Brett Slatkin, a software engineer for more than 10 years, took to his site to explain some of the frustrations he has with his role. Particularly, regarding the unexpected roadblocks he’s run into during his time in the industry. And it’s not just software engineers that get the short-end of the stick here – Slatkin also writes about what it’s like for tech leads and managers as well. So, what could be so awful about being a software engineer?...

According to one recent Google/Deloitte study, the most digitally advanced U.S. small businesses are three times more likel than the bottom 80 percent of small digital businesses to have exported within the last year. So how can your commerce store compete on the international market? I spoke with Ed Marsh, the American Express advisor on exporting, in order to home in on the four areas of impact that a small business needs to be aware of in order to go global....

New findings from creative file management service Bynder have pinponted a selection of the biggest tech challenges facing small business marketing teams. Here’s a rundown that hits the major issues identified in the report, which can be read in full over here. Security Is a Problem One issue facing small marketing teams is one that has dominated headlines in the tech community for a while with events like NotPetya and WannaCry....

The other side of the app “My Story,” which allowed users to compile a series of snapshots chronologically, in storylines. The addition of the video feature makes the storytelling even more compelling. And for marketers, storytelling is one of the best contemporary brand tools, even for B2B companies. B2B Marketers are Hesitant There are probably several reasons why marketers hesitate to consider Snapchat as a viable B2B marketing tool. First off, 71% of Snapchat users are aged 25 and younger, which means marketers see Snapchat as silly and frivolous....

Buildshop Building just got a lot easier. This app is a must-have tool for homeowners, designers, builders, and remodelers. The app allows you to plan and organize all your constructions projects. You can estimate the cost of your home renovations and schedule all related activities. Buildshop comes with predefined checklists and a to-do list feature. Hence, you can break down the projects into small tasks and tick off the lists as you proceed....

1. Don’t rush into designing custom software. It sounds like a great idea to have software designed and working exactly the way you want, especially if you have an affordable team in tow. However, for small to medium businesses can go great with off-the-shelf products. Before hiring developers, ask yourself the following questions: Are you sure the final product would be as secure as a time-tested solution from the market?Are there any other areas of your business that need improvements and investment?...

Entrepreneurs need to be capable enough to handle any type of situation they encounter and owning the correct Gadgets can help them a lot. It’s just the necessary tools with which you can become efficient and productive. Let us take a look at 5 of the best Gadgets that an entrepreneur should get. Ultra Light Laptop Chargers To be an entrepreneur, you need to be almost constantly connected. It would be an embarrassing moment when you would be looking for charging spots realizing that you’re low on battery or have forgotten to charge the Laptop....

An infographic has the capacity to present information in a concise, visual and exemplary way–but it also has the capacity to confuse and obscure information. Using pre-made infographic templates can make the creation process a whole lot easier, but they can also produce some weird looking, ineffective infographics if used incorrectly. The key is to choose the correct infographic template for the kind of information you present. Choosing the wrong template shows a lack of understanding of data visualization and storytelling....

Gary Chapman’s book “The Five Love Languages” is a must read book for couples seeking a healthy, sustainable relationship. Recently I realized that this book is applicable to an employer’s relationship with an employee – especially if you keep the romantic part out of it. Here’s the main concept: We humans have five emotional needs or buckets that require filling, which are: Chapman’s theory is that all of us seek emotional affirmation with a mix of the above emotional bucket fillers....

On the flip side, the life of an entrepreneur can be extremely chaotic. Most entrepreneurs invest in multiple businesses, serve prominent positions in different startups, and travel the length of the country (or the world) to speak, present, and raise funds. The term “organized entrepreneur” is an oxymoron simply because the time entrepreneurs should take to organize is spent analyzing data, evaluating new companies, and, if permitted, sleeping. But decluttering your office, surroundings, computer, teams, and life can actually make you a better entrepreneur....

While Cyber Monday brings a wide range of deals and coupons to consumers, this special shopping day provides ample opportunities for hackers to fool customers into downloading malware in an effort to capture their personal and banking information. Threat actors will go so far as to use retailer’s names to create fraudulent branding and draw a customer to their site or mobile app. In a report by RiskIQ, it was found that nearly 30 percent of spending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday will take place on mobile phones....

Today your information is easy to hack – even if you store it in a hidden system folder. Unfortunately, old rules for hiding files don’t work anymore, because now your personal data could be accessible directly from the net by using such plugins as Shodan. Do you even know how it works? Here are 7 reasons why usage of data protection is as important as a safety belt:

The brain processes information in a number of ways, so there is more than one right way to make a successful infographic. The most important thing to think about is the information you’re trying to convey and the best way to get it into people’s brains. If you can throw in some symbolic imagery or provide actual illustrations of the data, even better. Here are 7 examples of infographics that had a lot of impact in 2015....

Many people find once they settle into a rhythm, they are even more productive at home than they ever were in an office. To help you find your rhythm and stay focused on growing your business, here are a few tips entrepreneurs can use to work successfully from home. 1. Structure Your Workday Entrepreneur recommends structuring your workday around the hours you are most productive. If you focus best in the morning, plan to knock out the more challenging tasks right when you wake up and save other stuff, like email, until later in the day....

We were lucky enough to talk with a few startup founders, budding entrepreneurs, and heavy-hitting influencers to get their take on what it’s like to be a startup in the Windy City. The Supportive City While Chicago isn’t a coastal city, its size has proven that it can hang with the big dogs. And while the coasts provide an incredible sense of accomplishment, the supportive environment in this Illinois city is unparalleled around the country....

This is especially true for people who have a lot to do and not enough hours to do it in…aka all of us. The below personal assistant skills grant added value for every day productivity, helping you save time, effort, and ease some of your tedious tasks. With them, you can become more productive day-to-day and appropriate your time to battle information overload accordingly. Even more, thanks to Artificial Intelligence, the personalized experience will become heaven sent, and perhaps with the benefits we will finally end up trusting our assistants....

There are ways to maintain open communication with your clients 24/7, and mobile applications especially made for customer service would give you a convenient means to do so. Here are nine mobile apps that can give maximum customer satisfaction with just a few taps on your device. 1. Desk.com Mobile Go mobile with one of the most popular customer support applications. Desk’s mobile counterpart is equally reliable as it resolves, tracks, and re-assigns cases quickly even if you’re far away....

We asked nine entrepreneurs what the best way to operate a business during the weeks when employees are typically home for the holidays. Take a look at what they had to say and get ready for the most hectic time of the year. – Brooke Bergman of Allied Business Network – Matt Doyle of Excel Builders – Neill Feather of SiteLock – Faithe Parker or Marbaloo Marketing – Thomas Cullen of LaunchPad Lab – Yaniv Masjedi of Nextiva – Leila Lewis of Be Inspired PR – Peter Boyd of PaperStreet Web Design – Andrew Kucheriavy of Intechnic

For years, social media has inadvertently created a perfect environment for malevolent behavior, enthusiastically spurred by a select few “trolls.” Until recently, these trolls were nameless, faceless voices, often paid little attention by anyone beyond those they were attacking. However, in recent years, notable celebrities and political personalities have stoked aggression from far larger audiences, leading to massive hate speech campaigns aimed at everyone from journalists to movie stars. Luckily, after years of hiding behind the “it’s free speech” shield, social media companies have started to address the problem and began suspending and even permanently banning some of the worst offenders....

If you’ve ever called up a cable company to try cancelling or downgrading your account, you’ve likely taken a Dante’s Inferno-style trip through nine circles of hell. They might argue with you. They might offer endless freebies and discounts that you don’t want. They might shuttle you between support staff members, hoping the musical chairs routine tires you out. They might just hang up. They might agree, but keep charging you....