7 Efficiency Lessons from Small Business Leaders

7 Efficiency Lessons from Small Business Leaders Owning  and running a business is no easy feat. There are hundreds of factors you need to consider on a daily basis to make sure the business is running smoothly and efficiently. But what does running an efficient business actually mean? Efficiency is simply the reduction of wasted inputs whether that be money, training or employees. Building an efficient business can take years of practice, and can be difficult to get right. But before you get started on the road to efficiency, why not check out what some of the most seasoned small business owners have to say about efficiency  in the workplace. The infographic below by Make it Cheaper  has curated the most helpful tips from the experts! 1) Chuck Leavell,  co-founder of  Mother Nature Network: Leavell recommends every business should be readily prepared for change, no matter the circumstances. 2) Michael Ventura, founder of Sub Rosa: Avoid complacency by constantly setting new and more challenging goals for yourself, your team and the business itself. 3) Anisa Telwar, founder of Anisa International: Delegating tasks is an easy way to keep the business efficient. Dont think that you have all the answers, just make sure you hire people who do. 4) James Green, CEO of Magnetic: Dont make it personal. You should never treat your business like a child, be ruthless if you have to. 5) Jeff Platt, CEO of Sky Zone: Spend your time wisely. Dont think about whats immediately in front of you. Plan for the long term. 6) David Morken, Cofounder of Bandwidth: Spend your time wisely. Make sure you have an equal work/life balance and that you dont burn yourself out. 7) John Coleman, founder of The VIA Agency: Dont spread yourself too thin. Set achievable and realistic goals. Have any other efficiency advice you think is useful? Share it with us over on Twitter, @UndercoverRecruiter.

Why Youre Missing Out on New Leads by Ignoring Google

Why You’re Missing Out on New Leads by Ignoring Google At heart, recruiters are hustlers. They like to pick up the phones and make calls to win new business and place their candidates. In other words, sitting back and waiting for leads to come in just doesn’t feel right. As a result, passive marketing strategies such as SEO have not caught in the world of recruiting at the same rate as other industries. However, when you look at the numbers, this makes little sense. There is concrete data that show that Google can drive significant traffic to your recruiting website and a portion of that traffic will be new leads that you would have not otherwise acquired. Don’t believe me? Let’s dig into the numbers and we’ll prove it with some basic math. Google by the numbers Suppose you are an executive search firm specializing in the construction sector. Most of the firms in this subset of the recruiting industry do not have strong web presences but the numbers say this is a big mistake. How do we know this? Because that’s what the number say. We start our investigation by creating a Google AdWords account. Google AdWords is the platform used to buy ads that are inserted at the top of your Google search. While we are not going to purchase ads, we are going to take advantage of a feature within AdWords that will help us significantly. When someone wants to buy ads, one of the important considerations is whether anyone is actually searching for the search query on which you’re bidding. Google has therefore built a tool called the Keyword Planner that helps you answer this question. To get started, you will need to go to Keyword Planner (under the Tools menu option). We enter “executive search construction” into the first section of the tool labeled “Search for new keywords using a phrase, website or category” and Google gives us a huge list of potential search terms we might want to target, some of which are relevant to our business. We comb through this list looking for terms that are not germane to our industry and remove them. After paring down the list, we end up with the following keywords: executive construction recruiters headhunter construction headhunter construction management recruitment construction construction executive job search construction executive jobs construction executive recruiters construction executive search construction executive search firms construction headhunters construction job recruiters construction management headhunters construction management recruiters construction management recruitment agencies construction recruiting firms construction recruitment construction recruitment agencies construction search firms Copy and paste those terms into the second section of the Keyword Planner tool labeled “Get search volume using data and trends”. We immediately discover that there are around 4,200 searches per month for these keywords! This is a significant volume for a niche query. We also get a more granular look at which keywords provide the greatest opportunities so we know what to target. Let’s say we immediately begin our quest to target these queries with SEO. We’ll assume that ultimately, we begin to rank, on average, in the third position for these queries. According to Moz, a search engine tracking company, when you rank in the third position for a Google search, you can expect to receive about 10% of the clicks for a given term. If we do some math, we can see that this translates to about 420 site visitors per month from Google traffic alone. Assuming we can convert 1 in 200 of these visitors to a new client, this traffic yields about 2 new clients per month or 24 over a full year. At this point, the power of Google should be clear and you should already be thinking about how you’re going to use SEO to shoot to the top of the search rankings. About the author: Zack Gallinger is the founder of a website design and marketing company, Talent Hero Media, that focuses exclusively on the recruiting and staffing industry.

5 Reasons Why An Italian Wedding Could Be The Day Of Your Dreams

5 Reasons Why An Italian Wedding Could Be The Day Of Your Dreams Your wedding day will probably be one of the most important days of your life. These days women have a lot of milestones in their lives:  travelling the world, being a maid of honour, getting that promotion at work. But your wedding day will probably still be up there on the list of your most important days. Thats why its important to get it right. After all, we all hope to only get married once! But what can you do to make your day different to a standard ceremony followed by a boozy reception? Well, having it abroad is one thing you can do. Sure, it takes a bit more planning, but theres nothing like bringing your love of travel in line with the biggest day of your life. There are so many places to choose from, but heres why were going to focus on having a beautiful Italian wedding… The food Think of Italy, and youre probably going to think of food straight away. The Mediterranean cuisine has spread all over the world, with pretty much every country now familiar with pizza and pasta. But, if youve ever been to Italy, you will know that authentic cuisine is far superior to any replicas. Plus, there is far more to it than just pasta and pizza. Consider booking a wedding planner who will be able to speak to local catering companies about what food they can provide for your wedding. Italian food is also surprisingly healthy, so expect lots of fresh seafood and vegetables too. Perfect for any health conscious guests! The drink It wouldnt be a wedding without a celebratory glass of vino, and theres no better place than the home country itself to experience some stunning wine. Italians rank fifth on the global wine consumption list, so you can rest assured that there will be plenty of quality vino for your guests to enjoy. The venues Italy is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, making it an ideal place to host a wedding. The rolling hills of Tuscany will provide a dramatic backdrop to your wedding pictures, or see modern meet ancient in cities such as Rome. Much Italian architecture is inspired by the Renaissance period. So, if you are looking for wedding venues abroad you are sure to find something eye-catching. The weather During spring, fall and winter it can be difficult to judge Italys weather, as it can vary greatly. Getting caught in a torrential downpour isnt ideal for your wedding day, and neither is an evacuation warning due to any volcanic activity! But, if you go during the summer months, you are pretty much guaranteed warm weather, with temperatures around 83 degrees Fahrenheit. The culture Italians are known for their friendly nature and close family ties. You are likely to experience great Italian hospitality with your wedding venue and with wherever you and your guests are staying. Italians also see eating together as a social occasion, so be prepared for raucous, exciting meals out during your trip. Nothing is too much trouble for Italian hosts, so if you need anything, dont be afraid to ask. . Image Credits: Main   Food    Venues   Drink  

Proof that good character spurs financial success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Proof that good character spurs financial success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A great legacy is the expression of fine character traits: Who have you helped along the way? Has your business helped community? How do you treat your co-workers and employees and what is your overall reputation? There’s evidence that fine personal character traits in corporate leadership have a quantifiable improved return. Can you calculate your return on integrity? In his book, “Return on Character: The Real Reason Leaders and Their Companies Win,” Fred Kiel shows “there’s a measurable relationship between CEO character and business success” â€" i.e., the “return on character.” Kiel’s research shows that certain character traits such as compassion, accountability, reliability, loyalty, and integrity are predictors for success in the workplace. Kiel’s landmark study of more than 100 CEOs and over 8,000 of their employees’ observations revealed that leaders of strong character achieved a return up to five times greater than leaders of weak character. Keil’s studies also showed that the best leaders were the least self-focused. He describes them as virtuosos who use both their head and their heart to orchestrate a high-performance team. Keil argues that character traits are the secret tools that drive an organization’s success along with the value it creates in the marketplace.  Define Character “How well you treat other people is the best reflection of your character.” Kiel assigns four moral principles to people of high character with behaviors tied to them. Integrity Keeps promises Not afraid to speak up in the face of adversity Responsible Accepts consequences for their decisions Forgiving Doesn’t pass the blame onto others Accepts responsibility for a mistakes Asks the injured party for forgiveness Doesn’t harbor grudges Is quick to forgive Compassion Looks for opportunities to treat people respectfully, bonds and connects Makes themselves accessible for feedback Biggest challenge for leaders today Surprisingly, Kiel’s findings reveal that in most cases leaders don’t realize that they need to work on their character. “They’re pretty deluded,” Kiel said. When asked to rate themselves on the four moral principles, the self-focused CEOs gave themselves much higher marks than their employees did. (The CEOs who got high ratings from employees actually gave themselves slightly lower scores â€" a sign of their humility and further evidence of strong character.) Fortunately, Kiel points out, leaders can increase their self-awareness through objective feedback from the people they work with. But they have to be receptive to that feedback. High character CEO turnaround Within two years, Richard Anderson, Delta’s CEO, took Delta from bankruptcy to one of the most profitable airlines in the industry. Anderson took an approach opposite to that of his predecessor. He actively engaged employees by holding weekly town hall meetings of 250 to 400 per week when the executive management team shared their vision and opened up to questions. No questions were off-limits. To recognize the efforts of their people, Anderson distributed more than $340 million in “shared rewards” payments and profit sharing “thanks to our superior performance in 2010.” In addition, Delta contributed more than $1 billion to its employees’ defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans during 2010. Delta also ranked at the top of Fortune magazine’s “2011 World’s Most Admired Companies” airline industry list and continues to prioritize both customer safety and comfort. Ten behaviors that could help you develop a virtuous character Be honest Look for creative ways to solve problems Do what you say you’ll do Freely share credit Request to help Be positive Be agile Listen more than talk Be curious to learn Be slow to anger and quick to forgive Benefits tied to a good character for emerging leaders Putting others’ needs before your own will help you get noticed. When you show people that you care about what matters to them and help them solve their problems, you’ll increase your influence and your overall effectiveness. Demonstrating good character in the workplace will help distinguish you as a “go-to” person and a potential leader. A worthy employer will show appreciation for your efforts when your focus is on strengthening the business through behaving in a highly principled fashion. Beth Kuhel, M.B.A., C.E.I.P., is a career coach specializing in millennials. She writes about career strategies and improving the workplace for The Huffington Post, The Personal Branding blog,  TinyPulse.com  and Sharkpreneur magazine, and has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, U.S. News World Report and  BusinessInsider.com. Connect with Beth on Twitter @BethKuhel.

8 Affordable Cities Attracting Young Professionals CareerMetis.com

8 Affordable Cities Attracting Young Professionals Although many millennials have the desire to move to cities like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco, they don’t always have the financial means to do so.With the cost of living in these cities outrageously high, budget-conscious professionals must give up the idea of building a life in their dream city for the practicality of creating a life in a more wallet-friendly one.evalIf this situation sounds familiar, rest assured that plenty of other up-and-coming cities have a lot to offer young professionals at a much lower cost.From burgeoning tech cities with bike-able streets to quirky downtowns with strong entrepreneurial vibes, the following cities are worth putting on your radar:1) Grand Rapids â€" MichiganIf you can handle and don’t mind the long, cold winters, Grand Rapids is a great city to plant your roots and start your career. Voted Beer City USA for its abundance of microbreweries, Grand Rapids, is a haven for young professionals who fancy a good ale and also a sligh tly lower cost of living.Grand Rapids also has a lot to offer regarding entertainment. The city has a variety of summer and winter festivals, not to mention an exciting nightlife and growing arts scene. The plentiful parks, museums, and gardens make for something to do at all times of the day and week,Best of all, you can take advantage of this thriving city without going broke. According to RentCafe, the average rent for an apartment in Grand Rapids is just around $1,000.2) Charleston â€" South CarolinaSearching for a respite from winter? Consider moving to Charleston, S.C. The Holy City, so-called for its many church steeples, is famous for its subtropical weather, rich history, Southern charm, and delicious cuisine.evalCharleston is frequently voted the No. 1 city in the U.S. and has even been named the top city in the world by Travel + Leisure. With its serene coastal setting, friendly locals and creative culture, it’s not difficult to see the appeal.Although some neighborhood s are more expensive than others, you get a lot for the price. Charleston is nowhere near as expensive as other major cities, but it has the big-city amenities young professionals are looking for.Charleston has been dubbed “Silicon Harbor” due to the growing number of tech companies that have been establishing roots since the beginning of the 2000s. The city is attracting top professionals in technology and technology-related fields from New York and Boston, as well as San Francisco.3) Charlotte â€" North CarolinaLooking to start your own business? Charlotte has had a widespread reputation for being a start-up friendly city.evalThe Queen City boasts low business costs, large venture capital firms and a variety of networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. Additionally, Charlotte has a strong and supportive community that favors small business owners.Charlotte is also well known for its banking industry, which is one of the largest in the United States. It may not be Wall Street , but the Queen City is still a magnet for bankers.Charlotte is attractive to many young professionals because of the booming nightlife and the abundance of things to do. From the city’s bar and restaurant hub, Epicentre, to a large number of breweries popping up all over the city, Charlotte is the perfect home for twenty-somethings to establish not only their careers but also their social lives.4) Colorado Springs â€" ColoradoColorado Springs was recently named the fifth-best city to find a job by WalletHub. The city tops several other lists as well, including No. 1 on Trulia’s top housing market to watch in 2019 and No. 4 in Thumbtack’s most business-friendly cities.Home to a diverse mix of young professionals, military personnel and retirees, Colorado Springs has something for everyone. The city offers easy access to exceptional skiing and snowboarding opportunities, hiking and biking trails, and a fun and flourishing downtown area.While it may not be Denver, Colorado Sprin gs has a much better cost of living. If you enjoy the feel of a small town without all the prestige The city may also prove accommodating to your wallet. The city’s cost of living sits slightly below the national average, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious professionals to plant their roots.6) Chattanooga â€"TennesseeTucked along the banks of the Tennessee River, Chattanooga is renowned for its many outdoor activities. It also has a reputation for being an extremely bike-friendly city, which will help you save even more money by not relying on your car as much.Fittingly named the Scenic City, Chattanooga is a mid-sized town that boasts a vibrant arts scene and thriving business climate. Another nickname it holds is Gig City for its burgeoning tech sector and the availability of the biggest citywide gigabit-speed internet.7) Boise â€" IdahoThe capital city of Idaho, Boise has experienced rapid growth over the last decade. The city has recently ranked high on many to p lists, including Livability’s best downtowns.Boise is affordable, minutes away from outdoor activities and has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. There are also a lot of cultural attractions, including museums, symphonies, opera, and a few museums.eval8) St.Louis â€"MissouriDelicious food, rich culture and tons of green space are just a few of the appeals of living in St. Louis. This Midwest port town is also known as one of America’s most affordable cities.Recently, Gateway City ranked No. 4 for starter-home affordability, making it the ideal place for young professionals to purchase their first home. It also has a charming farmers market, active sports culture and great nightlife.It puts on the second biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the country. If you don’t choose to live in this beautiful city, at least make a trip for Mardi Gras and get ready to catch some beads.Wrapping UpBy choosing an up-and-coming city to plant your roots, you’ll be able to enjoy a mu ch more comfortable lifestyle than you would in a city such as Washington, D.C., New York, or Seattle.While they may not have the same excitement attached to their name, you’ll discover that many of these cities are hidden gems with thriving economies and fantastic nightlife. Book a trip to one of them, and you may soon find that you don’t want to leave.

Company Career Sites - Consulting Firms - CareerAlley

Company Career Sites - Consulting Firms - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Sometimes it takes an expert to point out the obvious. Scott Allen Consulting is The act of providing information, analysis, and recommendations and is a career choice that is very different than most. To be a successful consultant, you need to have great interpersonal skills, a high level of confidence, good communications skills and a particular area of expertise. It also doesnt hurt to be good at sales (in fact, it is a requirement at the more senior levels) and not mind traveling. Many consultants are road warriors for much of their careers. Continuing the series of posts targeting company career sites, today we review several consulting firms. For an overview, please also read Have you thought about consulting?. Accenture Also on the Fortunes Most Admired list, Accenture is best known for management consulting, technology services and outsourcing. Their career site has tabs at the top for Working Here, Career Options, Search Jobs and more. The middle of the page has a brief paragraph about the company and a number of other career search tools below this. You can explore where you fit by clicking Find where you fit. You can also explore career opportunities based on skill. Search Jobs requires that you use a drop down list of all of the countries where Accenture is located. Click you country from the list to see opportunities. There were over 1,000 job opportunities when I checked the site. Boston Consulting Group Also a very well known and highly respected consulting firm. Their career page which includes background on the company, career path and how to apply. You can apply online or check out their college recruiting program if you are still in school. Bain Company According to their website, Bain Company is a global business consulting firm with offices in all major cities. We help management make the big decisions: on strategy, operations, mergers acquisitions, technology and organization. Their careers page provides a brief overview, with tabs at the top of the page for This is Bain, Build your Career, Life at Bain and Apply to Bain. Click the Apply to Bain to see their process and apply. IBM Global Business Services Most people dont think of IBM when they think of consulting (or consulting when the think of IBM), but this line of business represents a major portion of IBMs revenue. Their Business Consulting division provides diverse consulting offerings. The careers page for this division has excellent information on why join us as well as a listing of industry expertise. Click career opportunities on the left hand side of the screen and then search for job openings. There were 526 job opportunities in this division when I checked the site. Oliver Wyman Another international consulting firm, Oliver Wyman focuses on strategy, operations and risk management (plus some others). Their career site has a brief overview center page with links on the left hand side of the page for Opportunity, Impact, Your Career and more. There are links on the right hand side of the page for career tracks. Click the apply link if you are interested. Good luck in your search.

Leaving Your Job Leave Your ID Badge, Bathroom Key and Twitter Handle at the Door

Leaving Your Job Leave Your ID Badge, Bathroom Key and Twitter Handle at the Door I recently came across this SHRM article Former Employees Claim Ownership of Twitter Handles, LinkedIn Connections   describing the tug-of-war between employers and employees over ownership of Twitter handles and followers and LinkedIn accounts and connections once an employee leaves the company. While more and more companies seem to be creating more formalized social media policies, its obvious that there is still a lot of gray when it comes to deciding what rightfully belongs to the individual and what the employer can claim as theirs.According to a Forbes article, Who Owns Your LinkedIn Contacts,   a court in England ordered that an employee who resigned to start his own consulting business turn over his LinkedIn contacts to his former employer, along with receipts and contracts proving that none of them became clients of his new firm.Yet in another case in New York, a head hunter  who left her firm to start her own practice was sued by her former employer for approaching candidat es and clients who were her LinkedIn contacts and also  part of the former employers   database.   Here the court ruled that LinkedIn connections do not qualify as trade secrets because LinkedIn connections are easily derived from public information.It remains to be seen how these issues will play out in the years to come, but in the meantime, here are a few suggestions for increasing your chances of retaining ownership of your social media information following a departure from a company.Attach your LinkedIn account to your personal email rather than your company email.Create a PDF copy of your LinkedIn profile so if you ever get locked out of your account you can retrieve your information.Export your contacts regularly and store them in another database not connected to your social media accounts.Create a Twitter handle that uses your name rather than a company name.Prior to accepting a new position, read the employee manual and learn what the social media policy (if any) is.If yo u are required to sign a non-compete, review it carefully and try to negotiate for a non-compete with terms that are the most specific and the least limiting. This may include specific language about your ability to retain ownership of your social media contacts.