digital footprint Archives - Website Design Company Kelowna BC - Atomic 55

Free software tools that will help you become more productive

Jennifer Fuller — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 16:47:27 +0000

n financial times like the world finds itself in right now, we all begin to feel the pinch in our pockets. Everything is getting more expensive, from professional services to food, gas, and housing. If you’re lucky to be in business, during this wonderful time of pre-recession, then you’ll soon get hit with inflation on your software monthlies too. We have some tips to help you crunch the needs, wants, and WTF’s out of your monthly software budget. Including some free, time, tested, and true software tools to help you save money and even increase your efficiency. Keep reading for more:

Micro-increases are more commonly seen at the grocery store. However, we’re starting to see software companies follow suit and subtly raise their monthly recurring rates.

Software costs like a bad moon rising

It’s a pricing tactic as old as anyone can remember. With a large enough customer base, $1.50 can go virtually unnoticed in that automatic withdrawal process. When you make a similar rate increase more than once per year you can ensure your profit grows. Inflation is hot right now. It also seems very bothered. Hence why interest rates are out of control.

As a business owner, you can’t control the interest rate, but you can control your spending. If there was ever a time to evaluate your digital footprint, yesterday was it. Today is just as good.

Here’s a list of where to start:

Make a list, because lists are where the productivity’s at

All good things start with planning and organization. First things first, make a list of all the software services you currently use. Your list needs to be thorough. Spreadsheet or paper. The medium doesn’t really matter, but having everything you pay for in the software column is imperative.

If you have an itemized list pulled from your books that’s the easiest place to start. If not, note everything you can from memory and then make sure you cross-reference with a full month of bank statements. Add in a cost column and fill out the monthly and annual costs for each software. Adding a note to indicate how frequently you access the software will come in handy when it comes time to axe or keep.

You pay how much?

Noting how much you spend on each software will give you two things. The most important being your annual spend, and the second your total monthly spend. Pay attention to whether the software has increased. The trick to software is sometimes a company will keep your price the same but move, or discontinue specific features to new packages. It’s important to keep tabs on whether you’re still paying for what you initially signed up for.

Once you’ve figured out which ones have increased. Move those to the top of your spreadsheet.

1, 2, or 3? To axe it or keep it?

Next, come up with a rating system. A simple 1,2,3, or a,b,c convention will work great.

1 is a keep,

2 is a maybe

and 3 is what even is this?

How do you decide what software tools to keep?

Easy, give all the 1’s to the things you access daily. Generally, these are things that you cannot run your business without. For example, a marketing agency without a subscription to Adobe would be a disaster. If you use it and need it we will move it to the top of the list for now.

2 is a maybe.

Maybe you use it sometimes. Maybe it’s nice to have for special occasions. In some cases, you might even be planning to try it out or use it more in the future. If this sounds familiar and you can’t decide, then try this. Visit the software marketing portal or talk to a rep and see if you can pause your account, find a cheaper plan or get into a trial scenario. If none of these options are available then might I suggest a trial separation? Sometimes you might just need to take a break from your software for a little bit. The distance will give you time to see if you really miss it. If you don’t, then great. You’ve saved some dough. If you do, then also great, because there’s nothing more a software company likes than offering a welcome back promotion.

3 is a what even is this?

These can be anything, from subscriptions you didn’t read the fine print on and ended up in a contract, to free trials that rolled over into full-blown paid campaigns. Whatever they are, if you don’t use them or you don’t know what they are getting rid of them will free up some cash and clean up your digital profile at the same time.

Take it a step further

Once you’ve gone through the process of steps 1-3 take another look at your list. Not just a glance. A really hard look. Do you see any overlap? Perhaps one software you’re paying for does the work of something else you’re also paying for? This is how you can really step up your productivity. One software that does the work of two is always a good idea.

Another way to really trim the fat on your monthly software tool subs is to look to Freeware. In fact, look no further than the almighty Google for productivity tools. Sheets, Docs, Gmail, Drive – they all do the same thing in manual mode as most CRMs can do. With a little more of a hands-on approach, you could do away with 90% of costs related to administrative work. Many people will complain about the interface and not having the time to learn something new. My advice is to adapt because the annual cost of a CRM is upwards of $5000.00 per year. That pays for a lot.

With added free extensions like Streak, you can track emails right from your Gmail account and even create sales funnels from the emails you send.

Run but don’t hide

A recession is tough on everyone. With a little more attention, less automation, and shrinking your digital footprint you can get through it. Don’t be afraid to come up with a custom solution that uses a combination of free software tools and paid services.

For more tips on how to consolidate your digital footprint get in touch with us.

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Consolidating Your Digital Footprint.

Tatum G — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 07:51:42 +0000

he Internet is like your mom. It knows everywhere you’ve been, every person you’ve interacted with, and most importantly, everywhere you might go. How you interact with the Internet can influence your life in ways you may never have imagined. This is why it is so important to organize your digital footprint. Practicing safe searching, managing your accounts, and ensuring that you leave a positive digital image is necessary in today's online world. No matter who you are, your digital footprint is the key to your privacy. Learn more about the importance of managing your digital footprint below.

What is a Digital Footprint?

Your digital footprint is essentially a history of everything you’ve ever done online. Whether that be set up a social media account or google something strange. Every like, post, comment, click, tag, search, account—all of it is recorded. Unfortunately, your digital footprint doesn’t just include recent activity. In fact, it includes everything from the time you first started using the Internet. Scary, right? Don’t worry, it’s just as frightening to us.

While you may not be able to see what you did many years ago, we promise you there’s a record. So, if you have any embarrassing details about yourself hidden in the corners of the Internet, it’s only a matter of time before they surface. However, this isn’t the only concern with having a large digital footprint…

The Dangers of A Bloated Digital Footprint

A bloated digital footprint can cause a multitude of problems – especially when it comes to your reputation. Your digital footprint is generally used to obtain information about you. Whether that be for a job application or a potential client looking to hire you. People can efficiently perform in-depth Internet searches that confirm their credibility. This is why you want to ensure that what people find helps your reputation.

Furthermore, your digital footprint can cause vulnerabilities in the security of your online accounts. For instance, Online banking, social media, and government accounts. If you have several online accounts that you don’t use, it is important to delete them. This will prevent hackers from gathering information about you and/or leaving a negative footprint in your name.

Additionally, the size of your digital footprint can hinder your chances for growth from a marketing standpoint. As a business or business owner, you want to ensure that you are using a maximum of 3 social media accounts. This will allow you to focus your energy on growing these accounts. Too many social platforms, and you won’t have enough time or resources to see the results.

How to Consolidate Your Digital Footprint?

Consolidating your digital footprint is a great first step in protecting your data and improving your marketability. Below we’ve listed a few tips on how to clean up your digital footprint for the better!

1. Delete Old and Unused Accounts.

The best first step to consolidating your digital footprint is to delete old and unused accounts. Try and delete all of the accounts that don’t serve an immediate purpose to you. Be mindful of the difference between suspending and deleting your account. An account suspension is only temporary. Although, some social platforms will keep a portion of your data even after you’ve deleted your account for good. This is why it is important to read the fine print when signing up for online accounts.

2. Don’t Enter Personal Information on Unsecure Websites.

This one should be a given, however, many people still make the mistake of inputting highly personal info on websites that should not be trusted. If your web browser is warning you of a website’s security, it’s a good idea to steer clear. The last thing you want is to leak your banking info to a random over the Internet.

3. Avoid Logging into Websites With Your Social Media.

It can be very convenient to log into a website with your social media accounts like FaceBook. However, this can make you vulnerable to others on the Internet. Although, if you have a strong password (combination of letters, numbers, and special characters) and use two-factor authentication you should be fine.

4. Don’t Overshare!

Oversharing is one of the most common ways that people make themselves vulnerable to cyber attacks over the Internet. Voluntarily giving away your personal information on the Internet is not recommended. Be mindful of the things you share online and how they could hurt you. Keeping your social media accounts private and only allowing those you know to follow you is a good rule of thumb.

5. Stay Professional.

Maintaining a professional tone throughout your online presence will serve you well. You may change your tone depending on what platform you are using, but it is important to stay consistent.

The Benefits of a Good Digital Footprint:

A solid digital presence will improve all aspects of your business profiles. Especially given the fact that most people’s first impression of you will be your online presence. Having a clear and concise digital footprint will make it easier for you to leave a positive first impression! Businesses who are active on social platforms in a positive way are more likely to gain attention from other users. This is why it is so important to maintain a professional and friendly tone throughout your interactions on the Internet.

A good digital footprint can help businesses and individuals reach their goals. Whether that be in sales, new leads, networking or growing their following online. By sharing substantive content on a consistent basis like blog articles, videos and animations you will improve your digital presence. Moreover, it is crucial that you keep your content personalized, concise and on-brand. Say goodbye to long, generic newsletters and over-generalized content for best results.

If are looking to hire some help to bring your content to the next level, contact us today. We’d be happy to help you clean up your digital footprint and get you on the right track. Maintaining an outstanding presence both online and offline is crucial. Reach out to us with any questions that you may have about building a strong digital presence. We look forward to working with you soon!

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