Tips for Giving Your Business a Successful Global Presence

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When you are trying to run a global brand it is so important to understand what this entails. You need to try to make the most of any opportunities you get to improve the business. There are a lot of things you can and should do in order to help take your company international and develop a strong global presence.

Modern businesses develop in a lot of ways, and one of the best things you can do is to think about the changes you need to make in order to help make the most of this. Now, there are a lot of things you are going to have to get right when it comes to giving your company a global presence, and these are some of the best ideas that can help with that.

Diverse Employees

One of the best ways of turning your business into a global brand and trying to make positive changes in the future is to ensure that you are hiring a diverse body of staff. Trying to bring in people from all walks of life, and with different backgrounds and cultures is really important. You are going to have to figure out the best way of being able to achieve this. Do as much as you can to figure out some of the best employees you should be hiring as a business right now.

Professional Translators

Something else you could do to really set your business apart from the rest, and make a great impression moving forward is to hire professional translators. This is a hugely important move when it comes to impressing foreign clients, and showing them that the business cares about them. Head over to this website and check out the services they offer, so you can see what it takes to make the most of this and find the ideal translators for your business.

Rebranding

You have to do as much as you can to ensure you have a business that is perfectly suited for a foreign marketplace, and the way to achieve this is to work on rebranding. You have a lot you need to keep in mind when it comes to improving and assessing the best ways of being able to do this. Sometimes, you might find that things get lost in translation, and this means you need to consider a rebrand so that your company is in the best condition it can be to thrive in a foreign market. One of the things that is going to help you the most is to think about the cultural differences between the country you want to build a presence in and the one you are from. Getting this right could make all the difference when protecting your company.

As you can see, when you are trying to run a successful business it is important to look at how you can turn it into an international brand. Now, there are plenty of ideas that will help you with this, and trying to launch a business abroad isn’t exactly an easy proposition. Follow these ideas and you will be well placed to make the most of this right now.

How to Successfully Market a Niche Business

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article | How to Successfully Market a Niche BusinessMarketing any business is a tricky process. There are many different elements to consider, from the target audience to the allocated budget. Then there are all the different advertising channels available, where you have to try and figure out which ones work best for a business.

It’s difficult, right? Well, throw a specialised niche into the mix, and the challenge becomes even more severe.

Or is it?

While working in a particular niche will limit the options available, there’s still plenty of potential to craft a killer marketing plan. It just depends on how you approach the task. To help you out, here are a few tips on how to successfully market a niche business.

Know the audience

As with any business, any marketing plan begins with getting to grips with the audience it is targeting. You need to understand why customers decide to shop at your niche business. You also have to figure out what might be turning them away, and if there are any potential opportunities available that are currently untapped.

Remember: this is more than just the basics like gender, age range, and income. You must gain a deep understanding of their behaviour patterns and preferences.

Use the right content

Once you understand the audience, you’ll already have a firm grasp on what type of content will work to bring them in.

For instance, if you were promoting a law firm, flashy graphics and funny videos are not exactly suitable. The audience you are targeting is one that seeks a company that exudes professionalism and expertise. Posting cat memes is only going to reflect badly on the law firm.

Get the content right, engage with the audience, and start reaping the rewards.

Don’t avoid local customers

When you’re marketing a niche, it can be easy to try and cast a net wide in an attempt to capture every potential customer. This is a possibility depending on just how specialised the niche is, of course, but you shouldn’t lose focus on an important aspect: the local audience

In fact, certain specialised businesses depend on their local customer base. To use an example, a reputed accountant, Liverpool based firm is Alliance Accounting. Despite their reputation and expertise, their main targets are clients that are in Liverpool and Sydney. The reason is simple: people from other areas of Australia are less likely to travel across the country for an accountant.

Listen to feedback

If you’ve created a business from scratch, you might have a tendency to ignore any feedback that goes against your grand vision.

Never do that.

It is fine for you to feel proud and be protective of your company. However, any business needs to listen to its customers. If they have a valid point, require assistance, or are simply there to complain, respond to them. If you do it in a respectful, self-assured manner, this will reflect well on your business and may even turn complainers into loyal customers.

Feedback will also help you to shape your marketing plan. After all, your marketing strategy should be one that’s open to change. Continually refine your approach, and you will be able to reach a more considerable number of targeted customers.

Property Investment 101: What Is a Real Estate Broker?

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Property Investment 101 What Is a Real Estate BrokerMany millionaires say one of the best ways to get rich is to invest in property.

That sounds like a solid plan and easy enough to pull off. But the actual process of buying a new property can be very technical and difficult to work through. Which is exactly why you may need a real estate broker.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what is a real estate broker and how they can help you.

What Is a Real Estate Broker?

There is some confusion among people new to the real estate industry regarding the titles “real estate agent” and “real estate broker”. They are, in fact, two different jobs.

A real estate agent is the bridge between the prospective property and the potential buyer. Agents often handle a lot of the research part of buying by matching listings to their client’s needs.

They work with the agents from the other side of the sale to find a deal that works for everyone. They then help their client through the closing process.

A real estate broker, on the other hand, takes their responsibilities one step further than an agent.

These individuals have completed more educational training than agents. In order to be given this title, they must pass another exam and be certified. This extra training includes deeper knowledge of real estate law and complicated transactions.

Real estate agents must work under a real estate broker. This is done to ensure that quality service is being given and standards are upheld.

A broker can work for themselves, work under another broker, or start their own brokerage. So they have a few more options than an agent or realtor.

What Does a Real Estate Broker Do?

The extra training that a real estate broker receives allows them to handle more during a property sale transaction.

A real estate broker can represent either side of a transaction (selling or buying) and each role comes with a few different responsibilities. Let’s take a deeper look into exactly what do real estate brokers do.

Seller Transactions

When a real estate broker is helping a client sell a property their main goal is to ensure that the desired price is obtained.

One of the first ways they do this is by helping their client get the property ready to sell. They won’t be doing the handy work, but instead, advise on things that could make the property more appealing.

Before someone can become a real estate broker they must be a real estate agent for at least three years. That time gives them a lot of experience in understanding what will help a sale and what won’t.

After the property is ready, they then list it on the MLS and other real estate sites. The broker will handle the advertising efforts needed.

When an offer is made on the property, the broker will handle the delivery. They will then advise on how to proceed (either countering the offer, accepting, or declining). Once an agreement has been made, the broker will help their client through the whole closing process.

A broker is especially helpful in the sale of a complicated property. They will know the best course of action to receive the best outcome.

Buyer Transactions

The responsibilities of a real estate broker who is working for the buyer-side of a transaction are fairly similar.
Instead of helping to list the property, they will use a list of client needs to search available listings and find one that fits. The broker will help facilitate any walk-throughs and viewings of the property.

Then they will help their client submit an offer, work through the negotiations, and eventually through closing on the property.

Other Roles

One of the main roles of a real estate broker is to help others perform their duties in the real estate industry.
A principal real estate broker is in charge of all of the real estate agents in their office. As we mentioned earlier, a real estate agent must work under a licensed broker in order to comply with the law.

This broker will oversee transactions and step in whenever they become complicated or difficult.

Principal brokers are often involved in real estate broker sponsorship as well. Any new real estate professional has to work with an approved, qualified person to activate their new license. This type of mentorship sets them up for success.

When to Hire a Real Estate Broker?

Most often during the sale or purchase of a property, the client won’t work directly with a real estate broker. They are more commonly involved with the big picture and overseeing all the agents in the firm.

It’s really beneficial to hire a real estate broker when you are working with a more complicated scenario, though. This might include a foreclosure, a short sale, or a multi-part property.

These sales have different requirements under the law and a real estate broker will have the training to understand these requirements.

Though not necessary, working with a real estate broker can bring greater peace of mind through your transaction. Their extended knowledge will give confidence that the transaction will be handled properly.

Find a Real Estate Broker

Real estate investment is often a very smart financial decision. This type of ownership can have real, lasting positive effects on your financial health.

But this type of investment is also intimidating, and sometimes, complicated. When these transactions are more than you can do on your own, hiring one of the more than 465,000 real estate professionals can make a big difference.

Now that we’ve answered, “what is a real estate broker” you can find the right one to work with. And they can find you the right property to invest in!

If you are interested in learning more about how to achieve maximum success in business, check out our other articles!

Tips for Being A Landlord

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Being a Landlord|Tips for Being A LandlordA business idea that you might have had to make a good amount of income is to be a landlord. If you already have a suitable property, perhaps because you inherited it or you have moved in with a partner and now have a ‘spare’ house or apartment, then the idea might seem even more interesting. Even if you decide to be a landlord and then buy a property to make it happen, it really can be an excellent way to make some money. How much money will depend on the property and the area, but if you are making more than you are paying on your mortgage, you will be doing well.

To be a successful landlord, you need your property or properties to be occupied more than they are empty – an empty property is a serious issue and will result in a loss of money. Therefore, you need to be a good landlord to keep your tenants happy. Here are some ways to do it.

Customize the Lease

You can get a standard lease form at many different places; you can even download it online. However, to be a good landlord, and one that tenants will be happy to stay with, you should customize the lease. This means ensuring that both you and the tenant are completely happy with everything included within it.

You can take the standard lease form as the basis for your customized lease, and then add specific clauses and take others out. You can make the lease wholly unique and personal to the situation. One good thing to include in any lease, no matter what else might be written there, is that your tenants need to have Insurance Geek renters’ insurance. Then you will know your property is protected.

Allow Changes

For the most part, if a tenant asks you for permission to make changes within the property, it is a good idea to say yes. Not only will it keep your tenant happy, but it will most likely save you money in the long term. If the tenant is willing to pay for a new kitchen, bathroom, flooring, or even if they are just happy to do some cosmetic work and make some updates in that way, it means you don’t have to do it yourself, so it’s good all round.

To make sure you are happy with the work, it’s a good idea to have some provisos; you can say that changes can be made, but you want to inspect the work when it’s done, or you want to look at the plans before any work is started. This is your property, after all, and you need to make sure that any changes made are not going to make it worth less or be less desirable.

Make Repairs

Although your tenant might be more than happy to make small repairs around the house, they do not have to (unless the lease says they do, of course, but this is not the usual way that a tenancy works). One of the benefits to renters is that their landlord is responsible for making repairs around the home, so don’t be surprised if you get a call or email from your tenant asking you to do this work.

To show that you are a good landlord, you should make any necessary repairs promptly. This will protect your property and ensure your tenants are happy to keep living there.

How to Protect Your Organization From the Amazon of Your Industry

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | How to Protect Your Organization From the Amazon of Your IndustryThe trend towards consolidation in industry has become a threat to any business whose leadership has a desire to maintain its own identity and strategic path. If you think you, your company, or your industry is immune, I urge you to look at the telltale signs.

If you are one of those business owners or leaders who have invested many years of your life building a brand, then you most likely have a vision for that brand for the future that exists beyond your involvement. Sure, you could decide to sell the business or have it acquired by another organization, but the control of the decision should be yours.

So what do you do if you’d like the company to stand alone moving forward?

The Hidden Threat That Many Do Not See

Many signs of corporate consolidation are apparent; we read about them in journals and online every single day. XYZ corporation announces the acquisition of ABC LLC, etc. Mergers and acquisitions have been around forever, but there is a new legal form of conquest that is allowing organizations to steal market share from well-established businesses. Does it exist (yet) in your niche?

The menace of which I speak is the digital marketing organizations that are springing up in most industries, offering services on a pay-per-lead basis. If you are an established business, you likely have encountered one or more (or your marketing department has), and perhaps you have even paid for their services. These organizations spend their resources online, gaining a marketing edge, and then sell you (or your competition) the data on the leads. It seems like a win-win relationship at first.

But consider this. Isn’t this type of behavior, by you and your competition, outsourced marketing? No big deal, right? They spend money to generate consumer information, and then you buy it. Outsourcing frees you up to focus on things other than creating new business opportunities. It’s a true parasite-host relationship, where your organization serves as the host, and the digital marketing organization serves as a benevolent parasite.

Over time, the parasite will get large and robust. It will more than likely service many companies, not just your own. When they hit a point of market saturation, who do you think will be the most prominent brand known to the consumer? You? A competitor? No! It will be the digital marketing company that has been growing its reach across digital channels.

I believe that at this point, the digital marketing organization will have the leverage, and it is then that the parasite begins to consume the host. They raise the price on your cost per lead. If you refuse to pay, they merely sell the information to a competitor. Or worse, they quit selling information exclusively; instead, they sell the same information to multiple organizations. Once they are large enough in the eyes of consumers, they have the leverage to do this.

Would you like some real-world examples of this? Look no further than Zillow in real estate or Homeadvisor in the home services sector. These marketing-only organizations started simply with a website, but now each is the biggest name in its field. Zillow is now buying homes and working directly with home sellers. Can it be much longer before they have a buyer service available?

How To Avoid The Digital Marketing Parasite

If you own, lead, or manage an organization, acknowledge that the primary task of any business is the generation of new customers. You cannot outsource marketing, or it will put your company in a position to finance the organization that will one day put you out of business.

Take care of the parasite when it is a pest. Ensure that you run a learning organization that evolves its marketing strategy to utilize the same channels and processes that the parasite would use to unhinge you.

The parasite exists in every location and every field. Do not make the mistake of outsourcing business generation responsibilities. Instead grow your digital marketing solutions so that your company can thrive and grow into the future.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Joe ManausaJoe Manausa is CEO of Joe Manausa Real Estate in Tallahassee, Florida and author of The Business of Getting Business: The Digital Marketing Guide for Small Businesses.  After observing industry giants move to a digital-first marketing approach, Joe made the transition within his own company, which resulted in over $10 million of revenue from the business’s website.  For more information, please visit lidpublishing.com or https://www.digitalmarketingforbusinessbook.com/.