This website uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are used for visitor analysis, others are essential to making our site function properly and improve the user experience. By using this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Click Accept to consent and dismiss this message or Deny to leave this website. Read our Privacy Statement for more.
WIBN Blog
Blog Home All Blogs

The Power of 3

Posted By Sally Inkster, Brand Specialist, 13 September 2023

Who has the number 3 as their favourite number?

What is so magical about the number 3?

It appears so many times in our childhood...

  • The Three Little Pigs

  • The Three Musketeers

  • Three Wise Men

  • Macbeth's three witches

  • Three wishes in Aladdin with the lamp

It ultimately comes down to how we as humans process information. We recognise patterns and 3 is the lowest number that you can have a pattern - quite basic really!

Patterns in neuroscience are defined as paradigms or in other words habits

These habits are what lead our behaviour and therefore give us some of our Personal Brand. We should at least be aware of them so that we have control over our Brand.

'A Paradigm is defined as a mental program that has almost exclusive control over our habitual behaviour and almost all of our behaviour is habitual' Bob Proctor

These paradigms rule our lives, they are like installed software programs that are stored in our subconscious minds, so much so that we are not even aware of them.

It makes sense that we should understand what some of these are and then in turn use them to our advantage

I use 3's in my daily life all the time

It's how I prioritise my to-do list!

This is my favourite way...

  1. A - Urgent and Important

  2. B - Important but not urgent

  3. C - Can be left until urgent or important

How about this

There are 3 Types of people –

  1. Makes things happen

  2. Watch things happen

  3. “Oh, what just happened?”

By the way - Which one are you?  (Which one you are could have a big bearing on your Personal Brand.

Other 3's I would recommend.

  • 3 colours for a website 2 dominant colours and a highlight

  • 3 words for a tagline, mine is Finding Brand YOU!

  • 3 words for people to remember, Hands, Face, Space

  • 3 packages for your offers - Bronze, Silver, Gold

  • 3 sections when you're getting dressed in balance

  • 3 flowers in a vase

Defining your personal brand is important and I would suggest if you're doing any kind of marketing, then urgent!

My system for defining your personal brand... Oh! guess what? the system is based on 3 sections-

  1. Philosophy - who you are, what makes you tick, how your brain works

  2. Physicality - What you are,  your style, body shape and balance, colours and loads more

  3. Phenomenon - of your business, what it is, what it does, how it's seen and how it shows up

I can help YOU

Why not book a FREE session today  My 'Sky Rocket Your Business Through Being You' A Personal Brand Clarity Session'.

In this session, you will leave with...

  • A three-step plan to increase your visibility by being you.😉

  • A crystal clear vision of who you want to be seen as.

  • A next step plan to attract your ideal client/customers through your Personal Brand.

You will leave feeling renewed, re-energised and inspired - Does this sound as if it could be of value to you?

CLICK HERE

Sally x

 

*image credit Canva Sept 2023

Tags:  brand tips  branding  personal brand 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Get Discovered on LinkedIn as a Keynote Speaker

Posted By Elaine Walsh-McGrath, Managing Director, 13 September 2023

When you are taking a break from your business do you promise yourself that you’ll stay switched off while you’re on holidays? 

✅ Me too. 

Do you schedule your posts, and delete the social media apps from your phone? 

✅ Yeah I do too. 

Turn on the out of office notification? 

✅ Yep, me too. 

But then maybe after a week do you just allow yourself to check one thing? 

🙋‍♀️ Confession time…I did.

Now in my defence. We had returned home from Wexford where I ran around the forest with Síofra looking for the Gruffalo, swam in the sea, ate chips at the arcade, held a bunny at the petting farm… your typical Irish family holiday. 

So bags being unpacked… back home… I jumped on the WiFi, and hit download on the LinkedIn App.

I know, technically I was still on holiday! But I couldn’t help myself!

A message popped up from Ben from DigiMarCon. Inviting me to speak at the Dublin Conference. Being the cynic that I am, I had to check if it was legit, so I googled it and sure enough it was listed as one of the top digital conferences to attend. 

So I said YES. And so on the 4th September only a couple of weeks later I presented my keynote presentation "I'm not Sarah Connor, But Human Nature not BOTs = Content that Converts." to a room full of digital marketers, agencies and tech companies. 

Now that’s the short version of this tale! The part one. Of course, outfits had to be bought, presentations put together, the wonderfulNamrata Vijayakar - Brand Design Specialist designed a new logo for me, rebranded my colour scheme and then I had to practise it all while looking after Síofra and getting everything ready for her new school year!

Not to mention calming my nerves, overcoming my self doubt, and worrying about whether my presentation was good enough but doing it anyway!

Because I have over 50,000 hours of experience in marketing. I’ve pitched to some of the biggest companies in the world. 

So what did I have to be nervous about?!! (But I was!) It’s human nature, I guess. 

So why am I telling you this? 

Well it occurred to me that on the 11th August I didn’t have “Keynote Speaker” in my LinkedIn Headline. I had listed the fact thatI will help you Land More Clients with Clear Messaging and Content, that I’m a LinkedIn Expert, and that I can help you with your Digital and Social Media Strategy. 

So that means that it was my experience, credibility and authority that drew the organisers of DigiMarCon’s attention to my LinkedIn profile.It helped me get found, known and achieve this opportunity.Which will undoubtedly lead to a growth in my visibility and further success in my business.

So forget the digital part. Does that sound like an opportunity that you’d enjoy?

  • Is speaking on someone else’s platform something that you would like to do? 
  • To get up on a stage and speak to a room full of potential buyers or people who could refer you and recommend you?

And if you’re thinking yes, then what’s stopping you?

If you have the authority and credibility in your field of expertise, then you could do it. Butyou’ve got to be found first.

Here is what you have to do:

1. Demonstrate your authority in your area of expertise on LinkedIn. Positioning yourself as a thought leader by sharing relevant content both that you create, in the form of articles and posts, and also by sharing relevant third party content with your opinion.

2. Make sure that it is clear in your profile that you are an expert in your field. Put key words relating to the subject that you would like to present on, in your LinkedIn Headline (Title) Share how many years of experience that you have in the field.

3. List the relevant experience that you have from the years of work that you have or the qualifications that you have that demonstrates you are a leading expert.

4. Ensure that you are producing content that is engaging and shows that you can speak to your subject matter. Share videos. Be open to featuring on podcasts, LinkedIn Live interviews or LinkedIn Audio Events.

If today you’re thinking that you’re not sure that it would be strong enough to attract the right people to get you in the right rooms then that’s ok. Because if you have the expertise, the credibility, the authority then everything else can be created, step by step.

Just like meyou can be found, know and attract clients and opportunities that will grow your visibility and your business on LinkedIn. Just like I have.

Now can we be real? I can’t show you how to do that in a live video or a blog post or even a MasterClass.

It’s something that I’m going to help 20 people achieve in my next 16 week group program, LinkedIn to Leads, that launches, end of September. 

Together, we’re going tocreate a 5 Star Profile. Tobuild a network of connections who love your content. ANDprepare for your next Discovery Callsso that you can sign the clients you deserve that will grow your business.

So if that’s something that you’d be interested in then email me elaine@elainewalshmcgrath.com 

You deserve to be discovered on LinkedIn to build the business that you want.

P.S. If you want a head start on how to start improving how you use LinkedIn to grow your business, thenjoin me at the upcoming webinar How to Sell on LinkedIn without the Ick on the 19th September 2023 at 1pm. (There will be a replay available after that date)

Here’s the link to learn more about what I'm going to talk about in the Masterclass:

How-to-Sell-on-LinkedIn-Without-the-Ick-September

Tags:  keynote speaker  linkedin 

PermalinkComments (1)
 

Returning to the office – top tips for styling success

Posted By Stefania Bartolomei, 11 September 2023

This week I was getting ready for heading back to my London studio, as my son is going back to school, and I realised the stress that dressing for work can bring.

Getting back into the swing of heading to the office, going to meetings (whether online or in person) can be a difficult start to the day. Even if you’re not going to the office every day, you may be heading to more meetings or attending more online meetings, meaning your dresscode may be changing back to more professional looks.

This can mean being unsure what to wear! With the changing of the season adding an added concern for outfit styling, I have compiled this guide to help you have confidence when dressing for work.

Check the weather forecast

The seasons always change in London, no matter the time of year! I have seen many professionals get caught out by wearing summer dresses and being welcomed by a downpour, while others have brought layers for a cool Autumn day and hit by 30 degree weather (as we had at the beginning of September).

One way to make sure your outfit will complement the expected weather conditions is by checking your weather app. With the knowledge of rain to come, or a heatwave, I can plan my outfit to accommodate. This saves so much stress in the morning (and during the day if a downpour comes, but I have made sure to pack my umbrella and coat).

You can then utilise the fabrics and layers to reflect the expectations of the day. For example, adding a leather jacket if it’s going to be cooler, or adding sandals instead of boots for a warmer day. For some inspiration for summer outfits, check out my blog, while the weather is still hot outside, these may help you plan some beautiful looks for going back to work. 

Plan your outfits in advance

Avoid the morning let downs of not knowing what to wear, misfitting pieces or outfit problems by planning your outfits the night before (or if you’re super organised, why not try a few days or the for the full week?).

Getting your outfits together can look like simply laying them out on the bed and knowing what to put together, or why not make it a pick up and go by adding everything together on a hanger? You can put accessories, layers and the full outfit all in one spot so you can get up in the morning, reach for the outfit, and know it works beautifully together.

If the thought of planning outfits causes you more concern than joy, I can help you by creating an easy to use personal style board, which is part of our Colour and Style Clinic. Click here to find out more.

Invest in key pieces for the new season

Every season requires a few essentials. Making sure you have them at the ready as you welcome a new change in the season will help you to prepare and plan for your outfits without any stress. Autumn usually welcomes cooler climates, so layers, jackets, and tights will now be needed (on most days!), so make sure all of last year’s pieces all still fit, work for your style needs and if they need washing, tailoring or to be donated.

Making sure you have pieces that you love to wear, and feel great in, are so important for day to day, and in particular when you are going to meetings and heading to work. Understanding the styles, outfits, and looks that you feel best in will help make you walk taller and feel more confident every day, making dressing for work a little easier.

To find a few of my autumn essentials, I have shared my top five in this blog.

If you are going back to work after the summer holidays, I hope these tips help you feel more confident. However, if you are unsure where to start with styling, colours, and what to wear for your professional life, I’d love to help.

Find out more about our Professional Styling services: https://www.oneofastyle.com/color-analysis

 

 Attached Thumbnails:

Tags:  BACK TO WORK  CAREER STYLE  CORPORATE STYLE  DRESSING FOR SUCCESS  FASHION ADVICE  FASHION TRENDS  OFFICE FASHION  OFFICE OUTFITS  OFFICE WARDROBE  OUTFIT IDEAS  PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS  PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE  RETURNING TO THE OFFICE  STYLING SUCCESS  STYLING TIPS  WORKPLACE FASHION  WORKPLACE STYLE 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Have you ever wondered where your belief and behaviours have come from?

Posted By Steph Grainger, Therapeutic Mentor, 07 September 2023

Have you ever wondered where your belief and behaviours have come from?

We do the things we do for a reason and if we can understand why, we can then look at how we’re going to change them if they’re not helping us anymore.

Let’s start by looking at how we form our beliefs which then lead to behaviours.

Have you ever seen the Pixar movie, Inside Out? It is a great movie for both kids and adults alike, and it beautifully shows you how beliefs and behaviours are created and why we respond to the ways we do to certain things.

Research has shown us that in the first seven years of a child’s life, a whole chunk of core beliefs and behaviours are formed. Those early years are extremely formative, because we are little sponges that are taking in all the things that are going on all around us from people that we care about, and those people that are in a position of influence – our parents, caregivers, guardians, grandparents, older siblings, teachers, family, friends, group leaders etc etc.

We look up to them both physically and metaphorically as children, and we’re continuously noticing and absorbing behaviours of those around us and the way that those people are functioning in the world. This is more commonly known as conditioning.

I want you to just think for a moment of a belief that you hold strongly, a belief that could be either working for you or it could be really unhelpful for you in your life, and you’ll know that this is a strongly held belief because when somebody does something to question or compromise that belief, you’ll resist, and you will stand firm.

In some cases, you may find it very difficult to see a world without that belief in it and maybe can’t even understand why everybody doesn’t believe what you believe.

“Why does everyone feel this way?

Surely everyone should feel the same way about this?”

Let me share a personal example with you.

Timekeeping.

I was taught from a very early age that being late to something is completely unacceptable, and that it’s hugely disrespectful. So, when I would find myself late for reasons out of my control, I hate it!

For those of you that share the same belief, imagine you are stuck in traffic, you are supposed to be somewhere and you aren’t going to get there in time; you may notice that you have this horrible, uncomfortable feeling in your body that goes into your mind, even though it was unavoidable and it wasn’t your fault. It’s going to feel very uncomfortable.

My dad ground this into me and my siblings. You just don’t be late. In fact, we are the family that gets to the airport four hours early just in case something unavoidable comes along.

Just in case.

Now, this belief personally doesn’t affect my life in a negative way. I am happy to live this way. It’s something I can’t ever see me wanting to change. I also know that if I’m with somebody that is notorious at being late, I have to work on my own dialogue because that’s their story, not mine.

My husband’s family aren’t the best timekeepers in comparison to mine, and I’ve had to work on not taking it personally, because that noise in my head saying “It’s disrespectful if you show up late” is mine, so I rarely get offended, because it’s nothing to do with me. It’s a difference of beliefs and behaviours.

Beliefs are not set in stone.

They aren’t fact, and you’re not born with them. The only thing that we are born with as human beings is the fear of being on our own. A belief is simply a repeated statement or behaviour that we’ve witnessed and heard over a regular and reoccurring period of time, to the point that we form that belief as our own.

We didn’t make a conscious decision to do it. It was an unconscious choice, and when we know this, we can become aware of the beliefs that are holding us back and why they’re preventing us from achieving our goals.

Knowledge is power.

If we unconsciously adopted these beliefs, we absolutely can un-adopt them if we decide that they’re not helping us and holding us back. Think about the beliefs that you have in your life that are currently holding you back and start to ponder on the origin of them, where do you think they came from?

Whose voice do you hear in your head when you are holding firm on one of your beliefs?

The good news is we don’t have to be aware of where they originated from. We don’t have to know where or why you behave in a certain way to create change.

Once you recognize that these beliefs and behaviours aren’t serving you any longer or helping you to move forward in your life in a way that you desire, you can create the changes you want to see in your life.

I want you to start by getting curious as to how your life would look if you believed things to be different or behaved in a different way.

If you change that pattern of behaviour, what would it look like? How would life be better for you? How could life look different for you if you changed your beliefs and behaved in different ways?

I will be going deeper into this subject as well as other subjects, on my upcoming one day workshop 'Pause & Reconnect' in Chelmsford, Essex on Tuesday 26th September and in Bishops Stortford, Herts 10th October.

For more information follow the links below:

Chelmsford - https://subscribepage.io/pauseandreconnectoneday

Bishops Stortford - https://subscribepage.io/7CkFhn

Have a great day, Steph x

This post has not been tagged.

PermalinkComments (0)
 

How Business Growth Coaching can help your business

Posted By Karen Cresswell, Business Growth Coach, 28 August 2023

How Business Growth Coaching can help your business

I belong to several networking groups and recently ran an exercise with members of two different groups on the benefits of business coaching. We discussed problems that business owners commonly face, looked at which ones caused those members the toughest problems and then discussed ways of improving their situations. The 3 main areas of concern for members of those two groups were:

a. Time Management

b. Achieving a work/life balance

c. Understanding financials

Time Management

Business owners are pulled in every direction. There are 101 things that need sorting out and limited time to do it. Members spoke of working past midnight, giving up their weekends and missing family events due to the amount of work they felt they had to do to keep their businesses afloat. Solutions provided from other members included using Stephen Covey’s matrix time management tool (see below) from his book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, and writing “To Do” lists. Whatever tool you use it needs to work for you. Different people need different tools. Working with a business coach you will identify the best time management method for you and your lifestyle, they will keep it simple so that you can easily implement it and, most importantly, use it!

Achieving a work/life balance

It’s very easy, as a business owner, to just keep on working. Often the business owner is the last person to recognise that they are overstressed and likely to become ill. Achieving a work/life balance means that you will work in a smart way to maximise your resources (time and money) so that you will be able to have time away from work – with family, with friends, doing hobbies, and/or relaxing. A good business coach will ask questions that help the business owner learn, grow and achieve success in all areas of business and personal development. They help the business owner identify and achieve specific goals for their business whilst maintaining a balance.

Understanding financials

A business can have a large turnover but not achieve a profit or enable a business owner to earn a living. When we talk with you about Business Growth we mean increasing your net profit, also known in casual terms as your bottom line, and enabling you to earn from all the hard work of running your business. In Business Growth Coaching we help you understand cashflow, operating and net margins, assess trends and then optimise your business financially. You need a good accountant and – depending on your business – a good book keeper, but you also need to be able to understand your reports so that you can ask the right questions to grow your business.

What other benefits will business coaching bring me?

Business Growth Coaching is about the way things are done as well as what is done. The aim of business coaching is to help the business owner achieve focus and clarity on their business growth journey and to deliver improved business performance and build sustainable development for their business vision. Coaching fits with your lifestyle since it can be carried out virtually or face to face, individually, or in groups. It works best over a period of time – since you can then tackle problems, report back, learn and grow in steps.

Tags:  business coach 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW TO DRESS FOR AN AUTUMNAL WEDDING

Posted By Stefania Bartolomei, 24 August 2023

Autumn can be a tricky time to dress for, then add on top of that an occasion such as a wedding and you may be baffled for what to wear.

In the UK, Autumn tends to be drizzly and cool – so being prepared for these weather changes is essential for your outfit.

In this blog, I’ll be sharing some top tips on how to dress for an autumnal wedding so you still feel appropriately dressed for the special occasion, even if the weather decides to change on you!

Select a warm layer

Layering is all important at this time of year. You’ll want to have a small additional layer to pop into your handbag, hotel room or car for the late afternoon/evening. Something like a bolero, pashmina, or blazer can be excellent solutions.

A pashmina works over dresses, jumpsuits and suits, and can be a boho-chic option, while a bolero is a more formal option. A blazer is an excellent solution for your two piece outfit, and you could go all out and wear a formal suit for the wedding, or why not play with different colours to make a statement?

Another option to keep yourself warm during an autumnal wedding, particularly if you are in older venue without heating (or when the fire isn’t lit) or if you are at an outdoor wedding, is to look for hosiery. A thicker dernier pair of tights can go a long way to keeping warm, without deterring from the elegance of your outfit.

Sleeve length

While during the spring and summer you may be wearing sleeveless or short sleeved garments, an autumn wedding may call for a longer sleeve. A ¾ length sleeve is a great option for this time of year and can be excellent for highlighting your waist. Look for a length of sleeve that stops right at the smaller part of your waist so it brings the eye in.

A full length sleeve is another option, and can be perfect for outdoor weddings where you know it will get a little chilly.

For an elegant look, why not try a dress with a cape attachment? This covers the shoulders, and adds an additional layer for warmth.

Play with suiting

Suits are becoming more and more fashionable, and are a beautiful choice for an autumnal wedding. Look for autumnal colours to really pop for the season, and match with a warm, elegant shirt underneath. To really play with the suiting element, you could mix and match your blazer and trousers, and add accessories to make the look more feminine such as jewellery, heels and your bag.

I wrote an article all about how to style a suit, for more inspiration, should you want to try a suit.

Try a jumpsuit

A jumpsuit is an effective option for this cooler weather as it keeps your legs covered, while looking formal and fun. Depending on the colour, pattern and style, you can dress up or dress down the jumpsuit to match the wedding.

Look out for the right shape for your body shape to elevate your confidence. Some jumpsuits can have a shorter torso or gusset area, so I always recommend trying your jumpsuit on at the shop.

One of the most important things about dressing for a special occasion is to feel confident and align with the dresscode. If you’re unsure on what to wear, speak with the couple or fellow attendees to gauge what level of styling will suit best. If it is a black tie or more casual affair, this will help inspire you for the outfit. 

 

If you’re heading to an autumnal wedding soon, and just don’t know what to wear, I can help with my personal shopping service.   

Tags:  fashion tips  how to be more stylish  how to dress for events  how to plan outfits  personal styling tips  personal stylist  wedding outfit inspiration 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Why hiring a bookkeeper can keep your business running smoothly during the summer

Posted By Helen Jones, Bookkeeper, 04 August 2023

Why hiring a bookkeeper can keep your business running smoothly during the summer

 

School holidays can be tough on small business owners. Balancing work and holidays can be tricky, especially when you and your team want to take some time off with family. You want to be able to keep the business running smoothly while getting some time out.

 

That's where hiring a bookkeeper comes in. As a small business owner, you might think that you can’t afford to outsource bookkeeping tasks, but a bookkeeper can save you time, money, and stress. Here’s how. 

 

A good bookkeeper helps you stay on track with your finances

 

Regular bookkeeping is important, even if you think of yourself as just a small business. Your bookkeeping is the foundation for monitoring your sales, expenses and profits, but also your cash flow and your progress against your goals.

 

Hiring a bookkeeper during the holidays means you can keep track of your finances while you're gone. A professional bookkeeper can record and reconcile transactions, process invoices and payments and handle payroll for you. They can also identify potential bottlenecks in cash flow and spending patterns to help you adjust your budget accordingly. Additionally, a bookkeeper can also help you prepare financial statements and tax returns, saving you from returning to work knowing you have to quickly turn around a VAT return. 

 

A good bookkeeper provides valuable business advice

 

Your bookkeeper is also a business owner, and a great confidant for discussing your business goals and challenges. A good bookkeeper can help you identify areas where you can save money and make suggestions for increasing sales. They can also help you identify potential problems in your cash flow. It’s hard to delegate when you want to know everything about your business, but imagine the peace of mind of having a finance expert’s eyes on your business while you’re taking a holiday.

 

A good bookkeeper helps you prioritise your workload

 

During the holidays, there's always a temptation to either do nothing or keep working and not spend time with your family. You didn’t start your business so you could become a bookkeeper, and engaging a bookkeeper to handle your financial tasks can help you prioritise your workload so you can just do what you need to do, and enjoy time with your family. 

 

A good bookkeeper saves you time and money

 

It’s hard to think that hiring an additional person into your team is going to save you money, but bear with me. Engaging with a bookkeeper to handle tasks that aren’t your specialist area will save you time and money, and here’s how. Not doing these tasks yourself will free you up for the work you’re really meant to do in your business - where there’s a much better return on your time investment. Compare hiring a bookkeeper for £200 per month with taking on 2 new clients generating £2000 per month. Are you better off to forgo the £2000 and spend your time bookkeeping, or to earn an extra £1800 in your business this month? 

How about if you took half of that time you would have been doing the bookkeeping off as holiday instead? You’d still be £900 better off this month - just by hiring a bookkeeper. This is maths that makes sense. 

Add to this how a bookkeeper can usually save you costly mistakes in your bookkeeping and you’ll never question the value of a bookkeeper again. 

 

A good bookkeeper gives you peace of mind

 

Knowing that a professional bookkeeper is managing your finances not just while you’re away but every day of your business gives you limitless peace of mind. You can always be confident that your business finances are up to date and in good hands, so you can get on with running your business armed with the information you need to make good, timely decisions. 

 

Conclusion

 

Hiring a bookkeeper isn’t just a good move for the summer holidays, it’s a great move for the life of your business. It allows you to focus on what you really need to do as a business owner and take a break while everything financial happens smoothly behind the scenes. You don't have to worry about falling behind in your financial tasks, and you can trust that a professional is managing your finances. By leveraging the expertise of a bookkeeper, you can focus on spending quality time with your family and return to your business recharged and ready to tackle new challenges.

 

If you’d like to talk to me about how I work with small businesses like you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook or book a call.

 

Tags:  bookkeeper  finance  holidays 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

The Phenomenon of Holiday Fatigue

Posted By Maryanne Taylor, Founder and Sleep Consultant, 03 August 2023

You've meticulously researched, planned every detail, and eagerly awaited your upcoming adventure. The 'out of office' sign is up, the packing ordeal is behind you, and you've finally arrived at your holiday destination.

And out of the blue, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashes over you.

Sound familiar?

Welcome to the enigmatic world of Holiday Fatigue – where relaxation and weariness seem to intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Let's delve into this phenomenon and uncover strategies to reignite your energy levels to maximise your holiday enjoyment.

🌴 Release and Renewal:

For so long, you've been multitasking, juggling all your responsibilities, keeping those balls in the air. As you step into your well-deserved break, the chance to put those balls aside emerges.

Your body seizes this opportunity to unwind, releasing stored-up stress. The intriguing result? A curious surge of fatigue that forces you to stop.

⚡ The Adrenaline Shift:

Your body has been a powerhouse, fueled by adrenaline to conquer life's challenges. But then, the holiday rhythm arrives, and as the adrenaline gradually reduces, relaxation sets in which results in unexpected fatigue. This might just be your body's way of urging you to finally catch up on that much-needed rest. 🛫 Changes in Routine: Traveling disrupts your regular routine – from sleep patterns to meal times.

Your body's internal clock (circadian rhythm) can get thrown off balance, leading to fatigue as your body adjusts to the new schedule.

🌍 Change in Environment:

While holidays are meant to be enjoyable, being in a new environment can also be mentally draining as you navigate unfamiliar surroundings and make decisions about what to do and where to go. So how to help yourself so you don't feel like you are losing precious holiday time feeling like a zombie? Here are some suggested strategies to handle this …

Adapt the itinerary:

Balance sightseeing and activities with time to rest and recharge. Try to avoid over-scheduling which can end up being more stressful and take away from some of the enjoyment. Time Zone Awareness: If traveling across time zones, plan an easy and less demanding schedule for the first day to acclimatise. Scheduled Breaks: Incorporate short breaks during outings. Find a quiet spot to sit, close your eyes, and recharge.

Post-Holiday Buffer:

Plan a buffer day before returning to work. This provides extra time to unwind and transition gradually back to your routine. Remember, the goal is to create a holiday that rejuvenates rather than exhausts. By proactively adapting your plans to accommodate holiday fatigue, you can ensure a more revitalising and fulfilling travel experience. Tell me in the comments how you will be incorporating downtime into your summer plans.

Tags:  energy  fatigue  Healthy sleep habits  Holidays  relaxation  sleep  strategies  summer  wellbeing 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

How to Scale Your Business

Posted By Abbie Akinfenwa, Virtual Assistant, 26 July 2023

So you've started a business and things seem to be going in the right direction (phew!) but how do you take it to the next level and scale up?

Here are some top tips to help you achieve your goals:

1. Plan and Assess, Objectively

Take a close look inside your business to see if you are ready for growth - be honest with yourself, have you got the appetite and time as it's hard work taking a business to the next level. What needs improving, what could be done better and what could you do without? 

2. 'Show me the Money' 

Scaling a business doesn't come without investment. Your growth plan may involve employing more people, implementing new technology, updating equipment and facilities, and creating reporting systems to keep everything on track - be sure you've budgeted for this and have found the right solutions at the right price. 

 3. Secure those Sales 

Scaling your business naturally assumes you will sell more. Have you got the sales structure in place to generate more sales and to cope with an upturn in demand? Are the behind the scenes processes in place to handle more orders?

4. Invest in Tech 

Technology makes it easier and less expensive to scale a business, but you really need to have a good understanding of what you need and what's out there that can help. Sometimes an 'off the shelf' product will work while other times, you may need something bespoke, all of which comes at a cost. Do your research (or get someone else to do it for you).  

5. Find new staff or Outsource 

Last but certainly not least, are the 'bums on seats' needed to carry out the work. Employing staff can be tricky, time consuming and a drain on time that you may not have. Outsourcing to a virtual assistant for example, who already has the experience and capacity you need, may well help fill this gap and also help elevate your business quicker through their wealth of knowledge and experience. 

 If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you with growing your business, Click Here to contact us now.

*Picture by Canva July 2023*

Tags:  #businessplan #business #bsuinessowner #virtualass 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Why Should Small Businesses Publish Blog Posts?

Posted By Rachel Bray, 20 July 2023

Why Should Small Businesses Publish Blog Posts?

Your website is like a shop front. A window into your world and what you have to offer. If it’s pretty, it helps draw people in. But there still needs to be something of substance there or they’ll just keep walking.

But why should you bother with blog posts? After all, it’s just one more thing to do.

Think of a blog as part of your window display. And it helps fill up those shelves behind the counter that people like to peer at in case there’s something else of interest they’re missing out on. 

Here’s how small businesses can benefit from blogging:

1. Blogs increase traffic to your website

Search engine optimisation, or SEO is not a ‘dark art’. There are many ways you can make your website more appealing to the search engines and blogs are one of them.

More people visiting your website means more potential clients.

The more traffic you can get to your website – and the longer people stay on it – the better you will score in search engine rankings. So, the more interesting, relevant content you can provide, the better.

Blogs give the search engines more reasons to rank you when people are searching for answers you can provide. This means they will be more likely to discover you exist and visit your website.

Each time you add a new blog post you are giving the search engines a signal that your website is active. They will ‘crawl’ it again to index the new content. 

Make sure you have all the right keywords, headings, and so on, in your blogs but remember you're talking to your target clients, not robots. Your tone, language, and content need to reflect that. People need to read it and get something out of it.

Even the algorithms now penalise poorly-written content of little value. AI writing tools can be useful aids, but don’t depend on them to do the job for you.

The right blogs can help drive small business leads, letting you compete with much larger companies.


2. Blogs build engagement, trust, authority, and community

You know you’re an authority in your field. You know how you can help people and add value to their lives and businesses. But how does anyone else know that? It’s no good just telling people how great you are on your About page and expecting them to go with it. 

People want to see proof that you know what you are talking about. They want to know you care. That they matter and even that there is a like-minded community they can be part of.

Blogging about subjects your customers are interested in can showcase you as an authority in your field. You can share insights and your perspective on things that matter to you and your customers. Blogs can help reiterate your brand values and open up opportunities for discussion and reflection within a community you are building. 

Keeping people engaged with your company and your brand keeps you front of mind.


3. You can create more content from your blogs

Businesses are increasingly under pressure to produce a seemingly never-ending supply of content for various social media channels. It’s not easy, especially if you are a small business with a limited number of products, services, or employees. Generating new content can be hard.

Your blog posts will give you ready-made content you can share. You can share the post – and maybe others will too, giving you greater reach and a new audience. You can talk about them in your newsletters and email campaigns.

There are plenty of ways in which you can repurpose your blogs. You can take snippets and talking points from them for new social media posts. 

Maybe you can reference discussion points that come up in the comments. And of course you can return to your blogs anytime they become relevant. 

Maybe you blogged about something a couple of years ago that has just become a talking point in a news story. You can share your original blog again or update it and share it with a different emphasis. 

You can even use them as a way to give people further information that might be of interest to them when they buy a product or service from you. By sending a link to a relevant blog you’re adding value and increasing traffic to your website at the same time.

Consistency and quality over quantity

Remember, for content, quality and consistency (even if there is less of it), is better than sporadically bashing out reams of average ‘stuff’. Plan out what you can realistically achieve and commit to it.

If writing blog posts that will resonate with your clients and keep the search engines happy is not your forte, find someone who can help. And if writing is your thing, you can learn how to write blogs that will get noticed.

I love to chat all things writing so please get in touch or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Contact details

This post has not been tagged.

PermalinkComments (0)
 
Page 12 of 23
 |<   <<   <  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  >   >>   >|