Why Content Is Still King In 2014

The fact that content is and will always remain King is not something new that you've heard in 2014. Great content that provides valuable information and is easy to read has always been the top-most standard for the web - albeit one that managed to get lost in the past few years.

Webmasters and online marketers learned that they could manipulate the search engine spiders to their advantage with fluff content and keyword stuffing, tactics that were indeed quite effective in enhancing search engine rankings of their websites. However, with Google leading the way, search engines have now become completely intolerant of anything less than great when it comes to quality of web content. So if you're hoping to increase your website rankings, you need to go back to the very basics and once again begin to treat content as king.

How can you ensure that the content you are writing will get marked as high quality and not spam by the big G? Well, first of all, you need to write articles that have no errors in either grammar or spelling. This includes the difference between the USA and the UK spellings of various words. If you are writing for a blog in the USA, you don't want to have UK spellings in it; otherwise it could get marked as low quality.


Top reasons why content will always remain king

The following reasons will help you to understand why content will reign supreme in 2014:

• Critical to your success on search engine result pages: Content is the single most important factor that will determine your success or failure in the fight for higher rankings on search engine result pages. You can no longer trick the search engine spiders with cleverly used keywords, duplicated content, multiple domain names, and hidden keywords within your text. Instead, you have to focus on creating content for actual readers rather than content that is simply put together to impress search engine spiders. What this means is that you will be required to create original content that not only provides value to casual readers but specifically to your target customers or niche markets. Content that engages your target audience, invites comments, and can easily be shared by readers is what you're hoping to create, so as to enjoy search engine success.
  
  
• Helps build your brand and online reputation: Internet users have become extremely savvy and careful about the websites that they patronise. If your brand does not enjoy a positive online reputation, you will find it extremely challenging to instil trust in prospective clients, which in turn will impact your sales negatively. Internet consumer trends have repeatedly shown that one of the most effective ways to build trust within the online community is to provide great content. If your content can answer important questions that your target audience may have and if it continually provides value it can help to boost your online reputation and your sales significantly.

Another reason why you need to invest time and money into creating great content is that it increases your chances of going viral. Only good content will be picked up and shared repeatedly, which could lead to exponential success for your business. Ideally, you want to be producing top quality, stellar content text or info-graphics that are on a par with the likes of http://www.pinpointdesigns.co.uk/google-penalty-identification-and-removal-tips.html

So, whenever you want to produce content, make sure you are creating something that people will enjoy, find useful and want to share with their own fans and followers. This will ensure your long-term success in the online marketing sphere and no search engine is going to penalise you for producing low quality content. By Jove, there is more than enough rubbish and inaccurate information on the world-wide-web. The last thing we need is to be doing is adding more rubbish to it.


About The Author: This article was written by Steve Mac. Steve is an avid blogger who likes nothing better than to write a good article on SEO or online marketing.

Did you like this article? Please let Steve and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Related articles:
7 Things You Need To Know About SEO In 2014
How Twitter Can Help Your SEO

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Until my next post on Monday on the recent Google update (Hummingbird) and what this means for you, have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! See you back here in March! :)

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7 Things You Need To Know About SEO In 2014

Are your traffic numbers dropping? You may be a victim of the dreaded Hummingbird. Google's sweeping 2013 algorithm change is still leaving a lot of website owners scratching their heads, and many are scrambling just to reverse the damage.

As opposed to the Panda and Penguin algorithm updates, which only modified the existing construct, Hummingbird represents an entirely new stage in Google's evolution. If you're still confused, don't worry. You can still thrive in the SEO arena, but you may need to shift your strategy a bit. Here are seven things you need to know:

1. Content is king. If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this. If you want to rank in the search engines, you need high-quality content that is unique and noteworthy. In fact, content production should serve as the cornerstone of your SEO campaign, and it should consume the majority of your time and resources.
   
   
2. Keywords are evolving. Today, more and more people are using their smartphones - and specifically speech recognition - to search online. As a result, we're seeing fewer searches for phrases like "Los Angeles restaurants" and more searches for phrases like "Find me a good restaurant in Los Angeles." As a result, Google is now using a process called "semantic search" to provide more relevant search results for complex queries. What does this mean for you? It means that keyword stuffing is absolutely useless. Rather than using the same keywords 8 times on a single page, try diversifying your keywords and using a variety of synonyms for greater search relevance.
   
   
3. Bounce rate matters. This goes hand in hand with #1 (content is king), but it's worth noting that if your content is just generally uninteresting or irrelevant to readers, it will hurt your rankings in the long run. If people frequently hit the Back button upon reaching your landing page, Google concludes that you're just not giving visitors what they're looking for. You can say goodbye to those front-page rankings. Always emphasize quality, and try to keep your bounce rate as low as possible.
   
   
4. Don't underestimate the power of social media. Unless you've been living in a cave for the past few years, your website probably has at least a modest social media presence. Greater social media integration can dramatically boost your site's SEO value, so take advantage of as many social networks as possible; Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram...But don't just register and then toss up the occasional token status update. Be active, build your circles, and make social media a part of your daily routine. It really will make a difference.
   
   
5. There are more important things than anchor text. Anchor text links still carry some value (assuming they don't come from bad link partners), but they don't hold a fraction of the weight that they once did. At best, the occasional anchor text link is useful for diversifying your link profile, but overall, your time is better spent on content creation.
   
   
6. Don't neglect your back end. It's easy to get carried away with the visual aspects of SEO, while forgetting about the technical essentials: XML sitemap, HTML sitemap, robots.txt file, page speed, 404 optimization...These components are extremely important as well.
   
   
7. Verified authorship is more than just a good idea. If you don't have your web pages linked to a fully optimized Google Plus account, you'll never reach your full SEO potential. Make sure to set up your verified authorship.

If you find yourself falling short in any of these categories, don't waste another moment. Get your website back on track, and achieve the traffic you rightfully deserve. SEO isn't dead; it's just changing with the times. Don't get left behind.


About The Author: C.M. Scalise is a professional freelance writer and the content manager. He holds a Bachelor of English degree from University of California Riverside, and in his spare time he enjoys recording music and catching all the latest films.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Chris and myself know by leaving us your valued comments below.

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Until my next post on Friday on why content is still king in 2014, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday!

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Is 2014 The Year To Go Entrepreneur?

The New Year is upon us. As our current year provided its own share of opportunities and challenges, 2014 promises to be no less of a roller coaster for the globe, with events such as the Federal Reserve no longer keeping the interest rates at rock bottom levels, China stopping their stockpiling of US treasuries, China again with its territorial saber-rattling in southeast Asia, parts of Europe still getting back up on its feet, and the uncertain affairs of state between our country and Russia, seemingly rising back to power since the disbanding of the USSR so many years ago.

For whatever happens in the coming year, there will always be the compulsion for a few courageous people to break out of their chains of employment and set out for themselves as entrepreneurs. Truth be told, there is never a truly right or even a wrong time to do so; it is a combination of presented opportunities, personal determination and ability, and simple dumb luck.

Regardless, in the same vein that we still bother to predict the weather despite the chances of inaccuracy, this little article will try to inform your decision on whether you should start chasing your entrepreneurial dreams this year:


Higher Interest Rates

The cycle of borrowing, spending and paying back debt is what keeps the modern economy flowing, and in our nook of the globe, the Federal Reserve controls interest rates. They have decided that on 2014, the cheap money won't be so cheap anymore, and that means it will be a bigger challenge to turn out a profit from borrowed funds.

This is a negative, for the most part. Companies big and small will have to exercise more fiscal discipline as it becomes harder to borrow and pay back money. Cutting down on the excess and practicing a little austerity here and there will go a long way in keeping the bottom line in the black.

For the entrepreneur starting out, the growing pains will all the more be painful with a steeper interest rate. Make certain that you will make each and every cent of your seed money count.


Optimistic Projections for Global Economy

Willem Buiter, the head honcho economist of Citigroup, thinks 2014 will be the year that the global economy will start picking up pace, compared to previous years behind it. It might not be anything dramatic or ground-breaking, but a consistently growing global economy is preferable to a stagnant or shrinking one.

Barring any unanticipated (I have trouble believing that any major geopolitical events are unanticipated by the powers that be) events in the world, there are no expected bubble bursts or double dips, according to their very extensive, near 100-page outlook.

For the US-based entrepreneur, putting these two factors together seems to suggest that if one were to start a business, perhaps it should be on foreign soil with friendlier interest rates, but an equally pro-investment environment.


China May Not Be As Friendly

If part of your business idea involves cheap labor and manufacturing via China, then you might want to hold off for this year, or perhaps find another country to do your offshore operations. As I mentioned before, China just decided to stop buying US treasuries, a move that could be considered a passive-aggressive offensive economic maneuver at best.

There's also the already-heated territory dispute China versus pretty much the rest of Southeast Asia. The US has a ton of allies in that part of the world, like economic partner Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Given the volatility of the situation, and China's propensity to enact inflammatory moves against countries that oppose them, your investment suffers the additional risk of a hostile government seizing it.

Fortunately for you, there are other countries that have low-cost yet trained (or trainable) labor forces that can accommodate your entrepreneurial ambitions. In the same region, Indonesia and the Philippines appear to be the best prospects.

Don't just take this article's word for fact, dig into the Internet to do more research and see the actual numbers. I wish you the best of luck, entrepreneur-in-the-making. Onward to prosperity in 2014!


About The Author: Michael Green is a veteran of the rat race, having worked at a business consultancy firms in San Francisco and New York for most of his young adult life. He left on his fortieth birthday to become a fully self-employed entrepreneur, and settled in San Diego to pursue various opportunities within the city.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Michael and myself know by leaving us your valued comments.

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Until my next post tomorrow on 7 things you need to know about SEO in 2014, have a great Tuesday! See you back here tomorrow!

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Five Effortless Things Business Owners Can Do To Boost Their Social Media Presence

These days there are many creative ways to reach your customers, and social media is something you should embrace in order to get your product out there. Social media is remarkable for many reasons, but one of the most interesting aspects of it is that it gives potential customers a glimpse into your personality and personal voice. Here are five ways to easily use social media to your advantage and start attracting new customers today.


1. Maintaining Your Business Social Media Account

Logging in, updating and staying active is key. Merely setting up an account is just the beginning. It isn't worth it if someone goes through the effort to set up social media avenues, only to abandon them and never update with posts. This is a surefire way to kill your social media presence before it even gets off the ground. Too many times "We should have a blog!" or "We need a Facebook fan page!" comes up in meetings, and then nothing ever comes of it because no one is actually assigned the task.


2. If You Need To, Delegate the Task

If you are running a business, maintaining a social media presence might sound like the last thing you want to do, so don't. Depending on your company's size and needs, you can go from having a team of folks doing this, to hiring an intern that can easily update content. The key is to make sure it is designated within someone's job, so it happens. Everyone can help with ideas and updates, but just make sure there is at least one person whose job it is to come up with posts, solicit feedback from the company, and get creative with fresh unique posts that will attract an audience.


3. Make Sure Your Posts Look Interesting

Pictures and graphics can make your social media posts much more inviting and lively. Simply by adding in a few more details, people are more likely to click through your material. Pictures of your product, events or staff on social media posts can really help bring traffic to your site, and it's so easy to do! A wall of text or boring posts without and graphics can be boring. If you have a unique logo, put it as your avatar so that it stands out and does the advertising work for you.


4. Get Creative with Your Updates

If doesn't all have to be directly about your business. If you decide to have a blog on your site, or post to quite a bit to sites such as Facebook, use these avenues to engage with your customers. Linking to articles and news clips relating to your field is a great way to gain customers interest and trust. By actively engaging in updates in your field you will become a part of a larger community and stand out as a possible industry leader.


5. Use Facebook and Twitter for Promotions

This is a great, simple way to gain more of a following. A quick post detailing a sale or new product is easy enough to do and will boost your visibility. By bringing traffic to your social media sites, these can then be linked to your home site that either provides more information on your business or sells your product. Remember, without that link, these are potential customers that you may not have gotten otherwise.

Social media is a great way to easily make new contacts and customers online. Your online presence can reach a vast audience, and starting an account costs you absolutely nothing besides a few minutes of your time. It is well worth it to easily get online and get started having social media work for your business - and it's the future, so don't get left behind!


About The Author: Hailey Harper is a marketing strategist and writer whose work has been featured on over 30 websites. Her primary interests are strategic marketing, social media, SEO, and business management.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Hailey and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

For more business tips plus helpful articles on marketing your business on social media, use the following links:
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Until my next post tomorrow discussing whether or not 2014 is the year to go entrepreneur, enjoy the rest of your day! See you back here tomorrow!

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Could Franchising Be The Right Route For You?

Starting a business is an exciting but challenging time and the reality is that over 50% of startups fail within their first year of trading. This can be down to a number of factors including employing a weak business model, poor marketing and a lack of capital.

In contrast, franchises tend to have a far higher success rate than new businesses because they already have a proven business model and a strong marketing plan with a powerful brand behind them. As a result, it's well worth at least finding out a bit more information about franchising and whether or not it could be the right route for you if are considering setting up you own business.


What is a franchise?

If you aren't already familiar with franchising, the idea is quite straightforward; essentially a company grants an individual the right to sell their goods and services in an area and trade under their name. Many high street chains aren't 100% corporately owned and choose to operate franchise models, so it's not something that hasn't been around for a while. Popular franchises include McDonalds, Subway and Cash Converters.


The benefits of starting a franchise

There are a number of benefits to setting up as a franchise, most of which will differ slightly in different models, but generally speaking there are a number of benefits to starting a franchise. Express Accountancy, one of the UK's leading accountancy franchises have come up with the following benefits that being a franchisee can present.

• Raising finance can be easier - One of the toughest things about setting up you own can be raising the finance you need. You can find yourself being turned down by countless banks, even if you think that you have a full proof business model. Many franchisors have strong relationships with lenders and it can often be easier to obtain the required finance as you'll be operating under a proven business model.
  
  
• Franchisor usually handles sales and marketing - Sales and Marketing isn't the easiest thing as a startup, in fact, a lack of any real strategy in this area is a big reason why so many businesses tend to fail in the early stages. However, as a franchise owner, your franchisor will often take care of a lot of this. Say for example you choose to operate an accountancy franchise, the franchisor is likely to have established some successful lead generation channels already and you will benefit from this.
  
  
• A proven business model - Successful and sustainable business models can take years to fine tune and as a startup, you'll need to learn from your mistakes quickly to ensure that you are operating the right model. As a franchise, you'll already be part of a model that has been tried and tested, which means that you can focus more on the day to day running of your business and making it a success, rather than constantly tweaking with operations and processes.
  
  
• Franchisors will help and guide you - It's in the best interests of the franchisor for you to make a success of your franchise and many franchise models include training and unlimited support. Let's go back to that accountancy model, you could be the world's greatest accountant but have no experience of running a business whatsoever, well this is where the franchisor can help. Usually they'll offer training to prepare you for managing your business and if you need any help or guidance along the way they should have support systems in place. You aren't on your own!

Starting your own franchise

The process of starting your own franchise will vary greatly according to which franchise model you decide to adopt. Each franchisor will have different process and expectations of potential franchisees, so make sure you read through the franchisor's prospectus and website to get a better idea of the process from start to finish.

As was mentioned earlier, in terms of raising the finance required for your initial franchise fee and any other costs that need to be covered, make sure that you speak to your franchisor as they may have good relationships with certain lenders if you are struggling to raise the finance yourself.


Is franchising the right route for me?

Only you can answer this question, the facts are there, you get more support with a franchise and they have a higher success rate. However, maybe you are someone who is fascinated by building up a brand and really going it alone. Sit down, weigh up the pros and cons of both and take those initial steps to being your own boss.


Did you find this article helpful? Do you run a franchise business? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments.

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If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

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Until my next post on Monday with five effortless things business owners can do to boost their social media presence, have a fabulous weekend! See you back here on Monday!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

What Makes Someone A Successful Contractor?

The contracting world can be a very lucrative one; however, it takes a certain type of person to succeed properly as a freelancer.

Contracting is not like full-time employment where you have a set routine for the week. You will be required to adapt to change on a regular basis and as a result of this it is important that you understand what is expected of you as a contractor.


Organisation

Perhaps the most important of all contractor traits is your ability to organise and manage your time. Working for yourself means having the ability to keep yourself on task and on time is very important.


Reliable and responsible

As a contractor the work you do is a reflection of yourself. You have been asked to take care of a project in a certain amount of time and it is your job to get it done in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Freelancing is not like the normal world of work, there is no one else to hide behind. If things are not going as they should, you will be solely responsible for this. As well as this, if a client is not happy with your work or the way you handle yourself then chances are you could lose the contract.

Not only does this mean you miss out on the earnings of the current job, but you may also find it difficult to find your next contract if you gain a reputation as being unreliable.


Adaptability

This is another crucial trait that a successful contractor must have. Depending on your line of work you may be required to visit numerous different sites and therefore familiarise yourself with new ways of working as fast as possible.


Personable

Moving from site to site will mean that you often work with many different people, therefore being personable is very important. The relationship you build with your client over a short period of time can not only help you in terms of your current contract, but it will ensure you get the best possible reference from that client when the project is over. Remember, as a contractor you must always keep some focus on your next job.


Networking skills

A good contractor must be able to network properly in order to forge new working links. The broader your network of contacts the easier it will be to find work and secure new contracts. Having a strong influence in your professional circle can also help you build a successful career in contracting.


Know what you want

Focus is essential for a successful freelancer. Knowing what your goals are and how to achieve them can help you to carry out your assignment in a fast and efficient manner.

Outside of your contract it is also necessary to have an idea about how you want to work. For example, will you choose to work through a limited company or an umbrella company? For those asking what is an umbrella company? These are the types of questions you must consider if you are to become a successful contractor.


Did you like this article? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below.


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Friday with information about franchising and whether or not it could be the right route for you, enjoy the rest of the week! See you back here on Friday!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Competition Time! Nominate Your Office Hero To Win An iPad 2 #OurOfficeHero

** This competition is now closed. **

The winner of the competition was Toby from @bainbridgelewis who is running @BrightonMarathn for @CLIC_Sargent. For more details, tweet @Flexioffices.

Is there any particular colleague in your office that has helped you get through the grey winter months? It could be the office clown, or cheeky office junior, or inspiring line manager...anyone who has helped boost staff morale or done something extraordinary in aid of a good cause or your business could be up for a nomination.

If this sounds like someone in your workplace, nominate them to be named the "Flexioffices Office Hero" today! Flexioffices would like to celebrate the best bits of the working day and everyone who makes your office a fantastic place to work.

To nominate someone who brings something special to your daily grind, simply tweet @Flexioffices with the hashtag #OurOfficeHero - preferably along with a photo of your nominee!

You've got until the end of the month - Friday 28th February - to nominate your office hero and the winner will be announced on Monday 3rd March. Get nominating now!

Tweet using the hashtag #OurOfficeHero now!


Please see terms and conditions of the competition.

Flexioffices provides virtual and serviced office space. The database of office space includes thousands of properties which and can be searched online by postcode, street, town, stations, airports, and countries. Here is a selection of office spaces in Kings Cross, London for example.


© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Leverage Infographics To Drive Content Marketing Success

Digital marketing has always been a fast-moving industry, starting as the result of ubiquitous Internet use and evolving amid a perpetually shifting consumer landscape. One of the arenas within modern advertising throughout the past several years that is particularly indicative of this trend has been content marketing, which started as just a simple process of publishing keyword-rich content and blossomed into one of the most popular ways in which companies cement themselves as thought leaders.

The biggest changes have undoubtedly related to quality and targeting, but now content marketing is beginning to converge with visual advertising efforts. Studies consistently find that images, infographics and videos can drive engagement with content, and further improve a firm's brand recognition, as well as its ability to reach new prospects through Internet channels.


Infographics have an impact

Regardless of which channel or method a business is using to enrich its digital marketing strategy, the best practices are fairly consistent. However, the real challenge is ensuring that all efforts work in orchestra toward brand goals and maintain a consistent, educated and unique voice that resonates with readers.

Here are some of the benefits of supporting marketing content with infographics:

• Bite-sized knowledge: The average attention span of adults in the United States and abroad continues to decrease, as one study published by the National Center for Biotechnology found this figure was at 12 seconds in 2000, dropping to 8 seconds in 2013. As such, infographics - when well made - can help capture and retain the attention of target consumers.
  
  
• Readability: The best infographics will always have a distinctive flow that takes the viewer from one information point to another in a structured and rapid fashion. Just as content marketing articles and blogs now must include lists, subheadings and other features that drive the ability to scan, infographics are founded on this ideal outcome.
  
  
• Shareability: As many digital marketers have learned in the past several years, the most successful advertisements will be shared by users autonomously. Twitter has stated that tweets with images are 94 percent more likely to be retweeted, and why not make the pictures themselves entirely informational?

The current trends in content marketing that relate to the popularity of infographics show no signs of slowing, and business leaders would do well to hop aboard this profitable wave.


What to consider when planning infographics

Alignment should always be the highest priority when starting to roll out a new marketing strategy, as the sheer novelty of the methods can quickly hinder brand consistency. The simplest way to ensure infographic efforts are intrinsically tied to the brand voice is to line them up with content marketing efforts, allowing one to support the other.

One might think that an infographic, or video, would simply expunge the need for written content, but this is not the case. Rather, users and consumers are looking for a comprehensive experience that includes a variety of mediums and channels. As such, content marketers should begin putting more focus into the creation and delivery of engaging infographics to accompany their blogs and other writing.


Did you like this article? Do you use infographics as part of your marketing strategy? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments.

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http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Marketing%20Tips


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Until my next post on Wednesday on what makes someone a successful freelancer/contractor, have a great and productive week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Top Personal Skills That Will Stand You In Good Stead In Business

When it comes to business, there are certain personal skills that everybody should possess. If you are lacking in one area or another, you will find that you just don't get on as well in business as your colleagues do. These are basic personal skills that everybody should have, but some people need to work on.

We could all do with a little self improvement from time to time, and even if you feel that you are good at certain areas, for example time management, there are still plenty of ways that you could get even better at it. In this article we are going to look at some of the core personal skills that you need in business - how do you fare in these areas?


Organization

Everybody needs to be organized when they work. After all, as they say, a tidy desk is a tidy mind. Many people's organization skills fall a little bit short - and the days of having a secretary to mop up behind you are pretty much over. It is well worth attending a business course on how to be more organized if you want to improve the way you handle your day-to-day life. There is a lot to learn - for example how to file paper efficiently, how to manage your online files and how to set up administrative systems for your work. Have a look online and see if you can find an organization skill course near to you.


Inter-Personal Skills

Interacting with other people is something that comes more naturally to some people than others. If you are the sort of person who says things that are often taken the wrong way, then you could maybe benefit from a course on interpersonal skills in order to help you figure out where you are going wrong. Often it is not what you say, but the way you say it which offends - and this can easily be avoided if you study the way in which you approach people. Getting on with people is a core skill and one which everybody needs to work on.

Management Skills

If you are in charge of a team of people or a project, then you will really benefit from honing your management skills. Managing people is not something that anybody can do - it takes a special sort of person to do it effectively. Poor managers have no respect from their team, and they don't deliver the results that they are supposed to as a result. It is well worth going on a management course if you are in charge of people, or a project management course if you have been put in charge of a specific project. There are different ways to manage people and projects, and you need to understand some of the theories so that you can try putting them into practice.

Enhancing your core skills is a very important thing to do if you want your career to have longevity. Self-improvement is something that benefits everybody, no matter where they are on the ladder - so what could you do to improve your skills?


About The Author: Shruti Vaghe is a freelance blogger currently writing for Project Consulting, a business analysis training center based in Toronto. Shruti loves French cuisine and enjoys cooking in her spare time. To know more about her you can follow her on Twitter at @ShrutiVaghe.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Shruti and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

For more business tips, use this link:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Monday on how to leverage infographics to drive content marketing success, enjoy the rest of the week and have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! See you back here on Monday!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Efficient

Today's small business marketplace remains extremely competitive. Gaining an edge requires savvy business owners to adopt smart practices that transform their operations through implementation of more efficient, cost effective solutions. Here are five ways to maximize the efficiency of nearly any small business.


Take advantage of cloud computing

There are a lot of online resources for file sharing, document creation, project management, and team collaboration. Consider exploring the potential of useful tools like Google Docs, Box.com, Asana, or Co-op. This is especially helpful for small businesses that work with telecommuting team members.


Cross-train team members

Create a flexible and efficient team through cross-training. It's no surprise that many small business colleagues wear multiple hats. Capitalize on this by thoughtfully considering the roles that each team member fulfills and cut potential for down-time associated with absences or overloaded workflow.


Use modern tools to better manage time

Time management is critical for small business owners. Current technology provides a range of useful tools that make this even easier. For people using an iPhone, the calendar function is a great resource for tracking scheduled appointments and tasks. In many cases, it's possible to connect a personal calendar with an online resource, like Google Calendar, for flexible access from any device or computer. There are also many great apps in the iPhone App Store for tracking project time, invoicing, and more.


Take advantage of flexible office space

Currently, there are many small business owners working from home offices. For many of these professionals, there is no need for a full-time office space and the expensive overhead that comes with such an investment. However, there are times when choosing serviced offices to rent makes sense. Flexible office space presents the perfect solution for high-profile business meetings or even basic team meetings within a functional work space.


Create an organized system to manage customers and documents

It's important to keep business documents and customer records well-organized. There are many affordable customer relationship management (CRM) solutions that greatly help with documenting account history, improving process workflow, and even tracking leads that convert to sales. Research helpful software solutions like Act!, Salesforce.com, or Infusionsoft for more information.

As Internet capabilities expand, owners will find even more ways to make businesses more productive. Innovative resources such as cloud computing, serviced offices to rent, and modern time management tools will continue to deliver efficiency solutions for smart companies now, and in the future.


Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments.

Related articles:
How To Best Increase Efficiency And Profitability In Your Business

For more business tips, use this link:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
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Until my next post on Thursday on top personal skills that will stand you in good stead in business, have a great and productive week ahead!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

I'm Back And Blogging Will Resume

Yes I'm back and about time too! :)

Firstly, I want to apologise to all of you, my valued followers and visitors! I had a few urgent commitments back in mid November and what should have taken a couple of weeks to complete, took almost three months! I wasn't happy I can tell you! :) Anyway, I'm back now and I'm pleased to announce that the normal blogging schedule will resume as from this coming Monday. Again, I apologise for this untimely absence.

Over the past few days, I've been doing my utmost to answer as many emails which had arrived during my absence. If you are still waiting for a reply to your email, you should receive a reply within the next day or two. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

Right, it's back to my HUGE to-do list so I'll see you back here on Monday. As I wasn't here over the Christmas and New Year period, I hope you all enjoyed the festivities and here's wishing each and every one of you all the very best for 2014! It seems a bit strange writing this in February! :)

Anyway, have a great day everyone and thank you for your continued support!

P.S. Derek's Home and Business Blog is looking for guest authors. If you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM), I would like to hear from you. Please use the "Write For Us" tab above for more details.


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar on the left-side of the screen or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://www.google.com/+DerekJonesUK

Until my next post on Monday, enjoy the rest of the week and have a fabulous and fun-filled weekend! See you back here on Monday!

© 2014. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.