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How to Effectively Use Cold Calling in Your Business

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Cold calling|How to Effectively Use Cold Calling in Your BusinessThe 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However, this doesn’t mean that cold calling is obsolete – in fact, it’s still one of the most effective ways to generate leads and close sales.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.

6 Huge Benefits of Commercial Real Estate Software

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Commercial Real Estate|6 Huge Benefits of Commercial Real Estate SoftwareThe 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.

4 Golden Rules For Would-Be Investors

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Would-be investors|4 Golden Rules For Would-Be InvestorsIf 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.

What Are The Best Ways To Improve A Company Video?

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StrategyDriven Business Communications Article |Company video|What Are The Best Ways To Improve A Company Video?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.

How Can You Find A New Job When The Time Comes?

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Find a new job|How Can You Find A New Job When The Time Comes?Are you looking for a new job? Or, are you going to be looking for a new job at some point in the near future and just want to know the best way to go about this? Finding a new job can be a real pain to do, but it doesn’t have to be a long process if you know what you are doing. There are a lot of different avenues that you can go down in order to find a job that will suit you the best, and we’re going to be talking about them in this article. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Networking

The first thing that we are going to be looking at is networking. You might not think of this as a way to find a new job, but it is. If you manage to network with people in high places then this is a fantastic way to get your foot in the door for some positions. For example, you might be able to make a connection with someone who is the head of a company that you admire and would love to work for. Or, someone who knows someone and then the domino effect takes place.

Networking is an important part of career life, so you’re going to have to start working on this sooner rather than later. You can do this by attending events that are being held in the industry, and really coming out of your shell. If your career is something that you love and something that you are passionate about then this will flow from you, even if you are not the most talkative person generally. The most important thing about networking is to be confident.

Online Advertisements

Another way that you can look for a new job is through online advertisements. The world of technology has made life so much simpler in a whole range of ways, and one of them is that companies can advertise their vacancies online now so that you don’t have to go through a million other channels to find out about the job. Online job advertisements are easy and simple, and you can skim through them having already filtered them for the ones that are most suitable for you.

You can search through so many job advertisements this way, making your life that much easier. When you come across the one that you think you would like, you can then apply for it online and wait to hear back. You can get through a lot of applications this way, so if you do decide to go down this route, make sure you’ve got your resume handy for every application.

Agency

Have you thought about using an agency to help you secure a place? There are different types of agencies for this, some that specialize in certain industries, and others that focus on general jobs. For example, if you are trained in the biotech industry and want to stay within it, then we recommend you look at a biotech recruitment agency, rather than signing up with a company that places you in any job available.

Agency work gets a bad reputation sometimes because of the unpredictability, but it is a fantastic way to try new things and get placements that you didn’t have to find yourself.

Open Your Own Company

If you don’t want to work for someone else anymore, then you can always open your own business. We say that like it is simple, but it’s not so you need to be aware of that. If you are going to do this then you have got to take your time, make sure that everything is secure and in the best possible shape before you try to open. You should never rush opening a new business because this is where a lot of companies fall flat.

Ensure that you have the means to open the business before you try. The main one that we’re talking about is money, so if you know that you don’t have it, you need to find it before you do anything else.

Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do in order to find a job when the time comes. Perhaps you’re not quite ready to leave your current job yet, but you still want to know what the steps are that you should be taking when the time comes. Well, now you know! We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you end up doing whatever is best for you.