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Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses – Virtual Offices and More

Posted on February 19, 2015

The Internet offers entrepreneurs a way to create a virtual world that can include their office needs, data storage, and business marketing. When a small business owner gets creative, they can find several ways to utilize the Internet to bring customers to their business.

Inspire Existing Customers To Spread The Word

You already have customers who are very active on the Internet and you can use those customers to bring in new clients. Offer small rewards such as a percentage off an order to customers who bring in referrals that buy products. If you never ask your existing customers for referrals, then you may never get that lucrative business.

Use Newsletters Or A Blog

A weekly newsletter or a blog where you regularly add content can give you a way to become a valuable resource to your clients and prospects. People feel much more comfortable buying from experts and companies that interact with customers through blogs and newsletters.

Get On Social Media

If you are not currently using social media to reach out to current and prospective customers, then you need to get on social media immediately and start being active. You need to add new content to your social media pages every day and interact in a positive and professional manner to grow your business.

Get A Virtual Office

An online business can add an extremely important and effective layer of legitimacy to their business by utilizing the services of a virtual office. A virtual office will give you a phone number, physical address and a professional secretarial pool that can be used to enhance your company’s image. You can also conduct business meetings in a real conference room and transcend the idea that your business only exists online.

A virtual office and a strong approach to online marketing can help increase your company’s bottom line. When you use smart marketing ideas for your small business, you will start to see your customer base grow and your company grow as well.

How to Grow Your Business With a Virtual Office

Posted on February 12, 2015

If you are interested in expanding your business in the New Year, you may wish to consider the benefits of a virtual office. Such an office can offer many of the advantages of a traditional office. However, the virtual office format may also provide you with an array of unique benefits that could yield a variety of positive results for your business.

Features to Expect from Your Virtual Office

A virtual office package may provide you with options such as:

  • conference rooms
  • live answering services
  • and a mailing address

You might also have the name of your business listed on a lobby directory, and your clients may be welcomed in the lobby by a professional greeter. Your business could benefit from access to live chat services and a virtual receptionist feature. A virtual office package may also include local telephone numbers, toll-free phone numbers, fax numbers, electronic fax and digital voicemail.

Cost-Efficiency of a Virtual Office

One of the top benefits of a virtual office is that it may be used to efficiently meet the needs of your business. Depending on your circumstances, you can rent a virtual office hourly or monthly. If you only need a desk for a month, you may rent a cubicle accordingly. If you simply need a conference room for an hour or a prime mailing address, you can request such features as part of your virtual office package. The money you save on overhead could be used to expand your business in the New Year.

You may also benefit from having a prestigious mailing or office address associated with your business. The virtual office format enables you to schedule meetings and utilize office space in prime locations, such as Beverly Hills 90210. Your business might not have the funds available to pay for such real estate all year, but the space is affordable when leased on a monthly or hourly basis.

Expanding Your Business In the New Year

If you want your business to grow in 2015, you’ll need to maximize your budget. A virtual office format is affordable and convenient, and it offers your business versatility that conventional offices cannot provide. You can choose the features that meet your needs in an economical way, so you can spend as much of your resources as possible on growing your business in 2015.

Survival of the Fittest – Best Business Practices for Startup Companies

Posted on May 20, 2013

A large majority of small businesses fail within their first few years. With such intimidating failure rates, just how can you breathe life back into an under performing small business?

According to statistics compiled by the US Small Business Administration, 70 per cent of small businesses will survive at least two years, yet only half of those will still be operating after five. While not as calamitous as some sources would have you believe, the numbers remain confronting, especially for those planning on starting a new business or struggling to keep theirs afloat.

Common downfalls of new businesses

When tackling the topic of businesses that fail, perhaps a good place to start is to understand why most businesses fail in the first place. Here are three of the most commonly cited reasons:

1.    Lack of start-up capital

Ensuring you have the funds necessary to stay viable past the first few months, when business will be at its toughest, is extremely important. Secure the funding you think you’ll need and then double it. The basic idea here is that you will likely need more money than your initial calculations advised.

2.    Lack of research

Too often businesses are founded on a seemingly great idea, but only in theory. No amount of hard work or business acumen can save you if there is no market for your product or service. The fundamental question you need to ask is whether there’s a place for you and your product – in terms of customers and competitors.

Founding a business on solid knowledge is therefore advisable. Business studies have found that business owners with previous work experience in the same industry as their new business will have higher success rates. It’s simple logic.

3.    Lack of planning

Every business, no matter the size, will benefit from a proper business plan. A business plan will act as a compass and guide, something you can always refer back to. It should detail your business goals and needs. It should also lay out a thoughtful financial budget. From there you can plan out financial controls. A marketing strategy should also be considered.

How to save your business from going under

While prevention is always better than the cure, what happens if your business is slowly sinking as we speak? Here are a few tips to stop the rot:

  •  Stop and review – When you’ve come to this realization it’s time to fix the problem, not ignore it. A good place to start is to review your business plan. Essentially, you want to get back to basics and remember why you started the business to begin with. From here you can tinker with your offering to make it more appealing, or even look into other potential revenue streams.
  • Secure funding – If the only problem you have is a momentary lack of funds, and you have a decent credit rating, speak to your bank about a business loan. This is where your business plan comes in handy, as they will certainly require a solid one. But before borrowing any money, make sure you’re not just prolonging what is the inevitable demise of your business. You may also consider finding a business partner to share the costs and secure more funds.
  • Cut expenses, reduce debt – This may seem obvious, but there are always ways to cut costs – you just have to make sure you’ve checked every possibility. Consider moving to smaller premises, renting out equipment or canceling the cleaning services. There is also the option to lay off staff whose roles have become redundant.
  • Know when to call it quits – Most successful businesses are formed off the back of a number of previous failures. If you find your business on its last legs, sometimes walking away is the best move. According to a Harvard Business School Working Paper titled Performance Persistence in Entrepreneurship, first-time entrepreneurs have an 18% chance of succeeding, while entrepreneurs who previously failed have a 20% chance. The numbers aren’t earth-shattering, but it does give hope to those who have failed.
  • Seek help – The best move for an underperforming company is to seek professional business advice. If you can’t afford a financial consultant there are always other options. For example, your local chamber of commerce should offer advice or even mentorships.

Starting a new business can be a difficult process for the first few years. However, by familiarizing yourself with the common mistakes small businesses make, and tips on how to prevent your company from going under in its formative years, you could be well on your way to entrepreneurial success.

Virtual Offices FAQ

Posted on May 7, 2013

If you have an urgent need to come up with a prime location for an all-important meeting, then all you need to do is to contact a virtual office and have your meeting space set up in no time. When choosing which meeting space to rent or lease, you need to consider the following factors.

Rates

Some companies offer a higher rate for the first one to three hours and then a lower rate for subsequent hours. You need to find out what these rates are and compare them with what other companies are charging you for the same range of services. It goes without saying that choosing the cheapest virtual office won’t always help you in impressing your clients or prospective business partners. It’s better if you focus on the quality of services being offered and determine whether they offer great value for your money or not.

Space

More specifically, how large is the meeting space being offered? While a meeting space doesn’t have to be exceptionally roomy or spacious, a good meeting space is always large enough for its occupants not to constantly bump into each other when working or moving around.

Seating

The type of seating that a virtual office company offers with its meeting spaces is very important.

Since most meetings are the sit-down type, it would be better for everyone concerned if your meeting space comes with seats designed to offer the greatest ease and comfort when its occupants are working.

Facilities

In most cases, a virtual office company offers customizable facilities – one that is dependent on what you – the client – require. Ideally speaking, it would be good if your meeting space can offer the following:

* Wi-Fi access
* Video conferencing equipment and speakerphone
* Use of marker board or white board and related supplies
* Easels with related supplies
* Projector screen and projection equipment available

Reception

Last but not the least – a virtual office should also be able to provide a meeting space that’s fully staffed with front desk personnel trained to act as if they are your long-time employees. They should know how to greet your guests properly and provide any additional information when requested.

The Benefits of Co-Working

Posted on April 22, 2013

Fun. Friendly. Inspiring. Collaborative. Productive. If you wouldn’t define your workplace with any or all of those terms, you may have to ditch your own desk and take a seat at a co-working space near you. Even if you aren’t an entrepreneur or freelancer, the benefits of co-working, according to Deskmag’s annual Global Co-working Survey, are pretty hard to ignore: 71 percent of participants reported a boost in creativity since joining a co-working space, while 62 percent said their standard of work had improved.

Renting a co-working space can be a great way to launch your startup cheaply—and expand your professional network in the process.

The contacts you make will likely be the biggest benefit of renting a co-working space. You get instant connections with other entrepreneurs who may be able to offer you valuable insight into your business, on everything from strategy to services and hiring. They could turn out to be essential partners. And you could make a difference in their business too.

Basically, co-working is a shared work environment where independent professionals gather. In a co-working environment, you can get a dedicated space or sign up for first-come-first-served space. This space could be an office, conference table or even cubicle-like desk.

The bottom line: co-working office space is gaining momentum for all those reasons and more. Co-working office space is springing up in large cities like Los Angeles as entrepreneurs continue looking for ways to incubate new ideas, collaborate with like-minded professionals and save money on office space.

There are many financial, social and business-related reasons to join a co-working space. These benefits were quantified by the Global Co-working Survey, conducted by Deskmag, which asked coworkers how their work style has altered since joining a co-working space.

Co-workers said their productivity had increased and their business networks had expanded since they joined a co-working space. 93% said their social circle had increased significantly, 86% said their business network had grown, 76% reported an increase in productivity, and 88% said their isolation had decreased. In addition, over one third of co-workers surveyed confirmed that their income had increased since joining a co-working facility.

Co-working by the numbers:

  • 50% of all coworkers access their work space around the clock
  • 71% report a boost in creativity since joining a coworking space
  • 62% said their standard of work had improved in a coworking space
  • Almost 90% of coworkers report an increase in self-confidence
  • 70% of coworkers feel healthier than they did working in a traditional office
  • Between a third and half of all workers are flexible and mobile
  • 64 percent of coworkers are better able to complete tasks on time.

https://www.abcvirtualoffices.com/

Can I Work From Home and Still Look Professional?

Posted on April 18, 2013

More and more people are stepping out on their own by starting their own businesses which they run from their homes. This obviously saves a lot of money, as there is no need to rent office space or pay extra overhead expenses. Sometimes home businesses can appear less professional than traditionally run businesses and it takes more effort for them to build up customer relationships and gain their clients’ trust.

Want to impress your clients and work from home? Look no further!! Join ABC Virtual Offices today for your one stop office solution!

With our virtual office and virtual phone services you can have a professional address, messaging service and even a physical location where you can meet with clients. Virtual offices can help you make your mark in your field without paying high office leasing rates.

If you are trying to run your business from home, there is nothing worse than receiving an important clients’ phone call, only to have your children interrupt by making lots of noise in the background. Having a virtual office to answer your business calls will ensure that every call is dealt with professionally. You will never have to worry about missing an important phone call, or giving customers a bad first impression. Working with a virtual office will mean that you do not have to give your home phone number out to clients. Instead you can have a virtual business number which can be directed to any phone.

Another advantage of having a virtual office for your home-business is that you can use a prestigious address in a big city like Los Angeles/Beverly Hills. This means that you will no longer have to give out your home address on your business cards. It will also make your business look more professional, and again give it a national presence. Your virtual office will provide an efficient mail forwarding service so you will receive all of your letters and packages on time.

Although we know that bigger is not always better when it comes to business, many customers often prefer to purchase goods and services from larger companies, as they see them as being more experienced and stable. Create the impression that you have a number of employees working for you by using a virtual office. It will look like you have hired a full time receptionist, whilst things like call forwarding menus will make it look like you have a number of departments.

Want to impress your clients and work from home? Look no further!! Join ABC Virtual Offices today for your one stop office solution! https://www.abcvirtualoffices.com/

5 Tips to Create the Most Productive Work Space At Home

Posted on April 11, 2013

Although the office is supposed to be a place for productive and efficient work, that isn’t always the case. In fact, sometimes your workplace can turn into one of the least effective locations for getting things done. Creating a productive work space in your home is not that difficult if you plan things properly. Here are a few things that you must keep in mind to make your work space more productive.

Decide on a Working Area

You must ensure that your work space is free of any distractions. This is important, as you will probably be working longer hours at your home office (and the smallest distractions will affect your work). If you do not have a spare room to turn into a work space, you will have to make do with a section in your living room or kitchen. An alcove in either of these rooms can work quite well as a work space if used correctly. However, ensure that you get the required privacy, regardless of where your work space is in the home. Have a door or a partition for your work area if possible.

Learn to Multi-Task

If you really want to be productive, you would have to learn to do multiple tasks at the same time. You must have everything close at hand to help you save time. Using downtime between answering calls and printing documents can help you do a lot more. Keep all frequently required things, such as the printer, phone, coffee-maker etc., close to your desk so that you can use them without wasting any time in movement.

Take Some Time Out

It isn’t healthy to occupy yourself completely with your work all the time. Make sure that you have some time for leisure activities too. You might have to work a little harder, but this will give you more reason to take a break from your work. A break from work does not include surfing the Internet. This can hamper productivity. The best way to take a break is to get away from your work space. Have a CD player or radio for playing soft at work. Classical music helps to improve productivity. Don’t put the music on too loud, as it might distract you.

Unusual Ways to organize your work space

Organize a large portion of your home office with the help of kitchen objects. For example, bowls are great for both general offices supplies and CDs/DVDs. A lunch tray can also make a handy drawer organizer.

Implement the Reproducible Elements of the Locations Where You’re Most Productive

Sometimes we don’t work best in an office because we’re more productive in a coffee shop. And if not a coffee shop, perhaps underneath a tree on a sunny day or in a quiet, solitary room. Whatever the case may be, location makes a difference for everyone in different ways. If you pay attention to your emotional responses to locations when working, you can start to dissect why those locations make you more productive. Doing so gives you an opportunity to identify elements in certain locations that you can reproduce later. You may not always be able to transport yourself to the place you find that you’re most productive, but if your office can feel a little more like that location you can tap into what makes it your favorite place to work.

A well-organized home office is definitely more productive than a cluttered one. Clear all unwanted files, documents, etc. from your desk. If you are busy working, switch on your phone’s answering machine and turn the email alert on your computer off. This will allow you to work without any disturbance.

https://www.abcvirtualoffices.com/

Virtual Office Packages and Services

Posted on December 9, 2011

Virtual offices are not a new innovation, but many new businesses are not familiar with how these offices work or the advantages that they bring to a small business. Traditionally, a new business would lease office space, hire office staff, acquire equipment, select furniture and sign long-term contracts. Virtual offices offer all of the benefits of these purchases without the need to commit large amounts of money up front. Virtual offices do this by offering a shared work environment, split between many small businesses, all of which rent space and equipment at affordable rates.

Virtual offices offer the option of renting a single office space in a larger office building, such as a single cubicle, or renting a workstation only when it is needed. ABC Virtual Offices also provides spacious conference rooms for rent when a small business needs a professional location to hold a large meeting.

ABC Virtual Offices offers several packages to meet the needs of different types of clients. Our packages start as low as $75 per month. This package, the Mail Package, provides a small business with a professional, Beverly Hills address in the 90210 ZIP code, a private mailbox, mail handling, mail forwarding and the option to rent conference rooms as needed.

Our next level of service, the Basic Package, combines the services above with a dedicated phone number and voicemail account. The Basic Package is only $125 per month. For $20 more, the Standard Package will provide a business with a live operator who answers calls during business hours using the name of the business. Finally, our highest level of service, the Transfer Package, combines all these services with the ability to transfer phone calls to any number in the world for only $165 per month. The Transfer Package is the perfect option for traveling entrepreneurs who can’t afford to miss critical calls from their customers, even if they are on the road.

In addition to our convenient packages, we also offer a la carte pricing and several additional services to help a small business succeed for not very much money.

Imagine Your Office In Beverly Hills

Posted on December 8, 2010

If you have ever wanted an office in prestigious Beverly Hills, then a quality virtual office package from Apollo Business Centers is as real as it gets. You probably have an idea of your ideal office in Beverly Hills, and have a list of all the amenities you would like your office to have. With this virtual office, a live receptionist professionally answers all calls made to your company, along with call forwarding to your location. Now no calls will be unanswered. When there are times when you need to meet your clients in person, you are provided with a fully equipped, private board room for any kind of meeting you desire.

Elegance and excellence are never a question when you use our private space, allowing you to appear more respectable to clients. While you are away, your company’s voice mails will be confidently secured.

All of this is possible at a very low cost compared to on site offices. Have you always wanted a 1-800 number for your business? Now you can have one. Impress your clients by making use of these professional services and boost your business opportunities while making costs low. Don’t let this wonderful opportunity for your company pass. With a Beverly Hills virtual office, you have a chance to make your company the best it can be. Better yet, you don’t even have to be here!

Your Business at its Classiest with a Beverly Hills Virtual Office

Posted on December 8, 2010

First impressions last. A good first impression is one of the most important ways to attract and keep clients. Imagine your business address attached to Beverly Hills. Wouldn’t that sound prestigious and classy? Wouldn’t that make a great first impression? You might never attain a regular office in Beverly Hills due to high costs, but now you don’t ever have to worry. There is a much better and inexpensive solution now being offered to you.

Obviously, having a Beverly Hills virtual office will boost your image and business power. You may not realize it, but for as little as $75, you can purchase a virtual office package and present your company with the elegance that you never thought you could. Our office offers all of the attractive qualities of a regular office, but with much more. It includes a live receptionist, call forwarding to your actual location, a private conference room where you can hold meetings right in the heart of Beverly Hills, and voicemail services that secure all calls for your company.

All of these time-consuming tasks are taken care of as you focus on growing your business, yet this is all possible at a very low cost. Leave behind all overwhelming costs and remove yourself from financial burden. Now you don’t need to be tied into an expensive deal, since this is a flexible solution where you only pay for what your business needs. Having a business attached to such an influential location as Beverly Hills has never been more possible.