Business

Web design isn’t only about aesthetics. You might think that the term design refers to how appealing your website is. Although it’s part of the reasons why people will open the site, it shouldn’t be the primary focus. The functionality of the website plays a much bigger role. Hence, you have to be aware of the signs that your web design isn’t good enough. It will make you realize that the help of experts such as the people working at Expre Digital Ltd could help boost your site.

Navigation is challenging

The first sign that the website isn’t good enough is that users find it hard to navigate the page. Going from one tab to another of finding specific information could take time. Given how impatient people are, you could lose their interest. Anyone who visited your page might feel turned off and decide to leave. As such, you should focus on how to simplify the site and make it easier for anyone to find relevant information. Make it easier to buy your products too.

Your website isn’t friendly for mobile device users

Before, website designs targeted desktop computer users. Almost all major transactions, such as shopping and banking, happened through computers. However, given the functionality of smartphones, more people do transactions using their phones now. It’s easy to look for products and buy them right away. As such, if your website isn’t friendly for mobile device users, it could hurt you. Over 50% of people use their phones to shop these days. Without a functioning website on online devices, you could lose tons of potential customers.

The website doesn’t open quickly 

You should understand that people are impatient and when they don’t get what they’re looking for, they will jump to other options. It includes websites that don’t load quickly. These days, with quick internet speed and modern mobile devices, people have already got accustomed to quick online browsing. If your website isn’t fast enough, you will lose people’s interest. The solution is using a more modern programming tool. You should also use a simpler approach. Remove unnecessary media files that are too heavy. They will slow down the site and make it more difficult for people to find what they want.

The website looks unprofessional 

You should design the website depending on your target audience. If you’re selling products that appeal to young professionals, your website should appeal to them. Remove unnecessary and childish images. Change the font style. Use more neutral tones instead of having a splash of colours. It shows that you understand your customers and you take them seriously. Of course, it’s a different story when you’re appealing to children. The website will require more colours and effects.

After evaluating your website, you have to make the necessary changes. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from people who understand web design well. You might be looking at a simple web design, but these changes could go a long way. Experts understand what it takes to have a more functional and practical website.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Crisis management is when executives of a business or corporation deal with any unexpected event that could threaten the company. Every business, big or small, should have proper crisis management plans in place in case of disruptive events that could harm the company.

So what will happen to your business if you don’t have a crisis management team or plan when problems arise? That’s what we’ll be discussing in today’s article. If you’re starting up a new business you should continue reading.

Why is Crisis Management So Important?

Not having a proper disaster management plan in place could have serious financial consequences for your business. Any situation that risks the livelihood of your company will have a detrimental effect on your turnover and revenue.

For example, if companies didn’t practice proper Coronavirus business safety there could be a potential outbreak and the building would have to be shut down. If the office is closed there is no way for you to complete work to generate money for the business.

Your crisis management team must have plans in place that keep the company afloat. However, the disaster plan isn’t simply to use when a pandemic strikes. These plans should help you with the following:

• Legal implications
• Negative press releases about the brand
• Damage to property from fire, water or natural disasters
• Death of managers or CEOs
• Theft

 

Every company should put a team together to put plans in place that will protect the company. This team will come together whenever a crisis occurs and they can use an existing arrangement to deal with the issue or put a plan in motion to fix it.

What are the Benefits of a Proper Crisis Management Plan?

A disaster plan will help keep your business going no matter what challenges you’re facing at the time.

Another aspect to remember is that a crisis doesn’t only affect your cash flow but it will have negative implications on your staff too. You don’t want your employees to be without work, so being one step ahead of a company crisis may secure your staff’s jobs.

The benefit of crisis management is that when you’ve dealt with the problem your company becomes stronger. Your staff will be better equipped in their problem solving skills which could help with any problems that may arise in the future.

Final Thoughts—Valuable Tips

To start implementing a crisis plan, the first task is to open up a savings account for your business and put a portion of your profit into it. The money can be used to pay staff or bills if revenue is affected by a pandemic or recession.

Furthermore, you should have the proper insurance to handle any damages to your business from a natural disaster, vandalism or theft.

Make sure you implement first aid training in every department as well as fire fighting. The training will help your staff work as a team if there is a fire or if an employee needs medical assistance.

If you weren’t sure how to implement crisis management in your business, then use our steps to assist you.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage around the globe, businesses and entrepreneurs have had to continuously adapt to the changes. We’ve seen every industry impacted, and while some have managed to thrive in the changes, this time has been very difficult for most business owners.

This is especially true for companies and businesses that deal with clients, according to Jacques Poujade. As a Managing partner at LendPlus, he deals with clients on a daily basis, and has had to adopt new practices to survive in this climate.

Jacques is an expert when it comes to real estate and real estate investing, so we wanted him to weigh in on this issue and hear how he’s been handling coronavirus-related client concerns.

Jacques, tell us about your background.

I’ve been working in financial services for more than three decades, and it’s been quite the journey. I started out getting my Master’s Degree in Finance from McGill University, and then started to work in financial services.

Now, as a Managing Partner at LendPlus, I use all of that experience to work as a direct lender, and help people find alternative mortgage solutions.

Why did you want to work in this field?

I truly believe that every family, every person, deserves to achieve their version of the American Dream. And I’ve seen oftentimes, that lending solutions can be the one thing getting in the way of that.

Think about it: you finally found your dream home, but traditional lending solutions aren’t working out for you, and you have to miss out on this opportunity. I’ve made it my goal to help people achieve their dreams.

What are some coronavirus-related client concerns?

Well, at first especially, people were worried about meeting in person. This is still the case now, but people are more willing to meet in person.

I want to do what’s safest for everyone, so I’m offering video consultations for anyone who wants them. We’re actually allowing clients to meet over video chat as much as physically possible.

Related Article: Coronavirus Deals: How To Sell Real Estate In A Coronavirus Hot Spot

That’s great, what else?

Next, if they do want to come in in-person, I’m sure that everything is following proper protocols. Masks will be worn, of course, and there will be enough space for everyone to socially distance themselves.

Third, we’re making sure to disinfect high-touch surfaces, before and after clients come in. People are definitely concerned about that, and also having proper supplies available. To respond to that, we’re sure to have hand sanitizer and masks available.

And lastly, I think people are concerned about their issues being pushed aside because of COVID-19. I want them to know that despite the distance, I’m still here, and we’re still prioritizing their cases and their concerns the same as we always do.

Do clients feel like you’re able to resolve their concerns?

I definitely think so. Everyone is really understanding of the fact that this is unprecedented times, and they’re willing to take precautions to make sure everyone is safe.

They’re also expressing a lot of gratitude for the steps that we’ve taken in order to ensure that safety is prioritized, but work can still get done.

You Might Also Like: Top 10 Best 360° Virtual Tour Software Options for Real Estate in 2020

 

Offering employees a benefit package is hard for small or medium-sized businesses. It’s hard for small companies to compete against more prominent corporations when it comes to recruiting top talent because they don’t necessarily have the tools to attract candidates to fill their positions.

A professional employer organization, or PEO company, helps small businesses with managing their employees, including payroll, reporting, and compliance. Through a co-employment agreement, the PEO company becomes the employer of record for tax purposes. A PEO company reduces work on the employer’s end and ensures the employer is compliant with all employment laws.

How Does it Work?

A PEO company, through co-employment, will take responsibility for your employees. The co-employment agreement, basically means that you and the PEO share responsibility to the employees. Through the sharing of employer responsibilities, the PEO company will oversee payroll administration, tax filing, human resource support, and access to the market while you as the business owner, are responsible for managing day to day management of your business. You can use sites like Retire at 21 to compare PEO companies.

Benefits of Partnering with a PEO

Managing employees and human resources involves many tasks, and most can be handled by a PEO company, which allows the business owner to focus on other aspects of their business. Here are some services a PEO company offers:

• Payroll – PEO company help by managing payroll processes and can account for items like commissions or bonuses for full and part-time employees. They can set up automatic deposits for your employees and offer payroll administration.
• Benefits – A PEO company can provide attractive benefit packages to your employees and help them manage it. A PEO company will help with all benefit administration, such as onboarding benefits, claim, and other benefits. A PEO company allows your employees access to medical, dental, and vision benefits at negotiable rates. With the ability to offer benefits, recruiting skilled and talented employees is easier. Your employees also have access to the PEO’s online platform where they can view their benefits, make variations to them, add beneficiaries, and keep track of payroll deductions. As a small business owner, you can set up a benefits package, put together enticement programs, and create reports for analysis, which helps improve the administration for benefits.
• Compliance Support – Your business will get support for employer-related compliance issues when you partner with a PEO company, including payroll taxes, reporting forms, and employee tax forms. A PEO company provides other support in workers compensation, unemployment insurance filings, and employment practice liability insurance.
• Additional Benefits – PEO companies can offer other benefits to your employees, such as discounted gym memberships. Any benefits that a PEO company offers your employees are provided to create a happy and healthy team environment in your workplace.

PEO and Your Business

There are numerous advantages that a PEO company can bring to your business, including cost savings on employee benefits, cost-saving through hiring, protection again risk, and it frees up the hours in your day.

Cost Savings

Partnering with a PEO allows your employees to access health cover at the competitive rates of more prominent corporations.

Hiring

A PEO company saves you having to hire administrators for human resources because they handle employment-related paperwork and guidance from HR specialists.

Risk Protection

PEOs have HR specialists to help with risk mitigation and make sure that your business is always in compliance with the continually changing employment laws and regulations.

More Time

Being a small business owner means every minute of your time is valuable. A PEO company alleviates some of the stuff on your plate by taking over employment-related work.

 

Costs are high when you run a small business and it is difficult to work within increasing financial restraints. You may be tempted to do your own bookkeeping and accounting to save a bit of money. But if you fail to work with an accountant, you miss out on valuable business benefits.

Here’s what you potentially lose when you don’t hire a professional accountancy firm like www.gsmaccountants.co.uk.

Tax Breaks and Opportunities

Accountants manage your overall tax affairs and give you clarity on where you can save money. Engaging a professional accountant often cuts the tax you must pay, resulting in actual cost savings even when considering the fees spent on the professional. Accountants will also look at the financial health of your business and plan strategies to increase your profits through sound financial management.

Invoicing Efficiency and Cash Flow Security

When handling your books yourself, you fall behind with your invoicing and you fail to chase up unpaid accounts. Your cash flow suffers and you find yourself with difficulties paying suppliers. Invoicing is critical to the overall financial well-being of your company. Get it right and you benefit from increased cash flow and peace of mind. An accountant helps set up automated systems that produce and send invoices on time, automatically check for payment, give a choice of payment methods for suppliers, and follow up on late invoices. You spend less time waiting for cash and more time building your business.

Peace of Mind

Do you regularly experience the stress of filling out tax returns at the last minute, trying desperately to get the forms correct on your own? Do you have to pay fines when you file late, or incorrectly? You probably don’t give your finances the effort and attention they need. This results in errors with data entry, scrambling to find lost receipts and other documentation, and out of date books. An accountant cleans everything up and does it all on time. You get accurate bookkeeping with up to date documentation. You don’t need to worry about missing deadlines. This peace of mind is hard to beat when you are managing a challenging business.

More Time

Mistakes made in tax returns and paperwork take hours to correct. The processes and procedures involved in getting your tax affairs in order are time consuming and it takes away from the running of your business. An accountant takes tasks off your plate so you have the space to focus on strategic business matters.

Reliable, Proactive Business Advice

An accountant is also a trusted business adviser. They are proactive and creative, identifying strategies and opportunities for business growth. You gain a valuable member of your team when you hire an accountant.

You must handle a lot of things yourself as a small business owner. But you need to decide where it makes financial sense to get extra help. Weigh up the pros and cons of hiring an accountant and ask if it makes your business more financially secure.

There’s no doubt that those who join a sports club do so because they have a passion for the game. Sports clubs are plentiful and can be found everywhere, and they can be comprised of everything from football clubs to baseball clubs to basketball clubs, rugby clubs, and a lot more. If you have started your own sports club and would like for it to be nothing short of successful, then managing it properly should be your top priority. But managing a sports club isn’t easy, as any sports club manager or owner will tell you, and it will take more than a bit of commitment and dedication. You can’t just be committed to it – you also have to have the right knowledge to run it in an organised and seamless manner. So how can you do this without making it too difficult for yourself? Here’s how you can make managing your sports club a much easier task.

Define your objectives and goals

When you start a sports club, you will perhaps already have a goal in mind. It may not be clear-cut, but you are probably thinking that you would like to help others achieve their athletic potential, bring together those who have a love for the sport and who are like-minded, and so on. But you would have to come up with some more clearly-defined goals and objectives so you can stick to these and help yourself (and others) achieve them, not just for the short-term, but also for the long-term. The more detailed you are when it comes to your goals and objectives, the better. A successful sports club, for instance, will have goals and objectives for all roles, and they incorporate these objectives into each position’s overall description.

Make use of proper software

Gone are the days when everything had to be written down and the only way you could keep track of payments and expenses was to create spreadsheets. Today, you can make it a lot easier on yourself (particularly when managing finances and keeping track of member records) by taking advantage of all-in-one software that is also cloud-based so you can access it at any time. Membership softwares such as Coacha have loads of features, allowing you to make sure you are GDPR compliant, that you have all your athletes’ profiles saved and secured, that your sessions and classes are well-organized, and that your members can make automated payments. With such software at your disposal, you can have a much more convenient and easier time running your sports club.

Develop a mentoring programme

Another way through which you can make handling and managing your sports club – and encouraging and inspiring members – is to develop a mentoring programme. This is not just helpful for motivating your members – it is also helpful if you want to build and develop your club’s capacity. You can, for instance, offer your players opportunities to coach at an early age. You can give younger club players roles as assistant coaches so you can let them see what it feels like to coach in a supportive (and safe) environment. With this kind of programme, you can harness the personal development of your members while making sure that your sports club has a good number of skilled coaches for the future.