How To Choose The Right Fine Art Shipping Company

Fine art is very valuable and expensive and it requires a great deal of professionalism and discretion to work with such expensive artwork. Arrow Express Fine Art Shipping Services have done this for years. They said, “If you deal in fine art you probably spend a lot of resources to secure it and you do everything possible to make sure that it is transported without incident to its final destination. In many cases fine art has to be transported across thousands of miles under less than ideal conditions. We specialize in making this happen.

Given the sensitivity of fine art, it is important to choose the right company to help you transport it. After you have spent thousands of dollars securing your art you should not start cutting costs when it comes to shipping. You should find a fine art shipping company with the equipment required to transport it as well as the human resource and logistics required to ship your art successfully.

Fine art shipping companies are many and making your decision can be challenging. Luckily, you are reading this and will learn how to choose the right company. Here are some important considerations when choosing a fine art shipping company.

1. Transport Fleet

A good fine art shipping service should have a good fleet as well as the right transportation method to meet your needs. A reputable and trustworthy company should have a decent fleet equipped with advanced technology. This can include vehicles with satellite tracking, fire suppression systems, and even alarm systems. The fleet should also have sensors and communication systems linking back to the headquarters.

2. Security

Depending on where you are transporting the artwork and the type of artwork, the shipping company should have sufficient security measures in place to ensure safe transportation. Sensors, alarm systems, and security personnel are some of the security measures that a good shipping company should have. Depending on the company, additional security measures may cost you more. You should always find out the security measures the company has put in place to ensure safe transportation of your art.

3. Workforce

A good company should also have a properly trained workforce besides having good security measures in place and a good fleet. The employees of the shipping company should have proper training in handling sensitive and expensive works of art. Poorly trained and inexperienced employees can easily mishandle the art causing expensive damages. Always find out how much training experienced the company’s workforce has before making your decision.

4. Insurance

When transporting such expensive works or art it is important to get the right insurance. Insurance coverage is important to help you have the peace of mind knowing that you are covered if anything were to happen to the artwork during transportation. While it is typically your responsibility to get independent insurance for the artwork, you should choose a company that provides insurance coverage and a guarantee for the art being transported.

5. Speed

When choosing a fine art shipping service, you should always remember that the longer the art is in transit the higher the probability of damage. You should use a shipping company that offers express shipping to reduce handling and transit times. Typical ground transportation takes an average of 5 business days. It is also advisable to do your fine art shipping early in the week to ensure that your artwork does not sit in the warehouse over the weekend.

Final Thoughts

Fine art is very sensitive and expensive and the utmost discretion should be observed when transporting it. If you deal in or have purchased fine art and would like it transported, you should follow the tips discussed here to ensure that it arrives safely and quickly.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/admin/how-to-choose-the-right-fine-art-shipping-company/

Build a Successful Ecommerce Store in 3 Simple Steps

Do you want to earn some extra income amounting to hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month? While this may sound too good to be true, it’s actually a possibility if you create your own online store. In fact, countless people across the globe already rake in a huge chunk of cash from their ecommerce website. Check out this program teaching people, http://ecomsuccessacademy.net.

Research shows that online retail sales increase year after year. It’s simply too big of an opportunity to pass up. With more people making purchases from their homes using their smartphones, you have a great shot at generating a new stream of income. You may even become so successful in this venture that it’s worth taking on it fulltime.

Starting an ecommerce website sounds daunting, but with the help of simple tools, you can set one up even with little technical knowhow. Keep reading to learn the steps on how to build an ecommerce store.

Find The Right Products

The process should begin with finding the right product to sell. This may prove more difficult than actually creating your website. Your decision about what product to sell can make or break your online business. There are literally millions of products you can sell, so how can you make the right choice?

There are plenty of factors you need to consider. The first is price. You must make sure that you can generate a positive ROI, so products that cost too low may not be the best option. On the other end of the spectrum, it can also prove challenging to sell products worth over $1,000. This is because before making such a huge transaction, customers might have to talk to customer support first, which means you have to hire staff or do it yourself.

You must also ensure that the products you sell have a good profit margin. In general, it’s good to aim for at least 30%. This requires getting in touch with the manufacturer or distributor. You may also want to look in to shipping size. If you don’t have any problems dealing with large items, then by all means go for it if you think you’re going to make bank.

Use The Right Ecommerce Platform

Now, here comes the fun part. Creating an ecommerce website has become much easier compared to previous years, thanks to online platforms that enable you to customize your store with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Of course, you also have to think about all the necessary stuff including your domain name, web hosting, private SSL certificate, and payment gateway. Once all this is set up, you can proceed with installing your shopping cart system. There are free and paid options. If you’re serious about this, then you better go for paid platforms. They are much more robust, with a suite of features that make it extremely simple to get started.

When designing your shop, make sure that it identifies with your brand. You must take your time in enhancing the design elements of your site so it stands out. However, don’t let it impair the functionality of your site. Your visitors must find it easy to sift through your products. You must also create a sales funnel that guides them toward the checkout process.

Optimize And Launch

You can’t simply set up your ecommerce store and forget about it. Instead, take the time to implement some search engine optimization techniques to boost its ranking in the search engines. Setting up a blog and ranking your content helps increase visibility. Make sure you also create unique descriptions for every product. You don’t want duplicate content in your site as this sends a negative ranking signal to Google.

It’s also beneficial to look into other platforms to promote your online store. Social media proves extremely useful in this regard. Take an active role in promoting your site to attract as much traffic as possible.

Email List

The better you are at crafting sales savvy emails. The better your sales will be. The course at: http://ecomsuccessacademy.net really breaks down exactly what is needed in this department. First capturing the email from the customers or shoppers. Then having the right series of friendly emails that nudge them along to consistently buy. It really is an art form.

Good luck in you future sales! Let me know if these tips helped you out. Also make sure and visit Ecom Academy and let them know Will sent you.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/admin/build-a-successful-ecommerce-store-in-3-simple-steps/

Local SEO – Finding Your Perfect Strategy in Chicago

The world is now shaped by sites running SEO-friendly campaigns, and its importance continues to rise as the days go by. A business ignoring SEO is asking for trouble and will lose out to its competition.

This Premier Chicago SEO Company is a well-regarded professional enterprise ready to provide state-of-the-art services to its clients. They also have a few great case studies and information available. If you look at their site you can see that they are definitely an influencer worth following.

When looking for a local SEO company you should look for:

1) On Page SEO
2) Off Page SEO
3) Social Media Integration
4) Backlink Development
5) Conversion Optimization
6) Online Reputation Management
7) Full Marketing Development

Full Strategization

The building of strategy is a big part of being a site owner. SEO campaigns cannot be run in a vacuum and have to coincide with one’s general marketing strategy. It’s the only way to create the perfect campaign and see traffic rush in.

This company and its specialists will build a world-class strategy for short and long-term results. This will connect both the business and marketing together into one robust machine.

The power of an organized marketing strategy cannot be highlighted enough when it pertains to ranking and maintaining this established position on search engines. It can make a significant difference.

Specialized

This team is skilled and has spent years working on its SEO craft. This expertise comes from real-life experiences and modern-day education in SEO. Why not take advantage of highly qualified professionals with expertise? It is the best way to cut through the mess and see your site push forward and upwards.

This Chicago SEO company has set the tone for new businesses wanting to establish themselves. Clients will receive full value, and the specialists are going to ensure every detail is looked into.

If the goal is to rank, this is the ultimate solution.

Committed

Whether it’s a global or local SEO campaign, a site has to be run with passion and commitment. Any slip-ups and the site can flounder, which is unacceptable in this day and age.

This SEO company has a regular team of professionals who monitor all ups and downs for sites. This ensures the commitment doesn’t waver and a site owner can relax knowing their site is being well looked after. This is how the SEO company maintains good results for its clients.

Always trust a team that’s willing to spend 24/7 on the site to help it rank. This passion is unbeatable.

Day-To-Day Communication

How will a site owner know if their site is being managed the right way?

How will the site owner know if an SEO campaign is worth their investment and time?

These are good questions that you should ask as you interview any firms.  this is a team that has set guidelines for its reporting. Day-to-day communications are offered with periodic reports. This enables a client to get tangible readings into their site and how it’s doing.

Why take risks when this reporting can be provided as needed? It removes all questions one can have and builds a great relationship with the company.

To get started with your SEO campaign, please contact this Chicago SEO company and speak with a project managed as soon as possible. The great campaign you’re after to rank on Google or Bing is right around the corner once this company starts helping you.

Ranking is all about a commitment towards modern solutions and getting a feel for the niche. If this is done, any site can rank and stay higher up.

Use the power of this company and take advantage. All it takes is one phone call, and you’ll be well on your way to a prosperous future.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/admin/local-seo-finding-your-perfect-strategy-in-chicago/

How to Choose a Streaming Service for the Ultimate Binge-Watching Experience

TV show buffs sure love their little debates! Though it may be excruciatingly hard to pick your favorite Game of Thrones character, decide between the unadulterated geekiness of classic Doctor Who and the sublimely poetic approach of modern series, and choose whether to spend your election night with House of Cards’ Frank Underwood or Selina Meyer from Veep, there’s still one thing every binge-watcher agrees upon: television is no longer a place for enjoying television shows.

In order to get the ultimate watching experience, we now seek our beloved fantasy worlds on streaming services. And, why wouldn’t we? Instead of staying on top of the program schedule and losing our patience every time the show gets interrupted by commercials, we can now project our computer screens to TV sets and get lost in endless choices. It’s a different, utterly immersive way of watching television, the one that will eventually make addicts of us all.

There’s only one more decision to be made, though. With so many binge-worthy platforms to choose from, how can we tell which is the best one for our specific needs? Here are a couple of suggestions.

The Night Is Dark and Full of Spoilers

 

Nobody likes to feel left out from the latest debate, nor to wait too long to get included, which is why the ability to watch brand new episodes as soon as their air is arguably the first criterion to base your decision upon. Miss the opportunity on Sunday evening, and if you’re lucky, you’ll manage to stay spoiler-free until Monday afternoon.

If eager to consume your fresh TV content in real time, don’t make your choice before you compare online video services, all of them. You’ll find that Hulu Plus seems like the best possible source for this kind of television adventure, since most episodes arrive there in the first 24 hours after being shown on their TV networks.

Some Mysteries Are Exclusive

 

Even though HBO is still considered the biggest workshop in the TV show industry, and BBC has just wrapped up Sherlock’s final problem (not to mention the exquisite Peaky Blinders that won’t be back until later this year), more artists of this craft reach out to entertainment companies behind popular streaming services for help. Fortunately for us, the results of this little industry experiment have been more than thrilling!

Now, original content is not something you can find anywhere except on the mother network, which is why Netflix is the absolute winner in this category. If House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things and BoJack Horseman – just to name a couple of Netflix’s best – are on your must-watch list, simply get a subscription form and sign up.     

No Interruptions, Please!

 

Imagine watching The Godfather on television! Almost three hours long, the movie would probably last about twice as much, if commercials don’t drive you completely insane long, long before the end. In fact, TV ads are one of the main reasons behind our decisions to unplug the cable and start streaming, but marketers won’t be marketers if they don’t hunt us down whenever we go. Hence the difference between ad-free and ad-friendly streaming services.

Though Netflix has a strict no-ad policy, an even more brilliant solution can be found on Amazon Prime. Instead of your regular shampoo and ice-cream commercials, you’ll get to see a short trailer before every episode, thus broadening your TV horizons more. It’s like a thick, sticky catalogue of all the liquorix ever made, only instead of traditional sweets; Amazon Prime offers the juiciest ones from the television show scene.

Going to the Movies

 

Once the season is done and that stinging feeling of emptiness and despair starts to kick in, you’ll be in need of something short and sweet to pick you right back up. All TV show streaming services offer an exciting collection of movies from all genres, so be sure to get to know their offers before you sign the contract.

Once again, Netflix is in the lead. Quite cinematic in its user experience, this network is the VIP ticket for latest blockbusters, timeless classics, mind-bending documentaries and little indie snippets alike. Even if your favourite title is unavailable at the moment, chances are great that it will be soon. Unlike Netflix, Hulu Plus has a great selection of world cinema, in case you’re ever in the mood for stepping out of your comfort zone.  

Every story has to end eventually, just as well as every modern decision has to be made with a price tag in mind. In order to defy such tiring principles of our overly consumeristic world, we won’t be getting into details – the only thing you need to know is the fact that streaming services are still far less expensive than cable. Hoorah for us and one big thank you to them!

Choose wisely, and don’t blink.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/ivandseo/how-to-choose-a-streaming-service-for-the-ultimate-binge-watching-experience/

Hobbies That Can Help You Get Better at Your Job

Hobbies are really awesome. They make our day better, we get to advance in a discipline we like, and it can have mental rejuvenating properties. However, some hobbies are more beneficial than others, since they can help us get better at our own jobs, and maybe discover an additional source of passion for what we do, due to the possible synergy. So, now we are going to explore what kind of hobbies can sharpen your wits and skills, and make you better at your job in the process.  

Yoga

You might think that, unless you are a gymnast or unless you are working in a circus as an extremely flexible man or woman, yoga cannot have a direct impact on what you do. However, yoga can be really beneficial for just about any line of work.

First of all, the majority of jobs include either a lot of sitting or standing. Since this is the case, our muscles do not get enough exercise, and yoga can give them enough stretch to keep the blood flow regular. Moreover, yoga is more than just stretching; it is also a mental exercise, to calm down, to practice focus, and to build up your endurance.

In other words, if you are getting better at yoga, you will become more diligent and disciplined, you won’t perceive everything as bothersome, and you will cope with stress easier. You will be more energized, less lazy, and a more positive person to work with, and that can help regardless of the line of work you have selected.

Gaming

Good games provide you with a good challenge, meaning that they can boost your IQ, your critical thinking, and your problem solving abilities. Chess is a game that has been played for generations, and it is an incredible mental exercise. There are other strategy games that can hone your focus and awareness, like Texas hold’em, plus a variety of different board games (“Letters from the Whitechapel” is a good example)

Again, better focus and critical thinking can be applied to any job, but there are also games that can, in a way, help you become a better manager. People who played or play World of Warcraft seriously, create their own communities within the game called guilds, and every guild has a guild leader. As a guild leader, you get to organize resources, explain the tactics to your team mates, develop strategize, coordinate others, etc. There are those who vouch how this experience really helped them out in real life, because they knew how to organize their co-workers.  

Drawing and painting

Well, this is basically art, and therefore if you are fully devoted to it, you will be able to tap into some deeper feelings that you might not have been aware of, or have simply pushed back. So, in a way, it is a good method of catharsis. However, it can also boost your creativity and out of the box thinking that many creative jobs require you to do.

Now, this is all great, but it does not really make you any better at your job. Well, for some professions, not counting graphic design, drawing can actually help you advance. For example, Dr. Katrin Krüünvald, who is a plastic surgeon from Estonia, claims how drawing helped her grow professionally. And, when you think about it, in addition to creativity and aesthetics, plastic surgery demands precision and hand eye coordination, and a firm hand grip. These are all benefits of drawing as a hobby.

Crafting

Crafting is a great hobby. It also hones your motor skills, it gives you a chance to make your own furniture and decoration, and also to repair a lot of things. In a way, you get to create and innovate your own unique items.

In terms of work, craftsmanship can help you because it improves your improvisation skills, and also motor skills, as mentioned. Also, it can be really frustrating so, over time, you’ll learn how to calm down and focus, much like with yoga.
What do you think? Do you know of any interesting hobbies, or any interesting story when someone got better at their job thanks to their hobby? It really is an interesting topic, and it can inspire you to take up new things.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/vladzivanovic/hobbies-that-can-help-you-get-better-at-your-job/

Why Email Encryption Should Be a Leading Priority for Your Business

Email encryption software is a must-have for every company, but more than that, it should be at the core of every business strategy. This may sound over the top, but it’s true: With cybercrime widespread and steadily evolving, your firm has an obligation to keep its data safe.

It’s basically risk management 101: You should be minimizing the potential for damage to your business. That starts with email encryption.

Keep It Simple

When we say you should make email encryption a top priority, we’re not suggesting you need to do anything radical. At its core, encryption is a fairly simple process. You can apply it to just about any system, including such popular platforms as Gmail.

Even better, Gmail for Work is so encryption-friendly that you can even set it to require transport layer security (TLS) on both outgoing and incoming emails. Enable this system throughout your office and you’ll see overall security levels increase immediately. You can do the same with Outlook and many other email programs.

You should avoid encryption systems that require your employees to go through a series of steps, or even having to push a button, in order to ensure their messages have been encrypted. We all forget sometimes, especially when we’re busy, and you wouldn’t want to leave any room for error when it comes to protecting your data and communications.

Make It Mobile

Another way your company can prioritize email encryption in its business strategy is to make sure that whatever encryption system you choose is mobile. More than ever before, people are working remotely, and that means they may not have access to the in-house servers.

Depending on your current system, this can prevent them from depending on encryption services, as well as other email security filters. So this year, consider converting to a cloud-based encryption service if you aren’t using one already.

Cloud-based encryption is available anywhere, which makes it ideal for the worker on the go. Your encryption system should be as mobile as your employees are.

There are added benefits to cloud-based encryption. You’ll save money with these systems compared to static encryption software, and they’re designed to respond to growth.

As with other cloud-based software programs, your company won’t have to undergo costly migrations and time-consuming upgrades when you hit your user limit. Just increase the size of your subscription or data plan, and keep your business moving.

Keep Track of Threats

No matter how good your encryption practices are, it’s vital for your business to make the tracking of email threats a priority. This may be a job for IT or for security professionals, but no matter who it’s assigned to, someone needs to be alert to potential security incursions because there’s always going to be a new one.

Just this past December, Office 365 was hit by a new cyberattack that specifically targeted business email users. Though Office 365 is of course equipped with multiple security layers, this particular phishing attack exploited internal weaknesses and could embed malware within a company’s emails.

It could also hijack company contacts and send out further phishing attacks, steal internal data, and even interfere with invoicing. According to one cloud-security platform, Gmail shares similar security weaknesses to Office 365, so it’s crucial not to develop a false sense of security.

There isn’t a platform on the market that could be regarded as utterly immune to such threats.

Mind the Law

Finally, as you manage your company’s email encryption practices, keep a close eye on political conversations that address encryption and privacy rights. Even if your firm is operating entirely within legal boundaries, law enforcement policies evolve steadily alongside technology.

We recently saw the FBI try to carve a backdoor into encryption practices in its case against Apple, and this probably won’t be the last time such a thing happens. You may not have thought about email encryption as a strategy decision in the past, but it should play a key role in your corporate practices and philosophy.

This isn’t just about data protection; it’s about your approach to client relations, risk management, and professional operations.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/larryalton/why-email-encryption-should-be-a-leading-priority-for-your-business/

6 Tips That Will Help your Retail Business Reach Success

“Retail is a customer business. You’re trying to take care of the customer—solve something for the customer. And there’s no way to learn that in the classroom or in the corner office…” – Erik Nordstrom, president, Nordstrom direct.

Typical retail stores are not doing their job anymore. The markets are oversaturated and the competition is harder than ever. Even with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, it is hard to make a name for yourself as a retailer. But still, there are successful retailers who run their business smoothly, with no struggles at all.

If you own a retail business or are planning to start one, you’ve come to the right place. Here is the list of tips that I have especially compiled for you in order to help your retail business reach success.

Ideal Customer

Lots of entrepreneurs skip this very important step. Identifying your ideal customer is the key factor that will guide you through the rest of your business decisions. Who is it? What are his/her needs? What you plan to offer to meet those needs? Do they live in the neighborhood where you plan to open your store?

Location, Location, Location

Location is a crucial part of any retail establishment. There are three things you have to take care of when the location is in question. First of all, you want to make sure that there are no competitor’s retail shops in the radius. Second, ideally, you want to open your store near other retail stores that sell different types merchandise but have high traffic. And third, if you are not familiar with the laws and contracts, whether you are renting an object or buying one, make sure to advise a real estate lawyer.

What Are You Selling

When it comes to the merchandise you will be selling, you might consider to adopt a themed approach. For instance, you can narrow down the choices for one gender or age. This will allow you to build an entire store around it. Get custom made shelves, get walls painted in a unique way, windows, etc. Remember your purpose and who your ideal customers are. Let these two be your main anchors when you decide what your merchandise markup is. Make sure that your store goes well with the area.

Consistent Image and Marketing

Once you have made your decisions about store design, the merchandise you will be selling, and who the ideal customer is, you should try to maintain a consistent image across all marketing channels. You have several options ahead you. But, from the experience of many successful retailers, the combination of outdoor marketing, social media marketing, an official website and few TV ads provide the best results.

Don’t forget that you have free marketing tricks that you can use once you open your doors.

Customer Relationship Management

When you run a retail shop, all the efforts should be focused on keeping the customers happy and satisfied. The service has to be immaculate and you and your workers should always be available and at your best for any customer question. Try to establish a real connection with them. Ask them how they like the shop, how is their service, is there something they would change, how would they do it, etc.

Hiring the Staff

“You can’t expect your employees to exceed the expectations of your customers if you don’t exceed the employees’ expectations of management” – Howard Shultz, Starbucks.

Your main goals are to keep customers happy. While you are not present in the store, your employees will be the face of your business, and they will be running it instead of you. This is why you should pay close attention to who you hire. Make sure that they have real interest in what you do. Check what they’re hobbies are and what is it that they could truly offer to you and your business.
I’ve picked out the tips that will help you pick the direction of where your retail business should be going. Following through these tips, you will build strong foundations for your retail store. At the end, always remember that you are there to provide the best service for your customers. Make the most out of every encounter and try to build positive relations and bonds. As Walt Disney said: “Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.”

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/vladzivanovic/6-tips-that-will-help-your-retail-business-reach-success/