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During this time of uncertainty, your home is your sanctuary – and it may also be where you run your business. Whether you’re at home or your office, what steps can you take to create a more peaceful, stress-free environment?

1. Create a space to relax. We’re not talking about an employee lounge, but a calm area where you or your employees can go to decompress. Play soft music, add a comfy chair or sofa and keep the lights dim. If you’re working from home, your dedicated “relaxation” room can be your bedroom or a spare room where you can go to get away from your chaotic day.
2. Keep your office space organized. How do you feel when you look at your desk? Are there piles of paper, or do you have everything filed? There is nothing more stress-inducing than clutter. Go through your stacks of documents – file what you need and throw out the rest. Use only the supplies you need each day (pens, pencils, paper and more) and then store the rest in a drawer or cabinet that’s easy to access.
3. Add a personal touch. You spend a large amount of your day working, so consider adding personal touches to soften up to your workplace. Maybe it’s as simple as placing a family photo on your desk or mounting inspiring artwork on the wall. These little touches will make you feel more comfortable and help you to stay focused.
4. Enhance your space with greenery. Think about how you feel when you take a walk in the park. You probably return to wherever you started in a better mood. So why not bring the outside into your office? Add plants or flowers to your office space and see how they can help add energy and bring peace to your workday.
5. Add some color. Something as easy as changing the wall color in your workspace can give you more energy and a happier outlook each day. Choose neutral tones for a calming effect and earth tones to promote warmth or help you feel more grounded. And you don’t need to paint your entire office – just start with an accent wall and see how you feel.
6. Lighten up your space. If you can avoid using fluorescent lighting, do it. If possible, open up the windows and let in the sunshine. Change out your light bulbs to provide more ambient lighting. These subtle changes will do wonders for your mood.
7. Keep a schedule. Whether you’re working from home or at your office, you need to stick to a daily plan the best you can. That way, you can organize your tasks based on your priorities for the day (and the week). You’ll also understand your limitations to help you determine what you can and cannot do each day.

Everyone needs a little more tranquility in life these days. By following these tips, you can take back your professional life and work environment. You’ll find more peace, experience less stress and be motivated to complete the things you need to do each day.

 

 

Everybody’s social. Whether it’s your grandma or the biggest celebrity, social media connects us all. So, when it comes to marketing, social media is a must-have. But how do you make your business voice stand out?

Figuring out your promos may take time. The good news is figuring out what not to do is a little easier.

Don’t be inconsistent.
Staying consistent with voice, style and, of course, handles, across all platforms is a big step in the right direction. No matter where you’re posting, give your followers a streamlined style.,

Don’t waste time on what doesn’t work.
Research your target audience. Where do they hang out? If they spend most of their time on Facebook, don’t invest in a heavy Twitter presence. Go where they are, and speak their language.

Don’t get too fancy.
Social media is really all about connecting customers with your product. It’s easy to make it too complicated or commercial. Social media works best when companies keep it simple and listen to customers when it comes to creating content.

More and more Americans are managing their businesses remotely – whether from home or while traveling. And more recently, it’s been the way many companies have stayed relevant during mandated stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders.

If you’ve just started managing your business remotely, or you’re ready to take the plunge on a more consistent basis, consider these five critical tips for ultimate success.

Tip #1: Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Communication is an essential element of managing your business remotely – and you can never do too much of it. The more you communicate with your employees and customers, the more successful you’ll be. Set up a communication platform all employees can use, such as Zoom or Skype for video calls, or Trello or Microsoft Teams for project management. Be consistent using these platforms and provide training to employees who may need a little extra assistance.

But having the right communication tools available is just the first step. If you have employees, you need to keep the lines of communication open. Encourage questions and provide answers where you can. Talk often by having regular staff meetings and one-on-one sessions with those you manage.

If you don’t have employees, stay connected with regular status update meetings with your clients – or you can set up a project management tool to help your clients see progress, ask questions and chat with you. Whatever works best for you and your clients is what you should implement – but you need to do something to encourage regular and consistent dialog.

Tip #2: Create a comfortable work environment.

Are you working at your kitchen table, or do you have a dedicated space for a home office? Do you prefer to work at the local café where things are a little livelier?  Whatever you decide, it needs to be a place where you can focus and limit distractions during your workday. Consider some of the following as you find just the right location:

• How good is the Wi-Fi?
• Are there distractions (including snacks and food)?
• Is the location private, where you can discuss personal matters with clients or employees?
• How noisy is your intended office area?
• You may have to experiment a little to see what works best for you. If you do encounter distractions while working, switch things up – maybe hide your snacks or shut the office door for a while.

Tip #3: Stick to a schedule.

One of the most significant benefits of working remotely is the ability to create your own hours – and you don’t have to commute. However, you must create and maintain a schedule every day. Use time management tools to help you prioritize, and build in breaks and exercise to your daily plan. When you consistently work during certain hours, employees and clients will start to learn when you’re available, which will help you balance your home and work life.

Additionally, set clear expectations every day, with fixed deadlines for tasks. Follow up regularly with your team to create accountability. That way, you’re motivating yourself to stay focused on your priorities as well as others.

Tip #4: Have a reliable back-up plan.

Things are going to happen when you’re working from home. For example, what will you do if the power goes out? Because a reliable internet connection is essential to working remotely, figure out how you’ll adjust now so you’re prepared for the unexpected. Maybe you can work at your local public library or a coffee shop near your home. You should also invest in a Wi-Fi hotspot to use wherever you may roam – this can be a particularly great option when you’re on the road.

Tip #5: Maintain a strong online and mobile presence.

No matter the type of business you run remotely, you need a robust online presence, so potential customers know who you are and what your company can do for them. Keep your website updated and relevant and be an active social media user. Share your latest promotions via email, or build business through webinars. And most importantly, don’t stop working on leads because you’re working remotely. If you can’t meet face-to-face with a potential client, set up a Zoom call to walk him or her through your product offerings. With so many online and mobile tools, you may be able to do more in your day because you’re now taking away the travel time.

Following these tips will help you successfully manage your business remotely. But, as with most things in life, experience is the best teacher. The more you practice, the better off you’ll be. Remember, you don’t have to plan every single step ahead of time – just set up some guidelines and get to work.

Whether you’ve been in business for a few months or many years, access to funds is vital for your growth and sustainability. To that end, you may need to get a loan to help. But, which type of loan is the best fit for your business?

To answer this question, take a look at your lending options to determine how they fit into your financial plan. Consider how much cash you need, how quickly you can repay your loan, and whether you can provide collateral.  Here are five common types of business loans and how each may help your business:

Term Loan

A term loan is an excellent option if you need to purchase an asset (for a specific amount) that will help increase your revenue over time. Typically, you’ll apply for a particular amount with a fixed term. You can then predict your monthly payment and manage your monthly cash flow. Plus, a term loan usually carries a lower rate than an unsecured line of credit (such as a business line of credit or business credit card).

Business Credit Cards

A business credit card may be the quickest way to fund your short-term financing needs. Once you’re approved, you can use your card to conveniently pay for things you may need (up to your credit limit). And you only pay interest on what you spend. Plus, your lender will review your account regularly to see if you’re eligible for a credit limit increase. You may also have access to rewards programs associated with your card – accumulating points for travel or future purchases, getting cash back, or other benefits. Just be aware of the terms and conditions related to any business credit card you apply for, such as an annual fee.

Business Line of Credit

Using a business line of credit can give you the money you need when you need it. In most instances, you’ll use a business line of credit for short-term expenses, such as inventory or payroll.  Once approved, you’ll receive a specified credit limit, and you’ll pay interest only on the amount you use. Plus, once you repay the amount used, it will be available for you to use in the future. Just note that the interest rate for a business line of credit is typically higher than the interest rate on a term loan.

Equipment Financing

You may be able to find financing specifically designed for larger equipment purchases, such as machinery, delivery trucks, refrigeration units, among others. Depending on the lender, equipment financing varies – you’ll find term loans, lines of credit, or a hybrid of both. Typically, equipment financing doesn’t require a down payment and offers more flexible terms than a traditional business loan. Another option may also be equipment leasing, which has become more prevalent in recent years. You can lease instead of buy, giving you the flexibility to upgrade when necessary (among other benefits).

SBA Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers many different loan programs if you don’t meet conventional lending requirements. Most of these programs are designed to help start-up businesses or those with expansion plans that include buying equipment or real estate, or you may find an option to help refinance debt. Because the government guarantees them, most SBA loans don’t require a down payment and have more extended repayment options available than conventional loans. But SBA loans take a little longer to get, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.

Take the time to consider the reasons why you need a business loan. Then, find the loan that best meets your needs. Learn more about the business loans available at Pinnacle Bank here.

 

 

If you recently experienced a hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we can help. Give us a call at 877-759-7939 to discuss your options.

Is your website attracting the customers you want? Are you generating leads regularly and turning those leads into sales? With thousands and thousands of websites vying for your customers’ business, how can you make sure the right people notice your site at the right time?

Take a look at these helpful tips:

Tip #1: Your Website Should Look Professional.

As the saying goes, you can only make a first impression once. Take care that your website is making the impression you want. Does it represent your brand the way you desire? Is it easy to navigate? It’s important to note that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to update your website. There are many free turnkey website development tools available online where you can create something amazing – even if you have limited time or website knowledge.

Tip #2: Keep Your Content Fresh and Relevant.

Don’t leave content on your site for too long (repeat visitors will notice). Add relevant and timely content regularly, such as educational articles or blog posts, and promotional information or specials on products and services. Be sure to mix up your content – you want to be seen as an expert, but you also want to entice people to use your products and services. For example, if you offer bookkeeping services, you can post an article about how to prepare for taxes, and then follow up with a special discount for referrals. Fresh and relevant content isn’t just attractive to customers; it’s also appealing to search engines, which can improve your search ranking.

Tip #3: Make It Easy to Contact You.

Your website probably includes your address, phone number and email. But providing this information doesn’t necessarily drive in business. It’s essential to give your customers (and potential customers) easy ways can reach out to you, such as a simple contact form, live chat, a chatbot that answers questions 24/7 and online ordering.

Tip #4: Use Call-to-action Options on Every Page.

The easier you make it for customers to act, the more likely they will. When you place a call-to-action option on every page of your website, you instill urgency with your customers and get them to do what you want them to do. Consider using buttons or links that state things like “Act Now,” “Limited Time Only,” “Call Us,” “Shop Now,” and more.

Tip #5: Provide Easy-to-use Online Payment Options.

Invest in an enjoyable shopping experience for your customers by providing diverse payment options, such as debit or credit cards and other payment services (e.g., PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay). Again, the easier you make it for your customers to buy products or services from you, the more likely they will.

Tip #6: Be Transparent with Your Security Measures.

Many people today are concerned about buying things online with a credit or debit card. Be sure you have the appropriate technology in place and let your customers know about it. You may want to put Security Site certificates in prominent places on your site, as well as design a page that addresses how your business handles personal financial information.

Tip #7: Integrate your Social Media Platforms.

Link every social media platform to your website – and vice versa. The more “retweets” and “likes” you can get will drive traffic to your website and potentially rank you higher among search engines. You should also consider marketing in different ways within your social platforms, even if you’re sending customers to the same website page.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it will get you headed in the right direction. Focus on a few things to change to get started – don’t try to fix everything in one day. If you need assistance, talk to a marketing professional for guidance.

The success of your team is critical to the overall survival of your business. Sure, you can achieve goals here and there with some dysfunction on your team, but if you want to accomplish your vision (and beyond), you must create a high-performing team.

Managing successful, high-performing teams requires diplomacy, skill and genuine care for each employee at your company. Follow these tips to help you get started:

Resolve Conflict Quickly.

Whenever you have more than one person working together, there’s going to be conflict – it’s just how life is. So what can you do to make sure it doesn’t fester and cause havoc for your team? Address disputes as they arise, which means you may need to mediate discussions between employees to ensure there’s a positive outcome. Doing so will show employees you value differences, but you don’t want these differences to get in the way of productivity.

Encourage Employee Development.

Make the necessary investment in the education and training of your employees. Your goal should be to raise new leaders, not spend your day micromanaging your employees. If possible, consider offering education assistance and paying for ongoing training. You may also consider forming committees or assigning leadership roles for projects. The more you empower your employees, the more productive and happy they’ll be over time.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.

Every member of your team wants to know what’s going on, whether the news is good, bad or ugly.  Hold regular staff meetings (in person or via conference call) to keep employees updated on new procedures, special promotions, updated trends in the industry, and more. Be consistent with these meetings, so everyone knows about and expects them to occur—post updates on an employee-only space (such as a Facebook page for employees only). Additionally, encourage your employees to communicate with each other and find ways to help them collaborate effectively.  For example, if they’re working on projects together, ask them to update each other regularly using a spreadsheet or other project management software.

Set Realistic Goals.

Employees can help you establish feasible goals to help motivate daily productivity. Some goals may include increasing new customers or boosting sales by a certain percentage. The more involved your employees are in the development of these goals, the more likely they’ll work to achieve them. Make sure the goals you set are SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable and timely. Measure the progress of goal completion and communicate the results regularly to encourage achievement.

Recognize Your Employees.

Everyone likes to feel needed and important. Recognize your employees when they accomplish goals, whether as a whole or individually. You can provide both monetary and non-monetary awards based on an employee’s achievement. Make the recognition a big deal (because it is) – send out a congratulatory email, throw a party, give them a bonus or promotion, or find some other way to acknowledge an accomplishment. You may also want to recognize employees who accomplish things outside of work – which means you need to get to know them. For example, let everyone know Joe just accomplished his goal of running a marathon. This type of acknowledgment builds camaraderie and allows the employees to get to know each other better. Additionally, on a more fundamental level, you should greet your employees every day and thank them for their efforts before they leave to go home.

Above all else, you must be optimistic and enthusiastic about your business. If you’re excited, it will be contagious. You’ll find that as you implement the suggestions above and lead by example, your employees will enjoy being at work and their productivity will increase as well.