Bongo’s Techie Friday: Boogie Board Rip LCD Writing Tablet

The Boogie Board Rip LCD Writing Tablet: For the new breed of Green Techie, who likes to combine traditional methods with technology, all while caring for Mother Earth. Simply write on this LCD as you would on a notebook, sketch book or notepad and save once you are done–as simple as that! No new operating system to master nor new technique to learn. Save money on paper, pens, and other supplies. Files are saved as HD vector PDF format. Rechargeable batteries last up to 7 days of use; saves up to 200 pages. Product Dimensions: 11″ H x 7″ W x 3/8″ D (11.5 oz).

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Navigating a Legal Unpaid Internship

Internships are a great opportunity for both companies and young people to come together and explore the possibilities.  A mutually beneficial relationship that allows for a learning curve, free labor, and even potentially nabbing brand new talent before a competitor.  However, in order for it to be done right, businesses need to make sure that the internship meets the following 6 guidelines to stay legally “unpaid.”

Read  TLNT.com’s criteria for internship harmony and success:

http://www.tlnt.com/2012/03/28/6-keys-to-keeping-unpaid-internships-from-becoming-a-wage-hour-mess/

 

 

Bongo’s Cool Pick of the Week: Tentsile Hammock Tent

Tentsile hammock tentFor the adventurer and quirky at heart, here’s a unique product you really want buy. You will be able to camp in the air, elevated from the ground and away from animals, insects and other outdoor elements. Better yet? The tent comes in three different sizes/capacities: 2 person, 3-4 person, and 5-8 person. Also available in 12 colors. A versatile camping solution indeed!

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Common Blogging Mistakes Part 2

Last week, we started a 2 part post series focusing on common mistakes that business bloggers make. Today, we are going to complete that list with the remaining 3 pitfalls to avoid; all of which focus on optimization and monitoring Analytics. After all, if you are going to put the effort into creating a compelling blog, you want to quantify the work and receive a worthy pay-off.

Here are the 3 Optimization Pitfalls to avoid:

1.) Not Optimizing for Search Results
Just as you most likely spent time and money to optimize your website content for search, your blog requires similar consideration. Blogs have a tremendous influence on your search results, and the content needs to be optimized accordingly so that key words can work for you indexing your business and ideas. This is a critical in your traffic building strategy and organic search results. More indexed pages = more opportunities for keywords!

2.) Your Blog is not a Lead Generator
This may be the grandest error of all and yet the simplest oversight to fix. You can have the best content on the Blogosphere, but if there is no Call-to-Action (CTA,) you are missing a huge opportunity to turn readers into customers. Here at Bongo, we work hard to include a CTA in every piece of Marketing material that goes out; it’s become second nature to our Marketing team and a huge part of our strategy. There are a range of ways to engage readers to act that are both simple and beneficial. Try surveys, discounts, website re-direction, etc.

Still not sure how to engage readers to take action? Go back and review past blog posts, if they don’t have a CTA, add it now!
Now that’s a Call-to-Action!

3.) No Analytics
Analytics is an invaluable tool to Marketing teams large and small. There is no reason that you should not be monitoring all marketing efforts and your blog can be a great source of referrals, especially if it is hosted as a sub-domain of your business site (Refer to last Thursdays BongoUS blog post if you are making this huge mistake!)

That concludes our Common Blogging Mistakes Series. Integrate these 7 improvements and let us know of your successes!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter:
http://www.facebook.com/BongoInternational

Merchant:
https://twitter.com/#!/BongoMerchant

Consumer:
https://twitter.com/#!/BongoUS

Common Blogging Mistakes Part 1

Having a successful business blog takes time, fresh content, and constant monitoring so it is worthwhile to make sure that everything being invested is not wasted on a non-existent audience.
Blogging has become such an integral part of Marketing departments that it warrants a 2 part review of common blogging mistakes and how to avoid them.

 

Here are the 1st 4 pitfalls to avoid:

1.) Publishing inconsistent or infrequent posts – As you are trying to build up followers, nothing looks worse than a blog that hasn’t been updated for days or weeks. If devoting time is an issue, start with 1 post a week. That’s a consistent frequency for business blogs.

2.) Publishing too many posts about your products – Readers know that your blog is a part of a business but there is no need to constantly remind them of that fact. Obviously some self promotion is encouraged and expected. However, writing about your products solely doesn’t position your Marketing department as an expert in the field, it just seems annoyingly desperate for sales.

3.) Failing to integrate your blog with your website – Hosting your blog on a free site may seem like the way to go, and it certainly is a fine starting point. However long term, you absolutely want to publish your entries on a sub-domain of your business site. If your blog doesn’t live on your company’s main website, you are losing opportunities for search engine optimization and branding.

4.) Failing to promote your blog on social media – Your blog and social media accounts should be working cohesively to build your brand. And it’s generally an easy integration. At Bongo, we updated our Facebook and Twitter settings to automatically post or tweet our blog postings within an hour of being published.

Here at Bongo International, we have recently integrated these 4 changes to our own blog. The results have been an increase in readership and a great opportunity for our Marketing Department to connect with fellow Merchants.
Follow us here and let us know how we are doing!

Bongo’s Cool Pick of the Week: Staple-less stapler


Just imagine: An office world without those painful staples. Utopia? Not anymore! The staple-less stapler binds your sheets together by making tiny holes and “paper wings.” While you may only bind no more than 3 sheets of paper at a time with this staple-less stapler, it is at least a start! Plus, you are being eco-friendly.

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8 Steps to Capitalize on International eCommerce

International shipping is a crucial part of the plans that business owners and merchants are now incorporating for success. While, there are many things to consider when adding international shipping, even some that are of concern, it is highly worthwhile to take the plunge and offer international customers the ability to shop and checkout on your site. It has been proven that you are most likely to get conversions when you provide an international shopping cart similar in nature to a domestic cart with drop-down lists, diverse payment methods, and translation into a native language.

Practical eCommerce has generated a valuable list of 8 steps a Merchant should take to organize and provide international shipping:
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3409-Configuring-an-Ecommerce-Site-for-International-Orders-8-Tips

Incorporating these elements emphasizes the importance of utilizing a company like Bongo International that assumes the responsibility for international transactions. Our track record of knowledge and consistency supports our position as a leading provider of forwarding services.

 

Up your Warehouse Productivity in 9 Easy Steps

This week Multi Channel Merchant created a guide to increase warehouse productivity. Consider these 9 easy steps to make the warehouse a better place to work for employees and the most efficient for your business.

Not every company has the need for a warehouse, but here at Bongo International a large part of our business depends on the ability of our warehouse to work industriously as we process 500 shipments daily.

 

Read all 9 detailed tips here:

http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/warehouse/nine-tips-improving-warehouse-productivity-0306-jt1/

Bongo’s Cool Pick of the Week: Motorcycle cup holder

motorcycle leather cup holder

Own a motorcycle? Then you’ll love this accessory! Meant to match the tough look of your bike, the Braided & Beaded leather cup holder has a metal bracket with a hole, which allows you to screw it on any fixed part of your motorcycle. It is adjustable and fits most bikes.

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