Being self-employed as a freelancer or business owner isn't the same as being an entrepreneur. While many people prefer the flexibility and freedom of working for themselves rather than working for someone else, being an entrepreneur isn't about improving your own work-life balance. It's about improving other people's lives. And whether you're developing entirely new products or services or seeking to add value to existing ones, it can take long hours of hard work. To boost your chances of succe...
Good communication practices are at the heart of every successful business. They play a key role in maintaining strong working relationships, building effective teams, boosting employee engagement, increasing productivity and improving client relationships. On the flip side, poor communication practices can lead to low morale, reduced profits and lost opportunities. Effective internal communication "is the glue that holds an organization together," writes Kelechi Okeke. Here, he shares an infogr...
Now boasting more than a billion active users, Instagram has become a powerful marketing platform. Since its early days as a simple, photo-sharing app, Instagram has been creating new ways for brands to engage users and build customer loyalty. This comprehensive guide walks you through "the fundamentals of a well-rounded Instagram marketing strategy" with some top tips on how to create an effective profile, develop a Stories strategy, and use analytics to make sure your content remains relevant ...
The most effective salespeople are good listeners who ask the right questions, choose their words wisely and build trust with their customers. Closing is the make-or-break moment and perhaps the most challenging part of the sales process. And relying on outdated sales techniques can hinder rather than help you close more sales. Here, Ari Galper shares how to build authentic relationships by focusing more on helping your customers achieve their goals so they can see you as a t...
Growth is vital for the long-term success of your business and you need a detailed roadmap to understand where the business is going and how it's getting there. A strategic growth plan helps you identify and access new opportunities, monitor your progress, and stay on track towards achieving your goals for long-term success. Even the best-laid plans can go awry, however. Here, Lisa Furgison shares some top tips from business professor and startup co-founder Marc Meyer to help you avoid the most ...
For your business to succeed you need to be doing something you truly love and are good at—and while you may not be an expert now, you should dedicate yourself to becoming one. This is just one of the common themes to emerge from the business advice shared by some of "the world's most successful and respected entrepreneurs." Taking the first step is always the hardest part of launching a new business and while not all advice will immediately benefit every aspiring entrep...
Some advice can do your business more harm than good. And first-time entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to bad advice—even when it comes from other, more experienced and successful entrepreneurs. Striking out on your own to launch a new business is a huge step and when you're just starting out it's natural to seek advice. The challenge is knowing which advice is more likely to help than hinder. In this blog post, serial entrepreneur Alex Turnbull shares five questions that will help y...
Entrepreneurship isn't for the faint-hearted and each new venture brings fresh challenges even for experienced founders. Although statistics vary from one survey to another, the consensus is that the majority of start-ups fail within the first two to five years. And the failure rate is especially high among tech start-ups. Nevertheless, being aware of the most common hurdles and how to overcome them can significantly improve your chances of success. With that in mind, Chris Maguire shares here s...
If you dread the thought of going back to work after a break, it may be a good time to reflect on what's really important to you and how well your current job fits with your career, life and personal goals. This is when many people dream of quitting their job, running their own business, and working on their own terms. Entrepreneurship isn't a good fit for everyone however. So, before planning your escape to 'live the dream,' make sure you have the right skills and attributes to thrive an entrep...
One of the top priorities for any business is to keep operating costs as low as possible without sacrificing quality. Taking steps to run your business more efficiently can lead to significant cost savings. And a more effective use of resources helps boost profitability without having to rely on pricing to remain competitive. Cutting costs doesn't always mean having to make dramatic changes. Even small adjustments can often make a big difference. To help you identify where you may be spendi...
