4 inspiring phrases from impact entrepreneurs

By | Tips

It does not matter what phase your company is in; there are some highly inspiring examples to follow that can be emulated.

Just like you, some of these people were also entrepreneurs with a goal in mind, which perhaps seemed far away.

They share their way of thinking with those who want to reach the top.

  1. “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to lose it.” —Jeff Bezos
    The Amazon CEO was clear about how important it is to build strong relationships with your customers and the environment. From the first phase of business growth, focus on being one of the companies that the world expects. Grow according to your corporate values and don’t deviate from them. Everyone makes mistakes, but how they’re resolved is what will stick in people’s minds.
  2. “It’s okay to celebrate success, but it’s more important to heed the lessons of failure.” —Bill Gates
    As you have seen, business growth requires several complex phases that require a lot of nerve, effort, patience, and intelligence to complete. Going up is a great success: celebrate it, but as the tycoon says, don’t just focus on it. Analyze how your journey went, the things you did well, and the things you can improve in the coming stages.
  3. “I always did something I wasn’t ready for. I think that’s the way to grow up.” — Marissa Mayer
    Entrepreneur and IT specialist Marissa Mayer, a former Google employee (number 20, to be exact), CEO of Yahoo! and founder of Lumi Labs, invites you to seek growth despite not having safe bets. You can overcome the fear of failure and “not measuring up” only when you still decide to do things.
  4. “Constant growth is the best survival mechanism” —Amancio Ortega
    The growth of your company will give you the engine to continue accomplishing more and more achievements. As you grow, your skills and knowledge increase. This is shaping you as a wiser and more expert person in making strategic decisions. This experience will help you grow and face adversity in the environment of your company.

Business growth has many aspects and depends exclusively on the needs of your company, knowing where you want to go and how to go about it. Perhaps your constant goal is customer acquisition; but, as you advance in your stages of business growth, you’ll have more and more needs to solve.

Markets are different and can be uncertain; though, with a business growth plan designed from a clear vision, you’ll be able to diversify your products or services and identify your opportunities and weaknesses to face the obstacles that may appear.

Rule 80/20 for productivity

By | Tips

How to be more productive with the 80/20 rule

 

The 80/20 rule refers to a phenomenon that states that approximately 80% of the results come from 20% of the actions. In other words, a small percentage of causes have a huge effect. This concept is great, because it can help identify which initiatives you need to prioritize to achieve the greatest impact.

Vilfredo Federico Pareto, an Italian economist and philosopher, noted that 80% of the land in Italy was held by only 20% of the people. The same was true for the plants in his garden, since 80% of the fruit was grown by 20% of his plants.

This is a pervasive phenomenon that can be seen in economics, business, time management, and even sports… in just about every walk of life.

This rule can be useful for prioritizing daily tasks.

The purpose is to complete 20% of the daily tasks and achieve 80% of the impact that can be generated on that day. To achieve better results, it’s important to highlight which are the tasks with the greatest impact on the work crew and focus on them.

Also, with the 80/20 rule, you can make better decisions during the troubleshooting process. This is the process:

  • Identify equipment problems; that is, those that are to be resolved with this decision-making process.
  • Determine the causes of these problems. By questioning the origin of problems, it is easier to find possible solutions.
  • Classify problems into related groups. It could turn out that one solution is being used on several of them.
  • Assign a value to each problem based on its impact on the business. This can indicate importance.
  • Develop a plan to focus on issues that occur in the top 20%. The idea is that a solution can solve several problems. Based on the values assigned to each, it will be calculated which ones are in the top 20%. The 80/20 rule can also help increase metrics in less time by prioritizing initiatives in the right order.
  • Clear priorities.
  • Greater daily productivity.
  • Ability to divide work into groups of simpler tasks.
  • More focused strategy.

The goal is to focus effort on a specific aspect of the job for greater impact. 100% effort must be used in that 20% to achieve 80% of the results

How to Build a Strong In-House Marketing Machine for Your Small Business

By | Tips

Whether you plan to launch your first small business or have been running one for many years, implementing an effective marketing strategy has never been more critical. As the business landscape continues to evolve and marketing trends change, it’s up to you to stay on top of the strategies, channels, and messaging you use. If you want to improve your company’s marketing efforts, this crash course can help you lay a firm foundation!

The Strategies                        

Effectively marketing your business will require you to create and execute various little strategies that makeup one overarching marketing strategy. Much of your plan will factor in the channels and messaging you utilize as a brand, which we will discuss in more detail below.

A good place to start is by defining your goals, even if it means redefining the ones you already have in place. You should also ensure you have a unique selling proposition (USP) and a new method for demonstrating how your product or service stands out from the crowd.

Furthermore, it can help to define your target audience and create a customer profile. Knowing your target market will help you develop a strategy that accommodates your goals. And, of course, you will need to do plenty of market research to get an idea of what your target customers are looking for.

The Channels

There’s no shortage of channels through which to roll out your marketing strategy. To keep up with the business landscape today, you must consider using online and offline marketing channels. Sure, most of your marketing efforts will likely stream through online channels like social media, email marketing, content marketing, PPC, and SEO. These are critical for remaining relevant in today’s world, and you must learn how to implement these practices best in-house.

Be sure to use an image size converter for your various marketing images. You will likely use several versions of the same image throughout your various marketing channels, so having the access to the tools to resize them yourself is a major convenience.

Offline channels refer to more traditional means of promoting your brand, which might include posting ads on billboards and telephone poles around town. Or, it might consist of leaving business cards and brochures on community bulletin boards at restaurants and coffee shops. Moreover, word-of-mouth advertising remains one of the most effective ways to build your brand identity, which requires you to maintain top-notch customer service and quality.

The Messaging

Once you know what channels you want to use as a business, craft your marketing message to represent your brand through your content. Your message essentially refers to the words and content in your marketing materials that persuade people to choose your company.

Your brand must have a specific and unique voice that distinguishes you from your competitors. And your messaging needs to coincide with your selected channels and the needs of your target customers.

To develop the appropriate messaging, you need to understand your audience’s problems and craft concise, catchy content that speaks to solutions for those problems. Try to avoid sounding too “salesy” or using too much industry jargon; all of your content should utilize familiar, casual language while still establishing your expertise in the industry.

Evaluating Your Marketing Success

Finally, you must understand how to assess your marketing success to determine how to adjust your strategy in the future. The best method is to evaluate your marketing outcomes instead of your results.

While results refer to social media statistics, website traffic, lead sources, and similar factors, outcomes are defined by the sales, revenue, customer satisfaction, returns, and customer lifetime value that stem from your marketing efforts. Learn to measure the outcomes, and you will have valuable information for making critical decisions for the future.

Whether you run an audio-video business or any other type of company, marketing is critical to your overall success. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the strategies, channels, and messaging your team should implement, and consider the advice above for planning your company’s marketing efforts. In no time, you will see excellent outcomes from the extra time and energy you put into promoting your brand!

Visit Business E Suites for affordable move-in-ready office space that will boost your team’s productivity. Call 281-862-3150 to schedule a tour today!

4 Tips to “Expand” your Office

By | Business

It is common for growing businesses to begin working in small offices as they continue to grow and expand. However, this should not be a limitation and should not make the workspace uncomfortable. There are a number of ways to play with perception and decor to create comfortable and harmonious surroundings.

These ideas can be helpful to completely outfit an office and enjoy every corner.

  1. Use foldable or stackable furnishings. This is a great way to make the most of spaces. Movable, easy-to-move chairs and tables can benefit from transforming workspaces and enabling the area to be used for other activities.
  2. Integral furniture integration. There are furniture items that optimize space, such as chairs with built-in desks that can be very useful for staff training or onboarding steps. This is an effective use of your imagination.
  3. Choose desks with integrated storage and drawers. There are tables of optimal size for the office that offer storage for the occupants without having to pile up paper or work material. It provides a sense of order and more space in an office.
  4. Creativity in interior design. Without the need to use walls that divide office space, there are low-cost alternatives such as acrylic or glass walls that give a sense of space. As well, the acoustics are unaffected. There are also artificial plants that decorate the walls and please the sight of the place.

These four tips are just some of the ideas that can make your stay at the office enjoyable and encourage productivity and a good mood.

Co-working = Creativity + Networking

By | Industry

We offer a creative work environment with a unique entrepreneurial spirit.  Co-working allows you to meet professionals from different backgrounds and work with them in the same workspace.  Keep in mind, that when you work in a co-working space; you interact with the community, attend events, and acquire new contacts.

Networking is essential in a co-working environment to connect with the community, have quality conversations, and build your contact list.  Networking is a technique that is used to increase the current network of contacts and get new ones to increase the volume of your business. Networking will help you get innovative ideas and solutions, since knowing the point of view of other professionals will open up new horizons for you.

Being in contact with people who work in different areas allows you to focus on things from other perspectives. It also helps you get out of your comfort zone and enhances your most creative side, encouraging the creation of innovative solutions/ideas.

To answer the question of whether coworking enhances/increases your creativity, it is necessary that we first see the advantages and benefits it brings us:

  • Increases productivity and concentration. A person is focused on their goals since they don’t have distractions at home. A co-working space inspires you to work.
  • It will increase your client list. You’ll get new contacts and clients because your business will be known.
  • By creating synergies between the members of the community, communication is enhanced, and innovative ideas arise from there.
  • Improve your social life. As a general rule, those who work at home tend to have little social life, and working in a co-working space with other professionals and attending community events, will allow you to meet new people and come out of your shell.
  • Your finances will thank you. Office or business center rental prices are excessive. On the other hand, renting a flexible or fixed space in a co-working atmosphere is much more profitable and you won’t have to worry about paying anything else, but your rent, since everything else is included.
  • It will increase your motivation because working away from home, will help you create a work routine.
  • One of the most valued benefits is that in a co-working space, new and innovative ideas are brought up due to the interaction with other coworkers. Communication between the community favors the exchange of knowledge and that is because in a community we have professionals from different fields who will contribute their knowledge and their points of view.
  • Without a doubt, another one of the most notable benefits is that a co-working space brings us increased creativity.

These results show us that co-workers feel more inspired because connecting and having conversations with other members of the community, inspire a different approach to the project, therefore showing us the importance, a co-working space brings to us.  Interacting with each other increases productivity, establishes collaborations, and opens up a whole new world full of professional possibilities.

Pomodoro Technique: Is it good for your productivity?

By | Tips

The internet has made our dream come true: we are in charge of our productivity. And it doesn’t matter if you are an employee, a freelancer, or an entrepreneur. You have to be good at managing your time. One very popular way to do it is through the Pomodoro Technique. But how does it work?

What is the Pomodoro Technique?

The Pomodoro Technique is an approach to managing your working time. It’s all about finding a balance between periods of intense activity and short breaks. Downtimes are important to relax a bit, keep your mind clear, and then get back to work. This way, when you’re active you will be fresh and effective.

Its origins date back to the late 1980s. Francesco Cirillo, a college student, implemented it with a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. The Italian word “Pomodoro” refers to a sauce made from tomatoes.

How does the Pomodoro Technique work?

The Pomodoro technique is very simple. You need a timer, a piece of paper, a pen, and a great desire to organize your time.

First, write the tasks that you want to complete. This can be a simple “to do” list. Next, divide your work session into 25-minute productivity periods. You will call them “Pomodoros”. Avoid all distractions!

Between each Pomodoro, take a 5-minute break. This is will allow you to clear your mind. Every four Pomodoros take a longer break of 20 minutes.

Your goal is to give your total attention to a single task. Thus, interruptions are not allowed. If an unforeseen issue demands your attention, you can write it down to take care of it during the next Pomodoro. If you MUST take care of it, cancel the Pomodoro and start again later.

At the end of each Pomodoro, cross off the tasks you have completed. Add any comments you feel are necessary. Later, this will allow you to reflect on your productivity.

Is the Pomodoro Technique effective?

The Pomodoro Technique can help you to maintain mental agility thanks to its breaks. Also, when you avoid multitasking, you can finish your work with effectiveness.

The 25 minute periods are recommendations. Everybody is different, and you may find that longer or shorter Pomodoros work better for you.

Some people feel that the Pomodoro Technique can discourage teamwork. One proposed solution is the “Pair Pomodoro”. This is the application of the approach with two people working together for the same goal. This reduces interruptions and increases creativity and satisfaction.

The Bottom Line

The usefulness of the Pomodoro Technique varies depending on the type of work you are going to do. Certain tasks allow you to work on your own time. Others demand that you respond to various stimuli one after the other.

The Pomodoro Technique is not a cure-all solution. Some people work as freelancers, entrepreneurs, employees, or even artists. Try it and find what works best for you.

The 3 Key Benefits of a Virtual Business Address

By | Business

If you’re a small business owner, it may be common for you to work from home. Technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have shown us the benefits of remote collaboration. Many startups operate with employees scattered all around the world.

Yet, entrepreneurs still need a physical place to get their signatures and documents. And there’s still not a better way to do it than with a Professional Business Address. Let’s take a look at its benefits.

Image and Professionalism

The business world is still guided by first impressions. A company located in an apartment or residential area will look unprofessional. One that is in a business district will inspire trust in its partners and customers.

Protect your Privacy

When you post your business’ address online, your goal is to reach as many people as possible. You may as well resort to business cards, newsletters, or advertisements. Thus, whatever you write or say becomes public information. A Professional Business Address keeps your home data private. This is mandatory if you want to take care of your security.

Organization and Personal Life

Running a small business involves wearing many hats, and most of them involve a lot of paperwork. A Professional Business Address prevents these documents from mixing with your mail. It also helps you to separate work from your personal life. As a result, you will be able to enjoy your free time.

Virtual Business Addresses in Texas

Your Professional Business Address must be a long-term commitment. Some people may look for you many weeks or even months after you posted your location. So, it is important to maintain your contact information.

When looking for a Professional Business Address, you should hire a reliable company. It has to provide you with the best service, as well as align with the culture of your business. Business E Suites is located in Sugar Land, Texas, and offers addresses both as a stand-alone service or as part of our plans. Contact us and find out how we can help you.

Are You a Solopreneur? Use These Effective Resources to Boost Business Today

By | Industry

Image from Unsplash

As a business of one, you’ve got to be well-equipped to deal with the day-to-day challenges of setting up your own venture. You’ll face good days and perhaps a lot of bad days – but take these opportunities as a way to grow your business while doing what you love. Learning and adapting from your mistakes is key to the entrepreneurial mindset. Lucky for you, there are tools and resources out there that will set you up for success while reducing those pesky mistakes from the get-go.

In this article, Business E Suites presents the most effective resources to help balance your tasks, make difficult decisions, and fatten up your savings account.

For Finding Work/Clients

The first step for any freelancer or solopreneur is to find work. You will need to get your services out there, establish your reputation and authority, and set yourself up as a quality provider. According to the Freelancer’s Union, approximately 57 million Americans switched to freelancing as of 2015. This indicates that there’s a lot of work out there – you just need to look for it in the right places.

Resources: Platforms like Fiverr, UpWork, and Guru, or online job boards.

For Running Your Business

You will also need to set up a business structure to ensure smooth sailing in the future. One of the best formations for those starting a new business is an LLC or Limited Liability Company. The benefits of an LLC include tax advantages, limited paperwork and liability, and the flexibility to operate within your own terms. Different states have different regulations for forming an LLC, so be sure to do your due diligence before moving ahead.

 

Resources: Online LLC formation sites like LegalZoom or ZenBusiness.

For Your Marketing

Marketing is a critical spoke in the wheel of a business, and you’ll need to stay on point with your strategy until you can expand enough to work with an agency. This includes branding, creating an eye-catching logo, setting up a stellar website, email marketing, and a digital marketing strategy that includes social media.

 

Resources: Try email marketing with Mail Chimp, and use social media sites like Instagram, FaceBook and TikTok. 

For Staying Current

As an entrepreneur, Info Entrepreneurs notes that you’ll understand that knowledge is power. To get a leg up on your competition and stay relevant, you’ll need to ensure you’re constantly learning and developing. You could do this by participating in networking events in your area or setting up a mentor relationship for advice. Signing up for online courses in various niche topics is another way to stay sharp in your field.

 

Resources: Networking sites like WeWork or StartupGrind or skill development websites like Skillshare or CourseHorse.

For Accountability

The best way to set yourself up in business is to stay consistent and keep motivated. However, even self-directed entrepreneurs can veer off track when they’re not monitoring and measuring their progress and success. Luckily, plenty of apps out there will help you set ‘SMART‘ – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely – goals. Smartsheet has a handy worksheet to create your unique SMART goals online. Or else, you could find an accountability buddy and ride the wave together.

Resources: Goal tracking sites like Trello and Strides.

For Outsourcing

Every solopreneur will have to learn to delegate work to other freelancers and providers at some point. It is often not worth the time and effort to carry out certain tasks. Outsource these tasks so you can spend your time elsewhere and focus on growth and scalability.

Many US-based businesses find affordable talent in other countries such as Ukraine and Taiwan. If you do outsource to freelancers overseas, it’s important to set up a money transfer account to send payments. A transfer service like Remitly is reliable, secure, convenient and affordable. In fact, using Remitly to send funds to India costs nothing in transfer fees when $1,000-plus is sent, and there are more than 100,000 cash pickup locations in that country alone.

Resources: Outsourcing sites like Fiverr, Task Rabbit, and 99 Designs.

As a freelancer, you are your own boss. You make the rules – so why not make things easier for yourself? Arming yourself with the right tools and help is the most effective way to maintain your sanity when growing your business. You’ll have less to manage, thus letting you focus on the important stuff – thriving, succeeding, and of course, making profits.

Business E Suites offers you productive office space and workspace to establish your business in a professional environment. Contact us today for more info! 281-862-3150

Frequently Asked Questions About Designing a Paid Time Off Policy

By | Industry

According to research, absenteeism costs employers $225.8 billion every year, but employees coming to work when they are sick may cost employers even more. One way to combat both issues is to create an effective paid time off policy for employees. If you have never designed a PTO policy before, these frequently asked questions can help you get started, presented below by Business E Suites.

What Is Paid Time Off?

Paid time off may refer to any kind of paid leave program, but usually indicates a program that gives employees a set number of days to use for any type of leave instead of separate days for vacation and sick time. In most systems, employees earn a set amount of PTO for each hour or day that they work.

What Are the Benefits?

Offering a robust benefits package is a valuable tool for distinguishing yourself from other employers that might be offering similar wages. It sends a message to employees that you care about their well-being and can help you attract and retain top employees.

PTO programs are more flexible than traditional leave policies.  These policies also eliminate the need for employees to explain to employers why they need a day off. This both reduces dishonest use of “sick days” and protects employee privacy. Because there is no need to track different types of time off, a PTO program can reduce the work required by the human resources department to track it.

What Are the Disadvantages?

Because PTO policies do not allocate a specific amount of days for sick or vacation time, some employees may come into work sick because they want to save their days off for other uses. PTO policies can also be more expensive if you operate in a state where you are required to pay employees who leave their jobs for unused vacation time, but not for sick time. Because PTO policies do not distinguish between the two, you may have to pay for all of the PTO time the employee has accumulated but not used.

Do I Need a Written Policy?

A written PTO policy is important for avoiding misunderstandings. Your PTO document should clearly explain exactly how your PTO program works, how employees can accumulate, use and schedule their time off and what happens if employees miss work after exhausting their PTO days.

The document should be well-formatted, professionally presented and signed by the employee and a representative of your company. Portable Document Format documents can be a useful medium for presenting PTO policies, but if you need to send large PDF documents to remote employees, the file size may be problematic. Using a PDF compressor tool can help you reduce the file size without losing the formatting of the document or degrading the quality of the images.

Who Can Help Me Create a PTO Policy?

If you are just getting started with your first employee, you probably do not have a dedicated HR department to help you. Consider hiring a business consultant. Online job platforms are a good place to search for potential candidates. The average marketing consultant hourly rate is between $28 and $98 per hour, depending on the experience level of the consultant. Make sure you read reviews and consider the price versus the services being offered and the promised delivery time.

Paid time off programs have both advantages and disadvantages when compared to traditional leave programs. When choosing what type of program to offer, consider which programs fit the best with your company culture and resources.

How to Find and Hire the Right People With Your Business’s Success in Mind

By | Business, Industry

Running a successful business truly requires having the right workspace. If you run your business remotely, consider setting up shop at Business E Suites. We offer move-in-ready office space, as well as private and co-working spaces. Check us out today!

[Image Source: Pexels]

Hiring the right people at the perfect time has a significant impact on whether your business can make it in the long haul or not. Still, many business owners don’t have much experience in the process. To be successful in the long term, particularly if your venture is growing, your business will eventually need to find and hire people with various skill sets for various roles, including marketing experts and salespersons.

Business E Suites offers some insights as you consider whether to find help.

Strategies to Find and Hire the Right People

Sales and marketing employees will know your products and services inside out and are vital members of your team, playing a crucial role in securing new business, creating strategies, advertising your venture, and supporting existing client relationships. When you have a salesperson or a marketing professional in your team, you can further grow your business. Here’s how you can find them.

When Do You Need Outside Talent?

When the amount of work you do is overwhelming, it’s time to delegate some of these tasks to an expert. If you’re also planning to open a new shop or office, are developing a broader plan with specific goals, or are turning down clients because of the many projects you’re already working on, consider getting help by hiring an employee.

Create Compelling Job Descriptions

Writing a thorough job description that attracts attention is an essential part of the hiring process. The more compelling a posting’s title is, the more efficient you will be in stirring the interest of the most qualified people. Then, open the description with a captivating summary, keep it concise, and include the salient details of the job, like core responsibilities, soft and hard skills needed, daily activities, and more.

Where to Look

Social media can be a fantastic recruiting tool, allowing you to share job postings within your network and encouraging a two-way conversation. Online job platforms are even better places to look for manpower, as are freelance websites. A recruiting agency can also be a great resource, especially when you’re recruiting for a more specialized industry.

Spot Your Next Hire

There are a few attributes that distinguish great salespeople, including an achievement-focused personality and verbal acuity. A good marketing person is a strategic thinker and a visionary and is business-driven. Scour resumes and cover letters for evidence of these qualities, then look for other attributes that complement your team.

Narrow down your candidate pool by checking their reviews, recommendations, delivery time, and price to ensure they fit your work environment. After you’ve identified the person you want to hire, make an offer, and in it, specify the employment type you’ll provide. For instance, it’s common for remote workers and freelancers to be hired as independent contractors, and that configuration is highly recommended if you consider international remote hires or freelancers.

Survey the Home Team

Hiring and training new staff is quite an undertaking, and it can take some time to get your new hires up to speed. With that in mind, don’t overlook the talents of your existing employees. If you have people on your team who have the interest, ability and drive but lack knowledge and skills, it may be more cost-effective in the long run to help them expand their skill set through a degree or certification program. This can also be a great incentive for current employees, especially if you opt to cover tuition rates. Best of all, if you go with an online university, this gives your employees the chance to study and learn at their own pace, so their work obligations aren’t left faltering.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to finding, courting, and hiring great, skilled, and talented people, you need to be persistent and think outside the box. By using these strategies, you can quickly identify highly qualified and passionate experts ready to join your team.