Tag Archives for " service "

‘Tis the Season to Double Down on Social Customer Care (and Protect Your Community Managers)

Just when we thought we, as social media strategists and community managers, could rest up from the twists and turns of the last 18 months, the holiday season is upon us.

It feels like it could be a doozy.

• Global supply chain challenges are causing significant inventory gaps for some.
• A tight labor market causes other delays, shortages, or increased prices.
• Some families are gathering for the first holiday season in two years, and the expectations are HIGH.

Heightened customer expectations and consumer demands equate to a potential increase in the velocity of service inquiries. Sprout Social predicts a rise of 44% more messages on Instagram if last year’s trends continue and a 14% increase in Twitter messages.

 

Avoid Social Customer Care Burnout

With this challenge, of course, comes new opportunities to provide trust-building service to your potential and current customers.

Before we move into how to mobilize your company to provide extraordinary social customer care, this is a great time to remind everyone reading that social media community managers are grappling with burnout:

• The faucet never stops. You can set hours, scale teams, and establish processes, but this work never turns off.
• Daily jobs can consist of wading through endless hateful comments, especially on platforms like Twitter which is full of a polarized political scene.
• It’s harder and harder to break through and get a significant creative win, especially when expected to wear the hats of designer, video editor, copywriter, strategist, and customer service representative.

That takes us to the first recommendations for activating an excellent customer experience on social media this holiday season:

 

Train Your Social Care Team

If your social media manager is the only one serving as your organization’s social media customer service center, you need to rethink your approach.

As the demands ramp up, ensure you meet as a team and determine the resources you need to deliver the experience you want. Ideally, integrate your customer service team directly into your social listening inboxes.

Train anyone involved in responding to consumers on social media, so they understand the context of where they are playing, how it’s different from traditional customer service, and the brand’s social media voice and tone.

 

Establish Guidelines That Encourage Maximum Transparency (and Yes, Even Disappointment!)

During this season, you may not have good news for all. But all complaints or questions need a response.

Decide now how you can be the MOST transparent as possible in your response strategy, understanding that you don’t always (and can’t always) SOLVE the issue, but you can ALWAYS hear the issue.

Edison Research discovered that not answering a complaint results in a 50% decrease in advocacy. However, responding to a complaint results in a 25% increase in advocacy. NOTE: that did not say SOLVING a customer’s issue. Responding alone increases advocacy.

Consider the following:

• What will you not respond to?
• How will you respond to positive comments?
• When do you respond with a full response vs. a simple acknowledgment?
• When will you move conversations “off-stage” and into a more private channel like a DM?

 

Ensure Your Community Management Team Has The Right Software

If you don’t have a social listening tool in place, now may be the season to invest in a tool. Setting up your tools to make it easy to identify, respond to, and catalog customer inquiries will save huge amounts of time.

Today, many tools like Sprout Social or Hootsuite that you may already be using for posting have add-ons for listening. There are also stand-alone tools like Meltwater that can provide an extra layer of support.

 

Make Contacting Customer Service Easy and Accessible

In your social media bios, add other places where customers can receive service along with the hours and contact information.

 

Use Integrated Social Tools To Respond To and Organize Responses

Each social channel has a set of tools that can help you provide information and organize your response.

Program automatic/quick replies for frequently asked questions. On Instagram, set up an FAQ Highlight that answers all frequently asked questions, so people don’t have to leave the app when looking for an answer.

If you aren’t using a social media monitoring system, utilize the message status capabilities within your social media inboxes, so you can filter based on messages that need a response.

 

May Your Social Care be Merry and Prepared

The best thing leaders can do is equip their teams with the necessary resources to scale social media services smoothly. In the best-case scenario, you won’t need them. But realistically, there will be a point in time where this preparation will ensure a better customer AND employee experience.

The post ‘Tis the Season to Double Down on Social Customer Care (and Protect Your Community Managers) appeared first on Content Marketing Consulting and Social Media Strategy.

Source: convinceandconvert.com

How to Start a Business

Anyone can start up a business. No college degree, huge bank balance, or corporate experience is necessary. All you need is a great idea, the right systems, and the drive to see it through.

Since you’re already searching for ways to learn about how to start a business, odds are you already have an idea and the drive. What you need to know is how to start building your future empire.

In this article, I’m going to discuss the exact steps to start a business so that you can put the right systems in place.

 

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

 

Your 2-Minute Cheat Sheet

I’ll walk through each step in much greater detail below. Here, I want to give you the bare-bones cheat sheet for how to start a business now.

First, refine your idea based on the needs and demands of your target customers, along with your preferences.

Next, you’ll create a business plan. This is a crucial part of the whole process, so you have to get this right.

After sketching out your business’s entire framework, do market research, and collect feedback from friends, mentors, and family.

Then you need to tackle the legal side of things. Get started early in case there are any snags. This includes deciding your business structure, registering your business, getting the necessary license and permits, and setting up bank accounts.

At this point, you have your idea and a plan to make it come to life. You can then use it to arrange for the required capital to launch your product or service. Follow this up by building your team and finding a location if you’re opening a physical store.

Finally, focus your efforts on generating more sales and growing your business, which is also what you’ll find yourself doing for most of your career.

That’s a few years of business distilled into a couple of paragraphs. Let’s take a closer look at each step. Of course, you should feel free to skip steps if you have already locked down the basics.

Step 1: Come Up With a Business Idea

Every business begins with an idea. If you already have one, congratulations! You can proceed to the next step. If not, you need to start brainstorming.

Here are a few tips to come up with a great business idea (I made a list of over 25 home-based businesses as well):

Think of ways to get ahead of the curve. Think of how your product or service can change the business landscape, especially with the constant technological advancements.

• Solve a problem you identify. After all, your customers would prefer more of a good thing and less of a bad thing.
• Try to bring a fresh perspective that helps you gain a competitive edge over your competitors.
• Think of ways to make your approach better, cheaper, and faster if your business idea isn’t new.

At this stage, you can also conduct surveys and collect perspectives by meeting people and asking for advice. Researching ideas online is another excellent way to come up with business ideas.

 

Step 2: Conduct Market Research

The whole point of conducting market research is to understand typical consumer behavior, pain points, and relevant market trends in your chosen niche. This is a sure way to determine how your potential startup might fit into the existing industry landscape.

Try to find the answers to the following questions while doing market research:

• What product or service is currently in demand in your given market?
• What is the market size, or how many clients make up your target audience?
• How many competitors share a similar concept to your business idea?
• What is the price that customers are willing to pay for products and services in your market?
• What’s the typical consumer engagement in your market? Did your competitors move online during the pandemic? Can you replicate their sales process or do it better?

One of the best ways to gain genuine insights is to speak with consumers directly. Take surveys, make questionnaires, and do one-on-one interviews.

Another free resource you should absolutely use is Google. Say you are starting a business that sells shampoo to men. I’d search “shampoo for men”, “men’s hair care”, along with other terms and phrases in the space.

Then I’d take a hard look at the first page of results for each keyword.

What are the top websites (not paid ads) doing? Who are they speaking to? How do they position their products and services?

Asking simple questions like these can give you a ton of insight into the market. You can also plug keywords into tools like Ubersuggest to find out how many people are searching for these terms each month.

Researching your market is an ongoing process. What you find out today may change tomorrow.

I put this as ‘Step 2’ because you want to get started early, but you should be constantly trying to understand the trends in your space.

 

Step 3: Lock Down the Legal Stuff

I always make sure to get the legal stuff out of the way early. This way, I don’t have to worry about anybody else taking my big idea, ending up in a bad partnership, or getting sued because of misinformation.

Determine your business structure first, as it’ll dictate the legal and tax requirements you will have to meet. Your options include sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Enlist a tax professional’s services, as every structure has its own set of tax requirements, or use an online business formation service.

At this stage, you’ll also have to choose a business name and register your business. Find out whether your chosen name is available for registration in your state and within the digital space. You want availability as a:

• Business name in your state
• Domain name
• Social media platform usernames

If a specific name isn’t available, you can always consider permutations of the name. Make sure your domain name and business name aren’t impinging on any registered trademarks.

There is a quick checklist of other things that you’ll need:

• Federal tax ID
• State tax ID
• Permits and licenses (as needed)
• Business bank accounts
• Trademarks, patents, and copyrights (as needed)

It’s best to consult a lawyer to cover everything you need. You can always work out things on your own, but sometimes it’s best to ask an expert.

 

Step 4: Write Your Business Plan

Many people question the purpose of creating a business plan. After all, if you already have a vision for your business, why write it down?

When you create a business plan, you describe every aspect of your business in a formal document. You put everything into words.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “There never was a good knife made of bad steel.”

It’s precisely why a business plan is such a crucial part of any business. It defines your thoughts and research and exactly what you need to do to make a business a success.

This helps put things into perspective and allows you to identify areas to streamline future processes.

Let me clarify: Your business plan doesn’t need to be 100 pages long. It only needs to be readable and include the main components. Such as:

• Pain points your business solves
• An elevator pitch about what your business does
• A list of your target audiences
• An idea list of how you’ll promote your business (your marketing strategy)
• The financial plan of how you’ll raise money to pay and how your business will make money
• Financial documents

Do a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of your business, too, to gain insights and identify ways to achieve your goals.

As the industry and market are always changing, you’ll find yourself revising your plan frequently. Periodic revisions and refinement of your business plan ensure that your business remains competitive in the long run.

 

Step 5: Raise Capital for Your Business

There are many ways you can get the resources to start your business. Below, I’ve discussed some of the best ways I found raising capital is easy and effective. You can choose one or more that work best for you.

Start at Home

Bootstrapping your business is a long process, but it gives you full control over your business. You can also leverage personal relationships by asking friends and family for a loan or to invest in your business.

Online Crowdfunding

There’s no disputing the power in numbers, especially when it comes to raising capital. Crowdfunding gives you direct access to small investments that can add up to something massive.

Check out Kickstarter or Indiegogo, or Google a list of the most popular crowdfunding websites. Crowdfunding is more for a physical product than a service.

Reach Out to Venture Capital Investors or Local Angel Investors

Venture capitalist investors look for proven teams that require a capital investment of $1 million or more, which is why you need some traction before approaching them.

If you feel you don’t have such traction right now, you can instead apply to online platforms like AngelList and Gust to find potential investors who would be interested in your project.

Apply for a Small Business Grant

Grants.gov is an online directory of more than 1000 federal grant programs that can supply you with the capital to kickstart your project. Although the process is long, you don’t have to give away any equity.

Get a Bank Loan or a Line of Credit

Applying for a bank loan is easy, but you should do so only if you really need a bank loan and if you’re eligible. You can head over to the Small Business Administration to look for loan opportunities.

 

Step 6: Develop Your Product or Service

Nothing feels better than seeing your idea come to life. The only problem is creating a product takes a village–if not a city.

You’ll have a different set of requirements based on your product or service. For instance, if you want to develop an app, you want someone with the technical know-how, whereas if you’re going to mass-produce an item, you’ll need a manufacturer.

Product simplicity and quality should be your top priority. Rather than creating the cheapest product, focus on developing something that catches someone’s attention. You can further streamline the process by keeping in mind the following tips:

1. Avoid handing over product development to someone else or another firm, and if you do, make sure you supervise constantly.
2. Implement regular checks and balances to reduce the level of risk involved. For example, if you decide to hire freelancers, hire multiple people so that you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
3. Enlist specialists instead of generalists. A jack-of-all-trades isn’t what you need right now.
4. Always operate within your budget.

For service-focused entrepreneurs, the game is slightly different.

Your primary focus should be to have the necessary certificates and educational requirements. Search online job portals and freelance working platforms to find opportunities. Upwork and ProBlogger could be great places to start.

 

Step 7: Build a Reliable and Responsible Team

What’s the best way to scale your business and achieve all your organizational goals?

Have a good team.

One of the critical aspects of a growing business is delegating responsibilities to other people, whether a partner, employee or freelancer. Here are a few tips to help you find the right team members:

State Your Goals Clearly

When your team members understand your vision and their role in helping you achieve it, they’ll make fewer errors.

If you are just starting out, you’ll probably be interested in some of the really great free project management software out there. These aren’t free trials, and you’ll be able to make sure everyone is on the same page–no extra cost to you.

Establish and Follow Hiring Protocols

Welcoming people to your team involves several processes, ranging from screening people, carrying out interviews, and having proper forms. This will help you create a more competent team.

Create a Strong Company Culture

Great company culture is all about respecting and empowering employees through training and mentorship.

You don’t need futuristic decor or ping-pong tables (if you can afford that, that’s great!) but you do need a positive atmosphere where everybody feels welcomed and appreciated.

 

Step 8: Find a Business Location

One in four businesses that starts within the next 12 months will have a 100% remote workforce. But if you decide to open a brick-and-mortar retail business, you need to focus on getting the right location.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Demographics: Think about your customers and how they interact with your location. Does your target clientele frequent the potential location? Does your location reflect the image you’re trying to project?
• Foot Traffic: Monitor the foot traffic outside a potential location throughout the day. Do you see a couple of passers-by throughout the day? Or is it away from the public eye? Is there parking available?
• Business Community: The business community refers to the other businesses nearby that can bring you foot traffic. Is there a mall nearby? Are there restaurants where customers can go after shopping at your store?
• Competition: Contrary to popular belief, having competitors nearby isn’t always bad. Whatever your stand, you should be aware of whether or not you have competitors nearby before deciding on a location.

Research the history of the location as well. If other businesses have tried and failed in space, find out why.

And of course, always keep the cost in mind. Expenses like rent, cleaning services, insurance, and parking fees need to be considered.

 

Step 9: Work On Generating Sales

Start by listening to your potential customers to know their wants, needs, likes, and dislikes. Next, learn the art of asking for a commitment without being too pushy.

In other words, don’t force your customers into buying goods from you, or they won’t return.

Moreover, you have to prepare yourself for hearing “NO“ too. Sad, I know.

People listen to your elevator pitch despite having no intention to buy simply because they’re polite. If they don’t end up buying from you, don’t get disheartened.

Grow your customer base and put out advertisements to find an audience to fit your business.

At this point, you’ll also have to figure out the right sales funnel and strategy to generate leads and convert them into paying customers.

Sales and marketing are critical to building a successful business. Check out some of these free customer relationship management tools that help you stay organized as you grow your contact list.

 

Step 10: Expand Your Business

You must have a growth plan if you want to earn and scale your business. Luckily, there are about a million ways to grow your company.

I’d highly recommend utilizing the power of social media through an organic, influencer, and paid campaigns. Email marketing works equally well to create and nurture a dedicated customer base.

One of the key aspects of long-term growth is to have a dedicated customer base and reduce customer churn.

All the efforts you put into nurturing your existing customers can be useful in the long run when they act as your repeat customers, ensuring revenue in the long run.

 

Conclusion

We’ve covered everything you need to know to start a business. Now you can prepare for the exciting adventure in front of you.

Taking the first step can feel a bit scary, but don’t fear. Take the plunge and launch your business–it’s a lot of fun!

Of course, you’ll find challenges and roadblocks along the way, but as long as you remain dedicated and driven, you can learn from your mistakes and climb higher up the ladder.

Don’t wait any longer!

Source: neilpatel.com

Best Cloud Storage Services

 

Do you want to skip the read and get right to my top picks? The best cloud storage service for most people is pCloud or IceDrive. The rise in the popularity of cloud storage is not hard to explain. It’s safe, affordable, and undoubtedly easy to use.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

Companies of all sizes use it for backups, document archiving, team collaboration, and file sharing. Getting new storage space without having to build and manage additional infrastructure is a huge time saver.

But choosing the best cloud storage services isn’t always easy, especially since there are so many options on the market. I’ve narrowed it down and reviewed my top nine recommendations.

After the reviews, you’ll find a short guide that shows you how I broke down my choices, and how you can find the best cloud storage services for your specific needs.

 

Best Cloud Storage Services

#1 – pCloud Review — The Best Cloud Storage Service with Lifetime Access

Cloud storage services through pCloud start at $4.99 per month for 500 GB, which is a good deal.

Of course, if you pay for lifetime access to pCloud storage, you get a far better deal.

Yes, it’s more money upfront, but way less expensive in the long run.

If you are buying storage that you know you are going to need for 3 years or more, getting a lifetime plan with pCloud is one of your most cost-effective options.

It’s not just the price though. pCloud’s lifetime plans come with a wide range of features, including:

• Shareable links and file requests
• Brandable and customizable share links
• TLS and SSL channel protection
• Five copies on different servers
• Automatic syncing
• Offline access capabilities
• Built-in video and audio player
• File versioning up to 30 days in the past

pCloud also offers an add-on service for extra security and client-side encryption.

You have the option to pay annually or for a lifetime subscription.

There are two-lifetime storage plans to choose from, including:

• Premium — 500 GB for $480 (only $175 for a limited time)
• Premium Plus — 2 TB for $980 (only $350 for a limited time)

If you prefer paying annually, you can do that as well.

You can try pCloud for free for up to 10 GB of storage space.

So, sign up for a free account or buy lifetime access to get started!

 

#2 – Icedrive Review — The Best Desktop and Portable Cloud Storage Software

If you’re looking for cloud storage that feels more like a hard drive with cloud servers’ portability and flexibility, Icedrive is a smart choice.

It utilizes drive mounting software so you can access your files as if they’re stored directly on your computer.

You can also get up to 10 GB of storage space for free, making this one of the most robust free plans on this list.

Icedrive offers several different storage apps for various devices, including web-based, mobile, and desktop. So, you can easily access your files from anywhere.

The mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices with a clean and intuitive interface.

With it, you can view documents in various formats, watch videos and listen to audio files with the built-in media player, and create a full device backup in just a few taps.

Plus, the various apps come packed full of powerful features, including:

• Client-side Twofish encryption
• Password protection
• Share timeout capabilities
• Collaboration tools

Icedrive offers monthly, annual, and lifetime plans.

Monthly Pro plans start at $4.99 per month for up to 1 TB of data, which is incredibly affordable. Alternatively, you can pay $49.99 per year or $149 for lifetime access.

If you just need a small amount of cloud storage, Lite Plans start at $19.99 for the year or $59 for lifetime access. This comes with 150 GB.

Obviously, the lifetime plans get you the best price in the long run.

But Icedrive is worth checking out if you want a fast and secure cloud storage solution.

Choose your storage requirements to get started!

 

#3 – iDrive Review — The Best Device Backups with Unlimited Users

If you need cloud storage or cloud backups for a large number of people, it’s more affordable to choose a plan with unlimited users.

With Drive, you can have as many users as you want with flexible plans depending on the amount of space you need.

iDrive’s personal plan is also affordable if you only need cloud storage for yourself.

However, the business plans are where the service really shines.

Those business plans come with a ton of powerful features, including things like:

• Unlimited PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, and tablet backups
• Continuous and automatic data backups
• External hard drive backups
• Remote management via a browser-based application
• User and group management
• Single sign-on24/7 priority support
• Server backups
• Business compliance

So, it’s an excellent option for businesses of all sizes needing backups and affordable cloud storage space.

Pricing starts at $99.50 per year for 250 GB, with storage limits up to 12.5 TB if you need more.

Alternatively, you can opt for monthly plans starting at $49.95 per month for 1.25 TB.

You can try iDrive free for up to 5 GB to see if it’s right for you.

From there, you can upgrade once you run out of space or need access to more features.

Sign up for a free account and choose your plan to get started today!

 

#4 – Zoolz Review — The Best High-volume Cloud Storage Services

If you need a secure place to store large amounts of backup data (100 TB range), Zoolz is an excellent choice.

• They offer long-term storage plans in increments of one, three, and five years.
• The longer your term and the more space you have, the more you can save.
• Plus, Zoolz’ enterprise-grade mass backup storage plans come with a ton of security, management, and reporting features, including:
• Automatic purging by days and versions
• Smart duplication algorithm even for encrypted files
• On-the-fly decryption for easy access
• Military-grade AES encryption
• Easy deployment via Active Directory Deployment
• Advanced device management
• Bandwidth and storage monitoring
• Automatic system alerts
• Continuous change monitoring
• Server backups

If you don’t need mass storage, Zoolz offers standard cloud backup plans for businesses of all sizes starting at $15 per month (or $99 per year) for up to 1 TB of storage space.

Speak with a cloud specialist to learn more and get started today!

 

#5 – Degoo Cloud Review — The Best for Storing Photos

If you’re interested in a better way to store your photos, Degoo Cloud is a photo storage service that lets you rediscover memories using AI and a built-in personal image feed.

Plus, Degoo has over 23 million users worldwide.

So, you’re in good company.

On top of that, you get top-notch security.

When you upload an image, you can encrypt it with a password.

From there, the data gets broken down into pieces and scattered throughout several data centers in different countries.

The company even claims it’s 100% NSA proof.

So, you can rest easy knowing your photos are safe and secure.

It’s also an excellent way to free up space on your phone.

And you can choose when you want to upload your files to preserve your phone’s battery life.

Alternatively, you can set things up to auto-upload into your Degoo account.

Furthermore, Degoo works on virtually any device with iOS, Android, and web-based applications available.

You have three different plans to choose from, including:

• Free — 100 GB of storage, three devices, and Degoo ads
• Pro — 500 GB of storage, ten devices, and no ads for $2.99 per month
• Ultimate — 10 TB of storage and unlimited devices for $9.99 per month

Create a free account to get started with Degoo today!

 

#6 – SpiderOak One Review — The Best Storage and Backups for Security

If you want or need advanced levels of security, SpiderOak is an excellent choice.

It offers everything you need to protect your data and stay compliant with local, state, and federal regulations (like HIPPA).

Rather than a true cloud storage provider, SpiderOak provides data backups.

However, you can share and access those files.

So, it works similarly, but you can only store backups vs. uploading whatever you want.

On top of that, SpiderOak practices No Knowledge, meaning the company has no knowledge of your passwords, the data you’re storing, or any of the metadata associated with the files you upload.

No one but you knows what you store on the cloud.

And the system is built with privacy and security in mind with end-to-end encryption.

This means your files are encrypted before they ever leave your computer, and they stay encrypted the entire time they’re stored.

Furthermore, you also get:

• Point-in-time recovery to restore data to any point in time
• File sharing (No Knowledge doesn’t apply to shared files)
• Mobile apps for file viewing
• Separate encryption keys for each file
• File versioningAccess to deleted files

Pricing starts at $6/month for up to 150 GB and goes all the way up to 5 TB for $29/month.

Sign up for a 21-day free trial to see if SpiderOak One is right for you and your business today!

 

#7 – OneDrive Review — The Best for Windows Users

If you use Windows and none of the other options feel like a good fit, OneDrive is an affordable and easy-to-use option.

There are family, individual, and business plans available to suit individuals and businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Plus, you can access, edit, and manage your files from any device regardless of where you are in the world.

Some plans also include access to Microsoft Office apps, like Word and Excel.

So, it’s a great deal if you don’t already have those tools.

Each business plan includes 1 TB of storage space, among various other features, including:

• Secure file sharing
• Access expiration dates
• Accessing files on the cloud without having to download
• Offline access
• Mentions, comments, and tasks
• File folder and access controls
• Password protection
• Multi-page scanning

Furthermore, you can get unlimited cloud storage space with the Business 2 plan.

It also includes advanced security features so you can rest easy knowing your files are secure.

OneDrive’s business plans include:

• Business 1 — $5/month paid annually for 1 TB of space
• Business 2 — $10/month paid annually for unlimited space and advanced security
• 365 Business Basic — $6/month for 1 TB plus essential Office apps
• 365 Standard — $15/month for 1 TB plus all Office apps and collaboration tools

Alternatively, you can get 5 GB for free or pay $1.99/month for 100 GB of personal storage space.

Choose your plan to get started with OneDrive today!

 

#8 – iCloud Review — The Best for Apple Users

iCloud definitely isn’t the strongest competitor on this list.

But it’s a good choice if you already use Apple devices and want an easy way to store and access your files from one device to another.

Plus, you automatically get 5 GB of storage for free.

If you’re a light user, this may be enough for you.

However, if you have a lot of photos or videos, you probably need more space.

Furthermore, it’s incredibly easy to set up and upgrade to a higher plan.

You can upgrade from any of your devices using your iTunes account.

And there are various storage plans to choose from, including 50 GB, 200 GB, and 2 TB.

You can also share this storage space with up to six people in your household.

This space can also be used for device backups, including your Apple watch, home screen, and app organization, purchase history, photos, videos, and device settings.

This means you don’t have to start from scratch if you get a new device.

You can simply use the backups stored in iCloud.

In the US, paid plans start at $0.99/month and extend up to $9.99 per month.

These prices vary in other countries and regions, so be sure to check out iCloud’s storage plan pricing for your country before upgrading.

 

#9 – Google Drive Review — The Best for Google Users

If your organization uses G Suite (now called Workspace), Google Drive is included in your subscription.

It’s packed full of powerful features and is incredibly affordable for businesses of all sizes.

Workspace paid plans, include business email accounts, cloud storage space, video conferencing capabilities, internal messaging, and various web-based tools for document creation, PowerPoint presentations, and more.

So, you get everything you need to connect, collaborate, and share documents with your entire team.

But if you’re not already using or planning on using Workspace for business email, you’re better off choosing Workspace Essentials (doesn’t include email services and starts at $8/month) or a different option on this list.

Google Drive comes with various features, including:

• Desktop, web-based, and mobile applications
• Centralized user and data management
• Data loss prevention services
• AI-driven predictions for important content
• Shared drives for easy team access
• Cloud-based streaming
• Advanced sharing and accessibility settings

Pricing for Google Workspace starts at $6/month per user with up to 30 GB of storage space per user.

You can also upgrade to a higher plan for more space and additional features.

Alternatively, there’s an enterprise plan with unlimited storage, advanced security features, and custom pricing.

Choose your plan to get started with Google Drive today!

 

What I Looked at to Find the Best Cloud Storage Services

Every option on this list has its own set of perks, features, and benefits.

They’re all great in one aspect or another, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all service that I can recommend across the board.

You want to find a cloud storage service that offers resources and capabilities that align with your needs.

Here are the criteria I’m looking at when I make an evaluation.

Use this short guide to break down the market and find a solution that will help your organization over the long term.

 

Storage Limits

Every cloud storage service offers various plans with differing storage limits and different price points, depending on how much space you need.

You don’t necessarily need to know how much space you need before you decide.

Thankfully, it’s easy to upgrade and add more storage space with most providers on the list.

Some charge a small monthly fee to add more space and others may require you to upgrade to a different plan.

With that said, I always recommend starting on the lowest plan until you meet those storage limits.

From there, you can upgrade as you need to.

However, it is essential to choose a provider that can scale with you.

For example, if you know you’re going to need hundreds of terabytes of space, you need a mass storage provider since you will quickly outgrow a standard cloud storage service.

 

Security

Legal requirements for your industry and your personal preferences may require advanced security features and capabilities.

And when it comes to cloud storage, not all providers are equally secure.

Some practice No Knowledge, meaning they do not know your password, account details, encryption keys, or the files you store on their servers.

Furthermore, end-to-end encryption is common but not utilized by every provider.

And some may change their security processes while your files are moving, while they’re stored, or when you share them with other people.

So, you need to be aware of the types and levels of security you need.

This is especially important if you need advanced security for legal compliance, like HIPAA privacy laws in the healthcare industry.

 

Number of Users

This consideration isn’t as crucial if you’re looking for personal cloud storage.

However, if you need cloud storage for your company, you typically need to pay monthly per user.

So, it’s important to understand how many users you have and how much space each account needs to have.

Some providers, like iDrive, offer plans with unlimited users and an all-encompassing storage limit.

So, you only need to upgrade when you reach the maximum storage capacity, rather than paying separately for new accounts.

However, others don’t offer this, and you’re required to pay for the number of users you have.

 

Operating System

iCloud is specifically for Apple devices.

So, it doesn’t make sense if you don’t use the Mac operating system or have an iPhone.

On the other hand, OneDrive is specifically for Windows users.

Some providers offer solutions that work regardless of your OS.

So, this isn’t a crucial consideration unless you plan to use a cloud storage service specifically for your operating system.

You may even need more than one of these services.

I use iCloud to back up my phone and for personal use, but I use pCloud and Google Drive to run my business.

 

Your Use Cases

Do you need device backups?

Maybe you need easy file-sharing or access to files from multiple devices.

Perhaps you want to archive sensitive information.

Different types of cloud storage services are better suited to handle each type of task.

Those that are good for archiving let you store a ton of data for next to nothing, but they don’t come with the collaborative tools that help teams work together in real-time.

Make sure you have a clear idea of how you want your new cloud storage service to be used across your organization.

Understanding these use cases will make it easier to decide which type of service will work best for your teams.

 

Conclusion

pCloud, iDrive, and Icedrive are my top recommendations for most users.

Each service offers flexible plans at affordable prices to suit individuals and businesses.

However, your storage and security needs also play a role in which option you should choose.

It may be that one of these services offers better integration with the tools you are already using.

To review, here’s my full list of best cloud storage services:

1. pCloud – Best cloud storage with lifetime access
2. Icedrive – Best desktop and portable cloud storage software
3. iDrive – Best device backups with unlimited users
4. Zoolz – Best high-volume data storage services (100TB+)
5. Degoo Cloud – Best for photo storage and sharing
6. SpiderOak One – Best storage and backups for security
7. OneDrive – Best for Windows/PC users
8. iCloud – Best for Apple/iOS users
9. Google Drive – Best for Google users

Some people won’t want another monthly service expense, so they can purchase lifetime storage from pCloud and never have to worry again.

Or they may want to set up storage that’s easily accessible for their whole company with iDrive.

What do you need out of your cloud storage service?

Be sure to use the considerations I talked about above in order to figure out which one is going to work best.

Follow the links and explore your options in greater detail. You may even find promotional pricing that gets you an even better deal on cloud storage.

What’s your favorite cloud storage service?

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Best Webcasting Services

Webcasting has quickly become a popular large-scale communication tool in the digital era. It’s a way for businesses and individuals to communicate with hundreds or even thousands of people worldwide. Webcasting can be leveraged for a broad scope of use cases, like lead generation, customer support, internal company communications, and so much more.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

The terms “webcasting” and “webinar” are often confused with each other. Unlike a webinar, webcasting is a one-way flow of information. The host presents and the audience watches without really interacting. Webinars are typically more interactive.

This key difference makes it much easier to reach the masses. But having a successful webcast is reliant on finding the right webcasting service. Which one is the best? Let’s dive in.

The Top 6 Options For Webcasting Services

• GlobalMeet — Most Versatile Webcasting Service
• Cisco Webex — Best For Large Scale Events
• ClickMeeting — Best For Monetizing Webcasts
• ezTalks — Best For Pre-Recorded Online Events
• ON24 Webcast Elite — Best For Audience Engagement and Conversions
• Samba Live — Best For Cross-Platform Live Streaming

 

How to Choose the Best Webcasting Services For You

Before you can start evaluating different webcasting solutions, it’s essential to understand what qualifications should be considered in your decision. This is the methodology that I used to come up with the top picks on the market today. Use these factors as a buying guide and weigh their importance against your personal webcasting needs.

 

Number of Attendees

How many people are you expecting for your webcast?

Most webcasting services will have limits on attendee lists. Some services might restrict you to 5,000 or 10,000 attendees, while others give you up to 100,000.

Compared to webinars and web conferences, webcasts typically have a higher number of attendees. Keep this in mind as you’re browsing through different options. Make sure you factor in the attendee limits of each plan.

 

Audio and Video Quality

Since webcasts are typically broadcasted from a single presenter, the audio and video quality must be a top priority. Tens of thousands of people around the world could be viewing your webcast.

If the feed is lagging, grainy, or low quality, the message won’t be as impactful, and attendees may drop out mid-presentation.

The quality of your webcast will be a direct reflection of you and your brand. This is definitely an area that can’t be overlooked as you’re comparing solutions.

 

Event Management Tools

Webcasts often require a significant amount of preparation. From the promotional materials to speaker lists and more, there’s quite a bit of work that must be done before, during, and after the event.

Look for a webcasting service that simplifies event management. Even though webcasts typically aren’t interactive, features like audience polling can be highly beneficial.

 

Recording and Editing Capabilities

Make sure the webcasting service you’re evaluating allows for event recording. Not every webcast is presented live. Some are pre-recorded and available on-demand.

If you’re pre-recording an event, take advantage of any built-in editing tools. Mistakes are inevitable during a live broadcast. But you can cut those out of an on-demand webcast with editing tools to add professionalism to any event.

The best webcasting services give presenters the ability to remove, add, or even reorganize content before archiving it for on-demand viewing.

 

Reporting and Analytics

Look for a webcasting service with sophisticated reporting tools. Most platforms offer the basics, like the number of attendees and their location.

But some webcasting services go above and beyond with poll results, audience interactions, and other key audience behavior. These deeper insights can help you define and create future presentations, which is crucial for sales and marketing webcasts.

 

The Different Types of Webcasting Services

Generally speaking, webcasting falls into one of three categories. Not every webcasting service will accommodate all three of these, although most offer more than one.

Live Streaming

Live webcasts are when the presentation gets broadcasted in real-time to your audience. There’s a defined start and end time, and there’s no way to rewind or start over.

Both live streaming and on-demand webcasts are more often self-serviced, meaning you handle the logistics and filming for your event.

On-Demand Webcasting

On-demand webcasts are pre-recorded. There are generally two ways to produce an on-demand event.

You can simply record a live event and make it available for viewing at a later time. Or you could record a webcast without ever presenting in front of a live audience.

The second option is better for evergreen content that isn’t really time-sensitive. This will give you more flexibility with editing as well.

Managed Webcasting

Managed webcasting services minimizing the workload for the presenter. The service provider takes care of the logistics, broadcast, and filming for the event. Presenters just need to worry about the content.

With that said, self-service webcasting is more popular than managed webcasting. Most businesses and individuals choose to handle the publishing and editing of webcasts on their own while using the infrastructure from a webcasting service provider.

 

Examples of Webcasting Service Options-

#1 – GlobalMeet Review — Most Versatile Webcasting Service

GlobalMeet is a product offered by Premiere Global Services (PGi), an industry leader in the digital communication and collaboration space.

Formerly Talkpoint, GlobalMeet Webcast is trusted by Fortune 500s and enterprises across the globe. This cloud-based SaaS (software as a service) makes it easy for organizations to create high-quality webcasts for thousands of viewers worldwide.

GlobalMeet’s versatility is what makes it unique compared to other webcasting services on the market today. It’s used for town hall broadcasts, employee onboarding and training, investor meetings, marketing presentations, corporate communications, human resources, and so much more. They offer both managed and self-service support for webcasts.

With GlobalMeet, you’ll benefit from basic and advanced features like:

• Live and on-demand presentations
• High-quality audio and video streaming
• Live Q&A, audience polling, and social media feeds
• Tools for managing attendee registration data
• Powerful analytics and reporting
• Enterprise-grade security
• Seamless integrations with CRMs and marketing tools
• In-event branding tools
• Unlimited cloud storage for on-demand viewing

GlobalMeet provides white-glove event services as well. They offer solutions for event moderation, advanced training, event setup, event customization, and more.

In Short, GlobalMeet has everything you need to execute a successful webcast at scale, regardless of the use case.

GlobalMeet does not publish pricing for their Webcast Starter License, but you can easily contact the GlobalMeet sales team for a quote on webcasting services.

 

#2 – Cisco Webex Webcasting Review — The Best For Large Scale Events

Cisco Webex is another industry leader in the business communications space. They provide an extensive list of high-quality products for varying use cases—webcasting included.

Cisco Webex Webcasting can support up to 100,000 attendees worldwide, making it one of the best options on the market for massive events.

Running an event at this scale is no easy task. But Cisco provides everything you need to ensure the webcast is produced without a hitch.

They offer all of the features you need before, during, and after the event. Cisco assists with registration and sending reminders to attendees before getting started. They’ll even set up your audio and offer technical assistance during a practice run before the event itself.

Other top features and benefits of Cisco Webex Webcasting include:

• One-click recording
• Real-time tech support
• Custom event enrollment
• Attendee questions for lead scoring, tracking, and follow-ups
• High-quality audio and video
• Advanced security
• Slide share, polling, Q&A, and chat
• Unlimited broadcast time
• Unlimited on-demand viewing

Cisco Webex’s webcasting support is second to none. Their team of experts will provide you with training and an extensive library of resources to ensure success. When you combine this with the ability to reach 100,000 people, it’s tough to find flaws with it.

Cisco does not list their pricing for webcasting services. Contact the Cisco sales team to get started.

 

#3 – ClickMeeting Review — The Best For Monetizing Webcasts

ClickMeeting is an online communication platform with several different products and service offerings. They have solutions for marketing, product demos, online learning, training sessions, team collaboration, and more.

ClickMeeting also has webcasting services to accommodate events with up to 10,000 attendees.

ClickMeeting has unique features not offered by other webcasting services on the market—monetization tools. They have everything you need to generate a profit from your large-scale online event.

PayPal integration makes it easy to sell tickets for webcasts. It’s even possible to connect ClickMeeting to platforms like Eventbrite with a Zapier integration. If neither of these monetization options accommodates your needs, just use ClickMeeting’s API to manage your unique payment method.

In addition to the monetization benefits, ClickMeeting offers additional webcasting features like:

• Promotional registration pages
• Social media sharing and email invitations Certificates of attendance for viewers
• Follow-up messages to attendeesGuest speaker invitations with presentation access
• Panel discussions with up to four simultaneous speakersWhiteboard tools, documents, and video sharing
• Password protection and tokenization for events

ClickMeeting even lets you break up the webcast into smaller workshops with the ability to sell tickets for each session.

If you want to generate revenue with your webcasts, look no further than ClickMeeting. ClickMeeting offers a free 30-day trial for up to 25 attendees for live, automated, and on-demand webinars.

The Live plan starts at $25 per month, billed annually, for an unlimited number of meetings, six hours of recording storage, and one gigabyte of file storage.

They also offer an Automated plan starting at $40 per month, and you’ll need to contact ClickMeeting sales for a custom quote for the Enterprise plan, which includes webcasting services for up to 10,000 attendees.

 

#4 – ezTalks Review — The Best For Pre-Recorded Online Events

Like many webcasting services on the market today, ezTalks is a platform with several different online communication tools. They offer services for webinars, huddle rooms, meetings, and more. But you can also use ezTalks for live events with up to 10,000 attendees.

ezTalks has some unique features for pre-recorded events that aren’t available from other providers, including an automated live event.

As a presenter, you can use ezTalks to record live events ahead of time. The webcast will then start “live” at a specific date and time for attendees to tune in. Live audiences won’t know the difference, but the host doesn’t need to be present at the scheduled event time.

In addition to the automated webcasts, ezTalks has options for traditional on-demand viewing. It’s easy for audiences to access events with the ability to pause, fast-forward, or rewind whenever they want.

As an all-in-one solution for webcasting, ezTalks gives you the ability to host traditional live events and paid events as well.

Other top features and benefits of ezTalks include:

• Easy scheduling
• Templates for registration pages, waiting rooms, and thank-you pages
• Custom branding
• Event invitation emails
• HD audio and video
• One-click screen sharing
• Whiteboard accessPolls and surveys
• Mobile app for running events from anywhere

If you want the ability to produce pre-recorded live events and on-demand webcasts, ezTalks will be a top option for you to consider.

Pricing for ezTalks automated and on-demand services start at $32 per month per host for 100 attendees with their Pro plan.

The Business plan offers full webcasting services for $300 per month per host for 1000 attendees and has options up to 10,000.

EzTalks also offers a basic free package for live webinars with up to 25 participants to test out the software.

Unlike some other services, ezTalks also has hardware and accessories for sale if you need additional equipment.

 

#5 – ON24 Webcast Elite Review — Best For Audience Engagement and Conversions

Just because webcasts aren’t as interactive as a webinar or web conference, it doesn’t mean that you can’t keep your audience engaged. ON24 Webcast Elite solves this problem.

Unlike other webcasting tools out there, ON24 goes above and beyond to drive engagement and take your webcasts to the next level.

ON24 Webcast Elite is a marketer’s dream. The platform makes it easy to create data-rich webcasts that generate engagement and stimulate ongoing relationships.

Whether you’re using a live or on-demand webcast, ON24 has real-time engagement and conversion tools designed for lead qualification and buying. You’ll be able to quickly understand the buying intent and interest level of your audience, which improves sales follow-ups and future campaigns.

ON24 Webcast Elite has unique backend tools that automatically capture audience buying signals. You can seamlessly integrate this data with your CRM or marketing automation platform to optimize the way you nurture prospects.

Other top features and benefits to consider include:

• 20+ engagement and conversion tools
• Lead qualification tools
• Sales pipeline insights
• Fully customizable audience dashboards
• On-demand viewingSurveys and attendee feedback
• Provide related content and resources on the webcast dashboard
• Make it easy for audiences to book a meeting, schedule a demo, or contact your team

ON24 Webcast Elite is more than just a webcasting service. This solution is built for driving engagement and generating conversions.

Try it free for 30 days to see if it is right for you, and contact the ON24 Webcast Elite team for a demo and quote.

 

#6 – Samba Live Review — The Best For Cross-Platform Live Streaming

Samba Live by Digital Samba is a webcasting service with unlimited scalability. You can invite as many attendees as you want to your next event and potentially reach millions of viewers worldwide.

That’s why global leaders like Deloitte, Ferrari, and McDonald’s rely on Samba Live for webcasting.

What makes Samba Live stand out from the crowd is the ability to stream live across multiple platforms simultaneously. You can use the software to stream webcasts on Facebook and YouTube to maximize your potential reach.

The software is 100% browser-based and cloud-based, so you won’t have to worry about downloads, hardware, or access restrictions.

Here are some other reasons why Samba Live ranks high on my list:

• Simple and intuitive UI for presenters and audiences alike
• HD audio and video
• Supports multiple devices OS (Mac, PC, Android, iOS, tablet, smartphone, etc.)File sharing and screen sharing
• Custom screen layoutsWhiteboard markups and annotation
• Custom registration pages and thank-you pages
• Email invitations Q&A, polling, and surveys

Samba Live is versatile enough to accommodate your needs, from virtual workshops and training events to sales meetings and company-wide announcements.

You can try it free for 14 days with no credit card required, then the Pro plan starts at $49 per month.

 

Summary

Webcasting is an excellent way to reach thousands or potentially millions of viewers across the globe. Organizations of all shapes and sizes leverage webcasting services for marketing, lead generation, training sessions, internal communication, and more.

Which service is the best? It depends on your unique needs.

There’s a solution for everyone on my list. Whether you want to monetize a webcast, drive audience engagement, or something else, the recommendations in this guide will steer you in the right direction.

The post Best Webcasting Services appeared first on Neil Patel.

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Best VPN Services

The pandemic has changed work permanently. Before COVID-19, only 9.8 million (out of 140 civilian workers in the U.S.) worked remotely.

Today, almost 70 million people are working remotely.

Are you working remotely?

If you are, there’s a good chance that you’ll need a virtual private network (VPN).

Small businesses with employees that need to work remotely are also going to need a VPN as well.

Today, we’re going to take a look at VPNs — what they are, why you need them, and how to find the VPN that’s right for you.

What’s a VPN, and Why Do You Need One?

A VPN is a private network that’s run through a public network — imagine that a remote worker sitting in Starbucks had an extra-long Ethernet cable. They plug one end into their computer and the other end directly into their company’s servers at work.

That’s basically what a VPN does; it creates a secure and encrypted tunnel from your computer to a server on the internet.

This is great because it means no one can access the data you’re sharing with your computer and company server. You have privacy and data security.

We’re going to look at seven of the top VPN Services, explaining the pros and cons of each service.

Our 7 Picks For Best VPN Services:

• NordVPN Teams — Best new service from the industry leader
• ExpressVPN — Consumer favorite, best-in-class
• Perimeter 81 — Best for small business teams
• VyprVPN — Best VPN for speed
• SurfShark — Best for the price
• Mullvad — Best for anonymity
• TunnelBear — Best for beginners

How to Choose the Best VPN Service for You

When you’re looking for a VPN, the first thing you’ll want to do is identify your needs.

What do you want your VPN to do for you?

Beyond privacy and data security, are there other features you need from your VPN?

In general, most people focus their attention on four specific criteria.

Criteria #1: Speed and Reliability

If you’re planning on using your VPN for things that require a lot of data or activity, you’ll want to choose a service that’s optimized for speed and reliability.

For those who share large files routinely or stream video consistently, you’ll want to select a VPN that provides unlimited connections, unlimited bandwidth, and high download and upload speeds.

When it comes to speed and reliability, there are factors you control and factors your service provider controls.

Factors within your control include:

• Improving Wi-Fi stability
• Using a wired connection (which is always faster)
• Upgrading your internet connection speeds or your VPN
• Choosing a VPN service with more servers or servers closer to your desired location.

Factors outside your control include:

• Number of servers
• Server load
• Server location/distance (longer distance = slower speeds)
• International bandwidth restrictions (i.e., VPNs in Australia are slow due to underwater fiber optic cables carrying a set amount of data at any one time)
• VPN protocols
• Complicated peering relationships between networks (also reduces speed)

You’ll want to test your VPN speed so you can verify the claims your provider is making. You’ll need two things to do that — an accurate testing method and a baseline for your tests.

Here are some of the more reliable speed tests you can use to verify your VPN speeds.

speedof.mespeedtest.netfast.comspeedtest.xfinity.com

Next, run a speed test on the same connection, with and without your VPN. If you’re on Wi-Fi, stay on Wi-Fi for both tests. Run the tests twice to get an average speed. Run your tests using the same VPN server/location you plan on using with your service.

Criteria #2: Security and Privacy

VPNs should be secure by default; the VPN service you choose should have the basics of security and privacy protection down.

Here are the most important security and privacy requirements you’ll need to consider when choosing a VPN.

For security:

Handshake encryption: This takes place at the beginning of the VPN session where you and the server you’re communicating with exchange private keys that encrypt or decrypt data and messages to acknowledge each other.

Authentication: Reputable VPN services will use a hash algorithm to automatically verify the packets they receive, making sure that data from a middleman hasn’t been injected into your packet. They’ll also verify that your data hasn’t been tampered with or changed in any way.

Ciphers: This is an algorithm, like AES, that encrypts and decrypts your data in a series of clearly defined steps. Using a key to encrypt your data makes it impossible for unwanted eyes to spy on your data unless they have the specific key that was used to encrypt the message. So the unencrypted message “VPNs made easy” would become “FVWWOluB9rHb5KUtyJYqlA==” using the AES algorithm.

Encryption strength: 128-bit AES encryption is faster but less secure; 256-bit encryption is slower but more secure. Stronger encryption is obviously harder to break, so this is more of a priority if you’re focused on security.

For privacy:

Activity logs: Many free VPN services track your activity — the websites and pages you visit, files downloaded, etc. These free VPNs sell or monetize your usage activity on their VPN without your permission or knowledge.

Connection logs: Other VPN services track assigned IP addresses, connection start/end times, or bytes of data transferred. This typically doesn’t include your data, but it can be combined with other data (i.e., the IP address you used to log into your Slack account) to expose your identity.

If privacy is important to you, you’ll want to stick with log-free VPN services that don’t track your activity or metadata.

Criteria #3: Compatible Devices

If you have an iPhone, but you use Windows on your computer, you’ll want to verify that the VPN services are compatible with your devices.

While most VPN services are compatible with the standard platforms (Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS), some aren’t available on all platforms. The VPN that’s Windows ready may not be available on Android or iOS.You’ll want to verify that your devices are all compatible before signing up.

Criteria #4: Connections

How many devices can connect to your VPN service simultaneously?

The availability of connections tends to vary from service to service. Some providers allow just one; others allow up to three, while others are unlimited. You’ll need to identify what you need ahead of time.

It’s not just connections that you have to worry about, though. You also have to take a look at the availability of countries and the availability of servers.

If you have specific availability needs, you’ll want to verify this with your VPN service provider ahead of time, then confirm this during your free trial or guarantee period.

Other important VPN considerations include:

Payment plans: The cost you’ll pay for VPN services varies considerably, and it depends on the features you choose and the length of your subscription.

Customer service: If you need on-demand customer support (in case something goes wrong), you’ll want a VPN service that provides live chat or phone support (which will impact the price). If that’s not as much of a concern, then a provider who offers email support may be a better option.

Free trial or money-back guarantee:  If you opt for a service that offers a free trial, you’ll want to choose a service that gives you enough time to try things out. Some VPN services’ free trial period is quite short, which may not be enough time to verify the service on your end. A money-back guarantee is ideal because you have a way out in case their service isn’t what you’ve expected.

User friendly or tech-savvy: If you’re not comfortable with setting up and configuring your VPN, you’ll want to make sure you find a provider with a user-friendly interface. Some providers will configure your VPN for you virtually, so everything is done for you ahead of time.

Now that you have all the important considerations spelled out, it’s time to consider which type of VPN service is going to handle the job best.

The Different Types of VPN Services

It’s important to make a distinction between VPN technology and VPN services.

As we’ve already discussed, a virtual private network boils down to a secure, private connection between your device and endpoint. That is VPN technology.

VPN services, on the other hand, provide a suite of tools that allow companies to take advantage of VPN technology instead of having to set it up themselves.

Using VPN services, you can not only protect your internet connection and guard your privacy but gain access to extra customer service with configuration guides, automatic setup, and live chat support.

Generally speaking, VPN services break down into these four distinct types:

Remote Access VPN – Provide a secure connection from a user to a remote server to gain entry to a private network.

Intranet-based Site-to-Site VPN – Provide a secure connection for various users in different, fixed locations to connect to each other’s resources. For example: With a site-to-site VPN, multiple local area networks (LAN) can connect to a single wide-area network (WAN). Think of one company with numerous locations sharing resources.

Extranet-based Site-to-Site VPN – Difficult to implement, these VPNs are common in large-scale business environments where you are looking for a secure connection between two separate intranets, but you do not want them having the ability to access each other directly. Think of two different companies working together.

Cloud VPN – Also known as virtual private network-as-a-service (VPNaaS), is designed for organizations that rely on outsourced cloud data centers instead of in-house infrastructure. A traditional VPN doesn’t work if your organization stores all of your data in the cloud. A cloud VPN allows users to access a company’s resources — applications, data, and files through a website or via a native desktop or mobile app.

As a user looking to secure your privacy and access the internet, or secure business data for your remote workforce, you’re most likely looking for commercial VPN Services.

Let’s take a look at our picks for the top VPN providers.

1. NordVPN Teams — Best new service from the industry leader

• Pricing: $7 – $9 per mo.
• The number of servers: 5,000+
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: 24/7 response within 3 hrs.
• Single sign-on: Yes
• Multi-device support: Yes apps on all devices

NordVPN Teams is a new VPN service from an industry leader. NordVPN is known for its consistent performance, a strong stance on privacy, and aggressive security features. The company is based in Panama, where there are no mandatory data retention laws and no legal obligation to collect your data. It’s also important because Panama doesn’t participate in the five eyes or fourteen eyes alliances.

They don’t track, collect, or share your private data — activity, usage, or metadata. They invited one of the big four auditing firms PriceWaterhouseCoopers AG, to run an industry-first audit of their no logging claims to verify that they’re telling the truth.

NordVPN is one of the few providers that offers double VPN, an advanced VPN security feature that routes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one, encrypting your data twice. They provide two-factor authentication and single sign-on, which are standard features for top-tier VPN services. They also provide you with a kill switch, if your connection drops for even a second, the kill switch will cut off all the Internet traffic on your device, ensuring none of your information is exposed online.

For business customers, they provide you with a dedicated account manager that’s assigned to your account. Your Control Panel enables you to manage user accounts, control permissions, and create gateways. You can oversee user activity, monitor server load, add new users, and create custom teams from inside your control panel.

Pros

• A trusted brand name
• Thousands of servers around the world
• Single sign-on (SSO) functionality
• Strong on security
• Apps on all devices
• Fast speeds
• Cryptocurrencies and cash accepted

Cons

• Slow app and server connections
• An open VPN connection is not user-friendly
• No split tunnelingShared IP addresses

2. ExpressVPN — Consumer favorite, best-in-class

• Pricing: $8.32 per mo. (annual), $12.95 (monthly)
• Number of servers: 3,000+
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: 24/7 live chat
• Multi-device support: Yes

ExpressVPN doesn’t have a product strictly designed for businesses. They’re consumer-focused, which is great if you’re a sole proprietor or a remote, contract, or freelance worker on your own. Their apps are compatible with almost every device on the usual platforms; they also have apps for nontraditional platforms, including— Linux, Kindle Fire, Chromebook, and even Barnes and Noble’s Nook!

Since they’re consumer-focused, their apps are user-friendly, easy to set up, and simple to maintain. They provide you with all of the standard encryption and security features you’d expect from a top-rated VPN provider. And, they also provide you with some unique features like split-tunneling or using their own DNS servers.

Like NordVPN, they have a no-logging policy as their company is based in the British Virgin Islands. There’s no mandated government surveillance and no data retention laws.

Pros

• Consumer-focused
• User-friendly and easy-to-use
• Apps available on all devices and platforms
• Strong reputation
• Top-rated security and encryption

Cons

• No VPN services for businesses
• More expensive than their competitors

3. Perimeter 81 — Best for small business teams

• Pricing: $8/mo. (annual), $10/mo. (monthly)
• Number of servers: 700+
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: 24/7 live chat
• Single sign-on: Yes
• # of Users: Minimum of 5 team member

Perimeter 81 is an Israeli-based business VPN service that’s unique because of its Cloud VPN architecture. It’s great for users on multiple devices. You don’t need external legacy hardware or tools. It comes with the business features you’d need to run your remote organization safely in the cloud.

Perimeter 81 is ideal for remote businesses because it protects your business from unexpected mistakes. Their automatic Wi-Fi Security and DNS Filtering features instantly shield your data by automatically activating VPN protection when employees connect to an unknown, untrusted networks. According to their website, “All outbound and inbound traffic is encrypted and routed through your dedicated private servers – concealing your company’s actual IP address with an IP mask.”

This protection shields your company from man-in-the-middle attacks and unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Their service keeps your business safe from data breaches, lawsuits due to negligence, and other claims. Employee training is important, but Perimeter protects your employees and your business when they’re working.

They also provide you with the data you need to monitor network activity. You can audit resource access, monitor bandwidth consumption, and detect network anomalies remotely and at any time. All of this is important because more organizations have a “bring your own device” (BYOD) policy in place.

The potential downside to Perimeter 81’s service is access points. As of today, they have 700 public servers in 36 countries. That might sound like a lot until you realize some of their competitors have double or triple that amount in twice as many countries.

Pros

• Single sign-on (SSO) functionality
• User friendly and easy-to-use
• Great for remote businessesAuto-integrated with all cloud providers
• Secure access to both managed and unmanaged devices

Cons

Higher price pointFewer servers than their competitors

4.  VyprVPN — Best VPN for speed

• Pricing: $2.50 per mo. (24 mo. plan), $3.75 per mo. (12 mo. plan), $12.95 per mo. (1 mo. plan).
• Number of servers: 700+
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: 24/7 response within 3 hrs
• Privacy: end-to-end
• Multi-device support: desktop and mobile

Owned by Golden Frog GmbH and incorporated in Switzerland, VyprVPN focuses on a few areas — speed, anti-censorship, and privacy. They call their service the “most powerful VPN.” They offer more than 200,000 IP addresses and 700+ servers, across 70 locations internationally.

Their platform resolves speed issues due to ISP bandwidth throttling. It’s common for users to state that their speeds are close to 100% of their original speeds. This is impressive when you realize that they rely on AES 256-bit encryption. They provide users with unlimited switching between servers and protocols without restrictions.

VyprVPN provides some of the same features listed from other providers — kill switch, public Wi-Fi protection, and DNS protection. But they also offer a proprietary technology called Chameleon. In this protocol, VyprVPN scrambles your metadata, so it’s not recognizable via deep packet inspection, but it’s still fast and lightweight. As a result, VyperVPN can bypass restrictions from governments, corporations, and ISPs while fighting censorship and maintaining speed.

VyprVPN also owns and operates its data centers to reduce any risk of a data breach. Other VPN providers route traffic to third-party servers, so they’re not as secure as a service that keeps things in-house. VyprDNS keeps your browsing history private. Their no-logs policy makes a breach unlikely.

Pros

• Unlimited high-speed bandwidth
• 70+ server locations
• Chameleon protocol
• 5 Simultaneous connections
• No activity or usage logs
• Fast customer support
• VyprDNS
• Self-owned servers

Cons

• Fewer servers than bigger competitors
• Poor speeds in specific regions (EU)
• Slower connection times in specific regions

5. Surfshark — Best for the price

• Pricing: $1.99 per mo. (24 mo.), $5.99 per mo. (12 mo.), $11.95 per mo.
• Number of servers: 1,700+
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: 24/7 live chat, email tickets
• Multi-device support: Desktop and mobile platforms

Surfshark is an award-winning VPN service that offers incredible value for the price. According to VPNMentor.com, SurfShark is ranked 4th out of 357 VPN services. Their service provides users with 256-bit encryption, double VPN, an automatic kill switch, and a no-log policy.

They’re headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so like other VPNs in our list, they’re free from the five, nine, fourteen eyes alliances. While they don’t collect usage or connection data, they do collect your email address, password, and basic billing information. If you’d like to avoid sharing this info, you can use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. They also collect unique advertising identifiers from third parties for marketing purposes and user analytics.

One detail that stands out with Surfshark is unlimited connections. The number of devices that can connect simultaneously, per license is unlimited. This is great if you’re an individual, but it’s also great if you’re running a business. There are no additional licenses or requirements once you’ve signed up. Just set your VPN up, pay for the service, and you’re all set.

Surfshark offers its Adblock VPN that blocks advertising and malware, counters phishing attempts, and boosts browsing speed. They offer premium features like private DNS on each server, camouflage mode to mask activity from your ISP, and Multihop – connecting via multiple countries at the same time to maximize footprint masking and ID protection.

Pros

• Best value for the price
• Unlimited connections/devices
• Built-in ad-blocker
• Whitelist
• Private DNS
• Double VPN
• No logging
• Engaged customer support

Cons

• Medium-sized network
• Moderately reduced speeds in specific regions

6. Mullvad — Best for anonymity

• Pricing: $5.50 per mo.
• Number of servers: 315+
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: Email

Mullvad believes privacy is a universal right.

Privacy isn’t the same as security. If you’re looking for a VPN service that will go to extreme lengths to protect your privacy,  Sweden-based Mullvad is at the top of the list. They don’t require an email address or even a password from their customers. The company randomly generates a unique code for your username. You use this code to log in to the desktop apps or add credit to your account. They even allow customers to send cash in the mail to pay for your account!

They want to know as little about you as possible.

Mullvad will store your account number, your counts, paid time remaining, and the number of simultaneous connections that are used by your account. This data is kept in temporary memory, then purged once you log off. They log the total number of current connections for a given server, the bandwidth used per server, and the CPU load per core on each server. None of these items contain personally identifiable information.

Mullvad only offers connections in 38 countries, and they only have 315 servers. They don’t use virtual servers, so your VPN connections are running on physical hardware at the location specified. The speed varies based on your location. If you’re in Europe or North America, speeds are generally good. If you’re in Australia or Asia, the performance is generally much slower.

Pros

• Privacy-focused
• Simple and user-friendly
• WireGuard support
• More anonymity than most VPN services
• No affiliates or resellers

Cons

• Focused exclusively on privacy
• Slower speeds in certain locations
• No password protection

7. TunnelBear — Best for beginners

• Pricing: Free, $3.33 per mo., $5.75 per user, per mo. for teams
• Number of servers: 20
• Money-back Guarantee: 30-day
• Support: 24/7 email support tickets
• Multi-device support: Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android

TunnelBear‘s service is designed to be incredibly simple for newbies. They’re based out of Canada, which is a member of the five eyes, nine eyes, and fourteen eyes alliances. This means data that goes through or is stored in Canada is subject to intelligence agreements —they may be legally forced to share your data. TunnelBear states that they have a no-logging policy, so everything seems okay until you read this in their privacy policy.

“TunnelBear makes good faith efforts to provide you with the ability to delete your Personal Data. However, there may be circumstances in which TunnelBear is unable to delete all your Personal Data. For example, we are unable to delete it where we are legally required to keep it, including where we need it to continue to offer you the service or if you are involved in litigation with us, we would be required to retain your personal data, which is limited to the fields we discuss above in 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4.”

This data includes your email address, Twitter id, paid user designation, operational data, and personal and financial data. If this isn’t a concern for you or your organization, TunnelBear is a great option for individuals and businesses that want to get started with a VPN but aren’t as knowledgeable as they’d like.

TunnelBear includes the standard features you need to get started with a VPN — AES 256-bit encryption, tunneling (Android only), hashing, and more. Their service is reasonably priced and designed to help inexperienced people get started with a VPN.

TunnelBear is transparent about its service, sharing the results of its independent security audits each year on its website.

Pros

• Designed for inexperienced users
• Generally open and transparent about their service
• Low cost
• Built for individuals and teams
• Offers a free plan

Cons

• May share your data with governments
• No phone or customer support

Conclusion

Whether you’re a freelancer, an entrepreneur with a small team, or a growing business looking for options, a VPN will provide you with the security and peace of mind you need to keep your remote team connected and working safely.

Your needs are unique, and they’ll dictate which VPN service will work best for you and your business. Weigh the options against your needs for speed, security, privacy, compatible devices, and a number of connections. Millions of people are working remotely, and that number continues to grow every day. If you’re not already using a VPN service, now’s a good time to start.

The post-Best VPN Services appeared first on Neil Patel.

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Best Customer Service Software

When your human team has trouble managing your customer service needs with sticky notes and cluttered inboxes, you need a new solution. Customer service software lets you keep all of your tasks in the right baskets without losing track of anything.

It also boosts your customer satisfaction and lightens your agents’ load.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

These customer service software options will help you organize your company, whether you’re a startup or a seasoned business owner.

The Top 7 Options for Customer Service Software

• Hubspot’s Service Hub—Best for Free Software and Deals
• Zendesk—Best for a Complete Support Suite
• Groove—Best for Small Businesses and Startups
• TeamSupport—Best for B2B Support
• LiveAgent—Best for Live Chat Service
• Salesforce Service Cloud—Best for Remote and On-Site Support
• Freshdesk—Best for a Streamlined System

How to Choose the Best Customer Service Software for You

Customer service software isn’t one size fits all. Choosing the right customer service software means considering your customer’s needs and what the software offers your business.

Features Offered

Do you mainly do customer support over live chat? Are your agents constantly fielding phone calls? Do you need software to connect with agents in the field?

When you get the right features in your software, you boost your team’s ability to create positive customer relationships and increase customer satisfaction. Getting the wrong features can be just as bad as having no software at all.

Customer Preference

Consider which support channels fit your customer’s needs. Offering call support alone to a Millennial or Gen Z audience will probably create some unhappy customers since both of these groups prefer live chat and social media.

Knowing your customers saves you money and helps streamline your customer service process.

Your Current Customer Support System

Your new software should focus on improving your current customer service practices. If you have a dedicated customer service team, make sure your software supports them, too.

If multiple people have their fingers in the customer service pie, purchase a system that clearly defines each person’s role, and prevents overlap.

All-in-One vs. Specialized Systems

Some systems offer several services for your customers, but sometimes you don’t need them all. If you provide online-only support, you don’t need the frills of a phone, video, and other options. So don’t buy them.

All-in-one systems encompass different types of software, including:

Customer relationship management (CRM):

CRMs focus on sales and interacting with people to bring them in as customers and retain them long-term.

Customer experience management (CEM):

CEMs deal with the customer’s experience throughout their buying journey, from marketing to purchasing to customer service. In other words, you want them to leave positive reviews and become repeat customers.

Marketing automation software (MAS):

MAS systems concentrate on marketing efforts, communicating information about products and services, and generating leads.

The type of software you get depends on your business and customer needs, so choose carefully.

The Different Types of Customer Service Software

Different types of customer service software fulfill various purposes and conform to specific customer needs.

There are three basic types of customer service software.

1. Helpdesk

Helpdesk software functions pretty much as its name suggests. It keeps track of everything in one convenient location and can automate processes like ticketing and store canned replies, so you don’t have to retype the same response to all those customers asking the same question.

Helpdesk software lets agents juggle different customer service actions in one place, so they have easy access to everything when they need it.

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

CRM software gives you a more comprehensive view of customer service and related information. It builds a database for sales purposes and helps customer service agents manage various accounts differently depending on customer needs and habits.

CRMs are usually more comprehensive than helpdesk software. They’re also more marketing-focused than other customer service software and tools. If you don’t need too many bells and whistles, opt for something simpler.

3. Live Chat

Live chat sticks to online modes of customer service. It lets your reps respond quickly and conveniently to customer questions.

This type of software doesn’t offer anything as broad as CRM or even helpdesk software, but that doesn’t mean it can’t serve you well. I’d recommend it for any business that values efficiency and a streamlined approach.

 

Examples of Customer Service Software

1. Hubspot’s Service Hub—Best Free Software and Deals

Hubspot doesn’t just offer marketing services. Hubspot’s Service Hub gives you all the tools you need to organize your services.

The best part is that you can get a free version of this software without worrying about it expiring. Most other software companies give you less than a month to try theirs. With Hubspot, you might not need to pay at all to get what you need.

Hubspot makes it easy for your team to communicate with a conversations inbox and team email, so everyone stays on the same page. It even has email templates, so agents don’t have to waste time crafting the same email over and over.

Live chat and chatbots save time and work to help customers in a way that’s convenient for you and your team. You can also connect the software with others from Hubspot, like their sales software and CRM.

If you need more than what the free plan offers, you can buy this software in three tiers:

Starter: $40 per monthProfessional: $320 per monthEnterprise: $1,200 per month

Each tier offers different features and supports two, five, and ten users, respectively. The Starter package comes with meeting scheduling, agent productivity reports, calling, and canned snippets, so agents don’t need to repeat themselves for each customer.

With the Professional and Enterprise packages, you can get everything from automation, pipelines, and custom reporting to a knowledge base, hierarchical teams, and integration with Slack. While each tier has a significant price jump, the features that come with them make the cost worth it if your team needs the additional support.

Pros

• Integrates with other Hubspot software
• Established and popular brand
• Offers more free software

Cons

• Costly for the features and tiers offered
• A limited number of users

 

2. Zendesk—Best for a Support Suite

One of the most established customer support software options available, Zendesk offers a whole support suite to give you all the tools you need to click with customers.

It offers convenience with live chat and messaging, so you give customers a personalized experience. You can also connect Zendesk to your social channels without managing a ton of different platforms.

With a ticketing system that includes tracking, solving, and a priority system, Zendesk creates agent efficiency. Tickets don’t get buried in anyone’s inbox, and you know the status at any given time.

The software’s integrated voice system allows you to makes each customer’s voice experience unique. You can create a new phone number or use an existing one, so your call center works for you.

Zendesk offers solutions for businesses of all sizes with solutions like:

• Answer Bot—An AI bot that suggests articles to help customers
• Zendesk Guide—A smart knowledge base to help you find resources
• Zendesk Gather—A forum for customers to connect with each other

You can get five software levels for smaller businesses, ranging from $5 to $199 per agent per month, including Essential, Team, Professional, Enterprise, and Elite.

Larger businesses will benefit most from the Professional Support Suite and Enterprise Support Suite.

With these options, you get omnichannel support, social messaging, and dashboards, and reports. Reporting and analytics are vital to know how your agents connect with customers and your customers’ satisfaction with their experience.

Plus, with the Enterprise Support Suite, you have access to special features like multi-band support and 24/7 support for your agents if anything goes wrong. You also get a chat widget, roles and permissions, and content cues. The higher the tier, the more convenient Zendesk makes the customer service experience for everyone.

Pros

• Many self-service options
• Complete support suite
• Can integrate social media with software

Cons

Not many options for larger businesses

3. Groove—Best for Small Businesses and Startups

Groove is newer than many of the options here, but don’t walk away from it just yet. Its modern, intuitive design has boosted its popularity fast.

Groove is designed to learn quickly, so you don’t have to take time out of your day to figure it out, giving your customer support team the ability to get up and running quickly. After all, the whole purpose of customer support software is to streamline your operations.

This software doesn’t have tiers. Instead, you pay for the core software, which includes:

RulesTaggingCanned repliesCustom foldersConversationsPerformanceCustomer reportsMobile compatibilityIntegration for almost any app

Because you pay for only the basic package, you can customize it however you want. Small businesses won’t get overwhelmed with a million options, but that does mean you have to think a little harder about how you want to set it up. Once you do, you can make it easy and intuitive for your agents to get in the groove. You can also try a free 15-day trial of Groove to test it out.

Pros

• Intuitive interface
• Works well for small businesses
• CustomizableIntegrates with most apps

 Cons

• The basic package has fewer features
• Takes more setup

 

4. TeamSupport—Best for B2B Support

Built for B2B customer support, TeamSupport lets you tailor your service options to business owners. You can group users into organizations, so you know who is part of which team and track common issues between businesses.

The Product Section feature allows you to put customers who use the same products together, so agents spend less time searching and more time resolving issues. With the Customer Distress Index, you can see how agents have helped customers and their satisfaction with their experience.

The Water Cooler brings agents together to communicate internally to resolve issues, but TeamSupport also has customer self-service options. The software only offers two price tiers, but they are cheaper than most other software.

The Support Desk version costs $50 per agent per month, and it lets you assign, track, and manage customer support requests using help desk operations. You can also customize and automate tasks to provide excellent end-user customer support.

The Enterprise package only costs a little more at $65 per agent per month. It works well for software and technology companies, allowing you to track products, support issues, and product defects, ideal for B2B customer service.

Pros

• Used by industry leaders
• Cheaper than many other options
• Great for B2B customer support

 Cons

• Only two-tier options
• Less adaptable for B2C support

 

5. LiveAgent—Best for Live Chat-Based Customer Service

LiveAgent is an award-winning customer service software that has been recognized for its B2B- and SaaS-friendly service and live chat interface. This helpdesk software focuses mainly on remote work.

LiveAgent includes a universal inbox and automated ticketing, so agents get assigned tickets and can also see what everyone else is working on. It eliminates overlap and uses gamification to improve existing customer service practices.

With a live chat and call center, your agents have the tools to respond to customers when they need help. Unlike other customer service software, LiveAgent also offers video calling support, rather than just phone and live chat. Unfortunately, its interface isn’t as intuitive as others on this list.

Your agents get the support they need with 24/7 customer support for all four of its packages:

FreeTicket: $15 per agent per monthTicket+Chat: $29 per agent per monthAll-Inclusive: $39 per agent per month

With a 7-day ticket history, the Free package gives you one email address, a live chat button, and a phone number. It also offers basic reports, a knowledge base, and ticket options like merging, splitting, exporting, and mass actions. For a free package, it’s reasonably comprehensive.

The Ticket package upgrades you to unlimited ticket history and email ticketing, plus advanced reporting. You also get templates and canned answers, along with gamification to streamline the customer experience.

Ticket+Chat gives you all the features of Ticket, plus unlimited live chat, chat invitations, and chat satisfaction surveys. You can also keep track of who looks at your website with the real-time visitor monitor.

The All-Inclusive package does seem to give you everything you could possibly want in the customer service software. You’ll have all the features of Ticket+Chat, plus unlimited call center support, video call, and call routing and transfers. Essentially, any calling feature missing from the lower tiers you can find in this one, along with social account connectivity.

You can add specific features for an additional cost with every tier, such as an additional knowledge base or time tracking. The same applies to connecting social accounts, which can cost anywhere from $5 to $39 each per month.

Pros

• Great for remote support
• Offers video calling options
• Many tiers and features
• Low cost

Cons

• Clunky interface

 

6. Salesforce Service Cloud—Best for Remote and On-Site Support

Many well-known companies use Salesforce Service Cloud to boost their customer connection.

It’s designed for field service so that you can answer customer questions anytime, anywhere. You can even tailor your software to your company’s location, which helps local businesses.

Salesforce Service Cloud uses AI, chat, voice, and field service to help agents customize their customer’s experience. As the #1 CRM, Salesforce focuses on all aspects of the customer experience, so agents can keep up with customer needs with less effort.

The product has four tiers:

• Essentials: $25 per user per month
• Professional: $75 per user per month
• Enterprise: $150 per user per month
• Unlimited: $300 per user per month

The downside to this product is that the price sometimes more than doubles when you jump tiers without offering too many more features. With Essentials, you get case management, service console apps, a knowledge base, and phone integration.

While that might be worth the money for you, the only additional features you get with the Professional software are service contracts and entitlements. From there, Enterprise gives you web services API, and with Unlimited, you get 24/7 support and configuration settings.

Essentially, each tier only gives you one more feature. Whether you spend the money on them depends on how badly you need them. Nonetheless, Salesforce is a widely-known and trusted software, and many of your employees have likely used it before, which will cut down on the learning curve.

Pros

• Excellent for field support
• Most flexible software available
• Has more AI options than other software

Cons

• High prices for a few features
• No 24/7 support for tiers below Unlimited

 

7. Freshdesk—Best for a Streamlined System

Freshdesk can help you streamline any inbox disaster. Alternatively, if your current customer service software looks more like a virtual maze, Freshdesk makes it easy to switch.

Freshdesk’s ticketing system comes with a team inbox, including agent collision detection. Its collaboration feature uses Team Huddle so agents can discuss tickets and share ownership when the project is too big for one person. Plus, with Omniroute, you can auto-assign customer service tasks to agents based on their bandwidth.

With multichannel support, advanced and custom reports, and field service management, you can cater to customers no matter where you are.

Freshdesk even helps customers help themselves with a forum, chatbot, help widget, and other features to guide customers before they reach out to you. These self-service features will help your customer service streamline even further and provide helpful resources.

You can get the Sprout package of this software free, but you can also get four other tiers:

• Blossom: $15 per agent per month annuallyGarden: $35 per agent per month annually
• Estate: $49 per agent per month annuallyForest: $99 per agent per month annually

The Sprout package already gives you unlimited users along with email and social ticketing, ticket dispatch, and ticket trend reports. You also get a knowledge base, so no one stays out of the loop.

Once you upgrade, the Blossom package includes automation, collision detection, SLA management, and more. The Garden level comes with a multilingual knowledge base to enhance your ability to help customers. You also get performance reports, time tracking, and custom apps to personalize the customer service experience.

In the Estate package, this software gets serious about keeping your information together. With custom reports, dashboards, and roles, the software practically manages itself.

You can even take advantage of versioning in the knowledge base, customer segments, service for multiple products, and dynamic ticket forms that include as much detail as you want your customers to give when they have a problem.

You don’t get any more high-tech than the Forest tier. From an audit log and agent scripts to auto-triage and an article suggester, the software helps agents and gives customers resources to help themselves. Forest even lets you maintain HIPAA compliance when you use it, and you can use up to 5000 Freddy sessions per month when you use live chat.

Pros

• Low cost
• Can choose to pay monthly or annually
• Versatile
• Lots of features at all tiers

 Cons

• It May appear overwhelming with so many features

 

Summary

The right customer service software can make or break a business. That’s why you should evaluate every option and how it will work for your company’s specific needs.

Whether you need a CRM or just a live chat option, you can find customer service software in this list that is right for you and customize it to fit your business.

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Best HR Outsourcing Services

HR is confusing. And the legal ramifications of doing something wrong… are huge. There’s a reason people spend their entire lives learning the ins-and-outs of human resources—there’s a lot to it. But the good news is that nobody expects you to know it all, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Disclosure: The readers of the content can support us by clicking on some of the links that let us earn a commission from advertisers.

 

The best HR outsourcing services exist to make your life easier.

However, there are a ton of service providers on the market.

How do you decide which one’s right for you when they all appear to be precisely the same?

To help answer that question, I looked at countless options and narrowed it down to my top six recommendations. And by the end of this guide, you’ll know everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business.

 

Top Six Recommendations for HR outsourcing services

The top 6 options may work for you:

1. G&A Partners –For customization and flexibility.
2. Bambee – For policies and administrative tasks.
3. Paychex – For HR outsourcing services – SMBs focused.
4. Insperity – For PEO outsourcing – enterprises focused.
5. ADP – For full-service non-PEO outsourcing option.
6. CPEhr – For individual HR outsourcing & consultation services.

 

How to Choose the Best HR Outsourcing Service for You?

There are countless different HR outsourcing services to choose from.

And distinguishing between all of them can feel like an impossible task.

So, before we dive into my top recommendations, let’s talk about what makes my recommendations stand out, and how to decide on the best HR outsourcing services for you.

The following criteria may work for you:

#1 – The Size of Your Business

Handling HR for large companies is vastly different than doing the same at a startup or small business. As such, different HR outsourcing companies specialize in different things and offer services targeted to a specific type of customer.

On the other hand, some offer solutions for businesses of all sizes.

However, it’s essential to consider your business’s size and budget when making your final choice. You should also think about how fast you plan to grow and expand your team.

Always make sure to talk with a sales representative and be as detailed as possible about your current and future situation to make sure they can handle everything you need.

 

#2 – Types of Services

Some HR outsourcing companies (like Bambee) only provide a specific type of service. On the other hand, some offer everything you could ever possibly need… but at a higher price point.

It may be helpful to outline your processes for each HR activity you currently manage in-house.

This can help you identify problem areas or bottlenecks with room for improvement. Then, you can pinpoint exactly which tasks and services you should outsource.

If you already know, or you want to outsource everything, consider the associated costs to ensure it’s within your budget. And keep in mind that most providers don’t offer their pricing online.

So, you’ll get a chance to speak with their team before making your final decision.

Just remember to ask about the specific services you need to make sure they can help you with everything on your list. It’s also smart to compare your initial consultation experience and pricing of various companies before choosing one.

 

#3 – Short-Term Vs. Long-Term

Do you need help for the foreseeable future or just for a one-off event like a round of recruitment? Some providers (like CPEhr) offer a la carte options so you can pick and choose what you need.

On the other hand, some only offer all-in-one solutions. So, it’s important to understand your needs before you make any decisions.

If you need short-term help, make sure you communicate that during your consultation.

 

#4 – Level of Support

Do you want your HR systems to run completely hands-off? If so, you need more support than a team that needs one-off tasks or particular areas of their HR handled for them.

Here is a second, we’ll talk about the different types of HR outsourcing services.

But keep the level of support you think you need in the back of your mind, as this plays a large role in which company you should choose.

 

#5 – Flexibility

If you already have a benefits package or an internal HR team, you need more flexibility from your HR outsourcing provider. Especially if you want to keep the same benefits package you already have.

Some providers don’t let you do this as they have their own preferences and partnerships.

And you also need to draw a clear line between what your in-house team does vs. what your outsourcing company provides. That way, nobody wastes time doing the same tasks twice.

However, if you’re a brand-new company or don’t have any HR systems in place, you won’t need the same flexibility level. So, you have fewer restrictions to worry about.

 

#6 – Customer & Employee Support

HR matters, benefits, in particular, are confusing and hard to navigate.

Because of that, your employees must have easy access to someone in your HR department.

When you outsource this, your employees should be able to directly talk with the company, whether it be to ask a quick question or get help choosing the right benefits package.

Some providers offer a dedicated manager that handles this, making it much easier for you and your team to get the answers they need. Furthermore, they should also provide an employee self-service dashboard for paystubs, W-2s, time off, and more.

Regardless of who you choose, make sure they plan on taking great care of your team.

 

The Different Types of HR Outsourcing Services

HR outsourcing is technically separate from PEO and HR software, but they’re very similar in nature. So, let’s take a second to walk through the differences before we get started.

HR Software vs. HRO (Human Resources Outsourcing) vs. PEO (Professional employer organization)

HR Software:

• This is something companies provide to make in-house HR management easier.
• With HR software, you pay a monthly fee to use it every month. Alternatively, you could buy a license and install it on your computer.
• It’s mostly for automating processes or providing a network of benefits providers.
• You can use it as a tiny business without HR or if you have a dedicated HR team. Either way, it’s a software that requires you (or someone on your team) to run it.
• With that said, it’s very flexible and affordable.

However, don’t confuse it with HR outsourcing because they aren’t the same, although a few of the providers on this list also offer HR software.

 

Human resources outsourcing (HRO)

HR outsourcing means hiring a third-party to take on all or part of your HR management tasks.

• This can include things like payroll administration, benefits management, recruitment, and employee training programs.
• The benefit of outsourcing in this manner vs. hiring or expanding your in-house team is lower associated costs. When you outsource, you don’t need to pay a salary or provide benefits.
• So, the overall cost is typically much lower than adding new people to your team.
• All of the options on this list offer HR outsourcing in some form or another. Some only cover specific tasks like policy creation, while others offer services covering every aspect of human resources.
• With HR outsourcing, you can decide if you want to outsource all HR activities or just a few.

 

Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

• PEO services are a specific type of HR outsourcing in which the company is your co-employer. Furthermore, the service provider becomes the employer of your employees.
• And since the PEO company is the employer, they’re responsible for payroll taxes.
• This type of agreement typically requires a lengthy contract. However, you’re in charge of what your team does on a day-to-day basis. So, everything stays the same on your end, except you’re no longer responsible for specific HR tasks or payroll taxes.
• Furthermore, the two parties decide how much responsibility each party handles.
• So, this type of agreement can be extremely flexible if that’s something you need. This is especially beneficial if you already have an HR department.
• One of the most significant values of this type of partnership is access to better benefits packages for your team. Plus, you can get those pesky HR tasks off your plate.
• However, you sacrifice a certain degree of control by inviting someone else into your business.

 

The Top Six HR Outsourcing Services

Now, let’s check the top six HR outsourcing services one-by-one.

No.1- HR Outsourcing Services – G&A Partners Review

It is an excellent HR outsourcing service for customization and flexibility

If you’re looking for a customizable and flexible all-around HR outsourcing solution, G&A Partners is my #1 recommendation.

They combine intuitive technology encompassing everything you need with world-class customer service to empower your business and employees. From payroll services to health insurance, retirement plans, and recruitment, G&A Partners covers it all.

Furthermore, each plan is custom-fit to your business and specific needs.

So, you don’t have to worry about cookie-cutter plans that don’t quite fit the bill. Plus, you also get a dedicated client service team to manage everything and help you out when you need it.

As a G&A Partners client, you can choose from countless services, including:

• Payroll administration and processing
• Self-service employee dashboard
• Time clock, scheduling, and PTO
• On-demand data access
• Benefits from the top providers
• Benefits administration
• Ancillary benefits
• Wellness and financial health
• Sourcing, recruiting, and hiring

And since each plan is custom to match your needs, you’re not stuck paying for services you don’t actually need. Plus, you can rest easy knowing you comply with local, state, and federal legal regulations.

From recruitment and onboarding to payroll and benefits administration, you’re in good hands.

With that said, G&A Partners doesn’t share pricing online. So, schedule a free consultation to build a service package tailormade for you, your business, and your #1 asset—your employees.

 

No.2- HR Outsourcing Services – Bambee Review

It is the best HR outsourcing services for HR policies and administrative tasks

If you’re a small business with fewer than 99 employees, Bambee is an affordable way to hire a dedicated account manager to handle HR policies and employee training.

Hiring an in-house HR manager can easily cost $4,000+ every month, plus benefits. So, it gets quite expensive and unattainable for really small businesses.

But with Bambee, you can outsource starting at $79/month (or $99/month if you pay monthly).

From the start, you get a dedicated HR manager to help build your HR policies and walk you through your state’s compliance regulations.

They can also help you, onboard employees, terminate them, and handle corrective action while staying in compliance.

Furthermore, Bambee can also help evaluate your risk for wrongful termination.

So, you don’t have to worry about expensive lawsuits or continually wondering what you’re responsible for after employee termination.

Plus, you get complete remote access to your manager via phone, email, and chat to answer questions and help you with anything you need. And the best part? Your employees can chat with them as well.

With Bambee, you get access to powerful and helpful features, including:

• Creating and implementing company policies
• Staff training, so they understand your new policies
• E-signatures and an online document viewer
• Staff folders for organization and compliance
• A smart cabinet for record-keeping
• HR forms and agreements (i.e., HIPAA notices or offer letters)

You get everything you need to create, implement, and manage internal HR policies. However, you are sacrificing several crucial features, like payroll administration and benefits management for affordable pricing.

So, keep in mind that you will have to manage those things on your own. Bambee can answer questions and look into those things for you, but they’re not included as part of the package.

 

No.3- HR Outsourcing Services – Paychex Review

It could be the top choice of HR outsourcing services for small to midsize businesses

Paychex is one of the most popular and trusted HR solutions on the market.

They’ve been around for more than 45 years, and over 680,000+ businesses trust them with their HR software and service needs.

From benefits and attendance to payroll, HR, and onboarding, they offer everything you need to run and streamline your small or midsize business without hiring in-house.

And the best part is that you can choose which services you need, rather than paying for everything and using a handful of features.

Plus, you can outsource everything… or a few things, depending on what you need.

They offer software and service packages for small, medium, and large companies. So, it’s an excellent option for everyone. But their small and medium sizes packages are where they truly shine.

In fact, more than half a million of their customers are small businesses.

With their small and midsize packages, you get access to Paychex Flex, their all-in-one HR automation software.

But you can also choose between 24/7/365 customer support or a dedicated specialist for help when you need it. So, whether you have a dedicated HR team or not, you can rest easy knowing you have an expert manager behind you.

Paychex Flex comes with a wide range of powerful features, including:

• Recruiting and applicant tracking
• Time and attendance
• Hiring and onboarding
• Retirement and termination
• Health insurance administration
• Payroll management
• PTO, 401(k)s, and other benefits

You won’t find their pricing online, so get a free quote to learn more about Paychex today!

 

No.4- HR Outsourcing Services – Insperity Review

It is an excellent selection for PEO services for enterprises

Insperity is an all-in-one HR service provider for small businesses and enterprise organizations alike. They offer individual solutions and a full-service PEO option, making it perfect for small to medium enterprises.

It’s an excellent choice if you have the budget for their PEO choice as an alternative to hiring or expanding an in-house HR team.

They also offer a wide range of HR software if you’re a smaller business interested in managing HR activities on your own. However, that gets old very quickly, especially if you have a ton of other things on your plate.

Insperity’s PEO all-in-one solution covers every HR service imaginable, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• FSA and HSA accounts
• Disability, employee assistance, and retirement
• Payroll processing and administration
• Time and attendance tracking
• HR administration and wage garnishments
• An employee self-service portal
• Risk mitigation and legal compliance
• Recruiting and performance management
• Training and development programs
• Company culture development
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Personalized customer support for your employees

As if that isn’t enough, they have a team of specialists dedicated to managing different HR tasks. So, you know you’re getting the best of the best.

It’s essentially an extension of your business (or HR department if you already have one).

Insperity’s services are a practical way to reduce risk, improve productivity, automate your HR processes, and get a bird’s eye view of your most valuable asset—your employees.

They offer two-year pricing guarantees, billing transparency, and fixed service fees, so you never have to guess how much you’re going to pay every month.

However, their prices aren’t available online, so get in touch with their sales team to learn more.

 

No.5- HR Outsourcing Services – ADP Review

It is good for full-service non-PEO outsourcing.

If you’re interested in full-service HR outsourcing but don’t want to go the PEO route, ADP is an excellent choice. They provide complete outsourcing for everything from administrative tasks to payroll processing and more.

With that said, they do offer a PEO option. But they’re one of the few providers that offer complete packages without the complexity of an enterprise-grade PEO partnership.

 

On top of that, they also offer one of the most popular HR software packages on the market.

So, you can create an entire HR department using their services and software without having to hire in-house or expand your existing team.

ADP’s team of experts is ready to help reduce your risk and everyday burden, regardless if you’re just looking for a helping hand with administrative tasks or facing an acquisition, merger, or an at-risk termination.

So, no matter the situation, ADP has you covered.

They offer a variety of individual services and more strategic offerings, including things like:

• Payroll and benefits administration
• Time and attendance tracking
• Employee handbooks and internal policies
• COBRA insurance administration
• Dynamic analytics
• Compliance training, tracking, and reporting
• Recruitment and staffing

On top of that, they also offer a bundle of business processes and HR outsourcing if you need even more assistance with the ins and outs of your business.

Because each package is tailored for your business, you won’t find ADP’s pricing online.

As such, you’ll have to get with their sales team to learn more and start building out your HR outsourcing package.

 

No.6- HR Outsourcing Services – CPEhr Review

The best HR outsourcing services for individual tasks and HR consultations

If you’re interested in outsourcing individual HR tasks or receiving HR consultations, CPEhr is a smart choice. They offer a wide variety of different services designed to help make your life (or your HR department’s) life a bit easier.

So, rather than spending time running payroll or finding the best benefits for your team, you can work on things that actually move the needle for your business.

Plus, they also take pride in helping customers develop long-term and short-term HR strategies, so you’re never left to figure things out on your own.

 

Whether your HR department needs some extra assistance or you need one-off services, like recruitment for an open position, CPEhr has you covered. Their services span basic administrative tasks to more complex strategy planning, including:

• Payroll and tax administration
• Recruiting, onboarding, and training
• Benefits administration
• COBRA insurance management
• Disability and retirement
• Employee benefit orientations
• Employee and management training
• Risk management consulting
• Employee handbooks and policies
• Unemployment and disability administration
• Performance reviews
• Legal compliance
• Government audits

Essentially, CPEhr covers anything you need, whether you want to outsource everything or a short-term one-off situation.

They also offer PEO and full HR outsourcing plans, if that’s something you’re interested in. However, they have a “la carte” services and complete flexibility, which are making them stand out from everyone else on the list.

Like most providers, you won’t find pricing online.

Get in touch with their team to talk more about your needs and learn more about how CPEhr can help your business today!

 

Wrapping Things Up

G&A Partners is my top recommendation for most users. It’s incredibly flexible with the ability to handle businesses of all shapes and sizes. Plus, they offer a wide range of services to help make your life easier.

But that doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone.

So, don’t forget to use the criteria we talked about as you go through the process of finding the best HR outsourcing services for you, your team, and your business.

How do you handle human resources at your company?

 

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The Best Payroll Services (In-Depth Review)

The best payroll services help you automate paying your employees and simplify the entire process, so you can gain more control over how you spend your time.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

What would you do with ten extra hours a month?

You’d probably work on growing your business, right?

Maybe you’d spend it creating new marketing campaigns to generate more revenue.

Perhaps you’d take half a day off to spend time with your family.

Regardless, the average small business owner spends five hours every pay period running payroll.

That adds up to 21 full work-days a year.

But thankfully, that’s not what your payroll process has to look like.

The best payroll services help you automate paying your employees and simplify the entire process, so you can gain more control over how you spend your time.

Without sacrificing employee satisfaction.

But with so many options to choose from, it’s easy to waste time trying to pick the right one.

To help speed up the process, I reviewed six of the best systems on the market and put together a comprehensive list of what to look for as you make your final decision.

 

The 6 Best Payroll Service Options for 2020

1. Gusto – Best payroll service for small businesses
2. OnPay – Most flexible payroll service
3. Paychex – Best for larger organizations
4. ADP – Best payroll service with built-in HR
5. QuickBooks Payroll – Best for QuickBooks integration
6. Wave Payroll – Most affordable payroll service

 

How to choose the best payroll service for you

If you’ve spent some time searching for solutions from Google or asking for peers’ recommendations, you know there are hundreds of payroll companies to choose from.

With so many options, it can feel like a difficult decision.

To help you narrow things down, let’s walk through what to consider as you go through the process.

Number of employees

Most services charge a set monthly fee plus a small fee per employee. So, it’s essential to consider the number of employees you need to pay.

Some payroll services may limit the number of employees on certain plans while others may forego the per-employee fee altogether. Furthermore, some may also offer features that make it easier to pay many people at once.

You also need to consider whether you’re paying employees or contractors.

The process and fee structure may differ for different types of payments depending on which service you choose.

Basic payroll features

The best payroll services exist to simplify the process of paying your employees. So, every payroll service you consider should have a set of critical features, including:

• Automatic payroll options
• Self-service portal for full-time and part-time employees
• Mobile capability to manage payroll on the go
• Direct deposit so your employees get paid quickly
• Automatic tax calculations and withholdings
• W-2 and 1099 employee management

There are other advanced features you may want to consider as well, depending on what you need.

This includes things like HR tools, benefits management, wage garnishments, and more.

So, carefully consider the essential features as well as the advanced features you need to simplify your payroll processes.

Tax features

Filing tax is a complicated and time-consuming process.

It can also result in unfortunate and expensive penalties if you don’t do it right.

However, many payroll services offer tax features that simplify the process.

From calculating payroll taxes to automatically withholding employee income taxes, there are countless things to consider.

So, it’s important to choose a payroll service that offers essential tax features to make your accountant’s life easier.

Or yours if you do your taxes yourself.

Built-in HR tools

If you offer benefits to your employees, you need a payroll service that helps you effectively manage things like time off, vacation requests, workers’ compensation, insurance, and more.

Furthermore, services with an employee self-service dashboard make this much more manageable.

Employees can log in, update their accounts, request time off, and see an overview of their benefits package.

The cheaper options on this list tend to ditch HR features.

So, carefully consider what you need against your budget before making any decisions.

Monthly payroll limits

If you have salaried employees or a set payroll schedule, most payroll services are adequate.

However, if you pay freelancers or contractors on an irregular basis or run payroll more than twice a month, you need to be careful.

Some services offer unlimited payroll processing, while others limit the number of times you can issue payments every month.

So, carefully consider how often you need to send payments when making your final decision.

Integrations

To further simplify your business processes, it’s crucial to consider the business tools you’re already using to run your business.

It’s important to choose a payroll service provider that integrates seamlessly with those tools.

Think about your accounting software, your employee scheduling software, and other essential tools related to payroll.

 

The Different Types of Payroll Services

There are several different services to consider, depending on your business’s size and your specific payroll needs.

So, before we dive into my top recommendations, I want to talk about the different types and how to decide between them.

1. Hiring someone to do it for you

If you can afford it, hiring someone (either in-house or as a contractor) to run payroll for you is an excellent option.

This ensures you find someone who knows how to do it and that they have the time to do it well.

However, you still need payroll software.

They may have their own preferences and expertise, which may help you decide which service is right for your business.

With that said, many small businesses don’t necessarily need to hire someone.

The best payroll services make running payroll easy, so anyone on your team can take care of it in a few clicks.

2. Software as a service (SaaS)

The software as a service (SaaS) model means you pay to use the software.

Most service providers charge monthly or annually for this, and as long as you keep paying, you get to keep using it.

Most SaaS tools are cloud-based, meaning you can access them from a web browser anywhere.

However, some also offer desktop applications and mobile apps you install on a specific device.

This is the most common type of payroll service and the most convenient to use because you and your employees can access their accounts from any device, anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

All of the recommendations on this list are SaaS payroll services.

3. Enterprise-grade solutions

Most payroll services offer enterprise-grade and industry-specific solutions for large businesses.

They come with specialized, custom pricing to match the unique needs of enterprise-grade companies.

A software like this could be a SaaS tool or an on-premise deployment, depending on what you need and the company you choose.

Most businesses don’t need this.

But if you manage payroll for a large company or find your current solution limited, it may be a good idea to consider an enterprise solution.

 

Examples of Best Payroll Services

#1 – Gusto Review — The best for small businesses

If you’re a small business looking for a simple payroll service, Gusto is a smart choice.

And you’ll be in good company with more than 100,000+ other small businesses around the world.

Gusto makes onboarding, paying, insuring, and supporting employees as easy as possible.

And they don’t call themselves a “people platform” for no reason.

They offer the right set of tools and services to make your life (and your employees’ lives) easier.

Running payroll takes just a few clicks, and you can enjoy unlimited payroll runs every month.

Need to pay seven different contractors at different times?

No problem.

Need to pay the same employees the same wages every pay period?

You can set it up to run automatically without you having to lift a finger.

Plus, you get access to a wide variety of features, including:

• Automatic tax calculations
• Built-in time tracking capabilities
• Health insurance, 401(k), PTO, workers’ comp, and more
• Compliance with I-9’s, W-2s, and 1099sEmployee self-service onboarding and dashboards
• Next-day direct deposits (on specific plans)

And the best part?

It’s affordable.

If you don’t have W-2 employees, Gusto starts at $6 per contractor per month.

But if you do have full-time or part-time employees, expect to pay a bit more.

Their other paid plans include:

• Basic — $19 per month + $6 per person per month
• Core — $39 per month + $6 per person per month
• Complete — $39 per month + $12 per person per month
• Concierge — $149 per month + $12 per person per month

Gusto is perfect for most startups and small businesses.

But, large companies with complex benefits packages and hundreds of employees may find it limiting.

Get started with Gusto today!

#2 – OnPay Review — The most flexible payroll service

If you’re looking for an all-in-one payroll system with transparent pricing and virtually unlimited flexibility, OnPay is an excellent choice.

Whether you’re a small company or a fast-growth startup, OnPay is versatile enough to suit your needs.

Plus, you never have to guess how much you’re going to pay every month with their transparent pricing.

And you can rest easy knowing you have access to every feature

OnPay offers regardless of the number of employees you have because they only provide one pricing plan.

Their software includes access to powerful features, including:

• Unlimited monthly payroll runs
• W-2 and 1099 capabilities
• Automatic tax calculations and filings
• Employee self-service onboarding and dashboardsIntuitive mobile app for management on the go
• PTO, e-signing, org charts, and custom workflows
• Integrated workers’ comp, health insurance, and retirement
• Multi-state payroll

Plus, getting started is super easy.

All you have to do is set up your account, add your employees, and start running payroll.

Furthermore, OnPay automatically calculates and withholds taxes so you don’t have to worry about manual calculations or human error again.

They also offer specialized solutions for different industries, including nonprofits, restaurants, and farming/agriculture.

OnPay is $36 per month plus $4 per person per month.

So, you can add new employees to the software for just a few dollars, making it excellent for fast-growing companies and small businesses alike.

And while OnPay can handle large companies with hundreds of employees, there are better enterprise options available.

It’s most suitable for small businesses and fast-growth companies that need simple pricing and flexibility.

Try OnPay free for 30 days to see if it’s right for you!

#3 – Paychex Review — The best for larger organizations

Paychex is an excellent choice for businesses with more than 50 employees.

They also offer low-tier plans for small businesses, but they’re quite limited compared to the other small business options on this list.

However, their midsize-to-enterprise plans are perfect for large companies.

 

The larger your business is, the worse small discrepancies and human errors affect your tax calculations. And wrong tax filings equal harsh penalties from the IRS, even if it was an accident.

So as a large company, it’s imperative to have a payroll service that adapts to meet your needs.

Paychex is more than a payroll service. It’s a human capital management (HCM) system designed to help you save time and reduce errors.

Their enterprise plans include features like:

• Recruiting and onboarding
• Performance and learning management
• Powerful real-time analytics
• 100% employee self-service
• Payroll automation features
• Direct deposit, paper checks, and paycards
• Salary, hourly, and contract workers
• Paycheck garnishments
• PTO and benefits management
• Job costing and labor distribution

All of which are scalable for enterprises with thousands of employees (or as little as 50). Plus, Paychex services more than 650,000+ companies and has more than 50 years of experience in the industry.

So, you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands.

With that said, getting started isn’t as easy as it is with some of the other options on this list.

Because each deployment is tailored to your business, you can’t get going on your own.

However, they do offer a team of specialists to help you get the ball rolling.

Contact their sales team for a custom quote to get started!

#4 – ADP Review — The best for built-in HR features

ADP is the way to go if you’re looking for a payroll service with the most built-in HR features.

It’s perfect for smaller companies without an HR department and growing/large companies looking to streamline the process.

ADP works with more than 700,000 businesses in 140+ countries, making it one of the most popular payroll services for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

They offer tailored solutions for small, midsize, and enterprise businesses, so you’re sure to find the perfect solution whether you have five employees or 1000+.

Their lower-tiered plans include basic payroll features like automatic tax calculations, employee self-service tools, a mobile app, PTO management, and complete compliance support.

However, ADP offers more than just basic payroll and HR.

They also include time tracking, talent recruitment, HR consulting services, advanced employee benefits, and the option to outsource your entire payroll/HR department.

You can also get unique benefits, like personalized training, legal assistance, background checks, and interview scheduling too.

Furthermore, ADP offers industry-specific solutions for nine different industries, including:

• Restaurants
• Construction
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Nonprofits

Note: ADP pricing isn’t available online, so it may not be suitable for micro or small businesses interested in getting started quickly.

If you need something fast and straightforward, my #1 recommendation is Gusto.

Request a free quote to see if ADP is right for you today.

#5 – Quickbooks Payroll — The best for QuickBooks integration

Quickbooks Online is one of the most well-known accounting tools on the market.

And if you’re already a user, QuickBooks Payroll is an excellent addition to your tech stack.

The two tools integrate seamlessly, making account reconciliation and tax season a breeze.

Furthermore, QuickBooks’ payroll system works in all 50 states.

So, whether you have a remote team or work with contractors across the country, you don’t have to worry about making errors or mishandling taxes.

You can also rest easy knowing your federal, state, and local taxes are automatically calculated plus paid for you every time you run payroll.

Plus, the entire process is easily automated after your first round of payments.

With QuickBooks, you get a full-service payroll system regardless of the plan you choose.

And the user interface is aesthetically pleasing with direct deposit payments landing in your employees’ bank accounts within 24 – 48 hours.

The Core Plan starts at $45 per month, plus $4 per employee per month. It includes:

• Full-service payroll with unlimited runs
• Automatic payments after the first run
• Health benefits
• Wage garnishments
• Next-day direct deposit
• 24/7 live chat support
• All 50 states

So, even their most basic plan includes everything you need to simplify your HR and payroll processes.

But if that isn’t enough, their advanced plans include:

• Premium — $75 per month + $8/employee per month
• Elite — $125 per month + $10/employee per month

Get 70% off your first three months to take QuickBooks Payroll for a test drive today!

Note: 1099 contractors and freelancers aren’t included.

It comes as an add-on with additional monthly fees.

So, this isn’t the most affordable choice if you frequently handle contractors or freelancers.

#6 – Wave Payroll Review — The most affordable payroll service

If you’re on a tight budget, Wave Payroll is an affordable payroll option.

Wave also offers numerous other small business tools for free, including invoicing, accounting, and receipt management.

The different apps integrate seamlessly to create an affordable small business accounting and payroll solution.

With Wave, getting started takes just a few minutes, and running payroll goes even faster.

Plus, they offer a 100% accuracy guarantee.

You can also pay hourly, salary, and contractors and automatically generate the right tax forms.

In some states, Wave automatically files and pays your state/federal payroll taxes for you.

However, in those states, Wave’s services are more expensive.

You also get access to features, like:

• Automatic journal entries (if you use Wave Accounting)
• Self-service pay stubs and tax forms for your employees
• Workers’ compensation management
• Basic payroll reporting
• Automatic year-end tax forms
• Timesheets for PTO and accruals

While Wave is one of the most affordable payroll services, it doesn’t sacrifice functionality and essential features.

Despite being cheaper than the other options on this list, you still get all the essentials you need to run payroll for your small business.

In tax service states, Wave is $35 per month + $6 per contractor/employee per month.

This service isn’t necessarily cheaper than the other options on this list.

But, it’s still a great option if you’re a small business owner looking for a simple payroll solution.

However, it’s $20 per month + $6 per contractor/employee per month in self-service states. At this price, it’s easily the cheapest option with the most features available.

And don’t forget that Wave Payroll seamlessly integrates with Wave’s free accounting and invoicing software as well.

So, if you don’t yet have accounting software, this is a smart choice.

Try Wave Payroll free for 30 days to see if it’s right for you and your business!

 

Summary

For most users, Gusto, OnPay, and Wave are my top recommendations.

They’re all excellent for small and fast-growth businesses with the ability to scale to match your needs.

Plus, they’re affordable and easy to use.

However, different businesses require different solutions.

So, don’t forget to use the considerations we talked about as you go through the process of choosing the best payroll services for your business.

What payroll services do you prefer?

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