Online Reputation Management Tips for Small Business

If you're a small business owner or startup founder, then your venture needs to have an active reputation management strategy. Watch this video to learn how you can start one now for free! 

Become Your Own Boss With Start-Up Commercial Cleaning Service

Have you ever wanted to be your own boss with a start-up entrepreneurial business?  Maybe you have given the prospect a lot of thought but could not determine the best path to take.  There is a demand for professional cleaning services, both commercial and residential.  Everyone has had a little exposure and experience with cleaning, if just from doing childhood chores alone.  At this point in the economy, more businesses are turning to commercial cleaning services than ever before due to the needs that should be met with the advent of the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Buildings and offices not only need to be thoroughly cleaned, they also need to be disinfected, sanitized, and made germ-free.  You could be fortunate enough to find that this is where your interest lies.  It is also good to know that this business is not gender-specific, nor does it have an age requirement.  A dynamic woman owns and operates a successful Houston Commercial Cleaning service, and the business is accruing more clients.

Commercial cleaning services do more than clean the office after the workday is over.  They do post-construction cleanup, general business maintenance, and day porter service.  A commercial cleaning service is like any other business.  You have to have some basic business knowledge, and, like other businesses, it helps to have a business plan.  This is a start-up that you could begin from your home.  Planning how you want to conduct your business is very important.  How do you want to get people interested in doing business with you?  Will you advertise, or do cold calling on prospective businesses?  At the beginning, your employees may be family and friends.  Many entrepreneurs who delve into this business start with getting some house cleaning experience before they decide to strike out on their own.  You research the business requirements needed for this venture, then contact your local county clerk's office for information on licensing.  Unless you are going to be the sole proprietor, there are many advantages to selecting your company name. 

Being a commercial cleaning service owner means that you will have repeat business because you are an ongoing service business.  Commercial properties need your service over and over, so, you will have consistent business and a stable income. Commercial cleaning services are an equal-opportunity business venture.  The service is not male or female related.  The success of the business depends on the quality of the work provided.  It is beneficial to always stay abreast of the promotions of the other companies in the area so that you can match or beat their pricing.  During this COVID Pandemic, the competitors are busy trying to stay ahead of each other.

Being an entrepreneur is a great feeling of accomplishment.  You will have a reputable business that is always in demand.  Commercial cleaning services can be generational, with everyone from grandparent to grandchild helping in the business.  It is a prestigious occupation that can be passed down to the next generation.  Being licensed, bonded, and having trusted and dependable employees will help keep you in business for quite a long time. 

You can provide customers with the spotless workplace they deserve by customizing your service plan so that you are giving them everything to meet their needs.  The customers will thank you for providing them with the services they need without paying for the services they do not need.  You can be like the female owner and operator of her own commercial cleaning service, and take pride in your ability to own your own start-up business in a short period of time.

Media Landscape Changes in Recent Years

Knowing what connects people can be difficult to do. However, knowing that is a great skill to have, in particular, if you're in the entertainment industry. This is the challenge faced by production companies around the world, including Brian Garden Media, as they continue to target the youth demographic. 

Changes in the Media Landscape

When your target audience is a younger generation, you need to stay on top of more than just what interests them. You need to understand how to youth of the day take in media, as well as what interests them. At one point, that may have meant watching South Park on a non-traditional network. Other times, the shift may have been towards premium networks. Either way, it's important for a CEO and media company to truly understand these changes.

Today, the shift has been viewing shows through non-traditional mediums. These include streaming services, entertainment through apps, and even user-uploaded platforms like YouTube. This means that to survive as a production company in the modern age, you need to be in tune with both platform changes as well as changes in the types of shows that young people are interested in. 

How Do Modern Media Companies Adjust to the Modern Era?

CEO Brian Graden, brought Brian Graden Media onto the scene in 2013. The first thing that BGM found major success was with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. HitRECord won an Emmy, as its own unique form of the variety show. Essentially, it was a project to bring creators together to showcase short films, cartoons, and other forms of artistic expression. It was a media source that connected users to the production itself, demonstrating how you can think outside the box to find a new generation of viewers. 

Being on the pulse of entertainment that excites young people and makes them feel connected is difficult to do. However, it's clear that if you're able to do this then you will find longevity within the industry. 

The Best Business Services Your Company Needs Right Now

As a business owner, you need to always think of ways to boost your business to the next level. It means taking care of your day-to-day business operations, coming up with new business strategies, optimizing your daily workings, and even handling customer relations. You know that you have to put in long hours in order to scale your business, but there are quite a few services that your company can utilize in order to make your business a big success. These will help you free up time during your day so that you can focus on the far more pressing needs and concerns of your company.

IT Services

A survey conducted in Massachusetts concluded that at least 65 percent of companies choose to outsource a few of their IT functions and another 20 percent plan to do the same in the near future. Outsourcing your IT services helps ensure that your IT costs are controlled. Maintaining and hiring IT staff within your company can prove to be quite expensive. Once you do start outsourcing this service, there is the possibility of increased efficiency since there is a lot of competition between other companies.  

Tax consultants

There is a lot of ongoing debate about the usefulness of hiring a tax consultant for your company. Tax consultants stay up-to-date with all amendments made in tax law. It is always better to hire tax consultants before in order to prevent certain situations rather than hiring them to handle a certain situation. Certain companies even offer companies year-round consulting in order to help you assess your tax situation as well as minimize your tax liability. If you are interested, see website for more details on how a tax consultancy can help you boost your business in the long run. You can even outsource your bookkeeping and accounting to tax consultancies.

Marketing and Promotion

Digital marketing has become quite a competitive field. There are huge companies handling the marketing and promotions of prominent and well-established businesses. It is true that start-up companies try to make everything in-house, but hiring a marketing agency will help you more in the long run. Outsourcing marketing actually costs less than having a team on your own payroll. Most agencies work on short-term or rolling contracts, so there is no long-term commitment. A marketing company will actually try to do their best for you since there is so much competition out there. Your business will have access to an experienced and qualified marketing team that can provide you with fresh insight. 

Customer Support

Outsourcing customer support for your company helps significantly in cost reduction. You will be freed up to focus more on optimizing your daily business operations. A well-established customer support network will help ensure that you retain your customers. You do not have to train employees within your company for customer support, as outsourcing will help you establish a team that is already experienced enough to handle it.

It is quite a task to boost your business. It takes a lot of time, effort, and money. It is a smart move to invest some of it into these services so that you can focus on scaling your business to the next level.

Are You Educated On The Future Of E-Commerce?

Globally and significantly in Europe, purchasing habits and user preferences have changed rapidly over the last decade, and a high percentage of consumers now shop online. E-commerce or eCommerce generates a high demand for delivery services, and this makes carrying the logistics of each trade becomes more difficult and complicated.

And we are no longer in the times when fast service was what was most taken into account; recent statistics show that a good shipping experience is more important than ever. 

If an online business cannot meet the needs of users, then it is in serious trouble. We have seen online shops starting to further thrive since the pandemic.  Today we are going to briefly look at the evolution of logistics to e-commerce and how changes in user preferences will change the future of the sector.  

Evolution of logistics to e-commerce

The evolution of logistics has passed through different general phases until reaching what we know today:

• The 1970s: Replenishment of retail stores through direct deliveries from suppliers or wholesalers.

• In the 1980s: Retailers began to centralize deliveries through new distribution centers.

• The 1990s: Global sourcing (for non-food products) takes off, and many retailers develop import hubs.

• Starting in 2000: e-commerce begins to expand rapidly, leading the way in the establishment of electronic fulfillment distribution networks.

User preferences

With the rise of e-commerce, user preferences have become increasingly important in the parcel delivery market (formerly oriented to business). Currently, we have identified the services last mile as a critical differentiator in any e-commerce. The variety of delivery options and the perceived quality of the service are the main decision-making criteria for users and therefore, directly affect the success of the trade.

With this in mind, providers work tirelessly to offer the best possible user experience, especially by improving shipping times. In any case, the trend is that overnight or even instant delivery will continue to rise to 25 percent by 2025 and is likely to grow further, especially if service is extended to rural areas.

Having a user-friendly system is going to be a vital step. If you don’t already, eCommerce Search could assist you - allow your customers to find something quickly, without hassle. 

Changes in eCommerce in the future.

Pushed by shifts in user preferences, three delivery models are looming that will dominate the last mile shortly: autonomous cars with parcel lockers, bike messengers, and drones. Artificial intelligence is likely to pave the way too, and chatbots already have begun to be implemented. Still, they must become more intelligent to keep up with the demands of the public.

At the same time, public opinion has already begun to change; therefore, there is nothing to suggest that the transformation will not begin in the next decade. And it is no longer about being just the fastest, but about being able to deliver an order within the time and price that customers want and need. Conclusion? A negative shipping experience has and will have a significant impact: affecting brand image, customer loyalty, and potentially increasing costs.

Entrepreneurship Guide 101: # Strong Teammates You Should Have For Your Company's Success

By: Claudia Jeffrey

'Teamwork makes the dream work' is a popular phrase in the business world and has gained a lot of attention from entrepreneurs and leaders. But, this is only valid if you have the right teammates and a dreamlike work environment. In fact, a vision turns into a nightmare if you have a big dream and a bad team.

According to estimates, 23% of small startups fail within the first year. One of the biggest reasons that entrepreneurs experience business failure is that they rely on the wrong people. 

If you are planning to start a business soon, you need good teammates that won't sink your ship.  So, before you begin with your business endeavors, it is important for you to familiarize yourself with the most demanding types of teammates that can push your business to new heights of success.

Ten types of teammates that make a super great team

Modern-day entrepreneurs realize the significance of building a dynamic team with distinct personalities.

Here are ten personality types and qualities of strong teammates that make them outstanding in the workplace:

1.   The Initiator

This employee is very passionate about everything he or she does. They are moved by their own interests and desires. Unlike other employees, this teammate isn't bound to a system of assignment and execution. Instead, this teammate invents his or her own projects without needing any constant supervision and counseling.

2.   The visionary

Visionaries are key personnel in any organization (usually leaders) who constantly analyze the surrounding environment and look into the distant future. They have the ability to visualize the projects as a whole from starting point to end.

These teammates help in building a clear-cut vision and mission for the organization and provide clearly defined targets to other people.

These people can inspire others to excel in their job roles using their healthy amount of experience. They also take responsibility for their actions because they know that their ideas are different, and the other teammates are also taking a chance.

3.   The positive agent

Having this kind of teammate on board is not less than a blessing. Although this individual doesn't work much differently from other people, they carry a positive attitude in every situation, and this is what makes them stand out in the crowd.

They are best known for keeping up the team spirit and always show up with a wide smile. Even in crisis, you'll see calmness on their face. 

4.   The communicator 

This teammate has the innate ability to communicate with others, including other team members, clients, and suppliers. Communication doesn't mean speaking only, but it has a lot to do with listening to others peacefully. When acting as a recipient of information, the communicator actively listens to what others are saying even if it contradicts his or her own ideas.

This individual is highly connected with the whole team and strives to bring everyone one the same page. They initiate discussions with transparent dialogue and make sure that everyone is involved.

 These people can make sure that the team is on track by sharing important ideas and information timely. But, it doesn't mean that they don't like taking people's feedback.

5.   The strategist

The strategist is a teammate who perfectly translates the vision and figures out ways to transform it into reality. This person plots the complete course of action for your project from initiation to end. They take a customer-centric revenue first approach to brainstorm ideas and come up with practical applications of it. There are two important characteristics of strategists.

·       The ability to make strategic decisions and pull them together into an action plan.

·       The ability to comprehend the series of events without being deterred by the biases of people and perceived risks.

6.   The innovator

When you think about an innovator, you may think of someone like Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple Inc., who invented the personal computer with no keyboard and mouse. But the application of this idea is vast.

In the entrepreneurial context, an innovator is a person who is dedicated to finding new ways to do things or simply creative solutions to existing problems. Despite the fact that everything they introduce will not be accepted, their dedication to novelty is what sets them apart as a teammate.

They are famous for challenging the status quo and can help your startup with its cost-effective ideas for doing big things.   

7.   The analyst

No business owner wants a glamorous personality if they are not valuable for the company. An analyst is a person who recognizes problems before anyone else. These are also known as a problem solver. Yes, you heard it right.

They believe that unseen problems can deter project progress and that's why they constantly put their effort into identifying unfavorable situations and factors that can hamper the company's performance. They see a problem at night and solve them by the next morning (this is how they work).

8.   The goal-getter 

The goal-getter is a highly enthusiastic person who thrives on challenges. This teammate performs exceptionally in the sales and marketing departments and shows extraordinary results when it comes to individual or collective goals. These individuals are usually motivated by sales quotas or project deadlines.

Rather than feeling overwhelmed, this teammate is fascinated by a lofty goal, and he will encourage other teammates to get excited similarly.

9.   The voice

The voice is a person who is vocal about his or her opinions and isn't afraid to express them in front of others. Sometimes the opinions could be positive, and sometimes it could be negative, but they're always honest.

This teammate plays a very important role in your team because you can always count on him or her when it comes to taking truthful and direct feedback from an outsider perspective. The best thing about them is that their habit of expressing and encourage others to be open, cultivating an environment of trust and discussion.

10.  The backup

This teammate doesn't feel confined to his or her cubicle and gets their hands dirty if the need arises. They are labeled as a lifesaver for your company because they go out of ways to help people even if they are from a different department.

They do this because they have a strong sense of commitment to the organization. They would love to take extra work from other teams so that nobody gets overloaded with work.

Why you need strong teammates for your startup

You work with a bunch of people for a good reason – to help you succeed and provide support when needed. Here are six qualities of a great teammate. Do your people possess any or a few of them?

1.   They are not selfish

Good teammates put their company interest first before their own. They do whatever it takes to help the company succeed.

2.   They always lead by example

Good teammates foster a healthy environment by setting an example. They have leadership qualities that inspire others. They improve themselves so that others will follow in their footsteps.

3.   They take responsibility for their actions

Committed individuals always take responsibility for their behavior and actions. If you see that any teammate is not performing up to the mark, don't be afraid to confront them and help them get back on their track.

4.   They foster a respectful environment

No matter how much talented your teammates are, if they don't respect other people around them, you don't need them. A good teammate is the one who respects everyone regardless of their level and position in the organization.

5.   They are honest and humble

Great relationships are built on honesty and trust. A good teammate is the one you can trust and rely on during ups and downs. For instance, academic writing startups focus on hiring people who respond humbly to anxious students who request to write my essay for me.

6.       They are optimistic

At their infancy stage, startups face a lot of troubles and barriers. A good teammate doesn't complain about what's not going well. Instead, they look on the positive side and strive for better.

Know the dangers of hiring the wrong people 

Good teams are made up of different personalities, but it doesn't mean that every personality should have a place in your team.

Avoid people who have a negative mindset because they always find a problem in every situation.  These people are always on the lookout for flaws in others and in the company.

Secondly, some people are extremely impatient and always do things in a hurry. Note that doing things quickly and doing things hastily are two different things with different consequences.

Conclusion

Great teams are built with personalities, not only with skills. If your team doesn't already comprise of teammates who embody these traits, get some of them as soon as possible. These qualities are essential for improving performance on individual and group levels.

If your teammates exhibit these traits, reward them whenever you can. Remember that things are much easier when you have the right people with you on board.

Home Office Set-Up Ideas For Better Health

Now that we’re all working from home more than ever, it’s important to set-up your home office or workspace in the right way. When it comes to a home office set-up, making it comfortable benefits your health and wellness.

If you work from home or in an office all day, and most of your work involves long periods of sitting down, you will need to pay attention to how your work area is set up. This could save you some serious health issues later on. There are many health risks associated with sitting down all day, but a better set-up can reduce that risk. 

A productive home office setup can make you more successful. Using the principles of ergonomics will make sure that where you work will be comfortable and efficient. 

If you’re new to working at home, you might be tempted to cut costs with your home office if you think you can’t afford a quality set-up. Don’t do this. Getting the best set-up that you can afford can have positive effects on your health and your business mindset. The principles of ergonomics are simple; fit the environment to the person, not the other way around. 

Just throwing together any old cheap office furniture won’t help you to be more productive and will affect your health and well-being. 

An office space that has been poorly planned and put together can cause problems including:

• Back issues

• Elbow pain

• Headaches

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Blurred vision/eye strain

• Neck and shoulder pain

• Weight gain

• Repetitive strain injuries

• Blood clots or nerve pain in the legs

Ergonomic tools and home office productivity work together. By investing in yourself, you’re investing in your business too. 

Standing Desks

The standing desk has changed the ergonomic work station in recent years. An adjustable height workstation has a lot of health benefits. 

Sitting all day comes with a lot of risks. Sitting decreases your metabolism, as you less energy when sitting than you do when you stand or move around. This can lead to weight gain and even obesity. Sitting all day also increases your risk of higher blood pressure and poor blood sugar regulation. Sitting for long periods also affects your circulation, which can cause leg cramps, back spasms, and blood clotting. 

The health risks of sitting at a desk all day sound scary if that’s what your job needs you to do, but you can counteract them by buying an adjustable height desk. 

Using a standing desk means you’ll burn more calories due to extra movement. You’ll have better circulation, and better posture (as long as you set your desk up correctly). Many people who use standing desks find that leg cramps and backaches are greatly improved, if not gone altogether. 

There are a few different types of standing desks and standing workstations. Remember that everyone is different, and your needs might vary according to your height, needs, and monitor set-up. 

The most common kinds of standing desks are:

• Fixed height standing desks. These don’t adjust, so might not be the best option to tailor for yourself

• Standing desk converters. These sit on your existing desk and can be adjusted to different heights as risers. 

• Desktop risers. These are small tables that sit on your desk to raise your computer to a standing height. These are sometimes adjustable, but usually are at a set height, so may not be the best choice. 

• Adjustable height workstations. These have the most benefits. They can be adjusted to any height you need, and most come with shelves at different levels, so you can keep your keyboard in the best position. 

You can go beyond a standing desk setup for the optimal health benefits for your home office. There are more ergonomic tools that you can add to get more benefits and to make your workspace at home even more comfortable. 

Computer Glasses

Computer glasses can cut the blue light from your computer screen. They can reduce the glare from screens too. Screen glare can cause eye strain, headaches, and blurred vision. Computer glasses can really help with these issues, making it more comfortable to work for longer. 

If you’re spending long hours in front of a screen, you should consider computer glasses, especially if you already wear contact lenses and normally use reading glasses. Learn more about JINS blue light glasses. If you usually use reading glasses, make your computer glasses are the correct strength or without magnification. 

Home Office Lighting

Poor light can also contribute to eye strain while working, so you should make sure that your office is properly. If you don’t already have a good desk lamp that you like, there are lots of options for home office lighting that will work with any space or design. A desk lamp can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and levels of flexibility. 

Headphones

If you’re working from home and there are other people in the house, it can get noisy. Some people are easily distracted by noise, which can make concentrating difficult. If this is you, consider getting some good headphones. 

Getting distracted by noise can be annoying when you’re trying to work. Bluetooth headphones can connect to your computer or laptop without the need for wires trailing everywhere, and over-the-ear options are comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. Invest in noise-canceling headphones so you can block out household noise even if you’re not listening to anything on them. Wearing headphones can also act as a visual indicator to other people in the house that you’re working and shouldn’t be disturbed. 

Ergonomic Keyboard

An ergonomic keyboard has a curved design to keep your wrists in good alignment while you work. Wireless design is convenient too. Look for a keyboard with a wave design that will ease the stress on your hands and fingers. You also should choose an option that has a palm rest built-in, which is better for wrist health. A keyboard with adjustable height can be adjusted for optimal comfort. 

Ergonomic Mouse

You can also try a vertical mouse. A vertical mouse is not your usual desk tool. The advantage is that they require no hand or wrist movement, as your thumb rolls over the trackball to move the cursor anywhere you want it to go. 

If you prefer a more traditional mouse, then you can find an ergonomic mouse in a more classic shape. Choose a mouse with a curved design and height, as well as a thumb indent, as this will aid in a more natural hand and wrist posture. 

Keyboard Wrist Support

Ergonomic wrist support offers support for your wrists, preventing strain and discomfort. You can choose a bright design to bring some color and fun to your desk while adding more support. Choose wrist support from high-quality foam in a shape that is comfortable for you. 

Standing Desk Mat

Most people who choose to stand for a lot of their working day find that a mat designed for a standing desk helps to prevent pain in the back and feet. If you can’t find a mat you like, any cushioned surface can work. You can choose a stationary standing desk mat, or choose an item that will strengthen your core as you stand on it, like a balance board. 

Office Chair

There are lots of seating options that are ergonomic. Each different kind of office chair offers different solutions to aid with good posture and proper support for your back when you’re sitting at your desk. 

You could choose a standard ergonomic office chair. A mesh back keeps you cool, and choose arms that can be flipped up and out of the way. It’s also ideal to choose a chair that has adjustable tension so you can change the rocking or leaning motion of the chair. Make sure that you thoroughly test any chair you think you might like, so you know it offers proper support for your lower back. 

If you want something other than a classic office chair, there are lots of ergonomic alternatives that can try instead. A ball chair is a good option for releasing tension from your back and spine which can happen when you sit on harder chair surfaces. Ball chairs also engage your core muscles, which helps you to maintain better posture. When you first buy a ball chair, you will need to inflate it properly several times over the first ten days of using it to make sure you’re at a proper height for your desk. At first, the exercise ball will stretch as you use it, allowing for extra inflation. 

Healthy space

Utility bills, indoor air quality, and electrical safety are important considerations for your home office. As you spend more time inside, you want to optimize energy use by unplugging devices when not in use. If your budget allows, you could buy energy-saving devices. Or simply utilizing the energy-saving settings on your current devices works. Moreover, for electrical safety, avoid overloading power outlets, don’t leave liquids around electronic devices, and replace damaged cords or plugs. Lastly, a home office that is clean and properly ventilated will help optimize indoor air quality. By placing your desk close to a window, you will not only benefit from natural light but also fresh air.

If you have back pain and trouble with poor posture, then an ergonomic kneeling chair can be the best alternative to an office chair. Look for an option that a thick seat cushion, which will be supportive but also soft. The cushion should angle to form a perfect fit for you. The kneeling design will keep your back in an upright position, and will evenly distribute your weight between your knees, shins, and bottom, putting less pressure on your back. 

4 Ways To Save Yourself Time As A Small Business Owner

When running your own small business, it can often seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day. As a small business owner, you’re probably covering all possible job roles, from administrative assistant to Director, as well as the marketing, sales, and finance departments. Wearing many different hats can make it extremely difficult to carve out time for yourself. Here are four ways to save yourself time as a small business owner.

Get Some Help With Your Legal Documentation

Many freelancers and small businesses inevitably spend a significant amount of time compiling legal paperwork, from your Partnership Agreement to Vendor Agreement documentation for your suppliers. Working with a company like Legal Scrolls can help take the hassle out of preparing your documentation. From free templates to guidelines on preparing your paperwork, getting some help with your legal documentation will always save you time. It also mitigates business risk as you can feel confident that your legal documentation is accurate and up-to-date.

Outsource Your Administrative Tasks

Administrative tasks are often menial yet unfortunately, business-essential, and can range from keeping your company files up-to-date to maintaining your databases. If you want to outsource your admin, many companies offer high-quality Virtual Assistants that can do this for you. From taking calls to managing your calendar, a Virtual Assistant is a perfect way to outsource your admin so you can focus on business-critical tasks. You can also hire Virtual Receptionists and even a Virtual Office to manage your mail. Outsource the time-consuming tasks so you can spend time working on the parts of the business you enjoy.

Automate What You Can

Investing in automation software for business elements like marketing and finance will save you hours. Software programs like QuickBooks are great accounting automation tools for tracking invoices, receipts, and payments in one central location. The same goes for marketing plugins like MailChimp, which help you collect email addresses, streamline newsletters, and view detailed analytics on your marketing campaigns. It saves you time when completing the tasks in the first place (manually typing in an email address, or filing receipts), and saves you time when searching for the information in the future.

Get A Small Business Coach

As a small business owner, you may feel like you lack guidance on how to develop your business. Hiring a Small Business Coach will save you hours ruminating on your choices, as you’ll be able to sound out your decisions with a professional. Whether you need to raise your profile in the media or decide whether to launch a new product, talking it through with a business coach helps you focus. Many coaches also serve a variety of clients, and if they offer group coaching sessions, it might just be the perfect opportunity you need to develop your network.

As a small business owner, saving yourself time is essential for focusing on crucial tasks and refreshing your mind. Everyone needs breaks, and taking back time where you can is the perfect way to enjoy your successes without burning out or not having time to enjoy it.

8 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make And Tips To Avoid Them

Beginning anything at all is difficult. It’s even tougher for entrepreneurs because creating a successful business module, funding it, and ensuring that it stands the test of time is an uphill task. The road to business success is paved with perseverance and tough work, no less.

According to SmallBizGenius.net, 46% of entrepreneurs have no business-related training whatsoever. So calm down, you are not alone in your probable confusion as to what to do to get your business up and running, and keeping it that way. Here’s a list of the eight most common mistakes entrepreneurs make and some helpful tips on how to avoid them. 

Failing to plan

Failing to plan is essentially preparing yourself for failure. One great big idea is not enough to win everybody. If your family and friends seem hesitant when you pitch your ideas, it’s probably not because they do not want to support you. Instead, they most likely just cannot see it through your eyes. So put everything down on paper and come up with a plan. A business plan comprehensively gels the various aspects of your business concept.

Ask questions such as:

• What am I going to need? 

• How is it all going to come together? 

• How am I going to fund the production of this concept? 

Write down the answers to these questions on paper (not in your head). Also, have your friends critique your module from a client or investor viewpoint. As you comprehensively plan, have it critiqued, and tweak based on feedback. You’ll find that you’ll be able to, first, factor in other details that wouldn’t have come to mind and, second, defend your concept to naysayers. Since planning is foundational to every business, you should invest the time in building a strong one. Many online resources offer free business plan templates. You can download and fill one out and tweak it as you require. This will help you to better view and communicate your business concepts to people.

Over-prioritizing branding

While branding is to a business what clothing is to us, you do not have to make everything about branding. Some entrepreneurs wrongfully interpret branding to mean parading yourself as a hotshot business executive to attract clients who have the money potentially. It’s great to have the funds to rent your very own glass and steel building. But if you don’t, run your business within your means. Most people can sense an ingenious person when they meet one, and clients might be put off by this and not want to patronize your services. You don’t have to adopt a ‘fake it to make it’ business approach. Sometimes the best brand you can be is yourself.

Thinking you can do it all alone

You may be a pro at multitasking, but you can’t be a manager and perform different staff roles all at once. You are not a one-person team, and it could reduce productivity to try to be one. So, don’t underestimate great human resourcing. Make sure to provide accurate job descriptions to attract the best available talent. Also, check out the applicant’s referees as some applicants may lie on their CVs. If you dread making a bad recruiting decision, you can outsource your recruitment to https://xmigrowth.com. Hiring based on how limited your funds are will cost you invariably more money to replace the help, as well as time and productivity. You can also lose other employees as no one wants to work with a bad egg.

Get an industry-relevant mentor

Aside from not being able to do it all, you do not also know it all. This is where a mentor can be of great help. According to Forbes, mentored startups grow a whopping three and a half times faster and bring in seven times more revenue than their non-mentored colleagues. You can identify two or three entrepreneurs who are making it in the industry you want to get into. This is because what might work for the auto industry, for example, might not necessarily help you in the food business as the challenges they may have overcome are not likely to be the same you’ll encounter. You do not have to meet with them to get their counsel physically. You can invest in the material they’ve already put out there, such as books, tapes, and interviews. Tapping into their knowledge is what counts.

Leave the right paper trail

Prioritize getting your business legalities in order. Many businesses only regard the initial cost and don’t pay attention to these things until they require documentation to bid for a contract or access funding.

It could be too late by then, and you might lose out on a big opportunity. Some entrepreneurs also get by on verbal agreements, and it is not an advisable business practice to do so. So, don’t trivialize business documentation. A tip to avoid miscommunication is to get everything in writing. It could be as simple as emails or texts, but whatever it is, get it in writing.

Have a marketing plan in place

Not having a proper marketing strategy and plan in place could spell doom for any startup. Many entrepreneurs have an idealist perception of how business is done. The idea that customers will flock to you once you have a great idea running is not entirely accurate. Even the most successful companies today still need a marketing push.

While it’s great to be optimistic about your idea, factor in the marketing push it’ll need to grow. Harness the power of the internet and take advantage of the dynamic marketing options it offers businesses. It could be as simple as creating a Facebook or Instagram account, and progressing to ads promotion to get your business out there.

Launching into the deep with a bang

While it might seem like a great idea to go big and make your presence known, it could be a recipe for disaster if you can’t handle the stress and demands of new customers after your big launch. You don’t know what challenges lie ahead, so get structured and take things one step at a step. It pays to be ready at your own pace. If you get encouraged when others seem to be doing better and snowballing, remember that sustained growth is the best growth of all. Launch when you are ready to handle the pressure of increased client demands. It’s better to focus on delivering 100% to fewer clients than a half-baked job to more clients.

Ensure that the price is right

Don’t under-sell your product or service just to please a customer or as a marketing gimmick. While it’s true that you can utilize a sale or limited time offer to increase your customer base, regularly slashing your prices for some demanding clients will eventually impact negatively on your coffers. They’ll always come back with the intention of not paying your asking price. You can avoid this by simply saying no. Always be polite and helpful to your customers, but don’t be a pushover or afraid to say no to excessive demands. The customer isn’t always absolutely king. Be kind and let them understand that you have a business to run and a brand to protect. 

You’ve decided that entrepreneurship is your calling, and it’s time you also made your mark. Having the idea is only the first step. Now that you’ve taken that step, it’s what you do from here that’ll determine how it’ll all turn out.

Tips For Having A Successful Career As An Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur is an exciting and rewarding job but also comes with a lot of responsibility and risk. Whether you thrive in the business world or not is up to you, and all the pressure to do so is on your shoulders.

There are many tasks and to-dos to tend to any given day, and you have to know how to manage your time properly to accomplish the most important tasks. Review the following tips so that you can have a successful career as an entrepreneur and feel good about all that you accomplish when you look back on your professional life one day. Put forth an extra effort and dedicate yourself to your business so that you have no regrets at the end of the day.

Follow Your Passion

One tip for having a successful career as an entrepreneur is to follow your passion. Choose an industry and path that you enjoy and motivates you to want to perform well. Think it through so that you’re sure the direction you choose will be rewarding and you will want to be a part of for a while. If you don’t love what you do each day, then you risk not having the drive and energy to overcome obstacles and roadblocks that try to stand in your way.

Have A Plan

You should have a written plan when going into business for yourself. You must have a sense of direction and an idea of what you want to achieve as you get started. The plan should be all-encompassing and include what you want to accomplish in the present, five, and ten years from now, and in the future when you’re ready to retire. Make sure that you don't get caught up asking how to sell my business privately and know who you can turn to for help when it’s time to pass your business to the next person and owner. Planning for the future as an entrepreneur is a must. Operating day-to-day is not an effective way to build a long-term and sustainable venture.

Take Calculated Risks

It’s also vital that you get used to taking calculated risks if you want to have a successful career as an entrepreneur. These risks are going to allow you to surpass the competition and innovate your products or services over the years. Otherwise, you may get comfortable or stuck in one place for too long and start to miss meeting your goals. Make sure you set aside plenty of time to problem-solve and think through big decisions before you move forward with them. Let calculated risks help you take your business to the next level so you can excel and achieve more than you ever imagined.

Hire Great Help

Another tip for having a successful career as an entrepreneur is to hire great help, support, and partners. You need people on your team and side who are goal-oriented and are invested in the business and your future. As you grow and expand, it’s going to become a more substantial job that you won’t be able to handle and shouldn’t try to juggle by yourself. Be picky about who you bring into your company and choose to assign critical tasks. The more you can trust your employees and partners to get the job done right, the more time you can spend on other significant initiatives that will ensure your business excels.

Secure A Mentor

Every good entrepreneur can admit they don’t know it all and will reach out and ask for help along the way. Build a more successful company by securing a mentor who you can bounce ideas off of and contact for advice. You can ask them about what mistakes they made in the past so you can avoid committing the same errors. It’ll be comforting to know you have someone who you trust that you can call up or meet with when you have questions and concerns about how to proceed with your business.

Focus on Client Service

Make your customers a top priority if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur. Focus on offering consistent and exceptional customer service so that you know your clients are well taken care of and feel appreciated. Without them, you don’t have a business and risk running into trouble with keeping your doors open. Train your employees, so they understand how to treat customers and the policies you have in place, so they’re prepared to handle the tough conversations and questions. Providing top-notch quality service is the key to building a successful company.

Challenge Yourself

You’ll get a lot further in your career when you commit to challenging yourself. Be careful not to let your ego get in the way of you working on your personal development over the years. You have the time to work on improving yourself when you make the time for it. There are plenty of online courses you can take and seminars and conferences you can sign up for that will help you advance in areas that you find difficult. Know your strengths and weaknesses, so you can hone in on improving specific skill sets.  

Make Wise Financial Decisions

Another vital aspect of your business you can’t let slip through the cracks is your finances. If you want to have a successful career as an entrepreneur, then you need to commit to making wise financial decisions. It all starts by having separate accounts for your business and personal life and tracking all transactions and expenses in detail. You may want to consider hiring a financial director or bookkeeper on your team who can handle these logistics for you if you don’t have the time. They can alert you to any red flags and advise you about how to proceed if you discover that you need to find ways to cut back spending.

Take Care of Yourself

You’re going to be very busy as a business owner and entrepreneur. You mustn’t let your health and wellness take a backseat over the years. You need to find ways to take better care of yourself and make sure you feel your best each day. For instance, you should make sleep a priority, exercise daily, and eat nutritious meals that give you the energy you need to get through each day. Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water and taking breaks away from your desk and the office every so often to clear your mind. The better you are at taking care of yourself, the more likely it is that you’ll be successful in your career because you’ll make fewer mistakes and wiser decisions.

Admit to Your Mistakes & Get Comfortable Failing

You can also have a more successful career as an entrepreneur by admitting to your mistakes when you make them. People will respect you more when you’re truthful and honest in your interactions with others and at work. Also, get comfortable failing and taking a few steps back once in a while as failure is inevitable as an entrepreneur.

The path to success will not be perfect, and there will be challenges that try to stand in your way of achieving your goals. Use your mistakes and setbacks as learning opportunities to do better the next time you’re put in a similar situation. You’ll begin to trust yourself more and have more self-confidence the more you do this in your career.

Conclusion

Use these tips to help you have a more prosperous and gratifying career as an entrepreneur. Remember, that your path to the top may not be easy but that it is possible with the right attitude, mindset, and approach. Believe in yourself and avoid making excuses for why you can’t or why it’s too hard to beat out the competition and become a profitable and stable company people come to know and trust. Make sure you appreciate the journey and take the time to celebrate your small wins along the way.

Factors Influencing Your Workers' Compensation Case Award

When you leave your home and go to work, you probably don’t expect to get hurt. Sadly, injuries are not unusual in the workplace. No amount of money is going to make you whole following a serious injury; however, workers compensation attorneys can help you get compensated fairly if you end up getting hurt at work. At the same time, there are a few key factors that are going to influence the outcome of your workers’ compensation key. These factors could make a big difference in the amount of money your employer and its insurance company might provide in a settlement offer.

Your Pay Prior to the Injury

If you file a workers’ compensation claim, you could be eligible for a few benefits, including temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability. The amount of money provided in all of these benefits is going to depend on how much money you were making before the injury. This is calculated as the total amount of money you made while working for your employer during the 52 weeks preceding the injury. With this in mind, it is in your best interest to make sure your calculated pay during the preceding year is as high as possible. Do not simply let your employer choose a number. Instead, rely on the experience of an attorney who knows the various ways this figure is calculated. This will place you in a position to increase your award.

The Body Part You Have Injured

Your award might be higher if you suffer the permanent loss of use of a body part, impaired functional use, or permanent disfigurement stemming from an injury; however, not every injury is going to be eligible for certain types of awards. For example, the awards for a back or neck injury will be different than an award to an arm, leg, or face.

Furthermore, not every injury is valued the same. An arm might be worth more than a leg. A foot injury might not be worth as much as a hand injury. While it might seem unusual to place price tags on body parts, that is what happens when it comes to workers’ compensation. Count on an attorney who has experience in this field.

Your Future Occupation Prospects

You are likely to heal to some extent following an injury; however, you might not fully recover. At some point, you might reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI). This means that you are as healthy as you are going to get. Aside from pain management, there isn’t much else a doctor can do for you. At this point, your doctor will probably give you work restrictions. These restrictions might limit your future job prospects, which will influence your award.

Maximize Your Award in a Worker’s Compensation Case

These are a few of the most important factors that will play a role in your workers’ compensation award. Rely on the services of an attorney who understands how this process works.

Live Your Best Life as an Unapologetically Ambitious Female

When you think about the term “ambitious“ it can often carry a number of negative connotations, especially when it comes to being a woman. Like many other women, you may have been told by your significant other or your parents that your hopes and dreams were way too big. Proving them wrong has always been your number one goal in life.

You aren’t afraid to admit that you are unapologetically ambitious and you want to be self-employed. Chasing your goals and owning a thriving and profitable business that allows you to live a life of freedom is something you know you can achieve. If you have always had this type of motivation inside you, you have everything you need to succeed. Use some of the following advice so that you can ignore the haters and live your best life as an unapologetically ambitious female.

Nail Your Morning Routine

You might be wondering why a morning routine is so important as a female entrepreneur. At the moment, your morning ritual involves staring at your alarm clock with bleary eyes, wondering when it’s going to stop. Instead of starting your morning feeling low on energy and unmotivated, imagine kicking starting your day with the ultimate fuel. You can fuel your body or you can fuel your mind; there are a number of different options for you to explore.

Many high achieving female entrepreneurs experiment with biohacking, which is essentially tapping into the way your body works in order to attain peak performance. Starting your day with a meditation, yoga stretch, or a run outside will set you off on the best foot possible. You also need to nourish your body by eating a healthy and balanced diet. As soon as you take care of your morning ritual, you will find that the rest of your day slips into place seamlessly. Try out your new morning routine for a week and you will soon get into your new flow.

Prioritize Self Care

The biggest mistake that female entrepreneurs mate is thinking that they need to adopt a 24/7 hustle mindset. Although you will need to work your butt off in the first few months of launching your business, this should not be the norm. Working every single hour of the day is going to take its toll on your mind and body. If you do not practice good self-care, you are going to experience burn out.

At some point in your entrepreneurial journey, you are going to experience burnout; it’s inevitable and it happens to everybody. The biggest lesson you need to learn after this is how to avoid it in the future. You might think that your morning meeting takes priority over your own self-care, but this is the wrong way to approach it. Taking care of yourself will ultimately take care of your business, which will guarantee huge success in the future. When you reverse engineer the big picture of your business in this way, you will start to see why your own health is paramount. Make non-negotiable appointments in your calendar if you struggle to practice self-care; this will help you to stay on track and it will always be a priority for you.

Hone in on Your Zone of Genius

Now that you have tackled your morning routine and self-care rituals, it is time to hone in on your zone of genius. This is a very simple but effective task that will pave the way for you and your future business. Knowing what you are truly good at will help you to make waves in the industry you want to tap into. With certain MBA concentrations, you can focus on your strengths and grow your skills in an educational environment.

Many female entrepreneurs don’t do the groundwork when it comes to starting the business from scratch. It is so important to recognize your own strengths rather than mimicking somebody else’s business idea. Although it can’t hurt to mirror other people's general ideas, it is so important to be authentic to yourself. In the future, it will become so hard to sell if you aren’t truly invested in the product or service you have created. This is why honing in on your zone of genius will make your business more lucrative. When you love your career, life feels so much easier. You would have stayed in your old office job if you wanted to wake up dreading your work every single day. If you don’t already know what your superpower is, why not ask your friends and family for advice? It is probably very clear to them what you are good at; sometimes it can be difficult for us to recognize these talents in ourselves.

Get Extremely Organized

When you are starting and growing a business from the ground up, you need to get extremely organized. There is no time for forgetting specific tasks or losing your way when taking a course. These early months are so precious so you need to use every pocket of time wisely. Create a list of needle-moving tasks that are going to support your business growth. Don’t get drawn into menial tasks that aren’t going to help you thrive and grow.

There are a number of different ways you can organize your time, but the best way is to focus on just one or two tasks each day. It is a proven fact that if you try to switch up your brain capacity too often throughout the day, it can become ineffective. For example, you should use one day of the week for administration tasks, one day for finances, one day for being creative, and other days for networking and meetings. Dedicating one day of the week for each of these tasks pillars will make your business grow in a smooth and streamlined way. This will help you to beat any overwhelm and it will prevent you from burning out.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

There is absolutely no shame in asking for help when you are just starting out with your business. You might have a very specific zone of genius that isn’t suited to deal with finances, analytics, graphics, marketing, or copywriting. You need to focus your time on the elements of your business that you excel at. You do not need to be a jack of all trades to be a successful female business owner. There are millions of successful female entrepreneurs that have skills that you could benefit from. For example, you may want to hire a virtual assistant to help you with your social media engagement; you may also want to hire an accountant to assist you with your forecasting and cash flow. Hiring people for your business before you are ready will always pay off, as it prevents you from backtracking on tasks that need to be completed imminently.

Hire a Mentor Who Has Done It Before

If you were to sit down and ask a handful of female entrepreneurs what their biggest regret was, it would probably be, not hiring a business coach or mentor. You may think that you can do this all on your own using Google as your private tutor. Although you can find all the information you need on the Internet, sometimes you just need a confident and accountability partner to see you through those tough times.

Growing a business is a hard slog that you will need to adjust to. Have a look online at some of the top business coaches in your industry. As soon as you find one that resonates with you and has experience in your line of work, you can simply reach out to them and see how they can help you. A business coach will walk you through any strategies they have learned during their entrepreneurial journey and they will see things in your company that you may not have ever noticed yourself. 

Holding yourself back from what you really want to achieve won’t serve you well in the future. Even if you want to conform to society right now and stay in your dead-end 9-to-5 job, you know you’re not going to stay there for much longer. Why not take the leap and make it happen now?

Sometimes you just need that little extra push to cheer you on and make you feel positive again. Use all of the advice given above and you will be in The strongest position possible to chase your dreams, conquer your goals, and show everybody that it is possible to be an ambitious female entrepreneur.