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4 Tips to Improve Your Website's UX

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 08:00 AM PDT

  • UX directly relates to your conversion rate and customer satisfaction.

  • If you don't create a high-quality experience for your mobile users, you risk missing out on nearly 50% of consumers. 

  • Your content hierarchy should only be three or four levels. 

  • Customer feedback is a useful tool to improve UX.  

User experience, or UX, is one of the most crucial factors you should keep in mind if you're a business owner. UX encompasses how your website both looks and functions from a consumer perspective. A poor UX could decrease your web traffic, sales and customer engagement, having a negative impact on your business.

There are plenty of ways to improve the experience users have on your site. We are going to look at four tips you can use to master UX so that your customers have a smooth, enjoyable visit to your website. 

These tips work for virtually every niche and industry. E-commerce storefronts, blogs and SaaS companies can all benefit from a better UX. If you're struggling with lead generation, traffic numbers or sales, this piece is for you. Let's dive in! 

1. Master mobile design. 

Research from We Are Social and Hootsuite shows there are 5.11 billion mobile users today. The average market penetration rate is a staggering 67%. In other words, mobile users are essential to your success. 

It's no longer enough to create a mobile-friendly version of your website. When smartphones first became popular, business owners would allow consumers to look at their websites on phones, but there were severe limitations. In most cases, consumers had trouble purchasing items, browsing forums and reading blog posts from their devices. The only way you can honestly deliver a high-quality UX to your mobile users is if you create a website with a responsive design. 

Instead of using the same design for all mobile users, your website should adapt to the user's device based on size and speed. This is a great tactic if you have an unusually high bounce rate. If people are quickly leaving your site, there's a good chance they are mobile users and your website is not delivering the experience they were expecting. You can add Google Analytics to your WordPress site to see what percentage of your users are mobile and how many are bouncing from your site. 

You can use this information to start crafting a mobile experience that works for users, regardless of their device. Because UX includes the functionality of your website, you must make sure that up to half of your users can access your site from their smartphone or tablet. 

 

Editor's note: Looking for help you with your website design? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

 

 

2. Ask for customer feedback.

We all know the importance of listening to customer feedback from a marketing standpoint, but if you're not using what consumers say to improve their experience, you're missing out on a massive opportunity. You could feature a simple customer survey on your website that asks consumers to rate their experience. 

Ask questions such as these: 

  • What can we do to improve your experience? 

  • What features would you like to see in the future? 

  • Did we meet your expectations? 

These questions allow people to tell you directly what they want to see on your website. You can compile and analyze the results, looking for patterns. For example, if 70% of respondents say they had an issue finding specific posts on your site, this should clue you in that it's time to add a search function. Listening to customer feedback and making gradual changes help you vastly improve your UX. 

You can also gain valuable information about your target audience. If you've noticed that your sales numbers are falling and can't figure out why, you might be distancing yourself from your target audience. The more you learn about your customers, the better chance you'll have to create a website that meets their expectations and answers their questions.

Consumers are more than happy to voice their opinions on social media channels, and this is all prime material for designing and improving your UX. Feedback can come from many different channels, all of which are valuable for learning what your customers expect from your website. 

3. Simplify your blog hierarchy. 

Blog page hierarchy can have a considerable impact on how consumers feel about your website. Blogs are generally jampacked with content, but if there's no common flow between articles, confusion can quickly set in. 

Let's say you have a website that's all about marketing and lead generation; your blog would likely feature multiple categories, such as email, social media and content strategies. In this example, each post on the blog would go under one of these categories, excluding one pillar article that covers the topic broadly. 

The content you create should only go three or four levels deep when you're internally linking. Here's an example of a natural progression of blog hierarchy: 

  1. Pillar post: "Email Marketing 101" 

  2. Level 2: "Mastering Drip Campaigns" 

  3. Level 3: "Boosting Email Engagement"

By stage three or four, consumers can follow the flow of the topics. If your hierarchy is sporadic and complex, readers could get frustrated and leave your website.

We are not suggesting you limit the number of pieces you write under each topic. Instead, we recommend that you keep the internal linking of articles to three or four levels deep. 

4. Redesign your forms. 

We all use forms as a way to gather feedback, take payments, activate blog comments and much more. If your form design is clunky and doesn't reflect the rest of your website, consumers may feel cautious about entering their personal data on your site. 

Imagine going to a website to buy something, and everything looks great ... except for the payment form. It looks messy and pixelated, and words go beyond the barrier and show through the background of the website. Would you feel comfortable putting your credit card information in that box? We didn't think so. 

Consumers have the same expectation when they visit your business's website. They want to see responsive forms that accurately collect data and look visually appealing. As we mentioned earlier, design and functionality are the major factors in determining UX. 

You can make other design decisions when creating forms for improved UX. The placement of your error message is crucial if you want consumers to engage with your form. We have all experienced websites that ask us to fill out a form, only to hide an error message at the top or bottom of the page and make us search for the field we didn't fill out correctly. Design your forms so that error messages appear alongside the field where the error occurred. 

As tech moguls create programs that allow business owners to customize their websites, you can expect to see an increased push for improved UX. If you can slowly improve the experience users have on your website, you will gain traction. Consumers love engaging with brands that listen to feedback and make changes for the better. Over time, business owners around the world will continue to fine-tune UX with scholarly research and analytic data. Keep an open line between your brand and audience on social media if you want to discover even more opportunities to impress your target audience with a stellar UX. 

How Small Businesses Can Work Together for Holiday Season Success

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 06:00 AM PDT

The most wonderful time of the year is also the most competitive. For retailers of all shapes and sizes, the holiday shopping season means big business. For small and independent retailers, though, the holiday season comes with a unique set of challenges, as national chains, big-box stores and online-only retailers run increasingly flashy Black Friday promotions and season-long gimmicks. To level the playing field, small businesses should work together to achieve holiday season success.

By collaborating, small businesses can build strength in numbers. They can share lessons from years past and tap into each other's customer bases. They can grow quickly and distribute losses, just like their larger counterparts – but it's not all about playing like the competition.

Small businesses can also work together to multiply their impact on the local economy. Research shows that independent retailers recirculate more than three times as much of their revenues into the local economy as national chains and big boxes do. Independent businesses make an even bigger difference than online-only retailers like Amazon. By boosting their holiday sales, small businesses can make the season even more meaningful for the entire community.

The first step to working together is getting to know the other small businesses in your community. Main Street organizations (often known as independent business alliances, downtown business districts and Local First initiatives) bring small businesses together with empowerment campaigns and advocacy programs all year long. During the holiday season, these groups tap into local traditions and nationwide trends to help small businesses compete with their larger counterparts. In doing so, Main Street organizations provide important networking opportunities to help small businesses band together.

Once your small business connects with local partners, the real planning begins. Keep these ideas in mind as you work with fellow businesses this holiday shopping season.

1. Rally your neighborhood.

For small businesses, no holiday season strategy is complete without a Small Business Saturday game plan. Each year, Small Business Saturday brings millions of Americans to Main Street to kick off the holiday shopping season on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year's celebration, which will take place on Nov. 30, marks the 10th anniversary of the growing initiative.

Beyond planning for your own business, you can sign up to rally your entire neighborhood in support of Small Business Saturday. American Express, which created the shopping holiday, offers a host of promotional materials to Neighborhood Champions to help them drum up enthusiasm for Small Business Saturday in their communities. Neighborhood Champions organize events, build teams and otherwise spread the word about Small Business Saturday. While doing so, they help create a consistent brand and celebration among their communities' small businesses, allowing consumers to easily navigate Main Street on the big day. You can find ideas and downloadable event-planning resources online from American Express to get started as a Neighborhood Champion.

2. Join local traditions.

Even if you can't commit to rallying your neighborhood, you can still celebrate the holidays with your community. Local Main Street groups, downtown associations and chambers of commerce fill the holiday season with local traditions, including holiday parades, light displays and caroling sessions. Each of these events represents a new opportunity to make connections in your community. By working with the host organization, you can network with other small business owners and local leaders. By participating in the event, you'll introduce your business to local residents and consumers during the important holiday shopping season. In this way, you can drive traffic to your business and to other small businesses in the community at the time when people are most likely to shop small.

A focus on local traditions has another advantage: It's genuine. While national chains and big-box retailers slash prices to the tune of classic jingles, you and your fellow neighborhood businesses will create a campaign that's true to the community. As a result, the connections you make with consumers and community members will run deeper than a catchy commercial or a flashy catalog. By connecting your business to a treasured tradition, you'll leave a lasting impression that serves your team well into the new year.

3. Enhance wayfinding.

If there's any single indicator of the resurgence of local downtown districts in recent years, it's the rise of wayfinding initiatives. These projects involve making downtown plazas and public squares more inviting by installing signage to aid navigation. Wayfinding signs point visitors to public parking, points of interest and public transportation. They help people move through downtown business districts more easily, making Main Street businesses more accessible. Particularly during the busy holiday shopping season, accessibility is imperative for downtown businesses.

For the holiday season, consider adding some festive wayfinding signage to your community. Send shoppers to small businesses, to a holiday lights display and the nearest hot chocolate cart. By making Main Street more navigable, you'll encourage residents and visitors alike to explore all that downtown has to offer this time of year.

4. Keep the kids in mind.

The holiday season feels especially magical when you're under the age of 10. When planning for your community, don't forget to incorporate the youngest residents. After all, most holiday shopping is done by Santa, right?

Give kids a small business scavenger hunt to keep them engaged while their parents shop. They can look for a special treat or prize at each store their parents visit, and local businesses can start to build relationships with the next generation of consumers. Let local businesses take turns hosting weekly children's activities (such as decorating ornaments) at their stores. That way, parents have an incentive to visit different small businesses each week of the holiday shopping season. These tactics spread the love for small businesses in your community, allowing them to make the most of the holiday season even after Small Business Saturday.

5. Invest in online retail.

It's no secret that online shopping has skyrocketed in recent holiday seasons, and experts expect the trend to continue. Deloitte's annual holiday retail projections predict online holiday sales to near $150 billion in 2019. Big-box and online-only retailers will continue to battle it out with free last-minute shipping and unbeatable prices, but a coordinated effort from small businesses can add a new platform to the mix.

Small businesses often struggle with online retail. Whether it's due to a lack of manpower or a product of prioritization, the failure to maintain an e-commerce platform can hurt businesses this time of year. To make online retailing easier, small businesses can work together to develop a holiday season platform. You could create an online gift guide by promoting the hottest items from your combined inventories in a single online store. Use an e-commerce tool like Shopify to make the technology easy to use and manage. Finally, promote your platform on Small Business Saturday so customers can check it out all season long. [Looking for an e-commerce platform or shopping cart software for an online store? Check out our reviews and best picks here.] 

It's still early, but your preparations for the holiday shopping season should be in full swing. As you plan, find ways to work with other small businesses in your community. By teaming up for the holidays, your local business community can execute bigger campaigns and achieve bigger results. This way, this holiday season won't be all about the big boxes.

16 Marketing Research Resources for Deep Data Dives

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 06:00 AM PDT

Marketing research is crucial to the success of a company's search engine optimization and content marketing strategies. Deep dives in particular can offer a much more well-rounded view of the data and allow companies to garner more insights from the information they have collected – and to pinpoint what kinds of content or ads are gaining traction. This collection and in-depth analysis of data is essential for businesses to see a return on investment for their digital marketing campaigns and other efforts to reach their target audience.

There are many approaches businesses can take to gain this necessary information, including gathering customer feedback, examining Google Analytics data, and researching what universities or other businesses have published. But which of the available market research options offer the best returns for your time and money? [Read related article: Business Guide to Market Research]

To find out more, we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to share what systems they use for their deep-dive market research. Here are the approaches and tools they use – and why they prefer them.

1. Ahrefs

"Ahrefs is a tool for search engine optimization experts that has become the second-most active web crawler in the world. You'll have full access to data regarding what people search for online, what they actually click on, who's running ads, what type of content competitors are creating and so on. It's the most powerful tool for reverse-engineering your (future) competitors." – Karl Kangur, Above House

2. American FactFinder

"If you're looking for demographic info as part of your market research, American FactFinder is the way to go. It culls data from the U.S. Census, and you can filter your searches among a variety of different demographics." – Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance

3. Customer feedback

"In the past, we have performed a great deal of primary research – that is, asking our current or potential customers for feedback. When you go directly to the source, you will be able to generate the most accurate and viable data that is very specific to your business and service offering. We monitor this data over a period of time through multiple checkpoints in order to make good business decisions." – Jared Weitz, United Capital Source Inc.

4. University research and industry publications

"If I'm working on a marketing project for a client and I don't know enough about the industry, then Google is my go-to. There is a lot to learn from research and publications that are available online. All you need to do is ask the right questions. Universities publish research, [and] industry-specific publications release whitepapers and thought pieces, all of which give a good picture of a market." –Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure

5. Think With Google: Marketer's Almanac

"Think With Google: Marketer's Almanac is a great market research resource, especially for anyone in the e-commerce space. It provides insights on what's trending in your market, what your potential customers are searching for online, shopping and purchase behaviors, and more." – Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

6. Google Analytics

"Content is king in 2019, and looking at who's actually visiting your website, how long they stay there and what they click on is the most important information you can get. Use Google Analytics to gather demographic info and tailor your new content to fit that audience. Add more blog articles or site pages that relate to your most successful topics. A heavily trafficked website is productive." – Jeff Pitta, Medicare Plan Finder

7. Harvard Business Review

"Harvard Business Review employs some of the best writers in their industries to share guest posts on several different topics. You get an inside look into data, statistics and studies verified by researchers. It's difficult to find research that's reputable and recent, but HBR continues to publish content with relevant, up-to-date information." – Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights

8. Quora

"Quora can give you information about hot topics in your niche, making it an excellent resource tool. You can see all the most shared articles surrounding your keywords, and see how much traffic they are generating. This information gives me a general idea regarding the type of content I should create and what kind of results I should expect." – David Henzel, LTVplus

9. LinkedIn for B2B

"LinkedIn can be a phenomenal tool to learn about business-to-business decision-makers and influencers. You can easily dig in and quantify demographics, background, skills, education, roles and responsibilities in the company, as well as uncover other decision-makers and influencers (through their connections). Sales Navigator makes it easy to find folks who match certain criteria." – Andrew Kucheriavy, Intechnic

10. Pinterest Analytics

"I find Pinterest Analytics to be very helpful for micro and macro marketing research for product development. The analytics available provides specific detail on our online audiences, which helps us draft copy that resonates with those target audiences." – Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media LLC

11. SBDCNet

"When I want to do serious market research that really digs deep into data, I often turn to SBDCNet analytics. Here, you'll find a wide breadth of industry profiles that show how different industries are changing and growing. It also shows who their customers are, as well as the costs associated with creating startups. They also have a helpful list of market research resources." – Shu Saito, Godai

12. SEO toolbars

"When I want to dig deep into data, I rely on my SEO toolbars. The toolbar contains many features, which allows it to be used for a large number of different purposes. For instance, I can research the links and content of my competitors or research the consumer market. There are a lot of different toolbars to choose from, including some great free options." – Matthew Podolsky, Florida Law Advisers P.A.

13. Social media

"Social media makes researching your market easier than ever before. There are countless groups spread across every niche full of people willing to discuss their goals, pain points and ideal product. You can use this information plus data from your business social media page to make informed decisions about your audience." – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner

14. Statista

"Statista is filled to the brim with statistics about different industries. Our media team needs research to write articles and guest posts with accurate data, and Statista is one of the few that publications across the board accept. You can learn about social media, marketing industries and much more to add to your content so it's more credible." – Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster

15. Surveys

"Old-school surveys are still one of the best tools for doing market research. They allow you to gather the information you need on each market segment and then parse it out in a myriad of different ways. For finding the specific answers you need for successful product development, it's hard to beat a well-designed survey." – Keith Shields, Designli

16. Tableau

"Tableau is a great tool in order to not just organize data, but to also analyze it and visualize it in a much more business-intelligent way. This helps you acquire and process data with interactive charts and tables that let you share your dashboard. For marketing research, it works great across industries, giving optimal results while ensuring a great user experience." – Abeer Raza, TekRevol

The Pros and Cons of a Payroll Card

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 05:15 AM PDT

Payroll cards are a growing trend in small business: about 14 million payroll cards were in use in 2017. And for good measure – payroll cards fill a very real need. According to a 2017 FDIC study, almost 9 million U.S. households don't have bank accounts. Payroll cards provide easy access to paychecks without the need for a bank account or banking relationship. This can be crucial for many Americans who cannot (or choose not to) open a bank account.

What is a payroll card?

Payroll cards allow employees to access their paychecks without having to set up a bank account. They function like debit cards: Payroll cards are loaded with a paycheck each pay period and can be used to withdraw cash or make purchases. This can be an advantageous tool for small businesses with employees who don't have bank accounts or don't have a lot of banking options in their location.

Depending on which payroll card service you elect to sign up for, it may be more cost-effective to provide a payroll card option to your workers. Printing and handing out checks can be expensive, and certain payroll companies may charge extra for things like direct deposit.

From a worker's perspective, it's important to understand the different fees associated with payroll cards, as they aren't exactly like traditional debit cards. While it can be a great option for employees with no bank account, there are some fees you'll have to pay, like monthly maintenance fees, ATM withdrawal fees, balance inquiry fees, fund transfer fees and account closure fees. Exact fees will vary widely depending on which company you're working with.

Payroll card pros and cons

Payroll card pros

  • Payroll cards are a simple, easy way to access your paychecks without having a bank account.
  • If you lose your payroll card or it's stolen, it can be easily replaced (for a fee, of course).
  • It's a convenient option. There's no need to go to a bank to cash a check or check-in to see if your deposit has hit your account. You can access your funds immediately.
  • Payroll cards are easily replaced.
  • There is no risk of debt or financial liability, as the card acts as a debit card and not a credit card.

Payroll card cons

  • You don't get the same benefits of a bank account, like favorable interest rates.
  • It may cost you to view your balance.
  • While easily replaced, your card can technically still be lost or stolen, which is not an issue with direct deposit.
  • There are additional fees to use your card
  • Depending on your industry, it may not be a good payment option.

Payroll card providers

There are several payroll card providers for small businesses. Some major payroll providers offer payroll cards as a way to compensate employees. If you're working with a major payroll provider, talk with your representative to determine what payment via payroll cards would look like for your business.

In terms of other options, there are a few payroll card providers to consider, according to the American Payroll Association.

  • Money Network
    • Money Network offers payroll cards and an intuitive online experience to manage your payroll card offering. It offers enhanced security, flexible deposit options and limited liability. Money Network backs all its funds with the FDIC. This zero-liability protection means you'll be covered if something happens to your payroll card. Money Network has more than 20 years of experience as a prepaid debit processing company, so you'll be partnering with an established industry provider.

  • Netspend Skylight ONE Card
    • Netspend is one of the largest payment programs in the country, and offers some key features such as flexible enrollment and electronic reporting. It offers an online portal where employees can view online deposits and wage statements. As a full-service partner, this company also helps small businesses to implement and manage payment card programs. This includes help with setup, marketing, training, compliance and ongoing support. In addition to these features, it offers multiple distribution methods, reporting tools and card inventory management systems.

  • rapid! PayCard
    • This company offers a 100% e-payroll solution for its clients. There are several distribution options, including e-wallet payouts, digital checks and a host of payroll cards for your employees to choose from. It offers instant payment and electronic payroll delivery at zero cost for employers. It also offers electronic paystubs and other convenient payroll features for both employees and employers.

  • U.S. Bank
    • U.S. Bank provides payroll cards to small businesses, making it one of the few major banking institutions that backs payroll card initiatives. The weight behind the U.S. Bank name means you'll be partnering with a proven financial partner. Its payroll card initiative is called Focus, and it includes fraud protection, online purchasing and 100% electronic payments. It also provides text and email alerts, cash-back rewards programs, savings account features and a mobile app.

  • Wisely
    • Wisely is a payroll card provider backed by ADP, one of the largest payroll processing and HR management companies in the United States. It offers fee-free cash access at ATMs and banks as well as cash back at retailers. This feature is unique, considering many payroll card providers require some kind of fee. Wisely also has a mobile app where users can manage funds – it also offers multiple sources for funding – so you can connect part-time job paychecks, tax refunds or any other kind of income to your Wisely account. It's compliant in all 50 states, and there is high-level support for small businesses.

How to transfer money from a payroll card to a bank account

Transferring money from your payroll card to a bank account can be simple or complicated, depending on which payroll card provider you choose. Surprisingly, there isn't a lot of information out there on how to transfer funds from a payroll card to a bank account. Some services build it into their offerings, while with others, you may have to speak with your bank or payroll card provider.

Payroll cards are ideal for workers with no bank account, while direct deposit is a better option for workers who need immediate access to funds through a bank account. If your employer offers you a payroll card, it also must offer you either a direct deposit or paper check option as well. There are several labor laws that require employers to provide multiple options. If you have a payroll card and you need to transfer funds to your bank account, it's best to talk to your provider or employer. Keep in mind that you may pay a fee to transfer money to a bank account.

Bottom line

Payroll cards are an ideal option for small businesses looking to save money on processing payroll. They are also a vital tool for employees who don't have bank accounts. There are several payroll card providers. Most of the large payroll processing companies offer small businesses a payroll card option. There are a host of third-party companies that can provide independent service, should your organization process payroll manually or work with a partner that doesn't offer payroll card services.

From an employer perspective, payroll cards can be a great way to securely compensate your employees while saving money on direct deposit fees and paper check overhead.

As an employee, be aware of the fees and conditions associated with payroll cards. You should use a payroll card that provides some kind of online portal or mobile app.

There are several pros and cons to using payroll cards, but, as usual, the best option for your business depends on your workers, your business's needs, and overall cost.

How To Maximize Your Company's Meetings

Posted: 21 Oct 2019 05:00 AM PDT

The time that a leader spends with their team is the most crucial time that happens in an organization. The information that is discussed in the meetings and the decisions that are made have far-reaching impacts for both the employees and the organization. Wise leaders enhance their leadership by mastering meetings, both one-on-one meetings and team meetings.

Unfortunately, many businesses have unproductive and unsuccessful meetings. A meeting that is lacking purpose and that is poorly run becomes a distraction and an unempowering event; on the other hand, a productive meeting can lead to breakthroughs.  

Every business and organization conducts some form of meetings. However, does your organization have the right meetings at the right times? Too many leaders treat every meeting the same, but in reality, there are at least five different types of meetings that every organization needs to regularly hold and that the CEO needs to master.  

5 meetings that are critical for your company and that you, as the leader, must master

CEOs and managers who schedule a plethora of meetings often think they are productive when, in reality, they are not. Meetings do not make an organization effective; effective meetings make an organization effective.

In fact, organizations and leaders lose effectiveness by holding ineffective and unproductive meetings. Employees lose interest and become disengaged and frustrated with the information that is being shared or covered in the meeting. Additionally, when teams are frequently engaged in unproductive meetings, it prevents employees from doing the productive work that is required to build a thriving organization.  

Effective organizations and leaders conduct five types of meetings. And because there is a clear purpose behind each type of meeting, employees are more productive, teams are more focused and the organization can achieve better overall results. 

1. Accountability meetings 

The most productive meetings are purposeful. Team members understand the purpose of the meeting and the information that should be shared in the meeting.

Accountability meetings serve as a way for clarity to be enhanced and for team members to be in agreement on projects and tasks so things get done on time and under budget. If you are uncomfortable with the term "accountability," call them "clarity" meetings instead. Teams and organizations need clarity to succeed.  

Every great leader should establish accountability/clarity meetings where they have an opportunity to see how well a team member or a task force is completing their assignment and resolve roadblocks. These meetings can be brief, but they must be scheduled at regular times throughout a task or project. Meetings can be a quick stand-up or brief check-in where employees share key updates or issues that are essential to the success of the project.  

Accountability/clarity meetings can be weekly, or if a task or project is urgent, they can be held daily. These meetings don't have to be long, perhaps 30 minutes. The purpose behind these quick check-ins is to allow for a team's time and energy to be channeled on completing or troubleshooting critical portions of the project or task and not to dilute those efforts with a long, unfocused, unproductive meeting.

2. Inspirational meetings 

People need encouragement. Every CEO and leader should consider themselves the chief encouragement officer of their company. Work can be difficult and laborious, and for people (and teams) to do their best, they need encouragement and support regularly. Leaders often neglect encouraging others. Companies that want to inspire employees to do their best work schedule inspirational meetings with their teams.  

The leader who makes it a priority to inspire their teams is often the leader who improves the performance of the organization. It's hard to execute poorly when the team is inspired. CEOs and leaders often want employees to be self-motivated, and good employees are self-motivated, but even the most self-motivated, driven employee needs to hear words of praise and encouragement from the CEO.  

Inspirational meetings can be quarterly, and they can be 30 minutes in length. If your team is on the verge of burnout or you're experiencing an intensely stressful time in the organization, perhaps you want to hold these meetings monthly to breathe life back into the organization and employees.  

3. Exploratory meetings 

Leaders who desire new breakthroughs for their organization hold exploratory meetings where new ideas can be openly discussed. There is an old proverb that states, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they succeed."

Preparing well for exploratory meetings is critical. Tasks such as sending out a meeting agenda, helping employees understand the goal of what problem the team is trying to solve (or the product that is to be produced), and allowing plenty of advance time for employees to brainstorm ideas, go a long way toward producing great results.  

People often have great ideas but need one person who believes in them (without the fear of judgment) to bring out those ideas. The impactful leader can empower individuals and teams by asking for their involvement in solving problems and creating solutions that the leader would have never discovered on their own.  

Exploratory meetings don't have to be conducted frequently. Depending on your organization, perhaps a biannual schedule is optimal. This frequency can be increased when smaller teams are tasked with developing and implementing new solutions or processes. A suggested duration for exploratory meetings may be three hours.    

4. Educational meetings

Leaders often have to disperse information, and a wise strategy is to do that in a group setting rather than individually. A group meeting allows employees to process critical information at the same time. These educational, informational sessions are important for the leader because the CEO doesn't have to repeat information. Another benefit is that it prevents misinformation from being dispersed throughout the organization. Group settings also allow for good Q-and-A sessions. Usually, more than one person has the same question.

Companies should regularly conduct educational meetings – perhaps as a Monday morning kickoff meeting or as a midweek update. The frequency can be increased when more information needs to be communicated to keep teams moving to complete a project or if your organization is implementing a significant change. These meetings don't have to be long – 15 minutes in many cases is sufficient.    

5. Mentoring meetings 

An effective leader schedules blocks of time with key people for one-on-one strategic sessions to enhance clarity, discover ideas, create synergy, and build cohesiveness and collaboration.

Every successful leader who is looking to develop a good succession plan should be focused on mentoring and training the next-level leaders in their organization. Too many leaders expect growth from their team members but never do anything to help them grow.  

Often leaders feel like no one in the organization has a big enough vision or understands various aspects of how the business is performing or not performing. A CEO can feel isolated from their manager with their ideas, dreams, desires, and tasks, and as a result, they can adopt a solitary leadership style.

Effective leaders who have built successful enterprises have learned the art of bringing others along by engaging them with strategic sessions so they can understand what the leader wants and know where the leader is taking the organization.  

A suggested frequency for mentoring meetings could be monthly or on a schedule that aligns with the CEO's calendar. These meetings can last one hour with a clearly defined agenda that includes the key information or concepts to be discussed.

Every organization has meetings. Some succeed with their meetings; others do not. The organization that hopes to grow focuses on making its meetings meaningful and effective, and the leader who seeks to empower their team enhances their leadership by mastering these five types of meetings.

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