Safety should always be a priority for businesses, especially those that have customers coming in and out of the store on a regular basis. 

Here are a few ways businesses can ensure their customers are safe when in the store:

1) Install security cameras 

Security cameras are an important part of keeping customers safe in a store. They can deter crime and also provide evidence if something does happen. Businesses should make sure that their security cameras are installed in strategic locations throughout the store, and that they are in good working order. 

Security cameras can be a great way to keep businesses safe and protect their customers. 

For example, if there is a robbery, the security footage can be used to identify the perpetrator and bring them to justice. 

Premises liability is a legal term that refers to the responsibility of property owners for the safety of visitors on their property. This includes businesses, and it is important for businesses to understand their obligations when it comes to premises liability. If your business is situated in Chicago, for example, you can take advice from a Chicago premises liability lawyer that will help you ensure that you are meeting your obligations. This way, you can avoid any potential legal issues in the future. 

2) Have a clear policy on what is allowed in the store 

Businesses should have a clear policy on what is allowed in the store, and make sure that all employees are aware of it. Customers should also be made aware of the policy so that they know what to expect. 

For example, some stores might not allow bags or backpacks inside. Others might have a dress code that customers need to adhere to. Also, businesses should make sure that their employees are trained on how to deal with difficult customers. If there is an issue, it needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. 

Making sure that all employees and customers are aware of the store’s policies can help to avoid any potential problems. 

3) Keep the store well-lit and clean 

Businesses should make sure that their stores are well-lit and clean. This will help to deter crime and make customers feel more comfortable while in the store. 

A well-lit store is less likely to be targeted by criminals, as they will be more visible. Also, a clean store will give customers a better impression and make them more likely to return. 

To ensure your store is well lit during the night, you can install security lights around the perimeter of the building. This will deter criminals and also make it easier for customers to see when they are coming in and out of the store. 

4) Have a good customer service policy in place 

It is important to have a good customer service policy in place so that if there is an issue, it can be dealt with quickly and efficiently. This will help to build trust between the business and its customers. 

For example, if a customer is not happy with the service they received, the business should make sure that the issue is dealt with as soon as possible. Also, as stated before, businesses should make sure that their employees are trained on how to deal with difficult customers. 

Additionally, businesses should make sure that they are responsive to customer complaints and feedback. This will show customers that you care about their experience and that you are willing to improve the store based on their suggestions. For example, if a customer suggests that the store should be open later, the business should consider this suggestion and make a decision based on feedback from other customers. 

5) Train employees on safety procedures 

All employees should be trained on safety procedures, such as what to do in the event of a fire. This will help to keep customers safe and also make sure that employees know what to do in an emergency situation. 

For example, if there is a fire, employees should know how to evacuate the store quickly and efficiently. They should also be aware of where the fire exits are located. 

Regular training drills will help to ensure that employees are prepared for an emergency situation. Not only that, but it will also help to build trust between the business and its employees. Which is essential for any business. 

6) Install security systems 

Businesses should install security systems, such as alarms and surveillance cameras. This will help to deter crime and also provide evidence if something does happen. 

For example, if there is a break-in, the surveillance footage can be used to identify the perpetrator. Also, if an alarm is triggered, it will notify the authorities and they will be able to respond quickly. 

Installing security systems can give customers peace of mind and make them feel more comfortable while in the store. 

7) Hire security guards 

Businesses can hire security guards to help deter crime and also provide a visible presence. This will make potential criminals think twice before targeting the store. 

For example, if there is a break-in, the security guards can apprehend the perpetrator and hold them until the authorities arrive. Also, they can help to escort customers to their cars at night. 

Hiring security guards can be an effective way to deter crime and also provide a sense of safety for customers. 

Businesses can take a number of steps to ensure their customers are safe while in the store. Some of these steps include having a dress code policy, making sure the store is well-lit and clean, training employees on safety procedures, and installing security systems. Hiring security guards can also be an effective way to keep customers safe. Always remember, that the safety of your customers should be a top priority. 

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Top Ways Businesses can Ensure Their Customers are Safe When in the Store appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

At any time, you can go online and find plenty of guides telling you how you can use marketing to grow the business that you’ve put so much time and effort into. However, none of the tips included in these guides can help if your brands, service, or products don’t look unique or don’t meet consumers’ needs. Regardless of the industry you operate in, it’s crucial to learn how to stand out from the crowd, and it’s vital that people notice you for the right reasons. How to make your business more marketable ?

How to Make Your Business More Marketable

You might need to find someone – a fresh pair of eyes – who will take a look at your approach from an unbiased angle or bring in the tools and knowledge necessary to strengthen your online presence. On top of that, you can also try to reconsider the way your business operates and see if there’s something you’d want to communicate to your potential customers.

Although these steps might seem easily manageable, you have to keep in mind that, in many cases, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Therefore it’s possible that more complex steps, such as updating your business plan or revamping your company inside out, might also be necessary. Let’s take a look at a few ways to make your business more marketable and stand out from the competition.

How to Make Your Business More Marketable

Keep Your Business Current

No matter what industry you’re in, your business is a reflection of how it’s being run. For example, if your website is cluttered with images that aren’t professional-looking, chances are potential clients will dismiss you as an amateur. Clients who might be interested in your work and services may not even want to attempt to navigate through your site.

Additionally, if you operate internationally and have regular business meetings and negotiations with foreign partners and suppliers, it might be worth working with remote virtual interpreting services to minimize the risk of miscommunication.

While it’s essential to keep your website up-to-date, you can also consider other ways to keep your business current. Making sure your business cards and promotional materials stay up-to-date is a good idea. This can include updating your logo, offering new products or services, or changing your hours of operation.

Get Your Business Noticed

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day operations of running a business and forget to think about how to get your business noticed. Many people assume that if they build their clientele from friends, family, and referrals, they won’t need to worry about winning over the attention of new customers anymore. In reality, your local audience will not be enough to help your business grow or sustain itself, and staying within a small circle is limiting.

Try reaching out to your local radio stations or newspapers to advertise on the air or in print. Another effective way to get your business noticed is by using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote your business and build an online presence.

Update Your Business Plan

You can’t run a successful business without a proper business plan in place. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for a while, adding a new, unique aspect to your plan is a great way to help you expand into a new market or increase sales. After all, a business plan is a tool that should help you describe where you are today, where you want to be in the future, and how you’re going to get there.

Having a clear vision of the future of your business allows you to easily visualize and create a road map to reach your goals. It’s generally recommended that you do a thorough review and update your business plan at least once a year.

Review Your Finances

The state of your finances will play a huge role in determining whether or not your business is ready for growth. So before making any major decisions, take some time to analyze your financial situation and make sure you can afford them. Take a look at all aspects of your finances: cash flow, income and expenses, debt and equity, etc.

See if anything needs to be adjusted to cover any upcoming expenses and stay profitable throughout the year. You might even want to consider hiring a financial advisor – someone who can help you with forecasting and analyzing your financial statements, develop a financial plan, and assist you with investment decisions. Reviewing your finances will help you keep an eye on your progress over time and adjust accordingly when needed.

Find Out What Your Customers Think

Market research is not only crucial for finding new clients but also for understanding what your prospects expect from your products or services. It helps businesses learn about target audiences, competitors, and new products or services your business could offer in the future.  Surveys and interviews are often used as market research tools; however, there are other options as well.

For example, social media monitoring involves following various social media profiles to see how people respond to specific events or topics while surveys aim at gathering information from larger groups of customers based on more structured questions.

Conclusion

There’s no way to predict what exactly lies ahead for your business; however, if you have a clear vision of your goals, you can easily develop a plan on how to get there. If you want to grow your business quickly and effectively, start by revamping your business plan and updating your financial situation.

Once you know where you’re going, look into the necessary steps that will get you there. Your clients are out there; you just need to find them. With the right strategy in place and willingness to change and accept constructive criticism and feedback from people with more experience, you can reach millions of people and make your business more marketable than ever before.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How to Make Your Business More Marketable appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Businesses can target their customers more effectively by using tech solutions. By tracking customer behavior and preferences, businesses can create a profile of each customer and use that information to deliver targeted ads and content. This not only helps to improve the customer experience but also increases sales and conversions. This blog post will discuss how businesses can use tech solutions to target their customers more effectively.

How Businesses Can Use Tech Solutions to Target Customers More Effectively

Use Tech Solutions to Target Customers More Effectively

Use contemporary software to generate a compelling website

One of the primary things that people do after hearing about a new business or product is to conduct an online search. This means that businesses should have a great website if they want to target their customers more effectively. If you don’t know how to design websites, then it would be wise for you to hire someone who does so as your site will serve as the foundation for all of your marketing efforts. You can also take the time to explore online sources where you may come across a personalization platform that will allow you to customize your website according to your brand and target audience. Just keep in mind that your website should be easy to navigate and should provide an informative experience for anyone who visits it.

Build a mobile app

Businesses must have a mobile app to reach out to customers on their phones and tablets. Most people use these two devices over desktop computers nowadays so it only makes sense that an effective business should have a mobile app. A great way to build an app is by using the Swift programming language because it allows you to create native iOS applications faster than other languages, such as Objective-C or Java.

Leverage social media as a form of communication

Your business must have a strong presence on social media if you want to target customers more effectively. Social media platforms allow businesses to reach out to their customers in real-time, which means that you can address any concerns or queries that they may have. Additionally, social media platforms are great for sharing content that is relevant to your target audience. You can also use social media to run contests and giveaways, which will help to increase brand awareness and loyalty among your customers. However, you have to be sure to post relevant and engaging content if you want people to continue following your business on social media.

Take advantage of marketing automation tools

Another great way to target customers more effectively is by using marketing automation tools. These tools allow businesses to automate certain marketing tasks, such as email campaigns, social media postings, and even website personalization. This means that you can use these tools to target customers more effectively and reduce the amount of time that it takes for your business to respond to their needs or queries. You will be able to reach out to a larger audience within shorter periods, thereby improving your chances of making sales from those prospects who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer them.

Monitor customer behavior and preferences

The best way to target customers more effectively is by monitoring their behavior and preferences. This can be done by using analytics tools that track things like website traffic, the number of sales made, and even the amount of time people spend on your website. By understanding how customers interact with your business, you will be able to create a profile of each customer and use that information to deliver targeted ads and content. This not only helps to improve the customer experience but also increases sales and conversions.

Create a CRM system

A CRM, or customer relationship management system is an essential piece of technology for businesses that want to target their customers more effectively. This type of system helps you track customer behavior so you can get an idea of what they like and don’t like. You can also use a CRM system to create targeted marketing campaigns based on that information. A great thing about this type of software is that it’s easy for businesses to use and can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection. However, you must choose the right CRM system so you don’t end up wasting resources on one that doesn’t work well for your business.

How Businesses Can Use Tech Solutions to Target Customers More Effectively

So there you have it – effective ways in which your business can use tech solutions to target customers more effectively. Implementing these strategies will help you reach out to a larger audience within shorter periods, thereby improving your chances of making sales from those prospects who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer them. Just make sure that you are patient and consistent with your marketing efforts, as it may take some time before you see any significant results.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How Businesses Can Use Tech Solutions to Target Customers More Effectively appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Online contracts are contracts that are created and attested online without any use of physical paper. E-contracts allow companies and individuals to quickly and conveniently agree on legally-binding agreements.

They’re almost a staple for companies that frequently enter into agreements with overseas companies or independent contractors. However, there’s no reason for companies not to use online contracts for contracting with domestic companies.

The benefits of an online contract aren’t limited to contracting with entities outside of your city. Entering into online contracts even with parties that are within reach cuts back on time spent on logistics, offers convenience, and puts a few dollars back into your pocket.

This article talks about these and other benefits that improve your business’s functioning in the context of agreements.

6 Ways Online Contracts Offer Value to Businesses

Online contracts streamline the process of entering into agreements for all involved parties. Being able to accept contracts with a single tap removes the long-winding process associated with paper contracts.

Convenience and efficiency are the primary most apparent, but not the only way online contracts offer value to a business. Following are some key benefits that a company wanting to adopt online contracts should consider.

1.    Enter into agreements faster with online contracts

Paper contracts take forever. They can ruin a job offer or a client deal simply because of the time they require to create, send, and get back.

Think about it. The company drafts the contract and takes a day to get them posted through mail. The mail reaches the other party, on average, about 2-4 days later.

The number of days that the client will take to go through the mail is uncertain. Then, the number of days the client takes to get other stakeholders to sign are, again, uncertain. Add another day for the signed copy to be mailed back. Throw in another 2-4 for you to finally receive the mail.

The process takes longer than a short family trip to DisneyLand. That’s not the way to do business in 2022.

Paper contracts can potentially result in loss of talent and stalled deals simply because they take what looks like a year. Online contracts are the perfect alternative because they enable the recipient to view and digitally sign the contract in real-time using their phone or computer.

Plus, online contracts also take less time to prepare. You can create a contract agreement template and use it as a boilerplate or choose from lawyer-vetted ready-to-use contracts available online. Essentially, an online contract streamlines the process of entering into agreements end-to-end.

2.    Online contracts reduce human error

If the creator of the contract had a long night, they may miss a few blunders while proofreading or may enter inaccurate details.

On the other hand, the person who is supposed to sign the contract may fail to read the fine print while overly focusing on covering the contract with dozens of signatures.

Paper contracts are also more vulnerable to tampering and can result in legal complications down the road. With online contracts, both parties have the option to read and modify the terms over the internet in real-time.

Both parties to the contract have the option to enter data into the contract once. This feature allows consistency throughout the contract and helps minimize discrepancies. Essentially, online contracts allow a more collaborative approach to entering into agreements that can save both parties a lot of time.

3.    Online contracts offer better security

There are several opportunities for miscreants to tamper with paper contracts. For instance, paper contracts can be manipulated at the time of creating them, sending them to the other party, or when signing them.

The potential for tampering is what prompts companies to carefully retain the original copy of the agreement, have multiple copies available, and notarize the agreement.

Online contracts restrict the ability to make changes to a document that has been signed. Even when collaborating to prepare the contract, an online contract creation tool limits the ability to make changes to initials or signs.

Online contract tools also authenticate both the contract and the parties to the contract, using encryption. Even if either party tries to tamper with the document, most online contract tools will trigger an alert notifying both parties about the potential breach.

4.    Online contracts are cost-effective

Online contracts eliminate the need for printers, cartridge refills, stationery, and extra cabinet space. These are the costs that you eliminate right off the bat. But there’s more.

You don’t need to mail the contract to the client or spend time following up. You can let your legal department focus on more productive things rather than skimming through contracts for potential discrepancies.

Plus, you save yourself the ordeal of having to bite your nails until you finally receive a signed copy of the document. You and your business partners will save yourself and the staff plenty of time and save the business a lot of money simply by switching to electric contracts.

5.    Your customers will love online contracts

Step into your customer’s shoes for a moment. How would you like to sign a 20-page contract, page-by-page?

Online contracts make life easier not just for you but also for your customers. E-contracts can be signed in a jiffy. An online contract tool will typically have a feature that allows the customer to sign on one page and auto-populate the rest of the pages with the signatures.

Instead of waiting for the contract in the mail, customers can directly sign it using their phone or computer. A lot of customers lack the patience to wait for the contract to arrive at their place through mail.

E-contracts are a perfect solution for them. Many tools will also allow the customer to sign the contract simply by clicking on an “I agree” button. Could it be any easier?

6.    Track, search, and keep an eye on data

Remember that one time when you had to sift through countless pages of a contract to find that one term or a typo you had made and thought about right before going to bed? Now, think about how that would have gone if you had several versions of that contract? Ouch.

On the contrary, things would have been smooth sailing had you used an online contract. With an online contract tool, you can search for words, phrases, or numbers used in all your contracts at once.

You can compare terms among contracts, refer to similar terms used in a previous contract, or compare the multiple versions of a contract within minutes.

Think of the time and effort that will save you or your team. The more contracts your company enters, the more valuable an online contract tool will be for your company.

Can All Contracts Be Online Contracts?

Most concerns surrounding online contracts circle back to their validity in the context of contract law. Yes, online contracts are acceptable and legally binding in most cases and almost all jurisdictions.

However, there are a few exceptions where online contracts can’t be used. The law doesn’t accept online contracts for certain agreements to protect the consumers from becoming a victim.

For instance, divorce and adoption contracts should be strictly on-paper contracts. Whenever you want to cancel your life or health insurance benefits, you’ll need a paper contract.

All court-issued documents such as motions, notices, and pleadings must be issued on paper. A notice of discontinuing services from a utility company must also be on paper.

These are a few of several examples where online contracts can’t legally bind two parties. However, notice that these are mostly non-B2B scenarios. Online contracts are valid in almost all cases for businesses, though there may be some jurisdictional variation depending on where you’re located.

Go Paperless

There’s no reason not to ditch paper contracts and transition to online contracts for most businesses. They come with a long lineup of benefits that are hard to say no to. In a world that’s quickly digitizing and dealing with a pandemic, online contracts are almost a necessity for many businesses.

Any company that does business with overseas clients will need online contracts to conduct business. However, it’s not just them. E-contracts also offer tangible value to D2C brands in the form of improved convenience for customers.

The handful of instances where online contracts can’t be used are typically areas that aren’t relevant for most businesses.

While it’s always a good idea to have a lawyer ensure that an online contract is valid for the context you’ll be using it in, it’s unlikely that you’ll frequently need to switch between paper-based and online contracts for day-to-day business.

Only when you switch to online contracts can you realize the full spectrum of benefits it offers. So, when creating your next contract, give e-contracts a go and see how much time and money you save. If you’re not impressed, you can always return to paper contracts.

Author Bio: Arjun Ruparelia

Email – ruparelia.arjun@gmail.com | LinkedIn

An accountant turned writer, Arjun writes blog posts for B2B brands across the globe. Arjun has five years of writing experience across verticals. He is a CMA and CA (Intermediate) by qualification.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 6 Ways Online Contract Makers Improve Your Work appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The customer is now officially king and has more power than ever. That’s why we’re seeing a gradual shift towards better customer service and relationships. As a matter of fact, many believe that customer service is the last frontier when it comes to market differentiation.

A company that has great relationships with its client base builds positive brand awareness and
engagement. Those are usually also better able to respond to their clients’ needs and work on
constant improvement. Improving relationships is something all businesses can do; it all starts with a true will to work on improving your customers’ experience and putting the right systems in place.
Here are a few ways businesses can improve customer relationships.

Offer Great Deals and Keep Track of Them

Everyone loves a good deal, and most understand how powerful they can be from a seller’s
standpoint. However, they can also lead to losses in certain cases, especially when the process is not monitored properly.

This is where rebate management comes in. Rebate management solutions like e-bate, for instance, will allow you to keep track of your deals, and have a clear workflow for instituting them; awarding them and automating them. But more importantly, they allow you to gather real data on transactions made through these rebates.

You can then determine which rebates were able to secure you a good ROI, see which type of
rebates worked the best, and which ones are actually a cost. This will then allow you to focus on
campaigns that work and launch them at specific times to get an instant and predictable boost in
sales.

Instil Trust and Practice Transparency

You should have nothing to hide as an organisation, and you should try to be as transparent as you can with your employees, clients and shareholders. Brands who are consistent in their transparency are rewarded with more trust. The more they know about what you do, how you do it and your actual expertise, the more your clients will be willing to trust you for solutions.

Don’t Put it All on Sales

If you want to build a more trusting relationship with your audience, you also have to change your sales and marketing department’s approach. Too many still believe that the job of their sales people is to constantly pitch or upsell products. Instead, they should focus more on aftersales care and trying to getting to know their clients. This way, your product launches will feel more like announcements then pitches and your trusting clientele will be more willing to look into them in detail and make a sound and informed buying decision.

You should also teach your sales team to deliver tailor-made content based on a lead’s position in
the sales funnel. Providing the right content at the right moment could be all that it takes to clear
doubts and hesitation by genuinely informing your client instead of pushing them.
Building a strong relationship with your customers is more important than ever, especially if you’re in a crowded space. Make sure that you follow these few tips, and always work on improving your customer experience and service if you want results.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 3 Ways Businesses Can Improve Customer Relationships appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Success in business isn’t always about considering the positives and what you want to achieve. In fact, some of the most successful companies know the value of looking at the downsides, risks, and possible problems as well. After all, if you know what could go wrong you can both try to avoid it altogether, and put a plan in place to deal with it should the need arise. Something you can find out more about in the post below.

Health and safety problems

Sadly, there is a lot that can go wrong concerning health and safety, the result of which can be incredibly seriously an even end up in loss of life. However, if you assess the situation correctly and provide the correct training, warning signs, and safety gear for your workers you can reduce the risk of them coming to harm.

When it comes to determining the possible issues of a particular situation a document known as risk assessment is usually completed. This is a prompt that helps you to consider anything and everything that could go wrong in the particular situation your business is dealing with.

Of course, those companies who work in high-risk areas such an in confined spaces, at heights, or with heavy machinery need to pay particular attention to completing and adhering to these assessments. Otherwise, they leave themselves vulnerable to injuries that could not only cause harm to their employers but cost the company in compensation and poor PR as well.

Outdated IT

Next, outdated IT systems and software are other risks that could cause some serious problems for your business, especially as a vast majority of tasks and process are automated in the current climate.

Not only are they risky regarding security and access, but they can also use up employee time unnecessarily and cost you money. Therefore, it is vital that you replace such outdated IT with something more suitable like this beverage software that is optimized or the particular area in which you work.  Something that will provide you with an edge over your competitors and ensure that you are working in the most efficient way possible.

Supply chain issues

Lastly, a significant risk for many businesses is the possibility of a supply chain breakdown. Something that has recently happened in the UK with the CO2 provision needed for carbonated drinks!

The issue here is that if you cannot get a hold of the supplies that you need to create your product, your entire process will be delayed. Something that will result in unhappy customers, fewer sales, and wasted money due to the disruption of your business.

Avoid customer dissatisfaction by keeping your supply chain flowing.

With that in mind, it is always essential to have a backup supplier that can provide you with the items that you need in a short turnaround period. On the rare occasion that this is not viable, then it is essential to be proactive and offer your customers apologies, and update them regularly on the progress of their order to manage their expectations and minimize complaints, as these could turn into a significant risk for your business concerning repeat custom.

This is an article provided by our partners‘ network. It might not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of our editorial team and management.
Contributed content

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 3 Risks That Could Ruin Your Business appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

It’s become increasingly clear over the last decade that social media is not some kind of fad or trend that’s going to disappear anytime soon. Instead social media has fundamentally changed a lot of things about the way in which human being interact with the world both on and offline. Because of this there are few businesses out there who don’t realise that social media is something that they need to be adopted when it comes to marketing themselves. However, since it’s still a relatively new medium when compared to other forms of marketing, there are plenty of businesses who don’t seem to understand the full potential of social media as a new and exciting method of interacting with customers. They use it to post updates and adverts about their products sure, but they tend to ignore the thing that makes social media so interesting: the social aspect. Your ability to communicate directly with customers has the potential to completely change the dynamic between you and them. Here are a few things that you can do to really make the most of this exciting new marketing method.

Create dynamic and engaging content

The worst thing that you can do with your social media pages is to use them as a method of simply spreading your existing advertising methods. With a new platform, you should use new methods and techniques. Content is king in the world of social media marketing. Don’t just post ads and special offers. Use interesting content to make people actually care about your business. One of the best things that you can use is video content to engage customers and humanize your business as much as possible. No matter what kind of industry you’re in, from manufacturing to private aviation to marketing, being able to engage customers in this way is incredibly important. Sure, this might take a lot of time and effort but it’s always going to be worth it.

Make things personal

One thing that social media does that no other marketing method has really done before is offer you the chance to really get up close and personal with your customers. You’re able to reply to comments that they’ve made on your posts, engage in humorous conversation and really make them feel as though you value them as a customer. This way, rather than feeling as though you’re just talking to a large audience, each customer feels directly connected to your business in a way that no other marketing technique has ever allowed before.

Be consistent

One of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people tend to make is that they tend to only really post things on their social media pretty sporadically. The problem with that is that time moves incredibly fast online and if you’re not careful then there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to end up getting forgotten about. The truth is that if you’re not updating and posting to your social media accounts consistently then your customers are going to forget about you much more quickly than you might expect. This is why having someone in your business who is specifically tasked with posting to social media or having your posts queued up in advance are such important factors when it comes to creating the best possible social media presence.

Use customer service as marketing

Not only can you use your social media sites to connect more directly with your customers, but you can also turn every interaction into its own piece of marketing. Even something as simple as customer services can become marketing opportunities. If a customer contacts you via a site like Facebook or Twitter with an issue or a complaint, you can publicly reply to their tweet as a part of your customer services. This means that the support and help that you’re offering a customer is something that all of their followers can see. This way you’re able to demonstrate the quality of your business’s customer service, and how much it cares to a massive audience. Things that might once have gone on behind the scenes are now entirely public, meaning that you can turn just about anything into a marketing opportunity.

Sure, social media obviously isn’t the only thing that you should be concerned about in your business, but it’s simply too useful a tool for you to ignore. Make sure that you’re putting in the right amount of effort to making sure that your business’s social media presence is as well curated as possible.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post It’s Time Your Business Got Social appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.