It’s a new age for entrepreneurship. Doing good in the world while maintaining a business no longer is an oddity. Companies are now being built on the very foundation of doing good in the world. Today, you have companies designing sneakers entirely from recycled materials, or food joints that go to lengths to make sure they source all their ingredients locally, or businesses that make a point of hiring people who traditionally struggled in the job market, such as vets, elderly and less-able bodied people. Consumers are responding in kind, and rewarding companies that pursue making the world a better place next to their bottom line. These companies are usually referred to as ethical businesses.
One of the hardest things about running your own business is knowing whether or not you need to hire a lawyer. Whether you have been a victim of a cyber security breach or someone has stolen your intellectual property, you need to be sure hiring a lawyer is the best possible option for you. Whilst it may seem difficult at first, there are lots of questions you can ask yourself to be sure you’re making the right decision. With that in mind, here are 5 things to consider before hiring a lawyer:
Flexible working is one of the most sort after benefits in the modern workplace. Recent studies show that around 71% of the workforce value flexible working opportunities above any other benefits. More of us are working around other commitments, and for many, flexible working hours are the only way that they can continue to work.
Does it seem like you spending too much time managing data input? Or stuck on cold leads instead of preparing for the expected expansion of your growing business? Roughly 15% of business owners and staff in management believe that they’re using their skills in the business to their fullest.
When you commit yourself to building an online business, the time you have to spend and the effort you have to exert can sometimes be a little overwhelming. If you constantly find yourself having to take tasks home with you, or perhaps you’re just simply fed up of battling through a 7 day working week, you may want to consider evaluating and assessing your current business model to identify whether there are any processes you could complete in a more efficient way.
When it comes to running a business, there are some services that are seen as essential. The issue here is that there are some that are left off this list when they are just as important as the ones everyone knows about. For this reason, we have written this article to give you a good idea about some of the services that you probably didn’t know your business needed. This way, you can implement them in your business model as soon as possible, and save yourself a lot of trouble down the line. If you are interested in learning more about these services, keep reading down below.
Most offices will have within them a space to meet. This is where your staff might congregate to discuss a client brief. It’s where you might lure investors to speak to them about the possibilities of your firm. It might be where HR meetings take place, prior to an important disciplinary. You might interview staff in here. You might present findings here. In some offices, multiple meeting rooms like this are utilized.
You’ve bitten the bullet and are about to embark on what might be your first trade show. If you’re having second thoughts, don’t. These shows, or exhibitions, are a fantastic vehicle for showcasing your business and speaking directly to your customers in person. Sure, there is a lot of hard work involved, not to mention some financial investment needed. Despite that, it’s well worth getting involved in the right show.
It’s easy to dismiss corporate hospitality if you’re a startup. After all, it’s been around for a while, and if you Google “startup marketing” you’re far more likely to come up with cutting edge online marketing techniques to set you apart from the competition. But for that same reason, don’t overlook corporate hospitality. It’s likely your immediate competitors are ignoring it and you could have the edge.
We see so much about how to acquire a new customer to your business. It’s natural for startups to want that growth. But did you know that it costs 5 times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one (source: https://www.invespcro.com/blog/customer-acquisition-retention/). What’s more, existing customers will spend more money with you, and are 50% more likely to try new products.
Existing customers are also the ones you’re going to relying on as a business to provide recommendations, testimonials and case studies. So don’t underestimate the value you should place on them, or what lengths you should go to when it comes to keeping these customers happy.
Corporate Hospitality – Building A Stronger Relationship With Your Client
And that’s where corporate hospitality becomes so important for a new startup. It’s all about building strong bonds, and to do that, you have to get outside the office environment and into a more relaxed, natural setting.
Imagine pitching your next big project. You’re in a meeting room, presentation at the ready. Before you even stand up to begin your introduction, your client sits there opposite, arms folded. Now imagine stepping outside, into another enviornment. Silverstone, maybe, for the Formula 1. Or Wimbledon. Now you aren’t pitching. Now it’s small talk. You’re chatting. You’re sharing ideas. Visions. You’re no longer selling. You’re simply bonding with your customer.
Simple Steps To Picking The Perfect Hospitality Event
The biggest problem for a lot of busy startups is finding the time to pick the perfect hospitality event. So if you are considering hospitality, go with a specialist corporate hospitality company such as Sheeredge who have the experience and background in finding the perfect event and venue for you and your customer. They have access to venues, catering and sports events that you might not have thought about, or VIP tickets that might be hard to come by if you’re new to that type of event (particular sport and music).
Entice your customer with exclusive, VIP events that are difficult to say no to
When it comes to agreeing on an event, think about what your customer might like, and what will reflect well on your business and your brand. Are you a young, fun, vibrant company? Or are you in a more conservative, traditional industry? Those factors are important when picking the venue, dining options and event type. Similarly, think about location. If you’re in a city with a famous venue, and your client is from elsewhere, then that can be a great way to impress a client.
It doesn’t have to be the obvious VIP tickets to a big sports game. Sheeredge also do interesting alternatives like team building activities.
Once At The Event, Don’t Be Salesy
Finally, take the time to enjoy it! Remember, this isn’t about hard selling and pitching. This is about forming a strong, long-lasting bond with your customer. It’s all about that hugely valuable relationship.
If you do have a new product or service, don’t sell it, but simply talk about your future vision and your ideas for your company. Show your passion for it, and the business will sell itself.
All entrepreneurs remember that “eureka” moment that placed them on a path to start their own business. Whether they formulated an idea for a new product or improved upon an existing one or whether they simply spotted a gap in the market that had yet to be filled by competing businesses, there’s nothing like the surge of joy and self-belief that comes with knowing that you have the beginning of a viable business idea. As you slowly formulate your business plan and work out your prospective cash flow analyses your excitement mounts and on the day you first open your doors you’re positively brimming with infectious enthusiasm…
