Showing posts with label Online Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Online Business. Show all posts

Cloud Backup For Your Website: Ten Reasons to Use Cloud Backup

Do you depend on your data? And does your business depend on it's data? What will happen if you lost all your data instantaneously without warning? Are you prepared?
Cloud Backup is your protection when disaster strikes.
The following are ten reasons why you should use Cloud Backup:
Automatic
Backups are made automatically through a schedule. Therefore human intervention is unnecessary. Per backup task the frequency can be defined.
External
With cloud backup, your data is sent directly to a secure external location. This eliminates dangers like theft and fire, which do affect local (tape, disk) backups.
Peace of mind
Cloud backup is 'Fire and forget'-software; once configured, it works fully automatic and you will receive emails with status updates. You will save time and therefore money.
High availability
With cloud backup your data is continuously and directly available. When you lose data, you can immediately start with restoring your data.
Secure
The encryption of data, the secured internet connection and the storage in a solid and secured data center guarantee maximal privacy. Only you have access to your data.
No initial investment 
Cloud backup is a service. For a fixed fee per month you have a secure backup, without the need to invest in hard- or software.
Low cost of ownership
Cloud backup needs to be configured once; thereafter all backups are executed automatically. The monitoring is very fast and easy.
Easily restored
The restore of your data is very fast and easy. You select the backed up data and choose the target location. In no-time your files and folders are back on your computer.
Versions
Cloud backup can keep a history of your file changes depending on your retention preferences. Changed files are stored as a new version; this allows you to go back weeks in time to restore the desired version.
Automatic reports, easy monitoring
Automatic reports in the client software and through email make sure you are always up to date about the status of your backups.

How to Pick a Domain Name that Will Make Your Online Business a Hit

A domain name is the unique name that identifies your website. When you are setting up your online store, your domain name defines your online presence and it can determine whether your store will be a hit or a miss. Prominent domain names include .com, .net, .info, .edu and .org. Others would include country level domain names.You should treat the choice of a domain name with the same importance that you would treat the choice of physical location for your business.

Considering that there are thousands of online stores out there, most of the names have already been picked and you have to employ a lot of creativity to pick out the right name. This article gives tips on how to pick a domain name which will make your online store a hit.

The key to a successful domain name is short, catchy and memorable.

Pick domain names that have your products as key words to ensure that the domain name is easy to search, when a customer searches for a product, your site will appear. Create a list of your products and the categories that they sell in and look for a creative way of coming up with a short and catchy domain name. You can also use your brand name to come up with a unique and memorable domain name.

It is important to do thorough research when looking for a domain name; you should avoid domain names that sound too close to those of products that belong to your competitor. This will look like a cheap marketing strategy to potential customers; you might also find yourself on the wrong side of the law with trademark issues.

Using prominent domain names will be an advantage when you are creating your domain name, .com is the most popular one for online stores. You could also use country level domain names for products that are going to be sold in a particular country for example .us for the United States and .ca for Canada, this helps in search engine optimization.

Creativity will play a big role in ensuring that you have a unique domain name, this is especially true because most of the simple names have already been picked out so you may have to use two words or catchy phrases to come up with your domain names.

The journey towards the search for a great domain name which will steer your business into an online success is not always easy; most people find that the first few picks for their names are already taken. There are some tools that are available online that could help users generate domain names, some examples of the tools include Lean Domain Search, Name Mesh, Dot-O-Mator, Domain Hole, Bustaname among others. The tools usually give helpful tips on domain name generation like words that could be similar to the one that you are using and combination of words that you can use. The tools can also help you to keep track of the names that you have tried and give other useful suggestions. You could try these tools and any other resources that will help you inch closer to that great domain name. Finally after finding your preferred domain name register it here.

Choosing the Right eCommerce Solution for Your Business

The business of online retailing is booming and if you have a retail store the best decision for your business is taking that leap of faith and moving it to a fully functional online store. To launch a successful online store, you will have to think of an eCommerce solution that will not only allow you to showcase your inventory but also create an interactive shopping experience for your customers. This guide will help you to choose the right eCommerce solution for your business.
Hosted Solution or Licensed solution
A hosted solution is a maintenance free solution; the client usually pays a monthly subscription fee to a third party who maintains the software. A licensed solution on the other hand is software that the client purchases and maintains. Below is a comparison of the two;
Advantages of hosted Solutions
Hosted solutions are set up and ready to go, the only thing that the client needs to do is customize the platform with their company information and they can start using the software. The solutions come as an all in one package; the user does not have to worry about maintenance, troubleshooting or backups, they also come with customer support. Hosted solutions are relatively cheaper and have a price range for everyone.
The disadvantage of hosted solutions is that they lack the design freedom that comes with licensed packages; the user can only use the features that are provided by the host company. Hosted solutions also come with the disadvantage of paying the subscription as long as you want to access services.
Advantages of Licensed solutions
Licensed solutions come with design freedom which allows the user to control the look of his online store. The solutions also come with the advantage of flexibility on the features, this means you can add or remove the features as you like. Another major advantage is portability, with licensed solutions; you can switch companies easily without the risk of losing your data. The solutions come with a one-time fee and no monthly subscriptions.
The weakness of licensed software is that you have to get expertise to operate the software. Set up and design may also take longer than the hosted solutions. The one-time fee for the licensed solutions may be more expensive.
Most companies make a choice on the eCommerce software to use depending on the cost. Your budget will determine whether you will be buying or renting. The upfront fee for a licensed solution might be more. Buying will give you more flexibility but renting will allow you to focus more on your core business and leave software issues to the experts.
Whether you are buying or renting it is important to ensure that the platform that you choose has the basic features that include PCI compliance (standard for accepting online payments), secure check out, support and a reputable host. Other important features to consider may include e-products, product reviews, integrated POS software, information on exporting products and merchant accounts.
Your business model will help you define the eCommerce solution that you need. The needs of your company be it the need to put your electronic products on the site or the heavier reliance of syncing inventory across multiple platforms will determine the type of solution that you choose.