Successful Blog

5 Tips to Hiring the Best Employees

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Woman Signing A ContractAs an employer, do you feel like you are hiring the most qualified employees out there?

For many business owners, they will likely say yes to that question. Others, however, may feel like they do not always get the best and brightest talent.

In some cases, they may end up essentially getting someone in to keep a seat warm for a few months, only to have that person move on (be it to another job of their choosing or being let go).

While there is no crystal ball you can use to make sure you get only the best hires, there are some steps you can take to better guarantee your chances.

The most important item to remember is that your hiring choices do in fact reflect back on you. If you make great hires, those under your wing will look at your decision process as being solid. On the other hand, a number of bad decision choices, some under you may question your leadership abilities.

When all is said and done, taking the time in making the right hires is as an important a task as you will have running a company.

Making the Right Choices

So that you can make the right hiring choices more times than not, here are five tips to remember:

  1. Research – Above all else, make sure you (or your HR department, recruiter etc.) put some time and effort into researching all prospective employees. The research is actually made easier these days, especially with all the information one can find on the Internet. Part of that research is remembering that employers should use background checks. By using such checks, you can get to know a lot of background about an individual before they ever set foot in your office or elsewhere for an interview. That information can also help in weeding out bad candidates from those deserving of an interview;
  2. Social media – With millions of people on social media, you’re more than likely to find some of your prospective job candidates active there. As a result, you can get a glimpse into their lives, be it on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram etc. While their social activities are their personal matters, coming across questionable posts and/or images may lead you to think twice about hiring them. Remember to keep the posts in context, knowing that such posts do not necessarily mean they are bad candidates.

Only the Motivated Need Apply

  1. Motivation or lack thereof – Some candidates will have overwhelming interest in your openings, others not so much. Even a short phone interview can prove an interesting nugget. If someone seems to be less than enthusiastic about the opening, are they still worth bringing in for a sit-down interview? Use your intuition to determine if someone is truly interested in the job or just sending out resumes on the fly;
  2. Personalities matter – Most employers will tell you that team chemistry is a must in their offices. The lack of teamwork (and personalities that can co-exist) can prove detrimental to any office. That said it can be hard to gauge personalities from just a short sit-down interview and/or phone call. Introducing prospective candidates to those they’d be working with is not a bad idea. Such short introductions allows you to see how they mingle with others, along with giving your current staff a chance to provide some feedback;
  3. Making them want to work for you – Finally, it only stands to reason that a good job opening will attract good prospective employees. When you have a company that people want to work for, you usually avoid having to interview (maybe even hire) individuals not up to par. By offering a competitive salary, reasonable health benefits, along with a good working environment, you should get some outstanding resumes.

When the time comes to hire new employees, will you bring on only the best?

As an employer, what tips do you have for others running companies as they prepare to hire?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web. Part 2 (how job applicants can improve their chances of landing a position) runs on Friday, Oct. 21.

5 Things Home Business Owners Must Have

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Cup Coffee Newspaper Tablet Hands PhoneRunning a home business can be one of the most prosperous activities one chooses in life.

The idea of being independent of an employer, the ability to set one’s own schedule, avoiding long commutes to and from work, those are but a few of the different perks of working from home. With those perks do come some challenges, challenges that can get the best of an individual if they are not careful.

In order to make the home business a success, one must make sure they have all the proper tools and resources at their disposal.

So, if you’re running a business out of your home, how prepared are you for the daily tasks that come your way?

Speed Ahead with the Proper Tools and Resources

If your home business seems to be struggling, is it because you do not have all the tools and resources at your ready? In the event that’s the case, use the remaining weeks of 2016 as an opportunity to reorganize your business, allowing you to be ready to go for 2017.

Among the 5 items you should definitely have:

  1. Proper Internet – Can you imagine trying to run a home business with dial-up Internet service? Well, countless people did that for a number of years until technology made high-speed Internet for home an option. With that option in your home, you can not only work with clients at a much faster pace, but you can also order supplies, handle your accounting needs, research trends in the industry you work in and much more. If your current Internet service provider is leaving you falling asleep at the wheel (your computer), search for a provider where high-speed Internet and all it offers is a priority;
  2. Accounting software – Unlike a corporate job where you can count on your employer to pay you (typically ever two weeks or once a month), being your own boss also means running the accounting department. As a result, you must have top-notch accounting software at your disposal. This is crucial for not only invoicing clients but also for keeping tabs on your expenses (ordering supplies, doing year-end taxes etc.). Try out a number of different software products until you find the one that will best suit your needs;
  3. Headsets – Even if you don’t have kids or animals in the home, it can be rather easy to become distracted while running your business. Everything from the neighbors to nearby traffic (depending of course where you live) can get to you. Make sure you have the right headset to focus on your work, specifically when talking to clients. Not only will it keep you calmer, it allows you to be more professional when talking business with others on the phone or computer;
  4. Business cards – Although many businesses (including a number of home business owners) have gotten away from the traditional business card, don’t take the bait and make the same mistake. You’re best suited to buy business cards in bulk, thereby avoiding having to place orders over and over again. Use the cards at each and every opportunity you get, notably if attending trade shows, local fundraisers in the community etc. That little card could end up turning into one of your most beneficial resources when all is said and done;
  5. Mobile devices – Whether it is a simple cell phone or a mobile tablet, much of today’s business is done over the Internet. That being the case, make sure you are properly outfitted with the best mobile devices when away from home. No, you don’t want to spend what little vacation time you have working, but having the right mobile resources when away from home is important. If there is an “emergency” so to speak with a client, you can check on it from anywhere and hopefully resolve the problem. If you’re running an online store etc. for your home business, make sure it is optimized to meet consumer needs. Those needs are more and more consumers are shopping and ultimately buying goods and services on the run. If you can’t meet their needs, you can all but be guaranteed another home business owner will.

Even if your home business is proceeding along with no major red flags to see, take some time to review your tools and resources.

You might just find that one or more things are in fact lacking, items that could mean the difference between great business and so-so business.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Marketing Products and Services That Involve Extra Effort

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Think Analyze Evaluate Assess 3d Words beside a thinking personWhether you simply market the product or service and/or you are the owner, it is important that you understand your marketing audience. One of the most critical reasons for this is due to some products or services getting a little more scrutiny at times than others.

If you find yourself having to market products or services that garner a little additional attention than most others, what is your strategy? Do you even have a strategy in place? If not, it would behoove you to take the added time needed to craft a sound strategy. Doing so will make it easier to get your product or service to market. As a result, you will see your revenue stream (or the stream of those you represent) improve too.

That said what extra efforts are you putting into marketing certain products and services to get them sold?

Use Myriad of Marketing Maneuvers

So that you can be a winner with any and all marketing products and services you put out there, the key is leaving no stone unturned.

For instance, are you marketing medical marijuana to the masses? While medical marijuana has gotten notable approval in many corners of the country, some feel it is a prelude to abusing marijuana and potentially other drugs. As a marketer for any companies backing medical marijuana, how do you put your message out there in a positive manner?

For starters, if you are touting the positive results of one getting a marijuana card online, use examples of individuals battling health problems to have benefitted from getting the drug.

Such examples can be shown in your blog posts or even videos on your website.

As an example, some testimonial videos from men and women having used medical marijuana to their benefit in fighting cancer or other diseases can do wonders. It not only sends a message of success with the product, but it gives others in that position hope.

With your blog posts, talk about not only some individual examples of medical marijuana success, but also trends in the overall marijuana industry.

Get Credible People Backing Your Marketing

One of the best groups to have backing your marketing initiative would be those in the medical community, notably doctors.

Countless doctors have seen first-hand how medical marijuana can give hope to those battling illnesses, diseases, pain and more. As a result, it is not uncommon these days to hear more and more physicians backing medical marijuana.

As part of your marketing initiatives, using some information from said doctors would help back your cause. In many cases, people are more apt to get behind something when credible individuals say they support it.

Gambling with Marketing Initiatives

Another example would be gambling.

For decades, there have been supporters and non-supporters behind the idea of not only casino gambling, but also online gambling. As a result, millions and millions of dollars’ worth of marketing (for and against) have been spent on gambling ads and more.

If you back gambling, your marketing initiatives would want to show how the proceeds from gambling go to help residents of the respective states (senior citizens, children when it comes to schooling, public transportation etc.). If you are against gambling, your marketing efforts are typically directed at showing how some people can lose everything. While there are many responsible gamblers out there, some do not know when to call it quits. As a result, they can end up losing pretty much everything when all is said and done.

As you can see, marketing some products and services can at times prove challenging, but that is why having a sound strategy is so important.

In being a marketer, how do you go about marketing certain products and/or services that some individuals and/or groups may be against?

With marketing being such an important cog in the business machine, taking that extra time and effort in some cases can make all the difference.

Photo by BigStockPhoto.com

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

Does Your Brand Get the Attention It Deserves?

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Top Performers written on a wooden cube in a office deskWhat exactly are you doing on a regular basis to give your brand the attention it needs to thrive?

Unfortunately, some business owners are doing next to nothing, leaving their brands dangling in the wind. In doing so, they are missing out on golden opportunities to get their brands noticed, notice that can mean the difference between a good financial month and a mediocre one at best.

That said it is important that you review any and all promotions you are doing, see what is working and what is gaining little or zero traction.

At the end of the day, brand promotion is essential to a healthy business.

Use Myriad of Brand Promotions Regularly

When attempting to promote your brand, you should remember the following tips:

  1. Targeted audience – Where exactly are you looking to have your brand heard? Depending on the size of your business, you may be limited in the scope of how much brand promoting you are able to do. If this describes your business, be sure to maximize your brand promotion efforts and dollars. This means doing the needed research to you see just exactly those making up your audience. Are they young or old? Do they have notable or modest incomes? Will they typically shop in-person or online? These are just some of the questions you should be able to answer (at least to some degree) about your customers. If you can’t, start taking time to delve into their interests, with surveys/online questionnaires etc. a good way to start;
  2. Targeted marketing – Knowing the audience you have makes it easier to market, though you can still market outside your targeted audience, knowing that you may land some new customers along the way. As part of your marketing efforts, make sure you focus on items like your blog, social media, videos and podcasts etc. When using one and all of those items in promoting your brand, make sure you essentially put on a happy face. This means any and all imagery you use is positive, shying away from any negative vibes. Many consumers lead busy lives, some of which can be downright tiring and even negative. As a result, putting a positive spin on your brand gives you a better chance of making a sale when all is said and done;
  3. Targeted social media – If you haven’t been taking advantage of social media up to now, why is that? Social networking can do wonders for your brand, all the while really costing you nothing other than time and effort. With that in mind, make a concentrated effort to use social media on a daily basis. Among the advantages of social media would be promoting your blog articles on a variety of social sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter etc.), getting valuable consumer feedback when they turn to social networking to discuss any concerns etc. with products and/or services, and the opportunity to see what the competition is doing among other things;
  4. Targeted growth – Finally, you need to determine how quickly or slowly you want your brand to grow. In some cases, you can indeed grow too quickly, putting you under the gun in terms of resources and finances. On the other hand, not recognizing the opportune time to grow your business can lead to setbacks too. With that being said, it is important that you recognize not only the trends going on in your particular industry, but also look to see what the competition is doing on a regular basis. This will allow you to have a better handle on when growth is necessary and when you need to apply the brakes to such ideas.

For your brand to succeed, you need myriad of things in play, so don’t turn a blind eye to all of them.

In today’s digital age, so much more of what one does to successfully run a business is determined by what they do online.

For better or worse, things are not going to change; in fact, the online demands are only likely to accelerate in the years to come.

That said will your brand get the attention it deserves?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

What Types of Resumes Catch Your Eyes?

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Man and woman at workMaking sure you get the best talent to work at your business is not as easy as it may sound to some running companies.

For starters, you typically have to wade through a long pile of resumes, some of which should stand out more than others.

Part of the challenge in hiring the best and brightest for your company is that someone can have a stellar resume and yet have a mediocre personality and vice-versa. The key becomes, how do you know which individuals will bring talent and experience to your company, yet still fit in as a team player when all is said and done?

In order for you to land only the top candidates out there, take some time now to review your hiring procedures especially as this year is winding down. With the New Year not too far around the corner, what better time to review your hiring practices?

Know What You’re Looking for

So that you can improve the chances of landing the best employees the first time around, you have to know exactly what you are searching for in a staff member.

First, where do you rank the varying categories (experience, personality, drive etc.) in terms of importance?

Knowing exactly what you are looking for in a new employee is as crucial as anything else involved in the process.

Typically, resumes that get attention are those that:

  • Offer relevant experience to the job being advertised;
  • Are nicely organized and free of any grammatical errors;
  • Come with a cover letter that clearly expresses why the candidate believes they are the best person suited for the opening.

As you look through the winning resumes that come across your desk or that of your person in charge of HR, it is important to remember that the resume is just one (albeit an important one) piece of the puzzle.

Once it is determined that you want to have a candidate in for an interview (or perhaps over the phone), that is when he or she needs to set themselves apart from the competition.

Among the areas to look for:

  • Someone bringing drive to the interview. Their resumes may be a little short here and there when it comes to relevant experience, but their passion for the job can make up for that shortage;
  • Someone dressing the part. While a candidate doesn’t necessarily need a three-piece suit or a designer dress, he or she does need to present themselves accordingly. Look for those individuals that seem to put some time and effort into their appearance;
  • Someone that has a winning personality. This can be the most difficult trait to identify, especially when you only have them in for a short interview or a couple of interviews. Personalities are crucial to having a strong workplace, one where everyone is willing to be a team player and pitch in as needed. Even though it can be difficult to single out these candidates during interviews, you should grade their personalities just as importantly as you would experience and talent.

So, does it sound like hiring the right person for the right job is more difficult than it truly should be?

When all is said and done, keep in mind that having to retrain folks for the right jobs ultimately ends up costing your business time and money.

Although it may seem time-consuming and even a little frustrating at times to hire the right people for the right positions, taking that needed time is worth it.

In the end, you generally will get someone that is going to not only do a good job, but won’t up and move on at the first opportunity presented them.

As you review resume after resume, remember to find those resumes that not only stand out for one good reason or another, but also those individuals you seemingly couldn’t go wrong with.

Hiring the right people is not an exact science for sure, but it is something that demands your time and attention, especially if you are on a tight budget and can’t afford to be wasting money retraining individuals.

So, what types of resumes catch your eyes?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Have You Truly Secured Your Business?

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Burglar breaking into houseWhether you run a business out of an office space that you rent or own or direct your business from home, you know (at least you should) how important security is.

While cyber-attacks have gotten many of the headlines in recent years, physical break-ins are still as prevalent as ever. If this happens to you, it could turn your business upside down, leaving you in quite a precarious position moving forward.

With that being the case, what are you doing to make sure your business is as physically secure as possible?

From having it properly alarmed to making sure employees (and you for that matter) don’t leave an open invitation for criminals to break-in, you do have a lot of the say in whether or not you become a crime victim.

So, when you take time at the end of the day to think about it, have you truly secured your business?

Stay a Step Ahead of Criminals

In order to best protect your business (in an office or from home), remember these pointers:

  1. Security packages – Perhaps your best line of defense is looking into protection security packages. With such packages protecting a home office or a building where you work out of, you have a much lesser chance of being broken into. Before buying such a package, be sure to do some searching online, along with asking others you know as to which company they put their trust in. One of the first things you want to know about a security company is how long they’ve been in business. A company with a track record of securing both home and business sites is one that should certainly get your attention. Also look into their customer service dealings, making sure they have the best interests of their customers in mind at all times. Finally, while nothing is essentially free in this day and age (other than advice), be sure that you understand all the costs, avoiding any hidden fees etc.
  2. Not asking for trouble – Criminals have minds all their own, some better than others that is. In protecting your business, don’t leave the door open (literally) for them to come in and steal from you. For instance, if you have an office place in a building or even at home for that matter, you may have customers come to visit to purchase products or services, meet with you for appointments, pay you money for work you did for them etc. As a result, make sure you (or a secretary or other employee) doesn’t let people in to wander around until you get to them. It just takes a minute’s time for someone to steal property (including money) from you and your business;
  3. Don’t announce you’re out of town – Another gaffe that business owners need to avoid is announcing to the world that they are out of town for a period of time. This is especially a problem in today’s world given the millions and millions of people using social media. For instance, if you are operating a company out of your home, one where you would typically have a fair amount of money sitting around for when clients come-and-go to do business with you, don’t then go on social media and tell the world that you are closed and out of town for a week’s vacation. If you work out of an office building and close down for a week or so, be sure all is secure before the lights are turned off and the doors locked until you return for business. Lastly, since there is the possibility you will have a cleaning person and/or crews coming in on occasion to clean your office, make sure their credentials are thoroughly reviewed before hiring them.

No matter what part of the country you are in, your business can prove quite vulnerable, be it in an office building or running it from your home.

Do your best to truly secure your business, keeping criminals on the outside looking in at all times.

In return, you will feel more secure at the end of each and every work day.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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