As a startup business owner, many things will be on your mind and money is will definitely be tight, so the furthest thing on your mind is protecting yourself against the possibility of a disaster that may happen in the future. But this should be one of the most important steps in your new business, as it takes only very little to damage all you have worked hard for.

This short article will serve as a guide that will help you take that crucial step, and choose the right insurance for your new business.

Why take out insurance for your startup?

Despite the best made plans, mistakes are bound to happen and plans fail. Taking out the right business insurance provides the protection your startup needs to create a secure, compliant and successful venture.

There are a number of insurance options for every size of business, including employer’s liability insurance which is required by law. Here are some of the major options that should be on your list as a new business.

Employers’ liability insurance

As already pointed out, employers’ liability insurance is required by law for businesses in the UK, and is therefore a crucial step towards compliance.

Employers’ liability insurance covers your business in the event that an employee becomes ill or get injured as a result of the work they do in your business. As long as you employ one or more employees in your startup business, it is mandatory to have this insurance.

The exact nature of this insurance usually varies between insurance providers, but a typical employers’ liability insurance provides a minimum cover worth £5 million.

Public liability insurance

Another important insurance requirement for your new business, public liability insurance provides cover for your startup in the event that you or a member of your team cause damage to a third party’s property. This insurance also covers damage to your premises that occur in the process of carrying out normal business activities.

While public liability insurance is not mandated by law, it can come in handy in the future.

Property insurance

The building where your startup is housed is essential to the existence of your business, this is why it is important you put it in your insurance plans when considering insurance options for your new business.

Building or property insurance is not concerned with the market value of your property, rather its re-build value, which is what the insurance provider will pay in the event of a total loss. This type of insurance also includes fixtures, fittings, and every other thing appurtenant to the building – particularly important if you’re wanting to protect a physical shop.

Business interruption insurance

Business interruption insurance covers for loss of income that you will incur in the event that your business is unable for function due to one reason or another.

For instance, if you suffer a fire outbreak in a section of your premises that restricts your ability to trade or do business, this type of insurance will make sure you are able to meet your responsibilities until production re-starts.

Even though business interruption insurance is not a compulsory part of your business insurance, it is something you should also consider.

Conclusion

Failing to plan equals planning to fail, therefore choosing the right insurance cover for your startup is essential if you are serious about providing protection for unforeseen expenses, such as legal fees, disability compensation and a host of other issues that can arise during the course of your business. Hopefully, this article has provided insight that will help you choose the policies that would work for your new business.

If you’re a business owner who wants to be able to create polished, highly professional websites without spending countless hours learning about coding, I highly recommend using either WordPress or Squarespace to create the perfect blogging platform for your business.

SEO tactics and what blogging platforms to use:

1. Consider using Squarespace if you’re looking for a modern aesthetic for your website

While I started out using WordPress as a business owner, I now use Squarespace as my blogging platform of choice as Squarespace allows me to create a more contemporary looking blog than WordPress.

While WordPress is fairly simple to learn how to use, you’ll need use multiple plug-ins which require coding knowledge if you want your WordPress blog to look different to all the other blogs which have been created using WordPress. Which happens to be one of the most popular blogging platforms around.

However, if you want your blog to instantly stand out and to look modern and fresh you’ll be able to create an attractive, aesthetically pleasing blog on WordPress within thirty minutes. All without spending your previous time coding. I was pleasantly surprised with how professional my business’ blog looked after I switched hosting my blog on WordPress to creating and hosting my blog on WordPress.

2. Use WordPress if you’re looking for an inexpensive, affordable blogging platform

However, if you’re on a budget and are looking for a cheaper alternative to creating, publishing and hosting your blog, it’s still worth considering using WordPress. As WordPress is one of the most trusted blogging platforms around and boasts a large community full of users who will be able to share the best plug-ins to use with your blog.

As an example, through WordPress’ community I found a plug-in that allowed me to place a search bar in my blog, which helps my business’ customers find the blog posts that they’re searching for quickly and easily.

3. Make sure that each of the blog posts that you publish is optimised for SEO

To ensure that each blog that you publish on your blog is properly optimised for SEO, I personally recommended checking the keyword density of each of your keywords.  Click Consult explains how to build awareness around your brand and how to make the most of you site’s traffic with this technique. It is important to note that if the keyword density for any particular keyword is abnormally high, it may be flagged by search engines such as Google as being suspect and may look unnatural and may put potential readers off following your business’ blog.

4. Make sure that your keywords are relevant and widely searched for by your business’ target audience

If you select the wrong keywords, you’ll decrease your business’ chances of having more readers follow the blog which you’ve worked tirelessly to create in order to promote your business. That’s why I always research currently trending keywords in my business’ industry, that are sure to attract new readers to my website.

I also ensure to regularly change the keywords which I use in each blog post, to suit trends in my industry. Which I highly recommend doing.

So if you’re set on creating and hosting a blog for your business, it’s well worth following the advice laid out above in full. In order to publish a successful blog.

#SEOYourBlog

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Back to work blues is a common issue nearly everyone experiences. So, don’t feel awkward if you are dreading the return to work after a vacation, a holiday, a long weekend or even a sick leave. As an employer, the early days following a long vacation can be less productive.

One good way to identify back to work blues is to look out for signs of irritability, distraction, or unusual solitude. Helping your employees and yourself recover from back to work blues quickly should be your first challenge at this point. The following are six ways to recover from back to work blues…

Take a day or two before resuming

If you took a vacation that required you to travel and engage in several activities, this might help you recoup interest. Take a day or two to relax and reorganize. Encourage your employees to take a day’s rest too before resuming. Your focus, however, should be on giving your mind time to re-adjust. You can also use the day to sort out your backlog, prepare a to-do-list for the week and set your priorities.

Ease your way back into work

Once you are back to work, streamline your tasks. Start with the most important ones like answering phone calls and replying to mails. You can complete your expense report and old projects too. Start slowly and put off new projects for a while. As unexciting as this may feel, starting small and with old tasks have their advantages. It gives you a sense of calmness and gets you into proper pace and shape.

Delegate tasks

As an employer, you do not have to do everything on your own. You can delegate simple tasks to others. Ask for help when you need it. This can help you slowly pick up pace. Talk to your spouse or a family member to take over some household responsibilities. You can also ask employees to leave some tasks for later. Allow everyone to start slowly but keep them motivated to pick up the proper pace in no time.

Interact with others

You can use the first few days to move around the workplace and check on everyone. Discuss trips and the holiday with them. Share experiences and give recommendations. This will help you revive the bond with and among your employees. It also creates a healthy work environment and slowly conditions the mind to get familiar with the environment.

Take short breaks

Taking short breaks in between hours of work can help you slowly regain pace. It helps you clear your head, familiarize with the environment, and regain short bursts of energy. You might take a walk, refill your coffee or tea cup, or discuss things with a colleague during these breaks. Encourage your employees to take short walks too to refresh.

Conclusion

The best way to regain your pace and resume work properly is to embrace the back to work blues. You can get through the period quickly if you plan ahead and motivate yourself. As an employer, you are also responsible for your employees. These tips will help you whip everyone back into shape and maximize productivity in no time.

Whether you’re in charge of a remote team or plan on working remotely, simply continue reading on to discover a few invaluable tips on working remotely.

Top tips for working remotely:

1. Make sure to schedule regular one on one meetings with each member of your team

In order to ensure that your team continues to work cohesively as a single unit, it’s a great idea to ensure to schedule regular weekly or monthly meetings with the core members of your team.

Not only does scheduling regular catchups allow you to communicate more effectively with your team members but you’ll also be more likely to work productively if you know that you have to report back on your projects to other key members of your team.

2. Ensure staff is trained properly and informed on what is expected

It is also super important that all staff members understand the importance and goals/vision of the organization. All staff members also need to be trained efficiently, not just on the job and their responsibilities associated with their job but also that they have the proper health and safety training in order to prevent any preventable injuries. Essential Skillz provides numerous online training which is beneficial for companies that have employees who work remotely.

3. Make sure that each member of your team works to deadlines and is held accountable for their productivity

It’s paramount that each member of your team continues to work to deadlines. As just because it’s becoming more common for individuals to conveniently work from the comfort of their own homes, doesn’t mean that individuals should slack off.

4. Utilize Google’s free calendar system to schedule regular phone calls and meetings

One way to ensure that each member of your team is aware of scheduled phone calls, meetings, and deadlines, it’s a great idea to get into the habit of using Google’s simple calendar system. One of the benefits of using Google’s calendar is that you’ll be able to see your scheduled events across all of your digital devices. Such as your laptop, your tablet, and your smartphone.

5. Use Google Documents in order to work on projects with your colleagues

Another system developed by Google which is well worth utilizing is Google Documents. As it will allow each member of your team to remotely share the documents which they’re currently working on, with team members of their choice.

Better yet, once you share a Google Document with another individual they’ll be able to highlight sections of your working document, which they’ll then be able to create notes on. On the side of your document. So if you like the idea of being able to have a proper conversation about various points in your documents, it’s well worth using Google Documents on a daily basis.

6. Consider using Google Drive in order to transfer and share important documents with your team members

It’s also a smart idea to use Google Drive to quickly share and transfer important documents with various members of your team. Better yet you can give specific individuals access to important documents, which is a great idea if your documents contain sensitive information which you may want to restrict to a couple of your team members.

7. Call your clients and team members just as often as you email or message them

In order to work as efficiently as possible, make sure to pick up your phone in order to ring your clients and team members directly. As you’ll get a far quicker response if you call individuals instead of emailing or messaging them.

Hopefully, you’ll implement all 6 of the handy, invaluable tips listed above, to ensure that you find working remotely or managing a remote team a simple, manageable task! #ManageRemote

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

The great thing about coworking is that this kind of workspace is one of the most dynamic, which can make for an interesting work day. Go to any coworking space, and you will find professionals in various stages of work and conversation. Whether chatting it up at the hot desk, hanging out in designated lounge areas, or collaborating on projects, the coworking space is hopping throughout the day.

However, a lively workspace is great for making business connections and getting referrals, but it might not be the best place to maximise work. Take a look at coworking space by Servcorp in Auckland to see how busy the space can get at times. Throughout the day, interruptions and side conversations can be somewhat of a distraction to work. Then, let’s not talk about the loud conversations that occur throughout the day or the people who happen to stop by the workspace. In a particularly social coworking space, getting a lot of work done can be difficult simply because work has become a virtual social hour.

Let’s take a closer look at some handy tips when it comes to coworking courtesy.

Contain Breaks To Designated Areas

One of the most distracting behaviours that can interrupt work is conversations that happen throughout the day that, while productive in some instances, can be a real nuisance to others in the workspace. Because the working space is also a social space, the temptation is to converse with others, especially in the hot desk areas where professionals might find the proximity of coworkers a tempting invitation to over socialise. However, shared space is occupied by professionals with a variety of habits, including industry.

As opposed to interfering with others who might have very different work habits, professionals should be mindful of the length and the loudness of their conversations. If your conversations are longer than ten minutes, consider moving them to designated break areas. Your coworking neighbours will appreciate your courtesy, and you do not have to worry about interrupting a great gab session.

Avoid Cell Phone Calls Or Texts In Work Areas

Another annoying habit to pay attention to is your phone calls. In the middle of a hot desking marathon, your coworking partners are working diligently, and then your cell phone chimes. Usually, you are great about putting it on vibrate, but you are expecting an important call, so you turn the tone up.

However, every time you receive a text or a call, your phone chimes. For you, this is not bothersome, but someone who is unfamiliar with the ring tone the constant ringing can be distracting. A better solution is to check your messages infrequently, but turning the ring tone down as not to bother others in the workspace is courteous.

Keep Meals In The Designated Eating Areas

While you appreciate the aromas of spicy foods, your neighbours might find them overpowering in the workspace. Furthermore, that savoury fish and chip platter that smells up the whole coworking space also creates grease stains on the tables and on any documents that might be laying on the table. Again, if the food or meal is larger than a small snack, consider it in the designated eating area.

Respect Other People’s Boundaries

Finally, overreaching into other people’s space, staring at their monitors, and interrupting their boundaries are just some of the few ways to annoy your coworking neighbours. While the space can be very social, it is very easy to get too comfortable with your coworking mates, especially if you sit in the same place often. As a precaution, always be mindful of other’s personal boundaries.

A Coworking Friend Not A Nuisance

The very social coworking space becomes a very comfortable place in Auckland’s laid-back business environment. Knowing when getting to close becomes uncomfortable and annoying to others is never easy to pinpoint. However, by remembering to keep others in mind when working in this type of shared space you avoid annoying potential collaborating partners.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Securing money for any type of business can be difficult overall. Applying for and getting traditional capital from a bank not only is difficult, but it can take a decent amount of time as well. Due to these complications, a lot of small businesses are turning towards alternative options.

iAdvance Now, which has been in business since 2013, is growing in numbers every year. It is slowly turning into one of the top options for businesses to get the financial help they need. How do they really stack up against the competition? Here is what they bring to the table.

Is iAdvance Now the Best Resource for a Small Business?

Nothing can hold a small business back like a lack of funds when it comes to growing. Most small businesses struggle with money from time to time, so having some type of flexibility with finances can really be beneficial. The major reason why so many people are turning to iAdvance Now as a valuable resource comes down to the convenience factor.

iAdvance Now can provide a service that will take at most 48 hours to complete from beginning to end. Obtaining capital from a bank can sometimes stretch out more than a week. Not only is the process with iAdvance Now faster, but there is a higher chance of getting approved, and the approval process is much easier. There are a lot of stresses that go with owning a small business, and some people just do not want to deal with typical capital options.

Another major factor working in iAdvance Now’s favor is that they take the time to help each potential client figure out the best solution for them. Instead of forcing a person into something that might not be the best option, they listen to each person’s goals and current funding to see exactly what is needed.

iAdvance Now’s Capital Options

There are two main options for people looking to secure funding from iAdvance Now. ACH Funding is a great option for all types of businesses. It is the most popular option through iAdvance Now. Credit Card Cash Advances are for businesses who accept both credit and debit cards in their business.

Both options provide flexible funding and repayments. A portion on each day’s sales are automatically drafted out of your account, so you don’t have to worry about missing a payment or paying a large chunk on a day when sales are slow.

To figure out the best option, it is best to talk to one of the experts associated with iAdvance Now. There they can assess the best option for you and your business goals.

What Other Reviewers are Saying About iAdvance Now

It’s a #newyear and that means there’s no better time to jumpstart your #business with the help of iAdvance Now. Check out what @theDopeDollar had to say about us! 🎉🎉🎉 #businessgrowth https://t.co/pENoRYvvHy pic.twitter.com/SmrmuEnJdE

— iAdvance Now (@iadvancenow) January 4, 2019

iAdvance Now Review articles online from those who have used iAdvance Now are very positive overall. On TrustPilot.com, they have an excellent rating with 90% of reviewers giving them a perfect five stars. Many people love the hassle-free experience as well as the low overall rates.

Other reviews point to the ease of repayments. At the end of the day, iAdvance Now wants to make sure that a business can continue to grow and make payments when they can. The ultimate goal is to not add another struggle to the small business lifestyle, which is why they make repayment as stress-free as possible, unlike others who have a strict repayment system which requires you to pay a set amount with no regard to how your business is doing.

How to Apply for Capital or Connect with iAdvance Now

The best way to get started with iAdvance Now is to visit their official website. People can read about all the different solutions that they offer. They can also call and talk to a customer service representative who can answer any initial questions.

Once a person is ready to take the next step towards securing funds, the entire process only takes minutes. Applying is free, and those who ultimately go with iAdvance Now have the opportunity to reach out and ask questions at any time to better understand the entire process.

 

Join the discussion on this topic with Social Small Biz by visiting our contact page.

 

Referral selling is a simple concept that means a salesperson received an introduction to a new prospect through an existing contact. Even so, it’s something that salespeople often overlook when considering how to widen their prospect base and increase their sales. The reason they’re not getting referrals is because they’re not asking for them.

A customer who is willing to give an approval sends a clear message that he or she is satisfied with the salesperson’s products and the working relationship the two of them have built. The satisfaction level is so high that the customer feels someone else he or she knows could benefit from the same products or services. It’s an easy way to build fast credibility with the new prospect before ever speaking or visiting for the first time.

Ask for Referrals Face-to-Face or on the Phone

An email, social media account, or even LinkedIn is not the place to ask a current customer for a referral. One reason is that it can come across as desperate or insincere and the last thing salespeople want to do is annoy their current customers. Asking for a referral is personal and it requires adequate time for the two parties to discuss.

The first thing sales professionals should find out is how well the customer knows the prospect and for tips on how to approach him or her. The conversation should include whether the current customer feels the salesperson could effectively meet a need of the prospect.

A Referral Plan Should Be Measurable

When done correctly, referrals can make up the bulk of a salesperson’s business. That means that sales managers must have metrics in place to determine the steps involved in obtaining referrals and measuring the effectiveness of the approach. Sales organizations that hope to grow consistently should make referral selling a priority and part of the daily expectation for representatives.

Referral Requests Must Be Specific

Salespeople sometimes feel that asking for referrals is ineffective because they go about it the wrong way. They make general statements such as “Let me know if someone else in your network could benefit from my services.” This is similar to the statement of “Let me know if I can do anything” when another person experiences a death or health crisis. The intention is there but the delivery is wrong. Both unfairly put the burden on the other person when it should lie with the person making the statement.

Instead, salespeople should already have a clear idea of who they would like to meet via a customer introduction. They should ask their customer about one person in particular and whether he or she would be willing to help facilitate the meeting.

In other words, they need to change the way they ask from offering a vague suggestion to confidently stating what they want and asking the other party to help them attain it. It requires a solid relationship and the realization that the customer is staking his or her own reputation to help the salesperson. This should not go unacknowledged or unappreciated.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

If you’re looking for simple changes that your business can make to ensure dynamic growth, simply continue reading to discover a handy checklist of steps you can take to ensure that your business’ growth increases steadily!

Growth tips for businesses:

1. Revamp your business’ image

Innovative ways to revitalize your business’ image include paying for a new, professional, attractive website and reaching out to social media influencers to partner with your brand. Alternatively, you may want to run a new advertising campaign, which is targeted to appeal to members of your target demographic.

Just remember that it may take several months for your business’ image to be positively affected by all of the changes which you may choose to make.

2. Consider hiring more employees

If your current team has more than enough work to handle, you may want to seriously consider hiring more employees, so that your business is able to more efficiently handle its daily operations. Just be sure to check your business’ financial figures to confirm that your business can comfortably afford to hire new team members.

3. Consider opening up a second premises for your business

If your business operates out of a brick and mortar premises, you may want to calculate whether it’s feasible to open up a second premises for your business. As you’ll be able to widen your customer base by opening a branch of your business in a new area, which boasts members of your business’ key target demographic!

4. Consider producing your product range in a larger warehouse

Another way to quickly increase your business’ growth is to move the production of your business’ products to a larger warehouse. Which is able to churn out a greater amount of products per week.

This is a great idea if your current warehouse can’t keep up with your business’ orders and you’re ready to take your business to the next level and to place larger orders so that you’ll be able to sell a greater volume of products to your customers.

5. Start offering your high performing staff members extra training opportunities

If you want your business to grow from strength to strength, it’s a great idea to provide members of your team you continually exceed your expectations with valuable professional development courses. As the skills which your chosen team members pick up may be of use to your business and may help your business grow in the long term.

6. Make sure that your business engages with your target audience on social media

As social media is so influential in today’s world and the vast majority of adults check their social media accounts on a daily basis, it’s crucial to ensure that your business has active accounts on multiple social media platforms.

Furthermore, having a presence on social media isn’t enough someone from your team needs to actively engage with your business’ followers on a daily basis. By commenting and liking their posts and by posting new content on a regular basis!

If your business follows the six tips listed above, you should have no trouble helping your business grow from strength to strength!