https://ift.tt/32xHV3C

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Top Security Practices to Implement

https://ift.tt/3eRNpLa

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making now the perfect time to think about your cybersecurity. It’s a topic relevant to both individuals and businesses, and the steps you take to protect yourself can prevent pain and losses down the road.

What Is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month?

NCSAM or National Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been in place for 17 years and aims to raise awareness of the threat posed by cyber crimes to businesses and individuals alike. This awareness initiative is promoted by the FBI and backed by a range of established and respected organizations. It’s focused on reducing the number of cyber crimes that wreak havoc across the country every year.

Security Practices Individuals and Businesses Should Implement

There is a range of security practices you should implement to keep your devices and systems safe. Dan Cashman, President of TrinWare, an IT company in Westminster, says, “We recommend that companies focus on proactive cybersecurity measures that will work to prevent attacks altogether. No cybersecurity plan is complete without threat protection and constant monitoring, as well as employee security training.”

We’re going to take a closer look at some basic security steps to take and how they’ll help protect you.

Be Wary of Unknown Links and Sources

It’s important to remember that it only takes one moment of weakness for a data breach to occur. You should always be cautious with communication, when receiving links, downloading attachments, and using unknown sources. Always assume the worst before and take the time to assess the site, attachment, etc. before proceeding.

Avoid Social Media Oversharing

One way in which people are undone and exploited by hackers and cyber criminals is when they overshare on social media. When you give too much away, you immediately make yourself a target for criminals and hackers, as they can use your personal details to create specific socially engineered attacks. And the same applies to the employees of businesses. Where the internet, and especially social media, is concerned, it’s often best to go private.

Keep Software Up to Date

When a company releases an update for their software, it’s because there’s a flaw in the old system. They want to patch those flaws so they can’t be exploited by cyber criminals and hackers. If you don’t update your software and Operating System to the most current models, cyber attacks could reach you through vulnerabilities that would otherwise be patched.

Strengthen Your Password Security

Password security is a cybersecurity basic, but that’s also why it’s so easy for many people to overlook or disregard it. Each password you use should be unique and complex; you shouldn’t duplicate passwords for different accounts or logins, and passwords should combine upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For the greatest security, avoid using dictionary words. Using multi-factor authentication is also a recommended failsafe, as it can protect your accounts even should your password fail. 

Don’t Share Information Over Unsecured Networks

Finally, you should be careful about how and where you share information. Sensitive files, data, or communication sent over networks that are unsecured could be intercepted. You should use secure systems that offer encryption and end-to-end security when transmitting private information.

Following these steps will help you create a basic layer of security, but there are still many aspects of your system that need further measures. Talk to an IT professional for more recommendations for boosting your security!

The post National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Top Security Practices to Implement appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Social Media

via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog

November 11, 2020 at 12:01PM

https://ift.tt/36kalPm

How Effective IS Blogger Outreach in SEO?

https://ift.tt/38xhper

There are many brands with perfect websites. They have good content, good keywords, and an excellent user interface. But then these two things tank their SEO potential: low credibility and relevance. The benefits of blogger outreach in SEO revolves around strengthening these weaknesses. 

1. Digital popularity and links

Google uses brand authenticity as a ranking factor. If you are a powerful brand, you can expect to easily land a position on the fast page of search engine results. But what does powerful mean here? You must have been in the industry for a while. You must be a thought leader with powerful and useful information that has many people linking to.

The quantity and quality of your inbound links are a prime factor that Google uses when weighing brand authenticity. Blogger outreach earns you these links from influencers, from their social media pages and websites. Links denote power and influence. It eventually leads to improved ranking in search engine results pages (SERPS).

2. Brand endorsement 

The main objective of SEO is to accelerate traffic and conversion with minimal spending. If you engaged in pay per click advertising for these two goals, you would come face to face with the challenges of budgeting, targeting, and continuous campaign oversight.

Blogger outreach makes things easier. Guest bloggers and influencers promote your brand to their audiences. You get to build trust faster than it would take with paid advertising, considering that 96% of people don’t even trust ads. 

3. Digital PR 

Blogger outreach is digital public relations. It makes a brand come across as personable as opposed to being too salesy. It is a type of marketing that leads to long-lasting and impactful results in brand awareness, brand love, and brand loyalty.

Blogger outreach simplifies messaging. It’s an opportunity to ride on the influencer’s digital communication proficiency to reach their audiences. You can place a link in their existing content or have them review and link to your offerings. It enriches the content strategy. 

Repair or build a positive image

Besides building brand awareness and improving sales, blogger outreach can help develop a positive image for your brand. You will come across as a thought leader and a trustworthy brand that provides useful information to customers and industry stakeholders. 

You can use blogger outreach as a chance to repair your brand reputation. Outreach service by Magfellow is an example of how this works. Content creators help to control the narrative around your brand through links and blogs. Guest blogging shores up your authority and credibility, making your business resilient against digital slander and defamation.

It amplifies reach 

There is no guesswork involved. Blogger outreach helps to position your content in front of the right receptive audiences. It beats the efficiency of Google and Facebook audience insights when it comes to targeting. 

Blogger outreach doesn’t need you to pore over demographic data or A/B test every little thing you do. It cuts through the technical complexities in internet marketing and saves time. By helping you reach the right people, blogger partnerships can improve your traffic volume and quality. That’s good for both ranking and conversion.

It helps in lead nurturing. 

The end goal for any marketing endeavor is conversion and sales. For SEO to be truly beneficial to your business or non-profit, it should lead the target audience to buy or contribute to your cause. Blogger outreach helps with that.

Sustained blogger outreach will get you the leads and help your nurture them hands-free, with the help of trustworthy brand ambassadors that are already loved by their audiences.

It helps with findability.

It is worthwhile to have your brand or offering championed by someone who has a positive reputation online. It works wonders in findability –it increases the number of places where people and search engine bots can connect with you. 

Gentle reader, blogger outreach is highly beneficial and crucial for your SEO. It is hard to attain and sustain top ranking without it.

The post How Effective IS Blogger Outreach in SEO? appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Social Media

via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog

November 11, 2020 at 11:58AM

https://ift.tt/35jpxNq

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence On Social Media

https://ift.tt/2IuZLgy

Artificial intelligence technologies are being used across industries to automate and improve the efficacy of different activities. The advanced machine learning systems are equipped to replicate the discreet thinking and analysis patterns demonstrated by humans. This allows companies to leverage AI in performing some of the complex cognitive tasks with minimal human intervention.

While AI can be applied to varied use-cases, social media is one segment where it has become a major catalyst for companies to grow. For example, AI chatbots for business are helping companies to stay connected with their audience. It has truly transformed how brands communicate and build relationships with audiences on social media. From small to large scale, businesses are adopting AI in their social media marketing practices at a faster pace.

Impact of AI on Social Media

AI is transforming how brands use social media and it is the reason why this segment is expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2023. The use of AI in social media has two major advantages:

• Cost-reduction

AI functions using a complex network of computers that are capable of functioning independently. Once the algorithms and action points are defined, AI can function with minimum human monitoring. This helps to reduce marketing expenditure as brands can work with a smaller team without compromising their performance.

• Incremental Revenue

It also assists brands to boost revenue by making processes automatic and efficient. AI provides valuable insights that aids in creating content to improve engagement and make the brand visible to a wide audience.

Benefits of using AI for Social Media

Here’s how using AI in Social Media can benefit your business:

Communicating with the Audience

Many companies use social media to share their products, update about upcoming offers, and other important information. Almost all of the social media platforms have some sort of messaging or commenting feature that allows followers to communicate with the brand. Sometimes customers might have queries that they need answers to and may post the same on the brand’s social media profile. For brands whose followers run into millions, these questions can run into thousands.

It is not possible to ignore these questions as it would impact the brand’s image. At the same time, extensive hiring is not a viable solution as it would be expensive for the brand. AI technologies help brands to automatically reply to these messages by developing user-interactive AI chatbots that integrate with their social media profiles. Brands can also use chatbots for businesses to provide personalized support to shoppers.

Makes Influencer Marketing more effective

Influencer marketing is a branch of social media marketing in which brands collaborate with individuals who are ‘influential’ or specifically have a large following on social media. It translates into an organic way of spreading brand awareness. Brands do collaborations, like ask the influencers to review or showcase the brand’s products or services on their profiles. Since these influencers already have a large following, this approach assists brands to tap into their audiences.

However, a major problem with this approach is for the brands to identify the correct influencers. AI aids in making this process fast by automatically performing quantitative and qualitative research of influencers. AI can evaluate the content, engagement rates, and other parameters of different influencers to handpick those who will be successful in assisting the brand’s campaign reach out to a wider audience.

Create, Schedule, and Analyze Social Media Posts

Regular posting is considered an important way to grow audience and build a strong social media presence. With multiple social media accounts, it can be difficult for a company to create and manage content for each of these platforms. AI can help to create platform-specific content by conducting extensive topic research and providing information on search intent. It identifies patterns and user behavior to help brands understand which type of content is getting more engagement. Brands can then use this information to create engaging content.

AI also allows brands to automatically schedule posts for each platform. There are specific time intervals when posts tend to get more engagements and AI tools can identify the best time for the brand’s content and post them automatically. This improves the organic reach of social media posts. You can also get valuable insights about emerging trends, new audiences, brand visibility, and competitor performance.

Conclusion

There are several other advantages of using AI in social media. Technologies like speech recognition, predictive analysis, and computer vision are making it easier for brands to interact with their audiences. The technology is still evolving and the development of more use-cases of AI will benefit more businesses and help them deliver a better experience to their audiences.

The post The Impact of Artificial Intelligence On Social Media appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Social Media

via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog

November 11, 2020 at 11:15AM

https://ift.tt/3eNKbbP

Best Registered Agent Services

https://ift.tt/2GVfUeG

Every state has a legal requirement for businesses to have a registered agent. This holds true for startups, small businesses, LLCs, and corporations alike.

What is a registered agent?

Registered agents are sometimes referred to as an “agent of process” or a “statutory agent.”

These services help to ensure full compliance with your state during the startup process and for the long-term of your operation as well. They are available during business hours to handle correspondence with government agencies on your behalf.

If your business gets sued, the physical address of your registered agent will be the place where this happens (instead of at the office in front of customers, employees, etc.).

Failure to maintain a registered agent service can be detrimental to your company. In some instances, the state can dissolve a business for letting their registered agent services lapse.

In some states, you can act as your own registered agent. But this means you’ll have to take on those responsibilities, and always be available during business hours. It also exposes personal details about yourself to the public, which most people want to avoid.

That’s why registered agent services are so popular. Whether you’re launching a new business or need to switch registered agents, this guide will help you find the best registered agent service for your business.

The Top 6 Best Registered Agent Services

• Northwest Registered Agent
• Incfile
• Swyft Filings
• ZenBusiness
• MyCorporation
• MyCompanyWorks

After extensive research, we’ve narrowed down the top six registered agent services on the market today. This guide contains the benefits, plans, pricing, and additional services offered by each option on the list.

#1 – Northwest Registered Agent — Best For Customer Service

With “registered agent” in the name, it’s no surprise to see Northwest Registered Agent rank so high on our list.

From starting your business to maintaining your business with corporate guides, the registered agent services from this provider are second to none. For LLCs and corporations alike, Northwest Registered Agent will be a top choice for you to consider.

They have everything you could possibly want or need in a registered agent service. The plan comes with benefits like:

• Pre-filled state forms
• Annual report reminders
• Document scanning and storage
• Self-service online access
• Free mail forwarding
• Same-day local scans

You’ll also get lifetime support from Northwest Registered Agent’s corporate guides. These business experts will help you start and maintain your business with assistance that goes beyond the traditional scope of a registered agent.

The service costs $125 per year. If you need a registered agent in five or more states, the rate drops down to $100.

#2 – Incfile — Best Free Registered Agent Services

Incfile is a business formation service with a wide range of offerings. It’s been used by more than 250,000 businesses over the past 15+ years.

One of the reasons why Incfile is so popular is because you can use them to get a registered agent for free.

That’s right. If you use Incfile to form your LLC or corporation, you’ll get a free registered agent for the first year.

They have an entry-level Silver package that literally costs $0. You only have to pay the state fees. The Gold and Platinum plans start at $149 and $299, respectively. But all three come with a free registered agent.

Here’s an overview of some of the features and highlights of Incfile’s registered agent service:

• Available to receive IRS mail correspondence and legal proceedings on your behalf
• Email and SMS notifications when documents are received
• 24/7 online access
• Simple and intuitive online dashboard
• Automatic mail forwarding

Incfile’s online dashboard definitely stands out from others on the market today. Between the mail forwarding and alerts, it’s really an exceptional service.

The standard price for Incfile’s registered agent service is $119. If you sign up for one of the business packages, your plan will renew at this rate after the first free year.

For those of you with an existing business, the change of agent fee from Incfile starts at $49.

#3 – Swyft Filings — Most Versatile Registered Agent Services

Swyft Filings is another well-known and reputable name in the world of registered agents. They provide services for LLCs, C-Corps, S-Corps, and nonprofits.

So regardless of your entity type, business size, or industry, this will be a top option for you to consider. Swyft Filings has registered agent services available in all 50 states.

Getting started is simple. Just fill out a quick questionnaire online to sign up. Once you’re registered, Swyft Filings uses automated technology that sends you timely reminders to ensure compliance.

The service starts at $149 and renews automatically. So you won’t have to worry about your service lapsing.

You only have to pay a flat fee and won’t have to worry about hidden costs or upcharges.

Swyft Filings makes it easy for you to view official documents that have been uploaded online by your registered agent. The service is secure, reliable, and protects your privacy.

It’s also worth noting that Swyft Filings has several different business formation plans for you to choose from as well. Those packages start at just $49 plus state fees. A registered agent is not included in those services.

#4 – ZenBusiness — Best Registered Agent Services For LLCs

ZenBusiness is one of the most popular and reputable names in the business formation space. While the company is definitely known best for its LLC formation services, they provide excellent registered agent services as well.

If you’re using ZenBusiness to launch your LLC, it makes sense to get a registered agent from them as well.

These registered agent services will ensure compliance for your LLC. It also adds a layer of privacy and protection to your business.

ZenBusiness will accept all important legal documents on your behalf. Everything will be uploaded to an organized online dashboard for you to view, print, or download at any time.

The registered agent services start at $99 per year.

But if you’re using ZenBusiness to start your business, their registered agent services are included with every plan. Those plans start at $129, so it makes sense to bundle the services together.

If you’re starting an LLC need and need a registered agent, look no further than ZenBusiness.

#5 – MyCorporation — Best For Small Businesses

MyCorporation has been around for more than 20 years. Since 1998, they’ve helped form 1+ million businesses across all 50 states.

As a pioneer and leader in this industry, the registered agent services from MyCorporation are perfect for small business startups.

Getting started is simple. Just navigate to the website and fill out a quick form online. MyCorporation has registered agent services for LLCs and corporations alike.

Here’s what you’ll get with this service:

• Accept official and legal documents on your behalf
• Organize your paperwork
• Pass legal documents to the business owner
• Added privacy
• Receive service of process for your company during legal action

The registered agent services at MyCorporation start at $120. The rate renews automatically every year. You can also add MyIncGuard to your plan, which comes with year-round reminders and tools.

For those of you starting a new business, the registered agent services come standard with the Deluxe and Premium packages. These start at $224 and $324, respectively. If you use MyCorporation to form your business, you’ll get a free EIN filing.

#6 – MyCompanyWorks — Best For Switching Registered Agents

MyCompanyWorks is another popular choice in the business formation space. They provide formation services and registered agent services for LLCs, c-corps, and s-corps.

Since 2001, more than 60,000 businesses nationwide have trusted MyCompanyWorks for their services.

MyCompanyWorks offers registered agent services in all 50 states. I like MyCompanyWorks because they are so versatile. The services are great for anyone forming a new business as well as business owners who want to switch registered agents for their existing company.

Benefits of the registered agent services from this provider include:

• Ensure statutory compliance
• Receive mail on your behalf
• Simple online updating
• Instant notifications for delivery of process, forms, and more
• Additional layer of privacy between your personal information and business

The registered agent service starts at $99 per year.

If your business is already established and you’re looking to switch registered agents, MyCompanyWorks doesn’t charge extra fees for the change.

Registered agent services are also included in the Complete business formation package, starting at $279. Alternatively, you can add-on the service to any of the other formation plans, which start as low as $79.

MyCompanyWorks plans are backed by a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.

How to Find the Best Registered Agent Services For You

Contrary to popular belief, not every registered agent service is the same. Some of these options are undoubtedly better than others. With so many choices to consider, narrowing down the best registered agent service for your business can be tough.

There are certain factors that you need to take into consideration as you’re evaluating different services. Keeping the following elements in mind as you’re browsing will make your life much easier:

Business Entity Type

What type of business are you starting? Or what type of organization do you currently have?

Most registered agents will work with all entity types, but some are clearly suited for one over another. LLCs might not use the same registered agent service as an S-Corp. Certain registered agents are better for nonprofits.

Do some digging to see what types of entities the registered agent you’re considering works with. If they work with businesses similar to yours, it should be a good fit.

Compliance

The best registered agent services will help you maintain compliance with state and federal law.

Look for a service that will send you reminders via text or email to make sure you don’t miss any deadlines or requirements. Some services will provide extra materials and compliance guides. It’s fairly easy to spot the difference between a registered agent service that just does the bare minimum and those that go the extra mile.

Privacy and Security

Privacy is one of the top benefits of a registered agent. The registered agent’s address will be listed as public record, not your home address or office address.

Legal documents and government correspondence can be facilitated through your registered agent. Some will offer mail forwarding as opposed to just mail storage. Others will securely upload documentation to an online dashboard for you to access remotely.

Business Formation Services

The vast majority of people seeking a registered agent service are starting a new business. It makes sense to use one company for both services.

In fact, many business formation services will provide you with an incentive to use them as a registered agent as well. Some will offer a free year of registered agent services when you sign up for a business formation plan.

If you already have an existing business and just need to switch registered agents, the business formation services won’t be as important to you.

Value

The price for registered agent services typically falls around $100 per year. You might find some that are $50 higher or lower. But generally speaking, you shouldn’t be paying significantly more.

Some businesses use their attorney as a registered agent. But that will be much more expensive compared to the services reviewed in this guide.

If you bundle your registered agent service with a business formation plan (as previously mentioned), it’s usually the best bang for your buck.

Support

Your registered agent should be there to provide you with assistance if you have questions or need help.

Whether it be over the phone, in person, or through an online portal, this is an important and often overlooked aspect of a registered agent service evaluation. I’d recommend reading customer reviews before you make a final decision. Most reviews will mention something related to support (whether it be good or bad). These remarks can help sway you in one direction or another if you’re on the fence between a few options.

Conclusion

What’s the best registered agent service? It depends on what you’re looking for.

Northwest Registered Agent is our top pick for customer service, as they go above and beyond to satisfy your needs. Incfile offers free registered agent services when you sign up for a business formation package. Swyft Filings has plans to accommodate all business entity types.

If you’re forming an LLC, check out the registered agent services provided by ZenBusiness. Small businesses should look toward MyCorporation’s services. For those of you looking to switch registered agents, MyCompanyWorks does not impose a change of agent fee.

Regardless of your business type or needs, you can find the best registered agent service for you by following the recommendations in this guide.

Social Media

via Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/UU7LJr

November 11, 2020 at 11:07AM

https://ift.tt/3pjcVOA

How to Get More B2B Traffic and Leads With Content

https://ift.tt/3eLhk82

Does your business serve other businesses? Wondering how to reach more people beyond LinkedIn? In this article, you’ll find a four-part plan to drive traffic and generate leads across multiple platforms. #1: Research Customer Needs to Create Relevant B2B Content With digital fatigue on the rise, how people consume content is also shifting and marketers […]

The post How to Get More B2B Traffic and Leads With Content appeared first on Social Media Examiner | Social Media Marketing.

Social Media

via Social Media Examiner | Social Media Marketing https://ift.tt/1LtH18p

November 11, 2020 at 05:05AM

https://ift.tt/2JSmDHf

How to Create Beautiful Instagram Carousel Posts (Free Templates)

https://ift.tt/2IhLUdI

Instagram carousel posts are one of the most engaging formats on social media right now.

Hootsuite’s own social media team finds that, on average, their carousel posts get 1.4x more reach and 3.1x more engagement than regular posts on Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Have you ever thought about how color can change the way you react to a product launch, social media campaign, or landing page? ????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ??????, ????? ? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????????? ?? ?????—???? ??? ??? ? ????: 1⃣ ????? ?????? ???????⁣ People associate colors with feelings, which can be used to attract attention, persuade, or influence. Some people react to certain colors based on personal experiences, but most people share the same psychological perceptions of color.⁣ ⁣ 2⃣ ???? ???? ???????? ⁣ It’s extremely important to know your target audience when building a social media campaign and choosing what colors to use. Consider the symbolism that colors represent. ⁣ ⁣ 3⃣ ???????? ?? ???⁣ Colors read differently on screens than they do in print. Make sure you choose colors that have enough contrast and meet digital accessibility standards. ⁣ ⁣ 4⃣ ???? ?? ????⁣ Use the color wheel to select your colors. Want a call to action button that stands out? Choose a complementary color. Need some inspiration? Use a color palette generator.

A post shared by Hootsuite (@hootsuite) on Sep 9, 2020 at 8:24am PDT

The temptation to swipe left, it seems, is hard to resist—especially when there’s a persuasive cover slide. Give your followers the chance to stop doomscrolling and start swoonscrolling with thumb-stopping carousel posts.

What is an Instagram carousel post?

An Instagram carousel is a post with multiple photos or videos that can be viewed by swiping or clicking left. Up to 10 images or videos can be added and shared as a single post on the feed.

Just like any other Instagram post, you can include a caption, alt-image text, a geotag, and account and product tags on each image in your carousel. People can like, comment, and share your carousel post, just like any other.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Surprise! Swipe left on the post above to see more. Starting today, you can share up to 10 photos and videos in one post on Instagram. With this update, you no longer have to choose the single best photo or video from an experience you want to remember. When uploading to your feed, you’ll see a new icon to select multiple photos and videos. It’s easy to control exactly how your post will look. You can tap and hold to change the order, apply a filter to everything at once or edit one by one. These posts have a single caption and are square-only for now. On a profile grid, you’ll notice the first photo or video of a post has a little icon, which means there’s more to see. And in feed, you’ll see blue dots at the bottom of these posts to let you know you can swipe to see more. You can like and comment on them just like a regular post. This update is available as part of Instagram version 10.9 for iOS in the Apple App Store and for Android on Google Play. To learn more, check out help.instagram.com.

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Feb 22, 2017 at 8:01am PST

When a carousel is published, a small icon appears in the upper right corner. As someone flips to the second image, the icon is replaced with a counter that indicates the number of frames. Small dots also appear at the bottom of a post to mark progress through the carousel.

Why choose an Instagram carousel? Give your brand the “magazine treatment” with double-slide spreads, close-ups, and shots from different angles. Provide step-by-step guide instructions or parse out information. Build intrigue and unveil a surprise or before and afters. Or use the format to convey scale.

Instagram carousel size and requirements

Much like a regular post, Instagram carousel can be published in square, landscape, and portrait formats.

But keep in mind that all posts must be uniform. Whatever shape you choose for the first slide will apply to the rest of the frames, too.

Instagram carousel sizes:

• Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
• Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
• Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
• Aspect ratio: landscape (1.91:1), square (1:1), vertical (4:5)
• Recommended image size: Width of 1080 pixels, height between 566 and 1350 pixels (depending on whether the image is landscape or portrait)

Instagram video carousel specs:

• Length: 3 to 60 seconds
• Recommended formats include .MP4 and .MOV
• Aspect ratios: landscape (1.91:1), square (1:1), vertical (4:5)
• Maximum video size: 4GB

Don’t be afraid to post a mix of videos and images.

Find up-to-date social media image size requirements here.

How to create an Instagram carousel post

When it comes to creating an Instagram carousel post, it’s best to start with a concept. Determine why the carousel is the best fit for your content, instead of a standard post, collage post, video, or Instagram story.

With this question answered, you’ll likely have a good sense of the type of content you plan to use. Sketch out a storyboard to get an idea of how many frames you’ll need. Decide if your carousel will jump from one image to the next, or have a continuous, panoramic effect.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

The Food Issue of @enroutemag looks a little different in 2020. Our annual cross-country trip to discover Canada’s Best New Restaurants couldn’t happen this year, but that didn’t stop us from celebrating the country’s inspiring and innovative culinary industry. We also journey to Morocco’s saffron country and set out on a food odyssey in County Clare, Ireland. Plus, actor @menamassoud dishes on his new book, Evolving Vegan, and food designer @amandahuynh shows us how she packs for far-flung design trips. Check out the link in our bio to dig in. // Le spécial Gourmand de @enroutemag est un peu différent en 2020. Notre recherche pancanadienne des Meilleurs nouveaux restos canadiens n’a pas eu lieu, mais cela ne nous a pas empêchés de célébrer l’industrie culinaire du pays, plus inspirante et plus innovante que jamais. Nous nous transportons également en terre de safran, au Maroc, et partons en périple gastronomique dans le comté de Clare, en Irlande. En plus, l’acteur @menamassoud nous parle de son nouveau livre Evolving Vegan, et la designer culinaire @amandahuynh nous montre ce qu’elle apporte dans ses voyages pour le boulot. Consultez le lien dans notre bio pour vous mettre l’eau à la bouche. : @francoisollivier

A post shared by Air Canada enRoute (@enroutemag) on Sep 24, 2020 at 1:21pm PDT

Here’s how to make a carousel post on Instagram:

1. Add all relevant photos to your photo library.

2. Open the Instagram app and click the + icon from the navigation bar.

3. Tap Library in the lower left.

4. Tap Select Multiple, located in the bottom right of the image preview window.

5. Select up to 10 photos in videos in the order that you would like them to appear.

6. Tap Next. If desired, apply filters or edits to each frame. Tap on the photo to open Edit tools. When finished, or to skip this step, tap Next.

7. Add your caption, geo-tag, account tags, and product tags. Swipe through to tag the appropriate photo.

8. Tap Share.

Tip: Double check to make sure all your frames are in the correct order before you publish. You can’t reorder or delete single slides after you share.

Instagram carousel templates

Want to take your carousels beyond “ten pictures from the same vacation”? Start by customizing one of our five free, professionally designed Instagram carousel templates in Canva.

1. Get access to the templates by clicking the link below:

2. Above is the first page you will see upon opening the template URL. Click Use Template

3. This page will open. All templates are shown. Choose one.

4. You can swap in any photo by clicking Uploads in the side menu and clicking Upload an image or video and selecting whatever image you want off of your machine. Once the image is uploaded, just drag and drop from the menu into the frame you want the image to replace.

5. Change the text boxes by selecting the text and pasting in the new copy you want in your post. Using the circles on the corners of the textbox. You can make the box taller or shorter as necessary. Text color, underline, font options, size options, font alignment and line spacing options appear above when a text box is selected. Highlighted in this screenshot is where you can change text color.

6. Selected above is where you can change the font size.

7. Selected above is the font type.

8. If you click on the template background, you can change the background color by clicking the colored square beside animate in the top menu and color swatches will appear on the left menu.

9. To change colored blocks/shapes, same as above. Select the shape and the colored square will appear in the top menu. Click the square and color swatches will appear in the left menu.

10. To export: Click Download and save as a png.

11. If you want to save only one template of 5, open up Select pages and select the corresponding template by clicking the square to the right, and then select Done.

12. To split your image up for the carousel: go to https://pinetools.com/split-image and you’ll see the above window, then select Choose file.

13. Select the file you just downloaded from Canva

14. Once your file has been imported, select horizontal split, output as JPG or PNG (personal preference) and split by Quantity of blocks (equal width) and put 4 into the Quantity of blocks, then select Split image.

15. This is what you’ll see after you click Split image, and under download pieces (images) are now the four pieces of your instagram carousel split to size. Click on each row 1, column 1, row 2 column 1… etc button to download back onto your machine.

16. And now you have your four separated images to upload onto instagram using the multiple-image upload. Just make sure you select in the proper order, or else your carousel will be posted out of order from the template!

Engaging Instagram carousel examples

Draw inspiration from these brands and creators on Instagram.

Random House Kids

The children’s publishing arm of Random House knows a thing or two about spinning a story. Here’s how they do it with an Instagram carousel post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Loving and poignant, WHO WILL YOU BE? is a beautiful picture book about a mama who wonders who her child will grow up to be. It illustrates how family and the community help shape the people our children become. Swipe through for a peek inside! : @wanderingbookseller

A post shared by randomhousekids (@randomhousekids) on Jun 23, 2020 at 7:48am PDT

Louise Damas

What’s inside the travel suitcase of jewellery designer Louise Damas’ brand manager? You’ll have to swipe through to find out.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Chloé est notre brand manager Chaque été, elle part à l’aventure avec une valise toujours bien remplie. On y retrouve des livres bien sentis, des bijoux qui respirent l’été, et une place pour les souvenirs à venir. #LouiseDamasTeam

A post shared by Louise Damas (@louisedamas) on Aug 6, 2020 at 8:25am PDT

Coachella

If you like the first band featured in Coachella’s Instagram carousel, chances are high you’ll want to see the musicians featured.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Find your groove @disclosure @peggygou_ @channeltres @tiga

A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) on Feb 17, 2020 at 2:14pm PST

Kotn

Explore the textures and fabrics of Kotn with this Instagram carousel. The Canadian brand uses the format to show off and editorialize its apparel.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

For the colder days ahead. Next week—our first-ever collection of knitwear. Sign up for early access through the link in our bio!

A post shared by Kotn (@kotn) on Oct 16, 2020 at 1:12pm PDT

Mona Chalabi

Data journalist and illustrator Mona Chalabi uses the Instagram carousel to brilliant effect. In this example, the swipe effect conveys both scale and disproportion than any single image could.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

No justice. No peace. One of the men 4 men who killed George Floyd has been charged with third-degree murder. It doesn’t feel like a victory. A man is still dead and police officers know that most of the time, there will be no repercussions for the violence they inflict. When you see this whole image, when you don’t slice it up into 10 small pieces, all that’s visible is one long bar. Killing after killing that goes unpunished. That’s why people are still protesting *after* the news that Derek Chauvin has been charged. It’s not nearly enough. Let’s go back to the start and look at the 25 times that police officers supposedly had to face consequences for their actions. History tells us that even if all four men who killed George are convicted, their sentences will be generous (unlike the way the criminal justice punishes black men). Here is a breakdown of the sentences that were given those 25 times: Unknown sentence = 4 Just probation = 3 3 months in jail = 1 1 year in jail, 3 years suspended = 1 1 year in prison = 1 18 months in prison = 1 2.5 years in prison = 1 4 years in prison = 1 5 years in prison = 1 6 years in prison = 1 16 years in prison = 1 20 years in prison = 1 30 years in prison = 2 40 years in prison = 1 50 years in prison = 1 life in prison = 3 life in prison without parole, plus 16 years = 1 Source: Mapping Police Violence (run by @samswey, @iamderay & @MsPackyetti)

A post shared by Mona Chalabi (@monachalabi) on May 30, 2020 at 5:19am PDT

Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal

This carousel offers a glimpse at the art and hygiene protocols Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal has put in place to combat virus spread.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Votre visite au MBAM Vous le savez, nous mettons en place toutes les mesures nécessaires pour vous garantir une visite au Musée aussi sécuritaire qu’enrichissante. Concrètement, comment ça se passe? – L’achat de billets se fait sur notre site web (lien dans la bio). Le nombre de visiteurs par heure est limité. – Le port du couvre-visage est fortement recommandé. – Du gel hydroalcoolique est distribué dans les aires d’accueil. – Un parcours d’exposition à sens unique et des indications au sol aident les visiteurs à respecter les mesures de distanciation physique en vigueur. – Nos audioguides sont accessibles gratuitement sur l’application mobile du MBAM. – Certains services ne sont pas offerts pour le moment : lien dans la bio – Nous recommandons aux personnes à mobilité réduite ou ayant des besoins particuliers d’aviser le Musée de leur visite. Le service à la clientèle est joignable au 514-285-2000 du lundi au dimanche, de 9 h à 17 h. Nous faisons notre maximum pour vous retrouver dans les meilleures conditions. À très bientôt au #MBAM! – —— Your visit to the MMFA – As you know, we are putting every measure in place to ensure your visit is highly enjoyable, exclusive yet intimate, and, above all, safe. – Concretely, how does this work? – Tickets must be purchased on our website (link in our bio). The number of visitors per hour will be limited. – The wearing of face coverings is strongly recommended. – Hydroalcoholic gel will be dispensed in the entrance areas. – A one-way exhibition pathway and direction indicators on the floor will help visitors adhere to the physical distancing measures in effect. – Audioguides are available only on the MMFA’s mobile app and are free of charge. – Some services are not currently offered: link in bio – It is strongly recommended that people with reduced mobility or special needs notify the Museum of their upcoming visit. Our customer service team can be reached at 514-285-2000, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – We are doing everything in our power to welcome you in the best possible conditions. See you soon at the #MMFA!

A post shared by Musée des beaux-arts (@mbamtl) on Jun 5, 2020 at 7:24am PDT

Kamwei Fong

Illustrator Kamwei Fong shows you the final product in print and frame, as well as her process—bringing viewers closer to her art one slide and a time.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Kitty No.39. New #limitededition prints on my Etsy. Link in bio. Cheers

A post shared by Kamwei Fong (@kamweiatwork) on Mar 3, 2019 at 10:47am PST

Welfact

Nothing but the facts, in simple and understandable slides in this and several other Instagram carousels shared by Welfact. To maximize shareability, treat each post as a self-contained unit. That increases the odds (by up to 10!) that someone will share your post in an Instagram story.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

*when you’re not sure if an item is recyclable, so you throw it in the recycling anyway because someone at the recycling shop will take care of it.*⠀ ⠀ Yea.. that’s not good. Here’s why ⠀ ⠀ Spread the , share this with a friend. ⠀ ⠀ #PlasticFreeJuly #AspirationalRecycling #WelfactChangeMaker

A post shared by Welfact (@welfact) on Jul 16, 2020 at 6:38am PDT

Cleanfoodcrush

Who needs a recipe book when you can follow Cleanfoodcrush’s Instagram carousel as instructions for her loaded bean soup.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

{New} Loaded Bean Soup Because you’re gonna need something EASY + DELICIOUS to feed all your people throughout the colder months! Let’s make it hearty, nourishing, inexpensive, & SIMPLE! 6-8 servings Ingredients: 6 slices nitrate free bacon, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 4 ribs of celery, chopped 4 cloves garlic, crushed 3 (15oz) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 (15oz) jar diced tomatoes or fire roasted diced tomatoes 4 cups vegetable broth, or chicken bone broth 2 tsps paprika sweet or smoked a small bunch of fresh rosemary and thyme spears (2 – rosemary, 6 – thyme) 2 bay leaves sea salt and pepper to taste, about q/4 teaspoon each serve with plain Greek yogurt garnish with freshly chopped parsley Instructions: Start by chopping your veggies, peel and wash the carrots. Chop onion, carrots, and celery into small dice. Make a small herb bunch by tying the herb spears into one single bunch so they’re easy to remove. Heat a large stock pot over medium heat. Once hot, add your chopped bacon in a single layer. Cook for 3 minutes flipping halfway through until both sides are golden and crisp. Once the bacon is done, remove from the pan and set aside on a paper lined plate. Reserve bacon drippings in the pot. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in chopped onion, carrots and celery, cook until veggies are beginning to caramelize. Next add in the beans, chicken broth, tomatoes, paprika, and your bay leaves & herb bunch. Season with sea salt and pepper. Cover and allow simmer on low for about 20 minutes or until soup is thickened a bit. Once your soup is done, discard the bay leaves & herb bunch, then ladle your soup into bowls. Add crispy bacon and a dollop of yogurt on top. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve warm. Enjoy! Rachel

A post shared by Cleanfoodcrush by Rachel Maser (@cleanfoodcrush) on Oct 22, 2020 at 5:04pm PDT

Chipotle

Chipotle’s timeline of burrito eating uses the Instagram carousel to comical and relatable effect.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Every. Single. Time.

A post shared by Chipotle (@chipotle) on Jul 11, 2019 at 10:45am PDT

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe saves #TeddyBearDay with this Instagram carousel tutorial.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It’s #TeddyBearDay so let’s draw a buddy to be by your side! Follow the instructions, give them your own twist and tag us in your creation!

A post shared by Adobe Creative Cloud (@adobecreativecloud) on Sep 9, 2020 at 12:46pm PDT

Wendy’s

Wendy’s secret menu carousels dare you not to click through and discover “secret” food hacks.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

we call it the spicy spicy very nicy

A post shared by Wendy’s (@wendys) on Sep 21, 2020 at 11:48am PDT

Nike

Timed with Ben Simmons’ NBA Rookie of the Year award win, this post from Nike shows how to use the Instagram carousel to make and punctuate a statement. As one commenter notes: “I love it uses the slide to change perception.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Young King ⠀ @bensimmons #NBAAwards #KiaROY

A post shared by Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) on Jun 25, 2018 at 6:15pm PDT

McDonald’s India

Take a quick look at the McDonald’s India feed and it’s clear that the Instagram carousel has been a winning format for the account. This most, among others, is a good reminder that a “swipe left” call to action never hurts. It helps, in fact. Socialinsider’s study finds the CTA improves engagement.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Spice up your Monday with some Piri Piri Send us a screen-recording of you shaking & mixing it on your story and we’ll feature the best ones! #SpiceUpYourMonday #BeatTheMondayBlues #MondayBlues #PiriPiri #Fries #McDonaldsIndia #McDonalds

A post shared by McDonald’s India (@mcdonalds_india) on Feb 16, 2020 at 9:18pm PST

Air Canada’s enRoute

Why not give the in-flight magazine the “magazine effect.” This Instagram carousel lets you flip through the pages of a mag, just like you would on the plane or in a store.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

The Food Issue of @enroutemag looks a little different in 2020. Our annual cross-country trip to discover Canada’s Best New Restaurants couldn’t happen this year, but that didn’t stop us from celebrating the country’s inspiring and innovative culinary industry. We also journey to Morocco’s saffron country and set out on a food odyssey in County Clare, Ireland. Plus, actor @menamassoud dishes on his new book, Evolving Vegan, and food designer @amandahuynh shows us how she packs for far-flung design trips. Check out the link in our bio to dig in. // Le spécial Gourmand de @enroutemag est un peu différent en 2020. Notre recherche pancanadienne des Meilleurs nouveaux restos canadiens n’a pas eu lieu, mais cela ne nous a pas empêchés de célébrer l’industrie culinaire du pays, plus inspirante et plus innovante que jamais. Nous nous transportons également en terre de safran, au Maroc, et partons en périple gastronomique dans le comté de Clare, en Irlande. En plus, l’acteur @menamassoud nous parle de son nouveau livre Evolving Vegan, et la designer culinaire @amandahuynh nous montre ce qu’elle apporte dans ses voyages pour le boulot. Consultez le lien dans notre bio pour vous mettre l’eau à la bouche.  : @francoisollivier

A post shared by Air Canada enRoute (@enroutemag) on Sep 24, 2020 at 1:21pm PDT

Delta Air Lines

Break interviews into “sound bites” with Instagram carousels. This can be a good way to share testimonials, employees as ambassadors, artisans, partners, or other interviews you’d like to share.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

We know you have questions about flying, so we went behind the scenes with Delta Flight Attendant Joey to get you answers. Swipe through to see his responses to some of your FAQs.

A post shared by Delta Air Lines (@delta) on Sep 10, 2020 at 1:48pm PDT

Patagonia

Patagonia creates a magazine gatefold effect with Instagram carousels. The example demonstrates how carousels can also be used to maintain a feed aesthetic. If you want your feed to only contain images, but also want to share text, here’s a good workaround.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Emilé Zynobia @curlsinthewild is a snowboarder from Jackson, Wyoming, working on her graduate degree at the Yale School of the Environment. She is a woman of color, and she has a message for the outdoor industry: Representation, as it is pursued, often misses the point—and it’s not enough. Read the story through the link in bio. Photo: @sofia_jaramillo5

A post shared by Patagonia (@patagonia) on Aug 12, 2020 at 11:59am PDT

Hootsuite

This Hootsuite Instagram carousel parses findings from the 2020 Q4 Digital Statshot Report into easily digestible stats and takeaways. Instagram carousels also make for good case study formats, and more.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hot off the press #Digital2020 October Global Statshot report! Big headlines this quarter, including marketers missing out on some of today’s biggest digital opportunities. Don’t be that marketer Find out what’s new in the world of social, digital marketing, e-commerece, video, gaming, and pretty much everything else. Discover more in our highlights

A post shared by Hootsuite (@hootsuite) on Oct 22, 2020 at 4:17pm PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

When COVID-19 struck, and stores had to close immediately, @clarinsuk had to shift its focus to e-commerce while continuing to provide the expert guidance it’s known for—but without the face-to-face in-store interactions.⁣ ⁣ Read the full story at the link in our bio

A post shared by Hootsuite (@hootsuite) on Oct 16, 2020 at 8:34am PDT

Manage your Instagram presence alongside your other social channels and save time using Hootsuite. From a single dashboard you can schedule and publish posts and Stories, edit images, and measure performance. Try it free today.

Get Started

The post How to Create Beautiful Instagram Carousel Posts (Free Templates) appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.

Social Media

via Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard https://ift.tt/1LdunxE

November 10, 2020 at 04:56PM

https://ift.tt/2XfWyV9

The 7 Best Facebook Marketing Tips You Need to Know

https://ift.tt/2JYGyVf

Facebook can be a great way to market a small business to the local community. As recently as last year, there were 2.6 billion monthly active users. That makes it the largest social network used around the world. In the case of using it to reach a local market, Facebook can allow you to reach a larger audience and attract customers away from your competitors. Here are some of the best Facebook marketing tips you can use to build up your small business.

1. Be strategic with posting.

When posting on your company’s social media page, you shouldn’t just post on it just to post. All of your social media content should have some kind of purpose. You think about the actions you’ll want your audience to take as a result of seeing your post. When considering the next update you write, look at your Facebook Insights, and see what content has typically been popular. Use that as a guide when posting on your page. Additionally, check the pages of your competitors and analyze the content that has been successful. Attempt to recreate that content in a unique way.

2. Create an attractive cover.

While you can choose to put up your business logo as a cover, you might miss an opportunity to create one that really engages your audience. Consider looking into putting together a video cover for your page. You could arrange some short clips of what happens in your business in a day. You could also put some clips of pleasant customer interactions or your employees being happy to work there. Using a video cover can be a great way to highlight your small business’ culture and brand.

3. Plan out your content.

Just posting day to day without any kind of plan can quickly get overwhelming. Having a calendar and schedule can make it easier to strategically post each day at specific times of the day. Use an online tool like Trello to pre-plan all your posts for the month. Then, preload the content into a tool like Buffer, which will auto-post your content for you. Using these tools will allow you to focus on other important work with your business. You’ll only have to log in to check how your content is performing and respond to your followers’ comments.

4. Go live.

Potential customers enjoy getting to see casual content in video format. You can use Facebook’s Go Live, too, and show your followers a behind-the-scenes look of your business. It can be unscripted and focus on a general part of your company that’s interesting. Examples of live feeds you can consider doing include sharing customer testimonials, showcasing new products, doing tutorials, and many other ideas. Once you finish your live video, you can save it and feature it on your page for future visitors to find later.

5. Custom audiences

Running ads doesn’t require a large expense to do effectively. All it takes is getting your posts seen by the right people through targeting. Facebook provides you tools to create a custom audience that your ads can be shown, too. It’s helpful to have a good understanding of the demographics associated with your business. Once you set up the ad, you can use the Facebook pixel on your website to focus on a certain behavior you want to be the outcome of your ad. You can build a custom audience based on visits and engagements on your page, the number of people who watch your video, subscribers to your newsletters, and a variety of other ways. Alternatively, you could have Facebook create an audience of people matching your existing audience’s behaviors and interests or your own customer list.

6. Friendly interaction

Communicate with your followers as if they were your own friends on Facebook. Humanizing your brand in this way will make more people interested in engaging with your page. One tactic you can try is reaching out to your followers with no specific purpose of selling them anything. You could ask how they’re doing and just check if the product or service you provide is doing well for them. When you give value to your followers without anything in return, it helps build a lasting relationship. 

Additionally, in accordance with Robert Cialdini’s reciprocity principle, they’ll feel more like doing something nice in return, such as purchasing one of your products or service. Similar to how people don’t enjoy those on Facebook who always talk about themselves, they also don’t enjoy a brand that always promotes itself. It’s wise to also have your team read every comment and respond to them as soon as possible. The responses should be detailed and thoughtful. You can further humanize your company by having people sign off every reply with their first names.

7. List your page on Facebook maps.

Perhaps you’ve once used Facebook’s “check-in” tool to mark yourself as having visited somewhere. It’s important to know that you can use that same tool with your business as well. Whenever a customer checks in to your location, the person’s timeline will display their check-in to your company and link to your brand page. To make this happen, you need to have your company listed under the “Local Business or Place” category.

Customers can be encouraged to check in at your business location by offering them points or discounts every time they do it. If one of your customers that does this happens to have 100’s of friends on Facebook, and most of them are locals, that can be great targeted visibility for your brand. People will also be influenced to trust shopping at your business more since one of their friends was a customer.

Facebook has been a useful tool for many businesses trying to market themselves and build their customer base. All of these tips can be useful for helping your company expand its visibility and become more profitable. Constantly experiment with different techniques, and take time to learn more about digital marketing Raleigh.

The post The 7 Best Facebook Marketing Tips You Need to Know appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Social Media

via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog

November 10, 2020 at 12:00PM

https://ift.tt/2UaozwO

Twitter could face its first GDPR penalty within days

https://ift.tt/3ncmVqR

European data protection regulators have inched toward an enforcement decision for a Twitter breach that the company publicly disclosed in 2019, after a majority of EU data supervisors agreed to back a draft settlement submitted earlier by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC).

Twitter disclosed the bug in its ‘Protect your tweets’ feature at the start of last year — saying at the time that some Android users who’d applied its setting to make their tweets non-public may have had their data exposed to the public Internet since as far back as 2014.

A new data protection regime came into force in the European Union in May 2018 — meaning the 2014-2019 breach falls under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Ireland’s DPC is the lead supervisor authority in the case but the cross-border nature of Twitter’s business means all EU data protection agencies have an interest and the ability to make “relevant and reasoned” objections to the draft. Objections to the DPC’s draft decision were duly raised over the summer — triggering a dispute resolution process for cross-border cases set out in the GDPR.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), a body which helps coordinate pan-EU regulatory activity, said today it has adopted its first Article 65 decision — referring to the mechanism for settling disagreement between the EU’s patchwork of data supervisors. This means that at least a two-thirds majority of the EU DPAs have backed the settlement.

“On 9 November 2020, the EDPB adopted its binding decision and will shortly notify it formally to the Irish SA,” it wrote in a statement.

Ireland’s deputy commissioner, Graham Doyle, confirmed the EDPB has informed it of an Article 65 decision — but declined to comment further at this stage.

Ireland’s DPC now has up to a month to issue a final decision.

“The Irish SA [supervisory authority] shall adopt its final decision on the basis of the EDPB decision, which will be addressed to the controller, without undue delay and at the latest one month after the EDPB has notified its decision,” the EDPB statement adds.

Details of any penalties Twitter may face — such as a fine — have not yet been confirmed. But the end of the process is now in sight.

GDPR places a legal obligation on data controllers to adequately protect personal data and financial penalties for violations of the framework can scale up to 4% of a company’s annual global turnover. Although in the case of big tech the largest GDPR fine to date remains a $57M fine slapped on Google by France’s CNIL.

Unlike that Google case — which CNIL pursued ahead of Google moving its EU legal base to Ireland — the Twitter case is cross-border and will be the first such big tech GDPR case to be concluded once a final decision is out.

The EU’s flagship data protection regulation continues to face criticism over how long it’s taking for cases and complaints to be investigated and decisions issued — especially those related to big tech.

Last year the Irish regulator said its first cross-border GDPR decisions would be coming “early” in 2020. In the event its first one will arrive before the end of 2020 — but that’s a pace that’s unlikely to silence critics who argue EU regulators are not equipped for the complex, resource-intensive task of overseeing how big tech handles people’s data.

The Twitter breach case is likely to be considerably less complex than some of the complaint-based GDPR investigations ongoing into big tech platforms — which include probes around the legal bases for Facebook to process user data and how Google’s ad exchange is using Internet users’ data. Yet the EDPB still allowed for a full extra month to the Article 65 process (instead of the default one month) because of what it described as “the complexity of the subject matter”. That hardly bodes well for more contentious cases.

Still, going through dispute resolution over cross-border cases may lead to greater consistency and help DPAs pick up enforcement pace over time.

The UK’s ICO looks like a bit of a cautionary tale in this regard — having recently taken the clippers to massive preliminary fines it announced in a couple of (non-big tech GDPR) data breach cases, meaning enforcement ended up being both later and less stinging than it had first appeared.

Despite critics’ claims that GDPR enforcement continues to be lacking in places where it should be hard-hitting, the question of how to effectively regulate big tech is one that EU lawmakers aren’t backing away from.

On the contrary, the Commission is set to lay out a legislative proposal next month to apply ex ante rules to dominant Internet platforms as part of a planned Digital Markets Act. Under the plans, so-called ‘gatekeepers’ will to be subject to a list of ‘dos and don’ts’ that’s slated to include controls on how they can share data.

It could also could see a push to create a pan-EU regulator to oversee major platforms. 

Such an approach could help to reduce the oversight burden facing a handful of EU DPAs with an outsized number of big tech giants on their books. But, again, there’s likely to be a long wait ahead before any new EU platform rules can be effectively enforced. 

Social Media

via Twitter – TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com

November 10, 2020 at 11:11AM

https://ift.tt/3kiWv4I

Swyft Filings Review

https://ift.tt/3pfVzBZ

Swyft Filings is a quick and easy way to form an LLC, C corporation, S corporation, or nonprofit.

The company was launched by a lawyer who recognized the need for automation in the business filing process. These services allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to follow their dreams without the high costs and traditional legal fees.

With Swyft Filings, anyone can get a business up and running quickly and efficiently at an affordable price. Regardless of the location or industry, tens of thousands of companies have trusted Swyft Filings’ business formation services.

Is Swyft Filings right for you?

This guide will help you answer that question. We’ve researched and reviewed the top business formation services offered by Swyft Filings. You’ll learn more about the pricing, plan options, support, and see what real customers are saying about their experience.

Ready to launch your business? Sign up for Swyft Filings today.

Swyft Filings Business Formation Services

Like many business formation services, Swyft Filings has an extensive offerings list. But the primary services can be broken down into three main categories—LLC services, incorporation services, and registered agent services.

Continue below for an in-depth review of each service.

Swyft Filings LLC Services

The LLC formation services from Swyft Filings are the company’s most popular offering. Small business owners throughout all 50 states rely on this service for launching a business.

The experts at Swyft Filings will help you save time, money and avoid costly errors during the filings process. They also help you maintain your business post-launch. Here’s a quick overview of how the LLC formation process works with Swyft Filings.

Once you land on the website and select the LLC option, you just need to complete a simple form to provide some information about your business. This can be completed in less than ten minutes. Based on the information you provide, Swyft Filings prepares and files all of the paperwork on your behalf.

After the documentation has been approved by the state, you’ll receive a completed LLC package in the mail.

It really doesn’t get more convenient than this. The online form is so straightforward. Compared to some of the other LLC formation services on the market today, the Swyft Filings form can be completed in just a fraction of the time.

There are three plans for you to choose from:

• Basic — $49 + state fees
• Standard — $149 + state fees
• Premium — $299 + state fees

All plans come with company name availability verification, articles of organization preparation, document filing, online document access, lifetime phone and email support, and a free 30-minute tax consultation.

You’ll also benefit from online status tracking and free shipping. The packages are all backed by a 100% money-back guarantee (more on this later on).

The Basic plan does not come with an EIN (employer identification number). This is definitely something that you need. You can add it to the package for $70 or just upgrade to the Standard plan to get an EIN included.

In addition to the EIN, the Standard plan also includes a custom LLC operating agreement and custom LLC banking resolution. This plan provides the best value.

The Premium plan includes some features you don’t really need from a business formation service (like a free website and web hosting). But it does offer express FedEx shipping of your documents.

Swyft Filings has tens of thousands of reviews across several third-party review platforms. What do their customers have to say about the LLC services? Let’s take a closer look.

One recent review from Trustpilot that stood out to me was from a customer who used Swyft Filings to set up an LLC in less than 20 minutes.

It sounds like this customer has been through this process before with another business formation company. When comparing the two side by side, Swyft Filings took minutes, while the other took days.

Other customers rave about the speed of the process as well. Lots of reviews point to the simple interface, affordable pricing, and great customer service.

If you want to file an LLC quickly and easily while keeping your costs low, Swyft Filings should definitely be a top consideration. The Standard package delivers the best bang for your buck.

Swyft Filings Incorporation Services

Swyft Filings is also a popular choice for anyone that needs to incorporate. They have services for C-corps, S-corps, and nonprofit corporations.

The incorporation process is nearly identical to the LLC formation process. Just head over to the Swyft Filings website and choose your entity type and state. From there, you can fill out a form that can be completed in less than 10 minutes.

Swyft Filings takes the info to prepare your incorporation documents and files them with the Secretary of State.

The information on the form will vary slightly based on the entity type. But it’s still really easy to answer all of those questions online. Once the process is complete and your documents are approved, you’ll receive a completed C-corp, S-corp, or nonprofit package by mail.

As for the plans and pricing, the package rates are identical for all entity types.

Choose from Basic ($49 + state fees), Standard ($149 + state fees), or Premium ($299 + state fees).

The Basic plan comes with the essentials like the ability to verify your company name, articles of incorporation preparation, articles of incorporation filing, and a free statement of the incorporator. You’ll also get a free business tax consultation session, lifetime support, and online access to your incorporation documents.

However, the entry-level plan doesn’t come with an EIN, custom corporate bylaws, a corporate banking resolution, or corporate meeting minutes. You’ll need to upgrade to the Standard plan to get all of these services, which is definitely something that I recommend.

The Premium plan offers some extras you probably won’t use. But you’ll benefit from faster shipping and online delivery of state documents.

Similar to the LLC services, customers seem genuinely happy with the incorporation services from Swyft Filings. There are some recent reviews highlighting how quickly the process was to incorporate a nonprofit. Others explained how easy it was to incorporate in multiple states.

Lots of the reviews point to the prompt and friendly service provided by the agents at Swyft Filings.

In addition to the incorporation services mentioned above, Swyft Filings also offers DBA (doing business as) names. You’ll also benefit from an extensive learning center and a free incorporation guide to help you figure out which entity type is right for you.

Swyft Filings Registered Agent Services

Whether you’re starting an LLC, S Corporation, C Corporation, or a nonprofit, you’ll need a registered agent.

Fortunately, Swyft Filings provides registered agent services. So if you’re using this platform to form your business, it makes sense to get a registered agent from them as well.

Your registered agent will handle all of the formal correspondence required between your business and government agencies. They’ll help you remain compliant, protect your privacy, and ensure you don’t miss any filing deadlines.

Signing up for the registered agent services from Swyft Filings is easy. All you have to do is complete a quick questionnaire online.

Once you’re signed up, you can manage everything from your online dashboard. Your registered agent will send you alerts and reminders for important deadlines and information, so there’s no reason for you to check in with them on a regular basis.

All of your information, mail, and digital documents are stored safely.

If your business is ever involved in a lawsuit, the registered public agent address is the location where you’ll be served. So you won’t have to worry about the negative perception of being served in front of your employees or customers.

For existing businesses that want to switch registered agents, Swyft Filings makes this process as easy as well.

The registered agent services from Swyft Filings start at $149. Your plan will renew automatically.

What are real customers saying about the registered agent services from Swyft Filings?

For the most part, reviews tend to be favorable. The only gripe I see is from people who wanted to cancel their registered agent service and struggled to do so. However, it seems like this is more of a state compliance issue, as opposed to a problem with Swyft Filings.

It appears as though those customers didn’t appoint a new registered agent before attempting to cancel (and they need to legally have a registered agent on record). But since this was brought up a few times in recent reviews, I thought it was worth mentioning.

If you’re using Swyft Filings to form your business, it makes sense to get a registered agent from them as well. Using a different provider for this just complicates things.

Overall Pricing and Value

We’ve mentioned the price points for Swyft Filings services throughout this guide. But I want to take a moment to clearly outline the exact plans, packages, and rates. Regardless of your entity type, these are the packages offered:

Basic — $49 + state fees

• Verify company name availability
• Prepare and file articles of organization
• Prepare and file articles of incorporation (S corps, C corps, nonprofits)
• Online document access
• Lifetime phone and email support
• Free 30 minute business tax consultation
• ComplianceGuard company alerts
• Free domain
• Standard filing time
• First class shipping

Standard — $149 + state fees

• All Basic services
• Federal tax ID (EIN)
• Custom LLC operating agreement
• Custom LLC banking resolution
• Custom corporate bylaws (for incorporation services)
• Custom corporation meeting minutes (for incorporation services)

Premium — $299 + state fees

• All Standard services
• Electronic delivery of state documents
• Customized digital LLC kit
• Customized digital corporate kit (for incorporation services)
• Free business website and web hosting
• Express shipping and tracking with FedEx

All plans also come with real-time status tracking, free shipping, and a 100% money-back guarantee (more on this shortly). Registered agent services start at $149.

Overall, the Standard plan is your best value. I ignore the perks like a business website, domain, and hosting. These aren’t something you should be using a business formation service for. So they don’t really add value to the plan.

It’s worth noting that lots of other business formation services on the market offer a free registered agent for the first year if you sign up. Swyft Filings does not. While this isn’t quite the industry standard, lots of formation services offer it. This isn’t a reason to avoid them by any means, but it’s still worth mentioning.

User Experience

In terms of customer experience, Swyft Filings is about as easy as it gets. Navigating the website and signing up is super simple.

After you select your entity type, state, and plan, the form you fill out is arguably the simplest in the industry. The entire process can be completed in less than ten minutes. From there, it’s just a matter of sitting back and waiting while the team at Swyft Filings handles the rest.

One recent review on the Swyft Filings website points to the modern UI.

Most users seem to feel the same way. It’s really easy to navigate everything from your dashboard, especially for the registered agent services.

One potential drawback is that the electronic delivery of your state documents is only available on the Premium plan. If you’re on the Basic or Standard plan, you have to wait for those to arrive through the mail.

With that said, other documents will still be available online from your customer dashboard.

Customer Support

The Swyft Filings support team is available via phone and live chat Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm CST. If you browse through reviews, you’ll see that the vast majority highlight the helpful and prompt responses by the Swift Filings customer care team.

Furthermore, Swyft Filings offers a 100% money-back guarantee when you sign up for their services. This is how they commit to providing exceptional customer service.

If you aren’t satisfied with the services you receive, you’re entitled to a refund of your Swyft Filings fees (state fees are not eligible).

While this promise is encouraging, there are some contingencies (which is usually the case when companies have a policy like this). After submitting the refund request, a representative will review your situation and make an effort to resolve the issue. If they find a filing error made by Swyft Filings, then you’ll be refunded with no questions asked. All refunds must be requested according to the terms of service.

Final Verdict

Swyft Filings is an industry leader in the business formation space in terms of filing speed. After you fill out a 10-minute form online, they’ll begin processing your information right away.

It’s a great option for anyone that needs to form an LLC, S corporation, C corporation, or nonprofit.

In addition to the business formation services, Swyft Filings also has registered agent services, DBA names, and more. If you’re looking for a fast and cost-effective way to form your business, look no further than Swyft Filings.

Social Media

via Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/UU7LJr

November 10, 2020 at 11:00AM

https://ift.tt/32x2o8C

The Story Of Sentiment Analysis And Social Media

https://ift.tt/3liA6pM

With all the mass reach social media has these days, the power that comes with riding on its wave is simply hard to deny. With thousands of posts and tweets, there is seemingly no end to the chatter. But it is important to know if all that chatter is in favor of or against your agendas. Imagine launching a product that has become the talk of the town. But is all that talk good or bad? A little more context, especially when you are doing a business, doesn’t hurt anyone. 

Enter sentiment analysis.

Sentiment analysis, also known as opinion mining, is the process of defining and categorizing opinions in a given piece of text as positive, negative, or neutral. Whereas, when you do sentiment analysis in social media, that tells you how people feel about your brand online. Rather than simply counting in mentions or comments, sentiment analysis factors in emotions and opinions as well. It majorly involves collecting and analyzing information in the posts shared by people about your brand on social media platforms. 

The most attractive factor about using social media for sentiment analysis is that there’s a vast pool of data to gather. With the increasing number of consumers tagging and talking about brands on various platforms, gauging popular public opinion is no longer a task. Additionally, doing the analysis encourages businesses to take a more proactive approach to social media and directly engage with their customers. They can translate those feelings into actionable business data and prevent customers’ emotions from falling by the wayside.

Now, how do we perform social sentiment analysis?

The ideal way to conduct a social media sentiment analysis is to collect all the data you can. Although sentiment analysis can result in relevant insights to brands, it has its own set of challenges.

Step 1: Find out where is the consumer talking

Consumers everywhere are not shying away from sounding off on brands – both on and off social media. Businesses need to pay undivided attention to all the social mentions wherever their customers are directly addressing them. In doing so, a brand manages to capitalize on the good and address the bad in time. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and LinkedIn are the best places to start analyzing the mentions as consumers directly talk to the brands there. It is also important to monitor review forums on third-party sites like Google Reviews, Reddit, etc. In case you are in the e-commerce world, then the on-site reviews are particularly valuable. However, monitoring all these platforms manually can certainly be time-consuming. That’s why a social listening tool is highly recommended for the sake of saving time.

Step 2: Choose your terms for the analysis

Sentiment analysis works only when one can separate the positive mentions from the negative ones. For example, best, high-five, love, amazing, perfect, etc. are positive terms, whereas worst, hate, disappointed, bad, avoid, etc., are negative ones. Hence, searching for specific terms that highlight customer sentiment is of high importance. Some terms are relatively straightforward, whereas others might be industry-specific. Either way, the sentiment terms need to be clearly divided into positive and negative terms. 

Step 3: Put context to your mentions

This is where it all gets a little tricky. The amount of sentiment-related terms in your searches won’t always tell the full story of how the customers feel. It’s important to double-check your mentions and put context to it while you leave some room for analytical error caused due to sarcasm. When somebody tweets, “I love it when I lose my luggage after a nine-hour flight,” they aren’t thrilled about their experience. So it is crucial to check the context of the mention before counting it in.

Step 4: Let an analysis tool do the legwork for you

The sheer amount of conversations happening at the moment is enough to motivate you to invest in a third-party listening tool. These tools help monitor and organize your social mentions in real-time and help you pick and choose terms related to sentiment analysis that you want to track and produce a sentiment analysis report. This report monitors all the positive, negative, and neutral mentions over time, which helps determine if the brand perception is improving or not on a monthly basis.

Bottom Line

Social media is probably the biggest pool from where one can mine for public opinion and start the process of gathering informative data on the success or failure of a particular brand, products, or marketing campaigns in the eyes of the public. Sentiment analysis isn’t a perfect way to analyze what works and what doesn’t for a brand. But it definitely is a starting point to understand the overall general public sentiment, which can be used to initiate campaigns based on their feedback.

The post The Story Of Sentiment Analysis And Social Media appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Social Media

via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog

November 10, 2020 at 06:53AM