Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

Six construction careers in high demand

While the Covid-19 pandemic has caused challenges for many industries, it is also true that there has never been a higher demand for construction. New developments, properties, and commercial buildings are being scheduled for creation constantly, meaning that the construction industry needs an influx of skilled workers. The fact is

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Why Every E-Commerce Company Should Invest in Email Marketing

When growing your business, it’s essential to know which marketing efforts are worth investing in. With more options available than ever before, choosing the best channel for your business can feel overwhelming. That said, email marketing remains a great tactic that helps eCommerce companies thrive in this saturated market. Aside

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Real Estate Photography: What You Need to Know

Are you just starting in real estate photography? If yes, we have some fantastic tips for you. Here are some things you need to know. ·         It Is a Lucrative Field  If you have been doubting whether you should go into property photography, don’t. It is a highly lucrative field.

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Simple Steps to Jump-Start Collaboration in a Remote Work Environment

For all the advantages of a remote work environment, collaborating with others remains a challenge. How do you perform as a team when everyone is working from home? Thankfully, there are ways to boost collaboration with technology, tools, and techniques from the front-line innovators of online business. Here’s what they

Read More »

Components of the Right Outsourcing Model in Construction

Learning to help your startup thrive is about taking the rough with the smooth. And in the construction industry, understandably, there can be a number of obstacles. This means that we have to start asking for help, or outsourcing. Where we start to outsource, we need to make sure we

Read More »

The latest rise of automation in packaging

SPONSORED ARTICLE Some employees and businesses may look towards further automation with a certain level of uncertainty and concern; what would it mean for the workers and our business? The recent development of total automation in packaging and manufacturing should perhaps be considered as an opportunity rather than a threat?

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How to Keep Your Business’ Digital Presence Post Pandemic?

The pandemic has given a golden opportunity for online businesses to grow in the hyper-competitive digital market. With more and more people relying on online shopping, companies are starting to focus more on their digital presence. It doesn’t mean you have to shut the doors of your brick-and-mortar store. However,

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Latest Issue
Issue 326 : Mar 2025

Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

Six construction careers in high demand

While the Covid-19 pandemic has caused challenges for many industries, it is also true that there has never been a higher demand for construction. New developments, properties, and commercial buildings are being scheduled for creation constantly, meaning that the construction industry needs an influx of skilled workers. The fact is that many roles in construction are in huge demand. Some of this is down to a lack of qualified professionals, while for others it may simply be that the workforce generally is unaware of the need for more staff taking on these roles. Here we take a look at six construction careers that are in high demand.  1. Plumbers All buildings need plumbing systems and getting this work carried out effectively is a hugely important aspect of a successful construction. The average wage for a plumber in the UK is over £35,000 – well above the national average. And those who get a reputation for skilled work during construction projects can command far more.  Of course it is important to note that you will need the right qualifications and experience. Indeed, many plumbers tend to prefer work in residential properties so this role might not be perfect for you, even if you are a fully qualified plumber.   2. Electricians Like plumbers, electricians are generally in high demand, so perhaps it is not a surprise that more are needed for construction projects too. Once again, becoming an electrician takes a great deal of training as well as working experience – understandably, there are also a large number of potential career paths for electricians.  So many systems across a building rely on electricity that this is an absolutely enormous job and one that it is necessary to get exactly right. Due to this responsibility, electricians on construction sites demand high salaries.  3. HGV drivers It is worth remembering that not all construction careers mean that you have to work at a construction site. A great deal of key work relating to construction projects actually happens well away from the sites, while others like HGV drivers only spend a short amount of time there. Effective and efficient logistics are essential, and there have been falling numbers of skilled and qualified drivers.  Recent years have seen a renewed focus on training HGV drivers taking into account the changing needs of the industry and the opportunities surrounding working with the construction sector. It is hoped that this will start to bring in those with the required skills and moving good to and from sites efficiently and effectively is a huge hurden on sites.   4. Construction managers Another great example of those who may not spend all of their time at a construction site, but play an absolutely vital role is that of construction project managers. Great project managers are needed for a huge range of responsibilities in the smooth running of a project, and experienced, skilled managers are in high demand.  The skills required of construction managers are actually transferable from a range of other industries, which could indicate the demand could potentially be filled by those looking for a change of scenery. The work typically involves everything from the hiring of workers and securing of permits to resolving site issues and tracking productivity.  5. Carpenters  Carpenters are essential workers on construction projects. Responsible for creating the frame work for much of the building they take a role in the construction of the most crucial elements of building infrastructure: floors, ceilings, windows, doors and more.  Carpenters on construction sites need to have the ability to work closely with other members of the team when bringing the project together. Experienced and skilled carpenters earn well too with a possible salary of around £40,000 at the top end of the profession.  6. Civil engineers Sometimes overlooked for their importance in a construction project, civil engineers are tasked with some of the most laborious and challenging jobs on the site. Civil engineers are qualified professionals who take on the projects relating to civil works around the site – this might involve alterations to roads, bridges and anything else used by the general public. Final thoughts A number of roles across the construction sector need more professionals to fill vacancies. With changes to the employment market due to the pandemic it may be the case that many workers who didn’t realise that they could be a part of the industry could find their dream job. 

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Why Every E-Commerce Company Should Invest in Email Marketing

When growing your business, it’s essential to know which marketing efforts are worth investing in. With more options available than ever before, choosing the best channel for your business can feel overwhelming. That said, email marketing remains a great tactic that helps eCommerce companies thrive in this saturated market. Aside from the fact that this strategy is 40% better at converting than some social media platforms, it is also an excellent channel for generating leads, making sales, and retaining customers. But before you set up an email marketing campaign, it’s essential to grow a reliable online presence for your business so customers can browse and shop in your online store without any trouble. A good start is the most suitable hosting for business and a relevant domain name. So if you’re wondering whether email marketing is the right marketing option for you and how well it would pay off, continue reading this article.  Generates the Highest ROI ROI, which stands for return on investment, refers to the incremental revenue per dollar spent. Implementing a high-generating ROI marketing strategy is essential to keep businesses profitable and running for the long haul. Compared to other marketing methods, email marketing tends to generate the highest ROI. For every dollar spent on this marketing tactic, businesses get an ROI of $40. In retrospect, search engine optimization (SEO) only generates $22.24, and mobile marketing yields at only $10.51. When done right, this practice benefits businesses in the following ways: Justifies marketing spend Compares marketing efficiency  Provides insight on what to spend more on With the correct information, businesses can plan a lucrative marketing strategy, spending less to gain maximum revenue.  Increases Web Traffic According to HubSpot, the most significant marketing challenge for businesses is generating traffic and leads. No matter the size of your business, having an email marketing strategy is vital. In 2021, there are 4.147 million email users and 319.6 billion sent and received emails per day. With that in mind, people worldwide are reachable through their email inbox, making email marketing a suitable strategy to drive more traffic to your website. The first step to email marketing is building an email list – a collection of email addresses from people who permit you to send them emails. Typically, people provide their email addresses in exchange for a special offer, valuable resources, or freebies. For instance, if your business sells kitchen appliances, consider offering a healthy recipe eBook in return for their email addresses. Next, make sure the emails you send are not spammy. Avoid sending them too often and including unnecessary information. Instead, keep them concise and provide a clear call-to-action button to drive targeted traffic to the pages you choose. Easy to Measure Measuring your marketing efforts is critical. It gives insight into what works, what doesn’t, and where to improve, allowing businesses to plan a better strategy for maximum results. Here are several email marketing metrics to measure to help improve the outcome: Open rate. This refers to the percentage of recipients who opened your email. Consider personalizing the subject line with the recipient’s first name to increase the open rate. Click-through rate. Shows how many recipients clicked on a link attached to your email. Pay attention to the anchor text, link placement, and button color choice. Unsubscribe rate. The percentage of recipients who unsubscribe from your mailing list. This is mostly due to unrecognizable sender, weak brand identity, and emailing too often. Complaint rate. This is the percentage of recipients who marked your email as spam. Reasons for high complaint rates include leaving out the unsubscribe link in your emails and sending irrelevant content. Conversion rate. The number of recipients who completed your desired action, such as purchasing a product, subscribing to a channel, or signing up for a course. Bounce rate. Shows total emails that weren’t successfully delivered, which is mainly due to the wrong email address, overloaded server, or full mailbox on the recipient’s part. Builds a Lasting Customer Base Aside from attracting new customers, it’s also critical to retain the existing ones. Not only will doing so help increase sales but a loyal and lasting customer base will also boost your company’s growth and brand reputation. A great way to achieve that by email marketing is through loyalty programs – a marketing strategy to encourage repeat orders and increase brand loyalty. Here’s a list of programs worth considering: VIP programs. Consider offering access to special deals such as coupon codes or early launch discounts to those who sign up as VIP members. Brand ambassador programs. Offer various perks such as invitations to brand events and access to exclusive communities to those who become brand ambassadors. Referral programs. Encourage customers to invite others to try your brand or service by giving redeemable points for every successful conversion. Email Is a Preferred Communication Channel 83% of customers prefer to hear from brands via email. That said, it’s important to pay attention to your audiences’ needs. For instance, 54% of consumers want businesses to make it easy to opt out of their mailing list. Therefore, include an easy-to-spot unsubscribe button for their convenience. Additionally, personalize your emails as this strategy boosts transaction rates by six times.  Customers also state they’re more likely to shop when offered personalized offers and product recommendations. A great example of this is Netflix, where they send emails based on the customer’s watch history. Without personalization, you risk losing customers, as 74% of them get frustrated when content has nothing to do with them. Boosts Sales When done right, email marketing can boost sales. To do that, consider using email segmentation, the practice of dividing your email list into different groups so marketers can tailor unique campaigns to each segment. As a marketer, you can segment based on a few criteria, such as signup date, group interest, or subscriber activity. That said, segmentation enables marketers to respond to subscribers’ behaviors and make customized messages relevant to their needs. This practice can garner 14.31% higher

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Real Estate Photography: What You Need to Know

Are you just starting in real estate photography? If yes, we have some fantastic tips for you. Here are some things you need to know. ·         It Is a Lucrative Field  If you have been doubting whether you should go into property photography, don’t. It is a highly lucrative field. According to insights from the United States Department of Labor, a beginner can take home as much as $40,000 every year. With a little more experience, earnings can rise to $100,000. Real estate photography is a niche area.  It tends to reduce the amount of competition you will have to deal with, so take the time to market yourself.  Come up with a unique offering that your peers may not have thought about.  ·         Diversify Your Income Look at other areas to diversify your earnings. Photo property images can make excellent online real estate magazines. You can also create 3D property tours for your client as an extra service. Another idea is virtual staging. Use your images to fill up empty rooms. The clients will find it easier to sell a house that looks like someone lives in it. Learn more about the fascinating virtual staging by clicking on this link.  ·         Invest In the Right Equipment Investing in the right equipment is critical as it will make your life so much simpler. Indeed, quality photography equipment is not cheap. But, look at it as an investment towards your career. Good quality will also give you long-term usage. You don’t have to keep replacing the equipment. You will need:- ·         Have a Website and Social Media Presence  A website provides so many advantages to real estate photographers. It is a fantastic way to get your name into the market. You also get to showcase your work on a professional easy to access platform. Take advantage of content creation to establish yourself as an authority. One particularly good example of a property photography business, that have recently been expanding their online presence is Photo Property who operate in the UK. They’ve been developing their website, making it look more professional and user-friendly, and creating engaging content for their social media profiles. Overall a fantastic strategy for gaining new business. As we’ve mentioned above, it’s important to have a strong social media presence. You get access to a broad audience base, who can end up being clients? Join relevant groups of like-minded individuals who work in real estate photography. Network like crazy so that you start to establish a name within the industry.  Do not forget to link the social media sites to your website. It is a fantastic way to build organic audiences for both platforms.  Conclusion Real estate photography can be challenging but very rewarding. With proper marketing services, you will never miss clients. Be consistent, professional, creative and unique in your service offering.  Good luck in your career. 

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Simple Steps to Jump-Start Collaboration in a Remote Work Environment

For all the advantages of a remote work environment, collaborating with others remains a challenge. How do you perform as a team when everyone is working from home? Thankfully, there are ways to boost collaboration with technology, tools, and techniques from the front-line innovators of online business. Here’s what they have to share on the subject. Keep the Culture Many businesses have struggled to keep their company culture intact during the remote work era. But those that put culture first are rewarded with great work and a dedicated workforce. “The old rules of teamwork still apply, especially in remote setups. You need a culture built on trust, empowerment, and mutual respect. Don’t ruin employee engagement and satisfaction by taking away these key components of a strong culture.” – Tracey Halverson, Co-Founder of Fastspot “With many employees opting to work hybrid and remote, we have more space in the office to form open-spaced pods where our team can collaborate in person while remaining socially distant. So we often schedule in-house brainstorming sessions for small groups of employees to get together in person to share ideas about new content and collaborate on ways to enhance our user experience.” – Tyler Faux, Founder and CEO of Supergreat “Create a quarterly or annual face-to-face retreat with your team. This gives everyone worthy incentives and will promote collaboration within the team. When everyone knows they are going to meet face to face together at some point, the way they collaborate with each other will shift.” – Jordan Nathan, CEO of Caraway “To enhance collaboration in a remote work environment, schedule monthly virtual happy hours. If you can work from home, you can drink from home, and this cultural event will help everyone interact with each other in a different way. This will improve the morale of your team and promote collaboration within the organization.” – Darren Litt, Chairman and Co-Founder of MarketerHire “The best way to jump-start collaboration amongst a team is to try and socially connect. This can be done remotely. I encourage management to set up one on ones amongst co-workers, create certain subject matters to discuss, this will break the ice and help everyone connect. Once you are able to connect on a social level it will be easier to collaborate and each employee will feel more comfortable, even remotely!” – Aidan Cole, Co-Founder of TatBrow  Tools of the Trade If your digital tools aren’t up to the task, online collaboration can only go so far. Equip your employees with powerful tech tools for the best results. “We have found that functional communication software is very important. Employees need these tools to collaborate on projects and tasks. Loom allows us to have those video conversations that are a bit more personal – better than communicating via email. Also, managing projects via Basecamp or traditional email is key to staying on top of big-picture tasks.” – William Schumacher, CEO of Uprising Food  “Just look at the success of online courses on LinkedIn and Skillshare, and it’s clear that creating a sense of community is essential. And with a thoughtfully structured lesson plan combined with engaging, easy-to-follow instruction, businesses can create an intensive learning experience online for their remote and hybrid employees.” – Harris Rabin, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at R3SET  “One way we have jump-started collaboration in a remote environment has been utilizing Slack to create an engaging way to collaborate. Slack allows us to stay connected at all points of the day no matter where we are, at the office or at home.” – Lauren Picasso CEO of Cure Hydration Overcommunication Is it possible to communicate too much in the world of remote work? We don’t think so, and today’s business leaders agree. “A great way to collaborate when operating in a remote environment is to set up virtual meetings for 30 minutes three times a week. This will give co-workers an opportunity to see each other’s faces. It is important to create a remote environment where everyone is still connected even though no one is physically in person together. Make these meetings interactive, don’t just preach as a manager or leader. This will help a remote group connect.” – Sean O’Brien, CMO of Modloft  “Setting up 1-on-1s with your team is a great way to jump-start collaboration in a remote work environment. These one-on-ones can be great at solving problems, discussing internal issues, and developing your employees. You can address both personal and professional goals for your team members and reiterate that your team has your support even when working remotely.” – Chris Gadek, Head of Growth at AdQuick “Encourage informal discussions before and after meetings. This will help keep your team synced and on the same page. It will also unify your team to learn to work together on clients, customers, and internal issues.” – Craig Carter, CEO of Jack Mason  “In a remote work environment, communicating often with your employees is key. Taking the time to send emails and meet regularly online can go a long way. Some companies are able to jump-start collaboration by coordinating online scavenger hunts, online mystery parties, and other games. Forming teams in that type of relaxed environment can help employees who would not normally meet have the opportunity to network. This can help fuel collaborations and lead to better teamwork in the future.” – Dennis Hegstad, Co-Founder of LiveRecover “As a manager, I continually promote communication. Communication is the best and most effective tool for teams, especially while working remotely. Start each week or project with clear and achievable goals. Allow your team to ask questions and contribute to the goal. You are now all on the same page and your employees can leave the Zoom call understanding their tasks and your expectations fully.” – Lo Bosworth, CEO and Founder of Love Wellness  Full Flexibility Everybody works a bit differently from home – be ready to accommodate different schedules and styles, and try to find common ground. “Offering flexible hours opens

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Components of the Right Outsourcing Model in Construction

Learning to help your startup thrive is about taking the rough with the smooth. And in the construction industry, understandably, there can be a number of obstacles. This means that we have to start asking for help, or outsourcing. Where we start to outsource, we need to make sure we do it in the right possible ways. We need to make sure that it helps the business, while also making sure that it doesn’t undermine the business. What is the best protocol for outsourcing in construction?  Provide Detailed Outsourcing Goals If you clearly define your outsourced goals early in the process, you’re going to differentiate yourself from the competition. Another advantage of defining your outsourced goals gives you the opportunity to take account of what your actual outsourcing needs are. You may find that your essential raw materials can benefit from streamlining, despite there being a necessity for C-clamps and assembly tools, but you can streamline your efforts to one company that provides all the essential raw materials so you can complete the job effectively. While you may discover Bessey clamps to be an effective organisation for your raw materials, when you are providing these crystal clear goals, it helps you have a solid understanding of your place in the process. Outsourcing doesn’t have to be about siphoning off every piece of your company, but you won’t know this until you detail your outsourcing goals. Picking the Right Outsourcing Engagement Model When you start a building outsourcing strategy, you need to prioritise the specific skills and materials you are looking for, but also define why. By defining these specific parameters of creative or technical expertise, it becomes easier to pick the right outsourcing engagement model to suit your requirements. For example, you could choose offshore engagement models or on-site models. There are also onshore and nearshore models and each one comes with its pros and cons.  Focus on Strong Relationships With Clients and Vendors Going back to the idea of working with one effective company means that you can focus more on the relationship. It is very straightforward, but if you can find a firm that works with your way of doing business, this makes it easier to blend corporate cultures and establish better communication protocols. When you work with an outsourcing vendor or a company that takes the opportunity to learn about the internal business culture and how it works effectively, this will not just promote the best staffing solutions, but also guarantee that the adjustment period is as minimal as possible. When you lay out a very clear blueprint in terms of what you expect from your outsourcing, while also being aware of the advantages and disadvantages, you will mitigate any risks. Within the construction sector, outsourcing is widespread, important to recognise that outsourcing covers a lot of ground. It can be the benefit your construction business needs, but it could also be the nail in your coffin. Outsourcing is not just a way to get rid of your workload for cheap, which is why you have to work within a specific protocol.

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Kite announce eco-friendly ecommerce innovation with new returnable mailing bags

The rapid growth of ecommerce has caused an inevitable soar in demand for easy returns. By reusing the original packaging, the environmental impact of a return is reduced by a minimum of half; Kite Packaging has launched sustainable kraft mailing bags to diminish this impact even further. These packages are manufactured from FSC certified kraft which is sustainably sourced and grants the mailers superior strength to other papers. A heavy-duty material is essential for an item designed for reuse by a customer, though brown kraft is also 100% recyclable to ensure responsible disposal. This is guaranteed to significantly reduce a company’s carbon footprint while enhancing their green credentials. The expandable gusseted sides offer extra capacity to fit a considerable range of different products while arriving flat-packed for convenient storage. To allow for effortless packing and returns, Kite’s product features a double peel and seal strip: one for securing an order to be delivered and the second should the goods need to be returned. The perforated easy tear opening provides excellent user satisfaction at the unboxing stage that is continued until the end of the transaction with this intuitive design. Encourage consumers to shop with confidence, reassured by a user-friendly returns process that promotes repeat sales and all round positive transactions.

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The latest rise of automation in packaging

SPONSORED ARTICLE Some employees and businesses may look towards further automation with a certain level of uncertainty and concern; what would it mean for the workers and our business? The recent development of total automation in packaging and manufacturing should perhaps be considered as an opportunity rather than a threat? In this article, we will try to answer exactly that question.      What is the current outlook for the future of automation? Is the rise of automated packaging systems a result of companies simply looking to get richer or are there other reasons for investing in this replacement of manual packaging processes? There are many opposing viewpoints on what the integration of fully automated systems would mean for their business operations and the future of manual labour. According to the British Chambers of Commerce, many British companies will have increased problems with finding enough labour with the right skills to operate key processes in manufacturing and packaging, among others. The latest innovation in automated systems provide companies with an ideal opportunity for combatting this growing issue.   What should you consider when choosing a new packaging system? Before jumping to investing in a new and highly advanced automatic packaging system, you should as a business ask yourself a few key questions. Every business has unique needs and challenges; therefore, it is important to identify both. Perhaps you may find that a semi-automatic system is more suited for your products? Choosing the right packaging and bagging machine for your needs requires you to work closely with a supplier of packaging systems in finding the optimal solution. Packaging systems can be rather complex, and every little detail should be carefully accounted for when designing your new fully automated packaging setup. Furthermore, you should also find the right bagging machine that matches your unique product and its packaging requirements. What are the benefits of fully automated packaging systems? So, what are the exact benefits of integrating a fully automated packaging system into your operations? Here are a few of the possible benefits:  ●        Increase productivity and efficiency – Automation can both improve production speed and eliminate the risk of bottlenecks in the production line. The flow will be more constant, and the risk of human error will also be removed. ●        Remove downtime – Automated packaging systems can practically work around the clock and the real-time feedback from the machines can help you better schedule your maintenance. ●        Revamp manual tasks – The replacement of repetitious actions from packing and filling bags with human labour can also provide benefits for your employees. By letting the machine handle the repetitive task, the risk of strain injury will also decrease. In conclusion, automated packaging systems can not only help drive growth for your company but can also change your employees’ tasks and responsibilities where human input can be used to greater effect. Automated systems may both improve staff morale and your competitiveness to help drive a healthy business.    

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Useful Tips to Make Your Startup Thrive and be Most Effective

When it comes to a startup business, there are a few things that you should and shouldn’t do. While the process is known to be incredibly complicated it isn’t impossible but there’s a lot of hard work that needs to go into it.  It’s very important to be realistic about your goals while acknowledging the fact that the possibility of failure is a real thing. Much like the best online Canadian casinos, you’ll find that going all-in with the expectation of winning isn’t the best approach. However, taking a calculated approach and planning the way that cash is spent is a better option. Establishing a private business shouldn’t be a gamble and this is where you’ll find that taking risks when it’s necessary will have a varying win rate.  Some of the best online casinos had also begun as small startups and this is where we’ve linked up with Kevin Cochran (view profile), someone that has plenty of experience with startups and he has provided us with some of the best tips for establishing an effective startup: The Statistics According to the statistics published in 2014 62% of startups make it to their fourth year of operations with 56% making it another year. Furthermore, 30% of startups manage to break even, whereas another 30% will lose money.  Ultimately, 40% of startups survive and manage to make a profit and this is a frightening statistic; however, it’s important to pay attention to what was done right along with when it was done. Tip 1 – Be Flexible The first thing that should be done is to leave all expectations at the door. Having fixed ideas can prove to be dangerous and it will waste a lot of time. This is because you’ll end up playing a game of catch-up, which will cost you money.  The same approach can be taken when using https://www.casinocanada.com/, as you can’t expect how much money you will walk away with as this will leave you bitterly disappointed.   Tip 2 – Establish Meaningful Relationships with Customers Regardless of the industry that you intend on operating within, you’ll need to have a good relationship with your clients. The reason is simple: the closer you are to your client, the more motivation you’ll have to provide them with a superior product or service.  The relationship you establish with a customer will also determine your attitude towards the trials and tribulations that you experience within your startup. Tip 3 – Understand Your Business Model   Once you’ve established meaningful relationships and develop empathy for the clients that you have it would be best to focus on the bigger picture. Understanding how your company generates profit is an important part of the process.  This is similar to what you’ll find with casino slots, as many of them have incorporated special features that will entice players to keep going. This is where it will also be important to focus on what your website offers when it comes to information and how it performs.  Tip 4 – Align Your Values to the Mission of the Company  The mission and values will usually be found on a company website and you must believe in the values of your brand. If your values can be seen in the operation of your company, then you’re on the right track.  It’s also important to hire people that share similar or the same values as this means that they’re a perfect fit for your organization.  Tip 5 – Identify Your Priorities It’s important to have a clear understanding of where your priorities lie as this could determine your rate of success. By putting important projects first and also understanding what makes this project the most important one, you’ll find that work will be done much quicker.  This is also paired with good communication skills that will provide your company with a more efficient workforce which will pay off in the long run. Tip 6 – Focus on the Present Adopting an optimistic attitude is important; however, it’s important to remain realistic about the present. While it can be enticing to accept large projects, it’s also important to pay careful attention to the capabilities of your team or yourself if you’re working alone.  Tip 7 – Location  You won’t open a car dealership amongst farms or a winter clothing store in a region that’s known for its sunny weather. Hence location is one of the most important factors to take into account. This goes with knowing your target market, which is arguably one of the most important factors to take into account.  Embracing the Challenge There’s no doubt that starting a business is a challenge, but it can be done if you put your mind to it and take all factors into account. Achieving success isn’t something that will be handed to you on a silver platter and you will need to work incredibly hard for it and hope that luck is on your side.

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How to Keep Your Business’ Digital Presence Post Pandemic?

The pandemic has given a golden opportunity for online businesses to grow in the hyper-competitive digital market. With more and more people relying on online shopping, companies are starting to focus more on their digital presence. It doesn’t mean you have to shut the doors of your brick-and-mortar store. However, going digital is incredibly important to ensure that your business succeeds in the modern business landscape. Focus on Customer Retention Bringing new customers to your store is important for your business growth, but it’s much harder than retaining your old customers. Customers who did business with you during the downturn will most likely become your loyal customers. To retain your existing customers, you can give exciting promotional offers, such as free trial periods or exciting gifts. This may cost your business a few bucks, but it will build client’s trust in your brand and strengthen your relationship with your customers. For instance, Neil Patel made UberSuggest available for free after lockdown restrictions were lifted. While he did not receive many paid membership registrations, he did receive a wonderful response from grateful users. Most importantly, he saw large increase to traffic on his website. Go Completely Digital The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on people looking to move their business online. With travel and transport restrictions, huge numbers of businesses wanting to get their eCommerce store set up online. More and more retailers are investing in SEO, SEM, mobile application development, social media campaigns, and other digital marketing channels to grow their business. You’re probably already familiar with the digital marketing tools, but the global pandemic has taught us a range of new ways to grow your digital presence online. For example, language companies saw significant growth in their digital business as a large number of students in foreign locations applied for e-learning online. Similarly, food companies made everything digital by implementing tracking software apps, automating email communications, using digital invoices and accounting software tools. Promote Exciting Deals As companies are starting to reopen, the best way to keep more and more people coming in is by running the exceptional ad and promotional programs. Promotional programs will bring more new customers to your business while building engagement with your existing clients. This idea works wonders in just about any industry – be it a cleaning agency or a company offering baby changing unit services. Consider offer free and discounted offers as incentives to convince customers to buy your products or services. Magnetic marketing no longer works in this day and age. You can’t message every customer asking them to do business with you. If you want the best results, you need to run targeted campaigns to build customer engagement and bring your target audience to your business. Change Your Approach towards Your Audience The pandemic has affected every business as well as every individual in different ways. While some people suffered financial losses, others may have lost a family member or friend. The pandemic also changed people’s priorities and revolutionized the way they work. So how can you use this opportunity to your advantage? You can start by asking your customers how they are doing and how the pandemic has affected their life. What are their pain points? It’s important that you put effort to get to know your post-COVID-19 customers. The better your communication strategies, the stronger the bond you will share with your audience. Plus, your customers will feel safe doing business with you. Embrace Paid Advertising Tools SEO is great and it undoubtedly works wonders, but relying on SEO alone is not the best way to get results. Pay-per-click advertising is one of the fastest and most effective ways to bring your audience to your company’s landing page or your brick-and-mortar store. Additionally, it helps you reach out to a wider audience. However, paid advertising doesn’t mean you should put all your resources into all social channels. Select a few social media sites and run a paid ad campaign on these sites to extend your business’s reach. Find out where your audience is spending their time and then choose a platform you can use to connect with a wider audience. Focus on Content Content is King! Even if you are running advertising campaigns, it is important to provide content that offers value to your customers. Get ideas from your competitors’ social media to learn more about the type of content they share and if it’s reusable. The quality of your content is the most important thing! This brings new customers to your business while retaining existing clients. Many businesses went digital in the midst of the pandemic to maintain cash flow and continue serving their customers through the difficult times. Now that the restrictions are almost completely lifted, businesses are wondering how to maintain their digital presence while managing their physical or local presence. Follow the above tips to build your digital presence and grow your business in the online world.

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