Category: Our Recommendations

Are you looking for an effective way to boost your real estate listings? In this era of competition, only the real estate agents who go above and beyond make huge a splash in the market. If you are a real estate agent, this article is for you. You will learn why drone photography and video are the most effect and result proven way to enhance your real estate listing. It is about embedding the drone photography into your business elements in order to boost your success rate. Let’s look into the details to know more about it.

Cost effective aerial photography

Aerial photography is also known as the airborne imagery in which a number of different photographs are taken through a flying object. This flying object is called a drone that is specially designed for photography purposes. You must be thinking about why you should use the drone for your real estate aerial photography? It is because it will help you in capturing amazing photos of your property in a most cost effective way. You no longer need a helicopter to get amazing views from above.

In contrast, if you buy your own drone for photography, you will have to go through the proper procedure to become FAA certified. This is important because you can be fined up to 100k per image not filmed by a UAV pilot.

Drone effectively raise the agent’s branding

Aerial Photography adds a WOW factor to your listings. They are signature and recognizable and ultimately popularize your brand. Most agents will just snap a few pictures of the p[property from their cell phone, which is lazy and shows. However just hiring a photographer for the inside and ground shots might not cut it either. To stand out above the rest you need an edge.

Drone photos are completely different than those pictures which are taken randomly from the ground. You certainly wouldn’t cover the whole perspective of the building and property. In this way, you can differentiate yourself from other real estate agents. Attractive aerial pictures and video would also attract more people towards your business which would ultimately result in enhancing your listing and give you an edge.

It has been said that those real estate agents who are using drone photography are experiencing higher listings traffic and sales than others. Thus, you shouldn’t make any delay is adopting this new technology for your business.

Aesthetically beautiful view of land and surroundings

For a real estate agent, it is critical to present the exterior of a big home in a clear 3-dimensional way. Whoever is looking at buying or renting out a house, would want to see the birds eye exterior layout of the house.

One of the important tactics of catching the interest of buyers is to present an aesthetically beautiful view of land and surroundings. The aerial photos will give a clear birds eye perspective of the property lines. It will show the distance to local communities and shopping areas and they are just plain cool to share with others.

For this purpose, real estate drone photography is the top most recommended option that you must opt for. Drones can also make great real estate videos that would play a greater part in enhancing your profile listings.

Contact DVK Designs today for aerial photography and aerial videography services at a negotiated price. A more personal and detailed view of homes or town

Custom Web Design vs DIY Website builders.

Look: You need to make the right decisions when it comes to owning a website.

Otherwise, you will end up with a project which hardly adds a coin to your bottom line. Or something which leaves your customers even more confused.

Let’s take one of the most burning questions facing new website owners:

Should you contract a web design consultant to build you a customizable site from scratch……..

Or do you roll up the sleeves and build your own site (using a DIY Website builder)?

From my experience, this can be where you win or lose the game…

Curious?

Let’s delve deeper:

What Are DIY Website builders?

In short, a DIY (Do it yourself) website builder is a platform that allows you to create a website without learning web-coding/design and sometimes, within an unbelievably short time.

Popular examples include Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, and more.

What Is Custom Web Design?

Sometimes all it takes to deliver a knockout blow to your business competitors is standing out. And this is where tailor-made website comes in.

Contrary to DIY websites where your site may end up looking like a twin to a competitor’s ecommerce platform, here your hired web design expert draws on his deep knowledge to deliver an eye-catching website- precisely according to your specifications.

What’s the big secret in tailor-made websites?

Well, all custom website design packages are based on hands-on coding of unique web pages using tools like HTML5, CSS, Javascript, Python, and such to suit your special requirements.

Everything from the layout, content structure, to user experience is purely inspirational.

Why Your Choice Matters

Listen: When a prospect lands on your website, two things can happen:

He/she either leave right away…

…or they hang around.

And respond to your CTA (call to action).

The question is:

What’s the magic?

Well, first and foremost, the design! Of course, other factors like the richness of resources matter.

But the first impression mostly comes from the STRUCTURE.

Do you now notice how big the design decision is?

Why Select DIY Website builders

It’s true that DIY Website builders have their own advantages….They may take a shorter time, are generally cheaper, and friendlier to work with.

But they also call for some sacrifices…..

I am referring to their limited room to tweak things, the inclusion of ads (on some “free” plans), the inevitable learning curve (despite their user-friendliness), plus you’ll never fully own it.  

Why Choose Customized Web Design

Custom ecommerce website design is all about freedom to play with code and the various features. Thus, your developer will present that brilliant website that you’ve always had in your mind.

Bold promise? Sure but true.

Here’s is why:

• You can modify the arrangement: It’s your own project, undertaken using preferred tools (you agree with the designer), and according to the needs of your business.

This means that you and your web design company can keep refining the website until you are 100% satisfied.

• You enjoy full support: Much unlike some DIY website tools providers, leading web development firms run 24/7 customer care desk and respond to your concerns promptly. This means it’s very rare to lose business because of your site being offline.  
• You access expert advice: Building a website is just one step. You need to know about SEO (search engine optimization), website security, and a host of related factors. Professional website designers walk with you throughout the journey so it’s a wholesome package.

It’s true that engaging a talented web consultantcomes at a fee not to mention that your site may take a bit longer than some DIY projects.  Nevertheless, the value you get makes it very much worthy.

Recap

Whether it’s an ecommerce store, a marketing website, an informational blog, a site to showcase your portfolio, or even a forum, you need to get the design approach right.

Overall, DIY site builders are cheaper, friendlier, and quicker. But they also have teething challenges chief among them limited customization.

On the other hand, professionally built custom websites let you stand out from the crowd as they are built to specifications though they are a bit costly.

All in all, the choice is yours but whatever it is, ensure it’s a winning one!

I was speaking with a potential business owner a few weeks back and I mentioned to her that I offer drone services. “I have a drone!” she proclaimed. Being the honest hardworking person that I am, I explained to her the problems with using drone footage for her company without having the proper clearances from the FAA.

Here is what you should ask yourself:
Does the pilot of the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) know exactly how high they can fly?
Do they know if they should be flying at all?
Have the proper safety precautions been put in place?
When should you contact the airport, if you are performing operations in their airspace?
How do I know I am far enough away from said airport?
Do private airports count?

All of the answers to these questions are crucial in determining a safe and legal drone operation. Without the proper clearance from the FAA a pilot can not possibly know if they are performing a commercial video or photo shoot safely and legally.

At DVK Designs we are FAA certified Drone Pilots. We are aware of all the safety procedures and hazards that can effect a shoot.

The drone industry is rapidly expanding because of the advantages of drone photography. It seems like every time you turn on a house remodeling show on TV there are multiple aerial scenes used over and over. They’ve also even been known to save a life or two.

1. Drone technology is very affordable: Aerial photography was once extremely expensive, you needed a helicopter or crane. Today drones are proving useful in many different kinds of industries: because of the lower cost and time involved. Video is fast becoming a key ranking factor for business.
2. South Florida is a great location: The climate in Florida makes it absolutely great for aerial images. The climate offers the kind of weather that helps us consistently capture that wow factor and attract out-of-state interest. The many colors of Florida are sure to make real estate aerial photos pop. Florida has some very well maintained property and you can really show off the beauty from a whole new point of view.
3. Drones are so very special: As bidding for projects becomes increasingly difficult, get a leg up on your competition by introducing more videos on your company website and social media.
4. Safety and Pre-caution: Thankfully the guidelines from the FAA help keep things legal and safe while also providing flexibility for the industry.
5. Popularity: Commercial drone usage is gaining momentum and has become a major topic of debate, as multiple industries are working with drones as part of their daily regular business functions. The expected annual growth rate of 19% between 2015 and 2020.

View all of our Drone Services

Key Performance Indicators, also known as KPIs, are core measurements that businesses use to monitor progress toward achieving goals and targets. KPIs, which vary widely by industry and entity structure, can be used to monitor and track all aspects of your business,. Management teams pay close attention to KPIs, looking for anything out of line that indicates action needs to be taken. In this two-part series on KPIs, we’ll look at the difference between KPIs and metrics, methods for choosing KPIs, how to define KPIs and the best ways to track and communicate findings.

Metrics versus KPIs: What’s what?

KPIs and metrics are often conflated because all KPIs are metrics, but not all metrics can (or should) be considered KPIs.

Metrics are data driven, quantifiable measures that track performance. Created from data compiled periodically (such as accounting-based metrics) or continually from a live data source, metrics allow businesses to monitor progress toward achieving goals and objectives.

How to determine which metrics qualify as KPIs?

Peter Drucker, one of the most widely influential thinkers on the subject of management theory and practice, wrote “What gets measured gets managed.” As such, not every metric is truly “key” for your business. If you treat all metrics as equal and don’t differentiate between what really matters, then nothing will stand out and you’ll manage everything equally. This is why it is critical to select the metrics most important to you and your business and designate those as your KPIs.

Metrics Still Matter

Your KPIs might be your most important metrics, but this doesn’t mean the other metrics don’t matter. When something goes awry with one of your KPIs, you’ll need to dig into other metrics to understand the problem, identify the root cause and correct course.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Who’s Performing Best of All?

Not everything your business gauges will be an accurate measure of performance. Metrics that feel good to track but don’t have much impact on progress are often called “vanity metrics.” Vanity metrics are fun to get excited about, but they don’t actually provide much value or insight.

The entire point of carefully selecting KPIs is so that you focus on what really matters to your bottom line.

How to choose KPIs that matter

Delivering the right metrics to the right people at the right time allows you and your team to collaborate, make decisions and take actions based on data. KPIs can go beyond just providing focus to create a cohesive unity among your team in working toward a common objective, but only if they are well defined and easy to comprehend. Next month we’ll look at how to transform a bunch of numbers into something actionable and meaningful.

Before we get into the specifics, the simple way to drill down and select a handful of metrics is by asking two central questions. First, what are you trying to achieve and, second, how will you know if you’ve achieved it?

Stay tuned next month for a continuation of this discussion and more answers to your questions.

In 2017, nearly one-third of internet users reported being victim to online hacking or similar suspicious activity on their accounts. But as anyone who regularly uses a computer – especially for financial transactions – knows, keeping track of passwords can be a time-consuming task. Even so, it is necessary to ensure your personal and financial information is kept private and secure.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest inconveniences that has emerged is trying to keep track of different passwords for different websites. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that many websites require you to change your password every three to six months. Trying to keep up with which password is current at which website is mindboggling and aggravating.

Here’s one easy trick. If you ever want to find your passwords while online, look in the Settings for your browser. For example, with Chrome you log in, go to Settings, Advanced Settings, Passwords, Manage Passwords and click on the “eye” icon to see the username and password for each website. Similarly, with Safari you can log in and click on Preferences, Passwords, and the asteriks to the right of the username to show the password for each website. Most browsers have similar procedures.

However, what is convenient about the ease of finding your passwords is also reason for alarm. If you leave your computer unattended while logged into your browser, anyone can find them.

For this reason, it’s important to keep your computer password-protected and always within reach. Bear in mind, too, that there are other ways to keep track of passwords. For example, if you’re old school you might write them down in a notebook, crossing them out as you periodically update them. Some folks keep them updated in a spreadsheet software program. However, these tactics are susceptible to theft if, say, your home is burglarized and the thief takes both your computer and your password notebook. It can also be cumbersome if you are away from home and want to log in to websites from your smartphone.

Today’s smartphones typically provide a way to store password information in their settings or options menu. For example, on the iPhone go to Settings, Accounts & Passwords, App & Website Passwords, (input security protocol for access), then click on the individual websites and apps for each user name and password.

There also are apps designed to help you keep track of passwords. The following are highly recommended for their ease of use and security measures.

LastPass – Import saved login credentials from Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc. If you opt for the Premium suite for $2 a month, you also get the ability to sync information between your desktop and mobile devices, enhanced authentication options and tech support.

Dashlane – This app is known for it simple, intuitive interface accessible with two-factor authentication. The app lets you change passwords across multiple sites with just a few clicks, and also keeps track of receipts of transactions so you can go back and review them.

Roboform – This old-school password manager that can generate strong passwords, store and encrypt them, and sync them across multiple devices. It’s an older app that’s recently been updated with a more intuitive interface and features an autofill function.

There are scads of apps designed to track passwords, so you can search for reviews and rankings to see which one offers features best suited to your needs. One of the perks of apps is that many are free to download and try out. If you don’t like it, delete and install another. When you find one you like, you might want to check out any premium features that are available for a fee.

Amazon’s Alexa as a Virtual Office Assistant

Studies have shown that as much as 40 percent of time spent at work is generally unproductive, busy work. Things like checking emails, ordering supplies, fixing the copy machine or trying to figure out how to work a conference call line – during the conference call. These tasks can be aggravating and, when experienced by everyone in the firm, can have an impact on the bottom line.

To help companies manage small, day-to-day tasks, Amazon has launched Alexa for Business. Amazon Echo is a speaker; Echo Dot is a smaller speaker. Alexa is the name of the virtual assistant who you can converse with through the Echo speaker. Alexa boasts more than 25,000 skills – which are basically apps that you enable in order to access a particular service. For example, you can get an up-to-the-minute news brief from Reuters, request the stock price of a specific security, order a driver from Uber or Lyft, translate a word or sentence from another language, order supplies, compile a to-do list or initiate phone calls – all by simply asking Alexa.

Alexa for Business isn’t just for individual use. A company can set up Alexa devices in common areas throughout the workplace for all employees to use.

Around the Office

Alexa for Business enables a firm to manage all of the Alexa devices from a centralized console connected to your Alexa for Business account. This is a time-saving feature so that the devices do not need to be managed individually.

This configuration enables all employees to utilize Alexa for various tasks, such as getting directions, finding an open meeting room, ordering supplies, reporting building problems or notifying IT of an equipment issue. Alexa also can be linked to internal computer networks to provide company-specific information, such as inventory levels or sales figures.

At Your Desk

For folks who work in an individual office, Alexa at your desk can help you manage your calendar, maintain a to-do list and set up reminders so that you don’t miss a meeting or an appointment. By simply speaking in a normal voice, you can ask Alexa to make phone calls for you and dial into conference calls. You can set up skills for your specific device or incorporate, for example, the corporate calendar so that every device has access.

Employees can even use Alexa for Business skills with their home devices, which allows them to work from home. They also can access skills from their home device while at work.

In the Conference Room

Alexa for Business includes skills that make it easy to configure Alexa to control your conference room calls, audio and visual equipment, and any meeting applications. This allows anyone to get the meeting started by speaking to Alexa. For small conference rooms, an Alexa-enabled device can actually function as an audio conferencing vehicle; in larger conference rooms, Alexa can run the equipment so that participants can focus on the meeting – not the phone or presentation glitches.

In today’s competitive business environment, the ability to maximize every staff member’s productivity can be a key driver for success. Start by having a frank discussion with employees about what tasks drain their time and resources throughout today, then consider adopting Alexa for Business to help address those issues and give your entire firm an on-demand virtual assistant.

These articles are intended to provide general resources for the tax and accounting needs of small businesses and individuals. Service2Client LLC is the author, but is not engaged in rendering specific legal, accounting, financial or professional advice. Service2Client LLC makes no representation that the recommendations of Service2Client LLC will achieve any result. The NASD has not reviewed any of the Service2Client LLC content. Readers are encouraged to contact their CPA regarding the topics in these articles.

How to Get More Customer Referrals

When it comes to finding new clients, businesses can do so in many ways. Whether a radio or television spot, or an advertisement on a website, social media platform or digital billboard, the goal is to reach new viewers. Another cost-effective way is to develop more customer referrals. In fact, according to The New York Times, referrals account for 65 percent of a company’s new accounts. As an important part of marketing, how can organizations more effectively accomplish this type of advertising?

Simply Ask

One under-utilized way to get referrals is to simply ask existing customers if they would kindly refer your product or service to others. Based on statistics from Texas Tech University, 83 percent of customers are happy to refer a company’s product or service, yet only 29 percent of these customers follow through. Often all it takes to get a referral is expressing your gratitude to existing customers whose expectations have been exceeded and showing them how they can refer your company’s products or services.

There are considerations, however, concerning when to ask for that referral. When it comes to a customer who requested a rush job to have their website built over the weekend, it might be more effective to ask for a referral immediately after they’ve had a chance to see the website. Following up shortly after the project’s completion can make the most of a referral request because that’s when the client is most impressed.

There are other scenarios when it could be more effective to ask for a referral well after the sale. When it comes to enterprise application software, such as software that backs up files passively in the background at each user’s endpoint, or when using automated billing or payment processing systems, clients will not see the results for a few weeks, months or longer. For products that produce results over the long term, ask permission to follow up with the client in 90 or 180 days for feedback on how the product has performed. A client might not need a backup for six months; and it could take a month or two for a client to analyze their sales reports to see the software’s effectiveness.

Leverage Social Media Platforms

What matters less than the type of social media platform is the ease and ability of a company to use this media to ask for and receive a referral. If a customer expresses a highly positive review based upon a recent experience, social media can be leveraged to increase referrals for a business. Push friendly reminders and embedded links via social media, email newsletters and on your website to encourage clients to post a Tweet, Facebook comment or photo on Instagram as a referral for your company.

While there’s no single avenue to seek new business, taking care of your current clients is one way that can pay dividends now and in the future.

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