Preparing Students for the Technology-Based Future by Closing the Digital Divide

Attempting to run a business without the use of modern technology is essentially setting yourself up for failure in today’s digital world. In a sense, modern consumers have been spoiled by the convenience that technology offers them when purchasing a product or service. Why call one auto mechanic when another service features everything the consumer needs to know on the company’s website? And why shop at this boutique when I can visit another’s website and get what I need shipped right to my door?

First and foremost, the advancement of technology has helped heat up competition among businesses of all kinds, and the company that attracts the most customers isn’t always the best out there. To keep up with this competition and earn a place among other companies on social networking platforms, apps, and elsewhere on the Internet, it’s important to keep learning about the latest technologies throughout your business education.

Tech Tools to Look Out For

As a small business owner, keeping up with modern technology can be a costly endeavor. Fortunately, recent advancements such as cloud computing have allowed entrepreneurs to take advantage of the latest technological developments without going over a strict budget. According to Ed

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Oswald, owner of a small freelance writing and media consulting business, cloud computing helps to reduce his technology expenses by offering 5 GB of free storage space for keeping records with important business information. In addition to saving a few bucks, Oswald claims that cloud computing offers even more convenience by being available anywhere and anytime.

Social networking is another important technology-based tool that no small business can successfully function without. Essentially any Internet presence will do, but social networking offers the most cost-effective solution for businesses on a budget. By maintaining a presence on each of the biggest social media sites out there (Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc.), your company can successfully connect with your target audience without having to spend a lot of money.

Focusing on Technology in the Classroom

Introducing students to technology early on in their education is one of the most effective ways educators can prepare future entrepreneurs and small business owners for the technology-dependent professional world. Whether it’s through online courses or flipped classrooms, institutions across the country are recognizing the vital importance of equipping students with a strong understanding of various technological tools. These media are not merely used as a different outlet to share information with students, but are simultaneously teaching students how to use technological methods in the real world.

Educators are starting to realize that knowing how to successfully operate technological devices is a fundamental part of a student’s education in the modern world. In fact, many schools are starting to make online courses a requirement for students to graduate. Since nearly every business today has an online component, hopeful entrepreneurs without this knowledge can easily get left behind. As technology develops and different devices and media become available, entrepreneurs

have a responsibility to keep up—either through a formal educational program or by learning through personal experience.

Advertising Without Irritation

Once a blog has begun to attract a substantial amount of traffic, many bloggers find that it is time to make the transition to using advertising to generate income for their site. Including advertisements in a blog can be

a lucrative move for blogge

rs and can often lead to earning a full-time income.

While making advancements in their blogging is an exciting step for blog authors, many of them worry that including advertising may irritate their readers and even turn some of them away. However, by following the tips of people such as Bob Beck sales expert and learning from the lessons of other bloggers, online authors can include advertising in their blogs in a way that will be unobtrusive and even helpful to their readers.

Keep Advertisements Relevant to Readers

Advertisements can be included in a blog in a way that will actually enhance the content. Bloggers should select ads that are related to the topics of their articles. For example,

a person who blogs about technology should include advertisements about different electronic devices, software and repair companies. If readers find that advertisements are useful, then they will not be annoyed when they come across it in a blog.

Pay Attention to Placement

Naturally, an advertisement that is flashing images in the middle of content will be jarring to a reader. However, there are many ways to include advertisements naturally throughout the blog by paying attention to the type of advertising that is used and where it is placed on the webpage.

There are many different and they include links, banners, images and in-text references. It can be helpful to place banners and images at either the top or the side of the page in order to avoid interfering with the text. When incorporating links and in-text references to a product, they should be written into the content in a way that flows smoothly and makes sense to the reader.

Keep Blog Posts Interesting and Informative

The best way to keep readers visiting a blog that includes advertising is to make sure that the blog articles are entertaining and include information that they will want to know. Making sure that the advertisements that are selected refer to honest products will also help to keep readers’ trust in the integrity of the blog. Just as people will continue watching television shows that have commercials because they enjoy the program, readers will continue to return to a blog as long as the articles continue to keep them fascinated.

Including advertisements in a blog is a smart decision that a successful blogger will eventually have to make. By incorporating advertisements into a blog effectively, their content can be enhanced. Including carefully placed and useful advertisements in a blog can actually lead to a better experience for the readers who visit an author’s blog.

How to make your brand stand out

Regardless of the size of the business you run or the sector you operate in, you’ll be aware of the need to make sure your organization stands out from your competitors. After all, if people aren’t able to easily recognize your company from others i

n the industry they may be less inclined to make use of your goods and services. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, it’s worth utilizing promotional products to elevate your brand above your rivals.

For years, promotional merchandise has been deployed by businesses to make sure their name sticks firmly in the minds of both existing and potential customers. Choose the right product - or products - carefully and you can expect to see a sizeable increase in both brand awareness and future profits. As an example, let’s look at how promotional flash drives can be used to raise brand awareness.

Distribute products that offer value to customers
When it comes to promotional products, people are more likely to want and use items that are valuable. As obvious as it sounds, if you give consumers things that are useful they will be more inclined to use them. Being given a

promotional memory stick is definitely something consumers will appreciate, namely because they’re an effective way to save documents, photos and other files. As such, they are useful for virtually everyone who uses a computer.

USBs are highly portable - they can easily be popped into a bag or pocket - so they can be taken out of the home and/or office. Remember that they can be used by more than one person, so there is plenty of scope to boost brand exposure beyond the initial recipient.

Use eye-catching designs
Yes, it’s important to provide things that are functional and well-built, but that’s not to say they shouldn’t be fun too. In fact, if you distribute promotional items that feature an eye-catching design they’re more likely to capture people’s interest as you give them out at trade shows or distribute them in direct mail campaigns.

A good way to get these items to stick firmly in consumers’ minds is to incorporate bright colours into their designs. It’s also worth considering the shape of these products. Having something designed to look like a robot or credit card can really help your company to stand out from promotional merchandise offered by your competitors, while items crafted from eco-friendly materials is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.

Whichever design you choose though, make sure your business’s logo is prominently displayed on your products. After all, there’s not much point having quirky-looking USB sticks if there is nothing on them that will help users to associate your brand with them. In addition to having your logo emblazoned on the casing, it’s also worth putting on details like your company’s phone number, website address and Twitter handle. This means that recipients know exactly how they can get in touch with you if they want to make a purchase or would like to find out more information about your products and services.

USB sticks are a great way to promote your brand. If you’ve used promotional flash drives as part of a marketing campaign or at an event like a trade show

or exhibition - what experiences have you had?

Be Your Own Boss in the Healthcare Field

Although no one is quite sure how the implementation of the Affordable Care Act will play out, the aging U.S. population will crea

te many job opportunities in the health care field. Since the Affordable Care Act was intended to increase access to medical services, it may well help fuel the boom in

medical careers. With increased opportunity, some providers are likely to opt for the flexible schedule and freedom of self-employment.

With the ability to set one’s own hours and pay rates, there are some distinct advantages to starting a medical care business. Let’s assess a few of the most common independent medical practices:

Nursing
Both LPNs and RNs are in prime position to achieve success as independent contractors. Registered nursing ranks number one on U.S. News and World Report’s 2012 list of the 25 best jobs. Nursing education programs can range from one year schooling to become an LPN all the way up to doctoral degrees for RNs.

With high demand for skilled nurses for the foreseeable future, the self-employed nurse can expect excellent wages. Self-employed nurses can control the hours they work and how many patients they care for at one time.

As the population ages, nurses will be needed to provide at-home care and consultation services. Opportunities also exist to work as a relief care contractor to hospitals, care homes and other institutional settings.

Massage Therapy
The outlook for massage therapy is also good according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau expects 20 percent growth in demand for massage therapists through 2020. Massage therapists help relieve stress and heal soft tissue injuries

through touch. Most states regulate massage therapists, and many require the therapist to attend massage school.

The independent massage therapist may choose to work from their own storefront, or they can contract with private businesses to provide massages to employees at the business location. Some therapists travel to private homes or other locations to provide services. Massage therapists can also work as independent contractors with fitness centers, spas and salons.

Speech-Language Pathologists
Although most speech-language pathologists work for institutions, there are opportunities to be self-employed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 23.4 percent increase in speech-language pathologist jobs within the next ten years. This career requires a master’s degree, but the median wage is over $66,000.

Speech-language pathologists have the opportunity to work as part of home-care teams for patients recovering from strokes or other brain injuries. With improved treatments for brain injury patients, the need for speech therapy is expected to rise.

Self-employed speech-language pathologists can also work with local schools to provide services. With many school districts facing budget constraints, staff positions for special services are being cut. This provides an opportunity for the independent speech-language pathologist, particularly in rural areas.

As the need for medical care grows In the United States, so does the opportunity for self-employed healthcare providers. Self-employment provides great job satisfaction and wages, control of one’s time and the ability to serve the client rather than the bureaucracy of a medical institution.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Start a Business Alone

Starting a business on your own sounds great, but it usually works better in theory than in practice. Most new entrepreneurs exaggerate the

drawbacks of forming a partnership because they are afraid of sharing management and ideas with someone who might not agree with them. That fear of losing control of your business can hold you back from creating a successful enterprise. If you feel strongly about doing it all by yourself, the top five business collaboration benefits listed below might convince you to give teamwork a try.

Advantages of Teamwork

1. Additional capital Starting and growing a business can take a tremendous amount of capital. Taking out loans can backfire if your business gets off to a slow start or fails in the long run. One or two partners can invest additional funds into the development of your business without putting your financial stability at risk the way loans would.

2. Access to valuable experience and advice Teaming up with an experienced professional is a great way to instantly improve your skills and avoid common mistakes.

3. Exchange of invaluable ideas Brainstorming with other people is the best way to figure out what your business needs to succeed. By bouncing around ideas, you and your partner can come up with brilliant strategies that can take your business to new heights. You can even use digital tools like collaboration apps to communicate new observations and ideas in between your face-to-face meetings.

4. Well-rounded approach to business development and management There are many different aspects to running a business including management, marketing, accounting, research and operations. You might be great at managing daily operations or networking, but maybe you are not so good at market research. Having a partner who excels in areas that you struggle with can help you build a stronger business.

5. Less stress and more support Sharing responsibilities and tasks with a partner is the best way to reduce the stress associated with building a new business. Collaboration apps can help you stay in touch with each other and on top of your business, so you can always feel like everything is under control.

What to Look for in a Partner
Remember that the key to a great partnership is finding a professional who shares your goals and ambition. Look for a partner who understands your vision and wants to make it a reality without altering your original plan. If your partner understands and agrees on the direction of your business from the start, you can avoid potential problems in the future.