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

Employee Benefits that Will Attract Top Talent

December 18, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

In a very competitive labor market, attracting and keeping the best staff is not always easy. Surveys and studies have shown time and time again that although salaries are important they are not usually the top priority for the top talents.

The employment package you offer them has to be comprehensive and provide them with some other benefits too, as these were more crucial to most people.

A Good Balance Between Work And Life

Although most talented people will not mind putting in extra hours if they are needed, overall they are looking for a good balance between work and the rest of their life. This could mean having flexible working hours so they can attend to getting children to or from school for instance. If they have a sudden disaster in their life they need to know that they will not lose their job because they have had to take a day off and that they can make up the hours over a period of time.

Further Opportunities

In the past people used to start a job when they left school and still be working there when they retired. This was nothing unusual at all, but these days it is a rarity. Staff are usually looking for ways to improve their career and to move up the ladder when the opportunities arise. If there are good staff that you want to keep, then you have to create those opportunities for them.

Encourage them to further their education in your line of business and nurture a culture of learning within the business.

Little Perks Can Have Big Results

Never underestimate how much employees appreciate some of the little perks. Things such as a good restroom, bowls of fresh fruit around the workplace, a free coffee for everyone at lunchtime or something else that does not cost much financially, but will mean a lot to your workforce.

Things like this show that you care about them, and with so many bosses out there who put profit before anything else, this is something they will really appreciate and it will make them more likely to stay in your employment.

Health And Wellness

This one might seem obvious, but it is not to all employers. You can be certain that providing your employees with a good health and wellness package will be one of the biggest encouragements not to leave your company.

For instance, if the has access to something like telehealth, they could get advice really quickly if they have a health issue that needs dealing with. The package you offer should also include cover for teeth and eyes as well if you want them to be really well looked after.

Research has shown over and over again that healthy staff are happier staff and that the happier they are the more productive they will be. This might seem like a big financial investment, but you will see the returns of providing a healthcare package in fewer sick days and the retention of more of your workers.

Does Your Business Need A CIO?

December 18, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

As technology is improving with leaps and bounds ever so often, we need to ensure that our staff are upskilled and well-schooled in the necessary components. But when it gets to a point that we can’t keep up with the changes, we need to hire people specifically for technology-related roles. This is where a CIO or CTO comes in. But, does your business need a Chief Information Officer or a Chief Technology Officer?

What Is Best For Your Company?

Many businesses hire CIOs, but when you’re on the lookout for a person who has the relevant expertise and background, you have to decide whether you need a CIO or CTO. Generally, a CIO is a business oriented role, but they are responsible for the IT components. CTOs have a background related to technology. So which one is best for your company? It’s up to you to decide this, but if you’re struggling with the technological side of things, especially when you are at the very beginning of your business endeavors, it’s difficult to find someone to be able to fulfill both roles simultaneously.

Are You Able To Keep It Within Budget?

The other more pertinent aspect to consider is that if you are struggling financially, and you’re looking to cut costs where possible, does your business actually need someone on board to complete the relevant technological undertakings? Naturally, as you increase in scope, your finances should reflect where you are. If your business is doing well, you will have more expenditure, which will justify you being able to hire someone. But on the other hand, if finances are an issue, then you could go down the virtual approach. The Ntiva IT strategy that a virtual CIO should form part of the service is a notable example at this point. And as far as getting virtual advice is concerned, it makes things more manageable in-house. As a result, you may be able to keep it under budget.

Is It Really That Critical To Business?

Are you struggling under your weight? A Chief Information Officer or Chief Technology Officer can help to push your company into new and exciting territories, as far as technology is concerned, but if you are wondering if it’s essential at this moment in time, you have to ask yourself is your company is progressing in the right direction? And if technology is so pertinent to the processes, that you are worried you’ll be left behind, then you’ve answered your own question. Technology is advancing at such a rate, that we are concerned if we don’t keep up, then we will get left behind. And while there are numerous roles that are deemed “necessary” within the technology sector, a lot of it is purely window dressing. You can whittle it down to the essentials, like a CIO. But, does your business need one right now? Think about where you are financially and if your business is in the right state to have one. But also, will it benefit you in the future? Many businesses have them, but it’s quite a decision to undertake, especially when your business is young.

How Caring For The Environment Can Translate into Sales As A Solopreneur

December 17, 2018 by Sally Phillips Leave a Comment

There are almost 40 million solopreneurs in the United States. That number is only expected to rise in the coming years. As a solopreneur, you should know that you are not alone. On that same vein, it also means that you are facing competition from other solopreneurs as well as multi-billion dollar corporations. In order to differentiate your business and rise to the top, you will have to work hard, believe in your business and make plenty of sales. In addition, it certainly helps if your business is in alignment with environmental sustainability efforts. This will allow you to connect with potential businesses and customers that believe in the preservation of our earth much easier.

What Happens If You Don’t Make Sales?

Everyone knows the answer to this question. However, if you don’t, your business will absolutely crash and burn without sales. It is not enough to send a few emails and post on your personal social media account. You are going to have to roll your sleeves up and get dirty. For some people, sales is natural. For others, it is a skill that will take hours of learning and practicing. The better you get, the less amount of time you will have to spend on sales efforts. While it may be difficult to face constant rejection when you first begin making sales calls and reaching out to potential customers, there is a secret weapon that can certainly make the sales process a bit easier to stomach. That secret; making a strong connection with your potential customers before they buy.

How Practicing Sustainability Can Increase Your Sales

Being environmentally conscious as a solopreneur may seem like it is inconsequential. However, it is a differentiating factor that will take minimum effort since you are running such a small operation. For instance, if you are paperless and only use environmentally friendly vendors and products, you will be able to effectively tap into an otherwise uninterested market. This will make those sales calls much easier, since you will be in alignment with a niche cohort of society that is looking for your type of product or service.

In addition, there are many sustainable efforts that are tax write offs as well as cost savings such as adding solar panels to your home. Obviously, the best reason to implement sustainable practices is to help to preserve our beautiful planet, but if this is not enough of a reason for you, then look at all of the potential benefits of sustainability instead.

Make Sales Your Way

Though sales calls can be intimidating, if you are able to lead them with an introduction that connects you to your customers, it makes for a much more comfortable call. It is important that you be comfortable when you reach out to potential customers, so if you are not comfortable with being sustainable, then it may not be the best approach for you. However, if you are, the passion that you have for your business as well as the environment will be sure to increase your sales to customers that are just as passionate about preserving the earth.

Essential Elements Of A B2B Business

December 17, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Running a successful B2B business is something which can be a big challenge. Unlike running a business which is targeted at consumers we are looking to promote and sell to other businesses. It is a much tighter niche to stick to and this is why every little element of the business needs to run as smoothly as it possibly can.

Social Presence

When you are looking to run a successful business in any field these days it is important to understand how crucial online presence can be. Being online can be just what you need to show people who you are and this can really help you to make an impact on the world. Being online can also help you when it comes to reaching potential new customers as you will be able to show off your brand in front of business people from all over the world. LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool for your B2B business and one which you should definitely make sure to utilise.

Be Aware Of The Competition

When working within such a specific niche and working against some top competitors it is more crucial than ever to keep one eye on the competition to see what kind of things they are doing with their business promotion and delivery. Working in a smart way to trump the competition will make a big difference to your success and growth within the industry.

Logistics

A huge part of any business is your logistics and you must make sure to have a team of dedicated experts to handle logistics for your business. If you act as a distributor to other businesses you will want to make sure that you have a solid plan in place which will allow you to order freight trucks, organise imports and exports and make sure that everything arrives in a timely manner. Take the Walmart Free 2-Day Shipping as a good example of working towards a short deadline to please your customers.

Save Money On Supplies

If you are acting as the manufacturer for business products, you will be thought of as the first line in the supply chain even though you still need to gather supplies from elsewhere yourself. As a manufacturer, the main priority you will have is to increase your profit margin by purchasing the cheapest supplies you can. This will involve a lot of research and it could be the case that you buy your supplies from somewhere like China where they are cheaper to make. This will allow you to save a lot of money and it will give you a bigger profit margin when it comes to distributing the wares.

Build Real Relationships

As a business person, you need to get out of the habit of cold calling other people because this can be damaging to your reputation as a company. Make sure that you take the time to form genuine relationships with other businesses. You can do this with regular emails and phone calls with people you know as well as by attending trade shows to network face to face. You want to become such a part of their every day lives that when they need a service or product you are the first person they come to for help.

10 Brilliant Reasons Why Top Companies Are Choosing IT Outsourcing

December 16, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Outsourcing your IT Services

Why are more companies outsourcing IT than ever before? Discover the ten reasons why IT outsourcing could be advantageous for your company too.

In 2017, the percentage of organizations’ total IT budgets spent on outsourcing rose to 11.9%.

As the technology needs of businesses have become more complex, not every business has the means or the staff to stay competitive. IT outsourcing gives even the smallest businesses a strategic advantage. IT can even help them compete on a global scale.

If your business isn’t meeting its IT needs, find out more about IT outsourcing below. Outsourcing could be the choice that finally spurs your business’ growth.

What is IT Outsourcing?

IT outsourcing, sometimes referred to as Managed Services, is when a company hires another business to take responsibility for internal IT resources. Outsourced IT companies are often referred to as Managed Services Providers, or “MSPs.” There are other forms of IT outsourcing that don’t fall under the Managed Services category.

Companies like Be Structured Technology Group in Los Angeles offer managed IT services. They provide services such as the following:

Cloud services
Email solutions
Server monitoring
Server virtualization
Backup and disaster recovery services
Cybersecurity services
Virus & Malware protection
Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions

You can incorporate outsourcing into your existing IT strategy. First, you should do an internal assessment to determine which functions you need to outsource. Once you do, you’ll be able to provide your company with the best available technology at the lowest possible cost.

10 Reasons to Outsource IT

The business landscape is more competitive and interconnected than ever. Many of the solutions listed above are now essential for businesses to survive.

However, most businesses don’t have the means to hire new employees to staff an IT department. This is due to several factors.

For one, hiring an internal IT staff is expensive. IT comes with a great deal of overhead.

There’s also training to consider. Finding the right candidates can take months.

Secondly, there is a growing shortage of IT professionals. By one estimate, there were 263,586 unfilled IT positions in 2017.

Companies outsource IT for a variety of reasons. Some companies do have an IT department but need external services to augment it. Here are ten reasons companies are choosing IT outsourcing.

1. To Reduce IT Costs

Ask any CFO and they’ll tell you that the IT department can be a cost center. The average small business spends about 6.9% of their revenue on IT costs. Midsized companies spend 4.1% and larger companies spend 3.2%.

These may seem like paltry amounts, but they add up to a large portion of spending, especially for small businesses.

It’s true that many businesses waste money on IT spending, but technology is also crucial to your business operations. Outsourcing is a means of reducing IT costs without sacrificing quality.

2. To Save On Labor Costs

The average base pay of an information technology specialist is just about $67,000 per year according to Glassdoor. Overhead costs compound this salary, though.

If you wanted to hire an entire IT department, you’re looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Many businesses outsource IT to get access to a team of professionals without paying the overhead costs of an in-house staff. One of the biggest concerns that companies have, however, is the issue of control.

You’re giving an outside group of people access to your network. They may be responsible for your data security. They may also implement your backup and recovery plan.

The good news is that outsourced IT companies have years of experience with these arrangements. Not only are you saving money on your IT costs, but you’re also working with experts who have more experience than many of the job candidates you can find on the market.

3. To Maintain Uptime and Service Continuity

Hardware and software maintenance is becoming more challenging. For example, a marketing department at an enterprise company uses an average of 65 different applications. That means large businesses are using hundreds of applications, all of which require updates and configuration.

For your company to maintain service, you need end-to-end, uninterrupted functionality. An outsourced IT team can help you choose and manage your software and hardware resources to ensure service continuity.

4. To Reduce Risk

Every business, no matter how small, encounters risk. It may come from volatile economic conditions, external cyber threats, or a surge in competition.

When risk rears its ugly head, you don’t want to be on your own.

Outsourcing IT functions lets you share some of your risk with your IT company. They’ll maintain an immense base of information technology knowledge. They can help you address cyber threats and outflank your competitors.

5. To Stay Focused on Core Objectives

Having to spend time dealing with IT issues takes you and your team away from other essential tasks. One of the simplest reasons to outsource IT is to free up time. Instead of chasing down a network issue, you can focus on delivering value to your customers.

Outsourcing also helps put your mind at ease. You’ll play a role in your IT environment, but not as direct a role as you would with your own staff.

6. To Access New Resources and Technologies

Outsourced IT companies have expertise with the latest software and hardware. They can help you choose the best technologies and provide you access to new ones.

Outsourcing to gain new technology is a strategic way to avoid obsolescence. You can future-proof your business and stay competitive.

You may not have time to keep tabs on emerging technologies. But you can guarantee your managed service provider does.

Outsourcing can also give you access to other technology services. For example, if your company is going green, some managed service providers can help you in your initiative. They may even be able to provide you with technology recycling.

7. To Create a Backup and Recovery Plan

Nothing is more crucial to your business data than a backup and recovery plan. If your company has immense amounts of data, this may be a difficult task to do on your own.

An outsourced IT team will either act as a broker between you and a cloud storage provider. They may also help you install an internal backup and recovery plan. They’ll typically advise you to back up your data in several locations.

For example, you may have a physical server backing up data on-site, but your IT provider may tell you to back up your data on a virtual server as well.

Once you establish your backup plan, your outsourced team will help you create a recovery plan. They should give you an estimated time to recovery, should the unthinkable happen.

8. To Ensure Compliance with Regulations

If you followed the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, you’re aware of how burdensome regulations can be to businesses. No business can go without data in today’s economy, but not all businesses have the means to comply with data regulations.

Currently, U.S. data regulations aren’t as strict as Europe’s. But lawmakers are eyeing GDPR as a possible model for future regulations. The regulatory landscape changes year by year, so it pays to prepare yourself.

An outsourced IT team will have extensive knowledge of all the regulations that will apply to you. They can help you address risk at a global scale and meet compliance standards wherever you do business.

9. To Increase Data Security

Increasing data security might be the most compelling reason to outsource IT. It’s becoming difficult for small-to-mid-sized businesses to keep up with the growing list of cyber threats.

Whether it’s phishing scams, malware, or DDoS attacks, it takes an entire team of professionals to protect a business. An outsourced It team can help defend your business with the following services:

Risk and vulnerability assessments
Intrusion detection and prevention
Managed network access control
Managed next-gen firewall
Advanced Security Incident Event Management (SIEM)
Network, systems, and applications security assessments
Development of security policies and procedures
Security architecture assessments
Security engineering

Small businesses face the same cybersecurity threats as the biggest businesses in the world. Outsourcing your cybersecurity needs can provide you the same defenses they have as well.

10. To Become More Competitive

Outsourcing your IT needs can boost workflow in your business. You’ll get access to technology that makes you operate more efficiently. The IT company you work with can even help you save time and resources.

Companies that implement IT themselves must do research, then develop and install their IT infrastructures. If you don’t have the staff to do this on your own, you likely can’t afford the costs, either.

Outsourcing prevents you from having to pass on costs to your customers. You’ll be able to bring products to market faster and provide your customers with state-of-the-art service.

IT Outsourcing Can Help You Meet Your Tech Requirements

In a survey by Indeed.com, 86% of hiring managers said they find it challenging to find and hire tech talent. As the technology skills gap continues to grow, more and more companies will need to rely on IT outsourcing to fill their needs.

Is your business looking for branding and communications guidance? Do you need help with your IT outsourcing strategy or another tech project?

Contact Mike McRitchie to get business help right now. Mike is a small business strategist with over 20 years of experience as a project manager, program manager, and director-level leader.