Dialpad Meetings is an easy-to-use conference call service. With robust call recording tools and a host of great features, it’s one of the best free conference call services. There are a few areas where competitors surpass it, such as the call audio quality, but it’s still better overall than most other conference calling services. Dialpad Meetings Pros and ConsPros
Cons
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How Dialpad Meetings Compares to the Best Conference Call ServicesDialpad Meetings holds up well against the other conference call services on the market, particularly those that are free. With its top call recording tools, its free plan is easily one of the best offerings available for individuals who want to jump right in, although some of its competitors’ paid plans beat it in a few areas. The call audio quality, for one, isn’t quite as good as it is elsewhere. Still, this is an excellent conference call service with plenty of useful features and a dedicated mobile app that impressively comes as standard on the free plan. The best conference services overall are RingCentral and GoToMeeting. RingCentral provides top video, screen sharing, and messaging features, and it’s free for up to 100 participants. Meanwhile, GoToMeeting is another top-notch conference call service known for HD video conferencing, 24/7 customer support, and Salesforce integration. Dialpad Meetings Call RecordingThe ability to record calls is a vital feature of any good conference call service. I’m pleased to see Dialpad Meetings offer it, allowing companies to record their business calls for the unbeatable price of free. Recording calls can be essential to improving customer service, allowing employees to learn where a call might have taken a wrong turn or understanding which places they could have directed a customer to instead. Of course, you might want to record calls to confirm details too. Dialpad Meetings allows companies to set up their system so that every call that comes through—whether through the main line, call queue, or department—will be automatically recorded and stored. These archived calls can then be listened to with select access to them when needed. That’s one way of recording calls with Dialpad Meetings. The other is to manually click Record on the on-screen menu once a call has started. You can also choose to record specific bits of a call and stop it by clicking the button again. For all recording methods, the call is converted into an MP3 file. This is then downloadable from a folder for personal use. It’s worth mentioning that MP3 files often take up little storage space—you can rest easy there. How does Dialpad Meetings stack up against its competitors? The answer is very well overall, though Dialpad didn’t make our top list of best call recording software. It’s not unusual to see some services charge users for call recording. Not only that, but the system here is easy to use, flexible, and the file size of the calls isn’t a problem. Some long-term users have experienced issues with their call quality, but this is few and far between. Dialpad Meetings excels in this area. Dialpad Meetings Number of ParticipantsThe number of participants is a significant factor when it comes to using conference call services. The limit on the number of participants almost always changes based on plans. For example, with Dialpad Meetings, the free plan is for 10 participants, but the paid version allows for a much greater number at 100. How important this is, of course, comes down to what you need, and a small remote team would be well-served with Dialpad Meetings’s starting plan. On the other hand, a larger business might find this limit detrimental, leaving it unable to hold a call with everyone it needs to at a given time. As you can see from the picture below, Dialpad Meetings also limits the calls to a duration of 45 minutes on the free plan. Meanwhile, the paid tier allows calls to go on for up to five hours at a time. Against the competition, Dialpad Meetings’ offering here is generally satisfactory, although some of the other conference call services allow for more participants in a call on their starting plans. Another factor here is call duration. For example, Google Hangouts allows 25 people to be part of a call for free, and the call times are unlimited. Dialpad Meetings’s starting plan doesn’t match up to this, so keep that in mind when deciding on the best service for you. Dialpad Meetings Video and Audio QualityRegarding the call quality, we’re talking about both the video and audio here. Dialpad Meetings’ audio quality isn’t one of the greatest strengths of the service. Some customers have mentioned that audio calls can be uneven, with the quality varying between perfectly fine to difficult to understand what the other person is saying. It’s clear this isn’t a case for everyone, but the service isn’t faultless in this area. In terms of video quality, there is more consistency here. The video calls, which support resolutions up to 720p, are often stable throughout, although some people have mentioned it can occasionally be choppy. It’s fair to say that this can also depend on a user’s internet speed and quality. Dialpad Meetings recommends a bandwidth of at least 1.2-1.5 Mbps up / down for 1:1 calls, and for group calls, a rate of 1.2-1.5 Mbps up and 3 Mbps down. Compared to other conference call services, Dialpad Meetings does a good job overall, but it won’t be the highest quality service on either an audio or video level. For example, RingCentral offers consistent HD quality audio and video calls, and customers very rarely have any problems with either. It’s also worth noting that Dialpad Meetings doesn’t provide much in the way of extra features such as echo prevention, which, as the name suggests, can be helpful to prevent echoes during crucial meetings. Dialpad Meetings Voice IntelligenceDialpad Meetings features powerful Voice Intelligence (Vi) functionality that can accurately transcribe a call you’ve had with others. This can be an essential part of driving sales, gaining valuable audience insights, or improving customer service. The calls are transcribed mostly word-for-word, although occasionally there are a few minor issues concerning the accuracy. The calls are then generated in an easy-to-read format. Perhaps most impressive is the machine’s ability to learn and expand how successful it is at transcribing calls. Like something from a science fiction film, Dialpad Meetings’ call transcripts will increase in accuracy over time, and the VI system can process subtle nuances in conversations the more it’s used. It can determine different voices, too, allowing the transcripts to be easily read and understood. The ultimate aim here is to eliminate time-consuming tasks, so you can spend more energy elsewhere. Some extra features include the software being able to capture and highlight key “action Items” from your conversations and the option of searching the transcripts for specific keywords. A helpful post-call summary also includes vital details, such as searchable transcription and the overall meeting sentiment. Dialpad Meetings’ Voice Intelligence is undoubtedly a compelling offering then, but you may be wondering where it stacks up against its competitors. For instance, GoToMeeting can record the notes from a call automatically, and similarly, can transcribe key sections. The bottom line? There isn’t a massive difference in the capabilities on offer with Voice Intelligence and those offered by other top conference call services, which means Dialpad Meetings stacks up pretty well vs. competitors. Some users have noted VI being a particular highlight of the service, and it’s definitely a feature you’ll get a lot of mileage out of if you do choose Dialpad Meetings. Dialpad Meetings Screen SharingHaving the functionality to share your screen with others is a vital part of remote working. It can help you run through a task with your team and enhance the sense of collaboration between colleagues. Dialpad Meetings offers screen sharing in a simple and easy-to-use form. Users can share a screen by clicking the share screen button and can then choose whether to share a window or their entire screen with their audience. The even better part is that you don’t have to be an organizer of the call to share your screen—it’s available for both organizers and participants. While you can only share a single screen at any one time, different screens can be shared throughout the call in succession if needed. You’ll also be able to access conference controls, such as the mute feature, during a screen share. If you’d merely prefer to share a document or file, then that’s also an option. There’s no doubt this is a great feature, and I think it’s something all conference call services need to have as a standard to stay up to date with the modern world. The general capabilities on offer here are similar to what’s available elsewhere, and many services offer the ability to share screens. Dialpad Meetings isn’t providing users with something revolutionary then, but it’s a fundamental feature all the same, and users note it works very well on the platform. Dialpad Meetings Custom On-Hold MusicDialpad Meetings allows its users to upload and choose their on-hold music. Or, if they’d prefer, they can pick from a selection of music that’s ready to go. This feature might not seem like the most pressing of concerns, but it can have a powerful effect on customers while they wait. Many users of Dialpad Meetings have stated their customers have often brought up the on-hold music, mainly in a positive light, so it can be a novel way of adding some personality to your company image. There’s a distinction on what users can do between the plans. On the free plan, you’re stuck with the pre-recorded music. It’s only users of the paid-for business plan that get to upload their own music. This is only true for MP3 files, but naturally, you’ll be able to upload any song you desire as long as it’s in that format. They do have to be smaller than 10MB in size, though. Of course, you may feel it necessary to not use on-hold music at all, in which case, you’ll also have the option to make customers wait in silence. This functionality isn’t a unique feature to Dialpad Meetings. For example, RingCentral allows you to choose your on-hold music too, and it can be up to 20MB in size or the .wav file format in addition to MP3s—so there’s a bit more flexibility there. That said, this is one of those features that can, in some cases, be quite effective at creating the desired mood, so it’s great to see Dialpad Meetings offer it. Just keep in mind the paid plan alone allows you to upload your songs. Dialpad Meetings Calling and RoutingCalling and routing capability is a critical part of a conference call service and covers a somewhat extensive range of features. For a start, Dialpad Meetings offers its users the option to quickly transfer an incoming call to another individual with a single click. You’ll ask the potential recipient of the call if they can take it and can send it to voicemail if not. Other notable features include the ability to create a three-way call, so another person can join in the call if need be. A dial-by-name feature allows incoming callers to speak with the required individual they’re trying to reach by using the keypad to dial in their name. There’s a handy call flip feature that moves live calls from one device to another, so imagine moving a call from your laptop to your tablet and back again without a customer knowing about it. That’s without mentioning spam call blocking and transferring calls to a “parked area” to allow others on a different extension to pick up the call. There’s a multitude of features here that will satisfy Dialpad Meetings users. While many of these features aren’t unprecedented, they are still expected by most companies. I think they all help to make Dialpad Meetings a complete package.
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SummaryIf you’re looking for a simple, straightforward conference call service, then Dialpad Meetings is one of the best options available today. With a vast number of robust features, great call recording, and an easy-to-use interface, you can’t go far wrong. The best conference call services for most people are still going to be RingCentral and GoToMeeting, but you should give Dialpad Meetings some of your time and consideration. It might well be the perfect service for you. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/uberconference-review/
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Want a website? It needs hosting. If you’re building a new website for the first time, learning how to host it is the only way your site will be published on the web. There’s an overwhelming amount of information on the Internet about web hosting. The right way depends on multiple factors, such as your technical experience, the type of website you want to build, and size of your website. That was my inspiration for creating this guide. I’ve simplified the web hosting process into just five easy steps. No matter what type of website you’re creating, you’ll be able to host it with ease if you follow the steps below.
How to Host a Website in 5 StepsHosting a website takes five straightforward steps. They are:
Keep reading for a look at each step. Step #1: Research Web Hosting ProvidersWeb hosting is just like any other consumer product or service. If you wanted to buy a new car, you wouldn’t just walk up to a dealer and purchase the first one on the lot. You’d research different types of cars, makes, models, and dealerships to help you make an informed decision. The same applies to web hosting. All web hosting providers are not the same. Some are undoubtedly better than others. Here’s the thing. There are dozens, if not hundreds of different web hosting providers on the market today. Your research process can help narrow your search. You’ll be able to eliminate certain hosts right away. There are web hosting providers out there that specialize in speed, while others prioritize customer service. Some providers are best for small business websites and others are best for agencies or enterprises. So where should you start your research? Don’t just blindly start clicking through different web hosts on Google. That’s way too time-consuming and it won’t be very productive. Plus, you won’t know what to look for to see if the company is legit or not. Nobody is going to search through all of those results. Instead, I’d recommend finding a third-party guide of reviews. As an expert in web hosting, I’ve written one of these guides myself. After personally checking the features and performance of nearly every web host in existence, I was able to narrow down the top options. So check out my list of the best web hosting providers. You don’t need to pick a provider just yet. But the research process will guide you in the right direction as you continue through each step in this guide. Step #2: Determine Your BudgetYour budget is more than picking a price point. In fact, it will also depend on the features you need and the type of hosting that you want (which we’ll get to in the next step). How much does web hosting cost? You can find hosting providers that offer plans for less than $1 per month, and other providers offering plans for $2,000 per month. Having a rough idea of what you’re willing and able to spend will at least help you narrow down your options. Our biggest piece of advice: Cheaper does not mean better. In fact, cheap web hosting is frequently an indicator of bad web hosting services. That said, there are plenty of good affordable options out there. To find out what’s right for you, assess your website and goals. For example, if you’re starting a small personal blog and not expecting tons of traffic, you can get away with paying less than $5 or $10 per month for a cheap web hosting provider. Small business owners and ecommerce sites would likely want to look towards a higher pricing tier. Web hosting is like any other type of product or service. In most instances, you get what you pay for. So don’t expect to pay $2 per month for the best web hosting experience on the planet. While price doesn’t automatically equate to quality, it’s usually a good indication of how many additional features and benefits you’ll get with the plan. If you want dedicated resources, lightning-fast loading speeds, cPanel, freebies, and 24/7 customer support, you can expect to pay a bit more for those hosting services. Step #3: Choose a Hosting TypeNow that you’ve found good providers, let’s take a look at the different types of hosting. You have four main options to choose from:
Chances are, one of these hosting types is going to work much better for you than the others. I’ll give you a brief overview of each so you can figure out which one to use. Shared HostingShared hosting is easily the best choice if you’re a beginner. Not only is it the most affordable type of web hosting but it doesn’t require a ton of technical knowledge. A shared plan is ideal for websites that won’t be getting high volumes of traffic. As the name implies, your website will be sharing server resources with other sites as well. This can impact the performance of your website. If another site on the same server has a traffic spike, it can cause the server to crash and bring down your website with it. But if you are just starting out, shared hosting makes a ton of sense. You’re not on the hook for any maintenance, which is great if configuring servers isn’t in your wheelhouse. The other types of hosting require a little more IT knowhow to use. Take a look at my guide and reviews of the best shared hosting plans if you’re interested in this type of hosting option. VPS HostingVPS stands for virtual private servers. With this type of hosting, you’ll be using a single server that’s been separated into multiple virtual machines. VPS hosting is a step above shared hosting. Since you won’t be sharing your resources with other websites, it will improve the performance of your site. Expect to have more disk space, bandwidth, higher uptimes, and faster loading speeds with a VPS plan. This is a great option for websites that will be expecting higher volumes of traffic and need enough resources to accommodate those users. VPS plans give you more control over your server settings as well. With more control, however, comes more responsibility. You’ll be on the hook for making sure the hosting environment is secure. Some providers offer “managed” VPS, which means they take over the backend stuff, but some provide an “unmanaged” VPS that you have to configure yourself. If you’re interested in a virtual private server, check out my reviews of the best VPS providers in the web hosting industry. Dedicated HostingThe majority of new websites do not need a dedicated server. This hosting type is reserved for large websites that need enterprise-level hosting capabilities. With that said, for those of you who are more tech-savvy and want complete control over your server settings and hosting environment, a dedicated server plan is the best way to get that. A dedicated server gives you the most resources and therefore delivers the highest performance. The biggest downside of a dedicated server is the price. This is the most expensive type of web hosting, which is another reason why it’s not ideal for new or small websites. You also have to think about the difference between managed and unmanaged servers. It’s more expensive to have your provider manage the server, but it’s worth it for business owners that don’t have an IT staff to take care of an unmanaged dedicated server. Cloud HostingCloud web hosting is new compared to the other three options. But it’s definitely becoming a popular choice for website owners. A cloud plan is ideal for websites that are growing and need to scale server resources as their site gets bigger. If your site is going to surpass 50,000 monthly visitors, it’s time for you to consider cloud hosting. Cloud hosting is a step above shared hosting, yet it’s usually cheaper than a VPS plan. If you choose this option, your site will be run on multiple cloud servers, which decreases your chances of having unexpected downtimes due to traffic surges or server issues. I’d recommend a cloud hosting plan to new website owners who plan on growing their site as fast as possible in the coming years. By going with a cloud plan from the beginning, you won’t have to change your hosting type down the road as you outgrow a shared plan. Check out my list of the best cloud hosting companies to help you find the best plan for your needs. Step #4: Select Your Hosting PlanNow it’s finally time to choose your hosting plan. Find a provider that offers the type of web hosting option you need at a price point that’s within your budget. You’ll likely have at least a couple of choices that fit this description. So here are some other factors that you should keep in mind when you’re evaluating a hosting plan. UptimeUptime is the most important feature in web hosting, and basically just means the time your site is live on the internet. Any time your site is down, it won’t be reachable by anyone, so you really need as little downtime as possible. If your hosting provider isn’t offering a minimum of 99.9% uptime, then look elsewhere. Seriously. Even low-budget web hosting should have near perfect uptime. Most good web hosts will offer an uptime guarantee in their plans, and compensate you if they fail to meet that promise. DreamHost, one of my top recommendations, guarantees 100% uptime, and will automatically credit your account with a day of free hosting for every hour DreamHost is down. ResourcesYou need to make sure that your plan has enough resources to accommodate your website content and traffic. The first thing to look at is RAM, which is your storage. 4 GB of RAM is enough for an average website. That’s the minimum I would recommend for you. Next, you’ll have to consider the bandwidth offered in the plan. 120 GB of bandwidth is enough for 2,000 daily page loads of a 4 GB website. So if you are expecting more traffic or plan to have a larger website, you need to get more bandwidth. Customer SupportYou may not think so right now, but aside from the performance of your hosting plan, customer service should be your next priority. In a perfect world, nothing will ever go wrong with your website or servers. But realistically, something is bound to go wrong at some point. That’s just the nature of the web hosting world. It happens to everyone, and your site probably won’t be immune from it. During a time of trouble, you want to be able to get in contact with your web host immediately. So look for a plan that offers 24/7 support via phone and live chat. When it comes to shared hosting, you won’t have to do much to make sure the server is secure and optimized. With VPS and dedicated hosting, however, you can opt for a managed plan, where the provider takes care of the IT legwork, or an unmanaged plan where it’s all on you. Managed plans are more expensive, but your going to get a lot more help than you get with an unmanaged plan. Aside from that, you should also look for providers that have a knowledge base and resource center that will teach you how to do certain tasks on their platform. This type of customer support can really help you get the most out of your web hosting plan. Renewal RatesYou need to look beyond the introductory rate of your web hosting plan to make sure that it will continue to fit within your budget in the coming years. It’s common practice in the web hosting industry for providers to heavily discount new contracts, and then increase the fees when it’s time to renew. Normally, you can lock in the best possible rate by committing to the longest term length, which is usually up to 36 months. But make sure you know how much your plan will cost you at the end of that period. Freebies, Add-ons, and Additional FeaturesYou should also be looking for plans that give you the best value for your money. Most hosting providers will include some extras in their plans as an incentive for you to sign up. Here are some common features to look for:
Most plans come with a money-back guarantee as well. 30 days seems to be the industry standard for this, but I’ve seen plans offer up to 97 days for you to change your mind. Step #5: Register Your Domain NameThe domain name is your digital address. This will be how everyone will get to access your website and its content. For example, ours is www.quicksprout.com. I included this step last because you can potentially register your domain name from your hosting provider when you sign up for a hosting plan. Sometimes this will even come free depending on the plan and provider you go with. But you can register your domain with a third-party website instead of going that route. Personally, I like to keep my domain registration services and web hosting services separate. So I’d recommend using a domain registrar for this step. If you’re lost and don’t know where to do this, take a look at my guide on the best domain registrars. Getting your domain from a web host isn’t necessarily wrong. So it’s fine if that’s what you prefer. Regardless of where you get it from, this step needs to be completed in order for your website to be live on the web. Alternative Option: Self Hosting (Not Recommend)It’s possible to host your website without using a web hosting provider. This method is called self hosting — and I don’t recommend it. Self-hosting can be accomplished by using your computer or a Linux machine as a server. It requires lots of technical experience and a full understanding of how websites and servers work. In many cases, self-hosting is slow, unstable, and unreliable. Plus, you’ll be responsible for all of the server maintenance, backups, software updates, and security on your own. Overall, self-hosting is a bad idea, especially for beginners. So I don’t want to spend too much time talking about it. But I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t at least mention it as an option. What is web hosting?Every single website online lives on a server. A web hosting provider maintains the server and technology needed to connect your site to the Internet. When an Internet user wants to visit your website, they simply type your domain or web address into their browser. Their device connects with the server and your pages are delivered to the user. Hosting a website isn’t complicated. But you want to make sure you get it right the first time. Otherwise, it can cause you big headaches and problems down the road. ConclusionHosting a website isn’t as complicated as you might think. In fact, the whole process can be accomplished in just five simple steps.
Follow the steps in order and you’ve got it made. The most important thing though is that you do your research first before you choose a host. Get started by reading our expert reviews of the top web hosting providers to find the best host for your website. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/how-to-host-a-website/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best project management software for most people is Zoho Projects or Wrike. Project management software is the difference between a team that crushes all of its objectives—and one that doesn’t really get anything done. Some solutions are intended for large teams with complex projects, others are ideal for small teams and simple projects, and the rest fall somewhere in between. No matter what type of projects you’re managing, this guide will help you find the best project management software for your needs. The Top 9 Best Project Management Software
Below, you’ll find reviews of all my recommendations so you can get a sense of what each one can do. You’ll also find a short guide to help you think through key considerations as you compare options. But nothing really beats actually test driving project management software. Do you like working in the interface? What about your team? My reviews will help you zero in on a few top contenders. From there, you should sign up for a free trial and take your shortlist of products for a spin to decide which one is perfect for you. Zoho Projects — The Best Overall Project Management Software
Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management solution. Their first on our list for their intuitive interface, and powerful set of tools to help you manage any project. From simple to complex projects, this tool has everything you need to manage various workflows. You can even automate some routine tasks to save time. Use the drag-and-drop interface as a visual way to set up new automations and deploy projects. Collaborate on the go using the Zoho Projects mobile app. Another reason to like Zoho Projects is its timesheet module. You can easily track both billable and non-billable hours for tasks. They also integrate with popular apps you’re already using like Slack, Zapier, G Suite, Dropbox, and other apps in the Zoho suite. Zoho Projects is affordable, with pricing based on the number of people on your team. Your plan will also affect things like how much storage you get, the number of templates you can use, and the extent to which you can track dependencies. For simple projects or smaller teams, the Premium plan is more than enough. The Enterprise plan includes a lot of features, such as teams, custom user groups, and inter-project dependencies that are very helpful at scale. Zoho Projects does offer a free forever plan for up three users and two projects, which is fine for individual use or a one-off task. The free plan is a good way to figure out if you like the interface, but you can test-drive one of the paid plans risk-free. Sign up for Zoho Projects and get a 10-day free trial; no credit card required. Wrike — The Best for Marketing and Creative Teams
Wrike is an incredibly popular project management solution for marketing teams—and for good reason. More than 20,000 businesses use Wrike for project management. It’s trusted by large organizations like Verizon and Airbnb. Wrike gives you real-time reports and statuses for all of your teams’ projects. Easily enable and centralize your communication hub for everyone collaborating on a project. This software is perfect for marketers and creative teams. Wrike has specific project management tools for campaign management where teams can collaborate on tasks, track progress, and review the results of each campaign. Wrike also has project management templates designed for content creation. This pre-set workflow process includes everything from a creative brief to final delivery and reporting. Wrike has a free forever plan for simple projects. But most of you will benefit from the Professional or Business plans, starting at $9.90 and $24.80 per user per month, respectively. Once you select your base plan, you can add-on premium features depending on what types of projects you’ll be using Wrike to manage. It’s kind of a bummer that not every feature is all-inclusive. But it’s nice that you can pick and choose whatever you need. Wrike offers product bundles for marketing and creative teams. For example, Wrike for Marketers comes with Wrike Proof and Wrike Publish add-ons. It also comes with a Wrike extension for Adobe Creative Cloud. Contact the Wrike sales team for a quote on a project management plan for your marketing team. For a limited time, you can get a 6-month trial of Write Professional. You can try the other plans free for 14 days. Favro – The Best for Small Teams Doing It All
Just because your operation is small, it doesn’t mean you can’t be ambitious. Favro is the project management software made for small teams whose agility is their greatest strength. This platform provides a clean interface on both its desktop and mobile apps, providing easy access to boards and cards for planning and execution. Within those boards and cards, it’s easy to share files, chart progress, assign tasks, and organize workflow. Action items can be given an estimated time-to-complete and priority status, plus they can be voted on by team members if there’s any ambiguity on what should be taken care of next. And everything, from changes to your roadmap to writing up proposals together, happens on the platform in real time. No version confusion and no more worries that updates haven’t been pushed to the appropriate team members. You can even tailor boards and roadmaps in Favro to the style your team is most comfortable with. Choose from Kanban-style, sheets, timeline, or a simple card list. One of the keys to Favro’s usefulness is the ease of which work can be transferred and needs can be communicated between discrete boards. So, even if your team is spread across siloed departments or far-flung locales, collaboration between everyone is a cinch. Favro also doesn’t skimp on automation features and integrations. It’s easy to build trigger events and automated portions of your workflow, which is only accentuated by Favro’s ability to integrate with the tools you’re already using, like Google’s suite of tools, Slack, Dropbox, and even GitHub and GitLab. The pricing for Favro is much more favorable to smaller teams. Hence why, with its powerful capability, I’ve marked it as the best for small teams with ambitious members who may be wearing many hats. Favro’s plans scale to the number of users on the platform and split into three tiers: Lite
Standard
Enterprise
Here’s a look at what those tiers would cost a team of five when paying annually: The next step up is at 10 users, which simply doubles the price, followed by new pricing thresholds at 25 users, 50 users, then 100 or more. Paying annually saves 15% versus month-to-month billing. If your small team knows it can take on the world, give Favro a 14-day free test drive today. Teamwork — The Best for Remote Teams and Agencies
Team work is trusted by household names like Spotify, Disney, Panasonic, PayPal, and Netflix. That’s because they make it easy for businesses with remote workers to collaborate on projects. It’s easy for everyone to communicate, stay connected, and have clear visibility over the progress of a project, no matter where people are located. This software management tool has built-in chat, simple project boards, and custom templates. Teamwork allows you to balance your team’s workloads by viewing everyone’s real-time capacity at a glance. Here’s a quick overview of the plans and pricing for Teamwork project management software: With a free forever plan for small teams and paid plans starting at just $9 per month, Teamwork is an affordable solution. Teamwork also has specific team management software for marketing agencies. This tool makes it easy for your team to manage their own projects in addition to client work. You can even add clients and third-party collaborators to your boards for improved visibility and communication. Take advantage of built-in time tracking tools to manage invoices and billable hours as well. Pricing for agency software is not available online. You’ll need to contact the Teamwork sales team for a quote. In addition to the free forever plan, you can try any Teamwork paid solution free for 30 days. Trello — The Best Free Project Management Software
Trello is one of the most popular project management software out there. In fact, millions of users trust them to manage various projects. For small teams and simple projects, the free project management software from Trello will be perfect for accommodating your needs. Trello leverages Kanban-style boards for work, side projects, and long term goals. You can even use it for managing individual projects, like organizing a family vacation. Trello shines in terms of simplicity, which is one of the reasons why I use it to manage team tasks on my websites. Everything is organized with boards, cards, and lists. Each card represents a task or small project. Those tasks can be assigned to specific team members for collaboration. Cards have subtasks that can be managed and completed in real-time to show progress towards completion. Assigning due dates, uploading files, and adding comments on a Trello card is about as simple as it gets. You can move cards to different lists such as “in progress” or “complete” so everyone can see the status of a task at a glance. Trello has an exceptional mobile app for project management as well. In most instances, Trello is better for simple projects. If you’re managing complex projects with large teams, you’ll run into some restrictions with this platform. The best part of Trello? It’s free. Every user gets unlimited boards, cards, and lists at no cost. However, if you’re thinking about using Trello for your company, I recommend going with the paid plans that start at $9.99 per month per user. This gives you access to advanced features like app integrations, calendar view, map view, advanced users, automations, and more. Have your team give Trello a try today. TeamGantt — The Best Project Management Software for Beginners
Gantt charts are more than one hundred years old. At the time, these revolutionary charts changed the way that tasks were performed. They are the foundation for many project management solutions. As the name implies, TeamGantt is a project management software that leverages Gantt charts. So for those of you who are just getting started and learning about project management, TeamGantt is a top option to consider. More than one million users across the world trust TeamGantt for project management. TeamGantt has a free forever plan for up to three users managing a single project. Paid plans start at $24.95 per month for one user. That’s a bit pricey, especially for simple software. However, you’ll get a better rate per user with a larger team. For example, a team of ten starts at $114.50 per month, which is less than half of the per-user rate of a single person. That number drops all the way to $91 per month with an annual contract. So while the initial price might look steep at first, it’s really not that bad upon further inspection. For those of you looking for basic Gantt charts, I’d definitely recommend TeamGantt. If you have a complex project, TeamGantt will have restrictions. They do have an advanced plan with time tracking and hourly estimates, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that. Try a paid TeamGantt plan for free with a 14-day trial. Monday.com — Best for customizing your project workflow
Monday.com is one of the most popular project management tools, is used by over 135,000 teams, and is trusted by companies in more than 200 industries, including Adobe, Coca-Cola, Walmart, NBC, and more. With an intuitive dashboard and customizable color-coded columns, it is easy to visualize your project’s progress at any point. It also features a drag-and-drop interface for tasks, making it one of the more straightforward project management tools. Monday.com has multiple board views, a great mobile app, built-in time tracking, and maybe most importantly, customizable workflows. It features more than 200 pre-built templates for various workflows you can customize or you can create your own from scratch. Collaboration and automation are critical for project management software, and Monday.com keeps that in mind. It is easy to add automation to any workflow without needing to know any code or HTML, plus the platform has a wide range of integrations with tools you already use. Monday.com has five tiers of pricing, starting with a free forever plan for individuals such as freelancers or solopreneurs. The free forever plan includes two seats, unlimited boards, 20+ column types, and the mobile app. The paid tiers include:
As you can see, pricing is per seat, so your team size is not a mitigating factor when looking at plans and pricing. It all comes down to features. With Basic, you get unlimited free viewers, unlimited items, 5 GB of storage, priority customer support, and a one-board dashboard. In Standard, you get additional views such as Timeline, Calendar, and Gantt, 250 automations per month, 250 integrations per month, and a five-board dashboard. Pro is the premium tier with private boards, chart views, time tracking, formula and dependency columns, 25,000 each per month of automations and integrations, and a ten-board dashboard. To get enterprise-grade security and governance, along with advanced reporting and analytics, premium support, and other functionalities, Monday.com will need to create a customized quote for your organization. Test Monday.com with a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, or try the free forever plan today to see if it is the right project management tool for your business. Celoxis — The Best for Enterprises and Large Businesses
Celoxis is another top option for managing complex projects. But this software is not for everyone. Celoxis is an all-in-one project management software geared towards enterprises and large organizations. In fact, it’s trusted by companies like Adobe, LG, Tesla, Lufthansa, and Rolex. Celoxis helps you manage your teams based on skills, availability, and demand. You’ll get real-time revenue estimates as well as automated costs for every project. This software also makes it easy for you to share files and collaborate with both team members and clients. It even has a fully customizable client portal that you can take advantage of. Celoxis is a bit more expensive than some of the other options on our list, but it’s actually more affordable than other enterprise-grade software solutions on the market today. The cloud-based solution starts at $25 per month per user (with a five-user minimum). You can save some money if you commit to an annual or two-year contract. Alternatively, you can install Celoxis directly on your servers for $450 per user. This option is also a five-user minimum, but it’s just a one-time charge as opposed to an ongoing subscription. Celoxis really stands out in terms of the reports and data that it provides. You can easily send visual reports to your CEO or other decision-makers for specific projects. Try Celoxis free for 30 days by taking advantage of a free trial. LiquidPlanner — The Best for Complex Projects
>> Compare Quotes LiquidPlanner is a top solution for engineering teams, software teams, IT teams, and professional services. Notice that all those teams typically require a wide array of tools to finish projects. That’s because LiquidPlanner is made for managing complex projects at scale with lots of contributors. This project management tool helps you manage uncertainty with best-case and worst-case scenarios for the outcome. LiquidPlanner automatically adapts to change during a project, which is inevitable for projects with a high level of complexity. LiquidPlanner gives you quick insight into the tasks, progress, risks, and budgets for every project that’s in progress. You’ll even be able to share the most relevant information with whoever needs to stay informed. LiquidPlanner offers an iOS and Android mobile app, time tracking, advanced analytics, API access, unlimited internal dashboards, and integrations with cloud storage services. You need at least five team members to be eligible for a LiquidPlanner subscription. If your team is scaling quickly, this is a fantastic option for you. You’ll need to contact their sales team to request a quote if you want Enterprise pricing. Their Professional plan is just $45/user per month. They also offer a free trial for you to test it out risk free. If you’re looking for a project management solution for something simple, like managing website content, LiquidPlanner is not for you. But for those of you with complex needs, you can try LiquidPlanner at no cost with a 14-day free trial; no credit card required. How to Find the Best Project Management Software For Your BusinessCompare The Best Project Management Software Get matched up with the project management software that fits your needs. With so many project management solutions on the market today, it can be tough to choose the best option for your business. This is the methodology that I used to pick the winners in this guide. Generally speaking, there is no “best for everyone” project management software. It all depends on your specific situation. I’ll break down the evaluation factors that you should be looking for in greater detail below. Project ComplexityYour most important consideration for project management software is what exactly you’ll be using it for. Basic project management tools won’t always have the features required to manage complex projects at scale. On the flip side, if you’re just doing something simple like managing website content or need a tool for a one-off project, you won’t need software with tons of advanced features. Trello and TeamGantt are both excellent choices for simple projects and smaller teams. If you need advanced features for complex projects, LiquidPlanner and Celoxis would be better for you. Zoho Projects (as our top overall pick) meets that middle ground between simple and complicated projects. Team SizeThe next thing you’ll need to look at is the size of your team. Is everyone on your team going to be working on the same project? Or will everyone be working on multiple projects simultaneously? If you’re working on a simple project with just a few people, you might even be able to use a free project management solution. Lots of options on our list offer a free forever plan for two or three users. Managing larger teams is obviously a greater challenge. The best project management software shows the real-time capacity of each team member at a glance. This feature allows you to properly allocate tasks, responsibilities, and resources, without overwhelming people who have a full workload. Some project management software requires a minimum for the number of team members associated with a subscription. This usually starts around five users but varies from one platform to another. Ease of UseSimplicity is key when it comes to project management software. From the initial setup to onboarding team members and managing tasks on an ongoing basis, you want to make sure that your solution actually makes your life easier. The only real way to determine how easy it is to use project management software is by trying it out. Every option on our list offers some type of free forever plan or free trial. I strongly advise trying those out so you can get a feel for what works best for your purposes. FeaturesSome project management software will offer more advanced features and tools than others. But depending on your situation, you may not need anything too fancy. Common features that you’ll see for various project management software include storage limits, mobile apps, third-party integrations, built-in communication tools, advanced reporting, and user permissions. You’ll find some solutions with agency features, time-tracking tools, automation, and tools for managing your budget. It’s important to figure out what tools you’ll actually need as you’re evaluating potential project management solutions. PricePricing for project managing software is usually based on how many users you have on your team. Some solutions require you to pay for a minimum number of users to get started. Plans are typically billed per month or on an annual basis. The actual cost varies drastically, depending on your needs. Most tools have a free plan for basic needs and a handful of users. Paid plans start somewhere in the $3 to $25 per month per user range. Some solutions, like Wrike, charge you extra for add-ons as you essentially start with a basic plan and customize it based on your needs. Advanced solutions, like Celoxis, charge a one-time fee of $450 per user to install the software on your servers. With such a wide range of prices to consider, it’s important for you to choose something that fits within your budget. Project management software doesn’t need to cost a fortune. The Top Project Management Software in SummaryBottom line: Zoho Projects is the best overall project management software on the market today. It’s affordable and checks off all of the boxes that we look for when evaluating prospective options. With that said, this software isn’t for everyone. There are project management solutions out there that are more suited for complex projects, large teams, small teams, remote employees, and other use-case-specific scenarios. Compare The Best Project Management Software Get matched up with the project management software that fits your needs. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-project-management-software/ Want to jump straight to the answer? We suggest WP GeoDirectory or Directories Pro for the best WordPress directory plugin. There’s a good chance you can find a way to implement a directory on your website. Law firms use website directories to list their lawyers and employees. Real estate companies have directories for their listings as well as their agents. A retail chain probably has an online directory for its store locations. If you’re using WordPress, adding a directory to your website is simple. You just need to install a plugin. The 6 Best WordPress Directory Plugins
Below are my in-depth reviews of the six best WordPress directory plugins: #1 – GeoDirectoryGeoDirectory allows you to create a massive global directory on your website. They have one of the most user-friendly interfaces on this list, and it is a free WordPress directory plugin. They make it easy for website visitors to find exactly what they’re looking for without sacrificing the look and visual appeal of your website. This plugin offers a front-end form that allows other businesses and users to submit listings, so scaling your directory is limitless. When someone searches for a business on your website, the listings are displayed by proximity, so users can see the closest and most relevant options to them first. The plugin integrates with Google Maps. There is a large and clickable map next to every listing in the directory. Users can find directions to the location directly from that map without having to leave your website. While most of the features are free, you can buy add-ons for things like:
I really like GeoDirectory because they’re multi-site compatible. So I recommend it to developers who will add it to their clients’ sites or to those of you who plan to build a network of directories. If you’re building your directory website from scratch, you could also consider purchasing the directory themes from GeoDirectory as well. But, this plugin will work with any theme, so you’re not obligated. Merchants with listings on your directory will have access to Google Analytics data. This feature will show them how much your site is helping their company. You can use that to potentially justify your pricing if you plan to charge for listings. Overall, GeoDirectory is a top option for anyone who wants to build a large and scalable business directory. Get GeoDirectory here. #2 – Directories ProNext up is the Directories Pro WordPress plugin. It’s extremely responsive and uses caching to optimize the performance of the directories from both desktop and mobile devices. The plugin offers an advanced search and filter for your visitors. You can even enable an auto-suggest feature in the search forms. All of the fields are completely customizable. Each listing can have fields like tags, locations, reviews, and categories. Our favorite feature of Directories Pro is their display editor. It’s easy for you to use the drag and drop editing options to customize the directory without having to use any code. Some of the other top features include:
With Directories Pro, customers can rate and review the listings on your directory without having to register, login, or create an account. So you’ll likely get more reviews that will improve your directory. You’ll be able to build multiple directories with ease. You also have the option to clone or migrate your directories from one site to another. All of these features make Directories Pro one of the best WordPress directory plugins for developers and average users alike. Learn more and buy now at CodeCanyon. #3 – Business Directory PluginThe Business Directory Plugin offers some of the key features that I look for in a directory plugin:
You can also purchase add-ons to enhance your directory with the Business Directory Plugin. If you’re going to use these add-ons, I’d recommend buying the package. The combo pack is $199.99 for a single site and $399.99 for multiple sites. It may sound pricey initially, but considering the price for each add-on starts at $69.99 and $139.98 (for a single site and multiple sites, respectively), it’s actually a great deal. They have add-ons for premium features like:
Even though you’ll have the option for premium add-ons, you can install and use this plugin right out of the box for free. The plugin also comes with a built-in reCAPTCHA tool to avoid spam listings on your directory. The Business Directory Plugin also has a featured-levels module. This is perfect for those of you who are using this directory to generate recurring sales by implementing subscriptions. Here’s how it works: You can set up your site to offer specific features for paid listings. For example, a business that pays to be listed can have unlimited character counts, images, and maps, whereas a free listing wouldn’t get these features. Business Directory Plugin even lets you specify between payment tiers based on the features you offer. This plugin really gives you all of the tools that you need to compete with the giant names in the directory industry. I’m not saying that all of you should try to be the next Yelp or TripAdvisor, but if that’s your goal, you should definitely consider trying the Business Directory Plugin. I think it’d be super smart to create a directory in a very niche area that’s not well-represented or easily searched for in an existing directory. Learn more and get the Business Directory Plugin here. #4 – Sabai DirectoryWhether you’re building a service for your community or simply wanting a way to show your locations on a map or grid, Sabai Directory can get it done. It’s very customizable, allowing you to set custom fields, categories, user permissions, view filters, and a whole lot more. The feature list is impressively long, but here are some other aspects that are totally in your control with Sabai Directory:
It’s not as beginner-friendly as some, but Sabai is easy enough to learn and wield with just a basic familiarity of shortcodes and the WordPress backend. And the plugin’s 12 shortcode options help you customize it even further, allowing you to tailor the default display, listing priority, and a whole lot more. Sabai is ideal for community-fueled directories because of all the user-side actions available. Visitors can vote on whether reviews are helpful or not, upvote good photos and comments on listings, post detailed reviews with one- to five-star ratings, claim listings, and flag errors or unwanted items. Combined with the built-in tools that make it easier for visitors to use the directory—like advanced search with autosuggestions and user dashboards for their reviews, comments, and bookmarked listings—this plugin lays the basis for your site to become a useful and popular resource. Sabai Directory is $29 for a regular license that includes six months of support from Envato. If you want to use Sabai as a part of a product that you’ll sell on, such as a website for a client, you’ll need the extended license. That will run you $150. You can also try out a live demo of the Sabai Directory backend at the product page on Code Canyon. Try it out today and see if Sabai Directory is right for you. #5 – Web 2.0 DirectoryWeb 2.0 Directory is a plugin that makes it easy to set up a clean, functional directory and map on your website. But it isn’t light on unique features, either. It’s a cinch. Just place two quick shortcodes on your site wherever you want the directory and listings page to live. After that, the possibilities for providing detail to visitors and generating revenue are wide. Web 2.0 Directory makes it easy for visitors to search for all locations of a business or service, sort listings by standard or custom categories, draw search areas, bookmark listings, and a whole lot more. One unique offering with Web 2.0 Directory is the ability to embed YouTube and Vimeo videos into listings. You don’t often see that with directory plugins, and it’s a great feature for both listing owners wanting to show off what they’re about and searchers to get a better feel for companies, locations, products, or services. Revenue opportunities include allowing payments for:
Web 2.0 Directory not only syncs well with PayPal and Stripe—it also meshes well with WooCommerce. That’s a big plus for anyone who wants to make their directories a major revenue stream for their business. It opens up possibilities for scheduled sales, discounts, sales reports, fees and taxes, and more. This plugin is $39 per standard license and $280 for a license that allows to sell an end product that Web 2.0 Directory is built into. There’s also a free version available through WordPress. That’s great for getting comfortable with Web 2.0 Directory, but it is missing payment and ecommerce features and access to future updates. Try out Web 2.0 Directory and start realizing the potential of building directories that also will make you significant money. #6 – ListingHiveYou can create gorgeous directory sites with HivePress’ ListingHive theme. Being a full site theme instead of a plugin, ListingHive is ideal for creating standalone directories that can be shaped to any purpose. With large thumbnail images for each listing, categorical marquees you can place at the top of the homepage, and a keyword/location search bar, this is a great way to create a place for visitors to browse real estate listings, local guides to food, drink, and hotspots, or just about anything else you’d need a directory for. And since ListingHive doesn’t pen you in with any preset categories or other strictures, it can be molded easily to fit your vision. That’s especially true if you or a team member has some coding experience. While you don’t have to be a developer to effectively use ListingHive, it comes with REST API endpoints for connecting to third-party applications, Hooks API for setting custom logic, and CSS or HTML methods for completely customizing the look and feel of the theme. But if that scares you off a bit, don’t let it—ListingHive also has free extensions for non-coders to add more useful functions, like:
Most importantly, it’s easy to make money with your new ListingHive directory site. You can sell ad space and integrate your site with Google AdSense, charge users for listing submissions through the paid listings extension, and let listing owners have theirs featured on your directory for a fee. Best of all, ListingHive and all of its extensions are totally free. Learn more about how to set up a ListingHive directory and get started today at HivePress’ website. Key features of a WordPress directory pluginSince the word “directory” is so vague and has tons of potential applications, it can be a bit challenging at times to find the best WordPress directory plugin for your website. So before I go through my list of the top options for you to consider, I want to briefly explain what to look for in a directory plugin.
You won’t necessarily need every feature on this list. It really depends on your company, your website’s purpose, and the type of directory you’re trying to create. The Top WordPress Directory Plugins in SummaryWP GeoDirectory and Directories Pro stand out as the two best WordPress directory plugins. They’re user-friendly, and you can create any type of directory you want with them. With that said, the other top picks reviewed in this guide should be considered as well, especially if you have a use-case specific-need for your directories. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-wordpress-directory-plugin/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best credit card processing services for most businesses are Stax or Square. A good credit card processor is crucial for the success of your company. Whether you’re selling in-person or online, this guide will help you choose the best credit card processing service for your business. The 10 Best Credit Card Processing Services
For each processor, I’ll break down the pricing, benefits, drawbacks, and which types of businesses should consider the service. Stax — Best For Reducing Fees on All Payment Types
Stax is an all-in-one merchant services provider. Services include low-cost ACH processing, integrated payments, invoicing and billing software, analytics, and more. Stax is most widely known for its transparent fees, subscription-based pricing model, and 0% markup on interchange rates–and for accepting all payment types. Stax accepts every type of in-person or online payment option you can think of, including:
Accepted cards include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, debit cards, JCB Dining, EBT, Health Flex, Wex, and Voyager. You can accept payments from almost any point-of-sale (POS) system, online payment gateway, or through the Stax mobile app for iOS and Android. Stax integrates with most third-party POS terminals for free, and you can also purchase virtual POS terminals and mobile card readers from Stax directly. When you pick a pricing tier from Stax, you get a free terminal of your choice and Stax Pay. Stax Pay is the company’s centralized platform for users to accept all payment types and integrate tools in one intuitive dashboard. From the dashboard, you can run reports, view statements, do invoicing, and access customer support. Stax has processed over $9 billion in payments since opening its doors in 2014, and boasts a pretty amazing 95% customer satisfaction rating, in addition to good reviews across platforms. The subscription pricing starts at $99 per month, including a free terminal or mobile reader, ACH processing, analytics, and more. Transaction fees are 8 cents + Interchange on card-present transactions and 15 cents + Interchange on keyed-in and online transactions. But the Interchange markup is 0%. Stax also provides a robust knowledge base and 24/7 customer support. Learn more about Stax. Square — Best for stores with in-person and online sales
Any business accepting in-person payments needs to take a closer look at Square. Square ranked first on my list of the best POS systems, so the fact that they double as a payment processor is an added bonus. With more than 2 million businesses use Square to process payments, they offers POS systems with built-in payment processing. Square also processes payments online, on the go, through recurring invoices, and manually for orders taken over the phone. But with that said, the in-person POS processing is where Square really shines. Another standout of Square is the ability to get paid fast. While most processing companies usually take a couple of days for funds withdrawals, Square gets money in your bank account in the next business day. They also offer instant transfers for a fee. Square’s pricing is straightforward and transparent. You’ll pay the same rate for every card, including Discover and American Express. They don’t charge any startup fees, monthly fees, cancelation fees, authorization fees, statement fees, terminal fees, or other common industry-standard markups. Square pricing varies slightly by industry and POS hardware, but here are the most common rates offered:
Square provides you with everything you need for success when processing payments. They have active fraud prevention, account takeover protection, dispute management, other security measures like PCI compliance and end-to-end encryption. Signing up and getting started with Square is simple. The only major drawback of Square is that its customer service is not available 24/7. Most processing companies can be reached on weekends, nights, or other odd hours. If I were running a physical retail store and wanted a POS system and payment processor from the same company, I’d choose Square. Payment Depot — Best for high-volume payment processing
Payment Depot processes more than $4 billion in credit card sales with over 3 million transactions per month. Their system is simple; they charge a membership fee to give you access to wholesale processing rates. Think of Payment Depot as the Costco for credit card processing. The prices are lower than the competition, but you need to be a member. For this reason, Payment Depot is the best option for high-volume merchants. Payment Depot does not take a percentage of each transaction. They simply charge a fixed amount per transaction based on your membership tier on top of the interchange fee. Here’s an overview of the plans, features, and pricing: Basic — $49 per month + interchange
Most Popular — $79 per month + interchange
Best Value — $99 per month + interchange
Premier — $199 per month + interchange
All plans come with a 90-day free trial. Payment Depot is used by big brands like Dominos, Boost Mobile, Subway, Arco, and Sprint. I wouldn’t consider this payment processor unless you’re over the $25,000 monthly limit. As you can see from the rates, you can save lots of money on processing fees with a Payment Depot membership. Overall, this is an impressive payment processing service. The only downside is that it’s not realistic for most smaller businesses to consider. Helcim — Best for small businesses processing more than $3,000 per month
Helcim is an all-in-one payment processing service for retail locations and online stores. I highly suggest it for any small-business owner. Where Helcim shines is their transparency. Their interchange pricing structure shows you exactly how much you’ll pay above the interchange rate set by the credit card companies. They also have one of the best rate guarantee in the industry. They will never increase your rates for the lifetime of your account. While the fees for certain cards might go up, the Helcim margins will always remain the same. While Helcim does have the online feature, I’d personally just consider them for in-person payments. Your rates will vary by industry, monthly processing volume, and average transaction amount. The industry options are:
Here’s a detailed look at the pricing rates for retail merchants based on monthly volume. Helcim interchange pricing costs are below average compared to many others out there. So it’s a great way for small businesses to save money on credit card processing—even if they are in the lower pricing tiers. Helcim contracts are month-to-month, and they don’t charge any cancellation fees. They integrate with QuickBooks to improve your small business accounting process as well. Helcim offers a POS system, with an app that’s free with your plan. While Helcim prices are competitive and generally low, it’s not the best choice for those of you who are only processing less than $3,000 per month. You can probably find a more cost-effective alternative elsewhere. Flagship Merchant Services — Best customer service for small businessesFlagship Merchant Services offers some of the most customizable credit card processing plans out there. They give flexible terms and month-to-month pricing for all businesses. Types of pricing plans are customizable as well. Flagship Merchant Services has tiered pricing and interchange plus options, whereas other payment processors typically just offer one or the other. They’re a smaller financial service. But all that means is they can give you more attention and white-glove service. For example, Flagship Merchant Services offers exceptional 24/7 customer service. You’ll get a free EMV terminal or Clover Mini POS system when you sign up. If they can’t lower your processing rates, they’ll send you a $50 AMEX gift card. The downside of this payment processor is the setup and getting started. No prices or contract details are available online. So you’ll need to speak to a sales rep to request a quote, which isn’t convenient for everyone. National Processing — Best for paying month-to-month
>> Compare Quotes National Processing was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Lindon, Utah. They are a smaller company compared to many of the other companies on my list but they provide excellent service and prices for small and medium sized businesses. Here are some of the pros and cons of their service. Pros
Cons
Overall, National Processing is a great choice for any small to medium sized business. The company offers extremely competitive rates and fees along with high-quality service. Stripe — Best for online stores
If you’re accepting payments online and want to do so easily, Stripe should be one of your top choices. In fact, Stripe ranked first on my list of the best payment methods for your ecommerce site. Stripe is built for developers, so there is a slight learning curve. However, you’ll quickly realize that this payment processor is easy to use, regardless of your technical experience. For those of you who want to take advantage of the developer features, you’ll be impressed with the Stripe API and UI toolkit. Another top benefit of Stripe is its built-in fraud protection system. This will help you manage and avoid ecommerce chargebacks. It’s easy to integrate Stripe with your ecommerce store, regardless of the platform that you’re using. Stripe accepts a wide range of payment options, including digital wallets like Apple Pay, Microsoft Pay, Google Pay, and Visa Checkout. Stripe helps simplify your checkout process. According to a recent IDC report, businesses using this payment processing service were able to increase their revenue by 6.7%. The report also found that Stripe resulted in 59% higher productivity, 81% fewer unplanned outages, and 24% lower operating costs. Speaking of costs, Stripe is an affordable payment processor, even if you’re just starting out. The fixed pricing model is very straightforward:
If you use Stripe to set up recurring charges for subscription customers, your first $1 million is free. After that, you’ll pay $0.5% on all recurring charges. I like Stripe because you pay the same flat rate for all credit cards, including digital wallets and premium cards like American Express. It’s also pretty intuitive and powerful once you get the hang of it. For those of you with unique business models and large payouts, you may qualify for a customized pricing solution. Contact the Stripe sales team about volume discounts, interchange pricing, and multi-product discounts. Overall, Stripe is an ideal solution for any ecommerce business. It is highly technical, which can be a drawback for companies that don’t have a developer on staff. PayPal — Best simple solution for small business payment processing
>> Compare Quotes PayPal has been a giant in the world of processing transactions for more than a decade. There’s a good chance that you’ve used PayPal in some form or another in your personal life. While PayPal has always been known for its P2P payments, it’s also a great choice for businesses to use as a payment processing service. You can use PayPal to accept payments both online or in-person. I highly recommend it for low-volume businesses to get paid online. I recently wrote an article comparing PayPal vs. Stripe for ecommerce. While Stripe definitely has its fair share of advantages, the PayPal technology is much simpler. It’s also extremely easy to set up. You won’t need to worry about all of the developer features like you do with Stripe. Let’s take a closer look at PayPal’s processing fees:
Pricing is nearly identical to Stripe. One of the best parts about using PayPal as your online payment processor is that you’ll be able to accept PayPal, Venmo, and PayPal credits in addition to all major credit and debit cards. That flexibility is a huge boon for your customers. This is a massive advantage over other payment processors, where you would need to integrate PayPal separately. While I personally like PayPal’s online features, the flat rate of 2.7% per transaction for mobile and in-store payments is appealing for low-volume merchants as well. The biggest downside of using PayPal is that customers will be taken to the PayPal website to finish processing all online transactions. You can eliminate this step and integrate PayPal directly into your site, but there is an added fee for that. Speaking of added fees, PayPal has a long list of add-ons and other incidentals that they charge for. They are transparent about these prices, but make sure you review all of them in your contract so you fully understand the terms. Overall, you know you’re getting a trusted and reputable brand if you use PayPal to process credit card transactions for your business. CDGcommerce — Best for non-profit organizations
>> Compare Quotes CDGcommerce offers custom credit card processing services for different industries including:
Clearly, all of these different business types will have varying needs. But overall, CDGcommerce is the best choice for nonprofit organizations. That’s because CDGcommerce doesn’t charge any monthly fees or require monthly minimums for nonprofits. You can get an integrated mobile card reader, set up recurring billing, and benefit from special nonprofit rates. The rates will vary based on volume and specific needs, but nonprofit processing typically starts 0.20% + $0.10 per transaction, plus interchange costs. If you fall into one of the other categories, CDGcommerce has flexible pricing options based on your monthly volume. One Rate Pricing: $1,000 – $10,000 monthly volume
Interchange Plus Pricing: $10,000 – $200,000 monthly volume
Wholesale Membership: $200,000+ monthly volume
Again, the specific rates will vary for each business based on a number of factors. You need to contact the CDGcommerce sales team to request a quote. I chatted with an online sales rep just to see how long this would take, and I got a quick answer in just a couple of minutes. This wasn’t an official quote, but it’s nice knowing that they are quick to respond. That’s where I got the starting rates for nonprofits, which isn’t listed anywhere on the website. Payline — Best for high-risk businesses
>> Compare Quotes Payline offers a wide range of solutions for mobile payments, ecommerce payments, and in-person payments. Sure, you might not have heard of them — but that doesn’t mean they don’t offer a fantastic service. They can meet the needs of small business owners, enterprises, and everyone in between. However, Payline is the best option for a very specific type of business: high-risk merchants. For one reason or another, certain merchants are considered a high risk to credit card processing companies. It could have to do with the history of your company, or maybe it has to do with the types of products that you’re selling (CBD, firearms, vaping, etc). It’s tough for these merchants to find a credit card processing service that will work with them, and even harder to find one that will offer favorable rate terms. So if you fall into the high-risk merchant category, Payline will be your best option. Payline will even work with businesses in online gaming, casinos, multi-level marketing, and adult industries. Rates and plans are customized for each merchant. But if you’re struggling to find a payment processor that will accept your business, I’d schedule a call or apply online with Payline. How to Find the Best Credit Card Processing ServicesCompare Quotes From The Best Credit Card Processing Services Get matched up with a credit card processing service that fits your needs. There are specific features to look for when you’re evaluating a credit card processing service. This is our methodology at Quick Sprout for filtering results down to this list. Pricing TypeThere are two main pricing structures for credit card processing.
With fixed pricing, it’s the same rate for each transaction, regardless of the credit card that the customer uses. Stripe, Square, and PayPal are examples of processors with fixed prices. For interchange pricing, you pay the amount charged by the credit card company, plus the markup fees of the processor. Helcim has interchange pricing. Flagship Merchant Services offers both fixed-rate plans as well as interchange pricing, since they provide custom solutions for different businesses. Some credit card processors, like Payment Depot, will charge you a monthly rate to access wholesale prices. The pricing structure you ultimately choose will depend on your business and business type. Don’t slouch on this when researching — it’s going to have a massive impact on your bottom line. Monthly VolumeMost high-volume merchants can get lower processing rates per transaction. You can request a custom quote from nearly every credit card processor, even if they have fixed rates advertised on their website. There are certain services that are best for high-volume merchants, and others that are better for low-volume merchants. I’d recommend PayPal for low-volume processing and Payment Depot for high-volume credit card transactions. IndustryThe type of business you have will affect your credit card processing terms. Rates vary if you’re processing cards online, in-person, or over the phone for “card not present” transactions. Stripe is the best provider for online transactions, while Square is better for brick-and-mortar retail locations. Other payment processing services specialize in nonprofit organizations or high-risk merchant industries. So if you fall into one of those categories, you’ll need to find a processor that can meet those needs. Funds WithdrawalsHow soon can you get your money? In most cases, funds are available in your bank account after two business days. Sometimes this period can be a bit longer when you’re just starting out. Other credit card processors offer next-day delivery for funds. Some providers will let you do an instant funds withdrawal for an added fee. So if you need your money immediately, this is definitely something that you need to keep in mind. Extra CostsIn addition to the transactional fees or monthly plan rates, there are other costs that you need to keep in mind when you’re evaluating a credit card payment processor. I’m referring to things like hardware, POS systems, and payment terminals. Some providers charge extra for international transactions, setup fees, or cancellations. So make sure you review all of this before you decide on service based on the transactional rates alone. The Top Credit Card Processing Companies in SummaryCredit card processing comes in all different shapes and sizes. There are varying fee structures, contract terms, and services offered by each processor. To get the lowest possible rate from a quality provider, you need to shop around and compare quotes. Interchange plus pricing typically offers the lowest fees. But for startups and small businesses looking for simplicity, fixed-rate processing can still get the job done, especially if the service comes with added perks. Compare Quotes From The Best Credit Card Processing Services Get matched up with a credit card processing service that fits your needs. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-credit-card-processing-services/ Protecting sensitive data and staff on-site is crucial. But companies with multiple offices struggle to do this, especially when staff members hold different access levels and travel among many locations. Access control systems help protect companies by deciding who can access their facilities and how. By leveraging the power of technology, businesses can solve the access issues altogether. The Top 5 Best Access Control Systems
Those are my top picks. Let’s dive a bit further into them. #1 – Honeywell — The Best for Large Teams
The larger your team, the more chance there is for sensitive data to go missing or end up in the wrong hands. Honeywell offers a solution to this with its access control system that doesn’t mess around. There are multiple pieces of excellent software on offer here, but one of particular note is the WIN-PAK integrated security software. This system offers access control, video surveillance, and intrusion detection through a single and unified interface. It’s an intuitive browser-based interface that enables users to perform access control actions wherever and whenever. For large teams, the best thing is that WIN-PAK can be scaled how you want, from a single site up to a multi-region operation. There isn’t a limit on what you can do here, no matter the size of your team, making it an ideal enterprise-level solution but still practical for everyone else of all shapes and sizes. I like the ability to integrate third-party solutions such as BioConnect Suprema and Morpho Biometric—two notable biometric multi-factor authentication options. Honeywell offers dedicated support for its products too and includes an online portal and knowledge base, as well as phone support when you need it. No prices are publicly listed, so it’s best to contact Honeywell for a custom quote. #2 – SALTO — The Best for Wireless Access Control
If you need wireless access control above all else, SALTO is a top choice that won’t let you down. SALTO provides companies simple control access systems that don’t require wiring or external power. Essentially, this is wireless access control without needing anything else, and it’s one of the most straightforward solutions on this list to use. With SALTO, you’ll have access to wireless locks, readers, and battery-operated access control systems. The system integrates with everything from card readers to electronic locks, and access is configurable on a granular level through a local server. In other words, you pick the security you need and then easily control it from afar. I especially like the system’s ability to accept access via mobile apps—not all access control systems provide this—removing the need for keycards and key fobs that more often than not get lost. People are much less likely to lose, misplace, or forget their phone, and it feels like a system that’s forward-looking as a result. For wireless simplicity and robust access control, you can’t go far wrong here. Like most access control systems, no prices are available, so it’s best to contact SALTO for a custom quote. You can do that right here. #3 – Envoy — The Best for Custom Health Checks
Envoy offers a host of access control solutions that help to keep your employees safe and secure. There’s never been a more important time to ensure your team is fit and healthy. The pandemic has highlighted how essential it is to prevent infections in the workplace, and Envoy, as timely as ever, offers an immediate solution to this in the form of Envoy Protect. Envoy Protect focuses explicitly on the health side of things. It offers custom health checks where you can confirm that employees are healthy before they even arrive at the workplace. You’ll be able to set capacity limits so you can safely determine how many people should be on-site at any one time. There’s the ability to set criteria for who is allowed on-site based on their responses to questionnaires, which integrates directly with the access control system. Effectively, you can ensure only healthy employees show up to the office or job site, while those that are ill can stay home and join the team remotely. That’s without mentioning the option for touchless sign-ins, a complete employee log so you can plan for the week, and workplace contract tracing. Workplace contract tracing allows you to see who got exposed to an unwell employee based on sign-in data alone, and from there, you can act accordingly. Even better, Envoy transparently lists its prices in four tiers: The first tier is entirely free and, although it comes with limited features, it will be a great starting place for small workplaces. The higher levels naturally offer more advanced features, including capacity limits, visitor photos, and directory integrations. The second tier comes in at $99 per location per month and up to 50 employees per location. You’ll be able to try it and the third tier for free. #4 – ISONAS— The Best for Single Users
Access control systems can be confusing, but ISONAS wants to change that with its IP access control system that works on your existing network. The aim here is to keep the installation as straightforward as possible. You get to pick between either cloud-based access or local access when using the system. Essentially, ISONAS does away with the need for complex installations because it converts your old set up into IP systems compatible with its software. It sounds more complicated than it is, but suffice to say, it takes away a lot of the fuss with these systems. You’ll be able to pick from readers for ID cards, fobs, badges, or even PIN-based entry—whatever you need, there’s a security solution here for it. The software lets its users access the readers using their mobiles or simple proximity scanners and then integrates with the broader system. For single users, it’s a great choice due to its ease of use and flexibility. ISONAS comes in one to five-door installations. It’s important to point out there are two software options here: Pure Access Cloud and Pure Access Manager. The former gets hosted with controllers configured to the cloud, while the latter is on-premises software that allows you to manage access control from any device in the network. Both are good options, but Pure Access Manager does give you access from anywhere, making it a compelling choice. No prices are publicly available, and you’ll have to contact ISONAS for a custom quote. #5 – Bosch Access Control — The Best for Scalability
The need to have a system that effortlessly scales with your company is a common one, and Bosch’s access control solution offers that through and through. Bosch offers a system you can count on for almost any project, no matter how small you start or how big you get. Users begin with the Access Management System (AMS) and can upgrade to the BIS Access Engine (BIS-ACE) when required. We’re talking about a small company that needs airport-grade security down the line—effectively, Bosch provides that level of scalability, but the hardware stays the same. Most access control systems claim to offer scalability, but Bosch truly delivers it in a more than impressive fashion. The best bit is that it isn’t complex: the software merely evolves with your company. That scalability gets backed up by other great features, including 15 configurable threat levels, instant updates of events at doors, and powerful visitor management. Bosch’s system can also be integrated with other video management systems like BVMS and Milestone XProtect. For this powerful access control system, you’ll have to contact Bosch for a custom quote based on your exact requirements. How To Find the Best Access Control SystemsAccess control systems are complicated even at the best of times, so picking one can feel even harder. The core of what an access control system provides—protection and control of access for employees—largely remains the same across most pieces of software, though. With that said, the technology behind these systems varies significantly. Some, for example, are easy to install and operate wirelessly, while others will require a complete and complex installation. To make things easier, we’ve listed some of the most critical areas to think about before you dive into picking the right system for you. InstallationFirst of all, it’s fair to say that all access control systems will need professional installation, regardless of how simple they are on the surface. The supplier will take care of the installation of each system, but you must find out how long and involved the installation is beforehand. Be sure to ask your supplier who does the installation, how it’s carried out, the scope of the project, and reliable estimation of the total costs. The installation affects all buyers and, therefore, I think it’s one of the most important considerations when buying an access control system. In short: know what you’re getting involved with before you rush in—these are complex systems that favor those that plan ahead. SecurityIn essence, an access control system is all about security and how you maintain it, so it’s therefore vital you know the technology powering it. Ideally, you’ll want to look for the systems with the latest technology, systems that replace physical locks with a much higher level of protection. Examples here include door readers and tamper alarms that make breaking in much harder. Ultimately, think about what level of security you need to provide for your employees, and go from there. Access CardsSimilar to the above, access cards are an essential consideration. Be sure to look for a supplier that provides the printer for the cards and the consumables needed to create them. Some advanced access systems even use security features such as holograms and encrypted signals. If you need the next level of security, prioritize these instead, but be wary of the costs for such technology. ScalabilityYou need to think about how well they scale for the future. It’s tedious to find yourself frequently changing software, and access control systems are no different. When you contact your supplier, be sure to ask about the number of employees the system serves and the number of door openings covered. Some access control systems scale with you, while others will be much more limited. Consider the scalability of the system and how it relates to your company carefully. Reporting AccessWhile not the most crucial area to consider, it’s nevertheless worth thinking about how you access the reporting interface in your access control system. For example, is access granted locally or via the cloud? Cloud access allows you to start the system on any browser from wherever, so it’s a better option if it’s available from the start. Reporting interfaces allow you to see where employees are within a building and help with things like attendance tracking, so be sure to find out how easy it is to access them before you commit. The Top Access Control Systems in SummaryHoneywell, SALTO, ISONAS, and Bosch offer the best access control systems on the market today. In the modern world, access control systems are vital. They help protect sensitive data and, of course, ensure employees are safe while they work. As you’re evaluating solutions, be sure to consider the installation of your system, the technology powering it, the reporting functionality, and its scalability. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-access-control-systems/ The best way to protect business data is with data loss prevention software. There are countless options on the market today, and finding the best one for your business needs can be a challenge. I’ve done the research and put together my list of the six best data loss prevention software for businesses. The Top 6 Best Data Loss Prevention Software Tools
#1 – McAfee Total Protection – Best Overall DLP Software Tool
Businesses will appreciate the versatility they find with McAfee Total Protection. It works as a simple DLP package that requires little to no customization. But it has extensive customization features that provide an exact match for businesses that need them. One of its best features is its ability to use algorithms to determine which segments of the business’ data are the most important. It then gives that data the highest level of protection. General-use data receives less protection from Total Protection, conserving resources for sensitive data. It offers the basics for a small business. But it also has advanced options that ensure Total Protection will work for a wide range of customers. Its data monitoring system can point out weak spots in the network that security personnel can monitor as needed. With this DLP solution, businesses will receive protection of their data, no matter where it exists. McAfee Total Protection protects data in the cloud, on the network, and on endpoint devices. Total Protection is available as an annual subscription in a few different pricing tiers. Businesses will probably select the Ultimate tier, which includes protection for an unlimited number of devices. New customers will receive a significant discount during the first year. #2 – Check Point – Best for Setting Up Data Loss Protection Policies
When it comes to protecting a business against data losses, running the best DLP software is important. At the same time, though, establishing policies for how network members should use and protect data is equally important. Check Point is one of the best DLP software packages for helping network managers establish a workable strategy for data protection. It also has educational tools available that allow the network managers to give employees the information they need to use the data properly. The software carries the educational aspect of data loss protection a step further. When a user commits a minor violation of one of the DLP software’s policies, it will issue a warning to the user the first time it happens. Check Point believes this reduces the number of violations over time by giving users education about simple errors they can correct. When unusual data traffic enters the network from the Internet, Check Point automatically monitors it, alerting administrators if it detects further issues. Despite offering some advanced data protection features, Check Point is easier to use than some other DLP options. It gives you the ability to customize as many or as few of the software’s settings as you want. Check Point offers a free demonstration of the software, or you can contact the company for a pricing quote. For those businesses that need additional cybersecurity protection measures, Check Point has many more products available. #3 – Digital Guardian Endpoint – Best for Lots of Locations And Devices
Some business networks consist of a wide range of devices running many different operating systems. They may store data in multiple places, such as the cloud, onsite, and on portable devices. For data loss protection across a variety of locations and devices, the Digital Guardian Endpoint DLP software package is an excellent choice. It can monitor data stored on devices running Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and more. Endpoint protects both incoming and outgoing data, searching for oddities. Should it find unauthorized data actions, it can automatically block those actions while notifying network administrators. For businesses that are looking to protect highly sensitive data, such as medical records or intellectual property, Endpoint can apply advanced data loss prevention settings to these items for an extra layer of protection. If desired, Endpoint is able to use algorithms to determine which types of data the business is using that needs the most protection. This saves you time versus having to select this data manually. You can request a demonstration of the Digital Guardian Endpoint software, or contact the company for a price quote. #4 – Symantec From Broadcom – Best for Enterprise-Level Data Loss Protection
Larger businesses looking for maximum data loss protection will find a lot of the features they want in Symantec DLP software from Broadcom. This is a powerful DLP tool that provides high-end protection in a variety of areas for the business, including:
Symantec can track and protect data stored anywhere within the business’ network. These areas may include local computers, network servers, mobile devices, and cloud storage accounts. Whenever someone accesses sensitive data, Symantec tracks the movement of the data. Should one of the employees attempt to use the data in an unorthodox manner, Symantec can block the user’s access to such data. Symantec can block certain types of files and data from use as email attachments. The software also monitors the activity of any apps in use on the business’ network, ensuring those apps don’t access data and files they shouldn’t have. Through its encryption of sensitive data, the Symantec DLP adds a layer of protection for the data. Should a user manage to access some sensitive data he or she shouldn’t have, the encryption layer should prevent the user from being able to see or actually use it. If you’re interested in Symantec, you will need to contact the company to receive a pricing quote. #5 – SolarWinds – Easiest DLP Software to Use
For a business that just wants to install a data loss protection software package and let it run, SolarWinds offers this capability. The SolarWinds DLP solution focuses on managing the network’s access rights management. By monitoring exactly which users should have the right to perform certain actions involving the business’ data, SolarWinds can spot suspicious activity on the network before a breach occurs. Protecting the network’s data through access rights management in SolarWinds should be easy to put into practice. The SolarWinds access rights manager segment of the software gives you regular reports about the data permissions for employees. If you find that some of the permissions need tweaking, you can easily take care of that through the access rights manager interface. You can also have SolarWinds constantly monitor the network, creating alerts for things like unusual data transfers or copies. It also can monitor the usage of data across the network and cloud at the same time. Should one of your employees be using data in an unconventional way in more than one storage location, this could be a sign of a data breach or a violation of permissions. SolarWinds offers a 30-day free trial period. You can contact the company for a pricing quote. #6 – SecureTrust – Best for Risk-Specific DLP Management
Those businesses that want an easy setup process in their data loss protection software will appreciate SecureTrust. With SecureTrust, businesses that have basic needs for data protection will be able to operate the software with its preconfigured settings. They won’t need past experience with DLP software to deploy SecureTrust successfully. For those who want a bit of customization in the DLP software, SecureTrust does allow customers to adjust a large number of settings. However, even without taking this step, many customers can rely on the preconfigured settings and receive a high level of data protection. SecureTrust allows users to enter their desired levels of risk. The software then automatically adjusts its settings to accommodate for this risk level. Additionally, customers can use the dashboard to select the desired level of protection for sets of data stored in different locations. One of SecureTrust’s greatest strengths is its ability to monitor all interactions between the business’ network and the Internet. If the DLP software measures any oddities in these interactions, it can block access to the data. Potential customers will need to contact SecureTrust to determine their pricing options. How to Find the Best Data Loss Prevention Software for YouDLP software has a wide range of features available for potential customers. Matching those features to the needs of the business simply takes a bit of time. Here are some features to consider in data loss prevention software. Analyzing Data Network WeaknessesAlthough data loss prevention software can protect data in a variety of situations, it may not be perfect. A common weakness occurs when an employee chooses to circumvent the data protection protocols for the business, potentially causing data losses. For example, some companies don’t want employees to move data from the network through a USB port to a thumb drive. However, if employees are not following this policy, the use of USB ports represents a weakness in network security. The business could seek a DLP software package that blocks the use of USB ports for data transfers. Additionally, the DLP software should be able to keep track of any threats to the data. With a log of these threats, the network manager can determine areas of weakness in data protection and fix them. Data LocationsData loss prevention software should be able to protect the data the business uses, no matter where employees use it. As data moves from mobile devices to desktop computers to the company network to the cloud and back, the DLP software should protect it. As an added advantage for businesses, DLPs often will track the movement of data. If the business is struggling with data breaches or with lost files, the software’s tracking features can help managers find whether one employee’s actions are leading to the breaches. Full-Feature DLP ProductsSome businesses may only need minimal data loss prevention features, such as are available through email security. If so, these businesses may not need a well-rounded DLP software tool. They may be able to obtain the data protection features they need from antivirus or firewall software. Those who need a far greater level of data protection will want to select a DLP tool with wide-ranging features. A full-fledged DLP software tool will have quite a few features aimed at actively monitoring the system. Additionally, it will protect data stored in multiple locations, and it will monitor data movement. User Experience NeededSome DLP software packages require a lot of experience with this type of software to set it up properly. The business may need to hire a security expert who can customize the software to make it work properly. Some types of data loss protection software can require as long as several weeks to complete the installation and implementation. This level of complexity may be far more extensive than a particular business needs. For those who want to keep the installation as simple as possible, look for a package that requires very little time for setup. Understand that a simple package probably won’t provide the customization options that are available with more complex DLP software packages. But the upside is the business probably can rely on existing network security personnel to deploy it, rather than having to hire DLP experts. Comparison To Data Security SoftwareBusinesses looking to decide between installing DLP and data security software will receive extra benefits from DLP software. The primary difference between data security software and DLP software is in how they handle potential data breaches. Security software tends to be reactive to problems with the data. Data loss prevention software, meanwhile, tends to be proactive. It actively monitors the network and the system, seeking potential issues with the protection of the data. Many data loss prevention tools will use artificial intelligence to perform the necessary monitoring functions. It seeks out any odd situations in the network, looking for activities that are occurring outside of the normal, expected parameters. It then can react to these abnormalities and alert IT personnel about them. The Top Data Loss Prevention Software in SummaryIt’s tough to overestimate the value of data to a modern business. Setting up a system that protects this data should be a priority for any network administrator and security team. The best data loss protection software can accomplish this goal. Through our testing and research, we like McAfee Total Protection as the best all-around DLP software tool. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-data-loss-prevention-software/ Learning how to strategically manage human capital is something worth studying closely, especially if you’re pivoting your career into HR or angling for a promotion in an HR department. Taking in-person seminars may be prohibitive, though–you may not have the time, the money, or the ability to travel. But this doesn’t mean learning about this topic can’t be done. There are plenty of knowledge-rich online courses, some even taught by prestigious universities, that you can take online for less money and at your own pace. Below, I review some of the best HR courses available to you. Read on to find the one(s) that will best help you reach your learning goals. The Top 5 Best Human Resources Courses
#1 – Administrative HR for Beginners, by Udemy – Best Course for Entry-Level HR Professionals
Udemy’s Administrative Human Resources for Beginners course is a solid choice for entry-level HR professionals. So far, it’s been taken by over 10,000 students and has a 4.3-star rating. Not only is the course self-paced, but you also get a certificate of completion once you’ve successfully finished the course. One of the beauties of taking courses on Udemy is that you know exactly what you’re getting before making a purchase. There are plenty of student reviews you can read through to get a feel for the course, and you can also look through the outline of exactly what the course teaches. If you’re training a group of HR professionals, Udemy has Udemy for Business plans you can learn more about once you sign up for a demo here. Udemy’s Administrative Human Resources for Beginners course costs only $34.99. Ready to get started? Sign up for the HR course on Udemy here. #2 – HR Management: HR for People Managers Specialization – Best Self-Paced Course
You might have already heard about Coursera as a robust course platform. Its Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization course boasts a 4.8-star rating and over 98,000 students. The course, offered by the University of Minnesota, walks you through understanding alternative approaches to HR management, avoiding crucial HR mistakes, and applying hiring and employee reward best practices. The course takes about six months to complete with a suggested pace of about four hours a week. The course also comes with a hands-on project as well as certification once you’ve successfully completed the course work. Keep in mind that the course is a part of a five-course specialization. Meaning once you complete it, you can go on to take the next related HR courses for a more well-rounded HR education. Coursera’s prices vary depending on whether you’re a college student or you’re an enterprise-level business looking to educate its fleet of professionals. If you’re a college student, Coursera allows you to enter your verified school email and sign up to have access to one free course per year. For teams and small businesses, Coursera offers a $399 per user per month plan. However, if you’re an enterprise looking to educate a large team, you’ll have to get in contact with Coursera’s team to get a free demo and learn more about a personalized plan. Coursera also offers a free 7-day plan, which lets you try one specialization for free before charging you anywhere from $39-$89 a month membership fee. Learn more about Coursera’s HR course here. #3 – HR Management and Analytics: Unlock the Value of Human Capital, by Wharton School of Business – Best For Elite-Level Prestige
If you’re looking for a prestigious program, Wharton offers the HR Management and Analytics: Unlock the Value of Human Capital course. It’s online certificate program dives into strategic HR topics that include HR management as well as data analytics. Online other courses that are self-led and all you have to do is pay a fee to have access to the course material. Wharton’s online certification has scheduled application dates—you can’t necessarily take it at your own pace. It recommends that you dedicate four to six hours a week to it through its two-month duration. Wharton’s immersive HR course if ideally suited for mid to senior-level human resources professionals that are still learning and developing their skills. It’s also ideal for general managers, owners of SMBs, as well as consultants and business performance experts. The course comes with both live and recorded video lectures as well as individual assignments and feedback. And of course, once you’ve successfully completed the course you’ll receive a digital certificate of completion from The Wharton School. The price for Wharton’s HR Management and Analytics: Unlock the Value of Human Capital course is $2,800. But you have few payment options. First, you might be able to get $280 off the course price if you refer a colleague (who’ll also receive $280 off). If you’re planning on enrolling a team, you might be able to receive a bulk 20% discount. To learn more, you’ll have to contact Wharton’s admissions team here for more information. If the $2,800 fee is too hefty to pay it all upfront, Wharton allows you to pay it in either two or three installments. You can head here to learn more about signing up for Wharton’s HR course. #4 – Human Resource Management, by Harvard University – Best Academic Course
If you’re looking for a top-notch course on HR then look no further than Harvard’s Human Resource Management course. However, do note that you’ll have to go through a rather rigorous admissions process to learn if you’re admitted the next time the online course is taught. The course is taught through a web conference format that’s recorded and available to watch on-demand later within 24 hours of the class being taught if you weren’t able to make it to the live lecture. If you want to learn exactly what you’ll learn throughout the course, the syllabus is publicly available for you to review. The course is an introductory course, so you don’t have to worry if you don’t have intermediate or advanced HR knowledge. Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll be able to get a degree credit. But the course isn’t just for people pursuing a degree. Harvard’s online courses are for anyone that wants to advance their career or even just want to take a course for fun and personal growth. The cost for the course is $2,840. Learn more about Harvard’s Human Resource Management course here. #5 – Strategic HR Management, by MIT – Best Free HR Course
The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a ton of free courses through its free MIT OpenCourseWare page. Lucky for you, this includes their Strategic HR Management course. All you have to do is download the course materials to start learning the ins and outs of strategic HR management at your own pace. However, though it’s a free course, it doesn’t offer any certification upon completion. The MIT OpenCourseWare page is designed to give you access to thousands of courses that you might be interested in without having to pay steep tuition fees. The only catch is that learning the course material, going through the assignments, and any course readings is completely on you. Get MIT’s free Strategic HR Management course here. How to Find The Best Human Resources Courses For YouHow can you make sure you’re taking the course that will help you grow professionally? Well, the very first step is vetting each course for quality, which we’ve pretty much done for you with this guide. From there, you’ll want to look at a few more criteria, including how much you’re planning to spend on your course, how much time you have, and maybe even how rigorous the course is. Here are a few pointers that we used to create our list of the best courses that can help make your final decision. Course ReviewsCourse platforms like Coursera and Udemy let you see how many students have taken the course, the star rating for each course, and you can even read reviews left by previous students. If you want to get a real feel for what taking the course is really like, you can easily look through the reviews on course platforms. For standalone courses or courses offered by traditional institutions, running a quick Google search for any reviews or course comparisons can be worth your time if you’re torn about which course to take. Also, consider reading through the course curriculum if it’s publicly available. That way you’ll have a better idea of how immersive or general the course is, the level of rigor to expect, and the time commitment you’ll need to be able to finish the course successfully. Course CertificationWhile some courses will offer shareable certificates as proof that you took and successfully completed the course, others might not. If you go the free course route, you might save money but they usually don’t hand out course completion certificates. Consider if you’ll need the certificate to specifically boost your resume or CV, If you need to take the course to prepare you for new job responsibilities as opposed to padding your resume to get a whole new job, not getting a course certificate might not be a deal-breaker for you. Self Paced vs. Directed LearningSometimes you’ll come across courses that are self-paced. Once you’re signed up and equipped with the corresponding course material, you’re off to the races at your own pace. However, there are certain courses that are planned around start and end dates and that are built on a directed learning framework with an instructor and maybe even virtual group discussions. It’s ultimately up to you to decide what type of course will work best for you according to your schedule, the time you want to dedicate to the course, and what your course goals are. Course Payment OptionsSome courses graciously offer payment options if they come with steep enrollment fees. This might be an option to consider if you’re looking to take a course in the four figures. However, personalized course payment options can also come in handy if you’re an HR manager looking to educate your team of professionals. Course platforms like Coursera, for example, offer different payment options for businesses that want to educate their teams at scale. If you’re an individual looking to take a course, it’s always a good idea to look for any free trials any course platform offers to get a feel for their course offerings. Sometimes, certain courses will lower your admission fee if you refer a colleague to the same course or it will allow you to pay for your course in installments. In short, depending on the course you want to take, you might not have to pay a steep price upfront if you aren’t able to. SummaryThere are HR courses for a wide range of needs and goals. If you’re looking for a top-tier HR course with the prestige to match its content, you’ll want to consider Wharton’s HR Management and Analytics: Unlock the Value of Human Capital course. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more affordable yet still packed with plenty of course material and insight, consider MIT’s free Strategic HR Management course. Once you visit the page, you can download all the course material and assignments without having to pay a penny. Here’s a quick recap of each course I’ve reviewed in this guide:
If you still aren’t sure which one you’ll choose, you can always bookmark this guide to refer back to later. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-human-resource-courses/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best email hosting provider for most SMBs is DreamHost. When running a small or medium-sized business, having a branded email address goes a long way in building credibility. Customers take any SMB more seriously when the company email includes the SMB’s domain name versus a generic Gmail account. The great news is that there are many email hosting providers out there that can help your business look more professional with a branded email address. Email hosting providers give SMBs multiple high-end email features and strong security options. With so many email hosting providers available, I put together a list of the seven best options. Read on to find the one right for you. The Top 7 Best Email Hosting Providers
#1 – DreamHost — Best All-Around Email Hosting Provider
We like DreamHost as the best all-around email hosting provider because of its ease of use and versatility. It delivers everything the SMB could need in an email host for a low price. This is a fast and inexpensive option for obtaining a professional email address, especially for a small organization. DreamHost delivers stronger security features than expected, especially considering the low price it offers. It carries a highly effective defense against spam, viruses, malware, and phishing attacks. Users receive a strong mobile app with DreamHost, simplifying the process of working away from the office. All messages sync automatically between the web browser version and the mobile version. DreamHost unfortunately does not offer customer support by phone. It does have live chat and email support, though. When your organization needs more than email hosting services, DreamHost also has services like website creation and hosting, domain name acquisition, WordPress hosting, and many others. The basic email plans start at $1.67 per month per mailbox. #2 – Hostinger — Best Budget-Friendly Provider
Hostinger has one of the least expensive email hosting options anywhere, as its Business tier starts at $0.99 per month per mailbox. It has plenty of strong features for that price, including support for multiple devices, 10 GB of storage, and 50 email aliases per account. Even the more expensive Enterprise tier is extremely affordable at $2.49 per month per mailbox. It offers 30 GB of email storage per account. Both tiers have a browser version, as well as apps that will work with either iOS or Android devices. The Hostinger email hosting service runs on Titan client software, which includes apps for managing contacts and a calendar. For those SMBs that need to migrate email information from another client into Hostinger, this is an easy process. Should an SMB need more than email hosting, Hostinger has website hosting and WordPress hosting too. In fact, the most basic website hosting tier in Hostinger will include an email address based on the SMB’s domain, which can save money. Hostinger offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. #3 – Intermedia — Best for Email Security
The Intermedia Hosted Exchange Email service is a great choice for those needing high-end features in a provider. It’s built over the top of the Microsoft Exchange business email service. Security is a key component of Intermedia. Some of the benefits found with this service include:
For those working in a highly regulated environment, high-security email is a necessity. Intermedia can provide this service for its customers. End users can access their email messages through a web browser or through an app on mobile devices. As end users make changes on one device, the changes will sync to all devices simultaneously. Those using Intermedia will have unlimited email storage, ensuring end users and SMBs never have to worry about how they use the email client. With an Intermedia account, end users will have access to calendar and contact management software. It’s easy to integrate the calendar with the email client to organize a meeting, for example. It is a bit more expensive than some other email hosting solutions on our list, as it starts at $7.49 per month per mailbox. However, it has quite a few more features than some of the lower-priced models too. For example, customers have the option of around-the-clock telephone support here, which is not a common option. #4 – Scala Hosting — Best for Significant Storage
Scala Hosting has a wide range of different price points and features available that allow SMBs to create the perfect email hosting service for their needs. For organizations that need large amounts of storage paired with the email client, Scala Hosting delivers. Its Medium tier offers 150 GB of storage, while the Corporate tier allows the end user to select any amount of storage. Organizations can select among four different tiers, ranging from 10 email boxes per account to an unlimited number of email boxes, which are available in the Corporate tier. The majority of users will select the Corporate tier, which includes significant protection against spam. It also includes a free domain name. End users will receive their own dedicated email server with Scala Hosting in this tier, creating a higher level of security for the business’ emails. The Corporate tier starts at $9.95 per month. SMBs will pay quite a bit more, however, unless they’re willing to commit to a three-year contract. Scala Hosting does allow SMBs to adjust their account settings each month, ensuring they only pay for the services they’re actually using. #5 – Google Workspace — Best for Google-Centric Users
With a Google Workspace account, businesses gain email hosting services, along with all of the other Google services they’re already using. For those SMBs that rely on Google apps regularly, adding email hosting through Workspace makes a lot of sense. Through Workspace email hosting, organizations are able to gain a customized and secure business email address that runs in the Gmail client. However, the business email address includes the business’ domain name, rather than using gmail.com as the domain. Unlike with a personal Gmail account, customers using the Workspace hosted email service do not see ads within the Gmail client. It offers advanced security controls that protect the data the business is sending and receiving. Workspace also protects against spam messages and phishing attacks in Gmail. Google claims that it can stop at least 99.9% of these issues. Teams using Workspace to host their business Gmail account can activate two-factor authentication, providing an extra layer of security. Workspace offers business email hosting in all of its pricing tiers. The Business Starter tier starts at $6 per user per month, and it has 30 GB of cloud storage available per user. End users will need to share this storage amount across all of the Google Workspace apps they’re using. #6 – Microsoft 365 Business Standard — Best for Microsoft-Centric Users
Those who rely on Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, and other Microsoft apps will have good luck with this Microsoft email hosting service for business. With the subscription to this Business Standard tier, users will gain access to the hosted email solution, along with all of the Office productivity tools. Subscribers will receive email hosting with custom email addresses based on the SMB’s domain name. In the Business Standard tier, users will have up to 50 GB of email storage per account, as well as 1 TB of cloud storage on Microsoft OneDrive. Each license includes support for multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets. Team members can make use of the Outlook email client with Business Standard. For especially busy organizations, this Microsoft email provider attempts to sort messages based on importance. It uses an algorithm that can help with limiting the sheer volume of messages the user must look at every day. Users will play a starting price of $12.50 per month per user for everything in the Business Standard tier. A 30-day free trial period is available. #7 – Amazon WorkMail — Best for AWS-Centric Users
For an SMB that is making use of AWS (Amazon Web Services), adding the Amazon WorkMail email hosting service is a natural progression. WorkMail integrates closely with other AWS services that the business may already be using, making it highly efficient. With WorkMail, organizations can count on the security of their email messages and data. It encrypts all data at rest and in transit. It provides protection against malware, viruses, and spam. The service works well on mobile devices, as well as through a web browser. Businesses that have an extremely busy email environment with dozens of employees likely can successfully make use of WorkMail. It does require some knowledge and experience with AWS to achieve the best results. Small businesses that only need a few email addresses may find WorkMail (and AWS) require too much work to set up and use for their needs. WorkMail starts at a price of $4 per month per user. Each email box receives 50 GB of data storage, which is impressive. A 30-day free trial period is available. How to Find the Best Email Hosting Providers for YouHere are some of the criteria we used to determine the providers included in our list. Focusing on these areas can help small or medium-sized businesses find just the right hosting provider for their needs. MobilityEmployees who work away from the office may frequently track their email messages on a smartphone. Any email hosting provider should have a strong app that simplifies accessing messages on a small smartphone screen. Although mobile users could access their email through a web browser on a smartphone, this doesn’t always yield the best results. Some email clients running through a browser on a smartphone are tough to read or navigate. For the best results, look for an email hosting provider that offers an app. The majority of providers that create apps will have both iOS and Android versions available. SecurityFor SMBs that frequently send sensitive files over email, the security features a provider offers are important to consider. Some of the security options that the best email hosting providers will have include:
Pay attention to the security features the provider offers, as well as to any guarantees it provides regarding security. Understand that many data breaches and security issues occur because of errors on the part of end users in the SMB. However, when the email hosting provider has a strong set of security features available, this can reduce the severity of potential end user errors. PrivacyThe majority of the best email providers will have clear policies in place regarding how they will handle the SMB’s data. Most of them will include a policy that states the provider will not sell the organization’s usage data statistics to third parties. However, some providers do monitor and track the way the SMB uses its email. This could lead to targeted advertising and marketing. These are issues the business may not want to have to deal with regularly. It’s far better to stick with an email hosting provider that guarantees the privacy of client business data. SupportThe majority of email hosting services are extremely easy to set up and use. This is important for an SMB that needs to be sending and receiving emails as quickly as possible. However, for those times where the business needs customer support, email hosting providers offer a wide range of options. Most providers will offer around-the-clock support through live chat or email. Depending on the service tier an SMB is using, it’s possible to have phone support available too. Along these same lines, email hosting providers need to offer nearly perfect uptime to their clients. No business wants to discover its employees cannot send and receive emails, even for a few minutes during the business day, because of a failure on the provider’s end. The majority of providers will guarantee at least 99.9% uptime. StorageSome SMBs need to have cloud storage space available that’s tied to the email software. End users can take advantage of storage that comes with the email account to archive messages, for example. An average user will need 1 GB or 2 GB of data storage space with the email provider. Those who are heavy email users and who archive huge numbers of messages may need 10 GB or more to do the job. SummaryWe chose DreamHost as our favorite email hosting provider. It will deliver a nice set of features for a variety of SMBs. However, we recognize DreamHost won’t be perfect for every organization. For those who need some specific features, we have several other recommendations. Those who need extra security can count on Intermedia. Scala Hosting provides huge amounts of storage for the busiest environments, while Hostinger is better for small organizations on a budget. And of course, for those businesses that rely on Microsoft, Google, or AWS for their other services, each of those companies has a great email hosting service. We may loathe seeing several dozen new emails on Monday morning, but we all know the importance of email to any business. The email hosting providers on our list will make it easier to manage daily email needs and to do so securely. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-email-hosting-providers/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best online reputation management company for most people is definitely WebiMax. In today’s digital era, an online reputation can make or break a business. This statement holds true for aspiring startups and well-established enterprises alike. Consumers and other businesses regularly search online to learn more about your organization and brand before they consider working with you. A positive brand image can lead to high sales, while a negative perception deters people from buying your products or services. We’ve covered ways to improve your online reputation. But you can take this one step further by working with an online reputation management company. These services can help you build and maintain a positive brand image or repair a damaged one. The 10 Best Online Reputation Management Companies of 2021There is a glut of online reputation management services on the market. In a saturated industry, finding the best option for your business is a challenge if you don’t know where to look. I created this guide to help that decision. I conducted extensive research and narrowed the field to the top online reputation management companies for you to consider:
Below, I give an in-depth review of each company. You will learn more about their services, features, benefits, and other considerations to make your decision easier. Best Online Reputation Management Company Reviews#1 – WebiMax – The Best for Small Businesses Needing Hands-On Solutions
WebiMax is a digital marketing agency that specializes in reputation management for small businesses. They stand out from the crowd because of their great customized solutions. WebiMax creates a custom strategy for everyone. They prioritize cost-effective methods to bury negative remarks and promote a positive image. Their process is confidential and is covered under a non-disclosure agreement. So, nobody will know if you’re using a third-party service to build or repair your reputation online. They also offer a free comprehensive reputation analysis to get a bead on where your brand needs help and identify how WebiMax can help improve it. This initial reputation analysis includes:
All their strategies are customized to a brand’s specific needs, and there is no contractual requirement to use their services. If you’re dissatisfied with the results, you can walk away anytime. That is great for small businesses with more idiosyncratic needs. It is also a very flexible and budget-friendly approach. WebiMax is a top option for small businesses. They have the resources, tools, and track record to deliver proven results. Visit WebiMax to learn more and get started. #2 – NetReputation — Best for ultra-responsive customer support
NetReputation is considered one of the leading reputation management companies in the industry, even being recognized by Newsweek as the “World’s Leading Online Reputation Management Company” in both 2020 and 2021. If your business needs negative content removed, inaccurate business listings fixed, and visibility of your assets improved, stop searching. NetReputation offers a full range of services for online reputation management, including:
Beyond their expertise, NetReputation is most known for their professionalism and responsiveness. Users love the compassion, understanding, and quick responses from the NetReputation team. After thoroughly interviewing business owners to understand their needs, NetReputation implements a five-step process to manage anyone’s online reputation. It starts with reputation analysis, which means extensive research and identifying potential threats. After research comes web property development, where NetReputation creates or adjusts assets your company owns, such as blogs, websites, social media profiles, business directory listings, and YouTube channels. Then comes the content creation step. NetReputation conceptualizes, creates, and posts content on owned assets through their online platform and creates a publishing schedule. The final step is content promotion through email lists and blogs, organic feedback, and paid ads. For responsive, professional, expert assistance, NetReputation is a great choice. Learn more to start with NetReputation. #3 – InternetReputation.com — Best for Personal Reputation Management
InternetReputation.com takes a holistic approach to helping companies and individuals manage their online reputations. They craft personalized strategies for every client and specialize in overall reputation management, branding, and privacy monitoring. What sets InternetReputation.com apart from competitors is its focus on individuals. InternetReputation.com is a women-owned boutique firm based in the US. They take a personal approach to every situation and create custom strategies for everyone they work with. Why? Because reputation management isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. Besides customized solutions for every client, InternetReputation.com is also ideal for healthcare professionals looking to keep their sensitive information confidential while still garnerering HIPAA-compliant feedback and reviews on industry-leading review sites like HealthGrades and Google. The company has helped many small medical practices get more and better reviews faster with automated messages right after a visit. They offer a free consultation with new clients to determine specific reputation management goals. Then, a personalized strategy is developed to help you manage your online reputation, suppress negative information, manage your reviews, or run autosuggest campaigns. Every client has a dedicated account manager to help them throughout the process and provide weekly progress reports. Get started now with InternetReputation.com. #4 – Podium – The Best for Getting Reviews Automatically
Podium isn’t your typical reputation management company. Instead of offering “typical” ORM offerings (e.g. trying to bury negative reviews or improving your rankings on search engines), they take a more proactive approach and use automated messaging to generate reviews for you. For example, if a customer just purchased an item or service from you, Podium will send them a text message asking for a review. Your customer can click on a link in the text that sends them to Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor or whatever site your industry relies on. Once there, they can leave a glowing review for you. It’s an automated way to garner reviews—and one that is actually incredibly effective. There are case studies and testimonials from Podium explaining how businesses went from 3,000 reviews to over 50,000 online reviews after using automated messaging. With Podium, you’ll also get reviews and customer recommendations across all platforms. Whether it’s Google, Facebook, or third-party niche platforms, your businesses will be highly visible and will attract more reviews. You can also use Podium to gather feedback from your customers. Gain insight into what your customers like and what could use improvement. Of course, this is a pretty specific service. If you need more comprehensive rebranding or brand-building measures—or if you just want a more typical kind of reputation management—we recommend choosing a different platform. But if you want to gain as many reviews as you can across the platforms that mean the most to your business, we would definitely recommend adding Podium as part of your overall strategy. Click here to learn more and get started with Podium #5 – SEO Image – The Best ORM for Legal & Medical Practices
SEO Image offers—you guessed it—SEO marketing and reputation services. If you want to proactively improve your standing in the eyes of Google, they can help you out. The firm prides itself on using ethical strategies to boost your standing on social media, search, and review sites. SEO Image has the know-how to help your company and its needs, whether the most pressing issue is promoting positive news, rebranding your business, quelling negative connotations with your brand, gaining useful insights from reviews that are currently out there, or anything else involving your reputation. Where they really shine is in their specific solutions for legal and medical practices. These are two industries for which SEO Image’s employees are very experienced at creating content and improving images. They offer doctors and lawyers customized solutions for improving their online reputation. After all, no one wants to go to a lawyer with a ton of one-star reviews on Google for their legal help. And no one, especially, wants to go to a doctor with a bunch of bad reviews for their medical care. Outside of reputation management, they also offer a suite of digital marketing solutions such as social media management and content marketing. So, if you’d like to combine your digital marketing strategy with your brand-building strategy (and you should, because they’re pretty much one and the same), you can do so with SEO Image. Overall, there’s a lot that SEO Image can offer you. They’ll apply their vast search engine knowledge to create a targeted, customized, and effective reputation management strategy for you. And you’ll know that you have their complete attention and effort every step of the way. Get in touch with SEO Image today to start the conversation about your custom solution for online reputation management. #6 – Gadook – The Best for Rebranding After Reputation Attacks
Gadook stands out for their excellent brand building and rebranding solutions. This is ideal for businesses that have experienced some type of brand attack or negative publicity. Whether you made a mistake or something happened at no fault of your own, your reputation could be damaged beyond repair. Gadook knows that and will work with you to build your reputation back up. From a website redesign to new domain names and re-branded customer service, they’ll handle everything you need to give you business the shot in the arm it needs to bounce back after controversy. Here’s a quick overview of what Gadook offers:
The brand protection service is another top consideration. Even if your company has a well-established reputation online, you want to make sure that it stays that way. Gadook can respond to negative posts online and help enhance the density of positive content related to your website. This will ultimately marginalize any negative reviews. Reach out to Gadook for your reputation repair needs. #7 – BirdEye – The Best for Getting Google & Facebook Reviews
Birdeye offers a similar service to Podium—and they’re not exactly a typical ORM, either. Instead, BirdEye helps you generate reviews of all stripes through automated systems like customized pop-ups, messages, and emails. But, they set themselves apart from Podium with their Facebook and Google integrations. They allow you to automatically send messages to customers on Facebook Messenger to ask for reviews. They also have a great direct integration with Google’s private API. This encourages customers to review your business directly on Google. You’ll also be notified each time you get a new review. This helps you to swiftly follow-up with customers during a time when their engagement is at its highest. On top of this, BirdEye offers a great personalized workflow that gives you a very solid way of visualizing and making changes to how a review is generated too. Like Podium, they also have a survey tool that allows you to gather customer insights and feedback to improve your business. BirdEye also offers a deep well of review management solutions such as:
If your small business doesn’t have enough online reviews or needs to get more reviews on various platforms, BirdEye should be a top choice for you. #8 – Reputation.com – The Best for Knowing Your Competition’s Reputation
Reputation.com handles all aspects of online reputation management. They do this with powerful software that monitors thousands of different websites where your brand is mentioned. They also leverage a unique algorithm for calculating your company’s reputation and giving you a score. The index is measured on a scale from 100-1,000, calculated using nine unique factors. Your score will also show benchmarks relative to your industry and competitors. Benchmarking your business against the industry and your competitors can be extraordinarily helpful. This will help you know exactly where you are in relation to your competitors, and can better inform your marketing strategy and how to position your brand. Reputation.com works with businesses across 77 different industries. Some of their most popular industry solutions include online reputation management for automotive, healthcare, retail, property management, hospitality, financial services, and senior living. Some of their top online reputation services include:
They also have a great mobile app, that allows you to manage your reputation on the go. That’s not really something that we see a lot with ORMs. Bottom line: This is a good way to know how your business and brand is performing in relation to your industry and competitors. Catch up to your competition by reaching out to Reputation.com today. #9 – Go Fish Digital – The Best for Improving Yelp Reviews
Go Fish Digital is another full-service digital marketing company that offers a reputation management solution. The brand reputation management solutions from Go Fish Digital can be segmented into three main categories:
But where they stand out to me is their Yelp review services. If you have lots of negative reviews on Yelp, Go Fish Digital can get them removed. They examine the possibilities for poor reviews that violate Yelp’s guidelines. Then they submit your case to Yelp on your behalf for removal. Since Yelp only gives brands one chance to make an argument against negative reviews, you’ll definitely want the experts to handle this for you. They also offer a very interesting Google and Bing auto-complete clean-up solution. This can be great if your business’s name is typically associated with some embarrassing keywords in search engines’ autocomplete features. They’ll help get rid of those using their three-factor targeted solution. The team over at Go Fish Digital will come up with a custom plan and solution based on the needs of your organization. They’ll handle things like search engine improvement, Yelp and online review management, and public affairs. Go Fish Digital allows you to track search results on a daily basis. You’ll also be able to see reviews in real-time and view all of your data on an intuitive dashboard. Overall, Go Fish Digital is a solid choice for any business that relies primarily on Yelp for business and would like help getting rid of bad reviews. #10 – Netmark.com – The Best for Hands-Off, Fast Responses to Reputation Hits
Netmark.com focuses on reviews for building, managing, and repairing your reputation online. The company will help you take a proactive approach to negative reviews by doing the following:
Netmark.com works fast too, with speedy responses to any reputation hits and negative reviews. They will also make it easier and more appealing for your customers to file complaints in private. This is much better than bashing your brand on a public forum. In addition to Netmark.com’s reputation management services, they have tons of free resources, best practices, and tips for tactics you can apply today. Bottom line: They’re great if you want a speedy response to reputation hits. If you need a swift counterattack to slights on your company’s reputation, head over to Netmark.com today. How to Find the Best Online Reputation Management Company For Your BusinessWith so many different online reputation management companies to consider, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Not all of these will be ideal for your business, which will help you narrow your focus to just one or two top options. By using our methodology, which I’ll explain below, you’ll be able to sniff out which of our selected products fits you best. Ethical Practices and MethodsWhen it comes to increasing your brand’s reputation and presence online, there are two methods—ethical and… less than ethical. Ethical methods are techniques to increase a brand’s reputation through actions like social media monitoring, positive review management, and SEO content creation. Generally, these are proactive ways of responding to customers directly and putting more information out there which accentuates your company’s positive attributes. Of course, we’ve only selected online reputation management services which choose these methods. But, you should be aware of the bad actors out there, ultimately doing more harm than good by being aggressive and shady how they’ll improve your reputation. Unethical techniques include things like trying to “trick” search engine results with keyword stuffing and link farming. They might even threaten or coerce negative reviewers to take down their reviews. It’s a weird twist, but the online reputation management company’s reputation matters a lot, too. You don’t want to go with one that resorts to sleazy methods to “improve” your reputation. To make sure that their methods are above board, see how transparent they are with their tactics. Speaking of which, that brings us to our next consideration… Maximum TransparencyMake sure you know exactly what you’re getting with your ORM company. Are their methods and techniques clear and obvious to you? Do they leave you with more questions than answers when you take a look at their offerings or following a consultation? If a service is cagey about how exactly they’ll work to improve your online reputation, that’s a red flag. Improving a company’s online reputation isn’t some mysterious, magical action. It takes real work by doing things that are measurable and demonstrable. If your reputation management service can’t explain the “what” and “how” of their work for you, you’re better off finding someone who can. All of the services we’ve chosen in our list offer clear information on how they’ll work with you to attain your reputation goals. WebiMax and SEO Image, in particular, will go the extra mile to show just how much they can do for you. Channel-Specific SolutionsEvery company has its own unique way to improve your company’s reputation online. The type of business you have and your current reputation will dictate the best option for you. A startup company with no online presence will not need the same online reputation management provider as a well-established brand that just received some negative publicity. The same goes for your specific industry and services (more on that later). For example, Go Fish Digital is great for Yelp reviews. This is perfect for businesses that rely on Yelp as their primary reputation driver, like local businesses, restaurants, and home and auto services. Podium leverages omnichannel customer messaging on channels like Facebook to help create positive reviews. That’s great for service-based industries and others that have existing and potential customers contact them on a wide array of platforms. SEO Image focuses on—you guessed it—search engine optimization and ranking well on Google. If that’s your primary means of customer acquisition, I’ll bet you would love to work with them. Industry-Specific ExpertiseLook for an online reputation management service that has experience working with similar brands to your own. Some companies specialize in B2B or enterprise-grade organizations, while others are best for small businesses. There are online reputation services made for specific industries that lean heavily on customer reviews, like retail, healthcare, hospitality, and automotive brands. Find a reputation manager that offers a solution for your business type because they know that industry well. For example, Reputation.com works across 77 different industries—but they specialize in automotive, healthcare, retail, property management, hospitality, financial services, and senior living. If your business falls in any of those categories, we cannot recommend Reputation.com enough for your needs. WebiMax, for example, will give you a free reputation analysis before you even sign up for their service. That report will explain exactly the timeline they’ll work with you on, data on your negative and positive content online, and a customized quote. If you’re a small town business, SubmitEdgeSEO is great for local SEO services. They’ll help your rank well for searches within your area. ConclusionIf your company is in need of an online reputation management service, use this guide to help with your decision-making process. Here’s a quick recap of the top options on our list:
No matter what type of reputation you have, these providers can help you maintain, repair, or establish your brand name. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-online-reputation-management-companies/ |
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