The Finish Line: Keep Retail Employees Energized for the Holiday Season |  |
- The Finish Line: Keep Retail Employees Energized for the Holiday Season
- Big News in Online Freelancer Space: ODesk and Elance To Merge
- 32 Sites When Looking for Freelance Jobs and Assistance
- WestJet Event Goes Viral: Holiday Wishlists Filled for Passengers
- The Project Champion: A Management Best Practice
| The Finish Line: Keep Retail Employees Energized for the Holiday Season Posted: 18 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST
For consumers, the holiday shopping season may seem like a sprint (especially this year, when it's so short). But for retailers and their employees, it's more like a marathon. Beginning in summer when you start planning your strategy and ordering your inventory, through Black Friday when the season officially kicks off, small business owners and their teams work nonstop to make the holiday shopping season pay off. Now, the end of the marathon is very near – but can your employees actually make it to the finish line? Below are some tips to help energize employees to handle the rush through the end of the season. How to Energize Employees for the Holiday SeasonBe AwareYes, we know you're crazy-busy yourself, but it's especially crucial to be present in the store this time of year. Don't be an absentee owner—make sure you're active both on the front lines and in the stockroom, so you can keep an eye on what's going on. The goal is not to get bogged down in tasks someone else can do, like spending your whole day ringing up orders, but to focus on the "big picture" and troubleshoot issues to keep everything running smoothly. Think like a manager, not a clerk, and make sure your clerks have what they need to do their jobs. Break It UpProviding frequent short breaks can help employees re-energize. Make sure your team gets their scheduled breaks and meal times. However, you can also re-energize workers in-between their official breaks. Simply switching between tasks is often enough to recharge someone's batteries. For instance, if a worker has been on the register for an hour dealing with an unending line of impatient customers, try switching her to straightening the stockroom, or another behind-the-scenes task so she can get some downtime from human interaction. Back Them UpSpeaking of difficult customers, I know the customer is always right – but it's important to have your employees' backs. Empower your team to make their own decisions as to how to satisfy customers, while being sure they know the parameters within which they can operate. However, if a customer is being unreasonable and your employee is being abused, that's when you need to step in and take charge. Never negate your employees' actions or criticize them in front of others – this will demoralize workers who are already working hard. Simply remove them from the situation in a polite, but firm way so you can handle the problem customer. Make It FunThere are all kinds of ways you can make the workplace more fun and help your team blow off steam. Bring in donuts or holiday treats, have employee dress-up days, or create silly employee contests like having people bring in their baby pictures with Santa and see if you can identify everyone. Bonus: A fun workplace spills over to the customers, making your store a fun place for them to be, too. Reward Their WorkWhen possible, be flexible with holiday schedules and your employees will thank you. If there's no room for days (or even afternoons) off, an hour off here or there can work wonders to reward an employee. Consider rewarding employees who work the toughest shifts with something extra (beyond holiday pay). Give an award for "employee of the day" or for going above and beyond. Or hand out random small rewards, like gift cards, when you see employees doing something extra-special (you may even be able to barter for gift cards with other local businesses). Don't Stop Too SoonRemember, the holiday shopping season doesn't end with Christmas. Be prepared for the post-holiday rush of returns, exchanges and customers with gift cards in hand ready to spend. Keep employees psyched up to keep the energy going through the first week of January too. CelebrateWhen it's all over, be sure to thank your team with a well-earned holiday luncheon, dinner out or company party to celebrate the New Year and the end of the holiday rush. Tire Employee Photo via Shutterstock The post The Finish Line: Keep Retail Employees Energized for the Holiday Season appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Big News in Online Freelancer Space: ODesk and Elance To Merge Posted: 18 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST
Yes, it’s big news in the freelancer world. oDesk and Elance today announced that they are merging. The two giants of online freelancing marketplaces have both signed a definitive agreement to merge. The deal is expected to close within four months, and is subject to regulatory approval. Today, both oDesk and eLance run large online marketplaces where they bring freelancers and other service providers together with the businesses and entrepreneurs who hire them. Elance has over 800,000 businesses and 3 million freelancers using it, from over 170 countries. On oDesk, the numbers are over a million businesses registered, and nearly five million freelancers. Together they say they will have 8 million freelancers and 2 million businesses in over 180 countries. According to a prepared statement issued jointly by the companies today, the merger brings strategic benefits. These include a greater combined investment in technology and the ability to accelerate growth and scale as a result of combining forces. oDesk had flirted with the idea of going public several years back, AllThingsD reports. But the company has apparently decided against that for now. Today oDesk chief executive officer Gary Swart notes in the release, “oDesk is thrilled to join with Elance in order to innovate faster.” The companies have a big vision — as in Amazon and Apple big. “Just as Amazon reinvented retail, and Apple iTunes transformed the music industry, we will greatly improve how businesses hire and people work online. This merger will … allow businesses of all sizes to more easily access the best available talent,” said Fabio Rosati, the CEO of Elance. The two companies will continue to run separate platforms at odesk.com and elance.com. Today there are differences in how the two sites operate. For instance, oDesk charges 10% and Elance charges 8.75%. Reactions to the news on the oDesk blog can be seen here, and reactions on the Elance blog can be seen here. Fabio Rosati will serve as CEO of the combined company, and oDesk executive chairman Thomas Layton will continue in the same role of the combined company. Gary Swart, currently the CEO of oDesk, will act as a strategic advisor. The name of the new company post-merger will be announced after the deal closes. The companies are headquartered in Silicon Valley — with oDesk located in Redwood City and Elance headquartered in Mountain View, California. Editor’s update: the above article was corrected to reflect accurate information about fees. The post Big News in Online Freelancer Space: ODesk and Elance To Merge appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 32 Sites When Looking for Freelance Jobs and Assistance Posted: 18 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST
Freelancing is a way of life for many small business owners. Plus, in today’s market, many employees moonlight as a way to earn extra income. Getting started and spreading the word about your services when looking for freelance jobs is not always easy. There are many good websites for temporary jobs and contracts with freelancers in mind. Some only post specific freelance categories, such as writing, design or coding, while others are more general. If your networking has come to a standstill, below are some sites to try for more work. Note: Many of these sites are also good places for business owners to find talented people to help them get things done, too. This is a two-way street of opportunity. Looking for Freelance in All the Right Places. . .General FreelanceThe big three contractor/freelancer sites are Guru, Elance and Odesk. GuruGuru offers a wide variety of freelancing jobs and allows you to create up to five different profiles. Their commission is variable, but they handle tax reporting so you do not have to give out your Social Security number to every employer. Escrow ensures freelancers are paid, but can be confusing. The onsite messaging is awful, but they will accept outside evidence in disputes.
ElanceThere are five major job categories on Elance: Programmers, mobile developers, designers, writers and marketers. But you can drop down into a wide ranging list, too. As one of the top freelancing websites, they maintain a great site and service. The commission is higher than most. They offer escrow payment and dispute resolution, for those jobs that don't go right. OdeskOdesk is designed for freelancers who prefer hourly wages as opposed to flat fees. They are a little more expensive in their commissions, but they cover employer tax costs if the employer wants to hire you through their payroll service. You need to log in to the website while you work so it can record screen shots. PeoplePerHourIf you have a talent (such as being able to design a business card in one hour), PeoplePerHour is the freelancing website for you. It works like the other freelancing websites, but also allows you to post "hourlies" to drive business to you. In general, there are fewer jobs, but they are higher quality. FreelancedFreelanced is a job posting site. You have to register to use it, but memberships range from free to $7 per month based on the features you want. Once you find an employer, Freelanced bows out of the relationship, so you will need to arrange for payment through Paypal, Escrow.com, or another mutually agreeable way. Freelance SwitchAny job can be posted on Freelance Switch, but it primarily has IT style jobs with a few SEO, design, and writing jobs. It is best known for its blog and freelance information. The job board is primarily classifieds. You apply and then everything is taken offsite including payment. It can also be difficult to navigate and has very few jobs posted overall. Freelancers must pay a $7 monthly fee to be able to bid on jobs. AquentAquent has a unique business model that works as part freelancer connection and part international temp service. You have to apply, be tested, and go to one of their many locations for a fact-to-face interview. But they will match you up with temporary employers that pay decent wages. It primarily has jobs in design and marketing but caters to many types of jobs. Rat Race RebellionRat Race Rebellion is a job-posting site that focuses on work-at-home and freelance jobs. There is no fee, but the site warns that it is supported by advertisements, so you have to be careful where you click. The actual jobs that are posted are screened for legitimacy. The advertisements are not. Everything is arranged offsite, but they have some nice resource links on their FAQs page for spotting scams. FlexJobsFlexJobs is one of my favorites. This site is an aggregator, of sorts, collecting jobs they find all over the Web. But they have real people research, sift, and sort telecommuting, part-time, remote jobs of all types. It has a monthly subscription fee or $14.95 or $49.95 for an annual subscription. WritersPatchPatch is an online journalism freelancer website. You need to create a profile to apply for jobs writing local news stories. You must live near the reporting areas. Online Writing JobsIf you are an established writer (you have a blog or a book for sale), Online Writing Jobs (formerly QualityGal) might be the place for you. You apply to them and they have articles posted that you can choose to write. Payment is through weekly mailed checks or Paypal. Journalism JobsPost your resume or search job listings on Journalism Jobs. There are a variety of writing jobs, but most are targeted toward journalism. Media BistroMedia Bistro has an excellent job board as well. Less freelance focused, but they have the occasional post that is flexible or temporary. Pitch MePitch Me reverses the concept of a job-posting site. Here, freelancers pitch the articles they want to write and editors select them. To sign up, you have to click on the sign-in icon, fill in the information, and be accepted. It looks like the website takes care of payments and charges a flat fee plus commission to editors when they accept your articles. Canadian Freelance Writing JobsIf you are a Canadian writer, Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs caters to you. It offers high standards of community and pay for Canadian writers. Jobs are screened and profiles can be posted, but pay is done offsite. This website is also advertising-supported and free, but it is easy to spot the ads. TextBrokerTextBroker is another great service to build a profile to sell your writing skills. Like most of these services, it works both ways: I used TextBroker to get a big blogging project done earlier this year and was pleased with the quality. I have not signed up as a writer, but have considered it. They use Paypal, but cover the fees for writers. Very well organized and focused on quality. Artists and DesignersArtWantedYou can upload your artwork (as a sample or for sale) on Artwanted.com. People can search by artist information or by keywords for artwork. They charge a 15% commission if you process through them, but no fees are charged if you get paid through Paypal or another service. There is a $39/year premium membership with added benefits and the option of selling your artwork on mugs and things like that. 99Designs99Designs is for designers. It allows them to showcase their work in the logo store, accept 1-to-1 projects, and design something for a "contest." Only the winner of a contest receives payment. Like other freelancer websites, it offers both escrow and invoicing payment options. Employers pay to use the website. Developers and CodersComputer AssistantComputer Assistant is an interesting website for tech freelancers who are willing to work onsite. You register with them as you do on other freelancer sites and are then screened by them. When jobs in your area come available, based on your availability and skill, you will be notified and can bid on them. If you win the bid, you have to get a signed work order from the job and return it to get paid. GetACoderGetACoder targets IT people who are looking for freelance jobs. It is similar to Guru and Elance, but every job is completed through an escrow payment. Freelancers are charged both a commission on each job and either a per project fee or a monthly membership fee. There are a few jobs outside of IT listed, but not many. Smashing JobsSmashing Magazine created the Smashing Jobs outsourcing board for freelancers to pick up work. Like the other tech job boards, it isn't pretty, but it's functional. The employer pays a fee to post the job, but all other payment terms are worked out between employer and freelancer. Odesk, mentioned above, is also heavily tech-focused. MiscellaneousTutorYou can get online tutoring jobs on Tutor.com after you pass through the application process. You must commit to five after school hours per week. People are given preference if they pass tests for multiple subjects and pass tests in high-demand subject areas. ISpeakUSpeakThere is also ispeakuspeak, which pairs you with ESL students and allows you to teach as much or as little as you want. AriseArise directs work toward tech support, customer service, and sales representatives who have obtained certification in their fields and adhere to Arise's standards. (For example, you cannot have a generic email like Gmail or Yahoo, and you must incorporate). They pay per call, per minute, or per hour. Just AnswerIf you are an expert in certain areas of knowledge, you can get paid to answer other people's questions on Just Answer. You choose the questions to answer, but you have to fill out an application/profile, take a brief test, and verify that you have some sort of knowledge credentials (such as a certification or college degree). You get paid a percentage based on your ratings. CDS Signing ServicesNotary Publics can register with CDS Signing Services, and they will schedule you with potential clients who come available in your area. Update LegalAttorneys, paralegals, and law support staff can check out Update Legal. You apply to their website, and they will help match you with temporary or permanent positions. They also offer benefits. Uber, Lyft and SidecarUber, Lyft, Sidecar, and other ride-sharing services are popping up all around the USA. You go through a background check and other steps to become an approved driver. Drivers for some of these services are bringing in hundreds per day. AirbnbAirbnb is the home, apartment sharing app that allows you to rent a room in your home, or your entire home, for business and leisure travelers. Most cities are okay with it, but a few municipalities have passed regulations, or are trying to ban the service. I have read of numerous entrepreneurs that have used the service to get their software startup off the ground and people who have completely left their day jobs to focus on providing rooms.
FiverrFiverr is a well-known online service match-making provider. Everything from graphics to marketing to sign-holders (people who will hold your sign and snap a quality photo of it for you to use). There are people who will run an errand or transcribe an audio file. Most of the tasks start at, you guessed it, five dollars. Whether you are freelancing or adding side projects to supplement your income, the new economy offers lots of ways to build a business. These sites are truly the tip of the iceberg. Seeking Photo via Shutterstock The post 32 Sites When Looking for Freelance Jobs and Assistance appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| WestJet Event Goes Viral: Holiday Wishlists Filled for Passengers Posted: 18 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST
A Canadian airline may just have reached new heights in customer service this Holiday season. Passengers boarding two WestJet flights from Ontario to Calgary thought they were sharing their Christmas wishes with a virtual Santa. But airline employees were listening in. WestJet VP of Communications and Community Relations Richard Bartrem told Fox News:
WestJet employees made a list, checked it twice and, once the planes were airborne, flew into action. Descending on local retailers, they checked off every item on passengers’ wish lists including everything from warm scarfs to a big screen TV. Gifts were then returned to WestJet headquarters, which had been transformed into a Santa’s workshop of sorts for the occasion. Presents were wrapped, tagged for their perspective recipients and rushed to the flight terminal just in time for arrival. Check out the surprised look on passengers’ faces as the neatly wrapped gifts came down the conveyor in the luggage pickup area. Among them is one little boy (pictured above) who can check a new Android tablet off his Christmas list this year. See the entire event unfold in the video below which has already received nearly 30 million views on YouTube! Oh, and by the way, there’s another little wrinkle to the story. WestJet had announced plans to arrange flights for children and parents in need through Ronald McDonald House once the video reached a modest 200,000 views on YouTube. That can now be checked off of Santa’s list, too, as that number has already been surpassed many times over – making the video a viral hit (and a superb marketing accomplishment.) And it’s likely the airline has earned some frequent (buyer?) miles with customers for this Christmas surprise. Image: WestJet The post WestJet Event Goes Viral: Holiday Wishlists Filled for Passengers appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| The Project Champion: A Management Best Practice Posted: 18 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST
At the start of every project, hopes are always high. Expectations will be exceeded. Deliverables will be timely. Customers will be amazed with the end result and zealously recommend potential clients. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. There are times when projects go horribly off kilter. Timelines are missed, products or services do not live up to the customer’s vision and realization of success dwindles, creating a threat to customer relations and, even more damaging, the reputation of a business. What consistently yields a positive outcome to projects of all scopes and sizes? The answer is far less of a what and more of a who. The true advocate for a project, and the gatekeeper of a project's heroic success or dismal failure – is a project champion. So What Is a Project Champion?The project champion is the person within an organization implementing a project who takes on the burden of ensuring everyone involved is on board and behind the ultimate success of the project. They are responsible for:
They don't take "no" or "I don't have the time" for an answer. They keep everyone's eyes on the prize that represents the successful implementation of this project. A project champion is the unfeigned, authoritative and, at times, veracious champion of a project. A bona fide project advocate, a project champion is typically a member of senior management or critical expertise that strengthens a project's value by adding formidable experience to the mix. Accurately and efficiently delivering project success. Seven Traits of a Project Champion1) Qualifications and aptitude to understand all elements of the project. 2) Capacity to meet and exceed expectations of management. 3) Ability to motivate and inspire a team to buy in and become engaged in the project’s success. 4) Finesse to negotiate with all parties to ensure project success. 5) Exceptional problem solving abilities and the resourcefulness to defeat obstacles. 6) Superior organizational talents, and a knack for keeping team members on track. 7) Stellar communications skills, keeping all project stakeholders aware and engaged. A project champion greatly reduces the likelihood of project failure. On the front lines of any project, and in direct communication with the entire team at all times, the project champion is the protector of a project. A critical sentry devoted to delivering a victorious project that thrills management. Once one project or stage is complete, the project champion leaps into action to get the next one rolling – a hero in the lifecycle of project management. Champion Photo via Shutterstock The post The Project Champion: A Management Best Practice appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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