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3 Tips to Build a Strong Remote Team

Posted: 14 Mar 2019 07:00 AM PDT

Telecommuting, or working from home as part of a remote team, has expanded dramatically with the boom of the technological age. A study from Global Workplace Analytics revealed that telecommuting has increased 140 percent since 2005.

Business owners are no longer limited to hiring people who live in their city or are willing to commute from another town. Hiring managers and business owners can pick anyone with a good internet connection and the desire to work from anywhere in the world they choose.

One of the hardest parts of starting a remote company is figuring out how to build your team. Obviously, you'll want to build up a group of strong individuals who add value to your company. If you're thinking of creating a remote team or currently looking for new hires, here are some tips to speed up the process and make hiring a breeze.

1. Establish company values early.

Despite our rapid advances over the past couple of centuries, we are still extremely tribal creatures who enjoy being with people who think the way we do or, at the very least, relate to our values.

When you're thinking about growing your remote team and want to do it quickly, the first thing you should do is establish your company's core values. This means that other people will be able to look at your business, see what you stand for and decide if that is somewhere they would like to work.

A Fond study found that 90 percent of corporate organizations have core values. Sounds good, right? Well, not quite. It's great that these companies are creating standards and letting employees know exactly how their business should operate (think "helpful," "kind," "compassionate" and "desire to learn"), but surprisingly, according to the study, only 1 in 10 business leaders claimed that their employees actually know the company values and can recite them front to back.

As you can see, it's easy to create values for your business. However, if you want to attract remote workers who appreciate your values, you have to ooze your company's core principles in everything you do, which leads to the next point.

2. Put people first.

Far too many people think "put people first" means just the customers who are going to pay for your product or service. However, it's equally important that you put your remote workers first.

People are far more likely to work at a company that has their back. If you felt like you could be replaced at any moment, would you be comfortable showing up to work every day? Would you be happy and feel like you're adding value to the company? Probably not.

You should do everything in your power to make sure employees don't feel like they are part of just a team, but a large family. Host events that allow every employee to ask questions and voice concerns. If you're pressed for time, you could also create a survey to see what your employees think of your current system, showing you where you can improve and how to keep putting people first. It's important to go out of your way to enrich your company culture, all while looking out for your employees.

We saw a great example of this type of behavior recently. The company under the microscope was none other than Marriott. One of its main highlights was that it implemented the first holistic workplace wellness program for interested employees. The company took this a step further by using the money it saved from the 2018 business tax break to add more supplemental income to its employees' retirement plans.

These are the things that potential hires are going to look at before they apply to join your team. If you offer perks that go above and beyond, odds are you'll see rapid growth in your remote team.

3. Strengthen communication.

We would say that communicating with your current remote team and potential hires is the best way to quickly grow your remote team. There are two reasons for this principle.

First of all, let's re-examine the tribal tendencies we discussed earlier. Potential and current employees are looking for a company that focuses on communication and makes it so that there is never any question as to what needs to happen next in the workday. Beyond the comfort of knowing what tasks we have to tackle, it just feels good to communicate with other people.

Working remotely can bring on feelings of isolation. You can counteract this by letting potential hires know that your company is communication-centered and everyone always has access to the people and resources they need.

You may want to consider holding monthly company meetings (hint: use a video conferencing service so people can see each other!). This will help build rapport and dissolve any miscommunications or questions your team may have. At my company, we personally like having meetings every week so there is never a question as to what is happening with the company and what to expect in the future. [Related: Looking for a video conferencing service? Check out our best picks and reviews.]

Conclusion

Building a remote team from the ground up may seem like a daunting challenge. However, with the right tools and patience, you'll find that it's easier and more cost-efficient to run a remote business than a traditional office.

The main takeaway here is to show that, behind the big business name, you're just a human being looking to bring everyone who comes aboard on a path to success. Treat everyone with compassion and respect, and you'll have a wonderful company culture and a full staff before you know it.

Small Business Guide to Energy Conservation

Posted: 14 Mar 2019 07:00 AM PDT

Energy conservation isn't a choice to consider – it's a competitive advantage you can't afford to ignore. 

"The slightest persistent waste can brutalize a small business where risk tolerance is low and margins are tight," said Tom Paladino, founder and CEO of Paladino and Company, an award-winning, green building consulting firm. "These businesses must eliminate any waste that they can to protect the bottom line." 

This guide offers actionable advice surrounding the four main opportunities for energy savings: 

  • Lighting
  • Heat Regulation
  • Equipment Upgrades
  • Employee Engagement 

Let's get started saving you money.

Lighting

You know that LED lights are more efficient than traditional lightbulbs, but do you realize just how efficient? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED lights use 80 percent less energy and can last 25 times longer.

Lighting in large spaces

The areas where your employees sit needs light throughout the workday. The large fluorescent lightbulb tubes that illuminate many workspaces are more energy efficient than incandescent light, but newer technology has made them even more efficient. 

Fluorescent light ballasts, which regulate the current to the lamps, have also been improved. New electromagnetic ballasts operate at cooler temperatures, which saves energy. They also result in less flickering flight and noise coming from the bulbs.

Lighting in conference rooms, bathrooms, and break rooms

Rooms that are occupied sporadically don't need permanent light. Consider installing occupancy sensors. These devices regulate light depending on whether or not someone is in the room. For example, an occupancy sensor can be set so that lights automatically turn on when anyone enters a room. 

Occupancy sensors have an extra safety benefit since no one will be walking into a dark room. Vacancy sensors are a similar option. These devices don't turn on the light automatically when a person enters a room, but do turn off when they leave it. This way, a business owner who feels the natural light in the room is sufficient avoids unnecessary, energy-consuming artificial light. When someone turns on a light, it turns off after they leave. 

Lighting fixtures are another opportunity for cash savings. Old lighting fixtures trapped light for aesthetic reasons. Newer fixtures push light out into rooms thanks to brighter reflectors and better geometry.

Outdoor lighting

Better lighting in outdoor areas around your business adds safety and can entice more customers. When lighting outdoor spaces, you can benefit from the ultimate cost saver: solar lighting. Solar lights are simple to install and should work with minimal upkeep. Two things to keep in mind: 

1. Ensure the outdoor area gets enough daily sunlight to support your needs.

2.  Check the sensors periodically for cleanliness – accumulated dirt and grime can block the panels from getting the solar energy they need.

Natural light

You wouldn't turn down free money, and electric light costs money. So why would you turn down free light from the sun? 

Modern buildings with larger windows let in more light, and smart business owners take advantage of incorporating natural light into their workspaces. Since you can't know every employee's lighting preference or inspect every nook and cranny of the office (and the sun isn't always in the same place, either) involve your employees. Ask them for their ideas for using natural, free light, instead of turning to artificial light, which saps your bottom line.

Heat Regulation

You and your employees do the best work at a comfortable temperature, and maintaining that temperature comes at a cost. New technology and simple common sense can lower it.

In a perfect world, your building would have all of the innovative technology in today's greenest buildings. If you can't convince your landlord to put in a vertical garden wall, consider these next tips.

Smart thermostats

The latest wireless technology makes it easier to maintain a constant temperature in your workspaces. You no longer have to rely on the last person who leaves the office at night to turn down the heat or shut off the A/C. 

"The smart thermostat can also 'learn' our temperature preferences and the hours of their use so that we get our space to our liking, but only when we need to," said Doug Keller, a Community Manager at Payless Power, an energy price comparison site. 

Smart thermostats are like an employee you're paying to minimize heating costs, but keep in mind more basic tech can help lower your costs as well.

Fans

A simple fan doesn't need much energy to push cooler air toward employees who need it. Fans make us feel cooler, even if the actual temperature doesn't change. Rather than paying for expensive air conditioning, see if you can get by with this low-tech option, and encourage employees to speak up if they'd like a fan.

Window coverings

The simple step of installing blinds, awnings, shades and other window coverings can keep employees comfortable. Blinds absorb the heat so your employees don't. According to the Department of Energy, blinds can reduce heat gain by as much as 80 percent. 

You'll maximize your investment in window coverings if you talk to a professional who can help you understand the best options for window treatments based on the orientation of your building and the local climate. In colder climates, blinds can help retain heat, or they can be lowered so the natural heat of sunlight helps heat parts of your office space.

Trees

Blinds and awnings block sunlight that shines into your building, but strategically placed trees can provide welcome shade. Trees will beautify your space and keep your heating bill down. Different trees do better in different areas. Consult a local landscape expert to get the best bang for your buck.

Casual dress

In Hawaii, Hawaiian or aloha shirts are standard business attire. Residents of the 50th state made the sensible decision to eschew shirts, ties, and jackets that caused discomfort and inhibited productivity. 

You can allow your employees to make the same choice and reap the benefits of a lower electricity bill. For every 1 degree you raise your thermostat, you increase your energy savings by 2 to 3 percent.

Old weatherstripping and sources of other leaks

Another way to involve your employees is to ask them to check for defective weatherstripping around windows or doors or sources of other leaks around their desks. They may find gaps in your insulation that are costing you hundreds of dollars.

Equipment upgrades

The equipment you run is probably responsible for your biggest energy costs. The Department of Energy, though, makes it easy to find the most efficient options with their Energy Star program.

In specialized industries, conducting an energy audit can uncover opportunities to save even more with newer equipment. 

Here are some of the most common equipment efficiencies you can address.

Appliances

"It's amazing the number of businesses I've seen that still use old appliances that waste huge amounts of energy," said Ian Wright, founder of British Business Energy. "In the last 10 years, there's been a real revolution in energy efficiency, so if you're using appliances that are older than 10 years, you're almost certainly wasting energy." 

We're talking here about all the little devices that use electricity: the coffee maker, the washing machine, the refrigerator. Your competitors may be using more energy-efficient versions and seeing more profits as a result.

Laptops vs. desktops

For energy efficiency, laptops are almost always a better choice than desktops. Laptops are designed for maximum power efficiency; they run on battery power, but they also tend to have fewer high-end components like video cards that suck power. One electricity expert estimates that you could spend as much as $631 per year to run a desktop computer, or as little as $5.50 per year on a laptop. 

If you're replacing desktop computers, consider whether your employees could do just as well with less energy-intensive laptops. Look for laptops that have an Energy Star rating, which is the government designation that tells you a product is a leader in energy efficiency.

Battery chargers, screens and other always-on devices

Did you know that battery chargers continue to draw power, even when they aren't charging a device? Just one battery charger isn't costing you much money, but every employee with a charger plugged in for the occasional smartphone top up? That adds up fast. 

So, too, does the cost of operating screens in screensaver mode (which doesn't actually save any energy). Again, involve your employees. Ask them to identify where the slow drips of electricity waste in your company are occurring.

Employee engagement

Many energy-saving efforts will please your employees. What's not to like about a new coffee maker or wearing lighter clothes on hot days? Employees will like these measures even more when you communicate that they save money, which makes the company – and their jobs – more stable. 

We've already suggested a few opportunities for engaging your employees in your energy-conservation efforts. Instead of making one-time changes, consider a longer-term solution that engages employees. Josh Prigge, a sustainability consultant, advises business owners to establish a cross-functional "green team" of employees who meet monthly to devise new ways of saving energy. Green teams can improve retention, job satisfaction, and overall company communication by bringing people together from different departments. 

Anita Campbell, of Small Business Trends, suggests turning energy efficiency into a game. "Have a scavenger hunt every so often. Everyone takes an hour to search for something where the business is leaking energy. Give prizes. The idea is to make it fun." 

Another option is to designate a single employee as the company's energy efficiency officer. Empower this person to monitor energy costs and suggest solutions. One important effort this person could spearhead right away is investigating tax incentives for energy efficiency efforts. The Business Energy Investment Tax Credit is a federal tax break available for any U.S. business that qualifies. Many states, counties and cities offer their own programs. Your utility company may offer incentives as well.

Sustainability as a competitive advantage

For Paladino, his company's commitment to energy conservation is more than just a way to save money. "We compete with industry giants for customers and talent," he said, "and when people experience our LEED Gold-certified office with its standing desks, organic fruit, operable windows, abundant plants, and engaged talent, it makes a difference." 

We've given you ideas that will help you save energy starting today. The real benefit will come from building these practices into your business. 

"The most important thing for small businesses to understand is that going green in business is not a strategy to tack on to their business model," said Paladino. "Going green should be integrated into your operating philosophy. Whether you do it for the planet, or do it for the profit, or do it for the people, sustainability programs can improve your top and bottom line with a modest budget or no added cost at all."

3 Steps to Generate High Passive Income From Blogging

Posted: 14 Mar 2019 06:00 AM PDT

Bloggers have the freedom to work from wherever they want and make money doing it, which separates them from those who work a traditional 9-to-5 job. Aside from the freedom to work where they please, many bloggers benefit from their monthly passive income.

Passive income, or lagged income, sounds like a great way to make cash. You put in the initial work, keep your blog updated and collect your paycheck every month. It's a dream that many have, but few have the luxury of making it their full-time job.

We want to help those who are struggling to make passive cash every month, or even those who just want to know more. Building a passive income isn't an easy road, but once you make it big, you'll find that it's worth the initial time investment. Our goal is to give you some steps to increase your odds of making a living from your blog and building a sustainable passive income.

Step 1: Know your niche.

The first thing you'll need to do before you can start getting a paycheck from your passive blogging efforts is to consider the niche you want to write about and what kind of audience will be attracted to your content.

If you decide to write about marketing, for instance, you'll want to think carefully about the type of people who exist in that space and where you can fill the knowledge gap. Take your time and research the topic you want to cover. Use free tools like Twitter and Quora to find trending topics in your niche. Do you have an interesting take on a topic that has been shared thousands of times?

Building knowledge and experience on a topic is a great way to bolster your credibility and keep people coming back for more of your content. You may be wondering why this is important to making a passive income. Let's take a look at how a relevant niche can help you make a living.

Step 2: Use Google AdSense.

Google AdSense is an excellent resource for making money, regardless of which topic you choose to cover in your blog. Here's how it works.

Once you create your blog and start generating traffic, create a Google AdSense account and link your website to start the process of putting paid ads on your website. You'll be able to pick the ad format that fits your content. You can choose from text ads, media ads, image ads, and hybrids of text and image ads, to name just a few.

After you've decided on an ad type, you'll want to pick where to place your ads on your website. Many people opt for the top of the page, the sidebar, or sprinkled throughout the content. Once you select your ad type and placement, advertisers will take part in an auction in real time to bid on your ad space.

If you're happy with the selected ads, you can publish them live to your site. Now, all you have to do is wait for your readers to start clicking on the ads you've placed. You'll start generating revenue based on a pay-per-click (PPC) model. The more people who click the ads you've placed, the more income you receive. Google handles all of the legwork, making Google AdSense one of the premier ways to make a passive income online.

Step 3: Add affiliate links.

Affiliate marketing is another excellent way to help you make more money over an extended period. Essentially, affiliate marketing requires you to sign up for a company's affiliate program. Most big-name companies have these programs. Many people use Amazon as an affiliate partner because of its wide range of items and affordable prices.

When you've decided on a company to work with, start thinking about smart ways you can include links to products that fit your niche. Here's a super simple example to give you an idea of how affiliate marketing works.

Let's say you operate a blog that talks about gardening tips and tricks. You may want to create a blog post called "Top 10 Gardening Tools You Can't Live Without." Before writing your piece, look on Amazon for some of the best-rated and highest-selling gardening tools out there. Use your affiliate link for those products to your blog so readers can purchase the tools you're discussing just by clicking your link.

Every time a reader makes a purchase using your link, you'll receive a kickback. The amount you'll receive varies drastically, so make sure you understand and are comfortable with your share of the funds before you use affiliate links on your blog.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing and Google AdSense aren't for everyone. However, if you have some extra time on your hands, or you're looking to make a career for yourself based solely on your blog, this is a great jumping-off point.

You're not going to see thousands of dollars overnight. But if you're willing to stick with it and add your affiliate links and ads to your blog, you'll soon discover that earning a passive income can be just as lucrative as working a 9-to-5 job.

Follow These Rules to Improve Your Email Marketing Campaigns

Posted: 14 Mar 2019 05:00 AM PDT

You know what a poor email campaign looks like: Dozens of emails sent at odd hours, no personal touch, overly long with poor writing, etc.

If a business wants to use emails to grow a connection with its customers, where is the balance?

As is true with other content streams, if businesses follow a few foolproof steps in crafting their email campaigns, they can create high-quality emails that convert sales. More importantly, following the rules can help you prevent your emails from ending up in the spam folder. Here are eight tips and tricks you can use to optimize your email marketing campaign.

Editor's note: Need an email marketing service for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

 

1. Understand the CAN-SPAM Act

In 2003, the U.S. Congress passed a series of sweeping regulations on email commerce known as the CAN-SPAM Act. Those regulations still inform a foundation for what is legal or illegal in email marketing, and businesses must understand these rules.

The law revolves around seven regulations that can result in more than $40,000 in penalties if not followed. Those regulations are:

  • Do not use misleading or false information in your headers.
  • Do not deceptive in your subject lines.
  • Always identify an ad.
  • Provide your location to recipients.
  • Tell recipients clearly how to opt-out.
  • Honor those opt-outs in a timely fashion.
  • Monitor whether your hired marketers are following these regulations.

Businesses should understand that the CAN-SPAM Act should inform the foundation of your email campaign to make sure you are operating legally.

2. Keep Your Clients in Mind

When you are testing content for your email campaign, it's essential to keep your recipients' taste, values, and needs in mind. So many lousy email campaigns treat their customers as interchangeable pieces. Because of that, emails can come across as dry, robotic or even insulting if the audience isn't considered.

If in doubt, you can A/B test your email content by sending one half of a test group one version of your email and sending the other half a different version. Tested material tends to perform better for your campaign.

3. Keep It Short, Keep It Simple

"Too long; didn't read" is not just a slang term but a good indication that your emails are far too long and tedious to read. Focus on creating content that hits a fairly standard 200 to 300-word range and gets to the call to action with as little scrolling as possible. You want your email recipients to easily digest your pitch, authority, and call to action in as little time as possible.

4. Get Your Timing Right

Sending an email at the right time on the right day of the week can help you catch a recipient's eye without getting lost in a pile of emails. Studies show that the best days of the week to send your emails are Tuesday, Thursday, and Wednesday, in that order. The best times of day to send emails, ranked by performance data, are:

  • 10 a.m.
  • 8 p.m.
  • 2 p.m.
  • 6 a.m.

Like content, the timing of your emails will benefit from frequent testing. You can even mix and match your A/B testing with different days and times to maximize conversion.

5. Limit the Links

Backlinking emails to your website is a fast way to get more traffic to your page funnel customers to a possible sale. However, an email loaded with links can easily district email recipients from the flow of the email and even undercut your call to action.

To adequately deploy links in your email, use a content management approach that keeps your link structure intact on your emails and website. If an email link goes to your landing page, make sure your landing page includes logical internal links to a product or service. Also, make sure your links indicate what they are leading to and that they are eye-catching enough to encourage clicks.

6. Don't Be a Robot; Address the Recipient

A great email campaign treats customers with respect and values their purchases. As a marketer, you should do the little things to make them feel like you are speaking directly to them.

One easy and obvious step is to title your emails to the person you send them to. With so many emails flooding inboxes, small personal flourishes can keep your customers coming back in droves.

7. Develop 'Next Steps' for Clients

The benefit of email campaigns is that they provide a continuing channel of communication of contact between a business and its customers. But maintaining that channel requires feedback from the customers.

Your emails should focus on calling customers to actions with "Next Step" features. Some traditional calls to action in emails include linking to exclusive offers, encouraging them to enter emails for a newsletter, and more. To drive more interaction with your emails, you should provide a sense of urgency within reason. Some ideas include "Sale Ends Today" and "Offer Ends Soon" clickbait.

8. Always Offer an Unsubscribe Feature

Not only are "opt-out" provisions required by federal law, but an option to unsubscribe helps you cull a list of recipients who engage with your emails. 

Offering an unsubscribe feature and honoring it also prevents your emails from ending up in the dreaded spam folder. If you don't allow customers to unsubscribe, you could hamper your email campaign from the start. 
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