Let’s start with the facts

The Academy of Management conducted a study that is changing minds and workplace internet usage.  The study was conducted over three groups: a control group with no privileges, a second group with breaks but no social media freedom, and a third group that could use their break time however they chose to, including 10 minutes of social media surfing.  Results showed that the third group, who had the freedom to surf social media, was 16% more productive than the second group (who were allowed breaks but not allowed to browse social media) and 38% more productive than the control group.  

Where does the power lie?

The power in increased productivity lies in unplugging.  By affording employees 10 minutes to check Facebook or browse Pintrest you are allowing them to momentarily check out of work andcheck in with the other, social areas of their lives. Having taken a few minutes to address their personal lives, employees are able to dive back into work with a regenerated focus and energy.  

Also, employees who are given this kind of freedom feel less like mindless work robots.  These employees acknowledge feeling a better balance between work and life, a mood that can also increase workplace motivation and productivity. 

Still feeling hesitant?  Let’s address the top 3 concerns:

Concern #1: Things will get out of control

If you are concerned that allowing people 10 minutes of Facebook will quickly turn into profile-picture cubicle photo shoots, then share that hesitation with your staff. 

Explain to employees why you are trying this privilege out, that you hope it will help them relax and then in turn, become more focused.  However you are worried that this privilege might become abused. 

Sharing hesitations and emphasizing that this type of activity is a “privilege” will makeemployees think twice about taking advantage.  Also, try designating a universal “surfing break” for the entire office, i.e. from 10:30-10:40am.  This will ensure that people stick to the 10 minute time frame, knowing that only during those times will open screens to those sites be appropriate. 

Concerns #2: These sites will open us up to security issues

Before you allow social sites in the office, remind employees of the dangers of hackers and malware; they should never disclose personal or professional information, nor should they ever download something from an unidentified source. 

If you are still concerned about that YouTube video spreading a virus, limit social media surfing to personal Smartphone use only.  

Concern #3: Where do we draw the line?

When Yahoo turns into Facebook, which then turns into an online poker site, which turns into a porn site – you have a problem.  

When testing out social site privileges, be sure to draft a formal internet usage policy that pointsout what type of personal sites are (and always will be) forbidden in the workplace.

In summary

You might feel like a babysitter, affording each employee a cookie of social media time, but studies point out that the results of happier, more energized and productive employees will be worth the handout…or at the very least, will be worth giving it a try. 

What do you think about allowing social media in the workplace?

About the Author: Kelly Gregorio writes about topics that affect entrepreneurs while working at Advantage Capital Funds, a provider of merchant advances. You can read her business blog athttp://www.advantagecapitalfunds.com/blog.

1. Use the Internet to Research Potential Employers

Before you can find the perfect job, you need to know about what different companies do — who their customers are and what their philosophy is like. Visit the websites of several companies to help you decide whether you really want to work for them. Company websites often have information about past projects and future programs. Use this to make an informed choice.

You should also search the sites of newspapers, trade publications, and message boards for information about potential employers. Do they get high reviews from employees? Do they follow ethical guidelines? Are they the kind of company that will continue growing

Learning about these companies will also help you tailor your résumé and interview to match their interests. The more you know about them, the more prepared and dedicated you’ll look.

2. Look for Jobs Currently Available at Your Target Companies

Don’t waste your time chasing jobs that don’t exist. Unless you have a revolutionary ideas that could transform a company, you probably won’t convince them to create a new position just for you.

Instead, use websites with job postings to find companies currently looking for employees. If you’re in the finance field, just for example, search popular job boards for listings with companies like Fisher Investments on CareerBuilder.com. That could help you narrow your scope so you focus on jobs that you can actually get instead of wasting time on positions that don’t even exist.

3. Build an Online Resume That Highlights Your Talents

Companies want to hire employees who feel comfortable working with a variety of technologies. Even if you’re working in a seemingly unrelated field, having some tech experience will make you stand out from other applicants.

Instead of just telling companies that you have these skills, show them by creating an online resume that highlights your talents. Build a professional-looking site with your résumé, YouTube videos, and links to your work.

Try to incorporate as many of your skills as you can without making the page overly complicated or gaudy.

4. Connect With Potential Employers OnliEd

Make yourself a presence at the company before you even apply for a job. If the company has a Facebook page, you should like it. If the company’s managers have LinkedIn profiles, connect with them. Follow them on Twitter; you can even make yourself stand out early by posting on the company’s blogs and mention their innovations in your Tweets.

Chances are that no one will take notice of this until you apply. Once managers start flipping through applications, though, one of them might notice that your name stands out. If you’ve already promoted the company and participated in online conversations, then you look like someone with a legitimate interest in the organization’s work.

That sincere interest can go a long way when it comes down to you and equally qualified applicants. Do you have other tips for scoring the perfect job online? How have you used your tech skills to score a job you never thought you’d get?

Below are five simple steps you can take to protect your business and those who work for you.

Brand Yourself Like a Marketing Pro

As Quick as One Day Deliveries

Depending on the destination, your package can be delivered as quickly as the next day. International couriers have branches in different countries worldwide. If the recipient happens to live in cities where branches are just within driving distance, the parcel could arrive within just a day or so, unless there are delays which are sometimes unavoidable.

Intercontinental Deliveries

Big courier companies can accommodate deliveries across different continents. They have the ability to bring important documents, small parcels and huge packages to many different destinations all over the globe. And with the more sophisticated technology and modes of transportation at their disposal, they can deliver different items that have to be delivered on any given day. Whether it is a vital piece of business information or a small parcel to a lover from overseas, courier services often see to it that they go the extra mile to bring the package to their target destination.

Connecting Sender and Recipient

Shipping services have been used for many decades. Since the day of kings and horsemen, the delivery of messages and goods had been delegated to messengers or anybody given the task. The system may have improved immensely over the years but the basics are still the same. The messenger (or now the courier) always has this huge task which is to deliver and create a connection between the sender of the item and the one who is going to receive it. But unlike the system employed in the bygone days, the present structure has the remarkable ability of delivering more quickly and quite methodically. And the result is a better connection between two people or organizations that are miles or even continents apart.

On a Business Perspective

International transactions between businesses have become easier and made more possible by courier services. No wonder why a lot of online businesses have flourished because they can now tap into foreign markets. Suppliers from abroad can readily deliver orders because international couriers are just a phone call away.

There is no need to wait for months for an order to arrive since deliveries can be as fast as the following day. As a matter of fact, a lot of businesses rely mainly on courier services to ensure smooth operations. From the order of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, courier services play a major role in the entire process.

For the average person, courier services are also an indispensable part of life, especially if you are living far from home or in another country perhaps. There will always be a need to deliver personal documents, presents for a special occasion or just a souvenir from one of your travels. And the mere thought that one valuable item has traveled a significant distance just to reach the receiver is a very huge connection that only courier services can achieve with such ease.

Angel Investors – The lighter side

Angel investing is becoming more popular in Canada and as a result, more businesses and start-ups are starting every year with funds being provided by these investors. An angel investor can be any individual or group of wealthy individuals that use their own earned cash to fund business start-ups. In return, they tend to receive convertible bonds or a stake in the ownership; however some angel investors may not want a monetary return and may simply want to provide mentoring services for younger entrepreneurs or to be part of economic trends. Angel investors typically invest in companies that are less than 5 years old and are in the manufacturing, software, orenergy service industries. Since angels invest their own money in the firm, they will generally require a very high return on investment (20-30x) in a short amount of time (less than 5 years). As a result, angel investors make very little investments, around 1 or 2 per year to reduce their own risk. In an infographic on VentureBeat.com, statistics say an angel investor is on average, 47 years old earningapproximately $90 000 in annual income and invests $37 000 per venture.

Venture Capitalists – The darker side

Venture capitalists can be described in one way as the polar opposite of angel investing. Venture capitalists are similar to angel investors in the sense that they provide funding to business start-ups; however, the source of the funding is different. Venture capitalists manage pooled resources, typically money of others through a fund. Venture capitalists are conclusively professional investors, who have experience and education in the business and finance field to make decisions and manage funds. Venture capital ventures are almost always focused on making a monetary return. They are less passionate about how they can benefit the company and are typicallyonly focused on the math aspect of making money.Venture capitalists usually provide investments in the hundreds of thousands or even greater, unlike angel investors.  Although both investments require high returns, if the business fails, venture capitalists may feel less of a pinch than angel investors since it is not their personal financial loss. The most popular industry for these type of investments are in technology, further supporting the fact of high six figure investments.

Where to invest?

Before making an investment with either of these two investors, calculate how much money you you would like to receive for funding. According to a ProfitGuide article, a good way to determine your startup funding is to calculate your capital costs for six months’ operating costs plus 10% contingency money. Why 10% contingency money?Simply because starting a business can be more costly than anticipated. If the budget is greater than $75 000, then proposing to a venture capitalist is ideal. It is beneficial to also take into account the industry your business will be in. Manufacturing and natural resource service industries are typically invested by angel investors while technological industries are more popular among venture capitalists. One final thing to take into account is your own experience. Some angel investors will be more concerned for the future of your company and will be providing advice and useful information for you and your business. If you are still unsure of which investor to go to,then simply do both. Both investors receive hundreds (sometimes thousands) of business plans for review, so it doesn’t hurt to get a better chance.

Author Bio: Philip Szpargala is majoring inentrepreneurship in the Ted Rogers School of Management program at Ryerson University, located in Toronto, Ontario.

Many employees want to be healthy, but simply lack the motivation and encouragement they need to get started. Small business owners also want their employees to be healthy. Healthy employees call in sick to work less, have more energy and maintain better focus throughout the workday.

As a small business owner, you can easily inspire healthy living in the workplace that benefits both your business and your team. Here are a few ways you can encourage your team to be healthier today.

Start a running club

Teams that work out together, work better together. Start a running club in your small business as a healthy team building option. Your employees, regardless of fitness level, can get together to be active while also building their work relationships. Team members encourage each other to do their best while working out together. This translates into more encouragement and positivity in the workplace, which benefits your business as a whole.

Give longer lunch breaks for gym-goers

If your team does not seem interested in working out together, try giving longer lunch breaks to those who do want to go to the gym. This helps get your employees blood pumping, and allows them to be more energetic and focused for work in the afternoon. When your small business gives incentives for people to stay healthy, your team and your business benefit.

Invest in ergonomic furniture and accessories

Ergonomic office furniture has come a long way and now it is more affordable for small businesses. By making a small investment in ergonomic chairs for employees who suffer from back pain, or astanding desk for employees who hate sitting all day, your team will feel better on the job. As a small business owner, you may benefit. Employees who feel better at workgenerally take fewer days off because of aches and pains. In addition, they become more loyal to you as an employer because of the investment you make in their health.

Encourage healthier eating around the office

Many small businesses bring in donuts on Fridays, or stock break rooms with unhealthy snacks. Encouraging proper eating habits to keep employees well-nourished can be as easy as changing up the treats in the break room. Instead of donuts, bring in a fruit basket. Instead of chips, provide fresh vegetables to nibble on. Making small changes such as this helps your employees get the nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy at work.

When your company invests in the health and overall well-being of your employees, you generate loyalty that cannot be beat. What other ways have you encouraged healthy living into your office?

About the Author: Kimberly Crossland has a passion for small business and health. She frequently combines the two by blogging about healthy workplace habits and innovative office furniture. To learn more about where your small business can find ergonomic furniture and accessories, visitwww.thehumansolution.com

Thus, it’s important to get your brand and company out there through social media. However, it can be a bit daunting at first. Perhaps the most important thing to take into account is that you need to have an engaging personality through social media.

Even though it may be a broadly received message, you should treat social media as if you are talking individually to your customers.

Be an Individual, Not a Company

Even if your social media presence is primarily through a Twitter or Facebook account that is branded simply as a company, try to have your social media managers and employees show an individual personality through those accounts.  

Remember that users expect to interact with one another on social media websites or platforms; they do not want to be talked at by a company. Instead, they expect to be talked to by other friendly individuals. Allow your employees to attach a name to the accounts or sign their messages.

In fact, as an owner, President or CEO, try to put your name out there through social media and take some time to speak with potential customers. It’ll give your company a human element, which is important. Just remember that if you or your employees are accessing any accounts while on the go, use yourVPN for maximum security.

Engage Your Audience

Even though your messages may have the potential to reach many people at once, try to engage with individual users whenever possible. This will show that you are interested in reaching out to your customers to provide interaction and customer service.

Instead of just sharing news about your company and links to your content or website, try to offer ideas and information of value to your audience.

Overview

This is the type of strategy that is relatively easy to utilize once you know that it’s a good idea. Simply show as much individuality and personality as possible through social media and your company should reap the rewards.

This can be accomplished in part by putting the right people in charge of your social media outreach.
About the Author: Melissa Tyler reviews the best VPN providers at VPN Ten.com. She loves to write posts about VPN security, safety technology and anonymously browsing. You can check more here: VPN Ten.

Here are just a few reasons why you may want to consider remote working as an occasional or more permanent arrangement:

Happier Staff

There’s no doubt about it, giving staff the option to work from the comfort of their armchair will definitely make for happier employees. Many will enjoy the relaxed, slow-paced way of working and appreciate the break from the stresses and strains of the office, even for just one day a week. Some may find it allows them to get tasks completed more quickly but it may not suit everyone and some people will find other distractions that may prevent them from working effectively from home.

More Constructive Use Of Office Downtime

Instead of wasting the quieter periods in the office, having long conversations in the kitchen with staff, wandering from desk to desk, having extended coffee breaks etc.Use the time more wisely and choose remote working at quieter times of the month which can help to increase business productivity and prevent too many wasted hours at the office.

Reduce Office Hours And Cut Costs

By assigning a few key staff to work remotely, you can cut office hours, which your employees will be thankful for and cut general costs of running the office, for example; electricity, furniture, heating costs and even help to reduce costs of office space as you the fewer staff the smaller office you will need. With remote working, there may not be any need to relocate to a larger office space, even if the business expands as you can easily select key workers that need to be in the office and those who would be better off working remotely.

Less Sick Days

Everyone is tempted to pull a sickie from work from time to time but by remote working, if you are feeling a bit under the weather, working from home means that you will not be coming in and sharing your germs with everyone else meaning less sick days. For those working from home thatare not well, it provides a more comfortable environment to work in.

Possibility Of Hiring People From Far Away

It’s not always possible to seek employees that live right on the doorstep and there are some that cannot or will not be prepared to commute to work every day, so hiring someone to work remotely can allow you to offset some of your work elsewhere, without the time spent training them up or having to hire more office space or purchase an extra desk. This is also an excellent option for employees with children or those on maternity leave who would still like to work.

About the Author: This guest post has been provided by Maintel who provide contact centre solutions and remote working advice for businesses.

However logistics doesn’t just refer to the supply chain between company and consumer but the supply chain between suppliers – manufacturers and a company. If resources aren’t being received and stock isn’t managed properly, a company will simply lose profit.

Logistics are important when it comes to the manufacturing process. For instance, if you need to create a product which requires different components from suppliers and manufacturers, it’s important that the entire process is streamlined as much as possible. This is so you don’t waste valuable time in waiting for parts before the product can go to the consumer. Careful logistics planning is vital in the creation as well as delivery of products and is pivotal to any business.

Efficient business logistics play a main role in globalisation and enabling your company to deliver goods worldwide. Having good logistics means you can be involved in international trade and be involved in the integrated world economy. It is due to the efficient well thought out logistical systems throughout the world which are the basis for world trade.

Logistics help countries to import and export goods. A country’s ability to grow crops varies and so companies that are in need of certain produce and products can have access to these even if they can’t produce it themselves. Similarly logistics have enabled some countries GDP to increase as they export goods exclusively grown in their country.

Due to the rapid expansion of technological growth, many consumers now make transactions online and businesses have to rely on good logistics in the distribution of goods. The internet has made it even easier for goods to be shipped in a more accurate manner. It has helped to streamline the company to customer process, as some products can literally be delivered directly from the supplier to the customer without the need for warehouse operations.

If you are dealing with perishable goods, then it’s vital you have a strong logistics plan when it comes to the link between the customers, the retailers and the suppliers. The main objective of transportation is to ensure that the products arrive at their destination in good condition and are consumed quickly. 

By ensuring your products and goods are delivered on time, you can help to build customer relations. By creating good customer relations, your service will be spoken about to other potential consumers and this will help to grow your business. Your business logistics can provide a competitive edge over other organisations if you are able to get your products to a consumer quicker than they do.

Ultimately if you want to have a successful business, it’s important that you have good logistical operations in order to increase business efficiency and profit by selling goods quickly when your customers are interested in them.
Author Bio: Siobhan McBride writes on a range of business related topics on logistics and transportation of goods. Click here for more information on how to safely and securely deliver goods.