When a business is just starting out, many business owners focus solely on the aspect of solving a unique problem. This can cause them to miss out on the bigger picture and the importance of not just providing offerings but also communicating their values. Beyond setting the business apart from others on the market, values play a key role in the creation of a lasting brand that is immediately recognizable to customers and noncustomers alike.

Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members share steps a business owner can take to begin building a legacy for their brand that conveys the values they hold dear.

1. Know What You Stand For
Stand for something. You don’t need to be political or controversial but stand for something and don’t be afraid to show it. For example, my brand stands for inclusivity and positivity. Build a legacy by creating a community within your brand and giving it a positive culture. Harness the power of exceptional customer service by providing an experience with less automation and more personal touches. – Sarah Williams, Launch Your Box

2. Clearly Document Your Core Values
Define and document your core values clearly. Involve key stakeholders in identifying what your brand stands for and integrate these values into every aspect of your operations. Create a values-driven mission statement and communicate it consistently across all channels. Lead by example to embed these values into your company culture, laying the foundation for a lasting legacy. – Braden Yuill, Virtual Coworker

3. Instill Core Values In Employees
To build a lasting brand legacy, focus on instilling core values in your employees. Implement initiatives like value-aligned training and fostering a positive workplace culture. This approach enhances the brand’s reputation and creates a motivated, loyal workforce connected to the company’s mission. – Ryan Hutchins, Peak Business Valuation LLC

4. Integrate Core Value Into Company Culture And Operations
Integrate your values into your company culture and daily operations to build a legacy that conveys your values. As a co-founder in healthcare education, we sought to emphasize quality, accessibility, and student success in our training courses. We created scholarships for underserved communities, ensuring our commitment to education equity. This became the foundation of our brand’s legacy. – Shabnam Safarzadeh, Advanced eClinical, Externi

5. Align Culture With Business Strategy
Knitting culture into the business strategy can be a game-changer for business owners and the first step to creating a legacy. Values and culture embedded in the “way of doing business” will ensure the foundations for legacy as one navigates around the business trajectory. Alignment to this during the growth phase with increased investments for this purpose will only further strengthen the cause. – Venkat Rao, Pitney Bowes

6. Establish Baseline Metrics
It’s hard to maintain or change what you can’t measure, so it’s important to get a good baseline metric and link that metric to a value within the brand. That way, you’re able to stay true to a brand legacy and can rely on evidence to back that legacy up. – John F. McQuillan, Triumvirate Environmental, Inc.

7. Set Up A Shadow Board
One example of how we live our values is our shadow board. This group is made up of 10 employees, 32 or under, who participate in a “board-like” experience. They gain access to privileged materials, undertake projects and engage in mentoring relationships with senior leadership. In return, senior leaders receive fresh perspectives on board-level matters and the chance to learn from a different generation. – Ben Betts, Learning Pool

8. Leverage Social Media Channels As Journals
Use LinkedIn or other online channels as a public journal. Every day, we solve problems, come up with new ideas, face new challenges or have key wins or losses. Share them in a live, ongoing journal. Most importantly, have this mental model where you learn how to be shameless when it comes to business content, meaning you learn to put your ego aside and show your own personality. – Besnik Vrellaku, Salesflow.io

9. Be People-Centric
Attracting a team with similar values and diverse perspectives will ensure your brand builds a good reputation. By being people-centric, we ensure our products and services genuinely improve lives in the insurance industry and beyond. Emphasizing diversity and shared values not only enriches insights but also strengthens your brand’s innovation, which helps establish your brand’s legacy. – Garret Gray, CoreLogic

10. Create A ‘Beacon Brand’
Entrepreneurs aiming for legacy should look to build what I call a “beacon brand.” Such brands pioneer new markets, improve lives and inspire other companies to conduct business in new and better ways. This requires a long-term perspective, so avoid the pitfalls of short-term thinking that can undermine your legacy. Aim for high performance and giving back, as they’re not mutually exclusive. – Mike Keech, Liquid I.V. (a division of Unilever)

11. Focus On Bettering Your Community
You build a legacy by leaving the communities you work within better than they were before. This is a high-minded idea but putting it into practice is simple. Prioritize projects and initiatives based on whether it’s the right thing to do with no moral complications, it allows your brand to break new ground and it brings lasting value to your community and/or customers. – Patty Templeton-Jones, Wright Flood

12. Provide Valuable Offerings To Customers
The secret sauce of building products and businesses that bring long-term legacy is to build offerings that customers absolutely love and cannot do without. Once people fall in love with a business’s products or services, they will be with the company for life as the business owners build a legacy. We see this time and again with the large businesses we cannot live without. – Kris Pahuja, Piramidal

13. Build Long-Term Relationships
When you sell, you survive. When your employees sell, you grow. When your customers sell, you explode. If the customers of your business can connect, vouch and own your products, you are building a brand. Therefore, my approach to building a legacy is to build a legacy of customers. Once you have someone onboard, do all it takes to never let them go. – Akshal Agarwal, NatureNurture

14. Be Consistent
Consistency is key. There is a lot of pressure to collapse brand pillars because of outside interpretations. For a brand to even have a legacy, leaders need to stand for something and need to consistently show their audience that they practice what they preach. The best part is that consistency is free. – Kate Assaraf, Dip

15. Understand Your Values And Ethics
You’ve got to know yourself. Understanding your own values and ethics is a crucial aspect of creating an authentic brand, leading a team and building trust. When you are clear about your core values, you can infuse them into your business practices, decision-making processes and interactions with your team, partners and customers. – Natasha Cox, Avani Services

16. Develop A Culture Around Company Values
Create a company culture that values communication, respect and faith. Surround yourself with a hardworking, goal-oriented and competitive team who supports these values and reflects on them in the work they do. It’s something you must work on every day, every week and all year long. Staying true to your core values will help build the legacy you want to leave behind for those who come after you. – Ray Titus, United Franchise Group

17. Ensure The Entire Team Lives The Mission
Successful business owners live their mission every day. To convert it into a legacy, these also have to be adopted by team members who will evolve it further and bring new life into its practical visualization. To make that happen, choose and elevate members who believe in your mission but also have the courage to give it a fresh voice and share ideas with candor. – Teja Chekuri, Ironhill Brewery

18. Foster An Empowering Work Environment
Fostering an environment of empowerment enables your team to make timely, appropriate decisions. Equipping them with technology that provides real-time insights into business operations and customer opinions allows employees to make well-informed choices using their expertise. – Cory McNeley, UHY Consulting

19. Build A Foundation Of Strong Messaging
When working with business owners, we start by building out their messaging, which is the foundation for building out their public image. The messaging should be based on who they are and what they represent while also being aligned with their morals and values. By starting with this, leaders ensure their overall brand persona and future legacy is based on the values they hold dear. – Jenna Guarneri, JMG Public Relations

20. Embrace Your Vulnerabilities And True Self
In building your brand’s legacy, I encourage business owners to embrace their vulnerabilities and share their true selves. Their story, with all its ups and downs, can inspire others and create a strong emotional bond with audiences. This authenticity will not only differentiate a brand in a crowded marketplace but also ensure the values they hold dear are deeply embedded in their legacy. – Ellie Perlman, Blue Lake Capital LLC

Data serves as the lifeblood of most businesses today, and safeguarding its security is imperative. I believe this commitment is not merely an obligation to uphold ethical and legal standards; it also lies at the heart of preserving trust within the business-customer relationship.

According to PWC, 55% of business leaders today say that their clients trust them with more data than 24 months ago, but only 21% of those clients report an increase in trust, with another 28% reporting dropping trust levels. As the founder of a software company that manages customer data, security has always been top of mind for me. Robust security measures, like protecting physical, network and application components—and having a commitment to transparency and security policies—can instill that missing piece: the assurance customers need to trust your company with their sensitive data. As businesses increasingly invest in data integrity and security strategies, here are five areas of focus.

1. Securing The Foundation With SOC2 Accreditation
A well-known framework for organizational data protection and client privacy, Systems & Organization Control 2 (SOC2) certification is a barometer of good business hygiene and a step in establishing a high-quality data security framework. Once my company undertook securing our infrastructure under SOC2, I respected the process so much that I only sought out other vendors that were compliant under the certification. Companies that adhere to SOC2 undergo rigorous annual audits, ensuring their data security controls meet the highest standards possible. Upon successfully passing each audit, companies receive a certificate as a good housekeeping seal of approval, indicating that their security protocols are transparent and effective.

2. Data Encryption
Encryption is the backbone of data security. This comes in two key forms: data at rest and data in transit. Data at rest refers to information stored on servers or hard drives, while data in transit is transmitted over networks. Data encryption converts readable text, or “plaintext,” into unreadable text, also known as “ciphertext.” Only an individual with the correct encryption key can decipher encrypted data.

Adopting strong encryption standards like Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption can provide proper data security when dealing with data at rest. For scenarios that include transmitting data over networks, enforcing secure protocols like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) can help ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your data. It matters less which specific set of protocols your business follows and more that data encryption is a thoughtful defense mechanism deployed to protect and safeguard your customers’ sensitive information.

Additionally, I recommend providing support for two-factor authentication (2FA). This step adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for unauthorized individuals to access sensitive information.

3. Training And Best Practices
Data breaches or security incidents are often not solely the result of system vulnerabilities: They can occur due to critical errors made by well-intentioned individuals. In fact, a staggering 82% of security breaches are attributed to human error. That is why I believe it is crucial for companies to prioritize investments in comprehensive training programs for all employees. Regular training sessions and workshops can be pivotal in consolidating best practices and fostering a strong security culture—and awareness—within your organization.

Also, continually update and enhance your employees’ understanding of fundamental data security principles like having remote workers use a secure VPN to access the company network, creating unguessable passwords, and utilizing password managers to limit exposure to a single account and not a myriad of them. This ongoing commitment to training and awareness can help ensure data security for your valued customers.

4. Preparation And Honesty
There’s a widely recognized adage regarding data breaches: Companies should prepare for a breach—not questioning whether it will happen, but rather when. No matter how powerful your data security measures may be, breaches still happen, so have an incident response plan in place. With clear and established protocols for reporting and addressing security incidents, this proactive approach can help ensure a fast and effective response. I recommend including a swift disclosure to customers within three business days of a breach, along with an outline of the steps being taken to rectify the situation. Transparency in these moments is one of the best ways to maintain trust and allow customers to react effectively.

5. Smart Tools For Proactive Security​​
Embracing cutting-edge tools and technologies represents a potent strategy to fortify security measures. For example, use sophisticated network and computer scanning tools designed to proactively identify unusual activities, signaling potential security threats. It’s worth noting that these systems may occasionally trigger false alarms. In any instance, take swift action, such as quarantining laptops or devices until their legitimacy is verified.

Another example of a tool that offers convenience but also challenges is the USB drive. A good workplace solution doesn’t necessarily entail an outright ban of thumb drives; rather, it can involve educating employees about the potential risks associated with their use. Raising awareness can help your team become a proactive line of defense against vulnerabilities stemming from these innocuous devices.

The judicious adoption of effective security tools and technologies is important for avoiding potential threats. While false alarms may arise, quick and decisive responses can help maintain the integrity of your network.

Embracing Zero-Trust Networking:
The zero-trust networking model epitomizes a forward-thinking paradigm for data security. It embodies the fundamental principle that trust should not be granted by default to anyone, whether within or outside an organization, and access should be strictly confined. Information security transcends mere compliance; it represents a profound ethical and business imperative contingent upon a multifaceted approach that includes implementing layered data security measures.

These efforts are important for safeguarding the integrity of customers’ data and sustaining the trust they place in a businesses’ services. By adhering to these principles, we can ensure that data security remains a cornerstone of industry and that our customers’ confidence remains unwavering.

Reference: Anthony Smith, Forbes

If you own a business, there’s a good chance you’d like to grow it. After all, growth leads to new, exciting opportunities and greater profits. Fortunately, with some time and effort, you can scale your startup or small business and meet your goals. This handy guide on how to grow your business is bound to steer you in the right direction and set you up for success.

What Is Business Growth?
Business growth refers to a stage where your business expands as a result of new clientele, the business owner finding additional ways to generate more profit or other factors. It’s important to note that there is no single metric used to measure growth. There are a number of data points that can show a business is growing, such as sales, revenue, profits, number of customers, number of employees, profits and value.

As you scale, your business may grow in some metrics but not in others. For example, you might increase revenue, but the number of customers and number of employees you have may stay the same. It all depends on your unique business model and the strategies you implement.

In addition, business growth can be organic or inorganic. Organic growth happens within your company through strategies, such as new product offerings and process optimization. Inorganic growth, on the other hand, is external growth that is usually the result of mergers and acquisitions. Compared to inorganic growth, organic growth is usually much slower.

Why Business Growth Is Important
For a business to survive in the long run, business growth is essential. Depending on your particular company, it may allow you to take advantage of new opportunities, expand your offerings, acquire new customers, hire additional employees and, of course, increase profits.

Growing your business may also put you in a position to become a more stable, reputable organization. Additionally, it can make it easier for you to stay ahead of your competition and capture more of the market share. Lastly, business growth can lead to personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

10 Steps to Business Growth
Business growth does not happen overnight. However, if you follow these steps, you can slowly but surely achieve it.

1. Perform Market Research
Once you decide to grow your business, take the time to conduct market research. This way you can gain a better understanding of your current customers and insight into new, potential customers. You can use this vital information to determine the best ways to grow your business. Don’t forget to pay attention to your competitors as well. By becoming familiar with their strengths and weaknesses, you can make the most informed growth decisions.

2. Boost Customer Retention
Keeping current customers happy and loyal is just as important as acquiring new ones. To increase your customer retention, make customer service a top priority and keep any promises you make. You may also want to invest in a customer relationship management (CRM) system to help manage existing customer relationships with ease.

Other great ways to retain customers are loyalty programs, social media engagement and personalized email campaigns. Since it costs five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain a new one, customer retention should be top of mind.

3. Network
Brand visibility and business growth go hand in hand. It’s your responsibility to get your name in front of the right people, and networking events are a great way to do so. Do some research and find out about events related to your industry or professional networking events in your local area. In addition to attending these events and building relationships with other business owners and prospective customers, you may want to speak as an industry expert or set up a booth to promote your offerings.

4. Prioritize Corporate Social Responsibility
These days, many customers prefer to do business with companies that match their own values. That’s where corporate social responsibility (CSR) comes in. Put simply, CSR is a business model in which companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their operations. To practice CSR, you can go green, give back to the community or offer more sustainable products and services. Remember that CSR is a commitment you must focus on in the long term.

5. Develop Strategic Partnerships
By strategically partnering with another business, you can access a broader customer base. Ideally, you’d partner with an organization with products or services that complement your own and don’t directly compete with you. For example, if you own a coffee shop, you may want to partner with a bookstore that already has customers who may be interested in shopping, reading and drinking coffee.

6. Consider a Franchise Model
When you franchise your business, you sell your business knowledge, processes and trademarks to independent owners. Then, these owners replicate your success. Under a franchise model, you’ll receive initial franchise fees from the owners plus ongoing royalties, which would likely be based on a percentage of your sales. You’ll be able to grow your business without incurring new debt.

7. Diversify Your Products or Services
Take a close look at your lineup of products and services and determine how you can expand it. Maybe you can launch an entirely new product. Or perhaps you can add a new feature to an existing product. You can also find new ways to sell your existing offerings through subscriptions or bundles, for example. Your market research efforts should give you some insight on the best ways to diversify.

8. Expand to New Markets
Depending on your business model and goals, you may want to expand to new markets. If you’re currently selling your offerings at a brick-and-mortar store, you might want to explore the idea of e-commerce. This way you can gain customers online, even if they live in another state. You can also open new brick-and-mortar locations or tweak your business so that it accommodates global customers. Whatever you do, be sure you’re consistent with your brand messaging.

9. Acquire a New Business
If you can find a business in good financial shape and believe it complements your own, you might want to acquire it. However, before you take the plunge, make sure it will strengthen your own company, give you access to new customers and allow you to diversify your products or service. It’s also a good idea to do the math yourself or work with an accountant to determine if an acquisition makes financial sense.

10. Be Creative
At the end of the day, business growth takes a great deal of creativity. You have to think out of the box and constantly look for ways to stand out from the competition. Don’t be afraid to encourage your employees to do the same as collaboration can spark innovation and lead to unparalleled growth.

Bottom Line
Growth is important, no matter your industry. However, make sure you’re strategic about how you go about it. Otherwise, you may lack the adequate tools and resources to handle growth and put your company in a difficult position. Best of luck in your journey to business growth!

Reference: Forbes

From retailers to restaurants, consumers aren’t lacking options from which to choose. So, how does a company make itself stand out? By providing the secret ingredient that many businesses lack: great customer service. While this may sound like a simple thing to offer, it can be surprisingly challenging. Taking the time to work on your customer service can potentially help both your bottom line and your reputation. We’re breaking down what customer service is, why it’s so important and how to improve it.

What Is Customer Service?
Customer service refers to the support and assistance given before, during and after the purchase of a product or service. It can include a wide range of activities including customer interactions, resolving complaints, providing guidance, answering questions and finding solutions. In short, it means serving the needs of your customers and helping to solve their problems.

Customer service is important because it provides a direct connection between your business and your customers and is an essential part of building a positive, long-term relationship. Providing excellent customer service is about much more than just helping someone with an issue one time. It has the potential to increase sales, improve your reputation and set you apart from the competition.

Why Customer Service Is Important
With so many choices available today, customers have no qualms about taking their money elsewhere if they aren’t highly satisfied. According to American Express, U.S. consumers say they’re willing to spend 17% more to do business with companies that deliver excellent service, but more than half of Americans have scrapped a planned purchase or transaction because of bad service and 33% say they’ll consider switching companies after a single instance of poor service.

Creating a high-quality, sustainable customer service plan is one of the best investments a business can make. Establishing and maintaining excellent customer service demonstrates that you care about your customers, which will invariably lead to attracting new leads, improving your brand image, building loyalty and expanding your growth.

Common Customer Service Mistakes
Providing excellent customer service sounds so simple but it’s quite difficult to do. Businesses make customer service mistakes for many reasons, from inadequate tools and training to not understanding what customers need. The quality of your service has a direct, often swift, influence on the success or failure of your brand. Here are some of the most common customer service mistakes.

Not Investing in Training
No matter how much your business may rely on automations, such as artificial intelligence (AI), continuing to employ actual staff members who can help is a crucial piece of the customer service puzzle. Your team has to be provided with the training and resources that they will need to deliver the best possible customer service experience.

Not Listening to Customers
When a customer reaches out with an issue, the most important part of your response is listening. Not talking, not assuming, not losing patience, but listening actively, no matter how long it may take. This is the first line of defense for understanding what their problems are and brainstorming possible solutions. If customers don’t feel that they are being heard and that their patronage is important to you, they will likely take their business elsewhere.

Not Asking Questions
Not asking questions goes hand-in-hand with not listening. You need to do both to understand the full picture. Asking customers questions will help you determine what the issue is as well as offer insight into potential solutions. Being able to reference details that have been shared and ask relevant questions lets customers know that you hear their concerns and are invested in seeking answers.

Not Offering Omnichannel Support
In-person customer service desks and 1-800 helplines have their place and are still an incredibly effective tool for businesses to provide support. But customers today often want a quicker, easier way to get in touch with a company. Offering a variety of customer service options, including email, live chat, mobile apps and social media interactions, businesses are able to connect with their customers where and when they are most comfortable.

Not Delivering on Your Promises
When you set up your business, you likely took the time to craft your mission, along with your vision and values. Customers take these statements to heart and expect that a company will deliver on its promises. When you fall short of expectations, a huge part of your customer service strategy needs to be making things right again.

Not Looking at the Data
While the amount of digital data available these days can seem excessive, in the case of your business, it’s hugely beneficial. It’s valuable knowledge to have access to every customer interaction, visit, chat and review. Not retrieving and retaining this information is like leaving money on the table because it’s data that can be used to improve customer service.

10 Tips to Improve Customer Service
Warren Buffett famously said, “Don’t just satisfy your customers, delight them.” Improving your customer service is an important part of this mindset because customers who feel truly taken care of are more likely to continue supporting your brand as well as recommend it to others.

When your customers voice their dissatisfaction, it’s important to recognize the signs, determine what the issue is and figure out how to help make it better. Here are 10 tips to improve customer service.

1. Make it personal
What truly separates successful brands from their competitors is offering a high level of personalization as part of their customer service experience. Make an effort to customize every stage of the buyer’s journey by incorporating strategies, such as using customer’s first names, suggesting products and services that will fit their needs and building connections by sending personal messages after a purchase.

2. Know what you’re talking about
There’s nothing worse than trying to work with a customer service representative who doesn’t understand your issue. A company’s team absolutely must know what they are talking about when it comes to services, products and policies. It’s critical to equip employees with the training and tools they will need in order to provide the best possible customer service.

3. Streamline wherever possible
Customers are in a hurry and have zero patience for annoyances, such as slow-loading websites, distracting ads or payment portal challenges. Walk through a typical customer journey to see where the hiccups are and what needs to be improved. Working constantly to streamline and make life easier for buyers will help differentiate your business.

4. Engage constantly
In addition to being short on time, customers are also distracted easily and overwhelmed by their many options. Engaging them before, during and after the buying process helps keep their attention and awareness. This could include advertising sales, sending targeted emails, sharing personalized recommendations and following up with thank you messages. Engaging constantly will keep your brand front and center in the customer’s mind.

5. Offer omnichannel options
One of the best ways to combine streamlining and engagement is through the use of omnichannel customer service. By offering personalized support across multiple channels, you’ll create the most effective experience possible that, in turn, will drive customer loyalty. Implement social media, live chat and mobile apps to establish a presence that allows customers to choose how, when and where they want to interact.

6. Reward loyalty
Customers love it when a company makes them feel special and appreciated and rewarding their loyalty is one of the best ways to do that. Happy customers are loyal customers and loyal customers are more likely to continue buying from your business. Customized rewards go a long way, so don’t hesitate to offer point systems, special deals, targeted offers and birthday or anniversary promotions.

7. Provide options 24/7
Customer service availability Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. doesn’t cut it anymore. Especially when a customer has an issue that they want to be resolved immediately. Offering opportunities to connect with a business all day, every day is the name of the game now, so be sure you have the processes in place to do that. Live chat and social media interactions are the top ways to be available for your customers all the time.

8. Involve your team
You’ll never achieve excellent customer service unless your whole team is invested in the idea. The best way to get them invested is to involve everyone by asking for feedback, listening to their ideas and rewarding their achievements. Provide the necessary training they will need to do their jobs well, establish measurable outcomes to define successes and build their confidence by recognizing their performance.

9. Be willing to learn
It doesn’t matter if you have been in business for 10 weeks or 10 years―you still don’t know it all. A constant openness to feedback and a healthy degree of humbleness is a huge component of an exceptional customer service experience. Always be curious about what your customers think and never stop looking for ways to improve.

10. Admit your mistakes
There’s nothing that will drive a customer away faster than a business that doesn’t keep its promises. Everyone messes up sometimes and admitting that you made a mistake quickly and with an apology is the speediest path to a resolution. This is also a great opportunity to humanize your brand, offer an explanation and use a real live person to make things right again

Bottom Line
Building a positive, long-term relationship with buyers starts with developing a customer service experience that can constantly be improved upon. Customer service offers the opportunity to establish a direct relationship with the customer, which can be nurtured over time to create awareness and loyalty.

Post credit: Laura Hennigan

Many of us drink alcohol to relax and socialize. But drinking too much alcohol can negatively affect your physical and mental health, your actions, and your decision-making. There are many short and long-term side effects of alcohol consumption.

Why is alcohol a health issue?
Many Nigerians drink some alcohol. Some people drink alcohol in amounts that are harmful to their health. This kind of drinking can cause death, disease, and injury. This is a major factor in ill health and social harm in Australia.

One standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in (approximately):

285ml full-strength beer or cider
375ml mid-strength beer
425ml light-strength beer
100ml wine
1 nip (30ml) of spirits
No level of alcohol consumption can be considered safe. To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury for healthy adults:

drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week
drink no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day

But some people need to take more care. You are at greater risk of harm from alcohol if you are:

under the age of 18 years
older than 65 years
taking other medicines or drugs
engaging in a risky activity such as driving or operating machinery
During pregnancy, and while breastfeeding, no level of drinking is considered safe for the baby.

Drinking heavily can put you at risk of short-term injury or illness. The negative side effects of alcohol can also accumulate, harming your health over your lifetime.

To avoid the negative effects of alcohol, you should practice safe drinking and manage your alcohol intake.

What are the short-term health effects of alcohol?
In Australia, 1 in 3 people drink more than they should on a single occasion. This is commonly referred to as ‘binge drinking’ (drinking more than 4 standard drinks on any one occasion).

In the short term, drinking too much alcohol can cause side effects, including:

dizziness
lack of judgement
loss of coordination
memory loss
vomiting
accidental injury (to yourself or others)
being in a road accident
deliberately harming yourself or others
alcohol poisoning (which can be fatal)
fatigue (tiredness)
headaches
hangover
What are the long-term health effects of alcohol?
Drinking more than 2 standard drinks a day can seriously affect your physical and mental health over your lifetime.

The side effects of alcohol include dependence and addiction, especially in people who have depression or anxiety. It can also increase the risk of suicide.

Regular, heavy alcohol consumption can also result in unhealthy weight gain. Even drinking small amounts of alcohol increases your cancer risk.

The negative effects of alcohol can impact your body long term. Here are some ways that regular heavy drinking can affect your physical health.

Brain: Drinking too much can affect your concentration, judgement, mood and memory. It increases your risk of having a stroke and developing dementia.
Heart: Heavy drinking increases your blood pressure and can lead to heart damage and heart attacks.
Liver: Drinking 3 to 4 standard drinks a day increases your risk of developing liver cancer. Long-term heavy drinking also puts you at increased risk of liver cirrhosis (scarring).
Stomach: Drinking even 1 to 2 standard drinks a day increases your risk of stomach and bowel cancer, as well as stomach ulcers.
Fertility: Regular heavy drinking reduces men’s testosterone levels, sperm count and fertility. For women, drinking too much can affect their periods.
Excessive alcohol consumption is also a major factor in road and other accidents, violence, and crime. According to the National Drug Household Survey in 2019:

About 1 in 5 alcohol drinkers aged 14 or older had put themselves or others at risk of injury or harm while drinking in the previous 12 months.
Over 1 in 5 Australians aged 14 years or older had been a victim of an alcohol related incident in 2019. This included many types of abuse, including verbal or physical abuse.
Adults aged 18-24 were more likely to binge drink than the rest of the population. Men were more likely to binge drink than women.
What is a hangover?
A hangover is the experience of unpleasant symptoms after drinking alcohol. Usually, the more you drink, the worse the hangover will be. Some people get a hangover after just one drink. Others may drink heavily and not experience a hangover at all. It depends on your body, and how it processes alcohol.

The symptoms of a hangover can include the following.

Headache: Alcohol makes your blood vessels expand, which can lead to a headache.
Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic (meaning it removes fluids from the body), so drinking excessively can lead to dehydration. It is the dehydration that causes many of the symptoms of a hangover, including thirst, dizziness, and light headedness.
Feeling ill: Alcohol triggers the immune system to release chemicals that cause loss of appetite, and problems with concentration and memory.
Nausea, vomiting and aching tummy: Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach and increases the amount of acid in it.
Shakiness: Alcohol can cause your blood sugar level to fall, which can make you weak, tired and shaky.
Tiredness: Even though you may fall asleep when you drink, alcohol prevents the body from reaching the deeper stages of sleep. You may wake in the middle of the night after drinking heavily. You may even wake up and still have some alcohol in your system the next morning. This can delay the onset of a hangover until later that day. This means you may not be safe to drive or operate machinery.
Can you ‘cure’ a hangover?
Hangover cures are generally a myth. There are no cures for a hangover. All you can do is take steps to ease the symptoms and wait until it goes away.

Drink water to treat dehydration. Don’t drink any more alcohol — it will make you feel worse.
Try to eat some simple food to boost your blood sugar and settle your stomach.
Take pain relief if you have a headache or other pain.
If you can, go back to bed to sleep through the hangover.
Tips to avoid a hangover
To avoid a hangover, don’t drink more than you know your body can cope with. If you’re not sure how much that is, be careful. Drink in moderation.

In Australia, alcoholic beverages are required by law to state the approximate number of standard drinks they contain on the label. This includes all bottles, cans, and casks.

Once you know how much alcohol a standard drink contains, you can keep track of what you’re consuming. You may be surprised! A couple of glasses of wine can quickly add up to a lot more than you intended to drink.

To reduce your chances of getting a hangover:

practice safe drinking by pacing yourself
don’t drink on an empty stomach (eat before and during the drinking period)
drink water while consuming alcohol, and before going to sleep
Resources and support
For trusted information about reducing the risk of alcohol use you can consult the NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines.
The Daybreak App, developed by Hello Sunday Morning, can support you to change your relationship with alcohol.
For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs, call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015. It will automatically direct you to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state or territory.

Sources:
Medical Journal of Australia (New Australian guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems: an overview of recommendations), Therapeutic Goods Administration (Hangover cures: the night before the morning after), Department of Health and Aged Care (Standard drinks guide), Alcohol and Drug Foundation (Alcohol), Open Arms (Alcohol use), Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in Australia), Australian institute for Health and Welfare (National Drug Strategy Household Survey)

 1. Avoid using tobacco:

 Smoking has been linked to many types of damage to the larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix, and kidneys.  Exposure to passive smoking may increase the risk of lung cancer.

 But smoking is not the only factor harmful to health.  Chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity, throat, and pancreas.

 Avoiding tobacco – or deciding to stop using it – is an important part of cancer prevention.  To help quit tobacco, ask your doctor about smoking cessation products and other quitting methods.

 2. Follow a diet that is beneficial to your health:

 Although eating healthy does not guarantee cancer prevention, it may reduce your risk.  The following guidelines should be observed:

 -Eat a large amount of fruits and vegetables.  Focus your diet on fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods such as whole grains and legumes.  Eat lighter, lower-fat foods by staying away from high-calorie foods, including refined sugars and fats from animal sources.

 -Reduce drinking alcohol, preferably not drinking it at all.  This is because alcohol increases the risk of developing various types of cancer, such as breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver cancer, and this risk increases the more alcohol you drink.

 -Reduce your intake of processed meat.  This is because eating them may slightly increase your risk of certain types of cancer, according to a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. The incidence of breast cancer may be reduced in women who follow the Mediterranean diet that contains pure virgin olive oil and various nuts. This diet focuses more on plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. People who follow this diet prefer to eat healthy fats, such as olive oil instead of butter, and fish instead of red meat.

 3. Maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly:

 Maintaining a healthy weight may help reduce the risk of some types of cancer, including breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney cancer.

 -Practicing physical activities is also important.  In addition to helping you control weight, practicing it alone reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer.

 – Any amount of physical activity will undoubtedly benefit health.  But to achieve the maximum benefit from exercise, you should devote at least 150 minutes per week to light fitness activities or 75 minutes per week to strenuous fitness activities.

 – Light and strenuous activities can be combined.  You must also set a general goal to allocate at least 30 minutes of your daily routine to physical activity.  The longer the duration of physical activity, the better.

 4. Protect yourself from the sun:

 Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and one of the most preventable.  Try the following tips:

 -Avoid the midday sun.  Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as the sun’s rays are strongest.

 -Stay in the shade.  When outside, stay in the shade as much as possible.  Sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats also help protect against the sun’s rays.

 -Cover your skin.  Wear clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible.  Wear a hat and sunglasses.  Wear bright or dark colors.  These colors reflect the harmful rays of the sun more than pastel colors or bleached cotton colors.

 -Don’t forget to use sunscreen.  Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, even on cloudy days.  Apply plenty of sunscreen.  Reapply every two hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

 -Avoid using tanning beds or sunlamps.  These products may harm you as much as the sun’s rays.

 5. Receiving the vaccine:

 Preventing some viral infections can help prevent cancer.  Consult your doctor about receiving the vaccine against:

Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase the risk of liver cancer.  Groups of adults most at risk of contracting hepatitis B include people who have multiple sexual relationships, those who have sex with them, and those who have a sexually transmitted infection.

 Others at high risk include people who inject illicit drugs, homosexuals, and health care or public safety workers who may have come into contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person.

 -Human papillomavirus (HPV).  It is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer and other cancers of the reproductive organs, as well as squamous cell cancers of the head and neck.  The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and boys ages 11 and 12.  The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of the Gardasil 9 vaccine for males and females ages 9 to 45 years.

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Customer loyalty schemes are designed to encourage repeat business and enhance customer retention. Here are some effective tips for creating and maintaining successful customer loyalty schemes.

 

1. Understand Your Customers
– Customer Segmentation: Identify different segments of your customer base and tailor rewards to suit their preferences and behaviors.
– Feedback and Surveys: Regularly gather feedback to understand what customers value the most.

### 2.Offer Valuable Rewards
– Tangible Benefits: Provide rewards that customers find valuable, such as discounts, free products, or exclusive access to new products.
– Experiential Rewards:  Consider offering unique experiences, such as special events or VIP treatment.

### 3. Make It Easy to Participate
– Simple Enrollment: Ensure the enrollment process is quick and easy.
– Clear Program Structure: Make the rules and benefits of the loyalty program straightforward and transparent.

### 4. Personalize the Experience
– Tailored Offers:  Use customer data to personalize offers and communications.
– Relevant Rewards:  Provide rewards that are relevant to the customer’s past purchases and preferences.

### 5. Engage Regularly
– Consistent Communication: Keep customers informed about their rewards status and new opportunities to earn points.
– Omni-Channel Engagement: Use multiple channels (email, SMS, social media) to keep in touch.

### 6. Gamify the Experience
– Point Systems:  Implement a point system where customers earn points for purchases, referrals, or social media engagement.
– Tiered Programs: Create tiers (e.g., bronze, silver, gold) to motivate customers to reach higher levels for better rewards.

### 7. Incentivize Referrals
– Referral Bonuses: Offer rewards for referring new customers.
– Social Sharing:  Encourage customers to share their experiences on social media.

8. Monitor and Adjust
– Data Analytics:  Use data analytics to track the program’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
– Adjust Accordingly:  Be willing to adjust the program based on customer feedback and performance metrics.

 

9. Promote Your Loyalty Program
– Visibility:  Ensure the loyalty program is prominently featured on your website, in your store, and in your marketing materials.
– Employee Training: Train employees to promote and explain the benefits of the loyalty program to customers.

10. Stay Compliant-

Privacy Laws: Ensure the program complies with data protection regulations and respects customer privacy.
– Transparency: Be transparent about how customer data will be used and protected.

Implementing these tips can help you create a customer loyalty scheme that not only retains customers but also turns them into advocates for your brand.

During your period, certain foods can exacerbate symptoms like bloating, cramps, and mood swings. Here are some foods you might want to avoid:

1. Caffeine: Can increase anxiety, irritability, and breast tenderness. It may also contribute to dehydration and worsen cramps.

2. Salty Foods: Can cause water retention and bloating. Try to reduce your intake of processed and packaged foods, which often contain high levels of sodium.

3. Sugary Foods: Can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, leading to mood swings and energy crashes. This includes candies, sugary drinks, and baked goods.

4. Fatty Foods: Can increase estrogen levels, which can lead to more severe cramps. Avoid fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, and fried foods.

5. Alcohol: Can dehydrate you, which might worsen headaches and bloating. It can also interfere with sleep and mood.

6. Spicy Foods: Can irritate your stomach and cause digestive issues, which might be uncomfortable during your period.

7. Refined Grains: White bread, pasta, and other refined grains can cause inflammation and may lead to blood sugar spikes.

Instead, consider eating foods rich in complex carbohydrates, fiber, lean protein, and healthy fats. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated can also help manage symptoms.

Taking medication with cold water can have several potential downsides, although it’s generally safe for most people. Here are some potential concerns:

1. Reduced Dissolution Rate: Cold water can slow down the dissolution of certain medications, making them less effective. Medications need to dissolve in the stomach before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream, and cold water can delay this process.

2. Digestive Discomfort: Cold water might cause discomfort or even shock to the digestive system, especially in people with sensitive stomachs. This can potentially lead to nausea or stomach cramps.

3. Interaction with Specific Medications: Some medications have specific instructions about the temperature of the water to be used for ingestion. For example, certain antibiotics and pain relievers might be better absorbed at higher temperatures.

4. Constriction of Blood Vessels: Drinking very cold water can cause blood vessels in the stomach to constrict, which might reduce the absorption rate of the medication.

5. Throat Irritation: For people with throat irritation or conditions like esophagitis, cold water can exacerbate discomfort and make swallowing medication more difficult.

While these issues might not affect everyone, it’s generally recommended to follow the specific instructions provided with your medication or consult a healthcare provider for advice on the best way to take your medicine. Typically, room temperature water is considered the safest option for taking medications unless otherwise directed.