Meagan Kerlin

You may be one of the many people who dream of owning and operating their own business someday. For many, entrepreneurship is the American dream. They want to be their own boss, making their own rules and working for themselves. Having this desire and making the choice to start a business is only the first step. Before you move forward, you need to do a bit of planning and preparation, as starting a business involves much more than just having a good idea and a Facebook page.

There are several important factors to consider before you launch a new company. First, what will your business have to offer that other companies are not already offering? What will set you apart? You may have a specific skill, talent or hobby that you are very good at, but that does not always translate into a successful business. You need a thorough business plan that outlines how you will take this skill and turn it into a profitable business strategy.

Second, you will need to evaluate the market. Who will buy your products, or who will benefit from your services? Is there a need for what you have to offer? What will you charge customers and clients? These questions can help you evaluate how to create a business plan that will be sustainable for a profitable business. Knowing the answers to these questions in advance will help you be organized and efficient as you launch your company.

Even with the best business idea and carefully crafted business plan, success is not guaranteed. It is important to remember that many small businesses don’t make it past the first year. This underlines the importance of being prepared and organized before you officially open for business. Your time of preparation, research and consideration will help you decide if this is the right time for you to start your small business.

As life begins to return to normal in many ways, companies are considering how to get employees back to the traditional in-person work setting. While in-person work has its merits, and the office environment does allow for more cohesive teamwork, some employees are pushing back against mandates to return to the office. Many employees have been working remotely for two years, and they may not believe it is necessary or safe to return to a pre-COVID office environment.

Some companies are mandating that all employees return to the office. These same companies are seeing a high rate of personnel turnover and backlash. Major businesses, such as Google and Uber, have backed away from these mandates after significant negative feedback, allowing employees to work remotely. Many others have hybrid schedules that balance both in-person and virtual work. Still, it seems that too many employers may be pushing a return to the office without considering how this could impact their employees.

There is evidence proving that in-person work is not necessary in order to do many types of jobs well. Employees are often able to meet most or all of the requirements of their jobs by working from home. In fact, there is evidence that employees are often more productive when they are able to work from home. Business leaders have to adjust to the reality that a traditional office setting may no longer be useful, necessary or productive in the way it was pre-COVID.

Employers who want to succeed in this new business world would be wise to consider how to keep employees happy while also encouraging productivity. If this means allowing more remote work, rotating schedules or different types of hybrid schedules, flexibility and creative thinking will be key. Innovation and focusing on the physical and mental well-being of employees will allow companies to balance different types of work schedules while still moving forward.

In the last year, many companies were forced to shift and adapt to unforeseen circumstances. No one could have predicted the extent to which a global pandemic would affect every type of business or how long these impacts would last. To adjust to health and safety standards, many companies implemented work-from-home and flexible schedules for their employees. Now that things are moving toward normalcy, some wonder if the flexible work model is here to stay.

During the pandemic-related shutdowns, many businesses discovered what they could do with employees working remotely. To the surprise of some, this model still allowed for productivity, growth and teamwork with the help of technology, video calls and other tools. If you are considering what’s next for your business, it may be helpful to consider keeping the flexible work model in place. Here are some tips to help you make that decision:

• Ask your employees what works for them and how you can help build an environment where they can thrive.
• Track your operations, and use this data to make smart choices regarding your work schedule and model for the entire business.
• Equip your employees to succeed if they are working home by providing them with the right tools and training they need to do their jobs in this capacity.
• Invite feedback, and make it a point to really listen to your employees’ opinions and concerns.

It is possible that the flexible-work or work-from-home model will be the right choice for your business, allowing you to choose based on what is truly best for your employees. Whatever you choose, it is important to think about the long-term implications of your decisions. With careful consideration, you can make choices that will allow your business to adapt, grow and succeed for many years.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

If you’re an entrepreneur or in leadership, knowing how to manage people is a critical skill. Even if you don’t work in a role specific to Human Resources, there are some basic HR skills you need to have. Personnel management skills will benefit you no matter what type of job you have or business you own, especially if you don’t have a designated HR department.

The first HR skill to hone is organization. It’s critical to keep employee files, contracts and other important documentation labeled, easily accessed and carefully organized. This can help prevent issues in case this information needs to verified or referenced in the future.

Second, you will find it helpful to have a basic understanding of employment laws. Without a designated HR department, the responsibility may fall on you to make sure employee rights are protected. You also need to be familiar with the right course of action in case of an employment issue or dispute.

These are examples of the administrative side to HR, but being an employer also requires you to know how to manage people as well. When creating jobs, develop meaningful roles so employees will connect with what they are doing. Strive to care about the employees as individuals, not just people who will benefit your company or help you accomplish specific goals. When there is genuine care and respect on both sides of the partnership, the employer-employee relationship will be much simpler and productive.

HR goes beyond paperwork and understanding employment laws. It is about creating a work environment that is respectful and beneficial for everyone. If you are a business owner also juggling the responsibility of HR management, it may help you to remember that prioritizing people and their well-being should be the first and primary goal as you manage employees.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

In many of the most complex fields, individuals must shadow and learn from a more experienced person in that specific job. Learning from example and first-hand experience is one of the most valuable types of educational experiences, and this can be something that benefits people in virtually every type of professional setting. This is why it may be beneficial to consider having a mentor as you pursue a specific career path.

If you don’t have a mentor, you have a few different options available that will help you connect with the right person. There are companies that are able to match people with the right business mentor, or you could simply connect with someone the old-fashioned way. When choosing the right mentor, it not only helps to look at their current success, but to take stock of where they came from as well.

Business mentors don’t necessarily have to be older or wiser than you. You simply need to look for someone who has experience and has met similar goals to those you have set for yourself. This is someone who can fill in the gaps of your own knowledge with what he or she has experienced and learned already. Your chosen mentor can set an example, answer questions and provide guidance for complex situations you may find yourself in someday.

Mentors aren’t perfect. They have likely experienced their own failures and setbacks, and they’ve managed to learn from them. Having this type of guidance and store of knowledge at your disposal can give you a boost in your career and help you gain an advantage as you pursue your dreams.

If you don’t have a professional mentor yet, ask yourself how you could benefit from the experience and guidance of someone a bit farther down the road than you. You may be surprised to learn how simply having a listening ear and wise counsel can help you in your career in multiple ways.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Personality types make a significant difference in how people see the world and the specific way in which they pursue their goals. Everyone is different, which means you approach things differently from your co-workers or even people in your own family. People are typically introverts or extroverts, and these two types are very different. However, being one or the other doesn’t necessarily mean you will be more or less likely to be successful.

Success often comes from an inward force that compels you to move forward, grow, improve, learn, adjust and keep pursuing. One can have this drive for success whether he or she prefers to be at home on a Friday night or surrounded by a crowd. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you can learn how to use your own unique gifts to reach your goals and help others.

Introverts usually prefer to be in small groups or alone, and they often need alone time after spending time in groups. Extroverts typically derive energy from being around people, and they are comfortable in large groups. There may be a misconception that introverts are not as likely to succeed because they don’t always thrive in group settings, but this is simply not true. Introverts can leverage their personality type for their benefit by focusing on developing and maintaining strong one-on-one relationships.

It’s important to know your personality type and understand the things that make you who you are. Once you understand whether you are more of an introvert or extrovert, you can focus on choosing the right way to chase your goals. Your personality type can inform your decisions regarding your career path and other aspects of your professional life. It is to your advantage to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and to be comfortable with your true self.

Your success has nothing to do with whether you are an introvert or extrovert. It’s really up to you how you use your unique personality and talents to chase your dreams and make the world a better place.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

You may have a guiding principle or statement for your company, and your goal may be to help people, but at the end of the day, a business owner’s main goal is to make money. If you are not profitable, you simply won’t be in business long. If you’re struggling to stay in a position of turning a profit and not just surviving, you may need to find ways to boost your business and, simply put, get more money coming in. One way to do this is through smart marketing strategies.

You can’t increase your profitability if you don’t change anything. One of the first steps is to evaluate how you can get more people to patronize your business. Customers are out there, you just have to find a way to connect with them and establish a relationship. This is where smart social media marketing strategies come in. Through well-maintained and carefully curated content, you can boost your presence on various social media platforms.

A boosted presence means more people are following you on social media, but that doesn’t automatically translate into dollar signs. You have to know how to turn followers into paying customers and clients. Through your social media marketing strategy, you can convert these followers into customers by boosting engagement and building trust. Through engaging, authentic content, you will start seeing your marketing efforts pay off.

Boosting your profitability starts with increasing your customer base. Social media marketing is one of the most effective and budget-friendly ways to do this. Learn more about how you can better utilize the power of social media for the benefit of your company by watching what other successful businesses are doing. You may be able to see better profitability simply by using your social media accounts thoughtfully and with intention.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

When entrepreneurs first start out, they are at the mercy of their customers. You need the sales, and you may have to get creative to make the sale and then maintain the relationship. You may find yourself catering to the needs of your customers and clients in ways you never expected. Whether you are answering emails late at night, offering incentives with purchases, taking back used products and doing other things you may not necessarily want to do, it’s helpful to remember that going the extra mile often pays off.

However, you will reach a point where it is both necessary and acceptable to say no. You will reach a point where you do not have to bow to the whim of every difficult client, and there are times you must establish boundaries for your own sanity and for the good of your company. You can say yes until you reach the point where you can no longer do it, and then you can give yourself permission to say no.

The word “no” has a negative connotation, but it’s really more about deciding what’s best for your current situation and long-term objectives. Instead of thinking of it as a bad thing, think of it as a positive since you’re in a place now where you don’t have to say “yes” at every turn. The word “no” is a powerful tool when you know how to use it in the right way.

Using the word “no” doesn’t make you a jerk or a bad business owner. When you decline in the right way, you can still be gracious and professional. Your responsibility is to your company, your co-workers and yourself, and this means it will be prudent to learn how to say no in situations where it’s fully justified and appropriate.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC