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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.

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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.

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It's okay to admit you can't beat this personal pandemic alone.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Taking the time to understand client needs can guide efforts to reconnect and maintain connections with customers. After a customer has paid for and received a product or service, it's natural for them to disengage if a business isn't working to actively hold their attention. The natural instinct for some entrepreneurs may be to leverage every communication channel available to pull the customer back in, but these efforts may have the opposite effect of pushing the customer further or completely away. That’s why it’s important to stop and take a moment to think about the situation from the customer’s perspective. Developing a better understanding of customer needs can aid in determining the best path forward for reconnecting or maintaining a connection. To help, a panel of experts from Newsweek Expert Forum each share one effective strategy for reengaging inactive customers.

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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. 

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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. 

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To keep the business running smoothly, leaders have to get to the root cause of employee burnout.  Whether your employees have been working remotely, on a hybrid schedule or have been in-person this entire time, the odds are high that they are likely feeling the strain of the last few years. A leader taking the initiative to look deeper within their organization and at the current culture of the organization is a smart first step.  Making an effort to implement change and offer more support can positively impact employees. To help leaders make changes, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one strategy for addressing and reducing employee burnout in the workplace.

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Taking the time to conduct due diligence before partnering with another business can save both time and money. A collaboration between entrepreneurs has the potential to significantly drive business growth by exposing both parties to new audiences and new opportunities. However, entrepreneurs must proceed with caution before agreeing to or signing anything. Every potential partnership may look good in theory, but the reality of combining forces may not match up to expectations if proper due diligence is not conducted beforehand. Asking key questions before signing on the dotted line can save both entrepreneurs time and money in the event that the partnership doesn’t work out as planned. To help, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one question business owners should consider before setting up a new partnership.

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Addiction doesn't get off the elevator before the C-suite floor.

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Focusing on developing the skills of employees can also benefit employers. Organizational leaders have the unique position of driving business goals, but employees are the true lifeblood of an organization. A successful business meets those business goals by providing needed products and services to customers, but if employees aren’t motivated to do their best, the chances of true success are slim to none. Managers that place an emphasis on catering to their employees’ needs and developing the skills of their workforce are more than likely to create an environment that produces and retains top-notch employees. To help leaders bring out the best from the employees working with and below them, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum each share tips on how to build a supportive work environment.

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Building long-lasting relationships with peers requires moving away from competition and toward supporting their successes. In a business setting, it’s difficult not to think of your peers as competition. Whether they are within your immediate team or running their own company with an offering similar to yours, it’s inevitable that you’ll begin comparing yourself to them, assuming that their every success may mean lost opportunities for you. The true reality is that people can occupy the same spaces at the same time without feeling threatened by one another. The first step is recognizing that no matter how similar a situation may seem, no two people walk the same path. To help professionals escape from a competitive mindset and build healthy relationships, 10 Newsweek Expert Forum members give advice on how to connect with peers without comparing yourself to their successes.