Business Discussions

  Happy Wednesday! Have you ever found yourself chatting with a coworker or business owner about how to best leverage new AI tools and figure out which one is right for your business? If so, then you’re not alone. I came across a post by Mailchimp the other day on my LinkedIn on the impact that these tools can have on your business.   According to Mailchimp, having the right AI tools under your belt can increase business productivity by 40%! They have outlined a few ways AI can help you in your day-to-day, so I wanted to go ahead these with you. AI tools can help you: Brainstorm ideas Overcome writer’s block Optimize for SEO Improve grammar and readability Finish your sentences Write for different languages   Do you know what AI tool is right for you?? Feel free to let us know in the comment section below! See you next time.

  Happy Tuesday QuickBooks community! Whether this is your first time running payroll or you just want to make sure you’re taking all the right steps, the key to running a successful payroll is staying organized. This will help streamline the process and make sure your employees are getting paid quickly and efficiently. Today, I wanted to share 9 steps from this guide in the QuickBooks Blog that may be helpful for you. To run payroll like a pro, it's important that you:   Gather Tax information Collect employee withholdings certificate Determine Payroll Schedule Calculate gross pay and withholding deductions Process payroll deductions Determine net pay and run payroll Correct payroll mistakes and pay taxes File and report payroll taxes Maintain complete and organized payroll records   If you are using payroll software, that will alleviate a few of the above steps. An additional advantage of these bookkeeping programs is that they automatically withhold and s

qb sees deposits as sales, but in fact my deposits are in fact real deposits with outstanding balances that need to be paid before the transactions are to be marked complete as sales, and then taxable. How do I set up my company like that? Thanks, Helena

Good afternoon QuickBooks Community! Quick question, are face-to-face meetings important in this Digital Age? Today, I have an interesting read from our QuickBooks Blog, which explores the challenges and benefits of in-person meetings in an increasingly digital world. Here are some of the challenges and advantages they mentioned:     Challenges of Interactions: Distractions in Virtual Meetings: Virtual meetings can be prone to distractions, such as multitasking or interruptions from external factors, which can hinder effective communication and engagement.   Limited Non-Verbal Cues: Digital interactions often lack the full range of non-verbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, making it more challenging to interpret nuances and emotions accurately.   Reduced Personal Engagement: Virtual meetings may sometimes feel impersonal or detached, as they lack the physical presence and connection that in-person interactions provide.   Advantages o

Trying to improve your online presence in 2023? Well, stick around and find out. Happy Friday, and welcome back to our Discussion Page! For sustainable growth, a business must maintain a robust online presence. Our article today from ReadWrite addresses a few ways to accomplish it. Here is what they mentioned:     Develop a User-Friendly Website Create a Visual Aspect That Leaves a Lasting Impression Design an Eye-Catching Logo Implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategies Create High-Quality and Engaging Content Build a Strong Social Media Presence Harness the Potential of Email Marketing   The article goes into much more detail, and I encourage you to check it out! If any one of these stands out to you, let me know. I will love to hear your feedback. Enjoy your weekend!

 

Are you looking for some creative ideas to advertise your business? Today I have a few that could assist you in reaching your target audience! Some may be common or possible ideas you already practice, and some may be new to you. Here are some creative ideas:     Guerrilla Marketing: Execute unconventional and attention-grabbing marketing tactics in public spaces. This could include flash mobs, interactive installations, or cleverly placed street art. Make sure it aligns with your brand identity and follows local regulations. Creative Packaging: Design eye-catching packaging that stands out on store shelves or when delivered to customers. Street Teams: Hire a team of energetic individuals to promote your business in high-traffic areas. They can distribute samples, coupons, or promotional materials, engaging with potential customers and creating buzz. Podcast Sponsorships: Identify popular podcasts that align with your target audience and explore sponsorship opportunities. I

Happy Tuesday! Today we’re going to chat about a topic that many small businesses deal with...hiring interns. I’m here today to share some tips from this article in Firm of the Future, that goes over how you can make your intern process better as well as feel better equipped in helping to prepare the next generation of business owners and professionals. So let’s dive into these 6 tips!   Leverage your network to find the right interns for your needs. Interview potential interns just like any other member of your team. Provide a clear mandate for what your intern should accomplish. Establish effective two-way communication. Encourage feedback and adjust your expectations accordingly. Keep in contact with successful interns.   If you put in the work and time to recruit the right interns, it will pay off. Not only will an intern help take off the load with some tasks that your team may not be able to get to, but they may also add value to your business in the future

It's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you guys enjoyed your 4th of July holiday and looking forward to the weekend! Before signing out today, do you have plans to start a side business or possibly expand your brand?  Well, I have a great article from Forbes about prioritizing tasks to accomplish this. Here we go:   Building an online presenceThis includes producing content such as videos, pictures, and social media posts to build that presence.   Prioritizing content creationBy producing more content as soon as you can, it would aid in increasing your search engine rankings over some time.   Focus on tasks that will have the biggest impactSince there is limited time, it is crucial to do tasks that are worth more which helps in the business's success later.     They mention many others, such as improving the quality of your products, developing a schedule, and other examples. Definitely take a look at the link because it has a lot of good information. Until nex

Want to know how to use your website to retain your clients? In this digital age, a well-designed website can be a powerful tool for client retention. Our article from Firms of the Future today shared three tips on how to do so! Here is what they had to say:   Enhance User Experience. An example of this could be to optimize page loading speed. Slow-loading pages can frustrate users and lead to higher bounce rates. You can improve your website's performance by optimizing images, minimizing code, and leveraging caching techniques. Engage Through Valuable Content. This can be done by regularly updating your blog. Sharing informative articles, industry insights, and relevant news through a blog can assist with that. This positions you as an authority in your field and encourages visitors to return for fresh content. Personalize Communication. Requesting feedback and reviews is a great idea. This encourages clients to share their feedback and experiences through t

Hello Community! Thanks for tuning in for another topic here in the Business Discussion space. Have you ever thought about making a YouTube channel for your business? If not, now may be the time and I've got the perfect post for you that was shared on wpbeginner.com.   As one of the most popular video-sharing social media platforms in the world, YouTube has great potential for new customers. Here are a few ways a channel can help your business:   Increased brand recognition. Increased sales. Increased website traffic. Promote products/services. Build a loyal following. Adds an extra source of revenue.   Sounds great, right? Now, how do you get started? As mentioned in the article, starting a YouTube channel takes a lot of commitment. But, as listed above, can yield a lot of benefits. Being consistent and successful means coming up with a content strategy and sticking to it. This article is really helpful in this situation as it provides a ton of info, such as: &nb

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you guys are doing well! Quick question, is your website user-friendly? You may think it's doable at the time, but it could not be. I have some questions to ask yourself:     Is important information like contact information easy to find? Does the layout make sense, and so forth?   Here are a few tips Special Events shared to make your website more user-friendly:   Plain LanguageYou may be an expert in your field, but some of your customers aren't. Know your target audience and use simple and plain language so it is easier for everyone.   ScannabilityGenerally, users want information at their fingertips, and they want to save time hunting for information. Therefore, it is essential to present your data effectively, if you don't mind. If it's hard to find the information, this can discourage them and click out of your site.   OrderHow have you grouped information so that it is simple to navigate? This makes it easy for users

 

Happy Tuesday Community! When it comes to having a positive brick-and-mortar storefront experience, there are several things to keep in mind in order to make an excellent first impression on your customers. It’s vital that your storefront feels and looks inviting, therefore, making sure that there is appropriate lighting and a good HVAC system is crucial. Today, I will touch on a few easy ways to make energy-efficient upgrades to your storefront according to this article in the QuickBooks Blog. Here are a few:    Update your lighting Maximize your lighting Protect your windows Make your HVAC system more efficient Install ceiling fans Seal doors and windows Power down at the end of the day Partner with nearby businesses Commit to tackling climate change   Unfortunately, keeping your store cozy and cool does come with a cost. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to lower energy usage/cost while keeping your store comfortable. For the in-depth steps, make

Good afternoon, folks. I hope everyone is doing great. Today I'm stopping by to share a post from the QuickBooks Blog. This post shares info about NOPAT - what it is and how to calculate it. Let's dive in...   NOPATNOPAT stands for Net Operating Profit After Tax. This formula is used to measure a business’s theoretical income after all taxes, interest, and expenses have been withheld. It's an important figure to know because it shows how much a company could make if it didn’t have any debt, or unlevered free cash flow. Additionally, it is a great indicator of how well a company uses assets to generate profits for core operations.   Operating ProfitOperating profit accounts for all gross profits earned through business operations before interest and taxes are deducted. Or to put it more simply, the amount left over after operating expenses get deducted from a business’s gross revenue.   FormulasThere are two formulas to choose from when calculating NOPAT for your bus

We've talked a lot about social media and how it can help your business grow. Let's say things are going really well and the social media aspect of your business has become increasingly more difficult to keep up with. Have you ever considered hiring a social media manager? Here are a few things one could do for you: Management This one is pretty straight forward; it's even in the job title! A social media manager will be able to do just that - manage, across all platforms. Engagement Engaging on social media is done through replies, comments, and direct messages. Again, one of those things that can be really time consuming especially when there's a lot of it do. A social media manager will get this done for you! Graphic Design Have you ever heard the saying, "We eat with our eyes first"? The same can be said about consumers when choosing a company to do business with. Help in the graphic design department will take your business to the next level. Product Photography Even more

  Happy Wednesday! I was scrolling through LinkedIn the other day and I came across this article by Sprout Social. I found it super insightful as it discussed social media accessibility best practices and how it can help bring people together but also cause exclusion. According to Sprout Social, “Social media accessibility is the practice of designing and developing social media content and posts that provide a smooth, inclusive experience for everyone”. Today I wanted to share the 8 guidelines that are talked about in this article with you:   Add alt text to images Make your text accessible Be mindful of emojis Add closed captions and subtitles to videos Make your visual content accessible Use inclusive language Prioritize inclusivity in your images Make accessibility and inclusion part of your routine   These guidelines are important to consider as non-accessible content can cause all sorts of disruptive experiences for viewers. The goal is that your socia

Welcome to the "Talk About Your Business Page"! We're happy to have you here. I'd love to share a great article from the QuickBooks Firm of the Future site that covers data analytics and how it can fuel your small business and mid-market growth.   Before doing a deep dive into analytics, you need to be able to answer a few questions about your business to make sure you're on the right track to begin with:   Are we focused on the right things? Is our quality where it needs to be? How are we doing financially? Where are our opportunities and challenges? Are our customers happy? Are our employees happy?   Once you've answered those questions and are satisfied with your answer you can move onto the business analytics.   One of the most important metrics to consider is the IRR, or Internal Return on Investment. This figure will tell you how attractive your business is to customers.   Here are a few other metrics to take a look at:   Unit economics

Good afternoon, Community! Thanks for taking the time to join us today. I'm sure you've noticed that there are QR codes everywhere and used for just about everything these days. If you're wondering how you can create your own, check out this post I found on entrepreneur.com. Here's what it had to say...   Download a free QR code generatorThere are several options available for both iPhone and Android.   Pick the QR data formatThe format options describe what kind of data is provided to the user who scans the QR code. Once the QR code is scanned, the device will launch whatever applicable program is needed. A few options include: simple text, website URLs, and contact cards.   Enter your dataNext is to enter the relevant data into the fields of your QR code generator. Pro tip: Try to keep any data or text under 300 characters, as older phones have trouble with QR codes that have more than 300 characters long (digits or text).   Start sharing your QR codeVirtuall

Hello again! Thanks for being here in the Business Discussion space. Today I would like to have an anatomy lesson. No, probably not the first one that comes to mind, but the anatomy of a proposal! We know that proposals are forms used to present your products and/or services (often as packages) to potential clients. Let's look...   HeaderOff to an easy start. The header will made up of your logo, and any other graphics you'd like to include.   WelcomeWelcome your client to your business. Present your name and business info like telephone number, email, address.   About MeTo further elaborate on your welcome, use this area to present a short bio about you and/or your business and how you help clients.   Your ProcessList key details about your work that will intrigue your client to work with you even more so. Explain why your business is unique and better than the rest.   ItemsList the different packages, bundles, or items for your client to choose from. You may

When last have you been able to relax truly? I know it can be very busy as business owners, but it is necessary. Here are a few ways to do so:     Deep Breathing: Practice deep breathing exercises to help slow down your heart rate and promote a sense of calm. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Meditation: Set aside a few minutes each day for meditation. Find a quiet space, sit comfortably, and focus on your breath or a specific point of concentration. Meditation can help reduce stress and increase mindfulness. Take a Walk in Nature: Spending time outdoors can be incredibly calming. Take a walk in a park or nature reserve, immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, and let the fresh air rejuvenate you. Listen to Music: Choose soothing or calming music that helps you unwind. Create a playlist of your favorite relaxing tunes and listen to them while you sit back, close your eyes, and let the music wash over you. Pra

Trying to improve your Company's Youtube channel? Dr. Steve Turley shares several steps he took to successfully grow his company to over 1 million subscribers on Entreprenuer.com. Here are a few tips! Define Your Audience Create Engaging Content Optimize Video Titles and Descriptions Use Eye-Catching Thumbnails Implement Keyword Research and Optimization Leverage Social Media Platforms Collaborate with Influencers and Creators Analyze Data and Make Informed Decisions   Please take a few minutes and review the article for more information and let the growth begin! Until next time, be safe and enjoy your weekend.

Good afternoon! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Do you listen to podcasts often? If that's your thing I think you'll enjoy this post that was shared on the QuickBooks Blog. It covers a new small business podcast from QuickBooks in collaboration with iHeart Radio called "Mind the Buisness". The two hosts interview small business owners to find out more about their success stories as well as covering pointers on how to get you there. Here are a few of the topics discussed: How to Raise Capital and Find Funding For Your Small Business Knowing Your Best Audience For the Best Marketing Strategy Money Management to Keep You on the Right Track     If you follow the link above you can bookmark the page to listen to episodes and find out more. Be sure to check back every week when new episodes are shared. We'd love to hear from you too! What are some of your favorite business podcasts? Let's chat in the comments.

It's hump day and I'm back to share some great small business tactics to help you along your path to success. Today I want to talk about the foundations of a successful small business. Let's take a closer look...     Good product or service One of the most fundamental aspects of a successful business is a good product or service that you can rely on. Passion and drive Next up is having passion and drive. If you aren't passionate and driven to work at your business it makes it difficult to be successful. No shame When you're a small business owner, YOU have to be your biggest advocate. Don't sell yourself short! For example, when you're asked what you do for a living, answer boldly with a response like "I own my own business." Not something like, "Oh I just work from home and make crafts." A professional brand Branding relays the legitimacy of your business. This is one area to not skimp on. Take this to the professionals to get the best results. Portfolio and testi

Thank you for joining me in the Talk About Your Business Discussion today. I have an interesting read titled "Streamlining Client Onboarding for Efficient Business Growth" from "Firm of the Future," which offers valuable insights on optimizing client onboarding processes. Here are a few takeaways that I thought would be instrumental:   Comprehending the Process: A clear understanding of the client onboarding process is crucial. It involves initial contact, information gathering, goal setting, and project scope definition. This understanding allows businesses to create efficient workflows and ensure a smooth transition from a prospect to a satisfied client. Leveraging Technology: Incorporating technology improves efficiency. For example, customer relationship management (CRM) systems centralize client data, track interactions, and automate tasks. Other cloud-based collaboration tools also facilitate seamless communication and document sharing, enhancing the overall client experie