May 17, 2015 - Vertū Marketing

3 Ways to Shake up Your Business Game

May 17, 2015 by tylie eaves

Are your sales steady but stagnant? Sure, having a consistent number of sales to count on is a good thing, but businesses do not begin to amass wealth by ignoring innovation. For those who are ready to do more than just break even at the end of the month, there are several options to kick things up to the next level.

Find new avenues for selling your product.
Develop new, meaningful products.
Review the brand strategy and consider an upgrade.

There is nothing wrong with selling directly to customers through a website, and, indeed, many customers enjoy being able to navigate directly to what they want, but that does not mean that other options are less valid. For instance, consider offering a discount for certain blog readers, making a particular product temporarily available on a high-traffic website or even ask a blogger to review a product for free and then share his or her thoughts with readers.

While considering new ways to sell old products, remember that innovation is a strong force in the world of business. Consumers always seem to be ready for that new, hot product that adds real value to their lives.

During this time of rapid change for product lines, a business can also undergo a significant transformation. Letting a business’s brand lag behind its products can work against it by creating a disconnect between what customers expect and what is actually being delivered.

If a start-up has just been idling comfortably, jump in feet first and shake things up! Building wealth from a business takes time, dedication and the willingness to improve your game whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Business Hacks to Transform Your Day and Your Company

May 17, 2015 by tylie eaves

Entrepreneurs and start-up owners are no strangers to utilizing innovative techniques to tackle their business-related duties. However, it can be easier than it may seem to fall into a rut and forget all about the wild spirit of adventure that first sparked the desire to start a business.

So what is a business owner to do? You can hack your way back.

Stop putting off the things you do not want to do.

Everyone has that “thing,” organizing their files, replying to emails or any other mundane task that shows up on a to-do list. Instead of leaving it until last, get it out of the way early on and focus on more exciting tasks for the rest of the day.

Speaking of that to-do list…

Start making one again. With a clearly defined plan for the day, productivity can skyrocket while unnecessary down time can be kept to a minimum.

Make sure that “you” are on that list.

Time is at a premium for most business owners, so make sure there are some non-business related activities penned (not penciled) on your to-do list several days a week. Including time for exercise can prove to be significantly beneficial.

Ignore the phone every once in a while.

If it is your mother calling, consider answering, but otherwise, give that phone a break. Voicemail is an invaluable tool, and, if it is important, the caller will leave a message that you can check at your own leisure. Even business-related chit chat can derail whatever task was at hand before the phone rang.

Get out of the office.

Fresh air (or the espresso-scented air of that good coffee shop a few blocks down) can result in new perspectives on otherwise redundant or troublesome issues. Try temporarily working in a new area.

Ready to improve the pace of your business day? Give these business hacks a try and watch your day transform into a mean, lean, productive machine.

Dust off That Old English Book and Add Some Value to Your Website

May 17, 2015 by tylie eaves

The value that the written word can contribute to a business cannot be overstated. Consider the following: How many times has an unintelligible text message gone unread? How often does the focus shift from the topic of a press release to the spelling errors in it? Providing a valuable product is not enough to retain customers and keep a business growing. After all, who will want to order a new product if they are not even sure what the description is trying to convey?

Even with an already established business, bringing a copywriter on to the staff may be one of the most important aspects of growing a business. Skilled copywriters understand the finer nuances of writing a fine piece of copy, and they know what it takes to snag a customer’s attention.

However, say a customer is satisfied for the time being and not interested in purchasing another product for the foreseeable future. Perhaps he or she already owns or utilizes the offered products and is otherwise satisfied. So how can the written word keep them engaged and coming back? Increasingly, businesses are incorporating blogs into their websites, creating an environment to which consumers will want to return.

The important thing to remember about blogs is thatthey do matter. Customers will be reading these and possibly even sharing them with their friends through social media, so make those words count. People want engaging and valuable content, and they know when they are being swindled. Make sure the quality of a blog reflects the same quality that you strive for in day-to-day business.

While a business certainly needs new customers to grow, where would a company be without a loyal group of existing customers? One way to make a business even better is to create a welcoming environment, which can be relatively easy in the online world. Professional level copy can set the tone and welcome customers in, while an ongoing blog with exciting and engaging content can keep people coming back time after time, creating a solid foundation that will allow your business to grow and thrive.

When to Give Your 2-Week Notice and When to Wait It Out

May 17, 2015 by tylie eaves

Ready to quit that 9 to 5 and set up a business at home? Not so fast! Before you act, consider the following questions:

Am I angry about my current job? Startups based on drive and passion, not as a backlash to an unpleasant event, are more likely to succeed.
Can I be flexible when necessary? Even with the most well-written business plans, there are still unexpected obstacles that nearly all entrepreneurs will need to overcome.
What am I willing to sacrifice? Money, fancy coffee, date nights? The answer will be different for everyone, but it is important to understand what is on the line before facing the possibility of having to give it up.
Am I really passionate about this? The answer to this should be a resounding YES!

Starting a business is so much more than opening up a laptop in your spare bedroom and posting a few ads on the Internet. There are business plans to be written, research to be done, licenses to be applied for and all of the behind-the-scenes hard work that must be completed before a startup can even begin to provide consumer-ready products.

While every entrepreneur had to start somewhere, the truly successful ones understand that there is a time to take action and a time to be patient. So let’s review those questions one more time. There is no need to worry if the answers were a little unexpected or discouraging. If now is not the right time, focus on researching opportunities for your future business. When the time is right, the extra time and effort spent gathering necessary information will likely play an invaluable role in your business’s success.