Posts

Kickstarting Your Biz The Right Way

/in /by

Starting a new business can not only be exciting, but it can also be quite overwhelming. There is just so much to add to your plate as a business owner. You have to think about initial start up costs, the manufacturing if applicable, the relevant services to offer, the advertising and marketing, all while ensuring that you don’t fall into a pit with some of the common issues every startup business can face. Sounds fun, right? The truth is, it is, but you need to ensure that you kickstart your business the right way. I thought I would share with you what some of those things are.

Social media will become your best friend

Social media is one of the easiest ways to get your business heard, so it will become your best friend, your sidekick, and your main way of getting your business message out there. However, not everyone uses it to its full advantage. The main key elements to remember is to ensure that your platforms and profiles are consistent. That you add content frequently, but what you share isn’t just always about a sales pitch. People should want to follow you, find your business and information useful and informative, and to buy in to you as a brand. Many people use social media to humanise their business and this can be very effective.

Ensure that you manage your business effectively

The next thing to consider would be the management of your business. There is much to think about in terms of finances, people you employ and even the likes of your stock and inventory. Make things easier on yourself by incorporating ways to keep track such as inventory management software, timelines and even spreadsheets to help you keep on track. There are many plates to spin, so whatever you can do to save time and make things easier to manage will ensure that you do the best job possible.

Manage cash flow effectively

The next thing to think about would be the cash flow element of your business. This can be something that can easily get out of control. Invoices that need paying, but yet still waiting for invoices to be paid to you can be one of the biggest hurdles you need to overcome. Looking at ways to maximise the amount of cash you keep in your business at any given time while still ensuring your business runs smoothly will become one of the priorities of your business. However, employing an accounts team for it or even outsourcing it could save you time and hassle.

Remember your own attitude and ambitions

Finally, throughout all of the start up and first year of trading, you need to be accountable for your attitude and your own ambitions. The truth is, you have made the business and brought it to life, and so your attitude plays a key part on how you move your business forward, while still ensuring that you take into account your own ambitions and goals for yourself and for this business.

I hope that these tips help you to kickstart your business in the right way.

Driving Traffic To Your Ecommerce Site

/in , /by

When you have a physical store gaining footfall is a huge influence on your advertising and how you design your store. And all of that is still valid with an ecommerce site. The only differences lie in the fact that you aren’t aiming to grab the attention of someone walking by, but to target your audience when they are browsing the internet – whether or not they are searching for you. An ecommerce site has so many advantages, as does a physical store, but it gives you the ability to reach so many more people than a fixed location does. You just have to know how to go about getting that attention in the right way. The saying ‘any press is good press’ is 100% wrong; you need to strive to have a good reputation while using the right tools and software to attract and retain your customers.

Design

The first thing to consider is the base of your operations; your website. An ecommerce site doesn’t need to be overly complicated. In fact, you can easily start one with a DIY web building platform. But making sure that it can be easily navigated by anyone is key. Keep things simple and uncluttered, with drop menus and different categories clearly found and all key contact information on both a contact page and at the bottom of each page. And make sure that you stay true to your style – if you are selling custom skateboards you need to stick to the cultural designs surrounding that to attract your main audience base.

Research

Do the research before and after you have launched your ecommerce site. You need to know who is searching for what you’re selling, what demographics are visiting your page and who is sticking around long enough to buy something. Look at Google Analytics to get you started, and look into applying applications and advice from Veon Consulting to increase your ecommerce statistics. The right software and tools are key here, and never think that doing the job once means completing the task.

SEO

Search Engine Optimisation are key words and phrases that increase your standing on a search engine results page. Use them well by wisely – Google do block pages that appear to dump a lot of phrases together in the hope of being first on that list. Keep it relevant- use Google AdWords to figure out the right phrases for you and check in regularly. As trends change as will the most commonly searched phrases. Integrating SEO phrases comes naturally to a content writer, so maybe you should look into hiring one for your web content, or you can give it a go yourself.

Deals

Just like a giant SALE banner in a window catches the eye, does a good deal encourage clicking. Use social media to advertise any deals or promotions you have going on. You can use cookies to target the right audience, but it can also help to interest people who otherwise wouldn’t think about visiting your ecommerce store.

Bringing Your Business Office Into 2018 (Psst… It’s Not As Tough As It Sounds)

/in /by

The office spaces form the heartbeat of any modern business operation. In fact, with the way things are going, their importance is greater than ever. However, the DNA of these spaces has changed massively in recent times. If your business is going to unlock its full potential and move in the right direction, bringing this workspace into the current day is pivotal.

It may sound like a daunting process. But whether yours is a new venture or an established company that needs a major office overhaul, a few simple tips will make a world of difference. Here’s all you need to know.

Go (Nearly) Paperless

A clean and organized office space will always encourage workers to perform better. Therefore, this guide to going paperless could be one of the most important things you ever read. This will actively reduce running costs while also creating more space for other equipment. Alternatively, it may enable you to downsize to a smaller office space, potentially in a more prestigious location. On a separate note, this step helps the company become greener too.

It may take some time for employees to get used to cloud computing and paperless technologies. However, this is the future of business and can speed up various processes. It’s also a great way to prevent the misplacement of documents and key files. Meanwhile, the eco-friendly elements are something that can be promoted to gain a better reaction from clients.

Create A Video Conferencing Space

Modern businesses look vastly different to how they did even five years ago. One of the main reasons is that employees can be split over various locations due to outsourcing and the capabilities of new technology. The best companies now embrace the skills and knowledge of people all over the world in a bid to cut costs and reach bigger audiences. Without face-to-face communication, finding the next best solution is vital.

Designating a space for video conferencing puts you in a far stronger position, allowing you to cut down needless business trips. Aside from being great for internal communications, a great setup will make a winning impression with clients. After all, many will wish to communicate via this method. This can double up as a great venue for presentations too.

Upgrade The Surroundings

The interior design aspects of an office space can have a huge impact on the atmosphere. Embracing natural light, and using lighter color schemes can make the space feel bigger. Artwork depicting the achievements of your business can provide huge motivation for everyone. Use a few plants around the office to further embrace that positivity, and you’ll be surprised by the upturn in productivity and happiness.

Perhaps most importantly, you need to upgrade the furniture. Outdated desk designs fail to make the most of the space, and may also be built for bulky units that are no longer needed. The seating probably needs an upgrade too. Finding the best stool for standing desk facilities or ergonomic chairs for meeting rooms can be key. Without those items, you’ll never find a great layout.

Consider Everyone

Society has evolved to become far more inclusive, and we’d all agree that this is a positive feature. Unfortunately, your outdated office spaces may currently be unable to satisfy the needs of everyone. Improving the access points for disabled employees should be top of the agenda. From adding ramps to creating a better layout, those changes can make a world of difference. Even if your staff members are able-bodied, you may have guests that need a little support.

On a separate note, there is a growing need for multiculturalism. Depending on the situation, it may be a good move to create a small prayer room for the employees that need to follow their faith. Finally, transgender and related issues need to be considered for certain facilities. This includes the toilet facilities and the way that those people are addressed.

Go For Individuality

The days of bland, cubicles offices are long gone. And thank goodness that this is the case. Your office should reflect the brand, which links in nicely with the idea of building happier surroundings. However, you also need to make employees feel comfortable. From personalized stationery to spaces for family photos or messages, those small steps can bring big rewards. For this to become a good workspace for the collective, it needs to be a great one for the individual.

This should extend to letting staff members set their computer systems and other items to their preferences. As long as it doesn’t stop productivity, this is a step in the right direction. Besides, you’ve hired those people for their initiatives. Stifling their creativity or productivity by running a dictatorship in the office is not an option.

Invest In The Latest Accessories

Your office space relies heavily on the facilities, and you naturally use the best computers and data security. It’s possible that you utilize outsourced IT management to keep those products in the best possible health too. However, you must ensure that your employees have the accessories needed to produce the best work in the fastest time. Graphic tablets, specialized software, and modified keyboards are all possible routes to take. The best option is to speak directly with them to see what they need.

Making the right investments now, which can include staff training, will pay dividends in the long haul. Apart from the direct benefits, knowing that the facilities are there to encourage the greatest results will offer an extra spark. Frankly, the main facilities are pointless if you don’t go the extra mile with these additions.

The Final View

Of course, people are still the most important element in a productive office environment. Your leadership and the team’s communication will play a crucial role at all times. Nonetheless, building a positive place of work provides the platform for success.

Given that this will filter down throughout other parts of the business, there’s never been a better time to make those upgrades.

The Things To Consider When Growing Your Business

/in /by

A small business can turn into big things with the right time and effort put into it. Often these successful and thriving businesses start out as just an idea. An idea that will grow into something with nurturing and investment. Not just monetary, but also with the dedication and ambition to make the business work. Expansion is something that can happen quite quickly for a thriving small business, you can quickly outgrow your location, your level of commitment with stock or simply have more demand than items or services to offer. It is definitely exciting times to be in that particular situation. So how can you move things forward? I wanted to share with you some of the things you could consider.

Moving business location

Often when a business is thriving you can quickly outgrow your current set up, Many small businesses begin at home,working in a corner of a room with your living areas as acting as storage units. However, once a business begins to thrive you can start to realise that a new business location could be on the cards. A great tip would be to consider an outsourced office or storage environment. Moving on my next point, this could be another viable option.

Setting up a store or showroom

Another thing to consider would be to actually set up a physical shop and store, or even create your own showroom showcasing products and services that you can offer. It is the next step from moving business location or moving the business out of your home and taking your business forward in a different direction. This could really open your business up to other customers. It may give you a different advertising approach as you take on a new avenue of face to face sales rather than just relying on your digital business, and it could certainly be another revenue avenue for your business moving forward.

The technology to invest in

Sometimes expanding your business means that you need to invest in different areas and often that means different technology and software that can move your business forward. Things like gis tools which help with data mapping, software to help work out your customer demographic or even customer relationship management systems so that you can keep in touch with regular clients, especially in terms of repeat business.

Expansion in terms of products and services

Finally, another way to grow your business is to think about about expansion in terms of the products you sell or the services your business provides. You could look at other things that work alongside your current range, or you may even want to look into a different niche entirely. When it comes to services there are often ways you can advance on it. But products means that you have a whole host of options as long as it fits your original niche and purpose. For example, a lifestyle website that sells wall art and prints could also develop products of other homeware types such as lamps, wall lights and such, for example.

I hope that these things help you to take the next steps in terms of growing your business.

Maintaining A Professional Image For Your Business

/in , /by

We all know that a business needs to impress the target market if it’s going to be successful. You’re competing for the attention of consumers that are potential clients for your company. Your industry might be crowded with rival businesses that offer the same or similar services to your company, but the thing that defines every business is its brand. That’s how you stand out from the crowd. That’s how consumers make their decisions when it comes to buying goods and services. And that’s why it’s so important to maintain a professional image if you want to impress your company’s potential and existing customers. Here’s some advice to help you do so.

Create a productive workforce.

The first step towards creating a professional image for your business is to create a productive workforce. Your company can’t hope to deliver on its promises of excellent products and excellent customer service if it isn’t backed by a hardworking and talented team of professionals. The success of your brand depends on your employees. They need to be professional on the phone or social media when talking to customers, but they also need to create a professional product. And the key to this is happiness. Keep your workers happy so that they deliver a professional service. You might want to offer incentives such as bonuses for the hardest workers every week. Reward your employees for their productivity and they’ll maintain that high standard of work.

Additionally, you need to hire the right people in the first place. Your workforce will suffer if there are a few employees that bring down the overall productivity of the team by slacking on the job or simply delivering a sub-par product and service. It’s vital that you get the recruitment process right when it comes to keeping your employees productive. One worker’s negativity or apathy can affect the work ethic of everyone else in the workplace. You might want to look into a specialist that can provide a criminal record search on candidates applying for job positions at your company. You need to get the hiring process right so that your office is full of professional and motivated individuals. That’ll boost your brand’s overall image when it comes to the way in which your members of staff interact with clients.

Keep your business’ information safe.

In this age of digital business, your company needs to prioritize data security if it wants to maintain a professional image. Customers expect a certain level of safety when they hand over their personal information to a company. If you want to maintain their trust and the reputation of your brand then you need to make sure that you’re keeping that client information incredibly secure. With the right firewall and security measures in place, you’ll be able to spot a breach in your system’s security and shut it down before any damage is done to precious company information.

Remember that a simple brand is essential.

When you look at the most successful brands throughout history, you’ll notice that simplicity is key. If you want your business to maintain a professional image then don’t overcomplicate things. Keep your message and your identity clear. Clarity is professional, and it tells customers that your company knows exactly what it’s all about. A cluttered brand design, a messy website, and too many different slogans or statements will overwhelm consumers. People won’t see a clear brand identity, and that’ll seem unprofessional. Keep things simple.