Tag: Business

3 Reasons to Outsource IT Services

Two focuses of my blog are Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital world, it’s important to know when to outsource services like your Information Technology operations to optimize your overall enterprise. The following contributed post is thus entitled; 3 Reasons to Outsource IT Services

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Though technology is well known as the heart of every modern business, we can’t all be IT experts. In fact, the vast majority of business owners and entrepreneurs should be encouraged to outsource as much as possible so that they can focus on being creative.

Businesses never operate in a vacuum. Though you might have an incredibly unique idea you will still need to work with other companies to ensure that you have the infrastructure that you required to be successful. This can only be done by outsourcing and investing in managed IT services.

Get the Very Best from Your IT Team

Unless you’re a large business, it is very likely you won’t have enough staff to form an IT team. By outsourcing, you will gain access to a whole group of professionals who will be able to perform all your IT business requirements for you. This is great for businesses who aren’t ready to hire employees full time for this role as well as those who wish to concentrate their efforts on their particular niche in the market.

Putting together a team and creating your own resource IT is very expensive. You will need to build the infrastructure you need and train staff In order to get exactly what you want. Outsourcing is a better option as this means you will be able to share resources and the infrastructure with a business that is already built with this in mind. In other words, you get everything that you need at half price or less!

Access to Support 24/7

Many businesses run around the clock these days and access to IT support 24/7 is crucial. Though your staff might go home at the end of the day, many IT support companies run around the clock, offering support any time of day, night or even at the weekend.

Creating a business that can run without you is key to your success. If your business can’t go for even a day without your input and you have a serious problem. Lonely will you want to take some holiday ideally you will already be making use of automated technologies to ensure that your business can run itself as much as possible.

Having IT support available at any moment in the day is the best way to ensure your business continues to function. Even if you do run into a hitch, you’ll be able to get your business back on track as soon as possible.

Build Your Dream

The right IT is paramount to the business you want to run. Having the software in place to bring your employees and clients together is vital for the smooth running of your business. It is also the best way to keep the momentum you require to continue to grow and build your dream.

Though you yourself may not be an expert in IT, most people can think of creative solutions that utilize IT. Getting someone else in to build and run that solution is smart because it frees you up to go on having bright ideas. Think about it: it makes sense.

Business Safety 101: The Risk Areas In Any Organisation

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In any business, employee safety is a major concern for production and simply keeping the doors open. What are the risk areas for organizations? The following contributed post is entitled; Business Safety 101: The Risk Areas In Any Organisation.

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Business owners around the world often find the safety measures they have to take within their company to be very frustrating. Even down to the smallest parts of your organisation, you have to keep a constant watch over your employees and customers, ensuring that they are always safe and secure. Of course, though, when you have loads of other work on your plate, it isn’t exactly easy to cover all of the areas which are important. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the major safety concerns which a lot of businesses have to deal with, along with giving you some ideas to make it easier to manage this for yourself.

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Electricals

Everyone knows how dangerous electricity can be, with exposure to this element often causing death or serious injuries. Modern companies are filled with machines which use this resource, though, making it impossible to keep people away from it. Instead, to make sure that everyone is safe, having regular tests conducted on your electricals will often be mandatory. Failing to do this could result in huge fines if you get caught, and even worse consequences if someone actually gets hurt. To help with this, there are a lot of companies out there which will offer subscription services for their tests, making it possible to put the work into someone else’s capable hands.

Obstacles

Wires, boxes, and even wet floors all make for challenging obstacles in a business environment. Unlike at home, where these issues probably won’t matter so much, people in the workplace tend to have other things on their minds. This makes a cable going across the floors go from something to watch out for to a problem which could cost your company a fortune. To get around this, everyone working for you should be trained to put things away properly, along with being basic hazard awareness skills. Of course, along with this, you may have to modify your spaces a little bit to make sure that nothing is in the way.

Vehicles

A lot of companies have to use vehicles to get their work done, with this sort of resource being very useful for a huge range of different jobs. With so much that can go wrong on a machine like this, though, they can end up becoming very dangerous over time, making it crucial that you have regular tests performed to make sure that your fleet is up to standard. Along with this, resources like rubber coatings and safety tape can also be very useful, and you can read more here to figure out just how much they could help you. To make sure that no one is put into the line of fire, your drivers should have the proper training to operate a vehicle for business.

Hygiene

While some people are more fussy than others, there are very strict rules in most places which dictate how clean a business space has to be. When it comes to areas like toilets, this will be very important, with daily cleans being essential, and some companies choosing to go even further than this. Failing to follow the rules in this area could lead to employees or customers suffering with some nasty illnesses. If they are able to prove that your business is at fault, they will be able to take legal action, and this is never good for a growing company. Thankfully, there are loads of cleaning companies around which offer services which can handle all of this for you, ensuring that your place is always at its cleanest.

Air Quality

Hygiene goes beyond cleaning, though. Along with this, you also have to think about the risks which can’t be seen, like gases and pathogens in the air. The latter can be solved with simple air filters which will kill bacteria before they are able to get into the bodies of the people on your property. When it comes to gas, though, you will need to take some extra steps. Detectors can be great when it comes to noticing chemicals like carbon monoxide, giving you an early warning before levels become dangerous. Along with this, it could be worth having machines like your boiler checked to make sure that it isn’t going to start leaking any time soon.

Criminals

There will always be people who you want to keep out of your business, and risk is a big part of this. When it comes to an office, it should only be your employees and a select group of your clients which can gain access. Other people should have to go through an entry procedure, with electronic locks preventing them from gaining access to the wrong parts of the building. In public buildings, like stores, you may need to hire some security team members to keep things safe. Nowadays, there are loads of techy gadgets which can help with this, leaving you with no excuse for having a company which is unsafe.

The Buildings Themselves

When you’re focused on all of the small areas of business safety, it can be easy to ignore the areas which are right in your face. You buildings, for example, can pose a tremendous risk to employees and customers, and they don’t often make it obvious when they are having problems. Having a ceiling collapse could hurt people very badly, with loads of issues like this being common in older structures. To solve this, it will be worth having a surveyor to check the place every couple of years. While they may not find anything, they won’t miss anything, either, keeping your place free from risk.

This sort of field is one which a lot of business owners resent. It feels bad having to spend money just in case something goes wrong, and a lot of the rules you have to follow seem over the top. In reality, though, keeping people safe is a serious business. Some parts of the world pose more risks than others, but it will be worth doing as much as possible wherever you are.

10 Things To Teach Yourself To Make More Money

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. In the Rich Dad Poor Dad books, Robert T. Kiyosaki described two money problems; having too little money and then having too much money. Most people suffer the former. The following contributed post is thus entitled, 10 Things To Teach Yourself To Make More Money.

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Most people want to make more money, but they are unwilling to do anything about it. They stay in the same, dead end job for years on end – maybe they even climb the ladder a little bit. Very little happens with the money they are earning. Rather than going out there and improving their skills so that they can perhaps get a pay rise, land a better role within their company/outside of their company, or even start their own business, they just stay in their comfort zones and stick to what they know.

It’s true that change can be scary, but working on yourself will give you more knowledge and confidence, and these things can be extremely powerful when you want to make more money. So, what can you set out to teach yourself if this is what you want to do? Read on for 10 suggestions…

1. The Right Mindset
Having the right mindset before you set out to make any more money is key. Otherwise, you might make more money initially, but you may lose it. You might even struggle to see opportunities that are being presented to you.

Changing your old thinking patterns and getting into new, money positive patterns can be tough. After all, much of what we think has been ingrained into our subconscious from a very young age. However, with consistency, it’s possible! Read books, watch videos, go to seminars – do whatever you can to change your mindset around money. Figure out your limiting beliefs and work on your blocks. Then take action.

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2. Passive Income Techniques
Passive income allows you to make more money while you sleep. If you want to build real wealth over time, these techniques are key. Why? Because one day, you’re going to run out of time. You’re going to be unable to work as much as you once did. It makes sense that swapping time for money is no longer the best way of getting that cash! Passive income techniques include things like vlogging/blogging, writing ebooks, creating online courses, and starting simple businesses on sites like Amazon. Do your research and select one method to start with. This is a long game, so don’t be upset when you don’t become an overnight success.

3. Coding
Coding and programmers are in very high demand today. Anyone can learn the skills required, although they can be tough. You can take boot camps to learn programming languages in just a few months, and they will help you to get hired quickly. You can even find simple coding courses and help online. You can look at sites like Asap developers to begin your research and learn more about what you should be doing. There’s going to be something out there to suit every comfort level.

4. Writing
Writing is also a skill that anybody can develop, although you’ll need to practice every day. The more you practice, the better and faster you’ll get. You can also take courses online for this. These skills can be used both in a business of your own and in the workplace. They’ll help you whether you’re creating your own course, responding to an email, or writing a blog post.

5. Multiple Languages
Learning a language is something kids are fantastic at, because their brains are like sponges. However, as we get older, we can find it more difficult to let that language sink in. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try! There are free resources and apps that can help, as well as taking one to one classes or tuition to improve. This can prove beneficial in many jobs, and especially if you want to start a globally successful business.

6. Investing
Investing is one of the only true ways to build wealth over time. This is a fact. Saving money can help you when you have an emergency, but those savings are going to depreciate over time. Instead, making small investments while you teach yourself the lingo and the ropes will get you well on your way to having more wealth and a diverse portfolio. Again, this is a long game. You have to set it and forget it when investing your cash.

7. Graphic Design And Image Editing
Another skill that is valuable in today’s workplace. Many places need people with these skills for their websites. UI designers work to help improve the look and feel of websites and apps to make things easier for customers and consumers.

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8. Online Marketing
Every single business needs online marketing these days with these sheer number of people using the web to find things that they are looking for. You’ll learn all about SEO, PPC, social media, and more. It’s usually best if you pick one subject and roll with that for a while, however, Knowing these things will always make you a more valuable asset.

9. Public Speaking
Public speaking comes naturally to some people. Others can find it very difficult, and even terrifying. There will usually be a time in most employee’s careers where public speaking will be a must, such as making an announcement in office or speaking at a conference. Preparing or this now will take away any fears and reservations and ensure you knock it out of the park.

10. Social Media
Your social media skills might already be great – most people are on sites like Facebook and Instagram now, aren’t they? However, using these platforms professionally can be a huge bonus. This proves that you are technologically savvy and that you have excellent PR skills. If you work in any sort of marketing capacity, you need to prove that you are able to use social media effectively.
The above 10 skills are things that will help you to make more money, whether you’re trying to climb up the corporate ladder, ask for a pay raise, or get out of the rat race altogether and start your own business. Which will you start with, and how are you going to do it? Let us know!

Running a Business on the Road

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. With today’s technology, many businesses can now be run from the road and remotely the majority of the time. What are the keys to running a business on the road? The following contributed post is entitled; Running a Business on the Road.

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In the age of the internet, more and more people are finding themselves to be not as restricted by location as they once were. Many businesses can be run from anywhere in the world, and this is certainly an opportunity which more and more people are embracing. Obviously, this is not the same as running a traditional business, and you need to be prepared for this change in a number of different ways. Whether you are a digital nomad globetrotting around the planet or you are simply moving from place to place in your home country to meet clients, here are a few pieces of advice which can help you out.

Stay Disciplined with Your Office Hours

One of the great pleasures of working while you are on the road is the fact that you don’t have to submit to regular office hours. Even so, you need to stay disciplined with the times that you decide to work. Ideally, you should be sitting down on a regular basis to look at your calendar and work out when you will be travelling, when you will be working, and when you will be relaxing. Communicate with your clients well in advance to tell them. You need to ensure that your company is a professional enterprise and that you develop a solid reputation.

Choose Your Equipment and Suppliers Carefully

When you are choosing equipment, you will want to look at factors such as its portability and performance. And when you are selecting suppliers such as a phone provider, you should look carefully at their overall performance, roaming fees etc. Think about the other practical services which you may require relating to your vehicle, and check out providers such as New Era Fuels. Ultimately, your individual needs will depend very much on the type of business that you are running and how much travelling you are planning on doing.

Monitor Your Expenses

Just like running any other kind of business, you need to keep your expenses low and managed as much as possible. There are plenty of ways that you can cut them by looking at all the free services out there relating to software etc. When your location is changing on a regular basis, it can be very easy to overlook how much you are spending, but you need to monitor this to keep your business running smoothly for the longest possible time.

Stay Connected

It can be very easy to caught up in the lifestyle that you have built for yourself, but you need to remember to stay connected as much as possible. And the internet has provided more ways than ever to do this. Even if you only have once a day to respond to all your correspondence etc, make sure that you stay disciplined and up to date with this.

Wide Load: Selling Large & Impractical Products Online

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Some businesses sell large products that don’t ship easily, and there are special considerations for these types of ventures. The following contributed post is thus entitled; Wide Load: Selling Large & Impractical Products.

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For a lot of businesses, being able to sell products online has made life much easier over the last few years. Without having to start a normal store, this process is a whole lot cheaper than it used to be, and this has opened the doors for loads of companies to get started. Of course, though, when your products are very large or hard to handle, the online trend can start to become a hindrance. You have no choice but to sell online, but will face challenges which simply don’t come with smaller products. To help with this, this post will be exploring some of the best ways to solve these issues before you get started.

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Communicating Size: Simply giving customers the measurements for your products won’t often be enough when it comes to showing them the size of your goods. People will feel worried about buying something which they aren’t sure if they have room for, though, making it important to look for new ways to convey the size of your goods. One of the best ways to achieve this is through photography. As long as you have a common item in the shot, like a magazine, it will be easy for your customers to tell the size of the piece you’re selling. This trick may sound simple, but it can have a huge positive impact on your sales.

Storing Goods: When a business is selling small products, storing a couple of boxes is usually all they will need to keep a good inventory available to their customers. Larger products will make this very hard, though. To solve this issue, having a slightly longer delivery time quite be well worth it, giving you the chance to either make or order in the products as you need them. While this may stop some people from buying, it will be significantly cheaper than paying for a warehouse to keep goods which may not sell.

Shipping Orders: Getting orders out into the world is another challenge which large product sellers will often face. Normal delivery companies won’t be able to help you, as their vehicles simply won’t be big enough. To save looking for this company and that, there are loads of marketplaces around the web for those who need to buy large item delivery, making it significantly easier to get goods out of the door. Not a lot of people know about this sort of service, leaving them to pay for private companies to do all of their shipping. This can cost a small fortune, and won’t often enable you to handle more than a single order at a time.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on the process of selling large goods. While a task like this may be a challenge, there will always be ways to overcome it, making your life as a business owner much easier. Of course, though, you will need to do plenty of research, and you may even have to talk to a couple of companies along the way.

What Makes Business Computing Such A Challenge

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key to operating most businesses today is keeping your Information Technology systems running optimally. The title of this contributed post is thus entitled; What Makes Business Computing Such A Challenge.

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It’s no secret that a lot of businesses struggle when it comes to the computers they have to use each day. These machines are the subject of a lot of frustration within a lot of companies, making it hard for people to do their jobs, while also presenting challenges which a lot of business owners never expected to face. Not a lot of people understand what makes these machines such a chore, though. Instead, they will simply harbour a dislike for them, often making it even harder to get to grips with the tasks they need to perform with them. What exactly makes this field so difficult, then?

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Unfortunately, while modern schools are often including computing in their standard work rotations, this wasn’t the case just a few years ago. People would go through education learning about all sorts of useful life skills, but would only use computers for tasks which related to other subjects, halting their chances to learn about the devices properly. As a result, a huge portion of the working population finds it hard to use computers. Even those who have to use them everyday will often only learn what they have to, leaving them to struggle when something happens which they don’t expect.

Of course, though, you don’t always have to wait for something to go wrong for a machine like this to throw you through a loop, as the software systems which businesses tend to use are always changing. Developers will rarely consider the impact an update will have on their wider user base. Instead, when they release something like this, it can often take weeks or even months for guides to be made which will teach you what you need to do. This presents more learning, along with forcing a lot of organisations to use IT consulting services just to figure out which versions they should be using. This makes it very hard for people to learn how to use software, especially when they already find it hard to use a computer.

On top of all of this, computers are generally seen as boring machines. People don’t want to dedicate themselves to learning something which they don’t enjoy, even if it is part of their job. This is a real issue, but most people won’t even notice it happening, as it simply makes the learning process a little bit harder. To solve this issue, companies have to work hard to create training programs which can actually engage their employees. Even if it means using tools like social media for context, it will be worth looking for creative ways to handle this task, as people won’t be willing to do it for themselves.

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In reality, most of the trouble which computers can cause for a company will be down to the users themselves. These machines will rarely go wrong without cause, and will be impossible to operate properly without the right learning, making it crucial that you take the right steps when it comes to conquering this challenge once and for all.

Protecting Your Business From The People Within

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When running any business, it’s important to hire staff you can trust to the best of your abilities, and also protecting your operations from your employees if necessary. The following contributed post is thus entitled; Protecting Your Business From The People Within.

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Hiring people should always mean that you’re able to trust those inside your business. When you’re paying someone to work for you, you should be able to expect their loyalty, even if things go a little bit wrong. Of course, though, this isn’t always the case, and a lot of businesses have been impacting by their employees in the past. To keep your company safe, this post will be exploring some of the measures which can be taken to make sure that your team is always on your side. This sort of effort is worth it in organisations of any size, even if they are very small.

Monitoring: While keeping an eye on people may seem a little sneaky, it’s not such a big problem when you’re paying for their time. A lot of companies monitor areas like search histories, room used by employees, and even the activities people get involved with outside of work. Taking this approach is nice and easy in the modern world, with loads of tools available to make sure that you can achieve this goal without making your employees feel like they’re being watched all the time.

Security: Information within a business should always be kept on a strictly need-to-know basis. If someone doesn’t need access to a set of files, they shouldn’t have access to it, as this helps to improve security by a huge degree. Likewise, when it comes to items which need to be physically protected, locks and safes can be very useful. It’s amazing what people will steal when they have the chance, even when they’re being paid by the victim they’re making.

Strict Policy: A lot of companies struggle to keep their employees in line because they simply don’t try hard enough. It will be easy for your team to be lazy with their work if there aren’t policies in place for targets, discipline, and reporting bad behaviour, making it crucial that you work to put them in place. To make sure that you can enforce this, a lot of companies use shift managers to keep people working as they should be.

Legal Support: As the last area to consider, it’s time to think about what could go really wrong for your business. When you hire someone, you take on a set of responsibilities which you have to fulfill. Failing to do so could result in being taken to court, forcing you to get help from a company like Ogletree Deakins to fight your corner for you. By following the rules and doing things by the books, you should be able to avoid this sort of issue, even if someone is hell bent on trying to take you for everything you’re worth.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to start putting protection in place for the inner workings of your business. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know exactly what they need to do when they want to keep their company safe and secure.

Where And When To Outsource Your Solutions

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When running any business, it’s important to know what tasks you can effectively perform on your own, and when the need arises to outsource those tasks. The following contributed post is thus entitled; Where And When To Outsource Your Solutions.

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Outsourcing provides you with the option of giving some of the work that your business is responsible for to a third-party company. There are companies that can help you outsource all kinds of work, but it’s an option that needs to be used responsibly. It can help get rid of monotonous tasks and implement expert knowledge in the business but if it’s overused, it can cost a lot more than simply hiring someone. Here, we’re going to look at when it’s a good idea to outsource and some of the risks of doing it poorly.

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When you’re not ready for full-time employees
A common reason to outsource is that you have more work and duties than your current team can handle. Why wouldn’t you simply take on some employees? The biggest reason to go with outsourcing instead is that there isn’t quite enough suitable work to justify a full-time role in the business. In that case, the process of recruiting and training an employee so that they can spend most of their time doing nothing can be much less cost-effective than simply relying on a service that you can call on whenever you need it. Outsourcing is scalable to your needs, but a full-time employee might not have that flexibility.

When it makes your business more efficient
There are services that can help you work on the business from a bird’s eye perspective, creating the structure and tools that allows your team to become a lot more productive and efficient. Many business consultants do exactly that, helping business owners strategize certain teams, processes, and systems that the rest of the team uses. The most common form in today’s tech-fueled environment is IT consulting for businesses. You might not necessarily need a full internal IT team if your business isn’t big enough, but consultants can make sure that you have the right tech systems in place, as well as providing repair and maintenance when it’s needed.

When you need real expert insight
There are a lot of tasks you might not need to do quite as often, but when you do, you really need expert input on how to do it right. For instance, there is a lot you and your team can learn to handle in marketing, from content marketing to social media networking. When it comes to website design, however, you need someone with specific experience and expertise in that field. When it comes to parts of the business that have legal implications, it’s best not to go it alone, too. For instance, hiring a business accountant when the tax season rolls around, and you want to avoid getting audited as best as you possibly can. Outsourcing allows you to temporarily tap into a much broader network of expertise that you might not necessarily need on your team, but you definitely need on your side.

Outsourcing can really help you unlock the productivity of your team and benefit from reals experts that you might not have room for on your internal team. Make sure that you’re following the tips above to outsource in a way that promotes the growth of your business rather than stifling it.

Know This If You Plan To Keep Your Company Open Overnight

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Not all businesses are 9-5 operations and some are open for 24 hours. There are special considerations for these types of business. The following contributed post is thus entitled; Know This If You Plan To Keep Your Company Open Overnight.

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In modern retail, you need to live up to a variety of expectations from your customers. The typical ‘9-5’ workday isn’t enough in this field anymore. Instead, you need to aim for a business which is available to customers at all times. At the very least, this means operating an online shop. It’s also not unusual for retailers to now stay open overnight. The practicality of being able to pop to the shop at any time has become an expectation rather than an exception. So, you may well be wondering whether 24-hour opening is for you.

 

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In many ways, this seems like a sound business decision. More opening = more time for profit, right? In reality, though, there are a few things to consider before you take the leap. To help you decide, we’re going to look at the main realities you’ll face.

You’ll need to pay more

There is no federal law which says that you need to pay night workers more. But, sticking with day rates here will soon see your night staff deciding to quit. Why would they put up with the added risks and fatigue for no extra money? As a rule, then, pay at least an extra dollar or two for each night hour. Over an all-night shift, that can add up. With that in mind, consider whether this would make monetary sense.

You’ll need to increase security

It’s also worth noting that you’ll need to improve security during those night shifts. In the day, other customers provide a deterrent for thieves. But, if the shop is empty with only your staff inside, thieves may be more willing to take a risk. Hence why you need to consider everything from panic buttons to security cameras. It may even be worth investing in systems like those offered by Athena Security, which have gun detection. That way, your cameras can call the police when they witness the extraction of a gun. Many would argue this is the only way to keep your night team safe.

You’ll need to work night shifts too

Don’t think, either, that you can hand every night shift over to someone else. Like anything in business, you need to show willing with whatever you expect your team to do. At least once a week, then, you’ll need to tackle that overnight shift yourself. If team members are off sick or can’t work on set nights, you may even find yourself alone. Make sure to consider that before making a choice here.

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Do all these pointers mean that 24-hour opening wouldn’t work for you? Not at all. If you stayed busy through the night, you could easily cover that extra pay and security cost. If you don’t mind working through the early hours, it won’t bother you at all that you have to step up to this mark. But, by considering these things, you can ensure you’re 100% certain about taking the late-night plunge. All the better for avoiding unpleasant surprises in the dark!

How to Make Your Clients Happier All the Time

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key aspect of business is keeping your customers and clients happy and maintaining your relationships with them. The following contributed post is thus entitled; How to Make Your Clients Happier All the Time.

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It is said that it costs five times as much to find a new client that will buy from you, or use your service than it does to get an existing one to give you repeat business. It has to make economical sense to spend some of your marketing budget on letting your existing clients know of any new products you have on offer, or of any special deals that are available. Of course, new customers are important, but if you want your business to be strong you have to foster loyalty from the ones you already have.

Keep In Touch With Them

You should not make a sale and then ignore your customer. An occasional call or email will be appreciated by most of them especially if they are not always promotional. Keeping in touch with your customers lets them know that they matter to you and that you are always there to help them if they need assistance.

Simple things such as a handwritten Christmas card can make a big difference to how your business is viewed, and a personal touch such as this can keep the customer loyalty flowing.

Keep Your Premises Presentable

Not all businesses are online. If you have a store, warehouse, offices or anywhere else that your customers venture, they need to be kept presentable and safe all the time.

Make sure they do not get cluttered, particularly in walkways, as someone could be injured if they trip over an item. Keep them clean, as nothing is more off putting than dirty premises. You should use commercial cleaning services so that you can be certain that your store, offices or warehouse are spotless. All areas should be clean and safe for workers and customers alike.

Know Your Industry Well

Make sure you know all the ins and outs of your industry or profession. Customers who feel they are dealing with an expert will trust your business more and are likely to stay loyal to you. If you can solve a problem for them, this will ensure that they never go elsewhere.

Keep up to date with the latest trends in your line, and make sure that you are aware of any new laws and regulations that affect it. Your customers are relying on you and if you let them down because a law has changed that you and they were unaware of, they will soon find someone to give their business to.

Listen To Feedback From Customers

Feedback from your customers can be invaluable, regardless of whether it is good or bad. Good feedback will let you know that you are getting things right. If they are complaining you should thank them for getting in touch with you. Them letting you know there is a problem means you can put it right before the same issue arises with another client, and that could prevent you from losing more customers. Research leads us to the conclusion that customer loyalty is built on how complaints are responded to and dealt with, so ensure that you and your employees always handle them in a positive way.

In fact, some businesses send questionnaires or surveys to find the thoughts of their clients, as they consider them to be so important.

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Be Confident In All Your Dealings

Customers use your services or buy your products because they trust you, and you need to stay confident to maintain that trust. Always be decisive and positive and avoid words like ‘if’ or ‘maybe’ in your correspondence with them. If you think they might ask you something you are unsure about, do some research before you take their call or reply to their email.

If you really do not know the answer to a question, be honest and tell them that. Also, let them know that you will find the information they need and get back to them without delay. Once again, this will help to keep the trust you have built, but a quick response will also make them feel they matter.

Keep Your Promises

Be realistic about the delivery dates of products, or deadlines you can meet with a service. It is always better to be early than for goods to turn up late or for the deadline you have set yourself to be missed. You have to remember that if a customer has a bad experience because of unrealistic promises you made, they will tell everyone within earshot what an unreliable business you are.

They do not tend to tell so many people when their experience has been good, but if they only mention it to 4 or 5 people, that is getting your brand name around. Then some of those people may become customers too, and hopefully, they will be treated well enough to recommend your business as well.

Have Valuable Content On Your Website

If you are an online business, it is your website that people will go to view your products and services. Make sure the content on there is relevant and useful to the consumers that are likely to buy from you. It does not need to be all written content, as images and videos can sometimes be more appealing. It seems that these days, consumers are more likely to watch a video about products rather than read written text about them.

Use the feedback clients have given you in a question and answer section, as this can show others how often people come back to you. Let the customers know that you are using their comments, as that will make them feel a bit special that you consider what they think to be important enough to repeat.

Ask About New ideas

Keeping your existing customers is all about making them feel you care. If you have an idea for a new product or an addition to your services, send an email to all your existing customers asking their opinions. Firstly, this could bring invaluable advice before you move forward, and secondly, they will be impressed that you cared enough to ask the question.

Keeping your existing customers happy will give you a client base that is loyal, and most time, this is the best basis any business can have.