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The Top 15 People Management Skills Every Business Owner Should Master

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Effective people management is crucial for the success of any business. As a business owner, your ability to lead and inspire your team directly impacts productivity, employee satisfaction, and ultimately, your bottom line. To navigate the complex dynamics of the modern workplace, it is essential to possess a comprehensive set of people management skills and lead your team toward success.

 

  1. Effective Communication:

The cornerstone of effective people management lies in clear and open communication. Business owners must be adept at articulating expectations, providing feedback, and actively listening to their employees’ concerns.

 

  1. Leadership:

Strong leadership skills are vital for guiding and motivating a team. Successful business owners inspire their employees, sets a positive example, and empowers them to reach their full potential.

 

  1. Emotional Intelligence:

Emotional intelligence enables business owners to empathize with their employees, understand their emotions, and respond in a compassionate and supportive manner. This skill fosters a positive work environment and enhances employee engagement.

 

  1. Conflict Resolution:

Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace. Business owners should possess the ability to address and resolve conflicts promptly and diplomatically, ensuring that team dynamics remain harmonious and productivity remains high.

 

  1. Delegation:

Effective delegation is essential for leveraging the skills and strengths of your team members. Business owners must delegate tasks appropriately, providing guidance and support while trusting their employees to deliver results.

 

  1. Coaching and Mentoring:

A business owner’s role extends beyond managing day-to-day operations. They should also invest time in developing their employees’ skills through coaching and mentoring, fostering growth and career advancement.

 

  1. Adaptability:

In a rapidly changing business landscape, adaptability is crucial. Business owners need to be flexible, open to new ideas, and willing to adjust strategies to meet evolving market demands.

 

  1. Time Management:

Effective time management skills enable business owners to prioritize tasks, set realistic deadlines, and optimize productivity. By modeling good time management practices, they encourage their team members to do the same.

 

  1. Performance Management:

Business owners must be proficient in setting clear performance goals, providing regular feedback, and conducting performance evaluations. This skill helps optimize individual and team performance while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

 

  1. Decision Making:

Business owners face numerous decisions on a daily basis. The ability to make timely and informed decisions, considering available data and potential risks, is crucial for maintaining organizational effectiveness.

 

  1. Resilience:

Running a business comes with its share of challenges and setbacks. Resilience allows business owners to bounce back from adversity, inspiring their team to do the same and fostering a positive and solution-oriented work environment.

 

  1. Team Building:

Building a cohesive and high-performing team is a key responsibility of a business owner. They must identify the strengths and weaknesses of team members, promote collaboration, and create opportunities for team bonding.

 

  1. Conflict Management:

Addressing conflicts swiftly and effectively minimizes disruption and ensures that relationships within the team remain strong. Business owners should strive to resolve conflicts through mediation and negotiation, seeking win-win solutions.

 

  1. Networking:

Business owners should actively network and build relationships with other professionals in their industry. This skill enables them to gain insights, forge partnerships, and stay updated on industry trends, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions.

 

  1. Continuous Learning:

Lastly, successful business owners understand the importance of lifelong learning. They stay informed about industry advancements, invest in their own personal development, and encourage their employees to do the same.

 

Mastering people management skills is essential for business owners looking to create a thriving and productive work environment. By honing these top 15 skills, you can inspire your team, and foster positive relationships in your pursuit toward business success.

For more information on how you can achieve business success, visit our website today and book a session with us https://yvrconsulting.co.za

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What Can Businesses Learn from Their Competition?

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Competition is a necessary and invaluable part of the business world. Without competition, businesses would struggle to stay relevant or make a profit. A continuous competitor understanding and market study helps businesses stay flexible to the dynamic markets we operate in. Thus assisting in improving overall business performance.

 

Here are a few tips on how businesses can learn from their competitors.

 

  1. Analyse Their Strategies: Pay attention to the strategies of your competitors. Analyse their tactics used to reach their target audience, how the engagement with customers. You will get insight into their marketing. Take notes on what they are doing right and what they could be doing better so you can implement similar strategies in your business. Competitor analysis is a crucial part of any marketing strategy. By understanding what your competitors are doing, you can make informed decisions about how to position your company. This includes decisions about pricing, product development, and marketing.

 

  1. Monitor Their Pricing: To stay competitive, businesses must keep track of their competitors’ pricing. Price monitoring is used to determine your pricing of products and services and identify any new trends in pricing in the market.

 

  1. Monitor Competitor Products & Services: Regularly review competitor offerings to identify areas for improvement within your business and create a more compelling value proposition. It is important to stay up-to-date on your competitors’ products and services to remain appealing to your target market. Opportunities for this lie in your competitors’ online presence, such as their website and social media channels. You can also sign up for their email newsletters or subscribe to their RSS feeds. Additionally, you can attend trade shows and events that they are exhibiting. By doing all of this, you will be able to gather information on their latest products, services, and pricing.

 

  1. Monitor Competitor Online Presence: Keep an eye on competitor websites, blogs, and social media accounts to understand their messaging and audiences. To remain competitive, it is important to monitor their online presence and observe their offerings. 

 

Get in touch today for all of your business management and consulting requirements https://yvrconsulting.co.za/#getintouch

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6 Habits That Will Revolutionize Your Business

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Do you ever feel unproductive in your business and need the motivation to keep you going? Incorporating some new habits can be a great way to reboot and take your business to the next level. We have identified six habits that can help revolutionize business operations and essentially maximize profits in your corporation.

 

  1. Consistent Training and Development – Investing in training and upskilling for employees helps to ensure that the business is always up-to-date and current on industry trends. Employee upskilling also contributes to continuous improvement and a learning environment.

 

  1. Utilizing Technology – Smart businesses encourage efficient and effective use of technology to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve customer service. Staying updated on new technology trends is essential.

 

  1. Establishing Clear Goals and Objectives – Ensuring clear business goals and objectives allows all employees to focus on what will help the business reach its desired outcome and create a culture of better performance.

 

  1. Developing an Engaging Corporate Culture – Creating a culture of innovation and engagement will help to foster strong relationships between employees, customers, and the community, which is necessary for business survival.

 

  1. Embracing Flexibility – Creating a flexible work environment that enables employees to balance their commitments and achieve a better work/life balance can help to increase productivity and morale.

 

  1. Invest in Your Team – As your business grows, it is necessary to invest in your team. Invest in resources and training, and foster an environment where employees can grow and develop their skills. Having a capable, knowledgeable team will help your business reach its potential. 

 

These six habits for your business can help you become an effective leader and increase productivity and profitably. They will help you make decisions that are in the best interest of your business and ensure that your team is the best it can be. Implementing these habits will take time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. As your business grows and develops, so will your leadership skills and the confidence of your team and customers. 

 

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How to Become More Productive as an Entrepreneur

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You’ve probably heard the old saying “time is money”, but as an entrepreneur or small business owner, you understand that time is a valuable resource! Time is how you build relationships with your customers, family and friends. Time is also how you maintain your health, create a balanced life, grow your business and maximize profitability.

 

Entrepreneurs are driven and willing to put effort into a business that they are passionate about. Often, it’s not easy and comes with many sacrifices, but the success and freedom it offers are worth the effort. With the correct skill set and opportunities, mastery of time management, which will optimize your workday and increase revenues, is possible.

 

Wake up early: Being productive begins before work. Entrepreneurs who make the most of their day start by waking up early — this helps them to have more time for personal tasks such as exercise and breakfast without sacrificing time for their business. We recommend setting alarms for 6 to 7 AM every morning — then taking 30 minutes for exercise before starting your day.

 

Prioritize tasks: One way to manage productivity daily is to prioritize tasks using the 80/20 rule – use 20 percent of your efforts to produce 80 percent of the results.

 

Set SMART goals:  It’s important to set realistic, achievable goals that you can measure and track over time. SMART goals will help you stay on track and motivated by identifying areas that need improvement. Setting clear and concise goals will help keep you focused and ensure that you are making progress toward your ultimate goal.

 

Be organized: Organization is also an essential element of effective productivity. Take the time to create an organized plan of action that you can refer to when needed. Plans will help you stay on track and ensure that you are making the most of your time.

 

Being productive leads to success. Productivity looks different in every situation but invariably means taking the most effective, efficient, and innovative approach to growing their business. This includes focusing on the most important tasks, setting goals, and eliminating distractions from their work environment. Entrepreneurs who are pro-technology are seeing the benefits of increased time and resources for market-facing activities.

 

Lastly, entrepreneurs who take regular breaks to avoid burnout and practice being mindful stay motivated. By following these tips, you can remain productive and successful in your business. Let us guide you towards business success with B.E.T.

For more helpful business tips, visit our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/toolboxb.e.t/?hl=en www.yvrbet.com

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4 Effective Ways to Cope with Entrepreneurial Stress

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There are many ways to cope with entrepreneurial stress and should be tailored to the individual and their specific needs. However, it is necessary to remember that no matter the coping strategy used, the key to effectively managing stress lies in having a strong support system, prioritizing and scheduling skill, and taking time to practice self-care. With the right attitude and balance, entrepreneurs can use their stress positively as a tool for growth. Ultimately improving business performance and allowing them to venture toward great success.

 

  1. Take breaks when you need them.

Staring at a screen for too long and your eyes feel strained? Or, do your neck and shoulders start to tense up from sitting in the same position? This is your sign to take regular breaks for both your physical health and your mental well-being. Taking a break does not have to mean taking a long time away from what you are doing. Standing up and stretching for a few minutes can make a big difference and can get the blood flowing in your body which is needed for mental relaxation. Stepping away from the screen entirely for a few minutes to give your eyes a rest can do your body some good. Other break ideas you can use:

  • Listen to some music that keeps you energized
  • Go for a walk outside 
  • Breathe for a few minutes

Taking some time for yourself will help you come back to your work refreshed and ready to focus again.

 

  1. Set boundaries between work and home life.

It is important to set boundaries between your work and home life. When you are at work, focus on work and when you are at home, focus on your personal life. Do not bring your work home with you, and do not bring your personal life to work with you. Keep the two separate as much as possible. This will help you to be more productive at work and have a more enjoyable personal life in which you are mentally present.

 

  1. Connect with supportive people.

It can be hard to open up to anyone about our mental health, but it is critical to find people we can trust to support us. When we feel like we are struggling, a supportive network around us can help ease the burden just by feeling heard and providing helpful advice or a safe space to cry when we need it. If you feel lost or alone, please contact someone you can trust.

 

  1. Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly has many benefits for your physical and mental health. It can help improve your mood, increase your energy levels, and reduce stress. It can also help you sleep better and improve your overall health. Exercise can also help you create room for creativity.

Get in touch today to find out more about our service offerings https://yvrconsulting.co.za/#getintouch

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How To Build A Brand in 10 Days: Tips and Tricks for the Digital Age

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With the rise of social media, our increasingly digital world has completely changed the landscape of how we think about branding today.

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/build-a-reputable-brand-in-10-days/433805?fbclid=IwAR1T28OOYBVG9kclVbOLfFdCLiGhl7Bgf8um_9Os3JedvKUxDDBEWpm6Tqc
 
The concept of branding has almost always referred to a business name and logo. But times have changed, as we all know, in this digital era with lots of noise.

Consumers today are always connected, meaning brands have had to find deeper ways of connecting with them. Social media has given the world access to every success and shortcoming, with users openly promoting or denouncing brands to their followers. Wendy’s social media branding strategy has famously caught the attention and adornment of millennials and Gen Z with their quick-witted roasts of customers and brands on Twitter. Many companies have tried to accomplish brand recognition with similar strategies, only to miss the mark and have their brand trend for all the wrong reasons.

Branding strategies have had to grow and adapt to the digital age, so here is a ten-day crash course.

Related: 7 Stupid Branding Mistakes Your Small Business is Making

 

Day #1 — Set the groundwork

To effectively perform in your industry, you need to know your industry. Researching the brands of other key players in your sector is a great first step in your branding journey. Compare the offerings and branding of your competitors, accounting for everything from their visual aesthetic and marketing efforts to their customer feedback channels. Looking at local brands can help you define yourself in your current market, while large name brands can give you a benchmark to aspire to. Market research is an integral part of the branding process and will considerably affect the direction you decide to take once you’ve produced a tangible concept.

However, don’t just pay attention to the success stories. Consider cases where brands have failed. Compare the changes made when companies have launched a rebrand. Seeing where others made mistakes may prevent you from making similar ones in the future.

Day #2 — Define and differentiate

It sounds simple, but to be a successful brand, you need to be able to differentiate yourself from the competition. The way to do that is through defining yourself and your brand. What makes you different from your competitors? What services do you provide that other companies do not? How do your mission and values compare to other businesses in your industry? Answering these questions is key to carving out a spot for yourself among your competition.

Bernadette Jiwa, a brand strategist and blogger at The Story of Telling, says, “The difference between a good idea and a commercial success is context—The understanding about who the product or service is for, what they really want deep down and why they will care about this, more than that.”

Related: Don’t Copy. Be Different. And Your Marketing Will Win.

Day #3 — Identify your audience so you can identify with them

Write down the detailed demographics of your target audience and other questions you want to consider when developing a brand for that audience.

How old are they? What gender? Are they wealthy corporate types or middle-class and family-focused? Where do they live and shop? What is it that they need? Is another company currently filling that need?

The more specifically you can identify your audience, the easier it will be to create a brand they will relate to. Karena Dawn and Katrina Hodgson of Tone It Up started by creating a YouTube channel to share their love of fitness, and today, they share over a million followers. Their ability to connect with their community was pivotal to their success, recognizing that they provided a service for consumers like themselves. Those customers recognized this connection and have now become the brand themselves, conducting worldwide meetups and creating trending hashtags on social media.

Day #4 — Find your voice

Once you’ve found your audience, you need to develop the voice that you will be speaking to that audience.

What channels do you want your brand to speak to customers through, and how do you wish to communicate to those customers? Perhaps the wealthy, corporate types prefer a more professional or service-oriented voice, whereas young, recent graduates may engage more with a conversational or friendly voice. It’s essential that your brand voice can communicate effectively with your target demographic and entice them to keep the conversation going.

Related: 9 Tips for Creating an Awesome Brand

Day #5 — Personality, please

Your brand represents you, so show your personality through your brand. Consumers today don’t just want the same old service from a company presented the same way as every other company. They expect their needs to be met but want those needs to be tailored to them through relatability and personal interactions.

Try looking at various personality spectrums and think about which end you want your brand to fall on. Do you want your brand to give off fun energy or stay stoic and serious? Are you looking to be modern and cutting-edge, or classic and traditional? Are you interested in accessibility for all, or is exclusivity a part of your brand’s desirability?

Day #6 — Share your story

Consumers are real people and want to be able to relate to real people, which is challenging to do when a brand is anonymous. Melissa Cassera, a marketing, communications and PR expert, advises, “Don’t edit yourself out of your brand. This is one of the most common mistakes I notice with entrepreneurs, especially in copy and content. If you tend to edit your voice and personality, then dictate what you want to say, record it, and transcribe it. It works wonders!” If your audience can connect with you or your story, they will likely join your brand.

Day #7 — Test and tweak

Receiving feedback from a trusted circle that can relate to your target demographic can provide valuable insights into aspects of branding you may have missed. Writers often say they cannot edit their own work, as it becomes harder to recognize errors in a piece the more you’ve read over it. The same can be said when developing your brand. Perhaps you missed an essential aspect of your brand story while focusing on a different aspect. It is better to catch missed opportunities and ensure you successfully serve your audience before an entire release. “Don’t just put something out there to put something out there. Make it right the first time!” designer and stylist Megan Bailey says.

Day #8 — Professionally create, integrate and replicate

When making the official assets for your brand, make sure those assets are professional. Whether they are in-house or contracted, hire a graphic designer to create your logo, website, business cards, etc. Hire a marketing expert to execute your strategy effectively. Research internal and external systems that will keep your communications with stakeholders organized and professional, and integrate your assets into those systems. Every asset you put out to consumers should represent your brand, whether digital or static. Those assets should be replicated, promoted and shared regularly in the area where you have found your niche.

Day #9 — Keep it consistent

Arguably, the most critical aspect of successful branding is ensuring your brand is consistent. Meghan Bailey also advises, “Right from the start — every single piece of material from a logo to photography to social media posts need to be consistent and professionally organized. The ultimate goal is to have people gravitate and recognize your work instantly”. The more recognizable your brand is, the more recognizable your product or service will be, and the closer you’ll become to solidifying your brand as a household name.

Related: 3 Proven Ways to Stay Consistent, Meet your Goals and Realize Your Dreams

Day #10 — Give yourself a hand (and a break)

You’ve made it through our ten-day crash course and have hopefully developed a successful brand concept in that time. Give yourself a quick break to take pride in your work, then get out there and promote!

 

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7 Visual Trends in Media and Publications

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Experienced online marketers schooled in visual trends know full well that the old axiom which says “a picture is worth a thousand words” is entirely false. They’re worth considerably more…

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https://www.entrepreneur.com/growth-strategies/7-visual-trends-in-media-and-publications/437841?fbclid=IwAR2BYhXz17Wt6KgkrbXtgtuPpiWvappr_pmB1zrDfU-xWhE4cGayekWy7wM
 
Experienced online marketers schooled in visual trends know full well that the old axiom which says “a picture is worth a thousand words” is entirely false. They’re worth considerably more than that.
 

According to research conducted by 3M, the human eye is capable of processing visuals approximately 60,000 times faster than the written word. This ability serves us well as we orient ourselves traversing treacherous terrain, such as the inherent perils of the average metropolitan freeway at rush hour.

However, one can hardly overstate the importance of words and using them well. Likewise, we all know that online marketing and novel writing are very different endeavors. In the world of buying, selling, and browsing, compelling visuals rule the roost.

The necessity of business owners keeping up with current visual trends is very real. It takes on new levels of urgency when competing in the arena of eCommerce. After all, UCLA psychology professor Albert Mehrabian effectively demonstrated that up to 93% of all communication is nonverbal.

Of course, very few people would say that the words we use aren’t critical. We all know they have value. If you’re a lover of words and economy in language, those skills are in high demand right now. However, the first step in the world of online retail is convincing users to halt their mindless, endless scrolling and give those words a chance to offer detail. Here are seven trends to be aware of as you seek to take your business to new heights.

1. Infographics

It might be helpful to think of infographics as something of a “midway point” between words and images. Infographics frequently appear in technology publications as a means of quickly conveying numerical information as it relates to everyday experiences. Their underlying messages entirely bypass the written word and immediately map to the human brain.

Simply stated, well-done infographics can rapidly convey a sense of scale. They offer visual comparison that merits the attention of anyone interested in the topic at hand.

You will often find infographics used to good effect in finance publications as well. In addition to helping readers acquire a sense of scale, these visual devices benefit from the proven ability of the dollar sign — or other markers of currency value. They signal audiences to slow down and reconsider moving too quickly past vital information.

Need proof? Spend some time at your local grocery store observing how others are subconsciously “steered” by discount and rebate signage.

2. Animation and Video

Few things catch the human eye faster than motion. Visual designers use this reality in social media and online media to draw attention without becoming intrusive or overbearing. Additionally, the recognition that audiences prefer to remain in control of their experiences online has sparked new levels of creativity tempered with restraint.

Similarly, the recent reversal of fortune at YouTube gives evidence that they may have overplayed their hand when it comes to monetizing videos with “unskippable” ads. YouTube, TikTok, and similar video services rose to prominence with younger audiences. This happened precisely because they catered to increasingly short attention spans.

It would seem perhaps that ad revenue blinded them to the initial reason for their success. Nowadays, users are fleeing YouTube in droves. Inserted ads have overtaxed their patience. As you look to use video marketing for your company, keep this cautionary tale somewhere in the back of your mind.

And we’re way past the era of Flash. Visual designers long ago abandoned the idea that users would be willing to download and install specialized software to view their creations. The average consumer will bounce the second they are asked to cooperate in any way with your design agenda. Instead, the increased use of SVG files, HTML 5.0, and applets to facilitate visual movement has taken end-user experience in directions previously not thought possible.

3. Increased Use of Gradients

For this cultural moment, anyway, it seems that our increased use of screens has led to a resurgence in the use of color gradients to add visual interest. Images that transition gradually from one color or shade to the next work to draw the eye of the viewer in the desired direction.

In previous decades, designs that incorporated gradients ran the risk of being wrecked by using low-resolution devices. The “banding” that often accompanied our earlier use of gradients has since been chiefly eliminated. This has been made possible by the advent of greater screen resolutions on consumer-level tech.

Increased reliance on gradients has allowed visual designers to use them in obvious and subtle ways. On the more obvious side, just about everyone can point out the use of a gradient as a backdrop. However, designers increasingly use them in logos, presentations, brand books, and even business cards.

4. Nostalgia

It’s a proven fact that tough times in the present era create a nearly-unquenchable appetite for “simpler” days. Never mind that this all-too-common human response mechanism isn’t typically grounded by the harsher realities of days gone by.

For example, you will often hear car enthusiasts lamenting about the boxiness of modern vehicles. They pine for the era of tail fins, the Chrysler 440 engine, or a “three on a tree” transmission. Of course, it’s easier to be sentimental once you allow yourself to forget about the advent of increased fuel efficiency, enhanced safety features, and satellite-powered navigation.

So it’s no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic — followed by record-setting inflation and other economic woes — has kickstarted an increased reliance on nostalgia in visuals. Even though users consume various small business publications on an iPad, their eyes will be drawn to visuals that inject a touch of nostalgia into their online reading.

Perhaps the most obviously successful example of nostalgia-themed marketing was the 2016 introduction of the Nintendo Classic Mini. The backward-looking video game device immediately struck a nerve with young adults. These consumers grew up playing simple games with low-resolution graphics, clunky controls, and extremely limited capabilities. Consumers who grew up in the 1990s loved it! Nintendo sold 3.6 million units within two years. Go figure.

5. Include Charitable Endorsements and Community Commitment

Just about everyone is trying to sell stuff online. However, not everyone is out there trying to make a positive contribution and promote the well-being of the communities in which their businesses are situated.

The rise of too-often-maligned Millennials and Gen Z to places of prominence in the workforce has been at least one factor resulting in an increased focus on not just doing business successfully but doing business for the benefit of others.

What does this have to do with visual imagery? How does an increased focus on benevolence influence how companies present themselves online? As it turns out, plenty.

Online marketers are quickly discovering that today’s consumers are eager to do business with companies that do more than provide quality products and services at competitive prices. They also want to support businesses that improve lives beyond their bottom line. Many consumers are willing to pay more to ensure they support ethical manufacturing, fair labor practices, eco-friendly packaging, and equitable treatment of others.

Navigating this visual design trend is admittedly a bit tricky. Yes, you can (and should) use photos and other marketing imagery to highlight your company commitments.

However, neither do you want to overplay your hand. You definitely don’t want to come off as a poseur. Zappos provides a great example of a business that has its commitment to helping others baked into everything they do, including its imagery.

6. Consistency…Balanced by Variety

Through endless repetition, your brand needs visual trends guardrails to maintain and reinforce its online identity. However, you will also want to let your design folks know when it’s OK to do a little “off-roading” from time to time.

As mentioned above, concerning highlighting positivity in your messaging, there’s a balancing act between consistency and variety that requires careful attention to detail.

For example, you will want your visual designers to leverage trends to the standards you’ve previously set down in your brand book. In short, that guide should help your designers understand where standards absolutely cannot be violated (colors, fonts, logos, etc.) and where they have room to play around a bit. And you need to allow your team — in-house or outsourced — freedom to try new approaches lest your message grows stale.

7. QR Codes

Let’s say you need to convey a lot of information about your product, services, or upcoming event. The details are targeted to those who have already expressed some interest. However, the medium you’ve chosen doesn’t have much space for long text blocks.

For example, let’s say your brand hosts or attends live events, even if only occasionally. That being the case, your online messaging needs to consistently call attention to this.

Suppose your company has paid for a booth at an upcoming trade show. Of course, you are promoting this opportunity to meet face-to-face with blog articles, LinkedIn posts, and your social media presence. However, is there any reason not to include pointers to this on your packing slips, email receipts, and social media? All you need is a catchy tagline and a QR code.

Using custom QR codes is a great way to convey a great deal of information. You can do this without relying on lengthy blocks of text. More and more consumers are waking up to this trend. They are using their smartphones to engage with brands. Audiences enjoy the freedom to find out more (or not) without having to wade through much of what they consider hype.

Wrapping Up

These days, many small- to medium-sized business owners are quick to share a similar lament. It goes something like this:

“I did not start this business thinking that I would need to hire an army of graphic artists just to compete online.”

While that sentiment is 100% understandable, it nonetheless ignores the fact that millions of potential customers are now using their smartphones to save themselves steps and drive time.

Thankfully, visual design services of all sizes are springing up to meet the need.

Regardless of the size of your company, it’s a safe bet that with a bit of digging, you will be able to outsource your visual design trends to an experienced expert. Yes, the “picture worth a thousand words” axiom needs a bit of retooling in the wake of online shopping. However, another shopworn cliche is moving up in importance: “Advertising doesn’t cost…it pays.”

Don’t make the mistake of selling yourself short by skipping over this budget item. If you offer great products or services at competitive rates, an increased focus on current visual trends can help you combat the menacing evil of rapidly-scrolling thumbs. With just a bit of expertise and attention to detail, you’ll find just the right combination of vital information and arresting imagery. This will cause others to give you slightly more than half a millisecond of attention.

Featured Image Credit: Mikechie Esparagoza; Pexels; Thank you!

The post 7 Visual Trends in Media and Publications appeared first on Calendar.

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6 Ways to Turn Your Obstacles Into Wildly Profitable Opportunities

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Here’s how to take the problems you have and turn them into new ventures that are complimentary.

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/how-to-turn-your-problems-into-rewarding-opportunities/424730?fbclid=IwAR1ce3AgeAhA4puApcss9YXGItVfMTfkkz9lllV_zZdlzTJH5TBRn0s4yiM

Many entrepreneurs are great at spotting problems, but very few have mastered the skill of turning their problems into fulfilling, impactful opportunities. It’s most likely not because you’re a negative person — but because your brain is actually wired to identify and focus on problems. In an effort to protect you, your brain is constantly on the lookout for threats, issues and obstacles that need to be avoided or overcome. We’ve been wired this way since the beginning of time.

In theory, this doesn’t sound like a problem, but in reality (especially the reality of an entrepreneur) this way of approaching life can blind us from the life-changing opportunities right in front of us. Here are six steps to avoid that, and ultimately, allow your obstacles to help you become more resilient and relentless in the pursuit of your goals. Do this the next time your life or business presents you with a challenge or curveball you didn’t see coming:

Related: If You Want to Succeed, Fix Your Mindset

1. Get to the truth of the obstacle

Oftentimes when we’re experiencing a problem, we’re too close to it to see it for what it truly is. Before you attempt to solve anything, give yourself time and space to assess the obstacle for what it is. Do this by looking at the obstacle objectively and removing emotion and any bias. This can definitely be harder for some, but it’s critical to make sure you’re clear on what the actual problem is before diving head-first into creating a solution. Too many entrepreneurs approach their problems heavily blinded by emotion, causing them to either freeze and do nothing at all or run full speed ahead with dozens of ineffective solutions and unaligned ideas.

Ask yourself: What’s the real problem here? What’s the actual severity of the problem? Is this something that can actually be solved right now, or do I need to allocate more time and space to assess it and brainstorm solutions?

2. Choose a new perspective

As simple as this sounds, it’s not so simple in application. The first step to creating something great out of a less-than-ideal situation is choosing to see it differently. Instead of dwelling on the problem and focusing all your energy on the fact that a problem exists, challenge yourself to look at it from a new angle.

For example, if a big client falls through, does that ultimately mean you won’t meet your monthly or yearly revenue goal? No. What if, instead, you chose to see it as an opportunity to raise your prices or pitch that new offer you haven’t stopped thinking about? What if that client backing out was actually a blessing in disguise and saved you from months’ worth of headaches?

Turning your obstacles into opportunities starts with getting intentional with the way you view them — and calling yourself out when you’re being negative. What you focus on grows, so if you focus on your problems, your problems will subconsciously grow. The key is to train your brain to think positively and look for solutions.

Related: How to Turn Entrepreneurial Obstacles into Opportunities

3. Remove “failure” from your vocabulary

If you didn’t believe failure was possible, what would you do? Your perception of your problems will instantly change if you decide to adopt one of my favorite beliefs: Failure doesn’t exist. There are lessons to be learned in every trying time, but that’s it. Failure doesn’t have to be an option in your life if you don’t allow it to be.

When you move through life believing it is truly impossible to fail, suddenly your obstacles don’t seem so impossible. You’re able to move through the hard chapters reminding yourself you are learning your life-changing lessons, rather than “failing”.

Next time you find yourself facing an obstacle and feeling afraid to fail, simply ask yourself what you would do right now if failure wasn’t an option. You’ll find yourself moving forward faster, with more confidence and less fear.

4. Focus on what you can do — not what you can’t

Complementary to step one, this is the next step to training your brain to be resilient and solution-oriented. It’s no coincidence that the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have the ability to spot a problem and quickly come up with a solution to fix it.

Instead of letting your brain focus on the things beyond your control, first get clear on everything that is within your control. Make a list of everything you can control right now. You’ll be surprised as opportunities you hadn’t even thought of naturally start to present themselves — and you feel confident in your ability to overcome your obstacle.

Related: 7 Ways to Build Resiliency in Challenging Times

5. Take your power back

Think back to a time in your life when you were the answer to a problem. The truth is, we often become blinded and forget that we hold all the power needed to launch that new business or grow to the next level at any given moment. Knowing that alone should empower you to stand up, remember how capable you are and take the next step toward overcoming your obstacle and creating something incredible out of it.

6. Think “people first”

If you’ve ever had a mentor or colleague tell you how important it is to design your business with your customer first, they’re correct. Businesses that take a customer-centric approach have a near-guarantee pass to succeeding and standing out in the marketplace for years and years to come. So, when you face your next problem as an entrepreneur, challenge yourself to consider how you might be able to come up with a solution that not only helps you but helps your clients as well. Keeping your ideal customer at the forefront of your mind is a guaranteed way to create a great experience your customers want to keep coming back to — and come up with creative ways to move through your obstacles.

Bottom line: Facing problems is inevitable as an entrepreneur. Reaching your version of success isn’t about wishing your problems away, but approaching them from a new perspective. We all have obstacles — it’s what you do with yours that counts.

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You’re the Office’s Silent Star. Now, How Can You Thrive?

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You may have to check your impulse to shy away from what may have seemed non-essential aspects of your career

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-au/growth-strategies/youre-the-offices-silent-star-now-how-can-you-thrive/426508
You’re reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

The Great Resignation and the ongoing flood of colleagues leaving the office chair next to us empty have left us with some doubts: Am I satisfied with my current job? Could I feel more recognized and fulfilled somewhere else?

If you’ve ever felt underappreciated, even as you work to go the extra mile, there’s a good chance you belong to a category of employees who rarely make it onto managers’ radars despite being mega talented: the “silent stars’. These unsung heroes often ensure success for their teams without visibly seeking recognition. As invaluable as they are underappreciated, silent stars are often self-starters, willing to take on less visible or even thankless tasks. But that doesn’t mean they revel in their anonymity.

You may be one of them and halfway out the door. Perhaps you’re still perplexed by how you managed to remain invisible even though you excelled; or by how you never grasped an opportunity to climb the corporate ladder. That said, you’re not alone. Many of those employees who recently quit believed their opportunities for advancement were limited (63 per cent) or perceived little respect at work (57 per cent). Organizations everywhere are on the brink of losing silent stars like you: team members who have long cared more about doing good work than advocating for their interests.

It’s time for silent stars among us to consider your value, your own needs, and how a new mindset will help you meet them.

Am I a “Silent Star’?

If you are what I call a “silent star’, you’ve likely never thought of yourself in these terms. It could be that – perhaps to your credit – you’ve paid more attention to the task at hand than assessing how you fit into the office hierarchy (and your role within it). But job fulfilment is everything, and self-assessment is an important step along that path.

Silent stars are core team members who don’t concern themselves with publicizing their wins, or who by nature refrain from identifying themselves. They are not, however, content with anonymity, and the lack of recognition can lead even the best and brightest to disengage. Oftentimes these silent stars don’t seek to follow a conventional path up the company ladder. They don’t, in other words, “play the game,’ even when they have ambitions for career growth.

In my experience, these all-important contributors can be further broken down into two groups. “Rock stars’ are independent-minded team members consistently doing great work with almost no oversight. They’re the ones that colleagues turn to for help, and when they need to, be certain something will get done well. For rock stars, fulfilment is much less about career advancement and more about acknowledgment and encouragement. If you’re a rock star, you’re likely silently hoping for more public praise, whether through employee recognition programs, positive feedback on calls and emails, or even bonuses.

“Rising stars,’ on the other hand, are equally talented and equally reliable but stand apart for their eagerness, speedy turnaround times, and their desire for recognition and career advancement. Rising stars are also hoping for the chance to engage with the higher-ups, and to receive acknowledgment in the presence of executives. If you’re a rising star, finding opportunities for growth is essential to keeping you engaged.

Both types of silent stars are often overlooked or even taken for granted. And with remote work models only encouraging the tendency to neglect silent stars, steps should be taken to keep these hidden gems engaged and happy.

Silent Stars, Speak Up

Whereas there’s a great deal on what managers should be doing to connect with their low-profile overachievers, silent stars will do themselves (and their organizations) a great service by taking charge and actively making sure their needs as employees are fulfilled.

To start, if recognition is crucial to keeping you locked-in and gratified, resist your tendency to stay passive in hopes of receiving it. If tooting your own horn doesn’t come naturally, praising others around you can serve as a great workaround. By recognizing those you work with, you’ll cultivate a culture of mutual recognition and encourage co-workers to sing your praises in turn.

Another important means of getting your share of the limelight is committing yourself to take risks. Utilize your knack as a self-starter and your autonomy by acting as a leader and flexing your muscles. Whether this means suggesting and/or undertaking new projects, implementing new strategies, or mentoring new team members, take ownership where appropriate and experiment. Perhaps counterintuitively, embracing your autonomy and taking the risk of going it alone will help you get noticed.

In taking such initiative, you should also ensure that you’re drawing the attention of leadership by frequently sharing your ongoing projects and results with your team and supervisors. Sharing insights you’ve gained through new projects can be especially helpful for garnering praise.

At the same time, supplement this reporting with hard evidence of your role as a leader and influencer among your peers. There are a number of new tools that assess a team’s communications to find which employee others regularly go to for guidance. Log these informal interactions and find ways to get this data in front of your supervisors.

As a silent star, and especially as a rock star, acknowledgment is both elusive and essential. Rather than giving up, try to take steps to earn what you deserve.

The Ladder’s Yours to Climb

For rising stars, taking stock of how much you’ve advanced in your career may be quite discouraging. You’ve consistently overachieved and yet may feel you have little to show for it. With time, this severs the connection you have with the work you do.

When rising stars don’t climb the ladder, it’s frequently because they’ve misunderstood how it’s done. In their eyes, one’s dedication to doing fantastic work will inevitably come to light; it’s only a matter of time.

The first step toward getting unstuck is to unlearn this assumption. Sooner or later, you’ve got to learn to navigate the career landscape. So, start with the basics.

Rising stars should take the time to draft out short and long-term goals and how they aim to achieve them. Everything starts with a plan, and if you’ve never formally mapped goals for your career, consider using the SMART framework. Once you have them, don’t hesitate to show these aims to your managers. Better yet, ask for their advice on what sort of metrics you might use to measure your progress.

You’ll need to consider what skills and qualifications you need to obtain these goals. There are many online courses today – whether it’s a marketing certification or cloud technology course – and rising stars should not be afraid to jump into the deep end. Take these skills from the theoretical realm to the practical by identifying opportunities within the company to put them into practice.

Mentorships are also extremely beneficial, especially for those with instincts towards being a heads-down, self-starter. Mentors who’ve made the gains you aspire to can help explain the path forward and reinforce your commitment to all the advice this article has offered.

Again, seek out your manager as you seek a mentor. Getting them involved is one more way of drawing their attention, and they can likely help point you to possible mentors within the organization. Let them know you’re very interested in the chance to shadow current leaders and in Q&A moments with higher-ups.

Finally, as you commit yourself to tried-and-true steps along a path towards career advancement, make sure you’re plenty visible as you progress along! Do the opposite of flying below the radar – attend conferences, start your own blog, or engage with thought leaders through social media. By being seen and heard in the right places, you’ll cultivate your own “executive presence,’ further taking ownership of your career path.

Be Heard, Be Fulfilled

So many of us hold fast to the idea that with hard work – and only hard work – good things will come. In today’s office, however, that’s not always the whole story.

While appreciating that such a strong work ethic is a huge part of what makes them exceptional, silent stars must understand the limits of that mentality. If you seek fulfillment in your career, you’ll ultimately have to learn the ins and outs of getting recognized and advancing in your career.

In other words, you may have to check your impulse to shy away from what may have seemed non-essential aspects of your career. And as you do so, you may find that the right fit for you is actually within your current organization. Luckily for your company, you’ll have saved them the trouble of losing an irreplaceable teammate.

 
 
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It’s Time to Take Memes Seriously. 5 Strategies To Incorporating Memes in Your Marketing Strategy.

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Digital marketers are hopping on the meme trend. In some cases, brands can get more engagement with a well-timed meme than any other marketing graphics.

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https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/how-to-use-memes-to-transform-your-marketing-strategy/435351?fbclid=IwAR32tOEPC5MrNQAwnFpRLXK1Axl31FhuuglRFfPw55DSaGyPL25US20IPCc
 

At least two-thirds of millennials and Gen Z regularly share memes on social media. The only content more likely to be shared is infographics and travel photos. Visual media is the most important form of communication now. Surveys have found that 55% of 13-35 year-olds send memes weekly, and at least 30% exchange memes daily. Nearly a quarter of respondents said they send memes multiple times per day.

The question on most marketers’ minds is, “How can I create viral memes?”

 

If your content can incorporate these five elements, your chances of going viral are much more significant.

Related: How to Use Memes to Attract More Attention Online

1. Post for your target audience

You don’t necessarily need to treat meme generation as a marketing campaign. Often, the best memes arise organically, just waiting to be developed. Any media event can become a popular meme, even news that seems mundane, such as President Biden falling from a bicycle. It’s harmless news that becomes interpreted in hundreds of humorous ways.

Still, it would be best if you had an idea of who this content will appeal to when you’re making it. It’s impossible to predict if a meme will become viral because its popularity depends on the whims of other people. In that vein, creating content that those in your niche will feel emotionally connected to is helpful. That’s the best predictor of how successful your meme will be. A good example is the dating app OkCupid which shares relevant memes widely to boost engagement on their social media.

2. Think creatively

The best memes take recognizable content (stills from a movie, pictures from a significant news event, etc.) and put a new twist on it that causes a reaction in people.

In the U.S., memes about politics, political figureheads and inflation are persistently popular. These are topics of constant discussion, so naturally, memes follow. These issues are particularly “meme-able” because there are so many ways to add humor to situations that aren’t humorous.

The flexibility of the mind is the greatest meme-generating tool you have. The meme formats that persist often come from taking a fresh perspective on a movie, news story or media event. For example, Netflix created an Instagram page, Netflix is a joke, where their customers share memes, and that helps the company to gain more audience.

Related: ‘Bird Box’: Breaking Barriers in the Streaming World by Marketing Through Memes

3. A genuine sense of humor

The universal love of memes stems from the fact that, as humans, we love to laugh. In today’s society, many people use memes to connect with friends or strangers over something lighthearted as a momentary escape from stress. Trend reports note that 38% of millennials and Gen Z follow social media accounts dedicated to memes.

Memes should combine what’s trending online with simple, funny text. Humor is subjective, so you may not always get it right, but memes don’t work without a sense of humor. You have to be able to embrace absurdity and laugh at yourself or a situation to generate memes that other people enjoy.

There’s even a neural network called GPT-3 that can use AI and machine learning to generate relevant, funny memes based on just a few words. There are entire meme accounts that create and post content in this way.

Related: This Is How Artificial Intelligence Is Revolutionizing Influencer Marketing

4. A relatable feeling

Memes have become a critical communication tool thanks to their relatable nature. The right meme has the unique ability to convey a tremendous amount of meaning within a simple image. Yes, memes are partly used as comic relief, but 36 percent of millennials and Gen Z use them to express feelings, and 28 percent use them when they can’t find the right words to express themselves.

This proves that a viral meme is a relatable one. In most cases, it’s important to remember that a person is looking for themselves in a meme. They want to see something recognizable in the sentiment conveyed. Gucci was one of the first fashion brands that collaborated with Instagram meme-makers to promote the collection of watches.

Related: How to Harness the Power of Internet Memes for Your Business

5. Realistic expectations

You don’t need a huge budget, complicated photo editors or deep cuts from pop culture to make a viral meme. However, you do need to understand that creating viral content is always a bit of a gamble.

A meme stays popular until it doesn’t. There’s usually a sharp rise and fall in popularity with memes. One thing will be trending everywhere until suddenly something new shows up, and the old meme is now largely outdated.

The spirit of a meme is to evoke feelings of all kinds in a relatable, often humorous way. Not everything will be an instant hit, and nothing will last forever.

Where will meme culture go from here?

Memes have quietly entered our lives, and they are now even more meaningful than emojis because they can convey more nuanced feelings. Everyone from the U.S. President to Elon Musk is a part of meme culture now (in both cases, they share and are featured in memes).

Anyone can now create a meme about anything. Many people can earn money by making memes and gaining a following on Instagram or Facebook. The only problem with these platforms is how algorithms work. They depend on factors like follower count and the “age” of your account.

If your brand account is new, your content might not be highlighted or recommended to others, so growing your account becomes the main hustle rather than making good content.

YouTube and TikTok have more transparent monetization systems that depend on views, so smaller brands can benefit more by creating exciting and fun content. Other platforms like Yepp share revenue from advertising and help users easily create memes and generate income from their content.

In the future, we can expect memes to become more ingrained in our communication. With the rise of topics like Web3 and digital ownership, memes may become more prevalent in the NFT and metaverse space. For now, meme potential is nearly limitless.