Category: Marketing

Studying Business: Techniques to Help Survive Your Exam

The importance of your business exams cannot be stressed enough if you are planning on graduating and getting your final industry qualification, the exams are notorious for their length and intensity with many saying that they are the hardest exams that they have ever done before. I don’t mean to stress you out with the harshness but it would be unwise to downplay the situation from what it is. Taking your business exam is a crucial part of your career and a bit of stress could provide you with the motivation that you need to be successful.  

 

If you are looking for ways that you can help revise what you need to know in order to ensure that you are fully prepared for this intense exam then you will be glad to know that there are a number of things that you can do. A lot of what makes up effective revisions is ensuring that the sources you are using are reliable and clear in what they are trying to say, with something as complex as a business in particular it can be easy to lose the information in what is generally a lot of unnecessary jargon. 

 

Study Guides

When it comes to studying for any exam it is always going to be a good idea for you to invest in the relevant study guide that is provided by your independent examination board, doing this means that you have access to all of the relevant information and topics that you are going to be tested on. Rather than wasting time looking over things that are not going to come up you can simply check the study guide and expand upon the given topics if you wish to get some extra points for context on the subject.  

 

If you are entering your first year within your business study then you will definitely need the cfa level 1 study guide which is filled with all of the relevant examination board topics that will be covered during this study period. They may be expensive but if they can help get you onto the road to success in both your educational and professional lives I would argue the price is worth it, but if you are looking to find study guides at a more affordable price point why not try buying secondhand from an online retailer as many people give them away when they no longer need them or have finished the course.  

 

FlashCards

 A great way to ensure that you remember all of the information that you need when it comes to your exam revision would be to split things up into categories and put small segments of the information onto individual flashcards. Using a single word prompt on one side to help you remember what is on the other side you can very quickly memorize large amounts of information in a very effective way, flashcards are portable too so that you can continue revising on the go and no matter where you are.  

 

Audio Books

A great way to ensure you are doing effective revision for your business exam would be to switch up the way you are taking in the information, by listening to relevant audiobooks and having the information spoken to you rather than reading it yourself is actually very effective for many people. If you do not have access to any audiobooks why not record yourself or a friend reading out your notes so that you have another extremely portable and effective form of revision that can also be quite a relaxing way of doing things.  

 

The 5 Hottest Businesses in San Antonio

San Antonio is a busy place with a large population. For this reason, there is always a demand for new businesses to meet the needs of the people of San Antonio. As well as being an extremely populated place, San Antonio is also extremely trendy.  San Antonio has gained a reputation as a hub for all that is cool and in right now and in order to be successful, local businesses have to abide by this look closely. Luckily for these businesses, many of them have thrived and have managed to stay current and popular with the people of San Antonio, even businesses that aren’t considered to be too glamorous. Here are the 5 hottest businesses in San Antonio.  

At Home Party 

There is nothing that the people of San Antonio love more than a good party. The clubs of San Antonio are fantastic, but getting into a club can be extremely difficult and the entry cost can be extremely expensive. For this reason, more and more people are choosing to have parties at home. The people of San Antonio don’t just throw your standard parties and for that reason they need party planners, which is where the At Home Party company comes to help. They completely plan your party and simply request for you to cover the costs, which saves people a lot of time. 

At The Cleaners 

With all the parties that are constantly happening, there is bound to be a lot of mess. At The Cleaners has been tidying up the homes of busy San Antonio citizens for the last 4 years and they offer guaranteed customer satisfaction when i0t comes to the quality of their cleaning. If you are someone that is expecting the visit of home inspection services in San Antonio, then you will want to make sure that your home is as clean as possible.  

Business Mentors UCR 

As previously stated, there are lots of businesses in San Antonio and for that reason, it can take a lot of work in order to have a successful business among all of the congestion. Business Mentors UCR is a business that offers advice to businesses that are just starting up, as well as offering them business connections to allow them to network with people who can allow their business to gain success.  

The Bar 

We couldn’t write a top five of San Antonio’s hottest businesses without mentioning one of the many bars that they have. The Bar is one of the most popular bars in San Antonio and it is said that every party goer finishes their night at the Bar for some inexpensive drinks and fantastic music that gets everyone re-energized and back into the party mood after a long night. Something that The Bar offers that everyone loves is free toast at 6 am, which is extremely useful for anyone that has been too busy partying instead of eating. This shows just how much the business cares about its customers as they do all they can to try and help them avoid hangovers.  

The Know-How 

If you are someone that loves trendy clothes but doesn’t have a clue where to start, then you are going to love The Know-How. This business offers a personal shopping experience that promises to find you clothes that cater to your personal tastes but do not break the bank. You simply send the company reference pictures of the clothes you like the style of, along with your sizes and color preferences. They then use this information to completely restock your wardrobe and rejuvenate your look.  

How to Stay Business Competitive in Post Lock-down America

The world has been forever changed by the COVID pandemic. We have seen a significant shift in, not only the way we interact with each other on a daily basis but how our businesses are able to function. Moving forward, there have to be dramatic shifts in safety procedures, staff contracting and rights, and customer interactions.

And a lot of businesses aren’t going to survive. That is the rough and sad truth of it. The American economy is struggling and some places just aren’t fit to cope in this new landscape.

But there is hope. Humanity is, if nothing else, adaptable. We can change our society and practices to work around whatever the latest threat is. And the same is true of the business world. It, and those that want to succeed within it, need to be adaptable.

So we are going to go through some tips to help you stay business competitive in the new world of Post Lockdown America.

 

Care for Your Staff

A business is only as good as its weakest staff member. And this is especially true while COVID is still about. You need to make sure your staff is provided all the necessary equipment and you install all the needed safety precautions to make sure they are safe and also that they feel comfortable.

But you also want to make sure they have job security. There is no point cutting staff down to save money, only for your business to fail due to lack of staff. So even if it means taking a pay cut yourself or getting a loan, make sure you are able to look after your staff.

 

Keep It Clean

Now more than ever customers are going to be acutely aware of dirty or unsanitary environments. The pest control services from pinnaclepest estimate that almost 4 million rodents were displaced due to the sudden closure of restaurants and bars. And when they re-open there will be massive rodent issues.

So you need to make sure your cleaning equipment and practices are up to snuff. You need to make sure your facilities are rodent proof. You need to install hand sanitizers and make sure everywhere is sparkling clean every day. Even if this means hiring more janitorial staff, you need to be on top of this.

 

Marketing

Your post lockdown marketing is important. You need to let your customers know that you are still in business and, more importantly, that you value them and their safety.

To that end, you might want to start thinking about ways to pass savings onto the customers. Offering deals might seem like a bad idea during a recession. But if you can get customers in the door because of discount prices, you will make more money overall. If you don’t offer enticing deals, you will most likely get no customers.

You also want to make sure you are being clear with your new restrictions and rules regarding customer and staff safety. What is your mask policy? Can customers come inside the store? Will they be able to stay two-feet apart from each other? You want to avoid any unpleasant situations caused by misinformation, so make sure you are perfectly clear on all these fronts.

 

The biggest thing to remember in all this is the community. Everyone has been struggling. But it is only together than we can pull through. So make sure you keep that mentality going forward as we are not out of the woods yet by any means.

 

How the Advent of the Internet has Changes the Business World

Particularly in the last decade the internet has come around as one of the most used developments in computer and mobile technology ever. These days everything runs with some form of internet connection in order to make our lives efficient and easy, the requirement of a solid internet connection has never been greater as the tech giants roll out more and more products. In this internet age, you may be experiencing some great changes in your business, from more and more tech appliances to video call boardroom meetings, you will find that there isn’t much that can escape the need for the internet.

 

A classic business setting used to consist of a group of offices and a handful of computers and phones, nowadays you will find technological feats like virtual meeting spaces, cloud data storage as opposed to a classic filing cabinet and wall to wall internet coverage. Some argue that the old ways are better than these new technological improvements and others greet it with open arms. Below are a few instances that you may notice becoming more advanced in your business.

 

Filing

Your business is likely to house a variety of important documents that need to be stored safely and securely as well as be organized for efficiency in the workplace. You may have noticed a decline in the amount of physical filing that goes on around your offices, instead of many businesses are turning to online data storage which provides an unlimited amount of space in a secure and recoverable cloud. Some prefer to stick with physical documentation because by transferring online you open your business up to the threat of online crime and being hacked and your files being leaked.

Meetings

Gone are the days of traveling long distances in order to meet with a business associate or conduct a meeting with your team, virtual board meetings are commonly used now with services such as Zoom and Skype allowing video calling in groups. Simply arrange the call and instead of having to be physically present people from around the world can chat in one group call. This not only makes meetings much more efficient but widens the range to the number of people you can talk to. Without the need for physical presence you can speak to any overseas contacts you may have with ease.

Computers

Businesses have used computers for a very long time, they provide research and networking solutions and are great tools in any business situation. However the computers that were available ten years ago have drastically changed to what we now have access to. With improved processing speeds and new functions being included in the recent releases, offices are now equipped with high-quality professional-grade devices that can provide a great deal of help in the business environment. Although these technological advances are great, a downside would be that the need for an upgrade is much more frequent.

 

Phones

Like computers, phones are essential in an office situation in order to communicate with staff and business associates. Although many would say that the older models are absolutely fine in terms of functionality many businesses have been upgraded with newer models with some companies going as far as providing employees with their own smartphone. These steps may seem drastic but they do make life easier in the business setting in terms of having a virtual, organized contact book and better connection to make calls overseas. Much like the effect of improving computer systems, phone upgrades broaden the range of the people you are able to contact.

 

Customer Interaction

Your interactions with customers as a business can make or break your rate of success, it has been a business mantra to value customer service and to ensure customers have a positive experience with you and your business. Nowadays as opposed to actual physical interaction you will be communicating with customers over social media or your webpage. It is important to remember that although the platform has changed you must still interact with customers professionally and ensure their needs are met just as well as if you were directly speaking to them.

 

IT Support

With all of the new technology being implemented into your workplace it is likely that you will have some trouble with it at some point or another. Technology is an extremely useful attribute, until it stops working which has meant in many businesses sourcing an IT support service. With so many new kinds of internet technology being used in day to day business life some businesses need managed IT services in order to limit the damage done by technology issues. Although new technology is a blessing, when it goes wrong if your business is too dependant it can have huge consequences, this is why it is important to have a physical contingency if things go south.

 

Advertising

With the huge dependence on the internet and social media that is around in today’s society it makes sense that advertising has shifted to an online platform too. Compared to the more physical advertising formats such as leaflets and billboards to today’s advertising which is conducted on an internet platform. Businesses use the popularity of social media in order to launch huge marketing campaigns that have the ability to reach millions of people around the world thanks to the power of social media.

Why Video Marketing is Essential for Businesses in 2020

The digital age has come in full force. It is impossible to avoid it. The internet has become a hotbed of activity and consumerism. And you would be a fool not to utilize it. Video marketing is one of the most powerful and essential tools for any business. No matter what it is you sell, you will be losing out if you aren’t utilizing video marketing.
By this point, you should know who your target demographic is and have done plenty of market research. All of this is vital to creating a successful video advertisement. Below I will be listing the reason why video marketing vital and also a few tips on how to get the most out of your marketing.

YouTube

YouTube is a behemoth. The biggest and most viewed video platform on the planet. Everyone is on there and that means adverts on YouTube can reach everywhere. A company without a YouTube presence is already at a disadvantage. But it can be daunting stepping into the world of YouTube. Starting from zero views and working up is not easy. But there are ways around it. For YouTube views on my videos, I simply use themarketingheaven.com. Simply put they will provide you views for your video and give you that boost you need to get your marketing into the public eye. While YouTube is the primary video platform, do not be afraid to branch out into other video platforms as well such as Vimeo or Dailymotion.

Relatability

A key to successful advertisements is relatability. Your audience needs to be able to view your marketing and find something within it that they want or can relate to. Otherwise, they are simply going to ignore it. Print media is fine, but people can relate better with things they can see and hear. Videos are perfect for this. Showing scenarios that highlight your product that also allow your viewers to relate to the video will boost your sales enormously. To that end, you will also be able to relate to your target demographic by hiring actors or presenters that fit into that demographic and are relatable to your audience. This is also a great opportunity to stretch your creative muscles.

Print is Dead

Print advertising used to be a powerhouse. But these days people rarely buy print media. Newspapers and magazines sell less and less and often only to specific demographics. If you are a niche organization then maybe print media will be enough. But for the vast majority, you cannot rely on it. Digital marketing is the way forward. But to a greater extent, you can’t rely on simply static digital marketing either. If it isn’t a video, then people are often going to ignore it or even bypass it with an ad-blocker. Whereas having your own channel with your own videos means people will be gripped and able to view your content whenever.