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

UK Office Workers vs Telephobia

April 14, 2019 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

With Stress Awareness Month upon us, it’s only natural that we explore the things that increase our stress levels. We believe it’s important make every effort to support those around us, check in with ourselves and become wary of how our daily lives induce stress.

A little bit of stress can sometimes be healthy. It can help you accomplish tasks and even boost memory, but when it’s brought into the workplace or our personal lives on a consistent basis this can have a serious impact on our wellbeing and overall health. Face for Business, a telephone answering service, decided to conduct a survey on anxiety levels experienced in UK office workers who need to answer the phone. Phone fear (or most commonly known as “Telephobia”) affects 62% of UK office workers and can have a serious impact on the way we carry out office duties.
The fear of answering the phone can be a catalyst for stress. Millennials are experiencing this the most compared to any other demographic, with 72% experiencing the most telephone-answering anxiety compared to just 40% of baby boomers. Crowned the “anxious generation” – we feel that businesses need to work harder to help millennials feel confident in tasks the older generations find second-nature.
But what can we do to help reduce these anxiety levels across all demographics, as well as millennials?
• Provide adequate telephone training so that employees can comfortably deal with a variety of scenarios
• Remind employees to recall successful conversations to enhance feelings of empowerment
• Anxiety thrives when fear starts winning you over and avoidance becomes a regular pattern.
o Educate employees on anxious behaviours and provide a support network to help them feel relaxed and confident when answering the telephone.
Below is a summary of our results in infographic form:

Author bio
Christina is a Copywriter for Face for Business – a call answering service that offers excellent customer service and call handling to ensure SMEs never miss an incoming call.

Auctions of the Modern Times: 7 Reasons Why Bidding Online Is the Best Way to Get the Equipment You Need for Your Business

April 8, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Selling by auction is a process that has been around for many centuries and the general principle of trading goods and agreeing to sell them to the highest bidder hasn’t really changed much in that time.

However, the platform for selling by auction has certainly changed since the world went online and that means that bidding for items online and place a proxy bid can all be done without leaving your home or office.

Online auctions are understandably popular and here is look at some of the main reasons why that is.

More choice

One of the drawbacks to a traditional auction that you have to attend in person is the fact that you are limited to the lots that are going under the hammer and that means you might not find what you want, resulting in a wasted journey.

With an online auction, you can browse a lot more items in a much quicker time and you can view several auction sites at the same time which improves your chances of getting what you want.

If you are looking to buy a specific piece of business equipment, for example, it is less time consuming to browse several online auction sites and place a bid than if you had to drive to a venue on a specific time and date, only to find that someone outbids you.

With such a large online audience to sell to, online auction sites can afford to offer a decent number of lots in each sale resulting in more choice for bidders.

A strong market

It is estimated that somewhere in the region of 80% of online bidders have actually made a purchase at some point.

That must compare favorably to how many end up making a bid when they attend a traditional auction.

The significance of that trend is that sellers are keen to offer their products via an online auction because they know the market is strong and there should be a number of bidders competing for each lot.

It makes sense that sellers will be keen to go down the online auction if they know that there is a growing pool of committed purchasers who are just waiting to hit the buy button when they see what they want.

Choice of payment options

If you bought an item that was coming under the hammer at a traditional offline auction you would then have to make arrangements to write a check and wait for it to clear before the items are released and become yours.

There is always the possible option of payment using an online escrow service to ensure that the goods are paid for and it is worth remembering that this should prove to be a more efficient way of settling things without the need to use an expensive credit card as the backup plan

Bid with more certainty

It can be really frustrating to bid for an item at a traditional auction only to find that even when you are the highest bidder you don’t get to take the item home with your because the lot is then withdrawn or you get gazumped.

In comparison, if the online auction set up is framed around unconditional online auction rules you know exactly where you stand. In addition, with a conditional online auction, the highest bidder is given a period of exclusivity in which they then have to exchange contracts and complete, when a property is being sold.

Whatever it is that is being sold, knowing that the infrastructure is in place to ensure that online auctions are efficient and lots are sold rather than withdrawn it should allow you to approach the whole process with a degree of certainty.

No geographical restrictions

If an item is being sold via an online auction it doesn’t mean that the item going under the hammer has to be transported to the auction house.

If you are bidding on something that can be shipped with ease, using an online auction site allows you to search out what you want using an online portal and place a bid.

Knowing that an item like business equipment is available somewhere in the country won’t present a problem if it can then be shipped directly to your door.

You can be more price conscious

When you are bidding for something at a traditional auction it can be all too easy to get carried away in a bidding war with a rival bidder and end up paying more than you intended to for the item.

One of the big advantages attached to bidding for something online is that you can easily compare prices online, even while the bidding process is going on.

If you have your eye on something specific it could be money well spent to shop around and research how prices are holding up overall so that you have a clear idea of what you should expect to pay.

Bidding online can make you more cost-conscious and you can always check out other rival sites and see what they are charging to confirm that the price you have bid is very competitive.

Save time and money

The real no-brainer advantage that online auctions enjoy is that by bidding over the internet for a variety of household items, for instance, you can quickly compare what others are selling the products for with just a few clocks.

All things considered, there are numerous compelling reasons why an online auction site wins the day when compared to a more traditional auction at a physical location

Not having to travel to bid or collect your auction item is a big advantage and puts you in greater control over the bidding process, so if you want to save as much time and money as possible it seems that the online argument wins the day in comparison to an offline alternative.

Modern commerce has greatly evolved in line with the growth of the internet and many businesses operate almost exclusively online. Online auctions are part of that story and if you want to bid for something it is much easier to find what you want and bid for it online in comparison to spending valuable hours visiting numerous auction buildings in an attempt to source the item and then go through an auction process that could easily last a couple of hours, without the guarantee of being the successful bidder.

The Pros and Cons of a Mobile Business

April 1, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Thanks to the huge popularity in food trucks, which have sprung up to great success in recent years, many businesses, even those not in the food industry, have started to think about the prospect of taking their businesses mobile, and many have done so successfully from mobile barbershops to dog groomers, and even mobile party buses.

If you run a business, or you’re thinking of starting one, you may yourself be thinking about taking your operation mobile Before you do though, you should take some time to think about the pros and cons because although it can work well for many businesses, it certainly isn’t for everyone.To help you do that, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of taking your business mobile:

The Pros

Low Startup Costs

One of the biggest benefits of starting a mobile business is that it typically costs less to do so than setting up in a bricks and mortar shops. So, if you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to expand into new markets, it can be a good choice. Your average mobile more trailer or truck will set you back between $5000 and $20000 size, condition and finish and this is far more affordable in the long-term than the $10,000 per year that it would cost to rent just 1000 square feet of commercial space. That’s before you take into account other property fees and taxes that you may be liable to pay in your area.

More Potential Customers

If your business is based in a single location bricks and mortar unit, then you clearly have a limited number of potential customers. Only those people who live or work close by, and potentially tourists if you’re based in a popular area, will come into contact with your company and maybe pop in. If, however, your business is mobile, you potentially have an infinite number of people to entice in. You are only limited by your own efforts and how many locations you choose to take your company out to. If you don’t get much interest in one area, you can simply move and try somewhere else – you can basically find your target market instead of having them find you. This could save you lots of money on marketing dollars apart from anything else.

Smaller Inventory

Mobile businesses can typically get away with stocking a smaller selection of products because customers are well aware that trucks and trailers have a limited amount of space. This means that you can save money by not spending so much on stock in advance. Even more importantly, it gives you the opportunity to curate a really good selection of stuff. If you do this well and appeal to a particular niche, you could have customers queuing up to get their fix every single time you’re in town. Just make sure that you ask for and listen to customer feedback so that you DO stock the things that they really want to buy or your small selection could backfire on you and make your mobile business less appealing.

Payment is Easy

A lot of mobile businesses deal in cash, but these days, all you need is a card swiper and you can take credit and debit card payments on the go too, which means that you will never have to turn any customers away.

The Cons

Local Laws

One of the potential sticking points with a mobile business is the law. The laws and regulations that apply in one town or state may be very much different than those that apply in another area, which means you will have to do a lot of due diligence to ensure that you can, for example, park in a particular area or sell a certain product where you are.

Marketing

Since you won’t have a permanent location, you won’t be able to list your business space on Google Maps or similar tools that make it easy for customers to find you. This means that you may need to do a little more marketing to ensure that the right people can find you at the right time. This could be a headache, but with social media, it is getting much easier to market your company locally to the right audience, You will need to do this diligently to see results though, so hiring a social media manager could be a good idea. You need people to know when you will be around if you want them to pay a visit and spend some money with you.

Would your business suit going mobile?

How to Become an Industry Disrupter – lessons from Transportation Startups

March 27, 2019 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Did you have the idea for Lyft when you were out late looking for a cab one night, or maybe you wanted to go out with friends but none of you wanted to drive? Do you seem to have the knack for coming up with the next industry disruptive idea and then watching it grow to national prominence, only to regret not coming up with it yourself?

These days it seems like everyone gets around in a different way, whether it’s by traditional means, ridesharing, car sharing, or even scootering! These industry disruptors began as startups and quickly changed the way we get around major cities and sometimes even small towns. They’re called industry disruptors because of they tend to impact other industries, the way Lyft changed how taxis operate. Lately, these new modes of transportation have impacted three key industries: public transportation, taxi and limbo services, and of course, the automotive industry.

First, breaking down the immense projected profits of ridesharing companies should be solid motivation to glean as much as you can from this. One thing that might be good to keep in mind is that while there might seem like a natural evolution in an industry, let’s not forget the lessons that can be learned from laser disks, blue ray players, and betamax machines. Just because something seems a little better, doesn’t mean that consumers actually want it. Instead, it’s crucial to look at user experience for inspiration.There is a specific connection between customer pain points and how these innovations come about. Whether the issue is cost, in the case of car purchasing or convenience, or incorporating existing tech more effectively, there is precedent that will teach you how best to approach your next idea.
In the following visual, we break down startups and their impact as an industry disruptor and transportation startup. And while some industries may not survive these innovative periods that change how people view transportation, others turn to investing into it. For example, looking at Toyota, they adapted to the rideshare industry by investing in Uber and Grab, both of which received billions in funding overall and proved to be immediate successes. So, if you have one key takeaway here, it’s that if you can’t beat them, join them!

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start A Business

March 25, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Starting a business is a big move to make, and a lot of people simply aren’t ready to take the plunge. Even if you’ve got a great idea in your mind about how your company is going to work, you need to have the support and the planning there to make it a reality. Without this, you’ll find that you don’t live up to your potential, which could ruin your dreams of business forever! We’ve put together a list of 5 simple questions that you should ask yourself before you start your business, so that you can make a great success out of it, the first time.

1. Do you have the time?

What most people don’t realize about business is that it takes up a lot of your time. You have to be ready to sacrifice some parts of your life, possibly for a few years as your business takes off. Some business owners work upwards of 12 hours a day, and you need to be willing to put this time in if you’re going to make your endeavour a success. Sure, you don’t always need to take it to this level, but you still need to put the time aside, and you need to be aware of this before you take the plunge into business. Can you – and are you willing to – spend the hours that it will take to establish yourself?

2. Do you have the resources?

When it comes to setting up your business, you need to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible. This doesn’t just mean that you have the cash to get yourself off of the ground, but it also means that you have anything that you may need to provide your services. Perhaps you need to look into recovery trucks for sale, or you need to purchase farming or building vehicles? Whatever your company is going to be doing, make sure that you have enough resources to keep you going for at least a few months. Sure, you can build them up at a later date, but make sure that you start out well.

3. Do you have the team behind you?

Whilst your business success will largely be down to what you do in order to make it a reality, the truth is that every business person needs some great people behind them. Think about those people that you’ve encountered during your professional career, that would be great for your business, and ask them to come on board. You need honest, reliable, hard-working people, and you may have to pay out a little more than average in order to get them. If it will get you through those crucial first few years in business, however, it is certainly worthwhile, so pick out an experienced and committed team.

4. Are you ready to make mistakes?

There are a few rules of business, and one of them is that you’re going to make mistakes. In fact, everybody does, and if you didn’t, then… well, we’d be pretty shocked! Whilst a string of mistakes can feel like the end of the world for a business owner, it’s actually what builds you up as the person that you need to be. What matters the most is what you learn from these mistakes, and how you deal with them. If you throw the towel in at the first sign of something going wrong, then you’re not ready, but if you keep battling through, you’ll be glad that you did when you come out of the other side victorious.

5. Are you ready for the most exciting experiences?

OK, so we’ve drawn on some of the stressful things about business, but we’ll give it its due. As a business owner, you’re going to meet some amazing people. They’re going to inspire you, and you’re going to work together to create things that really make a difference. You’re going to learn a lot about yourself, about your skills, and about what you can do if you really push yourself that extra step further. And it’s going to be great, especially when all of your hard work pays off, and you can reap the benefits of all of your labors. Whatever you do, keep going, and you’ll be glad that you did!

So, before you start your own business, be sure to ask yourself these 5 simple questions. If you feel pretty confident in them, then go ahead! You’ll be glad that you finally took the plunge and went your own way into the world of business.