Category: Business Essentials

According to statistics cited by Inc. magazine, 63% of people in their 20s dream of starting a business. This statistic likely holds steady amongst every other age group, too, and it’s easy to see why. Who wouldn’t want to make their own schedule, direct their future, and advance their skills? There’s a reason why only a portion of those who dream of starting a business actually do so, though. It’s a difficult process, and the risk is too great for many would-be entrepreneurs. Still, if you’re ready to break the mold, you can benefit from an understanding of the best startup business model. Read on for some pointers from Let’s CEO.

 

Benefits of Different Business Types

One of the most common business types for startups is the limited liability company (LLC). This type of company is designed to shield business owners and their assets from any business-related liabilities. An LLC does this by establishing a business that’s separate from its owner. This separation minimizes the owner’s personal risk.

 

Starting an S corp is another popular option for entrepreneurs. Business owners who file this way see significant self-employment tax savings when they file with the IRS every year. As a bonus, this structure allows you to claim tax deductions when your business has losses, and larger S corps also enjoy the option of pass-through taxation.

 

If you’re a solopreneur, you could also consider a sole proprietorship. This kind of business structure allows an owner to quickly and easily establish their business, and it’s typically simple to manage tax liability, too. Disadvantages include difficulty selling the business, and you could also be held personally responsible for business liabilities.

 

Finally, some startups opt for incorporation. Like an LLC, a corporation shields owners from personal liability, and it also typically offers easier access to capital. This is a major advantage if you have plans to expand your business, and it also offers some attractive tax breaks that can help your business achieve higher profits.

 

Other Steps to Jumpstart a Startup

When you’re starting your own business, choosing the best startup business model is just one part of the equation. LivePlan notes that you’ll need to develop a strategy, too, based on your own skills and experience. To do this, you should start asking yourself key questions: what strengths have you developed throughout your career? What tasks are you most confident doing?

 

In addition to an assessment of your own skills, you must assess the demand for the product or service you want to offer. You can do so by conducting market research, surveying friends and family, and even gathering data from social media. Understanding market demand will help you ensure your company launch is a success.

 

If you aren’t sure what type of business is right for you, another way you can move your entrepreneurial dreams forward is by going back to school for an MBA degree where you can learn about finance, management, leadership, and more. Fortunately, online degree programs make it easy to achieve your diploma while still working full-time or tending to family obligations.

 

You should also realistically assess the time and resources you have available. Many people realize that starting an entire company isn’t feasible with a full-time job or family obligations. There are other ways to pursue your passions, though, including going back to school. An online master’s degree program can offer an accredited degree and affordable tuition that can help you chase entrepreneurship.

 

Explore Entrepreneurship in Every Form

Everybody wants to be an entrepreneur, but only a few will successfully launch a startup. You can become one of these few if you devote your time and energy to a new business. In order to succeed, though, you must choose the right startup business model and assess your professional skill set. If it’s not the right time to dive into a new business, you can still invest in your dreams by enrolling in an online master’s degree program. Find an accredited program that aligns with your goals and allows the flexibility you need to maintain the rest of your life.

 

Article by:
Cherie McLaughlin

 

In search of an online resource that helps aspiring entrepreneurs, freelancers, and startups grow their businesses? Let’s CEO engages in comprehensive research and in-depth analysis to assist you to discover your ideas and bring them to life- startup business model. Contact us today to learn more!

As the working world undergoes a period of digital transformation and we move further towards automation, it’s not uncommon to turn our gaze from the human side of business. But, as we refine our business process management and seek to improve efficiency, it’s important to consider our employees and ensure balance across operations – here are a few strategies to help.

 

 

Adaptive Technology

Technological innovation may reduce the reliance on human interaction during this digital transformation, but it can also improve our working lives in unexpected ways. The right programs will boost efficiency, raise productivity, and aid in the decision-making process, however, finding these requires some research. To start with, when choosing software for your organization, make sure to read reviews and consider how they might affect the methodology (and workload) of the individuals who will be using them.

 

Flexible Schedules

One of the most effective ways to accommodate your employees is to give them more control over their working timetables. Flexible schedules result in increased output whilst giving your team the ability to check out on their own accord if things get too stressful. If you’re unsure about remote working, it’s often a good idea to introduce this slowly, starting with a couple of days during the week. You can also invest in some advanced communications apps, which will allow everyone to collaborate more easily.

 

Reviews & Feedback

To improve transparency and ensure that everyone on your team is able to have their say, regular manager/team meetings are encouraged. You can use one-on-one sessions to assess performance and gather valuable feedback that may help inform company culture down the line or set up a ticket system so people can speak up anonymously. Remember, these meetings are not just an opportunity to guide your team towards objectives, the employees themselves should be given a chance to review their own treatment.

 

Social Activities

Every now and again, we all need time to step away from the work week and enjoy ourselves. Planning social activities for your team is a great way to counterbalance the mechanical elements of their working lives and give everyone the opportunity to get to know each other more informally. If you’re short of ideas, try to keep things simple by scheduling company dinners, bake-offs, sports days, and other group-based activities.

 

Business Process Management

One of the best ways to assist your employees is via Business Process Management. By automating and optimizing workflows, your team will be able to focus on more demanding tasks. You can use BPM to regularly monitor the effectiveness of your process and act on new information, refining your company’s methodology, improving efficiency, reducing errors, and increasing profits.

 

Mental Health Awareness

Showing an awareness of and commitment to mental health during this digital transformation can go a long way towards improving team morale and unity. Many of us struggle with anxiety, depression, or simple non-work-related stress/burnout. You can help to mitigate these issues with a company therapist, new company policies, and/or mental health leave. If you can’t afford these options, it’s important to at least openly acknowledge mental health and introduce a mental health-positive vocabulary into the company lexicon.

 

Digital technology is essential to most company operations, and whilst the boosts to efficiency are self-evident, the effects on human wellbeing are not. For this reason, it’s best to take a proactive stance and consider the implications of how each new software or upgrade can affect your team.

 

Article by:
Cherie McLaughlin

 

Let’s CEO provides breaking start-up news, freelancing tips, digital marketing strategies, CEO interviews, business owners, and so much more! Learn more about our work at: www.letsceo.com

Without a robust digital presence, your business leaves valuable customer interaction and income on the table. Solid customer service often involves having a branded app. Review the process of creating an app for your business and the benefits.

 

 

 

 

Set Your Goals

Determine the problem an app could solve for clients. Study your competitors to see what features clients expect and read reviews to find out what they dislike the most. Pay attention to design because an ugly interface that works well may still turn customers away.

 

Define Your Budget and Hire Your Team

You can create an app for your business cheaply on your own, but you get what you pay for. Budget to build and maintain the app that should grow in capabilities alongside your business. You may find it worthwhile to out a loan to hire a top-notch app development team. Research freelancers and agencies to find developers with a proven track record of stellar app creation. Ask for examples of their work and find out which platforms the crew programs in.

While web apps provide a consistent experience across devices, a native app for your business can be more convenient to clients since it doesn’t require an internet connection to function. Creating and supporting native apps for each operating system becomes costly, so calculate if the expense fits your budget. Don’t forget you’ll need to keep the data up to date, so figure on keeping an IT person onboard for technical support.

 

Collaborate With Your Developers

Your project may fail without clear expectations and transparent communication about your needs and deadlines. What seems like a simple request could add days to app completion. Enhance your project management skills by studying Scrum.

Scrum is an Agile framework for working on elaborate projects like software development. Since technical projects become more intricate as your business grows, you’ll benefit from an Agile Scrum Master course online to master Scrum tactics and strategies. An assessment at the end of the program validates your skills and is a valuable addition to your CV or resume.

If you have a remote team, schedule regular meetings to review progress. Express abundant gratitude for their work and reward results, especially when they’re early and under budget. Find creative and flexible ways to meet, especially if the team includes members across different time zones.

 

Review and Test Before Launch

Test your app thoroughly before launch. You won’t understand how features are operating until everyday users can interact with the app in their systems. Look into beta testing with your intended audience to receive feedback on app functionality and design.

 

Promote the App and Launch

Advertise the app for your business to build anticipation. Use your website to explain features and request input. A giveaway or coupon can entice customers to download the program.

 

Update and Improve Functionality

Don’t set up your app and forget it. Bugs and issues can build up, proving costly since you may lose customers while hiring extra help to correct the problems. Read your reviews and compare them to competitors. Think about paying to conduct customer surveys to get more detailed responses. Reports show that customers who enjoy a brand’s mobile experience tend to repeat purchases.

A web or mobile app for your business is an excellent tool for delivering top-tier customer service and provides you with one of the best marketing and customer research tools. Create your app with clear goals, transparent communication, and smooth collaboration with your development team. Your increased brand awareness and business growth make the hard work worth the effort.

 

Visit Let’s CEO for more business insights.

 

Article by Elijah Dawson

 

Running a business requires a heavy load of multitasking, and entrepreneurs need constant access to information about operations. As tech innovation expands, business owners have access to ways to simplify processes and improve operations. Consider the following apps every small business owner needs.

6 Apps Every Small Business Owner Needs

  1. For Managing Inventory: Delivrd

If part of your business is distributing tangible products to consumers, you need an app that will help you keep track of inventory. Delivrd allows you to manage the intake, storage, and fulfillment of inventory all from your phone. You save money on labor hours for inventory counting because the system keeps track of how much inventory you have and need at all times by monitoring transactions. It even offers so analytic capabilities by charting sales, specifically tracking the top-selling items to help you make choices about product changes.

 

  1. For Sales: QuickBooks GoPayment

A good point of sale program helps you keep track of online and in-person sales. If you are new to the process, QuickBooks GoPayment is a great place to start. It works best for simple transactions, and it connects directly to your business bank account to allow stability for you and your customers during the payment process. There are fees associated with the services, but you will not find a free POS system.

 

  1. For Managing Projects: Evernote

Project management can be the most exciting and stressful element of your business. Evernote is a project management program that helps you organize tasks, due dates, assignments, and more. You can keep everything in one place and access it from your smartphone wherever you’re located. You can scan images and documents, write notes, and save everything offline. At only $7.99 per month, it’s a great deal.

 

  1. For Collaboration: Skype

Team collaboration and communication are assets to any business, and as a business owner, you can help your team by providing them with a platform to work together from anywhere. Skype became increasingly popular within the last few years because it allows people to work together even when separated. You can create groups and schedule meetings in one place and video chat when you need to talk about a team project. 

 

  1. For Customer Relations: Nimble

Customers generally expect a personal experience when interacting with a company. Research shows that today’s customer expects fast delivery and immediate responses. Nimble helps you organize your sales team and keep in constant contact with customers to better their experience. It’s an easy-to-use program with a fun portal.

 

  1. Apps You Need When Starting Out

Regardless of the type of business you run, Adobe has tools that every business owner needs. There are several that you can use for visual branding efforts — for example, design a logo online quickly with a free online app.

 

Keep all your basic business apps readily available as well. For example, social media apps allow you to bounce back and forth between business and personal profiles so you can keep up with your social media interactions. Keep your bank app on your phone as well so you can always access your accounts. Finally, keep up with what people are saying about you online with Yelp and other review sites.

 

Part of your job as a business owner is to keep up with the changes made to technology over time. These apps every small business owner needs are great for now, but something new will eventually come along. Keep up and you’ll stay ahead of the competition.

 

Article submitted by:

Elijah Dawson- 6 Apps Every Small Business Owner Needs
“”

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Be Your Own Boss: Your Guide to Self- Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More…
-Lance Ulin

Have you ever wanted to escape your seemingly unfullfilling 9 to 5 grind? Maybe you’ve imagined yourself sitting in a large office or working on your laptop from a tropical paradise somewhere. What if you could do that while positioning yourself to where you no longer had to take orders but could instead give them? The aim of this book is to get you out of regular 9 to 5 and to get you on your way to become a successful business owner.

Get expert advice on self-employment, freelancing, consulting, online business, startups, and more—all tailored to the current economic climate—in this new, updated edition of the go-to resource for hopeful entrepreneurs. Get a strong online presence.

Top rated freelancer, startup adviser, and CEO of Ulin Consulting’s brand-new, updated, and expanded edition of his essential handbook, Be Your Own Boss – Your Guide to Self-Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More… Using his years of freelancing, entrepreneurial, and consulting experience, Lance Ulin guides you through the process of starting your own business with step-by-step instructions for understanding and marketing your services, prospecting for clients and developing a pipeline, growth and scalability, and maintaining and expanding your business once it’s up and running. He also offers new strategies for digital marketing and ecommerce techniques, customer engagement, selling online, driving traffic and more. Get a strong online presence.

This edition of Be Your Own Boss – Your Guide to Self-Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More… can help you create and build your business while providing insights on how to best invest your time (and money) where you need it most in order to succeed in today’s market. Be Your Own Boss provides expert business advice, allowing you to finally follow your dreams and be on your way to becoming your own boss! 6 Apps Every Small Business Owner Needs

 

The importance of data analytics. Data analytics is a powerful tool for businesses that learn how to use it well. As reported by Keboola, data-driven organizations are 19 times more likely to make profits and retain customers at a rate 6 times higher than competitors. In this article by Let’s CEO, we focus on three core business areas where data analytics should be implemented and utilized on a daily basis.

 

 

Risk Management

 

Running a business in the free market exposes one to numerous risks such as inflation, creation of new technologies, the emergence of new competitors, etc. But, the risk of cyber threats stands out for businesses of all sizes. What is a cyber threat? It is the possibility of your business being targeted by malicious attacks by hackers which can cripple core systems, lead to data theft and negatively impact revenue.

 

The importance of data analytics can play a prominent role in safeguarding your business from cyber threats in the following ways:

 

  • Machine learning algorithms can be used to analyze the performance data of your networks, and servers to create a baseline that represents a benchmark for optimal performance. A notable drop in these levels can point to an anomaly in the system representing a cyber threat. For instance, your website traffic may drop steeply, or network speeds could be slower than usual.

 

  • Artificial Intelligence can be used as a real-time threat detection system as well. Analyzing user data on your network can highlight potentially harmful actions and issue a timely alert. This safeguards the business from insider threats or negligence.

 

In addition to these preventive measures, having a recovery plan is imperative to effectively manage situations when the business is under attack. Your recovery plan should include a timeline of when the data-recovery process should be initiated, the name of stakeholders who will oversee this activity, and a list of applications to recover first.

 

Customer Retention

 

Customer retention is the process through which a business keeps its existing customers, converting them into loyal users who continue to buy products/services for the long term.

 

The best way to retain customers is by providing them with a personalized experience, which can be achieved by the following methods:

 

  • Descriptive Analysis: This method involves the analysis of historical data to find customer trends and patterns, which can be used to curate personalized offers, and create targeted marketing campaigns.

 

  • Diagnostic Analysis: This type of analysis will provide deep insights into the why of a customer’s decision-making process. Machine learning algorithms can find correlations between various factors such as an increase in sales within a particular period. With these insights in hand, your business can connect with customers at the right time and increase conversions.

 

Product Development

 

As reported by UXcam, 1 out of 5 products in the market fail to meet customer expectations. This is an alarming statistic, especially for small businesses that cannot afford to waste resources on an unsuccessful product.

 

No product is perfect from the beginning, however, meaningful changes can only be made by thoroughly understanding customer demands and preferences. Here are two ways to incorporate the importance of data analytics in your product development process:

 

  • Understand User Experience: A deep dive into user data will provide insights into why they purchase certain offerings and refrain from engaging with others. When evaluating new product ideas, steer clear of those with characteristics that customers deem unwanted and channel greater resources towards diversifying in successful categories.

 

  • Conduct Thorough Tests: Data collected during product testing should be thoroughly scrutinized and used as a benchmark for making future development decisions. Whether it be product design, packaging, features, or any other component, analyzing and incorporating customer feedback will play a key role in making the offering a success.

 

When considering the importance of data analytics analyzing data is the key to unlocking the true potential of your business. By implementing these data analytics strategies you’ll develop a competitive advantage and safeguard the business from internal and external threats.

The Importance of Data Analytics

 

Article submitted by:

Cherie Mclaughlin- The Importance of Data Analytics
“You’ve seen the social media posts promising to help you start your own business as new entrepreneur from the comfort of your couch…for a small fee of course. You have to take a course, read an e-book, or sign up for a one-on-one information session.
Lucky for you, she’s been creating and growing couch-based businesses since her couch was in a dorm room! And she knows that all you really need to be successful is a willingness to learn as you go and the boldness to give it a shot.
She created Couch-Based Biz to help guide you. It offers tips, tricks, and guides to help you separate fiction from fact and gimmick from reality.”

ADVERTISMENT:

Be Your Own Boss: Your Guide to Self- Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More…
-Lance Ulin

Have you ever wanted to escape your seemingly unfulfilling 9 to 5 grind? Maybe you’ve imagined yourself sitting in a large office or working on your laptop from a tropical paradise somewhere. What if you could do that while positioning yourself to where you no longer had to take orders but could instead give them? The aim of this book is to get you out of regular 9 to 5 and to get you on your way to become a successful business owner.

Get expert advice on self-employment, freelancing, consulting, online business, startups, and more—all tailored to the current economic climate—in this new, updated edition of the go-to resource for hopeful entrepreneurs. Get a strong online presence.

Top rated freelancer, startup adviser, and CEO of Ulin Consulting’s brand-new, updated, and expanded edition of his essential handbook, Be Your Own Boss – Your Guide to Self-Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More… Using his years of freelancing, entrepreneurial, and consulting experience, Lance Ulin guides you through the process of starting your own business with step-by-step instructions for understanding and marketing your services, prospecting for clients and developing a pipeline, growth and scalability, and maintaining and expanding your business once it’s up and running. He also offers new strategies for digital marketing and ecommerce techniques, customer engagement, selling online, driving traffic and more. Get a strong online presence.

This edition of Be Your Own Boss – Your Guide to Self-Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More… can help you create and build your business while providing insights on how to best invest your time (and money) where you need it most in order to succeed in today’s market. Be Your Own Boss provides expert business advice, allowing you to finally follow your dreams and be on your way to becoming your own boss! The importance of data analytics. 

6 Ways to Overcome Fear and Start Your Business

 

Do you have an amazing business idea but are too scared to start? From inexperience to money management, there are many fears included in ‘ 6 Ways to Overcome Fear and Start Your Business ‘ that hold entrepreneurs back. If you want to start your business with confidence, take into consideration these 6 tips.

 

Here are the 6 Ways to Overcome Fear and Start Your Business.

  1. Get Advised

 

No one knows better than those who have experience. You can ask for advice from any business owner, but ideally, you should consult one who works in your intended industry. Try shadowing a business owner to get an idea of what a normal day would look like and get a little experience under your belt.

 

  1. Create a Business Plan

 

A business plan is not just useful for communicating to potential partners and investors what your business is about. It’s a powerful organizational tool that can help you set the roadmap for your business, force you to focus on the details, and give you a broader understanding of the market. A good business plan will explain your company structure, your values, your products, and your financials. When you use a business plan to really get a grasp on the possibilities, you’ll gain better project management skills and feel more confident moving forward.

 

  1. Start Small

 

Keeping your operations small at first is a good way to mitigate risk. If you keep your main job and work your business as a side hustle, you can still gain essential knowledge about the business world and work out any kinks without putting your income at risk. Once you have a secure foundation, you can start expanding.

 

  1. Use Other People’s Money

 

Part of risk management in business is keeping track of your finances. Start-up costs can seem scary, but using other funds besides your savings can help dramatically. Utilize financing options that are not as costly, such as crowdfunding, angel investors, or pre-orders to cover the early development stages. You may even be able to take advantage of private and government organizations that help mentor and finance new business owners.

 

  1. Use Online Services

 

Some of the most intimidating parts of starting a business are the legal requirements, such as picking a business structure, registering your name, applying for permits and licenses, and more. Luckily, there are easy-to-follow checklists to help keep you on track. You can even hire formation services to create the business on your behalf if you find the process too daunting. They’ll ensure your business is in legal compliance. All you’ll have to do is choose which business structure is right for you.

 

If you’re going into the fintech field, you’ll want software with access to a loans API for vetting accounts. The kind of edge this provides will help you stay solvent. You’ll also want a cloud bookkeeping system with invoicing to ensure that invoices are transmitted efficiently and payments are processed correctly. Maintaining good cash flow is vital to your business’s health.

 

  1. Embrace Failure

 

Is the fear of failure what’s holding you back? You’re not alone. Statistics show that 33% of Americans don’t start their business because they’re afraid of failure. Failure in the early stages, however, can help lead you towards better success down the road. Knowing that you can learn from your mistakes will help you not get discouraged. Making those adjustments early on will make your business stronger and will better prepare you for future challenges.

 

Starting a business can be scary, especially with all the emotions, finances, and time invested into a start-up. However, with proper planning, a can-do attitude, and help from the experts, you’ll be able to embrace your entrepreneurial ventures without worry.

6 Ways to Overcome Fear and Start Your Business

Let’s CEO is a leading independent online resource committed to helping aspiring entrepreneurs, freelancers, and budding startups grow their businesses. Being deeply committed to building a vibrant entrepreneurial committee, our number one value is innovation.

 

Our mission is to provide you with the latest and the most effective content that will help your business stay tuned in to the pulse of your industry. At the same time, learn proven tips and techniques to grow as a successful entrepreneur.

 

For more information, please visit our website or contact us today!

Article submitted by:

Cherie Mclaughlin
“You’ve seen the social media posts promising to help you start your own business as new entrepreneur from the comfort of your couch…for a small fee of course. You have to take a course, read an e-book, or sign up for a one-on-one information session.
Lucky for you, she’s been creating and growing couch-based businesses since her couch was in a dorm room! And she knows that all you really need to be successful is a willingness to learn as you go and the boldness to give it a shot.
She created Couch-Based Biz to help guide you. It offers tips, tricks, and guides to help you separate fiction from fact and gimmick from reality.”

 

ADVERTISMENT:

Be Your Own Boss: Your Guide to Self- Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More…
-Lance Ulin

Have you ever wanted to escape your seemingly unfulfilling 9 to 5 grind? Maybe you’ve imagined yourself sitting in a large office or working on your laptop from a tropical paradise somewhere. What if you could do that while positioning yourself to where you no longer had to take orders but could instead give them? The aim of this book is to get you out of regular 9 to 5 and to get you on your way to become a successful business owner.

Get expert advice on self-employment, freelancing, consulting, online business, startups, and more—all tailored to the current economic climate—in this new, updated edition of the go-to resource for hopeful entrepreneurs. Get a strong online presence.

Top rated freelancer, startup adviser, and CEO of Ulin Consulting’s brand-new, updated, and expanded edition of his essential handbook, Be Your Own Boss – Your Guide to Self-Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More… Using his years of freelancing, entrepreneurial, and consulting experience, Lance Ulin guides you through the process of starting your own business with step-by-step instructions for understanding and marketing your services, prospecting for clients and developing a pipeline, growth and scalability, and maintaining and expanding your business once it’s up and running. He also offers new strategies for digital marketing and ecommerce techniques, customer engagement, selling online, driving traffic and more. Get a strong online presence. 6 Ways to Overcome Fear and Start Your Business.

This edition of Be Your Own Boss – Your Guide to Self-Employment, Freelancing, Consulting, Online Business, Startups, and More… can help you create and build your business while providing insights on how to best invest your time (and money) where you need it most in order to succeed in today’s market. Be Your Own Boss provides expert business advice, allowing you to finally follow your dreams and be on your way to becoming your own boss!

Pre-orders available for download now!

6 Ways to Overcome Fear and Start Your Business

 

When it comes to owning and operating a small business venture, there are some practical tips that can help you stay organized, effective, and profitable. It all starts with charting a practical course for yourself that looks at all operational functions and needs of your business. Below, Let’s CEO dives into how to put it all together.

Develop a Business Strategy

One of the first – and most important steps – is developing a comprehensive business plan – something you’ll need if you plan to apply for a small business loan or grant. This will encourage you to create a budget, research your marketplace, analyze customer demographics, craft a targeted marketing outreach plan, and help you decide where your funds are best invested.

It will also help you set reasonable expectations around cost projections, expenses, and staffing needs. According to SCORE, pre-startup strategizing is key in the business-building process and will be the foundation your business needs to grow from.

Get Organized

Organization can save you time and money, and help you reduce the stress that comes with starting up a small business as a new entrepreneur. Create comprehensive to-do lists starting with location and equipment needs, required vendors, software and security programs, hiring employees, and getting appropriate insurance, permits, and business licenses. One way to keep your team organized is to use a template for a monthly planner. This template allows you to plan for the month ahead, and you can customize it with your own videos, sticky notes, and images.

A stellar website should also be top of mind. This is how you spread the word about your products or services. Yes, you can build a website yourself, but the better option is to work with a dedicated agency that can deliver a polished, professional site. Experts can also apply tools to enhance your site with special features. For example, if you want to take payments via the web, your designers can use a third-party site to create a verify bank account number API, which allows you to access a client’s bank account while keeping their data and information secure.

Create a Culture of Innovation

According to McKinsey & Company, a great way to set yourself apart in a crowded marketplace is to encourage creative brainstorming and innovative thinking in your company. This includes understanding who your competition is and looking for creative ways to differentiate your business. Encourage employees to speak up and bring all ideas to the table. You’ll also want to develop communication vehicles for staying in touch with vendors and employees and taking steps to foster collaboration. This can be done through a project management tool like Wrike, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Workfront. Collaboration leads to innovation!

Communicate Well

A majority of business problems arise due to a good old-fashioned lack of communication. You can avoid this pitfall by having straightforward communication strategies in place from day one. Develop an employee handbook and style guide; have detailed job descriptions that include performance metrics; hold regular staff meetings and one-on-one huddles; and develop a company intranet for sharing information. With vendors, clearly define expectations and agreements in writing, and ensure there’s a dispute mediation clause if either party fails to abide by the terms of the agreement. Staying ahead of the curve on communication issues will serve you well.

Provide Exceptional Service

One of the best ways to set yourself apart as a new entrepreneur is to consistently provide exceptional levels of customer service. This includes ensuring front-line employees who are the face of your business are courteous and knowledgeable. This starts with training around key customer service issues in your line of work. Answer complaints and concerns quickly, underpromise and overdeliver, and provide extra perks, like discounts for referrals. This will help you build a loyal customer base which can be the foundation of a long-term successful operation.

Being a small business owner or new entrepreneur presents some challenges, but the nature of your business structure also gives you the freedom to be creative, pivot as necessary, and use collaboration tools to expand operations. Consider joining a chamber of commerce or other local business group to help you with networking and to keep you abreast of best practices in your industry.

Article submitted by:

Cherie Mclaughlin
“You’ve seen the social media posts promising to help you start your own business as new entrepreneur from the comfort of your couch…for a small fee of course. You have to take a course, read an e-book, or sign up for a one-on-one information session.
Lucky for you, she’s been creating and growing couch-based businesses since her couch was in a dorm room! And she knows that all you really need to be successful is a willingness to learn as you go and the boldness to give it a shot.
She created Couch-Based Biz to help guide you. It offers tips, tricks, and guides to help you separate fiction from fact and gimmick from reality.”

Team building is an essential component of the growth of your business culture. Studies indicate that roughly 75% of employers rate teamwork collaboration as “very important”. Whether you are a company that just formed a new team or if you have been working together for years, team building activities are a great way to foster a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.

Why engage in team-building activities?

As an entrepreneur, team building activities may not always be at the top of your list of priorities, but doing so offers synergy, cohesiveness, and many other perks that your business can reap. Some of these include:

  • Motivating employees
  • Increased communication
  • Boosting productivity
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Improved collaboration
  • Higher job satisfaction
  • Encouraging creativity

The core idea behind team building activities is to empower individuals to contribute toward a common goal. In fact, the very success of a business depends on the ability of its employees to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and work together as a team, all while delivering quality work. 

 

Top team building activities for your employees

One of the key reasons why simple games and activities end up bringing drastic changes in a workplace is their ability to help employees step out of their comfort zone. Simple yet engaging activities provide a platform for team members to break the ice in an un-intimidating manner and take their teamwork to a whole new level.

So if you are looking for some new and exciting ways to team-build, you have come to the right place. Below are a few fun and creative top team building activities that will bring your employees together and allow them to bond in no time.

 

  1. A little trivia goes a long way.

There’s nothing better than hosting a little friendly trivia day or night to get your employees out of their shells when it comes to top team building activities. Surely, this may sound a little old school and perhaps even dull to some, but it certainly does the trick if you are trying to team-build. Hosting trivia as part of top team building activities is an inexpensive alternative, especially for businesses on a tight budget. Plus, it is not limited to your office building only. There are plenty of options on where you can hold a trivia event. 

Not only this, but if you are trying to bring your employees together, trivia can also act as a great ice breaker, especially for new hires who don’t already know one another or those who work remotely. Not to mention, it is a great way to learn a few fun facts. While you are at it, consider offering some incentive for the winning team. This may be free lunch or even gift cards; You’ll be amazed how it works wonders in encouraging more and more employees to participate.

 

  1. Letting loose with potlucks

Potlucks are another great team-building activity that definitely sounds like a recipe for success. After all, who would want to pass up on food and fellowship? So if you’re going to have something a little more informal yet guaranteed to bring your employees together, consider having a potluck lunch at your workplace. From being a monthly, quarterly, or even a themed potluck on holidays, the options are endless, and your employees will have a ball bringing in food and sharing it with co-workers over small talk.

If you are in the mood to get a little more creative, try planning a “get to know everyone” potluck where all your employees bring in their favorite dish. The more fun and interactive the potluck is, the better the chances of team building and bringing your employees together to boost productivity. So let your employees show off their cooking skills and spend some time getting to know one another over some good home-cooked food.

 

  1. Coming together for the community

While focusing on your business and constantly engaging in ways to become more successful is important, setting aside a little time for a good cause is definitely worth the while. So why not get your employees involved in doing good deeds and giving it back to the community?

Try sitting with your employees and decide what cause you want to help out with. When it comes to serving your community, the options are endless. Divide your employees into teams and get them to volunteer at an animal shelter or serve meals to the homeless or even deliver meals together to the elderly. This way, your team isn’t just coming together to work on a task but also feeling fulfilled by doing something good for the community. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

 

  1. Showing off your team’s sportsman spirit

As entrepreneurs, we all love showing off how our employees worked together as teams and surpassed the targeted goals for the month or even the year. Why not show off your squad at a sporting event to showcase your team spirit and work on team building. Doing so not only helps your employees break the regular work cycle but also bond together as well as improves job satisfaction.

So check out which games are happening in your area and take your team out to a ballgame. Add a little flair to your team by engaging them to work together and paint their own T-shirts that everyone can wear to the game. Take plenty of group photos and post them on social media with witty captions to get even more exposure. Posting team events on social media help you engage with customers and allows you to spotlight how amazing your team is.

 

The bottom line:

Remember! The most successful and memorable top team building activities are the ones that don’t feel like just another day at work. Simply spending time together sharing an unforgettable experience or working towards a common goal allows bonding to happen more organically and far more effectively.

Since the start of the pandemic Zoom has become an even more integral part of the day to day lives for working professionals. Weekly meetings, team huddles, one on ones, presentations, trainings, and any other virtual events can lead to employees battling “Zoom fatigue” if constantly having to meet virtually is a large part of their job.

Here at Let’s CEO have also felt the effects of Zoom fatigue which gave us the idea to publish this post. Below is our attempt to come up with the best possible tips for combating Zoom fatigue so that you can turn your next Zoom meeting into a more effective and engaging experience for everyone.

Related: 7 Steps to a More Successful Zoom Sales Meeting

1. Cutback on Unnecessary Meetings

One of the first and most obvious ways to reduce Zoom fatigue is by cutting down the amount of time you spend on virtual meetings. If you can eliminate meetings by other means of communication, you may find some level of your fatigue alleviated.

2. Reduce Meeting Length

On top of reducing the amount of unnecessary meetings on your calendar you can also reduce the length of meetings that are necessary. By creating meeting agendas and making meetings more efficient you can help everyone by decreasing Zoom fatigue.

3. Change the Format or Structure of the Meeting

Rather than just going down the list on your agenda try and mix things up a little bit. If you have a normal structure that you follow try rearranging it one in a while. Maybe give someone else the meeting agenda and let them try their hand at leading a meeting. This not only eliminates Zoom fatigue but also helps build leadership skills among your employees.

4. Host a Special Guest

Another way to lighten things up includes bringing on a special guest. This could be an expert from your industry, or someone related to a project that you are working on. It could even be someone entirely unrelated that you bring on in order to get your participants more engaged.

5. Create Fun Meeting Themes

A good tip to keep employees and participants engaged and reduced Zoom fatigue is to transform your Zoom meetings into fun and engaging experiences. Create custom themes that participants can use as a background for different meetings. Implement games and activities to keep participants involved and morale high.

6. Promote Participant Interaction

Turn the meeting into more of a back-and-forth round table type discussion. Employees want their voices to be heard. By asking participants to provide feedback or asking them questions you help turn the meeting into more of forum where everyone is engaged.

7. Make Meetings More Engaging

Part of what creates Zoom fatigue isn’t just staring at a screen all day. Some of this can actually be attributed to a lack of interesting or engaging content. During your virtual meeting it is a good idea to prepare and present interesting and engaging content that will excite your participants.

8. Add a Q&A Session

This is something that should always be after every meeting and yet you’d be surprised at how many people overlook this simple step. By having a Q&A session at the end of each meeting you are helping to ensure that your participants fully understand the different topics that were covered.

9. Incorporate Real World Activities

Finally, one great way to eliminated Zoom fatigue is by incorporating real world activities. By adding real world elements to your meeting you help alleviate the virtual elements. One good example of this could be an activity that revolves around March Madness like having everyone create and participate in a bracket challenge and then incorporating aspects of that into your meeting.

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The world has gone through a massive transformation, and artificial intelligence has become the talk of the town. The use of artificial intelligence has revolutionized different sectors, and the clothing industry is one of them. Every clothing sector, from manufacturing to embroidery designing, has been affected by the countless perks of artificial intelligence.

With the use of virtual and augmented reality, the embroidery industry has been turned into something nobody had to imagine before. The prime of this is the use of state-of-the-art machines and automated means for the large-scale production of custom embroidery patches. It’s only due to AI that clothing manufacturers are able to work on 3D designs that were thought to be science fiction in the past.

When it comes to the custom embroidery industry, AI is responsible for tasks like production, order handling, designing, and workflow-related requirements. An embroidery business can become efficient if it uses the means provided by artificial intelligence to enhance the production scale and quality of its products.

 This blog will discuss the benefits of AI that can drastically impact the custom embroidery industry.

 

Automation Embroidery

Automation is a modern marvel that can take the embroidery industry to new heights. The hand-made embroidery often leaves minor details unchecked that can affect the quality of the final product. The automated embroidery services can analyze the minor errors and rectify them according to the requirements to provide high-quality embroidery results. The use of automation can be a perfect choice for facilities that are involved in large-scale production. Automated embroidery also provides clothing manufacturers to be carefree about the overall quality of their products.

 

Maintenance

The embroidery machines that are powered by artificial intelligence have sensors that can do maintenance periodically. The use of AI-powered tools can save maintenance costs and minimize the reliance on manpower. The key benefit that comes with it is that embroidery facilities would no longer need to hire technicians to look after the embroidery machines.

 

Production

Custom embroidery services can expand their production scale by integrating a hybrid (AI + Manpower) model in their production. It would take the scale of manufacturing to new heights providing a minimum margin for error. The handling of large-scale orders and complex designs can be handled by AI-powered solutions that can be integrated into the production facility. A clothing manufacturer can program the required design and sizing details into the system, and the final result would be according to their needs. The use of AI becomes essential if the customized patches are needed to be manufactured in different sizes and shapes for a single order. If you own an embroidery service, you can scale up the total production by using modern AI-powered tools for your embroidery business.

 

Designing Tools

Design plays a pivotal role in the manufacturing of custom embroidery patches. The use of artificial intelligence can enable designers to use state-of-the-art designing techniques that can make the designs even better. The embroidery companies can also use AI to make complete the unfinished designs using the specialized tools that are included in different designing tools. The AI-based solutions can be used to train new designers to align with the modern needs of customized embroidery, providing an embroidery company with surplus design resources.

 

Color Correction

Colors matter the most when it comes to customization of different types of embroidery patches. The reliance on state-of-the-art Ai solutions can help embroidery services to get the colors right every time. The companies can also use AI-based tools to rectify the color-related issues and create new color templates to be used with different designs.

 

Customization

Automation and AI would open new doors for customizations for the custom embroidery industry. The AI solutions can be utilized by companies to implement complex customizations that align with the demands of various customers. The use of artificial intelligence can also help embroidery companies to integrate designing tools into their website. It would help the customers to create their own custom embroidery designs without using any complex design apparatus.

 

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence will continue to assist us in the different sectors, including custom embroidery. The perks that AI offers in terms of embroidery can help clothing brands to design their products according to their vision. It should be noted that AI is still in the developing stages, and the true potential of this technology is yet to be discovered. It’s no wonder that more embroidery services are investing in augmented reality and AI to take their businesses to a new level. Now is the time to start thinking about AI integration in your business model if you are an owner of an embroidery service. It has the potential to take your business in a new direction providing you a clear edge over the competitors.

Article submitted by:

Amelia Sebastian
Affix Apparel

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