Inspire - Tips To Grow Your Business, Productivity & Relationships

A recent survey showed that the average supermarket features more than 50,000 different types of products on their shelves. With such a large number of competitors, finding a way to reach customers is no easy feat.  

Consequently, creating a foothold on online platforms can be a challenge without putting aside part of your budget for an aggressive marketing campaign. When these concerns begin to rise, it may be time to re-evaluate your packaging choices and designs. 

Your business’ packaging is the first thing anyone sees when you pitch your product to customers. With the stakes this high, creating a great first impression will be crucial in closing the sale. Additionally, learning the unspoken language of packaging can be the edge you need to stand out above the rest of the competition. 

Read on to discover the specific ways in which food packaging boxes and containers help your business grow.  

1. Entices Customers To Try Your Product 

As previously stated, your packaging will be the first point of contact between you and your customers. As such, choosing designs that appeal to your specific audience can greatly generate interest in your food product. Moreover, choosing the best shaped container for your product can merge functionality and aesthetics in one move. 

Some of the more common choices of packaging and their uses include: 

• Glass Containers – mostly used for liquid products 

• Thermoformed Containers – plastic trays for eggs and meats 
• Cans – commonly used to hold drinks or food 
• Cardboard Containers – used by restaurants for takeout orders 

Studies show that customers can make decisions in a fraction of a second. Catching people’s attention during this short window will be the mark of excellent packaging choices. A deep understanding of your brand image can be the best guide as well. Knowing when to utilize flashy versus minimalist designs will help increase the allure to your product. 

2. Saves More Money 

The next point to bring up is the cost of packaging with regards to its contents. For each type of food product, they must be matched with packaging that is suited to their specific qualities. As such, maximizing container space can help ensure quality products without having to raise prices to cover the costs. 

Keep in mind that any business that includes food handling is subject to strict monitoring. Mismatching food and its containers can have a multitude of consequences. These include broken packaging, underutilized space, and product contamination. All of which could incur heavy losses on your company. 

As a final note, your packaging methods can be studied for improvements too. Comparing the pros and cons of machine packaging versus hand packaging can lead to substantial savings to your business. 

3. Improves Brand Image 

The right packaging also increases the exposure of your business and could even improve the brand’s image. Becoming a recognizable brand for the right reasons can be your signal to begin plans for expansion. 

Now more than ever, transparency is one of the most sought-after qualities by customers. Social media platforms make it easier for people to do their research on any business beforehand. Excellent packaging choices will address these concerns and paint a good portrait of your business. 

For example, environmentally-friendly packaging can be your method of creating connections with your customers. Single-use plastics and Styrofoam containers are usually frowned upon by conscious buyers these days. That’s because these materials take many years to decompose and has negative effects on the environment.  

Ultimately, using paper-based or recycled cardboard containers will send the right message to your audience. These food packaging materials are generally cheaper and give off an all-natural look to them. These and other green practices can be taken as undeniable proof to your commitment for sustainability. Many consumers would then prefer to support you. 

4. Gives You An Edge In Online Marketing 

Although new to the scene, the influence online marketing can have on customers will be a tool that propels your business to staggering levels of growth. Even without spending on marketing ads just yet, your food packaging choice can be enough to stir up buzz for your business. 

As a rule of thumb in the food industry, people eat with their eyes before they taste your product. Visually-stimulating and attractive packaging may actually positively affect customer experience before even trying it out.  

To take full advantage of this effect, ensure that your containers look appealing in pictures no matter the angle. Social media and online sharing platforms place high value on aesthetically-pleasing products. As people take photos or videos of your food items and share them on the internet, your packaging’s personality will be the biggest selling point to new customers. 

Whether selling cans of tuna to major food distributors or starting a vegan-focused venture, the power of online marketing can be harnessed by anyone. Furthermore, investing in your food packaging’s charm can be all the endorsement you need. 

Conclusion 

No matter the business, first impressions matter. Creating interesting and sustainable packaging for your food business can tell customers all they need to know about you. Moreover, big industries and small startups can utilize online platforms to their advantage.   

Your website is the front door to your business online. If potential customers can’t find what they’re searching for or your site isn’t updated, they’ll leave and look elsewhere. You won’t get a second chance at making that first impression. Make sure your site is ready for prime time! 

Whether you’re just getting started with an online presence or have had your site up for years, there are good indicators that you need to give your website a major overhaul. 

The following are six signs that your website needs a major redesign: 

1. Poor Design 

The design of your website helps communicate your image to the online world. If your website looks dated or unprofessional, it gives potential customers the impression that you’re out of touch. You can’t afford to let design flaws leave a negative mark on your online image. 

You may consider visiting a design agency in York or wherever you are. But if you’re design-savvy, you can create a fresh, updated web design yourself. Just be sure to design something clean and straightforward, reflects well on your company, and appeals to the target audience. 

2. Low Security 

Your website should be hosted on a secure server to keep it protected from hackers and malware attacks. The importance of a secure server can’t be emphasized enough to protect your company’s image and information. It’s the equivalent of having guard personnel on duty at your front door. 

How do you solve poor security? Select a scalable hosting option that guarantees safety, availability, and excellent performance. Always be equipped with the proper security software to protect your site from hackers and firewalls to prevent illegal access.  

3. Slow Load Time  

When was the last time you checked your website’s speed? Your website load time shouldn’t be more than five seconds; otherwise, visitors will leave immediately.  

In addition, a lack of caching to reduce server load or poorly optimized images can impact your site’s speed. Caching is a way of temporarily storing data, so the server doesn’t have to retrieve it over and over again. This saves bandwidth and reduces load times, which will help retain existing users and attract new visitors. 

You can also use a content delivery network (CDN) or content distribution network to host your site, preventing low server speeds. It’ll reduce the load on your hosting servers and improve your website’s loading time, ultimately providing a better user experience. 

4. Outdated Content  

Current, relevant, and fresh content is essential for success online. It tells search engines you’re not just another expired website that’s long been forgotten. Even if your site is new, updating old content to the latest version helps drive traffic and rank better in search engines.  

While there are multiple changes in the world of technology, it’s inevitable that you need to keep up with the trends. But how can you update content and attract potential customers with your product or services? 

You can start by creating new pages or sections with updated information, including: 

• Recent industry news  
• Adding fresh blog posts  
• Rearranging existing text without changing the overall message 

• Adding new images or videos that are relevant to your topic at hand 

5. Low Revenues 

If you’re not generating enough revenue from your website, this could indicate that your site needs to be redesigned. Revamp your sales pitch or content and use social media marketing to increase traffic.
 
Your web presence is one of the most valuable assets for growing your business. Of course, no one wants to let that opportunity slip away! So, the more people visit your site, the better it is for your business. 

6. Difficult Navigation 

Your website navigation should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use. They’re designed for user convenience as it takes full advantage of the Internet without making users jump through hoops for your product or services. 

If something looks too complicated, then you’ll probably lose visitors along the way. To simplify, a navigation structure allows visitors to find your products and services easily. Also, ensure your objectives are crystal-clear so the audience knows where to go and why.  

Conclusion 

Website redesigning doesn’t only entail aesthetics. It requires extensive research and thinking because it determines whether your business can generate more traffic, leads, and sales. Planning is essential when redesigning your website. Avoid missing pages, outdated content, and poor navigation to optimize growth. 

Ensure that you cover all relevant points before redoing your website, either updating sections or creating new ones. Your website represents your business in the online industry, and the main goal is to attract and engage your target audience. 

Are you planning to design your letterhead? You are taking trouble in preparing the copy, having it printed, and laying out the type. Now that it’s finally finished, do you know what mistakes not to commit when using it? Here are some tips on how to make the best of your new letter designs.

Do’s

1. On the top left corner of your letterhead is where you should place your Company Name and Logo

2. In between brackets under your company name will be where you should place your department or office designation

3. You may also have a tagline or slogan in which you can add to demonstrate the uniqueness of your business

4. On the top right corner, give a clear representation of how people can contact you. Put a “call to action” so that people immediately know what to do next if they want to call or send an email through fax or have an appointment with you etc.

5. Always ensure that every page has the company letterhead unless it does not fit well on further pages for example when it reaches the last page

6. Ensure all pages of your business letter template come with a footer providing important details like your company address and contact number etc.

Venngage

7. The middle of the letterhead should be creatively designed to make it stand out from the rest of the content. It is also where you can put relevant and important information that will keep your clients or business partners updated regarding products and services offered by your company as well as other important news and updates

8. Always check for spelling and grammar errors before finalizing any printed materials, this will not only give you a professional look but also help save money because minor errors can cost you more than what you would have used to print them again without these mistakes

9. Make use of color to highlight sections of your letterhead to make it stand out from the rest. Use colors that will avoid looking dull and monotonous

10. Make use of white space in between sections or design elements in your letterhead for a more professional look, you can leave a lot of space if you want a modernistic feel or minimize the size if you want a minimalistic approach

11. Try to follow a standard format in printing all letters addressed to other people. It also makes it easy to get organized when arranging such documents later on

12. Prepare digital copies so that there is no room for confusion when printing them out, for example, you should have Goldenrod paper ready before starting if this has been decided as the to be used in printing the letterhead

13. For letterheads that are being printed in bulk it is advisable to read through the content out loud before finalizing, this will enable you to catch any slip up of words or errors that might have gone unnoticed during the editing stage

14. Make use of items at your disposal to come up with a unique letterhead template, for example, use paper clips and books for creative effect on your letterhead design

15. Allow ample time for printing since depending on how many copies you need it can take some time to get them ready

16. If this is your first time then keep things simple until you are confident about what you would like on your letterhead later on. Make sure to visit Venngage to see letterhead examples

Don’ts

1. Don’t use unprofessional fonts

2. Don’t leave the center of the letterhead blank

3. Don’t use standard templates when designing your letterhead, you can always download designs that you think can be useful in enhancing your design

4. Don’t try to fit all information on one page

5. Don’t immediately upload the text without adding images, charts, graphs, and other infographics

6. Avoid using Clip Art at all costs since it does not show creativity; stick to simple illustrations for now.

Venngage

7. Don’t hire an inexperienced designer to help out with your letterhead design because this may end up making things worse than before

8. Never make any spelling mistakes especially if they are plain obvious ones like forgetting vowels in words

9. Never use Comic Sans because it is unprofessional and this will give your clients or business partners the wrong impression about how serious or professional you are

10. Avoid using handwritten text at all costs since it looks amateurish

11. Never try to imitate other letterheads without adding any personal touches, always go for something unique that will make people remember your company whenever they come across it

12. Don’t undervalue the importance of a well-designed letterhead, people notice even little things like these

13. Don’t forget to include contact details on your letterhead

14. Under no circumstance should you put fake contact information on your letterhead, this can bring negative publicity “call to action” so that people immediately know what you are offering whether is it free consultation or a special deal

15. Don’t forget to include your business hours on the letterhead but be careful not to make them too prominent since they might take away from the design of the letterhead

16. Never try to put everything on one page, this will give your letterhead an overcrowded look which can lead people astray instead of making them want more information about what you have to offer

Bottomline

Use these tips to design a letterhead that will suit your company best. Remember, there are no set rules on how to create an impressive letterhead so just use the knowledge you have gathered here and come up with something that will suit your taste or preference. If you do not have an idea about how to put the information together then feel free to use the many samples and designs available online to give you inspiration on what to do.

Cloud based services are becoming more popular every day.  Companies of all sizes, including small business owners and entrepreneurs, are looking to save money by utilizing these services rather than spending the capital required for traditional hardware based technologies.  While these types of services can be extremely beneficial to businesses, it is important that you understand what you’re getting into before purchasing a cloud based service for your business.

Hand in hand with the number of cloud based services increasing is the number of guides and articles written about them. Unfortunately, these guides often contain inaccurate or outdated information, leaving many business owners confused when they try to implement a new technology into their operations.

In this article we hope to provide you with the most accurate and helpful information possible.  We want to provide you with the information necessary to make an educated decision regarding whether or not to utilize cloud based services for your business.

The Basics

There are many things that all businesses should consider before using a cloud based service.  First, what type of organization do you have?  Is it a large corporation with hundreds of employees?  Or is your company small, like local insurance agencies or landscape design firms?

Once you determine the size of your organization, you can then begin to consider how critical data security is for your business.  The smaller the business the less likely it has an IT department on site, meaning that the responsibility of securing your data is on the cloud based service.  The larger and more established a company is, however, the more likely it has an IT department and can understand how to properly secure its data.

If you decide that cloud based services are right for your business, you need to ensure that you’re a good candidate for the service.  Do you have a reliable internet connection?  Do you plan on sharing files with others on a regular basis?  Will your employees be working from any location besides the office or will they need to access data frequently away from the office?

All of these questions are important and should be carefully considered before you sign up for a cloud based service.  You don’t want to get stuck with services that won’t work for your business or can not be properly utilized by your employees if they are on the go.

Types of Cloud Based Services

· eMail

· Document Management

· Backup and Disaster Recovery

· Database Hosting

· Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

eMail

There are many types of eMail services that allow you to use your own domain name rather than an email address provided by the cloud based service such as Gmail or Yahoo! Mail.  Most well known providers offer this type of service, including Microsoft and Google.

Document Management

Document Management services are used to store your files remotely, allowing you to easily access them at any time.  Some companies utilize these services for their clients as well, which can allow for easy collaboration between company employees and clients.

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Backup is an essential part of running a business today.  Without it, valuable data may be lost in the event of a disaster.  While large corporations can often afford to purchase their own backup hardware, small businesses are more likely to utilize cloud based services for this important task.

Database Hosting

If your organization hosts its own databases or is considering moving to a database based system (such as Microsoft SQL), a Cloud Based Database Hosting service may be right for you.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Many organizations have employees who work from home or use public networks at coffee shops and libraries to connect back into the office network.  Since these types of connections are not secure, a Virtual Private Network will allow you to safely send information back and forth between the office, employees, and clients.

Choosing a Cloud Based Service

Now that you understand some of the basics of cloud based services, you should begin to explore your options. There are many to choose from and each offers their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages depending on your business needs.  We recommend taking some time to learn more about the different cloud based services on the market, as well as how they can benefit your business.  It never hurts to have multiple options available in case one doesn’t work out for you or you have special needs that aren’t being met by a particular service.

Today, most IT departments are under-staffed and overworked. With limited resources, you need to focus on what will give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of solving issues that actually matter to the business. To help with this, we’ve gathered our top recommendations for where you should be focusing your efforts; whether it’s App Management, Network Management or just generally working smarter.

Network Management

Network outages are extremely costly for businesses. Not only can they result in downtime for important systems and productivity loss, but they also generate a negative impact on customer experience.

Typically, the cause of network outages is not due to a lack of available technology in the business, but rather how it’s used. When working with an infrastructure monitoring specialist, look for businesses that have worked with your industry before and are familiar with common issues you might face. A few examples would be ensuring that servers are up-to-date with the latest security patches and anti-virus software, checking firewall configurations to ensure they’re not restricting access to resources that need it, and checking your network equipment settings.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for businesses as data breaches become an increasing risk. In many cases, those who carry out cyber attacks do so to exploit the vulnerabilities in IT systems.

So how do you protect your business? Well, much like network management, it’s about working smarter and not harder. When hiring a cybersecurity specialist, look for those who understand the industry you operate in and know what attacks businesses like yours are most likely to face. It’s also important to ensure that there is a process for managing cybersecurity issues, so they don’t escalate out of control before they’re resolved.

Cloud Backup and Recovery

The cloud can be a risky place for your data – and we’re not just talking about the potential repercussions if you ever suffer a ransomware attack. Arguably, it’s how your data is stored and transferred between devices that leaves you most vulnerable.

For cloud backup and recovery specialists, look for those who understand the industry your business operates in and can adapt plans to suit your needs. In other words, working with a security specialist who provides support for other types of business will likely be beneficial.

Business Continuity Plan

When disaster strikes, it can be difficult to quickly determine the extent of damage. It’s important that businesses have a plan in place so they can react as efficiently as possible when something unexpected happens.

Working with experts who have experience working with businesses similar to yours will ensure your plan is customized for your specific needs, and also takes into consideration business disruptions that are likely to affect you.

IT Infrastructure Management

Today, it’s no longer necessary for businesses to put all their IT eggs in one basket. By integrating more than one service provider into your IT network, you will be able to increase productivity and reduce costs.

For IT infrastructure specialists, look for those who understand how different technologies work together to provide you with services. If they’re familiar with the industry your business operates in, that’s also a plus.

IT Support

When it comes to IT support, think about what you want from an outsourced firm. For some businesses, using an on-site IT department works best; for others, they need on-demand support. If you’re looking to outsource your IT department completely, look for those who can provide the full range of services related to your business’s technology.

Hospitals and medical providers face many challenges when it comes to running their IT infrastructure.  In a competitive industry where patient satisfaction is paramount, downtime for critical systems can have devastating effects. This post will explore how managed IT services can provide healthcare facilities with the highest quality of care by keeping their technology up and running at all times.

Let’s Start with a Look at Some Health Statistics

The World Health Organization estimates that the total number of patients in hospitals globally will be 1.12 billion by 2015, and 1.56 billion by 2030 [1] . The U.S. Census Bureau says that from 2000 to 2010, the number of Americans aged 65 and older increased 29%, while the number of Americans below age 18 increased only 3% [2] . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 10 years, the leading cause of death in America was changed from diseases of the heart to malignant neoplasms (cancer) [3] .

The healthcare industry remains one of the primary drivers in the economy.

What are the Needs of Hospitals?

Hospitals are among the most technology-dependent organizations, often making them prime targets for malicious attacks. The demands on IT resources are constantly evolving in order to meet industry regulations, patient needs, and an increase in system complexity. While there is not one solution that will fit every hospital’s needs, many facilities will benefit from a managed IT service provider (MSP):

• Lower costs by optimizing and consolidating staff and equipment.
• Improved uptime with 24/7 support and monitoring to detect threats in real-time.
• Reducing downtime through preventative action plans, such as patching networks.
• Ensuring HIPAA and PCI compliance with central monitoring and management of security solutions.

How Does an MSP Help Hospitals?

Hospitals need many different types of technology to run, including software systems for patient records, billing & collection, electronic medical records (EMR), systems integration, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and many others. MSPs provide the following services to hospitals:

• 24/7 monitoring of critical systems to diagnose network issues through remote monitoring
• Configuration management combined with proactive reporting to fix problems before they negatively impact the hospital’s operations
• Remote support for all endpoints including desktops, laptops, servers, tablets etc.
• A flexible service model to rapidly adjust staffing levels and IT resources.
• Hospitals need to maximize their uptime, but don’t have the cost structure in place to do so. MSPs can provide high-quality solutions at a much lower total cost of ownership than full-time staff would require. How Does an MSP Benefit Patients?
• Hospitals that have a business partner with an MSP can provide their patients with better service from the following:
• 24/7 access to patient records from any connected device.
• Immediate response for system malfunctions.
• Patient scheduling, appointment reminders and other automated services.

Saving hospitals and clinics time and money is the best way to provide patients with a higher level of service. MSPs also improve patient satisfaction by transferring the focus from systems outages to positive patient outcomes.

As a small business owner or manager, you may not have time to become an expert at all of the technical details of running your company’s computer network. Fortunately, there are ways to find tech-savvy professionals who can keep your computers and network operating smoothly without requiring too much of your attention.

Here are some good things to look for when you are hiring or contracting with an IT services firm.

1. Functional Capabilities

When looking for help in managing your company’s computer network, it is important to make sure that whomever you hire will be able to handle all of your company’s needs. Some IT firms specialize in certain types of work like web design or server maintenance while others are more general. If you only need help with a few issues, it might be best to hire a firm that focuses on that area rather than one that may not have enough resources for your needs or experience in the specific areas of technology you require.

2. Key Contacts

It is important to have access to a team of experts at your IT company, not just one person. Find out who you would be working with if you hired them by asking for client references and talking with the technicians before making a decision.

3. Monitoring

Whether you need help setting it up or someone to monitor your network to find issues before they become serious problems, it is important to make sure your IT company can meet your needs. If something goes wrong in the middle of the night, will you be able to sleep if it’s not fixed right away? It is important that companies offering IT services can handle problems quickly when they arise.

4. Location

Do you need someone local for on-site assistance? If you have a global network that is managed from multiple locations, you will need a firm that can work around the clock. Make sure your IT services company has experience working with small businesses and the specific challenges they face.

5. Industry Specific Knowledge

If your business is only in the beginning stages, you may not have a very large IT budget to work with. In this case, you will need someone who can help keep costs as low as possible. Find out if an IT services company offers free estimates and transparent pricing before hiring them so that there are no surprises later on that could put your company at risk.

6. Networking Knowledge

Your IT services firm should be able to give you the information you need about the systems they are responsible for, including how it all works together, without presenting too much technical jargon that would make it difficult for you to understand what they’re saying. While most modern networks are highly complex, you don’t need to understand every little detail in order to manage your company’s IT network successfully.

7.  Technology Upgrades

If you are looking for new computers or servers, is your IT services firm able to help? How about software? You should ask if they offer assistance with purchasing and installing the latest updates and upgrades in order to protect your business and create a better user experience.

8. Customer Service

No matter how good the services you receive from an IT company are, if you can’t get someone on the phone when there is a problem it may not be worth continuing the relationship. Choose an IT company that gives you multiple ways to contact them and responds quickly to your requests for help.

Managed IT services consist of an extensive range of technologies meant to keep your business running smoothly. Typically, managed IT services also include network management, storage management, help desk support, security procedures and other related processes that are meant to ensure your company is running at optimal performance.

As part of the managed services, security is also included. This means that your business will receive proactive cybersecurity measures to protect you against prevalent daily threats. It’s important to note that this isn’t the same as having a full-time, dedicated IT security department. Cybersecurity professionals who work for managed service providers (MSPs) offer a unique perspective, one that can offer you peace of mind when it comes to the security of your company.

In essence, managed IT services and cyber security go hand in hand. This is why so many businesses are beginning to rely on MSPs for a wide range of services to ensure they’re maximizing their productivity and efficiency. With offices all over the world, managed service providers can provide your company with a new level of support.

What Does an MSP Do?

MSPs typically offer companies with fully outsourced technology and cybersecurity solutions that allow businesses to focus on their core competencies without having to worry about all of the hardware and software required to keep things running smoothly. Not only that, MSPs have a hefty amount of expertise when it comes to keeping businesses secure from all types of cyber attacks.

Beyond offering help desk support and other IT services, cybersecurity is becoming one of the most important issues facing companies today. As sensitive information is stored more and more online, hackers are growing more sophisticated in their abilities to access this information and make it public. Just look at the number of high-profile data breaches happening on a regular basis. This is why companies should consider working with an MSP for proactive cybersecurity, instead of relying on their own in-house IT department to handle things.

What Are Some Benefits of Working With an MSP?

There are four areas where MSPs typically provide a benefit. They include:

Productivity – When companies outsource their IT needs to an MSP, they’re allowing themselves to become more productive. The money that would have been spent hiring people to take care of the various technological issues is instead put into growing other aspects of the business.

Cost Savings – Managed services often cost less than hiring your own IT team. This is largely due to the fact that you don’t have to pay for benefits, recruitment and any training expenses associated with new employees. Not only that, but MSPs typically charge clients on a flat-rate basis instead of billing them each hour for services, which can lead to savings of up to 25 percent.

A Comprehensive Approach – MSPs are able to deliver comprehensive solutions that meet the needs of pretty much every business out there. This means you get all of your IT done by one company without having to hire multiple vendors for different components of the job.

Expertise – The MSPs that handle your company’s IT services are able to provide you with the same level of expertise that you would expect from hiring your own IT staff. This is because they’re constantly working with other companies in a wide range of industries, meaning their knowledge base is diverse and expansive.

End-to-end Solutions

For companies that think they have a handle on their own cybersecurity, it might be time to consider moving towards a managed service provider. This is especially true if your company’s technology is taking up more and more of your time without providing the solutions you need.

By working with an MSP, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be getting all of the support you need for a lot less money out of your pocket.

What Are Some Risks Associated With Managed IT Services?

With everything there are pros and cons, but MSPs have been able to prove themselves time and again when it comes to providing excellent service without breaking the bank. This is why so many businesses regard them as the future of IT support.

That being said, there are a few risks associated with hiring an MSP. They include: Lack of Control – When you outsource your services to an MSP, you’re giving up some level of control over what’s happening in the background. While many companies view this as a positive because they can focus on other aspects of their business, it can be a drawback if you need to know what’s going on with your technology at all times.