Business

 

Organizations are catching on fast to the link between employee satisfaction and productivity. Forward-thinking companies are experimenting with four day weeks, nap chairs for a quick power snooze and completely flexible office configurations with moveable furniture. There’s an endless list of methods you can use to foster staff satisfaction, read on to learn the ideas that are easiest to implement.

Rewards and Recognition

When an employee feels that their contribution is valuable and recognized in the workplace, they derive a higher level of satisfaction from coming to work each day. There are many ways you can reward your employees for their hard work. Why not surprise them with a few corporate gifts on their work anniversary, send an office-wide email telling the team about their recent achievements, or celebrate wins at the start of each team meeting?

Create a Collaboration Corner

The collective power of the minds is a powerful tool for companies to leverage. Not only do brainstorming sessions generate fantastic ideas and innovative solutions to business issues, but they are also energizing and invigorating for the people involved. To encourage a culture of collaboration, make a space in your office dedicated to brainstorming. It may be as simple as a nook with comfortable seating and some whiteboards or butchers paper. By carving out a dedicated area, you are demonstrating that you value time spent innovating as a team.

Give and Take

Rigid work hours and inflexible conditions are becoming outdated as the workforce shifts, and technology developments enable more employees to work from home. If your firm is stuck in the dark ages when it comes to offering flexibility around working hours and conditions, you may find that it demotivates your current staff members and limits the pool of talent you have to draw from when recruiting new employees.

Companies may be fearful that their staff will take advantage of flexibility too heavily and not deliver the same work they did before. However, research has shown that the converse is true. If you offer your employees flexibility and put your trust in them, they will reward you with loyalty and hard work.

Regular Check-Ins

Many businesses survey their customers to find out where they can improve, but do you survey your employees? Staff members frequently have a wealth of ideas and suggestions on how you could improve customer service, implement more efficient internal processes, and reduce costs. They will be pleased that you asked, and you will gather all kinds of useful insights for the future.

Upskilling and Career Advancement

Whether you have a flat-structured organization or a hierarchical one, you need to have a plan in place for the ongoing training and education of your staff. The most common reason to change roles or companies is for career advancement, which equates to an opportunity to grow and progress.

The best development plans are created in consultation with the team members, as they will have valuable insights about gaps in their knowledge and advancements within the industry. Offering the opportunity to learn new skills will keep people interested and engaged with their roles, whether or not their title changes. The company benefits from both the new skills and enthusiasm. Of course, as their skills advance, it is critical that you regularly review their salary to ensure it is in line with their experience and qualifications.

Investing in the happiness of your team members will be repaid tenfold in productivity gains, loyalty, and hard work. Implement one or all of the tactics above and watch your workforce flourish.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

It seems like anyone can start an online business these days. Given how easy it is to launch a website or promote products via social media, small business owners could advertise what they have to offer any time. If you recently started your business or you intend to do it soon, you need to focus on how to be competitive. You need to acknowledge that you are going against several other companies. Therefore, it is crucial that you find a way to stand out.

Think of the best marketing campaign

Some entrepreneurs think that they can post information online and tell people that their business exists. They also believe that it helps to keep posting updates about the company via social media. Although it is good to have constant engagement with your target audience, you also need to be creative in delivering the campaign. Just because it is easy to advertise via social media does not mean you should post anything you want at any time during the day.

Do not offer the cheapest products

You might think that offering the cheapest products would be attractive, but it is a false notion. You do not want people to think of your products as an economical alternative to quality brands. You can find a way to reduce the price tag without compromising the quality. You might also offer exclusive deals and discounts whenever necessary, but not at all times.

Another reason why you need to focus on the quality of your product is that people talk. Once they bought your products, they will post their reviews online. If several people negatively reviewed the products, they will discourage the rest. You want them to spread positive news to ensure that more people will come and buy.

Focus on the delivery of your products

You might also discourage people from buying your products because they did not receive the order on time. In a world where everything is instant, you want your target audience to feel that they are getting what they need right away. If your competitors are quick in delivery and you are not, customers will most likely choose that brand. You can consider a pick and pack service if you want a delivery company that will immediately pack your products and send them to the recipients as soon as they have placed their orders online. They will be responsible for ensuring that there are no delays.

Use testimonials

It is one thing to leave an anonymous review online. It is a different thing to use video testimonials. Real people show their faces to say something positive about your products. They are placing their names on the line. If you can get popular people to leave positive reviews, it would be amazing. You want to be authentic, and testimonials will help make your brand be competitive.

Try to study your strategies now and determine if they are enough to help make your business competitive; otherwise, you might need to find other options.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

A business trip is something you either love or hate. If you’re a seasoned road warrior, you might be indifferent. Otherwise, you might be dreading spending some more days from home or looking forward to something new and different to experience. If you are heading over to Miami on business, you can nudge your psyche toward the latter and make the most of your trip in more ways than one. Here are a few great tips for your Miami business trip that can help you to be more productive, efficient, and even entertained.

Pack Appropriate Clothing

You should always pack the right clothing for your business trip. Obviously, if you work in a corporate field, you will want to pack crisp, professional clothes. However, if you are in a more laid-back field, business casual attire should be fine. Additionally, you will want to pack some casual clothing as well for your downtime. Include a bathing suit, comfortable T-shirt, and pants or shorts since Miami is warm.

Keep Essentials Always Packed

Keeping certain essential items always packed is wise, especially if you frequently go on business trips. Generally speaking, these items should include any of your toiletries, such as hair care products, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush, shaving cream and razor and hairbrush. In addition, you should also keep essentials like extra chargers, charging cables, wall blocks, adapters, and portable chargers, always packed just in case. Keep these separate from your day-to-day version of the items, and you’ll always be prepared.

Book the Right Hotel Stay

One of the most important things to consider when you are planning a business trip to Miami is where to stay. If you are eyeing hotels near Miami Convention Center, you have a few options. For many work travelers, the Hyatt Regency Miami is the ideal destination stop. It is near many tourist attractions and amenities, includes a wonderful outdoor pool and offers free Wi-Fi. Additionally, and perhaps even most important, the Hyatt Regency Miami is connected to the convention center.

EAST, Miami is another hotel that’s right by the convention center. It bills itself as an innovative luxury hotel and staying there bears out this label. With sleek, modern rooms and amazing dining options, it always attracts fun, stylish travelers who are at work or play.

Add an Extra Day

Of course, you want to arrive at your destination ahead of time. However, when you have a business trip, you want to maximize that time to your advantage. This means it’s a good idea to add at least an extra day to your travels. Even adding two extra days is helpful as it allows you to get to your hotel a day early and leave a day after your business dealings have ended. You can breathe more easily, prepare for your big business meetings and presentations, and then decompress after it’s over.

Use Only Carry-On Bags

When you travel for business, no matter what your destination spot, you should try to use only carry-on bags. These are ideal because they are lighter, smaller and easier to tote through the airport. They are also far more convenient as you don’t have to waste precious time by checking your luggage. You can also save money when you follow this practice during your business travels.

Enjoy Your Downtime

You will have downtime during your business trip, so why not enjoy it? Go for a massage at a local spa, soak up in the hotel pool, or simply go out for a stroll through downtown Miami. There’s so much happening in this vibrant city that you’re sure to find the perfect distraction from work. It can help you to relax and gather your thoughts. You can even find that your mind is sharper for business.

These tips can help you have the best possible business trip to Miami. Enjoy your stay before you head back home.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

Corporate events take time to organise. The worst thing is that even if you already tried your best to make it happen, it might not end the way you hoped. These are some reasons why corporate events fail and here is what you can do to prevent them from happening.

Overcrowding 

It could happen when you chose the wrong venue for the event. Make sure that you choose the right place so that it will fit all the attendees. If possible, you need to send the invitation weeks or months ahead so that interested individuals can RSVP. Once you know how many people are coming, it is easy to avoid overcrowding in the event venue.

Terrible dishes

You do not want to serve meals that no one will want to eat. Therefore, it is crucial not to compromise the quality of what you are going to serve. Avoid dishes that only a handful of people might like. You may also survey the people who will most likely attend the event to determine which recipes they would love to eat.

Boring activities

You need to be clear with the attendees what they can expect to happen during the entire event. Whether it will last for a day or a week, it is crucial that everyone will not have inaccurate expectations; otherwise, they will regret coming. When they expect that the topics will be serious and the talks could last for hours, they can decide if they will go ahead with their participation. However, even in serious events, it is crucial that you still lighten the mood through performances and other unexpected activities. The speakers you choose also need to be energetic and engaging.

Logistical mess

Make sure that everyone can go in and out of the venue without any problem. Imagine if cars start to pile up, and it becomes challenging to move freely. You will end up with irritated guests who might decide to pack up and leave. You also need to check the level of security required. The venue might offer security personnel, but you might need more if top executives of the company are coming. You also need to finalise the schedule and inform the guests about it. They can plan when they will arrive, or leave based on the official programme.

Lack of staff

The first thing to do when organising a significant event is to create committees that will be responsible for various tasks for the event. You can be an excellent organiser, but you will still have a hard time when you are alone. Apart from a team that will deal with the pre-event preparations, you also need them to show up during the event. Some guests might have complaints or get lost while the activities are going on. They will feel confident when they know that there are organisers around the area to guide them.

Try to learn from the flaws of other events in order to have the best possible corporate event.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

Looking for qualified candidates in the medical field is a task that recruiters have to do every day. There are times that it’s easy; but most of the time, sourcing physician candidates to fill positions can be a challenging task. There’s a limited number of medical professionals available and so many opportunities to fill. Physicians tend to become reluctant about uploading their resumes on the web because of unsolicited calls and email spam, making it harder to put forward applications to hiring companies.

The secret to finding the right candidates is through tools that will help a recruiter’s life be more manageable. With a suite of tools available for recruiting agencies likehttps://mascmedical.com, you can source ideal candidates even though they are not looking for new opportunities. As a physician recruiter looking to fill job positions, below are some of the tools of the trade you may want to consider using:

Managing your social media

Social media is one of the biggest resources for potential candidates. Hopefully, you’ve already joined the bandwagon and use it as part of your recruitment strategy. However, it is time-consuming because of the plethora of available candidates, so when you use social media, you want to do it right. This is why you need a social media management system so that you can schedule posts in advance, monitor follower engagement, and respond to questions and comments on your posts. It’s an all-in-one portal that lets you manage your social media as your search for potential candidates continue.

MD Pathfinder

Graduating residents are potential candidates for many physician-related job openings. It’s one of the most-used recruitment strategies when it comes to filling opportunities in the medical field. The biggest challenge though is reaching out to them and getting them interested in the positions available. MD Pathfinder makes this task easy because physician recruiters like you can reach out and build relationships with program coordinators so that they can relay the information to potential candidates for you.

Email marketing platform

Contrary to popular belief, email isn’t dead yet, and, in fact, it’s still a useful tool in sourcing prospective candidates. You can use your internal database to send out marketing materials to medical professionals or purchase an email list from a vendor. With the use of email marketing platforms, you can reach hundreds to thousands of potential candidates, most of which do not actively check classifieds and job boards.

Being a physician recruiter is not an easy job and with the limited candidate resources you can work with, looking for doctors to fill positions can be a tough challenge sometimes. But worry not because even though it seems like hard work, using the right tools makes it more manageable. All that’s left for you to do is practice and implement your recruiting strategies to source potential candidates, build rapport with them and gauge whether or not they fit the job, and forward their application to the hiring company. Don’t forget that you also need to build a strong relationship not only with the candidates but with the clients as well, to grow the business.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

E-commerce has transformed the way shopping is done today. The electronic commerce conducts activities on the internet. It refers to buying and selling on the internet. It uses an app or a website to display lists and product categories available with them. It offers product features and allows seamless purchasing for online buyers. Numerous sites have entered the market and are incredibly competitive.

Now, check out the list of the top e-commerce companies that have taken over the world.

Amazon

Founded by Jeff Bezoz, Amazon is one of the largest online e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon has its headquarters in Seattle. It employs a cloud technology platform and offers its products/services over the World Wide Web.

Initially, it sold films, books, and TV shows. Nowadays, it provides a range of products including food, electronics, clothing, fashion, grocery and more. One can find a variety of products and also in the festivities.

Innovative online retail by Amazon is Amazon Prime. It is a subscription service, and it offers to ship unlimited in 2-days from the ecommerce store. It has been adding new offers such as music and video streaming, early access to certain items, exclusive access to certain things, unlimited cloud storage for photos, ebooks and much more.

Alibaba

Alibaba is often known as “the Amazon of China.” Jack Ma started it in 1999 with a vision to make it the sizeable online ecommerce marketplace. Not only does it help the consumers, but it is also great for retailers too. It has surpassed Google, Amazon, and Microsoft in many areas. Whatever product you may like to buy, you will find it on Alibaba with more than one vendor offering you many versions.

It has almost everything on it. Just think of it, and it is there as movie and music streaming, microblogging, movie production, online learning, mobile apps, online learning, and much more. It can be accessed from any part of the world at any time via digital media and cloud computing. Presently, it is operational in more than 200 countries.

Alibaba has more platforms such as Alipay, Aliexpress and Taobao.com and more.

eBay

One of the pioneers in online shopping is eBay. In 1995, it was started in San Hose, California. The most exciting feature is the online auction with an innovative shopping option buy-it-now. The platform is known for providing B2C and C2C business transactions. The users can sign in, place an advertisement for their products for selling so that other people can make a selection.

One can find a variety of products to choose from. The uniqueness of this platform is in the bidding feature. The bidder with the highest bid can buy the outcome of his choice.

About 80% of the items on sale are new, and 89% are sold at a fixed rate. The company bought Flipkart to handle its online operations in India as a tremendous growth opportunity in the subcontinent.

Rakuten

The former Buy.com is now Rakuten, named after the company that bought it. Hailed as the Amazon of Japan, it is the major ecommerce marketplace in Japan. About 90% of internet users are registered on it. It has bought many umpteen foreign assets which have been successfully converted into overseas branches.

Rakuten is the official sponsor of Golden State Warriors, FC Barcelona, Spanish Football Club, and an NBA Franchise. It is now all set to challenge the most popular streaming service, Netflix after purchasing Spanish streaming service, Wauaki.tv.

It offers big brands like Amazon and is working actively in other countries such as Brazil, the US, UK, and France. It is also working in areas other than internet banking and credit card provider and not just logistics and retail.

Zalando

Zalando is based in Berlin. The German-based company focuses on fashion and shoes selling on the internet. The company’s official logo looks like a guitar pick. Besides style and shoes, the company sells coupons, vouchers and gift cards to lure online customers.

A customer can pick and order products of his choice and get the benefit of absolutely free delivery with a return or exchange policy as and when applicable.

Zalando has approximately 700 visitors visiting the website in every quarter as it is operational in more than 15 countries around the world.

Summing up

These companies are the 5 top besides others posing a real challenge to the existing ones. However, you must have impeccable internet service from Acanac or others to enjoy shopping on these websites.

 

Investing in an answering service is something that a lot of businesses are starting to do. The perks of installing an answering service outweigh any disadvantages that might come along with it (though there aren’t many cons). The real questions, though, is weather to use one that is automated or a live business answering service that utilizes a real person on the other end of the phone.

Automated Answering Services

As a customer, you’ve have probably dealt with an automated answering service many times in the past. Even when you call your voicemail, this is technically an automated program that allows you to follow certain steps to get to an end point. They work by using a cloud-based computer system to answer calls and redirect the caller to the appropriate representative.

Pros of an Automated Answering Service

The main perk of an automated service is the cost. Automated answering programs tend to be cheaper than hiring a real-life person to answer phone calls. However, always make sure you read ALL of the fine print before making the investment. It seems to be much cheaper on the service, until they slam you with hidden fees. For example, there could be a cap on the call volume each month and if you go over this, you’ll be sent a hefty bill.

Cons of an Automated Answering Service

Other than the hidden fees that often pop up, there are a few more disadvantages to an automated answering system. The first is that there is a higher chance of technological glitches. We all know that technology is not reliable 100% of the time, so there is always a chance that your answering service will go down with tech-related issues.

Another con is that there is no personal touch to an automated system. This has actually been proven to be a turn off to customers and potential customers. Data shows that more people are likely to hang up out of frustration when they don’t actually speak to a real human.

Live Answering Services

With a live answering service, your calls will be directed to a HUMAN, not a robot. There is a training period involved to get your representative up to speed on your company. You can opt for a live answering service that operates 24/7 and is always available to your customers.

Pros of a Live Answering Service

The most apparent benefit of a live answering service is that a REAL person will be available for you customers. If you choose a reputable agency, this person will be professional, well-trained, and extremely personable. With an automated system, customer service isn’t really possible. This is not the case with a live service.

As you can see, we skipped the cons category for a live service. That’s because there aren’t any! Other than the initial upfront cost, a live answering service is better in every way. In the end, a live service will cost about the same as installing an automated one. Most importantly, though, it does wonders for your business when you give your customers access to a pleasant human being rather than a cold robot.

 

There is a lot of misconception throughout the business world about digital PR firms. The main assumption is that digital PR is the same as traditional PR, but instead of focusing on traditional outlets like newspapers and radio, the focus is entirely online. In a way, this assumption is not incorrect, but a digital PR firm does SO MUCH MORE than just getting your name online.

You need to remember that an agency that specializes in public relations is different than an advertising agency. Rather than paid media for advertising your brand, digital PR focuses on free opportunities for media coverage. Here are a few ways a digital PR agency can get your name into the world.

They have strong relationships with industry leaders

If you find a PR firm that specializes in your specific business model, they will surely have some strong connections to your industry’s big wigs. Maybe you’ve been trying to get in touch with a potential business partner for months, to no avail. A digital PR firm can help make this happen by acting as the mediator between the two of you.

They fully understand search engine optimization

Search engine optimization is not really a thing in traditional PR, but in the digital world of public relations it is a driving force. If you have yet to invest time, effort, or money into SEO you are falling behind. Luckily, a PR firm can help you out since SEO is becoming a significant aspect of reaching to the public.

In fact, that is pretty much all that SEO is – getting your name out to your target audience. Just about everyone in the world uses Google or another search engine to find something they’re looking for. Digital PR firms understand the importance of Google and having your website rank high when your target audience performs a search.

They utilize social media platforms

Most digital PR firms offer social media marketing as one of their services. Just as SEO is an effective method to make your company name known, so is social media. Billions of people around the world use social media of some kind; your PR specialist uses tactics and tools to relate to them.

They know how to network

We’ve already talked about the many connections held by PR firms, but more importantly they have the resources and intelligence to network and make even more connections. These people are personable, but they are also persuasive. They can use their impressive networking skills to get in contact with a potential media sources and lock them in.

They help rebuild (or maintain) your reputation

If you want to relate to the public about your product or service, it will be difficult to do that if they have a negative perception of your brand. A digital PR firm will take measures to prevent negativity from happening, and even help eradicate any negativity that is already being spread through the public eye.

 

A lot of people are throwing around the phrase “reputation management” these days. Maybe you’re somewhat familiar with the concept of rep management or online reputation repair, but do you actually know what it entails? How does one go about managing a reputation?

The Basics of Reputation Management

According to TechTarget, reputation management is “the practice of attempting to shape public perception of a person or organization by influencing online information about that entity.” The strategies used for rep management are similar to the ones used by public relations agencies with a few differences.

Reputation management focuses solely on your online presence as a company. The majority of PR firms are focusing on this as well with the changing times, but some are still using traditional outlets like magazines, magazines, and newspapers. Rep management has a focus on web-based resources like social media, email, and online Yelp/Google reviews.

The First Step of Reputation Management is Monitoring

When you invest in the services of a rep management professional, their first priority will be to monitor your current online presence. This can be done in several ways, but the focus will be on your social media business accounts. The pros will perform social media analytics to give you an in-depth analysis of your current reputation according to your target audience.

Countering Negative Perceptions with Content

If the initial snapshot of your brand name showed that there is some negative perception, measures will then be taken to correct it. This is commonly done through the creation of original content from a web content developer within the reputation management agency. This content will either talk directly about your business or mention it more indirectly throughout an article, but always in the most positive way possible.

Other Methods for Improving the Company Reputation

Creating content isn’t the only way to help repair or manage a rep. Rep management can include a number of different methods, including social media marketing and maintenance. If you have a social media presence, an expert will be assigned to counter any negative comments or feedback on these accounts.

They will also be responsible for making posts to keep your company relevant. They’ll respond to tweets and comments, post about upcoming promotions, or share relevant videos, photos, and content. You brand’s most important asset is its reputation, and social media can make or break it.

Choosing a Reputation Management Agency

The need for reputation management has increased exponentially within the past decade. This increase in demand means that there are numerous agencies to choose from that specialize in online reputation management. Having one of these agencies on your side is vital, but the choice can be difficult since there are so many to choose from.

To help with the decision-making process, try to schedule a consultation with a few rep management companies. This will give you a lot of insight on their experience, cost, and whether their goals align with your own. Ask questions during this consultation to get a feel for their overall reputation management game plan.

 

The question about whether or not your ecommerce store needs an order management system is an easy one to answer: yes. Once you’ve established that you would indeed benefit from implementing an OMS into your current business model, the next question is “which OMS should I use?”

There are tons to choose from, so you need to establish your business goals and find an OMS that aligns with those. Once you’ve find the proper one for you, the work doesn’t stop there. Next, it’s time to actually implement the OMS throughout your business. This can be difficult, especially if you are stuck in the past and not stellar with technology.

We are here to help you along the way. Follow these 4 tips for successfully implementing a new order management system into your ecommerce business.

Understand Your Environment

The first step in adding an OMS is to take stock of your current business and figure out where it stands with current technology. What is your current system capable of? What are its limitations? Are the current systems and softwares able to handle integrating a new OMS as they are now?

The main goal here is to identify weak areas that need improvement; make those improvements before you try implementing the new OMS. These weak areas could hinder how the OMS functions, so it is a good idea to determine what those weak areas are ahead of time.

Have Realistic Expectations

You can’t expect everything to be hunky dory as soon as you have the OMS installed and ready to go. There could be hitches in its functionality at first as you and your employees get used to how it works. According to OrderDynamics Corp, “you need to clearly define specific objectives for your OMS implementation. This will help ensure that expectations are met across the organization.”

Establish Dedicated Team Members for the OMS Implementation

No matter if you’ve partnered with an outside OMS integration team or you’re internally managing the project, you need to establish early on who is in charge of the process. These team members will be responsible for every aspect of the OMS integration process.

A huge barrier will be managing the changes that occur from implementation, so there needs to be someone providing support. This person (or people) will give the necessary support and feedback on how to use the new system as effectively as possible.

There should be extensive testing involved

Once everything is installed, each aspect of the new system needs to undergo an extensive testing phase. Tests should be performed to measure the functionality of the new system with features of your old system. Before you entirely abandon the old system, you should being doing lots of tests.

The testing phase is the ideal time to get your employees familiar with the OMS and how it works. While the training and testing period is taking place, you’ll still be able to utilize your old system just in case things don’t go your way the first time around.

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