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If You Want to Work From Home, These Things Will Help You

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If you’re about to embark on a home working adventure, you need to be sure to think about the challenges you’ll face and how you’ll deal with them. It might seem like a great way to get away from your dour office and skip that morning commute, and that’s all great. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that working from home is all fun and games because that’s definitely not the case.

There are many of ways in which working from home can become unworkable for you if you fail to approach it correctly. We’re now going to delve into some of the things that will help you to get your home working experience right the first time.

Ergonomically Designed Office Furniture

The furniture that you use every day of the week in your home office is clearly going to have an impact on how you experience your. If you don’t feel at all comfortable when you’re working at home, you’ll feel annoyed and your work will ultimately suffer. That’s why you need good office furniture that has been ergonomically designed to fit the needs of your body each day.

A Dedicated Work Area

A home office is going to be essential because without a dedicated working area, you’ll really struggle to get your head down and focus on your work when you’re at home. That’s clearly a pretty big issue and it’s not something you can ignore. Your workspace should be apart from the rest of your home if possible. It’s not a good idea to just work on your laptop on the sofa or at the kitchen dining table. You’ll quickly realise why those arrangements are bad.

Strict Rules for Yourself

When you don’t have a boss looming over your shoulder and getting you do to all the things that need to be done, the task falls to you. Without proper structure, you’ll just get distracted and you’ll end up failing. That’s why you should set strict rules for yourself that you can follow each day. It’s entirely up to you to decide on those rules but it’s definitely worth giving some thought to.

Locks on Your Office Door

If you’re trying to work from home and you have a family to think about too, you’ll have to find a way of shutting them out and making sure that you don’t get distracted by them. Something as simple as putting a lock on your office door in order to shut people out while you work might not be such a bad idea. There tend to be more distractions for home workers than office workers, so bear that in mind.

Some Form of Financial Security

There are many ways to become financially secure, and that security will be really important if your home working is tied to a new freelance or sole trader career. This is the case for many people who work from home, but it can be risky and precarious if you’re not careful. You might want to save before starting on this path, or you could turn to investing. AlgoTerminal’s backtesting software can help you plan your investments and see good returns. It’s definitely an option to consider.

Time Away From the Home When Work is Done

When you spend your work time at home and you spend your spare time at home, your home can start to feel like a bit of a prison for you. Having time away from your home is definitely important so make sure you do try to get out of your house when your work is done and you have some spare time on your hands. Otherwise, you’ll get sick of the site of those four walls.

A Plan B

Working from home is one of those things that always seems like a great idea, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it works out that way. It’s certainly not an arrangement that works for everyone who tries it, and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that it’s not right for you. If that’s the conclusion you arrive at, you need to have a plan B. So make sure you think about that now rather than leaving it until later.

Working from home can be really positive for you if you approach it in the right kind of way. Approach it incorrectly and it can quickly become a real nightmare for you, so make sure you think carefully about all the topics covered here. They might really help you make a success of your home working future.

5 Simple Marketing Tips for Improved Brand Visibility in 2018

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | 5 Simple Marketing Tips for Improved Brand Visibility in 2018 | Marketing and SalesFor some time now, having an online presence has been crucial in business. As more consumers turn to the internet to shop, search and even socialize, ranking #1 on Google can put you in front of your competitors and increase conversions. While the internet proves far more competition than ever before, this ease of virtual accessibility can be both a dream and a curse. While it expands reach, allowing companies to access a global market, the increase in opposition means it’s also far more difficult to engage your demographic. Plus, 2018 means new ways of marketing your business digitally, as our ever-increasing world becomes more dependent on technology.

However, even in an ever competitive space, there are many ways to give your brand the advantage, so that your company has a fighting chance. Here are five marketing tips to increase your brand’s visibility this year.

Maintain Your Blogging Schedule

In 2017, many companies tried their hand at blogging, incorporating a blog into their business’s website. By doing so, you’re allowing yourself, as an employer, to become a trusted and knowledgeable authority figure in your industry; writing and publishing content that caters to the needs of your audience, whether it’s for your customers or clients, improves your business’s reputation and makes your business seem more reliable. You’ll become a reliable and trusted source for certain areas of business, and if your posts are well-written, engaging and offer something of worth, people may share your blog posts, organically elongating your reach.

Throughout 2018, you should continue to maintain your blogging schedule (posting at least 2 or 3 times a week). According to Hubspot, companies that published 16+ blog posts per month got 3.5x more traffic than companies that published a mere 0-4 monthly posts; 53% of marketers also admitted that blog content creations are their top inbound marketing priority. Therefore, create a schedule where your team continues to blog regularly so that your business can continue to publish consistent posts.

Choose the Best Social Media Platforms

There are many social media networks up for grabs. However, you should only select the ones that relate to your audience and key demographic. Trying to tackle them all is hugely time-consuming and can cost unnecessary money. By selecting the key social media platforms for your business, you will generate true results from your marketing efforts.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are the go-to for many businesses, and they seem set to continue being popular throughout 2018, but if your business cannot thoroughly utilize them, you should look for alternatives. For instance, Instagram is a social media platform tailored for photography; this is ideal for fashion labels, artists and even website designers, but for SEO companies, it may not be so fruitful. Facebook and Twitter, on the other hand, can help most companies, and all businesses should set up profiles with both platforms. Both Facebook and Twitter are also ideal for sharing your blog posts with customers, helping to improve a brand’s visibility.

When looking for a social media platform that drives the best conversion rates, you should consider the following:

  • Facebook continues to be the most popular, with over 1.94 billion users and drives a conversion rate of 1.85%.
  • Instagram’s popularity is continuing to rise and is becoming the number social media platform for e-commerce businesses with a conversion rate of 1.08%.
  • YouTube produces a conversion rate of 1.16%, Twitter 0.77% and even Pinterest brings in a rate of 0.54%.

Also, there are various tools you can use to make your brand stand out through the above social media channels. Software such as Clickfunnels and Leadpages allow you to create beautiful landing pages that effectively advertise your products and services to consumers. These software tools include templates for you to quickly and easily create stunning pages that will excite your prospects and turn them into subscribers and customers.

Master Instagram Stories

It’s predicted that by the end of 2018, nearly half of all Instagram users will be fully utilizing Stories, meaning brands should grasp this particular practice and master the art of crafting and engaging and interesting Instagram Story. Stories are ideal for businesses to stay on top of people’s minds, create a digital community and publishing exclusive behind-the-scenes or launch footage. Instagram Stories is perfect for engaging with Gen Zers, who are 22 years old or below.

The Rise of Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR), has impacted mobile gaming with the likes of Pokémon Go. However, Apple announced that the iPhone 8 and X would incorporate a chip that allows the phones to provide the users with AR experiences that are likely to soon appear in social media. Although AR is still being developed and is a new feature, it’s likely to make headway. It’s conceivable that brands will soon be able to project their products into the homes of social media users.

Continue with SEO

Google is continuously releasing algorithms in the hopes of providing relevant and useful search results to their users. The latest algorithm was Google’s Fred, which saw the end of overtly ‘spammy’ websites, which profited from adverts rather than a user-friendly experience. If you’re wondering how to market your product on Google using SEO, then businesses are expected to cater to the user, rather than for profit, while incorporating the new SEO trends for 2018. For instance, long tail keywords are more effective than ‘caveman keywords’ due to the increased popularity of voice search through Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. It’s forecasted that in 2020, at least 50% of all searches are going to be through speech or images. How can you ready your business for this, then?

Instead of imputing broken sentences such as “best Italian restaurant New York,” people are more likely to speak in fuller sentences like “what’s the best Italian restaurant in New York City?” Therefore, the use of punctuation and more conversational language will be a game changer in the business of SEO.

Technology and digital trends tend to adapt and change frequently, and so businesses have also to adapt accordingly. It’s imperative that your business keeps tabs on the trends as they are as successful as they are fleeting. While many continue to prosper, 2018 could bring in many new digital marketing trends no one is prepared for, making others extinct. Remain knowledgeable, and your brand’s visibility will continue to increase.

4 Tips for Improving and Expanding Your Business

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As an entrepreneur, it is vital that you are always on the lookout for new ways to improve and expand your business. This will help you to increase your client base, compete with your competitors, establish a unique brand, and make a mark in your area of the industry. Even if your business is currently going from strength to strength, there is always more to be done, whether it’s to help you be the best in the business or to remain an industry leader. Below are four tips that will help you to get the most out of your business and to secure success as an entrepreneur.

Strategize

If you are going to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your business, you will need to have a strong plan in place. You should be embracing every opportunity to strategize. One of the best ways for you to do this is by automating key elements of your operation. For instance, you could explore the benefits of accounts payable automation. This will streamline the process of approving invoices, validating tax forms, reconciling payments, and much more. Why waste valuable time and money, when you can search for simple solutions?

Invest in your human resources department

If you are going to have the manpower to grow your business, you will need to invest heavily in your human resources department. This will help you to find the right person for each job. Instead of being distracted by employee conflict or unimpressive workers, you should have a reliable team of people that are helping you to achieve your goals. You could even ask your human resources department to establish an internship program. This will give you the opportunity to receive extra support, without dipping into your company finances.


Secure useful business contacts

Another great idea is to secure useful business contacts. This will come in handy if you are determined to negotiate the best deals for your business. Perhaps you could establish a connection with a company that will offer you a mutually agreeable contract. For instance, you could find an events company that would be willing to promote your business in return for discounted services. Whatever the case, it is important that you are open-minded. It is also vital that you make the most of every networking event you are invited to. You should have your business cards on standby and should always be prepared with an engaging opening line.

Evaluate your company premises

Finally, you should evaluate your current company premises. You need to decide whether or not they are working well for your business. One option is to digitize your operation and encourage your employees to work from home. This is a great way to save money and to embrace the digital world. Another option is to invest in larger company premises. This will give your entrepreneurial endeavors the space they need to grow. It will also help you to impress potential clients, employees, and business contacts. If you are worried about your finances, why not share your space with other businesses? You could also consider renting out a room in a larger office block.

Mover’s Strategies for Finding the Perfect At-Home Office

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Not every profession needs an office space. In fact, some professions benefit greatly from working at their home. From freelancers to even psychiatrists, at-home offices are your financial livelihood. That is why, when you are moving to a new area or upgrading your home, you need to move with your business in mind. To find the perfect property that has the perfect balance of work and home, follow these strategies:

1. Know Your Budget

The first step to finding your perfect house/office is to know your budget. There is no point in going over your budget, when, in fact, buying a property under your budget and renovating it can be so much more effective. Further, as a freelancer or as a stay-at-home worker who likely relies on clients, getting an adjustable rate mortgage is best. That way you can settle into your new neighborhood with ease, without having to worry about undergoing an overwhelming process.

2. Know Your Needs

As you are working at home, you need a property that has everything that you need. This means having space for your work, having enough bedrooms, and so forth. It could also mean ensuring that the ceilings are at a proper height or that the front step is wide enough to comfortably accommodate accessibility tools to help disabled clients into your home. There are so many things to think about when you have your office at home, and many of those things involve adhering to legal requirements.

3. Have Vision

If you want to have a large, at-home office space or clinic within your own home, you need to have vision. This could mean relocating the kitchen upstairs, it could mean adding walls, and so forth. If you don’t have the vision yourself, it’s important to hire someone who does. That way you can have the perfect office and the perfect home.

4. Get the Home Inspected

Before you commit to any purchase, however, you must get it inspected. Not getting your home professional inspected is a mistake. Not only can you use what they find to negotiate the price down, but you might also find that the fixes needed exceed your budget.

5. Renovate Your Office Space

When your office is your livelihood, you need to get it up to speed as fast as possible. This could mean something as simple as repainting the walls and putting furniture in your office, or it could be as complicated as completely renovating the downstairs to open a local clinic.

6. Marketing Tips

Once everything is in order, you need to get clients. The best way to do this is to advertise how luxurious your new office space is alongside your qualifications. Having an at-home office, is, after all, different than renting out a blank office space. At-home offices should be luxurious, because they are in your home and they are different. Market effectively, and you’ll have a strong list of clients in no time.

You can appeal to richer clients, or you can simply enjoy working from home with a dedicated workspace if you house hunt with your work in mind and follow these tips.

How to Overcome Business Challenges

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Every business will encounter various obstacles. It is how they manage the problems that will determine their success or failure in their industry. To ensure you successfully handle every problem, simply read the following advice on how to overcome business challenges.

Listen to Your Gut

Instinct can often be a business owner’s best friend. When there is no right or wrong answer, sometimes the only thing you can trust is your gut. Ignoring it could result in you making the wrong decision, which could pose a risk to your company’s success. Listen to your built-in radar when making decisions and hiring employees.

Streamline Processes

Complex, lengthy, mundane business processes can often reduce productivity and creativity. This can prevent companies from reaching their goals at the fastest possible rate. If your business is bogged down with too many tasks, it is essential to look for effective techniques or software to streamline processes. For example, learn more about the JD Edwards Consulting Company, who can help you implement a single-entry solution into your large or small business.

Adopt a Frugal Approach to Business

Many companies fail every year because they operate beyond their means. It is therefore important to frugally run your business. Embrace a small business mindset, even if you are running the largest organization on the planet. Microsoft is the perfect example, as the company has told its employees to think of them as “the biggest small company in the world” – so you’ll never spend more money than necessary.

Avoid Emotional Pricing

Many startup companies often do not know how to implement the right pricing strategies when first starting out. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs make the big mistake of allowing their emotions to dictate the pricing of their products and services, as they may worry they will lose a sale if they price a product too high and rule themselves out of the industry before they have even started. However, this can result in a smaller profit margin that can slow down business growth. Always price with your head in business and never your heart. Identify your costs and thoroughly research your competition before you set prices, which you should periodically review.

Introduce New Business Strategies

Many business owners cling tightly onto old tools and techniques, because they don’t know any other way to run their company. However, you must regularly review your processes to ensure you are using the right tools and strategies for your business. For example, traditional companies will need to introduce online marketing techniques, such as blogging and social media, to replace or complement their tried and tested offline tactics.

Abandon What’s Not Working

Ensure your success by having the courage to walk away from a product, service, or process, even if you initially believed it would be beneficial for your business. These blinders can often stand in the way of your business growth and profitability, so you must strive to immediately identify what isn’t working for your company to quickly move on.