Tips to Manage Your Project with Remote Team in this Lockdown


COVID-19 has devastated impact all over the world and it is affecting many companies and businesses around the globe. To maintain social distancing and avoid the spreading of coronavirus, many companies have started remote working. But now the question arises that how can we accomplish our project goal while working from home? How can we keep our staff in sync while they are working from home? Here are some tips which can make your project management team in sync in this COVID-19 and help to achieve your project goal in this lockdown.
Trust-Building with Team Members:
In remote working, project managers need to understand that it is essential to develop the trust factor among the team members because you are not meeting with each other in-person. It might be difficult for those project managers, who have never managed the remote team before. You have to build up the trust in their capabilities and allow the team members to do their work complete in their way so they can enjoy the work from home even in this COVID-19 breakout.

Clear Communication:
The key to keep the remote team in sync is clear and timely communication. It is the responsibility of the project manager to communicate with each team member to track multiple tasks of the project and identify the problem on time if there is any.
Make Policies for Remote team members:
Companies/Project management offices must need to make proper work policies for remotely working team because any issue can create a problem for the company. They have must need to address the common issues which are expected to face in remote working. In policies, it includes communication gateways, workflows, and general security issues
Project-cooperation Tools:
Project Management companies need to provide various cloud-based tools to stay in touch with online team members as COVID-19 is a threat for everyone and you cannot do an in-person meeting with them. Here are some tools mentioned which can help the project managers and team members in project management, work-cooperation and conferencing.
Video Conference and Online meetings: Video conference tools help the project manager and remotely working members to stay communicated with each other. They cannot only discuss the project; in fact, they can discuss the other official stuff and the current situation which can help to reduce the boredom of work from home. There are many tools available that offer video conference chat, private chat, screen-sharing calls and presentation streaming to make the work easy like Zoom Meetings, Cisco WebEx and Go-to Meeting.
Synchronization and sharing of documents/files:

With the help of some tools it has become possible for team members to share the files just in seconds around the globe. It includes Google’s G Suite, OneDrive, Box, Samepage, Wimi, Dropbox and NextCloud where your team can easily access, collaborate, message and do the trial audit. The plus point is, some of these tools are also providing search filters, workflow management, and encryption. That’s how project management becoming smart while working from home in COVID-19.

Email Marketing & It’s Positive Effects

Email MarketingWe all have witnessed and are still going through the torture of bulk marketing emails that we receive on a daily basis. Some companies think that flooding people’s inbox with email marketing will be of great help to their business but the truth is totally different. Companies try to sell their products by sending thousands of email to consumers daily which mostly goes in trash or spam messages. They believe in bulk emailing and follow no proper marketing strategies.

It is important to understand growing trends and align your marketing strategies according to changing demographics. The new trends and ideas are needed to make things work and do wonders in your business. Till 2010 the bulk emailing was a success but now people have become technology friendly and have many options like mark as spam in their emails. So it is important to target the right audience at the right while you send a marketing email.

It is wrong to say that email marketing does not hold any value now but the truth is it is more effective than any other social media website or app. The only requirement is proper homework about the target customers and the right use of strategies is needed to make them work. Email marketing has certain advantages on the businesses if they put in efforts to maintain their online image as importantly as they manage their physical identity.

The important points are to be kept in mind while doing Email marketing as it will give a competitive edge to the company:

  1. Email marketing is the most cost effective way of marketing your business, products or services.
  2. It is the most time-saving option that a company can adapt.
  3. In email marketing, nothing is printed to posted to consumers so that is why it is also environmentally friendly.
  4. According to latest trends businesses has introduced an option to subscribe and unsubscribe on their websites. This controls the fake audience because a consumer who is interested in your products will ultimately subscribe and by doing this company can send their deals or any update of the business to the selected and prospective customer only.
  5. Through email marketing, you can convey messages to your consumers in the form of text, images or videos. It will be a kind of business branding.
  6. You can introduce your promotional deals through emails by sharing links it will be an easy option for consumers.
  7. Companies also introduce after sales service offers to their consumers through emails which create customer loyalty in the mind of consumers.
  8. Emails are read by the specific number of people and some special gentry which ensures customer loyalty to the company because they will read email at the time that suits them.
  9. Through benchmarking reports that are easily available on the internet you can also do the comparison with your competitors.

Email marketing is still the most effective way of communicating from business to consumers and also from business to business. In other words, it is the most sophisticated form of connecting to your customers or peers.

Managing Small Business is an Art! A Guide For Effective Small Business Management

Managing Small BusinessLife is becoming difficult and competitive as the time is moving forward and with every passing day inflation is also increasing. One person’s earning is not enough to feed the whole family and on the other hand, it is not an easy task to get a job too. In this scenario what are the options for people who are not getting or doing any job and are looking for some ideas for earning? We have a solution to their problems and it is to start some small business and earn their livelihood.

Firstly it needs to be understood that what is a small business? In simple words, it is a form of independent business which comprises of limited size and limited investment keeping in mind which industry you are selecting. A business no matter how big or small it needs proper management and planning before the start-up and for that purpose proper working and a business plan is required.

A business plan comprises of the goals and objectives for starting your small business and also the strategies and guidelines to achieve your set targets. You have to keep in your mind the budget and strength you need to start your business because these two things will decide how much small your business is and how much investment you need. Even a small business requires proper management, planning and right allocation of time and resources in order to be successful.

We are mentioning below some guidelines for effective and successful small business management:

  • Set your goals and define your objectives that need to be achieved.
  • Keep in mind the 4 M’s of Business i.e. Men, Materials, Money and Machinery.
  • Effective time management can save your cost as well as give a boost to your business by allocating the saved time in the business.
  • Allocate your resources and finances appropriately.
  • Develop and build your network so that you do not have to spend more time or cost on advertising or marketing of your business.
  • Hire the best resources i.e. employees but keeping in mind the budget for the salary. Remote employees can also be hired for some tasks. It can save some money.
  • Communicate your vision to your employees.
  • Keep personal and business accounts and expenses separate.
  • Learn to negotiate in order to save money.
  • Try to automate your operations more through machinery and accounting systems for long term purpose. In this way, employee salary cost will be low and the result will be more effective.
  • Give attention to customer feedback.
  • Adapt to change keeping in mind the budget for your business because your customer needs some change and innovation after some time.
  • Try to cut extra cost such as the penalty for paying bills late or excessive luxuries because in the starting you need to focus on your costs in order to earn good profit.
  • Keep track of your progress. Properly monitor and measure the outcomes.

All these above mentioned guidelines are for effective and successful small business management. A person needs to focus and work on these guidelines if he /she wants to start their own business. There are some basic things that need to be focused and managed while starting a small business and then gradually things will start changing as a business will start to grow.

WANT SUCCESS..? LET’S REBRAND..!

Do you want change? Are you bored? Is your business facing new challenges? Let’s Rebrand. But wait!

What Is Rebranding? Many times we have heard the term “Rebranding” but what it actually means? Well, when a company transform its identity such as name or logo or makes some renovation in its packaging or offerings then it is featured as Rebranding.

Why Rebranding is needed? Sometimes it is necessary for a matured and rookie companies to do Rebranding due to various reasons but at the same time, it involves some risks too in terms of their credibility & customers. It sometimes affects old & loyal customers but on the other hand, if we look at the fact that human needs change so to stay in the market on a competitive edge Newbies & Affiliated companies both adopt Rebranding.

Rebranding energizes a business if it’s done in the right way at the right time. It might sound easy but it involves many factors from employees to vendors to customers. They all play an important role in building your brand so the most important thing to keep in mind while doing Rebranding is to preserve the trust of these people. Another foremost risk involved is the waste of expenditure if it’s executed in the wrong way. Whatever the reasons are but Rebranding is surely a big deal.

Let’s Do It… But How?

  1. Groundwork:

Before moving forward there are few facts to be considered. A fore planning your Rebranding you should do the groundwork that why do you need it? Rebrand if it’s facing any of the below mentioned points.

  • Brand Progression
  • Similarity with other brands
  • Losing the target market
  • A new look or advance look of the business
  1. Forecasting:

Brakel-Schutt (Brand Strategist) also advised speaking with your employees, customers and business partners for research. They are the best predictors of what can happen in future after you rebrand and for prophesying you need the help of your Employees, Vendors, Stakeholders & Customers as they can show you the real image & position of your business.

  1. Strategize & Execute:

Here comes the most crucial and the game changer step in your Rebranding process which can either give your business a boost or will make it lose. Firstly you need to form strategies that how are you going to present your brand to your old loyal customers as well as to your new target audience. Secondly, you need to execute tasks to your teams from Marketing to Designing to Copywriting and all others have to play their role in executing this new chapter of the business.

  1. Announcement:

Now comes the judgment day. Revealing the suspense of your product Rebranding. You can opt in different ways to announce. Sending emails to your vendors and customers and tell them about the changes you have made so that they will feel connected. It’s very important to keep your focus on your customers throughout the process as they are the ones who make your brand a hit or a flop.

A Closer Look at Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management deals with employees whether it is recruitment, training, managing, direction and assistance, hiring, employee development, motivation and communication between management and employees. Many business leaders regard human resource as a separate department that is designed in such a way that it provides many services that include new employee orientation and take care of labors work.In reality, human resource plays a bigger role than people think about it.In fact, human resource can increase profitability and not only this but also helps in the improvement of the bottom line of a business in several ways.

According to research, that is conducted by business and legal resources indicate that more than 60 percent of executives are beginning to see HR as partners with other sectors or departments to increase the worth of business as well as its profitability. There is an outdated notion that HR is there just to process the paperwork has given a way to understand that it actually important in the strategic development of the business as well as the organizational culture. There is the potential for HR to have an immense impact because HR can be aligned with other company’s operation. Human Resource is important for both large businesses, but it is one of the complicated aspects of running in small business. Yet, HR is incredibly important, the employee’s salaries and benefits can be a huge chunk of the business’s operating expenses. The employees are our biggest asset, and one has to manage and protect that asset.

A huge responsibility lies on the shoulder of HR. They have an intense influence on the workplace ambiance of the workplace, creating a friendly environment among employees, settle disputes and work with each other. HR is responsible to recruit the best employees that possess the hard and soft skills. The HR Department is responsible for the management of human resources and all the typical tasks, including recruiting, compensation, payout, conservation, health and safety, compliance, training, and development. Determining the equilibrium between effectively performing core tasks and adding value to an organization can be one of the greatest challenges for any HR team. In turn, they expect to find the individual who is enthusiastic about their career, which increases the chances that employees will stick to the job for a long time. When employees are properly trained and equipped with appropriate tools, they can more effectively perform their work and become more productive. HR plays a key role onboarding process and can take steps to ensure that new employees receive the necessary training and are ready to carry out their work at the highest level. With human resources program and policies, a business will be able to solve the inevitable problems that arise when a business is growing. Employee complaints, legal issues, and clear communication depend on staffing policies to solve the problem. Even if the business is small, employees are working in different places or who telecommunicate from a different location still HR is necessary for the business, different HR apps help the owners to handle the work that is located on different places that include time management, employee tracking and, recruiting and hiring.

Secret Lies in Collaborative Work Spaces

You often wonder how crucial is the environment of the office? The answer lies in observations and countless statistics that prove the importance of a balanced and positive environment in the success of businesses, be it small or large. The fact is that the office environment speaks for itself.

When it comes to project management, an environment that is collaborative and enthusiastic keeps the team aligned to its goals and tasks which eventually leads to successful delivery of outcome.

The reinforcement and impact of such an environment are often underestimated in project management. Below is a set of strategies that a project manager should implement to ensure that the environment at work maximizes productivity and success.

  1. Appreciation and positivity:

When a team member performs well at a given task, appreciate. Give appreciation where it’s due even if it’s for something as small as submitting work on time or working overtime to finish work. Appreciation might seem insignificant but in the long-run, it fosters positivity among team members and increases their self-confidence which is vital to producing a better quality of work. Moreover, appreciation pushes team members to do even better next time. However, constructive criticism should also be given where needed without degrading or insulting any of the team members. Lastly, the variety of opinions and think tanks always lead to improved and enhanced results.

  1. Build Rapport and Communication:

There should be a solid and well-built rapport between upper management and the team. The concerns, suggestions etc from the team members should be effectively communicated to the upper management. Also, feedback from the upper management should also be conveyed to the team members so as to ensure a two-way flow between the two units. As the gap between seniors and juniors diminishes, a positive change can be definitely noticed as that makes the team members feel that their opinions and words hold value. Moreover, communication between everyone involved in the project should be constantly using an email or dashboard. Communication gap can be eradicated by giving every member the confidence to share their input and being concise and clear about their thoughts. No office environment can succeed in suffocating conditions where members are not allowed to share or discuss.

  1. Set Realistic Goals and Expectations:

Do not overburden the team with the excessive workload. It’s often assumed that working under pressure yields better results. That is an utter misconception. Working under pressure diminishes the quality of work. The key to brilliant project outcome is assigning tasks to each member with realistic deadlines that give them time to experiment and do as well as possible. However, it cannot be denied setting bars high occasionally helps members grow their skills and come out of their comfort zones to discover their hidden talent.

  1. Follow a set of rules:

Every member of the team, regardless of his/her position, should and must follow the rules made and set. Standard processes and rules regarding every project help the team members stay connected about the project and keep them on the same page.

Developing the right IT Strategy to Support the Business

Most of the businesses struggle with slow decision making due to the lack of information technology. Information technology now supports Business processes and decision making. Decision making and nature of decision are changing with the introduction of information technology in today’s world. It is now used to create new business models, produce new products and services, enhancing the current offers and create more rewarding consumer experiences. For this, a business needs to develop the right IT strategy and technology for its success in business and to compete with other organizations in the world of Information Technology. A business can use Information technology to reduces its cost. IT experts teams develop tools to collect, store, secure, manage and distribute data to employees, who need to access the latest information when needed for decision making for financial and strategic issues. The businesses need to be able to respond quickly to the market conditions that are changing with time and competitor activity. Do your business really need to technology strategy that suits the demands of the digital market?

Primavera is focused to work for an organization that is facing such problems in the digital world and delivers the best solution of the problem the organization may face. With your slow decision-making problems due to lack of IT strategy, primavera helps you as a technology partner with the help of its IT experts and predicts the trends that affect your businesses. Primavera works to help you to face the challenges that a business may face in the technology world and helps you to identify your business capabilities that support your business and to realize the vision.  A number of businesses have involved Information technology in their functions for the decision making.

Technology transforms the way a business works, the business starts working more efficiently and IT solution to face the challenges of the market. IT can offer a business the competitive advantage over their competitors.  Companies can use IT to develop new products, the distance the products that they already produced from the existing market and enhance their customer services. IT helps the companies who adopt the low-cost strategy, they look to Information technology solutions to reduces their cost. It can be used to increase the efficiency of business and to it allows the employee to do the greater level of work in the short period of time.

IT governance offers a framework to align the business and Information Technology aspects of the organization’s activities. It means that business can manage and reduce the obstacle in the way of the business to reach the business goal. It helps to produce a framework which can provide favorable outcome by using your business strategy. It is the biggest challenge for the business to maximize the rate of return. IT governance can solve this challenge by setting this goal with a business it serves. It is the aim of IT governance to maximize the return while it manages the risk at the same time. Primavera with the help of IT governance strength the relationship between Information technology and the business for which it works through efficiency improvement and enhanced IT decision making.

How to Start your Entrepreneurial Journey

An entrepreneur has to start from somewhere whether its a small business or it is an established one. It is sometimes hard to start a new business. It is considered a daunting task. There is a myriad issue an entrepreneur may face. It may be a legal issue, financial issue, human resource issue, a marketing issue, advertising issue, or product development issue, there might be a list of the endless issues. The new entrepreneurs are overwhelmed by all the information they are expected to know.

To start a new business you should come up with a unique name. The name has a significant impact on your business and your success. If you choose the wrong name it may lead to the insurmountable burden. You should avoid copyright names as well.

One of the most important and difficult things is to raise financing. One should understand it clearly. Raising financing for the startup of business will likely be more difficult than one can imagine. It takes a lot of efforts to convince the investors to invest in your company. It is never possible without advertising and showing benefits to the investors the company could offer in the future. So you need to avoid such things that put hurdles in your way.

Focus on building a great product is the first and foremost important thing in product development. The one thing that should be kept in mind is that, don’t take forever to launch the product. If your product is not great that not a problem it should be good at least. The product has to be different in a good way than your competitor’s offering. Never dawdle to take your product in the market on time because the customer review is important for the success of the business as it is the best way to improve the product.

For a successful business it is important to be continually attracting, building and even if necessary so educate the target market. You should make a strong marketing strategy. To have a strong market strategy make sure that you follow the following steps:

  • Promote your product on social media, this will help you to strengthen your relationship with the public.
  • You can take help from content marketing, it can be done by writing guest articles for some relevant websites.
  • Learn about the fundamentals of SEO, this will help your buyers that are searching for your product might find it on the top of the list.

Always be prepared for the big challenges. A successful company or business may face big challenges on its way to success. So, coming up with the best products would be the biggest challenge. So to have a successful business you should have a strong plan and vision. Make sure that you find the best employees for the business and placing the right man for the right job. You should work more than you expect. Never get discouraged when you face rejection from your customers.

Primavera plays an important role in growing your business. It helps you to know the worth of your business. Whether its product development, advertising, marketing or strategy making, primavera help you to win the competition in the market

Monetizing Your Website – Pros and Cons

Your site has a lot of traffic, great! Now you can use it to make money. However, monetizing a website is not something limited. There are so many options available and you have to choose the correct after understanding each method and adequately weighing its pros and cons. In this blog post, we have compiled the two methods and listed pros and cons of each to help your reach a decision accordingly and earn huge sums of money.

Affiliate Marketing:

This method involved advertising a paid good/service on your website and earning a specific percentage of the amount the company makes from each sale made using your website. To simply put, you get a commission if a buyer has purchased something using the link on your website. Find affiliate programs that suit you and generate income.

Affiliate marketing is beneficial in the sense that it generates a sufficient income because regular and new visitors of your website might find the product or service interesting. It is also easy to join since nothing technical is involved. The income generated is stable, provided that the products/services are updates every once in a while and revolve around the same area as your website.

Affiliate marketing also comes with some cons, as do most other ways of monetizing websites. Firstly, some research is required as to which product or service goes along with your website. For example, you cannot advertise something about cars on your blog about books. A better option would be something like a book shop offering discounts or having new sales. Secondly, you might lose visitors on your website if people do not find the products interesting enough and consider it a nuisance.  Thirdly, your website must have top quality traffic to be involved in affiliate marketing.

Membership Website:

This means you have to create a website that contains specialized content that can only be viewed by visitors who have a membership. Visitors that have not signed up for membership cannot view the content. While this method is one the best available out there, it involves a lot of time and effort.

The pros of building a membership website are that there is no intermediate aspect involved. You are free to set the annual or monthly membership rate as per your choices. You are also in direct cooperation and conversation with your visitors. The revenue collected by this method is far greater than any other provided that you have a good number of members subscribing for paid content. Moreover, members can get a suitable payment package.

Building a membership has a few but significant cons. There is a wide range of free content available on the internet. There’s nothing out there that is not on the internet. The question arises, then why should someone pay for your content? In this internet dominated world, theirs is a great pressure to produce content that stands out from the rest otherwise nobody would be convinced enough to sign up for membership. Only high quality content and efficient ways to gain customer’s trust can get you members. Additionally, you have to be prepared to deal with maintenance costs and invest a lot of time in your content.

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