Blogs have evolved into an essential part of business websites and provide a wealth of advantages to online businesses. They are no longer just a tool for independent bloggers to share their ideas. They have become a critical part of a company’s marketing strategy for how companies establish themselves online. Blogs help with SEO and can help to make your company stand out as knowledgeable. As an online business owner or manager, you need to take advantage of this and have a blog as the main strategy your company uses for building your online business. 

The key to a successful blog is to understand what your blog should be about and how to use it. Here is a look at why your business needs an effective blog, including examples of how successful companies like Coca Cola and Walmart are using blogs to power their success.

Building a Database of Evergreen Content

Evergreen content is content that is always relevant and timeless. Many blog posts become dated when trends, practices, and technologies begin to change. For example, a blog about VHS players is out of date since the industry standard for home video is DVD players. This is changing again as more people focus on streaming services over DVD players.

Building a database of evergreen content gives you the ability to keep your blog and other posting services relevant. Since your content will not be dated by changes in the world, your posts become key reference points on specific subjects. 

Evergreen content positions your business as a go-to source of information about a topic, making it easier to draw in customers over time. It could be a challenge to know what topics are evergreen, but working with a professional writer can help.

Another benefit of evergreen content is the ability to reuse your content. Since search engines look for periodic and consistent posting from blogs, you can restructure and reuse your content multiple times to keep your blog feeling fresh and new while you work on new content.

New Search Engine Opportunities

Search engines are adjusting to the demands of consumers at an alarming rate and they reward new content. Because of this adjustment, having a blog allows you to change your search rankings with new content. Each post is an opportunity to engage search engines and increase your standing in the online community. This means your company will be in front of more viewers more often — giving your business the chance to convert leads to sales and grow your online business!

Serve as Top of Sales Funnel

Your blog is also the part of your website that customers will find the most interesting and hopefully engage with, so use your blog as the top of your sales funnel. Every company needs a comprehensive sales funnel to convert leads into sales. Your company blog gives you a chance to introduce specific problems, present possible solutions, and filter out unqualified leads.

Posting content to your blog allows you to focus on specific issues. For example, Latched Mama offers mothers support and interesting articles about different topics in an effort to cultivate an online community. Each topic focuses on a different area of interest like caring for young children, preparing easy meals, and finding baby care products. Throughout each blog post, Latched Mama introduces its products to solve the problems presented in their posts. By doing so, interested mothers will look further into each product, moving deeper into the sales funnel. 

Helps Differentiate Your Company from Competition

Your company’s blog is one of the unique aspects of your online identity. No two blogs are the same due to writing styles, site designs, and branding. Therefore, you can use it as a means of making your company look, sound, and feel far different from any other company.

An example of this is Walmart. Walmart manages to establish itself in a variety of ways, but its blog is very distinct. A combination of branding and storytelling lets Walmart extend its in-store experience onto its blog in an unmistakable way. While other companies excel at blogging, it would be difficult to mistake any of them for Walmart. This helps Walmart ensure that it can continue to influence shoppers online using the same branding and persona that it has in stores.

Blogging Drives Traffic

Although it may not be apparent to some business owners, blogging drives traffic online and in stores. Research shows that up to 72% of people who search for something online will visit a store related to their search within 5 miles of their house. So, increasing your blog traffic directly relates to an increase in traffic and possible sales. In some ways, blogging is a more reliable way of driving traffic than other options at less cost.

Improve SEO

Many companies began blogging as a means of improving Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Having a blog today is still strongly linked to SEO rankings and is used as a means of achieving a higher rank. SEO is important because it ensures that your company is seen in the list of search results for a specific topic sooner than your competitors. This gives you a slight advantage in search results for your product or service, which can add up over time.

Your blog is the least static part of your website, which makes it great for improving SEO. However, you have to understand how the SEO system works and how to take advantage of it. Google and other search engines clearly outline what their search engines are looking for so that you can adjust your blog accordingly. You can also partner with a content creation company to ensure you have content that consistently ranks well on search engines.

Something to Share on Social Media Accounts

Sharing blog content is an excellent way to keep followers engaged with your brand. Once they click on the blog link you shared, it will direct them back to your company’s website. Be aware that if you share content created by other people, this could lead your followers to other websites when they click on the link in your social media post. 

You also gain an advantage by developing and scheduling blog posts to publish at a later date or during your company’s busy season, or whenever investing time in your blog is not available. This keeps your feed and your site fresh.

Branding Opportunities

A successful blog is also a branding opportunity. It is a chance to create a unique voice online that can reach potential customers anywhere. Use it to develop an online community where your company is an influencer and a subject matter expert. Many major companies do this with varying levels of success. Coca Cola is a leading example of this.

Coca Cola has a place in the lexicon and community consciousness because this brand works tirelessly to integrate itself into every facet of consumers’ lives. A part of this is the Coca Cola Unbottled blog that Coca Cola uses to advertise its efforts to help the community. You can find stories of how Coca Cola works with communities around the world, supports health and environmental initiatives, and promotes community interactions. Throughout, Coca Cola is prominently displayed with its unique branding, which helps consumers associate it with a positive change in the world.

Another example is The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond). She started her business development as a lifestyle blog. Over time, she expanded her business to include other social media platforms. One of the keys to her success was developing a consistent persona across all of them. On her blog, Ree developed the extensive and highly stylized branding that she uses on all of her assets. It is truly unique to her and has the right look and feel for her message. As a result, her branding is a crucial part of how her company is perceived, and she utilizes it to be recognized in a sea of lifestyle blogs.

Thought Leadership

For companies that focus on intangibles like consulting services, blogs are a useful tool for positioning them as thought leaders. Thought leadership is putting your business in a position to be one of the leading experts on a subject, so much so that you can drive the conversation in the industry.

Apple is an example of successful thought leadership. As a company, Apple is able to drive the conversation about what a computer design should be. It is so influential that it is considered to be one of the three primary options for computers next to Microsoft and Linux. Steve Jobs was notorious for being focused on design and thinking outside the box. As a result, today Apple is able to keep a large segment of the industry just based on its approach to new ideas.

A blog can be an effective part of every company’s overall marketing strategy. Once you decide what you need to achieve with the blog, you can take the steps necessary to make it happen. 

It may be difficult to find time for your team to create high-quality content that is consistent and promotes your brand effectively. The best solution could be partnering with a content marketing company that can provide the content you need and help develop topics.

Partnering with a content marketing company allows you to build your company’s blog using professional writers and content managers who will deliver on time and to your satisfaction. By doing so, your team can focus on other important business matters while knowing that someone experienced in SEO and blog writing creates your content. With the help of a content marketing company, businesses can often maximize the amount and quality of the content featured on their websites.

“If each day is a gift, I’d like to return Monday”UNKNOWN

15 Reasons Why People Hate Mondays

There are many, very real reasons why people hate Monday including; 

1. Return to work after 2 days of “freedom” – The change between 2 different lives
2. Comparison with the previous day
3. Can mean an early start with no lie in
4. Symbolises another week of hard work
5. Job dissatisfaction – If you don’t like your job Monday is the furthest away from a break from it 
6. Relationships at work – Monday can potentially mean dealing with people you may not want to see or speak with 
7. Particularly difficult task or meeting in the week ahead 
8. Not being prepared for Monday morning and feeling overwhelmed
9. Hating Mondays is a “thing.” Some people just fall in line with the general consensus
10. Social media – People on social media will often share negative pictures or thoughts about Monday. This can also affect our thinking
11. Looming deadlines
12. Work hours can seem to go on forever
13. Tired after a busy weekend
14. Work has to start and there is no excuse or way around it
15. You may feel worse about yourself after what you’ve done at the weekend (over drinking or eating etc)

“Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for the whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier and healthier life”GERMANY KENT

Effective leadership skills are necessary in any business in order to succeed. Whether you own the business, manage it, or are an employee looking to make his or her way up the corporate ladder, the right leadership style is essential in order to reach your business goals. Listed below are six business leadership skills that every great leader should possess.

Adaptability

Adaptability means reacting in an effective manner to changing circumstances. Everyone experiences challenge when trying to adapt to the new and unfamiliar, but true leaders are able to resolve those challenges with a solid plan of action. If there is one trait that every good business leader should possess in today’s workforce, it is adaptability.

People Skills

Although it might seem obvious that business leaders should have good people skills, many leaders lack this important trait. People skills consist of several other traits, including the ability to observe people, the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to motivate, and adaptability.

Developing better people skills helps leaders attain business objectives faster and be more productive. People skills involve genuinely connecting with employees and co-workers. When you have the ability to connect with others, you develop a trusting, productive work environment that benefits everyone.

Self-awareness

Leaders who are aware of how they are perceived by others and how they impact the behavior of others are more likely to succeed than those who are not self-aware. Most leaders are guilty of believing they are better leaders than they really are because of intention, however, managing a group of people based on intention and assuming others can read your mind often leads to disaster.

To be an effective business leader, try not to assume that the people you work with instinctively understand the reasoning behind your actions. When we assume others know the reason for our behavior it leads to miscommunication and misunderstandings. It is important to practice self-awareness in order to establish a positive working relationship with employees and coworkers. Identify your weaknesses and determine what you need to do to overcome them, whether it is explaining things more clearly, being more willing to compromise or developing better team-building skills. Remember, even if you aren’t aware of your flaws, those around you are. If you are self-aware, people you work with will recognize that you are making an effort to overcome your faults – a very important trait of a great leader.

A Sense of Purpose

Every business needs the vision to set its direction and successful leaders are able to tap into that vision to achieve success. Good business leaders have a strong sense of purpose and the ability to convey this purposefulness to the people they work with. Leaders who understand the true purpose behind the vision inspire others and motivate them to work towards achieving the company’s vision.

Decisiveness

Decisiveness involves making good judgments in a timely manner and is one of the most effective leadership skills to have. Even the most decisive leader has some fear of being held responsible for an incorrect decision because the decisions they make have a direct impact on how they are accepted as a leader. Although some leaders are reluctant to make quick decisions, the consequences of being indecisive are much greater than the consequences of occasionally making the wrong decision. The chances of facing tragic consequences down the line are much higher for those leaders who have a difficult time being decisive – and these types of leaders are also remembered much longer for their inability to make a solid decision.

Collaborative Skills

Successful leaders understand that they don’t have to come up with all of the ideas on their own – they nurture growth in others and encourage employees to contribute. Today’s business environment benefits greatly from a culture of collaboration, both internally and externally. Technology has created new methods for communicating and collaborating in today’s workforce, and the Internet makes collaborating with others easy to do at a low cost. If you can create an environment where everyone can contribute ideas or help increase sales, the collaboration will quickly add to your bottom line.

It’s a sad truth in life that the vast majority of people give up on their dreams. Sometimes it happens early. A kid is told by his or her parents that whatever they’re aiming for is impossible to reach. Sometimes it happens later. You get older, tired, and instead of trying to pivot once more, you decide to throw in the towel for good. It’s sad when a dream dies. And more often than not, it dies far too soon.

If you don’t believe me, just ask those around you whether or not they’re creative–or what the last creative thing they’ve done was. 

Most will say they’re not creative at all. Many will actually try to convince you how not-creative they are, and the majority haven’t worked on something creative in years. Why? Because creativity is what’s linked to dreams, to imagination, to exploration.

Here are 15 sad reasons most people give up on themselves:

1. They fear being judged by those they care about for failing.

Fear of failure, in itself, is debilitating. But that fear is almost always rooted in fear of rejection or judgment from those around them. 

What you need to separate is everyone else’s fears (within themselves) and your own feelings. The two are not the same.

2. They give others the power to influence their decisions.

Instead of asking, “What is it that I truly want?” most people give that power to others.

Their parents. Their friends. Their boss. 

But fast-forward 10, 20, 30 years. Will you really care what those people thought?

You have to make decisions for yourself.

3. They fail once–and never try again.

If you stop walking, how do you expect to get to where you want to go?

Once isn’t a good judge of your potential. Twice isn’t either. 100 times is still not enough.

It’s a journey. You can never “try” too many times.

4. They only see the failure, not the lesson. 

People who give up on their dreams tend to experience failure once, and then attach themselves to that title. “I am a failure,” they repeat over and over again.

But what does that word really mean? Failure?

Those who succeed are the ones who see those “failures” as lessons–forever and always.

5. They don’t learn how to discipline themselves.

Discipline is the single most valuable skill for turning your dream into a reality. 

Unfortunately, most people don’t practice this skill. They don’t like waiting for things, don’t like practicing patience, don’t see the value in withholding short-term rewards for longer-term gains.

But without discipline, you will never succeed.

6. They care more about the end result, not the process. 

If you only focus on the end, you’ll never get there.

But if you focus on the process, you’ll find yourself waking up morning after morning realizing, “Wow, I’ve come such a long way.” 

7. They don’t believe in themselves. 

Instead, they look to others to believe in them. 

They want everyone else around them to do the heavy lifting, to cheer them on, to give them the money they need, to give them some sense of “guarantee.”

Dreams don’t work that way.

You have to believe in yourself first–so that others can follow.

8. They surround themselves with people who are a negative influence.

You are a reflection of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

If you surround yourself with negative, unproductive people who don’t have dreams of their own, then guess what?

You’re going to be just like them.

9. They decide that people won’t understand their dream–and give up.

Most people never learn how to vocalize and explain what it is they really want out of life.

The truth is, most people can’t explain it because they aren’t even sure themselves. And instead of continuing on the journey of self-discovery, they decide to give up altogether.

10. They’d rather be misunderstood than wrong.

People constantly make decisions for themselves based on what will make other people happy.

But that is a surefire way to guarantee your own unhappiness.

It’s far better to be misunderstood living your truth, than being entirely understood living a lie.

11. They don’t have a guaranteed path to achieve success. 

Most people want to know that the end result is guaranteed before taking the leap, putting themselves out there, and going all-in on pursuing their dream.

But that’s the thing about dreams. They’re not guaranteed.

And that’s why they’re so fulfilling to chase.

12. They would rather settle for short-term rewards.

So many people set out to achieve their dream, only to detour for a comfortable high-paying salary desk job.

If that’s what you want, then by all means. But if you take that purely out of fear, then you’re a coward–and you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.

13. They refuse to pivot and adjust.

When people set out to achieve their dream, they tend to fall in love with an ideal “final destination.”

As a result, they struggle to pivot. They would rather give up entirely than adjust their expectations, shift, and continue on the journey.

14. They get bored.

And then there are the people who give up purely because they lack the creativity to continue reinvent themselves.

No path stays the same forever. No person does either.

So it’s sad when someone gives up on their dream purely because they don’t want to put in the effort to discover the next version of themselves.

15. They lose belief in themselves.

On every path, there are times when that self-belief gets shaken.

For some, these tough learning moments are too much to handle. They stop seeing themselves as a work-in-progress, and start to accept that they’ve failed. 

As a result, they give up. 

And their dream suddenly disappears.

There is a great deal of fear involved in starting your business, growing it, and taking it to the next level. This post will show you 7 ways to slay your fears in business in order to grow your business successfully.

Every entrepreneur has to deal with it. But to be successful, in any stage of your business, you need to face your fear.

Sometimes that’s way easier said than done, trust me, I know.

In fact, in every stage of business, from starting up a tiny one-woman operation five years ago to changing my business name, niche, pricing structure and hiring employees, I’ve struggled with fear that felt insurmountable. As time goes by and I’ve faced my fears it gets easier, but it’s still there.

However, once I decided that I wanted to help other women in their businesses and have success in my own business more than I was afraid of failure, that’s when both my business and myself were truly able to grow. And I know that’s true for you, too.

Here are 7 ways to overcome your fears and take your business to the next level, though you can apply these to any stage you’re at in business.

1. Identify your fear(s).

What exactly is it that you’re afraid of? Common ones are:

-I’m not ready yet.
-Fear of failure.
-You don’t know how to do everything you need to do.
-Fear of not being good enough.

The truth is, you’re never going to be totally ready. But you’ll figure it out as you go. Chances are you’ll fail. But you’ll learn from those mistakes and failures and become even better. You likely don’t know how to do everything you need to do. For that, there’s outsourcing or an opportunity to learn even more to serve your clients. Feel like you’re not good enough? You are, plain and simple. For these and other fears that pop up, realize they are just an excuse. Move forward anyway.

2. Realize it’s not all about you.

That sounds a bit negative, but it’s actually a good thing. If you mess up, so what? People are typically more worried about their own businesses, their own lives and what people think of them to spend too much time focusing on you. So get out there and do what you need to do.

3. Determine the worst-case scenarios.

Really, what’s the worst thing that could happen? Someone says no? You’ll look silly? Someone will think badly of you? Even worst-case scenarios typically aren’t that bad; even if they are, how likely is it that the worst-case scenario is actually going to come true? Now flip it… what’s the best-case scenario? Isn’t that possibility worth the risk?

4. Focus on your why.

Why did you start your business? Why do you do what you do? Write it down. Focus on your why and your goals to drive you when you need an extra boost to overcome your fear.

5. Take action.

That means stop procrastinating. It’s so easy to push things off when you’re anxious or worried, but delaying just makes things worse and makes you stress out more. Take baby steps if you need to, but do at least one thing – no matter how small it may be – today.

6. Find your support system.

Sometimes you don’t want to do anything because you’re scared to death and you need a little extra push from someone close to you. When that happens, a support system is crucial and is one of the best ways to help overcome your fear. While a support system can be friends, family or fellow entrepreneurs, I’ve found it’s best to try to find a healthy mix. Friends and family will be able to support you in a different way than those who are walking this entrepreneurial path. Find and surround yourself with people who are like-minded individuals who can relate to what you’re going through, give you advice when necessary and be there for you when the going gets tough and fear starts creeping in.

7. Learn to accept (and embrace) your fear.

The fear is not going to go away. Learn from your mistakes and use your fear to better yourself and better your craft. It’s easier said than done, but try to welcome fear as an experience to learn and grow, and remember that fear can actually be a good thing. Courage is being scared to death and doing it anyway. Slowly but surely, action leads to confidence, which helps abate your fears and move your business forward.

Be positive, even when it’s tough, and believe in yourself and your business. Go after what you want even if it seems crazy.

Look who’s in charge now.

You can be your own boss — just let that sink in for a minute and then imagine it. The benefits of being your own boss are amazing. You set your own hours. You don’t get hung up in committees. You decide your own dress code. And most importantly, you follow your dream.

Whether you want to start working as a freelancer out of your home or create a brick-and-mortar store, starting your own business can be remarkably rewarding. It’s also really hard work that is laden with pitfalls if you aren’t careful.

Learn how to start your own business with these tips for beginning entrepreneurs.

1. Follow your passion

If you’re going to take the leap and start your own business, it’s going to take a lot of energy, time, and money. The best way to keep yourself motivated through the ups and downs is to do what really matters to you. Buying the first affordable business that comes available just because you want to become an entrepreneur is a recipe for disaster. If you take immense joy in building birdhouses or selling cookies, do your research and go all in. There’s no promise that it will work, but when you follow your passion you know you’ll give it your all.

2. Do your research

Okay, now that you have decided what your passion is and how you want to pursue it, you need to do some research on how to start your own business. There are a lot of things to consider: Who will your customers be? How will you get supplies? Does this type of business make a profit in your area or do you need to be strong online? Before you throw everything you have into your new business, you need to take an honest look to see if it is a viable idea. This is especially important if you’re trying something new. If you are purchasing a franchise, or working within an Organisation, there should be a lot of material ready for you from the parent company.

Go beyond the books and talk to someone who has started a business similar to what you want to do. What were their biggest issues starting out? Frequently, it’s the things you never thought of that can hold you up. Ask someone who knows and can help you start out clean.

3. Develop a business plan

Once you’ve run the numbers and you’re confident that it’s a great idea, developing a business plan is the next step. A business plan is your blueprint for making your business successful. It lays out your business concept, how you fit into the marketplace, and the details of how your finances will work.

Your business plan is essential if you are going to need investors or a bank loan because they’ll want to see that you have thought things through. Even if you don’t need financing, a business plan is a great way to understand how your new venture will succeed and what issues you could face.

4. Have a one-year plan

For most businesses, the first year is spent getting things up and running, from getting the proper documentation and licenses from the government to finding your location (if needed). Even once you open your own business, it’s rare that a business hits the ground running. It’s okay. Develop a plan for the goals that you would like to reach in your first year of business. Keep your sights optimistic, but realistic. Your inaugural year can be a dangerous one if you make mistakes. When December comes, you can assess your business plan and see if you’re on the right track.

5. Have a five-year plan — and a 10-year plan

While survival might be a sufficient goal for year one, that can’t be the situation for long. You need to think about where you want your business to be in five years and so on. Will you need a bigger space? Do you want a better location? Are you going to need to hire employees?

Figure out just where you want this business to go and plot out your route to get there, step by step. Setting goals every five years helps you measure your success as an entrepreneur and as a business.

6. Consider your time management

Let’s pause for a moment and remember the “self” in self-employed. When you work for a company, you might punch in and punch out — it’s clear and simple. These are the hours you work; the other time is yours.

That’s not the case when you are an entrepreneur. When you are trying to build your passion into a lasting business, it can be easy to lose track of your time management and get sucked into your business 24/7. Think about your family. Consider your friends. What other obligations do you have in your life? Decide how much time you can spend working on your business and hire help if necessary.

7. Hire cautiously

Few things can sink a business faster than poor quality employees. It’s always better to tough it out short-handed for a while than it is to hire haphazardly. Look over applicants’ credentials carefully, scope them out online to see if there are any red flags, and make sure that they can embrace your passion for your business. Remember, they could be the face of your business when you’re away, even for a day.

Bringing in friends and family? That’s fine as long as everyone knows what is expected of them and how they will be compensated. But again, only bring them in if they can be a boon to your business. Never hire someone just because you are connected by blood or friendship.

8. Understand how your taxes work

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of starting to work for yourself. The freedom, the fulfillment, and the feeling of building something can be intoxicating. But, like it or not, taxes will play a big part in your business. Break it down as thoroughly as you can and develop a plan to stay ahead of your taxes. If it’s more complicated than you want to handle, hire a pro to help you out. There are also many great people who can help you and if you are working within and Organisation you’ll have all the help at hand get the admin done behind your day to day work.

9. Have an exit strategy

So far it sounds like starting out working for yourself is a lot of tedious work. It can be. But, here comes the fun part. Think about your five and 10-year plan. Now imagine that everything goes extremely well. Your business soars and is successful beyond your imagination. Congratulations!

Now what? Do you want to continue the business until you retire and pass it down to your children? Are you hoping to find someone suitable to take over and keep it going with your vision?

What about a buyout? There’s nothing wrong with setting your price and deciding that when the time comes and someone makes an offer you’ll take it. You can take that money and start something new or just relax and retire early.

Keep in mind how you want to leave your business and, if necessary, start working towards that end as early as you can in your business plan.

If you dream of working for yourself, stop dreaming and start doing something about it. Millions of people have become entrepreneurs before you and many have succeeded. Why can’t you be the next one? Follow these simple tips and you should be on the right track to shaking off that employee label and calling yourself the boss. Sounds good, right?

If you want to get a “yes” from a consumer, be sure to write down these strategies from top salespeople and entrepreneurs to help you convert more sales.

The word “influencer” is used a lot in business, but how does the power of persuasion really work? An Everreach study explains the elements that companies use to impact their customers to get that “yes”.

For business, the principles of “reciprocity” and “scarcity” are big factors in the persuasion game. Customers are more inclined to appreciate your business, for example, when you give them something personalized or unexpected. It’s that same vein, they tend to want the things that aren’t everywhere, that’s why limited-time offers tend to be a high selling point.

Clients also like to feel confident . Your company can build a lasting relationship by emphasizing your “knowledge” and “authority” in your industry. Try to give your service a trial period, allowing your future customers to make a small commitment to get started.

What makes us say yes? Researchers have tried to answer this question for 60 years and there is no question that being persuaded is science. Here are six universal factors that will guide our decisions:

1. Reciprocity. This is defined as the obligation to give back what you have received from others. In one study it was found that if a waiter gave a mint at the end of the meal, his tip would increase by three percent and for two mints he would be tipped 14 percent. But if the waiter left a mint, turned and gave them another while saying “for you especially I give you another mint” the tip would increase 23 percent.

This increase was influenced not only by what was given, but how it was given. The key to using this technique is to be the first to give and make sure it is personalized and unexpected.

2. Scarcity. When British Airways announced that they would not have the London to New York twice daily flight available on the concord because it was not profitable, the next day sales skyrocketed. It is not enough just to tell people the benefits they will get, you also need to highlight what is unique and what they can lose .

3. Authority. People will follow the experts for their credibility . Physiotherapists, for example, are able to persuade most of their patients to accept their diagnoses with diplomas taped to the wall in their offices. It is important to point out to others what makes you credible and a knowledgeable authority before you attempt to influence them.https://dc5692e63ba1cd8da95c2513b62a8d49.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

4. Consistency. On one street, few people were willing to put a blanket in their front yard to support a safe driving campaign. But on a similar street, more than half the people wanted to do it. Why? Because 10 days ago they had agreed to put a small card in the window of their house to support the campaign. That little card was the initial commitment that led to a 400% increase.

When looking to influence using the principle of consistency, you should look for voluntary, active, and public commitments and have them written down.

5. Sympathy. People prefer to say yes to those who like them. What makes one person like the other? In a series of studies from two business schools, a group of MBA students were told to embrace the idea that “time is money” and to start negotiating right away. In this group, 55 percent of the young people were able to reach an agreement with the people. The second group was told to exchange some information before starting the negotiations and to identify any similarities that they shared with the people. In this group 90 percent of the students were able to have successful results.

6. Consensus. People like to see the actions of others to see their own. Hotels usually put little cards in bathrooms to persuade guests to reuse towels. This is done by informing them of the benefits to the environment.

This strategy leads to 30 percent acceptance. What if on cards it was said that 75 percent of the guests reused the towels? Changing a few words about what other guests have done is the most effective message .

Science is telling us that instead of relying on our own ability to persuade others, we can target what others are doing.

Being successful often means learning from those who have already achieved their goals. Having a mentor is an amazing blessing to an entrepreneur, but not everyone can find one in person.

If you haven’t yet found your personal business guru, here are 21 tips for young or aspiring entrepreneur to help get you started.

1. Challenge yourself. 

Richard Branson says his biggest motivation is to keep challenging himself. He treats life like one long university education, where he can learn more every day. You can too!

2. Do work you care about. 

There’s no doubt that running a business take a lot of time. Steve Jobs noted that the only way to be satisfied in your life is to do work that you truly believe in.

3. Take the risk. 

We never know the outcome of our efforts unless we actually do it. Jeff Bezos said it helped to know that he wouldn’t regret failure, but he would regret not trying.

4. Believe in yourself.

As Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” Believe that you can succeed, and you’ll find ways through different obstacles. If you don’t, you’ll just find excuses.

5. Have a vision. 

The founder and CEO of Tumblr, David Karp, notes that an entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a desire to create it. Keep your vision clear at all times.

6. Find good people. 

Who you’re with is who you become. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, noted that the fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.

7. Face your fears. 

Overcoming fear isn’t easy, but it must be done. Arianna Huffington once said that she found fearlessness was like a muscle — the more she exercised it, the stronger it became.

8. Take action. 

The world is full of great ideas, but success only comes through action. Walt Disney once said that the easiest way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. That’s true for your success as well.

9. Do the time. 

No one succeeds immediately, and everyone was once a beginner. As Steve Jobs wisely noted, “if you look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” Don’t be afraid to invest time in your company.

10. Manage energy, not time.

Your energy limits what you can do with your time, so manage it wisely.

11. Build a great team. 

No one succeeds in business alone, and those who try will lose to a great team every time. Build your own great team to bolster your success.

12. Hire character. 

As you build your team, hire for character and values. You can always train someone on skills, but you can’t make someone’s values fit your company after the fact.

13. Plan for raising capital.

Richard Harroch, a venture capitalist, has this advice for upcoming entrepreneurs: “It’s almost always harder to raise capital than you thought it would be, and it always takes longer. So plan for that.”

14. Know your goals. 

Ryan Allis, co-founder of iContact, pointed out that having the end in mind every day ensures you’re working toward it. Set goals and remind yourself of them each day.

15. Learn from mistakes. 

Many entrepreneurs point to mistakes as being their best teacher. When you learn from your mistakes, you move closer to success — even though you initially failed.

16. Know your customer. 

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, cited knowing your customer as one of his three keys to success. Know those you serve better than anyone else, and you’ll be able to deliver the solutions they need.

17. Learn from complaints. 

Bill Gates once said that your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Let unhappy customers teach you where the holes in your service are.

18. Ask for customers’ input. 

Assuming what customers want or need will never lead to success. You must ask them directly, and then carefully listen to what they say.

19. Spend wisely. 

When you spend money on your business, be careful to spend it wisely. It’s easy to spend too much on foolish things and run out of capital too soon.

20. Understand your industry. 

Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos, once said, “Don’t play games you don’t understand, even if you see lots of other people making money from them.” Truly understanding your industry is key to having success.

21. Deliver more than expected.

Google’s Larry Page encourages entrepreneurs to deliver more than customers expect. It’s a great way to get noticed in your industry and build a loyal following of advocates.

Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of work, a lot of vision and a lot of perseverance. These 21 tips, from entrepreneurs who have already found success, will help you navigate the path much more easily.

REGARDLESS OF THE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY YOU WORK IN, THERE’LL COME A TIME WHEN BUSINESS SEEMS TO GRIND TO A HALT.

One minute you’re flat out, generating new business each day, posting record numbers and leading the competition in every aspect, the next you’re passing the time by browsing random Wikipedia articles and wondering how it’s still not even lunch time yet.

Due to the Panedemic we’ve all seen our businesses and strategies have a huge change of pace forced upon them. Whilst adapting things have seemed to have frozen and we are all treading water until the frost thaws and we are back to full steam ahead once more.

This feeling of ‘treading water’ can lead to a huge dip in motivation. That dip in motivation can have a hugely detrimental effect on a business.

Once your team start losing their motivation, you may find that their willingness to go the extra mile begins to evaporate. Regular tasks take longer to complete, quality of work begins to slide, and employees may also start to become disengaged with you as a leader.

Of course, as soon as things start to pick up again, you’ll want your people to be on their A-game; ready to take on new challenges in their stride and start smashing their targets again. But if your team have been experiencing an extended period of inactivity, you may find that they have settled into that rut, and it may already be too late…

TACKLING TEDIUM

Now, it’s not uncommon to feel bored at work when things have gotten quiet. In fact, it’s estimated that between 30-90% of adults experience feelings of boredom on a daily basis. There are even some studies that suggest small periods of boredom can actually be good for you!

The problem is that when work dries up and boredom sets in, it can lead to a whole host of other negative outcomes if left unchecked – all of which are lethal to productivity and motivation. These can include mental fatigue, anxiety, aggression, depression, poor interpersonal skills… basically, nothing conducive for a healthy and happy work environment!

It’s for these reasons that its essential businesses help their employees stay motivated and engaged when things are quiet.

Whilst you might not be able to conjure up new work or projects out of thin air, there are several simple things you can do to keep your team’s productivity levels high and help them stay ‘match fit’ for when workloads start to pick up again.

START TAKING STOCK

When things are quiet, it’s an ideal opportunity for a business to start taking stock – both literally or in terms of overall strategy.

It can be easy to lose sight of objectives, strategy or plans when you’re rushed off your feet. However, when times are quiet or you know there is going to be a break in workloads, you can spend time analysing what is working within the business or perhaps looking at what needs improvement, too.

Aim to look back at goals set you’ve set your employees over the course of the year and see if they’re on track to achieve them, or if there could be any potential barriers.

Quiet times are the perfect opportunity to spend time and communicate with your team members to review working processes or identifying if there are any positive changes that could be made to help them do their jobs more effectively. They may even have some great ideas of their own!

When you’ve got plenty of time to spare, there’s really no excuse not to.

RE-EVALUATE YOUR APPROACH TO MARKETING

Let’s be honest for a second: are your drops in workloads simply down to an expected or normal dip in business? Or is your blip becoming more of a regular fixture? Regardless, if things have been dragging on, it might be time to re-evaluate your marketing activities.

Now, it should be said at this point that marketing isn’t an exact science! But when times are quiet, it’s always sensible to see if your marketing activities could do with a bit of a refresh or perhaps evaluate what’s working and perhaps what isn’t.

Spend any potential downtime devising an alternative strategy or planning for your next big campaign. Not only will it focus the efforts of your staff, but you’ll also build renewed motivation and energy levels.

GET OUT THE HOUSE!

Did you know that the average British worker spends on average a bum-numbing nine hours a day sat down every day? And we’re not just talking about being just sat at a desk; it’s also the time spent sitting whilst commuting or whilst relaxing at home.

All this sitting down may be taking the weight off your feet, but a sedentary lifestyle isn’t great for a healthy lifestyle or a great working environment.

When times are quiet at work, try to avoid falling into the trap of being sat at a workspace or computer/phone all day; so that means no more lunches at your desk or sitting browsing the web for hilarious memes to share (yes, we know we all do it when it’s quiet…).

Instead, take regular breaks to stretch your legs, clear your head and get some fresh air. If the needs of the business make it possible, why not work from home and embrace flexible working rather than commuting into the office? After all, is there really much point to commute into work everyday if you can quite easily carry out your regular tasks remotely?

Doing something as simple as going for a fifteen-minute walk every day can do wonders for both your physical and mental health. Studies have shown that regularly going for a walk can also help with your creativity and problem-solving – perfect for staying motivated and tackling the tedium of slow business days.

MAKE TIME FOR TRAINING

Slow work days are perfect for brushing up on key skills or expanding skill sets; so, see quieter periods as an opportunity to set new training objectives or tasks for you and your staff.

Setting goals and tasks around any potential training will ensure it holds everyone’s attention in the absence of regular work. Plus, getting your staff involved in team-based training can also be a great opportunity to encourage bonding and build a positive team spirit.

The great thing about staff training is that it doesn’t have to be expensive, either. If you’re having to watch the pennies and perhaps can’t stretch to a more formal training course, take the time to look for industry expos or talks.

These are generally free to attend, but will often have a multitude of industry talks taking place which you can attend and gain valuable industry insights at. They’re also a great chance to meet with potential new clients… so definitely worth investigating further.

CELEBRATE THE SMALL VICTORIES

When things are quiet, it can become all-too-easy to become downcast and de-motivated. Therefore, celebrating little wins can be instrumental in elevating moods and boosting motivation levels.

And the power of celebrating little victories at work shouldn’t be underestimated! Research has found that capturing those every-day small wins can enhance a worker’s motivation and positively influence an entire workforce’s performance!

Now, it’s obviously not necessary to throw a party every time there’s a little win in the workplace; but do take the time to recognise someone’s achievement – especially when things are quiet.

This recognition can be in the form of a simple ‘thank you’, to maybe just a little reward in the form of a gift card! Simply recording progress in some way helps to boost people’s self-confidence and can help boost motivation for when business begins to pick up again.