Thursday, March 29, 2012

9 Tips to Hire Search Engine Optimization Company


In internet marketing, a good web design is necessary for every business. However ether are many people who does not consider it as that important. The website is the profile of your business in online marketing. To make it attractive to the customers is your main job services of SEO are important. To choose the best for your business, take a look at 9 tips to hire search engine optimization company.
Research
It is extremely important factor you need to consider while hiring search engine optimization company. Make proper research by sending few hours online. Note down the contact details of the companies you think can fulfill the requirements of your business.
Experience
A company without any prior experience is nothing. Such companies should carry an experience in internet marketing with maximum number of satisfied clients in the market. The company should includes the SEO members which can increase the traffic of your site with proper use of search engine. It would be an advantage of the company you planning to hire also knowns about web design.
Copywriting Is Key
The job of such members is to examine the content and see to it that it is not plagiarized. To check if the company you planning to hire is expert in identifying the copied content, give them some articles for identification. You should see to it that SEO members know how to post blog content or comment on the review.
Know the Involvement in the SEO Community
You should hire the company who SEO's are members of professional forums and associations. It means they must have written on who makes SEM presentation or have written more on SEO subject. This will help to make sure that the team members of the company are well versed with latest technologies.
Work Process
Once you shortlist the companies, ask them about their work process. You should know what they intend to do with the services. Get an idea of the SEO methods. If you have problems in explaining them the details of your company, it can be too late. Hence, for safety, talk to them about the objectives of your website and how they are going to focus on the target audience.
Budget
Set a proper budget and accordingly look for the company. Different companies offer different packages of SEO services. There are companies who claim to offer good SEO results at affordable price. Make sure after looking at the work quality, you set the budget.
References
To know if the search engine optimization company is actually earning good profit, ask them about the clients they had. Contact those clients and ask them about their experience of working with the company. The more the satisfied clients are, the better is the company.
Key Phrase Depth
You have to ensure that SEO company site and their clients' sites rank well for more than single phase. You can check it by typing a particular phase on which the company has worked on. If it doesn't come in 1st two pages of Google or yahoo search engine then try not to hire them.
Know How Long Has the SEO Firm Been in Business
Look for the companies that are well established and carry good knowledge of internet marketing. Don't hire the companies who are not established properly. If the reputation of Search engine optimization company is not good, it can create problems for you.
Follow the mentioned 9 tips to hire search engine optimization company and make a careful decision while hiring the best one for your business.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Top 7 Tips to Preparing Your Business For Sale


  • Meet with your business broker to ascertain the current value of your business and get tips on whether you need to make any changes to the to achieve the maximum price possible. Once presented with your appraisal ask as many questions as you need to as it is vital that you understand the process and the justification behind your business appraisal and what the process entails from start to finish. Understanding how your business is valued will help you to make the necessary changes to enable successful sale.

  • Ensure you have clean, precise and accurate financials. Ideally a good strong healthy operating profit is great to see; the fewer add backs that we have, the better and cleaner the business will look. When preparing your business for sale, ensure that you have your figures prepared by your accountant prior to meeting with your business broker as these will also be the final figures used in the information memorandum which will be presented to potential purchasers once on the market.

  • Have your systems and procedures well documented. A purchaser wants to have as much security as possible. In most cases they want to be assured that the business can operate without them being there so if all your systems and procedures are clearly and precisely documented it means that they can be easily passed on to either new or existing employees and also help in the training process. This can also reduce the time that you may be required for the handover once the business has settled.

  • Ensure that the business premises are clean and tidy; get rid of any old stock and sell any redundant plant & equipment so that the purchaser can see exactly what they are getting. Cluttered premises will make the business look untidy and it may also appear to have reached its capacity with no room left for growth and this may not be the case once all in order. Ensure that if applicable, all safety guidelines are also being met.

  • Talk to your accountant in relation to the tax implications of selling your business. Ensure that you know the market value of your plant and equipment as this will be documented in the information memorandum. It must be a fair market value as to have it too high could be detrimental to the vendor for capital gains issues and too low gives the purchaser less to depreciate so carries less tax benefits for them. Remember that when a business is sold as "A Going Concern" all the plant and equipment used in the business must be included in the sale.

  • If possible, keep your stock level at a consistent level that keeps the business running smoothly. An overstocked business puts pressure on cash flow and working capital and it is also a negative when you try to sell. It is important to remember that although you as a current owner may not have any cash flow issues, an incoming purchaser may not have the same access to funds as you so will need to keep costs to a reasonable level for the sake of their cash flow.

  • Ensure that your customer database is as broad as possible. The more reliable you are on one customer, the lower the value of your business as the risk attached is much higher. Document any supply agreements that you may have. We need to instil confidence into a buyer so the quality and accuracy of the documentation is imperative. It must be precise and the more written and less verbal agreements we have the more security the purchaser will have.
  • Tuesday, March 13, 2012

    7 Ways To Communicate More Effectively At Work


    Technology is wonderful in most areas of our life. Yet there are some aspects where using advanced technology may not be the best route. There are times at work when we miscommunicate because of technologically-based assumptions. We assume that our emails went through, that our slides were attached, that the texts were received, or that the answering machine works. As managers, we have to guard against misperceptions caused by miscommunication. Great communication goes a long way to decrease frustration and increase productivity. Here are 7 ways to communicate more effectively at work.
    • Talk face to face. Get up and go have a conversation with someone, especially if there is a misunderstanding. Much of our communication today is done without even seeing the person who works just a short walk away. Just a five-minute conversation can help us understand that person's perspective and clarify responsibilities. At Zappos in Las Vegas, the boss has a cubicle along a cubicle row like everyone else. They believe that close quarters encourage workers to share ideas with others around them, which includes the boss. If your co-workers are not within walking distance, pick up the phone.

    • Provide clear information. Before you pass information on to others, make sure that it is accurate and complete. This sounds very basic, but when we assume that the other person knows what project we are referring to, we provide an avenue for a problem. If we aren't clear, we create confusion and communication breaks down. My assistant seems to read my mind, so I am sometimes careless with my communications to her because I assume she is following my train of thought. She is an amazing communicator, so when I am not clear, she asks for clarification.

    • Ask questions. Like my amazing assistant, asking for clarity is a sign of a great communicator. Never be afraid to ask questions to confirm that what you are hearing is the message the other person is conveying. Asking questions also tells the other person that you are listening, that you understand, and that you are solidifying what you have heard.

    • Listen. Really listen with your whole body. Listen as you look at the other person and focus on what they are saying, not on your next meeting, your to-do list, or what you want to say next. Many times people are so quick to talk that they forget to listen. Good communication involves both verbalizing and active listening. In addition, when you are communicating with someone, let them know that you are listening with both your body language and responses such as, "Tell me more."

    • Let others talk. We have all been in meetings where one person speaks, and no one else gets to voice their concerns or ideas. Leaders, especially, need to be mindful that they do not dominate the meeting. If people perceive that the boss just wants an affirmation of his or her ideas and not an open group discussion, employees will shut down. As someone commented, "Why would I end my career by criticizing the boss's ideas?" If people are not encouraged to express their opinions, the result is stifled ideas, resentment, and frustration. Listen to alternate opinions and encourage people to voice their thoughts.

    • Honesty. People listen to people they trust. Honesty still is the best policy (and it is easiest to remember). When information is shared honestly and with respect, even bad news can be managed.

    • Confirm completion. Close the communication loop. When you are communicating with someone at work, make sure to go over each step clearly with them if it is new procedure. You can also ask for confirmation when the work is accomplished. People will often complete a task, but if you don't know it was completed, you still think about it, so ask that they close the loop with you by letting you know when it was finished.
    Sometimes we forget that everything we do and say is communicated to others, and we need to be aware of the perceptions our actions create in others. It's great to use technology to our advantage, sometimes we need to add a personal touch for a better outcome.

    Tuesday, March 6, 2012

    Top 7 Tips for Getting The Most From Your Exhibition


    The key to a successful exhibition is planning ahead and planning for every eventuality.
    Tip 1./ Stand Design 
    Depending on the stand design it is a good idea to construct the stand and artwork at the office premises before you leave for the event if this is the first time. This will highlight the complexity of the stand, how long it takes to set up and and how many people you need to help in the setup. It will also give confidence to the people setting up the stand to know all the tips and tricks and which bits to place first and what cannot stand without which bits. This will save ample time on the setup day.

    Tip 2./ Extras 
    If the stand requires lighting or electricity check this is being supplied and if you need to purchase or request additional supply. It is doubtful that this can be requested on the day or setup day. If your stand requires electricity for a TV or laptop and this is not available it will not look professional.

    Tip 3./ Promotional Items 
    Make sure you have enough promotional items and any free giveaways for the days you are exhibiting. There is nothing worse than saying "free XYZ with any sign up today" and then have to explain that you've run out. Also check with the promotors if there is anything that you cannot give away for health and safety reasons. Those pin badges might be harmless to most, but it certainly worth checking first.

    Tip 4./ Stand out with your stand 
    You need to attract visitors to your stand with promotional products, great layout and presentation. Think about getting the maximum capacity of visitors to your stand without overcrowding. You need a stand (branded of course) where people can fill out details without having to find something to lean on. If possible consider a few seats for people to rest and where you will be able to chat and promote without someone feeling over-tired.

    Tip 5./ Check Floor Space 
    Do not be tempted to go over your floor space 'a little bit' - it will be noticed and pointed out

    Tip 6./ It's not a Party 
    Do not have any promotional music that loud that you cannot hear your visitors and potential leads. If people have to shout they stand a chance of walking away to somewhere quieter

    Tip 7./ Have fun 
    Most importantly - have fun. If people on a stand are having fun and smiling and look approachable this will encourage people. Don't site down and read a book, expecting people to come to you.

    - An extra tip that needed emphasising - plan, check and final check you have everything with you before you set off for the exhibition. This includes setup materials, pens, phones as well as the promotional items.