Why do Digital Marketing Businesses Struggle to Get Clients?

 After the pandemic, the digital marketing market size in the year 2022 is estimated to be over 450 billion dollars globally.  By the year 2026, it is going cross over 780 billion USD. These are market estimates but they do tell a success story of a new paradigm that has taken wings after the arrival of the Internet. The World Wide Web is flourishing with over 1.9 billion websites and a number of social media sites with a vast active user base and billions of visitor traffic. This has created vast opportunities for those seeking an earning opportunity in the virtual World. 

Understanding Digital Marketing

Also known as online marketing or Internet marketing it is marketing in the virtual media. The field comprises several subsets.

• ·         Content Marketing   
• ·         SEO
• ·         Organic Social Media Marketing
• ·         Paid SMM
• ·         Email Marketing
• ·         Google Ads or PPC
• ·         YouTube Advertisement

Search Engine Optimization or SEO refers to focusing on organic inbound leads. These inbound leads accrue from websites that are well-placed on several relevant keywords. High visibility on the SERPs results in a large number of visitors clicking on the website to arrive and conduct a meaningful action online. Marketers achieve their goals from high traffic, and getting that is the aim of SEO.

Content Marketing is the creation of content and distribution all over varied platforms full of the active target audience. This works best using a marketing funnel that focuses on awareness and engagement than achieving a meaningful action or the final goal.       

Social Media Marketing is an organic campaign that focuses on content distribution on various SMM platforms. It helps tremendously in brand promotion, creating product awareness and sales. Professionals strive to garner a reputation, and thus enhance their client base. Multiple objectives are planned for SMM each with a vision and goal. SMM is also paid advertisement using a specific social media platform.    

Email marketing strives to distribute suitable content and marketing message using electronic messaging systems. This is a type of direct marketing using the email addresses of the target audience.

Google Ads is an online advertisement on SERPs and various other platforms. This is usually charged on a pay-per-click basis hence the name PPC. However, there are several formats available for advertisers with varied cost structures.     Besides other popular social media, YouTube is turning into the second biggest search engine with tremendous potential for organic and paid advertisement.

Clients for Digital Marketing Agencies

Well despite the popularity of the online paradigm, businesses in digital marketing are struggling across the World to get business. This is because it is not easy to get clients from agencies that do have not great success records, employ a poor marketing strategy, and have not built a reputation online.

Become A Client 

Being adept at online marketing does not mean that the customer flow will follow you to your doorstep. It takes time and effort to create an online reputation and deliver. Thus, marketers are struggling hard because of the lack of attributes described above. To get business, they should become clients themselves and promote their services on social media. The businesses already have a process that is working for their client so why it will not work for them?

Utilize Varied Marketing Platforms     

Spread your wings and utilize all platforms to promote your name and the service. This means not letting go of offline platforms including participation in events, conferences, and trade shows. Utilize both the virtual medium and the real World. Local promotion is highly important since that is where most of the business will come from.   

Prioritize Portfolio

Clients always seek to ascertain the performance capability of service providers. Hence you should have built a profile of clients that appreciate your service. Show all the accreditations on your site and during reference and participation in trade shows, events, etc. Keep yourself in good books. 

The potential of this online marketing business is vast and you should strive hard to succeed. Keep to the fundamentals and follow the right marketing strategy success will come knocking at your door.   

More on Types of Digital Signature Certificates

 A digital signature certificate, a recent technological security apparatus makes online transactions and digital messaging safe and secure. It is used to authenticate sender using the electronic messaging systems. In virtual messaging, it is impossible to make out the identity of the sender at the other end of the receiver hence this cryptographical technology authenticates the sender. The system incorporates a pair of keys. The private key is for encryption while another key known as the public key is used to decrypt. This is a foolproof system and is impossible to manipulate on the way by hackers. Any manipulation can be made out by the receiver that the message he has received is not authentic.     

The digital signature certificate or DSC  is issued to an individual or organization by CA  (Certifying Authority). The CAs are authorized to certify digital signatures. At the present juncture, there are many  CAs authorized by CCA or Controller of Certifying Authorities. The CCA has established RCAI or root certifying authority of India under section 18 of the IT Act to authorize the CAs in India. The requirements fulfilled by the RCAI are:

• Digitally sign CA license.

• All public keys of a CA are digitally signed by the CCA.

• Digitally signed public keys can be verified on CCA or CAs Website.

There are many CAs appointed by CCA, and under them, there are authorized partners. Some of the CAs in India are:

• Dsc Bazaar

• IDRBT

• Sify Technologies

• Versys Technologies Pvt Ltd. 

• National Informatics Center

• Tata Consultancy Services

• e-Mudhra, n-Code 

• SAFE SCRYPT

Types of Digital Signature Certificate. 

• Class 2 DSC (Discontinued)

• Class 3  DSC (Individual)

• Class 3 DSC (Combo)

• DSC for DGFT (Director General of Foriegn Trade)(EXIM)

Organizational Document Signer  Certificates (Issued by USB & HSM)

The document signer certificate is DSCs issued to an organization under their legal name. These are also known as special purpose certificates.  These are issued by authorized CAs under the Information Technology Act. Version 3.5 June 2018. The purpose of the document signer certificate is to state the organization's authority while automated signing. The document signer integrates with a software application to enable automated bulk signing to verify information and documents pertaining to an organization.    

• The bulk signing of Invoices and other legal documents, GST, etc. 

• Online electronically digital signing.

• The signing of multiple proposals (Onboarding).

• Automated Signing 

• Online verification of PAN 

While the digital signature certificates are issued through online applications, in some cases the person has to appear personally. He or she has to carry the requisite documents and present them to the CA.   

The demand for digital signature certificates in India is growing as more and more e-transactions are taking place. DSC supports digital governance in the country and is recognized as a non-repudiable legal process. 

Apart from CAs, several partners are appointed who can issue the DSCs. Thus an additional channel for earning is formed by the CA's partner program.   

Cloud Services Anytime Anywhere Services

What is Cloud Hosting or Computing?

Cloud services are simple, They host data in remote servers. These managed services and all the utilities available through regular in-house hosting or from hosting service providers are available. The difference is data and programs are placed in a cloud network of secure but remote servers. A series of hosting servers form an extensive network and host the client's data. The access is provided through an account that is password protected.

The added benefit of this technology is optimum utilization of server space and bandwidth, and reduction establishment since no other services are required. This hosting and computing model is more secure and costs much less, and you can access data from just anywhere, at any time. In this model real-time changes can be easily accommodated to cater to enterprise fluctuating needs. There are no establishment hassles and in-house complex hardware is not required at all.  A major worry of security is eliminated since a complex level of protocols has been developed to secure and personalize the client's user experience.

Types of Cloud Services

• ·         Private Cloud
• ·         Public Cloud
• ·         Hybrid Cloud         

Private cloud space hosts a single business entity, with components stored in-house or in the service provider's data center. Meant for a single enterprise this model offers greater security and control. The businesses often use the service of a third-party cloud vendor to host and maintain servers off-site.

Public cloud service is completely virtualized, comprising shared resources or several tenants and the service is used as needed. In the case of public cloud services resources are available through the web. These services offer robust security measures and the organization's data is inaccessible to other tenants.

A hybrid cloud comprises both private and public cloud services for availing the benefits of shared resources. This system allows companies to keep confidential data in-house in a private cloud. The data is made accessible using the applications running in the public cloud for computation public cloud is used.

The clients can approach more than one cloud service without any hindrance.

Some of the Cloud Computing Examples are?

• ·         Saas
• ·         Iaas
• ·         Paas

In the case of Saas, or software as a service there is no need to install the software on every device, the software hosted in the cloud services can be used by all. In the case of Infrastructure as a service entire data center for computation is shited to the cloud. The organizations have to hire virtual machines or VM, virtual servers, and entire infrastructure as needed. This is a means of eliminating costly infrastructure since the data storage and networking infrastructure is completely provided by Iaas. Many large companies like Oracle, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services use this model. In the case of Paas, the vendor provides backend services for the development of web applications and apps.    

The distributed cloud market size is 4.4 billion in the year 2022 and is expected to grow by a CAGR of over 20%. In the year 2027, it is expected to grow by over 11 billion USD. After the pandemic virtual services have been on the rise and this augers a great future.

Tally & Cloud Servers

Data of Tally is completely secured on cloud servers. Tally allows you to import data from cloud services to your local disc. You can secure access by personalizing and allowing data to authorized employees only.  Once on the desktop data can be used to print invoices, access ledgers, and other reporting formats with ease. Thus an enterprise should use Tally on Cloud Services to maintain data access and personalization. Tally supports Java, Html, and other protocols with ease. The accounting and enterprise software is perfectly capable of transferring information for cloud services with enhanced security.        

Kerala's Secret Behind Indian Spices or Masala Ruling Indian Markets

 

Indian cuisine is as old as the civilization itself. A civilization that dates back five thousand years or more. It is perhaps the oldest civilization and the landmark is Varanasi which is considered the oldest city in the World.

A country that is rich in vegetation chiefly deserts - hot and cold, tropical forests, swampy grasslands all in plains, mountains, and the newest ranges the Himalayas. The diversity is incredible in all terms. It is an admixture of cultures, religions, and ethnicity besides the floral and fauna diversity.  

Indian Food

Indian food has been spice mixed since the Vedic Era. Well, forget that since the country is allabsorbing and the cuisine has been influenced not only by the prevailing regions but by an external source. For your information, chili and potato were influenced by the Portuguese and tomatoes came from Spain.

Many herbs and spices are of foreign origin but have been absorbed wholly and solely into the recipes. Almost all spices are grown in the country now albeit turmeric and asafoetida are imported from Afghanistan.    

Pepper is the most desired spice in the World that is part of India as well as Western Cuisine grows the best in the Indian State of Kerala. It grows the best in Kochi but many other spices grow in the temperate weather of Kerala.

• ·         Pepper
• ·         Cardamom
• ·         Cinnamon
• ·         Vanilla
• ·         Nutmeg
• ·         Ginger
• ·         Turmeric

The state is the largest producer of spices in the country. It is one destination that brought many overseas traders since ancient times to the state. Portuguese, French, Arabs, Chinese, and many more flocked to the state for trading. The spice route is famous for linking the east and the west. Many traders settled permanently in the state over a period of time. Apart from the exotic culture, they brought Islam and Christianity into the state. This is an example of how pluralism develops and enriches the local cultures. Pedro Alvares Cadro was the first to export spices from Kerala in the year 1501. He was from Portugal.    

Keralite Influence on Indian Food

Indian cuisine though much influenced by local spices is also influenced by spices from Kerala. The ingredients in the recipes are those that are also grown in the Southern State.  Hence in incredible diversity, there is a commonality and that is what Indian culture is all about. Perhaps a visit to New Delhi and Kerala will better explain the country to an overseas visitor. Both are a window to India.

Of late as urbanization creeps in and global influences grow the cooking styles are also changing. The trend of powdered spices fetched from the market is dominating Indian cuisine. But there is a catch nobody knows what is in that powder. As competition grows among the powdered spice manufacturers adulteration may creep in to wage price wars. Hence most chefs and housewives are switching over to the traditional way of using masalas. Buy the original from the market, roast and grind and then add to the recipe. But this is impacted by the time constraint and labor. The procurement from the market and demand for household popular recipes is a major cause of stress among gastronomic experts and housewives. Most use powdered spice to battle the constraints. Enter Premix Wholseome Spices from a trusted source. And the source is Living Beyond Company in Mumbai.    

Indian spice market reached a value size of 72,900 crores in 2021. It is expected to rise to a volume of over 123, 000 by the year 2027 at a CAGR of 9.20%.  

Premix or Fusion Spices

Living Beyond sells wholesome premix spices for specific recipes. Be it meat masala, biryani masala, chole or rajma mix, pav bhaji mix, sambar, or any popular recipe that is pan India favorite is available. All you have to do is roast and grind in a minute, add,  and bingo your recipe is ready to be served. The cooking takes a few minutes and you can impress the guests by serving amazing gastronomic delicacies.

Premix ready-to-grind and mix-in recipes are here to overtake the time-consuming traditional cooking, and yet make traditional food with aplomb.  Premix whole spices are available widely all over the country or you can simply order online.

    

Join a Partner Program of DSC Certified Authority in India

What is Digital Signature (DSC)

It pays to become a licensed partner of a CA of Digital Signature Certifying Authority in India.  But before we proceed we must first understand what is a digital signature.  As technology advances, we are moving away from pen and paper work to authenticate better and be environmentally friendlier.

Unlike handwritten or electronic signatures, digital signatures are created using cryptology technology. The result is an encrypted signature that is in form of a hash. These encrypted signatures are foolproof, and cannot be encrypted without using a public key.

DS is generated using cryptology and in the process, a private key is kept a secret by the creator and is used to encrypt the electronic document or message. Another key is generated by the sender and that is the public key which is used to encrypt the electronic document or message. These are generated as cryptic hash and are undecipherable. This mechanism has been developed a decade back in the USA and has become popular in the use of legal tenders and communications. DS is non-repudiable, and authenticates the sender besides the electronic document of the message is manipulated in a way the receiver will be able to verify the hack and disregard DS. Remember law prohibits the use of DS belonging to others the sender has to use one created by himself or herself or the issuing organization. It is impossible to counterfeit or fake the DS.    

When DS is certified by the certifying authority (CA) and an organization authorized by CCA or controller of certification authority, it is termed a DSC or digital signature certificate. The DSC can also be issued by a partner authorized by a CA.

Usage of DSC in India

DSC is used for the legal purpose in the country under the MCA e-governance program.

Some of the sites where DSC is used are:

• ·         MCA
• ·         Income Tax
• ·         Sales Tax
• ·         West Bengal State Rural Development Agency (WBSRDA)
• ·         BIHAR GOVERNMENT (PMGSY)
• ·         Metal Junctions
• ·         Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
• ·         Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL)
• ·         Oil India Limited (OIL)
• ·         Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
• ·         GAIL
• ·         MSTC Limited
• ·         Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
• ·         Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGSND)
• ·         Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC)
• ·         Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
• ·         Government of Gujarat
• ·         Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Corporation Ltd. (GNFC Ltd.)
• ·         Government of Orissa (PMGSY)
• ·         Maharashtra Government
• ·         Karnataka Government (PMGSY)
• ·         Tamil Nadu Government (PMGSY)
• ·         Coal India Limited
• ·         Indian Railways (IREPS)
• ·         Water Resources Department
• ·         MP Govt.
• ·         Patent and trademark registration.
• ·         NTPC

DSC is widely used in GST, tax-filing, online registration, e-mail verification, e-bidding, custom-e-filing, e-procurement and e-tendering, and its use is on the rise.

The Benefit of the DSC Partner Program

The use of digital signature certification is increasing in India. Hence in order to widen the net CAs are authorized by CCAs to appoint partners to sell DSCs. These are subject to rules and regulations.  Those appointed as DSC Partners by CAs add to income and services. They get the benefit of affordable rates since there is a charge for procuring these certificates from authorized organizations. The validity period is usually one year and then they have to be renewed. Your company or organization can become a partner in the program and issue licensed DSCs in India.   

Information is the Key to Successful Business Outcomes

Data-Driven enterprises or businesses need an efficient system of information gathering and dissemination. There is a large network of pipelines that direct requisite information and data to authorized persons in an organization. 

The core organ for information gathering and retrieval is MIS, an abbreviation for Management Information System. MIS can be defined in simple terms, but it is a far more complex network than what the definition means. In simple terms, the system comprises hardware, software, application tools, and a networking system that binds all together to form a centralized organ. The system collects and stores information from within an organization pertaining to core functions, and noncore functions. But this is not all that the system does. It collects information from external sources also. The businesses with the best data at hand win over their competitors. MIS is thus an admixture of minds, technology, resources, and tools. 

Sound Decision Making is Key to Right Strategies & Approach  

Management professionals sit at the key juncture of MIS, they are geared to expand, fine-tune and keep the system running. Every employee from the CEO, to the executive and people in the line management, need to be updated information to keep the core functions and sundry task going.  Information retrieval, and data analysis are key to decision-making at every stage of the business process. They help in making core competitive strategies that are supposed to impact the present growth path and play a key role in futuristic plans that fulfil the company's goals and mission.

Thus a vast MIS network within an organization that is responsible for internal data and external information is key to a successful business. Businesses that do not have organizational capabilities rely on MIS consultants to build information systems for them. Some information gathering and data retrieval may be shared with the consultants on hire on an agreed basis. But, generally, the process is limited to sharing and analyzing data internally.

The professionals or MIS Consultants are behind the core competency of a successful organization. They are conduits for information gathering at every stage and from every section of the business. The approach is holistic and comprises data analysis, teamwork, leadership, project management, customer service, and underlying business strategies. They support management with stored and real-time data anytime anywhere by developing systems that enable retrieval down the pipeline to authorized entities within an organization.  This is made possible by the integration of MIS Tools for enterprise accounting, storage, retrieval systems, and delivery mechanism that delivers data on hand in an instant not only through the computerized network but also through remote connections on mobile and laptops. 

 An executive in the field can thus conclude a deal successfully with requisite data that represent facts and figures, past performances, and factors that create a trust or product descriptions or service records. Information systems are thus behind the existential drive for an organization facing cutthroat competition. Thus it has become imperative for a data-driven business to avail customized or sliced-and-diced data on hand, and be aware of the impact of metrics that were behind their competence.       

MIS Application Tools or Software

The complex network of hardware, software, and networks has to be integrated with tools that manage accounting, tax complaints, remote connectivity, flexible remote communications, and data delivery. Thus lot many application tools have to be integrated smoothly within the MIS. While some MIS software may be for information gathering others may help in automating. The traditional manual processes are being switched over by automation. Integration is important with all elements in MIS to form a centralized data delivery system for analysis and decision-making. 

In India, some of the popular application software are;

• Tally Prime - Enterprise Accounting & Management System
• Shine HRMS - Employee & Asset Management 
• Biz Analyst - Tally on Mobile
• Cloud Services 
• Hosting Services
• Security Systems
  
  
  The MIS may differ from one organization to another but its key role remains the same.   

        

BPO or Outsourcing

There is a difference between BPO and Outsourcing, although the line between them is thin, the definition is clear.  BPO stands for business process outsourcing where the core business is outsourced to a business process service provider. In the case of outsourcing as we understand noncore business processes are outsourced. BPO always deals with core functions. Thus in this case the businesses remain involved with the core functions that the BPO is handling. The BPO is always outsourced internationally. 

In the case of outsourcing noncore functions, there is an arrangement with the provider whereby sharing of data, MIS, and communication takes place. Thus the sharing is limited but impactful. In the case of BPO, manufacturing process, equipment and technology may be transferred. There may be regular supervision of services or the quality of finished products. 

Both services have the same purpose. They facilitate companies to delegate processes that may be proving stressful to their limited resources or they can afford to approach a service provider and get the load off for certain gains.  

The main Benefits of these processes are:

• ·         Cost Reduction
• ·         Stress Reduction
• ·         Expertise Gain
• ·         Enhanced Efficiency
• ·         Increased Production
• ·         Seasonal Production Enhancement
• ·         Risk Reduction
• ·         Doing Away with Statutory Compliance

Payroll Management Types

• ·         In House
• ·         CPA Managed
• ·         Bookkeepers Managed
• ·         Agency Managed
• ·         Software Managed

Although the picture appears eternally rosy there are associated risks and failure. Hence company CEOs and managers take cautious steps before finalizing the contract. There is always less chance of risk or failure for those enterprises who have been doing it for years or at least for some time. The reason is trust, acclimatization with the process, and time-tested service.

For new concerns seeking outsourcing of noncore services or BPO, the risk is dependency, loss of control, frequent quality issues, and other hindrances like improper communication and even disputes. The matter can go to court and linger for years. Many functions can be handed over to service providers and payroll or employee management is one of them. 

Outsourcing Payroll Management Service

For most companies, payroll management or employee management is a non-core function. It can prove costly to manage within an organization or take a heavy toll on the staff or stress other resources. While some companies use software applications like Shine HRMS for automation others prefer to hand over the task to service providers.

The future for services in payroll management for companies that outsource is bright. The market size for the year 2021 is 9.9 billion dollars. It is growing at a rate of 7.2% and is expected to reach over 19 billion dollars by the year 2031. The pandemic played a major role in outsourcing payroll management to service providers. This happened with work from home concept due to the need to keep away from the office. The growth in the last five years has been over 15% CAGR in India.        

As the business paradigm experiences a change outsourcing services are becoming common. While a significant number of companies are resorting to managing employees using software like Shine HRMS many approaches the agencies. Agency-managed service providers are quite common in India.