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For many years the IT guy — or gal — was a nerd who sat on the periphery of most businesses, if they even had someone like this at all.

This person was an after-thought in a role that was frequently filled by outsiders or outsourced to other companies. Usually, they were kept at arm’s length.

An outsourced company might still fill the role of IT guy. However, it is a relationship that in the last five years has becoming increasingly important. The truth is that now the role of information technology experts is central to most businesses.

And if it is not central to your business then you are probably asking yourself the question, “What am I doing wrong?” Here are a few reasons why the role of IT expert is not just nice to have, but a critical function in modern business.

No More Mailroom

In days gone by people loved to tell the story of the CEO who began in the mailroom and worked his way up to the boardroom. There probably aren’t too many stories like this that actually happened. However, the point is, back in the day, mail was important.

And it still is.

However, it’s not letters and registered posts that are delivered daily. These days, people send and receive most messages and documents electronically. What’s more, you need to have an IT guy around to ensure that things like your Office 365 email or Outlook are operating and functioning correctly.

For example, if your mail server is down, you won’t be able to communicate with clients and suppliers. Not only does it make your business look bad, but it can also have crippling effects in terms of lost business.

Managing Your Digital Addresses

Once you are ready to go as a business you need to register a domain name. You might even want to register multiple addresses.

Moreover, the registration of these addresses is something that needs to be maintained on a regular basis. You can’t just purchase a digital presence and then expect that it will be fine forever. There are annual payments that need to be made.

What’s more, you need to ensure that hosting and the technical requirements that go along with your addresses are taken care of. It is fiddly at best. Therefore, it is better left to an IT guy to ensure that it happens.

Security

Digital security is a huge thing. It is vital that you do what is necessary to protect your company and your computers from potential hackers.

There are plenty of shady characters out there who are always looking for security weak points. Once they find a way into your network the possibilities of what can happen are almost endless.

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW MUCH DO YOUR EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT CYBERSECURITY?

Data theft is one such option, of course, but it could be terminal hijacks or simply the installation of malware onto your machines. These programs could then use your network to try and infiltrate others.

The list of sinister digital activities is endless. However, a good IT guy or gal will ensure that firewalls and anti-virus software are up-to-date and that your network is always secure.

Asset Registers

The things that go missing most regularly from businesses are small electronic devices. Things like laptops and chargers and external hard drives and flash drives can all disappear quickly if not looked after. It is the role of the IT guy to keep a registry. They can ensure that equipment lasts—and sticks around—for as long as possible.

Conclusion

Keep your business running smoothly by either hiring or contracting with an IT guy or gal.

To read more about business essentials, please be sure to visit our blog.

The post Why an IT Guy Is Essential in 2019 appeared first on Business Opportunities.

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Image by Florian Pircher from Pixabay 

Whether you’re planning a trade show or team dinner, when you’re planning an event, it’s all about the details.

Planning an event in New Zealand? Leave nothing to chance. Event planning works best when you use your common sense. Think hard about every potential outcome and plan for it.

Don’t work yourself up over these things, though. Just have something in place to prevent them. Also, make lists! Lists are your new best friend. They will help you keep track of everything. In fact, below we have created a checklist just for you. Keep reading to learn how to plan a successful event.

Decide the Event’s Purpose

Maybe the CEO has asked you to organize a team-building event, or you’re exhibiting a new product at a trade show. The event’s purpose will define the format.

Consider the event’s theme,
how long it will last, and plan the timing. Additionally, consider possible
layouts of the venue, and arrange for any catering as well as the sound.

If the details seem overwhelming, take a look at Event Planner and companies like them. These sites are comprehensive portals for anyone planning an event in New Zealand.

For example, if you need a fire eater for your company’s Christmas party or a suitable venue for an important conference, it’s all available. You just need to do your research for your event and know your specifications in advance.

Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More

List all of the main tasks and add details for specific steps that need them. For example, look at logistics, event content, and promotion.

If you plan to have entertainment before the holiday disco starts, check the length of their act. Also, find out whether the performer or the venue have the right insurance handy in case the act is dangerous.

Additionally, create a master document for sharing with your team. The plan must include a timeline and deadlines for each task. Remember that some tasks will take longer than anticipated so you might need to give longer deadlines to accommodate those possibilities.

Draw Up a Budget for Your Event

Determine the cost for everything on your list of tasks. Remember to include money for when the unthinkable happens. For instance, what if the fire-eater catches a cold and cancels at short notice?

Also, if you’re planning an open air event, remember you can’t control the weather. Have a back-up plan fully worked out and costed in case it rains.

Focus on the Details

Boil your event down to the smallest—probably most important—details. For example, if you’re planning a conference, consider registration, greeting attendees, any background music, team uniform, who will meet and greet, and what happens during intervals. Also, don’t forget that people will thank you for toilet breaks as well as a generous amount of time for lunch.

Check the Location

Visit the location for the event early on in the process, and have a Plan B. What happens if the air conditioning fails? What will you do if there there’s no disabled access or the sight lines aren’t great? Find an alternative if you’re getting a queasy feeling about your original choice.

Delegate Tasks

Don’t be afraid to delegate. Allocate responsibilities among your team for both planning and the day itself. Who will register attendees, be responsible for tech, catering, talking to the press? Keep a master document with team contact details and each member’s assigned areas.

Promote the Event

Create one key message for relevant channels used by your audience. Allow plenty of time to promote your event. Your marketing approach will be affected by how much budget and how many team members are available.

Never Underestimate Service

On the day of the event, ensure your team members are helpful to everyone. Things may not go entirely according to plan, but people remember how they were treated. In fact, they will remember that better than they remember the keynote speech.

Do a Final Check 24 Hours Beforehand

Have you told guests how to reach the location, prepared printed materials, checked the video? Ensure team members understand their tasks. Give each team member a printed copy of the event program with an emergency contact number.

The day before the event check off everything from your list. Then on the day, check that everything is working, in place, and being done on time. And don’t be afraid to double check everything. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

The post How to Organize a Successful Corporate Event appeared first on Business Opportunities.

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The moving average indicator is a widely used technical indicator in Forex trading, as traders can use it in a variety of ways.

The main reason behind the popularity of this MT4 indicator is its simplicity. For one thing, the mathematical calculations behind it are easy to understand. Therefore, traders at all levels find it a comfortable indicator to use in their Forex trading.

Initially, most Forex traders use moving averages in a moving average crossover strategy. However, this versatile indicator can be used in other ways as well. In this article, we outline several ways you can use it.

RELATED ARTICLE: DO YOU NEED THE MACD FOR YOUR FOREX TRADING?

The Moving Average Reflects the Average Price

Simply put, the moving average is a reflection of the average price. As a result, it indicates more about the past than about the future.

In other words, moving averages show the average price of the instrument over a period of time. Therefore, they tend to reflect the trends in the past. However, they’re not great at predicting market trends. This is crucial to understand with this MT4 indicator.

It Identifies Dynamic Support and Resistance Levels

However, the moving average indicator is good at identifying dynamic support and resistance levels. Traders typically use the 200- and 50-day moving averages on the daily chart time frame. And because so many traders use these indicators, they tend to act as dynamic support and resistance levels.

For example, the chart above shows an instrument on the daily time frame. Here you can see how the indicator tends to act as support and resistance for the prices. Of course, you could use a moving average on any period of time that you choose.

The Slope Reflects the Momentum of Price Changes

The slope of the moving average reflects the intensity or the momentum of price changes. For example, when the moving average is sloping steeply, you know that the price is declining or rising quickly.

This can tell you a lot about the momentum of the market. It can even help you to identify the fundamental factors behind such a move.

However, many Forex traders make the mistake of viewing the slope of the moving average as something that is currently happening, instead of something that has already happened. If, on the other hand, a trader uses this indicator correctly, they can gain an edge in the Forex market.

Watching Reversions to the Mean Helps Traders Avoid Extremes

In finance, mean reversion refers to the tendency of an instrument’s value to change over time. Over a long period of time, the price tends to gravitate to its long-term average value.

Just as the moving average tells us more about the past than the future, neither is the concept of mean reversion predictive in nature. Further, mean reversion can behave differently with different asset classes.

All the same, depending on how you look at it, prices do tend to correct to the long-term mean after extreme moves.

A 200-day moving average can show a good example of mean reversion. That is, prices that have moved significantly away from the long-term mean do tend to revert to the mean price over time.

While you really shouldn’t use the mean reversion as the basis for building a Forex trading strategy, you could still apply the concepts in various ways. For example, watching it could help you to avoid buying near extreme highs or lows.

The Moving Average Indicator Is Useful in Several Systems

As you can see, the moving average indicator can be useful in Forex trading strategies. Additionally, traders can use it to help with advanced math-based trading systems as well.

The post The Moving Average Indicator in Forex Trading appeared first on Business Opportunities.

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