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Turn That Frown Upside Down: Top Tips For Happier Employees

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Employees Article | Turn That Frown Upside Down: Top Tips For Happier Employees

While there are many different ways you can set out to future-proof your business, maintaining employee satisfaction is one of them. This is because employees serve as the ‘face’ of your company, interacting with your clients day in, day out. This means that they are responsible for how others perceive your brand. Furthemore, studies suggest that when we are happier – we are often more productive. This means that by focusing on employee wellbeing, you can also improve your workplace efficiency – which is another step towards success.

That being said, employee satisfaction can be difficult to monitor from an employer’s perspective. This is because while employees may voice their dissatisfaction with their peers – they are likely to do so directly to their boss through fear of being reprimanded. However, this does not mean that their happiness should not be a priority – especially if you are relying on them to help kickstart your entrepreneurial ambitions.

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to guarantee employee happiness in the workplace.

  • Delegate work fairly. One of the biggest complaints that many employees have within the workplace is being overworked and under-compensated. As a result, you should strive to ensure that the amount of work they are tasked with each week is fair and reasonable. You can do this by making the most of the services available to you and your company that can take some of the responsibility off your shoulders. For example, if your company does a lot of deliveries – looking into additional trucking services means that your drivers only have to make one stop instead of 5-6, lightening their workload significantly.
  • Put together a workplace wellbeing program. There are many different reasons why your employees may be unhappy at work – some of which even relate to their personal lives. This is due to the fact that it is sometimes impossible to stop your mood from impacting your work. However, you can combat these issues by placing a real emphasis on wellbeing in the workplace. For example, you could offer support to your staff by providing them with free access to therapy or counselling services. Alternatively, you can promote good workplace wellbeing by encouraging them to reach out for support as and when they need it – whether they want to reduce their hours or take time off.
  • Be responsive to complaints. If you want to create a better workplace for your employees, you need to figure out what you are doing wrong in the first place. The easiest way to do this is to ask. However, as mentioned previously, they might feel reluctant to speak up directly to you. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can combat this. For example, you could set up an anonymous feedback submission box. Alternatively, you could ask them to elect a member of staff to take on their complaints and discuss them with you privately and anonymously. However, while taking these steps show your employees that you truly care about them – listening is not enough. You then need to make actionable change that shows you have taken on their feedback,

Is Your Business As Safe As It Could Be?

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There are a million and one things to consider when launching or about to start a new business: staffing, products, budget, salary, vacations, clients, and so much more. But, one thing that all businesses have in common is that you, as a business owner, are responsible for ensuring that your premises, your employees, and your customers are all safe. When it comes to safety, there are so many different areas to cover that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or scared about missing something. Not to fear, we’ve put together a simple guide to workplace safety for any new business. Take a look.

StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | Is Your Business As Safe As It Could Be?

Clamp down on cyber security

We’ve all heard too many stories about cyber theft and ransomware, and the sad reality is that they’re still out there, and no one is safe since you never know when they’ll come after you. Hackers nowadays have tactics that allow them to access files without being detected unless you have a trained eye, which is a worrying concept, especially if you’re keeping important company information. Fortunately, there are tools that you can download and install on your computer to protect you from many types of computer intrusions. While free versions of these services are excellent, they usually only cover the most common trojans. Invest in comprehensive cyber security for the sake of your company so that it remains safe and you have one less thing to worry about.

Provide training for your staff

Your team will need training on a multitude of things to ensure they’re safe in the workplace. From extensive training on dangerous machinery to how to stay safe online, you’ll need to make a list of everything your team needs to complete – and stay on top of it too. Then there’s the matter of personal safety. Have you thought about a scenario where someone gravely injures themself or becomes unwell to the point of not breathing? What would you do? Would anyone know what to do to save that person’s life? It’s a good idea to encourage your staff to get a CPR certification online so that if the worst happens, your team has the knowledge to spring into action. You may also consider taking this too as it’s useful in all walks of life.

Equipment management

Whether you and your employees are using computers or operating large, dangerous machinery, there is always the possibility that the equipment will fail and become dangerous. Most injuries caused by machinery and equipment are caused by a lack of sufficient training, therefore make sure that all of your employees are properly trained on how to use all sorts of machinery and equipment in your business. This not only protects people from harming themselves, but it also protects you if a lawsuit arises as a result of their training. You should also make sure that your equipment maintenance management is up to date so that you can rest assured that your machinery and equipment are in good operating order. Machinery is typically serviced once a year, but if you notice any changes, have them repaired immediately to avoid any injury.

Food safety

Whether or not you’ve worked in the catering sector, you’ve almost certainly come across food safety information. The essentials, whether taught in school or by parents, are to keep your kitchen and everything in it clean at all times. If you’re running a business that will be serving food, make sure you and your employees are aware of the requirements that apply to safely storing food. This will cover the temperatures at which your food should be stored, as well as ensuring that it is kept free from any substances that could make someone sick. Read up on food safety thoroughly so that you have all of the facts and can avoid any harm.

Hazards in the workplace

Every workplace has its own set of risks. There are risks waiting around every corner, whether it’s a trailing wire that no one has thought to take out of the path or someone running with scissors. Making a handbook that you and your employees have constant access to as a reminder of safety standards that must be followed is a wonderful solution to tackle this issue. When you hire new employees, give them a copy to read and sign so they can learn all of the safety standards and so you’re protected in the event of a lawsuit. While the safety of human lives is vital, you should always consider the possibility of your business being compromised and defend it as well.

Safeguarding your team

When dealing with the general public, you’re always at risk of being attacked by an irate customer. It’s a tragic fact that 425,000 employees were verbally or physically abused by customers in 2017. Make sure you have a procedure in place to protect your employees from abuse if and when the situation occurs. Signs saying that no form of abuse would be tolerated are always a good idea to post throughout your premises. Protect your employees from injury in any way so that they can continue to do their jobs effectively.

Install silent alarms

Working in a hostile environment is something that no one should have to deal with. Employees in some roles, on the other hand, may feel threatened by a member of the public. Patients in doctor’s offices, for example, will occasionally express their dissatisfaction to the receptionist. If they don’t get what they want, they can become aggressive, and you must safeguard your employees from this type of situation, whether physically or verbally. Installing silent alarms under desks will discreetly alert the rest of the team to a problem, allowing it to be rectified without harming anyone.

Install security cameras

Someone attempting to break into your business and steal merchandise or money will always be a threat to you as a business owner. Unfortunately, you never know when someone might try to break in, so it’s a good idea to invest in security cameras and alarms so that if someone does try to rob you, you and the police will be notified as soon as the alarms go off. Security cameras might also help in catching the perpetrator. They’re also useful for making sure that everyone in your building is safe at all times.

Hire security guards

If you manage a high-risk business, such as a nightclub, you should think about hiring security guards to keep an eye on the doors and ensure that everyone is safe. Perhaps you sell high-value things and are concerned about theft or violence. Hiring security guards to keep everyone secure would not only provide you peace of mind, but it will also significantly dissuade potential robbers or attackers.

Protect personal information

Finally, we addressed cyber security before, but if you’re not careful with what you enter online, it might lead to identity theft. After you’ve set up your cyber security, you should start thinking about how you’ll protect whatever information you have on your employees. It’s possible that you have bank account information, addresses, and perhaps phone numbers recorded somewhere. Keep all of your information in a secure location, such as a physical safe or a portable hard drive that you can carry with you at all times. If you’re in the medical industry you’ll have access to your patient’s personal information. Using secure programs and plenty of security measures will help keep their information safe too. You should learn more about how to avoid identity theft and take the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.

A Management Guide To Better Written Communication In Business

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StrategyDriven Business Communications Article | A Management Guide To Better Written Communication In BusinessThere is an old saying which goes, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and therein lies a very powerful message for modern business management.

Written in 1839 by an English author, the sentiment expressed that the written word was a far more effective communication tool than a weapon.

Written over two hundred years ago, it is a lesson that still holds good today, and it would benefit the canny business manager to spend a few moments to ponder its significance.

A low literacy crisis

A study by the US Department of Education in 2020 found that 54% of the adult population of the USA – that is, 130 million people between ages 16 and 74 – lacked proficiency in writing and were graded as reading below a sixth-grade level. When viewed in this light, the question is just how this low literacy level impacts business and the overall economy.

This rightly raises several questions and can be viewed from both the perspective of the employer and employee alike.

Do workers with lower literacy levels in positions involving a high degree of written work output and/or a requirement for high levels of reading and comprehension cope adequately, or do they become unduly overwhelmed or dissatisfied?

Email and written communication

Email is likely to be the second most widely used communication tool after the telephone system for most business concerns. For many organizations, email is likely to be the first contact a potential new client will have with the company.

Based on the quality of outgoing emails, how exactly is the business being perceived by clients and potential new customers? A poor first impression can make or break a business relationship.

Consider providing staff with a deeper understanding of the importance of good communication skills. Ensure personnel makes avail of support applications like ‘Spell Check” or a communications editor like Grammarly. An explanation of how to use grammarly can be found here. For employees involved in the preparation of business letters, contracts, or reports, serious consideration should be given to the implementation of such support applications across the organization.

Social media – the new communication mode

In addition to lower literacy levels, professional organizations also face the intrusion of modern communication culture into the workplace. The mass uptake of social media accounts and communications apps has given rise to the popular use of abbreviations and emoticons, which have steadily found their way into more formal business communications.

Whilst their usage can be deemed acceptable in friendly, informal emails or written communications, the manager should maintain a healthy awareness of general business communication standards.

Deeper staff training and awareness

Given the importance of good business communication skills, management can further assist and equip their staff by providing a deeper level of guidance and training.

Consider providing a guideline to applicable staff members outlining best corporate practices with regards to written and email structure and presentation. The use of support applications to assist staff in meeting these guidelines can be recommended within these documents.

Remember that communication is always a two-way street – assisting staff by providing a support structure can not only assist in raising the bar with client perception, but it can also potentially contribute to improved levels of employee satisfaction.

Is Coinbase a Safe Place to Store Your Crypto Coins

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Coinbase|Is Coinbase a Safe Place to Store Your Crypto Coins?Coinbase is a popular platform for storing and exchanging crypto coins. However, crypto enthusiasts shouldn’t base decisions about who to trust with their digital currency on popularity, alone. They should consider other important factors like whether their digital wallets will be safe and what kinds of security precautions the platform takes to protect its users.

Are Coinbase Exchange Accounts Safe?

According to crypto experts, Coinbase is a reputable company with 40 different licenses to operate in 30 US states and 32 different countries. The company stores most of its digital assets in secure, off-line storage and insures any crypto coins stored on their servers.

Though Coinbase has been popular in the United States for some time, it’s only recently that Canadians have started using the platform in larger numbers. Thankfully, they can rely on the same safeguards and security policies as other existing customers. New users can also check out this Coinbase Canada Review to learn what else they need to know before getting started.

Are Coinbase Wallet Accounts Safe?

Coinbase Wallet is owned by the same parent company as Coinbase Exchange. However, users don’t need to have an Exchange account to keep their crypto coins in a Coinbase wallet. Anyone can download Coinbase Wallet on iOS or Android for free, and it will be as secure as the device being used to store it.

Coinbase Wallet goes a step beyond some digital wallet providers. It uses Secure Element Technology to add security for private keys on users’ smartphones, making a hack virtually impossible. To gain access to the wallet, a hacker would need to create a duplicate fingerprint and avoid the auto-lock timeout to frustrate those who want to attempt multiple breaches.

What Steps Does Coinbase Take to Keep Users Safe?

Coinbase takes multiple steps to ensure that its users’ information and crypto coins stay safe. They include requiring three levels of ID verification to prevent malicious individuals from accessing the platform anonymously and allowing users to enable two-factor authentication to improve security on their accounts. Users can only set up two-factor authentication after they have verified their IDs.

Users’ Roles in Keeping Their Crypto Assets Safe

While Coinbase does provide advanced security features that keep users’ data and crypto-assets safe while they’re in the company’s hands, it can’t do all the work. Users also need to take certain steps to keep their accounts private. To maximize security, Coinbase users should:

  • Create strong passwords by using long, random, unique strings of characters.
  • Enable two-factor authentication, including a security key or Time-Based One-Time Passwords paired with mobile authenticator apps.
  • Use secure email accounts that have never been compromised.
  • Protect mobile phones against port attacks and SIM swaps.
  • Update and clean devices used to access Coinbase frequently.
  • Beware of phishing scams used to gather sensitive information via email.
  • Verify recent activity regularly to make sure there’s nothing suspicious going on.

Coinbase Is a Safe, Reputable Platform

It’s understandable that so many people are hesitant to use online crypto exchanges given all the horror stories that have circulated in recent years about scams and outright thefts. Canadians looking for a safe way to get into crypto buying, selling, and investing can trust Coinbase, though. The platform is owned by a well-established company that has a reputation for taking users’ data seriously and ensuring that all the crypto coins stored on their servers are safe.

6 Effective Digital Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs To Increase Returns on Investment

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Digital marketing tips|6 Effective Digital Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs To Increase Returns on InvestmentA majority of content consumption has been taking place online, especially in the last 2 years. Hence, going digital is the key for any entrepreneur. Sharing content via online platforms is the prime way to increase brand awareness, attract potential customers and in turn increase ROI.

This blog pens down the 6 effective tips that entrepreneurs must adopt to increase their returns on investment.

Digital marketing is the future of marketing. Researchers have found a 20% increase in digital marketing activities of businesses from 2020 to 2021. This suggests that the pandemic has urged more and more people to turn towards digital marketing.

Making optimum use of the digital marketing tips available for you can help you build a friendly digital marketing plan and achieve successful results. Let’s now look at the 6 effective digital marketing tips for entrepreneurs.

6 Effective Digital Marketing Tips For Entrepreneurs

1. Establish Your Goals

Every entrepreneur sets specific goals to increase their returns on investment. Goals must be aligned with your business objectives and hence, before strategizing, one must decide what they want to achieve with the marketing strategy.

Setting goals will help you clearly understand each step that you should be taking. The most effective way to achieve your desired goals is using the SMART Criteria. It is a criterion that ensures your goals are achieved within a certain time frame.

The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound.

These are 5 questions that you can ask yourself while defining your goals.

  • Specific: What needs to be accomplished? How can it be accomplished?
  • Measurable: Is the goal quantifiable?
  • Achievable: Is the goal feasible and achievable by the team?
  • Relevant: How is the goal beneficial to the organization?
  • Time-Bound: Set a realistic deadline for your plan.

2. Curate Engaging Content

Curating engaging and appealing content will make more users stay on your website. They will engage in reading your content in-depth and spend time on your site.

Making relevant content and describing what your business is about will offer value to potential customers. You need to plan a different content marketing strategy and learn how blockchain-powered content works for each channel that attracts different customers.  Creating videos for your website and social media content is also likely to bring more potential customers to your business. Companies like Value Imagery offer video production services in Byron Bay that are within the budget.

Writing blogs about your business and answering questions builds trust, loyalty and also user experience. You can write blogs on the most demanded topics.

Search Optimization Techniques with the help of google analytics enable you to research the most demanded keywords and topics by your visitors. Learning Search Engine Optimization techniques in-depth can help you ace the game of ranking high on google.

3. Automate Your Tasks

Automating your tasks is highly essential as it saves tons of time, enabling you to focus on other important tasks, ultimately improving your productivity and ROI.

Following are a few tasks that you must automate:

Automate Social Media Posts: Hubspot, Co-Schedule and Hootsuite are some of the effective tools to use to schedule social media posts in advance. Scheduling your posts for all social media platforms at least a week in advance would be a good idea.

Automate Lead Flow: A free demo, a downloadable guide, a free PDF helps in lead generation. A scheduled automated email is sent to the user and helps in pushing them closer to purchasing from you.

Automate your Marketing Emails: Automated emails also receive 95% higher open rates than the ones sent manually. Welcome emails, Thank you emails, order confirmation emails are examples of automated emails. Automating emails is essential as it manages vital communication and builds a good brand image. Learn Email Marketing to build a powerful email list and create successful email marketing campaigns.

4. Get On Google My Business

Google My Business is a free tool offered by Google that allows you to showcase your business online. It generates a mobile optimised website, making it easier for viewers to locate your business.

It lets users find your location on google maps and contact you through a google search if you are within the designated area of the user.

Google My Business makes it easier for customers to connect with you by offering valuable information like:

  • Products and services you offer
  • Opening and closing hours
  • Your address
  • Website
  • Contact details

This is what creating a google my business account looks like.

5. Track And Improve Your Performance

After putting much effort into widening your audience and increasing ROI, measuring and improving your performance seems highly essential.

Tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console and Hootsuite help you to easily track your overall performance. Learn Google Analytics to level up your business and understand where your leads are coming from and what steps you need to take to further improve your ROI.

6. Networking

Networking is also one of the essential things that an entrepreneur needs to do to enhance their reach. Attending expos, connecting and reaching out to other entrepreneurs both online and offline will help you build goodwill and ultimately expand your business.

Few Takeaways

These were the 6 effective digital marketing tips for entrepreneurs to increase their ROI. Online marketing opens up your business to an enormous population. Hence, using the above-mentioned tips efficiently will surely help you to design an impactful digital marketing strategy.

However, if you’re a beginner or someone who wishes to learn more, a comprehensive training in digital marketing can be extremely beneficial and can help you master different marketing techniques and tools in-depth.

We hope you enjoyed this blog! Will you be using the top 6 digital marketing tips? Let us know in the comments section below.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Karan ShahKaran Shah is an ‘Edupreneur’ and the Founder and CEO of IIDE – Indian Institute of Digital Education. He is a passionate public speaker and teacher for over 10 years. He has trained over 1,00,000+ students and 25+ corporates in Digital Marketing via online and offline channels. He is a Harvard alumnus specialising in E-commerce. He is a TEDx speaker and is a visiting faculty at India’s top management institutes like the IIMs.