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Don’t Fall Off Track With Your Current Project

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StrategyDriven Project Management Article |Project Management|Don't Fall Off Track With Your Current ProjectManaging any sort of team is not easy. It does not matter whether you have ten team members or you have 50, you have to make sure that the project remains on the right track so that you can achieve your objects on-team and on budget. However, this can be a lot easier said than done. As any project manager will attest, it is difficult to ensure things don’t run off in another direction. So, what can you do to aid this? Let’s take a look:

  • Make sure there is a clear direction – You must make your team’s goals and mission clear. The importance of this cannot be overlooked. After all, we tend to find that projects go off track when people are on different pages and things aren’t very clear. This can result in people prioritising the wrong things, for example. Clear and effective communication is at the core of every project today.
  • Targets should be communicated on a regular basis – Setting a clear target is a good place to begin. However, you then need to make sure that your employees can achieve these targets, and that is where supporting management strategies come in. Communication is key here. After all, you are only going to be able to move forward if you communicate with your team regularly throughout about their performance. Onboard learning management systems can be beneficial here.
  • Self-awareness should be promoted – All of the people working on your project need to have a thorough understanding of the individual role they play. This not only relates to their own specific tasks. It also relates to their part within the bigger team. This can be challenging when you have people who are preoccupied with issues relating to everything from policies to processes and governance. Nevertheless, the mindset of your individuals is what is going to make or break your project. This highlights why it is vital to make sure that your team has good self-awareness.
  • Encourage your team to collaborate effectively – Aside from the points that we have discussed above, it is important to create an environment that is highly collaborative. This is critical in terms of reaching your goals, as you need everyone to work together, and you need them to do so in a manner that is as efficient as possible. You cannot be a dictator as a project manager. Yes, you need to give out tasks and lead, but you also need to encourage others as well.
  • Don’t drift away from your project plan – Last but not least, the final thing that you need to keep in mind is to make sure you do not drift away from the plan. This is something that can easily happen when the end goal seems so far away. This is why it is vital to make sure that you set smaller milestones and targets along the way to keep everyone on track.

2 Ways Your Business Can Benefit from Integrating SEO & PPC Processes

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |SEO and PPC Processes|2 Ways Your Business Can Benefit from Integrating SEO & PPC ProcessesSEO and PPC are two of the most popular and widely used digital marketing channels. While there is a lot of instruction and discussion out there when it comes to individual optimisation strategies for these respective channels, there is perhaps a lot less said about how these two channels can actually work well together.

In this article, we want to explore two specific ways in which your business can benefit by having your SEO and PPC processes aligned.

This is equally applicable whether you have an in-house team or if you’re working with a specialist SEO agency or a specialist PPC agency.

Keyword Research

One of the first and most obvious ways in which PPC and SEO can be aligned is when it comes to keyword research. Both channels require keyword research which is the process of finding out what exact words prospective customers for a business are using to find what they’re looking for online.

You then look for how much search volume there is against each individual keyword, as well as other metrics when it comes to PPC such as the average cost per click and how much competition there is to appear for a particular keyword.

As you can imagine, there are a lot of areas in which SEO insights can help PPC and vice versa.

PPC is usually much more directed at the lower end of the funnel, which means the PPC team will usually only be spending ad budget on keywords that convert or have a very high likelihood of converting or assisting a conversion.

Therefore PPC is actually a really good way to test whether or not a keyword is relevant and will ultimately help business objectives before investing a lot of resources into it to help it rank at the top of organic search results.

On the other hand, the SEO team may be able to provide some useful insights to the PPC team when it comes to keyword research as well. Usually, the SEO team will also look at what other websites are ranking for a particular keyword and that will give them a hint as to the intent behind the search query because that is what Google takes into consideration when choosing which websites to rank for a particular term.

In that research, the SEO team will usually also look at the landing pages and on-page copy of competing websites that are appearing for a particular search term.

This usually provides a lot of insights into what types of customer fears, motivations, and values appear to be important, which competitors are trying to target with their own page copy.

All of this can be particularly useful insights for the PPC team, especially if they choose to target a keyword and then produce a landing page specifically for that keyword.

User Behaviour Insights

One of the other ways in which both the SEO and PPC teams can work well together is by looking at the behaviour of users once they arrive on the website, whether that is through paid search or through SEO.

With SEO, you will tend to have a broader spectrum of keywords driving traffic to the website, because with PPC, you will tend to only spend money with a very specific objective of driving a very specific action through your ads.

With SEO, you have a little bit less control over what keywords drive traffic to your website, but of course, you can shape this somewhat.

One of the best ways of understanding how effective and relevant a particular keyword is by analysing the behaviour of users that use that keyword to arrive on your website and seeing what they do next.

You will be looking at which pages they tend to engage the most with and which sections of those pages they tend to engage the most with. Of course, you’re able to do this through tools such as Google Analytics.

You want to see: are there any particular pages that have very high bounce rates? i.e. are people leaving the website right after visiting that particular page? Now, of course, this doesn’t automatically mean that there’s something wrong.

They may have simply received the information that they were looking for and then chosen to leave. However, sometimes high bounce rates can be indicative of a problem with the user experience that you can then go and fix and hopefully improve your conversion rates.

Similarly, the paid search team can provide insights into what types of copy and message are working better because they’re able to produce specific landing pages for particular keywords and campaigns.

They’re able to test a lot more than perhaps the SEO team can, therefore they’ll have a much richer data set of what types of keywords and messages tend to convert better, which can then be utilised on the SEO ranking landing page.

Closing Thoughts

These were just a couple of ways in which having SEO and PPC processes a lot more integrated can benefit your business. There are many other benefits of having SEO and PPC working in tandem, such as capturing more SERP real estate and optimising ad spend, which perhaps we can get into in a future article.

Smart Uses For Technology That Can Save Your Business Time

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Business Technology|Smart Uses For Technology That Can Save Your Business TimeTechnology is a massive advantage for any business. It can help you to improve processes, cut down on inefficiencies and identify areas for improvement. However, there are so many types of technology available that it can be daunting to know where to start. The important thing is to understand what’s out there. You could do this by keeping up with the latest technology news and find innovative ways to apply new tech. It can also help to consult with other business leaders to learn from their successes with tech.

Use Marketing Tools

Marketing technology can help streamline your marketing strategy. You should do some research into the tools available and find one that allows you to set up your marketing strategy in a way that lets it run efficiently and proactively. There is a lot of work that goes into marketing, and it’s essential to get it right to give your business the highest chance of success. It could help to get in touch with a marketing agency who will be able to advise you on the best tools and strategies to be noticed.

Stay Ahead Of Industry Developments

Being in the know about technological advances is the best way to ensure you find the right tech at the right time. You can do this by subscribing to different industry news resources. The sooner you implement new technologies, the sooner you will see results. Ensure that the technology you are considering is reliable before you start using it.

Give Employees Remote Working Options

Remote and flexible working are excellent ways to improve employee satisfaction at work. You can use technology to allow your staff to work remotely. This gives them a better work/life balance and will enable you to hire the best people for roles in your company, regardless of where they are located.

You could use video conferencing software, cloud storage and instant messaging platforms to keep your employees connected and productive.

Manage Pensions Efficiently

Offering a pension is essential for your employees’ job satisfaction. It is vital to ensure that you manage your employee pensions effectively and allow staff to see how their pension is stored and what they can expect to receive from it.

Pension administration software is crucial to help you manage company pensions and can be beneficial to both employee and employer. It is a good idea to do some research into the types of pension software available. In the digital age, this sort of technology has never been important to the industry. Do some window shopping and look into pension administration software like this to get an idea of what you should be looking for.

Go Paperless

Cutting down on the amount of paper you use can save you time and money – as well as doing your part for the environment. Consider the different uses you have for paper currently, and see if you can easily replace them with digital alternatives. For instance, filling out lengthy paperwork in a warehouse can slow things down, whereas filling the information out online can mean that you can pre-populate common answers and save time on filing and copying.

Automate Processes

Review your processes to see if there are any that you could do with automation. For instance, sending out chaser emails or copies of invoices can take up a lot of valuable time, and having these tasks automated can free up staff time for more high-value work.

You should ensure that you use a professional IT company to set up automation unless you have experience doing so. This can help ensure that there are no issues or bugs that can cost your business money.

Host Regular Team Meetings

You can use video conferencing platforms to host team meetings across multiple locations. This can help foster good relationships between employees, keep everyone in the loop about business developments and give them the chance to innovate and collaborate. It may help to try out a few different platforms to find the one that suits you and your team best.

Keep Your Data Secure

Storing data and documentation online can be a great way to improve your efficiency and save time, but it is crucial to ensure that you do so safely. The cost of a cybersecurity breach can be high both in terms of money and reputation.
It can help to ensure that your staff understand the ways to be safe while working online. You could consider sending staff members on a course about online safety. Changing passwords frequently is another excellent way to keep your data secure.

Conclusion

Technology is a crucial tool for any business in 2021. It would help if you were proactive in finding tech that works for your business model and practices. It may help to discuss potential changes with your employees to make the best decisions. You could also take on board any suggestions employees may have on which technologies to make use of.

Cutting Your Business Costs: Top Tips

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Business Costs|Cutting Your Business Costs: Top TipsEven with less costly technology and marketing tools, it costs money to run a firm, and those expenses rise regularly. You must keep your expenses under control to maintain your profits. Here are some strategies to cut costs and increase your bottom line in your business.

Lower your workspace costs

Depending on the health of the commercial real estate market in your area, you may be able to take advantage of low office space rates to relocate your company or negotiate better lease terms with your current landlord.

If you do not need to conduct your business from a commercial location, even better. Why not run your business from your home or on the go?

If this is not possible, look at other ways that you can save money. Can you downsize your commercial property? Can you look at lowering your bills by installing insulation from www.insofast.com? Can you talk to your landlord about switching energy and utility suppliers if there are cheaper options available?

Reduce staffing costs

If at all feasible, involve family members in your business. Your partner could be willing to take on a business responsibility, saving you the cost of employing someone else.

If you have children of a suitable age, why not involve them in your business as much as possible? For young people, learning about business is a fantastic experience that keeps money in the family.

Another approach to save on staff expenses, depending on your business, is to engage contract workers or freelancers, who save on taxes and other employee-related expenses. Just make sure you follow the IRS rules for determining who is a contractor and who is an employee.

Lower vehicle expenses

If you own or operate a service or contracting company that requires a vehicle, you are probably well aware of how vehicle costs might affect your bottom line. Larger vehicles, such as vans and crew cabs, might have exorbitant fuel and maintenance expenditures.

How can you lower your transportation expenses other than limiting business vehicle use to only essential travel?

If you have a lot of miles on your business vehicle(s), cutting down on fuel consumption is critical. Diesel and hybrid vehicles are more expensive to buy at first, but they can save you money on gas and maintenance in the long run. Because modern trucks use more advanced materials to cut weight and improve efficiency, it might be worth turning in your gas guzzler for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

If your company is just getting started or your budget is limited, leasing a car offers many benefits, including fixed monthly expenses, the flexibility to return the vehicle at the end of the lease period, and the elimination of depreciation and maintenance expenditures. If it makes sense, most leasing businesses offer lease-purchase arrangements, which allow you to buy the car at the end of the lease term.

These are just a few of the ways that you can cut your business costs and raise your bottom line. What are your tips?

7 Inbound Marketing Mistakes Your Business Must Avoid

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Inbound Marketing|7 Inbound Marketing Mistakes Your Business Must AvoidAs the world continues to battle COVID-19 and continue with vaccination efforts, many business owners are left wondering how to promote their brands in a post-pandemic world. There’s no denying that inbound marketing is the way forward for many organizations.

After all, inbound marketing enables businesses to get a better marketing ROI and boost their bottom lines. However, some entrepreneurs aren’t doing inbound marketing correctly and end up wasting their time – and money.

You’re likely reading this article today because you want to make sure your inbound marketing efforts aren’t for nothing. With that in mind, take a look at these common mistakes that you must avoid the next time you launch an inbound marketing campaign:

1. Not Having a Strategy

It might surprise you to learn that many businesses end up with lackluster inbound marketing campaigns because they don’t have a strategy or plan. Instead, what they have done is throw some content out there and hoped for the best.

You shouldn’t ever launch an inbound marketing campaign without having a strategy in place first. In other words, you need to have clearly defined goals so you don’t lose focus and you can measure your results easily.

2. Not Having a Long-Term Plan

You may decide that you have a strategy and you’re planning to use B2B lead generation as part of your campaign. But, you only want to run your campaign for a short period. The thing is, your business is a long-term operation – not something that will stop next week.

Instead of chasing quick fixes to draw in more customers and generate brand awareness, you need to have a long-term plan for your inbound marketing campaigns. For example, how would you like to promote your products and services in the next 12 months?

3. Writing Lackluster Content

If your inbound marketing campaign involves directing people to your website, what do you think might happen if they look at your content right now? Will they feel impressed enough to follow through your CTAs, such as subscribing to a newsletter or buying something?

Or, will your audience take one look at your content, laugh, and forget your brand even exists? You need to make sure that you offer high-quality, relevant content for your prospects to read. It goes without saying that your content should also be engaging and valuable.

4. Not Focusing on Your Target Audience

The reason you are performing inbound marketing is that you want to attract a specific group of people. Your goal is to have them do something, like visit your website or give you a call and ultimately spend their money with you.
That sounds like a simple strategy. However, things become complicated when entrepreneurs, companies, and other organizations fail to focus on their target audience. Instead, they end up targeting the wrong people.

Make sure you have a clear focus with your inbound marketing campaigns. You need to know who it is you want to attract, and you must know why you want to attract them. It’s worth taking the time to understand your target market and what drives them.

5. Not Doing Any Research

It’s no secret that the key to any good outcome in life is by conducting the right level of research. The same concept applies to inbound marketing campaigns; you wouldn’t spend money on your marketing without researching what will return the best ROI.

With that in mind, you need to always conduct plenty of market research and determine which methods will work best for your business and niche. Don’t assume that certain marketing methods that work for someone else will automatically work for you too.

6. Forgetting to Analyze Your Results

It might shock you to learn that many companies spend money on their inbound marketing campaigns yet fail to do any proper results analysis. They might see an increase in sales or interest in their brands, but they don’t understand how or why that has happened.

That’s why it makes sense to conduct plenty of results analysis to ensure your inbound marketing campaigns are working. When you analyze the results, you can then tweak your campaigns by making the right adjustments for an increased ROI.

7. Not Having a Social Media Focus

Lastly, did you know that some companies spread themselves too thin across social media platforms by signing up to literally all the leading social networks? When they do that, they don’t realize that they’ll need a team of people to manage all those social media profiles.

Sign up to the social networks that you feel will significantly benefit your business. Don’t spend your time signing up to all new or obscure social networks, hoping to cast a wider net to your target audience.