Promote Your Small Business Expertise with Video Q&As

Promote Your Small Business Expertise with Video Q&As

Have you incorporated videos into your online presence yet?

If not, you’re missing out on one of the largest marketing and promotion strategies available to get the word out about your business.

According to frequently quoted stats from Hubspot, 72% of consumers prefer to use videos to learn about products and services.

Here are some additionally compelling stats about the effectiveness of videos:

  • 76% of marketers say videos help them increase sales
  • 47% say it helps reduce support questions
  • 81% were convinced to purchase after watching a company’s video
  • 85% of people surveyed say they want to see more videos from businesses
  • 83% of consumers would consider sharing videos with friends

Ok, now that you’re sold on making videos for your business, where do you start?

Can’t Think of Content for Your Videos? Start with Your FAQs!

If you’ve got a list of questions and answers from customers, you’re set up with some great content to put online.

Recently, we shared how you can share your questions and answers with your Google presence.

Take that same content and create a series of brief videos—one question and answer per video. These videos don’t have to be long or elaborate. Keep them to about a minute.

Use your cell phone to video your Qs&As from your office, your store floor, maybe on a service call.

Schedule creating and posting at least one or two videos per week so as not to overwhelm your time.

Before you know it, you’ll have a wealth of valuable video content that people genuinely are interested in viewing.

Where to Put Your Videos

Of course, Youtube.

That video platform is the most powerful place to post your videos. It’s the second largest search engine in the world and should be the hub of your online video presence.

Additionally, the video network offers you a number of useful tools to analyze visitors to your content. Plus Youtube provides easy to use sharing tools that you can use to distribute your videos on different platforms.

How to Promote Your Videos

Once you’ve posted your videos on Youtube, how do you let people know about them?

Share on Social Media

Post on your social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, etc. Ask your friends, relatives, customers and clients to watch your videos and share with their online friends.

Post Links in Your Company Email

If you’re emailing your customers and lamenting about your open rates the following quote should grab your attention.

“Using the word ‘video’ in email subject lines boosts open rates 19%, click through rates by 65% and reduces unsubscribes by 25%,” according to research conducted by Brainshark, a software company.

Once a month, send out an email with links to your latest videos.

Also, invite your email audience to submit questions they might have about your products and services. That’s a great way to come up with more—and relevant—content.

Embed on Your Business Website or Blog

This is wonderful and applicable content for you to post on your website. As an added bonus, videos have been shown to help reduce the bounce rate of websites—a plus for your SEO efforts.

Don’t have time to set up a Youtube channel, upload videos or promote them? Consider using a Virtual Assistant. Business Solutions Unlimited will be happy to help you take advantage of the benefits of videos marketing.

Give us a call at (904) 429-4588 to see how we can help you.

 

QuickBooks Online Updates & Tips

QuickBooks Online Updates & Tips

As Bookkeeping Virtual Assistants, we’re continually honing our QuickBooks skills to support our business clients.

Recently, we completed our recertification as QuickBooks Pro Advisors and became more familiar with some of the major updates to the accounting software.

Additionally, the QuickBooks course provided some helpful tips we’d like to pass on to our readers.

What’s QuickBooks Updating?

We get pretty excited when QuickBooks updates its features (consider it an accounting obsession). These four caught our attention:

  1. New Sales Tax Center

For businesses that collect Sales Tax, it can be a pain to keep up and update data as tax rates change. QuickBooks can now manage your Sales Tax calculations with updated information from across the nation.

Sales Tax information will be automatically updated on all new QuickBooks Online accounts & we are hoping this will be rolled out to existing accounts soon as well. All you need to do is list the state and tax agencies you need to work with.

The information QuickBooks accesses is impressive. Proper tax rates are applied to your invoices based on:

  • Your address
  • Your customer’s address
  • Type of item sold
  • Date item was sold

Additionally, QuickBooks will provide reminders to you to pay your accrued Sales Tax to the appropriate state tax agencies.

  1. New Projects Tab

This handy feature provides a central location to view all of your jobs along with associated transactions, notes and reports. You can view the status of your projects:

  • In Progress
  • Completed
  • Canceled

Not only can you view, but you can add transactions directly to your project from this location.

  1. 24-Hour Direct Deposit for Payroll

For busy employers, this feature could be a life-saver. Previously, employers need to approve direct deposits 2-business days prior to payday.

Now, you can approve your direct deposits by 5 pm PT and still make payday the next business day.

This feature gives you:

  • Greater flexibility to run payroll
  • Faster time to pay employees
  • Ability to hold on to your cash an extra day
  1. QuickBooks Capital

Small business lending moves forward with this new service from Intuit—QuickBooks Capital.

Now, small businesses can use the data compiled in their QuickBooks account to get full credit for their business performance.

The application process is embedded within QuickBooks and can be part of your daily workflow. This gives you the ability to request a loan when you need it.

Here Are Some Useful QuickBooks Tips

The following tips would be helpful for many of our business clients.

Merchant Service – ACH Bank Transfer is Free

Have you used QuickBooks to process ACH transfers? As a QuickBooks user, you can get paid quickly through ACH transfers without a fee from QuickBooks.

If you’re finding your merchant service fees adding up or taking a toll on your bottom line, this could be a valuable feature to explore.

We’d be happy to help you set up this feature.

Change Order of Your Bank Account

If you have a long list of bank accounts, it can be frustrating scrolling to find the one you want to view.

Many small businesses have accounts they need to keep an eye on more frequently than others. If that’s your case, consider reordering the list to place those important accounts at the top.

Reordering is as simple as clicking the pencil icon next to the account you want to move and dragging it where you want it. Then, click save.

Close Your Books After Each Year

It’s customary for businesses to “close the book” at the end of the year. QuickBooks automatically closes out your Income and Expense accounts and rolls up your net profit or loss into your Retained Earnings account.

However, to protect your business from changing transactions from previous accounting periods, you should consider “closing the books” with a closing date and password. This ability to set closing dates and passwords is available to both the Master and Company Administrators.

How to Get QuickBooks Assistance

It’s challenging for many small businesses to keep up with the changes and best practices of QuickBooks. That’s why our Virtual Assistants continually stay on top of the skills needed to assist our clients.

Feel free to give us a call at (904) 429-4588 to discuss how we can help you with your books.

How Business Leaders Can Build Leaders in Their Business

How Business Leaders Can Build Leaders in Their Business

As a leader in your business:

  • Would an average increase in profits by 20% be of interest to you?
  • How about boosting productivity levels of your employees by 17%?
  • Would you be impressed If sales increased by 20%?
  • Would a 40% decrease in absenteeism transform your business?

If those results—published in a 2016 meta-analytic study by Gallup—got your attention, then you might consider joining the employee coaching movement that’s transforming businesses around the world.

Business leaders who focus on coaching employees (also referred to as Employee Performance Development) instead of managing them gain a workforce highly committed to success—theirs and yours–vs. simple compliance.

“Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.”
– John Wooden, Basketball Coach

The Difference Between Coaching and Performance Management

Performance management traditionally refers to overseeing the work of others through a one-sided, boss-administered task approach. Performance is typically measured through annual performance reviews where employees receive feedback from their boss.

Human resource experts question the effectiveness of this approach. Annual performance reviews are typically viewed as an anxious disruption by both managers and employees. Instead of inspiring action, the process can demotivate both managers and employees.

Coaching aims at influencing and developing employee’s skills, motivation, achievement and performance ability. The process provides on-going coaching and feedback to employees.

Sports coaching is a great example of the benefits of this approach. If football players received just a once a year evaluation of their performance, they and the team would fail—spectacularly. Instead, players receive continuous coaching on their performance at practice and even during the game. Basically, the players receive immediate feedback they can use to overcome barriers, challenges and figure ways to do better toward a shared goal—to win.

Some companies have dropped performance management and reviews entirely—in favor of the coaching approach. A Coaching Manager approach delivers:

  • Enhanced performance and improved productivity
  • Highly engaged employees
  • Increased trust among employees and managers

Others use both methods. While coaching is a process separate from performance management the approaches can be mutually beneficial.

Because of the continued, throughout-the-year coaching interactions, annual performance reviews become more of a discussion and collaborative planning session than a one-sided feedback meeting. Both the manager and employee can look ahead instead of looking back (after all, you both had plenty of discussion throughout the year) to see what’s possible to achieve during the next year, then figure out together how to accomplish it.

“I’d say handling people is the most important thing you can do as a coach. I’ve found every time I’ve gotten into trouble with a player, it’s because I wasn’t talking to him enough.”
– Lou Holtz, Football Coach

How to Implement Coaching in Your Business

The coaching process is relatively simple to set up.

First, identify the key traits of your best-performing employee(s). You can conduct this analysis on your own, or collaboratively with your staff. This would help create ownership to the concepts uncovered during the session.

  • Ask which traits or skills the employee(s) want to work on
  • Mutually agree on skills necessary to accomplish the goals both of you establish

Next, document the tasks and activities that would help develop the skill sets necessary to accomplish the goals you and your employees establish. Determine if additional training, education or other items will help develop the employee’s skills.

Finally, establish target dates for the activity or plan along with a schedule for follow-up discussions.

Follow-up discussions should include a review of the accomplishments (or lack) of the activity or plan. Engage in a conversation that includes feedback. Then discuss next steps.

“Good coaching may be defined as the development of character, personality and habits of players, plus the teaching of fundamentals and team play.”
– Clair Bee, Basketball Coach

If you’re interested in developing a coaching culture in your workplace, we’d be happy to help you develop a plan. Feel free to give us a call at (904) 429-4588.

Enhance Your Online Presence with Q&As

Enhance Your Online Presence with Q&As

If a consumer Googled your business name, what would they find?

In the recent past, most searchers would find a link to your website where they could learn more about your business, find a phone number or address then decide to call or visit based on the information they read.

That activity is…well…the past.

Today, your customers find most of the information they need to make a decision about engaging your business on the Google search page itself.

Go ahead, Google your business name.

What you probably found was the Knowledge Panel with important information on your business:

  • Starred Reviews
  • Map and directions to your location if you do business from a physical location
  • Address and phone number
  • Hours of operation
  • Questions and Answers

All that information is important to your online presence. Let’s focus on the newest addition to the panel—Questions and Answers

What is Google Question and Answers?

Google Q&A launched late last year. It’s another Google feature where content can be added that helps to create a story online about your business.

It’s also a feature that could influence consumers to do business with you—or not.

Consumers can ask questions about your business here. Anyone can provide an answer, including you. Monitoring and responding to questions is an important activity to enhance your online reputation.

Businesses can also post questions—and answer them. That’s a great opportunity to provide meaningful details about your business. Details that could help influence decisions to buy from your business.

What’s Allowed and Not Allowed?

Blatant advertising, links to websites and email address plus phone numbers are not allowed. Primarily, Google wants this feature to provide details that people would want to know, like “Does this Mexican Restaurant have Margaritas?”

While this is not a place to post reviews, there have been reports of consumers adding them in this space. Also, some customers have posted “bad experience” type questions “why wasn’t my car ready in time?”

Google does allow users to report questionable Q&As by selecting from a choice of 6 reasons:

  • Off-Topic
  • No Longer Applies
  • Advertising or Spam
  • Hate, Violent or Inappropriate
  • Incorrect Information
  • Something Else

Violations reported have been taken down within 12-36 hours.

Businesses will have to decide on a case-by-case basis on whether to report Q&As. Like reviews, a helpful response by the business can go far in creating a positive online reputation.

So, How Do You Use this Feature to Your Advantage?

If users post questions, answer them in a timely manner. Get in the habit of checking out your Knowledge Panel daily. It only takes a moment to do so.

Also, be proactive by posting questions yourself and answering them. Figure out three or four common questions and answers about your business.

  • what services or products do you provide

Keep what you write short and brief. Questions with 110 characters and answers with 75 characters will appear in their entirety.

What if You Don’t Have Time to Do This?

If you’re like most business owners or managers, scheduling another online activity you have to monitor and maintain will be challenging. After all, you have social media, reviews, citations, blogging, videos and more to pay attention to….plus you have to run your business.

Unfortunately, it’s important not to avoid Google’s influence on local online searches for businesses. It’s where buying decisions are made.

That’s where enlisting the services of a Marketing Virtual Assistant comes in. Business Solutions Unlimited will be happy to help you tackle this new Google feature to help build your business. Give us a call at (904) 429-4588 and let us help you.

Four Leadership Skills That Can Help Bring You Success

Four Leadership Skills That Can Help Bring You Success

Are you a leader?

If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur or an executive in a business or non-profit, you might answer “yes” to that question. After all, your position automatically makes you influential in the direction of your company and staffing decisions.

However, are you a successful leader?

Your answer might require some thought on how skillful you are applying leadership skills in your business.

Let’s First Tackle Leadership “Skills” vs. “Traits” or “Characteristics”

At first mention of the word “leader” who came to mind? Was it Winston Churchill? How about Steve Jobs? Maybe you pictured a parent or a favorite coach.

Most “Leaders” are defined by traits and characteristics. Great orator…inspires those who follow them…motivates those around them to always do better.

However, don’t the words “trait” or “characteristics” communicate an established personality or disposition? It can be daunting thinking that leadership is some innate ability seen in some, but lacking in others.

It’s not. Those leaders mentioned above, and countless others, weren’t born to lead; they honed leadership skills over time. Eventually, their active use of those skills characterized how we perceive them—successful leaders.

It’s our position that anyone can be a successful leader if they apply and practice the following four skills.

  1. Listening

Successful leaders continually practice their listening skills. People, including your employees and clients, want to be heard. When you listen to what they say, you can gain insights that can influence your decisions that positively impact them and your business.

Listening helps to create a trustworthy relationship. When people feel they’ve been heard, they’re more inspired to follow your lead knowing you have their best interest at heart. A wise leader once said, “You have two ears and one mouth…listen twice as much as you speak.”

Active listening skills can be practiced in a number of ways:

Eye Contact:  This helps the person speaking with you feel they have your undivided attention.

Pay Attention: Listen to the words the speaker is saying. Watch their body language along with voice inflections.

Ask Clarifying Questions: This helps the speaker know you’re trying to understand what they are saying.

Summarize What You Heard: This provides a reward to the speaker that they’ve been heard.

  1. Decision Making

Successful leaders exhibit strong decision-making skills. Decisiveness inspires.  Leaders generally don’t suffer from paralysis-by-analysis.

Leaders in business understand the urgency to make decisions and move quickly on available information. They also understand how to balance their emotions with reason. If new information makes their previous decision incorrect, they know when to decide to shift directions.

Decision-making skills can be practiced in a number of ways:

Be Decisive on Everyday Matters: Don’t dwell on what you’re going to wear today. Pick out your clothes and move on. Do you and your spouse experience paralysis-by-analysis on choosing a restaurant or a movie to see? Take the lead and make a decision.

Dedicate Time Each Day to Focus on Solutions: Got an impending business problem to solve, or a critical decision looming in the future? Take time each day to research pros and cons of various choices. Then, when a decision needs to be made, you won’t scramble for a solution. Your mind will be prepared to make a decision and take action.

Seek Well-Informed Opinions: See listening skills from above.

Don’t Dwell on Mistakes: Living or being influenced by past mistakes can lead to indecisiveness or paralysis-by-analysis. Learn how to let go and forge ahead.

  1. Delegate

Successful leaders know when and how to delegate tasks. When a decision is made, leaders allow others to use their skills, talents and experience to accomplish the goals set out by that decision.

Leaders understand that delegation unburdens them from countless tasks that can drain their energy and attention. Delegation increases the effectiveness of their organization.

How can you practice your delegation skills?

Evaluate Your Needs: Assess your business or organization’s needs. Clearly define business goals and tasks involved in accomplishing them. Then look at your organization’s strengths and weaknesses to find if you have the resources to accomplish those task.

Learn to Surround Yourself with Talent: Bring onboard team members with the strengths, skills and passion to accomplish the tasks you need to be done to accomplish your goals.

Don’t think you have to hire a staff. Virtual assistant firms like Business Solutions Unlimited can be invaluable resources you can delegate your task to without incurring additional staffing costs.

Learn to Entrust Others: Evaluate the skill sets, strengths and weaknesses of your staff. Hand-off small tasks appropriate for the skills of your team members.

  1. Communicate Clearly

Successful leaders communicate their message purposefully and with specificity. They never want their staff to leave their presence wondering what was communicated or asked of them.

How can you practice your communication skills?

Replace Lazy Language with Specifics: Remove the “as soon as possible” type of phrases with ones that convey specifics and leads to accountability.

Communicate with Appropriate Tone and Body Language: How you convey your message is often times more important than what you say. Practice speaking in front a mirror, spouse or trusted colleague to make sure you’re truly conveying what you want to be heard.

Speak Confidently: Learn to speak calmly and deliberately. Speaking quickly conveys nervousness and insecurity.

Remove Filler Words and Be Comfortable with Pauses: Words like “umm” and “ahhh” communicates that you’re uncertain about what you’re saying. Become comfortable with brief moments of silence—pauses—in your speaking. Doing so conveys thoughtfulness and mindfulness in your message.

Since communicating clearly is such an important skill for leaders, you might want to consider seeking professional training organization that can help you master speaking. Also, consider joining a Toastmasters International Club in your area.

If you would like to discuss these and other ideas to become a more effective leader in your organization feel free to contacts us at (904) 429-4588. Let’s all continue to be the best leaders we can so our people and our businesses continue to grow as well.