Thomas, Author at Successful Blog Page

Build Mobility for Your Business

December 22, 2016 by Thomas

As 2016 nears its close, what sights do you have set on the New Year, allowing you to take your business to new heights?

For some business owners, a new year can mean many new twists and turns. Others, meantime, will play things closer to the vest, looking to not deviate too far from what they have done over the last 12 months.

That said having a business that is not weak when it comes to technology is crucial, especially in a business world where tech is seemingly always playing a part.

So, are you ready to build more mobility for your business as 2017 unfolds?

Where Do You Start?

In the event you feel the need to put more mobility into your business, where do you start?

It is typically best to begin by assessing where your needs are most prevalent.

Are you a business that is behind the curve when it comes to technology? If so, why is that the case?

For some business owners, it comes down to embracing technology, not fearing it for one reason or another.

With the right technology on your side, your business can do myriad of things. Most notably, you can meet the demands of many customers, many of whom are big on technology.

That said does your business have an app? If the answer is no, 2017 would be a great time to come up with one.

If you are wondering about how to make an app, it actually isn’t as hard as one might think.

Whether you make the app in-house or outsource such needs, having that app ready to do business is where you need to get to.

In the event you decide to stay in-house in your efforts to make an app, you may have already hired someone (or more than one individual) more than capable of doing it.

Should you need to go outside for such help, you are best-served by doing some homework, seeing which companies (or even individuals) are qualified to put an app together for you.

Among the areas to look at:

How long have they been designing apps?
What are the approximate costs for them to design your app?
What kind of guarantees will they provide so that you truly get what you pay for (and need)?
Will they be available whenever you need them to answer pertinent questions and/or fix any problems your app presents you with?

Once you have the design of your app going, you can then focus on where your app is destined to take you.

Putting Your App to Work

So that you are able to truly understand how a mobile app can catapult your business forward in 2017 and beyond, keep these factors in mind:

Numbers – First and foremost, more and more consumers these days are using technology to not only shop for goods and services, but ultimately purchase them. As a result, you’re literally going to be left behind if you do not fully embrace technology. Consumers will also look at your business with more respect when you have your own app, knowing you are staying up to date with the times;
Speed – While there are still some businesses out there that avoid technology as much as possible (they seem to become fewer and fewer by the year), many companies love the speed with which technology can bring them together with consumers. That said see how having an app changes the fortunes of your business in many cases. With a successful mobile app in play, you can be in contact literally instantly with many consumers, giving you an opportunity to beat the competition to the punch.

Once you have a handle on how you will build your app, be prepared to move forward with marketing and using it when ready.

In the end, the app will build mobility for your business, something that ultimately should translate into more dollars and cents.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

4 Tips to Attract the Best Employees

December 16, 2016 by Thomas

In running your business, are you doing everything conceivable in order to attract the best employees?

As the New Year draws ever closer, now would be a good time to assess how you are going about bringing in new talent.

Keep in mind that hiring such talent is not simply the result of placing a help wanted advertisement online and/or in the newspaper.

Not only do you have to get qualified candidates through the door for the interview process, but you then have to determine which one or ones are best positioned to help your business moving forward. As you might imagine, there are no 100 percent guarantees when you hire someone. They could be one of the best workers ever to come through your doors or one of the biggest mistakes you will end up making.

That said do you know how best to go about attracting the top employees?

Incentives Can Go a Long Way

So that you are able to have the best odds of bringing in and keeping to-flight employees, remember these four tips:

Workplace – First and foremost, do you have a workplace environment that is second-to-none? For many workers in today’s workplace, having a place to call home for many years is not the norm. In many cases, employees will use one job to eventually get to another one. In doing so, they may turn out to be great workers in their time at a place, though they could also turn out to be real duds. By offering a workplace environment that is inclusive and makes people feel welcome, you stand a better chance of getting solid employees, employees willing to go the extra mile for you and ultimately stick around;
Incentives – Offering your employees incentives will be a great means to keep them around, not to mention make sure they are happy during their time with you. For example, solid group benefits for employees are a great place to start. Given how expensive medical insurance is becoming for many individuals these days, paying for a sizable portion of their medical needs oftentimes proves a big help for both you and the employee. If you’re worried about the costs becoming too astronomical for you, shop around for the best medical plans out there. In doing so, you can oftentimes find a plan that is financially cost-effective for you when all is said and done. Other incentives include not only increases in salary over time, but also the ability to grow within the company (see more below).

Don’t Overlook Growth Importance

Growth – When it comes to growth, many workers will state that having a chance to climb up the corporate ladder is important to them. Without those opportunities for growth, some employees will feel like they are simply going through the motions each day, something that is a problem for you and your customers. Be sure to make growth opportunities one of your key offerings when sitting down and interviewing candidates;
Honesty – Lastly, don’t you like it when employees are honest with you? Assuming the answer is yes, you need to return that ounce of respect. If you don’t, you can lose people (both figuratively and literally) before you know it. Be honest with workers when there are problems, be they with the individuals themselves or the company in general. If you see cutbacks coming down the road, don’t wait until the last minute to inform those impacted by them. Also speak honestly in grading one’s performance level. If you’re not honest with them, you hurt both them and your business overall.

As a business owner, how do you go about attracting the best employees to keep your company churning along?

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Keep Your Eyes Focused on Global Expansion

December 2, 2016 by Thomas

With the recent American presidential election in the books (or seemingly so despite some recount efforts), many U.S. business owners will have a keen eye on where President-Elect Donald Trump takes things in 2017 and beyond.

Will there be opportunities for some U.S. companies to eye new business around the world under Trump’s leadership? Will some foreign companies be looking to partner with American companies on global projects? Lastly, will the dollar find strength worldwide with a new leader in the White House?

What seems like so many questions and so few answers right now is exactly the case.

If your American business is thinking about global expansion, would the next year or two be the time to go for it?

Knowing When to Pull the Trigger

So that you are better suited to know when to consider expanding worldwide, keep your eyes on the following items:

Conditions on the ground – First and foremost, know the conditions in any country you consider doing business in. What are the economics in that area? Are there any political issues now or down the road that could impact businesses there? Have companies been leaving in droves or coming in droves? Knowing the metrics involved in any area you may want to expand to is crucial, especially for your financial well-being;
Are you ready to expand? Along with the conditions on the ground globally, you need to know if you and your brand are ready at this time to expand. Although that may seem like a difficult proposition to gauge at times, it is nonetheless an important one. If you are leaning towards global expansion to Dubai, Shanghai, Brazil, Russia, China etc. it is important to be ready when you actually pull the trigger on such moves. This means not only having the financial ability for such a move, but also being able to market and sell your brand overseas. If you are a little behind the eight ball when it comes to marketing, advertising, search engine optimization (SEO) etc. be sure to get those matters worked out before any possible expansion. The SEO matter is especially important due to the fact millions and millions of consumers turn to company websites and social media pages for information. If you are not meeting consumer needs in such areas, your brand and ultimately your wallet or purse will suffer for it. Reaching out to a SEO company in Dubai or similar business can put you on the right track for both website and overall business growth;
Necessary manpower – Finally, if expansion possibilities are on the horizon for you, do you have the manpower to push forward with them? Even though many companies in recent years have gone to more automation in handling daily business tasks, you can never truly replace the needed human element. As a result, making sure you have enough hands available to meet the needs of consumers is critical. If you’re an American business opening new offices overseas, you may very well end up hiring all locals to staff the places. Among the advantages in doing so is locals know the culture and speak the language of that given country and/or region.

Only Expand When Absolutely Sure the Time Has Come

As you ponder the possibilities of global expansion in 2017, make sure to give yourself as much information as possible.

In terms of getting that data and properly analyzing it, you should be sure of the following:

Having updated metrics with which to work with – How a country or countries did financially and politically even six months ago could have changed rather quickly up to now. If you have contacts on the ground, even better;
Having a website that continues to draw traffic – If your website is continuing to grow in terms of traffic (especially overseas traffic), study that data. It can tell you a number of things about potential for overseas growth. Use your website analytics to help forecast if moving to one or a number of places makes sense financially;
Having your brand front and center – Lastly, even though you want as much information about possible overseas expansion, you also want to give consumers (current and potential customers) reason to want to do business with you if you expand. By using blog content, press releases, videos, social media and more, you can do just that. Spreading the message when you are ready to expand is critical to successfully achieving such growth.

As an American business owner, when will you decide it is time to expand your boundaries?

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and marketing topics on the web.

Get More Social in 2017

November 30, 2016 by Thomas

What would you say about your company’s social media efforts up to now?

If they have been helping you land new business, by all means keep up the efforts.

On the flip side, if your social media efforts have been less than stellar, do you plan to change course in the New Year?

Being a social media dynamo in today’s business world is nothing short of a necessity.

If your business is pushing itself on social media, it stands a good chance of getting noticed. If it is doing little or no social media promotions, the overall results for your brand can be damaging.

With that being the case, do you plan to get more social in 2017?

Social Plans for the New Year

Given there are many benefits and advantages of using social media, are you taking advantage of any and/or all of them?

For starters, social media gives you an opportunity to engage with consumers, something all businesses should jump on.

In today’s business world, more and more companies are dealing remotely with customers.

As more walk-in types of businesses become harder to find, consumers are oftentimes having to deal with automation, computers, and of course ordering goods and services online. With less of a one-on-one touch, businesses and consumers can meet in the world of social media.

By engaging with current and prospective customers on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (there are more out there to look at), you can get the pulse of what people are saying about your brand. You can also help those in need of information and/or solving issues when it comes to your brand or industry.

With that in mind, is it time you put more effort into social media heading into 2017?

If the answer to that question is yes, here are a few pointers to help you:

Mission – For starters, clearly define what your mission is with social media. Is it to engage with consumers? Are you only interested in having a social presence because the competition does? Does social media seem like a necessity to keep in touch with the consumer world, seeing what it is saying about your brand? Clearly defining your reasoning for being social in the first place is where you need to begin;
Efforts – If you’re a small business, you may feel you don’t have the time and/or resources to devote to social media. That line of thinking can prove very detrimental, so try and avoid it at all costs. Even if you have to outsource your social media efforts to make them work, do it. Having social experts manning your social networking needs is perfectly fine; though make sure you hire someone (or a company) with social media experience. There is much more than just posting a few messages each day or week. You should track and analyze (see more below) where you’re doing well and not so well on various social sites. Also look to see what times prove most opportune to engage in social media.

Always Stay Positive

Engagement – Although it can prove tempting to respond in a negative manner to consumer comments on your social pages, don’t do it. Given your online reputation goes a long way in determining how much business you ultimately get, coming across as juvenile and/or nasty in social interactions is bad. For starters, it makes consumers wonder if you truly care about them. Secondly, it gives your competition an opportunity to seize upon, painting you and your brand in a bad light. Find a way to make a negative social interaction turn positive for your business;
Results – Last but not least, be sure to gather and understand the results you are getting with social media. To simply post blindly and not know if you’re making inroads or not is not productive. Also use your social sites to survey consumers on different aspects of your business. What do they like? What don’t they like? Are there practices you need to do more of (or for the first time) that you are not presently doing? Lastly, should you be focusing on one or more social sites to get the best results? Knowing where to zero-in on instead of spinning your wheels will benefit you and consumers at the end of the day.

If social media has been a bit of a foreign concept to you up to this point, will that change in 2017?

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Is Your Business as Productive as It Should Be?

November 25, 2016 by Thomas

If your business isn’t as productive as it should be, can you put your finger on the reason or reasons why?

For too many business owners, that problem is one that can ultimately cost them more than just money. It can ultimately lead to hanging a closed sign on the front door permanently.

So, how productive would you say your business is these days?

Being productive doesn’t just mean churning out products and/or services.

It also means giving your customers the best service possible, putting your employees in position to succeed, and showing investors (if applicable) why they should continue to support you (not to mention invest in you).

With that being the case, how productive is your business as you take it into 2017?

Business Productivity Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

In order for your business to keep productivity as a main staple, keep these pointers in mind:

Customer service – First and foremost, is your customer service as strong as it should be? Even if your products and/or services are top-notch, you can’t overlook the importance of customer service. When it comes to customer service, you have to always be better than your nearest competition. Keep in mind that customers today typically have numerous options when it comes to shopping; so many times you are not the only game in town. In order for you to stand out from the crowded field, your customer service efforts must resonate with customers. Go above and beyond the simple customer service initiatives, allowing you and your brand to grab and keep their attention;
Employee tools – Unless you are running a one-person show, you rely on your employees’ day in and day out to deliver for you. As such, it is imperative that they have all the resources necessary to be successful. From the latest in technology to educating them on how best to market and network in and out of your business, give them what they need. If that means taking a little extra time to find the best tools and/or spend a little more in money, certainly consider doing it. Whether their needs involve audio dictation for your business or countless other necessities that make time management more effective (see more below), give your workers as much assistance as they require. Remember, the goal when all is said and done is to give your customers more for less. When you allow your employees to get more done in a shorter amount of time, it is a win-win for both you and those doing business with you.

Time Management Can’t Be Overlooked

Time management – When it comes to running a productive business, time management is a huge factor. Stop for a moment to think about you and your customer needs when you play the role of consumer. The last thing you want is to be kept waiting for products and/or services. When left to do so, you might simply walk away, never to come back to that business ever again. The same oftentimes holds true for those consumers doing business with you. Most consumers expect to be waited on in a timely manner, along with that time being used wisely. If your time management efforts are coming up a little short, work on improving them sooner rather than later;
Customer feedback – Finally, do you truly listen to your customers? If the answer is yes, that is definitely something to be proud of. Unfortunately, too many businesses turn a deaf ear to those they are supposed to be taking care of. As a result, they can oftentimes end up losing those customers after a short period of time. Make sure you try and answer your customers’ questions whenever and wherever possible. If this means doing occasional surveys, do just that. In many cases, providing a little incentive (discounts etc. on products and/or services) will prod customers to take a few minutes to answer your questions.

When all is said and done, business productivity is essential to your company’s success.

Stop and see if you’re truly being as productive as possible as a business.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Are You Clicking with Your Online Clientele?

November 23, 2016 by Thomas

While there are some consumers willing to do anything and everything it takes to avoid the Internet, many individuals simply couldn’t do without it.

Even though that latter group doesn’t necessarily live on the worldwide web 24/7, many of them do use it regularly each and every week. While some use it mostly for entertainment purposes, many others utilize it for browsing and ultimately purchasing goods and services.

In the event you are a business owner looking to attract more customers (what business owner wouldn’t be?), the Internet is one of if not your best resources.

If you have not been putting the worldwide web to use as of late in attracting more business, definitely give that a second thought as you head into 2017.

Using the Internet to Your Advantage

While there are myriad of ways in which you can put the Internet to work for your brand, here are some ways to best click with clientele (both current and prospective):

Blog – If you do not have (or are basically not using) a blog to reach consumers, that should definitely change. Your blog is not only a great marketing tool, but it is all but free to use. Unless you are paying professionals to write copy for your blog, you can basically start and market a blog at no cost to you or your business. Even though you do not need daily blog posts, be sure to keep the blog as fresh and informative as possible, giving consumers a reason to view it. This will also help you stay relevant with search engines, especially Google;
Mobile app – Do you have a mobile app? If not, this is another resource that your business should not be without. Do your research regarding the different app development companies out there, seeing which one may best suit your mobile app needs. With the right app in your corner, your mobile marketing options can soar over time, something that any business owner will be more than happy to have happen;
Social media – Just how social are you online? With the right social media plan in place, you can take your business to new heights. Just as with a blog, you do not need to be on social media 24/7, but you can’t do it only on occasion, figuring a little here and a little there will get it done. Not only is social media good for promoting your brand, but it gives you a window into what consumers are saying about both your company and competition. Lastly, social media allows you to get in touch with consumers whenever and wherever you want. That flexibility is like having a marketing program that is 24/7/365.

Selling Products and Services

Online store – If you haven’t thought about an online store up to this point and time, reconsider that in 2017. With an online store, you can sell goods and services 24/7/365. In doing so, you can see your revenue stream increase on a regular basis. If you do go with an online store, make sure it works from start to finish. The last thing you want is having frustrated consumers get stopped at checkout etc. In the event this happens, they may very well not return;
Website – Last but certainly not least, how beneficial is your website to those consumers looking to visit and use it? Just having a website is not enough in today’s digital age. Make sure your site is as beneficial as possible to current and prospective clients. Reviewing your site regularly will help you work out and remove any kinks etc. Remember, your site wants to rank as high as possible on Google and other search engines, so it needs to be clicking on all cylinders in order to draw consumers to it.

If you have not been clicking with online clientele up to this point, a New Year starting soon is a perfect opportunity to change things.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.