Weighs in On Building an Online Business: 7 Steps to Success

Published on: 09 January 2019 Last Updated on: 24 February 2020

Building an online business is always challenging, particularly if it’s your first business venture. Competition for customers is high in almost every marketplace, so you need to find ways to stay ahead of your competitors. Planning and preparation are crucial for long-term success

When it comes to online entrepreneurship, the CEO of SMEJapan.com, Joel Devidal enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge for his career with others. He serves as an advisor and board member to companies, helping them create bright futures through decisions around strategy, marketing, and development. His intuition and experience help these organizations eliminate excessive operational costs while still delivering quality to the end users.

Here are seven steps detailed by Mr. Devidal for building a successful online business.

Find a Gap in the Market:

Look for a niche or gap in the market that has not already been filled. This may be as simple as finding an area where your competitors are falling short of customer expectations, or it could mean finding a way to provide extra value or novel additions to your products.

For example, if you want to start a business selling residential smoke alarms, it would be difficult to compete with more well-established companies. However, you could create your niche by making your products from recycled materials and working with a designer to create unique and attractive designs.

Do Your Research:

Proper research forms the foundation for any business, but its importance is often overlooked. Researching your competitors is crucial for planning, starting and growing your business.

Customer research enables you to define and target a specific type of customer, making it easier to market your products and reduce advertising costs.

Create a Platform:

Your website is the storefront of your business; it should contain all the information potential customers will want to know, including your contact details, mission statement, FAQs (frequently asked questions) and any legal notices you need to include.

The design of your website should complement the type of business you’re running. Consider hiring a professional web designer to make your platform attractive and easy to navigate.

Build Your Reputation:

Posting regular content on your website or blog is a simple way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Create well-researched content that is useful to your customers. Stay informed about developments and important issues in your area. Writing content for trade magazines and other appropriate websites will also help to build your reputation.

Drive Traffic to Your Website:

It takes time to achieve high search engine rankings, but there are other ways to drive traffic to your website.

Social media is one of the cheapest and most effective tools for increasing website traffic, but monitoring several social media accounts can be time-consuming. Focus on maintaining a presence on one main social media platform rather than trying to spread your time across multiple platforms. Alternatively, if your budget allows, you could hire a social media manager.

Paid advertising campaigns can also be highly effective at driving traffic to your website, but you will need to consider whether the results will be worth the cost of running the campaign.

Convert Site Visitors to Customers:

Once visitors arrive at your website, it’s your job to convince them to buy your products. Showcasing your products and services with targeted landing pages will increase your chances of immediate sales. However, visitors often need time and extra information before making buying decisions.

Therefore, the main aim should be to capture the email addresses of your site’s visitors. Once you have their email address, you can work on building a long-term relationship through regular email communication.

Keep Customers Coming Back:

Providing an excellent customer experience is the key to keeping your customers satisfied and ensuring future sales. “Happy customers are more likely to recommend your products to family and friends,” stated Mr. Devidal. Keep in touch with customers by sending regular email updates, exclusive offers, and discounts.

Building an online business is a difficult task, but proper preparation will increase your chances of success. Taking the time to do your research and plan your strategy will make all the difference when setting up a new business.

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Office Management: Hoteling vs. Permanent Seating Assignments

Hoteling office space is an office setup that requires employees to reserve a sitting spot ahead of time depending on the type of work they need to do. It operates like an actual hotel where you have to book a table even if the whole hotel is unoccupied. Hoteling is the best solution for a company that wants better control of office space. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to work from home. As companies start reopening, it is essential to use an office system that makes the employees feel like they are still working remotely. It allows workers to reserve the spot they work comfortably, unlike the permanent sitting arrangement where they do not choose working space. Read on to find out why hoteling office space is the way to go for employee satisfaction. Promotes Working From Home Experience Many employees have found working from home enjoyable and convenient in many ways. Adopting hoteling office space is a better idea to encourage the workers to work from the office where they can socialize face to face with colleagues while observing social distancing. Additionally, adopting this type of office management will help those employees who prefer working from the office to consider working remotely. Hoteling Promote Networking Removing the structure of permanent seating arrangement will encourage employees to move freely and collaborate with other workers naturally. Coworking promotes the creativity and productivity required for the success of your company. Also, all employees are not the same; some work well in silence and isolated working space while others do well in a group. Hoteling office space will enable each person to work from a convenient working place. This concept will work better if you have several workspaces where an employee will reserve a workspace depending on the task. Improve Office Management and Lower Expenses Assigning a desk to a worker who can comfortably work from home is unnecessary. Hoteling office space enables the management to do away with unnecessary space. A company needs to consider workflow and the number of employees who work from the office daily. Reducing the office space will result in low power consumption, rent, and other costs. Lowering the operation cost of a company will increase profit hence business expansion. Hoteling enables companies to hire more employees without increasing the office space. More workers will increase productivity without necessarily increasing office space costs. Promotes Morale and Equal Office Access Hoteling office space can offer a chance for the workers to give ideas when planning on a possible layout. If employees feel that their opinions count in a company, their morale and loyalty will increase. Motivating your employees can result in an increase in productivity. Hoteling will also ensure each worker can access office resources when they need them. It means an employee can not pile office equipment in one working space. If the workers have a project they need to discuss, they can reserve a room or close working stations. It is vital to know that each employee's time is valuable to manage hoteling office space properly. Improve Productivity With Hoteling The benefits of hoteling office space are numerous. It ensures that employees have enough space and resources to perform their tasks efficiently. The system does not encourage time wastage which means increased productivity. Read Also: Transform Your Garage into a Home Office Seasonal Unemployment – Definition, & Examples [Complete Details] How Does Creativity Help In Entrepreneurship? Why You Should Design New Offices Carefully? – Content Rally Your Guide to Outward Mindset Development at Work

How To Maximize Customer Retention And Loyalty Through Outsourcing

As businesses expand their ability to grow, customer retention, and stay competitive, outsourcing has become an increasingly popular solution. Outsourcing can help companies focus on their core strengths and reduce costs, which ultimately results in better customer experiences. However, outsourcing is only effective when it's done properly. Maximizing customer retention and loyalty through outsourcing requires a strategic approach that puts the customer first. In this article, we'll explore six strategies for achieving this goal Research The Right Outsourcing Partner Choosing the right outsourcing partner can be the difference between success and failure throughout customer life cycle stages. When selecting a partner, it's important to consider factors such as experience, expertise, certifications, quality of service, and cultural fit. A partner that understands your customers' needs and values can deliver better results. Look for a provider who has a proven track record with references from current and past clients. Create Consistency In Your Branding While Customer Retention One of the key factors in building loyalty is consistent branding. In today's world, consistency extends beyond logos and colors – it encompasses messaging, tone, and channel strategy. Building loyalty means giving your customers something to believe in and messaging that resonates with them. Ensure that your messaging aligns with your brand values and that the tone is consistent across all channels, including outsourced customer service. Implement Automated Communication Tactics Automation is a powerful tool for keeping customers informed and engaged. Chatbots can provide quick and friendly responses to frequently asked questions. Automated emails can update customers on their order status, alert them to special offers, and more. Text messages can be used to offer exclusive deals to your most loyal customers. Implementing these tactics can greatly improve customer retention, and your outsourcing partner can manage them. Monitor Social Media Platforms Social media platforms are an essential tool for engaging with customers, but monitoring can be overwhelming. Outsourcing providers can manage your social media accounts, including responding to customer feedback, complaints, and concerns. With 73% of customers using social media for quick responses from businesses, outsourcing can ensure that you’re engaging with your customers in real-time. Utilize Loyalty Rewards Programs Loyalty reward programs can be incredibly effective in driving customer retention and loyalty. By offering discounts, exclusive content, or early access to products, companies can boost customer engagement while rewarding loyalty. Your outsourcing partners can manage loyalty programs, providing an added value to their service, and delivering meaningful insights for improving customer retention and satisfaction. Analyze Customer Data Data analysis is crucial in understanding customer behavior and preferences. Through data analysis, companies can tailor their products and services to meet customer needs and preferences. Outsourcing partners can gather and analyze customer data, such as customer feedback, surveys, and online reviews, to provide actionable insights for improving the customer experience. Conclusion Outsourcing is a cost-effective way to increase efficiency, but it's also an opportunity to improve customer retention and loyalty. Through careful planning, communication, and execution, outsourcing can help your business grow and succeed. Read Also: 5 Most Common Digital PR Mistakes And How To Avoid Them The 7 Steps to Create a Storybrand to Ensure Marketing that Works How Customer Success Can Help Grow Your Business

Why In-Company Training Results in Better Employees

The world of today is continuously changing. Each new day brings new challenges and new problems. But, it also comes with unique learning opportunities. Just like the trials of modern business never stop; the same goes for education. The need for constant growth never stems, regardless of where you and your team are. If you are working apart, you can find an all-in-one training platform that can help you stay on top of your game. No matter how skilled and educated your employees are, it’s certain that they can benefit from additional in-company training. Here are some of the benefits that training can bring to you and your employees. Improved performance Let’s start with the essential thing - training brings improved performance and workers’ motivation. According to research, trained employees possess more knowledge and expertise than others. In return, this boosts their job performance and general efficiency of the workplace. They become more efficient and confident, which saves you valuable resources in the long run. Boost job satisfaction As stated above, the workplace of today continually comes with new challenges. And, if the workers aren’t able to adequately respond to those challenges, their morale drops. Also, low morale brings low job satisfaction, which brings confidence even further down, and the whole process becomes a self-sustaining vicious circle. Here’s research that proves that training sharpens employees’ hard skills, which improves their morale and job satisfaction. Training prepares employees for more significant responsibilities Training programs can also help prepare employees who are moving into higher roles and taking on more responsibilities in an organization. These programs will help them learn the skills that are needed to function effectively in their new positions. For instance, they may be trained in leadership skills or specific software they will use in their new role. Training saves you money Studies on workforce flow show that it almost takes, on average, roughly eight months for any new hire to reach their full productivity after selecting a new job. During this time, they will not be at the peak of their game, without a solid training program that can fill any knowledge and learning gaps that could be keeping an employee on backfoot. By ensuring that all new employees should have a solid understanding of needed skills and practices sooner rather than later, with the help of proper training you can save a plentiful chunk of money. Less need for supervision If the employees get actual scientific training, the responsibility of guidance is lessened also. Training does not eliminate the need for control, but it reduces the need for detailed and constant care. In turn, this means that the workers become more relaxed and less stressed, which once again means improved productivity and higher worker satisfaction. Training means fewer accidents Like with the previous point, it’s worth remembering that errors are likely to occur if the employees lack the knowledge and skills required to do a particular job. The plentiful trained an employee is, the less are the chances of doing disasters in the job, and the more proficient the employee becomes. With fewer setbacks and errors, the entire workplace becomes more comfortable, and that is one more way the overall confidence improves. It shows employees they are valued Performing training programs in the workplace will help the employees to feel like the company is investing in them. By teaching your employees new skills and techniques, they will become better workers and feel like more fruitful members. This will develop their moral value as well as their workplace capabilities. Training is also directly bound to an employee’s commitment levels. Without signs that you consider their development, some individuals no longer feel connected to their responsibility, either cognitively or emotionally, meaning that most will give the bare-minimum work effort. Quality training directly checks this influence. Training makes it easier to spot valuable workers When an organization requires a brand new set of skills, it tends to face great employment difficulties. Training can be used in locating out the most promising employees in the workforce. It can also help with eliminating the defects in the selection method. It is always a better way to pick and train the employees from within the company rather than seek skilled employees from external sources. Training strengthens adherence to the same standards across the board Every field has its peculiarities and requirements. Most of the time, new hires are not aware of the functioning of the organization. A significant benefit of training employees is that it boosts their attachment with the organization’s quality standards. Simultaneously, it equally strengthens the old workforce’s functioning and abilities, keeping them up to date with potential changes and improvements. It will improve your company’s reputation Research from Gallup notes that sixty-six percent of workers are not satisfied with the level of engagement their workplace provides them. But, if you pay attention to developing your workforce’s skills, expertise, and job satisfaction, people will spread the word. Thus, more competent people will join you. They will enjoy working in an organization where they can learn as well as utilize their abilities to maximize the productivity of the company. Employee training creates opportunities for internal promotions The advantages of training and development for an organization are varied. One of the significant beneficial sides of training is for employers to help and fill internal promotion positions. This is a feasible coast beneficial solution, as well, since hiring new talent is an expensive operation. Plus, your present employees are well informed about the organization's operations and work culture, so they can start working instantly. Conclusion As you have seen, quality training can have a direct positive impact on your bottom line. When your employees are more engaged and productive, profitability will also naturally grow, and by improving recollection rates through training, your company can keep valuable employees by its side. The general conclusion is that each of the benefits of train your employees won’t just only to improve your daily work advancements and put workers in a better situation to succeed; they will be responsible to set profitable outcomes for the newcomers. Training modules provide the benefit of developing a framework for regular work on employees’ strengths and ensure progress and profits. Read Also: What Are the Ways to Prepare a New Employee? How to Create an Effective Company Training Program Possible Reasons Why Your Employees Aren’t Too Productive and What to Do About It

Weighs in On Building an Online Business: 7 Steps to Success

Find a Gap in the Market:

Do Your Research:

Create a Platform:

Build Your Reputation:

Drive Traffic to Your Website:

Convert Site Visitors to Customers:

Keep Customers Coming Back:

Trading Contracts for Differences

How to Choose Insurance When Launching Your HHA Business

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

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Office Management: Hoteling vs. Permanent Seating Assignments

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Weighs in On Building an Online Business: 7 Steps to Success

Find a Gap in the Market:

Do Your Research:

Create a Platform:

Build Your Reputation:

Drive Traffic to Your Website:

Convert Site Visitors to Customers:

Keep Customers Coming Back:

Share this Article

Trading Contracts for Differences

How to Choose Insurance When Launching Your HHA Business

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related