End-of-the-month anxiety hits you when the money starts running thin. Unmanaged and unnecessary expenses are the number one reason behind budget overflow.
To avoid budget overflow, you must practice financial discipline. One way to do that is by tracking your expenses.
Many people confuse expense tracking with budgeting. Though they do overlap, they’re two distinct processes.
A budget is an overview of your expenditure and its limitations, while tracking your expenses provides you with deeper insights into your purchasing behavior.
Cracking the code of your purchasing behavior will help you make better financial decisions in the future.
Not only will you be able to prioritize your spending objectives, but you will also be able to weed out the unnecessary expenses, eliminate them entirely, or at least cut back on them.
Here are 8 tips you can follow to easily track your expenses.
1. Consider Seeking Objective Financial Advice
Despite our best efforts, sometimes financial management can seem like an impossible task to carry out, let alone master. In such situations, instead of winging it, consider seeking professional financial advice.
We are often biased when it comes to our spending habits. We spend when we should be saving or investing. Luckily, if you are struggling with expenses, a financial investment advisor can help you identify the best investment opportunities, so you can make more than you spend.
Not only do they manage your finances and set up your budget, but they also create a customized financial strategy and familiarize you with your best investment options.
2. Observe Your Cashflow
Observing your cash flow is the first step toward managing it – where the money is coming from, is as important as where the money is going.
Knowing your income streams and their schedules helps you streamline your expenses without worrying about late payments or debt.
One great way to observe your cash flow is by checking your account statements. Pinpoint your spending habits by cataloging all your accounts – saving or current.
3. Categorize Your Expenses
Monthly expenses are usually divided into two categories – fixed expenses and variable expenses.
Fixed expenses can rarely ever be trimmed since they are mostly expenses like bills, mortgage, commute expenses, insurance, etc.
Your financial discipline and insight can come into play when managing variable expenses. These can include travel costs, impulse purchases, subscriptions to streaming services, etc.
First, group your expenses into fixed and variable expenses, and then further group them into specific categories like entertainment, commute, department store visits, etc.
Doing so will pinpoint precisely which category is taking up most of your income. It will also help you prioritize the categories that need your foremost financial attention.
For example, if you realize that your bills usually get paid late with an additional late penalty fee, but you never miss your morning Starbucks, then you will know which unnecessary purchase to cut back on to prioritize a necessary expense.
4. Use an Expense Tracker App
Gone are the days when you had to keep a thick ledger to manage your finances and track your expenses. A simple expense tracker app can do it for you.
Most of these apps can also be synced with your accounts to generate a real-time report of your expenses and sort them into categories.
But be careful – these apps are never the ultimate financial solution. Even with these apps, you will have to put in the effort to timely log your purchases, set certain limits, and customize them according to your finances.
5. Track In Real-Time
A major expense tracking mistake is delaying it. Many people would make the purchase and log it later.
Expenses like these get lost under a pile of other expenses and are trickier to pinpoint later.
The best way to avoid such common but frustrating mistakes is to track your expenses in real-time. Take a minute after each purchase and log it in, save your receipts, or simply list it in a spreadsheet.
Doing so will make it far easier for you to get back to it later in the month.
6. Track Your Income
Tracking income is especially useful for people with irregular incomes or side hustles. Tracking your income as it comes into your account is tremendously important.
Your expense planning is reliant on your income. If your income tends to fluctuate, chances are your expenses will have to be tracked and managed dynamically too.
Each month you manage to make more than you expect, set aside a portion of it for when the money will be in shorter supply. You should look to either save or invest the surplus.
While for each month you make less than you expect, you can use the saved-up money to help you past the rough times.
7. Set Up a Budget
Now that you have pinpointed your cash inflows and outflows, fixed and variable expenses, and have a proper record of your expenses, it’s time to set up a budget.
Many people make the mistake of setting up a budget without first tracking expenses and identifying their purchasing behavior.
Doing so only adds to their financial anxiety and troubles, as budgets usually emphasize expense limits rather than expense management.
Setting up a budget after getting all the data related to your purchasing behavior will help you plan for a financially stress-free and practical month.
8. Plan Your Savings
Normally, your income should cover all your expenses. Ideally, once you have paid for all your expenses, you should have some amount left.
Those are your savings – when it comes to saving, people have varied attitudes toward it. Some like to spend it, some put it in their saving account, while some like to roll it forward to the next month.
What is yours is yours, and you are free to spend as you like, but with a little effort in assessing your financial needs, you can better enjoy your splurge money guilt-free.
The Bottom Line
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to tracking your expenses. People go through a wide array of financially tricky situations and what works for one, may not work for the other. The above-mentioned tips will help you assess your expenses and income objectively and make intelligent decisions to achieve a financially stress-free month.
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The digital age has impacted almost every aspect of people’s lives, including how they sell and market their products and services. The rise of social media, online shopping, and email marketing has made it more difficult than ever to reach potential customers through cold calls alone.
However, this doesn’t mean that cold calling is obsolete – in fact, it’s still one of the most effective ways to generate leads and close sales. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your cold calls:
Tip #1: Do your research
Before you pick up the phone, take some time to learn about your target audience and their needs or their biggest pain points. Once you have a better understanding of what they’re interested in, you’ll be able to tailor your pitch accordingly.
Tip #2: Start with a strong opening
Your opener is crucial – it’s the first impression that potential customers will have of you. Make sure it’s friendly, professional, and to the point. Avoid sounding too sales-y or coming across as pushy because this will only turn people off.
Tip #3: Be prepared for objections
No matter how good your pitch is, you’re bound to get some objections from potential customers. Be prepared to handle them calmly and confidently. Thank the person for their feedback and address their concerns head-on.
Tip #4: Stay positive
Cold calling can be frustrating, especially when you’re getting rejected. But it’s important to stay positive and focused on your goal. Don’t let a few rejections discourage you from continuing with your pitch.
Tip #5: Use a script
Using a script can help keep your pitch on track. It also makes you sound more confident and professional. However, don’t be afraid to personalize it to make it feel more natural since people can tell when you’re reading from a script.
Tip #6: Practice, practice, practice
The more prepared you are, the better your chances of success. Make sure to practice your pitch beforehand to deliver it smoothly and confidently. This way, you’ll be less likely to get flustered if something goes wrong.
Tip #7: Keep it short
Your pitch should be short, sweet, and to the point. No one wants to listen to a long-winded sales pitch – they’ll tune out before you even get to the good stuff. Make it so you’re only giving an elevator pitch that lasts no more than 30 seconds.
Tip #8: Use the right tools
To make cold calling more efficient, it’s important to use the right tools. IP-PBX phone solutions can help you easily make and receive calls, while CRM software can help you track your leads and sales pipeline. The right tools will help make your job a lot easier.
Tip #9: Take advantage of voicemail
If you happen to get a customer’s voicemail, take advantage of it! Leave a friendly and personal message, and briefly explain what you do and why the person should get in touch with you. This way, you can at least get your foot in the door.
Tip #10: Stay organized
Keep your leads and prospects organized so you can easily track their progress. This will help you prioritize your time and focus on the most promising leads, which will ultimately help you close more sales.
Tip #11: Set realistic goals
Don’t bite off more than you can chew – set realistic goals for yourself and your team. Trying to do too much at once will only lead to frustration and burnout. So, start small and gradually increase your goals as you become more comfortable with cold calling.
Tip #12: Take breaks
Cold calling can be mentally and emotionally draining, so take breaks throughout the day. Get up and walk around, drink some water, and take deep breaths to clear your head. This will help you stay focused and energized for your next call.
Tip #13: Reward yourself
After every successful call, give yourself a small reward to keep yourself motivated. This can be as simple as taking a quick break or treating yourself to your favorite snack. By doing so, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and see results.
Tip #14: Track your progress
Keep track of your progress by recording your calls and listening to them back. This will help you identify areas that need improvement and give you a chance to hear your pitch from the customer’s perspective. Plus, you can make changes to your script as needed.
Tip #15: Seek feedback
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from your superiors and customers. They may be able to offer valuable insights that can help you improve your cold calling skills. After all, it’s always good to get feedback so you can continue growing and evolving as a salesperson.
Cold calling is one of the best ways to generate new leads. Whether you’re a salesperson, business owner, or entrepreneur, cold calling is a necessary skill set that can help propel your success. Cold calling may feel intimidating and uncomfortable at first, but these tips should make it easier.
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The commercial real estate industry is one of the largest industries in the world. It is estimated to be worth over $32 trillion.
Due to the enormous size of the industry, many people aspire to get in on the opportunities that it provides. Around 90% of the world’s millionaires created over the last 200 years made their wealth by investing in real estate. There are still plenty of opportunities to make money with commercial real estate.
However, the industry is also incredibly competitive. In order to thrive, you need to invest in all of the best tools available. There are a number of great commercial software applications that are worth exploring.
What are the benefits of using commercial software like www.northshoresystems.com? Some of the biggest are listed below.
More organized finances
Financial mistakes are the downfall of almost all failed real estate entrepreneurs. You must keep track of outstanding loan obligations, cash flow situations, projected property values, outstanding debt, expenses and revenue projections.
Merely keeping track of all of this data can be overwhelming by itself. Compiling the data and making associations between different figures to make sensible decisions is even more challenging.
This is one of the reasons that commercial real estate management software is so important. You can easily track all of your expenses and other financial data. You will also have access to sophisticated tools that make it easier to manage all of your finances in one place. You can save countless hours on financial management and make far fewer costly mistakes.
Accept payments from tenants online
One of the biggest problems that any property owner must deal with is collecting payments from tenants. It can be a frustrating part of the job, but it is something that you have to take very seriously. Around 82% of all business failures are due to cash flow problems. This statistic holds true for the real estate industry. Cash flow problems are primarily due to failure to get rent from tenants on a timely basis.
Of course, many tenants fall behind on rent due to their own financial problems. There isn’t too much you can do in the situation, because you can’t squeeze blood from a stone. However, other tenants don’t pay their rent on time because there isn’t a convenient way to do so. This is especially true for businesses that are headquartered overseas or even in other states.
Commercial real estate software makes it a lot easier for companies to keep up with their rent. They can pay through online payment systems instead of sending a check or making a bank transfer. This simplifies the process for everybody.
Improve tenant satisfaction
There are a lot of tasks that property owners and managers must take care of to keep their tenants satisfied. This can include everything from making sure plumbing issues are taken care of to maximizing the security of the property.
Real estate property software makes it a lot easier to complete these tasks. You can track what needs to be done, provide an online system for filing requests to take care of projects, assign tasks to various employees and organize workflows in the most efficient way possible.
All of these features make it a lot easier to give the tenants the support that they need. This in turn maximizes tenant satisfaction.
Access information remotely
Real estate owners have to travel frequently and often have properties all over the country or even all over the world. However, their problems don’t disappear when they are away from the location in question. They need access to relevant information to properly address the problems they are facing.
Fortunately, commercial real estate software makes it easier to access the information that you need. You will be able to store important data on the cloud and review it from anywhere in the world.
Improving compliance
Regulatory compliance is a very important aspect of managing any business. The commercial real estate industry has a massive number of regulations that all property owners will have to abide by.
You can’t afford to be lax about compliance issues. The good news is that commercial real estate software makes it a lot easier to adhere to them.
Minimizing vacancy rates
High vacancy rates can be the death of any real estate business. You need to do everything possible to keep your properties filled with paying customers.
Commercial real estate software makes it a lot easier to accomplish this. you can track your properties more easily and make sure you know which available units to market.
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If you’re planning to invest your money this year, you shouldn’t jump in blindly.
There are risks to all investment types, whether you’re considering stock, shares, bonds, real estate, or the trending cryptocurrencies to trade this year.
There are a few golden rules that every investor should follow. We list some of them below and by adhering to them, you will reduce risk and improve your chances of reaping a financial reward.
#1: Have a goal in mind
Many investors have one simple goal: to be as rich as possible. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it is a bit abstract. Without a financial figure in mind or a projected timeline, they could invest forevermore and increase the risk of losing money.
When investing, consider your financial goals. it might be an x amount of money for retirement or enough money to put your children through college. When you have attained these goals, you can withdraw this money and put it into your savings fund. If you don’t withdraw it, there is the chance that you will lose some or all of it if a later investment works out badly.
#2: Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket
One of the biggest investment mistakes you can make is putting all of your investment money into one type of asset. If the asset performs badly, you could make significant losses and this would scupper your chance of achieving your financial goals.
It is wiser to diversity your portfolio as this way, you still have the opportunity to make a profit from something, even if you suffer financial losses elsewhere.
#3: Don’t invest in something you don’t understand
You don’t need to be an investment expert but a little bit of knowledge will still carry you a long way. If you were to invest in stocks without knowing about much about the highs and lows of the stock market, for example, you could make a bad decision when choosing where to invest your money. The same applies to other forms of investments.
To learn more, read articles online and take time out to read books written by expert investors. Use trading simulators so you can get a handle on the basics without the need for real money. And if you know any experienced investors, talk to them and ask them all the questions you need before you make any type of investment yourself. By gaining knowledge, you are less likely to do something you might later regret.
#4: Don’t invest what you can’t afford
Before you invest, budget your finances. You still need money for your household bills, family needs, and all of your other expected expenses. If you invest without budgeting, you could lose money that you need elsewhere and this could leave you in a dire financial situation.
Don’t only factor in your daily expenses, however. Leave room for an emergency fund too as it’s wise to put money into that, as you may be faced with unexpected expenses. After factoring in this and all of your other living costs, you will then know how much you have leftover for investing purposes.
Finally
These are just some of the rules you should adhere to. However, there are more to add to this list, so continue your research online and then remind yourself of these rules whenever you decide to start investing.
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Corporate videos can sometimes be creatively pigeonholed. Some may assume them to be dull and dreary.
Still, the best businesses defy people’s expectations with their offerings. They create compelling opportunities in impossible situations. The same frame of mind should be applied to creating corporate videos, which can play a crucial role in accelerating business growth and increasing brand awareness.
There is plenty of room for creativity and innovation here. Instead of producing bland and generic content, your company has the chance to develop something insightful and unique by exploring unique video ideas. Not only this, but your firm can keep improving its video content offerings over the years, developing it all alongside the evolution of your brand.
Here are some of the best ways to improve your corporate videos today.
Keep it Short and Sweet
Nobody wants to sit through lectures today, irrespective of format. Information is also cherry-picked and more likely to be shared when it does not inconvenience people’s time. Short-form videos can generate more interest.
People’s attention spans are becoming shorter. Many companies are hurriedly developing short-form content, with ‘YouTube Shorts’ paying creators to create this content to lure in audiences. Firms will increasingly explore these newer channels to appeal to their respective markets.
Even if you do not have a presence in these digital spaces, recognizing that people are increasingly gravitating to this content is key. You can then spend every second wisely and make an impactful impression as soon as you can with your company videos.
Truth tends to be more straightforward. Any content that meanders may be interpreted as misleading or embellished in certain respects. Others may interpret company videos as more legitimate and authoritative when concise and to the point.
Utilize Free Subtitle Software
Subtitles cannot be treated as an afterthought. They are an essential component of a corporate video, promoting inclusivity and emphasizing and reaffirming points being audibly made.
You can implement these features for free with the right tools. Some will have varying features that afford more creative control. You can mix and match at your leisure as no costs are involved.
There are many ways to add captions to video, and they are each worth exploring further. For example, web-based Fastreel enables users to add subtitles in SRT format. Others like MySubtitle can be downloaded on App Store, allowing users to add text to shorter videos from their smart devices. Both options can be downloaded for free and favor different modes of working.
Subtitle Workshop and Jubler are also free. The former has advanced features, and the latter makes quicker subtitle implementation possible. Whether you need speed or precision, you will get results with your subtitles with no costs or stress.
Perfect Storyboards
Do not focus on a script alone. Think about storyboarding your company video, too.
Visual references are key. Each frame should progress logically with compelling imagery. There should be no sudden changes in theme, tone, or pacing. Structure your ideas and develop a throughline for your content. Use the right digital tools for that job.
There are many great programs firms can use to storyboard their video content. Price models range from $10 to $799 one-time fees, which means you have suitable options for any budget. Some of these services also have iPhone and Android versions to enable flexible creation conditions and techniques as well.
Each panel of your storyboard should pop with a distinctive flair, and planning programs make that possible. You will also avoid production errors and give a clearer creative vision to the directors, cinematographers, and editors of the company videos. Everything you produce will be more likely to be on schedule, and big creative ideas can be concentrated and focused.
Develop Working Relationships with Actors
Actors are more than a mouthpiece for your business. They are also representative of it. If your brand becomes well-known, these performers can also become an integral part of your brand.
Remember that your audience needs to connect with the person seen or speaking. Make sure you hire someone that can match the charm and warmth that your company presumably has. Your working relationship will get off to a better start after a competent casting process.
Learn how to work with actors. Create a character alongside them. Encourage improvisation if your short-form video has a lighter or comedic tone. Do not confine them to dryly reading scripts, and instead collaborate to create something heartfelt and unique.
Pay an equal amount of attention to your voice talent. Gain an understanding of what the voice acting process is like for the performer and director both. Refine skills in banking audio reels, improve line readings, and have the knowledge to create a professional sound in a home studio or office. Improve techniques to get your voice actors in the proper headspace to perform.
Gauge Social Media Reactions
Professional analytics can provide useful insights into how well your video is performing. It is also useful to look at a broader picture and see what louder, individual voices say about your content.
The best or worst ads draw the biggest reactions online, with middling results rarely discussed. It is to be hoped your content will fall into the former category. While analytics can show how many people watched your video, only social media can help you understand their emotional, visceral reaction to what you created.
Short-form videos need to create an impact, so make sure you learn about how to create and promote them. Many people will stumble across it and watch the video in its entirety if it is only a few seconds long. There may be a stronger urge to reshare it on public profiles if it is something worth seeing. Analytics will not reveal much in this situation, but honest feedback will be found on social media.
Social media users often have their guard down, too. People may be polite in test screenings and surveys, but in the safety of their online profiles, they may be more inclined to express their thoughts and feelings honestly. After all, that is what many people use social media for. Place value on constructive feedback and ignore any ruder remarks you encounter.
To conclude, you should use these tips to improve your chances of success with business videos. The video marketing sector is highly-competitive and ever-evolving, so keep doing your research to ensure that you’re always ahead of the curve.
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Easily Track Your Expenses with These Tips
/in Managing Your Finances/by StrategyDrivenTo avoid budget overflow, you must practice financial discipline. One way to do that is by tracking your expenses.
Many people confuse expense tracking with budgeting. Though they do overlap, they’re two distinct processes.
A budget is an overview of your expenditure and its limitations, while tracking your expenses provides you with deeper insights into your purchasing behavior.
Cracking the code of your purchasing behavior will help you make better financial decisions in the future.
Not only will you be able to prioritize your spending objectives, but you will also be able to weed out the unnecessary expenses, eliminate them entirely, or at least cut back on them.
Here are 8 tips you can follow to easily track your expenses.
1. Consider Seeking Objective Financial Advice
Despite our best efforts, sometimes financial management can seem like an impossible task to carry out, let alone master. In such situations, instead of winging it, consider seeking professional financial advice.
We are often biased when it comes to our spending habits. We spend when we should be saving or investing. Luckily, if you are struggling with expenses, a financial investment advisor can help you identify the best investment opportunities, so you can make more than you spend.
Not only do they manage your finances and set up your budget, but they also create a customized financial strategy and familiarize you with your best investment options.
2. Observe Your Cashflow
Observing your cash flow is the first step toward managing it – where the money is coming from, is as important as where the money is going.
Knowing your income streams and their schedules helps you streamline your expenses without worrying about late payments or debt.
One great way to observe your cash flow is by checking your account statements. Pinpoint your spending habits by cataloging all your accounts – saving or current.
3. Categorize Your Expenses
Monthly expenses are usually divided into two categories – fixed expenses and variable expenses.
Fixed expenses can rarely ever be trimmed since they are mostly expenses like bills, mortgage, commute expenses, insurance, etc.
Your financial discipline and insight can come into play when managing variable expenses. These can include travel costs, impulse purchases, subscriptions to streaming services, etc.
First, group your expenses into fixed and variable expenses, and then further group them into specific categories like entertainment, commute, department store visits, etc.
Doing so will pinpoint precisely which category is taking up most of your income. It will also help you prioritize the categories that need your foremost financial attention.
For example, if you realize that your bills usually get paid late with an additional late penalty fee, but you never miss your morning Starbucks, then you will know which unnecessary purchase to cut back on to prioritize a necessary expense.
4. Use an Expense Tracker App
Gone are the days when you had to keep a thick ledger to manage your finances and track your expenses. A simple expense tracker app can do it for you.
Most of these apps can also be synced with your accounts to generate a real-time report of your expenses and sort them into categories.
But be careful – these apps are never the ultimate financial solution. Even with these apps, you will have to put in the effort to timely log your purchases, set certain limits, and customize them according to your finances.
5. Track In Real-Time
A major expense tracking mistake is delaying it. Many people would make the purchase and log it later.
Expenses like these get lost under a pile of other expenses and are trickier to pinpoint later.
The best way to avoid such common but frustrating mistakes is to track your expenses in real-time. Take a minute after each purchase and log it in, save your receipts, or simply list it in a spreadsheet.
Doing so will make it far easier for you to get back to it later in the month.
6. Track Your Income
Tracking income is especially useful for people with irregular incomes or side hustles. Tracking your income as it comes into your account is tremendously important.
Your expense planning is reliant on your income. If your income tends to fluctuate, chances are your expenses will have to be tracked and managed dynamically too.
Each month you manage to make more than you expect, set aside a portion of it for when the money will be in shorter supply. You should look to either save or invest the surplus.
While for each month you make less than you expect, you can use the saved-up money to help you past the rough times.
7. Set Up a Budget
Now that you have pinpointed your cash inflows and outflows, fixed and variable expenses, and have a proper record of your expenses, it’s time to set up a budget.
Many people make the mistake of setting up a budget without first tracking expenses and identifying their purchasing behavior.
Doing so only adds to their financial anxiety and troubles, as budgets usually emphasize expense limits rather than expense management.
Setting up a budget after getting all the data related to your purchasing behavior will help you plan for a financially stress-free and practical month.
8. Plan Your Savings
Normally, your income should cover all your expenses. Ideally, once you have paid for all your expenses, you should have some amount left.
Those are your savings – when it comes to saving, people have varied attitudes toward it. Some like to spend it, some put it in their saving account, while some like to roll it forward to the next month.
What is yours is yours, and you are free to spend as you like, but with a little effort in assessing your financial needs, you can better enjoy your splurge money guilt-free.
The Bottom Line
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to tracking your expenses. People go through a wide array of financially tricky situations and what works for one, may not work for the other. The above-mentioned tips will help you assess your expenses and income objectively and make intelligent decisions to achieve a financially stress-free month.
How to Effectively Use Cold Calling in Your Business
/in Marketing & Sales/by StrategyDrivenHowever, this doesn’t mean that cold calling is obsolete – in fact, it’s still one of the most effective ways to generate leads and close sales. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your cold calls:
Tip #1: Do your research
Before you pick up the phone, take some time to learn about your target audience and their needs or their biggest pain points. Once you have a better understanding of what they’re interested in, you’ll be able to tailor your pitch accordingly.
Tip #2: Start with a strong opening
Your opener is crucial – it’s the first impression that potential customers will have of you. Make sure it’s friendly, professional, and to the point. Avoid sounding too sales-y or coming across as pushy because this will only turn people off.
Tip #3: Be prepared for objections
No matter how good your pitch is, you’re bound to get some objections from potential customers. Be prepared to handle them calmly and confidently. Thank the person for their feedback and address their concerns head-on.
Tip #4: Stay positive
Cold calling can be frustrating, especially when you’re getting rejected. But it’s important to stay positive and focused on your goal. Don’t let a few rejections discourage you from continuing with your pitch.
Tip #5: Use a script
Using a script can help keep your pitch on track. It also makes you sound more confident and professional. However, don’t be afraid to personalize it to make it feel more natural since people can tell when you’re reading from a script.
Tip #6: Practice, practice, practice
The more prepared you are, the better your chances of success. Make sure to practice your pitch beforehand to deliver it smoothly and confidently. This way, you’ll be less likely to get flustered if something goes wrong.
Tip #7: Keep it short
Your pitch should be short, sweet, and to the point. No one wants to listen to a long-winded sales pitch – they’ll tune out before you even get to the good stuff. Make it so you’re only giving an elevator pitch that lasts no more than 30 seconds.
Tip #8: Use the right tools
To make cold calling more efficient, it’s important to use the right tools. IP-PBX phone solutions can help you easily make and receive calls, while CRM software can help you track your leads and sales pipeline. The right tools will help make your job a lot easier.
Tip #9: Take advantage of voicemail
If you happen to get a customer’s voicemail, take advantage of it! Leave a friendly and personal message, and briefly explain what you do and why the person should get in touch with you. This way, you can at least get your foot in the door.
Tip #10: Stay organized
Keep your leads and prospects organized so you can easily track their progress. This will help you prioritize your time and focus on the most promising leads, which will ultimately help you close more sales.
Tip #11: Set realistic goals
Don’t bite off more than you can chew – set realistic goals for yourself and your team. Trying to do too much at once will only lead to frustration and burnout. So, start small and gradually increase your goals as you become more comfortable with cold calling.
Tip #12: Take breaks
Cold calling can be mentally and emotionally draining, so take breaks throughout the day. Get up and walk around, drink some water, and take deep breaths to clear your head. This will help you stay focused and energized for your next call.
Tip #13: Reward yourself
After every successful call, give yourself a small reward to keep yourself motivated. This can be as simple as taking a quick break or treating yourself to your favorite snack. By doing so, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and see results.
Tip #14: Track your progress
Keep track of your progress by recording your calls and listening to them back. This will help you identify areas that need improvement and give you a chance to hear your pitch from the customer’s perspective. Plus, you can make changes to your script as needed.
Tip #15: Seek feedback
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from your superiors and customers. They may be able to offer valuable insights that can help you improve your cold calling skills. After all, it’s always good to get feedback so you can continue growing and evolving as a salesperson.
Cold calling is one of the best ways to generate new leads. Whether you’re a salesperson, business owner, or entrepreneur, cold calling is a necessary skill set that can help propel your success. Cold calling may feel intimidating and uncomfortable at first, but these tips should make it easier.
6 Huge Benefits of Commercial Real Estate Software
/in Managing Your Business/by StrategyDrivenDue to the enormous size of the industry, many people aspire to get in on the opportunities that it provides. Around 90% of the world’s millionaires created over the last 200 years made their wealth by investing in real estate. There are still plenty of opportunities to make money with commercial real estate.
However, the industry is also incredibly competitive. In order to thrive, you need to invest in all of the best tools available. There are a number of great commercial software applications that are worth exploring.
What are the benefits of using commercial software like www.northshoresystems.com? Some of the biggest are listed below.
More organized finances
Financial mistakes are the downfall of almost all failed real estate entrepreneurs. You must keep track of outstanding loan obligations, cash flow situations, projected property values, outstanding debt, expenses and revenue projections.
Merely keeping track of all of this data can be overwhelming by itself. Compiling the data and making associations between different figures to make sensible decisions is even more challenging.
This is one of the reasons that commercial real estate management software is so important. You can easily track all of your expenses and other financial data. You will also have access to sophisticated tools that make it easier to manage all of your finances in one place. You can save countless hours on financial management and make far fewer costly mistakes.
Accept payments from tenants online
One of the biggest problems that any property owner must deal with is collecting payments from tenants. It can be a frustrating part of the job, but it is something that you have to take very seriously. Around 82% of all business failures are due to cash flow problems. This statistic holds true for the real estate industry. Cash flow problems are primarily due to failure to get rent from tenants on a timely basis.
Of course, many tenants fall behind on rent due to their own financial problems. There isn’t too much you can do in the situation, because you can’t squeeze blood from a stone. However, other tenants don’t pay their rent on time because there isn’t a convenient way to do so. This is especially true for businesses that are headquartered overseas or even in other states.
Commercial real estate software makes it a lot easier for companies to keep up with their rent. They can pay through online payment systems instead of sending a check or making a bank transfer. This simplifies the process for everybody.
Improve tenant satisfaction
There are a lot of tasks that property owners and managers must take care of to keep their tenants satisfied. This can include everything from making sure plumbing issues are taken care of to maximizing the security of the property.
Real estate property software makes it a lot easier to complete these tasks. You can track what needs to be done, provide an online system for filing requests to take care of projects, assign tasks to various employees and organize workflows in the most efficient way possible.
All of these features make it a lot easier to give the tenants the support that they need. This in turn maximizes tenant satisfaction.
Access information remotely
Real estate owners have to travel frequently and often have properties all over the country or even all over the world. However, their problems don’t disappear when they are away from the location in question. They need access to relevant information to properly address the problems they are facing.
Fortunately, commercial real estate software makes it easier to access the information that you need. You will be able to store important data on the cloud and review it from anywhere in the world.
Improving compliance
Regulatory compliance is a very important aspect of managing any business. The commercial real estate industry has a massive number of regulations that all property owners will have to abide by.
You can’t afford to be lax about compliance issues. The good news is that commercial real estate software makes it a lot easier to adhere to them.
Minimizing vacancy rates
High vacancy rates can be the death of any real estate business. You need to do everything possible to keep your properties filled with paying customers.
Commercial real estate software makes it a lot easier to accomplish this. you can track your properties more easily and make sure you know which available units to market.
4 Golden Rules For Would-Be Investors
/in Entrepreneurship/by StrategyDrivenThere are risks to all investment types, whether you’re considering stock, shares, bonds, real estate, or the trending cryptocurrencies to trade this year.
There are a few golden rules that every investor should follow. We list some of them below and by adhering to them, you will reduce risk and improve your chances of reaping a financial reward.
#1: Have a goal in mind
Many investors have one simple goal: to be as rich as possible. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it is a bit abstract. Without a financial figure in mind or a projected timeline, they could invest forevermore and increase the risk of losing money.
When investing, consider your financial goals. it might be an x amount of money for retirement or enough money to put your children through college. When you have attained these goals, you can withdraw this money and put it into your savings fund. If you don’t withdraw it, there is the chance that you will lose some or all of it if a later investment works out badly.
#2: Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket
One of the biggest investment mistakes you can make is putting all of your investment money into one type of asset. If the asset performs badly, you could make significant losses and this would scupper your chance of achieving your financial goals.
It is wiser to diversity your portfolio as this way, you still have the opportunity to make a profit from something, even if you suffer financial losses elsewhere.
#3: Don’t invest in something you don’t understand
You don’t need to be an investment expert but a little bit of knowledge will still carry you a long way. If you were to invest in stocks without knowing about much about the highs and lows of the stock market, for example, you could make a bad decision when choosing where to invest your money. The same applies to other forms of investments.
To learn more, read articles online and take time out to read books written by expert investors. Use trading simulators so you can get a handle on the basics without the need for real money. And if you know any experienced investors, talk to them and ask them all the questions you need before you make any type of investment yourself. By gaining knowledge, you are less likely to do something you might later regret.
#4: Don’t invest what you can’t afford
Before you invest, budget your finances. You still need money for your household bills, family needs, and all of your other expected expenses. If you invest without budgeting, you could lose money that you need elsewhere and this could leave you in a dire financial situation.
Don’t only factor in your daily expenses, however. Leave room for an emergency fund too as it’s wise to put money into that, as you may be faced with unexpected expenses. After factoring in this and all of your other living costs, you will then know how much you have leftover for investing purposes.
Finally
These are just some of the rules you should adhere to. However, there are more to add to this list, so continue your research online and then remind yourself of these rules whenever you decide to start investing.
What Are The Best Ways To Improve A Company Video?
/in Business Communications/by StrategyDrivenStill, the best businesses defy people’s expectations with their offerings. They create compelling opportunities in impossible situations. The same frame of mind should be applied to creating corporate videos, which can play a crucial role in accelerating business growth and increasing brand awareness.
There is plenty of room for creativity and innovation here. Instead of producing bland and generic content, your company has the chance to develop something insightful and unique by exploring unique video ideas. Not only this, but your firm can keep improving its video content offerings over the years, developing it all alongside the evolution of your brand.
Here are some of the best ways to improve your corporate videos today.
Keep it Short and Sweet
Nobody wants to sit through lectures today, irrespective of format. Information is also cherry-picked and more likely to be shared when it does not inconvenience people’s time. Short-form videos can generate more interest.
People’s attention spans are becoming shorter. Many companies are hurriedly developing short-form content, with ‘YouTube Shorts’ paying creators to create this content to lure in audiences. Firms will increasingly explore these newer channels to appeal to their respective markets.
Even if you do not have a presence in these digital spaces, recognizing that people are increasingly gravitating to this content is key. You can then spend every second wisely and make an impactful impression as soon as you can with your company videos.
Truth tends to be more straightforward. Any content that meanders may be interpreted as misleading or embellished in certain respects. Others may interpret company videos as more legitimate and authoritative when concise and to the point.
Utilize Free Subtitle Software
Subtitles cannot be treated as an afterthought. They are an essential component of a corporate video, promoting inclusivity and emphasizing and reaffirming points being audibly made.
You can implement these features for free with the right tools. Some will have varying features that afford more creative control. You can mix and match at your leisure as no costs are involved.
There are many ways to add captions to video, and they are each worth exploring further. For example, web-based Fastreel enables users to add subtitles in SRT format. Others like MySubtitle can be downloaded on App Store, allowing users to add text to shorter videos from their smart devices. Both options can be downloaded for free and favor different modes of working.
Subtitle Workshop and Jubler are also free. The former has advanced features, and the latter makes quicker subtitle implementation possible. Whether you need speed or precision, you will get results with your subtitles with no costs or stress.
Perfect Storyboards
Do not focus on a script alone. Think about storyboarding your company video, too.
Visual references are key. Each frame should progress logically with compelling imagery. There should be no sudden changes in theme, tone, or pacing. Structure your ideas and develop a throughline for your content. Use the right digital tools for that job.
There are many great programs firms can use to storyboard their video content. Price models range from $10 to $799 one-time fees, which means you have suitable options for any budget. Some of these services also have iPhone and Android versions to enable flexible creation conditions and techniques as well.
Each panel of your storyboard should pop with a distinctive flair, and planning programs make that possible. You will also avoid production errors and give a clearer creative vision to the directors, cinematographers, and editors of the company videos. Everything you produce will be more likely to be on schedule, and big creative ideas can be concentrated and focused.
Develop Working Relationships with Actors
Actors are more than a mouthpiece for your business. They are also representative of it. If your brand becomes well-known, these performers can also become an integral part of your brand.
Remember that your audience needs to connect with the person seen or speaking. Make sure you hire someone that can match the charm and warmth that your company presumably has. Your working relationship will get off to a better start after a competent casting process.
Learn how to work with actors. Create a character alongside them. Encourage improvisation if your short-form video has a lighter or comedic tone. Do not confine them to dryly reading scripts, and instead collaborate to create something heartfelt and unique.
Pay an equal amount of attention to your voice talent. Gain an understanding of what the voice acting process is like for the performer and director both. Refine skills in banking audio reels, improve line readings, and have the knowledge to create a professional sound in a home studio or office. Improve techniques to get your voice actors in the proper headspace to perform.
Gauge Social Media Reactions
Professional analytics can provide useful insights into how well your video is performing. It is also useful to look at a broader picture and see what louder, individual voices say about your content.
The best or worst ads draw the biggest reactions online, with middling results rarely discussed. It is to be hoped your content will fall into the former category. While analytics can show how many people watched your video, only social media can help you understand their emotional, visceral reaction to what you created.
Short-form videos need to create an impact, so make sure you learn about how to create and promote them. Many people will stumble across it and watch the video in its entirety if it is only a few seconds long. There may be a stronger urge to reshare it on public profiles if it is something worth seeing. Analytics will not reveal much in this situation, but honest feedback will be found on social media.
Social media users often have their guard down, too. People may be polite in test screenings and surveys, but in the safety of their online profiles, they may be more inclined to express their thoughts and feelings honestly. After all, that is what many people use social media for. Place value on constructive feedback and ignore any ruder remarks you encounter.
To conclude, you should use these tips to improve your chances of success with business videos. The video marketing sector is highly-competitive and ever-evolving, so keep doing your research to ensure that you’re always ahead of the curve.