Startup Tips Archives - Page 28 of 66

Essential IT Solutions For Your New Enterprise

These days IT solutions are not secondary to your business success, they are your business. This applies across the spectrum, from bakers to investment bankers, we’re all dependent on IT to make our businesses work.

That’s why it’s now more important than ever to make sure that you get quality IT support as soon as your business is ready. And by ready, I mean within the first few months of trading. Below are some the essential features you’ll want to keep your business operating smoothly.

Security

Security threats are constantly evolving. The hackers and malicious coders produce a virus that gets past security. Then, the antivirus companies react to stop the hack. Then the hackers find another way in and so on.

An independent IT solution can offer support to prevent a malicious action from derailing your business. Firewalls and antivirus software are a must. But what about anti-spyware so that criminals can’t capture your data and passwords? What about protecting you IT systems from malware, which can hamper its performance and pose a data security risk? What about email and data encryption to prevent sensitive material from being captured b a third party?

Your IT support needs to take the time to discuss your unique situation. Does your business have a particular IT budget it must stick to? Is it essential that your business has a rapid response to any breach of data security?

Managed IT Services

Let’s say you’re a local business. Traditionally, businesses deal with an IT failure by phoning their local IT support. Their IT support will then read off a long and tiresome checklist of all the possible problems that might have caused the failure. Usually, the problem cannot be solved over the phone, so technicians must be sent to your site to physically resolve the problem.

This is no good. All the time you’ve waited for your system to be put back online is time you’re not able to do business. And that’s money down the toilet.

With a managed IT service, however, you can get your troubleshooting done remotely. IT Companies can help you recover faster when disaster strikes. Plus, a lot of the time a remote monitoring company will be able to resolve issues before you even notice something is wrong.

Host On The Cloud

Many startups are starting to recognise the benefits of hosting all their operations on the cloud. Not only does it spread the risk, it means that company IT infrastructure is accessible from all locations.

What’s more, hosted IT is easy to scale and more financially manageable. If you need an extra server or two, you don’t have to make a large single payment and then have the expense of installing and migrating to new servers. You just add a little bit to your monthly premium and the external IT company will do all the donkey work.

Virtualization

Getting the most out of your existing hardware is a good way of reducing costs. Virtualization allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. It also lets you backup files more easily and reduces your electricity bill.

These are just a few reasons to enter the new millennium of technology, and we have barely touched the impact they can have on streamlining business processes. By successfully adopting the ever growing options available to us as entrepreneurs, you will be amazed at how your profit margins can increase, customer experience be magnified, and employee retention increased. Take the time to research the IT options available in your industry. It’s worth your time!

Don’t Click This Unless You Want Your Startup To Succeed

Congratulations! By simply opening this post, you’ve made a conscious decision to launch your business venture in the best way possible. And starting on the front foot will serve you extremely well throughout those early stages.

With these simple tricks and tips up your sleeve, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Recruit Well

Your business is never going to reach its full potential if it isn’t supported by a winning team of employees. The input of your staff will have a huge influence on the output of the company. Quite frankly, you cannot afford to get this crucial aspect wrong.

It’s not just about finding talented employees. Perhaps more importantly, they need to be motivated by the job. Startups in the non-profit organisation can hunt for people specifically looking to break into this field. Visit pnpstaffinggroup.com/non-profit-jobs-nyc/ for more information.

A great team will lead the company to greater success. Those assurance will allow you to concentrate on your individual role too.

Find Cheaper Solutions

A large percentage of startups fail to reach the five-year milestone. In most cases, this failure is due to excessive spending. You will encounter overheads in business, but finding cost-effective solutions will buy you more time. Make this a priority.

If you are an online operation, then you should look for the cheapest office space possible. Acquire a virtual address to gain the brand image you desire, and you cannot go far wrong. Meanwhile, securing better energy rates and services that don’t impact the quality of the business is a must.

Get Marketing Right

When it comes to producing the best goods, only you can work out the best route to success. However, none of that will matter if your marketing strategies aren’t perfect.

Gaining interest from an audience isn’t easy, especially as competition is so fierce. However, the key to getting great results in a cost-effective manner is in the content. You can use expert help at thesocialsavior.com/ to ensure that you’re getting the very best results online.

After all, without people visiting the business, you’ll never see a return for your hard work.

Invest In The Customer

Gaining interest from the customer is one thing. Converting it to a sale is another altogether, and you must use every asset at your disposal. One of the most important thing to remember is that consumers like to feel valued as customers. Upgrade your customer care and you’ll be amazed at the positive impact it brings.

Not only will this encourage repeat business from existing customers, But it will also increase the likelihood of seeing them spread the word to friends and family. Perfect.

Think Big

As a startup, you could be tempted to set modest targets. However, there’s never been a better opportunity for startups to shine. It’s important to walk before you walk, but if the chance to expand arises, you should take it.

Technology has made the world a smaller place than ever before. Find out about taking your operation to the global stage at entrepreneur.com/article/159252 . When the time is right, it could be the key to unlocking your wildest business dreams.

Why put a cap on your dreams when you could achieve so much more? Strive to build the biggest and best company possible, and the hard work will eventually pay off.

Expert Advice For New Digital Startups In 2016

Have you started a new online company during the last few months in an attempt to earn more money? Are you concerned about what the future might hold and whether you firm will become successful? Well, in most instances, there’s no need to worry. We’ve published some expert suggestions on this page that should point you in the right direction. You just have to read the information carefully and make sure you leave no stone unturned. The online world presents many different opportunities for people who are willing to take a risk. The fact that you’ve already launched your operation shows you’re tech savvy. So, you just need some guidance from people who’ve been there before.

Identify and learn from your competition

Regardless of the nature of your business, there are sure to be many competitors in the marketplace. With that in mind, it’s vital that you identify them and learn as much as possible about their companies. Try to work out how they’ve managed to make a profit thus far and replicate their solutions. Hopefully, that will enable you to achieve the same levels of success with your new startup. It might also help you to discover areas in which you need to improve. At the end of the day, we all want to steal the lion’s share of the market. However, people who fail to watch their rivals could find themselves falling behind.

SEO the heck out of your website

It’s critical that your site displays at the top of relevant listings within search engine results. That means you need to engage in a complex process called search engine optimization. There are a couple of options on the table when it comes to performing that job. Firstly, you could outsource the task to industry specialists with good reputations. Secondly, you could perform all the essential alterations in-house. The latter solution is popular with startup companies because it helps them to save a lot of money. However, it can take a long time to increase your education and learn the best methods. Take a look at all the pros and cons of each idea and then make your selection accordingly.

Use cloud services for storage

Most digital business owners will understand the benefits of cloud storage. Even so, newcomers might need an explanation. The process helps to provide much-needed added security for all those sensitive files and documents. It also provides easier access for employees who might need to work outside of the office. Experts claim cloud services will soon become a crucial tool for all companies, regardless of their niche. It says at www.cmitsolutions.com/services/cloud/ that outsourcing the process is a wise move. Indeed, that is why so many startup bosses decide to look for an IT support partner. There are plenty of them around, and they all run websites you can find online.

Try content marketing

Content marketing is a new concept that’s becoming invaluable for online entrepreneurs. It helps with SEO efforts, but it also drives traffic and promotes brand recognition. Anyone can make a start without spending a dime if they’re smart. You just need to create interesting and relevant blog posts that relate to your industry. Include a natural link back to your website within the text, and publish the articles on top blogs. With a bit of luck, that should add to your SEO efforts and ensure search engines rank your site accordingly. People who want to engage in that process can also contact content marketing agencies if they have a large enough budget.

Consider alternative income streams

There are many ways people can create income using their websites. Contrary to popular belief, selling products and services isn’t the only solution. You could also place advertising banners on your pages and earn money from Google Adsense. One top of that, it’s possible to sell banner space privately if you register with the right services. Maybe you could add some affiliate links too? So long as you don’t publish anything that points visitors towards your competitors, everything should be okay. In some instances, other firms might even offer money for you to publish blog posts mentioning their services. The opportunities are endless if you’re tech-savvy and innovative.

Use the most effective promotional techniques

When it comes to promoting your website, discovering the most efficient methods can take a long time. That is why so many new company bosses employ the services of marketing agencies. However, there are many steps you can take in-house to help achieve your goals. For example, opening social media accounts will always work in your favor. Almost half the planet uses Facebook on a daily basis. So, it’s the perfect platform for reaching your target market and encouraging sales. It says at www.blog.hootsuite.com/18-social-media-marketing-tips/ that social networks are essential for an effective strategy. You might also like to create publicity stunts that get media attention. Advertising your brand in the national newspapers can become expensive. Even so, it’s possible to get a mention without spending anything if you create newsworthy stories.

Starting a business enables you to avoid all the pitfalls associated with traditional ventures. You won’t have to cover huge overheads, and you can even work from home in most circumstances. That means the level of risk you face should pale in comparison to other company bosses in the real world. Don’t get us wrong, it’s still possible to fail and lose everything. It’s just a little more unlikely if you use the advice from this page.

We hope that your new venture will become successful fast and that you will feel a sense of accomplishment. Just don’t make the mistake of giving up at the first sign of trouble. Regardless of your business model, all new entrepreneurs will face struggles along the way. However, nothing should stifle your operation if you have the right levels of motivation. Remember, the people who succeed in this world don’t have any superpowers or unique insights. They’re just the ones who refused to let adversity become a problem.

Focus on your goals, seek professional advice, and we’re confident your new company will make money.

Three Essentials for Every Start Up

Good things come in threes, and three is a magic number. It’s small, easy to define and the start of just about anything of importance. Simpler is always better, and your startup is no exception. Would it be possible to take all the complexities of the business world and condense them down into a one, two, three step guide? Absolutely, yes.

And if this could be done you would have the perfect reference tool for every startup business. You’d have a place to come back to. A point of reference for when you find things getting too complicated or find out that you have taken the wrong turn. Here they are. Three essential steps for every startup.

Planning

It covers a lot. It’s a word with a big role. It lies at the core of everything that you want to do, are going to accomplish, and it will lie behind your success. There is no substitute for it and like our prime numbers, it is a building block of your success. Under its wide umbrella come dreaming, imagining and developing ideas. Notice how these start at the creative end of the spectrum and then slowly move towards strategy. That is the magic of successful planning. It rules nothing out, but as it progresses, it starts to take form. That then is the plan of your business, of any business, come to think of it. If you want to survive that all important first year, this is where you start. Get a plan.

Branding.

Give it a name and it will have an identity. If it has an identity, it will stand out from all the other ‘cabbage-patch baby’ start-ups out there. Love it? Of course you do – it’s yours after all, but this is not all about you. This is about other people recognising you as an example of excellence. This is about people seeing you, noticing you and understanding what you can offer. Branding comes into everything you do. It is what you wear in the morning before you join the queue at the bus stop. It is your logo, and it is in your web design. Unless this is your speciality, get the professionals involved at this stage. Simplicity is great but sometimes in our little patch of the forest, we can’t see the wood for the trees. Outside expertise can give you an ‘ah ha’ moment. A little bit of clarity. A way forward. Establish your brand.

Execution

Step three is even simpler. It requires you to bring steps one and two together. Even the maths make sense. It’s the perfect triangle. Bring these two together and what you have is the real doing part of it all. Call it your strategy. It is marketing, it is selling, it is getting out there and cementing all those vital relationships that you have set up. It is advertising that works for you. It is your customer connection and the big party that is your startup in action.

The three steps are simple. Life is not complicated although we choose to make it so and dress it up in all manner of disguises. Stick to these steps and connect with professional services who can help you implement them. If things don’t work out, then you need to go back and work on one of these elements. Stick to them and they will never let you down.

Marketing Mistakes You Can’t Afford To Make

If you’re running a business in 2016, you can’t afford to make any mistakes. The business world is too competitive to trip or slip up. If you do, you’ll find the place you once held on the market is taken by your competition. This is particularly true when getting your marketing together. It’s got to be nothing short of spectacular, otherwise, you’re simply not going to get the interest that you need. Don’t worry, we know the pitfalls you need to avoid.

Forgetting To Separate Yourself From The Crowds

We’ve already mentioned that the business world is competitive. For start up owners, it’s absolutely crucial that you understand the level that we’re talking about. There are thousands of sites online that you have never heard of and never seen. Perhaps hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions. The reason that you’ve never heard of them is because they don’t appear in the SERPs. They don’t have the marketing to get the interest you need to survive online. The first issue you’ll have to think about is that. How can I separate my business from the rest, rising to the top of the SERPs?

There are two or three possible answers to consider here. The first is SEO. Using SEO it’s possible to get your business on page 1 of a search results. If you do this, you will certainly find an increase in interest for your business. There will be more customers flocking to your site, and you’ll get the attention you need. But to do this, you’ll need to find a professional marketer to help you. These can be hired online with marketing companies offering lots of different services related to SEO. Whether you need local services or international interest, this is the answer.

Alternatively, you may want to think about PPC. Unlike SEO PPC can guarantee your website is at the top of the results in the sponsored section. However only thirty percent of users click on these links, so there is a price to be paid. Or, you may want to consider an Adwords campaign. It’s a similar tactic which will put your business somewhere on page one of the SERPs.

Disregarding Offline Forms Of Marketing

There are many business owners; you might be one of them, who think that offline marketing is dead. It’s a useless, worthless form of promotion that can be completely dismissed. On the contrary, offline marketing is perhaps one of the strongest tools that you can use. Particularly, if you choose the right method and form. Successful businesses are currently using new forms of offline marketing like augmented reality. This type of marketing captures the customer’s imagination and once again, allows you to separate your business from the pack.

Furthermore, if you want evidence offline marketing still works, look at Hollywood. A new movie recently used offline marketing to connect with an online campaign. If you do this, you should expect huge success on the market.

We hope you avoid these mistakes and realize your business’s true potential.

The Biggest Mistakes Made By Startup Businesses Today

business man designing a database plan on a screen

Startup business owners are prone to making many common mistakes when launching their companies. Indeed, that is why around 50% of all new ventures will fail within the first twelve months. However, it’s possible to avoid those costly errors and get things right if you perform enough research. We’ve listed some of the biggest and most obvious mistakes on this page to help you make a start. Just make sure you read lots of different information before getting started. You need to source facts and ideas from multiple sources to ensure you gain an accurate perception.

Failing to create an accurate business plan

Lots of people decide to start companies without creating an accurate and attractive business plan. That often means they have no understanding of how much it will cost to get things up and running. It also means that gaining investment from the bank or private firms becomes impossible. So, do yourself a favor and make sure you have a realistic plan in place. There are specialists you can contact if you need help with that task. Just remember they are going to charge a lot of money for their services. That is why many new business people decide to use the free templates that are readily available online.

Failing to make use of cloud services

Document storage is of primary concern to most new entrepreneurs. You need to make it hard for hackers to break into your system and steal information. You also need to make it easy for employees to access your network outside of the office. So, take a look online and find a document management system you can trust. It’s easy to source reviews and testimonials from people who already use the solution. Make sure you read them carefully and tailor your decision accordingly. Ideally, you need a low-cost service that ensures your business is safe and secure at all times. However, only you can decide which system meets your requirements and standards.

Failing to expand at the right time

Your business plan should cover the basics of your growth plan. Even so, it’s sensible to create a more in-depth strategy when you’ve been on the market for a couple of months. Again, nothing is stopping you from using the free templates you’ll find online. Just make sure the plan is as accurate and thorough as possible. You should leave no stone unturned, and include all elements of your strategy for the best results. It should highlight when you will move to new premises. It should also give details of when you employ more workers and all other necessary details.

Presuming you don’t make any of those common mistakes, you should be on the road to success. Of course, many other things could go wrong during your first twelve months. That’s why it’s sensible to obtain more investment than you think you will need. Keeping cash in the bank will mean you can pay for any unexpected costs and keep things running smoothly. Remember, failure to prepare is the same as preparing to fail!

Four Fundamentals Of A Successful Start Up

This year, there will be hundreds more startup companies joining the market. People all over the world think they have an idea right now that could be a massive hit in a couple of months. This could be the production of an original product or a unique perspective on an already established service. It could be anything and if you’re lucky, your business will succeed. It’s possible you’ll become a sensation overnight. But the truth is that the law of averages is hard at work. Very few startups survive over a year. Those that do won’t be making the level of revenue you might be imagining right now. But is it luck or are there key fundamentals you need for a successful start up? We think the answer is simple. If you want your startup to a be a success, these are the factors that you should not overlook.

The Importance Of The Team

When you begin your start-up venture, there might only be a few people on your team. This number will grow as your business reaches higher levels of success. But even when there are only a couple of people joining you, you should be able to trust them and count on them. There also needs to be a leader. That could be you or someone else on your team. But they need to be strong, charismatic and a person who others are willing to follow. There have been cases where startups have succeeded without strong forces behind the wheel. But if you want to increase your chances of success you should pick someone to guide the process. Otherwise, you might find that little progress is made.

Picking the right people for your startup team can be difficult. But you will need someone with some experience in the business industry that you’re entering. Without this individual, you’re going to struggle to get the contacts you need to succeed. You’ll also need someone who has strong organisational skills. It’s crucial that there is a plan for your company that can be followed in the coming months. Picking people for a team who do not serve any particular purpose is one of the first makes new entrepreneurs make.

As your business grows, you will hire more people for your team. Eventually, you will have a full staff of employees. When choosing people, you still need to get the right individuals for each job. It’s also worth considering how big you want your team to be. We suggest you keep things as small as possible until you are sure you have found your footing on the market. If you’re struggling to find the right people for your new business, try using a recruitment service. Using a recruitment company, you will be offered the CV of people they believe would be perfect for your new company. By doing this, you can surround yourself with best minds in the business.

The Role Of Technology

Technology plays a crucial role in every modern business on the market today. It allows business owners to connect with employees and clients. It enables the possibility of effortlessly running an international company. But for the start-up owner, it gives one significant advantage that can not be overlooked. The right tech will allow you to cut costs in your business while running a company that is ready to compete.

You might think that when you start a business, you need an office to run your company. But not with the latest tech. With the latest advances in technology, it’s possible and advisable to run a business from home. There are a few advantages to doing this that you need to be aware of. The first is that your home is now your business address. This means that you’ll be able to claim back some of the cost of this address on taxes. You’ll be paying less on tax each year. The second is that you won’t need to spend extra money, buying or renting an office. If you do need to meet or impress clients, you can hire an office for the day. You can then use this as your virtual business premises. It’s even possible to get mail sent to a hired address that actually has nothing to do with your company. If you’re worried about keeping in touch with members of your company, there’s no need. You can keep in contact with them 24/ 7 using the tech at your fingertips.

Of course, to do this, you need to buy the right services and equipment. You might think that by doing this, you’ll be losing money already. You’ll be spending a lot on services and equipment to get your business up and running. The good news is that most of these services are quite cheap. As well as that the money that you spend will be counteracted by the amount you end up making. One example of tech you’ll need is cloud and data servers. VPS servers will allow you to send and store data internationally. That means it doesn’t matter where your client or employee is. They’ll still be able to either buy from you or work for you. You’ll have an international company run from your own home.

You should also think about ecommerce services. E-Commerce companies allow new start-up businesses to buy everything and anything they need online. There is no need to try and set up complex business transactions when it’s easy to get everything you want with a simple on-screen purchase. This includes software like website templates or tech for your company.

The Marketing Revolution

Since we mentioned, website templates, it’s important that you understand the part that marketing has to play. The role of marketing in business has changed recently. These days, most marketing occurs online. This is good for the startup venturer. It means that marketing is considerably cheaper than it used to be. That allows smaller businesses to play on a much bigger field. A field that is filled with potential for profits.

But again, to gain those profits you need to understand some basic facts of online marketing. First, no matter what you read, it is simply not possible to set up online marketing yourself. At least, not at the level that we are referring to. If you set up marketing yourself you may see some success online but it won’t be demand that you can count on for longevity. It will quickly fade and you will be at the bottom of the pool.

Second, there are forms of online marketing that you should not use. When you look into marketing for your new business, you will find a large number of sites offering quick solutions. True promotion does not occur overnight. If you see any businesses offering services that take effect in 24 hours, ignore them. This is blackhat marketing. Real promoters know that success will take at least a couple of months.

Third, everything that you do online related to your business has an impact on promotion. If you put an update on your business Twitter account, you can bet it’s going to have an effect. If you add a link to a piece of content, this too will have a small effect. That’s why you can’t afford to make mistakes. If you make a mistake in online promotion early on, it will still hit your company and cause you to lose potential profit margins.

The Risks You Must Take

Finally, you must realise that running a company is going to involve certain risks. You are not always going to find yourself coming out on top and that’s why you need to have confidence in your business. Even when you are just at the beginning you will have to spend money to make money. If you’ve read claims online you can start a business with nothing, don’t believe them. You will have to either borrow a loan or use your own cash to get your company off to a running start.

You will need to speak to loan companies and encourage them to take a risk on your business. They will only do this if they think your company has a good chance of success. You will need to show them that you have confidence in your idea. You will also need to present a five-year plan of profitability for your business. If you can’t do this, you might want to quit right now. No company is going to give money to you if you don’t have a plan for the future.

Or, you might attend a tradeshow to gain the interest of investors. This too is going to cost you in funds. You can not head to a trade show with no money in your pocket. The marketing alone will cost you a good amount. Again, you need to have the confidence to be willing to take the risk in an idea you believe in.

If you have taken these four factors into consideration, you might just have the ingredients for a startup that will succeed.

How To Boost Productivity And Efficiency In Your Office

Most business owners would agree that becoming more productive is a top priority. That would help their companies to create higher profits and improve in many different areas. The issue is that people often get things wrong, and their workers never reach optimum efficiency. With that in mind, readers should use the concepts on this page to take their ventures to the next level. Implement these suggestions correctly, and your should notice a positive difference among your workforce. Of course, it all comes down to the inner workings of your business model. However, anyone who works from an office will benefit from this advice.

Provide the best tools for the job

All bosses should aim to provide their teams with the most advanced technology related to their roles. That is the only way to ensure you stay ahead of the game and beat the competition. New desktop computers might cost a lot of money, but they will help to speed your essential processes. Also, adding useful intranet search tools to your system in a wise move. That will enable employees to search shared documents from a single screen and source required information. With a bit of luck, you should notice working times begin to reduce as soon as you implement a tool of that nature.

Offer financial incentives

People are susceptible to certain psychological techniques more than others. However, dangling a carrot in front of their faces will always encourage them to work harder. For that reason, you might consider offering financial incentives to dedicated employees. Let the people in your office know you will select someone at the end of each month for a bonus. That should encourage them to work a little faster to impress. Alternatively, you could provide theme park tickets, bottles of wine, or whatever you like. Just make sure you always reward hard work.

Create a comfortable working environment

The environment in which you expect people to work could play a significant role in productivity levels. Employees will struggle to reach their potential if you can’t maintain a suitable temperature. Likewise, cheap furniture like desks and chairs could cause them to suffer back pain. Considering all that, you must discuss the matter with your team as soon as possible. Ask if there is anything you could do to make their jobs easier, and take their suggestions on board. Maybe adding a fun break room to your office would make sense? That would get people away from their desks, and it should make workers feel refreshed after lunch.

There are many other ways you can boost productivity and efficiency within your office. So, don’t make the mistake of stopping your research here. Search Google and see if you can find any more practical suggestions from other bloggers.

At the end of the day, you started a company to make as much money as possible. Allowing your employees to slack could mean you never achieve that goal. You don’t want to build a reputation as a slave driver, but giving them a nudge in the right direction won’t hurt.

Essential Tips for the First Year of Your Startup

We all know that most startups don’t manage to survive their first year. It’s what everyone tells you when you start a new business. Don’t let that thought weigh you down though. There are plenty of things you can do to make sure that your business doesn’t become a part of that statistic.

Take note of these essential tips if you want to make a success of your startup’s first year in existence.

Research, Research, Research

You should always prioritise the research you do when you are starting your business. In fact, this is something that should start before your business is even up and running. You should, first of all, think about researching the competition. You will never be able to beat your rivals and dominate the market if you don’t even know what your rivals are up to. You can carry out some competitive analysis. This will then help you to formulate your own strategy and approach to business. You want to exploit the weaknesses of your rivals and do the things they do well even better than them. It’s a big challenge, but it can be completely more easily when you know what you’re up against. Visit https://www.hallaminternet.com/2012/3-easy-ways-to-keep-an-eye-on-your-competitors/ to find out how to keep tabs on your rivals.

Specify Your Target Market

Your target market is the people that you will be trying to sell your product or service to. You need to know who exactly you want to target if your business is going to be a success. The target market should be analysed and researched in advance. And then you can come up with advertising and marketing strategies that target precisely the kind of people that you want to appeal to. Your target market might be flexible, and you might end up being surprised by who is most interested in your product. This is not unusual, but it doesn’t mean that identifying your target market isn’t important too.

Keep the Finances in Check

Financial planning is one of those things that many business owners struggle to get to grips with. But ignoring your finances and acting recklessly is exactly the kind of behaviour that causes startups to fail every year. You may think that a great product will be enough to carry your business. But, unfortunately, that probably won’t be the case. You also need to make sure that your finances are kept in check. Your product and its quality will be worthless if your finances are not under your control at all times. It might be a good idea to hire an accountant who can check things over once a month.

Hire the Right People

Your startup will only succeed if everyone is pulling it in the same direction. So, you need to make sure that you hire the right people with the right mix of skills that the business needs. It’s not just their skills and talents that you need to take into consideration though. You also need to think about how they all work together in one big team. Being collaborative is a big part of the modern workplace. So, make sure that you hire the kind of people who can work together. A set of disparate individuals is never as successful as a cohesive team of people who work together to find solutions.

Keep Costs Down

There are lots of expenses that have to be dealt with when you’re running a business. And you don’t want to be spending even more money than you need to be. So, you should always be looking for new ways to keep costs down if you want your business to be successful in the long-term. They always say that making your first $100K is the hardest, and it’s true. But it’s even harder if you are spending lots of money on unnecessary things. Visit http://www.dividendmantra.com/2015/07/is-the-first-100k-the-hardest/ for other tips on making money for your business.

Get Top Advice

The advice your business receives from people who have been there and done it all before can make a big difference. You should talk to established business owners who know what it takes to survive and thrive in that very first year doing business. Talking to these people can give you inspiration as well as ideas for things to do to make your business more likely to succeed. Networking in influential circles can help you to meet these kinds of people. Listen to what they tell you and then put ideas into practice if you think that they can help your business to grow and succeed.

Don’t Forget The Importance Of Perception

In business, perception is everything. The right perception can help you win over a client even when you’re not offering the best deal. It can give you the chance to wow investors and get the money you need for a business expansion. It can help you sell a product that is inferior to the one that your competition is offering. Without the right perception, you’re not going to attract customers or clients to your business. You certainly won’t be making big profits. Here are some of the best ways to keep the perception of your company positive.

Your Employees

Don’t forget that your customers probably won’t be interacting with you that much. The biggest companies will have entire customer service teams to deal with interactions with consumers. Small businesses may still not allow customers to speak with the business owner. At that point, a large portion of the perception of your business is based on your employees. This is one of the reasons you should ensure that your business’s employees look professional. You should ensure that they are well dressed and properly groomed. Even the slightest thing such as an employee wearing an unpressed suit could have negative consequences for your company. You should also be aware that some people match certain appearances with negative stereotypes. For instance, there are still people who believe tattoos are a sign of someone who is dangerous or untrustworthy. For that reason, you may want to ensure any employee tattoos are covered with a plaster.

Little Things

As already mentioned, little things can have a negative or positive affect on the perception of your company. For instance, your business employees should have name tags that look professional. That way it allows customers to reference employees who have performed well. Or, to offer constructive criticism to your company where an employee has not offered the best service. It also allows customers to speak to employees using their name and this allows for a more friendly interaction. While this may seem like common sense, it’s amazing how many companies forget how this basic element of customer/employee interactions can improve their overall experience. Companies like Imagine Badges offers a wide range of labels for your employees to wear that are cost effective and professional. You may also want to consider designing business cards for your employees. Not only does it help them feel involved and part of the business, employees will be able to hand them out and offer their services when and if the situation arises.

Your Office

If you are looking to impress clients or attract investors you should think about your business premises. Ideally, you want your business premises to look both stylish and modern. If you think your office looks outdated, you might want to arrange for a complete renovation. Believe it or not, clients do make snap judgements when they arrive at a business location. If your business looks outdated they might assume your services are behind the times. Perception is also one of the reasons why if you are working from home you should still have an office for clients. This can be rented when it is needed so it does not need to be a full-time cost. But it presents a much more powerful image than an individual working from a home study.

The importance of perception in business should now be clear. With a positive perception of your company, there is no limit on what you could accomplish.

Key Social Media Methods To boost Your Business

Kiev, Ukraine - August 26, 2013 - A collection of well-known social media brands printed on paper and placed on plastic signs. Include Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram and Tumblr logos.

Welcome to the world of online marketing where connecting with an audience is key to making a profit. There are numerous forms of promotion you can look into for boosting the profile of your business. But we think one of the key forms of marketing you should definitely be using is social media. By using social media, you’ll be able to connect with your customers and hopefully find your target consumer. Social networks allow unique possibilities for marketing that are simply unavailable through other methods. There are a number of different social networks that are perfect for marketing your business. On this post, we’re going to have a look at a few of them. We can examine their importance as well as their unique advantages.

Twitter

Twitter is a place where you can update your followers with new information about your business. Or, if your startup isn’t open yet you can let people know when you will be entering the market. By doing this, you can build up support and interest in your company. It’s a fantastic way to expand an already established customer base as well. Online, you have the possibility to use the resources at your finger tips and Twitter is certainly one of them. But now, you have other ways you can use Twitter. For instance, you can share content across this network as well as pictures and videos. By doing this, you can catch the interest of clients in unique ways. As well as that you can retweet other businesses in your industry. By doing that, you may gain the attention of customers who previously used your competition. It’s a brilliant way to catch your competitors off guard.

Instagram

One of the fastest forms of business marketing online is the sharing of images. That’s why Instagram is proving to be an increasingly popular tool for business owners. It’s a great opportunity to show your customers the people behind your marketing and create an interesting campaign. You can even use Instagram to set-up ads online. It’s easy to learn how to create Instagram ads. By doing this, you can run a campaign that helps not only you but any advertisers you might be working with. This type of dual promotion could be tremendously beneficial for your business. When using sharing networks such as instagram, don’t forget to hashtag content. Statistically, adding hashtags to content leads to more shares.

Snapchat

Lastly, it’s important to understand that the face of online marketing and social media is changing. In the past, Facebook and Twitter used to be the key players. These are still important platforms, but they are being overshadowed by new ideas. Specifically, the chance for business owners to share live content with their customers and clients. Businesses have already seen degrees of success with this idea using networking devices like Snapchat. By creating a story on Snapchat, you can mould a unique marketing strategy that updates in real time. Doing this, you are sure to win new clients and keep the interest of already invested customers.

Appearances Matter: How To Look The Part In The Business Sector

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If you are trying to impress someone, you need to look the part as your appearance says a lot about your business. Without saying a word, your potential clients and customers will use your appearance to judge you and your firm. The result is that you may lose sales and money just because you didn’t come across as you would like. The obvious remedy is to transform your appearance so that you always look professional and respectable. Here’s how to make it happen.

Buy New Clothes

Evolution beats revolution, but this case is different. It is time to throw away all of your old work clothes and start again. A set of new clothes adds freshness to your appearance that is lacking when you don’t wear the right gear. Plus, the clothes will get you into a routine that you should try and keep. They will gradually make you into the person that takes care of their looks. So, over time, you will automatically make the changes to your wardrobe that you need to make.

Look Good, Feel Good

Obviously, how you look plays a big part. But, how you act also plays a big part. You may have new clothes, but they won’t a difference if you don’t have a new attitude. It is all about confidence, so make sure you exude confidence. The key is your posture. A straight back and a set of strong shoulders are body language for ‘don’t mess with me!’ Your posture also dictates how you walk, which is another major part of confidence. Confident people don’t walk; they strut. Make sure you give off the impression even if inside you are a bag of nerves.

Accessorize

You can accessorize in a couple of different ways. Firstly, there are the personal accessories that make the businessman. A shiny, silver watch, for example, is an eye-catcher and instantly makes people think you are legitimate. The reasoning behind it is hard to pinpoint, but everyone judges people of their watch. Secondly, there are business accessories that look the part. The briefcase is the most obvious example, but there are more. Custom lanyards are another example as only people with clearance wear tailor made lanyard. Even though that isn’t true, exploit the method behind the madness.

Lead From The Front

People that look the part are leaders. They are the confident people that take risks and carry their team on their shoulders. And, you are one of these people. When you look like a leader, customers and clients will gravitate towards you. They see a person that can take the situation by the scruff of the neck and make things happen. Again, that doesn’t have to be the case, but it needs to look like the case. Perception is everything in the business world, and people that perceive you to be a leader will gladly do business.

The next time you look in the mirror, you should make sure you are looking back at a person that belongs to this industry.

Little-Known Marketing Techniques to Boost Your Business

It’s one thing coming up with a great idea for a startup business. But getting to know the marketing side of things is a whole other game. There is certainly a steep learning curve involved when it comes to promoting your company. Nonetheless, it’s something that all business owners need to spend a good deal of time on. After all, if you don’t draw people in, then you can’t expect the business to be a success. But maybe you’ve exhausted all of your options, and you’re wondering what else you can do. Luckily for you, there are plenty of marketing techniques which have been shown to improve sales. Here are some of the best ideas from the world of marketing which you might not have considered before.

Infographics

First of all: what are infographics? They are the representation of information in visual form. The reason that infographics work so well is that people take information on board more readily in visual form. For this reason, they are ideal for immediately grabbing someone’s attention. Another great benefit is that you get your message across much quicker and in a way which is more memorable. Pages and pages of blocked text are a bore for many people. Infographics offer an easy way to get an idea across – and the consumer is happy that you haven’t taken up much of their time!

Emotional Branding

Recently, marketers have been rushing to include this one in their schemes. Why? Because emotional branding is effective! Emotional branding can very often mean the difference between a marketing idea being a success or a failure. It works so well because, all too often, we are creatures of emotion! Anything which grabs our attention and pulls our heartstrings is sure to stick out and be memorable. If you want to draw people in, remember their human side.

Personalisation

Nobody likes to be treated like just another number! To treat people how they want to be treated, you need to be personable. Including personalisation in your marketing shows that your business has a heart. People tend to appreciate that. Most people will respond well if you talk to them with a genuine human interest. There are lots of ways to achieve this. First of all, it is imperative that you research your potential customers thoroughly. Knowing the customer is key! Then you can work towards including everything you know in your marketing. Consider personal emails or e-Christmas cards for business marketing. Those little things go a long way.

Urban Marketing

This one is hot off the press! Urban marketing is the latest big thing in the marketing world. If you are keen to get your startup business off to a flying start, then consider the power of the street. Street marketing comes in many forms, so you have a lot to choose from. For example, you could commission the painting of a mural in a popular public place. That would be a sure way to get some interest stirring! Or you could take a leaf out of Banksy’s book and use the surroundings to arrange an original work of art. Just make sure you have permission to do so! Whatever you decide upon, think outside the box, and your business is sure to thrive.

How to Impress at Your First Business Meeting

So you have started your business, and now you are gearing up for your first meeting. Whether you are going in to meet with a potential client, to kick off work on a project with your new team, or meeting with potential partners or backers, it can feel like a milestone occasion in the formation of your company, and you really want to make sure it goes well. If you have no background in business this may not just be the first important meeting for your start up, but may even be your own first experience of a business meeting.

Here are some tips to make sure you look as professional as possible and get the results you are looking for:

Arrive On Time, And Fresh

Whether you are holding your meeting at your own premises, meeting a client at their own site or holding your meeting at a neutral location, you need to make sure you are on time and putting across the right professional look and feel. If you are traveling by car, plan your journey ahead so you will definitely be on time, and this includes where you are going to park – which can in itself cause big delays in some cities! Look at www.yourparkingspace.co.uk to find bookable places to park in different UK locations, including London. You may also want to consider hiring an executive car via http://www.ichauffeur.co.ukfor the day, or taking a cab rather than public transport to help you arrive comfortable and unflustered – as well as potentially impressing the people you are meeting with.

Brand Yourself

Naturally you want to look smart and professional at your first business meeting, but this is not one of those situations where your parents’ advice about job interviews is always correct. Depending on the type of business you run and the type of people you are meeting, turning up in a suit and tie may not fit, and could make you look like you are trying too hard or are not relaxed and confident. When it comes to planning what to wear, think of your branding. If you are a fashionable creative company, then you will want your look to reflect that. If you are something very professional and business-like, like an accountancy firm, that slick suit and tie look may still be the best choice. Consider the brand elements you are using to represent your company, and dress in a way that communicates this while also matching the level of ‘business attire’ you think the people you are meeting with will be wearing.

Have an Agenda

Meetings can easily go off track and end up running late with many of the points you planned to discuss not being covered or decided on. Whether you are chairing the meeting or not, being able to take control of the conversation and drive it toward goals is an important business skill. Have a proper agenda distributed to the people you are meeting with if you are the one hosting the meeting, and if not, have at least a mental list of topics you want to talk about and objectives for the session, and make sure these get included. Have a look at these 5 business meeting apps that will help with creating an agenda and then getting the most from the meeting.

A good first meeting can be extremely productive and can make you feel like your business is off to a great start, so prepare yourself well and head in there with confidence!