July 2022 - Small Business Coach

12 Ways to Make Old and New Employees Feel Motivated

Do employees get better with age, or do they wear out?

The general workplace environment comprises old and new employees, and keeping them motivated can be tricky. Unmotivated workers cost the US economy about $550 billion each year.

As employees get older, their priorities change, and what may have worked in motivating them last year may not work so well the following year. Employers and managers are responsible for finding what works in keeping both their old and new employees motivated.

In this article, we help you uncover the best ways to make your old and new employees feel motivated. We examine the best strategies you can employ to excite your old and new employees for the best performance.

Before we get into that, let’s quickly divert to explain why you need to make both your old and new employees feel motivated.

Why is employee motivation important to your business?

Positive employee testimonials for career pages.

Most candidates view your career page before applying for your job openings. This is the best place to grab their interest.

A typical career page content example is employee testimonials.

When your employees are motivated and active, they give great testimonials and are more valid as they’re delivered on-screen.

You can easily pull the positive quotes of your employees and paste them on your career page.

An excellent career page will fetch you quality talent. You can see great career page examples.

Improved employee turnover rate.

See your employees as family.

Retaining employees is very important for every company; as your employees continue to work for your company, they gain more business experience, improve efficiency, and cut recruitment and training expenses.

Improved relationship between management and staff.

Don’t be the cranky boss. Build great relationships with your staff.

The most motivated staff have great relationships with their leaders or managers. They are always willing to work, make improvements and

accept modifications without debate. Happy employees’ work makes the work easier for their managers.

Enhanced worker performance.

You motivate your employees; they get the job done. Motivation stimulates engagement, and a highly engaged workforce increases profitability by 21%.

When you keep your workers motivated, not only do they get the job done, they do so effectively and efficiently and are more committed to their jobs. Companies with motivated workers are more productive and increase the overall output of the business.

Exceptional quality and improved customer service

A motivated employee is more inclined to work to provide high-standard services and put extra effort into producing quality products. Those in service-related enterprises are also more committed to providing excellent customer service and are more excited about their job.

Find their Commonalities

Every employee needs motivation. Old and new employees may have shared things that make them feel motivated. You can take out time to find those commonalities. Motivating old and new employees aren’t so different from each other. However, we individuals examine the ways of motivating old and new employees.

Finding commonalities and similar interests is a significant part of the social bonding process, and it is always profitable for managers to form bonds between their old and new employees.

Ways to make old employees feel motivated

Employee perks.

It is important to note what perks are not.

Perks don’t include health care, dental, or vision packages.
Employee perks don’t include factors like mission, vision, values, fair play, or a strong/ethical team.
Perks are not the same as company culture but are a component.

A good employee perk is providing travel management services for older employees. Small business travel management companies can help to manage all aspects of business travel for the company’s staff, from signing contracts with airlines and car rental companies to arranging other services. Save your employees the stress involved with business travels and make business travels easier.

Communicate your expectations to them.

Generally, people have misconceptions regarding older employees’ willingness to learn new things. Most old workers are quite teachable and ready to learn new skills, software, and equipment. It’s best to communicate your goals, mission, and expectations to all your employees, both old and new, and have an open mind to avoid the thought that your more senior employees are already burnt out and can’t do much for your company.

Value their experience

Older employees, in most cases, have more experience than new employees. Encourage your new workers to learn from them. Experience is valuable to every business. You should value and encourage your employer more as they stay longer on the job. You can consider making productive ones the head of their various departments.

Take the Time to Understand Their Motivations

It’s essential to find what motivates your older workers. Their motivation might differ from fresher employees, although that isn’t always the care. It is important that you do your research and discover what works. Build a relationship with them and know their personal goals, ambitions, and desires.

Be Open to Feedback

As a good manager or business owner, it’s important to accept older employees’ feedback. Ask your senior employees about your performance, what can be done better and how to make better decisions. Remember, you are dealing with experienced individuals. Listening to their opinions and feedback helps you understand how to motivate them and make them feel important and appreciated. Asking for feedback makes them see you as a leader and not some boss.

Focus on Results

Focus on results rather than their methods of doing things. Older employees usually have a different approach to things. Considering they have been working on a job for several years, they tend to create unique work techniques. Instead of forcing older employees to adopt a new method, focus on the results. The most important thing is to focus on whatever gets the job done, regardless of the techniques adopted.

Ways to make new employees feel motivated

Express trust for new employees

It’s normal to see new employees lack confidence in performing their jobs. It can result from the new environment, new job description, or fear of poor performance. You can avoid this and boost their confidence by expressing trust in them. Show them you expect them to do great in executing tasks, just like older employees. Encouraging them to be the best of themselves is an excellent way to go.

Track their productivity

Set targets and goals for each employee to measure how productive they are. We get motivated when we hit targets, no matter how little. You can employ these tactics for your employees.

It’s important to reward employees that steadily hit their targets. This will encourage them to achieve more and work to develop themselves and improve their efficiency.

Give specific roles to your employees.

Employees are more productive when they have specific tasks assigned to them. It also shows their efficiency and value to the business. As your employees perform their duties, they get motivated to achieve greater heights.

You should make your new employees recognize their role in the business vision and goals and how their performance affects the company. This gives your employees a sense of responsibility.

Stay positive

As a manager, maintain a positive atmosphere. Your employees must see you full of enthusiasm and motivation. Regardless of your feelings, always stay positive and transmit the same to your workers.

Always see the possibility of success in every project.

Create a good work relationship with your new staff

Paying particular attention to your new employees helps them adjust to their new work environment and boosts their performance.

Ask about their challenges and how they are coping with their work. It is also important to get feedback. Their opinions will help you know how to motivate them.

When you succeed in creating a good relationship with your new employees, you’d know their weaknesses and strengths better and how to motivate them. Plus, they will trust you more and be more excited to work for you.

Reward your new employees when they perform well

Rewards best-performing employees to keep them motivated and encourage other employees to put in more work. Create a system that rewards jobs well done. Two-thirds of employees are motivated to stay at their job with the presence of a motivational scheme for employees.

Rewards like extra stipends, movie tickets, and paid days off. You can also ask your employees what they’d love as a good reward. This will help you provide the most motivational incentives.

Wrapping Up the ways to make your old and new employees feel motivated.

We all need inspiration and encouragement to give our best. This is necessary for optimum productivity and profit in the work environment. Companies with highly motivated employees make up to 27% higher profits— this is some high profit, and you can get in on it.

You can keep your employees motivated and active at all times. These simplified strategies can be adapted to help motivate and keep your old and new employees inspired to give in their best.

Your employees are your asset. Keep them motivated.

Author Bio
Martins Favour is a creative content writer with over five years of experience writing SEO content for various brands. She finds a home in weaving worlds out of words. Stories are her life and LinkedIn is her favourite tool.

Managing Virtual Teams Across Time Zones – Maintaining Payroll

Maintaining a budget and adhering to local complacency laws can be tricky when you manage a team of international freelancers. Not only do you have to worry about international penalties, but you also need to navigate tax protocols and streamline your payroll all at the same time.

Why is International Payroll Complicated?

Even when the stars align, running a successful remote small business is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do because running a business is simply difficult. But if you’re only used to paying US-based employees, you’ll have to deal with different banks and payment processors.

While over 73% of international payments are sent from US-based companies, international payroll requires specialized knowledge in multiple areas to keep everything running smoothly.

Without the help of a country-specific financial lawyer, you’ll spend hours sorting out tax and legal issues. If you don’t have an international payroll system in place before you start hiring remote experienced independent contractors or employees, your reputation could take a hit.

Should You Still Hire International Workers?

After explaining that hiring international workers is difficult, you may consider hiring local talent instead. While that is a viable alternative, you have to consider whether that talent is available in your city or if you have the cash flow and infrastructure to hire more in-office employees.

Hiring a fully or partially international workforce can provide you with several benefits, such as business expansion, access to a wider talent pool, and future-proofing. Since work-from-home is in high demand, remote workers are also more likely to be productive, efficient, and loyal.

How to Manage International Teams and Their Payroll Needs

While remote work comes with several positives, you’ll still need to tackle a few challenges and obstacles before you can successfully manage your team. Here are 5 ways to do just that.

1. Use Software That Can Integrate With Payroll Providers

Using payroll software is a no-brainer for international teams. After all, tools like QuickBooks, ADP Workforce, and Payoneer can make your payroll process fast, reliable, and cost-effective.

What’s more, payroll tools that are made with an international workforce in mind come equipped with compliance checks. These will help you avoid mistakes, maintain accurate calculations, and improve data security. You also don’t need any expertise to fully utilize payroll software.

However, even the best software is inefficient if it can’t integrate with the rest of your tools. For example, your payroll tools need to pull from timesheet apps and software to calculate earnings.

Without integration, you’d have to input information manually, which defeats the point of using the software in the first place. Your goal should be to automate as many tasks as possible.

2. Stick to One Solution for a Problem 99% of the Time

While most problems don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution, many of your international payroll woes do. Organization and a lack of policy often plays a role in why you’re struggling.

Suppose you have 10 international employees. 4 of them use PayPal, 3 use Apple Pay, and 3 use wire transfer. Every time you pay an employee, you have to figure out who accepts what and the fee costs. Your employees then have to wait several days to receive their paycheck.

If all international employees used one payment platform, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and make fewer mistakes. If you stick to one solution for 99% of your problems (one payroll software or one communication app), you’ll reduce confusion and keep your virtual team more content.

3. Favor Flexible Hours and Asynchronous Communication

There’s almost no reason to have structured working hours for your employees unless they’re in an upper management position. Even if you can find one, you’ll ideally reduce their structured schedule, as flexible work hours reduce stress levels, psychological distress, and burnout.

Keep in mind that a flexible work schedule doesn’t mean you won’t have deadlines. However, you’ll need to change the way you communicate said deadlines to your international team.

Asynchronous communication, which includes types of communication that don’t need an immediate response, is ideal for a virtual workplace. For example, you could send an email that has to be answered 48 hours after it’s been sent, so everyone has the same exact deadline.

You should also keep tabs on when your team is available. Communication apps like Slack can show who’s online now, while calendars can give you an overall view of your team’s work hours.

4. Set Clear Expectations in and Out of Your Contracts

Whether you’re asking for a payroll update or you’re discussing the terms of a project, you need to be clear about what you expect. This expectation starts the moment you post a job description, as you’ll need them to use the same tools and follow the right policy procedures.

Make sure there aren’t any loose ends or confusion. Even making an Excel checklist could be an impossible task if you aren’t discussing what colors you’ll use to organize information. At the bare minimum, you need to keep calendars up to date and outline who needs to do what.

When your best efforts fall short, encourage your team to speak to you if they need clarification. Being open and transparent will foster trust in your team and create a collaborative atmosphere.

5. Create a Great Experience for International Employees

We discussed how difficult it can be to find suitable talent in your home country. However, remote workers also struggle to find bosses that offer great experiences for their employees.

Talented employees aren’t having a hard time finding work, so don’t expect them to work for your company just because you’re offering USD. While they’ll want you to offer benefits that are relevant to their needs and country, they also expect you to be knowledgeable of their culture.

A centralized payroll approach that accounts for local law and compliance will enable you to deliver on that promise on the business side, but don’t forget to consider their personal needs.

From organizing virtual socializing events with your team to learning about subtle cultural differences between countries, bonding activities will make team management an easier task.

business coaching effective communications grow your business keys to business success

25 Trending Business Ideas to Start a Business

Starting your own business to become your own boss and achieving financial stability is the dream of thousands of people. However, many of them don’t know where to start. In this article, we provide 25 business ideas that could help you determine the route you want to take.

Studying and evaluating high-profile businesses to invest in and start entrepreneurship is a great starting point. In this way, it is possible to find the perfect alternative among several possibilities for you to start working on your business ideas and earn money.

To make your search easier, Sky Marketing has created a list of several profitable and affordable businesses that could be the turning point in your career. Shall we check out the options?

1. Subscription Club

Subscription clubs are making their way into the market by offering product kits for specific subscriber niches. Products are shipped periodically, and the most popular format is monthly.

The opportunity to work with niche audiences offering exactly what they want at an affordable price, is one of the main reasons they keep these businesses booming.

To invest in the creation of a subscription club, research well who your target audience will be, find good suppliers for the type of product that will be offered, bet on variety and always ensure that each item sent has quality.

Some of the most popular topics and articles in subscription clubs are wines, craft beers, beauty products, and the important thing. Upon receiving good products, your customers will feel happy for a good deal and will continue with their subscriptions.

2. 3D Printing

3D printing is not technically a new thing. Prototypes and versions of the technology have been used for specific purposes since the 1980s, creating high-tech devices, parts, and dental molds and meeting the demand of B2B markets.

However, from technological advances, the use and costs of 3D printing are becoming more and more affordable, and it has entered the business category on the rise.

One of the main uses of the technology is the original reason for its development, the creation of parts for the automobile industry. However, there is a hyper-customized demand, a need that requires a unique and specific solution.

In this regard, the production of customized parts related to agribusiness has gained increasing relevance in Pakistan.

3. Financial Consultancy

Many companies face financial crises and face several adversities to overcome them on their own. Professionals with experience in the financial area can offer advice and help entrepreneurs find a solution for their business.

If you want to invest in this career, first, seek to build authority by showing your experience in successful cases. Look to increase your networking, develop your own method of acting and invest in a specific niche.

4. Marketing Consulting

Consulting is one of the hottest businesses for experienced marketing professionals. A marketing consultant, such as Sky Marketing, can help companies that need specialized help structuring and organizing the sales and communication sectors by setting goals and creating strategies.

One of the advantages of this career is that the needs and adaptation of the market to changes provided the opportunity to invest in this business and act by offering online consulting.

To achieve good results as a marketing consultant, invest in your career. Take courses, seek to specialize in one or more segments and create a portfolio of success stories to convey confidence and experience to new potential customers.

5. Application Development

Developers with good ideas who want to become their own boss can take advantage of the growth of the app market and invest in one of the booming businesses that tend to keep growing.

It is possible to create solutions for app stores, such as the App Store and Google Play, and use different monetization methods to generate income through apps developed by a team or even by independent developers.

6. Game Development

The video game industry is already the most profitable market in the field of entertainment, surpassing cinema and music. Its success continues to grow, which means that this segment is a great investment option.

Developers with programming language experience can assemble their teams or work independently to release their games. Professionals who specialize in mobile games may end up coming out ahead, as more than half of the capital moved by this industry is generated from cell phones.

Understanding a little bit of digital marketing and the fundamentals of SEO can help independent professionals to publicize their creations, ensuring success and income in this segment.

7. Selling Food to Niches

Do you have excellent culinary skills, and are you looking for booming businesses that utilize them? Consider specializing in a specific type of food and selling to a niche.

There are many competitors in the food business. Choosing to specialize in a specific type of food is your opportunity to stand out from the competition, increasing your chances of success and opening the opportunity for new market strategies.

We have separated some interesting business ideas: vegetarian foods (no meat), vegan foods (no animal products), low carb foods (low calories), foods for people with diabetes and foods made with organic products.

Each suggestion has a specific target audience. After choosing the type of product that will be offered, recognize who your audience is and develop strategies to serve them in the best possible way.

8. Real Estate Investment

One of the business ideas is an investment in the real estate sector. Those individuals who want to start a business and have a good amount of investment should not miss the chance to invest in Lahore Smart City. People can make these business ideas a lifetime asset and earn profit for the rest of their lives.

9. Virtual Store

Pakistani e-commerce is growing, and it is a sector that has promising data. According to data collected by the Ebit survey, in the first half of 2020 alone, digital commerce increased by 47%. That is, there is plenty of room for those who want to undertake.

So, if you want to stop working for others and be your own boss, consider creating your own online store. The possibility of managing your e-commerce from home and the high profitability that sales can generate are some of the main advantages of this business model.

In addition, people with no programming or design knowledge can use website creation tools to build their stores and customize their stores. Check out some of the best tools that can be used to create your website:

Shopify
wobiz
Integrated Store

site123

10. Import of Products

Have you ever thought about selling imported products? Reselling products from other countries is a way to work with high profits, differentiate yourself from the competition and offer exclusive products for a certain niche.

This is a booming business, as it offers the opportunity to bring new consumer trends to the country. However, to ensure that the activity will be profitable, attention needs to be paid to some points.

Evaluate well the type of product you want to import, its price and who your audience is within the country and research suppliers to choose options that offer quality products and good service. After all, the evaluation of the product that will reach your customers is your responsibility.

Some of the most popular imported items are electronic equipment, designer clothes and shoes, perfume, luxury bags and watches.

11. Selling Clothes to Niches

Most of the booming businesses currently have some characteristics related to customization and personalized service. These aspects can be taken to different types of businesses and make them more attractive to specific niches, such as fashion.

Selling clothing to specific niches is an excellent opportunity to work with a target audience you know. In this way, offering attractive products and a service that takes into account their pains and desires becomes much easier.

Check out some segments that have a relevant audience and can be a good investment: clothing for children, clothing for pregnant women and clothing in special sizes.

12. Pet Market

There are booming business options for those who love animals and want to turn their passion for pets into a full-time profitable activity.

In Pakistan, the pet market is large and has many opportunities for those who want to undertake in the area. 

There are several alternatives for those who want to open a business in the field: pet shops, personalized products for animals, pet hotels, pet food and even themed bars where pets are welcome.

13. Recycled Products

The number of people who value sustainability and the importance of keeping the environment in balance has increased. Therefore, sustainable products have gained more and more prominence in the market.

People with manual skills and creativity can conquer this audience through personalized recycled products such as recycled paper notebooks, glass bottle vases, and shelves with reused wood, among many other possibilities.

14. Personalized Gifts

Personalization and customization are always on the rise. Offering possibilities for people to buy personalized gifts is one of the booming businesses that encompasses a large number of products and possibilities.

Whether through manual skills with crafts or using equipment, it is possible to create personalized clothes, mugs, pillows, diaries, planners, and diaries, among many other options.

15. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an e-commerce model that makes it possible to sell products without the need for inventory control, storage space and logistics concerns. The system works in a simple and practical way.

You find a supplier and start offering your products through an online store. The customer’s orders will be placed in your store, but the person responsible for ordering and delivering the product will be the supplier himself, while the profit is made in the form of commission, the difference between the original value of the product and the value offered in your store.

The model is becoming increasingly popular, and it is already common for stores to find foreign suppliers. However, more Pakistani options are becoming viable, ensuring more agility in the delivery of products.

If you choose this business model, search for the audience of the product you want to offer and get to know several suppliers to choose the best option in products and delivery to customers. After all, shipping and the quality of what is offered will not be responsibilities.

16. Make Sales as an Affiliate

Looking for a way to make money from home using just a computer or smartphone with internet access? Invest in Affiliate Marketing!

Several businesses and products have affiliate programs, a system in which a personalized link is sent, and your job is to spread it among your contacts and use communication strategies to ensure sales.

Then, when leads are generated or customers close deals through your link, you will receive commissions according to the specific program for that product or customer. One of the great advantages is not having to control a stock or take care of the logistics. Your function will only be to generate leads.

Check out some options to sell excellent quality products as an affiliate:

JivoChat Affiliate Program
Hotmart
Eduzz
Monetize

17. Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital marketing is indispensable for companies that want to establish their presence online. Optimizing your campaigns for the internet and creating SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies to reach the top of the results on search pages are some of the important tasks of this professional.

It is possible to act in this market by offering personalized services to companies as independent professionals or through their own marketing agency.

So, take advantage of this opportunity. After all, most of the businesses on the rise are services connected to the internet or use the promotion of their brand online.

18. Social Media Management

Businesses that want to expand their online presence and strengthen their relationship with consumers have started to use social networks.

Due to this professional use, the platforms grew, and the complexity of their resources increased to better meet the marketing needs of companies and offer the option of creating more effective campaigns.

It was then that the role of the social media manager gained more importance: managing content through editorials, planning publications, finding opportunities for online actions, monitoring comments, developing strategies for networks and evaluating reports.

Qualifications in the field are required to work in social media, but they can be obtained online. It is also important to be constantly updated on trends on the internet, changes in platforms and key metrics that should be evaluated in the profiles of the brands served.

19. Writing for Companies

Inbound marketing, or content marketing, is a very powerful resource for brands to build authority, strengthen their brand, advertise their products or services, and attract new customers. Blue World City has used this business idea, leading to its fame all across the country.

In the era of personalization, products, services, and customer service get better results when customized for your audience. With content, it would be no different. The market is increasingly valuing personalized content, and most companies outsource this type of work.

In other words, it is an opportunity for independent professionals with writing skills who are looking for booming business ideas to start their own business. After all, to get started, all you need is a computer with an internet connection and creativity.

Writers can work with different content formats. Publications for blogs, creation of e-books, creation of publications for social networks, advertisements, scripts, texts for emails, and newsletters, in short, countless ways to create texts with creativity.

20. Digital Products

Looking for other types of business ideas on the rise that use your creativity and knowledge as raw material? Invest in creating and selling digital products.

It is possible to earn well and continue generating passive income through the sale of info products. Products that do not need a stock to be stored and do not deteriorate over time.

E-books, video classes, courses, podcasts, audiobooks, infographics and a huge range of other electronic materials can be marketed if they bring valuable content to an interested audience.

The great advantage of this business model is the possibility of continuing to generate sales for an unlimited time. After all, there is no restriction on the number of sales. There is no need to worry about logistics, and the products last as long as their content is relevant. And, of course, they are always susceptible to new updates.

If you want to make money selling digital products, invest most of your time and attention in creating each material, ensuring a quality product. In this way, it will be marketed for a long time and bring a lot of returns to your business.

21. Photography

It takes a low investment to start working in the photography business, but after gaining credibility and a good portfolio, this is one of the booming businesses that can generate very profitable results.

The first step for anyone who wants to work independently with photography is a professional quality camera and the skill gained through learning to take beautiful photos that delight your clients.

The versatility of this career is very great. Professionals can open their own studios, work with external photographs, specialise in events, advertising photos, food photos, and sell material for image banks. In short, there are countless possibilities that lovers of photography can explore.

Courses and professionalization is very important for those who want to follow this professional path, but of course, only practice will bring the results that win new customers.

22. Video Editing

Videos are essential for content marketing strategies, as well as being the main content offered by digital influencers and YouTubers. However, companies or personalities do not always have a qualified professional to carry out this work.

People who are interested in editing and creating videos can invest in courses and the necessary equipment to offer their services to this audience.

23. Create Your own Blog

The blog could not be left out of our list of trending businesses. This is a great venture option for people with little investment and who want to work from home.

The number of topics that can be addressed through the blog format is immense and allows you to work writing about subjects that you like and have an affinity for. This alone helps your content have more value and quality.

However, the monetization of this business model is not directly linked to the content or quality of the content but is directly affected by the amount of traffic generated on its pages.

When your blog has a consistently high number of visitors, you can explore several ways to earn money: through ads made on GoogleAds, ads served directly on your blog, sponsored content, product reviews and many other options.

If you like the idea and want to get started, consider using the tools to create your free blog and don’t waste any more time.

24. YouTube

Creative people who produce their own content and have the skill to edit their videos can invest in the world’s most popular audiovisual content sharing platform and create their own YouTube channel.

If you speak well in front of the cameras, have a lot of knowledge about a specific subject and have created, your chances of success on the platform will be high.

However, producing content for YouTube is not an activity that will bring a return on your investment very quickly. First, you will need to gain a good number of subscribers and have many views on your videos so that your content starts to be monetized efficiently.

25. Craft Beer

Craft beers have conquered the market in recent years and remain a booming business even today.

The diversity of flavors, aromas and origins made the product a hit with enthusiasts and even those who don’t know so much about drinks.

This is a great business opportunity to work with the flavors you love and share them with your audience.

Did you Like the Trending Business Ideas to Start a Business?

We hope that the items we have brought in our article have helped you find a profitable venture to invest in. Several options are very affordable and can be started even in a few days.

Remember, if you need a communication channel to chat with customers in real-time on your website, count on JivoChat . You can install it for free and integrate it with your communication channels to bring efficiency to your sales.

Business planning effective communications grow your business keys to business success

Self-Service Portals For Customers – Examples, Toolkits & More

While it’s important for your business to offer customer support, it’s also a good idea to use self-service portals for customers. The portals provide customers with information and resources that help them to find answers to questions and resolve issues.

By using self-service portals in the right way, you can enhance customer satisfaction. That’s because today’s consumers want fast and easy answers to their queries that they can find themselves, rather than having to contact customer support.

A well-built portal will provide your customers with instantaneous access to answers and solutions regarding your products, services, and company.

Not only do self-service customer portals improve customer satisfaction. They also benefit your customer service team because they will need to respond to fewer customer inquiries and can in turn focus on solving issues that really need help and intervention.

So, let’s take a look at self-service portals for customers in more detail, including examples, toolkits, and more.

What should self-service portals for customers include?

You should tailor a self-service portal to your specific company, but in general, self-service portals provide customers with information and resources about things like your products, services, the company itself, customer account information, and order statuses.

Portals can also automate routine issues, such as changing customer passwords or account information. Furthermore, effective portals include interactive and engaging guides and resources that address the most important customer support topics.

Your portal should contain a comprehensive knowledge base that covers all of the major issues and questions that your customers have.

You could also include a live chat feature. While self-service portals reduce the need for customers to contact customer support, there will always be times when some customers need to speak to a human being.

When you utilize live chat, you can expedite the customer service process by providing immediate assistance from an actual customer support agent.

Examples of Self-Service Portals for Customers

To give you a better idea of what you could include in your self-service portal, it’s worth looking at some examples.

YouSign

The platform YouSign provides legally-binding eSignature solutions for documents. Its self-service portal has many features, including interactive guides that use animated GIFs to demonstrate how customers can complete tasks, such as creating signature requests.

The portal also contains video content, which enables customers to absorb the information they need in an easy-to-follow way.

Malt

The freelancer site Malt’s self-service portal provides clear information for both freelancers and clients, and certain sections have tutorials for people who are new to features.

Furthermore, because Malt operates in several countries, the help center is set up to change the language in a seamless fashion, based on where a specific customer is located. So, customers don’t have to waste valuable time looking at ways to translate the content.

Speaking of providing support in multiple languages, check out the case for using multilingual cross-border marketing.

HelpSpot

HelpSpot provides excellent self-hosted help desk software. It also has a fantastic self-service portal to ensure customer satisfaction. For instance, there’s an easy-to-use knowledge base, a fully customized contact form, and a self-service reporting feature that tracks what customers are searching for.

So, not only does the portal enhance customers’ experiences. It also enables companies to access valuable data to adapt their services accordingly.

Self-Service Portal Toolkits

There are multiple tools that could be included in your customer self-service portals. For instance, it could be as simple as including FAQ web pages that answer all of the common questions that your customers have.

By providing FAQs, you not only create greater customer satisfaction. You also get to decrease call volume to your customer support agents and showcase your company expertise.

Get started by checking out this guide to writing FAQs.

Other tools that you should consider utilizing in your self-service portals include:

Chatbots, which are able to answer and resolve customer issues around-the-clock in a conversational manner.
Downloads, which provide customers with a variety of resources, such as video tutorials, infographics, e-books, and user manuals.
AI search functions, which help to provide customers with more advanced search results to answer their questions and concerns. By the way, you can also use AI to help improve your sales team.
Online forums, which could include things like troubleshooting information and can enable customers to connect with other customers to share tips and read reviews.

And speaking of reviews, take a look at these creative ways in which you can get online reviews for your business.

Tips for Implementing Your Customer Self-Service Portals

You now have a good idea of what customer self-service portals are and what features and tools they should contain. But to make the most out of your portal, consider the following tips.

Update Your Content Regularly

You need to ensure that the content you provide via your self-service portal is accurate and up-to-date. Seeing as all companies go through changes, it’s vital that you update your portal regularly; perhaps every six months to a year.

Implement a content review process to track any changes in things like the specifications of your products and services. By regularly refreshing your portal, you can ensure your customers always access reliable information.

Use Multimedia as Much as Possible

Using multimedia like videos, images, animations, and infographics can help to engage customers more and provide them with answers and resources in easy-to-understand ways. So, make sure that you use multimedia in your portal as much as possible.

Ensure Your Portal Is Mobile-Friendly

Your self-service portal should work on any device, so ensure that it’s optimized for mobile.

Many customers will want to resolve issues while they’re on the go, rather than having to wait to get home, so don’t underestimate how important it is that your self-service portal is mobile-friendly.

Make Sure Your Portal Is Easy for Customers to Use

Lastly, it’s imperative that your self-service portals are easy for customers to use. If it isn’t, you will soon find you have dissatisfied customers on your hands.

Look at every element of your portal, such as the interface, the navigation, the aesthetic quality, and so on, to make certain that your portal is easy to use.

You can then ensure your customers get the most out of your portal and are satisfied with the clear information and assistance that your company provides.

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How to Create a Business Budget for Your Small Business

If you’re a small business owner, then you know that budgeting is key to your success. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend and find yourself in the “I need emergency money” kind of financial trouble. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks for creating a business budget that works for your small business.

Any new small-business owner will quickly learn that there are a lot of things they have to do that they have never done before. One of these is creating a business budget. This can be an intimidating task, especially for those who are just starting out. Where do you find the right financial information? How do you put all the data together in the right order? And what is all this business finance terminology anyway?

It can be enough to scare some people away from starting a business at all. In fact, one study suggests that most small-business owners don’t even have a budget when they first start out. However, the process of creating a business budget doesn’t have to be difficult if you approach it in the right way. By taking some time to understand the basics of business finance, you can develop a budget that will help your business succeed.

Small Business Budgeting in the US

Small businesses are the backbone of the US economy, accounting for more than half of all private-sector employment. Yet, despite their vital role, small businesses often have a difficult time surviving and thriving. One of the biggest challenges they face is budgeting.

According to a recent survey, only 42% of small businesses use a formal budget. This can be a major problem, as businesses that don’t budget are more likely to make impulse purchases, overspend on unnecessary costs, and ultimately fail.

The good news is that there are a number of resources available to help small businesses with their budgeting. The Small Business Administration, for example, offers free online courses on financial management. There are also numerous software programs designed specifically for small business budgeting. With a little bit of effort, any small business can develop a sound budget and put themselves on the path to success.

Why You Need a Business Budget

One of the most important things a business budget does is help you track your progress. This information can be invaluable in helping you make decisions about where to allocate your resources. A budget also forces you to think about your long-term goals and how you can achieve them. Without a budget, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day expenses of running a business and lose sight of your overall objectives.

A 7-Step Guide on How to Create a Small Business Budget

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of a business budget, let’s talk about how to create one. Follow these seven steps and you’ll be on your way to developing a budget that works for your small business.

Step One: Know Your Business Finances

The first step in creating a budget is understanding your current financial situation. This means knowing how much money you have coming in and going out each month. You can find this information by looking at your past bank statements and credit card bills. If you don’t have this information readily available, you can contact your bank or accountant to get it.

Step Two: Determine Your Business Goals

The next step is to determine your business goals. What do you want to achieve in the short-term and long-term? Be specific about what you want to accomplish and when you want to achieve it. This will help you develop a budget that is focused on achieving your goals.

Step Three: Identify Your Revenue Streams

Now that you know your financial situation and have set your goals, it’s time to identify your revenue streams. This is the money that comes into your business from sales, investments, and other sources. Make a list of all the ways you generate income and estimate how much money you bring in each month.

Step Four: Calculate Your Expenses

The fourth step is to calculate your expenses. This includes both your fixed expenses, like rent and utilities, and your variable expenses, like marketing and inventory. Once you have a good understanding of your monthly expenses, you can start to develop a budget.

Step Five: Develop a Business Budget System

The fifth step is to develop a budgeting system. Once you have a clear picture of your income and expenses, it’s time to develop a budgeting system. There are many different ways to do this, so find one that works for you. You can use a spreadsheet, budgeting software, or even a simple piece of paper. The important thing is to find a system that is easy to use and understand.

For example, if you’re using a spreadsheet, be sure to include columns for each month and categories for your income and expenses. This will help you track your progress and see where you can make adjustments. If you’re using budgeting software, look for features that will help you stay on track, such as alerts when you reach your spending limit.

And if you’re using a paper budget, be sure to keep it in a place where you’ll see it often, such as on the refrigerator door. By taking the time to develop a budgeting system that works for you, you’ll be well on your way to achieving financial success.

Step Six: Track Your Progress

The sixth step is to track your progress. This means monitoring your income and expenses on a regular basis. This will help you see where your money is going and make sure you are on track to meet your budget goals. By tracking your progress, you will be able to identify any areas where you are overspending or not meeting your income goals. Additionally, this step will help you develop a more accurate picture of your financial situation. As a result, you will be able to make better-informed decisions about your finances.

Step Seven: Make Adjustments with your Business Budget

The final step in creating a business budget is to make adjustments. As your business grows and changes, so will your income and expenses. Be prepared to adjust your budget accordingly. This may mean setting aside more money for marketing or hiring additional staff. Whatever the case may be, be sure to keep a close eye on your budget and make changes as needed. If you need to accelerate your cash flow, invoice factoring (or other alternative funding solutions) can help. By following these seven steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful business budget.

In Conclusion

By following these seven steps, you can develop a budget that works for your small business. A budget is an important tool for tracking your progress and ensuring you are on track to meet your goals. By understanding your financial situation and knowing your revenue streams, you can create a budget that will help you achieve success.

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Running a Successful Remote Small Business

Remote small business work has seen a huge influx over the last few years. It was already on the rise, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to change the way they operate. Now, as we enter a post-pandemic society, many companies are sticking with remote environments. They offer more flexibility, are typically cheaper to run, and have a global talent pool.

Running a remote small business can also help to improve employee morale. About 77% of remote workers say they are happier and more productive working from home rather than coming into an office space with distractions.

However, running a small business in person is often difficult enough. Then, you combine managing the ins and outs of your company from a remote location with keeping track of employees from different locations. You’re likely to have some speed bumps along the way, but the results are worth the effort.

Let’s cover some of the best tips you can implement to run your remote business successfully.

Starting With the Right Space for your Remote Small Business

If you’re running a business, you have to make your remote working space a priority. Having a home office has many benefits. You can be flexible with your time, you’re likely to be more comfortable, and you can decorate in a way that works for you.

Having a designated space for yourself is essential when it comes to running a business. Your office design needs to be practical and functional so you can stay productive without feeling burnt out.

When you have a separate office space, you’re more likely to strike a healthy work-life balance. This can help both your business and your overall well-being. Once you have an office space in your home, the next step is to build a healthy working routine around it, including things like:

Starting work at the same time each day;
Taking frequent breaks;
Making a to-do list for the most important tasks;
Letting family members who live with you know your working hours;
Stopping at a certain point every day.

You’re in a leadership position, and you should take that into consideration every time you sit down to work each day. Encourage your employees to have dedicated office spaces of their own or places they can go to work effectively and efficiently without distractions.

By setting an example with your own home office — especially if you frequently hold virtual meetings or video chats — those who work for you are more likely to follow suit. If you want to take things one step further, implement policies that naturally encourage productivity and stress reduction. Encourage employees to take breaks. Discourage working after hours. The more you embrace the flexibility and potential productivity of a remote lifestyle, the better.

Protecting Your Information in Your Remote Small Business

One of the reasons why remote work is becoming a permanent fixture is due to the ever-changing advancements in technology. Without these advancements, it wouldn’t be possible to keep your employees connected and ensure everyone stays on the same page.

However, there are some potential risks and drawbacks that come with that kind of technology. For starters, cyber attacks are on the rise and can pose a huge threat to small businesses. You might not have the budget for a highly-advanced cybersecurity system. There are still things you can do to keep yourself, your employees, and your business’ data safe.

The most important thing is to educate yourself and your staff. The more you understand cyber threats and how attacks work, the more vigilant you can be. Provide training for your employees and create a cybersecurity plan that allows everyone to take precautions and know exactly how to protect their information. Your plan should include:

Creating strong passwords;
Securing your Wi-Fi network;
Using a firewall;
Investing in antivirus software;

Backing up data;
Using cloud-based security.

It’s also worthwhile to hire an IT professional that can help your business if a data breach or cyber attack does occur. Nowadays, many IT pros work in the gig economy. You can hire a trusted professional as needed rather than keeping someone on the payroll.

Even though most of your work is done online, it’s just as important to protect hard copies of data that you might be storing in your home office. Keep those sensitive documents safe by utilizing a local shredding service. Leave no trace of important data anywhere, so you can ensure it never ends up in the wrong hands.

Keeping Your Employees Connected and Content

There are many mental health benefits to working remotely. Studies have shown it can help reduce stress and improve concentration and focus. However, the potential drawback is a lack of interaction and support.

When everyone is working in an office setting, there’s regular conversation and communication throughout the day. It’s easy to tell your employees they’re doing a good job or recognize them for their hard work. That isn’t always the case when everyone is working remotely.

As a leader, make sure you’re staying connected with your employees on a regular basis. Doing so will help them thrive in a remote environment and boost their motivation and productivity. Make sure you’re checking in frequently to ensure they have everything they need, and consider asking for feedback on what your business could be doing to create a more positive work environment.

You can also keep your employees connected to each other by encouraging group work and projects. Even if they can’t come together in person, there are plenty of ways they can work together on something through various digital platforms. Things like email, video conferencing, cloud-based storage, and instant messaging are all great ways to help your employees form strong working bonds. These bonds can help combat the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can sometimes come from working remotely.

It’s not just big businesses that will benefit from switching to remote environments. Your small business can run successfully with employees all over the world. Keep these suggestions in mind as you work to grow your endeavors, and you’ll keep your employees content while boosting your success.

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Headless Commerce: The Evolution of Selling Online

In the last few years, online shopping has greatly evolved. The customers want a seamless shopping experience, plenty of options in every product category, faster checkouts and same-day delivery and, in some cases, even within a few hours. It’s quite apparent how difficult it is for eCommerce business owners to match this pace and satisfy customer demands.  Selling online can prove to be very challenging, but also very beneficial to your company.

Traditional eCommerce can no longer support the growing customer demands. There are many positives, though, like the advancement in the IoT field that has benefitted online retailers. And there’s another new strategy adopted by the current eCommerce stores – it’s headless commerce. Here’s how it is taking eCommerce to the next level.

Flexibility in new eCommerce models

Nearly all traditional eCommerce models are built on monolithic architecture. This is an all-in-one model where all eCommerce activities are done in a single unit. The problem with such a model is limited flexibility. Its speed and functionality decrease as the number of users grows. 

When an upgrade is needed, monolithic architecture presents a big challenge to eCommerce. A minor update, such as adding a code, demands the entire structure to be updated. In a fast-growing eCommerce environment, this negatively impacts the business. 

Decoupling the monolithic platform is the new solution to its challenges. The technology behind a decoupled network is headless eCommerce. A decoupled architecture provides further benefits when a business adopts an eCommerce microservices architecture. The top benefit of eCommerce microservices is high flexibility in new eCommerce models. Each application is broken into micro components that provide a unique service on the user interfaces. 

Each micro component works independently but communicates with the entire system through an API. This ensures the entire system remains highly flexible to provide an unprecedented customer experience. 

Combining mobile applications and websites

In traditional eCommerce, a business depended on the desktop first design, where the default design was based on a computer design framework. The technology worked well until when more shoppers began using mobile devices to shop. The traditional desktop-first design could no longer support fast-growing eCommerce. 

Today’s business adopts a mobile-first design approach where the default design is based on mobile technology. This has helped revolutionize online selling through headless commerce. Decoupling the front end from the back end has given rise to a wide range of mobile and web applications. 

All these applications perform their functions independently without pure reliance on the back end. In a microservice architecture, each application is broken into smaller units that can work independently. Web and mobile applications are interconnected through a series of APIs to complete requests made through mobile devices and computers. 

This is the new evolution that headless eCommerce has brought to online stores. The stores can take advantage of hundreds of applications to connect with thousands of clients through multiple devices. Whether you send requests from mobile apps or computer apps, the experience will be the same. 

Highly integrated systems

Managing multiple platforms and a large number of applications is not easy for online businesses. Companies have to manage orders coming from sales channels and manage big data, POS, ERP, and many other platforms. The solution is to integrate all the platforms and applications to create a centralized system. 

If companies use the traditional online store approach, they will revert to monolithic architectures. Headless eCommerce helps integrate the entire system while each application works independently. It creates an online business with a high level of efficiency and productivity. 

A highly integrated online business system creates an error-free eCommerce environment. The system helps save time, increases delivery speed, and develops enhanced output. The customer gets satisfied, which opens greater opportunities for online stores to increase sales. 

Websites respond faster in a decoupled online environment. All that takes place in the backend doesn’t need to change in the front end and vice versa. This creates a front end that is superfast and a highly efficient storefront compared to traditional online storefronts. 

Better control and consistency

Headless commerce technology gives developers the freedom to exercise their creativity. They are no longer restricted to the need to make complete changes to systems whenever they create a new application or upgrade an existing one. This is one of the advantages that has paved the way for the development of microservices architectures.

They can leverage innovations, upgrade applications, fix bugs, and improve brands without worrying about system performance. They have total control of the system, and they maintain brand consistency effectively. Innovation can be impossible if developers cannot control the systems and entire front-to-back and back-to-front processes. 

This is the best way to ensure the systems are consistent and up to date with current trends. What the customers see in marketing campaigns and storefronts should be consistent with their checkout experiences. This solution is effectively provided by headless commerce and the benefits of microservices. 

Leveraging generic systems for selling online

In headless commerce, users make requests from multiple platforms. The requests are sent to the backend through an API, and then the backend communicates the result through the same API. The result is displayed on the screen of the user’s device as information. 

In a situation where the backend is decoupled from the front end, the front end is made highly generic. This means the front end can effectively interact with any type of application and send the correct API requests. It can communicate with web browsers, freeware, database software, word processors, multimedia software, spreadsheet software, and many more. 

A generic system allows front-end developers to create an unlimited number of applications. They can create web, mobile, kiosk, and smart device applications that enhance user engagement and experience. On the other hand, the backend developers can upgrade the backend system by creating functionalities that support new APIs created on the front end. This creates an online store that is agile, user-friendly, and resilient. 

Increased sales with selling online

Headless commerce allows developers to create customized applications that meet customer demands. Each business is unique and serves unique customers. Apart from a customized and personalized system, headless technology allows adaptability. It can adapt to multiple channels and IoT devices. This allows businesses to adopt effective omnichannel strategies, which lead to increased sales. 

Conclusion on Selling Online

Headless commerce has led to a new evolution of online business. Decoupled systems allow greater innovation, such as application microservices. Developers are freer to create a wide range of applications and avail them to customers. By availing new technologies to customers, the business equips them with the power of choice. They can choose to shop using any digital device and notice no difference in experience or request responses. In the long run, the online store benefits more through increased sales. 

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How European Startups Can Reach More American Customers

For the businesses of Europe, cracking the American market is not always straightforward. Aside from the cultural differences which some brands struggle to encompass, there are also the administrative challenges to overcome. European startups are especially susceptible to falling short when crossing over to America, so let’s talk through some tactics and techniques to try out which solve many common snafus.

Get a US phone number

With a US phone number, your geographical location is rendered irrelevant, and you can serve American consumers even if you’re based elsewhere in the world.

There are two reasons to take this route, the first of which is to reduce or even eliminate the costs that customers would otherwise incur for calling you. It’s cheaper and more convenient for them to be able to dial a US number, even if this does leave you with additional costs to pay.

The second benefit comes from a branding perspective. If you want to make your startup appear to have a local presence, a US number will do this. The same applies to having a US postal address, so consider adding that to your arsenal as well.

Build a US-specific sales team

If you’re already established as a startup in Europe and you’re eyeing up America as your next move, then you need to recognize that your approach to sales will need to shift.

You could take a whole team over with you to get the ball rolling, but in reality it’s better to hire those who already have experience and expertise in encompassing the different sales ecosystem stateside.

One affordable alternative to opening a full-blown office of your very own is to instead partner with an existing sales solution provider, and piggyback on their resources instead. If things go well, there’s always the option of going solo further down the line.

Adapt your marketing with your European startups

We’ve touched on how American customers will have different expectations about how businesses and brands reach out to them, and it’s sensible to break this down further into specific examples.

First, there’s the tone you use in your promotional materials. As well as adjusting copy to avoid using words and phrases that aren’t used in the US, you’ll need to think about how your broader brand personality is laid out, and whether it matches American sensibilities.

Then there’s the marketing methods themselves; social media marketing is hugely impactful in America, and influencers are especially powerful. As such, if you aren’t too reliant on this as part of your European operations, making a switch to your focus as you tackle the US is wise.

Leverage established platforms

Similar to the aforementioned use of a US phone number, you can also bring American consumers onboard if you sell to them through channels that they already know and trust.

While you can and should set up a standalone e-commerce site, it is handy to also embrace third party marketplaces like eBay and Amazon so that you can reach out to prospective customers with ease. This will even streamline the distribution of products, because you can harness the extensive infrastructures that platforms like this offer to sellers.

Final thoughts on European startups

Expecting instant success when moving into the American market is unhelpful for all startups, especially those based in an entirely different continent.

Making tweaks to turn US consumers onto your brand, rather than hoping that you’ll be able to get by on the exotic nature of European businesses in an American context, is advised. And patience will avoid disappointment and burnout during the early phases of your transatlantic transition.

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10 New Technologies That Can Help Your Small Business Grow

If you’re like most small business owners, you wear a lot of hats. You’re the CEO, the marketing department, the IT support, and everything in between. It’s no wonder that you’re always looking for ways to get things done more efficiently. Luckily, there are a growing number of new technologies that can help small businesses like yours to streamline operations and drive growth.

Here we check out 10 new technologies that can help your small business grow.

1. Social media marketing

If you own a small business, you may be looking for ways to grow your company. While traditional marketing methods can be effective, you may also want to consider using some new technologies to reach a wider audience.

Social media marketing is one option that can be very helpful. By creating profiles on popular platforms like Facebook and Twitter, you can connect with potential customers from all over the world. You can share information about your products and services, as well as offer discounts and special promotions.

In addition, you can use social media to build relationships with other businesses in your industry. By working together, you can create a powerful network that can help your small business grow.

Another option to consider is using email marketing. This involves sending out newsletters or other promotional materials to a list of subscribers. Email marketing can be an effective way to reach a large number of people without spending a lot of money. You can also use it to target specific groups of people who are more likely to be interested in your products or services.

2. Mobile payments

If you own a small business, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies. After all, early adopters often have a leg up on the competition. One area that is rapidly evolving is mobile payments.

Mobile payments refer to any type of financial transaction that is conducted via a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. There are a number of ways to accept mobile payments, including Near Field Communication (NFC), QR codes, and dedicated apps.

By giving customers the option to pay with their phones, you can make it more convenient for them to do business with you. In addition, mobile payments can help you save money on processing fees. If you’re not already accepting mobile payments, now is the time to start.

3. Cloud storage

In the past, small businesses had to invest in expensive on-premise storage solutions to keep their data safe. However, with the advent of cloud storage, businesses of all sizes can now enjoy enterprise-grade storage at a fraction of the cost.

Cloud storage is perfect for small businesses that are growing quickly and need to be able to scale their storage capacity up or down as needed. In addition, cloud storage is more reliable than on-premise storage, meaning that your data will be safe even if your local servers go down.

Since cloud storage is managed by experts, you can rest assured that your data is always secure. If you’re looking for a way to help your small business grow, cloud storage is a great option.

4. Online bookkeeping and accounting

Online accounting and bookkeeping can be a valuable tool for small businesses because it allows them to manage their finances in a more efficient and organized way. It also gives business owners the ability to track their expenses and see where they are spending the most money. As a result, they can make necessary changes to save money and increase profits.

In addition, online bookkeeping and accounting can help businesses keep track of customer payments, liabilities, and even joint credit. If you looking for a joint credit meaning, is the process of two business owners sharing the same credit. To elaborate, it takes into account the combined credit history, income and assets of two or more business owners. All of this is essential for managing cash flow.

5. GPS tracking for vehicles

GPS tracking can be used to track the location of company vehicles in real-time, which can be helpful for several different purposes. For example, it can be used to track down a lost or stolen vehicle or to monitor the whereabouts of employees.

GPS tracking can also be used to optimize route planning, ensuring that employees are taking the most efficient routes and saving time and money. In addition, GPS tracking can be used to monitor driver behavior, such as how fast they are driving or how many stops they make.

By using GPS tracking, small businesses can gain valuable insights into their operations, and make changes that can improve efficiency and bottom line.

6. Employee time tracking

In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s more important than ever to keep track of employee time and attendance. New technologies can help your small business stay ahead of the curve by providing accurate, real-time data on employee hours.

This information can be used to make informed decisions about staffing levels, scheduling, and even compensation. Employee time tracking can also help you identify patterns of absenteeism or productivity issues.

By using new technologies to track employee time, you can ensure that your small business is running as efficiently as possible.

7. Project management software

This kind of software can help you to keep track of all your ongoing projects, assign tasks to team members, and monitor deadlines. Having everything in one place will help you to stay organized and on top of your workload. Additionally, many project management platforms offer features like real-time chat and file sharing, which can further improve collaboration within your team.

Implementing new technologies in your business can be a big undertaking. However, the benefits often outweigh the costs. When used effectively, project management software can help you to get more done in less time, freeing up valuable resources that can be reinvested in other areas of your business. In today’s competitive landscape, anything that gives you an edge is worth considering.

8. Customer relationship management software

In the business world, it’s all about relationships. Building strong relationships with customers is essential for any business that wants to thrive. Customer relationship management (CRM) software can help small businesses build and maintain strong customer relationships.

CRM software helps businesses track customer interactions, manage customer data, and automate customer communication. In addition, CRM software can help businesses track sales opportunities and provide valuable insights into customer behavior. As a result, CRM software can be an invaluable tool for small businesses that want to grow their customer base.

Thanks to CRM software, building and maintaining strong customer relationships is easier than ever before.

9. Inventory management software

In any small business, inventory management is key to success. You need to know what you have in stock, how much it will cost to replace it, and when you need to reorder.

In the past, this was a time-consuming process that involved maintaining physical records and doing regular countdowns of your stock. However, there are now a number of different software programs that can help you manage your inventory more efficiently. These programs can track your inventory levels in real time, generate reports on your sales and stock levels, and even send automatic reorder requests to your suppliers.

As a result, investing in an inventory management system can save you a great deal of time and money. And with the increase in accuracy and efficiency, it can also help your small business grow.

10. E-commerce platforms and tools

Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic shift in the way that businesses operate. With the advent of the internet, more and more businesses are moving online. As a result, there is an increasing demand for e-commerce platforms that can help businesses to reach a wider audience.

While there are many different e-commerce platforms available, choosing the right one for your business can be a challenge. To help you make the best decision for your business, here are three of the most popular e-commerce platforms:

Shopify: Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features to help businesses grow. It includes everything from a simple website builder to powerful marketing tools. In addition, Shopify provides 24/7 customer support, making it a perfect fit for small businesses.

WooCommerce: WooCommerce is a well known WordPress based plugin that allows businesses to turn their WordPress website into an online store. It includes features such as product management, order management, and payment processing. WooCommerce is a great option for businesses that are already using WordPress for their website.

Magento: Magento is an open-source e-commerce software with a vast range of capabilities and customization alternatives. It’s an excellent choice for organizations that require a more sophisticated online store. Magento comes in two flavors: enterprise and community, making it a great option for businesses of all sizes.

No matter what sort of business you have, there is an e-commerce platform that can help you grow. By investing in an e-commerce platform, you can reach a larger audience and make it easier to sell your products or services.

Conclusion on New Technologies

It is quite evident that technology has had a profound effect on the way small businesses operate. In particular, new technologies have made it easier than ever for businesses to connect with customers and sell products or services online.

Thanks to advances in CRM software, inventory management software, and e-commerce platforms, among other things, small businesses can now manage their customer relationships, stock levels, and online stores more efficiently. These businesses are better able to grow and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.

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Top 7 Benefits Of Building An MVP

Software development is aimed at solving a particular problem and one way to achieve that aim is to create a minimum viable product. A minimum viable product or MVP is a basic version of a software or app that can meet the targeted users’ needs and collect adequate feedback for improvement. This is an important part of the product development process.

The users of this age are more poised to use an app or software that solves their problem in the shortest time with the best user experience. Apart from that, the software developer also needs to be sure that the investment into creating the app is worthwhile. All of these make MVP software development an important step. You can start your product development process with an MVP development company today.

There are several benefits of building an MVP. The obvious ones are the chance to get firsthand glean into what users want and make the best of the software development investment. Below are the 7 main benefits:

1. You Can Save your Money

The first advantage of creating an MVP product is that it is economical. It is a huge monetary cost to develop an app. To put that investment to the best use, then the app must be developed from the eye of the user, not just based on the thoughts or imaginations of the developer.

There is less money needed to create a minimum viable product since it only has the basic functionalities to meet the users’ needs. The budget is minimal and the product gives the needed information on the best ways to create the full app or software. With startup MVP, there is a focus on the appropriation of the full app development budget. Unnecessary designs and functionalities are easily avoided, cutting down the cost.

2. You Can Save your Time

Another major cost of app development after money is time. With an MVP product, you get to save time. The basic functionalities are included in the minimum viable product, so it takes less time to create. This makes the time for market entry short. Once the core functions are created in the product, they can be released to users.

If it would have taken about 6 months for full app development, an MVP will only take about a month. This ensures that another startup will not have time to launch the same product before you. Time is of the essence and building MVP saves it. The faster you get the MVP out in the market, the quicker you begin to get the needed feedback for the full development.

3. You Can Attract Investors

Many times, you need investors for a cash injection to take your business to the next level. A very important benefit is the attraction of investors. The minimum viable product shows the investors the core features and benefits of the product. This way, the investors have a tangible feel of your idea in a product not just based on a virtual presentation or word of mouth.

Startup MVP packaged with the right business plan should convince any investor interested in your product niche. The MVP will show them the potential of your product and make your idea real. This validity is important in convincing them to invest in your product.

4. You Can Learn What Your Customers Really Want

A business that stays in the heart of customers is one that gives them what they really want. Developing a product that people do not want is a waste of time, money, and effort. Creating an MVP is a good way to learn exactly what the customers want. The early launch of MVP gives you an insight into what should be added or removed from your product.

The basic features of the MVP make it easy to use by early customers. They are less distracted by aesthetic features and so will be able to give clear feedback that will inform a better upgrade. MVP benefits app development by making it a customer-centered process. You won’t be building a product with a concept of what you think people want. But you’re sure it is what they want.

5. You Can Do Target Audience Research

The deployment of an MVP product gives great detail about the target audience. The early users of the MVP are the sample population that you need to expand for successful product delivery. It may be that the target you had in mind doesn’t really find your product fancy. Target audience research is key to business success.

A startup MVP will give clear direction to researching prospective users. You also have the chance to try out the minimum viable product among different groups of prospects until you find the best fit. In this space, you will be able to discover your group of loyal users and serve them efficiently.

6. You Have an Ability to Test Early

Lean startup MVP is the main theme for shortening the development cycle. It gives you the chance to test your product viability in a very short time. You can create an MVP, test out its potential in the market and gain the information needed for the next level of launch within 90days.

This MVP benefit is just not a money saver, it is the key for tech startups to keep dishing out the best products. Building MVP allows early testing of features and functionalities. The best UI and functions are easily added once the testing is done.

7. Better Scalability of Development

The product development process is a lengthy and demanding one. Launching an MVP makes the process scalable and less tricky. The direction is clearer when the MVP product is out there. There is far less risk in packaging the full product with the feedback gotten from the minimum viable product testing.

The scalability of the development process is boosted with a clear focus. The development team will be informed on what improvements are needed. Thus, a wider reach can be achieved when the improvements are added to the minimum product. The process of entering the larger market is made easier and simpler. The overall development is made scalable and so will the whole business become.

Conclusion on Having an MVP

Creating a minimum viable product is a vital step in the product development process. The important thing is to create a product that meets the specific need of users out there. Their need is central, so they should be the main focus when creating a solution. The product allows the developer to gather the needed ideas to create this ideal solution.

The possession of minimum and basic functionalities by the MVP created will allow for the best feedback collection. The early adopters will not only give the needed feedback, but they will also show the ideal customers that will be interested in the product. This will make way for concrete research and learning how these customers can be best turned into loyal users.

Finally, MVP software development is the major way to create an innovative solution within the best budget and time. The risk of wasting money and time on a full product development that may not be accepted by the market is reduced by an MVP launch.

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