Author: James Duffy

Social media networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are the latest trends on the internet today. It offers new opportunities to communicate and improve how people connect and share. It is similar to an online ground where people get the chance to meet and socialise electronically.

Nowadays, there are a variety of technologies that we can find online. Which among these technologies you can’t live without? Also, if you are an entrepreneur, what technologies do you need? We have interviewed ten entrepreneurs in order to know which of these tools they rely on when it comes to running their business each day.

For business owners who require some equipment such as computers, machinery, and other types of equipment in order to operate their business, there are a lot of things to consider. Aside from simply contemplating the overall costs of buying or leasing the equipment, you should also think about the tax deductions, maintenance, flexibility and more.

Nowadays, companies are more afraid of cybercriminals than thieves and thugs. While burglars will steal your merchandise or destroy your property, cybercriminals are more treacherous and the harm that they cause can be tremendous. When financial data are hacked or sensitive information are stolen, then the losses can be very overwhelming. This is even incomparable to the most spectacular robbery.

Most people think that these cybercriminals will only target large global corporations. However, they will also go after small businesses. The fact is, in 2017 at least 79% of companies revealed that they were hit by breaches. Oftentimes, smaller businesses have put little effort into protecting their sensitive information and financial data because they believe that cyberattacks will not happen to them. While the potential earnings that the attackers can get from small companies may be less, but the job is typically less difficult and more dangerous.

Is your small business protected from identity theft, fraud, and other types of cybercrimes? Based on the study from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), businesses which only have one hundred workers or less could likely lose nearly $155,000 every year due to fraud. Also, small businesses are likely the ones which have a bigger fraud rate compared to larger companies and regular individuals. Most fraud cases come from credit card mishandling. The reason behind this is that some business owners would mix their business and personal accounts. While others would take some time to go through each item on the bill.

Sometimes fraud occurs due to lack of security all over the business. For instance, some business owners will not conduct background checks on their employees or their network and computer security are insufficient.

Why Do Cybercriminals Target Small Businesses?

A lot of small business owners and managers are not so much concerned about data security. This is because they believe that hackers will not care about them since they are too small. But the fact is, every year, one in two small businesses are having security breach each year.

There are good reasons why these cybercriminals attack small businesses. Most likely, these small businesses are using poor security, making them easier to break into their customer data. Also, hackers will use automated methods in attacking these businesses. Hence, they can easily access several small businesses within a short period of time. As you can see, it does not matter if your business is small, there is still a possibility that you can become a victim of cybercrime.

Companies that lack interest in data security are often the ones that are not aware of the risk. This is because they do not have the time or expertise needed in ensuring proper security. If you are an owner of a small business, then you have to make sure that you can prevent a data breach in your company.

How Do Small Companies Prevent Data Breach?

Have you done something to prevent these cybercriminals from targeting you? Avoid being a victim! Here are some valuable tips that can help you in protecting your business against any forms of fraud and cybercrime.

Protect Your Credit Cards and Bank Accounts

Credit cards and bank accounts are common areas for fraud. Whether you are a sole proprietor or you have an employee-based company, you should consider this as your main priority. The best thing that you can do is to separate your business accounts from your personal accounts. This includes everything from credit cards to bank accounts. This can ensure that fraudsters will not get any chance of stealing your money. Aside from this, if you separate your accounts, then it will be easier for you to monitor your business expenses and record your deductions on your tax return.

Also, as much as possible, try to use your card wisely. Avoid giving your card or your card number to anyone, including your employees or companies which you are not familiar with. Use online bill payment and protect your paper bills securely. Additionally, when receiving and sending bills, be sure to use a secured mailbox. In case you don’t have any, then you can deposit your mail straight to the post office. This also applies to any type of mail that consists of sensitive information. Obviously, you don’t want to see them sprawling around in an unsecured mailbox.

Finally, try to check your online banking each day and be cautious for any suspicious activities.

Secure Your IT Infrastructure

One of the first defence is to install a firewall. According to the FCC, this is very helpful in fighting against cybercrime. Aside from an external firewall, it is also advisable that businesses should get an internal one. Also, employees who are working from home should also install firewalls on their computers.

As a business owner, investing in anti-virus, malware, firewall, and spyware detection software is definitely worthwhile. It is also a must to make a back-up so you can continue working in case there is a cyber attack.

You must keep all your software updated all the time and be sure that they are regularly patched. One of the most popular methods that hackers will use in gaining access to your computer system is through code defects, also referred to as the exploits. Sometimes these exploits will remain undetected for years before they are patched. Hence, if you do not update your computer system regularly, then your networks could be vulnerable to those people who have some technical knowledge. Exploits can likely cause damage to all types of software including browsers, operating systems, specific software and others.

Investing in a reliable VPN can also be a great help. A Virtual Private Network or VPN can provide you with a secure connection between the internet and your computer. This is very valuable to people who are using less secure networks. Essentially, with a VPN you can be invisible to hackers. This means that they will not be able to steal your passwords, financial information, and other sensitive data. Also, they cannot track down your activities.

There are a lot of VPN options that are available out there. However, before making a decision, you have to figure out the needs of your company. Then try to do some research in order to find out which one will fit your business.

Today, data from businesses are considered as one of the most critical assets. That is why protecting them must be a top priority. As much as possible, you have to layer them with enormous security. Try to avoid storing them in a single source but separate them into segments. Although this method may not be very convenient, however, if there is a security breach, then hackers will not be able to access all of your data. Use the most advanced encryption strategies in order to make sure that even if your data is stolen cybercriminals will not be able to use it. Also, always ensure that the encryption software that you use has the latest update.

Lastly, it is a must that you should back up your data frequently. Cloud solutions are greatly recommended, for instance, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) and Backup as a Service (BaaS). These are the most efficient ways to ensure that your data is protected when a breach happens.

Use a Separate Computer for Banking

You should use a separate computer for all your online financial transactions. Ideally, you should not use this computer for web surfing, email, social media, and other online activities since this can make the machine more vulnerable to threats. If possible, try to avoid using mobile banking.

Be sure to set up strict restrictions on company computers. Ensure that your employees won’t be able to install any unauthorized software on these company computers without the permission of the system administrator. This can help in preventing malware from infecting your network and limit any wasted time.

Create a Password Policy

Another essential step in securing your IT systems is to establish a password policy. A good rule is to change your password every 60 to 90 days. Be sure to implement this on your employees too. One of your rules should be to ensure that all passwords are complicated. For instance, it should consist of a minimum of eight characters which includes one number and one upper case letter. Use separate passwords for every online and system accounts.

Most often, cybersecurity policies at companies are just instinctive knowledge, instead of having a documented policy. Cybersecurity is very important in any business, hence formal rules should be implemented. If you want to create documented cybersecurity rules, then you can refer to the Small Business Administration’s website and go to the cybersecurity portal. There are a lot of resources that you can find here. You can also make use of the online training that they provide. You can also take advantage of the checklists that they offer. To get started with your cybersecurity document, you can use the Cyberplanner 2.0 resource that is provided by the FCC.

Most small businesses permit their employees to bring their mobile devices to work. Hence, it is important that these businesses should make an accurately documented security system for these mobile devices. Additionally, it is also important for businesses to implement the company password policy on all the personal devices brought in by their employees.

Keep Your Staff Educated

Perhaps your employees are your greatest point of vulnerability with regards to fraud. However, they can also be considered as your first line of defence. Keep your employees updated by frequently holding regular training courses on fundamental security threats and prevention measures, both for online and offline transactions. Whether your staff is new or seasoned, they should attend these training sessions. You must also establish policies that will guide employees on properly using and handling company confidential information, such as employees and client’s sensitive information as well as financial data.

If you need some ideas on what you can include in your training, then you can refer to several resources that are provided by small business groups such as your local Small Business Development Center or Women’s Business Center. For sure you can find one of these organizations near your place. You could also search for free online webinars from different sources that concern security among organizations and businesses.

Even if you are using the latest firewall and antivirus software, it is still possible that you are not completely protected in case your employees will not follow the rules for computer security. That is why it is very import that you should educate and train your staff. Do you know that more than 90% of security breaches occur not because of hackers overcoming the network’s security but because of employees who are unconsciously opening doors? For instance, these employees became victims of phishing emails or using weak passwords. Investing in the most innovative security software will be useless if you do not educate your employees about cybercrime prevention. This is just the same as boarding up your windows at home but leaving the front door wide open.

Try To Conduct Employee Background Checks

By making the right hiring decision, you can help in preventing any fraudulent employee behaviour. This step is very important in any type of businesses and organizations. Fundamental pre-employment background checks are one of the most important practices that should be implemented by all employers. This is crucial for employees who will be managing cash or highly valuable merchandise as well as for your staff who have access to sensitive client information and financial data.

Be Sure To Insure Your Business

Most likely, there are chances that fraud and cybercrime can occur. Nevertheless, you can purchase an insurance policy that can cover the damages. This can protect you against any losses that may result after fraud and cybercrime were committed. At the same time, you can inquire from your bank if there is anything that they can do in case your credit card or bank account is compromised.

How do you protect your company against fraud and cybercrime? Nowadays, cybersecurity should be given more reconsideration. A security breach can be disastrous to any type of business, even if you don’t have a strong digital presence. The best way of protecting yourself is to be prepared and follow the tips that we mentioned above.

According to new research, lack of exercise, smoking, and unhealthy diets can likely affect the performance of employees each day. The researchers from Brigham Young University, who were assigned in the Health Enhancement Research Organization and the Center for Health Research at Healthways, discovered that people who have unhealthy lifestyles are likely the ones who have higher levels of unproductive work time.

Factors That Can Affect Employees’ Productivity

Furthermore, the study revealed that employees who have specifically unhealthy diets were 66% more likely to encounter a loss in productivity compared to those who frequently ate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Additionally, those employees who seldom exercise were 50% more likely to have lower levels of productivity compared to the ones who do regular exercises. Furthermore, smokers were 28% more likely to experience a decline in productivity compared to those who are nonsmokers.

Based on the research, employees who are having a hard time exercising during workdays have a 96% chance that they will have a decline in their productivity. While those employees who do not believe that the environment in their workplace can support them in being physically and emotionally healthier were likely the ones who will suffer from productivity decline.

According to the vice president and chief science officer for Healthways, Dr James Pope, the research they’ve conducted revealed that loss in employee productivity is generally associated with poor well-being, bad health habits, increased health risks, as well as the existence of the chronic disease. This information is important since a great number of employees are now having poor diets, excessive body fats, sedentary lifestyles, and diabetes.

Other Factors Associated To The Decrease In Productivity

The research also revealed that there are other factors both personal and work-related that have contributed to the decrease in productivity. This includes lack of technological support, insufficient time in performing their job duties, as well as financial stress.

Based on the study, productivity loss was greatly experienced by people who are between 30 and 39 years old and less experienced by those who are 60 years old and older. It is also seen to be more prevailing among women than men. Additionally, it is more common for those who are divorced, separated or widowed than those who are married.

According to the report, the highest levels of productivity loss can be found in clerical or office workers who are involved in the service and transportation industries. While the lowest levels can be seen on those who are in the mining, fishing, farming, construction, and forestry industries.

According to the CEO of the Health Enhancement Research Organization, Jerry Noyce, it is vital that firms should look deeper into productivity loss and measure them in order to understand its impact on the bottom line.

Furthermore, Noyce revealed that business leaders have the capability to lessen the factors that greatly impact productivity loss. This includes implementing the best wellness programs in your workplace. It should focus more on the employees’ well-being improvement. As a result, this can help in improving employee’s productivity and satisfaction as well as the employer’s profitability.

These results were based on the survey conducted on 19,803 employees who were working at three geographically separated companies. The outcome of this study can also be seen in the Population Health Management journal.

The Productivity Diet

What you eat can directly impact your performance at work. Do you want your body and mind to function at its optimum? Then the best solution is to practice good nutrition. Actually, this concept is not new, but why is it that most people are not implementing it. One of the biggest hindrances is people are getting confused with what good nutrition really means. Also, there are various conflicting ideas out there making us wonder more and more. For instance, should you follow the food pyramid, are whole grains actually heart-healthy, should you do a juice cleanse, etc.

If you want to nourish your brain and body in order to achieve optimal performance, then you should practice good nutrition which includes choosing what you eat and when to eat them. For instance, having 25 grams of glucose in our bloodstream can make our brains work at its best.  This amount can be found in a banana. Hence, eating a banana between meals can actually help in boosting your brainpower. On the other hand, if you choose to eat something that is high in sugar during snack time, such as a handful of M&Ms, then you are risking yourself with a blood sugar spike followed by a collision. The outcome would be low productivity and low energy.

If you are actually serious in performing your best at work, then it is vital that you have to make wise decisions about your food. Here are some foods that can help you in keeping up your energy and productivity throughout the day.

Good nutrition is critical in maximizing our productivity and effectiveness at work. By nourishing our bodies and brains with the right foods, it can create a positive effect on how we feel, think, create, and reminisce.

According to the study conducted by the Health Enhancement Research Organization, employees who ate healthy foods throughout the day were 25% more likely to have a higher level of job performance. While those who ate five or more servings of fruits and vegetables at least four times a week were 20% more likely to be more productive. Finally, those employees who ate healthy foods and do exercises regularly performed 11% better and have 27% fewer absences from work.

If you are serious about achieving optimal performance at work, then it is important that you should make intelligent decisions when it comes to the food that you put in your body. Although our brains only comprise 2% of our body weight, it can consume 20% calories each day. If you want your brain to function at its best, then you should supply it with a constant amount of glucose and fat. That is why it is essential that we know where we can get this glucose and fat.

Do you know that our bodies do not process all foods at the same time? When we ate foods that can release glucose instantly, such as white bread, cereal, sweets, and pasta, we encounter a blood sugar spike that provides us with an instant burst of energy. Afterwards, it is then followed by a sudden decline in blood sugar that results in a slump. Hence, you will experience low productivity and low energy levels.

When we eat foods that give us more sustained energy, such as low glycemic carbohydrates found in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as foods rich in proteins and healthy fats, we are providing our brain with a steadier supply of energy.

What To Eat At Breakfast

Eggs are comprised of fat-like B Vitamin known as choline which can improve memory and reaction time.
Bananas can help the brain works at its best since it contains 25 grams of glucose.
Yoghurt contains probiotics, protein, and minerals which are valuable to the digestive system.
Blueberries include a potent combination of antioxidants which can enhance the memory and motor coordination.

What To Eat At Lunch

Sometimes it is easy to get tempted with unhealthy options at lunchtime. This is because they are quicker and cheaper compare to healthy alternatives. The key is you have to make your eating decisions before you get hungry. Or you could pack your lunch the night before.

Dark, leafy greens are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. It contains iron that can help in bringing more oxygen to the body and brain. It can also enhance cognitive control.
Spinach is rich in antioxidant power. According to researchers, it can help in improving your learning capacity and motor skills.

Avocados are comprised of monounsaturated fats which can help in contributing to healthy blood flow and makes your brain healthier.
Almonds are comprised of phenylalanine which is valuable to your mental and neurological health. In addition, almonds are also rich in riboflavin which can help in boosting your memory.

Olive oil is the best source of monosaturated fat and it is best known for slow brain ageing.
Whole wheat bread is rich in fibre and causes less blood sugar spike. However, when other protein is added to the bread, its glucose absorption rate will become gentler.

What To Eat At Dinner

Salmon is rich in protein, iron, omega-3s, and B-vitamins which can improve reasoning, memory, focus, and recall.
Broccoli is known as a superfood since it has a high overall nutrient content. It is also the best source of Vitamin K which can help in improving cognitive function and enhances brainpower.
Eating eggplant can help in keeping your brain sharp.

What To Eat During Snacks

Fruits and veggies contain essential nutrients that can help in the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is vital in the experience of motivation, curiosity, and engagement. They also include antioxidants that can help in reducing body inflammation.
Raw carrots can provide your brain with a steady level of blood sugar so it can function optimally.
Walnuts are comprised of vitamin B6, vitamin E, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as 15% to 20% protein.

Cashews are rich in magnesium which can help in opening up the blood vessels in your body. With more oxygen in the blood, your brain can function better.
Dark chocolate includes antioxidant properties which can increase the production of endorphins and improves focus and concentration.

Other Ways Of Boosting Your Productivity

Business experts claim that there are certain productivity hacks that can help you in getting things done quickly. There’s no doubt that there are some common-sense tools that can help you in becoming more productive. For instance, avoiding social media, taking short breaks, as well as creating efficient to-do lists.

Here, we will provide you with some of the best strategies that can help you to become more productive. It is essential that you should not view them as hacks but rather some tips. Actually, there are no hacks in becoming more productive, although there are a few habits which you can implement to help you become a much better and more efficient worker. By building these habits, you are taking the right steps in becoming more productive.

Streamline Your Space

Before you start doing anything else, take some time to begin each day by cleaning and organizing your workspace. According to Kristoph Matthews, who founded Boxbee, a clutter-free environment can help you in thinking more clearly and producing better results. Cleaning up and organizing your space can greatly help in increasing your productivity and spending less time searching for items.

Add Some Colour Or Live Plants

According to Jenny Gauld, Turnstone’s interior designer, colour can have a strong influence on your productivity and mood throughout the day. Blue provides a calm feeling, making you focus more. Red is an excellent colour for work that requires precision and attention to detail. Plants can also help people in concentrating more on their work. Based on the study from Washington State University, employees become more productive and feel less stress when they are exposed to plants, most especially if their workplace does not have any windows.

Put Some Decorations On Your Workspace

Aside from adding some colour and plants to your workspace, putting some decorations on your cubicle or desk can greatly help in making your feel more relaxed, most especially if it includes some personal touch. Consequently, this can also help in boosting your productivity. Gauld even recommended that employees can feel more appreciated if they display their meaningful career memorabilia, like awards, diplomas, and other embellishments,  in their workspace. This can also help in motivating employees.

Stay Away From Your Most-Dreaded Task

Most often, employees have at least one task on their to-do list that they hate doing. As a result, they keep on pushing it back since the thought of doing it seems dreadful. However, according to Matthews, this task should be the one that you will finish first. Rather than waiting until the last minute to accomplish it, you should get it off your plate as soon as you can. After you have finished this task, you won’t get stressed by it anymore. In addition, you will find your other tasks less daunting. As a result, you will become more productive.

It is official! The United States adores small businesses. Based on the survey conducted by the Pew Foundation,  71% of Americans are more favourable with small businesses compared to any other institutions including religious organizations.

What is the reason behind this? Well, this is because small businesses are considered a positive influence when it comes to the way things are happening in this country. But in reality, it’s more than that.

Small businesses have all the power to build valuable customer experiences. Most often, their products and services are niches and they have a specific group of target customers. Furthermore, they provide fast and flexible service; this is possible because the business operations of small businesses are not restricted by corporate rules and processes. Also, small businesses are well trusted for their community engagement, integrity, and customer service. Have you ever recalled an instance wherein you were calling a small business and you were put through in an automated call centre? Apparently, these are just small things; however, when they are combined together, they can give you a competitive edge. These are considered as the lynchpin of your brand.

But what are the things that you can do so you can leverage these occurrences and make your brand more appealing without breaking the bank?

A brand pertains to the overall encounters that your clients and potential clients have with your company. A solid brand will be able to convey effectively what your company does and how it accomplishes this while establishing credibility and trust.

Your brand exists in your daily interactions with your customers including your posts on social media, the content of your marketing materials, the messages you post on your website as well as the images that you share. What if you only have a small budget, how can you develop your brand to make it stronger? Here are 10 tips that can help you in getting started:

10 Tips To Help You Grow Your Brand

1. What Is Your Brand?

First of all, you need to understand that your brand is more than your products, marketing strategies, or logo. As we have mentioned above, it is the overall experiences clients have with your business. This includes everything from what you do, how you are going to do it, the visual elements of your business, the reactions of your customers, the kind of information that you provide on social media and in your marketing. All of these elements can help in establishing trust and credibility in your business.

2. You Should Stand Out

Standing out simply means that you have to be different. If you are confident that your brand is going to be solid, then you must be able to determine the things that makes what you do unique. What separates you from the others in your industry? Don’t forget to mention these unique qualities in your company’s marketing and messaging.

As much as possible try to be unique. In today’s time, Apple is considered as one of the most iconic brands. It was introduced in 1997 with the most innovative campaign which invites its customers to “Think Different.” Apple products are considered to be more reliable, more fun, and have better designs compared to their competitors. How about you, what is your story? What makes your business unique? What have you done that your competitors in the industry have not done yet?

3. Have Excellent Products And Services

One of the greatest sources of leads for small businesses is the word of mouth. Hence, it is important to provide your customers with excellent products and services which they will talk about. This is one of the most vital components of your brand and also the reason why you are in business. Even if the small business owner is very charming and outgoing, they won’t be able to bring their customers back unless they offer products or services that deliver and exceed their customer’s expectations.

Never lose sight of your product. As much as possible, keep on refining it and always make sure that you are always giving your priority to your product and not the money it brings in.

One of the reasons why people love to write brands is because they want to share their experiences. That is why it is not surprising that Apple is on top of the ranking because people love Apple’s products.

Some companies choose to stop focusing on developing excellent products and services once they have succeeded. However, this is totally wrong. In 2008, Nokia was ranked as the 9th most valuable brand in the whole world. In 2011, Nokia’s rank fell to 81st and this year, it continues to go down even further. Even how strong a brand is, it will still suffer if they continue to create average or below average products or services.

4. Let Your Customers Know The Face Behind The Product

One of the most prominent reasons why small business won’t succeed is the consistent absence of the business owner. If you are wondering what could go wrong if the owner lets the business run itself, then you can watch some episodes of business makeover TV shows such as Tabatha Takes Over and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

If the owner is not actively engaged in his business, then most likely its employees will lose their structure and motivation. Apparently, this can lead to a poor product, sloppy service, and customer churn. Can your business still function without your constant presence? Absolutely, the most important thing is you should be able to strike a balance. Search for ways to let your customers know you by connecting a face behind the business. If the business owner will always be there then their business will really thrive.

5. Get The Right Name and Logo For Your Business

This is crucial to brand recognition and you have to make sure that you get it right the first time. Remember that it can be very costly down the road if you’ve decided to change your name and logo. Be sure that your name and logo can be easily recognised. Also, it is important that it must reflect the nature of your business and look very appealing to your target market. Two of the great examples are Doggone Natural, which is a store for healthy pet food and Woofies, a company which provides dog walking services. Both of these businesses use names and logos that reflect the nature of their brands and what they stand for as well as the products and services that they offer. It also represents their market, which are the pet owners and their pets. Make sure that your name and logo signify the overall tone of your business so that it can make you feel good and develop a natural attraction with them. This is something that you need to aim for.

Keep in mind that a strong brand can be easily recognised. And recognition begins by having a good name of your business. Remember that this name will be displayed on your website, promotional materials, letterhead, business cards, products, social networks, and everywhere whether in print or online. This will be used to identify your company or the products and services of your company.

Having a recognizable name is not enough. Most often, people will relate brands with the brand’s logo. As you are about to create your logo, you need to consider your audience as well as your products and services since you want your logo to reflect your company. A good logo can help in building trust while a strong logo can help in pulling your brand together. Take a good look at the logos of some of the world’s most-liked brands such as Google, Apple, Amazon, etc. How do you feel upon seeing their logos?

6. Create a Distinct Voice

One of the best ways to guarantee that your distinct brand message is conveyed in a consistent way across your business is to concentrate on how you and your employees interact and converse with your clients, either on the phone, in person, or on social media.

If you are having some doubts on what your distinct voice should be, then you can have a look at other brands. Try to observe what they do and identify what are the things that you would like to emulate. As a customer, how do they interact with you? What have they done that makes you feel good? Why do you like doing business with them?

7. Organise A Community Around What You Do

A brand can be deemed successful if it is trusted and respected by customers. This can be achieved by organizing a strong community both online and offline.

In fact, you don’t have to spend too much money in order to accomplish this. There are a lot of successful brands that focus more on building both online and offline communities rather than using traditional advertising. For building an online community, you can use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networks as well as your own blog. Keep in mind that you can’t be in all places at one time. Therefore, you need to choose one or two places where you can concentrate on developing your community, and spend your time and resources there.

On the other hand, for building an offline community, you can participate in different community activities like charities, fundraisers, and other local events. Or you could choose to host your own events including loyal customer events and workshops. Aside from helping you build a community, you can also extend the trust you’ve gained to your brand.

Try to expand your community. Most of the world’s best brands such as Amazon, Virgin, Skype, Facebook, and Google did not spend a lot on advertising, rather they concentrate on creating and developing their communities. These companies believe that if people trust a brand’s community, then most probably they will also trust their brand.

8. Rather Than Just Being A Salesman, Try To Be an Advocate for Your Business

You don’t need to be the best salesman if you want to succeed in your business. In fact, there are a lot of forms of selling and being an advocate combined them all together. For instance, there are a lot of small business owners who aspire to be the greatest cheerleader, salesman, or fan of their own business. If you want your customers to feel excited about your business, then you must also get yourself excited about it too! If you are very passionate about your business, then you should be an advocate for it.

You can use the tips that are found here in making sure that your customers understand what you do. Make sure that they learn the story behind your products as well as what your products have done for the people. Let them know about your mission, strategies, and all that good stuff. In other words, you need to invite them!

9. Show Them That You Are Reliable

As much as possible never let your customers down. For instance, you fail to live up to your brand standards and you did not comply with your promises. This can be very harmful to any type of businesses, most especially for small businesses which rely mostly on referrals. Take note that the basis for brand loyalty is great service. Whenever a customer is loyal, then you can expect that he is loyal to your brand. Hence, you have to make sure that you are not making promises that you can’t keep. For instance, if you are a painting contractor who guarantees that you can begin the job on Monday or you have a pizza business and you promise to deliver within 30 minutes. Be sure to always stand by your promises.

10. Obtain A Value Proposition

When it comes to value, it does not necessarily mean that this is related to the price. Value can help in defining your brand and sets you apart from your competitors. What is your niche? What are the things that you did well in that niche which makes you unique from everyone else? What are the emotional gains of what you do? Be sure to answer these questions since this can help in defining what your value is to your customers. It could either be innovation, product quality, customer service, or any combination of these.

If you were asked to describe a stereotype entrepreneur,  what accurate words would you use? Devoted? Passionate? Confident? Surely, all of these can be applied. However, troublemaker and insecure would be more precise, based on the opinion of entrepreneurs who understand success when they perceived one. Check the following qualities, traits, and characteristics and see if they describe you. Well, you could be considered an entrepreneur at heart, although not in application.

What is Scrum? The Scrum is an approach that uses Agile framework in accomplishing complicated projects. Originally, Scrum was designed for software development projects, however, they found out that it can also work perfectly on any complicated, innovative scope of work. It seems that there is no limit on its possibilities. You might think that the Scrum framework is complicated, however, it is actually very simple.

November is proclaimed as the National Entrepreneurship Month. This is the time when U.S. entrepreneurs and small business owners are highly recognized for their great contribution to the country’s economy. This would not be possible if these companies don’t have the courage, determination, and innovation.

If you are just starting your business and you need some inspiration to keep you going, then we’ve got you covered. Here are 101 startup quotes for entrepreneurs. Keep in mind that starting your own business is not simply a sprint, but it’s a marathon!

You have your own unique goals in life. In fact, your brain tries to draw images about the statements that you provide to your subconscious mind. When these statements and images matched your goals, then there is a possibility that you can accomplish them!

In today’s world, where there is constant competition for talents, companies are looking for ways to entice and retain their best employees while improving their growth and productivity. They could offer perks or improve their workplace. Organizations keep on finding new concepts and strategies, however, they failed to notice that the easiest approach is employee recognition.

Nowadays, it seems that most people are turning into freelancing. according to the latest survey administered by Edelman Berland, there are over 53 million Americans who are working as freelancers. The survey of “Freelancing in America: A National Survey of the New Workforce,” approved by Freelancers Union and Elance-oDesk, only proves that freelancing is the new standard. The number of freelancers accounts for 34% of the whole workforce.

It is undeniable that work can sometimes be stressful. Nowadays, companies are not only concentrating on their tax returns bottom line but also on improving their productivity. This is why workers are now having a lot of responsibilities.

Improving the performance of employees is the main goal of clever organizations. In companies where most of the work involves knowledge, the employees are the driving force that keeps the organization growing, transforming, developing and innovating.

Sometimes the way we look at colors will greatly depend on our personal and cultural connections. Colors can either be warm or cool based on our constant associations. Every color has its own distinct association. For instance, red, yellow, and orange are commonly linked to the warmth of fire and sunlight. While green, blue, and violet represent the calmness of the sea, leaves, and sky. It seems that people are more drawn to warm colors rather than cool colors. However, vibrant cool colors have the tendency to overpower light and subtle warm colors. Using cool colors for the background and warm colors for the foreground can greatly help in improving the perception of depth.

If you are running a business, then you have several tasks that need to be done. But the sad thing is, you don’t have enough time to do everything by yourself. As an entrepreneur, you have to market your products, grow your sales, be competitive, pay your taxes, create an effective internal system, etc. But you should not put all the weight on your shoulders.

If you want to improve your finances, then why not start your own business. This can provide you additional income in case you are having difficulty paying your bills. You are planning to start your own business. The fact is you already have an idea of what type of business you want to get into. You are also aware of the potential risks that you will be facing. It is important to understand that it will take some time before your business can generate revenue. There might be a need for you to quit your current job if you go fulltime on your business.

Each one of us has our own set of goals. It can be pertaining to your work, studies, or life in general. Most people have straightforward goals. Since they are inspired by these goals, they want to start out right away. But after several weeks, they started to wonder what made them got off the track? What went wrong?

Before you started your business, you did a lot of research to make sure that it can be successful. You obtain some important information from different sources such as magazines and books. You also ask for help from the experts. Aside from investing your money on your business, you also invested most of your time and sweat equity on it. Now, it is finally operating, so what’s next?

Brands matter to consumers. They prefer to buy from a brand with high reputation. Let me give you an example. Imagine you are in the market for a new smartphone. Which do you prefer better, specification and pricing aside, an unknown brand or Apple or Samsung? Of course, there’s no way you are going to choose that unknown brand. Consumers are more compelled to buy from well-built brands than others. Due to this reason, brand building is important and is critical. It can make consumers buy your products or buy it elsewhere. However, brand building is a very complex task. Don’t worry, we got your back! Here are ten helpful ways to build a brand for your business.

How did an out-of-fashion shoes sell more than 430,000 pairs from 30,000 pairs in just 2 years? Why did crime rates in New York suddenly plummet in the 90’s? Why do some ideas go viral, while others don’t? How come some movies become box office hits, and others don’t? Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point tries to answer all of that.

So you want to get your feet under the table in the room where it all happens? The right kind of body language can help you achieve this goal. Whether you have your sights set on a pay rise, promotion, or a new business deal, there are a number of body language tips that can help you project yourself and achieve your goals.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. If you are new to the entrepreneurial world, be prepared for a road that will not always be easy. Be willing to learn from others who have gone before you, too. Their examples and advice could prove invaluable on your journey.

As a team of online accountants, we thought we would explain this! The 10,000-hour rule is a popular ideology that when you put 10,000 hours practising deliberately on an activity you can master it. It is a magical number introduced by K. Anders Ericsson, a psychologist (and later on, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book entitled ‘Outliers’), the 10,000-hour rule argues that anyone can be an expert of various fields by allotting thousands of hours to become successful in it.

Gladwell called successful individuals, whose achievements are out of the normal, as the “Outliers’.

Every business starts with a business idea. We all know it.

However, not every business idea out there gets properly executed and eventually transforms into a sustainable business. When not executed in the right manner even the best of business ideas is likely to be doomed to failure.

So, you really feel driven to launch your own start-up. You think you have this great idea you can turn into a successful business that could set you up for a lifetime of success. That’s great. The only question is whether you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. You see, the secrets to business success are not magic. Your success will depend more on your attitude than anything else you might encounter along the way.