Top 5 Must-Have Skills For Project Managers

For every $1 billion invested, companies in the US lose $122 million due to bad management. Here's the thing: building a plan from scratch and taking it to an end, while respecting both the deadlines and the original budget, isn't for everybody.

Thanks to the new technologies, projects have more chances to a happy end. But, software alone isn't enough to put things on the right track. You need to be a killer project manager to keep up with challenges -- to deliver high-quality results, fast, and without spending more than your clients or your company can afford.

Whether you get your PMP certification in San Diego or any other part of the country, you need more than passing the exam to become a great project manager. Here are five skills you must develop as a PM to turn every new project into a success.


Effective Communication

Communication is vital for a successful project. That's why, as a project manager, you should know how to talk to your colleagues, clients, and superiors. Better yet, when your team communicates efficiently, it's easier for everybody to finish their tasks in time and to make the right decisions inside the group.

However, effective communication goes beyond sending explicit emails and organizing efficient reunions. You need to master a wide range of abilities in this field:

• Learn to listen. A good project manager asks for feedback and looks to all team members.
  
  
• Ask the right questions. You can avoid a lot of delays and communication errors when you take the time to understand what's happening inside the team.
  
  
• Update the team on a regular basis. As a project manager, you must know everything about progress and new milestones. By informing all the team, you get to gain more trust, motivate your staff, and increase productivity.
  
  
• Encourage efficiency. When you communicate with your team, you should always stress the importance of doing things the right way -- instead of rushing them to finish faster.

Time Management

Time management is the key to increased productivity and efficiency. That's why your job as a project manager is to organize and plan all the activities to make sure that your team delivers on time.

To develop killer time management skills, you need to focus on these three elements:

• Planning. For every project large or small, preparation is everything. Project managers who take the time to define all activities and to estimate durations are more likely to respect deadlines and bring the project to an end.
  
  
• Setting reasonable, clear goals. 37 percent of projects fail because they lack clear objectives. You need more than a guideline to make things right. Set measurable goals, with realistic deadlines. Getting ISO certified, for example, can take months. If you're hurrying your staff, you risk losing more time fixing errors in the long run.
  
  
• Prioritizing. It's fundamental when you need to avoid distractions and focus on the critical things. Not all tasks are equally necessary to the success of the project. Make sure you don't keep all the team blocked just because one member is behind schedule.

Problem Solving

The most important skill of a PM is the ability to come up with solutions to a crisis. Machines and complex AI software can improve workflows and increase productivity, but they can't make decisions for unpredicted problems -- and as long as you work in this business, there's always going to be something to solve.

You must learn to get to the bottom of any problem, identify the causes and come up with innovative solutions. The faster, the better.

Your problem-solving skills can keep a project going even in the hardest times. Plus, your ability to analyze and evaluate the situation (and to take action) can save your client significant resources.


Risk Management

In 2017, the US government lost $32 billion due to failed IT projects. Whether you're working with small or large companies, there's always a risk for things to go wrong.

That's why your risk management skills are essential for any project. You must learn how to identify opportunities and how to make the most of every challenge during the project.

In many situations, you can identify risks early in the project. Discuss scenarios with your team members and learn to read between the lines, when watching numbers. This way, you can see possible risks right from the beginning and counter them effectively.

Opportunities always come with risks. It's your job as a project manager to evaluate and decide if the reward is worth the risk. And, what measures can help you reduce it to minimize the damage.


Leadership

As a PM, you must inspire, motivate and communicate on a permanent basis. All eyes are on you, expecting guidelines and solutions.

Besides self-confidence and self-esteem, you need solid knowledge and experience to be a good leader. From stakeholders to clients and team members, everybody expects you to make decisions and implement them.

You must be the person who works hard, listens to everyone, and has an accurate answer to any question. Everything less than that and your peers will stop following you. The success of any project depends on how you use your leadership skills for the best.

Being a good leader means having all other skills -- competent, excellent communicator, empathy, problem-solving, team builder, to mention some. Plus, you must know how to use these skills to improve your team's results. Because a good leader always works with an efficient team!


Did you find this article helpful? Are you a project manager? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below.

Related articles:
Top Personal Skills That Will Stand You In Good Stead In Business
5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Efficient
How To Best Increase Efficiency And Profitability In Your Business

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Until my next post in 7 days on why you should be careful when doing business with Minerals-Water Limited on eBay, have a great and productive week ahead. See you back here on Monday 21st May!

© 2018. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Warning: 5 Ways You Are Losing Engagement By Not Using Social Media For Your Business

The opportunities are endless for today's business owner to reach potential consumers and convert them into lifetime customers. But in this modern landscape, users want to engage in a virtual community where they can be advocates, share ideas, and get the latest scoop on new product offerings and services. Making your presence known in a social space is essential for growing your business.

Interestingly enough, some of the most successful business owners have learned how to use technology to gain an edge. Rather than shelling out thousands of dollars on prime air-time, companies are learning to generate buzz by creating viral content and encouraging shares and likes. If you are not currently using social media for business, there are five things you need to know where you may be missing out on engagement:

1. Let's face it - Anyone who's anyone is on social media these days - Not being on social media is like not listing in the Yellow Pages in the 1980's. If you aren't utilizing these channels wisely you are limiting your audience and making it harder for potential clients to contact your business easily. A social media page is now like using a search engine. Consumers want information that is easily accessible and they want it at the stroke of a key. You want to be ahead of the pack by greeting your visitors with amazing content that is up to date and ready to go viral at a moment's notice.
   
   
   1. 72% of online adults are using social networking sites.
      http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/08/05/72-of-online-adults-are-social-networking-site-users/
      
      
   2. In 2012, nearly 20% of respondents reported not using social media tools; in 2013 that number was down 11% http://moz.com/industry-survey
   
   
2. Maintaining your reputation - Be it positive or negative, engaging with your customers through social media can turn a potentially negative experience into a positive highlight for your business. Earlier in 2013 after a hacking incident, Buffer showed great poise in the management and response to such an experience. Customers sometimes just want to have a voice. We all know the reach a negative impression can stretch and often it goes unnoticed or unresolved. Having that personal conversation with the customer shows them that you are not only engaged, but place great customer value for the service or product your business offers. Making a positive customer experience allows your reputation to shine and in turn, social advocacy will start turning its wheels. Maintaining your reputation allows your fans or followers to make suggestions for improvements, share the latest updates, and voice opinion on which products or services they would like to see most often.
   
   
3. Beating your competitors at the game - Having a popular social media page with a large following increases your exposure over your competitors. Being able to engage directly with potential customers gives you a strong advantage over a competitor who isn't online.
   
   
   1. By being on social media when your competitors are not, you're already delivering better customer service.
      
      
   2. This is a great place to start developing trust for first time buyers. It signals that you care about your customers if something went wrong.
      
      
   3. Pushing content-based and promoted ads to the Facebook News Feed in 2014 will prove to give you that competitive edge. Even spending $1 on Facebook ads per day will get you in front 4,000 more consumers than your competitors. That's a win in my book.
      http://moz.com/blog/1-dollar-per-day-on-facebook-ads
   
   
4. Social media is a fun place to engage - Showing fans your authenticity is very important in the eyes of today's social media goers. Being in command of your social media page allows you to be more personable when it comes to interacting with your customers. You can reply directly to their comments and re-adjust your tone to accommodate the given situation. Just like a search landing page, it is important to make your content exciting and interesting. Your page needs to stand out, because it is typical for a searcher to spend less than 20 seconds, before deciding whether or not they will take an action in a buying decision. Make the page pop with visual appeal by utilizing photos, videos, and banners. Social media gives you an easy opportunity to improve brand awareness and build your identity. Be quick to the punch and put a human voice to your brand - one that people, your customers can connect with on a personal level.
   
   
5. Now more than ever Google is placing more recognition on social behavior - In a vast digital arena where Search Engines grade your rankings based off social interaction and reviews, really depends on a business owner's willingness to obtain technical prowess. Not having a social page can cause your presence to decrease on Google's radar and slip down the search results, potentially loosing visitors to your website. Social media will help you increase the amount of traffic your website receives. Social media is an SEO ranking signal and has grown increasingly important. Being talked about and mentioned on social sends a positive signal and drives Google to seeing your site as more authoritative, which will help you rank better in organic SEO.

So what are the main take-aways for your business to become social savvy?

• Be Proactive! - Build your social media page to fit your business' consumer base and start creating a buzz! Make your content engaging and most importantly, have fun!
  
  
• Engage your Customers and Create Social Advocacy - Personalize your brand to your consumers and let them know what real customer value is all about!

While it takes time to be a social media Jedi, social media engagement is no longer an option but an essential part of your online business plan.


About The Author: Anna Johnson is a Senior Digital Marketing Analyst at seoWorks and takes a great interest in everything marketing, social media and internet related and enjoys sharing her knowledge on these subjects.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Anna and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related articles:
Facebook Branding For Online Business
Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence
How Pinterest Can Help Your Small Business

For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Social%20Media%20Marketing


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on the basics of business networking, I wish you every success with your business!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Finding Perfect Venues For Business Events

Since you are reading this article, you most likely have a business or corporate event coming up and you need to find a suitable location. Business events are nowadays crucial for setting up collaborations, networking, offering awards and education. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that there are basically hundreds of different venues that you can consider. Many can end up feeling overwhelmed to see such a variety.


Locating Suitable Venue Options

Event success is highly dependent on where it is held. This is a reality that we cannot dismiss. The good news is that the internet can help out a lot. There are always websites that list business venues so that you can see what options are available. For instance, if you live in London, Venue Search London can be used.

Make a list of all the options that seem to be suitable based on the information that you find about them on the internet. Then, try to narrow down your list by looking at events held there in the past and how successful they were.


Questions You Need To Ask

Before you decide to actually consider a business venue location, you need to ask yourself some really important questions. For starters, you need to know what the available budget is for the event. Then, you have to think about how many people will attend and the business outcome that you expect. Based on these questions, you can actually end up making a good list of venues that are suitable. However, things do not stop here.

Questions have to continue and need to be focused on the exact event type that is organized. For instance, do you need to host people for more than one day? Do you need food or entertainment? To put it simple, lay down on paper everything that you imagine your event to need. Then, see if it is possible with the considered venues and if not, try to find some that do. You basically have to think about everything from parking to extra staff needed.


Proper Planning Takes Time

Organizing a successful business event is not something that you do in a week or two. This is especially true when referring to those that require overnight stay or are held for more than one day. It is always a good idea to have a team that is in charge of the entire process and that you plan everything way in advance.

When referring to choosing a suitable business venue, there are many mistakes that are made and unfortunately, in most situations people end up faced with problems that they did not see coming. As a very simple example, let us say that we talk about a conference. A speaker might require projection equipment. Does the venue have this or do you need to rent one? Such questions appear as you organize an event.


Finding A Perfect Business Venue Location

To sum up, we cannot tell you what venue you have to consider since this varies from one business to the other and from one city to the next. However, we can tell you that the most important thing is making sure that the venue can accommodate exactly what you had in mind. Never hurry your research since this is definitely the most important part of the process.

Consider as many venues that seem suitable at first glance as possible. Your initial choices will be based on available budgets but keep in mind that negotiations are sometimes possible. You cannot dismiss a venue before meeting with a representative of the company that owns it. Those meetings are the ones that will actually showcase if you can hold your event there or not.


Did you find this article helpful? Are you planning a business or corporate event? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments below.

Related articles:
How Easy Is It To Hold A Successful Networking Event?
How To Match A Speaker's Style To The Audience

For more business tips, use this link:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post at the end of the month on 5 ways you are losing engagement by not using social media for your business, I wish you every success with your business! See you back here on Monday 31st March!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

5 Steps To Setting Up Your Own Business

So you've decided that now is the time to set up your own business. Congratulations, it's a brave move but in my experience it's the best decision you will ever make! Now that you've decided to take the leap, there are 5 key steps to getting set up that will stand you in good stead.


1. The Idea

For me, this is always the hardest step. There are so many products and services to potentially get involved with that it can be hard to choose. My advice would be to focus on an industry that you have worked in previously or have a good knowledge of. This will give you a head start in your planning as you may already understand the competition and opportunities in the market.

One thing that works well, particularly when going down the product route, is to look for either an exclusive or a way to create a product under your own brand name. Plenty of suppliers will label your products under your brand name, good examples of these for getting started in selling products online are Alibaba, VapeLab, and Print Clothes. These sites and more will let you create custom branded products, helping your business to stand out amongst the crowd.

If you go down the service route, try to not simply copy other ideas. You may be entering a marketplace with plenty of competition, but try to find a way to differentiate yourself and give yourself a unique selling point (USP) that will appeal to potential clients. This can be tricky to do, dependent upon your niche. There's nothing wrong with borrowing elements of competitor's strategies and amending them to create something unique.


2. Funding

Once you have your idea, it's time to create your business plan. The crucial part of an initial business plan is naturally going to be funding. Whether you are planning to save up yourself or take investment you need to consider a lot of different factors here, such as:

• How long can you survive without taking a wage?
• What's the lowest wage you can live off?
• What are your startup costs?
• Do you really need a physical premise, or can you work from home?
• Will you need to hire people straight away?

These types of questions will give you an idea as to how much funding you need to survive that first crucial year, both as a business, and with your personal finances.

There are a number of options available for funding, from bank loans to private investment. Crowdfunding has also become a credible option with sites such as Kickstarter successfully funding numerous startups with creative ideas. Crowdfunding ensures you don't have a high level of bank interest or a single powerful investor applying pressure.


3. Making The Leap

Once your business plan is set, and you're confident about your plans it's time to make the leap. This may mean leaving your current employment if you are currently earning a living, or it may just mean formalizing the business.

Register yourself with the relevant authorities including the taxman at an early stage to avoid any surprises later on.

Once you've made the leap and are out of your current employment, make sure you make a big noise around your launch. Get friends and family to share your brand socially, and make your launch a big deal. This will help with step 4, your marketing strategy.


4. Marketing Strategy

You will no doubt have thought about your marketing strategy, in terms of how to generate new customers whilst planning everything out and creating a business plan. However, when you are actually live and running your business the marketing strategy becomes even more important.

Making a big noise at launch should be complemented with other activity in the form of advertising, content marketing, social media, event attendance and other marketing dependent upon your niche. The problem is, the word of mouth element from your launch may be keeping you quite busy in terms of work at this early stage (hopefully), which means that you don't have quite as much time to focus on your marketing strategy as you need.

Make sure you keep some time back from your schedule to continue with your marketing efforts to keep work coming for the long term. Many startups fail because their initial business development from word of mouth is strong, and they don't feel the need or have the time to continue to invest in their marketing for the long term benefit of their business.


5. Surviving The First Few Months

Believe it or not, the setting up part of your business is by no means the hardest part. Once you've made that leap into self-employment or running a limited company, you need to make sure you survive the first few months. The first year is always the biggest challenge, but the first few months can be particularly challenging in terms of generating new customers, getting your name out there, and dealing with issues like cash flow. Prepare for this carefully in your business plan - expect the worst and make sure you can survive it and then you will be in a position to thrive as your reputation grows.

Best of luck with setting up your new business - by careful planning and forethought you can give yourself a much higher chance of success. Strap yourself in for the ride, there will be plenty of ups and downs, but running your own business may be the best decision you have ever made.


About The Author: Bryan Staggers is an online entrepreneur who runs numerous ecommerce sites such as VapeLab. Bryan enjoys writing to share his experience in setting up businesses, with a particular focus on online revenue creation.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Bryan and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related articles:
Is 2014 The Year To Go Entrepreneur?
Could Franchising Be The Right Route For You?
How To Survive Your First Two Years As A Start-Up
Q & A: What To Consider When Setting Up A Home Business
Most Important Steps To Draft Your Business Plan
Legal Issues For Setting Up A Business

For more business tips plus helpful articles on setting up your own business, use the following links:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Startup


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Wednesday on how to find the perfect balance between traditional and online marketing, have a great week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Facebook Branding For Online Business

Branding today goes far beyond logos on t-shirts, cute coffee mugs, or even expensive television commercials. The Internet has transformed the way branding takes place and businesses need to adapt. In particular, because so many people are active on the site, Facebook enables businesses with a strong branding strategy to move light years beyond the competition.


Importance of a Strong Logo

A vital part of successful branding on Facebook starts with a digital logo. The best designers keep color, visibility, and pixel-size in mind as they create business logos to best suit their brands. More than any other elements, simplicity and clarity are essential for a memorable, effective logo.

Next, businesses need to showcase their logos in the right places on Facebook to reinforce their identities. Because the profile and cover images on a Facebook page are focused on the most, the logo should be placed in either of these spaces to have the biggest impact. For example, on the Facebook page for the national restaurant chain Applebee's, what initially started as their name paired with an image of an apple has been reduced to only the apple; simplifying their brand identity for quick consumption. Importantly, the image is currently showcased as their profile image.

Although Applebee's 5 million likes on Facebook didn't come entirely from their logo, it can be assumed that the memorable, simple, red apple did help draw people in. Even for a smaller business, a strong, well-featured logo on the site will serve as an effective cornerstone to a comprehensive brand-building strategy. Good images are heavily featured on Facebook and are required for gaining new likes and user engagement on the site. Businesses that take advantage of strong logos will likely gain more followers on Facebook and solidify their brands.


Facebook Profile "Identity"

Brand identity on Facebook also relies on what is shared on a business page and the language used to share it. A business that creates a unique, relatable "voice" in their posts will be more likely to gain an identity and build their brand on the site. Applebee's, for example, recently posted, "Steak the long way home. Stop at Applebee's tonight" and featured a picture of one of their steak dishes. With the quick, humorous, enticing post, Applebee's helped build a memorable, unique identity for itself.

As a business increases visibility with an active and detailed Facebook page, their web presence also increases. Consistent and pertinent updates will keep a Facebook page high on the list of common search engines, which is essential to business success in the Internet age. Notably, this attention to branding is useful in increasing a business's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ranking as well as increasing viral commercial activity. Better SEO means more business.


Reputation

Facebook enables clients or prospective clients to have an interactive experience with a company. As the marketplace is flooded with new businesses, the Facebook platform provides away for clients to compare services and goods. Ultimately, maintaining an accessible presence via Facebook shows brand consistency and company vitality.

Watching the competitors has also never been easier, nor has developing creative ways for a brand to stand out. With easy access through a few clicks and scrolls, the entire competitive marketplace is available to peruse. To take advantage of this, many companies are hiring new designers and using their most effective branding teams to scour the Internet - and Facebook in particular - to scope out the competition. With Facebook, the brand can easily evolve, keep up with trends, and maintain corporate quality assurance.


Company Identity and Lifestyle Branding

Facebook branding allows businesses to not only increase site traffic, but also strengthen their corporate ideals in a fun, non-threatening, "lifestyle" based fashion. This is seen through the incorporation of not only a strong logo and identity, but also good content. A well-executed, highly visible brand presence on Facebook only heightens traditional marketing principles. For steadfast branding with a modern flair, Facebook brings virtual commerce to life.


About The Author: This is a guest post by Sarah Brooks from free people search. She is a Houston based freelance writer and blogger. Questions and comments can be sent to brooks.sarah23 @ gmail.com.

Did you like this article? Please let Sarah and myself know by leaving us your valued comments.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related articles:
Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence
How Pinterest Can Help Your Small Business

For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Social%20Media%20Marketing


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
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Until my next post on Monday with 5 steps to setting up your own business, have a relaxing weekend! See you back here next week!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Marketing A Niche Product Online

Online marketing is a practice that should be put into use by any company who wants to get ahead with their business. This should come as no surprise to anyone, but it can get a little tricky sometimes when your market isn't exactly in the mainstream.

Niche marketing is aiming for a subset of a larger market of which a product is focusing on. Targeting a specific group of consumers with a product or service because of their lifestyles, interests, or any other criteria that set them apart as that niche is a great way to get sales for your product in that market.

But, what if your product itself is technically a niche? Let's say you're trying to sell an item that has a specific purpose, and is only really in demand for one application. For example, I previously worked on a marketing team that promoted an industrial cable and hose protector for construction and factory use. That product realistically had, at best, a few dozen people looking to purchase. That doesn't mean it wasn't worthy of a marketing campaign, however.

Marketing a niche product online is almost an art. It takes a little creativity and a lot of drive to get the word out there. Most companies already do a bit of niche marketing, focusing a certain product to a certain audience. For example, Coca Cola markets its bottles and cans to homes and retail locations, but also directs its syrup and fountain products to restaurants. Everyone does it, so developing a strategy to market your niche product should benefit by simply adapting already known and accepted strategies.

The key to niche marketing is targeting, and targeting carefully. You need to find a place where no other offers for products similar to yours exist. Target those markets with advertisements, specials, or just general information about your product to generate buzz for it. Identify the gaps in the market where your product fits in, and fill it.

Filling the gap in the market online is a little easier than it sounds. The first step, if not already taken, would be to establish a web presence. Optimizing your website for your niche is essential. Use Google to find out what keywords are being searched for in your market, and optimise your site and headings with those keywords, which will make your site easier to find for your potential customers.

Utilize social media to get the word out about your product. For the cable and hose protector company I worked for, social media was laughable at best before I got there. Who wants to read Tweets from an industrial cable protector company? Some people do.

Finding the right followers for your online presence is your next step online. Participate in industry and market blogs or other social media pages to promote your page. The reason you create a niche product is because at least some people will buy it, so go out and find those people.

Finding them and getting them to follow isn't enough, however. Interaction is essential to social media. Posting daily and not following through is a great way to lose followers. Comment, like, and interact with your customers. They'll see that, and appreciate it. They may even recommend your product to a friend.

Once you master your online presence, focus on marketing as a whole. Your product or service is unique. Sell that idea. Companies who offer more mainstream products don't have to worry too much about the advertising, but you should. People generally don't know what they want until they're told about it. Go out and tell some people!


About The Author: This post was written by Eric Kneff, a marketing specialist for Titan Construction, a New Orleans based Construction Company. He has interests in marketing and business development.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Eric and myself know by leaving us your valued comments.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your products online, use the following links:
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Is 2014 The Year To Go Entrepreneur?

The New Year is upon us. As our current year provided its own share of opportunities and challenges, 2014 promises to be no less of a roller coaster for the globe, with events such as the Federal Reserve no longer keeping the interest rates at rock bottom levels, China stopping their stockpiling of US treasuries, China again with its territorial saber-rattling in southeast Asia, parts of Europe still getting back up on its feet, and the uncertain affairs of state between our country and Russia, seemingly rising back to power since the disbanding of the USSR so many years ago.

For whatever happens in the coming year, there will always be the compulsion for a few courageous people to break out of their chains of employment and set out for themselves as entrepreneurs. Truth be told, there is never a truly right or even a wrong time to do so; it is a combination of presented opportunities, personal determination and ability, and simple dumb luck.

Regardless, in the same vein that we still bother to predict the weather despite the chances of inaccuracy, this little article will try to inform your decision on whether you should start chasing your entrepreneurial dreams this year:


Higher Interest Rates

The cycle of borrowing, spending and paying back debt is what keeps the modern economy flowing, and in our nook of the globe, the Federal Reserve controls interest rates. They have decided that on 2014, the cheap money won't be so cheap anymore, and that means it will be a bigger challenge to turn out a profit from borrowed funds.

This is a negative, for the most part. Companies big and small will have to exercise more fiscal discipline as it becomes harder to borrow and pay back money. Cutting down on the excess and practicing a little austerity here and there will go a long way in keeping the bottom line in the black.

For the entrepreneur starting out, the growing pains will all the more be painful with a steeper interest rate. Make certain that you will make each and every cent of your seed money count.


Optimistic Projections for Global Economy

Willem Buiter, the head honcho economist of Citigroup, thinks 2014 will be the year that the global economy will start picking up pace, compared to previous years behind it. It might not be anything dramatic or ground-breaking, but a consistently growing global economy is preferable to a stagnant or shrinking one.

Barring any unanticipated (I have trouble believing that any major geopolitical events are unanticipated by the powers that be) events in the world, there are no expected bubble bursts or double dips, according to their very extensive, near 100-page outlook.

For the US-based entrepreneur, putting these two factors together seems to suggest that if one were to start a business, perhaps it should be on foreign soil with friendlier interest rates, but an equally pro-investment environment.


China May Not Be As Friendly

If part of your business idea involves cheap labor and manufacturing via China, then you might want to hold off for this year, or perhaps find another country to do your offshore operations. As I mentioned before, China just decided to stop buying US treasuries, a move that could be considered a passive-aggressive offensive economic maneuver at best.

There's also the already-heated territory dispute China versus pretty much the rest of Southeast Asia. The US has a ton of allies in that part of the world, like economic partner Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Given the volatility of the situation, and China's propensity to enact inflammatory moves against countries that oppose them, your investment suffers the additional risk of a hostile government seizing it.

Fortunately for you, there are other countries that have low-cost yet trained (or trainable) labor forces that can accommodate your entrepreneurial ambitions. In the same region, Indonesia and the Philippines appear to be the best prospects.

Don't just take this article's word for fact, dig into the Internet to do more research and see the actual numbers. I wish you the best of luck, entrepreneur-in-the-making. Onward to prosperity in 2014!


About The Author: Michael Green is a veteran of the rat race, having worked at a business consultancy firms in San Francisco and New York for most of his young adult life. He left on his fortieth birthday to become a fully self-employed entrepreneur, and settled in San Diego to pursue various opportunities within the city.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Michael and myself know by leaving us your valued comments.

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Until my next post tomorrow on 7 things you need to know about SEO in 2014, have a great Tuesday! See you back here tomorrow!

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Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence

These days there are many creative ways to reach your customers, and social media is something you should embrace in order to get your product out there. Social media is remarkable for many reasons, but one of the most interesting aspects of it is that it gives potential customers a glimpse into your personality and personal voice. Here are five ways to easily use social media to your advantage and start attracting new customers today.


1. Maintaining Your Business Social Media Account

Logging in, updating and staying active is key. Merely setting up an account is just the beginning. It isn't worth it if someone goes through the effort to set up social media avenues, only to abandon them and never update with posts. This is a surefire way to kill your social media presence before it even gets off the ground. Too many times "We should have a blog!" or "We need a Facebook fan page!" comes up in meetings, and then nothing ever comes of it because no one is actually assigned the task.


2. If You Need To, Delegate the Task

If you are running a business, maintaining a social media presence might sound like the last thing you want to do, so don't. Depending on your company's size and needs, you can go from having a team of folks doing this, to hiring an intern that can easily update content. The key is to make sure it is designated within someone's job, so it happens. Everyone can help with ideas and updates, but just make sure there is at least one person whose job it is to come up with posts, solicit feedback from the company, and get creative with fresh unique posts that will attract an audience.


3. Make Sure Your Posts Look Interesting

Pictures and graphics can make your social media posts much more inviting and lively. Simply by adding in a few more details, people are more likely to click through your material. Pictures of your product, events or staff on social media posts can really help bring traffic to your site, and it's so easy to do! A wall of text or boring posts without and graphics can be boring. If you have a unique logo, put it as your avatar so that it stands out and does the advertising work for you.


4. Get Creative with Your Updates

If doesn't all have to be directly about your business. If you decide to have a blog on your site, or post to quite a bit to sites such as Facebook, use these avenues to engage with your customers. Linking to articles and news clips relating to your field is a great way to gain customers interest and trust. By actively engaging in updates in your field you will become a part of a larger community and stand out as a possible industry leader.


5. Use Facebook and Twitter for Promotions

This is a great, simple way to gain more of a following. A quick post detailing a sale or new product is easy enough to do and will boost your visibility. By bringing traffic to your social media sites, these can then be linked to your home site that either provides more information on your business or sells your product. Remember, without that link, these are potential customers that you may not have gotten otherwise.

Social media is a great way to easily make new contacts and customers online. Your online presence can reach a vast audience, and starting an account costs you absolutely nothing besides a few minutes of your time. It is well worth it to easily get online and get started having social media work for your business - and it's the future, so don't get left behind!


About The Author: Hailey Harper is a marketing strategist and writer whose work has been featured on over 30 websites. Her primary interests are strategic marketing, social media, SEO, and business management.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Hailey and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links:
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Until my next post tomorrow discussing whether or not 2014 is the year to go entrepreneur, enjoy the rest of your day! See you back here tomorrow!

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Could Franchising Be The Right Route For You?

Starting a business is an exciting but challenging time and the reality is that over 50% of startups fail within their first year of trading. This can be down to a number of factors including employing a weak business model, poor marketing and a lack of capital.

In contrast, franchises tend to have a far higher success rate than new businesses because they already have a proven business model and a strong marketing plan with a powerful brand behind them. As a result, it's well worth at least finding out a bit more information about franchising and whether or not it could be the right route for you if are considering setting up you own business.


What is a franchise?

If you aren't already familiar with franchising, the idea is quite straightforward; essentially a company grants an individual the right to sell their goods and services in an area and trade under their name. Many high street chains aren't 100% corporately owned and choose to operate franchise models, so it's not something that hasn't been around for a while. Popular franchises include McDonalds, Subway and Cash Converters.


The benefits of starting a franchise

There are a number of benefits to setting up as a franchise, most of which will differ slightly in different models, but generally speaking there are a number of benefits to starting a franchise. Express Accountancy, one of the UK's leading accountancy franchises have come up with the following benefits that being a franchisee can present.

• Raising finance can be easier - One of the toughest things about setting up you own can be raising the finance you need. You can find yourself being turned down by countless banks, even if you think that you have a full proof business model. Many franchisors have strong relationships with lenders and it can often be easier to obtain the required finance as you'll be operating under a proven business model.
  
  
• Franchisor usually handles sales and marketing - Sales and Marketing isn't the easiest thing as a startup, in fact, a lack of any real strategy in this area is a big reason why so many businesses tend to fail in the early stages. However, as a franchise owner, your franchisor will often take care of a lot of this. Say for example you choose to operate an accountancy franchise, the franchisor is likely to have established some successful lead generation channels already and you will benefit from this.
  
  
• A proven business model - Successful and sustainable business models can take years to fine tune and as a startup, you'll need to learn from your mistakes quickly to ensure that you are operating the right model. As a franchise, you'll already be part of a model that has been tried and tested, which means that you can focus more on the day to day running of your business and making it a success, rather than constantly tweaking with operations and processes.
  
  
• Franchisors will help and guide you - It's in the best interests of the franchisor for you to make a success of your franchise and many franchise models include training and unlimited support. Let's go back to that accountancy model, you could be the world's greatest accountant but have no experience of running a business whatsoever, well this is where the franchisor can help. Usually they'll offer training to prepare you for managing your business and if you need any help or guidance along the way they should have support systems in place. You aren't on your own!

Starting your own franchise

The process of starting your own franchise will vary greatly according to which franchise model you decide to adopt. Each franchisor will have different process and expectations of potential franchisees, so make sure you read through the franchisor's prospectus and website to get a better idea of the process from start to finish.

As was mentioned earlier, in terms of raising the finance required for your initial franchise fee and any other costs that need to be covered, make sure that you speak to your franchisor as they may have good relationships with certain lenders if you are struggling to raise the finance yourself.


Is franchising the right route for me?

Only you can answer this question, the facts are there, you get more support with a franchise and they have a higher success rate. However, maybe you are someone who is fascinated by building up a brand and really going it alone. Sit down, weigh up the pros and cons of both and take those initial steps to being your own boss.


Did you find this article helpful? Do you run a franchise business? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments.

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Top Personal Skills That Will Stand You In Good Stead In Business

When it comes to business, there are certain personal skills that everybody should possess. If you are lacking in one area or another, you will find that you just don't get on as well in business as your colleagues do. These are basic personal skills that everybody should have, but some people need to work on.

We could all do with a little self improvement from time to time, and even if you feel that you are good at certain areas, for example time management, there are still plenty of ways that you could get even better at it. In this article we are going to look at some of the core personal skills that you need in business - how do you fare in these areas?


Organization

Everybody needs to be organized when they work. After all, as they say, a tidy desk is a tidy mind. Many people's organization skills fall a little bit short - and the days of having a secretary to mop up behind you are pretty much over. It is well worth attending a business course on how to be more organized if you want to improve the way you handle your day-to-day life. There is a lot to learn - for example how to file paper efficiently, how to manage your online files and how to set up administrative systems for your work. Have a look online and see if you can find an organization skill course near to you.


Inter-Personal Skills

Interacting with other people is something that comes more naturally to some people than others. If you are the sort of person who says things that are often taken the wrong way, then you could maybe benefit from a course on interpersonal skills in order to help you figure out where you are going wrong. Often it is not what you say, but the way you say it which offends - and this can easily be avoided if you study the way in which you approach people. Getting on with people is a core skill and one which everybody needs to work on.

Management Skills

If you are in charge of a team of people or a project, then you will really benefit from honing your management skills. Managing people is not something that anybody can do - it takes a special sort of person to do it effectively. Poor managers have no respect from their team, and they don't deliver the results that they are supposed to as a result. It is well worth going on a management course if you are in charge of people, or a project management course if you have been put in charge of a specific project. There are different ways to manage people and projects, and you need to understand some of the theories so that you can try putting them into practice.

Enhancing your core skills is a very important thing to do if you want your career to have longevity. Self-improvement is something that benefits everybody, no matter where they are on the ladder - so what could you do to improve your skills?


About The Author: Shruti Vaghe is a freelance blogger currently writing for Project Consulting, a business analysis training center based in Toronto. Shruti loves French cuisine and enjoys cooking in her spare time. To know more about her you can follow her on Twitter at @ShrutiVaghe.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Shruti and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.

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5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Efficient

Today's small business marketplace remains extremely competitive. Gaining an edge requires savvy business owners to adopt smart practices that transform their operations through implementation of more efficient, cost effective solutions. Here are five ways to maximize the efficiency of nearly any small business.


Take advantage of cloud computing

There are a lot of online resources for file sharing, document creation, project management, and team collaboration. Consider exploring the potential of useful tools like Google Docs, Box.com, Asana, or Co-op. This is especially helpful for small businesses that work with telecommuting team members.


Cross-train team members

Create a flexible and efficient team through cross-training. It's no surprise that many small business colleagues wear multiple hats. Capitalize on this by thoughtfully considering the roles that each team member fulfills and cut potential for down-time associated with absences or overloaded workflow.


Use modern tools to better manage time

Time management is critical for small business owners. Current technology provides a range of useful tools that make this even easier. For people using an iPhone, the calendar function is a great resource for tracking scheduled appointments and tasks. In many cases, it's possible to connect a personal calendar with an online resource, like Google Calendar, for flexible access from any device or computer. There are also many great apps in the iPhone App Store for tracking project time, invoicing, and more.


Take advantage of flexible office space

Currently, there are many small business owners working from home offices. For many of these professionals, there is no need for a full-time office space and the expensive overhead that comes with such an investment. However, there are times when choosing serviced offices to rent makes sense. Flexible office space presents the perfect solution for high-profile business meetings or even basic team meetings within a functional work space.


Create an organized system to manage customers and documents

It's important to keep business documents and customer records well-organized. There are many affordable customer relationship management (CRM) solutions that greatly help with documenting account history, improving process workflow, and even tracking leads that convert to sales. Research helpful software solutions like Act!, Salesforce.com, or Infusionsoft for more information.

As Internet capabilities expand, owners will find even more ways to make businesses more productive. Innovative resources such as cloud computing, serviced offices to rent, and modern time management tools will continue to deliver efficiency solutions for smart companies now, and in the future.


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Related articles:
How To Best Increase Efficiency And Profitability In Your Business

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Until my next post on Thursday on top personal skills that will stand you in good stead in business, have a great and productive week ahead!

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The Essential Guide To Small Business Insurance

More than 40 percent of employers have frozen new employee hirings, anticipating increased insurance costs from Obamacare, according to a Gallup poll commissioned by the employment law firm Littler Mendelson. But many businesses do not realize health care is only one of the insurance concerns facing them. The Small Business Administration (SBA) advises entrepreneurs of the other types of insurance that may be required, depending on the industry, location and lender's requirements.

Even when business insurance is not legally required, it may be advisable to protect the best interests of a company and its owners or partners. Get familiar with these insurance options to help you avoid financial and legal problems stemming from being underinsured:


Employee Insurance

Does the new Affordable Care Act require your company to provide your employees with health insurance? Strictly speaking, the answer is no, but you may face penalties if you are a larger employer and do not make certain levels of insurance available. For penalties to kick in, you must have the equivalent of at least 50 full-time employees. If this applies, possible penalties vary depending on your specifics. If you do not provide coverage, and at least one employee receives a premium tax credit or cost sharing subsidy in an exchange, you may owe a penalty. If you do provide coverage, you must offer specific minimum levels of coverage to avoid penalties.

State laws generally require you to carry worker's compensation if you have W2 employees. This protects you if an employee gets injured on the job.


Liability Insurance

Some small business owners incorporate as limited liability companies to protect themselves, not realizing that this is not the same as having liability insurance. Business liability insurance comes in a number of forms. General liability insurance protects you and your employees against claims of accidents, injuries or negligence. This protects you against payments involving bodily injury, medical expenses, property damage, damage to reputations and legal fees. As a rule, most businesses should carry general liability insurance, even home-based businesses.

Depending on your business model, you may need other forms of liability insurance. Product liability insurance protects you against claims involving items you sell that cause bodily harm. The service equivalent is professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, which protects you against claims of malpractice, errors or negligence.


Commercial Property Insurance

The business counterpart to home insurance, commercial property insurance, guards you against losses related to events such as fire, floods and crime. Commercial property insurance can cover a wide range of disasters, or it can be peril-specific. Remember to insure your company cars, too.


Home-Based Business Insurance

Some entrepreneurs who work from home may not realize their personal insurance does not cover their business. Specialized home-based business insurance can insure you against losses related to your work.


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