BizSieve Team | BizSieve.com

How The ‘One Technique’ Will Take Your Business To The Next level

I know it might seem wise to be doing hundreds of things at once, but you are actually spreading yourself out too thin. Having hundreds of items to sell is a silly tactic. You might think you’ll make more money by giving people more options, but it doesn’t work this way. And you can’t learn multiple traffic methods and expect to be great at all of them.

You need the ‘one technique’ to become successful. To take your business to the next level. To make lots of money and become rich so that you can vacation whenever you want. So you can run your empire while lying on the beach somewhere in the Caribbean. But what is the ‘one technique?’ Let’s look at the technique that will take you to the next level.

one technique
Image by andrechinn / Flickr

One product

Yes, only one. By having only one product it means you can pour your heart and soul into it. You can make it the best product you could possibly make. By giving it absolutely everything it will guarantee it’s going to be better than any of your competitors products. That’s what you want to be aiming for. Make it so good people come back when you bring out the next one.

There is also a physiological advantage to this. Basically, if you give someone too much choices they won’t know what to do. Instead of buying any of your products they will just leave your website. Instead they will go to your competitor who only has one. After all, why would they trust you if you have dozens of products? Your competitor believes in his enough to only sell one.

One traffic source

Contrary to popular belief it’s almost impossible to learn multiple methods of traffic generation at the same time. If you try to learn five it means you are only putting in 20% of the required work for each method. It means it will take you 5x longer to see any results. It also means you will be eating food out of a tin until you get your act together.

What method do you think would work well with your business? You have to think seriously about that question, because if you try the wrong one it could end up in disaster. Once you know which one you can get stuck in and learn all the ins and outs. Pay for a course so you will get up to speed much faster.

One sales funnel

It doesn’t matter what one you choose. Just have one and you can send your customers down the exact same path. When you only have one, guess what? Once again you can pour all your energy into the one thing. It means it’s going to be absolutely fantastic and your conversions will go up. You also have the opportunity to easily test it constantly until you hit the sweet spot.

One year

You heard me right. You can’t just expect to build a successful business in a day. Sometimes it takes a long time to eventually guarantee success. You know how long Twitter was around for until it became the huge beast it is today. It means you will need to take something and spend a long time on it until you get success. If you don’t you’ll just be that guy who changes ideas every few weeks and never hits the big time.

One million

This should keep you working hard through the long, tiring days. The whole point in having a business is to make it as great as possible. This also includes profit. Keep in mind that as soon as you get going you should constantly be tweaking all the stages to make sure you are making as much money as possible. You need it to put food on your table, or hire that private jet. Don’t worry if you don’t make it to a million, but dream big.

About the Author: Hi, I am Matt, I like writing about business tips and techniques that can resolve business problems at once! I offer you packages of Company formations from Stanley Davis and a superior customer service based on many years of experience in the industry.

Why an Online POS System is Good For Your Business

A point of sale system plays an important role in retail business. If you wish to streamline your sales, it is essential that you choose a POS system that is efficient. When compared to the traditional systems used in stores, cloud POS systems are more efficient, and offer a number of benefits to the business owner. Besides convenience and improved efficiency, the cloud or online POS can help you save a lot of money in the process. Here is a note on some of the many advantages of switching to the cloud-based point-of-sale systems for your store:

cloud pos software

Reliability

When you choose the POS cloud system, which is offered in the SaaS or software-as-a-service model, the system downtime reduces drastically, as any problems in the system are usually fixed by the vendor immediately. This means, you wont have to worry about POS failure at rush hour, when your best customers visit the store to spend on your products.

Security

Another notable advantage of choosing a cloud POS is security. In the cloud-based systems, all the data related to the sales, the customer details etc. are saved on the remote servers of the cloud. When compared to the traditional systems, where the data is stored on hard disk of your computer, the online POS system is much more secure, as it removes the threat of data loss due to system crashes.

Compatibility

When you choose a specific POS software, there is often an issue of compatibility with the hardware that you use. But the cloud-based POS system is accessed online, through the internet, and is compatible with almost every device that is internet-enabled. This means you can access the POS system from your laptop, tablet or desktops, and even some of the smartphone models. So as long as the device you use has an internet browser, you should be able to access the system.

Easy Access

The data in the cloud-based model is stored in remote servers, which enable easy access online, no matter where you are. This is a big advantage for business owners who are frequently travelling. With the online POS systems, you don’t have to be tied up to the store any more. You can access the details and monitor the transactions and even rectify any issues in real time, round the clock. This not only improves the quality of service you provide your customers, but also ensures that you don’t lose them due to technical flaws.

More options with POS online

The online point of sale model gives businesses the freedom to choose the hardware of their choice, as long as the devices are WI-Fi or internet enabled. Not only that, business owners can focus on other aspects of the company instead of worrying about security of the data in their systems. More than anything else, the cloud-based POS model is designed to remove the technical difficulties that bog down retail business owners on a day to day basis.

About the Author: Claire Coulson is an expert associated with Triquestra, offering powerful business management solutions to retailers. The company offers Infinity Cloud, an online POS system that can support complex business models and structures, and reduce costs too.

Top tips for minimising business disruption during the Olympics

With today signifying the real impact of commuters and Olympic goers, an estimated 35,000 commuters a day will see their journey home disrupted during the Games as the transport network juggles the needs of ordinary Londoners and Olympic spectators.

Despite smooth operations so far one of the biggest obstacles facing employers and commuters is business disruption as the city faces its first major test of combining weekday commuter traffic with a full day of Olympic events.

london olympics 2012
Image by Alexander Kachkaev / Flickr

Around 5.5 million visitors are expected every day and gridlock can inevitably be expected throughout the UK’s roads, rail networks, rail networks and waterways, potentially impacting supply chains throughout the country.

Preparing well in advance should help to minimise the impact of the weeks of disruption this summer and prevent this stressful time from damaging the customer relationships you may have spent years developing. In fact, as with most business risks, there is potential to turn the Games into an opportunity.

If you are seen by your customers to be taking the initiative and planning in advance to minimise the impact on their business, it could strengthen your relationship with them. With the Olympic and Paralympic Games only just arrived it’s not too late to put in place a 5-point remote working strategy:

Be creative – Launch a pilot programme in your organisation. Start with one or two departments or a set period of weeks (the Olympics could be an ideal time) and monitor results against set targets.
Develop criteria – Get a good remote working policy in place. Generally, the adoption of remote working involves building the minimum appropriate infrastructure – hosted solutions, or financial software such as IRIS Exchequer installed and hosted in secure scalable data centres. Tools could include remote control applications, collaboration software and video conferencing software. It may be easier to reach team members via the web than walk around the office.
Technology – Ensure that you choose a hosted service that includes the on-going management of the servers, software and data including the provision of backup services, installation of security patches and various levels of technical expertise and support.
Communication – create a schedule for regular communication. Use instant messaging and video chatting for spontaneous conversations to ensure that staff don’t miss out on ‘the real world’.
Metrics – It’s well known that when staff work from home they are happier, free from office distractions and often more productive. However what about staff that need supervision? Rather than monitoring hours worked per day, set production targets or goals to be completed.

The Olympics could be used as a springboard towards a much more widespread four-day office week with either staff working from home, doing compressed hours, or going part-time. A move that not only will help employers cut costs and ease the strain on commuter rail and roads (and ultimately the tax payer who funds their repair) but to help ease the pain of tough economic times. Perhaps then we will finally discover that remote working really can be a win-win.

About the author: Paul Sparkes is Product Director at IRIS Exchequer, a mid-market business and finance management solution that has received a number of awards over the years. Awards success includes winning ‘Financial Software Provider of the Year’ in the Real Finance/CBI FDs’ Excellence Awards 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006 and 2005.

IRIS Exchequer was named the ‘Best rated accounting product catering for businesses in the medium range’ in an authoritative survey by the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), the industry body which also accredits IRIS Exchequer.

How Conflict Resolution Keeps Employees and Keeps Them Happy

Workplace conflict is one of the most insidious things that can work its way into an organization. It doesn’t always manifest in obvious ways such as shouting; more often than not, it takes the form of passive-aggressive comments and political maneuvering that hinders productivity and jeopardizes the success of your business. It is vital to catch it before it gets out of control, and it is even more important that you don’t get involved in it personally. The only thing that actually works is getting to the root of the problem, and while it takes some time to learn how to do that, it is an essential skill for maintaining the health of your business and creating a friendly work environment.

Progressive Discipline

Before you can adopt an effective solution, you will need to know what does not work. The traditional model for employee behavioral correction is progressive discipline, which is essentially a ladder of ever-increasing punishments that culminate in termination for employees that don’t get their act together. The consequences can range from informal coaching sessions to multi-day retreats or suspension depending on the number of violations under someone’s belt and how they’ve responded to prior discipline.

To be fair, progressive discipline not a total failure. First, it gives employers the means to identify and respond to problems in the work place. Second, it enables employers to create clear boundaries that the employee will either adhere to or risk termination. Third, it inoculates employers against legal problems because the employee knows exactly what is expected from him and that everybody’s on the same page regardless of what happens.

Despite those advantages, it has a few glaring holes, the worst one being that it is purely negative reinforcement. Progressive discipline relies entirely on getting the offender to comply, without actually addressing their anti-social behavior or calming tensions between workers. There needs to be an aim besides, “stop acting badly” in order for this kind of thing to be successful over the long term. It also needs to engage employees in the process.

Pulling Up the Roots

The thing that makes conflict resolution a powerful tool in the manager’s tool chest is that it not only makes it easier to engage employees, it necessitates it. It requires talking to the people that are having problems and figuring out exactly what’s got everyone up in arms.

Conflict resolution let everyone say what’s on their minds; everyone’s words have equal weight. In nearly every case where there’s a conflict, something has been exaggerated and everyone has lost sight of the bigger picture because of minute things that have been blown out of proportion. Conflict resolution shines a light on those things and put them into their proper context. Companies that adopt conflict resolution strategies identify what’s preventing their workers from coming to an agreeable solution, and then bring a resolution to the table.

The Benefits

Businesses aren’t comprised of numbers and statistics, they’re made of people. Your success ultimately hinges on every single person within your organization. Whereas traditional methods create a divide between employer and employee, conflict resolution techniques that are properly utilized will let you act with authority while at the same time providing a much more robust support structure.

Conflict resolution ultimately translates to higher productivity, higher worker satisfaction, an increased sense of loyalty within your staff, and higher quality work. It also means that key employees who may have some issues that would otherwise require them to be let go can be brought back into the fold, while employees in general will be more likely to stay. Handling conflict is not just about dealing with the person causing the most problems; if it’s handled badly, it may leave a poor taste in other employees’ mouths, and sooner or later that will cause them to seek a job elsewhere. Proper conflict management eliminates this problem; good workers that got off track are more likely to respond favorably to a manager that cares, and the respect of your staff will translate to higher retention rates across the board.

A big part of creating a successful business involves creating a work environment that no one wants to leave. Conflict resolution is one of the most effective ways to do that in the modern age, and while it’s still not a perfect methodology, it can mean the difference between keeping invaluable employees and losing them to competing companies.

About the Author: Amy Diaz blogs about the benefits of using conflict resolution in the workplace. If conflict resolution interests you as a career, you might consider applying to Abilene Christian University or Creighton University.

Eight Ways to Stay Productive When You Work from Home

Regardless of what you do, if you work from home, the name of the game is productivity. If you telecommute, your boss is likely to be watching you like a hawk. Did he make the right decision when he let you work from home? If you freelance, your clients don’t care about your hourly rate? Did that fifty dollar project really take me three days to complete?

Yes, if you work at home, productivity matters. It pays your bills, it keeps you out of the office and it allows you to have a social life. Therefore if you work from home and you notice that your productivity levels are not as high as they could be, chances are you are suffering. And if you’re telecommuting, chances are you are about to get fired. Before the hammer drops, here are eight highly effective tips for getting more done in less time when you call your office home.

Don’t Become a Recluse

Work from home jobs don’t necessarily require you to literally work at home. Most can be performed effectively at a local café or a quiet bar. Getting out of the house on a daily basis is essential if you want to stay sane, let alone productive. If you find that you get more done when working in your home office, focus on going out in the evenings. Isolation and productivity never go hand in hand.

Figure Out How to Tackle Procrastination

Procrastination seriously harms productivity and problems with productivity can spell death for any work at home career. There are a lot of techniques that can be employed to fight productivity and what works for you is something that you are going to have to find out on your own.

For me personally, I have found that the most suitable weapon against procrastination is to devote a single hour each day to doing the tasks that I hate. Those tasks still take a while to complete, but they always eventually get done. Procrastination is more than capable of leaving tasks uncompleted forever if you let it.

Limit Your Time

If you’re paid per deliverable rather than per hour, your goal is always going to be to get the most done in the shortest amount of time possible. An important part of doing so is limiting the amount of time that you allow yourself to complete your tasks.

If you give yourself the entire day to do something, chances are it’s going to take the entire day. Whereas if you limit yourself to only spending four hours, you are far more likely to fit that task into that timeframe.

List Your Tasks

When you work from home, you don’t have a boss scheduling your day and this is certainly a good thing. Unfortunately however, unless you take on his role, your productivity is going to seriously suffer. Sitting down in the morning with no real plan is a recipe for both procrastination and missed deadlines.

You should start each day by listing the tasks that you hope to complete. They should be ordered according to their importance and completed according to their order. And any tasks not on your list should be avoided entirely. Provided you follow this simple system, you will get your most important tasks completed every day. You also won’t waste time on those that are unimportant.

Work Where You Work Best

If you think that you are going to get a lot done while sitting on your couch with your feet up, think again. High levels of productivity require that you sit up straight and that you are not surrounded by distractions. A home office can fit the bill perfectly but some people find that they get more done outside of their home.

You should experiment with working in different environments and you should establish where you are at your best. Regardless of whether it’s a café, a bar or your aforementioned home office, the important thing is that you establish where works for you.

Disconnect (or Pretend)

Most people that work from home do so with the aid of a computer and an internet connection. An internet connected computer however is home to all manner of distractions and you might be surprised by just how many hours you can kill telling your Facebook friends how great it is to work from home.

If you have the discipline to avoid the recreational side of the internet then by all means do so. But if like most, you’re a bit of a social media addict, you might find that you can get a lot more done if you only connect to the internet when your work actually requires it. Out of all the tips in this article, this is probably the easiest to apply. It also happens to be one of the most effective.

Tell People You’re at Work

If you have friends, a partner or a young child, it’s important for you to let them know that when you are working from home, you actually are working. You can’t do housework, you can’t do babysitting and you can’t go to the pub at two in the afternoon. Just because you don’t have to be at your office by nine am, that does not mean that you don’t have deadlines.

Take Care of Yourself

Finally, take care of yourself. Many people take working from home as an excuse to take less showers, to stay up until four in the morning and to practically live on their couch. Showers keep you fresh, exercise keeps you energised and eight hours sleep keeps you in straight thoughts. When you work from home, there’s no boss to get angry at you for looking like a corpse. That responsibility is therefore left to you. Get some fresh air, dead people don’t work from home.

About the Author: Brian Wills is a freelance writer and blogger. Through his posts he talks about SEO and internet marketing and believes that alexa ranking service is the most reliable page ranking service for checking the credibility and popularity of websites.