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Top Five Ways to Make Your Business Stand Out

Competition is fierce in nearly every industry. Companies compete for attention and for sales alike, and they not only compete against their direct competitor they compete against all-in-one giants like Amazon. Service companies similarly have difficulty, in that their businesses are often based entirely online or, alternatively, locally. In one instance you are competing against companies around the world, and in the other, you are forced to contend with your community. If people don’t often need shoe repair services, for example, then you might have a hard time running a successful company.

Thankfully, there are many tips and tricks companies can use to give themselves an edge over their competition:

Offer Professional Services to Your Global Audience

If you cater to an international market, then you need to care about said international market. You cannot have an English-only site or offer contracts or documents only in English if you want to bring in the best clients. Instead, you need to hire professional document translation services. These services offer expert translation for companies, law firms, and organisations around the world.

To follow up, you should also aim to hire either a team or create a head office in each market you are located in. Never assume that you know what is best in a different country. Hire local talent from the markets you cater to so that you can provide your customers and clients with substance, rather than trying the same approach everywhere.

Make Your Company Painless

Consider your industry and what aspects of it cause customers unease. Whatever this pain is, try to rectify it head-on. Perhaps customers don’t like subscriptions because they feel it takes their ability to cancel away. By making it very easy to see where you can cancel your subscription you can help them trust you better.

Align Your Company With a News-Worthy Cause

It is cool to care, so align your company with a cause and help the world become a better place. That way, when customers choose you, they choose to help support that cause as well. Perhaps you plant a tree for every sale, or perhaps a percentage of the sale goes towards supporting community groups to help kids struggling with mental health issues. Whatever your cause, make sure it actually helps the world.

Go the Extra Mile for Customer Service

Though this is obvious, it will always be true. If a customer loves your customer service, they will stay. Try to take your customer service beyond normal expectations to really wow them. For example, if a customer who has made regular payments for years suddenly stops send them a personal email (not a generated one) asking why. If they need help with payments, or if something happened in their family, see what you can do for them. Send a condolences card if they have lost a family member. Offer them a discount or a new payment plan method if they just got laid off their job.

Provide Social Elements

Give your customers and clients reasons to return to you. This can be done through a video series, a blog, or even by hosting parties for your clients to attend. The more instances your customers meet you, see you and get to know you, the better.

There is no one-size fits all approach, and that’s okay. Adapt your strategy until you get the results you are looking for.

How to Market Your Business to Potential Employees

Your employees are the backbone of your business. Without them, you’re going to have a lot of work to do! When it comes to hiring, of course, you want the best people to work for you, but how do you convince them? Much like selling your products or services to potential customers, you also have to market your business to potential employees. As well as the HR department, the marketing department should also be involved in the recruitment process. With that in mind, below are four ideas to give your recruitment process a boost.

Examine Your Website

Your website is going to be the first port of call for any potential employees. If you haven’t already got a career page, get one! It’s not just a page where you can list the latest vacancies; instead, think of it as a way of informing potential candidates what it’s like to work for your company. Include achievements of current team members, fun activities that have been organized, seminars or conferences the team has attended and other relevant employee news.

Post Videos

When you’re posting the latest vacancies, include a fun video so that potential employees can get a feel for the company culture and a taste of your personality. Videos can also be used for conveying your company mission, core values, and vision. Ask your current employees whether they’d like to get involved and video them talking about what they love about your company.

Emphasize the Benefits Your Company Offers

It’s possible to make your business more attractive by offering certain benefits. These could include being able to work from home and flexible hours. There are many more unusual benefits you could offer: childcare or babysitting services, power naps during the day, or bring your own gadgets to work. It might be advantageous to find out what made your current employees accept their positions.

An employee survey is a great way to do this, and you’ll also be able to find out whether they have any suggestions to make things better. Inpulse is a company that can help with such an exercise. Giving your employees a voice and listening to what they’ve got to say also improves employee engagement.

Provide Ample Opportunities for Advancement and Professional Development

Nowadays, people tend not to be looking for a job that’s going to keep them busy for the next thirty years. Employees want a position that offers opportunities for advancement. They also want to be able to develop and acquire new skills. An incentive program is something else that’s worth considering as it gives prospective candidates something to look forward to when they join your business.

There are plenty of qualified people who could fill the role you’re advertising. It’s just a case of attracting them to your company. Spread the word about the vacancy far and wide, rather than just advertising in your local paper. There are plenty of online portals for advertising jobs, and people aren’t too concerned about relocating if the job is attractive enough.

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How To Hire The Right Employees

Starting a business usually happens when one individual decides that they have enough knowledge, money, and expertise to do so. Ideally, after a little while, you will want to employ others so that you can delegate some tasks and concentrate on growing your business. This can be a difficult thing to do – you want to get the hiring process right otherwise it can be expensive and difficult to deal ineffective or unmotivated employees. Here are some of the ways that you can hire the right people from the start and quickly grow your business.

Get The Job Description Right

If you want to attract the right people who are going to work well in your company and do the job that you are hiring them to do, you need to get the job description right. Don’t forget to mention exactly what it is that you want them to do for you – and ensure that you mention any extras that will be useful too. That way, when you receive resumes and cover letters, you will be able to determine immediately who matches up to the skills, qualifications, and experience that you want.

Plan The Interview

Interviewing takes a lot of time for both candidate and potential employer, so it’s best to have a plan in place. That way, you won’t waste time and you’ll know exactly what you want to ask.

This is a massively important part of the hiring process because not only will you get to see what the candidate is like in regards to their work, but you will also be meeting them for the first time, and determining whether they will fit in with your business and your current team.

Planning will also give the candidate a good impression of you; you will seem organized and in charge. Therefore, if you do want to hire them, they will be more likely to want to take the job and work hard for you.

Even if you plan nothing else, the questions you are going to ask your potential hire are of paramount importance. The answers that are given are your chance to gain a true insight into the person you are interviewing, so coming up with the questions in advance and making sure that they are going to give you a complete overview.

A Practical Test

If you need your employee to be able to do something practical as part of their job, giving them a short test during the interview is a great idea. You’ll be able to see how they work under pressure, and if they really can do what they say they can. Show them some low cost PCB design software and see what they can make of (and with) it, for example, if you are hiring someone for your tech team. Ask them to create a spreadsheet, or to weld some metal together. You know what skills you are hiring them for, and that’s what you need to see evidence of. This can usually be done on a trail shift.

Hiring the right employees is a worthwhile endeavor that can improve your productivity, internal team work, and your overall company culture.

Ways a Quality Immigration Lawyer Can Help You

 

Immigration lawyers can help you in many ways. They can help process your visa if you want to move to the UK. They will stop you from getting deported if you received threats of removal from the country. You will also receive help if you have issues at work. You need the top immigration lawyers London offers by your side to feel confident in achieving your goals. There are other ways immigration lawyers can help you.

They help you avoid mistakes

You might not need a lawyer if you want to process your visa to move to the UK. However, your application could have tons of errors, and even if you qualify to move, your application could get rejected. With a quality immigration lawyer by your side, you won’t have to worry about making mistakes. Whether you are applying for citizenship, a marriage licence, or a work permit, an immigration lawyer will be of enormous help.

Their experience makes them excellent

Another reason why you need an immigration lawyer is that they have years of experiences in doing the job. They know the secrets to ensure that your visa gets approval. They understand the entire process. They will let you know if you are doing things the wrong way or if you need to supply more documents to support your case. Some lawyers understand the law because of their educational background, but seasoned lawyers can do a better job.

They understand you

Experienced lawyers have helped many immigrants over the years. They know the immigration laws and understand what it takes for people to reach their dreams. They have also heard the stories of several immigrants who tried doing everything possible to make their dreams come true. They will help you because you hire them, but you will feel their compassion once you start working together.

They will let you understand the options

You will still decide how to move your case forward in the end. However, it helps if you get the guidance and assistance of an immigration lawyer. You will understand the full scope of what you need to go through. If you are facing sensitive and urgent situations, your lawyer will help determine how you can move forward. You will receive an explanation of each choice so that you can make an informed decision in the end.

Help you find a job

You might not think of a lawyer as the first person to help you find a job, but they can. They have connections, and they know what to do to make it easy for you to get a job with a quality employer who offers a competitive salary. You might not be familiar with the job opportunities in the UK, so your lawyer’s help can be crucial.

Now that you see the importance of having a good immigration lawyer, it is time to start searching for the best candidate for the job. Ask your friends if they can recommend someone to do the job, and then arrange an initial consultation.

5 Common Gym Mistakes: How to Exercise the Right Way

Many people believe they are taking a positive step when working out at a gym, but are disappointed when they don’t experience the results they want or sustain an injury. Unfortunately, this could lead to them becoming demotivated and throwing in the gym towel.

To identify where you might be going wrong and eliminate common mistakes, read the following advice on how to exercise the right way so that you can get on the fast track to a fitter, healthier body.

Mistake One: Ab Crunching

Many people believe they need to perform hundreds of ab crunching reps every day to develop a flatter stomach. However, they might find they are struggling to establish a sought-after six pack.

Ab crunching alone isn’t enough to help you to develop a rock-hard stomach, as you cannot lose weight in one area of your body. If you want to achieve lean abs, you must reduce your body fat and say goodbye to many empty calories, such as candy, soda, and chips.

Mistake Two: Pushing Yourself Too Hard

While it is essential to dig deeper and push yourself a little harder each time you work out, you could push yourself too hard too soon. Unfortunately, this could lead to you sustaining a debilitating injury, such as Achilles Tendonitis, which could result in you seeking treatment from the experts at Airrosti.

Mistake Three: Low-Intensity Workouts

While 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise on a treadmill or elliptical machine is better than 30 minutes on the sofa, it is not enough to help you to get in shape and burn many calories. That’s because it will fail to successfully elevate your heart rate above 100 beats per minute.

If you can jog while either talking or singing, you are not working your body hard enough. It might be helpful to boost your speed and the intensity for either 30 to 60-second intervals. If you do so, you may eventually see a big difference in your fitness level and body shape.

Mistake Four: Failing to Drink Water Before Exercise

One common mistake many people make is failing to drink water before working out. However, it is vital to hydrate your body before you start running on a treadmill or pumping iron.

If you wait to drink water when you feel thirsty or sweating, you could experience dehydration, which could make you feel tired or sluggish when working out. Ensure you are bursting with energy by drinking water at least half an hour before exercise.

Mistake Five: Missing a Post-Workout Snack

Even if you are not hungry after a workout, you must consume a post-workout snack, which can help to maximize your efforts in the gym. However, don’t reach for a bag of chips or candy and instead opt for a protein-rich snack, such as string cheese or a yogurt half an hour after exercise. It will provide your muscles with essential nutrients, which can help them to quickly heal while increasing your strength.

4 Important Steps to Take After Suffering a Workplace Injury

From specific levels of care and assistance to an exact amount of compensation, you are going to be owed a host of different things after you suffer a workplace injury. Everything isn’t going to just fall into your lap, though, whether what you are owed is rightfully yours or not. There are a number of important steps that you need to take to ensure that you receive everything that you deserve — you, yourself need to be proactive in the taking of these steps, as nobody can take them for you.

To see what you need to do in the aftermath of a workplace injury to make sure you get everything that is yours, read on.

Report the injury as early on as you can

Reporting your workplace injury as early on as you can after it has taken place is crucial. If you don’t, the extent of your injury in relation to what you are being paid in compensation for it may be disputed further on down the line.

The reporting process should involve you talking to your supervisor or boss right away about what has transpired, and you filling out a workplace injury form. It may be a good idea to have this form scanned so that you can hold on to a copy of it for yourself.

Seek medical treatment right away

Again, you need to act quickly if you want to provide yourself with indisputable evidence pertaining to the extent of your workplace injury, meaning you need to seek medical treatment right away. It is your right to choose the healthcare professional that you visit, or you can allow your employer to choose a caregiver for you. Whoever it is you seek treatment from, you need to make them fully aware of what has happened and any symptoms you are experiencing as a result of it.

Keep a track of all expenses and missed work

If your workplace injury causes you to miss out on any kind of income, then, quite rightly, you’re going to want to claim it back. To give yourself the best chance possible of getting all the money you are owed, you need to keep a track of everything; this means noting down all expenses that you have been forced to pay (such as anything you’ve paid on medical insurance), and jotting down on how many hours of work you have missed due to your inability to do your job.

You should keep every receipt you are handed, too. Whether it’s for a visit to the doctors or for a pair of crutches that you had to pay out for, just make sure to keep the receipt.

Get some assistance

There will be assistance out there waiting and wanting to help you after you suffer your workplace injury, you just have to go out there, seek it, and then accept it. One form of help that you should never be adverse to accepting is that which is offered by a specialized lawsuit loan company such as Direct Legal Funding. The legal lawsuit loans that only this specific type of borrowing company can offer you will provide you with a cash injection just when you need it most, meaning your upfront costs never need hinder you in your fight for future compensation.

By taking the four important steps laid out above, you will give yourself the best opportunity of getting everything you are owed during the aftermath of your workplace injury.

Safety Tips when Hiring a Taxi Service

You need to choose the right taxi service when you are heading to various places in London. Some people would even suggest not to hire a taxi that you catch in the street. You need to call the taxi company in advance to pick you up at a specific location and tell them where you are heading. If you can pay before the taxi arrives, it helps.

Accurate rates

You want the taxi driver to be honest in collecting the fare. Some of them might overcharge you. If you can pay in advance or pay the company instead of the driver, you will have the guarantee that you are paying the correct amount.

Safety at night

Avoid taking cabs at night if you don’t trust the driver. They might do something to you. If you call a taxi company to pick you up, you will feel safe heading back home. You know that the driver is supervised by a company, and they trust the person to do a good job.

Tourists in London

You can find several minicabs London offers by waiting at some bus stops. However, you can’t trust all of them, especially if you are a tourist. You don’t know where to go and how much you need to pay. It is better to call a taxi company to tell you how much you need to pay and take you exactly to the place where you want to go.

Stick with trusted companies

If you can’t call a taxi service and you need to hire a random taxi on the street, you need to choose the right one. Taxis have colours depending on who is providing the service. You can determine which taxi people trust based on the colours.

Keep your contact with locals

You need to have someone from London to call if something happens. You might get lost or encounter a road accident. If you can call this person right away, you will feel safe. You also need to keep the contact numbers for emergencies in London.

Eco-taxis are getting popular

If you want a reliable taxi service, you need to consider eco-taxis. The good thing about these options is that they are environment-friendly. You know that using the service will not damage the environment. With the rise in the number of people becoming aware of the consequences of their actions on the environment, they have started selecting these taxis.

For first-timers in London, you need to know which taxi services locals trust. You can read reviews online. You might also want to try other types of transportation if you can’t be sure that you know the best taxi service.

London is generally a safe place. It is one of the safest cities in the world where people embrace diversity, and everyone lives as they belong to the same community. However, it is inevitable to find people who might put London to shame because of their actions. Therefore, you need to find a way to keep you and your family safe, especially when using a taxi.

Image: Unsplash.com

 

How To Grow A Garden That Feeds You

As supermarket prices continue to rise, more people than ever before are looking for ways to reduce their weekly shopping bill. The need to remain healthy is also a growing concern, which is why so many people are looking at ways to start growing their own produce. This is an option that is increasingly viable, and no matter how much space you have, chances are that you could be benefiting from organically grown food without the high costs of the local supermarket. Knowing what to plant and how is the key to having better control over what you put into your body, and your wallet could be considerably heavier as a result.

Look at your diet

Some families eat a lot more vegetable than others. Work out how much you need to feed your household and pick the right ones. There’s little point in spending time and energy on growing french beans if nobody in your family likes them. If you’re serious about growing your own food, then make sure that you are growing the right amounts of the right type.

Know your quantities

There are two key factors to consider when you’re trying to work out how many seeds to plant:

  • The food you like: Only plant the food types that you know you and your family will enjoy. Don’t be scared to try new ideas well. More exotic seeds are available if you want to experiment with new produce, and you can check with a helpful access to seeds index 2019 to make sure that your seed suppliers are sustainable and of good quality.
  • Climate awareness: If you live somewhere with a mild climate then chances are that you can produce much of your needs all year round. If you suffer from colder winters, then you may need a more dedicated space, or simply accept the fact that most of your harvest will have to be done through the summer months.

Replant consistently

Once you have harvested a crop, then it’s time to replant. Don’t stick to the same produce every time. Remove all of the previous harvests and sift through the soil to remove as many traces of it as possible. Think strategically, and consider the benefits of succession planting to get the most from your yield. Think too about the time of year. Some crops will grow better with cooler temperatures, so check out the leafy greens and root vegetables that will make healthy contributions to your menu.

Harvest Preservation

There’s little point in growing more than you need and having to throw away the bulk of your harvest through non-use. Instead, look for smart ways to preserve your produce yield. You can choose from:

  • Freezing: By far the simplest option, this requires nothing in the way of specialist equipment.
  • Canning: This is a method that has been used for generations but you will have to learn how to do it correctly.
  • Drying: This simple method for food preservation is ideal for those with limited storage space. Unlike freezing, dried out foods are not reliant on technology to keep fresh.

The bigger your available growing space, the easier it is to start growing enough food to avoid the supermarket altogether. Even for those with limited space, modern growing technologies make it easier than ever before to grow what you need. If you want to take control over your food and your budget, growing your own might be the key to a better life.

How to Choose Jewelry for Your Prom Dress

When it comes to prom prep, finding the right dress is usually the biggest challenge. So, if you have your perfect prom dresses in the bags, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Next step is how to accessorize. You need to think about shoes, handbag, hair, and of course jewelry.

Choose jewelry that contrasts your dress

If you have chosen a simple matte looking dress, then pairing it with sparkly jewelry will be a good choice. If you have chosen a dress that already sparkles and shines, it’s better to choose jewelry of the same sheen – so put gold with gold, silver with silver, and match the stones so they have the same color tones. This will complement the dress, and not make it look too busy.

Match your earrings to your hairstyle

The earrings you choose should be based on how you plan on having your hair, and what the top part of your dress looks like. If your dress has a lot of detailing such as embroidery around your chest and neck, then smaller more understated earrings would look nice. However, a typical strapless dress with simple detailing on the top can be paired with more loud and sparkling earrings.

You want your jewelry to compliment your hairstyle, not compete with it. Therefore, if you’re planning on a simple and sleek hair up, then opt for some sparkle and shine big earrings, whereas if you plan to have a detailed dramatic updo, then don’t take the shine of this with glitz and glam earrings, opt for a simpler pair to give you a balanced overall look.

2 types of ‘in’ Prom necklaces

There are two kinds of necklaces which are always popular with prom dresses. The first is maxi collars with rhinestones and sparkle. The second is a more delicate choker with pearls and other gems. If your prom dress has a deep neckline, go with a long necklace, and if your dress has a higher or straight neckline, opt for a short necklace. This will bring your outfit more balance and look great. Jessica, JJ’s House designer, says ‘Remember to not overdo it, if your prom dress has lots going on around the top half, keep your necklace sheek and simple, whereas if your dress is always simple, or strapless, then you can glam it up with a more glittery statement necklace.’

Dress Color Matters

Your dress color will also influence the jewelry that you choose. The go to jewelry colors for almost every color prom dress would be pearl or metal (gold or silver) and sparky, rhinestone or diamond for example. We think cool colors for example greens, blues and purples look fab with silver-based jewelry, and warmer colors such as reds, yellows and pinks, suit more gold tone jewelry. Neutral colors such as white prom dresses or black prom dresses we would match with either the classic silver or gold, or you can add colorful jewelry too, both work. It depends on you and your personal preferences, don’t be afraid to use trial and error in the mirror too.

Learn To Exercise the Right Way

It’s never too late to start working out and taking care of your body. The right day to do that is always today, not tomorrow. But when you start exercising, be sure to do it the right way as well. What is the right way is of course already another question.

Work-out gear
Obviously your choice of exercise influences what kind of work-out gear you should be using. And, based on experience, it also depends on who you are, how your body is, and so on. There’s no one solution for everyone. But I think everyone agrees that your work-out gear should be comfortable. Before, during, and after the work-out. When I started going running in regular joggers, I realized pretty fast that these don’t work for me for multiple different reasons. They were itchy, they made my inner legs itchy, they were simply uncomfortable. That’s when I started thinking that all the times I had looked weird at people running in tights, they might have been on to something. Running in tights is good, it’s comfortable. Yes, if you wanted to, you could have something else on top of them as well, but sports tights are the best for running.

And if you have decided to take up running as I did, you’ll also want to spend some money on proper running shoes. Again, the most important aspect here is that they need to be comfortable. And often in case of running shoes, the more expensive ones might be better ones. Although, the best idea is to buy them at a discount when the new versions are becoming available. Then the shops usually make huge discounts of last season’s shoes and…well, why would I care that they are from last season, I’m not running to make a fashion statement. Of course, to buy all your gear, you do need to spend some money, initially it might make you consider buying USA Mega Millions just to finance your work-outs, but actually it’s not so bad at all, you just need to look around to find the stuff as cheaply a possible.

How fast should you advance
Again, it obviously depends on which sport you have started doing, but if we talk about running, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, if your knees start to hurt, stop. I once kept running, knowing that it hurt, and …I don’t really know what the problem was, never visited the doctor, but I couldn’t run for two months after that. Most likely I had simply put too much pressure on my knees too soon.

In general they say that you shouldn’t increase the time or distance of your run for more than 10% in a week. And that’s with the assumption that you go running multiple times a week. So week one, 1km, week two, 1.1 km, or something like that. That’s the theory. Although once you feel comfortable running, I know you’ll be unable to stick to those limits! So just be careful not to hurt yourself. And do yourself to keep yourself motivated.

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