Category: Business Blog

The key to running a business effectively is knowing how you establish relationships with other people. Now, so many companies outsource their skills to contractors and freelancers, the onus has been on the entrepreneur to be as amiable and accommodating to freelancers and contractors as possible. But, the temptation to treat a contractor or freelancer as second fiddle to permanent employees is easy, but it doesn’t help to establish a proper working relationship with a freelancer. So how can you do this?

Schedule Check-Ups

Communication is vital to having an effective working relationship, so by scheduling regular catch ups with these freelancers, either via video call or Skype, you can ensure that they are on the same page as you. If you don’t want to be so hands-on, there are document sharing tools, like Google Docs, where you can give notes and feedback on to a freelancer’s project.

Look For Feedback From The Freelancer

To ensure that the door swings both ways as far as communication is concerned, looking for feedback from a freelancer gives you important notes on how to progress with freelancers and contractors in the future. And while it’s something that benefits you more after a project is done, if you can implement this into the company culture prior to hiring a freelancer, this is going to benefit you a lot more throughout the process. But, it’s also going to help the freelancer, as they will feel more relaxed, and more inclined to speak up if they feel there’s an issue, rather than keeping quiet so they can get paid.

Choose Your Freelancers Carefully

This is a very difficult approach because if you’re looking for the right person, it’s important to do enough research into a freelancer’s past experience, which can be done by asking for a portfolio or references. But you need to make sure that you are watertight as far as the working process is concerned. So it’s best to hire someone who has an inherent knowledge of the freelancer process, so they can slot right into the working format. A lot of this is to do with the Statement Of Work as well as signed contracts. You can find more at The Weisblatt Law Firm for information on contract drafting, but by picking people with this professional experience, rather than gambling on a novice, will help you to develop a good quality product.

Be More Than A Boss

Instead of just being a person who barks orders, try to be a mentor instead. To build a lasting relationship with a freelancer, by providing proper resources for them to work, you are going to get better results from them, and they are going to engage with the process much more. It sounds simple, but this is where your knowledge of relationships is going to serve you well. Being a manager isn’t just about telling people what to do and where to go, especially when it comes to hiring freelancers. These people have a unique insight and are free from the company process to actually give you truthful opinions as to if you’re doing a good job and doing the best for your business. So, the next time you work with a freelancer, don’t underestimate them!

If you are not getting the results you had hoped for from your SEO campaign, you need to get to the bottom of why this is happening. This is especially the case if you are slipping down the search engine result pages. With that in mind, read on to discover some of the most common reasons why SEO campaigns fail, so you can get to the bottom of where you are going wrong with yours.

You are handling your SEO campaign in-house and you do not have the required experience – There is only one place to begin, and this is with handling your SEO campaign in-house when you do not have the experience to do so. When you consider the importance of SEO today, you see why this is not something whereby you can simply cut corners. You need an expert service. You can find out more about this at https://figmentagency.com/landing/seo-surrey/. Make sure you do not go for the first or cheapest company you need either. You need a business with a good reputation and lots of experience so that they can change your SEO campaign for the better.

You have not give yourself enough time – A lot of people expect to implement an SEO strategy and see results overnight, it does not happen like this. Getting to the top pages of Google and other popular search engines takes time. You need to be patient and you need to constantly work on your strategy if you are to achieve good results and maintain them.

You are only focusing on keywords and link building – Needless to say, keywords and links are two critical elements of SEO. It is good that you are giving them the attention they deserve. However, if your website is suffering as a consequence, this is where you are going wrong. SEO is about user experience. Your website needs to be easy to use, quick to load, and optimised for mobile usage. If it not, this is why your SEO campaign is failing.

You are using outdated SEO practices – You can discover more about the outdated SEO practices you need to avoid here: https://searchengineland.com/13-outdated-seo-tactics-terrified-285353. SEO is something that never remains stagnant. After all, the Internet is constantly developing itself. Therefore, you need to keep up with the latest trends and techniques if you are to harvest good results. Approaches such as keyword stuffing and other black hat techniques must be avoided at all costs.

As you can see, there are a number of different reasons why SEO campaigns fail today. Hopefully, you have been able to get to the bottom of where you are going wrong with your search engine optimisation efforts. Don’t panic, though, if you have noticed the errors mentioned above. You simply need to take action so you can rectify the problem as soon as possible.

Even if you are completely satisfied with your products and pricing, it counts for very little without the right promotion. Engaging your clients in a manner that converts interest into sales is one of the most important aspects of the whole business operation. While every business tires, only a small percentage actually succeed.

Creating a winning plan of action is vital, and focusing on three main situations will serve you extremely well. Here’s all you need to know.

In-Store

Attracting passing trade relies heavily on location. But you also need to ensure that the storefront appeals to the desired demographic. However, you cannot fall into the trap of thinking that getting them in the store is all that matters. In truth, there’s so much more to consider.

Promotional ideas like running competitions or tasks related to your products can work wonders. Equipping staff with Square Up mobile POS terminals can allow them to offer a far more personalised shopping experience. This, combined with friendly staff, ensures that they remain engaged with the business in a positive manner.

Quality products and value will always be the priorities. Still, when those interactions are of a positive nature, it can only leave a positive impression.   

Online

There’s no escaping the shift towards online transactions. In fact, many businesses now rely massively on their digital revenue streams, even when they still maintain offline stores. A well-designed website that is optimised for mobile is vital. This can also include an App.

However, it’s imperative that you go the extra mile by gaining engagement through other platforms. Participation and regular interactions are vital for all demographics. Using Instagram stories to spark a big response is ideal. Meanwhile, blog posts and product links promoted through social media can work wonders too.

If it promotes the personality of the brand along with the products you sell, success is assured. Moreover, many of those users will spread the word on your behalf.

Exhibitions

As with online methods, your domains are only one area where success can be achieved. With regards to offline marketing, exhibitions and networking events can work wonders. They open the door to audiences and opportunities that would otherwise be kept close. Make sure you take them.

Yours won’t be the only business trying to win over those potential clients, though. As such, you need to know that your event will stand out from the crowd. Experts at Open Exhibitions can design winning stools and presentation facilities. Meanwhile, using videos and visual aids can work wonders as you bid to engage visitors and lead them to the intended response. Again, some of the in-store ideas can be used to great effect.

This is a particularly popular option for gaining B2B clients, although it can also win over consumers.   

The Final Word

Keeping customers engaged is one of the key steps en route to gaining the sales figures needed for success. While mastering this aspect alone won’t be enough to achieve sustained profits, it will certainly go a long way to helping. Underestimate its importance at your peril.