This warning is not intended to cause you panic but we cannot over-stress the importance of taking these steps immediately. This is because the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has taken temporary control of the communications used to connect with infected computers, but expects only a very limited window of opportunity to ensure you are protected.
There is a set of links at the bottom of this page to tools that will check your computer for the presence of this malware. If you do nothing else. please use one of these tools immediately.

The threat
Cyber criminals are constantly devising new types of malware to commit financial theft, fraud, identity theft and other crimes against ordinary people. The proceeds of their crime are also used to fund further organised crime. This latest threat is particularly insidious as it uses two different types of malware to infect your computer in order to commit these crimes:

1. A virus known as Gameover Zeus, GOZeus, or P2PZeus
This is a type of aggressive malware which infects your computer so that it can effectively be ‘taken over’ by the criminals. It can be used for a number of different criminal activities such as viewing your files, monitoring your bank accounts, sending emails in your name and even using your webcam to physically spy on you.

2. Ransomware known as CryptoLocker
CryptoLocker is a virus which criminals use to prevent you opening any files – effectively locking down your PC – before issuing you with a ransom demand. If you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that it will be unlocked. Once your computer is locked, it is effectively rendered useless as you cannot access your email, files, photos, music or bookmarks.

How computers get infected
You probably receive many emails claiming to be from your or another bank, a government body or other official source, urging you to check your account, claim a refund or other action. Many of these are phishing emails containing links to bogus websites, or attachments which you are told to open, which actually contain malware hidden in what is known as a Trojan. In this case, the criminals have also stolen or hacked email lists and can make it make it appear as if these are spam emails coming from a friend’s email account.
In this particular attack, the act of opening the attachment in such an email automatically ‘tells’ the Trojan to download the Gameover Zeus and CryptoLocker from a server normally located abroad, of which there are thousands which exist purely for criminal purposes.

How does the attack work?
If Gameover Zeus cannot ‘find’ enough on your computer to make a profit for the criminals, CryptoLocker will take over, effectively lock down your machine and demand a ransom.

What you need to do NOW
Your internet service provider (ISP) may have sent you a letter or email warning you about this threat. They will know that your computer is infected because the NCA, working with other law enforcement bodies around the world – has taken over thousands of the criminal servers and examined the records. You must follow the advice on this page straight away. Even then, if your computer has been locked down by CryptoLocker, it is too late.
Remember that making sure that updating your operating system and software are good habits to get into so you should be doing this on a regular basis.

Important warning about emails
Cyber criminals will also exploit this situation by sending out further phishing emails claiming to be from your ISP or a law enforcement agency, urging you to click on a link or open an attachment for the remedy. You could also receive a similar email which appears to have been sent by a friend, family member or colleague, but which has actually been sent automatically by a computer infected with the malware and ransomware. Read some advice on spam and scam emails at www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-your-computer/spam-and-scam-email

Scan for and remove Gameover Zeus malware and CryptoLocker software
Free tools have been specially developed and made available to you by a number of internet security software companies. You can use any of these tools regardless of the make of internet security software you normally use.

Symantec
https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/international-takedown-wounds-gameover-zeus-cybercrime-network
F-Secure
F-Secure Online scanner (Windows Vista, 7 and 8)
https://www.f-secure.com/en/web/home_global/online-scanner
F-Secure Rescue CD (Windows XP systems)
https://www.f-secure.com/en/web/labs_global/removal-tools/-/carousel/view/142
Kaspersky
https://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/utility#kasperskyvirusremovaltool (if you think your computer is infected with malware)
https://support.kaspersky.com/8005 (WindowsUnlocker utility for if your computer is infected with CryptoLocker)
Sophos
https://www.sophos.com/VirusRemoval (Windows XP (SP2) and above)
Heimdal Security
https://goz.heimdalsecurity.com/ (Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1.)
Microsoft
https://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx Microsoft Safety Scanner (Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP)
McAfee
www.mcafee.com/stinger

Trend Micro
www.trendmicro.com/threatdetector
(Windows XP, Vista, Windows, Windows 8/8.1, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2).

Report a loss
If you think you have lost money through malware such as Gameover Zeus and CryptoLocker, you should report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Small businesses rarely have small problems or big budgets. I’m always on the lookout for technology that would make our lives easier. Unfortunately, clunky user interfaces and non-existent support means apps are often more trouble than they were worth.

Here are a few apps that I can’t live without. These five are easy to use apps are cloud-based and scalable, this means they can grow along with your company. The best bit is that each app has a free or nearly free version for businesses just starting out who need to control costs.

Zendesk

Zendesk simplifies and streamlines customer service. The app consolidates all customer communications like email, social media, websites, and even phone into individual “tickets” that all your team can access and respond to. You can automate standard responses, store customer histories, and create product forums where customers can interact and answer each other’s questions.

Zendesk offers a special “Starter Plan” for up to three users for $20 per year. Regular monthly plans start at $24 per user.

Google Drive

File-sharing is an important part of a growing business, and Google Drive makes it nearly fool-proof. Multiple users can collaborate in real time, creating, editing, and commenting on documents in the cloud. Revisions save automatically, and more importantly you can access your documents from any device. All of this represents a huge productivity leap over the old-fashioned approach: attaching documents to emails and sending endless versions back and forth in a game of email ping pong.

Individual users get 15 GB of free storage. Monthly business plans start at $5 per user and include 30 GB of storage.

Evernote

Say goodbye to post-it notes. Evernote is an indispensable vacuum cleaner-style app that sucks up all of the random data you encounter on the Internet and in your real life. Whether it’s excerpts from websites, photos, voice memos, documents, or handwritten scribbles, it all gets stored in the cloud as individual “notes.” You can then sort, tag, edit, and even share these “notes” with colleagues. All of this information is in turn accessible across all of your devices and syncs automatically.

Individual users can upload up to 60 MB of content per month for free. Evernote Business ($10 per user per month) offers 1 GB per month

MailChimp

While social media has proliferated, old-fashioned email marketing remains a critical way to reach clients and build connections. MailChimp is a no-nonsense, intuitive tool for creating email lists and keeping track of which customers are opening messages and clicking on links. You can easily import contacts and even segment your lists so subscribers receive only relevant emails. MailChimp also includes basic A/B testing features, for comparing which subject lines and send times work best.

Free users can send up to 12,000 emails per month to up to 2,000 subscribers. Unlimited plans start at $10 per month.

HootSuite

HootSuite is a valuable tool. Several million people and thousands of small businesses use HootSuite to manage their social media communications. A web-based dashboard lets you access dozens of social networks in one place. You can set up streams to monitor keywords and specific followers, as well as access detailed analytics reports showing who’s reading and responding to your posts.

HootSuite’s free plan allows tracking for up to 5 social profiles. The $8.99 per month pro plan offers tracking for up to 50 profiles and advanced analytics.

All five of these apps have healthy, growing user bases, which means they’ll be around for a long time, rolling out regular updates to keep things fresh and stay relevant as your business expands.

By using all or some of these apps, your business life will take a huge step forward in productivity and efficiency, and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them!
And yes I do pay in $’s, the US is ahead of us in innovation when it comes to business apps.

What apps do you use in your business and couldn’t live without?

The rise of social media has been so rapid that it’s easy to feel left behind. And it’s not just a personal scene any more – many businesses are using sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to attract followers and fans.
If you run your own business, social media offers you the chance to spread the word about what you do. It enables you to build a reputation, forge new relationships and bring in new business.
But if you haven’t taken the plunge yet, you’re not alone. According to research by specialist SME insurer Hiscox (2012), only 57% of small businesses currently use social media to support their marketing efforts.
And research by The Neilsen Company has found that 53% of adults who engage in social networks are active followers of a brand.
It’s never too late to start – there are exciting opportunities for most businesses on social media.

The Sage guide offers advice on how to spread the word using social media, including:

• How social media can help your business
• Choosing the right channels for you and your business
• Balancing business and personal
• Finding your followers
• Reaching out to your customers

Download the guide (1.5MB pdf)

But perhaps the biggest benefit for small companies is the ability to concentrate on the business at hand and let the cloud-based service handle IT concerns as security, maintenance, backup and support.

With an increasing number of companies offering an ever-growing menu of cloud computing solutions, choosing one can be challenging. Here are 10 essential questions to ask as you screen potential providers to select the right one for your particular needs:

1. Which cloud services do you provide?
Knowing what your cloud computing needs are will dictate the type of service or services you choose, says Nicholas Bessmer, author of Cloud Computing for Small Business (Amazon, 2013).

There are software-based cloud offerings, such as SugarSync for online document, photo and video storage. Sage offers SageOne for online accounting. And there’s Salesforce for online customer relationship management (CRM).

If you need more than basic data storage, several vendors offer a range of general-purpose cloud computing services, including IT networking infrastructure with on-demand access to virtual servers, applications and software. These include IBM SmartCloud Enterprise, Amazon Web Services and GoGrid.

2. What is your pricing structure?
You should only pay for what you use, says Mike Foreman, a general manager at AVG Technologies, an Amsterdam-based internet and mobile data security provider.

Also, be wary of large upfront costs, which aren’t the norm for reputable cloud vendors, Foreman says. The pricing scheme should be pay-as-you go from the outset, with the ability to add services as needed. Fees can typically be charged hourly, monthly, semi-annually or annually, depending on the vendor. Pricing for cloud computing services can vary significantly, from as low as about £1 per month per user to £100 a month per user and up, depending on a company’s needs.

3. How secure is your cloud?
Security should be a major consideration when it comes to storing your company’s critical data in the cloud. Cloud providers should have several standard security measures in place and constantly update them, Foreman says. “You’ve got to be sure that you’re completely comfortable with your cloud provider’s approach to security.”

Security measures to look for include firewalls, anti-virus detection, multifactor user authentication and data encryption, and routine security audits. It’s also important to ask who at the cloud company will have access to your data in the cloud and whether the cloud provider does employee background checks to weed out potential cybercriminals or identity thieves.

Foreman says providers also should answer questions about compliance with government legislation specific to your industry. For example, if your business is in the healthcare industry, you’ll want to be sure your cloud provider is compliant with patient data privacy and security.

4. Where is your data centre and how safe is it?
The location and security of the data centres and servers where your company’s information will be stored are as important as online security, Foreman says. “You want to make sure you’re not doing business with a guy with a couple of servers in a spare room somewhere that could quite easily be accessed and compromised.”

To make sure that isn’t the case, Foreman suggests asking how a potential cloud vendor protects its data centre from natural disasters, including fires, floods, earthquakes and storms. Also, find out how the facilities are protected from thieves who could walk away with your sensitive data.

Perhaps the best indicator that a cloud vendor’s data centres can withstand a myriad of security threats is a Standards for Attestation Engagements 16 (SSAE 16) certification. SSAE 16 certification demonstrates that a company’s products, systems and data are compliant with the industry security standards for customer access and privacy, data centre physical security and data redundancy.

5. What happens if you lose my data?
On the off chance your cloud provider accidentally deletes or loses your precious data, you need to know how it will rectify the problem. Be sure to ask: What provisions are in the company’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) that address potential data losses? Will the provider compensate you for losses? What data redundancies does it have in place to mitigate the risks of data loss? It’s also important to ask if the company has experienced any significant issues resulting from the loss of customer data.

6. What customer support services do you offer?
Without exception, technical support should be available to you online or by phone 24 hours a day, every day, including holidays, Bessmer advises.

You should also inquire about the average response and resolution time, and whether you’ll be interacting with knowledgeable engineers or customer service reps reading scripts when you call the customer help line or use a live chat feature.

7. Can your cloud scale up to meet my business needs?
As your business grows, so will your cloud storage needs. To ensure that you’re choosing a flexible cloud provider, find out what additional storage capacity and other services can be offered over time and for how much. If you plan to increase your staff, you’ll want to make sure that you can easily add additional users to your account.

8. What’s your downtime history?
Downtime is when a cloud provider is inaccessible to users via the internet for a period of time. Naturally, the best answer to this question is never. However, even the biggest, best-known cloud providers occasionally experience downtime, as Amazon recently did during an outage that took down Netflix.

Because cloud outages can be disruptive and costly for your business, it’s best to choose a provider with as few as possible. Some vendors post their downtime history logs online. If not, be sure to ask for a cloud provider’s track record.

9. How will I get set up?
Once you choose and sign with a cloud provider, the next step is typically to log in to your user dashboard and begin configuring your account and adding employees as users. Some cloud vendors will walk you through how to install and set up their services, while others, such as Amazon and Google, simply provide online introductory guides.

10. How will I access my company’s cloud?
You should be able to access your business information in the cloud from anywhere at any time via the web simply by signing in to your provider’s client login page. You can use any device to log in, including your laptop, smartphone or tablet.

The Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy tablet and touch-based Microsoft Windows 8 PCs all offer handwriting-based tools that enable a full range of functions from simple note taking to email management to sophisticated sketching and photo manipulation.

If your business could benefit from digitally capturing handwritten notes, consider these suggestions for finding the right app and for using a stylus:

The apps: Regardless of platform iOS, Android or Windows handwriting apps abound. For example, Evernote users can use Penultimate (free, iOS), which was upgraded recently to sync with the popular note taking and data storage app. Users can sort and search their handwritten copy alongside other data captured in Evernote.

For others who don’t already use Evernote, the Note Taker HD (iOS), Notability (iOS) and Note Anytime (Windows 8, Android and iOS) all offer tagging and sorting options, as well as the ability to annotate PDF files and sync with third party services such as DropBox.

Another app, called PhatPad (iOS, Android and Windows Phone), has an emphasis on brainstorming and presentations. It can also be used to create handwritten slideshows of sketches and notes that standout from traditional typeset presentation slides.

The stylus: Not everyone likes using a stylus, a digital writing tool that usually resembles a small pen. In 2010, when talking about iPad rivals, Steve Jobs had this to say: “If you see a stylus, they blew it.”

But the stylus is making a comeback, and a number of new devices come equipped with them. Not everyone wants to use their fingers to access digital handwriting tools. A stylus can let you control text more accurately, draw with variable darkness or thickness and retouch images.

Low-cost, touch control styluses can be found at many office supply stores, but higher-end units can be easier to use with extra features. Take for instance The HAND Stylus, which comes with a small rubber tip that is well suited for accurate note taking.

Other options include the AmazonBasics Stylus and the RocketFish Stylus. For a retro look, the SUCK UK TouchScreen Style resembles an old-fashioned pencil.

Keep in mind that some apps may have quirks when using a stylus or a finger. Some might have variable lag time between touching the screen and the rendering of the line, or less than perfect character recognition for search. That means some might require some practice. But once you get the hang using it, a digital handwriting app can be a significant upgrade over a keyboard that acts like a mouse that fits in your pocket.

I’ve been using one on my iPad for a while now and I wouldn’t go back to fingers smearing the screen, I must admit I bought my basic stylus as a pack of three for under £1.50 inc delivery from a well know auction site.

Digital wallets usually take the form of a smartphone app. They’re always on hand, connected to the internet and make it easy for coupons, deals and more to show up on the user’s device, sometimes based solely on current location.

Is it time for more small businesses to start accepting payments via digital wallet? “Yes, but thoughtfully,” says Aditya Khurjekar, a mobile-commerce expert who co-founded Money2020, a conference on emerging payments and financial services.

He points out that the question of whether to work with digital wallets is akin to the decision businesses had to make 40 years ago about whether to accept credit cards. Because consumers wanted the convenience of cards, businesses had to determine if they wanted to pay the associated costs and, if so, which cards they would accept.

Similarly, businesses today need to determine which digital wallet supplier is best for their bottom line. Khurjekar recommends starting with the payments and financial service providers with whom you already have relationships. But keep in mind that consumers will be the ultimate judge of which digital wallet providers win in the long term and which fall out of favour.

Part of your decision will hinge on your customers’ preferences, especially in terms of security. The best way to find out is to ask them: “Are you comfortable with your payment information being stored on your phone (like it is on your credit or debit card)? Or would you rather use a system that stores your data in a cloud-based secure server, where your smartphone is just a conduit to access the account?”

Secure wallets like the one offered by Isis, for instance, store payment information directly on the smartphone, unlike cloud-based wallets from PayPal and Square.

Khurjekar admits that whichever digital wallet solution you pick has a real possibility of leaving some customers on the outside looking in. Right now the burgeoning scene is like the Wild West. But going back to the example of the nascent credit card industry, he expects that consumers will likely encounter rebranding of their digital wallets as the first wave of providers merge, get acquired or fall by the wayside.

These office supplies could be disrupting your workflow, says professional organiser Jennifer Hofmann of  Inspired Home Office, an office organization consulting company.

Hofmann says small-business owners can improve their workflow by rethinking what’s on their desk.

“Tools that are used less than once a month should be put in a drawer or cabinet,” says Hofmann, who helps entrepreneurs create productive workspaces. “They’re taking up precious space that could be used for things you use every day or things that inspire you.”

“Your desk says who you are, what you value, where you’re going and what your dreams are,” says Hofmann. “It’s a litmus test for your life. If it doesn’t portray an accurate picture, you need to change that.”

Aside from clutter that you don’t use, here are three more items that Hofmann says entrepreneurs should take off of their desk:

1. Cords. If you’re still using a mouse or speakers attached with cords, it may be time to upgrade your technology.

“Cords look like a nest of snakes,” she says. “On a desk, they not only take away from the workable surface area, they create visual clutter. I recommend that people use wireless devices to give back that space and make the area more visually appealing.”

2. To-Do Pile. A stack of work may seem productive, but it can have the opposite effect.

“A lot of people have a pile of stuff waiting to do,” she says. “They use it to remind themselves of what’s important, except the pile often gets so big and unwieldy that it contributes to distractibility and overwhelms, making you less productive.”

Instead, Hofmann suggests that the to-do list stay on the desk, but the to-do pile be put somewhere else.

3. Random Objects. Thank you cards, knick-knacks from a relative, tax documents from previous years, Hofmann says these objects can be dead weight.

“Anything that has been sitting on your desk for a year or more and hasn’t been touched or appreciated should be removed,” she says. “This stuff affects productivity on an unconscious level. Energetically it can feel heavy.”

Hofmann says to pay special attention to what’s on, around or behind your computer screen.

“This is the most important area to de-clutter,” she says. “It’s what you look at when you’re trying to think. I encourage my clients to look at the layers on their desks and peel back what’s not enjoyed. Photos that make you smile will help your productivity. Other stuff should be removed.”

What should be on your desk.
“Fundamentally, your desk should support you,” says Hofmann. “Replace the objects you remove with what is the opposite. Instead of things that make you feel heavy, guilty or overwhelmed, bring in things that uplift, nourish and encourage you. For example, replace that pencil cup with a vase of flowers or a budding branch. Your desk should bear reflection on the best things in your life.”

There is more to stock control than simply buying new products. You have to know what to buy, when to buy it and how much to buy. You also need to track your stock, whether manually or by computer, and use that knowledge to hone your purchasing process.

Maintaining Enough Stock
Your business’s basic stock should provide a reasonable assortment of products and should be big enough to cover the normal sales demands of your business. Since you won’t have actual sales and stocking figures from previous years to guide you during start-up, you must project your first year’s sales based on your business plan.

When calculating basic stock, you must also factor in lead time, the length of time between reordering and receiving a product. For instance, if your lead time is four weeks and a particular product line sells 10 units a week, then you must reorder before the basic Stock level falls below 40 units. If you do not reorder until you actually need the stock, you’ll have to wait four weeks without the product.

Insufficient stock means lost sales and costly, time-consuming back orders. Running out of raw materials or parts that are crucial to your production process means increased operating costs, too.

One way to protect yourself from such shortfalls is by building a safety margin into basic stock figures.

Avoiding Excess Stock
Avoiding excess stock is especially important for owners of companies seasonal product lines, such as clothing, home accessories, and holiday and gift items. No matter what your business, however, excess stock should be avoided.

It costs money in extra overhead, debt service on loans to purchase the excess stock, additional personal property tax on unsold stock and increased insurance costs. Buying excess stock also reduces your liquidity, something to be avoided.

When you find yourself with excess stock, your natural reaction will probably be to reduce the price and sell it quickly. Although this solves the overstocking problem, it also reduces your return on investment.

Some novice entrepreneurs react to excess stock by being overly cautious the next time they order stock. However, this puts you at risk of having a stock shortage. To avoid accumulating excess stock, set a realistic safety margin and order only what you’re sure you can sell.

Stock and Cash Flow
Cash-flow problems are some of the most common difficulties small businesses encounter, and they are usually the first signs of serious financial trouble ahead. Tying up money in stock can severely damage a small company’s cash flow.

To control stock effectively, prioritise your stock needs. It might seem at first glance that the most expensive items in your stock should receive the most attention. But in reality, less expensive items with higher turnover ratios have a greater effect on your business than more costly items.

Divide materials into groups A, B and C, depending on the monetary impact they have on the company (not their actual price). You can then stock more of the vital A items while keeping the B and C items at more manageable levels. This is known as the ABC approach.

Often, as much as 80 percent of a company’s revenues come from only 20 percent of the products. Companies that respect this “80-20 rule” concentrate their efforts on that key 20 percent of items.

Once you understand which items are most important, you’ll be able to balance needs with costs, carrying only as much as you need of a given item.

Tracking Stock
Good stock tracking systems will tell you what products are in stock, what’s on order, when it will arrive and what you’ve sold.

While manual methods may have their place, most entrepreneurs these days find that computerising gives them a far wider range of information with far less effort. You can even control stock right at the cash register with point-of-sale (POS) software systems. POS software records each sale when it happens, so your stock records are always up-to-date.

Features to consider in a POS system include the following:

· Ease of use. Look for software with a user-friendly graphical interface.

· Entry of sales information. Most systems allow you to enter stock codes either manually or automatically via a bar code scanner.

· Pricing. POS systems generally offer a variety of ways to keep track of pricing, including add-on amounts, percentage of cost, margin percentage and custom formulas. For example, if you provide volume discounts, you can set up multiple prices for each item.

· Updating product information. Once a sale is entered, these systems automatically update stock and accounts receivable records.

· Sales tracking options. Different businesses get paid in different ways. For example, repair or service shops often keep invoices open until the work is completed, so they need a system that allows them to put sales on hold.

· Security. In retail, it’s important to keep tight control over cash receipts to prevent theft. Most of these systems provide audit trails so you can trace any problems.

Every business is unique; you may find that none of the off-the-shelf systems meets your requirements. Industry-specific POS packages are available. In addition, some POS system manufacturers will tailor their software to your needs.

Social network game development, People are spending more time on social networks like Facebook and they are also spending an ever increasing number of hours online, thanks to the rapid adoption of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Consumers are spending more time playing games that are embedded into their social network: The industry has grown by an astonishing 184 percent per year on average for the past five years, IBIS reports. By the end of 2013, sales in the industry are expected to grow another 32 percent and hit 6 billion.

Online shoe sales, What woman can’t find an excuse for why she absolutely needs another pair of shoes? Couple that with a surge in ecommerce, and online shoe sales have grown by more than 16 percent per year on average over the past five years and the industry is predicted to near 9 billion in revenue in 2013. While there are already some big players in the market, Amazon.com which owns Zappos.com and FootLocker.com make up only 16 percent of the industry. Without a juggernaut in the industry, there is room for start-ups, IBISWorld says, but make sure to have your own special spin on shoes.

TV and home theatre installation services, we spend a lot of time in front of the tube. Approximately 98 percent of households have a TV and 25 percent have a home theatre system. At the same time, there is no market leader in the installation services industry, leaving ample space for start-ups to come in and make room for themselves. Revenue in the industry has been climbing by more than 4 percent per year on average in the past five years and by the end of this year should exceed 12 billion, the report says. If you are going to break into the market, you are going to have to stay on top of ever-changing technology in the space.

Virtual data rooms, Where there once were rooms stuffed to the brim with filing cabinets, there are now virtual data rooms, online holding chambers for documents that a select group of parties can access. Since 2008, the virtual data room industry has been growing by almost 16 percent per year on average, IBISWorld reports, and is expected to reach almost 730 million in 2013. A side benefit of running a virtual data room company is that you won’t need a physical space to share your documents with investors and overall, the costs of entering the market are relatively low, IBISWorld says. Over the next five years, sales in the industry are forecast to grow at an annual rate of more than 14 percent.

Online travel agencies, In 2009, the travel agency industry took a hard hit as consumers pinched pennies and took “staycations” in their time off from work. But since 2010, the industry has been on the rebound and revenues are expected to jump by 6.1 percent to 20.7 billion in 2013. The era of storefront travel agencies is largely over and being gradually replaced by the online marketplace. From 2013 to 2018, IBISWorld predicts online travel agencies will see an increase in sales of 2.2 percent to 23 billion.

Translation services, In an increasingly global business environment with more and more non English speaking people emigrating, the demand for translation services has been on the rise. Also, as online businesses look to gain customers in other countries, they need translators to help make marketing materials and websites accessible in another language. While automated translation services offer some competition, a computer program will never be able to translate nuance and cultural expectations. In the past five years, sales in the industry grew at an annual average rate of 2.4 percent to top 3 billion. In 2013, IBISWorld expects sales to grow by 3.4 percent.

IT security consulting, When places like the The New York Times Co. get hacked, the IT security industry gets a bit of a boost. Coupled with the increasing popularity of ecommerce and the need to protect online shoppers, the IT security consulting industry has been growing by almost 10 percent per year on average over the past five years, during which time Sony, Zappos and LinkedIn have all been victims of cyber attacks. In 2013, sales should grow 8.8 percent and surpass 5 billion, IBISWorld estimates.

Digital forensic services, Digital forensic services sounds like it could be the newest iteration of the “CSI” TV series. In reality, it involves the verifying and recovering of lost, deleted or corrupted content. As more and more consumers spend time online, they are also storing more information online. Unfortunately, that translates into more information getting lost online. In the past five years, the digital forensic industry has increased at almost 12 percent per year on average to just shy of 1 billion in revenue. In 2013, IBISWorld predicts the industry will grow another 11 percent. One positive to starting up a digital forensic services business is that there are relatively few governmental regulatory barriers, according to IBISWorld. At the same time, it takes a significant outlay of capital to get into the industry and you will have to constantly keep on top of the rapidly changing technology market. In the coming five years, the industry should maintain growth of 9 percent per year on average.

What industries do you think are especially hot for starting up right now? Leave a note below and let us know.

Of course, you needn’t read statistics to understand email’s importance, you use it constantly to send sales pitches, apply for jobs, search for new business, and send friends a link to a new recipe.

If you can’t get people to respond to your messages, you’re probably doing something wrong, especially if your mother won’t read your emails.

Here are some tips on how to write the perfect email that gets the results you want.

Arguably the most important component of the email, the subject line is the deciding factor in whether your message is read or deleted. Additionally, using a spam tagline or lots of characters such as £££ can send it straight to the junk box.

The subject line needs to be truthful and informative and tempt the reader into wanting to know more about the content. In that case, strive to retain an air of mystery, but remain truthful. If your email has nothing to do with the subject line, the receipt will have a bad impression of you.

The salutation.
The start of the email sets the tone for the main body. In the opening words the reader is making a judgement about you and what you want, and whether they will continue to read. Seeming too formal or impersonal, or, conversely, unprofessional, can cast a negative impression. If you know the person’s name, address him or her personally; if not, use “Hi” rather than “To whom it may concern.” The latter is stuffy and formal. In business, especially in PR, you need to build relationships, so sounding friendly but professional is always a good approach.

The bit in the middle.
Long, waffling emails are a massive turn off to anyone, especially those who receive dozens or even hundreds of unsolicited emails a day. Even if the recipient opens your email, a page-long essay will probably inspire him or her to close out of it. No one has the time, or the interest, to read your life story. Keep your messages as short and concise as possible, and deliver information in a digestible way. Your purpose for writing needs to be clear and presented in a way that will appeal and relate to the recipient.

The ending.
Assuming the recipient sticks with your email to the end, the way you sign off is as important as the way you start. End your email by making clear what you would like the reader to do, but don’t do it in a commanding way. Phrases such as “I look forward to hearing from you” or “Please let me know your thoughts” invite a response and make it clear you would like to hear from them. But they are also casual enough to not sound threatening. Sign off with “many thanks” or “kind regards” or something similar and your name, including your first name. Rapport building isn’t achieved with Mr and Ms

Additionally, when relevant, include your professional Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Google+ accounts with your signature, especially when approaching someone who doesn’t know you. This way the person can have a better look at what you do, reinforcing your professionalism in his or her eyes.