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Santa is immune to COVID

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Santa is immune to COVID, the minimum wage will go up in Mexico by 2021 and much more.


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This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


As entrepreneurs it is important to be aware of the most relevant news, that is why at Emprendenews we bring you the summary. Do not miss here we leave you the links so you can expand the information.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This Wednesday night, the Council of Representatives of the National Commission of Minimum Wages (Conasami) resolved that by 2021 the minimum wage will have an increase of 15%. With this, the minimum daily salary will go from 123.22 to 141.7 pesos a day as of January 1 of next year. For the Free Zone of the North Border, the increase will go from the current 185.56 pesos to 213.19 pesos.

Image: Depositphotos.com

Albert Bourla, CEO of the pharmaceutical company, revealed that he has not applied his own vaccine against the virus and explained that the reason behind such a decision is that it is not in the age range of those who should receive it first.

Image: Depositphotos.com

Bitcoin surpassed $ 20,000 for the first time in its history. Less than 24 hours later, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency surpassed its own record and is now worth more than $ 23,000 per unit.

Image: Unsplash.com

The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that it will be until February 2021 when the Chamber of Deputies decides whether or not the Federal Law for the Regulation of Cannabis is approved.

Image: Depositphotos.com

The American epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove, in charge of supervising the management of the pandemic of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that Santa Claus is immune to the coronavirus and that he will be able to distribute gifts on the night of December 24 to 25 to all the children who have been good.

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Video Streaming Services Are Poised to Proliferate in 2021 – Business

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Featured image by kentoh

The video streaming industry is rapidly changing, and streaming fans around the world now have more options than ever to choose from. In short, the streaming industry’s future is bright.

Covid Gave Video Streaming Services the Push They Needed

As the pandemic locked much of the world down, many businesses began investing in new video streaming services. This marked a path for new entrants into the Netflix-dominated market.

RELATED ARTICLE: WANT AN ONLINE BUSINESS? TRY ONE OF THESE

For instance, NBC Universal introduced their Peacock TV streaming service this year. Additionally, Apple TV+ and Disney+ launched similar services as well. Now, both BBC and the Discovery Channel are working to launch digital subscription services in the near future.

Of course, as new players come along with their video streaming services and inventions, things will change. Just as the Netflix rental DVD was in itself an innovation, so, too, was the advent of its online video streaming platform. These innovations have completely changed the industry’s landscape. In fact, production houses are now avoiding movie theaters altogether and launching their material on video streaming services instead.

As the industry continues to evolve, streaming services are now entering the industry intent upon content production themselves. What’s more, they are coming in with budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. This is a major shift that was heretofore unheard of.

Consumers Are Abandoning Cable Services

According to Screen Binge, the biggest players in the streaming video on demand (SVoD) industry are Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. Obviously, Netflix is leagues ahead of Amazon. On the other hand, Amazon has a somewhat different model, bringing more creativity, innovation, and unique service to the game. We can expect similar efforts from other players as the industry continues to grow.

The trend toward video streaming is burgeoning because people are cutting the cord. Moreover, it is new video streaming service providers that will be key beneficiaries of the industry’s growth. What’s more, they will be able to build upon the solid foundation laid by the streaming king, Netflix.

VPN Services Boost International Streaming

There is a key benefit here for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. That is, while other providers are limited to just a few countries, these two have almost maximum global coverage. Disney+ is working on increasing its accessibility, but it has not been launched internationally at the moment. Their launching process will continue until near the end of 2021.

You can see the comparison of different streaming platforms below, based on spending for acquiring and producing content.

It’s worth mentioning here that Disney+, even at the very beginning of their video streaming launch, had on board a number of prominent production companies. Included are the likes of Pixar, Nat Geo, Marvel, and Star Wars. In addition, Disney+ brought their own original content to the playing field.

This groundbreaking innovation had not been previously put forward by any other forum. The fact that Disney+ had 10 million subscribers on the day of launch and has now risen to 86 million subscribers shows a measure of the strong trend toward online video streaming.

Video Streaming Goes International

People from all over the world want to access content, but not everyone has access to all content. In fact, some video streaming services are not accessible in every country. One issue is that most channels come from and are confined to the United States. However, individuals may want to access, for instance, US Netflix in the UK.

This has led to a rise in the use of VPN services, making it a multi-billion dollar industry. By using a VPN service, people can circumvent problems of content licensing and geo-restriction. For example, Disney+ is not yet available globally. However, many individuals use a VPN and connect to a server in a country where it is available. Then they can watch the content they prefer in this way.

Video Streaming Services Take Steps to End Password Sharing

Another anticipated shift in the industry is the solution to the practice of password sharing. Password sharing costs streaming services billions of dollars every year. Some companies have already started cracking down, though. For example, Spotify has begun checking their family plan by tracking GPS in efforts to get rid of the problem.

Other solutions, such as fingerprint access or iris recognition, are also under consideration by some video streaming services. Therefore, in the near future, it will no longer be so easy to use a friend’s credentials to get into, say, Netflix for free.

What Lies Ahead for the Video Streaming Industry?

Plenty of video streaming services are either launching or are poised to launch in the near future. This scenario will probably continue to evolve over the coming months. In fact, numerous streaming services will likely continue to show up on the scene for the foreseeable future.

Initially, this could create a problem for some people of having to subscribe to several services in order to get the shows and movies they prefer. However, this could eventually lead to the convergence of multiple streaming services or to the development of special platforms where users can access many services by subscribing to a single source.

The world of video streaming continues to grow and evolve, as evidenced by new alternatives such as Disney+ and Apple TV+. More services are expected to launch in the coming months. However, we can eventually expect some sort of unification in the industry, leading us into the second phase over the next decade or so, as video streaming services continue to mature. In fact, in 2021 and beyond, we can expect a totally transformed video streaming industry.

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What is a CRM? Definition, tools, types and examples

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What is a CRM?

CRM, in English Custormer relationship management, is a term that refers to the practices, strategies and systems that companies use to manage and analyze interactions with customers and the data that is generated. The goal is to improve service relationships, build loyalty and boost sales.

The  CRM systems collect data from customers through different channels such as the website of the company, phone, chat, email and social networks. They can also provide the customer service department with detailed information about users: their purchase history, their preferences and their concerns.

What is a CRM for (Infographic)

At the most basic level, CRM software consolidates customer information and documents into a single database. So users can access and manage it more easily.

Over time, many additional functions have been added to make them more useful. Some of these functions include the recording of customer interactions through email, telephone, social networks or other channels; automation of workflows, such as tasks, calendars and alerts; and give administrators the ability to track performance and productivity based on information recorded in the system.

In the following Infographic, we tell you in a simple way our definition of CRM and what it is for

What is a CRM for (Infographic)

CRM tools

Once we are clear about what a CRM is, we will see the tools.

Marketing automation

CRM tools can perform repetitive tasks to improve the work of the marketing department. For example, as registrations occur in the system, promotional material about the company can be sent, usually via email or social media. The goal should always be to turn a potential customer into a portfolio customer.

Automation of the sales force

The tools keep track of customer interactions. They also automate certain business functions of the sales cycle that are necessary to track leads.

Contact Center Automation

Designed to reduce the tedious aspects of a telemarketing agent’s job. Includes prerecorded audio to help solve customer problems and provide information. Various enterprise software tools that integrate with the programs installed on the agent’s desktop can handle customer requests to reduce call time and simplify customer service processes.

Geolocation technology or location-based services

Some CRM systems include technology that can create geolocated marketing campaigns. They are sometimes integrated with popular location-based GPS applications. Geolocation technology can also be used as a contact management tool to track sales at a certain location.

Workflow automation

CRM systems help companies optimize processes by taking care of the simplest functions. This allows employees to focus on higher-level and creative tasks.

Lead management

Potential customers can be tracked through a CRM. Salespeople can track and analyze lead data on one screen.

Human resource management in a CRM

CRM systems help keep track of employee information. Examples: contact information, performance reviews, and the benefits you bring to the company. All this allows the human resources department to manage the company’s staff more effectively.

Analysis

Analyzing the data and creating effective marketing campaigns increases customer satisfaction rates.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence technologies have been incorporated into CRM platforms. They automate repetitive tasks, identify customer buying patterns to predict future behaviour, and much more.

Types of CRM

If we look at its functionalities and objectives, we can say that there are three types of CRM on the market. Before implementing one in your company, it is worth knowing what they offer and how they differ.

What are the three types of CRM? Operational, Analytical and Collaborative.

Operative

Streamlines business procedures through automation of sales, marketing and services. The main objective is to generate leads, convert them into contacts, record all the necessary details and provide service throughout the customer life cycle.

Analytical

Collaborate with managers, marketing, sales and support establishing the best way to serve clients. The main function of this type of CRM is data analysis. Analyze customer data from different sources to get a reliable picture of business health. It allows management to make better decisions, marketing to understand the effectiveness of campaigns, sales to increase profits, and support staff to improve service and build a solid relationship with the customer.

Collaborative

Share customer information with various areas of the company such as the sales, marketing, technical team and support. The CRM collects the work of the different business units to achieve one goal: use all the information to improve the quality of customer service, build customer loyalty, and attract new customers to increase sales.

CRM on-premises and in the Cloud

CRM on premises and in the Cloud

If we look at the installation method, we find that CRM systems are installed locally or in the cloud. Although until recently the installations were carried out mainly on company servers, in recent years the almost unanimous trend is to hire cloud services.

What is a local CRM?

This system leaves the control of the administration, security, maintenance of the database and information, in the hands of the company that uses the software. The company buys licenses for life instead of buying annual or monthly subscriptions from a cloud CRM provider. The business software resides on the company’s own servers and the user bears the cost of any updates. It also often requires a complex installation process to integrate with company data. Companies with very specific needs could benefit from local implementation.

What is a cloud-based CRM?

In a cloud-based CRM, also known as SaaS (software as a service), data is stored on an external and remote network that employees can access anytime, anywhere with an internet connection, sometimes with a third-party service provider who oversees installation and maintenance. The deployment capabilities of a cloud solution appeal to companies with limited technical knowledge or resources.

Businesses could consider a cloud solution as a more cost-effective option as there is no high upfront fee as is the case for local installation.

Data security is a critical concern for companies using cloud-based systems, as the company does not physically control the storage and maintenance of its data. If the supplier goes out of business or is acquired by another company, the data may be compromised or lost. Compatibility issues can also arise when data is initially migrated from a company’s internal system to the cloud.

Open Source and Private CRM

A proprietary CRM is one that presents any type of technological or legal restriction that prevents its modification or distribution without the prior authorization of its owner. The source code is owned by a company responsible for its exploitation for commercial purposes.

An Open Source CRM system makes the source code available to users, allowing them to make modifications at no cost to the company that uses the system. Open-source systems also allow adding and customizing data logging on social media channels.

Open source platforms such as OroCRM, SuiteCRM, and SugarCRM offer alternatives to payment platforms.

The adoption of any of these implementation methods depends on the needs, resources and business objectives of the company since each has different associated costs.

CRM examples

We tell you some examples of CRM in practice so that you better understand what a CRM is.

Contact Center

Traditionally, data entry into a CRM system has been the responsibility of the sales and marketing departments, as well as call centre agents. Sales and marketing teams find leads and update the system with customer information. For their part, customer service centres collect data and review customer history records through calls received by service and technical support interactions.

Social CRM

Another example is found in social networks. They create business opportunities through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Social networks represent an open forum for customers to share experiences with a brand, whether by issuing complaints or promoting products.

To add value to customer interactions, companies use various Social CRM tools. They monitor conversations on social media, from brand-specific mentions to the keywords used. This is how they determine their target audience and the social platforms they use. Other business software tools are designed to analyze feedback in networks and address customer inquiries and issues.

Companies are interested in capturing customer sentiments, such as how likely they are to recommend products and the overall satisfaction they show, to develop marketing and service strategies. Companies try to cross the data obtained through Social CRM with others collected by the sales or marketing departments to obtain a single view of the customer.

Mobile CRM Systems

Applications created for smartphones and tablets have become a necessity for salespeople and marketing professionals. They allow them to access customer information and perform tasks when they are not physically in their offices. Mobile CRM applications take advantage of unique mobile device features, such as GPS and voice recognition capabilities, to give sales and marketing employees access to customer information from anywhere.

Business-to-business (B2B) practices

CRM systems in the B2B market help to generate greater visibility of potential customers and thus increase efficiency throughout the sales process.

CRM challenges

CRM challenges

Any advance in CRM technology is not useful if it is only used as a database. The data obtained must be connected, distributed and organized so that users can easily access the information they need.

Companies will not have a complete picture of the customer if the data is not organized in a single interface. Challenges also arise when systems contain duplicate customer data or outdated information. These issues can lead to a reduction in the quality of the customer experience due to long wait times during phone calls, inadequate case management through technical support, and other issues.

The  CRM systems work best when companies take time to “clean up ” customer data. This eliminates duplicate and incomplete records before integrating it with other types of software.

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Event post – December 18, 2020

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women in cloud

The Women in Cloud Summit 2021 is going to bring together 150+ speakers, 12 categories, and 8 special events in 3 days. This virtual summit will offer timely insights about the invaluable need for technology at a time of economic uncertainty and operational norms.

From mentorship to executive roundtables, connecting with leading technology experts, technical support, business skills, youth entrepreneurship, and much more you will have access to actionable resources you can use now.

Founded on the idea to help small business entrepreneurs develop and grow with technological transformation in the state of Washington, Women In Cloud celebrates women in the tech world. The summit will bring individuals and organizations in partnership with policymakers from around the world to create economic access for women in the cloud economy.

Click the red button and register to attend the summit virtually from January 28-30, 2021.

 

Register Now

Featured Events, Contests and Awards

WEBINAR: The Sh*t’s Hit the Fan - NOW WHAT? 99 Recession Proof Tips for Small BusinessWEBINAR: The Sh*t’s Hit the Fan – NOW WHAT? 99 Recession Proof Tips for Small Business
January 14, 2021, Online

The business world as we know it appears to have been turned upside down overnight by Covid-19. Perhaps there has never been another time when the economy has changed so radically so fast. How do you – as a small business owner – navigate this new world? In her new book, Rhonda Abrams, a recognized small business expert, shares specific do-it-now strategies for how your small business can survive – even thrive – in this Covid-19 world.

Women in Cloud Summit 2021Women in Cloud Summit 2021
January 28, 2021, Online

The Women in Cloud Summit is a three-day, life-changing event for women tech entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders, policymakers, and allies from around the globe. Women are key drivers of economic growth, and the Summit strives to change the industry narrative by creating economic access for women in the cloud economy. Summit attendees will hear from inspirational speakers, connect and communicate with industry leaders and experts, and network with other community members and entrepreneurs. Join us virtually from January 28-30, 2021.

WEBINAR: What Business Structure is Right for You?WEBINAR: What Business Structure is Right for You?
April 28, 2021, Online

Picking a business structure is usually the first big legal decision for a new business owner and one of the most confusing. However confusing, it is an essential step to protecting your personal assets from any liabilities of the company. In this webinar, Nellie Akalp CEO of CorpNet.com, will share insight on business entities to help guide you to the best decision for your new venture.

WEBINAR: Best State to IncorporateWEBINAR: Best State to Incorporate
July 28, 2021, Online

Some say Delaware, others say Nevada while someone else may say your home state. What is the best state to register a business in? What if your business is expanding into new territory? At what point should you Foreign Qualify? Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet.com, will go in-depth to answer these questions and more in this webinar.

WEBINAR: Steps to Start Your BusinessWEBINAR: Steps to Start Your Business
October 20, 2021, Online

Starting a business can be an exhilarating time, where everything seems full of potential and purpose. But navigating the logistics of launching a business can be daunting. In this webinar Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet.com, will outline the steps necessary to legally start a business and get up and running on the right foot.

More Events

  • neXco National Lunch and Learn Goal Setting Workshop
    December 29, 2020, Online
  • DataScience Contest
    January 1, 2021, Online
  • Decoding Future HR 2021
    January 19, 2021, Online
  • Talent Acquisition Week | VIRTUAL
    January 25, 2021, Online
  • Rail Cybersecurity Summit USA
    February 9, 2021, Online
  • 5th Advancing Project Controls Summit 2021
    February 22, 2021, Online
  • Employee Wellness Summit
    February 24, 2021, Online
  • Digital Marketing World Forum – North America Online 2021
    March 24, 2021, Online
  • Power BI in 2021
    April 1, 2021, Online
  • HR Benefits Conference, April 2021
    April 7, 2021, Las Vegas, NV
  • TECHSPO New York 2021 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS)
    April 15, 2021, Online
  • DigiMarCon Mid-Atlantic 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    April 26, 2021, Philadelphia, PA
  • Sitecore CMS in 2021
    May 1, 2021, Online
  • DevOps Engineer in 2021
    May 1, 2021, Online
  • DigiMarCon New England 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 6, 2021, Boston, MA
  • Marketing Analytics Summit North America – Virtual Edition 2021
    May 10, 2021, Online
  • DigiMarCon Canada West 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 13, 2021, Vancouver, BC
  • DigiMarCon Canada East 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 17, 2021, Montreal, QC
  • DigiMarCon Canada 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 20, 2021, Toronto, ON
  • DigiMarCon Canada 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 20, 2021, Toronto, ON

More Contests

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends.

You can see a full list of events, contest and award listings or post your own events by visiting the Small Business Events Calendar.

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SpaceX makes its last launch of the year successfully

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Elon Musk’s American aerospace company sends a spy satellite on its last mission in 2020.


2 min read

This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.


This Saturday, SpaceX launched a Falcon rocket into space with a spy satellite classified by the National Reconnaissance Office, departing from Cape Canaveral, in central Florida in the United States, this being its last launch of the year.

The mission known as NROL-108 had been canceled last Thursday due to technical problems, however, on December 19 it was successfully carried out at 9:00 local time (14:00 GMT) from platform 39A of the Space Center of Kennedy of NASA. The release was streamed through his YouTube channel.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk’s company indicated that this time “all the systems and the climate were fine.”

Both the mission and the capabilities of this class of satellites are strictly classified. The target, orbit, size and other characteristics of the device have not been publicly reported.

Image: @SpaceX

On Thursday, the launch had been delayed momentarily due to weather problems and once the above was overcome, the countdown was stopped, less than two minutes before taking place. The company commented that it was necessary to observe the data “in more detail” and indicated that the Falcon 9 rocket and the NROL-108 mission were still “healthy”, as observed this Saturday.

The first phase of the Falcon 9 had flown before, including two previous SpaceX commercial refueling missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

Image: @SpaceX

To know more: VIDEO: This is how the prototype of the SpaceX spacecraft exploded on a landing



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The Mandalorian characters come to life in your home with augmented reality

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Yes, you can already have your own Baby Yoda in the room.


3 min read

This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.


This story originally appeared on Cine Premiere

“In a galaxy far, far away, The Mandalorian and The Child (aka Baby Yoda) continue their journey, facing enemies and gathering allies in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.” But not only do they do it through the screens of Disney Plus, but now their great intergalactic adventures take them to a new level of augmented reality thanks to Google and that you can experience from the comfort of your home.

Google and Disney are introducing The Mandalorian AR Experience, a new Google mobile application available for Google Pixel 4a 5G and 5 devices, among others, within the Play Store. Yes, unfortunately this augmented reality experience has been enabled for very few mobile devices; However, Google has explained that very soon the experience will expand to more users from different countries.

Image: Google

“The Mandalorian AR Experience” puts you in the shoes of a bounty hunter on the trail of Mando himself, Din Djarin and The Child. Explore the world of The Mandalorian and interact with characters in augmented reality and capture your own scenes to share with your friends.

Google, Disney, and Lucasfilm have worked together to build an augmented reality world accompanied by hyper-detailed models and extremely realistic animations. All this, using Google’s ARCore platform to create scenes that interact and respond to our environment. Also, thanks to API ARCore Depth technology, 3D scenes can blend more naturally with our world.

In other words, through the camera of our smartphone we can see the lonely gunman inside our house, walking through the streets of our neighborhood / city or anywhere we imagine. And yes, we can also see The Child. It should be added that this augmented reality experience is based solely on the scenarios of the first season of The Mandalorian. However, perhaps with the next updates we can also dive into the second season.

Image: Google

Here is the list of mobile devices where The Mandalorian AR Experience is available so far:

  • Google – Pixel 4th 5G
  • Google – Pixel 5
  • LG – G9 / Velvet
  • LG – K92
  • LG – LGV60 ThinQ 5G
  • LG – LG Wing
  • Motorola / Lenovo – Motorola Ege +
  • Motorola / Lenovo – One5G
  • Motorola / Lenovo – Razr 5G
  • OnePlus – OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
  • OnePlus – OnePlus 7T Pro 5G
  • OnePlus – OnePlus 8
  • OnePlus – OnePlus 8 Pro
  • OnePlus – 8T
  • Oppo – Find X2
  • Oppo – Reno 3
  • Samsung – Galaxy A51 5G
  • Samsung – Galaxy Note10 5G
  • Samsung – Galaxy Note 20+
  • Samsung – Galaxy S10 5G
  • Samsung – Galaxy S20 Ultra
  • Samsung – Galaxy S20 / S20 +
  • Samsung – Galaxy Z Flip 5G
  • Sharp – AQUOS zero 5g
  • Sony – Xperia 1 II
  • Xiaomi – Mi 10 Lite 5G
  • Xiaomi – Mi 10 / Pro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5iEyZEj3Ko

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Current Trends of Crypto Trading Apps – Around the Web

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Featured image by Tumisu from Pixabay

What’s currently going on in the crypto trading realm? One thing you can know for sure is that it’s growing. It always stays on an exponential curve, and it can change drastically in the course of weeks, even days. It is an exciting part of the world to have knowledge in, and even better to know how to invest in. 

RELATED ARTICLE: CRYPTOCURRENCY: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS

Crypto’s Growing Market

When Bitcoin was launched more than a decade ago, people were not as thrilled as they currently stand. The course of time ignited the power of crypto trade, and now individuals are more interested than ever to own digital assets of all kinds. Many crypto coins have gained fame and support from the international audience, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum, and Ripple. 

The consistent investment rate from crypto trading users worldwide has made this blooming market possible. Individuals are looking at various ways to channel their crypto investments, and the variability is never-ending. Each crypto value holds a certain price that differs accordingly. This can happen due to market inflation, world pandemics like COVID-19, and so on. 

RELATED ARTICLE: DIGITAL CURRENCY: TRADING RIPPLE IN AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN

Who Is Interested in Crypto Trading?

The investment in digital assets has gained interest from all age groups in all parts of the world. Preceding the launch of Bitcoin in 2009, the age groups most interested in this reign were the youth. After the launch, and Bitcoin’s breakthrough in 2017, people of all ages have chosen to avert their gaze on crypto investments.

You do not necessarily have to be extremely tech savvy in order to know how to maneuver in the crypto market. There are many ways through which you can assert profit from, and it has never been more transparent and easy than now. 

For instance, mining has gained incredible spotlight in recent years. The machines are growing in number both east and west. Additionally, auto trading robots such as the Bitcoin Profit App have gained incredible fame due to their high rates of profit with modest investments. Most applications have security so that cyber-attacks cannot penetrate through, leaving your digital assets complete safe. Moreover, it is possible to earn as much as $1,500 on a daily basis through the help of these auto trading robots which engage online in crypto trade.

Crypto Trading

Crypto Trends in 2021

With the rise of the current world pandemic, people have chosen to investment their money in digital assets. Hence, it’s predictable that the value of crypto values will continue to increase in 2021 as well. As to how, it changes between crypto coins. From what we have deduced so far, Bitcoin stays a hegemon regarding crypto coin power. It has not left the throne for almost a decade now. So, it may be a rather good place to start your crypto trading adventure.

RELATED ARTICLE: WHATS THE FUTURE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY

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Meet the antennas of Project Kuiper, the Amazon project that will compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink

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Jeff Bezos’ company presented the advanced devices that will communicate with the satellites that it will put into orbit to offer Internet connectivity.


2 min read

This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.


Elon Musk’s Starlink company is not alone in placing satellites in Earth orbit to provide the Internet. Amazon presented the antennas that will communicate with the more than 3,000 satellites that Jeff Bezos intends to launch into space to provide web connectivity.

The antennas are part of Project Kuiper , Amazon’s alternative to Musk’s project. With a diameter of only 30 centimeters, they are smaller than those of Starlink. The reduction in size allows saving on the cost of hardware, as well as lowering the price that will be offered to users for the service, a crucial point for the company, as explained on its official website .

Image: Amazon

That Amazon’s antennas are smaller does not imply a lower speed of Connection. Bezos’s company claims that with this antenna they have achieved “a maximum throughput of up to 400 Mbps .” For its part, Starlink offers 175 Mbps.

What is Amazon’s Project Kupier?

Jeff Bezos plans to place 3,236 satellites around Earth’s orbit at an altitude between 590 and 630 kilometers. Although they seem like a lot, they don’t compare to the 42,000 Elon Musk plans to release in the next few years. Currently, the CEO of SpaceX has about a thousand in space and estimates to install 12 thousand to fully operate.

Image: Amazon

Project Kupier has the same objective as Starlink : to provide internet in remote or rural areas where it is not possible to get high speed internet via cable. The project was approved by the Federal Communications Commission of the United States in July 2020.

The final price of the service has not been disclosed by any of the companies. At the moment, Starlink’s beta tests show a cost of $ 500 per piece of equipment, which includes antenna, router and other components. Musk’s company estimates that users would pay about $ 100 a month for internet service.

Image: Amazon

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10 Holiday Sales & Marketing Tips for Small Businesses to Finish 2020 Strong

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If you’re a small business owner or marketing team of one, you may be worried about the COVID-19 pandemic dooming your holiday season sales.

After all, how are you supposed to finish the year strong when many people are still unsure about leaving their homes and shopping in crowds?

The answer: You learn how to evolve your holiday sales and marketing strategies.

Despite another wave of surging cases, consumers are approaching the holidays business as usual. A staggering 82% of consumers say they’d pay more to safely shop local, and that’s just the beginning, so there are still plenty of ways to rack up online sales and in-store pickups.

Read this guide to find more 2020 shopping statistics, plus the 10 best strategies for boosting sales in this unprecedented holiday season.

10 Holiday Sales & Marketing Tips for Small Businesses to Implement Today

These 10 tips will help you boost sales so you can finish the year strong. They may even help you make up for sluggish quarters earlier in the year. 

All you have to do is follow this gameplan:

1. Don’t Rule Out In-Store Purchases If You Have a Brick-and-Mortar

In-store purchases won’t entirely disappear this year, though they may look a little different. According to recent data:

  1. 85% of people still want to shop in-store [*]
  2. 86% of people desire COVID-safe pickup options [*]
  3. 59% will support stores that take COVID-safe precautions [*]

So if your small business operates a local store, these statistics offer some hope. You can still capture in-person sales as long as you update customers on your shopping experience to keep everyone safe.

There are a couple quick ways to do this:

  • Send out an email blast to your customers letting them know you’re open at a limited capacity. In the email, add a few ways for customers to contact your business. For example, you may not want customers replying via email, so have a toll-free number that reaches your virtual phone system. Customers can call that dedicated number with any questions about shopping safety, in-store capacity, product availability, and more.
  • Post social media updates that highlight your extra cleaning efforts and make it well-known that curbside pickup is available, and even encouraged.

2. Reward Customer Loyalty

With so many brands to choose from, it’s crucial that you go the extra mile to take care of your customers. That’s why many brands create customer loyalty programs.

Offering shoppers special promotion/discount codes, coupons, and free products with each purchase incentivizes them to choose your company over your competitors.

But you can’t just send out a holiday-themed promo code to your email list and call it a day. Your loyalty program must be easy for customers to rack up points, relevant to what they’re already purchasing, and rewarding [*].

One company that checks those boxes for customers (and more!) is toxic-free makeup brand Thrive Causemetics. Besides giving customers a free makeup bag with every purchase and points for every dollar spent, they’re also hosting a special promo event called the “12 Days of Gifting.” 

With this, the company gives customers a new free product (or two) each day, similar to an advent calendar or multiple days of Hanukkah presents:

Customers can check in each day to see which new products are up for grabs. They feel appreciated and score a chance to try new products they may not have purchased otherwise.

So consider creating a customer loyalty program this season or expanding the benefits of your existing one. You’ll help increase sales, customer satisfaction, and retention simultaneously.

3. Weave User-Generated Content Throughout Your Shopping Experience

Adding reviews, customer testimonials, and other user-generated content (UGC) throughout your site and product pages will decrease the risk of making a purchase for online shoppers and those who can’t shop in-person. In fact, customers are 71% more comfortable to make an online purchase after reading some reviews.

This type of social proof will show that your company sells high-quality products people already love, which will make new customers more eager and comfortable to follow suit.

Here’s how popular women’s clothing brand LuLu’s does this well:

lulus-user-generated-content (1)

On their product pages (pictured above), LuLu’s prominently displays a five-star rating system underneath each item. 

The company then takes the customer review process a step further by adding user-submitted photos. Shoppers can see what real customers look like wearing the product before they decide to purchase it:

lulus-user-generated-content-2 (1)

As shoppers scroll down, they can read the reviews in greater detail, including helpful intel about how products fit based on each customer’s measurements and height. 

Buyers don’t have to imagine how an item will fit their bodies when they can see photos of the products on real customers with similar measurements. This lessens their risk and gives them more confidence to add the item to their cart.

So consider weaving in user-generated content like this throughout your homepage, product pages, and anywhere else that may be relevant. Start with simple ratings and testimonials, then gradually work your way up to everything Lulu’s does here.

4. Host a Few Social Media Giveaways

Savvy marketers know that giveaways are a great way to drive impressions to your website and increase your potential customer base. So why not host one or two this holiday season?

You can give away your products on sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, depending on where your customers hang out. Or you can host more than one giveaway to really drive brand awareness and engagement.

That’s exactly what baby bottle brand Nanobebe did.

The company partnered with other brands in two separate holiday giveaways to increase their exposure and customer base by tapping into different established audiences:

instagram-giveaway-1

Though you don’t have to partner with other brands to reap these benefits, you do earn the added perk of casting a wider net. 

However, hosting a giveaway on your own social pages can still help drive new customers to your website. It may also reward existing ones, depending on who wins.

No matter which giveaway route you take, be sure to include relevant hashtags so people can find your brand during their searching.

5. Add a Holiday Theme to Your Website

Since online shopping will be on the rise this year (thanks again, Covid!), it doesn’t hurt to spruce up your website with some festive holiday cheer.

A total revamp of your homepage can help people feel as if they’re shopping in a winter wonderland. It may also evoke the same warm-and-fuzzy vibes of shopping in-person, which may boost last-minute sales.

NY-based streaming workout brand P.volve went all out with its homepage and on-point holiday theme:

pvolve-holiday-homepage-theme (1)

While P.volve wows online, you don’t have to get extravagant here if you lack the time, resources, or budget to do so. Adding some fun holiday-themed pops of color and simple, seasonal messaging is enough to evoke that merry spirit.

Affordable jewelry brand Blush & Bar knows this all too well. The company added a cute present next to their logo and a holiday banner to their homepage:

blush-and-bar

The brand even introduced some light-hearted features, such as a fun quiz to help customers find their perfect jewelry and a Holiday Bonus Game, to relax hectic shoppers into a buying mood.

Taking cues from both these brands will help you capture that holiday cheer and increase sales. Bonus: You can accomplish this task in one productive afternoon.

6. Create Holiday Bundles of Your Best Products

Packaging holiday bundles of your best-selling products is one of the best creative ideas brands can implement this season. And it works well for a few reasons:

First, these bundles help your business show off its best-selling items, which is especially useful for shoppers unfamiliar with your range of products.

Second, these premade bundles remove the guesswork for consumers shopping for hard-to-buy recipients. They make an attractive gift full of well-reviewed products that are sure to please.

You can also offer shoppers the chance to capture a stellar deal by buying a discounted bundle rather than each item individually. Then you can advertise the savings shoppers score with this deal, which may push them to snatch up the bundles before they’re gone.

Tea brand Pique created an Ode to Tea holiday bundle featuring eight types of tea crystals in a holiday-themed box. This bundle also pulls double-duty because the box converts into a tea chest giftees can use all year round:

ode-to-tea-1

ode-to-tea-2

Upscale Australian accessory brand Bellroy also offers holiday gift sets that save money and deliver their best-selling products all in one:

bellroy-bundles

So consider packaging holiday bundles like these for your customers. You may even want to offer one or two for your social media giveaways (tip #4) to drum up excitement about them.

7. Stand for a Cause and Show This Proudly

Another smart tip, especially around the holidays, is to show that your brand cares about giving back to relevant causes and people in need.

According to recent research, 58% of young consumers are more likely to buy from brands that back a good cause — but only if they know about it!

So if your small business is charitable — and you should be — let your customers know on your website and social media channels. You can subtly prove your brand cares about others, not just profit.

Affordable direct-to-consumer stroller company Mockingbird made this clear on their #GivingTuesday post. They shared how they delivered over 100 strollers to families in need by partnering with Baby2Baby:

So think about how your small business can give back this season. Then don’t be shy about sharing your efforts. Make it clear to customers why you chose to help and how, and they’ll be more likely to support your company.

8. Reinforce Your E-Commerce Store

This year marked a seismic shift toward e-commerce due to limited in-store options. In fact, 58% of consumers expect to make most of their holiday purchases via e-commerce sites.

So is your digital storefront up for the challenge? Can it handle an influx of online payments and customer support requests? Does it give shoppers an easy, enjoyable, and hassle-free experience?

If you can’t objectively assess your e-commerce store, recruit your friends, family, and colleagues for honest feedback. Ask them how your current online experience could be improved and reward them for their time with a discount code.

Upgrading your digital storefront gives your brand a better chance at sales and creating happy customers for life. And if you follow all the tips in this guide, you’ll definitely need to prepare for higher website traffic and sales. So make this tip a priority along with the next one. 

9. Boost Your Customer Service Systems

If you can, it’s wise to invest in your customer service experience so you can ensure that any hiccups are resolved promptly instead of snowballing and ruining the experience for shoppers.

This can include adding or updating your live chat features, chatbots on your website, email replies, and response times. You may also want to strongly consider a commercial phone system capable of handling the increased workload.

While it may seem like an added cost, this brief holiday season can mean the difference between hitting your annual revenue goals or falling short. You don’t want a simple customer service issue chasing away customers unknowingly.

Plus, customers may be extra stressed during this time, so providing additional support for them will only help your brand. Remember, a poor customer experience can be almost impossible to recover from, but perfect experiences breed lifelong buyers.

10. Send Personalized Cards to Customers

Most brands will not take the time to send customers thank-you notes, especially during the busy holiday season. That’s why it’s one of the most effective strategies for helping your business stand out.

Consider sending out personalized thank-you notes to your most loyal customers or your newest customers. Add a handwritten note on one side to show how much you appreciate them. Use the reverse side for an attractive image or artwork that they can later hang up.

This card creates a lasting memory and will remind customers why they chose your brand in the first place. If they display your card, you’ll keep your brand top of mind all year round. When it comes time for them to make another purchase, your small business will be first on their list.

Final Thoughts

This year has been hard on everyone, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible for your business to finish on a high note. 

Now, more than ever, consumers want to support small businesses by shopping online and in-store, when possible. But it’s up to you to make that experience worthwhile for them.

Fortunately, the 10 tips in this guide will help you do that and more.

Even if you’re only able to implement a handful of the strategies discussed today, your small business will be in a much better position to capture holiday sales. And you may be able to earn loyal customers for life simply by taking care of them during this difficult time.

Follow these strategies, and you’ll find that your hard work pays off in dividends.

Know another small business that may benefit from these tips? Give the gift of higher year-end sales by sharing this guide with them!

Image: Depositphotos



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