If your life is a jumbled mess at work, you’re not alone. Many people feel like they’re running a circus when they walk into their office.
Too many business projects can negatively affect your performance unless you learn how to manage them properly. Organizing your business projects doesn’t have to be a bore.
Continue reading this article to learn how to organize your business and get things done on time.
What You Need to Learn About Organizing Your Business
You might be learning more about getting help in your business. Even if you get help, if you don’t know how to organize your projects properly, you won’t experience progress.
1. Let Your Team Know Your Expectations Early
You can’t take on everything by yourself. Since you can’t take on everything by yourself, your team needs to be on the same page as you.
Letting your team know your expectations early will help keep you on track as well as help keep them on track. If you don’t have anyone looking up to you and counting on you to get things done, it is easy to let things slide.
When your team is watching and everyone knows the expectations you have for them, they will be held accountable and so will you.
2. Create & Follow a Template
Why recreate the wheel? If you’ve done something that worked in the past—keep doing it. Creating a template for your projects can help you save hours on end when you’re working on simple projects.
3. Compare Project Progress to Project Plan
If you don’t have a detailed project plan, it is far too easy for you and your team to fall behind on your projects. One of the best things you can do is to set times you’ll review the project’s progress and compare it to the project plan.
When you compare the progress and the plan, you’ll be able to see where things are going awry so you can fix them as quickly as possible.
4. Set Hard Deadlines for Milestones
Your project plan needs to include hard deadlines. If your team thinks there is leeway in the deadlines, you’ll rarely see them hit their deadlines.
While you don’t have to be hard on your team, you should let them know that you know what they are capable of and that you believe they can hit these milestones. Setting hard deadlines for milestone will keep you out of panic mode at the end of your project and ensure you stay organized and on track.
5. Communicate Frequently
Failure to communicate with your team frequently will result in project failure. If people have a question about a challenge they’re up against, they often don’t want to bother you so they’ll wait until the team meeting.
If you don’t have frequent team meetings, they will be stuck on the problem for quite some time which will delay the project unnecessarily.
6. Create & Stick to a Filing System
When you’re managing multiple projects you may have stacks of papers on your desk. While it does look like you’re busy, it doesn’t mean that you’re productive.
If your papers get mixed up or if you lose paperwork, this can be a major problem. A well-designed filing system can keep you from losing paperwork or making it difficult to find.
You can organize your filing system alphabetically but also consider color coding and splitting up different projects into their own filing cabinets to make things even easier when you’re trying to access files for a given project.
7. Use Project Management Software
The web can get pretty sticky and that is where much of your information is. If you don’t use project management software, you’re making your life unnecessarily difficult.
When you use project management software, you’ll be able to share digital files with your team in a click of a button. You’ll also be able to communicate about files and folders so everyone is on the same track.
While you do need your offline hard copies of files and folders, having information available in the cloud will reduce the amount of tag you need to play with your team. Almost all project management software is searchable as well so if you want to find a file, just type in the name and the results will be there for you.
Bonus Tips
When you want to keep your business projects in line, it helps if you have the rest of your business in hand as well. If your books are going wild and you aren’t on track with your taxes, you’re putting more stress on yourself than necessary.
Meeting with an accountant to make sure your books are in order, purging your office of anything you don’t need and even cleaning up your inbox can make it easier for you to run your business and all of its projects.
The small things you aren’t taking care of can add up to major problems that slow your business down and keep you from getting necessary work done. If you can’t get things in order on your own, delegate it to team members that work well in those areas.
Learn More Tips to Up-Level Your Business
Now that you know about organizing your business, why not get even more information to help your business? We have many articles on various business topics that can help you grow your business.
Navigate through our site, find your favorite section, drop a bookmark and come back later for more great reads.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/7-Tips-for-Organizing-Your-Business-Projects.jpeg13352000StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-09 15:00:152019-08-10 20:34:467 Tips for Organizing Your Business Projects
Anyone that knows their way around under the hood of a car and is looking for a rewarding way to earn money from home should consider starting their own mechanic business. You can be a self-employed mechanic and earn a good living working from the comfort of your own home and get to work on cars every day. People always need the services of a reliable mechanic so the work can be stable and being able to work from home gives you good work-life balance, and the ability to put yourself in control of your earnings. Read on for advice on becoming a self-employed mechanic.
Treat It Like A Business
Although you can operate out of your own garage, it is still important to treat this like a proper business and to go through all the proper channels. This will involve:
You need to have the right protection in place before you commence business as otherwise, you could be putting your finances and home in jeopardy. Motor trade insurance is one of the most important types to arrange as this will provide cover for any car that you are looking after for professional purposes – you can get motor trade insurance from Tradex which will provide the cover that you need.
Running The Business
You will also need to consider the business side of the operation, such as accounting, invoicing, web presence, and marketing. These are all key areas which will need as much attention as the car repair work. You can either teach yourself how to handle these areas (which can be interesting and rewarding), or you could hire somebody to help you.
Building A Reputation
Developing a positive reputation is vital to success in this industry. This can be challenging when you first start out, but you can get early business by offering reduced rates to friends and family. You can then build a positive reputation by:
Encouraging word-of-mouth marketing
Using customer reviews on your website and social media
Partnering with relevant local businesses (like a car dealership)
Advertising online and offline
The information in this guide should give you the confidence and knowledge required to set up your own garage at home. There is the potential for great success as a self-employed mechanic once you start to develop a positive reputation, plus you have the benefit of being able to work from home which gives you a great work-life balance and allows you to handle any other large responsibilities that you have. Much like any business, it will require hard work and commitment, but it can also be highly rewarding.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/jia-ye-COqQwsiMqMc-unsplash.jpg57143814StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-09 13:00:102019-08-10 12:52:55A Guide To Starting A Home Mechanic Business
A hotel can offer a lucrative and rewarding business venture, but it is crucial that you take the right steps to ensure that your business grows and becomes a success. With this in mind, here are four tips to running a successful hotel.
1. Choose the right location
The location of your hotel will have a significant impact on its success. Typically, hotels in busy city centers or near major transport hubs tend to get the most business. However, you should keep in mind that competition in these areas will be higher than more remote locations. You should also consider the fact that hotels located in major cities can typically charge much higher rates. For instance, according to kayak.co.uk, London hotels charge an average of £144 per night on weekdays and £161 on weekends. London is, therefore, a highly sought-after location for all businesses, including hotels. You can check out London property news to help you stay up to date on the current property market and trends in the capital.
2. Offer perceived value
The hotel industry is highly competitive, so value and perceived value is crucial. It doesn’t mean that you have to undercut your competition or offer ridiculously low rates; there are plenty of ways to give your guests the perception of better value without lowering your revenue. Value-added extras can be a fantastic way to entice guests. For instance, providing food packages like free breakfast will make your guests feel like they’re getting more for their money. You can also bring value through outstanding customer service, vouchers to nearby attractions, free parking, and so on.
3. Focus on customer service
Keep in mind that customer reviews can make or break a hotel. Most people now consider customer feedback a significant deciding factor when choosing a hotel, and this information is readily available on all major booking sites like booking.com and Agoda. For that reason, it is vital that you focus on customer service and provide every guest with the best experience possible. Remember that issues and complaints will occur in every business from time to time; the important thing is that these are dealt with swiftly and effectively to ensure the best outcome possible. Personal touches and outstanding service will help encourage guests to leave positive reviews. There are many tips you can use to improve customer services in your hotel, such as creating an incredible experience before your guests even arrive.
4. Know your target audience
In the hotel industry, it is important to know your target audience and have a clear idea about the type of service you will be offering guests. Do you want to provide luxury accommodation for high-end customers, budget accommodation for travelers, or do you want to focus on providing family-friendly accommodation? Make sure that you understand your target audience so you can design effective marketing strategies and cater your service to your likely customers. For instance, if you are running a mid-price hotel near a busy transport hub and the majority of your guests are business professionals, then you should consider offering things like fast Wi-Fi and desks in all rooms, as well as a work area in the lobby.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/building-66789_1280.jpg12801280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-09 08:00:252019-08-09 01:40:484 Tips To Running A Successful Hotel
People tend to think that it’s the quality of a company’s products or services that determine how much success they’re going to have. And it’s true that they are important, but if a business is going to reach its full potential, then there has to be a solid foundation of trust between the company and its customers. Without it, there’s only so far that they can go — and it really isn’t all that far. As such, it’s important that you’re taking steps to develop your customer’s faith in your business. We take a look at a few ways how below.
Make Yourself Available
You could have the best products at the best prices, but if there’s no-one there to answer the questions and concerns of your customers, then there will be a trust issue. If you’re running a business exclusively online, then make no mistake: you need to make yourself available. People are understandably cautious when it comes to buying online, so you really need to show them that you’re trustworthy. If you have a phone number they can call, and answer your email and social media comments quickly, then you’ll be on the right path.
Consistent Performances
Trust is built over time. A new company has no credibility; with them, it could go either way. You can’t win your customer’s trust overnight — you have to do it by offering a high level of service over an extended period. They need to see that you’re reliable. This can happen in various ways: first, you can just build up your website, and your positive reviews. That takes time. You’ll also need to be reliable in other ways, such as always being online. People have doubts if a site is always going offline and/or is slow, so make sure you’re working with a company that offers managed IT services. They’ll ensure that you’re always online and ready for business.
Do What You Say You’ll Do
It’s all good and well promising a customer the world, but if you can’t deliver it, then you’ll end up doing more harm than good. People prefer honesty over boasts! If delivery is going to realistically going to take five days rather than three, then make sure they know it. You don’t impress anyone by telling them how good you are — you just have to show them, and let them come to their own conclusions.
Handling Problems
It doesn’t matter how watertight your ship might seem, eventually you’re going to run into a mistake that affects a customer. This doesn’t have to be the end of the world, providing you take care of the issue. People are pretty forgiving so long as the business does all that’s within its power to rectify the mistake.
Build Your Authority
Finally, look at building your authority. If you know a lot about your products and services, then share the knowledge through blogs, podcasts, and your social media accounts. You’ll quickly become trusted as the go-to company in your field.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/adolescent-beautiful-brunette-919436.jpg8611200StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-09 07:00:112019-08-09 01:24:22Developing Trust With Your Customers
Whether you’re a small business or large organisation, spreading awareness of your brand is crucial. The more people who know about your company, the better, so using the right marketing tools and techniques can make a big difference, helping to secure new interest from customers and clients.
While many businesses use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram as a way to connect with their followers, using the old school approach of business cards can be just as beneficial. With that in mind, here are the top five benefits of business cards.
Affordable
If you run a small business, working with a tight budget can be tough. However, what you may not realise is how cost-effective using business cards can be. Instead of purchasing one or two cards, make sure that you buy in bulk, where you will be able to save a ton of money. You may want to consider checking out websites like https://theallinprinter.com/ who can help you design the perfect business card.
Versatile
Although business cards are small, that doesn’t mean you can’t fit a great deal of information on them. Instead of just putting your contact information on your business card, you should consider putting some advertising material on it, or offering a deal or coupon to lure new customers in. It’s important not to put too much information on your business card though, so finding the right balance is key, helping to avoid overwhelming the recipients.
Convenient
Another great benefit of using business cards is that you are in charge over how it looks. What’s more, you have discretion over the content too, as well as what marketing strategies to use to promote your brand. Business cards are small enough to fit inside a purse or wallet, meaning customers are more likely to take a card from you and keep it in their wallet or briefcase.
Networking
There are all sorts of places where you can use a business card. For example, if you’re attending a networking event, having a stall promoting your brand and equipping yourself with plenty of business cards will mean that customers can take a piece of your business away with them, helping to secure new interest. Remember, anyone you meet can be a potential customer, so handing out as many business cards as you can is crucial.
Never Stop Working
Unlike a television advertisement that only lasts for roughly 30 seconds, a business card and its message resonate and stays with the customer. Each time a customer checks out your business card, they will be reminded about what your company is all about, helping to increase the likelihood of them engaging with your brand. Unlike using email marketing where customers may not even check their inbox, having a physical record of what your business is all about can help stick in consumers minds more.
Instead of relying on social media and the internet for your marketing strategy, using business cards can be a great way to attract more customers to your brand. Not only are they convenient for the customer, they never stop working, and they’re affordable to buy too, especially if you buy in bulk. How your business presents itself is everything, so make sure that you spend time designing a business card that stands out from the crowd.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/business-card-2056020_1280-1.jpg7471280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2019-08-08 16:00:482020-08-28 22:14:38Top 5 Benefits of Business Cards
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7 Tips for Organizing Your Business Projects
/in Portfolio Management, Project Management/by StrategyDrivenToo many business projects can negatively affect your performance unless you learn how to manage them properly. Organizing your business projects doesn’t have to be a bore.
Continue reading this article to learn how to organize your business and get things done on time.
What You Need to Learn About Organizing Your Business
You might be learning more about getting help in your business. Even if you get help, if you don’t know how to organize your projects properly, you won’t experience progress.
1. Let Your Team Know Your Expectations Early
You can’t take on everything by yourself. Since you can’t take on everything by yourself, your team needs to be on the same page as you.
Letting your team know your expectations early will help keep you on track as well as help keep them on track. If you don’t have anyone looking up to you and counting on you to get things done, it is easy to let things slide.
When your team is watching and everyone knows the expectations you have for them, they will be held accountable and so will you.
2. Create & Follow a Template
Why recreate the wheel? If you’ve done something that worked in the past—keep doing it. Creating a template for your projects can help you save hours on end when you’re working on simple projects.
3. Compare Project Progress to Project Plan
If you don’t have a detailed project plan, it is far too easy for you and your team to fall behind on your projects. One of the best things you can do is to set times you’ll review the project’s progress and compare it to the project plan.
When you compare the progress and the plan, you’ll be able to see where things are going awry so you can fix them as quickly as possible.
4. Set Hard Deadlines for Milestones
Your project plan needs to include hard deadlines. If your team thinks there is leeway in the deadlines, you’ll rarely see them hit their deadlines.
While you don’t have to be hard on your team, you should let them know that you know what they are capable of and that you believe they can hit these milestones. Setting hard deadlines for milestone will keep you out of panic mode at the end of your project and ensure you stay organized and on track.
5. Communicate Frequently
Failure to communicate with your team frequently will result in project failure. If people have a question about a challenge they’re up against, they often don’t want to bother you so they’ll wait until the team meeting.
If you don’t have frequent team meetings, they will be stuck on the problem for quite some time which will delay the project unnecessarily.
6. Create & Stick to a Filing System
When you’re managing multiple projects you may have stacks of papers on your desk. While it does look like you’re busy, it doesn’t mean that you’re productive.
If your papers get mixed up or if you lose paperwork, this can be a major problem. A well-designed filing system can keep you from losing paperwork or making it difficult to find.
You can organize your filing system alphabetically but also consider color coding and splitting up different projects into their own filing cabinets to make things even easier when you’re trying to access files for a given project.
7. Use Project Management Software
The web can get pretty sticky and that is where much of your information is. If you don’t use project management software, you’re making your life unnecessarily difficult.
When you use project management software, you’ll be able to share digital files with your team in a click of a button. You’ll also be able to communicate about files and folders so everyone is on the same track.
While you do need your offline hard copies of files and folders, having information available in the cloud will reduce the amount of tag you need to play with your team. Almost all project management software is searchable as well so if you want to find a file, just type in the name and the results will be there for you.
Bonus Tips
When you want to keep your business projects in line, it helps if you have the rest of your business in hand as well. If your books are going wild and you aren’t on track with your taxes, you’re putting more stress on yourself than necessary.
Meeting with an accountant to make sure your books are in order, purging your office of anything you don’t need and even cleaning up your inbox can make it easier for you to run your business and all of its projects.
The small things you aren’t taking care of can add up to major problems that slow your business down and keep you from getting necessary work done. If you can’t get things in order on your own, delegate it to team members that work well in those areas.
Learn More Tips to Up-Level Your Business
Now that you know about organizing your business, why not get even more information to help your business? We have many articles on various business topics that can help you grow your business.
Navigate through our site, find your favorite section, drop a bookmark and come back later for more great reads.
A Guide To Starting A Home Mechanic Business
/in Starting Your Business/by StrategyDrivenTreat It Like A Business
Although you can operate out of your own garage, it is still important to treat this like a proper business and to go through all the proper channels. This will involve:
Set Up Your Garage
Of course, in order to be a success, you will need to have a suitable work environment for working on cars. A few tips include:
Insurance
You need to have the right protection in place before you commence business as otherwise, you could be putting your finances and home in jeopardy. Motor trade insurance is one of the most important types to arrange as this will provide cover for any car that you are looking after for professional purposes – you can get motor trade insurance from Tradex which will provide the cover that you need.
Running The Business
You will also need to consider the business side of the operation, such as accounting, invoicing, web presence, and marketing. These are all key areas which will need as much attention as the car repair work. You can either teach yourself how to handle these areas (which can be interesting and rewarding), or you could hire somebody to help you.
Building A Reputation
Developing a positive reputation is vital to success in this industry. This can be challenging when you first start out, but you can get early business by offering reduced rates to friends and family. You can then build a positive reputation by:
The information in this guide should give you the confidence and knowledge required to set up your own garage at home. There is the potential for great success as a self-employed mechanic once you start to develop a positive reputation, plus you have the benefit of being able to work from home which gives you a great work-life balance and allows you to handle any other large responsibilities that you have. Much like any business, it will require hard work and commitment, but it can also be highly rewarding.
4 Tips To Running A Successful Hotel
/in Tactical Execution/by StrategyDriven1. Choose the right location
The location of your hotel will have a significant impact on its success. Typically, hotels in busy city centers or near major transport hubs tend to get the most business. However, you should keep in mind that competition in these areas will be higher than more remote locations. You should also consider the fact that hotels located in major cities can typically charge much higher rates. For instance, according to kayak.co.uk, London hotels charge an average of £144 per night on weekdays and £161 on weekends. London is, therefore, a highly sought-after location for all businesses, including hotels. You can check out London property news to help you stay up to date on the current property market and trends in the capital.
2. Offer perceived value
The hotel industry is highly competitive, so value and perceived value is crucial. It doesn’t mean that you have to undercut your competition or offer ridiculously low rates; there are plenty of ways to give your guests the perception of better value without lowering your revenue. Value-added extras can be a fantastic way to entice guests. For instance, providing food packages like free breakfast will make your guests feel like they’re getting more for their money. You can also bring value through outstanding customer service, vouchers to nearby attractions, free parking, and so on.
3. Focus on customer service
Keep in mind that customer reviews can make or break a hotel. Most people now consider customer feedback a significant deciding factor when choosing a hotel, and this information is readily available on all major booking sites like booking.com and Agoda. For that reason, it is vital that you focus on customer service and provide every guest with the best experience possible. Remember that issues and complaints will occur in every business from time to time; the important thing is that these are dealt with swiftly and effectively to ensure the best outcome possible. Personal touches and outstanding service will help encourage guests to leave positive reviews. There are many tips you can use to improve customer services in your hotel, such as creating an incredible experience before your guests even arrive.
4. Know your target audience
In the hotel industry, it is important to know your target audience and have a clear idea about the type of service you will be offering guests. Do you want to provide luxury accommodation for high-end customers, budget accommodation for travelers, or do you want to focus on providing family-friendly accommodation? Make sure that you understand your target audience so you can design effective marketing strategies and cater your service to your likely customers. For instance, if you are running a mid-price hotel near a busy transport hub and the majority of your guests are business professionals, then you should consider offering things like fast Wi-Fi and desks in all rooms, as well as a work area in the lobby.
Developing Trust With Your Customers
/in Customer Relationship Management/by StrategyDrivenMake Yourself Available
You could have the best products at the best prices, but if there’s no-one there to answer the questions and concerns of your customers, then there will be a trust issue. If you’re running a business exclusively online, then make no mistake: you need to make yourself available. People are understandably cautious when it comes to buying online, so you really need to show them that you’re trustworthy. If you have a phone number they can call, and answer your email and social media comments quickly, then you’ll be on the right path.
Consistent Performances
Trust is built over time. A new company has no credibility; with them, it could go either way. You can’t win your customer’s trust overnight — you have to do it by offering a high level of service over an extended period. They need to see that you’re reliable. This can happen in various ways: first, you can just build up your website, and your positive reviews. That takes time. You’ll also need to be reliable in other ways, such as always being online. People have doubts if a site is always going offline and/or is slow, so make sure you’re working with a company that offers managed IT services. They’ll ensure that you’re always online and ready for business.
Do What You Say You’ll Do
It’s all good and well promising a customer the world, but if you can’t deliver it, then you’ll end up doing more harm than good. People prefer honesty over boasts! If delivery is going to realistically going to take five days rather than three, then make sure they know it. You don’t impress anyone by telling them how good you are — you just have to show them, and let them come to their own conclusions.
Handling Problems
It doesn’t matter how watertight your ship might seem, eventually you’re going to run into a mistake that affects a customer. This doesn’t have to be the end of the world, providing you take care of the issue. People are pretty forgiving so long as the business does all that’s within its power to rectify the mistake.
Build Your Authority
Finally, look at building your authority. If you know a lot about your products and services, then share the knowledge through blogs, podcasts, and your social media accounts. You’ll quickly become trusted as the go-to company in your field.
Top 5 Benefits of Business Cards
/in Marketing & Sales/by StrategyDrivenWhile many businesses use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram as a way to connect with their followers, using the old school approach of business cards can be just as beneficial. With that in mind, here are the top five benefits of business cards.
Affordable
If you run a small business, working with a tight budget can be tough. However, what you may not realise is how cost-effective using business cards can be. Instead of purchasing one or two cards, make sure that you buy in bulk, where you will be able to save a ton of money. You may want to consider checking out websites like https://theallinprinter.com/ who can help you design the perfect business card.
Versatile
Although business cards are small, that doesn’t mean you can’t fit a great deal of information on them. Instead of just putting your contact information on your business card, you should consider putting some advertising material on it, or offering a deal or coupon to lure new customers in. It’s important not to put too much information on your business card though, so finding the right balance is key, helping to avoid overwhelming the recipients.
Convenient
Another great benefit of using business cards is that you are in charge over how it looks. What’s more, you have discretion over the content too, as well as what marketing strategies to use to promote your brand. Business cards are small enough to fit inside a purse or wallet, meaning customers are more likely to take a card from you and keep it in their wallet or briefcase.
Networking
There are all sorts of places where you can use a business card. For example, if you’re attending a networking event, having a stall promoting your brand and equipping yourself with plenty of business cards will mean that customers can take a piece of your business away with them, helping to secure new interest. Remember, anyone you meet can be a potential customer, so handing out as many business cards as you can is crucial.
Never Stop Working
Unlike a television advertisement that only lasts for roughly 30 seconds, a business card and its message resonate and stays with the customer. Each time a customer checks out your business card, they will be reminded about what your company is all about, helping to increase the likelihood of them engaging with your brand. Unlike using email marketing where customers may not even check their inbox, having a physical record of what your business is all about can help stick in consumers minds more.
Instead of relying on social media and the internet for your marketing strategy, using business cards can be a great way to attract more customers to your brand. Not only are they convenient for the customer, they never stop working, and they’re affordable to buy too, especially if you buy in bulk. How your business presents itself is everything, so make sure that you spend time designing a business card that stands out from the crowd.