23 Nov 2021

Eco Friendly Building Methods

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With growing concerns over climate change, it is important for construction firms to reduce their environmental impact, while this can be a challenge these methods can be of great benefit.

  • Proper insulation – This is important as it will reduce your energy consumption and therefore your pocket as well, if you use green insulation this will reduce the need for high-end finishes that are made from non-renewable materials.
  • Sustainable building materials – Recycled plastic, linoleum, recycled glass, cork and bamboo are excellent ways to build with renewable materials and reduce harm to the environment as they break down easily and don’t release harmful toxins.
  • Solar panels – This will initially cost you but will save you money in the long run and bring down your consumption as you draw energy from the sun, it is vital to place the panels in the best location for the most absorption from the sun.
  • Eco-friendly lighting – The lighting you choose needs to be long lasting and use less energy, the solution is either LED or CFL as incandescent bulbs will not give you these benefits. LED or CFL will cost more upfront but the energy you will be saving will make it worthwhile.
  • Cool roof – Using materials that reflect the sun’s energy away from the roof will assist in keeping the building cooler and that will, in turn, reduce cooling costs. Most energy-efficient products might be more costly at the onset put reduce cost long term and often require less maintenance.
  • Rammed earth brick – These bricks are made traditionally from clay-rich soil, water and a natural stabiliser, the mixture is then compressed at high pressure to form bricks. These bricks have been reintroduced as they are environmentally sustainable.
  • Ashcrete – This is an environmentally friendly concrete that has smaller pores and has the strength needed to be sustainable, it composes of 97% recycled materials.

 

Sources
Conserve Energy
Electric Choice
Rammed Earthworks
Green Future

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About Karen Garner-Savory

I started working at Leads 2 Business in May 2009, and have served as Head of Department of Telesales and Administration from 2010 until the present. I oversee both the Telesales department as well as the Administration of our Johannesburg Office.

22 Nov 2021

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)

by | posted in: General | 1

All public and private bodies will have to be POPIA compliant by 01 July 2021.

The purpose of The Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act 4 of 2013) is to –

(a) give effect to the constitutional right to privacy, by safeguarding personal information when processed by a responsible party, subject to justifiable limitations that are aimed at –

(i) balancing the right to privacy against other rights, particularly the right of access to information (The Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act 2 of 2000) The Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 54 of 2002)); and

(ii) protecting important interests, including the free flow of information within the Republic and across international borders;

(b) regulate the manner in which personal information may be processed, by establishing conditions, in harmony with international standards, that prescribe the minimum threshold requirements for the lawful processing of personal information;

(c) provide persons with rights and remedies to protect their personal information from processing that is not in accordance with this Act; and

(d) establish voluntary and compulsory measures, including the establishment of an Information Regulator, to ensure respect for and to promote, enforce and fulfill the rights protected by this Act.

Information Regulator

The Information Regulator (South Africa) is an independent body established in terms of Section 39 of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. it is subject only to the law and the constitution and it is accountable to the National Assembly.

The Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA Act) aims to promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies by, among others, introducing certain conditions for the lawful processing of personal information so as to establish minimum requirements for the processing of such information.

The Information Regulator (South Africa) is, among others, empowered to monitor and enforce compliance by public and private bodies with the provisions of the POPIA Act.

10 Definitions as per the Protection of Personal Information Act No 4 of 2013:

Consent – means any voluntary, specific, and informed expression of will in terms of which permission is given for the processing of personal information;

Data subject – means the person to whom the personal information relates;

Information matching program – means the comparison, whether manually or by means of any electronic or other devices, of any document that contains personal information about ten or more data subjects with one or more documents that contain personal information of ten or more data subjects, for the purpose of producing or verifying information that may be used for the purpose of taking any action in regard to an identifiable data subject;

Information officer – of, or in relation to, a –

(a) public body means an information officer or deputy information officer as contemplated in terms of section 1 or 17; or

(b) private body means the head of a private body as contemplated in section 1, of the Promotion of Access to Information Act;

Application forms, and Guidance Notes, for Information Officers, are available at JusticeGov Registration opens 01 May 2021.

Personal information – means information relating to an identifiable, living, natural person, and where it is applicable and identifiable, existing juristic person, including, but not limited to –

(a) information relating to the race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, national, ethnic or social origin, color, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental health, well-being, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language, and the birth of the person;

(b) information relating to the education or the medical, financial, criminal, or employment history of the person;

(c) any identifying number, symbol, e-mail address, physical address, telephone number, location information, online identifier, or other particular assignments to the person;

(d) the biometric information of the person;

(e) the personal opinions, views, or preferences of the person;

(f) correspondence sent by the person that is implicitly or explicitly of a private or confidential nature or further correspondence that would reveal the contents of the original correspondence;

(g) the views or opinions of another individual about the person; and

(h) the name of the person if it appears with other personal information relating to the person or if the disclosure of the name itself would reveal information about the person;

Processing – means any operation or activity or any set of operations, whether or not by automatic means, concerning personal information, including –

(a) the collection, receipt, recording, organization, collation, storage, updating or modification, retrieval, alteration, consultation or use;

(b) dissemination by means of transmission, distribution or making available in any other form; or

(c) merging, linking, as well as restriction, degradation, erasure, or destruction of information;

Promotion of Access to Information Act – means the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000)

Public Record – means a record that is accessible in the public domain and which is in the possession of or under the control of a public body, whether or not it was created by that public body;

Record – means any recorded information –

(a) regardless of form or medium, including any of the following:

(i) Writing on any material;

(ii) information produced, recorded or stored by means of any tape-recorder, computer equipment, whether hardware or software or both, or other devices, and any material subsequently derived from information so produced, recorded or stored;

(iii) label, marking or other writing that identifies or describes anything of which it forms part, or to which it is attached by any means;

(iv) book, map, plan, graph, or drawing;

(v) photograph, film, negative, tape, or other devices in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable, with or without the aid of some other equipment, of being reproduced;

(b) in the possession or under the control of a responsible party;

(c) whether or not it was created by a responsible party;

(d) regardless of when it came into existence;

Regulator – means the Information Regulator established in terms of section 39;

8 Conditions of lawful processing of personal information:

  1. Accountability: where the responsible party must ensure compliance with the conditions for lawful processing
  2. Processing limitation: Personal information must be processed lawfully and in a reasonable manner that does not infringe the privacy of a data subject. Consent, justification, and objection; collection directly from a data subject
  3. Purpose specification: Personal information must be collected for a specific explicitly defined and lawful purpose related to a function or activity of the responsible party
  4. Further processing limitation: Further processing must be compatible with the purpose of collection, failing which consent must be obtained.
  5. Information Quality: Personal information must be complete, accurate, not misleading, and updated.
  6. Openness: The responsible party must maintain records and notify data subjects when collecting personal information
  7. Security Safeguards: A responsible party must secure the integrity and confidentiality of personal information
  8. Subject Participation: Data subjects must have access to personal information. Correction or deletion of personal information may take place if incorrect, irrelevant, outdated, excessive, incomplete, misleading or unlawfully obtained.

All Documents and updates are available here.

Sources:
Justice
Facebook

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About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

16 Nov 2021

How the Unrest benefited the Construction Industry

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Buildings damaged in the unrest in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng

The unrest began on July 8 2021, Jacob Zuma Protests, A series of protests regarding the arrest of ex-president Jacob Zuma resulted in mass looting of retail shops, burning buildings, shutting down the transport industry in two of the bigger provinces Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng.

South Africa has been dubbed “the protest capital of the world” with one of the highest rates of public protests. Roads damaged by the burning of trucks while some toll plazas were also damaged, South Africa’s construction industry may receive a short term boost from the rebuilding of damaged and destroyed infrastructure, buildings and structures in unrest and looting but the longer-term outlook for the sector is more uncertain. Protecting, burning, destroying schools, roads, retails, government buildings, transports, costing the country billions of rands.

The newly built Brookside Mall was not spared after it was burnt down during the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal. Plans are underway to rebuild.

Professionals Team, Project Notes, Bidders, Awards, Main Contractors and Sub Contractors are all available on Leads 2 Business.

Recovery and Reconstruction

“However, all eyes will now be on the government’s Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, which has been rather slow right out of the starting blocks.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled plans to assist businesses caught up in the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, and those SMMEs that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged the country’s economy.

The president said that South Africa is one of the few countries in the world to have a state-owned insurance company, SASRIA, which provides cover against incidents of public violence, strikes, riots and unrest.

SASRIA has committed to expediting the payment of all valid claims, and is working together with private insurers, Ramaphosa said, adding that some businesses that were victims of this violence may not have been insured.

Nearly R4bn recovery fund was set up to help businesses after looting

Trade, industry and competition minister said the trade department, working with the small business department, had identified eight urgent focus areas for business and economic recovery: restoring supply lines; making immediate repairs to shops (such as replacing broken windows)

So they could reopen in weeks; accelerating construction and structural repairs where larger builds were needed, some of which would take months to complete.

Below is a list of businesses and buildings damaged by the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng

  1. Chris Hani Crossing
  2. Daveyton Shopping Centre
  3. Diepkloof Square
  4. Dobsonville Mall
  5. Evagold Shopping Centre
  6. Evaton Mall
  7. Jabulani Mall
  8. Irene Village
  9. Khan Corner
  10. Letsoho Mall
  11. Mams Mall
  12. Maverick Corner
  13. Ndofaya Mall
  14. Normandie Court
  15. Palm Springs Shopping Centre
  16. Pan African Mall
  17. Protea Garden Mall
  18. Queens Court
  19. Sam Ntuli Mall
  20. Sizwe Shopping Centre
  21. Sontonga Mall
  22. South Gate Mall
  23. Tembi Mall
  24. Yarona Shopping Centre
  25. 30 Afroprop Buildings
  26. 30 Makro & Game buildings
  27. 32 Schools in KZN
  28. 320 West Street
  29. 33 Standard Bank branches 220 of its ATMS
  30. 88 Field Street
  31. Afrox
  32. BIDFOOD
  33. Biyela Shopping Centre
  34. Bridge City Shopping Centre
  35. Brookside Mall
  36. Cato Ridge Distribution Centre
  37. China Mall
  38. China City
  39. City Life Building
  40. Cornubia Ridge Logistic Park – Warehouse 1
  41. Davenport Square
  42. Defy Warehouse
  43. Delta Towers
  44. Dunlop Centre
  45. Edendale Crossing Centre
  46. Edendale Mall
  47. Eshowe Mall – The Atrium
  48. Galleria Mall
  49. Game PMB
  50. Glenwood Village
  51. Hammarsdale Junction
  52. Hyundai Dealership
  53. Isipingo Market
  54. Isipingo Junction
  55. Isithebe Industrial park
  56. Kingspark Manufacturers factory
  57. Kwamashu Shopping Centre
  58. Kyalami Industrial Park
  59. Laager Centre Spar
  60. Ladysmith crematorium
  61. LG Warehouse
  62. Liberty Towers
  63. Machibisa Spar
  64. Makro
  65. Mandeni Mall
  66. Massmart
  67. Mega City Mall
  68. Mkuze Shopping Centre
  69. Montclair Mall
  70. North Coast Industrial Park
  71. Pine Parkade
  72. Pinetown Central
  73. Pinecrest Mall
  74. Pine Walk Centre
  75. Queensmead Mall
  76. Redlyn Business Park
  77. Ridge Mall
  78. RTT Warehouse
  79. SANBS
  80. Sanlam Centre
  81. Scottsville Mall
  82. Seaquence Logistics
  83. Southway Mall
  84. Springfield Value Mart
  85. Superspar
  86. Theku Plaza
  87. The Ridge Shopping Centre Shallcross
  88. The Workshop
  89. The Boulevard Business Park
  90. Treasury House
  91. Umgeni Business Park
  92. Umkomaas Central
  93. Umlazi Mega City
  94. Umzinto Priso
  95. Ushekela Industrial Park
  96. Value Logistics
  97. Vector Logistics Cold room
  98. Warehouse – Reservoir Hills
  99. Warehouse in Brickfield
  100. Wartburg Central
  101. Watercrest Mall
  102. Waterfall Storage Facility – Stor-Age
  103. Westmead Cash & Carry
  104. Westwood Mall
  105. West Street

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About Nirasha Rampersad

I started working for Leads to Business June 2017 as Support Assistance in L2Q.

9 Nov 2021

Dams around the World

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Dams Around the World and their Construction


1. Hoover Dam – Nevada/Arizona, United States

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam.
Construction of the Hoover dam began 7th July 1930.
It took 5 years and 21000 men and cost over 100 lives to build the Hoover dam, one of the largest manmade structures in the world.

2. Three Gorges Dam – Hubei, China

The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric gravity dam.
Construction of the Three Gorges dam began in 1994 and was completed in 2006
Construction of the dam caused the displacement of at least 1.3 million people and the destruction of natural features and countless rare architectural and archaeological sites. The dam’s reservoir is blamed for an increase in the number of landslides and earthquakes in the region. The dam allows the navigation of ocean-going freighters and generates hydroelectric power.

3.Vajont – Erto E Casso, Italy

The Vajont dam is one of the tallest dams in the world
Construction of the Vajont dam began in 1957 and was completed in 1960
On 9 October 1963, during the initial filling, a landslide caused a mega-tsunami in the lake in which 50 million cubic metres of water overtopped the dam in a wave of 250 metres which brought massive flooding and destruction to the Valley below, leading to the complete destruction of several villages and towns, and between 1,900 and 2,500 estimated deaths. The dam itself remained almost intact and two-thirds of the water was retained behind it.

Sources:
Wikipedia Hoover Dam
Britannica
Wikipedia Three Gorges
Wikipedia Vajont

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About Shanita Peens

4 Nov 2021

Logic of Supporting Local

by | posted in: General | 0

“Local is lekker” is not just a beautiful South African saying, it’s our country’s mission and a chance for positive, long-lasting change!

The shop local movement is hardly a trend – it’s a shift in lifestyle that more and more people are embracing.

If you had to communicate with an American and explain that you have been chosen as the hooker for your school’s rugby team, you will probably be rewarded with a very worried look. Let’s rather keep it local julle!

As South Africans, we should support local suppliers to invest in the future of our country so that we are able to eradicate our contribution towards the unemployment rate and boost economic growth. Supporting local businesses is also good for the environment because they often have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies, and I’m all for going green.

Here are 5 ways that you can support your local businesses now without even spending any money:

1. Engage (Like, comment, save or share) with Local Businesses on Social Media.

2. Write a Review

3. Word of Mouth Referrals.

4. Keep them in mind for the future.

5. Refer friends and family to their business.

Why should you support local and small businesses?

The number one perk to consider for obvious reasons is that supporting local means that you care about the community that you live in. The commercial world is full of companies that all offer basically identical options. It’s hard to find anything that is entirely unique anymore.

So essentially, you’re helping bring character to the commercial world. You are giving people jobs. There’s no question that the job market is tight these days, and by shopping local, you are keeping a business open, enabling growth that leads to job creation.

Small businesses are important because they provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and create meaningful jobs with greater job satisfaction than positions with larger, traditional companies. They foster local economies, keeping money close to home and supporting neighborhoods and communities.

We in turn need to create a conducive environment, that is regulated in order to encourage the use of local products. This will not only create employment but also drive innovation and investment for local manufacturers. This often impacts global trends and ideas relating to product development and future products.

In a world where you can shop anywhere… Shop Local.

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About Sonet van Wygaard

I started working at Leads 2 Business in 2014. I was part of the Tenders Africa team and have now recently moved to Private Projects. I love every second of it!

2 Nov 2021

Coding Explained (for non Developers)

by | posted in: General | 1

A bunch of random numbers, gibberish that doesn’t make sense but can produce life-changing applications in desktop, mobile and webspace.

This is usually the flow in conversations I have with my non-developer friends when discussing computer programming. For non-developers, this world can be quite intimidating and understandably so I will use a simple Console App program, that calculates the end user’s age.

Let’s first identify all the tools we need to assemble a Console App program. So, all we need to install is Microsoft Visual Studio on our Windows system that meets the minimum requirements. Once installed, we can launch Microsoft Visual Studio and then create a Console Application project, selecting C# as our preferred programming language.

After which we will be presented with a similar code snippet, as below:

.Net Class Library – The “using” statement is used to import the .Net Framework modules that are required to run code on a Windows system.
Open & Close – We use containers a lot to segment code and these segments are scoped by open “{” and “}” close curly braces.
Namespace – This is a container that encapsulates classes.
Class – All code needs to be logically defined in a module called a “class”.
Method Name – This is the code block that contains all the statements and in a Console App program, this is the code block that gets executed first.
Comment – This is the non-executed text that is used to explain the source code.
Console.Write/WriteLine – “Console.Write” renders text inline and “Console.WriteLine” renders text on a new line.
Console.ReadLine – Gets user input.
int yourBirthYear – We declare a variable called “yourBirthYear” that stores an integer(numeric) value.
Convert.ToInt32 – A method used to convert text to an integer.
int yourAge = todaysYear – yourBirthYear – Finally we calculate your age, we take today’s year derived from the Windows system and then subtract the year captured by the end-user. The result gets stored in an integer variable called “yourAge”, which gets printed on the next line.

We can now press F5 to execute the above Console App program. Pending there are no errors in our source code, the below snippet will pop up. Prompting the end-user to enter the year there were born.

At this stage, we have successfully built our first computer program.

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About Andile Shange

I'm a Software Developer at Leads 2 Business since 02 June 2014.

28 Oct 2021

L2B Opportunities created in the last 30 Days – October 2021

by | posted in: General | 0

Our comprehensive, online, resource platform delivers daily leads to help you make informed business decisions. Find construction Tenders and Projects within the building, infrastructure, mining, and industrial sectors. Opportunities are researched throughout South Africa and Africa. We put new business prospect leads within your reach.

Leads 2 Business Opportunities we have created in the last 30 Days: for more information check out our Pricing Page.

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About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

26 Oct 2021

Stay Driven & Plan for 2022

by | posted in: General | 0

In order to stay driven and motivated at year-end, think back on what you have accomplished throughout the year so far.

Look at the goals you are near to achieving. Remind yourself how well you have done and how close you are to completing your goals. Motivational self-talk helps.

Lean on your Support System. Stay connected, stay in touch with friends and family that will keep you motivated and support you.

Remember to ask for help if you need it. Asking for help develops relationships, improves resilience, develops a growth mindset, improves mental health, and shows maturity.

When planning for 2022, don’t get discouraged; take smaller steps, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Make sure to give yourself time and space to accomplish your goals, be realistic.

Whenever you are setting goals, be willing to change the direction. Remember to plan and prioritize in order to keep things manageable.

Ask yourself: Is this goal relevant? Is this something I intend to accomplish in the future? What is the purpose of this goal? Is this goal reasonable and attainable?

 

Remember, motivation starts within. Find what works for you.

Never forget that you may fall and trip along the way, but keep your head up high and keep going! Stay focused on the bigger picture and visualize yourself succeeding.

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About Robyn Moffett

I am a relaxed person that likes to get to know the people around me. I am independent and strong-willed but kind.

19 Oct 2021

Technology for Small Businesses

by | posted in: General | 12

The best thing about technology is that we are able to connect and communicate with people from all over the world, right at our fingertips. Not only do we use this for ourselves but our business as well. Technology is an easy and great way to touch base with employees and clients. This gives your company a competitive edge and puts you in the lead. It is convenient, simple, cost-effective and economical for all companies.

Even something as simple as sending a company newsletter or email to customers can lead to the growth of your business.

Small businesses rely on technology to help them operate on a daily basis. This includes computers, printers, online storage and web-based applications.

10 Ways to Enhance a Small Business using Technology

1) Marketing Tactics

Small businesses would need to look at and compile some marketing techniques for their new business. Technology can assist you in honing in on those techniques/skills and help your company grow.

Simple and easy marketing ideas include the creation of a company website, reviewing and mastering your email skills, use of social media to promote your company etc.

Building your own company website will provide prospective and current clients with an idea of what your company does, where to locate you and how to contact you. A website makes your company look reputable, creditable and well established.

2) Social Media

In my opinion, using social media and digital marketing is the BEST way to grow a small business. Businesses are no longer physically advertised as there is no longer a need. It is more cost-effective and easier to use online technology.

Social media not only allows you to connect with people in your area but the whole world. Anyone is able to easily locate your company online and make contact with you at the click of a button.

With social media platforms, you can advertise and promote your business online. A new small business should create pages on various platforms whereby people can like, share, follow and interact with you. The most used platforms are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and Google +

Whatsapp is also fast becoming a way of communication for a small business. Whatsapp has come up with a Business Whatsapp especially for this. Small businesses can track clients queries, orders and payments. You can also have your product list available for viewing or downloading.

Start a Company Blog, like us here at Leads 2 Business, where we relate to our business and clients.

Link all your apps and use your mobile to stay connected while on the go.

3) Remote Working

Thanks to the internet and technology, we are able to work from home and connect with like-minded people. With a new emerging small business, this is fantastic news as you are able to keep your start-up costs down as there is no need to rent a separate office space for you and your team.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added to the working remotely trend which has a range of pros including lowered costs, increased flexibility, greater productivity and increased wellbeing.

Technology allows you to connect with your team via Zoom or Teams or any other online platform where you can touch base or assist where need be. Not only with employees but clients and customers as well. You could also make use of a virtual phone number.

4) Productivity Techniques

Time management has always come into play when it comes to a business. There are many tools and apps available for time management/time tracking for small businesses. You can also make use of to-do lists, reminders and online calendars.

5) Technology Security

There are many benefits for a small business owner using technology to benefit and grow their company. One of the other benefits is improved security. The technology could be used to prevent hacking or any breach of security with active passwords and firewalls. It protects small businesses valuable and private information.

6) Cloud features.

A very beneficial tool of technology is the Cloud and Cloud features. This can reduce the number of software and computer applications your company needs in the long run. The Cloud is essential for data storage, backups, collection of documents, spreadsheets and images not only for the individual but for team collaborations/projects as well.

It is easily accessible by a shareable link which can be accessed by yourself and your team at any location on any device such as your mobile, laptop, PC or tablet.

7) Customer Service

I believe that customer service is a lifeline of any business. Clients are the ones who are investing their energy, time and money into your business. It is essential to take care of these clients and make them a priority and follow up with them making sure they are happy with the products and service they are receiving.

You can make contact with your clients via telephone or achieve this by using technology and social media. With Facebook, Linkedin other platforms there is an inbox messaging system that customers can use to enquire about your product. Facebook also is linked to your WhatsApp, so the customer can choose to whatsapp your business directly.

You can also set up a feedback or ticket system to handle customer concerns. Some features allow clients to request appointments online. You can also compile questionnaires & surveys to obtain customer feedback.

 

8) Emailing

An email is an ongoing form of communication that everyone uses. We need to look at how to control the influx of emails and work on improving our productivity. How to organise, tag, flag and reply to emails. Create a system that is tailor-made to your needs and suits you.

8.1. Turn off email notifications, on both your computer and mobile, after office hours to avoid disruptions and distractions.

8.2. Decide how to use your inbox. Using personalised colour coded tags works for me.

8.3. Update your Whitelists & Blacklists frequently. You can blacklist or block spam addresses as well as list safe addresses to ensure all important messages come through.

8.4. Unsubscribe to unwanted emails. Limit newsletters and automated messages that flood or take up your inbox.

8.5. Set up your email signature. Having a company email signature is super important and makes your company stand out. Start with the basics by including your full name, job title, company address, phone number and link to your website. In here you can add the social media icons of which platforms your company is on. You could also add an image, banner or GIF.

8.6. Email Etiquette can set you apart from the rest. It is simple yet effective.

– Use a simple catchy subject line.

– Use a standard font.

– Address your new customer formally

– Structure your message clearly.

– Always proofread your email carefully and use spell check

– Include your signature

9) Financial

There are many tools that you can use in your small business from helping you to identify wasteful spending within the company as well as provide diverse payment options.

– Credit cards are a great way of conducting money transactions. They are not connected to your bank accounts, making them very safe to use. A small business can apply for a Business Credit Card from their Bank or a preferred credit provider. FNB offers a great Business Credit Card solution with benefits and rewards. If there are any disputed transactions, your card issuer can freeze these transactions. If your card has been compromised, you will be notified via a fraud alert however, chip technology makes it harder to steal your credit card information.

– Online invoice service. This can reduce the costs incurred when collecting payment from customers

– Online budget app. Can help you keep onto of your expenses and see where all your money is going.

– File your taxes online and on time

– Create a new income stream by selling your products online on your website, Facebook and other platforms previously mentioned.

– Download accounting software to streamline your business finances. You can also share digital files with your accountant or bookkeeper.

– Offer your customers an online payment option for ease of payment.

– Use your phone to make payments. FNB offers a Virtual Card option whereby you tap your phone at places of business to make payments.

Close up hand of customer paying with a smartphone. Cashier hand holding credit card reader machine and wearing protective disposable gloves at the bar counter, while client holding the phone for NFC payment. Women wearing a face mask while paying bills with mobile phones during the Covid-19 pandemic.

10) Influencer Marketing

Consumer habits are moving away from the more traditional media like TV and Radio towards online content. The methods of promotion have also shifted and modernised. There are loads of influencers are on Facebook small businesses should take advantage of this opportunity and collaborate with these influencers to promote their company online. Like the comedian Kevin Fraser who promotes Westpack Lifestyle on Facebook.

Conclusion

While some people may not like change and find that this can confuse or be difficult, it also creates opportunities. Small businesses that use new technology have achieved a lot of positive outcomes such as happier clients and employees, efficient and streamlined processes, and lower costs and higher quality content.

Get with the times 😉

Sources
Finsmes
The Balance MB
Small Business
Industry Today
WW2

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About Michelle Crosby

I started my journey at Leads 2 Business in the Directory Department in 2012. I was then promoted to the Private Projects Department in 2014 and was recently promoted to Projects HOD this year.

12 Oct 2021

Photography & Drones in Construction

by | posted in: Construction Chat | 0

You generally hear them before you see them. You tend to be looking here and there until you spot it. A splayed machine rising near vertically into your line of sight. Hovering. Until it banks and zooms off. No matter what innocuous activity I’m partaking in, I always squint in suspicion at our local neighborhood drone as it zips off over the farm. My dog also tends to get a bark in.

No matter how commonplace drones have become, they’re toys for crying out loud; they still give me the creeps. They do still have an air of science fiction about them. And we all know they have cameras.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s), commonly referred to as a drone, are considered aircraft without pilots on board. They are controlled by remote control by a human on the ground (I sincerely hope so, because I’ve seen that movie, and it does not end well for us). They were initially developed by the military, for less than savory undertakings “dull, dirty or dangerous”, but with the development of their technology, and the reduction of cost; their use expanded into non-military applications. They are used for aerial photography, agriculture, product delivery, surveillance and policing, an inspection of infrastructure, science, smuggling, and drone racing (because “of course they are”).

In South Africa, in the commercial sphere to legally operate, you are required to have a Remote Pilots License (RPL) and a ROC (Remote Operator Certificate). There are laws governing the flying of drones, and should you break the law you could be given a fine, have your drone confiscated, or go to jail.

They are, however, proving very useful in a variety of industries.

Drones are being used in the construction industry for inspections and to keep abreast of project progress, as well as to keep on top of site safety and security. Drones and aerial photography are proving cost-effective and efficient. They are used for land mapping and for ground assessment. And although aerial images from high up, and wide angles do come to mind, drones are also used for close-up inspections.

Drone photography is even being incorporated into CAD software. These images are being used for progress reports as well as for accurate measurements.

They are invaluable when it comes to marketing. Often the photographs captured via drones, are stunning. They are arresting not only in their composition but in their sheer uniqueness. We are not used to seeing the world from such an aerial perspective. Plus a lot of the time, the images are unobstructed.

A bird’s eye view has been replaced by a drone’s camera view.

 

Sources:
Fly Guys
Drone Photography Services
Wikipedia
Robert Lowdon
CAA
Law for All
Baithe

To view more Articles, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

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