Business

Running a small business can be a real challenge, especially when your business starts picking up yet you don’t quite have the money to really expand your operation. At times like these, it’s important to know what you can do to fulfill your organizational needs without putting yourself on shaky ground financially.

To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to get business help when you can’t afford new full-time hires.

Hire Someone Part-Time

When you need someone to help you keep your business on-track but you either don’t need someone full-time or can’t afford to pay someone for full-time work, one great option is to simply hire someone part-time.

According to Jeff Shore, a contributor to Entrepreneur.com, the best way to implement think into your business is to find a task that takes up a lot of your time but doesn’t particularly require a lot of skill or effort to do. For example, if you find yourself spending too much of your day interacting with customers on social media but can’t actually find the time to work on your business, it could be very worth your while to hire someone part-time that can take over this social media work for you.

Choose Something To Outsource

If bringing someone on-board isn’t what you’re wanting to do but you still recognize that you can’t do all the work yourself anymore, it might be time to think about how you can use the skills that others have in order to lighten your own load.

To most effectively do this, Larry Alton, a contributor to Business.com, recommends that you choose something within your business that you can or should outsource. This can range from anything from your IT needs to accounting and even customer service. Just keep in mind that when you choose to outsource some of the work of your business, you’re having to trust this aspect of your business to someone else, so make sure you pick the right person or group to outsource to and that you don’t outsource tasks that really should be kept in-house.

Bring On An Intern

For those who really need physical help on their business but not enough help in one specific area that you need to hire someone with a specific set of skills, bringing on an intern might be a good option.

According to Suzanne Kearns, there are situations where you don’t have to pay interns. However, even if you do need to pay your intern, you can usually just pay minimum wage for the hours they spend with you, which can still help you save a lot of money while getting the help your business desperately needs.

If you need a hand with the daily operations of your business but you can’t yet afford a full-time employee, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you discover some of your options.

 

If you’re interested in investing in precious metals for the first time, simply continue reading to discover a helpful guide to purchasing precious metals, such as gold and silver, for the first time.

Make sure to research the platforms which you’re interested in trading on:

While it may be tempting to purchase your first order of precious metals, from the first platform which you come across. It’s a much wiser decision to thoroughly research each platform which you’re interested in trading in. In order to ensure that your chosen platform is a well established, trustworthy company, who it’s safe to purchase precious metals, such as gold and silver from.

Some examples of gold and silver scams include the Lear Capital scam. In order to learn about how gold and silver scams operate it’s well worth reading a few Lear Capital complaints. So that you’ll avoid falling prey to similar schemes in the future.

Invest in both gold and silver:

Instead of investing in one precious metal, you’ll be able to diversify your precious metals portfolio by investing in both gold and silver. Which also happen to be the most highly sought after precious metals in the world. Gold is a great investment as it’s seen as a symbol of wealth and will always be highly sought after.

While silver is a great investment to add to your investment portfolio as silver is used in a wide variety of industries. As an example silver is now in hot demand as it’s used to create computer parts and smart phone parts. As another example, silver is also used by the mining industry in order to create industrial drill bits.

Lastly both gold and silver are undervalued, due to an over inflated stock market. So if you follow the cardinal rule of investing and tend to buy low and sell high, it’s definitely well worth investing in both gold and silver. Both of which should give you a sizable return in the future.

If you have a tight budget, start with investing in silver:

While you should aim to invest a sizeable amount of money into gold in the future, if you’re on a strict budget and want to invest in a resource which will someday earn you a great profit, start with investing in silver. As silver is a lot cheaper than gold and is even more undervalued than gold. As the demand for silver is set to rise as a result of silver’s industrial uses and use in the construction of tech products, expect silver to increase in price, on a yearly basis.

Don’t sell your silver and gold too early:

If the price of your silver and gold increases quickly, don’t sell any of your precious metals unless there has been a stock market crash and you’ll multiply your initial investment several times over.

Now that you know the basics of how to make wise investment decisions, when it comes to purchasing precious metals, it’s well worth making your first silver and gold investments.

 

No matter what business you’re in, marketing might often feel like a challenge. There can be a lot of pressure to come up with the latest exciting and creative campaign that goes viral, but often, the simplest of ideas can still be effective.

There are so many marketing techniques, channels and strategies out there that it can be difficult to know which ones to try. Here are 4 effective marketing tricks that your business can experiment with.

Content marketing

The phrase “content is king” is often used when it comes to online marketing – and for good reason. Content marketing is a great way to stimulate interest in your products and services, without “explicitly” advertising your business. Producing good quality content across your different online channels is a great way to increase your brand visibility, improve brand recognition and is engaging.

While you’ve no doubt done a bit, there are so many different forms of content marketing you can try, such as blogs, videos, and webinars. Content that is engaging can generate traffic to your website, as well as generate shares and comments that opens your business up to new customers. It is also is a great way to boost your SEO, as it shows search engines that your content is important and means they get a better understanding of your company, allowing it to return to your site for other similar or relevant queries.

User-generated content

Just like content marketing is shared, user-generated content is a great marketing tactic to get your brand in front of new audiences. User-generated content is any form of content created by end users or consumers often posted online.

If your business has limited resources, encouraging user-generated content can be a great way to market your business with very little financial investment. User-generated content can be a huge asset – 92% of consumers trust organic, user-generated content more than traditional advertising. To encourage user-generated content, you can start simple by getting customers to use a specific hashtag for your business. This not only gets customers posting about your business, it allows you to track content too.

Experiment with influencer marketing

Influencer marketing might have become a bit of a “buzzword” but there are multiple reasons why it is an effective marketing channel. Influencer marketing exposes your brand to new customers who are likely to have an interest in the products or services you provide.

Look for someone in your area with high social media engagement and reach out to them to see if they are willing to share their experience with your product or service. This can either be voluntary or paid on a freelance basis.

Take it old school

The past decade has seen the rise of the digital world, and, while online marketing techniques might dominate, there is still plenty of space for the traditional methods. People still appreciate speaking to a human being, for example, making telephone marketing a great option.

Choosing a business telephone number needs to be carefully thought about, so it’s best to use an establish supplier such as Planet Numbers, who have a variety of phone numbers available to cater to different needs. You can choose from geographical numbers and non-geographical numbers, as well as pick a memorable number that is relevant to your business. Not only do they provide memorable business numbers, they also provide call handling services too.

There are millions of people out there whose main goal in life is to build a business successful enough to live a comfortable lifestyle without having to work much at all. In many cases, an online store is the way to go.

It’s important to know, however, that turning your modest online store into a multi-national e-commerce business will take some work. While the potential is there, it’s up to you to put in the long hours and commitment that it takes.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to make it to the top of the e-commerce world, take a look at some of the best tips, you’ll need along the way.

Use Technology To Your Advantage

As the proprietor of your business, you’ll need to find ways to keep track of your inventory so that you know what’s coming in and going out. The more successful that you get, and the more that you expand, the less realistic it is for you to manually count your inventory yourself. You’ll need to rely on technology to help you determine when its time to buy more stock.

Technology is also critical for other areas of your business, like marketing and accounting. The programs that you use should be reputable, secure, and easy for you and your staff to use.

Know Your Customer

Regardless of what industry you’re in, it’s critical that you know your customers inside and out. Otherwise, how can you expect to deliver what they want?

Don’t be one of those business owners who doesn’t take the time to discover their target audience. You should research your customers thoroughly in order to make sure that you’ll get the greatest possible return on your investment.

Easy Checkout

One of the worst things you can do for your online store is making checkout a long and lengthy process. Eliminating the need to make an account or go through too many screens before the sale goes through will increase your numbers.

A lot of people give up when there are too many field forms to fill out, or they have to click too many pages. Abandoned carts aren’t online store’s friends!

Use Quality Images

When selling products online, it’s important to include photographs of your products. Including images that are blurry or hard to make out will read as unprofessional to your customers.

You should always include pictures that are professionally taken and easy to see the details of the products.

Write Honest Descriptions

Being dishonest about your products is a common practice for many online stores. Make sure that your product description is accurate and honest and clearly lists important information.

 

If you’re serious about quitting your job or earning an income online but don’t know how to get started you’ve come to the right place. Simply continue reading to discover a simple yet effective guide to making money online.

How to Make Money Online:

Pick up a freelance side gig:

If you’re looking to bring in a second income you’ll be able to make a bit of extra money by picking up freelance gigs. As an example if you have graphic design skills or have the ability to create professional websites, it’s a great idea to post job listings on a site like Fiverr.com. Contrary to popular belief you can set your own prices on Fiverr and talented individuals often earn thousands of dollars per month by freelancing on Fiverr. The key is to find a way to use the skills which you’ve already acquired in order to start making an income online.

Purchase items on sale and sell them at a higher price point:

You don’t have to create goods or services in order to start earning money online. As an example, it’s well worth learning how to purchase items in bulk or items which have been significantly reduced in price, in order to sell them at a higher price point. So that you’ll be able to make a lucrative profit. As an example, you may want to purchase authentic designer pieces from local thrift stores which you’ll be able to sell for a profit online. One great way to discover items which are in demand is to take a look at the products on online auction sites such as eBay which attract bidding wars. So that you don’t waste your time or money on purchasing items that may be hard to sell.

Complete fun online surveys while you’re watching TV:

Instead of scrolling through your social media accounts when you’re binge watching TV it’s a smart idea to turn your TV marathons into money making sessions by completing online surveys while you watch TV. As global companies are willing to pay a premium for your genuine opinions. So that they’ll be able to better tailor their goods and services to meet their customers’ needs.

Oz Lotto online:

Yes, it’s possible to win big jackpots online. As an example, if you enjoy playing online lotteries it’s well worth playing Oz Lotto online as you may end up winning a sizeable jackpot. All you have to do is to pick the lucky winning numbers.

Work as virtual assistant:

If you’re looking for a regular online job and don’t like the idea of becoming a freelancer, you may want to look for work as a virtual assistant. As there are no shortage of small to medium sized businesses which are hiring virtual assistants. As a virtual assistant your tasks will include reading and responding to customer emails and forwarding important time sensitive emails to your boss. If you have previous experience working in an office environment, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding your first position as a virtual assistant.

So whether you’re planning to quit your current job or you’ve always wanted to become an online entrepreneur and to earn money from the comfort of your own home, it’s well worth using all of the handy ideas which are listed above to help you get started.

 

A contract packager is an essential cog in the business wheel and offers vital services to large and small companies. Businesses outsource their contract packaging for a variety of reasons, but at the core lies the need for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reliability.

Contract packing is where a company provides packing and packaging services for a business, including shrink wrapping, blister packing, liquid packing, and fragile item packing. Contact packagers may also work with a business to provide strategic packaging advice and guidance. Here’s why contract packagers are so popular with companies in all sectors.

Not Enough In-House Capacity

It is tough to run a business and have the physical and monetary capacity to also run a packaging and fulfilment section. Not being able to handle volumes of packing and packaging is a significant reason why companies outsource this crucial task. Packing takes up a lot of space and resources. It is more cost-effective to outsource the job unless you plan on making it a major part of your business plan in the near future.

You may have some in-house packaging capacity, but you cannot run anymore since you are using all of your equipment, and you cannot afford to buy more. You may have prioritised your packaging equipment for something else.

Handle Promotional and Short Product Runs

Contract packagers are useful to be able to handle rush orders and bulk orders at certain busy times of the year. You may have a test run of a product, or promotional items to be distributed; these are best handled by a contract packager that can scale its activities up or down as necessary. You benefit from not having to purchase expensive items for packaging that you will only use for a short period. It also makes sense to use a contract packager when you regularly use different promotional packages.

A packager is also useful for when you are running a new packaging scheme that your existing packaging manufacturing equipment cannot handle. Rather than spend money upgrading your system, you can simply outsource the additional packaging requirements to someone else.

Products Need Complex Packaging

You may be experienced in packaging regular products, but unsure how to process and pack more fragile items, or require specialist packing. Products with regulatory guidelines for packaging need an experienced packager in order to stay compliant in the industry. Rather than upgrading your system, choose a fulfilment company to deliver their expertise on your complicated packaging job. Contract packagers have the skills and experience you need to keep your items safe in transit.

You Don’t Have the Staff

Your personnel who may have handled packing in the past are wanted for different jobs. Or you may be downsizing and therefore letting staff go. A contract packaging firm is a cost-effective way to hire trained personnel without any of the additional expenses like benefits, holiday, and sickness pay.

If you are reading this article, you must be familiar with the concept of currency trading. It takes place in the most immense finance market in the world. It is accessed through dedicated platforms. Here is a brief comparison of mt4 vs mt5, which are the most popular products today.

Convenience of Digitization

Technological advances have made it possible to buy and sell currencies online. Shifts in exchange rates bring profits to shrewd traders who foresee the trends and use digital aids. Positions are opened, and trades are executed using the software functions.

This means Forex trading is meaningless without specialized programs. A reputable broker, such as Alpari International, generates accounts that are later used for work via the platform. But which version of MetaTrader should you choose?

Why MetaTrader Is Best

Naturally, there are alternatives offered on the digital market, such as FX Charts. However, users from Nigeria are bound to appreciate the competitive advantages of the products devised by the MetaQuotes Software Corp. Some of the key benefits include:

• The broad range of trading instruments;
• Numerous graphic aids;
• Fast execution;
• Live streaming prices;
• Compatibility with all popular OS types;
• Mobile versions;
• Finance news;
• Audio alerts.

Benefits of Mobile Accessibility

Both versions were adapted to portable devices. The mobile apps work as efficiently as their desktop counterparts. Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS are all covered. Mobile app markets have thousands of user reviews for both programs.

Is MT5 Superior?

It is logical to suppose that any earlier version becomes obsolete with the emergence of a new one. In many respects, MT5 wins hands down, as it is perfect for CFDs and other tools. However, MT4 has its specific benefits that could come in handy for traders in South Africa.

Tools For Analytics

Both interfaces may be customized to satisfy special needs. However, the range of graphic objects reveals clear distinctions. The most drastic difference is in the number of timeframes (in MT5, it grew from 9 to 31). The number of technical indicators shows a similar change (38 in MT5 against 30 in MT4).

The latest version also boasts of a broader range of graphic objects (44 instead of 31). There are also more drawing tools. MT5 is equipped with an economic calendar that sends alerts whenever crucial financial news stories appear.

Different Languages For Different Systems

The algorithms forming the basis of all operations on the platforms differ. While the earlier products based on MQL4 are tailored for position trading, MQL5 is built around orders. In general, the later type is regarded as a more convenient and efficient overall. It also includes more execution models and pending order types, as well as netting.

Why MT4 Is Still Useful

Despite the obvious advantages of MT5, the previous version still has its uses. Rookie currency traders who are only beginning their Forex journey value MT4 for its simplicity. On the other hand, MT5 is preferred by seasoned owners of diversified portfolios that include commodities and stocks.

 

For better or worse, you can’t get away from the cloud these days. Almost every business that has to work with digital information in any way utilizes the cloud for something. Recognizing the benefits that come with this particular kind of IT structure is a cornerstone of most businesses, even if they aren’t necessarily in a high-tech industry.

Think of a few examples where tips for working with the cloud will help your business bottom-line. There are commercial solutions to IT needs, and they almost always involve the cloud. If you have to back up any important information that you have on your personal hard drives, utilizing the cloud acts as a backstop.

Depending on what kind of project management software you use, merging the cloud with that capability creates a robust security framework. But outside of encrypted project management, the cloud also has risks if it isn’t properly protected.

Use Commercial Solutions

By using cloud solutions on a commercial level, you’re saving your company a lot of technological grief. On a personal level, using the cloud is almost automatic these days. There are services through Google and Apple that come with basic software and hardware combinations. But if you have a company that requires exceptional protection around cloud-based technology, commercial solutions are really the only good fit.

Think About Backups

If you have vital, sensitive, or proprietary information anywhere in your business structure, you have to have original copies, and you have to have backup copies of it. By having a cloud subscription, you’re creating an automatic backup of whatever you choose. Usually, this process is straightforward, and it ensures that there is no way to suffer a catastrophic loss if some of your original data is somehow deleted or altered.

Merge the Cloud with Your Project Needs

Once you choose project management software, there’s the matter of integrating it with the rest of your company’s stems. Using the cloud to do this is a very common solution. Many project management systems don’t calm with a way to store information locally, so remote capabilities are a necessity.

When a project management software package and a cloud service work together seamlessly, that creates the best business opportunity for you.

Be Aware of Security Risks

There are security risks associated with using the cloud, though. If someone gets ahold of your password and hacks into your cloud data, all kinds of bad things can happen. You should always follow password best practices, and it’s not a bad idea to encrypt data before you send it to the cloud as well in case of a breach. Security and privacy are always a major concern, so make sure your cloud company checks all the right boxes.

 

Companies often treat the onboarding of new employees as an afterthought. What they don’t know is that failing to capitalize on a new employee’s excitement at being accepted for the position can end up costing them. According to Recruiting Roundtable, effective onboarding programs can improve an employee’s performance by as much as 11.5 percent. A report from SHRM also found that companies that offered an engaging onboarding program were able to retain 91% of their first-year employees.

The onboarding process is your company’s opportunity to make a lasting first impression on a new hire. Making it a good one can improve their on-the-job performance and boost morale and engagement. All the top companies are doing it; here’s how yours can revitalize the process:

Make data entry more efficient by automating it.

One of the most mind-numbing—but necessary—tasks that new employees have to complete during onboarding is filling out forms. However, repetitive manual data entry is tedious and inefficient. To combat this, look into ways to automate the process, either by using specialized software or by sending the forms to the employee before their first day.

If you are sending forms to be filled out digitally over email, include a set of instructions on how the employee can do so. Software such as Adobe Acrobat can enable your new hires to fill forms out using a computer, doing away with the need to print out the form.

Give them a memorable, personalized experience.

Companies are getting into the trend of sending new hires welcome packages ahead of their first day at work as part of the onboarding process. These kits can include a map of the office, the employee handbook or your company’s list of guidelines, a list of contacts including HR and emergency numbers, as well as practical office necessities such as pens and notepads, or branded company merchandise like caps, mugs, custom wristbands, and lanyards.

Why go through the trouble? These kits make the new hires feel both wanted and appreciated. They can help lower first day anxiety, too, by eliminating the need for the employee to ask embarrassing questions on their first day out, such as where the restrooms of the office are located. By treating your new employees well, you showcase your company’s culture and let them know that they’ve made a good decision working for you.

Gamify the onboarding process.

Gamification is the process of turning something into a game. Applying it to something traditionally viewed as a tedious activity, such as employee onboarding, can make that activity more interesting and interactive. In place of boring videos and PowerPoint presentations, you can provide eLearning resources to introduce new employees to common terms and industry jargon used in your company. Going a step further, you can borrow a page out of marketing solutions firm Bazaarvoice’s book by sending your employees on a scavenger hunt to induct your new hires into the company culture.

Encourage forming connections between new hires and tenured staff.

Anyone can feel unease and nervousness when they first enter a new environment. You can help relieve some of the stress by fostering a culture of friendship and camaraderie at the workplace. Take the time out to personally introduce the new hires to the team they’ll be working with. Allow time for employees to get to know each other by holding a mixer during lunch or after office hours. You may also wish to provide them with a company roster so that they can match names to faces more easily.

Wowing your new hires right out of the gate can be the motivation they need to become valuable members of the workforce and bring your company success. Treat them well and you’ll surely reap the rewards!

 

Running a business can be a tight balancing act. No matter what industry you occupy, you are going to need to constantly shift and change to meet the demands of your business. One important aspect of the business which can never be neglected will be your accounts.

Will entrusting these documents to an outsourced accountant help you with any measure of success? Let’s take a closer look.

Streamlining the Business

Depending on the size of your business, you might currently be juggling the accounts alongside several other tasks. Though this can be very beneficial for small businesses, it can also be difficult depending on the workload you currently have to take on. The accounts might also occupy far too much of your time if you don’t have a background in financing or accounting.

In this scenario, a firm of chartered accountants like Hazlewoods can help provide all the support you need. They can handle any and all problems you might be struggling with when it comes to your accounts. You will then be able to refocus your attention on other matters. This could be key if you have an area of the business that you feel is falling behind.

Keeping Compliant

Accounting and taxes can be incredibly confusing. New legislation and laws are introduced frequently, while older legislation is overhauled, updated or repealed. As a result, these actions can massively disrupt your accounts if you do not know what you are doing. Even the most established of businesses can be hit with a fine or a court summons if they are not properly compliant.

A chartered accountant is the best contact you could have for ensuring that your business is kept compliant. They need to keep on top of the latest news and changes to legislation. You can then be kept up to date with all the changes which might affect your business, safe in the knowledge that they will be correctly implemented.

Focusing on Best Practices

Do you know if you are spending too much in a certain area of your business? It might be the sort of thing which passes you by. However, an accountant would more than likely recognise this. They will be able to advise you on over-spends and you can then work to improve this area of the business. Such a simple act could be all you need to free up some finance that can then be spent on improving your product or service.

However, your accountant is not the same as a financial advisor. Many firms you could outsource to will have an advisor to talk to if you want some financial advice for your business. Your accountant is there to process your payments and offer you some advice where necessary. Build a relationship with a brand as a whole if you are searching for a more robust partnership overall.

Can an outsourced accountant contribute to the success of your business? While the management of your accounts won’t be the deciding factor in your success, they could help you find some clarity when you need it.

Find the right accountant for you today; it could prove to be one of the best decisions you ever make for your business.