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Ask Yourself These Questions Before Starting a Business

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
Photo courtesy of Steve Wilson via flickr

There are few things more thrilling or satisfying than developing a good idea. Buoyed with a sense of self-pride and elation, it can be easy to become swept away in dreams and possibilities. The reality, however, is that it takes more than a good idea to turn a profit. Here are the five questions that you should ask yourself before you take the plunge.

Is there demand?

The difference between a good idea and a phenomenally fantastic idea is whether or not it results in the provision of services or products that are in high demand. It is the difference between struggling along and making it big. Take the time to really research your market and decide what level of demand there is. This doesn’t have to involve weeks of investigatory work; you may find that finding an area with high demand for a product doesn’t take all that long at all.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
Photo courtesy of Anthony Easton via flickr

Are you passionate?

Follow your heart; do something you are really passionate about. This may sound like trite or wishy-washy advice because you’ve heard it so many times before, but the fact is that you’re more likely to succeed if you’re passionate about what you’re doing. When we enjoy doing something and really believe in an idea, it naturally becomes easier to dedicate the required time and effort. This is crucial when the times are tough and reaching a profit is years away; it simply has to be about more than just the money.

Can you deal with the possibility of failure?

Being an entrepreneur means being a gambler; there is no way around this. There are certainly ways of mitigating risk, like working with business insurance providers such as Kingsbridge, but this won’t negate all risk. It’s why only certain individuals take the leap of faith required for funding, building and maintaining a business. With so much at stake, are you comfortable with taking a risk? Does the idea of failure scare or challenge you?

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Can you stand out?

Competition is a real threat for all potential businesses. Even if your business idea is unique, chances are that after some time, new competitors will copy your business model and enter the fold. So how will you set your business apart? What defining features will make it memorable and distinct? There are a lot of businesses out there who may not make the most unique products in their field, but their way of producing their products (perhaps a greener approach to production) and marketing themselves makes them stand out among similar brands.

Do you have the skills?

Self-belief is one of the most powerful assets you can have, transforming doubts and obstacles in to opportunities for self-improvement and personal growth. Before you start a business, you have to identify any fears or misgivings and eliminate them. Trust that you have the skillset that will allow your business to flourish and survive. Confidence attracts others and breeds credibility.

How did you go? Are you still feeling positive about starting your own business? What other vital questions do you think should be asked?

Ways to Improve Your Website’s Navigation

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There’s no point taking the time to create a website for your business if you don’t also take the time to ensure that the site is easy for your visitors to find their way around.

Good web design answers the important questions about your business and what it’s about, and that means that your website’s navigation needs to be spot on if you’re going to convince visitors to become customers. Unfortunately, so many businesses, of all shapes and sizes, get it wrong.

Here are some simple things you can do to improve the navigation of your website and make it a whole lot easier for visitors to access the information they require, make purchases, and get in touch:

Plan, Plan, Plan

Before you even think about working on your company website, sit down and plan its content and navigation. Create a flowchart that shows the direction you want visitors to take through your website and the main areas that you’d like to draw their attention to. Pay particular attention to your website’s main navigation and the categories you want to include.

Check Out the Competition

It makes sense to see what the competition is doing if you want to get your website’s navigation right. Make a list of the 20 biggest competitors you have and make a point of going through their website like a customer. This should give you some valuable insights into good and bad navigation, which h you can then use to make your website one of the best in your niche.

Pare it Down

Ideally, if you want to make your website as simple and informative as possible, paring down the number of navigation options on offer is a good idea. The fewer options there are, the less cluttered the site will feel and the easier it will be for visitors to find exactly what they want.

Keep it Clean

Keeping your website as free of animations, auto playing videos, and sizeable images will ensure that your website loads more quickly. It will also keep distractions to a minimum so that the focus of your customers is on your content, products and services. There is nothing worse than a slow loading website to make things difficult and send potential customers away, so avoid temptation and leave those unnecessary elements out.

Make it Static

Your website’s navigation menu should stay in the same place from page to page. It shouldn’t be at the top of the homepage and the side on the about me section.

Text-Based Links

You might think that image-based links look more interesting, but they’re also more difficult for some users to find, and they don’t work as well when it comes to search engine optimization and boosting your website’s position on Google.

Use Basic Language

A lot of companies are tempted to use flowery technical language because they think it makes them look more professional, and this might well be the case, but it also makes it more confusing for their users. So, at least when it comes to menu headings and page titles keep things short and simple.

Be Very Specific

Instead of making your navigation labels general, like saying ‘services’ make them more specific like ‘divorce’ and ‘criminal law’ This will ensure your visitors find exactly what they want quickly and give you another handy SEO boost.

Avoid Drop Down Menus

If you really want to include drop down menus on your website, go ahead and do so, but be aware that a lot of users find them annoying because they can start to move around, and thus cause people to click the wrong link, and get in the way. They’re also a lot more difficult for the likes of Google to crawl, which means your website might not be as easy to find in the first place.

Include a Search Box

Including a search box right at the top of your website is a great way to help your visitors out. If despite your best efforts, they still find your website tougher to navigate than they would like, they can simply type that they’re looking for into the box and a list of options will appear.

Excellent website navigation, which enables visitors to move through your website quickly and without issue is a proven way of increasing conversion rate and boosting your website’s performance. It is vital that you take the above steps, and any others that you can think of to ensure that this is a reality for your website.

Good Luck!

Make Your Business Go Green And Save Money

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As a company being aware on the certain requirements needed of you to the environment is important. Ignoring these can lead to fines and legal issues.

With so many products and services to choose from, it has never been more important to differentiate you from the competition. Going green can land you on the Greenest Companies list making you stand out from the crowd.

As a company, you want the best for the environment but you also don’t want to get sucked into a money making scheme. This guides you to being able to go green and sustain an eco-friendly business.

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Recycling paper is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of being environmentally friendly. Reducing waste is the best step into reducing the amounts of waste produced through offices and operations. However, sometimes this isn’t always possible, and you will produce an excess amount of waste if this happens, look into an environmentally conscious rubbish removal company that will be able to recycle it for you. It’s a large and crucial part of beginning the business set up.

There are easy to use methods to put into practice for you to make your business greener. Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s Greening now offer guides on what you and your staff can do together.

Equipment that isn’t in use can reduce energy by up to 25%. Computers that aren’t in use and switching off completely at the end of the day saves an extra 50%.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article

If something doesn’t need printing then don’t unless it’s necessary. Communicate through emails and read on screen with devices instead of printing. Reducing use of fax- related paper rubbish. Start using a fax-modem as documents can be sent directly without requiring a hard copy.

waste carriers can hold more waste, think of using a commercial waste disposal. These hold more waste and are more environmentally friendly, not only this but the costs are more beneficial to the company.

Even if you’re located in a drought-stricken area, reducing water is an obvious way to saving money whilst conserving a valuable source. There is various way to reduce water usage, start by checking anything that needs fixing such as dripping taps and plumbing leaks. Instead look into low-flow toilets, another thing to consider is the use of eco-friendly hand dryers. There are plenty on the market that conserves energy by being efficient with the air usage.

If you plan on renovating the offices before you consider chucking away electrical items think about where to distribute them. Computers, monitors, tablets anything that is less than 5 years can be reused in the area by schools, other offices or charities. Be sure to check with what you can do with certain electricals before giving away.

Doing little things around the office can greatly improve the area you work in but efficiently helping on costs for your business. Over time you’ll see how they can benefit your company, you’ll also feel good knowing you and your team are working together to better the environment for years to come.

Strategize Your Work Environment And Ensure That It’s Working For You

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Interior Design And Layout

If your organization has a dark, dull, and gloomy appearance; it will affect the atmosphere and the mood and motivation of your team. Therefore, you’ll need to put together a plan of action regarding your offices or workspace, and how you’re going to design and decorate them. Natural light is the best way to boost moods and will impact the momentum and productivity of your staff; so let as much window light into the space as possible. You can learn more about the psychology of light and how it affects productivity here and gain some inspiration.Take down tired looking vertical and roller blinds and step out of the 80s and 90s to expose the light and any sun that may creep through. Your staff will appreciate the lift in the mood and feel of the office environment which will push them to work harder.

Keep paint colors as fresh and light as possible; it will help to enhance the natural light you’ve encouraged into the space and help to keep busy brains focused and clear-thinking. Don’t over clutter an environment with too much on the walls; motivational artwork, quotes, and targets are a great idea. However, an overly-crowded wall space will affect the clarity and thought processes of workers.

The layout of the desks, chairs, equipment, and other office furniture should allow the room to feel open and filled with air. Cramped and claustrophobic office environments, from furniture that’s too close together, will only stunt the abilities of your organization and your staff’s willingness to work hard. If a person wants to leave their desk the whole day due to feeling uncomfortable and squashed; their focus will not be on the task at hand, which will slow down your productivity and any results that you need. You don’t need to create a totally open-plan environment for your team; but bear in mind the size of surfaces, people’s storage solutions, and gauge the mood of the space before making any changes.

Exterior Maintenance And Refurbs

Alongside the interior space where your team keep your organization in full swing; your exterior will have a major role to play in the comfort, happiness, and productivity of anyone that walks through your doors. If buildings are left shabby, damaged, and unkempt, they can begin to cause damage to the inside of the property. Ensuring that your building is weatherproof will help to protect it from the element and any damage in the long run. Therefore, it’s worth seeking the help of commercial builders and industrial roofing contractors who will make sure the property is watertight and windproof; preventing damp, structural damage, and interior mold from affecting the smooth running of your business.

Maintaining the outside of the building will also help to improve its aesthetic appeal as people enter and leave the space. First impressions are crucial in the successful running of an organization, so make sure that as any potential clients enter your doors, they see quality and begin to grow confident in your business. Your team will also get a boost if they’re walking into a space they feel proud of; your organization needs to show that it cares about the details, so a tired looking exterior will never be good for business.

Make sure that you hire a commercial service to clean your windows regularly so that the light can continue to penetrate the inside space and the outside of your building will feel clean and tidy. Little touches, like your branding on new signage and hardy plants at the entrance, will also make a difference to the appeal of the building’s exterior. Make your company’s building a space that’s inviting and people will want to enter; invest in professional services where needed and carry out regular checks on the appearance so that you can fix what’s been changed as soon as possible.

Accessibility And Utilization

You will want your staff, customers, and clients to be able to reach the entrance of your building with ease so that nobody feels frustrated before the working day has even begun. Therefore, you’ll need to ensure that all of your paving, parking, and pathways remain tidy, clean, and safe. Make sure that outside surfaces are as flat and smooth as possible, and replace any wobbly slabs, stone, or brickwork. It will affect the aesthetics of your building as mentioned before, and will also ensure that everyone walks through your doors content and they won’t feel disheveled. You don’t want to risk a lawsuit either; you’ll be the one liable for accidents caused by potholes, broken walls and pathways, and badly maintained pathways, so invest wisely before you end up paying out.

Facilities, like bins and any parking meters and dividers, not only need to be provided but also need to be kept an eye on. If your exterior bins are overflowing, it can cause a health hazard and will upset visitors to your organization, so make sure they are emptied regularly. If you do have onsite parking with a meter; ensure that it works properly, so as not to frustrate and add stress to anybody’s day. If there are any problems; call the relevant help immediately and deal with the issue. Make sure that the maintenance and safety of the access and parking areas of your building are a priority; once these are up to a high standard, you can begin to think about the decorative aspects of the exterior space.

Money Saving Strategies For YOUR Business

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Whatever your business, whatever its size and whatever industry you operate in, you doubtless walk the same fine line as any other business, the line between maximising your profits and keeping your operational costs down to a minimum. All SMEs need cash, not just to pay their bills and vendors, but to give them the liquidity that can help their business seize vital opportunities for growth.

There are many and diverse ways of saving money, from using heat tape to save on plumbing costs to filling your office with energy saving fluorescent bulbs but, as with most things, the difference between success and failure is strategy. It’s not enough to implement a money saving measure, it’s important to monitor its effectiveness by monitoring its effects on costs over a quarterly or monthly period, enabling you to strategize accordingly.

Here are some money saving ideas that can benefit virtually any business.

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Outsource your marketing

Marketing is not a luxury or a frivolity, it’s a vital tool in ensuring your business’ reach and longevity and it’s not an area where you should skimp. You may not find it prudent to outsource your entire marketing strategy. A potent content marketing strategy, for example, will most likely be based around your personal blog, which relies on the uniqueness of your knowledge, insight and experience.

Marketing campaigns can be tailored to suit whatever budget you choose to allocate to it, although it’s worth noting that marketing is one of the most prudent investments you can make. It’s important to build a good relationship with a marketing firm you can trust. They should be able to show you examples of previous successful campaigns and all their costs should be transparent and explained upfront with no hidden expenses.

Negotiating with vendors

A good relationship with your vendors is important, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your business. If your vendor isn’t rewarding your loyalty then it may be looking elsewhere. Vendors face difficulties with the economy as much as any of their customers, and they should be making efforts to incentivize your loyalty. Most vendors would rather negotiate a better price with their customers than see them defect to another vendor who may lure them in with a special introductory price.

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Substitute traditional advertising with inbound marketing

The world of advertising and marketing is changing. There was a time when small businesses were limited to advertising on local radio or in local papers or (if they were big spenders) on a local TV network. Now, SMEs have a medium through which they can get their message across for free… The key is getting their leads to engage with it. If you’ve allocated a budget to old media advertising, it may be worth considering re-allocating it to Search Engine Optimization or a Pay Per Click campaign. You can even grow your reach organically through your content marketing campaign. Youtube videos, blogs, white papers, slideshows and webinars are great ways of expanding your business’ reach at little or no costs.