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How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

Choosing a VPN: the questions you must ask

A VPN, or virtual private network, has become a vital tool for most businesses. It lets the user create a connection with another network on the internet that is secure. It is designed to thwart anyone who may be trying to spy on the online activity of a company or person.

Here, we inform and educate small business owners and managers on how to choose the best VPN provider.

Why would I need a VPN?

In addition to the anti-spying angle, a VPN can give users anonymity while they are online. No one else can get a user's location if their VPN is reliable.

A VPN also allows customers to stream media sources like Netflix or other similar services.

When choosing a VPN provider it's sensible to do some planning first. You need to sit down and determine what you will be using it for. You should make a list that prioritises the services the VPN will need to provide. You need to make sure the prospective provider can handle these requirements.

Key features in a VPN service

There are plenty of firms out there offering VPN services. You must choose one that has the features your business needs. Available features can include:

  • the ability to block ads;
  • the ability to block websites of a malicious nature;
  • the ability to be used with an unlimited number of devices;
  • the ability to exclude particular apps or sites from connecting;
  • the ability to encrypt the user's personal data;
  • protocols that are secure.

Here are the other features you should be looking for before you commit.

VPN servers

An important characteristic of any VPN provider is for them to use VPN servers. If they do not, customers ought to steer clear of them. An outstanding provider will have at least several hundred servers across several different countries. Their servers should all be P2P-friendly.

The ability to geo-shift

Why would you want this? Perhaps you want the appearance of being in another state or another country. This could be for business or personal reasons.

The only way this is possible is if the VPN has servers in those regions. This is another reason to get a provider that has servers all over the world. Those servers should be reliable, and not prone to technical difficulties.

Device compatibility

Compatibility with what? First and foremost, with your operating system. Does this VPN support Windows, or Mac, or Android, or whatever operating system you are using? This is a critical consideration.

A user-friendly interface

This should be a given. Yet it is amazing how many people get stuck with a VPN that is NOT user-friendly. How easy is it to set the VPN up? When there is a problem, how good is their customer support staff? The answer to each of these questions should help you when choosing a provider.

A free trial period

If a provider does not offer a free trial, that does not necessarily preclude them from your search. However, it is far better if the answer is "yes". How will you know if the provider's service is any good, unless you can try it out? What happens if this service is not a good fit for your business?

It's recommended that you go with a provider that DOES offer a free, or at least discounted, trial period.

A "kill switch"

What happens when a client stops using an app or a website? Does this VPN have a method to cut off received signals from those sources? That's the job of a kill switch. If the prospective VPN does not have this, steer well clear!

High capacity

Can the VPN handle all of the various devices your business wants to hook up to it? Can it handle multiple devices at the same time? What kinds of apps and websites can it take on? Does the VPN tend to crash often, or is it reliable? These are all things you need to know before making a decision.

Fair and transparent pricing

You cannot overlook this part when searching for a VPN. How much does the service cost? What features are included in the price? Are instalment payments available, or does the provider want all fees paid upfront?

Secure casual browsing

Nowadays many users want to use a VPN for secure casual browsing. Privacy is of the utmost concern as identity theft and misuse of the internet is commonplace. If you just want to casually browse the internet, you'll need security measures that prevent anyone from gaining access to your location.

Your key to success

Once you have an answer to these questions, you should be in a better position to find a VPN. It takes patience and a lot of perseverance - but the results are worth the effort.

Copyright 2024. Featured post made possible by Vanessa Seward, Surfshark

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