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One of the most frustrating challenges facing businesses is manpower vs. workflow.  Most companies face ebbs and flows in workload, often finding themselves either overstaffed or understaffed. You certainly don’t want to pay employees to just “sit around” during slow times, but you also want stable, qualified, loyal employees to be present when work picks up. Temp agencies can be great in some situations. But, with positions which require a higher-level skill set or extensive training, temps may not be the most effective of efficient...

Expanding your small business on the Internet will help you generate more revenue and reach a wider market. Statistics indicate that over 78 percent of customers conduct product research online. More than 40 percent of smartphone owners use the Internet to compare prices on their mobile device. Approximately 57 percent of companies have acquired customers through their site or blog. Having an online presence is essential for the success of your small business. Companies that advertise their products on the Internet enjoy greater visibility...

For many, social media has become an essential part in their day-to-day life. It’s after all a great way to connect, communicate, and be informed. It’s no surprise then that more and more business owners are taking advantage of this and latching onto social media to promote and establish their brands. From Facebook to Twitter to Youtube to LinkedIn, there are a lot of platforms that can be explored even by startup businesses. To get more identity for your new business, here are ways to gain a loyal following online. Identify your...

With more companies embracing a lean startup approach to increase employee productivity and creativity while decreasing discontent and complicacy, you may notice some changes at the office. You’re probably seeing new polices that allow employees to use their own devices for business and work remotely more often. For most employees these changes are great news! However, as a member of the IT team, the introduction of every new policy seems like another nail in the coffin of the company’s network security. Regardless of whether you’re...

Unless you’re running a large organisation, managing a complete IT team will be impossible from a financial as well as a physical standpoint. You may not have the technical expertise to set up a decent team while still paying them the salaries that they expect. Fortunately, there is an easy alternative: simply outsourcing your needs to a qualified third party. You may have already heard about services such as virtual offices but did you know you can also find outsourced IT contractors as well? These tech experts will help improve your...

They say anything worth doing is worth doing well. Nowhere is this more true than in the world of social media marketing. In January 2012, McDonald’s found out firsthand how the power of social media can turn people against even the most beloved companies. Encouraging Twitter users to use the hashtag #McDStories and share their positive experiences at the Golden Arches, the company was surprised when people began using the tag to share horror stories instead. Your small business may not have the same social media aspirations as...

Email marketing is one of the most powerful and most effective marketing tools available, yet too many businesses skip out on sending emails because they don’t know exactly what to do. And as social media continues to grow, that’s where more and more business owners are turning despite the fact that their returns aren’t always where they would like them to be. But with a few email marketing tips, you can optimize your email marketing and see your revenue grow. Tip #1 – Get Social with Your Email Marketing Strategy Social media...

Owners of small businesses, and in particular startups, should assess their storage needs early on to avoid inventory muddles or delivery delays as business progresses. Making an informed decision at the outset provides a solid business infrastructure, leaving you free to concentrate on customer service and efficient stock picking and packing. First Considerations What are you selling? The type of items in your inventory will determine how much and what type of storage space you need. Small items can possibly be stored at home, although...

As cloud communication has become the norm in today’s modern world, it is a near-universal requirement that businesses have some form of online presence, if not as many as possible. Indeed, there are many options, such as websites and profiles on such social media outlets as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Yelp!, to name a few. Doubtlessly, there is no shortage of entrepreneurs who use all of the above and then some to promote their brand, complete with software designed to aggregate accounts and automatically send posts...

There can be many instances where businesses need to innovate and invent a solution to a problem; this might be focused on creating a more efficient product or manufacturing process or it can involve having to create an improved version of a consumer product. Innovating and inventing solutions to these problems represents a significant research and development charges, and it’s worth working with companies like Applied Product Design to break down workflow and individual challenges. Consultation If you have a rough idea for a new product,...