Are Women Business Owners Afraid to Hire Employees? |  |
- Are Women Business Owners Afraid to Hire Employees?
- Facebook Mobile Videos Now In Auto-Play Mode
- 10 Online Tools for Creating Infographics and Charts
- HP and Google Urge Caution with Chromebook 11 Charger
- Are You Guilty of These 15 Social Media Mistakes in Business?
| Are Women Business Owners Afraid to Hire Employees? Posted: 10 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST
In the current economic climate, it's not news that few small business owners are planning to hire. But are women business owners even less likely to hire than men? The recently issued Fall 2013 Bank of America Small Business Owner Report (PDF) examines small business owners' attitudes toward hiring and talent retention and found some important differences between male and female entrepreneurs. Small Business Owners Are Not HiringFirst, most small business owners are not planning to hire. Over the next 12 months, just 28 percent of women and 33 percent of men plan to hire employees, while 63 percent of women and 56 percent of men plan to keep their staff levels the same. Those who are hiring have varying reasons for doing so. Overall, men are slightly more likely to hire due to an increase in business (33 percent of men vs. 29 percent of women). But men are more likely to be forward-thinking in their hiring. For example, 23 percent of men vs. 15 percent of women are hiring to bring new or different skills to the business, and 17 percent of men vs. just 7 percent of women say they are hiring to adapt to a change in the business environment, such as mobile or digital. Overall, men are at least 5 percentage points more likely than women to hire employees in order to adapt to a new business environment, particularly in roles involving mobile, social media, business development, financial, HR or marketing. What makes these differences even more interesting is that men are more likely than women to say finding qualified employees is difficult (50 percent of men vs. 41 percent of women). Conversely more women say finding qualified candidates is easy (23 percent of women vs. 15 percent of men). What Are Men and Women Business Owners Looking for When They Hire?There are some interesting differences here as well. Men are more likely than women to cite skills/experience as the most important criteria (49 percent of men vs. 43 percent of women). In contrast, more women say a proactive attitude/willingness to learn is the most important factor (22 percent of women vs. 18 percent of men). When it comes to retaining employees, men are more likely to focus on the bottom line. Fifty-seven percent of men vs. 48 percent of women offer a competitive salary, and 47 percent of men vs. 41 percent of women offer bonuses to top performers. Obviously, these are generalizations – there are plenty of women business owners who offer competitive salaries and plenty of men who would rather hire for attitude than skill. Important Lessons for Women Business OwnersBe Proactive, Not ReactiveIf you see a change coming that affects your business, such as the growth of mobile marketing, consider hiring people who can get your business out in front of the trend instead of trailing behind. Be Willing to SpendMoney talks. No matter how many surveys say that "soft" perks like flextime matter more, the reality is no one ever turned down a job because the salary was too high. If you truly can't afford competitive pay, at least consider offering performance-based bonuses or other financial incentives to attract and retain employees. Build a Bench of ContractorsThe memories of having to lay off employees during the recession are still fresh and painful to many entrepreneurs. If you dread hiring because you can't bear the thought of layoffs, cover your bases by building a bench of talented freelancers and independent contractors who can help you capitalize on trends and beat your competition. The post Are Women Business Owners Afraid to Hire Employees? appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Facebook Mobile Videos Now In Auto-Play Mode Posted: 10 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST
If something about the video in your mobile version of Facebook seems different somehow, it’s not your imagination. Facebook mobile videos are now on auto-play. Some sources suggest this is a precursor for introducing video ads in the Facebook mobile app. Below is an example of how video now looks in Facebook mobile: The social network has, in fact, been experimenting with the new format since September. In an official post in the Facebook newsroom at the time, Facebook Product Manager Kelly Mayes explained:
But the feature has only recently been rolled out to all users, TechCrunch reports. Previously, video on Facebook’s mobile app, like those on the social network’s browser version website, were locked behind a play button. Facebook says it experimented with the new format first in isolated instances with individuals and subjects like musicians and bands. In her post, Mayes says the company will continue to look for ways to bring the new format to marketers in the future. In October, Facebook said it would be introducing video ads on its mobile iPhone and Android apps. In the beginning, the company said the service would be marketed primarily to app developers. These developers, it was felt, might run video ads showing how a particular app works. Eventually, though, the new format may open opportunities for other mobile business marketing as well. So stay tuned. Image: Facebook The post Facebook Mobile Videos Now In Auto-Play Mode appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 10 Online Tools for Creating Infographics and Charts Posted: 10 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST
Consumers today are incredibly visual. Most would rather look at an image or chart than read an entire article or report. Luckily, there are now ways to fit just as much information into an image as there would normally be in a text article. Infographics are visuals used to convey information. The purpose is to break down complex information and present it in a way that can be easily understood. For businesses, they can be used for marketing, client presentations and a wide range of other purposes. Gone are the days where you need an entire graphics team to create them. If you have information to present, there are tools for creating infographics and charts that help you to visually bring it to life. Tools for Creating Infographics and ChartsInfogr.amThis free tool features more than 30 different types of charts. It's a popular platform, with more than 800,000 infographics created so far. You can use Infogr.am to create infographics from scratch, or you can import existing CSV or XLS files to simplify the process. The site also includes built-in sharing and embedding features so that you can make sure your graphics end up in the right place.
Google ChartsAnother free solution, Google Charts offers a gallery of ready-to-use chart types, from simple line graphs to geographical maps and timelines. You can also generate pointers, QR codes, and other visual tools to customize images and upload them directly to your site. Easel.lyCurrently in beta, Easel.ly features a drag-and-drop interface and a small selection of pre-designed templates. You select a design, enter your information into text boxes, and customize as necessary. You can drag additional artwork onto the canvas, and move around or add different elements as needed. The beta version is free to use.
InfoActiveInfoActive specializes in live data. This means that it lets you create infographics that you can continue to update and that your customers or readers can interact with. It uses a drag-and-drop method so that you can add text, charts, and filters and move them or edit them as necessary. The tool is currently in private beta, so you can visit the site to join a waiting list. PiktochartThis grid-based infographics tool features pre-designed themes that you can customize with text, colors, and various shapes and design elements. Pictochart offers a free version with 7 different themes, along with pro versions that have more than 100 themes and don't include any Piktochart branding. The company also offers customized infographics services and special pricing for enterprise, educational and charity organizations.
Many EyesThe IBM created tool gives you a set of pre-determined visualization options based on what type of data you have. These include pie charts, word trees, tag clouds, maps, word generators and more. The designs are simple, but the free tool can help you sort your data or create visuals for part of a presentation or larger infographic project. Visual.lyVisual.ly is an online network of designers, illustrators, and other creative professionals who can help turn a pile of unorganized data into a visual representation. This service doesn't just include a list of free, pre-designed templates. Instead it gives you access to people who can help you sort through your data and mold it into an infographic, presentation, interactive design, or video. Pricing for infographics starts at $999.
VennageVennage is a social analytics and marketing company that offers infographics and other designs as part of its service package. The tool for creating infographics allows you to upload your own images and backgrounds, or choose from a selection of customizable themes. It offers branded infographics as part of a free plan, with a premium version available for $19 a month. CreatelyThis tool specializes in allowing real-time collaboration on diagrams and other visuals. Diagrams can be interactive and can include shapes, text, and connectors. Creately offers desktop and online versions starting at $5 per month for one user.
iChartsWith this tool, you can use Excel spreadsheets or Google Drive documents to automatically create a variety of chart types, including interactive ones. iChart also includes sharing and distribution features to help you reach a larger audience. Plans range from free to $75 per month, plus an enterprise option. If you’d like to get started using infographics in your content, check out the Small Business Trends infographic gallery for some inspiration. Data Photo via Shutterstock The post 10 Online Tools for Creating Infographics and Charts appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| HP and Google Urge Caution with Chromebook 11 Charger Posted: 10 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST
If you’ve recently purchased an HP Chromebook 11, be warned. HP and Google are cautioning the chargers included with the unit are prone to overheat. The companies have stopped sale of the product after receiving reports from consumers. Recalls have also begun from some overseas retailers. In duplicate posts on both companies’ official websites, representatives explained:
Neither company has been specific about the number of reports received from users other than to say it is “small.” Google Vice President of Product Management Caesar Sengupta and Worldwide Public Relations Representative at Hewlett Packard Sheila Watson said problems were limited to damage to some chargers. However, a recall notice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the faulty charger could be at risk of melting and catching fire, reports CRN. Neither company is obviously taking any chances. Image: Google The post HP and Google Urge Caution with Chromebook 11 Charger appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Are You Guilty of These 15 Social Media Mistakes in Business? Posted: 10 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Sponsored Post
Every small business knows that they need to utilize social media as part of their marketing plan. But in the process, they are making a lot of mistakes. Here are the most common social media mistakes and what to do about them: Don’t Make These Social Media Mistakes in Business…Only Selling Your "Stuff" You communicate only your product offers on social media. You are constantly asking people to buy instead of establishing a relationship with them first. Talking at People, Not With Them You are not having two way conversations with people, but only broadcasting your message. A good indication that this is happening is no one ever responds to what you post. Talking to the Wrong People You have no strategy for your social media. You talk to anyone that will talk to you. This is because you may have outsourced it to any GenY-er you can find, instead of someone with specific experience. Asking Others to Retweet / Share Your Content, But Never Talking to Them Otherwise The only time you communicate with potential partners is to ask them to share your stuff. You should always ask how you can help them before asking for a favor. Broadcasting the Same Message Across All Channels You need to tailor your message for each specific social media channel. For example, the form of a marketing message needs to be different on Facebook vs. Twitter. Focusing on Numbers Not Quality You are obsessed with the number of followers instead of the quality of their interaction with your company. Posting Infrequently or Irregularly No one knows when you will show up on social media. You need to have a regular schedule to show dependability and consistency of your message. Not Posting the Same Things Multiple Times During the Day or Week Most social media posts have a short shelf life (Twitter -15 minutes, Facebook- 60 minutes). Everyone is not always on social media so things need to be posted multiple times. Not Monitoring What People are Saying Reputation is your biggest marketing weapon. Customers now place more trust in online reviews than advertisements. You need to know what everyone is saying about you! Having No Company Social Media Policy Can employees check their social media accounts at work? Can they post on behalf of the company? There is no right or wrong answer, but there should be a specific policy. Using A Photo that Does Not Reflect Your Brand Many companies just use their logo, but what could be a better representation of your brand? Deleting Negative Comments On social media, this is a big mistake. Instead, respond with empathy and provide a solution. Sending Automated Direct Messages to Followers Another big mistake since most social media users consider this spam. Only send direct messages that are customized for the person you are connecting with. Using Too Many Hashtags This is a good tool to become part of a conversation, but not every tweet or Facebook post needs to have a #newhashtag on it. #OMGSocialMediaMistakes! Not Leaving Enough Space for Other People to Retweet You Make it easy for people to retweet you by leaving room for their Twitter handle and the letters RT. Don't use the full 140 characters in your original tweet since this will force them to delete some of your message. This article, provided by Nextiva, is republished through a content distribution agreement. The original can be found here. Mistakes Photo via Shutterstock The post Are You Guilty of These 15 Social Media Mistakes in Business? appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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