Business

The phenomenon of the gender pay gap is a devastatingly embarrassing blight on the professional structure worldwide. In the US, while the gender pay gap is steadily shrinking, at the current rate, it will take over 50 years to establish equity. For all of us reading this, that is certainly too long to wait. Studies indicate that currently, in the US, women make an average of .79 cents for every dollar that a man makes in a comparable position. There can be nothing to blame but gender bias for this staggering 21% average gap. 

if you are looking for a position where this will be less of an issue or seeking a way to make a difference in a male-dominated profession, it is useful to know what industries represent the most and least gender pay gap structures. 

Industries with the largest gap

It’s no surprise that male-dominated industries make up the majority of those that represent the highest gender gap disparity in wages. 

1. Aviation: The male-dominated industry of piloting planes has been demonstrated to be the largest culprit with male pilots making over 26% more than female counterparts. Part of this is likely the fact that only 7% of the workforce is made up of women. 
2. Professional Chefs: Women chefs in the US make around $9,000 less than men who hold the same jobs which can take a bite in a profession that has an average pay of around $45k per year. In addition, the chance for advancement for women chefs is much lower. The percentage of female executive chefs is very small, with a recent article pointing out that none are represented in the establishments of many high-profile restaurateurs including bit names like David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. 
3. C-Suite Executives: In another male-dominated field, the upper echelons of corporations, women and men are being paid terribly unequally. Even though women have been replacing men more often in recent years  (up to 22% in 2018 from 18% in 2017) they are not receiving adequate compensation that is commensurate with a man in the same role. Women executives earn 24% less than men even when they should be cracking the glass ceiling toward executive compensation. 

Jobs where there is more gender pay equity

While there are a number of positions where women are paid equally to (or with even greater salaries than) men, these tend to be low level or financially less prosperous positions. 

• Merchandiser: A female-dominated business, the work of a merchandiser is to keep shelves stocked and to design displays in retail stores. While this job does pay better for women than men, the income is rather low (less than $30k on average) and those these merchandisers report to are generally men. For example, fewer than 30% of those in senior leadership in retail food businesses are women. 

• Research Assistants: Again this represents a lower-paying position that is subordinate to the male-dominated profession of academia. However, women in this role do make about 6% more than men.

• Social work: Only about 18% of the social work profession are male, and women’s salaries are about 3% higher than men. For whatever reason, women tend to be better represented and are now being more equitably funded in social sciences.

How to combat gender pay inequality

There are two main distinct tacks you can take that have proven effective in the fight against pay inequality. 

Mentorship opportunities: Women that have been trailblazers in male-dominated professions are often available as mentors, even looking to help other female candidates to help raise up. Seeking a mentor is a great way to follow in the footsteps of those that came before and to learn how to get the most value out of a job. 

Learning negotiation tactics: While it is understood that women are generally less aggressive in negotiation, there are ways for even introverted women to reframe their negotiation strategies to their advantage. An example of how women can reframe their negotiation thinking is that women tend to fight more effectively on behalf of someone other than themselves. By thinking of contract negotiations as a way to (for example) help women fight inequality, it is more likely that negotiations will be framed more fairly. 

50 years is much too long to wait for gender equality in pay. By understanding which positions have far to go and which provide better avenues, you can frame how to create an opportunity for yourself while combating the wage gap.

In a society dominated by extroversion, introverts are quietly thriving and so can you. 

The NEO-PI-R Personality Inventory measures introversion-extroversion under six facets: 

1. Warmth: Introverts are a slow burn, more likely to mind others’ space and avoid ‘breaking the ice’.
2. Gregariousness: Introverts tend to avoid noisy areas and people, preferring their own company and sincere, meaningful conversations. 
3. Assertiveness: Being unable to speak up for yourself can be frustrating for an introvert, especially when there’s a need that isn’t being met. On the upside, introverts are generally more thoughtful and less abrasive to be around.
4. Activity Level: Introverts prefer to take their time and assess situations at leisure. This trait saves them from uncomfortable situations and social faux pas that highly extroverted people end up getting into. 
5. Excitement Seeking: Introverts don’t require as much stimulation and action as their counterparts. They are mostly content with their own routines. 
6. Positive Emotion: This doesn’t mean introverts are negative – it means they find it harder to express their positive emotions. 

It’s not all or nothing, however. Introverts can be extremely warm and assertive, for example, but still score high on the other facets.

Think of introversion-extroversion as a spectrum: 

Understanding your own trail mix of introversion can help define the career path that is perfect for you. Try this quiz from organizational psychologist Adam Grant and see where you fall.

Benefits of Being a Career Introvert 

• Introverts often nurture their inner world through personal and professional development. They are able to quietly course-correct by observing their own strengths and weaknesses. 
• Introverts actively listen and observe details and patterns that others overlook. They weigh all sides of an issue so that when they speak, it is well-reasoned and cuts through the noise. 
• Introverts are highly independent individuals who prefer to work alone. They learn on their own, requiring minimum supervision. While others socialize, they get stuff done. All they need is space to create their own structures and fall into a routine. 

So which career paths are most suitable for a person with these characteristics and strengths? 

Career Choices For An Introvert

Here’s a list that offers independent, remote work opportunities for the career introvert, away from the hustle and bustle of the corporate world.

Writer

“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” Virginia Woolf

Writing is a highly solitary profession that requires extremely high levels of focus and self-reflection. 

Many introverts are drawn to it because it allows them to express themselves without fear of social burnout. Their keen observational skills, love of learning, and clarity of thought also come into play.

Explore the following options:

Subject Specialist Writer

You could be a subject specialist writer with a deep understanding of a narrow topic, e.g., insurance or travel. With that knowledge, you can create link-generating content like e-books, whitepapers and detailed tutorials.

Generalist Copywriter

If you are a person of many talents, or have a high capacity to learn, you could become a generalist copywriter. Learn and write, learn and write. Content types include (but are not limited to):

• Blog posts
• Listicles
• Reviews
• Infographics
• Product Descriptions

Brand Journalist

Ever heard of brand journalism? You get to write longer pieces like those found in your favorite editorials and magazines. A brand journalist is really good at highlighting the story of a brand while appealing to consumer interest. 

SEO Copywriter

Do you know about SEO? Learn how to be an SEO copywriter who writes clearly targeted content that drives traffic and awareness to your client’s site. 

UX Writer

UX means User Experience. A digital UX writer’s main goal is to cut through the confusion, helping online users get from A to B with ease. All writing must be clear and useful.

Lead Generation Writer

All copywriting is writing for conversion, true, but a lead generation writer approaches it with the same precision an architect would use to plan out a 30-storey building.

You do this through:

• Landing pages
• Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
• Sales Letters
• Banner Ads
• Pay-per-Click Ads (PPC)

Sound like you? Learn how to be a highly-sought-after copywriter with a diverse range of skills.

Proofreader

This is a job that makes use of an introvert’s attention to detail. A proofreader must be able to conduct research and multi-task on top of being an excellent editor. 

Tasks include:

• Correcting grammar and spelling on written materials like press releases, web content and emails 
• Fact-checking references 
• Ensuring all content aligns with brand values
• Making editorial recommendations

Transcriptionist

A transcriptionist listens to and then types live or recorded audio files, producing a written document of spoken words. 

This job is for detail-oriented individuals who type well and can meet strict deadlines.

Perfect for an introvert.

The transcription services you offer may be for business or even medical purposes. Examples include:

Business

• conference notes
• dictation
• podcasts
• interviews
• meetings

Medical 

• depositions
• medical dictation
• hospital transcriptions
• medical recordings
• reports

Legal 

• emergency phone recordings, e.g., 911 calls
• court hearings
• depositions
• witness interviews
• wiretaps

To be a successful transcriptionist, you need to know your chosen industry jargon, terminologies and insider references. 

Nothing a knowledge-loving introvert can’t master. Start here. 

Web Developer

Calling all tech-savvy introverts: this job is for you.

Web developers create and design websites from the ground up, using codes that control what the user sees, its technical aspects, as well as overall website performance.

There are three types of web developers: 

Front-end developers

They work on the aesthetic part of the website, i.e., what the user navigates. This includes site layout and applications. 

Back-end developers

They work behind-the-scenes, creating the framework of the site and making sure everything works. For everything the front-end designs, the back-end provides utility. 

Full-stack developers 

They do it all. Challenge accepted?

Social Media Manager

Social media management works best for introverts who like to interact from a safe distance. 

Tasks include: 

• creating, planning and engaging with content 
• managing platforms and online communities
• generating leads and inbound links
• goal setting
• raising and managing brand awareness

Virtual Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper must be exceptionally meticulous, trustworthy and detail-oriented. They are responsible for a company’s sensitive financial records. 

Tasks include: 

• account management
• bank and credit card reconciliation
• budgeting
• financial advice
• data entry
• inventory management
• financial reports
• tax records

Graphic Designer

1. How does an introvert designer make money from his art without marketing himself?
2. By using platforms like RedBubble or Zazzle to display your designs and attract paying clients. 

Still new to the design game? Keep learning. Take a look at this list of top 10 graphic design courses. 

Whatever career path you choose, be sure to adopt a growth mindset, work towards overcoming anxiety, and accept yourself in all your introverted glory.

Afterall, everybody has to start somewhere.

If you have recently waved goodbye to your full time job to try and make it as an entrepreneur, the chances are you are wondering why on Earth you veered away from excellent promotion prospects, a steady wage and office camaraderie. The novelty of working for yourself can soon wear off when you realize the number of things that you need to do, the competitive nature of launching a startup, and you have no idea where your next paycheck is coming from.
As a new entrepreneur, you will have a to-do list as long as your arm. You are no longer a specialist within your chosen industry, you now need to be a Jack of all trades. You now need to fulfill the role of the marketing executive, the social media manager, the finance guru, the web developer, the payroll clerk, and the head honcho. This can be overwhelming and can leave you feeling at risk of burnout. It’s vital that you remember why you said goodbye to full time employment in the first place. You want to be the master of your own professional destiny. You can still achieve this, but you must strike a healthy work life balance and know your limitations. Take a look at these steps you can take to ease the burden of entrepreneurship.

Make Your Business Plan Your Bible

Don’t just pay lip service to a business plan, to file it away never to be seen again. Instead, you need to construct a well thought out plan to empower your business vision. Your business plan should be a well thumbed working document that you adapt and use as a guide to help you through your first few years of trading. This is the document that will help you to secure funding, that you will distribute to business angels before pitching to them, and that you will take to your bank manager when you have regular meetings about your startup’s progress.

Having a business plan will give your startup structure. It will also help you to clarify your thoughts regarding the future of your venture and your expansion plans. Having this structure helps ease the chaotic nature of those first few months of trading, and can ease the burden of entrepreneurship.

Customer Experience

A business will either succeed or fail based on their reputation. Fostering a positive reputation is crucial if you are to compete with your industry rivals. It can be difficult to work out how to generate interest in your venture when you are brand new. How do you compete with those firms who have been around for years and who already have a strong foothold in your chosen sector? Forget about the stress of competition and focus on your own business entity. Look into incentivizing those people who have purchased a product or service from you to encourage them to leave reviews on your social media feeds, your website and third party websites.

To encourage positive feedback, you need to pay attention to the initial point of contact for your customers. If you choose to get a professional answering service to ease the burden of telephone queries, you will be certain of a polite tone and informative individual being the first point of contact for your potential customer base. Outsourcing this aspect of your business will allow you to delegate the responsibility of an administrative task and allow you to concentrate on more pressing aspects of your startup launch.

Start Small

You might feel the pressure to expand quickly. However, if you are a freelancer, work from home for a little while. This can decrease your overheads and will ease the burden of needing to find work premises. Working from home gives you the opportunity to feel comfortable in your own surroundings. The commute will go and you can hit the ground running once you have woken up, had a shower and eaten breakfast. Forget pajama days and procrastination, and treat your work from home day in the same vein as if you were heading into the office.

Don’t think about expansion plans until you are established and comfortable with your current size. If orders are coming in, you are busy and your supply chain is honed, then consider expanding. Remember, any form of expansion will cost money, so you must ensure that you have a buoyant cash flow to expand while not forfeiting the quality of your product, service and customer experience.

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy. Yes, you will be working for yourself and making a mark in your chosen industry, but you also need to ease the inevitable stress that you will find yourself under. Follow this guide, hone a strong business plan, and enjoy your foray into the world of entrepreneurship.

For a lot of aspiring young artists, there’s one thing that they see as the light at the end of the tunnel, the gold at the end of the rainbow, the ultimate goal: the record deal. For a lot of artists, the aim is to keep building up your following until you can get the attention of a major label and get signed. The idea is that you will then have the kind of power behind you that can propel you from an up-and-coming artist to a household name. For a long time, this is exactly how things worked. You worked at the low level until you got picked up by a label and you were then skyrocketed to fame thanks to the kind of money and experience that they brought to the table. But is that they way things are now? There’s a very good argument to be made that it’s not. There are a lot of different factors that go into it, but labels may not have nearly as much power as they used to. Here are just a few reasons why you might actually be better of without a record deal.

You don’t have to deal with contracts

Just about everyone feels nervous about signing contracts, no one moreso than an artist. When you sign a record contract, you’re giving away a lot of power to the label in terms of the music that you make and the way that you present yourself. In an ideal world, a record label would simply put up the money and support that you need while leaving you in total creative control. However, that’s not always the case. Instead, many record labels use complex contracts to back artists into a corner and manipulate them into doing what they want. By staying unsigned, you retain total freedom over the music that you want to make.

You can still make your mark without one

Needing a record label to get your music out there used to make a lot of sense, after all the only way to get your music heard was for it to be on the radio or on TV and most of the time radio DJs weren’t going to play music by anyone other than major label artists. These days unsigned artists have dozens of different avenues through which they can expose people to their music. Sites like Soundcloud and Bandcamp allow you to put your music online for anyone to see. Plus you can often find some of the top open mic nights to actually get your music out to people as directly as possible. Being able to build a following from the ground up is something that many artists weren’t able to do before but now, thanks to the internet, it’s surprisingly easy to build up a dedicated audience.

It isn’t the best way to make money

When you’re signed to a major label, that may mean that more people are buying your music, but it doesn’t mean that you’re going to end up seeing very much of that money. By the time everyone from record executives to marketing departments have taken their cut, artists are actually left with a very small percentage of their sales. By choosing to do things on your own, you get to keep a much larger cut of the money that you earn. Sure you’ll probably have to invest a lot of it back into the music itself for things like posters and studio time, but at least you get to choose where the money you make actually goes.

The reality is that the modern world has created an environment in which there really is no right way to “succeed” when it comes to making your own music. You just have to find the path that’s right for you and be willing to put the work in every time.

Chances are, you might be feeling the signs of burnout already. Many business owners do according to the survey discussed in this article. 

Because of the time and energy that is needed to encourage business growth, many entrepreneurs push themselves to the point of exhaustion to make a profit and to avoid business failure, but that can be to their detriment. When their health starts failing, the health of their businesses do, and sadly, this can then lead to what they hoped to avoid in the first place – business closure. 

If you’re regularly feeling tired and if you have passed your threshold for stress, then you might be on the road to burnout. Our advice? Take a break, for the sake of both yourself and your business.

If you aren’t suffering from burnout yet, then it’s important to know the dangers. Below are two of the common causes for entrepreneurial burnout, and if you can take steps to avoid them, then you won’t have to suffer the consequences later. 

The common causes of business burnout

#1: Taking on too many responsibilities

Overtime is common in business. With ever-increasing to-do lists, many business owners are forced to go beyond their expected work hours in a bid to get everything done. The upshot of this? Feelings of tiredness, a poor work-life balance, and a fast-track on the road to burnout.

To avoid late nights in the office, you should delegate some of your tasks to your employees. You might also outsource some of those responsibilities that you shouldn’t be dealing with anyway, such as those jobs that are better suited to HR, including those tasks relating to payroll and employee benefits. By cutting down your to-do list, you will have more time to complete those tasks that should be of greater priority for you, and consequently, you will then have less need to spend longer than you should in the office.

#2: Skipping a healthy lifestyle

In order to start work early, you might skip breakfast and avoid exercise. If you have a lot to do during the day, you might also take fewer breaks than you should and skip lunch. When your energy levels then start to drop, you might take the wrong approach to keep yourself awake, perhaps by overloading yourself with caffeine and eating sugary snacks. While this is okay in the short-term, your body will eventually crash, and you will start to feel sluggish. The upshot of all this? Your productivity levels will drop because of the tiredness you will start to feel, and you will then be forced to work overtime. Your health will also start to diminish because of your unhealthy lifestyle, and this will make you more prone to stress, anxiety, and the other signs of burnout.

So, to avoid this issue, take steps to manage your health needs during the day. Get up a little earlier and take part in some sort of exercise. Make time for a healthy breakfast. Take breaks during the day, and eat something for nutritious for lunch. By doing so, you will notice your productivity levels start to rise, as both your mind and body will be refreshed and energized by your healthier lifestyle. The upshot of this? Less need to spend time working overtime, and a healthier you!

Despite your busy lifestyle, burnout doesn’t have to affect you. Take note of our suggestions, as by doing so, you will improve the health of both yourself and your business.

Take care, and thanks for reading!

Are you currently stagnating on the career ladder?

Do you dream of bigger and better things? 

Are you ready to move up within your company?

If so, then promotion might be at the forefront of your mind. But if you’re not getting promoted? Then you need to consider the reasons why, because you won’t move far if you don’t get to the root cause of the problem. 

Here are a few of the reasons why you might not have landed that promotion you have been so desperate for. 

#1: There are hidden issues within the company you are working for

After being turned down for a promotion, you might take it personally. You might assume that your boss doesn’t like you, or you might think that you just don’t have what it takes. Both things might be true, but there might be issues within the company you are working for that you haven’t been made privy to. Especially if your boss is struggling to achieve business growth, he might not have the financial means to give you a higher-paid position. He might also see little point in promoting you if he knows the company is one step away from business failure. 

So, look out for those signs that indicate there are hidden issues within the company, including financial cutbacks, temperamental moods within your boss, and reductions in staffing. It might be that you consider employment elsewhere if you do spot signs of trouble, as your next step on the career ladder could be within another company.

#2: You can’t climb any further

It might be that you have already climbed as far as you can go within your company. Career advancement isn’t always possible in one place, especially within smaller businesses, so you might want to look elsewhere for better career opportunities. 

And if working for a larger company, you might struggle if you have already risen the ranks towards leadership. If management positions have already been filled, then you aren’t going to move forward anytime soon. While you could hang around hoping that a position will one day become vacant, you might want to consider looking for senior executive jobs elsewhere. Especially if you already have what it takes to move into any higher position, other companies might snap you up if you can showcase your credentials to them.

#3: You don’t deserve a promotion

Sure, you could complain about your boss, telling all and sundry that he is blocking your chances of promotion. But what if you are to blame? To get a promotion you need to earn the position, and if you have done little to work for it, then it’s understandable that your boss would overlook you. 

Think about yourself then. 

Do you have the training required for a higher position? If not, ask your boss for training opportunities or take the initiative to find them on your own. 

Is your work reflective of a better-paid position? If you regularly cut corners at work, and if you make mistakes in what you are doing, then your boss is hardly likely to promote you into a position with greater responsibilities.

Do you behave well at work? Or do you turn up late, gossip with your colleagues, and take longer breaks than you should? If you are guilty of any of these things, then it’s no surprise that you haven’t been gifted with a promotion.

To earn a promotion, you need to take the necessary steps to earn it. If you don’t, you will be forever hanging around on the bottom rungs of the career ladder.

#4: Your boss doesn’t know you want to get promoted

You can’t get mad at your boss if he has little idea about your desire for a new position. It might be that he has been too busy to notice the good work you have put in, or he might have assumed you were happy in your current position. Sometimes, you need to toot your own horn and put yourself on your bosses radar.

So, do one of two things. Firstly, wait until your annual review, and then speak to your boss about your goals. Or if your annual review is months away, and you know promotion opportunities are available, arrange a meeting with your boss and let him know about your ambitions. 

If, after asking your boss for a promotion, he tells you no, remember our suggestion earlier, and try not to take it personally. There might be reasons behind his decision that have nothing to do with you. Still, it is worth asking him why he said no, as he might be able to give you a few pointers on what you need to do to earn the promotion you have asked for. 

#5: You have a bad boss

Sorry to say it, but if you aren’t getting a promotion, then it might be to do with the attitude of your boss.

It might be that he is afraid of his own position, so especially where leadership positions are concerned, he might be unwilling to let anybody else rise the ranks. 

It might also be that your boss doesn’t want to pay you a higher salary. While this makes sense if the company can’t afford it, it might simply be the case that your boss doesn’t value his employees enough to pay them what they deserve. 

Your boss might also have problems with you, and while you might be at fault in some way, it could be that he has a judgemental attitude because of your gender, race, age, or some other discriminatory factor. If this appears true, then you have the right to seek legal help. Your boss is breaking the law, and you might be owed compensation for the actions he has taken to block your progression. 

Ultimately, it might be in your best interest to look for work elsewhere. A bad boss is intolerable at the best of times, but especially if you’re struggling to get promoted because of his attitudes, it probably isn’t worth your time remaining under their employ for much longer. 

Thanks for reading!

Under pressure, the brain is forced to prioritize. As a result, working under pressure can help you to perform, as it focuses your attention on the elements that matter the most. However, when the pressure is too much, it turns into stress. Stress is an unhealthy kind of pressure. Instead of helping you to move forward efficiently, it sabotages you. Stress can be handicapping, even to the most experienced professionals. While there are plenty of handy tips to relax, you need to be in a situation where you can take the time to collect your nerves. A job interview, for instance, is none one of those. How do you manage stress during the interview process to brand yourself as the most suitable candidate?

Make sure someone has got your back

You might be a newcomer in the company, but it doesn’t mean you can have allies. Indeed, you can build a network of trusted professionals and partners throughout your field, who can support your expertise. Indeed, recruiters and interviewers are more likely to have a positive impression of you if they’ve heard your name mentioned before. You can leverage your professional LinkedIn connections to boost your visibility for new job openings. Additionally, your contacts can provide insightful information when you’re in the process of applying to a new company. 

Get help to nail your interview

Interviewing is not just a painful process that acts as an excuse to showcase your skills. It is a sophisticated art you can master with adequate interview coaching. Indeed, maintaining a professional and confident attitude when you’re trying to manage your stress is difficult. However, with the appropriate training, you can learn to create a positive interview persona that can not only provide the most relevant responses but also use smart communication tips. There’s nothing worse than stumbling upon your words in the middle of a sentence! But knowing how to behave during the interview process can provide you with an inside track to the interviewer. 

Get familiar with the company

Can you genuinely give a brilliant interview if you don’t know the business? The answer is no. Researching employers is a simple tip, but candidates too easily forget it. Think of it as a preparation before you take the stage during the interview. Research helps you to understand your audience and tailor your responses and application to suit the skills and experience they need. Reading about the key players in the organization can also help you to relax as you get to meet them. Their social media presence and biography can be a valuable source of information. 

Embrace positive and reassuring gestures

Lastly, your mind and your body work together to manage stress. If you can’t reason with your mind, you can proactively adjust positive gestures that will send a soothing message to the brain. Smiling, for instance, can help to release serotonin and decrease stress level. Adopting a friendly posture such as offering your hand first to welcome your interviewer, can also encourage you to feel more self-confident.

Stress plays on your self-esteem and your ability to impress. But only if you let it. As a professional, you can create a positive personal brand for yourself through coaching, research, network, and soothing gestures.

The best way to make good and reliable money in business is to have excellent relationships with your customers. Repeat customers are what will stop many companies from going out of business – so here are some tips on how you can build great relationships with your clients and customers.

Focus On Retaining Customers

Firstly, you need to focus on keeping your customers. Getting new business is always great and should, of course, be an aim of yours at all times, but retaining your customers is an extremely easy and time-efficient way of making money. First of all, make sure that you pay attention to your customers. Use a CRM to figure out what they like, what emails they click on, what they enjoy, and what ways are best to reach them. When you make a marketing plan, ensure that repeat customers are a high priority on there – if you provided them with a great service before, they have a good chance of returning to you, so consider that the start of your relationship with them rather than a one-time transaction.

Improve Your Security Measures

One of the most important things for customers nowadays is that they feel secure with you. If a lot of your business is done online, chances are, your customers have to input a lot of personal data, including financial details such as their card number. That means that you need to be extraordinarily careful when you are building your site: your customers’ privacy and safety should be absolutely key. Companies like CyberSecurity service will help you protect your customers from hackers and malware.

Learn To Communicate With Them

Learning to communicate with your customers is a delicate art. Too much, and they will grow tired of you and hit the ‘unsubscribe’ button on your emails. Too little, and you may not be at the top of their minds when they come to make a new purchase. Make sure that you analyse the data from each email that you send out so that you can make the most of each of those messages. And in those messages, make sure that you create a powerful company voice that fits the product or service that you are providing. Communications should be clear but friendly.

Make Sure You Exceed Expectations

You should make sure that you are constantly working on exceeding your customers’ expectations and over-delivering on the promises that you are making to them. If you impress and surprise them, they will keep coming back to you in the hopes that you will continue to be a company that brings them joy and excitement. This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – companies like Glossier build a brand identity that customers love by sending out their products with stickers and pink bubble wrap bags, for example.

Ask For Feedback

Inviting feedback is the best way to know you can improve. After all, you won’t know what issues your customers have with you until they tell you. Use that feedback, even though it may be unpleasant, to improve your business for future customers, and demonstrate to older customers that you have developed and improved.

Making your customers feel safe and happy and that their opinions are important is the best way to keep them coming back for more.