Category: Contributed Posts

4 Healthy Indicators Of High Self-Respect

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and a key focus is Health/Wellness. Self-Respect is important not just for yourself but in terms of interacting with others as well. A high level of self-respect can drive your decision making and ability to navigate life as well. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Healthy Indicators Of High Self-Respect.

* * *

Being able to look after yourself and respect yourself is hugely important. Not only does it make for a happier and more fulfilling life, it’s also hugely effective in terms of keeping you physically healthy too. The mind and body are essentially two sides of the same coin, and the more that you pay attention to one, the more the other benefits alongside too. But if you are feeling as though you might not allow yourself the right level of self-respect, then you are probably keen to do something about that. As it happens, there are a whole host of ways in which you can hope to improve your self-respect, and it all starts firstly by understanding it as a process as well as you can. In this article, we will look into some of the healthy indicators that you have high self-respect. If you can see these qualities, you know that there is a lot of self-respect there too.

Image Credit

Good Physical Health

We have already alluded to the way in which physical and mental health work together. It works both ways, and if you happen to have good physical health which you keep up with a lot of the time, it’s highly likely that this is mostly down to having a good level of self-respect. When you respect yourself, you are much more likely to push your body and to improve it through training, as you both want it to be in the best possible shape and you feel much more able to do the necessary training to get it there. Conversely, if you are not in great shape, it will almost always indicate that you are not quite as happy with yourself as you could be.

The trouble here is that it is the kind of thing that can easily become a cyclical problem. If you allow your physical health to worsen, that will cause a decline in your emotional health, and then you will feel less keen to go out and exercise again. Before long, you are going to find that you are letting both slip, and that is not a situation that you want to be in. So make sure that you are staying on top of your physical health as well as you can, and you will find it helps to keep your self-respect up high as well.

Image Credit

The Ability To Self-Regulate

This is something vital that we should all have, but which can become undeveloped or forgotten in many people at different stages of their life. Self-regulation is the term for being able to act in ways which you know are for your best future interests in the long term. This should generally trump anything else such as immediate desires which you know will cause you damage – although in practice, everyone in the world engages in some kind of damaging act at least sometimes. But the ability to self-regulate is a hugely powerful indicator that you have a high self-respect, and if you happen to notice that you don’t really have this yourself, then it’s likely you have self-esteem problems somewhere.

As with many things, this is something that usually starts in childhood. The process of teaching self-regulation to young students and children can be hard, and for many parents it doesn’t ever become a priority. Those children will then not develop a natural sense of what it means to take care of themselves for the long-term, and once you become an adult you might find that this shows up in a variety of poor behaviours which you then try to fix. Idf you find yourself in this position, don’t fret – it is still something you can work on at any point in your life, and you should never feel as though all is lost. But you will need to start actively thinking about what matters for your health and wellbeing, and to make the right steps and changes to make it happen. The more you do it, the easier it becomes, until eventually you are going to find it is a fairly natural skill which you have developed.

Confidence

Who doesn’t want to be confident? Confidence is much-admired, but mostly misunderstood, and it’s that misunderstanding which stops people actually being able to take it for themselves. A lot of people feel that confidence is somehow always being on top in social settings, or even being domineering of those around them. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Actually, confidence is much more like not caring whether or not others like you, and doing whatever you want, regardless of whether other people like it. Clearly, this kind of no-nonsense get-what-you-want attitude is a sign of a healthy self-respect, and it is for this reason that you should seek it out. Of course, as with anything, you can practice either and you will get more of the other – and if you don’t feel you have much confidence, you can do a lot to generate it in yourself.

Image Credit

The best way to build confidence is to make a point of focusing primarily on yourself, and doing what you want. Pleasing number one firstly is the best thing you can do. You should then think about slowly but surely stepping outside of your comfort zone, until you are at the point where you can appreciate that you are capable of more than you thought. In this way, you will surely and slowly build up your confidence, and at the same time your self-respect will start to soar as well. Confidence is hugely addictive, so it’s exciting to get started in building it up.

Image Credit

Kindness

Funnily enough, even being kind to others is a sign that you respect yourself, as long as it comes from a healthy place. If you are over-pleasing, then it’s not healthy, but if you are instead being normally kind because you want to be, then that is a very good sign indeed. It takes a strong self-awareness and understanding to be kind to others, and this is one of the first things you should think about developing if you are keen to respect yourself more. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes.

Employee Engagement Ideas For Remote Teams

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and two focuses are Business/Entrepreneurship and Career Discussions. A great perk for many employees is being able to work remotely. Working remotely gives a lot of flexibility and can add to productivity. There’s a downside to it too, and management must consider how to get the most of teams of employees working remotely. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, Employee Engagement Ideas For Remote Teams.

* * *

Ensuring your employees are engaged is not always an easy task, yet it can become even more difficult when dealing with remote teams. Nonetheless, the following employment engagement ideas from Unum should give you a helping hand…

https://pixaby.com/photos/office-adult-computer-african-3370835

Frequent Communication

When dealing with a remote team you should never take the ‘no news is good news’ stance. This is likely to lead to disengagement, as the team members may feel you don’t value them enough to tell them what’s going on. It is definitely a case of the more communication, the better.

Embrace Instant Messaging

A lot of managers believe it is more efficient for them to be the only point of contact. However, you risk alienating the team in question, and this is extremely damaging. Why? Well, information won’t flow effectively and work relationships won’t develop. Instead, promote healthy communication via the use of internal instant messaging.

Consider Various Communication Tools

When engaging with a remote team you need to make sure you use the right tool in relation to the message you are giving. If you merely need to rely on a simple message, an email will suffice. However, when something is more elaborate, or complex, or requires brainstorming, it will be more effective to use an advanced video tool. You can easily find these on the Internet, and some are even free to download. However, managed solutions come highly recommend, as they will be developed to suit your business.

Better Scheduling

Why should those on the other side of the world always have to take a conference call whilst they should be sound asleep? A lot of businesses schedule in relation to what is convenient for their home office. However, if you consider your remote teams and schedule for their benefit in some instances, you show that they are just as important and this keeps them engaged.

Give An Explanation

This is a simple yet effective engagement idea for remote teams. Often, everyone in the home office will know what is going on and consequently their reason for performing a particular task. However, remote teams may be asked to do something and they have no clue why. This may interrupt their current workflow and thus cause irritation. Moreover, it may lead them to feel disengaged because they are working on something without purpose. Therefore, all you need to do is explain why.

Create Personal Connections

It doesn’t hurt to ask someone how he or she is and what is going on in their life. A lot of managers neglect to do this because they feel they are wasting time. However, creating a human connection is time well spent. If you can’t spare five minutes of your time to get to know an employee, no matter where they are located, they won’t feel valued. Instead, they will feel overlooked.

So there you have it, six easy yet highly effective employee engagement ideas for your remote teams. As soon as these practices are implemented you will immediately notice a difference. Start today by making a personal connection when you next communicate with someone in a remote team.

Stopping The Epidemic Of Health Hazards

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. A major concern is that our current health system as currently stands, poses numerous inherent hazards to the patients. The health industry is vast and has numerous moving parts. The following contributed post looks at the many health hazards in the industry and what can be done about them. It is entitled, Stopping The Epidemic Of Health Hazards.

* * *

The health industry resembles a mythical monster. It has multiple heads. Its tentacles expand in many directions at the same time. And more importantly, nobody knows how to manage it. In a modern take on the Twelve Labors of Hercules, the health industry, like the Nine-headed Hydra of the mythology, has more than one heads you need to pay attention to. Indeed, on the one hand, doctors and hospitals are in charge of providing a service. The second of its third head is science and research, which keeps the sector relevant to modern day issues. And finally, the third head is for health hazards, all the dangers within the health industry. While Hercules finally conquered Hydra, we are not at a stage where the health industry can yet be safely managed. It is vital that we understand the diversity and range of risks for each head. This article focuses on exploring health hazards.

Hercules slaying the Hydra

There’s medication for everything and everything in your medication
A few days ago, the US Food and Drug Administration issued further recalls for the blood pressure medication losartan. Indeed, impurities that have been discovered in the recalled lots – NMBA, or N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-aminobutyric acid – are potentially carcinogen. The presence of the chemical is, so far, unexplained, but it is suspected to be linked to a potential risk of contamination in a medical factory. Indeed, the contamination risks in a pharmaceutical plant are extremely high as there are many interactions with equipment, workers, and suppliers during the manufacturing process. Consequently, despite strict sanitary and hygienic policies, a human or mechanical error can, unfortunately, introduce harmful compound to the final product.

I can just bin it, right?
More and more often, households are the origin of devastating health risks. Indeed, homes with pets and young children are careful to keep medication out of reach of the most vulnerable family members. However, everyday health-related items can be disposed of without a second thought about their potential danger, such as aerosols or even UV lamps for light therapy treatment. Waste removal and especially hazardous waste disposal should be entrusted to professionals only, as the chemical elements contained in some healthcare items could threaten your health if they were accidentally exposed. Additionally, they also lead to environmental damages if they are not handled with care.

Marketing without research could be a slow death sentence
It’s not uncommon in a fast-moving market to launch products that might seem safe at first, but that lack appropriate testing. Ultimately, it doesn’t take long to come across products that we know are harmful today but that were once promoted as a health savior. Radioactive toothpaste was highly popular in the first half of the 20th century, as it was thought to give your teeth a natural and healthy glow. A French makeup brand even recommended radioactive lipstick for a vibrant red shade. Nowadays, the next hype product that lacks research is the vaping pipe. Indeed, long-term effects are unknown. Additionally, some pipes have exploded and caused serious injuries.

The bottom line is that the health industry Hydra hasn’t yet reached its final shape. However, we need to gain a deep insight into the diversity of health hazards that Hydra has in store for us. Ultimately, you can only defeat what you know.

Buy Or Lease A Car: What’s Best?

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. A major financial decision most of us will have to be make is whether to buy or lease a car. There are caveats and nuances to both. The following contributed post is entitled, Buy Or Lease A Car: What’s Best?

* * *

Image Credit

When it comes to getting a new car, you have a few options available, these include buying a new car and leasing one, but you may be wondering which option is best for you, and whilst both definitely have their upsides and downsides, it’s really up to you to decide which option works best for you, so in this post we’re sharing with you a few different points for both buying and leasing so that you can decide which the best option is for you.

Buy:

You can sell it when you want:

If you buy your car then you obviously own it outright and can do what you like with it, which means you can sell it anytime you want or need to unlike with a car you’re leasing, so this is definitely a point to consider when thinking about whether or not you want the option to have more control over your car and sell it at a later date.

You can customize it as you like:

One of the best things about having your own car is that you can customize it with anything you like. This means you can paint it, add new wheels, and even find the best dash cam, sat-nav or TV’s to add to it – if that’s your thing. When you lease a car, you’re obviously not able to do this, but if you own it, you can do as you wish, so there’s no limit on what you’re able to do, and especially if you’re planning to sell your car, then giving it a bit of a make-over can really help you add some value to it and make the sales process a good bit easier.

It can be cheaper over time:

Although buying a car certainly isn’t always cheap, you won’t have the extra monthly payments to pay that you’d have on a lease car, and although you’ll have other associated costs such as insurance and repairs, these are going to be without an additional payment that you’d have on a lease.

Lease:

You can drive the latest model:

If you’re not able to afford a new car and also don’t want to buy something second hand, then a great alternative is to lease a car since this ensures that you’ll be driving one of the latest – if not the latest model without having to pay a fortune for it, and then once your lease is up you can trade the car for the next latest model, so it’s a great way to always have the latest car without the expense of one.

Less stressful:

Leasing a car is a bit like leasing an apartment, although it’s your responsibility to not damage it, you’re not going to be hit with things like crazy repairs bills if anything needs fixed, and you also don’t need to worry about how you’re going to sell it since that can be quite a stressful process in and of itself, so leasing a car can definitely be a good bit less stressful than owning one.

Getting Your Reputation Right

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two of its key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When start a business of any kind, it’s critical to keep your reputation intact as word of mouth travels. Furthermore once your reputation is taken a hit and customers are lost, it may be difficult to get them back. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Getting Your Reputation Right.

* * *

When it comes to your reputation what you say, and what you do matters. It might not be something that you think about when you’re just starting out. But when people discuss you online what do you want them to say?

You probably have seen many a company have to put fires out when it comes to marketing gone wrong, inability to fill orders, or just generally being seen to rip people off.

Want next level law firm PR results? Or perhaps you are running a beauty company and want to make a big splash. Whatever it is you’ve gotta be prepared to put the leg work in yourself as well as working with a good company.

Photo by Raphael Lovaski on Unsplash

Clean House

The chances are, like most people, you’ve made a few mistakes in the past with your personal life and personal social media. Go back as far as you can and just remove anything that no longer fits with your ethos and might be seen to compromise your possible future.

Across The Board

Ensure that all of your platforms are cohesive. You’re looking to have the same tones and graphics across everything that you use to communicate.

How you deal with compliments and complaints should be the same. If you have one or two staff, then write policies and procedures. So that you won’t have one employee handing out discounts while the other is deleting lousy feedback.

Your website comprises of copywriting, images, design and coding. All of those things need to be sleek and smooth. Think of your website as a business card. You have a few seconds when people land on your site to impress them, and the navigation has to be quick and easy.

Your copy should be professional and honest. Don’t make over-inflated claims, don’t pack your website full of jargon – make it accessible and enjoyable.

Celebrate

There are probably a few awards that your products, company, and people could apply for. People are quicker to spend money and trust a company that either has nominations or awards. So keep an eye out for things that are regional, and national that you fit the bill for. It might mean you need to work on a case study or two, but they are worth it long term.

Share positive reviews and projects that have gone well too. Show people that you are doing well.

Follow Through

This one isn’t just about clients and customers. This is about living your everyday life. Doing what you say you’re going to do is just the right things to do. If you tell your suppliers you will have something to them by 4pm Tuesday, then do it. Likewise with manufacturers or even your bank manager. Being dependable and reliable is always a good quality to have.

Be Real

Although you should be having a certain professionalism, as a smaller business, you should feel easy to talk to and almost as if your customers know you. That trust and familiarity is what will build long term relationships and will keep your good reputation strong.

Building Your Business Premises On The Cheap

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the keys to running a business is cutting and limiting costs. Likewise, when it comes to your business space, it’s important to understand how to do it economically as possible. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, Building Your Business Premises On The Cheap.

* * *

(Image Source)

Over the last few years, there has been somewhat of a resurgence of small business owners setting up shop around the world. With the economy unstable, it makes sense for people to look for ways to control their own destiny, even if this means having to work hard for it. Starting out in any industry is a challenge, though. When it comes to things like setting up a place to work, a lot of people find themselves struggling to afford the options they have before them. To make this easier for you, this post will be exploring a few different types of workspace, along with the tools which can be used to get you up and running.

Offices

Offices are becoming just about the most common type of workspace in the world, and more and more businesses are relying on them to get their jobs done. Thankfully, while being the most popular, this is also one of the cheaper places to start your work, as long as you’re close enough to a co-working space. Providing freelance workers and small businesses with a place to work without having to rent their own office, companies like this are great for those looking to save money. Not only do they give you access to a place to work, but they also enable you to network with other professionals.

Stores

Along with offices, retail stores are also very popular at the moment, and this is another great place to start your business. You can’t often save money on the building itself, unless you go for a mobile option, like a van or a bike. But, you can easily save loads on the way that the store is decorated and finished. Industrial styles are very popular at the moment, making options like used Madix shelving look good in even the most fashionable fields. Being creative is a great way to make your budget go further, though this is something which a lot of people neglect, spending huge amounts of their business in the process.

Warehouses

Finally, as the last option on this list, it’s time to think about raw storage space. When your company is mostly based online, you won’t need to have a fancy place filled with computers or employees to help your customers out. Instead, you only need somewhere for your products to stay while you wait for them to be sold. There are loads of dropshipping companies out there which can make this cheaper for you. Some will provide the products for you, while others will expect you to handle that side of the job.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of building your business premises for as little as possible. A lot of companies struggle with this, especially when they are just starting out. You don’t need a huge investment to make this work, though, instead using creativity and ingenuity to solve the problems you face, even if you find it hard along the way.

Improving Your Confidence at Work

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. No matter which career you’re in, you want to get to a place where you exuding confidence at work. While each job title and career are different, there are some common areas you can focus on to increase your confidence. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Improving Your Confidence at Work.

* * *

Image Credit: Unsplash

Confidence is a funny thing. You be fine in some situations and then totally lose it in others. Such is the human condition. We all have different fears and anxieties and they play into how confident we feel in different situations.

Our confidence can be fleeting in some cases and strong in others. But learning to face your flaws and feel confident in every area is still possible. You just need a strategy for each area.

Presentation Skills

One of the main fears people have is a big presentation. Often the fear stems from having everyone in the room look at you and judge you for what you are saying. Even if you feel proud of the presentation you have made, there is always that nagging doubt that you got everything wrong!

Luckily, you can improve your presentation skills with practice and a little refinement. Perfecting your presentation to make sure that it is readable and easy for you to follow is the first place to start. If a sentence isn’t flowing or you are tripping over your words, a small rewrite will make a big difference. Similarly, finding a strategy to cool your nerves is a good idea. Practice your presentation a few times to get a feel for it and take a few deep breaths before you start. Speak a little slower than you might usually and you will soon find a rhythm.

Conversation in Meetings

There is a huge difference between feeling confident in making a presentation and being able to share an idea in a meeting. For one thing, in a presentation you just have to talk whereas in a meeting, you need to listen and progress the conversation.

One of the first steps is to persuade yourself that the jitters you feel are excitement rather than anxiety. This might sound weird but actually, the positive reinforcement does help.

The next thing to do is commit to talking early on in the meeting. The longer you stay silent, the harder it is to jump in. If you like, take in some notes so that you remember the points you want to make or discuss and do take notes as people talk to help you keep up.

Talking on the Phone

The phone is becoming something of a lost art between text and email but it is still a vital office skill everyone should have. There are lots of ways to learn how to talk on the phone and taking notes as someone speaks will help you concentrate. Again, speaking a little slower than usual makes things easier.

If you are making the phone call, it’s a good idea to plan what you would like to say ahead of time. Before you even dial you can have a list of key points, words and phrases you want to say. However, do allow for some deviation from your script. Keep things relaxed and don’t worry if you need to think about a response – just say you need to think!

Over time, your confidence at work will improve in all situations. Be patient and try not to let your anxiety spiral – you’ve got this!

Veritably Vegan: Three Industries Which Could Thrive From A Walk On The Green Side

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There’s a growing number of people participating in the Vegan lifestyle. As such it’s important for all industries and sectors to pay attention to this customer base. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, Veritably Vegan: Three Industries Which Could Thrive From A Walk On The Green Side.

* * *

It’s no secret that currently lifestyle trends have a significant impact on business. Our reliance on technology is the most pressing example of this. Any companies worth their salt now has a sizeable online presence. With more of us browsing on our phones, many companies even have mobile responsive website designs. And, the trends don’t end there. Our current love for all things eco-friendly has also led managers to paperless working and renewable energy.

If you want to stay ahead, it’s also worth noting that the current trend in veganism has impacted certain areas of the working world. This new way of eating rose 600% between 2014-2017, and those numbers keep on soaring. While this won’t affect someone in, say, an office, it is a crucial consideration for specific industries. If you work in any of the following, then, you would be very silly not to factor for veganism indeed.

Farming

Unsplash Image

We know what you’re thinking; farming and veganism couldn’t be further away from each other. And, in some ways, you’re right. But, that doesn’t have to be the case. Consider that even meat eaters are turning to local and organic suppliers as consciousness rises. That means many farmers are finding themselves in hot water at the moment. If you’re one of them, then, taking a lesson out of those vegan books could be the solution you need. By getting rid of animals on your farm and focusing on growing crops and veg instead, you could stay on top. Even better, you’ll walk right into a niche which raises you even higher. You could see success while the farms around you start to struggle. Turning to fast growing equipment like the products at Agron could even see you growing more than enough produce to meet these rising demands. In no time, you could become the leading fresh produce provider in your area, and a farm even vegans can get behind.

Supermarkets

While doing away with meat altogether wouldn’t serve your supermarket, you should consider your vegan audience. If you find your food store is losing custom to the local health shop at the moment, it’s past time you got around to this. Lucky for you, this should be an easy enough niche to appeal to. There are plenty of suppliers who now stock vegan food items across the country. All you need to do is test out a few brands until you have an entire vegan range you can be proud of.

Restaurants

Unsplash Image

If you work in the restaurant industry, you definitely need to pay attention to veganism. Nowadays, offering macaroni cheese as an alternative option isn’t good enough. Any restaurant wanting to do well should provide at least two or three vegan options nowadays. If you really want to succeed, it’s worth considering an entire vegan menu. Note, too, that it’s also worth providing vegan alternatives to items already on your menu. Only then can you keep diners coming, and ensure your restaurant stays on top at all times.

How Your Choices Can Affect Your Career

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key area of focus is Career Discussions. Choosing the right career for yourself can be one of the most important life choices one can make. There are different reasons for choosing a career such as outside influence, industry trends or personal strengths. The following contributed post discusses this and is entitled, How Your Choices Can Affect Your Career.

* * *

https://unsplash.com/photos/oqStl2L5oxl

In life, we all have choices. We can choose what to eat for breakfast, what to wear each day, or even what to do in the evenings. Yet, we don’t always realize that. Sometimes, it’s just far too easy to find yourself living on autopilot – or worse, living for someone else. When this is the case, you may find that you are just living out of habit or repeating routine because your mind believes that’s what you have to do. But you do have a choice. And if you follow a path that your parents did, because it’s familiar – again, you can feel as if that wasn’t a choice. But it was. And this entire idea can be applied to your career too.

Because when it comes to your career, you always have a choice. You can choose your path and the industry you’re in. You can choose to better yourself or to grow. And you can also choose to quit your job and do something new or start a business. Yet, not many of us know that this is the case. We feel as if we should live in a certain way or we have to follow the crowd. Yet, you are free to make your own choices and they can then go on to have a huge effect on your career.

Mirroring Your Interests

First of all, you can choose to follow a path that you love. You can choose a career that you are passionate about an interested in. When you make this choice, you are going to find that you are incredibly satisfied not only in work, but in life in general.

https://unsplash.com/photos/1SA__aN_I2U

Suiting Your Strengths

The next thing that you need to be aware of here, is what you’re actually good at. So you have a choice here to make sure that the career you’re in is suited to you – not anybody else! This means that you need to get to know your strengths, so that you can be sure that the career choices to make are right.

Affecting Your Output

The next thing that your choices have an impact on, is your output. Because if you are making the right choices and your prioritizing quality and achievement, then you will start to see success. From choosing the right kind of action, to the best mass flow meter, to even the right expert to work with, it can all impact your output. So if you decide right, it can lead to success.

Sparking Your Success

And finally, perhaps the most powerful of all reasons for why you need to really take ownership of your choices, is that they can really be the catalyst for your success. If you control your choices and align them with your goals, you will find success. There’s no doubt about it. But you do then need to remember that you have a choice in the first place. And you need to start to make decisions that will allow you to see success.

How To Apply Your Money Saving Sense To Your Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Just as with your personal finances, you must also manage the finances of your business. In both instances, to be successful you must control your money management, costs and try to run as much of a surplus as you can. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, How To Apply Your Money Saving Sense To Your Business.

* * *

Image via Pexels

You may have mastered the fine art of balancing your personal finances, but when it comes to starting up a business, it’s a whole different ball game. If you’ve launched a start-up it may well be your first time having to manage business finance, and although the opportunities are good, it can also be a tough, global marketplace to compete in. No matter how great your product or service, if you don’t get the money side right, your business doesn’t have a good chance at being successful and expanding. Many a promising venture has ended up on the rocks due to fiscal naivety or mismanagement. Your best bet is to apply the same money-saving sense to your business as you do your personal financial affairs.

Focus On Low Cost Advertising

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your business can succeed without a marketing strategy. You do need to allocate some budget towards attracting customers to get those profits rolling in, but the good news is that there are plenty of very low cost digital options available. If your brand is a visual one, investing in polished, professional Instagram content is a great way to catch the eye. If your business is more technical, you could chose to focus on public relations work and positioning yourself as a source of industry expertise, through hosting Q&A sessions on Twitter, participating in LinkedIn groups and publishing white papers. There’s also a lot you can do with targeted AdWords campaigns without a huge budget. Search out the low-cost marketing activities that most align with your brand.

Find Great Suppliers

A lot of the costs you will be encountering as a start-up business come from your suppliers, so it’s basic sense to shop around for the best deals. Whether you’re looking for office supplies or something specialist like crane hire on a construction project, don’t be afraid to use your negotiation skills to improve on the first price you’re offered. Find ways to become a preferred customer – ordering in bulk, trading services or recommending to other customers. Depending on your industry and the growth potential of what you do, you may be able to set up exclusive trading relationships with some suppliers including a fixed unit price which will help to cushion your company from the effects of inflationary cost rises.

Head In The Clouds

Small business owners are almost always better off using cloud based systems solutions. Most of these work on a annual user basis and they free you from the need to constantly maintain and upgrade your own systems. They also extend productivity by allowing you to access data and work from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, plus they usually have hefty security methods like encryption and secure servers that you may otherwise be paying for separately. Your CRM and word processing systems are better off in the cloud, and some programmes, such as Trello project management software or Canva for graphic design, are even free up to a certain point, or offer special enterprise licences for small business.