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

A Well-Run Business Is The Best Kind of Business

June 12, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

There’s much that goes into making a business the best that it can be. And indeed, you could argue that there’s too much; with so many different factors involved, finding the right path for your company to take can seem like an impossible task. But instead of getting overwhelmed by all the noise, a good approach is to focus on the things that you can control, such as making yours a well-run business. If you do this, then you’ll find that it’s much easier for success to find you. Below, we take a look at a few useful tips for making your business a well-oiled machine.

Well Run Business

Building a Team

A machine is only as good as its components. Or in other words, if your team is sub-standard, then there’s going to be an upper limit to what they can achieve for your company. No group of employees is perfect, but if you take the time to create a team of workers that excel at working individually and collectively, then you’ll be on your way to having the level of cohesion that’s needed to propel an organization towards success. To make sure your team is first-rate, develop a hiring process that attracts the best candidates, and always make sure they fit in with the wider company culture before offering them the position.

Use Software Efficiently

A well-run business will be productive, but what does that mean, exactly? It’s not enough for you and your team to be working as much as possible; what is important is that people are working on the things that’ll push your company forward, and not the time-consuming, repetitive tasks. To achieve this end, look at implementing software to automate certain tasks; your company might just be well-served by taking the time to learn more about accounts payable automation, for instance. There is also software that’ll show you how you’re spending your working day. You might be surprised just how much time you can reclaim by cutting out some of your non-profitable daily tasks.

Think In Advance

You’ll want to make sure you’ve got a firm grip on the here and now, but if you spend some time thinking about the future, then you’ll be able to put in motion a few initiatives that’ll help your company to grow. Running a business shouldn’t be an exercise in reactionary behaviors; it’s about planning the future. If you make a plan that emphasizes slow and steady growth, then you’ll be moving in the right direction on your own terms. Remember, growing too much, too quickly can be hugely damaging to a business. Slow and steady wins the race!

Make Time For Fun

Finally, remember that “well-run” is about more than just worker efficiency and so on. It’s about the general vibe and culture of the workplace. If your workers are happy and comfortable in their job, then they’ll be in a position to bring their best work. Make time for fun, be it after work drinks, Friday games, or anything else!

How To Turn Your Home Into a Guesthouse

June 11, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Lots of us are looking for ways to earn a second income. From setting up small businesses selling make-up and supplements, to professional selling on eBay, there are a few ways to top up your regular pay packet. But have you ever thought of putting the extra space in your home to work for you?

You don’t have to have a mansion – if you live in a popular visiting place for tourists, or in a city centre location, you could make extra money easily, simply by letting out the spaces that you don’t use. In recent years, with the rise of enabling platforms such as AirBnB, it’s become easier and more popular than ever to do this. Whether you want to rent out a room occasionally and continue with your main job, or you hope to turn property lettings or running a guesthouse into a full-time occupation, there’s never been better time.

Getting started is relatively simple, but follow these top tips to get the great customer ratings rolling in and then you’ll really begin to see a difference.

Research the Market

Your success in the new venture depends upon great preparation, and that means understanding the marketplace and what you can bring to it. Check out what is already available in your local area and what the demand is likely to be for bed and breakfast. Are you located in a nice tourist area, or near conference centres and locations where people are likely to need to stay? Are there any unusual venues, like a concert stadium or a country park nearby? If you don’t think there’s anything out of the ordinary to draw visitors, what are other local guest houses advertising to get people through the doors?

Add Some Features

You need to make sure that your house stands out from the others on the market, so work out what they are not offering. Is there a market for a premium venue providing a boutique hotel getaway for couples? Or is it more realistic that you’ll be welcoming workmen through your doors? Tailor the offer to whoever the likely customers are. Do you need to create more room by extending your house or having a loft conversion put in? Could a few extra pieces of aluminium and stainless steel make a garden room to offer as a feature? Make sure that any features you do add pull in extra money – the point is that even if you’re spending on building works, you quickly gain that money back in extra income. Make sure that you secure all the relevant planning permissions before work commences, otherwise it could be a costly mistake.

Upgrade Your Rooms

Give the rooms that you want to rent a freshen up before photographing and listing them. You will need a fresh coat of paint, comfortable beds so that your guest’s get a great night’s sleep, and top-quality bedding and towels for them. You may also want to add a plasma tv, hair dryers and tea and coffee making facilities, as well as upgrading your wi-Fi to cope with additional traffic. You can always add features gradually, but get the basics right if you are hoping to get bookings rolling in soon.

Here’s How You Can Make your Business Look Way More Professional

June 11, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Running a business isn’t easy to say the least. At times, you may find that the whole thing becomes overwhelming very quickly, and you may even struggle to try and keep everything afloat as well. On top of this, if you operate a small business then you may find it hard to maintain a professional image and this is vital to your success, so if you want to find out some helpful hints and tips then take a look below.

Logo

It’s super important that you create a unique logo for your small business. You also need to make sure that the logo you have matches in with your brand as well. For example, if you have a logo that is clean-cut and simple then this is the type of service that you will want to provide. If your logo is fun and exciting, then you may want to have a team that are able to really connect with your customers while also having a good sense of humour. At the end of the day, the logo that you have is going to have a huge impact on your success, and if you are not happy with your logo at the moment then that is the first thing that you need to change. Of course, a lot of small business owners think that they can save money by designing their logo themselves and this can be true, but it won’t do much for your professional image. You may find it hard to come across as being trustworthy and you won’t get a good result out of your marketing when compared either. If you want to avoid this then really take the time to perfect your image and work with a graphic designer as well, as this can work wonders for your brand. Your logo should also be visible everywhere at the office, and if you’re considering professional design build construction services to build your own office at some point, be sure to communicate your wishes to them beforehand. After all, your logo is one of the things clients remember the most, so take the time and really invest some energy and thought into it before you make a final decision.

Website

Having a professional website is crucial because it will help you to generate sales and it will also help you to connect with your customers as well. If you want to make sure that the site you have is suitable for your needs then consider using a template to try out a few different layouts. Of course, when you have found your template, you have to make sure that you customise it to meet your needs. If you don’t then there is a high chance that your customers will recognise your site from somewhere else and this is the last thing that you need. For this reason, having a website designer work by your side is essential, and if you don’t have the budget to do this then you should at least seek their advice so that you can make some smart decisions with your site. One problem that a lot of people experience when they do create their site as a small business is that they struggle to know which address they should put down in their footer, and if you are finding this to be an issue then visit Your Virtual Office London for address services.

Promotional Products

Another way for you to make your business look way more professional is for you to give away your promotional products. You can have useful items printed with your logo and you can also add your contact details here as well. You can then transform ordinary products into products that really do stand out from the rest and you can make this as cheap or as expensive as you need it to be. For example, if you want to really take things to that next level then you could consider using mugs or you could even try and use memory sticks. If you want to save money then pens are a great way for you to do this and you would be surprised at how easy it is for you to really go that extra mile when giving your customers the care and attention that they deserve. Of course, if you are finding it hard to decide which product is right for your business then all you have to do is think about the structure of your business. For example, if you know that you operate an IT business then a memory stick would be a great option, and if you operate an accounting service then you may want to go with a customised pen.

Business Cards

Another way that you can make your business look way more professional is for you to design a business card. Your business card needs to stand out more when compared to the other types of cards that are out there, and you will also want to incorporate your logo and even your brand. Of course, this will really help you to build up a solid picture of your company and it will also help you out with your customer image as well. This can work wonders for your professionalism and it is even possible for you to incorporate different features as well. This could include a reflective image or it could even include a shiny surface on the card. Sure, this will cost you more, but the leads that you get from your company will more than pay for the cost of the super-professional business cards.

Social Media

When you are able to implement social media into all of your marketing campaigns, you will soon see that this can really help you to boost the professional image that your business has. You can easily create pages for your Facebook, Twitter and even Pinterest as well. If you are having problems in doing all of this then one thing that you can do is try and have an app that helps you to take care of all this simultaneously. When you are able to do this, you can easily build up a social media following and this can essentially give you as much free marketing as you need. This is a great way for you to save money and it can really help you to boost the brand that you have as well. It can also help you to boost your professionalism, so do keep that in mind.

Tips For Working With A Virtual Assistant

June 11, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

More and more business owners today are working with virtual assistants to help them achieve higher levels of productivity. A virtual assistant is someone that provides administrative assistance to clients from a remote location. There are many benefits associated with this. Not only does this include higher levels of productivity, but also reduced expenses, improved customer service, and you are giving the leverage to focus on your company’s core activities – the activities that make you money. However, to experience all of these benefits, you need to maintain a good relationship with your virtual assistant. Here are some tips for doing so…

Research with care – The key to any successful business relationship is to make sure you make the correct decision in the first place. You can find exceptional virtual assistants based all over the world, for example, there is nothing wrong with hiring a Filipino virtual assistant to save money, so long as you make sure they have a good reputation. Take your time to find out as much as possible about the professional so you can ensure they are the right choice for you.

Communicate effectively – When it comes to any remote working relationship, communication is key. It can be difficult to communicate with someone who you never see. This is why you need to make sure you are clear and concise with your instructions.

Make sure they understand your business – Every virtual assistant has a different skill set and a different background. You need to make sure you choose someone who is familiar with the sort of work you do. They need to understand your business and your line of operations. You don’t want to be in a position whereby you need to train the remote worker. Ask them a few questions to make sure they can represent your company effectively.

Be mindful of their schedules – This is especially the case if you are hiring someone that is based in another time zone. You need to figure out a way that works for you both. You cannot simply expect that person to adjust to your time zone. Instead, figure out how you are going to communicate and what collaborative platform you will use to do this. You also need to be mindful of their public holidays and culture.

Hopefully, you now feel more prepared for working productively and effectively with your virtual assistant. If you follow the advice that has been presented above, you can make sure that this service works for your company and that you experience all of the benefits that come with it.

4 Simple Ways To Plug A Data Leak

June 11, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Everywhere you look, there seems to be the same problem. According to recent studies, corporate hacks are up 22%. In Britain alone, across the pond, 46% of businesses recorded an attack in 2017. Leaks are an occupational hazard of running a firm it seems these days.

The internet has revolutionized the industry often for the better, but a breach is a big deal. Companies that lose customer information are the ones that lack trust. Plus, there are bound to be a couple of lawsuits in the offing.

Yes, they happen, but the key is to stop them whenever possible to limit the damage. Here are four pieces of advice that should help.

Swap Investment

Usually, there is a selection of areas that you think are essential to success. For example, a large chunk of the budget will probably go into the marketing coffers. And, it should because advertising is an excellent way to generate leads and boost sales. However, the business doesn’t have to pump all of the cash into this sector. Instead, look to reroute the investment. That way, you should be able to afford expert network security services that can protect the servers from hackers. Antivirus software is a good start, but it’s only the beginning. Professional help is the key.

Be Suspicious Of Emails

Did you know that almost 75% of breaches are as a result of emails? Rogue individuals send phishing messages to coax sensitive information out of the recipient. The way it works is simple. You or an employee receives an alert and opens the email. By following the link, everything you input into the site is available to the hackers. Rather than trusting emails, the best bet is to be suspicious. So, always check the security badges before. As a rule, open the link in a new browser to ensure there is no funny business.

Attack Yourself

Even when there are protocols in place, there is no way to tell if the defenses are strong until an attack takes place. Unfortunately, this isn’t helpful because the barriers could collapse at the first sign of trouble. If this happens, the hackers will gain access to all of the company’s most sensitive data. To test the IT team’s capabilities, you should conduct a blunt force attack and analyze the results. By doing this, the firm can see where it is strong and where it needs to strengthen in the future.

Shred It

Data leaks are synonymous with online attacks because there are plenty of backdoors. Thanks to this, a hacker can take control of the system without too much fuss or hassle. Still, it’s wrong to assume this is the only way a breach can happen. Aside from a remote hack, there are offline possibilities too. The main one is when people write down information and leave it lying around the office. Going paperless can prevent this problem, but shredding is a better alternative. At the end of every day, make sure spare bits of paper are obliterated beyond repair.

How does your business keep its cards close to its chest?