The internet will cause you to believe that there are magic solutions to all of your marketing woes. Although some of these notions are true, many of them are a marketing scheme in themselves which are encouraging you to part with your hard-earned cash. Your business costs can soon start to add up if you start paying for every marketing service under the sun. Now, there is a time and a place for paid marketing strategies, but you should know how to do these things yourself before you outsource them. Why? Well, how do you know your strategies are going to work if you haven’t tried them out for free in the initial stages first? Consider the following five reasons why you shouldn’t pay for marketing and you will soon have the urge to DIY many of your upcoming projects.
1) DIY Branding Is All You Need
When your business is well-established, you can pay a branding expert to create beautiful logos and branding for your company. When you’re just starting out you can create your own using free online platforms. If designing really isn’t your thing, you can use Etsy or Fiverr to purchase unique branding at a very affordable price.
2) You Can Design Your Own Brochures
Creating brochures for your business doesn’t need to be stressful or time-consuming, especially when there are an array of free platforms out there which guide you through the process step by step. It’s very important to have professional-looking brochures as this will catch the attention of your target customer. However, you don’t need to pay a professional to do this; you can simply use templates and take inspiration from platforms such as Pinterest.
3) Learning Copywriting is Quick and Simple
Good copy is the key to landing clients you love, but you don’t need to hire a copywriter to do all of the hard work for you. Your website copy, social media captions, and blog posts should be authentic to your brand voice. Writing in a relatable and authentic tone will help you to attract the right customers to your business.
4) Organic Social Media Marketing Can Reach the Masses
Posting on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms is a free and organic way of reaching your target audience. Creating viral content allows more and more people on the internet to discover your brand, so start working on your social media creation skills.
5) Blogging and SEO Works
If your online business doesn’t have a blog, it’s time to brush up on your writing skills and get creative. Implementing simple SEO techniques in each of your blog posts will grow your rankings on search engines which will allow you to be found by the right type of clients.
With all of these ideas in mind, it’s time to get your hands dirty and start working on your own marketing strategies. As soon as your business starts generating enough revenue, you can then start to outsource these tasks to professionals. Until then, all of these tasks can easily be done in-house.
Having your own business is great, but there are always ways to make it bigger and bolder. What you should do is look at your achievements to date and see what the next steps could be. If you are looking for some inspiration for what you can do, here are some ideas to get you going.
People love to spend money but it is important we help them be smart about it. However, we can’t tell people what to do. This is why it is important to offer as many options as possible when it comes to making a purchase. If you can team up with a credit company to give your customers more flexibility, this can be great for everyone. It is important to be smart about this and use debt collection software to ensure that they are not taking on too much debt and that you will get your money back. There are many different companies that you can use to ensure that your customers have a wide range of options available.
Offer savings
This is an old idea that has worked well for a lot of businesses over the years. One example is butchers. Around the end of the summer, many butchers open up the books and allow people to start making payments into their Christmas club. This club is a savings club that helps people to afford their Christmas meals. It is a beautiful and simple idea. Not only do these people get the thing that they want, but you also don’t need to hand anything over until it is paid for completely. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of offering credit, having a savings club might be the next best thing.
Go online
If you don’t have an option to shop online, you are missing out. Shopping online is big business and there are many ways to do it. For example, if you have a store, you could offer online shopping. If you have a plumbing business, you could offer an online booking service with an estimated price list so that people don’t have to phone you. There are countless possibilities that you can use to make your business profitable online. Even having a social media page and a blog can be a great way to get people interested in what you do and help direct people to your store in town.
Open a shop
If you have an online business, you could open a store on your local High Street. This can be a big step for a lot of businesses, especially if they have always worked online. By doing this, you give your customer that chance to touch and feel the items that you sell. They might browse your store and go home to order online. Having a store in your local town is also a great way to boost the area. Not only will you be providing jobs, but you will also improve the look of the area with a fancy new storefront.
If you are in the process of organizing a house move, phone and internet service should be at the top of your list of priorities, along with all of the other utilities you will require.
We will explain all you need to know about the internet and moving home so that you can keep frustration and downtime to a minimum and guarantee that everything goes properly on moving day.
Examine the availability of broadband service at the new location
Because broadband coverage varies from location to location, it is critical to double-check what is available before proceeding. It is possible that your existing service may no longer be offered, or that a better offer will be made available.
Check to see if there is a better broadband package available
When checking for availability, keep an eye out for better deals. It is possible that switching to a different Internet service provider or upgrading to a faster connection from your present provider will save you money.
Consult with your current service provider
Before making any changes to your broadband service, it is important that you speak with your current provider.
If you are planning on sticking with the same service provider, find out what the procedure is for transferring the connection to a new location. Make sure to find out how much notice is required; otherwise, you may find yourself without internet access on the day of your relocation.
The useful infographic below has some of the important questions that you should ask before choosing and settling on a new internet provider
After being out of the workplace for over a year, many businesses are opening back up and employees are coming back. Many offices allow their employees to do a hybrid of remote work and going to the office. While plenty of others are either doing 100% remote or 100% in the office. Those who are going back to the office for good or are planning to do a hybrid version of visiting the office may be worried about staying safe while the world is still undergoing this pandemic. These tips are vital in staying safe when having to go back to the workplace.
Check to see what sort of protections your employer has
At the beginning of the pandemic, were there any safety protocols? Are there any protocols right now for your company? This is incredibly important to figure out as this is going to be necessary to keep you and everyone else in the office space. Ask your employer what sort of safety measures they have such as cleaning protocols, sanitizer, masks, social distancing, as well as other possible rules.
Avoid using public transport when commuting
If you were having to use public transport to get to and from work, it may be best to ask what other options could be put into place. Public transport, especially during rush hour isn’t the safest as people are crammed together in a tight space. Nobody can keep their distance when this is happening. However, if you have to commute, try to ask for a ride from a coworker, leave early to avoid rush hour, or even try to cycle to work.
In addition, if you decide to drive to the office each day, you must ensure that you stay safe on the road. After being home for so long, many drivers will be nervous and may make mistakes. So make sure you are always aware of your surroundings and drive cautiously. If you are involved in an accident, you should consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to help you gain access to sufficient compensation. Personal injury claims can be accessed by people who have been injured in an accident as a result of another person’s negligence or misconduct.
Ask the employer about safety protocol
While it’s true that COVID-19 is still a major issue, another one that is raising questions would be general safety at work. Is there a safety officer present? Is there an urgent care facility close by? Is there a first aid kit? How about fire alarms or carbon monoxide detectors? There are multiple aspects of safety and your employer needs to make sure that the environment is safe enough for all types of emergencies that could take place.
Always keep your workspace clean
Keeping your workspace clean is one of the smart tips to help you reach your health goals. A clean desk leads to a clean healthy mind. This includes making sure there isn’t any clutter but also being sure that it’s sanitized as well. Keeping hand sanitizer and wipes at your desk at all times will drastically help in keeping safe and healthy during work.
Speak up about your concerns
Since you’re having to go to work, it’s understandable that you have a lot of questions. If you feel unsafe at your job then you have to speak up. Think about it, is risking your health or even your life worth it for your employer? If you feel unsafe or if someone is making you feel unsafe you must speak up about it. You don’t even have to be completely confrontational if you’re wanting to indicate your intent either. Sure, there is always a risk of raising your worries but your life comes first, your health comes first, and your safety comes first.
If you do a lot of daily blogging from home, either for work or leisure purposes, the chances are high that you’ll use a computer for the job, such as a PC, Mac, or laptop. The thing is, when you’re spending several hours blogging each day, it can end up being uncomfortable.
For example, you might end up with back or neck pain because of how or where you’re sitting, and you might even start to have blurred or double vision after a while! You need to take some steps to avoid those problems and more from causing pain and discomfort.
Here’s what you can do to create the ultimate blogging workstation in your home that is both comfortable and looks fantastic:
1. Get a New Desk
Do you have a small desk or something rudimentary to use as your desk? If so, it’s time to invest in a new computer desk that is big enough to house your monitor, keyboard, and mouse and offer plenty of surface space!
When you check out potential new desks, make sure you choose one that is either the right height for your needs or is height-adjustable. Don’t choose any desk just because it looks great; it has to function correctly too. Consider looking at standing desks as well.
2. Get an Ergonomic Chair
Another essential upgrade for your blogging workstation is an ergonomic chair. In a nutshell, an ergonomic chair allows you to sit with optimal comfort for long periods, and it’s one that you can adjust to your specific seating requirements.
Ensure that the ergonomic chair you buy meets your height and weight requirements and that it’s well-constructed. The last thing you want to do is buy a chair that will fall apart after just a few uses.
3. Consider Buying a Second Monitor
It doesn’t matter if you use a desktop computer or a laptop. It makes sense to have a second monitor at your disposal, as it means you can organize your work easier.
For example, on one screen, you can have a web browser window open with your website and backend blog post editor on it, and on the other screen can have some research on it for your next blog article.
4. Upgrade Your Keyboard and Mouse
You’ll undoubtedly be doing a lot of typing and clicking each day. The problem with long-term, constant keyboard, and mouse usage is that you could end up developing medical conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Thankfully, you can drastically minimize the chances of that happening by upgrading to a better keyboard and mouse solution.
5. Upgrade Your Lighting
Lastly, when you’re doing a lot of computer-based work like blogging, you need to ensure that you’ve got crisp, bright light in the room where you’re based.
Start by upgrading the ceiling lights to LED daylight bulbs; they’ll also help lower your energy bills! Additionally, consider investing in a desk lamp that also has an LED daylight bulb.
By considering the above concepts, you’ll end up with an ultimate blogging workstation in your home!
To increase profitability, the revenue of the company must increase, and the costs must be minimized. The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Your Business Operating Costs has been created to help small businesses find savings on core expenses.
Prepare A Budget, Set A Goal, And Build A Ballpark
While you may want to cut your business expenses, you shouldn’t sacrifice the quality of your customer service. Cutting back on your magazine subscriptions and opting for the cheapest suppliers will leave you with more cash at the end of the month, but it could also harm your service offering.
You should create a monthly budget based on the average income per month (taking into account seasonal fluctuations), your business model, and your customers’ expectations.
When budgeting, overestimate your spending and underestimate your income. Then your operating expenses will be covered each month.
Minimizing Spend On Utilities
When you own a business or lease a property, utilities are a necessity. It is easy to unwittingly enter into costly contracts because there are no regulations to protect against shoddy deals. In order to reduce business costs, you should start by looking at expenses on utilities.
Depending on your utility needs, you can cut down on your costs by either limiting usage or switching to cheaper suppliers.
For each utility area, there are nuances to reduce usage. There are four easy steps you can follow to compare and switch suppliers:
1. Keeping track of your monthly spend and contract term allows you to see how much you spend each month in each spend area
2. Directly contact six or more suppliers per area of spending to compare
3. Obtain a better price by negotiating with suppliers
4. Switch your suppliers by informing current and new ones, and signing a contract
Consider how you pay for services once you’re certain you’re with the best supplier. Businesses that pay their invoices early or use Direct Debit may receive discounts. Over time, discounts can add up and make the difference between cutting service and keeping it. You should never pay invoices late since the penalties can lead to heavy debt.
Broadband & Telecoms
Telecommunications and broadband are essential tools for communicating with customers. In that sense, avoiding it is a challenge. The following guidelines can help you prevent excess spending by keeping track of your business’s likely usage each billing cycle:
Each business will need a different bandwidth speed. Software startups require very high speeds to function. However, small cafes that offer free WiFi can make do with lower speeds or a download cap
VoIP systems are popular among businesses that do not handle many calls, so they can save you money from overpriced telecom packages.
Recycling & Waste Management
There are several ways to reduce waste removal costs, depending on the service your business is using:
If your business uses a “per bag” service, where your provider collects bin bags for each item created, then reducing the amount of rubbish you produce will reduce costs. Recycling your paper and plastics (i.e., cups, cutlery, and paper towels), as well as encouraging a paperless environment are all ways to do so
Is your trash bin full every week? Consult your supplier to determine whether or not bin collections can be decreased. If you’re only filling your bins half full each time they’re collected, cutting back on collection frequency could save you money.
Take Advantage Of Technology
Automation of business processes raises efficiency, saves time, and improves customer service. Technology benefits workplace productivity in a big way. Moreover, utilizing the technology we have at our fingertips can also reduce our costs without compromising our ability to deliver quality services.
There are a variety of business functions that technology can automate. Accounting, payroll, marketing, and HR can all be managed with digital software. By automating these types of tasks, businesses can limit the need to hire as many workers, resulting in cost savings. Additionally, automation reduces the chances of human error, so employees will spend less time and money correcting mistakes if automation is used.
Outsourcing Business Processes
Similarly to automating processes, you could opt to outsource processes to reduce staff costs. Marketing activities are most commonly outsourced to agencies. In this way, you can still get reliable results while saving money as opposed to hiring a full-time employee. Some of the most common include web development with services such as WEBX360.COM, financial services, business firms, including Maxim Gorin, and social media management.
There is a range of different options when using outsourcing:
The website Fiverr may be handy for finding a cheap expert for a one-time job. Consider reading reviews and portfolios of freelancers you are considering to gain an understanding of the quality of their work
You will be able to build a relationship with someone who can truly understand your business needs if you use an agency for ongoing business needs
You might find that outsourcing manufacturing to a country with cheaper labour costs is a cost-effective solution for your business but you must also consider the working conditions in which your products will be crafted. You should weigh the ethical sourcing of the products with the savings you expect to enjoy.
Using Less Office Space
In light of the Coronavirus, we now know that many businesses can be more flexible in their office space. This resulted in:
Using a hotdesking arrangement helps reduce operational costs by allowing remote employees to work from home if you have the capability to do so.
By downsizing and reducing storage needs, going paperless could save you money
Although you may have less control over utilities and you may pay half as much for shared services, renting a shared workspace can be less expensive than leasing an independent property.
Employee Perks
The first step to cutting your costs is to cut employee perks. This will save money without reducing the quality of the products you offer (though you might not be too thrilled about making such a change). Consider surveying staff to see where they will be least affected by changes to benefits. Discuss any changes with them clearly.
There are many ways that you can cut down on the costs of running your business. Do you have any other methods that you could share in the comments below?
You want perfection; you go for it. You’ve got to be on top of everything if you wish to succeed. Getting things done on time, adding one more touch to your latest masterpiece, getting through that project quickly, making sure your work is always on-point.
The desire for perfectionism is not always wrong. It shows how much you care about your work and how much you want to deliver the best. However, this becomes a problem when it consumes all the time and resources in your pursuit of getting everything just right. The truth is that we aren’t perfect, and we need to accept that and then work with that reality to improve ourselves and our business.
So what is perfectionism, and how does it affect the success of your business?
Perfectionism is a psychological condition that can lead to feelings of anxiety or depression. The desire for perfectionism shows itself in various ways but negatively impacts our work lives. For example, many people believe that their work won’t be good enough if they are not perfect. They put pressure on themselves to get things done quickly, thinking that they are inefficient if they take their time.
Perfectionism is a problem on a lot of different levels. Not only does it lead to stress and anxiety, but it can also hinder your creativity and productivity. By developing new ways to overcome perfectionism, you can learn how to make the most of the time, build self-confidence and work more efficiently without letting perfectionism get in the way. Here are three ways perfectionism affects the success of your business:
Perfectionism can lead to stress.
Stress is a universal problem, but this can have a devastating impact on productivity in the work world. It’s no wonder that perfectionists tend to be more stressed than their less perfectionistic counterparts. Why? When they are in the middle of a project, they often feel like they are missing something. They may feel like there is always something more to do to close the project on time.
How can you deal with this? First, it’s important to remember that you can always take a break during a stressful period. Go for a walk, read a book, have some coffee – anything that takes your mind off the project at hand.
Sometimes it may be necessary to step back and see the bigger picture. For example, think about what may be happening over the next day or week rather than focusing on today. This helps you take a step back and analyze any problems occurring, which can help you overcome any blockages preventing your work from moving forward.
Perfectionism may lead to procrastination.
Some perfectionists are great at doing things when the time is right, but they can also put off what they need to do because they don’t feel ready to perform them flawlessly. If you have perfectionist tendencies, it can be hard to get your brain out of the “get it done right” mindset, which can cause anxiety and stress when you have an important deadline approaching.
It is essential to understand that there is no such thing as perfect. Even if you do everything right, something can always go wrong. So it is better to learn how to make the most of the time you have, rather than waiting until the last minute.
Perfectionism can make employees start abusing substances.
Some employees will take the pressure of living up to a perfectionist reputation, and they will look for ways to cope with stress and anxiety that may not always be healthy. This is especially true if the business has a no-failure policy and people feel like they need to avoid paperwork rather than simply doing the job with quality work.
The most important thing is to make sure you recognize any warning signs that your employees may be falling into unhealthy habits. For example, if someone drinks a lot, smokes, or takes drugs, they may need to take a vacation from work and get all of their problems sorted before returning. Upon their return, you can conduct a saliva drug test to ascertain that they are fit to work, especially if the work involves handling anything mechanical.
Summing up
If you employ a perfectionist, it is essential to remember that you must find other ways to achieve goals and perform well. You can’t put pressure on them all the time to do things perfectly because, ultimately, this will only lead them to burn out.
It is also important to remember that perfectionism doesn’t work for everyone, so don’t force your employees to perform in ways that may be bad for them. Always put your team first. For example, if they are attempting too much work at one time, you may need to give them a break or help them see that stress can be avoided by prioritizing their workload.
