan by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) since April 2021 (Zhang 2021). In addition, the Bank for International Settlements, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Bank of Thailand, Digital Currency Institute of the PBOC, and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates also began working on the Multiple CBDC (mCBDC) Bridge project (Auer, Haene, and Holden 2021). This undertaking aims to create a platform where central banks in Asia and other regions can study distributed ledger technologies and CBDCs, focusing on their implications for cross-border payments (FSB 2020).

Bonafide digital banks are also looming large. The Republic of Korea offered digital bank licenses to Kakao Bank and K bank in 2017 before a third player was approved in June 2021 (Government of the Republic of Korea, Financial Services Commission 2021). In Hong Kong, China, the first licenses for virtual banks were issued in March 2019 and as of May 2021, and eight are already operating (Government of Hong Kong, China 2019, 2021). In Singapore, two digital full bank licenses and two digital wholesale bank licenses were approved in December 2020 (Government of Singapore, Monetary Authority of Singapore 2020). Meanwhile, the first digital bank license in the Philippines was awarded to Neobank Tonik in March 2021 (Tonik 2021) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has worked with Cantilan Bank on a cloud-based core banking system to expand financial inclusion and improve the efficiency and security of banking services (ADB 2019). Overall, more than 200 new digital banks have been established globally since 2010, of which 46 are in Asia and the Pacific (Choi 2020).

Yet, these innovations carry risks. As economies become increasingly reliant on digital finance, there will be risks of disruptions to operations; crimes that corrupt or destroy data integrity and privacy; or the theft of funds through fraudulent means. Cyberattacks threaten financial stability, not only through direct costs on financial institutions but also undermining confidence in financial systems and data integrity. An example includes the attack on the Bangladesh Bank in 2016, in which $81 million was stolen and damages to institutional reputation, public trust, and financial stability were significant.

Effective Policies Are Prerequisite for Harnessing FinTech’s Potential

To fully reap the benefits of FinTech while balancing against associated risks, the private and public sectors should take six actions that put countries on an inclusive and sustainable path to recovery from the pandemic.

First, there must be equitable access to digital financial infrastructure. Asia continues to see uneven development of basic digital infrastructure and varying degrees of digital readiness. Steps should be taken to expand investments in digital infrastructure and connectivity by expanding broadband internet access and coverage, and improving the delivery of affordable mobile and broadband services. Digital education and training will also help communities capitalize on the spread of digital technologies.

Second, an effective digital ecosystem needs to be developed to support the creation, diffusion, and scaling up of technology and innovation. The private sector can drive innovation. However, public policy continues to play an important role in providing equal treatment and connecting financial and technology firms. A complementary, consistent, and multifaceted policy framework is needed to nurture a digital ecosystem. This should include measures that ensure fair competition, lower barriers to entry, protect consumers, and promote data privacy.

FinTech offers new ways to catalyze sustainable development finance amid considerable development gaps.

Third, in developing countries in Asia, lack of digital identification often hinders access to digital services, which require verifiable identities to use. Steps should be taken to make sure that robust, secure, and sustainable digital ID systems are developed. In this aspect, progress is being made. In Papua New Guinea, ADB is helping develop a smart card using Near Field Communications technology. The Aadhaar project, a national biometric digital ID system in India, is another example (Sudhir and Sunder 2020).

Fourth, FinTech offers new ways to catalyze sustainable development finance amid considerable development gaps. Fintech platforms can also be used to increase savings and channel resources into publicly or privately funded investments. Blockchain-based solutions and asset tokenization (which transforms tradable assets into a security token that digitally represents asset ownership) are promising ways of narrowing financing gaps and securing sustainable funding for infrastructure.

Fifth, under growing threats to data integrity and privacy, financial institutions need to adopt a holistic approach to fortify cyberdefense and security. This can be done by proper risk management and strengthening resilience against attack. Governments need to keep their regulatory systems in step with the ever-evolving global digital landscape. International cooperation is essential to safeguard cybersecurity – given that there are no borders in cyberspace.

Lastly, advances in financial technology also enable better regulation of financial systems. Regulatory technologies, or ‘Regtech’, can meet monitoring, reporting, and compliance requirements effectively and efficiently, while ‘Suptech’ relates to how supervisors make use of technology advancements. Together, they can contribute to making financial systems safer in smarter (more efficient and less costly) ways.

Collaborative responses from governments, central banks, regulators, and financial institutions are crucial for building a safe global digital financial architecture. In this sense, strengthening regional cooperation is crucial in fostering exchange of information, best practices, harmonization of standards and regulations, and intensifying investment and partnerships across borders. It is needless to say that issues on taxation; anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism; cybersecurity; and data localization all require cross-country cooperation and collaboration. A common multilateral framework and coordinated surveillance mechanisms can contribute to making existing national regulations more effective and closing regulatory loopholes.

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About the Author

Dr. Bambang Susantono

Dr. Bambang Susantono is the Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Distinguished in providing global thought leadership on sustainable development, he is a published author and active researcher.

He holds a Ph.D. in Infrastructure Planning, Master’s degrees in Transportation Engineering, City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley, and Bachelor’s in Engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology.

References

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