Employees form an integral part of every company. They put in the work to ensure that tasks and projects are completed on time. But what happens when some of your employees start exhibiting odd, unprofessional characteristics? A drastic change in behavior is often attributed to drug use – that’s why workplace drug testing is crucial. This test determines whether employees are abusing drugs or not.

Drug tests are designed to examine any evidence of recent drug use, from normal prescription medication to alcohol and illegal drugs. However, effective drug testing at work needs to be backed by a succinct, written policy circulated among the employees. Personnel also need to be educated about the potent dangers of drug abuse and alcohol intoxication. Employee drug testing is something that all companies should implement from time to time.

Here are 3 types of workplace drug testing:

• Instant & urine drug testing

Also referred to as the point of collection testing (POCT), instant drug testing is usually conducted as part of the pre-employment drug testing programs. Candidates who are eligible for this test are first presented with an electronic order highlighting the need for an instant drug test. Employers located in remote parts of the country receive the order form via email.

Instant drug testing has an assortment of benefits. Since it’s quite fast (results are reached at after several hours), testing time is dramatically reduced. This allows employees to return to work, helping to increase their productivity. This test also helps to reduce any cases of substance abuse-related absenteeism, thus lowering overall employment costs. Hiring cycles are also lessened by around 3 days.

• Alcohol testing for workplace programs

Naturally, employees are not allowed to work while inebriated. Companies regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) require to conduct alcohol resting in case of post-accident, return to duty, random testing and reasonable suspicion. Initial alcohol screening is achieved using a simple saliva testing. However, if results surpass the 0.020% threshold, further confirmation is sought from an evidential breath alcohol testing device. This helps to determine those employees who regularly work under the influence of alcohol.

The transportation industry is extremely safety-sensitive. This is why the DOT authorizes frequent alcohol testing for such positions as aviation, buses, truck transit and rail. Blood alcohol testing measures any trace amounts of alcohol present within your bloodstream. However, collection of blood sample is quite invasive and requires the presence of trained medical specialists. Urine alcohol testing, on the other hand, requires a non-invasive urine sample to determine the levels of alcohol within your system.

• Hair testing for employers

Hair drug testing is fast becoming popular for random and pre-employment drug testing programs. It has a myriad of advantages that employers love. For instance, hair tests can measure chronic drug use among job applicants. It’s also non-invasive and offers convenient storage & shipping. And as the icing on the cake, hair drug tests are extremely difficult to manipulate compared to urine tests.

It’s therefore not surprising that more employers are preferring this particular drug testing. But before implementing or altering a drug-free workplace policy, employers ought to seek legal counsel. Some cities and states in the U.S. don’t approve employment hair testing. These include Maine, Hawaii, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska.

When we were children our parents would tell us to remember to lock the door at all times to keep the strangers out. The term ‘strangers’ was just a polite word back then that expressed our fear of crime entering our homes? In the UK, a huge percentage of home burglaries happen through the front door. The home is the one place that should stand as our sanctuary, be it from a bad day at work or from society. We are at our most vulnerable at home.

If you are shopping for a door for your new home or to replace a dated or broken one, look for companies like Truedor that offer a variety of doors that have a traditional feel, but at the same time modern finishes. But before you go shopping lets break down three things you need to watch out for when it comes to door security.

What is the material of the door?

Don’t trust the face-value of the door; ask about what it is made of and match it to your current environment. If you are located in an area with high humidity and wooden doors typically expand, ask for alternatives. At the same time, if you are located in a very wet (by the shore) or rainy area, ask about the topcoats and how resistant they are to the weather.

If there are glass elements in your door make sure that the quality of the glass is topnotch as well. Tempered glass or fiberglass beats traditional stained-glass pieces. It doesn’t matter if your French doors are located at the back of the house or if you think the small glass panels won’t be an issue, the glass can be broken as a means to get inside your home.

What is the hardware?

The next thing to check is the hardware; these are the hinges and the locks. The hardware of doors is typically customizable. You have the option of taking their default packages or scouting for your own trusted brand. A good hinge should be made of a material that doesn’t rust easily and will not be affected by changes in weather in your area. Avoid fake products because of the lack of integrity of the material. The hinge should be given the same consideration as the lock because the in the case of a violent break-in, the hinge might give up before the lock. This still creates an opening for burglars.

When selecting locks, you may opt for a lockset and a chain or one double cylinder deadbolt. The guarantee does not lie in how many locks you have; if you have a lock set but aren’t the type who would use both, invest more in what you are likely to use.

Image: Pixabay.com

Although the job market is competitive for job seekers, it is also a competitive climate for businesses seeking prospective employees. In the area of recruitment, it goes both ways: job seekers may be looking for a job (and finding one is incredibly competitive), but Millennials are nowadays being more selective about the company they chose to join. Businesses, therefore, are having to market themselves in the hopes of being more attractive and forthcoming than their competitors when it comes to securing loyal employees.

Unlike the Baby Boomers, the Millennial generation is looking for different employee perks. To the younger generation, a job is more than making money; it is, instead, a career which is not solely based around the paycheck they earn at the end of the month. While 64 percent of the older American generation said making as much money as possible was their number one goal, 57 percent of the younger generation said they’re more inclined to do something that they found enjoyable or which made a difference in society.

With the above notion that Millennials are after something more, how can companies market themselves that’ll benefit not only the younger generation but also themselves? In an uncertain climate, benefits are becoming highly sought after, especially with regards to healthcare, yet there is much more a company can offer.

Offer a Career

Although some job candidates are simply after a job, there are many looking to start or further their career. As a budding business, you’ll want to attract the latter. Those looking to build a name for themselves and who are seeking a career are more inclined to do the work and to do the work well.

However, for you to entice such job candidates, you have to offer them the career from the get-go. Describe the job specification and requirements, and when you hold the interviews, make sure to outline not only the job but also where the potential employee can head. If they can envision themselves in your company, then they’re more likely to accept a job offer from you over someone else.

Describe all the Benefits

No company wants to sell themselves short, so make sure to list off all your employee benefits. You can do this on the job advert, and then you can also provide the information in person during the interview phase. The most popular benefits include healthcare, vacation days, holiday bonuses and even a company car. However, you should also sell the smaller office perks such as a break room, complimentary breakfasts or monthly lunch outings, and shorter working hours on a Friday. While the bigger employee benefits of a dental plan and healthcare are substantial, so are the perks of having a coffee machine from Office-Coffee and even a business card.

Highlight Your Company Values

Gone are the days when people overlook the personality of the company; instead, many people now determine whether they do business or buy from a company based on the way they act. Work out the core and non-core values of your business, and use them as tools to impress and entice job candidates. For instance, is your company environmentally-friendly? Are you philanthropists? Are you known for your great customer service skills and witty, online humor? Many people dream of working at certain companies because of the way the media portrays them, so if you’re an upbeat digital marketing company, utilize this so that you attract the right employees who will fit your company persona.

Vladimir Hristov, a mentor, an author and an expert in guiding any person who wants to live in a Community in British Columbia, Canada joins Enterprise Radio to give us further insight.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Vladimir Hristov discuss the following:

1. Your new book “Preserve My Community”. What is this all about Vladimir, is this Strata or Property Management, can you give us more clarifications, please?
2. Can you be more specific, please? What exactly is the book, the product and your intentions are?
3. What exactly do you teach and what can we find for us in this book and study on community?
4. So you are saying that people will be emotionally prepared to meet all the challenges before buying or living in any community in North America and Australia?
5. Lastly, do you have any recent example by dealing with the challenges in living in a community?

Vladimir’s life has been dedicated to helping people just like you and families just like yours — giving positive energy, focus on the multiple challenges that most would have never known possible. Families are connected for the first time and the spirit awakened. PRESERVE MY COMMUNITY, Vladimir reveals critical insights anyone can use while they live in their communities.

Website: (Under Construction): www.preservemycommunityvlad.com
Email: vladdi1973@gmail.com

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Duane Hixon, the CEO of N2 Publishing, a nationwide business that produces publications that turn neighborhoods into communities joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Duane Hixon discuss the following:

1. You’re the CEO of a multimillion dollar company that you started from the ground up. What advice do you have to offer those currently struggling in corporate America who want to start their own business and might not have any entrepreneurial experience?
2. Tell us about N2’s company culture and why it is so important to you?
3. Why do you find it so important to ensure a great work / life balance for yourself as well as your team members?
4. N2 has recently taken a pledge to not discriminate against those with criminal backgrounds. When you hear the term “second chances,” what does that mean to you?
5. Tell us about your new program that encourages team members in your company to purchase their first home.

As a husband and father, N2 Co-Founder and CEO Duane Hixon is a hard-working family man.  His desire for achieving work-life balance and keeping a strong work culture is what has made N2 Publishing what it is today. With a passion for working out and overall wellness, he leads N2 with a longing and drive to impact the lives of people for the better.

Website: www.n2pub.com
N2GIVES | Philanthropic Website: www.n2gives.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/N2Publishing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/n2publishing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/n2-publishing

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Management of shipped goods is a top priority when it comes to businesses and enterprises that cannot risk a decrease in product quality to taint their image as a brand and a company. Customer response towards incorrect or damaged goods is more often than not a mistake that can’t slip by without any consequences. Technological innovation has changed the shipping scene by providing not just more adaptive materials for shipment but also services to maintain the sustainability of, for example, reusable crates. Practices such as crate washing are a highly beneficial perk that comes along with choosing reusable containers for shipping. Here are a few reasons why going green is the right choice.

The Material

Considering the change in material from traditional wooden boxes and/or cardboard boxes to plastic, the design and durability now offer much more versatility in terms of what is shipped. Choosing reusable plastic crates paves the way for making your produce safe from potential packaging mishaps. Leaks and spills are easily preventable compared to the earlier alternatives, allowing poultry, meat, and fish products to be shipped with ease. Perishables aren’t the only products that benefit from going plastic. Delicate products such as electronics or fragile furniture pieces are much safer contained in plastic containers which can be airtight to be safe from the elements outside such as moisture and heat.

Practicality

Depending on your shipping destination, going international brings along a whole new set of opportunities and problems in terms of shipping your product. Departure and arrival times have to be coordinated, local and international taxes differ from place to place, and most importantly, the weight restrictions might differ depending on the shipping method you use. As stated above, in going for a lighter plastic material compared to cardboard boxes or wooden crates, the number of products you can ship is much greater compared to the said alternatives while offering greater protection and security compared to cardboard boxes.

Reusability

If you’ve recently started your business, it is much more attractive to make use of cheap and disposable containers for your products. But eventually, the costs start to pile up with the growth of your business to broader demographics. Using reusable plastic containers may be on the pricier side, but logistically speaking, having your own set of containers available for reuse is a much better option financially speaking. Storage is also convenient as designs are made so that empty containers can be stacked inside each other, making them a solid choice for thrifty business owners. These environment-friendly containers are not only practical and efficient, they can be cleaned and reused as well, making them the smart choice of shipping container all-round.

Image: Pixabay.com

Did you know that companies can save up to $6 million every year just by choosing their suppliers wisely? According to Deloitte, this is a real possibility, and something supply chain management (SCM) and procurement departments need to strongly work on as one of the steps to growing your bottom line.

What’s better, you don’t have to break much sweat to get maximum value from your supplier relationships. The following are a few proven tips to get you started.

1. Talk to multiple suppliers

What most companies don’t realize is that suppliers, just like other businesses, compete on the basis of price. Just like you occasionally lower your prices and offer tasty coupons to appeal to more customers, suppliers are always throwing around discounts to attract more clients. It is your duty to find the supplier with the best prices. To this end, always begin by talking to at least three suppliers, letting each one know that you’re getting other quotes and that you’ll go with the supplier that offers the best price. As long as you don’t compromise quality, this strategy will always get you great value.

2. Make them know that you’re in a position to give them a lot of business

Suppliers, just like you, also desire long-term customers who buy a lot of products, and are willing to go an extra mile to keep such customers on board. Therefore, when negotiating with your suppliers, make sure they know that you have the capacity and willingness to give them repeat business over the long term. It works even better if you can show them records. Let them see how much volume you’ve been buying in the past and at what frequency. This will give them a rough idea of what they can expect from you, forcing them to offer you a better deal.

3. Offer large deposits to get a bigger discount 

This is another trick most wholesalers don’t know about. Suppliers are concerned about their accounts receivable just like all other business owners. They want more money in the bank and fewer debts. It means that they are likely to be happier if you’re paying most of the money upfront. A good idea would be a value in the region of 50-60%. If you can pay your packaging products supplier 60% upfront for an inventory of glass jars, for instance, they will be more than grateful. And, to show their appreciation, they are likely to offer you a bigger discount.

4. Consider transferring all your business to just one supplier

In most scenarios, this is usually the tipping point. When a supplier finds out that you’re now buying exclusively from their company; that as long as they have the product, you will always buy from them; the deal is sealed. You will not only get lower prices and first dibs on new arrivals, but the supplier will be more than willing to discuss even higher discounts and more favorable payment structures.

If you’re struggling with the bottom line, these are some of the adjustments you can make on the supplier-side to improve the overall profitability of the business.

Commercial airlines and airports have heightened security to the point that taking a flying both locally and internationally is a multi-step process. You must arrive at the airport hours in advance so that you can be screened and have your luggage checked. Passengers are also restricted to the types of items that they can take onboard or store on airplanes. While security is important, taking a commercial airline flight is no longer a relaxing experience. Lots of people aren’t wild about the idea of having their luggage rifled through or having to be patted down several times.

Certain jet companies such as Paramount Business Jets provide a more comfortable way to travel for you and your business colleagues. Flights can be tailored to meet your schedule while stewards are available to serve you personally. For those who can get a bit claustrophobic on commercial airplanes, private jets are much more accommodating. Seats are generally situated in a way that facilitates conversation and intimacy. Most of all, you will get all of the privacy that you need to travel wherever you want in the world, on your schedule, and in style.

The Practicality of Hiring a Private Jet

People take planes not only because they are the fastest means of travel, but also because they also offer the most direct routes. For instance, if you want to go from Manhattan, New York, to Los Angeles, you can either take a plane, drive or hop on a train. Via plane, you would get to your destination in three to five hours. Driving from New York to California takes around three days if you stop for food and rest. Trains might end up being a little faster than driving, but only if there are no lengthy layovers. This means that it might actually be more practical to look into aircraft charter flights than it can appear at the onset.

During peak periods, commercial airline tickets can cost thousands and you aren’t even guaranteed a seat if the flight has been overbooked. Business people travel because they absolutely need to be present for seminars, in-person meetings, and to oversee their companies. Delayed and canceled flights can cost them contracts and potentially their livelihoods. So, all in all, private jet hire is very practical.

The Benefits of Renting a Jet for Private Travel

Once you get on board your first chartered private jet, you will feel absolutely at ease. Your cabin will be completely quiet as you won’t be sharing it with hundreds of other travelers. Private business travelers can also feel free to enjoy whatever type of movies or music they would like. First and foremost, consider the fact that being able to take a private jet means that you are involved in a successful business. You might take a flight arranged via private jet charter at the last moment because your presence has been summoned at a crucial board meeting. Alternatively, your need to travel via private jet might be necessary as there are no other available means to get to your destination in as little time as possible. The bottom line is that taking private jets for business travel purpose means that you can count on leaving on time, enjoying a peaceful flight and arriving where you need to be.

Frequent Travel Rewards

Pretty much every airline has a frequent traveler rewards program. Some enable travelers to amass points and then spend them so that their next airline tickets are free or steeply discounted. The more that you fly, the more opportunities you’ll have to save – that’s the premise of all frequent travel programs.

When it comes to private jet charter, you can also enjoy the same kind of rewards. Of course, you have to travel regularly in order to get discounts and other rewards. If you have a company and you expect to send your employees on privately chartered jets regularly, it would behoove you to enroll in a travel savings program. Between discounts and tax breaks, it can even become much more cost effective for you to invest in a private jet charter when compared to commercial airline options. Taking private jets will enable you to guarantee that your staff all boards the same flights, partakes in brainstorming sessions while traveling, and meets with important clients just as soon as the airplane touches down.

Staying Occupied During Long Flights

Some flights can take more than 12 hours, particularly if you are traveling to a faraway land like Australia or Japan. On the plus side, you will have all the opportunity you need to prepare for your upcoming business presentation or annual review. Then again, being onboard an aircraft for close to a full day can also make you feel bored and unstimulated.

Imagine how much comfort you will have when you use private jet rental to coordinate all of your business travels instead of dealing with commercial airline carriers. You will have more legroom, be able to stretch out with your laptop, books, paperwork, and other necessary business essentials. Bring along clients so that you can discuss business matters during your flight or simply keep yourself occupied by chatting with your peers. There’s simply no comparison to the level of comfort you receive when hiring a private jet to fly versus buying a business class airline ticket.

Personalized Arrival and Departure Times

A lot of times, business travelers look for flights on the days they need to be in another city, state or country. After locating corresponding arrival dates, they then look at departure and arrival times. Flights can get booked quickly, leaving business professionals to sometimes need to take flights at 3 a.m. just so that they can make important meetings. For frequent travelers, this leads to jet lag and exhaustion, so they can’t easily perform at their best.

Private jet charter flights don’t leave the tarmac until you and your fellow travelers arrive and come onboard. Even if you are running late, you can make a call and adjust the departure time so that you don’t feel rushed or stressed to the limit. It is much better to know that you have a few extra minutes to pack up your luggage and look over your files before leaving home and taking a plane to another country, without feeling like you are risking missing your flight.

There are various reasons that people enjoy traveling privately, without delay or intrusion. Privately chartered jets are arranged with comfort in mind. No one from your company will be disturbed by the sound of crying babies, need to switch their seats because of booking issues, or be delayed when going through travel screening tests. There will also be plenty of tables and outlets available for you to work diligently during your flight and stay connected if you so choose. Although the pilot stays in charge of the flight, you get to have much more control over your travel experience when you fly in a private jet. There will be absolutely zero disturbances as you take calls from your family, watch slideshow presentations, or decide to enjoy a movie while flying to attend to an important business matter. Overall, your thoughts about travel will change after the first time you take a private flight as opposed to a commercial airplane.

Rachel Braun Scherl, Managing Partner of SPARK Solutions for Growth, vagipreneur, public speaker, and a proud first time author again joins Enterprise Radio to talk about Orgasmic Leadership and how to profit in the business of female health and wellness.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Rachel Braun Scherl discuss the following:

1. What is a vagipreneur and how did you decide to become one?
2. What is orgasmic leadership?  Why does it matter?  How did you come to that idea?
3. Tell us more about your new book!
4. How are you organizing everything that you do?
5. What are some of the key learnings that you’d like to share?

Rachel Braun Scherl is the picture of the consummate dynamic, passionate business leader. As a respected strategist and entrepreneur, Rachel has successfully launched, built and turned around companies, both large and small, around the globe. Rachel builds businesses based on the belief that sustainable, profitable growth must start with a sound strategy and be continually driven forward by connecting with customers, building partnerships, and creating revenue.  

As Managing Partner of SPARK Solutions for Growth, a strategic growth consultancy, Rachel has lead global consulting engagements with international clients, including Johnson & Johnson, Allergan, Pfizer, Bayer and Deloitte. In addition to her work with large companies, Rachel has helped build numerous startups, with an emphasis on female health – focusing on insights, customer acquisitions, customer lifetime value and retention.

In another chapter of her vibrant career, Rachel was Co-Founder and President of Semprae Laboratories, Inc., a venture-backed company focused on developing and marketing women’s sexual health products for several years. After growing the business in retail and direct to consumer, the company was sold to Innovus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2013.

Jen Gibbs Swets, a partner at DWC, The 401(k) Experts, a firm providing third party plan administration, compliance and consulting services for qualified retirement plans nationwide joins Enterprise Radio to talk about the impact your retirement plan has when selling your business.

Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Jen Gibbs Swets discuss the following:

1. What is your advice for companies considering selling their business?
2. What are the top 3 misconceptions or errors sellers have related to their retirement planning?
3. To be clear, if an owner sells the company via an asset sale they can keep the plan open – what are the benefits of that approach?
4. How are employees (or participants of the plan) handled before and after the acquisition related to their retirement plan?
5. Companies with excellent cash flow, what should they be thinking about as it relates to their retirement plans?

Summary: When selling, don’t ignore your retirement plan as it may end up costing you money after the sale is completed! If you have strong cash flow, make sure you maximize your retirement plan (s) with a design that maximizes your retirement savings and improves your corporate and/or individual tax returns.

Jen Gibbs Swets has more than 15 years of experience in the retirement plan industry focusing on plan design through collaboration clients and advisors. As a partner at DWC – The 401(k) Experts, a firm providing third party plan administration, compliance and consulting services for qualified retirement plans nationwide, Jen looks for opportunities to implement and enhance retirement plan programs in ways that support the plan sponsor’s business and savings goals while creating meaningful savings opportunities for participants.

She is passionate about playing an active role in the retirement plan industry and has held several leadership roles within the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), including her current role on the Leadership Council where she leads the Millennial Task Force for next-generation engagement. She has also served as the Co-Chair of the ASPPA National Conference, Co-Chair of the ASPPA Regional Conferences, and volunteered on ad-hoc Retirement Plan Academy committees.

Jen has served as a speaker for numerous groups and also published articles in The Journal of Pension Benefits and Plan Consultant Magazine. Dedicated to her community, Jen serves as a sustainer for the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach where she held several board positions during her tenure. She is a LEAD Hampton Roads graduate and has participated in College of William & Mary Alumni events. She was recently recognized by Inside Business as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree.

DWC – The 401(k) Experts is a firm providing third party plan administration, compliance and consulting services for qualified retirement plans nationwide.

Website:  www.dwc401k.com

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There are a lot of ways out there to grow your site traffic. But there are definitely some strategies that work better than others. These are strategies that have been used by other business owners and have been shown to be the most effective – something that everyone with the website should be doing. Let’s take a look at ten tactics to help you grow your site traffic.

Advertise

One of the first things that you should consider doing is advertising. Advertising seems like a no-brainer, but many people underestimate the value of it. In addition, even if you are just barely starting your website, you can find advertising that is within your budget.

Use Social Media

Another tactic that seems rather obvious is to use social media to get people to come to your site. The first thing that you have to do is to set up social media accounts for your business and get people to follow you. You also have to provide them with content on social media that makes them want to come and check out your business. If you can impress, entertain or give people value on social media than there is a good chance that want to find out more about your company.

Use Signatures

You definitely should be using signatures such as the ones that you can attach to the bottom of your email or your forum signature which gets updated across all of the forum posts that you have ever made. If you can participate in forums that are related to your industry, someone reading one of your posts may follow a link to your site. The same goes for your emails. If you do not have the links available, then there is no chance that someone will visit.

Optimize Off-Site

You definitely want to optimize off-site, which means getting links. But you don’t necessarily go after links directly. Instead, try to create content that will make people want to link to you.

Start a Blog

One of the best strategies out there is to start a blog. A blog will allow you to get readers as well as get indexed in the search engines for more keywords. If you own an online business, then you must have a blog.

Write Incredible Headlines

You also need to be aware of your headlines and whether they drive traffic or not. If your headlines are lackluster, then look at some sites that are able to get people to click just based on the headline alone. Buzzfeed and Cracked are both leaders in this particular area.

Use Guest Blogging

Another strategy is to use guest blogging. Guest blogging on other websites with readership that is significant and based within your industry can lead people back to your own blog and possibly convert them into someone who is going to return again and again.

Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a definitely an underrated resource when it comes to getting site traffic. LinkedIn has all kinds of groups you can participate in and ways to link back to your website.

Create an Internal Linking Strategy

An internal linking strategy is another method that you should be implementing in your website. This is not only good for the search engines, but it is also good for readers to keep them on your site and interested in different content you have available.

Speed Up Your Site

Finally, make sure that your site is fast and responsive. The search engines will rank you lower if your site is slow and readers will press the back button if your site doesn’t load right away.

When your business process is not properly streamlined, this can cause serious issues for your business.  Introducing process automation can help to overcome these issues, as the software can analyse your current business processes, which will help you to increase the overall quality and efficiency of your business operations.

There are a number of key factors that constantly challenge the different process flows in a business which process automation can help solve.  One of the very first stages will involve analysis, however process automation software will go beyond this to help solve the bigger problems inherent to any company.

Faster Turnover Time

In terms of man power, there will always be a limit to how fast business processes can be completed.  Introducing automation can help significantly reduce the time it takes to complete tasks.  It also means you can complete different tasks simultaneously.

Unnecessary tasks can be a significant drain on a company’s time, however, process automation will use modelling to get rid of unnecessary tasks and optimise the flow of information in your office.  This makes it easier for a business to streamline day-to-day operations and realign their priorities.  This will decrease the time it takes to complete crucial business tasks.

Monitoring, Tracking and Reporting

An area that is an increasingly attractive investment is Intelligence Software.  This business software is able to make smart decisions based on data generated from information gathered about your business.  A process automation system will routinely collect and process data.  Businesses can then use this data to analyse their current practices and make better decisions on future processes.

Decreased Workload

In some cases, businesses can experience growth issues as manually completed work can take a lot longer to complete if it concerns a complex topic.  This is why it makes sense to decrease the manual workload of your employees to ensure they are using their personal skill set to the best of their abilities.  This ensures they can focus on core competencies, as application software can be used to automatically generate reports.  Some mobile platforms, one example being GoCanvas.com, allow users to automate emails to customers, colleagues and partners, and customise their own mobile forms. This makes it extremely easy to manage all of your work processes and mobile forms in one easy to use app.

From simple tasks like spell checking to more complex tasks, automation software can help employees complete work quicker and more accurately.

Getting Rid of Human Error

It’s inevitable that people will make a mistake at some point, particularly when work load is heavy.  A key benefit of introducing process automation is that it will immediately help to reduce human error.  This is done by performing checks and completing high-quality tasks behind the scenes.

Compliance Made Simple

Today, businesses are required to work in compliance with strict legal standards.  This means businesses are required to train each employee in compliance.  There is definitely room for error which could cause significant complications.  A process automation system ensures that all of the rules are followed down to the letter as there is no room for human error.

If you are interested in web design services, it is important that you make a point of looking for certain things before landing on a certain company to provide you with them. The more time you spend doing this research, the better your chances will be of getting the services you need without any issues. The last thing you want to do is rush through this process, because you’ll end up regretting it.

Experience is Essential

When you are trying to find the very best web design services, it is important that you look for professionals who are very experienced at doing this type of work. The more experience they have, the happier you will be with the services you pay for. Make sure that you find out how long each company has been around, because it will definitely affect the quality of the services you get.

Reasonable Pricing

You should also look for a web design company that charges a reasonable amount for their services, because you don’t want to end up spending more than you have to. Take the time to find out how much each company will charge you for the work you need done before settling on one in particular. If you are on a tight budget, it is even more important that you do this research.

There is a Marketing Department

Ideally you should try to find a company with a marketing department so that you can be sure the professionals you hire will make your website really attractive as well as functional. When you visit MonthlyWeb, you will see that this company offers more than just web design. It’s always better to choose a company that can do more than just make your website look nice. They also offer a pay monthly web design option which is practical if you are a small business or freelancer looking for a suitable service.

They Have a Portfolio

Look for web design and development companies that have a portfolio of the websites they have created for other clients so you can get a better sense as to just how good they really are. Not all of these businesses have portfolios on their websites, so you will need to make a point of looking for this before choosing a certain web design firm.

Take a Look at Their Website

If you are in need of pay monthly web design services, you will want to take a close look at each company’s site. The company’s website will say a lot about their skills, so you will need to make sure that it is highly responsive with a nice layout and overall design. If their own site doesn’t look good, you cannot realistically expect them to meet your needs. A well-designed website is a sign of skilled professionals who know what they are doing.

It can be difficult to find the right web design services to match your needs, but with a little research you should be able to get a great-looking and responsive website. The better these services are, the more you will benefit in the long term.

Leon Walker, the Managing Partner of DL3 Realty, one of Chicago’s most active community developers, including opening  the nationally recognized Whole Foods-anchored shopping center on the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Leon Walker discuss the following:

1. What is Venture Development?
2. Why is it important?
3. Who inspired you?
4. What do you look for in an investor?

Leon I. Walker, a native of Chicago’s South Side, is driven by a passion to improve and sustain neighborhood life in urban communities. He serves as Managing Partner of DL3 Capital, general partner of DL3 Realty, a mission driven, for-profit real estate investment firm that ventures into to the most economically challenged neighborhoods and food desserts to bring quality retail projects with high- impact stores.

In 2016, he opened Englewood Square, a retail shopping center located in Chicago’s South Side anchored by Whole Foods Market, Chipotle and Starbucks. Other projects include the recently opened Mile Square Health Center – South Shore and a future Jewel-Osco grocery store in Woodlawn, another underserved Chicago neighborhood located near the proposed Obama Presidential Library site.

He left a successful career in corporate America to pursue his long-time dream of transforming communities bringing hope, jobs and prosperity. Where others see blight, poverty and risk, Walker see opportunity. His real estate projects help to accelerate neighborhood revitalization efforts that are sensitive to neighborhood’s character, creating opportunities for those who live there and providing strong results for investors.

Walker brings a diverse body of professional experience, training, and education to his role as one of Chicago’s most active community developers. Walker has been involved in structuring over $100 million in New Markets Tax Credit transactions.   DL3 developments have won numerous awards including the LISC-Chicago Most Outstanding Development Award in 2009 and 2017.

At Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in Los Angeles, he represented Fortune 500 clients in the leasing and development of over one million square feet of office space. Prior to JLL, he worked at Citicorp Securities in the Real Estate Capital Markets Group structuring market debt securities for REITs with market capitalizations in excess of $500 million.

Walker is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Law School and Booth Graduate School of Business, and he received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Business. He is involved in many community initiatives including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and he serves on the advisory board of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University and the government relations committee of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Walker believes the success of Englewood Square and similar developments can be duplicated and shares his expertise in a Discussion Paper titled: “Venture Development^TM : An Opportunity for Private Investors to Drive Concordant Change in the American Inner City.”

Website: www.DL3Realty.com/VentureDevelopment

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Venture-Developer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urbanmedicalcenters
Instagram: http://instagram.com/venturedevelopr
Twitter: @venture_develop

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If you’re like most entrepreneurs, your business is your baby. You’ve protected its information from preying competitors and nurtured its growth to the point of launch. The groundwork has been laid, and now it’s time to present your startup company to the world. Caution: moving too fast, too soon, or in the wrong direction can cause your startup to slip and your progress to be lost. If it’s (finally!) time to launch your vision, take just a few minutes to read through these five simple steps first. Although there’s no foolproof method, following these strategies can set you up for more success in a highly impacted market and you might find your patience heavily rewarded.

Find Your Focus

Business 101 states that before you can do anything else, your brand needs a crystal clear identity. Before launching your startup, make sure you can answer who you (i.e. your company) are, what you offer or solve, how you’re different, why it matters, and so on. Only a solid focus can support a strong, budding startup; every subsequent layer will be built upon your foundational structure. The people you hire and the marketing you employ should all revolve around your brand’s identity.

Put Your Peeps in Place

As a small startup, it’s probably unlikely you can afford the best in the biz. It’s therefore doubly important to hire trustworthy candidates, whether it’s for web development, software design, or any role in between. A smart protocol is to run a pre-employment background screening on all potential candidates. Understanding what shows up on a background check can help you decide whether screening is the right move for your company.

Should you purchase a certified screening solution, you’ll gain access to a variety of information, including:

• Employment Verification
• Education Verification
• FICO Credit Report
• Criminal History
• Address
• Social Security, and more

Whether or not you choose to request a drug test from your applicants is up to you, but have a list of hard disqualifiers ready in mind which could come back on your background check. For example, violent felonies should be an obvious out, but the importance of poor credit or prior bankruptcy can fluctuate depending on the industry of your startup venture.

Build, Baby Build

Don’t wait until after your launch date to start building your brand’s online presence. Hire a web developer to create a clean, user-friendly website or make one yourself using services such as Wix. Your website needs a sign-up form interested users can fill out to get early access to your product. Also, make sure your site includes your company’s blogged (which you’ll need to regularly update and maintain). A blog will allow you to build solid search engine optimization (SEO) for your keywords, so relevant content will be your prelaunch best friend. Don’t forget to build backlinks—or incoming hyperlinks from one website to yours—to increase your startup’s authority and SEO ranking. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by listing your company on various directories; start with the free-of-charge Google My Business to prioritize which listings to pursue.

Engage in Emails

It’s time to get the word buzzing via email and marketing campaigns. Find a reliable customer relationship management (CRM) system such as Zoho and download all of your contacts from Outlook or Chrome into the software. Include those from your sign-up leads within your database as well, and be sure to send a “thank you” follow up email. Send announcements and updates as your launch date grows nearer, but don’t annoy your recipients with daily junk mail. Remember to leverage LinkedIn and invite all of your friends on Facebook to “like” your company page.

Track and Trace

Before (and after!) the big day, it’s imperative to track all of your operations including expenses, engagement rates and email metrics. Use analytics software to track where your site’s traffic comes from and click-through conversions. Getting a clear, data-driven picture will allow you to better direct your marketing efforts in the most cost effective way.

Follow these five steps to give yourself a competitive edge in marketing before your big launch date. If you lay the ground work ahead of time, you’ll spend less time trying to catch up and more time sailing smoothly.

LinkedIn company pages are more popular than ever. According to Meenakshi Chaudhary, LinkedIn company page adoption rose from 24% to 57% between 2015 and 2016. Your competitors probably have company pages already. Do you?

Even if you’re on the bandwagon, there’s more you can do to boost engagement with your organization on LinkedIn. Follow these 12 strategies and best practices to drive prospects and peers to your LinkedIn company page—and nudge them to take the actions you want them to take.

1. Make Sure It’s Accurate and Up to Date

First, make sure your LinkedIn company page contains accurate, up-to-date information. This is a straightforward process that requires no special technical skills or expertise—well within the purview of an administrative assistant or marketing employee. Confirm that they’ve included accurate:

• Website and physical address
• Industry and company type
• Employee count range
• Specialty keywords (more on those below)
• Founding year and key people, including executives and advisers

2. Link to Your Main Website

Confirm that the link back to your main website works and that it goes to your top domain, not an “About” or “Contact” subpage.

Linking to your main website lends your company legitimacy. Visitors to LinkedIn company pages without top domain backlinks are left to wonder why the page administrator chose to leave that part out. They’re likely to investigate, and they may come across something that gives them pause—a poorly constructed or outdated main website, perhaps.

The conspicuous lack of a link may forestall any planned engagement with your LinkedIn page. After all, if a company’s LinkedIn page can’t meet basic expectations, how reliable can the organization really be?

3. Clearly and Concisely Describe What Your Company Does

Use the above-the-fold space to clearly and concisely describe your company’s mission and main activities. This company’s LinkedIn page is a good example: nothing but the facts, delivered in an upbeat, confident fashion.

Remember to pepper this description with the main long- and short-tail keywords for which you’re trying to rank. Search engines love LinkedIn; for many smaller companies, it’s among the top first-page results, second only to paid ads and corporate top domains. A well-optimized company description is a powerful traffic generator—and engagement booster—for even the most low-key LinkedIn company page.

4. Encourage Your Employees to Follow Your Company Page

Engagement starts at the office, with employees who enthusiastically follow their employer’s company LinkedIn page. You can’t legally compel your employees to follow and engage with your company page, but it shouldn’t be a hard sell. Just frame it as a win-win: They raise their profiles by posting and sharing authoritative content on your company page, and you get the engagement boost of a well-trafficked, well-respected page.

5. Network With Peers and Influencers

Identify the individual and corporate peers, competitors and influencers that your company really should get to know. Then, get to know them. Connect with individuals and follow organizations. Share and comment on influencer-posted content. Reach out on an individual, as-needed basis—though be careful not to come on too strong. When in doubt, follow LinkedIn networking best practices.

6. Regularly Post Original Thought Leadership Content

Every thought leader has to start somewhere. Even if you’re not sure that you have anything useful to add to the conversation, the only path to developing a reputation for incisive thought is to start publishing it.

Tap in-house expertise or outside pros seeking to raise their own profiles. Ask them to produce original content about or relevant to your company’s core solutions or functions. Get into a regular publishing rhythm; one original, in-depth post per week is a good target. Those won’t be the only updates you post to your LinkedIn company page, of course—see below.

7. Repost Company Releases and Announcements

The bulk of your LinkedIn company page’s content won’t involve detailed research or incisive missives from resident thought leaders. It’ll be more mundane updates and announcements: reposted press releases and original posts detailing milestones large and small, among other things. Your LinkedIn company page is a natural bulletin board—more visible than your main website’s blog and less cluttered than legacy press release publishing platforms.

8. Add Compelling, Colorful Images

Draw your prospects in with compelling, engaging images that celebrate or at least align with your company brand. Choose active shots for your company page’s background wallpaper: candid working photos or slightly off-the-wall group shots play well.

9. Optimize for Search

Optimization needn’t stop with your company description. Make sure all the longform content you post on your company page contains the main keywords for which you’re trying to rank, at appropriate densities. Use snappy, attention-getting headlines that contain short-tail keywords. And don’t forget to link out to your main website, and any other content you want to promote. Your LinkedIn page probably has higher search authority than your company’s main website; creating links between them raises your main site’s profile by association.

10. Ease off the Self-Promotion

Always remember the 4-1-1 rule. Most of the content you post and share shouldn’t be overly self-promotional. Instead, it should lift up other thought leaders, touch on industry-relevant news and events, or celebrate the achievements of people you care about. Occasional self-celebration is warranted; just don’t make it the main focus of your page.

11. Time Your Updates

The timing of your posts and updates matters. Posting late at night or during the heat of the workday is less effective than early morning or late afternoon, when the environment isn’t as chaotic. This point matters less for evergreen posts, but it’s still crucial for companies looking to juice the conversation around their posts with an initial flurry of engagement. For better or worse, even the most enduring LinkedIn posts become “old news” after a while.

12. Engage With Relevant LinkedIn Groups

Don’t forget to join and engage regularly with industry-relevant LinkedIn groups. This raises your company’s visibility among peers—an especially crucial consideration for early-stage firms—and drives quality traffic back to your corporate page.

What are you doing to boost engagement on your company’s LinkedIn page?

Lorraine Walston, President & CEO at Woodrow Wear that makes indoor/outdoor socks for dogs again joins Enterprise Radio. These socks are not JUST for dogs!

Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Lorraine Walston discuss the following:

1. How did you get into the dog sock business?
2. So your product is an indoor traction solution?
3. Do these fit all dogs?  Is it easy, or simple to fit a dog for socks?
4. What do you mean not all dogs have the same front and back paws?
5. Do dogs tolerate these?
6. Are these ONLY for dogs?
7. Are there any new products on the horizon?

Lorraine Walston, President & CEO of Woodrow Wear is a long time marketer and consultant in the High Tech sector. She has worked for start ups and Fortune 500 companies alike. In 2002, Woodrow, her 15 year old Rottweiler was unable to stand on slippery floors in her home, and she invented Power Paws. With them on, he could stand without struggle, and he could run! Seeing what the product did for Woodrow, and realizing that many dogs had the same issue, she decided to share the “gift of mobility”, and Woodrow Wear was born!

In the course of eight years, the product has evolved from an indoor traction solution to an indoor/outdoor solution that provides traction and mobility indoors, plus protection from heat, snow, and allergies outdoors. Being a sock-based solution, the product is well tolerated by virtually all dogs. At the moment, there are over 120,000 dogs using the product in 55 countries.

Website: www.woodrowwear.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodrowwear
Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodrowwear

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Leah Slaughter, Owner of OmniKey Realty, a property management and real estate company joins Enterprise Radio to discuss what is your money doing for you and tips for investing in real estate!

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in conjunction with the Real Estate Channel.

Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Leah Slaughter discuss the following:

1. We hear about opportunities to invest in real estate all the time. For people who are interested in getting involved but have no experience, what are your suggestions when it comes to learning the basics?
2. Who is the right candidate for investing in real estate? What does it take financially and what does it take time commitment wise?
3. For those who are currently a landlord or property owner, what are the benefits to securing a property management company? Are the fees worth it? How much money are you losing out on by doing so?
4. When it comes to home renovations to increase property value, what are the easiest and least expensive things you can do that will make a difference.
5. What are some tips to be a more effective landlord for people who are renting property?

Leah Slaughter is a native Texan, born and raised in Dallas. Leah and her husband, co-owner Michael Slaughter, founded OmniKey Realty together in the Summer of 2006. Leah and Michael speak around the nation and on the radio about real estate matters both about their unique and successful hands-on approach to investment and property management as well as doing training and guidance for real estate investors.

Website: www.omnikeytexas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmniKeyRealty

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If you want to attract the very best employees to your startup company without blowing all of your capital on salaries, you have to offer them something more valuable than the money they receive in their paycheck at the end of each month. Tech companies offer staff stock options as a matter of course, but if your company operates on a different model, this may be not especially attractive.

Studies show that for most workers, the benefits and perks offered are a major factor in helping them decide where they want to work. At Twitter, perks include on-site acupuncture while Google employees get chair massages twice a week and free haircuts. Such over-the-top perks may be beyond your reach but are plenty of ways to put together an attractive package for new workers that won’t break the bank.

Flexibility

While access to better health, dental and vision insurance tops the list of the most desirable benefits, the ability to work flexible hours, to work from home on occasion and more vacation time also score incredibly highly.

The advantage of the first two is that they can actually end up costing your company less, helping to boost your profits. If not all your staff are going to be in the office at the same time, you don’t need to have such large premises, and it will cost you less to run. Employees who work from home also spend less time commuting which means they get less tired and are able to be more productive during the hours they are working.

Give added value

You can also extend your basic benefits package to your employees in order to give them coverage in additional areas, especially those that will only come into play should the worst-case scenario come to pass. Examples include travel insurance for vacations, access to a highly-experienced personal injury attorney in the event of an accident or benefits such as disability insurance.

While the chances of claims being made in such areas are relatively low, the peace of mind and reassurance they provide to some employees – especially those with large families – can be enough to help them make the decision to take up employment with your firm rather than any other.

Retirement benefits

While many of the youngest recruits to your business will be a long way from retirement, they will still be keen to know what contributions you are willing to make to help secure their long-term futures. While in previous generations were more likely to stick with one employer for many years and therefore were willing to take whatever retirement benefits were on offer, workers from today’s generation are far more discerning, especially as they are likely to move from one company to another over the course of their careers.

One way to leverage this in your favor is to offer to match a larger proportion of your employees’ contribution to the retirement plan but only after they have logged a fixed amount of time with your company.

Rapidly advancing technology allows more teachers to connect with more students in ways that were just a pipe dream a few years ago. Most kids today are digital natives. They are much more comfortable with technology than their parents, a point that many pundits fail to understand. So, teachers essentially neglect these students if they fail to use the platforms that engages the most young minds possible.

Terminology may be part of the problem. eLearning does not simply mean online classes. Instead, it’s an umbrella term for a wide variety of classroom management system tools for use in both traditional classrooms and at-home living rooms.

How eLearning Works in K-12 Environments

Sometimes, eLearning involves at-home, online instruction. In the old days, physically moving students from one place to another was a significant challenge. Today, the problem is convincing these children, and their parents, to come to a brick and mortar school.

Some kids, or their parents, worry about bullying or violence at large public schools. If these fears are real enough to impede the learning process, there is a problem. Many parents in this situation would probably like to homeschool their children, but the parents may work long hours or not feel qualified to take on this responsibility.

In both these cases, eLearning fills in the gap. It gives kids who learn better at home an option, and also empowers more parents to take more control over their children’s educations.

There are some classroom applications as well. Tools like smart whiteboards and PowerPoint presentations engage children in ways that chalkboards cannot. Additionally, eLearning allows gifted or challenged students to virtually connect with similar students at other physical locations.

Some eLearning Pros and Cons

Classroom technology is great for teachers. It allows some students to work on projects with little supervision so teachers can spend time with students who may be struggling. Moreover, all these students have access to online resources through eLearning that improve their lives in the long term. School districts win as well, because they save money on student transportation costs.

Special care must be given to students with ADHD and other disabilities. These individuals simply do not learn in the same way as other students, so eLearning must never be a one-size-fits-all approach.

Classroom apps are outstanding as well, probably because children are used to that type of platform. Moreover, these apps are usually customizable to account for different student needs. Specifically, apps shrink the achievement gap between students. Moreover, they allow collaborative work and allow for instant feedback.

It’s important to remember that eLearning is only a tool. It cannot substitute for the passion and drive of a teacher. Some other concerns include over-stimulation. Over-reliance on technological devices may alter brain development. However, there is very little firm research in this area, and such issues only occur when teachers emphasize technology too much.

Technology allows teachers to reach out to students that they may have otherwise been unable to connect with. The benefits are obvious for students, parents, educators, and society in general.