Category: Contributed Posts

4 Smart Ways to Grow Your Dental Practice

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’ve trained in Dentistry, eventually you may want to start your own dental practice. You will invariably be competing with other dental practices in your area and will equip yourself to best do so. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, 4 Smart Ways to Grow Your Dental Practice.

* * *

Of all the businesses to have, a dental practice is a pretty smart one: people are always going to want to look after their teeth! However, it is true that there’s rarely only one dentist in town, and that the costs of running the business can be high. As such, it’s important that you’re always looking for ways to grow your practice. The more people there are that come through the door, the more teeth you’ll see, the more profits you’ll have. Below, we take a look at four clever ways you can begin to grow your practice.

Source: Pexels.com

Refine Your Marketing

Marketing your practice by dropping leaflets through the doors of the local houses will be a good start, but it shouldn’t end there. This is an approach that many businesses take, but it’s not enough – when there’s competition, simply telling people that you’re there won’t give them enough of an incentive to switch to your practice. Instead, get more sophisticated. Advertisements on the radio can be cost-effective, and if you don’t yet have a company blog, start now. It’ll boost your Google rankings and also give you a bigger platform to showcase why you’re so great.

Review Your Reviews

Running a business isn’t like having a microphone and waiting for people to hear what you’re saying. It’s a conversation. From time to time – hopefully often – your customers are going to give you feedback. What you do with that information can have a big impact on the future success of your venture. You can either ignore it, or you can listen seriously to what they’re saying, and incorporate some of their views into your plans. Your patients might just tell you exactly the direction you should be going, if you give them a chance.

A Second Location

You’ll have invested a lot of time and energy into your practice, but what if your location begins to hold you back a little? Opening a second location can breathe a lot of life into your venture, and open up your services to a whole new section of the neighborhood. Of course, there will be money considerations to factor in, so you may want to consider getting help with a loan. Remember to bring a lot of fanfare when you open. If there’s a buzz surrounding your new location, you’ll get a wave of new customers. Local newspapers will likely be interested in covering the story.

Offer More Hours

Some dental practices make a fundamental error: they only make themselves open for business during the usual working week hours, when, well, everyone is working. Now, people aren’t going to neglect their teeth forever, but they might put it off and visit less if they have to take time off work to do so. So why not make it easier for them to visit you? You could stay open late one evening during the week, or open on a Saturday once a month. Not everybody will have the flexibility to get to the dentist during your regular hours!

Forever Local: Remembering Your Roots In Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Most businesses once they grow, need to change geographic locations. It’s important though not to completely leave your location of origin and leave some of your operations there. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Forever Local: Remembering Your Roots In Business.

* * *

(Image Source)

When a business finds success and begins to grow, it is very rare that they will remain in the same place that they started. In the pursuit of better opportunities, employees, and even property, companies will move far and wide when they are becoming something larger. Of course, though, the place your venture originally called home shouldn’t lose its importance simply because you’ve moved on. The people in this area helped to drive your early years, and this makes it worth working to give something back.

One of the very best ways to achieve this goal is by keeping a portion of your business where it started. While this could cost more or prevent you from accessing certain services, it will provide the locals with jobs which they could be in dire need of. It will stimulate the economy, giving other small businesses the chance to flourish, while also making public services, like education, just a little bit better. Not a lot of people consider the impact a single business can have. In reality, though, an organisation like this can drive a town by simply doing its job, making this a great way to contribute without making a special effort. As time goes on, the importance of this sort of act will become far more clear.

Of course, though, it may not be feasible for you to remain in your home area, especially once your company becomes too large. In this case, you won’t be out of options to help you to give back, but you will have to be a little more active in your approach. Most cities and towns will have their own sports teams, schools, and other efforts which don’t get enough support. By sponsoring these groups, you can provide much-needed resources to people who would otherwise simply have to live without. This may seem like a small gesture, but it can have a real impact on a place, bringing people together and opening the doors for greater inclusivity.

Life isn’t always easy, and a lot of places around the world are feeling the impact of climate change, at the moment. With homes being destroyed, people finding themselves displaced, and help hard to come by, natural disasters can have a devastating effect on your local area. Cane Bay Partners make a great example in this sort of case, supporting their home Island, St. Croix, by providing aid. People often need all sorts of help in times like this, ranging from food and water to medical care. When you have a business behind you, you have the chance to provide far more than an individual can.

With this in mind, you should be feeling inspired to go back to your roots a little bit with your business. Of course, while this is a great way to show your appreciation, it is always down to you to choose whether or not you’d like to do this. Not a lot of people have the chance to give back like this, making this a great opportunity.

Knowing and Upholding Your Rights in the Workplace

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Employment is not a one way street and no matter which career you choose, you do have certain rights when you start. It’s important the know what those rights are when you start. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Knowing and Upholding Your Rights in the Workplace.

* * *

Photo Source

When you work for someone else, you are essentially allowing them to profit from your hard work. However, there are so many benefits that come hand in hand with being employed that the majority of us are happy to take on this kind of position within a company. You have contracted working hours which means regular, stable wages that you can build your life around. You receive pay when you are sick or when you need to take parental leave. You receive annual leave, so you can have a little time off each year without worrying about losing money. Perhaps the most important benefit is having rights as an employee regarding your health and safety that must be upheld, meaning you can feel safe each day when you head to work. Now, most employers keep up with this of their own accord. But if your employer isn’t sticking to rules and regulations, you need to speak out and ensure that your rights are upheld. This can be daunting, but you cannot be punished or reprimanded for demanding what you are entitled to. So, here are some areas to focus on!

A Safe Workplace

First and foremost, you have the right to work in a safe space. Your workplace shouldn’t pose any threat or risk to you, your health and wellbeing. Your employer will have to conduct all sorts of checks to guarantee this. If potential threats are present but can’t be changed, measures should be taken to alert you to them. If there’s a low ceiling, a sign should be fitted ahead of it in order to warn you to mind your head. If there’s a small step that can’t be removed, a “mind the step” sign should clearly be displayed.

Relevant Training

Regardless of what role you are carrying out, your employer should ensure that you are fully trained to be able to carry it out safely. If you work in retail and need to lift heavy items and move them from store rooms to the shop floor, you should receive training in how to do this. It may sound like something straightforward and basic, but if you lift things in the wrong way, you could become injured. If you work in construction, you should have training in every aspect of the jobs that you need to carry out. If you don’t and are then hurt during construction, you will be able to seek legal aid and receive compensation.

Regularly Updated Risk Assessments

Your employer should carry out risk assessments associated with every aspect of your role. If something is a “risk” it means that there’s a chance that you could be injured or harmed while engaging with it. Your employer should then take measures to remove this risk before you are put to work.

These are just a few of the different rights that you have in the workplace. Make sure that your employer is upholding them at all times! This is for your own sake and others’ sake!

Ways That Taking Your Business Digital Can Save Time And Money

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In our current digital age, many tools are now used to conduct business and commerce. Not adapting and incorporating these new methods could ultimately cost you time and money. How do you not lose your competitive advantage? The following contributed post is entitled, Ways That Taking Your Business Digital Can Save Time And Money.

* * *

Saving money is the goal of many businesses, especially smaller companies still looking to find their feet. Digital solutions can give your business a boost and help you to save time and money, freeing up both to focus on the more strategic side of your business. If you’re not making the most of digital technology for your business, take a look at some of the following ways that taking your business digital can help.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Cloud working reduces clutter and commitment to an office

With cloud computing solutions, you can take your business anywhere, allowing you to easily work in any location. Cloud computing also helps you to work with employees in remote locations, making it easier to hire freelancers to help you carry out different business functions. Take a look at cloud storage solutions that will benefit your business and provide it with extra security at a low cost.

Turn your HR digital

Managing HR functions can be difficult, and with more importance being placed on personal data protection than ever before, you need to implement systems that will keep data secure and make HR easier to manage. The ServiceNow HR module is a useful tool for businesses that will make managing cases simple and makes it easier for employees to access vital information. Digital transformation can be a tricky process, but with the right system, the process becomes much simpler.

Embrace digital marketing

Traditional marketing methods are becoming more and more expensive. Television and press ads can be a large expense for businesses, with a shorter exposure period. Digital marketing, however, provides you with several possibilities to engage with audiences, at a much lower cost. With digital marketing, you can create campaigns easily according to your own budget, helping your business to save money.

Save on your travel costs

Traveling to meet clients, colleagues and conferences can soon eat into your budget, but it doesn’t have to. Using video conferencing services can change the way you do business, helping you to have face to face meetings without having to spend time or money traveling. The quality available from video conferences is amazing compared to what it was even a few years ago, helping to make communication easier for your business.

Use online project management tools for better productivity

Managing projects is easier than ever thanks to online project management tools. Manage deadlines, assign tasks, collaborate and more to help your projects run more smoothly. Project management tools are great for businesses of all sizes, and can boost productivity across your teams.

While there are benefits and dangers associated with technology, there’s no doubt that it can save time and money for your business. By exploring the different tools and applications that exist, you can find some excellent solutions for your business. Take advantage of free trials to help you choose the right digital solutions for your company, and let digital transform the way you work.

Everything You Need To Know About Working Remotely

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Some careers allow working remotely which is a very helpful option to have. There are several considerations for this privilege which can be very advantageous also be abused. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Everything You Need To Know About Working Remotely.

* * *

There are many opportunities in working remotely, so if this is something you’re thinking about implementing into your routine, it could ultimately change things for you for the better. However, there are a few things you should know first.

Yes, you can work from wherever you want as long as there is an internet connection, and you may also be supported by the great technological advances in things like collaboration tools, cloud computing, improved communication tools, and so on. However, there are drawbacks. This is a trend that isn’t slowing down anytime soon, as people are no longer content to just work inside of a cubicle – so read on and you’ll get a feel for the main benefits and drawbacks.

credit

Benefits of Remote Work Include:
When you work remotely you can take advantage of flexible working hours. You can spend more time with your children if you have a family, and you’ll usually be able to work around your hobbies and anything else you have going on. You will need to be able to draw a clear line between your work and personal life, but if you can do that, then it will be an ideal way of life for you. There’s no dress code, and you’ll learn new skills, such as bookkeeping, management, etc. You’ll likely save money from not having to commute to a place of work, which is also better for the environment. Then there are the great tools like microsoft rds to help you get the job done to a high standard. There are also more places to complete your remote work, with coffee shops welcoming remote workers and co working spaces popping up all over the place.

The Drawbacks of Remote Working Include:
Unfortunately, remote working offers limited social interaction. This can be fine for introverted workers, but maybe not so much for those extroverted workers who enjoy some company and conversation during their working day. Meeting new people and making friends is pretty impossible, and you may get lonely or stuck in a rut. Plus, there’s usually no assistance – everything is on you. If something isn’t going right, it’s likely that you’re the one to blame. Of course there can be lots of distractions, too – you must be able to self manage if you’re going to do this successfully. The fridge is usually just a few steps away, as well as your phone, social media, and the TV. You have to be able to control yourself if you’re going to get as much work done as you can. It’s all too easy to give yourself regular breaks (which can be great if you’re actually working), and end up not getting a lot done at all. There may also be communication problems with other members of your team if you don’t have the right software.

Working remotely is certainly not for everybody, but it’s something you should probably try if you’ve been considering it as an option. Figure out solutions to the drawbacks here and you might just find that it’s a positive new direction for you.

Freshen Up Your Business By Taking To The Road

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Sometimes a change of environment can be very valuable for the creative process. The same is true for developing your business. In some instances going on the road can lead to growth. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Freshen Up Your Business By Taking To The Road.

* * *

Sometimes it feels like inspiration is all around, but at others, it feels frustratingly elusive. But if you want to continue to develop your business, then you need to be a source of innovation and ideas. While there are things you can do to feed your creative side when you’re in the office, a better idea may be to take to the road. It’s never been easier to leave the office behind and work somewhere else for a while! And you might just find that you’re returning with a chest full of ideas.

Source: Pexels.com

Where to Go?

First thing’s first: where do you want to go? In this day and age, all you need is a place with an internet connection, which you’ll find more or less everywhere you would realistically travel to. Finding the right place will depend on what you’re hoping to achieve while you’re away. If you want to be inspired by what others are doing, then choose a city. If you want to work on a solo project, then a cabin out in nature would be a good choice. If you simply want a change of scene that allows you to work and relax, then a beach destination would be right.

What You’ll Need

Of course, you can’t just turn up and get down to work. When you’re in the office, you have all the resources, documents, and employees you need to work efficiently; when you’re in unknown lands, these won’t be as readily accessible. But with the right tools, you can make it seem like you’re in the office. Work with a company that offers cloud hosting services, and you’ll be able to access your important documents from wherever you are. It goes without saying that a reliable, secure laptop is also essential, as is choosing a place with internet fast enough to work efficiently.

Connecting with Others

If you’re going to surround yourself with new people for a while, you may as well see what they have to say! If you’re in a large city, or a place with a large digital nomad presence, then you’ll have no trouble finding like-minded people. Consider working in a co-working space for a day, or take a look at sites like meetup.com – you’ll usually find events aimed at business owners in there.

Time to Unwind

While you’ll want to have your main focus on getting work done, don’t forget that you will have time to relax! We can get a bit frazzled when it comes to work, even when it’s going well, and it’s always worthwhile practicing relaxation – it’s just that it’s much easier when you’re in new surroundings, and you’re excited to do everything it has to offer.

Returning Back

You’ll hopefully return to the office refreshed and with a lot of new ideas to put into practice. Make sure you’ve made thorough notes while you’ve been away! Set aside some time in the first week to talk through the plans with your employees, and get down to work.

3 Software Programs and Apps That Can Improve Your Life, Rather than Steal Your Time

Two of the major focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. While there is a danger in becoming too consumed by the new technologies available to us, many of them can help improve our lives. Which ones are particularly helpful? The following contributed post is thus entitled, 3 Software Programs and Apps That Can Improve Your Life, Rather than Steal Your Time.

* * *

Image via Pixabay

The modern world is rich in technology so advanced that it would have been unimaginable to the average person even just a few short decades ago.

No matter what our interests in life are, and no matter our jobs and hobbies, it’s possible to vanish down a bottomless rabbit hole of endless information, stimulation, and entertainment, at the drop of a hat.

But while many modern technologies have brought with them immense benefits — such as the ability to communicate with our loved ones on the other side of the world, or to acquire a Windows 10 pro key and create an entire business structure within days — there are plenty of downsides to be wary of.

There are predatory companies out there, and exploitative apps, games, and software programs that have been designed to hijack our consciousness and trap us in a psychological feedback loop.

Here are some examples of software and apps that can help you to improve your life, rather than just serving as a timesink.

RescueTime — to reduce procrastination and enhance your awareness of how you’re spending your time

If you’re even just so much as slightly inclined towards procrastination or a disorderly lifestyle, having a computer with an internet connection is something akin to leaving a hungry child unattended in a candy shop.

Human attention is easily hijacked by novelty, probably because in ancient days, noticing novel information could mean the difference between life and death. Is that odd shape in the pushes a vicious wild animal, or a tasty meal?

These days, Google, Youtube, and social media offer a never-ending stream of novelty, meaning we easily fall into a cycle of endless surfing.

RescueTime is a service and software program that can help to free you from that vicious cycle of procrastination and enhance your awareness of how you’re spending your time. It combines an activity tracker, with a web blocker, report system, and more.

Beeminder — to help you stick to productive behaviours and avoid unproductive ones

We are all largely defined by our habits, and we tend to revert to our familiar behaviour patterns whenever we zone out a bit or are put under stress.

For that reason, it’s a very good idea to carefully focus on developing productive behaviours, and avoiding unproductive ones. Repeated often enough, good acts become good habits, and bad acts become bad habits.

Beeminder is an innovative service that allows you to set habit goals, which you then commit to with your money. Every time you stray off course from your desired habit, you pay exponentially more in penalty fees.

You Need a Budget — to give you a clear bird’s eye perspective of, and control over, your financial life

Good financial management can be tricky, especially when it’s so easy to buy all kinds of glossy, attractively-advertised products online with a couple of mouse clicks.

You Need a Budget — also known as YNAB — is a budgeting tool build around the principle of “zero-based budgeting” and “giving every dollar a job”. It’s relatively straightforward to use, and it can give you a crystal clear perspective of what’s happening with your financial life.

That in turn, of course, gives you a lot more power over your financial life.

Updating The Appearance Of Your Online Business

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital world, you online presence is your new store in many cases. As such, it’s important to periodically update you site so that it’s appealing your potential customers. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Updating The Appearance Of Your Online Business.

* * *

In the competitive world that is business, having an online business has really come to the forefront, and now many companies are opting to turn digital, to follow the trend of technology and the internet. So if you have an online business yourself, it’s important to keep updating it so that you remain ahead of your competition and grow your company. Here are a few tips to get you started!

Image Source

Reassess Your Goals

It’s something you don’t need to do online, but it’s important to bring your focus back to your goals for the business. Whether that’s long-term or short-term, it’s always good to come back to them and see if you might want to change them or create new ones. A lot can happen in the space of a few months, so it’s pretty easy to forget about your initial objectives.

And if you haven’t already, think about what you want to achieve a year or so down the line. Dream big and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

Give Your Website A Refresh

You should have a website for your online business, and if you don’t, then you really do need to get one. A website puts you on the map and gives you a little space in the big world wide web. This is the platform where you’ll probably attract new potential customers and clients, so it needs to be professional. Therefore, you want to give your site a refresh every now and again just like updating the interiors of your home. Apps like https://setapp.com/apps/typeface are great for changing up your font, and you should invest in a good template for your web page.

If you’re digital skills only stretch so far, there’s plenty of freelancers or companies out there who will be more than willing to keep your site looking top notch.

Get Social Media Savvy

If you’re not already, you should be spreading the word about your business through social media. A website is great but you want to reach the masses, and only social media platforms will have that. So it’s useful to have a profile on as many platforms as possible and start or continue to reach out to new customers, creating great campaigns that will sell your brand to those who need it.

Make Communication Easy

There’s nothing more frustrating than customers not being able to communicate with a business. Whether that’s finding a phone number, email or any form of contact details. And it’s so simple to do but a lot of online businesses will keep themselves anonymous, and this can put customers off. People like to see the face of a brand or organization, so don’t be afraid to open up communication fully because it’ll certainly benefit you in the long run.

It can certainly feel like a rat race in this ever-changing world, but with hard work and dedication, your online business can be just as successful as those that inspired you to start yours in the first place. So what are you waiting for?

Signs You Are Ready To Move Abroad

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses are Career Discussions and Health and Wellness. Whether due to life changes or career changes, some individuals eventually have the option of moving abroad. Sometimes there are signs that you’re ready to make this change. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, Signs You Are Ready To Move Abroad.

* * *

Image

When you become an adult the world suddenly becomes your oyster. You are no longer bound to staying in the same city forever and you can choose to go and live wherever and explore wherever you want. Moving abroad is a big step towards freedom and it is something which not many of us do for ourselves. But today we are going to have a look at some sure signs that you are ready to take that leap and make a move.

You need a change

Every now and again life will fall into the same patterns and this can make it hard for us to see past our little bubble into something new. When we get stuck in a rut with life it can be hard and we can often end up feeling under appreciated and like we aren’t reaching our full potential. A change in lifestyle is always a good thing and if you need a big change in your life, moving abroad can give that to you.

You have a flexible job

One of the things which modern workers can enjoy more of these days is flexibility. Life isn’t all 9-5 and in fact there are lots of jobs online which can allow someone to work from home or travel while they work. If you have a job like this or you are able to get one, this can free up your life and allow you to move wherever you want in the world with no issues.

Your family want to come too

The biggest issue you might have with moving away is leaving family or not being able to go because the rest of your household doesn’t want to make the move. Think about making sure that you explain the merits of moving abroad and take a few trips there with your family so that they can see what it’s like and make a decision. If everyone gets on board then you have no problems!

You have no big commitments

There are a lot of responsibilities in adult life, and if you have a pet, a child, a specific job and a mortgage to pay off it might seem like a pipe dream to move away and start fresh. However if you don’t have any of these commitments right now it is the ideal time for you to make the move and start a new life somewhere else. It will allow you to either travel around before settling back at home or to settle somewhere else.

You found a great property

Obviously the main thing you need to think about when moving home is the housing market. Different countries will be vastly varied in their market and if you can find the best properties for sale in your chosen country this could be what sways your decision. Take a look and see what’s on offer within your budget and compare this to what you can get back at home. You might be surprised with what you find.

The Things You Won’t Have Thought About With Your Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The majority of businesses fail, and if you’ve never start one, there may be things that don’t know to look out for. What are they? The following contributed post is entitled, The Things You Won’t Have Thought About With Your Business.

* * *

Starting a business from scratch can often be a difficult thing to do. You work hard on your ideas, it becomes a labour of love as you put in all of the hours to make it a success. It can often be a goal and an achievement to actually start your business and to become a success. It can give you the flexibility of working and home life that you may have wanted when working in a standard nine to five job. But, have you through of everything when it comes to your business? There will always be improvements to make, avenues you can explore and things you can do. Here are some suggestions for the new year.

Image source

Is your website protected?

You may have spent a lot of time building your website, showcasing your information on social media and doing all you can to build your business from nothing, but is it protected? Your website could be the only thing you have as a method of doing business, and so protecting it from the likes of hackers or opportunists should be a high priority. This is when looking into network security management could be advantageous to you and your business. Enabling you to feel assured that your website and the information is guarded. Also things like passwords shouldn’t be changed regularly to keep things secure.

Is it time to expand?

Sometimes you can be guilty of just sailing on by, but this could be a mistake for your business. Is it time to expand? Have you thought about some of the ways you can do it? You could be missing a revenue opportunity simply by not taking the plunge to add to your product or service range. Expansion could also mean moving from working in your home to a business location. Which could potentially open up more opportunities to you as a business.

Are you taking customer service seriously?

A business needs customers, there is no hiding from that. But do you take care of the customers that you have? Is customer service a priority for your business? If it isn’t it should be. If a customer has a great experience with a business, they are more likely to use them again or tell people about it. If they don’t get good service you may not see them again. It is that simple. Look at ways that you can enhance your customer service. It could be keeping regular contact with them or just offering loyalty discounts for repeat purchases our referrals.

Are you the local hero for your business?

Finally, are you the local hero for your business? Most people are wanting to support small and local businesses these days and the truth is, you may not even have competition. This is something that should be a focus for all businesses in the new year. Getting involved in local events, sponsoring and getting a name for themselves in the local vicinity. It could present to you a whole new customer base that you may not have had before.

Let’s hope these tips have you moving your business forward in the new year.