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3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Hiring Your First Employee

StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Hiring a First Employee|3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Hiring Your First EmployeeHiring your first employee is a big step for a new business. Things are going well and the workload is increasing so you think that now is the right time to start bringing more people on board, but that isn’t always the case. If you start expanding the business and hiring people too early, you might end up in a difficult financial situation and it could be the end of the business entirely. You may also find that you hire the wrong person if you rush into things without really thinking about it properly first. If you want to avoid getting it wrong, you need to ask yourself these 3 questions before you hire your first employee.

Why Are You Hiring Them?

This is important and it seems like an obvious question but a lot of people don’t actually think about this before they start hiring people. If your answer to this question is simply that you’re making more money and the business is getting a bit bigger so it seems like the right thing to do, you probably aren’t making the right choice. You should be hiring employees to help in specific areas where you’re struggling. For example, if you’re struggling to handle the volume of sales that you’re seeing and you need a sales rep to take on some of that workload, that’s fine. Or maybe you aren’t very good at digital marketing and you think that the company would benefit from having somebody with more experience do it, that’s a great reason to hire somebody. Before you jump into anything, consider how hiring a new employee will actually improve the business in a specific way. If you can’t think of anything, it’s not the right time to start hiring.

Can You Actually Pay Them?

A lot of people have a good month and then decide that they’re financially stable enough to pay an employee. Then they hire somebody and the following month sales dip again and they’re struggling to find the money. It’s best to wait until you’re seeing stable growth over a period of a few months before you decide to hire somebody, and try to put some money aside to cover their salary for a while.

You don’t just need to think about whether you can afford to pay them, you need to think about the actual process of paying them. In other words, do you have a payroll system in place? You’ll need some software to handle that for you and choosing the best payroll software for your business isn’t something that you can just do overnight. If you don’t understand how to deal with payroll yourself, that’s a big problem as well and you’ll need to hire somebody to do that first. If you rush into it and find that you can’t actually pay your employees, you’re going to have a big problem on your hands.

Do You Have A Clear Hiring Process?

Hiring an employee is a lot harder than you might realize. You’re going to get a lot of applications and you need to know how to narrow it down to a few candidates for interview and then choose the perfect person. If your process isn’t good, your first employee won’t be the right fit for the position and you’ll be wasting money. So, before you do anything, you need to sort your hiring process out and make sure that you know how to pick the right candidate.

If you can’t confidently answer all of these questions, it might be best to hold off for a while before hiring your first employee.

Great Tips to Improve Your Marketing Skills

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Improve your Marketing Skills| Great Tips to Improve Your Marketing SkillsMarketing is one of the most vital elements of any business and can often make or break a company’s success, which is why it pays to boost your marketing skills.

Research Traditional & Contemporary Techniques

Understanding is easily one of the most important things you could ever have when looking to improve any ability, especially one such as marketing. There is a myriad of useful and interesting techniques available to you, both traditional and contemporary, and an understanding of these techniques is the best way to learn how to apply them practically to your business.

Contemporary Marketing Techniques. The majority of contemporary marketing techniques revolve around implementing web-based marketing, mainly through social media, to drive highly specialized web traffic towards your company. Skills such as SEO optimization, social media marketing, understanding how to write a press release, and producing high-quality content are all useful aspects of this kind of marketing and contribute greatly to the success of your marketing campaigns.

Traditional Marketing Techniques. Alternatively, more traditional marketing techniques refer to tried and true methods such as car sign advertising and storefront advertising. These traditional methods tend to cost significantly less than more contemporary marketing and have lower upkeep requirements. However, they also tend to drive less of a response and reach far fewer potential customers than contemporary techniques.

Attend Classes

On top of undertaking your own research, a brilliant way to improve your understanding of marketing skills is to engage with classes on the subject, either online or in person. Fortunately, there are many avenues to accrue an understanding of key marketing skills, any of which are work pursuing.

Relevance of Techniques to Specific Situations. Among the many important skills conferred by this kind of education, one of the most beneficial is assessing when it is most appropriate to apply specific marketing techniques. By understanding when you should be marketing and in which areas of your business, you can apply your efforts and budget far more specifically than you would otherwise. This can help your marketing budget to stretch further and can also help to ensure your marketing campaigns make the most impact possible.

Apply Your Knowledge

Finally, after accumulating relevant marketing knowledge, the best way to continue to improve your skills is to ensure that you are applying your marketing knowledge in the most effective ways possible. By applying your marketing knowledge, you can get a feel for how this knowledge translates to the field and also learn from the experience.

Generate Your Own Marketing Campaigns. The best way to apply the knowledge you have gained is to work at generating your own marketing campaigns, whether or not these are successful for your company.

Learn from Your Failures. One of the most important things to do when you are applying your knowledge in this way is to ensure that you learn from your mistakes. When something goes wrong, take note of why so that when you try again, you know how to avoid similar mistakes.

Why You Should Take Advantage Of Overnight Shipping Services

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Why You Should Take Advantage Of Overnight Shipping ServicesToday’s world has been influenced by numerous factors, many of which have resulted in a consumerist mindset. The two main factors are the internet and the media.

As the name suggests, overnight delivery is done overnight. The term refers to a delivery option guaranteeing that shipments will be delivered by a specific time the following business day.

The term is often used interchangeably with other phrasings such as next-day shipping, 1-day shipping and express delivery (next business day). These are some of the advantages of using overnight shipping services.

Convenience For Certain Shipments

Overnight delivery is ideal for time-sensitive shipments. For example, if they needed to be delivered at the beginning of the following day, preferably by a certain time. Regardless of the industry, businesses selling a product should take advantage of this delivery method. Ensure that any important packages are delivered the following morning at the earliest convenience.

Trusted Shipping Companies

Identify the most reputable companies. Find one that sets high standards in their service of delivery.

It should offer more than just tips and standard shipping services. For instance, LSO is an example of one such shipping firm. They provide tips on shipping practices, as well as an overnight shipping service to customers. As a leading delivery service, they offer a selection of next day delivery services, which can be delivered at certain times the following day.

Earn Loyalty Of The Customer

Next day delivery has a loyal customer base. The flexibility and success rate of this option has built this loyal base. Customers who have had a bad experience with a business that offers next day delivery, do not want to go through that again.

Instead, they look for businesses that provide standard delivery services, in addition to the next day. Keeping in mind customer satisfaction, provide customers with this professional and reliable delivery option is the best way to go.

Satisfied customers generate business. They tell friends, relatives, co-workers, or business partners about the positive service they received. Some leave positive reviews that can be integrated into marketing materials to promote the business. Positive information that customers put up about the company online is good for website optimization.

Potential To Save Money

The cost of overnight shipping is often more than regular shipping. However, it costs more to keep items in storage. You have to pay monthly rent on a storage facility and invest in security to keep belongings safe.

Overnight shipping can cut these costs. The need for storage space decreases when items are shipped out overnight.

Reputation is crucial for business. Research the delivery options available to you as a business. Consider their reputation and what previous customers have said about the service. Use this information and the benefits of implementing overnight delivery services to make an informed decision.

Taking these steps will enable you to take off your company’s shipping effectively and efficiently for years to come.

3 Top Tips for Every Entrepreneur

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Tips for Entrepreneurs|3 Top Tips for Every EntrepreneurThe world of business is ever-changing, and there have been more changes in the last 18 months than we have seen or experienced in the last 20 years. Entrepreneurial action has changed, and the purpose of business may have softened to include a range of social stakeholders, but the basics should not change. This article presents three of these entrepreneurial basics that should form the foundation of your enterprise and basic operating instructions. Entrepreneurial success is not widely guaranteed. As such, any head start you can get on your competitors is well worth the time it will take you to finish reading this article and plan your ascent.

Perfect your core business

The journey of any entrepreneur is primarily to strive to be the best at what it is that they sell or do. This is the be all and end of entrepreneurial success, and many will fail in the first year. There is no point being in business if you’re there to make up the numbers. Your product or service must meet a specific need in order to be relevant and sustainable.

This should be your main concern, and everything else will stem from this. Business acumen can be learnt, taught, and if all else fails, subcontracted out—there are people who can do your HR, IT, and accounting a great deal better than you can. Stick to what it is that has allowed you start the business, and above all else pride yourself in perfecting this to the best of your ability.

Sweat the small details

It is proven that the entrepreneurs who care about the small details are the ones who make it big. Its not about being pedantic, but rather paying attention to detail, ensuring that what you and tour team do is worthy of the brand you hope to build. It’s as simple sometimes as the DC to AC inverters that you don’t see and yet can’t run without; it’s the logo positioning perfectly on each product; it’s the small elements that can make or break you as an entrepreneur. You need to notice the elements that others don’t.

Speed and not haste

Business is fast moving and ever changing; you must become accustomed to the pace and the need for immediacy. The modern customer or client doesn’t want to wait and won’t understand your schedule or the reasons that you won’t make a deadline. They will simply find another supply or service provider. The speed of action is what defines successful and sustainable businesses: the speed to market, the speed to deliver, and the speed at which you return communication with customers and consumers. In the same vein, avoid haste at all costs. It’s the rushed response, the hurriedly prepared order, and the unplanned haste that is the downfall of many a good product.

These are three pieces of advice that every entrepreneur, regardless of their sector, should be following. Success is hard come by, and by keeping processes simple yet clear, you will able to begin to plot a way to success.

10 Lessons That All New Business Owners Must Heed In The Modern Era

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Lessons for Business Owners|10 Lessons That All New Business Owners Must Heed In The Modern EraLaunching a new business is a dream shared by millions and the pandemic has encouraged more and more people to take the leap of faith. When done right, it can be the key that unlocks the future you’ve always wanted. However, you must not fall into the trap of thinking success comes easily or through guesswork.

A large percentage of startups launched in the post-lockdown era will struggle. You can give your hopes a significant boost, however, by investing in the right strategy. Use the following 10 tips to avoid the common pitfalls and you won’t go far wrong.

#1. You Need To Love The Business

When starting your business, it can be tempting to fall into the trap of chasing quick profits. After all, we’ve all seen stories of overnight successes and trends that are currently doing great. In reality, though, if you choose a company idea for the wrong reasons, it will show.

It is far better to work on something you feel passionately about. For starters, a lack of care and knowledge for a subject will prevent you from achieving success in the “easy” fields. More importantly, working on your passion makes work enjoyable. This helps you through testing moments while also promoting improved mental wellness.

Crucially, you should find that your passion and positivity are contagious. This will inspire better responses from employees and clients alike. Besides, there is no greater reward than knowing than building a company that fills you with pride.

#2. You Can’t Go It Alone

The thought of being in control of the entire business model may seem like perfection. In reality, though, even the most talented entrepreneur will lack some of the distinct skills needed to run things. Moreover, there simply isn’t enough time to do it all alone.

Consequently, then, recruiting the best team of workers should be a priority for all business owners. This can include on-site workers, remote workers, outsourced services, and temporary contractors. As well as finding talented candidates, you should focus heavily on their personality traits. Above all else, they should share your enthusiasm for the brand.

A strong team of employees won’t only lead the company to increased productivity. They will also give you the confidence to let them work with autonomy. In turn, you’ll be able to dedicate more time and effort to your personal tasks.

#3. Not Everyone Will Be Interested

If you truly love your business, you will want to share it with as many people as possible. Sadly, though, it’s very unlikely that your company will have a universal appeal. Worse still, any time and money spent trying to win over outside audiences will be a waste.

Therefore, learning how to find your niche audience is key. From here, you can ensure that SEO, ad placements, and other marketing tools are built to reach the right people. You should also find that it provides significant help when choosing products and interacting with clients. Their age, location, and financial backgrounds are just some of the key features.

Conversely, if you try to reach everyone, your brand will become bland. It’s better to resonate with your core audience and alienate others than fade into obscurity. The sooner you adopt the right mindset, the better. It will save time, money, and your sanity.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Lessons for Business Owners|10 Lessons That All New Business Owners Must Heed In The Modern Era#4. First Impressions Count For A Lot

Whether your first interactions are conducted online or offline, you only have a few seconds to create a good first impression. While getting it right won’t guarantee success, a bad one could end your hopes of a sale before you’ve started. Engaging content is key.

Nobody knows the business better than you, but that doesn’t make you the best person to promote the brand. Experts who can see your brand from a consumer’s perspective are the best choice. A skilled video production company can create visual content that wins over audiences and celebrates your USPs in style. It yields more traffic and greater conversions.

Videos are great because viewers retain more of the brand message too. However, interactive social media posts and blogs can play a huge role. In today’s climate, having a few social influencers tell their fans about the brand can pay dividends too.

#5. Clients Crave A Good Experience

Winning new clients is great, but true success stems from having a loyal fan base. It is shown to be a lot cheaper to retarget existing clients than new audiences. So, if you can increase the customer lifetime value, you should. The user experience is crucial.

Studies show that most customers are prepared to pay more for a good brand experience. This means offering better payment options and smoother transactions. It should also cover customer care as consumers need transparency and quick solutions to their problems. Supporting yourself with FAQs, chatbots, and fair returns policies will also help.

Providing a better user experience wins new clients and keeps past ones coming back because they feel valued. Better still, once you have established a community, there is a strong probability that they will spread the word to their friends and family.

#6. It Takes Time To Generate Revenue

As a business owner, you may set out to achieve several goals. However, any progress made in other aspects of the business will be rendered futile if the finances aren’t in good health. You won’t necessarily start gaining immediate sales and must adapt accordingly.

Ensuring that you begin the process with enough capital to get through the initial stages is crucial. Raising funds through personal savings, private investors, or crowdfunding are just some of the options. Whatever you do, though, learning to use the available money in the most efficient ways should be high on the agenda.

It is important to check that you are getting the best value for money when buying materials, energy rates, or insurance. When supported by the right courier partnerships and help from an accountant, you should be positioned to keep your finances in a good place.

#7. Prevention Is The Best Form Of Protection

Building a successful company is one thing, but maintaining it is another altogether. The harsh reality is that the list of potential threats to the company is huge. Without the right protection, financial and reputational damage will cause you major headaches.

Preventing many of those problems can be achieved with help from an IT cybersecurity firm. Their data protection services can be supported by staff training to prevent malware and ransomware. Intellectual assets should be guarded by copyright documents and non-disclosure agreements. It should protect you from internal and external threats.

As a growing number of risks come from digital interactions, it becomes easy to overlook physical assets. Safe workspaces that are further supported by security equipment and teams will give you one less thing to worry about. Embrace it from day one.

#8. Modern Tech Is Essential

You don’t have to be a tech-based business to appreciate the value of modern tech to your venture. The right facilities and automation can boost productivity, accuracy, and financial management. In many cases, it can spearhead quicker growth and expansion.

Modern tech features can range from cloud-based software and file management to factory equipment. Meanwhile, 3D printing can be used to print small parts or complete prototypes when testing out new ideas. The functional flexibility offered by those items can have a telling influence on the overall productivity of the team.

The harsh reality is that failure to use modern tech in offices, factories, and shop floors will hit you hard. Competitors will take advantage of your shortcomings to steal your clients. And once they do, getting them back can be a very difficult task indeed.

#9. Your Approach To Operations Is Key

Both B2B and B2C customers are now invested in brands like never before, they want to work with companies that they can relate to. Given that they can conduct valuable research with ease, they will. If they have a reason to dislike your brand, they will vote against using it.

Therefore, it’s vital that you invest in corporate social responsibility. Taking accountability for your brand’s carbon footprint can have a hugely positive influence on your workers as well as the clients. This can be further supported by volunteering at local events or donating excess stock. For example, food retailers can donate food to homeless shelters.

People buy people. So, if customers can buy into your brand they will be more likely to purchase its products. Try to introduce winning concepts and actively try to build a community. Positive results should follow with almost instant results.

#10. There Is No Time To Stand Still

Finally, if you are eager to start a business, you must remember that there is no time like the present. While research helps you make calculated decisions, sitting back on an idea could mean that the ship sails without you. And once you’ve established some success, be sure to keep moving in the right direction. When you do, nothing can hurt your progress.