Category: Technology

4 Key Advantages of Digital Marketing Over Traditional Tools

Three key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In our new digital age, technology has revolutionized business and commerce. If you haven’t started making use of the digital tools at your disposal, you should consider it. The following guest post is entitled, 4 Key Advantages of Digital Marketing Over Traditional Tools.

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The digital age signals the turn of the modern business era. With many available technologies, you will not be able to see companies that do not run in some form of online network. The rise of the digital age provides all business owners with a lot of benefits. However, it might be at the expense of traditional marketing strategies. The old form of marketing continues to be relevant in today’s market, but there is no denying that the flexibility of digital tools allows them to have higher demand.

Here are some of the advantages they have over traditional marketing strategies:

Lead Generation

If you are running a business, you know how important it is to gather the attention of your target market. However, it might be difficult to do that if people want to see the things they will buy in a store on online platforms first. They might not be aware of what specific items they must purchase, which is why they rely on search engines.

Getting SEO writers for your company will help you create content, which would convince potential customers to try your products. For that, you can hire an SEO outsourcing company for your business needs.

Social Media Presence

Social media is where most people interact for personal reasons. However, businesses realize that the potential of such online platforms is huge. You will be able to reach a lot of people in social media, which rapidly multiplies how much interest you are receiving.

If you can create a social media presence, you will be able to make a profit for your company. You can utilize business pages and ads on social media platforms. Your customer service strategies can also have a place there. You can start contests, provide discounts, and share announcements on social media, which makes it a must-have digital tool for business marketing teams.

Website Utilization

A retail store will likely be synonymous with business. However, the digital age provides a whole new dimension to sales. You no longer need to have a physical store.

If you can start a business website, you can build a foundation for your company. Small businesses often use websites to help them perform their operations at home, making it a more convenient and less expensive choice. You will have to hire a trusted website designer for your goals to make it a worthy investment. If you can utilize a website for your business, you will be able to let potential customers find relevant data about what you can offer.

Online Processes

In the digital age, customers are looking to add convenience to their shopping needs. Traditional tools often convince people to come to a business’ store to check products. With the help of online processes, customers will only have to click and wait until they get what they bought. Deliveries might still be a part of traditional tools, but online purchases help give it a whole new meaning. Customers will be able to get what they want while they are at home. If you can provide them with that option, they will constantly rely on your business’ products.

Traditional marketing tools are crucial to every business. However, you will find that digital tools can carry most small companies to the profit numbers they want to achieve.

Cloud Computing Technology: Why Your Business Needs It

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In our new digital age, the cloud has become a major piece for many businesses. Learning to maximize its usage is key to any business that wants to survive as the years go on. The following guest post is entitled, Cloud Computing Technology: Why Your Business Needs It.

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Over 83 percent of business workloads will be done on the cloud by 2020, according to a recent report by infrastructure monitoring firm LogicMonitor. Despite concerns with security and implementation, cloud adoption continues to grow, as the industry is projected to earn 17 percent more in 2020 compared to last year.

A lot of articles and experts that talk about the importance of technology in business cite cloud computing is the future. This is because it has a wide variety of cost, collaboration, and efficiency benefits to companies, especially small and medium-sized ones.

How does the platform work and what are its benefits to your company?

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing involves using applications and storage on the internet instead of your computer’s hard drive or office servers. Think of it as renting computing capacity from an outside provider.

It comes in three categories:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – This involves renting the servers, virtualization, and other network hardware and software of your provider to create software based on your chosen platform.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) – PaaS has everything that IaaS has, but with development and business intelligence tools built-in. All you need to do is to develop your enterprise software.
• Software as a Service (SaaS) – Here, the provider hosts applications on its servers and makes it available for customers to use immediately. This includes applications you probably already use in your business, like Salesforce, Google G Suite, MailChimp, and more. For small businesses, it’s best to stick with SaaS since all you need to do is learn and use the software instead of developing it yourself.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing usage continues to grow, and it’s because of the following advantages:

• Work Anywhere, Anytime – Cloud applications can be used on any device with a browser and an internet connection. Some providers even provide mobile apps. As such, you can check on your company’s productivity or even get some work done from anywhere you are in the world.
• Better Collaboration – Gone are the days of passing files manually either through hard copies or email. Cloud applications, like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides offer collaboration tools that let you and your team edit and comment on the same live document. This provides one source of truth instead of multiple revised files.
• Scalability – Cloud providers often have a pay-as-you-go model, which means you only pay for the resources you use. If your company is still starting out, you can get a basic subscription that provides usage for a few users. As you expand, you can scale up your subscription to accommodate more employees. Because you don’t need to install any kind of software or hardware, the modifications to your plan happen immediately.

If you want to improve and save on your business processes, try to look for ways to take them to the cloud. Apart from freeing up your office space of large stacks of servers, it provides you with flexible, scalable, and collaborative applications that can increase the productivity, quality, and efficiency of your work. As long as you have a trustworthy and experienced cloud computing provider, your business is sure to enjoy these benefits and more.

Discover The Ways To Make Your Online Marketing Magnificent

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. With today’s world being highly digital, it’s important maximize your online marketing so that it’s as efficient as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, Discover The Ways To Make Your Online Marketing Magnificent.

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Each day, the only world is getting more competitive and this is true regardless of the business sector or industry that you are part of. If you are operating in the e-commerce sector then there will be hundreds of thousands of other sites that are selling the exact same or similar products to you. So, you’ll need to make sure that you are choosing the right price point and you definitely have to ensure that you have a USP. A USP is a unique selling point and is a key feature of your business that is going to help you stand out. This could be anything from rapid delivery times to exclusive offers. Of course, you have to go beyond the USP because you also need to make sure that you have fantastic marketing for your company as well.

Marketing will ensure that your business is noticed in the first place and that’s never going to be a complete guarantee. You’ll need to work to ensure that people take notice of your business brand and pay attention to what you can offer on the market. So, let’s explore some of the ways to ensure that your marketing campaign does stand out the right way.

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Dynamic Design

You should ensure that your business does have a dynamic marketing design because this feels more immersive. In other words, key parts of your brand profile should be moving and versatile. You need to ensure that it feels like something that an audience can not only connect with but be a part of. One of the easiest ways to do this is by exploring video marketing. But again, it needs to be the right type of video marketing. You need to make sure that you are connecting with an audience and delivering something more than what they might imagine.

One of the ways to do this is to utilize the latest tech to create videos that are part of your marketing campaign. For instance, you can think about exploring sites like Dr Drone. Here, you’ll find plenty of information on the different drones available, some of which have steadying technology. This will be perfect for capturing video that will be suitable for marketing and designing unique ads for your business.

Semantic Marketing

You need to think about the tech that customers are using when they are accessing the online world. Today, that means putting more of a focus on voice control technology. This has become more popular in recent years and more accessible. So, for instance, you can easily find that the majority of people will have a smart system in their home. It could be anything from Alexa to the Siri on their iPhone. This means that they will be able to search online by asking questions and that completely transforms the way that you should be approaching website optimization. Ultimately, you need to think about how you can ensure that you are directly connecting with the queries that your audience has. The best way to do this is to research the type of questions that they are asking and then provide a direct answer. In doing so, you are far more likely to end up higher in the SERPs. This is due to the fact that you are going to be able to provide the high-value content that your customers are depending on and that Google wants to see on a website that reaches page one. You might even end up with your website being chosen as a featured snippet. This is going to push claims for your business through the roof.

Personalization

Finally, you should make sure that you are exploring some of the ways that are going to help you personalize your business brand. This is going to make it easier for people to connect with your company and understand exactly what you can offer. Some of the key examples will include injecting fun into your social media profiles. It’s important to engage with customers the right way through social media. This means that it should be about simply promoting your brand or your product. You need to help them feel like they are connected with people behind your company rather than just a brand name.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key ways that you can guarantee your marketing is going to stand out online. In doing so, you’ll be able to ensure that your business is not forgotten by the market and that you do get a high level of attention your business brand deserves.

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4 Important Security Tips When Video Conferencing During The Lockdown

Two key focuses of my blog are Current Events and Technology. The Coronavirus/Covid-19 Crisis/Pandemic has further pushed digital forms of communication to the forefront. In terms of businesses and organizations of all kinds, video conferencing has become critical. It isn’t without its security concerns though. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Important Security Tips When Video Conferencing During The Lockdown.

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The COVID-19 crisis and the resulting lockdown have had a huge impact on businesses around the globe. All businesses are having to find new ways of doing things, and many of them are using online tools to keep themselves going. Video conferencing software is one of the most important online tools that people are using right now because it allows everybody to stay in touch when face to face meetings are not an option. However, when you are discussing sensitive business matters and sending important data online, it’s vital that you consider security. There have already been a lot of issues with video calls being hacked, so it’s important that you take steps to protect yourself. These are some of the best ways to make sure that your video conferences are safe.

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Use Managed VoIP Services

There are a lot of popular video conferencing tools, like Zoom or Google Hangouts, that many businesses and consumers are using to stay in touch with people during lockdown. However, these free pieces of software are not always suitable for business purposes and if you really want to ensure security, you should use managed VoIP, or voice over internet protocol services instead (click the link to see more information). A professionally managed VoIP will give you access to all of the video conferencing features that you need and they are a lot more secure than the consumer options.

Waiting Rooms

Whether you are using a managed VoIP service or a simple piece of video conferencing software, you should always use the waiting room feature. This feature puts people into a separate waiting room and then the host can see who they are before admitting them to the meeting. That way, anybody that shouldn’t be in the meeting can be blocked from entering.

Passwords

Most video conferencing software allows you to set a password that users need to input before they can join the call. It’s vital that you use a password on any meeting, no matter how trivial it may seem. If you are using software that allows you to create your own password for a meeting, make sure that you use a strong password that is not easy to crack. If you have a password in place and a waiting room, it’s incredibly difficult for anybody to access the meeting.

Do Not Allow Screen Sharing By Default

One of the best things about video conferencing software is the ability to screen share, but it can also be dangerous. If somebody manages to enter the call, and one of your employees is sharing their screen with lots of sensitive information on it, that’s a big problem. When you set up a call, do not allow screen sharing by default. That way, you can make sure that the call is definitely secure before you activate screen sharing, and ensure that people are only using it when absolutely necessary.

Video conferencing software is a great tool that is helping businesses adjust to the lockdown, but it is important that you follow these tips to make sure that you are secure.

3 Useful Household Gadgets That Can Improve Your Life

A key focus of my blog is Technology. As the years go on, there will be more and more new and novel technologies that will have the potential to improve our lives. Some will be created for used in your homes. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Useful Household Gadgets That Can Improve Your Life.

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There’s a lot to love about technology. In so many ways, technology has made our lives better. For me, one of the key ideas behind this is that we have so much accessible technology these days. What I mean is that we can bring gadgets and tech into our homes with ease. A lot of the tech that we use has actually been around for ages. The government, top scientists, military – all the people in charge – had access to it before us. It’s just that the technology was too advanced to make it to the consumer market.

Now, we’re at a stage where loads of incredible tech is available to us. As an example of what I mean, let’s look at some highly useful household gadgets that can improve your life:

Biometric security locks

Biometric technology is something we used to see in the movies. People would walk through top-security buildings and need to scan their fingerprint or retina to open a door. Nowadays, you can adopt this approach at home!

That’s right, a biometric lock for your door can easily be installed. It adds a new layer of security to your home, making it harder for anyone to break in. Some people use this on front doors, but you can use it to secure your home office or garage.

Weather stations

Who’d have thought that you can literally run your own weather station at home? There are gadgets out there that tell you all you need to know about the weather. You can place them outside, pair them with weather station cameras for added security, and get all the info sent to an app. The precise temperature is detailed, as is the barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, and so on.

How does this improve your life? Well, it allows for more accurate planning around the weather. If you’re doing activities that are weather-affected – like fishing or gardening – then this tells you some vital info. Likewise, some people who suffer from hayfever can use weather stations to get a view of the pollen count.

Robot cleaner

We’ve not quite reached the stage where C3PO-esque robots are doing tasks around our home. However, we do have little robot cleaners that cleverly hoover up dirt and dust. They use motion sensor technology combine with artificial intelligence to know where to clean. Plus, they’re small and affordable, which is always good to see in a household gadget.

It’s clear how this gadget improves your life! Spend less time cleaning your home and let this little robot do it for you. Thus, you maintain a clean and tidy home without exerting lots of effort.

There are three examples here of household gadgets that improve aspects of your life. All three of these have been around for a while now. So, who knows what the next stage of household gadgets will bring. AI is a massive thing at the moment, which is why things like Alexa are so popular. If I were to make a prediction, I’d say that households can expect advancements in AI gadgets over the coming decade.

What Online Dating Teaches You About Brick & Mortar

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. While online dating was made possible by technology, it can teach lots of lessons about brick and mortar businesses. There are strategies the process of online dating can teach individuals who are looking to start brick and mortar businesses. The following contributed post is entitled, What Online Dating Teaches You About Brick & Mortar.

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At first, it can be odd to put online dating and brick and mortar businesses in the same article. They don’t seem like they could have anything in common. But you would be wrong to dismiss their connection. Both rely on alertness, creative thinking, and ruthless decision-making for success. Indeed, online dating encourages users to decide without having met face-to-face the object of their interest. More often than not, you can’t get to know someone after only a quick chat online. As for brick and mortar businesses, tenants need to be quick to secure a location. Many also have to decide on whether or not to accept an offer from a landlord without having even visited the place. It’s not uncommon for business owners to sign on a shop space via a real estate agent or during online interaction. In other words, the skills required for a successful online date are very similar to the skills needed by brick and mortar businesses to protect their shop presence.

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Is it safe to go with the first choice?
Just like on an online dating platform, you can’t go with your gut instincts without doing your research when it comes to brick and mortar safety. Are you safe from physical damage? It’s a question that both daters and business owners ask themselves. The process of coming to an answer is the same. Indeed, the first worry before accepting an online invitation to a date is to ensure the arranged location for the meeting is safe. Similarly, brick and mortar business owners should evaluate the potential threats around the shop location before accepting an offer. Flood risk or high crime rates are dangers you need to understand, as they could put your business at risk.

Appreciate that it takes time to build a symbiotic relationship
Meeting someone for the first time is tricky. There are very few stories of love at first sight. It takes time to build a trust relationship, which is why online daters often agree to go on multiple dates and develop their bond before making a decision. The same principle applies to brick and mortar business owners. Whether you’re a tenant or you own the commercial property, you can’t turn the place you’ve first visited into a success overnight. Structural work, interior decor, and professional landscaping take time, as experts from https://www.neumannsmith.com/ explain to their clients. However, committing to the project and dedicating your energy to enhancing the property and creating a meaningful connection with your audience is the key to success. As such, it’s important to see what something could be if you were to invest work in it rather than expect things to be perfect from Day One.

Don’t be afraid to say no
Brick and mortar tenants, especially, need to review all their options before signing up for a deal that might seem too good to be true. Just like with online dating, if the object of your interest is still free despite their assumed qualities, it’s because there might be something fishy about them. As this article on https://www.bluevine.com explains, one of the first things to clarify with your landlord is the lease agreement. A fantastic location with an unsuitable lease agreement could be a blow to your business.

In conclusion, in many ways, online dating and brick and mortar businesses follow a similar path to success. Balancing research, knowledge-gathering, and long-term improvements with the hectic pace of a fast-moving environment is a delicate art to master.

Sustainable Building Methods For Your Next Property Project

A key focus of my blog is Technology. Our ability to build property has evolved with other aspects of technology and a key aspect is sustainability. Many builders are looking to build sustainable homes as purchasers are looking to buy them. The following contributed post is entitled, Sustainable Building Methods For Your Next Property Project.

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No matter who you are, you have a part to play in reducing your carbon-footprint and prioritizing sustainable solutions. In the world of property, sustainable building methods have taken centre stage over the last few years. Whether you are commissioning a commercial build or shopping around for a new home, there are many advantages to acquiring a sustainable property. Those who are in the process of a property project would be well advised to consider the following sustainable building methods.

Green Roofing

Green roofs are fast becoming popular in the world of sustainable design, for both residential and commercial properties. So what exactly are green roofs? A green roof uses vegetation to cover the top of the roof, including grass, plants, flowers or bushes. Using a green roof has many benefits, including reducing heating and cooling costs, improving air quality and waterproofing the building. Green roofs require components such as filter fleece, drainage, crushed aggregate, and planting or vegetation. Local authorities often support green roofing, which can help to get planning permission. In fact, with sustainable building practices, it’s often possible to leverage existing subsidies from government authorities.

Solar Thermal Cladding

Solar thermal cladding functions to keep in heat during the winter. The energy of the sun is stored in the cladding materials and is later moved through the property for heat retention. For both entrepreneurs and homeowners, conserving energy is about saving money as well as achieving sustainability and going greener.

Electrochromic Windows

Electrochromic glass can change from opaque to clear depending on factors such as UV rays or electrical current. When you use electrochromic glass for a property, you remove the requirement of window treatments or shades. Electrochromic glass functions to reduce the heat load, and with a smaller HVAC system, spending is reduced. This type of glass is more durable and efficient than conventional types, lasting for 30 + years at least. When you choose durable solutions for your property you’ll incur less maintenance issues ongoing.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design means using the sun to heat and cool various living spaces. If sunlight beams down on a building, the materials there will absorb, reflect or transmit the radiation. As well as this, the heat results in air movement, which is then predicted within these spaces. A passive solar home is designed using these concepts. These systems differ from active solar heating systems because they do not rely on electrical controls, fans or other devices to control the energy. Renewable energy should be prioritised for any new building projects. Other forms of renewable energy to consider include wind-energy or hydro-energy.

There are many other sustainable building methods which have emerged over the last several years. The more sustainable that your property is, the more money you will save in the long-run, not to mention the energy you’ll conserve. Newer properties that use eco-friendly solutions also means improved health and safety. What’s more, many consumers prefer businesses who are ethical, earth-friendly and sustainable.

Technology Has Made Our Lives So Much Better!

A key focus of my blog is Technology. All around us things are changing and new technologies and innovations are emerging. While there is concern that our new technologies have had some unforeseen consequences, there’s not doubt that they improved our qualities of life. The following contributed post is entitled, Technology Has Made Our Lives So Much Better!

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There’s a great deal of doom and gloom spouted about the modern world these days. People love to talk about how terrible things are and how much better they were in the “good old days.” It doesn’t even usually matter whether or not things are actually worse now than they used to be. What matters is that now things are different, and for a lot of people different is scary, which means that it seems inherently bad. Of course, there’s one thing that gets more of the blame for the decline of modern society than anything else, and that’s technology. Every day there are pieces coming out about how technology is rotting our brains and turning us into selfish, depressed zombies. It’s ruining communication, literature, families; you name it! If there’s a part of life that technology has entered, then someone out there is going to complain that it’s ruined it. Well, that’s all complete nonsense! Society hasn’t fallen apart and, if it has, it’s certainly not because of technology. In fact, for the most part, technology has been an extremely good thing for a lot of people! Here a just a few ways in which technology has made people’s lives better.

Business

For a lot of people, the idea of being able to break out of their everyday work life and pursue something that they’re truly passionate about has always been nothing but a distant fantasy. The sheer amount of money and time required to strike out on your own meant that a lot of people simply never bothered to think about it seriously. But with the rise of the internet, it’s never been easier to set up your own business and get out of the standard office grind. These days, even the smallest business has the chance to reach out to a customer base of millions. With the help of technology, you can set up an entire business, including website, social media, point-of-sale, accounts and everything else that comes with it from the comfort of your own home. Even manufacturing has become more accessible since 3D printing can create almost any product. It’s put the power back into the hands of small business owners that, for the longest time, have been shoved out by big corporations with more money to spend on fancy marketing gimmicks.

Communication

When was the last time you sent a letter? A lot of people talk about how sad it is that we don’t write letters to each other anymore, but they seem to be forgetting just how much of a hassle that can be. You write something, and then you wait for days (even weeks!) for it to get to where you sent it. Then you’ve got to wait even longer for a reply. These days, with the help of technology, we are still writing to each other. The only difference is that whatever we write is sent or received almost instantly. This means that it really has never been easy to communicate with other people. Not only that but it doesn’t matter how near or far they are. Someone could be on the other side of the world and you can still talk to them in exactly the same way that you talk to your friend who lives down the road. Whether it’s messaging, Skype or anything else, far from keeping people apart, technology has allowed people to come together in ways that they’ve never been able to before.

At the end of the day, technology isn’t good or bad. It’s just another tool for human beings to use however they choose. If people decide to let technology take over their lives or to use it to hurt each other, then that’s not because of the technology, it’s because of people. As long as we treat technology with respect and a sense of responsibility, there’s really no telling how far it can take us. It has the power to bring people together, improve our lives and make the world a better place for everyone.

How the Future of Education May Develop Online

Two of the focuses of my blog are General Education and Technology. While the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic/Crisis has created tremendous uncertainty for human health and our ways of life in general, it has also called into question the long-term education landscape. It’s been speculated that education will now move towards an increased digital paradigm. The following guest post is entitled, How the Future of Education May Develop Online.

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We have reached an age where advanced technology has become so deeply rooted in our daily lives and plays a major part in many of the core aspects of society. From recreation to work, everything is an amalgamation of celluloid, pixels, and wires. Another sector that has been steadily seeing its new face in technology is education.

These days, not only is tech integrated into lessons and curriculums, but it has also become a mode of learning in itself and a platform for teaching. From kindergarten to senior high school to post-graduate studies, online study has become the norm for millions of students in the new generation. This may beg the question, “is online schooling the future of education?”

The Virtual Shift

Learning toward different levels of education is available online, and some courses cater to shorter curriculums and specific topics alone. That is because, with the digital system, students have access to a vast library of different media and resources at their fingertips while being able to communicate with teachers and other students remotely.

Being able to share work in real-time and have hands-on activities also hasn’t been removed. Streaming platforms and cloud office applications have removed this limitation from students, no matter where they are as long as they have internet access. Even for those who aren’t in fully online schooling programs, data revealed that physical institutions are holding more and more online classes to cater to distance students. The same study even showed that over half of the students who still study on-campus also have at least one distance class they are taking.

As student sentiment gears toward the virtual space, institutions are also starting to put in resources toward making this work because it can be more cost-efficient and resolves a lot of the issues that come with having to go on-site. Operationally, this is beneficial as location no longer hinders potential enrollees and employees from joining a school. Both instructors and students can work remotely and no longer have to deal with commute issues, making the shift an attractive one in terms of finance and logistics.

Access Online

A major factor that is making online studying more lucrative is its accessibility. Different teaching and learning styles are catered to, and the flexibility in time allows people who have other obligations to be able to pursue an education.

One of the biggest things that also make it accessible is in terms of finances. Because the costs are different, you can often find an institution that offers online courses for a more affordable tuition fee. For this reason, different levels of financial status can still look into reliable schooling that is credited.

It can cater to those who live far, with barriers are removed and culture shock is lessened. For these reasons, it continues to grow each year as more and more individuals flock to the new educational sphere that they can pursue comfortably. With the recent health crisis in full boom, the world has mostly adopted this system and has seen its merits as people must continue to learn and go about their work from home. With all of those factors essentially making everybody shift to digital means, the future may just be up on a screen.

Online Shopping: Securing Your Private Data

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. While online shopping has made our lives easier and in some ways more efficient, it has introduced new and unique dangers to us as well. There are unscrupulous individuals our there who are looking to take your personal data and information for theft. The following guest post is entitled, Online Shopping: Securing Your Private Data.

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Online shopping has become easy. You’re not only able to find the local or overseas products you want on the internet. You also have multiple options for shipping and payment. But all these ease can sometimes come with a price: your security.

Every time you click on the “check out” button, you’re entrusting sensitive information, like credit card numbers and PINs, e-mail addresses, and home and work addresses to an online store. When hackers get a hold of your personal details, your identity may be stolen. So you need to be consistently on-guard against security threats.

Follow these steps to safer online shopping:

Stick With Tried-and-Tested Sites

The Philippines has a wide variety of trusted online stores and marketplaces to choose from, like Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora. They have robust security and buyer protection policies. For overseas purchases, buying from Amazon and shipping to the Philippines through a forwarder is your best bet.

You may find some obscure online stores that provide deals that are too good to be true. It’s best to stay away from these shops or at least search them up on review sites, like Trustpilot to see if they really are legit. As for branded online shops, check with their official website or social media to see if they do own the store.

Look for a Private Connection

Every time you visit a reputable website, you’ll see a lock icon on your web browser’s address bar. This symbolizes that the site is encrypted. No one else can see or access what you download and upload on the site except you and the website’s servers and admin.

It may also be a sign that the site you’re visiting is legitimate. As such, you should look for this lock in every online store you visit to ensure your payment and personal information aren’t intercepted by cybercriminals.

Pay Smart

Credit and debit cards offer a convenient way to pay for your goods. However, using them to pay for products online may not be the safest route. Illegitimate online stores and data breaches on legitimate ones may cause your payment data to land in the hands of hackers.

Use a prepaid card from your bank, which you can load up with the exact amount of the product, plus the shipping fee. Unlike credit cards, which have spending limits, prepaid cards are useless to cybercriminals when they’re empty. Cash on delivery is great as well, as you get to receive the product and inspect its packaging before actually paying for it.

If you have no choice but to use your credit or debit card, however, consistently check your transaction history on your bank’s website. If there are products you’re sure you didn’t pay for, call the provider immediately to file a dispute and get your money back.

Buying from online stores is a great way to get the local and foreign products you’ve always wanted. As convenient as they are, however, you should practice caution when buying from them. Consider these suggestions for a safe and secure online shopping experience every time.