Business

If you have your own company with a work office or environment that you and your employees work from, then it is essential that you utilize the space so that you are all as productive as possible. We are much more likely to work harder and be more productive in an environment that we feel comfortable with, therefore, you should spend some time considering what makes the perfect working environment.

The more traditional and old-fashioned work office decors are very much a thing of the past, and now it is more than acceptable to be bold and creative when it comes to designing the perfect working environment. Create a workspace that has a good vibe and is enjoyable to be in can drastically improve the morale of your staff and subsequently increase productivity. Sounds good, doesn’t it? To give you a helping hand, we have created this checklist that offers everything you need to create the perfect working space so that you and your employees can thrive at work!

Integration of Brand Colors

It is important that your working environment is created around the company and the work you are trying to achieve. To reiterate this to your staff, you should consider using the colors that feature in your brand identity and logo as the main colors when creating the workspace. This means that you are all reminded of your purpose at work and the overall company aims that each task you complete is working towards.

Separate Different Spaces with Rugs

If your office space isn’t that big then you may want to use rugs as a way of indicating the different uses of each individual space. For example, a rug is a great way to create an outline in an office space, without using a physical barrier. So, if you are worried about a desk space and meeting area looking too close together, you can use a rug to divide the two areas up.

Adding a rug to your office space is also a great way of making your work environment feel more welcoming and inviting. While it is important that as much work as possible gets done when your employees at work, it is also crucial that the work environment is a warm and safe place that people enjoy spending time in.

Works of Art

Sometimes in work offices, especially those that have a more minimalist vibe, blank walls can look too empty, which makes the space look bland and boring. Therefore, a good way to fill up the empty walls is to hang popular pieces of art. By hanging work up in your office, you can make the environment feel more interesting and brighter, which is not only impressive to any visitors that attend meetings in your offices but also are vibrant offerings for your employees on a daily basis.

Add Refreshments

By offering your colleagues refreshments, you are not showing them your concern for their well-being, but you are also making sure that they are staying hydrated. Drinking enough water is essential for our general health and wellbeing, and research has also found a link between dehydration and a decrease in productivity.

Therefore, you should consider investing in a commercial water cooler that is available from Bevi. They allow you to offer your employees customized beverages through office sparkling water machines and a flavored water dispenser. Bevi’s hassle-free and plastic-saving service allows you to keep your workforce hydrated for less than the cost of an end of the month work party! They also allow you to have refreshments on hand and impress potential clients when they attend your office for a meeting.

Let Employees Personalize Their Own Space

While you may want to keep your office space simple and minimalistic, it is important that you let your employees personalize their own workspaces. It is where they will spend most of their time! By allowing your staff to have their own favorite mug and pictures of their loved ones on their desk, they will feel more relaxed and at home, which can help boost productivity. Remember, happy employees are productive employees!

Make it Comfortable

One of the main things you need to consider when kitting out and creating the perfecting working environment is how comfortable the workspace is. You need to ensure that desk chairs have the correct amount of back support and are comfortable to sit in. If they aren’t, then you may find staff using every excuse possible to be out of their chair.

The view that a workspace has to be rigid and restrictive is an old-fashioned perspective, so if you want your company to be as productive as possible, you should consider these added extras that will help you to create the perfect environment and boost overall productivity.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Job sheet management software was developed to improve how business owners, managers, field workers, and remote employees communicate. What it does is replace manual pen and paper recording of administrative tasks that usually come with working on several jobs involving clients, contractors, and suppliers. Every aspect of the work can be controlled and deployed using the software, which increases efficiency and eliminates errors.

Most job management software available today is hosted in the cloud, which also means that the service is typically scalable depending on the needs of the company. Another convenient feature of job sheet software is its mobile capability; therefore, remote workers can access the platform while they are out in the field.

Who benefits from job sheet management software?

A broad range of industries benefit from using job management software, but in particular companies with multiple locations and a large number of field employees. For example, plumbing and heating contractors and other maintenance professionals use this type of software to schedule jobs and monitor work progress.

In general, any company that is planning to automate processes and streamline the interaction between different departments will benefit from implementing job management software.

The benefits of using job management software

There are several benefits to using job management software which significantly impacts the daily operations of a business. Having a clear understanding of these benefits will help in deciding whether adopting this type of software is the right move for your company.

1. Better communication between stakeholders. Sending and receiving job orders between suppliers, contractors, and clients is much easier using job management software. The software simplifies communication and eliminates the need to send emails back and forth.
2. Efficient administration. Using job management software reduces reliance on paperwork because it automates many processes and increases user visibility.
3. Increased productivity. Some job sheet software solutions use GPS tracking to help companies manage and monitor the status of remote assets. Managers can view the status of each project anytime and anywhere.
4. Improved finance management and accounting. Chasing after outstanding invoices can be one of the most challenging aspects of managing projects. Using software will give you a birds-eye view of all unpaid invoices and quickly send payment reminders to clients. Doing so will help in increasing company cash flow.
5. Improved company reputation. Enhancing the capability of your company to communicate with clients portrays an image of professionalism. Your employees will also appreciate being able to complete tasks efficiently using the software.
6. Increased organisation. Job management software will give you the confidence that all functions are consistently under control. When each department within the company works in a more organised manner, you can save time and resources too. The amount of time saved on administrative tasks can be devoted to more pressing matters such as following up on job orders or outstanding payments from clients.

In line with these benefits, it is therefore essential to choose a job management software solution that is tailor-fitted to the needs of your business.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/people-adult-american-analyzing-3370833/

 

For many companies out there today, their online marketing efforts far exceed their offline efforts. Let’s face it, we live in a digital world where people want access to information instantly, and smoothly. According to Forbes, a whopping 89% of the North American population is now online, and businesses are responding. Email marketing techniques have found a way to tap into that urge, provider consumers with what they want, and also further the goals and success of businesses.

So, what happens if you want to take your company’s online efforts to the next level and start sending out a newsletter to those who read your blog, but you have no coding or design knowledge? Is there still a way to create a newsletter that looks and operates in a professional manner that your subscribers are going to want to open up? The simple answer is yes. With that said let’s take a closer look at how exactly you can set up an effective blog newsletter, even without that tech background and experience.

Find a Platform that Works for Your Needs

The very first step you’ll need to take is to find an email marketing platform solution that works for your needs. There are some that are quite advanced, and will likely be out of your league, whereas others are built for beginners just like yourself and will walk you through all the steps. These platforms don’t require you to know anything about coding and design, as they specialize in providing a user-friendly platform.

Sendgrid is an example of a platform that will help novices set up a blog newsletter, but keep in mind that it has a limited number of features and is really meant for transactional emails. Finding an alternative to Sendgrid may be wise.

Create a Template That You Can Use for All Newsletters

The next step is to create your template. This is the layout that you will use for each of your blog newsletters. By creating one standard template you will be making your job much smoother moving forward as, once created, it’s just a matter of plugging in the new content each time. From a reader’s perspective the template is something they will learn to recognize and get used to, making navigation simple and fast.

Now as for creating this template, again those same email platforms can help you. Many of them offer templates you can use, or will walk you through the steps to create your own. Again, there is no need for coding knowledge.

Make Use of Any Automation Tools Offered

As a final tip, be sure to check out what automation tools the newsletter platform features. By automating the process, you will be taking that much work off your own shoulders, making sure nothing is overlooked or forgotten, and taking advantage of high-tech features you may not otherwise be able to figure out.

Don’t Let a Lack of Knowledge Hold You Back

At the end of the day this strong digital trend should be what drives your business efforts and not the fact that you lack in coding and design knowledge. Newsletters are one of the top marketing methods small businesses can employ, and they’re definitely worth utilising.

 

Banners are one of the most cost-effective ways of advertising your business to the world. Promoting your business doesn’t mean you have to spend much to invest in your marketing strategy, because the traditional printed material still works despite being around even before the digital age.

If you’re planning to use this tool for your branding, you need to be aware of how to design it effectively. While there are companies who can take the job off your hands, you can take care of the design yourself. All you need to do is find a company that can provide quality pull up banner printing for you.

Designing your roller banner is not an easy task, but it is manageable. If you’re in the process of doing it, below are a few tips you’ll want to keep in mind.

1. A catchy tagline will help customers to remember

Customers remember many successful brands and businesses because of their catchy slogans. It’s good to integrate it if it’s for a banner that you use for expos or weekend stalls. But if it’s a specialised banner for your next sale or an important announcement, you may want to come up with a catchy phrase to catch your customer’s attention.

You’ll want to keep it short though because not everyone has the time to stop and read all the details on your banner. Keep it to a length so that prospects will get your message at a glance.

1. Important information should be at eye level

Expensive goods are placed at eye level so they will be seen and bought first. It’s the same as designing your pull up banner, where you need to make sure that critical information is positioned where clients will see it first. This psychological technique works well and is something that you can use to your advantage to get your brand known.

1. Minimalism applies

One of the common mistakes business owners make when designing their banners is filling all the space with unnecessary information. Less is more and having white space on your roller banner is pleasing to the eyes. Having too many things going on at once is confusing and will turn customers off from taking the time to even look at what you can offer.

There are many elements that you need to integrate into your design to make your banner effective. As mentioned before, you can pay a professional to do it for you, but you can also take the time to do it yourself. Keep in mind that if you do decide to do it on your own, don’t cut corners and invest in high-quality images for your banner. You won’t want a pixelated and cheap-looking banner standing outside your shop or beside your stall, as it will just do the exact opposite of attracting customers to buy from you.

Marketing strategies come in many forms, but you can still go old school with a pull up banner. Not only is it an affordable investment, but it is also an effective way to establish brand recall.

Image: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/megaphone-speaker-speak-loud-2374502/

 

Many firms say their employees are their first priority, but this is rarely the case. The question for some firms is how they can demonstrate this beyond showering people with extras that may not impress them. Training of all kinds is often seen as a waste of money, though it can be a way to educate and improve the workforce’s performance. Let’s look at how health and safety training can benefit your business.

Improved Morale and Engagement

Health and safety training provided by the company demonstrates that the firm cares about the wellbeing of their staff. This can make a huge difference on how the employees view their employer. When the company’s leadership takes health and safety training, they design policies, procedures and workplaces that truly put employees first. This reduces accidents and injury rates that can erode morale.

Employees who complete NEBOSH training and certification exams that give them valuable credentials see that the company is investing in them. When line workers know they can move up to the health and safety team or management, they see a future with the company, which is another incentive for them to give their full effort.

Cheaper, Easier Recruiting

The fact that the firm has a low injury rate prevents current employees from leaving due to injuries or fear of being injured. A business that has attained safety certifications can advertise that certification which will help them attract new talent, especially the high-quality talent you desperately need.

NEBOSH certification can be attained by supervisors, managers and operational staff. When your business can boast that they have 100% NEBOSH certification, it proves to applicants you really do care about your employees’ safety. You can also use announcements of the business earning various safety certifications as a way to promote your brand.

NEBOSH offers internationally recognised qualifications and they are worth researching in advance, so that you can find out more about the various NEBOSH certifications and how they could benefit you and your employees.

The Overall Cost Savings

Safety training is cheaper than paying for the care of an injured worker. It certainly reduces your liability risk, and this in turn could reduce your insurance premiums. Businesses that invest in health and safety training probably won’t have to pay as much in legal fees either. Not to mention that health and security training is necessary to be compliant in certain industries, which could open you up to fines if you don’t make sure that your staff members receive the proper formation.

Low injury rates not only reduce the amount of workers’ compensation you have to pay, but the amount of money you have to spend on finding new employees and training them. Not to mention that new staffers are much more likely to be involved in accidents as well.

Another benefit of health and safety training is that injuries that do occur will be reported and treated sooner. Employees may be out for the afternoon to see a doctor, but they won’t be out for weeks recovering from the more severe problems that arise when the condition is allowed to worsen. Reduced absenteeism is likely to increase productivity, which will largely cover for the price of safety training in the long run.

There are other savings you’ll see as well. When people can point out health and safety controls that are malfunctioning, you can turn off the equipment and fix it before there is an expensive failure in addition to an injury.

The Reduced Management Burden

A well-trained workforce understands how to work safely. They’ll report unsafe working conditions and potential problems, reducing the need for managers to closely supervise everything. They’ll understand the risks associated with near misses and dangerous conditions, and they’ll work to rectify matters. They’ll correct co-workers taking dangerous shortcuts or failing to take proper safety measures.

Employees that are afraid to get injured are also much less performant as well. That’s why you should not only focus on giving them the proper formation and making sure that you have a clear security plan in place, but you should also provide safeguards that will allow them to work unencumbered and without fear of injury. More safety will allow your employees to focus principally on the task at hand, which will result in better productivity and output, and increase your bottom line as a result.

Health and safety training should be seen as an investment in the company that yields high returns. You can’t afford not to provide the best health and safety training available to your team.

As a new business, your first business contract is memorable. Its successful execution and completion are what puts you in the limelight and send a message to other potential clients so that they know you can deliver. That is why for small businesses, attracting and keeping clients is the game changer.

But for any type of SME, the competition is usually stiff. There are usually too many businesses chasing few contract opportunities and it can be rather difficult attracting the leads you need. So, what can you do to increase your chances of landing your first contract?

Create a network list –

Competing successfully with hundreds of other small businesses and landing that business contract will be difficult, if not impossible unless you have an ace up your sleeve.

For some people, that ace is the people they know who can help them get one foot through the door. But if you don’t have the advantage of a network, you should create one.

To get started, create a list of company prospects you will like to target, then map out a strategy that would create an opportunity for you to interact with the people that matter. Before you run through your list, persistence will pay off.

Focus within your sphere of influence –

One of the easiest people to sell to are people you know, or those that know about the skills you possess. The plan is to land the first business contract that will open the door for others, and not necessarily a multi-million pound engagement deal.

It is a lot easier to key face-to-face meetings with decision-makers in companies you worked for when employed, or those located within the same city as you. In fact, one study showed that corporate decision makes tend to favour vendors located close-by when making business decisions. Therefore, take a good look within, before going out.

Emphasize your brand –

When it comes to impressing corporate decision makers, your brand needs a loud voice. For this reason, one of your most important responsibilities as a small business is building your brand to the point where it becomes synonymous with the identity you are trying to achieve.

There are a number of cost-effective methods of brand building, such as being active on social media, running regular promotions, sponsoring local events and content writing. The more you portray yourself as an industry in your field, the easier it will be to attract your first contract from a corporate client.

Show you know what you are talking about –

One thing about persistence is that it usually pays off. Therefore, chances are that after a while of cold calling, social media posts and local events sponsorships, you will eventually clinch a meeting with the decision maker of a corporate client. But all your effort will be for naught if you are unable to show that you know what you are talking about.

While you are doing the needed publicity, ensure that you keep up with what is happening in your industry so that when you get to the meeting, you can prove that your business is the best for the job.

There are other handy tips in this guide that would help land your first business contract in the public sector, but hopefully, this short article has provided some needed insight.

Remember, luck is simply opportunity meeting preparation.

 

It is not easy being young in the corporate world where seniority matters. You need to prove yourself if no one is taking you seriously. It is even worse if you are in the marketing department. If you present something to those who have been around for years, they will think that your ideas are trash. You are yet to come up with a successful campaign, so it is not easy for you to convince them that you have something useful to offer. Using these tips, you can satisfy your bosses that your ideas are worth trying.

Research thoroughly

You need to present your ideas first if you want to receive approval to pursue the project. Your bosses will ask questions to see if you understand what you want to happen. You can prepare by researching thoroughly. You need to respond with facts and data. You cannot expect them to believe your arguments if you have nothing to back them up. You need to show that you understand your target audience, and what you present is something they will buy.

Test your ideas first

Before you go to your boss to pitch your thoughts, you need to test them first with other people. You can ask your fellow employees to listen to your pitch and tell you what they think about it. They cannot hold back in expressing their thoughts because you want to hear the comments from them first. If you receive the same criticism the next time, it will not stun you anymore.

Focus on the cost

Your bosses have nothing in mind apart from money. Marketing is the department that takes up a considerable chunk of the company’s budget. You need to prove that your next campaign is affordable and reasonable. No one would dare spend money on something that could eventually fail. In your pitch, you need to prove that what you want to happen is realistic and your ad is something that will not cost a lot. For instance, if you decide to use pop up banners, you need to prove that they are going to entice your target audience. You can argue that you want to attract old people, and it is not enough to rely only on online marketing.

Go crazy, but not too crazy

You received the opportunity to work in the marketing department because you have something unique to offer. You are fresh blood, and your novel ideas could work. Therefore, you cannot hold back when you have great ideas in mind that are worth trying. Your old bosses did not think about these ideas because they are out of touch. However, you need to limit any crazy aspect of your ideas since you might lose your bosses in the process.

Try these tips first and check if you can convince your bosses to believe in your ideas. They might work if you prove that you can get results. You need to work hard after receiving approval so that you will earn a promotion or gain their trust again for the next project.

 

Developing a stable and consistent Human Resources department in your business is indicative of a growing enterprise. Every type of work ranging from the medical industry to academic institutions requires a proper HR department in handling issues concerning employee-employer relations.

HR isn’t just about making your employees feel that they are noticed and appreciated at work; it also works to keep you away from potential disasters brought about by improper team management and disastrous employee-employer conflicts.

A much-needed department for both start-ups and conglomerates

Start-ups are usually developed either from previous employees or first-timers in the field. Since their main concern is promoting their brand of business in entering the industry, they might not have the best training and expertise when it comes to handling employee relations.

Many enterprises, even big-name companies abroad, are guided by experts such as London HR Services which offers high-quality advice and support. With the massive number of entrepreneurs and start-ups springing up left and right, the issue of appropriate business practices is a lesson for learning that every aspiring company owner should learn.

HR and PR

PR is a more familiar face to most as it’s the department directly involved in dealing with clients, being aptly named Public Relations. HR functions as a complement to this department in the sense that it deals with handling the organisational model of your company with regards to your employees. HR is involved not just in mobilising your staff when it comes to the recruitment of staff and interns, but it also handles how they are treated and protected while under your business’ care.

HR leads to proper strategising

HR can seem to be a dismissible aspect of a growing business, but it can prove not just to be an integral part of your enterprise but also a proper path to follow for your business operations. A business isn’t merely a method of developing your product or service; it’s also a second home that allows individuals to contribute to society by being a part of something bigger than themselves.

Proper handling of your employees involves making sure that they aren’t in any danger of hurting themselves in the workplace. The first thought a business owner might have when hearing the term ‘workplace accidents’ are incidents resulting in sprains and broken ankles, but it’s also apparent that both mental and sexual abuse are experienced in the workplace.

Having a department that works to help your employees in dealing with issues of overwork due to stress or a toxic and dangerous work environment because of their peers can improve your business’ figures and prevent it from going downhill. As the owner of a company, you are responsible for keeping your team in check, even if they are a danger to each other and, especially, if the problem is you.

HR allows you to learn from your team’s inadequacies and helps you to execute proper strategies in handling different issues by going through due process and conditioning a space that won’t tolerate the same event in the future.

 

In less than two months, the next negotiations for the United Kingdom leaving the European Union are about to happen, with leading economists scrambling for potential scenarios for the current and future state of the UK’s economy in various industries. Besides being a political dilemma, different markets such as the automotive and real estate markets are about to face dangerous implications.

Political unrest

As of now, property markets nationwide in the UK have varied results, with certain areas reaching stagnation while others have little bursts of increases and decreases. Certain ‘Brexit-proof’ areas are Northern Ireland and Wales who boast a resilience to the property market’s problems with a surprising 5% or so yearly increase that seems to be unhindered by the current political waters.

The Bank of England’s Mark Carney predicts a 35% drop in current house prices. Though the governor insists that it’s a hypothetical scenario that’s open to different possibilities, economists back at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) are highlighting the fact that a no-deal scenario would lead to increasing hesitance in property investments adding up to its current already problematic state.

Tarrant Parsons of the RICS sees the inconclusive decision of a no-deal causing the property market to be in a scuffle as the real estate market’s patience and resilience might be put to the test as growing doubt on the favourable nature of properties is put into question. The housing market is sure to face negative consequences if a no-deal scenario comes to be the case.

A non-Brexit deal?

Even if a no-deal comes to pass, the prospect of a consistently shaky political and economic state of the UK can prove to be its downfall which would eventually lead to a middle ground for both parties. In place of a Brexit deal, another negotiation tactic might be in place to keep the withdrawal and transition period to be beneficial for both the United Kingdom and the European Union. Real Estate consultant services by Gerald Eve and other local consultancy agencies are working overtime with the arrival of Brexit’s implications in the economy. Both investors and homeowners from different sectors are making various speculations on whether or not the absolute negative or the absolute positive will be the result of the political debacle.

A sign for a positive outcome?

There is some hope for a positive result out of this confusion. For starters, it’s highly unlikely that a property market crash would stem from Brexit alone. Its comparison to the stock market is an unfair comparison as real estate is much more resilient and it takes more time for shifts in power and prices to take effect.

Whatever the case will be, it can be confirmed that there will be a definite slowing down of events in the property market. Though analysts are hopeful that it won’t lead to stagnation, they are also recommending that current and prospective homeowners and investors not be too quick to let go of their properties.

 

No matter what your chosen industry may be, marketing is a crucial factor that no successful business can ever be without. After all, there’s hardly any point in offering high-quality products or providing excellent services if they won’t reach the intended target audience. And even for smaller companies that have no more than a modest budget to work with, there are cost-effective strategies that can be utilised. To this end, here are a few marketing top tips for small businesses.

1. Promotional items

One of the most effective marketing strategies that many companies still use to this day is to give away promotional items to both current and potential customers. From personalised pens and notebooks to t-shirt and garment printing, it’s a small investment of resources that guarantees a good return not only in customer loyalty but in the influx of new clients and consumers too.

2. Social media

In this day and age, you’ll rarely find a company that does not make use of social media to spread brand awareness. And for a good reason: not only is it a cost-effective and inexpensive approach to marketing, but you’re far more likely to reach a wider audience through social networking websites. With the minimal resources it requires, using social media for marketing purposes is an advantageous move that no business should overlook.

3. Blogs

Another popular tool apart from social media that is commonly used today to great effect as a viable marketing strategy are blogs. For those who may not believe it, a quick search online should immediately produce hundreds of results. Best of all, not only is it a task that can be done with relative ease but if the budget allows for it, there are plenty of talented writers whose services can be acquired.

4. Conventions

It’s not uncommon to find small companies in conventions since it provides a means for business owners to show the products and services that they offer without having to spend a small fortune in doing so. As such, it’s always good standard practice to keep an eye out for any conventions that may be available. In this way, not only are you bound to get new customers this way, but you might also find new contacts too that can help you get better deals and even provide more lucrative business opportunities too.

5. Collaborations

Even if running a business often entails competition, many companies still collaborate with each other if and when the opportunity presents itself. To this end, it makes sense to follow this status quo whenever possible. After all, business ventures are not just easier with collaborations but are usually far more beneficial to the parties involved as well.

Marketing today is not only a lot more accessible and affordable but also a lot more effective in its purpose than it ever has been in the past. By considering these top tips, not only will you minimise company expenses in this area of the business but you’re far more likely to get the desired results too.