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Strategies to Lead, Manage, and Succeed in Business

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Why Are We In the Midst of Such a Huge Marketing Shift?

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For a company to be successful, they need to market their business, products, services, and their brand. We all know this, right? But did you know that there’s a major marketing shift right now?

I had the opportunity to talk with Mathew Sweezey, one of the new breed of marketing thought leaders. During our conversation, Mathew explained how and why the marketing environment is changing.

Understanding this will help businesses determine which marketing strategy is best for their customer base and business goals.  

Why Is Marketing Changing So Much Right Now?

Marketing is changing because our environment has changed. 

In the past, businesses with a lot of capitol controlled the media. They relied on advertisements and messages about their service/product. 

Then, we entered the digital age. Still, the approach was the same – telling people why they need to purchase our product or service. 

Nowadays, we’re not only digital, we’re social. This means we can’t approach marketing the way we used to. People don’t simply take a company’s word for it that they need a particular product or that theirs is the best on the market. 

Instead, when people are considering making a purchase, they take to Google or social media to find out more about it. In fact, people are generally ready to make a purchase when they finally contact a company because they’ve already done their research. In the past, they relied on sales people to give them information and help them make a decision. 

How You Can Keep In Step with the Latest Marketing Trends

In this changing environment, how are business owners and marketers supposed to attract customers? 

The best way to do this is to get onto social media. But once there, you don’t simply want to talk about your company. This is the old way of doing things. 

Follow the example of companies like Kronos, a software company. They post two types of content on their Facebook page: Corporate blog posts and a series of comics. Guess which posts receive more customer engagement? 

That’s right – it’s the comics. People don’t go onto social media because they want someone to sell them something. Nor do they go there with the specific purpose to read content. 

People go onto social media to escape. When you post things online that are a mix of business, humor, and inspirational, this makes consumers feel like you’re not just trying to sell them something. It makes them feel like you get them. That, in turn, makes them more curious about your brand.

Marketing Will Always Evolve – Make Sure You Keep Up

The latest trends in marketing have taken some people by surprise. Keeping up-to-date on the latest trends is vital, though. 

In doing so, you’ll be able to improve your online visibility when it comes to your target market. And when you give your customers an authentic, personal experience, they’ll be more likely to check out your product/service. 

So, make sure your marketing team approaches their strategies thoughtfully, thinking about what the consumer wants or needs. 

Continually doing this will ensure that your business continues to grow. Do you want to stay on the cusp of the latest marketing trends? Follow Mathew on Twitter and make sure to check out his book Marketing Automation for Dummies.

How Can Older Employees and Millennials Effectively Work With Each Other

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Any company would agree that it’s critical to maintain a harmonious atmosphere in the office for maximum productivity and collaboration between your team members. However, managing and retaining talents of all ages may come off a bit more challenging than you think.

 

For one, the disparity between age groups of different employees is an interesting subject in today’s diverse workplace. A lot of assumptions and stereotypes have been thrown at either party: Millennials are stubborn and entitled; the older generation is inflexible and old-fashioned. These stereotypes fuel the friction that may sometimes arise in a multigenerational company.

 

It’s important to understand that each group has unique personalities and work ethics based on the culture and time they grew up in. An effective recruitment agency or HR consultant should look at candidates objectively and evaluate what these prospective hires can bring to the table instead of easily believing pre-conceived notions. It’s refreshing to have different perspectives in the workplace so long as everyone fits in the culture.

 

While millennials are currently the youngest in the spectrum, they are not new to the working scene. They are not as naughty as others paint them to be, yet they still receive a lot of flak for their ingenious and radical ways in the workplace. The oldest millennials today are aged 37 years old, which may already assume managerial positions in some companies.

 

This age group is also set to comprise 75% of the workforce by 2025, so learning how to harness their skills is vital to any company. Millennials will indeed continue to revolutionize the workplace in the coming years.

 

The same courtesy of understanding applies to Gen X and baby boomers as well. They know the industry that should be valued, and younger people should be more open to their traditional yet effective processes. After all, the goal of every company is to make all of their team members feel valued and heard at work, meaning all opinions count and contribute to the betterment of the majority.

 

Thankfully, there are actionable steps to managing your multigenerational workplace better. Baby Boomers, Gen X, and millennial workers can become each other’s best assets when given a chance. The secret is to unlock their potential and show them that they can teach valuable lessons to each other, both professionally and personally.

 

Besides that, managers should teach all of their employees to be aware and respectful of each other’s ideas and working styles instead of criticizing or complaining about them. Instill a sense of pride in your team for being part of an age-diverse company, because this will do nothing but bolster their career growth.

 

It won’t be long until the newly graduated Gen Zers joins the workforce. As early as now, your company should be able to smoothen out any tension and successfully promote a safe and fair working environment for everyone involved. If you want to learn more about how millennials and older generations can successfully collaborate in the workplace, continue reading the infographic below:

 

5 Tools Your Small Business Should Be Using Today

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Have you ever had difficulties in your small business regarding organizing management systems? The answer is probably yes. Lots of small businesses go through management issues because they are not yet established. Mostly, people running small businesses are usually beginners; hence they encounter different kinds of questions.

 

The problems may range from ‘what kind of equipment to purchase’ to ‘what tasks to outsource.’ Outsourcing is not always a good idea for a small business. To solve such matters, it is crucial to consider some of the tools outlined in this article.

 

Management Manual

First, a management manual is the first tool you need. As a newbie in business, a handbook for management systems can be of great help. Such a manual contains all the necessary tools and templates to aid you in organizing your small business enterprise. With this, you can arrange your business policies, procedures, and mechanisms to form the best framework, which can, in turn, facilitate the fulfillment of all the tasks for objectives-achievement. Management manuals can also help you identify the rules and regulations governing the business field you have ventured in, helping you to set appropriate policies.

 

No business thrives without the aid of a management manual and therefore systems must be put in place for every business. No one entered the business field with all the management skills, hence, this is a tool widely used. There are quality management manuals that you can purchase from the market. For example, the ISO 9001 quality management manual is an all-inclusive template with customization instructions that are detailed and integrated.  The entire ISO 9001:2015 is included in this document.

 

With the quality management manual, you can set up a management system for your small business without seeking expert advice. It contains all the ISO standards that will guide you in formulating policies and guidelines for your business. It is also business friendly and specially made for small business enterprises.

 

Beginners are best suited for it because of its clear language with detailed explanations and images. It majorly focuses on efficiency and all its requirements add operational value. You should think of acquiring one for your business.

 

Software Packages

Apart from a quality management manual, your small business needs software packages to help you in performing some tasks. Being a small business, paying for premium packages is another expense altogether. You may consider having free versions for a start before you upgrade to the premium after establishing your business well.

 

Some of the packages you may consider are; antiviruses, project management software, the applicant tracking tool, the Human Resource Management tool, business planning software among others. The Human Resource Management tool is vital in the running of your business. It can help you in activities like making announcements to your employees and managing tasks.

 

Accounting Software Package

Furthermore, an accounting software package is a fundamental necessity. You cannot rely on manual calculations, however small your business is. The software will help you performing calculations, keeping track of what clients owe you, the total number of invoices sent, the number of clients that have paid, among other benefits.

 

Managing your finances should be an integral part of the management system you need to set up for your business. Having a system that performs all tasks well apart from generating profit is good for your business fruition. This is because, apart from customer satisfaction, the primary objective of every business to making a profit. You can find such packages online for a small fee, suitable for your business.

 

Web-Based Tools

Your business also needs Web-based tools that can offer customer care services. Such tools can help in collecting, assigning and tracking communication pertaining to a product or a customer. It is quite frustrating and time-consuming for a customer to buy a product, go home and send you an email asking about how it works.

 

Sometimes you need feedback from the client concerning the working of the product. You may also need to have a live chat or send direct messages that can be indexed and searched, tagged and sorted. Customer care tools can provide all these services to ensure satisfaction and well-being of your customers. You need to consider integrating the tools into the management system of your business.

 

Time Tracking Software

Finally, time is an essential factor in all fields and situations. It is an asset that a business, especially a small one, should manage well. All the activities, projects and processes included in your systems cannot be accomplished without time.

 

For this reason, a time tracking software can help you manage your time well to ensure full utilization. You can track the time spent on a project, calculate project estimates, allocate resources, and calculate fair billing using this software. Search for time tracking apps available in the market and choose the one that suits your business needs.

 

Having gone through this article, your worries as a newbie in the business field should have subsided. You can choose the tools you feel are suitable for the type of your business.

 

Make sure you develop a solid management system with a combination of all these tools. With this, your business will leave the ‘small’ category within an amazingly short span of time.

5 Tips to Manage Talent Acquisition Effectively

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A lot has been changing since technology has seeped into almost all processes and changed the whole dynamics of how they function. Talent acquisition is no exception. The workforce demographics have changed, the demand for talent has increased, and the knowledge marketplaces have gone highly competitive. These changes have made talent management a highly discussed topic in the conference rooms of many organizations.

One of the major challenges the talent acquisition departments faces is ensuring that the right talent is hired for the right role. In today’s candidate-driven and resource-conscious market, to develop a competitive edge in talent acquisition, recruiting strategies have to be revisited to optimize them to bridge the skills gap. In order to stay at the top of the game, implementing a robust talent acquisition and management strategy is the key. Here are top 5 tips to help win the talent war, boost the recruitment process, manage the current talent and prepare for the future.

  1. The Recruitment Process on Auto-mode

Manually screening through thousands of resumes is not only time-consuming but also a tedious task. Most of the valuable time is lost, leaving very less time to concentrate on other important aspects of the hiring process. The end result: the whole process becomes slow and the risk of losing a candidate increases. Embracing new and innovative technologies in recruitment through automation of time-consuming tasks can – lower the recruitment costs, filter better quality hires, free up resources – all at a faster pace. The new landscape of talent acquisition has brought in innovations, which are driving the evolution of automation in the recruitment process through the use of recruitment software. With automation, the recruitment process becomes simpler, faster and effective, thus saving a lot of time to carry out other important tasks. The software can screen resumes, perform low-level administrative tasks, recommend candidates on the basis of data, and make bias-free recruiting decisions.

  1. The Use of Social Media

The largest pool of most talented, top quality applicants are on social media. Therefore, recruiters need to be present where the most potential candidates are. Social media presence is a must and the most effective marketing tool to attract and hire top talent. However, not all social media channels are great for social recruiting. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter harbor the potential talent. The key to use social media to its optimal potential is to be consistent and post regular updates.

 

  1. The Complete Package Offer

Salary is not the only thing candidates look for while considering a job application. They’ll look at the complete package the company has to offer. The package may include salary, growth opportunities, responsibilities, bonuses, perks, reputation of the company, etc. If the candidate is a right fit, determine what they are looking for in a prospective job position and offer a complete package that meets their requirements, not just the salary.

  1. The Boomerang Employee Advantage

In a talent starved market, a boomerang employee can be a boon. Hiring an ex-employee has its own set of advantages – the candidate is aware of the company culture and can easily settle in. However, the decision of hiring boomerang employees has to be taken with due diligence. The best way to decide is to treat boomerang employee as a first-time applicant through which an unbiased decision can be made and that will help in deciding whether the boomerang employee is a good fit or not.

  1. The Power of Employee Referrals

An employee referral programs not only boost the morale of the existing employees, but are an excellent way to reach potential talent. Research says that employee referred candidates make better hires and stay with the company for long.

  1. The Plan to Retain Employees

Recruiting new talent can be an expensive affair. A lot of HR activities, such as job posting, advertising, screening, interviewing, follow-ups, etc., demand investment of time, manpower and money. Training new employees also adds up to the investment.

The overall recruitment costs can be lowered, if a robust employee retention plan is in place. Usually, employee retention rates are influenced by salary, work environment, growth opportunities, benefits, etc. A great retention plan will offer great promotion opportunities, vertical as well as horizontal while enabling them to apply for them.

Author Bio: Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager specializing in HR and is responsible for leading Jobsoid’s content and social media team. When Kelly is not building campaigns, she is busy creating content and preparing PR topics. She started with Jobsoid as a social media strategist and eventually took over the entire digital marketing team with her innovative approach and technical expertise.

 

Everyone Wins: Treating Clients Like Team Members

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At M. Grisafe Architects, we’re passionate about architecture. It’s what we do. We’ve been in business as a boutique architecture firm in Long Beach since 2005, and while we obviously love the challenges of designing spaces that inspire our clients and improve their home or work lives, it’s our love for people that truly drives us.

If you were to ask any of us how our firm has grown and remained successful over the years, we would probably all have a similar answer: Because of the people involved, and that includes each other as colleagues as well as our clients. Our approach with clients, which we sum up with

three words—advise, advocate, and collaborate—not only results in finished projects that fully address clients’ needs and solve their problems, but that also drives our inspiration and creativity as a firm.

When the Client Wins, We Win Too

We’ve learned over the years that our clients are at the heart of what we do. They’re the most important part of our business. We’ve also learned that when we go above and beyond for our clients—when we really dazzle them—our job is more fun! It’s so rewarding for us to know that a client is thrilled with their new space, and that goal keeps us excited to come to work every day.

When we begin a project, our very first step is to get to know the client we’re working for. Whether we’re working on a residence or a commercial space, meeting the people who will be using the space and understanding them on a deeper level is essential for us.

And we understand that not all architects agree

! Plenty of architects enjoy designing spec homes (which are designed and built without a specific buyer in mind), and plenty of architects enjoy doing large-scale commercial work in which there may be multiple intermediaries involved and not much direct interaction with the person or people who end up using the space on a daily basis. Those types of projects simply aren’t our preference because we believe we achieve better end results when we work with our clients rather than for them.

Relational, Not Transactional

Everyone has had the experience of feeling like “just a number” or “just a consumer” when interacting with a business, and it doesn’t feel good. It doesn’t matter where it happens—getting a fast-food burger or navigating a car insurance claim—if a company is treating your interaction like a transaction to “get through,” you’re probably going to think twice about spending your money with that company in the future.

Because of the personal and permanent nature of what we do, that attitude is unacceptable for us. For one thing, it creates unhappiness all around. If our clients were repeatedly unsatisfied, we at the firm would all be unsatisfied, too. People generally don’t enjoy working for companies that don’t treat their clients well.

But more importantly, our clients have to live and/or work in the space we create. We might be able to get to “good enough” without inviting them into the process, but to get to their hearts and leave them with a space that inspires them for years to come? That requires building a strong relationship with them. It’s not the easy way, but it’s far more rewarding in the end, and it makes clients more likely to work with us again and refer us to their friends and families!

Advise, Advocate, Collaborate

Every business is different, but there’s always a way to invest in building relationships with clients. It takes time and energy, but the payoff is well worth it. For us as a Long Beach architecture firm, we have developed a three-pronged approach, and we’ve found it to be a good balance between establishing our expertise, which makes clients feel confident in choosing us for their project, and treating clients like valued members of the team who can provide input and participate in the process:

  • Advise: This is essential to building confidence and trust. We provide information and transparency right from the beginning, and we continue to do so throughout each phase of our work together. We believe well-informed clients ultimately make the best decisions, so we make communication a top priority from day one.

  • Advocate: As we gather information and fully understand what the client wants and needs in their new space, we work towards it wholeheartedly. We strive to reach the finish line with as few complications as possible and while meeting every client need. If problems or complications arise (which is not uncommon in our line of work, especially dealing with permits and codes), we jump in and solve them. It’s our job to navigate those stressors, not the client’s.

  • Collaborate: Just like we work with our clients throughout the scope of a project, we also have to work with agencies, city governments, and other various stakeholders to keep a project on time and on budget.

This may all sound novel or even crazy. We know that our exact approach may not be appropriate for every business—after all, different types of businesses require different levels of closeness with clients. What we are saying is that we create win-win results when we treat clients like team members, and we believe that most businesses would benefit from finding ways to do so too.