Startup Tips Archives - Page 29 of 66

The Best Way To Set Up An IT Department

Whether your business is focussed on the digital arena or not, you’ll probably need an IT department. If your company is a start-up, then this can seem like a very daunting task. Although slightly complex, setting up a functional IT department isn’t impossible at all. Go about it the wrong way though, and you could end up harming your entire firm. Here are some valuable pointers for setting up your IT department.

Your first step should all be planning. This is true for almost anything in business. You have to take some time to decide what IT means for your specific company. At its most basic level, an IT department has to tend to all the hardware and software requirements at your company. You may not be aware, but IT support for businesses can extend far past that. A fully functioning IT department will be conducting research into new emerging technology. Using this information, they can then present certain professional suggestions to the upper echelons of your business. This will allow your firm to acquire technology strategically. In turn, that will make your employees more productive and in-step with the modern world. If this doesn’t give you an edge on your competitors, it will at least bring you in line with them!

Next up, you’ll need to find a good team to staff your IT department. Like a lot of departments, the most important decision here is hiring the manager. You’ll need to find an IT manager with a lot of experience, and who shares your vision for your business. When hiring a manager, you need to be wary of gaps in the CVs or resumes you receive. IT is a speciality which is evolving much faster than others. To make sure you hire an effective manager, the candidate has to have recent experience. Someone who’s working as an IT manager for a company larger than yours is ideal. If you can’t find this, then go for one with some professional experience, and has been in further education since then. If possible, sit in on the interview stage personally.

Finally, make sure you have all the correct tools for the job. This ties in closely with my point about how fast technology is changing. There are all kinds of tech solutions out there. Choosing the right one depending on your business can have a significant impact on your overall revenue. You need to make sure your IT department is doing frequent and thorough research into all the latest software you could benefit from. Do you need the latest version, or should you let your competitors test it? Which hardware and software will give you the best ROI? These are just two of the questions you need to ask with every new release.

Take these steps, and your firm will be much closer to having the professionally run IT department you need. Obviously the company’s yours, but trust the advice of your IT manager with any technological decisions. Their advice is often more useful than you first thought!

Vital Business Safety Procedures

It might not seem like a huge priority to you, but health and safety are massively important to your business. You need to have procedures in place to protect the company and the staff as well. Now, you should have health and safety procedures, and make sure everyone is trained in them. And you should also hire health and safety experts too.

But, more than this, you need to make sure you have other specific procedures within the company. Now, it doesn’t matter if you’re running a store or an office, health and safety still plays a big role. Check out these procedures that your business needs to use to become safer.

Wet Floor Signs

If you have cleaners in the business, you’ll be getting surfaces cleaned. And this will include making sure the floor gets mopped on a regular basis. The problem is that wet floors can be a big hazard and can result in accidents and injuries. But you can’t exactly leave the floors uncleaned. So, what you need to do instead is to make sure you alert people to the fact that the floors are wet. And this means you need to use wet floors sings. All businesses should have wet floor signs. And if yours doesn’t then it’s now time to visit http://www.safetysign.com and invest in them. They are important for safety and ensuring accidents can be avoided as much as possible.

Safety Tape

If you have a warehouse as part of your business, this can be a dangerous place. And that’s why it’s important to have some organisation in there. You need to have designated homes for places to ensure that you keep the warehouse free of chaos. Use special tools and pieces of equipment to help you achieve this. For instance, a visit to www.Safetytac.com will provide you with options for floor safety tape. This is going to be instrumental in helping you keep the warehouse safer and more organised. Safety tape should be a must-have item for any business that owns a warehouse full of stock.

Turn Off Machinery

All businesses will have some form of machinery or equipment that needs to be used. This equipment is very important to the running of the business, but can also pose big safety risks. You need to make sure that anyone using the machinery has been well trained and has all the right gear. You also need to make sure that the machines are turned off when they aren’t being used. This is the best way to avoid accidents or injuries from occurring and the business facing a lawsuit. Be careful and sensible and make sure you understand how crucial the machinery is within the business.

You need to have health and safety procedures in the business to protect yourself and your staff. This will help to make your staff more productive and boost the company’s growth. The company is going to be at risk from legal issues, and you have to protect it as much as you can. And the best way to do this is to try to make sure the working environment is as safe as it can possibly be. Use the ideas on this list to make the business a safer and more secure place.

7 Online Businesses You Can Start with Little Capital Outlay

Anyone looking to make some extra cash but not yet ready to take a head-on dive into the world of becoming a full-time entrepreneur can still have a go at making a bit of extra money. In fact, many of these businesses will run almost effortlessly in the background whilst you are at work and before long, who knows? You could be transitioning to full time at your online business and kissing your boss goodbye. Here is just a sampling of the many things you can do online to make that much needed extra cash.

1. Blogging / Content Writer

Every website you land on probably has a paid blogger or copywriter doing the content you see on that site. Few website owners have the ability or willingness to sit there writing their own content and so they hire professional writers proficient in SEO to write for them. Pay is usually on a per word basis and if images or graphics need to be added there is typically an extra charge for that.

2. Virtual Digital Assistant

So many professionals have too little time to do all the tasks that are required of them daily. A virtual digital assistant is basically someone who reads emails for their clients and then responds accordingly or forwards on the ones that are more personal in nature or when a clear-cut answer isn’t available.

3. Web Host Reseller

No longer is it necessary to have huge amounts of equipment to sell web hosting services because you can be a web hosting reseller. This is an amazing opportunity for a start-up in the UK because companies like www.bestwebhosting.co.uk sell services at low prices and you have the opportunity to buy hosting at what amounts to wholesale cost. Then, when reselling you make a small profit off each sale and residual earnings as your customers continue to use the web hosting provider. You can mesh this with point four if this is an area you are interested in.

4. Website Development

If you have ever played around with WordPress, Joomla or Drupal, you might have found that you actually can build a website with little or no effort. In fact, the more Content Management Systems you are acquainted with, the easier it will be for you find a job building websites for others. Most commercial sites require a web development company with all the bells and whistles but small companies and individuals are happy to pay those familiar with website development to help them choose a theme, customise elements within the theme and then upload content to have it go live.

5. Affiliate Marketer

Have you ever checked into the world of affiliate marketing? This is a sort of MLM that is totally legal and quite easy to do online. Simply register with a company or another affiliate marketer, place ads, products or links on your site and before you know it you will be bringing in a residual income.

6. Editing and Proofreading

Are you proficient in the English language? If so, editing and proofreading for others may be a great way to make some extra money. Some businesses are extremely savvy when it comes to selling products and services but lack the skills to properly write the content for their site. As well, there are a number of copywriting companies out there that need the services of an editor or proof-reader before submitting content to their clients. This isn’t a start-up where you’ll get rich quickly but as you build up clientele you can amass a certain amount of cash you wouldn’t have otherwise had.

7. Social Media Pro

Then there are those companies and business professionals who simply don’t have the time to sit and Tweet all hours of the day. As a social media pro you can tweet and post on Facebook to your heart’s delight for your clients and actually make money doing it!

So, you see, there are ways to start up an online business with little to no capital outlay. You can take it as far as you want to go with extra effort, but if it’s just a bit of extra cash you need, this is the fastest way to do it.

How to Make Your Employees More Productive

We’ve all heard it a million times before, but it couldn’t be truer: happy employees are productive employees. With the millennial workforce fully integrated into the professional sector, transforming your work place into a productive machine requires different tactics than those used for generations before. There are multiple ways you can increase employee productivity and loyalty to your company including your managing style, incentives, and encouragement techniques that will see your workforce performing better than ever before.

Don’t Micromanage

Don’t put your employees under a microscope, and give them space to do the job you hired them to do. Micromanaging stifles productivity and can result in resentment in the office. Employees should be instilled with a sense of control, and have the feeling of autonomy in their respective position. The opportunity for ingenuity inspires people to work harder, and as long as you provide direct, succinct goals along with the parameters you want your employees to work under, you’d be surprised at the spike in productivity your office will experience.

Share Your Information

Don’t have secrets in the office, at least those that pertain to the business. Keeping employees in the dark on company happenings will disempower them, and may contribute to a diminishing of loyalty to you and the business. These happenings might include changes in competition, the introduction of new products, or revenue goals. The more they know, the more invested they will be in making these goals happen. Making sure your employees are updated on everything also promotes team understanding and a more comprehensive goal to work towards. Don’t hold onto information; share it as you receive it for a business that is running on all cylinders at any given time.

Encourage Self-Improvement

People who find themselves in stagnant jobs won’t excel—they don’t have any room to. Employees won’t be invested in their position and overall productivity if they don’t feel essential to the process, or are made to feel like cogs in a machine. Give your employees the opportunity to improve themselves and their positions. This may be done through educational experiences like seminars or online courses that they have expressed an interest in. Or, it could simply be handing over the reins on day-to-day processes that previously required your approval. Whichever of these options works in your business, implement it immediately. Give employees a part of the business to own, something they can claim responsibility for, and you’re again appealing to that autonomous incentive.

Lower Their Stress Levels

If you’re a small business owner, you probably have to do more work on limited resources, and this pressure also falls on the shoulders of your employees. While deadlines and heavy workloads can serve as catalysts for hard work, they can also lead to excess stress. When stress builds, productivity can decrease and mental and physical illness become more prevalent. This isn’t a singular problem; each year stress-related health care and work absences cost employers a sum of $300 billion. Do all that you can to reduce employee stress levels for a happier workplace that runs smoothly and efficiently. Have an open door policy in which they can come to you with problems, allow more flexibility in work hours (this will help them balance their personal lives while still completing all of their tasks), and instigate regular breaks in the office where they can reenergize and head back to their work spaces with a clear head.

Show Your Appreciation

Want a foolproof way to increase productivity? Offer incentives. Perhaps it’s a promotion, or even a friendly office competition with a restaurant gift card serving as the inexpensive prize (which you can get in bulk at Giftcards.com). If you appreciate the work your employees put in, you need to show it. Some employees may respond well to public acknowledgement, while others may prefer a private meeting to go over how grateful you are for their dedication. You can also provide tokens of your appreciation that don’t break the bank but get the message across. Whether it’s professional looking cases for the iPhone 6 for employees with company phones, weekly flower deliveries that brighten up the office, or a wine subscription from a company like ClubW.com to help them relax after a long day, small efforts like these don’t go unnoticed and will serve as perks for your employees to continue serving the company well.

How To Launch Your Product With A Bang

Your business is only as good as its flagship product. Where would Apple be without the iPhone? 66% of the company’s entire revenue comes from this one product. Most big corporations work in a similar way. Another thing you’ll learn from Apple is their fantastic ability to launch a product.

Launching a product determines how successful it will become in the long run. The bigger your explosion on the launch day, the further you reach. You’re looking for the biggest possible explosion of media attention and consumer interest. Followed by a long tail sales spree as more and more people hear about your product. Whether you’re a tech company or an e-commerce seller, here’s how you launch with a bang.

Make sure the product is perfect

Your product launch will only succeed if you have a killer product. You need something that gets people excited. Something the media wants to talk about. Start by honing the product to perfection. Get detailed user feedback, make a new prototype, do more market research. Don’t leave any stone unturned before you launch. You can’t go back afterwards! Another trick is to create a compelling story about your product. Something the press and media can use to write about.

Get opinion leaders on board early

There are certain people, groups, or publications in every industry that are considered ‘opinion leaders’. They are blogs, media types, and social media personalities. Send your product to the most influential YouTubers, Instagrammers, and buzz-blogs. If you can get them talking about it, the rest of the industry will follow. Send a few free samples to key individuals, along with a passionate letter.

PR company

Launching a product without a PR company on board is tantamount to failure. A PR company are experienced professionals who know how to secure media coverage. They have relationships with journalists. They know the right people to approach. A good PR company will get your product in all the right magazines, blogs, and newspaper supplements. Without them, you won’t generate the kind of buzz you need.

Launch event

Remember we talked about Apple and their product launches? Well, the one thing they do better than anyone else is a launch event. They build up the buzz and excitement for months before hosting an enormous launch event. Take their lead, and invite all the most influential people to one big event. If you’ve never held a launch before, team up with an events company like Envisage Promotions. Make it a night to remember, and use the opportunity to network with the industry professionals.

Take pre-orders

The unfortunate thing about buzz and hype is that it dies as fast as it appears! If you’ve created some excitement around your product, capitalise on it immediately. Start running pre-orders so that interested parties can buy your new product. It gives the product a feeling of exclusivity, and it will encourage a flood of quick sales!

Learn from the best. Learn from Apple, who always launch a product in a flurry of excitement, whispers, and rumours. Make the biggest possible splash, and reap the rewards for months to come.

Is Your Site Lacking Traffic? Here’s How to Change That

Every website needs lots of traffic if it is going to survive and thrive in the long-term. So, if you are lacking the levels of traffic you want, here are some ways to change that.

Find New Partners

There are lots of great opportunities for small businesses to partner up and take advantage of each other’s audience. When two businesses work together, they are able to both become stronger. You could find new partners who are similar to yours but are not direct rivals. This will allow your business to appeal directly to their audience. And they will be able to sell their product your existing audience. It makes sense for both businesses, so nobody loses out if it’s done correctly.

Host a Webinar

If there is a particular sector of your industry that you consider yourself an expert on, you should take advantage of that expertise. It means there will be lots of people who are willing to listen to you in the hope of learning something that might be useful to them or their business. So, why not consider hosting a webinar? People will be flocking to your website to listen to you. It’s a great way of driving traffic in the short-term. And, in the long-term, it will help to boost the reputation of you and your business.

Keep Blogging

Many people say it, and that’s because it’s true. Blogging really does drive traffic to your website. It’s a fact that some people take for granted. But you shouldn’t because it can be a really useful tool. If you don’t have a blog on your website, this is one of the major changes that could increase traffic to your website by 100% or more. The change in traffic you will see can be huge, so make sure you give it a try if you haven’t already. It also gives you the chance to forge new links with potential customers.

Use Traffic Authority

Traffic authority is a new type of online networking opportunity that can help you to drive traffic to your website. This isn’t just any old type of traffic though. The whole idea of the endeavour is that it helps to drive relevant, high-quality and targeted traffic to your website. And, as I’m sure you know, this is the very best type of traffic for a business. So, have a read of this Traffic Authority review if you want to learn all about it. It might be the best way forward for your business.

Build an Email List

Emails are great for reaching out to people who have used your website in the past. So, you should make sure that you get the email address of everyone who buys from your website. You should also prompt people to enter their email address to subscribe to your newsletter even when they are just visiting. Over time, this will allow you to build up a large database of email addresses that can be very useful. You can send out emails to everyone letting them know about what’s going on at your website.

Start Up Tips For Young Entrepreneurs

Finding a job or career is harder than ever. With cutbacks and fewer roles being offered, competition for your dream job is rife. You’re going up against people who are just as talented, educated and creative as you are and there is only one position available. While you might get lucky, sometimes you won’t be. So it’s plain to see why so many young people are choosing the self-employment route. If you’ve got a fantastic business idea and fancy yourself as an entrepreneur, here are some top tips to get you started.

Write a thorough business plan

It doesn’t matter if you’re opening an online store or hiring out your services; you will need to write a business plan. This essential document will analyse your idea in detail and determine whether it is worth pursuing. You can get business plan templates online if you aren’t sure what to include. You need to fill in each section as honestly and truthfully as you can. This plan will help you set realistic targets for your business to meet and how much you will need to set it up. It will also highlight whether there is a need for the product or service you are selling and what competition and issues you may have. This plan will change and evolve as your business grows, so take it seriously. It may seem like a chore when you want to get started, but it’s a vital part of the startup process.

Get a look (Build Your Brand)

Some of the best businesses have a distinct look and feel, which makes them stand out. So think carefully about your company name and the look you want. You want it to look professional and leave a lasting impression on your customers. Play around with some ideas on Photoshop or seek help from a graphic design student. They may be willing to work just for the experience which will save you some money. Before approaching a designer, come up with a few words that describe your business. This should provide them with some ideas and get you a sleek and professional looking logo. Also, think about any other promotional material you may need to include the logo on such as business cards and flyers. You can get these printed online for little money and can help you get more traffic and custom.

Promote yourself

How will anybody know about your business if you don’t get your name out there? Promoting your business should be a priority. Social media is one of the best promotional tools as it is quick, reaches a vast audience and gives your business some credibility. Also, consider press release distribution, blogging and competitions to get your name out there.

With these tips, you can begin planning your startup business in a positive and enthusiastic way. It will require a lot of hard work, dedication and will be frustrating at times. But if you’re enthusiastic about your product or service you will find a way to make it a success. Don’t let your age hold you back and get started today.

Here’s Why Some Startups Have Unsuccessful PPC Campaigns

Most startup businesses will set up a website showcasing their products and services. Quite a few will also invest in PPC marketing for their site. Doing so means they can drive targeted traffic to their site from search engines like Google.

We all know the benefits of PPC marketing. For one, it’s cheaper than advertising in a newspaper or magazine. And, two, people are more likely to look at digital ads than paper-based ones! If done right, PPC marketing can pay dividends.

The trouble is; some startups don’t’ have a clue about effective PPC marketing. As a result, they end up spending money on campaigns that seldom deliver results. Here is where some of those startups are going wrong:

Poor data analysis

The thing about PPC marketing is that you have to try various ad combinations at first. You can then determine which ones offer the highest success rates.

One area where startups go wrong in their campaigns is by not doing enough data analysis. To put it another way, they aren’t checking which ad groups perfect the best. Nor are they researching why they are performing so well.

Poor ad copy

When you set up a new PPC ad, you will usually have to come up with some relevant copy. Part of your “bid” gets determined on how relevant your copy is to your landing page.

For example, let’s say you write an ad talking about giraffes when you sell lawn mowers. The relevancy score will be a big fat zero for obvious reasons. But, if you talk about a product or service related to lawn mowers, you’ll have a good score.

The text content you write for your PPC ads has a big effect on your campaign’s success. If you’re not good at formulating ad copy, talk to Opus Media. They can help put your PPC ad campaigns back on track.

Not using the right advertising mediums

These days services like Google AdWords let you choose from a raft of mediums. No, I’m not talking about psychic people. What I am talking about is where your ads get displayed. Naturally you can select ads to show up in search engine results pages.

But, you can also select other options too, such as:

Mobile SERPS;
Ad display networks on third-party sites;
Mobile app ads.

If you aren’t using the right advertising mediums, your success will get limited.

Bidding on the wrong keywords

Here’s the major mistake that many startups mistake! Keyword research is as crucial to PPC campaigns as oxygen is to life on Earth. If you don’t bid on the right keywords, you may as well just throw money out your window.

There are a plethora of keyword research tools that you can use online. Google AdWords, for example, has one built into its interface.

You obviously want to target a specific demographic with your ads. But, your mission is to find the keywords and phrases they use to search for things that you sell.

How To Convince Angel Investors To Back Your Startup

If you run a startup company, chances are you’ve thought about chasing investment. After all, it’s the rich investors that bankroll Silicon Valley. All the new companies and promising startups are funded by the deep pockets of angel investors. If you’ve got your startup off the ground, and you need capital to take it to the next level, investment could help.

Before we get stuck into the main part of the article, ensure your business is ready to pitch to investors. Pitch too soon, and you might ruin your chance with the top investors. Make sure everything is in place first. Here’s how to convince them to part with their cash.

Show them the money

Most investors are only interested in the money. The want to see real and tangible returns on their investment. Make no mistake, your company will be one part of their bursting portfolio, and they expect returns. So, show them exactly how your business will generate revenue for them. And by ‘exactly’, we mean exactly. They want to know how your business is monetized, and when they can expect their first returns.

Tell them how you will use their investment

Angel investors got to where they are by being very cautious with their money. They certainly don’t throw it around. Investors like to know how you will spend their money, to the dollar. If you plan to use their investment for marketing, explain your marketing strategy. How will you divide up the money, and how will that benefit the company?

Business plan

Any potential investor will want to take your business plan home. They’ll study it, and make their decision. Spend plenty of time perfecting your business plan, and honing it. Outline your mission statement and ten year goals. Dig into your market research, and identify your core target user. Investors want to see that you have understood your company from the ground up.

Exit strategy

This is a controversial one for many entrepreneurs, but it’s a vital consideration. Most investors want to know your exit strategy. Many of them will invest in the hope that you sell the company for a huge profit in five-ten years. We know your business is your baby, but be open about a potential exit, and you’re more likely to get investors on board.

Elevator pitch and presentations

If you want to convince angels to invest, you’ll have to nail the elevator pitch. This is a quick (two minutes or less) intro to your business. This is what gets you in the door with investors. Once you’ve got a longer meeting, it’s your chance to sell yourself. We suggest working with a PowerPoint design agency to get your presentation just right. The stakes are too high to rely on your dodgy PowerPoint skills!

Think medium-term

Again, this might go against your entrepreneurial instinct, but think medium-term. If you go into a meeting, don’t explain your plan for world-domination, and ask for $10 million. You’ll go home empty handed. Explain that you need $50,000 to expand your manufacturing or upgrade your office space, and you’ll have more luck. Investors are looking to build companies step-by-step.

7 Reasons Why You Should Consider Buying An Existing Business

Are you thinking about giving up your day job? If so, you’ve likely thought about what you want to do afterwards. For most people, the idea is to quit their jobs and work for themselves! We are a proud nation of successful entrepreneurs. It’s small business owners that provide the backbone to our economy.

Quitting your job isn’t a decision to get taken lightly, of course. Setting up a new business from scratch requires a lot of time, money and dedication. For some savvy entrepreneurs, they can bypass the startup stage altogether. How? By purchasing an established business, of course!

But, is it a good idea? I think so! Here are seven reasons why buying a business can be better than starting a new one up from scratch:

It’s easier to secure finance

Chances are you will need to borrow some money for your future endeavors. Not everyone will start a business on a shoestring. Especially if it doesn’t involve teaming up with investors or other backers.

Borrowing money for a new business is akin to getting blood from a stone. Commercial lenders are more likely to entertain established businesses with a proven track record.

You won’t have to give up your social life

The thing about starting a business from scratch is that you’ll spend almost all your spare time on it. But, when you buy a ready-made business, there is less work to do. You literally just take over the reigns and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor!

It’s easy to buy a business without getting burned

Some of you might be thinking that you could get ripped off buying an established business. The truth is; that seldom happens anymore. Why? Viking Business Brokers and providers like them ensure that buyers don’t end up with a raw deal.

You’ll get income from day one

The thing about most startups is they don’t make any profit until their third year of trading. If you’re baulking at the prospect of not having an income for three years, buying a business is for you. As soon as you take over, you can receive an income and not need to worry about money so much.

Established brand

Part of the challenge of setting up a new business is creating a new brand and marketing it. When you buy an established company, the brand is already known to the world. All you need to do is concentrate on increasing brand awareness.

Less financial risk

If you’ve checked the financials of the company you want, you’ll notice there is a lower risk of failure. That’s because the enterprise is profitable and runs like a well-oiled machine. Starting a new business from scratch means taking big risks.

You have access to a network of contacts

Customers, suppliers and marketing contacts. They are all available at your fingertips when you take over the running of a business. That means you don’t have to spend so much time networking and advertising.

Startups: Here’s How To Give Your Website A Boost In Search Engines

It’s always an exciting time when you launch a new business. You can access a wealth of opportunities and get your brand recognized everywhere! A vital part of any startup’s marketing strategy is the Internet.

Websites are super simple to create nowadays; even a novice can knock something out very quickly! The only downside is that it can take some months before Google, Bing and other search engines start paying attention to your site. Of course, when you start a business, time is precious. You can’t afford not to do anything for a year before you start seeing people on your website!

If you want to speed up proceedings, there is plenty you can do. Here are a few suggestions to help give your website a boost in search engines:

Buy an established domain name

If you’re still thinking of suggestions for your brand name, there’s one thing you can do. Base it around the name of an established domain name for sale!

Lots of startups use existing brand names that are available for sale. The same applies with domain names too. But, how can buying an established domain name help your cause? One of the things Google and other search engines do is rank a site based on domain age.

The older the website domain, the more trustworthy it becomes. Aim for domains that are at least a year old. And it goes without saying to avoid anything spammy!

Install Google Analytics on your site

Once your website is up and running, you need to track who visits it and where they come from. The best way of doing that is by using the free yet powerful Google Analytics.

All you do is insert some small tracking code into your Web pages, and it does the rest. It doesn’t interfere with your visitor’s experience on your site, nor does it slow your site down.

The idea is to identify visitor trends with Google Analytics. Stuck by the myriad of options? A search engine optimisation professional can help you. They can also check if any SEO issues are stopping your site from getting ranked by search engines.

Optimize your content

It’s likely you will have some direct competitors. One thing you can do is learn more about the types of visitors that go to their sites. Of course, you should only target established, popular competitors. Not startups like yourself!

There are various keyword research tools that you can use online. All you need to do is enter the URL of their website into them. The research tool will provide you with a list of relevant keywords and phrases.

You can then select the best of those keywords and build your site content around them. Just make sure you create unique content on your pages. Copying and pasting content is a no-no! Check your website text with Copyscape to make sure it has no duplicates on the Web.

Connect with industry influencers

Last, but not least, get social with leading figureheads in your industry. If you create an article their website readers might find useful, email them! You can then get vital website links to your site from theirs.

Thanks for reading. I hope this guide will help you!

How To Solve Common Website Issues Affecting Your Business

Running a business website is a complicated job. You never know when issues will arise that could stop your operation in its tracks. With that in mind, it makes sense for you to research common problems ahead of time. Knowing how to rectify the situation and continue trading will benefit your company. The last thing you want to do is spend days looking for a design expert who can remove the stumbling blocks. You should find the information in this article useful in the future. So, bookmark the page or print it out if you think it will help.

Poor hosting service

All company bosses should read hosting reviews before selecting their chosen provider. Like it or not, some servers are more reliable than others. Opting for a poor hosting service could mean your website goes offline at critical moments. Maybe you’ve just launched a new advertising campaign that’s driving lots of traffic in your direction? You could lose a considerable amount of money if your site fails to operate properly. For that reason, it’s wise to seek hosting from a company with a good track record. The reviews should highlight which firms you need to approach.

Lack of website security

A lot of web designers use WordPress to create and maintain company websites. However, that platform is often vulnerable to hacking attacks without the right protection. There are many different security plugins you could use to keep your business safe. Just make sure you make your selection and implement the new software quickly. Just because your website hasn’t suffered a hacking attack in the past, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Thousands of criminals would love to crash your domain and steal information. Don’t make like easy for them!

Complicated navigation

Internet users are not willing to work hard to spend money. That is why you need to make sure your site’s navigation options are simple. If you don’t provide a straightforward means of finding the products they need, most people will look elsewhere. You could seek some professional advice if you have the money to spend. However, it’s usually better to take a look at competing websites. Try to make sure your offering is as simple, if not simpler than the alternatives. That is how you will encourage more sales, and keep internet users coming back for more.

So long as you remove all those possible issues from your website, it should go from strength to strength. At the end of the day, you should try to improve your domain as often as possible. That means you have to keep your finger on the pulse and stay close to current trends. Make sure you can edit and alter your pages in a matter of minutes for the best results.

The only other thing you need to worry about relates to customer service. Thankfully, there are many live chat tools you could use to make life easier. Try to make sure all site visitors talk to your team via the website instead of calling your telephone. That will help you to save a lot of money and time.

What To Look For In Your Startup’s First Office Space

For a young startup, moving from your bedroom to a small office space is a big step. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. It’s the start of a huge journey, and it gives you the capacity for huge growth. You can bring in new employees, and expand the business. You can collaborate, and run daily meetings to further the company. At the same time, however, you’ll significantly increase your overheads and outgoings. You need to make the right decisions, and stick to a budget. Here are some top tips for making the right choice.

Choosing the type of office space

First of all, make a decision about the type of office space you need. In some cases, you could just purchase a virtual office space. That gives you a registered business address, and a professional impression. Another option is renting meeting rooms on a regular basis. This is perfect for meeting clients, investors, and other team members. The professional choice is a full office space for rent. Remember, you can choose from open plan or closed offices. What would suit your business?

Location

The location of your office space is essential for your company. Firstly, your employees will appreciate an office that is central, and easily accessible by public transport. The quicker their commute, the better their productivity and happiness. Secondly, it’s important when considering your competition and meeting clients. You’ll notice that most similar businesses operate from the same area of town. Why not consider a move to a whole new town? Try a city where startups are thriving! You need an office that is easily accessible, and close to your competitors.

Facilities

Ideally, you’ll want to pick an office that is kitted out with modern facilities and amenities. That makes the general upkeep and maintenance easier. You can also move straight in, and set up shop. Look for an office space with existing phone lines and internet connections. Find an office with built in kitchen and bathroom facilities. It may cost a little extra, but it will save you a lot of money on renovating, and installing the necessary facilities.

Room to grow

Renting your first business space is a huge step. You’re probably not thinking about expanding again, but you should be. If things continue as planned, you’ll bring in more money, and – consequently – more staff. Try to give yourself an extra quarter space to grow into. That will satisfy your business as you grow and expand. The last thing you want to do is constrict yourself further.

Cost

Of course, we couldn’t end this article without discussing the cost of your rental space. Upgrading to a larger space will immediately increase your overheads and outgoings. Consider how much your business can afford to outlay every month. More importantly, are the long-term foundations in place to cover the office lease? This isn’t a decision to make lightly, so spend some time with the accounts. Make sure the money is there, and create an extra pot of emergency funds.

Follow this advice, and you’ll move into the perfect office space for your startup company. Best of luck, and let us know how it goes.

The Basics Of Starting An Online Store

Have you ever thought about opening an online store? Since you have stumbled across this article, the answer is probably yes. And, you’re in luck, we’re here to show you how. The best part? It’s easier than you think!

Setting up an online store sounds daunting and complicated. In truth, setting up a store is fairly straightforward. As you’ll see in the following paragraphs, the mechanisms of building a simple shop are easy. The hard part is finding those customers, and turning it into a thriving business. Before that, let’s start with the foundations.

Choose a product

To set up an online store, you need a great product to sell. If you’re reading this, you probably already have an idea in mind. Before we get started, you’ll want to do some research around this product. Who is the target audience? Is there a gap in the market for this product? Now, there are two main options when it comes to products. The first is to make and produce the item yourself. This works for craft stores and other creative outlets. Or will you buy the products from a wholesaler, and sell them on?

Connecting with wholesalers

Most stores go the wholesaler route. In other words, you’ll buy the stock with the view of selling it at a profit. Connecting with wholesalers sounds daunting, and you’ll need a strong business plan in your hand. Make a list of wholesalers that dispatch the products you have in mind. Pick up the phone, and set up meetings with them all. Now, your job is convincing them to sell their products to you. As we said, a great business plan and a professional manner will be your best asset here.

Build a website

Without a website, you can’t sell anything! Of course, you can set up a marketplace shop on the likes of Etsy, Amazon or eBay. However, if you’re looking for a professional, long-term business, you need your own space. There are plenty of options for you here. One potential service is ‘Shopify’. They help you build a website designed around the shopping experience. If you’re more comfortable with WordPress, you can use their platform too. Make the design unique, but powerful.

Logistics and delivery

The last part of the foundations are your logistics and delivery system. After all, you’ve got to get your products to your customers in a professional way. In the early days, you can box up the packages yourself, and ship them one-by-one. But, as you grow larger, you’ll need a better solution. Start to think about your transportation logistics, and choosing a reliable carrier network. You’re looking for cost-effective, trustworthy, and efficient delivery here.

Finding your first customers

Before we go, we’ll leave you with a final note about finding your first customers. Without them, your online store will fail at the first hurdle! Start to build a brand presence across social media. Consider using advertising to get your products in front of the right audience. Use active marketing techniques to grow your business from the ground up.

We’d love to hear from any successful store owners. Let us know your story in the comments!