What To Consider Before Investing In Tech Startups

Most pundits christen it as the ultimate gamble. It is also the fodder for the future. The returns can be ridiculously sweet if you hit it big. I’m talking about technology. Most of the top 10 biggest tech giants are barely 20 years-old. Within that time, they have turned modest investments into billion-dollar conglomerates.

Each of these tech giants will tell you of a very charming story of how they bet on the idea of the future. What most of them will never tell you is the number of similar startups that have since exited the market since they started. Before you activate that gallant mode, here is what you need to consider.

 

Understand the risks

Even experienced venture capitalists don’t have a perfect record. Most of them will be comfortable with anything above 50 percent. It means, for every $100 they invest in startups, $50 would land in a furnace.

Another statistic worth mentioning is that at least nine out of 10 startups close shop within the first five years. Half of those firms go down due to poor business strategy. Technology catches others napping and whitewashes them.

The risks are grievous. Unlike established companies that can shed some of their value then recover, once a startup closes shop, that is the end of the music. It doesn’t matter how much you have invested.

 

Know the law

When it comes to investing in startups, only wealthy people were able to invest. However, since the passing of the JOBS Act, almost anyone can invest. However, you must qualify to do so. The qualification is simple, an annual income of at least $107,000 or a marching bank balance.

At that level, you will qualify to invest $2,200 or 5 percent of your annual salary. As you work your way up the income ladder, you can invest more. To invest, you can invest in companies that SEC and FINRA clear for debt or crowdfunding.

However, an SEC or FINRA clearance is not a guarantee that the startup will succeed. Their role is to ensure that the companies are in legitimate business. You have to do your due diligence before you invest.

 

Get in your industry with your money

It is not mandatory to invest in tech firms targeting your area of expertise. However, experts recommend that you do. Part of suave investment is to interrogate company finances, products, and methods.

If you are a doctor, can you competently interrogate a financial technology product? Maybe not! If an analytics startup tells you they have the most exciting data catalog in the market, you probably should do some research to assure they are telling the truth. But where would you do that research? My point is this: Invest in an area that you have pertinent information and knowledge. It may be a hobby or your spouse who has some connections there. However, it should be something that interests you.

 

Start at the bottom

Be realistic about your chances. Most startups take at least seven years for them to pay out their angel investors. Popular checkouts are IPOs or buy-offs. Startup investments are therefore long-term investments because it takes quite some time to get a payday.

Getting reach quickly is a possibility, but the chances of it happening in the first three years are minimal. Therefore, you will need to spread your risk by investing in several startups.

The best place to start is through crowdfunding initiatives so that you can get the hang of it. You can choose from existing platforms . Some will allow you to invest more money than others do. Some will even offer you guaranteed returns on investments.

As you grow in stature and experience, you can move on to elite levels. Who knows, one day you might become a venture capitalist.

 

Conclusion

Startups investment is for the bold. You have to hope for the best but expect the worst. Invest what you are ready to lose.

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Government contracts can be a great way of expanding a small business. Agencies at the federal, state and county levels outsource every good and service they use. If your company is involved in goods and services, there is a chance the government might need it.

A resolution passed by the Congress requires government agencies to work with small businesses. This is meant to create opportunities for small business and level the field of government contracting. Government contracts are open to all eligible small businesses. However, most companies are unable to deliver and fulfill the contracts due to financing.

Even though small businesses seek government contracts to expand their operations, the contract can create financial problems. Some government contracts can be overwhelming for some small businesses, unless they are adequately prepared. Few small businesses consider that most government payments take between thirty to sixty days. These delays can cause a significant dent in finances. Therefore, before binding for the government contracts, the cash flows in your business should be able to handle regular expenses such as paying employees and vendors. Below are some viable ways of financing government orders.

1. Small Business Administration (SBA)

One of the best ways small businesses can finance government orders is through SBA. It was created in 1953 to provide capital, counseling, and contracts to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The agency has several financing products suited for small and midsized companies. For instance, the microloans option can reach a limit of up to fifty thousand dollars, depending on the state. The loans are ideal for startups because they are easier to get compared to the regular bank loans. On the other hand, bigger businesses can consider the CAPline loans that extend up to five million dollars. It is important to note that SBA does not provide money directly but works with banks that are willing to underwrite the loan to small businesses.

2. Accounts Receivable/ Invoice Financing

Small businesses can finance government contracts through account receivable financing and invoice factoring programs. These types of funding allow firms to use receivables such as outstanding invoices to get finances. The financing options are advantageous to small businesses because they are flexible and easier to get, especially when government contracts are involved. Setting up the loans can take less than two weeks depending on the lender.

3. Purchase Order Financing

Purchase order (PO) financing is a type of funding for businesses that are unable to meet purchase orders due to lack of funds. Small businesses can use a PO financing program to cover the supply cost associated with government contracts. Sometimes the program is an advanced solution and does not cover the entire amount involved. However, in some cases, the company can qualify for full financing. Unfortunately, PO financing is only suitable for wholesalers who resell products. Also, most financing institutions prefer orders that have higher profit margins.

4. Supplier Financing

This type of funding is suitable for manufacturing companies and distributors. Small businesses with government purchase orders can take advantage of this financing to pay their suppliers. Unlike other financing options, supplier financing can help to expand the financial capabilities of a company. Also, it is compatible with other financing solutions such as account receivable.

There are many lending institutions such as pool loan companies that provide contract financing to small businesses. Government contracts are guaranteed even though they are not paid immediately. The lending institutions offer advance money to firms that are in contract with the government for day-to-day operations before payments are initiated. Unlike conventional financing, contract financing is designed to help businesses that require advance funds on ongoing contracted work.

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Maybe your online venture has reached fullest earning potential. It could also have sustained its highest profit for the past few years, and nothing seems to stop it. You could also have upheld the best business practices to increase the efficiency of your online venture and optimize its sales. If so, the next goal is to take it to the next level. However, nothing dictates how much success online retailers can achieve with their ventures. Whether it’s an online casino game, an e-commerce site, or affiliate blog, online retailers can use certain techniques to generate higher sales than before. Here are ways e-retailers can take their online ventures to the next level.

 

Marketing Automation

Perhaps you’ve built your successful online venture from scratch. However, although its fruits are noticeable, the process has been arduous. As such, business owners need to look for new ways to maintain the level of their success and focus on hitting their goals. Entrepreneurs with a lot of tasks on their plate might find it challenging to achieve this, and that’s when a marketing automation tool comes in. Automated marketing tools such as subscription management software let marketers and advertisers send sequence emails to their customers and subscribers and manage their subscriptions. You can also use marketing automation tools to send messages across social media networks, provide SEO suggestions, and create blog posts. All an online trader needs to do after automating their processes is to tweak them and gauge their performance to improve the results of the campaign.

 

Conversion Rate Optimization

One of the concerns that every marketer has is their site’s conversion rate. Online traders get most of their sales from transactions made on their web pages. Of course, every marketer wants all their web visitors to convert into customers. However, there are many factors that internet users consider before they subscribe to your services or products. Fortunately, marketers can use conversion rate optimization to analyze user behavior and tweak their pages to identify factors that make visitors leave the page abruptly or abandon their carts.

 

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a technique that lets online marketers tap into the followers of a brand ambassador in their respective industry or niche to raise brand awareness and drive more traffic to their sites. Followers are more receptive to what their influencers tell them because their relationship is built upon trust.

 

VPS Hosting

Of course, startup owners prefer a shared hosting over a premium one so that they can minimize their costs. However, online marketers should be aware that they need a premium hosting such as VPS hosting to avoid alienating their customers. You can use the hosting to send information to the visitor’s browsers to make it easier for them to view it on their end. A premium hosting can help keep up with massive data pools once your site picks up traffic, and also enable it to break and go offline automatically once the traffic becomes too much to handle. However, marketers may need to consider moving to the cloud if this problem keeps recurring so that they’re able to maintain their business momentum.

 

User-Generated Content

It’s an excellent idea for marketers operating within a vibrant business community to mobilize other members to help them create marketing content. User-generated content can be in the form of social media posts, reviews, testimonials, and submissions. You want to mobilize entrants and existing customers to help you create content that can be useful for your online business. The primary benefit of user-generated content is that it lets online marketers work with their audiences, which helps deepen their relationship with them. Doing so is crucial for a business that has overgrown and gotten out of hand. One of the best ways to keep in touch with your target audience is to involve them in developing your content. User testimonials can help an online business to improve its conversion rate since most customers make purchase decisions based on peer recommendations.

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Every entrepreneur aspires to launch a business that will lead to long-term success. Legal requirements are a critical element to consider when starting a business. However, most people are willing to risk it all by starting a business without following the legal process. Apart from having a viable business idea and a good plan, there is a variety of legal issues that you need to put into consideration. Below are some legal concerns you need to address before starting a business.

 

1. Business structure

The first step in establishing a business is determining the legal structure. Some of the most common legal structures include partnership, sole proprietorship, etc. There are certain factors that you will need to consider when selecting the business structure. For instance, the amount of control you intend to have. The legal structure determines the type of license and permits to acquire and also tax considerations.

 

1. Agreements

Apart from the sole proprietorship, most of the other legal structures require agreements to stipulate the rights and obligations of the parties involved. The agreement should contain a non-compete clause that prevents the sharing of sensitive information to competitors. Additionally, it is also essential to include a buy-sell provision that indicates the procedures for distributing interest of the parties involved. This ensures the business continues even if one of the partners departs. Also, a business that deals with vendors should consider non-disclosure agreements to prevent sharing of information to third parties.

 

iii. Intellectual property

If your business is involved with new products and ideas, you should consider intellectual property protection through patents, trademarks or copyrights. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was established under the Department of Commerce to issue patent and register trademarks.

 

Patents and copyrights provide the business with the rights to use the products and services. In the event of infringement by other individuals or businesses, you can file a lawsuit in the court of law.

 

1. Employment law

Employees provide a critical role in the success of the business. Therefore, business owners should familiarize with the various rules regarding employment. For instance, the Civil Right Acts of 1964 indicate that it is illegal to discriminate against employees based on color, race, gender or religion. Additionally, the Employment Act makes it illegal to discriminate against employees above 40 years. Also, the Americans with Disability Act protect individuals living with disability from discrimination and harassment in their places of work. Other employment laws include medical leave, equal pay, etc. Employers must also comply with wage and hour laws when compensating employees. For instance, the Fair Labor Standards Act stipulates a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and even over time. Every state has laws regarding minimum wage

 

1. Liability lawsuits

Most brick and mortar business are faced with liability lawsuits from customers, vendors or even employees. As a business owner, you have the responsibility of taking care of everybody in the premise. Accidents are inevitable and can occur due to wet floors, broken stairway, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to protect your business from lawsuits by obtaining liability insurance. The insurance company handles compensation of the victims on your behalf and also caters for the legal fees in case of a lawsuit.

 

In conclusion, due to financial constraints, most entrepreneurs are tempted to ignore legal issues when starting a business. However, they only consider help when trouble arises. An attorney will help you with the all the necessary legal documentation and advice required to start a business.

 

For entrepreneurial legal services, contact utah trademark attorneys. They will help you properly start your business and navigate all legal hurdles.

 

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We are living in a world that is currently dominated by information. We are in the information era, and we are currently operating in the Big Data Economy. Previously, real estate was a big factor in determining the success of businesses, but we are now confronted by a virtual reality that does not allow corporates to grow without any online presence. Some of the fastest growing companies today are analytics companies, and they thrive because of the value they offer businesses in terms of insight, profit maximization and opportunity scouting. The internet is for everyone, but it is not the only source of data and analytics. Every business generates plenty of data that could potentially shape its future for the better. In a world where business acumen stands no chance against the power of insightful data, the strongest indicator of business intelligence and acumen is the will and skill to collect and use data for future profitability.

 

Navigating the Sea of Information for Business Management

It is quite impossible for individuals to navigate the earth’s land surface thoroughly. It is too wide, and most adventurers always had to narrow down their travels to certain niches that satisfied their curiosity. The entire land mass occupies only 29 percent of planet earth’s surface. Therefore, you can tell just how impossible it is for anyone, no matter how skilled or passionate, to sail across the five seas and the seven oceans. If it were possible, would it even be worth it? Well, perhaps it would be for academic reasons, but business people will always have the need to focus their time and resources on the particulars that present them with the prospect of profit maximization. The sea of information is definitely much bigger than the seas and the oceans. In fact, as 95 percent of the sea remains unexplored, business people should, perhaps, refrain from consuming too much information that does not concern their businesses. So, how should we use the information in our business decision making?

 

Collecting Data for Business

Every day, Businesses generate valuable data that could be used to improve their efficiency. The information comes from the clients that they serve, from the way employees conduct themselves, and from suppliers and distributors. Most companies and retailers fail to harness the power that is hidden in such information because they do not:

 

• Store the data
• Classify the data
• Analyze the data
• Apply insights from the data

 

It is true that businesses require more data than just that. However, it is common sense that knowledge acquisition always moves from the known to the unknown. Even before studying your competition and international trends, you should, first of all, study your internal processes. That way, you will learn what makes your business survive or thrive. External data cannot be very helpful if you do not have a database with which you could compare and contrast. In fact, this simple practice could drastically improve the internal efficiency of your operations. Moreover, it would not require you to employ advanced skills or software for web scraping and data analysis; you would only require simple tools such as spreadsheets.

 

Incorporate Data in Decision Making

Join the 40 percent of top-performing companies which use data analysis to gain insights into their decision making. How else would you know where you missed and future opportunities lie? Engage in activities that point out the gainful strategies which your competition uses to get ahead of you. However, as earlier determined, you should never be led on by data. You should always know how to use data and which data is applicable. The following are a few pointers on how to save time and money in your data analysis endeavors.

 

1. Set targets
2. Determine the data needed to improve operations
3. Classify data
4. Design easy-to-retrieve data storage
5. Analyze data periodically
6. Employ useful insights
7. Train personnel and cultivate suitable company culture

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Real estate investors have access to a range of ways to get and seal deals on a shoestring budget. If you are looking to get into real estate, here are a few incredible ways to find deals and partner with people who can help you begin without blowing up your bank account.

 

Driving for Dollars

You need to keep your eyes open the next time you’re walking down the street to see properties that are for sale. You can be lucky to find a deal with a property owner instead of transacting with a realtor. A building may not be open for sale today, but the owner might decide to sell it a few weeks later, so make a note of any property you come across. They can be buildings that look like are in need of repair or have bushes and trash in the yard. You can reach the owner of these properties either by checking their contacts with the local municipality or knocking on their front door. The local authority can use their address and tax bill to help you reach them. Either way, contact them and ask if they have an interest in disposing of their property or are aware of someone that may sell their home. Don’t worry if they are annoyed, it’s just a question.

 

Expired MLS Listings

Real estate investors need to incorporate creativity in their approach to getting started even on a limited budget. You no longer have to spend millions of dollars on an extensive direct mail campaign as there are many other ways to find financiers. Finding an expired listing is one of the ways that allows realtors to invest in properties that have been on sale for a long time. Sellers can list their homes with a realtor for a specific period, but if they don’t sell quickly enough, the listing expires and requires a re-listing. You usually have a better chance of the homeowner accepting a lower offer on an expired listing.

 

Private Money Lenders

Nearly everyone knows an investor who has an interest in the real estate world, and all is needed is to pursue them. These lenders can be a co-worker, relative, or friend that wants to venture into real estate. You can scout out several deals and ask your private money lender to back them with finances. It is a win-win situation since you don’t need any money to get started, and your partner doesn’t have to invest their effort in finding deals. You can get started by emailing everyone you know might be interested in investing in real estate. You’re likely to get a handful of responses if you send emails to at least 40 potential investors.

 

Hard Money Lenders

You don’t need to have the capital to venture into real estate business. You can find a hard money lender and ask if you could partner in a real estate deal. A hard money lender can be an individual or financial institution that lends money in its terms. Hard money lenders don’t follow traditional lending guidelines regarding down payments, assets, and credit score. Each hard money lender has unique conditions, and over time their number has risen significantly. Investors supply their deals, and hard money lenders provide the funds for the transaction. Your credit score improves the more you transact with a lender. You can ask a mortgage broker, real estate agent, accountant, or attorney to connect you to a hard money lender.

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The age of information has brought countless benefits to the world of business. Today, it is possible to use the data that your business collects from the customers to predict their likes and dislikes. When this information is applied appropriately, it can help you make marketing decisions that will improve your bottom line and also leverage the love that your customers have for your brand. However, the ability to collect and store big volumes of data also comes with its own set of challenges. Therefore, it is your responsibility as a business owner or manager to make sure that you are protecting crucial data from hacking and other forms of data breaches.

 

Identifying the most sensitive data

The first step that you have to take when it comes to data protection is to identify all the sensitive data which is connected to your business and where it is stored. The types of data that top the list of most sensitive information includes:

 

• Any data that gives sales insights

 

• Customer data

 

• Financial information

 

If your customers found out that you have put them in a position where their personal information is accessible to third parties, they will most probably dissociate themselves from your business. It is also essential to note that there are legal liabilities which come with compromising certain types of personal data. Other information that you should keep secret at all times includes your trade secrets, upcoming product launches, and other crucial data.

 

Invest in the best data protection software

The second step you should take in protecting crucial data is investing top of the range data protection software. To get the best software, you need to understand the types of attacks that can compromise your data. Some of the most common ways that this can happen includes:

 

• Virus attacks

 

• Spyware

 

• Ransomware, trojans, and backdoors.

 

• Hybrids and exotic forms, worms and other forms of malware.

 

When you understand the scope of malware and the potential they have to compromise your data, you will invest in antivirus, and anti-hacking software which automatically updates itself and keeps your crucial data safe at all times.

 

Protecting data that you are uploading to the cloud

Cloud storage allows you to store large volumes of data in places where you can access it from anywhere in the world. There are many advantages which comes with cloud storage including the fact that you do not have to invest in a lot of software to make it possible and that you can access it anywhere, but it is also the easiest data to compromise. To prevent this from happening, you need cloud workload protection and related software. This is software which automates protection for all the public data uploads that you make and scans your data storage buckets for possible malware.

 

Dealing with unwanted data

The two most common forms of unwanted data for your computer include spam and all the files that you have read and deleted. Many people know that it is important to stay away from any email that looks suspicious, however, hackers have also upped their game and they are sending emails that look very much legitimate, to avoid falling prey to these, you have to think about getting spam filters so that it can be stopped before hitting your inbox. Also, when you delete files, make it a habit to overwrite them. Most of the data that may seem physically deleted will still be stored somewhere on your hard disk. This means that a criminal who understands how to recover this information can do it.

 

Other measures that you can take to keep data safe is putting in places measures to physically restrict access to data such as installing passwords and other access codes. If there are certain aspects of data protection that you do not understand, do not hesitate to consult an expert. They will help you figure out where your security is lapsing and what to do to tighten it.

 

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Whether you form of recognition involves a paltry pat on the back, a picture on the wall of fame or a note from the CEO, you need to appreciate your employees’ input. The employee of the month recognition goes a long way in proving to your employees how much the company values their unwavering loyalty and contribution towards its success.

 

If you hope to devise an effective criterion for identifying the employee of the year, consider implementing the net promoter score also known as employee NPS. It gauges your employee’s willingness to play the company ambassador’s role. Some of the benefits a business reaps from implementing such a program include:

 

1. Boosting their confidence

A little pat on the shoulder or hoisting the employee’s picture up the hall of fame goes a long way toward boosting the employee confidence. It shows to them that they aren’t just doing something right but that they are also in the right direction.

 

Appreciating them for their input on overall performance or outstanding performance on a particular project has a significant impact on their confidence. Most importantly, this appreciation helps eliminate any shadows of doubt an employee may have with regards to whether they are on a sound footing with the employer.

 

2. Promotes healthy competition in the company

The employee of the month recognition, whether accompanied by check or not is an incentive in its own right. Like any other incentive, it helps build a healthy competition within the company as every employee hopes to fall within the employer’s crosshairs and gain the coveted recognition. The program also works best if the appreciation is accompanied by another incentive like special treatment or monetary reward.

 

3. Promotes productivity

The employee of the month program can also be used to boost productivity within all the company’s divisions. You only have to tweak the recognition criteria and have it biased towards recognizing best-performing employees.

 

This prompts employees to put in more effort in all their undertakings in a bid to emerge top in the company. In larger organizations with several divisions or separate business fronts, a productivity boost oriented program works best when you implement an employee of the month recognition for every division or production line.

 

4. Reduces employee turnover

In most instances, employees cite lack of appreciation as one of the primary reasons they left or plan to leave their current positions. You can, therefore, avert high employee turnover rates within your organization by implementing programs that prove to employees how much value you attach to their contributions within the workplace.

 

Note that while a monetary reward can prove quite effective, you don’t always have to attach value to appreciation. Simple but genuine gestures such as a note from the employer or the company’s chief executive to the employee or their family hailing his contributions to the company and key role they play in the team is equally effective.

 

5. Improves employees overall rating

While you aren’t prepping your employees for greener pastures or encouraging them to leave, the employee of the month award in the form of a note or a certification comes handy in boosting their CV. Most employees will recognize this selfless act and end up endearing themselves to you and solidifying their loyalty to your company instead of searching for more rewarding positions. You, therefore, don’t have to worry about a better CV rating tempting them to leave.

 

Bottom line

If well implemented, the employee of the month appreciation program can go a long way in benefiting both the employee and the employer. For instance, it helps the employee gain more proficiency in their role, earn more commission as a result of improved productivity, and even score higher on their CV rating once the program’s light shines their way. On the other hand, the employer reaps all the benefits associated with more productive employees and in some cases, the intangible benefits of employee loyalty and devotion to the company.

 

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Landing the marketing job of your dreams may not be as far away as you think. With so much competition for marketing jobs in the employment landscape, only those who can set themselves apart and offer more than their competition gain the edge. Consider these tips for scoring your next position in marketing.

 

Present a Great Cover Letter

Crafting a unique cover letter for the position may be the key that unlocks the door to your new marketing job. Your cover letter helps you stand out among other candidates, and those who are well informed beam brighter than the competition. Candidates with a thin resume can claim a new marketing position if they are knowledgeable and display genuine interest in the company. Be sure to state what you can bring to the company, and the help you can provide if you are hired. With so many candidates submitting general cover letters to agencies, your customized cover letter will stand out even more.

 

Refine Your Resume

In many cases, simple resumes for executives may be the better option over longer resumes packed with extraneous details. You resume should highlight your skills and the most notable experience that makes you the best candidate for the position. Epic marketers have a balanced arsenal of skills and a list of project achievements that they are proud of, and these are unique details that can help you stand out. If you earned any accolades and awards for past performance, be sure to share those milestones to build convincing resume. You can also include some writing samples along with your resume to prove your skills and expertise.

 

Upgrade Your Skills

Many times, it is the skills you lack that can sabotage your chances for a prime marketing position. That applicants should do whatever it takes to get the skills necessary for a desired position, to get closer to actually getting hired. It is crucial to study as may up-to date books, blogs, and white papers as possible so that you are more equipped to deliver using the latest strategies and technologies. The more skills that you possess , the more likely that an advertising agency or company may choose you.

 

Show Off Your Statistics

Every person who is seeking a position with a top marketing agency or a successful company should not hesitate to show their past results. Putting together a handsome portfolio can go a long way in impressing agency executives who can influence the company’s final decision. Giving details of your past successes in the field is a great way to showcase your abilities and accomplishments using examples of your work. Without a doubt, great effectiveness during past marketing promotions can positively influence your chances of being selected today.

 

Nail Some Powerful References

Sometimes it is not what you know, but who you are connected to that makes all of the difference in whether you snag a coveted marketing position. That 15% of marketing positions are filled through job boards; but most companies fill positions internally or through referrals. Networking in the right circles can help you forge your way into a marketing job. Consider using LinkedIn to build your contact list and cast an influence in the industry. If you can get a powerful reference from a power player, you can score a hot marketing position quickly.

 

Give an Example or Two

If you are called in for an interview, don’t be afraid to bring some of your best ideas to share. You can also reassure the company that if you are selected, you plan to implement some specific marketing strategies and suggestions. Research the company to determine the flow of their current marketing techniques and projects, and add an original twist to present to your evaluators to shine.

 

Be Open to Negotiating Your Salary

Consider negotiating your yearly salary as well to initially get into the marketing position of your dreams. When there is a variety of stiff competition on the table, you can negotiate your salary expectations to appear as a highly qualified, yet more cost-effective choice for the company.

 

Actions speak louder than words, so don’t underestimate the power of your portfolio combined with a summary of skills and relevant experience on your resume to sway the hiring manager into choosing you. In some cases, you may need to impress a board of people to get hired, so don’t hesitate to put your best foot forward at every level of the interview process. If you choose a position that you are an excellent fit for and you arrive well-prepared, you can land the job.

 

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Today’s business world requires that you are in front of your customers as much as possible. If you are not top of mind, then they might decide to go with your competitors when they need a product or service. So don’t miss out on the extra business you deserve. Use these six ways to have more presence with customers now and in the future:

 

Emails

Emails are certainly not dead. While many marketers with the next hot method will try to sell you on the idea that email does not work, the reality is that it’s the one platform that has stood the test of time.

To get great with emails, you need to be testing. Test different headlines, calls to action, and more. That way, as you tweak your messaging customers will be more willing to open your emails and thus you will stay on their radar.

 

Social Media

There are passive measures to have presence with customers and there are active measures. Social media can be defined as a passive measure. It won’t always get you direct sales. However, when used correctly, it can have major benefits.

Social media doesn’t just have to mean Instagram, Twitter, or the like. It can also be getting covered by other outlets through your actions. Try getting sponsors to cover your corporate events, or even your charity drives.

For instance, if you are always being a source of industry news, you will train your followers to look for your new posts. They associate a lot of value with following you on social media. In this way, you are constantly putting your brand in front of the right people.

 

Phone Calls

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. Cold calling is not dead, but neither is the classic relationship building process of talking with your best customers many times throughout a buying cycle.

When you are on the phone with your target market, you can do more than sell. You can find out their biggest pain points. This lets you feed your marketing, product design, and every aspect of your business.

Phone surveys are one great way to do this. In addition, you can ask for referrals on the phone. The worst they can do is say no. The best case scenario is tons of new potential customers.

 

Online Advertising

Running online ads is an investment and not an expense. The difference is that for every dollar you spend on ads online, you should be getting more than that back. If you are not, it’s time to tweak your results.

Try experimenting with different platforms. Perhaps Google or Facebook is your favorite ads platform right now. But by expanding to other avenues you could reach prospects in new ways.

 

Physical Advertising

Billboards are the one way to get the attention of people on the street as they are walking or driving by. While they take a little more preparation due to the time needed to create the physical asset, they can be worth it.

Try experimenting with catch phrases or images that really draw the eye in. They might not work overnight. However, over time you can expose a new market with your business so they think of you when the time is right.

 

Organization

Proper organization will allow you to be more efficient with your time. If you use tools that have elements such as time tracking then you can know exactly where your efforts are going throughout the day. Make sure your team stays on target so that building better relationships with customers is always the top priority.

Customers want you to be there when they need a product or service. Having more presence with customers in their mind and in the physical world is one of the keys to success in business. So avoid common mistakes that many businesses make. Use the strategies above and make sure you are positioning your company for massive success.

 

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