Last updated 1 month ago
A website is a crucial tool when it comes to growing your business and servicing your customers but it can be hard to know just how well it's performing unless you put a little time into finding out. Don't leave the success of your website to chance, make use of the many excellent tools that will allow you to assess your site and its effectiveness.
To measure your website's success, you first need to work out what your criteria are. If you sell products on your site, it's obvious that sales will be one of your key points of interest, but if you don't, there are other factors to consider. For example, you may want to measure how engaged users are with your content or how often they request information or sign up to your RSS feed.
You'll also want to know how visitors find your site and what they do when they get there. The amount of time a user chooses to spend on any one page or area of your site says a lot about the quality of the content found there, so it's really useful to keep track of. To do this, you need a web analytics program. There are hundreds to choose from, but the majority of small to medium sized businesses will be perfectly serviced with the free and easy to install Google Analytics.
This package allows you to look at the way users access your site in detail, showing where users are coming from, how well they interact with your content and at which point you are losing their interest. Using this information, you can build a better site or look for ways to easily boost your conversions.
Scott Assemakis, is an entrepreneur and one of the founders of EFWines, a thriving wine merchant with a wine brokerage department. Connect with him on Facebook for more suggestions when it comes to improving the performance of your website.
Last updated 2 months ago
The following is a useful list of links that can help you sharpen your business skills:
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The most important skill for business owners
While there are many skills needed to become a successful entrepreneur or business owner, Forbes has concluded that there is one that far outweighs all of the others.
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Business skills for managers
Managing people well is a very important part of being a good business owner, pick up some tips for getting the best out of your employees.
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Ten ways to improve your interpersonal skills
If you’re ready to start becoming a better communicator, this is the article for you. Follow 10 simple tips to start improving your interpersonal skills.
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Boosting business presentations
Presentation skills are essential for entrepreneurs, whether you use them to entice new clients or to secure additional funding. Be sure you're confident the next time you stand up to present.
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Twenty-one business skills
This exhaustive list of business skills that can help entrepreneurs succeed is a great top level guide to the kind of qualities you want to be cultivating.
Scott Assemakis, is an entrepreneur and one of the founders of EFWines, a thriving wine merchant with a wine brokerage department. Connect with him on Twitter for more suggestions on how to expand your business skills.
Last updated 2 months ago
Becoming an entrepreneur means much more than being proficient in one particular field, you need to have a great grounding in lots of different areas and real estate is certainly one of them.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re in marketing or running a food chain, there are some business basics you need to know to help you grow your business and all entrepreneurs can benefit from some simple real estate advice.
When you're choosing the first premises for your business, there are a number of different factors you should bear in mind, each of which can have a long-term effect on the health of your business. Set good foundations for the months and years ahead with a few simple tips:
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Longer leases often make more sense when you're renting business space, so swallow your fears and opt for four or six years rather than two. That way, your largest overhead cost will be locked in and stable, allowing you to focus elsewhere.
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Think about the number of doors and windows in the office space. Access to fresh air and daylight will always ensure your employees are happier and more productive.
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You not only want to find good street to rent on, but you also need to work out which side is preferable. One side of the street will get much more foot traffic than the other, and if you’re looking to entice customers in, that's the side you should be looking at.
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Go for spaces that feel bigger than you need. Not only are you likely to find that your business takes up more space than you thought, but having a larger office will encourage you to expand to fill it.
Always looking for the latest business tips, Scott Assemakis is the managing director of EFWines, a thriving wine investment company. Connect with him on Facebook and start sharing resources.
Last updated 2 months ago
The following is my top 5 favourite links to websites that will give you fresh ideas on how to be innovative in creating your own office space design:
Office space inspiration
When you want your workers to be creative, there's nothing like providing them with an inspiring space to work in. Have a look at 22 amazing design studios from around the world.
Outstanding home offices
Not all start up businesses have their own premises, learn how to make sure your home office space is able to give you the creative stimulation you need by taking some tips from this collection.
Ten creative office design tips
There's nothing like an unusual and interesting environment for helping workers feel inspired. Check out these 10 excellent suggestions for revitalising your space and see if you could turn your office around.
Modern office designs
Combine creativity with modernity by taking some top tips from this interesting blog about making office spaces that make the most of modern technology as well as design.
Creative tools for fun offices
If your company can't afford big changes in interior design, injecting some fun into the office tools you use every day could be just what you need.
Scott Assemakis is the managing director of EFWines, a thriving wine investment company. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Last updated 2 months ago
Entrepreneurs who are embarking on a new career or setting up a new business often save money in the initial stages by setting up their office at home. However, while this can be a great way to cut overheads, it's not always the best move for the longevity of your business.
You might come across as unprofessional
Working from home can make it difficult for other businesses or potential clients to take you seriously. While there's nothing wrong with arranging meetings in coffee shops or using a PO Box rather than your home address, there does come a time when this can start to look unprofessional.
If you're having difficulties moving into an office full time, consider desk share options or per-day rental that will allow you to meet with clients and contractors in a suitable space.
Social alienation
Another danger of working from home is the extent to which you can alienate yourself from the business community at large. When you're working, lunching and socialising within your profession, you're also making contacts and keeping your social skills sharp. This can be very valuable and is easily eroded if you end up operating out with the market you're hoping to capture.
Working from home is also only really a viable option in the very earliest days of your business, as soon as you want to start expanding and hiring new members of staff you will need to relocate.
You are missing face-to-face contact with your staff/peers
It may be possible to communicate with other members of a team remotely, using video calls and teleconferencing software, but ultimately, if you want to create a strong business with a dedicated team, you need to be able to sit down and work closely with your staff.
Setting up a home office may be the perfect first step into a new career, but you'll find it’s one you need to quickly move on from.
Connect with Scott Assemakis, the managing director of EFWines, a thriving wine investment company, on Twitter.
