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Your Workforce Is Remote and You Have In-House Servers. Now What?

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In the past several years, remote working has become increasingly popular. But right now, due to the current need to stay safe at home, a remote network is crucial. Many businesses have had to transition to working out of their own homes, and staying in touch via an online connection has become necessary.

That’s why it’s absolutely critical to set up a remote connection properly. Security needs to be paramount right now, due to the amount of threat actors out there that are looking to take advantage of weak points left open in business networks that are moving to a remote working setup. This is especially true for businesses who normally rely on in-house servers to access data and are now looking for secure ways to do so.

Here’s how you can properly set up a remote network to ensure secure access to in-house servers from your employee’s remote devices:

Ensure Any Device on which You’re Accessing Resources Is Secure

Before setting up a secure network to access your in-house servers, make sure your devices have multiple layers of security to protect data from being compromised. This means having active and updated BYOD policies in place for employees working from home. Data should also be managed by security protections including encryption and multifactor authentication to ensure only the right people are accessing files.

These security measures need to be implemented from top to bottom to ensure security at all levels, especially when your workforce is working in separate physical locations on different Internet connections. After all, a recent survey found that 59% of 202 enterprise companies only shared cybersecurity concerns with top level executives. Not only this, but 63% of their employees did not even think to use multi factor authentication. 

Ensure Each Employee Is Using a Stable Connection at Home

Each employee should also be working with a secure and stable WiFi connection that can maintain a strong signal at all times. There needs to be a reasonable upload speed, as well as a reliable download speed. Stability in online connectivity helps prevent data loss that can occur when using collaborative online tools to share and edit documents. 

Set Up a VPN with the Help of a Provider Who Offers Managed IT Services

Once you have implemented these security measures, a managed IT services provider can help you set up a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN is currently one of the most valuable resource for businesses who normally rely on in-house servers to store and access data as it allows employees to securely access that data without being onsite. It acts as a private network connection that maintains your security protocol (such as data encryption and required authorizations) without putting any of your data in a public storage space such as the cloud.

Seeing as the VPN market will be worth $50 billion by 2024, VPN has become a highly valuable resource for several businesses. But it’s wisest to work with a professional who can implement your network properly.

Use a Remote Desktop Server

Finally, you may consider implementing Remote Desktop Services. You won’t need a company computer for this, which makes them perfect for extended remote working. When using almost any computer, you can open up a connection to your Remote Desktop Server and access a company desktop from anywhere. 

You may need to make some changes to your router, which can be accessed from your own desktop, as long as it’s connected to the Internet. Specifically, you’re going to need to work on your router’s port forwarding option. However, it might take some time to go through this process on your own, so be sure to ask your IT provider about this. They should be able to walk you through your port forwarding set up. 

At a time like this, when it’s key for a company to be online at all times, safety and security is paramount. In order to set up a secure connection when working remotely, it’s important to work with a professional to establish security measures and take advantage of the resources listed above. With these tools, your business can weather the storm of this global pandemic and come out the other side thriving.

The post Your Workforce Is Remote and You Have In-House Servers. Now What? appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

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April 28, 2020 at 04:24PM

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9 Ideas for Creative TikTok Videos that Will Engage Your Followers

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TikTok has proven that it’s no passing fad, with more than 1.65 billion downloads to date. It’s now the sixth largest social network in the world, surpassing Snapchat, Twitter and Pinterest.

With numbers like that, it’s time to jump in— especially if your brand wants to reach younger audiences, as 69% of TikTok users are between 16 and 24 years old.

Not sure how to get started? We’ve got 9 ideas for awesome TikTok content below.

Bonus: Want to know how a viral social video creator makes millions of dollars in sales? Download the free guide now.

9 Ideas for Engaging TikTok Videos

1. Create a branded hashtag challenge

As with other social platforms, hashtags are a mainstay on TikTok for searching and sorting content. But hashtag challenges are especially popular on the platform.

Challenges use specific hashtags to encourage users to create videos on a theme, as part of a campaign or viral trend. If TikTok had existed in 2015, you would have seen a lot of videos tagged with #IceBucketChallenge.

A number of companies have used branded hashtag challenges to great effect, but the reigning champion is Chipotle. They use National Avocado Day (also known as July 31, 2019) to launch the #GuacDance hashtag challenge on TikTok.

Avocado lovers were challenged to share a dance inspired by their favorite topping, using the Guacamole Song from children’s entertainer Dr. Jean, tagged with #GuacDance. Simple enough, right? It resulted in a mind-blowing 250,000 submissions, proving that the love of guac is universal.

During the six-day campaign, Chiptole also saw a record-breaking 430 million video starts with the hashtag #GuacDance. It translated into real sales too: Chipotle served more than 800,000 sides of guacamole on a single day, as a result of the challenge.

A few things you can learn from the #GuacDance success:

• Make it easy. The Guacamole Song is an earworm, and her original dance is simple and silly. No serious dance skills required.
• Make it fun. What do people love best about your brand? A challenge that celebrates your most beloved products, qualities or promotions is likeliest to succeed. Customer research and insights can help here.
• Have a goal in mind. Are you trying to drive orders, like Chipotle? Raise brand awareness? Be clear on what you want to achieve so you can measure your impact.

2. Share an educational video

You may think that TikTok is just for goofy, irreverent content. But it’s actually an amazing platform for sharing informative content in an approachable, easy-to-digest format.

Some doctors have built huge audiences by making videos about timely topics like coronavirus and vaping. Dr. Danielle Jones, aka MamaDoctorJones, has racked up more than six million views with her videos about sexual health, pregnancy and periods.

For doctors like Jones, TikTok is the perfect place to reach teens and young adults who need this information, and may not have their own trusted health providers to talk to.

Socially-minded businesses have an opportunity to get their messages across. Misinformation is rife on social media, and it’s important to counter it by being in the conversations.

3. Partner with an influencer

Working with a creator on TikTok gives you an opportunity to connect with their audience and benefit from their creativity and unique style.

For example, Mucinex (yes, the stuff you take when you have a cold!) partnered with influencers on a #TooSickToBeSick campaign. The campaign, which ran in late October, promoted the message that a seasonal illness shouldn’t ruin your Halloween fun (though now we would definitely say “Stay Home” instead).

@dreaknowsbestDon’t let a cold limit your fun this holidays! I am ##TooSickToBeSick ????‍♀️ ##Mucinex ##Sponsored

♬ #TooSickToBeSick – Join The Challenge

Each video included the hashtag, as well as a #Sponsored tag to denote that they were part of an influencer marketing campaign.

There are a few ways to partner with influencers on TikTok, including:

• Account takeovers. Allow a TikTok creator to post content directly from your account. Typically takeovers will be cross-promoted on both your account and the influencer’s.

• Hashtag challenge: Partner with influencers to promote your brand’s hashtag challenge to their audience.
• Endorsements. Get influencers to promote your brand or product on their own channel, as part of a campaign (like Mucinex) or a product review.

Here are a few tips for working with influencers on TikTok

• Find the perfect match. Don’t just partner with the biggest influencer who you can find. Make sure you’re working with someone whose values and audience aligns with yours. Do your homework to ensure they’re a good fit, and build a foundation of trust and respect.

• Be authentic. An influencer is valuable because they have a genuine voice that their audience loves and respects. To be an effective partner, you need to let them have creative freedom in the content they create for or with your brand. Come up with a game plan together, but don’t be too controlling.
• Measure impact. As with every aspect of your social strategy, it’s essential to have a goal in mind. Track the outcome of your influencer partnership, whether that’s sales, audience growth or campaign participation, to measure your success.

Here’s everything else you need to know about influencer marketing.

4. Celebrate special occasions

TikTok marked International Womens’ Day (March 8) with the hashtag #SheCanDoIt to celebrate female creators.

The occasion was a springboard for accounts focused on women’s rights and history to get a turn in the spotlight, like Herstory Talking, which honors notable women from past eras:

@herstorytalkWoman of the Day: Zelda Fitzgerald ##shecandoit ##womenshistorymonth ##history ##shecan ##fyp ##foryoupage ##respectwomen ##didyouknow ##facts ##funfacts♬ original sound – herstorytalk

UN Women, a global nonprofit for women’s rights, also leveraged International Women’s Day to got more than 400K views on their #GenerationEquality campaign.

@unwomenOn 8 March, International Women’s Day, join us in speaking out & standing up for women’s rights. ##GenerationEquality starts now! ##SheCanDoIt ##IWD2020♬ original sound – unwomen

TikTok users aren’t seeking out serious videos about gender equality every day. But on International Women’s Day, UN Women and Herstory Talking had the perfect opportunity to share important, timely content.

Every brand should keep track of upcoming events and holidays, especially those with particular relevance to their products and brand story.

Your social media content calendar can help you plan for those occasions so you never miss an opportunity to capture audience interest.

5. Create a tutorial

When I was a teen, my makeup skills were limited to applying mascara and Bonne Bell Lip Smackers. But today’s teens are capable of serious capital-l Looks, thanks in large part to the proliferation of beauty tutorials on social media.

@fentybeautyIssa contour ##makeuphack with @priscillaono with SUN STALK’R BRONZER and PRO FILT’R SETTING POWDER! ##tutorial♬ original sound – priscillaono

But it’s not just beauty. Tutorials of all varieties play well on social media. Everyone wants to learn something new, especially if you can break it down into 60 seconds or less.

Quick cooking tutorials are also popular on TikTok. Often, creators cross-promote their YouTube channel where they offer recipes in more depth and detail.

Fitness is another subject that’s huge on TikTok, with a ton of workout tips and ideas from creators.

@kikifitness10 MIN ABS LETS GOOO???? ##abworkout ##abwork ##sixpackabs ##fitnessgirl ##fitnesstip ##fypp ##toronto♬ Lose Control – Meduza & Becky Hill & Goodboys

Whatever your brand does or makes, find a way to bring it to life with a TikTok tutorial. Styling tips, product demos… the opportunities are endless. Dive in!

@sheertex##styletips with Sheertex–layering for a frosty winter ???? ##checkthisout ##tiktokfashion ##whattowear ##gotolook ##style ##tutorial ##4u ##foryou ##fyp ##4yp♬ Evil Spider – BENEE

6. Cover current events

Many viral trends live and die on TikTok alone. But the outside world has an influence too— pop culture and major news infiltrate the platform, where they take on a new life.

The Washington Post (yes, the venerated newspaper) is particularly good at turning topical events into TiKTok videos. After all, current events are their brand. By finding ways to transform those topics into engaging video content, they’ve racked up more than 390,000 TikTok followers.

Viewers of the bizarro Netflix series Love Is Blind will appreciate their nod to the show in this video about their love of… subscribers.

@washingtonpostWe really love our readers ##newspaper ##paywall♬ original sound – washingtonpost

But they’ve also tackled the coronavirus epidemic with videos about hand hygiene and self-quarantine. Serious topics are delicate, as your funny video may veer into insensitivity or poor taste. But the Washington Post demonstrates that it’s possible to achieve a balance of humor and information.

@washingtonpostTo help combat coronavirus, don’t shake hands. ##CoronavirusHandshake ##ElbowBump ##ParentTrap♬ original sound – sherrihillofficial

7. Join a viral craze (or create your own)

From the Renegade to the CoinciDance, there’s always a viral dance craze happening on TikTok.

Once it hits critical mass, it enters the mainstream consciousness— like when SNL’s Kate McKinnon and Elizabeth Warren did the Flip the Switch challenge.

@nbcsnl???????????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????.♬ Nonstop – Drake

Dance challenges are themed around a particular track, a particular sequence of moves, or both. Flip the Switch is an example of the latter, featuring the titular Drake song and two people switching places in front of a mirror.

Some brands may be worried that participating in a dance craze will make them look like the Steve Buscemi meme:

The trick is to be genuine. If you’re not enjoying yourself, the video will feel stiff and fall flat with viewers.

Embrace the silliness and have fun with your dance challenge. That way, even if you don’t go viral, you’ll still have a good time with your team.

8. Create a branded filter

As with Instagram and Snapchat, creators can add lenses and AR filters to their videos to create special effects.

Brands can take advantage of this feature by uploading custom filters. For example, NY Fashion Week (which invited a number of TikTok creators to its 2020 shows) created a special photo booth filter to accompany the events.

Creating effects and filters requires design expertise on the part of your team, so it may only be worthwhile for a major event or occasion. But when done well, filters can boost brand awareness and grow your audience, as well as generate a ton of on-brand content from your followers and fans.

9. Run a contest

Uniqlo launched the first multi-market campaign on TikTok in June 2019, asking participants to create videos of themselves wearing their favorite Uniqlo pieces with the hashtag #UTPlayYourWorld.

The contest was open to creators from the US, France, Japan and Taiwan, and winning videos would play in select stores of the participating countries. The contest was a huge success, and the #UTPlayYourWorld hashtag has over 700 million views.

The contest tapped into the support of Uniqlo fans and promised them something that all TikTok creators want: a larger audience for their videos. It was a win-win and an example of how user-generated content can help your brand.

User-generated content (UGM) boosts your credibility and trust, especially when it comes from trusted creators. When you reuse it with permission, you build relationships and loyalty. And it saves you the time and cost of content production.

Here are some best practices for user-generated content.

10. Still stumped? There’s always old milk

We’re not recommending this strategy. But great content can come from truly unexpected places. If you take this gentleman up on his milk offer, let us know!

oh ……. my god pic.twitter.com/o42CIQC7Pp

— Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxxa) March 6, 2020

Bonus: Want to know how a viral social video creator makes millions of dollars in sales? Download the free guide now.

The post 9 Ideas for Creative TikTok Videos that Will Engage Your Followers appeared first on Hootsuite Social Media Management.

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April 28, 2020 at 08:50AM

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How to Use LinkedIn Events to Promote Online or In-Person Events

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April 28, 2020 at 05:06AM

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The Best Project Management Software For Your Business

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Project management software helps teams stay organized and productive when collaborating on different projects. These tools are especially useful when multiple projects are in progress simultaneously.

A project management solution ensures that projects are completed on time while holding individual team members responsible for specific tasks.

These real-time workspace tools are much more effective than long email chains, writing things down manually, or having to rely on human memory.

While it may sound redundant, it’s important to understand that project management software is made for projects—not ongoing work. Projects have start dates, end dates, and deliverables along the way. For example, creating a website is a project. But maintaining a website post-launch doesn’t have a clear start date or end date.

Not every project management tool is the same. Some solutions are intended for large teams with complex projects, others are ideal for small teams and simple projects, and the rest fall somewhere in between.

No matter what type of projects you’re managing, this guide will help you find the best project management software for your needs.

The Top 7 Best Project Management Software

• Zoho Projects
• Trello
• Wrike
• LiquidPlanner
• Teamwork
• Celoxis
• TeamGantt

After some first-hand experience using these tools and hours of extensive research, I’ve narrowed down the top seven options in this category. Here’s an in-depth review of each one:

#1 – Zoho Projects — Best Overall Project Management Software

Zoho has a full suite of various productivity tools and SaaS for businesses. So not surprising to see its project management software, Zoho Projects, ranked first overall on our list.

Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management solution that accommodates the needs for a wide range of businesses, projects, and use cases.

From simple to complex projects, this tool has everything you need to manage various workflows. You can even automate some routine tasks to save time. Use the drag-and-drop interface as a visual way to set up new automations and deploy projects. Collaborate on the go using the Zoho Projects mobile app.

Zoho Projects is affordable, with pricing based on the number of people on your team.

As you can see, your plan will also affect things like storage and project templates. You’ll be limited to just ten projects per month with the entry-level Standard plan; the rest are unlimited.

Zoho Projects does offer a free forever plan for up three users and two projects, which is fine for individual use or a one-off task.

Another reason to like Zoho Projects is its timesheet module. You can easily track both billable and non-billable hours for tasks. Zoho Projects also integrates with popular apps you’re already using like Slack, Zapier, G Suite, Dropbox, and other apps in the Zoho suite.

Sign up for Zoho Projects and get a 10-day free trial; no credit card required.

#2 – Trello — Best Free Project Management Software

Millions of users trust Trello to manage various projects. For small teams and simple projects, the free project management software from Trello will be perfect for accommodating your needs.

People use Trello for work, side projects, and even for managing individual projects, like organizing a family vacation.

Trello shines in terms of simplicity, which is one of the reasons why I use it to manage team tasks on my websites. Everything is organized with boards, cards, and lists.

Each card represents a task or small project. Those tasks can be assigned to specific team members for collaboration. Cards have subtasks that can be managed and completed in real-time to show progress towards completion. Assigning due dates, uploading files, and adding comments on a Trello card is about as simple as it gets.

You can move cards to different lists such as “in progress” or “complete” so everyone can see the status of a task at a glance. Trello has an exceptional mobile app for project management as well.

In most instances, Trello is better for simple projects. If you’re managing complex projects with large teams, you’ll run into some restrictions with this platform.

The best part of Trello? It’s free. Every user gets unlimited boards, cards, and lists at no cost.

Paid plans start at $9.99 per month per user. This gives you access to advanced features like app integrations, calendar view, map view, advanced users, automations, and more.

#3 – Wrike — Best For Marketing and Creative Teams

More than 20,000 businesses use Wrike for project management. It’s trusted by large organizations like Verizon and Airbnb.

Wrike makes it easy for you to view real-time reports and statuses for all of your team projects. You can enable and centralize your communication hub for everyone collaborating on a project.

This software is perfect for marketers and creative teams. Wrike has specific project management tools for campaign management where teams can collaborate on tasks, track progress, and review the results of each campaign.

Wrike also has project management templates designed for content creation. This pre-set workflow process includes everything from a creative brief to final delivery and reporting.

Wrike has a free forever plan for simple projects. But most of you will benefit from the Professional or Business plans, starting at $9.90 and $24.80 per user per month, respectively.

Once you select your base plan, you can add-on premium features depending on what types of projects you’ll be using Wrike to manage. It’s kind of a bummer that not every feature is all-inclusive. But it’s nice that you can pick and choose whatever you need.

Wrike offers product bundles for marketing and creative teams. For example, Wrike for Marketers comes with Wrike Proof and Wrike Publish add-ons. It also comes with a Wrike extension for Adobe Creative Cloud.

Contact the Wrike sales team for a quote on a project management plan for your marketing team.

For a limited time, you can get a 6-month trial of Write Professional. You can try the other plans free for 14 days.

#4 – LiquidPlanner — Best For Complex Projects

LiquidPlanner is a top solution for engineering teams, software teams, IT teams, and professional services. It’s made for managing complex projects at scale with lots of contributors.

This project management tool helps you manage uncertainty with best-case and worst-case scenarios for the outcome. LiquidPlanner automatically adapts to change during a project, which is inevitable for projects with a high level of complexity.

LiquidPlanner gives you quick insight into the tasks, progress, risks, and budgets for every project that’s in progress. You’ll even be able to share the most relevant information with whoever needs to stay informed.

LiquidPlanner offers an iOS and Android mobile app, time tracking, advanced analytics, API access, unlimited internal dashboards, and integrations with cloud storage services.

You need at least five team members to be eligible for a LiquidPlanner subscription.

Unfortunately, pricing is unavailable online. You’ll need to contact their sales team to request a quote, regardless of your company size. LiquidPlanner has plans that can accommodate the needs of smaller businesses and enterprises with multiple departments managing hundreds of projects.

If you’re looking for a project management solution for something simple, like managing website content, LiquidPlanner is not for you.

But for those of you with complex needs, you can try LiquidPlanner at no cost with a 14-day free trial; no credit card required.

#5 – Teamwork — Best For Remote Teams and Agencies

More than 20,000 businesses use Teamwork for project management. It’s trusted by big brands like Spotify, Disney, Panasonic, PayPal, and Netflix.

Teamwork makes it easy for businesses with remote workers to collaborate on projects. It’s easy for everyone to communicate, stay connected, and have clear visibility over the progress of a project, no matter where people are located.

This software management tool has built-in chat, simple project boards, and custom templates. Teamwork allows you to balance your team’s workloads by viewing everyone’s real-time capacity at a glance.

Here’s a quick overview of the plans and pricing for Teamwork project management software:

With a free forever plan for small teams and paid plans starting at just $9 per month, Teamwork is an affordable solution.

Teamwork also has specific team management software for marketing agencies. This tool makes it easy for your team to manage their own projects in addition to client work. You can even add clients and third-party collaborators to your boards for improved visibility and communication. Take advantage of built-in time tracking tools to manage invoices and billable hours as well.

Pricing for agency software is not available online. You’ll need to contact the Teamwork sales team for a quote.

In addition to the free forever plan, you can try any Teamwork paid solution free for 30 days.

#6 – Celoxis — Best For Enterprises and Large Businesses

Celoxis is another top option for managing complex projects. But this software is not for everyone. Celoxis is an all-in-one project management software geared towards enterprises and large organizations.

It’s used by companies like Adobe, LG, Tesla, Lufthansa, and Rolex.

Celoxis helps you manage your teams based on skills, availability, and demand. You’ll benefit from automated cost and revenue estimates for every project in real-time.

This software also makes it easy for you to share files and collaborate with both team members and clients. It even has a fully customizable client portal that you can take advantage of.

Celoxis is a bit more expensive than some of the other options on our list, but it’s actually more affordable than other enterprise-grade software solutions on the market today.

The cloud-based solution starts at $25 per month per user (with a five-user minimum). You can save some money if you commit to an annual or two-year contract.

Alternatively, you can install Celoxis directly on your servers for $450 per user. This option is also a five-user minimum, but it’s just a one-time charge as opposed to an ongoing subscription.

Celoxis really stands out in terms of the reports and data that it provides. You can easily send visual reports to your CEO or other decision-makers for specific projects.

Try Celoxis free for 30 days by taking advantage of a free trial.

#7 – TeamGantt — Best For Beginners

Gantt charts are more than one hundred years old. At the time, these revolutionary charts changed the way that tasks were performed. They are the foundation for many project management solutions.

As the name implies, TeamGantt is a project management software that leverages Gantt charts.

So for those of you who are just getting started and learning about project management, TeamGantt is a top option to consider.

More than one million users across the world trust TeamGantt for project management.

TeamGantt has a free forever plan for up to three users managing a single project. Paid plans start at $24.95 per month for one user.

That’s a bit pricey, especially for simple software. However, you’ll get a better rate per user with a larger team. For example, a team of ten starts at $114.50 per month, which is less than half of the per-user rate of a single person. That number drops all the way to $91 per month with an annual contract.

So while the initial price might look steep at first, it’s really not that bad upon further inspection.

For those of you looking for basic Gantt charts, I’d definitely recommend TeamGantt. If you have a complex project, TeamGantt will have restrictions. They do have an advanced plan with time tracking and hourly estimates, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that.

Try a paid TeamGantt plan for free with a 14-day trial.

How to Find the Best Project Management Software For Your Business

With so many project management solutions on the market today, it can be tough to choose the best option for your business.

This is the methodology that I used to pick the winners in this guide. Generally speaking, there is no “best for everyone” project management software. It all depends on your specific situation. I’ll break down the evaluation factors that you should be looking for in greater detail below.

Project Complexity

The first thing you need to figure out is what you’ll be using your project management software for. Basic project management tools won’t always have the features required to manage complex projects at scale.

On the flip side, if you’re just doing something simple like managing website content or need a tool for a one-off project, you won’t need software with tons of advanced features.

Trello and TeamGantt are both excellent choices for simple projects and smaller teams. If you need advanced features for complex projects, LiquidPlanner and Celoxis would be better for you. Zoho Projects (as our top overall pick) meets that middle ground between simple and complicated projects.

Team Size

The next thing you’ll need to look at is the size of your team. Is everyone on your team going to be working on the same project? Or will everyone be working on multiple projects simultaneously?

If you’re working on a simple project with just a few people, you might even be able to use a free project management solution. Lots of options on our list offer a free forever plan for two or three users.

Managing larger teams is obviously a greater challenge. The best project management software shows the real-time capacity of each team member at a glance. This feature allows you to properly allocate tasks, responsibilities, and resources, without overwhelming people who have a full workload.

Some project management software requires a minimum for the number of team members associated with a subscription. This usually starts around five users but varies from one platform to another.

Ease of Use

Simplicity is key when it comes to project management software.

From the initial setup to onboarding team members and managing tasks on an ongoing basis, you want to make sure that your solution actually makes your life easier. The only real way to determine how easy it is to use project management software is by trying it out.

Every option on our list offers some type of free forever plan or free trial. I strongly advise trying those out so you can get a feel for what works best for your purposes.

Features

Some project management software will offer more advanced features and tools than others. But depending on your situation, you may not need anything too fancy.

Common features that you’ll see for various project management software include storage limits, mobile apps, third-party integrations, built-in communication tools, advanced reporting, and user permissions. You’ll find some solutions with agency features, time-tracking tools, automation, and tools for managing your budget.

It’s important to figure out what tools you’ll actually need as you’re evaluating potential project management solutions.

Price

Pricing for project managing software is usually based on how many users you have on your team. Some solutions require you to pay for a minimum number of users to get started.

Plans are typically billed per month or on an annual basis.

The actual cost varies drastically, depending on your needs. Most tools have a free plan for basic needs and a handful of users. Paid plans start somewhere in the $3 to $25 per month per user range.

Some solutions, like Wrike, charge you extra for add-ons as you essentially start with a basic plan and customize it based on your needs. Advanced solutions, like Celoxis, charge a one-time fee of $450 per user to install the software on your servers.

With such a wide range of prices to consider, it’s important for you to choose something that fits within your budget. Project management software doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

Conclusion

Zoho Projects is the best overall project management software on the market today. It’s affordable and checks off all of the boxes that we look for when evaluating prospective options.

But with that said, this software isn’t for everyone.

If you have complex projects or large teams, you’ll be much better off with LiquidPlanner or Celoxis. Smaller teams, beginners, and simple projects would benefit from Trello or TeamGantt.

There are even use case-specific solutions, like Wrike for creative teams or Teamwork for remote teams and agencies.

Regardless of your team size, project complexity, and business type, you can find the perfect project management software to meet your needs using this guide.

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April 27, 2020 at 06:06PM

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Betcris’ Projections For All 50

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Where Is Your State in the Process to Legalize Sports Betting?

The Supreme Court lifted the ban on sports betting throughout America, but that does not mean that every state is ready and willing to take that sports betting plunge today. Here is a quick look at all the states in America, where they stand, and when you can expect to start betting with Betcris.

Legalization of Sports Betting is Old News in Twenty-one U.S. States

Twenty-one states have legalized gambling in one form or another. Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia. Excellent Work.

Every state is individually responsible for and given the legal freedom to create its own rules for sports betting within their borders. A great example of this variation is the state of Pennsylvania. The Keystone State state legislature voted to allow for full mobile betting, but the state of Rhode Island allows partial mobile betting. You need to know the rules in your state to understand if you can bet with Betcris or not.

Nine States Should Be Ready In 2020

In Florida, the legislature is considering legalizing sports betting, Kansas is in the same position, and Kentucky is also considering legalization. Louisiana will need to put a referendum on the ballot to get legalized betting passed, and Maryland already put the referendum on the November 2020 ballot.

Massachusetts is looking into legalized sports betting. Missouri and Ohio are in the same position, and Virginia has already passed the legislation. The governor of Virginia needs to sign the bill into law.

Some States Are Waiting Until 2021

Alabama might have a bill passed in 2021, and Arizona is considering a similar rollout. These few states feel unprepared to leap and leap quickly and need that extra bit of time. That hat is why they are waiting until 2021 if the legislation is passed. California would need to change the state constitution, and that will require the state to wait until 2021 because tribes in the state currently control all the legal gambling establishments.

Connecticut needs to pass legislation because they are in the middle of a pocket of legal betting states. However, they have issues with tribal casinos just like California. They are looking at legalizing mobile betting first.

Georgia has major sports teams that support legal gambling, and the state is getting pressure from the Falcons, United, Braves, and Hawks to pass the bill as soon as possible. However, the state is dragging its feet on this issue.

The governor of Maine vetoed their bill, and it cannot be reintroduced until 2021. North Dakota and South Dakota differ significantly. North Dakota has not even considered the subject, but South Dakota has a referendum on the November ballot.

Texas is digging in its heels as a “Bible Belt” state that will not allow gambling, and Vermont is currently looking into the issue.

Will Some States Wait Until 2022 And Beyond?

Alaska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Hawaii have not taken up this issue, and Minnesota is dealing with tribal issues that would impact how the legislation could be passed. The tribal casinos in the state are pushing back because they have control over the industry and 11 casinos in the state.

Neighboring Wisconsin has the same problem, and they might not be able to push legislation through because the tribal casinos have lobbied hard to prevent an expansion of current gambling legislation.

Conclusion

Sports betting is legal in almost half of the United States of America today, but that did not change overnight. Any state that wants to pass legislation either must go to a referendum, change their constitution, or fight the tribal casinos. You might want to consider traveling to gamble if your state has not legalized physical gambling yet, or you can help and encourage the local politicians that you believe will make it a priority. If you truly want to bet on sports,  pick up the phone, call your local lawmakers, and let them hear your voice.

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April 27, 2020 at 05:21PM

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Ryan Brucato – Venture Capitalist Talks Recession, Covid-19 Investment Strategies, and More.

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These are unprecedented and perplexingly strange times for all of us as we cautiously adapt to the onslaught of Covid-19. The financial markets saw a spike in volatility at the onset, which has seemed to taper since. The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates before their scheduled meeting last month and due to supply chain concerns numerous companies have wholly revised their earnings outlooks for the future. 

As we shelter in place, trying to minimize the tidal reach of this viral flood, many people feel forced in front of the television (and the corona-crazy news cycle) for too many hours in the day. With so many headlines coursing, our nerves undoubtedly can get the better of us. In these tense moments, it is only natural to re-assess personal investment strategies in an attempt to save what little funds are left.

So, I asked Ryan Brucato, the expert investment professional and founder of both RB Milestone Group and EMBR Capital, his intensely successful single-member venture capital fund… a few questions.

If you do not remember the name Ryan Brucato, understandable perhaps, but my recent research very clearly recalls an interview Brucato gave from 2012 with Investing News Network alongside then Chief Investment Strategist of JP Morgan Asset Management Rebecca Patterson. In the interview, a young and intuitive Ryan Brucato correctly predicts the eventual surge in lithium demand through the year, you guessed it, 2020.

“…on the demand side, we can expect significant traction for lithium demand driven by increasing production of electric vehicles. China plans to make a million electric vehicles annually by 2015, five million by 2020. In the short run the big

producers have enough resources and capability to meet the demand. However, in the long run [lithium] prices may rise in response to increased demand. The biggest beneficiary will be electric vehicle grade lithium producers. For the marginal explorer, cost of production will be critical.”

                                                -Ryan Brucato, from the 2012 Lithium Market Outlook on Investing News Network

Below, a seasoned Ryan Brucato gives you his take on investing in these unprecedented times and how this could be the moment for smart investors to ‘pick their spots for the long-term.’

Learn more about your investing future from the interview below as financial herald Ryan Brucato puts together a few words to calm and make sense of the rocky corona-laced terrain that the everyday investor like you and me must maneuver through now and into the future.

Will the COVID-19 impact lead to a global recession?

Yes. At this point, the consensus is that a global recession is inevitable. In fact, we are already likely in a recession which will be confirmed formally in the coming months. The question now is: how long will the economic recovery take?

How worried should we be about corporate or consumer debt causing a wide impact on the nature of investing in America? Have you already felt that impact and how?

Corporate and consumer debt is absolutely something that economists, CEOs, portfolio managers and policy makers will need to keep a close on eye on moving forward. In the current environment, debt is buying corporates and consumers time to weather the storm. The question is: at what cost? From a corporate valuation perspective, many companies have experienced significant decreases in underlying share prices. Therefore, many companies are taking the view that it could be advantageous to bolt-on short term corporate debt in an attempt to avoid equity dilution. However, in this environment high-yield corporate debt instruments could be toxic as the probability of loan defaults typically increase in lockstep with higher interest rate obligations. Standstill operations will make it even harder to fulfill loan obligations as well. At the end of the day, loans are temporary solutions that will need to be remunerated with corporate cash flows. That said, stimulus-imposed loan instruments that offer a loan forgiveness covenant, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), is very attractive and should be the first place that small businesses seek temporary corporate refuge.

Which market sectors will see/are seeing less volatility? Why?

Volatility is changing by the day, but historically safe-haven investments such as precious metals and FX offer relatively less volatility exposure in this type of environment.

What are the biggest changes that will need to be made in investing strategy to come out a winner after Covid-19?

COVID-19 has changed the way we function as a society, which could have lasting effects after the pandemic has dissipated. Finding opportunities that have strong core fundamentals that can also flourish in a remote setting present a seemingly de-risked value proposition.

What kind of impact with the government’s fiscal stimulus has on American investing? How Will it affect your business?

Stimulus-imposed loan instruments that offer a loan forgiveness covenant, such as the Payroll Protection Programs (PPP), is very attractive and should be the first place that small businesses seek temporary corporate refuge.

How can investors make money during COVID-19?

Some sectors that have captured consumer (and investor) appeal include: online education, consumer software, home/streaming entertainment, and PPE services.

When can you expect markets will normalize? Why?

Stock markets have experienced a healthy bounce from the March lows. Ironically, economic data continues to manifest a more seemingly gloomy picture. As corporate operations normalize in the coming months, improved economic data will follow. The consensus is that economic progress will return in H2.

What advice would you give to all investors right now?

Recessions are cyclical and while it is natural to feel worried about depleting 401k, 529 and brokerage account balances, this is when players pick their spots for the long-term. Weigh the data and don’t get emotional.

About Ryan Brucato

Ryan Brucato’s background is largely entrepreneurial. In early 2009, he founded the corporate communications and management consulting firm, RB Milestone Group LLC, and currently sits on its Advisory Board. He has been responsible for starting numerous private ventures throughout his career and has advised hundreds of public and private companies globally. He has a deep-rooted proficiency in international trade, corporate finance and M&A.

In 2012, Mr. Brucato founded what is now EMBR Capital LLC, a single-member family office and venture capital fund based in Greenwich, CT, USA. EMBR partners with exceptional founders and management teams with unique insights, through all phases of growth. Mr. Brucato has a passion for international business and aligns much of EMBR’s fund allocations with entrepreneurs and management teams that echo the same mindset.

Since 2017, he has completed over 80 EMBR investments into over 50 companies that operate on 6 continents. Mr. Brucato has directed much of EMBR’s investments into companies focused on: cannabis; diversified natural resources; healthcare; renewable energy; technology and telecommunications. He is also dedicated to funding socially and environmentally impactful businesses worldwide. Over the years, he has been noted in many leading publications, including: Fox Business, Gold & Minerals Gazette, Bloomberg, HazMat Magazine, Resource Investing News, The Financial Review and BusinessWeek. Mr. Brucato resides in Greenwich, CT with his wife and two sons. He enjoys spending time with family, regularly attending local CrossFit classes, participating in triathlons and skiing.

About EMBR Capital LLC

EMBR Capital LLC (“EMBR”), is a single-member family office and venture capital fund based in Greenwich, CT, USA. EMBR partners with exceptional founders and management teams with unique insights, through all phases of growth. Mr. Brucato has a passion for international business and aligns much of EMBR’s fund allocations with entrepreneurs and management teams that echo the same mindset.

Since 2017, EMBR has completed over 80 investments into over 50 companies that operate on 6 continents. EMBR has directed much of its investments into companies focused on cannabis; diversified natural resources; healthcare; renewable energy; technology; and telecommunications. EMBR is also dedicated to funding socially and environmentally impactful businesses worldwide.

About RB Milestone Group LLC

In 2009, Mr. Brucato founded RB Milestone Group LLC (“RBMG”). RBMG is a boutique corporate communications and management consulting firm that is based in the United States, with offices in Stamford and NYC. Mr. Brucato currently serves as an Advisory Board member for the firm. RBMG advises emerging cross-border clients who are publicly traded on the TSX, TSXV, CSE, ASX and AIM. RBMG refines communications strategies, weighs data and advises clients on how to penetrate new markets.

They help clients target and secure relationships with niche US stakeholders and key industry strategics globally. RBMG partners with clients across a wide range of industry segments, including: cannabis; cleantech; consumer goods; crypto; fintech; healthcare; metals & mining; professional services; renewable energy; and technology. RBMG was recognized by O’Dwyers as being one of America’s top 12 IR firms of 2020.

The post Ryan Brucato – Venture Capitalist Talks Recession, Covid-19 Investment Strategies, and More. appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

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April 27, 2020 at 05:05PM

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Stay-at-home order for 7 million Bay Area residents extended to end of May

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A stay-at-home order for seven San Francisco Bay Area counties will be extended through the end of May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that affects 7 million residents and thousands of businesses.

The Public Health Officers of the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara as well as the City of Berkeley said in a joint statement issued Monday that it will issue revised shelter-in-place orders later this week. The new order will ease some specific restrictions for what the health officers from the seven counties described as a “small number of number of lower-risk activities.”

The stay-at-home orders were set to expire May 3. Details regarding this next phase will be shared later in the week, along with the updated order.

The seven counties are home to thousands of startups and technology companies that includes Apple, Facebook, Google, Salesforce, Twitter, Tesla and Uber.

“Thanks to the collective effort and sacrifice of the 7 million residents across our jurisdictions, we have made substantial progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, ensuring our local hospitals are not overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, and saving lives,” the health officers said in a joint statement. “At this stage of the pandemic, however, it is critical that our collective efforts continue so that we do not lose the progress we have achieved together.”

The public health officials said Monday that hospitalizations have leveled, but more work is needed to safely re-open communities and warned that “prematurely lifting restrictions could lead to a large surge in cases.”

The health officers plan to also release a set of broad indicators used to track progress in preparedness and response to COVID-19, in alignment with the framework being used by the rest of the state.

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April 27, 2020 at 03:00PM

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Social Media and Your Job Hunt in 2020

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Using social media in your job search has always been a powerful tool. You can connect with a hiring manager through Twitter and LinkedIn. Both of which are powerful social media tools to show your passion about the industry you’re in and promote your expertise in the subject matter that makes you an ideal candidate.

But how will that change this year as unemployment becomes more of an issue? Will social media be a great route to find employment? Let’s go into what might be changing in our current economic and public health conditions and how you might be able to use social media to advance your career.

What’s the biggest change?

The biggest change is not your access to communicating with hiring managers and employers, which social media provides. But it’s the notion that unemployment rates may stay the way they are. Causing more employers to have intent to hire but not truly decide to hire. This is a common occurrence. And one that’s entirely acceptable for employers to do. They can place a job search hoping they find an ideal candidate. But if they aren’t comfortable with what the job market is providing them, they can certainly decide to go another route— like hire internally.

Social media can provide you a great inside lens to this. If you can connect with the hiring manager on a 1:1 basis, you can learn more about the status of the position. And gain insights like the one provided. Try to find the hiring manager’s name through the job ad and look them up on Twitter and LinkedIn. If you can’t find their name, search for the department head and then connect with them.

Methods of connecting

When you’ve found the right person to speak to, it comes time to make a connection. Try to think about the connection you are about to make in a neutral way. You aren’t looking to connect with them simply to learn more about the job. The hiring manager or recruiter is going to direct you back to Human Resources.

Instead, try to find a shared common ground. And connect on that level. Is the hiring manager sharing a lot of articles about a particular subject matter? Share your interest in that and connect with them about your mutual passions. Does the hiring manager know people you know? If so, connect with them through your mutual contacts.

Use some type of bridge and reasoning to connect you two. Use this as a form of networking, first. Then ask for the job at a later date. This not only shows your ability to conduct yourself professionally but shows you aren’t simply asking a stranger to do you a favor.

When connecting on LinkedIn, be sure to list your reasoning in a less than 150 character note during your connection request. And on Twitter, try to @ mention the hiring manager multiple times before you decide to send them a direct message or send them an email.

When you decide to send them an email (if you have their email address), be sure to link and refer to the conversations you both have been having on social media. Your email should be similar to a thank you note you would send after a job interview. It should revitalize that person’s memory of who you are and the conversation you had together. Then proceed to your “ask”. Think of this like having a brief introduction over cocktails at a social event. You have some mutual connection and that starts the conversation on the right foot.

Should you continue using social media for your job hunt?

Yes, absolutely. Now more than ever your network will matter. And expanding your network can be far easier utilizing social media than you might think. Including the fact that social events and regular business conference events might be slowing down.

Social media may allow you to access those who are engaged in having a conversation with you more than they may have been before. And it could provide the only opportunity in the foreseeable future to have a social interaction with someone who isn’t your close family member or friend.

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April 27, 2020 at 12:40PM

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How to Create Instagram Stories Polling Sticker Ads

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April 27, 2020 at 05:00AM

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Facebook Ad Updates: New Metrics and More

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April 25, 2020 at 05:02AM