05/19/2013

Meetings for the Self-Employed

Good business is built upon many things: strategic planning, excellent execution, top-notch staff and positive market conditions. Yet above all, business is about inter-personal relationships and so much of success owes to being able to forge strong and lasting connections with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. In this light meetings are so incredibly important, no matter what business you are in. This is easy for denizens of the 9-5 world as their cup runneth over with available meeting space handily booked through Outlook, yet self-employed workers might find this significantly harder. Indeed, if you work on your lonesome you may find it very hard to attain meeting or conference facilities.

The easiest way to surmount this problem is by meeting at your client’s offices. This works out well for both parties as busy people will generally welcome it when you come to them, and it will save you the effort of booking rooms. Beyond that it gives you the chance to integrate fully with their business, as though you may have only one contact you are likely to work across a broader swathe of the company – heading in and meeting a variety of people is always a good thing.

This situation falls apart if you want to hold a highly focused meeting which you can control. In another office you don’t have the ability to really play host and set up all the variables you need to succeed (whether they be technological, atmospheric or otherwise). In this kind of situation its best to check out serviced office complexes as these often will allow you to rent conference or meeting rooms on an hourly or daily rate. Find somewhere with professional looking digs and you will be just fine.

Being self-employed is a parade of challenges (not that it’s not worth it), sadly finding somewhere to meet is just one of those. Thankfully services exist where you can rent office space, and failing that everyone loves a house call.

How Entrepreneurs Can Get Ahead in Business

Master the art of being an Entrepreneur

In today’s fiercely competitive economic climate anything which can give you an edge on your rivals is a valuable asset. And any budding entrepreneur worth their salt should know that a postgraduate qualification such as a Business Masters Degree doesn’t just give you an advantage, it’s your passport to a new world of opportunity.

Stay cool and go back to School

All good things come to those who wait and a true entrepreneur knows the importance of playing the long game. In the short term postgraduate qualifications may not seem all that appealing when your ambition is to commit every spare minute to making some serious money, but if you have the discipline, patience and above all ambition to knuckle down and get your postgraduate qualification, the business world will pretty much become your oyster.

Flexible

Studying for a postgraduate qualification is now more flexible than ever courtesy of online-teaching, evening classes, and the option to study when you want as much as you want. If you’re serious about succeeding there’s no excuse not to equip yourself with the best tools of the trade.

Reasons Why?

Middlesex University business postgraduate qualifications can enhance both your life and career in myriad ways. People recognise and reward your commitment to your chosen field by offering more opportunities in terms of advancement and earnings. The world is now a global marketplace and there is a huge demand for entrepreneurs with postgraduate qualifications. If you want to work in the country of your choice this is the way to do it. Whilst studying for your master’s degree you will be subjected to a whole host of networking opportunities in terms of internships and the meeting of like-minded and talented people. Above all any budding entrepreneur is always keen to master their art and learn from the best. A master’s degree will teach you the secrets of successful business leadership, how to fine tune your creative skills and how best to deal with the challenges of the complex and fast paced business environment of the modern world where only the truly prepared survive. Studying for a Master’s Degree is a big investment of your time and money but the rewards are immense.

5 Golden Rules for Business Start-Ups

Starting a business can be a rewarding endeavour but there are certain rules you should abide by if you want to make it a roaring success. Anyone can start a business but not all can succeed, especially in these torrid economic times. By following the five golden rules for business start-ups, you stand the best chance of starting and running a successful and profitable business.



1. Research, Research, Research

A business often starts with the catalyst of a killer idea however no business should strive to become more than an idea until vigorous market research has been conducted.

Market research tells you if your business idea is likely to work and if you are likely to have customers. It helps you define your target market, how much they have to spend and if they are likely to buy your product or service. What you think might be a winner might be completely unattractive to those you think may buy it. You can never tell if your idea will be successful until you test it on the market.

Always analyse your research results objectively. If you are going to twist your findings in order to show the result you were hoping for, then the time spent on research will be wasted. And if you find that you have to do this to make your business idea viable then you will be starting out on very shaky foundations.



2. Planning your Vision and Making it a Reality

If your market research bears fruit then that is the time to make your business plan. Your business plan should define your business idea, set out your vision for the future, contain solid financial projections and demonstrate how you will reach out to your target market in order to sell your product or service.

If you require external funding to get your business off the ground then you will need a watertight business plan in order to convince potential investors.

3. Establish your Finance Infrastructure Early

Running a business is hard work which is made 10x harder if you are disorganised from the start. This is why the third golden rule for business start-ups is to get your systems in place as early as possible. This means your accounts and accounting system, a place to store your receipts, invoicing, filing, computer systems, databases and anything else you need to run your business and ,more importantly, keep the cash flow running smoothly.



4. Don’t Sell Yourself Short

All businesses struggle to get those first few clients and it can be tempting to under-price and undercut in order to win business. In some cases, such as in the case of a longer term relationship, this can be a worthwhile way to start generating income. On the whole, though, you should charge a fair and competitive rate for your products or services from the start and only discount selectively in a targeted and strategic way.

It is a common observation of many business start-ups that once they upped their prices, the orders came flooding in. As a general rule of thumb, clients usually believe that you get what you pay for and low prices carry connotations of poor quality or desperation. It can also be difficult to raise your prices once you’ve set them low, particularly for existing customers.

5. Marketing Pays its Way

When funds are tight, particularly at the beginning, it can be difficult to pay out for various forms of marketing or find the time in your ever-busy schedule. Many new business owners neglect the marketing aspect of setting up a business until the phone stops ringing. Get ahead of the game and begin your marketing efforts from the moment you set up. Marketing carries unbeatable return on investment and in many cases, like that of Social Media Marketing, it is completely free and only costs a little bit of your time every day which in the long term can prove to be worth its weight in gold.

Hi I’m Ed, and I work in the exciting, fast paced and ever-changing world of a B2B services. I’ll be trying my best to keep you abreast give you a wide smorgasbord of handy hints, tips and advice to get the squeeze the best out of your business.

How to Choose a Dependable ISP for Your Business

Running a business requires a great deal of effort and dedication. With that being said, there are so many necessary things that must be taken into consideration each and every day if you want your business to be successful. One important thing is internet service, which is a very good resource for your business to have these days. The problem is it can sometimes be hard to know if you are choosing a dependable internet service provider (ISP) for your business. You want an ISP that will provide a strong, consistent signal and offer exceptional support when needed. Fortunately there are some tips that can make choosing a dependable ISP for your business a bit less stressful.

Determine Your Needs/Research Your Options

The internet needs of your business depend greatly on the type of business you are running, so the first step in choosing a dependable ISP is determining what your needs are. In today’s world, you will probably need a wireless or high-speed ISP to meet the everyday demands of your business. Dial-up internet is probably not the best choice for your business, unless it is very small and doesn’t require frequent internet access. [Read more...]

New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses

Most people make New Year’s resolutions for themselves, but what about for their businesses? The New Year is a great time to sit down and re-evaluate all parts of your personal and professional life. Taking a few minutes to look at where you’ve been, where you’re heading, and how you can reach your goals more quickly will ensure that 2012 is a successful and prosperous year. Here’s a few ideas for possible New Year Business Resolutions:

1. Create a business continuity plan: Are you aware of the potential problems your business is at risk from? Do you know how you’d cope if one of these problems transpired? A business continuity plan is not going to prevent computer failure or deter thieves from targeting your property but it will help you to cope with the aftermath, limit the damage and retain control. [Read more...]