Michael Levitt's Blog, page 97

February 17, 2021

How to Package Overseas Shipments to Increase your Growth

Photo by Delphinmedia on Pixabay

Photo by Delphinmedia on Pixabay

International shipping can seem like a waste of money when costs are taken into account - especially for small businesses. But, when it comes to overseas shipping, there are some steps you can take to make your shipping benefit you. 



Be considerate of weight



Most international shipping costs will take weight into account. For this reason, it’s key to keep your parcels’ weights as low as possible. 



Whether you are shipping heavy furniture, or lightweight parcels, choosing the right kind of packing materials is a sure-fire way to reduce costs. 



Most packages are sent in cardboard boxes, but you have other options that may suit better. Crate boxes, corrugated cartons and wood pack boxes may be heavier, but they are more robust, and less likely to break in transit. 



Eco-friendly materials may cost a bit extra, but can be used as a selling point for those more environmentally conscious when shopping. 



Use a customs broker



If you find yourself with a significant amount of international shipping demands, investing in a customs broker is the best way forward. 


A customs broker will simplify the complexities international shipping can create, and work to benefit your company specifically. 



Know the shipping laws



If you aren’t using a customs broker, it’s critical to know the international shipping laws. It will cost more to ship to certain places. Due to this, you may want to consider only offering international shipping to a selection of countries. 



Though this may seem like narrowing your market, it can save you money overall. Look at the demand levels in certain countries - will it pay off when you consider the cost of shipping?



If you are looking to ship internationally, without any immediate demand, consider their markets. Is there a gap in the market that your business fills? Then it may be worth shipping to this country. 



Protect the parcel



Getting your shipment to as little weight as possible is vital, but even more so is making sure it’s adequately protected. 



Of course, this will be a more significant point for those shipping delicate items, but it’s vital for others too. Anything can break, and you don’t want that to be your shipment. 



Photo by Congerdesign on Pixabay

Photo by Congerdesign on Pixabay

Customers will likely raise issues with broken shipments and can demand refunds. In this case, you’ve wasted money - not only on the product itself but also the international shipping. 



There are several packaging protectants available to you: packing peanuts, bubble wrap and foam pads to name a few. Making sure you’ve got at leave 5cm of protection should help you avoid any damages. 



Shipping internationally can make or break



Shipping internationally can elevate a company into higher levels of demand and therefore increased growth. However, it can also create issues within a business with costs, stunting growth. 



When looking to begin shipping internationally, it is essential to do all the research you can to ensure you will benefit from this change. The more aware you are of the markets you are shipping to, the shipping methods you can use, and the costs it will bring about, the better. 






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Published on February 17, 2021 06:44

5 Ways to Ensure Your Intellectual Property is Protected

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

Your business’s intellectual property is an essential asset and should be protected. Your intellectual property includes any products, designs, ideas, or discoveries made. It also refers to all aspects of your business such as your name, domain, branding, and logo. There are a few different types of intellectual property protection and these include copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret. Even if you’re just starting out you should register your business. No company is too insignificant to not be at risk of theft and fraud. Here are five ways to ensure your business is protected.


Register your brand


When you set up a company you need to register your business, product, and domain name. These all make up a part of your brand. You can easily register your business and product online according to your state, but the types of paperwork may vary slightly. Registering your domain is fairly straightforward. Here’s how to . Once officially registered, you can rest assured you can operate legally and securely.


Understand the different types of IP protection


There are different types of intellectual property rights and it’s important to know which is suitable for your situation. A patent, for instance, is used to protect a particular product you’ve invented. Trademarks are more for protecting your branding, such as logos and slogans. Copyright protects any creative work by you or your business, for example, music or media production. Trade secret refers to confidential information you don’t want to be disclosed. 


Seek legal advice


Seek legal advice to find out which type of IP protection you need and how to apply. It’s also possible your business could be accused of stealing another company’s intellectual property. In this case, it’s a good idea to speak to skilled federal criminal defense lawyers to better understand your rights. If you’re concerned or confused about intellectual property law, a professional lawyer will be able to clarify things and put you at ease.


Protect private information


If there’s certain confidential information relating to your business you can use various types of non-disclosure agreements. These will legally bind your employees and clients from disclosing trade secrets and other sensitive material. You can also include a confidentiality clause in employee contracts. Seek legal advice on this as well. This way you can ensure all necessary aspects of your intellectual property are protected in the agreement.


Improve cybersecurity measures


Keep your business protected online by increasing cybersecurity measures. Control access to sensitive information. Use multi-factor authentication and consider outsourcing cloud hosting. You could work with a managed service provider to ensure you have data backup and disaster recovery in place. They will be able to use proactive IT to protect your business and prevent any breaches before they happen. Here are some other useful data security tips for small businesses.


Ensuring all aspects of your business are protected will give you peace of mind. Your products and ideas are unique and only you can decide who has the rights to them.



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Published on February 17, 2021 04:59

How Dust Can Harm Your Employees

Image by Tomislav Jakupec from Pixabay

Image by Tomislav Jakupec from Pixabay

Rather than harmful, dust is often seen as something that is simply annoying but it is almost everywhere, but we do not really pay enough attention to it or understand how poor health can result from over-exposure to dust in the workplace. As a matter of fact, being exposed to constant high levels of dust can be dangerous, and can have a negative impact on the lives of people affected.    


Exposure to dust is always inevitable in the manufacturing sector. The job includes, by its very nature, tasks and actions that create and disperse dust into the air. It is difficult to maintain healthy dust levels in factories or warehouses, even with daily, detailed cleaning schedules.


This indicates that the health of your employees is constantly at risk, leaving them vulnerable to acute respiratory diseases and skin disorders that could affect them for the rest of their lives. It is, therefore, essential that you do take every conceivable step to reduce the dust in the workplace, including Premium Industrial Dust Collector Filters and machines.


Here are some of the main ways that dust exposure may endanger your workplace's well-being.


Dust in the lungs


Over-exposure to dust can cause issues with breathing that may lead to respiratory diseases that are life-threatening. Small dust particles are freely inhaled into the nose and pharynx, called respirable dust. These are then able to build up and take up air space in the lungs, creating chest blockages which can cause some quite severe illnesses and reduced lung function.


Pneumonia and asthma can also be caused by dust exposure. Some types of dust are worse than others. For example, the dust created from wood, reactive dyes, flour, and grain can cause chest tightness, wheezing and prolonged coughing attacks. Asthma caused by occupational hazards is debilitating, but if it becomes pneumonia, as a result of the build-up of dust and lung infections, it can be fatal.


Lung conditions are declared one of the most prominent and severe heath dangers associated with dust from workplaces. Being exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RsC) is a cause of lung cancer and silicosis. Sadly, the long-term effects of exposure to dust and the damage to the lungs are usually incurable. As with most things, prevention is better than cure, and employers have a responsibility to prioritize the health and safety of their workers by taking every possible step to minimize exposure to excessive dust. 


Dust on the skin


The dust has to settle somewhere, and that is most often on the skin. Unless workers are covered in head to toe protective gear and clothing, and strict routines are followed in the removal and laundering of these items, there is still going to be some skin exposure. While not as dangerous - in most cases - as the lung conditions caused dust, it can cause some quite painful allergic reactions, especially over a prolonged period of time. Itching, redness, scaling and crusting, and general soreness are all symptoms of an allergic reaction to dust exposure.


Unfortunately, there can be some more serious side effects of dust. Some manufacturing processes and materials give off carcinogenic dust, which over time can increase the chances of cancer.


Dust and brain function


Brain problems may also arise from the health effects of overexposure to dust. Studies have shown that frequent inhalation of particles of fine, respirable dust can lead to dementia and increase the risk of strokes.


900 brains of test subjects older than 60 years were analyzed by the researchers. While there is no definitive correlation between exposure to dust and brain health, the study showed that brains that were less exposed to dust were certainly in better shape.


Your responsibility


As an employer, your first priority, above profits, above everything else, has to be the health and safety of your staff. Morally, it is right to make sure that they are kept well at work, but you also have a legal obligation - you can find yourself hit with lawsuits and criminal charges if you are found to be neglectful in your duties.


Dust that is not controlled can be dangerous and presents some really serious hazards, both in the long term and the short term to staff, and anyone visiting your premises. It also causes low staff morale, high staff absence, and turnover, and lowers productivity levels, all of which have a negative impact on your bottom line.





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Published on February 17, 2021 04:47

Standing Out From The Crowd- What Can You Do To Get Your Business Noticed?

The photo was taken by Muhammad Ribkhan from Pixabay

The photo was taken by Muhammad Ribkhan from Pixabay

Competition fuels success in business, but it’s not always easy to stand out from the crowd and beat rivals. If you’re looking to expand your client base, increase sales and put your brand on the map, here are some tips to help you get your business noticed. 



Advertising and marketing

Advertising and marketing are designed to inform people about your business, to let them know who you are and what you do, and to encourage consumers to want to find out more. An effective, targeted strategy can help to increase sales, enhance brand image and reputation and get people talking about your business. If previous campaigns have fallen flat, or you’re wondering how you can reach out to new customers and generate better quality leads, there are several avenues to explore. Consider your target buyer and how they shop and consume information and marketing materials.

Young people tend to spend a lot of time on social media, for example, while older listeners and commuters may listen to the radio frequently. If you’re keen to target specific channels and utilize techniques that have proven beneficial with certain demographics, seek expert advice and look for resources. You can outsource digital marketing if you don’t have in-house experts and you can work with agencies to explore new possibilities. You can go online or enlist the services of professionals. If you type in a search query such as how to advertise on Sirius XM- get rates and kits today, you’ll find specialist companies that have experience in radio advertising as well as blogs and features loaded with tips and tricks about digital and traditional marketing.

Branding

Studies show that consumers are increasingly aware of where they buy products from and who they enlist to provide services. More and more shoppers are looking to buy from businesses that support good causes and promote sustainability, for example, and most customers prefer to buy from brands that they follow on social media. It’s increasingly important to showcase your personality and give your business a human side, as well as providing excellent services and innovative products. Use personalized emails and social media to engage with customers, start conversations, and encourage friends and followers to share ideas and really get to know your brand. Celebrate originality and use branding and communications to set your business apart. 



Promotions and offers

Promotions and offers are an excellent way to create a buzz if you’re looking to boost sales or you’re launching a new product or service. Harness the power of social media to increase your following by encouraging followers to share posts and get their friends and family to do the same. If you run a competition to give away a free gift or a brand new product, you can expand your reach significantly. Issue clear instructions, ensure that your post is shared, and keep in touch with those who enter after the deadline has passed. Try to keep hold of new fans and virtual friends by posting regularly, making your content visually enticing and engaging, and providing access to special offers and discounts. You can also run promotions, such as flash sales or freebies when you spend a certain amount on your website and social channels to encourage people to make a purchase. 

Photo by JESSICA TICOZZELLI from Pexels

Photo by JESSICA TICOZZELLI from Pexels


Standing out in a crowd can be a challenge, but to succeed in business, you have to be able to persuade customers to choose you over your rivals. If you’re on a mission to get your business noticed, take these steps today.




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Published on February 17, 2021 04:35

February 16, 2021

Questions To Ask Before Taking Your Biz Overseas

Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS from Pexels

Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS from Pexels

If you feel like you have explored as much of your market opportunity domestically as you can without paying over the nose to get more and more specific with your targeting, then you might want to start looking at other markets. Overseas markets can be particularly lucrative, but they do also take some work to get into, so you should know what you need to prepare in advance.

Know the markets available

As it always is, the location of your business is going to be key to your success. It’s not enough to just choose any overseas market. You need to make sure that you’re choosing one that has both room for your business, as well as enough of the market to sustain it. For instance, a business might not have any direct competitors for you, but that might be because there isn’t much of a market for what you provide. Do your market research on any opportunity before making your move.


How local laws affect your business

There could be laws that will change how your business operates. They might necessitate changes in the products themselves to meet new regulations, as well as how you organize and capitalize on labor, your premises, and more. You need the help of a good business lawyer, but you need those specifically accustomed to helping in matters of international trade, such as Gowling WLG. Otherwise, it’s much easier than you might think to end up being noncompliant with regulation, even when you’re trying hard to adapt your business.


The question of funding

The logistics of running your supply overseas, setting up offices across borders and oceans, and of going through all the official processes needed to get into a different country’s market takes more than time. It takes money. Preparing the funding you need is crucial, whether it be via a business loan or through initiatives like CanExport Grant Funding. Do your homework to find out what the costs are going to be before you spend a single cent on moving, then see what it will take to get the funds you need.


Your new message

There are no two countries in which your message will work just the same. Even other English-speaking countries have different norms and understandings that will affect not just the copy of your marketing, but the very core of your brand message. For that reason, instead of just using translation services, you should look into localization services that go beyond simply translating the text, but instead offer a different cultural lens over your messaging. Otherwise, you can easily end up committing major faux pas with what would be a perfectly innocent advert or piece of copy in your own home.


The above considerations are just a primer for what it will take to find success overseas. Take your time, do your research, get to know others who have made the move, and ensure that you’re ready. It’s a big investment, and not without risk, but the rewards can be so much greater.


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Published on February 16, 2021 08:55

3 reasons you may need a lawyer when starting a business

Photo by @melindagimpel

Photo by @melindagimpel

When starting a business, there is a lot to consider, possibly more than you could ever imagine. Although this is actually a very exciting time, managing and planning everything can be a very tedious and overwhelming experience. More often than not, long nights are involved, early mornings, and constant phone calls. All necessary tasks mount up, and sometimes, things can fall through the cracks resulting in some issues. In those cases, you may need a lawyer to help you out.


Contracts

When you’re starting up a business, you’re likely going to be reading and signing dozens of contracts. Whether it’s with suppliers, a building lease, or any license or permit, the contract you need to sign will undoubtedly have some requirements. To ensure that you’re getting exactly what you’ve bargained for and know what you’re signing up to, it’s wise to have a business lawyer take a look over those contracts and make sure there are no clauses that could trip you up. After all, you want this business to succeed, so any issues with any contracts could make you fall at the first hurdle. Plus, reading through dozens of contracts is hugely time-consuming, so you could hand off those contracts to a professional like Cliff Schneider and focus your time elsewhere on other elements of the business.

Copywrite, patents, and trademarks

Suppose you have a product, service, image, etc., that needs to be protected by some Copywrite, patent, or trademark law. In that case, you will likely need a lawyer's help to file any necessary paperwork. Having a helping hand to file this documentation means that everything is filed correctly, so if another business were to replicate anything you have covered, they would be held accountable. Again, this is also a lot of paperwork, and there’s often a lot of legal jargon involved, so handing this off to your lawyer is a wise choice as they’re likely to be more knowledgeable in this field.


Registering a business

When you decide on starting your own business, you need to determine what kind of company you would like to run. Is it going to be a partnership, limited company, sole ownership, or a corporation? If you’ve done your research, you may already know what kind of business structure you’re leaning towards, but if not, a lawyer can help you decide which structure is best for your business. An experienced lawyer can provide all of the necessary information about each business structure, giving you both the positives and negatives. Plus, they have no bias, so you know that they’re honest with you. Once decided, a lawyer can then file all of the legal documents needed to register your business, and then once done, you can begin trading. Having someone else file the documents for you eases the pressure on you, and you can enjoy the experience of opening a business.


Tax

As a start-up business, you may not have an accountant on your payroll yet. There’s no need to worry about this as the finances can often be handled by yourself or someone else working at the business. However, it’s essential that your business is being taxed correctly and that tax is being paid correctly. The tax businesses pay compared to individuals differs, so someone who knows what they’re doing must be handling the tax so that there are no errors. If there are errors, a business could be penalized, which could have been avoided.

There are likely other reasons to need a lawyer, but these are the main points to focus on. Remember, this should be an exciting time, not one that’s completely overwhelming.



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Published on February 16, 2021 08:52

How to Create Effective Email Marketing Content

Photo by @priscilladupreez

Photo by @priscilladupreez

Email marketing is a potent tool to incorporate into our companies' marketing strategies. It entails sending emails to our current clients and prospects to provide essential information regarding our products or services. Often, email marketing is a part of a wider program of marketing methods, which can also include outside services (like those from redesign.co, to name one example), but this does not mean it is not an important element to focus on.


For our email campaigns to be successful, we must focus on making the best first impressions. Building credibility is also vital to increase conversions, gain more subscribers, and boost our revenue eventually. This is precisely why we cannot afford to disregard creating effective emails. Here are some practical strategies to ensure that our email marketing content is compelling.


Understand the Target Audience

When we comprehend our target audience, it becomes easier for us to develop great content for fruitful email campaigns. This is possible because we know our clients' diverse needs and how they want them to be met. We can tailor our email content for them.


To understand our target clients, we can research them. It is also prudent to engage them on various social medial platforms and participate in many forums where they are involved. Besides, platforms like Yahoo! Answers and Quora could help us collect data on our target audience.


As we devote ourselves to creating captivating content that satiates our target customers' needs, we should not ignore our competitors' moves. What are they doing differently, and how can we be better to win their client base?


Strive to Create a Connection

Our email campaigns tell unique stories that our target customers can only understand if they connect with us. The best way to create the required connection is by using a conversational tone so that readers feel like we are addressing them directly. Therefore, instead of writing the email marketing content in the third person, we should use the second person, i.e., "you" or "your."


Stay Relevant

The biggest mistake we can make when building email campaigns is to include poor content.  Readers need to know what's in it for them as soon as possible. Otherwise, they might not read our emails to the end. Therefore, we should establish our emails' relevance from the word go. It allows us to grasp our clients' attention and maintain it until they get to the emails' closure.


While brevity is encouraged when composing relevant email marketing content, we don't necessarily have to stick to short emails. Longer ones are ideal as well, but they can only work if we keep our readers interested. One of the effective ways to do that is by formatting our emails properly using subheadings, bulleted lists, and paragraphs. We can also use videos, images, and 'deep captions.'


Personalization

Personalizing emails works like magic. In 2019, Yes Lifecycle Marketing revealed that emails whose subject lines are personalized have a 50% higher open rate. This is because they humanize communication and give customers new, more satisfying experiences. When we send out personalized emails, we stand out in our target audience's inbox and capture their attention. It also allows us to build healthier working relationships with them.


Some of the most popular email personalization techniques today are:


Customizing our greetings and subject lines

Providing practical product/service recommendations

Celebrating our customers' achievements

Creating dynamic content

Using subscriber tags

Including the client's company and location

Here's an example of a personalized email opening. Instead of writing a phrase like "Dear Reader/Client," we should use "Dear Tamara,"


When personalizing emails, avoid using the wrong first names. None of us desire to be addressed wrongly, no matter what the circumstances. Other mistakes that we should steer clear of during email personalization are:


Including irrelevant service/product recommendations

Using the wrong client information

Mixing up genders

Incorporating irrelevant graphics

Email marketing can catapult our companies to success if we create compelling content for our campaigns. We should take our time during the content creation process and ensure we have all the relevant details about our target audience. Beginners can seek the help of an experienced email marketer who understands their brands and business goals.


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Published on February 16, 2021 03:43

8 Reliable And Affordable Business Data Security Tips

Image Credit

Image Credit

Data is fueling the growth of businesses. Hackers know this, and they know that businesses will pay millions if they threaten to compromise their data. Consequently, 43% of all cyber-attacks in 2019 targeted SMBs, and the average cost of a cyber-attack is about $3.9 million




Many SMBs don’t recover from cyber-attacks, sadly. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent these attacks using cybersecurity solutions. 




Here is an overview of eight cybersecurity tips to keep your business data secure: 




Sensitize Employees on Data Security 




Hackers often orchestrate social engineered cyber-attacks that prey on individuals’ ignorance. Your employees may be prime targets of such attacks if they are not on board with your cybersecurity plan. 




Your employees need to know about the looming threat of cyber-attacks and their catastrophic effects. It will inspire them to be more careful when handling business data. It will also help them identify potential cyber-attacks and take the necessary security measures. 

More importantly, your employees should learn how to avoid and repel cyber-attacks. For example, they need to know how to pick strong passwords and secure their remote devices. Finally, ensure that your employees know that they will be held accountable for any negligent actions that expose your business to cyber-attacks. 




Improve & Protect Passwords 




Passwords are an easy and popular way to restrict unauthorized access to data. However, they are only useful if one cannot hack them. As such, it is advisable to strengthen your passwords and add an extra layer of security. 




It is advisable to use at least eight characters in your password. It should also be something creative and challenging to guess. Additionally, it should feature a different range of characters, including letters (both uppercase and lowercase) and numbers. 




It is also advisable to add an extra layer of protection to your passwords – hackers have a range of tricks to get around secure passwords. For example, two-factor authentication will secure your passwords by requiring you to answer a personal question or use a unique code to log in after putting in the correct password. 




Secure Personal Devices 

Employees often use their devices to access work-related data when they are out of the office. This has become especially necessary now that the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing people to consider work-from-home options




Employees’ devices are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks than the company’s devices. However, you can change that by implementing the necessary cybersecurity measures. For example, you can instruct employees to install cybersecurity measures such as anti-virus programs and firewalls. It is also equally important to have your employees secure their wireless network connections. 




Limit Admin Access Image Credit 

Image Credit 

 

Data access has operational benefits. However, it doesn’t imply that your employees should have access to all data. This is a recipe for data mismanagement – it also increases the risk of someone finding a way to compromise and manipulate your data. 




Your employees should have access to only the data that they need to do their jobs, ideally. For example, the marketing team doesn’t need the employees’ data, and the floor manager doesn’t need the CEO’s records. 




As such, have a system to control and monitor everyone’s access to data. It is also advisable to store sensitive data on a different platform – one that doesn’t have traffic from the local network, ideally.

 

Protect Against Malware 




Malware is a popular weapon by hackers. They are easy to deploy, and they can give the hackers complete remote control of your digital systems. 




Malware programs infect your digital systems using viruses that have consequences such as holding your data hostage for a ransom. These malware programs are challenging to eliminate when they infect your systems, and it is prudent to avoid infection in the first place. 

To this end, it is advisable to protect against malware using cybersecurity measures such as installing anti-malware programs. 




Encrypt Everything




Encryption is a fail-safe cybersecurity measure that is more reliable than many other security measures. It comes especially in handy when hackers manage to get past the other security measures and get their hands on your data. 




Encryption entails cloaking data in an algorithm that is difficult to crack. The algorithm essentially scrambles the data and makes it unreadable. Anyone who gets the data only ends up with random strings of characters. Hackers cannot use it to hold you ransom or for any other practical purposes – the data is virtually useless to them. 




It is advisable to encrypt your data immediately when it enters into your digital systems. It is imperative to encrypt the data before sending it out via wireless networks. Ensure that you use the latest data encryption solutions, as outdated and straightforward algorithms are possible to crack. 




Backup Your Data on the Cloud 




Data is usually the first casualty of a cyber-attack. It often gets lost or decimated as the hacker uses it as a bargaining chip. It can also get released out to the public. Whichever the case, your chances of recovering the data are slim. 




As such, it is prudent to backup copies of your data – on the cloud, ideally. The cloud is relatively secure, and you always have access to your data from anywhere. However, you will also need to take extra security measures to secure your cloud storage platform. As such, it is advisable to use professional cloud data storage services for reliability. 




Schedule Regular Updates 

Cybersecurity is a dynamic field. Hackers are continually working to find new ways of bypassing the existing cybersecurity measures. Fortunately, cybersecurity experts are also continually working to provide better and stronger cybersecurity solutions, staying one step ahead of the bad guys. 




The point here is that yesterday’s cybersecurity solutions are not reliable, as they are easy to hack. It would be best to have the latest cybersecurity solutions for reliable protection, and updating your systems is the best way to do this. 




Updating is simple: set the system to automatic updates – the systems will automatically download all updates as soon as they are released. It is also advisable to upgrade to newer and better cybersecurity solutions. 




A cyber-attack will disrupt your business operations and compromise your data. You can face losses amounting to millions of dollars, and it would take years to recover – if you do recover. As such, it is prudent to avoid attacks by beefing up your cybersecurity measures. 




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Published on February 16, 2021 03:39

What Does It Really Take To Run A Successful Business?

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

When you have dreams of launching a business, they’re always going to be quite big. You’ll feel like you want to be able to make things work out right from the start. But that doesn’t always happen. It takes quite a bit of work to launch and grow a successful business. It’s definitely not impossible to do, but it definitely takes time. It can be months and years of hard work before things start to pay off. But, if you believe in yourself and stick with it, it will pay off. But what does it take for that to happen?

 

Sometimes, you can look at some of the bigger businesses in the world and wonder how they made it happen? But you have to remember that they would have started off small and been in the exact position that you are in now. Everyone starts somewhere and it’s just about working on the steps that it will take for you to get to where you want to be.

 

Now, this is still something that you’re going to want to plan out and really allow yourself to be strategic with. When you know all of the intricate details of what you need to execute, you’ll find that you’ll be able to make things happen.

 

So to help you, we’re going to walk through exactly what it takes to run a successful business from the start. From building things up to the financial and administrative side of things, and how to get the customers you want. So let’s take a look.



Passion



First of all, you need to have passion. This may sound like an obvious point, but running a business can be tough. So it is really important that you are passionate about what you’re creating and that you want it to work out. Being passionate about what you’re doing can help.



An Idea



But passion can only get you so far. You’ll also need to come up with a business idea that will be a success. It’s hard to know exactly what will be a success, but researching business ideas, believing in the right thing, and knowing you can make it work is always a good start.



Goals



Then you need to work out some goals for your business. You’ll find that you need to be able to think about what you want to achieve, how and by when? Goals often allow you to stay accountable and keep you on track. So be sure to work them in here.


Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash




An Action Plan




But goals can often only ever take you so far. And so, you’ll want to think about how you can bring them to life with an action plan. An action plan will detail the steps you need to take to get your business off the ground and what you need to do to find success.




Drive




Now, not everything that you need for your business is going to be a physical action that you can take. Sometimes, it’s going to be something within you that you either need to have or nurture. And the drive is definitely one of those things, just like passion. You will want to make sure that you can develop the drive to keep pushing this business forward. Times when things are quiet or you feel like you’re talking to yourself can feel hard, but when you’re driven, you’ll keep going til you get somewhere.




Patience




But at the same time, you really do need to make sure that you are patient. Things don’t happen overnight. It can take months or years for you to figure out the secret to success. Sometimes that can be hard. But being patient in your business will help you to keep going, keep putting the work in, and eventually, it’s going to pay off. So don’t give up and be in it for the long run.




Caring For Your Customers




It’s also important for you to be thinking about your customers. By knowing what they want and need, providing a good service, and looking after them, they will keep coming back. And this will count towards your success.




A Standout Product Or Service




From here, you are then going to want to make sure that you have a great product or service. If you’re creating something special and spectacular for your audience, it just has to be the case that it’s great. Most of the time, there will already be something similar out there. So you need to be able to stand out. Building a great product or service and meeting your customers ’ needs can help you to do this. So make sure that this is your priority.




Strong Branding




Next, you’re then going to want to follow that up with a killer brand. Branding can be the difference between your offering becoming a household name or staying completely unknown. Just think about some of the most famous brands in the world. When you look to create a brand identity, it can really help you to stand out. If you have that great product or service, it’s just going to be a huge boost and help you to get to the next level.




Consistency




Above all else, you have to be consistent with what you’re doing. When you’re trying to create something special, you have to keep the momentum going. It’s really not enough to just put a bit of effort in every now and again as it doesn’t get traction. Consistency will work.




Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash



A Strong Marketing Plan




Then, you’re going to want to be thinking about how you can market your business. You’ll want to know what platforms you’re using, what tactics, and then get to work as soon as you can to build interest in what you’re doing.




A Strong SEO Strategy




From here, you’re then going to want to think about what you can do to boost your SEO. Every business wants to be found on Google, But are you implementing the strategies it takes for that to happen? If not, then that’s exactly what you need to be able to change. You’ll want to start looking for the niche keywords you need to work with. Then work them into your on-page SEO to see if this can transform your strategy and get results.




Good Staff




You also need to remember that the people make up your business too. You’ll always want to have good staff when you want a successful business. It’s important to think about recruiting the best employees to help you to do well. The best staff will push your business forward. So it is a great idea to think about what you need to do to recruit them and then keep them too.




The Right Systems




At the same time, it’s also important to think about your business setup. When you want to be a success, it really does help for you to have the right systems in place. No matter your business or industry, you’ll want to ensure that there are up-to-date modern tech systems in place and that you have fast processes to get things done. The more efficient you are, the easier you’ll be able to find the success you want.




A Little Bit Of Hard Work




It’s sometimes said that the harder you work the luckier you get. And that can very much be the case. Whether you believe in luck or hard work, there’s no doubt that getting your head down and putting the work in will pay off. Even when you feel like nothing is happening or nobody is listening, you are going to want to just keep on going.

 

A little bit of hard work always goes a long way. And whether that takes you a few months or years, with a bit of consistency and self-belief, it is going to pay off. So keep going.




Final Thoughts

 

Now, it’s important to realize that there is a lot of information listed here. Not all of it is going to be relevant to you. For starters, focusing on your goals, creating a plan, and coming up with your branding is always going to be a good place to start. But when it comes to everything else, it’s okay to be selective.

 

Your business is unique and so are your desires for your business journey. So what works for another business may not always work for you. And that’s okay. The idea here is to try different things and just to go with the options that speak to you the most. All you can do is work through a few ideas and see what happens.

 

When you do this, you’ll find that you start to find your feet. Then, before you know it, you’ll start to get some traction and your business success will start to come to you!




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Published on February 16, 2021 03:32

February 15, 2021

What Does It Take To Improve an Employee’s Productivity?

The photo was taken by wal_172619 from Pixabay

The photo was taken by wal_172619 from Pixabay

When you start a business on your own, you only have yourself as a barometer. When you start to bring other people into the workforce, you've got to look at productivity in a holistic manner. Everybody is different after all. But what does it really take to make sure that you get the most out of your employees and maximize their productivity?



Reduce Distractions

When you start to look at how people can be distracted purely by multitasking and making changes to engage them, will keep them more productive at their desk. 



Improving the Workplace Conditions

Making sure that your employees are working in a comfortable working environment that is not too hot or cold, but also sufficiently comfortable in other ways, such as auditory and sensory ways, will help too.



Give Them the Right Tools

It's very simple, but if they do not have the right tools, they will not be able to complete their work properly. Make sure that every worker has the software package they've been asking for all this time!



Understand Your Metrics

Metrics that are quantifiable will give you far better insight. Have a look at the infographic below to check out how you can measure work efficiency, by incorporating teamwork and measuring the effectiveness of training. It's all grist to the mill. But you have to remember that while these things are measurable, you've got to implement them in the right ways. Productivity is crucial, but you've got to incorporate the right stimulatory components.


Infographic by Profit.co Read more at Profit.co
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Published on February 15, 2021 06:41