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6 Helpful tips to power up your home-based business

While all good things don’t happen overnight, small business owners can carefully craft their own strategies to make sure of their path to success.

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Building a business from the ground up, during a pandemic era, no less is definitely challenging. But sustaining it is a more complicated feat. While all good things don’t happen overnight, small business owners can carefully craft their own strategies to make sure of their path to success.

Here are some helpful tips to grow your business and reach more customers.

1. Power up your business with the right internet connection.

Building your business from home requires a consistent and reliable internet connection. A study conducted by the Philippines’ leading fiber internet service provider, Converge ICT Solutions Inc., showed that 26.7% of subscribers from its consumer segment are online sellers.

Nearly seven out of 10 of these online sellers do not have business permits, while the remaining 31.3% have business permits and consider themselves as micro-businesses. However, both segments of online sellers only subscribe to residential plans.

Choosing the right internet for your home business is important. There is definitely no problem with subscribing to residential internet plans, but as you grow your business, you might notice that this would not be enough. This is why Converge offers various plans, both for consumers and businesses, to empower customers to choose the right plan for them.

2. Always improve and focus on your product.

Ensuring that your customers trust and enjoy your products should always be a top priority. By constantly improving your product, you are making sure that your customers get the best value of their money. In the long run, this will translate into brand loyalty and conversion of more customers. 

3. Listen to your customers.

When you make improvements to your product, be it for new features or for existing ones, be sure that it is aligned with the interests of your customers. Equip yourself with the latest trends, customer feedback, reviews and other suggestions from your community of clients. Always remember that your products are for them, and not for the business alone.

4. Know your competitors.

While maintaining a quality product is always crucial, there are always other factors that might encourage your customers to switch to other brands. Thus, it won’t hurt to monitor your competitors and study the features, price points, promos and other selling points that they offer. Knowing your competitors will put you in an advantage to position your product in the market.

5. Form the right team.

You can’t do all of this alone. Getting the right people in your team will make everything easier, and even happier, for business owners. Having a more collaborative culture within your team will help with the growth of your business. Just make sure that aside from skills, your team members are also equipped with dedication and passion to grow your business.

6. Invest in your social media presence.

In this digital age, a more complicated business battle resides in social media. This is where you should take your brand, and allow for an efficient brand-building process. You can also maximize social media to create narratives and conversations about your business, which can also help you develop a good relationship with your customers.

To fully take advantage of your social media power, you will circle back to the advice of having a good and reliable internet connection. Converge can help you achieve all this through the power of a pure, end-to-end fiber internet experience.

To learn more about Converge plans and offerings, visit https://www.convergeict.com.

Strategies

‘Ugh, not that song!’ Background music impacts employees

When background music at a workplace is out of sync with what workers need to do their jobs, it can affect their energy, mood – and even performance.

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Have you ever gone to a store or a restaurant where the music was so annoying that you walked right out? Now imagine what it must be like for the employees.

In a study, researchers found that when background music at a workplace is out of sync with what workers need to do their jobs, it can affect their energy, mood – and even performance.

“Music that doesn’t fit what an employee needs to feel energized, manage emotions, and focus on task can have a real negative impact,” said Kathleen Keeler, co-lead author of the study and assistant professor of management and human resources at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. “We found that a music misfit can lead employees to feel more fatigued, have trouble focusing, and not really enjoy being at work. And that in turns prompts them to engage in behaviors that can harm the organization.”

The problem is worse for people who have difficulty screening out background noise from their environment, the study found.

It is an understudied issue, Keeler said.  About 13.5 million people work in occupations where background music is common. But the music is often chosen with only customers in mind.

“It is a mistake for managers to assume that music doesn’t affect employees,” Keeler said.

The study was published online in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

Study in focus

The researchers conducted two studies. One study involved 166 full-time workers who participated online. Before they began, participants rated how much they needed four features of music: volume, speed, complexity and emotional intensity. The participants then listened to one of two playlists while they conducted a creativity task.

One playlist was upbeat, happy pop music with moderate complexity. The other was slower, more somber music played at a lower volume.

After completing the task, participants rated how much the music they heard fit their needs for volume, speed, complexity and emotional intensity.

Results in focus

The findings showed participants experienced a negative impact if the characteristics of the playlist they listened to was out of sync with what they said they needed. Those who had a music misfit showed a decrease in pleasant feelings and emotions and also more cognitive depletion – a feeling of mental exhaustion, Keeler said.

The problem was particularly acute for people referred to as non-screeners. “Stimulus screening” is the ability to focus on one sensory input at a time. Non-screeners have difficulty doing that and – in this case – were unable to ignore the music in the background while they concentrated on their task.

“The bad effects of music misfit are worse for those who are non-screeners,” Keeler said. “They have difficulty blocking out the music and so they feel less positive emotion and feel more depleted after listening to the music that was out of sync with what they needed.”

The second study was a real-world sample of 68 workers in health care offices, retail stores and dining halls where background music was a feature of their everyday work life. Participants completed three email surveys every day for three weeks about their musical needs, the music they heard, their moods, cognitive depletion and various actions at work.

The findings confirmed results of the first study and added another wrinkle: Music misfit had an impact on job performance.  Participants were more likely to act in ways that hurt the company – and less likely to do positive things – on days when they felt out of sync with the music they heard.

Music affects actions

Negative actions could include working more slowly, talking negatively about the workplace with other employees, and pilfering office supplies. Positive actions included helping a fellow worker on a project that was outside their direct responsibilities.

“It can affect the bottom line of companies if their employees are not being productive because they are being drained and distracted by the music they hear all day,” Keeler said. “Their performance suffers.”

The results suggest that employers need to take into consideration the musical wants and needs of their employees.

“Employers should try to strike a balance between making sure their music appeals to both customers and employees, because this is not a trivial matter,” Keeler said.  “If their employees aren’t happy, that is not going to be good for the business.”

Employers can also ensure there are places in the workplace where employees can escape the music during their breaks. In addition, they could invest in earbuds using smart technology that allows wearers to hear conversations from customers while screening out some background noises, including music.

And while this was not a focus of this study, the results also suggest that workers may be happier and more productive if they are allowed to listen to their own music when appropriate.

Let them listen to their music

“I know some managers are reluctant to allow employees to listen to their own music, but our research suggests that there are a lot of benefits, including productivity, engagement and well-being,” she said.

Harshad Puranik of the University of Illinois-Chicago was co-lead author.  Other co-authors were Yue Wang of the University of Illinois-Chicago, and Jingfeng Yin of The Hong Kong, Polytechnic University.

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Strategies

Crucial electrical safety advice for customers 

Before getting started on outdoor projects, it is important to be aware of the electrical safety hazards you may encounter.

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Spring is about to arrive, and the longer days will inspire business owners to get outdoor projects underway. But before getting started, it is important to be aware of the electrical safety hazards you may encounter.

“Starting on outdoor projects is a great way to welcome the warmer weather, but it’s crucial to be aware of potential electrical hazards at home,” said Tim Frankenberg, fire safety engineer for the St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. “A little prevention goes a long way in keeping your family safe.”

The St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation recommended four electrical safety hazards to avoid this spring:

Electric equipment near water

Water and electricity don’t mix, so a great rule of thumb is to keep electric equipment at least 10 feet away from wet areas. You should also plug into ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which are designed to shut off the power as needed to prevent a shock. These are typically found in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoors. It is highly encouraged that GFCIs are tested monthly. 

Underground utilities

You can disrupt utility service, including electric, natural gas and more, and even put your life in danger by failing to have underground utility lines clearly marked before digging. Plan the simple do-it-yourself projects that may seem small, including planting trees or installing a mailbox.

Overhead power lines

Stay clear of power lines and wires when trimming vegetation, raising ladders and performing outdoor home maintenance. Always assess your surroundings while trimming or working in your yard or simply call a certified professional to safely handle the work. Remain at least 10 feet away from any overhead power line near your home. 

Indoor electrical cords and electronics for outdoors

Before plugging into an exterior electrical socket, double-check that your cords, lights or fans are rated for outdoor use. Look for labels on packaging that clearly mark them as suitable for outdoor use. Also, avoid running cords through door or window openings where they can be damaged, and pair them with GFCIs instead. 

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Strategies

How your business can cut costs related to plumbing

Business owners should take proactive measures to identify and fix plumbing leaks heading into the warmer months.

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Business owners should take proactive measures to identify and fix plumbing leaks heading into the warmer months.

“Warmer temperatures are headed our way as spring begins to take hold,” Levi Torres of High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric said. “Pretty soon, air conditioners will stay on a little longer and energy bills will begin to rise. One of the best ways to offset those costs is to check your plumbing for any leaks that could be increasing water usage.”

According to the EPA, people wastes nearly 10,000 gallons of water every year due to unknown leaks in the home, offices, et cetera. In addition, 10% of establishments waste 90 gallons or more per day.

To help your business cut costs related to plumbing, the experts at High 5 recommend the following tips to help recognize plumbing leaks:

  • Check the flapper in the toilet periodically to ensure it isn’t old or worn out. This can cause the toilet to silently leak thousands of gallons of water a year or cause it to flush on its own. Replacing the flapper can be an easy, cost-effective way to prevent toilet leaks.
  • Inspect the washers and gaskets on your faucets. Old washers can be a primary culprit for leaky faucets, causing a home to waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.
  • Check the showerhead for frequent dripping after usage. A showerhead that drips 10 times per minute can waste over 500 gallons per year. Simply tightening the connection or replacing the showerhead can be a cheap option to prevent leaks.

“While some simple leaks can be prevented by replacing small parts, it’s always important to call a licensed plumber if you suspect you have major leaks inside your home,” said Torres. “Leaks behind a wall or with a water heater can be much more complicated and need professional attention. If left untreated, they can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Never leave a leak left untreated.”

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