Category: Small business

How to solve staffing issues is not the first question you want to be asking when you reopen after Christmas. Unfortunately, it often is. Christmas gives many people time to think and re-evaluate, with the result that January is often a key time for employees to give notice and start looking for other jobs.

If you’ve been thrown into a staffing crisis because a key team member has decided to move on, you’re not alone. In this blog, we talk to virtual expert Louisa about the problem and consider different ways to solve staffing issues.

Why is January a key month in staff turnover?

Louisa: I like to use my Christmas break to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the next year. Lots of working people do, and it’s an important time in goal setting. Unfortunately for employers, it can also lead to employees deciding to take a different direction, leaving your business with a skills gap.

How can we solve staffing issues in January?

Louisa: It’s always a shame to say goodbye to someone with skills and experience that have benefited your business – fortunately, there are a number of solutions available. Above all, stay positive – remember that someone leaving always creates opportunities. For example, filling the skills gap could mean a promotion for the right team member. You could also change a process or introduce an efficiency.

When I encounter businesses with a skills gap, I usually suggest the following solutions:

Training and promotion

Depending on your business and your team, training up another member of staff could fill the gap. This can be a cost-effective solution, as well as creating an opportunity for an established member of staff to develop their skills. Opportunities like this can make your staff members feel valued and could help minimise future staff turnover.

On the other hand, if your existing team are already at capacity, you will have to bring in outside help.  

Recruitment

With an obvious gap in your team, you could also recruit a new member of staff. This is a good solution if you’re confident that the role you’re recruiting for is very similar to that held by your outgoing team member. It’s also good if your business is secure and you’re confident you will have the budget to cover the role.

The downside of recruitment is that there are costs associated with advertising the role, as well as time lost from core business while you follow the recruitment process. It’s also important to remember that your new recruit won’t necessarily be able to bring value to the business straightaway. They might need to learn the ropes before you’ll see a return on your recruitment investment.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is when you pay an outside person or organisation to provide a particular skill or service. It’s a great solution if you have a short-term skills gap…or if you don’t know how long you’ll have the skills gap for. Unlike using a temp, outsourcing is completely flexible and you only pay for completed work. For example, if you outsource the outgoing team member’s responsibilities and then find that some of them are no longer relevant, you can simply turn off that part of the service.

If you outsource to an agency like Get Ahead, your local regional director will hand pick a team of experts to cover all the support you need. This means that you could spread one person’s hours across three people, and get an exceptional standard of work from each one. And if your virtual support shows you a more efficient way of doing something, you are welcome to adopt it – this could change the whole outlook of your business.

Whenever I’m asked to slot into a new business at short notice, I’ve learned to quickly pick up on the culture as well as delivering the best work I can. This means – like all Get Ahead’s virtual experts -I can hit the ground running when I start working for a new client.

Best of all, there’s no long contract, so if you unexpectedly fill your skills gap with a permanent staff member, you can simply switch off the outsourced work while keeping within your staffing budget.

Outsource support to Get Ahead

If you think Get Ahead could be the solution to your skills gap, we’d love to help! Get in touch today or explore our site to find out more. You can also find us on LinkedIn where we share loads of news and tips for business owners.

 

 

 

How do you say thank you to staff at Christmas? And with all the restaurants taking Christmas bookings since the summer, what do you do if you’ve left it too late to fix a party?

If you’re stuck for ways to show your team some appreciation this Christmas, or you need some last-minute ideas, help is at hand. We caught up with business development manager Melanie who shared her top ideas for team bonding, seeing your staff as real people and generally having fun at Christmas time. 

Why does employee appreciation matter?

Melanie: Showing your employees that you care goes a very long way. It’s a great way to build staff loyalty which can increase productivity and staff retention. What you do doesn’t have to be expensive as long as your team can see that you’re sincere. 

In my work as a business development manager, I’ve seen how breaking down barriers and meeting staff on a non-work level can really help a business. When there’s a staff party – even something as simple as playing board games together – job titles disappear and you’re all just people together. This is how to really start getting to know your team, understanding what pressures they’re under outside of work, and learning what’s really important to them too. 

Once you’re on the road to getting to know your staff on a more personal level, you’ll probably find management easier. Flexing round someone who is balancing paid work with being a carer, for example, is much more likely to bring out their best side. You can keep all their drive and talent within your own organisation, while supporting them in their personal life too. 

How do you say thank you to staff at Christmas?

Melanie: There are lots of ways to thank your staff! 

  • Say thank you

    It’s simple and it works. Write it in a card or say it out loud, but make a point of it – it goes a long way. 

    • Plan a celebration

    Even if you’ve left it too late to book a party, escape room or cocktail class, you can still get together with your staff. If you have a business premises, hold your party there. Prosecco and crisps go a long way, and there’s nothing to stop you laying on more of a spread if your budget will allow. Remember to provide something festive and alcohol-free for any colleagues who aren’t drinking. 

    You know your team. If you think a structured activity could help break the ice, a quiz or a games night is cheap and easy to organise. And if you’re an outdoorsy lot, go on a walk together – you could even “give something back” and do a litter pick at the same time. 

    • Volunteer together

    Christmas is a busy time for loads of charities – why not check out corporate volunteering opportunities near you? Volunteering is a great way to bond as a team and have a laugh, helping your community at the same time. 

    • Support a new cause

    Show your support for the causes or events that your employees take part in at Christmas. This can be a great way to show you value what your employees do outside of work, as well as supporting a new charity or organisation.  For example, one of our team sings with the Lloyds Choir and we’re all going along to their Christmas carol concert – really looking forward to it! 

    Say thank you to your staff at Christmas

    Whatever you plan for your staff at Christmas, think about who they are and what they’d enjoy. Personalising your thanks makes it much more meaningful. In turn, this can make it go further and help you bring out the best in your employees. 

    We’ve put together loads of Christmas resources to help business owners during this busy time! If you found this blog useful, check out these ones too:

    Take a break from work over Christmas

    Connect with your business family

    Top tips for using social media over Christmas

    Christmas cheats for business owners

    It’s nearly time to get your business ready for Christmas. From essential health and safety to sharing the festive spirit, there’s always a lot to do. So here’s a little pre-Christmas present from Get Ahead – our Christmas checklist for business owners. 

    Health and safety

    If you have a business premises like a shop, factory or office, it’s important that it remains safe and secure when you’re closed. Remember to turn off the regular lights and turn on the security lights. Set the heating so it kicks in if temperatures drop – you don’t want to come back to frozen or leaking pipes. 

    Depending on your business and what you offer, you or a team member might be “on call” over the Christmas break. Make sure the right people know who this is. If necessary, include the on-call person’s phone number on your emergency plan, answerphone message or email auto-reply. 

    Outsource your office cover 

    Get Ahead has a range of office services to keep your business ticking along when you’re closed. We provide inbox monitoring so the important messages don’t get lost in the sea of junk mail. And our phone answering service means there’s always a professional response to any inquiries that come in over Christmas.  

    Holiday and Christmas cover from Get Ahead can be set up in as little as one day – please get in touch if you’d benefit from our support! 

    Add a Christmas message to your website

    If you’re closing over Christmas, it’s a good idea to let your community know via a message on your website. This should help you take the break you deserve over Christmas, as well as being good customer service. 

    Write a Christmas message to your clients and customers

    Your business would be nothing without your customers and clients. Take some time this December to thank your business community for their support over the past year, and wish them a very merry Christmas!  

    Set your email auto-response

    If you’re lucky enough to not have to check emails over the Christmas break, remember to set up an auto-reply to let your clients, customers and business family know. Get Ahead are great advocates of taking time off, so if you’re able to take a Christmas break, make it a complete switch-off.

    Word your out-of-office carefully. Don’t promise to reply if you don’t intend to. We’ve noticed that the number of Get Ahead clients taking a complete break over Christmas has increased every year. So please don’t feel guilty for taking time off – lots of others are too! 

    If you do need to leave an emergency phone number (see above), be clear that it’s for emergencies only. 

    Check the fridge before you lock up the office. 

    If you’re closing for ten days over Christmas and New Year, please, please take the milk home when you lock up. Throw out anything that’s not going to survive the Christmas shut down and enjoy (literally) a fresh start to the New Year! 

    Get your business ready for Christmas with support from Get Ahead

    If you have outstanding work you need to finish before Christmas, Get Ahead are here to help. We can cover your back-office responsibilities so you can get on with your core business, tying up loose ends before you take a complete break. Explore our site to find out more, or contact your local regional director today. 

    Have you had a great year or do you still need to achieve your business goals? With the end of Q4 looming large on the horizon, it’s time to focus on anything you haven’t yet achieved and take action to complete your goals.

    But to achieve our goals, we need the right mindsets. In this blog, we look at positive ways to approach the end of the calendar year. 

    Be brave and honest

    When we don’t look at our goals, and don’t measure our business in any way, it’s easy to assume everything is going well. And for some of us, it’s easy to assume it’s all going badly, so we avoid looking at it because we think we won’t like what we see. 

    But Q4 is the time to see an accurate picture. Be brave and revisit your business plan and business goals. Are you on track? Are you where you expected to be? If not, what do you need to get you there? 

    Focus 

    It’s amazing what we can do when we focus. Turn off your notifications, put your phone into monk mode and clear down some of those tasks that have caused blockages in your working life. Check out our blog on tasks you can do in one hour – you might be surprised at how productive you can be! 

    Embrace new approaches

    Often, the issue that is blocking us from achieving a business goal can be removed relatively easily. However, “we’ve always done it this way” can be a real barrier, preventing us from upgrading to a good customer management system or reorganising our business premises. 

    To achieve our goals, it’s sometimes worth looking at alternative approaches and embracing change. Talking to business coaches, Get Ahead regional directors or other business owners can give you a host of ideas to help you.

    Be a finisher

    As entrepreneurs and business owners, we love having new ideas and getting them off the ground. When we do this, we’re “starters.” A starter is a fantastic thing to be and without us, the world would be a boring place with no opportunities. 

    But the end of the year is the time to be a finisher. Finishers have the commitment and maturity to see their goals through to the end. Finishing can be less exciting than starting, but it is what makes the project worthwhile. 

    (By the way, if you’re not a finisher and know you never will be, consider outsourcing – see below!)

    Celebrate your achievements

    When we complete our annual or Q4 goals, it’s time to celebrate! Be proud of what you and your team have achieved. We can all gain more from the achievement by learning from it – what went well and what was a struggle? The successes show us what we could be building on next year and may help shape our business purpose and brand. And the struggles will be easier next time if we learn from the experience. 

    Achieve your business goals with outsourced support

    The Get Ahead team are great at unblocking businesses which have got stuck for want of the right support. Our virtual experts can take on the tasks you procrastinate about, or fill a skills gap to help you complete a goal or project. To find out more, contact your local regional director today, or explore our site for more business resources. 

    Many business owners experience barriers to delegation – potentially disastrous as your business cannot grow without it. Sometimes there is a deep-seated reason why you can’t ask for help; for others, it just hasn’t occurred to them! 

    In this blog, we look at common reasons business owners struggle with delegating, and consider the ways you could overcome them.

    Common barriers to delegation

    1. Imposter syndrome

    When we experience imposter syndrome, we believe that we’re an imposter in our sector. We feel like we shouldn’t be in the role of a business owner, or we don’t feel like we’re qualified to work in that industry. Imposter syndrome – unlike actual fraud – is when we have all the qualifications and experience to do our jobs, but we still feel like we shouldn’t be there.

    Imposter syndrome is a barrier to delegation because if we don’t feel entitled to do our jobs, how on earth can we take the lead when we ask someone else to do it? And how can we give feedback with confidence? 

    Sometimes, all we need to overcome imposter syndrome is a quick reality check. Look back at your qualifications, if you have them. And if you’re a graduate of the University of Life, spend time remembering how you learned all the skills that got you where you are today. 

    If your imposter syndrome is more serious than that, it could be helpful to talk to a life- or business-coach. We have quite a few in our business family – talk to your local regional director if you would like an introduction. 

    2. “It’s quicker to do it myself than show someone else.”

    We’ve all said this at some point! But the truth is, showing someone else is a long-term investment in your business. Certainly, the first time you do it, briefing your staff member or outsourced support will take time. However, once that initial briefing is out of the way, your business now has two people who know how to do it, instead of just one. This means one less thing on your to-do list; it also gives the business flexibility as either one of you can take responsibility for it in future. 

    Accepting that you will “lose” an hour while you brief someone else on how to do it is easier when you also see the long-term advantages you’ll gain in return. 

    3. Micromanagement 

    Micromanagement is often a symptom of a lack of trust. If you don’t trust your staff or external support team, ask yourself why not. If their work is rubbish, stop micromanaging and hire someone else! And if the problem is with you, take action. Remind yourself that your team doesn’t want to do a bad job – they’re on career paths too.  

    Overcome barriers to delegation when you outsource to Get Ahead

    If you’re struggling to ask for help, Get Ahead could be a good way to start. You’ll have a single point of contact in the form of your local regional director – they’ll be able to introduce you to the right expert who knows your industry and also has the right personality. 

    Often, they’ll encourage you to start small, perhaps with some outsourced diary management. If that goes well, you have the option to increase the amount of support you receive. You’ll never be locked into a long contract, and there’s always the option to add or subtract services as your needs change. We hope it will all go well, but if anything doesn’t make the grade, you can discuss it with your regional director. This means you don’t have to give feedback directly to your virtual expert if you don’t feel comfortable.

    If you’re ready for Get Ahead to support you, get in touch today – we’d love to hear from you! And if you’d like more information on how to outsource successfully, download our ebook here.

    If you sell products on Amazon, you’re probably aware that it’s a great opportunity but one that’s hard to stay on top of. Continual changes and paid advertising are just some of the challenges AMZ retailers face on a regular basis, all of which can eat into your time and profits. 

    Fortunately, help is at hand. At Get Ahead, we understand the opportunities offered by Amazon, but also the challenges. We’re committed to supporting businesses of all sizes, helping them secure an efficient, affordable solution for their needs. That includes helping you sell products on Amazon! 

    In this blog, our virtual expert Leo shares some of his insights as we look at ways to support you with your Amazon shop. 

    Why do retailers ask for support with Amazon selling?

    Leo: Most retailers want to sell through Amazon because it’s the largest online marketplace. It’s a no brainer! Unfortunately, the size of Amazon also creates problems. Sellers have to compete to have their products seen by shoppers, which involves including the right keywords in the right places and other strategies. Without proper attention, pay per click (PPC) advertising might not give value for money. In addition, account management can be really complex, especially as Amazon continually changes its rules and expectations. 

    For many of the sellers I meet, these problems translate into neglected Amazon accounts and listings. Some retailers know they should be on Amazon but haven’t even been able to get started. Usually, retailers know they need to take action but ultimately it’s too daunting. And because of the time involved, taking action with their Amazon account doesn’t seem worthwhile. Instead, retailers are getting on with selling through easier channels.

    I completely understand why retailers do this. But I also know that, by neglecting their Amazon accounts, they’re missing out on considerable sales. 

    Sell products on Amazon with support from Get Ahead

    Leo: I’ve been helping retailers get the most out of their Amazon accounts for a number of years. And now, a collaborative team made up of myself, Get Ahead regional directors and our retailer clients, Get Ahead has put together a package to simplify the Amazon process in an affordable way. We’ve also come up with optional extras so you can get exactly the right support for your needs. 

    Our basic package has the following features:
    • Daily account monitoring      
    • Bid adjustments   
    • Brand registry support  
    • Budget adjustments      
    • Unlimited campaign launches   
    • Unlimited keyword research   
    • Unlimited ASIN research 
    • Stock management – weekly     
    • Account health compliance and support 
    • Keyword tracking  
    • Competitor analysis     
    • Reports analysis and implementation   
    • Email communication (up to 24 hours response time)    
    • 1x Monthly Loom video update – For Ads and Account Management
    • Listing optimisation    
    • Graphic design – product images, A+ content 
    Retail clients also have the option to add on:
    • Monthly in-house visit
    • 1x weekly Loom video update  
    • 1x bi-weekly Loom video update  
    • 1x weekly video/telephone call
    • 1x bi-weekly video/telephone call
    • 1x monthly video/telephone call
    • Brand storefront 
    • Close communication (WhatsApp, Skype, Slack, etc)
    • Other support as required

    Like all Get Ahead services, you can turn support on and off as you need to. However, I would recommend committing to the basic package for at least three months to give it the chance to take effect. 

    Get in touch to find out more

    If you know you need support to sell products on Amazon, you’re not alone. Fortunately, we can help. Explore our site to find out more about how we work, or contact your local regional director today for an informal chat.  

    Business admin for personal trainers can be a distraction from your core business. If you’re a personal trainer, your business is to help your clients get fitter, stronger and healthier – it’s a brilliant job and you make a real difference to people’s lives. 

    The downside of being a great personal trainer and offering a fantastic service to your clients is that you might fall behind on your business admin. Fortunately, Get Ahead are here to help! In this blog, our admin expert, Lucy, looks at some of the key challenges personal trainers face and how she helps overcome them.

    Business admin for personal trainers – challenges and solutions
    Personal trainers are never at their desks!

    Your core business takes you out and about, to parks, leisure centres and even people’s homes. This is great for your clients, but it does mean you get far less desk time than people with office-based jobs. It’s easy to leave your admin, emails, social media and invoicing until the evening, but this isn’t ideal either – I know many of the personal trainers I’ve worked with have very early starts. 

    However, outsourced support could be the solution you’re looking for. I’m proud to say I’ve built strong, trusting relationships with the personal trainers I’ve supported. This means they can leave their admin to me while they’re with their clients, doing what they do best.

    No one can do everything, but everyone can do something

    I love that quote – it describes the reasons for outsourcing perfectly! If you’re an experienced personal trainer, you’re probably amazing at creating individualised fitness regimes. You’ve invested your energy at improving in that area, rather than learning how to use accounting software or streamline your social media. Your clients love you for it, but it might not be great for your business. 

    But just because admin or marketing isn’t your thing, it doesn’t mean you have to worry about them. Instead, pass them onto someone like me who loves back-office jobs and does them quickly. I might be able to do a job in one hour that would take you two hours – that’s an efficiency that makes sense for a small business like yours. 

    You want to improve your service, not increase your numbers

    When you work on your own, gaining more clients is not necessarily your business goal. When will you have time to train them all? Instead, you’re probably focused on improving what you offer to the clients you have. 

    If improving your service is your business goal, tailor-made support is probably a better solution than a crash course in growth. When you receive support from a virtual assistant like me, I’ll listen to your needs and – working with your local Get Ahead regional director too – we’ll find a solution to help you achieve your specific business goals.

    Business support for personal trainers – a flexible solution for micro businesses

    Get Ahead supports lots of businesses in the wellness industry. We’ve built up our knowledge of the different challenges the industry faces and we’re working on improving our service so we can help you meet specific goals. 

    If you’re a personal trainer looking for reliable, affordable business support, we’d love to help. Explore our site to find out more or contact your local regional director. 

    PS – we’ve put together some of our ideas in this infographic

    Outsource digital marketing and you could see a real difference in your online presence. 

    Getting your business out there can be tough if you work in the wellbeing industry. Your diary is so busy with appointments that it’s hard to find time to blog or post on social media. Equally, your expertise might lie in hairdressing, manicures or reflexology, rather than marketing. That’s no bad thing – everyone can do something but no one can do everything. 

    Fortunately, outsourcing can be a time and cost-efficient way to market your business, especially when you don’t have time to do it yourself.

    In this blog, our digital marketing expert Mel explains the advantages of social media for the health and beauty industry, and shares her top online marketing ideas. 

    Why does outsourcing digital marketing help health and beauty businesses?

    Outsourcing digital marketing is a great solution for businesses like yours. Many people seeking health and beauty treatments start with the internet – often, it’s social media that has given them the idea to have the treatment in the first place.   

    With a ready-made online community, it’s important to find your own way to tap into it. Marketing your wellness or beauty expertise online is a great way to connect with new audiences and grow your business. Make it personal – what you do is all about trust and building relationships with clients. Don’t be afraid to be yourself! 

    Here are some of my favourite ideas for marketing your wellness business online:Share before and after pictures

    Share before and after pictures

    Instagram and Facebook are both fantastic platforms to share before and after pictures. If you’ve transformed a client’s look, show how they used to look and how they look now. And if your business is about feeling good rather than looking good, sharing a testimonial about how much better a client feels now can send a powerful message too. 

    Build your community of people in the know

    Everyone wants to find their tribe so why not build a community of your clients? These will be people who know what makes your services different and come to you time and again. When would-be customers see the interactions, in-jokes and generous sharing of tips and advice, they’ll want to join in too. 

    Build a community by tagging clients and asking questions that encourage discussion. Remember to reply to comments and thank anyone sharing their own top tips. You can also encourage your community to use certain hashtags. This will make your brand available to a wider audience, as well as showing those beyond your community that you do what you say you do. 

    Create and share videos

    A great way to show people what you do is to create videos and share them on your website, social channels and via your newsletter. A video can help a potential client know what to expect from a session or treatment with you. It’s also one of the best ways to get your personality across – really important for health and beauty businesses where trust and a personal connection matter. 

    Sign up for a Google My Business page

    Google My Business is a free service where your business will appear when someone searches for what you offer within your local area. This is a brilliant opportunity for businesses offering in-person treatment – they can increase their online visibility and reach more customers. Find out more about Google My Business here.

    Send out a regular newsletter

    A newsletter is a great place to share news, offers and top tips. Encourage readers to open it by putting a special offer inside, or share some helpful information that will help them get more from their sessions with you. Depending on what your business offers, you might like your newsletter to be for “members only” – people who have paid to receive regular wellness advice, health challenges or seasonal beauty tips from an expert. 

    Sell your products

    Facebook and Instagram both have selling features, enabling you to sell products online. If you make your own health and beauty products, you can use social media as an extension of your ecommerce website. Alternatively, your business might be a named stockist of a particular cosmetics brand. And if your business is about fitness, why not use your social channels to sell yoga mats or performance clothing? 

    Outsource digital marketing to Get Ahead

    If you like the sound of Mel’s suggestions, we’d love to help you make the most of them! Outsourcing your social media, newsletters and other digital marketing will give you the results your business deserves, without taking you away from your clients. To find out more, contact your local regional director today – they’d love to help you take your business to the next level. 

    Outsource branding and benefit from a different perspective on your business. The decision to rebrand may feel like a big step and a risky one. However, in the long run, it’s usually better to change your brand and strengthen it than to try and muddle along with something that isn’t fit for purpose.

    In this blog, we look at how you know you need to rebrand, the advantages of rebranding and why the decision to outsource branding can help.

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    Outsource graphic design for fantastic results to convert your customers. Statistics vary, but all conclude that we process visual information incredibly quickly. This means that, when we visit a website or read a printed flyer, we make the decision about that business in a matter of seconds.

    For this reason, it’s really important that our graphic design is as great as our business. In this blog, we look at the five main reasons you should outsource graphic design.

    1. High quality work

    Graphic designers create stunning artwork for clients every day. They’re always in creative mode and have high-powered, graphics-friendly tech at their fingertips. And if they work for Get Ahead, they’ll have at least three years’ experience to draw on too. This means that when you outsource graphic design to them, they can produce the outstanding work your business deserves.

    1. Powerful visuals to drive conversions

    Experienced graphic designers know the importance of creating visuals that reflect your business and tell its story. They understand how graphics work on a subconscious level, like the significance of different colours and subtle differences between photographs. Of course, you want your website to look appealing and professional, but a good graphic designer can create visuals that work on a deeper level too.

    1. Speed

    If you do your own graphic design, it probably isn’t part of your usual working day. Even if you enjoy it, you won’t do it as quickly as someone who does it on a daily basis. But when you outsource graphic design, you’ll know it will be completed in a faster time frame than you could achieve yourself.

    1. Correct file sharing

    Outsourcing is always better value when it’s sustainable. When you outsource graphic design, you can expect to receive the designs in the right file format for future use. This means that it’s really easy to commission future marketing collateral, like printing your logo onto promotional items. If you’ve ever needed a new website but don’t have your logo saved in a digital format, you’ll know what we mean! Fortunately, with the correct file format, it’s easier to repurpose photos and layouts, saving you money in the future.

    1. One less thing on your to-do list

    We know what it’s like to be a busy business owner – there are so many plates to spin! Fortunately, outsourcing graphic design means that you don’t have to do it all yourself. Pass it on to one of our virtual experts and gain some time back for running your business.

    Outsource graphic design to Get Ahead

    All our graphic designers are experts in their fields with strong track records of producing outstanding work. If you need graphic design support, we’ll find the right virtual expert for your business – someone with the right personality too! Contact us to find out more – we’d love to hear from you.