It’s that time of year again, where we desperately hope for a sunny summer here in the UK before giving up halfway through August and booking a last-minute trip to sunnier climates. But for business owners, packing up and leaving the country can fill you with a sense of anxiety. What will happen whilst you’re […]
In a society increasingly reliant on technology, more and more businesses are using some form of automation to alleviate their workload. Put simply, automation is the use of software to perform often complex tasks quickly and efficiently. Although business automation may seem daunting to the technologically challenged, there are many simple processes anyone could implement which could save you time and money. These tools are often inexpensive, easy to use and can sometimes function as an extra member of staff – without the salary!
Instead of spending the rest of the article detailing complex and often expensive types of business automation, I am going to give you some simple and straightforward examples which can be used by anyone, regardless of business type or budget.
E-mail Automation
One of the most common automation processes is the use of automatic e-mail. Are you out of the office for the day or unable to access your inbox? No problem! Simply set up an automatic reply the day before and contacts will receive an instant response to their message. Additionally, you can arrange automatic ‘thank you’ e-mails to customers who have made a purchase, payment reminders to others and set up a regular newsletter in advance. So, you could even plan an entire year’s worth of newsletter communication in one day!
Telephone Automation
One of the simplest forms of automation is the use of a telephone answering machine, ensuring you don’t miss any messages when out of the office or even if you’re busy on another call. Did you know you can also implement a ticket system, transcribing any answerphone messages into text documents which are instantly sent to your e-mail or mobile phone? You need never worry about missing an important call, and thus potential business, again; with automated systems such as this, you can make a promise to contact someone within 10 minutes of them leaving a message.
Social Media Automation
According to a recent survey, only 42% of small businesses are currently using social media, compared to a whopping 81% of larger companies. More small businesses should be taking advantage of the extra publicity and potential trade which comes with social media promotion. With the use of automation, this is becoming increasingly easier to do. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter allow for ‘scheduled posting’; messages and posts which can be planned up to a year in advance. You could spend less than a day organising an entire year’s worth of social media communication, almost certainly enhancing your brand’s identity. Not only does this process save time, it also ensures that you are regularly communicating with customers on weekends, evenings and other non-working hours. Additionally, it reduces the risk of human error. If you forget to regularly update your social media, automated services will take care of it for you, so can you really afford to miss out on this form of brand, product or service promotion?
Alternatively, if you do feel too overwhelmed with managing your own social media then you can always outsource it to someone who enjoys social media and the opportunity of engagement with existing clients or new prospects. For more information about our social media packages and offering see here
So as you can see these are some of the simplest forms of business automation. Of the examples above, all are entirely free, easy to implement, and guaranteed to make your working life a lot easier.
Photo courtesy of carmelvision
“How has small businesses evolved over the years?” I hear many people ask. Not long ago some people would have been unaware that a company or business was operating in certain parts of the country or a small secluded village or town. Keeping track of the best and most expanding business firms in your own Country or globally was difficult. With the expansion of the internet and the world being more connected, even small businesses remain in the limelight.
The internet now plays a huge role for most businesses on a global scale with the increase of online marketing tools and consumer participation. Email marketing has been an important tool over the past years for small businesses, but today this usage has increased alongside the use of social media marketing which has exploded if compared with five years ago.
There is also an increase of businesses using, or using more automated business solutions ie inventory, payroll etc
Even most households and individuals are now directly connected to the internet in one shape or form; you really don’t need to own a PC anymore in order to get connected!
A survey was completed a few years ago and showed that it was harder to run a business then than 5 years ago…
Only 12% of the respondents said that it was easier to run a business than it was five years ago, and of that group of small businesses, 89% citied online marketing tools that make it easier and less expensive to market their business.
The survey also showed an uptick in the importance of supporting local businesses with customers.
When asked whether they think being locally owned and operated is a major reason customers support their business today 51% of respondents said yes, up from the 42% who thought so five years ago. Even a little private bakery that one wishes to open can sooner succeed with the right investment in marketing, service and product.
Businesses are now more connected and continue to expand their social circles both through online and offline networking which has increased and become more popular today with some small businesses sending representatives to networking functions weekly, fortnightly or more frequently.
Now, with just a few clicks your company or organization can go viral and with the click of a few photographs your work can be viewed and recognised. With a simple press of the “Send” button, you can instantly get your message out there to a global audience and the opportunity to increase sales and expand your business.
Survey Source: Small Businesses: Then and Now Survey, Constant Contact, 2013
Picture courtesy of FlowCentric
As someone who owns their own business it can be tempting to try and do everything yourself. However, whilst this can seem like the best way forward it isn’t always the most sensible or productive. Sometimes you need to think outside of the box and determine new ways to bring in new talent to your business. Looking into business outsourcing is a great way of doing this and can benefit your business in so many different ways in the long run.
Save Yourself Time
Getting someone else on board can be a great time saver. If you have someone on board that knows what they are doing and doesn’t require any hand holding from you then it will save you value time, rather than trying to do all the tasks yourself. This then enables you to pick and choose the tasks you want to do and to delegate the ones you don’t. You’ll then have more free time to focus on other priorities.
Flexible Workers
Having permanent people on board can seem like a good idea, but it can also feel like an expensive one at times. By outsourcing certain parts of your business you can pick and choose when they work for you and what they do. Many outsource companies offer flexible working patterns which, allows you to pay purely for the time spent working on your tasks, rather than you having to fork out for a full-time wage or employee. Many flexible workers and Virtual Assistants are responsible for their own taxation and home office setup including equipment, yet another benefit to consider.
Bring New Skills into Your Organisation
When you outsource work you also have a good chance of bringing new skills into your business. You may know your business inside and out, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you know everything! Having a fresh set of eyes, skills and new experiences on board can really benefit your business and definitely a positive reason to consider outsourcing at least some of your work.
Trying Something New
If you are looking to try something new when it comes to your business then it can be handy and beneficial to get someone new on board. The benefit of this will be that they are able to bring new skills to the table whilst contributing new ideas and possible ways in which your business could work better. They may even share past experiences with other companies and use this experience to ensure your transition goes smoothly.
Minimal Effort
Hiring someone to outsource your work to should be a straight forward process. In fact many companies have set procedures in place to help make it as smooth as possible for you. If you choose a company with experience then the chances are they have been through this with other clients beforehand so will know exactly how to minimise disruption to your business.
The good news is that many outsourcing companies will have details of their services and customer reviews on their website. This means that finding someone that is the perfect match to your needs and your business shouldn’t be too long winded or any hassle. You just need to spend a little time researching your options to find the perfect fit. If you would like to know more about outsourcing and how it can benefit you & your business, then feel free to contact us for more details here.
Photo courtesy of Active Rain
If you work in a job that requires you to do a lot of travelling then it stands to reason you are going to want to make life as easy as possible. Whilst not many people relish the thought of being away from home for a business trip, if you can make life a little easier then all the better.
One of the best ways that you can make life easy when it comes to travelling for business trips is to download apps onto your smart phone, laptop and or/tablet. These give you instant access to all sorts of utilities and information, which can make travelling that much easier.
Booking.com
Whether your business trip is unexpected or booked in advance the booking.com app can help. For starters you are able to search out local accommodation choices, check prices and even book a room if you need to. Your booking details are then stored on the app for you to look up when it is time to check in.
Sky Scanner
If you need to travel internationally or even up and down the country then Sky Scanner can help with sourcing affordable flights. You are able to check flight details, times and prices given by a variety of different travel agents. This helps to ensure you get the best possible price with minimal searching when you’re ready to book a flight.
Asana
This app is a great task management tool for keeping your team and colleagues organized and connected. With Asana there is no need for back & forth emails, you can create work tasks you plan to do or need a teammate to do whilst organising your tasks into shared projects for your initiatives, meetings or lists.
Expensify
Expensify streamlines the way you report your expenses, the way expenses are approved and the way they can then be exported to an accounting package (back office). When it comes to business trips it can be hard to keep track of all your expenses. This app helps with that as you can store all of your information in one place, thus making life much easier.
Google Maps
It is easy to assume that the Google maps app can only help with driving directions but it does so much more. It can provide interactive maps, street view, walking distance from point A to point B and well as provide you with a variety of possible routes that can be taken with duration no matter where in the world you happen to be.
Yelp
This app can help when it comes to looking up details of local businesses and services across the UK. This can range from general things to do, place to eat, checking ratings, or reviews from past customers. It’s great for when you’re away over night and want something to do with your spare time.
Google Apps
This allows you to download Google apps all in one place. You can then use these to create, save and share documents alongside checking your emails and using chat app GTalk.
Drop Box
Use this to store your files in one central location. You can then access these from your laptop, desktop, mobile phone and tablet etc. You can even share the files with colleagues and keep documents updated in real-time to help make your working life even simpler.
XE Currency
This helps when you are travelling abroad as you can instantly work out currency conversions and therefore see how much something is costing you before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Google Translate
Great when travelling abroad! It can assist you with working out what things to say and therefore making communication with others much easier when you’re in a different Country from your own and using a different language that you’re not familiar with.
Image courtesy of Intelligent Travel Australia
Whether you run a start-up company, a small business or you simply work for yourself, you may not always have the need for or the resources for a full-time assistant. Taking care of the day to day running of your business – arranging meetings, paying invoices, updating social media, or making travel arrangements etc can take up a large portion of your day when, you could be focussed on the more core elements of running your business. These are some of the reasons why you could ultimately benefit from the services of a Virtual Assistant, helping to free up your time and getting things done, without the need of having a full-time member of staff. So, let’s explore some of the many benefits of using Virtual Assistant below;
More and more people are working from home or for themselves, with Virtual Assistants amongst those which are easy to find online. With little recruitment time you could start using the services of a Virtual Assistant the very same day, meaning no lengthy or costly recruitment processes. A quick Google search, recommendation from a fellow business associate or using a freelance hire portal is all you need to find your saviour.
You can hire a Virtual Assistant by the hour, project or on a regular retainer basis for as many hours as you need that day, week or month. If you only need someone for a few hours each week or ad hoc to help out during busy periods, then you can hire a Virtual Assistant that meets your budget and needs, without worrying about other HR concerns such as pensions, National Insurance or taxation etc. Virtual Assistants look after their own finances and taxation, so all you need to do is ensure you pay them for their time and they’ll take care of the rest.
Virtual Assistants are skilled in a variety of disciplines and have a wide range of experience, working with a number of businesses across different industries worldwide and thus very adaptable. You will be able to check out their testimonials and reviews of their services from past clients, and you can be sure that their main aim is to get the job done to the best of their ability.
The difference of having a Virtual Assistant working alongside you in your business can prove priceless. You may find that your business is far more organised, less stressful and the little things you may forget to do or do not have enough time for, will get done without any fuss – making your business more streamlined and professional.
Whilst there are some benefits to having someone physically present in your office. These days, there isn’t much that can’t be done remotely thanks to Skype, instant messaging, email and much more. Therefore, there should be no issues with your Virtual Assistant being contactable via these methods or even by sharing your desktop remotely in order to work collaboratively on certain projects together.
Hiring a Virtual Assistant can be a permanent or a temporary move and whichever you choose, you are sure to find instant benefits from their skills and ability to assist you in managing the running of your business. If you are fortunate enough to find a Virtual Assistant that you are comfortable working with, and who provides value add to your business, you will have taken a very positive step to growing your support team and ultimately your business in the long run. See here for more information on how a Virtual Assistant can help you in your business.
Picture courtesy of virtual support UK
Launching a start-up business can be an unpredictable game. Whilst of course many succeed, the sad truth is that a number of them are not so fortunate and fail. The reasons behind these failures are numerous. It can be anything from external factors such as the economy, to a drying up of the market, as well as reasons related to failures within the business itself. So let’s take a look at some of the reasons why many start-ups fail and what you can do to avoid following the same path.
Why do so many start-up businesses fail?
Whether it’s over in the beginning stages of the business or further down the line after a brief period of success, failure is quite common amongst start-ups. This is partly down to how easy it actually is to set up a business, thanks to kickstarter campaigns and other such ventures making it all the more possible for people to set up a new venture.
5 common reasons for start-up failures include:
It’s great that you are passionate about something, you want to work for yourself or you want to make some money. However, these reasons aren’t always valid or enough for setting up a new business. There will be a lot of hard work required on your part, long hours, sleepless nights and a lot of financial sacrifice. Many people just aren’t prepared for the all-consuming nature of a start-up, and this can sadly lead to its failure.
You may have never had to manage yourself before, let alone others and a budget. Without key management experience, you could drown. You may want to think about embarking on some management courses, partnering with an experienced other or waiting until you’ve developed these skills before you try to set out on your own. An incompetent leader could easily be a business’ downfall.
It is vital that you have a plan beyond the initial set up of the business, both strategic and financial. If necessary, have your plans checked over by an impartial individual who can ensure that you have covered all bases and have a viable business plan to make it through. This will also be essential for any financial aid you seek.
Location is an important consideration when setting up a business. If you’re going to be online only, then you’ll need to check out your competitors and ensure that you’re targeting the right location and target audience. Location is key if your plan is to have a physical location so it needs to be chosen carefully. There’s no point setting up an independent coffee chain on a street which already features a Starbucks, two Costa Coffees and a Café Nero! Do your research carefully and thoroughly and make sure that you establish your business where there is a real need and gap in the market for it.
In this day and age, you would be considered crazy not to have a website or some form of online presence for your business. People need to be able to find you easily and you need to be visible. If you can’t offer or promote your services online, you’re losing out on a huge chunk of the market, and could lose out to competitors who are already online.
Avoiding Failure
We’ve outlined some of the ways in which you can avoid your start up ending in failure, but there are also some other factors you should bear in mind, such as;
You can never do too much research as you need to know your market inside out. Take the time to study your potential customers, competitors, risks etc. and everything else in order to make sure you’re as prepared as possible.
Take the time to build up your company awareness and brand, whether through using PR, marketing, communication or more. Social media is a free, useful tool in which you can generate buzz about your business before it launches, so make the most of it and don’t be scared to shout about it!
Finance is extremely important for a start-up. Ensure your business plan includes realistic financials and projections. Plan your budget carefully and ensure you have all the financing you will need, covering every eventuality, including for periods where you may not be making any money. Any successes will be a bonus.
If you have strong creative ideas, but lack leadership – seek out those who do. If you need to hire individuals to assist you, whether it’s on a part-time or freelance Virtual Assistant basis, then it’s much better than figuring out everything as you go along, right?
Yes start-ups can be scary business, but also rewarding when they pay off. Plan as well as you can, and take advantage of the experiences of all who have come before you, in order to stand the best chance of succeeding. So good luck!
Picture courtesy of Louise Robinson
If you’ve ever been jealous of your colleagues who have enjoyed flexible working because they have children or had care obligations, then you will have been pleased by the Government’s announcement last year giving you the right to request flexible working, whatever your circumstance. As of the 30th of June 2014, you can now state your case for flexible working with your employer. Whilst it’s as daunting as asking for a pay rise or promotion, we want to help you through it with some excellent tips on how to make a claim for flexible working below.
What Is Flexible Working?
Whilst flexible working sounds like a great term, you may not be wholly familiar with what it is. Flexible working includes:
You could therefore adapt your working patterns in order to find those which suit your preferences as well as your life outside work.
Making Your Case
If you’ve decided that flexible working sounds like something you want to do, then you need to prepare properly. Whilst you are allowed by law to request flexible working, your employer is allowed to reject it. Plus, you can only make one request every 12 months, therefore if you want to make a case, you need to make it count. Try the following steps when making your claim.
Think carefully about how you could benefit from flexible working, how it will improve your job role or not change it for the worse, how it will affect the rest of your colleagues and whether it will have any impact on your organisation. If you can find positive reasons why flexible working could work for you, you’ll be in with a much better chance of success.
By putting in your request in writing, you will have a written record which can be used for your records, your employer’s records as well as having hard evidence of your request. A verbal request could easily be ignored and dismissed. It is also important that you add specific details of what you’re asking.
When submitting your request, make an arrangement at the same time to meet with your employer to discuss. Give them some time to consider your proposal thoroughly before meeting face to face.
If you need additional equipment or technology to enable you to work at home, start the process to get everything in order. Notify those in your team of your change in working conditions to allow them to adjust accordingly.
You have the right to know why your request was rejected. We recommend that you arrange to discuss with your employer and to think about whether or not your application was fairly considered. If you believe that it wasn’t you have up to three months to make an appeal.
By providing you with flexible working, your employer will demonstrate that they care about your wellbeing and working conditions, which will in turn lead to more motivated staff that are happy in their roles. Whilst it may not be for everyone, flexible working can help make your working life more suited to your needs and thus, help you get more out of work, and your life outside of it too.
image courtesy of AlleyWatch
Every business at one time or other deals with an upset customer and the biggest challenge then lies with providing the best solution for your customer, to ensure a positive outcome and win-win situation for all. Sometimes customers even resort to switching to a competitor before you have had ample time to address or correct what went wrong. Therefore, it is imperative that each and every complaint that comes in is handled adequately & professionally so that you can evolve stronger in the market.
A satisfied customer is not always the key but a delighted customer is! If you want to maintain loyalty from your customers then addressing and resolving their complaints in a timely manner is a great opportunity to retain their trust and business. Customers that come to you with a complaint are genuinely interested in your products or services, and equally have their expectations of them. So, try the simple three step procedure shared to solve customer complaints in a more effective manner.
Acknowledge: Start by acknowledging the actual problem. To handle any complaint you first have to understand the problem. Keep your eyes and ears open and an open-mind. Don’t assume anything beforehand or relate one problem with another which appears similar as, it really depends on the customer with whom you are dealing. One solution may satisfy one client but may not, with another. So listen tentatively to the complaint, acknowledge the problem, repeat your understanding of the problem to ensure you haven’t omitted any pertinent details, and then start thinking about a solution that can help resolve the issue. Take a genuine interest and be empathetic to the customer. Take ownership and control of the situation and understand the delicacy of their concern.
Offer a solution: Customers long for quick fixes to their problems and often find it frustrating if months pass without a resolution. So, once you have acknowledged the problem think about a customer oriented solution. Ensure you have spent the right amount of time in acknowledging the problem which will put you in a good position to offer a solution that can ultimately help resolve the complaint in the right manner. Share your solution with the customer and ask if the customer is satisfied with the outcome, and if not what the next steps are to find an acceptable solution that the customer will be satisfied with.
Implement: The third and the most important step involves implementing the solution and doing adequate follow-up. Ensure the customer experience during this period is a positive one as statistics show that businesses that handle customer complaints effectively and efficiently are more likely to get repeat business from the same customers. Customers who have their complaints and issues resolved in a professional and timely manner are more likely to tell others about their positive experience in dealing with your business.
Here are some of the tips that I’ve learned in my career whilst providing services to current and potential customers:
Don’t also forget that complaints can ultimately become more expensive if they are mishandled or need to be escalated within the organisation. So the steps and tips shared within this article will hopefully help you convert your customer complaint challenges into something more positive and constructive for your business.
Photo courtesy of Forbes.com pictures
Today’s world is the world of technology that connects us faster than anything else. Some businesses who have utilised the web have reported booming sales & profits, so if you also aspire to join the ranks of web entrepreneurs who are making millions, the opportunities for online businesses are seemingly unlimited. Social networking sites have made the task simpler and easier to convert the fans, friends, followers and subscribers to dedicated customers. Social networking sites are a great way to promote your new or existing business. Creating back links to your website on your social media platforms is a useful way to gain a greater global audience and to encourage sales growth.
Being a web entrepreneur you know all the social media sites available today but the question that springs to mind is, which ones should you leverage? You may choose to use them all to promote your business but in reality if you run a small business, using all platforms is not a feasible option because it becomes difficult to invest the time needed. So, with your limited resources, which platform is best for you?
Select social media sites based on their best usability to your business:
Facebook: Facebook is a great “social utility” for your business. On Facebook, you not only connect but also expand your network, so create your business page and share your business news & updates. Strong brands get a lot of active following, so if you have a strong brand value, Facebook may be the best option. However, if you are a nascent player you’ll need to focus your efforts on to page promotion which will help you acquire new customers. The majority of new businesses use Facebook as their first social media platform, whereby maximum `likes’ are driven by pictures. Studies show that more than 90% of `likes’ are derived from photos.
LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional B2B network site that helps you connect to other professionals and promote your business amongst groups. LinkedIn aims at career opportunities and is a good place for recruiters, whilst 91% of marketers use LinkedIn. Many business contacts are made daily on LinkedIn which results in it being the leading social media platform for B2B opportunities.
Pinterest: Pinterest is a trusted information and advice source for online customers whilst also enabling businesses to increase their sales by visual displays (pins). Many users on Pinterest are there to get shopping inspiration, and it has performed exceptionally well in shaping the mind set of shoppers to make purchases. You can use Pinterest to gain more customers by creating and sharing pins of interest. When individuals find something that they like on the web, they can `pin it’ to their Pinterest Board and access it anytime. A lot of top brands use Pinterest to promote their products by way of visual demonstration.
Google+: If your customer acquisition strategy involves SEO, then Google Plus (Google+) is your stop. The more +1’s you receive on your posts; the greater your chances to improve your search rankings. High-value brands use Google Plus actively as a part of their social media campaigns. So if you are serious about your Google ranking, you cannot afford to miss Google plus among your social media platforms.
Being new to social networking sites, you may wonder if marketing via social media is just a lot of hype. Will this actually make a difference or will anyone actually read your posts? Doubt certainly creeps in, and you wonder whether your business will grow or not? But don’t despair! Try giving a digital handshake to your potential customers. It will undoubtedly take time to build your audience on your social media platforms but with some thought & lots of dedication you’ll develop a strong and dedicated following and take your business towards success. If you really don’t have the time to invest in this important aspect of your business then an easy solution would be to outsource this work to an affordable Virtual Assistant who can add value by providing remote business support without the red tape.
“Social media is important for your business, it helps you gain greater exposure.”