Category: Business Blog

Business Blog

Professional Email Writing: Hacks Every Entrepreneur Should Know

The key to running a successful business is simple: professionalism. The truth is that if you ask any successful business owner what they would say is the number one thing that business owners in every sector should offer, they will say ‘professionalism’. Of course, a big part of being professional is ensuring that you appear professional at all times, including when communicating with business contacts and customers alike.

Taking that into account, it’s vital that when it comes to emailing, you understand what it takes to craft a professional email. It’s not always easy knowing what to write, is it? If you find that when it comes to email writing you struggle, don’t worry because you’re not alone. It’s something that a large number of business owners struggle to effectively deal with. While you could opt to pass on the task to a virtual assistant, to save money you might prefer to deal with your emailing yourself. The only issue being that you’re unsure how to craft a professional email.

To help you craft the most amazing professional email, below are some tips that you may want to take note of.

Properly start every email

When it comes to email writing, it’s crucial that you start your email properly. It’s vital that you write your email with a professional start to it. While the term ‘Dear’ used to be used, today a less formal approach, even for formal emails tends to be started with ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello. Once you’ve greeted the recipient, the next step is to craft the perfect introduction. Keep it simple and to the point.

 

Create the perfect subject line

The subject line is the thing that captures the reader’s attention, and so it needs to interesting and eye-catching. As a rule of thumb, subject lines should always be short – under 30 characters.

 

Take advantage of templates

A great hack when it comes to writing professional emails is using templates. If you have a range of professional emails to write and you’re not confident creating different messages for each, using templates can be the ideal option. There are so many different templates available that you’re sure to find one that is an ideal fit for your needs.

 

Use email signatures

Another handy hack for professional email writing is using email signatures to sign off on your emails, instead of simply signing ‘Yours Sincerely’ or ‘Kind Regards’. Adding an email signature to your emails is simple and effective. If you’re not sure how to create a professional email signature, you can use an email signature manager service to help make the process easier and less stressful. It’s little things like this that can really help to make email writing as a professional easier.

When it comes to crafting the ideal email for professional use, it’s not always easy knowing how to go about it. Email writing is something that many of the world’s most successful business owners have struggled with in the past, so there’s no need to beat yourself up if you struggle to compose professional emails.

 

Business Blog

5 Considerations For Developing Your Own Office

When it comes to where you’ll build your company, there are few places better than a workplace that was designed with your company’s needs in mind. As such, you may want to consider developing your office. When you do this, you won’t just be moving into a pre-arranged space, and learning to live with whatever you find; you’ll be designing the place yourself. This gives you the chance to create a space that will allow you and your workers to work productively, efficiently, and in an environment that they love. Below, we take at some things that you’ll need to keep in mind in order to get a place that will be great today and in the future.

What’s Your Long Term Goal?

You won’t know all the answers, but you should have an idea of where your company will be in, say, five years time. You’ll know if you may have grown by then, or if you’ll still be offering the same goods and services, and so on. When it comes to developing your office space, then keep these future plans in mind. If everything you predict for your company comes true, will the space you create be able to accommodate your business?

 

Setting a Budget

Of course, you’re not going to be able to have an unlimited budget when it comes to developing your new office. If you throw too much money at it, then you might find that you’re running out of money for other areas of your business. However, it’s important that you don’t try to cut too many corners. This office will represent your company for years, so you want it to look as good as possible. Make sure you’re using top-quality materials like stainless steel pipe fittings, that your furnishings will stand the test of time, and that your decor is modern and well put together. If you do, your office will look as fresh in ten years as it does on the first day of opening.

 

Adding Non-Work Zones

Yes, you want your office to be a place of work, but it should also be more than that. The modern workplace also helps a worker to relax, have fun, and socialise, and if you want to be in keeping with modern trends, then you’ll want your office to have these features. Consider adding a ping-pong table, relaxation zone, and high-quality kitchen that is also suitable for after work drinks.

 

Into the Modern World

We know now that humans have an impact on the planet. To be socially responsible, make it so that your office is environmentally friendly. You can do this by introducing a paper-free culture, adding a vegetable garden, and making sure that all of your infrastructure is energy efficient.

 

In Keeping With Branding

Finally, make sure that your new office is in keeping with your branding! Your branding is everything, and be having an office that is in keeping with it, then you’ll be helping to reinforce your company’s identity.

 

Business Blog

Upgrading to an Office?

If you’re bringing your digital business into a physical location, it would suggest that things are going well, and whilst many people opt for the remote working lifestyle where they dream about lying in a hammock underneath a palm tree on a tropical beach… the reality is that often the most productive and effective way to build your business is to have a grounded physical space you can operate from.

There’s something psychologically meaningful about having a physical address too from a consumer’s perspective – in that it creates trust a sense of authenticity about your online presence.  There’s always the option to have a physical address that is a virtual address, but there’s something about having a physical location that makes your business feel less like a hobby.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with having a business as a hobby, and many people turn their online business into an automated cash cow generating in excess of £10,000 per month, from their bedroom (or hotel room, if they are chasing the freedom lifestyle dream).

Now, chances are you’re not going to want to invest too much money in premises, which means there’s a good chance you’ll be starting off with a relatively small space.  This article looks at three ways you can optimise the spacious feeling of a small space in order to feel more comfortable and prosperous.

  1. LIGHT

The term “dark and dingy” seems to go hand in hand with the idea of small spaces.  The darker a space is, the smaller and more claustrophobic it tends to feels; conversely, the more natural light that enters a space the more airy and spacious it feels.

The key to making the most of a small space is to get in as much natural light as possible, or failing that, use mood lighting to create a warm yet will lit ambience.

  1. UNCLUTTERED

The more cluttered a space feels, the smaller the space feels.  The challenge when working in a small space is that it’s incredibly easy for the space to feel cluttered even when it’s not, and for this reason, you might want to consider using a minimalist approach when it comes to decoration, furniture, and organisation.

  1.  COOL

A further challenge with small spaces is that they often feeling stuffy and hot, particularly in the summer months and in large cities like London.

You’ll want your space to feel as light and airy as possible.  The best way to do this is to paint the walls white in order to bounce light around the room, and deflect rather than absorb the heat.  You’ll also want to ensure an adequate supply of fresh air is able to come into the office, ideally by having open windows, rather than relying on air conditioning.

In summary, if you’re considering upgrading to an office, but want to do so in a way that doesn’t break the bank, consider finding a small unit and making the most out of that space by ensuring an abundant supply of light, fresh air and free space by keeping it uncluttered.