Michael Levitt's Blog, page 112

How To Market Your Brand Without Using Artificial Means

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Marketing can seem so one-note in 2020. We all know how marketing copy is written and presented even with zero experience in that industry - we’ve been targeted with it multiple times. Even the most gullible person can easily see through the fawning praise brands heap on themselves when trying to sell you something. That can be tiresome, and so companies are using innovative ways to continually seem fresh, inspiring, and more importantly, better than the competition.

But how can you market your brand without using artificial means? Is there a way forward to achieving this? Or must we just focus on the tried-and-tested principles laid out before us? Of course, marketing is an art and a skill, and we completely throw out past wisdom at our peril. That being said, marketing our brand doesn’t have to be an inappropriate and often tiresome fall into mediocrity. From how we present ourselves to the format in which we deliver that, marketing your brand is a worthwhile use of our time. Let’s consider how that may be so:

SEO-Curated Content

SEO-Curated content can often make the most difference going forward. SEO companies know how to leverage your content to be seen higher in the ranking lists of Google search results. An SEO agency will not only help you curate but sometimes even produce your content, and this can help you become embedded in worthwhile posts that subtly market your brand without having to directly refer to it. For many, this can provide a non-invasive, organic and contributive means of marketing - something that is hard to replicate in other fields.

Video Posts

Videos are easy to engage with. You can simply let them play and become entertained by their scope. A company can control its narrative and present you with the information they wish you to see, as well as sell an image, a feeling, and more. It’s why fragrance ads often show cool people on motorbikes or sensual couples coming together instead of actually showing you, scientifically, what the product contains. They’re selling you on a lifestyle. So, can your video posts potentially help you do that? Might this be less exploitative and invasive than a simple magazine ad, or marketing copy written without originality? It’s up to you and your brand.

Personal Blogs

Running your own personal blogs can be a fantastic means of moving forward and developing yourself as a company. It might take more time than you are accustomed to, but often this tactic can help you engage with a natural or organic audience that regularly finds your content from search-engine posts. Using SEO measures as defined beforehand, you can discuss the history of your brand, your new product ideas, promote events and more with this worthwhile lens. That has to be worth something, and for the most part, can be an inexpensive and appropriate manner of marketing without artifice.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily market your brand without having to use artificial means.

Different Print Marketing Methods To Choose From

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Print marketing is still as effective as it ever has been, and there are many different options for you to choose from. Below, we are going to take a look at some of the most impressive marketing mediums for you to select from.

Striking Opaque Vinyl Stickers 

Not only are opaque vinyl stickers eye-catching and stylish, but extremely professional too. Why choose opaque vinyl stickers over standard sticker products? Well, an opaque vinyl sticker is an ideal choice when you wish to place something on top of existing graphics or lettering. 

There are many instances whereby companies and individuals find themselves in a situation where they need to cover up a particular display sign or at least part of it. A prime example would be when you need to change your telephone number on your shop window display. Instead of spending tons of money on removing the current display and buying a new one, all you have to do is purchase opaque vinyl stickers and place it on top of the incorrect telephone number. No one will notice the difference. 

Perhaps you have grown tired of the design of your shop front display? Maybe you want to make a few seasonal changes? Perhaps you want to change the discount code you’ve got in your window? Opaque vinyl stickers make a task that seems potentially difficult extremely easy. Essentially, this product has all of the benefits you get from other vinyl sticker products, with the added advantage of additional opacity. 

To be sure the opaque vinyl sticker you purchase will look impressive, you need to choose a company with care. Make sure they use the finest inks and will match them to the artwork you supply to ensure they perfectly match in with your current display work if necessary. You also need to ensure they have many years of experience, premium quality equipment and materials, and a great reputation in the industry.

High-Quality Posters

Do you want to place a billboard advertisement on your local motorway? Perhaps you want to advertise an in-store promotion you have running? Or, maybe you are simply looking to have some fine art printed on a large-sized poster?

We cannot talk about printed materials without talking about one of the staples, and this is posters. Posters range in sizes, including A0 (1189 x 841 mm), A1 (841 x 594 mm), A2 (594 x 420 mm) and A3 (420x297 mm). 

You also have many different finishes to select from as well. Will you go for a luxurious high gloss finish? Perhaps you’re more tempted by the highly textured matt finish? Or, do you want the best of both worlds with a satin finish?

There are many different specialist services available when it comes to poster printing as well. Some companies cover the full spectrum, whereas others provide niche poster printing services. 

For example, you can find a billboard printing service for those that are looking to make a big impact on the motorways and such like. There are then companies that provide a leading architectural and technical drawing service, as well as poster printing for in-store sales and promotions. With all of these options, there’s no way you are going to struggle to find the perfect poster for your specific requirements. Just make sure you don’t rush into the decision of choosing a company; check out their portfolio and read reviews that have been left by others as well. 

Get Word Out With Flyer Printing

Do you need to get the word out as quickly as possible? Perhaps you have an upcoming event that you need to advertise? Maybe your company is hosting an incredible sale in-store? Whatever the reason may be, flyers have long been an extremely popular choice.

Gloss laminated flyers can really grab the attention of any viewer. This is because they have a finish that is high-end, luxurious, and beautiful, bringing the wow-factor to your print marketing campaign. The inks used will look brighter and more vibrant when you go down this route.

When you want to start a flyer campaign, you need to align yourself with an experienced and reputable company. Action Mailing specializes in Direct Mail Printing, and a company like this will have the experience needed to make sure that your campaign is a success.

So there you have it: three of the best print marketing materials for people to choose from today when marketing their company via traditional means.

Safeguarding Your Employees 3 Different Ways

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Working in an environment in which you don’t feel welcome is tough. It's doubly difficult when you work in a professional space that isn’t secure. If you feel like your machine could be hacked, your work could be stolen or lost, and if you feel like someone could attack you while at work, this creates so much anguish within you. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that employees who feel this way, will leave sooner or later. Every business owner has to be conscious of the fact that a safe workplace gives its employees a mental boost. It's not hard to implement great changes to your workplace in this regard.

Freedom of thought and speech

There is a crisis of free speech in Silicon Valley. Employees of all kinds are complaining to the media, how badly their employer is treating them with regard to having different opinions and being allowed to air them. This is causing mental health problems, bitter feelings towards bosses and employees falling out with each other. This is a great example of what NOT to do. On the one hand you don’t want employees to spout off at the mouth, about anything. We want to have a good environment in which everyone feels welcome. But, you should also have a policy that protects employees from being disciplined, just for expressing their views about a task. It has to be related to a project of some kind, it cannot be just random political talk at the watercooler. Focus on projects and freedom of speech policies and you should be fine.

Always on guard

Employees also want to know that, if they choose to work late and catch some overtime, they will be safe! If you work in an urban environment, or in a business that is very lucrative, you need to contact Ros Electric. Just visit their site to see the kind of security cameras they are offering. They provide better control for responding to fires, security alerts such as intruders and also, access control. The access control is great for those that have secret zones in their business, such as testing sites and executive meeting rooms. But, with these kinds of cameras your employees will feel safe, because they also have nighttime vision. Your security team will be alerted immediately if any would-be burglar tries to break into a window or jimmy open a door at midnight. 

Complaint process

Most of the time, people will feel more trapped at work if they have a quarrel with another employee. So having a fair but effective complaint process is so important. Your HR teams should work on a policy that helps to resolve issues at work, will also prevent law firms getting involved as both parties tool up for a legal battle. So what should it look like?

Study some modern grievance procedures to get an idea. A 5-step process seems to be the norm. Informal action, Investigate, grievance meeting, decision and appeal are the main areas that should be explored.

Employees will want to work harder and impress you if they feel safe and cared for. It's about showing them they are more than assets, they are liked and appreciated. 

Employees also want to know that, if they choose to work late and catch some overtime, they will be safe! If you work in an urban environment, or in a business that is very lucrative, you need to contact Ros Electric. Just visit their site to see the kind of security cameras they are offering. They provide better control for responding to fires, security alerts such as intruders and also, access control. The access control is great for those that have secret zones in their business, such as testing sites and executive meeting rooms. But, with these kinds of cameras your employees will feel safe, because they also have nighttime vision. Your security team will be alerted immediately if any would-be burglar tries to break into a window or jimmy open a door at midnight. 

Switching To A Career In Digital Marketing

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There comes a point in life where you find yourself getting tired of the same mundane things. When you end up in a rut, a good way to get out of it is by switching things up and changing careers. This may seem daunting at first because you may lack knowledge or skill, but challenging yourself will allow you to grow as a person and develop a career that you can enjoy and always learn new things. 

One industry you should consider switching to is digital marketing, as it’s versatile, creative, and requires you to solve problems and find new ways to engage with your audience. Digital marketing trends are always changing so you will need to have a hunger and desire to keep learning.

If you are thinking about switching to a career in digital marketing but you don’t know where to start, keep reading as we will discuss ways that you can enter into this fast-growing industry.

How to get into digital marketing?

Although there are many roles when it comes to digital marketing, finding the right one to start your career can be difficult, especially if you have little or no experience. Like most marketing jobs, roles within the digital industry are competitive. You will need to learn the basics just like you would with any new career. This means learning about search engine optimization (SEO), the different social media techniques, and how digital campaigns work.

There are plenty of online courses available online that you can take to enhance your digital knowledge and you can also get in contact with agencies to see if you can freelance for them. Setting up your own personal blog can also help, as it allows you to write blogs, learn how to make the most of SEO, and how to promote it through different social media channels. 

How does digital marketing help businesses?

Digital marketing can help businesses enhance their online presence through various tactics such as SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, pay per click (PPC), affiliate marketing, and email marketing to name a few. It can also help businesses understand the importance of data analytics and use this information to their advantage. 

Whether you are a B2B or B2C business, digital marketing allows you to reach a wider audience that is cost-effective, learn more about your consumers and what it is they are looking for, and generate new sales and leads. Different digital marketing strategies will work better for some companies than others, so its important to find a strategy that will suit your company’s needs.

Is digital marketing the right career for you?

If digital marketing does sound like something you would like to make a career out of, there are many different roles you can look into, whether it is in social media, design, copywriting, web development, or SEO, the possibilities are endless. The great thing about digital marketing is you are not limited to one particular role, and often the skills you develop can be used elsewhere.

Why It’s Wise To Be Pretty IT Literate In This Day And Age

Thanks to JESHOOTS.COM for sharing their work on Unsplash.

Having all kinds of skills in this world will allow you to unlock all kinds of potential. If you know more about a certain subject, then you’re going to be able to pursue certain ideas further. Knowledge also allows you to feel super confident about what you’re talking about. That confidence then transcends the subject and breaks out into everyday life. The more you know, the better you feel about pretty much every aspect of life. You can go from being a timid, quiet follower to a strong, powerful leader through studying and experience. 

In this day and age, some of the most important skills and abilities one can possess are located in the IT world. As time has progressed, we have become fully entrenched within the digital age – we’ve all got some kind of device on our person, in our office, or in our living room. If you haven’t, then you’re one of the very few people on the planet without – which, in all honesty, is kind of an achievement. Employers and people in business do like someone with knowledge of computers and other IT systems, so it’s safe to say that we should all be looking to increase our IT literacy at least every now and again. 

If you’re not really all that in tune with IT, then that’s not a huge issue at the moment, but it could be in a few years. If you’re not convinced, then here are a few reasons as to why it’s wise to become a little more literate in the world of IT:

Computer Systems Are Only Going To Become More Prevalent 

If you think we’re all glued to screens in the year 2020, then you’re in for some news. While we’re not exactly going to be hooked up to computers like some kind of sci-fi horror movie, we are going to be in the midst of a technological era for quite a while. Quicker and more convenient systems will be invented and distributed, meaning we will rely on machines a lot more than we do now. 

It’s wise to get some computer knowledge into your brain right now because the stuff around is still pretty basic. A lot of the devices and apps we have are foolproof and can be operated by everyone. Who knows, things might become a little more complicated and strict as time moves on. 

It’s Just So Convenient To Be This Way  

It’s obviously not of paramount importance right now, but it just helps with everyday life. Some people – usually of elder generations – view technology as very confusing, but it just isn’t. If you want to learn about a particular subject and get a small idea, then you can just hit up a search engine or whip out your phone and be fulfilled in a matter of moments. There are an awful lot of different things that can be handled almost instantly with IT devices – personally, professionally, and recreationally. You can’t get quick, simple answers if you aren’t this way inclined. 

Employers Look For These Skills A Lot Now

We touched on it briefly before, but a lot of employers are looking for this kind of skill in a potential candidate. A lot of professional work is done using computer systems, so they’ll need someone who can operate appropriate devices and get work done nicely and smoothly. If ever you’re looking for a new job in a sector that you’re relatively excited about, then you’ll probably have to brush up on your IT skills. The chances are that there will be others alongside you hoping to get in that same position – and they’ll probably know a thing or two about IT. They might even have a more than intermediate ability. 

You Won’t Want To Feel Inadequate As We Progress Digitally 

This is more of a personal point than anything, but it’s one that should be taken into account. When you aren’t keeping up with the times, it can make you feel like quite the alien. Some people enjoy being different and being away from the latest trends, etc. but it’s not for everyone. We will become a lot more reliant on digital platforms as time gets on, so do your best not to fall behind as it might have an effect on the rest of your life. 

There Are So Many Software-Based Companies Around

This is somewhat related to the idea of needing to increase your skills to impress employers, but it’s more focused on the fact that there are so many more firms out there that deal exclusively with digital systems. Companies like Unravel SEO that work with digital marketing techniques and firms that deal with managed IT support are becoming more popular due to demand. Sooner or later, this percentage will rise to an even more significant number – so you must bear that in mind should you ever consider a change of job. 

Communication Is Key  

Keeping in touch with other people has become a lot more convenient as we can now do it through our computers and phones so quickly – it has been used especially during this current pandemic, of course. By no means do you have to be the most advanced computer technician to figure out how to set up group video chats, but you might want to learn how some of them are done if you want to avoid a little loneliness. People are also meeting others online using things like social media and forums – you’d never be able to get in touch with people from all over the world without this knowledge. 

You Could Create Your Own Successful Business From Home 

Using just your computer, your smartphone, and your initiative, you can create a business empire from the comfort of your own home. This sounds like nonsense, but it’s absolutely true and is happening as we speak. You can go from creating a side hustle to making an awful lot of money just by having a few intermediate computer skills. When you know how to operate things like blogs and online stores, money can roll into your account. 

Saving Lost Time In Your Work Site

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When it comes to ensuring that your projects run as smoothly and as profitably as possible, there are few things that matter as much as the schedule. Going over your schedule means that you’re likely to have to not only pay for more resources and materials, but you have to recalculate the costs in man-hours, as well, not to mention any rented equipment. Here, we’re going to look at a few tips to help you better manage your schedule by looking at ways to reduce and save lost time in your worksite.

Know that going over schedule is likely to happen

It’s not something that clients want to hear, but the likelihood of any project going over-time to some degree is very high, indeed. This is for the simple reason that you don’t have the ability to see the future and prepare for every single hiccup that might come along your way. However, when you understand that things are likely to go over-schedule to some degree, it does mean that you can plan for it and account for it to some degree. For instance, you can ensure that there is money put aside in the estimate and the budget to account for expected over-time work.

Take the time to set up the site

Before your team starts to get to work, it’s important to make sure that the worksite has been prepared to the best of their ability. Over third of all time spent on a worksite typically involves moving from one part of the site to the other, cleaning up, setting up, and the like. This is not how things should optimally work, however. You should ensure that your team is taking the time to prepare the area as best as possible ahead of time. Clean out the site, make sure they have access to waste disposal areas, and make sure that different locations on-site are mapped out clearly so people know how to find what resources of parts of the project they need.

Positioning is key

As a major factor in the site set-up that is needed before the team gets to work, you should endeavor to take the time to figure out where different things should go on the site. By this, we mean where do you put the materials, where do you position equipment they might need, where do you put the waste areas. Construction site mapping software like Pix4d can help you visualize the entirety of the site during the setup, making sure that you’re putting everything in its right place. The correct placement of items will ensure that less time is spent going back and forth from one area to the next by making sure the proximity of important resources is reduced as much as possible.

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Ensure everyone has the tools on hand that they need

Another aspect of pre-planning that needs a lot more attention is not just the placement of tools, but their procurement as well. Once you have the different processes of the project mapped out, take a closer look, and ask yourself as to what tools might be necessary for every step along the way. Keep track of your tools and materials by putting an effective inventory management system in place, making sure that workers have to check them out when they’re using them. This way, you’re going to have a lot fewer instances of workers getting frustrated looking for the tools they need to complete their work.

Make scheduling much easier

Even if going over-schedule has to be accepted, to some degree, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a lot more accurate about the kind of progress your team should be making at any part in the process. Tools like JobNimbus construction management software can help to a great degree by ensuring you don’t have to rely entirely on your own memory and working out to create a schedule that works to the advantage of the project. Digital tools can help you create a workflow and pipeline of all the different tasks, work out how much time they will take, and schedule them in a way that keeps productivity to the max, avoiding bottlenecks and scheduling conflicts ahead of time. 

Improve communication throughout

Another one of the benefits of a good digital construction management system is that they typically include features that are designed primarily to help you communicate with your crews, contractors and other parties who are involved in your projects. Your ability to more quickly send out work orders can reduce their response time, helping to speed the project along. Finding the right means for communication is also essential for making sure that misunderstandings aren’t holding the project back or leading to mistakes that can end up costing you a lot of time. You should aim to check in with individual contractors and team leaders at least once a day to get a better idea of how progress is going and if there are any issues that you can help them clear up.

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Create a safer workplace

Aside from the fact that it’s your responsibility to protect your workforce from the risk of harm as best as possible, there are plenty of practical reasons you want to keep your employees safer in the workplace. There are the costs of worker’s compensation and potential litigation, of course, but there is also the fact that an accident in the workplace can shut down production for an entire day, if not more. Should an injury or accident need to be further investigated, it can hold back the project even further. Invest in PPE, do a risk assessment, assign a worksite security officer if you have to. Take workplace safety seriously.

Be flexible to changes in scope

As mentioned, not all delays can be avoided. Some, like delays due to the unavailability of a certain material or due to changes in the weather, are entirely out of your hands. Changes in the scope, while not out of human hands, are equally out of your own reach. If the owner changes their scope or if you’re a contractor working for a consultant who changes the scope of the project, there is little you can do but be flexible and be ready to change plans. Be transparent with the client you’re working with, making sure that they understand that scope changes are going to add a delay to the schedule. Don’t make it sound like a possibility, ensure that they are aware of the fact.

Take good care of your equipment

Reducing downtime in the workplace is going to be crucial if you want to make sure that you don’t end up running over schedule. Should your equipment start to act up and show faults, it can take a lot of time to get things back up and running. As such, there are a lot of ways to reduce equipment downtime as shown by Sage. The most important is investing in proactive and predictive maintenance, getting to know your equipment, and what failures they are most likely to experience first. By knowing the steps to repair those most common faults and having any necessary replacement parts on hand, you can get them back up and running as soon as possible.

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Ensure you have backups on hand

Not all downtime is caused by the equipment itself, but by a lack of the essential resources that keep the workplace running. This might be the heating necessary to keep workers safe, or it might be the power necessary to keep your equipment running. Budgeting for these provisions is essential for any job, of course, but it’s also important to recognize that they can have problems of their own. Rather than having to halt work entirely, you can look at getting backup provisions such as heating equipment generators that can help you get the workplace back up and running again in no time. Make sure you’re choosing scalable generators that can work to shifting needs, too.

Know when you need additional manpower

By keeping a close eye on the schedule, you should hopefully get an idea in advance of when you are starting to fall behind. When you do, you need to ask if you have the manpower on hand to help you catch back up. Manpower isn’t just the number of workers you have, but also the expertise. For instance, one worker might be tied in one job that requires a specific skill, but have to hold back on another that requires the same skill. By using construction hire platforms as shown at Building Advisor, you can ensure you have both the labor and the skills you need to keep up.

As mentioned, some aspects of going over schedule should be expected and budgeted appropriately, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it no matter the extent. The tips above can hopefully help you get a better hand of your schedule and use your time much more wisely.

A Beginner's Guide To Link Building

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If you are the owner of a business website, marketing is essential if you want your business to thrive. In this current day and age, competition is rife, and you need to make sure you are getting an influx of visitors and customers if you want to survive let alone succeed. 

The only way to ensure this is the case is with a successful and elaborate marketing strategy. This does not mean you have to use complicated and intricate measures to stand out; you merely have to use the right techniques for your audience. One of these methods is link building. Link building is a great way to promote your business and get your website out there for everyone to see. 

So, what actually is link building?

In basic terms, link building is simply the process of getting other websites to create a link from their website to yours. There are many different ways you can do this, and link building is great because it is cost-effective and very powerful. When other authoritative sites link to yours, it is like they are giving Google the thumbs up about your business.

How can I get my business website link posted on another website? 

There are several excellent techniques you can make use of to get a great back link. If you are looking for a simple method, you can merely email the owner of another website and ask if he or she would link to your website and in exchange you can offer to link back to theres. However, you may find this to be a tedious process as some people may ignore your emails and you are essentially relying on the kindness of others.

The best thing to do is to use a specialist link building service, such as the one offered by FATJOE. By opting for a service like this, you can have fresh, exciting content created, which naturally links to your website. You will also be able to budget effectively by determining what Domain Rating you wish to target. The higher the Domain Rating, the better! 

An expert service comes highly recommended, as while link building offers many benefits, you will only experience these if your strategy is implemented effectively and the correct sites are targeted.

Why should you use link building?

Many of you may now understand how to link build but you still may be unaware to why you actually should, and as a result what benefits it will bring your business. First and foremost, you are creating more outlets for your website to be seen, and so as a consequence, there is a higher chance that individuals will view your website. 

Also, as you have created relevant articles and posted on sites that are related to yours, you can ensure that your site visitors have a high chance of falling into your target demographic. A lot of other approaches drive irrelevant traffic, but link building does not when executed properly. 

Link building is also great because it will improve your ranking on the chief search engine pages such as Google and Yahoo, and so link building is a great technique to include in your search engine optimization strategy. Of course, the higher up your website is on the search engine rankings; the more likely people will view it, and so you are further enhancing your traffic potential. 

When a website links to yours, it helps to build your own credibility. This is something that Google considers when it is determining how to rank websites. It looks at many factors, from site performance to relevancy. If you have links pointing to your site from other highly regarded websites that are related to your keywords, this will boost your online presence and this can only be a good thing in ensuring you rank highly on Google.

As mentioned, though, your link building strategy needs to be executed to perfection for this to be the case. If you run a local bakery and have a link posted to your site from a car performance blog based in Singapore, this will not help you make a positive impression on Google. In fact, this will damage your rating, and that is why it is always advisable to use an expert service if you are not experienced in this area of digital marketing.

So there you have it: the full beginner’s guide to link building. We hope that this has helped you to understand why it is so important and how you can implement this in your business.

How Every Good Boss Or Leader Should Behave

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It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to lead a successful business or win games in an amateur sports team; there needs to be a leader at the front of everything. Without a captain, you’ll just have a group of people making different decisions and wondering what to do next. With a firm character at the tip of the spear, you’ll get more done due to the lack of dithering and wondering. 

In this article, we’re going to talk specifically about business leadership and why it’s such an important part of success. There needs to be direction from the top downward, and employees need to be kept secure and safe in the workplace – mentally, physically, and socially. A boss will be able to oversee everything and make choices based on what they notice. Anyone can just say they’re in charge, but a really successful skipper will have lots of characteristics and traits about them. Here are just a few things a good leader should absolutely possess: 

They Shouldn’t Be A Pushover  

People with pretty weak and fragile mentalities can be influenced pretty heavily by the slightest of suggestions. Leaders aren’t like this at all – they’ll listen to what is being said and take things into account, but the decision thereafter is firmly theirs. They will not be bullied or belittled in any way. If they get a sense of that kind of thing, they’ll happily remove that person and their opinion from the equation with little thought or worry. It might sound cold-hearted, but it’s more of a respect thing than anything else. 

They Need To Value Every Individual 

It’s good to run an entire team, but a team is made up of individuals. Each individual needs to be cared for. A good leader will manage people efficiently and make them feel just as valuable as anyone else. It’s silly to leave anyone out in the cold when you’re trying to push for success – it benefits absolutely nobody.

No Dithering 

When a decision is made, a strong leader will not go back on it and overthink things. They’ll commit to what’s necessary and make changes when and if totally necessary. There’s nothing worse than having someone in charge who will worry and go back and forth between ideas. It doesn’t matter whether it’s regarding the right choice of electronic components or regarding the next best fit for the job, you need to have someone that will take charge – and that’s what a good captain does. 

They Need A Strong Temperament

It’s easy to lose your temper or get emotional when you’re spearheading anything because the responsibility is solely on your shoulders. You’ll take the blame, and you’ll be the one everyone looks at during critical moments. If you lose the plot, then things could go from bad to worse – or you could throw away an amazing opportunity. A good leader will be calm under any kind of pressure. 

Charisma Is Essential 

Being able to charm the pants off someone helps in many aspects of life, but especially in business. If you can get people believing in what you have planned, then you can rule the world. At the end of the day, a business is enhanced by the people working inside it, so if you can get them all working hard, then the sky's the limit. 

How To Build A Valuable Business

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How To Build A Valuable Business

There are many different reasons for starting a business, but one of these reasons is to build it up into something extraordinary, and then sell it for a nice profit; this is something that about 50 percent of all business owners eventually do. After that, depending on how much money you’ve made on the deal, you can retire (potentially much earlier than if you had stayed working), or start a brand new business and begin the process all over again. The choice is yours, and selling a profitable business will certainly give you plenty of options.

If this does sound ideal, you will want to maximize your potential gain by making your business a truly valuable one. Here are some ways you can go about doing this.

Spend Carefully

One of the most important things you can do when you are building up a business to sell it on is to spend carefully. Having a budget in place as well as a business plan that details every area in which you are going to need to spend anything, as well as how much if possible, is going to be immensely helpful for you and for anyone who buys the business when you’re ready to sell, so ensure this is a task you complete right at the start.

When you do spend money (which is going to have to happen if you want to build the business), you must think about the quality of what you’re buying. This may mean spending more initially, but this will pay dividends over time as the item you buy will last for longer and you won’t have to replace it. It might cost more to purchase custom cable assemblies or high-quality machinery, but it will undoubtedly be worth it in the end.

Create Recurring Revenue

Recurring revenue is something anyone who wants to buy a business is going to be looking for. It’s great to make sales, and this is important, but if you have a good amount of recurring revenue on top of new sales, you can show your business is stable and will continue to make a profit in the future – exactly what someone hoping to buy is going to want. 

There are many ways to create recurring income, including:

·        Ensuring you offer excellent customer service so buyers will return

·        Setting up a subscription service for goods or services

·        Selling something that requires additional purchases on a regular basis (i.e. printer ink, food refills)

 Have A USP

“The best USP of any product is the enthusiasm and confidence of a salesperson…”

― Shahenshah Hafeez Khan 

USP stands for ‘unique selling proposition’, and it is essentially what makes your business stand apart from the rest. If you have a good USP, something that can continue after you sell the business, more people will be interested in buying from you. After all, you’ve already done the hard work, and they simply need to continue that work and enhance your USP where possible. 

Your USP is, as the name suggests, going to be unique to your business, but ideas to consider include offering a unique service, having excellent special offers, giving talks and workshops, creating explainer videos, and more.

3 Simple Ways to Keep Your Employees Safer in the Workplace

Photo by Science in HD on Unsplash

Safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind lately, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. While keeping your employees safe from the ongoing virus is important, it doesn’t mean other safety measures in the workplace should suddenly be ignored. 

In the U.S. alone, there were more than 5,000 workplace fatalities due to injuries in 2018. The most common types of injuries in the workplace are slips and falls. Many of them happen in manufacturing or factory settings, but no industry is immune. 

Whether you currently own your own company or you’re an aspiring business owner trying to cover all your bases, it’s important to know how to keep your employees safe. 

There are endless resources, suggestions, and tips to keep in mind, but we’ll start out with three that you can use as preventative measures for employee safety. 

1. Train Your Workers Well

One of the best things you can do to keep your employees safe is to train them for the exact job(s) they’ll be doing. That includes making sure they know the equipment they’ll be handling, as well as every component of that equipment. 

For example, if an employee is working with an air compressor unit, do they know what a condensate drain does, or about Tameson products? If they are operating heavy machinery, do they know any overrides that may need to be performed, or how to handle an emergency situation? 

Training can prevent injury, and even save lives. 

2. Put Signs Everywhere

Even the most well-trained employees aren’t perfect. Human error is a very real thing, and everyone makes mistakes. 

In order to reduce the chance of those mistakes, put your safety policies in as many places as possible. Signs are a great way to remind your workers about certain procedures that are in place for their wellbeing. 

It might seem redundant to keep reminding everyone, but it is well worth it if those simple reminders can be a ‘lightbulb moment’ for a worker, and help them to do the right thing if they find themselves in a dangerous situation. 

3. Encourage a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Keeping your employees safe actually goes far beyond what you can control within the workplace. Stress is a huge problem for employees, and it can lead to a lack of focus and energy. That is a recipe for disaster that can increase the risk of accidents (as well as sickness). 

It’s important to make sure your employees don’t burn out on the job and risk their wellbeing. In order to do that, give them adequate time off, encourage breaks, and make sure they aren’t feeling overwhelmed and overworked. Some employees may be reluctant to take time off. But, by making it a workplace policy, you will ensure that everyone gets the rest and relaxation they need. 

Keeping your employees safe and healthy should be a top priority. It’s much easier to take preventative measures for safety rather than deal with injuries after they happen. Your employees will appreciate the attention and care, and your business will benefit from it.