Improving Your Online Store
Online stores face a lot of competition. Unless you’re selling something truly unique, there can be many other stores out there that are just like yours. So how do you make yours stand out? Setting your store apart from the rest will help you attract and retain customers, and make sure your business stays successful.
Making some small changes to your online store could make a big difference to its performance. Here are some ideas for improving your online store ready to welcome a whole new load of shoppers.
Give it a redesign
A website redesign is an effective way of drawing attention to your business and making it look and feel more up to date. Web design trends change rapidly, and a design that might have worked five years ago could be seriously out of date now. Take a look at your competition and get some ideas from eCommerce outfits that are killing it. With a simple, beautiful design, you could make a big difference to the look and appeal of your store.
Focus on great customer service
Customer service can make or break a business. Online reviews are becoming more and more important for consumers to decide what to buy and who to buy from. By working on providing excellent customer service, you can help achieve those 5-star reviews that will lift your business and blow the competition out of the water. Quick response times and useful resolutions are both important, helping to ensure the repeat business that can keep your business going from strength to strength.
Improve your payment process
Shoppers want to be able to use flexible payment processes when shopping online, while also knowing that their transaction is being handled safely and securely. So where do you begin? You can start by using a tool to accept credit cards from a range of providers, while making the transaction fast and simple.
Having a number of payment methods means you can appeal to a wider number of customers, which is particularly important if you want to attract sales from overseas. The right payment provider will make it easy for you to get your new system up and running and be on hand in case there are any problems.
Create complementary content
Successful brands not only sell products, but they develop a following and community with their customers too. They do this by creating engaging content that supports their products and services, providing information and entertainment alongside the products themselves. If you take a look at different brands’ Instagram accounts and blogs, you’ll see the way that businesses are trying to give their customers more and boost brand loyalty. With a content strategy and the right resources behind you, you can produce high-quality content your customers will love.
Regular improvements to your online store can help keep things fresh and ensures your store stays ahead of its competition. At the heart of it all, you need to make sure the basics - customer service, simple navigation, etc. are all there, and the rest you can build on. With a few key changes, you could take your online store to an exciting new level, helping it become the success you’ve always wanted it to be.
Get Your Garden Ready for Spring with These 6 Tips
The days are getting longer, and the warmth of spring is right around the corner. If your green thumb is already itching to get back out into your garden, good news—you don’t have to wait.
There’s plenty you can do now to get your garden ready for the new growing season and make sure it beautifully comes back to life. Here are six tips to help you get your garden ready.
1. Order your bulbs and seeds
First thing’s first, it’s time to order your summer-flowering bulbs and seeds. This is a perfect job to do on a chilly, rainy day as it involves planning out which flowers you want to include in your garden. Flowers like gladioli and lilies are ideal for early-spring planting so if you haven’t ordered these yet, now is your chance.
2. Tidy up your flowerbeds
Once the weather is nice enough to venture outside so you can do some actual work in your garden, the next step is to clean up your flowerbeds and remove any debris that’s collected over the winter months. Pull every weed you can find, rake up any dead leaves and clear away any fallen sticks or other debris. If you haven’t already cut back old dead growth from your perennials last fall, clip away all the brown foliage now to clear space for new growth come spring.
If you have any shrubs or trees in your yard, now is also an excellent time to inspect them for winter damage and remove any broken, dead or storm-damaged branches. If you have evergreens, cut off the tips that died or were damaged from the winter frost.
3. Fertilise your flowerbeds
When the ground has thawed, it’s time to apply some fertiliser to ensure your flowers will grow big and healthy. A granular fertiliser should be spread around trees, shrubs and perennials, but be sure to match the fertiliser type and strength to the plant to avoid damage. If you’re unsure what kind of nutrients your plant needs, you can do a quick soil test to check.
4. Add something new
While you’re planning your garden and cleaning it all up, why not take the opportunity and add something new this year? Maybe you’ve been thinking about adding in some garden lights or even installing a water feature to turn your garden into an oasis. If you’re considering the addition of a water feature to your garden, water-garden.co.uk has lots of options.
5. Divide your perennials
The ideal time to divide your perennials is right before new growth sprouts up from the ground. Go ahead and dig up your flowers if they’re growing in areas you don’t want them to, like if they’re reaching and spreading outside of your garden area or crowding into other flowers. You should replant the divided plants as soon as possible and then give them a good watering. If you have early-season perennials that have already started blooming, it’s best to wait until after they’ve bloomed to divide them.
6. Clean and sharpen your tools
Another quick chore you can get out of the way that will help you prep for spring is to clean and sharpen all your gardening tools. Maintaining your tools will help preserve them and curb the spread of plant disease. To clean them thoroughly, use a strong detergent with hot water and scour the blades.
Guide to Creating a Work-From-Home Policy for Your Business
Working from home is a big trend in business. It gives your workers freedom and has been proven to increase productivity. Want to hire remote workers or turn your current worker into remote workers? Here’s what you need to know.
How to Ensure Your Property is Ready for Extreme Weather
You never know what’s in store with winter, sometimes all the winter brings is a icy car in the morning, but sometimes winter can bring a lot worse, in the form of extreme weather. Taking note of the following steps will save you a lot of costly repairs down the line. This will give you peace of mind for the last few months of winter.
Be Prepared for Power Outages
You never know what can happen to your energy supply in times of extreme weather and so it never hurts to be prepared. Make sure you have a flashlight with fresh batteries in an accessible place, as well as a good supply of candles. It is also wise to have the details of your electricity provider on hand in case you need to contact them.
Have the Right Insurance
Strong winds, heavy snowfall, and flooding can all cause significant damage to your home, so it is wise to ensure that your home and contents insurance provides cover for standard weather-related perils, including damage caused by flood, storms, and falling trees. When it comes to making the best call, you should determine if it is only your home that you want to be insured or try a home and auto insurance instead. After choosing an appropriate insurance agency, this will make things a lot easier for you
Put Away or Secure Garden Furniture
You don’t want to be wrangling your trampoline back from five doors down in treacherous winds. Make sure any furniture is put away in a sheltered place or secured down before it becomes a missile! The last thing you want is for someone to accuse you of criminal damage to their property due to your negligence in securing outdoor furniture or equipment. While criminal attorneys can help you if this is the case, you want to avoid this scenario entirely.
Check Your Roof
Start on the inside, or in the loft, and check for any sagging, watermarks or rot. See if you can spot any sunlight poking through which would indicate holes. Look for loose and damaged roof tiles.
Of course, there is a safety issue when checking the roof and, unless you have all the appropriate safety equipment, you may be better off employing the services of a maintenance company like urban-propertymaintenance.com who offer a professional and reliable service for your peace of mind.
Clear Your Guttering
Blocked or damaged guttering can cause significant damage to your property. Check your gutters are clear of leaves and make appropriate repairs to any sagging gutters. The best way to ensure your gutters are functioning optimally is to don your wet weather gear and head outside in the rain. This way, you will soon be able to spot any leaks in the joints or downpipes that could potentially cause water damage to your property.
Trim Your Trees
Make sure that you remove any branches that could otherwise cause damage to structures or power supplies. For large trees, it is wise to employ the services of a tree surgeon, who can safely remove offending branches while also looking after the health of the tree.
Frost Proof Your Pipes
Burst pipes are the most common cause of property damage, so it’s essential that you take appropriate steps to prevent this from happening. The pipes most at risk are in unheated interior spaces such as basements, attics and garages. Pipe insulation is available at very reasonable rates and should be used in these areas. If you plan to go away, make sure you set the thermostat at a constant temperature to minimise risk.
Leading A Remote Team Is Easier Than You Think
Traditional business managers tend to be quite conservative in their approach to working arrangements. Most don’t want to rock the boat. For decades, companies have operated a system in which they rent out premises and get employees to travel to their jobs physically. The majority of firms have done very well on the back of this method.
Technology, though, is leading to substantial change. When most company bosses think about it, many of their employees don’t have to be physically present in the office - at least not every day. Much of what they do is typing at a computer. Even managers are beginning to find that they can carry out their functions without being physically proximate to workers.
Working from home, as the following infographic shows, is a growing trend. We’ve seen a 103 percent increase in the practice since 2005, with many predicting that it will take off during the 2020s. People, it turns out, really dislike their daily commute and would much prefer to avoid having to travel to the office, just to sit at a computer and a desk.
Managing a remote team, however, brings a host of new challenges. It is challenging to have the same level of personal approach to leadership when you only ever interact with someone through a computer screen. The good news is that there is a range of strategies that leaders can use outlined in the chart below. If you are interested in remote teams, be sure to check it out.
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3 Small Business Spends That Are Well Worth it
When you run your small business, you are always keeping an eye on your costs. The aim is often to keep the spending down to enable you to maximize your profits, but there are times when spending is a worthwhile investment. You will no doubt have injected funds to get the business off the ground, and if you are looking to grow it, you are going to need to invest to do so. Today we are sharing with you 3 small business spends that are well worth it, as all should contribute to helping your business to expand and move to that next level.
Grow your team
If you feel that you have reached your maximum potential working alone or as a small team, then maybe it is now time to grow your team.
Growing you team can serve to boost your business’ productivity and output and help you to deliver an improved service to your customers. In order for this to be successful, you need to ensure that you are hiring the right people and that you invest time in training and coaching them to be effective in their new roles.
Your team will need clear and confident direction from you and you will need to ensure that they are supported and motivated to carry out their jobs. A happy and motivated team should be an asset to your business as they will prove to be productive, loyal and engaged.
Use the experts
It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you have to know it all and do it all as a small business owner. Everything rests on your shoulders, but that does not mean that you have to complete every single task alone. You are not alone there are plenty of experts around that can help you and using them can be a worthwhile investment..
You could opt to hire professionals to complete one-off tasks for you, such as graphic designers or merchandising professionals. They can give you some guidance and set you up with all you need to handle it from that point onwards.
You could look into ongoing support from companies such as Arnet Technologies, Inc. to manage your computer systems and security, or you might choose to work with a freelance social media manager to ensure that your social media marketing is effective.
Improve your premises
It might be that your business’ premises are proving to be prohibitive. You might have outgrown them, the location might not be perfect or the layout might not be conducive to your work.
Think about the ideal environment for you and your team to operate in and then you can set about finding the right premises. Look for locations that are easily accessible, for both your team and your clients, offices with plenty of natural light and of course they need to fit within your price range.
Alternatively, you might be able to redesign the offices that you currently use. You will want to make the office perfect for your team to ensure that they are comfortable and productive each day.
Making Your Content Writing SEO Friendly in 2020
Writing great content these days doesn’t just mean that you get your point across to your readers in a way that flows well. While the message is still important, and the way that you use your words does matter, one area that writers need to focus their craft is on making sure that their content is optimized for search engines.
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is a vast area that is vitally important for any creatives working in any online medium. Whether you are a writer creating blog posts, or you are creating all of the text for use on a website, SEO is something that you will always need to keep in the back of your mind.
With companies investing a great deal of money in this area, often by using an seo specialist, it is important that you meet the needs of the clients by ensuring your writing is SEO friendly.
Watching The Keywords
One of the biggest areas that you need to focus your attention on when it comes to making sure your writing is SEO friendly is your use of keywords. The subject that you are writing about will be of interest to someone, and in order to get that person’s attention in the first place, your writing needs to include all of the terms that they are likely to put into a search engine in order to find the type of content they want to read.
Using keyword research tools such as SEMrush, Moz, or Google Search Console it is possible to find out what keywords you should be including in your text.
Fitting these words into your content in the most natural manner is important. Some content writers will force these words wherever they can, and it will make the writing uncomfortable to read. Remember, while you are writing to attract the attention of the search engines, your writing is still being read by humans. Also, search engines will penalize your article if you keyword stuff.
Keep It Original
While your readers may not be able to tell that you have plagiarized some of your text, the likes of Google will, and they will penalize sites for doing this. Make sure that you run some basic plagiarism checks on anything you write before you upload it.
Using Backlinks
Adding links in your content that will take the reader to another part of the website helps search engines to put your writing into context. Backlinks work as a sort of vote of confidence too. Including links to other sites in your writing is also advisable. However, make sure that any links that you include will add value to the piece.
The Length Of The Piece
Search engines like to ensure that they are sending users to content that is going to be useful, and having a reasonable word count on a piece is one way that you can help attract the attention of the likes of Google and Bing.
The length of the piece should relate to the subject matter, however, search engines like to see denser content. It is important to note, that you should avoid using fluff or filler to add to the word count as this will ultimately make the writing dull for human readers.
How Encouraging Employee Engagement Grows Your Business
When it comes to business growth, a lot of people have different definitions of what they consider to be growth. Some people focus solely on revenue and market share, while others focus on the number of employees that they have. The reality is that business growth should be measured using a variety of different metrics, but one that is sorely underrepresented is employee satisfaction.
Employees are at the heart of every business and without them, no company would get things done. Despite this, there’s still a culture of offering employees the bare minimum and focusing more on their wages than their satisfaction. A satisfied employee is going to be far more productive than one that hates their job. So how exactly do you keep your team engaged and happy?
Encouraging employee engagement
Here are a couple of top tips on how you can encourage employees to interact with each other and work as a team.
Acknowledge your employees and speak to them when possible. Get to know their names, where they work and the type of work they do for you.
Learn the strengths and weaknesses of your employees. With this knowledge, it’s easy to put together productive teams that help to grow your business and improve your chances of pushing a successful product.
Give your employees room to grow. This could be the promise of promotion opportunities in the future or even just a program that allows them to study new skills to further their development.
Below, we’ve included an infographic on the importance of job satisfaction and how it affects your business.
Turning Your Small Business Into A Success Story
Going into business on your own can be a fantastic experience. You get the freedom to make your own decisions and run your business the way that you want. But alongside this freedom comes the freedom to make mistakes, and you probably will make a few. But mistakes can be costly, and you need to know how to own them and move on from them.
You’ll need a great idea for your business before you even start. But your great idea will only get you so far. There are quite a few soft skills that you are going to need if you plan on becoming a successful small business leader.
You Have To Know Your Limitations And Where To Turn For Help
You are not a superhero. You cannot possibly juggle everything that your business needs to succeed without dropping a few balls. There is no harm in admitting that you are not an expert in everything, in fact, that kind of honesty is what makes people successful. Knowing your limitations is vital, and then being able to confidently reach out for the support that you need will help you to achieve your goals.
For example, your business will have a whole host of tech requirements. We all like to think that we know what we’re talking about when it comes to IT, but when you mess up your IT system or leave yourself open to security vulnerabilities, then you’re going to end up costing your business a small fortune. Instead, it is much better to reach out and get IT Consulting for small businesses. You’ll get a better standard of service than you could provide for yourself, and you will gain productivity through the time that you save from having to deal with it on your own.
You Need To Have The Passion To Motivate Yourself
Working for yourself may sound great. But when you’re working for yourself, other than your customers, the only person you have to answer to is you. And, are you really going to tell yourself off for not pushing hard enough.
You need to have a serious amount of passion and drive if you want to succeed at running your own business. You need to be able to pick yourself up when the business is struggling, and when the finances don’t look great because it’s still very early on in the life of your company, you need to be inspired by your own ideas rather than the money.
You Have To Know How To Delegate
When you get a team working for you, make sure that you don’t just keep all the fun or important jobs to yourself. Your team will not be motivated if you don’t trust them with responsibility.
Handling out jobs to your team lightens your workload and makes the company more productive. But, if you share in the significant elements then your employees will try harder because they will have more invested in the companies success.
How to Improve Employee Retention
Some businesses may have cracked how to keep their employees engaged, motivated and committed to their mission, but for the majority of organizations, employee retention is a complex task. It takes time for start-ups to build a core team of skilled, reliable and motivated people and plenty of trial and error along the way. The business world is a competitive one and with online recruitment and networking platforms, it’s easier than ever before for staff to be lured away by competitors. If you are struggling with high staff turnover, and are concerned about losing key members of your team, this guide will outline some useful tips to help you create a more stable workforce.
Establish a Positive Workplace Culture
If you are looking for motivated, positive and honest employees, you need to establish a workplace culture which will attract those types of people. Whether you want a casual atmosphere or a very professional environment, you need to create the workspace to suit your ideal team.
Adjust Your Recruitment Procedures
Sometimes there are signs that a candidate may not be looking for a long-term position or that they are prone to jumping between jobs. There is nothing wrong with changing jobs if it’s for reasons such as circumstantial changes or for career advancement, but it’s a point which should be queried at the interview stage. If they are someone who becomes bored or frustrated very quickly, will you be able to provide them with enough variation and opportunity for development?
Provide Training and Development Opportunities
Ongoing training and development for your staff is important not only in terms of ensuring they have the necessary skills to perform their roles effectively, but also in order to show them you are invested in their career. By providing relevant training courses and opportunities to expand their skill set, you can ensure they remain stimulated and engaged in their role.
Give Regular Feedback
To be able to work to their full potential, your employees need to understand their roles and what is expected of them and whether or not they are meeting those expectations. Each employee should have a job plan which outlines their responsibilities and KPIs, but they should also receive regular feedback from leaders in the business. If an employee is unsure about their purpose or their performance, they are likely to feel confused and unmotivated.
Ask for Regular Feedback
While you are providing feedback to your employees, you should also ask for feedback from them. They should feel they are able to voice their opinions and be heard as a valued member of the organization. The difficulty is that they may not always feel comfortable speaking up, especially if they want to raise concerns or criticisms. However, you can give your employees the opportunity to provide feedback via Inpulse employee survey software. This information can then be used to improve your operation in the future.
Don't Neglect High Performing Employees
Too often managers focus on the employees who are not working to a satisfactory level, while neglecting to acknowledge those who are meeting or exceeding expectations. If this continues for a prolonged period, it can lead to resentment and a feeling that they are not appreciated. Be sure to provide regular support and encouragement to all of your staff and to appropriately reward those who go above and beyond appropriately.
Improve Employee Turnover Like This
If you own a small business, one of the worst things that can happen is watching your employees leave. A small business depends on their employees, and keeping them for as long as possible is the only sensible way to build a strong business.
If you know you need to minimize employee turnover as soon as possible, then read on. Even if nobody has left you yet, reading this through will benefit you in the future.
Hire The Right People From The Start
Your goal should be to hire the right people right from the beginning. Make sure you carry out background checks to ensure these people are who they say they are, and ensure you know what you’re looking for with each employee. If the roles are ill defined and you’re not really sure what kind of people you want, then you could easily end up with a team that isn't right in the first place.
Offer Competitive Pay And Benefits
Competitive pay is a must - nobody wants to be living hand to mouth or feel like all of their efforts are for nothing. Benefits are also crucial, otherwise, what is going to set you apart and make people actually enjoy working for you?
Praise Your Employees
Find ways to praise your employees. Giving feedback is important, so if you need to give negative feedback or constructive criticism, try to do so in a way that also praises them and talks about the good they are doing. Verbal praise can make a big difference and let employees know that they are doing a great job.
Make Sure There’s A Team Focused On Their Happiness
Having a team of people focused on your employees happiness is another important factor - you can’t be expected to take care of everything alone, so you need a trustworthy team to do that for you. Looking at HR outsourcing companies could be the way to go. This way your team will be paid on time, disputes should be settled more easily, and staff should notice other benefits.
Allow More Flexible Work Schedules
Flexible work schedules are highly sought after these days. There’s no reason an employee shouldn’t have more control over their schedule.
Create Organization Traditions
Have organization traditions that keep people happy. Dress up for Halloween, have an annual Christmas meal, and make being in the workplace fun.
Keep Your Employees Healthy
Putting an emphasis on the health of your employees will reduce sick days, increase happiness at work, and could even improve their lives outside of the workplace. Corporate gym memberships are great, as are incentives to bike or walk to work. Mental health initiatives are also extremely important.
5 Ways To Save Money Within Your Business
If you’re looking to cut costs within your business but you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry. You have definitely come to the right place. As a business owner cutting costs is one of the hardest things you will have to do but luckily, there are lots of ways in which you can save money. From setting yourself a budget to switching suppliers, the sooner you start cutting costs the better.
With that in mind, here are 5 ways to cut costs within your business:
- Set Yourself A Budget
One of the best ways to save money as a business is to make sure you’re setting yourself a budget each and every month. Although it won’t save you money directly, having a budget is the best way to look at what you’re spending, when you’re spending it and why you’re spending it. Often, you may find you’re spending money on things you don’t really need. For a guide to setting a budget as a business, you can visit this site here.
- Analyse Your Budget And Performance At The End Of Each Month
As well as looking at unnecessary purchases within your monthly budget, you also need to look at the aspects of your business that may not be performing well. It’s important you take the time to look at the return on investment your monthly spend is bringing and if it isn’t beneficial to the business, you can easily rejig things.
Ideally, you want to be carrying out a performance management review at the end of every month using performance management software. For more information about how to calculate the ROI of performance management software, you can visit this site here.
- Consider Reducing The Number Of Staff You Have
Another way to cut back on costs within your business is to consider reducing the number of staff you have. Although you may find some of your team members to be a valuable asset to your business, you need to think about whether or not they’re covering their own costs. In some cases, you may find it much easier to outsource staff on a freelance basis instead.
- Switch To More Efficient Suppliers
If you have been using your business suppliers for a number of years and you feel as though there are better options out there, it may be worth doing a little more research. Whether it’s switching energy providers or finding someone else to supply you with materials, you need to ensure you’re working with suppliers that are cost-effective.
- Reduce Unnecessary Advertising Spend
Finally, you might want to consider looking at your advertising spend. Although advertising is important to your business, often people can put money into it without realising what they’re doing. The best way to avoid this, of course, is to speak to a professional who will tell you how to maximise a much smaller budget.
Are you looking for ways to cut costs as a business? What can you do to ensure you're saving as much money as you possibly can? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
3 Data Security Rules For Businesses That Use Remote Workers
Remote working is becoming more popular in all areas of business right now. It’s easier than ever for people to work on the go and do their job from home, rather than coming into the office. It’s better for the employees because they have more freedom and more flexible schedules, and it’s better for the business because most remote workers are more productive and you can scale back on the amount of office space that you need.
However, there are some downsides, especially when it comes to data security. When people are using their own devices to access data outside of the office, you can’t always be sure that it’s secure and there is an increased risk of data loss. But if you follow these simple security tips, you can make sure to avoid any disasters.
Never Use Public Wifi
When people are working remotely, they can start to go a bit stir crazy if they’re stuck in the house all day long. So, they might decide to head down to the local library or find a coffee shop where they can do some work for a while. But you have to be careful when working in public places if you are using their Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi is notoriously unsafe and making it easy for hackers to gain access to your computer. It’s best to tell your employees that they should avoid it where possible and never access any sensitive company documents while they are connected to public wifi because it simply isn’t safe.
Use A Virtual Data Room
If remote workers are going to be effective, they need to be able to access all of the documents that they would normally have access to at the office, so cloud storage is a must. But you need to make sure that all of those documents are stored and sent securely, which is why you should use a virtual data room. A virtual data room gives you a secure, central location where all files can be stored. That means that everybody has easy access and can collaborate on documents, and it’s all stored securely. If people have to email documents back and forth all the time, that is not very secure. Visit this website for more information on how to set one up.
Encourage A Culture Of Cybersecurity
Often, it’s human error that causes data loss, not malicious attacks. If your employees make simple mistakes and don’t take the necessary steps to protect data, they are inviting trouble. That’s why it’s important to encourage a culture of cybersecurity in your business. If it is constantly present in people’s minds, they won’t make those small slip-ups that eventually lead to big problems in the future.
Implementing remote workers can benefit your business in a lot of ways, but it will only work if you follow these security tips so you can avoid any catastrophic data loss.
5 Crucial Skills to Develop when Starting a Business in 2020
Get on track for the new year with these skills.
Guest post by Tori Lutz
The success of a business depends on the skill of the entrepreneur in charge. Out of all businesses founded in 2014, 20% failed within the first year and 44% failed before 2018. Out of those businesses that failed, 23% cited “not the right team” as a key cause of the company’s failure.
So what can you do in order to give your team a leg to stand on before throwing them to the sharks? This article contains detailed accounts of five particular skills that every entrepreneur needs to learn, practice, and master in 2020.
Coding
First and foremost, a firm understanding of software development is key to the success of any business in any industry. This is true now more than ever before. In 2019, 97% of all consumers went online to look for a business that satisfied their demands.
That means that, barring any happy accident of pedestrian discovery, businesses without a website were only appearing to the old-fashioned 3% of consumers who looked through directories or “went for a drive” to find the right business.
According to David Dodge, CEO of Codakid, web development isn’t even the biggest concern in the world of coding. “By understanding how code works,” Dodge said, “you gain insight into how the economy works.”
Dodge’s claims seem to become more accurate with each passing day, as more and more companies switch from the traditional brick-and-mortar business model to online-only models.
Social Media
Facebook isn’t just for selfies and updates about interesting happenings in your personal life anymore. Nowadays, it is a powerful marketing tool, capable of reaching millions of people with the press of a single button.
Data from social media usage in 2019 show that 68% of adults used Facebook, Instagram boasts more than one billion active monthly users, and Twitter has more than 126 million daily users.
By targeting these audiences with coordinated social media marketing, advertising, and sales techniques, you stand to take your business from an idea to reality. Even if you don’t currently have a great understanding of how this works, programs like Facebook Blueprint exist with the express purpose of teaching you these skills.
Business Strategy
Chances are you’re familiar with the phrase “business model.” By now, you probably have one fully fleshed out with exactly how you’re going to make money with your business (if not, you need to get on that immediately). But did you know that having a business model is only a small fraction of what goes into successful business strategy?
Colleges across the world have entire degree programs dedicated to the study of business strategy. That fact isn’t meant to discourage you, though. On the contrary, we mean to simply highlight the importance and complexity of business strategy.
In reality, business strategy is concerned with everything from operations to resource allocation to task delegation and so on and so forth. A good rule of thumb is, “if the CEO does it, it’s part of business strategy.”
Branding and Intellectual Property
When people see a little white apple, they think of Apple. That’s what is known as a trademark, a symbol or phrase designed specifically to make people remember your brand. Trademarks are protected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which grants you a government-backed monopoly on the use of the symbol or phrase.
Through the use of intellectual property law, you can use the force of government to artificially limit supply of your product, enabling you to boost revenue well above what otherwise would ever be possible on the open market.
Combine that with effective branding (e.g., an eye-catching logo, a curated “vibe,” and selective endorsements), and you’ll be set up for a name-recognition double-threat.
Resilience
The only certainty in business is failure. 70% of businesses fail in the first ten years. The key is in what financial and executive gurus refer to as “failing gracefully.” That means that when you fail, and you will, you need to look at it as more than just the hackneyed “learning opportunity.”
Instead, treat it as a challenge, as an obstacle to surmount, and as a pool of resources for launching your next campaign, startup, or whatever else you’re looking to create. When people in the world of business say that failure is not an option, what they really mean is that failure can never be the last step of your business.
Rather, it should always be the first. Just think of how many great ideas for goods and services have risen out of the failure of the market to provide those goods and services efficiently to large numbers of people.
Conclusion
Through the use of code, social media, business strategy, branding and intellectual property, and resilience, you will be setting yourself up on a much sturdier foundation for the creation of your business than your competition.
Once you’ve mastered these five skills, 2020 will become your playground. Of course, it takes a good deal of time to master anything, and don’t forget the fifth skill: resilience. If 2020 isn’t your year, maybe 2021 will be.
All that’s left to do is to find out.
For more great content on technology and its effects on the workforce, check out our other great posts and follow us on Facebook for regular updates!
Tips for Boosting Your Brand on Social Media in 2020
Get your business ready for 2020 with these social media tips.
Guest Post by Tori Lutz
Social media is no longer just something “extra” that a few businesses are taking on in hopes of reaching younger audiences. Nowadays, the majority of every age group uses social media, with the only notable exception being the 65+ category. Combine that with the fact that 97% of consumers use the internet to find local businesses and you’ve got a mean double-threat.
Businesses that fail to account for this paradigm shift from traditional marketing tactics to social media expansionism can be sure of one thing: their growth will not be nearly as rapid as their social-media-savvy competitors. Conversely, businesses that take into account proper social media strategy can see doors begin to open to all kinds of online success stories.
Branch Out
First and foremost, you need to branch out. If you’re focusing solely on one social media platform, then you’re not going to succeed as well as you otherwise could be. Facebook has more than 2.375 billion active users, Youtube has 2 billion, Instagram has 1 billion, and the list goes on.
Sure, it’s true that many people must have been double-counted (meaning that there are people who were listed as active users for more than one social media network), but the fact remains that there are billions of people spread across more than a dozen social networks.
By “diversifying your assets,” as they say, and splitting your time between two or more social media platforms, you can significantly increase your market penetration without making any kind of drastic changes to production.
Hire Trade Show Models
Trade show models, also known as brand ambassadors or push models, are people who go out to events with the surface-level function of staffing them and the deeper purpose of expanding your brand’s name recognition.
If you manage to secure a few trade show models at an important event, such as a gala or a political fundraiser, you can significantly increase the visibility of your brand through direct actions (such as one-to-one conversation with potential clients) as well as indirect actions (such as appearing in the background of a celebrity’s Instagram post).
The main downside to trade show models is that they tend to require that you hire an event staffing agency that will then contract them out and oversee them. This can sometimes increase the costs in the short-term, putting your company well into the red. However, the long-term benefits speak for themselves.
Shake Up Your Content
There are multiple kinds of content from which to choose when it comes to social media marketing. Everything from quizzes to polls to memes can boost your brand recognition. Memes are definitely something that you’ll want to look into.
In the past, paid-content memes have been blatantly rejected by the internet community, causing an entire counter-culture to appear in opposition to that marketing strategy. The key is to avoid creating memes of your business.
Rather, creating or even sharing memes that may or may not have anything to do with your business can increase shares, reactions, and comments, all of which serve to boost your social media status.
Build Relationships with Your Followers
Good business is about focusing on people. A crude but effective way of thinking about this point is by asking yourself the following question: How can I convince these people to give me their money if they don’t like me? Sure, you might have a great product, but that doesn’t always stop people from hating you.
By “@-ing,” or “mentioning,” particular people who respond to your content, you not only increase readership but you make people feel heard. And when people feel heard, they tend to come back. Even if those people don’t purchase something, their repeated interactions with your social media posts will serve to drive further growth.
Stick to a Content Schedule
Content production has to be both frequent and consistent. If you’re producing too little content, then you won’t be reaching enough people; and, if you’re producing content sporadically and inconsistently, then you’ll risk either “blowing up” somebody’s feed and driving them away as well as potentially going entirely unnoticed by large groups of people.
The key is to produce different types of content on a weekly or even daily basis. The golden mean varies from platform to platform, with many Youtubers producing videos once a week and many Twitter pages tweeting two or even three times a day.
Conclusion
If you take the time to carefully curate your social media presence through the use of each of these tips and tricks, then you’ll be much more likely to make 2020 your year. There are billions of people on social media right now. All you have to do is say, “Hello!”
Who knows? Maybe by 2021, you’ll be as famous (or infamous) as the Wendy’s Twitter.
For more great content on marketing practices, check out our other great posts and follow us on Facebook for regular updates!
4 Cyber Security Threats Businesses Face and How to Deal with Them
Cyber threats have become the norm, and that’s one reason why every business must be ready to deal with them. In addition, the growth in government regulations that mandate the safeguarding of medical and financial information mean that security is more important than ever. The effect of data loss on a business’s reputation, as well as the hefty price tag, makes protection from these threats a priority. All of this explains why both small and large businesses must take cybersecurity seriously. Here are 4 common cyber security threats businesses face and what can be done about them.
Phishing
Phishing is where a criminal tries to gain access to your network via social engineering. They may send you a link posing as a friend or customer, encouraging you to click on it. This will cause malware to download onto your network. In other cases, it will take you to a fake site that asks you to enter specific information like social media passwords, network login credentials or credit card numbers.
This differs from password attacks or brute force attacks, where an automated system tries a variety of passwords to try to enter the network. Training employees to recognize these types of threats is one solution, since people tend to be the weakest link. However, it can happen when websites are infected themselves.
Password Attacks
Password attacks use an automated system to try to gain access to your network. This could be done with rainbow tables or a dictionary attack list. You can prevent this type of attack from working by having best practices for passwords with your users. You should also have service and admin account credentials changed regularly. Monitor for repeated failed password entries and deal with the issue as quickly as possible.
Malware
Malware is short for malicious software and is any type of software designed to gain access to a system and/or damage it without the access of the owner. It can include but is not limited to spyware, viruses, worms and keystroke loggers. One solution is setting up a firewall and monitoring it. An agency like FraudWatch International provides cyber security protection against malware by attacking it at the source and disabling credential drop sites and command and control servers, rendering the malware inoperable.
Distributed Denial of Service Attacks
A distributed denial of service attack or DDOS is an attack intended to flood a network device, server or website with messages, packets or connection requests. This could cause the target to slow down or crash, rendering it unavailable to users. You can work with security companies that monitor for such attacks and alert network administrators with details about the source and specific advice for preventing the DDOS from being successful. While businesses are generally the target of DDOS attacks, any computer could be targeted with malware that lets it be used to execute a DDOS attack.
Cybersecurity is an ongoing threat to businesses and one that cannot be taken lightly no matter the size of your enterprise. So, make sure that you take proactive steps to keep your employees and corporate data safe.
Home Office Essentials for Maximum Comfort
When it comes to working out of the home, there are always a few essentials that are needed in order to perform with maximum comfort. A quiet space to think, a well-lit area and seating that allows for proper posture are all tools of the trade. Combine all of this with the proper music, and you'll have a home office that is just as good if not better than a traditional office setting. Let's explore some of the industry-standard best practices for maximizing comfort while working from home.
Good Lighting
Lighting is perhaps the most critical aspect of writing. When the screen or room is too bright, it can become impossible to see the computer screen. When it's too dark, it becomes difficult to focus on the creative process. A nice medium is a moderately lit space. Best LED Lamp recommends LED lamps as a great tool for dimly lit spaces, because it cheers up the vibe, doesn't require much energy and can be adjusted to your exact specifications.
Comfortable Chair
When sitting for extended periods of time to work, it is paramount that you have adequate comfort. Sitting on hard wooden chairs can have a negative long-term impact on the health of your spine, joints, bones, muscles and nerves. Pinched nerves can develop over time without proper seat cushions, and this can lead to nerve damage. It's always best to use a cushion for rest. Find a thick, comfortable pillow or cushion that is ideal for sitting for long periods. Depending on the ergonomics of the chair, a cushion for your back can be helpful as well.
Standing Desk
When given a choice between standing and sitting, standing is the healthier option to choose. The human body was not designed to sit for extended periods, and this inactivity is the root of many stress and health problems. Standing desks can be purchased that include optional remote control height adjustments. Or, you can make your own standing desk using a tall table. Chirp recommends placing your computer at about eye level, so if a standing desk is forcing you to look down, you should place books or other objects under your monitor.
Background Music
A recent Stanford study found that "music moves [the] brain to pay attention." Having comforting music in the background, such as classical music, is always a good idea. As long as the music isn't too distracting, background music has been proven to be very beneficial to productivity. Many recent studies have shown that listening to light classical music in particular while working can increase productivity significantly. Other forms of background noise, like white noise and hertz music (432 hertz), are excellent for blocking out distracting sounds.
There are many different positions to choose from in order to maximize your success as a writer. Whether you prefer standing, sitting, bright lights or dim lights, it is always important to have the right ambiance in order to support your needs and build a creative environment. Through disciplined posture in sitting or standing and having a screen that is at eye level, you can be sure that you have a safe and productive workspace.
For more see How to Create the Perfect Home Office Space for Any Job.
Are you a freelance writer? Do you want to become one? Success starts here.
4 Skills You Should Develop Before Starting Your Own Business
If you have dreams of starting your own business, one way you can be sure of success is to make sure you work on developing the appropriate skills - anybody can start a business these days, but that doesn’t mean they are going to be good at it, or that it’s going to succeed! Below, we’ll take a look at four skills you should develop before starting your own business.
Financial Management
One of the most important skills you’ll develop is financial management. This is because you’ll need to forecast your cash flow and sales, as well as monitor your profit and loss. Being financially literate is essential!
Communication
Communication is something you’ll be doing with your potential investors, suppliers, employees, and clients. This will help you to improve your business and ensure you build strong relationships. Make sure you work both on how you speak and how you use your body language to communicate.
Time Management And Delegation
Being able to delegate is one of the most important things that a business owner will learn to do. Feeling like you don’t want to let go of control is normal but you’ll only be shooting yourself in the foot. When you delegate effectively, you’ll be able to focus on the tasks you’re best at.
Writing Skills
Writing skills are a must, whether you’re writing a blog post or putting together that all important business plan. There are lots of ways you can improve your writing skills - the infographic below can give you a few hints and tips.
How to Come Up With A Winning Product Idea Every Time
Coming up with a winning product idea every time is no accident. You need to make sure you’re using the right method to come up with your ideas so that you can be sure they are worth pursuing. Below, you’ll find a few ideas that will help you out.
Take A Close Look At Your Old Ideas
Start by taking a closer look at your old ideas - you never know, there might be something there you haven’t made use of yet. You could blend the old and the new, or you could modernize an old idea. You might even realize you overlooked a winner in favor of something else. Keep a list of your ideas somewhere safe.
Start Brainstorming
Brainstorming can help you to get everything out of your brain and onto paper. Get as many ideas as you can out of your head - you could even get a partner and bounce ideas off each other. Set a timer for a sense of urgency if you dare! You could easily come up with 20 new ideas this way, and then you can explore them more in detail to see which ones are worth pursuing.
Come Up With Add Ons To Past Products
If you don’t have a brand new idea, why not come up with an idea to improve your best selling products? You can do this by coming up with something that compliments them. Add ons can be great ideas too!
Find Problems Worth Solving
Finding problems worth solving is how you really come up with a fantastic idea. What problems do you encounter every day? What problems do the people you know encounter? Can you come up with solutions to these problems? This is a really simple way to come up with a great idea. Just make sure you read through the american trademark guide to ensure nobody steals your great idea before it’s set in motion.
Interview 10-20 Potential Customers
By interviewing potential customers, you can answer the question: is this a problem worth solving? Before you spend any money developing your product, interview potential customers so they understand the problem you’re attempting to solve - this is before you tell them about the features, pricing, or even how it’ll change their lives.
These are best carried out in person and should be up to 60 minutes in length. Remember, a problem needs to be high on a customer’s priority list if they are going to be interested. Many entrepreneurs start off by talking about a description of the product and features, however, it’s usually more effective if you understand the problem thoroughly to make sure the product as a whole doesn't miss the mark.
Ask the following questions to determine whether the problem is important enough to solve:
How much money will be made/saved with the solving of this problem?
Where is the problem on your priority list?
What is most frustrating about your current solution?
How to get refunds for flight delays, cancellations or lost luggage
Airlines have been in the news a lot lately for losing baggage, kicking people off of flights and overbooking. If you feel like you’ve been treated unfairly during a trip, these tips will help you get you what you deserve.
Check with your credit card company
If the airline is giving you the runaround, there may be an easier way. Some credit card companies cover unexpected travel expenses if you booked using their card. To see if you have this option, check your card through the Sift app (iOS) or website. You can also call your credit card company to ask about benefits. A free hotel room to wait out your layover, reimbursed tickets and more may be in the cards.
Document everything
Remember, your phone is your best friend during trips, so be sure to use it. Before your trip, take photos of your bags and their contents, just in case your bags are damaged or lost.
If you’re denied boarding due to overbooking or are asked to disembark a flight for a bizarre reason, document everything with your phone, including:
Extra expenses that result from the disruption, such as fees for hotels, new tickets and meals
Boarding passes
Baggage claim tickets
Original booking confirmations
Submit a PIR (Property Irregularity Report)
A good scanning app like Abbyy Fine Scanner or Evernote Scannable or CamScanner can help you make clear, readable copies of all of your documents.
Know your flight rights
No matter what the airlines may tell you, you have the right to a timely trip and there are rules that govern this concept. For example, US law says that you’re covered when a flight is overbooked, though how much is owed to you depends on the discretion of the airline. The European law EC 261 also requires airlines to compensate within 14 days of the departure date. The Montreal Convention provides airline passengers with certain rights to compensation on international flights between more than 120 nations, including the United States and Europe. You’re covered for extra hotel night stays, canceled reservations and more.
To get compensated, talk to the airlines at the gate desk as soon as you find out your flight will be delayed or the flight has been overbooked. Airlines have built-in compensation plans for when things don’t work out like they should.
Some things they may offer are:
Free rental car or shuttle service
Free hotel stay
Upgrade to a first-class flight
A ticket refund
Payment for time lost
…And your luggage rights
So the airlines got you there, but not your luggage? Here’s what to expect:
· If your bags are damaged the carrier is responsible, but they will go about repairing, replacing or compensating you for the bag as they see fit. Be sure to ask for a copy of their policies upfront. No matter what, be sure not to leave the airport without filling out and turning in a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
· If your luggage is late, the airline must provide you with up-to-date information on where your bags are. They can also replace essential items that were in your bags, like toiletries, according to National Association of Citizens Advice, to help you out until your bags show up.
· If your luggage is lost and you’re flying domestically, your airline’s liability under the US Department of Transportation regulations is thousands of dollars per passenger. You’ll need to fill out an initial lost-luggage form and a second claim in which you show proof of your loss to collect.