Category: Leadership

Contracts are a necessity for businesses everywhere. In fact, you likely have several contracts on file right now. Some might be up for renewal and you may be searching for ways to improve your contract negotiations. However, if you’re running a new business, you might find the concept of multiple contracts daunting and need some advice about how to approach contract negotiations — especially when all you want to do is focus on your core competencies. 

Despite any reluctance, you know that contracts and contract negotiations provide opportunities to expand your business. Moreover, your work with IT FinTech suppliers, attorneys, cloud service providers and various other parties dictates that you learn as much about contracts and negotiations as possible to ensure you make the best deal to benefit your banking industry business. 

If you’re in need of some ideas and inspiration before your next contract agreement or renewal, here are four top tips for contract negotiations today. 

1. Work with Your Team to Create a Draft 

Create a contract negotiation team — perhaps it’s comprised of IT staffers, managers, legal counsel and company executives — to create a draft detailing your wants and needs from a potential new vendor. Indeed, it’s much easier and more effective to sit down with potential new business partners after already asserting what you desire from them clearly and concisely and then offering this party the opportunity to counteroffer or withdraw. 

Before that moment, it’s important first to author a rough draft to let your own team members work through the details, determining what is most vital to your organization, such as a budget, services provided, and short-term and long-term value to your banking business. Ensure you have all come to a united and unifying decision before heading into official contract negotiations with any potential vendor. 

2. Set Metrics, Timelines, Constraints and Penalties within the Contract 

Of course, you don’t want to lock yourself into a contract that falls short of expectations. If your vendor fails to perform the agreed-upon services as stated in your contract, you don’t want to have to go through the motions for another year, two years, or longer, depending on the length of your contract. To that end, experts recommend defining constraints and benchmarks into your contract; after all, you want your vendor to remain reliable throughout the contract to ensure value for your organization. Thus, make sure to negotiate fair and equitable penalties into your contract if your vendors do not meet agreed-upon key performance indicators.

3. Determine Whether You Need Third-Party Accountants for Ongoing Financial Considerations

Whether you need to perform periodic financial or system-related audits to ensure the accountability and security of your systems and data, you might need to engage an accounting firm or require your service organization to do so to perform regular system and organization controls audits.

4. Choose Your Top Negotiator for Your Core IT Deal

You might hire someone specifically for the role of negotiator-in-chief for your next core IT deal, or you might identify that person on your team and appoint them to the position. In any case, you want someone who fights for your banking business’s interests with the right balance of cordial tone and fierce concern for your organization. Your negotiation professional won’t accept outdated technology and one-sided deals that too many organizations regularly find themselves doing. 

Prepare to Get the Best Contracts for Your Business Every Time 

With the right negotiation strategy, you can help your professionals get the best deals for your banking business every time. By laying out everything you want, creating ironclad expectations and penalties for unmet expectations, ensuring system and financial accountability, and choosing the best negotiator to bring home the best deal, you’ll enjoy stronger and more satisfying contract negotiations in the short and long term.

Moving offices can seem like a massive headache. We won’t lie; sometimes it is. Being prepared for the move is crucial if you want things to go smoothly. The goal is to keep costs down while creating a smooth transition into a new workspace. The following will break down a few things that you need to consider as you plan and enact moving day.

Three To Six Months Before Moving Day

In the months before moving day, there are a few things you’ll need to get straight. Like any other area of business, having a good plan can keep things from getting chaotic (and costing more than they need to cost). Take a look at the lease on your current office and figure out if there are any leaving early costs associated with the move as well as any damages or breakages you’ll need to cover.

Get a team together who can divvy up tasks and take responsibility for aspects of the moving process. Once this is done, you can start reaching out to moving companies, getting quotes, and comparing prices and services. And Interstate removalists point out that you should also check whether or not the team you choose stays with your stuff for the entire move or if they outsource the tail end to an affiliate moving team. Depending on what you’ll be moving, you might also need to seek out moving insurance for some of your equipment, hardware, or machinery. Once you’ve done this, you should be able to form an educated budget.

After Confirming Your Moving Date

Once your budget and moving date have been confirmed, it’s time to share information about the move with everyone who needs to know. This includes:

• Your landlord and property manager (official notice is sometimes required)
• Team members need to know the date of the move and the new address
• Employees need to be informed (this is an excellent opportunity to update your employee list)
• Clients and service providers need to be told about the new address and date of move (again, why not ensure that this list is updated in the process)
• Anyone who has responsibilities during the move, either by cleaning up their space ahead of time or during the actual move
• Your IT department—they might have additional needs you’ve not thought about, and this is the perfect opportunity to discuss them
• Local partners, affiliates, and suppliers need to know where to find you after the move

Once you’ve informed the above parties, you should have a good idea if there are any hiccups in your plan or adjustments that need to be made. Tweak away and then make a reservation with your chosen moving company. You’re also going to want to send a notice of the change in your address to whoever has that. This can include:

• Banks and financial institutions
• Insurance companies
• Accountants
• Telephone company
• Service companies (for printers or photocopiers)
• Any food service companies you use
• Stationary services
• Internet provider
• Professional organizations you belong to
• Any other services your business uses

Get Your Stuff In Order

The biggest element of a move, is, of course, getting all the necessary stuff from the old location to the new one. You’ll want to have an understanding of the new space (either a floor plan or some photographs) and have the space measured so you know what can fit where. You’ll probably also want to compile an inventory of all the office furniture you have and fill in any gaps you find—order furniture as soon as you know you need it because sometimes it takes a while to arrive, especially if you’re ordering a bunch of it. Seek out external storage if that’s needed as well.

Start this process sooner rather than later. Give your employees plenty of warning that by [insert date you choose here], anything left in the coatroom or in the kitchen will be sorted through. Donate the endless boots, umbrellas, and gym bags you find and get rid of anything you don’t want to be taking to the next location. They also need to be aware of when they must take home their workstation personal belongings.

If employees are helping with the move, a great idea is to color-code a floor plan with each department being given color, so they know where they’re headed and each employee is given a number so they can see where their specific desk goes. This is something that can be emailed to everyone and accessed on their cell phones. Even if only a moving crew is will be working on the task of getting all your old

Get Both Offices Cleaned

That’s right. The space you’re leaving and the new one you’re going to both need a deep cleaning. Things will be found beneath desks in the old space, appliances will be pulled away, and the walls behind will be shockingly sticky and gross, don’t leave that mess for someone else. As employees to prep their space for cleaning and be sure to let them know when cleaners will be passing by their workspace. When it comes to the new space, you don’t know what was going on in there before (even if it’s brand new, dust and construction particles might be coating everything resulting in employee asthma and congestion).

The Codes And Paperwork

Paperwork, permits, and licenses can’t be escaped at any level of business, it seems. Moving is no exception. Stay on top of all the paperwork and sort out access codes and security details for the new location. Make sure the right people have copies of this information. If you need to book the elevator in your building or extra parking space for the move, do this too.

Safety First

If members of your staff are helping with the move, you need to have their emergency contact information (and maybe now is a good time to go over the dangers of lifting with your back). As safe as everyone tries to be, moving can result in pinched fingers, stubbed toes, or more serious accidents.

The above steps should help you feel more prepared for your move. It might be a good idea to plan a goodbye to the office day where there’s some refreshment and maybe cookies or cake to give your employees time to bid farewell to where they’ve worked for so long. It might be more emotional for some of them than you realize.

LinkedIn is a popular platform for connecting with like-minded individuals and finding career advancement opportunities. But it is also a sales tool that can prove to be invaluable for finding prospects and boosting conversions. 

However, cold emailing or calling isn’t a tactic that will take you far on LinkedIn. No one likes being spammed with promotional content. LinkedIn bot is a helpful tool to avoid this kind of spam activity. The conventional prospecting strategies rarely work on such a platform. 

Are prospects rejecting your connection requests? Are your messages being ignored? Is your content not getting any engagement? If your current LinkedIn strategy is failing to drive results, it’s possibly flawed. In this post, we’re sharing common outbound sales mistakes costing your business valuable opportunities. Take a look. 

Failing to Optimize Your Profile

Before doing business with you, a prospective client is likely to check out your page. To ensure you create the right impression, it’s crucial to optimize your profile. 

When you’re using LinkedIn to drive sales, your profile shouldn’t look like a resume. From the profile image to the summary, you need to be strategic about every section. It should give viewers a clean insight into your brand. An appealing profile plays a key role in creating a positive first impression. 

Not Defining Your Target Audience

LinkedIn has 740 million members across 200 countries. Without knowing your target audience, you will be shooting in the dark with your outbound sales effort. 

Invest time and resources into defining your target audience. In addition to knowing the key demographics like age, gender, and location, you can also consider factors such as company name, job title, skills, and more. 

Not Segmenting Your Audience

It is important to realize that all the products offered by you are not going to be relevant for every prospect. Rather than wasting time on people not interested in a certain product, prioritize segmenting your audience. Dividing your target audience based on similar interest or buying behavior will allow better implementation of outbound sales strategies. 

Just Using Basic Search

Are you just using basic search to find prospects on LinkedIn? You are missing out on a major opportunity to connect with a greater number of prospects. LinkedIn offers advanced search, which is a game-changer. 

Using advanced search, you can highly customize your searches by making the most of the various filters. This feature makes it convenient to find the exact type of prospect you’re looking for. Don’t make the mistake of underutilizing this tool for your outbound sales strategy. 

Not Continuously Growing Your Pool

Finding prospects is not a one-time task. Along with nurturing relationships with prospects, it is also important to continuously grow your pool of prospects. 

If you’ve put in the effort to create a hyper-specific advanced search, remember to save it. You can reuse or rework saved searches to find new prospects. You can also use tools such as Alumni Search and Similar Profiles to have a steady number of prospects.

Not Utilizing Groups

Did you know that there are over 2 million groups on LinkedIn? This means there are groups on LinkedIn relevant to your business. Finding and joining such groups can help you connect with new prospects. It is crucial to follow the guidelines set by the group admin and avoid sharing irrelevant content. 

Moreover, you can also consider creating your own group. This is a reliable way to build strong connections as well as establish credibility in the industry.

Trying to Sell Immediately

Building a long-lasting relationship with a prospect is not that different from a romantic courtship. You have to take your time to understand them, instead of putting all your cards on the table. 

If you have been trying to sell in the very first interaction, stop. Why would a prospect agree to buy your product or service without knowing anything about your brand? You should find something in common with your prospect or engage with their content to get off the right foot. 

Not Offering Value

An obvious sales pitch doesn’t usually work on LinkedIn. Unless you offer value, no prospect is going to care about your product or service. 

What is in it for them? That is something you need to always think about. From understanding your prospects requirements to problems, you should focus on creating solution-centric content for LinkedIn. This is essential to improve engagement and boost conversions. 

Not Researching Prospect

There is nothing more annoying than receiving a message for an irrelevant product or service. If you want to make the most of LinkedIn for outbound sales, make sure you research your prospect before you decide to send a message. 

Just spending a little extra time on knowing your prospects can help you send personalized messages that are worth responding to. Your focus shouldn’t just be on making a sale, rather building long-lasting relationships. 

Sending Default Connection Requests

A popular figure in the industry or a sought-after prospect is likely receiving several connection requests every day. If you want to stand out and get your connection request accepted, you cannot afford to send a connection request with a default message. Customized connection requests will distinguish your request from others and create a memorable impression on prospects. 

Forgetting to Follow Up

Just sending a connection request is not enough. It takes time and consistent effort to build long-lasting relationships on LinkedIn. Following up is pivotal for securing a sale. After you have sent the initial message, remember to follow-up in a timely manner. 

Not Having a Strategy

If you are serious about leveraging LinkedIn for outbound sales, then it’s imperative to come up with a detailed sales strategy. If you don’t have a system in place, it can become difficult to measure results. Instead of adopting certain tools randomly, a solid plan will help focus your efforts. 

Wrap Up

When you’re just starting out, running campaigns and driving sales on LinkedIn can feel overwhelming. However, understanding your audience, using the right tools, knowing the inbound vs outbound sales difference, and making consistent efforts can help you build strong customer relationships as well as improve your closing rate.

Owning a business today is all about marketing yourself online. Building a proper website and associating platforms like a blog and social media with your website is the easiest, fastest, and most effective way to building a client base. 

How exactly is this done? 

There are multiple steps you can take to ensure that your optimizing your online presence in a way that’ll make your content more visible to potential and existing clients. Here are just 7 ways you can be successful in this task. 

1) Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the process of moving your content up the pages of Google and other search engine pages. There are multiple techniques you can implement with your online content so that when someone searches for a desires service, your business will be one of the first they see. 

Some of these techniques include: 

• Using researched keywords in your content 
• Including backlinks on your website
• Using internal links to up engagement 
• Optimize your images using ALT text 
• Research your top competition and utilize what works for them 

Search Engine Optimization can be a tricky concept to grasp. Luckily, if you’re having difficulty you don’t have to do it alone. There are SEO agencies you can hire that will help take your business and its online presence to the next level. That way you’ll be assured your SEO implementation is being done properly. 

2) Register Your Business On Google 

Working in tandem with SEO, registering your business with Google will also make your business more visible. When people are in the vicinity of your establishment, Google will be able to recommend your services to them. For instance, a potential customer types, “restaurants near me.” If your restaurant happens to be in their area I’ll be a top result on Google! 

Google Business also offers customers the chance to leave reviews for others to see. That way customers will know your company is legitimate and reliable. Since it includes your contact information and location readily available, customers are more likely to reach out in comparison to if they had to search for your business’s contact information. 

The cherry on top of it all is that Google Business offers a deeper look into your businesses navigation and analytics. 

3) Use Google Analytics 

Speaking of analytics, Google also offers Analytics software that can track your entire online presence. Google Analytics tells you everything you need to know about how customers interact with your website and anything else you have connected to Google.

It can track: 

• How long users stay on your website 
• How long it takes for them to sign up/make a purchase
• People’s navigation patterns 
• Which page garners the most engagement 
• The demographic of your viewers 
• What time of day garners the most clicks 

Google Analytics is also the perfect tool for any third-party company you bring in to help with growth. They’ll be able to have a basis of where your company lies and will better be able to create a plan that’ll drive even more traffic to your online sources. 

4) Set Up A Blog 

Every company website should have a blog attached to its name. Blogs bring in viewers and potential clients that aren’t even intentionally searching for your services. This is the best way to expand your target audience outside of its simplified niche in a risk-free way. 

While setting up a blog is a great first step, you now have to figure out effective ways to drive traffic to your blog. Of course, like for your website, SEO will be your blog’s best friend. Especially with techniques like linking back to other articles and keyword research. 

The main thing to remember when creating content for your blog is to make sure that what your releasing is relevant to your consumers. One way to ensure this is by releasing evergreen content. These would be articles that will stay relevant for years to come. Google values this content and a higher standard and will promote it more often than the content it sees as unuseful to its users. 

5) Set Up Social Media

Social Media has been all the rage for years and will be all the rage for years to come. However, it’s important to stay up to date with all the changing tactics trends, and new apps that continuously get released. Social Media is an everchanging environment but if you can find a good pace for your company – can be an amazing way to attract prospective clients and build a community.

Social Media like Instagram and Facebook even have their own ad system, which can get your message across to thousands of online users in a matter of minutes. Social Media is also a good place to link to all of your other platforms like a blog or website. This cross-promotion should also be done in reverse as well. Always link back to your social media on your blog and website.   

6) Start a Newsletter 

Newsletters are one of the sure ways you can get information out to subscribers and customers who you know value your content. These customers would have signed up either through a portal on your website or even through a link on social media. 

Newsletter platforms like Mailchimp are easy to use and will be able to give you the analytics you need in order to optimize the day and time you send your email and what content garners better feedback or produces the most clicks on the links to your other platforms. 

The newsletter can include content like upcoming events or even a brief overview of new blog posts! 

7) Make Sure Your Platforms Are User Friendly

Finally, it’s important to make sure that all of your online content is optimized to be as user-friendly as possible. This means making sure your website is compatible on multiple different devices and is straightforward when it comes to navigation. 

When you’re writing your blogs make sure to space out your paragraphs so that users aren’t overwhelmed by large blocks of information. That can be daunting for someone who is casually browsing online. 

Offering tech support is also important. This will make your company and its online presence more reliable and set a good image going forward.

IoT devices are the perfect blend between technology and gadgetry. IoT or the Internet of Things refers to a network of smart devices communicating with each other. These could consist of things like temperature, heat, or moisture sensors, cameras, thermostats, smart switches, lights, doorbells, and so much more. Thanks to IoT, the concept of a smart home is now very much in the domain of reality. In fact, many people expect IoT to take off and penetrate US household markets in the same way as Spectrum mobile plans. But IoT applications extend beyond residential use, into many aspects of the business world. This blog explores how IoT can potentially improve customer service in a business.

Using IoT in Customer Service

IoT devices are smart devices that gather information and communicate with each other. The right information, when gathered through an IoT device and analyzed properly, can often offer useful insights and identify areas for improvement. In terms of customer service and the larger customer experience that businesses offer, IoT devices can be a very crucial tool.

Remember, in the 21^st Century, customer service and customer experience are key differentiating factors between you and your competitors. It is very easy and very common for customers to take their business to your competition if they are offered a better experience there. Therefore, by improving CS and CX, you are building a stronger competitive advantage. And IoT can help in several ways, including:

Observe and Improve the Product or Service Experience You Offer

The biggest advantage of an IoT network should come from its ability to gather data on how your customers experience your product or service. Customers typically have specific uses for products or services, but there can often be expectations that you may not be meeting. It may be even more dangerous when competing products or services are meeting those expectations.

IoT devices can gather and log information like product failure, service issues, warranty claims, product defects, and much more. All of this data can help you build an understanding of how consumers perceive and experience your offerings. With this, you can begin to identify areas that you can improve to offer exceptional customer service.

Improve Your Ability To Deliver a Personalized Experience

Personalized experiences are one of the best ways to create happy, satisfied, and long-lasting customers. Both customer acquisition and retention rely heavily on the customer experience you offer, and personalizing each interaction for an individual customer can go a long way. But with digital commerce and online shopping, it is often very difficult to personalize experiences for every customer.

However, an IoT network could potentially automate some bits of the personalization process and make it easier for human agents to deal with customers. For example, IoT devices may be able to identify not just specific customers, but also specific problems they might be having. This won’t just impress customers, but also save time in solving their problems.  

Identify Areas To Improve Your Product or Service

IoT devices in the future will probably not be limited to gathering customer experience information. They will most likely also include gathering product or service data as well, such as the problems consumers encounter when using them. This data can be invaluable to businesses in terms of product/service development. Businesses can analyze it, identify product weaknesses and flaws, and fix them in future iterations. This means a continuous process of improvement, which helps products and services stay relevant for longer. 

Discover New Opportunities for Related Products

The information from using IoT in customer service can also help businesses identify new business opportunities and markets. In many cases, especially in the tech industry, these new opportunities are often closely related to your existing product or service. Customers will often ask for features or options that may not always be possible to include in your primary offering. But you can always create a related product or service that offers the things that your customers need. Otherwise, someone else could step in to meet that demand, and you could miss out on an opportunity that you may otherwise be well placed to take advantage of.

Many solar installation companies often recognize lead generation as one of their biggest problems. The reason for this may be that the industry is rapidly extending and evolving and sometimes getting new customers can be a bit challenging. 

If you are a solar business owner you may feel overwhelmed and confused and it’s no wonder. Getting qualified solar leads requires a lot of work and organization. It’s not as simple as paying for a billboard or a commercial. You must convince your customers to choose your solar business by creating interest and presenting your value. 

If you are curious about this topic, please continue reading. Here we will explore how to be successful in solar lead generation and discuss various marketing strategies.

Invest In Solar Appointments

This is a very easy and cheap way to grow your company. Most businesses set their appointments with customers through their call center. Since many call centers use automated phone calls and don’t get customer’s consent, buying solar appointments is a much better option. All you have to do is to hire a call center and lead generation will become their job and their worry. Make sure you research your target audience and create the best offer for their needs. You will realize in no time that this simple step can make a huge difference in your business’s growth.

Create A User-Friendly Solar Website

Creating a professionally designed website is essential for every business. A smooth user experience is one of the most important aspects. You need your audience to stay on the website as long as possible because you want Google to “think” your content is great and move your website up in search rankings. 

Here is a list of key features your website must have:

• It should be well-organized and easy to navigate.
• Don’t forget that customers prefer aesthetically pleasing images.
• Make sure it loads quickly.
• A website must call the audience for action. For example, you can propose a free solar evaluation for everyone who fills in their personal information.
• Ensure your value proposition is clear and easy to find (it’s best to put it on your homepage)

Use Social Media For Lead Generation

Your website is important but, in order to extend your reach further, try building an online presence on social media. Many lead generation companies claim that LinkedIn helps them the most to get their leads, but you should focus on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as well. 

If you are underperforming on social media, do your research and find out on which platform your ideal prospects spend the most time. Studies have shown that commercial clients may be more likely to be on LinkedIn, while residential clients often lean towards Instagram and Facebook. 

Social media is a great tool to connect with your potential customers and it doesn’t take much effort. Update your profiles two to three times a week and use a variety of content. Experts recommend using your own content (photos, videos, blog posts, testimonials, etc.), as well as shared content from other solar businesses and websites. This strategy allows you to present yourself as a valuable solar information source while still advertising your own business. Connecting with as many people as you can and creating a professional reflection is the key.

It’s important for you to create awareness of solar services amongst your audience and the best way to do it is to make a blog or post some high-quality articles about solar energy and its benefits. Your potential customers must understand the importance of your business, share your ideas, and get interested in your products. This way they will certainly become your leads and help you grow your solar business.

Try Email Campaigns

When potential customers like your website and your social media, you may think that it’s enough for them to become your leads. Unfortunately, sometimes they can be impressed only briefly and quickly forget about your business. Email campaigns for residential and solar business leads are a great way to build a relationship with your audience. It’s important not to put any pressure but still remind them of your qualities.

In order to get their personal information and email it’s best to offer them something small in return. For example, you can ask them to sign up for a free consultation. This way your customers will be more interested and they will give you their email willingly. Make sure you send them a welcome email and inform them about the news every week or two.

Solar energy is important for our planet and humanity, yet many people still find it confusing. Solar energy shouldn’t be a foreign concept and lead generation may pique potential customer’s interest in your service. Follow these simple tips and we guarantee your clients will choose your business over another.