Posts

Staying Mobile – Advice For Running A Company On The Move

/in , /by

Many people start online businesses these days. That allows you to stay mobile and travel around the country or the world while you make money. Of course, there are issues that can arise when you don’t work from a fixed address. You’ll find some excellent tips and tricks on this page that should help you to avoid any problems. At the end of the day, you just need to make sure you can access information, accept payments, and converse with customers. Don’t worry too much about the costs involved because prices have come down a lot during the last few years. If you’re smart, you can do all that without spending a fortune or breaking the bank,

Ensure you have mobile payment solutions

There is no getting away from the fact that you will require a mobile payment processor if you plan to travel. You never know when you might meet someone and sell a product or service. So, you need a tool that will facilitate those transactions. Thankfully, there are many solutions available on the market today. So, you just have to research the most popular ones and make an assessment. Also, those packages will enable you to accept payments via the telephone regardless of where you are in the world. In most instances, you will pay a monthly fee for the service. Some providers will also take a commission from your transactions. However, that’s nearly always lower than 2%.

Store all important documents in the cloud

You never know when you will need to access important documents and files. While you can keep some of them on your laptop, you don’t want to clog it up. So, it makes sense to invest in a high-end cloud storage solution. You can then access everything you might require with the click of a button. You just need a WiFi connection and the passwords to gain entry. That should mean you never arrive for a meeting unprepared again. If you forget something, you can get it up on your screen in a matter of seconds. Best of all? Cloud storage providers spend millions on creating the most secure systems possible. That means you don’t have to worry about hackers stealing your information.

Use online live chat to communicate with customers

There will come the point when you need to talk to customers and clients. Perhaps they have a complaint or issue? Maybe they want to ask questions about a new product or service? Either way, online live chat solutions are the answer. There are many different platforms available on the market right now. In most instances, you just need to ask your web developers to add the feature to your website. That way, any visitors can contact you in real time. That should mean you don’t miss out on any sales because they won’t look at alternative sellers. If you can deal with their issue fast, the chances of them spending money will increase.

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article
Photo courtesy of Marco Raaphorst via flickr

You should now have all the information you need to make a success of your mobile business. The internet means anyone can start a company without requiring a physical address. It’s a fantastic revelation for those who enjoy more freedom in their lives. So, make sure you put that information to good use and leave no stone unturned. Good luck with that!

Tech Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself! 3 Reasons To Upgrade Your Systems

/in /by

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article

Blink, and you’ll be due another tech upgrade! As time moves on we constantly need to get the latest tech and systems to ensure that our business moves with the times, but do we need to keep updating our machinery? In fact, do we even need to upgrade at all? Well, yes. And here are some reasons your tech is very likely due an upgrade.

Your Customers

If you think that you have a dedicated customer base that won’t waiver, then you have another thing coming! Your customers need to be at the forefront of your mind when you are communicating with them, and if they have moved onto more sophisticated methods of payment, from contactless to bitcoin, and if you haven’t changed with them they are going to leave you behind. Having a dedicated core of customers is what every business thinks it has, but if you can’t keep up with the times, it’s not going to help you retain them. Increase your methods of payment, and how you communicate with your customers, from follow-up emails to customer satisfaction surveys and even courtesy calls. It’s these little touches that will keep you in their mind when they are looking for somewhere to get their next product.

Your Platforms

Every online platform is developing at the speed of light, and if you aren’t covering your standard social media bases, then you have to make sure that your website is as good as it is going to be. The importance of the platforms you need to operate on will get you the most amount of coverage, and if you plan on pushing your company further when it comes to your target markets, you need to make sure your servers and equipment can cope with the strain. Using companies like ATB Technologies can help you to overcome teething issues if you are a small business with big ideas. As the scope of the company increases, the tech should grow to match it.

Your Carbon Footprint   

If you are using tech that has the power of an etch-a-sketch, then it may not be just draining your electric, but it may also be giving you a massive carbon footprint. Upgrading your tech to things like cloud-based operating systems and computers that automatically power down when they are not being used means a cheaper electric bill and a big reduction in the amount of waste your company is generating. If you still have to print out loads of paper, making the switch to tablet devices for every staff member means much less wastage. And connecting tablets to a cloud network means increased connectivity between the staff which will increase things like collaboration, but it can also help staff members to keep in the loop if they work from home.

Your tech impacts your business in so many ways, from the productivity to the marketing, so you owe it to your company to make sure it runs on the best tech you can afford; this especially applies if you are still using dial-up!

Business Owners: Are You Taking On Too Much?

/in /by

It’s fair to say that starting a business is not for the feint of heart. And in those early days, you, as the business owner, are likely to be doing everything, from basic accounts through to cold calling prospects. And it’s a way of life that will start to feel normal over time.

However, as your business grows it will be impossible to do everything you need to with maximum efficiency, and there’s every chance your levels of service will start to slip a little. Stress will become the norm, and your business will feel like it is beginning to creak.

The reason is simple – you are taking on too much. And at some point in time, you will need to start thinking about handing over the reins to others, relinquishing a little bit of control of your business, and start being more efficient. Let’s take a look at some of the key areas of your business for which you should seek out help.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
Photo courtesy of Pexels

The Basics

First of all, have a think about the tasks that you spend a lot of time on that don’t make you any money. Let’s say that when you are out selling your product to prospects, you generate $1,000 a day for your business. But you only have time to do this for four days a week, as one whole day is taken up doing paperwork. Effectively, you are paying $1,000 for someone to do basic admin tasks that you could pass on to an assistant for anything between a fifth and a tenth of the price. Not only that, but the extra day selling it frees up will earn another $1,000 for your business, so you win in more ways than one.

The Systems

Your IT network is likely to be vital to your business, as it is for many companies these days. However, if you are running it all yourself, it can be incredibly draining on your time and resources. Handing over the reins to managed IT services can be a huge help and take away a lot of your stresses and strains. The company you hire will be responsible for keeping your system running, maintenance, and updates, leaving you free to focus on the money-making activities in your business.

The Marketing

You understand the inner workings of your business more than anyone else. But it’s not necessarily a good thing. It’s all too easy to get wrapped up in your business and not be able to see it how your target audience sees what you do. Hiring an external marketing team to come in and take over your marketing efforts can pay off, as they will approach your business with a fresh pair of eyes. They will see it as your customers see it, and bring in new marketing tactics into the mix.

The People

Finally, you can employ people to do all the tasks listed above, of course. But one thing you have to bear in mind that managing people is a full-time job in itself, and it will change the way you work almost entirely. So, if you do plan to take on full-time employees, consider hiring a human resources professional first. They will be critical in ensuring you are complying with employment law and establishing a safe and vibrant company culture.

Steady Growth Builds Business Success

/in /by

Many new business owners make the mistake of trying to build their companies too quickly. They spend money before their firm is secure, and that leads to cash flow issues. In some instances, things get bad, and they have to abandon their ambitions and start all over again. To stop that from happening, it’s essential that you create a growth plan when you’re first starting out. It shouldn’t take a long time, and there are plenty of business advisors willing to assist. The tips on this page will help you to get things right, and they could push your operation to the next level. It’s all about taking things steadily.

Don’t employ permanent staff until you have reliable income

There are lots of alternatives to hiring permanent staff that you should consider. For example, you could contact local recruitment agencies to get the assistance you require. You could also ask friends and family members if they’re willing to help out. You could ask your lawyer to develop temporary contracts that only last for three months. That would mean you aren’t obliged to cover an entire annual salary if something goes wrong. You never know what’s going to happen when you’re just starting out. So, it’s best to play it safe and limit your outgoings as much as possible.

Don’t rent premises until you can afford the annual fees

The second biggest mistake people make relates to renting facilities. At some point, you will need a dedicated office or warehouse for your operation. However, you don’t want to rush into anything until you have lots of cash in the bank. Work out the annual fees and then compare them to your monthly income. The guys from Guardian Business Center say that is the best way to protect your venture. At the end of the day, you would struggle to meet your financial responsibilities if you experience a slump in sales. The debt you amount could end up crippling your company and leaving you will no choice other than to close it down.

Don’t expand into new territories until you’ve dominated your home market

Trading overseas is an excellent strategy for increasing sales. The guys at PCA Predict highlighted that fact recently. Even so, it’s not something you should do before the time is right. You have a home market in which you should aim to dominate. If you haven’t exhausted potential customers in your country, it doesn’t make sense to look elsewhere. You should only do that when your sales stagnate regardless of how much you spend on marketing. That is a good indication that you have saturated the market, and you need to move on to a new territory.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
Photo courtesy of tec estromberg via flickr

Just remember guys; slow and steady wins the race. If act too fast, you might end up harming your chances of success. So, you need to take your time and perform careful assessments of any ideas you might have. Only act when you believe it is in the best interests of your company. If there are any uncertainties, you should wait until you’ve found a way of clearing them up.

The Digital Entrepreneur’s New Business Checklist

/in /by

In today’s fierce business climate, new entrepreneurs are far more likely to target online audiences instead of offline ones. Running a company in the digital arena can reduce overheads while the potential for profit is far greater also.

Those possibilities should not fool you into thinking that the journey will be easy. Competition in the online arena is stronger than ever. If you aren’t prepared for the battles ahead, your business will inevitably follow the same path as the vast majority of failures.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
Photo courtesy of Max Pixel

Perfect your strategy with these factors, and you should be just fine.

  • Invest in the quality of your team. From successful recruitment drives to promoting improved motivation, those steps to a productive staff are key. After all, you are essentially putting the fate of your entire operation in their hands. If they perform well, the business will too. Combine the perfect internal team with the help of remote-based freelancers, and you should be set to thrive. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work. Do not forget it.
  • Appreciate the importance of your website. As an online business, your domain is the most important asset of all. It shouldn’t simply promote products. It should additionally generate trust from the consumer. Hiring an ecommerce agency to get your platform in perfect health is advised. Unfortunately, if the selling systems are lacking, transactions won’t be completed. Without sales, the entire company is destined to crash and burn.
  • Be prepared for the worst at all times. All business operations will encounter low points. But prevention is the best form of protection and can reduce the damage greatly. This could range from keeping the working environments safe to factoring in potential returns. Gaining this sense of control won’t only limit the risks involved in business. It’ll also help you make education decisions when growing the company.
  • Understand the needs of your customers. First and foremost, finding your place in the market will allow you to target your primary audience with far greater effect. Consumers don’t only deserve smooth transactions, though. Many online businesses fail to focus on customer care, but yours mustn’t fall into this trap. Even if it means using a virtual assistant service, attending to the ongoing issues of the clients is critical. Otherwise, one bad episode could see them take their custom elsewhere. Conversely, positive experiences should bring long-term loyalty.
  • Keep an eye on spending. Spending money is a necessary part of running a business, but excessive overheads will pile on the pressure. Finding the best deals on operational costs like energy rates will inevitably increase your profits. As well as maximizing short-term profits, this can also buy more time for the venture. The vast majority of failures occur because they run out of money before reaching sustained profitability. So this could be a killer component.

Following the right blueprint won’t guarantee success. After all, you still need to produce great products while marketing your goods in a suitable fashion. Nonetheless, those strong foundations will increase your chances.

If nothing else, adopting great habits now will serve you well in the future too.