Contributed Post | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

Tech for the Modern-Day Business Traveler 100%

June 19, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

In a hyper-connected, always-on and always-available world, there is some stuff for which a video conference won’t do. Sometimes you will have to go somewhere physically to get the job done. Here are some great tips for the modern day, tech-savvy, travelling business person.

You don’t have time to iron clothes when you are trying to make most of your time. Be smart in what you pack, preferably clothes that are wrinkle-free. There are also wrinkle release sprays available that can save you a ton of time. And if you are a disaster at packing, consider using packing cubes to organise your luggage space.

Business Traveler

And even if you manage to end up with more clothes than you left home with, get something like VAGO, a small automated travel vacuum that can help compress your clothes into the smallest space possible. Travel cubes and a compacted bundle of clothes fit well in modern-day ‘smart’ luggage. As with most other things, your travel suitcases have gone ‘smart’. Smart luggage has functionality like electronic baggage tags, GPS tracking and electronic locks, even ones that are TSA approved. Or if you want to turn heads, consider the Travelmate, a smart suitcase that will follow you around.

Clothes sorted, and the essential toiletries packed away, it might be wise also to pack filtered water bottles to carry around once at your destination. If you are an uber tech mogul, you could pack away your smart water bottle with sensors that connect to your smartphone. Or if coffee is more your thing, nowadays you can get espresso makers for on the go.

A necessity that sits almost on top of the pack list (after passport and wallet) is a set of cables and cords that are necessary to power and connect your tech. The socks and mobile phone charging cords business must run off the same principle of ‘things have gone missing’. A strong power bank is also a must as you can’t always guarantee a power outlet being available. It also makes a great business card and business branding tool. Get printed power banks from USBMakers.com and get ready to make a great impression next time someone is desperately in need of one.

Being powered up is one thing, being connected is the other concern. If you are a frequent traveller, you know that hotel Wi-Fi is hit and miss. Prepare for the worst and get yourself a Mi-Fi device just in case. And if you are travelling to remote places with possibly spotty coverage, see if something like goTenna is an alternative, before considering a costly satellite phone or going off the grid entirely.

Once your luggage is taken care of, and you made sure you will have power and connection, its time to ensure you are taken care off. Get some relaxation and entertainment aids to accompany you on your travels. A noise cancelling headphone should be your priority, ensuring you to get rest on busy plane and rail travel. Or take a portable game console with you to kill some time on long layovers. And if everything else fails, get yourself an Ostrich Pillow. Sure, it looks a bit odd, but if it counters any jet lag, do you care?

Looking for a Business Opportunity? Why Not Try Franchising?

June 19, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Plenty of people want to get into business by being themselves. They want to try and bring new products to the world, they want to introduce unique services and some of them want to do crazy things that no one has ever thought of. However, there are safer routes to take in business and one of them is franchising.

Franchising simply refers to the concept of becoming part of a bigger company. For instance, starting a new McDonald’s store would be franchising and it usually offers some compelling advantages. However, it can also bring some downsides which you might find difficult to cope with. In this article, we’re going to be talking about franchising and explain some of the ups and downs before you consider investing in it as a business opportunity.

Franchising

There’s a lot of choice

It’s difficult to pick the best franchise to own because there are simply so many out there. With so much choice, you can hand-pick a business or company and have their goals fit your location and your ideas. Since there’s so much choice, you might find it difficult to pick the “best” option, so it does take a lot of research and you might find yourself spending far too much time picking a company before you send in an application and speak to their representatives.

But the choice ends there

There’s very limited flexibility when it comes to owning a franchise. You have to do everything in the franchisor’s way and there’s really not much room to make decisions on your own. Want to change a menu item or add a promotion? Too bad! Unless it’s approved by the franchisor, you won’t be able to do it. This lack of control can put off many entrepreneurs, hence why franchising isn’t always the best solution.

It’s likely going to be successful

Franchises are well-known because they have thousands of stores around the country. When you buy a franchise, you’re getting plenty of ideas that already work, you’re getting products that are in demand (albeit maybe not in your particular location) and you’re going to appeal to a customer base that is already well-established. This will ensure that you make a decent amount of profit and it also means that you don’t need to do things like market online or change your products to suit your audience–everything is already done for you!

It’s extremely competitive

Although you’re likely to be successful thanks to the franchisor’s brand and image, keep in mind that it’s an extremely competitive environment especially if you purchase a franchise that isn’t as well-known. If a business is offering franchising opportunities then you absolutely need to do your research to ensure that it’s an opportunity that you can actually take advantage of. If you pick a brand that isn’t very successful then you’re absolutely not going to get customers. At the end of the day, everyone wants a slice of success and while franchising is an easy way to get yours, it might not be the safest way to do so if you’re buying a lesser-known franchise.

How Online Marketing Can Help You Connect with Your Audience

June 18, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

If you would like to maximize your online marketing results, it is important that you get to know the people you are trying to attract. Thanks to the real time statistics provided by some of the SEO and digital marketing tools, your job is much easier today than let’s say ten years ago. You can do your market research at the same time as testing new digital promotion campaigns. Find out more below.

Reactions, Likes, and Shares

You can figure out which posts are likely to attract future visitors if you keep an eye on your reactions, shares, and likes. While search engine optimization is important, you will also need to look beyond the statistics, and choose the winning content every time. From blog posts to infographics and memes, every content will appeal to a different segmented market and get a different level of engagement.

Brand Image and Persona Communication

Your small business online marketing campaigns can also help you build a strong brand image and communicate your vision, values, and missions while creating awareness of your promotions and offers. You can connect with your audience on a personal level and keep them engaged through your branding campaigns, which will help you send out positive messages about your company and your achievements.

Mentions and Group Involvement

You can also advertise in groups and online communities, and – at the same time – find out more about your target market; what their preferences and priorities are, what they are looking for in your marketplace, and what their main and most important problems are. If you can get involved in conversations online and help others out, you can establish yourself as an authority and gain trust that will translate to higher conversion rates.

Demographics

You can find out a lot about your website visitors, thanks to the advanced SEO tools available. You can even sign up for an Anonymous Visitor Identification service that will give you the details you need to find out how to talk to your target market. You will learn where your visitors are coming from, what keywords they are using, and even which pages they leave your site. This will help you optimize your content and marketing messages.

Online Feedback and Chat

If you are not using social media and online chat accounts, you are not putting your internet to good use. You can find out a lot about your prospects if you engage in a one-on-one conversation with them and listen to their objections and concerns. If you are there to deal with their complaints and give them advice, they are more likely to return and buy from you again.

If you would like to tailor your branding and marketing messages to the needs of your audience, it is crucial that you engage with them on different levels. Get them to talk to your brand, give you feedback, and share their views on social media. You can find out some valuable information about your target customer if you let them interact with your brand.

The Unusual Jobs You Could Make A Career In

June 18, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

There’s a lot of different jobs out there. Compared to about fifty or sixty years ago, there’s a whole world of choice for absolutely everyone to fit themselves into. You’re guaranteed to find your particular talent, skill, or brand these days, and you should never limit yourself to what is considered a traditional option. Sure, we need more nurses and doctors, firefighters and care assistants in the world, but you never have to fit into these molds despite what people tell you.

Whatever it is you want to make your business, there’s an option out there for you to fit yourself into. Niches exist around every corner, and there’s a chance for you to corner the market with what you introduce to your own. So with that in mind, let’s have look at some of the most unusual jobs you could make a career in, and maybe one day start your own business within.

Every one of these people is going to be working in something different; follow in their footsteps!

Unusual Jobs

Become a Taste Tester

Sure, you might have a front seat to some of the most experimental and possibly completely disgusting foods in the world, but you’re going to be able to get a highlight of what’s hitting the market in the food world! And hey, you’re going to be able to try as much of the food as you want, and probably even take home some samples with you (if the item is good enough!)

Not to mention, there’s a certain amount of risk involved here. Because of that, you’re going to be paid well as well. You could very well experience negative side effects from something in a food or drink, but you’re going to have plenty of compensation and considerable benefits on the table to help you out here.

All kinds of different positions exist: you could be a chocolate taster, you could be a stunt tester (that’s if you’re open to eating some bugs…), or you could be chomping down on chips every day for the rest of your time in that position. You can check out some tips on how to land your first taste testing gig here, if you aren’t already scouting those out.

Become a Professional Host

Hosting is something not a lot of people can do, but if you’ve got some confidence and a good smile on your side, this could be a great option for you! And considering the amount of entertainment companies around the globe, you’re never going to be short of jobs to get paid for. But let yourself start small and work your way up; having experience from your friends parties in which they invite some executive connections along to is going to pay off on your CV.

Being a good host involves having a calm demeanor about you, and looking completely comfortable in your own skin. So if you’ve got some energy to use productively, and you know how great you look in a suit and tie or skirt that’ll show off some great hells, practice your craft now. Use the mirror to determine how your face moves when it comes to delivering a speech, or even take some lessons if you’re that serious about trying this career out.

Become a Caretaker for an Entire Island

It’s a lucrative market for anyone wanting the job of a lifetime, so you’re going to have to get in quick with this one! Caretaking for islands is something we don’t hear a lot about, but all those remote landforms of the coast of Australasia, various locations in Europe, and the Americas have to be looked after by someone. And that someone could be you, if you have the driver and the right kind of experience behind you.

You’re not going to have to stick around for too long either, usually about 6 months at a time, and you get to stay on these islands rent free. Think of it as a holiday with a little more expertise needed: countries offer these positions out usually to generate more of an interest in tourism, and you’re usually required to keep a blog of your time, so you need to make your tone interesting and update regularly.

As you can see, there’s a wide range of jobs available out there, and often enough you can be paid for both the wacky and the mundane. If you’re stuck in a work rut, consider trying out for positions like these; you’ll still earn money!

The Best Methods To Save Money In Your Business

June 18, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Whatever kind of a business you run, you can be sure that one of the best things you can do for it is to save as much money as possible. Fortunately, it is pretty easy to save money in any business so long as you know what you are doing, and in fact there are a number of methods to consider if you want to do so. In this article, we are going to take a look at a few of the best methods you can use in order to ensure that your business saves as much money as possible. As long as you follow these ideas, your business will be in a much better financial position in the long term, making for greater success in the future with your venture.

Strip Back Processes

Your business likely has a huge range of processes that you need to take care of, and it is important to make sure that you are doing whatever you can to keep those processes simple. As long as you do that, your business i’ll spend much less in the long run, and it can be surprising just how easy this is to actually do. By stripping back just a few processes of this kind, you will be able to save a considerable amount of money in a very short time. You might want to use a lift off process in the warehouse or to change even larger processes -whatever it is, simplifying it is always going to lead to a significant improvement in finances for the business. Any processes you have can be simplified in whatever way you want to save money.

Hire Sensibly

The people you hire are always going to be hugely important to your business on the whole, and this is something to always pay close attention to, especially if you want to save money. First of all, hiring those who are likely to actually work long and hard will mean that you re getting more for your money, thereby saving you financially in the long run. But you should also think about doing whatever you can to stop yourself form over-hiring, or hiring too many people. If you hire too many people in your business, it will only mean that you end up overspending without much return, and clearly that is not a situation that anyone wants to be in. Hire sensibly, and you should find that it makes a considerable difference to your business financially.

Plan & Plan Again

In general, you should try to always plan as well as you can for the future of your business. If you do this, it will benefit you and your company in many great ways, including, of course, by saving a considerable amount of money. Plan for the future of your business in as many ways as you can, and you will find that it really does make a huge difference. Your business finances will be in trouble less often and more likely to be in the state that you need them to be in.