Nibletz Staff - 11/87 - Serious Startups

Digital Marketing Strategies That Work: A Quick Guide

In this modern technological world that we live in, digital marketing needs to be part of your business plan. Businesses and consumers are all going to be looking online, so if you want to get their custom, then having a good online presence is the way to help that happen. If you’re just starting out with your business, then it can feel like a pretty overwhelming place to be as it can be ever changing. So here are some of the sure fire ways that you need to be implementing as part of your digital marketing strategy; are you doing any of them already?

Know Who To Target

To market your business in the best way that you can, you need to know who your business is trying to target or who the ideal customer is for you. You might have an idea of this, and may have designed your business in a particular way for a certain demographic. But when you use online platforms, you can actually check who your business is marketing. Using online tools related to your website, you can check the location of people that view your site. You might not have intended to go global. But if you have plenty of viewers from overseas, it could mean you targeting your audience or product to suit those overseas too, for instance.

Identify Goals

Having an idea of what you want to get out of your online presence is a great way to be specific with what you decide to do. Do you simply want to get more followers on social media or more hits and shares on your blog posts? Do you want to rank on the first page of a Google search for a specific keyword? Do you want to double your current revenue from your online store? When you identify a goal, you will then be able to take the right steps to achieve it.

Look For An Agency or Mentor

If you have only got a small team of people at work, none of whom are particularly savvy when it comes to digital marketing, then it could be a good idea to look for an agency to outsource the work to. You could also look for an online mentor to help you, such as someone from LDI (Lifestyle Design International), for example. If you’re not sure what that is, then you could look up a Lifestyle Design International review to see if they could help you achieve what you want to do. When you want to achieve online, then you do need to get the best advice to help you.

Audit Your Owned Media

At the heart of what you will do with your digital marketing strategy is your owned media, which will essentially be the content that you have. If you have a website, then anything from your about or contact page needs to be looked at, as well as blog posts and anything relevant you are sharing that way. Boost the posts, use keywords, images, and social media posts to help.

The How What and Why of Starting an Online Business in Singapore

With everyone steadily moving towards the world of Digital everything, it is no surprise that there have been a rise of online businesses being set up in Singapore. With the rise of technology and also, unfortunately, the rise of costs associated with maintaining a physical business in Singapore, owners are now turning to the online world.

Aside from reduced costs, online businesses are a much easier way for individuals to set up shop, keeping overhead costs low and profits high. E-commerce is one of the up and coming markets in the industry and one that is certainly extremely promising. and it is certainly extremely promising. In today’s article, we bring to you The How, What and Why of Starting an Online Business in Singapore. Read on to find out more.

Quality Hosting Is Key

Before you can embark on running your online business, you will also need to ensure that you have purchased quality WordPress hosting. Hosting can truly make or break a website. If your host or their hosting plan is unreliable, you are setting yourself up for a lot of problems down the line.

Research, Plan and Get Writing

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were any businesses. The first step in your journey is to structure a good business plan. Research into what the market needs at this point of time, and try to cater to said needs. There is no point in catering to a need that has already been met. Market research is crucial, and can assist you in building the stepping stones of your business. Research can give you a thorough idea on how successful your business will be or if you will need to alter and fine tune things in order to be the best version of yourself, on this this case, your business. Only the best version of the business should be advertised to the world!

Now, there is no point in planning everything in your head – you need to put it down on paper. This is to ensure that you don’t forget anything, and so you can show your investors or business partners what you actually mean. You can use visuals, you can write an essay or make diagrams – just make sure that everything has been penned down and is kept safely! This is called your working plan of action and will eventually be turned into the blueprints for your ecommerce business.

Time To Get Started

Now that you have your business plan, blueprints and web hosting in order, it’s time to enter the playing field. Of course, with each country comes different laws. Singapore is no different. Below we will look a little deeper into some of the laws in Singapore which you will need to familiarize yourself and abide with.

Funding and Financial Assistance

The Singaporean government is always trying to ensure that the nation’s economy stays stabilized and prosperous, and thus tries to ensure that all businesses manage to stay afloat and succeed. When it comes to registering your business, setting your website on and so forth, things can start to get expensive and frustrating. Thankfully there are ways around this with government funding and financial assistance.

Business Loans

Most of us would probably be familiar with the age old business loan. The plus side of a bank loan is that you will always remain the sole owner of your business. However, on the flip side, you will also forever be indebted to your lender and be free of debt once it is fully paid off. In an instance where things do not take off, you are putting yourself at risk. With regards to bank loans, it is something you need to take time to ponder over thoroughly in order to ensure that your credit is secure and not tarnished.

The Other Option, Government Funding

One of the perks of starting your online business in Singapore the fact that the government has been extremely hands on when it comes to new startups and are always on the search for new opportunities. There are a number of initiatives that allow start-ups and specific industry businesses to access government funding. Some of the perks will include grants, business incubator schemers, and tax incentives.

Next Step, Incorporating Your Business

Once you have finances set up, the next step is incorporating your business. Business incorporation is extremely important because when you register your business, you will need to decide on your business structure. The structure you choose will then be a gauge or measure for your taxes, how much you are liable to pay and will also determine how you are supposed to run your business.

The most common business structure chosen is to incorporate a private limited company. This has numerous advantages and it will assist in helping your company rise at a quicker pace. The registration process is simple and only takes up to a day to complete.

Finally, Gather Your Arsenal

Last but not least, it’s time to gather your arsenal. This is a step that will rely heavily on the service or product you are planning to sell and is not as simple as it seems. There are a few infrastructural things need to be sorted in order to ensure the diligent sale and delivery of items and services to your customers. Choosing the correct infrastructure will reduce your workload and benefit your business by leaps and miles.

So, what are some of the infrastructures that you need?

Website Development

You will need to ensure that along with your reliable web host, you have a great domain name, and proper design and development for your website. Your website is essentially your online space, and you want it to look as good as a physical store would.

Marketing/Advertising

The best way to ensure you get as much traffic to your website as possible is to create consistent, quality content and dip your toes in online marketing and social media advertising. Starting Instagram, Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter pages are also a fantastic, cost-free way of marketing your products and services. People can also leave you reviews on these platforms, ensuring that everyone knows how great your products and services are.

Bookkeeping

Lastly, bookkeeping. Finances need to be handled with a great deal of care, and can be managed on your own or by hiring a professional, which is what we would advise doing. Even when hiring a professional, always remember to play it safe and still check the finances yourself make sure they all balance out at the end of the day. Keeping on the ball ensures no disasters occur in the future.

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We hope that this article has been useful in educating you about the steps you need to take when starting up an online business in Singapore.

Opening a Business in Cyprus

Nowadays, opening a business in Cyprus seems to be more appealing to several people. Yes, of course, the reasons are quite obvious. Firstly, Cyprus gives you a warmer Mediterranean climate. We can a slow-paced lifestyle here. And finally, the country reports a low crime rates. Above all, the world language “English” is known to almost everyone there. Undoubtedly, Cyprus is a hot spot for conducting businesses abroad. To open a business in Cyprus, you must learn how to get Cyprus passport as the first step. Then, read the following article to know about the essentials here…

Conduct Extensive Research:

So, you know how to get a passport to Cyprus. Now, what? You must conduct an extensive research about the place, its history, culture, demographics, and business settings. In this line, as Cyprus has become a part of the European Union, all the EU citizens are free to open a business or carry out a self-employment here. As such, these people don’t require a local partner or a minimum investment to start a business here. So, if you are an EU citizen from another country, you are good to go! However, I would ask you to make sure about the business regulations before stepping foot.

Select a Name and Register:

As a first step, you will have to select a proper, as well as distinctive name, which you can check at the “Registrar of Companies”. Then, you must submit it to the “Registrar” for approval. After you have been granted the name, the articles of association must be prepared. Then, your incorporation process will continue with your submission of the registration files. These would include the following essential things:

Articles of Association
Appointment statements for the secretary and the director
Registered office
Lawyer statement

If the registration is successful, you would receive the following certificates:

Incorporation
Shareholder
Directors/Secretary
Registered Office

Once this process is over, you will receive a unique tax number along with a VAT. Remember, opening a business in Cyprus is said to be one of the easiest as the entire process is quick. The whole process will not take more than ten days. After the successful registration, one must also register his/her business for social contribution at the country’s labor ministry.

Cyprus Business Ideas:

It’s been observed that most businesses that are started by foreigners in the country are associated with catering and leisure activities. The next common businesses include property development and related investments. Overall, the interests of the foreign businessmen lie in the areas of:

Bed & breakfast
Villa
Apartment
Cottage
Bars
Café
Restaurant
Shop
Property agency
Translation Bureau
Language school
Watersports
Tennis
Golf

No matter what type of business you set up, you must first establish the required infrastructure, which includes the bank accounts, lawyer, and an accountant. This way, you can make sure that you are heading towards the success in your new business.

Offline Is Off-Trend: Why It’s All About Online

Okay, so technically the idea of everything online being the way forward isn’t anything new. But in saying that, so many of us think that we’re operating entirely online, when in reality we’re not. You may have an online business, selling services or with your own online store, but could your business be classed as entirely online? Probably not! Because we still tend to conduct a lot of our everyday process offline, out of habit above all else. From writing notes to store information and even dealing with clients, so much of it is done in real life. But here are five reasons why you should consider moving the bulk of your operations entirely online.

It’s Quicker

Point one is often enough to convince most people. Because anything that takes too much time is always one, frustrating, and two, unprofitable. So when you say that doing something is going to be so much quicker when it’s carried out online, could be enough to convert you. Take your documents, for example. So you might like having them stored in physical files, but how much time does it take you to go through them? With everything stored online, it’s available in an instant. And that, couldn’t be any more satisfying.

It’s Cheaper

If that hasn’t sold you, then this one sure will. Online operations, more often than not, can be cheaper. So you want to deal with your supplier offline, just because it’s what you’ve always done. But why do that when you’re paying over the odds. Relationships are great, but they don’t always make profit. Just take this point: Shopping Online = Cheaper. And when you’re making great savings, earning more, and generally bossing it online, offline shouldn’t even be a contender.

It’s Accessible

So maybe you’re not even in this for yourself – you’re all about the customer. And when that’s the case, you want to make sure that they’re getting the better end of the deal. But they always are when you operate online. Take the approaches Online Flipbook: 12 Benefits Over Printed Content outline. Because accessibility speaks for itself. With online documents like this, more people can receive it. And when you’re looking for reach, online blows that pretty little printed number right out of the water.

It’s Interactive

And then there’s the quite significant point of online efforts always being interactive, whereas offline can’t always keep up. Engaging with your customers online is easier, as these creative ways clearly show us. But you can’t always access your customers offline; there reach isn’t there. So when you want to wow your customers and get to know them better, it’s online all the way.

It’s Live

But the best thing about operating online? It’s in real time. And this can undoubtedly be more efficient for not only your business, but your customers too. When your online operations are live, you’ve got no waiting around, no delays, and definitely no time wasting. And when you’re trying to run a business and make money, that’s always going to be your top priority.

4 Processes Every Startup Should Automate

The Small Business Association (SBA) estimates that more than 627,000 new businesses are created every single year. While this is great news for consumers as this gives them more opportunities to find the exact products and services they’re looking for, this also means that there are hundreds of thousands of new entrepreneurs trying to figure out just how to make their business ideas a success.

Part of achieving this success involves automating as many processes as possible, ultimately saving you and your growing company time as you work extremely hard to create a name for yourself. But which processes should you focus on automating first? There are four.

Your Data Backup

Though you may have the best of intentions with regard to manually backing up your data, starting a business can be chaotic at times. This means that it can be extremely easy to forget this incredibly important task, putting all of your hard work, client data, and proprietary information at risk.

Instead of leaving this process to fate, set up or create a system that will back up all of your files automatically. How often should you be backing up? Best business practice recommends daily backups, but, at a minimum, never go more than a week without saving your data.

Timesheets, Attendance & Payroll

Even if you only have a few employees in the beginning, tallying up their hours worked and how much pay is due to each one can take a decent amount of time—time that could be better spent handling other tasks that require more of your brain power. One way to automate these particular processes is to put some online tools into use; such as an attendance software that will keep tally for you.

Image Credit: DepositPhotos

Not only does this save you time when figuring out the numbers by hand, but it also makes it easier to work with employees that may be travelling or stationed around the globe because they can enter their hours worked right on their mobile devices. Plus, you’ll likely have fewer mistakes because everything is computer generated.

Incoming Email Responses

As a new startup, you spend a lot of time reaching out to potential clients, trying to get them interested in your products and services. However, all of your efforts can instantly go out the window if they contact you and get a delayed response (or, worse yet, no response at all). That’s why you should always set up automatic responses to all of your incoming emails.

Even if all it says is, “Hey! Thanks for the communication. We’re working hard today, so we’ll get back with you as soon as we can!” at least the person knows that their email has been received. Also, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to type up a similar response, especially if their correspondence is one that is going to take some time to check out, such as if they’re questioning the progress of their order.

Your Schedule

Before becoming a business owner, the only one who likely cared about your schedule was you. But once you enter the world of startups, giving others access to your daily calendar can help them schedule meetings with you during your open times or see when you’re not available to handle any issues that arise. It also enables you to set reoccurring meetings automatically.

Though a number of different scheduling options exist, some of the best scheduler apps and tools on the market right now include Assistant.to, Boomerang Calendar, Calendly, and FreeBusy. All of these options are absolutely free, with some offering the ability to create a premium account for less than $20 per month.

Why Brokers Are Critical for Buying and Selling Websites

Are you looking to buy a new website or business to add to your portfolio? Or are you currently running a business that you’re wanting to sell?

By far, the best way to find a new business to purchase or sell a profitable business that you’ve built yourself is to contact a brokerage.Brokers are services that specialize in helping investors and business owners buy and sell websites and businesses.

Whether you’re selling an advertising site, an eCommerce site, a business that’s built around offering a software as a service, a content website, your personal blog that’s generating revenue, or a retail operation, working with a broker is one of the best ways to get the maximum value from the sale when you decide to make an exit from the business.

Likewise, if you’re looking to purchase one of these types of businesses, a broker can help connect you with business owners that are looking to sell their businesses and help you during the negotiation and sales process to ensure you’re getting a fair deal on a profitable business.

As more and more retail operations are expanding into the digital world, both buying and selling have become a lucrative venture for many investors and business owners.

On top of the earning potential, owning a digital business has quite a few different perks.

The business is operating at peak efficiency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, there’s no showing up to the office every day like a traditional job and business requires and you can make sales happen on autopilot when you have the right marketing systems in place.

How to Use a Broker to Buy & Sell Businesses

The most reliable and safe path to owning or selling a digital business is through working with a broker.

There are ways you can track down businesses by yourself, but they tend to be time-consuming and create situations where you could end up overpaying for a business you want to buy or undervaluing a business that you’re attempting to sell. Business brokers have a set of standards that they make businesses they’re going to sell adhere to and a certain set of requirements for investors looking to buy the businesses that the brokerage is listing for sale.

That means you, as a business seller, will have your business put in front of more investors that are ready to buy and know what your business is worth. As someone buying businesses, you know that you’re only going to find the best of the best and that your money will be safe.

How the Process Works

When it comes to digital businesses, brokers will follow the same processes used to sell a brick and mortar business. Their primary goal is to uphold your vision and meet your goals for the sale and find investors that are willing to consider your offer.

First, they will work with you to verify the information you’re providing about the business is accurate. If it is inaccurate, investors will shy away from buying the business and it’s going to end up staying on the market longer than it needs to.

Next, they will use the information gathered and compare it against similar businesses that have recently sold to establish a fair market value for your business. Together, you will draw up a prospectus that supports your asking price.

Then, the broker will begin marketing the business to find a buyer that is looking for a business similar to what you’re selling.

If you’re on the buying end of the deal, many brokers are going to vet your history to make sure you’re going to be the best fit for the business that you’re buying. A broker typically doesn’t want to sell a business to someone that can’t really afford it or doesn’t have the acumen to keep the business running in a profitable manner.

You’ll need to show that you have the skills available to keep the business running and will want to provide any documentation that’s available to back up your claims.

While buying a new business is typically a financial transaction, many digital business owners are personally attached to their business and will want to see that it’s going to good hands when they decide to sell it.

How to Find a Business Broker

When you’ve made the decision to buy or sell your business, there are a few different avenues you can take.

You can either list the business for sale by yourself on a marketplace like Sedo, Flippa, or even eBay and then spend time marketing the business so you can find an investor.

Or you can find a broker that has a history of selling businesses similar to yours and has developed a reputation for receiving maximum value from the sale and helping investors find high-quality, profitable businesses. Digital Exits is one of those brokerages and have developed a long-term standing in the industry as one of the most reputable brokers currently available. They have logged hundreds of sales and have a large network of investors that they can put your business in front of when you decide to sell. Likewise, if you’re looking for a business, they have active listings that you can go through to find a business similar to one that you’re looking to purchase.

Working with a broker is, by far, one of the best ways to either buy a digital business or sell a digital business that you’ve turned into a profitable income-generating asset.

The Best Ways To Attract Loyal, Reliable, And Talented Employees

Every business relies on the people it employs to be successful. Your employees are assets, and each has a significant value that you can measure. Of course, every company strives to find or develop the most talented members of staff. Creativity, drive, and loyalty are part of the package they expect. But what is the best way for a small up-and-coming business to attract such people? Is it the impossible dream, or is it really possible for your company to pluck the best from the best?

Company Culture

Your company culture needs to be able to stand out from the crowd. The culture you nurture and develop should aim to attract the type of people you want to have come to work for you. This can take quite some time to do. And it will depend a great deal on the people you already have contributing to your business. You’ll need their buy-in to any new ideas you have. Most importantly, you need them to lead the way and actively contribute to the cultural identity you’re trying to forge.

One of the biggest defining areas of company culture is your structure. Do you want a formal tiered management structure? Or would you prefer a lateral, team-based and collaborative approach to each project? There is no right or wrong answer here. But you need to consider the best personality for the company that will attract the personality types you’re hoping will work for you.

Your employees are more likely to enjoy their work if they can relate to and contribute to the company culture. This will help them to become more productive, and less likely to suffer from workplace anxiety or stress. If you want creative people, you need to create a creative office. You need a group dynamic that promotes creativity, and a working ethos that allows for that type of personality to flourish.

Budget

One of the biggest barriers to hiring experienced and talented people is the lack of a budget to pay what they ask. You have to remember that money isn’t everything to employees. The hours of work, flexibility in the environment, and the benefits package are just as important. Then, of course, is the company culture, the atmosphere in the office, and the ‘perks’ of the job.

Where you spend your money is up to you. It’s always worth putting a value on each person you hire. How much do they need to contribute to your company’s bottom line to justify their salary? What do you expect from them? Of course, hiring people with a proven track record and work history helps you to define and clarify this instantly.

There is another element of your budget you need to consider. Training and development are important for employees. They improve their efficiency and add to their skillset. Training can also help your workers unleash their talents and produce more of the standard of work you’re looking for. Consider what training your existing workforce could do for them and your business.

Where To Look

LinkedIn has become a firm favorite for businesses looking to hire. It’s easy to browse profiles and find the people that are actively looking for a new role. Best of all, you can find the people that your contacts have already worked with. Endorsements and recommendations are important when you’re about to invest a lot of money in a new recruit.

You should also check your trade magazines and journals. You can often find interviews and soundbites from the most talented people in your industry. Approaching them might be a challenge, though. You might need to offer more money than you were initially planning to spend.

Finally, consider using a recruitment agency with a specialism for the types of roles you’re hoping to fill. These agencies actively headhunt on your behalf. They might already have the details of a candidate that is looking to leave their active role. You will be charged a finders fee, but much of the stress and headache of writing up the role and hunting for candidates yourself has been eliminated.

How To Advertise

If you’re keen to find fresh talent with limited experience, then why not advertise yourself locally? Sometimes people just need a chance to shine. With a little nurturing and training, you might find someone that brings a lot of money into the company. Advertising in the right way is essential.

Don’t limit yourself to small ads, but don’t feel you have to go to extremes to be spotted in the local press. You might run a radio campaign as well, but bear in mind these can have a limited response. If you can figure out where people are that might be interested in the type of work you’re providing, you’re set. Reaching out is easy from that point.

Be wary of specifying the type of person you’re looking for. Instead, list essential skills and experience. Detail the role and briefly discuss the office culture and environment. It’s up to you if you want to put a salary on that. This can encourage some people and put others off. Of course, some candidates will ignore an ad that doesn’t specify the wage. This figure is a good marker for the seniority of the role and recompense for the responsibilities.

How To Look Good As A Small Business

Small businesses often operate from small offices. That doesn’t mean your office can’t look good! To attract talented recruits, you need to give your office the wow factor. Everything from the office cabinets to the desks should appeal to the type of people you think should be working for you. Think outside the box here. What about standing desks and collaborative working smartboards?

You might have a small canteen or dining area. What can you bring into this space that helps workers meet, converse, and relax? Are there formal meeting rooms, or do you have communal areas that can be used? It’s worth brightening up the place to promote creativity and to energize the workers. Think about the colors, the lighting, and the flow of the spaces you provide.

Of course, flexible working is really important too. Just how flexible can you be? Are you in a position to have workers at home as well as in the office? Is your tech good enough and secure enough to allow for this? Depending on the work you do, you might be able to encourage pets and kids to come to the workplace too.

How do you promote good health and fitness? Can you provide free fruit and vegetable snacks? What about exercise equipment or massage therapies? The more you expect of your workforce, the more you need to give back. This doesn’t have to be monetary, but it should be something your most talented employees will value. Show you care to attract the very best.

Be proud of your achievements and make sure you’re actively shouting about them. Enter for awards as often as you can. This might be people awards, business awards, or industry awards. Post copies of certificates and awards on the walls, and make sure your website brags about them too. This shows you’re working hard to achieve a lot and that you’re recognised for that. It doesn’t matter how small you are if you have recognition! This can be enormously attractive for any future employee.

Let Your Management Style Shine Through

Regardless of your preferred management style, do let it shine through from the very beginning. One of the biggest tests at the interview for a candidate is you. They want to get to know you enough to make a judgement! Ultimately, they need to work out if they can spend eight hours a day in your company or not. Nobody wants to work for someone they don’t like or respect.

You don’t have to be the most charming person on the planet. But you do have to prove that you’re keen to hear ideas and willing to listen carefully to them. Make sure your candidates know whether you’re hands-on or off when it comes to their workload. Ensure your recruits can relate to you and find you approachable. Finally, be certain you have clearly described the structure of the business. They need to know where they sit in the pecking order, who they report to, and what other roles they will work closely with.

There are a lot of considerations for a candidate. And it’s hard for you to show your business in the very best light all the time. Still, a general idea and feel for the place can be made by an interviewee in just a few minutes. Have you been welcoming and engaged? Is the building light, airy, energetic, and informal? Are the hours on offer comfortable and reasonable for the pay you’re offering?

The best way to attract the very best in your business is to put yourself in their shoes. What will be their first impression of you and your company? Do you like what you see?

Speed Up the Launch of Your Startup

The startup world is packed with people who want to get their business off the ground, and they want to do this as quickly as possible, Unfortunately, business doesn’t work like that – you have to put in a lot of time and effort to move from point A to point B, and this will only happen if you’re lucky (80 percent of startups fail in the first year). That being said, there are numerous things you can do to speed up the launch of your startup…

Just Make a Start

One of the biggest causes of a slow start is procrastination. Entrepreneurs are so worried about getting their launch exactly right that they never get started at all! This is one of those cases where it’s better to get started imperfectly than it is to wait until everything is just right if you want to get ahead quickly.

Don’t be Fussy About What You Sell

Sort of related to the above, waiting around until you come up with the perfect product to sell when you could be organizing bank loans, hiring staff, and you know launching your business, might not be the best idea. Most businesses aren’t built on amazing new innovations – they sell the same kind of stuff you can find in a million other places. You should do the same, but better! That way, you’ll get to launch quicker, and you can always add new products and make changes as time goes by.

Buy an Existing Business

If you’re a contractor and you want to start your own business, look up contracting companies for sale, or if you’re a dentist, enquire about general dental practice for sale, get a loan and then buy one! Why? Because it’s a lot faster than building up a business from scratch. In fact, you’ll be able to skip the launch part altogether. Sure, this won’t exactly be a` startup in the true sense, but if you have the cash, it could be the best option for you to get into business.

Hire Freelancers

There’s a lot of work that goes behind a successful launch. You need to create a website (and fill it with content), design your brand, market your services and a whole host of other things. If you were to do this all yourself, then it could be years before your launch! No, what you need to do is hire a good team of freelancers and remote workers to get the work done for you. Choose people with excellent feedback, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Consider a Co-founder

A problem shared is a problem halved, so if you’re struggling to get things off the ground, despite your entrepreneurial ambitions, it might be worth looking for a co-founder who’s interested in doing the same. That way, you can split the work, double the creativity and bring your business to launch much sooner with a better product to offer. What’s not to like?

Ready, Steady, Go….launch your business on the world.

Sure-Fire Signs Your Office Isn’t Winter Ready

As the seasons change, your premises have to evolve too. If they don’t, winter can be a pretty uncomfortable time for a business. Many entrepreneurs think their office building can stand up to anything bar a natural disaster. Sadly, the majority of properties are only a strong rain shower away from revealing a catalogue of nasty surprises. Any owner who isn’t sure whether the office is ready doesn’t need to worry. Below are the signs which will tip you off. Should you see any of the following, ensure you find a solution ASAP.

Damp Patches On The Floors/Ceilings

Without a doubt, damp is the most alarming warning sign. There may be a different cause, but it’s mainly due to rain seeping through a gap in the exterior. Ceilings and roofs are the main culprits because one loose slate can wreak havoc. However, the floors are not innocent either as water from the basement can be problematic if you have a ground-floor office. Whatever you do, don’t pass damp patches off as insignificant. Water damage means the outside elements are somehow getting into the space. It may start small, but it could escalate into a huge problem. Always try and find the breach and cover it up to stop any leakage.

Overflowing Gutters

There isn’t a property owner on the planet that enjoys climbing a ladder to a gutter and removing the gunk inside. Not only is it disgusting but the water can go up to a person’s elbow. The rubber gloves don’t even reach that far! However, leaving the water and mulch to build is dangerous for two reasons. Firstly, the pressure from the water can cause the guttering to snap. If it happens and someone is underneath, it may result in a trip to the hospital and a lawsuit. Secondly, the H20 has to go somewhere, and it usually makes its way inside. So, keeping the gutters clean will prevent further water damage to the building.

Dull Paint

Now that the summer is over, bright, light colours are unsuitable. Still, there is no need to paint the interior black! Dark shades are better because they fit the season, yet don’t use a hue which puts your mental health at risk. Seriously, the wrong colours can encourage depression during the winter time when the sun sets early. And, employees only need an excuse to slack off and become unproductive. The good news is a painter for office buildings can add an air of excitement to the gloominess. All you have to do is choose a colour scheme which is vivid and seasonal at the same time. Then, everyone in the office will be reinvigorated.

It’s Freezing

Finally, don’t just assume the premises are a cold because the property is old. The fact it can’t stay warm is a sign of heat displacement. Typically, the doors and windows are to blame, which is why double-glazing is essential. But, don’t forget that the walls can let in cold air if they don’t have insulation. The same goes for the ceilings, especially the one in the attic. Remember that overheads cost a fortune, which is why preventing heat loss is vital.

You still have time to make changes, but you need to do it as quickly as possible.

The Ultimate Guide To Running A Call Center

There are many forms of businesses that will need to use a call center as a part of their main business plans. Whether you run an insurance provider, or an emergency services hotline, there can be a range of reasons why you will need a specific call center setup. You may even operate a call center that takes on work from the aforementioned businesses. Either way, when it comes to setting one up and keeping it running there’s a lot to think about.

From your premises to the way you handle each call, a lot of thought will need to go into the establishment of your business, and then the day to day operations too. It can often feel like a lot of information to take on, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Whether you’re experienced in the field, or you’re new to business, you will be able to get set up and running without a hitch; you just need a simple guide to follow. And you’ve come to the right place. So let’s take a look at what you need to do to make that happen, and ensure that the call center you set up is going to be a success.

Locate Your Office

First, you’re going to want to find your office. Because every call center needs to be based somewhere. Luckily for you, location won’t really need to be your main concern. Although it’s ideal to work somewhere with easy access to local facilities, it’s not always the main focus when your business is a call center. Primarily, you need to be thinking about space. Because if you plan to house a lot of staff, you need to make sure that the location will fit them in. This can often mean that you need a space that’s a little out of the way so it’s more affordable.

Construct The Right Layout

With your space all picked out, you then need to focus on constructing the right layout. Because your call center design will matter. You’re going to want to make sure that you can fit as many operatives in as possible, and only the right kind of layout is going to work for you. To do this, you may need to move the space around a little to make sure you have enough room for the furniture and equipment you need to put in.

Specialist Call Centers

It’s also important to recognize that not all call centers are the same. So once you’ve chosen the correct layout, you’ll also need any specialist equipment related to your niche. 911 dispatch centers will need specialist dispatch console furniture, while customer support centers may need immediate access to other team members for product support. Therefore, you need to be able to create a space that is tailored to the way your staff will need to work.

Agree On A Telecommunications Contract

But furniture is just half of the battle. With a call center style business, your telecommunications are a huge part of your business, so you need to make sure that the equipment you purchase if going to support your business operations and needs. For this, you should shop around. And don’t always go with the cheapest. Above all else, you need to make sure the telecoms contract you agree too will be right for your business.

Hire Your Staff

Next up, it’s staff hiring time. And for this, you really do need to work out how many operators you will need. Are you planning on opening during office hours only, or will you need shift workers? Because if you will be looking for people to work shifts, you’re going to need more employees than if you’re only open between set hours.

Create Your Scripts

Next up, you’re going to want to work on your scripts. And don’t underestimate this step. Call scripting can be quite tough. You need to make sure that you have a framework that your staff can work with, and that will also support the needs of your callers. So you really are going to need to put a lot of time and effort into getting these right. You may also want to work with experts to get them right too.

Keep Up The Training

Finally, you’re also going to want to keep on with your training. Because you’re going to find that you will have to keep preparing your staff and tweaking your scripts to make sure that your customers’ needs are covered. Whether it’s monthly or bi-monthly, you need to ensure that your teams are up to scratch on how they work, to know that your business is going a good job.

Important Ideas for Turning Around Your Company

All companies have good times and bad times, even when the market is booming. Sometimes there can be no obvious reason why your company is struggling, but it is important to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible. Deciding what the issue is, and trying to resolve it might not be as easy as you imagine. Here are some ways you to help you identify the reasons for a downturn, and how you can put things right.

Ask the Right People the Right Questions

If you want to find out why your company is having problems, speaking to the management team might not always get you the answers. That isn’t because they don’t want to tell you, or that they don’t know, it is probably because they are too close to the situation to think objectively. Try asking some of the staff to see if they can identify what the problem is, or if they know how the situation can be fixed. It is also a good idea to take a look at things yourself, as sometimes you might see something others cannot.

Get the Opinion of Your Customers

One of the best people to ask about your company is going to be your customers. If sales have dropped, or growth is slowing, it could be because of something your company has done. Maybe you have changed your payment system, or maybe you have changed supplier, and the quality isn’t the same. By asking your customers through a poll or questionnaire, you may well be able to see a pattern forming that will identify the issues. If you send products to outlets, speak to them as well, they may have heard something from your customers that could help.

Speak to Your Suppliers and Clients

If you are starting to see your financial situation suffer, then you might have to speak to your suppliers and see if they can renegotiate their contracts with you. The other thing you can do is to go directly to a client rather than through an intermediary. For example, if you normally send your recycling to a third-party company, then you might be able to save money by approaching companies like balingwiredirect.com to supply you the wire to tie up the materials yourselves. Then, you can send the recycling directly to the factory and cut out the extra expense.

Look at Your Competitors

It might be that the slowdown is more than just your company. Take a look at your competitors and see what they are doing. If they are also starting to struggle, then it could be that your market has slowed down. One way you might be able to breathe life into it is by trying to offer something the other companies don’t. It might be the catalyst the market needs, and it may help you to recover instead of your competitors.

By trying to analyze all the areas of your company and thinking objectively, you can start to turn your company around.

4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Making That Hire

If you’re thinking of hiring somebody new, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself first. You might think you’re making a great decision, but doing things like this quickly isn’t a good idea. You need to make sure you have plenty of time to mull it over. Here are 4 questions in particular that are important when hiring somebody new:

1. Do I Really Need To make This Hire?

Hiring somebody can save time and make your business more money. However, hiring an official employee isn’t always necessary. You could outsource work, hire somebody temporarily, or look into other methods of getting the job done. When you hire somebody, you have responsibilities and another mouth to feed.

2. What Am I Basing This Hire On?

There are a few things you may need to base your hire on. Qualifications aren’t everything, unless you work in a regulated industry and this person absolutely must have the right qualifications. In some cases, you could simply hire somebody smart with a great attitude and train them on the job. Know what’s really important.

3. Do They Fit The Company Culture?

Any new hire should fit your company culture perfectly. However, you shouldn’t look over red flags just because somebody matches your culture. Be smart.

4. Do I Have Any Unaddressed Doubts?

Make sure you’re aware of anything questionable that’s making you feel uneasy internally. If you think something needs to be addressed, look into it ASAP. If you don’t, you could end up with one of the following outlined in the infographic:

get help with workforce management

3 Advantages of a Line of Credit for Your Small Business

If you have a small business, then you understand how important it is to have the right cash flow. Your available cash flow can make or break your business and can spell success or disaster – if you don’t have the necessary cash on hand, for instance, how can you pay your bills and take care of your daily operational requirements? Even more than this, how can you grab opportunities to make your business grow and expand?

The problem is that many small business owners with cash flow issues end up turning to their personal savings or borrowing from friends and family just to keep their business going, which isn’t the best way to deal with it.

Fortunately, there are ways you can get the proper funding for your business – one of which is to get a line of credit. Here are three advantages of a line of credit for your small business.

1) You have cash – but you still have full control

With a line of credit, your business will have the cash it needs to function, operate, and even expand. What makes a line of credit more advantageous, however, is that you remain in full control of your business operations. This is different from acquiring investors, where you may have to give up a certain amount of control. With a line of credit, you have access to cash, but you don’t have to bother about the whims or demands of investors.

2) Better budgeting

A line of credit is also better for your business when it comes to budgeting. Unlike a business loan where you are often presented with a lump sum, a line of credit gives you money when you need it, as you need it.

The flexibility of a line of credit is advantageous to your business since it allows you to budget your finances more effectively.

3) Build your credit score

As a small business, it’s important for you to have a good credit rating. A good credit rating will make it easier for you to acquire loans and credit in the future. With a line of credit, you can achieve a more positive credit score (provided you pay off your debt, of course), which you can certainly make use of if you would like to get bigger loans for future growth and expansion.

If you want to do whatever it takes to make your small business grow and succeed, you need all the help you can get. Getting a line of credit is one sure way of injecting much-needed lifeblood into your business, but remember that it’s still a debt to be paid, and it’s always good to manage it wisely as well.

The Black Mark: Personal Finance Problems Which Could Stop Your Startup

For the most, it’s essential to keep your personal life and your startup separate. Business and pleasure don’t mix well. A scandal at this stage could spell curtains. So, the chances are that you keep your personal life out of the office. It’s usually the best route to take.

But, such separation life isn’t always possible. Entrepreneurs can’t escape the fact that who they are is linked to what they’re doing. Your personal background could have a massive impact on your success or lack thereof. For example, a bad personal meeting with a future business associate could scupper a deal. Equally, a bad credit rating could halt progress before you even get going. And, that’s what we’re going to look at here.

You may assume that personal finances wouldn’t have anything to do with your enterprise. But, think again. Here’s how your own money problems could cost your startup.

Failure to get a loan/backing

Let’s not beat around the bush; no startup can get off the ground without money. You’ll have a hard time convincing anyone your business is worth investing in if you’re drowning in debt yourself. Not to mention that yet another loan could lead to more trouble. Even if you manage to get a loan against the business instead of your name, it’s unlikely you’ll meet the repayments. As such, your company could end up filing for bankruptcy before you even start.

Lack of faith from the business world

Nothing stays secret for long in the business world. If you’re drowning in debt, the businesses in your circle will soon know about it. And, once they do, you’ll have a hard time getting a deal from any of them. Why would they trade with an entrepreneur who can’t handle money? That would be financial suicide. If your company goes bust, they lose money. It’s as simple as that. Instead, you’ll find that all those businesses turn their backs on you. And, when they do, you’ll soon find yourself in trouble.

Is there anything you can do?

Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to get the situation under control. You want to develop a way to clear your debts as soon as possible. The faster you’re clear, the sooner you can enter the business world on stable footing. Many would choose to turn to debt consolidation to tackle the issue swiftly. But, that might not be the best plan for you. After all, every penny counts when you’re starting out. You can’t afford insane interest rates right now. Instead, consider the debt relief programs offered by companies like the Bank of America. This way, you can develop a plan to clear debts in a realistic time frame.