Business

Technology is a valuable resource in business. Nowadays, companies rely on a suite of software and platforms to streamline processes. One of the most commonly adopted application is a CRM system or software. The concept of CRM marries the various functions crucial to a business. By definition, CRM stands for customer relationship management. But, it goes beyond providing a centralized platform to manage client interaction and relationships.

Features of a CRM system

Understanding what a CRM system can do for your company begins by being familiar with its key features:

• Managing contacts. This section contains up-to-date information about each customer – including contact details and a history of support conversations. This feature should be easy to access and update.
• Managing leads. Lead management is designed for the sales and marketing teams. This feature allows for convenient tracking of activities as well as specific targets. Each stage of the sales process is also outlined – from prospecting to conversion.
• Forecasting sales. A CRM system capable of generating reports helps the sales team visualize and track progress accurately. These reports also give managers a tangible means of evaluating performance.
• Messaging application. Another useful function of a CRM system is real-time messaging, making it easier to consult co-workers regarding issues related to sales opportunities.
• Email integration. A CRM system can sync multiple email clients so that you can have a unified view of all correspondence received. Using a single platform makes it more efficient because you only need to log in once.
• File sharing. A central location accessible using a single dashboard allows users to upload and share content.
• Analytics. Information stored in the platform is compiled and compressed using analytics tools presented via the user’s dashboard.

These basic functions may be improved further, depending on the provider you choose. For example, there are CRM systems that allow for enhanced automation of specific processes.

Why does CRM matter to your business?

If you want your business to succeed, it is necessary to invest in enterprise software, and you need to begin with CRM. As your company expands, it becomes more challenging to keep track of individual goals and targets. With a CRM system in place, you can get up-to-date and reliable data regarding your progress. Moreover, data collected from various sales channels, especially online and social media, will not be useful without a platform that can make sense and interpret the information.

Putting your customers first and understanding their needs and likes will allow you to address deficiencies in any aspect of the operation. A CRM system gives you a bird’s eye view of every interaction, regardless of if it is still in the prospecting stage. While most of the features of CRM systems cater to sales and marketing, your customer service department can also benefit significantly by using the data produced using the platform.

In conclusion, running a business with the help of technology is the way of the future. Whether you are a small, medium, or large enterprise, you need to consider the value of these software solutions. You can begin by implementing a CRM system and see the difference it makes for your business.

If you’re like many Americans, paying taxes doesn’t exactly rank high on your list of favorite things to do. In fact, it’s not on the list at all. For this reason, the phrase “tax credit” may be like music to your ears. However, not all tax credits are the same, according to TaxAudit, which has received multiple high ratings in audit defense reviews. Here are two tax credit options that you can take advantage of: non-refundable and refundable tax credits.

With a non-refundable tax credit, you would take how much you owe in taxes and subtract your allowed credit amount from it. However, the credit amount you use cannot exceed the tax amount you owe. As an example, let’s say that you owe $1,000 in taxes but are eligible to receive $2,000 in a tax credit for dependent/child care. You may claim $1,000 of your tax credit. The other $1,000 you weren’t able to use cannot be refunded.

Note that with some credits that go unused, you can carry them forward to the years ahead, according to tax audit reviews. Meanwhile, other credits that aren’t used cannot be used in the future. Examples of tax credits that cannot be refunded include the foreign tax credit, the child tax credit, and the adoption credit.

A refundable tax credit is similar to its non-refundable counterpart except that any extra amount can be refunded. Examples of credits that are refundable include the premium tax credit and the earned income tax credit. The additional child tax credit and the American opportunity tax credit can also be refunded.

All in all, both types of tax credits are advantageous: The former eliminates your tax liability, and the latter can cause you to receive money back. Either way, expert advice can help you to take full advantage of the various tax credits to which you are entitled from one tax year to the next.

Buying into real estate is one of the smartest investments that you can make, a tangible investment which will give you many opportunities to turn a profit. One of the most appealing aspects of real estate investment is the strength of the market, unlike stocks and bonds, the real estate market is notoriously robust and even when it dips or falters, it has always come back to life in the years that followed. Ali Ata is something of a guru when it comes to real estate investment and so we caught up with him to find out more about these investments, and more specifically what a first time investor needs o know prior to buying a single property.

If this is something that you have been thinking about, here are Ali’s tips on the key considerations which you will need to make first.

What Kind of Investor?

The first thing which you need to be thinking about is the type of investor which you want to be, and what you are looking to get out of your investment. For example there are a number of ways in which you can make money from real estate. Flipping properties involves buying homes which need some renovation work, buying them cheap, giving the property a makeover and then looking for a quick sale and a small profit. Alternatively you could look for a longer term investment, renting out the property over a long period of time, giving you an asset to sell when the market looks good. Understanding this will help you to pick up the right properties when it is time to buy.

Do You Know The Market?

It is absolutely essential that you spend a good chunk of time on learning about the real estate market. You need to know what impacts prices, which properties are more resilient against the market than others, and how you can make a smart investment based on what the market is doing. Learning this now will save you time in the future and give you far more chances of success with your investments.

Do You Have The Money?

It is important to work out exactly how you are going to fund your investment, will it come from savings or a 401K and will you need to refinance an existing mortgage or will you look to take a mortgage out on the properties which you are looking to buy. The amount of money and debt which you have will influence the types of property which you go on to buy.

Have You Considered The Community?

Many people fail to consider the community they are investing in when they find a property, this is a key factor in being able to rent or sell the property. You should be looking into crime rates, job opportunities, quality of schools and hospitals, as well as looking at the potential growth of the community. This is essential and you need to know that it is more than the property which you are investing in.

 

Some say that maintaining a business is all about making compromises. If you want your company to succeed, you have to be willing to put in the work – which in turn increases the stress. The same thing can be said about your employees as well. However, anxiety and success do not go hand-in-hand, no matter how many business owners might claim it to be the case.

The truth is that how much stress and anxiety you end up experiencing while maintaining a start-up is all up to you. Falling for a few beginner’s traps can set your business on a downward spiral, which is undoubtedly a stressful experience. Fortunately, you do not have to resign yourself to such a scenario. Here are a few ways to make improvements while reducing anxiety.

The impact of taking good care of your employees

How many times have you heard of companies that put their customers first above everything else? While it is an excellent notion to have, it does not mean that prioritising your customers over your employees will have a positive effect. Instead, consider taking care of your workers so that they, in turn, can take care of your clients. Something as simple as the implementation of employee incentives can have a significant impact on how your customers will end up viewing your business.

By adding incentives and urging your employees to work hard, they will have a reason to be reliable and hard-working for your company. Take good care of your workers, and they will do the rest.

How business software can positively impact a start-up company

For the most part, a start-up business cannot use the full potential of business software. For example, they might not necessarily need centralising business software to make it easier to communicate between departments. A start-up might not even have any departments. However, it does not mean that it cannot be useful. There are hundreds of different types of business software available, each geared toward specific scenarios. You will undoubtedly find one from services such as eworksmanager.co.uk which will help streamline tedious tasks.

Take steps to improve the workplace

It can be quite easy for a start-up to end up with a cluttered workplace, even after just a few months of work. The more clutter there is in the office space, the harder it will be for your staff to focus – which increases the likelihood of everyone experiencing stress. Take the time to care for your workplace, adding house plants and decluttering to ensure that people always feel welcome in the office. It will not only make things less stressful for you and your company, but it will also improve productivity.

There is no denying how challenging it can be to run a start-up company without experiencing the stress and anxiety often associated with start-ups. The methods above will help you in avoiding stressful scenarios while at the same time improving the odds of your company’s success.

 

 

If you’re a freelancer, tracking your time accurately is crucial to maintaining your integrity and trust with your clients, and getting paid the correct amount for the work you’ve done. It can be difficult to sift through all of the apps available out there, so we’ve put together this handy list of apps to track your time. Most apps come with a free trial, so you’ll be able to try them out before you buy.

1. Toggl

Toggl is a popular time tracking app that is affordable, easy to use, and best of all, has an intuitive interface for an easy learning curve. You can easily train employees on how to use the program in just a few minutes, taking the first step towards greater accuracy and time tracking.

Toggl allows you to break down your hours by clients or projects, so you can see exactly what’s costing (or making) you the most money. With this level of insight, you’ll be able to identify problem areas and address them quickly to improve your company’s overall hourly efficiency.

Toggl is available on just about every platform, so you can continue to manage your team’s time even when you’re on the go. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. Starting at just $9 per month per user, it’s also one of the most affordable options for small and large businesses alike. Enterprise options are also available for those who need custom options.

2. HiveDesk

One of the great features about HiveDesk is its unique ability to take screenshots from your team member’s computers/devices automatically. This will help you stay updated on the progress of their projects, and also hold them accountable for their portion of the workload. Accountability leads to more productivity, and that’s exactly what HiveDesk has to offer.

With project, time, and activity tracking, you’ll never miss out on what’s going on with your team again. Updates will be constantly fed into the software, and your invoices will be much more accurate when it comes time to settle up. Don’t take a chance on something as important as time tracking; use HiveDesk for incredible results and a company you can trust.

HiveDesk starts at $15 per month for up to three users and an admin and includes storage space for your screenshots. With five different plans available, you’ll be able to find the one that works best with your needs and your budget.

3. TimeCamp

This useful time tracking app is actually free to use, so it’s perfect for those freelancers with a strict expense budget. You can give it a test run with a free trial, and if you like it, you can either continue to use it for free or upgrade to a paid plan.

TimeCamp has automatic time tracking, so each task will be tracked accurately. You can also divide larger projects into smaller tasks and track those times separately from one another, and log the project timeline as a whole once you’ve finished.

TimeCamp offers plans for around $5 per month per user when billed annually, or $7 per user per month if you choose monthly billing. There are also pro and enterprise options for those teams that need extra features and support.

4. HourStack

HourStack features an easy to use drag and drop interface for a more visual approach to tracking and managing your time. Each task is represented by a time block, which you can move around to different days and times with the click of your mouse or drag of the finger.

This is a great option for those teams or individuals who struggle to meet deadlines. Everything will be laid out in front of you, allowing for better planning and allocation of time and resources. Meeting deadlines is crucial to maintaining a good reputation and relationship with clients and managers.

HourStack is only $5.60 per month, with both professional and enterprise options for those who are looking for a bit more for their dollar. With so many features and a different approach to time tracking, it’s easy to see why HourStack is a favorite among freelancers.

5. HubStaff

Another free to use option for those on a budget is HubStaff. This useful software comes with time tracking, GPS tracking for travel, online timesheets, and productivity monitoring for maximum efficiency.

HubStaff makes time tracking easy by taking a simple approach. An intuitive interface makes learning the software simple, and powerful tools keep everything accurate and well-organized. If you’re looking to time-track on a budget while still getting some great features, try out HubStaff.

HubStaff starts at $5/month for their paid services and supports one user. You can opt for up to the $20/month package, which grants you access to all of the impressive features this software has to offer. You’ll get GPS tracking, online spreadsheets, the whole nine yards. Best of all, the company also offers 24/7 support, so any problems you may run into will be addressed quickly and professionally.

Conclusion

Time tracking apps have changed the freelancing game, making time management simpler, invoicing more accurate, and productivity higher. Try one of these amazing apps today and start taking control of your time for an affordable price. With so many options to choose from, you’ll want to consider these five before anything else; they’re simply the best at what they do!

 

Are you happy at work or just managing the grind until the end of work day?

Happiness is a major prerequisite for productivity. When you are happy at work, you:

• Experience creativity
• Engage better with what you do
• Make workplace friends easily

Unfortunately, there are times when you are in a slump, and don’t feel in the right frame of mind to work. This is a common situation, and happens to most people, even those working in the best of jobs.

The following smart suggestions can help you improve your workplace happiness quotient, so that you can have a better time at work, and become more productive.

Before looking at how you can be happy at work, it is important to point out that most times, happiness at work is tied to your work circumstances. Incentives such as good working environment, steady pay, health insurance, and retirement benefits are some of the factors that can engender workplace happiness and productivity.

Figure out your motivation

A lot of people are unhappy at work because they have not been able to discover what makes their job meaningful. When you work in a role you are not passionate about, it is difficult to be happy in that role. It is therefore important that you discover your definition for success and fulfillment, and see how it applies to your current job role.

Once you can find fulfillment in your job, you will be happy doing it, and this may mean a change in job role, or a complete career change.

Conduct a self audit

Different part of your work process may be responsible for draining your positive energy, and this can result in dissatisfaction and unhappiness in your work. You have to identify these energy drains and take steps to stop them.

For the next few days, make a list of all the things you do at work, and note how each one affects your frame of mind. Your list should contain both your intention and unintentional activities.

At the end of a week, check your list to find out the activities that drain your energy or tasks you mentally. Then ask yourself if there is anything you can do to balance the debit side of your audit. For example, if you have a lot of mentally tasking assignments, you can increase your number of breaks, so that you have more time to refresh.

Avoid working 24 hours

When you spend too much time at work, it becomes monotonous and can drain your energy and make you unhappy.

Unless absolutely needed, avoid the temptation to work the full 24 hours in a day. When you spend too much time doing the same thing with little or no downtime for yourself, you are courting workplace burnout.

If you work in an organization where constant overtime is the norm, you should seriously consider a change of job.

Make more friends

The people you surround yourself at work with will determine how happy you are during office hours. In fact, a Harvard study found that people who report great emotional connection with their colleagues tend to be happy and more productive, and the organization maintains a high level of employee retention.

This goes to show the strong evidence between close friendship at work, happiness, performance, and career success.

Therefore, if you want to be happier at work, get close to your co-workers, encourage collaboration, and be part of a successful network.

Reward yourself

Everyone knows that reward is incentive for work. However, you don’t have to wait for your boss or supervisor to reward you for work done. Creating a reward system for yourself will put you in the right frame of mind to get work done.

For example, you can say “I will only join my friends for happy hour after work if I finish this report on time”.

When you are motivated, you become happy, and when you are happy, you find it easy to do the things that need to be done.

 

Owning a business can be daunting. There are so many decisions to make and much work to be done. Then there is the pressure to avoid mistakes, as they could mean the success or failure of the business. This pressure has proven too big for many entrepreneurs as shown by a damning statistics shows that 8 in 10 small businesses fail. Often times, this is because of avoidable and sometimes ‘small’ mistakes by the business owner. To avoid bolstering the ranks of failed business owners, here are some common mistakes you should avoid making.

• Lack of a Solid Business Plan

This is the backbone of any business. When it is fragile, the business will likely collapse. Many small business owner goes into a business without a business plan. What most have at best is an executive summary of a business plan – a vision or set objective/goal in mind, a little more than an average knowledge of the business and a pocketful of money. That is not a solid business plan. A business plan is the blueprint of your business. It goes beyond just showing what you want to achieve. It covers everything – analysis of your market, customers and competitors, description of your management team and structure, description of your products and/services, your marketing and sales strategy, your finances, your growth and sales projection and means to measure/evaluate from time to time etc.

True, one cannot possibly cover every scenario in a business plan, but that’s the beauty of a business plan! It makes provision to review current business activities and situations and re-strategize if need be! A solid business plan, not a hazy summary, is necessary.

• Lack of Uniqueness

Nothing, they say, is new under the sun. No matter how mesmerizing your idea may appear to be, chances are someone is already in the business. So, how do you stand out? Add value to whatever form of your idea you already have. Be different from the rest; create a niche within your niche. Steve Jobs is regarded as an innovator, not because he was the inventor of phone but because he created a niche in that industry. Do something similarly creative in your business. This may involve that you take some risks, but that is the point! No one ever stood out by acting like every other person. Of course, you do well protect your business from any loss, but the Bottom-line – Add value to your products or services.

• Not using the Internet

The world has gone digital and failure to go along means you – and your business – will be left behind. An online presence is a must! Your social media use must be exciting, not just some weekly photo updates. Engage your target audience. Remember, always have a specific marketplace and target audience. Reach out to these ones, and as your business grows, your target audience grows. One warning though, the internet never forgets, so do not get carried away and compromise professionalism or quality.

• Underspending

Of course, you are on a budget and need to work with it, still, remember that you have to spend money to make more money. You may be limiting your business potential for success when you refuse to spend. Areas like marketing, technology, necessary equipment and training are areas you may want to spend on to get increased returns

• Doing it all Alone

That you run a small business does not mean you have to do it all alone or micromanage your employees. Delegate duties and give a level of autonomy to those assigned to it. Doing that will help you build a loyal workforce and avoid you burning out. Of course, you need to have the right staff in place.

 

It’s stressful to be in the workplace. You have to deal with your boss, who constantly nags you to work harder. You also have to deal with your colleagues who might not have the same working style as you. Before you know it, you’re already under immense pressure, and you’re not happy with your job anymore.

The problem is that you need the money and you’re the breadwinner of your family. Therefore, you can’t leave fast enough even if you’re already under stress. These tips will aid you in getting through the tough time until you can cope or look for a new job.

Learn how to ignore

When you know you’re doing your job well, you can close everything off. Don’t listen to gossip, and don’t join conversations involving the discussion of other people’s lives. You should also learn how to ignore harsh criticism if you know that it’s not going to help you improve your work. Focus on constructive criticism and evaluate yourself.

Bring a stress ball

Some people laugh at a stress ball, but it can help. This small object might help relieve stress or at least make you feel better when things start to pile up. Apart from a stress ball, there are other things you can bring to work that can help calm you down, especially during heated situations.

Take a walk

When your office starts to become toxic, you need to get out of the room and walk. It helps to be in a different setting so that you can breathe fresh air and start over again. Once you clear your thoughts, you will head back to the office feeling refreshed.

Talk to the person who causes your stress

You can’t let any person prevent you from doing your job well. If there’s one person who bullies you or intimidates you at work, you have to confront that person; otherwise, the intimidation will continue, and it will prevent you from concentrating on your job. If you’re dealing with a boss who bullies you, you can complain to the HR department. Even top executives are not free to do whatever they want with the employees. In recent years, several CEOs have got fired for sexual advances and harmful behaviour.

Consult with a therapist

Perhaps, it’s time that you consider a session with a therapist. You can’t let this continue without sharing your thoughts with someone else. You can’t do it with your family because you feel embarrassed about the situation. With a therapist, you know that your secrets are safe. You might also be experiencing other problems outside work, and you can count on these experts to help process your emotions.

You can check out Counseling Oak Park offers now if you want quality services. Look for the best therapists who understand how you feel and will help ensure that you will soon get through your problem. It takes time, and you will have to work hard to get out of a stressful situation eventually.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/OupUvbC_TEY

 

One of the primary factors in running a successful company is understanding how to keep employees engaged. After all, they are the foundation of any business. And the profit and revenue generated by a company are determined by the level of commitment of its workforce. So, in the interest of maintaining a consistently high degree of productivity, it makes sense to ensure that all of your workers are motivated with their respective duties. To this end, here are a few simple tips for maintaining employee engagement.

Spend time with your employees

As simple as it sounds, spending time in getting to know your employees is one of the most effective ways to keep them engaged. After all, learning more about their personal lives and goals will not only help you develop a strong bond with them but doing so can go a long way in making them feel that their presence within the workplace goes beyond their duties. And the more they feel valued, the more engaged they will be in their performance.

1. Recognise their accomplishments

Even if we may not admit it, the majority of us work not only for the money but to be acknowledged by our efforts as well. And recognising the accomplishments of your employees can make a difference in the way they perform their duties within the company. Whether you choose to reward their achievements by holding a company event like fairground hire from https://www.wearetricycle.co.uk or through a staff email, showing your gratitude can boost employee engagement, resulting in more productivity.

Listen to their feedback

Just as it is crucial to listen to the feedback of your clients and customers, it’s essential to do the same with your employees as well. From holding regular conferences and meetings to using company surveys, giving your employees a chance to voice their concerns is not only vital to finding areas within the business that may require attention but also to keep employees engaged as well.

Ensure that the office is conducive to work

There’s no denying that it can be difficult to accomplish daily tasks and responsibilities if the workplace is in disarray. And as trivial as it might seem, it’s essential to keep the office as pleasing to work in as it is functional. In this way, not only are you far more likely to promote productivity, but you’re also maintaining employee engagement too.

Foster teamwork

Ask any business owner, and they will tell you the same thing: a company cannot function if its employees don’t work as a cohesive team. As such, it’s crucial to foster teamwork within your workforce. By breaking down barriers and bridging gaps between your workers, you will increase your chances of keeping them productive and engaged with their work.

It’s a well-established fact that companies whose employees are consistently engaged are far more likely to succeed than those who aren’t. And with these simple tips, you will effectively keep your workforce motivated and, as a result, maintain a good level of productivity in the business.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/american-analyzing-brainstorming-3748708/