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The blog for Global Call Forwarding has articles on the latest customer service trends, telecommunications technologies, and business news.
top ways a vanity number can enhance
18th December 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Top Ways A Vanity Number Can Enhance Your Business

improving internal communication
12th December 2018 blog, Call Management

Improving Internal Communications in Your Company

suggestions for providing customer service
12th December 2018 blog, Customer Service

Suggestions for Providing Excellent Customer Service

is it hard to open
12th December 2018 blog, Business Insights

Is it Hard to Open a Virtual Office in Singapore?

empower your business
11th December 2018 blog, Business Insights

Empower Your Business to Succeed with the Best Communication

does your small business
7th December 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Does Your Small Business Actually Need a Toll Free Number?

tools for starting a business at home
19th November 2018 blog, Business Insights

Tools for Starting a Business at Home

why some companies-are more successful than others
19th November 2018 blog, Business Insights

Why Some Companies Are More Successful than Others in Expanding to New Markets?

decision making techniques
7th November 2018 blog, Business Insights

Decision-Making Techniques to Keep You On Top

Top Ways A Vanity Number Can Enhance Your Business

18th December 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

A vanity phone number differs from a traditional phone number because it is not assigned to a specific country code or area code. With your vanity phone number, a traditional string of numerical digits is replaced with letters or a word. These letters come together as a keyword or phrase related to your business.

Because your vanity number will be combined with your virtual phone number, forwarding calls from a vanity line to the destination of your choice can be done almost instantly. Furthermore, a vanity number can be forwarded to a landline or cellular phone. Forwarding calls to personal cell phones is also a smooth transition for business owners because virtual phone numbers work well with both IOS and Android operating systems.

Here are some of the top ways a vanity number can enhance your business.

A Vanity Number Helps With Tracking Advertising Efforts

A business owner can’t determine the best marketing strategies to increase sales and brand visibility if specific performance metrics for individual campaigns are unknown. Every marketing outlet is unique. Business owners must be aware of customer preferences and analyze what changes should be made to encourage more phone calls that convert to sales.

Analyze key metrics by gathering data that answers questions such as:

  • What is the call duration time before closing a sale?
  • Are advertisements being properly placed to attract target customers?
  • What time or day of the week does your business receives the most phone calls?

Along with tracking data, call recording can also be used as a feature of your vanity number to find key conversation points that motivate customers to buy.

Vanity Numbers Encourage Brand Recognition

One of the top ways a vanity number can enhance your business is by making your brand more recognizable. Regardless of your chosen field, most entrepreneurs are working within competitive markets. Therefore, it’s important to stand out with product knowledge and personality.

A vanity number has a unique impact because it shows potential customers that your business is both professional and creative. In fact, some of the most popular and nationally known businesses hold their rank and relevancy by using a toll free vanity phone number. Consider 1-800 Flowers, which is one of the most commonly referenced businesses with a vanity line. This floral business stands apart in a saturated market because the company is memorable and easy to contact.

By taking the time to find the right vanity number, you’re setting your business on a path to long-term success. The best way to determine which vanity number is right for you would be through testing multiple numbers to see which number truly resonates with customers and potential business partners.

Vanity Numbers Show Accessibility

Building customer loyalty is important because loyal customers will continue to buy from you and recommend your business to others. A vanity number increases referrals because it is easy to remember and customers are likely to refer your company through word of mouth recommendations.

Another advantage when choosing a vanity number as part of your marketing strategy is that your business will have a more trusted presence. Consumers are more likely to associate your company with the traditional brick-and-mortar stores they are accustomed to when shopping. Large businesses often have vanity numbers, so it’s a symbol of being highly established. If your business also has these professional phone numbers, customers are more likely to call and buy your products.

phone lady waiting
Source: Stockphoto.com O# 100211229678

Remember to Research

Researching the best vanity number to use is a critical step when selecting your phone number. There are many instances where businesses have mistakenly used similar phrases and words to describe their products and services. These same keywords and phrases are the terms customers use for online research and when browsing local directories.

Similar numbers can be problematic if your vanity number closely resembles the contact information of a competing company because this can result in a competitor getting more calls from consumers looking to buy from your business.

Finding the right balance through research is important. If you use a local phone number, you’re limiting the ability to reach out to local consumers instead of building national or global awareness, which is more profitable. If you choose an uncommon term that is misleading, callers may confuse your messaging and think you are offering a different service.

Use Vanity Numbers For Long-Term Growth

Every business owner is different, and all entrepreneurs have unique visions for their business and creative ideas that can’t be replicated. Still, what many company heads have in common is the desire for a profitable business that continues to expand as a visible and respected brand.

Before a business can begin to thrive, a company budget that implements the use of modern technology and strategies is essential. Today, more companies are recognizing how a vanity number is a strategic method to enhance their business, promote their brand, and attract more customers.

Improving Internal Communications in Your Company

12th December 2018 blog, Call Management

Failing to address the challenges that arise when companies due to poor communication within a company is a recipe for disaster. Miscommunication leads to losses in productivity, creates tension amongst coworkers, and results in a higher turnover rate.

Overlooking internal communication issues in your company also makes the hiring process much more difficult because the lack of communication makes it harder to translate company goals to new team members. When a new hire is brought into the business, it’s difficult for the individual to learn or seek guidance from other team members because there isn’t a clear path to follow or specific strategies for success. Furthermore, team members will not know how to properly represent the company.

The Importance of Improving Internal Communications In Your Company

Why is improving internal communications in your company so critical? There are many answers to this question, but one of the main reasons would be harmony and balance must exist between coworkers and management to build trust and encourage open, honest dialogue.
A lack of proper communication has a major impact on productivity and it can be the difference between reaching company goals and falling short on completing critical tasks.

Another negative impact of miscommunication is a high turnover rate. Turnovers cause companies of all sizes to lose money because the business must invest in the hiring and onboarding process, not to mention the training and compensation of new employees. When a new hire leaves unexpectedly, the process must start over and it will require more funding. When this happens on a frequent basis, the high turnover rate also brings the integrity and management of the company into question.

Strive Towards Improving Internal Communications In Your Company Regularly

Many business owners wonder what specific methods can be implemented to improve internal communications in your company. This answer will depend on your unique company structure and team, but there are actions that every company should take to improve their ways of communicating.

Internal communication can be improved in your company with the right mindset, transparency, and the use of technology. Whether your business is large or small, communication is key.

These key methods should be helpful for companies striving to communicate and improve their workplace with more clarity and efficiency.

Establish A System For Sharing Information

One of the biggest communication errors companies make is deciding to use a middleman to relay information. This can go wrong for various reasons. If communicating information between select employees, they may not understand the importance of making sure that everyone on the team receives the message. With so many daily tasks to handle, it’s easy for team members to forget sharing information that is not related to the immediate task at hand.

Another conflict that may arise from handing off information and priority documents to specific employees is the possibility of favoritism. If your staff feels that only one person or a few people on staff can be trusted with sensitive information, it may result in tension in the workplace. Hence, another reason improving internal communications in your company will be necessary.

work meeting
Source: Stockphoto.com O#100052465503

Maintaining a high level of transparency through the use of technology is the best way to avoid communication gaps. This is crucial for improving internal communications in your company. There is a wide selection of cloud communications technology that will allow managers to quickly upload important documents and notes so that all employees can access with just a username and password. When looking to share quick notes and attachments, there is the option of Dropbox, along with team messaging services such as Slack and WhatsApp for constant convenient communication. These apps also allow employees to give their input and ask questions in real time and read responses on similar topics.

Host Online Meetings

Consistent meetings are great for improving internal communications in your company. Just as the internet allows companies to share important documents, businesses can also use online technology to host online meetings, which is especially beneficial if you are working with remote teams.

Remote teams will not be able to attend most company meetups due to their location or time zone differences, however, this can be easily supported. The best way to make meetings convenient and cost-free for everyone is by using cloud phone numbers for conference calls or video messaging. Employees appreciate this because a feeling of inclusion through the sharing of information is great for team morale.

Hosting meetings online makes sure that everyone has access to the same information, eliminating silos and hierarchy. Hierarchical environments can make employees feel isolated, and this can make everyone more reluctant to communicate openly. This resentment often results in a loss of motivation and prolongs the time it takes for teams to take action and achieve success.

Define Your Company’s Mission and Set Goals

You know your company goals and mission, but do your employees know? When your aim is improving internal communications in your company, this is really important to set a foundation. Discuss company goals in meetings and have your company mission statement clearly visible in the workspace and online. These reminders will help keep everyone on track while helping employees better assist customers.

Understanding a company’s goals and mission creates a better customer service experience because representatives will demonstrate more confidence in their role and product knowledge. Along with in-depth knowledge, customer service associates will be able to provide support while respecting the tone and communication style of the brand.

Suggestions for Providing Excellent Customer Service

12th December 2018 blog, Customer Service

Businesses that place more emphasis on their customer service experience are much more likely to see better profits than a company who lets their customer service drop off. This comes from a straightforward idea that people want to be heard and cared for. It is a basic human need that a business can easily provide by ramping up their customer service efforts.

Every business can provide excellent customer service no matter what size their company is. You do not have to be a large corporation to use these tips and tools. From start-ups to small businesses, all companies can benefit from their customer service efforts without spending all of their capital. Here is how to create an excellent customer service experience for your customers.

1. Make the Right First Impression

From the moment that your customer walks into your store, your employees should know how to greet them in a way in which they feel comfortable and cared for. This goes for online businesses as well. Although a live, smiling face won’t greet your customers, they can have a great online experience through original web copy and an easy-to-navigate website.

2. Follow Up

Just like making a good first impression, you must also leave a lasting impact on your customers. This can be done through emails, birthday wishes, Christmas cards, member rewards, and sending out exclusive coupons. Small gestures like these can go a long way in the eyes of your customers.

3. Go Above And Beyond

One way to service your customers is to go above and beyond what your competitors are doing. Some companies provide free tea or coffee for their customers. Others pamper their customers by giving them hot towels and allowing them to relax in meditation rooms. Whatever works for your company and sets you apart will help you stand out and keep loyal clients in the end.

india call center agents4. Bring More People Into Your Store

If you have a space available that can be rented out during times that you are not usually open for business, do it. Some companies will host movie nights in their stores or provide a place for charity events. These events often attract more people than just your regular customers. It is a great way to be known in your community, and once you are a seen as an essential part of the city, you will see an influx of customers coming in that may not have heard of you before.

5. Respond on Yelp

Yelp and customer review pages on your website should be responded to, no matter what the review is. If a customer leaves a positive review, remember to thank them and maybe let them know when a sale is coming up on an item that they like. It is also equally important to respond to negative reviews. It can make the difference between saving or losing a customer for life.

6. Ensure There’s a Way for Customers to Reach You

Customers want to be able to reach the business that they buy products or services from. So it is essential to have a phone line where your clients and customers can call to speak to a customer service representative. If you cannot afford to have a customer service line open 24/7, then you must set up a voicemail system, and it is also imperative that you call your customers back as soon as you can. If you cannot call them back immediately, be sure to let them know when your office hours are and when the best time to call back will be. With Global Call Forwarding, you can get a virtual phone number that is equipped with voicemail, sequential forwarding for when some employees are out of office, and call recording, which is an excellent tool for learning which customer service techniques work best.

7. Work With What You’ve Got

If you have a smaller business, then you can use that to your advantage. While larger companies have to rely on large customer service teams and automated emails, a smaller company can pick up the phone and speak to their customers directly. They can also send personalized emails and send letters, when needed.

Is it Hard to Open a Virtual Office in Singapore?

12th December 2018 blog, Business Insights

Before starting your own business in Singapore, try minimizing your overhead costs by opening up a virtual office first. Although it is no easy task to start your own business, virtual or not, there are perks to choosing a virtual office. For some business owners and entrepreneurs, it might be easier to build an office from scratch in Singapore. While others might find that they can work out of a virtual office in Singapore and save on expansion costs. So, what does it mean to open a Singapore virtual office?

Working from a Virtual Office in Singapore

In order to choose the right option for your business, you must first weigh the priorities of the company. If your company can survive while you work remotely, then opening a virtual office is the best option for you. In Singapore, businesses must register with an office address. However, it is very simple for a virtual office to rent a business address while remaining remote. If you are considering the idea of opening a virtual office in Singapore there a few key things to keep in mind:

1. A Business Address

As previously mentioned, a business address is required for all companies doing business in Singapore. But in Singapore, it is all about location. You will find that the most trustworthy addresses will be located in a business district or located very near one. Having an address in a business district will show potential and current customers that your business is a thriving company that is aware of the established business network. Many corporations are located on Battery Road, Raffles Quay, Robinson Road, Clarke Quay, and Shenton Way.

2. A Call Forwarding Service

It is nearly impossible to communicate with foreign clients and customers through one company number. When expanding, it is important to note the characteristics of your future customers. If a customer in Singapore sees that the only way they can reach you is by dialing an international phone number and get charged international charges, they will hesitate and look for a local competitor instead.

At Global Call Forwarding there are many options available for Singapore virtual phone numbers as well as international call forwarding. You can get Singapore toll-free numbers and enable locals to call your business for free, irrespective of your location. These incoming calls from Singapore get forwarded to your office or customer service headquarters located anywhere in the world.

A business should always make communication more accessible for their consumer. Therefore, providing a local virtual phone number for your international customers will encourage more interaction from them and will establish trust.

Related: Singapore Phone Numbers: The IMDA Numbering Plan Explained

3. A Comfortable Working Environment

Since your teams will be working remotely for your virtual office in Singapore, it is essential that you create a satisfying virtual workspace. This means equipping yourself and your teams with the right communication and project management systems. Your work environment could make or break your productivity. The best kind of virtual office is equipped with the best technology, a phone line, a reliable WiFi connection, with faxing and printing capabilities.

4. Forwarding Your Mail

Once you have your business address, you can begin to receive mail. But since your office address will be virtual, you must set up a mail forwarding system. This is very useful when you are trying to manage multiple businesses overseas. You can set up the mail to arrive in one stockpile, on a weekly basis, or as soon as it comes in.

5. What Are You Willing To Spend?

Once you have decided on all of the items that you will need in order to start your own virtual business in Singapore, you can begin to narrow down your search to a few different virtual office providers. Create a budget and don’t forget to include the services that you might need that come with an extra charge, such as rollover minutes for Singapore virtual phone numbers. It all depends on your individual business and how fast the company grows. One service can be more cost-effective than the other based on your individual needs.

Open a Virtual Office in Singapore

While opening a virtual office in Singapore requires time, energy, and planning, it is a relatively simple task once you find the right virtual providers. Before you begin your research, remember to have an established plan of action and a list of everything that you may need. Once you have those things outlined, you can start your own virtual office in Singapore. Learn more about Singapore phone numbers by speaking with our representatives!

Empower Your Business to Succeed with the Best Communication

11th December 2018 blog, Business Insights

Effective communication is essential for your business to succeed. Not only does it transform the way your team works together, but it also reduces in-house conflicts and redundancies. If you communicate effectively, your employees will like you and will listen to you. So, what is effective communication and how do you develop it?

What is Communication?

Communication involves the exchange of information and the method used to make this exchange. In a company, whether it’s a small business or a global corporation, communication is the means by which people exchange information about various business operations. Maximum effectiveness of communication within any organization is very desirable. Here are the elements of effective organizational communication. It is necessary for it to be:

  • Verifiably factual: Optimal communication is comprised of information that is completely factually correct.
  • One hundred percent complete: It must express absolutely every important piece of information that needs to be said.
  • Completely accurate: As well as being complete, communication must be completely accurate.
  • Well-targeted: The information you are communicating must be aimed at the right group of people within your organization.
  • Easy to understand: You must organize the information so that the people who are listening to it do not need to spend a lot of time processing it to understand it.
  • Timely: The information you are conveying must be passed on at the right time.

Why Effective Communication is Vital for Your Business

Ineffective communication can cause all sorts of issues within your company. Workplace risks, incoherent policies, and under-performance are just a few. Optimal communication is key for decision-making and for allowing the flow of back and forth communication through your organization’s vertical channels.

A further benefit of effective communication is that it assists with cross-departmental coordination. This enables your organization to not only have a highly efficient system, but also one which is optimally collaborative, so that all your departments, be they marketing, HR, admin or acquisitions, are all aiming for the same goals.

Strategies for Developing the Most Effective Communication

Here are some measures to help you develop more effective communication throughout your company.

1. Make the most of multiple channels

By using more than one communication channel, you can establish exchanges of information that might not happen otherwise.

2. Improve two-way feedback

Nurture a positive environment and a sense of mutual respect by asking for and giving feedback throughout your organization.

3. Keep the steps to communication short

By making it easy for intra-communications to take place at and between all levels, you ensure improved fidelity in the exchange of information.

4. Be mindful of clarity

Encourage an organizational culture that always aims for sensitivity to the needs of the recipient of the information.

Strategies to Make You an Strong Communicator

If you introduce these tactics into your daily routine, they can help you become a more effective communicator.

1. Lead by example

Practicing what you preach goes a long way in the business world. If you always deliver on your promises, people will follow you because they trust you, so it always pays to be genuine and honest.

2. Keep it simple

Don’t over-inform your team. Too much information just causes confusion. Simply say what you mean; in the world of communication, less is always more.

3. Be authentic

Always strive to be the best version of yourself that you can be. Be who you are, and your team will know you are expressing yourself honestly.

4. Be here now

Always be present. That doesn’t mean that you can’t take a break from work from time to time, but when you are working on planning and strategy, be focused and be visible to your team. Make sure your presence does not go unnoticed. Always allow people a chance to see you around the company.

5. Leave your door open

Make sure that your team members feel they can talk to you when they need to. If you can’t leave your door open all the time, then schedule a time at least once a week when you can. That way your team will know that they can count on you.

6. Encourage self-improvement

Every time a member of your workforce learns a new skill, it’s better for your company as a whole. Many companies support continued education within or outside of the workplace. If you can’t support your employee’s self-improvement financially, at least try to maintain a little flexibility with their schedules.

7. Support vacation time

The last thing you need is a workforce that is burned out and unproductive. To make sure this never happens, be supportive of vacation time. Your team will be much more productive and creative if they are well-rested and refreshed.

Remember, improving your communication skills and strategies can make for a more productive workforce and more loyal employees.

Does Your Small Business Actually Need a Toll Free Number?

7th December 2018 blog, Business Phone Numbers

If your small business doesn’t have a toll free number yet, you need to ask yourself why not. A toll free number is an indispensable asset for any size business. The benefits of having a toll free number are countless. It helps your company way more than simply enhancing your brand recognition and boosting your credibility; it also increases your sales and bumps up your ROI. Here are just a few reasons why your small business should have a toll free number.

5 Ways Small Businesses Can Use a Toll Free Number

The main attraction of toll free numbers is that they are free for customers to call. The business using the number bears the cost of customer calls. But while this may sound expensive, phone service providers have found ways to make toll free numbers inexpensive for businesses. This is because toll free numbers are a great marketing and sales tool for businesses as the ‘free calling’ option attracts more customers.

So, why should your small business get a toll free number?

1. Increase Customer Satisfaction

When consumers were surveyed, they pointed out that one of the most annoying things about a company was finding out that there was no easy way to contact them when they needed assistance.

Your customers will quickly become frustrated if they cannot find a phone number on your website. Why not make it really easy for them and give them a toll free number that’s easy to find. That way they will realize that you have respect for them and they will stay loyal to your brand.

2. Make it Easy to Remember

One of the other great things about a toll free number is that they are really easy to remember. Toll free numbers usually consist of a sequence of numbers that stick in your mind. For example, 1-800-444-4242, or 1-800-505-5050. Another way you can make your toll free number unforgettable is by buying a vanity number. A vanity number is one in which the number sequence is replaced by letters representing the number. The word or words should be relevant to your business. For example, 1-800-CONTACTS, 1-800-MATTRESS, or 1-800-FLOWERS. If they can remember your number, people will call you, and this is a very good way to generate sales.

3. Boost Your Company’s Legitimacy

Toll free numbers aren’t just for the huge corporations out there. By using a toll free business number, you are giving your business credibility and enhancing your company’s image. This is great if you are just starting a business. You could be working out of your garage, and no one will ever know.

4. Maintain Portability

When you have a toll free number, your physical location doesn’t matter. If you decide to relocate your business, your customers won’t even know because they will still be able to reach you on your toll free number wherever you are. All your calls to your toll free number can be forwarded to your smartphone or any other number of your choice. What’s more, once you buy a toll free number, it’s yours for good. Even if you decide to change your toll free number service provider, you can port your number to keep it.

Related: 5 Phone Number Porting Myths Debunked

small business toll free phone number
Source: Stockphoto.com O#100222581688

5. Use it as a Marketing Tool

Toll free and vanity numbers can both be used to help you keep track of your marketing efforts. For example, if you have a website, billboard, print ad, or even a radio or TV commercial, each time someone picks up the phone and makes a call to your company, you will always know which ad is drawing them in because you can use a different extension for each marketing campaign.

6. High Availability

Right now is a great time to purchase a toll free number because new prefixes are available, such as 833. The new numbers mean there are more available number combinations. So you have more chance of finding an easy-to-remember combination like 1-833-333-3333. Keep in mind though, they won’t last long, so you should act quickly. New prefixes only come along as and when they are needed, and this isn’t usually very often. There is not likely to be a new prefix released until almost all of the 833 numbers have been taken. Learn more in our toll free number prefixes guide.

How to Get a Toll Free Number?

If you’re interested in getting a toll free number, you can get one from a variety of sources, such as national phone service providers and any communications company which has access to toll free numbers, such as Global Call Forwarding. You can call them directly to see if the phone number you want is available.

Once you have chosen your toll free number, you will have a monthly payment plan, rather like any other phone plan. You can add on or remove extra numbers whenever you wish without penalty. While a lot of toll free number providers charge per minute for calls to the numbers, some will charge a lower rate if you have more than one toll free number. No contract or additional equipment required. Have questions? Call us or chat with us online!

Tools for Starting a Business at Home

19th November 2018 blog, Business Insights

Running your own business from home can feel like a dream. You get to make your own rules, you get to pick the background music, and there’s no fear that a co-worker might steal your lunch. However, starting a home business is no simple feat, but luckily there are plenty of tools available to you that might make the road to success a bit easier to manage. The following list of tools have been designed to make your work more efficient and your life easier whether you’re starting a business or currently running one from home.

Google Docs

Not only can you create a document with Google Docs, but you can also easily share your documents with several people at once. You can give them access to edit and make comments. If you’re both working on the document at the same time, there is even a tool to start up a chat. This is a great tool for those who are working from home and need to stay in touch with their teams.

Trello

Trello enables you to manage any project you’re working on. The site allows users to create lists on a card that you can then add to a board. Just like in Google Docs, it is very simple to share with a team. Open a card to add details, comments, or upload files.

Virtual Phone Numbers

When working from home, it can be extremely difficult to separate your personal life from your work life. That is why getting a virtual phone number for your business can be one of the best tools for your growing company. Having a virtual business number allows you to greet customers professionally, set solid business hours, and transfer phone calls with ease. Also, when you have a virtual phone number, you can access the phone calls and messages from multiple devices, including your tablet or computer.

EchoSign

EchoSign was created to free your life from the clutter of paper. It also a great way to get signatures from clients, employees, and other third-parties. Whatever you need to be signed, simply upload the documents to EchoSign and send them over to where they need to go. The third party simply needs to type in their name and initials, and Adobe Sign (formerly EchoSign) will do the rest. You can also keep an archive of your contracts, making it a breeze to find signed documents.

Asana

Asana is a great tool to use in lieu of multiple meetings. Asana is great if you have many people on your team working remotely. You can manage projects, start conversations, see what progress has been made, and create tasks from conversations in real-time.

Slack

Slack is an app for chatting and sharing ideas. It is a good tool for entrepreneurs because it allows you to create multiple conversations in one app. You can have public chats with your team and private conversations with one or two people. You can keep discussions about each project separately in a clean and well-designed app. It is also very simple to find old messages in the archive, and it can be synced on all of your devices.

Canva

Canva is a design website that can help turn anyone into a graphic designer. You can easily create artwork for any advertising you’ll need for brochures, business cards, Instagram posts, Facebook banners, and more. The site is easy-to-use with a drag-and-drop design tool and ready-made layouts.

Haro

Haro stands for Helping A Report Out. It is the perfect tool for small business owners who want to get the word out about their business but do not have unlimited resources to do so. This tool connects you with members of the media who are looking for content to cover. You can find amazing writers and have open discussions with them and read their media pitches. You might soon find your brand getting recognition from high profile publications you only ever dreamed of.

Jira

Jira is a tool that lets you capture data from every aspect of creating and executing your product. Finding the statistics of any product from the beginning to launch and monitoring the statistics after launch is possible with Jira. You can even get feedback from trusted sources. Since production is always changing, edits are easy, and your entire team will be able to see the new changes being added and taken away.

Why Some Companies Are More Successful than Others in Expanding to New Markets?

19th November 2018 blog, Business Insights

Many companies have expanded globally to great success while others have tried and failed.

The difference between these companies is not what they offer; it is often how they go about providing it. There is much research to be done for a business before considering global expansion and which countries are most suitable.

Simply because one business model works in one country does not mean that the same business model will work overseas in another country. Advertising elements such as slogans could mean completely different things when translated into another language.

The same goes for logos, a picture or gesture that is considered normal in one country may be regarded as disrespectful in another. Not everything a business offers translates into a new country.

You can save yourself some time by putting in research, looking at the success and failures of other companies, and getting help from experienced entrepreneurs.

Considerations When Expanding Overseas

When you decide that your company should be expanded overseas, you have to develop a well-thought-out plan. Looking at companies that have already expanded to other countries is a great place to begin your research.

What are the best practices for global expansion that successful companies follow? What did the companies who failed do wrong? These are both great questions to get you started in developing a plan of action.

A Few Examples

Take Best Buy, for example, the wildly popular electronics store in America failed overseas in places such as China, Europe, and Turkey. Why? Best Buy only took what worked for its US consumers instead of researching what consumers prefer in other countries. Europeans do not like large stores, such as Best Buy or Walmart. They prefer smaller and more conveniently placed shops.

IKEA is another example, having worked tremendously overseas and almost failed in America. When IKEA first opened in the US, it was a small shop like its original European customers prefer, featuring convenient, one-size-fits-all furniture. IKEA began to fail and quickly realized that American consumers like big stores and diverse wares. The Swedish-founded furniture retailer decided to redesign its warehouses and its furniture offerings to cater to Americans tastes.

successful businessman
Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100078630902

Not Even Google is Fail-Proof Overseas

No company is safe from failing in an overseas market. Even Google can’t make headway in China because of its censorship laws and its inability to overtake local Chinese markets and its loyal customers. Without a proper long-term team to build brand loyalty and respond immediately to customer demands, Google will never be able to see success in China as it has in other countries.

Top fast-food restaurants that are staples in America have had their share of struggles overseas as well. Places such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s have all struggled in certain countries. When Wendy’s tried to move into Japan, they were quickly defeated by established Japanese burger restaurants and American competitors, McDonald’s and Burger King. However, McDonald’s has had its struggles in other countries, too. McDonald’s has seen significant success in places like Japan and the Philippines because of their ability to cater to the tastes of the local people. They were unsuccessful in the Caribbean and Latin America because of the high costs to run the restaurants and the sluggish economies of the countries they chose.

There is no way to know if your company is going to fail or succeed in another country, but you can make the necessary changes to your company to ensure that your business is prepared for the different marketplace and new consumer tastes. Also, never assume that because your idea is different, it is going to work.

Before you move your company overseas, start by purchasing an international virtual phone number in the country of your choice. When foreign consumers have a way of getting in contact with your company, the consumer will feel safe in their decision to purchase from your business.

Always consider the risks and rewards of each country, too. It also helps actually to spend time in the country of your choice. When you travel to another country, you will get a feeling for what their market and tastes are all about. Talk to the local people, even people you meet on the street, and find out what it is that they like and what they are looking for. If they are going to be your consumer, you will need to understand what makes them tick. Finding ways to stay in contact with your consumer is always the best first step to success.

Related: Top International Business Expansion Mistakes to Avoid

Decision-Making Techniques to Keep You On Top

7th November 2018 blog, Business Insights

When you’re a business owner, decision making can be even more stressful than usual. If you want to be a superior leader, decision making is an essential skill. Knowing how to make timely, well-thought-out decisions can earn you and your team legitimate success. It doesn’t matter what type of decision you’re making, whether it’s who to hire as an addition to your team, or which financial strategy to adopt, the ability to make the right decision utilizing all the available information is crucial. There are tried and trusted techniques that you can use as you approach decision making, which will help you avoid making bad choices and give you confidence in your judgment.

Establishing an Objective

From the outset, you need to establish the right environment for making a decision. For this to happen, you and your team must understand the issue at hand and agree on an objective. This will ensure that the appropriate concerns are being discussed and that the process will continue to move forward. You must initiate interpersonal considerations from the get-go. Don’t forget to keep the stakeholders keyed-in to what’s going on, and facilitate an honest and open discussion between all involved.

Generate Alternative Solutions

Another vital aspect of a sound decision process is to generate numerous realistic alternative solutions for consideration. Attempting to implement the first solution you come up with, is almost certain to preclude much better options. Take your time to brainstorm with your team and think up a number of ideas.

Weigh the Alternatives

Now that you have a list of alternative solutions; it’s important to consider each one carefully and assess the pros and cons of each possible outcome. This is usually the most time-consuming stage of the decision-making process. Three of the most important factors to consider are risk assessment, consequences of your decision, and the feasibility of implementing the decision.

Making the Decision

Here comes the part that is the most exciting and also the most stressful. At this point, you must be able to deal with these emotions objectively. Don’t rush to make a decision, even though you may have a deadline. Taking time to consider what will make your decision the right one, will increase your accuracy.

Assess your Decisions

When you are making your assessment, don’t forget that not every aspect of the decision process is objective. It should also make sense to you on instinctive and intuitive levels. If you assess your decision from all of these perspectives, you will be able to validate it more readily.

Implementing your Decision

You have now reached the final stage. Don’t try to force other’s acceptance. Communicate your choice clearly, and explain your reasons behind it. This is the best way to garner the support of your team.

Can you Be Decisive?

  1. Before making a decision, do you evaluate all the potential risks?
  2. Do you consider a variety of potential options before deciding?
  3. Do you take the time needed to make a decision?
  4. Do you often have doubts about your decisions?
  5. Have some of your decisions been more difficult to implement than you anticipated?

If you answered no to the first three questions and yes to questions 4 and 5, you need to reassess your decision-making techniques in order to avoid making a bad decision and to boost yours’ and your team’s confidence in your decision-making skills.

Think about developing a structured plan to help you implement your decision. Individuals respond to a clear plan with a positive attitude. Once your team knows exactly what to expect and what they need to do, they will understand and respect your decisions. Think ahead and take the time to figure out exactly what would make your choice the right one.

Decision-Making Mistakes

There several common mistakes people make when faced with making decisions. One of the biggest is that people either rush into making a decision without thinking it through carefully, or they procrastinate for so long, they lose sight of the objective. Another mistake is a failure to trust your gut instincts when trying to make a decision. When you tune into your intuition, you can make much better decisions in the long-run. Another pitfall to avoid is trying to make a decision without having enough information. If you’re faced with a big decision, and you’re feeling uncertain about what to do, it may benefit you to consult an expert for advice. Getting another party’s opinion can help you keep things in perspective.

There are many different tools and techniques you can use when faced with making a decision. Choose one that feels right for you and be prepared to be flexible and modify your decision-making techniques.