Netflix and bookmark: Now you can send a scene that made you LOL to someone right from your phone. On the Netflix app, tap the new Moments button at the bottom, and the scene will be saved in your My Netflix tab. Share them with your friends through text, email or social media.
Streamline workflow with these automation tips
Are you sick of wasting time on repetitive tasks? You don’t have to go it alone. Automation can streamline lead generators, customer service and other business needs. We’ll show you how in our step-by-step guide to small business automation.
What can you automate in your small business?
So you want to be more productive. Here are four ways Google Keep can help. Aside from that, you can also automate daily tasks like data entry, appointment scheduling, follow-up emails or even social media posting. This will free up time to focus on more pressing tasks.
According to Quixy, 77% of marketers who use automation see an increase in conversions. Best of all, it’s not complicated. You can start to automate your small business by taking advantage of tools you might not know about.
For example, tools like Zapier can help automate data entry between different platforms. If you need help managing appointments, check out tools like Calendly or Acuity. They’ll send automatic reminders and schedule recurring events so you don’t have to.
That’s just the beginning. Here are a few other tasks you can automate:
- Lead generation: Tools like lead magnets and landing pages are great ways to automate the lead generation process. You can also use these tricks to get more people to your site.
- Invoicing and payments: Automate the payment processes with tools like Xero or FreshBooks, which help set recurring invoices and automatic payment reminders. Our sponsor, NetSuite, is another helpful tool to overlook your business processes. More on that later.
- Social media: Tools like Buffer, Hootsuite or Later help schedule social media posts ahead of time.
- Email marketing: You can set up autoresponders and triggered emails with Constant Contact. Additionally, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) helps streamline email marketing with automation workflows.
We have an in-depth guide for email marketing to help you launch more effective campaigns. Use these three secrets to launch a successful newsletter.
How to start using small business automation
Tools, check! Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities? Don’t let automation alarm you. Follow these simple steps to begin.
- Examine your daily tasks. Look for repetitive things you do every day.
- Find specific automation tools that will work for your business.
- Implement the tools next. Start small and test out different tools to see which best fits into your workflow.
Stay vigilant in monitoring your automation processes and tweak them as necessary to maintain effectiveness. If you’re looking for other ways to upgrade your business processes, we can help.
Best way to stop spam texts for good
“Official notice from USPS. Your delivery is on hold.” I wonder why …
“Hi, how are you?” Who could this be?
Sextortion scams are getting more realistic
Got an email saying your webcam was hacked? Don’t worry — it’s just another sextortion scam. I’ll tell you why it’s all fake and how to stay safe.
Double trouble: Scammers are creating copycats of major retail sites and hitting you with “card declined” messages when you try to pay. It’s a trick to get you to enter another card number so you pay twice. The sites are spreading in search results, social media ads and email links. Always check the URL closely, and if your card declines, call your bank first.
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Defense experienced the worst breach of military computers, ever. Was the source a … A.) Phishing email, B.) USB flash drive, C.) Confused employee or D.) Stolen laptop?
5 things you should never put on a resume
In life, few rewards come without risk. Take your dream job, for instance. If you want to land that position you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to make a great first impression.
When you’re applying for jobs, that all comes down to your resume. Every little detail makes a big difference. For example, a small mistake could take you out of the running for a job you’re qualified for.
So much data left exposed for anyone to see
Another day, another monumental data breach. Just because they’re getting more common doesn’t mean you can tune it out. In fact, it’s time to get even more serious about your private information and what’s posted online.
Superior sorting: Gmail on the web auto-sorts your emails into tabs like “Social” and “Promotions.” But what if Google gets it wrong? Drag a message into a different tab, and Gmail will remember your choice for that sender next time. Pro tip: Drag my email into Primary so you always see it front and center!
When you get stuck in Reply All hell: Instead of muting every single email that comes through, mute the entire thread. In Gmail, for example, look at the toolbar at the top of the email. Click the three dots, then Mute. Ah, sweet silence.
“Summary cards”: That’s what Gmail calls those little boxes at the top of emails, like purchases, bills, reservations and events. Look for fancy, new buttons to track your packages, invite a friend to the concert, get directions and more. Handy … and a good reminder Google knows everything you do.
Personalize your biz emails: Instead of sending a one-size-fits-all marketing blast to your customers, try segmenting your audience to send the right message to the right person. Most email service providers let you set up multiple lists. MailChimp, Constant Contact and all the other big ones do. Smart!
Too long, won’t read: Eight sentences or longer, and 57% of people skim or ignore parts of your email. Pro tip: Put the most important info in the first line or write in bullet points to save time.
Scam emails we got this week – Don’t fall for this junk!
Eight billion. That’s how many spam emails go out in the U.S. every single day. Komando staff (me included!) have received some real winners recently. Here’s a look at actual spam emails circulating right now. I want to keep you safe from junk like this, so read carefully!
Ultimate power move? Using a dumbphone like the Punkt MP02. Some bosses are switching to old-school tech to cut out distractions and constant notifications. Snap’s Chairman swears by fax machines, saying they’re more secure than email and grab others’ attention because they’re so rare (paywall link).
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Use your spacebar as a scroll wheel: It’s easy. Press your spacebar to scroll down a page and Shift + spacebar to scroll up. You can even use that trick to scroll through this email. Score.
Scam watch: 3 scams spreading like fire across the U.S.
Scammers are clever, but they’re not very creative. Most of their tricks are recycled versions of tricks that worked in the past. There are a few I’ve seen cropping up again because criminals know they work every time.