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Brand archetypes: The essence of iconic brands

Introduction: 

Behind every memorable brand lies a powerful narrative that speaks to our deepest emotions and desires. These narratives often align with timeless personality archetypes, making brands relatable and unforgettable. 

In this blog, we’ll unveil the fascinating world of brand archetypes, dissecting the primary personality types that iconic brands often embody. By understanding these archetypes, businesses can craft compelling narratives that resonate with their target audience, forging lasting connections and loyalty.

 

Let’s get into it!

 

  1. The Innocent Brand:
  • Innocent brands display purity, simplicity, and optimism. They believe in a better world and often use imagery of youthfulness and cleanliness. Think of brands like Coca-Cola, whose timeless appeal is rooted in the innocence of sharing a refreshing drink.

 

  1. The Sage Brand:
  • Sage brands are knowledgeable, wise, and trustworthy. They aim to educate and guide their customers. Examples include TED, which provides a platform for sharing wisdom and ideas, or National Geographic, renowned for its insightful documentaries.

 

  1. The Explorer Brand:
  • Explorer brands inspire adventure, freedom, and discovery. They often challenge the status quo. Consider brands like GoPro, encouraging people to capture their daring escapades, or Jeep, synonymous with off-road exploration.

 

  1. The Hero Brand:
  • Hero brands represent courage, resilience, and the triumph of good over evil. They often feature bold individuals conquering challenges. With its “Just Do It” slogan, Nike epitomises the hero archetype by motivating individuals to overcome obstacles.

 

  1. The Outlaw Brand:
  • Outlaw brands are rebellious, unconventional, and provocative. They challenge societal norms and push boundaries. Harley-Davidson, known for its rebellious spirit, embodies this archetype.

 

  1. The Magician Brand:
  • Magician brands are transformational and visionary. They promise to make dreams come true or to change the world. Apple, with its groundbreaking products, exemplifies the magician archetype.

 

  1. The Regular Guy/Girl Brand:
  • Regular Guy/Girl brands are down-to-earth, relatable, and friendly. They connect with customers through everyday experiences. Brands like Wendy’s and Southwest Airlines embrace this archetype.

 

  1. The Jester Brand:
  • Jester brands bring joy, humour, and spontaneity. They thrive on entertaining and making people laugh. Brands like M&M’s use humour to connect with their audience.

 

  1. The Caregiver Brand:
  • Caregiver brands are compassionate, nurturing, and devoted to helping others. They often focus on family and well-being. Johnson & Johnson, a trusted brand in healthcare and baby products, embodies this archetype.

 

  1. The Creator Brand:
  • Creator brands are imaginative, innovative, and driven by a desire to build something meaningful. They emphasise self-expression and originality. LEGO, known for its creativity and endless possibilities, represents this archetype.

 

  1. The Ruler Brand:
  • Ruler brands are authoritative, organised, and seek control and order. They often cater to those who value structure and leadership. Brands like Rolex, synonymous with precision and luxury, embrace this archetype.

 

Conclusion: 

Brand archetypes are the threads that weave the tapestry of iconic brands, making them resonate deeply with consumers. By identifying and aligning with these archetypes, businesses can create compelling narratives that connect with their target audience on a profound level. In a world where brands vie for attention, understanding the psychology behind archetypes empowers businesses to stand out, foster loyalty, and leave an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of consumers. It’s not just about what a brand offers; it’s about the story it tells and the role it plays in fulfilling our deepest desires and aspirations. Embrace the power of archetypes, and your brand can become a timeless legend in its own right.

Unplugged and Profitable: How to keep your business running smoothly while you are on vacation

As a business owner, taking time off for a vacation can be challenging. You want to make sure that your business continues to run smoothly while you’re away, but you also want to be able to relax and enjoy your time off. “Planning well is half of living” Rasul allah SAW states.In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and strategies for keeping your business profitable while you’re on vacation.

  1. Plan Ahead:

The key to a successful vacation is planning ahead. Make a list of all the tasks and responsibilities that you’ll need to delegate while you’re away. This might include managing your email and social media accounts, handling customer inquiries, and overseeing any ongoing projects. Once you have a list of tasks, assign them to trusted employees or contractors who can handle them in your absence. For example, a restaurant owner might need to delegate tasks such as ordering inventory, scheduling employees, and managing customer complaints. By planning ahead, they can ensure that these tasks are taken care of while they’re away.

  1. Use Technology:

Technology can be a lifesaver when it comes to managing your business while you’re on vacation. Consider using software tools and apps that can help you stay connected and informed, such as project management tools like Asana or Trello, social media management tools like Hootsuite or Buffer, or customer relationship management (CRM) software like Salesforce or HubSpot. These tools can help you stay on top of your business while you’re away and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. For example, a small business owner could use a tool like Square to process payments remotely, or a project management tool like Basecamp to stay on top of ongoing projects.

  1. Hire a Virtual Assistant:

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of managing your business while you’re on vacation, consider hiring a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant can handle a wide range of tasks, from managing your email and social media accounts to handling customer inquiries and administrative tasks. They can also provide you with regular updates on your business and keep you informed of any important developments.  For example, a consultant might hire a virtual assistant to manage their email inbox and schedule appointments while they’re away. This can help ensure that important messages don’t get missed and that their business continues to run smoothly.

  1. Set Boundaries:

It’s important to set clear boundaries with your employees and customers before you leave for vacation. Let them know when you’ll be leaving, when you’ll be back, and how they can contact you in case of an emergency. Make sure that you communicate your expectations for how your business should be managed while you’re away, and provide your employees with the resources and support they need to succeed. For example, a retail store owner might post a notice on their website and in-store letting customers know when they’ll be closed and when they’ll return. This can help manage customer expectations and avoid any potential confusion.

  1. Trust Your Team:

Finally, it’s important to trust your team while you’re on vacation. You’ve hired them for a reason, and they are capable of handling the day-to-day operations of your business. Make sure that you provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed, and trust that they will make the right decisions in your absence.  For example, a graphic design agency owner might give their employees a clear set of guidelines and expectations for how to handle ongoing projects and communicate with clients. By trusting their team, they can focus on enjoying their vacation without worrying about their business.

In conclusion, taking time off for a vacation is essential for your mental and physical well-being. However, it can be challenging to manage your business while you’re away. By planning ahead, using technology, hiring a virtual assistant, setting boundaries, and trusting your team, you can ensure that your business continues to run smoothly while you’re on vacation.

Revolutionizing Marketing: How brands are innovating to capture the modern consumer

Marketing is a constantly evolving field, and in recent years, the rise of technology and changing consumer behavior has forced brands to revolutionize their marketing strategies. Today’s modern consumer is more tech-savvy, connected, and informed than ever before, and brands that want to stay ahead of the curve are embracing innovative approaches to capture their attention. In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways brands are innovating to capture the modern consumer.

  1. Personalization:

Personalization is key to capturing the attention of the modern consumer. Brands that can tailor their messaging to the individual customer have a better chance of capturing their attention and earning their loyalty. Personalization can take many forms, from personalized email campaigns to tailored recommendations based on a customer’s browsing or purchasing history. For example, Amazon’s recommendation engine uses machine learning to analyze a customer’s browsing and purchasing history to suggest products they are likely to be interested in.

  1. Influencer Marketing:

Influencer marketing is another powerful tool that brands are using to reach the modern consumer. By partnering with social media influencers, brands can tap into their large followings and authentic connections with their audiences. This allows them to reach a wider audience and build trust and credibility with potential customers. For example, Dunkin’ Donuts partnered with TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio to promote its new drink, “The Charli.” D’Amelio has a massive following on TikTok, with over 100 million followers, and is known for her love of Dunkin’ Donuts. The partnership involved creating a new drink that was inspired by D’Amelio’s go-to order, and promoting it on social media with the hashtag #CharliRunsOnDunkin. The campaign was a huge success, with the drink selling out in many locations and the hashtag generating over 1.5 billion views on TikTok. The partnership helped Dunkin’ Donuts to reach a younger audience and build brand awareness among Gen Z consumers.

  1. User-Generated Content:

User-generated content (UGC) is another trend that is gaining popularity among brands. UGC is content that is created by customers and shared on social media or other platforms. Brands can use this content to showcase their products and services, and to create a sense of community around their brand. This approach can be particularly effective for brands that are targeting younger audiences who value authenticity and transparency. For example, Starbucks has used UGC in their #RedCupContest campaign, where customers share photos of their festive Starbucks cups on social media.

  1. Virtual and Augmented Reality:

Virtual and augmented reality technologies are opening up new possibilities for brands to create immersive experiences for their customers. These technologies allow brands to create virtual environments that customers can explore and interact with, providing a unique and engaging experience. For example, furniture retailer Ikea has launched an augmented reality app that allows customers to see what furniture would look like in their homes before making a purchase.

  1. Social Media Advertising:

Social media advertising is a powerful tool for brands to reach the modern consumer. With billions of people using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, brands can target their advertising to specific audiences based on their interests, behaviors, and demographics. This allows them to create highly targeted campaigns that are more likely to resonate with potential customers. For example, fashion brand ASOS has built a reputation for its social media advertising campaigns, which are often highly creative and engaging.

In conclusion, brands that want to capture the attention of the modern consumer must be willing to innovate and embrace new technologies and strategies. Personalization, influencer marketing, user-generated content, virtual and augmented reality, and social media advertising are just a few of the approaches that brands are using to stay ahead of the curve. By leveraging these tools, brands can build stronger relationships with their customers, increase engagement, and drive sales.

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Transforming Your Service into a Profitable Business: Key Principles and Tactics

Al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Ali Qadar Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS has exhibited a vivid expectation of growth in muminee’s businesses. Maula instilled that the business owners earning 100 should aim and be able to earn 500 in the future. This shows that each business – no matter how small – has the potential of growing X5 and more if done so with the correct skill-set and expertise. Certain principles can help turnaround the scope of small scale businesses and services into profitable ones – all we need to do is keep learning to grow.  

Providing excellent service to customers is essential for any business, but it is not enough to guarantee profitability. To transform your service into a profitable business, you need to apply key principles and tactics that will help you turn your service into a scalable and profitable enterprise. In this blog post, we will discuss the key principles and tactics you can apply to transform your service into a profitable business.

  1. Focus on Customer Value

The first principle of transforming your service into a profitable business is to focus on customer value. You need to understand what your customers want, what they need, and how you can deliver the best possible service to them. To do this, you should engage with your customers through surveys, feedback, and other means to identify their pain points, preferences, and expectations.

For example, if you operate a tutoring service, you may discover that your students and their parents are looking for personalized learning experiences that cater to their specific needs and learning styles. By understanding your customers’ values, you can tailor your tutoring services to meet their needs and differentiate your business from competitors. You may also consider offering online tutoring options to expand your reach and cater to a wider audience.

  1. Systematize and Automate Your Service

The second principle of transforming your service into a profitable business is to systematize and automate your service. This means standardizing your service delivery process, documenting it, and creating workflows that enable you to deliver consistent service quality at scale.

For example, if you run a catering service, you could automate your ordering and delivery process using online ordering systems, automated emails, and delivery tracking. By automating your service, you can reduce the risk of errors, streamline your operations, and free up your staff to focus on other critical business functions.

  1. Set Clear Service Standards and Metrics

The third principle of transforming your service into a profitable business is to set clear service standards and metrics. This means defining what constitutes excellent service quality and setting targets that you can measure and track over time.

For example, if you run a consulting service, you could set service standards around response times, project deliverables, and customer satisfaction. By setting clear standards and metrics, you can hold your team accountable for delivering high-quality service consistently and continuously improving your service quality.

  1. Upsell and Cross-Sell to Your Customers

The fourth principle of transforming your service into a profitable business is to upsell and cross-sell to your customers. This means identifying opportunities to offer additional services or products that complement your existing service.

For example, if you run a web design service, you could upsell website maintenance, hosting, and SEO services to your customers. By upselling and cross-selling to your customers, you can increase your revenue per customer, build customer loyalty, and reduce your customer acquisition costs.

  1. Leverage Technology to Improve Your Service

The fifth principle of transforming your service into a profitable business is to leverage technology to improve your service. This means adopting new technologies and tools that can help you deliver your service more efficiently, effectively, and at scale.

For example, if you run a healthcare service, you could leverage telemedicine technology to provide remote consultations and reduce the need for in-person visits. By leveraging technology, you can improve your service quality, reduce costs, and increase your revenue potential.

Conclusion

Transforming your service into a profitable business requires applying key principles and tactics that focus on customer value, systematizing and automating your service, setting clear service standards and metrics, upselling and cross-selling to your customers, and leveraging technology to improve your service. By adopting these principles and tactics, you can differentiate your service, increase your revenue potential, and achieve sustainable growth over time.

5 Key Benefits of Outsourcing HR for Your Hiring Strategy

“Take help in every skilled job from an expert” Imam Ahmed al-Mastoor AS states. As business owners, this quote gives us an insightful strategy. A running business requires certain skills that are out of scope for the owner, and that is where taking help from an expert comes into picture. 

Outsourcing human resources (HR) is a business strategy that has gained immense popularity in recent years. Many businesses choose to outsource their HR functions to save time, reduce costs, and improve the quality of their HR processes. One of the most common HR functions that businesses outsource is hiring. In this blog post, we will discuss the five key benefits of outsourcing HR for your hiring strategy.

  1. Access to Expertise

Outsourcing HR for hiring strategy provides access to HR experts who have extensive knowledge and experience in the recruitment process. HR outsourcing providers have professionals who specialize in various aspects of recruitment, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding. These experts stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices, and can offer valuable insights and recommendations that can improve your hiring strategy.

For example, if you outsource your HR to a provider who specializes in technology hiring, they can help you navigate the competitive landscape, identify the most qualified candidates, and streamline the interview process to ensure that you hire the best talent available.

  1. Time-Saving

Hiring is a time-consuming process that requires significant investment in terms of resources and personnel. Outsourcing HR for hiring strategy can help you save valuable time by delegating the recruitment process to a team of HR professionals. This frees up your internal HR team to focus on other critical functions, such as employee retention, training, and development.

By outsourcing your hiring strategy, you can also reduce the time it takes to fill open positions. HR outsourcing providers have access to a larger pool of candidates and can quickly identify and screen potential hires, resulting in faster hiring times and improved time-to-hire metrics.

  1. Cost-Effective

Outsourcing HR for hiring strategy can be a cost-effective solution for businesses, especially those with limited HR resources. Internal recruitment processes can be expensive, with costs associated with job postings, candidate screenings, background checks, and other recruitment activities.

Outsourcing your hiring strategy can help you reduce these costs by leveraging economies of scale. HR outsourcing providers have access to a large network of job boards, recruitment platforms, and other recruitment resources, allowing them to negotiate better pricing and pass the savings on to their clients.

  1. Improved Quality of Hire

One of the most significant benefits of outsourcing HR for hiring strategy is the potential to improve the quality of your hires. HR outsourcing providers use advanced screening tools, behavioral assessments, and other selection methods to identify the most qualified candidates for your open positions.

Additionally, outsourcing your hiring strategy can reduce the risk of making bad hires, which can be costly in terms of time, resources, and reputation. HR outsourcing providers have experience in identifying red flags during the recruitment process and can help you avoid hiring candidates who are not a good fit for your company culture or job requirements.

  1. Scalability

Outsourcing HR for hiring strategy provides businesses with the flexibility to scale their recruitment efforts as needed. Whether you need to ramp up your hiring efforts during peak seasons or downsize during slow periods, outsourcing providers can adjust their services to meet your changing needs.

For example, if you need to hire a large number of employees in a short period, an HR outsourcing provider can quickly scale up their recruitment efforts to meet your demands. Once the hiring process is complete, they can scale back their services, allowing you to focus on other critical business functions.

Conclusion
Outsourcing HR for hiring strategy offers several benefits for businesses, including access to expertise, time-saving, cost-effectiveness, improved quality of hire, and scalability. By partnering with an HR outsourcing provider, you can streamline your recruitment process, reduce costs, and improve the overall quality of your workforce. If you are considering outsourcing your HR functions, it is essential to research potential providers thoroughly and choose a provider that aligns with your business goals. We offer a partial or total outsourcing solution for small, medium, and large-sized organizations. We have the expertise and resources to support your requirements, click here and fill the form to learn more.

Succession Planning: How Business Advisory Can Help You Prepare for the Future

“Do not die until you’ve submitted” al-Quran al-Majeed states. The entire course of one’s life revolves around preparing a like being, transitioning what we have to someone who will continue the legacy. We’re never the ultimate end of any knowledge or skill, hence, once received should be carried forward. The concept is made evident in Rasul Allah’s SAW life, when He SAW was asked not once to appoint a successor. Someone who would preserve and continue what Rasul Allah SAW spent His life building. Hence the ordinance was a strong one stating if the successor was not appointed, nothing else would count. This reflects the significance of a successor may it be in knowledge, skill, wealth or asset. 

In professional terms, succession planning is a critical process that every business should undertake to ensure the long-term success of the organization. It involves identifying and developing new leaders within the company who can take over key roles when current leaders retire or leave the organization. Succession planning is essential for maintaining business continuity, preserving institutional knowledge, and ensuring a smooth transition of power.

However, succession planning can be a complex and time-consuming process. Small businesses, in particular, may struggle with succession planning due to limited resources and expertise. This is where business advisory services can help.

Business advisory services provide specialized expertise and support to help businesses navigate complex issues and achieve their goals. When it comes to succession planning, business advisory services can help companies identify potential successors, develop and implement a plan, and manage the transition process.

Here are some of the ways business advisory services can help with succession planning:

  1. Identifying potential successors

One of the first steps in succession planning is identifying potential successors for key leadership positions. Business advisory services can help companies develop a comprehensive list of potential successors, taking into account factors such as skills, experience, and potential for growth. They can also help assess the readiness of potential successors, identify any skills gaps, and develop a plan to address them.

  1. Developing and implementing a plan

Once potential successors have been identified, the next step is to develop a plan for their development and growth within the company. Business advisory services can help create a tailored development plan for each potential successor, including training, mentoring, and coaching. They can also help create a timeline for the transition process, ensuring a smooth handover of responsibilities.

  1. Managing the transition process

Managing the transition process is critical to the success of succession planning. Business advisory services can help manage the transition process by providing support to both current and future leaders. They can help current leaders prepare for their retirement or departure, including developing a plan for transferring knowledge and responsibilities. They can also support new leaders in their transition, providing coaching and guidance as needed.

Succession planning is not a one-time event but rather an ongoing process. Business advisory services can help companies ensure that their succession plans remain relevant and effective over time, adapting to changing business needs and circumstances.

Here’s an example of how business advisory services can help with succession planning:

ABC Corporation is a family-owned business that has been operating for over 50 years. The current CEO, Yusuf, is planning to retire in the next few years, and his son, Ahmed, is interested in taking over the business. However, Ahmed has never held a leadership position before and is not sure if he has the skills and experience necessary to lead the company.

ABC Corporation hires a business advisory service to help with succession planning. The business advisory service works with Ahmed to identify his strengths and weaknesses and develop a tailored development plan for him. This includes training, coaching, and mentoring to help him build the skills and experience needed to succeed as CEO.

The business advisory service also works with Yusuf to develop a plan for transition of power to Ahmed. This includes a plan for transferring knowledge and responsibilities. 

As a result of the business advisory service’s support, ABC Corporation is able to successfully transition leadership from Yusuf to Ahmed, ensuring the long-term success of the business.

In conclusion, succession planning is critical to the long-term success of any business. 

Business advisory services can provide valuable support and expertise to help companies identify potential successors, develop and implement a plan, and manage the transition process. By working with a business advisory service, companies can ensure that their succession plans are effective and sustainable over time, preparing them for a successful future.
Idaarah al-Tijaarat al-Raabehah’s counseling and advisory services shall help you maximize the potential of your business ideas and grow your business. Book a call with our expert advisors today.

Networking For Small Businesses: How To Build Connections And Establish Credibility

al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA states:

Networking is essential for small businesses looking to grow and establish credibility in their industry. By building connections and relationships with other professionals, entrepreneurs, and potential customers, you can increase your visibility and gain access to new opportunities. Now let’s discuss some practical tips for networking effectively as a small business owner.

  1. Attend industry events and conferences

One of the best ways to network is by attending industry events and conferences. These events provide a great opportunity to meet and connect with other professionals in your field, as well as to learn about new trends, techniques, and strategies. For example, if you’re a small business owner in the marketing industry, attending a marketing conference can help you meet other marketing professionals and learn about new marketing tactics and strategies.

  1. Join professional organizations

Another effective way to build connections and establish credibility is by joining professional organizations in your industry. These organizations provide a platform for professionals to network, share ideas, and collaborate. For example, if you’re a small business owner in the technology industry, joining a local technology association can help you connect with other tech professionals and gain access to new resources and opportunities.

  1. Leverage social media

Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are excellent tools for networking. You can use these platforms to connect with other professionals, share your knowledge and insights, and promote your business. For example, you could participate in industry-related Twitter chats, share your blog posts on LinkedIn, or join Facebook groups related to your industry.

  1. Attend local networking events

In addition to attending industry events and conferences, it’s also important to attend local networking events. These events provide an opportunity to connect with other small business owners and entrepreneurs in your community. For example, you could attend a local Chamber of Commerce event or a small business meetup in your area.

  1. Collaborate with other businesses

Collaborating with other businesses can also be an effective way to build connections and establish credibility. For example, you could partner with another business to offer a joint promotion or host a joint event. By collaborating with other businesses, you can tap into their network and gain access to new customers and opportunities.

  1. Follow up

After networking events or meetings, it’s important to follow up with the people you’ve met. Send a follow-up email or message, connect with them on social media, or invite them to a coffee meeting. By staying in touch and nurturing these relationships, you can build stronger connections and establish long-term partnerships.

In conclusion, networking is a critical aspect of building a successful small business. By attending industry events and conferences, joining professional organizations, leveraging social media, attending local networking events, collaborating with other businesses, and following up with your connections, you can establish credibility and build a strong network of professionals in your industry. Remember, networking takes time and effort, but with the right approach, it can pay off in the form of new customers, partnerships, and opportunities.

The Role Of Thought Leadership In Building Your Business Network And Establishing Expertise In Your Industry

al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS states:

In today’s competitive business world, being seen as an expert in your industry is crucial to growing your network and building a successful business. This is where thought leadership comes in. Thought leadership is the practice of sharing innovative ideas and insights that position you as a go-to resource in your field. By demonstrating your expertise, you can attract new clients, partners, and opportunities, while also enhancing your brand and reputation.

Let’s take the example of a small business owner who runs a catering company. By sharing their knowledge of culinary arts and the latest food trends, they can establish themselves as a thought leader in the food industry. They could write a blog post about unique recipe ideas, share cooking tips on social media, or even host a cooking workshop. By showcasing their skills and providing value to their audience, they can attract potential clients and establish a loyal following.

Another example could be a real estate agent who specializes in the luxury market. By sharing their insights and expertise on high-end properties through blog posts, podcasts, and social media, they can position themselves as a trusted advisor to affluent clients. They could share tips on buying and selling luxury homes, provide insights on the latest real estate trends, and even interview other experts in the field. By establishing themselves as a thought leader in the luxury market, they can differentiate themselves from competitors and attract high-value clients.

A graphic designer could also leverage thought leadership to grow their business. By sharing their knowledge of design principles, tools, and techniques through blog posts, social media, and online tutorials, they can position themselves as an authority in the design industry. They could showcase their portfolio of work, offer design tips and tricks, and even collaborate with other designers on projects. By demonstrating their skills and expertise, they can attract potential clients who are looking for a skilled and knowledgeable designer.

So, how can you become a thought leader in your industry? Here are a few tips:

  1. Identify your niche

What are your areas of expertise? What are you passionate about? By focusing on a specific area, you can establish yourself as an authority in that field.

  1. Create valuable content.

Share your insights, ideas, and strategies through blog posts, articles, social media, and other channels. Provide value to your audience and establish yourself as a go-to resource in your industry.

  1. Be consistent 

Building thought leadership takes time and effort. Be consistent in your messaging and content creation, and stay active in your industry by attending events and networking opportunities.

  1. Be authentic 

Share your own experiences and insights, and be honest about your successes and failures. Authenticity builds trust with your audience and establishes you as a credible source of information.

In conclusion, thought leadership is a powerful strategy for building your business network and establishing expertise in your industry. By sharing your knowledge and expertise, you can attract new clients, partners, and opportunities, while also enhancing your brand and reputation. With the right approach and consistent effort, anyone can become a thought leader in their industry.

The Best Productivity Hacks For Work

Productivity is one of the most important and challenging skills to learn. It’s easy to get sidetracked and think that you’ll complete all of your tasks on time. Sadly, this rarely happens as we end up working late and get stressed out by how many tasks we need to complete. Inevitably we all get stuck in a rut with our productivity. No matter what we do, it just doesn’t seem to be enough. The good news is, there are a few simple things you can do that will instantly make you more productive.

The Pomodoro technique:

The Pomodoro Technique is a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you work more efficiently.

It’s been around since the 1980s, and it’s still one of the most popular organizational tools today. Why? Because it works!

Here’s how it works: you set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on one task during that time. Once the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. Then repeat.

The main benefit of this method is that it keeps you focused on your work without letting yourself get distracted by other things happening around you. It also helps prevent burnout by giving you regular breaks so you don’t get too tired or stressed out!

Practice the two-minute rule:

The Two-Minute Rule: If it takes less than two minutes to complete a task, do it right now.

The Two Minute Rule is one of the most effective productivity hacks out there. It’s simple and easy to implement, and it’s backed by tons of research. The idea is that if something can be done in less than two minutes, you should just do it immediately instead of putting it on your to-do list or doing something else first. The reason why this works so well is that we tend to put off small tasks for later—and then never get around to doing them. By forcing yourself to complete these small tasks right away, you’ll end up being more productive overall by giving yourself fewer things left over at the end of the day!

Write it all down:

The first step to getting organized? Write it all down.

Write everything down: your to-do list, your calendar, and even your random thoughts and ideas. It’s okay to have a lot of notes—you don’t want to forget anything!

You should also write down what you’re working on at any given time. If you’re working on three projects at once and get distracted by something else, it’s easy to lose track of what was going on before that distraction came up. But if you write it down, you’ll have a record of all the work that needs to be done before the distraction can be addressed.

If you’re trying to get more done in less time, the first step is to write everything down. It sounds like a simple thing, but it’s really powerful. Instead of trying to remember the things you need to do, just write them down.

You can use a notebook or post-it notes, or even just open up your email and send yourself some reminders. Just get it all out of your head and onto paper where you can see it—and then refer back to it later when you need to make sure you’re on top of things.

Steal time from your commute:

If you’ve got a commute, you might be spending a lot of time on the road just getting to work. That’s not lost time, though! You can use that time to get ahead on your work. If you’re listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or music (or even if you’re just thinking), your commute is perfect for brainstorming and jotting down ideas.

The best part? It doesn’t require any extra effort from you—you’re already going somewhere anyway!

Take breaks:

The best productivity hacks are simple, but sometimes the best advice is just to get more sleep.

We know it’s tempting to stay up late and get a few extra hours of work in, but the productivity gains you’ll get from pulling an all-nighter won’t last long. Research has shown that people who sleep less than six hours a night are significantly less productive than those who sleep for seven or eight hours.

So what’s going on here? Well, getting enough sleep helps your brain consolidate memories from your workday so that you can remember what you did and what needs to be done tomorrow (or later today). If you’re exhausted from staying up late and have trouble remembering things, then it’s likely that you’re missing out on some pretty important brain functions.

This one may seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks makes you more productive. When you take a break, your brain gets a chance to relax and rest, which helps it come back to work fresh and ready to tackle the next task.

Taking breaks also gives your eyes a chance to refocus on something other than the computer screen. It can take as much as 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust from looking at a screen to looking at something in the real world.

So instead of fighting the urge to check social media or browse Instagram, try getting up from your desk for five minutes every half hour or so. You’ll be surprised by how much more productive you feel when you return!

There you have it—These awesome different ways to be more productive. Many of these ideas will help you save time and energy, while some can increase productivity indirectly by improving your mood or reducing the stress in your life. But most importantly, they’re all simple—that’s the key here. You don’t need any elaborate “system” or complex management technique to make these work for you. Simply use them when you need them, and keep their lessons in mind when evaluating future potential changes to your workflow.

The above productivity hacks will help you increase your productivity. Choose those that work for your needs and jump into a more productive lifestyle starting today!

5 Inexpensive Branding Strategies for Small Businesses

When someone says “brand”, the first thing that might come into your mind are names, who have a giant corporate value in the market. But larger companies such as McDonald’s or Apple can spend millions of dollars for building a strong brand, but small businesses who are just finding their way into the water cannot afford to do the same. Already burdened with a limited budget, they now will have to create a brand for themselves. But thanks to the social media revolution, this task is easily achievable. There are plenty of ways to grab your customer’s attention without emptying your pockets. In this article, we are listing 5 powerful brand building strategies to take your small business to the next level:

LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON GOOGLE

Google My Business offers a fantastic opportunity to come under the Google search results, but the cherry on top of the cake is that it’s free. Google My Business provides you with the ability to list your business location on Google Maps and display important information about your business, including the opening/closing times, contact details, or a link to your website. It should be regarded as a necessity by all businesses as Google owns more than 60 percent of the traffic.

START A WEBSITE

Having a strong online presence such as a website makes you different from the rest, who aren’t able to proudly display the reviews and testimonials as they don’t own a website. For small or local businesses, creating a website is crucial for attracting a loyal audience and growing over time. It makes you look more professional.

branding

Displaying your products on the website gives the customers a chance to purchase them immediately, making sales along the process. Also, a business website is a platform for learning about your audience. It opens an opportunity to collect information about your customers and then tailor your interactions to their preferences. For example, collect email addresses of site visitors to learn who visits your website and later on turn them into potential audiences.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA 

There are now 4.2 billion active social media users, almost twice as many as there were just five years ago. Those users spend an average of 2 hours and 25 minutes on social channels every single day. These 2 hours and 25 minutes bring an opportunity to promote the business across all the major social media platforms, develop customer relationships and even make sales directly through social media. Through social media, you can even monitor your competitors and know the market. The best part? It’s very cost-effective. 

USE FREE MARKETING TOOLS

We know you are in a bind and don’t have the personnel or resources to shell out for countless expensive marketing tools. So, there are numerous free or affordable marketing tools out there to help you optimize your marketing efforts and make a name for yourself. When it comes to analytics, Google Analytics is the go-to followed by Kissmetrics or Gooddata.

For content marketing, WordPress is the tool you should have followed by Grammarly. Similarly, for lead capturing and email marketing, it has to be Optinmonster and MailChimp. For SEO and PPC you can count on WordStream, SemRush, and Google AdWords. For design, it has to be Pexels and Canva.

If you are looking for affordable project management tools which you may think are impossible then allow Slack, Asana, and Evernote to prove you wrong. Lastly, for social media optimization Buffer, Hootsuite and SproutSocial will help you automate and optimize for greater reach and engagement.

COLLABORATE WITH OTHER BUSINESSES OR INFLUENCERS

Influencers are authorities within your niche that have a huge impact on a targeted audience. They could be Bloggers, Instagrammers, YouTubers, and users with a large Twitter following. Collaboration with other influencers is a great way to develop professional relationships to meet your goals

Collaborations are a great way to have fun while producing new content for your readers. It also brings a fresh perspective to the readers. But before investing in your Influencer be sure to know the medium in which the Influencer is the most active and if that aligns with your business. Be very clear and direct with the Influencer about the kind of goals you’re looking for. Lastly, make sure to achieve a win-win profit situation so that it leaves both you and the Influencer on a positive note. 

If you are looking to get your startup boost in the market, register for the Al-Tijarat-al-Raabehah business incubation program as it has a well-structured program for different audiences and standardizes to new learning. In this program industry, experts shall provide functional and technical knowledge for all the domains. 

If you are looking for the right solutions for your small or medium business, we are willing to provide a good mentorship with an appropriate process to lift business click here

Also read: Why digital marketing is important for small businesses?