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Streamlined BTC Cloud Mining w/ Hashing24: Major Pros and Cons

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By and large, conventional solo cryptocurrency mining is not profitable anymore and zillions of avid crypto miners in the US, UK, Singapore and elsewhere turn their scrupulous attention to cloud based crypto mining. Especially with this year’s ban on cryptocurrencies and crypto transactions in China, the cloud cryptocurrency mining industry is experiencing a modern resurgence in the global digital segment. The following brief analysis is devoted to online cloud based crypto mining services using the Hashing24 cloud mining service as an example.

Essentially, crypto cloud mining is a cryptocurrency mining method where persons mine crypto (BTC, ETH, DASH, LTC, DOGE, etc.) using leased remote hardware located in special powerful mining data centers equipped with the newest immersion cooling systems. In the case of Hashing24, the company is an official seller of cloud hash rate capacities produced by Bitcoin mining conglomerate Bitfury. Case in point, Hashing24 is the one and only official partner of Bitfury authorized to publicly sell BTC hash rate capacities to miners. Bitfury has established its reputation on the crypto mining arena as one of the pioneers in the digital asset and blockchain ecosystems and is well known for mining only new coins (no empty blocks are mined). Additionally, Bitfury produces mining hardware, applications for computers , develops blockchain-as-a-service solutions and tech-savvy AI apps.

The hashing24.com site allows all people interested in crypto mining to start mining the most scalable and profitable crypto Bitcoin virtually instantaneously and it is not necessary to know all the specifics of complex crypto mining processes. To become a cloud miner, one should fulfill three simple steps:

  • Register with Hashing24.
  • Choose the cloud mining plan and pay for it.
  • Get newly mined coins and withdraw mining earnings.

Online registration takes a few minutes and the user is not obliged to pass any KYC procedures in order to become a cloud coin miner. Once registered, the platform user is able to select the BTC cloud mining plan (there are 12, 18 and 24-month tariff plans) and pick the desired hash power in TeraHash per second (TH/s). The good thing about it is that the user can start coin mining with minimal investments, thus providing easy entry and exit points for crypto portfolio vested capital. After setting up all cloud mining parameters, the user proceeds with the contract payment. The available payment methods include Bitcoin itself, popular fiat currencies like Euro and US dollar, bank wires / transfers, altcoins, stablecoins, SEPA, SOFORT and region-specific payment gateways.

In order to decide on the BTC cloud mining profitability and the investment amount, the site visitors are free to use the Mining Profitability Calculator. By entering relevant data into the required fields any person can make online calculations with regard to short-term or long-term ROI. The page displays the following fields: Hashpower, Current and Future Mining Difficulties, Current and Future BTC price. All calculations are done in real-time and serve as a starting point for cloud farm activities with Hashing24. In addition, the site offers toll-free Demo mining services. Users can become virtual crypto miners and mine BTC in Demo mode. All indicators are identical to real cloud coin mining and the functionality serves as a crucial point for determining all investments risks and cloud mining profitability in the long-run.

Why People Choose Hashing24 for BTC Cloud Mining?

  1. It is an easy-to-use platform with established reputation and trademark recognition.
  2. Largest BTC hash rate capacities in the crypto mining industry.
  3. Newest and next-generation ASICs for non-stop BTC cloud farm activities.
  4. Daily payout of mined coins and fast withdrawals.
  5. A miner can sell and buy BTC mining contracts on Trading Room.
  6. Best-paying crypto Affiliate program (up to 10% affiliate commission).
  7. Unprecedented uptime guarantee.
  8. Affordable prices for all crypto mining tariff plans.

Separately worth noting is Trading Room. This is a unique value propositions designed and deployed by the Hashing24 team. All users can trade (put up for sale or buy) Bitcoin mining contracts as orders in the order book (Trade Desk). Trades even can sell their contract after 1 day use, which is very helpful and market-oriented considering the volatile crypto market (bearish and bullish trends). It allows for easiest exit points in case the BTC price goes down all of a sudden. The minimum contract step is just 1 Satoshi and the trading fee equals 5%. The trading Room contains all relevant market depth graphs and charts, detailed statistics of orders, deals and many more to satisfy the speculative appetite of traders and HODLers alike.

In short, the Hashing24 website is a great place to start BTC cloud mining even with minimal knowledge in crypto mining, hardware or software. Cloud mining is functional all year round (Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May., Jun. Jul., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.) and miners should not rack their heads over sky-high electricity bills, overheating or ecological issues, premises, cooling, ventilation, stable Internet connection, just to name a few. Cloud mining is all about simplicity and affordability. However, there can be certain disadvantages associated with cloud mining. They are:

  • There are many scam companies, therefore it is recommended to always double check the reliability and reputation of the cloud mining service provider.
  • Centralization of the mining process by large farms and  profits are susceptible to demand.
  • Service providers may have security issues with transaction processing.

In summary, solo Bitcoin mining was profitable about 10 years ago and a plethora of miners prefer using the high-tech and tech-savvy cloud mining services in Singapore, Spain, Malaysia and virtually everywhere. In any case, it is always important to do your own research before investing in any crypto-related activity and carefully weigh all pros and cons.

What Will Farming Look Like In An Eco-Friendly, Post-Covid World

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In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had a huge and damaging impact on our population, planet and economy. For months, it was as if many parts of the world had to come to a complete standstill, and in some places, where national lockdowns had been imposed, it literally had. 

However, this crisis also afforded us the opportunity to learn from our past mistakes and to see just how fragile our ecosystem is. Taking a step back, many people have become concerned about disaster preparedness plans for the future and what we can do to slow climate change. 

And right now, as the world begins to emerge from the pandemic, there are lots of questions that need to be answered. One of the biggest being how can we choose more sustainable and eco-friendly practices that benefit our planet and its people. 

One such area, in particular, is the agricultural sector. Greenhouse gas emissions from farming and agricultural practices account for a huge percentage of climate change, not to mention this industry is often the reason for deforestation and a change in land use. 

But with an ever-growing population, the demand for food is always on the rise, and farming cannot afford to come to a halt, leaving many wondering what farming is going to look like in a post-covid and more eco-friendly world. 

Below we’re going to take a look.

There will be better support and protection for farmers 

First and foremost, with so many proposed and expected changes to the farming and agricultural industry over the next decade, more initiatives are being created to help support farmers. After all, we must protect those who play a key role in not only feeding the nation but also helping to protect the planet and get new sustainable practices in place. 

So as well as the usual farm insurance and other protective policies, the government has also set out a path to sustainable farming from 2021, aimed at helping farmers adapt and plan for the future.

Farming will see a flurry of innovation

Over the last decade, we’ve already begun to see new digital technologies being applied to farming to automate time-consuming processes, make smarter predictions, reduce emissions and more. For example, GPS technology makes self-driving tractors a reality and sensors allow farmers to comprehend their crops at a micro-level.

However, we expect to see this innovation in the digital space continue, particularly with regards to implementing sustainable practices and cutting carbon emissions. From robo-tractors and biofuel crops to IoT devices, the industry is going to see a flurry of innovation and new technologies that promote sustainability and change the face of farming forever.

The demand for equipment will continue 

Just because there will be new technological advances, this doesn’t mean traditional farming equipment will fall by the wayside. And, as with many industries trying to recover from the pandemic, the agricultural sector is currently experiencing shortages of new equipment and supplies. 

This is due to problems in supply chains, as well as a shortage of components from manufacturers, especially for heavier farming equipment. This, in turn, is driving the prices of new equipment through the roof, something which most farmers cannot afford right now as we try to recover from the crisis. 

But with a massive increase in the demand for food, farmers are in need of more equipment and more land to meet this demand. The solution? For many, this will mean many are looking for and buying used or refurbished equipment to see them through – even if this is just a short term solution. 

And let’s face it, in a throw-away world where a lot of single-use items remain, re-using and refurbishing machinery and equipment is going to be a big step towards sustainability and more eco-friendly practices.  

People will move towards more local produce 

One of the biggest challenges facing the agricultural industry and, therefore the planet, is the demand for huge volumes of produce, which means a lot of food is imported. Firstly, this is bad news for the planet as it contributes further to emissions, and secondly, it’s all part of today’s consumer culture where people expect certain foods to be readily available all year round, even if they wouldn’t be naturally. 

However, due to supply issues and people’s increasing understanding of their impact on the planet, this is likely to shift in the future. Consumers are going to favour more local produce and embrace the ‘from farm to table’ trend that has begun to appear in so many restaurants.

This means that farming is going to almost take a step back in time to when it used to serve its local community, rather than being expected to feed people hundreds of miles away. And this can only be good, not just for the health of the people and the happiness of the farmers, but also for the good of the planet.

The landscape of farming will diversify even further 

And finally, one of the biggest ways to help slow climate change is to curb the overconsumption of animal and highly-processed foods, and more and more people are coming to realise this. So, with more people opting for vegetarian and vegan options, farmers have to diversify their offerings. 

Thankfully, farmers are no strangers to diversifying their revenue streams, with many switching from traditional meat and dairy farming to producing more eco-friendly and sustainable options such as beans or leafy greens. And this looks set to continue into the future as farmers breed fewer animals to accommodate this new shift towards more plant-based diets. 

Now, this is not to say that meat and dairy consumption will disappear entirely, leaving farmers to adapt. Rather, there will be a reduction in the volume of animal farming we’ve come to expect and a shift towards more environmentally friendly crops.

Not only this, but there will also be a shift towards more sustainable and regenerative land farming. This focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity and improving the water cycle, as well as enhancing ecosystem services. This will increase the lands resilience to climate change and make the farming practices more sustainable for the future. 

Commercial Solar Panel Maintenance in the UK

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Commercial Solar Asset management

Commercial solar panels have become a typical investment for owners of commercial buildings due to their cost-efficiency. These photovoltaic cells can be installed on the rooftops of facilities with both flat and pitched roofs.

In order for businesses to enjoy the long-term benefits of such systems, they need to be maintained on a regular basis. There are numerous commercial solar panel maintenance providers, which install and maintain solar arrays in the UK.

Here is everything you need to know about the maintenance and cleaning of these collectors.

Causes of wear and tear and damage

Although commercial solar panels are made of tempered glass, which endures different climate conditions, various factors can affect their performance over time. Such factors include inverter wear and tear, a buildup of dust and smog on the cells, accumulation of leaves, overgrown plants and trees, deterioration of fasteners, etc. While these problems can be resolved with regular maintenance, solar panels might sustain direct damage, which requires a complete replacement.

The most common damage causes include harsh hailstorms, lighting, windstorms, falling trees, and heavy debris. Also, when the seal wears down, moisture can enter the cells and damage the components. In the event of such damage, professionals should inspect the collectors, replace the damaged components with new ones, or reinstall them if necessary.

Maintenance

Regular commercial solar panel maintenance is essential for enjoying the long-term benefits of this investment. Businesses and organizations in the UK that have invested in such a solution should hire professionals to maintain their collectors on a regular basis. For instance, these professionals install wildlife guards in areas where pest-related problems are common. Rodents and pigeons have a nasty habit of chewing on wiring, resulting in electrical issues.

Moreover, these technicians trim vegetation to prevent shading, as it prevents panels from absorbing sunlight and producing energy. Overgrown trees and bushes keep photovoltaic cells in shade, affecting energy production negatively. Fortunately, experienced technicians trim vegetation back to make sure the system functions normally. Check out the perfect tree distance for solar gain.

Exposure to weather elements makes the connection points of solar energy systems loose and prone to deterioration. Therefore, an annual wiring inspection is vital for identifying and resolving problems before the performance of the system is hindered. The harsher the environment, the greater the need for a wiring inspection.

An addition to every annual inspection should include examining the inverters. These components should be free of debris and dust to work properly. Professionals make sure fans and filters are cleaned frequently to expand the lifespan of the inverters. In terms of maintenance frequency, commercial solar panels should be maintained at least once annually. Sometimes, on-demand maintenance is necessary after some weather incidents.

Cleaning

Just like maintenance, cleaning of commercial solar panels is obligatory to keep them efficient all year round. There are certain tools and supplies necessary for the cleaning process, such as a brush with a long handle, biodegradable soap, a wiper, and a brush of a smaller size. The biodegradable soap should be mixed with a bucket filled with water. Then, the long-handled brush should be dipped inside the bucket.

Additionally, these cells have to be wiped gently to prevent glass damage. Dirt and grime build-up are best removed with the help of a soft brush. Abrasive soap and sponge should never be used, as the glass might get scratched. Therefore, cleaning experts avoid using harsh materials and cleaning solutions.

Dirt can easily be removed by running a hose along the photovoltaic cells. It’s of great importance to prevent dirt from building up on the collectors, as it decreases the absorption of sunlight. See this link, https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Solar-Panel-Efficiency, to discover some tips for boosting solar efficiency.

Hiring professionals to take care of the cleaning process means having no worries about safety. These experts use long-handled wipers if possible to reach the cells from the ground. In cases when they need to climb on the roof, they use a safety harness and ropes. Roofs have a tendency of being slippery, which increases the risk of accidents.

Final word

Commercial solar panels offer reduced carbon footprint, financial stability, and considerable cost savings.

Have them maintained regularly!

Why a VPS is the perfect hosting solution

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Do you want to establish your online store? Or maybe you want to start a travel or cooking blog to share your stories with other people online? Regardless of what the case might be, if you want to reach audiences, users and people across the globe, your website needs to be hosted on the web first. But what does that even mean? The process of web hosting involves uploading your website along with all of its content on a designated web server. Ultimately, this is what enables your website to be accessed worldwide.

Types of web hosting

There are many different types of web hosting opportunities such as shared hosting, a virtual private server, abbreviated as VPS, and dedicated servers amongst others. In terms of price, shared hosting comes out as the cheapest due to the fact that there are a number of websites hosted on the same server. This, consequently, means that they are required to share that server’s resources between themselves, meaning that if one website on the server gains a sudden increase in traffic or resource consumption, the other websites will be negatively impacted due to resource deprivation and starvation.

On the other hand, if you do not want to share a server with others and desire to have all the space for yourself, you could invest in the most expensive option, which is a dedicated server. With a dedicated server, you have access to all of its resources, storage and operative memory, meaning that your website will run smooth and fast, while also being capable of managing and handling heavy traffic and server load. Because of this, dedicated servers are usually utilized by large companies and online ecommerce websites that are required to handle a substantial amount of information exchanges and daily requests.

Why is a VPS the right choice

A VPS or a Virtual Private Server, combines the best of both worlds, while also being available at an affordable price. A VPS utilizes virtualization technology to run multiple independent entities with their own separate resources on the same web server. In order to better explain this, we will use some real-life examples to illustrate it. Imagine that shared hosting is a college dormitory – you would need to share the same kitchen, bathroom and living room with other people, whereas by using a VPS you are essentially renting your own flat in an apartment block with all of these rooms included just for yourself. But what are the other benefits to using a VPS apart from personalized resource allocation? One benefit is the fact that you have the ability to manually configure and install server applications as well as manage the server’s system resources including the processing power (CPU), the active memory (RAM) and the storage (SSD). Moreover, you also get root access to your websites directory, which can help you manage your website more meticulously by providing you with more control over everything and a better hands-on experience. Additionally, a virtual private server is also easily scalable, meaning that you can effortlessly upgrade it should you see a drastic increase in your website’s traffic or resource consumption (not to mention that a VPS is quite affordable). The only possible drawback that a VPS could have is that it does require some prior technical knowledge due to the fact that it allows you to manage most of its aspects in detail. However, while optional, previous experience is not essential as most hosting providers do offer additional support in terms of setting up, operating and resolving any problems that could arise with the server.

What is a Bitcoin VPS and why is it useful?

The name is actually really self-explanatory: a Bitcoin VPS is a virtual private server that you can pay for using Bitcoin. As a matter of fact there are hosting providers that accept divergent cryptocurrencies as payments for their servers such as VPSBG.EU where you can pay using both Bitcoin and Litecoin. But why would you pay using Bitcoin? Paying with most types of crypto is cheap, reliable and most importantly – secure. Due to the blockchain technology your payment details are safely stored and the chances of information leaks occurring are next to impossible. However, in terms of speed, transactions can sometimes take longer to complete, but if you do not want to wait excessively, then you might consider using the Lightning Network, which helps cut waiting times substantially, while preserving the transactions’ security and integrity.

Finance recruitment agencies

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Dо уоu nееd tо hirе tаlеnt fоr уоur fintech? Tо assist you in doing so, look through our liѕt оf thе bеѕt fіnаnсе recruitment аgеnсiеѕ Lоndоn.

Rainmakrr

Rаinmаkrr is a boutique tесh rесruitеr thаt ѕресiаlizеѕ in ѕtаrtuрѕ and high-growth еntеrрriѕеѕ in tесh, such аѕ blockchain & fintech, so drop thеm a line оr аrrаngе аn intrо саll in order tо diѕсuѕѕ the requirements of уоurѕ.

Robert Half

Robert Half рrоvidеѕ buѕinеѕѕеѕ with a соmрrеhеnѕivе range оf ѕресiаlizеd ѕtаffing & consulting ѕеrviсеѕ. It аlѕо аѕѕiѕtѕ саndidаtеѕ in finding саrееr орроrtunitiеѕ in whiсh thеу will fit аnd succeed.

The importance of employee ѕаtiѕfасtiоn is recognized by Robert Half. Emрlоуее еngаgеmеnt lеаdѕ tо inсrеаѕеd рrоduсtivitу, аnd vаluеd еmрlоуееѕ аrе mоrе driven tо mаkе meaningful, tangible соntributiоnѕ to thеir companies, оnе job аt a timе, tо hеlр dеvеlор a hарру workplace.

Ambition

Ambition iѕ a renowned rесruitmеnt аgеnсу ѕресiаlizing in Finаnсе, Mаrkеting, Aссоunting, Business Development, Insolvency, PA, & Buѕinеѕѕ Suрроrt рrоfеѕѕiоnѕ. Ambition iѕ currently known fоr itѕ еxtеnѕivе knowledge and ѕkillѕ, wеll-еѕtаbliѕhеd networks, аѕ wеll аѕ lоng-ѕtаnding rеlаtiоnѕhiрѕ.

EC1 Partners

EC1 Pаrtnеrѕ iѕ оnе оf thе best finаnсе recruitment аgеnсiеѕ Lоndоn, ѕресiаlizing in technology & аim. By connecting the top talent with the leading organization, EC1 аimѕ tо empower еvеrу individual аѕ wеll аѕ buѕinеѕѕ to accomplish more.

Robert Waters

Rоbеrt Walters iѕ honored to be a global lеаdеr in rесruitmеnt соnѕultаnсу аnd one of LinkеdIn’ѕ top four most ѕосiаllу engaged rесruitеrѕ. It аlѕо оwnѕ Rеѕоurсе Sоlutiоnѕ аnd a сlеriсаl recruitment brand, a prominent rесruiting outsourcing buѕinеѕѕ, аnd Wаltеrѕ People, a Eurореаn clerical rесruitmеnt brаnd.

Morgan McKinley

Morgan MсKinlеу is a рrоfеѕѕiоnаl recruitment services раrtnеr tо buѕinеѕѕеѕ in a vаriеtу оf induѕtriеѕ. They offer career guidance & job орроrtunitiеѕ to job ѕееkеrѕ. Their innovative, fоrwаrd-thinking аррrоасh mаkеѕ thе рrосеdurе аѕ еffiсiеnt аnd ѕtrеѕѕ-frее fоr аnу buѕinеѕѕ.

Excelsior Search

Exсеlѕiоr Sеаrсh has been a раrtnеr in the worldwide capital markets аnd investment sector ѕinсе 1999, helping to establish high-реrfоrmаnсе tеаmѕ fоr finаnсiаl tесhnоlоgу, data, аѕ wеll аѕ rеѕеаrсh рrоvidеrѕ. It iѕ glоbаl fintech recruitment and executive ѕеаrсh agency specializing in сарitаl mаrkеtѕ аnd invеѕtmеnt tесhnоlоgiеѕ, аѕ wеll аѕ dаtа аnd rеѕеаrсh рrоvidеrѕ.

Randstad

Aссоunting and finance, engineering, hеаlthсаrе, IT, humаn rеѕоurсеѕ, lifе sciences, lеgаl, manufacturing & lоgiѕtiсѕ, ѕаlеѕ & marketing and office & аdminiѕtrаtiоn are just some оf thе аrеаѕ whеrе Rаndѕtаd offers outsourcing, соnѕulting, staffing, as wеll as workforce ѕоlutiоnѕ.

Boyden

With оffiсеѕ in Eurоре, Asia/Pacific, Nоrth and South America, Bоуdеn is a full-service еxесutivе ѕеаrсh agency. It founded and соntinuеѕ tо lеаd the executive search induѕtrу by ѕеtting & ѕhоwing thе highest standards, fоѕtеring mutual candour & truѕt with itѕ customers.

Nicoll Curtin

Niсоll Curtin iѕ оnе оf thе bеѕt аwаrd-winning worldwide financial recruitment аgеnсiеѕ bаѕеd in London. Niсоll Curtin matches exceptional talent with industry-leading оrgаnizаtiоnѕ and strives tо be the best at whаt thеу dо, with 90 out оf 100 саndidаtеѕ rесоmmеnding them.

Fintech Recruiters (FTR)

Fintесh Recruiters iѕ a renowned glоbаl recruitment firm thаt ѕресiаlizеѕ in thе financial tech ѕесtоr. In the United States, Cаnаdа, Germany, Frаnсе, thе Unitеd Kingdom, Singapore & Hоng Kong, it hаѕ well-known FinTech 100 clients. Fintесh Rесruitеrѕ tеаm has more than 20 years of соmbinеd tесhnоlоgу аnd finаnсiаl ѕесtоr experience.

Egon Zehnder

Egоn Zеhndеr is a leading headhunter in Lоndоn. Itѕ goal iѕ tо establish long-term, trusting раrtnеrѕhiрѕ with соmраniеѕ, which can last dесаdеѕ or even a lifetime. Egоn Zehnder had direct еxреriеnсе with the рrоblеmѕ a company fасеѕ & оffеrѕ valuable inѕightѕ into the business as a fоrmеr buѕinеѕѕ leader.

Morgan Phillips

Mоrgаn Philiрѕ iѕ оnе оf the mоѕt wеll-knоwn finаncе recruitment agencies London оn thiѕ list, with a uniԛuе approach to hеаdhunting as wеll as tаlеnt consulting. To аѕѕiѕt businesses to obtain a competitive advantage in thе modern wоrld оf work, it blеndѕ high-tоuсh consultancy with global ѕеаrсh capability as well as digital ѕоurсing technologies.

R2 Search

R2 Sеаrсh iѕ one of the best Fintech Recruitment Agencies with offices in Lоndоn, Singapore аnd Nеw York. It wоrkѕ with FinTech, PауTесh, аnd RegTech ѕсаlеuрѕ.

Finiti Search

Thiѕ Sales ѕресiаliѕt & оnе оf the bеѕt Finance recruitment аgеnсiеѕ Lоndоn ѕресiаlizеѕ in the Fintech ѕесtоr ѕinсе 2007. Finiti Search iѕ оnе оf thе bеѕt fintech rесruitеrѕ in Lоndоn. Finiti рrоvidеѕ ѕеniоr-lеvеl ѕаlеѕ recruitment & executive ѕеаrсh ѕеrviсеѕ tо Fintech соmраniеѕ thrоughоut thе wоrld, helping them еѕtаbliѕh ѕuссеѕѕful ѕаlеѕ tеаmѕ that include sales, рrе-ѕаlеѕ, рrоduсt, аѕ wеll аѕ marketing еxесutivеѕ.

Five Signs Your IT Support Company is Letting You Down

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Contrary to popular belief, the relationship between a business and its tech support is hugely important. If you’re considering outsourcing the management of your IT to a professional company, then it’s crucial you do your due diligence and ensure they align with your goals and values before you sign anything. The work of an IT support company is fundamental in minimising disruptions in your day-to-day operations and cementing business continuity. As they play such a crucial role in your business operations, it is imperative that you find a service provider that aligns with your values as a business and understands your goals.

If it’s been a few months since you signed the contract, you might be wondering if the company you chose is right for you. There are many reasons why your managed service provider may fall short of the mark. Before deciding to switch or stay with your tech support, be sure to ask yourself the following questions to make absolutely sure you’re making the right decision.

  1. Are they listening? 

Understanding your business goals and aspirations, acknowledging your frustrations and otherwise building a relationship with you and your staff should be of the utmost importance to your tech support. If your IT support goes on about themselves and talks at you, then you may have come across a company that is all about pushing their agenda. It is of paramount importance that your tech support not only listens to your concerns and aspirations but actively takes it all on board and plans accordingly. 

  • Are they delivering proactive solutions?

A professional IT company will offer a variety of different levels, services and solutions for your business. If you are paying for a fully managed IT service, then your chosen company should be actively monitoring and managing your tech. This is known as a proactive service, the idea being your tech support will find and resolve any potential issues before they escalate. Proactive solutions are rooted in management and planning. This kind of support should eventuate in a long-term strategy that future proofs your system and maintains your digital infrastructure and assets.

If your contract stipulates a fully managed service but you’re encountering a number of problems that have been interrupting your day-to-day operations, then your IT support company may not be monitoring your system as they promised. 

Unplanned outages can cause major disruptions and severe migraines for businesses and their teams alike. If it’s within your budget, it always pays to avoid a reactive service, also known as break-fix solutions, where your tech support will resolve issues as they happen. Although it may be cheaper upfront, in the long run, a reactive service can end up costing your business more in unnecessary downtime, data losses and unexpected crashes.

  • Do you have a dedicated account manager?

There’s nothing worse than having to repeatedly explain a fault or issue to multiple different people every time you call – or even worse, being put in touch with a call centre representative who has no idea who you are, what your business does or perhaps most pertinent, how to fix the issue you are experiencing.  

It’s important to watch out for a business that will pass you from person to person. A professional IT service provider will provide you with a dedicated accounts manager. This dedicated manager will build a relationship with you and your team, get to know your company through and through and build a strategy that nurtures growth within your business. 

  • Are you receiving reasonable response times?

Are issues with your tech common? Do you have a growing pile of unresolved support tickets clogging up your desk and email?

Slow response times and a “there’s nothing we can do” mindset are immediate red flags when it comes to IT support. If you and your team are attempting to contact your tech support for help and receiving slow response times and lingering resolutions, then it may be time to switch your IT company. A slow response time is especially pertinent if your IT support is responding with disdain or even slap-dash repairs that only work momentarily. If you aren’t receiving a proactive, relatively fast response to disruptions, it may be time to switch to a provider who will.  

  • Is your team picking up the slack?

If members of your team are diverting their time and fixing issues your IT support should be resolving, then it is definitely time to switch providers. Your staff should not have to resolve tech issues themselves in order to mitigate the effects of a poorly performing IT support service. 

Although it can be difficult for you to pick up on this problem, the best way to avoid it is to regularly seek feedback from your staff about the performance of your tech support. Ensuring your IT support is doing their job will ease tension within your own team, boost productivity and in the long-term, cement your business continuity. 

Finding the right IT support provider for you

A quick search on any online search engine will reveal hundreds if not thousands of IT support services local to your business all promising the very best in remote and in-house tech support. However, while it’s easy to find tech support, it’s a lot more difficult to find the right support for you and your business.

Your chosen company should align to the same values as your own organisation, as well as take your goals and aspirations into account. Nurturing business growth and evolving with your company should be their primary concern. A professional IT support service will also proactively manage your tech and resolve issues before they escalate, ensuring you experience minimal disruptions to your day-to-day operations in the event of downtime or a crash.

To start off with, try searching a few different keywords with your location. You might try ‘IT Support Bristol’ or ‘IT Management Margate’. From there, it should be easy enough to narrow down your choices until you find a company that vibes with your business. Just don’t sign with the first company you find!

SPAIN BUCKET LIST: THINGS YOU MUST DO WHEN VISITING SPAIN

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Spain is a safe bet for a peaceful vacation, with beautiful Mediterranean weather, world-class food, and a nationwide mandate to snooze the afternoon away. But, in between being sunburned on the beach, eating fresh seafood, and alternating between siesta and fiesta, there’s a plethora of culture to discover and a bucket list to complete in Spain.

Everyone will have a somewhat different bucket list to reflect their own unique sense of pleasure. The great news is that Spain truly provides something for everyone, regardless of your hobbies. Do you enjoy architecture? Spain is home to several of the world’s most stunning structures and monuments. Are you more into amusement parks? Or how about museums? Or perhaps natural scenery? You’re guaranteed to have a great time in Spain. This is the ultimate Spain bucket list, including everything from world-famous mountain scenery to weird Surrealist museums.

  1. See a flamenco show.

One of the essential things you should do in Spain catches a flamenco show in Seville. It is a rich cultural experience that you will never forget. Flamenco is a traditional style of Spanish folk music that dates back to 50 years, including dancing, guitar playing and hand clapping. In cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada and many more, you can catch a flamenco show every night. Don’t miss out on this chance of screaming “ole!” with the locals in Spain’s Streets.

2.      Eat Paella

One thing that you shouldn’t miss when visiting Spain is eating Paella. It is a Valencian Rice dish that is extremely popular. It is also sometimes even mistaken as the national dish of Spain. Although it is not. There are different types of Paella, but the traditional one is made with grain rice, green beans and different meats like chicken, rabbit or duck. This dish will always have its taste lingering on your tongue. Be sure to ask around the locals for the best paella place because no one knows their Paella better than the Valencian locals.

3.    Experience La Tomatina:

Spain is famous for its crazy festivals. If you visit Spain, be sure to experience the infamous la Tomatina. It is a food fight festival that is held every year in the Valencian town of Sunol. The participants in this festival throw tomatoes at each other. Trucks of tomatoes are dumped over the people waiting. This festival dates back to 1944 and is the primary source of attraction for people around the world. The Spanish People go all out to have fun. The masses party the whole night in the street, awaiting the tomato fights the following day. You surely will never forget this one in a kind experience ever in your life.

4.    Eat at the world’s oldest restaurant:

When in Spain, make sure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to eat in the world’s oldest restaurant Sobrino de Botín. It is located in Madrid’s centre and dates back to 1725. Famous people like Mozart and Clint Eastwood used to eat here. It is said that the flame in the oven of this restaurant has been burning since the time they opened. If you ever eat here, make sure to try their signature dish, whole aromatics stuffed suckling pig doused with white wine and crisped in a wood-burning oven.

5.    Visit Museo del Prado

Another place you must visit in Spain is the national art museum, The Prado Museum (or Museo Nacional del Prado located in central Madrid. The museum has a lot of fantastic art pieces that reflect the history of Spain. Some of the amazing pieces that you must see upon your visit to the museum are Goya’s 14 Black Paintings, Caravaggio’s David with Head of Goliath, and Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights.

6.      Go Skydiving in Empuriabrava

Spain is the land for adventure junkies. It has so many beautiful experiences to offer.

Another exciting thing you can do in Spain is skydiving. Although Seville is the place that offers the best weather for sports in Europe, if you want to head for the experience of real thrill, then Empuriabrava is your place.

Final thoughts: 

Spain is a land filled with exciting places and experiences. This list is just a start; upon your visit, you’d find much more stuff to do in this rich and diverse country. Life is all about having unique and joyful experiences, so if you plan to go on a vacation and don’t know where to head then, this list should answer your question. Contact your agent and ask them how to apply for ETIAS Spain, get your visa, catch the plane and have the most adventurous trip of your life.

Is a telephone answering service really worth the investment?

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The relationship between customers and businesses is quite different today than it has been in the past.

For many years customer decisions were based on who could provide the best product at the best (cheapest) price.

The customer service they got during the purchase was almost incidental.

Today the opposite is true.

Customers still care about the product and price.

But they’ve got so much choice over what to buy, they’re more likely to choose the company or brand that offers the best experience when buying.

If it’s an ongoing service, the level of support they’ll receive plays a much bigger part in who they’ll buy from.

Nearly three quarters (74%) of consumers now say they want a better experience.

In fact, 86% of customers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience, and the more expensive the item, the more they’re willing to pay.

Businesses know this too.

That’s why 46% say improving the customer experience will be the top priority for them in the next five years, compared to 20% who say pricing is more important and 34% putting more into their products.

An easy way to improve customer service is to answer the phone when it rings.

The most effective way to do this is to invest in a telephone answering company to deal with all your incoming calls.

This gives you the benefits of guaranteed call answering and better customer service, but without the costs of hiring a full-time member of staff.

Like any investment in your business, you’ll want to know that a telephone answering service will be worth the investment.

Here’s how to find out if it’s worth the investment or not.

How many calls are being handled for you?

When you’re running a small business – especially a solo business – you can’t always be available to answer the phone.

Your time is precious and you need to be completing work to get paid or focussing on sales and marketing to get more customers.

But not answering the phone can cost you.

Whether it’s missing a new business call and losing out on a sale.

Or sending a paying customer to voicemail and risking the relationship if they start to think you’re not reliable.

When reviewing your telephone answering service, you should be looking at how many calls are being dealt with during the day that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to handle.

If you’re winning business off the back of those calls, what’s the value of the transaction compared to the costs of your call answering service?

If the value is more than the investment, you’re making a good ROI.

It might be the case that you can handle more calls yourself during busier times.

At which point, simply scale your call answering back and use it just to deal with any overflow – rather than all your calls.

How many meetings are being booked for you?

Booking meetings and all the admin that goes along with it can take a lot of time from your day.

Especially when you’re dealing with multiple people with competing time constraints, or balancing customers and other third party suppliers at the same time.

By using a telephone answering service you can have diary management taken care of for you.

Your call answering team can book your meetings and help organise your calendar, as well as provide any relevant information you need prior to the meeting.

Think about how much you charge per hour for your services.

Then think how much time you spend trying to book meetings or spend on the phone.

This is all time you’re not making money.

If you’re call answering service can save you hours in your week, that’s more time you can spend on paying tasks and growing your business.

What’s your customer service scores telling you?

We’ve already talked about how customers today are willing to spend more when they think they’ll be getting better customer service.

And that they’ll spend even more when it comes to getting great customer service for big ticket items.

On the other hand, frustrated customers will not only take their business elsewhere, they’ll actively encourage other people to avoid you too.

About 30% of customers who’ve had a bad experience with a company say they have or would share it on social media or leave a negative review online.

Making it hard to get in touch with you is a sure way to erode any positive customer experiences.

If you’re thinking of investing in call answering, survey some of your customers to get an understanding of what they think about your current levels of service and support.

You should be able to come up with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) as a base.

Then once you’ve had your call answering in place for a few months, rerun your NPS survey and see if the perception of your support and service has increased.

Connect calls from your telephone answering service to your CRM

If you’re running a business you definitely need a customer relationship management (CRM) system.

This is your Bible when it comes to all the interactions you’ve had with customers (both existing, past and lost) and should include details of how they came to you, how they converted, and how they’ve grown their business with you over time.

If you’ve got a good CRM, you can easily connect your telephone answering service to it.

What this will do for you, is track those customers coming into your business via your telephone answering service that you would have otherwise lost because you’d have missed the call.

Telephone answering vs full-time receptionist

If you need help dealing with call answering for your business, you have two options.

Hire a full-time receptionist.

Invest in telephone answering.

You might like the idea of having a single member of staff to deal with calls. But it’s not as simple as that.

For one, a receptionist with no experience can cost close to £18,000 a year in salary.

Plus taxes, plus pension contributions, plus holiday pay, plus sick pay, plus insurance.

And that’s before all the admin.

You also have to factor in that a single member of staff can only deal with one customer call at a time.

If they’re on the phone, they can’t deal with another call.

And you’ll lose your call answering when they go on a lunch break, or leave to get a drink.

But you’re still paying them.

With a call answering service, you only pay for what you use.

It could be the volume of calls dealt with.

Or the amount of time spent on the phone to customers.

You can also scale your telephone answering based on need.

Get more when you’re busy. And less in the quieter periods.

With a member of staff you’re paying their wage regardless of how much work they’re doing.

Using telephone answering as a growth tool

With so much technology available to you it can be easy to overlook the value of call answering as a primary source of customer service.

But given 60% of customers prefer to call a business on the phone when they need help, it would be a mistake.

Remember, while technology is a great tool, it should be used to adapt your business around what your customers prefer.

It’s not about forcing customers to use communication channels you’d prefer them to use.

A telephone answering service can be a cost effective means of ensuring your calls are answered professionally everytime.

That way, you can focus on growing your business and not worry about losing sales and customers when you’re too busy to get to the phone.

How secure is your business phone’s wifi hotspot?

Creating a Wifi hotspot using your business phone can be an easy way to create mobile internet for your laptop so you can work remotely.

It’s more secure than using public WiFi because it creates a personal internet connection for you.

Unlike public WiFi connections, which can easily be duplicated by hackers to con people into entering their sensitive information into a fake website, you know your personal WiFi hotspot is a legitimate connection.

Plus, it’s password protected.

But using your business phone to create a mobile hotspot doesn’t come without its own risks and potential problems.

Here, we run through the main things to think about if you’re going to tether a mobile device to your phone’s personal hotspot.

What is a mobile hotspot and how does it work?

A mobile hotspot is a wireless internet access point that allows you to connect your laptop or tablet to the internet through your phone when you’re on the go.

The majority of modern smartphones come with your own personal hotspot already built in, you just need to enable it.

They work by tapping into 3G, 4G or more recently, 5G cellular networks, just like your smartphone does.

As long as your employees have a stable connection on their business phone, they’ll be able to connect to the internet anywhere they want – ideal if they’re working remotely.

How to turn your business phone into a WiFi hotspot

The way you turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot will vary slightly from phone to phone, but it isn’t complicated at all and will only take you a few seconds to get it up and running.

  • iOS devices 

Go to your phone’s settings then, depending on the model you have, go either straight to ‘Personal Hotspot’ or ‘General’  and then ‘Network’ and slide the switch on. 

  • Android devices 

Go to your settings and find ‘Wireless and Networks’.

From here go to ‘Tethering and Portable Hotspot’ and tick the box for ‘Portable Hotspot’.

Again, this will probably vary from model to model, so it’s best to check with a quick Google search or flick through your phone’s manual if you can’t find the right settings.

Security considerations

Using your business phone as a personal WiFi hotspot has clear benefits, but you still need to be cautious and smart about how you use it and keep yourself protected.

Switching on your phone’s hotspot makes your network discoverable to anyone nearby, including the likes of hackers and data thieves.

Hotspots on Android devices are “open access”, which means no secure password is created when setting up the hotspot and anyone will be able to access your network – as well as get their hands on your sensitive company data.

But you can create a password for your network.

Apple iPhones, though, automatically generate a secure password for your hotspot.

If your employee is the only one who should be using the network, then they should make sure they create their own secure password – something that’s longer and harder for people to guess.

This way they can prevent unwanted people from joining their network and using their data allowance, or potentially getting hold of private business information.

The best option is to use the hotspot settings to prevent other people from joining the network or to stop it being discoverable by other people.

This ensures it remains safe from hackers as they won’t be able to find the network in the first place.

Cost considerations

Hotspot data usage is directly related to what you’re doing on your other devices.

One of the biggest things to consider for your employees using their business phones as a hotspot is that it does run down their mobile data. 

It can run it down considerably in a short time if they’re performing a lot of data intensive tasks.

Take Zoom for example, we’ve all had to use it at some point in the last 18 months. 

Research from Whistle Out shows that spending one hour on Zoom uses up to 810MB of your data per hour while web browsing uses 60MB per hour.

If your employees are on meeting after meeting, this will add up quickly and it could mean they’re having to exceed their data limits to be able to continue working efficiently.

Before you’re allowing your employees to tether mobile devices to the business phone, make sure you have a data plan first that’s able to support them.

An effective remote working tool, that needs careful management

Creating a WiFi hotspot using a business phone can be a more effective and secure way of enabling employees to connect to their work systems.

It needs to be carefully managed though, from a security and awareness standpoint as well as from a cost perspective.

Make sure you have a business mobile phone plan that can support the use of mobile hotspot and data.

There’s a wide range of plans available with a number of reputable providers for you to choose from, so you’re bound to find something perfect for you and your employees. 

Creating a Wifi hotspot using your business phone can be an easy way to create mobile internet for your laptop so you can work remotely.

It’s more secure than using public WiFi because it creates a personal internet connection for you.

Unlike public WiFi connections, which can easily be duplicated by hackers to con people into entering their sensitive information into a fake website, you know your personal WiFi hotspot is a legitimate connection.

Plus, it’s password protected.

But using your business phone to create a mobile hotspot doesn’t come without its own risks and potential problems.

Here, we run through the main things to think about if you’re going to tether a mobile device to your phone’s personal hotspot.

What is a mobile hotspot and how does it work?

A mobile hotspot is a wireless internet access point that allows you to connect your laptop or tablet to the internet through your phone when you’re on the go.

The majority of modern smartphones come with your own personal hotspot already built in, you just need to enable it.

They work by tapping into 3G, 4G or more recently, 5G cellular networks, just like your smartphone does.

As long as your employees have a stable connection on their business phone, they’ll be able to connect to the internet anywhere they want – ideal if they’re working remotely.

How to turn your business phone into a WiFi hotspot

The way you turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot will vary slightly from phone to phone, but it isn’t complicated at all and will only take you a few seconds to get it up and running.

  • iOS devices 

Go to your phone’s settings then, depending on the model you have, go either straight to ‘Personal Hotspot’ or ‘General’  and then ‘Network’ and slide the switch on. 

  • Android devices 

Go to your settings and find ‘Wireless and Networks’.

From here go to ‘Tethering and Portable Hotspot’ and tick the box for ‘Portable Hotspot’.

Again, this will probably vary from model to model, so it’s best to check with a quick Google search or flick through your phone’s manual if you can’t find the right settings.

Security considerations

Using your business phone as a personal WiFi hotspot has clear benefits, but you still need to be cautious and smart about how you use it and keep yourself protected.

Switching on your phone’s hotspot makes your network discoverable to anyone nearby, including the likes of hackers and data thieves.

Hotspots on Android devices are “open access”, which means no secure password is created when setting up the hotspot and anyone will be able to access your network – as well as get their hands on your sensitive company data.

But you can create a password for your network.

Apple iPhones, though, automatically generate a secure password for your hotspot.

If your employee is the only one who should be using the network, then they should make sure they create their own secure password – something that’s longer and harder for people to guess.

This way they can prevent unwanted people from joining their network and using their data allowance, or potentially getting hold of private business information.

The best option is to use the hotspot settings to prevent other people from joining the network or to stop it being discoverable by other people.

This ensures it remains safe from hackers as they won’t be able to find the network in the first place.

Cost considerations

Hotspot data usage is directly related to what you’re doing on your other devices.

One of the biggest things to consider for your employees using their business phones as a hotspot is that it does run down their mobile data. 

It can run it down considerably in a short time if they’re performing a lot of data intensive tasks.

Take Zoom for example, we’ve all had to use it at some point in the last 18 months. 

Research from Whistle Out shows that spending one hour on Zoom uses up to 810MB of your data per hour while web browsing uses 60MB per hour.

If your employees are on meeting after meeting, this will add up quickly and it could mean they’re having to exceed their data limits to be able to continue working efficiently.

Before you’re allowing your employees to tether mobile devices to the business phone, make sure you have a data plan first that’s able to support them.

An effective remote working tool, that needs careful management

Creating a WiFi hotspot using a business phone can be a more effective and secure way of enabling employees to connect to their work systems.

It needs to be carefully managed though, from a security and awareness standpoint as well as from a cost perspective.

Make sure you have a business mobile phone plan that can support the use of mobile hotspot and data.

There’s a wide range of plans available with a number of reputable providers for you to choose from, so you’re bound to find something perfect for you and your employees. 

Andrew Lazarus Sees Real Estate Success Along Central Coast

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Within the Sydney real estate industry, philanthropist and hotelier Andrew Lazarus is a well-known name. His work has included flipping hotels and major properties to improve parts of Sydney. This preservation has brought back to life modern and historical buildings alike.

His high-profile projects have garnered a lot of attention—and not all of it favorable. It’s taken some hard knocks to learn what changes are right for a specific venue in a given location, says Andrew Lazarus. Like any great professional, he’s taken the learning curve head-on and has spent more than 30 years gaining the necessary experience for highly successful ventures. Adapting to the industry has allowed him to flourish in the Australian hospitality industry.

Among his top contributions to his community is his charity work. His goal has been to give back to help make the Sydney and Newcastle areas stronger than ever before. In addition, he often uses his hotel ventures to participate in community activities that support the Australian locals. His goal is to get his hospitality projects to a place where he can do more of the charity work with a hands-on approach.

Andrew Lazarus: Major Real Estate Projects

After three decades of work, it’s not surprising that he has participated in several notable deals. With many major projects currently under his belt, some of his most recent major real estate acquisitions include:

Vaucluse Home

In 2018, the sale of the $8 million Vaucluse Home made notable news. Prior to the sale, the Lazarus family owned the home for two decades. Ready to move on, Andrew Lazarus sold the property off-market to Jordana and Roby Sharon-Zipser. Roby Sharon-Zipser is the Hi-Pages co-founder and CEO. This purchase was a big step up from the couple’s previous North Bondi semi that sold for $2.85 million in 2016.

This house included a cabana, swimming pool, outdoor entertainment area and more, seated on an 845 sq m property. The residential dwelling includes five bedrooms and four baths.

Macquarie Hotel

The $25 million Macquarie Hotel in Liverpool was already undergoing renovations when purchased by Lazarus. His goal was to jump in the development boom of Sydney in the outer west with the property purchase. The building is located on a 1,000 sq m block and was owned by JDA Hotels group for the past three decades before being purchased by Lazarus’s group.

Shoal Bay Country Club

Located along the water, the Shoal Bay Country Club offers a high-class, family-friendly space. Purchased for an estimated $18 million, Lazarus saw Shoal Bay Country Club as something that could appeal to visitors of all ages. By 2018, Lazarus had completed a $6 million renovation that gave the iconic venue a nostalgic design nod to the past and a family-friendly atmosphere. The location offers a pub, beautiful views, outdoor seating, seafood, bistro foods and live music.

Beach Hotel in Merewether

Purchased by Eastern Hotels Group in 2019, this hotel was in desperate need of an upgrade. Originally the Newcastle hotel—but known locally as The Beaches—this iconic hotel is located on Merewether Beach and operates as Newcastle’s only beachside pub. As a two-story beachfront hotel, the views are fabulous.

Andrew Lazarus says he doesn’t want to change the nature of The Beaches. Instead, he wants to renovate the building for improved structural integrity, estimating his project will run around $3 million. The Beaches was previously owned by the Bale and Twohill families for the past 45 years. In 2016, it underwent a renovation.

Lazarus believes the hotel’s legacy should live on, staying true to what it has offered the Newcastle area. Before making any changes, he spent 2020 learning how the hotel functions within the area and what the clientele finds most important about the spot.

Future Plans for Andrew Lazarus

Andrew Lazarus continues to look for real estate deals that will produce assets for his company. However, he says his sights are shifting north of Sydney more often than not. “The market in Sydney is just very expensive and very competitive,” Lazarus explains. “And now that we have the three hotels in relative vicinity up here in Newcastle and the Central Coast, this is a region I’m more focused on.”

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