Categories
Business Ideas

Five Tips for The Aspiring Disruptor

Article Contributed by Darren Fell

A constant capacity to disrupt is something that binds the most successful entrepreneurs together.

Apple, Amazon, IBM; all are examples of companies headed by minds that refuse to accept the status quo and challenge convention. As their success reflects, it’s the disruptors, not the disrupted who survive and thrive in business.

Eager to follow suit and establish yourself as a disruptor? Here’s five tips to get you started…

Examine and then innovate

The marketplace is ripe with outdated processes, products and professions ready for disruption. Working outside an industry you’re often more capable of seeing what can be improved, so examine the market and see what can be freshened up and made better for the customer.

Technology offers innumerable ways to do this, but if you intend to disrupt a service industry, be sure to offer a human element. Automation often improves efficiency, but don’t undervalue the importance of a human helping hand.

Assemble an experienced team

Once you’ve set your sights on your target, set about assembling a team with a wealth of experience. They should be established figures in your industry, carrying expertise that’ll help shape your strategy.

Ensure that this team is full of forward thinkers, combining intimate knowledge of their market with an ability to envisage its future. Assembling a team with these qualities, you’ll be well equipped to shake up your industry.

Build a brand that counters the bland

Disrupting, you’ll be going against convention, so you’ll need to reflect this in your marketing activities.

Cast an eye over your competitors and break ranks. Create a brand name that goes against cliché and make it memorable. Elsewhere, use the multitude of marketing mediums to reflect your personality and ensure you set yourself apart from competitors.

Be willing to take a smoke and mirrors approach

A ‘smoke and mirrors’ approach can be critical to disrupting, scepticism and inertia sometimes strong amongst potential customers.

To combat this, you’ll thus need to create a compelling vision of your product and illustrate how it’ll better the status quo. Of course I’m not proposing that you do anything unethical or illegal, just be willing to stretch the reality of your product or service’s capabilities and then add this when you have the resources to realise them.

Cut customer costs whilst increasing quality

Price tends to be paramount in the customer’s mind and unless you’re offering state of the art innovation, then you’ll need to cut costs in some regard.

A good way to do this is by targeting the service industries, particularly those that bill by time. Look to offer greater efficiency – perhaps through the use of technology – and ensure that you cut costs for the consumer. Cutting costs whilst delivering greater efficiency, you’ll naturally disrupt!

About the Author

Darren Fell is Managing Director at Crunch, UK based accountants for contractors and Go Limited, online company formation agents.

Categories
Planning & Management

5 Killer Tips to Stop Putting it Off!

Article Contributed by Lisa Bloom

It was instantly recognizable.  She was bald.  She was deathly pale.  Her whole frame was obviously a shadow of what it once was.  She had shakiness in her movement; she was so frail.

Then she took off her sunglasses and I saw a brightness in her eyes that was stunning.  And she spoke and her voice was strong and powerful and yet soothing and gentle at the same time.

It’s cancer, she said.  I’m quite riddled, she added with a smile.  But I’m very optimistic, all is well.

It was shocking.  It was stunning.  She was so powerful and strong, she was so beautiful; it left a big impression on me.  I don’t know the end of her story, whether she’s still alive.  But her spirit certainly is.

It was the first time I had noticed, or perhaps realized, that the state of your mind is not always determined by the condition of your body.  That was huge.

Until that moment, I had always assumed that if you are sick, there is no way you can be optimistic or empowered.  It seems such a paradox.

I wondered, how can you be hopeful and have plans if you have been given a bad prognosis?  How can you expect to be happy and enjoy life if you don’t know if you have much more time you have to live?

I realized in that moment, from speaking with that woman, that I’d gotten it all wrong.

I realized that none of us know how long we are going to live and everything else is an illusion.  Actually, it’s a story.

Most of us live with the story that we are going to live for a long, long time.  More importantly, we live with the illusion that we have lots of time and things can wait, if we don’t feel like taking care of them now.

Now, I’m not going to give you the usual story of how life is short and we don’t know how long we have, although that’s true.  Anyone who’s lost someone they love realizes that.

But I am going to talk about procrastination.  You see, I don’t think there’s a soul on this planet that doesn’t know what it feels like to put off stuff.  To put aside that thing we like to do least and simply never get around to it.

What’s really interesting is that there are so many stories that we tell ourselves in order to justify this behavior.  We make up such creative excuses for NOT doing the very thing that we ought to get done.  And then we start believing those stories.  I suppose that’s how we live with ourselves.

So, I want to suggest that if you, like most people, live with a certain tolerance for your own procrastination, well, I have a message for you.  It’s simple.  It’s a bit harsh.  Here it is…..

YOU CAN DO BETTER.

Yes, you can.  I believe in you.  I know that you are bigger than this.  You can do better.  Just get it done.  Here are a few simple tips that will help.

  1. Make a commitment to yourself that you are going to finally get on top of whatever this task is.
  2. Schedule your time generously so that you have plenty of time to actually get it done.
  3. Don’t give yourself too much time….just enough!
  4. Turn off your phone, log out of Facebook or any other social media that distracts you.
  5. Just do it!

And then, most importantly, CELEBRATE.  Yes, I’m serious, even if it’s that paperwork that’s been sitting on your desk for a year….now’s the time to celebrate.  You did it.  You are amazing.  You deserve to celebrate.  This is the most important step of all.

About the Author

Lisa Bloom is a Professional Storyteller and Accredited who helps entrepreneurs and business owners beat overwhelm, stress and discomfort with marketing to find confidence, attract ideal clients and make more money by finding their success story. Lisa’s Leadership Development & Coaching Programs and Speaking gigs have engaged, motivated and inspired people world-wide!  She is delighted to offer you the complimentary ebook “Using Stories to Get Great Clients”: http://www.story-coach.com 

Categories
Finance & Capital

5 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

Article Contributed by Kristen Gramigna

Businesspeople understand that a good credit score is a valuable asset, especially if you intend to get a business loan. A good credit score comes with many advantages, including strengthening your negotiation position, protecting your personal credit rating, limiting personal liability, conserving cash flow, limiting accumulation of personal debt, and maximizing financing opportunities. So improving your business credit score is well worth the effort.

How can you do this effectively?

Your personal credit history affects your business credit prospects only if you plan to use a personal loan to finance your business. In this case, you can get the capital you need only if you have a good credit history, and your personal credit score dictates not only how much money you’ll get, but also the interest rate, terms, and conditions of the loan. Thus, finding the most effective ways to improve your credit score is crucial. So, what should you do?

  1. Request Copies of Your Credit Report: Visit The Annual Credit Report (theannualcreditreport.com) which provides credit reports issued by the three main bureaus — TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Be certain you understand all the data, including the details regarding your payment history, current loans, and total amounts owed.
  1. Check for Inaccuracies: Your credit report may include incorrect or incomplete information. So check your credit report thoroughly and ask the credit bureau to fix incorrect or incomplete data. Don’t forget to ask for a copy of your new credit report after the error correction has been confirmed.
  1. Pay Bills on Time: Your credit score relates to paying your bills by the due date. If you’re unable to keep track of your bills, setting automatic payments from your bank account is a great idea. If you opt for this convenience, be sure you have enough money in your bank account to avoid overdraft fees.
  1. Understand How Credit Scores Are Determined: Credit scores are determined based on specific criteria, such as the number of unpaid bills, comparisons between the amount of debt and credit limit, whether you have a long or short credit history, if you’ve applied for a new loan, and how many and what type of credit accounts you have. To achieve a high credit score, the following factors are considered: If the amount you owe is much lower than your credit limit; if you’ve paid all of your bills; if your long credit history shows low balances and timely payments; if you haven’t applied for new accounts recently; and if you manage a mix of credit cards and installment loans without any issues.
  1. Use a Professional Service: If you’re unable to repair your credit on your own, find a credit counselor who can help you develop a plan to manage your finances and pay off your debt.  However, be aware that some agencies charge excessive fees that will put you even deeper in debt.

About the author:

Kristen Gramigna is Chief Marketing Officer for BluePay, a merchant account provider that also offers payment gateway services. She brings more than 15 years of experience in the bankcard industry in direct sales, sales management, and marketing to the company and also serves on its Board of Directors.

Categories
Business Trends

Business Blogging, Do I Have To?

Article Contributed by Kelly Gregorio

The popularity of business blogging is getting harder and harder to ignore.  Whether you run an ecommerce site or a local mom and pop shop, it seems like just about everyone has a blog that’s positioning them as frontrunners in their niche.

You may be fostering some cozy hesitations (i.e. I’m not a writer, and even if I was I don’t have the time…) but the excuses are stopping here.  The interactive experience of blogging is a great way to establish your presence in your market and provide usable content to an audience that in return, will give you their trust and respect.

But, Do I Have To Be a Writer?

No.  Writing a business blog is a lot different than writing a book.  Each post will be about a different theme, short and concise.  And considering that most blogs tend to be around a page long, they should not take much longer than an hour to write.

You don’t need to be a writer, but you do need to be a helper.  Give your readers actionable steps and sound advice they can easily put into practice. Additionally, be sure to edit each post (even better, have another set of eyes review it for you), keep paragraphs short with only 3-4 sentences and make the content easily digestible by using bullet points and numbered lists whenever applicable.

But, Do I Have To Post Every Day?

No, but you should post consistently.  Try to aim for at least two posts a week and post on a pattern, for example, every Tuesday and Saturday.

Keep things fresh by alternating what types of posts you contribute – one post might be a how-to article, while another could be an interview, and another, breaking news.  In your efforts to keep things fresh and interesting for your readers, you’ll refresh yourself as well.

But, Do I Have To Be an Idea Genius?

No, but you do have to know how to stay relevant.  Check out other blogs similar to your niche, see what they are reporting on, and then see what unique spin your perspective can craft.  Tuning into industry-related podcasts is another way to generate ideas and bonus: you can listen in with your Smartphone on the go.

Also, don’t undervalue your own daily experiences within your business.  Almost every day holds a new topic to explore.  Make an active effort to keep your eyes and ears open for material.  Keep in mind too that once you cultivate an audience, you can always cater specifically to them and ask for topic requests.

But, Do I Have To Whine About It?

Absolutely not! You’ll find that your best posts will be on topics that you are passionate about and know inside and out.  That’s no accident; continue to write what you know and the motivation and writing will flow. After all, the goal is to position yourself as an expert in your field, so have fun while sharing any and all of your personal, unique expertise.

Happy Blogging!

About the author:

Kelly Gregorio writes about topics that affect entrepreneurs and small businesses while working at Advantage Capital Funds, a business loan provider. You can read her daily business blog here.

Categories
Sales & Marketing

3 Prints That Impress Trade Show Attendees

Article Contributed by Randal Whitmore

Trade show season is underway which means you and your competitors will be journeying nationwide to impress attendees with your company’s offerings to drum up some new business, raise brand awareness, and put faces to your company’s image.

Alongside the representatives of your business, print plays a vital role in displaying your company brand at a trade show and increasing the likelihood of a response from attendees once the show has ended.

You could have the best salespeople in the world promoting your company but in a situation such as this where other businesses are adding to the advertising noise you need to make an impression that stands out and captures the attention of your target attendees.

So you’ve decided to be an exhibitor…

… and by now you might have a space booked at a business convention of some kind and you’ve identified which employees will be attending to represent your business in the best light possible. The next step is to organise your printing, which is why we’ve provided three printed must-haves required by trade exhibitors to help make a great first impression with potential new clients and increase the likelihood of an aftershow response.

1. Exhibition Stand

When exhibiting at a trade show you’re usually provided with a space that includes 2-3 walls made of chipboard coated in felt so that you can hang photos, banners, or some other kind of advertising material. If you’re on a tight advertising budget then this might be your preferred option.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to make an impressive appearance then having a custom printed exhibition stand will allow you to completely personalise that space with your branding.

As you can see in the image above there is a collapsable lectern, which can act as a good addition to your stand if you intend on running a mini-seminar within your booth to promote the products or services you offer.

Tip: provide seating and allocate seminar time slots to make your seminars appear more official. Try providing information of value that your visitors can use when they leave the show rather than using it as a hard sell opportunity. Not only will it capture your visitors’ attention but it will also show that your company is an expert in its field.

Collapsable exhibition stands come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes so before having one printed you should ensure that:

  • the exhibition stand fits within the dimensions of the exhibitor space you have booked (some event organisers dislike exhibitors whose displays spill over the perimeter of their allocated space);
  • it is easy to construct (there is nothing worse than toiling over an exhibition stand before a show. Purchasing an easy-to-construct stand will help with keeping you calm);
  • the stand allows space for other advertising materials, such as a pop-up banner, and for visitors to move around within (you want to invite attendees into your exhibition space, away from the distracting traffic that flows in between the stands).

2. Pop-up Banners

A pop-up banner is a must-have piece of advertising material for trade show exhibitors that can break down your company’s products or services in bite-size chunks of information. A pop-up banner should a) attract the attention of passers-by of your stand, and b) match or compliment your company’s brand identity in message and visuals.

If you can’t afford a custom exhibition stand then the pop-up banner is a much cheaper printed alternative that will customise the space you’ve booked. It can, however, be used in addition to an exhibition stand if your budget permits one e.g. your custom stand would display your company’s brand name, logo, colours and graphics with a pop-up banner nearby displaying the products and services you offer.

Most pop-up banners come in two parts (the banner and the stand) and are very easy to construct. The main difference between providers is the quality of print, therefore, you will want to choose a professional printer that produces the highest quality possible to aid your design in creating a great impression with trade show attendees.

3. Professionally Printed Flyers

It is always a better idea to have your flyers printed by a professional flyer printing company because the quality will be much higher than what you can produce in-house, plus you can choose from a range of finishes, customised cutting options, and other personal touches that can be produced on a large scale. It is also a much lower cost to outsource this kind of promotional activity.

Once your employees have spoken to, and hopefully impressed, a potential new or existing client it is a great idea to hand that visitor a flyer that displays your company brand, products, services, and contact details. This will give them something to take away that will remind them of the experience they had at your stand when sorting through the materials they have picked up from the show.

To increase the likelihood of a response from your flyer you should include a hook of some kind e.g. a trade show exclusive offer. Providing an exclusive voucher code will allow you to measure the ROI of your trade show exhibition activity and give the client an additional reason to re-visit your company (the first being the experience that your representatives provided).

Enjoy the Trade Show

Exhibiting at a trade show is a rare opportunity for your company to be displayed face-to-face in front of your target market so the first impression you will want to make with potential clients is a good one.

By organising these 3 trade show exhibitor products you can be sure that your company brand will be displayed to attendees in a positive way that makes you look professional and stand out from your competitors who may not take advantage of such an opportunity in the same way.

About the author:

This article about impressive trade show print was written by Randal Whitmore who regularly contributes articles related to graphic design and business to Solopress – a high quality printing company based in the UK.