Category: Business

If you rely on your small business to put food on the table, clothe your kids, and make that monthly mortgage payment, you can’t afford to make accounting mistakes. That’s why you need online accounting software to keep you on track. 

Accounting software for small businesses can help you accurately organize expenses, easily produce small business reporting, and give you a clear picture of your company’s overall fiscal health so you can plan for future growth. Efficient accounting is an important aspect of business, and financial errors can be very costly, especially to new endeavors. But first-rate online accounting software can help you avoid the repercussions of these common mistakes.

Mistake No. 1: Going it alone

Though it may be tempting to handle your own business accounting, it’s likely not the best idea. We know your entrepreneurial spirit is going to tell you otherwise: “You can handle it yourself and save money!” That conclusion may have the opposite effect, or worse, cost you money. 

After all, you simply can’t do everything and do it well. Having a certified public accountant or bookkeeper in your corner helps you concentrate on producing quality products and services — the backbone of your business’s success. Plus you can rest easy knowing a trusted professional is focused on your business’s financials, which not only includes analyzing small business reporting but also staying on top of taxes. 

Mistake No 2: Using cheap online accounting software

It’s true: You get what you pay for. And if you’re working with free or cheap online accounting software, chances are you’re not getting the full arsenal of tools you need to successfully strategize your business. Look at it this way: You wouldn’t hire a less-than-professional accountant with messy hair and a dirty office to handle your books, right? Are they actually organized enough to file your quarterly taxes on time so you don’t lose money on a late penalty? 

The same is true for accounting software for small businesses. You may pay a little more, but at least you know you’re getting a quality product that won’t let you down when tax time rolls around or, better yet, if you need financial data to explore potential growth. 

Mistake No. 3: Lack of cash flow

You’re good at what you do. That’s why you’re running your own business. But more than likely, you’re not running an accounting firm. While you may know how to properly seam drywall or produce a perfectly plump bundt cake for your bakery, your expertise may not lend itself to business finance. In fact, many business owners may not understand how to properly strategize their cash flow, and that is one of the main reasons for business failure. 

Let’s say you own a restaurant that experiences a slow winter season. If you don’t have a plan to put money away during those busy summer months, you may be left scrambling to pay your tax bill by April 15. The combination of a certified public accountant and quality online accounting software can help you assess your annual cash flow to plan for those big expenses.

Mistake No. 4: Not separating your personal and business finances

One of the first things you should do before opening your doors creates a business checking account. This will allow you to keep accurate financial records from the get-go. If you run your business from your personal account, it can be tricky and time-consuming to separate expenses. It also leaves room for more mistakes, which restricts you from accurately tracking your profit and loss or developing more precise future budgets. 

Running your income and expenses through a business-only account allows you to easily view small business reporting regularly so you know where your company stands financially.

Mistake No. 5: Avoiding software or cloud technology

If you’re like most small business owners, you probably started out using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. While those can be good for brainstorming your budget, they’re not efficient enough to manage your long-term finances. Online accounting software can streamline your financial tasks. Here are just a few examples:

• Use a time tracker app to keep tabs on individual project hours and seamlessly transfer those hours to customer invoices with the click of a button.
• Grant your accountant access to your cloud-based account so they can file monthly, quarterly, or annual taxes without taking your attention away from paying jobs.
• Avoid human error with an online accounting software that allows you to enter amounts into your ledger and checks those same amounts against your monthly reconciliation, ensuring you don’t transpose numbers. 

Mistake No. 6: Forgetting to regularly back up your files

Accounting software for small businesses will automatically remind you to back up your files. That way you’re protected should something happen to your computer in the short or long term. What if your laptop unexpectedly crashes? What if a pipe bursts above your desk in the middle of the night and drowns your computer? What if the IRS audits you but your financial files from five years ago are on a nonfunctional CPU? 

Small business owners must be prepared for everything. Online accounting software allows you to remotely store your files so you never have to worry about something happening to your hardware.

Thanks to advanced accounting software for small businesses, it’s easier than ever to keep accurate records and be prepared for whatever comes along, whether it be an audit or business expansion. Having easily accessible small business reporting allows you to schedule time each week to quickly check your budget without wasting time adding up numbers. That way you’ll know your business is running smoothly, enabling you to focus on what you do best.

Follow Businessblogger for more!

Al fresco dining, commonly known as outdoor dining, is when consumers enjoy their meals outside. This setting is highly favorable during summers because there’s organic air quality. Also, foreigners like this concept whenever they visit a new city because they get to enjoy the beautiful views.  

You can attract more diners into your food chain when you provide outdoor seating. In turn, you will boost your chances of generating more revenue, helping you stand out from your local competition.  

When setting up an outdoor setting for your consumers, you should follow the five following tips, such as:  

 

• Install Covers 

 

Covers will protect your diners from temperatures affecting their dining experiences because they won’t be exposed to sunlight or rain. In turn, you will be able to leave positive memories in them, encouraging them to return to your restaurant. Aside from that, they might even consider inviting their family members and colleagues to drop by and try your menu, which increases your revenue.  

When installing covers, you must consider the height of your consumers so they won’t have to tilt their heads as they walk towards their seats. Also, you should check the quality of your outdoor dining canopies to stay durable even during extreme weather conditions.   

 

•  Offer Something Special 

 

Your al fresco dining option should provide something special so you can attract customers who are looking for exciting experiences. If you offer exclusive activities or menus, you will inspire them to be loyal to your restaurant. In addition, you can use these offers as the unique value proposition of your brand so your target diners can differentiate you from local food chains.  

When considering what specialty you will offer, you may want to make your outdoor spot a pet-friendly area during weekends so you can attract pet owners and enthusiasts. Alternatively, you could schedule a karaoke night every Friday and open a patio bar every Saturday. Or, you may add outdoor grilling, where your chef will prepare an exclusive menu for high-paying consumers.  

Aside from these options, you must keep your outdoor diners entertained by inviting live performers who will give them free shows in the evening. If you want to provide a more positive experience, you should hire a professional DJ so you can attract college students and young professionals into your restaurant. Also, don’t forget to provide access to Wi-Fi to encourage your consumers to publish user-generated content (UGC) on social media to generate more prospects.  

 

•  Find Furniture That Matches Your Theme 

 

When setting outdoor seating for your consumers, you must ensure that your furniture color matches your brand. If you’re consistent with your branding, you can sustain the trust of your loyal diners. Furthermore, they will always expect you to deliver valued food, beverages, and experiences, which creates a profitable outdoor dining space. 

When choosing outdoor furniture for your restaurant, you need to assess if it fits your area, so your customers will have enough space to move. Next, you must look for materials that can withstand varying weather conditions so you won’t have to pay costly maintenance costs.   

 

• Repel Pests 

 

Outdoors is typically vulnerable to insects like caterpillars, ants, beetles, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. If you don’t implement pest control, your regular diners might refuse to return because they might believe that your food is contaminated due to poor hygiene. Aside from that, you might affect your credibility and put your restaurant staff at risk of health issues.  

To manage your restaurant’s outdoor setting, you must repel pests by contacting local commercial pest control to keep your business growing. Alternatively, you may grow insect-repellant plants like garlic and lavender and place scented oils around your outdoor area to eliminate mosquitoes.  

 

• Add Lighting 

 

The exterior of your restaurant leaves the first impression on your prospective and existing diners, which helps you build loyal customers. Therefore, your outdoor lighting must be modern, exciting, classic, or romantic, depending on how you want to promote your food business. Regardless of your mood, you have to ensure that your outdoor consumers can eat in a well-lit place to avoid tripping or bumping into each other.  

When adding proper outdoor lighting, you have to install light bulbs in pathways so they can see the stairs or the façade. Aside from that, you may use accent lighting and other decorative fixtures near the tables and seats so they can read the menu. However, you must outsource a professional technician to help you install these lights and hide electrical fixtures that may cause accidents, especially for wandering children.  

Key Takeaway 

As a restaurant owner, you must give your food business a special touch to create exciting experiences for your diners. Therefore, you should consider following these five tips in setting up outdoor seating for your customers. Once you do so, you might be able to encourage your consumers to return to your outdoor space with their families and friends, which will boost your sales.

When done correctly, in-store marketing has a lot of advantages. It’s not just about selling and expanding market share; it’s also about creating an inviting atmosphere that reflects your brand and providing customers with an unforgettable experience.

Here are some of the greatest advantages of using in-store marketing:

Personal emotional ties

For example, in an ideal case, you see an advertisement on Facebook, click on the link, and purchase a product. What, on the other hand, makes you want to buy anything from that store again? Is it the banner ad design or the delivery that’s the problem? Is it the copy or the handwritten note that came with the merchandise that isn’t having the impact you were hoping for?

Before making a purchase, people want to engage with companies and experience and touch the products. When making a purchase, 72 percent of shoppers regard the in-store experience to be the most crucial channel.

When you promote in-store, you provide something that eCommerce doesn’t: a genuine relationship. Customers have the opportunity to see the products in person and determine which is the best option for them.

Provide excellent service at all times

The Internet is a crowded environment for a brand to demonstrate its full potential. Customers are bombarded with advertisements from various businesses every day, but once they visit a physical store, the promotion appears to stop or is simply too dull to notice.

To deliver at every touchpoint in the eCommerce era, you must invest in in-store marketing. From their computers to their physical shopping trolleys, they go from online to offline. With the support of omnichannel retail, brands and retailers can ensure that they are close to their customers at all times and across all channels.

Tell us about yourself.

In-store marketing allows you to share your brand’s narrative while also allowing people to engage with and relate to it. While many people feel that storytelling is only for online platforms, physical stores have an advantage: real-time connections. Tell your narrative across all platforms. Begin online, then expand in-store!

You can, for example, use in-store marketing to demonstrate that your brand is environmentally friendly. Nowadays consumers are choosing to purchase sustainable and eco-friendly products. You can demonstrate your brand’s commitment to sustainability and bio goods with an in-store advertising campaign.

More than a third of respondents are purpose-driven consumers, meaning they choose products based on how well they connect with their personal values. Environmentally friendly, transparent, and value-driven products are becoming more popular among consumers.

Convert clients who are undecided

According to statistics, 70% of shoppers make their final purchases in physical stores rather than online. They may look for things online, read reviews, and engage with brands on social media, but they still go to stores to make purchases.

They see the things they need from several brands as they enter the store. Why would they chose your soap out of all the soap on the shelves? It’s simple: your in-store advertising strategy has gotten their attention!

Consider how many individuals go shopping simply to look around and be entertained. These guys aren’t looking to buy anything; they’re looking to see what’s new. With your new in-store promotions, you can grab their attention.

Inform customers

In-store marketing can also be used to educate your customers. It’s not just about the money; it’s also about raising awareness and educating people. You have the option to share a piece of your world with customers once they visit the shop.

As an example, let’s pretend you’re a company that sells sunflower oil. A simple poster or aisle blade explaining why it is crucial for people to avoid pouring oil down the drain will demonstrate that you care about the environment and your customers’ safety.

Improve the shopper’s experience

Retailers must be able to provide their customers with an unforgettable experience. Brakus et al. postulated four categories of brand experiences: affective, behavioural, sensory, and intellectual experiences, based on Schmitt’s (1999) characterization of five sensory experiences (think, feel, sense, relate, and act). Consumers form emotional attachments and leave enduring impressions as a result of these experiences, resulting in the effectiveness of branding efforts.

You can provide a better shopper experience to your customers by introducing in-store radio. It’s a great way to inform customers of promotions, new products, and store events. Plus, it gives your store a more professional look and feel. You can select music that is reflective of your branding and even hire live presenters who can give shoutouts to your staff and customers and comment on the latest news. 

Visual signs and displays can attract and entertain customers. Make them even more fun by introducing interactive elements. Use these to promote your best products and the latest marketing campaigns. 

You may even want to take it one step further by giving your stores a signature scent that completes the customers’ sensory shopping experience. A great example of a brand that has achieved this effect, is Hollister.

Take advantage of spontaneous purchases

Impulse purchase might be aided by in-store promotions.

Did you know that over 40% of clients who shop in physical stores spend more than they intended?

This is your time to persuade them to buy your products in addition to what they already have on their shopping list.

Time to get started

In-store advertising presents an opportunity for your business to build a relationship with customers and share more of what you offer with them in person.  Be creative in the way you promote your products and services, in order to make an impression in-store.

Now get out there and create some magic!

Infographic created by Clover, a POS system provider

 you’re running a successful business today, you’ve likely hired some talented salespeople. They’re highly skilled at prospecting the right customers, speaking your customers’ language, and understanding how to solve their pain. Those qualities in a salesperson are what keep your pipeline flowing. While your salespeople may be just fine at doing the administrative tasks associated with sales, that’s not where their strengths lie. Things like entering data and manually routing orders to the next step are not where your salespeople should be devoting their time.

That’s what automation is for. 

Sales order automation specifically helps you optimize your inbound sales process in several ways — all of which revolve around handing time-consuming, necessary tasks to technology. Below are the top seven benefits your business will see from using sales order automation.

Fulfill Orders Faster

Automation in your sales order process enables you to generate invoices sooner, reduce the time involved in your order-to-payment process, and generally fulfill orders in a shorter amount of time. With a faster internal process of orders, you’ll maintain a better cash flow.

Get a Better Picture of Your Sales

Better cash flow means better visibility into your sales processes. Since the sales order automation processing software takes care of manual aspects of orders, your order data will be visible faster, and you’ll gain insight into the status of all orders through a dashboard. You’ll also be able to track orders to ensure they make it through all required steps and conclude. The software ensures you don’t lose orders and makes it easier to see when they have exceptions from the standard process. 

Reduce Risk

There is lots of room for human-based error in manual sales order processing. Involving humans in data processing always opens the door for risk and having to backtrack to fix mistakes. Automation allows you to reduce the number of opportunities for errors in your sales order process, which ultimately improves the customer experience and your compliance.

Improve Customer Experiences

With sales order automation software taking on the menial tasks involved in processing orders, your sales and customer support people can do what they do best: cement long-term relationships with customers, offer empathy when problems arise, and contribute to more strategic work. They can quickly problem-solve and innovate for ways to improve the customer experience. Customers also will have the most updated statuses on purchase orders and be able to receive notifications about where their order is in the process.

Reduce Costs

Your salespeople’s time and effort will be optimized in an environment that uses automation. Better use of time means less wasted money in the sales process and more efficient, productive sales and customer support teams. 

Boost Sales

Happier customers equal more sales. McKinsey reports that sales automation leads to “efficiency improvements of 10 to 15 percent, and sales uplift potential of up to 10 percent.” By simply introducing software, your team can better meet quotas and rank higher in customer satisfaction reports — boosting your brand reputation and solidifying a healthy sales trajectory.

Improve Employee Satisfaction

Your salespeople don’t want to be doing tedious manual data entry. That’s not why they got into sales. And your customer support people don’t want to be chasing down information. They want to provide stellar experiences. Sales order automation enables your employees to be more engaged in the work they like doing — driving up their happiness factor and contributing to happier customers.

The same McKinsey report noted that more than 30 percent of sales-related activities could be automated. From pricing and quoting to order management to post-sales activities, your organization can improve multiple facets of sales operations. With sales order automation processing software, your business will ensure that humans do what humans are best at work which involves intuition and judgment — and the technology takes care of the rest.

Follow BusinessBlogger for more!

In the age of Amazon, consumers are spoiled by fast, free delivery of items ranging from paperclips to furniture. The “Amazon Prime Effect” has led many consumers to expect to receive their items in two days or less, and when companies fall short of this expectation, it can have a negative impact on brand perception. 

Source: kurhan/ shutterstock.com

According to one study, one-third of consumers feel that fast shipping increases brand trust while 90 percent say free shipping is important to them. Another study indicates that 74 percent of consumers prefer cheap or free shipping over fast shipping. There is a lot of conflicting information out there about which is best, and while offering both is great, doing so isn’t always realistic. 

For most businesses, offering fast and free shipping just isn’t feasible. Unless you are sending out huge volumes of packages on a daily basis, you probably cannot offer the same type of speed and affordability that is available from mega-retailers like Amazon. Instead, you likely will need to choose between offering fast shipping or free shipping. 

So, which is best? Fast or free? The answer isn’t always a straightforward one. 

Fast Shipping

There are plenty of instances in which consumers need merchandise quickly. Whether it is a business owner who has run out of packaging materials or corrugated cardboard boxes for shipping their own merchandise, a spouse who waited until the last minute to order an anniversary gift, a student who needs a book for a class or anyone else who needs something in a hurry, just about everyone needs fast shipping from time to time. 

We also live in a world where we seek instant gratification. For most of us, the idea of placing an order from a catalog by mail and waiting four to six weeks to receive our purchase is inconceivable — even though that’s exactly how the older generation purchased things that could not be bought locally just a few short decades ago. Customers expect to receive orders quickly, and if they are left waiting more than a few days, they are unlikely to be satisfied with the experience. 

Offering fast shipping attracts customers who need to receive their orders quickly. Doing so also makes your company more appealing to customers who demand nearly instant gratification and do not have the patience to wait an extended period of time to receive their orders. 

As a business owner, though, offering fast shipping can be challenging. You need to have enough staff to quickly prepare orders for shipment, and you need to determine how much to charge for expedited shipping. Getting a package from point A to point B in less than two days comes at a steep price, and you will need to decide whether you will eat the cost or pass the expense along to your customers. 

For most small to medium-sized businesses, it just isn’t possible to absorb the additional cost of expedited shipping. Instead, they need to pass it along to the customer as an additional shipping charge. If you choose to go this route, you will need to make the extra charge clear to your customers and show them that the amount you are charginFast vs. Free: What Type of Shipping Do People Want? g is reasonable for the service you are providing. 

Free Shipping

Free shipping is also appealing to consumers, for obvious reasons. During the hectic holiday season, one study reports that a whopping 88 percent of online shoppers preferred free shipping over fast shipping, and it makes sense. Free shipping reduces the overall amount customers need to spend when shopping online. Instead of needing to allocate part of their budget to covering the cost of shipping, they have more money to spend on the products they are interested in buying. From a consumer perspective, free shipping is an attractive perk that sets many businesses apart from their competition. 

For business owners, however, the cost of offering free shipping to customers can be staggering. Online retailers that offer free shipping are forced to cover all shipping expenses themselves, which can significantly cut into profits. 

When offering free shipping, most retailers either make it a limited-time promotion or have restrictions in place to help reduce the financial impact. For example, many sellers require customers to meet minimum purchase requirements to qualify for free shipping. This helps offset the cost of shipping by ensuring that each order brings in a certain amount of revenue. 

Which Is Right for Your Business? 

Offering either fast shipping or free shipping is beneficial for online retailers. While many customers demand instant gratification, others are willing to wait a bit longer to lower their out-of-pocket costs. No matter which options your business offers, you need to determine how you will cover the cost on your end. 

While it is impossible to please everyone, offering multiple shipping options is usually the best way to go. Offering shipping that is both fast and free may not be feasible from a financial standpoint, but you may be able to allow your customers to choose between fast or free shipping. For customers who want to receive their orders without paying for shipping, you can use a slower method to save yourself some money — just be sure to disclose the slower shipping to customers before they order! For those who want to receive their items quickly, offer expedited shipping options at a commensurate fee. 

Offering multiple shipping options may be a bit tricky at first, but once you have established all the potential choices, you will likely be able to set yourself apart from your competition and attract customers with vastly different needs. 

In the end, the shipping strategies that work well for one company may be poorly suited to another. If you sell something small and lightweight like jewelry, it may be easier for you to offer free shipping than it would be for someone who sells something larger and heavier like athletic equipment. It is important to consider your business, your budget and your own goals and needs when determining what shipping options to offer. Meeting your customer’s expectations is vital, but it shouldn’t be done at the cost of destroying your own business. 

Follow Business Blogger for more!

These days, enterprises of every size across all industries use big data in one form or another, and it isn’t hard to see why. After all, these datasets can potentially reveal trends and patterns in consumer interactions and behavior when analyzed computationally. And the insights they present can help organizations thrive and flourish. But before we dive into its benefits, we must first define what it is. 

Big data: What is it?

As its name suggests, big data refers to significant volumes of data sets growing at a perpetually increasing rate. It covers all the information, speed, or velocity at which they’re generated and collected, and the scope and variety of all the covered points of data. In other words, it’s a resource with various data types and the potential for rapid and scaling updates. So, with that out of the way, let’s look into how big data can improve business.

More precise consumer insight

When modern businesses turn to big data for understanding consumers, be it individually or categorically, it’s got a range of different sources from which it can choose. This can include support calls, purchase and transaction histories, credit reports, and activities on social media, to name a few. In addition, relevant news is another valuable source of data that can aid in understanding customers apart from monitoring media and public relations or finding investment opportunities, which is why investing in news API solutions is recommended. 

Improves marketing intelligence 

Just as data can aid enterprises in analyzing consumers’ shopping behavior in great detail, so can it broaden and deepen their understanding of the market’s dynamics. For example, social media is one of the most common sources of market intelligence because users share their recommendations, experiences, and preferences on the platform. And this insight can be invaluable to enhancing an organization’s marketing efforts.

Agile management of the supply chain 

Whether it’s trade disruptions due to logistics concerns or the shortage of goods caused by the pandemic, every business owner must know that supply chains can be surprisingly fragile. Most fail to notice their supply chains until significant major disruptions happen. With big data, real-time predictive analytics becomes possible, which can help keep companies’ global demand network, distribution, and production in excellent order.

Data-drive innovation 

Contrary to what some might think, inspiration alone cannot yield innovation. It takes a considerable effort to identify promising subject areas for new experiments and efforts. With big data technologies and tools, organizations can enhance their R&D, creating novel services and products. Sometimes, the data can potentially become a product in and of itself.

Conclusion

Big data can require effort and time to transform the information into valuable insights, but its advantages make it worth the investment. It’s the lifeblood of every modern business and perhaps the best resource for driving sustainable and intelligent changes to gain a competitive edge over rivals. So, be sure to leverage data if you aren’t doing it yet.

Infographic created by Fiserv CMM, a commerce solutions company

Follow BusinessBlogger for more!

If you’re a young entrepreneur looking for ways to grow your brand, video marketing can be an incredibly powerful tool. It’s one of the most effective ways to reach the millennial audience. It’s beneficial if you’re looking to make a name for yourself in business but don’t have much experience in the field. Video marketing can be as simple as shooting a quick testimonial or product demonstration and posting it on social media. On the other hand, you could also take things seriously by making a high-quality video, complete with music, graphics, and motion graphics.

Video Marketing Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

Everything is easy with sufficient planning and practice. Here are some tips for young entrepreneurs who want to be successful in video marketing:

Know your target audience

It’s easy to get excited about creating a video for your business. However, you should prioritize what kind of content would resonate with your target audience. If you’re not careful, this could lead to a lot of wasted time and energy on content that doesn’t help build brand loyalty or drive sales. Instead, imagine yourself as one of your ideal customers and try to create something that would appeal to them specifically.

Stay focused on your objectives

When it comes to video marketing, it’s important to remember that your ultimate goal is to drive sales and leads. While you may be tempted to develop an elaborate storyline or infuse your content with a sense of humor, this isn’t the way to go. Your audience isn’t looking for entertainment. Instead, they’re looking for information and education. It is important to keep it simple and focused on your goals.

Create quality videos

Young entrepreneurs have a lot of options when it comes to video marketing. You can create a video that shows off your product or share your story and how your company was founded. But before you start making any videos, you need to understand what makes a good one. Even if you’re a young entrepreneur, you don’t have to be limited in video marketing. There are reputable video production companies that can help you in creating engaging and quality videos.

Promote your videos on social media

Social media is a great way to connect with your audience, and it’s quick and easy to share content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more. Just make sure you include links to your videos in posts to engage people on social media. By sharing links to \your videos, you can make it easier for people who may not have seen them yet to watch them on their own time.

Have your video posting schedules

To make sure that you are successful with your videos, you need to have a plan in place before starting to post videos on your channel. You should create a schedule for yourself so that you can stay consistent and keep up with posting new content on your channel without getting overwhelmed or burned out.

Understand your existing customers

If you’re just starting out with video marketing, it can be tempting to go all-in with a new channel and reach new and potential customers. It might be good to keep your audience engaged by making sure they feel like they know you personally but it is also essential to understand your existing customers. In this way, you can make sure that you can retain them while getting new ones.

Summary

As a young entrepreneur who is trying to get started in the business industry, it can be hard to know where to start. However, with some basic planning and some great tips, you’ll be able to build yourself and skyrocket to success. Just keep your concentration and stay focused on your objectives so you can pursue creating excellent videos with highly compelling content. If you find it overwhelming, you can always seek assistance from video production professionals.

The trucking business is where you own trucks that help clients ferry their goods from one point to another. The goods are often large-scale. And running a profitable trucking business requires that you have the right resources. What are these resources? They include personnel, technologies, equipment, and finances. 

This article focuses on the technologies you need to have in a trucking business. Read on to find out more about these tools and consider the following:

• Load Board

Every truck company owner wants to make as many deliveries as possible. However, you might find it challenging to get as many clients as you’d desire. Like any other business, there are good and bad days. Therefore, you want to take up as many opportunities as possible to give your trucking business exposure. And a load board will help you gain exposure. 

Load boards are online marketplaces where truck owners find clients and clients find trucks to ferry their goods. In most cases, brokers are involved mainly in assisting clients in finding carriers. How to do this?

• You need to post that your truck is empty and you need a client. 
• The broker can then choose you and connect you with a client. 

In the process, you’ll get to serve more clients in addition to your normal clientele.

• Tracking System

For the most part of a business day, you don’t see your trucks; they’re en route. As a business owner, you want to keep track of your investment and know where each truck is and whether it has made a delivery. A tracking system can help you monitor your truck’s whereabouts. How? 

•  You’ll need to install a GPS on your trucks.  
• Connect it to your computer systems for monitoring. 

With this system, you can easily send assistance to the driver should there be an accident and it needs towing. It saves time, unlike when a driver tries to explain their location after an accident, leading to unnecessary delays.  

It’s also beneficial for the system you adopt to be cloud-based where anyone with authorization can access the system and see a truck’s location. Thus, your clients will benefit from such a system. How? 

• They can easily monitor their goods in transit  
• They can make arrangements when the truck nears their location for off-loading.  

The customers don’t need to call every two hours or so, asking where their goods are; your team can focus on other crucial matters.  

• Vehicle Diagnostic Tools

Your trucks are the reason you’re in business. For them to deliver goods, they need to be in good condition. Being in such condition means that your trucks perform efficiently, and there are no faults in their systems. You might have scheduled regular maintenance for your trucks, but what if an issue arises before the schedule?  

Your vehicle could break down during transit, rendering your operations stagnant. And to make matters worse, you might not know the source of the issue. It means the mechanics will take more time diagnosing your trucks. More than that, the downtime you’ll experience is not good for your business.  

To avoid all these mishaps, invest in a vehicle diagnostic tool. What is it, and how’ll it assists you?

• The tool operates like a computer, and you’ll connect an On-Board Diagnostics scanner to your truck. 
• It’ll then collect all the data regarding your vehicle’s operations. 
• After which, it’ll analyze and show you the problematic areas and potential ones. 

With such information, you’ll repair your truck and do what’s needed in advance. Therefore, in no case shall your vehicle experience unexpected downtime due to mechanical issues. Your trucks will always be in transit making deliveries and bringing you money.

• Routing Device

As previously stated, you want to make as many deliveries as possible within a day. Thus, it might often be unachievable due to the travel time of your trucks. A driver might leave in the morning for a delivery that should take three hours, only to meet an accident on the road and take six hours. Because of that, you’ll have missed one delivery, reducing your returns.  

However, a routing device will come in handy for your business. How?

• It’ll also utilize a GPS, like the tracking system, but in this case, it’ll connect to the roads. Once your driver takes a certain route, you’ll key in to the destination.
• The tool will then find the shortest route the driver should take to make quick deliveries.
• Should there be an accident or road closure on your driver’s route, it’ll inform the driver and provide an alternative route.  

There will be less travel time and eventually, ensure prompt delivery of goods. Your customers’ satisfaction will increase, which is a plus for your trucking business. And you’ll also make many deliveries in a day, increasing your turnover.

Conclusion

Ensuring your trucking business is running efficiently is the only way it’ll be successful. This article discusses tools you should consider investing in to bring about this efficiency. The choice is yours on whether to adopt them; make the right choices that won’t affect your trucking business in the long run.  

Follow Business Blogger for more!

You could open an auto repair shop if you want to start a profitable business. This is because cities are becoming more congested as the number of vehicles on the road increases. 

On the other hand, car owners always want to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. Hence, they seek auto repair companies for regular maintenance and repairs. Your auto repair business can address car owners’ needs and preferences for car care by offering a wide range of auto repair services. 

However, generating a good steady flow of business revenue isn’t instant. You have to know how to effectively build a successful auto repair business, which this article will discuss. 

• Advertise Your Auto Repair Business  

There are important factors to consider before advertising your business. First, you need to specify your target audience according to the location and size of your business. This will help you create more targeted ads that appeal to your intended audience.  

Once you have done that, check for advertising options and platforms available. Compare their differences in inclusive services and prices. You can advertise your business through mass media, like your local cable channel and radio broadcast, to reach potential local customers. 

Additionally, it’s also good to advertise your business through online media publications and social media. However, when making ads for your auto repair business, you should be more creative. Check out these auto repair advertising ideas for your reference. 

• Create Your Auto Repair Business Website  

Successful auto repair businesses in the country and worldwide have dedicated websites to highlight services, expertise, credentials, awards, and client testimonials. Creating your auto repair website can help build awareness and visibility online. 

By doing so, you’ll be able to explain on your website why your auto repair shop stands out from the rest. Hence, an auto repair website makes a good marketing tool for your business. 

On the other hand, you can create your website by using a website builder or by hiring a professional web designer and developer. It’s best to entrust building a website to an expert to incorporate the best features and functionality. Professional web designers have the right knowledge, experience, and tools to build functional business websites.  

• Implement A Good Digital Marketing Strategy  

Aside from paid advertising, implementing digital marketing is one of the most effective ways to build a successful auto repair business. Check out the following digital marketing strategies suitable for automotive repair services: 

• Social Media Marketing 

Create your auto repair business page on social media and post relevant marketing content. For instance, you can post photos of your mechanics working on a car project. Another example is a short video of your auto repair shop highlighting the advanced tools and equipment you use to repair cars. 

Social media ads can also help boost online exposure and brand awareness. Moreover, being active on social media, commenting, and answering user queries can also drive more customers to your auto repair business. 

• SEO Marketing 

Search engine optimization (SEO) marketing is a great way to increase your online business visibility. 

Because many car owners research online for common vehicle troubleshooting tips, it’s best if your website comes up in the first few pages of local searches to provide expert recommendations. In this way, you can establish credibility and a good reputation. 

• Email Marketing 

Get the email address of your existing customers to provide them with updates about the status of their vehicles and implement email marketing campaigns in the future. When creating an email blast, personalize the content and offer useful information as much as possible.

In addition, you might want to follow up and remind your old customers about regular maintenance checks to encourage them to return and avail themselves of your auto repair services.  

• Always Find A Way To Offer Something New  

Most auto repair companies offer the same services, like changing oil, tire replacement, or engine repair. So, it’s important to think of effective ways to gain more loyal customers and make your auto repair shop an interesting place to visit.  

For instance, you can offer new auto repair service packages wherein car owners can save money from discounts or freebies. You can also announce new auto services on your paid ads and social media, such as auto detailing services. Or you can try enticing new customers by selling and installing high-tech car accessories like dashboard cameras and parking sensors. 

Conclusion 

You can build a successful auto repair business with the right sales and marketing strategies. While no formula applies to all automotive businesses, assessing your services, customers, and market trends can help set your business apart. This will help you plan strategic moves to gain more clients and increase revenues for your auto repair business.

Follow Business Blogger for more!

Generating leads through cold emailing can be a daunting task. Often it isn’t easy to know where to begin and how to improve your click-through rates.

Particularly if your business lacks a big marketing budget or if your industry is highly competitive.

However, cold emailing can be effectively used to generate leads and, in some cases, even over 500 leads in a single campaign – as Brightest Minds, specializing in lead generation email campaigns, can attest to.

According to MailCon, the largest conference devoted to email marketing. Brightest Minds has had a conversion rate of over 122% (with cold emailing) over alternative methods like Facebook or Google ad words.

This illustrates how valuable cold emailing is over most conventional methods of lead generation.

As most people give up on cold emailing after a few failed attempts. They do not realize that there are simple techniques they can use to improve their results.

A cold email campaign is a highly efficient and effective way to generate leads. With the right approach, you can expect click-through rates of around 20-30%.

The traffic from social media is undeniable, but it doesn’t drive ROI like email marketing.

In fact, it has been ten years in a row that email has generated the most ROI.

Investing in email marketing generates a return of $38 on every dollar spent, resulting in business growth.

Therefore, if you want to connect with prospects or customers, emails are the way to go.

Cold email Case study:

The following is what one client (A SaaS Contact Center) achieved by implementing unique cold email strategies:

• In 6 months, our campaign generated 289 leads
• 75 interesting replies in 6 weeks, 4% bounce rate
• Response rates were 21.2% – while open rates were 47.6%
  Source: Brightest Minds

In Implementing several of the strategies discussed in this article, this client achieved the results mentioned above and was able to:

• Book 59 demos,
• Resolve the deliverability issue for their domain,
• A weekly average of 12 new prospects & more!

Victor, the founder of My Learning Hub, explains in this video how he achieved higher conversion rates and saved over 10 times as much using email strategies from Brightest Minds as opposed to Google ads.

How to E-mail Cold Leads

By using persuasive email body copy, this article will show you how to increase open rates and ultimately get recipients to click through to your website.

Plus, we’ll provide you with tools and resources that will help you optimize your campaigns.

1. What cold email conversion rates are expected, and how do they vary by industry

Cold emailing conversion rates depend on a few factors. These include the quality of your list, the Subject lines you use, and the content of your message.

Among the most important factors is the industry you’re targeting.

Industry matters because different types of businesses have different expectations regarding conversion rates.

Image Source

For example, a B2C company might be happy with a 2% conversion rate, while a B2B company might be expecting more like 10%.

Of course, these are just general guidelines. You should know what conversion rate you should aim for through testing and tracking your results.

Image Source:

Starting out, you can use these benchmarks to get an idea of what to expect. Below are some average conversion rates for cold emails by industry:

• E-commerce: 2% – 4%
• B2B services: 4% – 6%
• Consulting: 6% – 8%
• Software: 8% – 10%
• Recruiting: 10% – 12%

Remember, these are only averages. If you’re already achieving a high conversion rate in one of these industries, there’s no reason you can’t continue to improve on your results.

2. Click-through strategies (to get recipients) to visit your website

Image Source

You can obtain click-throughs for your cold emails to your website or landing page by using the following methods:

1. Write concise emails. Sending an email that is easy to scan and understand increases your recipients’ chances of clicking through
2. Be sure your subject line accurately reflects the content of your email. In this way, you will encourage recipients to open your email.
3. Keep it value-driven by talking less about the product and making it highly relevant to the prospect.
4. As much as possible, personalize your emails. A personalized email will make the recipient more likely to click through.
5. In your email copy, ask rhetorical questions that encourage readers to click through to find out the answer.
6. Telling a compelling story in your email content will captivate readers and entice them to read more.
7. Demonstrate your products or services’ benefits through customer testimonials or success stories.
8. The use of numbers in cold emails is always attractive. For example, cold emailing has an ROI of 110% higher than Facebook or other social media.
9. Make a strong call-to-action (CTA) that will encourage recipients to visit your website, sign up for a free trial, or make a purchase.
10. Include social media sharing buttons or links in your emails so recipients can share them with others.

3) Tools and Resources for optimizing Cold-email Campaigns

For cold email campaigns to be optimized, you must have the right tools. It can help you speed up personalizing cold emails and more.

Studies have shown that sending personalized emails can increase performance rates by six times.

But you might wonder who has time to personalize each email.

By using cold email personalization tools, you can customize each email (out of 1000’s even) in your cold outreach campaigns.

Aside from cold email personalization tools, you can track metrics, manage leads, and automate tasks with the right software. Such tools can make a huge difference in your campaign’s success.

We have outlined a few tools that are useful for cold emailing below:

1) Linkedin Sales Navigator

Sales Navigator is a tool that enables sales professionals to find and connect with potential customers on LinkedIn.

The service provides users with advanced search features, contact recommendations, and InMail credits, which can be used to send messages directly to their inboxes.

Image Source

Benefits of using Sales Navigator include:

• Finding and connecting with potential customers.
• Sending InMail messages directly to users’ inboxes.
• Access to advanced search features.

2. Woodpecker

Woodpecker is a tool that helps you automate your cold email outreach. With Woodpecker, you can create and send customized cold emails at scale.

You can also track your results and get detailed reports on your outreach efforts.

Image Source

Benefits of Woodpecker include:

• It helps you automate your cold email outreach
• Allows you to deliver personalized emails on a mass scale
• Tracks your results and provides detailed reports

3. Zapier

Zapier allows users to automate their workflows, it provides a platform for connecting different apps while automating tasks.

Image source

The Benefits of using Zapier:

• Workflows can be automated
• The ability to connect different apps
• Automating tasks to save time

4) Hunter

Hunter is a powerful cold email tool that can help you find contact information for almost anyone.

It is user-friendly and efficient, making it an excellent option for anyone looking to improve their cold emailing skills.

The Benefits of using Hunter include:

• Finding email addresses quickly,
• The capability to search by domain, company, name, etc.
• With results displayed in a result

5) GetProspect

This tool is essential for sales and marketing teams that need to quickly identify ideal leads.

Image Source

The benefits of using GetProspect include:

• Using size, location, and industry filters to target your search,
• you can also see detailed information about each lead.
• With GetProspect, you can be sure you are sending cold emails to the right people.

These are just a few of the many tools available to help you optimize your cold email campaigns.

Using these tools can greatly improve your chance of success and lead generation.

4) Examples of effective cold-email subject lines

One of the first steps to writing the perfect cold email is crafting captivating subject lines.

Your subject line is, undoubtedly, one of the most important factors in determining whether your email will be read.

Here are some tips on crafting effective cold email subject lines.

Shorten the subject line

Make your subject lines brief and to the point. You want to pique the recipient’s interest without overwhelming them. Try to keep it below 50 characters.

Specificity, please

Subject lines without specifics are often ignored. Ensure that you target the recipient with something relevant that will grab their attention and compel them to learn more.

Use keywords wisely

Keywords can make a big difference in whether your email gets opened or not. Avoid using spammy words like “free” or “win”; instead, use terms more likely to prompt a response.

Personalize your Subject Lines

Your email is more likely to be acknowledged if it is tailored to the reader (especially the subject line). Try to incorporate the individual’s name or company name into your subject line whenever possible.

Some examples of effective cold email subject lines include:

• (First Name), let’s talk about earning more from your work
• (First name) I saw you mention (a competitor’s product or service). Would you consider (your product or service)?”
• (First name), Can we arrange a call to talk about (specific topic)?”

By following these tips, you can create cold email subject lines that are more likely to get opened and read.

5) How to Write a Convincing Email Body

Cold emailing can be effective with these tried-and-tested copywriting formulas that have been proven to intrigue and persuade all types of audiences.

Before you begin your B2B cold email lead generation campaign, consider these two proven email copy frameworks.

1. AIDA Formula for B2B Cold Emailing

This type of email illustrates the four stages a customer goes through before making a purchase decision – based on the AIDA formula.

In order to motivate recipients to take action, your cold email content must grab their attention, interest, and desire. These four steps are outlined below:

Image Source

• Attention: You should hook your reader with an attention-grabbing subject line in the attention stage. Your business email subject line should attract the recipient’s attention and prompt them to open it.
• Interest: In this phase, you need to connect with your users, and the content must engage them. The cold email introduction aims to generate interest among the recipient and convince them to read the rest of the email.
• Desire: It should demonstrate the benefits your customers can gain from your offerings and inspire them to desire your product or service.

It is also possible to use FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) in your template, as missing out on something enhances our desire to acquire it.

• Action: A business needs to encourage its target audience to try or buy its products at this stage. The best way to get the reader to click, respond, or purchase would be through a CTA button.

It is possible for your business to create an email copy using the AIDA formula email model. This email campaign will result in a higher conversion rate.

2. The 3-B Plan

The 3-B Plan is a simple yet effective email marketing formula that can help you get more leads and sales. It stands for:

• Brevity — Cut it short.
• Blunt — Get straight to the point.
• Basic — Don’t complicate things.

The cold email technique lets the recipient know exactly who you are and what you would like from them. One of the keys to the 3-B Plan is to be blunt.

It doesn’t mean you can’t be persuasive; it just means you don’t need to try to be clever. Other forms of writing call for stories and jokes, but emails don’t.

Instead, focus on the reasons for the recipient’s prompt response. According to Brightest Minds research, shorter emails receive quicker responses.

Write Great Email-Copy Now

The biggest challenge is often crafting a compelling email body copy to persuade recipients to take action in email marketing.

Whether you’re promoting a new product or trying to increase attendance at an event, nailing the perfect email body copy can make all the difference.

Here are some tips for creating persuasive email body copy:

Start with a Strong introduction

You must capture the reader’s attention from the start of your email body copy so they continue reading.

It would help if you started off your article with an attention-grabbing hook that will entice people to keep reading.

Examples of Strong introductions:

• “I’m reaching out {{First-Name}} because I think we can help each other.”
• “Many writers are seeking alternative revenue streams for their efforts. Is this true for you {{First-Name}}?”
• “{{First-Name}} I found this article that I thought you would find interesting for {{Client’s Company}}.

Examples of Poor introductions:

• “Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a ___________.”
• “I’m emailing you because I want to sell you my _________.”
• “I was hoping you could help me with ___________.”

2. Don’t Go Overboard (Write an essay)

Short emails (to the point) are more likely to engage readers.

Don’t include unnecessary fluff in your email body copy. Get straight to the point.

The following is an example of a good, short, straightforward cold email template:

Here is an example of a bad cold email with fluff:

“Hi, there!

I hope you’re doing well. As I was thinking about you, I wondered if we might be able to work together because of your passion for (Product/service).

It would benefit both of us.”

World’s first tactile device that lets hearing and speech impaired talk with regular people

Best Regards,

3. Use Persuasive Language

Your email body copy should be engaging and convincing to persuade the reader to take action.

Persuasion often depends on the language you use just as much as the content of your message.

Your words should resonate with your audience, so carefully choose what you say.

Here are some examples of persuasive text you can use in your email body copy:

• “{{First-Name}} I think we could significantly help each other out.”
• “I’m convinced that I can deliver great results for {{Client’s Company}}.”

The following are examples of poor email body copy:

• “I may be able to help you out.”
• “I’m not sure if I can do a good job, but…”
• “I hope this works out.”

4. Include a CTA

There should always be a “Call-to-Action” (CTA) in your email body copy.

CTA’s are perhaps the most important part of any email, so making sure they are effective is very important.

Make your CTA concise and easy to understand, so the reader can easily take action.

Cold email CTA examples:

• “{{First-name}} If you’re interested in working together, how about a quick chat?
• “I’ll send over some more information {{First-name}} if you’re interested in learning more.”
• “Let me know if you have further questions for {{Client’s company}}” to gain from (your product/service)

Provide examples of poor CTA’s for cold emails:

• “If you want to learn more, just reply to this email, and I’ll send over some more information.”
• “Click here to learn more.”
• “I hope to talk to you soon!”

5. Customize your Email

As the examples above illustrate, when writing a cold email (besides personalizing the subject line), it is crucial to personalize the email body copy as much as possible.

By personalizing the email, you increase the chances that the recipient will read your email and respond favorably.

Some ways to personalize your email body copy include:

• Addressing the recipient by name
• Mentioning something that you have in common with the recipient
• Referring to a recent event or news story that the recipient may be interested in
• Asking a question that is specific to the recipient’s situation

Conclusion

So there you have it – a comprehensive guide on how to generate leads and improve click-through rates through cold emailing.

Of course, the best way to find out what works for your specific business is to test different tactics and see what produces results.

But with these tips as a foundation, you’re sure to see an increase in engagement and conversions from your cold email campaigns.

Author Bio: John B. Martyn has worked with SaaS-based products for over half a decade. He enjoys learning new things and is passionate about writing. Currently, he works for Brightest Minds, where he writes and edits content on Lead Generation strategies.
Email: john.martyn@brightestminds.io