We have an important topic to discuss: clutter. No, not the type of clutter that lands you on a TV show with giant garbage bins outside your house. We are talking about something even worse: digital clutter.
How many unread emails are sitting in your inbox? And even more importantly, when was the last time (if ever) you cleaned out that inbox? How many “organization” apps have you downloaded? Are you ignoring any rarely-used apps that take a few bucks from your bank account each month? We know you may have been super triggered by these tough questions- we also definitely know that our inbox does not currently have 1,045 unread emails (insert nervous emoji here).
Sadly, we are not here to help with your inbox issues. We are here, however, to show you the advantages of utilizing a business application suite versus individual applications.
People utilize all types of software to run their businesses, which can involve a number of individual applications. If you think about everything it takes to run your business successfully, that is a pretty long list. Business application suites combine all types of necessary applications and programs in one place. Having all these aspects of your business (whether your business is small or large) under one umbrella is useful for a variety of reasons.
An undeniable fact is that every business has unique needs. Dealing with each need individually/manually is not only time-consuming, but limits growth. For instance: billing, payroll and other financial matters are bound to use a specific application or website. Then there’s the huge marketing realm, which could require several programs on its own. Having a business application suite that integrates all these software solutions into one place increases efficiency and accessibility.
Business application suites can also improve process automation. Automating tasks so that they don’t constantly need attention leads to more time to focus on everything else. Automation means smoother scalability and the ability to run a bigger operation without getting lost in the weeds.
Business application suites like Zoho One not only make things easier by improving accessibility, but they can automate processes that should be automated. Some examples would be:
Not every business will have the same requirements or use the same tactics. Some businesses will emphasize marketing aspects more than others. Other businesses don’t have a huge staff that constantly communicate with one another. Some have no need for fancy presentations or contract creation. Suites like Zoho One allow customization for instances like this, so business owners won’t have to worry about paying for something they won’t use!
One thing is for sure, bundling (especially with the option to customize) will more than likely be the most cost-effective option. Paying for necessary programs and applications individually can add up.
We did some research on popular solutions for everyday business needs. Here’s a list of pricing that we compiled:
Email marketing software: $9.99 a month (increases as the number of contacts increase).
Social media management/automation: $49.00 a month (increases with more accounts)
Team communication: $8.00 a month
Billing/Payment management: $12.50 a month
This list more than likely does not include all business necessities, but you get the picture. So far we have reached $79.49 a month with mostly standard/basic packages. Zoho One includes all four items listed, along with many other options and costs $45.00 a month ($37.00 a month if you sign up for a year).
Utilizing multiple programs and applications from different companies not only clutters any process, but it puts your data and privacy into the hands of a lot more people. Since it’s all under one company, a business application suite gives you much more control of how your data is being used and stored. One company = one data protection policy. A great thing about Zoho is their transparency about data and privacy policies. They prioritize data security and recognize online security challenges companies face every day.
Speaking of data security, how do you keep all your passwords organized and easily accessible? Hopefully your answer to this question doesn’t involve making all your passwords “password123”. Taking some extra steps for better password management (although it may seem insignificant) ultimately leads to better data security. Thankfully Zoho One includes Vault, a safe and convenient feature that manages all those pesky passwords!
Looking to simplify your business routine? Declutter your digital world? Hoping to not be the first person submitted for a digital hoarding show? A business application suite is a great way to accomplish all of these things. Create a more efficient, secure and cost-effective business with just the click of a button.
Our team is here to help answer your questions and get you out of a disorganized rut. Reach out anytime.
What’s one thing that we have seen in headlines more and more? Data breaches. Big companies are coming forward and revealing data breaches where tons of personal information may have been compromised. Who’s personal information? Consumers. And not just specific consumers, but consumers from all over the world. More than 98.2 million individuals were impacted by the 10 biggest data breaches in the first half of 2021. Every person who has any online presence is at risk with these types of incidents!
Data privacy and protection is becoming more highlighted, especially in an increasingly digital world. Hackers are focusing less and less on stealing individual identities and focusing more on what pays the most: ransomware attacks and targeting unsecure databases. The average ransomware payout in 2018 was less than $10,000. In 2020, that figure grew to more than $233,000 per ransomware attack!
Ransomware is hurting individual companies more, but hackers targeting unsecured databases are affecting consumers. By hacking databases, cyber criminals could potentially access social security numbers, login credentials, bank account information and so much more. The bigger the company, the more data that is at risk.
So, what factors can lead to more unsecured databases? There are a few elements to look at:
Consider sources: As companies grow, there are more chances of collecting fake or useless data. This negatively affects any type of marketing analysis from the data, along with increasing disorganization within the database. Increased disorganization = increased vulnerability.
Consider security of stored data: If companies don’t place an emphasis on security measures for their collected data (encryption, firewalls, etc), it’s going to be susceptible to cyber attacks.
Consider data protection laws: Regulations have been put into place to protect data privacy/consumer privacy, therefore impeding cyber criminals. If a company remains cognizant of these laws and regulations while following suggested procedures, the outcome for their data protection will be far better.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was created in Europe to help govern the use of personal data. It’s a set of rules that controls what organizations do with collected data and also offers more transparency about the collection process. GDPR emphasizes securing data, along with encouraging companies to not gather more data than they truly need. Too much data means more to lose, plus less organization and security.
GDPR may be based in Europe, but it applies to any company doing business with European citizens. For instance, if a company based in Texas mainly interacts with Americans, but also has customers in Europe, GDPR applies and compliance is required.
So far in the United States, there are only three states that have created protective regulations involving data/personal information: California, Colorado and Virginia. It’s a good idea for companies to consider regulations like GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act when building their own data and privacy policies. With bigger businesses, there’s going to be customers from Europe and more regulated states. This means rules like the GDPR and CCPA will have to be considered no matter what. Companies should incorporate this into their plan, further progressing along with the ever-evolving realm of data protection.
It is a good idea to create a privacy policy that is not only informative for the customer, but complies with laws like GDPR. Not only will this create more trust, but it can also prevent security issues down the line.
A privacy policy creates more transparency between businesses and their customers. It lets the customer know what data is being collected and what’s being done with that data. It also tends to make it more clear how the data is being gathered, whether through cookies or a pop-up form.
Privacy policies can also describe things like data storage, how long the company will keep the data stored, and who may have access. Next time you go on a website and the privacy notice pops up, take a deeper look into what it involves! There are free privacy policy generators online and the Better Business Bureau is another free reference to get started.
A Customer Relationship Management solution is an important player in the big business and marketing game. CRMs manage customer data, analyzing the customer experience and supplying insight to what marketing tactics are working. They offer information to improve sales and lead acquisition.
What does this have to do with data protection and privacy? CRM solutions like Zoho take data privacy seriously and incorporate it into their business practice. Once GDPR came around in 2018, Zoho has been compliant in all aspects of their services. Zoho also offers much more than just the typical CRM options:
• Zoho SalesIQ: This option tracks and interacts with website visitors while remaining GDPR compliant.
• Zoho Assist: This option helps with remote support and controls remote access to your device. Without your consent, no access will be given.
• Zoho Vault: A secure and convenient way to keep track of company passwords.
The world is becoming increasingly more digital and data-focused. The risks to privacy and data protection are at an all-time high. It is more important than ever to stay ahead of the never-ending changes and developments, especially if you want to continue to grow your business!
Need a hand? Book your free consultation today.
What is ECommerce?
As businesses rapidly gravitate to the online space, you’ve likely heard the word “Ecommerce” thrown around, even in casual conversation.
In fact, if you’ve just Googled “What is ECommerce?” under the table on a first date so you can keep the conversation going, we’ve got your back.
Our friends at Shopify put it simply. “Ecommerce, also known as electronic commerce or internet commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions. Ecommerce is often used to refer to the sale of physical products online, but it can also describe any kind of commercial transaction that is facilitated through the internet.”
So, ECommerce is basically an online shop.
There are pretty important nuggets of wisdom you will want to know before you jump headfirst into an ECommerce business. For starters, you’ll want to know how to succeed.
There are a lot of moving parts to ensure any business’ success, but an ECommerce business has its unique needs.
The success of an ECommerce business is heavily reliant on a fully optimized website. After all, the website is the storefront, customer support, and cashier of an ECommerce setup. There are key elements that an ECommerce website must have that go beyond impressive product photos.
To succeed as an ECommerce business, your website needs to be:
Shopify is really the one-stop-shop (see what we did there?) for ECommerce entrepreneurs. Not only does Shopify check off every item listed above, but they make marketing your business effortless right from the app! You can also utilize other sales channels like Walmart Marketplace, eBay, Facebook, and Instagram with Shopify. If you’re wanting to test the waters, let us know here and we’ll sign you up for a free 14-day trial.
There are so many ways to market an ECommerce business. So many, in fact, that you may feel overwhelmed on where you should start. Marketing trends are always ebbing and flowing as algorithms change. At Woggle, we’re all about empowering you with resources and automation so you can keep it simple. ECommerce businesses don’t market themselves, but Shopify can do the heavy lifting for you. Here’s how.
Email marketing is still effective! Yes, even in the world of social media. It turns out that people still want to hear from businesses in their inbox. The proof is in the stats.
Shopify knows the proof is in the pudding (do people still say that?). That’s why they offer email marketing capabilities right in the app. ECommerce businesses can utilize pre-made templates to cut down on time. An added bonus is that you don’t have to hire a designer. Once you have customized your template, Shopify allows you to:
This Shopify marketing feature is one of our favorites. Chatbots are an amazing tool for an ECommerce business to have. They elevate the customer experience by making product recommendations, lending a hand with FAQs, and offering discount codes in real-time.
Are you convinced yet that business chat is the way forward? Like email marketing, Shopify allows customization to your chat and shows you how it is performing in analytics. You can also integrate your chat into Facebook Messenger and other messaging apps. Shopify works seamlessly across various platforms so you don’t have to.
ECommerce businesses rely on ads to get their products front and center. Knowing where to start or even how to start an ad campaign can be a headache. The tricky thing about ads for most ECommerce businesses is figuring out where to advertise. Shopify takes the guesswork out of ads by setting you up for success in their platform.
Being able to advertise, sell, offer customer support, and market from one platform is invaluable to ECommerce business owners. Shopify offers impressive perks when it comes to advertising your products.
Our Woggle team has seen Shopify in action and it’s transforming Ecommerce businesses by increasing their ROI, improving the customer experience, and helping their ads be seen by their ideal customer.
Remember, we can sign you up for a free 14 day trial with Shopify if you’re not ready to commit and want to take it for a test drive.
Woggle is a huge fan of making business simple, and we’re equally as passionate about seeing your business grow! Reach out today, together we'll get everything sorted!
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
We know that a lot of blogs and articles out there don’t answer the real questions. Sure, you know that a CRM helps business managers and owners in all sorts of ways. We wrote our own article explaining what CRMS do and how this technology can change your entire customer experience.
We’re not that company that dances around the questions that might help you make big decisions about technology. Today’s question…
Where does a CRM actually exist?
CRMs, like many other software solutions, come in different types, and the most significant factor is where the CRM exists and how users can access it. Thankfully, multiple options mean that you can choose a CRM based on where you want it to live and how you want your employees to use the system.
Not all customers are the same, and not all businesses treat their customers the same. Any CRM system should allow businesses customizable options to improve customer care.
A CRM system should:
□ Replace your Rolodex and other archaic versions of client tracking
□ Access and monitor customer data
□ Gain insight and actionable information on business performance
□ Assess customer behavior easily
□ Streamline workflows and processes through automation.
Ultimately, the goal is to increase Customer Lifetime Value by engaging the sales flywheel and supporting your teams.
A Desktop CRM system lives on one desktop. This situation could work for solopreneurs or freelancers who do everything themselves. These types of CRM systems only work on the one computer where the owner installs them.
For that reason, these CRM systems offer more affordability because of the restriction of use. Though, they may still offer the same range of features as other types of CRM systems.
Client or server systems live in a database stored on the business or the client’s server. This means, users can access it through any computer with the coordinating software where the computer also has server access.
With a CRM server option, you can expect:
□ Startup costs for the server purchase
□ Costs for server installation
□ Time spent setting up the server
□ Responsibility for IT security and server maintenance
□ Limited options for upgrading features or functions
A cloud-based CRM operates online, and the provider handles the CRM server allowing access to the data and system via the cloud.
With a cloud-based CRM, you can expect:
□ Monthly fees for the supplier maintaining the server and providing updates
□ Lower initial costs
□ Easy to start right away
□ Remotely control features and functions
The biggest benefit of cloud-based CRMs is that users can access the system from nearly anywhere and don’t necessarily need that extra techy stuff like a secure VPN.
In the end, finding the right CRM is a huge decision because of the time investment and cost. You don’t want to go around trying a bunch of different options, so you need to make a decision with the information available. That’s tough in an age where everything seems so easy to implement or change.
Ultimately, what are the best options? A CRM server might be expensive, but it’s probably best for companies worried about security and control over the CRM. Alternatively, a cloud-based server might be the right choice for bigger companies that have remote teams and need easy mobile access.
At Woggle Consulting we’re always on the lookout for solutions that fit our customers best.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
We’ve known that remote work has been on the horizon for a while, but the COVID-19 pandemic gave everyone a hard shove into the work-from-home lifestyle. Now that we’re starting to recover a bit, it’s clear that many employees want to stay home, and businesses want to avoid the hefty costs of keeping offices open.
Even if moving your staff to full-time remote work isn’t on the table, having a remote work software suite can deliver massive payoffs. Take a second and think of the companies that were “remote ready" in March 2020. Some companies only had to flip the metaphorical switch and send out a mass email telling staff to stay home.
Remote work offers a unique combination of benefits including raised morale and higher retention rates. So why didn't we all welcome remote work sooner? Companies reasonably were worried that working from home would come with security issues, kill collaboration, and cause communication struggles. In comes tech to solve the working world’s problems.
Now, there’s the issue of being overwhelmed with different tech tools and software that claim to be the key to making remote work, well, work. There cannot be one solution. But there are software suites that offer an array of tools and systems to keep your teams running.
We’re pretty lucky that Zoho has an entirely cloud-based remote system that ensures your team can always access the information and systems they need to get things done. You know, as long as they have internet access.
Zoho knows that you have concerns too. Yeah, your employees can get the information they need, but are they really going to work? Seamless reporting helps leaders know that teams are on track with sales goals and other performance metrics.
Worried about choosing the right combination of Zoho systems? Take a breath because Zoho already solved that problem. Zoho Remotely allows your office to function from anywhere with a winning combination of their best remote work apps.
Zoho keeps going. They connect with nearly all the other apps you need to keep your team working, such as:
If you have apps that you already love, chances are you can integrate them with Zoho while cleaning out the apps and processes that are weighing you down.
Because of built-in analytics, Zoho CRM can measure and manage metrics across all of your business operations. Give your sales team powerful tools with one clear path for customer handling in the CRM. Automate escalations to protect customers and support staff while standardizing approval systems to reduce bottlenecks.
Meanwhile, leaders can use customizable dashboards to track team progress, who is landing the most sales, and which campaigns have the most leads.
Remote work software solutions often focus on the CRM to protect the customers' best interest. But, what about everyone else? Don't worry. Zoho has over 45 applications in their suite, and unlike other unnamed software providers, these applications actually integrate beautifully. It's the software suite with apps that know how to work as a team.
So, what do you need to know about Zoho and its many apps?
It doesn't matter if your top talent wants to move across the country or if you need to work while you're on the go. Leaders and staff can collaborate and crush it without being in the same physical space.
Interested in setting up your company for remote working? We'd love to chat with you.
Schedule a Free Consultation today!
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
Zoho is a CRM that has been around for over 15 years in the industry. As a start up themselves, they know what it is like to be at every stage of a growing business. The needs of their users is at the center of everything they do and create. For starters, they have a whopping 50% faster implementation. Also, their marketplace has over 900 apps to help you integrate with the ones you already have. Don't forget it has a scalable ecosystem with flexible contracts. Finally, one the highlights that puts them at the forefront is their rating in mobile functionality. Of which, they are rated the best!
Zoho is your hub for building better customer relationships with features like sales pipeline management, marketing automation, analytics, and so much more. Zoho CRM is big, so that with a little tailoring, it can fit any industry or business like a glove. You can think of Woggle Consulting like your software tailor. We listen to where it pinches here or is to loose there, and we work with it until it is the most comfortable thing for you and your team to use.
Zoho is omnichannel and remote-ready for your workforce. Nowadays, flexibility of where your employees work is at the forefront of every business owner's mind. You can keep your peace of mind on communication because Zoho integrates emails seamlessly. Speaking of communication- Zoho's web conferencing, phone, chat and social applications make it easier for your employees to get the job done. No matter what the world throws at them!
Security and privacy are at the heart of everything Zoho does. They've designed state-of-the-art and secure data centers, sophisticated network security protocols, and infrastructure to offer secure and uninterrupted services.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
Acronyms are really annoying, but we like ERPs, so we’ll let it slide. ERP stands for “Enterprise Resource Planning,” but that doesn’t help anyone understand this type of tool. Let’s start by taking a step back.
Could you start to list all the resources you use to plan and track all of your business activities? Do you use email? What about a CRM or Customer Relationship Manager? Those are just a few common starting points. Calendars, invoicing systems, accounting, human resources, and more are all resources that most businesses need to maintain basic operations.
At its core, ERP software brings all of these functions together into one system. The best way to describe an ERP is as a business ecosystem. If you can see all of these elements, you can manage processes, information, and functionality. But, if you can streamline them, then you can create a balance across your entire organization. An ERP is a system that gives you the big and little picture for every resource-driven element of your business, and that can help you lead your company toward even greater success.
An ERP is worth the investment. ERPs do come with a hefty price tag, but the benefits of unifying your systems often provide a fast return.
Imagine how many more sales your team could make if they didn’t spend time in meetings discussing how to use a spreadsheet that someone spent hours creating. Not to mention the downtime your staff have while they continuously reload overcomplicated spreadsheets that crash every ten minutes.
What if your customer service and helpdesk staff didn’t have to hunt down information for your customers?
Think of all the time, effort, and money you will save on training when everything runs in one system. Instead of training your staff across multiple systems, you train them on one, and it has everything they could ever need.
Here’s the big-ticket question for most business owners: what if you could eliminate tedious tasks and instead pay people to do meaningful work?
With an ERP, you can identify and automate tedious tasks easily. ERPs usually come with a mobile compatible app so you and your staff can be anywhere and still access vital company data. These systems can make it easy to respond to customers faster, manage resources better, and increase ROI from your employees.
Having your data in spreadsheets or on various systems doesn’t make it more secure. If anything, it can lead to duplicate or inaccurate data leading to serious compliance risks. ERPs typically have multiple access levels, so you can control who can see, change, or delete specific areas of information.
Standardizing your software gives you a competitive edge without risking security gaps. Usually, ERPs have built-in risk management to establish compliance even with constant changes in work environments, security, and human resources regulations.
ERPs are well-known for their data capturing and reporting. With an ERP, you will immediately have access to better reporting with more reliable data. ERPs store data in a single database, meaning that every department can work with the same information rather than gather their own.
All that data can be organized, analyzed, and made into reports. Because your data is all in one place, you can easily generate reports that would have taken days of research when working with multiple platforms.
ERPs often have a dashboard where you can set custom reports and track specific KPIs to easily check-in on performance. These reports typically come with access levels to ensure that only relevant staff have access to valuable company data and reporting.
So why doesn’t everyone have an ERP if they’re so great? The price tag isn’t the only issue. Business owners often get stuck in analysis paralysis because of the overwhelming number of systems, options, and features. It’s overwhelming. These systems are also a beast to set up, especially while you’re also running the business.
ERPs are certainly worth the investment. We would be happy to help you find the right ERP for your business and to help set it up for you.
Sign up today for a free consultation.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
