 Image credit: Markus Spiske from Pexels A trucking company exists with one clear aim: to get items from one place to another for clients. Most trucking businesses will have clients across different industries, loading up their vehicles with products and goods before hauling them to another location. The truck can either be reserved for one client or split between multiple - it depends on how your business does business.
Generally, these businesses are profitable. After all, you see trucks on the roads all the time; there will always be a demand for trucking services from companies around the country. However, certain things could slow down your business and hold it back from reaching its true potential. Here are three of those things to be aware of: Damaged trucks Naturally, a trucking company is nothing without its trucks. When they start becoming damaged, this can be a big problem. Many trucks in your fleet may be off the roads until they’re repaired, meaning you lose money. To prevent damaged trucks, you should start by choosing a top-quality manufacturer, like International. From here, you can easily find International truck shop manuals to let you know how to maintain the vehicle and prevent it from being damaged by a lack of maintenance. The combination of a trusted manufacturer and a good maintenance routine can prevent a whole host of common truck repairs from needing to be done. Bad drivers Likewise, bad drivers can be an issue for your trucking business in multiple ways. For one, bad drivers might drive recklessly, leading to damaged cargo that leads to unhappy customers and a bad reputation. Secondly, bad drivers might damage the truck itself, leading to the problems mentioned above. Thirdly, drivers are the face of your business, so the way they interact with customers will reflect on your brand. Bad ones will make your company look bad by having an awful attitude that customers hate. The only way to prevent this is by hiring good, experienced, drivers. Half-empty trucks This happens when you don’t have enough haulage inside your trucks. So, you drive them half empty to their next location, and it feels like a waste of money and effort. When this usually happens, it’s because one client is using the truck, but they don’t have enough stuff to fill it. Instead, you should opt for something mentioned in the introduction; splitting the truck up for multiple clients to use. Why send out two half-empty trucks when you can have one full truck instead? It’s more cost-effective, and you’ll end up making more money. Plus, you start catering to clients who might never need a truckload of goods to be transported. They only have a small amount, meaning they avoid you because it’s not worth their money. If they know they can rent a small bit of cargo space, they’re more likely to give you a call. So, you open the door to new customers and can make more money. Don’t let these three things slow your trucking company down. When done correctly and managed efficiently, trucking businesses can be extremely profitable!
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 Image credit: Burst from Pexels Home offices, when they are designed properly, can give you an ample working space that will support creativity and productivity. If you feel as though your space is somewhat lacklustre then you have to know that you are not alone. So many people are in the same situation as you are, but there are things that you can do to try and make your space work for you. Take a look below to find out more.
Natural Light It’s so important that your office is located where there is a lot of natural light. This is the best way for you to make sure that you are way more active and energised. Natural lighting is great for your wellbeing, and it can also help you to maintain very high levels of Vitamin D. This is a critical nutrient as it will help you to improve your sleep. It will also help you to stay in a good mood as well. Having a home office that gets a lot of natural light will also reduce the amount of energy that you consume because you won’t have to worry about turning on the lights as often. Find a Nice Quiet Spot If you want to be able to truly focus when you are working at home, then you need to make sure that your home office is in a quiet spot. If you don’t live alone, then you may find that there are certain parts of your home where you are interrupted less. If you can make sure that your office is in the right place then this is half the battle won, so make sure that you keep this in mind if you possibly can. The Right Colour Scheme Colours can have a huge impact on your mental health. If you do not choose the right colours for your home office, then you may find that your productivity is impacted more than you realise. After all, you really don’t want to be falling asleep every time you sit down at your desk. Different colours will of course, elicit different emotional responses as well. If you want to choose the right colours then try and opt for earthy tones or natural hues. This can include greens, off-whites and even blues. Choose Furniture that is Ergonomic Choosing furniture that is ergonomic is so important. You will be spending a lot of time in your office, so make sure that it is well-designed and comfortable. In addition to supporting your health, you should know that ergonomic furniture will help you to be more comfortable and it will also help you to support your focus too. Keep in mind that ergonomic doesn’t mean “so comfortable that it will make you fall asleep”. It means supporting your neck and back while also giving you the right design to do your job. Personal Touches Adding a personal touch to your home will help it to stop feeling as though it is just a workspace. It will help you to boost your productivity and it will also make it easier for you to be comfortable. You have to make sure that you surround yourself with personal items and you also need to make sure that you stay motivated as much as possible. If you can do this well, then you may find that it puts you in the right mood for work and it also helps you to overcome some of the challenges that are associated with working out of an office at home. If you want to make something for your office, it is wise to check out Glue Guns Direct. Focus on your Needs The ideal workspace is not the same for everyone. Before you even think about designing your workspace, or before you contact a professional, you have to set some clear expectations. You need to know what you want from your space as this will help you to make the process way easier. Remember that the needs you have will depend on the job that you do, so make sure that you are giving this enough thought if possible. Eliminate Distractions One of the downfalls that comes with working out of your home is the amount of distractions that you have to deal with. Even though you do have distractions in a working environment, they are nothing compared to what you have to deal with at home. Try and avoid making things too cluttered, and also make sure that you take a break when you need to. Having a space where you can do this is crucial, so make sure that you keep this in mind if you can. It’ll make things a lot easier for you.  Image credit: Cottonbro from Pexels Just about everyone has some kind of fantasy about being able to walk out of their job and start their own business. Whether you feel like you could do a better job than your boss, or you have a passion that you really want to pursue, the idea of being able to get out and take control of your life can be intoxicating. Of course, for the longest time, this fantasy was just that. Most people assume that there's no way for them to be able to really get out of the standard 9-to-5 trap that so many of us find ourselves in. However, that's not necessarily true. In fact, there's never been a better time to break out and finally take back control of your life. Here are just a few reasons why starting your own business is easier than ever.
You can make any business look professional One of the biggest challenges that people used to face when setting up a business is that it’s hard to compete with other, more established companies. A really wonderful thing about the fact that we are all now living in a virtual world is that the internet allows you to present your business in the most professional way possible no matter how small it might be. You no longer have to spend all of your time overshadowed by other, larger businesses. You can market your business for free Marketing has always been one of the most significant expenses for a lot of businesses. This is because large-scale marketing campaigns often require a great deal of coordination and planning. However, that kind of marketing is actually becoming less and less relevant in an age where what people really want is high-quality content. Instead, you can use things like a blog or social media to be able to create the kind of content that not only will people want to engage with but will also create an emotional connection that was previously impossible. And the best part? It's totally free! There's information available on just about everything There is always going to be a moment where you're in the position of not knowing what to do next with your business. Whether that's a lack of technical knowledge, or not really understanding the next step in any given process. Luckily, you have access to literally all of human knowledge at the touch of a button! Whatever you need to know, there's a pretty good chance that you're going to be able to find it without too much trouble. Of course, if you do decide to follow this path then you've got to be ready to face a lot of challenges. Even with all of the modern advances that have made the whole process of starting a business easier, that doesn't mean that you're not going to have to put in a great deal of hard work and effort. But if you're willing to do that, then your dream is right there, just waiting for you to reach out and take it.  Image credit: Iberseries Platino Industria After a long period of hibernation, networking events are back and back in a big way. Businesses denied the opportunity of making new connections face to face are keen to get their people, products and pitches back on the road. Here are a couple of tips to make the most of each event you attend and feel comfortable sharing who you are, with anyone, wherever you go. If you'd like to read more, here's a related blog post. Research your event Make sure you know who is speaking (and about what), the other companies represented in the room and make a mental shortlist of who you want to connect with and how your business relates to the topics being discussed. Know how to break the ice Have a set of rehearsed relaxed icebreakers ready to go. This can be as simple as “hi, how’s your day going?”. Or, you can try adding a bright item to your wardrobe which allows people to strike up a conversation around this talking point. Prioritise asking questions and listening over selling Asking questions in the right way and practicing effective listening showcases your emotional intelligence skills. Not only that, listening is proven to make you appear more charming to others. Treat event breaks like ad breaks This is a great tactic and removes the temptation to reach for your phone during breaks. When there is an intermission at the event, try turning to the person next to you and seeing if they have plans for lunch or want to grab a coffee.  Image credit: Wallpapers Craft Know when to move on
As hard as it can be to strike up a conversation, there is nothing more excruciating than being stuck in a conversational dead end. If you’re ready to end the conversation, do so in a friendly non-abrupt way. Don’t make it feel like you’re brushing them off, exchange your contact details and retire with “it was really nice to meet you, I hope we can connect again”. Take advantage of apps When networking, technology is your friend. Not just for sharing your professional identity but for logging your contacts, making notes about who you met and creating a platform for further contact. There is no better way to do this than with Blinq digital business cards. With Blinq you can share your business cards in a way that works for you. You can share via the top rated iOS or Android apps, smartphone widgets or even via your Apple Watch. Bling digital business cards make a positive reflection on your business and are a brilliant extension of your brand experience, helping you stand out and be memorable in moments that matter. Grow your network and your business with Blinq.  Image credit: Magnet Me from Unsplash Now that things are returning to some sort of normal, you can start to think about taking steps towards climbing up the career ladder, or, if you are feeling particularly daring, looking at a whole new industry.
Remember what you do best Make a list of the things that you enjoy doing and the things that you are great at. In most cases, they are the same thing. So do not think about jobs just yet; instead, consider your abilities and hobbies. Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing, including some that you believe are not profitable. Consider what other people have to say about you and how you perceive yourself. If you are good at fishing, for example, include that on your list. Make a list of the talents and skills required for those activities – for example, fishing takes keen powers of perception and meticulous attention to detail. Look at the jobs that use those skills Look for information on the Internet. Search for job skills, career skills, skills evaluation, and anything else that springs to mind. Narrow the list down to the ones that you would want to do Reduce the number of potential professions to just three, maybe four. Continue to revise your list until you are convinced that you would enjoy working in those fields and that you would be successful in them. Then reduce your options down to a single career and devote your full attention to it. Do your research into the career. Look for information on the Internet - it is a wealth of information. You will find case studies, real-life thoughts, experiences, and just about everything else about it. Consult your local job centre to learn about work opportunities in your new field of study or profession. Enquire about training opportunities and courses such as SMP Liverpool. Talk to people who are already working in your chosen field. Remember that you are not asking for a job; instead, you are learning about the profession itself. What is it about it that attracts successful people? What are the most significant abilities? What is it like on the inside? If they could go back in time, would they have chosen something different? If there is a union, you can find out more by contacting the local office. It is a good idea to join a union if there is one, as this can give you legal support. If you have found your career curtailed by the Covid pandemic, turn it into a positive. Perhaps this is your chance to branch out and try something completely different!  Image credit: Headway from Unsplash You have finally got your start-up business running and are gearing up for your first event. In the run-up to the event, you will be in a calm but busy mode. Ensuring that your stage is set, there are no issues with speakers, any leftover tickets are being promoted, and all systems go.
The event goes off without a hitch - it’s perfect. You gathered some great industry contracts and contacts, and so did your attendees. You hired a photographer (more info here about commercial photography), and the photos are back - and you can’t wait to use them. What next? The follow-up of the event is one of the most crucial parts of saying your event was a success. Emails When you were selling tickets, and during the event, you should have collected plenty of email addresses from the attendees. You must make people aware of what they might be used for while collecting these addresses, including newsletters or marketing. The purpose of the follow-up emails will depend on what you were hoping to achieve from the event. In all cases, you will be looking to secure the connection between you and the person on the receiving end of the email. Within this email, you should be sure to thank all attendees, share the images from the photographer (make sure you purchased the proper license to do this), remind them of sponsors and the products or talks they saw at the event. Feedback If you want to do anything better in life, you have to ask for feedback. It is essential to know what you did and didn’t do well. When you know what you did well, you give yourself to capitalise on that success and iterate. Negative feedback is as vital as positive feedback. If you don’t know what didn’t work, you won’t be able to improve your offering. Welcome feedback, but use it as a loop. Ask - receive - act -ask - receive - act, and so on. Social Media Use your social media to carefully tag and thank attendees. Highlight the best bits, thank sponsors, and communicate. During the early stages of your event planning, you most likely would’ve created a hashtag to make your mentions easy to track and increase visibility. Search through this hashtag and reply - if you didn’t have a team on it live during the event. Press Release Compile all of the coverage on social media, blogs and industry media outlets. You’ll need to ask for permission to use the content, but UGC is some of the most beneficial you will ever get - it is worth acting fast. You can do this yourself, or you might want to hire a press release writer to handle it for you. Send your press release to all industry websites and magazines, create a page with more information, and offer interview opportunities. Don’t Dwell After the event is over, the content is collected, the press releases are sent - it is time to move on. While it might be tempting to keep eating out on the success of one event - you must keep moving forward within your business. Do you need some tips to manage your social media? Read more: A guide to social media marketing! - LEARN DEVELOP LIVE  Image credit: Negative Space from Pexels The medical field is a competitive industry to get into, but it doesn't have to be impossible. There are many great tips and tricks on how you can become successful in this career path. This blog post provides some of the best advice on how to break into the medical field and succeed with your pursuit of a job in the medical industry.
1 Start planning early on Your college years are the perfect time to start planning your future career; it is never too early! Considering that this industry requires a lot of training and education, you should not wait until later in life or when faced with strict deadlines before starting your career path. Starting planning now will ensure success and allow you more time to get ahead of the pack. Learn about different medical specialties so that you can choose which one best suits your interests and skills/talents. Choose where you want to work: hospital vs private practice? Do you want to stay local or travel? Are there specific locations that interest you, such as Washington DC, Europe, Asia etc.? Is urban vs rural better suited for what type of lifestyle you want to live? Look at the different educational paths for your specialty/location of choice: is a specialization required, or will a general doctor suffice? 2 Find the best education Your education is critical in your pursuit of a career in the medical field. Make sure you are using all available resources and getting as much knowledge as possible to ensure success. Look for schools that will allow you to specialize early on rather than waiting until later years because this industry requires specialization and experience right from the beginning phases of training. You should find out if there are any other requirements such as internships or work experience required by certain educational institutions before committing yourself to their program -make an informed decision! 3 Get adequate apparel You don't have to work in the medical field for long before finding that clinical apparel is necessary. There are many different styles and brands of dental scrubs for sale, but it’s essential to wear clothing that contributes towards comfortability when working at a hospital or doctor's office; make sure they aren't too loose-fitting! It can be difficult finding out which brand/style works best with your body type, so try on as many different types of scrub tops and bottoms as possible until you find what fits appropriately (you can even ask if there is an exchange policy at most stores!). 4 Start volunteering One of the best ways to get experience and learn more about different types of medical specialties is to start volunteering. Volunteer at a place where you can be hands-on with patients/clients so that you truly understand what it's like to be in their shoes -maybe even shadow someone who works in your desired field! You will find out quickly if this profession is right for you or not, which saves valuable time down the road when looking for jobs. There are many online opportunities to help young professionals become successful in pursuing a job in the medical industry. Whether through websites such as VolunteerMatch or community service projects within local organizations, there should always be something going on near you!  Image credit: Mikhail Nilov from Pexels Late payers can be a significant drain on a small business's finances. No one likes to think that their clients will fail to deliver on their end of the bargain when they agree to work. However, their financial issues become your economic issues. Unfortunately, this happens too frequently. In many cases, it isn't so much a case of the client not wanting to pay; although this happens, it is usually the result of financial issues.
So how can you avoid the possibility of not being paid for your work? Check Out Your Client Before you even enter into negotiations, do some background research first on your potential client. Ask your peers and associates if they have had any dealings with this company and know of their reputation. If your digging comes back positive, you can go ahead; if not, you can decide whether or not you want to take the risk of potentially not being paid. Draw Up A Contract A contract is a legally binding document. Has it been created with a legal expert in your field so you can fall back on it if anything happens? Include the deliverable from all parties, timescales, resolution processes in the event of problems, and payment requirements. Have it signed and give everyone a copy, so both you and the client are aware of your responsibilities. Consider Retaining Legal Services No one wants to pursue legal action against non-payers, but in some cases, it is necessary. Choose representatives who have knowledge and experience in your industry, such as cannabiz, who are experts in recovering debts owed in the cannabis industry. Ask for Payment Upfront Where at all possible, treat the work you agree to as a retail sale and request payment upfront. Usually, 30-day invoices terms are standard, but removing this clause from the table and insisting on full or partial payment upfront can help you to avoid the possibility of not being paid. Do not start any work until the required payments have been received, and you are happy to go ahead. This won't work for all businesses and nor will all clients be on board with this, but those who are unable to take the financial hit of not being paid, or the invoice is of a substantial amount, can be an alternative to the worry you might have about losing out. Keep The Lines of Communication Open This applies to before, during, and after the work has been completed. The more frequently you are in contact with the client, the less likely they will disappear. Make sure you have multiple contact avenues if you need to chase payments or discuss the work you are undertaking. Think emails, phone numbers, work, business addresses, LinkedIn profiles, social media, etc. This will allow you to retain lines of communication in the event of a relationship breakdown. Knowing who you can turn to in advance can be a weight off your mind should you need to pursue legal debt collection.  Image credit: PhotoMix Company from Pixabay Making your business more attractive will boost brand awareness, profits, and success. The more appealing your business is, the greatest interest you will have from new customers. Likewise, existing customers will want to stay with you if you are the most attractive business in the market.
Business appeal boils down to offering great products/services for great prices while maintaining great customer service. On that note, here are some effective tricks to make your business more attractive. Create an app A business app is a useful tool in today’s age of mobile phone users. Most people have a smart device that allows them to download and use apps. Many people feel that it is an easier way to shop or communicate. Therefore, it is a great idea to create one so that your business is easier to navigate and use. You can create great business apps by using app developers, as they will allow you to get the best result when building your business app. Instead of wondering whether or not it will run smoothly for your users and worrying about its usability, the experts will ensure to create an app that is easy and seamless to use. You won’t want your customers using a slow or confusing app. Therefore, leaving it to the professionals will ensure that you can achieve a seamless and effective end result. Build a blog There are so many ways that blogging can benefit your business. In today’s world, there are millions of blogs out there that often engage more readers/customers than websites. Why? Because they are more relatable, easy to find (thanks to more regular updates and content), and easier to navigate. Therefore, building a blog for your business will help your business become more personable. You can add a blog to your existing website and increase your website’s reach and discoverability. Building a blog will effectively help you update your website more, be more communicative with your customers, and share more behind the scenes (which is likely to increase customer trust and loyalty). Offer great prices There is no use in being the most expensive business in the market as customers will likely look elsewhere for the same or similar product. Therefore, you will want to ensure to keep your prices fair and competitive. Of course, you will want to make sure that your profit margin is high enough to achieve your financial goals. However, make sure to assess the market and align your prices with competitive brands. Doing so will ensure to make your brand more appealing and able to win over new customers. Should you find it difficult to make a great profit, then you might want to find new suppliers so that your outgoings are lower. Doing anything to make your prices competitive will ensure that you aren’t easily rivalled by other businesses offering a similar product/service. Use this guide to help make your business more attractive, which will help your brand reputation and help you achieve your goals.  Image credit: Sora Shimazaki from Pexels Hiring anyone and bringing them into your firm as a staff member is an investment not only in your firm, but the person who accepts that new role with you. That said, staff members are in a unique position in terms of the risk they carry with them. This is because staff members will begin to slowly understand how your business operates, may one day have access to sensitive information, may be responsible for a good portion of your daily functioning, and of course, will bring their own creativity, practicality and visionary thinking to the role in question.
For this reason, the approach you take to hiring matters. To start with, this involves making our company the kind of space where people actually want to come and work, particularly those with good skills to offer. That said, it’s also true that in order to minimize those potential and aforementioned risks, we need to think of a few ways we can look ahead and counter problems that may be caused through laziness now, at this vital juncture. Without further ado, let’s consider what this may involve: Pre-Employment Medical Exams It’s a great idea to embark on pre employment medical inspections, not so you have a confidential understanding of the health of your potential hires (as this is confidential information), but that you know they’re well enough to do the job, that they have all of their vaccinations (this is becoming an even more hot topic as many companies are starting to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations to work there), and more. Having this performed by a professional, confidential service can help you both move on knowing problems like this are unlikely to raise their head. Vet Their References Many businesses require references from their applications, but few actually take the time to confirm these are correct. Even a quick phone call to make sure that someone did work at a given company, asking how they were as an employee, and more can show that your potential recruit was perfectly candid in providing this information and had people to back them. Even if the past employer has mixed impressions of this person, that should show integrity and a willingness to apply with honesty. A Trial Shift Or Social Situation It’s good to give a trial shift from time to time, but that might not be applicable depending on the kind of business you run. If you’re running a fitness supplement company and a high level executive is coming into the firm, it might be good to invite them out and see how they treat waiting staff, or even work out with them to see how they act under pressure, or give them a quick case study to discuss how they might bring ideas to a given situation. This can help you assess the character of a person as opposed to their listed credentials, or in support of them. With this advice, we hope you can make sure your hiring decision is the smart move.  Image credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels As a business owner, you have to balance everything. You are the CEO, CFO, COO, and so much more. So it can be challenging to find time for yourself when you need it most. But there are things that you can do to make your life easier and help you in your business at the same time.
Invest in Becoming a Coach Investing in yourself is the best investment that you can make. Becoming a coach will help you get clarity on the things that matter most and allow you to work with more people. It will also open doors to new possibilities. It is essential for you as a business owner to take the time and invest in coaching courses so that you can continue growing your business. Becoming a coach or taking other classes are some of the things that you should do to help grow your audience, but it requires an investment on your part. Chip in Your Finances When Things Are Tight If you have personal savings, this is one of the best things you can do to help your business grow. Unfortunately, a lot of entrepreneurs tend to put their finances aside and invest in their companies instead. While it's good to be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of growing your company, putting too much on hold will most likely be your downfall in the end. You can never expect to grow a business if you aren't willing to invest anything in it yourself, so don't hesitate on this one. Commit Extra Hours To Complete Tasks If you struggle to manage your time, treat this as a priority. Work on it at the beginning of each day or right after lunch. You can also commit extra hours to complete tasks before leaving work for the day. This will ensure that there isn't any overflow which means that everything is completed quickly. It will also help you avoid any distractions during the day, which might cause you to skip something important. Interact With Your Customers Customers are the backbone of your business. They are the ones who make it possible for you to continue to run and grow your company, so why not take advantage? You don't always have to ask customers what they want because if you're doing things right, their needs should be reflected in your product or service. Have a Relationship With Employees There is no such thing as "just an employee" when you consider the importance of their role. An engaged and happy workforce will make your company a more positive place to work. It's not just about having friends at work, though, and employees should feel valued for what they do and be rewarded accordingly for excellent performance. Most successful companies understand the value of investing in their employees with training and development. A happy workforce will be more productive and have a happier disposition at work, which has been shown to reduce staff turnover rates significantly. Conclusion You now know what you can do to improve your business. It is not easy, but it does get easier with time. You can improve your business and create a better future for yourself and others around you with these five things. Of course, this will not happen overnight; it takes hard work and dedication to be where you want in life.  Image credit: Annie Spratt from Unspalsh Professional development has been around for a long time - but Continuous Professional Development is an ever-increasing necessity in the modern working world. Why? Because of rapid changes in society. Technology and legislation are things that change more quickly than before. To keep up with these changes, you need to be continually learning. What is CPD? CPD is about continuing your professional development and taking responsibility for your career progression. You should aim to improve yourself every day, not just when working towards a formal qualification. Passing an exam might prove that you have reached a certain point in the educational ladder, but it doesn't mean that you will always stay there - or that if things change then, you won't fall behind or become irrelevant altogether. The world is constantly changing and you need to keep up with that change. If you don't, then someone else will beat you to it and take your career prospects away from you - or do them for you. What worked previously might not work anymore. Companies are always changing their procedures. If the changes happen suddenly (for example, if another takes over the company), not having enough CPD under your belt could mean that you suddenly find yourself out of business. It's important to understand that CPD isn't just about learning new things but also maintaining and developing valuable skills which help develop your career. For example, suppose you're a web developer. In that case, there are lots of valuable free tools available online to help you develop your skills, but keeping up to date with the latest developments or compliance training for your company is vital. Examples of CPD:
In many ways, Continuous Professional Development is about self-motivation and taking responsibility for your professional development by doing some research and putting that into practice. It will help you find out what works and what doesn't work when it comes to handling new things, which builds up your skillset and helps others within your work environment. Continuous Professional Development is also about engaging in learning activities relevant to the changing world we live in, so whether you choose seminars or simply go online for free webinars, whatever you do should be relevant to your own needs and personal development. Although it may seem time-consuming at first, it is more efficient than learning only when you need something new, e.g. when you are planning to take courses, because that means that then all of the learning will be related to one aspect of your life (e.g. studying) so the things which you learn during this period will be compartmentalised - whereas CPD encourages lots of relevant information for different aspects of life, so they come together more naturally within your brain's neural networks - this makes it easier to recall information useful in any given situation rather than pinpointing exactly what each pertinent thing is for (which might not even become apparent until much later anyway) CPD and Formal Qualifications Each type of learning has its distinct value - formal qualifications reinforce what you've studied, which helps with exam preparation...but only if these will actually come up during the examination, so you still need CPD to cover all bases. Having continuous professional development allows you to gain skills that go beyond the specifics of any exam. Preparing for exams can limit one's ability to learn further because sometimes it prevents critical thinking and focuses too much on how things are done rather than why they're done in a particular way. CPD and Further Education Continuous Professional Development is not the same as further education - but can be used to complement it. For instance, if you want to move into a new subject, studying for a formal qualification gives you that 'leg up' in getting your career moving as quickly as possible, so you should seek out relevant exams or courses. However, you will also need CPD because those qualifications don't cover everything. The world changes constantly, so knowing what's needed for exams will give you an advantage over those who only study for those specific reasons. If someone has prepared thoroughly before taking an exam, then their brain is likely to be crammed with information that might not ever come up again unless they become experts in that field (and even then, new research and discoveries can change things), so it's always useful to be open to learning. Additionally, if someone has prepared for exams only then that means that they might not know anything at all outside of what they've studied (i.e. they haven't developed any transferable skills). In contrast, CPD will help you to learn lots of different things which can be applied across your career and everyday life...not just for one specific field or task so you'll have more opportunities as a result. CPD and Work Experience Continuous Professional Development is an ongoing process of improvement through learning which can happen either formally or informally, e.g. via work-based training courses, attending seminars or tutorials, reading books or articles, watching webinars or attending conferences. It is not the same as work experience because you do not necessarily need to participate in CPD activities to gain work experience. Having lots of relevant work experience will help your CPD and vice versa...but not necessarily the other way around! You can also gain skills from studying for a formal qualification, so they aren't mutually exclusive but it's best to try and get both if possible. Work experience is considered 'formal' learning because you are gaining information in a controlled environment where the aim is to make mistakes and learn from them. Continuous Professional Development can be informal or self-directed because you gain knowledge in an uncontrolled way, making it impossible to measure in the same way as to work experience. CPD activities are also usually more relevant to your career specifically. In contrast, work experience can have far-reaching consequences for many aspects of your life, so although they are both important, there are differences between them that should not be overlooked. If work experience is just about putting in your time, then Continuous Professional Development is about making sure that you prove yourself worthy of your position over and over again. Employers don't get sick of seeing the same people do well - they also want new people they hope will excel. To Conclude That's why it is important to consider both types of learning when deciding how to spend your time - the right balance between formal and informal learning will make sure that your skills are tested (in an appropriate way for each situation) and appropriately developed...but only if the balance between them is right. Although both have their uses, CPD works best when combined with lots of different types of learning so that you have a comprehensive 'toolbox' of skills and knowledge that can then be used to solve problems or take advantage of opportunities when they arise.  Image credit: Tumisu from Pixabay “A team is only as strong as its weakest member.” This is an old saying that proves to be true in many different scenarios. How you recruit employees will help determine your company’s success, and it’s crucial to be thorough in this process.
Work on Your Recruitment Process You can split the recruitment process into two main categories: 1. The process of finding and recruiting new employees 2. The hiring part Both processes need a lot of attention when you’re building your team for success. Ensure that every person is suitable for all areas within your company but significant in leadership positions. These will set the tone and culture across the rest of your organisation. You can either choose to use an in-house recruitment team or outsource these services. To ensure that you get the best out of your in-house team, ensure that you have the right professionals for the job and help them sharpen their skills to identify befitting candidates. Institutions such as RPO will help you in streamlining and educating your recruitment team. It would help if you chose people with teamwork and communication skills, especially in managerial positions, because they will manage your company’s teams. You want them to give clear direction but also be able to work together as a team effectively too. It’s no good having one person with all the best qualities for this kind of role. If they can’t get along well or communicate effectively with their teammates, their talent won’t matter; that leader will not succeed. Create a Business Culture in Your Operations A business culture refers to beliefs and behaviours that define how the employees in a business should behave. When you choose to build your team, it is essential to consider what this culture will be like as part-time workers or full-time staff may not fit well within such an environment. This can work both ways: either the new hires embrace the existing company culture and become its strongest supporters, or they do not align with it and thus feel unhappy at work, ultimately leading them to quit their job quickly. Creating a business culture entails ensuring employees understand how they fit within the company, their roles, and which behaviours you expect. Be Firm and Fair in Remuneration It is essential to ensure that your employees don’t feel undervalued or taken for a ride. Of course, the remuneration must align with industry standards and be commensurate with their abilities and experience. Also, make sure you have space for growth within the organisation before committing any money on them initially. After all, it is not about how much they earn now but what they can make over time from your company if they are genuinely committed to taking things forward. So, treat everyone financially fairly at this stage of the recruitment process -- otherwise, there is no point going ahead. In addition, make sure you do some homework beforehand by studying current market trends and salaries across various job profiles. It will give you an edge during negotiations and help keep everyone happy and motivated. Be Keen on Career Growth Career growth is a must for a successful business. If your employees don’t feel like their career path is going anywhere, they will not be able to give you 100% of their efforts. It would help if you took the time necessary to understand what makes each employee tick and grow from there - this way, you can better judge who could benefit from where to develop them as professionals further. In addition, having an open discussion with everyone on your team about how work-life balance affects productivity will help establish boundaries that promote optimal performance while respecting personal development goals and current needs. Encourage Discipline, Responsibility, and Accountability Discipline, responsibility, and accountability are the most common traits that employers seek from their employees. These are the key factors to ensure you run a successful organisation. In addition, it helps maintain an organised and structured work environment, the foundation for building a winning team. With these values instilled, you will have a motivated workforce who would put in maximum efforts towards achieving better results at work apart from being focused on your business goals. Conclusion In conclusion, as a successful entrepreneur, you need to prepare your recruitment process as early as possible and follow the proper steps. In addition to this, you need to create a business culture within your organisation that sets high standards for all employees, which would further help in building a winning team.  Image credit: Razvan Chisu from Unsplash Most businesses have had such a difficult time over the past year and a half, but now it is time to look toward the future. We all want to close the year with more customers and more money in the bank, right? However, it is not always that easy, is it? With that being said, in this blog post, we are going to take a look at some of the different things that you can do to drum up more attention for your business.
 Image credit: Pixabay from Pexels Winter is coming, and with it comes the prospect of some bleak months of financial distress. It's really no secret that the final quarter of the year is where most people fall into money problems. There are different reasons for this, all of which will be discussed throughout this post. Today, we're going to walk you through some simple steps that'll protect your finances during this upcoming winter, addressing some of the main financial concerns you'll have...
Shop smarter at Christmas Yes, most of us end up in a bit of debt around January because of heavy Christmas spending. If you're not careful, you can really go overboard with your spending, leaving you in financial distress. The trick is to shop smarter in the build-up to Christmas. This means getting some of your shopping done as early as possible, taking advantage of any deals you can find. Shopping on Black Friday for gifts is smart as you can get some absolute bargains. Also, pay for expensive things on your credit card - it gives you some extra time before you can pay for them, allowing you to manage your finances better. It's not a good idea to spend thousands of dollars in such a short period - break it up with your credit card! Get your plumbing checked out Winter is the time of year where most plumbing problems happen. The air gets colder, freezing pipes and causing them to burst. You can face all sorts of costly problems, which is why you need a plumbing assessment ASAP. Get a plumber to your home and they can check everything from the rubber gasket material to the health of your pipes. If they spot any potential problems, they can fix them for far less than if you left them and they caused leaks in your home. This can, potentially, help you save thousands of dollars in extensive plumbing repairs this winter. Insulate your home Energy prices are rising, which is why you need to use as little gas as possible in the coming winter months. Understandably, you may need to have your heating on to keep everyone warm and cozy this winter. However, you can reduce how much energy is used by insulating your home correctly. Use draft excluders to stop cold air from entering your property, get thick curtains to trap heat in rooms, lay down rugs, upgrade your loft insulation, and so on. The warmer you can make your home without needing the heating on, the less energy you will use. Apparently, if you turn the thermostat back between 7-10 degrees from what you'd normally have it on, you can save 10% on your energy bills per year. It is definitely possible to do this if you are insulating your home correctly! There you go; three ways to protect your finances this upcoming winter. It's all about shopping smarter during the festive period, keeping your plumbing in check, and lowering the cost of your winter energy bills. These ideas will help you save money and enter the new year in a better financial position.  Image credit: Canva Studio Are you thinking about expanding your business? If the answer is yes, then first we want to say congratulations because that means you are doing a great job. When it comes to expanding your business, you need to ensure that you are planning this out properly so that it doesn’t end up as a bust. The last thing that you need is to put all of this time and effort into something, only to see it fall flat. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you need to think about, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.
Employees The first thing that you are going to need to think about is your employees. If you are expanding your business then this means you are going to be taking on more clients than ever before. It’s likely going to be the case that you do not have enough employees to handle this new demand, which means that you are going to need some fresh faces working for your company. When you are conducting interviews for new employees, you need to make sure that you are doing a thorough check on them. You don’t have time for people who lost their jobs for not turning up without a legitimate reason, or for not working hard when they did show up. Make sure to run background checks, look at their body language carefully when conducting interviews and see if you think that they would fit in well with your existing team. The Office Next you need to think about your business office. With the new employees coming in and the fact that you are going to be handling more customers, do you currently have enough room to sustain your growing business? If not, then you need to look at getting some more space. It might be the case that you want to look into commercial builders and have a new office built especially for you. If this isn’t something that you want, then you need to look into other locations that you can rent or purchase. It is essential that you have enough room to conduct your business properly. You can also hire an interior designer to sort the place out, so when you are searching for new property, the inside doesn’t have to be perfect. This can be sorted out at a later date, so instead you want to focus on location and curb appeal. Marketing Efforts Finally, you want to make sure that your marketing efforts are up to the correct standard. Put everything that you have got into getting new customers for the business, meaning that you should be employing online and offline methods. Social media, blogs, leaflets, billboards and so much more are available to you, so make the most of this. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to think about when you are expanding your business. It’s not necessarily going to be an easy process, but if you sit down and plan it out properly, taking into account all the variables, there shouldn’t be an issue. We wish you the very best of luck.  Image credit: muneebfarman from Pixabay Digital marketing campaigns are becoming increasingly popular. They allow companies to connect with their audience in new ways and interact with them on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. If you want to increase your digital marketing campaign, then there are a few must-haves that you need to make sure you have in place.
Understand Your Target Audience Through surveys on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, you could better understand who's reading your posts and why certain types of content resonate with them more than others. In addition, if there is a particular demographic/psychographic finding from these polls that isn't represented enough in your current marketing efforts. Try focusing future strategies around those people specifically rather than trying to appeal broadly across demographics at once. You can also use Geofence advertising to enhance your marketing and concentrate it on reaching the right audience. You can understand your audience through research. The first step is to create buyer personas, which are essentially fictional characters representing the interests of different types of people who shop for your product or service. You need to know the basics, such as the gender and age range of your target audience. Then you can get more specific by understanding their interests, likes/dislikes, and location. Understanding how these user groups interact with content will help you better reach them online. Create a Marketing Experience A marketing experience refers to the entire process that a person goes through, from being aware of your brand to trying it, using it, and then recommending you. It is the goal as far as marketing campaigns go. You can achieve this by making sure all aspects of your campaign are memorable, whether they're on point or not: * Your website needs to have a great design so people will want to explore more about who you are and what you do * The user experience should be smooth. Your product/service should work well naturally but also with minimal effort from their end. If someone has had an unpleasant experience with one aspect of something, there's a good chance that they'll transfer those feelings onto others which will affect your brand in a negative light * Your product/service should have an element of uniqueness to it that will make people want to talk about you * Follow up on the customer service side of things * Keep Them Coming Back Through Loyalty Programs Being unique means differentiating yourself from all the other companies that offer similar services/products as yours. So, consider adding perks like free shipping to gain an edge over other businesses in your industry. In addition, keeping up to date with current trends and offering new products will allow you to stay fresh and exciting rather than monotonous and boring among competitors. Get a Social Media Manager A social media manager is someone who can manage all your social media accounts. It will help you ensure that you post regularly and with quality content, which is essential when engaging with fans or customers. Conclusion In conclusion, there are several things you must do to be successful in digital marketing. You'll need to understand your target audience and create a unique experience for them online. Additionally, you will require good customer service and engagement practices, get a social media manager if necessary, strive for original content creation that is valuable to the reader, and reach out across multiple platforms at once.  Image credit: Unknown Are you thinking about opening your first business? If so, then it’s important to consider the cost elements of your company. You need to make sure that your business costs don’t grow out of control. If they do, then this is going to make your business far less competitive on the market. This is the last thing that you want.
Plan Your Budget First, you do need to make sure that you are planning the right budget for your business. This means that you should consider using some sort of accounting service. An accountant will monitor your spending and make sure that you don’t go overboard here. That way, you won’t have to worry about problems with your budget getting out of control before you’ve even begun. If you don’t want to hire a full time accountant, then you should think about using a cloud accounting service instead. This means that you can monitor your spending in real time without the help of an expert. Outsource It All You should definitely think about outsourcing as many areas of your new business as possible. It’s easy to outsource various different aspects of your business. For instance, you can think about outsourcing when you hire developers for a startup. This means that you will get the professionals on hand without the typical high costs that are associated with these hires. When you are outsourcing, it’s important to make sure that you are completing the right amount of research. You need to guarantee that you aren’t flying blind with these hires because they will determine the future of your company. Hire Freelancers If you don’t want to outsource, then you could also think about hiring freelancers. The right freelancers will mean that you have the strong team in place that you need to take your business from strength to strength. It’s that simple. The big benefit of freelancers is that you don’t have to panic about extra costs that do tend to come with employees. This includes incentives that you have to be willing to offer to get them to sign on the dotted line. Freelancers are completely different because you can take them on with whatever length of contract is going to benefit you. Go Green Finally, you might want to think about going green with your new business model. This isn’t going to be beneficial anyway because it means that your company will be poised for the future. You’re going to look as though you care about the planet and that’s going to be important for attracting the right customers from day one. Of course, going green will also help ensure that your costs do remain under the right level of control and don’t become completely unmanageable in your business model. We hope this helps you understand some of the key ways that you can keep the costs under control in your business model. By doing this, you will be able to make sure that your company is far more fierce against the competition and in fighting shape when it comes to making quick changes.  Image credit: Manuel Ramirez from Pixabay As a working professional, it is always a great idea to change your scenery and refresh your mind now and again. Being productive as a working adult can be difficult, and sometimes the best thing you can do is have a change of pace and a change of everything you thought you knew.
Have you ever considered working abroad? If your job allows remote working or you work for yourself, taking the opportunity to work in another part of the world can be a magical thing and one of the best decisions you ever make. Today we want to take a look at some of the biggest perks of working abroad and why you should consider it as a fresh start for you in 2022. Escape from real life One of the best reasons to work abroad is to escape the monotony of your regular life. If you have been working from home since the start of COVID or you have been at the same job for a long time, a change might be needed and finding a serviced office to rent abroad could be the medicine you need. Experiencing work in a whole new setting can bring you a renewed sense of purpose and you may find that you can work more productively and efficiently than you did at home. Enjoy a stunning view What could be better than waking up in a beautiful new country and working with a view over an amazing city or seascape? Sometimes the change of scenery is all you need to spur you on and the ability to enjoy a new part of the world is a privilege and will help you to feel like you are living life to the fullest. Consider making the change even if only for a month or two and see what a difference it can make to your mental state. Work on the beach Laptops are one of the best inventions of the last century and they allow us to take our work with us pretty much anywhere as long as we have wifi or a hotspot we can use. If you have your own hotspot, imagine how amazing it would feel to take your work down to the beach and enjoy some vitamin D while making your living? Working on the beach can be such a great change of pace and the sunshine will make you feel happier and healthier too. Experience a different culture If you are the type of person who loves to learn - working in a whole new country can be a huge opportunity. Depending on the country you work in, people might not speak the same language and their culture could be vastly different to your own. The chance to learn about new people and their culture is a great opportunity and during your stay you will likely pick up a few local words and phrases you can take back with you when you leave. Working abroad is something you should consider this year for a change of pace.  Image credit: Rodnae Productions from Pexels In order to choose the right materials and tools for your business, you need to work with the right suppliers. Below are 7 things to consider when selecting a supplier.
Cost Cost tends to be the first thing that companies think about when choosing a supplier. Don’t just look at the price of individual items - most suppliers will offer various deals when it comes to buying in bulk. Some of these deals may be negotiable, so it’s worth talking to someone directly. Make sure to also factor in shipping charges and any other fees that may be added to the total cost - some companies may offer very low prices on products but may make up for this by charging extra for shipping. Speed of delivery When placing an order, you need to consider how quickly it will come. The location of a supplier can have a big impact on this - you should consider whether they have a warehouse near you. If the company has to ship something from abroad, you should consider which shipping options they offer. If they’re a manufacturer, you may want to consider the speed of manufacture. Fully customised products could take months to produce - especially if the company already has a queue of orders. Quantity of delivery If you are likely to need a large batch of items, check that the supplier is able to carry out this order. Some suppliers will only have limited supply. In most cases, larger suppliers will be able to complete larger orders. Quality of goods Consider the quality of the products being sold by the supplier. If they’re a manufacturer, it could be worth looking at reviews of their products to get an idea of how customers rate the quality. If they supply third party products, consider which manufacturers they order from. With everyday commercial supplies you may want to stick to popular trusted brands. For instance, if you’re a construction company looking for a concrete repair solution, you could be better off sticking to a well known brand like Monotop rather than gambling on a lesser known brand. When it comes to used supplies, make sure to always get a clear idea of the condition before buying. Range of supplies Do you need a supplier that can provide just one item? Or are you looking for a supplier that can offer a range of items? Being able to get lots of different products through one supplier could help to make your supply chain easier to manage. However, the downside of this is that you may not always get the best rates for each individual product. Ease of communication You should consider how easy a supplier is to communicate with. If you’ve tried messaging a supplier and you’ve now waited days without a reply, consider whether this is a supplier that you really want to work with. Slow communication may not matter too much when it comes to certain items, but with other items it could be a huge issue. Company ethics Finally, you should consider whether the company’s ethics align with your own. If being environmentally-friendly is important to you, it could be worth checking that suppliers are taking measures to be green such as using recyclable packaging or promoting greener shipping options. If treating workers fairly is important, you may want to check that they are a Fairtrade company or that they sell Fairtrade products.  Image credit: Unknown Do you want to make more money? Do you want the prestige of a corner office, an assistant, and a company car? This blog post will teach you six steps that will help get your career on track for success! Then climb the corporate ladder. The process may not be easy, but it is well worth it in the end.
Make a list Start by making a list of what you want to accomplish. Your goals must be attainable and measurable so stay focused on completing these tasks. - Don't waste time with the small stuff at work – this will prevent valuable advancement opportunities from slipping through your fingers! - You can never have too much help when climbing the corporate ladder, so be sure to delegate tasks. Find a Mentor Find a mentor who has managed to climb the corporate ladder successfully and ask them for advice on advancing your career. They can help you identify which opportunities to pursue within your company, and they might even be able to put in a good word for you with the right people. Getting Involved With Company News You must stay up-to-date on what's happening at your organization, but it goes further than simply subscribing to the business newsletter. Work Harder Strive to work harder than everyone else to stand out from the crowd! If you are lazy and do not put in the extra effort, then it is unlikely that anyone will notice your hard work. Working at least an hour or two longer than everyone else, if necessary, to complete your tasks well can be a great way of gaining recognition for your efforts (and getting ahead). Be Patient Having high expectations is always great, but sometimes patience is needed. Getting the promotion you want doesn't happen overnight; it takes time and hard work to climb up a company's ladder. Patience will help your career grow because your goals won't be set too high or low, therefore keeping them realistic so they can become achievable. Networking Forming relationships with superiors and peers is essential in climbing the corporate ladder. Training on how to interact appropriately with others, such as by making eye contact when speaking or listening, will help you stand out from your colleagues and work toward success. Ensure that you are punctual for all meetings, always dressed appropriately, and ready to go before deadlines approach so that your superiors and peers will be able to rely on you. Be Approachable Being approachable is one of the most critical traits in climbing up the corporate ladder. Typically, when you are looking for work, you might not have a lot to offer yet or be unemployed previously, making people feel intimidated by your presence. When working with employees and other managers, it is essential always to appear calm even if things are going wrong. This can quickly be done by taking a deep breath and remembering your manners, always smiling even if the person is not in a good mood or has made you angry at them before. Learn Skills One of the primary ways to climb the corporate ladder is by earning a degree in an area such as Accountancy. Being an Accountant can be very rewarding and lucrative, but there are other skills that employers want their employees to have. Being able to handle money responsibly is one of these abilities which will stand you in good stead. Working under pressure is also crucial as companies often need a lot of money to move quickly. Having good accounting software skills will be another critical factor in the future. Not only will you have better access to your accounts, but it's easier for employers too who no longer have to spend time sorting out data entry issues. In conclusion, the best way to climb the corporate ladder is by gaining valuable experience, developing your skills, and having a solid work ethic. Image credit: Negative Space from Pexels There is no doubt healthcare is an industry that will always be in demand. But, even in the medical and healthcare sector, businesses face stiff competition to succeed. Gaining new patients and retaining existing patients is one of the toughest challenges healthcare businesses face. It can be tough to achieve this if you have many competing companies located close by. Although finding ways to successfully retain your patients while attracting new ones may sound like a big challenge, it is possible. Here are some suggestions to help you attract patients to your practice and build your customer base:
Reduce Wait Times When a patient requires healthcare, they want to be seen as soon as possible. If your practice has long wait times, your patients will probably choose to go elsewhere to get seen faster. When wait times are this long, you may find that many existing patients decide to leave, and attracting new ones becomes increasingly tricky. The most effective way to cut wait time is to increase your staff levels. Recruiting new team members will enable you to see more patients and drastically reduce the time your patients wait for their consultations. Using a specialist Healthcare Recruitment company will help you increase your staffing levels fast and ensure you attract the best candidates to your positions. Improve Amenities The easier you make it for patients to use your practice, the more likely they will choose your business over your competitors. Working on improving your amenities is an excellent way to enhance the patient experience. Ensuring your patients have somewhere to park when they visit your practice is a major bonus and will make life so much easier for them. Having a comfortable waiting area that is modern and spotlessly clean will ensure patients have an inviting and pleasant place to wait for their consultations. Focusing on the amenities provided by your clinic may not seem like a big deal. Still, they play a significant role in improving the patient experience and creating a positive impression of your business. Introduce Special Offers Introducing promotions and special offers have long been a tactic used by businesses to attract new customers. But, if you want to retain your existing patients, you need to be sure the special offers are available to patients both old and new. If you want to boost your retention rates even further, you could consider introducing additional perks for loyal customers to show them they are valued. Improve Your Website Working on improving your website is a crucial tool in helping to attract new patients. Most new patients are likely to find your business via your website, so the higher you can get your business to rank in the search engine results, the more likely you are to see a rise in new patients. Focusing attention on your SEO is vital to increase your business’s online presence and will play a significant role in building awareness of your practice while helping it to stand out above your competitors.  Image credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels Careers in finances can be a good and lucrative career choice. However, you need to make sure that you are not making any of these mistakes with your career.
Errors such as focusing on short-term gains instead of long-term stability or setting yourself up for failure because you don't have the proper education or connections can easily lead to financial ruin if left unchecked. Below are some of the most common mistakes people make with their careers in finances and ways to avoid them. Not Reading Helpful Guides Not reading helpful guides can be a huge mistake when it comes to your financial future. When you are not looking for ways to grow, your money will always stay the same, and so will how quickly it gets spent. If you are not saving, your money will never grow, and so it will always be spent before the end of every month. The best way to avoid this mistake is by reading helpful guides that can help you learn how to manage your finances better. There are many different financial resources out there that offer advice specifically designed for people who have little to no experience with finances. What each resource provides is essential for you to make the most out of your money. You may want to start by reading branded and white-label guides for financial planners. Failing to Network More Networking is a crucial part of succeeding in your career. Building solid connections with the right people can help you get ahead and find better opportunities. The obvious mistake that you can make in your career in finances is not to network enough. But, even if you don't feel that networking needs to happen, it can help. When networking, be sure to network with the right people, don't just go to any event and start handing out business cards. In addition, you need to make sure that you are making connections with other influential professionals in your industry. The last mistake you can make is that networking only happens at events like conferences and social gatherings. Networking can take place anywhere and everywhere, even in your own office. Don't be afraid to approach the people around you and start a conversation about what they do, offer up some advice if it's relevant, or ask how their day is going. Not Offering Service Discounts Not offering service discounts is a common mistake in the finance industry. By not offering discounts, you are missing out on an opportunity to bring in new business. Your customers may be willing to pay more for your service, but they will only do so if affordable. Offering a discount allows potential clients to determine whether or not your services are right for them without breaking their budget. Discounts can seem like a risky move but offering your services at discounted rates now and again is good for business. Do not let your career in finance be the mistake you regret. Instead, make sure to take care of all required responsibilities and take advantage of all opportunities. If you stick to these rules, your career in finance can become a success story that is worth sharing with others.  Image credit Caio from Pexels Marketing will always be an essential element of any business. Without the right marketing push, your company is going to be dead in the water. It’s also going to take up a massive chunk of your total budget. Indeed, research shows that you should spend about 20% of your funds on marketing each year. That’s why it can be devastating when you realise that your marketing strategy isn’t delivering any results. Here’s what could be going wrong and what you can do to fix the situation.
Missing The Mark For your marketing strategy to be a success, you need to make sure that you do find the right target audience and this isn’t always going to be easy to do. It will often depend on your level of research. If you don’t find your audience then you’re going to end up marketing to people who are never going to want your products or your services. It’s one of the reasons why direct mail marketing can be such an effective strategy for the typical business. With an option like this, you will be able to connect with an audience that you know has the key traits you need for a purchase decision. Negative SEO Your marketing strategy could be on point, but this won’t matter if there is a negative SEO attack against you. A negative SEO attack involves creating content specifically to damage the reputation of your brand online. One of the ways that you can deal with this is by making sure that you do check for mentions of your brand and specifically any articles high up in the SERPs. If you do find evidence of this, you’ll need to tackle it head on. Bad Reviews Of course, it’s possible that customers are actually giving your business bad reviews, killing word of mouth and conversions. If you are having this issue, then you need to think about how to manage bad reviews the right way. You can’t ignore these. If you do then it will result in a massive number of missed sales. Don’t forget that 80% of customers will check out reviews for a business before they commit to the purchase of a product or a service. So, a particularly well written negative review can be a brand killer. Old Tricks Finally, while you might be able to teach a dog new tricks, you shouldn’t rely on old marketing tactics. These have been abandoned for a reason and this issue can crop up when you use outsourced marketing solutions. You should make sure that you are always questioning a marketing team that you are planning to use. Make sure that you know what tactics they favor and how they plan to help you achieve your marketing goals. They should have a clear long term plan that they can easily explain to you in terms you can understand. We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to ensure that you correct your failing marketing strategy.  Image credit: LinkedIn Sales Solutions from Unsplash It is becoming increasingly pivotal for estate agencies to do everything they can to stand out from their rivals in the industry. This all begins with projecting a professional image. This is undeniably the most important thing for all estate agents. Brand image is of paramount importance nowadays and this is enhanced when you consider the fact that customers are searching for someone to ensure the successful sale of their house or indeed the purchase of another one. They certainly won’t want to cut corners and so if you do not project a professional business identity you are really going to struggle to take steps forward.
Customers want to be sure that they can trust you and the service you offer. It is up to you to breed confidence in your service. There are several ways you can achieve this by building up a positive and professional brand image. Firstly, it all begins with the way you deal with your customers. Everything from the way you dress to the way you speak to your clients makes a difference. One of the biggest frustrations for customers is a lack of communication. Regular updates can help to strengthen the positivity surrounding your agency and service. How you deal with your current business clients will have a knock-on effect. Not only in terms of repeat business, but also word of mouth is still an extremely powerful tool. You can post client reviews on your website to reassure potential clients that your service is the best one to go for. Individuals are more likely to be encouraged by the comments of people that were once in the same position as they are in, as opposed to you simply telling them that your service is the best. One major factor that can go against your professional image is having a website that is out of date. This does not say much for the quality of your service and is likely to put doubts in the minds of potential clients. They will have concerns over the effectiveness of your service. Of course, the market moves quickly. But, instead of having ‘property sold’ or ‘let agreed’ on your site, why not remove the listing instead? Expired content is extremely frustrating for customers. The same can be said for your window displays at your estate agency offices. You also need to look into finding a top real estate photographer for hire to complement your site postings. Arguably one of the most important things you need to do in order to project a professional business image is to use sophisticated business documentation. The importance of this cannot be ignored. Customers are seriously going to doubt your professionalism if you do not use high-quality invoice template designs and such like. This is a fundamental area of your business and not one where you should cut corners. Merely jotting down a quote on a piece of paper will not suffice, nor will sending a bog-standard black and white invoice. Instead, you need a commercial invoice template that is professional, well structured and brands your business to full effect. |
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