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Archives for December 2017

The Value of Virtual – How Virtual Offices Can Transform Businesses

By Thomas on December 22, 2017

Whether you own a business in Sydney, Tokyo, London, New York, or Hong Kong, rent is likely to be your biggest expense. In central districts especially, rates rise at a relentless pace, and it isn’t unusual for smaller companies to be priced out of the market.

It is a big problem in Hong Kong, a region that is home to the most expensive office spaces in the world. You have to be cash rich to become established here. Or, you must be clever. Over the last five years, younger businesses have developed a novel solution to this old dilemma.

It is called the virtual office, and it makes corporate resources available, without the need to pay for a full-time lease. Visit www.servcorp.com.hk/en-virtual-offices/ to learn more.

Virtually No Overheads

The special thing about virtual offices is the lack of physical space. This leasing model is not designed for allocating privately rented environments. Instead, the central facility operates a kind of ‘cloud’ office system that tenants pay to access.

Using a combination of online and telephone contact, you can ‘check in’ to your virtual office at any time, from any location. You can get updates on phone calls, voicemails, letters, memos, and more. It’s just like running a regular office; only you don’t spend the day there.

Maximum Mobility 

So, by eliminating the burden of physical space, you also get to rid your business of heating, lighting, cleaning, and a host of other expenses. You don’t need to care for employees because anybody you work with will be in their own location.

There are no rent payments. There is nothing to pay for furniture or décor. Yet, far from having nothing, virtual businesses enjoy all the freedom in the world. With no physical ties, you can use the remote office to take your brand around the globe if desired.

Greater Productivity

Again, far from being a limiting factor, the lack of physical space can end up eliciting better performance from your team. One of the biggest problems with traditional leases is the focus on rigid schedules. They are mostly concerned with whether or not employees are present.

Yet, this doesn’t answer the question of whether they are spending their time wisely. Simply being in the office doesn’t guarantee productivity. When you go virtual, the only proof of performance is the literal work. Therefore, it’s easy to see how much effort is being invested.

All Gains, No Downsides

There is no need to worry about the impact of having no address either. In fact, virtual vendors encourage tenants to direct mail and calls to the facility, as if it were their own address. This is a perfectly legal practice. It is entirely up to you how much you want to tell your clients.

It is easy to benefit from all kinds of reputation boost just by associating yourself with a top spot. While everybody else is paying a high price for theirs, you can be enjoying the benefits and not pay any rent. Having a formal, professional address is also handy for SEO purposes.

Why Virtual Office Solutions Are Worth Your Time

Every year, more businesses realise the advantages of going virtual. As rent rates continue to rise in central Hong Kong, it is often the only way for smaller companies to compete. With the support of these vendors, you get to access the same opportunities for a much smaller fee and it will help you save money.

Therefore, the lack of a private, long-term lease does not have to be a negative outcome. In fact, if you take advantage of the many chances to grow and network, it will open up brand new prospects.

Budget-Friendly Floors

By Thomas on December 21, 2017

Home renovations don’t come cheap, but there are ways and methods that you can cut the costs. When it comes to flooring you may feel that there’s no way of escaping expenses, but that’s where you’re wrong! There are cheaper alternatives out there, and just because they’re cheaper in value it doesn’t mean that they’re lacking in any sort of quality. Here’s our favourite budget-friendly floors.

Engineered Wood

We know that solid wood floors are beautiful, but they’re also pretty pricey too! Never fear, their cheaper alternative is just as stunning but it comes in at a much lower price. Allow us to introduce you to engineered wood flooring, the faux wood of the flooring world. This type of floor is often confused with laminate, but it is very different. Mainly because engineered wood is actually a type of hardwood flooring, just it’s not made fully out of real wood. It is in fact composed of multiple layers of man-made ply and other materials, these are then bonded together and topped with a hardwood lamella (layer of solid wood).

Despite being incredibly similar to solid wood flooring, it is in fact more durable in the sense that it can withstand higher levels of moisture, as well as more fluctuating temperatures. For this reason, engineered wood can be comfortably installed in places like the kitchen, although it is not recommended to install it in bathroom/wet room areas.

Installation of engineered wood floor is also said to be easier than that of its solid counterpart, and there are actually several ways of doing it. The most popular methods tend to be nailing, gluing or installing it as a floating floor. One of the key things to remember with wood flooring is that it must be acclimatised to the room that it is being installed in, this can be for anything between 3 to 5 days.

Laminate

Laminate flooring has been popular in homes across the world for many years, and it’s no surprise to see why. The great thing about laminate is that it is able to imitate pretty much any surface, so while it may give the appearance of a real wood floor, the cost is much cheaper. Once upon a time laminate floors were seen as being quite flimsy, but modern era laminate offers a much higher quality for a reasonable price. These days there are many designs and colour options available that laminate is seen as a perfect opportunity for interior lovers everywhere!

Not only is laminate a budget-friendly choice, it’s also incredibly durable and when looked after properly it can have a lifespan of unto 20 years. Not bad for a cheap floor! It’s also really versatile and can be placed in pretty much any room of the house. Aside of this, it’s also really easy to install and can be done by even the most amateur of DIY fans!

Vinyl

Over the years vinyl has been known as the ‘go-to’ cheaper option when it comes to flooring, it’s also held a pretty bad reputation for looking cheap too. But those days are done, vinyl has seen a revamp in the last ten years and it is now a popular choice for many homes.

Due to the way that vinyl is manufactured, it either comes in sheet or tile form, this makes it easy to install and cut to the shape of your room to avoid any wasted material – and money! It doesn’t require much skill, or many tools, to install so this can also help cut the costs too. Not only is vinyl one of the cheapest options, it also has an impressive lifespan of 15-20 years, not too shabby for a ‘cheap’ floor eh? So if you’re interested in this option it will help save you money in the long run. 

So there you have it, a few of our favourite budget-friendly floors for you to consider!

Why Exhibitions Are Public Evidence of Your Marketing Efforts

By Thomas on December 20, 2017

This is the best marketing opportunity that you’ll have this year. Consider some of the tenets of customer service and marketing, those that form the foundation of any successful business. If you have a working list of just a few crucial elements, you’ll have more than enough reasons why you must exhibit. The key is to compress your best service and marketing efforts into the exhibition time period with the display as your primary communication vehicle.

#1: Interaction

There is one ultimate reason for exhibiting at such business events and making that exhibit the best you can afford. That reason can be stated in one word: “interaction.” Having attendees see, touch, and hear is much more effective than classic advertising will ever be. Human beings are visual and emotional creatures so giving them the proper clues can be extremely effective in setting your message firmly in their minds.

#2: Make it Memorable

It’s essential for the visitor at your booth or display to take something away from the exhibition floor, something that will make the connection back to your company. This is why promotional items can be effective. But you must be creative and make sure that these items fit with the interests of your target audience. Exhibitions are a perfect time and having exhibition stands are a perfect method for this.

#3: Return on Investment

If you’re seriously considering an exhibit or display at an exhibition, your ultimate goal must be getting a good return on your investment. That’s why each decision you make about your exhibit, from the very beginning, must be about ROI.

#4: The Right People

 It’s essential for you to think about the people who are at the exhibition in the first place. Almost every one of them is active in your specific industry. But even more important than this is that the majority of those in attendance have authority to buy or can influence purchasing decisions.

#5: Part of the Action

If you use exhibition stands at business events, chances are very good that you’re in a competitive field. This means that the event can be an outstanding opportunity to learn about your competitors and really be part of the action. You’ll learn a lot about the developments in your industry and create some opportunities with what you’ve learned.

#6: Brand Building

If you’re not Apple or Coca Cola, you probably shouldn’t be too concerned about brand building as a primary activity. In fact, you should focus on direct marketing, which in this case means being face to face with your potential customers at exhibition stands.

#7: It’s All Marketing

 Some of the most successful marketers, entrepreneurs, and sellers in the world insist that everything you do is marketing. It just depends on how you view it. For example, you should always make an offer when you contact a customer in any way. What better way to make an offer than to give it to the visitor when he or she is standing at your display? Exhibits are not separate from everything else you do. They are physical evidence of everything you do!

Take note of the points we’ve discussed as this will help you with exhibiting and in your marketing efforts.

The Cost of a Safety Box and The Suitable Contents

By Thomas on December 20, 2017

More and more people are turning to safety deposit boxes, as they offer an affordable way to safely store important documents and valuable items. Crime is on the rise, and even though one might have CCTV at home or even alarm system, what about fire? There are many reasons why it makes sense to rent a safety deposit box, and for those who are unfamiliar with this type of security, here are just a few of the items one can safely store in a safety deposit box.

  • Important Documents – If you are a frequent flyer, perhaps it is best to keep your passport at home (in a safe place), but things like your birth certificate and land title deeds definitely belong, as they are rarely required, yet very important, as anyone who has lost their birth certificate will confirm. Stocks and bonds should also be included, as should any business or lease contracts, and you can use photocopies, leaving the original safely behind lock and key.
  • Videotape your Home’s Contents – In the event you were burgled, or worse still, the house was burned to the ground, if you had a videotape (or VD) of the contents of your home, it would make it much easier dealing with the insurance company. Of course, no one wants to think of such a thing, but if you are a person who likes to cover for every eventuality, it wouldn’t take but an hour of your time, and then you would be sure to claim for all your personal possessions. If the worst does happen and your house is broken into, there is a useful article online that explains the correct procedure for the homeowner.
  • Valuable Jewellery & Family Heir Looms – Very valuable jewellery would be scarcely worn, and anything of great sentimental value, such as grandfather’s pocket watch or your great grandmother’s letters, can all be safely kept in a safety deposit box.
  • Anything of Great Personal Value – It could be an old wood carving, or a poem you wrote at high school, as long as it physically fits (and they have a wide range of sizes) then why not? 

The Cost of a Safety Deposit Box

For the peace of mind it brings, even if you may have to pay a monthly or yearly fee, it is worth it, and if you reserved a safety deposit box in Sydney at Australasian Vaulting Industries or similar facilities, they are very reasonable and there isn’t a more secure way to keep your valuables. It is important to select a location that is convenient, which won’t cause you any inconvenience, should you wish to retrieve something.

Another important point is to consider what would happen if you were to die, which would leave the contents of the box in limbo, so to speak, and by consulting with your lawyer, you can provide power of attorney for a close family member, just in case.

In this uncertain world we live in, it makes sense to take precautions, and using a safety deposit box will ensure that your valuables are always there when you need them. It is worth the extra cost to have in your house.

The Steps To Becoming An Entrepreneur

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

To be an entrepreneur, you should love what you do, be willing to learn from others, do things with small steps, develop a positive attitude, always keep moving, look ahead, and be always ready to promote yourself and what you do.

Take some simple steps to learn how to be an entrepreneur and enjoy a new and exciting journey to success.

Find a niche
You should choose an area where you want to work. Being able to use some knowledge you already have, and being able to enjoy learning about your specialized area will make this a more enjoyable and exciting task for you.

Develop habits
There are some important habits that you need to have as an entrepreneur. When you start your activity you will be setting the tone for everything about your operation. By developing good work habits and presenting yourself and what you do in the best possible way, you will be setting the foundation for your success.

Improve your skills
If you need to know more about how business works or how to make an approach to marketing and business development more successful, then learn about these things. It will be useful to understand the environment that you are working in and how you will be able to boost your activity. There are many courses available to help and you can learn from people who have knowledge and experience.

Develop a plan
If you do not want to waste time, then having a plan will make a lot of difference. It will keep you focused on what you need to do and prevent you from heading off on other activities that do not relate to your business. It is important to be able to stay focused on your goals. You may need to adjust that plan as you find out more information.

Determine costs
You should have a budget in mind that will be used when you are developing your business plan. It is important to identify just how much it will cost to do what you think is important. The money you have available will influence some of your choices and impact on the scale of what you are doing. It is important to be clear about not only where you need to spend money but exactly what it is that you need so that you do not waste money.

Take action
To be an entrepreneur, you need to be ready to take action. A well-researched plan is not much use unless you are willing to implement it. You will learn as you go along and you will need to make decisions. There will be challenges but as long as you keep moving then you will find that you progress more quickly
than you realize.

Build a team
It is not possible to do it all by yourself. There will be some areas of activity where you are going to need help. Do some research and find out what you can comfortably pass on to others. As you progress, look for people who you want to continue working with. If you are able to build a good team then you can focus on your core work and leave other activity to those with suitable skills.

Set the attitude
You are the leader and your attitude will flow through all that is done. By creating the right environment with the right attitude you will find that work will flow better and your contacts will enjoy assisting you. There is a lot to be gained from working as an entrepreneur and your attitude will reflect what you offer.

Lastly, remember to believe in what you are capable of and do not let the fear of failure stop you from pushing forward. Be passionate about what you are doing and enjoy the experience. It will come with challenges but it will bring you satisfaction when you look at what you achieve.

How To Save Money While Travelling

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

Travelling is one of the pleasures of life. The opportunity to see new places and to learn new things is an enriching experience.

The cost of traveling is often one of the limiting factors. So being able to save money traveling is something that we are able to do with some planning.

Find The Cheapest Flights
There is now a whole range of online services that are able to provide you details of cheap flights. Booking your flights well in advance and being flexible with your dates will also provide you with greater opportunity to find the cheapest options. You may also find that once you are in a country that there might be alternative travel options you can consider.

Use Local Travel Services
In many places overseas, there are local travel services. These may not always be easily found online and you will have a much wider range of choice from a knowledgeable and skilled local agent. There may be some variations in the quality of those services and you may need to be prepared to deal with some language barriers but you could make some substantial savings.

Discounted Hotel Rooms
There is a range of sites online that are able to offer you discounted hotel rooms. You may choose from other types of accommodation as well. There are even  sites that provide you with the opportunity to stay in somebody else’s home for a while. By looking around, you may be able to find yourself a very good rate for the level of accommodation you want, which will leave you money available for other enjoyable activities.

Avoid Local Scams
When you are travelling offshore, there are often local scams that are there to trap the unwary traveller. Some of these will relate to unofficial cash exchange transactions and others will relate to schemes to trap unwary users of equipment to pay the costs of repairs of damage that they did not do. There are also bag snatching and pack slashers who will try to steal your things. Being security conscious and aware will reduce the chance of you losing money during a trip.

Try The Local Food
Often when you go overseas you will find that the local food will be cheaper to purchase then western style food. If you live in a resort then the restaurants will provide quality food, usually at a higher price. But if you are interested in finding out more about the local culture then you could try some of the local restaurants as well. You will find that online reviews are available for many restaurants but if there are plenty of people going there then chances are you will not be getting any stomach problems from their food, or they would be going out of business.

Speak To The Locals
There will be spruikers who will appear friendly coming up uninvited to engage you on the street. But really they will just try to con you into their special arrangements where they profit from your lack of knowledge. If you are able to avoid those and speak to locals who are interested in giving you some genuine advice then you may find out more about the best way to see things. Often the organized tours are very limited in what you can see and do. Using local knowledge may give you the chance to see things at a better pace and you may find a lower price with a more flexible arrangement.

There are many ways to save money when you travel and you will have an enjoyable time doing this as well. Be prepared to do some background research before you go so that you have an understanding of the environment you will be going to. Then you will be able to relax and enjoy your holiday with a sense of adventure but also the confidence you are not wasting your time or money.

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I’m Thomas Stevens, a financial advisor who has a love for SEO. Anything numbers related excited me, so I started blogging about finances and budgeting. I also help others blog about finance – it’s always good to have a niche! Read More…

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I’m Thomas Stevens, a financial advisor who has a love for SEO.

Anything numbers related excited me, so I started blogging about finances and budgeting. I also help others blog about finance – it’s always good to have a niche!

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