expert panel

For a business to succeed, entrepreneurs have to know how to effectively pitch and get stakeholder onboard with every new initiative. No matter how good a business idea may seem, every new initiative will not have complete buy-in from stakeholders at the start. No matter whether it’s investors, employees, partners or consumers, the onus is on the entrepreneur to present a worthy pitch, gain support and address concerns that may arise from the audience.  While this process may seem straightforward, the challenge lies in devising a plan to put any and all doubts from stakeholders at ease. As leaders, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum know that full support for business ideas is critical to success. To help, they offer strategies entrepreneurs can use to approach changing someone's mind and gaining buy-in from stakeholders.

article

Managing effectively requires more than delegating tasks and meeting deadlines.

expert panel

Creating an engaging workplace culture is all about putting structures in place to meet company goals and address employee needs. For a business to succeed today, an engaged workforce can make all the difference. With the workplace being more distributed across geographical areas than ever, establishing and maintaining a company culture that effectively engages all employees is a growing challenge. That’s why it is essential for leaders to adopt practices that balance the needs of the business with the desires of employees. Before making any internal changes to how the company operates, determining the best way to create an environment that supports employees is a great first step for ensuring employees feel valued. Below, 15 members of Newsweek Expert Forum provide tips for business leaders interested in keeping their employees engaged with the culture of the company.

expert panel

Now that websites and social media have become vital for businesses, leaders must develop an effective strategy for engaging their audiences on these platforms. Regardless of the industry an organization operates in, the marketing channel a leader chooses to use to contact current customers and prospects will have a direct impact on the success of their business. This is especially true now that websites and social media networks have become important components of interacting directly with stakeholders. With online interactions becoming essential to operations, learning how to contact and build relationships with customers is a hurdle business owners have to overcome. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum all have experience testing various channels for outreach and marketing purposes. Below they share how they best reach their target audience on their preferred marketing channel and why that method works so well for them.

article

It’s time to pay your dues to your community.

expert panel

If you're having trouble staying on task, these actionable tips can help you refocus your attention. Everyone has struggled to focus at work at one point or another. Whether you're feeling tired, burned out or you're just too excited about an event later that week, sitting down at a computer or sitting through a meeting can sometimes be challenging. While feeling a little unfocused every now and then can be easily overcome, it's more problematic if you're constantly struggling to focus or losing interest in the work that you're doing. Luckily, there are ways to help you dial back in and find the focus you need to get the job done. Below, 15 members of Newsweek Expert Forum shared their best tips for someone struggling to focus.

article

Digital marketing cringe typically occurs when marketers who are out of the loop with Zoomer culture try to latch on to a viral sensation and mess it up royally.

article

Part of digital strategy is knowing how to capitalize on social media trends.

expert panel

Shifting noncritical social media tasks to virtual assistants allows employees to focus more on other business initiatives. With business growth comes the need to maximize social media efforts to increase efficiency and elevate the organization’s online standing. One way to do this is by hiring a virtual assistant to take on social media tasks, such as scheduling posts or communicating with stakeholders online, thereby freeing up time for employees to work on other business initiatives.   Though virtual assistants are fast becoming a simple solution for offloading noncritical tasks, managers must be careful given the importance that’s placed on social media today. A skill mismatch or improper training can do more harm than good in the long term. Below, nine members of Newsweek Expert Forum share recommendations for managers to keep in mind as they use virtual assistants to grow their business’ social media presence.

expert panel

Before moving your business to a new industry, it's best to get a full understanding of that current market. Moving your business into a new industry can bring with it the opportunity to expand your current business offerings or go in a completely different direction. However, before jumping into a new endeavor, it’s important to carefully think through each move and fully understand the potential consequences of what you do. While an entrepreneur may have experience in a given field, that experience may not translate well to a new setting. To help entrepreneurs make a successful change, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members share common mistakes entrepreneurs encounter as they attempt to pivot into a new industry.

expert panel

If you want a loyal customer base that keeps coming back, you need to put consumers at the center of everything you do. Many companies claim that their customers are their highest priority. While this is a nice thing to say, there's a difference between simply delivering what a customer asks for and truly being a consumer-centric organization.  Today's consumers expect that the businesses they buy from will go the extra mile to ensure an experience that exceeds their expectations. To help your company become more consumer-centric, 15 members of Newsweek Expert Forum members offered their best tips below.

article

Influencer marketing is all the rage but there is a reason that there isn’t an abundance of success stories.

expert panel

When creating a more adaptable workplace, input from staff members will help ensure initiatives are inclusive of employees' needs. The last few years have shown that the traditional workplace has the potential to be a much more variable space than previously thought. As employers continue to navigate the return to the office and the hiring of new employees, it’s critical to consider the changes that have taken place and how those changes will impact what the workplace looks like, including where and how employees will work from now on. Regardless of the workplace ultimately set up, a leader must aim for an environment that is adaptable to the needs of the employees working within it. Below, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members share less commonly known ways to give flexibility to employees.

expert panel

Investing in tech solutions to optimize business operations isn't an endeavor that has to break the bank. Building a business is an endeavor that takes time, effort and money. While hiring and maintaining a team of employees helps ensure that the organization is able to meet the needs of customers, leaders have to also ensure that the business is operating as effectively as possible—and technology is the perfect tool for the task. However, determining what technology will work best for the business’s needs is difficult when it can be an ongoing and costly investment. Below, 16 members of Newsweek Expert Forum offer advice on how entrepreneurs can leverage technological solutions in their businesses without breaking the bank.

expert panel

While business challenges can be overwhelming, making changes to current proccesses helps build leadership resiliency.  Every business deals with both highs and lows. The ability to overcome trying and difficult times boils down to the processes leaders have developed to address challenges.  Whether leaders are navigating an uncertain industry or internal changes, these processes build resilient leaders and long-lasting organizations over time. To share further insights, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members recommend actions a leader can take to become more resilient, thus strengthening their leadership and their organization as a whole.

expert panel

There's no "silver bullet" solution to achieve rapid growth, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you hit your goals faster. Whether it's financial growth, team growth or sales growth, nearly every business has concrete growth goals they want to achieve. But even with the best employees and loyal customers, sometimes it may be difficult to achieve that growth. Luckily, there are some "hacks" to help your business reach its goals quickly and efficiently. From journaling to using timeboxing strategies, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared their best growth hacks and why they're so effective. 

article

Hiring — it’s tough. But it’s arguably the most important thing you’ll have to do to get your new business off the ground.

expert panel

Attaining continuous success in business is all about having the right people and processes in place. At times, business success can seem like a fluke that happens by chance. In reality, business achievements are a combination of factors working together with each one contributing to the overall success of an initiative. Driving continued success comes down to determining what actions, people and processes will be most effective. To help, 11 experts from Newsweek Expert Forum each offer one recommendation for how leaders can continually drive repeatable success.

expert panel

When choosing a technology solution for your SME, it's important to understand the business value you'll be getting for your money. Technology can certainly be an investment, especially for small- and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many programs cost a lot of money upfront and may not end up serving the needs your business has. That's why it's so important to carefully choose which technologies your business invests in. This often entails doing some market research and understanding exactly how a tech tool might be able to solve your business needs. Below, 15 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared their insights to help SMEs optimize their technological investments. 

expert panel

Offering additional benefits can increase the chances of not only drawing in attractive candidates, but also retaining your current workforce. In today’s job market, a high salary alone is no longer enough to entice high-quality candidates. Companies instead will need to consider offering additional benefits that appeal to job seekers looking for flexibility in their work lives and more meaning from the work they do.  From the ability to work from home and more PTO to programs dedicated to developing employees professionally, adopting these benefits may allow employers to draw in more prospects and retain their current workforce. Below, 10 members of Newsweek Expert Forum each share one perk companies should consider offering to attract top candidates in today’s competitive work environment. 

article

A newsletter is essential not just as a doorway for your customers into your brand, but as a portal through which you can both find out more about each other.

expert panel

Taking the time to mitigate stress can lead to a more productive work environment. Between tight deadlines, a heavy workload and multiple priorities that have to be juggled, stress tends to become part of the everyday work routine. Unmanaged stress, regardless of the cause, can eventually take a heavy toll. While some stress is natural, taking steps to mitigate it and its negative impact can prevent it from completely tanking your quality of life. Below, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share strategies for handling feelings of stress at work.

expert panel

Leaning on a a team or a network of knowledgeable peers can help leaders maintain a finger on the pulse of recent tech trends. Regardless of what industry your business operates in, keeping up with changes in technology is essential for remaining competitive. Leaders know how important it is to maintain knowledge bases, but with all the work that goes into running and maintaining a business, it can be difficult to continuously learn about new innovations with a hectic schedule. Technology can change in the blink of an eye, so a leader needs to adopt a process to ensure their own knowledge and the knowledge being used in their company remains as updated as possible. Below, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each offer one recommendation for business leaders interested in staying on top of the latest trends in tech.

expert panel

While some may not see the appeal of continuously fixing what isn't broke, intentionally adapting in business can lead to new opportunities. When you've been in business a long time, certain habits just stick. Making adjustments to business strategies that are currently working well enough may seem unnecessary, but continually working on improving the efficiency of business operations is key to staying relevant in any industry. Becoming too complacent with the status quo is dangerous for businesses that want to last long term, but it’s hard to break out of bad habits once they’ve been set in place. To help leaders begin moving in new directions, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each share advice on steps to take to rethink old habits and establish new ones.

article

Remember, a partnership is not a means for unloading work — they should add to your business, not become part of it.

expert panel

Positive, collaborative relationships between colleagues can greatly enhance your company culture. Here's how to encourage this type of dynamic. For most people, work takes up the majority of their waking hours. Whether you're working a 9-to-5 or running your own business, your professional life can sometimes blend in with your personal one, especially when it comes to friendships in the workplace. While it's normal and natural for colleagues to form strong bonds, it's important for leaders to encourage their staff members to forge appropriate and productive connections. Otherwise, they may let close personal relationships with their coworkers cloud their judgment or cause them to play favorites when it comes to working with the rest of the team. Below, 11 members of Newsweek Expert Forum offered their best tips for leaders who want to encourage meaningful but appropriate relationships among their employees.

expert panel

A commitment to authenticity and open communication can help you build relationships that last long term. In business, establishing an authentic relationship with each and every person you meet is critical to building a professional network that helps you meet with the right people and source new opportunities. Building these kinds of connections with new people, such as clients or coworkers, doesn’t even require a lot of effort; in fact, being yourself and genuinely asking how you can help can go a long way in building a long-lasting relationship. To help professionals interested in cultivating business relationships, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members share recommendations on how to best build rapport with a new client or colleague.

expert panel

Management transitions can be tricky, so it's important to have a plan in place when a senior staff member makes their exit. There comes a time in every company when a leader is ready to move on. This company loss can be bittersweet and even provoke anxiety and feelings of the unknown among their previous team members. Employees may be concerned about gaining a new leader and how their job may change once a new leader is appointed. To help mitigate these fears, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members shared what to do when your company has a key leader resign. Follow their recommendations to ensure a smooth transition.

expert panel

Knowing how to manage and track department goals can help leaders ensure objectives for the wider company are also being met.  A new year offers businesses the opportunity to set both company-wide and department-specific goals. As each department works toward achieving set objectives, tracking progress can help ensure short- and long-term goals are on the right track and moving in the right direction for the entire organization.  Though knowing how to manage and track the goals of each department alone is difficult, the challenge also lies in how leaders can do those tasks efficiently while also balancing the achievement of goals set for the wider company. To help, 10 Newsweek Expert Forum members share recommendations on effective methods companies can adopt to better track department-specific goals in the New Year.

expert panel

Entrepreneurial lessons are learned every single day, but some have a greater effect on the future of your business than others. Every new opportunity, challenge and experience in the business world is a potential lesson for an entrepreneur. Some circumstances can teach useful tidbits that a business owner can pull out of their proverbial back pocket when needed. Others have a much more tangible effect and change the course of a founder's entrepreneurial future. A panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members reflected on their own entrepreneurial journeys and the biggest lessons they've learned along the way. Below, 13 of them shared a lesson that has made a huge impact on their business in the long run and how they've applied it to their strategy for success.

expert panel

Taking the time to carefully vet business partners decreases the chances of something going wrong down the line.  A partnership with another person or company can increase your chances of successfully bringing your ideas alive. After all, a partner will be able to offer additional information and resources, and the combined effort means more work will get accomplished.  However, one must carefully vet every collaboration before signing on the dotted line. Though a business partnership may look good on paper, asking key questions beforehand can help ensure your prospective partner actually ticks all of the right boxes. Below, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one question to ask a potential business partner before officially joining forces.

article

Open hours are one of the best and rarest assets an agency can have. Let them pass by at your own risk.

expert panel

Regardless of industry, affordable AI solutions can be found for businesses of all sizes. Artificial intelligence can empower a business to streamline and optimize workflows, but adoption can come with challenges outside of the adjustments to various internal processes. In addition to the time and effort it takes to implement efficient AI solutions, the financial commitment is also an obstacle for small businesses determining whether AI is a feasible option. If one knows where to start, AI can be an affordable endeavor for businesses of all sizes. To help, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share how small businesses can approach adopting artificial intelligence without investing too much time and money into big data or programmers.

expert panel

Minor workplace disagreements left unchecked have the potential to quickly become completely unmanageable. Workplace conflicts are an inevitable part of working with people. As such, leaders need to have a proactive plan in place for handling these conflicts when they arise between employees. Disagreements left unchecked increase the chances of a conflict escalating, negatively impacting the culture of the company and creating a toxic environment as a result. To help leaders deal with workplace disagreements before they spiral out of control, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share how to effectively de-escalate and mediate workplace conflicts when they arise.