Keep Your Business Up To Date With The Changing Times

To ensure that your business is doing whatever it can to remain popular and well-loved, you have to make sure you are keeping it up to date with the way things are changing. There are numerous aspects that you need to consider here, and we’ll look at a few of them in turn in this article. But the important thing is that you are doing everything in your power to keep your business up to date so that you can ensure that people continue to respond well to it, and so help it to grow.

Laws

As a business owner, you always have to keep one eye on the law at all times. There could be any number of changes in the law that might affect your business, and you are going to have to make sure that you are following along with them all the time. You will generally find that there is a lot of messaging around when a big law is changing, but it’s also necessary to keep an active lookout for such things. Of course, having a company lawyer is the best way to do this, as then you can carry on doing whatever you need to, and leave it to them.

Technology

There is no rule that says you have to keep up with all the tech changes. But the more that you do, the more likely it is that your business is going to be viewed by the customer as one to trust and support, and that is obviously going to be hugely important. Your technology is there for a reason, and you are going to need to make sure you are utilizing whatever changes there are in the best way possible if you feel it is necessary. If that means you need to make QR code to help spread awareness of your website or invest in some VR so that you can better visualize changes, then you might want to consider that

Culture

Good businesses also need to reflect the culture that they find themselves to be a part of. That means paying close attention to the kinds of changes in ideas and so on that are occurring, and hoping to fall in line with them in whatever way you can. You shouldn’t feel you have to merely do whatever is expected of you by the culture at large - but it is important that you are clever about how your business interacts with it. You will find that this is what you are going to have to consider, and it is this approach that really helps your business to keep up with what’s changing in the world.

Ethics

As ethical needs change, so too should your business. At the moment, you would be remiss not to consider making a big point of trying to work against climate change, and it is something that you will want to consider if you want customers to respect your business on the whole.

The Skills You Need to be a Successful Entrepreneur

Would you like to start your own work-from-home business to spend more time with your family or to have the freedom to travel? Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listed below are some skills that people who have successfully started their own businesses possess. 

Creative Problem Solving

Entrepreneurs need to be able to look at problems and see solutions, especially if they have limited resources. Innovations like workflow automation or MVP identification can help creative thinkers save time and get ahead. Follow your passion for a new way of doing business.

Managing Your Time

People who start their own businesses need to be self-starters and able to manage their own time efficiently. That often involves making use of new tools or methods of accomplishing tasks more efficiently. Companies such as Mitratech can help improve workflow efficiency and free you up for other tasks.

Clear Communication

The ability to get your point across successfully is very important to anyone starting a business. Clear communication preempts a number of problems, such as missed deadlines, ordering mistakes, and time lost to fixing errors. Taking the time to proofread anything you write to send out to clients can head off many annoying delays.

Persistence

Everyone experiences setbacks when they are starting a new venture, but what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the failed ones is persistence. Don't let rejections, delays, or progress that is slower than you would like get you down. It is difficult to keep going when orders are slow or clients are only trickling in, but that is exactly what you need to do. Try breaking your goals down into smaller steps to keep yourself from falling victim to burnout.

Pay Attention to the Numbers

While you need to give yourself a pep talk occasionally to keep going, you have to be realistic about financing issues. It is important to keep ROI in sight and to weigh financial decisions carefully.

Build a Brand

It can take some time to create a recognizable brand, but it is another important part of building a business. Putting thought and effort into branding will pay off in the end.

Sell Yourself and Your Product

Like branding, finding the right places and customers for your products is crucial to success at building a business. If you are uncomfortable approaching strangers with your message, have a friend help you practice your pitch.

If you are creative, a good communicator and persistent, among other qualities, you probably have what it takes to start your own business and run it successfully.

How To Be As Productive As Possible When Working From Home

Working from home can have a terrible effect on the quality and speed of your work, as there are a wealth of distractions that can take your attention away from the task at hand, and a greater opportunity for mistakes and problems to arise too.

Taking back control and becoming as productive as possible whilst out of the office doesn’t have to be a tricky process, as you need nothing more than determination and commitment to achieve your goals.

Luckily, there are a few simple steps which you can follow that will show you exactly what you need to do to perform to your full capabilities whilst working from home, and it could not be easier to implement these tricks into your daily schedule to see results in no time at all. So if you would like to learn a little more, then read on to uncover the best top tips that you can make the most of today!

Lay Strong Foundations 

One of the most important things that you must do to improve your productivity considerably is to lay the strongest foundations. This means providing yourself with the best quality platforms to work from - you need a comfortable and quiet room that can act as an office or workspace, a high specification computer or laptop as well as a super-fast internet connection too.

Trying to work without any of these features will immediately set you up for failure, as it’s going to be almost impossible for you to achieve your aims without the right surroundings and equipment. It’s important that you can carry out regular updates on any electronics so that you can make the most of bug fixes and additional features, otherwise, your workflow will begin to slow down. Many common issues that occur with technology can be easily solved with a little research, as you can do something like fix microphone on Mac or improve the speed of your laptop in no time at all. 

Staying Focused 

Staying focused is one of the biggest issues people face whilst working from home, as there are so many distractions that risk-taking your attention away from what’s important. Reducing these distractions can help you to stay on task and get into the right working flow so that you can finish your shift in record time!

First of all, though it may be tempting to visit the kitchen for a snack every time you need some motivation. It’s vital that you can set a specific time frame in which you can have your lunch and stay inside your office until that time. Turn all electronics and entertainment devices off before you set down to work for the day, as you will then have to go out of your way to switch it back on if you want to use it, therefore giving you more time to decide whether or not you actually want to waste your time in this way. 

Being as productive as can be whilst working from home has never been so simple!

Do You Have What It Takes To Start Your Business?

When you are hoping to start a business, you need to make sure that you are aware of as much as possible to do with what you need to expect. There is just so much that you are going to have to think about, and so much to deal with, that it is all going to be a lot easier and simpler if you know exactly what you need to do along the way. In particular, there are many things to focus on at the start as you start up your business. In this article, we are going to take a look at whether you have what it takes to start your business. What are some of the things that you are going to need straight away?

Secure Funding

All businesses will need a fair amount of funding if they are to start up well, and that will certainly go for your business too. That funding might come from a number of places, or you might be lucky enough to find a single benefactor who really believes in your cause, but in any case, it is something that you are going to have to think about to some degree. To ensure that the funding is secure, get it down in writing and in a clear payment clean or otherwise have it in your bank account at the very start where you can see it. Whether you are borrowing from visiolending.com, your local bank, or an investor you have found, you need to make sure that you are doing so in a sensible way.

Confidence & Drive

A lot of how well your business does comes down to you as an individual. As long as you have a certain amount of confidence and drive, you can be sure that you are going to have much more success with your business throughout its lifespan, so this is something in particular that you might want to focus on. There are always ways to improve your confidence and to fill yourself with more drive, so it is a good idea to do that. Hopefully, just the idea behind the business will be exciting enough that you have the drive to make it happen. Perhaps if you are feeling unmotivated, it just means you need to find an idea that you can get really excited about.

Time

Finally, starting up and running a business takes time. If you do not have a great deal of time to spare, then you are going to struggle to make it all work. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you have to spare every waking second: plenty of businesses began life as part-time ventures, and there is no reason that yours should be any different. But even those side businesses require a lot of energy put into them, and that means dedicating some time every day towards them. Be prepared for that particular sacrifice straight out the gate, as it is going to be an important part of the process.

Passion

You need to make sure you have a passion for the industry in which you are starting a business; otherwise, you might want to give up if you are just running a business for profit over everything. Your customers might also notice lower-quality products since the owner has lost passion and does not care when running their business. Finally, you must be consistent to maintain your customer base and make your business sustainable for years to come.

 Have you considered buying a business for sale?

If starting a business from scratch is not the ideal path to entrepreneurship for you, you should consider purchasing an existing business for sale. This way, you can acquire a business of your choice depending on your schedule, investment range & industry. This will help you find your ideal business opportunity. If you want to browse existing businesses for sale, you should use a directory of business opportunities, such as https://businesses-for-sale-uk.co.uk

5 Tips for Setting Up Your Home for Your Small Business

Running a business from home can be a difficult task to manage when also juggling family life. To help create a more efficient space in which you can conduct work, implement the following tips.

Keep Communication Separate

Make sure you have separate lines of communication that you use for business-specific activities that are always kept separate from your personal and family communications. This will allow you to select an email address that suits your company's brand and image. It will also make it easier when you are distributing business cards with your company's information on them. Consider getting a second phone number that you only use for business-related communication. In addition to giving you a more professional image, this will help you avoid issues with the line being tied up with personal calls and vice versa.

Create a Closed Office Space

Set aside a home office that can be closed off from the rest of the house. In addition to giving you a place that you can work on projects with minimum distractions, this will help keep your work items safe from pets and children in the household. Go out of your way to decorate it with items and appliances that provide positive contributions to your productivity. Include items that help you feel inspired in addition to appliances that will allow you to complete work more efficiently, such as an all-in-one printer or a drafting table.

Plan for Storage Space

Take into consideration how much storage space you will need. Set aside an area that is dedicated to storage and appropriately labeled so that you can keep your workspace neat and organized. This will help you be more productive in the long run while simultaneously avoiding messes that grow over time.

Provide Adequate Lighting

Invest time in ensuring your office has an appropriate amount of lighting. Research different light bulbs that can help you avoid eye strain while also creating an aesthetically pleasing space. Take into consideration the placement of your monitor when determining where you place various light sources such as your lamps.

Choose a Comfortable Office Chair

Select a chair that will encourage you to maintain good posture while you are working in your office. Research different chairs to determine which ones will suit your body type while also providing the back support you need.

With the right home office set up, you can make a comfortable space that will help boost your productivity when working on your small business at home.

CRM's as a Lifeline for Nonprofit Fundraising

For all of the social huff that seems to come about concerning the millennial generation, statistics taken from leading nonprofit agencies have found that approximately 40% of this up-and-coming population makes a monthly donation to a charitable cause. Although this still several points behind both Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, millennials lead the way in online giving through social media channels and crowdfunding sites. Rather than feeling stifled by the technology and usage habits of a younger generation, some nonprofits have tapped into the potential that business tech options bring to the mission of saving the world.

Tackling Tech Changes

There are still some companies that prefer to send out monthly newsletters and photo packets to entice giving, but the way global citizenship thinks about giving and the methods of sharing their wealth is undergoing a change. It’s not to say that people aren’t caring about the mission or the cause, but the landscape of influence has been altered. Peer connections are becoming more influential in motivating giving, and online platforms and mobile device apps are being used more frequently in these exchanges.  How well your nonprofit understands these trends and creates a strategy that taps into them will determine how successful your fundraising campaigns will be.

Streamlining Operations

Before you can address the giving potential, you need to get your operations in order. Rather than spreading your staff thin trying to cover administrative tasks, fundraising, and follow-up, consider purchasing a management system that can handle a lot of the day-to-day operations. Whether you choose to invest on your own or you work with a third party, working with a nonprofit payroll software can reduce the risk of mistakes with tax, benefits, and exemptions, saving you precious time and manpower. Accounting functions can be digitized, reducing errors and improving timeliness. Onboarding processes for new volunteers or applications and training that can be accessed via the internet or unique company portals can make your operations more effective and consistent. When this happens, you are free to work on the business of pursuing donations.

Taking Actionable Steps

Boosting your fundraising potential involves knowing about your past and future donors. Your company has probably kept a master list or file of donors, but doing something with all of this data is what makes the difference. By using a customer relationship management tool (CRM), you can develop an in-depth understanding of your giving base.

A CRM organizes your information, such as email or mailing lists, fundraising reports, events, online engagement, and social advocacy opportunities. Rather than just a basic knowledge of who is giving and which campaigns seemed the most successful, a CRM can evaluate the success of individual campaigns, the giving trends of certain companies or individuals, and forecast projections for giving opportunities in the future. Taking data and turning into action-worthy opportunities improves your organization’s efficiency, but it also supports more consistent fundraising.

Technology is a Better Multitasker

Implementing a CRM can do the job of several of your best employees or volunteers. The system can track how your donors are responding to your attempts at communication, letting you know if you should send out another email newsletter or posting another video blog about the latest project you have supported.  A CRM system looks at data from multiple areas of engagement and finances, taking the work of two separate departments and seamlessly merging into an easy-to-read report. 

As your company’s goal is to make a difference with a cause you hold dear, there is no shame in pulling out all the stops to make it happen. The donor base is familiar with tech and prefers it, making it a smart investment to get on the same page while you still can.

8 Simple Pieces Of Advice For First Time Buyers

When you’re looking to get on the property ladder, you’ll likely be feeling both excited and perhaps a little stressed. The process can take a little time, and arrive with both great successes and (sometimes) a few setbacks! The key is to get good and organized with a solid action plan. For some simple steps for your to-do-list, these eight should set you straight. 

1 . Determine your budget

A solid budget is crucial before you start shopping around as you need to determine exactly what you can afford and what is your ideal price range. Going in without a strict budget makes it difficult to assess whether you will be taking on a comfortable financial situation with your purchase. 

Apart from your monthly mortgage payments, there are others costs to be considered. You’ll also want to draw up a budget for all other expenses associated with buying your home. For example, think about your building's insurance and the costs of any furnishings you might need to begin with. There will also be the costs of the solicitor and the survey. Besides this, you’ll likely need to pay a removal company to move your belongings from a to b. 

2 . Seek mortgage advice

As a first time buyer, it’s a good idea to speak to a mortgage adviser who can help you to determine how much you will be able to borrow. A mortgage advisor will seek to gain a clear picture of any outstanding debts plus your income and your deposit. To get started on your own, try a free mortgage calculator to gauge an approximate figure to work with. 

3. Prep your documents

Before you take on the mortgage application process, you need to gather all of the appropriate documents that you’ll need. You’ll need detailed proof of your income, bills, outgoings, and your debts too. While you're at it, it’s a good idea to get your check your credit report to see that everything is in order and correct. Bad credit does not necessarily mean you’ll fail to get yourself a mortgage, but it’s a good idea to know where you stand anyway.

4. Research the neighborhood 

Perhaps it’s the case that you are considering a few different neighbourhoods? If so, it’s vital to spend enough time in each and every one. Check out the schools, if appropriate, and spend time in the areas experiencing the amenities and the atmosphere. Read about the neighborhood online—find out if it’s up and coming or slightly in decline. Look at the average prices so that you’ll know what to expect. Remember, you’re not just buying a home; your buying into the whole neighborhood as a community and a lifestyle. If it’s not a place that you like and feel at home, you won’t be able to fully appreciate the property. When finding a dream home is your new year’s resolution, you won’t want to choose the wrong neighborhood.

5. Start saving early

When you’re looking to buy, it’s a good idea to start saving as early as possible. You may not think you’re ready to buy yet, but time-flies and it’s preferable to put down a larger deposit. If you’re someone who finds it hard to save, try making use of a budgeting app to help you out. Mint is an excellent financial app that can track all of your accounts, spending, investments, and debts all in one place. Once you’ve provided Mint with all of your financial information, the app provides you with a workable budget for each category. 

When you can see a detailed picture of your spending, it’s easier to make adjustments and therefore-savings. The app also offers you a free look at your credit score (always handy for those looking to buy)! Ideally, you’ll want to save a down payment of at least 20%; however, lower down payments can still land you a favorable mortgage. 

6. Find the right realtor 

Finding the right realtor is crucial for first-time buyers. You’ll want to prioritize those with a wealth of experience and an excellent reputation. Don’t be tempted to go for the first or most convenient option you're presented with. Take your time, and shop around until you find the perfect match. It can be useful to look to friends and family in your local area for advice. Often, recent buyers may be able to offer advice on the best realtor options around. Failing this, see if you can find any reviews online about the realtors who you are considering. When you meet with each one, be sure to ask about their successes and experience—to get a clear idea. 

7. List your must-haves

Before you start looking for homes, you’ll need to list your must-haves; the non negotiable things that you require in a home. Perhaps the number of bedrooms is particularly important?

Is it essential that you have a garden? It could be that you want an energy-efficient home or a property within walking distance of a train station? Whatever your requirements are, it’s vital to make a detailed list of what you need and what you are looking for before you start the process. Going in with a clear idea of what you want makes the procedure much less stressful!

8. Remain patient

Lastly, patience is really important when it comes to buying a property. It can take a little time to get through each stage of the procedure. What’s more, it’s normal to get beaten on offers or find places that just aren’t what you are looking for. Try to enjoy the process and see the wait as a positive in finding a property that’s just right.

First-time buyers looking for further advice would be well advised to look to sites like Altrua Financial. Here you’ll find some excellent info and services for first-time buyer mortgages. It’s important to find the right kind of company who can talk you through the fine print and who are committed to offering you the lowest rate that they can.

Grow Your Business with These Four Steps

There is little doubt that your top priority as a businessperson should be to help your company achieve sustained and long-term growth. With growth being a sure sign of financial health and strategic success, there’s so much value in finding new and exciting ways to grow your business, from your knowledge of the market and your tapping into new customers, to the investment of your resources in a whole new branch of work. Here, you’ll find four steps to grow your business, from the planning through to the execution.

Investment Funding

These investments—in marketing, auditing, accounting, and providing for higher volumes of sales – require funding. Often, that means either approaching a funding body for an investment in your business or needing to open a line of credit with a reputable business loan provider, like biz2credit.com. With the capital you need to make your investments in growth a success, you’ll be able to strategize and invest freely, without budget constraints imposed by the relative size of your business as it attempts to establish itself in the market.

Map Out Your Space

It’s important to be aware of the business space in which you operate. This means taking account of your competitors, taking account of your customers, and taking account of the business and consumer trends that you see around you, whether they exist in your own particular market or not. Without this important base work, you won’t have an informed foundation from which to plan your growth strategy. So, try to answer the following questions:

·       Who is my target customer?

·       Why are they my target customers?

·       Where can I find this target customer?

·       How can I target this customer?

Now, it’s time to look at how you’ll put the answers to these questions to use.

Marketing and Sales

So, you’ve decided that you have an ideal customer—one that you think is most likely to trade with you—and you’ve strategized some ways in which to access them with sales and marketing techniques. Now, it’s time to direct your marketing and sales energy to find these customers and target them with advertising and marketing materials that’ll lead them gently back onto your website, from where they’ll make purchases and boost your profits. Engage with external, outsourced marketing companies for help in getting your message across to your target consumers.

 Consolidation

If you grow, you really do not want to shrink back. That can be disastrous for your business, as when you scale too quickly and then fail to maintain the extra business you were anticipating, your whole business, set up for higher volumes of sales, will start to lumber towards debt and high costs with low profits. As such, every time you grow your business, you need to work on a period of consolidation in order to keep the boat steady and ensure that the extra market share you’ve captured is there to stay for your long-term financial future.

These four steps will guide you through the planning and execution of your strategies for your business’ growth in 2020 and beyond.

PROS AND CONS TO STARTING A HOME INSPECTION BUSINESS

As with any business, there are advantages and disadvantages of starting your own home inspection business. Here are a few things to think about if you are thinking of starting a company that inspects homes for any issues that need repairing.

Advantages

·       Be your own boss

Being your own boss can be amazing in many ways. You can choose the days you work so that you can achieve a perfect work-life balance. This can be especially helpful if you have a family as you are able to choose hours that will work around all the responsibilities that come with being a parent.

·       You can start big or small

Home inspection businesses often begin at home, so it is perfectly viable for your business to start off small. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes when you begin a home inspection business, such as studying to get certified to complete a home inspection report, so being able to do this from the comfort of your own home is definitely an advantage. Beginning small also means that there is little start-up cash needed, and you only need a few tools, to begin with, and over time, you can grow your kit as you begin to make larger profits.

·       Learn in spare time

Due to online home inspection programs, you have the ability to be in control of the pace at which you learn. This gives you the ability to learn in your own time, which means that you can continue to work full-time if needed whilst working towards improving your future.

·       Perform an important service

A home inspection business can be fulfilling on a personal level as you are able to help people within your community. As a home inspector, you are able to answer questions that the average homeowner would not know, which gives you the opportunity to educate your customers. This is fulfilling as you are not only helping them to find their new home, but you are also giving them the ability to build their own knowledge. Knowing you’ve helped someone is very rewarding.

·       There is lots of money to be made

This industry can turn over a significant profit before you know it! Unlike other businesses, you shouldn’t have to wait years for your business to return the money that you have invested in it as the home inspection business can grow a lot quicker than other industries. This means it may not be as risky as starting up a firm in a different sector.

·       New techniques and certifications always happening

There are always chances to increase your knowledge of the ever-changing policies that come with being a home inspector. Not only is it healthy to improve your knowledge, but it also gives you the opportunity to stand out against your competitors if you have a wider and more up-to-date breadth of information.

·       Every day is different

You spend most of your life at work, and if you do the same thing every single day, it will soon become monotonous and boring. With a home inspection business, every day is different. This can ease the burden of having to get up and out of bed every morning.

Disadvantages

·       Industry standards vary

Regulations and other industry standards vary in different areas, neighborhoods, and states. This means you will have to update your education as well as your knowledge of policy changes and new requirements in the industry. For example, if you were to move, you may have to re-register with another state. This can be a hassle as you may have to become certified all over again. However, your skills as a home inspector will always be relevant, so training again shouldn’t be a problem.

·       The market is saturated

This means there is a lot of competition out there. You will have to work hard to stand out from the competition. With some companies, they will have devoted clients and more experience, so it might be harder to compete against them. However, as long as you work hard to create a good reputation and a recognizable brand, you can still succeed.

·       There is a lot of pressure to get it right

As with all industries, the stakes are high in a home inspection business. After all, people are paying you to get it right. One mistake, and you might be looking at a large lawsuit. However, don’t let this put you off because as long as you are insured, the burden can be taken from your shoulders if things are missed or mistakes are made. There are risks in every business, so don’t let them stop you from pursuing your goals.

If you are looking at starting a business, here are some great ideas for teens or anyone on a shoestring budget. These business ideas are easy to start, do not require a lot of upstart capital, and can be done from anywhere. They are a perfect opportunity even if you are looking at adding a side hustle to your full-time job.

Be A Better CEO With These Practical Ideas

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As the leader of your business, it’s ultimately up to you to steer your organization in the right direction. A lot of responsibility rests on your shoulders, particularly if you are running a medium to large enterprise. You’ll have done something right so far, given that your business has reached such an impressive size. But, that doesn’t mean the hard work stops there!

You will still need to keep making the right decisions and knowing when to call it a day on bad ones. So, what can you do as a CEO to continue to keep your business on track? Here are some practical suggestions to help you avoid running your business aground and enjoy some smooth, plain sailing:

Get the big picture on what’s going on in your business

Before you do anything else in your organization, you must have a full summary of its financials. Apart from that, you’ll also need to know things like what each team member does. And how they contribute to your business. And, which sales and marketing methods offer the best return on investment (ROI).

So, how can you collate all that information in one easy to digest place? Well, it’s possible to create a CEO dashboard - but you’ll need to be a data-driven chief executive first! That means having access to a plethora of data that you can harness and format into an easy-to-read summary.

Believe it or not, even small business CEOs have the power to create a CEO dashboard. Many software solutions let you use a variety of data sources. Once you’ve got that sorted, you’ll have easy access to the information you need. Soon, you won’t have to spend ages searching for information or waiting for reports from other team members.

Invest in the right culture for your business

It’s essential to have a clear picture of your goals and priorities in business. But, it’s equally crucial to create a company culture that reflects the actual values of your organization. The last thing you want is to have a negative culture manifest itself because you were too busy spending time on less important things.

Here are some examples of how you can curate the culture you want for your business:

• Celebrate victories that align with your core values with all colleagues;

• Make sure you highlight the smaller stories that show how your firm goes beyond the call of duty for its clients;

• Clearly convey the goals and priorities of your business;

• Make sure those messages get conveyed at the recruitment stage to attract the right people for your organization.

Hold everyone accountable - including yourself

Last but not least, consistency pays dividends when it comes to acting on priorities, goals, and values. As the buck stops with you, everyone in your business must get held to account. And that includes yourself!

What you don’t want to do is waste time, money, and talent on processes that offer little to no value to your company’s root cause. Everyone has a job to do in your business, and it’s vital they do it to the best of their abilities.

6 Empowering Podcasts To Listen To If You’re A Woman In Business

By Hollie Jones

Whether you’re a female founder, entrepreneur, or freelancing queen, being a woman in business is both exhilarating and challenging.

The road of a female entrepreneur is long and winding, with plenty of bumps and potholes along the way — and we’re not all born savvy and fearless.

Luckily, there is plenty of advice, inspiration, and encouragement to be discovered along the way. Podcasts are brilliant for finding insight and enlightenment on a whole range of topics — and they’re perfect for female entrepreneurs (let’s face it, our lives can sometimes be lonely and isolating, as much as we love them).

Below, we’ve gathered six of the best empowering podcasts to listen to if you’re a woman in business. They’re all hosted by female founders or entrepreneurs, and feature some awesome guests. Check out the list here:

1.   Girlboss Radio with Sophia Amoruso

If you’re a woman in business, there’s a great chance that you’ve already heard of Sophia Amoruso: founder and CEO of fashion brand Nasty Gal and female social network Girlboss. But have you heard of Girlboss Radio? It’s well worth listening to.  

Each weekly Girlboss Radio episode tackles a specific theme, and the show features famous female entrepreneurs talking to host Sophia Amoruso about the highs and lows of growing their businesses and building their careers.

What do we love about Girlboss Radio? The honest (and humorous) conversations, the solid advice, and the inspiring stories that come out of each episode; great for women who are struggling to navigate the professional and personal obstacles of running a successful business.

2.   The Lively Show

With over 10-million downloads and reviews describing her podcast as “the #1 podcast that all female entrepreneurs should listen to” — host Jess Lively must be doing something right. And if you give this podcast a try, you’ll hear it for yourself.

The Lively Show was started with the intention of sharing a deeper approach to life and business than just “hustle and grind” success tips. It’s all about finding your own potential, becoming empowered, and solving problems in meaningful ways.

 In addition to sharing her own insights, Jess invites plenty of intelligent and fascinating guests to her podcast to tell their journeys as female entrepreneurs. Perfect for feeling empowered as a woman in business.

3.   Stellar Life from Orion’s Method

Stellar Life is hosted by Orion Talmay of Orion’s Method. This inspirational podcast takes a holistic approach to “leveling up” your life, tackling self-development, health, wealth, leadership, and female empowerment.

Orion recognizes that life is a puzzle composed of thousands of pieces, and understands the importance of maintaining that perspective. It’s all very well focusing on certain aspects of your career, but if you ignore the rest of your life, you’re going to feel unfulfilled. That’s why each episode addresses one or more of these pieces and is packed with “big picture” inspiration.

The result is an empowering podcast that offers insight and practical advice for listeners.

4.   Being Boss

Being Boss is an awesome podcast to listen to if you’re a woman in business. Aimed at creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and side-hustlers, Being Boss is co-hosted by two successful business gurus (and good friends) — Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson.

Each episode of the successful podcast (which has been going since 2015) is full of practical and encouraging advice for the working woman. Whether it’s setting out career tactics, habits, and routines, or getting into the mindset of successful female entrepreneurs, this podcast features plenty of content that will empower and inspire listeners. 

The list of podcast guests is impressive too, with a huge variety of successful entrepreneurs and experts such as Brooke Castillo coming on to offer guidance and share their stories. There are hundreds of fascinating episodes to choose from, so get listening!

5.   The Broad Experience

The Broad Experience is not known as well as some others but all about women, success, and work.

Brought to you by journalist Ashley Milne-Tyte (British-born but based in New York), each episode tackles big subjects; things that everyone’s thinking about but not always talking about.

Ashley covers a huge range of topics, including race, gender, age and class in the workplace, parenthood (or the lack thereof), sexual harassment, and even working through menopause. She is joined by some awesome guests who help to bring their own special insight and experiences to these subjects.

Overall, it’s an intelligent podcast that helps empower women in business.

6.   Goal Digger

Popular podcast Goal Digger is hosted by Jenna Kutcher, an online marketing expert, podcaster, and educator. Based in Wisconsin, Jenna is a creative entrepreneur who made her way out of a corporate office job and grew a 7-figure empire doing something she loves. Now, she’s sharing what she’s learned and helping entrepreneurs to grow profitable, passionate and authentic businesses that allow them to live more and work less.

Each weekly podcast episode comes packed with helpful marketing advice, productivity tips, social strategies, business hacks, and inspirational stories — perfect for women in business, and particularly creative freelancers and budding entrepreneurs.

Jenna is engaging, friendly, and super-enthusiastic about each subject she tackles, which makes Goal Digger feel light (some podcasts feel like heavy lectures) while still leaving you with empowering tips and strategic tactics.

Whether you’re looking for inspirational advice and success stories from girl bosses around the world, self-care and wellbeing tips, or frank discussions on modern feminism, there are plenty of female-led podcasts to choose from these days.

If you’re a woman in business, tune into these six empowering podcasts — trust us, you won’t look back.

3 Factors To Consider When Choosing Your First Office

Starting a business from home is a great way to keep your overhead low and reduce risk, but it can only get you so far. There will come a time when you need to start thinking about expanding the business, moving into an office space, and hiring employees. Picking your first office is an exciting step, but it’s also a daunting one. You will invest a lot of money and if you choose badly, it could have a serious impact on your business. These are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing your first office space. 

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The Location

The first thing to think about is the location. It’s important that you find somewhere that is easy to get to for you and your employees, and close to customers (for retail traffic). Ideally, you would want to be right in the center of a city, but you will pay a premium for that location. You might be able to get a cheap deal if your office is in the middle of nowhere, but that makes things difficult for anybody that needs to get to the office. It’s important that you find a middle ground between the two so you don’t spend more than you can afford at this crucial time in your business’s development. 

You need to think about business taxes as well because they vary a lot. There are some states that have very low taxes so they’re a great place to form an LLC, while other states will charge high business rates. Moving to another state to run your business is a big step but it may be worth it if you can reduce your tax burden a lot. 

The Energy Costs 

Even if you can get a great deal on a lease, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the office is going to be cheap. If energy costs are high, you may struggle to cover your monthly running costs. There are some ways to make your office more eco-friendly and save on energy, but some buildings will be expensive to run regardless. Older buildings tend to be poorly insulated so it’s best to go for something more modern if it’s within your budget. Always ask about the energy costs before you sign the lease so you don’t get caught out. 

Parking 

Parking is one thing that people always forget to check because they are so focused on the office building itself. But if you don’t have enough parking for all of your employees, that will cause you problems. Make sure that you think ahead as well and find a place that has enough space for all of your employees, with extra in case you hire more people in the future. If you will be hosting clients at your office, make sure that there is plenty of parking for them as well. 

The price is obviously your most important consideration, but don’t forget to take these factors into account as well.  

Can An Answering Service Help Your Small Business Convert Those After-Hour Calls?

As a small business owner, do you set business hours and stick to them, or do you handle calls whenever they come? Some entrepreneurs see the need to work 100 hours or more every week when the business is still new, while others feel the need to balance work and private life. In the latter case, an answering service can help you keep in touch with customers who call after business hours.

If you have to drop everything to answer the phone or you have to stay late into the night to ensure no call is missed, you will achieve little in business’s development and growth. After-hour sales can be lucrative – and you shouldn't miss them due to unanswered calls. Besides, you need to devote more time to better your products. Instead of having the calls go to voice mail, get an answering service.

What Benefits Do You Get with an Answering Service?

An answering service lets you capture leads and offer customers the information they need outside business hours. Most of your customers might be occupied during the workday, with most working 9-to-5 – being able to answer their calls after five will play a significant role in ramping up your small business revenue.

Instead of waiting to answer all calls that come to your business, you can dedicate your time to developing new products or producing better versions of the product you already have. A voicemail box is impersonal and generic and will drive your customers away. An answering service, on the other hand, handles each caller personally.

How to Use an Answering Service

An answering service answers all calls that come in when you are either busy or away after closing hours. For starters, you can set business hours where requests that come in after business hours or before the start of your workday are directed to the answering service. You can also set the call to go to the answering service just to be safe. This way, you do not have to pick up all calls during your workday if you are otherwise engaged in other tasks.

When using an answering service, you need to set different scripts for different hours. For instance, after hours, you need to set troubleshooting issues, service outages, or website availability issues. Note that the answering service should not be part of your marketing strategy – they only capture leads that you would otherwise miss.

Most Virgin Entrepreneurs Need Help In These Areas

It can be a daunting experience setting up your very first business. It is also likely to be one of the most exciting times of your life. There is so much that you will be focused on and trying to get right, and however you approach it, you are bound to need a little help here and there. There is nothing wrong with that. After all, it is true for everyone, and so there’s no shame in it. But let’s look now at some of the areas that most first-time entrepreneurs need help in, to give you some idea of where you are.

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IT

It is often the case that you will need help where you are weak. Most people, for instance, are not well-versed in all things technological, and so this is one area where they generally need a little help to get things going. If you think you might need help, you will want to think about going to the right people to make sure you get it right. Using a decent managed services team like www.thinktechnologiesgroup.com is often the best way to go - that way, you can just leave it all in their hands.

Marketing

The world of marketing is one that changes profoundly with each passing season, let alone with years. It is a full-time occupation just keeping up with the changes in the cultural winds, so it’s hardly surprising that most business owners don’t have the time to look into this stuff themselves. See www.mplans.com/articles/ for advice on marketing to get you started.

If you are going to try and run your business as successful as possible, then you need to make sure that you are getting some help with your marketing. With that kind of help onboard, you will be able to lead your business to the kind of success that you really want for it

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Sales

Some people seem to be born natural salespeople. If you happen to be someone who can sell anything to anyone, then you will be able to use those skills in your new business - although even then you might want to find someone to help you. But most people are not such individuals, and they will need to find true salespeople to help them get their sales off the ground and their products shifted. It’s definitely wise to look out for such people early on so that you can have a much better chance of selling as many products as possible as soon as possible.

Office Design

If you have ever helped to design an office before, you will know that there are so many things involved that you need to consider. In truth, this too is something that is best left to the professionals, as they are much more likely to be able to do your team justice. You need a working space that your team can enjoy, and that means having a keen sense of what works and what doesn’t. With this kind of help, your business is going to be much better off indeed.

4 Ways To Grow Your Personal Brand In The Entertainment Industry

Do you want to be a performer, writer, or an all-round big name in the entertainment industry? Then it’s important you know how to promote and grow your brand. You are your brand, which means you need to spend a considerable amount of time working on it and getting it right in order to spread the word and get your name out there. Below, you’ll find a few ways to grow your personal brand in the entertainment industry:

Focus On Your Social Media Platforms

If you’re going to grow your personal brand, then realistically you should have social media platforms as a performer. Having these profiles will enable you to share news about what you’re doing, share clips or pieces of your work, and interact with people who follow you. 

Network As Much As You Can

In any industry, who you know can make a huge difference to your success. Make sure you network as much as you can. This doesn’t mean only talking about yourself and boring people to death - it just means having genuine conversations with people and building up a rapport. You never know who you might meet. 

Create A Portfolio

Have a portfolio of your work ready for people to see. You may want to show the people you network with, share it on your social platforms, and apply for jobs this way. If you’re a performer, you should have a couple of minutes of you performing - nobody else getting in the way, just you. 

Get Involved 

Go and see various shows that you’d like to be involved in. Speak to people afterward. Find out how to get your foot in the door! Below you’ll find an infographic to help you pick the right show.

buy your Broadway Tickets

Five Excellent Reasons Your Business Should Give to Charity

If you have a successful business that is bringing in money, you may feel inclined to pay some of that profit forward in the form of charitable giving. Making financial donations is one of the best ways for a business to contribute to its community. Here are just a few of the great reasons your business should be giving charitably.

1. They're Tax-Deductible

The simplest explanation for why charitable donations are such a great opportunity is that they're tax-deductible meaning you get to keep some more of your business' taxable income when you make them, all while also helping out a worthy cause. Working with your company's accountant can help you to make sure you're getting the most out of your potential charitable deductions. If you're leaving potential charitable deductions on the table you may be missing out on the opportunity to benefit from the remaining excellent perks of giving presented below.

2. Donations Are Great Public Relations

Making a charitable donation is a great way to get positive coverage of your company while also having a positive effect on the community. Whether you're sponsoring the hole at a local PTA golf outing so all the players see your company's logo or making a donation to a local food bank which draws news coverage, getting your company associated with positive feelings while also helping out the group you donate to is a win-win situation. The more donations you make which draw press coverage or get highlighted by the organization you are donating to, the more awareness for your brand you receive, all of it in a positive light.

3. Responsible Behavior Raises Morale

Keeping your employees happy is one of the most important tasks at any company. Not only does high morale result in better performance from employees, but it also makes it easier to retain good employees and attract compelling candidates for new postings. Everybody would prefer to work at a company they feel is having a positive effect on the world, and making charitable donations is one way to ensure your company fits the bill. As you expand your company's charitable giving portfolio, you, in turn, are making it a more appealing place for workers, both those who are already with the company and those you would like to add in the future, letting you build the strongest staff possible.

4. You'll Expand Your Company's Network

The business world is all about networking. The more people you know, the more opportunities you have to find clients you would have missed or get better deals on products or services you need. Working with charities helps you to forge connections with staff members of that charity as well as others who donated if you attend events held by the charity. These new connections can pay off big time down the line.

5. It's the Right Thing to Do

Setting aside all the positive benefits which come from making charitable donations, you should consider it for your business because it is just good practice. Take it from Neill Sullivan, who donated the Sullivan Community Center to West Oakland where it now serves the community, giving back to your community feels good because you know that you are doing good, and providing a service to those who need and deserve it. You'll feel better knowing you're making the right decision when donating, and your community will do better as a result of your donation.

When your business is giving to charity, everybody benefits. If you've got money in your budget you can afford to allocate to charitable giving, start seeing what options are available to you. Find one or more charities you believe in and give them the boost they need to succeed.

Preparing for Holiday Sales: What You Need to Know

As the leaves begin to fall and the temperature dips, the seasonal market picks up. It's that time of year again: fourth-quarter sales. Bonuses are coming; Santa's list needs to be filled. This is the chance to make money.

With holiday ads beginning to emerge and decorations adorning store shelves, think about how much you've done to get ready. Have you found something to entice clientele? Have you thought about strategies? This is the time that may make or break a year's profits, so consider the following in preparation for your upcoming sales.

Market It

Don't overspend. You don't want to be stuck with boxes of merchandise in January. In fact, having to give deep discounts or write off materials is not a good way to end the fiscal year. Instead, invest in price analysis software. Maintain inventory lists, and allow the data to drive your future spending. Use this to determine how much you should purchase as well as a good price point for the belongings. It's not about having mass quantities. It's about investing wisely.

Advertise It

Find a focal point, and sell that to the community. Are you going to promote something special? Maybe you've found a great kid's toy or the perfect sweater. Putting in on a shelf is great, but getting clients in to see it is better. Get the word out through social media, making posts every few days for specials or sales. Show off your customer service, taking pictures of helping the community. Don't forget the local schools. Sometimes educational institutions may include you in signs or newsletters. Simply agree to provide a percentage of sales back to the establishment if the advertisement is mentioned or shown.

Theme It

Are you a small market store competing against a big box outfit? If so, you'll need to go that extra mile to encourage traffic. How can you do that? Do you plan on hosting events to get people through the doors? Host a winter theme day. During the event, teach people how to make the most of your products, and offer some tempting morsels such as hot chocolate, non-alcoholic cider, and sweet bites. Are you selling a product from a local or regional celebrity? Invite that person in to talk and sign items. Get creative. The more time customers wander about, the more they may buy.

The winter festivities are ripe for revenue. Sell your store and your products. Get the word out, and make it fun.

How to Protect Your Company Data

Running your own business can be a lot of work. In order for your company to see the success it deserves, it can be a good idea for you to think about ways to improve your current operations. Security is always a good area to focus your attention on.

Today, protecting your company data has become just as important to a business’s future as investing in security cameras and alarm systems. Unfortunately, many business owners struggle with regard to finding the most sensible data security solutions.

Though you may not feel like you have an in-depth understanding of cyber attacks and how your data can be compromised, there are some easy ways to create a more secure work environment. Consider these tips on how to protect your data and make the right changes to your current operations. 

Encrypt All Data

There are times when you want to share your data with people. Perhaps you want to send out an email containing pertinent information about upcoming events your business is sponsoring. While you want consumers to be able to look at and understand the information you are providing in the message, you definitely don’t want some of the more sensitive data attached to the email to fall into the wrong hands. Encrypting your emails is a great way to make sure only the desired data can be taken from any promotional materials you send out.

Encryption can take many forms. In some cases, you can protect a message or a file by having an encrypted password placed on it. This means that only people who have this password will be granted access to your encrypted data. To take advantage of this option, look into applications and programs that can help you encrypt your messages. Both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS come with free encryption tools for users to explore, but you may want to find a program that suits your needs a bit better.

Update Your Software

Technology has been evolving at a rapid pace. You probably are aware of this already, but it doesn’t mean you are exhibiting the best practices when it comes to the latest updates. Every so often, your computer will inform you that your operating system has an update that can be downloaded and installed on your computer. While this is a simple way to keep your system current, countless business owners neglect to take the time to install the newest software updates for their computers. This is an easy way to create an unsafe environment for your data.

Updating your software at the exact time you are advised is a must if you want to keep your business and your assets protected. Most systems release updates to improve the overall functionality and security of an operating system.

When you sleep on your updates, it means you could be compromising your system by making it susceptible to the exact threats the update is meant to prevent. Get into better habits about updating the software on your computer, phone, and other devices whenever prompted and see what difference it makes to your security.

Make Copies

While encrypting data is a wise way to begin, you also need to think about additional ways to protect this sensitive information. Professionals in the tech industry like Hari Ravichandran, a Member of the Board of Directors at Endurance International, suggest backing your data up in the right ways. This means having your data stored in multiple locations and on different servers at the same time. Taking this step can be a lifesaver should an issue arise and cause data on a particular server to be compromised. Instead of losing everything, you’ll have additional data copies elsewhere.

One great option to consider when it comes to backing up your data is using a cloud server. In the past, a company could only store important data on an internal server. Cloud technology makes it possible for people to store important data on external servers located all over the world. This can be helpful because it offers peace of mind when you want to make sure your information is in a place where it is secure. Explore the different cloud storage solutions available to you and discover which option is the best fit for your needs.

Delete Old Files

Finally, don’t forget the importance of deleting old files. In the past, companies would dedicate a lot of time and energy to shredding old documents filled with sensitive data. Since everything is digital now, it can be easy to forget that you need to still take this precaution.

When you no longer need specific files that contain data you don’t want to be released, delete the files and be sure to overwrite them. Overwriting ensures no one can come on your computer and attempt to find the deleted files using the right tools. 

There are many ways to protect the data of your business.  Take your time to get into better habits and see how your security improves.

Simple Strategies To Boost Your Chances Of Business Success

No one goes into business intending to be unsuccessful. However, many people do experience times when profit is so lean that they almost go under. Of course, any successful business person will aim to avoid such failures and maximize their chance for success. A topic you can get some advice on in the post below.

Hire the right people 

One way to maximize your chances for business success is to make sure that you hire the right people for the job. Now, this is something that can be considerably more complicated than most people first think. 

In fact, you have to satisfy the legal requirements such as permits to work. You will also need to make sure that the people you choose to interview have the right skills and attitude. 

Additionally, knowing about their personality and how they can work can be very useful too. The reason being that this can help you assign tasks and put them in the right teams. It can even help you to manage them in the way that most effectively promotes your business and will make it a success. 

Have a robust plan 

Directionless businesses rarely succeed. In fact, if you want to maximize your opportunity for success, you will need a clear and robust business plan. 

With that in mind, be sure that you have contingency plans in place in case any part of your original aims do not work out. Then you can be sure to progress your business, even if things don't always go your way. A situation that is more than common in the business world, and which you will need to adapt to if you are to succeed. 

Invest in yourself as a leader 

For your business to be as successful as you would like, you absolutely need to be an effective leader. Happily, this is a skill that you can develop just like any other. In fact, many leaders build up their capabilities by starting in mid-management positions and gaining experience there. 

Additionally, some choose to do things like this online MBA degree program while working. This being an opportunity that allows them to work on their business skills in a community of peers. Something that can help them become a very effective leader indeed. 

Diversify your income streams

You may have heard the phrase 'putting all your eggs in one basket' before. Of course, it relates to banking your chances of success on one single thing. Something that in business can be a terrible idea indeed. 

In fact, if you want to boost the chances of your business succeeding, you need to diversify your income streams. That is you need to have additional ways of creating revenue than just your primary purpose.

The advantage of this being that even if the market does fail, or you encounter unexpected issues, you will still have other streams of income flowing in. Something that can help to continue to make your business viable and boost its opportunity for success in the long term. 

Simple Ways to Save Money as a Solopreneur

The task of running your own business almost single-handedly is a challenge at the best of times. But when money concerns start to creep in too, it can make your task of keeping everything on track even more challenging. To help you out, we’re going to discuss the things you can do to save money on a regular basis as a solopreneur.

Make Sensible Food Buying Choices

This might sound like a strange place to start, but a lot of us spend too much on food. If you simply made your own lunch rather than buying pre-made food from a store each day, you’d save yourself a lot of money over the course of a year. Eating out less will obviously also result in big savings. 

Connect with Your Target Customers in Ways That Are Free

Many solopreneurs make the mistake of spending a lot of money on advertising and marketing techniques when in reality they don’t need to. When you’re starting out, there are plenty of organic and free ways to connect with your target audience. You can use SEO to your advantage and create a following on social media with great content that engages people.

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Make the Most of Sales

If there’s a big purchase that you need to make, you should wait until a sale is on before you buy it. This can help you save money on a lot of office necessities and things of that nature. Black Friday Circulars can help you to save money, so make the most of them. If you can afford to wait for that big sale, be sure to do so because your bank balance will certainly thank you.

Find the Right Suppliers

Finally, you need to take the time to find the right suppliers. This is often easier said than done, but if you take the time to compare options, you’ll find that there are good deals out there to be found. Good suppliers don’t grow on trees, but they can be found. Don’t stay blindly lot to your existing suppliers if you don’t feel that they’re offering you a good deal because that’ll lead to a lot of wasted money.

Saving money as a solopreneur doesn’t have to be an impossible mission for you. It can be done if you’re willing to make tough choices and work harder to make your money go further. It’ll be more than possible and it should help you to secure the outcomes that’ll be most productive for the long-term success of your enterprise.

Cut Down Monthly Outgoings and Subscriptions

If you’re going to be working from home, it makes sense to consider the things you’re paying for in your home. If the monthly outgoings in your home are too high, you might be causing yourself extra financial problems without even realizing it and that’s obviously not a good thing from your perspective. Cut out subscriptions that you’re paying for regularly if you think you can do without them.