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Setting up a home office to run your online business is a great way to start your journey to online success.  A small room in your home can be used to put you into the right mode and mindset to run your online business. Here are a few ideas to help you build your dream online business focusing on room size and feel, followed by items and organization to build your ultimate home office.  I will put links to what I feel are the best items relating to building your dream office that will aim for high quality and affordability.  I spent a lot of time researching and hand picking the best products for most peoples needs.

ROOM SIZE AND FEEL
It is recommended to have at least a one hundred square feet room or ten feet by ten feet. A hardwood floor is usually more clean and organized for your purposes and is easier to keep clean. Generally, the color of the room is up to personal preference, but here is a list of popular colors to use. Off-white, teal blue, gray, light-blue, brown, pastel yellow, purple, green, orange. Try to incorporate curvature in the room as studies have shown that it can give a more relaxed feel to your environment.  Additionally, the right light fixtures, plants, and having inspiration posters with motivational concepts can help our daily mentality and focus in the home office.

OFFICE ITEMS AND ORGANIZATION

Choose a good sturdy desk that suits your needs and style. There are so many styles and personal preferences with desks so I will mention some basic things about them only. If you are going to use an excersize or walking desk, make sure you pick out your configuration carefully so it will work well together. Try to get a desk that has drawers or have some separate drawers situated next to it. Make sure it is not wobbly or weak but stable and dependable.

    [pic – TribalDesignsLDesk.jpg]          [pic- Desk-L-shaped.jpg]         

Tribesigns L-Shaped Computer Desk                   Monarch Specialties Corner Desk

Proper and abundant shelving is very important for short and long term organization and should be over estimated so that you have plenty of shelf space for the future.

[pic -SuperJareShelves.jpg]  [pic -cornerShelf.jpg]

SUPERJARE Wall Shelves                                    Corner Wall Shelf

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SONGMICS Wall Shelves

 

A high quality chair is a very important item as you will be using it more than basically anything else and it affects your posture over the long term. You should spend some time choosing the most ergonomic and comfortable chair that supports good posture as well as relaxation throughout the day.  I personally don’t want my work chair to be overly comfortable and this one is my personal favorites.

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Executive Desk Chair

 

Use a few power supply strips with built-in USB and have some 2 amp USB chargers plugged in to charge devices so you aren’t tying up USB slots in your computers.  These ones have built in USB Charging capability and are highly recommended.

      [pic – powerStrip2.jpg]      [pic – powerStrip.jpg]     

Power Strip2                                                          Power Strip

 

Use hooks and bins to keep cables and adapters organized so you don’t find yourself wasting time hunting for them. In my first year of business I wasted so much time looking for cables that were right under my nose sometimes.  Again, some nice affordable options in this category for you.

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Stainless Steel Adhesive Hooks               PC Gaming Headset Headphone Hook Holder

 

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Plastic Bin                                                                            Steel Mesh Organizer Cart

 

Set up either fixed or adjustable platforms to hold Monitors, phones, tablets, or even laptops. You can position them so that you don’t have to change your posture to use your devices. Here are a few of my favorite items …

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Mount-It!                                                                          VIVO Black Fully Adjustable

             [pic – MagipeaHolder.jpg] [pic – GooseneckHolder.jpg]           

MAGIPEA Tablet Stand Holder                                    Gooseneck Tablet Holder

 

I firmly believe if you get an exercise desk and use it, it will make a big difference for your health. Walking desks are generally more expensive – $1500 to $3000 – but there are some more affordable options that stood out to me which can be used with either the built in platform or with your own adjustable desk surface. Here are links to what I see are the best and very affordable setups …

                                [pic – fitDesk.jpg] [pic – soozierBike.jpg]                                  

FitDesk                                                                                   Soozier Exercise bike 

               [pic – AecoJoyDesk.jpg] [pic – FlexispotDesk.jpg]             

AECOJOY Electric Stand Up Desk Frame          Flexispot Electric Height Adjustable Desk

[pic – TranzenDesk.jpg]

Stand Steady 55 Inch Standing Desk

 

Use a flipboard or whiteboard to brainstorm and solve problems or to demonstrate to others your ideas on the fly.

                        [pic – flipboard.jpg] [pic – miniFlipBoard.jpg]           

Desk Calendar Dry Eraser Board Daily Planner          Tabletop Easel Pad, 20 x 23 Inches

Try to have at least one multiple display computer so that you can have a cohesive and expanded space to do more complex tasks on your computer.  The monitors here are high resolution and large enough for most needs with great image quality at the same time as not being too costly.
                      [pic – PhillipsMonitor.jpg] [pic – AcerMonitor.jpg]       

Philips 276E8VJSB 27″ 4K Monitor                           Acer 23.8-Inch (1920 x 1080)

 

If you are making videos online, prepare a set with a green screen to make your videos as professional looking as you can imagine!  This one is highly recommended.

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Emart Photo Video Studio 8.5 x 10ft

 

 

These are just a few suggestions and ideas offered in helping you to make your ultimate home office for an online business. Having things set up properly from day one and implementing some or even all of these things can be a game changer in your online journey. May you have many years of success in your online ventures.

 

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Devices and Methods to Start an Online Business

Starting an online business is an exciting and attainable goal for more people than it ever has before. You can conduct business and connect to the online world with many options which are available to everyone. It is a good idea to set up the best system possible to maximize efficiency and make your business day easier. What we would like to do is set up some guidelines and general direction to help you get started on your journey to help you run your online business as smooth as possible. Today I’ll share with you the 5 steps I take to organize my computer to help me find stuff faster and make my computer run quicker.

CHOOSING COMPUTERS
There are so many computer options to choose from. Which is best for you? Whether you use a Mac, Windows, Linux, or any other OS it is a good idea to have a non mobile setup as a home base for your business. Phones and tablets have gotten more capable but are less reliable and not generally as good in using for running an online business. This is the case for visibility, networking, printing, and several other tasks.  It is recommended to set up either a Mac, Windows, or Linux machine for your main business computer. As a bare minimum, you should have at least 4GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Core 2 Duo 2GHz or better CPU. Your needs may scale higher, depending on how much you are doing and what type of business you are conducting. Some examples of what might necessitate a more robust computer… video editing, photography editing, etc… If you’re a newbie and not sure what type of computer you need to run your online business, first think of your business vision. What is the purpose you intend to use your computer for?  If you’re not going to be doing gaming, photo/video editing I recommend keeping it simple and getting a computer with these basic specs:

REDUNDANCY – USING MULTIPLE DEVICES
Once you have your main computer picked out it is a good idea to have two other devices as a minimum for most peoples needs. Having a more portable netbook is a great way for taking your office on a trip with you when needed or to add redundancy. Basically, if you have the same data in at least two places, you are much less likely to ever lose it from a system failure. Additionally, a phone designated for business which is synchronized with the other two machines with respect to data redundancy and portability really enhances the overall equation and finishes off your setup quite nicely. You will generally put only your most pertinent and crucial items on the phone as they are needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Syncing Miscelaneous Files:
Mac: https://www.syncios.com/mac-ios-manager/
PC: https://www.syncios.com/features.html
Linux synching with iOS/macOs is more challenging but this one solution is a good place to start.
Linux: https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-sync-iPhone-to-Ubuntu

 

 

 

 

 

Sync Google Chrome browser between Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Chrome:
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/sync-access-open-chrome-tabs-across-devices/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECURITY STRONGHOLD – HARD COPIES AND HDD BACKUPS
As an added level of security for your business, it is a good idea to make backups of your most critical data in an identically labeled folder or even a separate external HDD or to your cloud storage of choice, if preferred.  Acronis True Image 2020 is a good solution to do full or even differential backups and is a very powerful way to back up your hard drives efficiently.  Here’s the link below.

https://www.acronis.com/en-us/personal/computer-backup/

BROWSER AND FILESYSTEM ORGANIZATION
Your organization can vary depending on your business, but there are some good general things you can do for most business setup needs. Make an easily accessible folder and name it either your business name or if you have more than one online business you can name it “Online Businesses”. Next, in your business folder, make other folders which will depend on your business structure. An example would be for a business relying on Facebook ad campaigns, you can have a Facebook folder. For financial organization you can have a “Finances” folder, for product research you can have a “Research” folder, and onward from there. For your browser, make use of bookmarks with the same setup as your folder structure on your computer. Now, when you are online, it will be easy to synchronize and save data in an organized way for your business. An organized browser and filesystem before you get your business going is an excellent way to start things on a good footing. Of course you can deviate and change this general setup guideline for your particular needs. The main thing is that you have infused some system of organization from the start and can evolve with it as your business grows.

ADVANCED OPTIONS – VIRTUALIZATION
This is the least necessary, but neat way to organized several businesses on one machine. Download either Vmware player or virtualbox and start up a Linux or Windows virtual system to designate for your online business. This can be easily figured out by searching it online with your preferred search engine. It would be a good option for those with only one system and a limited budget.  Here are links for both Vmware Player and Virtualbox below.

VMWARE PLAYER

VIRTUAL BOX

Now you are well on your way to success that you have a more secure and organized system for your online business.  This can be a game changer for you now that you have it in place.  May you have much success in your business endeavors for many years to come!

Keeping your Macbook keyboard clean is very important for product longevity and personal health. Debris not cleaned up can end up inside your Macbook and clock your fan duct and even a clean looking surface could be harboring many germs. Luckily, it is a straight forward process to maintain and clean a MacBook keyboard.

There are two phases recommended in order to properly clean your Macbook keyboard.
The dry phase to knock loose dirt and debris underneath and on the surface.
The wet phase to disinfect and clean the surface of your keyboard and chassis.

CLEAN YOUR MACBOOK KEYBOARD. THE DRY PHASE:

Clean a MacBook Keyboard With Compressed Air and Dry Cloth

Compressed Air is the recommended way to initially clean your MacBook keyboard.

1. Turn off your Macbook and disconnect the power connector and any plugged in devices.
Additionally, remove any protective coverings so that the Macbook is fully accessible.

2. Open up your Macbook and hold it sideways and almost vertically, with your screen coming towards you and the spacebar at the bottom-most position.

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3. Using a can of compressed air, spray the keyboard in a zig-zag pattern from left to right. Make sure you are aiming so that it is getting underneath the keys.

4. Rotate the Macbook 90 degrees so the CTRL and ESC keys are facing up. Repeat step 3 for this orientation.

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5. Rotate the Macbook so the CTRL and ESC keys are facing down. Repeat step 3 for this orientation.

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6. Using a lint free dry cloth, gently scrub the surface to knock off and wipe away any loose particles left behind.

CLEAN YOUR MACBOOK KEYBOARD. THE WET PHASE:

There are two main options for this phase. Using rubbing alcohol or bleach-free disinfectant cleaner.

Using a lint free cloth and use either rubbing alcohol or bleach-free disinfectant cleaner. Make the cloth damp but not dripping wet. If too much solution is present, ring the cloth out.

Depending on your environment, your Macbook cleaning schedule will vary, but it is recommended to perform cleaning monthly to keep germs to a minimum.
Remember to always ring out the cloth so it doesn’t drip into your Macbook. You only want to wipe the surface with a very lightly damp cloth.
Remember to do this monthly, even if your Macbook looks clean as we all know that germs are not visible to the naked eye.

There you have it! This is a great method on  how to clean your Macbook keyboard. It’s an easy way to keep your Macbook looking clean and germ free.

It can feel pretty discouraging to run a small business in a sea of billion-dollar companies. Competing against big brands like Walmart and Amazon just seems fruitless—and it is! Small businesses simply don’t have the capital or resources to compete on the same level, but they can still thrive with the right business approach. Yet you can use your size to your advantage if you know-how. Watchman Advisors offers the following insight on how to get started.

Streamline and Automate

One of the most important ways to keep up with your competitors is to make the most of your available time. Time-draining tasks can keep you and your employees from focusing on the most important parts of your business, like customer satisfaction and lead generation. Find ways to streamline, automate, or outsource some of your company’s most time-consuming tasks.

For example, Deluxe recommends outsourcing accounting, payroll, email marketing, and social media management. You can also find a wealth of automation tools to simplify these tasks, such as MailChimp for email marketing and Freshbooks for billing and accounting.

You can even automate things like registering your small business with the state, if you haven’t already done so. Following state requirements is an essential step in setting up your business, but figuring out what, exactly, you need to do (obtaining an operating permit, staying in compliance with certain guidelines, etc.) can feel overwhelming and frustrating. Thankfully, you can make this process easier by reaching out to formation services.

It’s also worthwhile to automate your warehouse systems. Clean and accurate inventory management is essential for helping your business grow without facing supply shortages or costly overstocking issues.

Traditionally, business owners had to track their inventory manually and use paper and pens, but this is extremely time-consuming and prone to costly human error. Embrace the advantages technology brings by moving to the cloud, which enhances data security and accuracy and lowers maintenance and infrastructure costs.

Don’t Compete on Price

When you’re trying to compete against big brands, it can be tempting to lower your prices. But Cox Business warns that this common strategy can be dangerous for you and your industry in general.

Trying to undercut companies like Amazon means sacrificing the quality of your products, attracting bargain-hunting shoppers, triggering price wars within your industry, and hurting the perceived value of your business.

While you can increase your bottom line by cutting out unnecessary business costs, don’t eliminate any expenses that are valuable to your company just so you can charge less for your products. Instead of trying to beat Amazon’s impossibly low prices, find out what makes you different and lean into those strengths.

Decide What Sets Your Business Apart

Sticking to a very specific niche is one of the best ways to stand out from your competitors. While massive retailers can get away with selling everything to everyone, you have to do the complete opposite. Pick a niche, stay in your lane, and position yourself as an expert in your specific industry.

You might have to do some market research to learn what your competitors are up to so you can set yourself apart. Take a look at your competitor’s websites, social media pages, and online reviews to find a gap that you can fill. You can also benefit by reaching out to your existing customers and asking them what they like about your business.

Focus on the Customer Experience

Through your research efforts, you’ll likely discover that customer service is one thing that sets your business apart. Your small size puts you in the optimal position to make personal connections with customers, something that most big brands simply cannot do—Amazon has over 95 million loyal shoppers!

Put time and care into customer service so you can attract shoppers who are searching for a sense of personal connection in their online shopping experience. This will help you develop a base of loyal customers who are willing to pay a bit more for your products in exchange for greater customer care.

While you may not be able to beat the prices or product selection of Amazon, Walmart, or other e-commerce giants, you can beat them in other ways. Take advantage of time-saving tools to level the playing field and strive to be the best in your niche. Instead of trying to compete directly with major companies, help your business pave its own path to success.

Growing a business is a topic many business owners struggle with, especially in times of economic strife. Entrepreneurs are constantly looking for ways to expand and continue to grow their business and their customer base. In a COVID-19 world where most businesses are just trying to stay afloat, it might seem impossible to grow. However, the pandemic forced us to work harder to identify areas of opportunity across every industry. The adoption of new business ideas has accelerated immensely over the past year.
With that said, there are many ways that businesses can work to grow their businesses in this new age of business in 2021. Here are some ways to grow as a business owner this year!

List of 5 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2021

1- Invest in your business

The best thing that a business owner can do is to take the money they’re earning and reinvest it back into their business. In 2021, the funds a business is earning can be fewer and farther in between, but you don’t want your growth to slow down.
Consider taking out a business capital loan so that you can use the funds to grow your business. A business loan can be a great way for you to keep your business’s momentum going, as well as continue to grow the business itself. You can use the funds from a loan for new equipment, to invest in marketing, or to hire a new team for a specific project or department. Whatever you decide to use the loan for, make sure you’re using the funds wisely to move your business forward, stay competitive and serve your audience with greater excellence.

2- Gain (and keep) the trust of your customers

Having loyal customers is something that every business needs if they want to stand the test of time. You need your customers to be able to trust that you will give them quality service every time they come to your business. In a time where the community is all trying to work together, make sure you show your customers that you want to work with them. Give out coupons to your repeat customers, or even throw in a freebie once in a while if you can. Show your current customers that you value them and their business will go a long way, and you’ll also gain valuable new customers when your loyal customers talk about your wonderful service. During the pandemic especially, you’ll also want to prove that you’ve gone out of your way to keep your customers safe. Offer contact-free service and even consider offering delivery if applicable.

3- Up your marketing game

Now more than ever, the internet is going to be a huge part of what can make your business stand out from the rest. If digital marketing wasn’t a huge priority before 2021, you’re going to want to make it one this year.
If you don’t have one already, create a website for your company so that current and potential customers can find you and see what you offer. If you already have a website, now is a good time to revamp it. Maybe it’s time for a rebrand. What are you trying to convey about your business? Make sure every part of your marketing strategy portrays that.
Another element of your digital marketing strategy that you’ll want to focus on is your social media presence. Designate or hire someone on your team that is in charge of all social media efforts to make sure that you’re marketing to your customers in the right way. Feature your products on your social media pages, keep customers up to date on new things going on at your business, and engage with your followers.
If you’re wondering where to start with your marketing revamp, check out our marketing services to help get you moving in the right direction.

4- Get the resources your business needs

Moving forward, it’s important to ensure that you and your company have all the resources you need in order to succeed. You’ll want to have the essentials and more to keep your business prepared and safe.
Not only should you make sure you have all of the equipment you need to run your business normally, you should also ensure that your business is equipped with the resources it needs in a COVID world. Invest in the right supplies to keep your employees and customers alike safe and healthy. Have a substantial stock of hand sanitizer and face masks, and consider investing in touchless features and plexiglass dividers if needed.
You’ll also want to reevaluate if your business has the workforce needed to get the job done. Your business won’t be able to grow if an individual or an entire department is spread too thin trying to do more than what’s in their job description. Hire the right people and develop teams where your business is lacking. Your business will only benefit from more amazing employees working together toward the same goal.

5- Go with the flow

We all learned in 2020 that the world, the way business is affected by it, can change at any moment. COVID-19 had a huge impact on the future of business. Businesses had to change the way they operated in a huge way when the pandemic hit, so it’s crucial to stay flexible and stay open to what the future might hold. Be adaptable with the way the business world operates currently, and offer more contactless services, but also be ready for when life returns to more of the “normal” we’re used to. Your customers are going to want options, and if they aren’t available, they either won’t be able to support your business or will choose not to and go elsewhere.
Make sure your business goes with the flow and gives your customers exactly what they need now and in the future. That way, you guarantee that your business not only survives any changes it might encounter but comes out stronger on the other end.

Conclusion

Which of these ideas for business growth are you going to try in 2021? And what are other ideas besides these five that you will implement? Leave a comment and share your ideas.
If you’re looking to expand and grow your business in 2021 and beyond, these tips can give you a place to start and multiple areas to focus on to drive for success.
Do you need help growing your business? Reach out to us for Digital Marketing Services so we can take some of the workload off of your plate while you focus on running your business.

Your website is up and running and you’ve got a few sales trickling in. Now, it’s time for the next challenge: growing your sales.

At Watchman Advisors, we understand that digital marketing is at the center of any online business’s success strategy. Through marketing, you drive the traffic needed to increase sales through online channels.

Digital marketing is also great for honing your business strategy. With every click, you gain valuable data you can use to improve your business when you use marketing analytics tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush.

So where should you start? These digital marketing tactics nurture customers through the sales funnel to drive online sales.

How to Build Brand Awareness

Before you can convince customers to buy your product or service, they need to be aware of the value you have to offer them. Here are 5 ways to do that:

SEO

Search engine optimization drives organic web traffic by helping your website rank higher in search engines.

Google AdWords

Pay-per-click advertising via Google AdWords also boosts search engine visibility, but PPC does so through paid ads based on search keywords.

Paid social media

While it’s possible to raise brand awareness organically on social media using posts and stories, it’s an uphill battle. Social media advertising delivers targeted ads that increase visibility and followers faster than non-paid options.

Giveaways

Giveaways increase social follows, grow your email list, and build brand awareness. When running a giveaway, choose a prize that’s appealing enough to draw people in yet relevant to your niche. Bundling products with a high-tech gift like an iPhone or smartwatch is a sure way to boost engagement. Save money by buying a handful of items in bulk and tapping into year-round promotions.

Influencer marketing

Brands can also use influencer marketing to reach new audiences on social media. The most important part of influencer marketing is choosing your influencer carefully. The right influencer will share your target audience and have authority in your niche.

How to: Convert Leads

79% of marketing leads never convert. How can you be certain yours will?

Sales and promotions

Promotions are a quick way for online businesses to boost sales. While discounts aren’t a sustainable cash flow strategy, running a promotion is a smart way to convert first-time customers and collect email addresses.

Content marketing

Content marketing nurtures leads by providing more information about a brand’s products, services, and values. Content marketing is also valuable for SEO, although the primary purpose should be to engage and inform.

Reviews

Customers trust reviews. Make it as easy as possible for happy customers to leave online reviews and you may discover it gives warm leads the push they need.

How to: Nurture Customer Loyalty

Finding customers is the hard part. However, if you don’t market to existing customers as well, it won’t be long before you’re back where you started.

Email marketing

Low cost and highly effective, email marketing is one thing every online business should be doing. Email marketing remains a leading channel for B2B and B2C companies alike, particularly when it comes to nurturing and converting leads.

Rewards programs

Rewards programs incentivize customers to return to your business. Digital rewards programs have made this loyalty perk much easier to administer than in the past.

Community building

Companies that successfully build communities around their brand gain a network of loyal advocates. While building on- and offline communities is one of the most difficult digital marketing strategies to implement, it pays off. Private Facebook groups, user-generated content, and offline events are three strategies brands use to create community.

Are you overwhelmed by this digital marketing to-do list? Digital marketing is more complex than it seems. It’s also the engine that drives your business’s growth. Instead of scraping by with DIY digital marketing, leverage the services of Watchman Advisors to market your business the right way. With your digital marketing strategy in the hands of trusted professionals, you can focus on what you’re best at: running your business.