Elementor vs. NicePage: Which Is Better for WordPress Websites?

WordPress has two excellent drag-and-drop page builders in Elementor and Nicepage. Both have several fantastic features. Both are great picks for creating WordPress sites. So, which one should you use?

As a user of both WordPress builders, I must inform you that I have already decided. That said, I'll go through both objectively and share some reasons why I chose Nicepage. To level the playing field, I will also disclose that I am an affiliate for both Elementor and Nicepage.

So, with disclosures out of the way, we will start by looking at some objective features of both Elementor and Nicepage.

Page Builder VS Theme Designer:

One of the benefits I liked about Nicepage is that it's not only a page builder but also a theme creator. However, on the Elementor website, you'll discover a theme builder feature. So are they able to create WordPress themes as well? The answer is yes, albeit in two very different manners.

Installing a desktop program on either a Windows or Mac computer or an online builder is where Nicepage begins. These are independent applications that aren't connected to your WordPress site. You start by creating your theme using a variety of templates and styles in these apps. Templates are full-page layouts on which you may build your theme's design. The designs inspire the page's block arrangement. Once you have designed a theme, you export it from the program and install it in WordPress, just like any other theme. A plugin is included in the archive file that must also be downloaded and installed in WordPress.

Elementor does everything from within WordPress. Once the plug-in is installed in WordPress, you can build a theme. If you are using a free version, you will need to install the "Hello" theme and use the theme builder tool from within the page builder to modify theme elements, such as the header and footer. A template feature is installed for building a theme if you are using a pro version of Elementor.

Elementor gives this description regarding its theme builder:
"'Builder' might be a confusing word in this case, but historically, it has become a standard part of the design vocabulary. Just as page builders are page designers that work in conjunction with your theme, the Elementor Theme Builder is a tool for building a new design framework that changes the look of those areas of your theme that have traditionally been off-limits to page builders."

Website Designs:

Another advantage of Nicepage is that it is more than a WordPress theme designer and page builder. The themes created with its desktop or online applications may not only be exported as WordPress themes but also as Joomla templates. Furthermore, they can be exported as an HTML5 website.

Comparison of Features:

Now let's focus on page building and compare features between Nicepage and Elementor.

Responsive & Mobile Designs

Elementor and Nicepage are both responsive and mobile-friendly. In other words, their designs adapt to any screen size - including mobile displays - and respond quickly. Both provide Desktop, Laptop, Tablet views, and Mobile screens in portrait and landscape mode. Once you've created a desktop version of a page, you may switch to any other screen sizes to see how it appears and make any needed changes. The majority of the time, all that is required is a few modifications to this view, such as repositioning page headers on the page or centering images. Elementor and Nicepage are equally capable in this area.

​Organize it all with Todoist

Drag & Drop Editor

Both offer drag-and-drop design capabilities, which is another common feature between them. Find the feature you want from a list in the left column of your design page and drop it on the page layout in either program. You may then freely position and resize the element as desired. In addition, you may easily customize the colors, backgrounds, and other properties to your liking.

(We independently select these products — if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.)

Video Demonstration

Here are two short videos demonstrating their features to give a feel for the differences between the two builders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iHl--K4XPs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43j6h3oCm0U

If you view both videos, you'll find that the technologies employed are pretty similar. Regarding page creation through drag and drop, both products work similarly. The different ways elements may be positioned and modified within the page blocks influenced my decision to use Nicepage. Elementor's manual handling of position, sizing, and modification tools in the left column can be time-consuming. At the same time, Nicepage's mouse use for all these functions on the design page is more efficient. While this distinction might seem minor, it significantly impacts how quickly you can achieve your desired look and do so without spending hours in front of your computer.

Elements

Nicepage claims over 300-page elements, and while Elementor does not give a number, a browse through available features appears to be very similar. Elements might be broken down into:

• Design elements - These include such elements as Headings, elements for layout, images, text editor, buttons, texts, colors, fonts, etc
• Function elements include forms, menus, sliders, social media integration, etc.

Nicepage

Elementor

Pricing

Both offer a free edition. As you might expect, these free editions have certain restrictions. The limitations affect the number of websites on which you may use your license and specific features. So let's look at them side by side:

Elementor:

• Free Plan - The free version is limited to one website, 50 editor widgets, and no theme building. A few other limitations exist, such as no eCommerce or form builders.
• Essential Plan - For most of those reading along, this version or the free version will be the only version in which you will have any interest. You are not designing multiple websites. Only the one you need for your business. This plan is $49 per year and allows for one website. It comes with 100+ editor widgets as well as the theme builder. It also has more website kits and designer themes available. Plus, it has eCommerce, a popup builder, and a form builder.
• There is also the Expert Plan, the Studio Plan, and the Agency Plan. While there are a few more differences than this, the primary difference is the number of websites with which they can be used.

Nicepage:

• Free Plan- The free starter pack allows you to create the site, export it, and test most options. The number of grids, blocks, colors, etc., is limited in the free version. There is no limit to how long the free version is available.
• Personal Plan - The cost of this plan is $59 per year. This plan gives free updates, five sites, 10,000+ Page and Block designs, 200 block layouts, 25 Grid styles, and 1 Modal Popup.
• Other plans include the Business plan for $129 annually, the Pro plan for $199 a year, and the Ultimate for $349 a year. Each of these plans will increase the number of sites, page & block designs, grid styles, and modal popups. Again, the Personal Plan is sufficient if you are only interested in designing your business site. Should you need more than one site for your business, the Personal Plan will allow this.

Conclusion:

Both plugins offer similar functionality, so choosing between them depends on your needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a simple page builder with fewer options, then Elementor might be better for you. However, if you’re looking to build complex pages with many different elements, then NicePage will likely be a better choice. It will excel in giving you:

• The ability to try out your ideas on the fly.
• Allow you to modify elements in minutes.
• web design 3.0 features
• 1,000s of designer web templates
• A responsive design that looks great on any device

Check them out:

Nicepage

Elementor

(We independently select these products — if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.)

5 Recommended Cloud Storage Services For The Small Business (SOHO) in 2022

You can't afford to ignore data storage and backup as a small office or home-based company (SOHO). Small businesses require the security of data storage and backup services in the cloud. This blog will look at why having a backup is essential and 5 recommended cloud storage services.

Why A Backup Plan?

One of the essential digital resources in a home-based company office is backup or synchronization services for office documents. However, it's similar to having flood insurance. We don't seriously consider it until the water rises inside the house.

It's intimidating to start a home business, and most people find themselves going from one time-consuming activity to the next with little time to consider some crucial but non-urgent tasks. Providing cloud storage for our computer files frequently falls into this category.

If my description matches your situation, I'm guessing you've never experienced a computer failure or a loss of your computer to fire, water damage or any other calamity. Otherwise, the devastation of losing essential data, much of which might be irreplaceable, would convert you into a believer. You'd already have some sort of backup or cloud storage in place. 

The Convenience of A Backup Provision

It's more than simply a good idea to have a backup strategy. It's also convenient. Whether you suffer from a computer system collapse or lose your data, sooner or later, you'll need to purchase new hardware or upgrade your computers. To restore your data to the new computer with an easy-to-restore solution is a life-saver.

I've had everything from a computer crash to a hard drive replacement, as well as purchasing a second computer. In each instance, I could move all of my data in one easy step to the new machine or hard drive.

What Is Cloud Storage and Why Have It?

Cloud storage is a form of data storage in which data is kept on remote servers over the internet. Due to their superior attributes when compared to traditional on-site data storage solutions, cloud storage services are becoming increasingly popular.

One of the most significant benefits of cloud storage is that it allows users to store and access files from nearly any place on earth. You only need an internet connection, and you can quickly and simply access your data. Cloud backup also eliminates the need for hard drives for backup, which are less dependable and susceptible to physical catastrophes such as fires or floods.

The third significant advantage of cloud storage is that it is far more scalable than on-site data storage. You may quickly increase or decrease the storage space you use with cloud storage. This is ideal for companies with seasonal increases and decreases in data storage requirements.

As seen in the list of advantages to cloud storage, I recommend using cloud storage rather than onsite storage.

Backup VS Syncing?

When you look at cloud storage, you will find services that only back up your files and others that synchronize the contents of your computer with those in the cloud. So, what is the distinction?

• Backup - With your documents backed up, a distinct operation is required to upload them to the cloud storage and then restore them to your computer. The backup procedure may be set up to run automatically or manually started. But restoration will require manual activation.

• Syncing - If you choose to sync your files in the cloud, backup happens as you work within the file. The cloud storage is a replica of your hard drive files that have been selected for syncing. As you make changes within the files on your computer, those changes are automatically made within the files stored in the cloud. You don't have to even think about backup. It takes place as you work. The only caution you have to consider with file syncing is if you are also syncing those duplicate files on a second computer. For instance, after working with a file on your desktop, you can later pull up that same file on your laptop, which will be up-to-date with the one on your desktop. But here is where the caution arises. When you start working on your laptop, you need to allow time for it to sync with your cloud storage before starting to work on your synced files. This syncing process happens automatically once your computer connects to the WiFi. But you will need to give it a minute or two for the update to occur.

(We independently select these products — if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.)

My Recommendations:

So, my first advice was for cloud storage as opposed to local storage. My second recommendation is for file syncing instead of file backup. As you can see from the description of synchronizing, it is a simple and automatic operation. This isn't to suggest that there won't be times when backing up rather than synchronizing is required. But these will be rare occasions.

Explanation of Recommendations --

•  All of the five suggestions below allow for synchronization. To be clear, syncing your data is equivalent to backing it up. In other words, you have multiple copies in the cloud that may be reloaded onto your computer if you suffer a data loss or need to transfer all your information onto a new hard drive.
•  I'm not suggesting that these five are the best cloud storage services. That being said, they're all trustworthy and dependable services. You could discover features with services not included in the list that aren't available with those listed here. But for most home business offices, these five should suffice. 

Why these five?

•  The first three (Google Drive, Onedrive, and Dropbox) should work well with your existing system.- As far as Google Drive is concerned, you probably already have a Google account. If this is the case, whether or not you're currently using Google Drive, you already have access to it.

•  Onedrive is already included with Windows for PC users. If this is the case, whether you are using it or not, you already have the service.

•  Many individuals may already be using Dropbox in a limited way. If so, all you have to do now is expand your usage of it and sync all or most of your office documents.

•  If you want features that aren't available through Google Drive, Onedrive, or Dropbox, IDrive or PCloud are good alternatives. We will get into their differences below.

Recommendations:

1. Google Drive

If you already have a Google account, Google Drive is a natural choice for your cloud storage and data syncing. Suppose your Google account is your personal account, and you are the only employee in your home business. In that case, a personal account will be a sufficient alternative for a cloud storage service. 15 GB comes with a free account, but you can increase the storage limit at reasonable rates. Here is the rate schedule:

•  2 TB will cost $99.99 per year or under $1 per month.
•  5 TB is $24.99 per month or $249.99 per year, which is a 17% savings.
•  10 TB costs $49.99 per month.
•  20 TB comes at $99.99 per month.

A Google Drive app is available for Windows and Mac users. When you install the app on your computer, a G Drive is created to store your synced files. Simply move all files for which you want syncing in the cloud to the G Drive. All files in the G Drive will be uploaded to the Google Drive cloud storage and automatically synced as you make changes to these files.

Should you experience a crash or loss of your computer, simply install the Google Drive app on a new computer, and all the files in the cloud will be downloaded to the G Drive on your computer.

File & Folder Sharing - Do you need to share documents with someone else? You have two options:

•  Create a shared folder - Create a folder and then share it with others. Give them editing privilege or just viewing privilege. Then move all documents to the folder you wish to share. Those with whom you are sharing will have access to all documents in the shared folder.
•  Create a shared document - Select any document in your Google Drive and share it with others. Again, choose to give editing privilege or just viewing privilege.  Then share the link with those you want to have access.

Office Apps

Google offers three office apps with Google Drive; Unlike Microsoft office apps, Google apps do not run independently on your computer. You must either be working within documents in the cloud or install a browser extension. If you wish to use one of these apps offline, you need to set a document for offline editing while you are logged into your Google account. Once you are offline, you will use the browser extension for editing.

• Google Docs - This is the Google word processor.
• Google Sheets - Google's spreadsheet app.
• Google Slides - Google's answer to PowerPoint.

Google One

When you upgrade your Google Drive storage from a free account to a paid version, you become a member of Google One. Additional benefits come with this membership.

Pro Session - Schedule a personal online session with a Google expert to learn about improving your account security.

Extra Google Photos editing - Access to Google Photos editing features for Android and iOS.

VPN protection on your device - With a VPN on your device, you can:

• Browse, stream, and download content with a secure and private connection
• Shield against hackers on unsecured networks (like public Wi-Fi)
• Reduce online tracking by hiding your IP address
  

Google Play & Google Store Points
Google Personal VS Google Workspace

To this point, we have been discussing a personal Google account. But if you are a home business person, you may want to consider Google Workspace, the business account.

So why should you use Workspace?  

Here are a couple of reasons you may want to consider Workspace:

Branding - If you are the only employee of your home business, there is no reason you could not simply use your personal Google account. If you need additional cloud storage, simply upgrade your subscription. But your personal account will not project a very professional image. This is particularly true if you are using Gmail as your email service. In this case, your email address will be like this -  businessperson@gmail.com. It is more professional if you can use an email account with an address like this - businessperson@mybusiness.com. With Workspace, Google will interact with your domain name to use it with your email address.

Sharing - A Workspace account allows users to be added to the account and assigns all the same features and tools to each user. This provides a unified calendar; all email addresses will use the business domain name. Further, the workspace owner has access to all cloud storage drives of other users, maintaining the ownership of all documents.

Cost - The cost of Workspace is $6 per user per month. This comes with 30 GB per user.

NOTE: Consider the discussion about Google Drive file syncing and sharing common to the other cloud storage services. Though these features may not be mentioned with the other services, assume them to be true for each unless otherwise noted.

2. Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft Onedrive is most attractive to those who are already users of Microsoft Office apps, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The use of these apps comes with a subscription to Microsoft 365. A personal account costs $6.99 monthly and comes with 1 TB of storage. However, you can sign up for Onedrive storage without the apps at $1.99 per month for 100 GB. Then there is the Microsoft 365 Family Plan which is a real bargain. For $9.99 per month, you can have up to 6 users with 6 TB of storage.

Onedrive VS Google Drive

If comparing only the file-syncing capabilities of Onedrive and Google Drive, the two will run neck-and-neck. The critical difference between them is the office apps they are designed to work with. For Onedrive, it is Microsoft Office Suite; for Google Drive, it is the Google Suite.  And a significant difference between these two suites is their operating environment. For Google apps, the working environment is the browser. For Microsoft apps, the environment is your computer desktop.

Hybrid user

Based on these two comparisons, I might be considered a hybrid user. For my cloud storage service, I have chosen Google Drive. My choice was based on convenience. I already had a Google Account and slowly began using Google Drive incrementally. When Google developed the Google Drive app that installs on my computer and automatically syncs my computer files with files in the cloud, I jumped all in.

But I seldom use Google's suite of apps or office apps from my browser. Even though I work primarily on my computer desktop, neither am I a Microsoft Office apps user. I use the Corel Office Suite and, as I say, work directly on my desktop. But as I do, my files are automatically synced with those stored on Google Drive. If I used Microsoft Office apps, I would probably use OneDrive instead of Google. The deciding factor between the two seems to hinge much on the productivity apps.

All that has been said here goes equally for Mac users as for Windows users.

3. Dropbox

We have demonstrated so far through Google Drive and OneDrive that one's work style and need play a significant role in choosing a cloud storage service. The distinguishing feature between Google Drive and OneDrive is the productivity apps used. Dropbox brings yet another perspective. A significant focus for Dropbox is team collaboration. Team collaboration is indeed a feature in OneDrive and Google Drive, but with limited work tools. Dropbox has a large toolbox full of apps with which it integrates for team collaboration.

Dropbox Paper: 
https://youtu.be/fmsq1uKOa08

Paper is Dropbox's signature feature that is a collaborative document-editing service. A free Dropbox service helps teams create and share early ideas. Within Paper, you can work with almost anything, from video and images, to code and sound. Paper is the place teams use to coordinate their work and keep projects moving. Building on Paper, teams can integrate their work using an arsenal of apps such as Trello, Slack, Dropbox for G Suite, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, and many more.

So integration is a prominent feature with Dropbox. It is through the integration of many apps and services that team collaboration takes place. Through these partner integrations, Dropbox claims to . . .

•  Bring Magic to your creative workflows.
•  Provide High impact marketing and a speedier sales process
•  Keep your teams connected and keep projects moving
•  Bring it all together with the DBX Platform

Cloud Storage:

DBX Platform is the Dropbox platform. Through their platform, Dropbox reverses the focus. Rather than bringing your apps to their platform, Dropbox's focus is to bring their platform to your apps. So, as they say, "DBX Platform lets you add Dropbox features to your apps, such as file storage, sharing, previews, and search."

Pricing

(Click on images to enlarge)

4. iDrive

As noted above, all the services listed have similar file syncing and sharing features. But IDrive approaches it differently. This is because there is no focus on the apps that will be working with their service. IDrive concentrates on backup and syncing. The features offered by IDrive reflect this concentration:

Multiple Device Backup:

Backup unlimited PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices into a single account. In addition, data from external hard drives can also be backed up.

Online File Sync:

Files and folders will be synced in real-time across all devices you link using IDrive. Sync storage does not impact your backup storage and matches your backup storage limit.

IDrive Express:

Quick backup and data retrieval in less than a week via physical storage shipment, ensuring no bandwidth usage.

Snapshots and Versioning:

Snapshots provide a historical view of data for point-in-time recovery and help protect against ransomware; IDrive retains up to 30 previous versions of all files backed up to your account.

Manage Computers: 

Web-based console helps manage data backups, restores, application settings, and more, on remote computers.

Clone/Computer Backup: 

Perform sector-level backup or file-level backup to secure your entire computer, and restore the same to its initial state in the event of a disaster.  NOTE: This goes beyond data backup to whole-computer backup - including the operating system.

https://digitalchowder.com/5-recommended-cloud-storage-services-for-the-small-business-soho-in-2022/

The Best Scanner For The Home Office In 2022

Finding The Best Scanner for Your Home Office

A scanner is an important piece of equipment for any home office. Not only do they make it easy to scan documents and photos, but they are also useful for creative projects or to keep track of your finances. If you’re in the market for a scanner, there are a few things you should keep in mind. In this blog post, we will discuss the key features to look for when buying a scanner.

FEATURES TO CONSIDER:

Document Types

• Size – In selecting a scanner, the document type is the first step. And the first thing to consider when it comes to document type is size. Will they be letter or legal size? If so, an A4 printer will be your pick. But if you want to scan larger items, you will need an A3 scanner.
• Black & White or Color – Another feature that goes back to the document type will be color. Most scanners you find can scan in either format, color, or black & white. But if color is a necessity, you will want to check for sure when selecting a scanner that it can process in color.
• Resolution – A further feature related to document type is resolution. This is an important consideration if you will be scanning photos and need good quality scans. In this case, a scanner with a DPI of 400-600 will be preferable.
• Simplex or Duplex – Duplexing is a feature that allows the scanning of both sides of a document in one procedure. The main question related to duplexing is whether you will be working with two-sided documents. Only feeder scanners are capable of duplexing so if you will need duplexing, you will also need a feeder. This is not a problem unless you have the need to scan bound documents.

Scan Features

• Scanning Volume – Next, you want to consider how much scanning you’ll be doing. The following two features are particularly significant for higher volume scanning:
• Feeder or Flatbed – A feeder scanner, which feeds the pages you are scanning, can be helpful if you do a lot of scanning or if your scanning involves multiple-page papers. A feeder is distinct from a flatbed scanner because it can automatically feed pages for scanning. A feeder also gives you the choice of duplex scanning. Unfortunately, if the multiple-page documents you need to scan are bound, such as with a book, you will need a flatbed scanner.
• Speed – The speed of a scanner is crucial if you will be doing a lot of scanning. You measure speed in pages per minute (ppm). Normal scanner speeds range from 20 ppm to 200 ppm. The lower ranges will be enough for the average home office. If you are doing a high volume of scans, you will need a higher ppm scanner.
• Software -A final consideration when choosing a scanner is the driver or software that comes with it. The terms driver and software are interchangeable. They make the scanner work. The software creates the documents that come from the scans. You will want to check and see what types of documents the software can make. The default document output that most scanners produce is a PDF. But you may need to create DOCX or RTF documents with your scanner. And if you are scanning photos, you will need TIFF, JPEG, or similar file types.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

If you have worked through the previous section, you are almost ready to select a scanner. But here are a few more technical considerations:

All-In-One

An all-in-one machine can do three or four things. It can print, scan, and copy. Sometimes it can also fax. The all-in-one is a good choice for your home office. Instead of three or four pieces of equipment, there is only one taking up office space. If you are considering an all-in-one, my blog “How to choose the right printer for your home business: A Guide” will be a good read for you. This is a partner blog to this one, helping you to make a good choice with both printer and scanner.

Specialized Scanners and Accessories

A final consideration is whether you need a specialized scanner. This will be the case if you need:

• Large format/high precision scanning
• Specialized book scanning
• Mobile scanning
• Networked scanning
• Check scanners /MICR readers

High Capacity

This would be higher capacity than what we discussed above about volume. I mention these specialized requirements to call attention to the need to check scanner capabilities. You want to make sure the scanner of your choice can meet your needs in these areas. I won’t go into detail about these needs in this blog, but you should be aware of them.

Compatibility

You will want to ensure that the scanner you choose is compatible with the other equipment in your office. For example, is it compatible with your operating system? Does it need more processing or memory than what your computer has? Although there is usually no conflict, it is a good idea not to take compatibility for granted.

SELECTING THE SCANNER:

_{(We independently select these products — if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.)}

Now that you have all the selection details out of the way, it is time to look at some scanners. Here are a few possibilities for you in four different categories.

Flatbed Scanners

Feeder & Duplex Scanners

High Capacity Scanners

All-In-One Printer/Scanner

_{(We independently select these products — if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.)}

Conclusion:

Choosing the best scanner for your home office can be a daunting task. There are many factors to consider, such as how much scanning you’ll be doing, the type of documents you need to create, and compatibility with other devices. But with these considerations in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect scanner for your needs.

Questions? Do you have any questions about choosing a scanner for your home office? Leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them!

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How to Choose The Right Printer For Your Home Business

If you have a home business, then you know that having a reliable printer are both essential tools. But with all the different options on the market, it can be tough to decide which one is right for your business. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on how to choose the right printer for your business. Tips on choosing the right scanner we will address in a later blog.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right printer for your business. The type of business you have will dictate the type of printer you need.

Considerations

• The volume of printing you need to do: If you only need to print on occasion, you can get away with a less expensive printer. Yet, if you do a lot of printing, you will need a more robust printer that can handle the volume. 20 ppm for moderate print output will work for most home office settings. If your printing is heavier than that, 30-40 ppm may be necessary. Over 40 ppm is getting into heavy-duty usage and under 20 ppm will be rather slow.

• The type of documents you need to print: If you only need to print simple documents, you can get away with a basic printer. But, if you need to print more complex documents, you will need a more advanced printer.
  • Simple – Letter size, single-sided, black & white
  • Complex – Legal or Ledger size, double-sided, color
  • Special – Banner or poster
• The quality of the prints: A third consideration is the quality of printing you will be doing. Will it be high-quality documents or photos? When we turn to quality in printing the focus is on DPI, or dots per inch. The higher the number of dots per inch, the higher the quality of printing. As a general rule this guide you can follow this guide:
  • For a letter or business document with graphics, 300 dpi will look fine.
  • A higher-quality document such as a  handout for the board of directors will call for 600 dpi.
  • For the average photographer, 1200 dpi is excellent for photos.

Type of Printer

Inkjet Printer

An inkjet printer will meet all the requirements above, but not at a commercial volume. Inkjets create a clean, sharp image that is suitable for both high-quality paperwork and photo printing. When it comes to big-volume production, but, it falls short. It is slower than laser printers and more expensive to run. They only print about 220 pages for each standard ink cartridge. This can add up to considerable expense. Though inkjet printers have a lower purchase price than laser printers, they close the gap with the cost of ink with a higher printing volume.

Laser Printer

A laser printer may meet both the higher volume printing and high-quality printing needs. You’ll pay a higher upfront cost for a laser printer, but the lower cost of printing will make up for it. A regular high yield ink cartridge that costs $41 will print 600 pages on average. Yet, a high yield laser print cartridge that costs $45 will print about 1,800 pages. This is $.07 per page for the inkjet compared to $.025 per page for the laser. What about the cost of the printer? You can buy a low-end inkjet color printer for less than $100. Compare this to a low-end laser black & white printer for about $120. A color laser printer will start at around $180. In either case, you can have a wireless printer for these prices. With either an inkjet or laser printer, you don’t have to pay more to get better print quality. Most of the time, you’ll get more features (like automatic duplexing) if you pay more, with no change in print quality. An example of this is the HP DeskJet 4155e, with a purchase price of $124.99 on Amazon. The print quality for this printer, or DPI, is 1200 X 1200. You will pay $100 more for a printer such as the HP Envy Inspire 7955e, to get a DPI of 4800 x 1200. The price is $219.89.

SuperTank Printer

Supertank printers are inkjet printers with a tube system instead of individual ink cartridges. The printers drawn ink through tubes from high-capacity ink tanks. These tanks are filled from high-capacity ink bottles. Replacement ink bottles include enough ink to print thousands of pages and cost under $20.Cost of SuperTank printers start at around $190.

Conclusion

To summarize, the best printer for a business depends on:

• The nature of printing
• The quantity of printing
• The budget

An inkjet printer is an excellent choice for high-quality documents and photographs. A laser printer is a better option when producing larger quantities of material. But the SuperTank printers can step up to the task of volume printing as it brings down the cost per page.

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What To Look For In A Reliable Internet Connection

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A strong foundation is necessary for your home business’s success. And a part of this foundation is your internet connection. Yet, how do you choose a dependable internet connection?

This post will discuss the speed, dependability, and availability of four types of internet connections. We’ll then direct you to the best providers for these internet connections.

Connection Types:

1. DSL Connection:

Description – DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is an internet connection that works from telephone lines. It is a feature of telephone services such as AT&T.

Speed – Speed is the greatest drawback for DSL. With a top speed of 100 Mbps, it comes in last among the four types of internet connections.

Reliability – In general, DSL and cable are equally dependable. But, the service provider will determine how reliable and fast the connection is.

Availability – Availability will be dependent on your location. AT&T, once a primary provider of DSL, has phased it out. But it is still widely available where other providers offer it.

Recommendations – DSL would not be my recommendation for the home business unless it is the only alternative. While it may be a good choice for individual use, it is too slow for the demands of a business.

2. Cable Connection:

Description – You get a cable connection from the same service that provides your cable television service. If you already have cable TV, you will only need to add internet service to your plan. If you do not have cable TV, you can order only the internet service from your local cable provider.

Speed – Cable internet can deliver up to 1,000 Mbps. This makes it ten times faster than the maximum speed for DSL.

Reliability – Both cable and DSL are equally reliable. 

Availability – when it comes to availability, cable wins over fiber, but fiber is catching up. Depending on your location, you may only have cable as an option. If you choose cable, you may have only one cable provider available for your area.

Recommendations – For business use, I am not recommending DSL. This leaves cable, fiber, or mobile hotspot.

A recommendation is meaningless unless there is a selection. But, you may not have a choice. If you have the option of one or the other, the expense will come next on your list. Fiber might be more expensive by way of comparison. Is it worth paying extra money for faster speeds?

3. Fiber Optic:

Description -Fiber optic is a method of sending data signals over long distances with little loss of strength. Both DSL and cable connections use wires that have many points along the route to your modem, which can reduce their strength.

Speed – Fiber can reach top speeds of 10,000 Mbps, making it 10 times faster than cable. As with DSL and cable, the actual speed will depend on your service plan.

Reliability – Fiber optic cabling is more dependable and secure than cable or DSL. This is due to the fact that data is transmitted via light on fiber. The type of cable used in fiber has no signal deterioration issues.

Availability – Availability can be an issue. Even if your location is in a metropolitan area, there is no guarantee that fiber service will have made it to your neighborhood yet.

Recommendations -If there is a suitable alternative, and the price difference isn’t huge, fiber is my clear choice. I’m paying $5-10 more per month for twice the speed of cable via AT&T Fiber. For me, this difference is worth the speed increase.

4. Mobile Hotspot:

Description – A mobile hotspot is a technology that allows you to use your phone’s cellular data connection to establish a Wi-Fi network. This may be useful for home businesses that require a stable internet connection but do not have access to cable or DSL.

You may be able to setup a mobile hotspot using your current phone depending on the plan you have with your provider. Most providers offer a mobile hotspot option that allows you to utilize the internet by connecting your PC to your mobile hotspot. Please note, though, that even if your phone plan has unlimited data, your hotspot allowance will likely have a limited to the amount of data used by the hotspot at full speed. Beyond that limit, it may have unlimited data at a slower speed.

You can also buy a hotspot device to connect to your plan and provide WiFi for multiple device users even when your phone is not present.

An advantage of a mobile hotspot is that you can have an internet connection for your computer anywhere mobile phone service is available.

Other Hotspot Considerations

Speed – The mobile hotspot will have slower internet connections than the connection types. For example, if you’re using a phone with 4G support to connect to the hotspot, you’ll get maximum speeds of around 25–30 Mbps. Depending on location and signal strength, 5G phones can provide speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. If you can get 5G with 1,000 Mbps, you will be on par with a cable connection.

Reliability – A mobile hotspot will be as dependable as your phone connection. However, if your phone cannot connect, neither will the hotspot. This is somewhat self-evident, but sometimes we can overlook the obvious.

Availability – Mobile hotspot connections will benefit from having more alternatives. Even in locations where cable or fiber isn’t available, mobile phones will be accessible. The trick is to get a plan that includes a mobile hotspot with your phone service. Or, you can buy a hotspot device.

Recommendations – Mobile hotspot is becoming more and more a viable option for a home business. While fiber remains the fastest connection, it is possible to have a hotspot equal in speed to cable. As you will find in the next section on providers, cost for hotspots are not out of reason. The biggest factor to consider is the amount of data you will need. You will have limits on data usage and will pay more to get more.

To me, the greatest advantage with a mobile hotspot is flexibility. Depending on your data usage, it is possible to use a hotspot for your office internet connection and also take it on the road with you to use wherever you are.

Internet Providers

We’re now ready to look at internet service providers. To do so, I’ll use data

from  highspeedinternet.com as a reference point. Drawing on an article titled, “2021’s Best Internet Providers in Customer Satisfaction,” by Bison Messink. I’ll give a brief rundown of key facts from the article. If you want to get down into the gritty details, here is a link you may use:

• https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/customer-satisfaction-survey

High-speed Internet Review

Highspeedinternet.com did a survey of 12 internet providers rating them on customer satisfaction in five areas:

• Overall satisfaction
• Internet speed
• Reliability
• Price
• Customer Service

I will list the top three providers in each of these five categories. If none of the top three providers in these categories are available in your area, go to this link to find other providers that ranked well.

Overall satisfaction: In terms of overall customer satisfaction, the top three internet suppliers are:

1. Earthlink
2. AT&T
3. Verizon

Internet speed: The top three recipients for internet speed customer satisfaction were:

1. Earthlink
2. Verizon
3. Cox

Reliability: Top customer satisfaction for reliability went to:

1. Earthlink
2. Verizon
3. AT&T

Price: Customer satisfaction for price recipients was:

1. Earthlink
2. Verizon
3. AT&T

Customer Service: Finally, the top three for customer service were:

1. Earthlink
2. Cox
3. Verizon

Providers of Cable and Fiber Internet

I will again reference a report from highspeedinternet.com by Rebecca Lee Armstrong and Kevin Parrish, titled, “Fiber vs. Cable Internet: Compare Options and Providers.”  You can access the report using this link. This information is current as of April 15, 2022.

The Best Cable Internet Providers

1. Xfinity
50–1,200 Mbps
$25.00–$79.99/mo.

2. Spectrum
200–1,000 Mbps
$49.99–$89.99/mo. for 12 mo.

3. Cox
25–Up to 1,000 Mbps
$29.99–$109.99/mo.

4. Optimum
100–940 Mbps
$29.99–$49.99/mo.

5. WOW!
100–1,000 Mbps
$19.99–$64.99/mo.

6. Astound Broadband
Up to 50–Up to 940 Mbps
$19.99–$49.99/mo.

The Best Fiber Internet Providers

1. Google Fiber
1,000–2,000 Mbps
$70.00–$100.00/mo.

2. AT&T
100–5,000 Mbps
$55.00–$180.00/mo.

3. Verizon
300–940 Mbps
$39.99–$89.99/mo.

4. CenturyLink
200–940 Mbps
$65.00/mo.§

5. Frontier
500–2,000 Mbps
$49.99–$149.99/mo.

Mobile Hotspot Providers

PC Magazine labels the following hotspot providers as “The Best Mobile Hotspots for 2022.” The list below is not their full list, but is the top three. This link will take you to the article.

1. T-Mobile Hotspot
   • Hotspot device – $299.99 (at Amazon)
   • $50 per month for 100GB
   • 5G
2. AT&T Hotspot
   • Hotspot device – $499.00 (at Amazon)
   • $50 per month for 40GB
   • 4G
3. Verizon 5G Hotspot
   • $399.99 (at Verizon)
   • $60 per month for 100GBunlimited lower-speed data
   • 5G

Conclusion

It can be intimidating to figure out what the best internet service is for your needs. There are numerous variables to consider, including price, speed, dependability, and customer support. We hope that we have been able to assist you in your search for a trustworthy internet connection! 

_{(We independently select these products — if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.)}

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Mobile Hotspot – Amazonxxx

3 Simple Steps to Secure Your Home Business Online

No matter the size of your home business, you are always at risk of a cyber-attack. By taking some simple steps to secure your business online, you can protect yourself and your customers from the devastating effects of a cyber breach. As a home business owner, you are likely always looking for ways to cut costs and increase efficiency. When it comes to cybersecurity, though, skimping on protection can cost you a lot more in the long run. A cyber attack can disrupt your business operations and lead to the loss of sensitive customer data. To protect your home business from the growing threat of cybercrime, follow these three simple steps:

Step 1: Use Strong Passwords

As more and more people work from home, home businesses are becoming increasingly common. While there are many advantages to running a home business, there are some security risks to consider as well. One of the most important things you can do to protect your home business is to use strong passwords.

While a weak password might be easy to remember, hackers can also easily guess. If a hacker gains access to your account, they could change your password, lock you out of your account, or even use your account to send spam. To avoid becoming the victim of a hacking attack, use a strong password.

A strong password should be at least eight characters long and include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. If you’re not sure how to create a strong password, many online tools can help. A great tool I have used for years is Keeper Security. It will create passwords for new accounts, then store them for recall when you log back onto that account. You can permit it to automatically insert your username and password when you log in again.

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Another safety measure is to change your passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.

An added layer of security with online accounts is using two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) requires you to confirm your identity to gain access to an account or system. With 2FA enabled, you will need to enter both your password and a one-time code generated by an authentication app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Avoid Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are a common threat to home businesses. These attacks occur when a malicious individual sends an email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or online service. The email may contain a link that leads to a fake website. On the website, the intent is for the user to enter sensitive information. This could be, for example, login credentials or a credit card number.

There are many different ways to mount a phishing attack. But home business owners can take a few simple steps to protect themselves and their businesses. First, be vigilant about checking any email or message sender before opening it. What should you do if the legitimacy of an email? Contact the supposed sender using a verification method other than email. Additionally, never click on links or attachments from unknown or untrusted sources.

Some red flags that an email or website may be part of a phishing scam include:

• The email or website has poor grammar or spelling errors
• The URL is slightly different from the legitimate company’s URL (e.g., “https://www.paypal.com” vs. ” https://www.paypall.com“)
• You are asked to enter sensitive information on a website that does not have an “https://” in the URL
• If you receive an email or see a website that seems suspicious, do not click on any links or enter any information. Instead, contact the company directly to confirm that the communication is legitimate.

Did you know that about 90% of successful data breaches start with a phishing attack? Training yourself to avoid these attacks can be the most effective step to ensure your cybersecurity.

Step 3: Keep your software up to date

Home businesses often rely on technology to help them run smoothly and efficiently. But if this technology is not kept up to date, it can quickly become outdated and ineffective. One of the essential pieces of technology for a home business is software. Software programs constantly make updates with new features and security patches. So, keeping your software up to date is necessary to get the most out of it. This will ensure that you have the latest features, but it will also help protect your business from security threats. You can configure most software programs to install updates automatically. 

Another simple step you can take to protect your home business from a cyber attack is the use of security software. There are many options available, and it is essential to choose the one that best fits your needs. You can install some security software on your computer, while others are available as Cloud-based services. There are also different levels of protection. So choose the level that best suits your home business. By using security software, you can help to protect your home business from viruses, malware, and hackers.  This protection comes in two forms:

• Preventing malware from being installed on your computer
• Removing any existing malware that may have already made its way onto your system.

This can help to keep your business safe and secure and ensure that your customers can trust your home business.xxx

https://digitalchowder.com/kl50

A suite of software I have used for years comes from IObit. IObit is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that helps to protect home businesses from a variety of threats. These threats include malware, phishing attacks, and more. Besides protecting you against malware attacks, IObit’s software suite can:

• Keep your computer clean and
• Keep software and drivers up to date.

The following apps from IObit will give you comprehensive protection:

• Advanced Systemcare – the ultimate PC tuneup
• Uninstaller – Gives a cleaner PC with safer browsing
• Smart Defrag – Faster file accessing
• Driver Booster – Keeps your PC running smooth
• Malware Fighter – Detects & removes threats and prevents unknown access to online privacy while also blocking ransomware attacks.
• Software Updater – Automatically updates software.

Each of these comes with licenses for three computers.

Conclusion:

If you take these three simple steps to protect your home business, you’ll be well on your way to fending off any potential cyber-attacks. Using strong passwords, avoiding phishing scams, and keeping your software updated is vital in protecting yourself online. So make sure to implement these tips today!

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Solving the Inventory Management Dilemma of A Home Business

Assessing your inventory storage needs

So you are the owner/operator of a home business that is  getting started. Since your business sells physical products, inventory storage is a growing concern. In the beginning, you may have stored inventory in your garage or basement or even a spare bedroom. But fortunately, your business is growing, and storing inventory at home is no longer an option. So, what are you to do? Paying for more storage will present a hardship on finances. Now is an excellent time to assess your storage needs. What are the breakeven points of profit versus storage costs?

 In the beginning, there were so many details to traverse, you took the most straightforward route to storing your inventory. But now, your storage needs have outgrown your home, and it is time for a more comprehensive plan. Here are some thoughts to consider:

• You can’t afford much, but you need something. Self-storage may be the best first step.
• If you choose self-storage as a first step, for how long will it be the answer? This is an excellent time to do some calculations and develop a progressive plan for storage.
  • What level of sales will take you to the limits of this first-step storage solution?
  • Will this level of sales afford a move to an adequate storage solution as a second-step? A solution that will enable you to grow for a sufficient length of time?  
  • It would be wise to calculate the sales thresholds that push you to move to the next phase of storage capacity. Don’t wait until you are at the limit of your current storage capacity.

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Inventory Management Software

To help project and manage this growth plan, you need a good Inventory Management App (IMA). An IMA will help to determine the growth and storage thresholds.  

Before listing Inventory Management Apps, I want to emphasize that I am writing with a home business in mind. These are small businesses, and most, if not all, will have limited budgets. Each, however, has a wish to become larger. For the small business that sells physical products, storage is necessary that . . .

• . . . is within the limited budget 
• . . . will allow for significant growth before upsizing

To consider Warehouse Management Apps (WMA) would be overkill for the small business. The cost for WMAs would eat up the budget for storage, leaving nothing for storage facilities. Plus, warehouse management involves so much more than your inventory. What the small business owner needs to know is:

• What length of time can I go before having to restock products?
• How much of each product should I have on hand for this period? 
• How much space will be adequite to store this much product?

An Inventory Management App can handle this information at a much lower cost. 

When considering an Inventory  Management App, I point to Adam Uzialko’s article in the Business News Daily. He says, “most experts recommend cloud-based apps that do not require you to maintain servers or an IT staff . . . Instead, cloud-based software is managed by the software company.” 

The following table lists Inventory Management Apps and a comparison of features and cost.  

Comparison of Inventory Management Apps

The following table lists Inventory Management Apps and a comparison of features and cost.  Click on the table image for a better view. You can also use this link to download a PDF of the table. below – (Download PDF of Inventory Management Apps)

Here are the links for each of the apps:

• Katana
• Shipstation
• Zoho
• Boxstorm
• Salesbinder

It is difficult to make an item-by-item comparison with these apps. There are too many variations with each. Consider the table a starting point for your research. It gives five affordable apps for the small business and an overview to help kick-start your research.

In my next article, we will consider storage alternatives.

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