Posts

4 Ways To Be An Exceptional Manager To Your Team

/in /by

StrategyDriven Management and Leadership Article |Manage Your Team|4 Ways To Be An Exceptional Manager To Your TeamDo you want to be a better manager to your team? These tips will help you master management and be just that

1. Be A Good Communicator

It is crucial to be an effective communicator with each and every member of your staff, since all employees are unique this may mean that you need to refine your communication approach for each member. Granted, if you tend to bark orders at your staff they may quickly get into line, so to speak, but the atmosphere that you will create will be one that lacks motivation or good morale, in fact, you may even leave yourself open to a case for bullying or harassment in the workplace.

It is true that there are times when you may need to be firm, however, this can be done by using a clear and direct approach, on the other hand, other staff may respond more favorably if you use a friendly and casual approach. The more effective you are at communicating with your staff the better performance you will see.

Your communication should be consistent across the board and not lean towards favoritism. If you want to create a working atmosphere that is all about development and independence than you need to create a sense of stimulation rather than demand.

2. Employ An Open-Door Policy

When it comes to staff satisfaction, effective communication is key. Staff will tend to feel happier within their position when they feel that they have a boss they can turn to freely. The best managers are ones who encourage suggestions and are even open to constructive criticism; employees could easily have an idea that hadn’t even entered into your head. Employee engagement is something that should be desired not shunned. This provides a great basis to talk about current issues and possible solutions; the best results always come from the whole team working together. Managers that are at the top of their game tend to be the ones who genuinely care about their staff and recognize the value of worker feedback when it comes to the success and continues growth of there company.

3. Employees Need Feedback And Praise

Each staff member needs to know how they are doing. There are few things that could come even close to motivating employees than a sincere well done. When you need to give feedback that isn’t positive, it should still be given in a constructive way. This will all help your reputation.

For instance, if there is an area to an employee’s work that you want to be improved it would be a good idea to first remind them of areas where they are performing well. If you go in with only negative feedback there is every chance the employee will respond with a sense of resistance and your message will be lost.

A healthy team thrives on regular feedback, an aspect which is all too often overlooked. With a workload planner you can monitor task completion and give credit where it’s due, click here to find out more. A boss that is supportive feels compassion towards employees and is ready to provide the right support when required.

4. Be The Example Your Staff Need

The actions, speech, and attitude of the leader are ultimately what the rest of the team will imitate, hence the leader needs to set the right tone for the whole team. This tone isn’t complicated it’s about the simple things; being punctual, showing an understanding of what each staff member does, supporting team members, and the likes.

As well as this, a good leader will take responsibility when they make a mistake rather than try to lay the blame elsewhere. This will create an atmosphere of trust and respect meaning that your team will willingly go the extra mile for you.

Renting vs. Purchasing Construction Mats: Which Option Is Right for Your Business Needs?

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Construction Mats|Renting vs. Purchasing Construction Mats: Which Option Is Right for Your Business Needs?Construction mats, also referred to as access mats, crane mats, or equipment mats, serve a few important purposes. They protect the environment from the harm that could be caused by heavy equipment, create temporary roads and bridges, and provide a stable platform for heavy equipment to ensure safe operation.

While it’s usually obvious when a construction firm or contractor needs construction mats, it can be more difficult for business owners and independent equipment operators to determine whether they should buy mats or rent them for individual projects. Read on to find a few questions contractors or business owners can ask themselves whose answers will help clarify which solution will be a better fit.

How Long Will the Mats Be Used?

First, determine how long the project will take to complete. As a general rule of thumb, contractors should purchase mats for any project that will take six months or longer to finish. Spartan Mat offers a wide variety of new and used construction mats and also offers rental options for those who decide it’s not worth the money to buy the products outright.

Those who want a more precise idea of how much they will pay can add the amount of rent they will pay to the cost of shipping the mats back to the rental company. If it is approaching the amount of money it would cost to buy the mats outright, that’s usually a better choice.

How Likely Are the Mats to Break?

Most rental companies charge clients the price of the mats if they break, so it’s important to take the likelihood of this happening into account. There are many factors that influence how well construction mats will stand up to use, including the age of the mat, the number of times it will be moved throughout the project timeline, what type of machines will be placed on it, and whether it will be sitting in the mud.

Companies that plan to use their mats heavily in less-than-ideal environmental conditions should expect some breakage, even if they rent high-quality products. Ask the rental company about its policy regarding broken mats and consider the particulars of the job in question before deciding whether to rent or to buy.

How Much Will It Cost to Ship the Mats?

Rented construction mats must be shipped to and from the job site, and renters are often responsible for paying the return freight. If the rental company is far away, the cost of shipping the mats back after the job has been completed can make a huge difference when it comes to economic feasibility.

How Often Will the Mats Be Used?

All other things considered, if a company needs to use construction mats on a regular basis, it’s worth buying them instead of renting them. When renting other types of equipment, contractors can take advantage of perks like not having to deal with maintenance and equipment breakdowns, but since most rental companies require renters to pay for broken mats, this is a different story. As long as the company has a safe place to store them, buying mats will save money on shipping.

The Bottom Line

There’s no one right answer to the question of whether it’s more economically viable to buy or rent construction mats. Every situation is different. Contractors and business owners should now have a better idea of what factors they should consider when making this important decision.

Top ten collectible items that can land you a fortune

/in /by

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Collectibles|TOP TEN COLLECTIBLE ITEMS THAT CAN LAND YOU A FORTUNECan someone be luckier than the young girl from Congo who discovered The Incomparable? As estimated to be worth $55 million, this diamond adorns the world’s most expensive necklace. That’s just one example of how collecting rare items can land you an unexpected fortune. Your grandfather might’ve owned an ordinary car back in the ’40s. He probably never thought it would become a vintage object in the future. Now you can sell this vehicle for millions of dollars. Do you know how rare William Shakespeare’s signatures are? Do you have a copy of Gutenberg’s first print of the Bible, or does your family own a book signed by its long-dead author? You can make easy money by selling an authentic photograph of Billy the Kid. A croquet picture of the American outlaw valued almost around $5 million in 2015. That’s how much people are willing to pay for rare collectibles. Collecting stuff is a healthy hobby. And, if you can contact the right pawn shop, this hobby often turns into sweet green. The requirements for a fortune-landing collectible are simple. They must be old, rare, and in demand. Below is the list of ten collectible items that can make you a millionaire in no time.

BOOKS

Books have always been a real attraction for the masses. Some have caused revolutions in human history, and some have changed our perception of the world. No wonder if da Vinci’s Codex Leicester gets sold for $31 million. You may have some rare first prints of the Harry Potter series in your attic. Signed copies by J. K. Rowling can earn you up to $2000. If you have first editions of the Kite Runner or the Twilight, that’s some treasure you’re sitting on right now.

GOLD

A wedding ring worn by your grandma can be worth millions today. There are gold watches with a price tag of more than ten million dollars. The 1933 Double Eagle gold coin is worth $7.5 million. Gold items can be sold for more than their face value if they have a history attached to them. If you are looking for an authentic platform to sell some gold, try Meriden Pawn in Connecticut for smart and secure trading. Jewelry will always keep its place among the most expensive collectibles in the world.

TRADING CARDS

The purpose of trading cards is for people to collect them. Kids have been collecting Dragon Ball, Pokemon, or Dual Masters cards for ages. The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card is supposed to be a rare collectible. These cards bring people into debates about their authenticity. A unique Pikachu Illustrator Card has only six copies left in the world, and each one will cost you a hundred thousand dollars. Your playable collectibles can make you productive overnight.

MOVIE POSTERS

What if your ancestors went to see Gone with the Wind and brought back a poster? Is it likely for you to have an old poster depicting Marilyn Monroe’s signature skirt? These things do have their market among connoisseurs. In 2012, a guy paid a million euros for nine vintage posters, including one from Metropolis. Someone paid $435 thousand for a one-sheet poster of The Mummy (1932). Even the relatively-modern ones from Casablanca and Pulp Fiction can easily make you a lucky fellow.

STAMPS

Stamps collection is one of the most common trends among collectors. This hobby isn’t always just-entertainment. Sometimes, you find in your possession a rare vintage stamp that is now worth millions. Only two Benjamin Franklin Z Grill postage stamps are in existence today. One in the ownership of William H. Gross is worth $3 million. The same goes for Inverted Jenny, Hawaiian Missionary, and Black Empress; all these stamps are valuable collectibles and are worth a fortune. The mistake of a careless printer can be the source of someone’s wealth.

VIDEO GAMES

If you were a fan of Nintendo games in the ’90s, you might be hoarding an expensive collectible. In 2010, the only known complete version of Atari’s Air Raid made a sale of $33 thousand. Possessing a rare copy of Tetris or Birthday Mania can be your key to untouched wealth. These video games have now become a cultural obsession because of their rarity and previous popularity. Atari only produced one cartridge of Gamma Attack, which is now worth $50 thousand. That’s how much you can make if you’ve carefully preserved your childhood memories.

DOLLS

Yes, dolls aren’t just for girls to play with interestingly. Some toys are worth millions if people count them as collectibles. A Barbie doll from the late ’50s can land you a quick fortune. A porcelain doll made 80-100 years ago is a luxurious vintage item. In 2014, an auction house sold one such Parisian collectible for $300 thousand. There are multiple ways to determine if your doll collection is a treasure or not. The mark of the manufacturer matters just as the age of the doll does.

COINS

Collecting coins is probably the second most common hobby after stamps. Some people have an obsession with gathering coins from different countries. Others go a step further and try their luck with the currency of the past. It’s sporadic to find coins buried in the earth. But you may have some vintage ones in your collection. Flowing Hair Silver is the costliest coin in the world. Someone bought it in 2013 for an incredible sum of $10 million.

COMIC BOOKS

Possessing an old comic book or the first print of a famous manga can be quite rewarding. A 1938 comic book depicting the first appearance of Superman made $3.2 million in 2014. The hapless guy who owned this collectible started the bid at 99 cents. But eBay proved to be quite generous to Darren Adams. Two hours into an auction and people were offering millions to purchase the debut issue of Clark Kent. If someone in your family loved DC/Marvel, you should try your luck with their belongings.

ACTION FIGURES

If you have an action figure in pristine condition, it can get sold as a rare collectible. A Darth Vader or Babe Ruth action figure is worth thousands of dollars. In 2009, an auction sold a 1963 GI. Joe figurine for $200 thousand. Do you know that there exist only two Elastic Batman figures left in the world? These stretchable collectibles are worth a lot of bucks. The market’s quite crazy for Star Wars action figures if you have the rarest pieces. The Goku Yardrat Variant Full Action Figure is so unique that only a few photographs of it are available online. It’s one of the most sought-after collectibles in the world of anime.

CONCLUSION

A 2000 research suggested that 73 million American citizens were collectors. It means that around 35% of the US population used to collect vintage items. Pamela Danziger stated that most Americans collected coins, figurines, trading cards, and dolls. From books and cars to Victorians and autographs, collectibles make a vast industry. A Forbes study revealed that collectibles constitute a $200 billion market. Therefore, there’s a good chance you’re one of those lucky guys with a rarity in his/her possession. So, start going through your memorabilia because a fortune’s waiting for you.

How to Use Website Design to Drive Digital Marketing

/in /by

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Website Design|How to Use Website Design to Drive Digital MarketingWhile the majority of business owners are aware of the importance of digital marketing, many lack the technical know-how to fully comprehend the extent to which a successful digital marketing strategy relies upon website design. A well-designed website is one that can be trusted, not just by customers, but by search engines too. Without this trust and navigability, the potential of any digital marketing campaign will be severely limited.

Why Web Design and Digital Marketing are Inextricably Linked

There seems to be an obvious answer to this question: customers won’t want to spend time on a poorly designed site. While this is true, there is much more to it. Awareness of the extent to which a website affects marketing comes from focusing on how a customer arrives at the site. Of course, a website design must facilitate an enjoyable customer experience, but in order for this to happen a website must be accessible, otherwise, all efforts are futile.

While there are some tweaks that can be performed in-house, consulting a website design company that specializes in marketing, such as The Gist, is the best way to ensure a site is fully optimized and complements your wider marketing strategy. Optimized design has a big impact on the website’s potential search engine rankings. The list below outlines some areas of focus.

Loading Speeds

Search engines are businesses looking to provide the best product to their users. This is particularly apparent when considering loading speeds. Take Google as an example: their research has shown that the average user expects a site to load in less than three seconds… otherwise they consider leaving.

Google has repeatedly stated the importance of loading speeds for high search engine rankings and they are set to continue prioritizing websites that have fast loading speeds. A good agency will know how to compress code, use the right images and make little tweaks to boost speed and retain users.

NathanIves.com Digital Products Platform Online Training Program

Navigation

A study from the Stanford Technology Lab found 46.1% of participants judged a website’s credibility on factors such as visual design, layout, typography, font size, and color schemes. While the overall aesthetic of a website is very important, there is one particular aspect that is necessary to achieve a high search engine ranking: navigation.

Navigation links inform search engine crawlers which pages are the site’s most important and provide them with an easy way to access these pages. There are many different navigation tools available: drop-down menus, double navigation bars, and single navigation bars being the most common. Having descriptive titles a good robots.txt and a site navigation map will make a site more crawlable.

Mobile Compatibility

In the first quarter of 2020, mobile devices (excluding tablets) generated 52% of global website traffic, making mobile users an important market to cater to. Specifically tailoring a website for mobile devices can include cutting down long bodies of texts, simplifying the navigation system and reducing the size of images and videos to improve loading speeds.

Crawlability

Websites must have the human experience at the forefront; however, this needs to be carefully balanced with crawlability. Search Engines use bots to crawl websites as well as download and index information to determine if the site can be trusted and if they should recommend that site to their viewers. If a website’s architecture cannot be processed by the bot’s algorithm, then they will be automatically classified as suspicious and may be penalized.

Top Tips for Niche Marketing

/in /by

StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Niche Marketing|Top Tips for Niche MarketingIt is the 21st century, and because of that, most people have the option to start up a business in literally no time at all. With societal rules changing by the second and laws falling shortly behind, this has already opened a whole new world for business. It is a special time, where those who have a deep passion for something specific can come together and find others who are also into the very same specific thing and turn it into something beautiful.

That said, general marketing is just not prepared for the variety of businesses, personalities, and changes that are being made by the second, and will often appear outdated for such a new concept — which is where niche marketing comes in.

This piece will discuss some top tips for niche marketing, perfect for those who have a very specific business and customer base.

Find Strengths and Weaknesses in the Niche

Like all brilliant ideas, the cons also must be considered when it comes to taking a leap into the business world.

The idea might already be firmly planted, but it is important to analyze the niche market idea to find its strengths — and how to capitalize on them — and weaknesses, to strengthen them. This is the best base from which a niche idea can flourish.

It is also important to do this for the business too, to see how it all stacks up.

Conduct Industry Research

There will be a very high probability that whatever the idea is, somebody else out there has already done it. But that is not a bad thing! In fact, there is plenty of room for many businesses in the same sector to thrive. However, conducting research will help give those in businesses a better idea of who might want to use, buy, or rent a product.

For example, varying states have changed laws regarding marijuana, which means plenty of businesses are now popping up to start a new venture in relation to this. But there is a big difference between a consumer to business relationship and a business to business relationship, and it is crucial to work out who the target audience is, and in what areas might services be required. PDX Gold have set up in a niche market offering extraction services, whereas another company might offer growing services.

Solve Customers Problems

Who better to solve customer’s problems than a company who whole-heartedly specializes in a product, service, or industry? Find gaps where similar products may not be filling a need for the target audience or work to upgrading or changing a service that eliminates customer’s problems from other services to really stand out. Showing that a business really listens to its customers and acts on it can be a brilliant ally to a brand’s reputation.

Think About What Marketing Will Benefit the Business

It is easy to tell a business to ‘get on Facebook’, but depending on what the business specializes in, that might not be helpful at all. Look at competitors and see how they approach marketing; see what is working and what is not, and do not be afraid to think outside the box. Whatever route a business goes down, make sure it is cost-effective and that the strategy engages the target audience.