free meal

The Benefits of a Free Meal: How Giving Away Food Can Change Lives

Posted on by Arturo

How Free Meals Can Help Those in Need

You’ve probably seen them. The lines of people waiting for a free meal at a local shelter or community kitchen. Maybe you’ve even wondered why they don’t just get a job and buy their own food. But it’s not always that simple. A free meal can mean so much more than just a full stomach. For many, it’s a chance to take a break from the struggle to survive another day. A moment of comfort and community. An opportunity to be seen as a human being again, not just another nameless statistic. Sure, a meal alone won’t solve larger societal issues like poverty, unemployment and homelessness. But it can nourish the body and soul in profound ways. In this article, we’ll explore the powerful benefits and ripple effects that giving away free food can have on individuals, communities and society as a whole. It may just change the way you see that line of people waiting their turn.

The Ripple Effect of Giving Away Free Food

Provides Nutrition

For those struggling with food insecurity, a free, nutritious meal can make a big difference. Many people rely on food banks and soup kitchens to get vital nutrients they might otherwise lack. A good meal gives energy and helps support health and well-being. 

Offers Community 

Sharing a meal together fosters connection. For people who are homeless or isolated, a free community meal provides an opportunity to socialize and find fellowship.  Conversations bloom, friendships form, and people gain a sense of belonging. 

 Restores Dignity

Knowing where your next meal will come from is something many of us take for granted. For those in need, a free meal offered with kindness and respect can help restore a sense of dignity. It signifies that someone cares and values them. 

Provides Relief

For families struggling to make ends meet, a free meal means one less worry and expense. It provides relief from stress and financial burden, if only for a little while. Parents can breathe easier knowing their children will have full bellies, and resources can be directed to other essential needs.

A simple meal may not solve all problems, but for those in need it can make a meaningful difference. Free meals nourish the body and the spirit, providing sustenance in more ways than one. Communities that offer these gestures of goodwill reap rewards that also feed the soul.

Free Meal Programs Making an Impact in Communities Across America

 

When you donate meals to those in need, the impact ripples outward in powerful ways. Feeding the body feeds the mind. Having enough nutritious food to eat leads to improved health, concentration, and cognitive ability.  Kids can focus better in school, and adults can perform better at their jobs. 

Reduced stress and improved well-being.  Not having to worry about where your next meal will come from relieves an immense burden.  This can help reduce toxic stress levels and allow people to think more positively about their future.

Stronger communities.   Free meal programs bring people together and foster human connection.  Relationships form between volunteers, donors, and recipients.  People from diverse backgrounds bond over a shared meal.  These social connections lead to a stronger, more cohesive community. 

Multiplied generosity.  The kindness of giving freely often inspires others to give in turn.  When people witness the impact of donated meals in their local community, they frequently become donors and volunteers themselves.  This cycle of generosity spreads goodwill that nourishes entire neighborhoods. 

Giving away free, nutritious food may seem like a small act of kindness, but its effects spread outward powerfully.  From feeding bodies and minds to building community and spreading generosity, the ripple effects of this simple act can change lives in meaningful ways.  What starts as a single donation or meal often multiplies into a movement that nourishes communities from the inside out.

Social Media: Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Extremism?

Posted on by Arturo

The Dark Side of Social Media: How Extremist Groups Leverage Platforms

You’re scrolling through your social media feed when you come across a video that makes your stomach turn. It’s filled with hateful rhetoric and encourages violence against a group of people. You report it, but soon another pops up in its place. Have social media platforms become breeding grounds for extremism? With their algorithms pushing increasingly extreme content and their lack of oversight, social networks seem to be fanning the flames. But is banning these groups from platforms the answer, or does it just drive them underground? In this article, we’ll look at the complicated role social media plays in radicalization and domestic terrorism, and explore if companies are actually equipped to stop the spread of extremism online by domestic terrorism prevention. Buckle up, because it’s sure to be a bumpy ride.  

Regulating Harmful Content: The Ongoing Battle Between Governments and Tech Companies

– Social media allows extremists to connect and spread their message to susceptible individuals. The algorithms used by sites like Facebook and YouTube can create echo chambers and radicalization pipelines.

– Far-right groups use social platforms to share disinformation and conspiracy theories, recruit new members, and organize events. This was evident during the Capitol riot, which was planned on sites like Parler.

– ISIS and other terrorist organizations leverage social media for propaganda and radicalization. They target vulnerable youth and share graphic violence to spread fear.

– The sheer size and reach of platforms like Twitter and Facebook allow extremist content to spread rapidly. And as we’ve seen, tech companies have struggled to effectively moderate this type of harmful content.

– Encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram have also aided extremist communication and coordination away from public scrutiny. 

– While social media has connected people worldwide, it has a dark side as a tool for radicalization and extremism. Companies need to take responsibility and law enforcement must try to stay one step ahead of ever-evolving online threats.

Moving Forward: Solutions for Curbing Online Radicalization

Social media companies walk a fine line between allowing free speech and curbing harmful content. But violent extremist groups have weaponized social platforms to spread their messages and recruit vulnerable people. This has spurred governments to pressure companies like Facebook and YouTube to better police their sites.

– Governments argue that social networks must do more to quickly remove extremist content and prevent radicalization. They’ve threatened fines and regulations if progress isn’t made.

– Companies counter that they are making good faith efforts to curb abuse while respecting free expression. They’ve hired moderators and developed algorithms to flag dangerous posts. But with billions of users, it’s an uphill battle.

– Critics say tech firms are reluctant to sacrifice profits and growth by cracking down too hard. And some question whether AI can effectively distinguish between legitimate dissent and truly dangerous speech.

– There are no easy solutions. While protecting public safety is crucial, sweeping censorship risks silencing marginalized voices and empowering authoritarian regimes. Oversight and transparency around content policies may help strike the right balance.

With extremism migrating online, the stakes are high. But finding common ground between security and liberty will require nuance, patience and cooperation.

Jean Danhong Chen Explains how California’s Immigration Sector is Changing

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Jean Danhong Chen has spent much of her career dividing her time between her immigration law offices in New York and California. The lawyer has seen many challenges during her years working in this sector across the U.S., but she believes this is one of the most challenging periods of her time as an attorney. The question on the minds of millions of immigrants, tourists, and students is what will the U.S. Government do to change its immigration policy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When we think of the immigration sector in California, we think about the Latin immigrants moving north across the Mexican border. However, a new problem is emerging for those concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wider economy of California, which is how will the Chinese immigrant sector be treated as the virus continues to spread. The closure of the borders of the U.S. has harmed many financial areas, including the cruise ship industry and the airlines that have left many Chinese nationals stranded in the U.S., according to Salem News.

Jean Danhong Chen has been looking at the way the quarantine and travel restrictions have been enforced around the world and finds some of the decisions troubling. For example, the decision by the world’s two largest cruise lines to introduce a blanket ban for Chinese nationals is something the immigration lawyer finds troubling. The loss of travel rights is a tough pill to swallow for many Chinese nationals who travel to the U.S. for travel, work, and study purposes.

The academic sector is another part of the immigration arena that has become a battleground as the problems caused by COVID-19 continue in the U.S. and beyond. The epicenter of the outbreak was in the Chinese Province of Wuhan and this has led to major restrictions being placed on all travel from the nation and China and across much of the world. Jean Danhong Chen is determined to fight for the rights of all those who are looking to arrive in the U.S. to improve their lives in the future. The issuance of student visas has become a hot topic in the U.S. with the switch to online-only classes causing major problems for students and academic institutions alike.

The immigration services are currently embroiled in a court battle led by the Attorney general of California that is pushing the for a change in a policy similar to that completed in the spring. ICE has refused to change its policies regarding strict rules not allowing international students to complete online-only studies despite most academic institutions making this switch due to the arrival of the virus on U.S. shores. The immigration lawyer has shown great concern that the rights of these students from all around the world were not being given to them.

These are just two of the problems COVID-19 has caused for the majority of individuals who are struggling to complete their immigration cases on time and in a legal way. The Global Dispatch explained the majority of immigration service offices have closed and caused major concern for the majority of those who have been awaiting the resolution of their cases with USCIS. Jean Danhong Chen believes there is a lot of concern that could be removed if the immigration service would make clear exactly where each case stands. 

The shifting policies of the Trump administration have affected the ability of immigration lawyers, including Chen to make the correct choices for their clients. One of the main problems that have been seen across the U.S. is that of the number of people crossing the border between points of entry. The success of the policy of the border agency is a difficult one to perceive with many of those who are undocumented being returned directly to Mexico and parts of Latin America. The Mexican Government is playing its part by accepting its citizens who are making their way across the border illegally and those from Honduras, El Salvador, and other nearby nations.

Immigration lawyers are having difficulties because of a change of policy that came with many of those who were stranded in Mexico trying to make their way to California for safety and medical assistance. The Mexican healthcare system has been overwhelmed by the number of COVID-19 cases and did not act speedily over the closure of the Mexican nation. The immigration sector in the U.S. was expecting an influx of new cases but these new cases are being immediately returned to Mexico from California leaving lawyers trying to determine the legality of these policies. California has seen a major surge in cases with millions of people deciding to simply shelter in place and not try to return to any nation outside the U.S. borders. There are many reasons why different communities are struggling with the rise of COVID-19 but the immigration policies of the U.S. Government have been some of the most fluid of the pandemic.

Jason Vanclef

What Americans Should Do With Their Stimulus Checks

Posted on by Arturo

Americans will soon receive stimulus checks from the United States due to the coronavirus update. Although many people will want to spend the money quickly on essentials, it might be worth considering a portion aside.

Consider Making Investments

Investing during a crisis is never a calming idea, but it may be worth considering putting some money away for the future. Consider some of the ideas that experts like Jason Vanclef think are useful.

  • Equal-weighting all sectors is a way to speculate on a broad comeback.
  • Utility stocks will continue to provide stable yields.
  • Consumer staples will lead the way as people continue to need supplies, especially if they’re staying home more.
  • Health care will be necessary to fight any pandemic.

There are as many strategies as investors, and none of them bring guarantees. Never use the money for investments that you need for crucial supplies.

Tackle Your Credit

If possible, you might also consider paying down your highest-interest credit lines. Being defensive is likely to be a winning strategy when credit contracts. Indeed, you don’t want to deal with credit rate hikes. That’s why it pays to monitor what’s going on with the economy and your finances carefully.

If you have extra time because of the coronavirus, spend some of it dealing with your finances.

Search for Discounts

Become even a better shopper. With money in your hands, one way to hang onto more of it is by choosing bargains. It’s easier than ever to locate discounted, high-quality products. Being thrifty empowers you to keep more cash, which is always a fantastic thing.

Take power over your finances because managing through a crisis requires a powerful mindset. An emergency generally causes some asset classes to dump very low in price. When that happens, having some cash is a way to pick up items at low rates. Set alerts and check shopping sites often to see if something you want comes for sales.

Read the Economy

The economy must serve as your guide moving forward. If you guess wrong, you will get punished as a result. Instead, focus on the sectors in the U.S. that are most likely to grow due to coronavirus. That will likely mean healthcare companies and household supply manufacturers. You can pick up ETFs if you don’t want to play individual stocks.

You will also likely find many bargains in the stock market. It may be worth picking up heavily discounted shares in companies if you have the patience to wait for their comebacks. If the main problem they’re having is related to coronavirus, they’ll bounce back fast when the threat leaves.

Spend It on Training

American workers who are out of work due to coronavirus should consider spending their checks on training. Find out which are the hottest industries for hiring and then get the certification necessary to begin a career. An event as significant as this one is a time to reflect on goals, and it’s an ideal moment to change directions.

Now could be the time to make new moves, on a personal or financial front. You may be feeling slightly different about many subjects since the outbreak started. If that’s the case, it’s worth doing some soul-searching for clues about what chapter is next in your life. Jason Vanclef is a big proponent of improving your life through education.

Don’t Neglect Self Care

Extra spending money may provide you with the opportunity for some long-needed self-care. It never hurts to invest in yourself. If you have wanted something for a long-time, your stimulus check may be the best way to get it. The stimulus only works when you help the economy by making purchases.

It’s your decision on what to spend your money on, but it’s possible to use it in several ways. Mix it up how you like and put money behind the ideas you cherish most. The amount of the check won’t be life-changing, but the extra money is always helpful. It may even be a start towards your future if you remain conservative when spending.

Many Americans will be spending at the same time, so the impact should prove useful for pushing the economy upwards. That many people all shopping will help stimulate demand and should bring most people back to work. At least that’s what experts are expecting.

Savings are always worth adding to, even if with only a share of the money. A small nest egg can grow over time, which will be essential for dealing with the next major crisis. Although a stimulus check is never a sign of good news, putting the money to good use is helpful

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5 Tax Deductions For Your Business

Posted on by Arturo
taxconnex

Running a business can be quite expensive and lead to a pretty hefty tax bill. The good thing is that there are quite a few deductions a business can get to help make this bill a little smaller. Some businesses might get deductions that are figured out based on things like sales tax nexus, while others won’t qualify. Since it’s very important to know what you can and can’t qualify for, here are 5 common deductions that businesses can get.

Sales Tax

The first type of deduction a business can get is called a sales tax deduction. These types of deductions are for the sales tax you pay on items for your business. It does not include every single purchase you make over the year, especially for things you are buying for your personal use. If you aren’t really sure whether you qualify or want to know more about your tax situation, you can try to hire a sales tax outsourcing company. These are companies that will prepare and file sales tax returns for your business.

Business Meals

You can also get deductions for any business meals you have. These are for any meals you had that related to work. Keep in mind, this doesn’t only mean meals you had on your lunch break. If you take out clients to discuss business, you can get those meals deducted. Remember, it’s important to keep receipts and other paper trails that relate to these meals, just to ensure you won’t run into any issues or hang-ups while you’re actually filing your return.

Salaries and Benefits

With any business comes the need to pay salaries and benefits to employees. During tax season, this can become daunting, especially if your business is large and has hundreds of employees. There are some requirements in order to get these amounts deducted, but it includes normal wages, benefits and vacation time. With that being the case, it’s extremely important to keep a detailed and clear record of any and all amounts paid out.

Vehicle Expenses

You can also get deductions for any vehicle expenses. Most people use vehicles quite a bit for their businesses. The deduction for this includes any vehicle that’s specifically used for business, as well as personal vehicles used for the same purpose. If you use your personal vehicle for both business and personal use, you want to make sure you keep receipts and documentation to prove the times it was used for business. The good news is that these things are pretty easy to collect, so you shouldn’t have too many issues.

Travel Expenses

Finally, you can get deduction on any travel expenses your business gets. This includes things like rental vehicles, meals, hotels and parking fees. With this being the case, it’s important to keep all your receipts and papers from your business trip, so you can refer back to it and give any additional information if needed.

Besides the special circumstances, like sales tax nexus, there are quite a few other deductions that a business can qualify for. It’s a good idea to hire a professional to ensure that you get the most deductions you possibly can, so your tax bill won’t be more than what it needs to be. You might be surprised at the deductions you actually qualify for.

How to Go From Whistleblower to Millionaire

Posted on by Arturo

Picture this, you are a lowly accountant for a large corporation. Let’s say this is an international corporation worth several billions of dollars. You as an accountant, are tasked with filing tax returns for your boss who is in middle management, shall we say. You are an accountant in your forties, female and single, living in a world where gender and age can sometimes stop you from getting a job or from transitioning into another career. You have done the taxes for your boss for 5 years under the fear of being fired for not doing what he asks and you have helped him to commit tax fraud every year. 

Because you do his taxes, you know all of his information including bank account details for the account he is using to hide millions of dollars from his wife in the Cayman’s and how he’s been embellishing the taxes so that he doesn’t have to pay his fair share to the taxman. During the annual Christmas party, you are tasked with preparing all the food and are not given one iota of thanks or even a gift from your boss or anyone else in the corporation. This paired with the prospect of facing another lonely Christmas alone because you can’t afford to go back to Minnesota for the holidays, (and other soul-destroying issues that make up your tragic life) you find you’ve reached your breaking point and decide this tax season you are going to show your boss what it feels like to be you… You are going to turn him in to the taxman, oh and amend his returns for the last 5 years!

Now, because you are a seasoned accountant, you know that the IRS rewards whistle-blowers with 30% of the tax penalty of the person that you turn into the authorities. With your boss making 6.5 Million dollars a year you add up the figures in your head and see dollar signs. As you sit in the office late into the night diligently undoing the wrong of the past five years by amending the tax returns of your wonderful boss, you are struck with fear. Asking yourself what could happen to you if he finds out that you were the person who reported him to the IRS. Could you face any legal ramifications you think to yourself? You decide in your wisdom, that you should seek the advice of an attorney before proceeding to blowing the whistle and draining your bosses bank accounts in the Cayman Islands. 

In instances of whistle-blower cases, it is imperative that you have a lawyer to protect you and guide you through the process of blowing the whistle and receiving your cash award. A good attorney will make sure that your identity is kept secret, and your safety is secured as is required under the law. Douglas Healy can help you with your whistle-blower case and ensure that you get the money you deserve for doing the right thing and that you are not prosecuted or threatened prosecution for coming forward and helping your boss commit the fraud. it is important to note that he must sign his own return and as such once he is signed it he is agreeing that the information that was put on the return is correct and truthful under pain of prosecution. It doesn’t matter if you prepared the paperwork.

After filing the whistle-blower paperwork, it can take several months if not years for you to receive any cash award issued by the IRS. Also, the payout you receive is subject to tax and other fees at the federal and possibly state level. 

Even though in this scenario you are a seasoned accountant you still have to seek the advice of an attorney. This is because you may never have filed such paperwork and you do not want to make a mistake or unwittingly out yourself to your employer. With Douglas Healy, you will have access to a top-quality lawyer who is abreast of all tax laws and regulations, including state and federal. With Doug on your side, you can rest easy knowing that in blowing the whistle you are doing the right thing and are protected under the law

The Differences Between Data Governance and Data Management

Posted on by Arturo

One of a company’s most important assets to protect is their data. Data is extremely important as is used to make a variety of important business decisions. In terms of how the data is used, there are several ways that a business can go about protecting it and ensuring it is of the highest quality. Two of these processes are known as management and governance. Both are very important, but also have distinct qualities that separate one from the other.

What is Data Governance?

Essentially, data governance defines how exactly the data will be treated and accessed within a broader management initiative. This is a key component for any business management strategy, and it refers to how data will be protected and preserved as an asset.

The concept of governance can best be understood as the practical application of technology, people and policies to create an appropriate way for data to be used. There are many tangible benefits to utilizing governance, and it will be primarily reflected in the data’s security.

Some of the more immediate benefits of implementing a strong governance strategy includes improving the security of the data by verifying requirements to access the data and enforcing accountability for its management.

In addition, data governance can also establish a set process to improve performance and reduce costs and inefficiencies in the process. This is all important because businesses are understanding in the modern era how important it is for an organization to understand who should access and use the data.

A proper governance framework will help ensure that security and privacy controls are put in place.

What is Data Management?

Unlike governance, data management refers to the implementation of tools to achieve the objectives that the data is intended for. The very concept of data management dates back to when computers started to become commonplace in the 1980s, and since then, businesses across the world have made it a point of emphasis to make proper data management a part of their strategy.

Management has a more broader range of functions, as management relates more to the supervision, execution and development of many data assets.

There are many aspects of data management that businesses have to consider. While it can be a tedious process, managing data in a proper manner will ensure efficiency and less errors when it is ready for use.

How Governance and Management Work Together

These two concepts are very important in order to ensure businesses protect data, and they have to work together in order to ensure maximum protection and quality.

Management procedures are required so that data can be stored in appropriate ways. In this sense, a governance framework cannot be implemented unless data classification, architecture and metadata management is already in place.

Data cannot be governed if a business cannot define what the data is, where it is stored, what manner it was collected in and how it can be accessed. Management and governance are two important processes that businesses have to undergo in order to ensure that data can be readily available for use

Wink Capital Shares 5 Options for Financing Your Startup

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In order to make money, it will cost you money. Any business venture can be a rewarding endeavor to undertake, but it will not come with a cost. In this case, you will need capital in order to adequately fund business operations and get it off the ground.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to go about achieving this finance, although each method carries with them different requirements or dynamics that you will have to be prepared for. You can visit Wink Capital as an expert in this industry for any added concerns.

Venture Capitalists

Venture capital is when an outside group takes a part-owner of the company in exchange for capital. While the percentage that the venture capitalists take can be negotiated, the final number is typically predetermined based on the valuation of a company.

This is an ideal choice who lack the physical collateral for bank loans. Going with venture capitalists also provides you with more than just the capital. Some firms provide entrepreneurs with hands-on assistance along with a team of advisors.

Partner Financing

Strategic partner financing can serve as another effective means of getting the capital necessary for a startup. This is where a partner in your industry will fund the growth in exchange of special access to distribution rights, staff, and the signature product.

The company that you are partnering with is typically a large company. It doesn’t even have to be in the same industry as yours. It could simply be an organization that has an interest in your business.

There is a mutual benefit here because the larger company will gain the special rights listed above, and the smaller startup (yours) will have not only necessary capital but a cohort of customers and marketing that you can instantly tap right into.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding can be a viable option for those looking for a shot in the arm financially. These are sites that permit businesses to combine small investments together from a variety of investors.

Crowdfunding sites typically have specific terms to bear in mind, so this should be considered before making a choice. Certain sites require processing fees to be paid or for businesses to raise a certain goal in order to keep any of the money that they are able to raise. You can learn more about the importance of money, potential interest rates and other pertinent financial information from Wink Capital.

Grants

If a startup has a particular focus on research or science, grants may be received from the government. The Small Business Administration provides grants through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Those who are recipients of these grants need to meet certain developmental and federal research goals in order to be eligible to receive the funds. There also has to be a high potential for commercialization as well.

Angel Investors

Angel investors often get grouped together with venture capitalists, but there are staunch differences between the two. Venture capitalists are typically big, established companies that invest in businesses that trade capital for equity. An angel investor is an individual who invests in a startup.

Finding an angel investor works for many companies because a personal relationship can be more heavily established and it can be more difficult maintaining effective communication with an entire company.

As you can see, there are many ways to go about getting external funding for a startup. Examine each of these five options and see if any of these options will be right for you and your business

Tuck Associates Discusses 4 Surprising Costs That Come With Starting a Business

Posted on by Arturo

Starting a business can be a great way to build a source of residual income. However, you will have to be ready to account for some of the costs that come along with the venture. Here are four costs of starting a business that you will need to be aware of.

Loans

In order for any business to get off the ground, a great supply of capital will be needed to do so. Usually, this capital comes in the form of a loan from banks. It sounds simple enough, but it can be a very cumbersome process if you are a novice in starting a business.

If you do not have any experience with the proper documents, then that means you will have to apply for a loan based on your credit. In turn, this means that if your personal finances are not in order, you will either get refused a loan or get a loan with high-interest rates. The high-interest rates on loans will be a burden to carry because you will be less likely to make monthly payments.

Insurance

Insurance will also be another cost that you will have to consider when starting a business as well. Businesses will often find themselves in need of protection such as liability insurance, small business insurance, cyber insurance, workers compensation insurance and even error and omissions insurance.

As you can see, that’s quite a lot of security that you will have to invest in. Unfortunately, it may be necessary for your business because untimely events will happen. When they do happen, it can have a direct effect on your company’s bottom line. In order to avert a potential financial catastrophe, you will want to have your bases covered should things go awry. The importance of managing finances is one of the many things that companies such as Tuck Associates focus on.

Administrative Costs

Perhaps you did not consider this at first, and unfortunately, many small business owners do not take into account the costs that it will take to actually run the business. If you want a more proper perspective entails, consider what you may have seen in an office when you worked under someone else.

You surely saw phones, computers, printers, specialized software, filing cabinets, and other office supplies that are needed in order to perform essential business functions. No one will be reimbursing you for all of this unless you happen to come across a generous donation.

Depending on the scale of your business and how big a team you will probably need, the costs of all of these supplies could easily range into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you are intent on making a business successful, you will need the technology and tools to do so. Managing finances are incredibly important, especially when it comes to running a business. It is also a part of what makes companies like Tuck Associates renowned.

Shrinkage

Retailers lose approximately 45 billion dollars annually on shrinkage alone. Intentional or otherwise, shrinkage can be a devastating cost for businesses to come into contact with. You must be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Shrinkage is something that cannot be completely avoided, but it can be mitigated to an extent. Take interventions to stop the damage early

How to Harness The Power of Customer Success

Posted on by Arturo

If you’re keeping up with the latest trends in business growth, chances are you’ve heard about customer success (CS). CS is now one of the ways modern businesses ensure that they attract and retain clients for the long haul. Although a relatively new concept, this system of strategies continue to grow in popularity amongst business owners.

In this post, we will be learning about what CS is and how we can harness is power in business growth.

What is CS?

This concept is simply defined as being able to forsee challenges that potential clients may face. By doing this, companies can provide solutions to these problems ahead of time while giving answers to inquiries as well. Having an efficient customer success system ensures that present clients are satisfied with your product or service as you attract new ones over time.

CS is the implementation of strategies post-purchase in various stages such as:
Adoption: This is the process of how customers adjust to the product or service provided. Are your offers user-friendly? Do they bring satisfaction or help with the needs of your client?
Retention: Some companies offer loyalty programs for repeat customers. By providing a roster of products, you can encourage customer retention.
Expansion: Business can also expand their scope of expertise while keeping their loyal customer base. This may be challenging but possible through a strategic plan.
Advocacy: Providing high-quality products and services while improving the CS system can help present clients to recommend your business to others.

These stages are essential, but as a business owner who is new to this concept, it may be a challenge to implement them right away. Below are some easy strategies to get started with CS.

How to Harness The Power of CS

Identify the potential challenges that your customer may face.

The first step in getting started with CS is identifying potential problems that could hinder the goals of your potential clients. Identifying and anticipating your client’s problems may be done in several ways.

Firstly, you can gain a clearer insight by disseminating surveys from present customers. Other strategies include doing A/B experiments on your website interface and see which formats get the better response.

You may also ask suggestions from your team members and other experts about their idea of potential client problems that you can solve beforehand.

Find a solution for each of the problems identified

After identifying challenges faced by your customers, create a chart of an equivalent solution for each.

A great example of effective CS strategy can be found in the online retailer giant, Amazon. Amazon has several tactics on customer success, which includes on-site, social media marketing, and e-mail marketing strategies.

Within their website, you can find customer reviews and product suggestions based on previous searches. Customers can also find items which are purchased together. Recently, there is also a comparison chart included of similar products. These strategies are all based on the concerns of potential customers, and to increase their chances of purchasing an item from Amazon.

Discuss each strategy with your team and create a plan on how you will integrate each solution to improve CS.

Capitalize on automated business solutions

It can be very time-consuming to pinpoint each problem while thinking of an appropriate solution for your customers.

Most businesses nowadays can take advantage of automated business solutions that can do all the hard work of ensuring CS. Finding web-based solutions can require hours of coding and experimenting.

There is a rising trend of business solutions available for companies to improve CS through a simple installation or integration of a customer success software tool.

CS is an indispensable concept, and its power can be harnessed by implementing these effective strategies. Growth is possible through anticipation of consumer problems, finding solutions, and integrating an automated software