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2019

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In Business

Why Business Needs Stronger Control over Consumer Data

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Data privacy has always been a priority for everyone. However, as data becomes digitized and more information can be shared online, data privacy is becoming more important. Companies may possess personal information of their customers that must be secured to protect their customers’ identity. Exposing customers’ identity will tarnish the reputation of a company. This makes it important for companies to have stronger control over consumer data.

Importance of Data Protection and Security

Protecting business and consumer data is paramount to the success of a company. Adopting privacy and security practices will give businesses more control over their data. Here’s why this is important for any company:

  • Meet compliance requirements. Companies that fail to implement privacy protection will face hefty fines and penalties. Also, they risk losing valuable business relationships if they fail to comply with their contractual requirements for privacy protection.
  • Prevent data breaches. Organizations must implement strong security safeguards to protect personal data to reduce the number of security incidents which lead to privacy breaches. Even fewer breaches can mean that a business can lose trust which can result in them losing customers and even partners. When data ends up in the wrong hands, this can hurt businesses as they have to deal with fines, penalties, and civil suits.

  • Maintain and improve brand image. A privacy breach can damage brand value and reputation. Organizations must make consumer data protection a priority by following privacy practices. This will build connections to their brand, improving brand reputation and value.

How to Protect Consumer Data

A lot of businesses overestimate their ability to handle data loss after a breach takes place. Many of them think they are well-prepared to put off phishing efforts without realizing that most data breaches don’t happen this way. Systems such as unsecured portals, endpoints, websites, smart devices, and networks are vulnerable to possible invasion. That is why companies must review their safety mechanisms for secure data processing and handling in their IT environment.

One of the ways to protect consumer data is to stay current on encryption practices. Also, it is important to limit access to customer information. The fewer the people with a need for access, the fewer the chances for hackers to attack at a weak point. Also, data must be destroyed after using it. There are professionals who can completely destroy data without leaving any trace. This service is usually available as part of electronic waste recycling packages. But, complete data wiping and deletion can also be done by the in-house professionals if companies have them.

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In Tech

Why Voice Search Is Gaining More Popularity

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These days, technologies concentrate on speech recognition rather than text typing to let people search for information through search engines. This solution is popular in mobile devices where users prefer to remain hands-free. But, voice search can also be used on a desktop with the right microphone setup.

Impact of Voice Search on Businesses

The availability of voice search makes it important for brands to change their technology to make sure their marketing strategies will always appeal to new search methods. They must ensure the sources that Google many draw information from are always up-to-date. This means regular interaction with Google business listing as well as keeping details such as business hours and address information updated.

Moreover, SEO strategies must also keep up with voice search components. Content needs to be more direct and conversational to match the kinds of search queries assisted search results in. Sooner or later, Google may add the voice search element into their algorithm and starts to prioritize brands that have incorporated such element into their SEO strategy.

Optimizing Voice Search

To cater to voice search users, websites and other media outlets must be optimized. This means optimizing pages with simplistic opening paragraphs and good meta descriptions. When a voice technology uses Google to do a search, the featured snippet might be read as the answer. A featured snippet is a chosen search result that appears on top of organic search results. Optimized pages that show up in this section of the search engine results might be used to answer voice questions. Here are tips to optimize voice search:

  • Take your keywords into account. Text optimization may include shorter keywords; however, people who do voice searches use more complete sentences.  They will ask more specific questions.
  • Make your writing conversational. This means making the intro paragraph and meta descriptions in a way that a layperson can understand. The more complicated jargon can be used for the formal body of the text.
  • Use tools that create actions. These tools will make it easier for voice search technologies to communicate with your own business website or app. Ensure the actions are valuable to your readers.
  • Update your site. Websites need to load as quickly as possible to offer results to voice technology. Website speed can be monitored through Google Analytics regularly. Brands can also use SEO crawlers at least every quarter to identify what is slowing their website down.
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In Business

Increasing Demand for Non-Traditional Financing Options

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No matter which stages your business is in, it needs capital to survive. It may need capital to launch, grow, or just to operate. Your capital can be in the form of personal savings, bank loans, retirement accounts, credit cards, or funds from your family and friends. However, not all businesses are launched with this kind of outside investment. For many businesses, getting funding sources from banks, investors, and lines of credits is not possible. Fortunately, new funding options are now available to respond to the needs of businesses and individuals. Below are of the funding options available for them:

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending

This new funding model is getting more and more popular among businesses owners. In this model, financing is funded by investors instead of a direct lender. Peer-to-peer lenders underwrite borrowers; however, do not fun the loans directly.

Crowdfunding

This has become a viable function option for business people who are starting a new business. Crowdfunding works by giving an idea that people would want to support with small-dollar contributions. Business owners that get plenty of people to buy in will raise lots of money. This function option requires the right type of product or exciting project for a campaign to be launched through a crowdfunding platform.

MicroFinance

Microfinance offers capital to start a business. It is a loan given to borrowers without collateral. But, interest rates for this funding option are usually very high.

Revenue-Based Financing

Some firms are now offering expansion capital through flexible business loans paid back based on a part of monthly revenue. This kind of funding suits existing firms, mainly those that have recurring monthly revenue.

Government-Funded Capital

Cities and states are increasingly providing startup or growth funding to attract new business or retain companies that wish to expand. A government agency offers zero or low-interest loans, venture capital, or business grants.

Venture Finance

A number of venture capital firms are upending conventional financing models by offering venture financing. Venture capital is offered by firms for funding small, emerging firms that have high growth potential. Usually, venture capital investments are for the long term. Venture capital firms expect returns on their investment of at least 25%, given the risk profile of the companies they invest in. Investors get capital by pooling money from insurance companies, pension funds, and wealthy investors. They decide which businesses to invest in and get management fees and a percentage of the profits.

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In Health

How to Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis

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In general, joint damage takes place within the first two years of diagnosis. That is rheumatoid arthritis must be diagnosed and treated as early as possible to prevent long-term consequences. The kind of treatment a patient needs depends on many factors such as age, overall health, medical history, and severity of the arthritis. Although rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured, there are many ways to manage it including the following:

Non-Pharmacologic Therapies

The first step to treating people with rheumatoid arthritis is to consider the following non-pharmacologic therapies:

  • Inflamed joints are at a high risk of injury, so they need to be rested. But, patients must maintain physical fitness as much as possible. They have to maintain a good range of motion in the joints and good overall fitness.
  • Exercise. Inactivity can result in a loss of joint motion, strength, and contractions, so sufferers must exercise despite their condition. This will lead to reduced joint stability and increased fatigue.
  • Physical and occupational therapy. This therapy can relieve pain and inflammation, as well as preserve joint structure and function. This therapy can include heat and cold application, ultrasound, exercises, rest and splinting, relaxation, as well as finger-splinting.
  • Nutrition and dietary therapy. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should eat certain foods and avoid some food to reach a desirable cholesterol level. Maintaining a specific diet is important for overweight and obese people as too much body weight can put more stress on inflamed joints.

Medications

Patients might be prescribed with medications to alleviate joint pain, inflammation, and swelling or slow down the condition. The kind of drugs to take will depend on the severity of the condition and how the body responds to medications. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, COX-2 inhibitors, and Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are usually recommended for treating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

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In Health

Three Important Elements of Home Care for Seniors

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Aging is a natural part of life that everyone will go through. Every year, the elderly population increases, which indicates an increasing need for high-quality levels of care. Seniors need professionals that offer quality levels of long-term care for different tasks, keeping their independence and dignity intact. Many elderly people prefer to get cared for at home and home care providers must take into account the main components of this type of care to ensure the needs of patients are met.

Homecare services for seniors help fulfill the majority of the health, physical, emotional, and activities of daily living requirements that let the elderly focus on being an energetic and confident person. Keep reading to know more about the most important elements of home care and how they can help seniors live a better life:

Person-Centered Care

Unlike healthcare services given in a clinical setting, home care services are focused on the individual. Homecare workers consider their patient’s needs, condition, and preference. They are there to offer help in terms of the elderly’s personal hygiene, daily activities, and medication management.

Emotional Support

Professional homecare workers approach each patient with full empathy. They understand the need of patients and the difficulties they face and give them a helping a hand to start and complete their tasks. Empathy, respect, and compassion are the cornerstones of homecare services.

Companionship

Seniors usually live on their own, away from their children and family members who already have their own family to take care of. Their loneliness can result in isolation. Over time, depression sets in. That is why home care services include giving companionship to elderly patients. Homecare workers can play board games and share stories with their patients to help them feel they important. Companionship also includes going with the elderly when shopping for groceries, visiting the doctor, and other activities.

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