Meagan Kerlin

Everyone has opinions, and sometimes, the differences in these opinions can lead to disputes and disagreements in the workplace. When two people who work together do not get along, it can be awkward and difficult to move forward, ultimately posing the potential for a disruption in operations. Even a minor conflict in the workplace can be stressful and complicated, but there are ways to rise above the fray and establish peace.

One of most effective and important ways to deal with stress in the workplace is to refuse to allow it to make you lose your temper. Step out, step away — do whatever you have to do to avoid saying something that you will regret. Once spoken, words cannot be taken back. It’s hard to keep words inside sometimes, but after a time to clear your head, you can likely find a way to express your feelings and concerns while still being professional.

Two co-workers at odds can find common ground through conversations and making the effort to communicate clearly. Two people do not have to agree to co-exist in the same space peacefully. It’s often helpful to talk things through after both sides have had time to calm down, and you may even find that you actually have a lot more in common than you originally assumed. If it’s clear that you were in the wrong, never be too prideful to make amends. Apologies and owning your mistakes is not easy, but it is an opportunity to grow and improve.

Dealing with conflict intentionally and gracefully can allow both parties to move on and move forward. Whether it was a one-time incident or an ongoing clash of personalities, it is beneficial to know how to deal with workplace conflict, fights and tensions in a way that is both appropriate are professional.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Fear is a part of life. Whether it’s because you are experiencing unexpected changes or facing unknown possibilities, it has the ability to cement your feet in place when you should really be moving forward. It’s perfectly normal to experience the feeling of fear, but the amount of control it has over your actions and mindset is up to you. In fact, how you deal with it could play a significant role in your success.

Humans are drawn to the idea of comfort. We naturally want to feel safe in our current circumstances, and we crave a sense of security. Unfortunately, life and business doesn’t always work like that. There will be times when you can not control what happens or you have to step into the unknown, and this requires dealing with fear in a healthy way. Maintaining the status quo may seem like a good idea, but your fear of taking the next step could be blinding you to the possibilities just ahead.

When you allow fear to determine your actions, it becomes a roadblock. It has the power to hold you in place and prevent you from making progress. In the moments you feel tempted to allow it to hold you back, you have the choice to channel it positively and let it propel you forward. Fear often precedes progress and growth — in fact, a period of progress can follow a period of doubt and insecurity — as long as you persevere through the uncertainty. Next time you feel fearful about what’s going to happen or the unknown, let it motivate you to take the next step, to grow or to try something new. Channeled the right way, fear can be a great tool.

You get to decide how fear will impact your life and career. Will you let it be a roadblock or will you harness it and let it push you forward?

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

High-performance website copy is important for your business, but most people don’t exactly know how to create content that’s both engaging and informative. If you’re struggling to build a site that actually benefits your business or you want to get more out of a site you already have, the first step is ensuring your copy is strong. Many people engage with a website before they decide whether or not they want to visit a store, seek more information or spend their money. The importance of having professional copy cannot be understated.

Copy is simply the words you use on your website, but those words can be used as a powerful tool for the benefit of your business. With the right words, people won’t just visit your website, and you’ll actually see a higher rate of clicks and conversions. It is the central message of your business, and it’s one of the primary ways you communicate about products, services and the heart of your company. The ultimate goal is to convert the people who visit your site into paying customers. Increasing conversion requires the text on your website to be easy to read, engaging, informative, yet simple.

Increasing conversions through your site copy requires at least a knowledge of everything from basic grammar rules to integrating easy-to-follow links and implementing strategic keywords. The complexity of building a site that actually benefits your business can be a fairly daunting task.

As something that could have a potentially huge impact on your business, you may find great benefit in turning to a professional for developing content that’s updated, fresh and relevant. By working closely with someone experienced in this area, you can be certain that your website copy is effective. Don’t let site visitors get away—attract and keep their attention with a well-built site and engaging, strong copy.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

In order to succeed in business, you have to convince people to buy your products or pay for your services. This is an incredibly simple concept, but it’s one that can be complex, expensive and frustrating in practice. It’s tempting to want to attract attention by blowing the socks off the competition and wowing your prospective customers by offering the next big thing; however, that’s often not the best approach. Instead of focusing on being the next big thing, focus instead on offering products and services that actually matter to the consumer. Offering value is what is going to set your business apart, not offering what’s trendy, spectacular or popular at the moment.

That is not to say that it’s not important to offer products that people want, but if you want repeat customers, offer something that will add value to their lives, one way or the other. People will typically buy something that is trendy just one time, but they will return again and again to the things that make their lives better, easier or more manageable. In order to create, build or offer a standout product, you will need to do the following:

• Take a good look at your market. What do they truly need? Are there other companies already actively saturating the market with similar products or services? Look at what is working, what isn’t working and what is lacking before you dive in.
• Try to find solutions to common problems. One of the best ways to add value to someone’s life is to find a solution to a problem or meet a need. What kind of things do people need to make their lives better? Are you able to meet needs in a unique, accessible way?
• Know your niche. People do not expect your company to be all things to them, all of the time. You do not have to feel compelled to meet every single need you see in your target market; you just have to do your one thing really, really well.

Products and services that actually matter to the consumer are going to be the reason why your business flourishes long into the future. Don’t worry about being the next big thing, but instead, focus on being the thing that adds value to the lives of your customers.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Even the most successful of people commit blunders from time to time. Thankfully, the standard for success is not perfection, but it is critical to take ownership of missteps and accept responsibility. As an entrepreneur, there may be times when you are the only person who can hold yourself accountable. Don’t let yourself slide, but acknowledge where you went wrong and take steps to rectify any mistakes you made.

One of the hallmarks of a true leader and successful entrepreneur is taking ownership of mistakes. Even when it’s difficult or it means accepting a slight amount of embarrassment, you have to break the habit of shifting the blame, ignoring issues that result from your mistakes and making others deal with your problems. You can start building more accountability for yourself in the following ways:

• Be honest with yourself and others when you make mistakes
• Take responsibility for the times you mess up
• Empower yourself to take on challenges head-on, finding solutions in a difficult situation
• Allow others the opportunity to be honest with you about the impact your actions have had

Owning your mistakes won’t make you weaker or seem less capable. In fact, being honest and open in these times will likely only solidify your reputation as someone who is trustworthy and professional. It means you have integrity and humility, and people are more likely to work with someone with these characteristics than someone who is dishonest and unwilling to take ownership of his or her mistakes.

Mistakes are inevitable, but the way that you handle missteps will set you apart from everyone else. Distinguish yourself by being honest in every aspect of your business operations, even when it’s unpleasant to do so. This will make you more relatable, more accessible and more respectable. Mistakes don’t define you or the success of your business, but how you handle them can.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

How do you react when you get bad news? Your reactions can range from panic to self-preservation, but there is a way that you can deal with bad news effectively. In fact, when you are able to manage your initial reactions to less-than-ideal situations, you can actually learn how to leverage these unexpected setbacks to your own advantage. Chances are that you will get bad news from time to time — it’s simply part of doing business. It’s what you do with the bad news that can set you apart.

First of all, take the time to separate fact from fiction. Getting bad news may seem devastating, but sitting down, going over the facts and separating your emotions from the situation can help you see how to effectively deal with the challenge at hand. Facts are your friend, but emotions can be misleading. Never let how you feel in the immediate aftermath of getting bad news determine your actions going forward.

Next, it’s helpful to think about what you should do to rectify the problem at hand. In some cases, it may be best to do nothing, and that’s fine. Have the courage to acknowledge when there is nothing to be done, which can free you up to move forward and move on. If it is necessary to do something, think carefully about the ramifications of any actions you take. Initial reactions may not always be the optimal choice. Think about short-term solutions with long-term benefits. What will be best for your business tomorrow and what will be best three months down the road?

At some point, you’re going to receive bad news or experience an unexpected setback. When this happens, you have a choice regarding how you will react and move forward. The words you use and your reactions matter, so choose yours wisely.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

The holidays are a great opportunity to make charitable donations and practice generosity, but this is not a practice that you should reserve only for your personal life. Businesses that practice generosity to both employees and the community not only do good and benefit others, they build a positive reputation and gain beneficial exposure. Making sure that your company is generous is not only a nice thing to do, but it can be good for business as well.

Many large companies use the holidays as an opportunity to give bonuses for employees or make generous contributions to better the community. Perhaps you think that your company is too small to practice this level of giving, but there are still ways that you can give back. Some of the ways that your business can engage in generosity and kindness for those who work for you include the following:

• Offer small monetary gifts, even if it is a small amount
• Provide gift cards
• Buy a meal for your staff
• Host a company Christmas party
• Offer an extra day or two off work
• Add on extra vacation days

If you do not have the financial resources to give monetary gifts, there are plenty of ways that you can be generous. Be creative and think of ways that you can show your employees your appreciation in whatever manner you can. Additionally, the holidays offer your business the opportunity to give back to the community. From participating in community events and donating goods and services to taking the time to show up and serve, you will find that being generous is good for your spirit and the spirit of your company.

You don’t have to reserve your generosity for the holidays. As you enter the new year, you can think about and plan many different ways that your company can practice kindness and give back throughout the year ahead.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

As we approach the end of the year, you may be thinking of ways that you can start the new year off on the right foot. Many people make New Year’s resolutions for the new year, resolving to improve or change in certain ways. The end of one year and the beginning of another offers you the opportunity to have a fresh start, both personally and in business. Don’t just make resolutions to get to the gym or eat healthier — make these resolutions for your business as well.

This annual tradition of self-improvement and change can be especially befitting for a business owner. As an entrepreneur, you may consider how one or several of the following resolutions can benefit your business:

• Implement better time management strategies
• Use social media more constructively and intentionally
• Find ways to save money and use your resources wisely
• Make plans to give back more
• Make it a habit to practice self-care
• Find ways to connect with your customers on a personal level
• Focus on the growth and success of your employees

As the year winds down, this is an excellent opportunity to evaluate how you did in 2017. Take stock of your improvements and growth, and be honest about the areas where you could use improvement. A complete evaluation of your successes, failures, setbacks, frustrations and lessons learned can help you see where you should focus for the new year.

Your business is an important part of your life, and like other personal aspects of your life, there is almost always room for improvement and growth. Leverage the start of the new year to make new strides for your business. Your New Year’s resolutions can be whatever you need them to be for your business and its continued growth in 2018.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC