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4 Lucrative Business Ideas for Sports Lovers

August 6, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Sports are something that can be enjoyed by anyone, both players and fans alike. Not everyone can be an athlete, but you can contribute to your favorite sport in a meaningful way as a business owner. The sports industry is huge and highly profitable, so there are many opportunities for you to consider. Some business ideas require high skill or high involvement, while others are accessible to anyone with a passion for sports. After getting an idea of what kind of businesses you might launch, you can break into the industry as a confident entrepreneur.

Team Agent

Starting your own sports agency empowers you to represent local teams and advocate for their long-term growth. As an agent, your primary task would likely be to negotiate contracts and secure endorsements.

Representing your team doesn’t have to be about negotiations or ironing out legal matters, though. Maybe your talents lie in improving strategies as a statistician or hosting fundraisers for team events. Every team also needs a dedicated marketing agent who can expand outreach and drive ticket sales.

Sports Therapist

If you are interested in pursuing an education in the medical field, you can become a valuable asset to any sports team as a physical therapist. A sports physical therapist uses knowledge of rehabilitative practices to help athletes recover from strains or injuries so they can get back to doing what they do best.

You can start this career path by earning a physical therapy degree while also studying sports medicine or other relevant topics. You will also need to receive the necessary certifications and a license to practice in your state. When you are ready to begin your practice, you might work with a specific sports team or launch a public clinic that is available to the community.

Sports Venue Lighting Engineer

Engineering is an oft-overlooked necessity in the world of sports. Specifically, lighting engineers fill a crucial role in ensuring that spectators and viewers at home have the best possible experience watching their teams compete.

Lighting up a sports stadium requires so much more than just shining a spotlight on the field. You can learn more about the architectural and scientific knowledge that goes into the lighting engineer trade by reviewing industry case studies on the subject. This will give you an idea of the lighting options for football stadiums and arenas of all sizes at each professional sports level.

Remote At-Home Jobs

One study projects that over 20% of Americans will work from home by 2025, and if you prefer the remote work environment for yourself as well, you can leverage your enthusiasm for sports to make it a reality. One way to earn a living while contributing to the sports community is as a content creator. You can launch your own sports content business and manage it from a home office or studio. Depending on your unique talents, you might choose one of these remote business options:

Freelance sports writer
Sports podcaster
Social media producer

There are many ways to enjoy a career in sports. Athletes, coaches, and stadium staff are not the only ones who keep the show going. If you have the drive to be an entrepreneur and the passion to contribute to your pastime, then starting a sports-based business might be the most fulfilling path for you.

Check out Local Marketing Center for more business and marketing insights.

This blog was written by Courtney Rosenfeld.

How to Set Up Your Own Successful Handyman Business

July 20, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Starting your own handyman business in the US could be a lucrative move – you could charge a respectable $50 to $80 per hour, according to HomeGuide. The work is challenging, interesting, only moderately physically demanding, and doesn’t need you to have an official education. Last, but not least, you could even get your own successful handyman business up and running and thereby be your own boss.

The Local Marketing Center explains everything you need to know about starting a successful handyman business below:

Pick a specialty

Handymen come in all shapes and sizes and do a lot more than general maintenance and repair. That’s why you must choose an area of specialization. It would help you to stand out, be pickier about clients, and thereby charge more for your services. Some services you could specialize in are drywall installation, smart home upgrades, painting, tile installation, and appliance repair. Ideally, this should be something you’re already good at.

Have a business plan

A business plan is like a blueprint for your business. It contains critical details about setting up shop, ranging from funding options and legalities to market research and business goals. With a good business plan, you can nail down exactly what you’ll be doing, who you’ll be doing it for, and how to be profitable.

Gather seed money

Seed money is startup capital. You can use your savings, borrow from family or friends, get a loan, or attempt to apply for a grant. Typically, it’s a good idea to have enough to set up and remain operational for the next 6 to 12 months, until you have a chance to stabilize. Depending on the nature and scope of your business, you can expect to spend $62 to $40,565, reports Starter Story.

Get insurance

You may or may not need insurance. Check your state or territory regulations to be sure. Getting insurance just to be safe isn’t always advisable because it’s not cheap and will significantly eat into your profit margin. You should opt-in if your customers need it or you do risky work.

Licenses, training, and other legalities

There are several legalities to adhere to. You will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). You, typically, need to register in the local chamber of commerce. Depending on your region, you may need a contractor or handyman license. Finally, it’s a good idea to form an LLC or similar corporation to protect your personal assets from lawsuits. You don’t need formal training to be a handyman – people typically take up apprenticeships or teach themselves.

Consider special equipment

You will need special equipment, depending on the work you’re doing. At the very least, expect to need hand tools, a drilling machine, and a storage box. If you do specialized work, you may need ladders, safety tools, chainsaws, plumbing tools, and more. Free Business Ideas offers a reference list of handyman tools.

Make your life easier with software

Using apps will allow you to automate tasks and save time. For instance, map apps will help you find your clients’ locations quickly and note-taking apps will help you jot down pertinent details. You may need construction estimating software to run your business. This kind of software allows you to calculate material and labor costs, create a schedule for payments for customers, send estimates from job sites conveniently, and send automated reminders through email if a sent estimate hasn’t been approved.

Market for success

Marketing is critical. You need to make your handyman business discoverable through marketing-related efforts. Some ideas are having a business card, setting up a website, registering your business in relevant listings, joining the local chamber of commerce, printing flyers, advertising online, and advertising offline.

Marketing your handyman business on Instagram can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business. To get started, you’ll need to create an account and start sharing photos and videos of your work. Be sure to use hashtags to reach a wider audience, and don’t forget to tag potential customers in your posts. You can also use this free Instagram story template to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Build your story design by choosing a template and adding your own images, graphics, and icons.

Network for multiple reasons

Don’t forget to network. Networking raises your profile; helps you find useful connections like customers and mentors; works as free marketing; and allows you to build a safety net in your local community. Becoming a member of your chamber of commerce is a good way to get started.

Conclusion

While having a handyman business can be challenging and may come at the cost of job security, the advantages may balance it out. Some examples are setting your own schedule, earning a good income, and varied work. Remember to work hard, stay committed, develop your entrepreneurial brain, and market your business to be successful long-term!

This blog was contributed by Courtney Rosenfeld

Image via Unsplash

The Easy Guide to Employee Performance Planning

July 15, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Performance planning is a great way to give a sense of direction to the employees and create a space for them to grow in their career. In this guide, we will discuss what is performance planning and the process.

Some useful templates are also provided. You can edit these online; simply click on the template to open them in the editor, modify and download.

What is Performance Planning?

Employee performance planning is a key area in performance management, which deals with improving and developing employee performance to achieve overall business goals.

Performance planning refers to the process of identifying the goals of an individual or organization and planning the best ways to achieve them. It focuses on underpinning the growth of employees and helping their career development.

During performance planning, the company objectives and the performance goals should be communicated to the employee by his senior. And the necessary training, resources, and support should also be provided.

A performance improvement plan lays out the steps an employee, who is underperforming, needs to take to upgrade his or her performance.

On the other hand, a performance development plan is used with employees who are already performing well to identify new ways they can contribute. With underperforming employees, it can be used to identify areas for improvement, set goals and develop strategies to achieve them.

Here are some great team building activities to help you boost your team’s productivity.

Performance Planning Process

Following are the performance planning steps. Performance planning is the first step in performance management. Once you are done with planning, you will move on to implementing it, tracking and reviewing the results.

Identify the Strengths of Each Individual

Start by learning the capabilities of your employees, which will, in turn, help you adjust their responsibilities and customize performance goals.

A handy tool that can be used here is the SWOT analysis. You can either perform a SWOT analysis of each individual working under you or get your team to do a personal SWOT analysis by their own.

The results will reveal to you not only the strengths of the individual, but also their weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats with regard to their career.

Personal SWOT Analysis Template (Click on the template to edit it online)

Set Performance Goals

Considering his or her strength, establish performance goals. Involve the employee during this step; their participation will help them understand the plan and where he/ she is heading.

However, prior to setting the goals, you need to gain an understanding of the overall goals of the organization, and that of the team or department the employee represents. Then make sure that the individual performance goals align well with them.

You also need to make sure that the goals adhere to the SMART criteria; that they are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

Carry out an annual or semi-annual performance evaluation to understand the progress of the goals. For this, you should come up with a simple rating scale or indicators to assess the performance.

Career Plan Template (Click on the template to edit it online)

Define Employee Responsibilities

When you have already established the goals an individual has to achieve within the time period, it becomes easier to define their responsibilities. With a performance review, their responsibilities may change, but they’ll always be assigned a basic set of functions.

Create an organizational chart clearly conveying their place in the organizational or team hierarchy and their roles and responsibilities. This will also let them see how they influence the work of their colleagues as well.

Organizational Chart with Roles and Responsibilities (Click on the template to edit it online)

Describe the Resources Needed

Once the performance goals are clear, identify the resources necessary to accomplish them. These could vary from computers, training material to action plans.

The action plan should lay out the steps the individual should take to accomplish the goals. Check out this resource on Action Plans to learn how to create one.

Action Plan Template (Click on the template to edit it online)

Create a Development Plan

This is where you come up with a plan or plans to develop the skills, knowledge and even the attitudes of the employees which are needed to achieve the goals that have been set and carry out the new responsibilities assigned to him/ her.

During this stage, career development plans are built to help the employee understand where they are headed in their career. It will have a positive impact on the employee’s motivation and personal growth.

Software Engineer Career Path (Click on the template to edit it online)

Continue to Coach and Counsel

As the employee carry out his/ her responsibilities and the steps laid out in the action plan to achieve the goals, his/her seniors should take it upon themselves to give the support necessary for him/ her to succeed.

Two tools that can help you during this phase are the GROW coaching model and the skill will matrix.

What’s Your Take on Performance Planning?

How do you go about performance planning in your organization? Any additional steps or tips? Do share them with us in the comment section below.

How to Use Digital Technology in Your E-Commerce Business

May 10, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

By Courtney Rosenfeld

E-commerce is a great way to make money online, but it’s not going to work if you don’t fully integrate it into your business strategy. The Digital Marketing Institute notes that this means taking time to plan your digital strategy and determining the role that digital technology will play in your overall strategy.

If you decide to start your e-commerce business on a whim, you’re likely to fail as soon as your first customers start placing orders. That’s because you won’t have fully integrated your digital strategy into your business strategy.

Planning for success involves determining what digital strategies you’ll employ in your e-commerce business. Local Marketing Center explores some of the most successful that other businesses have used. We’ll also discuss their place in the hierarchy of your strategy.

Integrate Wholesale and Drop-shipping Platforms

Now that you’ve fully integrated your digital strategy, it’s time to integrate your wholesale and drop-shipping strategies.

Wholesale partners can help your business reduce its operating costs. That’s because they can negotiate lower rates for you, allowing you to pass those savings on to your customers.

In addition, working with a wholesale partner can allow you to diversify your product offering. That’s because you can supplement your inventory with products that you don’t produce yourself.

When you’re partnered with a third-party drop-shipping platform, you can also take advantage of their marketing resources. That can help you promote your business, drive sales, and achieve deeper penetration into your target market.

Batch Processes and Data

One of the most effective ways to integrate your digital strategy is to use batch processes and data. Techopedia explains that batch processes are basically functions that you can run over and over again without human interaction. That way, you don’t waste time, money, or resources on non-essential tasks.

Batch processes can be extremely useful for integrating your digital strategy because they enable you to automate certain processes. That gives you more time to focus on other tasks, like product design or marketing.

Batch processes can also be used to collect data. That’s because every time you run a batch process, you collect data about the process. From there, you can use that data to analyze your business and identify areas that need improvement.

Remote Employees

It is a good idea to allow some members of your staff to work remotely. But in doing so, you must ensure effective communication among your team. A process template map is a great way to achieve this.

This tool will keep your team current with all the expected goals, thereby keeping productivity at its peak.

Be sure to spend your time and effort on big-data analysis in addition to your process mapping template. You will be able to discover, validate, and improve your workflows through process mining.

Process Mining

Process mining can help increase sales, reduce costs, and mitigate risk. You can also look forward to discovering hidden opportunities to expand your e-commerce company. Begin by identifying data sources. Next, identify potential data sources and create a timeline. Then determine your key stakeholders.

Keep in mind that there’s a difference between process mining vs process discovery. The latter is actually one step beyond process mining, as the discovery aspect is used to identify areas in need of improvement in the “white spaces” between data input and gathering that would otherwise go unnoticed. Then, reports are generated to share with all the team members to use for improvement and optimization of those areas. Once implemented, these automated processes allow you to respond faster to customer demands. They also reduce human oversight while allowing you to concentrate on more strategic tasks, like product development.

Mobile Apps

Another important feature you should consider is mobile apps for your business. If you don’t provide your customers with an easy way for them to pay online, you are missing significant revenue.

It is crucial to protect your mobile payment app, which is where authentication API comes into play. Customers can instantly verify routing numbers and bank account details by paying with ACH. All ACH processors are compatible with the app, meaning that customers will find the app easy to use, accessible, and intuitive.

With these digital strategies now in your hands, you’re better able to approach e-commerce in a new, more profitable light. Understanding how to effectively integrate drop-shipping and use the latest tech tools like process mining and mobile apps can springboard you toward long-term growth and sustainability.

Recognizing and Rewarding Employees

Here a link to an article about this.

Paul Edwards of Local Marketing Center with his wife, Sarah Edwards, are award-winning authors of 17 books with over 2,000,000 books in print. Paul provides local marketing consulting through the Small Business Development Center. Read more informative articles today!

Tips for Launching Your Business While Preparing to Welcome a Baby

April 13, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Establishing your own business is empowering while welcoming a baby is a beautiful and life-transforming experience. But both have their fair share of challenges that can be harder to overcome when the two are happening at the same time.

Still, new or expecting mothers are increasingly finding satisfaction in the opportunities entrepreneurship offers. The tips here will help you as you prepare for your own “mompreneurship” journey.

While designing a startup budget is always a wise move, it’s all the more crucial as you prepare for your baby’s arrival. You’ll have to add a lot of detail, too, while making sure to reconcile the budget with the funds you’ve put aside for the baby.

A baby’s arrival and launching a business are both events that can be fraught with unforeseen expenses. That’s why you should set a healthy buffer aside in case of emergencies. If you’re having trouble seeing where to allocate money for this, reevaluate your business startup fund. Look for areas where you can reasonably cut costs without compromising on quality.

Outsource Some Aspects of Launching Your Business

Your brand’s logo is an essential part of ensuring a strong market entry, so consider hiring a freelance illustrator if you lack the experience to design one yourself.

You may also need to find a freelance web designer and social media marketer. You can find and hire these professionals through online job boards or marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork job boards. These platforms enable you to evaluate potential candidates based on experience, past projects, client reviews, and pricing.

You’ve hired a social media marketer—now you’re ready to create your Facebook ad. Save by using a free ad template that you can customize with your own text, logo, color schemes, and layout.

Free Your Time and Do More Using Technology

Using modern apps and gadgets can enable you to do more with the limited time you’ll have. Virtual assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant can help you perform simple operations hands-free.

Likewise, robot vacuum cleaners will help keep your office space and home tidy. And wearable tech such as smartwatches can make answering calls easier when caring for your baby would otherwise make it inconvenient to do so.

With working mothers reporting burnout in recent years, using technology to lighten your load will preserve your energy.

Perform the Most Time-Consuming Tasks While You’re Pregnant

You likely won’t have as much time once the baby arrives, so take care of the tasks that require the most time and energy before then. Of course, make sure not to strain yourself too much. And, if you’d like to plan ahead, find a sitter so you can pick up the pace again as soon as you’re ready.

Brisbane and most major cities have services that do thorough vetting to find nannies who are qualified to care for infants.

The Right Planning and Habits Make Everything Possible

In many ways, welcoming a baby equips you to be an even better entrepreneur. Use these tips to ensure you can balance enjoying precious moments with your baby and the demands of launching a new business.

By Courtney Rosenfeld

Design Your Dream Work From Home Space on a Budget

March 7, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Millions of workers across the United States aren’t going back to the office, and it’s easy to see why. Even with the pandemic winding down, employers are still reaping the benefits: a happier and more motivated workforce, reduced operating expenses, and fewer hours lost to water cooler chat.

So if you’ll be working remotely full- or part-time, it’s time to ditch the couch or dining room table and build your dream workspace at home, using these expert tips from Local Marketing Center.

Choose the Right Location

Start by taking a tour of your home as though you’ve never been there before. Walk through each space and imagine it without furniture. Where can you add a workspace? If your home has a basement, this may be the obvious choice. Basements are usually isolated from the rest of the house, so if the kids come home from school, they won’t disrupt your Zoom meeting.

To DIY or Not to DIY?

If you’re looking to cut costs, a DIY home office renovation might seem like the best bet. But consider your starting point first. A finished basement already has the basic flooring, drywall, and electrical you’ll need for a safe and comfortable office. You may only need to add a fresh coat of paint in a soothing hue. But an unfinished basement is trickier. Case in point: you’ll need to install subfloor insulation before the carpeting to prevent condensation and mold. These larger tasks are often best left to a pro. Otherwise, you could pay more for repairs down the line.

Wellness While You Work

Next, it’s time to add furniture. Choose a high-quality, comfortable desk and ergonomic chair that are suited to your height. Head to your favorite secondhand shop or look online for affordable options. You may want to consider an adjustable sit-stand desk to switch things up throughout the day. In either position, ensure that your monitor is at the proper distance and viewing angle to reduce eyestrain.

Hack Your Productivity

Now that the heavy lifting is done, it’s time to stimulate your creativity and get you in the zone. Add a smart speaker for some relaxing tunes or white noise. (Unlike the office, you won’t need to wear headphones!) Did you know that certain scents, especially pine and cinnamon, have been associated with alertness and focus? Light a scented candle or use a plug-in oil diffuser for a boost.

Add Self-Care to Your Workspace

You spend more of your waking hours at your workstation than almost anywhere else. As you put the finishing touches on your new home office, take another tour of your home and gather items that help facilitate a feeling of peace and joy. It could be a houseplant, a family photo, a lamp to add brightness, or a yoga mat for a comfy place to stretch and reset between tasks. These items will truly help you feel like you’re working from the comfort of home and enhance your work-life balance. Best of all, they don’t cost you a cent!

Everyone longs to escape those stuffy office buildings, but few take the necessary steps to turn that dream into a reality. By following these simple tips, though, you’ll be enjoying your new home office in no time!

Local Marketing Center consists of Paul and his wife, Sarah Edwards, who are award-winning authors of 17 books with over 2,000,000 books in print. Paul also provides local marketing consulting through the Small Business Development Center. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email paul@localmarketing.center.

Written by Courtney Rosenfeld

How to Incorporate Data Analytics Into Your Business

March 3, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

From Unsplash If you run a business then you need to know about data. After all, these essential numbers and facts tell you how your business is improving, where fixes should be made, and how you can best market your products, amongst other benefits. If you aren’t incorporating analytics already, then this is the time to start. Here at the Local Marketing Center, we consult small businesses on how they can succeed and extend their reach, so we have some tips for how you can incorporate analytics into many areas of your company.

Use Data to Manage Your Inventory

Companies that sell and move physical products need to have data analytics as part of their inventory system. It is really the most accurate way that you can verify what you have, what you need, and what you have sold. Analytics is even more important if you have multiple sales channels because analytic systems can handle these complex situations without the potential of error. Your analytics can also tell you which of your products are flying out the door faster so you can restock or think of other ways that you can capitalize or expand that product line.

Plus, when you always have the products that you advertise available for purchase then you will not only make more money but your customer satisfaction will likely increase as well because you will be a company they can depend upon.

Data for Risk Management

As our world continues to evolve so do the threats posed by cybercriminals, so it is important that you are always analyzing data so you can catch potential threats before they happen. Even if you are not an exclusively online business, if you have any digital components as part of your company, then you are at risk.

However, even with the best data analytics, you cannot catch everything, so it is important to also have an IT security recovery plan in place in the case that you are hacked. This plan should detail what should happen immediately after a threat is identified, including which programs need to be recovered first when each deadline should be met, and who on the team will be responsible for each task.

Data for Marketing

One of the most important places to use data analytics is with your marketing and advertising campaigns. By crunching the numbers, you can determine what type of people are buying your products including where they live, what else they like, and more. Once you have built a profile for your primary demographic, you can begin to focus all of your attention on that audience for maximum profitability.

Data analytics can also help you to understand the best ways to market to your audience. For instance, analytics may tell you that direct mailing is not the best strategy because those customers are not responding, and at the same time, the data could tell you that social media marketing is firing on all cylinders. You don’t want to waste too much time on an unsuccessful marketing tactic, so you need analytics to find the right answers.

Analytics for Retention

While you may be able to sell your products, if customers are returning what they buy and not coming back then you have an issue. The answer is to use data analytics to follow the patterns, so you can see who is sticking around, which products customers are not so fond of, and an alternative strategy to reach a wider audience.

You can also use data to determine why you are unable to retain employees. Whether it is the length of the commute, the pay rate, management style, or anything in between, there are many ways that an employee might not stick around. By looking at the data, you can see why people are leaving and fix those areas so you can show your employees that they are valued. They will work twice as hard because of it.

As you can see, data analytics is an essential part of a successful company, so consider the advantages above and incorporate this strategy into your business. If you have other questions about how to market to your employees, then give Local Marketing Center a call at paul@localmarketing.center.

Here is a link to an article that will you some ideas for rewarding employees:

Written by Courtney Rosenfeld

Great Cities for Gig Economy Nomads

February 19, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Although leaving you free to travel anywhere, living the solopreneur lifestyle doesn’t require you to surf on a different couch every night. In fact, settling in for a few weeks or months in a digital nomad-friendly community is a much more rewarding way to make the most of your untethered lifestyle. Here are four top places to hang your hat as a wandering worker.

Sacramento

Located less than a day’s drive from beaches, mountains, major metropolises, and natural wonders, California’s capital city is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the west coast. It boasts a favorable business environment, mild climate, and fast internet speeds, and the city even provides free Wi-Fi in 27 local parks.

According to PayScale, housing costs in Sacramento are nearly 40% lower than in Los Angeles, making it a more affordable option for wanderers looking to enjoy all the Golden State has to offer. Try using search filters to find a Sacramento apartment that meets your needs in terms of budget, pet-friendliness, and a number of rooms; you can even set parameters for various amenities, so you won’t waste time looking at incompatible options.

Kansas City

Earning a cost of living rating nearly 14 points below the U.S. average, Kansas City is a top spot for cost-conscious roamers. This affordable Missouri town offers a growing number of co-working spaces along with high Wi-Fi speeds, making it a great choice for nomads who want big perks on a small budget.

Check out the city’s visitor website to get a feel for which of Kansas City’s 240 neighborhoods is the right fit for you. You’ll find short-term rentals available in most areas, whether you prefer being close to the town’s eclectic dining and shopping or its world-class museums.

Seattle

The US northwest’s largest city is an excellent place to make your stay as a digital nomad. The scenic views of nearby nature and the many tech industry companies are equally compelling draws to the city on Puget Sound. It may be a pricey destination, but who can argue with the view and the vibe.

When it comes to housing, rentals in Seattle, WA, certainly aren’t cheap. A one bedroom apartment can average more than $2,300, so don’t expect to be building a nest egg unless you’re pulling down a pretty penny. But a beautiful, vibrant city that’s the destination in the Pacific northwest is worth it.

New York City

First things first: New York City isn’t the place for roamers with small budgets. However, what it lacks in affordability it makes up for with its accessibility to international commerce and its cultural and culinary diversity. If you want to take a bite out of the Big Apple, you can still find ways to economize, like taking advantage of New York’s extensive bus and subway systems to get around on the cheap.

While you need a realistic outlook when it comes to housing prices in New York, if you’re open to co-living you can keep costs down. Some neighborhoods are more affordable and signing weekly leases can keep you from getting in over your head with a longer commitment.

Although each of these cities is unique, they all have something to offer those living the solopreneur lifestyle. Any one of them can be the perfect next step in your nomadic lifestyle. Take advantage of your freedom to roam and explore one or more of these digital nomad-friendly U.S. destinations.

This article was written by Courtney Rosenfeld, For more information about the Gig Economy, contact Paul Edwards!

4 Ideas for Improving Collaboration in the Workspace

February 3, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

When it comes to meeting business goals, collaboration is key. As employees work in sync, it becomes easier to share information, overcome challenges and avoid bottlenecks. Additionally, it helps to improve morale and create a positive work environment. But, having seamless collaboration throughout an organization requires sound planning and consistent effort. In this article, Local Marketing Center explores four tried and tested ways to help your business achieve the highest level of collaboration possible.

Lead from the Top

As the business owner, you cannot expect your team to be collaborative if you work in isolation. Rather than allowing employees to work in their silos, create a culture where employees collaboratively work on projects. Additionally, when it comes to making decisions, organize discussions with appropriate teams, receive suggestions, and move forward with mutually agreed upon goals and timelines. There will be times when you’ll need to put your foot down and instruct your team to work based on your expectations, but in the long run, a collaborative effort will help employees feel empowered and develop good critical thinking skills.

Develop a Culture of Innovation

Managers often want employees to come up with creative solutions to business problems, however, their imagination is stunted due to traditional top-down structures of communication. If employees are hesitant of presenting ideas due to the fear of being ridiculed or judged, it is bound to impair the success of your business. To overcome such situations, practice an open-door policy, i.e. encourage employees to connect with their managers or you directly with ideas or concerns. To make this system successful, it’s important to:

Be receptive to new ideas which could alter your current business practices.

Train managers across all departments to develop the same attitude as well.

This approach will help you gauge how well your business is doing in terms of collaboration. If employees seem unaware of the progress of other departments, it points towards the need for stronger communication. Similarly, if you realize you’re out of touch with updates team members are providing on projects, it’s time to start actively communicating with your employees more often.

Encourage Cross-Department Collaborations

A common problem faced by businesses is poor cross-department communication. For example, let’s say the product team launches a new service on the platform to attract more customers. But, as the marketing team was not aware of the launch, there was no promotional activity and the project eventually was considered a failure. Not only do such situations lead to wastage of precious time, money, and resources, but can also lead to a business going under if it occurred consistently.

As reported by Idealist, an effective way to overcome this problem is to create cross-departmental teams, i.e. choosing representatives from each department to work on the project. As all members will be mutually dependent on the other to achieve goals, it’ll encourage communication and lead to everyone being on the same page.

Adopt the Right Technology

Whether you have 10 employees or 100, it is not possible to keep a check on them individually. Business goals are often dynamic and employees need to be proactive in their approach and adapt quickly to ensure projects are completed on time. Additionally, relaying the required changes verbally or through mails can lead to loss of information and time.

Here’s where process mapping comes into the picture. As reported by Miro, a process map allows you to break down each project into stages which can include required deliverables and project owners. Additionally, as the map can easily be shared with everyone in the organization, it promotes cross-departmental communication by providing complete clarity of expectations and timelines.

Using the process map, managers can track the progress of tasks at any time and make necessary changes as needed. Furthermore, as the owner, it’ll provide you an overview of your business in real-time allowing you to maintain operational efficiency and ensure completion of set goals.

By implementing these strategies in your business, you’re bound to experience an increase in productivity. Additionally, you’ll create a work environment where employees feel heard and respected, making it easier to retain and attract top talent.

Written by Courtney Rosenfeld

Entrepreneurs Should Be Utilizing These Leading Business Methods

January 23, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Running a small business comes with a lot of responsibilities, but it’s important not to overlook the details. The way you treat your employees, solve problems, and handle vendor relations is just as important as the way you take care of your business’s finances, marketing, or customers. Keep in mind that you’re not in this alone; millions of entrepreneurs are taking the initiative to update their business applications and ensure they’re on the right track. Here are a few tips on how to build better business practices for your company.

Update your website

One major aspect of your business that should be given attention to is the website. It’s not enough to make it easy to navigate or to fill it with product and information; you also need to be thoughtful with the execution and ensure that the site is accessible to people of all abilities and well-designed. The good news is, you don’t have to take care of it yourself. You can find a qualified, professional web developer via a job site, where you can read reviews and figure out the fees and delivery time before you hire.

Boost your communication

Communicating with your customers and clients is essential, but it’s just as important to make sure you know how to talk to your employees, vendors, and anyone else your business relies on. Many entrepreneurs tend to multitask, but this can provide distractions that keep you from listening to the people around you. Utilize technology for communication, but don’t rely on it solely. Maintaining in-person meetings or even video calls can help eliminate misunderstandings and mistakes, as can responding to problems or conflicts right away rather than pushing them aside to focus on other things.

It’s crucial to your business’s success that you fully understand your cash flow and have a full understanding of how much money is coming and going out. When you have visibility on your cash flow, you’ll be able to make more accurate estimates about future income. It’s also essential that you understand any liabilities and how much debt you owe. Fortunately, Plaid’s API credit loan tool allows you to retrieve up-to-date information on all your liabilities and loans.

Look for opportunities for growth

Good communication skills are just one area where you can learn and grow as a business owner. It’s important to look for opportunities that will allow you to tackle new challenges or simply become more educated about the field you’re in. It’s also a good idea to take the initiative to update your knowledge of the legalities and regulations surrounding your small business and keep an eye on the latest tech so you’ll always have access to tools and resources that can boost your sales. This might include things like customer relationship management software, which can help build customer loyalty.

Innovate

Growth comes in many forms, and it’s important to keep your employees in mind as you move your business into the future. How will you support them and keep fresh ideas flowing? There are endless possibilities, from providing assistance with childcare in order to reduce their stress to offering a relaxed atmosphere in the office where everyone is free to be creative. Your business doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s, and there is real power in knowing you can provide a supportive environment and work culture for your team.

Figuring out the best practices for your company can take some time, but you can always ask for input from your employees. Work together to find ways to build your brand and grow your ideas in order to secure the future of your business.

Written by Marjorie Jones