Month: April 2019

As a saavy business owner, you understand how important it is to have and maintain a strong social media presence. Building a following can take time and a significant amount of effort, and it’s important to make sure that your social media strategy does not go stale. This can lead to less engagement, fewer people seeing your posts and less return on your efforts. If you feel like you aren’t getting enough bang for your proverbial buck on social media, you may want to consider trying some new things to breathe life back into it.

What you need to do to add some excitement to your social media strategy efforts depends on your goals, needs and what you hope to accomplish out of your Facebook, Instagram and other profiles. While there are many things you can do to improve your presence and boost engagement with your followers, you may want to consider the following:

• If you do not already use videos, you may want to consider it. Videos, even short ones, can lead to great connection with your followers and increase the number of clicks you get. Facebook and other platforms are making it easier than ever to make interesting, engaging videos.
• You may benefit from using stories on Instagram or IGTV. This allows you to talk to your followers, show products, answer questions and much more.
• Use your posts as opportunities to engage with your followers. Ask questions, start polls and do other things that will get people responding to your posts. This starts conversations, and conversations often lead to paying customers.

If your social media strategy feels stale ad boring, you may not be getting everything you can get out of your profiles. Take some time to explore the possibilities and implement some of these free, easy-to-use tools to increase excitement, get people talking and boost your sales.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

One of the most important components of your success is to have the right people on your team. It doesn’t matter what type of business you have or what your goals may be for the future, you will be more likely to achieve success when you are surrounded by people who challenge you, make you better and push you to go further. From CEO’s to entrepreneurs, your success may have more to do having the right team in your corner than a stellar business plan or product idea .

From the initial stages of your company, it’s important to be intentional about the people you have in your core group. These are the people who inspire you, cause you to shoot for bigger and better, and give you honest feedback. They may also be the people who support you, encourage you and pick you back up when things aren’t going as planned. If you need to build a support team based on your business purposes, look for people who are motivated entrepreneurs, who understand what you are experiencing, and who have already achieved what you hope to have one day.

Your dream support team should push you to keep moving forward and chase your goals. Surround yourself with people who can help you get where you need to go and inspire you to keep working hard. In the same way your team will provide invaluable support to you, you will be able to do the same for them. The beauty of working with a team is that no one has to go it alone.

No matter what type of business you have, it is important to have people in your life you can rely on. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or if you run a business that employs dozens of people, you need a support team you can count on to walk with you through challenging times and celebrate with you in successful times.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Starting a business is an exciting and complex process, and there are things you need to think about beyond just deciding what you want your company to do and what your name should be. There are various legal decisions that entrepreneurs will need to make during the formation period and at the initiation of their businesses. The choices you make will impact your business for years to come, and it is in your interests to know how to avoid legal complications and potential financial losses down the road.

Making sure you have appropriate legal protections can help you avoid issues that could ultimately cost your business time and money. One of the most significant ways you can do this is by drafting strong partnership agreements. If you own your company with someone else, it is smart to have a legal contract that outlines the rights and responsibilities of each partner. It could also prove beneficial to have contracts with all of your vendors and even employees to reduce the chance of complications in the future.

Another way you can reduce the possibility of complications down the road is to have contracts with your clients — if it suits your particular type of business. Through these agreements, you can outline the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. For example, a sales contract can include your payment terms, the duration of the contract and more.

Finally, preparation can help you reduce the chance you will experience financial and legal issues at some point. Before you launch your business, you may want to talk to business and legal professionals in order to ensure you have the right documents and other protections you need before moving forward. If you already have your business up and running, it is not too late to consider what legal steps may prove invaluable to your continued success.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Every professional struggles with feelings of exhaustion at some point. However, there is a point where exhaustion turns into a feeling of complete apathy and discontent. This is burnout, and it can significantly impact your future. Burnout is a real threat to the longevity and continued success of your business, and it’s worthwhile to know how to prevent it. While you will probably feel exhausted from time to time, you will find it beneficial to know how to protect yourself from stepping over the line into complete burnout. For some, this is the point of no return.

Some people take pride in overworking. There is a certain perception that in order to truly pursue success, a person has to be available at all hours to take calls, respond to emails and strategize for the next steps to take. Not only is that completely untrue, it can be physically, emotionally and mentally unhealthy. For the sake of your mind and body, develop a schedule that allows you to balance your personal life and your work life. Taking breaks, spending time with family, watching your kids soccers games — these are all good things for which you should make time.

There will be periods where you will be extremely busy. This is normal, but be wary about allowing them to stretch longer and longer until you find yourself in a lifestyle where you are always tired, always on the run and always working. This is a recipe for burnout. Teetering on the verge of complete burnout won’t help you be more successful. You will be a better, more competent version of yourself when you are not sleep deprived and constantly thinking about work.

Balance is the key to avoiding the burnout stage. Find ways to invite more balance into your life, and be intentional about carving out ways to practice self-care and get rest. Ultimately, these will make you a better entrepreneur, professional, leader, parent, friend and much more.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

There are many things that can hold you back from success. Some of these things are physical challenges and circumstances beyond your control, while others may be mental roadblocks that only you can see. In fact, you may be facing roadblocks that you don’t even realize you are facing, and they can have a significant impact on your success and forward momentum. It’s beneficial to occasionally self-evaluate in order to determine what habits, mindsets and other things in your life are keeping you from achieving your goals.

One unrealized roadblock in your life may be bad habits that you’ve allowed to creep in and take hold. Distraction, negativity, laziness, lack of structure  are all bad habits that can have a significant negative influence on your success as an entrepreneur. Bad habits don’t develop overnight, and it can take time and discipline to break them, but it’s always worth the effort to rid your life of this type unseen roadblock.

Another common unrealized roadblock that may be holding you back is your pride. If you have enjoyed any measure of success, you may find yourself leaning more and more on your own abilities and less on your mentor’s  guidance or your team’s strengths. Don’t let success fool you into thinking that you’ve got it all figured out. Sustained success only comes with personal growth, a willingness to learn from mistakes and working with people who challenge you and make you better.

If you don’t have a source of guidance and support on your entrepreneurial journey, this can serve as a roadblock as well. No matter what type of field you are in or the type of business you have, you could benefit greatly from having an experienced business mentor or coach to help you navigate this difficult journey. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and take the time to self-reflect and see what unrealized roadblocks may be standing in your way.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC