Business Strategy | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

4 Time Your Customers Want Real-Time Emails

July 9, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

The average person receives up to 90 emails in a day, ranging from social media notifications, newsletters, and spams. When was the last time you opened your mailbox to find something truly unexpected in there? Don’t worry if you can’t remember. Your customers feel just the same. Email is the least preferred form of communication outside of the B2B world. As a result, very few people write emails to each other. But, it doesn’t mean they don’t read emails. Automated emails have a bad reputation as they can lack personality and humanity. However, they are crucial to share real-time information with your B2C customers. Ecommerce and other online retailers need to set 4 real-time notifications to keep their customers engaged throughout the transaction process.

When they’ve just purchased

When a user has just bought from your site, you need to male sure they can receive immediate confirmation of the transaction via email. Ther confirmation template needs to include essential information, not only regarding their order – you should also add a summary of all articles along with images whenever possible – but also the delivery address, the payment method chosen and the expected delivery date. You should mention how they can get in touch to correct mistakes in the order or their confidential data. No customer wants to wait between checking out on the site and receiving an email, so make sure you set your automated transaction notification in real-time.

When their order has been dispatched

The reason why everybody loves Amazon is that it takes only a click to buy and receive an immediate shipping notification for Prime members. While customers are aware that not every online retailer may have the same speedy services like Amazon, they do hold your company to the same high standards. As a result, delays in sharing tracking information can be held against your business. Customers want to know in real-time when their parcel is on the way. It’s good practice to automate a shipping email when the package leaves your warehouse.

When their order is on the way

For long-distance orders, parcels can be transported via 18 wheeler trucks to the courier depot ahead of delivery days. However, when customers are used to same-day delivery with companies like Amazon, they may not understand the delay. You want to implement an email function that keeps them informed of their parcel journey and let them know about any downtime in real-time. From truck accidents to poor weather conditions, let them know what is happening to avoid frustration.

When you refund their money

Lastly, even though most sites have a clear refund policy, your customers are likely to purchase without consulting it. Your customer service team needs to be there to help them go through the process. But, more importantly, the refund process can take several days. You want to keep customers in the loop by letting them know when their refund has been made to prevent confusion. An automated refund email that is linked to your accounting team can save you a lot of time.

We live in a world of click-to-buy behaviors. Your customers want everything immediately. If you can’t deliver the parcel as quickly as Amazon, you should at least make sure information reaches your customer in real-time. Informed customers are less likely to hold a grudge for delays or order problems.

What is Document Lamination and Do People Still Use It?

July 4, 2019 by Contributed Post 1 Comment

Lamination is a process of surrounding a paper document in clear plastic. The process is meant to provide a durable option for the protection of paper documents. Lamination has been around for many years, and advances in equipment and materials have allowed this process to be available to a wider range of people and professions. If you have never laminated a document and do not understand how it works, continue reading for further information.

The History of Lamination

Lamination is a process that is meant to add structural stability and protection to fragile paper documents which can become damaged by spills, tears, and wrinkling. The process was invented in the early 1900s and was widely used from the 1930s to 70s to protect archives. Those who are interested can visit FilmsourceInc.net for more information.

The original lamination process involved sandwiching fragile paper documents between pieces of tissue and thin sheets of plastic. The layers were fused together using heat, leaving the document fully protected against acidic damage and damages caused by light, fluids, and mold and mildew.

Over the years, many developments have occurred in the process of lamination. The machines of the early 1900s were extremely bulky, expensive, and demanding. Many inventors rose to the scene to improve the lamination process. One of the most notable was William Barrow, and his inventions helped propel lamination further. Eventually, the National Bureau of Standards released their process of stages that must be completed to properly laminate an archive document, and they included the following.

1. The document was first deacidified.

2. The document was layered between sheets of tissue and cellulose acetate.

3. The document was then topped with a thin layer of Japanese tissue to prevent tears and improve the strength.

4. The lamination protection process would involve a stack of five layers to ensure the document was fully protected.

5. The “sandwich” of layers was placed into a laminate press machine where they were heated and sealed. The plastic cellulose material became part of the paper, changing its composition.

Even though the National Bureau of Standards meant well in attempting to standardize the lamination process, there was great variation in the methods that were used to protect fragile paper documents.

Today, many advances have been made in the lamination process. Although there are still massive machines for commercial applications, there are now much smaller options for those who have simple lamination projects at home.

How Is Lamination Used Today?

While lamination has been around for decades, it is still being used today on the industrial and personal level. Lamination is used in many industries and has a surprising number of uses that most people do not even consider.

Lamination is common in producing building materials. From laminated flooring to countertops, there are a variety of materials that have been prepared using lamination techniques.

Lamination is often used in the protection of important documents, photos, and many types of paper. The lamination is put in place to seal the paper material from water and UV light. It is also used to prevent folding, tearing, wrinkling, smudging, abrading, and marking.

A common reason for paper lamination is for paper use in all types of weather. Placing a lamination film over a fragile document makes it imperviable to water, so it can be used outdoors and will even stand up to rain without being damaged by an influx of water. Lamination is often used for the following.

· Old photographs

· Social security cards, birth certificates, and other important documents

· Outdoor paper signs for yard sales and announcements

· Certificates of achievement

· Artwork

· Christmas ornaments

· Cards

· Emergency numbers

· Labels

· Placemats

· Cleaning lists

· Inventory

Once a person becomes acclimated with the process of lamination, there are tons of options available. Most people find they cannot live without their lamination machine and use it often.

Types of Laminate Plastic

There are different types of laminate plastic that can be used to protect all types of paper, including photos. The type used will depend on the machine and the kind of paper document that is being laminated.

1. Standard thermal lamination film

2. Heat-assisted laminating film

3. Low-temperature thermal lamination film

4. Liquid laminate (Primarily used in building materials.)

5. Pressure-sensitive lamination film

Types of Lamination Machines

There are several types of laminating machines that can be used for different projects.

Understanding each of the types is essential before making a choice.

· Pouch laminators are one of the most popular for non-commercial use. They are affordable and easy to use. With this machine, the document is placed in the pouch and run through the machine without any rollers.

· Hot roll laminators are considered an industry standard. These machines use rolls of plastic film and use heat to sandwich documents between the two layers of plastic. These machines not only protect the paper but also enhance its appearance.

· Wide format laminators are needed for larger lamination projects. This type of machine mounts inkjet projects to foam and a variety of other large-scale projects. While these machines are more expensive than some types, their uses are vast.

· Cold roll laminators are much like hot rollers, only they do not use heat to finish the lamination process. These machines use pressure-sensitive lamination films to produce a tight seal without any heat.

· Dry mount lamination equipment uses pressure and heat to laminate more sensitive pieces, such as photos. This type of machine is ideal for commercial use because it produces consistently professional results.

Conclusion

Yes, lamination is still a process that is being used today. When starting out in lamination, many people purchase smaller machines until they fully understand the process. There are tons of options with lamination, so the sky is the limit. Choosing the right equipment and films is essential for the perfect outcome. Carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions and taking time in the process will produce the best results. Paper no longer must be fragile with the many advances that have occurred in the art of lamination. Lamination can help protect documents, photos, and important pieces of paper for many years to come, without any damage occurring.

3 Worst Cash-Flow Mistakes Businesses Make

June 24, 2019 by Keith Coppersmith Leave a Comment

One of the most important parts of running a business is making sure you have a positive cash-flow which will allow your business to run and operate smoothly. However, many business owners still have difficulties when trying to handle this integral task. Whether your troubles with cash-flow happen because of poor management or the cyclical nature of the field your business operates is, the ultimate results will be the same, your business will begin to struggle and may ultimately fail. In fact, cash-flow is the number one reason businesses fail with as many as 82% of businesses failing because of cash-flow related issues. With that in mind, it should be apparent that you have to do everything within your power to maintain positive cash- flow. To help you out, today we are going to take a look at three worst cash-flow mistakes businesses make and how to fix them.

1. Being passive about your past-due receivables

Let’s start off simple. Your cash-flow will ultimately depend on the money you receive from your customers, so if they aren’t paying you on time, you can start really struggling to keep things under control. A common mistake most businesses make is just letting their past-due receivables slide unnoticed as they don’t want to make a hassle or jeopardize their relationships with the customer. While this can be sensible in certain cases, if people start noticing that you don’t have any particular penalties for them paying you late, they will most likely start abusing your generosity. Because of this, you should make sure that you provide them with adequate incentives for paying you early, such as small but meaningful discounts. However, you should also put penalties in place that will increase the price if they don’t pay on time.

While these two tools put together will definitely better your situation, sometimes they just won’t be enough. Luckily there are a few alternative options you can use to aid you. Most notably, you can look for outside help through different financing options, which will help you get the money you are owed immediately. For example, invoice finance can allow you to get a quick loan secured against your outstanding invoices and receive up to 95% of the money you are owed within a 24 hour period, with the rest becoming available when the invoice is finally fully paid. This and other similar methods are a great way to ensure your business doesn’t struggle with cash-flow while at the same time not endangering the relationships with your customers.

2. Not planning ahead with realistic expectations

Another big mistakes businesses tend to make is not planning their finances ahead of time with realistic expectations, or for that matter, not planning at all. While trying to plan out your finances can be really challenging because of the many unpredictable factors that can impact your business it’s still a crucial process you have to take care of if you want to keep a healthy cash-flow. First of all, it will allow you to predict what your expenses will be with reasonable accuracy, which will allow you to locate them and minimise them or completely eliminate the unneeded ones, freeing up additional capital which will have a positive impact on your cash-flow. With that being said, it’s also very important to keep an objective look at your predictions, especially when it comes to predicted sales. It’s always better to undervalue your future income as it will give you time to find ways to deal with the problem, instead of putting you in a bad situation unprepared.

3. Ignoring the importance of an emergency fund

Even if you do everything that’s within your power to maintain a healthy cash-flow, sometimes it just won’t be enough, and sadly that’s the reality of the business world. Because of this, you should always aim to have an emergency fund which will help you get through those difficult times. While this can seem somewhat self-evident, a lot of businesses, especially new ones, tend to ignore the importance of an emergency fund and choose to put all of their money into the business in order to encourage growth, which more often than not ends up costing them everything. There are just too many unpredictable factors that can impact cash-flow and even if things look great today, the tides can drastically shift in a matter of days. It’s highly recommended that you keep an emergency account balance equivalent to at least two months of operating expenses, which should be enough to help you get through the rough patch.

Conclusion

While the mistakes listed here are only a few of many that businesses tend to make, correcting them will definitely put you on the right path towards a healthy cash-flow which will allow you to establish a solid foundation from which you can further grow and expand your business.

Stop Using These 5 Excuses Not To Start Your Own Business!

June 18, 2019 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Throughout your formative years, you were fed a common fallacy. You were told that if you worked hard, applied yourself, got good grades and paid your dues, your endeavor and tenacity would pay off. You’d ascend the career ladder and land a job that’s well paid, fulfilling and rewarding. Unfortunately, your experience on the traditional career ladder varied wildly from what you were told in school. Your education didn’t prepare you for the vast competition for every single job. Your college degree didn’t prepare you for the harsh realities of working in your chosen industry. The campus prospectus didn’t say anything about all the humiliating unpaid internships and soul crushing entry level positions. You’ve reached the conclusion that the career ladder isn’t a ladder at all, but a greasy pole that you keep sliding down no matter how hard you try to climb.

However, your salvation could be sitting in your desk drawer. On your notepad where you scribbled down the idea for a workable small business of your very own during a particularly tedious meeting. Yet, for too long, that idea has remained just that… An idea. You keep on using those same old excuses not to put it into action. Every time you consider it, your cautious nature takes over and prevents your potentially awesome idea from being unleashed upon the world.

Quite frankly, it’s time to take a leap of faith in yourself. Stop using these common excuses not to start your own business…

I don’t even know if my business idea is any good

That’s okay. Nobody does, for sure. But if you have faith in it and can imagine people getting excited about it, that’s an encouraging start. Of course, you can (and should) qualify your bullishness by carrying out tireless market research to establish quantifiable interest in your chosen industry for the kinds of products and services you offer.

Broadly speaking, if you can spot a gap in the market, can prove that there’s an audience for what you’re offering or you can identify an area in which your potential competitors aren’t fully catering for the market, there’s a chance that your business could find success.

Where will I get the money?

Funding your business will depend on the nature of your idea and the potential overhead costs that it represents. In the digital era, many have built thriving businesses from the comfort of their own laptops with virtually no startup costs. If, however, your business plan requires a physical presence and employees, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to spend a significant amount of money to get it off the ground.

Fortunately, there are more opportunities out there than ever when it comes to securing business funding. Banks are still an option, although in the post financial crisis landscape they can be reticent when it comes to startup lending, especially if you have little or no prior experience of managing your own business. However, if the banks slam their doors on you, that does not mean that you’re out of options. Check out https://www.working-capital.com/ and you can find the right lender for your business within a minute. You’ll find that there are a plethora of products available to you with flexible terms and appealing rates. Some of them even have no minimum credit score so may be available to you, even if you have never taken out loans, credit cards etc. in the past.

I don’t know if I can do it on my own

That’s completely understandable. Entrepreneurship is a daunting prospect chiefly because there is no training program or educational path which can prepare you for it. Still, that doesn’t mean that there’s no guidance. There are business mentors who can lend you the benefit of their industry experience to help you navigate the everyday pitfalls of operating your own business. They can advise you on strategy as well as providing you with practical tips to improve your operational efficiency, reducing running costs and making your operation more profitable.

Needless to say, there’s also more help, guidance and support online than you can shake a cash flow analysis at. There are no shortage of business blogs which can be a constant source not just of inspiration, but of workable practical solutions for your daily operations. Here are some of the top business blogs for entrepreneurs in 2019.

How can I get ahead in this competitive industry?

No matter what you’ll be doing, or who you’ll be doing it for, there’s a good chance that your business will face stiff competition. While this may be intimidating, competition should always be welcomed. Competition can help you to be at your best. It prevents you from getting complacent and encourages you to keep finding ways of making your operations more efficient and delivering better value and quality to your clientele. Looking closely at your competitors can define operational parameters upon which you can expand and improve. Quite simply, your competition is the box you need to think outside of to get ahead in your chosen industry.

The only way in which competition is damaging is when you choose to turn a blind eye to it. There’s an argument to be made for keeping your eyes on your own work, to be sure. But when you bury your head in the sand and refuse to acknowledge the importance of competitor analysis it rarely bodes well for your business. The moment you take your eyes off the competition is the moment you allow them to get ahead of you.

What if I fail?

Finally, fear of failure can be crippling to would-be entrepreneurs. Everyone who has started their own business remembers their personal journey in overcoming this (completely understandable) fear. Failure is always a possibility. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t at least try.

If your business fails it could go into administration or receivership and you may have to shut it down and liquidate your assets. On the other hand, if you don’t take a leap of faith in yourself, you could continue to waste away in your current job for years or even decades.

Which of the two is worse?

5 Start up Businesses you Might Want to Try out

June 17, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

If you are looking to start up your own business, there are many options available to you. It could be that you have a hobby that you are looking to monetise, or it could be that you have a bright new idea that you haven’t tested out to consumers yet. Here, we have some ideas for start-ups that you may not have considered yet.

Create and Sell Products Online

If you are a bit of a creative spark, who has a flair for design – then you could create and sell your own custom products online. Once you have your innovative designs, you can find a print fulfillment company to ship your products out to your clients with a bespoke service. If you have the creative idea, but don’t have the technical ability to do the graphic design itself – there are lots of companies that will do that to. For instance, you can visit this company to see a fully rounded, easy to use service.

Photography Packages

It could be that you are interested in photography and would like to monetise it. You will find lots of online courses that you can do as well as location-based courses in your local area. Once you have all the skills you need and have found your style, you can then begin to sell photography services. There are lots of routes you can go down such as wedding photography, commercial photography – or even family photography.

Content Provision

If you love the English language, many people write on a freelance basis to earn extra cash. You can then turn this into a very profitable business. There are many different copywriting options. You could be a contributor to a blog, specialise in creating static copy for websites – or else you could even write marketing press release content. There are lots of different avenues to follow.

Social Media Influencer

If you find yourself regularly on social media – why not turn that into a business? Influencer marketing has become massive in recent years and for good reason. More and more people are putting their social media skills to good use, gaining a large following and making money from it. You could find your niche, and start to generate interest from relevant companies.

Personal Training

If you are a fitness buff, then personal training could be the option for you. You can train to get the relevant diplomas and start to build your client base. As well as the necessary qualifications – you should also have good interpersonal skills and patience to get your clients on the right track. Remember, you need to help motivate them to achieve their goals. If you are considering starting out on your own, but don’t really know where to begin – hopefully these ideas will give you a basis to go on. Starting a business can be a big challenge, but a rewarding one that could give you the flexibility that you would like.