How to Add Breadcrumbs to Your WordPress Site

How to Add Breadcrumbs to Your WordPress Site

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Easy navigation is vital for any website, and adding WordPress breadcrumbs can make navigation a breeze. With breadcrumbs, people expect to find what they need with the fewest clicks possible, making it feel effortless for visitors to locate specific content on your site. (more…)

Intuit QuickBooks Announces New Innovations at QuickBooks Connect

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Empowering Accountants and Small Businesses

QuickBooks Connect, held in Las Vegas, drew over 2,500 bookkeepers and accounting professionals. This event focused on fostering relationships, providing industry insights, and showcasing the latest updates from Intuit QuickBooks, which serves over 7 million small and mid-sized businesses globally.

Jeremy Sulzmann, Vice President of the QuickBooks Accountants Segment, emphasized the importance of accounting professionals in driving small business success. The 2023 event spotlighted AI-driven innovations, aiming to provide insightful tools for more informed business decisions.

Introducing QuickBooks Ledger

QuickBooks Ledger, a new product tailored for accountants, is designed to standardize accounting processes across all client types. This cost-effective tool includes features like automated bank feeds, bank reconciliation, and a seamless transition to tax preparation. Integrated with QuickBooks Online Accountant, it allows for streamlined end-to-end workflow management.

Enhancements to QuickBooks Online Accountant

QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) is central to managing firm and client operations. The latest improvements include:

  • Expanded Roles and Permissions: Offering customizable access to firm and client books to manage sensitive tasks efficiently.
  • Chart of Accounts Templates: Facilitating the creation and customization of account charts, saving time for accountants.
  • Improved Add Client Experience: Streamlining the process of connecting new clients and integrating QuickBooks Payroll and Time.

New QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program

The revamped QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program, celebrating over 25 years of service, offers exclusive discounts, tools, training, and events. The program has evolved with input from the accounting community, offering benefits like pre-written email campaigns, new training on third-party apps, premium customer support, and newly designed certification badges.

QuickBooks Online Ecosystem Improvements

QuickBooks Online ecosystem has been enhanced to cater to growing, complex businesses. Notable improvements include:

  • QuickBooks Online Advanced: Offering workflow automation, robust reporting tools, and deep integrations for scaling businesses.
  • QuickBooks Payroll: Expanding capabilities to include HR tools, payroll cost allocation, payroll item management, and a partnership with Allstate Health Solutions for enhanced employee benefits.

QuickBooks Online E-commerce Innovations

QuickBooks is enhancing its e-commerce capabilities for QuickBooks Online, aiding small businesses in managing inventory across multiple sales channels efficiently.

These innovations by Intuit QuickBooks at the QuickBooks Connect conference mark a significant stride in empowering accountants and small businesses. With these tools, QuickBooks is poised to further streamline workflows, improve automation, and offer valuable insights, fostering the prosperity of small businesses and the accounting community.

Image: Intuit




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Portable Space Heaters: Options for Your Work Space

Portable Space Heaters: Options for Your Work Space

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If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

As we all struggle with rising energy costs, one way to save during the colder seasons is by using portable space heaters in your office or work space.

Space heaters have come a long way in being a safe, reliable, and sometimes cheaper heating alternative. The best portable space heaters nowadays have safety features like automatic shutoff and anti-tilting, and many have energy-saving modes. Whether you have an office, garage, a warehouse, or just need to warm up your workspace, let our guide help you find your next heating solution.

Portable Space Heaters – Choosing the Right One

Selecting the right portable space heaters for small business environments involves considering a mix of safety, efficiency, practicality, and comfort. Here’s the methodology we’ve used, which you can also employ as a guide to choosing the best portable space heater for your needs:

  1. Heating Efficiency (Scale: 9/10)
    • Quick heating capabilities
    • Even distribution of heat
  2. Safety Features (Scale: 9/10)
    • Automatic shut-off if tipped over or overheating
    • Cool-to-touch exteriors
    • Certification from safety standards (e.g., UL, ETL, CSA)
  3. Energy Consumption (Scale: 8/10)
    • Energy efficiency ratings
    • Eco-mode settings to minimize power usage
  4. Portability (Scale: 8/10)
    • Lightweight design with handles for easy movement
    • Compact size for storage when not in use
  5. Noise Level (Scale: 7/10)
    • Quiet operation to avoid disruption in business settings
  6. Thermostat Control (Scale: 8/10)
    • Adjustable settings for temperature control
    • Digital thermostats for precise temperature management
  7. Durability (Scale: 7/10)
    • Quality of materials and construction
    • Longevity and manufacturer warranties
  8. Ease of Use (Scale: 8/10)
    • User-friendly interface and controls
    • Remote control functionality for convenience
  9. Design and Aesthetics (Scale: 6/10)
    • Appearance that fits with office decor
    • Non-obtrusive design
  10. Cost (Scale: 8/10)
    • Affordability and value for the features offered
    • Operational costs based on regular use
  11. Brand Reputation and Support (Scale: 7/10)
    • Positive reviews and customer feedback
    • Customer service and support for issues
  12. Additional Features (Scale: 6/10)
    • Timer functions for scheduled heating
    • Oscillation for even heat distribution

We’ve carefully considered these criteria to ensure that the portable space heaters we recommend offer the best combination of safety, efficiency, and convenience for small business settings. Our recommendations are below:

Dr Infrared Advanced Dual Heating System with Humidifier

Dr Infrared Heater DR998

This space heater is one of the more expensive on our list, but it’s a bit more than just a regular space heater. It uses 2 different kinds of heating elements, as well as a humidifier that adds much-needed moisture to the dry hot air. It is also portable and has a nice cherry wood finish so it looks nice, too.

Dr Infrared Advanced Dual Heating System with Humidifier

Buy on Amazon

 

DesertWest Space Heater

DesertWest Space Heater Indoor Use

This portable space heater with its 135° wide oscillation can heat a room from 90-280 sq. ft. It also has overheat protection, a remote, and the ability to tilt not only from side to side but up and down as well.

DesertWest Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

 

Dr.Zero Space Heater

Dr.Zero Space Heater for Indoor Use

This 1500W portable space heater features a timer, overheat protection, and an energy-saving eco mode. It provides warmth with 90° oscillation and has a space-saving and noise-reducing design.

Dr.Zero Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Vornado Vortex Heater

Vornado MVH Vortex Heater with 3 Heat Settings

Vornado’s vortex heater uses forced hot air and can heat a small to medium-sized room. It has 3 heat settings, low noise, auto shutoff, and is backed by a warranty.

Vornado Vortex Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Dyna-Glo Indoor Kerosene Convection Heater

Dyna-Glo Indoor Kerosene Convection Heater

This large kerosene heater can warm up a room up to 1000 sq. ft. It has automatic ignition and one-touch shut-off, making it easy to use as well as reliable and powerful. This would be an ideal space heater for a garage or warehouse.

Dyna-Glo Indoor Kerosene Convection Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Comfort Zone Oscillating Ceramic Heater

Comfort Zone Oscillating Ceramic Heater

Another 1500W portable unit, this Comfort Zone oscillating heater uses fan-forced air to heat up the room. It oscillates to 70 degrees and has adjustable power and temperature settings.

Comfort Zone Oscillating Ceramic Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Amazon Basics Ceramic Personal Heater

Amazon Basics 1500W Ceramic Personal Heater

This cost-effective 1500W portable heater is from Amazon Basics and has most of the same features as other similar models at a lower price.

Amazon Basics Ceramic Personal Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Honeywell 360 Degree Surround Fan

Honeywell 360 Degree Surround Fan Forced Heater

This heater by Honeywell is ideal for small to medium-sized rooms. It has an adjustable thermostat and 2 heat settings, a 360-degree tip-over switch, overheat protection, and a cool touch carry handle.

Honeywell 360 Degree Surround Fan

Buy on Amazon

 

Brightown Portable Electric Space Heater

Portable Electric Space Heater

This heater has 3 heat modes – high heat, low heat, and fan only, allowing you to choose how much heat (and energy) you want to use. This is a very small space heater – perfect for a table or desktop.

Brightown Portable Electric Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Simple Deluxe Tower Fan and Heater Combo

32-inch Tower Fan and Heater Combo

This 32-inch fan delivers heat to a whole medium-sized room with 45°widespread oscillation. It features a 6-hour auto shutoff timer, 4 comfort settings, and a built-in carrying handle for easy transport from room to room.

Simple Deluxe Tower Fan and Heater Combo

Buy on Amazon

 

Amazon Basics Portable Eco-Smart Space Heater

Amazon Basics Portable Eco-Smart Space Heater

This is Amazon Basics’ take on the eco-smart style space heater. It has four infrared heating elements and can heat a room up to 160 sq. ft. It also features an adjustable temperature and a remote.

Amazon Basics Portable Eco-Smart Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

iLIVING Infrared Portable Space Heater

New iLIVING Infrared Portable Space Heater

This decorative, dark walnut space heater uses engineered blower technology to produce radiant heat with low noise. It has overheat protection and an electronic thermostat with a 50 to 86-degree heat range.

iLIVING Infrared Portable Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

R.W.FLAME Oil Filled Radiator Heater

R.W.FLAME Oil Filled Radiator Heater

This is a convection space heater, and it provides 160 square feet of heat coverage. It produces no noise, so it is great for an office or studio where you don’t want a lot of background noise.

R.W.FLAME Oil Filled Radiator Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

PELONIS Programmable Convection Space Heater

PELONIS PH-19J 1500W Fast Heating

Pelonis’s portable space heater can heat up to 70°F in 3 seconds. It has a compact design, a ceramic heating element, and can rotate from side to side within 83 degrees. It is also made of a flame-retardant material that is cool to the touch.

PELONIS Programmable Convection Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Dreo Atom One Portable Space Heater

Dreo Space Heaters for Indoor Use

The Atom One space heater by Dreo is said to heat up more efficiently with up to 1500W of working power. It is small enough to use on your desk or on the floor to keep your feet warm, and has tip-over and overheat protection, as well as an enhanced safety plug.

Dreo Atom One Portable Space Heater

Buy on Amazon

 

Are Space Heaters Energy Efficient?

They can be. Space heaters use electricity to work, so that can add to your electric bill. However, if you only need to heat a smaller area, space heaters can be less expensive because they use less energy than central heat. There are also many factors that can determine how efficient a space heater is, such as the type of heating element, the wattage, etc.

 

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The Only ChatGPT Prompt Your Business Needs for Social Media Marketing This Christmas

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It’s the heart of the Christmas shopping season and staying ahead of the curve in marketing strategies is crucial.

The team at Small Business Trends, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities you face, has crafted a special ChatGPT prompt designed exclusively for small businesses like yours.

This revolutionary tool is not just another marketing gadget; it’s a gateway to creating engaging, targeted social media messages that resonate with your audience at Christmas.

Why This ChatGPT Prompt Is a Game-Changer

The beauty of this ChatGPT prompt lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. It transforms your inputs – business type, target audience, and promotional focus – into compelling social media content tailored for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Whether you’re promoting events, products, or special sales for Christmas, this tool ensures your messages hit the right note with your audience.

Tailored to Your Business Needs

Each message generated by this ChatGPT prompt is not just a generic template; it’s a reflection of your business’s unique personality and offerings. By inputting details about your business, the type of promotion, and your target audience, you get content that feels personal and authentic. This level of customization is key in a world where consumers are bombarded with generic advertising.

Engaging Content That Speaks to Your Audience

Imagine having 20 bespoke social media messages at your fingertips, each crafted to engage and attract your specific audience. That’s what this ChatGPT prompt offers. It understands the nuances of social media marketing, ensuring that each message is not just informative but also fun and engaging.

A Time-Saving Solution

As a small business owner, your time is precious. This tool saves you hours of brainstorming and drafting, allowing you to focus on other critical aspects of your business. With a few simple inputs, you get a range of messages ready to be shared with your audience.

Ready to Transform Your Social Media Presence?

Experience the power of tailored social media marketing this Christmas. Try out the ChatGPT prompt designed by Small Business Trends and see the difference for yourself. And if you love what you see, the possibilities don’t end there. Whether it’s another promotion, a different holiday, or even a new business focus, this tool adapts to your evolving needs.

Download the .xls file with your custom messages, and start engaging your audience like never before. Are you ready to make this Christmas season your most successful yet?

Copy-paste the prompt below into ChatGPT. ChatGPT will respond and ask you for specifics, like your business name, type of business you run, the social media platform you’ll be using, the special promotion or event you’re running, and the audience you’re targeting. Give it this information and watch the holiday magic happen.

When you get your response and approve of them, let ChatGPT know and it’ll create a downloadable .xls file you can use to add to your social media content calendar or use elsewhere.

Here is the prompt we’ve created:

You are an expert social media marketer that specializes in creating engaging social media messages for [business name], a [a type of small business]. You know how to write fun, engaging posts on [social media platform] that promote [events or products or sales] being conducted by small businesses for Christmas. These messages should target a [specific audience]. When you learn the specifics, create 20 social media messages for me. When you’re finished, ask me if I like the messages you’ve created or make some suggestions for alterations that I might want to consider. If I say they’re good, ask if I’m interested in creating messages for another promotion or another holiday or another business. When I say the messages are good, create a downloadable .xls file containing these messages.


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Page Not Found – Small Business Trends

Page Not Found – Small Business Trends

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Chatbots are used in many different ways by businesses, large and small. Here’s a quick sampling of the ways small business owners use Chatbots:

  • Customer Support: Chatbots can provide 24/7 customer support by answering frequently asked questions, troubleshooting issues, and providing information.
  • Lead Generation: They can engage website visitors and collect leads by initiating conversations and gathering contact information.
  • E-commerce: Chatbots can assist customers with product recommendations, order tracking, and payment processing.
  • Appointment Scheduling: They can help businesses schedule appointments and manage bookings.
  • Information Retrieval: Chatbots can retrieve data from databases, answer inquiries about products or services, and deliver relevant content.

chatbot for business

What is a Business Chatbot?

A business chatbot is a computer program or software application that uses natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI) to interact with users via text or speech in a conversational manner.

Chatbots are designed to simulate human conversation and can be used to automate various tasks and processes in a business context. They can be integrated into websites, messaging apps, social media platforms, and more. To better understand how chatbots function in a business context, you can refer to resources explaining what is a chatbot?

chatbot for business

Chatbot Benefits for Businesses

Here are some of the ways that using Chatbots can benefit small business owners:

  • 24/7 Availability: Chatbots can be available round-the-clock, ensuring that customers can get assistance at any time, which is particularly valuable for businesses serving global markets or customers in different time zones.
  • Ability to Answer Volumes of Inquiries: Chatbots can handle a high volume of inquiries simultaneously, reducing the need for human intervention and improving response times.
  • Increasing Customer Interactions: By engaging users in conversations and providing personalized responses, chatbots can enhance customer engagement and foster better relationships.
  • Streamlining Business Practices: Chatbots can automate routine tasks such as data entry, appointment scheduling, and order processing, thereby increasing operational efficiency.
  • Enhancing Customer Satisfaction: Quick and accurate responses, coupled with the convenience of 24/7 availability, can lead to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty and engage potential customers.

Understanding how chatbots can enhance customer engagement with chatbots can be a game-changer for businesses looking to improve customer interactions.

Benefit Description Impact on Business Use Case Examples
24/7 Availability Chatbots can operate around the clock. Provides continuous customer service, enhancing customer satisfaction. Customer support, FAQs, issue reporting.
Cost Efficiency Reduces labor costs and resource allocation. Saves money on customer service staffing. Automated responses to common queries, reducing staff workload.
Quick Response Time Immediate responses to customer inquiries. Increases customer engagement and reduces bounce rates. Answering product questions, providing company information.
Consistent Customer Interaction Maintains consistent communication quality. Ensures reliable customer experience. Handling routine inquiries, maintaining standard responses.
Data Collection Gathers customer data for analysis. Aids in understanding customer preferences and behaviors. Collecting feedback, tracking user interaction patterns.
Personalization Tailors interactions based on customer data. Enhances customer experience with personalized communication. Product recommendations, personalized greetings.
Scalability Handles a high volume of interactions simultaneously. Scales customer service operations efficiently. Managing peak times, large-scale customer interactions.
Lead Generation Engages and qualifies leads automatically. Increases lead capture and conversion rates. Initial customer engagement, lead qualification questions.
Language Processing Understands and interacts in various languages. Expands accessibility to a broader audience. Multilingual support, serving non-English speaking customers.
Automated Transactions Facilitates simple transactions like bookings or sales. Streamlines purchasing and booking processes. Completing sales, scheduling appointments or reservations.

chatbot for business

How Machine Learning Enhances Chatbot Interactions

Machine learning enhances chatbot interactions by enabling them to learn from data and improve their responses over time. Here’s how:

  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): Machine learning algorithms help chatbots understand and interpret user messages more accurately, even when phrased differently.
  • Personalization: By analyzing user data and preferences, chatbots can provide personalized recommendations and responses.
  • Continuous Learning: Chatbots can continuously learn from interactions, identifying patterns and refining their responses to become more effective and accurate.
  • Context Awareness: Machine learning enables chatbots to maintain context in conversations, making interactions feel more natural and human-like.

Machine learning plays a critical role in the efficiency of chatbots. For in-depth information, one can explore chatbot statistics to understand the impact of AI and machine learning on chatbot functionality.

chatbot for business

8 Ways to Use a Chatbot for Small Business

Chatbots create opportunities for businesses to engage with customers in a more interactive and personalized manner, fostering better relationships and loyalty. Small businesses looking to integrate chatbots should consider if their operations align with the signs your business is ready for chatbots.

chatbot for business

1. Automating Customer Service with Chatbots

Chatbots can handle common customer inquiries and issues, providing instant responses and freeing up human agents for more complex tasks. Example: A retail chatbot can assist customers with tracking their orders, checking product availability, and answering questions about return policies.

chatbot for business

2. Using Chatbots to Collect Customer Feedback

Chatbots can engage customers in post-interaction surveys or feedback forms, making it easy for businesses to gather valuable insights. Implementing a Facebook messenger chatbot can significantly enhance the efficiency of handling customer service inquiries. Example: After a support chat, a chatbot can ask, “How satisfied are you with our service today?” and provide options for rating the experience.

3. Assisting E-commerce Transactions

Chatbots can guide customers through the entire e-commerce process, from product browsing and selection to payment and checkout. Example: An online clothing store’s chatbot can help customers find the perfect outfit, respond to customer queries, suggest matching accessories, and assist with the purchase.

chatbot for business

4. Managing Orders, Bookings, and Appointments

Chatbots can handle order processing, booking reservations, and scheduling appointments, simplifying administrative tasks. Example: A restaurant chatbot can take reservations, confirm bookings, and provide diners with the option to change or cancel their reservation.

5. Offering Personalized Recommendations

Chatbots can analyze user behavior and preferences to provide tailored product or content recommendations. Example: A streaming service chatbot can suggest movies or shows based on a user’s viewing history and genre preferences.

chatbot for business

6. Conducting Surveys and Market Research

Chatbots can initiate and conduct surveys to gather market insights, customer opinions, and feedback. Example: A chatbot on a company’s website can ask visitors for their opinions on new product ideas, helping with market research.

7. Boosting Customer Engagement

Chatbots can proactively engage customers by sending personalized messages, updates, or promotions, providing a conversational marketing platform. Example: An e-commerce chatbot can send a discount code to a customer who has abandoned their shopping cart, encouraging them to complete the purchase.

chatbot for business

8. Streamlining Internal Communications

Chatbots can assist with internal tasks like scheduling meetings, managing employee inquiries, and providing access to company information. Example: An HR chatbot can help employees schedule vacation days, retrieve company policies, and answer HR-related questions.

chatbot for business

The Future of Chatbots in Business

The future of chatbots holds exciting possibilities. Some potential chatbot solutions and expanded uses include:

  • Healthcare: Chatbots could assist with medical inquiries, appointment scheduling, and medication reminders.
  • Education: Chatbots might provide personalized tutoring, answer student questions, and support online .
  • Travel: Chatbots could help with trip planning, booking flights, and providing real-time travel updates.
  • Entertainment: Chatbots may offer interactive storytelling experiences and personalized content recommendations.
  • Smart Homes: Chatbots could control smart devices, answer questions about home automation, and enhance the user experience in connected homes.

chatbot for business

FAQs: Chatbot for Business

How do chatbots qualify leads for businesses?

Chatbots can qualify leads by asking a series of questions to determine the level of interest and fit with the company’s offerings.

For example, in a B2B context, a chatbot for a software company might ask questions about the prospect’s industry, company size, and specific needs to assess whether they are qualified leads.

Based on their responses, the chatbot can categorize leads as hot, warm, or cold and then route them accordingly.

Will chatbots replace human customer service reps?

While chatbots can handle many routine and repetitive tasks, it’s unlikely they will completely replace human customer service representatives.

Human agents excel in handling complex issues, providing empathy, and understanding nuanced situations.

Chatbots and humans are often best used in conjunction, with chatbots handling routine inquiries and escalating more complex issues to human agents. This combination can provide efficient and personalized customer support.

How can chatbots enhance customer satisfaction in online businesses?

Chatbots can contribute to improved customer support because they provide 24/7 availability. Quick responses enhance customer satisfaction.

Chatbots can increase sales because they assist with product recommendations, answer questions, and streamline the buying process.

Chatbots can help the small business owner reduce costs because they can automate tasks, reducing operational costs.

Chatbots can gather valuable customer data for analytics and personalization. They can handle a high volume of interactions simultaneously, allowing businesses to scale without adding more human staff.

In what ways can chatbots boost customer engagement?

Chatbots can boost customer engagement by:

  • Proactive Outreach: Sending personalized messages, offers, or reminders.
  • Personalization: Providing tailored recommendations and content.
  • Quick Responses: Ensuring rapid responses to customer inquiries.
  • Interactive Experiences: Offering interactive games, quizzes, or surveys.
  • Problem Resolution: Assisting customers in resolving issues promptly.

Image: Envato Elements, Depositphotos

This article, “8 Easy Ways You Can Use a Chatbot for Business” was first published on Small Business Trends

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