APRIL 28, 2014One of the challenges of running a small business is the all-consuming nature of it. Not only are the day-to-day pressures overwhelming, but technology puts you on call 24/7. It’s not surprising so many entrepreneurs struggle to find a work-life balance.

Like many small-business owners, OPEN Forum community member Bennett Johnson knows all too well the push and pull between work and life, which is why the small-business consultant, entrepreneur coach and founder of Arete Business Methods

, recently asked the OPEN Forum community the following question:

Just Say No

Though she finds doing so challenging, OPEN Forum community member Natascha Thomson, owner and founder of Marketing Xlerator

, and author of 42 Rules for B2B Social Media Marketing,

says “no” often. This helps her stay in control, and not become overwhelmed by taking on more work than she can handle. To ensure that those “no’s” don’t affect her bottom line, Thomson doesn’t undersell herself or her services and charges accordingly.Julie Gray, COC, organizational business coach and founder of Profound Impact Coaching

, agrees with Thomson. “It starts with the right mindset,” she says. “You have to realize that you really can’t do it all and that you are going to have to say ‘no’ to some great ideas and people.”

Prioritize and Organize

Deciding when to say yes and no and how much work you can take on requires excellent organization and prioritization skills, Gray explains. “Just like everything else, if you want to make work-life balance happen, it has to be a priority.” She suggests using an organizational system for both work and home life “so that you know you are operating efficiently and can trust that your most important priorities get done.”

Sidney Blank, a partner with MBLM

, agrees that an organizational system makes all the difference. “I use my calendar to actively schedule time to get the work done that I’ve committed to,” he says. “Using my calendar is my best defense against the scope creep of my to-do list.” Blank also has a schedule for managing email. He checks it before going to bed and upon getting up, which helps ensure he attends to email in a timely and efficient manner.

Separate Work and Home

Whether you work from home or in an outside office, make your office space all about work. A few family photos are fine, but avoid bringing in too many items that symbolize home. Likewise, avoid the proverbial “bringing work home.” It’s a lot easier to relax in your living room and enjoy the company of family and friends when you don’t have reminders of pending projects staring back at you, just as it’s easier to get work done when your thoughts aren’t drifting home every few minutes.

Work “Regular” Hours

Nicole Beckett, president of Premier Content Source

, finds that her best defense against being off-balance with work and life is to stick to a Monday through Friday schedule. “Yes, there’s the occasional Saturday that I catch up on stuff, but the vast majority of my weeks are Monday to Friday,” she says, though she admits sticking to a five-day-a-week schedule took awhile to learn.“When I first started my business, I worked constantly,” she says. “I even had my smartphone ‘ding’ with every email notification. With clients all over the world, that ‘ding’ pops up constantly.” Beckett found she could only deal with that hectic pace for a couple of months.

“While it was important to work hard to get the business going, that’s not a pace anyone can keep up forever,” she says. “Once you learn that the world won’t stop spinning on its axis if you shut the computer off for the night or over the weekend, you’re much happier.”

Take Baby Steps

If your work-life balance is anything but balanced, start by making small changes to introduce more personal time into your schedule. Try going home an hour earlier or coming in an hour later once a week and spending the free time however you wish.

Even when your schedule is particularly hectic, it’s good for you to take 30 minutes to do something you like, such as take a walk, read a book or watch a favorite TV program. (And, yes, you can find the time.)

Finding a work-life balance might seem challenging at first, but once you get the hang of carving out some “me” time, you’re likely to be more relaxed and as a result increase your entrepreneurial productivity, creativity and profits.

Read more articles on productivity.

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“Businesses have started moving away from the idea of social media being a separate entity and are now fully incorporating it into their marketing, PR and customer service campaigns,” says Todd Grossman, CEO of Talkwalker, a marketing analysis tool that assists businesses in developing a social media strategy and measuring results. “Many business owners now realize that the data produced by social networks holds a treasure trove of marketing and PR information.”

Amidst the many platforms and online chatter, it’s often challenging for a business owner to know where and how to focus social media efforts. But knowing what’s trending in social media may help you pinpoint where to focus your efforts so you can leverage its many aspects.

Visual Storytelling Is a Growing Trend

“One of the most powerful trends in social media is live video, which is a powerful and captivating resource for businesses,” says Jay York, social media manager for EMSI Public Relations. He has extensive experience in social media marketing dating back to the early days of MySpace and LiveJournal.

“With support from Facebook and Instagram in the form of automatic push notifications to followers, it’s possible for a business to quickly garner a sizeable live audience,” says York. “The interactive nature of this platform allows brands to take questions and directly interact with their following.”

Visual storytelling is a big trend, agrees Grossman. “Whether it’s Instagram stories, Facebook Live or on Twitter, telling stories on visuals continues to increase in popularity,” he says. “Brands of all kinds are getting strong engagement from this form of social media posting, and social networks are also favoring this kind of content by pushing users to post live videos.”

While once a “nice to have” bonus, visual content may be a necessity moving forward, believes Fauzia Burke, founder and president of FSB Associates, an online publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors.

“Business owners should incorporate not only graphics, but also video and live streaming into their editorial calendars,” says Burke. “With video, keep in mind that your audience’s attention span is relatively short—particularly when viewing on mobile. Aim for video less than 30 seconds. Longer video can certainly be worthwhile, but know you have a significant chance of losing viewers before they reach the end, so grab them early.”

Social Media Engagement Becoming a Necessity

One of the reasons that video is increasing in popularity is its ability to encourage two-way communication. And connecting and engaging with businesses is something that customers increasingly seek and expect.

“You can’t simply post content and then fall flat on engagement,” says Lori Noonan, owner of Social Caterpillar, which provides business consulting, including content management. “Your followers want to hear from you if they comment or ask a question on your post. Oftentimes, this is where a company’s social media strategy fails. Yes, content is key, but if you engage your customers and fail to keep that interaction, they may be left feeling you’re just a computer and not a person behind the strategy.”

Another important trend is social messaging, agrees York. “As customer service is quickly becoming more socially influenced, brands are finding new resources and channels for handling customer inquiries,” he says. “Facebook has released several tools, including automated messaging, away messages and more to provide more control to brands, while ensuring they’re able to assist customers before any escalation.”

Facebook “reactions” may be weighted more heavily than “likes” in the news feed, allowing users to create posts to summon emotional responses, adds Amanda Corman, social media specialist for The Symphony Agency, a company that provides digital marketing solutions and technology products.

Avoid Intrusive Social Media Marketing and Overselling

“Today’s consumers don’t want brands aggressively pushing their way into social media feeds,” says social media strategist Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Influence Central, which connects brands with influencers. “Pop-ups, banner ads and disruptive brand messages aren’t welcomed. As consumers seek to learn about new products on their own time and when it makes sense for them, we can expect continued resentment over perceived intrusive marketing to further deepen in 2017. Consumers will vote with their feet away from social platforms that overly inundate them with brand marketing.”

That being said, be careful about how you use social media when it comes to pushing your brand, believes Grossman. “Don’t just use social solely as a channel for promoting your own content and news,” he says. “It can be a great channel for promotion, but if that’s all you do, people will turn off. Share and comment on posts that you find interesting, even if they don’t mention your company.”

Noonan agrees. “When using social media, don’t just think about what’s in it for you. Think about what’s in it for your followers. Instead of just promoting a sale, tell customers what’s in it for them by explaining how much they can save. And if you’re a local business that loves to support other local businesses, do it and post about it. Build your followers by being a leader who shows you’re also an active follower.”

Playing it too safe may work against you, suggests Grossman. “Bold statements make an impact on social media. Over the last year, we’ve seen big brands stray from purely industry-related content to take a stand on social issues. This approach does, of course, carry risks, but done well it can help companies develop a stronger connection with their audiences and helps break through an increasingly noisy social media environment.”

Read more articles on social media strategy.

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MARCH 03, 2017  As a business owner, you may sometimes find yourself in awe of the substantial speaking fees commanded by experts in their fields. What you might not know is that you, too, may be able to share your expertise and get paid for doing so.

“Often small-business owners underestimate the value of what they know. Everyone has expertise that can be leveraged into a marketable message that creates a revenue stream,” says certified speaking professional and author Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience

Capitalize on Your Expertise

The best way to get paid for speaking may be to raise your profile as an expert, believes business and speaking coach , author of “The Wealthy Speaker 2.0” and “The Epic Keynote.” “Companies will pay big bucks to solve issues like attracting and retaining top talent,” she says. “Think about what you have to offer. If you own a small business that has been highly successful with customer service, groups may want to hear your tips and tactics.”The key to acquiring impressive speaking gigs may be knowing how to position yourself as a sought after expert within your industry, agrees Douglas Vermeeren, CEO of High Profit Speaker  and author of several books, including Guerrilla Achiever. “You establish expertise by constantly learning about your industry and coming up with problem-solving techniques. Business owners who solve issues become high-demand speakers.”Keynote speaker and business coach Bill Wooditch , founder, CEO and president of The Wooditch Group  suggests letting your mastery do the speaking for you. “Don’t extend too far outside of your knowledge base—stay centered,” he says. “Drill deep on a few areas you’ve mastered and let the audience feel your conviction, confidence and competence.”

Determine Speaking Topics

When you speak, Atkinson suggests focusing on subjects that have earned you business. “What’s your secret sauce for winning business or creating long-term loyal clients?” she asks. “How have you influenced people or been a great leader? If you are overwhelmed by many choices, pick a topic you are truly passionate about.”

Consider being focused about your topic and goals, Vermeeren adds. “Funnel where you want to take your audience so they can achieve powerful results and overcome specific problems. When you become very focused and knowledgeable in those areas, people will recognize you for it.”

The topic should pass what Michelli calls the CRUD test. “On which topics will you be most credible; which topics will enable you to provide unique content, and on which topics will you be most relevant? Also, what are you most passionate about? A message without an audience is pointless, and a speaker without passion is a snooze fest.”

Market Yourself

“Those small-business owners who get impressive speaking gigs know how to market and position themselves as the experts in their industry,” Vermeeren says. “The gigs don’t always go to the most qualified, but to the most visible.”

To help sell your speaking skills, create an effective media kit, adds Denise Jones, speaker bureau director for Ascendant Group Branding. “When pitching yourself, make sure the information you present is clear, precise and to the point.”

Negotiate Speaking Fees

When it comes to negotiating and setting your speaking fees, Michelli notes that it’s a market-driven process. “Many speakers start by keeping fees low until they have tightened their message and dialed-in their platform skills,” he says. “They then set a higher speaking fee.”

Also take a look at your competition to see what other business owners are charging. Michelli suggests consulting your local chapter of the National Speakers Association, which may have a mentorship program. “A mentor can help with both the business—marketing/pricing—and platform—presentation/technology—aspects of being a professional speaker,” he says.Whatever you do, you may not want to accept the first offer, Atkinson suggests. “Negotiating is a mental game, and the more you believe in your value, the better you’re positioned to ask for what you’re worth,” she says. “If you believe even subconsciously that a company or association is never going to pay your going rate, that’s going to come through in your posture and approach and will have a negative impact. Learn what the market will bear, know your value and stand tall when asking for your fee.”

Should You Speak for Free?

At some point, you may be asked to speak for free. “I’m careful to not give my expertise away,” Vermeeren says. “Unless you are absolutely brilliant, most audiences will never remember you or your business. The old adage that people value most what they pay for is certainly true in the speaking business. I will generally only speak for free if I can sell my products or services or be assured of the likelihood of acquiring paying customers.”

If you find that speaking for a group won’t provide any value without compensation, consider suggesting the group find a sponsor to pay your bill, Atkinson suggests. “You can give the sponsor visibility by having them introduce you.”

Before you decide to do an event for exposure, it may be helpful to try to find out specifics such as how many people they expect in the audience. If possible, consider consulting with others who have spoken there about their experiences. You may want to determine if sufficient marketing is done for the event.

“There are going to be speaking engagements you’ll want to put on your freebie list, because your ideal client may be in the audience,” Atkinson says. “If a speaking engagement results in $20,000 worth of business, you won’t want to turn down the opportunity because you won’t get your $2,500 fee.”

A version of this article was originally published on February 19, 2016. 

Photo: iStock

FEBRUARY 27, 2017   As we celebrate Telecommuter Appreciation Week (February 26 to March 4), business owners have an opportunity to examine how telecommuting benefits their companies and employees.

Statistics show that telecommuting is becoming more popular.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of people working from home has increased over the last decade. In a 2015 study  of approximately 10,900 individuals interviewed for the BLS ongoing American Time Use Survey (ATUS), on the days they worked, 24 percent of those surveyed did some or all of their work at home, compared to 19 percent in 2003.“Telecommuting is definitely on the rise for employees of all ages as companies continue to look for ways to accommodate the changing needs and expectations of their workforces,” says Ursula Mead, CEO of InHerSight , an anonymous company review platform.

“The introduction of a variety of online tools has made remote work often more convenient and productive for employees than heading into the office,” says Sandra Lewis, founder and CEO of virtual assistant company Worldwide101. “Advances in online video meetings, live chats and document sharing have created an environment that fosters and even favors remote work.”Cloud-based applications have fueled the working remotely trend, adds Beth Cochran, co-founder and CEO of public relations agency Wired PR Group. “These applications have completely changed the way we experience business. They allow us to communicate in real time, have meetings without being in the same room, manage and collaborate on projects and track time.”

The Benefits of Working From Home

The ability to work from home yields benefits for employers and employees. “If an employee works from a home office, this eliminates the need for a physical space, significantly reducing the overhead costs of an office, furniture, utilities, insurance, etc.,” says Cochran.

“Employers are increasingly looking for ways to drive performance and create higher levels of engagement with their workforce, as well as attract and retain top talent, and some of that talent works better at home,” says Brad Deutser, president of Deutser, a consulting firm that advises leaders and organizations. “Employers willing to work through challenges and set clear expectations will yield great benefit from telecommuting employees.”Leela Srinivasan, CMO of Lever, which makes recruiting software, runs a marketing team of 100 employees and has telecommuted herself. “Our engineering team has long worked from home one day a week, and we recently implemented the same for our marketing team. They’re excited, because many people are simply more productive at home. The modern open plan office environment may have enhanced team spirit and collaboration, but it comes at the cost of concentration and focus.”Today’s workforce also prizes flexibility. “The work-life compartmentalization of yesteryear no longer holds,” says Srinivasan. “Employees value the freedom to work when and where they want, on their terms, and they appreciate being treated like grownups in the process. If they’re able to be home for the electrician, that decreases their stress and enhances their well-being, without costing the employer anything at all.”

Remote work especially appeals to the Millennial generation. “First and foremost, they seek a more flexible lifestyle,” says Lewis. “They see work and life as one and the same. Being confined to 9 to 5 stifles their creativity and need for balance.”

The Downsides of Telecommuting

Telecommuting isn’t for every company or every employee. While some may like the flexibility, others prefer the structure an office setting provides.

“I don’t believe that full-time telecommuting is good for the company or the employee. In-person interaction is required,” says Dave Hopson, managing partner of Triumphus, a professional consulting firm, and author of Surviving the Business Storm Cycle. “It’s important to have everyone in the office at least a couple of days a week so they can share ideas.”It’s also a good idea to keep other employees in mind. “Telecommuters can unintentionally create frustration with supervisors and co-workers who may want the same opportunity or who may question the remote worker’s commitment,” says Deutser. “It’s important to have clear, defined expectations for telecommuting employees.”

Telecommuting Tips

You can help your employees improve their telecommuting experience by keeping the following in mind.

• Hold remote employees accountable. Consider making your expectations clear when offering the option to work remotely. You can specify the schedule and how often these employees can expect communication throughout the workday.
• Invest in apps and tools that make remote work efficient. Providing remote employees with the technology and resources they need can help them telecommute successfully. “Have a robust chat or collaboration tool that simulates the ‘water cooler’ for remote workers and helps them instantly plug into conversations,” says Srinivasan. “At Lever, we are big fans of Slack.”
• Encourage regular contact. “We have mandatory, in-person team meetings at our office each week and a daily morning call when everyone calls in and gives a quick digest of what they’re working on for the day,” says Cochran. “Each person has the floor to discuss any challenges they might be facing so we can collectively come up with solutions to remove the roadblocks.”
• Promote a culture of trust and autonomy. “Be prepared to work a little harder at establishing and cultivating your team culture,” says Cochran. “A strong culture will help ensure remote employees are ‘bought in’ to the company vision, and it will help build a bond between the team, no matter the miles that separate them.”

Photo: iStock

FEBRUARY 20, 2017In September 2016 Google announced its long-term plan to mark all HTTP sites

as non-secure. Starting with the new Chrome 56, the browser warns visitor when sites aren’t using HTTPS connections. Eventually, all sites accessed in Chrome that don’t meet cybersecurity standards will be flagged with a red “danger” icon.This move to warn online users when websites are unsecure—and credit card and password information could get into unwanted hands—comes at a time when cybersecurity is receiving much warranted attention. It’s an issue being discussed across the country, including at cybersecurity gatherings like the RSA Conference 2017

.“The internet is still somewhat rooted in the Wild West,” says Nick Greene of Nick Greene Digital Marketing & Design

. “Some players are following the rules and being fair to all, while others are taking shortcuts at the expense of others. Google’s new cybersecurity measure will help level the playing field by seeing that all business owners ensure their websites collect and pass data in a secure, encrypted manner.”

The Push to Secure Data With HTTPS

The concept of securing data with HTTPS is nothing new, notes Gary S. Miliefsky, founder of SnoopWall Inc

., a counter-intelligence technology company, and executive producer of Cyber Defense Magazine.“Since the early days of electronic commerce, the SSL protocol [Secure Sockets Layer] driving the HTTPS secure web browser experience has helped protect personally identifiable information [PII] from being stolen during online purchases,” Miliefsky explains. “A lock on your web browser indicates that a site is using HTTPS and is more secure.”

This is the first time, though, that Google has penalized websites by warning visitors, adds Adam Levin, chairman and founder of cybersecurity solutions company CyberScout

and author of Swiped.“Google’s push to combat unencrypted web traffic by identifying HTTP sites as unsecure is a Paul Revere moment for businesses that have e-commerce sites and conduct transactions online,” says Levin. “As breaches have become the third certainty in life, the gateway point for major data breaches has often been unsecure websites. Google is not only giving the consumer the awareness to avoid risky behavior, they’re also calling out certain companies as having poor security.”

Cybersecurity Steps You Can Take for Your Business

If you wish to reach out to a broader customer base and build trust, you may want to take your security more seriously, believes Atit Shah, head of security for online payment platform WePay

.“Business owners who have not implemented basic security measures such as SSL/TLS to protect sensitive webpages like login and checkout pages now need to make sure they implement this, because customers are going to take it seriously when their browsers show a red-for-danger icon.”

Google is a leader when it comes to web security, so other browser vendors may follow in its footsteps, adds Matias Woloski, author of A Guide to Claims-Based Identity and Access Control and CTO and co-founder of Auth0

, which provides authentication and authorization for developers.“Given Chrome’s [57] percent market share

in the browser space, this latest change will put a lot of pressure on businesses [and] websites that have so far ignored web security best practices,” says Woloski. “If they haven’t already been working on this requirement, they will have to scramble to do so now.”Adhering to the requirements means configuring servers to use HTTPS, as well as acquiring the necessary TLS certificates and possibly updating custom applications.

“It’s important to note that HTTPS does add operational complexity, and organizations will need to manage issues such as browser compatibility and certificate expiration,” says Woloski. “Given this level of effort, we recommend moving to HTTPS for the entire website, not just sensitive pages. This will help future-proof businesses against upcoming browser warnings.”

Instituting HTTPS and its encryption ability may not be the complete answer, believes Shah. “In the last few years, various attacks such as Heartbleed, BEAST and POODLE have targeted security vulnerabilities in SSL/TLS,” Shah says, listing three infamous security bugs. “Therefore, online businesses should also make sure that SSL/TLS implementations are secure and that they’ve have implemented best practices, such as reliable Certificate Authority and secure cipher suites with perfect forward secrecy.”

Promoting a Cybersecurity Culture

The bottom line is that cybersecurity will continue to be an issue, which means that business owners must adopt a culture of security and privacy. “This means encrypting data, investing in employee training on security and privacy protocols, securing all connected devices with the most sophisticated and up-to-date antivirus software, penetration testing and role-based data segmentation,” says Levin.

One of the biggest sources of breaches come from employees who use their personal mobile devices at work and download unverified apps, access unsecure sites or use unsecure WiFi, notes Levin.

“It only takes one employee clicking on the wrong link or entering sensitive information on a fake site to create a potential extinction level event for the business,” says Levin. “A business must get everything right while a hacker need only find one tiny point of vulnerability open for a matter of seconds.”

While the encryption alert isn’t desirable, it need not be the “equivalent of a scarlet letter,” says Levin. “Use this as a tool to step up your security game. Those who fail to properly design and test solutions could suffer reputational damage, but that pales in comparison to the reputational damage they will endure if your failure to take proper security precautions provides a conduit for hackers to compromise customer information.”

Read more articles on cybersecurity.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017This Valentine’s week, as you examine significant relationships in your life, take a close look at your company’s management team. Are the views of those operating your business still in line with your company vision and mission?

“As a company grows, a shift can occur as the owner transitions from exercising a lot of control and begins to delegate to management,” says business consultant Beatrice Chestnut of The Chestnut Group and author of The 9 Types of Leadership. “If managers have different personality styles and world views than the founder, a misalignment can occur between the original vision and the management team’s priorities.

“Organizations evolve, and that process is a natural part of growth, adds Brad Deutser, president of Deutser, LLC , a consulting firm that advises leaders and organizations during times of transition, growth and crisis.“The highest-performing organizations are those that grow from the inside out. When organizations are anchored by a strong culture, they are more effective at scaling and driving performance of their people and business.”

Signs of a Flickering Owner/Management Team Relationship

“Like any relationship, core values, beliefs, behaviors and expectations between owners and management can become misaligned,” says Deutser.

“Professional managers can inadvertently hurt the brand and violate the brand promise through standardization,” says Michael Houlihan, co-author of The Entrepreneurial Culture. “It’s up to the company founder to ensure that customer expectations are exceeded. When owners delegate to management, they must practice constant vigilance to protect the customer experience.”

New hires should be briefed on the company vision by management, to continue building positive customer relationships. But if you start noticing communication breakdowns, lack of engagement or conflict amongst your management team members, it may be time to reconnect on your company vision.

Tips for Reconnecting With Your Management Team

If management isn’t clear on the mission or the main strategies and tactics that should drive the work, you and your management team may need to realign your vision.

When there is a disconnect between what you as a business owner want and see for your business and your operations management, Deutser believes you have a clear choice. “Leadership can either change the people or change the people,” he says. “If management can be motivated to change views and align with the organization’s mission and purpose, then realignment can occur,” he says.

“To facilitate alignment, the leader and management need a roadmap that originates from the core of the organization,” continues Deutser. “Leadership must be purposeful, with clearly defined expectations and metrics for the organization and employees. Clarity of thought, clarity of purpose and clarity of mission are all critical. If you know what you want and where you’re going, others are more likely to follow.”

Staying focused with a clear vision and creative marketing plan when you delegate to management can help differentiate your idea from the million others out there, agrees Charles Sankowich, CEO and founder of Friendthem, a social network app that allows users to connect across multiple social media platforms. “Passion for your business is also important, because it’s contagious.

“Continual interaction between business owners and management can also be vital. “When leaders are not engaged with their operations team, they will see misalignment brewing,” says Deutser. “Fostering relationships on a regular basis—during status quo and times of change—is necessary to ensuring you continue to enjoy working with one another and stay aligned.”

“When you delegate to management, getting both parties on the same page requires regular, straightforward discussions about whether the owner and operator have shared goals and values,” says Paul Thornton, the author of Precise Leaders Get Results. “Small gaps can be worked out. Big gaps require a candid discussion and decisions on how to proceed.”

All relationships have challenges. Considering the time and energy you’ve put into your relationship with your management team, you may want to do whatever you can to prevent a breakup. Avoiding irreconcilable differences often takes communicating and a willingness to compromise. Riding out the rough times can lead to a stronger union in the long run.

Read more articles on building your team.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017  Many business owners are realizing that employee wellness can be tied to performance. For that reason, some forward-thinking employers are incorporating standing desks and fitness opportunities into the workplace. “We believe promoting health and wellness reduces sick days, which improves productivity and employee satisfaction,” says Jonathan Sacks, owner and CEO of  PUSH Agency, a worldwide live marketing and promotional staffing company. “Our employees aren’t confined to working at their desks. They can use our outdoor workspace and get fresh air, sunlight and a change of scenery. We also provide bicycles—with helmets—so employees can ride on their breaks.”Since employees spend many of their waking hours at work, encouraging healthy living in the office is important, agrees Mike McEwan, owner of JANE, an online boutique marketplace featuring women’s and children’s clothing and home décor.“JANE’s office is a well-designed space that encourages creative thinking, productivity and wellness,” says McEwan. “We provide adjustable desks for all employees. They can work standing or sitting in a chair or on a yoga ball. Our 30,000-square-foot space gives employees the chance to increase blood flow and oxygen levels by walking between the various departments for collaboration and meetings.”

Methods of promoting employee wellness will vary according to your company culture. Here are several ways to inspire employee wellness at your company.

1. Encourage employee wellness by getting your team to move.

“Ultimately, healthy living creates higher energy levels, which helps in all aspects of your business,” says Bart Silvestro, CEO of Chef’s Cut Real Jerky. “I’m a strong believer in creating a high-energy workplace with upbeat music playing. We also promote taking walks with team members to discuss current projects and problems.”Carol Talbot, speaker and author of YOU the Divine Genius, notes that sitting eight to 15 hours a day is not something the body was designed to do. “All that sitting is causing health problems,” she says. “Fortunately, there’s a lot that can be done in the workplace to shift our sitting culture, including holding walking meetings and encouraging desk-bound employees to get up and move around at least once an hour.”

Prolonged sitting can be highly detrimental to good health, agrees physician and spine specialist Pawan Grover of Inovospine, a company that provides innovative treatments for acute and chronic back pain.“During prolonged sitting, blood can pool in the legs and lead to blood clots,” he says. “Even in a static standing position the muscles can’t pump the blood as effectively. If you’re moving your legs or shifting your weight when standing, it could be helpful, because that causes your muscles to pump blood.”

2. Incorporate standing desks into the office.

Movement can be important to employee wellness. That’s why standing desks are becoming a welcome and healthy addition to the workplace.

“Standing desks are a must at our company,” says Nina Church, co-founder of Nomva, a line of probiotic super smoothie packs. “We found the ideal solution with regular desks that easily convert to standing desks. This offers the best of both worlds and encourages employees to stand at least a few minutes each day.”At Rhonda Allison Cosmeceuticals, a professional skin care company, they’ve had standing desks for several years now. “We’ve also implemented thick-cushioned standing pads at stations and headset telephones to ease the strain on those who are at their desks or on the phone frequently,” says founder and CEO Rhonda Allison.Before investing in standing desks, Grover suggests making sure that standing is advised for your employees. Some health problems require that you sit down (e.g. individuals with knee or hip problems). Grover suggests encouraging employees to protect their spines against slouching by using lumbar rolls in chairs and taking frequent breaks to stretch.

Other additions to enhance employee wellness include ergonomic chairs and keyboards and adjustable monitors.

3. Offer fitness opportunities that promote employee wellness.

Promoting exercise is another great way to help incorporate employee wellness into your company culture.

“We have a yoga instructor come in once a week, we offer Pilates, [and a] membership at a fitness club so that employees have every opportunity to engage in healthy habits on a regular basis,” says Allison.

At Nomva, they allow employees to wear activewear at the office. “Being in sneakers and workout clothes during the workday can signal to employees that they are active people and give them the encouragement to stretch, get in a quick workout or walk at lunch,” says co-founder Caroline Beckman. “We do a weekly workout, which is a fun bonding experience that really energizes us.”

HealthyWage  co-founder David Roddenberry notes there are many tactics employers can use to incorporate exercise into the office. (And he should know—his company facilitates corporate wellness challenges.)“Try treadmill desks, walking paths at work and fitness competitions,” Roddenberry advises. “We’ve found that walking or weight-loss challenges are popular, because they have the potential to engage all employees and their families. Fitness challenges can be offered at no cost to your company. Employees contribute to the pot, committing themselves to the challenge.”

At Nootrobox, a biohacking company focused on improving brain performance with nootropics (cognitive enhancing supplements) and energy-on-the-go products, they offer gym subsidies and encourage all employees to work out in the morning. “Our biohacking research has shown that morning workouts are optimal for health and productivity,” says the company’s CEO Geoff Woo.Matt Geiger, co-founder of Blend, a millennial chatbot platform, adds that his company has a workout machine in the office. Geiger says it gives employees “permission to focus on their health and well-being while on the job.”

4. Promote relaxation as a part of your company culture.

According to Grover, stress can cause poor health conditions.

“Stress causes the body to be in survival mode and release a stress hormone called cortisol,” he says. “This is a very destructive hormone that decreases our immune system and breaks down the body.”

Helping your employees to remain as calm as possible can help promote employee wellness. Some companies use meditation to help relieve stress. “Blend offers a daily 15-minute meditation, with some guided, breath-based and Eastern tradition practices,” says Geiger. “Most of our team members report reduced stress and more mental clarity after participating in our health programs, which leads to more creative ideas and stronger results from the entire team.”

Rhonda Allison’s team combats stress with a four-day work week. “A shortened week gives employees a balanced lifestyle,” says Allison. “Having three days to regroup and take care of their lives enables them to bring their all to the table when they’re at work.”

Photo: iStock

FEBRUARY 01, 2017As retail increasingly moves from brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce, customers expectations have risen. They want their orders fast, with free shipping. Now that the technology for ultra-high-speed delivery systems exists, it may be a matter of time before same-day delivery is replaced by same-hour delivery for online shipping.

 While the infrastructure hasn’t yet been developed for ultra-high-speed delivery, fast and free online shipping has arrived. This development could affect your retail internet business model, notes Craig Cleveland, director of business development for Jane, an online boutique marketplace featuring women’s and children’s clothing and home décor.

“Consumers have become ‘Amazon spoiled,’ and as a result now expect to receive free or cheap shipping in two to three days—this is the standard against which online businesses are now competing,” Cleveland says. “As more and more courier services enter the marketplace looking to lower shipping costs, same-day delivery will become the new standard.”

Customers Want Free and Fast Shipping

When customers have a choice between free online shipping and paying for freight, they may opt for the former. How you deal with expectations regarding free shipping and speedier service can be tied to how well you do with online sales.

“Differentiating your business from other online sellers requires unique product and a better overall customer experience,” says Cleveland. “Our policies and procedures at Jane allow us to maintain a preferred customer experience. That customer experience is key to customer retention.”

While his site charges for shipping, Cleveland believes that the secret to delivering a superior customer online experience is a seamless and fast shipping experience. “By developing and maintaining integrations with shipping partners and their advanced technology, Jane has been able to empower its sellers with the necessary tools to create a consistent shipping experience.”

Should You Consider Free Shipping?

The costs associated with free and fast shipping could have the potential for pricing your online business out of the market or of making margins so thin that you can’t compete. At the same time, these tactics could help increase sales.

Try taking these tips into consideration when deciding whether or not you should offer free online shipping.

Compare conversion with and without free shipping. There may not be a point in using free shipping if it doesn’t improve conversion rates. Do a comparison between the two for a designated time to see if offering free online shipping improves your conversions. You could do the comparison between products, site-wide or both.

Consider free shipping at a certain threshold. Offering free online shipping can help increase conversions. It may also help encourage visitors to spend more money on your site. But can you afford to offer free shipping? This can be accomplished by determining your site’s average order value. You can then offer free shipping for orders equaling that amount or higher. You may want to test three to five shipping thresholds to see which results in the most increased spending among shoppers.

Offer free online shipping on select items. See if sales improve by offering free shipping only on certain products. You could select the products based on their popularity or exclusivity and see how sales compare with and without free shipping.

Test price increases. Consider compensating for the loss of revenue from free shipping by increasing prices. Monitor sales of products you increase in price.

If you find that free shipping isn’t a profitable choice, you may be better off focusing on faster shipping and a user-friendly experience. To streamline shipping practices so that the customer experience is seamless and as fast as possible, you could try the following:

• Offer a fast delivery option in addition to standard delivery. Customers may not often use the faster option, but it may be comforting for them to know it’s available.
• Incorporate and advertise a maximum one-day handling time. Clients often want to know that you’re getting to work preparing and packaging their product.
• Ship products within 24 business hours of order receipt. Any longer may be too long for customers to wait.
• Use a carrier that offers tracking and share those details with customers.
• Respond promptly to any customer issues or complaints. It’s important that your shoppers know that you hear them and that you care.
• Consider offering free returns. A money-back guarantee that includes shipping charges may help customers take a chance on your products.
• Deliver a great product. It may not matter how fast or inexpensive your online shipping charges are. The bottom line is that your product is what customers are buying. And what will be with them long after the bill is paid.

Read more articles on e-commerce.

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JANUARY 25, 2017   It might seem like a scene out of a science fiction movie, but automated delivery by drones and robots has become a reality. Testing is still taking place in the United States, but one of the first successful drone deliveries occurred this past December in the U.K.

In the U.S., food delivery startup DoorDash and courier service Postmates recently announced a partnership with the robotic delivery developer Starship Technologies to use robots to deliver meals. Testing is currently occurring on a limited basis in Redwood City, California and Washington, DC.

The Potential Positive Impact of Automated Delivery Technology

Given the fact that machines have successfully delivered products to customers, what could that mean for your business in the future?

“Drones are becoming more common in logistics, as they’re the new trend of the day,” says Daniel Oh, director of EasyPost, an API that ships packages each month for thousands of customers and strives to resolve technological obstacles of logistics for its customers.“Drones will eventually have the potential to lower shipping costs, widen

“Drones will eventually have the potential to lower shipping costs, widen logistical reach and make same-day delivery more common,” continues Oh. “In the long term, drones could drastically improve customer expectations. In an ideal world built for drone delivery, you can order your product, pay minimal shipping fees, track your delivery like you’d track an Uber and receive it the same day.”

A benefit of drone delivery is the ability to deliver in dangerous or rural areas, adds business strategy advisor Patrick Stroh, president of Mercury Business Advisors  and author of Advancing Innovation.

Drawbacks of Drone and Robot Deliveries

While innovations like drones can create value, they may also produce challenges.

“The innovation is great, but the execution, practicality and risk/reward needs to be worked through to ultimately drive more value,” believes Stroh. “How we regulate drones and airspace, deter the automated delivery of dangerous packages, thwart drone crashers that follow drones and then steal the delivery packages and many other situations that one can only imagine, requires critical thinking and action.”

Oh agrees. “Drone delivery still hasn’t resolved the regulatory issue,” he says. Nobody can buy a fleet of drones and expect the FAA to let them operate freely. The FAA has trouble managing hundreds of planes in our airspace. How will they manage millions of autonomous drones on top of that?”

Beyond the logistics, automated delivery is expensive. “How will carriers afford the purchase and maintenance of these drones?” says Oh. “They’re not cheap, and there’s no guarantee they’ll last as long as other delivery vehicles. There’s also no guarantee these costs won’t get passed onto businesses, and therefore [to] the customers. Customers love same-day delivery until they start paying the true cost of it. It’s too big of a risk to invest in drone delivery when there’s so much uncertainty about how drones will operate.”

Automated Delivery Can’t Replace Great Customer Service

While it may be fun to imagine drones or robots delivering your products, all customers truly want is reliable, fast delivery without paying too much for it, notes Oh.

“Drones might be an exciting, new automated delivery technology trend right now, but until someone figures out how to navigate the regulatory thicket and lower the overall costs of a drone, businesses should focus on the basics for now,” believes Oh.

“With good logistics planning and the right technology, you can offer reliable and affordable shipping within two to five days, which is perfectly reasonable for today’s customer.”

Read more articles on innovation.

Photo: iStock