The Internet is so vast that starting an online business can make you feel like a raindrop in the middle of the ocean. How do you make sure that potential customers find you, and how do you get them to stay loyal to your business instead of flipping to a competitor’s site? Here are some tips for how to make your online business stand out from the crowd:
Research in Ireland and the UK has shown that almost one third of companies generate their first export by chance as a result of an unsolicited inquiry. If you're starting your export journey, then here are some top tips for developing an export strategy:
Are you wanting to develop a new product, service or process? Have you ever considered a partnership to drive innovation in your business? Have you looked at The Co-Innovate Programme? Find out more about the programme and the power of partnerships:
Many start up companies hope to eventually get acquired but don't have a clear acquisition strategy or plan on how to get there. In order to create an effective acquisition strategy as a small business, there are several aspect of their business that must be carefully planned out. While transparency is important, the particulars concerning the companies finance and legal aspects play a vital role in the success of the acquisition. In addition, there are organizational concerns, communication tasks and stakeholder assessments required. Let's take a look at developing a good acquisition strategy:
Competition is strong because everyone has their unique business idea, but the ratio of successful businesses is low. According to statistics regarding start-ups, as few as 30% of start-ups survive their 10th year in business, while 50% fail in their first few years. A key factor can be the proper implementation of the business plan. Here are top tips for implementing a successful business plan.
What’s the best way to generate original and profitable new ideas for your business? We explore how large corporations nurture creativity and how SMEs can approach the same challenge. Here are 5 tips for Irish businesses to boost creativity in the workplace:
Terminating an employee's contract is never easy but on some occasions there may be no other alternative. There are certain steps that you should follow. Here's what you need to know about terminating a contract of employment:
Is your business ready to grow and take on new staff? Are you at the point that you need to increase your employees but are wondering how to attract the best talent to your SME? Here are some tips on hiring the best talent based on my experience.
A great website is useless if it doesn’t serve its purpose. It should welcome users in, make them feel at home and guide them effortlessly in their journey from visitor to customer. They should be able to find answers to their questions and products that meet their needs, all without ever feeling a flicker of frustration. Before you launch your new website, run some tests to identify any potential problems. Here's how to conduct UX testing with a checklist you can use to deliver great results:
Trouble with focus and attention is a problem everyone has from time to time. However, work seems to bring it out the worst in some people. It often feels as if it should be easy. Just apply yourself and get to work. That's all you have to do. Yet it still feels difficult, almost as if "just apply yourself" isn't actually a solution! Here are 7 tips for greater focus at work:
Our latest Business Achiever is Ollie Walsh and PiP iT. We asked Ollie to tell us a little bit about his payment-focussed business and about his business journey to date. Read on to find out more in Business Achievers: Ollie Walsh and PiP iT.
Even though you're sedentary most of the day at work doesn't mean you don't have the power to stay trim and fit. You just have to incorporate a few simple lifestyle changes and alter your habits. So, here are 10 simple changes you can make for a more healthy time at work:
Chances are, you started your business because you’re ambitious, you have big ideas and a clear vision of how your company will look when it’s thriving. While all of these traits are important – essential, even - in a business owner, the nitty-gritty of day-to-day management and attention to unglamorous details can prove just as crucial if your business is to survive through hard times as well as the glory days. Here are 6 common money mistakes business owners make:
Understanding your target audience (essentially, your customers) is crucial to running a successful business. It should come as no surprise then that millions of dollars are spent every year on demographic research and, odds are, your business would benefit from better understanding your customer base. Here's what your customers know that you don't (and how to learn from them):
Investor readiness is the process of getting your business to the point that equity investors are willing to invest in your business. Attracting equity investors requires an accurate understanding of what the investor is looking for and how the venture will be perceived along those dimensions. This is where the business plan is key. Read on for some business planning top tips for startups as well as details of InterTradeIreland's 2019 Seedcorn competition:
Running a small business takes a great deal of finesse. It’s a job that can be stressful and time consuming, but outsourcing can relieve some of the pains of management. Outsourcing is a much better option than overpaying a full-time employee for tasks that don’t require in-house attention. Here are 3 key tasks that small businesses can outsource easily:
It's not hard to find quotes from top company CEOs on the path to success or the best way to enjoy life, but it's not very relatable, all things considered. It's possible to be happier amid the largely daunting task of running your own business. The autonomy it affords is incomparable to working for someone else. If you're a small business owner who wouldn't quite consider yourself happy, then here are a few ways to help improve your happiness levels.
The FAQs section (aka Frequently Asked Questions section) is a common and important section of a website. This section consists of all the common questions that a potential customer can ask along with their comprehensive questions. A well-written FAQ page can increase your sales considerably as this is the place customers turn to when they get a question about a product before making a purchase. Here are 5 tips on writing FAQs to help grow sales:
