Consultants often provide higher quality results when executing highly targeted work than employees. As such, it can be beneficial to utilize consultants for such tasks.
This article will explore consultants’ benefits over employees and why using consultants for highly targeted work is advantageous.
As an audio-visual consultant, your main goal is to help clients achieve their goals and improve their experience through technology. However, simply selling the latest gadgets and equipment is no longer enough. In today’s market, clients seek solutions that will provide tangible benefits and improve their lives. That’s why it’s important to shift your focus from selling shiny new things to selling the benefits of those things.
The Importance of Benefits Over Features
The first step to selling benefits is understanding the difference between features and benefits. Features are the technical specifications of a product or service, while benefits are the positive outcomes that the client will experience from using that product or service. For example, a feature of a home theater system might be 4K resolution, while a benefit would be the ability to watch movies in the comfort of your home with high-quality sound and pictures.
By focusing on benefits, you can connect with clients more deeply. Instead of simply selling them a product, you show them how it will improve their lives. This approach is much more effective than simply listing features and hoping the client will be impressed.
As the gig economy expands, many professionals are considering the benefits of contract work over traditional employment. While both W-2 employment and contract work have their advantages and disadvantages, there are several reasons why W-2 work as a contractor may be a better option for some individuals.
Flexibility
One of the primary advantages of W-2 work as a contractor is the flexibility it offers. Contract work is often project-based, allowing contractors to work on various assignments and gain exposure to different industries and job functions. In addition, contractors can set their schedules and work from wherever they want, providing more flexibility for those who need to work around other commitments. This flexibility can be especially beneficial for individuals with family, educational, or personal obligations requiring a more flexible schedule.
Career Growth and Advancement
W-2 work as a contractor can offer more career growth and advancement opportunities. Employees who work for a company are often limited by the options available within the organization. As a contractor, they can work with different clients and gain exposure to various industries, which can help them build a broader skill set and open up new career paths. This can be especially beneficial to individuals who are looking to expand their skill set or who are looking to transition to a new career.
As technology advances, homeowners are presented with more and more options for installing audiovisual (AV) systems in their homes. While many homeowners may be tempted to install a DIY system, the reality is that professional AV systems are a better investment in the long run. In this article, we’ll explore why and the advantages of professional AV systems.
The Reality of DIY Projects
Poor performance and reliability issues
Limited capabilities and scalability
Homeowners are left to troubleshoot and maintain their systems on their own
While DIY projects may initially seem like a cost-effective solution, the reality is that they often result in poor performance and reliability issues. This is particularly true regarding AV systems, which are complex and require a certain level of technical expertise to install and maintain properly. DIY systems may be limited in capabilities and scalability, leaving homeowners to troubleshoot and maintain their systems independently.
The internet is a vast and ever-expanding digital landscape, filled with abundant content waiting to be discovered. However, the way we access this content is often dictated by website algorithms that prioritize certain types of content, making it difficult to explore outside of our established interests. So how do website algorithms interrupt spontaneity and affect our ability to discover new content? Let’s find out.
Website algorithms are designed to personalize our online experience based on our search history, clicks, and other online behavior. While this can be helpful, it can also limit our exposure to new content. For example, if a user frequently watches cooking videos, the algorithm will prioritize cooking content, making it less likely for them to come across content outside their interests. This can frustrate users looking to branch out and discover new topics.
A Security Operation Center (SOC) is a centralized unit that deals with security-related issues, such as network, information, and physical security. The primary goal of a SOC is to provide continuous monitoring and analysis of security-related events and incidents. This includes identifying potential security threats, investigating security incidents, and responding to security incidents in a timely manner.
SOC teams typically follow established standards and practices to meet these goals, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or the SANS Institute’s Critical Security Controls. These frameworks provide guidelines for identifying, protecting against, detecting, responding to, and recovering from security threats.
AV technology constantly evolves, and professionals must stay up-to-date with the latest advancements to deliver successful projects.
It’s important for corporations to understand that investing in highly skilled AV professionals will ultimately lead to better results and a higher return on investment. Paying professionals what they’re worth is not only fair, but it’s also a smart long-term business strategy.
The benefits of investing in highly skilled AV professionals extend beyond just the technical aspects of projects. These professionals also bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that can be invaluable to corporations. They can provide insights into industry best practices, offer creative solutions to problems, and help organizations stay ahead of the curve regarding AV technology.
As a business owner, you might look for ways to scale your operations without breaking the bank. One way to do this is by hiring a gig executive. A gig executive is an expert you can “rent” for a specific project or temporarily. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, allowing you to access specialized skills without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire.
The Benefits of Hiring a Gig Executive
Hiring a gig executive is a cost-effective way to access specialized knowledge and expertise. They can help you solve complex problems, implement new strategies, and drive growth. Unlike hiring a full-time employee, you don’t have to incur the high costs of hiring, training, and retaining a new employee. Instead, you can hire a gig executive on a flexible, adaptable, and cost-effective basis.
The world of display technology is constantly evolving, and two of the most talked-about advancements in recent years are LED and MicroLED.
Both technologies offer unique benefits and drawbacks, making it essential for consumers and professionals to understand their differences.
LED, or Light-Emitting Diode, is a display technology that has been around for several decades. It’s used in many products, from televisions and monitors to smartphones and tablets. LED displays are known for their bright, vibrant colors, wide viewing angles, and energy efficiency. They use a small semiconductor chip to emit light, which is then directed through a series of lenses and filters to produce the final image.
MicroLED, on the other hand, is a newer technology that builds on the principles of LED. It uses even more minor semiconductor chips to produce light, densely packed together to create a display. This results in a display that is even brighter, more energy efficient and has a broader color gamut than conventional LED displays. Additionally, the small size of the MicroLEDs means that they can be used to create displays with much higher resolutions than what is possible with traditional LED technology.
If you include a story in your next presentation, consider five strategic ways to make that story matter.
1. Pick stories that prove, illustrate, or at least introduce your point.
In the context of a presentation, a story doesn’t justify its own existence. Used most advantageously, the story is a powerful vehicle through which a meaningful point travels. Your goal is to make the story relevant, not just riveting.
Any true story can help propel a point–like a moment from your childhood, an eye-opening incident from your professional history, or an event you witnessed at a business location–but the key is connecting the interesting moment to an imperative message.
Both of these stories are deliberately designed to convey an important message or make a positive impression–not just to delight an audience or make the speaker more relatable.
2. Use language that explicitly connects your story to your point.
The work of making your story relevant doesn’t happen during the telling of the story; it happens after you tell the story, with critical connector lines like these:
“This story illustrates why we must…”
“This case study exemplifies the importance of…”
“This event proves what’s possible if we…”
“This moment was pivotal in developing my appreciation for…”
These phrases put the story’s point in virtual neon for the audience. Without these connectors, the story lacks a clear purpose.
At the end of the day–or a presentation–an audience that remembers your story but not your point is left with something amusing but not valuable. But an audience that remembers your point–even if they forget the story–is gifted with inspiring insight.
The best TED Talks are filled with stories–they virtually require it–but if you watch carefully, you’ll spot these connector lines (“here’s why I told you that story”) expressed in various ways.
