Successful Blog

5 Ways Your Employees Can Be More Productive

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Increasing your business productivity is an excellent way of boosting your profits. But if your employees are lagging, or you’re just not seeing the results you’d like, how do you turn things around?

Here are five ways you can help your employees be more productive — making both them and you happier:

1. Provide comfortable break areas and times – It may seem counterintuitive, but providing a relaxing area for employees to unwind a few times during the day can actually increase the amount of work they get done. People who feel chained to their desks all day can zone out, and their lowered productivity can affect morale, which can turn into a nasty cycle.

Set mandatory break times for all employees (even if they’re not all at the same time). Consider implementing short, office-wide breaks in which everyone gets up once an hour to do a few stretches. This can improve your workers’ physical comfort and give them energy boosts throughout the day.

2. Give them the technology they need to do their jobs well – These days, mobile devices are becoming more and more essential to running a business. If you can’t afford to provide these devices to workers in the office or field who may need them, encourage them to bring their own.

If you choose to let employees work from their own devices, make sure your business data is well protected with strong passwords, time-outs, and other security measures.

3. Provide flexible working options – Whether it’s telecommuting one or more days per week, offering a flexible work schedule, or another accommodation, creating a flexible workspace can have an enormous effect on employee morale and productivity.

Having everyone in the office has its advantages, making collaboration more convenient. But with ever-evolving technology, working from
home is becoming a more feasible and attractive option for many companies.

Worried that productivity will drop if you let employees telecommute? Numerous studies have shown otherwise.

A Stanford University study from February of this year found that in one company, out of 16,000 workers, those who were allowed to work from home showed a 13% performance increase over their office-bound colleagues.

4. Provide regular, constructive feedback – It’s hard to improve in a vacuum. Employees who aren’t sure where they stand, or who have formed inefficient habits, may need some help identifying areas to work on.

Give your employees encouragement for a job well done, or thoughtful advice for how to perform better. Delivering this feedback regularly will help keep everyone on track.

5. Keep meetings short and sweet – Conducting a meeting without an outline or agenda is a recipe for a long, unproductive session.

Instead, write up an agenda and identify someone to lead the meeting and keep conversations on track. You’ll also need someone to take notes to make sure no important points get lost. Keep the meeting focused on important points, and consider issuing status reports and minor updates in a weekly email instead of during meetings.

These are just a few of the ways you can help your employees be more productive and keep your office running smoothly.

Photo credit: techliant.com

About the Author: Freelance blogger Angie Mansfield covers a variety of topics for both individuals and small business owners. Her work addresses such things as health, social media, and how to remove information from online records.

Will Securing Funding for Your Business Venture Be Difficult?

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Among the most frequently asked questions for those interested in starting a business is, “Is it hard to secure funding?”

The answer will depend on a number of factors.

Credit ratings will effect people trying to get a loan. If bad credit is a factor, securing funds will be harder than for someone with a good credit history.

It is harder now than it was before 2008 to secure a loan. Lenders are more stringent with loans and securing credit is harder for those with less than stellar credit ratings.

Family Loans

Loans from family members have started many a successful business.

These loans can often be paid back at a slower rate than with non-family. Relatives aren’t always interested in charging late fees or interest to loans.

This isn’t true for every situation, but for the most part, family loans are the easiest to repay if a business is successful. Most loans of this nature are small, though there have been large loans from wealthy family members. The larger the loan, the more likely the relative is to treat it as a ‘real’ loan.

Full Time Jobs

Quite often the best way to secure funding for a new venture is to make the money yourself.

When you are working and saving money toward your own business you have no loan to repay. This route will typically take much longer than taking out a loan, but the reward is knowing you have no creditors.

Some people that take this route become consultants and work on their product on the side. They develop the product for the people they are offering consulting services and then change their business model at a later date to sell the product they’ve created.

Angel Investors

Angel investors are individuals that offer funding to start ups.

These people are wealthy and invest in new businesses in order to help them grow. While this sounds appealing, most angel investors will expect a return on their investment. This means you must create a product or service that sells well or a company that is good enough to merit another larger company buying it.

Not every new business owner will want to sell what they think of as their ‘baby’, so keep in mind that angel investors look for start ups that will turn a profit through sale of it or many sales of service/product.

Funding Companies

There are companies that work in essence like angel investors.

These companies are seed funders and also venture capitalists. The former offers small amounts to new companies, literally seeding it with capital. Seed companies offer advice to brand new businesses which is a boon to new owners.

Venture capitalists offer large amounts, hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions to new business, but these are better reserved for someone that has started a company in the past with good results.

There are many ways to fund a new business.

With careful consideration choosing the one that is right for your new business will become clear. Consider the stage of planning or start up you are in, how much funding you need, and how far you plan to go.

Photo credit: capitalcabin.com

About the Author: Tina Samuels writes on ways to accept credit cards online, social media, healthcare options, home improvements, and small business solutions.

4 Online Business Ideas that Don’t Require Incorporation

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By Ken Myers

The availability of internet access has minimized the complications that come with starting a traditional business, and it’s easier than ever to provide products and services to the public. Online businesses are subject to many of the regulations and tax laws that storefront businesses abide by, but one main advantage is that there are certain services and products you can deliver without needing to go through the formal process of incorporating. With some business idea lists reaching well over 100, the possibilities are astonishingly numerous; however, we’ve shared four ideas that anyone can do below:

Content Management

Social media marketing and management, copywriting, ghostwriting, technical writing and transcription are just a few types of content management services you can do online. The first step to tackling this career goal is to validate yourself as a professional freelance writer. Businesses and employers who need your writing skills are going to be looking for a polished portfolio and examples of previously published work. The fact that you can work for a number of clients as a sole proprietor or as an independent contractor is what makes this business so attainable. If you were to really take off, you could leverage your services by expanding and outsourcing to other writers for larger projects.

Blogging

One of the most popular and straightforward ways to make money off the internet is through blogging. Even hobby bloggers have started monetizing their blogs. Many bloggers host ads and get paid every time one of their visitors clicks on one. If a blog has an exceptionally high amount of traffic, you can give advertisers the option to place unique ads directly on the blog. Sites like Pay Per Post bridge the gap between bloggers who write for an audience and advertisers who want to reach those readers.

A blogger can also sell products as an affiliate. You can become an affiliate by marketing an eBook or reviewing an online service such as HootSuite or GoToMeeting, and then provide an affiliate link (be sure to properly disclose) that users can click to sign up. If you have a blog with high traffic or you’re interested in starting a niche blog, affiliate marketing can supplement your income. 

Multilevel Marketing

If you’re looking for a business that will make you money and give you the chance to flex your marketing muscles at the same time, then you may want to invest in an MLM, or multilevel marketing company. Amway, ACN, Thirty-One, Organo Gold, Empower Network and Scentsy are among the reputable companies that you could buy into. By signing up as an independent distributor for an MLM, you save on the substantial startup costs that it would normally take to start another business. Also, much of the work has been done for you in an MLM. The most enticing benefit is the residual income that you can earn from commissions, which means you get paid on a recurring basis from a transaction that took place once.

The companies that offer services instead of products make earning residuals incredibly easy. ACN, for instance, offers cell phone and cable packages. Every time that a customer pays a bill, the sales rep who sold that package gets paid time and again. However, the MLM business model is a bit controversial and receives split reviews around the internet community. There are many individuals who see enormous results from their businesses, and there are those who stand on the other end of spectrum, struggling and failing to close enough leads to make their investment worthwhile. If you’re a natural marketer and find a company with a product or service that you believe in, consider giving it a shot. Just do your research first and use your own judgment about whether or not it fits your budget and the time you can dedicate to the business.

eCommerce and Dropshipping

As an alternative to offering creative services, you can sell your own products through your website or another eCommerce platform. Maintaining an online store is not for the faint of heart, though, especially if you plan to operate on a third party platform like Etsy, Amazon or eBay. There will be a steep learning curve because these companies make constant revisions to their websites and procedures. One benefit of using them, however, is that they do much of the marketing for you.

There are other stores for creative products similar to Etsy that feature your products to their viewers. Zazzle, Cafepress and Artfire are among them. These websites will deduct a percentage of your profit, so if you want to retain as much of your earnings as possible then you can always set up your own store. Volusion and BigCommerce are web tools that you can use to construct an online store entirely from scratch. The end result is a site that uniquely fits your own brand and allows customers to check out directly from your website.

Both eCommerce options will require a financial investment. Selling your products will not be a get-rich-quick option. In fact, none of these online business ideas will take off overnight. If you choose a line of work that best fits your interests and lifestyle, though, the overall process will be much more smooth and, hopefully, profitable.

Share Your Thoughts
What is your experience with starting an online business? Do you have any other ideas for attainable business opportunities? If so, share them in the comments!

Author’s Bio: Ken Myers is a father, husband, and entrepreneur. He has combined his passion for helping families find in-home care with his experience to build a business. Learn more about him by visiting @KenneyMyers on Twitter.

Do You Benefit From Offering Your Employees More Education?

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How would you like a more dynamic, skilled workforce without the hassle of taking on new staff?

If your company could benefit from more knowledgeable employees with skills relevant to your niche, it might be time to consider offering your employees tuition assistance.

Many large companies – Apple, McAfee and Starbucks for instance – offer tuition assistance to their employees. You might have some understandable fears about doing so – more on those in a moment – but in fact offering your employees educational opportunities can reap many rewards.

Read on to find out what offering educational assistance can do for you, and how to allay some of your fears.

Who Has Succeeded With Tuition Assistance?

United Technologies Corp (UTC) decided that the best way to attract the employees they needed was to shape their existing workforce through their tuition assistance program.

Employees can gain an Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s, with UTC meeting the costs of tuition, fees and books. In turn, UTC has been rewarded with a more skilled and loyal workforce. Employees who have taken up their tuition assistance program are less likely to leave, and more likely to be promoted.

The Atlanta Police Foundation decided that tuition assistance was the way to go when it saw a need to better equip its staff and officers to cope with a very demanding job.

The Foundation wasn’t happy with the rate of officers leaving the force, and wanted to better retain its staff. By investing in tuition assistance to help officers earn their Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees, the Foundation was able to lower the number of officers leaving by 3%, and was rewarded with a more confident and capable workforce.

What if an Employee Gains More Skills And Leaves?

It’s an understandable fear. What if you invest in your employees education, only to find they take the qualifications you’ve paid for, and go off to greener pastures?

Yet as UTC and the Atlanta Police Foundation show, offering tuition assistance can actually help you retain employees.  It’s a hopeful thought, but of course as a business owner you want to ensure the investment you make in education benefits your company.

So what can you do to keep your newly honed talent in your fold?

* Make it relevant – If you fund educational programs that are relevant to your niche, you are empowering your employees to feel more confident within your field, and your company;

* Set some ground rules – Many employers include clauses such as only offering assistance to those who have been with the company for a certain amount of time, or asking employees to sign a contract saying they will stay for a set amount of  time after graduation;

*Offer opportunities for growth – you wouldn’t give someone the keys to a sports car, but no sports car. Offer your newly qualified employees the chance to grow and be promoted within your company.

How Will Offering Tuition Assistance Benefit the Company?

Tuition assistance offers many benefits for your company. How about:

* More skilled workforce;

* An incentive to stay with your company;

* The chance to find the qualified employees you need from within your own ranks;

* Better soft skills such as time management, teamwork and public speaking;

* Some educational benefits can be deducted for tax purposes;

* Better profile as a company who cares and invests in its employees.

Tuition assistance is a solid investment in your company’s future.

You’ll be equipping your employees with the skills they need to excel in your company, and offering them an incentive to stay and use those skills for your company’s benefit.

As a business owner, what if any educational opportunities do you offer your employees?

Photo credit: nydailynews.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn is an author who writes on subjects as diverse as health, marketing, bachelor degree jobs, and SEO.

6 Advantages “BYOD” Brings to a Business

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By Miles Young

One major trend in business now is BYOD, or “bring your own device.” This basically means that employees are responsible for buying and choosing their mobile device. It allows businesses to save money, while keeping employees happy at the same time.

There are also several other business advantages, such as fewer headaches for the IT department, more employee choice and freedom in their devices and a better connection with today’s consumers. Businesses that are newly introducing BYOD do face some roadblocks, but it is worth the effort once the transition is complete. Take a closer look at the advantages to BYOD and what it could mean for your business.

#1: Your Business Saves Money with BYOD

Successful businesses always look for ways to save money. Reducing monthly spend on employee mobile devices is one of the best and easiest ways to do this. In a true BYOD business environment, employees cover the full cost of their devices, including minutes and data usage. This saves businesses thousands of dollars each year. However, most companies offer incentives to employees through discounts or usage stipends, especially at the beginning of the transition.

Only a few short years ago, employees would have complained a lot about BYOD. However, a recent Good Technology State Report shows that 50% of employees are more than happy to cover the costs. This is for several reasons, but the biggest is that it gives them more freedom to choose their own device and upgrade as desired. Many people are dedicated fans to specific platforms, so this allows them to remain loyal to their favorite brand of device. As more businesses turn to BYOD environments for its cost savings, employees will get more used to the idea.

#2: Employees Can Choose the Device They Like

People get very attached to their mobile phones. As a matter of fact, one Mobile Mindset study showed that 73% of mobile phone users admit they would go into a panic if their phone went missing. This obsession is one reason most employees prefer to choose their own mobile device — they have an intimate relationship with it. Everyone has a different preference over the brand of phone they like and what features are must-haves. Businesses can keep their employees happy by allowing them to choose their own mobile device with a BYOD policy.

#3: Businesses Stay on the Cutting-Edge of Technology

Typical smartphone users want to have the latest and greatest technology. This is a major advantage to businesses because employees usually upgrade to the newest phone as soon as they are eligible for an upgrade. This is especially true if you have a younger workforce. Having technology-savvy employees translates to more efficiency for your business, which is why giving your employees more freedom with BYOD is such a good idea.

Additionally, many businesses have spent a lot of money on creating a mobile infrastructure, such as putting business information in the Cloud so it’s easier for employees to get access to. By allowing employees to choose their own mobile device and other gadgets, it encourages them to use the infrastructure your business has spent so much money to create.

#4: Employees Only Have to Manage One Device

With BYOD initiatives, employees no longer have to worry about carrying separate phones for business and personal use. This was a major hassle for employees in the past, and it often meant missed calls because employees only carried their business phones during business hours. With a BYOD environment, your business will have fewer missed calls because your employees will have fewer gadgets to juggle. Plus, the phone will be with them whether they are working or not.

Managing only one device also increases employee productivity, because they only have to get used to one phone. Every mobile phone works a little differently and there is a learning curve, even for technology savvy employees. If your employees are allowed to choose their own device, they will be more motivated to learn how to use it effectively, which has all sorts of advantages to your business. Increased productivity means more profits for your business.

#5: Your IT Department Has Fewer Headaches

If you don’t have a BYOD policy, your IT department probably spends a lot of time fixing mobile phones and plan issues. With BYOD, employees have to seek help about their phones from their cell phone carriers. This means fewer headaches for your IT department and less wasted time. Of course, your IT department still has to find a way to make sure everyone has good security to protect your business information.

All smartphones today have the basic features businesses need, such as access to the Internet and email alerts. So, there’s no reason a business should have to require all of their employees to use the same device, except for security purposes. Your business can make BYOD recommendations about security, such as requiring all employees to use the RIM platform, but there are also other ways to make sure employees have the proper security on their phones. This includes things like requiring two layers of passwords and encrypting all business information. Security is a major issue for IT departments, but policies can be put in place to protect your business.

#6: Employees Care More for Their Device

Another advantage to BYOD is that employees will take better care of their devices if they are responsible for the costs. Your business won’t have to worry about replacing phones or paying for insurance policies related to gadget use and ownership. This saves money and it also means that your business information will be protected with more care.

According to an ARCchart report, 65% of business owners have already transitioned to a BYOD environment or have a plan to transition in the near future, while only 11% have no plans. There are obvious advantages to BYOD if you can successfully get your employees on board with the idea.

Has your business already made the BYOD transition? Do you have any advice for others that want to follow suit? Leave a comment below.

Author’s Bio: Miles Young is a tech geek, business blogger and all around cool person. Follow him on Twitter @mrmilesyoung.

How Much Do I Pay This Employee?

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When you are a small business owner, it seems as soon as you’ve made one decision, the next one surfaces, and you are back trying to figure out the best thing to do.

One decision business owners are often faced with, and it can be a tough one, is how much to pay employees.

You don’t want to over pay as you’re probably on a budget (and you do need to make money), but you want to pay them what they are worth to keep them with you and happy.

Here are some tips on cracking the code on this … .

Create a range

First off, before any hiring is even done, really before the interviews begin – set a salary range.

Decide on the least you would pay and the most you can pay, and you’ll have some flexibility when it comes to choosing the best candidate and for negotiation purposes.

Look at qualifications

Someone with more relevant degrees, qualifications and experience is usually expecting (and deserving) a higher salary than someone with less.

If you are looking for that highly qualified, experience laden employee, expect to pay for it. If you want someone with a little less experience and education, you can probably get away with lower pay.

Do some comparisons

You can’t really just come up with numbers off the top of your head.

You need to look at some salary comparisons. BUT, you need to look at them as apples to apples. Don’t compare a salary in Chicago to one in Batesville, Arkansas.

Also, don’t just look at job titles, look at job descriptions.

Titles can cover a pretty broad range, but descriptions cover the nitty-gritty, and you can compare just what people are doing to what they are getting paid.

Think about business size.

Sometimes bigger corporations can pay more, but you have things to offer as well, that may not fall under salary. Your company can be more personalized and flexible, offer better benefits or stock options – sometimes that can be worth a lot!

Look around your area and see what other companies your size and in your field are paying employees. You want to stay competitive so qualified people will want to work for you.

When to offer increases

So you have a current employee wanting more money…

• Be careful – offering one raise out of the normal standard you have set can set a precedent you can’t afford to follow.

• Is your employee telling you he or she has an offer for more money? If so, it’s risky all around. If it’s true, it means they’re looking and thinking about it. You may need to keep your eye out. If they are worth it, and budget allows, you may need to offer more to have him or her stay, but know it’s risky – they still could leave.

• If their job descriptions and duties increase, it may be time for more money.

• The best thing to do is have clear policies with documentation of when raises are awarded. You can go by this and keep it cut and dry.

• Bonuses and commission are a way around a salary raise. You pay these once and are not committed to them in the future.

No one said running a business is easy. You’ve got employees to keep happy and budgets to adhere to, plus you need to make money.

However, you need to pay your employees fairly or they will go elsewhere.

Photo credit: nbcchicago.com

About the Author: Heather Legg writes on a variety of topics, many related to social media, small business and Bobby Kotick.