 Image credit: Fauxels from Pexels As a business owner, you are probably already aware of your employees' vital role in your company's success. Not only are they the lifeblood of your company, but without them, you could probably just close up shop right now. That said, ensuring your employees are as positive and productive as possible is vital to ensure your business not only stays afloat but thrives, which is why these few tips on how to cultivate positivity within your workforce could really be of use - have a look!
Provide a comfortable workspace for your employees Employees who enjoy their job more are generally happier, and therefore perform better. Ensuring that your employees have a comfortable place to work is one way of cultivating positivity - this might include a nice desk with an ergonomic chair or just ensuring they're not in the middle of an open room at all times! Employees who struggle with health conditions like asthma are especially vulnerable to bad air quality. As many as thirty million people in the US have some form of respiratory allergies, and this can be exacerbated by poor indoor air quality - keeping your employees healthy is paramount! In fact, it's estimated that about 20% of all workers suffer from allergies on a daily basis (often caused by poor air quality), which means you should take immediate action if you want your business to flourish. For example, ensuring there are plenty of plants within an office space or even just introducing better Commercial air purifiers could help immensely when it comes to promoting positive thinking amongst your workforce. Create incentives to motivate them further Everyone loves a reward, and as such, it's important to motivate your employees to cultivate positivity within their mindsets. Offering them incentives for performing well is one way of doing that! But be careful; too many rewards can often lead to poorer job satisfaction amongst workers; instead, use smaller rewards or even just verbal praise when an employee goes above and beyond what was required of them. This could involve anything from giving out small tokens at staff meetings (maybe five total each month) or simply catching someone before they leave the office and telling them how great they're going with something. Positive reinforcement will help improve productivity over time, which means cultivating positivity within your workforce is now even easier. By following these simple steps, you can easily cultivate positivity amongst your employees and help them perform better - which should improve the overall productivity of your business! Have a reward system in place for top performers Everyone likes to be recognized for their hard work, and as such, offering a reward system in place is one way of doing that. Whether it's an employee of the month award or any other type of recognition, you want them to feel good about themselves - this will help cultivate positivity within your workforce! And don't limit yourself either - if someone really goes above and beyond what was required from them, then they deserve extra praise (even a small monetary bonus would suffice). In fact, some businesses even take it up another level by rewarding employees with days off when they go beyond expectations; give your employees something positive to think about! Delegate more responsibilities to your employees Sometimes you might feel like your employees aren't doing enough, but this is an extremely negative mindset to have. Instead, consider delegating more responsibilities to them so that they can learn new skills and improve themselves for the future! Businesses often implement a mentorship program to help guide their employees; sometimes, it's also helpful if there are two managers who take up some of the responsibility from those higher-ups (like yourself). This will give everyone involved greater autonomy over what they do at work, which means positivity should flourish within your workforce. And don't be afraid about giving junior staff members tasks either: many recent studies show that more senior workers actually perform better when paired together with a colleague who's less experienced. This is because they can create new relationships and help improve the overall collaborative culture at work! If possible, try pairing up those senior workers with junior staff members of similar interests or skill sets so that they can learn from one another to develop their own skills further (which will benefit them both) Be an effective leader, not just a boss Being an effective leader is a great way to cultivate positivity within your workforce instead of just being the boss! Instead of simply delegating jobs and expecting results, try taking an active role in their development. By doing this, you'll be able to lead them effectively without adversely affecting productivity because you're not micromanaging everything they do. Be sure that you communicate with your employees regularly, so everyone knows what's going on; once again, this will help them feel valued over time which should improve overall morale at work (which means higher levels of overall productivity). Part of being a great leader is ensuring that you are employing all of the skills that you have at your disposal. Strategic thinking is going to be a continual theme in your working day. Strategize how to get the most from your team. What does strategic thinking look like? Check out these strategic thinking examples. If possible, have some sort of weekly or monthly meeting where all staff members are present for positive reinforcement and any problems that need to be addressed. This will help cultivate positivity within your workforce, as everyone knows they have a voice and can speak up when necessary! Consider employee benefits Sometimes it might feel like you can't afford to offer additional benefits to your employees, but with some careful planning and budgeting, there are often ways around this issue. Health insurance, for example, is a benefit that many employers choose to provide as it's not only beneficial in the long-term (like being able to take time off when sick) - but also helps improve productivity on an immediate basis! Of course, even something small like offering free food at lunchtime or allowing people flexible working hours could make all the difference over time. Offering employee discounts is another great way of helping them save money while they're hard at work earning wages; plus, it'll help cultivate positivity within the workforce by making them happy every single day. If you're struggling to afford additional benefits or perks, try looking at what other businesses in your industry are offering and see if they offer a competitive package! This could give them ideas for how to improve their business which will help cultivate positivity within your workforce. If you carefully consider all these factors over time and adapt accordingly, cultivating positivity within your workforce should come naturally to you!
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 Image credit: Startup Stock Photos from Pexels You have an upcoming project that could be something special. You want it to be a big thing that can dramatically change your business and see lots of new success come your way. Whatever this project is, you want to get the most out of it. There's nothing worse than putting your blood, sweat, and tears into a project, only for it to produce less than impressive outcomes. Unfortunately, this happens far too often, and it's all down to how you approach things.
In today's post, we'll go through some ideas to help you get the most out of your next project, ensuring it's a rousing success! Outline the main goals No project can start until you have a set of KPIs or goals to aim for. KPI means key performance indicator, and it relates to things that indicate how well your project has performed. For example, sales figures are a clear KPI as you can track them to see if they have increased following your project. You need to set your goals and targets in the beginning as it helps you work towards something, but also provides things to track so you can make alterations if the project isn't meeting its targets early on. Work with a PMO A PMO can help you with your project as they will take on so many duties and tasks to support the whole process. For those of you that are unsure of the PMO meaning, it's an acronym for Project Management Office. In essence, this is an entity - or entities - that handle lots of different elements of the project management process for you. This can include admin, finance tracking, creation of status reports, and so on. They exist to take the load off your shoulders and give you insights into your project, so you can make the most out of it. Effectively, it can help you push your project to the next level. Use project management software It is always helpful to use software when managing your next project. All of the best PMs will have the go-to software that they swear by. You need to find one that works for you and lets you manage the entire project all in one place. You will find it so much easier to make sense of things when you have software like this, and it streamlines the whole process. It is far better than trying to think of everything in your head or on pieces of paper. The best project management software will let you do things like creating templates, tracking KPIs, resource management reports, budget tracking, and so on. If you want to get the most out of your next project, you really need to take a hands-on approach to project management. Start by outlining the goals and aims of the project, giving you KPIs to track. Ensure you have some software that you're comfortable using, and also work with a PMO to provide support. All of this should come together to help you achieve the most desirable outcome.  Image credit: LinkedIn Sales Solutions No, it’s not practical. But can it be done? Absolutely!
Starting a business these days is a daunting task, but it’s not because the logistics are difficult. The difficulty comes from competing with other businesses and trying to find a place for yourself in an industry that is full of competition. Other difficulties come from personal struggles such as finding the motivation to start a company and staying mentally fit so you can overcome all of the challenges ahead of you. So if you’re looking to start a business of your own but have no idea where to begin, then we’ve got a few tips to help you. It’s mostly about changing your mindset and being as resourceful as you can, so you don’t need to have prior knowledge to succeed. The majority of your knowledge and skill will come from first-hand experience Don’t underestimate just how important it is to actually do something in order to learn from it. Practical experience is a fast-track way to learn new skills and it’s far more efficient than trying to learn in a classroom and then apply all of that knowledge to what you do. Nothing can prepare you for the unpredictable nature of running a business. With that said, marketing courses and other similar qualifications are fantastic for helping you learn more about business and will give you a basic understanding of important concepts. However, beyond that, there’s really nothing as good as learning on the job. Learn what you need to get started, then invest the rest of your time and effort into running your business and learning as you go. You’re going to make mistakes and you’ll fail a few times, but learning from those experiences is extremely valuable. It's okay to ask for help Whether you have experience of setting up a business or not, one thing that differentiates "successful" people in the business world from others is their willingness to admit they need help along the way. For example, if you know nothing about setting up a website, it's better to work with a web design company and have them create a site that brings in the customers instead of building something mediocre that everyone will loathe! Take advantage of the skills that you have alreadyIf you’re going to start a business then it’s usually best to begin with something that you have a bit of experience in. Even if you don’t have business knowledge, having some expertise in something will make starting a company around it much easier. While you don’t need to be an expert in a particular feed, it does help if you’ve got a bit of professional knowledge. However, if all you have is a passion to do something, then that’s better than starting completely from scratch. For example, if you’re interested in using your DIY skills to start a business, then you should consider trying to run a business that relates to things like workshop hardware or even starting your own contracting firm. This will save you a huge amount of time and will make sure that your ideas and concepts are more realistic because you have experience in the field. So to conclude, starting a business with zero knowledge isn’t impossible, but it’s much better if you have at least a bit of experience with the sector that you plan to join. But if you don’t have much knowledge, you shouldn’t worry too much as you’ll learn most of what you need on the job, and then you can study to complement your first-hand experiences.  Image credit: Pixabay from Pexels Success is not going to come knocking on your door, waiting for you to answer. Instead, you have to go out and find it yourself. Many factors contribute to success in business, but one of the most important ones is having a good strategy. This blog post will help you figure out if you're on the right path or not.
Do you know what your company's mission is? A mission statement should be concise and easy to read. It should also clearly communicate where the business came from, what it does, who it serves, how much value you receive for your product or service and why you do it in the first place. If you don't include this in your mission statement, you should take the time to have it now. Do You Have a Clear Vision? Having a clear vision is not only crucial for company leaders but also for employees. Suppose your team doesn't understand where they are heading, and their purpose; work can become very frustrating. Everyone on staff should be working together towards the same goal. Is Your Business Mobile? With mobility now being such a massive part of our everyday lives, the way that businesses communicate with their customers has changed. If you have not considered how your business will connect and share across multiple channels, then it's time for a change! Working from home is also becoming more popular. Do You Have a Clear Strategy? A good company strategy has been thoroughly thought out and will help bring your vision to life. However, if you don't have a great team yet or need assistance with developing a business plan, hiring an expert can be beneficial. Are You Working With the Right People? Working with the right people can make all the difference in achieving success. If you have hired employees that are not a fit for your team culture or business model, they will be more of a hindrance than anything else. Instead, make sure you hire and build an environment full of highly motivated individuals who believe in what it is that you're trying to do. Hiring a Branding Agency can cater for this too. Does Your Business Provide Value? Successful businesses offer an exceptional product or service and deliver it in a way where customers feel good about their purchase. If you've done the proper research, then you should know what exactly makes up high-quality goods and services within your industry. Are You Staying Customer Focused? To achieve success in any industry, you must remember that the customer is your number one priority. Their wants and needs drive business, so keeping them in mind at all times will help make it easier for you to meet expectations. If there's ever an issue with a client or they seem unhappy about something, then take care of the situation quickly before things get out of hand. These are just a few of the many factors that contribute to business success. If you're looking for more tips and tricks, then be sure to read this blog!  Image credit: Lukas Hartmann from Pexels Have you ever considered how a billboard is going to help your business? You would advertise in any way if you knew it would work for you, right? A billboard is going to help you to promote your business and help you to get your brand out there in front of others. It works in the way that your business signage would work, too. Billboards have been a promotional tool since forever, and you have to think about whether you want to pump some cash into your business billboard, too.
There are plenty of advertising options out there, but a billboard is going to change the game for your marketing strategy. You would invest money in ICE Signs for your business signage, so why wouldn't you look at billboards as your next strategy? Below, we’ve put together a few ways your business needs a billboard!
 Image credit: Billede from Pixabay More and more people are reassessing their chosen career paths in the wake of the global pandemic. And this is something that you might like to think about in the meantime as well. There are so many ideas that play a role in helping you to achieve success here, and this is something that you have to focus on right now.
Try to make sure you come up with some of the best ways of improving this process as much as possible moving forward. You have to work on some of the best ways of being able to choose a positive career path, and freelancing is a great way of being able to achieve this. So, these are some of the best ways of being able to kick start your freelancing career today! Be Bold Freelancing is a big step, and one that you need to try to get right as much as you possibly can. It can be pretty daunting and nerve-wracking when you are stepping out on your own. So, it is important to make sure you come up with ideas that are going to help you acclimate to this. And there will be a leap of faith involved. This is definitely a process that is about being bold as much as possible, and that can have a huge impact on the direction your new career takes. In order to overcome the worries and the difficulties involved, you should certainly look for ways of being bold and brave. Build a Client Base One of the most important elements of making sure you are successful as a freelancer is to make sure you build up a dedicated client base. There are so many amazing benefits to doing this, and you need to make sure you think about some of the key ways of being able to achieve this. Try to focus on doing as much as you can to improve upon this moving forward, and make sure you start off with one or two dependable clients, then look to expand as much as you can. Create a Working Environment Creating and developing the right working environment is so important. There are a lot of things that you need to try to make the most of right now. It is absolutely essential that this is something you sort out, and developing a home office is key. You should absolutely consider garden offices as a way of saving space and still getting the office you want. But the important thing is to make sure you create the right environment for you to focus on your freelancing. There are a lot of things that you need to try to make the most of when you are assessing the different factors that can help you succeed as a freelancer. This is one of the key things that you need to keep in mind when you are looking to make the right decisions, and this is something you need to keep in mind. Try to make sure you are focused on improving this process, and make sure you think about some of the best ways of being able to achieve this moving forward.  Image credit: Fauxels from Pexels If you want to market your business effectively, then you have come to the right place. Here you can find out everything you need to know about taking your company to that next, level while also finding out the steps you need to take to guarantee success in the future.
Media Relations Media relations is otherwise known as PR. Media relations is simply about getting posts about you or your business out there. It may be that you have won a new contract, or that you have launched a new service. On the flip side, something quirky might have happened within your business, and you want to let your clients know. Either way, PR is a fantastic way for you to boost the potential of your company and it could really help you with your social media coverage. If you are struggling to get awareness of your company out there, then it is a good idea for you to try and hire a PR agency. Digital Advertising Targeting specific audiences and executing strategies that are data-led will really help you to market your business. The main advertising channels out there include PPC, blogs, paid social and SEO. All of them run across both desktop devices and mobile devices. Digital advertising can be a real minefield, but it is transparent and accountable at the same time. You can see everything that is happening, and you can also see where your budget has gone. On top of this, you can see the results you’re achieving so it should never be difficult for you to see where you stand. Press Advertising If you want your company to be effective in newspapers, then you have to make sure that your advertisement is both big and bold. If you know that your advertisement doesn’t stop someone in their tracks and if it doesn’t make them take note, then you will have wasted your money. If you want to stand out from the crowd then you have to make sure that you put in the work. A print company can help you out a lot here, so don’t overlook this if you want to take things to that next level. Direct Mail Back in the day, digital mail earned the nickname “junk mail”. Not a single day went by without there being a huge pile of letters or even leaflets on the doormat. That being said, this has quickly changed. In this day and age, direct mail is wonderfully effective if you follow a few rules. Some rules include using good data. If you manage your database, ensure that it is clean and that it is up to date as well. You might also want to send content that is relevant to the recipient. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to ensure that everything is going as it should. If you need some help with your campaign, then remember that there are companies that you can hire to help you with this  Image credit: Merakist from Unsplash Organisations and their marketing strategies naturally vary from one another. Some hire marketing agencies to do their marketing while some do them alone. The marketing strategies used by small businesses are normally determined by the size of the business which is directly proportional to its ability to spend on marketing campaigns. This means that the marketing strategy for small firms differs from that used by large companies. Their marketing strategies are usually simpler and more direct like using a Direct mailing service or a Social Media agency. Those used by large corporations are usually expansive marketing plans, using complex distribution channels or highly specialized divisions.
 Image credit: Unknown As a business owner, you know you should be networking. We are not going to list all of the benefits of doing it because we know that you know the importance. The problem is actually doing it. Networking takes a degree of confidence that not everyone has. Perhaps you are a bit of an introvert and the thought of striking up a conversation with someone that you do not know brings a sense of terror. It can also feel more than a little spammy if not done quite right. Here, we look at some tips to make networking a little bit easier and more comfortable, and dare we say it - fun?
Be you Business owners on the whole are savvy. That’s why they own their own business! They can spot an insincere and fake personality front he get-go, so it is important to go into networking being your real self. You are good enough - that is why you are here in the first palace. Plus, networking is about making connections with like-minded people who you can help and who can help you, and if you are not being you, how do you know whether you will click? Be ready Be ready to network at any given opportunity - you never quite know when you will meet someone who could be valuable to you. It might be at the school gate, the bar, or the doctor’s office. Being ready is important, but be careful not to turn every single person you meet into a potential customer. That can be offputting. Instead, have business card on your person at all times, or if you want to be really snazzy, digital business cards! Remember to be professional at all times - watch your language while you are out and about and be mindful of your behavior. There could be a potential client watching you! Know when to jump in Nothing quite kills a conversation or an opportunity than barging into a conversation and taking over. It can leave a bad taste and completely destroy the flow. Smile, listen in, and get an idea of what is being talked about before offering your thoughts and opinions. No one likes a bulldozer! Stop saying sorry A key mistake that those lacking in networking experience or confidence tend to make is to apologize. Stop! You are not imposing on anyone; you are building a relationship with someone that can be mutually beneficial. By apologizing, you look inexperienced, unprofessional, and lacking in confidence which are all offputting traits in a business person. You are not asking them to do you a favor, you are asking for help or support which in turn will give them an advantage in one way or another. Smile Most importantly, smile and look friendly. Even if you are uncomfortable and hate networking, plaster a smile on your face and try to make it look genuine. No one is going to come and chat with you if you are frowning or grimacing or looking like you would rather be anywhere else. Be approachable.  Image credit: marcin049 from Pixabay Expanding a manufacturing business can be one of the most challenging and most rewarding things you can do. And the best way for your manufacturing business to be ahead of the competition in the current constantly changing market is by embracing change. However, it is essential to assess if you have to improve in particular areas and establish innovative strategies even before revamping production and shifting into a new market. The following is a complete guide on how to grow your manufacturing business.
Be visible Most manufacturers believe that it is unnecessary to establish an online or even offline visibility, since they think they can keep their revenue by just focusing on their existing customers and referrals. However, the truth is that this mentality can create a very hazardous deceitful sense of security, which will eventually become visible when you start losing customers, and you don’t have any other means of replacing your lost income. The internet has changed the way customers find and engage with businesses, just like how technology has changed the way products are manufactured. So, make sure that you foster and maintain a strong online presence to grow your business. Learn more about search engine optimization and ensure your customers find you. Besides, you can use blogs to market your company or increase your visibility through promotional materials like pens, booklets, brochures, and leaflets made using foil printing. Strategic Partnerships Only a few configurable products are able to stand on their own in the current market. They are usually several complementary products that also need configuration. So, a partnership is an excellent way to grow your manufacturing business; it gives you the chance to expand your business into new markets. Take, for instance, if you are in the cosmetic industry, you can take the chance and partner with cloth manufacturers to create a new and complementary item that enables you to enter into a new business world. To establish a solid and profitable partnership, you not only need to pick up the phone; instead, you must create time and effort to make personal contacts with other companies. Study and know your competitors Before you start to expand your manufacturing business, it is essential that you take your time and study everything your competitors have achieved in the past. Get to know where they went wrong and make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes. Similarly, consider the things that made your competitors successful. Also, note that while this might not be a clear road map to your success, it can help you ensure that you are headed in the right direction. Invest in your workers Today, one of the major problems facing manufacturing businesses is attracting and keeping qualified workers. This is mainly due to the high demand for educated employees with the technical knowledge required to operate in the current manufacturing field. Knowledgeable workers are not only needed in the manufacturing businesses but also in other sectors. Therefore, you must make sure that you are mindful of holding on to your best workers. You can do that by offering better benefits, flexible working timetables, self-esteem builders like free meals, and reasonable salaries. It is vital to remember that there might be some costs associated with offering these benefits; however, it is worth it. Keep up with technology If you have been in the manufacturing industry for long enough, you have probably witnessed how technology is changing and used in the manufacturing sector. It is, therefore, crucial for you to make sure that your business is keeping up with any technological changes and, if possible, make sure that you make changes as they appear. Investing in current technology means that all your operations will run smoothly and will lead to increased efficiency and lesser waste. Expand your product line Expanding your product line can be challenging, especially if your products are in a single market. To add a new product to the current market, you will have to do comprehensive research to know the needs of your customers before committing to anything. Diversifying your product line will allow you to grow your manufacturing business. Consider adding complementary products, services, or items that will weave well within your brand. Doing this will also increase your brand awareness as well as profits as you go into newer markets. Bottom Line Growing a manufacturing business is not an easy task; however, the above tips will help you harness the supremacy of expanding your manufacturing business and grow it bigger than you thought could be possible. Invest in current technology, study your competitors, increase your visibility and expand your product line. Also, ensure that you make the most out of your resources to reach new heights in terms of success.  One thing that all business owners need to do is take check of what is happening in their offices. If you do not keep a check on everything, you will find that things can start to get a bit stale and get out of hand. This is the last thing that you want. You want to keep motivation levels high and the vibe positive. So, what are some of the different things that you can do to improve your office today?
Get rid of clutter - The first tip that we have for you when it comes to enhancing your office is to get rid of clutter. If you feel like your offices are never today, this is going to have a number of negative effects. Not only will it mean that it is difficult for workers to find the things that they need, but it can have a negative impact on their mental state as well. This is why we recommend looking for a company offering cheaper bin hire and get started with de-cluttering the space.
 Image credit: Unknown An office renovation can be an exciting time for you and your staff. It can signal a shift into a new era for the business and will often come during a period uof success for the business when you have a bit of extra cash to splash on the necessary expenses. That’s not to say it’s all sunshine and rainbows though and without proper planning it could cause more harm than good. Read these points below to help avoid the pitfalls that may come with an office renovation.
Plan With Your Employees’ Needs In Mind We’ve all seen the flashy job adverts that boast about the office’s beanbags, air hockey table, coffee machines and more… They look great in the advert but, in reality, how often are they used by the employees themselves? Were they something the workers wanted or was it instead just done with the company Instagram in mind? A perfect place to start to begin to discover and learn just what is available out there for your employees, is officemonster.co.uk/office-furniture. Employee-first design will do wonders for office morale and productivity. It can also help your employees feel their needs are really being heard. Perhaps the budget for a flashy TV could instead be spent on some comfortable chairs or standing desks. Demonstrably planning with your team in mind can help alleviate some of the stresses of the working environment keeping your team happier overall. You can also use this opportunity to plan around individual worker’s specific needs. Think About Minimising Disruption Goodwill towards the renovation can be used up quickly if the works mean your staff are unable to do their daily tasks to the best of their ability. Think about if they’re going to need to take client calls while the power tools are whirring away next to them. It’ll be a pain for your team AND your customers if works cause disruption. With the recent successes of work from home programs during lockdown perhaps you could consider having the whole office work from home for a week while the decorators blitz the office. One extra week of working from home could save the hassle of three weeks working around contractors if you’re planning a more thorough renovation. Making sure you have your bases covered with the likes of Cheaper Bin Hire will ensure you can speed through works quickly and that there won’t be an unsightly mess left around the office for days or even weeks. No one wants to work in an office that looks like a bombsite and getting a skip in from the start will help avoid this. Perhaps it’d be a good chance to ditch the horrifying crockery and cutlery from the office kitsch too? Design With The Future In Mind This doesn’t just apply to the design trends you opt for but rather it applies more fundamentally to the choices you make for the renovation. Do you anticipate your client base doubling, tripling, or even more in the coming years? Make sure the redesign allows your team and your facilities space to breathe. You might regret not opting for the second meeting room in a year’s time if you suddenly don’t have room to host multiple client meetings at the same time. Perhaps you’re instead moving away from in-person pitches to online-only meetings? In that case a series of smaller rooms allowing each member of staff some peace and quiet for their calls could be the perfect choice. A renovation is also the perfect time to embrace more sustainable changes for your office - you can read more about some ideas for those here. Whatever decisions you make they should be made with a growth mindset at the forefront. Growth for your business, for your staff, and for your customers. A short-sighted redevelopment will only cause problems both in the short term and in a year or two when you need to tear everything down to start again.  Image credit: Eva Elijas from Pexels The COVID pandemic made 2020 and 2021 years of significant change, forcing everyone to adapt in ways that they never thought they would have to. Schools all across the world closed, with parents trying to juggle work and homeschooling, businesses closed down left, right, and center and staff in multiple industries were furloughed for months. We are still not out of the woods yet - we have an uncertain future ahead of us that many of us are understandably anxious about. However, while these changes did not come about in particularly pleasant circumstances and were forced upon us with no warning and little to no time to prepare, not all of the changes were necessarily bad. Businesses have expanded and found new ways of functioning, many processes have been streamlined and flexible and remote working has become much more commonplace. Now is a great time for businesses of all shapes and sizes, whether huge multinational corporations or one-man bands to take a step back, look at the changes that have been made thus far and refocus their efforts, and rebrand. It is a significant change to a business - after all, you are looking at changing the way consumers percieve your brand, so you may want to consider professional change management to make the process smoother. Let’s look at why. What is branding?
“A brand is a name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s good or service as distinct from those of other sellers” (American Marketing Association). Many business owners erroneously assume that a company's "brand" is merely its name and logo. Of course, this is not true; while the name and logo are essential components in branding, it is much more than that. A brand can be defined as the idea or image that people have in mind when they think about a company's specific products, services, and activities, both practically and emotionally. What are the benefits of rebranding? It allows you to connect with a new audience The ability to reach new customers is the most significant benefit of refreshing the look and feel of your brand. People will take notice when you focus on new aspects of your business and properly promote them. Rebranding can provide the impetus your company requires to generate new growth in an ever-changing market. It sets you apart from the competition As your company grows, your functionalities may begin to compete directly with those of your industry competitors. Rebranding can be the most effective way to differentiate your company's offerings and approach. By making that clear distinction, your brand communicates to potential clients that your services are one-of-a-kind, and that you are the masters. Rebranding your company so that it has its own voice, look, and feel will aid in its establishment as an industry leader. It enables you to stay current The goal of rebranding is straightforward: to keep your brand current. Design trends have a significant impact on how potential and current customers perceive your company and everything it has to offer. Making certain that your appearance is always ahead of the curve demonstrates to your customers that you are aware of industry trends.  Image credit: Liza Summer from Pexels Data is everything in business, but it comes in many forms and from numerous sources. The connected and real-time nature of the modern business can be overwhelming when it is not sorted correctly or managed efficiently. General apps aim to track varying data sets and perform well with smaller projects, but specific apps collect detailed data. Additionally, you can automate repetitive tasks to streamline processes and boost productivity.
Key Performance Monitors Key performance indicators (KPI) can mean several things depending on your business. For example, from an HR perspective, you may only be concerned with average daily attendance. But from an accountancy perspective, you might want to monitor revenue per client. The best KPI apps allow data to run through various Warehouse dashboards in one place. In addition, they provide specific and custom data sets based on the nature of your business. Some of the best KPI apps include SAMS, Grow and SiSense. Analytics Tools Of course, data analysis is the backbone of data management. Analytics tools allow for the cleansing and monitoring of real-time, static and historical data. They also allow you to sort precise data using specific criteria with the goals of data discovery. Finally, data discovery based on modelling facilitates decision making based on accurate data. The best-known analytics tool is Google Analytics. However, analytics tools come as standard with social media platforms. Other excellent analysis apps include ZoHo, Sprinkle and HubSpot. Project Management Apps For any business of any size, project management is crucial. Project managers may allocate jobs, milestones and deadlines. For most, the vast amount of planning, decision making and data would be too much for one person to remember, and for your teams, a central point of information is essential. Therefore, similar to document management, project management apps become necessary. While you could assign data on paper, these will be lost or subject to damage. Apps like Hive, Teamweek and Podio are excellent for tracking projects, contributors and important dates. Collaboration Suites The large scale of most current projects and the amount of contributors means that something will potentially be lost in translation. But multi-person contributions and collaboration are necessary for most departments, especially those with numerous employees or when sourcing external contractors. Also, Covid-19 means that not everyone can be present for crucial meetings. But collaboration software can help. Microsoft Teams, Flock and Discord are among some of the best apps that allow for a real-time and static exchange of data, images and videos between everyone involved. Process Automation Tools Some tasks can drive you insane when you need to repeat them over and over again. And that's where process automation comes in. Automation software can be programmed to perform repetitive tasks, so you don't have to. MailChimp is an excellent example of the world's most popular email automation program. This app will automatically send emails to set subscriber lists with specific content. Other standard automation software includes marketing tools like Marketo and Templafy document automation. However, you should be aware that most automation software doesn't come cheap.  Image credit: Kaboompics.com from Pexels Your business needs a lot of things if it is going to succeed, and one of these is that it needs to be known. Your marketing needs to be updated constantly if it’s going to help your business see any level of success, and that’s what we’re here to help you with. You’ve got to think outside the box and ensure that whatever you are doing is really getting your name out there so that people know who you are. If you would like to find out more about this topic, and how you can actually do this, keep reading down below. Do Something Nobody Else Is Doing
First, we recommend that you try to do something that nobody else is doing. If you want to stand out, then you can’t be doing the same old things that all the other businesses are doing, you have got to be different. Try to come up with ideas that you know nobody else is either brave enough to do, or have ideas that are original. Run these past a focus group before you put them into practice as otherwise you could find yourself accidentally offending people or losing their interest. A focus group is an integral part of the marketing process as it gives you constructive feedback that you can use. Put Your Logo Out There Another thing that you are going to need to do is put your logo out there. At the end of the day, you want people to recognize your logo as belonging to your business. When they see it somewhere, they need to know who it belongs to and what that business does. As such, we recommend that everyone should have something on them at all times that has the logo on them if they work for your company. You should also have items that you give out at promotional events that have the logo on them. We recommend looking at a commercial embroidery machine so that you can do this yourself if you want to! Make Good Use Of Social Media Finally, social media is a huge opportunity for business and you can’t afford to miss out on it. If you want your business to be known on the market, you have got to be present on all the major platforms. At the moment, we would say as long as you have a profile on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you’re going to be okay. Ensure that you are updating this on a regular basis to avoid being the company whose page is blank all the time. People want excitement, they want to engage with your business, so you’ve got to give them something to engage with. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do to make your business known on the market. The most important thing is that you are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get your business name out there. If you can do this, then you are more likely to see success! We wish you the very best of luck.  Image credit: Photo by Otavio Fonseca from Pexels The interest that you gain on your website can convert visitors into potential customers and possibly loyal followers. Likewise, many experts will tell you that if a website design is done poorly you run the risk of driving them away and lowering conversion rates. Potential customers will be driven from a website if they feel confused or frustrated when attempting to navigate around it. They can likewise decide they are not interested if the design of the website is not up to standard, or just looks bad. The following article goes through website design best practices for when you’re starting out and want to know how to build a better website, with some considerations to think about.
Website Design With SEO SEO web design optimization means that your website has been created for search engines to easily index the content for users to find. When SEO strategies have been done effectively you increase the chance of gaining more organic traffic to your website through higher placement in search engines. Web design focuses on on-page and off-page SEO strategies. Off-page Seo strategies include using links to your advantage through research and enough value that other websites begin linking to different content within your site. The on-page SEO strategies are also website best practices to consider.
Fast Loading times Loading times are very important because the longer a site or page loads the less attention it gains. A visitor will take 3-4 seconds to decide whether the time it takes to load a page is worth it, and many take that time to leave. This can likewise make sure that your SEO rankings are relatively high. The ways that you can get faster response times are through ensuring:
Strong A/B Testing A/B testing helps you understand what works best for you and your market. Also known as split testing, it measures and compares the responses of your target market. If you have designed two different options it gives you the ability to analyze what version is the better option. Anyone venturing into the world of small business marketing will tell you that websites are essential. Not only do they display product and service information, but they also form a web presence for your business online. Done right you can get visitors interested in less than 50 milliseconds on what you have to offer and the brand story surrounding the business. Thats why you need to thoroughly weigh whether DIY or professional website development is best.  Image credit: Pexels from Pixabay If you run a small business, the past 18 months have been largely about surviving. Now is the time to focus on thriving once more.
You can only make this happen by actively focusing on the right improvements. Here are six of the best solutions to help take your company to the next level. Invest in your team Employees are the driving force behind your business vehicle. As such, you must find effective ways to maximize their output. This can take many forms. Staff training is a particularly popular option as it helps upskill your team. Further options include TCHI for physical and mental wellness. Promoting stronger links between different teams can play a telling role too. Cut your expenses When looking for ways to boost your business, you are primarily looking for ways to boost the revenue. In reality, though, it is a far easier task to reduce your expenses. This can be achieved by trimming the fat on supplies, energy rates, and subscriptions. When your company spends less money without reducing the quality of its output, it makes you far stronger. Not least because you can adopt more flexible pricing models. Revamp your marketing strategy Reduced overheads will deliver stunning and instant results. Nevertheless, boosting the company’s long-term performance will rely heavily on the ability to reach new clients. In today’s climate, digital interactions are far more common than offline ones. As such, learning to develop stronger social media marketing campaigns should be a priority. It is the first touchpoint and can put users on the path to conversion. Take on remote workers Following a very difficult period, the thought of hiring permanent employees may be a little too daunting. However, remote-based contractors enable you to strengthen your team in quality and numbers. Better still, this outcome can be accomplished without upsizing your commercial properties. Or committing to long-term contracts. Given that this is still a period of uncertainty, you will prefer this approach. Focus on time efficiency If you’ve ever felt that there aren’t enough hours in the day for your team to get things done, you are not alone. It is possible to create more time, though. For starters, you can look to use Zoom video links to remove the need for long business travel. Adopting work from home or hybrid working can work well. When supported by automation and tech devices that speed up your daily processes, you will notice the difference. Partner with another company It’s only natural to assume that it’s your business versus the world. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, teaming up with another company could work wonders. A gym and a health foods store could easily link with each other to drive mutual business. SMEs can also share resources to create a more efficient business model. When combined with some of the ideas above, you will see stunning results.  Image credit: RODNAE Productions from Pexels When you own a business, reputation matters. You'll soon realise that without a large audience ready and waiting for your products and service, you won't be able to generate enough funds to cover your costs. Thankfully, growing your reputation and spreading the word about your brand doesn't have to be as difficult as you might expect, as there are in fact just a few key tips and tricks that you can make the most of to achieve your goals in no time at all. So, if you're interested in finding out more, then simply read on to uncover some of the most effective marketing techniques that you can utilize today.
Develop A Social Media Presence One of the best ways to increase your reach as a brand in the modern day involves developing a strong social media presence. Billions of people use social media platforms every single day, often for upwards of 6 hours, so failing to cash in on such an opportunity for your brand could have catastrophic consequences. It's super simple to start your own social media page, as you need nothing more than a company email address and a few key pieces of information about your brand to get started. Most if not all social media platforms allow you to create a 'business' profile, which gives you the chance to link your posts to your products or website, as well as being able to monitor the interactions that take place on your profile. You can use your page to build a network of interest individuals by utilizing handy features such as #hashtags that catapult your content onto the screens of your target audience. Always remember that aesthetics matter online, so it's a good idea to maintain an attractive theme or style through your content to visually appeal to other users. Make Your Image Memorable A boring brand name with a tired logo and a basic form of packaging is no doubt going to encourage potential customers to look the other way, as you need to make sure that your products are eye-catching and your image is memorable if you wish to become a successful brand. Begin with your logo, focusing on creating the most aesthetically pleasing graphic that can accurately represent your business and what you stand for. Next, focus on your product's packaging - does it currently focus on function over image? Though your products need to do what they say on the tin, the tin has to be attractive enough to draw them in! It's a good idea to get in touch with a skilled third party packaging company that can help you to upgrade your look. If you get the chance to secure your own retail store, then the style that you maintain on the shop floor must be suitable for your brand! Growing your brand's reputation has never been so simple when you can take the time to make the most of some of the brilliant tips and tricks carefully detailed above.  Image credit: Joseph Wayne Buchanan from Pexels Passive income is a buzzword nowadays, and it represents something that all business owners hope to earn. When you're generating passive income, you are getting money without actively doing much at all. It tends to happen when you set up your business to become self-sufficient and to run without needing your constant attention.
There are plenty of examples of this in action, but the personal training industry is a fine instance of how easy it is to earn passive income by making a few changes to a traditional business model. After all, it's all about working smarter, not harder! With that in mind, here's what a lot of personal trainers are doing to make money without being overly active: Online training plans Typically, a personal trainer will work 1-to-1 with clients, developing a bespoke training plan for them. This is an example of some hands-on work where you are generating active income. However, the birth of online training plans has really changed this. A lot of top personal trainers - like Jeff Cavaliere - started creating pre-made training plans that people could buy online. The idea is simple; create a plan that targets a specific goal (losing weight, gaining muscle, improving strength, etc.) and anyone can download it and follow the plan as they please. It negates the need for 1-to-1 involvement, with clients able to follow these online plans in the gym or at home. As such, personal trainers can sit back and watch their income increase as more and more people keep buying these plans. It's more convenient for a lot of people; they still get great training plans from a professional, but it is more affordable and accessible for them. The more you think about it, the smarter this idea becomes. Instead of someone paying for one or two personal training sessions a week, they can buy a plan that tells them exactly what to do for 30-days, two months, three months; however long the plan will be! It's a one-off purchase, representing exceptional value for money - and they can keep using the plan as many times as they want. Then, you bring out new plans, and your current customers love your old one so much they are likely to keep buying whatever plans you bring out. Thus, passive income comes in without you really needing to do much other than designing the plans. Personal training apps Another clever concept from the world of personal training is the idea of personal training apps. As this review of Truecoach shows, there are lots of different apps within this business industry. Many trainers use apps to keep track of their business, book clients in for sessions, connect with clients, and so on. However, there's another way of using apps that can really help you get that passive income. Essentially, you create an app that people can download and follow fitness routines on. It can be pre-loaded with exercises, video demonstrations, and so on. Some of the most advanced apps in this sector let people select their goals, choose the equipment they have available, select how many days they train per week, then create a training plan for them. Already, you can see how convenient this is for someone that wants to get fit. It's similar to the online training plan idea, only apps offer more personalization. Plus, the monetary aspect of apps is also slightly different. Here, a lot of personal trainers offer a monthly fee for using the app. This can only be a few dollars, but it means that people are subscribed to your app. Thus, you are getting money every month from all of your subscribers. Let's say your app can be used for $10 a month. From an industry perspective, that's an absolute steal. You can market the app as being $10 a month in comparison to the extensive costs of 1-to-1 personal training. It offers excellent value for the customers, but you might think it is too cheap for you. However, imagine 100 people download your app. That's not a lot of people, but you instantly generate $1,000 a month, so $12,000 a year. What if 1000 people download your app? Suddenly, that's $10,000 a month and $120,000 a year! All of this money will be earned without you needing to do anything at all. Once the app has been developed, you can let people download it and use it as they please. All you have to think about is app updates to keep people subscribed or to lure in new customers. See, the personal training industry is a prime example of people working smarter to earn passive income. It's all about creating business models that don't require constant attention, helping you make money passively. |
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