Monday, 17 February 2014

Leverage Infographics To Drive Content Marketing Success

Leverage Infographics To Drive Content Marketing Success
Digital marketing has always been a fast-moving industry, starting as the result of ubiquitous Internet use and evolving amid a perpetually shifting consumer landscape. One of the arenas within modern advertising throughout the past several years that is particularly indicative of this trend has been content marketing, which started as just a simple process of publishing keyword-rich content and blossomed into one of the most popular ways in which companies cement themselves as thought leaders.

The biggest changes have undoubtedly related to quality and targeting, but now content marketing is beginning to converge with visual advertising efforts. Studies consistently find that images, infographics and videos can drive engagement with content, and further improve a firm's brand recognition, as well as its ability to reach new prospects through Internet channels.


Infographics have an impact

Regardless of which channel or method a business is using to enrich its digital marketing strategy, the best practices are fairly consistent. However, the real challenge is ensuring that all efforts work in orchestra toward brand goals and maintain a consistent, educated and unique voice that resonates with readers.

Here are some of the benefits of supporting marketing content with infographics:

  • Bite-sized knowledge: The average attention span of adults in the United States and abroad continues to decrease, as one study published by the National Center for Biotechnology found this figure was at 12 seconds in 2000, dropping to 8 seconds in 2013. As such, infographics - when well made - can help capture and retain the attention of target consumers.

  • Readability: The best infographics will always have a distinctive flow that takes the viewer from one information point to another in a structured and rapid fashion. Just as content marketing articles and blogs now must include lists, subheadings and other features that drive the ability to scan, infographics are founded on this ideal outcome.

  • Shareability: As many digital marketers have learned in the past several years, the most successful advertisements will be shared by users autonomously. Twitter has stated that tweets with images are 94 percent more likely to be retweeted, and why not make the pictures themselves entirely informational?

The current trends in content marketing that relate to the popularity of infographics show no signs of slowing, and business leaders would do well to hop aboard this profitable wave.


What to consider when planning infographics

Alignment should always be the highest priority when starting to roll out a new marketing strategy, as the sheer novelty of the methods can quickly hinder brand consistency. The simplest way to ensure infographic efforts are intrinsically tied to the brand voice is to line them up with content marketing efforts, allowing one to support the other.

One might think that an infographic, or video, would simply expunge the need for written content, but this is not the case. Rather, users and consumers are looking for a comprehensive experience that includes a variety of mediums and channels. As such, content marketers should begin putting more focus into the creation and delivery of engaging infographics to accompany their blogs and other writing.


Did you like this article? Do you use infographics as part of your marketing strategy? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments.

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Until my next post on Wednesday on what makes someone a successful freelancer/contractor, have a great and productive week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday!


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Thursday, 13 February 2014

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

Personal Skills
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.


Inter-Personal Skills


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.

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, use this link:
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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.

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Until my next post on Monday on how to leverage infographics to drive content marketing success, enjoy the rest of the week and have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! See you back here on Monday!


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Monday, 10 February 2014

5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Efficient

Business Efficiency
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.


Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments.

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

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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.

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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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Wednesday, 5 February 2014

I'm Back And Blogging Will Resume

I'm Back
Yes I'm back and about time too! :)

Firstly, I want to apologise to all of you, my valued followers and visitors! I had a few urgent commitments back in mid November and what should have taken a couple of weeks to complete, took almost three months! I wasn't happy I can tell you! :) Anyway, I'm back now and I'm pleased to announce that the normal blogging schedule will resume as from this coming Monday. Again, I apologise for this untimely absence.

Over the past few days, I've been doing my utmost to answer as many emails which had arrived during my absence. If you are still waiting for a reply to your email, you should receive a reply within the next day or two. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

Right, it's back to my HUGE to-do list so I'll see you back here on Monday. As I wasn't here over the Christmas and New Year period, I hope you all enjoyed the festivities and here's wishing each and every one of you all the very best for 2014! It seems a bit strange writing this in February! :)

Anyway, have a great day everyone and thank you for your continued support!

P.S. Derek's Home and Business Blog is looking for guest authors. 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), I would like to hear from you. Please use the "Write For Us" tab above for more details.


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.

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Until my next post on Monday, enjoy the rest of the week and have a fabulous and fun-filled weekend! See you back here on Monday!


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Friday, 1 November 2013

The Essential Guide To Small Business Insurance

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.


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

For more business tips, use this link:
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