4 Unpopular Opinions About Entrepreneurship

If you’ve read any of my other articles you’ll quickly realize that I don’t think like everyone else. I get tired of cliches and gurus. I’m a little old-fashioned. I don’t follow the crowd. I became an entrepreneur because of this, only to find the entrepreneurial horde doing the same things I detested in the corporate world, propping up demagogues and looking for the next “secret sauce”. With that being said, here are a few (potentially) unpopular things I think about entrepreneurship now that I’ve been in the thick of it for a while.

Hustle is Overrated

With so much dependent upon you as the “boss”, it only makes sense to work hard. However, in the minds of many entrepreneurs, especially those just starting out, you’re apparently not hustling unless you post about it on social media. Since I correspond with and follow many start-ups and small business owners, I’m constantly under the barrage of “inspirational” quotes and industry buzzwords that are anything but inspirational.

I’m constantly asking myself, “if you’re hustling so hard, how do you have so much time for social media?” Don’t get me wrong, there are times when quotes from entrepreneurs can be extremely helpful (and yes, even inspiring), but next time you feel the urge, ask yourself if what you’re putting out there has value for the community.

The second reason hustle is overrated is that it doesn’t correlate directly with extreme financial success. We always hear the rags-to-riches stories, but the sad fact is that some of the hardest workers I know are poor. And they’ll probably remain poor, because they haven’t learned to systemize and delegate. They will continue to do okay, but without some purposeful business decisions, they will continue to grind but never achieve any measure of wealth.

Bootstrapping is Underrated

I’ve never quite understood the excitement of getting investors to fund your business. Most think that it adds security because there is a flow of cash, but sometimes it’s the exact opposite. Since you didn’t actually earn that money by creating a viable product/service, you’re less likely to strike it rich on the first try.

I realize that there are businesses that literally can’t start from a garage and grow in an organic way, but I’d also caution someone from entering such an industry if that is the case. Getting funding or a fat loan may seem like a relief to small business owners, but at what cost? They no longer are the sole owner of the company, the investors and banks are now married to you, for better or worse. The reason many get into business for themselves is to experience freedom and autonomy, then the first thing they do is give it away for a few bucks in a bank account. If you ask me, it’s not worth it.

You’re no Better Than the 9-5ers

Another disturbing trend I see in hype-filled facebook groups is the tendency to put entrepreneurs up on a pedestal, all the while spitting on the plebian “9-5ers” below. This isn’t okay. Why, you may ask?

Because as an entrepreneur, you will eventually want to employ these people, and your narcissistic attitude will spill over on to them. This can lead to high turnover, low employee morale, a poor company culture, product consistency problems, and less money. Every person is different, so respect the person who works within a system, not just those who create the system.

Another reason you’re no better off than when you had a 9-5 job is the fact that you’re not actually an entrepreneur. You simply own your 9-5 now. And it’s more like 7am-11pm anyway! So now you work more hours and make less money. Congratulations!

Your desire for autonomy has produced very little of it. You are now married to your work in a way you never were while working from 9-5. Entrepreneur? No. You my friend, are a freelancer. If this is your goal, then that’s fine. But if this is the case, quit calling yourself an entrepreneur. You’re simply trading time for money (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). But you’re no entrepreneur.

Relationships Matter

This point may be the least controversial, but I still think it’s something we often forget. My company is working on a system of what we call “touches” with our clients. A “touch” is anytime we communicate or do something unexpected with them – not directly having to do with business. A monthly call discussing your campaign is not a touch, for example. A touch would be a quick call to tell them a way they can save money, a movie ticket to show your appreciation, a handwritten letter, a Christmas card, etc.

This is one way that we become just a little more indispensable to our clients, because they have virtually unlimited options on who to hire, but no one will treat them like we will. They will trust us and utilize our services long-term. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Our personal relationships matter too. Don’t discount them in the least. If you’re married, your spouse deserves your attention and your time. Don’t pretend you’re doing all this for them, only to neglect them in the process. They’ll understand that you need to work long hours sometimes, but when you’re with them, be with them. Even if you work from home right now, you need to actively compartmentalize business from family relationships. This way, no matter what your business does, you will always have what’s most important. There’s no financial or business success that can compensate for failure in the home.

These may be unpopular opinions in the digital entrepreneur space, but I truly believe they can’t be taken for granted. Even if you don’t agree, I hope that we can discuss them in a rational manner and help each other succeed in a dog-eat-dog industry.

The post 4 Unpopular Opinions About Entrepreneurship appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/4-unpopular-opinions-about-entrepreneurship

Talent and Loyalty: How to Hire the Right People

As an entrepreneur running a small business or working on making your startup profitable, you’re used to hearing about the “right people.” A phrase that immediately comes to mind is “surround yourself with the right people.” But what does that mean? How can you find talented people who are also loyal, especially when there are bigger fish who will try to poach them?

There are, in fact, headhunting companies that help companies with big recruiting budgets poach the best of the best. Poaching is an industry. Meanwhile, startups are in decline. “Some of this decline has come from the decline of small businesses,” says Bloomberg’s Noah Smith. “When national chains like Walmart Inc. and Target Corp. can come to town and muscle out the competition, there’s not much point in opening a mom-and-pop shop.”

National chains and enterprises make it tough to find the right people. Workers are changing jobs less often as they shore up with legacy companies. As an entrepreneur, people are your biggest asset. Consider these tips to finding and retaining the best people.

Think Long Term

An employee’s long-term contribution to your company is perhaps the most important thing to consider. But how can you tell whether a candidate will deliver over time? Consider these tips to hiring employees:

1. Look for candidates who can help grow your business. If an employee contributes to growth, she saves you money and therefore she saves you time in the long run.
2. Look for candidates who will help bring in other good people. If a candidate has a good work ethic and is likeable, chances are the people she recommends will share these characteristics.
3. Look for candidates who fit your culture. The golden rule here is to look for people you look forward to working with.

According to psychologist Robert Hogan, people have three “master motives” that drive office politics:

• They need to get along with each other
• They need to get ahead
• They need to find meaning in what they’re doing

You can keep these master motives in mind when you’re considering candidates. The employee who finds meaning in doing a good job for the sake of helping the group succeed — and because they like to do good work — will be more likely than other employees to help your business grow.

For example, imagine you ask candidates to work on an assignment within a certain period of time. Candidate A completes the entire assignment and goes through the necessary hoops. Candidate B doesn’t get quite as much done, but the work they do is of a higher quality — this candidate wants the work to actually benefit those for whom it’s intended. Candidate A, however, most likely feels they will benefit from completing the assignment quickly. The boss will smile at their speed and efficiency and they’ll get the job.

Candidate B is the right choice because quality work is what helps a business grow. In the long term, quality work will save you money and time. Furthermore, people will probably get along better with Candidate B, because Candidate B isn’t just there to advance their own career — they’re there for the benefit of the group. At least, they appear to be more altruistic than Candidate A. Candidate B is also the most likely to advance, because you want to keep people who do good work. You also want to keep people who get along well with others.

There’s more to consider: talent doesn’t necessarily help your company grow because of a lack of friction with other employees. There’s something to be said for a talented person who will speak their mind despite office politics. In the next section we’ll examine talent.

Think About What Type of Talent You Want

There’s more than one type of talent. There’s the type that does a great job on assignments and you enjoy working with them. There’s also the type that takes things beyond completion, the type that isn’t afraid to propose new ideas and challenge the dominant narrative.

First a rundown of why it’s important to focus on talent:

• A bad hire can cost your company anywhere from $25,000 to upwards of $50,000 in a single year.
• If you’re well aware of new employees’ strengths and you focus on their strengths daily, studies show you’ll see 13 percent higher productivity.
• Employees who are able to use their unique talents more often on the job are less likely to be worried, stressed, and sad.

Employees who can use their strengths are more likely to feel energetic, happy, and respected. To that end, if you find somebody who’s good at coming up with new ideas, it’s a great idea to create a research and development position for them. You must be flexible in using your employees’ strengths. You want to look for people who excel at the day-to-day work, but you also want to look for people who excel creatively. You may need to pay this type of talent more.

There are multiple ways to determine which candidates have the type of talent you’re looking for:

• Talent assessment tools
• Tests during interview process
• Unusual questions
• Questions about how they would handle certain scenarios/challenges
• Big picture questions
• Questions about the type of workplace they prefer

Many talent assessment tools include tests to gauge employee aptitude and fit, but as a small business in a specific niche, you may want to draw up your own tests.

However, if you’re pressed for time in this regard, it’s worthwhile to consider assessment tools:

• HireSelect: A web-based pre-employment system from Criteria Corp. that includes aptitude, personality, and skills tests, with real-time scoring. To provide customized test batteries for over 1,100 positions, Criteria Corp. enlists a scientific advisory board consisting of psychologists and test-development experts from Harvard and other universities.
• Saberr: A predictive analytics tool for determining cultural fit, Saberr starts with a survey of each team member and moves onward to tell you how well a candidate will fit with the team and even a particular individual. The app claims to be able to predict “up to 30 percent of team performance.”
• Athena Assessment: Athena’s tool is all about judgment — the better a candidate’s judgment, the higher her “Athena Quotient,” a score based on the “nature, character and strength” of judgment. This tool may be useful for filling a position that requires the employee to make a lot of her own decisions.

Assessment tools are more supplemental than anything else. They can help back up your intuition concerning a candidate so you don’t have to do extensive follow-up interviews and tests.

Your Intuition Plus Their Performance Equals a Sure Thing

Some people are good at selling themselves, and your intuition says “go for it.” However, their ability to talk themselves up doesn’t necessarily mean they have the right skills. Consider the position you’re hiring for carefully and devise a test to see if a candidate really is what they say they are.

In the end, a candidate with a great personality — at least, a personality you get along with — and devotion to quality work is a huge asset you shouldn’t pass up. Think long term, be prepared to pay them what they’re worth, and you’ll find the right people.

The post Talent and Loyalty: How to Hire the Right People appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/hr-and-recruitment/talent-and-loyalty

Statistics Showing Why Your Business Needs to Utilize Instagram

If you are doing any amount of business online and still aren’t using Instagram, you need to reconsider your digital marketing strategy. Instagram has become one of the most powerful tools for business, especially those that conduct any percentage of their transactions on the internet. Using this popular platform can be a great way to interact with existing customers, reach out to potential new customers, and convert more clicks into profitable sales.

There is nothing to lose when you utilize Instagram to supplement your marketing plan. If you still aren’t convinced, consider some of the following statistics from this infographic from Gramlike and see why Instagram is the perfect tool for your business.

500 million daily users

This statistic alone should be enough to convince you to try your hand at marketing on Instagram. With 500 million users logging into Instagram every day, you have a whole new world of potential clients that you can reach out to. With well-placed ads and a focus on organic growth, your organization has the opportunity to take advantage of Instagram’s massive client base.

59% of Instagram users are under 30 years old

The youth demographic is often a volatile and difficult one to market to, but Instagram makes it easier thanks to how much young people dominate the platform. With newsfeeds constantly being updates, your marketing specialists can stay on top of the current trends among young people, helping to develop a sound strategy to penetrate that demographic. Another benefit is that users under 30 years old are more likely to share and discuss posts with their friends, so your posts may get more exposure when you use Instagram. Young people are some of the most active when it comes to making Instagram purposes, so it is important to corner that market.

A large portion of Instagram users make more than $75,000 a year

There is a pretty sizeable portion of users who seem to have plenty of disposable income. You can target your advertisements towards them depending on what you are selling, and you may have better success making conversions. Traditional advertising routes don’t necessarily account for these types of demographics, but with Instagram, you can maximize your exposure to the people who may be the most willing to buy your product. That way, you won’t have to waste money on ads that are seen people who would never purchase in the first place.

Over 30% of users have purchased something from Instagram

Again, you are playing the odds in your favor when you use Instagram. The advertising platform makes it convenient and easy to use, meaning that people will be more likely to buy something while they are browsing Instagram. The fact that over 30% of users have purchased something on the platform is astounding. For certain product lines, you can’t even get that kind of conversion rate at a brick and mortar store! Online shopping is already immensely popular, and Instagram’s target ads are helping businesses to more efficiently promote their products.

Instagram has 10 times the engagement rate as Facebook

Facebook is another useful platform for any business, but many users are more passive while browsing Facebook than with Instagram. On Instagram, users are far more likely to click on your ads and engage with your account than they are on Facebook. In general, this will lead to more conversions and an increased amount of interest in your brand. When certain users engage, their followers will see this, and it may cause them to engage as well, creating a viral effect. Instagram is a highly interactive platform, and your business can benefit greatly from this. 

Over 2 million monthly active advertisers

Instagram has become an advertiser’s dream, and there are many that can help you learn the ropes and get your name out to the wide audience that the platform provides. Whether you want to create your own ads or enlist the help of a professional service, there are plenty of options to boost your promotional abilities.

Over 25 million business profiles

In addition to an increased exposure to individual shoppers, your company can interact with a wide range of other businesses on Instagram. This can help you find vendors, business-to-business customers, and even partners that can partake in combined promotions and cross-advertising strategies. If you follow particular businesses, their follower might even decide to follow you back in return, giving you even more exposure to a relevant and captive audience. You can also interact with the followers of these businesses which could help you find certain niche and target markets for your products and services.

Over 95 million shares per day

Instagram users share over 95 million posts per day. If just one influential user shares your post, you may be opened up to an entire population of people who have never heard of your brand. This domino effect of shares can truly help your business reach people in different corners of the world that you would have never thought possible. Sharing posts has become the new word-of-mouth when it comes to grassroots advertising, and Instagram is the top platform for doing so.

60% of online adults have Instagram accounts

Reaching out to the young people is important, but adults are the ones with more disposable income, so it is nice to know that many of them are using Instagram. They will like, follow, and engage with posts and may end up buying something from your company if they like what they see. The fact that so many adults are active on Instagram is a good sign for anybody that wants to gain exposure in the online world.

Brands on Instagram with over 100k followers have grown by 163% in the past 2 years

This statistic really tells the story of why Instagram is so important. If you can utilize Instagram to gain a massive following, the profit will follow. Viral advertising has become immensely important in the business world, and utilizing Instagram is one of the most sound business decisions you can make.

The post Statistics Showing Why Your Business Needs to Utilize Instagram appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/social-media/instagram-statistics

7 Highly Profitable Freelancing Gigs

The internet is constanly changing the way that people work or do business. With so many digital tools and software available to connect people all over the world, everything can be online.

Freelancing is booming right now because it brings numerous benefits to business owners and to freelancers themselves. It is a lucrative industry for people that don’t want to commit to a regular or full time work. Talented individuals have infinite opportunities to work, earn money, and start their own freelancing business no matter where they are.

The study by Freelancing in America reveals that nearly 50% of millennial workers in the US are already freelancing. And there is no sign that the growth of this industry will stop any time soon. Edelman Intelligence predicts that by 2027, freelancers will dominate the American workforce.

But what is it about freelancing that makes it a smart choice for young professionals?

Freelancing allows flexibility and provides convenience. It gives people the ability to work from home and have total control over their working hours and their earnings.

If you are keen to kickstart your freelancing career, you have to be prepared to learn new skills before you reach out to clients.

And to help you decide which skills you need to start honing now, we bring you some of the most profitable freelancing niches:

1. Social Media Management

If you are good at playing with words and crafting catchy social media statuses, you may want to start learning how to come up with powerful social media management strategies to increase brand awareness and customer engagement. Social media managers can earn $50,000 per year, depending on their experience and proven track record of successful strategies.

Social media managers handle clients’ social media accounts, plan and execute marketing campaigns, take charge in brand collaborations, explore new social media channels, create awareness for brands’ promotions, and create ads to maximize conversions and ROI of the business.

2. Copywriting

Copywriters create content that captivates, engages and entices readers to interact or buy products or services from companies. Copywriters are in demand because of the increasing need for good content. Freelancers who are experts in copywriting can earn around $50,000 – $100,000 per year.

Just remember, copywriting is a very competitive niche. Earning money from your copywriting skills is hard if you are a freelancer. There are just way too many digital agencies that offer this particular service.

The key to your success rely on how well you can sell yourself. It also pays to have a good website or an outstanding portfolio that highlights the brands you’ve written copies for. You can also include a list of websites that featured your work in the past.

You can use Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr or any platforms out there to maximize your chances of getting hired.

3. Graphic Design

Freelance graphic designers can earn as much as $75 to $100 an hour. Graphic designing entails many tasks like logo design, template design, theme creation, illustrations, social media template designs, infographics and so on.

Websites like Udemy and Lynda help people learn the basics of graphic design. For graphic artists, having a good portfolio that highlights work experiences and sample artworks can help attract clients.

There are many websites that advertise freelance graphic design gigs, including like Smashing Magazine, Authentic Jobs, and 99designs.

4. Content Writing

Probably the most popular niche in the freelancing world, writing is a great choice for people who want to earn good income. You will be surprised to know that around 50% of the freelancing community comprises of writers. This means that the competition can be extreme.

If you are just starting your freelance writing career, you can write for content mills like Text Broker. The pay might not be that good, but it is a great way to gain some experience. You can also create your own blog and write for websites that pay their contributors.

Websites like Contena, Problogger.net and Blogging Pro are constantly needing writers, so you may also want to check those out.

5. Virtual Administration

Virtual admins or virtual assistants earn an average of $35-$50 per hour. This niche might still be new to many, but it doesn’t mean you can’t make substantial amount of money from it. As a virtual assistant, you’ll do tasks like email management, administration work, appointment setting, website management, calendar management, and data entry.

The best part about this niche is that, you do not need any particular qualification or experience. Freelancing websites like Upwork.com, Guru.com, Freelancer.com are on the lookout for virtual assistants who can efficiently work from home or from anywhere in the world.

6. Search Engine Optimization

If you are a geek and you love Google or anything related to search engines, then you can hone your skills as an SEO consultant. Keep in mind that an SEO consultant works on very specialized tasks like web and content audit, link building, rank and keyword monitoring and building relationship with fellow webmasters.

How much an SEO consultant can earn entirely depend on the country, client budget and the tasks involved. If you’ve got good experience, then it is possible to make $75 to $100 an hour.

You can apply as an SEO consultants in websites like Upwork, Freelance, Guru, PeoplePerHour or FreeeUp.

7. Web Design or Web Development

These two niches are different from each other but if you have any of these two skills or if you have both, then you’ll surely earn a huge amount of money. Work availability for web designers and developers will be go up by 15% from 2016 to 2026.

The money-making aspect of this niche is much higher than in other areas. In fact, a freelance web developer’s salary can go up to $150,000 a year depending on his or her experience.

Summing Up

Finding a job or paying clients as a freelancer can be hard if you’re just starting your career, but it’s possible to penetrate niches that are not heavily saturated yet.

As a freelancer, you have a higher chance of earning a good income if you work hard and produce quality work. Your clients will surely refer you to their friends and business partners if you can prove your worth and provide value to their organization.

Just a tip: don’t give up too easily if you haven’t found the right niche or if you haven’t met your dream clients yet. Freelancing is not for the faint hearted and people who like being spoon-fed.

If you’re determined enough, you can certainly create multiple income streams from different freelancing gigs out there.

The post 7 Highly Profitable Freelancing Gigs appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/soloprenuer/freelance/highly-profitable-gigs

Running a Business and a Family: 5 Solutions That Really Help

Any entrepreneur knows that running a business takes focus, commitment, a good deal of hard work and long, long hours.

But what if you also have to look after the family at the same time? The kids need your attention just as much as your business and you certainly don’t want to neglect them.

At the same time, you have to get the job done, nail that deal, work on your digital marketing and a host of other business commitments.

Getting that work life balance right is essential and it’s something that many entrepreneurs struggle with on a daily basis.

#1. Use a Productivity App

There are all sorts of excuses for working hard – after all, you’re trying to build a business and make it a success in a pretty competitive environment. You want to provide for your family and build a nice life. That doesn’t mean, however, that your kids and partner must take a back seat.

It’s all about balance and finding ways to achieve it.

Productivity in the workplace is key, as we all know. This is not just about getting more done, however. Productivity is about making sure you have more time.

Why spend three hours on a particular task when you can get it done in just one if you have the right approach? The good news is that there are plenty of productivity apps on the market nowadays and all you need to do is download them onto your mobile phone.

If you want to get the perfect balance between work and family, you have to be clear about what you want to achieve. Focus on that before you select a productivity app and make sure that it ticks all the right boxes. And, when you are using your productivity app, factor in time with the family as part of your day. It’s not just an add-on but a vital part of your life.

#2. Get a Parental Control App

It’s not just parents who get access to great technology nowadays. Kids have it too and that can be a worry for busy mums and dads who have got their hands full at work. No matter how hard you try, there are going to be times when you’re stuck with the business when you should be at home. There’s plenty of news in the media about kids hooking up to the wrong sites or getting bullied online.

This is somewhere that technology can really help. There are a growing number of dedicated parental control apps such as Family Orbit which helps track kids’ activity online. You can monitor their phone usage, lock and unlock their devices from your own smart device and block sites that you consider to be dangerous or harmful. You can also track that mobile phone so you know where your kid is most of the time.

While it may seem a little draconian at times, at least it gives you a certain peace of mind when you’re busy in the office.

#3. Invest in Automation

How often in your business life, do you spend time doing the same repetitive tasks? For most entrepreneurs, that’s going to be a significant portion of their working day, especially when they first start.

Tech has developed a lot in the last five or six years and business software automation is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Exploring this area can certainly free up time and leave you with more energy for doing other things, such as planning a day out with the kids.

If there’s no software automation for what you need to do, however, perhaps it’s time you looked at delegating. Entrepreneurs can often think they are the only ones who can get things done – that’s not true. Practice the art of delegation and you’ll be surprised how much it benefits your business on a day to day basis.

Another option is to outsource and there are plenty of ways to do that today. Let’s say, for example, you need to write some blogs for your website, using a freelance site can take care of that for you. Outsource options can be picked up as and when you need them and cost a lot less than people think.

#4. Setting Up a Home Office

One way to keep close to the kids and run your business is to set up your office at home. Most startup companies begin here anyway as it’s a lot cheaper than renting out premises somewhere else. But even if you have achieved success and now have a permanent office and a bunch of staff, keeping the one at home is important.

It’s so much easier nowadays to work from home and there are plenty of apps and communication tools that help you keep in contact with the main office. Ideally, you want just the right amount of space and a location that is dedicated entirely to your work. In other words, you don’t want a room which is used for several other things, including storing clutter.

The design is important but the essential purpose is even more so. Having a home office allows you to be around and near your family with all the connection that brings.

#5. Have a Flexible Mindset

It’s often said that to be successful, entrepreneurs need a ‘flexible mindset’. It’s useful when having to cope with all the challenges that come with running a business. You have to be able to bend with the wind if you like. It also means you have to be focused on your core goals and one of those should certainly be having quality time with the family.

That means keeping your options open as much as possible. Entrepreneurs love technology and so do kids. Using your smartphone to Skype or video call the kids several times a day is one solution. But nothing substitutes being there in person. Make sure you are flexible about the framework of your life. For instance, not having your main office too far from home so you spend more time traveling rather than being with the kids.

No one is saying it’s easy to run a family and run a business at the same time. Most entrepreneurs struggle with getting the balance right.

Many older entrepreneurs actually rue the fact that their kids grew up and they didn’t get to play their part. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. All you need to do is set your family life on an equal footing with your work life. There doesn’t have to be a conflict and using today’s technology is a good way to find workarounds which can have real benefits.

The post Running a Business and a Family: 5 Solutions That Really Help appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/home-office/business-from-home

How to Beat Distractions and Stay Focused When Getting Work Done

No matter how calm and composed you are, it can be hard to deal with distractions especially when they are around every nick and corner – be it home or office.

The thing about distractions is that they might be everywhere but can be easily avoided. Once you get into the vicious circle of distractions, both your valuable time and productivity are gone for a toss. Successful people have learned the art of keeping distractions at bay and staying focused to produce great results.

If you’re constantly being distracted at work, we have got you covered. Here is a list of things that can help you beat distractions and develop laser-sharp focus at work:

1. Make to-do lists

Planning your day is quite beneficial as it prepares you for the next day in advance. Brian Tracey once said, “Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes of execution.” When you know what to do when, you save a lot of effort and time at the same time.

Planning and to-do lists both go hand-in-hand. Start making to-do lists and noting down your top five tasks of the day. It will not only bring structure to your day but will also help you focus on things that matter and not get distracted.

2. Get into prioritizing

Once you have made your to-do list, it’s time to get into the act of prioritization. You can categorize the items in your task-list as urgent, important, and urgent but not important and so on to have a fair idea of what should be done first and what can be left for tomorrow.

Prioritization is one of the best ways to trick your brain to focus on the top-priority tasks and not waste time doing inconsequential things. So, prioritizing is one of the keys to be focused at work.

3. Start timeboxing tasks

For all those who don’t know what timeboxing is, well, it is the act of allotting a fixed time-frame for an activity. If you start timeboxing tasks or activities, you would definitely experience a steep rise in your productivity

Although, it is one of the main project management methodologies that help to keep teams focused on accomplishing tasks but nowadays, people from all industries are using this technique to boost their productivity.

4. Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro technique is around the corner for years. Created in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is one of the proven and popular time management life hacks.

Pomodoro technique is one the oldest and most effective methods to train your brain to develop more focus. In this technique, you are advised to work for 25 minutes without any interruptions and distractions and you can a take a break of five minutes afterward.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose a task at hand.
2. Set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes and work till the timer runs.
3. After one Pomodoro, take a short 5-minute break to step away from your work for rest.
4. Keep repeating the action until 4 cycles.
5. After 4 Pomodoros, take a longer break (about 15-20 minutes).

What to do during Pomodoro breaks?

• Get off the screen
• Take deep breaths
• Exercise a bit
• Move around
• Read something quick
• Have a chat

The Pomodoro technique is a great distraction blocker because if you get distracted and stop working, then you have to start over again. It is quite effective and can make you a more focused individual.

5. Learn to say No

It is great to lend a helping hand to others or entertain your co-worker’s requests but if you are doing it at the cost of your work, you might like to change that. Oftentimes, your friends and coworkers are the biggest distractions at work. There can be times when you are preoccupied doing certain things that you just cannot help others and you have to disappoint them by saying no.

At times, the two-minute-customary-small-talk gets extended to twenty minutes or more. If a chatty coworker is bugging you time and again, you can say something like, “Hey! I’d love to chat but I’m in the middle of something very important. If you don’t mind, can we catch up later?” It is one of the most polite and effective ways to stop letting others disturb you.

6. Take help from music

Music can be used as a great focus-building tool, provided you’re listening to the right type of music. According to a study, listening to soulful music in the background with fewer lyrics can make you more focused at work. The music that is soothing to ears and has sounds of natural elements could boost mood and productivity.

Also, if there are distractions around you, listening to music might help you to concentrate better. Moreover, people would think twice to disturb you for something which is not important enough.

7. Declutter

How can you expect to focus at work if your desk looks like a complete mess? When your workplace is filled with clutter, you are bound to get distracted and stressed out. In fact, researchers from Princeton University found that clutter negatively affects your ability to focus and process information which further leads to stress.

Clutter isn’t always physical but mental as well. Our monkey-mind keeps on jumping from one thought to another – some useful while mostly idiotic. We create scenarios that aren’t even there in the first place and then trouble ourselves. Hence, don’t just declutter your workplace but also your mind.

8. Try meditation

This tip isn’t work-related but more of a lifestyle change that can make you a better human being – both professionally and personally. Meditation is a popular technique that can significantly improve your ability to concentrate and focus.

Breathing is an important part of meditation that allows you to be present and focus wholeheartedly on just one thing at a time. It helps you to develop an ability to keep your focus intact without getting distracted. To begin with, you can start with 15 minutes of meditation and increase it gradually.

I hope you found these tips insightful and use them to your advantage to eliminate distractions and focus better at work.

Happy focussing!

 

The post How to Beat Distractions and Stay Focused When Getting Work Done appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/productivity/how-to-beat-distractions

5 Things Your Business Can Implement Tomorrow to Wow Customers

You can have the best plans and intentions for your business, but if you don’t have happy customers, you won’t be able to bring in the profits that you hope for. Happy customers come from treating people like people and not a paycheck. Skills like patience, attentiveness, and communication are key to making your customer’s experience a positive and memorable one. Remember, customers don’t mind if a mistake is made as long as it’s acknowledged and corrected.

A customer service study conducted by America Express states that, “U.S. consumers are willing to spend 17% more to do business with companies that deliver excellent service.” In addition, it is anywhere from 5 to 25 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than it is to keep a current one.

You can take these steps immediately to make customers feel as though you provided them with better care than any other service business would have.

Go Above and Beyond

You must do more than simply satisfy your customers. You need to go above and beyond to provide an outstanding experience. A recent study found that, “after one negative experience, 51% of customers will never do business with that company again,” while “U.S. companies lose more than $62 billion annually due to poor customer service.”

Beyond losing a specific customer due to a poor customer experience, there are compounding and lasting impacts to a business. Disgruntled or neutral customers are likely to leave you negative or mediocre reviews online and tell their friends and neighbors damaging things about your business. A recent study states that, “90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business,” and “84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation.”

Find ways to do a little extra for your customers. Surprise them with a communication they weren’t expecting, greet them by their name and make sure all their questions are answered before leaving. It is usually the little things done well that make all the difference.

Make Your Interactions Seamless

Customers hire service businesses to make their lives easier. They rely on you for the expertise, and your team is probably extremely knowledgeable about what they do. That doesn’t mean that they’re great customer service providers.

Wow your customers by creating seamless service. This may involve recording their problems so that they don’t have to repeat what’s going on every time they talk to a new service agent. It might entail initiating communication and following up on problems.

Although you might think that this requires an entirely new level of training, you can streamline the customer service process by using a comprehensive software solution. An all-in-one software platform lets you focus on your expertise while continuing to appease your customers. LiveAgent, for example, gives service companies the ability to seamlessly communicate with customers online who may be experiencing problems. This can be done through live chat, email and phone. If there’s a problem, it’s best to help your customers in real time in an effort to correct any problems immediately.

Find Their Information Quickly

It’s beyond frustrating when customers have to make their way through a tedious telephone menu just to speak with a representative. When your customer does finally get to speak to a human being, make sure that any information they’ve inputted during the automated process is available to the representative, so they don’t need to provide it again.

If you’re a field service business and are traveling to a person’s home, then make sure the field service representative has all the pertinent information about the person and their problem.

For example, if you’re an electrician business and your service reps are driving to a customer’s home to service outlets that stopped working, they should have information like who they are meeting at the home, what problems they are having and make sure the required parts are on the truck. This gives your service rep the best chance to provide your customer with a hassle-free experience. To accomplish this, many service businesses rely on technology to create seamless customer experiences.

Under-Promise and Over-Deliver

Although you may have the best intentions in mind, if you don’t follow through with your promises, you’re going to disappoint your customers.

The best way to make sure that this never happens is to set the expectation a little lower than you know you can manage. That way, you’ll impress your customers with service that exceeds their expectations every time.

If you’ve received a few negative reviews, inspect them to determine whether you can change the expectation. For example, if a customer states that your technician took too long to do the job, indicate the expected length of service time in your initial consultation. Make sure that it’s longer than what you know your team can achieve. When things get finished more quickly, your customers will be thrilled.

BrightLocal found that, “70% of consumers will leave a review for a business when asked. Take advantage of over delivering by requesting your customer take a short survey or provide them with a link to leave an online review.

Be Flexible

Just about every service business has standard customer service procedures. However, strict adherence to policy can make your customers feel unheard and unimportant. Following a script can irk an otherwise complacent customer. Make every effort to respond appropriately to your clients’ needs, and be aware of their emotions. Go beyond the basics and find ways to treat your customer like a friend rather than just another customer. Get to know the customer on a more personal level and find ways to personalize their experience or make it memorable as compared to other businesses.

Do what you can to help them while staying within the guidelines of your policies and implement an open-door policy that lets you escalate matters to a supervisor when necessary. Remember, you’re having a human-to-human interaction. Treat your customers as you would like to be treated.

The post 5 Things Your Business Can Implement Tomorrow to Wow Customers appeared first on TweakYourBiz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/customer-service/wow-customers