Successful Blog

Share Your Brand’s Message

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hand-895588_640 (1)When it comes to your brand, would you say successful promotions are the norm?

Unfortunately, many business owners have trouble getting their brand’s message heard. As a result, they do not rise to the top of the charts. In the process, competitors end up passing them by, something that can lead to dire consequences.

So that your brand’s message is heard loud and clear, it is important that you do everything in your power to promote your business.

This means everything from referral marketing to social media and everything in between.

With that being the case, are you properly sharing your brand’s message?

Don’t Be Afraid to Promote

For your brand to get as much attention as possible, start by making sure you have all your bases covered.

The starting point is having a marketing plan in place. Why is a plan so important? Have you ever tried to do anything in general on the fly? As you probably know, it can prove to be a hap-hazard experience at best. When you have a plan in place, your chances for success are much greater.

Some keys to your brand promotions would include referral marketing, social media, videos and podcasts, a killer blog etc. As you can see, there is much to do, but a well-rounded marketing plan typically leads to success.

That said never be afraid to promote your brand. Even if some ideas are outside-the-box, it is better to try and fail. If you do not throw stuff out there to see what sticks, how will you ever know what does and doesn’t work?

Spreading the Word Isn’t Difficult

So that your brand gets as much exposure as possible, remember these tactics:

  1. Referral marketing – More and more companies are seeing how this form of marketing can benefit their revenue streams. Referral marketing for your brand is a matter of getting as many consumers as possible to spread the word about your products and/or services. Give current customers incentives to want to tell their family and friends about your business. From discounts and loyalty programs to excellent customer service, the sky is the limit in what you can do;
  2. Website blog – Your company’s blog is one of your greatest assets, so don’t let it go to waste. You should be putting informative and authoritative copy on the blog regularly, copy that will encourage consumers to do business with you. Your blog copy also needs to be promoted on a regular basis via social media (see more below) and other outlets;
  3. Social media – As mentioned a moment ago, social networking is nothing short of critical in today’s brand promotions. Even if you are only on one social platform for the most part, that is much better than ignoring social media altogether. You are best off by having a presence on multiple social sites, with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat etc. being your best bets these days;
  4. Videos and podcasts – Finally, have you been hesitant to see how videos and podcasts can help promote your brand? If so, you’ve been missing out on some golden opportunities. With videos, you can put visuals behind your written words. Even a short 60-second explainer video will give consumers great knowledge about your brand. Make the videos not only informative, but entertaining to watch. As for podcasts, these have been growing leaps and bounds over the last few years. Best of all, consumers can listen to them whenever and wherever they want.

Where and When Will You Begin?

In order for your brand to catch fire, you need to be multi-dimensional when it comes to promotional efforts.

With 2016 winding down, now would be a great time to start reviewing your marketing initiatives for the New Year.

See what your marketing budget looks like, where you can make inroads with consumers, and where you may have been lacking this year.

In the end, sharing your brand’s message with the world isn’t as hard as you might think.

As a business owner, how are you using referral marketing, your blog, social media and more to be heard?

Photo credit: Pixabay

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

 

 

5 Tips to Getting the Best Job

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Word Tags Circular Wordcloud Of ResumeIn the job market that is latter 2016; many Americans are keeping their fingers crossed for the New Year.

For many, the hope is that 2017 will produce more job opportunities, opportunities that rise above either part-time work or low salaries for full-time work. Either way, 2016 has been a rough year for many individuals either out of work or working several jobs just to make ends meet.

How many of these workers got in the positions they are in today varies.

For some, they’re stuck in low-paying jobs; jobs that at least help keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Others, meantime, can’t get their foot in the door for an interview, this after either being let go via layoffs or firings.

If you find yourself in the position of needing a job (or at least a better one at that), what are you doing to improve your odds?

Review Your Approach to Finding Work

For starters, how you go about getting interviews and ultimately offers is as important as anything else you will do.

While there are no guarantees that a stellar resume and/or a great interview will provide you with an offer, they are critical nonetheless.

That said remember these 5 tips to getting the best job possible:

  1. Resume – First and foremost, how good is your resume? Given how competitive the job market is these days, an average resume just won’t cut it. Although you may think you are a wordsmith extraordinaire, you are better off turning to the pros in putting together this critical document. Take note that great resumes can make the difference when searching for that ideal position. Don’t hesitate for a moment to use a professional resume writing service if that is what it will take to get you noticed;
  2. Interview – Once you get your foot in the door for an interview, you simply can’t blow it. The interview will tell a prospective employer much about you. He or she will not only want to know your background and how it benefits their company, but also how you’d work with others. It sounds like commonsense, but you’d be amazed how many people flunk the part of the interview that involves being on time, dressing appropriately etc. Don’t take any of those important tasks for granted.

How Bad Do You Want the Position?

  1. Motivation – Just how motivated are you for the position you’re interviewing for? While some candidates can pull off the fake smile and/or the fake attitude, many others simply can’t. Go into your interview knowing as much as possible about your prospective employer. Without turning the interview around on them, ask pertinent questions about the position, the company, the staff etc. When someone sees you’re motivated, it tends to rub off positively on you;
  2. Personality – Even though it is great to be motivated about a potential job (you should be), don’t go overboard. Most employers and/or recruiters can see through someone’s fake exterior. While you should definitely show interest in the job and the people working there, don’t lay it on too thickly;
  3. Follow-up – After your interview, be sure to send a thank you note to the employer and/or recruiter. Letting them know (in writing) that you appreciated their time can go a long way. Even if you don’t get the position this time around, another one could open down the road. When an employer sees that you took a few minutes to thank them for having you in, it can separate you from others not choosing to do so.

Finding the right job in today’s world can prove challenging, but would you have it any other way?

Accepting the challenge and meeting it head-on can do wonders for you. If you’re still looking for the right job, don’t give up hope.

Remember…. quitters never win, winners never quit.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

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.

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.