What Is Plagiarism And Why Is It Harmful To Your Blog?

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Plagiarism|What Is Plagiarism And Why Is It Harmful To Your Blog?When you are writing a blog using online sources, it can be all too tempting to copy information online without the use of citations. However, with simple steps, you can begin to make the most out of your blog without the risk of legalities as a result of plagiarism. To help you out, we will be providing you with information on what plagiarism is and how harmful it can be for your blog.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the act of directly copying or closely copying content that you are using within a paper or content that you are sharing. Whether it be music, videos or a piece of content for school, making sure that you are not directly copying any content will ensure that your work is 100% authentic without running the risk of anyone being penalised as a result. This can also be checked using a plagiarism detector to ensure that you are not accidentally plagiarising content.

Make Sure Your Citing Correctly

In addition to knowing and understanding what plagiarism is, it is important to make sure that you are citing correctly. By perfectly referencing this in the citation and making sure that you are directly referencing the source, regardless of the media that you are using, this can aid you in avoiding plagiarism. In addition to this, making sure that your citation style is correct will allow you to ensure that you do not accidentally plagiarise any work whilst trying to get your own point across with ease.

You Can Be Penalised By Google

In addition to being harmful to you in terms of the potential risk of repercussion in an academic environment, it is important to note that it can be harmful for your blog in terms of Google ranking position. If you have plagiarism within your content, you run the risk of being penalised by Google, this can have a significant impact on the business as well as its ranking position and could lead to your ranking positions being significantly impacted. With ranking positions dropping, this could lead to a drop in traffic and can impact the number of sales. Therefore, making sure you are avoiding plagiarism at all costs will ensure your website is operating correctly and providing beneficial content to your customers.

It Can Cause Many Legal Issues

The final element you need to consider is the legalities that can come along with plagiarising content. With fines, the risk of content being removed and even sentences is some cases, it is important to make sure that you are doing everything that you can to avoid plagiarism as this will prevent you from needing legal teams. This can be additional stress that you do not need when looking to write a paper and therefore all information used within a paper must be cited to ensure you avoid plagiarism.

With this in mind, there are several ways that you can continue to create content whilst avoiding plagiarism, allowing you to get your point across in the best possible way without risking legal issues.

The Latest Tried and Tested Marketing Strategies

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Marketing Strategies|The Latest Tried and Tested Marketing StrategiesWe witnessed unprecedented and exceptional advancements in technology in the past decade. However, what’s more, shocking is how the new technical development penetrated our everyday lives and changed the game for all human activities. From public health to education, every economic sector benefits from technology and is improving day by day. The commercial industry had a similar advantage, and the incorporation of computer-aided business strategies brought the industrial rivalry to the next level. It proves that technological developments are the need and requirement of every business unit, especially marketing.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to consider the marketing department the most crucial one for the business. After all, marketing bridges the gap between the buyer and the seller by determining many essential factors. It decides the prices of the products, places for its accessibility, ways to communicate the message to the customers, and even the product’s features. The marketing department is responsible for the thorough research about customers’ buying behavior, then sharing it to the respective departments of the firm and advertising the product or services. All this and more makes the company’s success heavily dependent and reliant on the effectiveness of marketing strategies. If you’re a businessperson searching for ways to stand out in the industrial competition, here are some of the latest tried and tested marketing strategies for you.

1. CDP Marketing Cloud

For a sturdy marketing plan, the primary step is to consider the perfect tools for your customer’s database. Marketing Cloud is a great option, specially after the launch of Salesforce CDP, as it allows you to automate digital marketing and works with advanced analytics software. Marketing clouds will enable you to collect digital software like CRM, email services, and workflow management. It works wonders in delivering and communicating clear messages to the end customers proficiently.

Customer data platforms collect customers’ data from different sources and then organize it in the most readable way. Incorporating technology in your marketing department will help you become more aware of your customers’ choices and make more informed operational decisions. It is also helpful in keeping customers’ data safe and using it most advantageously.

2. Personalization

With customers’ databases at a single click, it would be imprudent not to stand their demographics and analyze their buying patterns. In today’s date, marketers must personalize the promotional message to capture the attention of a wider audience. Base your marketing strategy on the discoveries you make about your current and potential customers’ mind wishes, fears, and expectations. Personalization makes them feel special and gives them a sincere expression of their respect for their choices.

With the help of automation, you can create and enable adverts that your customers are looking for so that they don’t have to swipe through many irrelevant ads. But, even in that customization, ensure that you are precise and interactive. Marketers need to focus on behavioral segmentation to group audiences into respective categories and target them accordingly. Even if they all fall in similar demographic segmentation, they don’t need to have the same behavior towards your brand, and it’s crucial to understand this difference.

3. Social Media Marketing

Social media has turned the world into a digital sphere, allowing greater access to several things through the internet. It plays a significant role in connecting people, which provides businesses with essential importance to improve their connection with their market base. Social media marketing (SMM) gives companies a way to engage with their current customers and promote their products or services to potential buyers. SSM is enriched with data analytical tools, which enables marketers to gather valuable, relevant data while tracking and assessing the results of their efforts. This type is marketing is beneficial for small businesses because it doesn’t demand a huge budget. You can use organic methods to generate online sales by building brand awareness on various online platforms.

4. Link Building

Designing a website and running it successfully is undoubtedly essential for your brand’s online presence. But it is of no use if there is no optimum web traffic and not enough people visit your website. Start by discovering keywords your customers are likely to look up when searching for a product or service like yours. You can collaborate with link partners, who can help you find high-traffic terms to develop the list of search results. Additionally, you can download SEO software to help you achieve search engine optimization, which would bring people to your website.

Other than improving search results, you can benefit by adding these SEOs on blogs or reviews where your potential customers might be active. When highlighted by your website’s hyperlink, they will likely click on these words and visit your website. You can approach non-competitor websites to feature your articles or add some of your content on their blog sites. This way, even if your website doesn’t make it to top searches, they could help by becoming a channel between you and your web traffic.

5. PPC Advertisement

Pay per click is a type of internet marketing that has proven helpful in today’s date. Advertisers have to pay a certain fee every time their ad appears on someone’s screen, and they click on it. It increases visits to your site, and if it’s interesting enough for the visitor, they are likely to stay and further surf on your website. You can use PPC in search engine advertisements, especially Google Ads, as they allow your company’s name to appear in the search result when someone looks up a related brand. To succeed in this type of marketing, you need thorough research and digging to get to the right keywords. Google charges you less if your content and website are more relatable to the searches, and hence, it is necessary to choose the exact and most relevant keywords.

Conclusion

Research is bringing up excellent marketing opportunities for all types of businesses every day. Due to the high demand for differentiation, marketers are working on their analytical skills to develop out-of-the-box ideas. Luckily, AI and automation prove to be exceptionally useful at taking over manual jobs for human capital to spend more time critically thinking and evaluating the best decisions for their business firms.

5 Convincing Benefits of Sustainable Business Practices

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Sustainable Business|5 Convincing Benefits of Sustainable Business PracticesThe concept of sustainability in business practices has rapidly gained importance over the years. There is growing awareness about crucial issues like global warming and the overuse of depleting resources among the masses. Consequently, people are actively looking for alternative products and services that suffice their needs with minimum negative consequences to the environment.

Plenty of proactive companies are shifting and adjusting their operations to incorporate sustainable practices. In today’s ever-changing and dynamic world, businesses no longer have the option of taking sustainability practices lightly if they seek to survive in the market.

So, what exactly is sustainability when it comes to a business? It refers to devising practices and strategies that help make the world better for this generation and the next generations. Nonetheless, it is not only limited to environmental changes that are taking place. By definition, sustainability comprises three significant implications; environmental, social, and economic. Therefore, a sustainable business focuses on its financial gains alongside its impact on the world, particularly the environment and society. Companies have plenty of opportunities to ‘go green’ such as reducing wastage and pollution, using renewable energy and biodegradable materials, community volunteering, and more.

Now, let’s determine five advantages you can gain by making your business practices more sustainable.

Improved operations and lower expenses

Sustainable business practices pave the way for a company’s longevity and survival in the market. A notable benefit gained from adopting techniques such as green manufacturing is cost-effectiveness.

For instance, simple recyclable material for packaging helps reduce costs significantly rather than spending tons on harmful packaging materials. The use of renewable energy alternatives is another prime example of cutting down expenses. However, deploying renewable energy and evaluating its costs and benefits can prove challenging. Fortunately, with the help of demand management, you can track your energy requirements and capacity and control costs. Smart energy utilization will enable your business to curb inflating energy costs and achieve operational efficiency.

Enhanced corporate social responsibility

The cruciality of corporate social responsibility cannot be stressed enough in today’s world. Modern-age consumers favor businesses that promote social and ethical values and support the marginalized. It instills the consumers with a sense of affiliation or positive associations with the company, boosting the brand image and customer loyalty. Therefore, it is wise to work towards a social cause that the target market strongly believes in to forge better customer relationships.

According to a recent article, a growing majority of consumers expect businesses to promote initiatives that benefit and support the people, planet, and plants. It’s known as the triple bottom line approach. The latest study by Accenture highlights the rise in purpose-led brands, serving as an indication of consumers engaging with brands that have a socially responsible image. A perfect example would be Google. It occupies the top ranking on RI’s CSR score, majorly due to high energy conservation at their data center and more than $1 billion in investments in renewable energy.

Better relationship with employees

Employees, like the consumers, also want to be part of a company that strives towards the greater good. A business that practices sustainability needs to take the interest of the employees into account. It is especially true when a company is attracting new talent, particularly the younger workforce, as they are more aware and passionate about social causes.

According to a survey, 45% of employees find a company more attractive if it incorporates sustainable business practices. Retaining a valued workforce is thus also less of a hassle if the company has a positive image in the market. Patagonia serves as a good example. The company persuades and empowers its employees to participate in the green programs and become part of the change. As a result, the company experiences only 4% employee turnover.

Rising demand for sustainable goods

The latest WWF research indicates an astonishing 71% increase in the consumers searching for sustainable and green products. The segment, which used to be a niche a few years ago, is turning out to be a lucrative opportunity for market expansion. With rising awareness about social and environmental problems, consumers are actively looking for environment-friendly products. Whether in fashion, beauty, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or other industries.

Many international fashion brands such as Levi’s have identified that their industry is one of the most prominent contributors to landfill wastage. Thus, they are working towards making their apparel and accessories more sustainable. It helps the company in attracting a wider audience of customers and ultimately increasing its sales revenue. Another major cause of pollution, the pharmaceutical industry, has also invested more towards R&D in making their operations less environmentally damaging.

A survey by Nielsen suggests that this segment of consumers looking for sustainable goods is likely to rise to a value of $150 billion in 2021. Therefore, companies need to be swift in responding to this rising new market by providing them with precisely what they seek and reap the benefits in return.

Increased Profits and Investments

The above advantages indicating improved revenues and lower expenses suggest a substantial increase in businesses’ net profits, their prime objective. Undeniably, it would turn out to be a favorable outcome for the stakeholders of the company. It can also provide resources for more research and development for implementing better sustainable business practices in the future.

Rising profits signal current and potential investors to invest more in the company. Coupled with the fact that the business has long-term plans for sustainability is an added plus as far as investment is concerned. The concept of socially responsible investments has gained immense popularity. Thus, more investors want to put their money into projects or companies with a broader positive impact and higher financial gains.

Conclusion

The future is undoubtedly green. With the rising awareness of consumers, employees, and investors regarding social and environmental concerns, the market dynamics have changed substantially. With shifting trends, a business needs to be proactive enough to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself and mitigate any potential threats.
Sustainable and green practices are, therefore, both an opportunity and a threat to a company. Businesses that do not recognize this opportunity today might be wiped out of the market soon by the competitors. Along with focusing on conventional business strategies and practices to stay relevant, a business needs to invest in sustainable practices for its long-term survival.

Tips to Create A Global Recruitment Strategy for Your Business

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article |Global Recruitment Strategy|Tips to Create A Global Recruitment Strategy for Your BusinessBack in the day, there was no concept of telecommuting. However, in today’s world of technological advancements, the idea of having physical workplaces has become outdated. With the passage of time and enhancements in the technology sector, employees get a lot of leverage because they can work anywhere that may not be their workplace if they are not compromising on quality, efficiency, and punctuality. Thanks to breakthroughs in virtual technology, businesses have benefitted as well. Companies have taken full advantage of these breakthroughs, from hosting meetings online to keeping track of their employees’ progress through digital portals.

In addition, companies that operate on a global level, especially multinationals and transnationals, have turned to better, more effective ways of hiring. As remote work is exceedingly conventional now, companies have started to hire human resources from all around the globe. Previously, organizations would have the best applicants come down to their head office to conduct the interviews. But in recent times, that has changed. Instead of having applicants come over from different regions of the world, businesses now hire virtually.

Though it may seem like an excellent solution to the time-taking traditional hiring method, recruitment on a global level also requires strategic planning. Here are some tips to assist you in creating a ground plan for international recruitment.

Mitigate risks with fixed-term contracts

Regardless of where an organization’s headquarters may be, the HR department must be fully conversant with international labor laws. In addition, companies need to be mindful of the taxation policies, benefits, and regulations. Usually offered when an employee may be temporarily unavailable or when a project requires an addition to its task force, a fixed-term contract allows companies to outsource personnel for a specific and pre-informed period. The timespan of these contracts varies from country to country, and so do the perks.

Having a clear-cut understanding, which states every single detail, can help employers avoid future risks. For example, newly hired or outsourced employees may want to go against or quit the company. They will try their level best to get everything they can to compensate themselves. Having concrete proof of all agreements can save you an arm and a leg when letting such employees go.

Outsource a third party

Another common practice of organizations in today’s world is contracting a third party to run and look after a handful of business operations. These external service providers can perform tasks or take over whole operations for an organization, helping the management take some weight off their chest. Commonly, these third parties look after customer care, information technology, etc. The main reason for having other companies look over these tasks is to reduce internal costs, improve efficiency, and bring out the best of the departments.

Inspire the world’s best talent to join

Competition in the commerce industry has always been high. Be it job hunting or recruitment, to be the best, you must beat the best. Inclusivity and acceptance of all races, gender, and ethnicities can attract aspiring employees from every corner of the world. Employer branding plays a huge role in securing and acquiring the best candidates the world has to offer. To build an employer brand, companies form talent acquisition teams. Alongside creating task forces, companies also improve their digital presence and recruit social media influencers to become their ambassadors.

The most viable method of doing this is to create a local presence through your marketing team. Marketing teams can collaborate with local influencers and other marketing teams to develop locally appropriate and socially conscious campaigns. Moreover, targeted advertisements through social media can further attract potential employees.

Lastly, ensure your campaigns are mobile-friendly to attract people of all age groups. Through word of mouth, you can increase the chances of people knowing about you and your entity.

Giving candidates a consistent experience

Providing applicants with an experience of a lifetime can do you free marketing. Having tech-savvy mobile applications and an easy-to-use browser interface can have a favorable effect. Aspiring applicants from around the world would want to get done with recruitment formalities as soon as possible. These may include forms and surveys. Most importantly, the job description should be pertinent and to the point. A monotonous job description failing to entice applicants will never get a good response. Along with that, a strong follow-up and posting reviews of past applicant experiences can motivate ambitious applicants to apply for the job.

Universal compliance is inevitable

Every country in the world has different rules and regulations when it comes to its workforce. However, most of them have almost the same requirements. Minimum wage, working hours, job security, medical benefits, income tax, and leave policies are the most common details that every candidate inquires about organizations under consideration.

Offer letters should be meticulously crafted to include relevant terms and conditions. All the intricate details mentioned above should be thoroughly discussed and jotted down. Compliance should be of utmost importance because unless businesses comply, their vacant positions will go to waste. Being aware of the regulatory requirements can smoothen the hiring process. Despite being a daunting task, adhering to statutory requirements can make the whole process easier.

Try blending in

Get your existing workforce to derive an experience that attracts customers through content that matches their cultural heritage. Localization can give them a sense of being accepted and recognized. Organizations can benefit significantly by providing aspirants with an interface/experience that puts them in their comfort zone. Organizations are bound to have an increase in applicants if they can captivate and mesmerize the audience.

Communicating with interviewees in their native language and greeting them according to their religious or cultural background can instantly win them over. As a result, in the long run, your business is also likely to operate in the native language in the respective country, attracting both customers and further aspiring employees. Speaking their language, discussing their country’s social issues or current affairs can help them indulge better in the conversation.

Conclusion

All in all, global recruitment has its pros and cons. International recruitment can take its toll on your company’s position, from not costing it an arm and a leg to having an incredibly arduous process. However, in a COVID-19-struck world, global recruitment is set to become the norm, which is why adapting to this form of recruitment and having a solid plan is bound to do right by you. The tips mentioned above will most definitely help you hire the best of the best in their respective positions from around the world.

How to Give Your Career the Best Start

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Invest in your career|How to Give Your Career the Best StartCongratulations on deciding to invest in your career. It takes a lot of courage and dedication to make this significant decision. The journey may seem long, but you will be glad that you did it when all is said and done.

To get the best start possible, there are some things you need to do: have an end goal, find a mentor, invest in short courses, research continuously, attend conferences and events, and have patience. Dive in to have a better insight.

Have an End Goal

The first thing to do is create an end goal. This can be a national award, or it could mean becoming the youngest person in your company’s history to reach a particular position. Whatever you want from your career, write down what you’re aiming for and keep it on hand for motivation when things get tough.

Goals give your career direction and a sense of purpose. Make sure you have an idea of what you want to do before starting, or else it won’t matter if you’re doing the right things for your career.

Find a Mentor

Find a mentor to help you on your career journey. This person will be the one that can guide and advise you throughout all of life’s challenges. Your mentor should ideally be someone who has taken the same path as you, but if not, they need to at least have experience in what it takes to get ahead in their industry.

In addition, you may want to think about looking for mentors outside of your organization because it might give them more time or motivation to invest in helping you progress with your ambitions.

An excellent way to find a potential mentor is by thinking about networking events near where they live – this could make things much easier when arranging coffee meetings! A word of caution, though: always remember that there are clear boundaries between mentors and mentees.

If not, you can read through their websites. For example, Nathaniel Whittle has a lot of info displayed on his website which you can read to learn more about his work experience.

Invest in Short Courses

If you haven’t started in the world of work yet, it is never too late. For many school leavers, a university can be a daunting and expensive prospect, so taking some time out to get vocational training may be more realistic for your situation.

There are plenty of short courses available online which will teach you skills that are key for today’s workplace, such as Microsoft Excel or Word; course lengths vary but most last between two weeks to three months and cost less.

Alternatively, you could volunteer at an organization while still studying full-time. This way, not only will you gain transferable skills from handling inquiries on the phone or handling events, but volunteering also helps build up your CV with real-life experience without costing anything.

It is never too late to invest in your career and skills. Short courses are an affordable option for those who don’t want to commit to full-time university or need a break from studying. At the same time, volunteering will help build up experience on the job.

In conclusion, a solid start to a career is vital. It takes time and effort, but it’s worth the investment! Starting your research now will ensure that you’re set up for success later on.