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5 Ways To Better Organize Your Busy Work Schedule
August 31, 2020
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The world of Business is a non-stop rollercoaster of meetings, conference calls, away days, and client lunches. And while a lot of it seems appealing, it is a lot of busywork. Mountains of paperwork. Constant phone reminders chiming off. Frantically running from one meeting to the next. Anyone who works in an office environment or in a high-end financial firm will know these struggles all too well.
For some people, organizational skills come as naturally as breathing. For others, it takes a lot of effort to get on top of your work schedule. Especially if you are also trying to balance a full social or family life as well. So we have put together 5 sure-fire ways to better organize your work schedule and stay on track.
Breath
This one might seem like a silly inclusion. Breathing? But we aren’t talking about your normal second to second breathing. It has been proven that taking a few moments every now and then to stop and take deep, timed breaths, you will slow down your heartbeat and calm your body and mind.
This will allow you to be better focused on the task at hand and lets you get a grip on your schedule and what is coming next. If you have a busy to-do list, make sure you do breathing exercises as you read it and you will find it all seems much more palatable.
Use A Planner
This one seems obvious, yet so many people don’t do it. Using a planning app can save you so much time. By using the social planner platform, you will be automatically informed of what you need to do and when. Planners like this can also be used to track your social affairs as well, so you will have full control over your schedule. You can fully customize these planners as well. Colour code them. Set keyword reminders. Prioritize certain dates. Whatever system works best for you, a planner will accommodate.
Trim the Fat
A lot of working individuals spend a lot of time on wasted endeavors. A useless printer runs. Calls to dead-end clients. Team building meetings. Sometimes these things can’t be avoided. But, if they are optional you might consider dropping them. Take some time to figure out what on your schedule is mandatory and necessary and get rid of everything else. Streamlining your day will improve your efficiency and organization ten-fold.
Ask For Help
People hate asking for help. But it is never a sign of weakness. Quite the opposite. Asking for help from your co-workers is the simplest way to keep on track. If you all pull together as a team you can set reminders for each other. That way there are fail-safes in case you forget something.
This method is a great way to improve your working relationship with your co-workers as well. They will appreciate you being open and honest with them and is it proven that helping each other out boosts your working ability and social relationships. It’s a Win-Win situation all-round.
Hire an Assistant
This method is really only for those at the higher ends of the cooperate ladder. Eventually, you will find you are bombarded with meetings, emails, and calls. So hiring an assistant to handle all your busy work is a fantastic idea. Delegation is an important part of any cooperate landscape.
Find someone who, not only is good at their job but has a great social personality. An assistant who can read people is ten times more valuable than one with great book smarts.
Mall Marketing: How to Ensure People Come Into Your Store
August 26, 2020
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Because of the current climate brought on by the woes of 2020, a lot of businesses have been taking a financial hit. This is especially true for any business that is not fortunate enough to offer online services or even delivery. Arguably one of the most affected types of businesses to be hit by 2020 is small stores located within malls. Nobody wants to be in the close proximity that you are forced to be in when visiting a busy mall, so a lot of people have decided to completely boycott malls until further notice. Because of this, some small businesses that were already struggling financially before the events of 2020 have had to close and those that remain are afraid that they could be next.
Now, not everyone has decided to completely abandon the world of mall shopping and there is still potential to gain some decent custom. However, people don’t really go shopping anymore to window shop and enjoy the day, they instead go for the essentials and leave as quickly as possible. Because of this, in order to increase the flow of people entering the stores, measures have been taken to ensure that the businesses look appealing. If you are someone who is currently struggling to attract customers to your store and are looking for some tips on how to increase your customer base, then you have come to the right place. Here are some useful tips on how to ensure people come into your store.
Have an attractive sign
When browsing the mall, the first thing that people are going to be paying attention to is how all of the individual businesses are presenting themselves. Arguably the first thing that is going to draw their attention is your business sign. Make sure that you aren’t using a sad and worn down sign that no longer has the vibrancy to draw the attention that you need. Also, make sure that your sign isn’t too muddled and confusing as you want to ensure that any potential customers can quickly get a clear idea of what you are offering. Take a look at the signs of all of the other businesses that are located in the mall and try and make something that really stands out, think vibrant colors and bold font.
Display
After the store sign, the next thing that people are going to do is approach your store. This may be exciting but it does not ensure that you will be getting customers, as often people like a sneak peek before they buy. If you have a drab display that lacks vibrancy and doesn’t show off what your business has to offer, then do something about it. Pick out all of your best products and make sure they are the first thing that people see. If you want to be interesting, you could even make a theme for your window. A theme allows you to display your goods in a fun and exciting way and is always a great way to attract new customers. Depending on what time of year you create your display, you could also bring in any close holidays- like Christmas.
Posters
It is not always guaranteed that people will walk past your business when at the mall, so you have to make your store known from every possible location. One of the best ways of doing this is making fun and vibrant posters that will really catch people’s attention. You also have to make sure that these posters really clearly convey what your store has on offer, so be sure to use images. Posters are also fantastic opportunities to make your store stand out from other businesses in the mall, if you can offer a service that is a cut above the rest, don’t be afraid to talk about it. Does your business have a 3 for 2 sales on a certain product? Tell people about it. Do you offer the cheapest drones in the entire mall? Make that clear. Be sure to put these posters in places that people regularly frequent, such as the food court, so you have a higher chance of gaining customers.
Scent
Though you may not realize it, scent can often make or break whether or not a customer decides to enter your store. If your store somehow has some gross smell, customers will not stick around to check out your products and you won’t make any money. However, if your store smells nice and appealing, this will create positive affirmations that will make people want to stay and look around for longer. Creating these positive emotions in your customers may also lead to them making bigger purchases.
Shop presentation
Much like scent, the aesthetic impact that your store layout has on a customer may also make or break a sale. If your store is not well organized and hard to navigate, then customers may become stressed out which will make them less likely to want to purchase products. Make sure that the flow of the store is correct and this will make the shopping experience much more comfortable for any potential customer. You also want to make sure that your store is clean, as it is more likely than not that a customer will want to purchase an item from a clean space. Make sure you clean up after every day of operation.
The LootBox Problem: How Gaming Is Veering Towards Gambling
August 18, 2020
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From weapon skins to character outfits. From emotes to sprays. Lootboxes are changing the way gamers play their favorite titles and changing their spending habits. Games like Overwatch simply stick to cosmetic items, making the loot boxes more of a choice than a necessity. But some games have started hiding game-changing abilities behind this random paywall.
This was not always the case. Many games avoid the Lootbox issue by not having them, games like Rainbow Six Siege, who take the classic route of leveling up to gain better equipment, but with a ranked mode that means players can be hard-stuck in a certain part of the ladder. Services such as can help players, who have purely had a couple of bad games or a bad placement, still reach their full ability.
What is Being Done About It?
Recently a committee was called in the English parliament to address the growing Lootbox issue. Was this a system in which children were being given a gambler’s mentality. The excitement of nearly seeing the knife you want in CS: GO or the one Mercy skin you don’t own can often lead to those looking beyond the free offerings games give you for playtime.
The inherent issue is that these boxes are marketed as low-cost. Boxes will come in small quantities that can often trick gamers into buying in multiples of say 3, there is no guarantee of an item, nor do they know the chances of them receiving the item.
In games like CS: GO there is a system in which you can sell these prized skins for actual money accruing a small fortune for those lucky enough to get their hands on certain colors or patterns. Creating an income source from a game that is supposed to be competitive and enjoyable shows a steady trend downwards towards a casino-like experience.
Why Confidence Is Key to Success in a Board Room
May 6, 2020
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For those of you who are familiar with the business world, you will know the huge importance of the decisions made based on your work in the boardroom. Making and presenting pitches for business ideas or products can be totally dependent on your confidence. A candidate who lacks confidence can have a serious impact on the decision going in your favour, this is mainly due to the fact that you are not only trying to convince your superiors to invest in your business but, they would be investing in you and your business capabilities also.
Personality is what sells a product if you don’t have the personality and sales skills it can come across that you lack the passion and drive to be a worthy investment. The boardroom environment can be a very pressure inducing setting, they tend to be intimate events with a small business team pitching their ideas to a team of very rich people, it is completely understandable that you would lack confidence in this situation but with experience, the ordeal will become easier.
How to be prepared.
A great way to reduce some of those nerves would be to ensure you are adequately prepared to give your presentation and answer any possible questions. If you are well informed about the important stuff you will find yourself feeling a lot more confident, showing off and being prepared will work in your favor to possible investors. Knowing what you are talking about displays a level of professionalism and reinforces to viewers that you are very serious and passionate about your business.
Things to remember to revise before a boardroom pitch would be finances, plans, products, proposed offers and remember to be clear of the concept you are offering. Putting together an information pack or presentation board can be a great way to remember you cover everything you need to, maybe a slideshow with prompts and important info, this again reflects the effort you put into the business and helps you cover all of the bases. Overall preparation is a great way of combating a lack of confidence, with the relevant work you can really take the opportunity to sell your business.
Teamwork.
Another key factor to remember when it comes to being confident in the boardroom is how effectively you work as a team. It is likely that you will be presenting your pitch in a group, different people will be responsible for conveying certain information. Ensuring that everything goes smoothly is heavily reliant on group practising and how well you work together. A good idea would be to spend time getting to know each other to build up a strong bond that can be carried into the workplace.
A great way to help build these relationships would be to have fun together, why not plan a day trip, or a lunch or even time playing fun games. Games like never have I ever or a game of Would you Rather, can be an extremely funny way of encouraging group consensus. If your group has a solid and positive relationship with each other, they are more likely to work cohesively as a solid unit.
A high level of respect and good friendships between a group can not only increase confidence but it will also be apparent to prospective investors what a strong unit you are. If your team is strong the situation will seem a lot less intimidating as you are in it in a prepared and happy team. Teamwork is a very professional attribute to have as it is detrimental to a lot of aspects of business, this quality will show off your professionalism and make you a much more desirable asset.
Overall, there really isn’t a place for lack of confidence when it comes to the world of business, if you wish to be taken seriously in the boardroom, you must face your fears. At the end of the day, it is your product or concept that is on show, you should be passionate enough about your product to be able to deliver a positive and strong pitch, being confident is a piece of advice you will want to hold on to, in order to ensure your success.
How to Create an Effective and Targeted Marketing Campaign
May 6, 2020
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The importance of a high-quality marketing campaign is unlike any other factor when it comes to effective advertising. Without spending the proper time and investment into ensuring you direct your marketing at the correct audiences and in the correct manner, you could be seriously damaging your business chances. Your marketing campaign could consist of online advertisement, physical billboards, leaflets or maybe through a digital webpage. There are many steps you can take in order to create an effective and targeted marketing campaign that will give a much-needed boost to your audiences.
STEP 1 – Online Presence
How you present your business online is a vital factor to consider when developing your marketing campaign, your online presence should be treated as a virtual representation of you and your company. In order to have a positive impact on your online customers, you must ensure that things like your website, and any digital marketing campaigns you plan on using are constructed in a way that appeals to your demographic in a professional manner. The aim of any form of advertising is to encourage customers to invest in your products or services, with the correct methods you can use the internet to your advantage.
STEP 2 – Choosing the Correct Audience
In order to target the correct market with your products, you must take the time to think about who is likely to make a purchase. Effective advertising can be achieved when the correct type of customer is targeted, the customer that has a need for your product is the customer with more chance of making a purchase. Of course, anyone can buy what you are selling but it makes sense to target your advertising towards the people that you feel need it most. If your product has a positive response then it will only grow in popularity and you can increase the range of people that you target your marketing towards.
STEP 3 – How to Present your Ideas
Presentation is key when it comes to representing your business in a way that is professional and will have a positive impact on the customer. When constructing a digital marketing campaign it is important that your advertisements are appealing and eye-catching. Especially when what you are putting out there will be compared to so many other campaigns from the millions of companies that exist out there, you need to think about what makes you unique as a business and take the steps to highlight the individualism of your company, ensuring you stand out from the crowd puts you on the right track for success.
STEP 4 – Marketing Campaign
Another important and pretty obvious part of creating an effective digital marketing campaign would have to be your digital marketing campaign. There are so many factors to consider around your campaign it can be easy to forget about the importance of what you put together. Businesses have been testing different techniques of marketing for years, it is important to find a strategy that fits your business style, but is also something that is manageable in terms of your capabilities. Sometimes it is more appropriate to take a simpler approach to how you present your company, an example of this can be seen in Arizona landscaping company landscaperbuckeyeaz.com, this company uses a fresh and clean style towards their advertising, with a simpler approach and using spectacular photography of their work their marketing campaign has been a real success.
STEP 5 – Location
In terms of location, where you plan on releasing your marketing campaign will make all the difference to the impact it has. First of all, you should think about the type of marketing you are going to conduct whether it be a digital billboard or a television advert. Certain formats will only work in certain situations so it is important that you remember to choose both a location and marketing aspect that suits each other. As previously mentioned the audience that you choose to target is important, you will have to bear in mind your audience to correspond with the location you choose to present your digital marketing campaign.
STEP 6 – Building your Team
When you start to see your business progress it will become apparent that you need to place more and more resources into your marketing strategies. It would make sense to dedicate a team of employees towards the development of your marketing campaigns. It is crucial that effort is put into how you show off your business as it can really have an effect on your success rate. As your business grows and grows you will need to begin creating more high scale marketing campaigns, as the need for advertising increases you will have to dedicate manpower in order to give your business the required exposure to get sales.
STEP 7 – Customer Service
A final point to make is to remember there are other business aspects that will have an effect on your marketing strategy. When so much importance is placed on your digital marketing it can be easy to forget about the other things going on within your company. Customer service is just as important as how you conduct your marketing so you must ensure the standard does not drop in this aspect. How you manage your customers can be the making if of your business reputation, with a good reputation you will be able to deliver a successful marketing campaign.
How Marketing can be Used to Spread Awareness and Incite Change
May 5, 2020
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Marketing often gets a mixed response from the general public. A lot of people simply associate it with advertisements and capitalism. It has a bad rep for being nothing more than trying to trick people into buying things and staying tried to the shackles of capitalism. But there is another side to marketing that is very much overlooked and ignored when it is actively taken in. That is the positive aspect of marketing that is used to spread awareness and incite real and positive change in the world. You might be wondering how that is possible? How are these big cooperate marketing divisions changing the world for the better? Well, below we are going to shatter your preconception of the marketing field.
The Boardroom
When people hear marketing they imagine men in suits in a board room toiling over their latest product. This is only one aspect of marketing. In reality, everything you have ever heard of is marketed. This includes charities, environmental agencies, animal rights groups and even marketing and advertising services for medical practices. It is an aspect of the field that is overlooked massively by the general public. Why is it? It is due to these corporate board rooms. Their often shady and evil practices shine a bad light on the field and turn people away from advertisements. People do not like being told what to do or think. And there is a huge notion that advertisements are simply that. Telling people what to do and think. But how can this be used for positive change?
Awareness
The first and most obvious answer is, marketing can raise awareness. Marketing does not always need to be just selling a product. It can also be providing information to the viewer. Adverts, at their core, are just information. So a lot of companies and organizations can use this to spread awareness about serious issues.
A good example of this is environmental agencies. Through their marketing strategies, they can raise awareness of the effect people and companies are having on the environment. And this is great because more awareness means more people are going to want to change for the better. And the effects of this have been seen already. The world has noticed people trying to be more environmentally friendly and petition companies to reduce their carbon footprint. All of this can be said to be a direct cause of positive marketing.
Physical Health
This one may surprise you, but medical awareness has been improved greatly over the last few years thanks to marketing. But how? Firstly there are more health-conscious organizations that seek to get you signed up and taking part in their programs, whether that be dieting or exercise. But to do that they need you to understand the health issues that can occur and what they offer to counter it. Now, while these companies are still selling a product, they are also offering very important and valuable information to the general public that will improve their quality of life significantly.
Secondly, health care providers have started running a lot of more public campaigns trying to raise health awareness in the general public. While these campaigns are not necessarily selling a product, they sill fall under the marketing banner. The health care companies are marketing this information in a way that makes it clear and understandable and provides information to the public that could potentially save a lot of lives.
Political Information
The mother of all marketing. Politics. This is a double-edged sword if there ever was one. The general consensus is that politicians lie. No matter what side they are on, they lie. And you can bet people only think the parties they don’t support lie, while their party speaks the truth. But within this mix of liars and fake news, there are organizations that strive to provide truthful and accurate political information, and they do this by marketing it.
Without marketing, any information will be ignored. You cannot just show people a bullet point list and expect them to take it in. It needs to grab their attention and make them understand. And why is this important? Because politics decides everything. Anyone who says politics does not matter is a fool. Politics decides how we survive. And clear, reliable political information is worth its weight in gold. If a company strives to make the general public understand what is happening in the world of politics then they are definitely inciting positive awareness and change.
All of these points come together to demonstrate just how vital marketing is to the world. Marketing was not invented by capitalism to sell products. It was simply adopted by them to increase the rate at which they can sell.
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