Why Is Planning So Important?

You’ve probably heard the saying ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail.' Is this something that rings true with you? How often do you think that there isn’t enough time to plan and it’ll be alright on the day? While this might work some of the time and you may have succeeded in the past without planning, but imagine how much better you would have been if you had planned too?

So, why is planning so important? 

American clinical psychologist, Fitzhugh J. Dodson once said: “Without goals and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.”

One of the most beneficial parts about planning is that part of it is creating the goals you want to accomplish. While many view planning as boring and an ‘inconvenient’ step, at its core, planning can prove to be of great help to everyone. Planning may not seem like such an integral part of success, but once you yield its benefit, it’ll prove fundamentally crucial in every area of your life. Proper planning is not only needed to encourage you to achieve the goal you set out for yourself but also to break it up into bite-size pieces and small goals that makes achieving much more attainable. 

Brian Tracy, motivational public speaker and self-development author, says: “Every minute you spend in planning saves ten minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 per cent return on energy.” 

When you start by writing down your goals, then planning will give you a clear perspective on what needs to be done and how much time it is going to take for you to do it, how much time your need to spend on working on your goals. Planning is closely associated with having proper time management as it encourages you to set aside a reasonable time for a specific task before moving ahead to the next. Planning and resource scheduling helps you to prepare a guideline, and a timeline for how you can maintain and reach goals that you have set up for yourself and the good thing about this is that everyone can do this, but a timeline can be adapted for each individual. 

Even if you don't think you are a planner, when you think about it, you are actually planning all the time. Take your holidays, for example; they wouldn't happen unless you planned. It's a simple way to look at it; you decide your goal which is where you want to go, then you decide when you want to do it and next you work out how you're going to do it. This is planning, and what is the benefit? A fantastic holiday where you not only have everything you need and will have done everything you needed to before the trip but also you'll visit everywhere you want to and won't miss a thing during your trip. 

So, when you travel, you plan your trip. When you are getting married, you plan your wedding, and when you throw a party, you plan the event. You would never do some of these things without planning for them; they would never happen if you didn't plan and other things in life are no different. Even if you just want happiness and fulfilment in life, you need to plan for how you're going to get it and then work at it. Many people neglect to plan their lives and then get disappointed and discouraged when they do not get what they want. Just like planning anything though, planning your life is just the same as having a road map that helps you to reach where you want to go.

Unless you have already been somewhere numerous times and know exactly how to get there, then you will need to get a good map or your sat nav out. Otherwise, you would be stupid to get into your car and try to get there. All you will do is drive around aimlessly, make mistakes, probably go back on yourself, get frustrated and then if you do eventually reach where you want to go, you will do it in a lot more time than it would have taken you if you had had a map in the first place. Apply this to life and having a road map to getting to where you want to go, it makes sense, doesn't it? However, so many people in the world today fail to plan their lives and end up lost or stuck where they are.

But taking time to plan your life, means that you are not only taking the right steps to identify and reach what you want from life, but also to do it in the most efficient way possible. Rather than relying on pure chance in life or in business, a life plan will detail the exact route and steps that you need to take. It helps you get there in the shortest time possible without and running out of fuel.

This planning can be applied to both big and small aspects of your life. It could be that you want to wake up earlier than you have been, stop smoking, start going to the gym, move to France, be closer to and spend more time with your partner and children, or be a kinder person, or start your own business, or lose some weight, or get a promotion or better job. 

By planning, you can reduce so much stress and frustration which allow for a better experience on holiday with your friends or family. So, if you can translate that planning to every other part of your life, then life could be one big holiday. 

Not only does planning reduce stress but it also means that you can then be flexible, once you have a plan, then if there needs to be a small change, then it can be done with little to no effort.

Planning offers direction

Whether it's a holiday or a business, planning helps you to create your goals and then take the first steps towards achieving them. Planning a direction for your business or your holiday or anything involves creating a roadmap and this planning can take many different shapes and sizes, and as you create this roadmap for accomplishing your goals, you will find your planning offers you the direction you need to get there.

Planning uncovers problems

When you create your goals and know the direction you're going in, it means that you are prepared for what is coming next and the more prepared you are, the better you can handle problems as they arise. In fact, it won't just be a case of handling issues as they appear, with clever planning you will uncover the potential problems before they even occur. When you work to plan out a direction carefully, you’ll undoubtedly reveal possible obstacles you may run into along the way, but if you aren't careful when planning, you may never discover these issues until its too late.

When you uncover problems, you also find solutions there and then and can implement them before the problems even become a reality. Being able to resolve and work around issues is invaluable in business and in any area of life. 

Finally, planning gives you perspective, and it provides you with a clear view of what matters and what you can accomplish. As you plan your goals and focus on what you want to achieve, working out how to achieve those goals will force you to get organized, prioritize and put them in perspective. 

There is no point working on something that isn't important; no one wants to waste time doing that. However, it can be easy to get distracted and for your objectives to get lost in the daily grind. Planning helps you to stay focused and to keep your perspective on your purpose and your future and on what you really want, no matter what it is. Then you will experience success and will see the rewards for your planning.

As much as people love to believe in overnight sensational success stories where people who came from nothing simply fell into selling something online and made millions, the truth is that it while this might have happened to the odd person, success really does take planning and the planning makes it rewarding too. Planning makes perfect, and the benefits of planning far outweigh any disadvantages. Once you start planning, it will just become an essential part of your life and success will follow.  

Looking for a New Business Idea? Consider Paid Parking Lots

If you want to enter the entrepreneurial world, but haven’t decided what to do, how about parking lots? Launching a parking lot business could be the best thing you do this year, given the growing number of cars that need places to park. For the biz to be a success, though, you’ll want to consider a few things.

Find the Right Lot

Yes, you’ll need a parking lot. Location is crucial here; pick a lot that has steady traffic, so you’re sure the spaces will fill up regularly. Also, check how easy (or not) it is to drive in and out of the lot.

Ideally, you want to own a parking lot that is easily accessible and in a busy area of the city. Once you find one you like, look at its cost and whether you’d have to change anything construction-wise about it as changes can be pricey.

Security Measures

Congratulations on finding the premises! Next up, secure the property. Unfortunately, parking lots can be a target for vehicle break-ins. Protect your customers as best as possible with effective LEpro LED parking lot lights.

The bright illumination is sure to deter those who have crime on their minds. It will also deter strangers from dumping trash into your bins if you have any on the property. Along with lighting the lot itself, also ensure stairwells are lit up, if applicable.

Additional security options are hiring guards to patrol the area, as well as live monitoring. A security gate is also something to consider.

Proper Insurance

Never forget insurance for the site! Get full general liability coverage, as well as premises liability, in case any customer gets injured on site. This consideration is part of smart business planning.

While you might think that’ll never happen, the reality is that you just never know what is in the future, and it’s not wise to risk your assets. If they were to sue your company and you don’t have insurance, that could be a one-way ticket to bankruptcy.

Figure Out Prices

Finally, determine what you will ask customers to pay to rent spaces, both for monthly and annual rates. Also, will there be hourly and day rates available?

Another consideration is whether to increase rates for evenings and on weekends. Some but not all lot owners do so.

Starting a New Business

If you’re looking for a new venture, a parking lot business could be right for you. If you’re not sure if it’s a good fit personally, why not try working for a short time as an attendant to learn more about the way the business works?

If you’re still interested, then begin the entrepreneurial journey by doing your homework to find a suitable premise. Be sure to have insurance, as earlier discussed.

Remember to advertise the lot to businesses close by, as well. Let them know you’re open and even offer a special rate for the first month to those who work in the neighborhood as a way to attract attention.

Determine reasonable pricing for customers and secure the lot properly. We are wishing you all the best with this fantastic opportunity!

The Demands Of A Growing Business

A growing business is one that can be hard to manage. In fact, all of the business owners who expected their business to take years to grow, when it is, in fact, growing in a matter of months, find it impossible to manage. All of the sudden you go from small finances that are easy to manage, and sales that are easy to track and handle because they are so few, to a business with a huge influx of customers that makes everything hard to track and handle. So, what you need to do is go into crisis mode, and figure out how all of the systems of your business are going to work together as one so that your business can flourish.

All you have to do is focus on the growth aspects of your business, how you can streamline them, and how you can promote your business. Because the last thing you want to do is focus on all of the changes you’re going to make, only to find that the influx of customers was temporary and you now go back to a lull. So, we’re going to try and help you with all of that, as well as feel secure with your own knowledge about business. The more you know, the more you grow! Keep on reading and we’ll talk you through what we think you should be doing.

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Managing Sales & Production

Production and sales are something that’s going to flourish as soon as your business starts to have that influx of customers, and it can just be so hard to manage for a small business that isn’t used to being a business. But don’t worry, there are tons of tips that we can show you.

The first is hiring two people to work for you on a temporary basis. Freelance business analysts and advisors are essential for a business that is new to being on the market and really doesn’t have a clue what they’re doing. Because the one trend that’s happening at the minute is that business owners usually know their trade, but nothing about the intricate parts of running a business. These services are only going to benefit a business that hasn’t had experience being a business before other than the minor processes that are needed.

Hiring in people to give you good advice is always going to make you more comfortable with the decisions that you’re making. They can advise you on how to maximize your sales, and minimize the time and money spent on production as well as financial losses. A lot of it will come over time. You’ll need to find ways to streamline your production process. Whether you’re selling services or products, you will still have a production line that needs managing, and it can easily be done by focusing on the weak points and the areas that are taking the most time to complete. You can then use different techniques in a trial and error sort of fashion to see what you’ll end up with!

Inhouse Improvements

Running a business is going to take your inhouse life from being pretty casual, to pretty hectic. All of a sudden you have all of these orders and queries coming your way and it can be so hard to manage. We’re writing this assuming that you have your own office space. If not, then it might be time to seek out a small space for you to be able to run your business. Not only does it allow you to have that air of professionalism, but it’s far more practical for a growing business.

You then need to consider some of the improvements you can make to your office that will make it far easier to run. Lingo Communications Business VoIP might be one consideration you have. VoIP systems are so beneficial for any business, let alone one that’s growing at such a rapid rate. What it does is give you a system that’s connected throughout your business, preventing downtime and delays in internet speed, and allowing your phones to have the best connection. The one menial task that you’ll find yourself doing as a business owner is answering emails and phone calls. You’ll also find that office internet is absolutely shocking, so seeking out something such as what we have linked to could greatly improve the productivity of your office.

Even if there is just you in the room, it makes it far easier to expand and cope with the demands of your growing business. You should also think about the other equipment you’re using, such as your computers. Having a computer system that’s able to facilitate software that you need is important, and a good business will splash out the cash on an Apple Mac. As expensive as they may be, they look far more professional and modern for one, and they have a ton of capabilities that other computers don’t have.

Do You Need To Hire?

Hiring is one of the things that you might need to do far sooner than you thought you were going to have to do. The process of hiring can be so intimidating for a small business, especially for a business owner who doesn’t really know what they’re doing. You can miss out on the key questions you need to ask, and you may even cross the line towards inappropriateness without even meaning to with the questions that you ask, which is why we think it’s important that you stick to the basics.

The first is to make them relaxed as soon as they come in. Perhaps say that you’re just as nervous as they, or tell them to take a breath and relax because it will be a more chilled out interview. A chilled out interview-style attracts the right type of person. You’re allowing the candidate to relax in their natural way of being, rather than coming in with this forced behavior that would change as soon as they got comfortable within your company. Stick to asking questions about their likes and dislikes, goals, what they want from the company, and then give them all of the company information that you need.

To cover your back, you can hire HR services that are not in the house, but they will still support your business with any HR issues that may come up. You can then integrate them into your business and use it as a learning curve. Always make sure that you give ongoing support and training, and actually take the time to get to know them.

Promotion & Marketing

Promotion and marketing are something you’re going to become so used to doing. All of a sudden you’ll have everything on your shoulders, but the main thing you want to do is keep it there. Which is easily done through promotion and marketing. If you already have the influx of interest coming from somewhere, you must have been doing something right with a basic budget. So all you have to do is scale that to a bigger size and focus on the areas of promotion and marketing that are going to get the most attention.

For us, it’s simple techniques such as billboard marketing that you need to go for. You’ll still be a small fish in a big pond, so until you’re a bigger fish trying tactics such as SEO and PPC might not work well for you. But billboard marketing alongside Google Adwords, for example, might be the killer combination that your business needs for that extra boost of sales. Once you get a steady number of customers each month and your brand begins to grow, you can focus more on online marketing methods. Alongside this, we would always recommend that you use social media marketing to build your business a profile.

Financial Demands

The financial demands of your business are going to make a big difference in the way that you’re able to run your business. All of a sudden you’re not so much struggling for money, but struggling to manage the money and figuring out where it should be distributed. All we can say is to relax and take your time figuring it out.

Your first plan isn’t going to be your final plan, and you’ll often find that your financial plan has to be tweaked along the way so that you adapt to your business’s needs. The largest part of your distribution should be to production, then marketing, then whatever else is a priority within your business. Last should be your own pocket! Always make sure that you’re consulting a financial advisor before making any big decisions. Everything that you do with your budget is going to influence the way that you run your business.

Personal Demands

The personal demands seem to be what business owners seem to forget about. We’re so focused on our growing business that we don’t realize what it’s doing to our bodies and minds. Burnouts can happen pretty quickly, so make sure that you’re giving yourself time in the week to have personal time. To clear your mind and truly relax. It’s one of the best ways to keep your mind clear and focused is to switch off from work and forget about it all, even if it just be for 30 minutes a day whilst you’re on a run.

How Developing Law Firms Can Find Success

In terms of industries that have a bright long-term future, there are arguably none more robust than the legal industry. While there’ll be plenty of jobs (and even entire industries) lost through automation and AI, the law world will not only be immune; it’ll actively prosper in this climate. The world, after all, will always need lawyers. So you can say that there’s never a bad time to be running a law firm. Of course, success is far from guaranteed. While there’s plenty of work, there’s also plenty of competition. So how can developing law firms ensure that they end up on the right side? We take a look at a few useful tips below. 

Find Your Niche

People don’t mess around when it comes to their legal issues. When they’re looking for a lawyer, they don’t want someone who is familiar with their situation; they want an expert. While there are some law firms that have a more general approach to law, the better approach is to pick one particular area to focus on and work within that sphere. Over time, you’ll become the go-to firm when people have those types of issues.

Hire the Best

A law firm can only be as good as the people who are working for it. As such, it’s important that you’re taking the time to develop a robust hiring policy, one that ultimately results in hiring the very best members of staff. This will apply, of course, to the lawyers you bring on board, but should also apply to all positions at your firm. If you don’t know how to hire the best employees, then you can look at working with a third-party company to do the job for you. 

Spread the Word

You might be the greatest law firm in your area, but if no-one knows that you’re there, then you’re going to find it difficult to build up a solid client base. While the best law firms eventually find their ways to the top, it’s important that you’re giving yourself a nudge in the right direction. In order to grow your firm quickly, look at working with a company that specializes in law firm marketing. They’ll have the knowledge and experience needed to ensure that your firm ends up in front of all the right people.

Establish Expertise

Reputation counts a lot no matter what industry you’re working in, but it’s of extra importance when you’re working in the legal field. A good reputation can really help to push you to the next level. One crucial part of reputation is expertise. If you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field, then you’ll naturally lead people your way. There are three excellent ways to do this, and they all involve communicating your expert opinions. You can use social media channels to comment on the world’s legal matters, write blog posts, or become a talking head figure for television and radio shows.

Encourage Reviews

You can tell the whole world how great you are, and sure, it’ll work somewhat. But it won’t be as effective as other people telling the world just how amazing you are. Reviews are important because they really do work -- people are almost as likely to treat a positive review as equal to a personal recommendation from a close friend or family member. So do your best to get your clients to write a few words, and then post those testimonials on your website.

Do Your Job

Of course, while there are plenty of things you can do to help the public to pay attention to you, there’s no substitute for just getting down to hard work and getting results. Be sure to set your standards, and then work hard to ensure that they’re always being met. Reputations can take years to build, and then be lost in a matter of months, all because the law firm stopped trying to do their best for their law firm. 

Analyze and Improve 

You don’t get to stand still for too long in the legal world. You may have had some success, but there’s no room for complacency. As part of your commitment to improve your services, look at periodically analyzing your operations and figure out ways to improve. A law firm that is always striving to be better tomorrow than they are today will always serve their clients well. If you don’t know how to analyze your own performance, you can recruit an outside expert to make suggestions, too.

How to Start an eCommerce Business in 7 Steps

You don’t have to look very far back in time to realize that the retail industry has undergone a rapid transformation. Millions of people now do most of their shopping online from their weekly groceries and clothes to furniture, holidays, and complex products like life insurance policies. This situation is only going to intensify with almost all businesses having some kind of online presence and many starting their own eCommerce site. While this has opened up previously impossible business opportunities, it also means that someone starting an eCommerce business is facing a lot of competition.

If you are one of these people, this guide outlines 7 key steps to help you get started.

1.   Choose a name for your business

When you have decided on the products you will be selling, you then need to choose a memorable and unique business name. You can find out if a name is already in use or not by carrying out a corporate name search.

2.   Decide on a business structure and register the business

You can then register the business under that name in your state as a sole proprietor, an LLC, a corporation or a partnership if you have a business partner. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you operate as a sole proprietor, you are putting your personal assets at risk should you ever be sued.

3.   Find your domain name and build your website

You will then need to find a domain name for your business, which, ideally, will match your business name. If the domain name you want is not available, you should opt for one which accurately represents your business and is easy for people to remember. You can then set about the design of your website which should be easy for people to use as well as be visually attractive. To ensure you get the best website, it is generally recommended that you hire professional WordPress designers rather than attempting to build it yourself.

4.   Apply for an Employer Identification Number

To be able to open your business account and file taxes, you need to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This is a unique number that identifies your business and is needed whether you employ staff or not.  

5.   Get your permits, licenses, and insurance

Even eCommerce businesses need to get licenses and permits to operate. Find out what is required in your city, county, and state in terms of tax and licenses before you begin trading.

6.   Find suppliers or vendors

There will be lots of other eCommerce businesses out there to compete with, so it’s important to find the best prices for your materials or products. It’s also a good idea to find a vendor or supplier who you can build a rapport with, as this should mean you can establish a long-lasting relationship.

7.   Start your digital marketing

Before you start trading, you might want to create your social media accounts and start building an online presence where your target customers are. You could offer people the chance to sign up for email alerts so they know when you will be open for business.

Ways Your Small Business Can Compete with the Big Dogs

By: Marissa Perez

Whether your small business is just getting off the ground, thriving, or in a slump, one of your biggest concerns is keeping it relevant to stack up against the competition. Doing so prevents you from getting lost in a sea of similar products and services. So, how can you set your small business apart and compete with the big dogs?

Provide Amazing Customer Service 

You may be a small business, but your smaller size means you are better able to build and maintain meaningful relationships with your customers and improve customer retention. So, don’t let your customer service be an area that’s sorely lacking. Set some customer experience goals and make all employees aware of those benchmarks. Speaking of employees, make sure those you hire are emotionally intelligent and provide training to help foster any shortfalls. You’ll also want to equip your employees and business with the right tools to create a seamless customer experience via help desk software and live chat features.

Consider a Brick-and-Mortar Space

It seems that e-commerce is where it’s at, but don’t think that physical space is a waste of time. According to Business.com, 94 percent of sales happen in a physical store. The reason why? Well, it varies, but the most common reason is the ability to see and interact with a product before making a commitment. Plus, the customer service we discussed earlier is easier when consumers can see a smiling face rather than text on a computer screen. You’re a small business, so the cost of setting up shop — literally — may be setting off alarms. Thankfully, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is here to save the day by offering real estate loans. You have two options: the SBA 7(a) loan and the SBA CDC/504 loan, but the latter is the most common for small businesses like yourself. Do your homework to find the right option and rate for you. 

Take Advantage of Your Ability to Innovate

Small businesses can change direction on a dime, pushing out a new product or using a new supply source. This ability to switch focus easily is what sets you apart from those larger companies and competitors. If you’ve been toying with the idea of altering your current product or providing a new product altogether, start developing and testing right away. Survey current customers and gather ideas from them. Perhaps you’re thinking about switching up your supply source to better meet customer demands. If that’s the case, dropshipping might be something to look into. In this scenario, you are removed as the middleman, and the supplier ships the products directly to your customers, lowering your risk, reducing overhead, and no more paying for inventory until a customer makes a purchase. There are lots of products that can be sold via dropshipping — kids' clothes, shoes, electronics, gadgets, and even trendy items like fidget spinners, for example — so take a look online and see if you could benefit. 

Increase Your Efficiency

Large businesses have the luxury of huge departments, each dedicated to a certain task or service. You’re small, so having all hands on deck to increase efficiency doesn’t leave you with many (if any) hands left to handle other areas. Find ways to automate, whether it’s hosting meetings remotely via video conferencing, automating invoicing, or using accounting software. There aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything and be everywhere at once, so hand the torch off so you can focus on the areas and tasks that need your immediate attention.

Build Your Reputation

Big businesses have a big reputation, but big doesn’t necessarily mean better. Your small business is in a unique position to capture the locals’ attention and become a welcome part of the business community. Tap into the community (and build your reputation) by hosting events so people can get to know you and vice versa. Stay active and be a visual presence by volunteering or hosting a charity event. Connect with other businesses and help one another to create a lasting impression and framework for success. Keep in mind too that with the holidays coming up, you have a great opportunity to draw in new customers, so look for ways to offer deals and seasonal events, and don’t forget to decorate!

Sure, being a small business comes with challenges, but large businesses have their own unique challenges too. What sets you apart is how you overcome those challenges so that you are competing right along with the big dogs.

Build Trust to Build a Successful Business

Pixabay - CCO Licence

It’s arguable that trust is the single biggest factor in whether your business is successful. Think about it, would you trust a business that you knew virtually nothing about, whose reputation was shady and who kept the important stuff secret with your money? Probably not, right? So you can’t expect customers to come flocking to your new business if you don’t do anything to build up trust.

The good news is there are lots of relatively simple things any entrepreneur business owner can build a trusting relationship with prospective customers. Here are a few of the simplest and most important:

Register Your Company

It should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many entrepreneurs launch their business before they’ve dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s. Sure, you might be raring to get started with your latest money-making idea, but you do need to get all of the legalities in place and using a company like Your Company Formations to officially register your business is a good place to start. That way, prospects who are looking for assurance that you are legit can easily find it by looking at your company up at an official source. You’ll have to do it eventually anyway, so do it at the beginning.

Be Honest

It would be near impossible for you to build trust with customers and clients if you lied to them. Honesty is the foundation of trust and that is why you need to build honesty into everything you do. If, for example, you know that you can’t realistically offer 1-day shipping, be upfront about that or if you know that it’ll take 2 weeks to turnaround a project. Don’t be tempted to say you can do it in one just to persuade a client to buy.

Sure, you might get a few more customers upfront, but when you can't deliver, they won’t come back and they’ll tell other people about your unreliability/lies and word will spread that you can’t be trusted. Obviously, things do go wrong sometimes and you may occasionally be unable to deliver, but as long as you’re honest from the start, upfront about any issues and able to compensate appropriately, you should be fine. In business, honesty really is the best policy. 

Leverage Social Proof

Social proof in the form of reviews and testimonials is an excellent way to build trust in your niche. People like to feel confident in their buying choices, and if they can see that lots of other people have used your products/services and had a decent experience, they will be far more likely to become a customer themselves. That’s why you should offer any incentives you can to get customers to leave you a review. 

However, you should bear in mind the above point about honesty and avoid buying fake reviews because not only is it dishonest, but it’s far easier to spot than you might think. Not only that, but you should also let unflattering reviews stand -you can add your piece rebutting any remarks you think are unfair but don’t delete them. When all customers can see is row after row of 5-star reviews, they are going to trust your business less, not more.

Create a Solid ‘About Us’ Page

One of the things customers initially do to scope out a new business is to check out the ‘About Us’ page on its website. If it’s a well-written page filled with lots of solid facts and information about you, your business and what you do, including any incorporation details, an address and telephone number, they are far more likely to trust in you. Sadly, many businesses use this page as another ad for them, filled with lots of sales copy, and this can be very off-putting. Build trust by really putting yourself out there.

Be Visible

Not only to build trust but to build interest in your brand is to be visible. Post content about yourself and your efforts to launch the business day to day, including lots of videos and pictures, on social media and people will be able to see for themselves that you’re genuine with everything that you do.

Make trust the foundation upon which you build your business from day one and you will not have to struggle nearly as hard as others in your niche to build up a strong, loyal and happy customer base. It really is that simple.

Take Control of Your Business: Tips To Help You Do It

Starting a business can be risky. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude to succeed. Being an entrepreneur means that you may thrive on unpredictability and volatility.

However, we all know that wanting something and working towards it is always the best course of action. So with that in mind, here are some handy tips to handle your business like a true entrepreneur.

Image source - Pixabay - CC0 License 

Think about your brand

Branding is everything. How you brand and the whole aesthetic of your business need to remain consistent. This means that your advertising, marketing materials, website, social media content, and publicity materials—even the way you talk about your business all have to coincide with your brand.

A brand is what people remember the most. Imagery and eye-catching designs, being the face of the business, all can help you achieve great success. It’s best practice to research the market thoroughly. If you can find a unique selling point to your business and brand that will always help you in the future. 

Use social media to your advantage

Social media could be one of your biggest assets. It’s the one way you can get your business message out there to the masses. Your business can get in front of thousands, maybe millions of new and potential customers. It’s as easy as sharing your business message and promoting consistently.

Your brand is very important to your social media strategy so bear that in mind when you start your business. Websites like marketing gurus could be the ideal place to look at to help you with this and other marketing aspects. 

Get your business out there in as many forms as possible

This means creating a website and using advertising to your full advantage. A website allows you to showcase your business in its full capacity. This could be an online shop, a description of your services and hold all relevant contact information. Advertising in online and print publications can also be a fantastic way forward. This could help you get your business message out there in a strategic and targeted manner. 

Be prepared for the downfalls

In business, you have to be prepared for every downfall. This could mean staff can let you down. Stockists unable to deliver when expected and even grievances against you and your business. It’s vital you protect yourself in every eventuality. 

Accept that a successful business takes work

Finally, a true entrepreneur will know, that a successful business takes work—lots of hard work. It will require the very best of you. So early mornings. Late nights in the office and plenty of positive motivation to match. However, an entrepreneur will always tell you that all of the hard work is worth it. To have built up your own successful business from scratch, there is no other feeling like it.

Let’s hope these tips help you to take control of your business. 

Time to Move Your Startup Out of the House? Four Solid Reasons to Get Your Own Office

When your home-based business is growing, you might start thinking about the possibility of moving your “work” out of the house. Exciting times! But when can you be sure that your baby startup is ready to leave the nest? If you spot a few of these telltale signs, it may be high time you started packing up your desk.

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Your Home Office is Holding Your Business Back 

Launching a startup from home is a brilliant way to give your new business a sure start in life. You have very little in the way of overhead to pay (note, you may be even able to claim some of your home utility bills back from tax as a business expense!) and not having to keep “normal” business hours means you can throw yourself into your work, day, and night.

But once business starts picking up, being located far from your city’s business district coupled with a cramped workspace and lack of professionalism could be dragging you down and will eventually take its toll on your rate of growth. If you’re beginning to get a little antsy in your small space, or you’re driving down the road to hold your important meetings in your local coffee shop, you may be sacrificing crucial expansion opportunities.

Your Business Can Definitely Afford the Rent

If you weren’t already a financially savvy entrepreneur, you wouldn’t be in a position to consider getting your own office at all. That said, signing that dotted line on an office lease is a scary prospect for a small company. Of course, you will aim to secure cost-effective space, but this is easier said than done as a small business, as office space leased for short-term periods is extremely pricey. And remember that rent is not the only expense. You’ll also have office running costs, like utilities and office supplies. Moving costs can also be high, especially if you have a lot of equipment. Check out https://www.mybekins.com/location/sarasota-fl-movers/ for an excellent, cost-effective option when the time comes. If getting an office is not looking like an imminent prospect, after all, you might consider co-working as a lower-cost option.

You are Confident in the Future of Your Business

To get a lower-cost monthly bill, you’d need to sign on for up to ten years, and what early-stage business can afford to be so bold? But how do you know whether your business will continue to thrive?

Before you take the plunge, it’s crucial to understand how sustainable your business model is. Moving you into an official company location is a pricey undertaking, and if demand doesn’t continue to increase, the financial shock of high rent and utilities could be a real setback for your accounts in the long term. If you’re even considering workspace solutions, you should be feeling confident in your cashflow projections. If your profit has been stable for at least a year, and your projections show blue sky for the foreseeable future, then you should totally go for it.

You’re 100% Certain That Running a Business is What You Want to Do

If you’re thinking of signing a lease on an office, before you sign up for even a couple of years, you need to be sure that your business is here for the foreseeable future. Even if you’re doing well, you must be sure that this is your calling, and you won’t be tempted to throw in the entrepreneurial towel and take a tempting job offer when potential employers head-hunt you for the skills you’ve shown in starting your own business.

Whether you employ a couple of helpers or you’re a one-man-band, moving into your first office can be daunting for a small company. But if you see the signs, it could be time to take the plunge.