But with so many agencies vying for your attention, how do you sift through the noise and identify the best fit for your business? It’s not just about finding someone who speaks the language; it’s about finding a strategic partner who can help you achieve your international business goals. Consider this guide your compass, helping you navigate the landscape of international SEO agencies and make an informed decision.

Define your international SEO goals

Before you even start looking at agencies, take a good hard look at your own business and what you hope to achieve internationally. What markets are you targeting? What are your key performance indicators (KPIs)? What’s your budget? Having a clear understanding of your goals will help you narrow down your search and ensure that you find an agency that’s aligned with your needs.

Think of it like planning a road trip. You wouldn’t just jump in the car and start driving without knowing where you’re going, would you? You’d figure out your destination, plan your route, and estimate how much it’s going to cost. The same principle applies to international SEO.

Identify your target markets

Are you targeting a specific region, like Europe or Asia? Or are you looking to expand into multiple countries simultaneously? Each market has its own unique characteristics, from language and culture to search engine preferences and online behaviour. An agency with experience in your target markets will be better equipped to develop a successful SEO strategy.

Set realistic KPIs

What metrics will you use to measure the success of your international SEO efforts? Are you focused on increasing website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales? Be specific and set realistic goals. This will allow you to track your progress and determine whether your agency is delivering the results you expect.

Assess the agency’s experience and expertise

Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, it’s time to start evaluating potential agencies. Look for an agency with a proven track record of success in international SEO. How long have they been in business? What types of clients have they worked with? Do they have case studies or testimonials that you can review?

Think of it like hiring a tradie. You wouldn’t just hire the first person you find in the phone book, would you? You’d want to see examples of their work, check their references, and make sure they have the skills and experience to do the job properly.

Look for multilingual SEO capabilities

Does the agency have native speakers on staff who can translate and localise your website content? Do they understand the nuances of different languages and cultures? Multilingual SEO is essential for reaching a global audience and ensuring that your message resonates with your target markets.

Evaluate their technical SEO skills

Technical SEO is the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. Does the agency have the expertise to optimise your website for international search engines? Can they handle issues like hreflang tags, international domain structure, and website speed? A strong technical foundation is crucial for ensuring that your website is visible and accessible to search engines in different countries.

Consider their understanding of cultural nuances

SEO isn’t just about keywords and backlinks; it’s also about understanding the cultural nuances of your target markets. What works in one country might not work in another. An agency that understands these differences can help you create content that’s relevant and engaging to your target audience.

For example, humour can be a powerful tool for connecting with people, but what’s considered funny in one culture might be offensive in another. Similarly, colours and symbols can have different meanings in different cultures. An agency that’s aware of these nuances can help you avoid cultural faux pas and ensure that your message is well-received.

Assess their communication and reporting

Effective communication is essential for any successful partnership. Does the agency communicate clearly and regularly? Do they provide detailed reports that track your progress and demonstrate the value of their services? You should feel comfortable asking questions and receiving timely and informative answers.

Think of it like building a house. You’d want to be kept in the loop throughout the entire process, from the initial design to the final inspection. You’d want to know what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how it’s impacting your budget and timeline. The same principle applies to international SEO.

Evaluate the agency’s SEO strategy

Every business is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to international SEO. The right agency will take the time to understand your business, your target markets, and your goals, and then develop a customised strategy that’s tailored to your specific needs. They should be able to explain their strategy clearly and demonstrate how it will help you achieve your objectives.

A good agency will conduct thorough keyword research to identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords in your target languages. They will also analyse your competitors to see what they’re doing well and identify opportunities for you to differentiate yourself. This information will be used to develop a content strategy that’s designed to attract and engage your target audience.

Ensure they follow ethical SEO practices

In the world of SEO, there are white hat techniques and black hat techniques. White hat techniques are ethical and sustainable, while black hat techniques are unethical and can get your website penalised by search engines. Make sure that the agency you choose follows white hat SEO practices. This will ensure that your website is ranked fairly and that you don’t risk damaging your reputation.

Ethical SEO is about playing the long game. It’s about building a sustainable online presence that will continue to generate results for years to come. Black hat SEO, on the other hand, is a short-term strategy that’s likely to backfire in the long run.

Make your decision

Choosing the right agency is a big decision, so take your time and do your research. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get a second opinion. Once you’ve found an agency that you trust and that you believe is a good fit for your business, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your international SEO goals. The right partner will help you navigate the complexities of international markets and achieve substantial business growth. With the appropriate international SEO agency, your global expansion is sure to be a success.

Remember, international SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. It requires continuous monitoring, analysis, and optimisation. But with the right agency by your side, you can confidently expand your business into new markets and achieve lasting success.

Please note that the domains noted below are examples only.

Starting with domain names, consider them your website’s calling card. This is the “www-dot-something” that users type to reach you, and it’s more than just a memorable label, it’s a signal to search engines about your site’s identity and purpose. A domain like “primefitness.com” for a gym immediately conveys relevance, both to potential visitors and to algorithms sifting through the web. 

It’s not merely a branding exercise, though that’s certainly part of its charm. Search engines leverage domain names to gauge context, and when they align with user intent, like someone searching for “best workout plans,” your odds of ranking higher improve significantly.

That said, it’s worth noting that the days of gaming the system with keyword-stuffed domains are long gone. Once upon a time, sites like “cheapflightsnow.com” could ride exact-match terms to the top of the heap, but search engines have since sharpened their tools. Updates from Google, for instance, have dialed back the advantage of such tactics, prioritizing trust and authority instead. A domain like “expedia.com” thrives not because it’s packed with keywords, but because it’s built a reputation over time. Relevance still matters, of course, but it’s now a piece of a larger puzzle rather than a standalone shortcut.

Domain age is another factor to consider. A well-established domain that’s been active and reputable for years carries a certain gravitas. Search engines view it as a marker of reliability, a signal that this isn’t some transient operation likely to vanish overnight. Newer domains aren’t doomed by any means, but they need to prove their worth through consistent quality and engagement. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and a strong foundation can set the trajectory for long-term success.

Shifting focus to page URLs, these are the pathways that guide users and search engines to specific content within your site. If your domain is the address, your URLs are the signposts directing traffic to the right rooms. A clear, descriptive URL can make a substantial difference. Take a blog post about sustainable gardening, something like “greenliving.com/sustainable-gardening-tips” is far more informative than “greenliving.com/article123.” The former offers a glimpse of what’s inside, enhancing both user experience and search engine comprehension, while the latter leaves everyone guessing.

Brevity and clarity tend to be the winning formula here. A concise yet meaningful URL is easier to process, not just for algorithms but for humans, too. Search engines place a premium on user experience, and a URL that’s straightforward and intuitive, rather than a convoluted string of characters, encourages clicks and shares. Those interactions, in turn, send positive signals that can nudge your rankings upward. Ever stumbled across a link so cluttered it made you hesitate? Search engines notice that reluctance too, and they reward sites that eliminate such friction.

A word of caution, though: overloading URLs with keywords can backfire. While “sustainable-gardening-tips” works well, stretching it to “sustainable-gardening-tips-best-eco-guide” starts to feel forced. Search engines are adept at spotting over-optimization, and they may penalize efforts that seem more manipulative than helpful. The goal is to strike a balance, meaning keep it relevant and natural, as if you’re explaining the page to a colleague rather than shouting for attention.

On a technical note, hyphens are the preferred separator in URLs. A structure like “sustainable-gardening-tips” is more readable to search engines than “sustainablegardeningtips” or even “sustainable_gardening_tips.” Hyphens help break words apart cleanly, aiding in how content is indexed. It’s a small detail, but one that aligns with best practices for optimization.

Zooming out, it’s critical to recognize that domain names and URLs don’t operate in isolation. They’re part of a broader ecosystem that includes content quality, site performance, and inbound links. A stellar domain like “healthhub.com” won’t carry the day if the site lacks substance or loads at a snail’s pace. Similarly, polished URLs leading to lackluster pages won’t fool search engines for long. These elements set the stage, amplifying your efforts when paired with a robust strategy across the board.

Consistency also plays a role. When your domain — say, “techinsights.com” — is complemented by URLs like “techinsights.com/ai-trends” or “techinsights.com/cloud-solutions,” it reinforces a cohesive identity. This alignment helps search engines categorize your site more effectively, strengthening your position within your niche. Disjointed or erratic URL structures, on the other hand, can muddy the waters, making it harder to establish authority.

In essence, domain names and page URLs are more than technical necessities, they’re strategic assets in the quest for search engine visibility. A thoughtfully chosen domain paired with clear, consistent URLs can enhance relevance, boost user trust, and amplify your overall efforts. They won’t single-handedly catapult you to the top, but they provide a solid springboard for everything else you bring to the table. So, what’s your site’s domain? Perhaps “we” could refine a URL structure to give it that extra edge.

“We” are Ghostwriters Central, Inc., a provider of professional ghostwriting services to clients around the globe since 2002. I’m a co-founder and its president. I’m also the resident SEO expert. My journey into SEO began in 1999 when I hired an expert to get my new website ranked. He took my money and did nothing. I fired him and learned to do it myself. I offer SEO expertise to those in need. 

We can provide SEO-tuned text for your webpages, and I can offer SEO consulting on an hourly basis or for a flat fee. This can include selecting a domain name, page URLs, and strategies to help your site rise in the rankings on Google. No long-term contract is required. If we can be of assistance, just click the link to begin. Your first consultation is free.

Think of it like naming your child or your pet – you won’t just pick any name, right? You want something simple but memorable, especially because your business will be completely online. If you haven’t created a website for your business yet, it is best to decide on a domain first before you go about it. Here are some things you should look into while you’re deciding on the perfect domain name:

1. Spelling and Meaning. Keeping your domain name short is extremely important for recall and name retention, especially when you’re starting your own ecommerce business. Predictability is also important for your domain name, so it is a good idea to stick with popular spelling conventions so users will have an easy time typing it on a search bar and saying it out loud to others. Moreover, your domain name should match your brand. You can totally get away with being punny or using numbers in your domain name as long as it’s done for branding purposes. Otherwise, don’t do it just to stand out.

2. Your Social Media. Like it or not, social media plays a huge role in boosting the visibility of your brand. With the amount of time that the average person spends on any kind of social media platform, they will most likely search for your business and find you there first. It is in your best interest to ensure that your social media handles are also similar to (if not the same as) your domain name. Get creative with branding and use prefixes and suffixes to make your profile stand out.

3. Availability. A unique domain name is important because you want to make sure that no one else has the same one as you. Otherwise, you might have to resort to buying similar-sounding domain names just to keep customers coming your way.

Additionally, it can be costly to buy an already existing site if you insist on a specific domain name that is already taken. It might also be an added challenge to redesign and optimize the site according to your branding and needs if you find that the domain’s history is less than ideal after you purchase the domain. 

4. Your Service Area. It is common knowledge that any site ending in “.com” is a top-tier domain that everyone should be gunning for. However, this doesn’t necessarily apply to your business. While a website with “.com” as the domain extension is sure to boost your visibility, reaching your target audience is more important. If you want to stay local and only serve local customers, opting for a website that ends in your country code can be a better thing to do. This keeps your site laser-focused towards your ideal customers and helps them find you better when searching for local businesses.

5. Your Domain Registrar. You worked hard on creating a unique domain name that you can legally own, and now you’re ready to make things official. It is important to find a reputable domain registrar that will register and host your domain name for you while giving you full access to it. Remember to register your domain name yourself, too. This ensures your domain remains fully under your control. You can search for and register a .shop domain using websites such as NameSilo to make it easy for customers to instantly recognize your online shop. 

Many domain registrars also offer you the option to lock your domain so you can prevent any hijacking or theft from people who may want to take your domain name by force. Some domain registrars worth checking out include NameCheap, GoDaddy, and more.

6. Registration Period. Domain names work like a subscription, they expire and require a renewal every so often. If you’re into the ecommerce business for the long haul, it’s a really good idea to set your domain name to auto-renew. This way, you don’t have to go through the painstaking process of manually renewing your domain name every 1 or 2 years, and you make sure that your domain name does not get taken by another business or domain broker.

Now that you know what to take note of while you’re trying to decide on a domain name for your business, you can confidently think of and eventually settle on one safely and effectively!

Home Office Expenses

Many entrepreneurs neglect the deduction for home office expenses, which can include a portion of rent, utilities, internet costs, and even office supplies. This deduction is applicable whether you rent or own your space, making it vital for anyone who works from home.

This deduction acknowledges the operational costs of running your business and lowers your overall tax burden as a result. To claim it, ensure your home office is exclusively used for business activities. Calculate the square footage of your office as a percentage of your home’s total area. Then, apply the percentage to various home expenses. Remember, detailed records and receipts are crucial for substantiating your claims.

Educational Expenses

Whether it’s courses, workshops, seminars, or conferences, business-related educational expenses are often missed. Books, trade publications, and subscription services that keep you informed about your industry can also qualify.

These deductions recognize the importance of ongoing education to enhance your skills and maintain a competitive edge. So keep receipts for all such educational expenses, and claim them at tax time. Just keep in mind that these expenses must directly relate to your current business operations or be intended to improve related skills. Documentation should include the event’s name, date, cost, and relevance to your business.

Depreciation of Assets

The depreciation of assets like computers, office furniture, vehicles, and machinery is a valuable deduction to take. This includes both purchased and financed assets. The aim is to help business owners recover the cost of significant expenses by recognizing the asset’s wear and tear over time. This deduction spreads the cost of an asset over its useful life, providing a more accurate picture of your annual expenses.

To claim it, properly calculate and report the depreciation. The IRS has specific guidelines and schedules for different types of assets, so read these carefully or get professional advice to maximize this deduction.

Business Insurance

Premiums paid for business insurance, including liability, property, malpractice, workers’ compensation, and even auto insurance for business vehicles, are fully deductible. Insurance is a crucial part of protecting your business, and acknowledging its cost as a deductible expense can significantly lower your tax bill. 

To do so, maintain detailed records of all insurance premiums paid throughout the fiscal year. Ensure these expenses are clearly designated as business-related to fully capitalize on this deduction.

Health Insurance Premiums

Self-employed individuals can deduct premiums paid for medical, dental, and qualifying long-term care insurance for themselves, their spouse, and their dependents. This deduction extends to Medicare premiums and supplemental policies. These deductions can offer substantial savings, especially in light of rising healthcare costs. 

Ensure your insurance plan qualifies under the IRS rules, and report the premiums as a self-employed health insurance deduction on your tax return. This deduction is taken as an adjustment to income, meaning you can benefit from it even if you don’t itemize deductions.

Understanding and leveraging these five tax deductions can significantly impact your business’s financial health. While this guide serves as a starting point, an experienced tax agent can provide personalized advice and ensure you’re capitalizing on every available deduction. Remember, every dollar saved in taxes is one more dollar to invest back into your business. 

However, before we unveil the secrets behind the scenes, let’s establish a common understanding by revisiting some fundamental principles.

Main Online Catalog Challenges

Numerous factors impact sales and eCommerce conversion, including website design and customer service quality. But in our opinion, backed by experience, the primary focus should be on the online catalog. 

Unfortunately, many neglect visual merchandising techniques when working with their online catalogs. This oversight is unfortunate as it directly affects customers’ time on a website. 

Let’s discuss the problem in more detail.

• Product Finding Speed. The speed at which customers can find products is crucial for online shopping. To ensure a seamless experience, create a well-structured catalog that allows customers to see what they need easily and quickly.
• Undecided Shoppers. Attract hesitant customers by offering unique and in-demand products. Utilize visual merchandising techniques, such as exciting product displays and eye-catching catalog arrangements, to tempt website visitors to purchase. By following these simple tips, a Magento store can significantly increase sales.
• Catalog Pages for Landing and Branding. There is always room for improvement regarding landing pages and product- or brand-specific sales. Unfortunately, these crucial sections often lack proper structure and organization despite being heavily promoted. The item display could be better, and the online catalog is filled randomly without logic. Unsurprisingly, sales on Magento or other platforms stay the same even after ad campaigns.

Now let’s move on to the most interesting, namely, our actual experience in improving the client’s catalog, which led to a steep increase in online store sales.

Our Experience With Increasing Sales for a Client’s Online Store

Our client is a US company that operates a fashion online store powered by  Magento. They have struggled to compete with major players like Farfetch, which poorly affected their conversions and sales. Seeking a solution, they reached out to our team for assistance. 

Our first move was an in-depth analysis of the client’s catalog. As a result, we discovered product display issues and identified main areas for improvement. The catalog was not functioning optimally and failed to meet user needs as expected, and we wanted to rectify this situation.

Our Solution

To help the client achieve their goal in the most cost-effective way, we decided to highlight the advantages of their product range and improve the management of their online catalog with Sortler.

Sortler is a unique SaaS cloud-based tool with easy implementation and efficient operation. It revolutionizes catalog management, providing a convenient solution for clients seeking to enhance their eCommerce visual merchandising. 

Sortler is a highly manageable ecosystem accessible through sortler.com. This special virtual catalog allows you to automate processes, visually organize categories, and seamlessly sync with your real catalog to track conversion rates and monitor sales growth.

Now let’s see how we used Sortler to approach our client’s request.

Problem #1. Insufficient Product Range Variety

Initially, it became evident that product display could be better. Users had to apply filters or browse through multiple pages to discover the full range of items available in the catalog.

For instance:

• Dior products were featured 11 times on the first page, whereas Givenchy products were only displayed thrice.
• Dresses were included 25 times, whereas skirts appeared only seven times.

What did we offer to solve the problem?

We focused on prioritizing and diversifying the catalog, aiming to increase the likelihood of customer purchases

We asked Sortler to do the following:

• Arrange products on the catalog page in such a way as not to exceed the specified maximum number of identical groups of elements
• Hide less relevant products and make popular ones more visible on catalog pages.
• Follow the set percentage of items of each brand when placing products on the page

Thus, we made the catalog more diverse and avoided the dominance of one brand or group of products over others.

Problem #2. Poor Product Combinations

A good idea for improving sales is to have products that match each other in style and color next to each other in the catalog. This encourages customers to purchase multiple items at once.

Unfortunately, the client catalog didn’t offer such an option, which we fixed with Sortler. Specifically, we created a rule determining how to combine items on the catalog page. 

Results were impressive: category pages now feature similar, matching in style or color products close to each other, and the number of these combinations never exceeds the percentage we set.

Problem #3. Running Out Products

The client’s catalog pages often showed products that were out of stock, which became a real problem that interfered with regular sales. That’s understandable: in the end, customers don’t like to find that an item is unavailable only after it has been added to the cart.

To solve the problem, we identified a percentage of low-stock items to list in the catalog and set up hiding out-of-stock products. All of this was done using the rules assigned to Sortler,

Problem #4. Low-Selling Products

Finally, we helped the client deal with under-selling items by making them more visible on the catalog page. The thing is, in some cases, the poor display of specific items is why they perform poorly. With the help of Sortler, we corrected the situation.

Sortler has many other cool features that take catalog management to a whole new level, leading to better conversions and sales. Follow the link to learn more about what Sortler offers.

While there’s undoubtedly a lot of value in experience when it comes to decision-making, it’s too easily clouded by assumptions. And if those assumptions are wrong, then the decisions you make risk wasting your time, money and energy. 

According to research by BARC, 69% of companies claim they make better strategic decisions from using big data as well as recording an 8% increase in profits. Meanwhile, Deloitte reports that companies with CEOs that spearhead data-driven decisions are 77% more likely to achieve business goals.

While data comes in many forms, one of the growth areas comes in the form of B2B competitive intelligence.

What Is B2B Competitive Intelligence?

B2B competitive intelligence refers to the process of gathering insights about your market and competitors by monitoring their global digital footprint. This importantly provides companies’ various departments, from marketing to sales and product, actionable insights that’ll enable them to grasp their competitive landscape and grow revenue.

The importance of competitive intelligence is being increasingly recognised. It’s estimated that 94% of companies are investing in some form of competitive intelligence. One of the more effective methods of collecting competitive intelligence is by using a competitor intelligence platform.

How Do Competitor Intelligence Platforms Work?

In years gone by, monitoring your competitors online would’ve been a slow, manual process carried out by a single member of the team visiting various websites to identify changes. Over time, software was embraced including RSS feeds, Google Alerts and Social Media Monitoring.

However, today’s competitor intelligence platforms offer something more. They use AI to perform real-time automated tracking of your competitors’ global digital footprints. Data is gathered in real-time and presented in a variety of ways through an online dashboard, shared via alerts or collated in periodic reports.

How Does B2B Competitive Intelligence Support Decision Making?

Your account is set up to track the data sources that will produce the most relevant intelligence for the goals of the activity.

For example, if you’re competing for job applicants with a specific set of skills, your competitor intelligence platform will be set up to track the aspects of your competitors’ business that relate to their employer proposition – including their messaging, content, social media engagement, benefits package, personnel news and more.

Another example might be if you operate in a price-sensitive market. Tracking changes to competitor pricing, promotions and marketing activity and comparing data across your market will give you insights that can inform your approach.

You can use B2B competitive intelligence to validate your decision-making, optimise strategies and identify and respond to threats and opportunities.

Are There Challenges To Using B2B Competitive Intelligence?

92.2% of executives say they’re experiencing significant challenges in becoming data-driven. 

One of the reasons is that most of the data collected by organisations is unstructured and difficult to analyse. Competitor intelligence platforms help with this challenge by housing all of the data in one place and allowing for you to analyse what you’ve gathered. 

However, the more data you’ll have access to, the bigger the challenge to. For B2B competitive intelligence to aid decision-making, you’ll need the resource to organise, analyse, curate and share the most relevant and actionable intelligence.

For some organisations, that resource is in-house in the form of an insights department. For others, it may be part of the competitor intelligence platform offering.

Once you and your team are in possession of relevant, actionable intelligence, you also need to be mobilised to use it.

How To Mobilise Your Organisation To Use Competitive Intelligence

There are three key challenges to mobilising your organisation so that competitor intelligence becomes a valuable decision-making tool.

1) Make it easy to access

Your data will have little impact on your decision-making or results if it exists in silos or under the control of just one person. The first step to mobilisation is getting it in the hands of the people who need it in your organisation. That could be sales, marketing, product or customer service. 

You can do that by managing access to your dashboard or by sharing alerts of the most relevant insights directly into their workflows. Many competitor intelligence platforms integrate with third-party tools such as Slack and MS Teams. 

By sharing insights in a format that’s easy to access, you remove one of the biggest barriers of becoming a data-driven organisation.

2) Make it easy to understand

The transition to becoming data-driven can be bumpy, especially if people and departments aren’t used to receiving or using intelligence to make key decisions. Most competitor intelligence platforms will present insights in bite-sized form with the option to delve deeper where necessary.

Some will also offer products such as sales battle cards that make it easier and faster to compare competitors across set criteria. Such steps make intelligence easier for everyone to understand and therefore use in their decision-making.

3. Demonstrate its worth

Becoming data-driven is about changing an organisation’s culture and mindset. It’s about a different way of thinking about problems and challenges. As a result, there can often be a resistance to change that needs to be overcome.

The best way to do that is to demonstrate the value of your competitive intelligence. Before it’s been used, the best way to do this is to highlight the cost of losing to the competition – whether that’s over a sale, a candidate or market share. Highlighting what’s at stake may be enough to greenlight your initial use of a competitor intelligence platform.

Once in use, you’ll be able to track the impact of every data-driven decision you make via the platform by monitoring your progress and making comparisons with competitors. Sharing this intelligence can be as valuable as any in building the case for embracing intelligence.

Getting started And Using B2B Competitive Intelligence For Decision Making

Set your goals and objectives

You can capture data on almost anything that occurs online. For some organisations with the resources to handle large amounts of data, this may involve tracking all competitor activity online. But most organisations start their competitive intelligence journey by focusing on a specific challenge they need to address. 

For example, you may want to become the authoritative voice on a key industry topic, or win the race for the best talent in your sector, or improve your new business success rate. Whatever it is, being clear on the outcomes you want will keep your approach focused and effective. This is the important first step when it comes to B2B competitive intelligence and decision making for your business.

Identify sources, metrics and competitors

Your goals will inform who, what and why you track. If your focus is on price strategy, you may want to monitor competitors’ websites and marketing activities for insights into how they’re pricing their products. If you want to create intelligent content on a regulatory change in your market, you may want to track governing body websites, social media profiles, industry publications and more to become the most informed organisation on the topic.

The point is to use your goals to narrow in on the types of competitor intelligence you need so that you know what’s on your dashboard and the alerts you receive are relevant and timely.

B2B Competitive Intelligence Examples That Will Aid Decision Making 

a) Price strategy

How are your competitors pricing their products? Are they constant or do they change at different times of the year? Do they offer incentives or promotions? How do they present their pricing and what content sits alongside it? 

b) Product roadmaps

What products are your competitors offering? What are they developing and planning to launch? Have they discontinued or made changes to older products in their range? What new features have they introduced? 

c) Marketing strategy

How do your competitors promote and advertise their products? Who are they targeting? What channels and tactics are they using to reach them? What messaging do they lead with? How do they communicate the benefits and value of the proposition? 

d) Brand and website changes

When did your competitors last update their brand and visual identity? What have they added or removed from their website? How do they tell their story? How are they applying it across other brand materials? 

e) Social media activity

Which of your competitors have the biggest following online? Who gets the most engagement? Whose profile is growing and whose is falling away? What content are they sharing and when? What is the sentiment towards their brand across social media?

f) Recruitment strategy

Who’s winning and losing in the job market? How are your competitors presenting their employer proposition? What job boards and social media channels are they using to attract candidates? Do they use agencies or internal resources?

g) Review sites

Which competitors have the best scores on which review sites? Which have seen a sharp rise or drop in their scores? What are the common comments that feature in customer views? 

h) Personnel changes

Have any of your competitors made a significant hire? Has anyone significant left the organisation? Are any recruiting more than usual? Have any made cuts and restructured? What market factors have influenced these changes?

i) Regulatory changes

What regulatory changes are rumoured to be on their way? What changes are being rolled out? How is the market reacting to the news? Which competitors are producing content on the topic? What recommendations are being made?

Concluding Thoughts

Companies that use data and analytics to inform their decision-making outperform their peers by up to 6%. They’re also twice as likely to exceed their competitors in terms of profitability.

By embracing B2B competitive intelligence, you’ll be able validate your decision-making, optimise your strategies and become smarter as an organisation.

Car sharing is a short-term car rental service that is especially popular in big cities. Thanks to this service, the user can register in the system, provide the requested information and link a bank card to their profile. After that, the client sees available cars in the car sharing system in the location of interest.

Typically, car sharing companies rent separate parking lots or parking spaces throughout the city, so after the trip, the client can also park the car in a convenient place. In this case, payment is charged solely for the time during which a person used the car.

Due to the obvious advantages of this type of car rental and its demand for many residents of large cities, such a business has every chance of becoming successful, profitable and steadily developing. However, before organizing your own car sharing service, you need to study in detail the features of such companies, research the needs and expectations of the target audience, create a detailed business plan and calculate all possible costs.

Who and what makes it profitable?

Before starting any business, you first need to determine how profitable it can be. One of the main payback factors is the potential demand among the target audience. As a rule, residents of large cities become regular customers of car sharing services. Most often this is true for office workers who need a car only for a short time.

For users, there are several important advantages of car sharing:

·  Material benefit. The client does not need to buy their own car, regularly spend money on gasoline, maintenance, parking or insurance. All these efforts are taken over by the car sharing company.

·  Saved time. It is much easier to rent a car for a short term than for a long term. The client does not need to go anywhere to pick up the car and draw up all the necessary documents, they only needs to be registered in the car sharing system.

·  Convenient tourism. For business trips or traveling purposes, car sharing often becomes a more comfortable alternative to public transport or taxi services.

·  Emergencies. Car sharing services can help the driver in emergency situations, for example, when gasoline runs out or an unexpected breakdown of a personal car occurs.

Also, the profitability of the car sharing business provides benefits for company owners:

1. Opportunity to work on a franchise. In this case, you can significantly save on marketing, application creation, support services and other expenses.

2. Favorable conditions for buying a car. Many car dealers and leasing companies provide customers with favorable conditions for buying several vehicles at once.

3. Cost optimization with the help of software. You can install special corporate car sharing software to control the work of the company and optimize the budget.

4. Opportunities for development. With a careful approach and competent planning, a car sharing company can quickly pay off and bring good profits for further business scaling.

All these advantages ensure the profitability of the business not only in the short term, but also in the long term.

Is this business profitable?

Of course, the car sharing business can potentially be very profitable. But for this you need to pay attention to the details that are of great importance for successful activity.

First of all, you need to conduct a thorough study of the target audience in order to determine the positioning of the brand, its values, as well as the company’s pricing policy, because the number and class of cars depend on this. As practice shows, it is best to buy middle-class cars for a car sharing service, but if the starting capital allows, it is also necessary to purchase several premium class cars — they are in demand for celebration events.

Also, special attention should be paid to brand promotion. To date, relying on so-called word of mouth is a rather ineffective and risky strategy. If your team does not have a marketing department, it is better to trust professionals and seek help from an advertising agency. Using modern communication channels, experienced professionals will be able to competently convey information about the new service to potential customers.

In addition, it should be taken into account that corporate car sharing software pays off much faster due to the automation of business processes and well-coordinated work in a single system.

Obviously, for business success, it is also necessary to monitor the quality of the services provided. As for the car sharing service, there are many details that need to be constantly monitored, such as support for a mobile application, collection and storage of information, the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, the technical condition of cars, minimizing the risks associated with fraudsters. Fortunately, some of these processes can also be effectively controlled using corporate car sharing software.

Main costs of car sharing

The business plan of a car sharing company should be as detailed as possible. This will help to accurately calculate all costs and compare them with potential profits.

The main costs to consider are:

·  car purchase,

·  buying or renting premises,

·  car registration and insurance,

·  re-equipment of cars for the needs of car sharing,

·  payment for parking spaces,

·  maintenance of cars,

·  fuel costs,

·  car wash,

·  application development,

·  support for corporate car sharing software,

·  salary of employees,

·  marketing activities.

If the owner of the company correctly calculates the costs for each of these items, they will be able to predict the time it will take for the business to pay off and reach a stable income.

Conclusion

At first glance, the car sharing business may seem complicated. But if you have enough experience in entrepreneurship, all these stages can be completed fairly quickly and without much difficulty. With a limited budget, you can also find a way out of the situation by looking for investors and reliable partners.

It is necessary to responsibly develop a plan and pay due attention to all the details at the start. This is the key to future success and profitability of the car sharing business.

Empowering the Financial Industry:
Python’s ascent to popularity in the finance sector can be attributed to its simplicity, flexibility, and extensive library ecosystem. Python’s user-friendly syntax makes it accessible to both seasoned developers and newcomers alike. Its versatility allows finance professionals to harness Python for a wide range of tasks, including data analysis, modeling, backtesting, and execution.

When it comes to financial data analysis, Python offers a rich ecosystem of libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. These libraries provide efficient data manipulation and visualization capabilities, enabling analysts to extract valuable insights from vast quantities of financial data. Additionally, Python’s integration with Jupyter Notebook facilitates interactive data exploration and seamless sharing of research findings.

Python in Algorithmic Trading:
Algorithmic trading has revolutionized financial markets by utilizing automation and sophisticated algorithms to execute trades with speed, precision, and consistency. Python plays an indispensable role in algorithmic trading, bolstered by libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and SciPy, which enable traders to efficiently process and analyze market data, develop intricate trading strategies, and backtest them using historical data.

Furthermore, Python’s integration with platforms such as JayDevs enhances the capabilities of algorithmic traders. JayDevs, a prominent algorithmic trading platform, offers a robust infrastructure for deploying and executing trading strategies. By integrating Python with JayDevs, traders can leverage the power of Python’s libraries and utilize JayDevs’ advanced features, including real-time data feeds, risk management tools, and execution algorithms.

Quantitative Finance: Unleashing Python’s Power:
Quantitative finance heavily relies on mathematical models and statistical analysis to derive investment insights. Python’s extensive library ecosystem, encompassing SciPy, SymPy, and StatsModels, empowers quantitative analysts to develop and implement complex financial models efficiently. With Python, analysts can simulate asset prices, calculate risk metrics, optimize portfolios, and conduct scenario analysis.

Python’s machine learning libraries, such as scikit-learn and TensorFlow, serve as invaluable tools for quantitative finance. These libraries enable analysts to construct predictive models, conduct sentiment analysis, and perform market segmentation, thereby enhancing the decision-making process. Python’s seamless integration with popular deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow empowers analysts to explore advanced techniques for pattern recognition and predictive modeling.

JayDevs and Python: A Synergistic Combination:
JayDevs recognizes the power and versatility of Python in algorithmic trading and quantitative finance. By integrating Python within their platform, JayDevs empowers traders and analysts to leverage Python’s extensive library ecosystem, streamline workflows, and effortlessly develop sophisticated strategies.

The integration of Python with JayDevs’ advanced features, such as real-time data feeds and risk management tools, enhances the efficiency and accuracy of trading decisions. This combination enables JayDevs users to explore, test, and deploy cutting-edge strategies, providing them with a competitive edge in the dynamic world of finance.

Conclusion:

Python has undoubtedly emerged as a game-changer in algorithmic trading and Quantitative Finance (Python Finance). Its versatility, ease of use, and extensive library ecosystem have transformed the way financial professionals analyze data, develop trading strategies, and make investment decisions. The collaboration between Python and JayDevs further enhances its capabilities, offering traders and analysts a comprehensive suite of tools and features.

As both Python and JayDevs continue to evolve and innovate, the future of algorithmic trading and quantitative finance appears bright, promising continued advancements and opportunities for success in the ever-changing financial landscape.

These two stats alone highlight how critical it is for any business to rank well online, and by well, we really mean in the first 10 organic search results. Without great organic rankings, you’re left to rely on paid traffic, partnerships and social media to drive online traffic and sales. 

An increasing number of small business owners, start-ups and even very traditional ‘offline’ organisations are now focusing more on their organic rankings. But the big question is, should you manage your SEO in-house, or outsource it to a specialist SEO consultancy?

Here are some of the pros and cons of each. 

In-house SEO

In-house SEO means managing your organic rankings yourself. 

Benefits of in-house SEO

• You can focus more hours on SEO than if you were paying an agency’s day rate
• You can write more authoritatively about your niche for blog content and web copy
• Full transparency over linkbuilding and partnership work
• Gain easier buy-in from leadership
• Easier to more seamlessly integrate SEO with other digital marketing efforts 

Disadvantages of in-house SEO

• SEO tasks like blog writing are often sacrificed for other jobs
• SEO takes ongoing commitment and, ideally, a team of technical and outreach search specialists
• SEO for larger websites, including e-commerce stores, need large teams to manage
• Salaries are often more expensive than an agency fee
• Covering the costs of expensive SEO software 

Outsourced SEO

Outsourced SEO means paying a freelancer or SEO agency to manage your organic keyword rankings and look to place your website as high as possible. 

Benefits of outsourced SEO

• Hire a team of technical and outreach specialists to work on your brand for one fee
• If an agency stops performing, it can be easier to replace than a team of employees
• Tap into their experience of running hundreds of campaigns across industries 
• Results can be quicker with an experienced agency vs an inexperienced in-house team
• They pay to access the best-in-class SEO tools available 

Disadvantages of outsourced SEO

• Relinquishing a bit of control 
• SEO agencies still need guidance on sector knowledge 
• As with all sectors, there are good and bad agents. A great SEO agency will want to show its workings and results. A bad SEO agency can be pretty secretive. Transparency is key. 
• You’re only one of many clients, and probably not the ‘main’ client 

Which SEO approach will you take? Good luck and happy marketing either way! 

Whether you’ve encountered a moral dilemma or want to be known for ethical business decisions, the following steps should help you achieve your goal. Your business reputation might depend on them. 

Step 1: Understand Your Ethical Dilemma

If you’re trying to resolve a single ethical problem, start by understanding that dilemma. When you know what you’re facing, why it might be unethical, and the alternatives, a solution often presents itself sooner than you think. 

For example, you might be trying to increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace, but your only available position has been promised to your business partner’s relative. You might worry about the ethics of nepotism and the workplace diversity you’ll be sacrificing if you allow this hiring decision to go ahead. By diving into the literature on these topics and examining the potential consequences of each available course of action, you will, at the very least, have a strong foundation on which to base your decision. 

Step 2: Create a Code of Ethics

A formal code of ethics helps you determine at a glance what is and isn’t off-limits. Put one in place, and you’ll be able to make decisions based on a set of rules everyone has agreed to ahead of time. 

You could write the code based on specific situations or keep it general, allowing it to cover a wide range of issues. When the time comes to make a decision that could be seen as unethical, you can scrutinize it based on predetermined criteria. 

Step 3: Think of Others

The decisions you make, ethical or unethical, can affect more than you and your immediate business. Indeed, they often impact stakeholders, employees, clients, suppliers, and even people living or working near your enterprise. Keep this in mind when you’re brainstorming possible solutions for a problem – a seemingly ethical answer might not be ideal if it creates issues for others. 

Step 4: Consider Rules, Regulations, and Laws

Sometimes, a solution isn’t just unethical but also breaks the law or the regulations governing your industry. A simple example can be waste removal. It could be classed as unethical to discharge waste into a local waterway, even if it would solve your problem. However, this act will probably also break local environmental laws unless a permit has been obtained. 

Step 5: Consult Others

You might have the critical job of making the final decision, but you don’t necessarily have to come to a conclusion independently. Consult others who might be impacted by the decisions you make. Talk to experts who can highlight legal issues and speak to trusted advisors and mentors. Their input will be invaluable, helping you see whether you’re making the wrong or right call. 

Step 6: Review Past Decision

It’s highly likely that this moral predicament isn’t your first. Think about business decisions you’ve made in the past and their outcomes. By reflecting on the past, you can learn from your mistakes and make better moves. 

Ethical decision-making in business won’t always be straightforward, and you might not always please everyone. However, by taking the six steps above, you can improve your chances of fine-tuning your decision-making processes and establishing a reputation for maintaining excellent moral standards.

Infographic created by Donnelley Financial Solutions, an SEC reporting software company

AI is fundamentally based on machine learning algorithms that can process, assess and make decisions based on large datasets.  These algorithms can improve their accuracy and performance over time.  

AI is new technology that is distorting and shaking the vary foundation of all things that we do.  It has already registered a significant impact across various sectors that include healthcare, finance and transportation.  In this post, we focus on the how AI is a game changer in the field of online customer experience and how this is redefining the rules of customer engagement.

How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Customer Engagement

AI has the potential to transform the way websites engage visitors by enhancing user experience, optimizing websites for higher conversion rates and personalizing content more than ever before.

Recently conducted studies demonstrate that AI is effective in increasing website engagement, consumer purchasing appetite and overall customer satisfaction.  This is achieved through highly personalized experiences and use of AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants.  A survey conducted by Capgemini concluded that AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can improve customer satisfaction by up to 58%.    In another study, this time conducted by Adobe it was found that personalized experiences can increase consumer purchasing, with 80% of consumers being more likely to purchase and 40% being more likely to spend more than planned.  

Research from Accenture shows that AI has the potential to increase profitability by an average of 38% across 16 industries by 2035.  AI is expected to contribute to an economic boost of $14 trillion across 12 economies in 16 industries by 2035.

https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Report-%E2%80%93-Conversational-Interfaces_Web-Final.pdf

https://business.adobe.com/blog/the-latest/adobe-target-announces-customizing-ai-powered-personalization-for-enhancing-real-time-engagement-and-conversion

This article discusses the ways in which AI is transforming the field of website design and driving online businesses growth.  

Tailor-made Digital Experiences With AI

How AI takes Customer Website Experience To A Whole New Level

AI is revolutionizing the way websites engage and interact with visitors. By analysing visitor data, AI algorithms can tailor the website experience to each individual user in a way that was not previously possible with traditional website design techniques. These algorithms use data such as browsing history, demographic information, and other data points to create personalized recommendations and offers for products or content.  Personalization can recommend products or articles based on a user’s past purchases and interests, while customization allows for the adjustment of elements such as messaging, offers, content, and layout based on factors such as geolocation, language, and demographics.  E-commerce businesses are applying AI to present different content and offers to different users based on these data points collected at different points of interaction with website visitors.

Customer Experiences Built Around AI – Some Practical Examples

There are numerous examples of AI-powered personalized recommendations and customizations in various industries, including e-commerce, media, and finance. Amazon’s recommendation engine uses AI to suggest products to users based on their past purchases and browsing history while Netflix and Spotify use AI to make personalized recommendations based on past viewing or listening history.  These and other companies in the field of website design are using AI to create personalized experiences that are more engaging and effective, and better able to meet the needs of individual users.

User Experience Redefined

How AI Sets A New Standard for Web Navigation and Searches

AI is improving the overall user browsing experience on websites by enhancing navigation and search functionality.  Machine learning algorithms enable websites to create sophisticated and intuitive search experiences that can more accurately understand the intent behind user queries.  Natural language processing allows for the use of more complex and nuanced queries while predictive search suggests search terms and results as the user types their query. Chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI can provide efficient customer service and assist users with navigating the website.  These tools are particularly useful for handling routine tasks and inquiries, freeing up resources for more complex tasks.  E-commerce websites frequently use chatbots to assist with the purchasing process.  Companies like Zendesk and Intercom have developed AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants for customer service.  Overall, the use of AI in these areas helps create a more seamless and efficient user experience on websites.

Higher Rates of Conversion

AI-Optimized Web Design & Best Conversion Rates 

AI improves website design and layout for higher conversion rates by analysing visitor data patterns and identifying the most effective design elements using machine learning algorithms and A/B testing. AI can also automate optimization processes, saving businesses time and resources.

There are numerous AI-based A/B testing and optimization tools available for website design, such as Optimizely and Adobe’s Experience Platform. These platforms use AI to test and improve websites to increase conversion rates or analyse customer data to optimize website design and layout in real-time.

The Future of AI Web Design

AI is not only changing the way websites interact with visitors, but also how businesses retain customers through AI marketing strategies. The future of marketing is likely to be heavily influenced by AI, and there is already a wide range of AI tools focused on marketing available. These tools include AI picture generators and video generators, which use machine learning algorithms to automatically create attractive and clickable images and videos for marketing campaigns. Other AI marketing tools on the market include those for email marketing, social media management, and ad targeting. For example, AI-powered email marketing platforms can analyze customer data to create personalized email campaigns, and AI-powered social media management tools can help businesses create and schedule posts and engage with followers. AI can also be used to improve ad targeting by analyzing data to identify the best audience for a particular campaign.

Conclusion

AI has already had a significant positive impact on e-commerce businesses and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. As AI continues to develop, it is likely to play an even bigger role in website design and marketing. While the potential of AI is exciting, it is important to carefully consider the potential challenges and ethical considerations that come with its use. If used ethically, AI has the ability to transform the way businesses interact with their online customers through the creation of more personalized and effective websites and marketing campaigns.