Category: Business
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How to Protect Your Business from Downtime
One of the costliest experiences your business can face is network downtime. It can result in tremendous loss of profit if contracts are not fulfilled or services are not provided simply because you cannot access the relevant information you need. While there are many advantages to moving to a cloud network, there are also some things that can go wrong. As with any business practice, it is important to plan for what can go wrong and protect yourself when this happens. Expect the Unexpected: Downtime can occur at any point with little notice. When this happens, it can fully interrupt your daily business plan and can leave you spinning and looking for something to do until you can get online. To minimize the loss in this time, it is imperative that you develop a full continuity plan to be utilized in the event of downtime. You may also need to check any service level agreements (or SLAs) that you may have with a third party to make sure that you are protected from any action from then during downtime. Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You: These frustrating periods of downtime are not always caused by the cloud provider. Sometimes it might be as simple as a dodgy script or piece of code causing your cloud to go down. In this scenario, the onus is on you to fix it and not upon the cloud provider since the problem originated from you. Check everything frequently to ensure that you are completing things to the best of your ability. Any coding needs to be properly checked before it goes live on the site and bugs need to be found and fixed as quickly as possible. If you are introducing something from a third-party developer, make sure that is from a reputable source so that it does not damage any of the structure that you have worked so hard to build. Do not add anything to your cloud unless you know exactly what it is and where it has come from. Use a Multi-Cloud Structure: By using a multi-cloud structure which operates across different accessibility zones, you are decreasing the likelihood of your business being completely cut off from its work. This may not eliminate your downtime risk but it can certainly help to minimize it. Check that the individual cloud providers you are using for your hybrid structure aren’t using the same data centre and the same resources. If this is the case, having a multi-cloud structure for the purpose of reducing downtime is completely redundant. Prepare for Recovery: Sudden downtime can result in some awful loss of data and projects if you are not careful. Sometimes, this loss can occur even if you follow the best online practices. To best recover from downtime and data loss, you will need to use some proactive measures and potentially contact an expert to help. Disaster Recover as a Service (or DRaaS) is a service which can be implemented as part of your overall cloud package from the right provider. Along with other services like infrastructure or software, many should be able to offer disaster recovery. Find out more about DRaaS from ukcloud.com; these experts know all about it. Downtime may seem like a scary prospect which can seriously affect your performance depending on how you handle it. Like many aspects of business, you will be able to weather even periods of unexpected downtime if you have a proactive business plan in place. Be sensible, and you will be able to protect your company properly no matter what is thrown at it. Read More: 5Tricks for Using Twitter to Grow Your Business. The Top Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Security Guard. Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur? What is the cost to start a business?
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Top tips for inspecting and maintaining garage
A large percentage of homeowners stroll in and out of their garage and don’t give a second thought about it. But it is extremely important that you don’t neglect your garage and keep it in the best condition possible. For maintaining garage you have to understand the facts that can help you to achieve your goals. After all, it protects one, if not a couple of the biggest investments you and your partner have ever made (your cars), along with whatever else you have in there. Think of it this way, the odd maintenance job could save you and your family from losing out on thousands. If you’re looking for a brand-new concrete garage to protect you, your family and your belongings from the dangers of the outdoors, look no further than Dencroft Garages. Their friendly, experienced staff are always at hand to help out, give them a call now. Different Ways You Can Apply For Maintaining Garage Keep the door running smoothly A lot of new garage doors these days are self-lubricated, but if they aren’t, it is recommended that you apply oil to the rollers, hinges, and tracks every couple of months. Another important note to take is this – occasionally be checking the rubber seal at the bottom of your garage door as it can tear and wear, and allow the elements to creep under (replacing this seal can cost £100). Also, regularly check that the sensors on either side of your garage door still work by closing when something crosses its path. Clean the floor To prevent hazards, slips, and from occurring, clear your garage floor and hose it down. If there is a serious trip hazard due to a bit of concrete which has crumbled or separated, you can try to patch it back up yourself or call a contact a concrete contractor. If you’re looking for further tips and instructions to clean the floor in your concrete garage, this article has five fantastic tips to make sure your garage floor is looking the best it can be.For maintaining garage Monitor the walls You should check your walls at least twice a year to see if there any cracks or moisture. If you see any discolor or mold on the walls, then moisture is seeping from the roof or the walls and needs to be seen to straight away – call a building or roofing contractor for the further inspection. For maintaining garage you have to monitor walls. Clean interior doors Your interior door plays a huge part in the safety and insulation of your home, so once a year you should clean it and make sure that all the weather-stripping is still intact. If not, then replace the weather-stripping – this stops all the elements from entering your home. Watch for pest invasions Insects such as termites and carpenter ants can seriously damage the quality of your garage walls, so to prevent them from invading your garage, inspect dark, cool and moist spots – particularly where the walls meet. If you see chewed wood you will most likely have termites, or if there are trails of sawdust, it’s carpenter ants – this is when you should call in pest control experts. Read Also: 5 Factors To Consider When Buying A New Garage Door 5 Other Uses For Your Garage
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Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business
As the owner of a translation business, you know firsthand just how much a good marketing strategy can make or break you. However, your current advertising strategy often makes you feel like your company is getting, well, lost in translation. You need to make a change as soon as possible. But you're just not sure where you should start when it comes to updating your marketing plan. In this post, we're sharing both print and digital advertising tips that you can't afford to miss out on. When you're ready to dominate your target market and outrank your competition in the search engine results, keep on reading. Start with Your Website Especially when you're running an international business, you need advertising tips that can reach everyone on the globe -- at the same time. In short, while a strong website is important for every company, it becomes even more essential for brands who need to reach people in different time zones and across different languages. In other words? Even though you're running a translation business, it doesn't change the fact that nearly 3/4 of consumers say they prefer to read content in their first language. Start by looking for the right tools and plugins that will automatically change your site's language to the language of the user. But don't stop there. Having an intuitive and branded web design are also key digital marketing tips. This matters because people will stay on a site they find easy to use for much longer than average. Pop-ups, autoplay features, or just sites that take forever to load won't cause them to click away after three seconds. This helps you rise in search engine rankings. First of all, ensure your site loads quickly and completely on desktop and mobile devices. Use menu options at the top of your page to help users find exactly what they're looking for as fast as possible. If you're blogging (more on that in a minute) make sure you've taken the time to properly categorize your past posts. Above all, keep your homepage engaging and organized, like on this website. Finally, don't forget to include your company's contact information on not just the homepage, but every page of your internal website. Remember that consumers won't always come to the homepage first. Don't make them hunt around on your site to find out how to get answers to their questions or sign up for your services. Blogging and Guest Posting Now that we've covered how your website will drive more customers to your translation business, let's talk about how blogging can increase your site visitors by around 300%. We understand that blogging is a lot of work -- and, if you have to hire professional content services to write your posts for you, it can also be expensive. So, why is it worth it? First of all, it helps to increase your authority and brand recognition within your target market. By providing information-based (as opposed to sales-driven) blog posts, you strengthen consumer trust in your brand. Plus, blogging also tells Google and other search engines that you update your entire website more often than companies who just have a static site. This means that you'll be able to outrank your competitors in the search engine results. Plus, you'll also have more indexed pages (AKA, pages that have been read and categorized by Google.) This also helps you get higher up in the search engine result pages. Blogging also gives you an amazing opportunity to connect with your target market and shorten your overall sales cycle through the use of keywords. By naturally including keywords (what people type into search engines when they need a translation business) in your content, your website will show up in front of people who are ready to buy exactly what you're selling. But blogging alone isn't enough. You also need to get into guest posting. This is one of the best online advertising tips because it gives you the chance to broaden your market and increase your brand awareness at the same time. Write articles and blog posts for popular online journals, websites, and even forums that are relevant to the translation industry. Other Key Digital Advertising Ideas Of course, your digital marketing strategy shouldn't begin and end with site design, blogging, and guest posting alone. There are a few other digital marketing tips you should take into consideration, too. Make sure that you claim your third-party listings on platforms like Google My Business, and fill out your profiles as completely as is possible. This is especially helpful when it comes to connecting you to your target market. Those third-party listings are also important because they allow your customers the chance to leave online reviews for your business. While having a testimonials section on your website is a good idea, most consumers feel that third-party site reviews are less biased. Make sure you frequently read and respond to these reviews -- yes, even the bad ones. You want to prove to potential and current clients that you take their input seriously. Social media is also essential in the online marketing world. However, especially since you're a smaller business, we suggest that you conduct some market research to find out which platform your customers spend most of their time on. Focus your efforts there first, and then expand to other platforms. If possible, aim to post three times a day: morning, noon, and night. Finally, never underestimate the power of an e-newsletter. Not only will this allow you to let your leads and current customers know about new product offerings and flash sales. E-newsletters can also help to build up a personal connection between you and your market. You can feature employees of the month, tell customer stories, and even ask for feedback in survey form. Offline Advertising Tips for Your Translation Business Yes, having a strong digital marketing strategy is incredibly important for your translation business. However, it doesn't mean that you can completely ignore print marketing or offline marketing in general. Now, let's take a look at some seriously effective marketing ideas that don't require an Internet connection. Host an Event One of the best ways to get your name out there is by hosting an event in your local market. You don't have to spend a lot of money in order to increase your brand recognition -- you just have to focus on inviting the right people. Invite other local businesses to a dinner at an international restaurant in your area, or host a "language night" at a local school. Focus on event spaces that have a global feel -- even having a "movie night" where you show a popular international film could work. We suggest handing out promotional products at these events. This way, even if attendees don't need translations services now, they'll know who to call when they do in the future. Don't Underestimate Mailings Relying on the cousin of the e-newsletter, paper mailings, to get the word out about your business is still an effective marketing idea. People love getting "snail mail," especially as it becomes rarer and rarer. Whenever possible, hand-address your envelopes to increase their open rate. When you send out mailings, think outside the holiday card or business pamphlet alone. Instead, consider including things like a magnetic calendar, so that customers can have your company in their heads all year long. You could also include a paper card with a discount code. The same goes for simply including a physical coupon offering them a percentage off of your services. Also, slip in a few of your business cards, and handwrite a note on the back of them. You may also want to create a branded letterhead or stationary, in order to increase your brand recognition. It's all about building a personal connection between you and your leads. Grow Your Translation Business with These Tips We hope that this post has helped you to better understand how to market your translation business both on and offline. Remember that conducting thorough market research -- and knowing when to ask for the help of a professional marketing team -- will take you a long way. Looking for additional advice about how to build your brand? Want to ensure you're creating evergreen content that your market will love sharing on social media? Want to understand how good web design increases your conversions and grow your traffic? Our blog can help you to learn all of that and more, so keep coming back to us for more advertising advice. Read Also: What To Look For In A Transcription Service Provider
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Explain Your Solution in 60 Seconds or Less – Here’s How
Do you have an elevator pitch? Whether you’re an ambitious entrepreneur with nothing more than a good idea, a fully funded startup gearing up for further funding rounds or your long-anticipated go-to-market, or a mature company looking to retake control of its reputation, a succinct encapsulation of your identity and solution(s) is crucial to a cogent market strategy. Elevator pitches are important for individual professionals, too. “Your elevator pitch is a way to share your expertise and credentials quickly and effectively with people who don't know you,” writes personal branding expert Alison Doyle. Here’s what you need to do to develop and refine your elevator pitch. Your ultimate goal: a comprehensive spiel that answers one question — “what do you do?” — in 60 seconds or less. 1. Start With a Concise Directory Description The nub of your elevator pitch is a company description (or a personal one, if you’re still pitching an idea) that factually describes what you do (or hope to do). If you haven’t already done so, develop a descriptive statement for your social media and business directory profiles, along with the lines of this Crunchbase profile for Florida entrepreneur Steve Dorfman. This statement won’t be compelling enough to build your entire elevator pitch around, but it’s a good skeleton for the initial who-what-where. 2. Identify Your Core Audience Groups How much do you know about audience segmentation? If your answer is, “not much,” get up to speed on the process and spend some time drilling down on the core audience groups to which your pitch needs to speak (if you’re not already reaching out to them in other ways). Remember, you can draft multiple iterations of the same pitch, depending on who’s in the room or on the page. 3. Set Yourself Apart from the Competition (Without Disparaging Them) Now comes the real meat of your pitch: a unique selling proposition that differentiates your idea or solution from competing concepts — theoretical or otherwise — without throwing shade. Generally speaking, you don’t want to name names, unless your solution is an explicit offshoot of something that came before. 4. Isolate One or Two Key Factoids or Stats You don’t have a lot of time to throw facts or stats out at your audience. Nor should you dwell on specifics, for their (and your) sanity. But a well-placed nugget or two may well be what’s needed to concentrate minds. Again, your audience may dictate which nugget you choose to include in any given iteration. 5. Make the Ask You won’t know if you don’t ask — to make the ask, smoothly. Regardless of who’s listening, your pitch should conclude with a clear call to action that doesn’t read like a pro forma sales pitch. Make your audience believe in what you’re asking them to do. You’re Talking — Is Anybody Listening? We’ve all been there: explaining a concept near and dear to our hearts so earnestly that we become lost in our own narrative — only to pull back and realize that the audience has nodded off or lost the plot. A concise, well-articulated, well-organized elevator pitch should hold your audience’s attention, if only because it’s not long enough to put anyone to sleep. Striving to be the entrepreneur who listens twice as much as they talk doesn’t preclude you from being the entrepreneur who effortlessly commands a room, too. Read Also: Green Business Opportunities For Eco-Entrepreneurs Why Do Entrepreneurs Put Up Their Drop Shipping Websites For Sale? Thinking Of Becoming An Entrepreneur? What Is The Cost To Start A Business?
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How to Pack Clothing Properly for Shipping
If you have a business which is engaged in the shipping of various clothing items, whether you have a small online shop or a retail brick-and-mortar store, you need to know how to pack and ship clothing in the appropriate way. Clothes are some of the most common items shipped today, but not everyone knows how to pack and ship clothes properly. You want your customers to open the parcel and be impressed not just with the clothing itself, but with how it’s packed and presented. But more than this, you want to make sure that the parcel doesn’t get damaged during transport, especially if you are planning to ship it overseas. It’s important to lessen the risk of damage to your parcel so that your customers can receive it in tip-top condition. Here, then, is how to pack clothing for shipping properly. It takes but a few minutes to pack clothing, but it's essential that you know exactly what you are doing and what materials to use. It also pays to be as quick and efficient as possible. The materials you need You don’t need much in terms of packing materials, but you do need the right ones. Most clothes being shipped will be sent in a simple envelope, but sometimes, the clothes can come out wrinkled or crumpled. So aside from making sure you have the right packaging materials (which includes scissors, the envelope or box, and tape), you also have to fold it properly. If you want to be sure that the clothes are packed well and will not be damaged, it's often better to go for white postal boxes which look sleek and simple. There are postal boxes that are specially designed to be easy to use and to offer ample protection for the items inside, and these postal boxes are made in such a way that they already come with tabs which are self-locking, reducing the need for tape. Your step-by-step guide to packing clothing for shipping First, make sure you have ample space in front of you on a flat surface where you can fold the clothing. Never try to roll the piece of clothing up – this will only make it look wrinkled and crumpled, and it doesn't give the right impression. Fold the clothing as neatly as you possibly can and avoid creases. There are various guides that can tell you how to fold specific pieces of clothing, so it pays to educate yourself as well. When you have folded the clothes, make use of some extra wrapping (bubble wrap is often a good choice). This will help you make sure that the clothing will not become water-damaged while it is in transit. Also, see if you can place any additional padding in your box or parcel so that you can further reduce the likelihood of damage to the item. You don’t have to worry about the weight of the bubble wrap or other padded materials you use, as they shouldn’t weigh enough to affect your shipping costs. The next step is to seal the box's lid; this is where those self-locking tabs can really come in handy because you don't have to use tape to seal the box. But here's one more tip for you: avoid attaching the shipping labels after you have already inserted the clothing into the box. The clothing can plump up the parcel, and this can make the shipping label peel off. Simply attach the labels prior to putting the clothes inside the box, so the label is less likely to peel off. Read Also: Ship Packages Often? Why You Need A Courier Broker! Important Things To Consider When Packaging Your Product Simple Packaging: Your Guide To Branded Design
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Is Equity Release Worth It?
You might be having second thoughts on whether or not to get an equity release loan. On the one hand, you want to use the money for a significant transaction. On the other hand, you are afraid that the interest rate will be too high over the years, and it could result in the drastic reduction of your property's value. If it is your only property, and you have nothing else to leave your children, you want them to enjoy its full value. How to make a decision It is understandable if you are having a hard time choosing. To help you decide, think about where you wish to use your money. If you are paying hospital bills and other emergency expenses, and you have no other choice, proceed with your plan. It is reasonable for you to take it. You are also making the right move if you intend to use the money for home improvements. You will be staying in your property until you die, so it does not hurt to invest in home improvements. Besides, it could help boost the value of your property. On the other hand, if you are thinking of using the money to invest or start a business, it is a bad idea. You are at an age where you can’t wait to see where your money goes, or if it will someday grow. You need to enjoy your money at this point since you worked hard your entire life. It is also reasonable to use the money if you wish to travel the world. It might not be reasonable if you were young, but at this age, do whatever you want to satisfy your desires. You might not have this opportunity someday, so while you still have it, make the most of it. Check the details Aside from how you want to use the money you borrow, you also need to check if the terms and conditions are fair enough. There are equity release schemes that are reasonable, while others seem to take advantage of your age. You can seek help from a consultant to tell you the details you don't understand. The information online might not be good enough for you to make a sound decision in the end. Look at the repayment scheme, and if there is a fee if you complete the payment earlier. You also need to look at the steps involved once you die, and your family needs to pay back the loan. If it is too difficult for them, and you think they will not receive a significant amount, you might as well look for other options. Should you get one? After consultation and research, you can decide whether or not you will take the loan. You already have the necessary information at this point to choose. When choosing, think not only of what you need now but in the long run. Think of how it will affect your family, but it does no harm to be selfish and think about its impact on you. Read Also: Lining Up For A Loan – How To Secure A Good Loan Benefits Of NBFC Business Loans Title Loan Requirements: What You Do And Don’t Need
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Critical traps to avoid in your warehousing
It is not incorrect that the success of your e-commerce business is deeply tied to the functionality of your warehouse. Choosing a warehouse to a large extent would determine how well your business turns out especially in terms of logistics. However, we easily fall into some critical snares when making our warehousing decision. Thus, it would be immensely helpful to examine some of those things we do wrong when procuring a warehouse. Many of us don’t bother to physically check the warehouse first: Granted, it is impressive the digital transformation our world has faced, so much can be done and sold online. But it could eventually turn regrettable procuring a warehouse say from just what you saw and read about it online. This amount to punishable negligence and possibly gross misplace of trust. Always take out time to physically investigate the warehouse and see for yourself the brick-and-mortar life situation before getting the warehouse. You should be ensuring first hand that it meets some basic requirements like spaciousness, hygiene, equipment and more crucially the security. A visitation to the facility gives you an encompassing knowledge of how the facility runs on the ground. It would give you a more accurate perspective or judgment of how the employees are their capacity, reliability and all that. Some of us make the mistake of owning a warehouse that doesn’t match our needs: Keep in mind that you are not necessarily getting that website just because it is the prevailing trend. Rather, you are basically getting that website because you crucially need it. Therefore it is utterly paramount that the warehouse precisely matches your needs. You should be asking yourself what sort of fulfillment you would be delivering and what kind of facilities will best get the job done. You should not forget that a B2C warehouse wouldn’t capably handle the needs of a B2B warehouse. Therefore when making your warehousing decision, ensure that the execution, the volume, the operation process of the warehouse are all compatible with your business needs. The location is fundamental: When making your choice of warehousing, the location should be one of the first criteria that come to mind. It would be a terrible mistake to choose the wrong location for your warehousing. This majorly plays out in your logistics needs. How close is the warehouse to your customers? How about its proximity to your manufacturers or suppliers? You must find the ideal location that balances your logistic needs at minimal cost and time. This is crucial to the success of your business. Many of us end up paying too much: This is a common predicament we all battle, overinflated warehousing fees. From your cost of initial set up, storage cost, picking and packing cost all the way to your inbound handling cost, you must make sure that you are paying for top value and every dollar you spend is well served. In some cases, we get overcharged storage fees; this is even more devastating when we hold on to excess inventory which we are terribly struggling to sell. So it is good to clearly identify what we are paying for and have a precise documentation in place. If you have your own insurance policy, it would help you spend less though. Knowing some of these things you shouldn’t be doing with your warehousing puts you in a better position to make more accurate and efficient decisions. This would save you avoidable cost and mishaps on the long run. Read Also: Ship Packages Often? Why You Need A Courier Broker! Important Things To Consider When Packaging Your Product Best Essential Tips While Renting A Warehouse In Mumbai
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How Intranet Services Can Make Your Financial Institution More Effective
Successful banks, credit unions, and financial institutions have long relied on strong internal communications to effectively manage day-to-day operations, plan for the future, and respond to problems as they arise. A team that is empowered to share knowledge, experience, and data will be more resilient in the face of challenges and more capable of exercising initiative, and implementing effective communication strategies and protocols is especially important in the financial industry, where the risks are as high as the potential rewards. This is why many financial institutions rely on intranet services to ensure a secure, seamless operation that ensures a constant flow of information between analysts, investors, client relations, and service workers. Intranet services essentially function as internal web pages that allow organizations and businesses to network and communicate more effectively, and a good intranet site gives every employee access to superior communication and database tools. Most intranet sites are designed to meet three basic needs: providing employees access to documents, workflow charts, and protocols, helping employees complete tasks and connecting employees with each other. By providing usable tools and easy navigation routes, the intranet makes workers more efficient and strengthens morale by improving employee engagement. Despite the many benefits of intranet sites, one of their biggest downsides has traditionally been the large investment of time and resources needed to get an intranet site up and running. Large intranet providers like SharePoint typically build sites from the ground up, which not only requires significant startup costs but also makes it necessary to have a dedicated IT team to maintain it once it is in place. Fortunately, there are alternatives that are easier to develop and less demanding to run. Providers like Intranet Connections have made a name for themselves by designing intranet sites that are tailored to the particular needs of the banking and finance industry (as well as business and healthcare) but which are less costly to install and more intuitive to operate. The solutions provided by Intranet Connections are tailored to the needs of particular industries, but they are also easy to operate even for those who are not IT specialists, which means they do not require constant IT support to run. This is particularly valuable for financial institutions because it means that managers and others in key leadership positions can handle operational issues as they arise instead of needing to refer them to specialists. The value such services can provide to established and emerging banks and financial services providers should not be overstated: a recent article in American Banker noted that digital banking technologies have unleashed a wave of innovation and disruption that poses serious threats to the old way of doing things. With smaller financial companies making a compelling pitch to younger demographics and nascent AI technologies creating uncertainty for the future, financial institutions of all sizes need to make their operations leaner and more efficient. Increasingly, financial organizations that do not adopt the latest intranet solutions are in danger of falling behind the innovation curve. By providing streamlined, flexible solutions to internal communications, intranet solutions are making banks more competitive, more effective, and better prepared for the challenges of doing business in the 21st century. Read Also: Why Personal Lenders Like SkyCap Financial Provide A Better Lending Experience Benefits Of NBFC Business Loans
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Using Project Management to Maximize the Holiday Season at Work
Holidays are a stressful time for all of us. You are pushed and pulled to the limits to get everything done before the festivities can begin. This constant stress can push you to the limits at work, especially as you try to juggle multiple tasks before the year comes to a close. Project management is the ideal way to gain control over your work responsibilities. The ability to manage your projects judicially will help you prioritize and complete what needs to be done before the holidays start. No matter what the task is at hand, you can use project management skills to advance the progress at work while reaping the rewards of your time off during the holiday season. Define the Scope of Every Project You Are Handed: For starters, you need to look at the full scope of every project that comes your way now as well as into the future. This means that you have to decide if you have the time or the resources to complete what the project will require. It can be tempting to jump in head first without fully understanding what you are getting yourself into. You need to stop and think before you start and determine if the project is really possible. Saying no to projects that will cause you more headaches than necessary is all right. Don’t beat yourself up over it as you have looked at the full scope of the project at this point and decided that the parameters are beyond your control. Go Digital with Your Business Operations: One of the easiest ways to make your projects go off without a hitch during the holiday season is to adopt a digital system. Papers are messy. They get lost and are no way to operate in this day and age. Take the time to evaluate a platform that will do it all for you. There is a myriad of apps available today that can delegate and prioritize everything that needs to be done each day. These automatic systems will give you the time you need to focus on more pressing tasks and help you to maximize your day without forgetting an important detail or nuance. Utilize Your Team and All of Their Skills: Now that you have a digital system in place and you have defined exactly what needs to be done for an upcoming project, you need to get your team onboard. Assess where each member of your department can help you the most. Utilize their skills to your advantage to get the project done before the holidays hit. You need everyone’s help at this point in the year, and most employees will be grateful to lend the helping hand. Taking on all the responsibilities of the office is not a wise way to manage your time. Get the help you need and do not be afraid to delegate. You too want some time off this holiday season. Create a Plan That Works and Fits Your Timeline: With everyone at the ready to help you with your projects, you need to develop a strong plan that will fit the timeframe you have left for the year. Think about every step of the project and the amount of time it will take to complete it. Can it be done in the time you have available? If you answered with a resounding “yes” you are ready to move forward and commence the project. If you are unsure that it can be done, don’t take the risk. You will only disappoint others and end up with an unsatisfied client. Be upfront about how long a project will take and establish a friendlier timeline that will work for everyone involved in the project. Access the Risk and Execute: By now you are gung-ho on getting your project going, but you need to heed a little caution to make sure that you have thought about all the risks that could potentially occur. You may wind up over budget or exceed the time capacity you have outlined. Think about these considerations before you execute the project, so you are prepared to handle anything that comes your way. With a little bit of patience and some forethought, you can avoid pitfalls that many projects succumb to over the holidays. Knowing in advance what can go wrong will help you ready for any issues that could crop up. When you are sure, you have thought of everything move forward with the project execution. Close Out Your Project Before the End of the Year: Now’s the time to get moving on your project. Time is of the essence, but you have utilized your project management skills to make the most of the time available before the holiday season gets here. Do not stall or procrastinate on your projects as this will only cause you to worry as you try to relax and have some fun over the holiday season. Using these tips can help you close out those pressing projects before the festivities start. You will be able to leave the office behind and find that the project management skills you have put in place now will help you in the coming year. You can make a difference in how you complete your projects and reduce the stress that befalls many during the holidays. So, get moving on your projects now and get ready to enjoy the holidays without work hanging over your head. Read Also: Tips On Project Statement Writing Proper Management Of Tech Debt Is Necessary For Successful Business
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What You Should Know about Solar Energy for Schools Benefits
The use of solar energy has grown by leaps and bounds in recent times, and now, you don't just see it in residential or commercial buildings any longer – solar panel systems are now being utilised for more schools as well. The government encourages this growth and has even come up with its own form of support for schools and other educational institutions wanting to go solar. There are indeed a lot of benefits brought by having your own solar energy, but what else can you expect from it? How can you make sure that your solar investment is fully utilised? Here's everything you need to know about solar energy for schools: benefits, expectations, and more. How you can save on expenses – and earn: With solar energy, there are three ways through which you can save and earn on your expenses. One way is with your actual usage of energy from the grid. Since you produce your own energy, your energy usage from the grid will go down, thus resulting in lower electricity bills. The second way is through what you can earn based on the electricity your panels can produce. This the Feed In Tariff. The third way through which you can save and make money is when you get paid for whatever electricity isn’t used by your school. This is referred to as the Export Tariff. Will the sun be enough? This is one of the more common questions asked by many, and the answer is a simple yes. There is enough sun, even in the UK, for your solar panel system to work – and work well, at that. Although bright sunlight is always best in regard to solar energy, your solar panel system will continue to produce energy even when the days are cloudy. For every 1 kilowatt of solar panel installed, you can expect to produce an average of between 750 to 900-kilowatt hours of energy. If you are located in the south, your system will generate even more. Is it the best solution for my school? Granted, while a solar energy system is generally a good and worthwhile investment, you still have to be sure that it’s the right solution for your school, as experts in solar in Cheshire like Atlantic Renewables attest. Many of the schools in the UK are suitable, however. For instance, does your school have a roof that is flat or pitched and is the roof facing south-east, south-west, or south? If it is, that's already good news. Also, if you don't have any buildings or trees shadowing your roof, this is a good sign as well. You should also have a strong roof, although most roofs are already strong enough to hold solar panels. How to pay for it: There are different things you can do to help you pay for a solar panel system for your school, one of which is help from your local education authority. You can ask them to provide you with the capital you need at a very low or even zero rate of interest. Another way through which you can finance your solar panel system is to go to your local council. Community funding is also possible, and you may be surprised at how many communities have already worked together to bring a solar energy system to fruition for schools. Read Also: Ready Rooftops – How To Install Solar Panels Prepare Your Solar Panels For The Fall
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Finding the Best Mortgage Lenders to Buy Your Dream House
You can't afford to pay for a house unless you have saved enough money over the years to directly fund the cost of the property. You need a mortgage to help you pay the amount you need for the property. You have different options for lending firms. Not all of them might be good for you though. Some of them have high-interest rates while others have repayment schemes that are not entirely suitable for you. There are ways to find the best lending firm. Check your credit rating Several loan applications end up in rejection because of their low credit score. You need to check your rating first before you decide which lending firm to apply to. Even if you try your best to apply to some firms, you could still fail if your credit rating is terrible. You can either wait until your score increases or settle for firms that accept your current credit rating. Research the options You need to check the lending firms available in your area, or online. Find out what other people are saying about these choices. You also need to calculate the cost if you take a loan from them. You can make a sound decision if you have enough data about the pros and cons of each choice. List the pre-approval requirements You can send your documents initially for checking. At this point, you will know if you can proceed with the transaction, or you need to submit more documents. It helps to easily get a mortgage preapproval if you already have complete documents at this stage to ensure that your next transaction will run smoothly. There are different requirements for every lending firm, so you need to know them all. Compare the terms and conditions Don't choose a lending firm just because you feel like the interest rate is low. You also need to dig deeper and look at the terms and conditions. You might find it difficult to repay the loan if their terms are not fair enough. Visit the firms on your shortlist You can start comparing the choices online; after listing the options that you think are interesting, visit those firms. You can set up an appointment to confirm the information found online. You can also ask for further details that you did not see on their website or clarify any other information you find vague. Find a mortgage broker Instead of going directly to mortgage lenders, you can ask for help from mortgage brokers instead. They knew a lot about mortgages and have helped a lot of people over the years. They will make sure that you get the right lending firm or bank that will make it easy for you to get the loan. They have years of experience in doing this job, so they know every mortgage detail. They will present you with the information and allow you to decide in the end. You would rather have them by your side than dealing directly with the banks. Read Also: Ideas To Help Find Your Dream House On A Budget 7 Reasons To Buy A Condo Over A House Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Flea In Your Lawn
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How to Successfully Turn Around Struggling Companies
Changing courses for a company that is in trouble is not an easy undertaking, but with a sound strategy and some important support, it can be successful. Here are some expert tips on how to turn struggling companies around. 1. Discuss it: MBM Investments Corp.’s Michael Beattie says while most companies want to hide any hint of trouble, it is not the right thing to do. “When a company is in trouble, communication is crucial,” Toronto’s Michael Beattie Talk with the board and any key employees about what is happening. Be sure to have your plan of recovery formalized. They will find it easier to rally around the company if they are confident in the leadership and the way forward. Allow them to offer their input into the business plan and future plans 2. Document a future plan: Stakeholders will want to see that a struggling company has a plan for the future. It is crucial that a company have solid operations, sales/marketing, and business plans documented. It also helps employees, management, investors, and banks, know where they fit into the scheme and how they can help the company turnaround. When you prepare the documents, don’t shy away from including the good, bad and ugly. 3. Revise the plans: Gather the feedback that has been given by stakeholders and key players in the company and incorporates it into a revised business plan for recovery. 4. Talk with employees: Try and nip fear in the bud by having a company meeting and letting your employees in on the plan for making the company successful again. This will give them a chance to see what part they can play in the recovery process. It can also be helpful to give employees a chance to offer feedback to the business plan. 5. Be straightforward with customers: There will likely be rumors about what is happening to your business. You will need to step in and clear up any confusion and let your customers know that you have a plan to turn things around. Give vendors the same courtesy by letting them know where you stand. 6. Get financials under control: If you will have trouble paying creditors, be sure to call them and be upfront about the situation. This is one of the most difficult things to do when a company hits hard times, but it is an important move to get the business back on track. This means cutting back on staffing costs. Letting employees go is never easy but you will need to make the tough decision of who is most important to the future of your company. Read Also: Ways To Take The Employee Appreciation To Next Level In Your Company What Can I Do To Make My Company Website More Profitable And Powerful?
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