Business

When starting out in the busy business world it can be quite overwhelming to get all of the important elements perfect the first time round. Everything can seem like a minefield, especially when you’re not technically minded; trying to navigate the crazy online world can be a huge task, especially for a new entrepreneur. There are many ways in which technology can help your business, but if you don’t address it in the correct way it could also hinder you. Take a look at the following ideas and try to weave them into your daily strategies. This will help you to reduce tech-related stresses and allow your business to soar to new heights.

Ask the Experts

As a business owner, you always want to focus on the creative and operational aspects of running your business. When things go wrong or a system doesn’t quite work, you can often feel at a bit of a loose end. Infotech Management Inc. will help you to avoid costly IT issues and enhance your bottom line. Your productivity will heighten, your technology will be more reliable and your workflow will improve.

Websites are the Way Forward

If you have spent a lot of time refining and tweaking your products or services, then you also need to put the same effort into your website. When a company’s website is slow, unresponsive and unprofessional a potential client is more likely to click away and look elsewhere. Spend time tweaking your website so it is smooth, speedy and sophisticated through and through.

Business on the Move

Technology plays such a huge role in the modern business world in many ways. A popular movement in your industry might just be working from home or on the go. If you are managing several employees then you might want them to have access to all of your work systems at home, just in case disaster strikes. Look into your options and see if you can make your business accessible from anywhere.

Social Media Savviness

If you are looking to grow your business through social media, there are a few things you need to remember. Maintaining a professional and consistent approach will always get you further. You will need a dedicated social media manager who can get to work with creating innovative content on a regular basis. Watch your followers increase and your online traffic soar to new heights when you improve your social media content.

It is absolutely okay to admit that you struggle with technology; most people do, but are too anxious to seek professional help. You need to start seeing technology as a useful tool for your business, rather than a pain in the behind. As long as you can create a sleek and professional website, find ways to deal with your business tasks on the go and get savvier with social media, you will have mastered the art of it all. Take all of this advice on board and see how it could help your business improve gradually over time.

We all have times where work feels monotonous and boring. It’s during these times that we take a back seat and go with the flow, rather than actively working on the tasks we need to complete. While this isn’t an ideal situation, it is acceptable on the odd occasion. Unfortunately, when this odd occasion becomes every day and every employee, then there are going to be issues. There is nothing more important to a small business than it’s employees, so when yours are feeling unproductive, your company naturally suffers. To avoid this, here are a few things you can do.

Provide The Tools They Need

Without the right tools to complete their work, you can’t possibly expect your team to perform their duties efficiently or on time. With that in mind, it’s up to you to make sure that your employees have everything they require, from pens and paper to computers and printers. You should also ensure they are properly trained for their roles and the duties that come with them.

Trust Them To Be Autonomous

You might think that hovering over your employees encourages them to focus, but it actually does the exact opposite. When you micromanage your team, it causes huge amounts of stress, which ultimately leads to mistakes, distraction, and loss of productivity. Because of this, you should give your employees the freedom to manage their own work and time.

Offer Rewards For Hard Work

Employees are much more motivated to impress and please managers they believe actually appreciate them. For this reason, you should offer your team incentives and rewards for meeting their individual targets. Just make sure that you think carefully about the rewards you’re offering. While cash certainly does work, it isn’t very personal, and may not be the best choice.

Ensure Your Office Stays Clean

Dirt, mess, and clutter are all sources of psychological distress, which generally leads to reduced productivity. With that in mind, it’s vital that your office and employees’ individual workspaces are kept clean and tidy. To make this task easier, you should consider hiring a commercial cleaning company. Just make sure that your team cleans up after themselves too.

Limit The Interruptions They Face

When you’re completely focused on your work, the last thing you need is to get interrupted. This completely ruins your concentration and makes it incredibly difficult to get back to work. To avoid this and keep your employees on the job, you should try to limit the interruptions they face each day. To start with, you can cut down on the number of unnecessary meetings you plan.

Foster A Healthy Company Culture

When an individual employee feels stressed, sick, or tired, it affects the entire office, ruining the productivity of each member of your team. Because of this, it’s vital that you foster a healthy company culture by encouraging your employees to take better care of themselves. You can do this by setting regular breaks, offering medical insurance, and providing an office gym.

Improving the productivity of your employees won’t be easy, but, to take care of your company, it’s absolutely necessary. Hopefully, with the advice above, you’ll have some idea of where to start.

If you would like to make sure that you appear as professional as possible, you have to focus on your online reputation as well as your image in the boardroom and at networking events. People today check your feedback and rating before they would decide to buy from you, so it is important that you keep an eye on the reviews, feedback, customer contact, and other elements of your brand. Below you can find a few tips on how to build your positive brand image online.

Online Communities

There are plenty of online communities where you can start building your brand and your reputation. You will have to be positive and helpful and provide value to people constantly, so they will consider you to be an expert and the person who can give them advice on the topic they are interested in. While your blog is a great tool to add people to your sales funnel, there is no better way than engaging with people on a personal level.

Branding Videos

With today’s technology, it should not be hard to create branding videos and publish them online. No matter if you put it on your website’s front page or share it on video sites, you will be able to get the attention of people. The key to branding online is that you will have to find your unique selling proposition, your brand identity and persona, and create consistent messages across every channel of communication. If you can capture your brand value in a video, you can get your message across much faster than by using blogs.

Review Monitoring

If you don’t want nasty surprises, it is important to monitor your reputation on the internet. There are some great services that will help you keep an eye on what people say about you. As an example, you can sing up for Google Alerts and get an email every single time a review or a post is published that contains your industry or brand name. This way, if your competition is trying to damage your reputation you can act quickly.

Asking for Testimonials

It is not enough to have Facebook profiles and other social media accounts for your brand. You will also have to actively seek interaction. Whenever your customers leave your store or your website, ask them to leave a review or send you a testimonial on the internet. You have to create a social proof, as this is what most people are going to check out before they make a final decision which company to go with.

Video Client Feedback

It might also be a good idea to ask some of your clients to leave you a feedback in a video format. They might shoot the content themselves or you can help them; at the end of the day, you will create an effective branding and marketing tool that will help you get more conversions and get people to trust you, even if you are running your business online.

Infographics

If you would like to explain how you are different from your competition and how you can help your customers, you have a couple of options. Create a long explainer video, and hope that people will have the patience to watch it. You might also create a case study or white paper, but your chances of getting it read are low. Infographics, however, allow your marketing to speak for you, entertain your audience, and present complex issues in a logical and easy to comprehend way.  

Networking

You might be good with people in person, but you will get even more connections if you engage in networking online. Check out Better Bistro Media for more resources. You will be able to form online relationships with other business owners, and those who can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your unique selling propositions. Make sure that you are keeping your professional and your personal profile separate, and let your knowledge and expertise shine through. This way, you can make a positive impression on potential clients, business partners, and people who can help you grow your business.

Managing your reputation online is getting more important every day. People no longer look at directories dropped off at their house. Instead, they ask for recommendations on social media and read reviews before they choose a company. This is why you will have to strengthen your brand every day on every channel and keep an eye on your reviews and ratings all the time.

As a business owner, the last thing that you’re going to feel like you have is time. We’re always so focused on our business and the running of it, that we don’t feel like we have any time spare in the day at all other than for eating and sleeping. So what if we were to reveal to you a few ways that you could save some time out of your day? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to do for you. We think we know a few ways that you can save yourself plenty of time, making the daily running of your business so much easier. When you’re so busy, it’s easy for mistakes to be made. So with time saving solutions, you can ensure the smooth running of your business. Here are just a few things that we think could really help you out. Have a read on to find out more!

With Finances

Finances are going to be one of the biggest areas of your company, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with it all. One of the biggest and most important areas is payroll. Both you and your employees will be relying on it, and it can be a long and arduous process, especially if you’re doing it weekly. So, one time saving solution is to use pay stubs. It allows you to easily create payslips to give to your employees, which all companies should do. It also allows to you have a copy for your financial records, which will need to be submitted at the end of every tax year. Having this reference is so important, yet it can be such a pain to sort if you’re not using software such as the one we have listed. There is also software out there that will run the payroll for you, saving you even more time than you could have wished for!

With Employee Management

Employee management should be such a big part of your company. If you aren’t putting in the time or the effort to make sure they’re properly managed, then your company could so easily fall apart. Managing things such as their productivity is important, and there’s software that can allow you to do that. It works by your employees logging into it, so you can see what time they clocked into work, and it monitors their productivity on the computers. Anything below a certain percentage will be flagged, and you can have a word with them regards to it! It also shows you when they clocked out, so you can make sure that they’re completing their contracted hours each day!

With Sales

Sales is an even bigger part of your company, and we know that you’ll be spending a ton of time trying to manage them during your day. So, to make it easier, use profit managing software to show you your figures. Rather than you calculating them yourself, all you have to do is input data daily, and it will show you statistics in so many different forms!

As a small or new business, you already have the odds stacked against you. Regardless of what you do or what you sell, there will already be many other similar companies out there who are more established than you with more money to spend. However, it doesn’t mean you cant still be a success, millions of small businesses across the globe make enough money to pay the bills (and more!). Some are happy to stay small, but some of them go on to grow so large that they become household names. However, regardless of how you see the future of your business, there are a few things to be particularly aware of. Here are three simple things that can easily be overlooked, but result in the failure of your venture.

They don’t take card payments

Whether you have your own small shop, a market stall, a pop up shop or even sell products from your home- card payments are essential. This day in age, people are using physical money less and less- research shows that most people don’t carry more than a few coins around with them on a day to day basis. You could be losing out on customers who want to buy from your business but are simply not able to because they don’t have cash on them. Of course, they could locate a cash point if they really wanted but if the purchase was a bit of an impulse buy or it’s not convenient to return then they probably won’t. Make it easy for them, invest in a card reader or a credit card payment app and next time someone wants to pay by card they have the option to do so.

They’ve not invested in their website or an app

Even if you sell in person or from a local store rather than from a website, you still absolutely need a website. When people are searching for businesses like yours, you need to be visible. Your site should contain your physical address, email contact, phone contact, your social media pages and information and pictures about what you do. Don’t try and DIY it, an amateur looking website can be just as damaging as not having one. Invest in the services of a web designer and have them create you something responsive and beautiful. Go a step further and have an app created too, it will help you to stand out from the competition as right now, many small and medium sized businesses still haven’t taken the plunge with this. It makes you look reliable and trustworthy, and getting your company onto the phones of your customers is always going to be a smart move.

They’ve overlooked marketing

If you’re new to business, it’s easy to assume that if you sell good products or services that you know people want and need, then you will be a success. However, it simply isn’t the case. With so much competition out there, you need to get your name out there to the people who are going to be interested in your business. You need to let them know you exist and give them a reason to choose you over your competitor. Outsource to a professional marketing company if you’re not experienced in this area.

Nobody knows everything, but when you’re in the business of running a business, making it look like you know everything appears to be one of the key skills. But the fact is when it comes to getting help, there is enough to keep you supported, but what happens when you are not technically minded? You may have the perfect skills to lead a specific team, but if they are, essentially, speaking a language you don’t really understand, what can you do to build up a business, when you lack in any professional technical experience or knowledge?

Don’t Panic!

You can feel like you are guiding a ship without a steering wheel if you don’t have the necessary knowledge, but it’s important not to panic. Ultimately, if you surround yourself with the right people, do you even have to possess the necessary knowledge? The goal for you is to implement the pieces of the puzzle appropriately so they work together. This means knowledge of the bigger picture is far more important. But we can feel trapped in our own heads, bound by panic. Instead, don’t panic!

Outsourcing Has Numerous Advantages

But what if people are looking to you for advice on a certain technical issue? Well, in this respect, outsourcing is one of the most important processes anybody can undertake. There are so many different suppliers out there when it comes to IT support. Suppliers like Online Computers support and consulting solutions provide so many different options to help us along difficult stretches of time. Outsourcing is not just a great way to utilize cheap resources, but it’s a solution to fill gaps in your knowledge. By outsourcing processes that we don’t have skills in, it means that we are, in effect, surrendering ourselves over to a higher power. But, outsourcing is the go-to option for many businesses that are struggling to get by in a financial sense.

Honesty Is The Key

When we struggle to understand complex terms, and we are doing our best to steer the ship, we have to admit to ourselves when we don’t understand something. But we have this problem, that admitting we don’t understand something means that we are “weak”. This is not the case! Instead, you need to find the most pertinent ways to extract information in ways that you can understand. This is where your leadership skills come in handy, you need to coax information out of the person in a simple to understand manner. But the reality is that this is how we all learn something, because we have a unique way of computing information. So, be honest, but get them to explain it to you in terms that you, and everybody else, can understand!

Yes, it is possible to run a business when you’re not technically minded, nor have no experience of the industry! It’s about the relationships you have with your employees, but also, the age-old business approaches to leadership. Communication is vital, but simplicity is even more vital, not just for you!

If you are hosting an important business event, it must be planned and implemented to perfection. When hosting a conference specifically, you have to recognise how imperative it is to reach the goals you have set. And when dealing with important clients, you have to impress with your choice of venue and how you have handled the occasion. If not, then it can be extremely damaging to your reputation. To ensure this doesn’t happen, read on to discover the top tips for conference event planning…

Consider outsourcing event management

First and foremost, outsourcing event management is becoming extremely popular. These companies have all the connections needed to ensure you benefit from the best venues and suppliers. They will manage all aspects of your conference for you; from the creative side to the technical side. This means that all you have to do is sit back and look forward to the occasion. Experienced management companies can put your mind at ease because you are assured of a successful event. When looking for an event management company, you should consider the following…

Experience

You should never go for a company who has just started up. When it comes to event management experience is everything. It is recommended to opt for a business with a minimum of ten years in their locker. Why? Because you can be assured that they have planned events just like yours time and time again. This is an industry whereby businesses need time to perfect their craft. They need to build up contacts with relevant suppliers, they need to source the best deals, they need to have made all of their mistakes in the past and thus have an effective method and plan in place for all types of events. Experience is the only way this can be guaranteed.

Reviews

A product or service is only as good as clients say it is. Take a read of what previous customers have had to say about the business you are considering. They were once in your position; looking for the best company to provide them with event management. Therefore, they know exactly what you are looking for and they know the sort of information you wish to hear. Instead of reading a company’s sale pitch you will get an honest analysis. And you can rest assured; if people were left dissatisfied they will be more than happy to say so.

Event Services

What does the company actually provide? Any good business offering event management should offer the full package. This encompasses everything from finding the perfect venue to creating visual designs to following health and safety regulations to aid with fundraising ideas. All ends of the spectrum need to be considered if you are to benefit from a thorough and complete service.

Case Studies

The best event management companies have a section on their website dedicated to case studies. Take a look at this. It will give you a feel for what they are capable of and the level of service they provide. You will get to see real examples of who has employed them in the past, what event services were utilized and how they were implemented. This directly correlates with the type of service you are likely to receive and this is invaluable. Furthermore, you may actually gain a few ideas for your conference too.

Health and safety

When it comes to any sort of event, it does not matter whether it is a conference or a party, you need to consider health and safety. Managing event access is something requires careful consideration, especially if you are going to have a large number of people there. Make sure you do your research about all of the legislation in place and the required steps to manage your event in this regard.

Your presentation

In addition to this, a great presentation is also essential. For some reason, companies all over the company are still using basic presentations that look like they have had no thought put into them at all. In terms of appearance; they are basic, the text isn’t even aligned, and it looks like it took a mere five minutes to put together. In terms of context; an organised structure is often lacking and there is often far too much information to digest.

So, what makes a successful presentation? First, let’s deal with the basics; it needs to be legible (orange text on a pink background is a big no!). Less is more; a simple slide will pack a more powerful punch. Aside from this, it is always recommended to diversify the visuals you use. Incorporate graphics, tables, photos, and graphs. People digest information in different ways. This will help to keep everything fresh and engaging. And finally, don’t get too excited about the various effects for changing the slides – a simple transition will do. Nobody wants to have to wait five minutes for every line to appear on the screen because it is flying in from all directions.

The venue

The venue is another important component for successful conference event design. Your venue needs to match the audience you are building the event for. It needs to represent your business successfully too. A lot of people do not put much thought into the venue they choose, and they end up regretting it when they see that they have missed out on a massive branding opportunity. Of course, convenience for attendees plays a role here too.

The little details

And finally, think about the final little details; what is going to make your guests happy and your meeting more productive. This encompasses everything from providing refreshments and snacks to arranging table setting effectively; so that everybody is included and the ability to confer is made easy.

If you take note of the points mentioned in this article then you should have no trouble planning the perfect conference for you.

Being an introvert in the business world can often make it feel like the odds are stacked against you. You’re someone who likes to work on their own, take on all kinds of tasks that mean you can put your skill and business acumen to good use, and you’ve got few, but very close, business contacts to rely on. And whilst there’s nothing wrong with these traits and considerations, your comfort zone can be breached a lot more than anyone else’s in the same sector.

And mostly, your comfort zone doesn’t accommodate your need to market your business. So if you’re someone who identifies as introverted, or you’ve never been able to escape the feeling of freezing up when you’re in front of a big crowd with a slideshow clicker in your hand, this is your chance to let any presentation you put together speak for you. Don’t worry, the more you let your efforts shine through, the more confident you’ll become with your words!

Have a Persona

Marketing personas are fairly common ideas in the corporate world, and if you don’t have one, now’s your chance to put one together. You need to take your average customer and all their wants and concerns, and then characterise these ideas into a single person to sell to. And when you’ve got a persona to run your product and brand ideas by, you’re going to have an extra special package for any real testers to look into.

Once you’ve created the first common persona, see if you can create at least two more. They’re incredibly effective as a team, and that means you’ve got a complete age and gender rage to work off of. All kinds of people want to buy your product, so make sure you’re representing them in your personas – diversity sells all on its own, after all.

Play From Another Angle

You’re the business, with a product to sell, and customers to impress enough to make sure they lay their money down. And at the end of the day, that’s all there is to marketing: you’ve got to be relatable and essential to someone’s life, and useful enough for them to think ‘Wow! I need one of those products in my life!’

But customer habits are changing, and nowadays people are more often than not choosing their own solutions, with a general distrust towards marketing from corporate structures. You’re just another cog in the machine… unless there’s a totally unique selling point for them to look into. So you need to take your relatable factor to the next level, and market from their point of view.

This is where a focus group would come in handy, and there’s no need for you to directly interact with anyone involved in one. Ask them what they want, get them to relate their stories over times when your product would have come in handy, and then use this information in your adverts. Simply, make it personal.

Use a Video That’s Naturally Charismatic

If you’ve got a huge presentation coming up, whether you’re giving a talk at a business conference or to a room of university lecturers and students, or you’ve got some investors or the big boss themself to impress, let a video do the talking for you. You’ve still put all your own words and methods into it, and because of that, it’s simply an extension of yourself.

When you’ve got a good corporate video on your side, you’re going to be able to step back and collect yourself, and get the video to say the hardest things you would struggle to get out. And when it’s finished playing, you can come back with a smile on your face, ready to answer any questions you specifically set aside to let people inquire about.

Ready to Target the Market?

When you’ve got a marketing campaign that takes the words and meaning right out of your mouth and onto the screen, you’ve got a winning combination for success. And a campaign like this is something an introverted leader can put together much easier than a more extroverted person.

Now’s your chance to impress the entire world with the ads and messages you put out, considering the amount of time, effort, and testing you’ve put into each one. When you’ve made sure they work on every level, you’ve got something to be proud of.