Smarking (YC W15) Is Hiring an Implementation and Technical Partnership Manager

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Aid For Starting A New Small Business

Aid For Starting A New Small Business Beginning a brand-new little company comes with lots of threats included. It is not simple to begin a company little or big. You have to network Networking ways that you are broadening your network of services as well as close friends that might finish up assisting you in …

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The story behind Toto Wolff's lap record and huge crash at the Nurburgring

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff rewinds the clock to the day he nearly killed himself attempting a new lap record at the Nurburgring’s legendary Nordschleife.

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Why Do We Read Magazines?

Why Do We Read Magazines?

In a globe of instantaneous details it would certainly appear that the sale of publications would certainly be out-of-date. While the spread of digital expertise and also info is on the surge it does not appear to place a damper on the acquisition of Magazine memberships.

Females will certainly constantly appreciate the satisfaction of paging with their preferred celeb chatter publication while under the clothes dryer at the elegance store simply as several males appreciate capturing up on the showing off or monetary information while travelling on public transport. There is simply something actual as well as abundant regarding reviewing a publication that supersedes the convenience of info from digital resources.

The background of the publication dates right back to the 1700’s when the upper class checked out regulars which contained information of parliament, publication checklists and also testimonials, as well as political as well as social essays created by the primary thinkers of the moment. Just the abundant might manage to buy publications and also just minority informed individuals of the moment had the abilities to review them.

By the 1830’s publications were a lot less consequently readily available and also costly to the masses. Prominent motifs for publications consisted of self renovation as well as individual knowledge since they had a various target as their target market. Eventually authors started to recognize that lots of people would certainly purchase publications for their amusement worth and also began publishing fascinating newspaper article as well as serializing love, fiction as well as scary stories.

Throughout the late 1800’s renovations to publications came concerning with the procedure of much better printing methods. In 1880 significant advancements in the art of digital photography were made as well as quickly it was feasible for publications to include photos. When authors integrated published message with pictures, vendors saw the opportunities as well as unexpectedly the ads areas in publications expanded.

As even more and also even more individuals were able to obtain at the very least some type of education and learning, even more individuals were able to check out as well as the need for publications expanded in bounds and also jumps. By the thirties, marketing in publications struck a high mark, revealing that the appeal of the tool had actually expanded thoroughly. Out of this activity expanded the substantial selection of specialized publications offered on the market today.

Due to the fact that you can select up a publication at anytime and also search with it, the appeal of publications is continual. You can place it back and also come right back to where you left off. They are useful and also enjoyable, and also excellent for informal visitors that are searching for a positive method to kill time while being delighted and also grabbing a little valuable details.

There is simply something actual as well as abundant concerning checking out a publication that supersedes the simplicity of info from digital resources.

After a while authors started to understand that numerous individuals would certainly purchase publications for their amusement worth and also began publishing fascinating information tales as well as serializing scary, fiction as well as love books.

When authors integrated published message with pictures, sellers saw the opportunities and also instantly the ads areas in publications expanded. As even more and also even more individuals were able to get at the very least some type of education and learning, even more individuals were able to review and also the need for publications expanded in bounds as well as jumps. The appeal of publications is continual since you can select up a publication at anytime as well as search with it.

Smarking (YC W15) Is Hiring an Implementation and Technical Partnership Manager

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Best Employee Scheduling Software

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. Managing the shifts of your workforce on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis can be challenging. There’s a fine between being shorthanded and overstaffed without letting your labor costs get out of control. Staying …

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How To Use 3D Photos On Facebook For Your Business

Changing consumer behavior and evolving tech platforms require us to uncover new strategies to reach our customers.

One trend that presents just such an opportunity is 3D photos on Facebook.

Partially influenced by 3D technologies and mixed reality resurgence, 3D photos can help you capture attention and tell your brand’s story on Facebook.

What are the 3D Photos on Facebook?

3d photo facebook

3D photos allow you to view an image through three dimensions instead of two, so you can see things slightly around an image that would otherwise be out of view in a standard 2D photo.

For example, in a 3D photo of a person looking into the camera, you’ll see parts of the sides of their face, and slightly above their head.

3D photos allow you to explore an image by scrolling, tilting, and panning using your mouse or trackpad.

One important note: 3D photos are not to be confused with 360-degree images. The latter allows you to explore a scene in its entirety, but requires special equipment and a unique setup, which we won’t be discussing here.

How do 3D Photos on Facebook Work?

In short, a lot of funky, complex algorithms make them possible.

Developed by research scientist Johannes Kopf at Facebook, the algorithm works by analyzing the depth maps and tiny movements produced by your phone’s camera and motion detection system.

These depth maps are then processed and turned into 3D meshes, which create the final 3D photo.

Not all phones are capable of achieving this. Mid-range smartphones, such as the iPhone 7 and above, are needed to create 3D Photos.

Why Should You Care About 3D Photos on Facebook?

You may be skeptical about using 3D photos on Facebook. It may conjure images of other forms of 3D media, such as cinema or TV.

Those aren’t the best 3D media, and both of them failed to catch on. In recent years, though, artificial intelligence and augmented reality have begun to show promise.

However, 3D photos—particularly on Facebook—are a unique case.

There are a few reasons why you may want to use them for your business:

Disrupts Facebook Saturation

Facebook has been around for a while, which means that most brands and advertisers are already using it. More than 90 million small businesses use Facebook. As there is only a limited amount of attention span to go around, you must continuously compete to capture attention. 3D photos offer a powerful way to do this as they allow you to pattern innovatively interrupt the user’s attention.

Fights Limited Organic Reach

Facebook has reduced brands’ organic reach and is instead prioritizing posts from friends and family. With fewer opportunities to wow your audience, you need ways to stand out, such as 3D photos.

Provides A New Form of Storytelling

A 2D photo can tell a story, but a 3D photo can make that story come to life. 3D photos offer new ways to connect with your customers by opening up a new channel of creative storytelling. 

Brands are catching on to how effective this type of media can be on Facebook, but 3D photos haven’t been fully exhausted yet. They’re likely here to stay, and now is the perfect time to get the most out of them.

Can You Advertise With 3D Photos on Facebook?

Although 3D photos can be a powerful tool for organic content, they’re currently not available to use in Facebook ads.

Facebook hasn’t stated the reasons for this, and we don’t know when or if they’ll be available to use as boosted posts. 

However, it’s safe to assume that Facebook currently measures 3D photos’ performance on the platform. If they show promise and measurable user engagement, Facebook may allow advertisers to use 3D images at some point.

Who Should Use 3D Photos on Facebook?

Like any marketing channel or technique, the results you can expect will depend on your product, industry, and customers.

If you’re offering an intangible service such as management consultancy, there may not be many creative use cases that work in your space.

However, if you’re showcasing a visual product like a designer handbag, 3D photos can be a natural extension of your marketing strategy.

Here are some industries that can benefit from 3D photos:

Fashion

3D photos can help inform consumer decision-making when buying clothes and accessories. It’s often difficult to get a feel of such items online, and seeing them in 3D can help.

Film

3D Photos can also be a natural extension of animation. They can help bring an animated character to life without having to animate.

Travel

If you’re selling a vacation destination, making the image more immersive in 3D can help the user visualize themselves being there. Scenery, ambiance, and colorful visuals in exotic locations can come to life.

Entertainment

Other immersive experiences, such as festivals or theatre, can use 3D photos to provide a better glimpse of what they have to offer.

Real Estate

Selling a home typically starts with attractive visuals, which help prospective buyers imagine living there. 3D photos can enhance this effect.

Visually heavy industries can use 3D photos to their best effect. Also, industries that offer immersive experiences can use 3D images to replicate their value proposition more closely.

How to Post 3D Photos on Facebook

If you decide your business can benefit from using 3D photos on Facebook, here are the steps to post them.

Get the Right Equipment

Luckily, Facebook has made posting 3D photos accessible to everyone. You won’t need any fancy camera equipment.

All you need is a mid-range smartphone that has single or dual-lens, portrait mode capabilities. An iPhone 7 or equivalent (and above) is suitable to take 3D photos.

Decide on Marketing Concepts

If you want to get the most out of 3D photos on Facebook, you must view it as part of your marketing strategy instead of a gimmick.

The concepts you come up with will require some creativity and application to your industry, but here are some general ideas:

  • Show Your Office: Take a picture of your team at work, smiling into the camera to build trust and familiarity with your brand.
  • Showcase Your Products: If your products or services are visual, you can showcase the best parts in 3D. For instance, if you’re advertising a new home, you could take a 3D photo of an antique or furniture piece.
  • Offer Special Promotions: You can also use 3D photos to amplify a promotion. Saving your 3D pictures for when you want to capture attention preserves the novelty effect.

When taking 3D photos, keep the backdrop in mind.

Typically, the Facebook 3D photo tool performs best if there is an object at the forefront. Having various other background depths also helps.

Images with high color contrast work well too. 

Take Your 3D Photos

Use appropriate lighting and a contrasting backdrop, then put your camera in portrait mode.

Take the photo, and that’s it! Your phone’s camera and the Facebook algorithm will do the rest when you upload the image.

Using Existing Non-3D Photos

You can also turn existing photos into 3D photos. Facebook has taught their artificial intelligence (AI) to create 3D structures from 2D images, so you can upload any image you already have.

Keep in mind that although the effect can be quite convincing, the app is essentially “guessing” what the 3D image would look like. This means that there could be some blur, which you’ll need to check before publishing.

Upload Your Photo

This is a pretty straightforward process:

  1. Navigate to your business page via the Facebook app.
  2. Tap “Publish” to create a new post.
  3. Choose “Photo/Video” and select your image.
  4. Tap “Done.”
  5. Tap “Make 3D” at the top of the photo.
  6. Wait for Facebook to convert your image into 3D.
  7. Preview the 3D effect by panning and tilting.
  8. Add post text in line with your marketing strategy.
  9. Tap “Publish” again.

Your 3D photo and post will then be published to your page.

Facebook offers these tips for creating 3D photo posts:

  • 3D photos can’t be edited.
  • If you’d like to share a 3D photo, you can’t share multiple photos.
  • 3D photos can’t be in photo albums.
  • 3D photos can’t be boosted or used in ads at this time.

Examples of 3D Photos on Facebook

To help get your brain buzzing with ideas and possibilities, take a look at how some pages are using 3d photos on Facebook:

Now, you can view your favorite furniture up-close and easily interact with Wayfair items before you buy! How? We’re…

Posted by Wayfair on Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Wayfair has created a 3D rendering to allow their customers to view and interact with their furniture before buying it.

Omnivirt created this 3D Game of Thrones image, an excellent example of how these photos can work in marketing promotions.

Game of Thrones 3d photos facebook

The character’s cinematic effects are amplified, making him come to life and almost jump out of the screen.

This Facebook video showcases the use of 3D photos in a real environment. In this way, you can turn an otherwise standard image into a more attention-grabbing media form.

Conclusion

3D photos on Facebook are an innovative way to help your posts stand out in a crowded news feed.

Although 3D photos may not move the needle in any significant way due to the limited reach of organic posts, they’re a useful tool in a holistic marketing campaign.

In the future, 3D photos may become one of the most effective ways to advertise on Facebook. We’ll have to wait and see what Facebook decides.

Have you used 3D photos on your brand’s Facebook page?

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Best Employee Scheduling Software

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

Managing the shifts of your workforce on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis can be challenging. There’s a fine between being shorthanded and overstaffed without letting your labor costs get out of control.

Staying organized is tough even with just a handful of employees, but this challenge amplifies exponentially at scale.

We’ve reached a point where managing shifts via spreadsheets or with pencil and paper has become outdated and downright inefficient. 

Enter employee scheduling software. These tools make it easier for managers to create schedules while always keeping the big-picture in mind. Whether your business has ten employees for 10,000+ people employees, there’s a solution out there to accommodate your scheduling needs.

Which employee scheduling software is the best? Find out my top picks and read my in-depth reviews of each one below. 

The Top 6 Options For Employee Scheduling Software

  1. ShiftNote
  2. Shiftboard
  3. Deputy
  4. HotSchedules by Fourth
  5. Homebase
  6. CakeHR

How to Choose the Best Employee Scheduling For You

As you’re shopping around and evaluating different employee scheduling tools, there are certain factors that must be taken into consideration. Keep the following elements in mind to help narrow your search:

Number of Employees

As previously mentioned, employee scheduling software is a versatile category. There are solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. But a small coffee shop with six employees at a single location won’t have the same needs as a restaurant chain with 500 workers across a dozen sites. 

Some software is built to scale, while others are intended for smaller businesses and single sites. 

Think about the future of your business as you’re evaluating options as well. While you might only have 50 employees today, how many will you have in six months? 12 months? If you’re scaling rapidly, make sure the software you choose can accommodate your growth. 

Time Tracking Functionality

Generally speaking, schedules are just one component of employee scheduling software. Lots of the best tools on the market today are all-in-one solutions for other functions. 

Time tracking and time clocks are on that list. Why? 

Scheduling and time tracking typically go hand-in-hand. So rather than getting one software for scheduling and a completely different time tracking tool, it makes sense to bundle them all under one roof. At the end of the day, this simplifies things for your managers and employees alike.

Flexible Access

The best employee scheduling software is usually offered as a web-based solution. You want to make it easy for your staff to access their schedules from anywhere. This isn’t possible with desktop software.

I also recommend looking for an employee scheduling solution that comes standard with a free mobile app. Then your staff can essentially carry a schedule with real-time updates on them 24/7. 

These apps are great for things like team communication features and push notifications with schedule changes or shift reminders. 

Industry-Specific Solutions

There are plenty of general-purpose employee scheduling tools on the market today. But if you fall into certain categories, look for an industry-specific tool.

Restaurants and hospitality industries are two that come to mind. Lots of software is geared towards these types of businesses because the scheduling needs are more involved in these cases. 

If you have the opportunity to use a software that’s designed specifically for your particular industry, I tend to lean in that direction as you’re making a final decision.

Additional Features and Extras

As I said before, lots of employee scheduling software does much more than just allow managers to post weekly schedules. 

The best tools will also have shift swapping, employee self-service tools, HR features, labor cost management, leave management, attendance tracking, team messaging, overtime control, time clocks, etc.

Some extras are definitely more important to consider than others, depending on your business type and needs. So keep a close on these various options as you’re shopping around. 

The Different Types of Employee Scheduling Software

Before we dive into the specific software reviews, I want to quickly highlight the different categories of employee scheduling software. Here’s a deeper explanation of the options you’ll be presented with:

Standalone Employee Scheduling Software

This is pretty self-explanatory. There are tools out there that are made for employee scheduling and nothing else. 

Generally speaking, these are the easiest to use since there are no extra features or bells and whistles to confuse you. However, the software will be limited compared to other solutions in this category. 

Unless you’re just looking for a digital way to improve your scheduling process, you’ll likely want to consider an all-in-one solution with additional functionality. 

HR Software

Human resources software has been growing in popularity over the years. These solutions usually have features for HR reporting, benefits tracking, applicant tracking, employee onboarding, training, and more. 

Employee scheduling has become a core component of many popular HR solutions. However, it’s worth noting that not every HR software has employee scheduling capabilities.

For those of you looking for a one-stop-shop for all scheduling and human resources needs, HR software with built-in scheduling tools might be the answer for you.

Time Tracking Software

As I said before, time-tracking and employee scheduling software go hand-in-hand. 

Physical punch cards are outdated. Modern time tracking has gone digital. There are tools out there that track hourly workers and also have employee scheduling capabilities. 

It all depends on how the software is branded. In some cases, you’ll see a solution advertised as time tracking software (that includes scheduling features). Other times you’ll see employee scheduling software (that includes time tracking features). But it’s nice to get both from a single tool.

Leave Management Software

Leave management is sometimes in a category of its own. There are actually a handful of great tools out there that focus on leave management and nothing else. 

This type of software is designed to manage vacation requests, PTO, and more. 

In general, a standalone leave management software won’t be as feature-rich as other tools available on the market today. I’d recommend a broader employee scheduling software that comes with absence management features. 

#1 – ShiftNote Review — The Simplest Employee Scheduling Software

ShiftNote is one of the most straightforward employee scheduling tools on the market today. It’s trusted by 75,000+ users across a wide range of different industries. 

I like ShiftNote because they have industry-specific solutions for categories like restaurants, hotels, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and breweries. 

Here are some of the top reasons why ShiftNote ranks so high on my list:

  • Free mobile app, free team messaging, and free customer support
  • Employees can update their availability and swap shifts
  • Scheduling templates so managers don’t have to build from scratch
  • Free setups and one-on-one training
  • Multi location dashboard
  • Time off request management
  • Sales and labor forecasting tools
  • Daily log reports

Overall, ShiftNote drastically improves the speed of your scheduling process while optimizing the efficiency of your schedules. It’s a reliable way for your management team and staff to communicate from anywhere as well. 

It’s worth noting that ShiftNote lacks some of the HR and time-tracking features offered by other tools on the market today. But if you’re just looking for a straightforward scheduling solution, this should definitely be a top consideration. 

You can try ShiftNote for free with a 30-day trial. 

#2 – Shiftboard Review — The Best For Labor Cost Management

Shiftboard is another excellent workforce management solution designed for scheduling hourly employees. It’s a feature-rich software with lots of different options to solve common business challenges associated with scheduling. 

This includes things like labor cost management, employee retention, fatigue management, compliance, and more. 

Shiftboard actually has two different scheduling tools—SchedulePro and ScheduleFlex. The Pro version is designed for high compliance industries like corrections, oil and gas, and petrochemical. The Flex version is built for organizations with changing scheduling needs, like healthcare, staffing, call centers, warehouse and distribution, public safety, and manufacturing.

Other noteworthy highlights of the Shiftboard software include:

  • Real-time communication about schedule updates and newly available shifts
  • Auto-fill shifts with call outs and no-shows
  • Employees can confirm last-minute shift requests directly from the mobile app
  • Employees can pick up extra shifts and trade shifts (with approval)
  • Tailored fit schedules based on departments and locations
  • Smart team groupings based on staff qualifications, certifications, and more
  • Accurate labor forecasting based on demand
  • Avoid over/understaffing
  • Scheduling automation tools

60,000+ teams rely on Shiftboard for employee scheduling. They even have additional features for applicant tracking and time clocks with geofencing. 

Request a free demo today to get started.

#3 – Deputy Review — The Best For Time and Attendance Management

Deputy is one of the most popular employee scheduling tools on the market today. It’s trusted by 200,000+ brands across the globe, including big names like Nike, Amazon, HubSpot, and Peloton.

I like Deputy because it’s feature-rich, but also has simple and straightforward pricing. 

You can bundle employee scheduling with time tracking software for just $4 per user per month. Alternatively, each of these functions can be purchased separately for $2.50 per user.

Here’s a quick look at some of the other top features and benefits that you’ll get from this software:

  • Easy to fill open shifts based on staff availability, qualifications, and cost
  • Instantly share schedules with your team 
  • Real-time labor costing data
  • Auto-scheduling capabilities using AI
  • Break planning and rest compliance
  • Manage schedules from anywhere with the iOS and Android apps
  • Request, approve, and track PTO
  • Automate wage calculations
  • Collect timesheets and export them to payroll with a single click
  • View who’s currently on shift, taking or a break, or late in real-time

Any business that wants a simple way to manage employee scheduling and time tracking from a single solution will definitely benefit from Deputy. 

Try it free for 31 days; no credit card required. 

#4 – HotSchedules by Fourth Review — Best Labor Management System For Restaurants and Hospitality 

HotSchedules is a complete workforce management solution built specifically for businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industries. 

In addition to employee scheduling, HotSchedules has tools for applicant tracking, onboarding, time and attendance management, manager logbooks, and more. They even have solutions for inventory management, HR, and payroll.

In terms of the employee scheduling features, here’s a closer look at the top benefits provided by HotSchedules:

  • Simple drag-and-drop scheduling tool
  • Ready-made scheduling templates
  • Reduce scheduling errors, understaffing, and overages
  • Limit unplanned overtime
  • PTO management and employee availability
  • Approve or deny shift requests from any device
  • Quick access to your daily roster reports
  • Compliance tools for meals, breaks, fair work weeks, and more

Depending on your needs, HotSchedules can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. You can take advantage of just the employee scheduling tools, or build a robust and custom solution with lots of features and add-ons for your business.

Whichever option you choose, HotSchedules is definitely my top pick for restaurants and hospitality businesses. Request your free demo to get started.

#5 – Homebase Review — Best Employee Scheduling Software For Small Businesses

Homebase is an employee scheduling tool designed with small businesses in mind. It’s versatile enough to accommodate scheduling needs across a wide range of industries, including retail, health and beauty, service businesses, and restaurants. 

More than 100,000 businesses rely on Homebase.

With Homebase, you’ll benefit from top features and functionality like:

  • Simple scheduling templates that can be edited on the fly
  • Easy schedule sharing with your entire team
  • Ability to forecast your labor costs
  • Employees can access real-time schedule updates from the mobile app
  • Track employee availability, time-off requests, and approvals
  • Automatically remind your staff about upcoming shifts
  • Manage shift trading from anywhere
  • Calculate overtime and get alerts about scheduling conflicts

You can also improve your labor forecasts by integrating your sales data from POS systems like Square, Clover, Shopify, Upserve, Revel, Lightspeed, and more. 

In addition to these robust scheduling features, Homebase is an all-in-one solution for time clocks, hiring, onboarding, team communication, HR, and compliance.

Best of all? The employee scheduling solution from Homebase is 100% free for unlimited employees. To get the most out of the software, you can upgrade to a paid plan, starting at $14 per month per location. 

#6 – CakeHR Review — The Best All-in-One HR Solution

As the name implies, CakeHR is a complete HR software. Within this all-in-one HR solution, you’ll find robust tools for shift scheduling.

Overall, CakeHR is a great choice for any business that wants to automate its human resources tasks, in addition to improving their scheduling process.

Other noteworthy standouts of the employee scheduling features include:

  • Interactive shift planning with an easy-to-use interface
  • Compatible for single sites and multiple locations
  • Easy to split up schedules into groups and departments with multiple shift managers
  • Employee-self service tools with the ability to add preferred times and unavailable times
  • Drag-and-drop shift management
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly reports
  • Complete data exports

Aside from the scheduling tools, you’ll also benefit from features related to leave management, timesheets, recruitment, performance management, employee records, and other HR essentials. 

CakeHR starts at $8.50 per month for core HR and shift scheduling. Additional modules cost extra. The software is easy to set up, and you can try it free for 14 days. 

Summary

What’s the best employee scheduling software?

The answer really depends on what you’re looking for. But regardless of your needs, you can find the right option for your business based on my recommendations in this guide.

Just refer back to the methodology I described earlier to simplify the buying process. This will make it much easier to narrow down your options. 

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