Thomas, Author at Successful Blog Page

Do Your Employees Have Enough Schooling?

February 19, 2016 by Thomas

Whether you have a handful of employees or hundreds of them, making sure they have as much education as necessary to handle their respective job duties is something that should never be taken for granted.

Think about when you started working and before you created your business or purchased it from someone else. How much schooling did you have at either time?

In today’s technologically-driven work world, having workers up to the tasks that you throw at them is more critical than ever.

As a result, there are a number of things you can do as an employer to beef up your employees’ educational portfolios, all the while enjoying the benefits down the road of having more educated workers on your team.

They include:

Needs – First and foremost, look to see what your current and likely pending needs are for your industry and your company in general. Have you looked at a projected growth for your business and market overall? What current economic factors are harbingers for things to come over the next 12 months? Are you forecasting any notable job increases or layoffs in the next year? These should all be areas of interest to you as a business man or woman, having the finger on the pulse of your industry;
Strengths and weaknesses – It should not come as a major surprise that just about all employees have their strengths and weaknesses. Your job as an employer is to bring out the best in your workers and improve their skills where possible. When it comes to the latter, there are educational opportunities that your employees can benefit from. If you have one or more employees working in H.R., sending them to school for additional education in areas of workplace rules and regulations, liabilities that employers can be exposed to, handling the complex world of health insurance etc. are all opportunities where a little more schooling can make a world of difference. As for employee strengths, it never hurts to have the occasional refresher course or two (something that some additional classwork can provide) so that your staff will be as up to speed on possible;
New opportunities – One of the many advantages of the Internet is having access to countless online opportunities, including additional education. If your employees who are yearning for more education can’t attend classes in person due to work schedules, family commitments, long traveling distances, they likely have the option of online studies. Whether it is in accounting and finances, human resources, electrical and computer engineering, marketing or myriad of other subjects, letting employees take online courses to improve their standing with your company is a great idea;
Long-term financial benefits – Yes, contributing towards or even paying the entire bill to have employees get more education now is a costly matter, but the benefits down the road are oftentimes all so worth it. Employees with more educational and job skills are more apt to stay with an employer, especially those companies who treat them well and offer advancement opportunities (see more below). Better educated employees also are better equipped to handle the questions, concerns and even occasional anger of customers. With additional educational and workplace skills, such workers can oftentimes diffuse a situation with a consumer before it gets out of hand;
Higher standing – Last but not least, your company offering additional educational opportunities to its employees will stand out in the crowd. When many people are fighting just to get their hands on low-paying or even minimum wage jobs in today’s challenged economy, the opportunity proves appealing to work at companies where moving up the ladder and the pay scale for that matter is very attractive. Tout the educational opportunities your business offers when marketing your company to prospective employees. This can be done in brochures, email ads, on social media, even in videos. The more the word gets around, the better opportunities your company has to attract the best.

As an employer, all you can do to attain and retain the best employees benefits you, your employees, and your customers, so everyone involved wins.

Use the educational bonus to bring in quality staff who one day have the ability to be even better employees with some additional schooling.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Is Your Data Resonating with Customers?

February 17, 2016 by Thomas

When you’re running a business in today’s fast-paced world, how you use and store company and customer data goes far in determining just how successful your brand will be.

Not only do you need data that is up to date and valuable to both your company and your customers, but it also needs to be protected from the ever-growing number of hackers. With more of these criminals seemingly on the attack these days, companies can never be too careful and shielding themselves and customers from potential breaches.

With that in mind, look at the data you currently store and determine several factors in order to stand out from the competition.

When you have a business data center that provides you with current customer information in an easy-to-access setting, you are equal to or even one step ahead of the competition.

Data Delivers Details

To begin with, make sure everyone associated with your business truly understands why your customer data is so critical to the company’s success.

Remind employees that customer data gives your business:

A better idea of who the customer is;
What their income level is;
A glimpse into the products or services they may be interested in purchasing from you;
What their shopping history is.

With that information in front of you and your team, your company can then proceed with the necessary marketing campaigns to increase sales.

Start by identifying who the customer truly is.

Are they male or female? Are they in their childhood or teen years, 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s or even older? Are they still living at home or are they out on their own? Are they typically purchasing goods and services just for themselves or others?

Customer Incomes Prove Informative

The next area of interest is their projected income level.

Are your customers poor, middle class or doing very well for themselves? Do they have minimal money to spend or can they shop regularly without too many financial restrictions?

For the former group, use the data you have on them and provide them with savings opportunities. Such possibilities include things like rewards cards, coupons, special deals at different times of the years (holidays etc.). While you may think that selling to such consumers at lower prices is not cost-productive to you, these individuals are more likely to keep coming back to you for business, ultimately leading to more sales.

Whether you offer a single product or service or myriad of options, knowing what many of your customers are oftentimes looking for allows you to keep such items well stocked.

For example, if you run a seasonal business, you have to be sure you make up for the slower times of the year.

Trying to sell pool equipment in the wintertime in Buffalo can be quite the challenge. That said it certainly does not mean you have to shut your business down for months at a time until the weather improves.

Survey your customers on what pool or outdoor related items and services they are most interested in. Outdoor pools in colder regions of the country need to be covered in the wintertime, plus you may also have some customers who are fortunate to have indoor pools. Lastly, some or many of your same pool customers could have Jacuzzi’s, something that can be used year-round.

The best way to get such details is by regularly talking to your customers (in-person, over the phone, emails, surveys) etc. and using such data to increase your selling opportunities.

You can also offer them special wintertime deals for the coming pool season, deals that will get them in a buying mood during the slower months.

Know the History

Finally, knowing and understanding customer histories when it comes to browsing and ultimately purchasing is truly valuable.

Face it; many consumers do in fact change their buying habits over time. As a result, you need to be able to adapt to such changes.

While the data you have on customers from the last year or so is certainly valuable, it can’t with 100 percent accuracy pinpoint when and how much of an item or service customers will demand tomorrow, next month, or even next year.

Use the accumulated data as a window in a customer’s buying habits, but always plan on updating it accordingly.

Given the fact that there appears to be no end in sight to the mounds of data out there on consumer buying habits, the key is to make sure you compile it, use it to your advantage, and ultimately make it resonate with customers looking to your brand as the first choice.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Lead When it Comes to a Better Online Presence

February 10, 2016 by Thomas

If you’re looking to generate more leads for your business, a strong online presence is absolutely the way to go.

Most of your customers are online these days, which means the internet is a key communication tool for your business.

But how do you stand out from all the other businesses in your niche? And how do you make sure the people who find you are strong leads and likely to lead to sales?

The answer is to build up your online presence.

Here are four ways you can do just that….

Embrace Social Media

Social media is a must for your business these days.

Your customers are on social media and using it to research brands like yours, so you need to be there too.

To boost your social media presence, you’ll need two things:

Social media listening tools to help you research the best leads for you;
Dynamic content that speaks directly to your customers’ needs.

A strong social media presence will keep your customers engaged with your brand.

By using social listening tools and paying attention to your social media stats, you can make sure that you’re connecting with the best leads for your business.

Publish Regular Fresh Content

As the article “6 Tools to Improve Your Online Presence and Generate Leads” says, publishing regular content to your website or social media profiles is a must.

Regular fresh content will keep your online presence strong and is good for:

Search engines, who like regular and relevant content and will rank you accordingly;
Customers, who will have a reason to keep coming back to your blog, site or social media profiles.

As well as keeping customers interested, regular fresh content can be used for lead generation.

By producing high quality and highly targeted content, you’ll attract customers who are interested in what you do and who are a great match for your business.

Always Capture Leads

If you want your online presence to help with finding and keeping good leads for your business, capturing your leads is a must.

One way to do this is by using lead capture forms, where customers give you their details in return for signing up for a mailing list, giveaway or useful information such as an EBook.

Capturing leads in this way helps you to assess who is interested in your business, and what specifically they are interested in. You can then schedule email messages and even social media posts designed to appeal just to them.

Generate Brand Positivity

Generating brand positivity is a good way to boost your online presence.

That means paying attention to what people are saying about you online and managing your online reputation, so that when people find you, they find a brand that comes with glowing recommendations.

One way to do this is by listening to what people are saying about your brand, and taking steps to manage any negative perceptions.

Has a customer posted on social media about a problem with you? Take steps to fix it and turn a negative into a positive.

Another way to manage your online reputation is by encouraging positive reviews.

Encourage your customers to share their thoughts on review sites such as Google and Yelp.

A dynamic and positive online presence will keep your brand fresh in your customers’ minds and encourage ongoing engagement.

Combine a strong presence with lead finding and capturing activities to make your online presence work hard for your business.

Photo credit: BigStockPhotos.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a variety of topics including social media, how to build customer relationships, content marketing and how to build a strong online reputation.

Your Company’s Data Can’t Be Breached

February 6, 2016 by Thomas

You’ve likely seen the stories in the news in recent years about company’s having their personal and customer data breached.

Whether it is major players like Sony and Target or smaller businesses that you have never heard of before, the financial damages have been staggering at times. Worse yet, a company’s trust with consumers can be severely crippled, leading it to have to try and win back many of those customers.

So, have you taken a look at your Internet security procedures, reviewing where you are strongest and where you need to do some work?

If not, think about how just one data security breach against your company could impact how you go about doing business in 2016 and hopefully beyond.

Security System Reviews

In order to lower the odds of your brand falling victim to a data breach, remember these key tidbits:

Security protection – First and foremost, do you have the proper security system in place to better thwart identity theft thieves? If not, look to see what is available on the market that will best suit your needs. Just as consumers can turn to an ITP Bureau or other such providers who can offer them critical information to protect against identity theft, business owners must do likewise, especially those who run online stores etc. Such a provider has a rating system in place to assess important factors that individuals would take into account when looking for a service to signal warning signs and ultimately thwart identity theft attacks;
Employee awareness – Given the fact those you employ (consider yourself the employee if you run a one-person small business) are your first line of defense against identity theft thieves, it is crucial that those on the frontlines stand guard against any data breach attempts. Yes, identity theft thieves are some of the smartest criminals on the lot, but they can be thwarted with the right security plan. Employees must be aware of and report any suspicious attempts to hack company computers. From questionable emails asking to download attachments to leaving company and customer data exposed in public places when employees might be working in a library, café or while on the road traveling for work, there are myriad of options for hackers to try and break-in to a company’s computer system. It is important that you have the same rigid standards regarding data protection in place for your mobile employees, including those you outsource work to. Whenever any of those employees leave your employ, make sure you change-up username and password entries into your system. While most of those who leave your employ are not ones to worry about, remember, just one identity theft thief can do a world of damage, including those who once might have been on your payroll. Lastly, properly assign customer and company data, so that not all employees have access to the most sensitive items. For example, there is no reason for someone on your marketing team to need access to customer financials, log-ins to customer sites etc. Be sure only those with a need for such data have access to it, along with making sure they do not share it with others in the company;
Are your providers truly secure? – Never overlook the importance of partnering with secure web hosting providers and others in the technology chain of your business. Any third parties you do business with should be required to sign a form indicating they have necessary security in place to oversee your company’s pertinent data. Also look at data encryption, including the idea of encrypting your company’s email when sensitive information is being passed around;
Review and remove – Finally, it is imperative that your company reviews its security procedures and those you do business with on a regular basis. Just like you should be reviewing your company culture from time to time, the same holds true for your company’s security procedures. Search for cracks in the armor, with the plan to fix such holes. Also remove any online data that is no longer of use to your business. This also means properly discarding any and all paper trails as it relates to company and customer data.

With all the different avenues that data breaches can come from, it may seem at times a tad overwhelming for you and your business to stay one step ahead of hackers.

Given all you and your brand stand to lose if a data breach is successfully committed against your business, make sure you’re prepared to stop hackers in their tracks.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Take Your Web Browsing to New and Safe Heights

February 3, 2016 by Thomas

With all the concerns in recent years over website security, you would think more businesses would make it their number one focus.

Sadly, however, there are still too many companies who fail to put the right time and effort into thwarting hackers at the front door of their computer systems.

As a result, these businesses leave themselves open to an attack, an attack which oftentimes has devastating public relations and financial repercussions.

As 2016 enters its second month, is this the year that you and your brand take a stand against hackers? If so, what are some means by which to do just that?

Have a Plan and Execute It

In order for your business to improve its odds of keeping hackers away from your brand, you must have a plan and execute it.

Part of the plan is regularly checking to see where your business might be most vulnerable (your website, in-house computers, social media etc.) and knowing how to limit the odds of being hit.

To start with, having total freedom in web browsing does come with a price, a price that you must be willing to pay.

Look at the size of your company and exactly how many employees (you might be the only member) are actively engaged online on a daily basis. With that, see where the cracks and holes may be, problems that could lead you to being the most vulnerable to hackers.

Among the potential problem areas to explore:

Working with a web hosting company who does not put an emphasis on security;
Allowing employees too much freedom on social media;
Falling victim to scams that compromise your computer network’s integrity.

In looking at just these three potential problems, first know who you are working with.

If your web hosting company is lackadaisical when it comes to protecting your website, it is time to find a new provider.

Ask them if they regularly do security checks to see what the latest tactics hackers are trying to implement. Does the provider also monitor your website on a regular basis, looking for anything out of the ordinary? Finally, what protocols do they have in place in the event your website is hacked? A provider that acts right away instead of when they get around to it is the one you want to opt for.

Next, how much freedom do your workers have when it comes to surfing the web during the business day?

Should Your Business Be More Social?

Some companies allow for a reasonable amount of time on social media and other approved sites, while other businesses all but forbid it.

You have to decide early on if your employees will be allowed certain Internet freedoms in the office or if they will be asked to focus squarely on their jobs. Keep in mind that social media usage by your workers can actually help promote your brand, so don’t be too fast to discount how it can help you.

On the flip side, social media can pose a danger to you and your business when used improperly.

For example, if one or more of your employees are using social media to discuss company operations, client data etc., a hacker can easily manipulate the conversation and gain access to your computer system.

The same holds true if someone with ill intent sends you a job application/resume. They could post a fake social media link on their resume, hoping you or someone in your office will download it. Once that happens, malware could be installed in your system, allowing hackers to gain access to company and/or client data that should never go public.

One final area to look at is the sites you and/or your employees browse.

Some sites may look innocent, but they in fact can be downright dangerous for your computer/s.

If you are the least bit suspicious about a site you or an employee comes across or someone proposing you download an attachment that just doesn’t feel right, plot the safer course and just avoid it.

Building and refining your brand takes time and effort.

Staying one step ahead of hackers should never be something you take lightly, especially in a day and age where the web is full of people with misguided intentions.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

The Business of Helping Former Military Members

January 28, 2016 by Thomas

Retiring from a military position and moving into civilian life can be a challenge.

It’s a big transition, and if a veteran decides to stay in the work force, the question is what is a good career to take a look at?

Because many military personnel retire at a young age, they still want to work.

More and more companies are making it a higher priority to hire military vets; some that are known for doing a strong here are GE, USAA and Verizon.

Home Inspection – An example of a viable option

Some veterans may choose a career that they can do on their own rather than working for a big corporation, and that’s a good option, too.

One career to take a look at surprisingly could be a home inspector.

Here are 4 Reasons Why Home Inspecting is a Great Career Choice for Vets:

Low Startup Cost – You can start with some basic things like a laptop and a clear space to work – which can even be your kitchen table. Many jobs have higher start-up costs, but with home inspection, it’s fairly low. You will have to pay for training and licensing, but that should quickly come back to you;
Low Overhead – Once you’ve got your business going, it won’t cost much to keep it running. You don’t really need an office to pay rent on or anyone else working with you who you’d have to pay. You’re biggest expenses may be keeping your memberships current and paying for tools and mileage;
Education is easy – Licensing is fairly easy and can be flexible. You can do this at your convenience when it makes sense for you and on your own timeline;
Convenience – You can schedule your own hours and take time off when you need it. You can take clients and appointments on as you see fit, and you are the one who can best know what you can handle so you can keep your schedule manageable. You can set your hours and provide the freedom that may work so well for you.

Whether you are looking at a career in a big corporation, a small business or running your own business, you have some great options.

With a military background, you have excellent training and skills at the ready.

Now you can start something new that provides you convenience and satisfaction.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Heather Legg is an independent writer who covers topics related to social media, small business and education.