Meagan Kerlin

Many successful businesses start out as a simple dream. Maybe you started a small company based on your passion, and now you find yourself juggling your “real job” obligations and the many things you have to do to keep your side hustle afloat. Most business owners find themselves in this in-between stage at some point — somewhere between being able to do their side job full time while still needing full-time income from another source. This can be a complicated phase in the life of your business, but with focus and dedication, you can make it.

One of the most important steps for you as you attempt to build a business while working a side hustle is to have a crystal clear vision for the future of your small business. Working two jobs is difficult and stressful, and knowing exactly what you want to do in the future and why you want to do it can help you find the motivation to keep pushing. Commitment to your ultimate dream is an essential part of your success.

Another step you can take as you juggle both jobs is to reach out for professional business guidance. This stage offers you a great opportunity to get training and insight for business growth and future goals. Before you go full time with your side hustle, make sure you know what it will take to succeed at that point. Joining a entrepreneur group, securing the help of a business coach and taking other steps can help you lay a strong foundation for the next stage of your small business.

It is not easy to work full time while still pursuing your true passion. If you are not yet ready to completely turn your side hustle into your career, be patient, set daily goals and keep chasing your dream. Take the time to learn and prepare for the future success of your company.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

You are likely aware that some of the largest groups of consumers, particularly younger demographics, are generations highly motivated by social consciousness. More and more consumers decide where to spend their money based on which companies give back and work for the betterment of a charitable cause. In response, more companies are making the effort to actively engage with their surrounding communities through charity work, donations and awareness campaigns. Doing good is a great thing to do, and it can also be very good for business.

While many major corporations have poured significant money and marketing efforts into letting consumers know about their charitable efforts, you do not have to do the same. It does not take millions of dollars to start doing charitable work as a business. Many companies find that when they make a group effort for charity work, it can boost employee morale. Whether you are a small company or large corporation, giving back feels good, and working together for a common goal can be a great team-building exercise.

Being a philanthropic company does not mean you have to set your goal of success to the side. In fact, some of the most charitable companies in the world, such as Apple and Starbucks, give back to communities regularly while still treating employees well and making a huge profit. If you want your business to start doing charity work in some capacity, you have to find a way to do this in a manner that works with the size of your company, your financial abilities and other factors.

One of the biggest reasons your business should be involved with charity work in some capacity is that it is simply a good thing to do. Outside of the many benefits it can provide for your business, working for the good of your community is a simple way to serve others. If your business has never done charity work as an organization before, it may be a good time to start thinking of ways that you can work together for a good cause.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

When success comes, most people experience the temptation to put on the brakes and coast for a bit. It’s fine to enjoy success for what it is and appreciate the comforts that business success affords, but it’s critical not to camp out in this phase forever. Not only are successful people always looking ahead to what is next, they are also planning for contingencies. Life is unpredictable, and preparation for unexpected setbacks is prudent, regardless of how unlikely they seem at the moment.

Entrepreneurs not only have to be prepared for their daily responsibilities, meetings and other obligations, they also have to be prepared for hard times. Difficult phases are an inevitable part of doing business, and when you are prepared for them, you can weather the storm with confidence. This can include an unexpected location change, employee turnover, low profit quarters and more. Thinking ahead to scenarios that may not even happen can seem completely unnecessary, but it is something that every smart entrepreneur does.

Most people wait until disaster strikes to start preparing for one. This is faulty and potentially destructive reasoning. Consider how you can prepare for all types of contingencies, save money, have plans in place and purchase the tools that you may need to ride out the bad times. When you are enjoying success, that is the time to think about what could happen in an emergency situation or setback.

Preparation can save you time, money and a significant amount of stress. In fact, it can give you both the peace of mind and confidence you need to feel secure about the future of your business. If you are successful now, start working on ways you can ensure that you have continued success far down the road. Have a plan, think ahead and always be prepared.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

First impressions are incredibly important, often setting the tone for the relationship. In the business world, making a strong first impression is important for your success, allowing to you make connections and network effectively. It’s smart to have a game plan when meeting new business contacts, and it’s just as smart to work on how to approach people, introduce yourself and initiate conversations. The first moments of a conversation matter, from a firm handshake to initial greetings, and you should know how to make them count.

One of the hallmarks of making a good first impression is your appearance. You do not have to possess movie star good looks to make a positive first impression, but you should be intentional and prepared. Your attire does not matter as much as your demeanor — look confident, kind and personable. Another way you can ensure you start your business conversations in the right way is to pay attention to your posture. When sitting, sit up straight, look people in the eyes and keep focused on what the other person is saying.

The impression you give people when you meet them for the first time can color their viewpoint on you, what you say, what you are selling and your business. People need to know you care and are connecting with what they are saying. Make it clear, even in the first moments of the conversation, that you are paying attention and genuinely care.

One of the most important ways you can give people the right impression about you and your business right away is to demonstrate trustworthiness. Your attitude and entire demeanor can demonstrate that you are genuine, honest and concerned about the needs of the other party. Don’t approach conversations with the viewpoint of making a sale, but instead, approach these conversations as an opportunity to make new connections and help others. This perspective of “others first” will be apparent to the other person, and it is often one of the strongest and most effective ways to make a good first impression.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

As an entrepreneur, you know how important it is to manage your time wisely and make good decisions regarding your how you spend the hours you have in the day. It can be beneficial to learn not just time management strategy, but to respect time as well. When you are aware and respectful of your own time, you will do the same for others. It is also more likely others will do the same for you.

Even the most disciplined of people will face unexpected interruptions. Minutes lost from unexpected phone calls, little conversations here and there, and unplanned stops throughout the day can take up a significant amount of your schedule. While you cannot completely eliminate these kinds of interruptions in your life, it is possible to strike a balance between allowing people to unintentionally steal your time and making room for life’s little disruptions.

One way that you can learn to respect your own time is to implement new management practices. From precise scheduling to avoiding social media during work hours, there are many ways you can add more positive disciplines and gain more from the hours you have. One habit that you can develop is learning to say no. This can be uncomfortable, but this is an important step in learning how to protect your time and stay on track with your priorities.

It’s also okay to give yourself permission to leave conversations and disruptions that are not necessary and invaluable. For example, excusing yourself politely and asking to reconvene a conversation later is often both appropriate and reasonable. You can value your own time without being rude, but it’s critical to learn how to walk away from things that are not a priority.

When you protect your time, you may find that you are more productive and effective in your day-to-day obligations. This may allow you to enjoy your free moments more fully and engage in your personal life away from work more often. Learning how to use the hours you have wisely is a critical component of your success as an entrepreneur or professional.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

The confidence and skill that it requires to be successful in sales is not something that comes naturally to everyone. Even if your business is not sales- or commission-based, having the ability to make a sale is a useful tool in any type of business. From negotiating contracts to dealing with difficult clients, your ability to effectively makes a pitch and close a sale can be of great benefit in many areas.

Not everyone is naturally gifted in this area. Some people have the gift of communication and persuasion, but fortunately, if you do not, this is a skill you can hone and build over time. Whether you need to boost your sales or you simply want to sharpen your ability to navigate important business relationships, the following may be helpful to you:

• Offer value. It is never easy to make a sale if you are not offering something of value. Your customer must feel that he or she is getting great value out of any money spent. Skilled salespeople are able to offer more to the customer than what they are asking in return. Offering free products or bonus services with a sale is a simple yet effective way to offer increased value to your prospective clients.
• Offer trials. People are often reluctant to make a significant investment of their financial resources if they are not sure they will be happy with the product. By offering a trial period or trial product samples, people may be more likely to commit to a sale since they are already familiar with your product.
• Offer reviews. In some cases, clients want to speak with others who have tried your products or benefitted from your services. Find a way to connect prospective clients with satisfied current customers or allow clients to access product reviews and company ratings.

Closing a sale hinges on what you have to offer to the prospective client. Focus on offering value and benefit to the other party rather than just getting your money and moving on to the next sales call. With a client-centered strategy, you may see a boost in your numbers and enjoy the benefits of greater customer satisfaction.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Regardless of the specific job you have or type of business you own, you will have to master the art of negotiation. You may not think that your job requires you to negotiate, but ultimately, you have to figure out how to convince people to do what you want them to do. Whether that is your employees, your partners or your prospective customers, you have to communicate clearly and work for a positive outcome. You may not be in literal negotiations, but it is helpful to learn how to be persuasive when it is necessary.

Learning how to negotiate is not about manipulating circumstances or people. Negotiation is about learning how to communicate well, get your point across to the other party and pursue a beneficial outcome to your situation. In the give-and-take of communicating with others, it’s important to remember to focus on persuading the other party, not pushing the other party. Forcing others to see things your way or pressuring people to make a decision or spend money is ultimately not healthy for your business. Even the best communicators strike out sometimes. Your job is to attempt to persuade, not steamroll people.

There is a certain skill to negotiating and persuading people to do what you want. These skills are particularly handy when dealing with difficult clients, stubborn partners or intimidating sales pitches. There is an art to leading conversations and presenting your case, even while engaging with others and listening to the other party. It is also important to remember that negotiation involves give and take, and you will likely have to make concessions and comprises on your way to a reasonable negotiated agreement.

Negotiating is difficult, and regardless of what your specific day-to-day obligations require, it’s a beneficial skill to have. These skills can help carry you through difficult professional relationships and help you take steps that are necessary for the good of your company.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Social media is a great tool for marketing purposes, but it’s also a great way to have conversations and make connections with your customers. Using social media is not only a smart method to gain exposure and spread the word about your company, it is a way to build rapport with the people who may potentially patronize your company. If your only objective to using Facebook, Instagram and other platforms is to simply get your name out there, you could be missing out on a prime opportunity to build genuine, strong connections.

When using social media, make sure you are communicating clearly. Keep your messages short, sweet and to the point. If you are posting large blocks of text or using terms that most people are not familiar with, they will likely just keep scrolling. Keep posts accessible, easy-to-understand and interesting to read. People are more likely to engage with you if they enjoy your posts.

Implementing video content is also a good way to connect with your followers and potential customers. Video is one of the best ways to market through social media, and it is a fantastic way to build your brand with minimal time and financial investment. Your company may also find it helpful to buy ads or pay for boosted or promoted posts within social media as well. While much of what you can do on these sites is free, many companies find that paying for ads is a great way to expand the reach of their posts, thereby gaining better exposure within their market.

Ask questions, take polls, post engaging and interesting content and continue to look for ways to build connections through your social media pages. Using these tools the right way will help you gain exposure and connect with your market in a way that other marketing methods do not allow.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC