Business

The majority of people are working from home. While many of them are self-employed, the others are employed by their organizations. The rise in these numbers led to an increase in technological advancements. So, it is no longer about those wires mashups or expensive diverters.

The technology took care of the traditional plug-in or play system. Since these setups use the internet to connect, you can easily install or set up this system at your home. So, to answer your question, “Can I use my work IP phone at home?” The answer is “Yes.”

But how is it possible? Let’s find out now!

Work IP Phone at Home- How can You Use it?

You won’t need any wires or cables to connect a VoIP phone system. So, all you need is an internet connection, and you can practically run it from anywhere. This means that you can physically take such types of Voice and data technology solutions with you to your location and plug the internet connection. Then, you are good to go to place your calls like you did from your workplace.

Since everything is virtual via the cloud, your customers can’t spot the difference. So, you can efficiently conduct your business even if you are sitting in your home in your shorts. The only thing you need is the correct setup and a stable internet connection.

For instance, if you live in New York and have to move to Finland for some reason, you can use the same number to make or receive calls. And with advanced features like Call forwarding, phone support, you can use this VoIP system from anywhere in the world. Not only that, you will be able to page coworkers, dial extensions, or transfer/ receive phone calls— everything you did in your office.

But what do you need?

• Like we mentioned before, you will require high-speed internet.
• You will need a power adapter to use your phone. You can avoid this accessory if you have power over an ethernet network switch at your home.

Wrapping up

Switching from office to home for conducting business might seem a little intimidating. But the transition is not as daunting as it sounds. Using a work IP phone will allow you to cater to your business needs without any hassles. Just make sure you have a stable internet connection and the right tools and technology to improve your capabilities.

But there are a few things that you must check before moving on. For instance, is there any firewall between your client or provider? If so, there might be chances some IP packages get blocked. Also, does either side use NAT, dynamic IP, or IPv4/IPv6? Or is there any latency?

These factors might impact the overall performance. So, get in touch with your organization when setting up this system at your home. Doing so will allow you to work at your maximum capability without causing any setbacks when working from home.

So, are you ready to take the next step?

The name of a business does not have any legal existence. It simply represents a business entity to the public. In other words, it’s not the business entity that can be held responsible for debts and obligations but rather the owner(s).

So, if the business name does not has any legal existence in its own right, why do you need one?

Why Register Your Business Name?

Though the business name is not a necessity, it is still recommended. And, of course, there are several reasons for the same.

For instance, it helps in creating a brand name before your customers. As a result, the customers can trust your business and make valuable contributions (sales) to it.

Besides, having a business name helps distinguish your business from your competitors. Thus, giving you an edge in the market share.

Note: A business name is not the same as the trade name. So, you should rather not confuse these two terms.

How To Register Your Business Name In Alberta?

Once you’ve decided to register your business name in Alberta, you’ll need to follow some provincial obligations and guidelines.

The steps involved are as follows:

Step 1. Choose A Business Name

When choosing a name for your business, you are not required to be unique. However, it does help when you wish to create a brand out of it.

There are specific rules to choosing a business name. For starters, the corporate law in Alberta recommends not using words like ‘limited’, ‘incorporated’, or ‘corporation’ in the title. It would, otherwise, imply that you’re setting up a corporation.

Also, using any french form or abbreviations for these words is not allowed.

Step 2. Get A Business Name Report

It is not mandatory to get a business name report for registering your business name. However, having a report can warn you of the potential dangers.

For instance, if there are other businesses named similarly, you may face infringement charges in the future. Or, at worst, the other company can charge you for reputation damage.

Besides, the report would also suggest trading names that could help your business avoid any legal troubles in the future.

Step 3. Fill Out The Forms

The next step is filling out the necessary forms. Essentially, the form templates may vary from business to business.

For instance, the forms to be filled for a sole proprietorship would differ from those for a Limited Liability Partnership. You’d need to fill out the details for every partner and their contribution to the business in the latter.

This is mandatory as the ordinances would treat your business accordingly. And any discrepancies in the information you supply can land you in legal trouble.

Step 4. Register Your Business With Corporate Registry

The last step is taking all your information to an Alberta registration service provider. You’ll need to hand over the name you propose for your business, the business name report (if you have one), and the forms.

The service provider would then enter your business name into the register. And handover a receipt or acknowledgment of receipt for the same.

And it’s done. Your business name is now legally registered in Alberta, Canada.

 

There is no denying the fact that running a business is a herculean job. After all, there are so many things to manage and aspects to pay attention to. This is especially true for the small businesses trying to scale their operations. Lack of proper organization can spell doom for your growing firm because you will miss out on the essential details about the finances.

The good news is that you no longer need to miss out on any such thing because professional accounting services can take care of all that for you. On that note, here are a couple of reasons for you to outsource accounting services.

Eliminating bias in your transactional records

One of the foremost reasons small businesses need to outsource accounting services is that it reduces the internal influence on accounts. A close friendship between the managers and the accountants can mean the books are getting cooked. This is especially an issue in many family-run or friends-owned businesses. Hiring a third-party service means there will be no influence on the managers.

The experience of the accountants you hire

Outsourcing the services means you have highly experienced individuals handling your financial transactions. You will not have to worry about their competence because a small business accountant comes with professional certifications and credentials. Right from a clear idea about the latest accounting software to the best practices of a business, these accountants know it all.

The faster turnaround time and the consistency

A significant chunk of your time and energy goes into making the right adjustments and reporting your financial transactions. And while you handle this aspect of your business, your core responsibilities take a backseat. But now, you have an efficient third party to look after that for you. You can rest assured knowing that you will get consistent, dependable, and fast delivery of the financial statements.

The added benefit of sound financial advice

For an experienced professional, it will not take too long to know if the investment you are planning is going to be a hit or a major flop. So, while handling your accounts, they will also offer you their expert financial advice as needed. The cost-effective strategies suggested by the experts will help your business in inching closer to its goals.

The savings made on the overall company expenses

Many small business owners are under the impression that hiring a third-party accounting service is simply adding to the expenses. However, this is a wrong perspective to take about these services. Instead, consider how a competent accountant can help save your money from getting wasted. Their in-depth analysis will help in pointing out when the business is spending excessively on something.

The Bottom Line

So, if you plan to make your business grow and expand, hiring a well-reputed accounting service is one of the best decisions you’ll make. It will take a major responsibility off your plate so that you can focus on other areas of your business.

If you have a career or business where sending out direct mail makes sense as a marketing strategy, like for those working in real estate or who own a local business, it’s important that the marketing materials that you make are worth your while and really suit your purpose. However, if you’ve not experienced in this form of marketing and design, you might feel like you’re in way over your head as you try to pull something together.

To assist you in figuring this out, here are three tips for creating marketing materials for direct mail.

Choose The Right Format

The first thing you need to figure out when creating direct mail marketing materials is the exact format that you should be using.

According to Kiely Kuligowski, a contributor to Business News Daily, you can send out postcards, letters, brochures, flyers, and more. What you’ll just want to be sure of is that you pick a format that makes sense for your business. So depending on what it is you do and how you think you can best reach your target, the format you choose will vary. And while kuligowski shares that standard postcards are the most common form or direct mailers that businesses go with, that doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be the best option for you.

Find A Way To Stand Out

Because so many businesses choose to send out direct mailers, and some residents don’t love getting this kind of mail, Inkbot Design and Medium.com recommend that you think outside the box to try to find a way to make your mailers standout.

A few ways you can do this is to include simple items in the packages that you send out, try your hand at 3D packaging, or use actual stamps on whatever direct mail you’re sending out. All of these options will cause the recipient to pause before throwing your item into the garbage. Additionally, the interest you garner from mailing out something a little more interesting could bring you in a lot more business.

Include The Right Information

It’s not only the look of your mailers that you should be concerned with. What’s going to be of the utmost importance to your business is including the right information on your actual mailers. Without this, the whole point of having a mailer could be moot.

According to Steve Milano, a contributor to Chron Small Business, it’s best to include just the pertinent information on your mailer so that it doesn’t look too busy or hard to read. Things like the name of your business, your contact information, and any special offers you’re trying to inform people of or marketing messaging you’re campaigning currently should really be all you include.

If you’re going to start creating direct mailers as part of your business, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in putting these together.

 

Over the last few years, there has been a great boom seen in the cannabis industry. One of the major reasons is that more than half of the United States have legalized cannabis in some form. As you have also stepped into one of the most flourishing industries, it does not mean this is enough. There are many competitors already setting up in the Market. Therefore, you need to think something out of the box to grow your business. Taking technology assistance is also a great initiative and highly considered by successful businesses.

So, if you do not want to leave any stone unturned, whether related to customer satisfaction, understanding regulations, or raising capital for further growth. Here are some assisting tips for you;

• Come Up With A Unique Idea

Coming up in a business with something unique and special is the first step toward success. But, if you have not done that earlier, plan it now. Look at something that your competitors are not selling, but your customers want. This will give the reason to customers visiting your store. The best part is you can also boost your current product’s sales with additional products. For instance, vape lovers always want fancy vape pens compared to sticking with traditional designs only. Hence, offer them a wide variety of pens, especially different designs, shapes, and colors for men and women.

• Understand Your Consumer Base

Customers are the king. Therefore, it is essential to understand your customers’ needs and expectations in-depth and offer them in-store service accordingly. For example, modern customers do not want to carry cash, so installing a Cannabis Point of Sale system at a store is a wonderful choice. You can also set a cashless board in front of the store to attract more customers. In addition, the pos system helps you to keep a record of all financial transactions easily.

To know more about customers, you can ask for filling a feedback form. It helps you to find out the scope for improvement and build strong customer relationships.

• Know the rules (and follow them!)

Cannabis industry regulations are very complicated. Still, you need to understand them for a smooth business process. For this, you need to keep an eye on the state and federal changing policies. If you find it hard to understand, pick a legal expert for your assistance. An attorney will guide you for your products (like medical marijuana or adult-use business) laws in that state. Before that, check out your consultant’s background and same industry experience.

• Raise enough capital

A business cannot be grown without capital. Whether you are thinking about market development, penetration, extension, or diversification, you will need more funds. The bad news is banks’ terms and conditions are complicated to offer the cannabis industry. But the good news is that many lenders and investors want to invest funds in one of the most flourishing industries. So, think about them and start looking.

• Work hard and have fun!

Hope the above information gives you a solid idea about how you can grow your business. Again start with some unique idea and think about your customer’s convenience related to payment or others. Follow government regulations and boost your market niche.

 

The pandemic year has been challenging for small businesses, but things are finally looking up as vaccine rollouts bring fresh hope. You can expect to open as usual within the coming months, so it is time to think about recovery. The best way to make a comeback is by taking a strategic approach. After all, the virus is still here, and you cannot be too sure about new strains or resurging waves. It makes sense to create a comeback strategy that imbibes recovery, resilience, and growth. Although it sounds overwhelming, there isn’t much you need to get your small business back on track. Here are some tactics you can embrace as elements of your comeback strategy.

Prioritize the safety of employees and customers

Even as the fear of the virus recedes due to widespread vaccination, safety still remains the top concern for everyone. Your comeback strategy should prioritize the safety of employees and customers to ensure favorable outcomes. Employees will be more productive if they feel safe as they are back to work. Similarly, customers will be happy to get back to brick-and-mortar stores if they are sure about safety from the virus at your premises. Go the extra mile with premises safety measures and let employees and customers know about the initiative.

Consolidate your finances

When you think about recovery, cash is the first thing that comes to mind. At this stage, nothing matters more than consolidating your finances because sales may still come in a trickle. You must have a smooth cash flow in the first place. Savings keep you comfortable during the comeback phase, but you may not have enough of them. It makes sense to explore quick funding options so that you can keep going during tight spots. Here are some FAQs About Fast Loans you can go through to ensure that you know everything about emergency funding. Creating a budget that cuts expenses is another smart way to consolidate your finances as you recover and rebuild.

Focus on things you can control

Making a comeback isn’t easy, specifically after a crisis of this magnitude. It is easy to feel disheartened because of the challenges that stand ahead. But you can focus on things you can control to stay afloat and get your business thriving again. Work on things like rebuilding your credit scores, reconnecting with suppliers, and leveraging relationships with loyal customers. A strong credit position sets you up for financing for future ventures while getting back to work with existing suppliers is a good way to fetch discounts. Loyal customers can help you extend your market with word-of-mouth recommendations. Having an empathic attitude towards employees will also boost loyalty and retention.

Recovery for small businesses isn’t a mean feat, but the right approach can make it much easier than you believe. Consider it a collective effort and seek the support of employees, suppliers, and customers. Loans can be real saviors during this phase, so don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it. But make sure that you borrow responsibly and repay on time.

 

Today, the fashion industry is among the most critical sectors that drive the global economy. It doesn’t matter if you own a small retail store or a store with premium luxury brands; you’ll get numerous opportunities to become an industry leader.

However, one of the problems in the fashion retail industry is to synchronize and combine online and offline price information for a cross-channel experience. Updating price tags online is usually a hassle-free job. On the contrary, relabeling price tags in an offline fashion store can take a lot of time and effort.

So, if you are a retail store owner and especially one that dabbles in the fashion industry, Digital Price tags are just the thing you need right now. Electronic tags can provide your business with reasons to minimize expenses and maximize profits. Additionally, with its seamless connectivity and Omni-channel experience, it will give your customers a new-age shopping experience.

However, that is not all. Here are the top 4 reasons why your fashion retail business needs to use the technology of digital price tags. Let’s get you started:

Reliable and Accurate Pricing

Paper price quotations can create a lot of costly errors for you. It can happen due to missing tags, shelf crawl, or old pricing that needs to be changed. It will give your customers reasons to be dissatisfied with your services which might begin to be overcharged. As a result, your sales start to drop, and customers slowly lose interest in your store.

Electronic price tags ensure price integrity throughout the store by providing customers with reliable and accurate information. With digital tags, your customers won’t get confused every time they select an article to buy.

Omni-Channel Synchronization

With digital price tags, the price on your store apparel is precisely the same as the price online or on a mobile app. This creates a seamless and trustworthy shopping experience for your customers. Consequently, the experts at Ses-imagotag.com believe that the price synchronization you get with digital tags can become a prime factor in the success of your business. Plus, it creates an integrated shopping experience for the customers, which only adds more value to your business.

Price Agility

Pricing changes are often time-sensitive, and if you are still using paper tags and have hundreds of products to update, mark this task as impossible (in a given time). On the other hand, electronic price tags allow you to update prices and promos over any number of articles in just a matter of seconds.

Enhances In-Store Productivity

Price changes usually come in bulk, which can cause many staffing issues. This demands your employees to spend their time updating the price of clothing articles in store, which is one of the most tedious and unproductive tasks for the employees of a clothing store owner.

With digital tags, you throw this problem out of the way, as you can update the prices whenever you want. All you have to do is press a few buttons from the backend. And your employees will keep doing what matters the most, serving your customers.

Conclusion

With digital price tags, you make the buying and selling process a whole lot easier. Your customers will find your business more attractive and find more reasons to visit your store. As a result, you make more sales and earn better profits.

 

The call for environmental awareness and concern is stronger than ever. To enumerate, global warming, air pollution, plastic wastes in the oceans, and food wastage are some major concerns that make the current generations worry so much.

As a response to these pressing issues, consumers are now shifting their purchasing trend in favor of socially responsible products. Even if it means costing more, many consumers are willing to pay for the price.

Businesses are leveraging this trend to address consumers’ social and environmental responsibility demands while providing consumers with their products or services.

There are various types of these marketing strategies, which are collectively known as green marketing.

What Is Green Marketing?

To put it simply, green marketing means selling products or services to consumers by accentuating their environmental benefits. Other terms for green marketing are “eco-marketing” and “environmental marketing.”

Consumers who are environmentally and socially conscious tend to gravitate toward brands that use the terms “eco-friendly,” “organic,” “recyclable,” or “sustainable.”

As a backwash of the destructive impact of humanson our planet and the consumers’ collective call for more environmentally aware brands, companies are taking steps to shift their missions and practices from being revenue-oriented to environmentally aware.

Though green marketing can be more expensive than other types of marketing, the ever-increasing demand makes it profitable in the long run. Nonetheless, you could always explore financial buffers, such as life insurance and investment options, as they are the best ways to protect your business interests.

The Paradigm of Green Marketing

Green marketing is more than just advertising the environmental characteristics of your products or services. Otherwise, your brand might be accused of greenwashing. Green marketing encompasses modifying the brand and making changes in the manufacturing process.

Considering the consequences we are experiencing due to environmental degradation, green marketing offers an innovative approach. Brands are putting effort to balance satisfying customer needs while doing the least harm to the environment.

All these said, consumers essentially play an active role in the green initiatives of brands.

Effective Green Marketing Strategies

Companies have to be mindful of their green marketing tactics to avoid greenwashing. Thus, here are some of the proven effective green marketing strategies:

1. Green Design

Companies often end up with their products or services being tagged as “greenwashed” because they were not considered “green” even from the start. Thus, it is crucial for companies using green marketing to ensure that their products or services are green from the beginning.

This means companies should implement green strategies even at the initial period – that is, during the planning and designing stages.

With a green design, the focus is on creating products that are convenient and flexible but also long-lasting.

When we talk of green design, it is usually associated with construction. Rather than use typical building materials, efforts are made to select powerful alternatives, as these substitutes are eco-friendly and healthier for the occupants.

2. Green Positioning

Green positioning aims to highlight the brand’s environmentally sound product attributes. No matter how eco-friendly the product is, it will not be commercially successful without effectively communicating its green branding attributes.

One of the brands known for its effective green positioning is The Body Shop. It has been approved the gold standard for non-animal tested products. It is also known for its advocacy against domestic violence and AIDS, and the brand does away with demeaning-to-women images in its advertisements.

3. Green Packaging

Green packaging is another efficient green marketing strategy leveraged by companies. By using eco-friendly packaging, businesses can draw more and more environmentally conscious consumers.

Green packaging simply means using materials and manufacturing processes for packaging with low to no impact on the environment. With biodegradable packaging, customers can visibly see that your business is committed to sustainability.

When it comes to green packaging, one great example is Starbucks.

In 2005, Starbucks became LEED certified. However, the company has more plans beyond that. It aimed to eliminate all plastic straws by 2020 and open over 10,000 eco-friendly stores by 2025.

4. Green Disposal

Green disposal aims to make allowances to accommodate all the aspects of a product’s life cycle. Everything, from its production to its disposal, should be sustainable. Rather than resorting to unsustainable disposable methods, old products and materials are recycled.

This green marketing strategy has, in fact, influenced food-related industries to create food recycling programs.

Final Word

Greenwashing may come off as the easiest green marketing technique, as it is inexpensive and convenient. But resorting to this could mean losing your business’s merited reputation and even its potential.

By sticking with legit and proven green marketing techniques, your company will see more profits and build its reputation of being trustworthy and environmentally friendly.

The pandemic crisis led people to limit physical interactions. Moreover, the self-imposed social distancing put the brick and mortar retail virtually on hold. In the wake of a tumultuous 2020, the world saw an accelerated growth of eCommerce with a shift in consumer preferences. Likewise, cryptocurrency topped the list of buzzwords in the same time frame.

After reaching $50,000 in the stock markets, it has been all the rage, making it the world’s no.1 digital asset. If you go by a poll conducted on LinkedIn, more than 70% of respondents see cryptocurrency becoming an inherent part of the transportation and supply chain market. Surprisingly, experts predict it to reach $57 million by 2025, making it the major disruptor in the world of eCommerce.

Not only male counterparts but even women entrepreneurs also take on the new challenges presented in the wake of the pandemic. So, unless you are doing your business under a rock, you will likely hear the chatter around Bitcoin (one of the most popular cryptocurrencies).

Understandably, it might have prompted you to ask a few questions:

• Why should you start accepting bitcoin payments?
• Will it be fruitful for your business?

This article is a short guide to help you get a solid understanding of bitcoin to give you a clear picture for better bottom-line results. Let’s begin!

Bitcoin For Your Ecommerce Business: Why Should You Opt For One in 2021?

While bitcoin offers a variety of benefits, when it comes to eCommerce stores, it provides the following advantages.

Bitcoin Transactions are Irreversible

With all the payment methods available, such as credit cards/ debit cards, there is always a window of time to file for a dispute. Unfortunately, the window is for about 60 days if they purchase through their credit card.

Contrary to that, if a merchant uses a bitcoin payment gateway, it puts the power back into his/her hands. In layman’s terms, once the party makes the payment, they can’t retrieve it back without the merchant’s consent. Thus, allowing business owners to eliminate the chargeback costs. Thus, making it even more difficult for cybercriminals to commit any eCommerce fraud.

Processing Fees is Lower Compared to Credit Cards

Since any government or financial institution does not regulate bitcoin, it puts the middle man on hold. In other words, the transactions take place directly between the buyer and the seller. Most importantly, even if there is any form of processing fees for BTC payments, it is far lower than that of credit cards.

As per the experts, an eCommerce site can look for a BTC processor that charges as low as 0% if there are low volume sales and a maximum up to 1% if the sales increase. Specific reports suggest that bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies will, in fact, become the primary driver for eCommerce in the undeveloped marketplaces of Asia and the Middle East.

Enables You to Expand Your Customer Base

A growing number of customers use BTC to purchase goods or services, thanks to such a more comprehensive network of bitcoin ATMs. They use a bitcoin ATM locator to find the ATMs near their location to complete their essential tasks. So, if you also start accepting digital currency, it will set you apart from your competitors.

Some experts even suggest that by offering a Bitcoin ATM, you can establish yourself as a reputable brand in sync with the future.

Allows You to Conduct Business Easier Internationally

It won’t be an issue for people living in developed countries to find a bank or services like PayPal. However, it might not be the same if you wish to expand your business internationally, especially in developing countries.

With bitcoin being a peer-to-peer service, all the payments reach their destination safely and securely. This allows even marketers from this part of the world to take part in online commerce. And since it’s free, secure, instant, and scalable, and most importantly, accessible from anywhere in the world, why will you ignore this fantastic opportunity?

Now that you know how using a cryptocurrency can help you with your business, the next step is “how to get started?” Please scroll down to learn more about it.

How to Accept Currency on Your eCommerce Site?

Since you already have an eCommerce site, you won’t have to wait for long. All you need to do is integrate it with a BTC payment processor. Depending on the type of business, you must do your research and look for the options.

Since all the eCommerce platforms already have integrated this option, it won’t be much hassle for you. You can even opt for Flexepin vouchers for your eCommerce site.

But do you know how to evaluate different BTC processors?

You need to keep in mind a few factors to see what will work the best for you. For instance, you need to ask for the transaction fees charged by the processors. Opt for the one that has rates as low as 1%.

Further, you must look for the frequency of the payouts. Some promise to initiate payouts daily, while others say it might take as much as three days. Once you sort these elements, you must look for all the payout currencies that you prefer.

Ideally, most bitcoin processors allow merchants to withdraw payments in US dollars and GBP. But if you are looking for something else, make sure to ask the provider for that.

Other than these, you can also look for options like custom integrations, payment buttons, and others for a hassle-free shopping experience for your customers.

Wrapping up

With so much happening around, adopting new trends is the only way to stay competitive. You will be surprised to know that cryptocurrency or BTC is working hand-in-hand for effective movement of goods by simplifying the supply chain management and tracking commodities from point A to B.

And since the information is readily available, even the average consumer or merchants quickly adopt and adapt to this trend. So, why not use the same to navigate the challenges you face amidst the growing pandemic scare?

Richard Branson, a renowned businessman, once said publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front-page ad.

Before we get into the importance of public relations in business, there are a few things you must know about. Many business owners confuse PR with free advertisement. But they can’t be more wrong. Let’s get one thing clear, PR is not an advertisement, nor is it free. As a matter of fact, it is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Also, it is one of the traditional marketing tools that is proven to give the best returns to the business.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive into why public relations is considered a lifeline of every business.

• The Primary Role Of Public Relations

In simple words, PR is a communication process business owners use to connect to their target audience and the general public. The idea is to gain the audience’s trust and organically convince them to support your business. Public relations is all about creating a positive brand image and fostering relationships with potential consumers, stakeholders, and business partners. Think of it as building the reputation of your business in the industry.

Also, being a business owner, you might be familiar with the importance of word-of-mouth marketing. That’s precisely what PR focuses on. Here are some other primary roles of PR that can benefit your business in the long run.

• Builds the credibility of your business in the industry: This is done by sending out authentic information, messages and pulling together bona fide views and opinions from knowledgeable executives to the outside world.
• Develops personal, and strong relationships: A strong PR strategy focuses on setting up and strengthening ongoing relationships with influencers, investors, target audience, stakeholders, media professionals, and other business professionals. Such relationships add value to your business and can turn out to be an investment in the future.
• Advertisement vs. Public Relations

Advertising is to say how good your business is and PR is getting someone else to say the same thing.

As mentioned earlier, advertisement and public relations are two different concepts. You shell out hefty sums for advertisements because you need to play your ads repeatedly to bombard the audience. Even then, the results are unpredictable.

On the other hand, PR allows your business to feature and get viral in prominent magazines, newspapers, or online portals. It boosts your brand identity and makes your business credible enough with validation from knowledgeable entities. These entities often include renowned publications, dependable journalists, and other important forms of third-party media. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that PR does have the upper hand when your business needs to gain a foothold in the respective market or industry.

• How to get started?

Now that you know everything about PR and how important it is for the sustainability of your business, you must be thinking about where to start. That’s alright because we have listed some PR tools for you to incorporate into your business plan.

Let’s take a look at some of them.

• Press releases: Its primary purpose is to promote something meaningful and specific. The document adheres to a strict format containing all the necessary information about anything that you want to share on behalf of your business.

The goal is to notify the media so that they can use their tactics to spread the word. Also, the content in a press release is written keeping in mind the interest of the target audience and media professionals.

• Building Media Relations: One of the most effective PR strategies is to build positive media relations. According to industry professionals, media relations are vital marketing tools that can help propel your business and take your brand to a whole new level.

The best way to do it is by writing pitches to journalists and other industry professionals. It is written to convince them to upload or release a positive story or review of the business or by hosting a press conference. The tool also plays an important role in increasing brand awareness, elevating its reputation, and generating leads in the market.

Remember, communication is the key to building effective and strong media relations for your business. Thus, make sure that you establish a healthy relationship with local media and news agencies as they are one of the excellent channels to deliver the intended message. Then executed correctly, media relations can prove to be an intangible asset for your company.

• Corporate Social Responsibility: Companies that earn good credits by being socially responsible have a huge scope for achieving a more positive image than those who are not. Nevertheless, you can also count on CSR initiatives to provide a differentiating factor for businesses.

In fact, you’ll be surprised to know that around 91% of global consumers believe that businesses should be able to look beyond making profits. Not only this, but 90% of the consumers have also admitted that they would boycott a company if they get to know about their deceptive and irresponsible practices. Addressing current issues related to society and the environment, hosting charity events and fundraisers will get you into the good books of your potential customers. For instance, you can organize a free health camp for heart patients or a fundraiser for homeless people. Or if possible, you can give a handsome donation to support a good cause.

In simple words, CSR is all about doing good and giving back to the community. It creates a ripple effect for your business reputation and helps in earning good credits.

Before implementing any PR tool and strategy in your marketing plan, you should know that one size doesn’t fit all. Every business requires a different approach and needs different strategies to gain positive results.

Wrapping Up!

Public relations is one of the traditional marketing tools that has evolved with time. The influx of social media and online portals has certainly created hype in the PR strategies. With online media, you can easily break geographical barriers and be visible to your target audience organically. Considering that, drafting strong PR strategies can undoubtedly be a worthwhile endeavor for your business.