Tag: Keller website design

  • Check out this awesome custom video from eTekhnos! | Texas Benefits Agency Marketing

    Videos are the hottest trend in social media. In fact, Buzzsumo’s research on 880 million Facebook posts in 2017 found that video posts have the highest average engagement and twice the level of engagement of other post types on average. The video team at eTekhnos produces informative, custom videos each month. Take a peek at this one on the Benefits of Health Insurance.

     

  • New Website Launch for BJA Partners!

    BJA Partners has been providing honest advice & protecting what you value most for more than 35 years! We are thrilled to showcase this through their new website creation.

    Check out the website at bjapartners.com

    Contact us to learn more about custom website design, SEO optimization, email marketing, and social media solutions!

  • New Website Launched for Lamb Little!

    We want to show off Lamb Little & Co’s new website that we helped create! Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, they provide Commercial Insurance, Employee Benefits, and Personal Insurance for Clients Nationwide.

    The site is easy to navigate, clean and concise, and has everything potential or current clients need to know.

    Visit the new website at lamblittle.com

    Visit their blog while you’re there to see the postings we do for their site and social medias as well!

    Contact us to learn more about custom website design, SEO optimization, email marketing, and social media solutions!

  • Opioid Crisis Explained | Employee Benefits Blog Content

    Lately, there’s been a big focus on America’s opioid addiction in the news. Whether it’s news on the abuse of the drug or it’s information sharing on how the drug works, Americans are talking about this subject regularly. We want to help educate you on this hot topic.

    Opioids are made from the opium poppy plant.  Opium has been around since 3,400 BC and it was first referenced as being cultivated in Southwest Asia. The drug traveled the Silk Road from the Mediterranean to Asia to China. Since then, the drug has gained popularity for pain relief but it also has gained notoriety as an abused drug. Morphine, Codeine, and Heroin are all derived from the opium poppy and are all highly addictive drugs that are abused all around the world. As the demand for these drugs has increased, so has the production.  From 2016 to 2017, the area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan increased by 63 percent. In 2016, it killed some 64,000 Americans, more than double the number in 2005.

    We can see that the danger from this drug is growing rapidly. What can we do to recognize potential abuse problems and to get help? Here are some facts about opioid addiction:

    • How do they work? Opioids attach to pain receptors in your brain spinal cord, and other areas that recognize pain signals. As they attach to the receptors, it reduces the sending of pain messages to the brain and therefore reduces the feelings of pain in your body.
    • Short-acting opiates are typically prescribed for injuries and only for a few days. They take 15-30 minutes for pain relief to begin and this relief lasts for 3-4 hours. Long-acting opiates are prescribed for moderate to severe pain and are used over a long period of time. Relief typically lasts for 8-12 hours and can be used alongside a short-acting drug for breakthrough pain.
    • Dependence is common with long-term use of an opiate. This means that the patient needs to take more of and higher doses of the medicine to get the same pain relieving effect. This does not necessarily mean the patient is addicted. Addiction is the abuse of the drug by taking it in an unprescribed way—like crushing tablets or using intravenously.
    • Americans account for less than 5% of the world’s population, but take 80% of the world’s opioid About 5% of the people who take opiates become addicted to the drug.
    • Help is available through many channels from private recovery centers to insurance providers. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline is 1-800-662-HELP. This line is confidential, free, and available 24-hours a day and 7 days a week. Family and friends may also call this number for resources for help. Additional resources can be found at drugabuse.com.

    Make sure you are educated about the dangers of opioid abuse. But, don’t be discouraged and think that the abuse is incurable! There are many resources that can be used to break the addiction cycle and can make real change in the lives of its victims. Ask for help and offer help.

  • Custom Content Article

    At eTekhnos, we post for clients weekly to ensure traffic on their Social Media sites. Here is an example of our latest custom piece about Holiday Parties that our content writer on staff recently wrote and published for our clients.

    The Perks of Holiday Parties: How They’re Still an Asset to Your Company

    The end of the year is upon us and a majority of companies celebrate with an end-of-year/holiday party. Although the trend of holiday parties has diminished in recent years, it’s still a good idea to commemorate the year with an office perk like a fun, festive party.

    BENEFITS OF A YEAR-END CELEBRATION

    • Holiday staff parties are a perfect way to thank your employees for a great year. All employees want to feel appreciated and valued. What better way to serve this purpose, than with an end of the year office celebration. Hosting a night out to honor your employees during a festive time of year boosts morale. And if done right, your party can jump start the new year with refreshed, productive employees.
    • End-of-year celebrations allow employees to come together outside of their own team. The average American will spend 90,000 hours (45 years) of their life at work. Unless you have a very small office, most employees only engage in relationships within their department. When employees have a chance to mingle outside of their regular 9 to 5 day, they’ll build and cultivate relationships across different teams within the organization; creating a more loyal, cohesive and motivated culture.
    • Seasonal parties can provide employers insight on those who work for them. Spending the evening with your employees in a more casual and relaxed atmosphere may reveal talents and ideas you may not have otherwise seen during traditional work hours.

    CREATING THE RIGHT FIT

    Regardless of office size, if planned right, employers can make a holiday party pop, no matter your budget. Whether this is your first go at an end-of-year celebration for your employees, or you host one every year, keep a few things in mind:

    • Plan early. Establish a steering committee to generate ideas for your holiday party. Allow the committee to involve all employees early on in the process. Utilize voting tools like Survey Monkey or Outlook to compile employee votes. This engages not only your entire workforce, but serves you as well when tailoring your party to fit your culture.
    • Create set activities. Engaging employees in some type of organized activity not only eases any social anxiety for them and their guests, it cultivates memories and allows colleagues to get to know each other. Consider a “Casino Night”, a photo booth (or two if your company can justify to size), an escape room outing—anything that will kick the night off with ease.
    • Incorporate entertainment during the dinner. Have team leads or management members come up with fun awards that emphasize character traits, strengths, and talents others may not know of. This is a great way to create cohesiveness, build relationships, and have your employees enjoy a good laugh at dinner.
    • Offer fun door prizes every 15 minutes or so. Prizes don’t have to be expensive to have an impact on employees, just relevant to them. However, with the right planning you may be able to throw in a raffle of larger gift items as well. Just keep in the specific tax rules when it relates to gift-giving. Gift cards associated with a specific dollar amount available to use at any establishment, and larger ticket items, can be subject to your employees having to claim income on them and pay the tax.
    • Make the dress code inclusive of everyone. Employees should not feel a financial pinch to attend a holiday office party. Establish a dress code that fits your culture, not the other way around.

    TAKE AWAY TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY PARTY

    According to the Society of Human Resource Management, statistics show in recent years only 65% of employers have offered holiday parties—down from 72% five years ago. Consider the following tips when hosting your next year-end celebration.

    • Keep it light. Eliminate itineraries and board-room like structure. Choose to separate productivity/award celebrations and upcoming year projections from your holiday party.
    • Invite spouses and significant others to attend the party. Employees spend a majority of their week with their colleagues. Giving employees this option is a great way to show you value who they spend their time with outside of work.
    • Allow employees to leave early on a work day to give them time to get ready and pick up who is attending the party with them.
    • Show how you value your employees by chatting with them and meeting their guests.
    • Provide comfortable seating areas where employees can rest, eat and talk. Position these in main action areas so no one feels anti-social for taking a seat somewhere.
    • Consider tying in employees that work in different locations. Have a slideshow running throughout the night on what events other office locations have done throughout the year.
    • Create low-key conversation starters and get people to chat it up. This is valuable especially for those that are new to the company and guests of your employees. Incorporate trivia questions into the décor and table settings. Get them to engage by tying in a prize.
    • Keep the tastes and comfort level of your employees in mind. Include a variety of menu items that fit dietary restrictions. Not all employees drink alcohol and not all employees eat meat.
    • Limit alcohol to a 2 ticket system per guest. Opt for a cash bar after that to reduce liability.
    • Provide access to accommodations or coordinate transportation like Uber or Lyft to get your employees somewhere safely after the party if they choose to drink.

    Ultimately, holiday parties can still be a value-add for your employees if done the right way. Feel free to change it up from year to year so these parties don’t get stale and continue to fit to your company’s culture. Contemplate new venues, ideas and activities and change up your steering committee to keep these parties fresh. Employees are more likely to enjoy themselves at an event that fits with their lifestyle, so don’t be afraid to get creative!

    Contact us about our custom content and article postings!

     

     

  • Agency website advice: Creating impactful TEAM PAGES.

    Agency website advice: Creating impactful TEAM PAGES.

    Does your About Page grab potential clients’ attention or does it leave them yawning? We’re sharing tips on tone, content and format for creating an engaging TEAM page that will make people want to work with your agency today!

    Personality – Does the team page reflect the personality and uniqueness of your team and highlight the talents each of them bring to your clients?

    Characters Welcome!! Creating pages that either list hobbies, passions or even candid images of your team get notice and talked about by clients and site visitors.

    See the BJA Partners site to see the team images change as you scroll over: www.bjapartners.com ( click WHO WE ARE)

    Think your About Page needs a revamp? Contact us today and we’ll get you started!

  • Custom Content Article for Benefit Agencies

    TeleMedicine – The NextGen Benefit of Minor Healthcare

    It’s not surprising that 2017 stands to be the year many will have an experience to share using a Telemedicine or a Virtual Doctor service. With current market trends, government regulations, and changing economic demands, it’s fast becoming a more popular alternative to traditional healthcare visits.  And, as healthcare costs continue to rise and there are more strategic pricing options and digital models available to users, the appeal for consumers, self-insured employers, health systems and health plans to jump on board is significant.

    In a recent study conducted by the Aloft Group on the state of Telemedicine, 47.7% of respondents weren’t sure about what Telemedicine meant, but it’s possible they may have experienced it, as 52.4% have had interaction with a physician or clinician via email or text. Further, 78.5% of respondents indicated they would be comfortable talking with a physician using an online method.

    Dr. Tony Yuan, an experienced ER doctor in San Diego, who also consults for Doctor on Demand, provides insight into this increasing trend during a recent Q and A session. Currently, over half of the patients he sees in his ER could utilize a digital healthcare model. In fact, 90% of patients who head to the ER for minor illnesses can be treated through this service. So, the next sinus, ear infection, or other minor health issue just may provide you and your family the chance to try what will become the new standard in minor healthcare.

    Here are few benefits TeleMedicine has to offer:

    It’s Fast and Simple

    There’s no question apps are available for everything to make our lives easier—and TeleMed is no exception. Within minutes, standard first time users can set up an account, complete a few medical profile questions, then create and save a session. Having the ability to log on with a board-certified physician or clinician 24/7/365, using any PC, smart device, and even phone in some cases, saves time and money. Many services, like Teledoc and MDLive, will connect you with a licensed doctor or clinician online in just a few minutes – no scheduling or wait required. Once on, you can discuss your healthcare needs confidentially. After the visit, the doctor will update his/her records, notify your primary care physician of the call, and send an electronic prescription to the pharmacy of your choice, if necessary—all in the time it takes for a lunch break.

    It’s Flexible

    The ability to connect with a professional whether you are at home, work, or traveling makes getting the care you need invaluable. How often have you experienced the symptoms—or the full blown-effect—of getting sick while traveling? Many, no doubt, have had to adjust flight/travel plans to get the help needed from their PCP, in order to avoid getting worse.  By using an app or online service from your smart phone or laptop, you’re able to get the antibiotics you need quicker without cutting trips short or missing work to do so.

    In addition, patients in smaller communities without the resources available of classically- trained, emergency-med physicians, see the benefit and flexibility of tapping into these online doctor services. Not only is it a plus for the patient to access more advanced care if needed, doctors in these rural areas value this as well. These digital healthcare models provide immediate, life-saving tools for both doctors and their patients who may not have access to higher, acute facilities.

    It’s Affordable

    Many TeleMedicine services now accept insurance, making a patient’s visit free, or at minimum the same as most deductible or co-insurance amounts for office visits; around $40. For those on a high-deductible plan, paying $40 for an online doctor service is a much cheaper alternative than paying $150 or more for an Urgent Care visit, or over $1200 for a trip to the ER. For employers, group options are low cost and can be a clear asset when creating solutions EEs will value.

    It’s Beneficial to Employers

    Today, 3 of 5 corporations, or 59% of employers provide digital healthcare benefits to their employees. As an employer, the benefits are straightforward. First, employees can participate in professional consultations for their family members or themselves without taking away from productivity. Second, when employers incorporate these services into their benefit plans, non-emergency care is redirected from expensive ER visits, ultimately saving thousands of dollars or more to the bottom line. Additionally, TeleHealth services offer frequent monitoring from clinicians for those employees who may need regular support due to more chronic issues, reducing trips to the hospital. Reducing these costs have a direct ROI for the employer and relieves the stress on the employee’s pocketbook. Third, many companies are now adding this digital benefit to their packages as a way to recruit new talent.

    There’s no doubt 2017 will see a greater opportunity for all to experience the increasing trend of Telemed. Creating a clear communication strategy to make sure employees know how to find, access and utilize this service to the highest potential is key. Vendors who partner with a benefits technology firm that provide these services will have a wealth of web and print material, and in many cases explainer videos, like one we’ve provided to our benefit agency clients. Let us help you create a winning strategy to implement this valuable digital benefit. Contact us for more information.

     

  • Employee Spotlight: Noelle Gutierrez

    Noelle Gutierrez serves our team as Client Support & Marketing Director/Office Mom! We’ve asked her a few fun questions to get to know her a little better:

    Q. What is your job at eTekhnos?

    A. I am the Client Support & Marketing Director, but I also play the role of Office Mom! I help clients manage their web portals, social media channels and facilitate partnerships with new clients. As Office Mom, I encourage the health and well-being of the rest of the staff by making health shakes and providing impromptu therapy sessions!

    Q. What is your favorite aspect of your job?

    A. I love to interact with people and offer helpful service. Providing quality support that assists clients in meeting their goals is the most rewarding part of my job.

    Q. Do you have a favorite sports team?

    A. As a Midwest girl who lived outside of Chicago, I was super excited to see the Cubs win the World Series last Fall! I rep the team down here in Texas by flying my Cubs flag off our front porch!

    Q. What did you want to be when growing up?

    A. When I was younger I wanted to be a judge for the Supreme Court. In pursuing that goal, I got a B.S. in Paralegal Studies at Southern Illinois University where I also met my husband. I enjoyed working for several years as a paralegal in Illinois before starting a family and moving to Texas!

    Q. Do you have any hobbies?

    A. I love to eat healthy and workout. I devote a lot of time outside of work to helping people reach their health and fitness goals. It’s very rewarding to see people get healthy, fit and active and watch them pass that on to future generations. I love seeing my kids adopt healthy habits that I know they will model for their children down the road.

     

  • New Website Launched for The Megro Benefits Company | eTekhnos Web Design

    What’s the latest and greatest trend in web design?

    Mobile responsiveness. Most of us do business through our phones at some point during the day. If you share a link to your website via social media or an email campaign, you want prospects to see a fully functional, visually appealing site that easily converts into leads! Our latest website redesign for The Megro Benefits Company shows off our mobile-friendly sites!

     

    We recently launched a new website for The Megro Benefits Company in long-page format with a stunning Philadelphia skyline photo, creating a modern feel that is easy to navigate with a little local flair.  The site is mobile-responsive, clean and concise, and provides a one-stop resource for potential and current clients.

    Visit the new Megro Benefits website at megrobenefits.com!

    Megro Benefits also utilizes our social media marketing solution which includes posting relevant blogs on industry topics, creating and managing social media company pages on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and publishing personalized content from company outreach initiatives!

    Contact us to learn more about custom website design, SEO optimization, email marketing and social media solutions!

  • Employee Spotlight: Kate McGaughey

    Processed with VSCO with c1 presetKate McGaughey joined our team this Spring as our Social Media Director! We’ve asked her a few fun questions to get to know her a little better:

    Q. What is your job at eTekhnos?

    A. I am the Social Media Director. I help clients find their brand’s voice by selecting and producing content on relevant industry topics, scheduling posts for their blogs and social media accounts, and creating special campaigns and email blasts. In addition, I write about social media and technology best practices and how they can be best utilized by employee benefit agencies on our eTekhnos blog, as well as blasting fun and helpful content on our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!

    Q. What is your favorite aspect of your job?

    A. I love when a client comes to me with a new product or service they want to get people excited about, and I have the opportunity to work with them on both the promotional strategy and the actual implementation of the campaign. It’s fun to work with a client to achieve their vision, and get to be creative in the process!

    Q. Where is the furthest you have traveled?

    A. I previously worked as a flight attendant for a major airline where I had the opportunity to travel all the time! My furthest trip (as well as one of my favorite) was to Moscow, Russia! I was there for two days during their annual Moscow Day Festival and had the chance to take in their unique architecture, delicious food and thought-provoking art!

    Q. What is your favorite book?

    A. I loved The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It takes place in Germany during WWII and follows the life of a young girl who steals books, each that is connected to a person or a significant story. Her German family ends up harboring a young Jewish man from the Nazis, and their friendship causes the reader to think in a broader sense about how even though we are different from many people in our world, at the end of the day we are all human, and are all deserving of love and respect.

    Q. What is an ability you wish you had?

    A. I wish I had the ability to fly! Although I spent a year marveling at the world from above when I was working for the airline, I’ve always wished I was able to fly from place to place and float over beautiful landscapes on my own. I may or may not try to find Neverland 😉