Kevin Tao is Chief Digital Officer at NeuEve, focusing on marketing and technology. Follow him @kevintoaster. Who is your hero? (In business, life, or both.) In business and in life, my hero is none other than the Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders. His energy and passion for equality is infectious and inspirational. He speaks plainly and candidly, qualities I think are extremely important. Bernie Sanders is the epitome of a contrarian, and in business, being a contrarian is crucial to success. Bernie refused to back down when everyone was telling him to sit down and shut up. Bernie is a marketing genius. He successfully identified a niche where there was a huge demand and virtually no supply and he seized the initiative to launch his campaign. Against all odds, he quite nearly succeeded. I find his story to be truly heart-warming. What’s the single best piece of business advice (unorthodox tips welcome!) that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why? “No one cares about you.” Most of us are raised and instilled with the idea that we are unique and special. It felt like a slap in the face the first time I heard: “No one cares about you.” But this advice is what has carried me this far. No one cares about what you want or what’s good for you. When you’re trying to sell a product, it’s natural to think you would like to sell X units in Y time-frame. However, the only way you’ll get any sales in the real world is to figure out what the question is that your product answers and what your customer’s needs are and how your product addresses them. No one cares about the things that make you anxious or scared. If you’re like me, networking events can be pretty frightening. How will a room full of strangers judge me? What if my joke falls flat and everything thinks I’m a fool? The truth is, everyone else is in the same position as you. They are all too busy worrying about their own perceived image to be wasting energy thinking about and judging you. So shake off your fears, think some happy thoughts and go get ‘em. What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too? My biggest mistake was not quitting my day job sooner. When I launched the online store for NeuEve.com, I was working a job as a senior software engineer at a tech startup. Over a year ago, my income from selling NeuEve online surpassed my salary from my day job. In my brain, it made financial sense to focus on NeuEve.com. But in my heart, there were a number of obstacles holding me back. I didn’t want to abandon my friends at my job and I was embarrassed to be known as “the female viagra guy.” “Tech startup guy” was much more familiar and comfortable to me. I hemmed and I hawed with indecision for a year. Finally I forced myself to quit by giving a three month’s notice and booking a trip and tickets to The International, a worldwide DoTA tournament I had always wanted to attend. However, by the time I had quit, many new competitors had entered our space with very similar products. The price I paid for hemming and hawing was losing our lead in the market. What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why? I work at home, so it’s super important for me to start the day off right. I first make a kale, spinach, frozen blueberry protein powder smoothie. Then I process payments and shipping information for our customers that came in from the last 24 hours, and I send the orders to ShipBob, our fulfillment partner. Next I check my emails. Then I make a short list of goals for the day. Finally, I bike to Brooklyn Boulders, a rock-climbing gym, which is where I work for the day. What’s your best financial/cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started? Brace yourself for repeated rejections and failures while you figure out your pitch and your product-market fit. It’s a marathon. Knowing how to handle your emotions in a mature, productive manner are the difference between success and failure. I’ve worked with entrepreneurs who had a great product and some initial success. However, they freaked out at every single minor failure and perceived setback. This is business: there will be rude customers, crook suppliers, disappearing shipments and ruthless competitors. Those are the table stakes. In the words of the wise Big Sean, “last night you took an L, but tonight you’ll bounce back.” Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level? Read up on Virginia Satir’s five stress response strategies. It will only take five minutes, I promise. Then think about which strategies you commonly employ, and which strategies your business partners employ. Are you generally blaming, placating, computing, distracting or leveling? I personally have a tendency to use a lot of placating and distracting, which stems from prioritizing other’s happiness above all else. While this results in people liking me as a person, it very difficult for me to challenge or persuade others. A lot of conflicts and arguments in your team can be much better understood using this framework to understand what’s happening. The best and healthiest ideal is to use leveling, which means taking your emotions, other emotions and the full gravity of the situation into account. Honesty means speaking the truth, good or bad. Good business requires honesty. What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business? Success is not about money, status or power. It’s so easy these days with social media to compare your averages with others’ highlights. Everyone has their own challenges to overcome. It’s just that some of the challenges are visible than others. Success is taking it one day at a time, forgiving yourself, and trying to just be a little bit better than the day before. OK, now that the preaching section is over. It’s my dream to own a castle and have my best friend own a castle too. When we’re bored on a summer weekend, we can lay siege to each other’s castles with trebuchets and catapults. My alternative way to demonstrate that I’ve succeeded is by purchasing a professional sports team and renaming it to something that promotes and glorifies science and math, so that us nerds will finally be considered cool by the athletes. from https://businesscollective.com/kevin-tao-neueve/
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Let’s talk digital marketing. It’s something that is an absolute need — not just a want — for any company to be successful. Some bring their marketing in-house, but for my company Wakanow, an online traveling agency for people traveling to and from Africa, it was a business-forward decision to outsource my digital marketing needs. But it wasn’t an easy task finding the correct agency. Before I hired my current service provider, I dealt with a few that claimed to provide a quality product at a cheap price. A few were outsourced to countries that are known for the proverbial “snake oil.” It’s sometimes easy to get trapped in these scams — especially for entrepreneurs at the beginning stages of a startup. Scaling, which means getting the most growth with the least amount of resources, is vital, so sometimes we let our guard down when considering service providers. And nowhere is this truer than in the world of digital marketing; from web development to search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search, there are thousands of companies on the prowl, ready to take your money without offering results. Be wary. It’s like an SEO company guaranteeing the No. 1 position on Google. This is an impossible guarantee, as are the quality guarantees of $5 hourly web developers and 50,000 Instagram friends for $100 (fake friends, of course). The more and more digital marketing is in need, the more digital-marketing fraud grows. For most startups, outsourcing their marketing needs is the ideal situation. After growth, many consider bringing their digital marketing in-house, but if you find a worthy agency, you’ll likely stick with them. Here are four tips to avoid digital-marketing scams: Scrutinize the Selection ProcessStart with the obvious Google search and dig into each prospect. First, check out how well they represent themselves on their own platform. Did you see any paid search ads mentioning them? How is the SEO on their website? When searching, also use words like “scam” or “fraud” in the results, and be warned if the prospect has anything negative against them. Also, use a contact form to first reach out, and then call. Be prepared to ask questions, and get a feel for client services. Ask about their process, and find out if they outsource or “white label” any work, and if so, what work and to whom? Outsourcing work to third-world countries is a red flag. Check CredibilityStart with experience of the executive team. Some newer agencies may only have limited experience as an agency, but the team may have much more. My digital marketing agency was founded by Kris Jones, who has 18 years in the industry. His team members also have vast experience. Then, dig deeper. Has the agency won any awards? Are its clients listed, and if so, are there testimonies or case studies present on its website? Have they appeared in any major publications within the digital marketing industry? Positive responses to any of these questions will show that the agency has a voice. The stronger the voice, the stronger the product. Request Daily/Weekly/Monthly ReportsIf a digital marketing agency doesn’t offer any reporting, take warning. For example, if SEO services are offered, Google Analytics is an absolute must. With Google Analytics, an agency can track just about anything, from website traffic to transactions that were made through either your paid search or website. The reporting factor should be standard from all companies. If it’s not listed, ask about reporting and demand it if you become a client. Objective data helps prevent companies from scamming even if you weren’t expecting the results you got. For Wakanow, my digital marketing agency sends a bi-weekly report with the following data: all traffic, all referrals, organic traffic, mobile visitors, traffic from social, traffic from email blasts, and also the top landing pages, to name some of the main criteria. Make the Warnings Clear. Scope Your HiringDid you follow the above tips, but still have nerves? If so, provide yourself an out. Just as the digital marketing agencies proposal and contracts should have scope, so should you as a customer. Let the agency know you won’t deal with things like missed deadlines or overspending of ad budget on a Google AdWords or Facebook campaigns. If need be, have the agency insert some type of language into the contract that allows you to exit without losing any money. Sadly, even the most successful business stories have either suffered a digital marketing scam or had some contact with a fraud trying to earn with less-than-mediocre services. Follow these tips, and keep the scammers far out of reach. It may take some work considering there are hundreds – even thousands – of digital marketing agencies, but create the bandwidth to check and double check them. Hard work is eminent for successful entrepreneurship – don’t let a hack digital marketing agency take away from that hard work. from https://businesscollective.com/4-tips-to-help-you-hire-a-credible-digital-marketing-agency/ Nothing feels better than onboarding a friend — someone you know, trust, and can speak bluntly to, right? Nobody imagines that when they hire or partner with a friend, they may one day need to fire them, but that’s often the case. In my experience, hiring friends can lead to the very best, and the very worst, outcomes. If you have the fortitude to weather the latter, then it might be well worth the risk. For instance, my fellow co-founder, David Mainiero, has been my best friend since freshman year of college, and I can’t imagine running my business without him. Still, having fired friends a few times before, I thought I would pass along a step-by-step guide on how to confront what may be every entrepreneur’s worst nightmare. 1. Realize That, Either Way, Your Friendship Is OverMost individuals I’ve spoken to tell me their biggest concern is that firing their friend will jeopardize their relationship. “She won’t forgive me!” Indeed, she may not forgive you. But one thing is certain: if you don’t call it quits when the business relationship clearly isn’t working out, it will be you who does not forgive them. If you are debating whether to fire a friend, chances are that your friendship is already over – you just don’t know it yet. Hopefully, your friend will handle their termination with grace and forgiveness, but that’s the exception, not the rule. 2. Focus on the Legal Situation at HandNow that you’ve lost your friend, things could get ugly, and it’s time to get your legal approach in order. Oftentimes, when people feel personally invested, they tend to overlook those pesky legal details. But it’s precisely during that time that you should pay particular attention. You’d be surprised by the number of legal issues that arise due to personal, rather than business-related, issues. Read your friend’s employment agreement, and if necessary, the operating agreement for your company. If your friend is just an employee, consult an employment lawyer in your state, or if they’re a partner, consult an attorney. Be sure to ask what your rights are, what his/her rights are, and how you can make termination legal and incontestable. Before your friend has even an inkling that you intend to fire them, you should essentially have your entire approach planned out. 3. Set Up an In-Person MeetingMuch like breaking up with a significant other, firing a friend should be done face to face. Once you’ve gathered yourself and your legal strategy, it’s time to send them an email setting up a place and time to chat. It will behoove you not to betray your intentions at this meeting. You’ve made up your mind, and this is what’s best for your business. If you make it clear that you’re coming in guns blazing, you’ll only give them more of an opportunity to prepare. Remember that self-preservation is human instinct, and if you were in their position, you would also leverage feelings of personal attachment and guilt to keep your job. They will likely do the same, and providing advance warning will only make it worse. 4. Be Honest and TransparentThis is where things get really difficult, because you don’t want to hurt your friend’s feelings. As well, your friend (hopefully) doesn’t want to let you down or lose their job. If you aren’t extremely direct, open and firm, you’re going to find yourself in an argument about how you can make things work. But this isn’t the time for an argument; this is the time for separation. So, muster up all the courage you have, look directly at your friend and say, “I’m going to be completely honest. This isn’t working out, and I don’t believe we can work together. I’m very sorry, and it hurts me to do this.” Afterward, you may choose to provide examples and justifications. Give your friend the opportunity to vent, ask questions, and generally be angry. If possible, explain how your own shortcomings have contributed to the situation. But don’t lie or sugarcoat your comments. The correct answer to, “I wasn’t that bad” is not, “I know, I’m just looking for something else.” It’s, “Yes, you were that bad.” This may seem unduly harsh, but there are only two options from your friend’s perspective. Either a) They couldn’t meet your expectations, or b) You’re a horrible friend who couldn’t give your best friend a break. Trust me, you do not want the latter. 5. Remind Your Friend That This Wasn’t PersonalThis entire affair means that you must remain dispassionate. It’s a difficult thing to do, but it’s necessary. Once it’s clear that the business relationship has ended, remind your friend that this has nothing to do with your friendship, that you hope you can remain friends, and that you will help them however you can. from https://businesscollective.com/this-isnt-personal-how-to-diplomatically-fire-your-best-friend/ Strategic partnerships are often an ideal way to get more brand traction, expand your audience and customer base, access additional resources and talent, and stimulate revenue growth without going out and acquiring another company. You can create a temporary brand partnership through a joint marketing campaign or you can aim for a longer partnership (like a joint venture) to create new products or services to bring to market. Having worked in various partnerships throughout my career, I’ve found some tips that help approach and manage these in a way that creates a win-win. Define Your Individual and Partnership ValueWhile a strategic partnership can increase your value as a brand, don’t forget to put your own value on the table so that it is recognized within the relationship. Defining this value up front is important to maintain equal footing in the strategic partnership and illustrate why the other brand should work with you. Before formalizing the partnership, make sure you have answers about the value you both bring, how that value is enhanced, and what additional value is generated through the partnership for customers. If you don’t have those answers or they don’t add up, then you know you shouldn’t proceed. If you are satisfied, then it’s a strategic partnership that will likely deliver a solid return. Work From a Shared Vision and PrinciplesAs part of the strategy you create with your partner, there should be a written vision and principles that guide everything you do together. Although you are not forming a company, it helps to write these down and use them as a foundation for how you will interact and collaborate. Think of it as a temporary culture that is in place as long as the partnership. Also, partnerships will have friction. You are both separate companies with agenda and objectives that may not always mesh. This is where the shared vision and principles will help. They can be consulted when there is a conflict to find common ground to negotiate through the differences. Take Your Time and Do It RightAny relationship where people rush into it typically does not go well — or last long. It’s OK to take the time to get to know one another and feel each other out. Spending time on a social and professional level can help you understand each other’s quirks. Conduct due diligence on each other, and have follow-up meetings until each of you is satisfied that it is the right decision to collaborate. Also, once you are in the partnership, don’t rush to end it if you sense anything that makes you uncomfortable. It will take time to get into a flow with each other and settle into focusing on what you can create together. If there are problems, talk them through rather than ditching the partnership immediately. Create ParametersGive each other parameters on working together. This structure will bring meaning to the partnership. It will also minimize any misunderstandings that could derail the value you are trying to develop. These parameters should be in the form of an agreement that describes the roles and responsibilities of each partner. It should also list the goals you want to achieve, the metrics you are using to measure the results, and specific timelines for achieving those results. It will also cover the financial aspects and how the strategic partnership ends in terms of estimated time frames and exit strategies. Train, Assess and Communicate RegularlyI’ve seen situations where brands partner, decide on some tactics and then assume it will just go as planned. The better approach is to invest in training each other’s teams to understand the brand benefits on an individual and combined basis. All those involved in the partnership should regularly communicate through connecting each other’s project management systems and maintaining a schedule of regular meetings. Assessment is a must-have strategy to ensure the tactics are doing what both brands want. This is where having those metrics in place really helps: If anything is not working, regular communication can prove invaluable to helping pivot as quickly as possible. The integration of sales and marketing teams can also help maximize the resources used for deployment and changes. Add More Partnerships in a Thoughtful, Strategic WayThese types of partnerships are probably the only type where you can play the field and have numerous going at the same time without feeling guilty or looked down on. Yes, it’s OK to create more than one brand partnership at the same time — as long as they make sense, follow the above tips, and do not conflict with each other. Most brands understand the value of multiple partnerships, but you do need to tread carefully or go a different direction if you are considering strategic partnerships with two companies that may be competitors. Not every business will be in a position to take advantage of strategic brand partnerships. If you are in the early stages of development, you may not have the value that other brands are seeking. You also may not be prepared to work with others if you need to build more experience and knowledge for yourself about your industry and business operations. And that’s OK. You can always circle back in the future and consider how a strategic partnership may work with your company as it develops over time. from https://businesscollective.com/how-to-effectively-create-a-strategic-partnership-for-your-business/ Inherently, we entrepreneurs are an optimistic bunch. We paint visions of success in our minds and we set exuberant goals to get there. Sometimes things go wrong and we write them off as bad luck. But how many times do we stop to wonder whether or not we could’ve changed the course of events? Are You the One Keeping Your Doors Shut?Yesterday morning I received an invitation to a great networking event that offered me the opportunity to meet motivated, like-minded individuals. Immediately, my mind started wondering if this event would be worth attending. We’ve all been in similar situations when we have opportunities like this presented to us. First you see an event invite, and suddenly your mind comes up with reason after reason as to why you shouldn’t attend. Scheduling conflicts, time constraints, and other rationalizations, whether true or untrue, begin to plague your mind. Inevitably, we’ve all had a point where we were unsure of whether or not putting ourselves out there would be beneficial. As the minutes go by, you think you are convincing yourself out of attending, but the truth is that the decision has been long made. Our Subconscious DecisionsOur subconscious minds are fascinating tools that can help fuel our success or catalyze our failure. As soon as we take in information, our subconscious brain begins forming an opinion on it, a once integral asset in the land of hunters and gatherers. Today, the value of such instant interpretation can not only be a significant disadvantage, but it can actually hurt you in the long run. By subconsciously deciding that you didn’t want to attend the event, you’ve set your brain out on a mission to rationalize this decision. As you make decision after decision, your subconscious begins forming your conscious rationale while creating a feedback loop, and the process continues. Soon, more and more events seem unappealing, but the reasons for their lack of appeal are always very compelling. Unintended ConsequencesTurning down this one event may seem trivial at first, but this event could have served as a catalyst for meeting your next co-founder, meeting a great friend, or finally linking up with the client you’ve been seeking to reach. Looking back, some of the best people I know today I met by taking a leap and attending an event that seemed just that much out of my way. In the same fashion, turning down this event means closing the door to serendipity. Embrace SerendipityWhether you realize it or not, this event was a tinge of luck handed to you on a silver platter. Events like these are the perfect breeding ground for serendipity, leading to unexpected encounters and introductions that can propel you further down the path to success. Many people get hung up on ideas of being lucky, having luck, or the lack thereof. Unfortunately, these thoughts provide no value to you in the long run. If you wish to succeed, you should be doing everything in your favor to position yourself in situations where you can “get lucky.” Luck can never be forced, but it can be gently coerced. Are You Feeling Lucky?The best thing about luck is that it is ultimately in the eyes of the beholder. Whether you believe that you are inherently lucky, or inherently unlucky, you are inevitably right. Take a minute to process and internalize the previous sentence — it extends to many perceptions you have outside of luck. Almost every event in your life that you consider yourself to have been lucky or unlucky in can be framed to reflect both points of views. As you go down the path of defining your life events as unlucky, you create a negative feedback loop for your subconscious mind, and you slowly convince yourself that you are truly unlucky. On the contrary, if you go out of your way to frame events in your life in a positive way, you begin to notice how lucky you truly are. As the positive feedback loop continues, you notice small details in your day-to-day life that confirm your belief that you are lucky, and it begins to extend to every aspect of your life. You choose to attend events like these because you are predisposed to being lucky, a mindset you’ve accumulated over time by perceiving your luck in a positive light. By screening events in a positive bias, you predispose yourself to not only being lucky, but to being successful in what you do. Of course, success cannot be guaranteed just because you view your luck through a positive lens, but you can ensure that you are taking full advantage of the opportunities that you come across. Luck CompoundingThe great thing about luck is that it can actually begin to compound once you are on the right path. Once you internalize that you are indeed lucky, great things that you once thought were impossible begin to unfold in your life. Slowly, this effect begins to build on itself as more and more positive events begin to occur in your life. Whether you met your company’s next investor at an event because you had the courage to approach a panelist to ask him or her a question in front of a crowd of 200 people, or you met your next co-founder by cracking a joke at the beverage table, you are compounding your luck. A tinge of good luck can multiply exponentially if it is valuable to everyone involved. Next Steps
A version of this article originally appeared here. from https://businesscollective.com/an-entrepreneurs-guide-to-serendipity/ Question: What is the primary marketing channel you use and why?Reputation-Generating Referrals"While online marketing brings the most amount of leads, I love word-of-mouth business! There is a minimal amount of sales effort, contracts are signed sooner and we have the highest close rate on these leads. Trust is key to a healthy and long-term client relationship, but it takes time to earn it. When an existing client brags about you, there is a certain level of trust passed on." @TasticMarketing Social Media"We primarily use social media to get the word out. Each channel serves a different purpose and audience. The targeting on social media is so powerful that it's hard to ignore and effective when used correctly." @martymjm There's No Right Answer"You should go where your audience is. If during market research, you find that the majority of your clients use Twitter, you should be there. If your audience isn’t much for using social media, look into print and television ads. Of course, if all else fails, you can simply use Facebook - it’s almost always a safe bet." @steven_buchwald Facebook Ads"Right now, Facebook Ads are the best way to reach a very specific target audience to validate ideas and generate leads. If you know your numbers, you can very profitably build a system to drive awareness within your target audience, generate leads and drive sales. The key is to know your audience and have a very clear message aligned with solving their problems." @tresnicmedia from https://businesscollective.com/marketing-channels-you-should-be-using-to-target-your-audience/ When it comes to work environment, there was only ever one option for me when I started my business: an open, collaborative arrangement. Now, almost three years later, our ever-growing team still sits side by side in what I lovingly call “the bullpen” and works together every day toward a shared goal. Although I’m a huge fan of the camaraderie, collaboration and open communication that this layout inspires in my team, I will be the first to admit that sometimes it can be a challenge to stay focused on individual tasks. I believe strongly that the benefits outweigh the costs, however, and promoting strategies to help focus in this environment will not only help your team, but you as the business owner. Intentionally Block Your TimeAs an executive, your schedule is jam-packed. The precious moments you have to sit and clear your inbox or complete a quiet task seem few and far between. When I find myself with open time in my schedule, I love sitting out with my team — not locked in my office. One way I make sure that I complete my to-do list while still sitting out with the team is making calendar events for tasks, even if they’re just for me. By intentionally blocking off time, I am not only reminded of the task, but I am less likely to be distracted by other items on my to-do list. Find Your Quiet SpaceKnowing you have somewhere to go if you just can’t seem to focus is important. For most executives, this means retreating to your office. For the rest of the team, make sure you remind them what their options are for quiet time. Recommend that they book a meeting space for an hour alone, or designate a certain area of the office as the “no-talk zone.” Walk and TalkHave a question for someone or finding it hard to focus? Get up from your desk and physically take a walk around the office or down the street. By removing yourself from your computer and talking it out in person, you can clear your head and are able to revisit it with a fresh perspective. Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery to really focus on a challenge. Start Your Morning Off RightI believe in the power of positive thinking. If you start your day off with a little inspiration and motivation, you set yourself up for success for the rest of the day. Every morning, my team gathers together for what we call the “pump-up,” which is one of my favorite traditions. A different team member leads a five-minute activity that is meant to energize and motivate the group. These have ranged from flash dance parties, yoga and meditation, to inspirational stories or funny videos. Taking five minutes at the start of every day to do something as a group (that is not related to work!) clears the collective mind and prepares you and your team for the day ahead. Set Clear ExpectationsI’m a major advocate for open floor plans to improve collaboration and simply get stuff done. In our office, not only do we all sit together, we play music as well. This environment might seem fun and relaxed, but the expectation is clearly set that noise and chatter should be kept to a minimum and productivity shouldn’t have to suffer. If you are not up front with your team about your expectations around your office layout, it can easily lead to an unfocused workspace. Make sure all of your team members are respectful of others’ work habits and phone activity, and that you as a leader offer alternative solutions if needed. The balance of a relaxed, open environment — with the importance of focused productivity — is the sweet spot for many businesses. And by employing these strategies for mindfulness, you’re sure to make the most of it. So go ahead — open up! from https://businesscollective.com/how-to-maintain-productivity-in-an-open-concept-office/ Hurricane Harvey has been a devastating blow to the people and businesses of southeast Texas, especially Houston. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes and are struggling to keep their businesses. No one could have predicted the amount of rainfall or damages that this hurricane has inflicted. However, in the wake of such tragedy, there are lessons for entrepreneurs to be learned, particularly in relation to how the rescue and recovery effort has gone. Planning Is EverythingAs entrepreneurs, we often put out daily fires and get caught up in the day-to-day issues that impact our businesses. We seemingly don’t have time to look at the bigger picture for planning. After all, there is a good chance that not many big events will occur that will adversely impact our business. We don’t want to think about them or allocate resources for those just-in-case situations. Then something as monumental and unexpected as this flood occurs, and we wish that we had taken the time to create a disaster recovery or business continuity plan. This moment is now happening for entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Texas. You can never plan too much. And, while planning won’t protect everything, it certainly can’t hurt when it comes to saving your assets, backing up critical data and finding a way to pick up and start operating your business once the disaster clears. There is no time like the present to start planning how to address any natural disasters or unexpected problems that could inhibit your business from operating or put your data at risk. Start by looking at where you stand now in terms of risks. You can seek outside help to locate all your vulnerabilities. From there, create action steps on what to do should a disaster strike, list roles and responsibilities and put it all in writing to share with your team. Resilience Is an Important TraitWatching what people are doing in the wake of this disaster proves the resilience of the human spirit. It shows us that we can take on anything and should have a positive frame of mind no matter what we face. Resilience is knowing that you will survive because you are proactively addressing what needs to be taken care of rather than worrying about the outcome. This is also where being creative is a must — as is the willingness to pivot. Thinking fast on your feet is a critical trait to maximize your resilient spirit. If one approach doesn’t work, try a different one. Keep going until you figure it out. Just look at the people out there who are helping find and rescue those trapped. If one method hasn’t worked, people have gone as far as to form a human chain just to reach someone. It’s the idea that we will all survive and come out stronger. You Can Never Be Too Busy to Help Those in NeedWhether you are successful or struggling, both positions are better served by helping others. We can all spare some time to donate our talents or money to another organization. With the flooding in Houston, there were people who left their jobs to start collecting supplies or joined with rescue operations to save trapped animals and people. It should be an impulse in all entrepreneurs to go help others when the situation arises. Not only does it feel good, but it reminds us just how fortunate we are in our own lives and businesses. This new sense of appreciation can also serve us well in our outlook with our own businesses. When you think it’s bad, step back and look at the people who are still smiling despite the fact their house is under water and they’ve just lost all their personal effects. They are alive and that’s what is important. If you are nearby, find out what organizations need volunteers to help at shelters or rescue efforts. If far away, check with local aid agencies to find out where you can send donations of money and items. Always seek out recognizable organizations like the Red Cross to make sure your help reaches those in need. Start Thinking About New Solutions for DisastersIt’s disasters like Hurricane Harvey that teach us the world is still in desperate need of new ideas about how to solve age-old problems. In the case of this flooding, we could use entrepreneurs’ ingenuity to think about new opportunities for rebuilding cities that can better handle such environmental problems. It also requires more innovation in terms of addressing climate change and what society is doing to the planet. Disasters can be reduced and even eliminated if we continue brainstorming new products and processes. This is our chance to make things better. For example, many technology experts have been working on internet of things devices and connections to build smart cities, including early warning systems and new planning and development mapping to help minimize city vulnerability to the harsh elements. Better United Rather Than SoloWhile some choose to take the every-man-for-themselves approach, when people work together to gather thousands of pounds of supplies, help rescue people and animals and open up and run shelters, we can make the biggest impact. More can be accomplished when people collaborate. I think that having a partner helps my business, products, customer base and revenue develop faster. Collaboration maximizes available resources and generates a higher rate of productivity to improve the odds of winning. Disaster waits for no one. It is definitely important to think things through. from https://businesscollective.com/lessons-for-entrepreneurs-in-the-wake-of-disaster/ Millennials get it. They’re the newcomers in the workplace. They’re portrayed in media as flighty, spoiled kids whose main career motives are driven by the option to wear sweatpants and use a beanbag as a desk. I should know; I’m a millennial myself. Turns out, they value more than office snacks and Ping-Pong. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a fruit snack connoisseur and a reigning foosball champ. The perks offered at many startups are a great bonus. But that’s all they are: a bonus. Whether they’re part of founding teams or starting out at entry-level positions, millennials expect more. Prioritizing bonus perks over actual business experience isn’t helping any companies connect with millennials entering the workspace. Millennials are currently the largest generation in the American workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of the employees at our company, LSTN Sound Co., are under the age of 35. Here’s what they’re actually looking for. They’re Looking To Be ChallengedMillennials are tech-savvy and don’t have trouble solving small problems via Google or specific apps. They’re looking for unique challenges in the workplace to develop and test their critical thinking. It’s not difficult to follow an instruction manual for any given process. But what about discovering new processes that save time? They take pride in being anti-traditional and building new departments and channels for revenue. It’s best for employers to take advantage of this while helping their employees grow. They’re Looking To Build RelationshipsWe’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Millennials know timing is important and are often trying to meet the right people in every department. The intention behind making new contacts isn’t to jump ship; having a healthy Rolodex is beneficial to employees and their employers. When possible, they want to sit in on meetings and travel with the founders. When the right opportunity presents itself, invite your employees to events. Every present team member presents the chance to make a new introduction that could turn into a potential partnership. The relationships built along the way are invaluable. They’re Looking For Work-Life BalanceWhile it’s nice to have couches and beanbags, our office is not our home. Most millennials don’t like being confined to a 9-to-5 schedule. They’re goal-oriented: They measure their performance on the final output, not how many hours they punched in the process. It’s simply not possible for most office employees to work for nine hours straight. People get distracted, time is wasted, potential isn’t reached. If you’re reading this in your office right now, you’ve proved my point. Employers who allow flexible schedules and sufficient vacation days, as well as prioritize performance over attendance, are likely to have the happiest (and most productive) team. It’s been a win-win situation at our company. They’re Looking For RespectThis last one tends to be a difficult subject. It’s not always easy for senior employees or C-level executives to immediately show millennials respect in the workplace. Surprisingly, this doesn’t only involve entry-level millennials. Even directors and founding team members can find themselves subjected to the negative effects of ageism. I personally believe that long-term respect should be earned. But that doesn’t mean that everyone shouldn’t be on an even playing field from the start. Millennials are usually emotionally intelligent and pick up on subtle cues: If they don’t feel like they’re being taken seriously, they’ll likely feel less motivated to excel in their role. Ask them for their opinions about high-level decisions, and actually listen to what they say. Keep them posted on new updates and partnerships as they happen. These are simple changes that could make a real difference. In an ideal world, companies would meet these four pillars before any sort of fun bonus was thrown into the mix. The only way to alter the millennial stereotype is to make small, incremental changes within our own companies first. from https://businesscollective.com/4-benefits-millennials-want-that-are-more-important-than-beanbag-chairs-and-snacks/ I’ve been in the SMS field for more than a decade and watched the industry grow and transform. As the founder of a company that provides clients with SMS services, I’ve closely observed many successful and unsuccessful campaigns. I’ve found that there’s no secret formula for success. Whether you’re experienced with SMS marketing or plan to start using it, you already know that it’s one of the most effective ways to reach your audience. It allows you to contact people on their mobile devices at any time and provides you with extremely high read and response rates. As with any other type of marketing, there are certain guidelines you need to keep in mind to get the results you want. After analyzing thousands of campaigns, I’ve concluded that one of the most reliable rules to follow is K.I.S.S., or “keep it simple, stupid.” The biggest mistakes I’ve seen involve marketers overthinking their campaigns and, in the process, confusing and alienating their audiences. Let’s look at how to keep your SMS tactics simple, straightforward and effective. Don’t Confuse the AudienceText messaging is a fairly simple platform. However, SMS campaigns must be set up carefully in order to avoid any possible confusion on issues such as keywords and short codes. Otherwise, people who aren’t familiar with the process may not respond correctly. Keywords are one of the most powerful features of SMS marketing, making it possible to set up campaigns such as: “Text keyword PIZZA to 12345 for a 25 percent discount on your order.” Make sure you use keywords that are short, relevant and easy to remember. Avoid using numbers and special characters, which make it harder for your audience to type in the right keyword. A zero, for example, can be confused with the letter O. Special characters can be hard for people to find on the keyboard. Using a single word is the best, otherwise, our smartphones may auto-correct a keyword comprised of two words together. This may seem trivial, as most people could overcome their confusion by taking a few extra seconds. The problem, however, is that people today are busy and have very short attention spans. If it seems too complicated to reply to your message, your engagement rate will drop. Make Messages Clear and ConciseText messages are, by nature, short and terse communications that focus on essentials. One way to save space is to use a URL shortener for your links. Long URLs are unsightly and waste valuable character space. Text messages are also not the place to oversell your subscribers on the features and benefits of your product or offer. Your objective is to get them to click on a link or respond. A short message doesn’t provide ample space to educate the consumer. For this, you have to rely on your website, retail store, videos, sales pages or print ads. While messages must be concise, they also must include all essential information that people need to respond. If it’s an event, be sure to include the time, date and venue. If it’s a coupon or promotion, tell people what’s special about it and how much they’ll save. Naturally, you also must include any relevant links as well. Tell People What You WantThe idea that you must have a clear call-to-action is really Marketing 101 and applies to every type of promotion. With text messaging, however, some SMS beginners forget this ironclad rule. Perhaps, because this is a relatively new and dynamic form of marketing, people sometimes believe that any text message is inherently fascinating to the recipient and will provoke a great response. This, unfortunately, is not the case. You still need a clear objective for each message you send. In order to get the most out of a message, it should be targeted to an audience that’s expressed an interest in this type of offer. You can benefit by segmenting messages to make sure people are getting the type of information they signed up for. For example, many nightclubs use SMS marketing. Imagine you were signed up to receive text messages from the XYZ Nightclub. Which of these messages would you find more compelling? “Come to XYZ Friday for great music.” “Hear local jazz legend Mary Smith at XYZ Friday. Text TIX to 12345 for a free drink.” The first message is vague and contains no call-to-action. The second message has two advantages: it’s more specific, and it gives people a task to complete as well as an incentive to do so (a free drink). This principle holds for any type of campaign. Within the constraints of the 160-character limit, give the audience a call-to-action and a motivation to carry it out. These are some of the ways to apply K.I.S.S. to your SMS campaigns. Most of your customers carry around their mobile devices everywhere they go. They’re accustomed to texting with their friends, family and co-workers. That’s why people are so receptive to texts. While a marketing text is always going to be a little different than a social one, you want your messages to be as simple and non-intrusive as possible. This means keeping it simple and not making your audience think too hard about what you’re saying or what you want from them. from https://businesscollective.com/starting-an-sms-campaign-keep-it-simple/ |
ABOUT MEHi I am Brenda Feaster from New York city. Recently completed my business studies. I always helps others in my area specially the entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses this also increases my own abilities as well. I also recently started my own food business and its going well. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |