Business/Entrepreneurship – Page 107 – The Big Words Blog Site

How Hotel Owners Can Assess The Competition

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The hospitality injury can be very competitive. Similar to other arenas, it’s important to know how your competition is doing. The following contributed post discusses this and is entitled, How Hotel Owners Can Assess The Competition.

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If you have a number of hotels across different destinations, it may seem impossible to assess the competition effectively, especially if you are not immersed in the area yourself. However, evaluating the competition is of paramount importance if your business is to take the steps forward you need it to. Below, we reveal some top tips on how you can monitor competition to win local markets.

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Social media reviews

Firstly, you can use social media reviews in order to leverage the feedback that customers use to make their decisions. This data will tell you what guests think of the local competition while also alerting you to a hotel’s strengths and weaknesses. This will put you in a position whereby you have all of the information you need to differentiate.

The great thing about social media feedback is that the information is readily available. People leave comments on the likes of Facebook and Twitter daily, and these can be accessed with ease at any time of the day. You end up with information coming from multiple sources, which spans across customer demographics. And, when you consider that most consumers read reviews before they make a hotel booking, you see why this is so important. You need to work on building your social media presence and your online reputation so that you rival the competition. After all, 81 per cent of travellers find user reviews important, and 49 per cent won’t book a hotel without reviews.

Social review websites such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Expedia certainly should not be ignored either. Not only should you use such websites to build up a positive image, but you need to engage with customers too. Research shows that one in four people expect a reply on these platforms within an hour. You can really capture customers in the area by being active.

Analytics

When it comes to creating a website through a website builder, one thing you often are not able to do yourself, typically through a lack of understanding, is embed analytics into your site design. This means that you are left missing a critical part of your online puzzle.

So, do you need to have your entire site re-designed? Do you need to spend a fortune on an expert web designer? You can, but it’s not a requirement. Instead, you just need to find a SEO firm who can take care of this for you. This will be a company that has access to advanced technology and software so that they can effectively assess your online presence, not just your website, and make the right decisions that will drive your business forward through assessing what you are doing now and how you match up with the competition.

Survey feedback

You can also track and benchmark your performance by using feedback from surveys. You will get a good understanding of what your previous customers think about your hotel, confirming where you excel, and where you should be making improvements. You may consider doing a prize draw or something to entice your customers to take part in the survey, as only two per cent of consumers complete questionnaires.

Location-based surveys are important because different things matter to different demographics. For example, it’s likely that those visiting New York are going to have different expectations to those heading to Texas.

Involve your staff

Last but not least, make sure you involve the local hotel staff. Their insight can be extremely valuable, especially as you are not there yourself. They will be able to suggest immediate improvement opportunities. After all, they are going to be engaging with your guests every day, and this is when the most honest and direct feedback tends to surface. Encourage all of your employees to be honest, no matter how brutal the feedback may be. At the end of the day, this is going to benefit your company in the long run.

Think about it; what we say at the moment is often very different to what we say when we have had time to think about it. By using this feedback alongside the data extracted above, you can get a well-rounded view of what you need to do to compete locally with other hotels.

4 Technologies Changing Manufacturing

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. If you’re running a manufacturing business, it’s critical to understanding the current technologies and how they can help you operations. The following contributed post is thus entitled, 4 Technologies Changing Manufacturing.

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Quality manufacturing is at the core of many businesses. While some companies simply purchase pre-manufactured products, others rely on either outsourced manufacturing or their own manufacturing setup to create custom products. Like any other area of business, the world of manufacturing is evolving, and technology is moving at a fast pace. Any businesses that rely on manufacturing should be aware of the technology available, whether they’re looking for the right outsourcer or want to update their own manufacturing setup. Here are some of the technologies that are changing manufacturing and the relationship that many businesses have with it.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) involves how devices connect to each other, including computers, manufacturing equipment, vehicles and much more. It facilitates the transfer of data more easily and makes essential information more accessible and easier to analyze. Many manufacturers have already begun to use connected products. It’s not even necessary to invest in all new equipment. Many older items can be updated by adding sensors or other connected products that help to collect and share important data. The IoT makes everything more efficient, keeping everyone in the know. For example, a sensor could pick up on a problem with a piece of equipment and immediately let an engineer know about it.

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Automation

Automation in the manufacturing process is another technology that is playing an increasingly large role. Automation from your outsourcing partners such as an injection moulding company means they will use the tech to monitor manufacturing, ensure consistent quality and transfer parts. Automation means less work for humans, so they can concentrate on doing other things. It can help to improve accuracy and quality during manufacturing, and speed things up too. There has been an increase in automation solutions in the last few years, so there are plenty of ways for manufacturers to benefit from automatic.

Augmented Reality

While it might not be in common use yet, augmented reality has been pitched as the next big thing in manufacturing and other business areas for a while. The use of AR could help to improve efficiency and it’s also popularly used for training purposes. Augmented reality could be used to help people with complex assembly or can make it easier to carry out maintenance, providing clear and visual instructions. Expert support can be provided through AR, and it can even be used to carry out quality assurance.

Mobile Technology

Within manufacturing companies, mobile technology can also prove to be useful. Mobile tech allows people to access the information they need whenever and wherever. Workers need to have access to data that helps them do their jobs properly, and employers shouldn’t ignore the growing need for mobile apps in the workplace. An app can be used to log working hours, check schedules or receive notifications about tasks that need to be completed. When employees benefit from being connected to what’s happening, the rest if the company benefits too.

Technology will continue to change the manufacturing industry. It will pay for businesses to keep up with what’s happening.

Easy Ways to Improve the Aesthetic Look of your Business

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“Your business is your investment, and for that reason, you have to do everything you can to make sure that it is successful.”

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Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Having a pretty website is one thing, and it has never been easier with affordable website build pricing and plug-and-play options, but if you have an actual base of operations with employees and customers walking in, making sure your establishment looks good is critical. The following contributed post discusses some ways you can do this and is entitled, Easy Ways to Improve the Aesthetic Look of your Business.

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Your business is your investment, and for that reason, you have to do everything you can to make sure that it is successful. In order to do this, you have to make sure that you provide an extraordinary service. You also need to make sure that your business looks the part as well, but if you aren’t quite ready to buy a new workspace, then there are a few things you can do, that will not cost you the earth, and which even the best commercial real estate development companies employ in their designs.

Open Everything Up

The first thing that you really need to do is get rid of any cubicles you have. There is no room for these in a modern office, and employees don’t often like them anyway. If you want to really step things up to that next level, then you need to switch to open desks. Co-workers will be able to collaborate with each other much more easily and they can also converse about the task at hand. Slow your staff into the idea of this so it doesn’t disrupt their working day too much, and also try and answer any questions that they have.

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Be Bold

One thing that can really spruce up an office space is colour. The theme of your office should always contain the same colours as your logo. It is also important that you make your space stand out. Strong colours such as blues, reds and greens are great if you want to make your space pop, and this can work wonders for your employee motivation as well.

Your office’s aesthetic goes beyond the walls and windows, however. Extend the look into your brand and packaging with strategic intention. Coordinate packaging tape with ribbons, tissue paper, bags, and boxes so they align with the colours of your logo. Use high-quality materials and tape from EliteTape.com, for example. When you focus on the materials as much as your office space, your customers will notice.

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Glass

If you have room dividers then you may not want to get rid of them just for the sake of it. After all, you may feel as though they add some structure to the space and you may even feel as though they help your team. This is completely understandable, but you do need to make some changes if you want to improve the overall aesthetic of your office. You need to replace the dividers with glass and you may also want to consider adding some artwork as well. When you do this, you can go for the frosted look and you can also give yourself a fresh and non-intrusive design. Want to take things to the next level? Look up “what is cast glass”.

Additionally, there are several ways you can level up your office style with glass. For instance, you can revamp your space by transforming your windows, partitions, or doors with custom designs, logos, or even motivational quotes. If you want iron-on designs, consider using heat press vinyl, which lets you get creative with tons of colors and styles. Whether for branding purposes, privacy enhancements, or decorative accents, it sticks firmly and lasts a long time, all on a budget. You can also add a touch of privacy with frosted vinyl for meetings. Now, your office won’t look like everyone else’s because it stands out.

Curb Appeal

When your clients walk into your business, you want them to feel as though they are walking into somewhere that is clean and professional. If you do not take the time to really maintain your business premises then they won’t feel this way at all, and this can cause major problems for you. If you want to get around this then you need to make sure that you invest in commercial paving and that you also put the work in to try and prune any greenery that you have. Bannisters and bollards can go a long way too, and they are great at making your business feel separate from any other offices on the street.

There really are many things that you can do to try and make your business feel more professional. Some of them are more work than others, but they are all going to help your business to get to where it needs to be. They can also help you to boost your level of customer trust as well.

Utilizing Technology In Your Business

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital age it’s important to properly utilize technology in your operations. Not everyone is savvy in how to go about this. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Utilizing Technology In Your Business.

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Photo by Free-Photos from Pixabay

The world around us is becoming more and more technology-based, from the telematics in our cars to the hardware in our phones. No matter where you are it seems that you can’t escape some sort of technology. So, with that in mind let’s look at how your company might try to then make the most of tech and the digital age.

Marketing

For starters, one of the ways that many companies are utilizing technology around the world is by investing their time and money in digital marketing campaigns. As referenced above, our phones have become almost like miniature computers in our pockets and therefore are perfect places for companies to target their advertising. The way they will do that will quite often be via social media, so where you start with this form of marketing?

Social Media – From Facebook to Twitter and every Instagram or Snapchat in between there is a social network out there these days for all of us to use. Rarely before in history have you as a business has such eahsy access to so many captive eyes and making the most of that is vital to your success.

It is important to remember with social media that each one has a specialty and users who are active for that reason. That means you need to target your marketing campaign carefully, don’t start a YouTube plan if you have no need for video based promotion, for example. So, the first thing any social media marketing campaign must do is identify its audience and find where they are online. Facebook has the highest number of users so if you cast a net you’re likely to catch some fish, but are they the right ones for you. A mistake made by many companies is thinking that because a social media account is free they should dive head first, far from it. Your time is currency to the company and wasting it by spreading yourself thinly over several social media websites rather than targeting a few is not a good use of it.

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Productivity

In addition to improving your ability to promote your business, the tech industry has delivered a vast range of applications that will help your workforce being more efficient and productive with their time. The classics of the genre include Evernote and Dropbox, both of which are regular features of many offices with the latter offering cloud-based storage and the former a type or organization tool.

However, keep your eye out for startups that are looking to revolutionize the productivity market. As we learn more about the digital era we are seeing more and more applications come to the fore that can help your business with communications, meetings and sharing information. Some of these companies that you might want to keep an eye on include: Mindmeister, Todoist, and RescueTime.

What Advantages Do Plastic Pipes Have Over Metal For Your Business?

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). In many instances, business and science intersect – particularly those businesses where some knowledge of Chemistry and Materials Science is critical for planning projects, and budgeting for costs and savings. The following contributed post is entitled, What Advantages Do Plastic Pipes Have Over Metal For Your Business?

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Regardless of what pipe system you are looking to install one important decision you need to think about is the material of the pipes. This is imperative because it directly impacts the level of quality of your system, how long it will last you for and ultimately whether it will be cost effective or not. The two main materials you have at your disposal are plastic and metal. This article will reveal why the former option wins this battle each and every time. Why should you choose plastic pipework systems over metal?

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Durability
First and foremost, one of the main advantages associated with plastic is the fact that it is much more durable than metal is. This is because it is not susceptible to the impact of corrosion, rust and other types of degradation. However, metal is, and because of this, you can end up with extremely costly repairs on your hands as leaks are assured to arise after a certain period of time. Furthermore, if you select plastic pipework systems you don’t have to worry about experiencing that horrible metallic taste in your drinking water which frequently occurs with metal pipes.

Environmental Benefits
There is undoubtedly increased attention placed on looking after the planet in the current day and age. By using plastic pipes instead of metal you will be playing your role. This is because plastic has walls that are a lot thicker than metal and as a consequence, you will benefit from a better insulator against heat loss. Moreover, in relation to metal, it does not conduct heat anywhere as easily because it has low thermal conductivity. When you take all of this into account it means that hot water is going to stay hot longer and therefore the need for energy diminishes. This ensures that you are operating a lot more environmentally friendly than you would be if you went for metal.

Long Life Span
As mentioned earlier; conductive plastic is not susceptible to damage anywhere near as much as metal is. This is because it is immune to the effects of pitting, rust, corrosion and any other types of degradation. In essence, this means that you can expect your plastic pipework system to be like new for a minimum of 25 years.

Cheaper
Plastic pipes are undoubtedly a lot cheaper than metal pipes are, and price savings are welcomed by all businesses. There are several different reasons why this is the case. First and foremost, plastic is a lot cheaper to produce. Nevertheless, there are other cost savings that people do not initially recognise. For example, you will also save money when it comes to transportation as plastic is a lot lighter. In addition to this, because plastic tends to have a longer lifespan you will also reap cost efficiency because you will not need to spend as much on repairs and replacements. You will also reduce your energy expenses.

When you take these four key benefits into account it is really not hard to see why plastic pipes prove to be the clear winner when compared with metal systems.

How Can You Tell If Your Customers Like You

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what you business is, your customers are you lifeblood. Sales are the ultimate indicator of whether or they like your products and services, but today there other ways to gauge this. The following contributed is thus entitled, How Can You Tell If Your Customers Like You.

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Businesses need to know whether what they’re doing is the right thing. But what actually constitutes “the right thing” can be difficult to ascertain. Customers are often mysterious creatures and won’t willingly write a report on company performance.

How your company performs in the eyes of customers, though, is paramount. It’s customers who ultimately decide whether the company lives or dies and whether you end up making money in the end. If they don’t like what you’re selling, your bottom line will suffer, and you could ultimately go out of business.

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Companies need to do marketing research to find out whether customers actually like their product, but that process itself is fraught with difficulties. For starters, people are getting tired of filling out endless surveys and reviews online for products that they buy. It’s hard enough finding the products you want and ordering them, let alone writing an in-depth article about their features and how they measured up (although some people do this).

Customers want easier options when it comes to writing reviews, and often just want to give a star-rating out of five. But that doesn’t tend to help companies all that much who need specific feedback about the features of their products. Yes, it gives an overall impression that customers are happy, but not much more than that.

Working out whether customers like something that you do can, therefore, be a challenge. But, as a business owner or manager, there are still plenty of pieces of information that you can use to tell you whether what you’ve created is remarkable or not. Take a look at the following.

Your Customers Keep Coming Back

Okay sure, your customers don’t give you direct, detailed feedback. But if they keep on coming back for more, then it’s sure sign that you’re doing the right thing.

You can see this “coming back for more” effect playing out in some of the world’s most successful companies. Apple, for instance, has seen customers returning year after year each time it releases a new iPhone. For many years after the release of the original iPhone back in 2007, news outlets reported on how Apple was attracting queues of people at midnight for the launch of its new product. Although this has come down from the fever-pitch levels of a few years back, Apple is still riding the same wave. People just love its products and keep coming back for more.

What’s so surprising about companies like Apple is that customers don’t keep coming back because of low prices – the logic of many business leaders today. Instead, they come back because they know that they’re going to get a service that they can’t get anywhere else. Only Apple can do Apple.

In some ways, it’s almost like people can’t live without their Apple products. Life without an iPhone or Mac seems so far removed from how life should be that customers don’t even entertain the possibility of not having one of the company’s products. Regular businesses can take advantage of this idea too: they can harp on about how critical their products are to their customers’ worlds, and how living without them would be a nightmare.

The final thing that keeps customers coming back is usually the uniqueness of the product or customer experience. Obviously, if you’re an online retailer, it’s not as easy to differentiate your product as it would be if you were a product manufacturer, like Apple, but you can still focus on the customer experience elements that keep people coming back. One of the reasons Walmart has been so successful over the years has been its strategy of always welcoming customers in its stores and trying to serve them on an individual basis, even though it is going for the mass market. People will come back if they enjoy the overall experience and will weigh this against the prices on offer.

Your Customers Talk About What You Do

How can you tell that customers like Tesla Motors? Because they talk about the company of their own volition. People love the products and the ethos of the company, and they’re more than willing to spread the word about the firm’s products on Tesla’s behalf with no direction from the company itself.

Tesla is an unusual business in so many ways. But perhaps the most remarkable thing about it is that it has hardly spent any money on marketing at all. All its spare cash has gone into expanding its production and paying off debts, and it relies almost exclusively on the work of the community to promote its products.

Companies who can delight customers so much that they go out and start spreading the word themselves always win. People are far more likely to believe the claims of their peers than they are the company, and so customer marketing is usually a lot more effective. If you can get your customers to form a community around your business and get them to spread the word about your products, then you’re likely to win big.

Keep an eye on social media sites like YouTube which have high engagement. See whether there are any opportunities for you to reach out to influencers who would be willing to make videos extolling the virtues of your products.

Happy Customers Will Tell You They Like You

It’s hard to know what silent customers are thinking. Sure, they might love your business, or they might hate it, but it’s more likely to be that they are indifferent to it. Although that’s not a disaster, it’s also not the best possible situation.

Customers who are enthralled by your products will tell you about it. Unsolicited positive feedback is a sure sign that you’re doing something right and that you’ve adopted an approach customers like. People aren’t used to receiving impeccable service from companies most of the time, and so if you can deliver, you’re likely to find out about it. Keep track of individual customer stories and see whether a pattern emerges. Ask yourself what they like and what they don’t.

Things You Should Consider Outsourcing In Your Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When running a business of any kind, no one can possibly know everything, and no can has the time to do everything. This underscores the importance of outsourcing. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Things You Should Consider Outsourcing In Your Business.

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When it comes to your business, if you’re like most business owners, outsourcing, although something you know is necessary, is often easier said than done. We business owners will make every excuse in the book, from not wanting to hand things off to someone who may do a bad job, to not being able to afford to hire someone when it comes to outsourcing, but the fact is, that in order to grow and scale your business, learning to let go and outsource the things that in your zone of genius are things that really need to be done.

The thing is about outsourcing is, that it will also free up your time to work on the things you’re good at and that make you money, but it will also help you make more money because even though you’ll be paying someone to do certain things, they’re going to be experts in these things so it will take them less time than it would take you, so you’ll be able to make money doing the things that are actually within your zone of expertise and genius.

If you know you have to outsource, but are struggling to decide which things you should start with, then in this post we’re going to share with you just what things you may want to consider outsourcing in your business.

Copywriting:

As much as business owners would like to believe that they’re great copywriters, it’s just not the case for most. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because business owners aren’t supposed to be great at everything in their business. However, good copy is essential for your businesses marketing – especially if you want to stand out online, so this is definitely one of the things you should consider outsourcing. Whether it’s the website copy, or your newsletter, copywriters will know what to write to get you noticed as well as the best tools to use, such as plugins for tracking conversions, and newsletter templates from Postman, etc.

Graphic Design:

Like copywriting, graphic design is a certain skill that just not everyone has, but when done right it’s going to make a big difference in your business, so it’s also a good thing to outsource as soon you as you’re able to since it will be able to help make your business stand out by representing it in a good, positive way.

Admin:

Admin is not something that’s considered a money-making task in most businesses, yet it’s still a crucial part of the overall business to ensure it stays running as smoothly and efficiently as possible, so having good systems in place for your admin to keep things organized and running well is essential. Since this is likely not going to be your zone of genius or where your efforts are best spent, then outsourcing your admin tasks like replying to emails, setting up appointments and even creating filing systems and templates is definitely something that a good virtual assistant will be able to do for you and will complete in a fraction of the time that you’d be able to.

Starting A Restaurant: The Short Guide

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Food is something we all enjoy and if you have a niche in the restaurant business, you can make a lot of money. That said, there are certain important considerations for this class of business. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Starting A Restaurant: The Short Guide.

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There are always guides out there about starting a business, and the steps are largely the same: write a business plan, get funding, market your business and open to the public. These are the core steps that every business in every industry needs to follow. When it comes to starting a restaurant, you have all of those steps plus more.

The way that we enjoy our meals out has changed massively in the last ten years. We want new cuisines and quirkier ways to eat it. From fine dining in restaurants with a dress code, to the delicious burgers from a street food van, customers want something new. If you have the right restaurant idea and the funding, then you can bring your service to the high street, but you need to consider your time, money, legalities and the commitment that is required to be successful in this industry.

After you have decided on your concept, gained your funding and started your market research, you next need to think about the premises that you need for your business idea. This is largely down to the fact that you need to fit in people, plus a kitchen area and commercial refrigeration installation alongside dishwashers, ovens and sinks. So, while you need to consider what your restaurant looks like from the outside, none of that is any good if you have no room for what you need where the customers won’t be allowed. Your premises has to meet the expectations of your customers, your staff, your energy consumption, your ability to provide good, well-cooked food and it has to be clean, too.

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Once you have your location locked in, you need to go back to the start. Your funding has to cover everything from premises rental costs to the utilities that you pay out for. These are a huge contribution to rising business costs, and the running costs of the restaurant or food service truck are the biggest overheads for your business. Do your research properly into all of the various energy companies out there and make sure that you compare the prices across the board. You want to work well with your suppliers, and that includes your utilities suppliers, too.

An efficient food service business needs the right equipment, and we’ve already mentioned refrigeration installation, but you also have to think about the smaller apparatus that will keep your business going. You need to start researching suppliers of this equipment when you are setting out your budgets for your finances, because without the right budget in mind, you have no idea which suppliers will work for you. Customer service has to be a hugely deciding factor in choosing your suppliers. You need to know that you can work closely with them and that your restaurant is a priority for them.

Starting a restaurant isn’t going to be something that is easy, but it’s going to be so worth it if you manage to keep on top of it.

How Do You Find The Best Company For Professional Transcription Services

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter which business you’re in, identifying a quality transcription service can be critical. In order to find the right one, you have to know what to look for. The following contributed post is thus entitled, How Do You Find The Best Company For Professional Transcription Services.

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From the legal industry to the medical field, there are many companies that require frequent transcription. Most find that outsourcing transcription services proves to be the best option to go for, as it is much more efficient and cost effective. Nevertheless, in order for this to truly be the case, you need to select a transcription company carefully. That is what this post is here to help you with. Keep on reading to discover the main aspects you should consider…

Turnaround Time – First and foremost, it is imperative to discover how long it will take for your transcripts to be typed up and sent back to you. One of the main benefits associated with outsourcing transcription services is the fact that you will get your transcription completed quicker and free up time to focus on the core aspect of your business. You need to ensure the company actually gives you the platform to achieve this.

Experience – You should also select a company boasting a significant degree of experience. You want to be safe in the knowledge that they have provided their transcription services many, many times before to a whole host of different companies. Make sure they specialise in your field, whether you need real time court reporting or medical transcriptions. This will give you the confidence that they will be able to handle any task you throw at them.

Cost – Of course cost is an important factor when using the services of any company. It is important to find the right balance. You don’t want to go for a company that is too cheap, as this could easily indicate a lack of quality. Nonetheless, you obviously cannot go for a company that is too expensive, as you need to be cost efficient. The best thing to do is a bit of research to determine the average prices being charged.

Reputation – In addition to the points that have already been mentioned, you should also consider the reputation of the company. Read reviews that have been left by previous customers. What do they have to say about the service they received? Were all transcriptions accurate? Did the company stick to the turnaround time? Were they easy to communicate with? This is the only way you will get the answers to the questions you truly wish to know.

Ability – Last but not least, let’s end with the most important point of them all, the company’s ability. You need to be certain that they have the capability of transcribing anything you require. On their website they should clearly outline the type of formats they can deal with, as well as any experience they have in your industry. For instance, if you are a law firm, you will want to make sure the company can transcribe anything from affidavits, to court proceedings, to witness statements.

To conclude, if you carefully consider the five points that have been mentioned in this post, you should have no issue finding the ideal company to outsource your business’s transcription services to. The benefits you will gain by doing this are certainly worth it. You will save yourself time, money, and hassle, whilst being certain that you are benefitting from a high quality service.

3 Suggestions for Setting up a Home Office

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two of its key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many entrepreneurs must set up offices at home to carry out their operations, and this space can be critical for concentration and production. Some aspects will make your space more conducive to productivity. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, 3 Suggestions for Setting up a Home Office.

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Image via Pixabay

Whether you want to embark on an entrepreneurial path and chart your own professional destiny in life, as your own boss, or whether you just want a quiet place to sit, journal, and reflect — a home office is a fantastic and multi-dimensional gift to give yourself.

A good home office should be a place where you can shut out the concerns of the outside world, and invest yourself wholeheartedly in whatever endeavour you’re pursuing. It should be a self-enclosed dimension where you can pen that novel you’ve been working on, produce your blog posts for the next week, or even just read and absorb a book without any significant external distractions.

Of course, a good home office has certain traits. Here are some suggestions for getting your home office set up to a decent standard, in short order.

Your chair is your most important tool — choose one that you can bear to sit in for hours at a stretch

Adjustable standing desks can be a great addition to any office, since it’s good to alternate periods spent seated with periods spent on your feet and moving around, for overall health reasons. In reality, though, you are likely going to spend the vast majority of your time in your home office sitting down.

Your chair is, therefore, your most important home office tool. It has to be something that you can bear to sit in for hours at a stretch. Ideally, it will even be a pleasant experience, as much of your ability to do productive work, or absorb information, will rely on your not being simultaneously distracted by physical discomfort.

Address every aspect of what make for a good office chair. Make sure it’s well-padded. See that it has the best caster wheels for ease of movement. Check that the back support works for you.

Eliminate all distractions from the area, to the best of your ability

The famous author Stephen King has written that authors should “close the door” while working on their books — at least until the draft is ready for other eyes. In this context, he uses “close the door” both literally and figuratively, and advises aspiring authors to work in isolation, to filter out distractions, and to keep their work hidden from prying eyes during the early drafts.

Though this advice was intended for authors, it can be applied to anyone who writes, or has any sort of creative or thoughtful work to attend to, at all.

A distraction-free environment reduces procrastination, boosts productivity, and aids focus. Ensure your home office doesn’t feature TVs, videogames, or anything else of the sort.

Keep the space tidy — an organised desk (and office), means an organised mind

With the constant flow of information that we’re all exposed to, courtesy of the internet and other modern technologies, many of us suffer from chronically disordered thinking, and an inability to strategise and focus.

Keeping your home office space meticulously tidy can help to counteract this chronic low-level chaos, and aid clear thinking.

It seems to be the case, psychologically speaking, that when our immediate environments are messy, cluttered, chaotic and disordered, our thoughts come to be so as well. By contrast, an orderly, neat, and well-structured environment promotes focused and structured states of mind.