Outsourse Web / Mobile / E-commerce Design

Category: Tips and Tricks

4 Signs You Need a Business Coach and How to Find One Today
Running your own business requires skills and expertise in a wide variety of areas. During the early months and years of being an entrepreneur, much of your management might come down to trial and error until you gain sufficient firsthand experience. Alternatively, you can seek out an experienced business coach that can help guide you along the right path. It can be difficult to admit that you need help managing your enterprise, but there are a few telltale signs. Today, Buildateam has some tips and suggestions to help you recognize when it’s time for a change.
1. You Feel Overwhelmed
New business owners can make a lot of progress fueled by their initial excitement at getting a venture off the ground. When that first wave of reverie wears off, it’s easy to experience a loss of motivation. You might feel overwhelmed or just plain stuck. Your business coach will likely have been in much the same situation. Experienced entrepreneurs know how to spark the kind of inspiration that can push you through many of your mental or emotional obstacles.
1. Your Finances Are Suffering
Statistics show that most small business failures are due to poor cash flow management. You may be a savant at overseeing your personal finances and investments, but handling the monetary issues of a business is a different beast. Expenses can pile up when you are striving to keep your enterprise afloat. If you start to notice that your financial situation is getting out of hand, you should seek professional coaching before matters worsen.
1. You Need a Better Marketing Plan
It is likely that your emerging venture does not reach as broad an audience as it could. Marketing is the key to appealing to ever more potential customers, and it is an area that you can always stand to improve upon as an entrepreneur. For instance, you can improve customer confidence in your website by incorporating a finance API to verify balances and protect against overdraft fees.

It’s also extremely helpful to put a face on your business. You could hire a graphic designer to come up with a custom logo, or better yet, simply make a custom logo for free using existing templates, then spread the word via social media!
1. You Would Like to Expand the Business
Even if things are going smoothly with your business, a coach can still be a powerful asset when you decide to expand. Surplus revenue and a growing clientele can present opportunities to branch out into offering products or services that are outside of your expertise. Your coach can offer advice on growing your skillset and navigating the uncharted territory of a major business expansion.

Know Who to Contact

If you have good networking habits and a bit of luck, you might already know a fellow entrepreneur in your area that can serve as a mentor. Otherwise, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to professional coaches or other successful individuals in your industry. Make sure to be open and honest about your expectations and any questions you may have before moving forward with a formal coaching arrangement.

Experience and connections are perhaps the two most important tools in any entrepreneur’s repertoire. Consulting with a business coach is a surefire way to equip yourself with both of these tools, even if you are still in the early stages of your career. Whether you are struggling or simply wish to bring your enterprise to the next level, seeking a professional coach is one way to get the boost you need.

Our CEO, Alexey Mustafin, a serial entrepreneur and an experienced Startup mentor offers 1-on-1 Startup / Business / Personal & Professional Growth mentorship and coaching. Feel free to schedule your next session with him following this link.

Image via Pexels.

Written by Patrick Young
July 13, 2022
How to Harness Machine Learning for Your Business

Gathering and collecting data is nothing new for small, medium, and large enterprises. In recent years, many companies have focused on building a data-friendly infrastructure, analyzing data, and using the results to improve decision-making. Now, the priority has moved to advanced analytics and machine learning.

But what precisely is machine learning? How can you embrace it and navigate the inherent challenges to take your business to the next level? Below, Buildateam answers these questions and more!

What Is Machine Learning?

The terms “AI” and “machine learning” are often used interchangeably, but these are two distinct terms. Machine learning is an application of artificial intelligence (AI). It allows machines to analyze data and learn from it without human assistance, whereas AI is technology explicitly programmed for that purpose. Essentially, machine learning helps the machine identify patterns and the factors that influence them to improve with experience; these machines then make predictions and decisions based on the analysis.

In other words, machine learning is a learning model that requires humans to start the process with an initial thesis, such as “time practicing versus the final result” or “practicing more results in better performance.” A fundamental machine learning model consists of three parts: model, parameters, and learner. We are surrounded by machine learning applications in everyday life — from our homes to entertainment media and shopping carts.

The Benefits of Machine Learning

No one likes to crunch data. Sure, a small task or project can be a welcome change of pace in the work week, but manually analyzing thousands of data points can significantly decrease employee engagement and waste time. Not to mention the costs of inevitable mistakes from human error, which can make the entire model useless.

Machine learning lets businesses use machines for massive data analysis projects. This model allows you to reap all the rewards while saving ample time, energy, and money.

Further, machine learning allows companies to analyze comprehensive data sets with increased accuracy, and it does so at breathtaking speed. We can already see the model at work in self-driving cars, chatbots, virtual assistance, spam filters, and image recognition.

Machine learning can also go a long way in fostering a productive and engaged workplace culture. For example, business process management (BPM) streamlines workflows by automating laborious tasks and making business processes more efficient. This means your team members can spend less time on mundane tasks and more time on valuable, meaningful jobs more closely related to their passions.

Plus, BPM boosts efficiency and eliminates human error, both of which will significantly benefit the company’s bottom line. Look to iBPM tools that come with a short learning curve.

Challenges of Machine Learning

While there are many benefits to machine learning, it isn’t accessible to all businesses. You must have significant computing power to carry it out because you are handling huge data sets to confirm any conclusive or consistent models. That means that you need to use several machines on the same model to produce faster iterations.

Moreover, you must be conscious of downtime that can halt your data analysis projects, meaning your machines should provide as close to 100% uptime as possible. A single power outage can corrupt the data and learning results, which can compromise the entire model. And if you’re a small business without a vast database of your own, you might consider waiting until you have more data to work with or using someone else’s data or machine learning service.

There’s no denying that machine learning is helping organizations reach new heights. And as time and data advance, machine learning models and tools are becoming more accessible to companies of all sizes. Keep in mind the advantages and challenges, and stay open-minded to how machine learning could help your team reach its goals and experience the growth you envision.

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about how to build a team of experts for your web, mobile, or ecommerce projects? Visit buildateam.io today!

Written by Patrick Young.

June 10, 2022
Job Hunting with a Disability. 4 Best Ways to Leverage Technology.

4 of the Best Ways to Leverage Technology When Job Hunting With a Disability.

The job market can be a challenge to navigate, doubly so when you’re differently-abled. However, this is not to say being disabled will get in the way of your success. This just means that you may need to work a little bit harder to compete, as well as make better use of the resources available to you.

No doubt, the internet is particularly useful, in more ways than one, and you can certainly take advantage of it to start a new career or even get ahead in the one you already have, disability notwithstanding. It has long been recognized that the internet can, in fact, open up opportunities for people with disabilities. It would serve you well, indeed, to leverage the technology that’s right at your fingertips to move forward in the workforce.Here’s how.

Expand your network.

Networking is among the most essential tools in one’s professional life. Making use of the internet to expand your professional network will undoubtedly serve your job search and career development efforts in spades. By connecting with individuals in your field, you can get first-hand information on job vacancies and growth opportunities, as well as stay on top of industry trends and news to put you on top of your game.

Professional networks like LinkedIn are the obvious places to start. However, social networks like Facebook and Twitter come in handy, as well, and may even offer you a wider reach. You can also participate in industry-specific forums and groups, which abound over the web.

Improve your chances.

With the fierce competition today in the job market, the need to get noticed becomes even more crucial. Once again, the internet proves to be invaluable with the wealth of resources it offers, running the gamut from personal and career development to job-hunting strategies and tools.

More often than not, a quick search will already uncover tips to help you maximize your strengths, craft a great resume, and even ace your interview. Not only that, but you can also develop new skills and upgrade existing ones through earning an online degree. There are many affordable online programs in relevant industries, including business, health, education, and information technology.

Find opportunities.

However, perhaps the most tangible way the internet can help in your job search is by giving you access to countless job listings. There are numerous job sites that cater specifically to persons with disabilities, which can be a godsend, as it allows you to devote your time to listings that are welcoming of your situation. Additionally, job boards make the hunt easier by letting you access specific parameters, including job categories and sub-categories. These sites can help you easily join the remote workforce.

Work remotely.

Technology now gives everyone the opportunity to work remotely, even right in the comfort of home. In fact, it’s interesting to note that since 2005, the number of employees working remotely has increased by a whopping 115 percent, with 3.2 percent of the working population in the U.S. alone working at home at least half the time.

No doubt, a good fraction of this are people with disabilities — and for good reason, as working remotely provides you with the opportunity to earn a stable income and enjoy a great measure of flexibility without having to leave the safety and comfort of your home. There’s no dearth of work that you can do from home so you won’t have to settle for less than what you deserve.

Indeed, disability is rife with challenges, and the job market isn’t the least of it. But by taking advantage of the internet and its technologies to make you a more viable candidate and to get to first dibs on the right opportunities, you have a fighting chance at landing your dream job.

Photo via Unsplash

Written by Patrick Young

August 12, 2020
Top 8 Reasons Why You Bike Commute To Work:
Chances are you live within 10 miles of your job, as recent studies show over half of Americans do. If not, there’s a huge likelihood that your commute to work is less than 20 miles (as is the case for 70% of us). Now if you’re new to the concept of bike commuting there’s a chance 10-20 miles could sound like ridiculous overkill but keep reading, because it’s not! One of the most common misconceptions about biking to work is that it’s inconvenient, but have you ever spent 5-10 minutes looking for bike parking? I didn’t think so. Have you ever waited in bike traffic? Me neither! Have you ever been happy to get in your car and drive to work? Nah, didn’t think so. A bike commute can change all of that!

No matter where you live, no matter how hot or cold, mountainous or flat you could definitely survive a bike to work day every once in awhile. There’s a slew of unbelievably enticing statistics out there so we at BuildaTeam.io scoured the entire webternets and compiled our favorites. These are our Top 8 Reasons Why You Should Bike Commute To Work:
- You’ll boost your overall well-being. People who switched from car commuting to active commuting (à la bikes) reported greater well-being and concentration in aPreventive Medicine study. Who wouldn’t feel great after a free, outdoor spin class?
- You’ll start the day in a better mood. Bike commuters reported the best moods in a transportation study, when compared to people commuting via car and public transportation. Less traffic and fewer delays = less frustration.
- You’re more likely to have a lean bod. Biking to work is associated with a reduced risk of obesity and high blood pressure, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine. That’s not so shocking, considering that bike commuting can burn around 200 calories each way. Plus, it helps you meet the American Heart Association’s suggested 30 minutes of cardio a day, five days a week.
- You don’t need to go to the gym if you bike back and forth to work.I mean, you absolutely can, but unless you live directly next to your office you’re probably getting a pretty decent workout. According to Women’s Health magazine, a 135-pound woman pedaling 12 to 14 miles an hour blasts 488 calories in 60 minutes. Boom! Plus, your legs will look fabulous. Just in time for summer.
If she can do it, why can’t you? Pro Tip: bike in flats, leave the heels in your bag!
- Save Money! The average person in the U.S spends $2600 a year getting to work in a car and add on maintenance and car depreciation and the average American spends $9000 to own a car, every year: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/16/aaa-car-ownership-costs/2070397/ If you bike commute to work then you can save a ton!
- Tax Benefits: According to the National Center for Transit Research on December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2029 which among other things mandated that companies that offer employee reimbursement up to $20/month for reasonable expenses related to commuting by bicycle.
- A bike commute Increases Productivity: Cycling raises productivity. Exercising before work raises an employee’s productivity by an average of 15 percent! Forget coffee, you’ve got a bike with a bell! And for you managers, you may want to think about installing some sort of bike support program. This could include easy and safe places for employees to store their bikes, allow employees to walk around in bike clothes, sponsor workshops, or get certified in becoming a Bike Friendly Workplace. Find out more information here.
- “Leaving your car at home and biking to work just two days a week can reduce carbon pollution by an average of two tons per year.” -EPA
Sources:

http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/17/pf/work-commute-time-and-money/

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/mind-body/stress/bike-commute/

http://www.levo.com/articles/lifestyle/bike-to-work-reasons
December 27, 2016
5 Reasons Outsourced Freelance Developers are Better For Business!
Chances are if you’re reading this you’ve had a need, or currently need to hire a developer for something. Maybe you’ve got an app idea and want to build an MVP, or your company’s Shopify e-commerce store needs some updating? We get a lot of people asking us why we think it’s better to hire freelance developers, and we try to give unbiased responses, even though we are an On Demand Freelance Developer Hiring Platform. Since this question comes up so much we thought we’d take the time to research the facts, and present to you 5 Reasons Outsourced Freelance Developers Are Better For Business. We also custom made the infographic too! Please share it!
1. Save Time: Freelance Developers save time. That’s a fact. Take it from us at BuildaTeam where we save our clients months of recruitment work, by vetting and hiring freelance developers using our proprietary testing method we’ve developed over the years. This tool was designed to quickly vet a freelancer’s skill set vs. the client’s need and save everyone time in the hiring process. We’re not the only solution either (although we’d like to think we are the best). Hiring internally is a long term solution, and can take several months to find a solid team fit. Freelance Developers, on the other hand, don’t need to meet the team physically and usually only work on a specific project, on a contractual basis. Because of this, they can start working quickly, saving your organization tons of time.
2. Save Money: The average full-time software developer in the United Stated earned a $99,510 salary in 2014 and no doubt that figure is growing annually. Unless your company is prepared to pay that kind of salary for a full-time team member then sourcing a freelance web and or mobile development freelance is your best option. The average freelance developer is charging $73/hour so you can imagine the cost savings for your business! For instance, the average website redesign is between 30-100 hours of work for a freelance developer, yet a full-time employee may drag that work out over a few months of paid salary. You do the math.
3. Get More Done: For any of us who have ever worked from home for a day, or been a digital nomad we’re sure you’ve noticed that saving time getting ready, and getting to the office has allowed you to crush half of your to-do list before you would even be in the office normally. Well, that enhanced productivity time is a constant for most freelance developers. The average commute to work in the U.S takes over 25 minutes each way, not to mention the time it takes to get ready, chatting in the office, distractions etc. Bottom line, freelance developers get more done for your money, period.
4. More Experience: This is a no-brainer. Freelance developers normally juggle multiple projects and gigs at the same time, often from several differing industries and technologies as well. This wide range of work allows freelancers to gain a much more varied experience than their full-time counterparts who work years often on one project at a time. More experience means more usefulness to you as the hiring manager. Again, get more shit done!
5. More Talent: The freelancer workforce is exploding, yet it’s getting harder and harder to source and hire fulltime software developers. There are currently over 60 million Freelance Software Developers in the U.S and half of the entire American workforce is expected to do some sort of freelancing by the year 2020 (although, admittedly this is not just Software related freelancing but still, cool figure right?). Focusing on hiring a freelancer will greatly open up your options no matter where in the world you are.
So there you have it. 5 Solid reasons to start looking for freelance software developers for your next website or mobile development project. In case you needed any further discussions, advice or info on who to hire for your project, our Project Managers are always standing by, ready to chat with you, for free! Email us any questions you have and we’d be happy to help you. For more info on what we do as a company, and how we help companies hire the world’s best software development freelancers please visit our site here. Also make sure to check out Clockspot – Saving your organization tons of time.

Sources:

https://www.fastcompany.com/3049532/the-future-of-work/heres-why-the-freelancer-economy-is-on-the-rise

https://fu-web-storage-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/content/filer_public/c2/06/c2065a8a-7f00-46db-915a-2122965df7d9/fu_freelancinginamericareport_v3-rgb.pdf

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer/salary

https://project.wnyc.org/commute-times-us/embed.html
December 2, 2016
BuildaTeam Project Manager Stories: Silvia

At BuildaTeam.io we use highly skilled and experienced Project Managers either based in the U.S or on the same timezone nearby, to manage clients’ projects and liaise with clients easily. As part of an ongoing series we’ll be asking our most popular PMs to tell their favorite stories from PM life on the job. Here’s our first entry, from Silvia who’s been working with us for over a year now. Straight from her mouth!

“I was managing a large research project for Latin America consumers, specifically the project nature was delicate itself because the outcome was to obtain data on a certain brand (Opinions and experiences). One of the major capital/equity partners was discredited from the company, so he needed good data to proceed legally.

In terms of contracts and expectations everything was cleared, however the client wouldn’t like to know anything until we achieved the goals. This is so very bad for any project, the clients need to be involved in the process. Most project Managers have had their fair share of this, I believe. It is very important to align the ideas, and to create a good communication channel

The goal of the project was clear, however the guidelines and specifications were never actually outlined, so every team did as they thought would be the right way… and this caused several versions of the information to go live, incorrectly. At this point all of the project collaborators were actually telling their own version (as they perceived it) and it was a nightmare, we needed to start from scratch (after a month).

The only thing that saved this project was that I was able to suggest starting “official” documentation , I realized how important it is to have clear written guidelines, so everybody can be on the same page. If this is not in place, the project can go off the rails in a second. Fortunately we (as a team) did a common practice called “war room” for an entire day where all of the teams were together in an organized way, and we were able to share our experiences. Several action items came out of this meeting, including going back to basics.

Final Project Manager Lesson: You can be in the foot of the canyon in a second if you are not careful, clear and concise. As a Project Manager that should be the first thing on your list. Get all the details written down and for everyone involved to see.

Do not be ashamed to ask two, three or as many times as needed, it’s better to deliver strong results by asking questions, than deliver nothing relevant. Always think ahead of time, Project Managers do not live in the present, you must have a clear vision of what it is going to happen, and you need to have backup plans.”

Thanks Silvia for being a great PM on our team! To learn more about how Buildateam handles outsourced web and mobile development for our clients, in a different way please visit our website at www.buildateam.io

October 13, 2016
5 Rules for Startup Media Engagement

If you’re a young startup, there’s little doubt that you’ll eventually need to get media exposure, one way or another. If you want to get noticed, and don’t have huge budgets for paid ad campaigns, then you need to know how to access and engage your target users through free media channels. Well we recently read an awesome, and actionable article on Forbes and since we at BuildaTeam.io are all about helping startups grow faster through unparalleled web and mobile development services, we felt it was only right to share the wealth. Below are some great tips for engaging through the different media channels:

Use Twitter….no seriously.

Our marketing guy always preached to us…”Make your own story”, so start there. Then find the fastest and most direct route to a journalist who will use it. Twitter has to be one of the quickest, easiest and most effective ways for an entrepreneur to find media opportunities. Just type #journorequest into the search box to uncover dozens of requests from journalists looking for help with stories on every business topic imaginable. You’ll be unlucky not to find at least one that relates to your business, so hit Reply, and tell them how you can help. Keyword there: HELP. Offer help, don’t just ask for help.

LinkedIn offers additional routes in. With a bit of research into the publications and business areas you are focusing on, you can track down the various journalists who cover them. Forget the rules about not sending requests to people you don’t know; busy journalists keep open house on social media

Be ready for the response…

If a journalist responds positively to your reach-out or Twitter reply, make sure you can deliver what you have promised them. Press releases are useful as background, but you’ll need to be available, sometimes at very short notice, to jump on a call to answer a few questions. Great images are a godsend to an editor, while a live website is essential, as they will want to check your business out.

Leverage the news

It isn’t just journalists who are always on the lookout for fresh angles on news stories to generate extra media mileage. Entrepreneurs can do it as well. Keep an eye on news within your own industry sector, and make yourself available via the channels outlined above, to provide insight for the relevant local, national and trade publications. Over time, you can become a ‘go to’ expert, and have journalists chasing you. And tune in to any opportunities to comment on broader issues, for example, how a cut in interest rates, or changes to employment legislation could affect small businesses.

But be ready to move fast – news travels like wildfire across social networks – and work on building a list of good media contacts; journalists and bloggers who write in the media space where you want your business to be seen.

It’s also worth looking several weeks and months ahead and earmarking annual celebrations, Valentine’s day and Halloween, not to mention the countless National Days of and World Weeks of, such as Volunteers’ Week or Mens Health Week. You may be planning something interesting or unusual and definitely newsworthy, that that ties in with the event theme.

For example, Bring Your Pet To Work Day is celebrated by working pet owners everywhere, but maybe it happens every day in your business. Readers will want to know how and why. These events are also highlighted on journalists’ calendars well in advance, and they will welcome a quirky business case study, or industry expert to give their story an edge. These are valuable, easy to find opportunities that will make your startup stand out, and get your story and your brand shared.

To read the entire article click here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alisoncoleman/2016/09/30/four-rules-of-media-engagement-for-startups/#5db31ff72ea8

Credit to Forbes, we love you!

September 30, 2016
How To Pay Freelancers. International Payment Options
With the boom of the digital world, businesses are global. They hire professionals from the global network. We believe in global talent and diversity. Though the skills, teamwork, and company vision may transcend easily across nations’ borders, payments do not.

Whether a company is hiring employees, both outsourcing and permanent hires, or partnering with other businesses, there is no global payment process. While we wait and hope for a universal digital currency, I want to share some interim solutions!

Below are my experiences with the top available options: different fees and tariffs for each, versatility and timeliness, and my personal opinion.
- SKRILL – One of the cheapest options available on the market.
We’re committed to keeping fees low.

Using your Skrill wallet to pay online at a retailer that accepts Skrill is free

Receiving money into your Skrill account is free

Uploading funds into your Skrill account is usually free – some options involve a small charge, which will be clearly stated. (7.0 % fee max. USD 1000.00 upload and 1.9 % fee max. USD 1139.69 upload )

Sending money to an email address or another Skrill wallet costs 1% of the amount sent, with the charge capped at $10

Upload money into the Skrill System using a bank account (3-5 days) or a debit card (limits apply) and then distribute the money within their network. A good option for smaller non-urgent transfers. Banned in mother Russia. Has API.
- PAYONEER – Another international payment method. Senders don’t need an account. A minimum of $25,000 sent per month gives you access to a company account with Payoneer – it also offers access to API.
The fees associated with the Credit Card Loading Service are dependent on the loading method:

1) Visa/Mastercard – Up to 3.75% (2-3 business days). This fee is used to cover the processing fees that Payoneer is charged by the credit card companies and payment processors.

2) ACH Bank Transfer – 1% (5-7 business days). This loading method is available for US accounts only.

The loader will be able decide who is charged the loading fee. Under the “Payment Method” section on the Send a Payment page, the loader will have the option to either pay the fee him/herself, or charge it to the receiving Payoneer account holder.

Since they introduced the ACH Bank transfer – this is one of my personally favorite options to transfer the money.
- PAYPAL – If all freelancers and companies you work with would have it – it would be a comfortable solution. Unfortunately it’s not available everywhere, and it’s fees are quite high, compared to other options.
If the fee is passed to you, it is 2.9% plus $0.30 USD of the amount you receive. For example, if you are sent $100.00 USD by credit card, the fee would be $3.20 USD ($2.90 + $0.30). This fee also applies if you click Request Money on the PayPalwebsite and request money from friends and family.
- WESTERN UNION – If you need to send money urgently, you can as well use WU. A $1,000 transfer to Ukraine would cost you $48 if you choose ‘Money In Minutes’ and only $12 if you choose a Bank Transfer (3-5 days processing time).
- MONEY GRAM – A transfer of 1,000.00 would cost you $35 if you are funding it with your US-based checking account and $96.00 if you are funding it with your Credit Card. The perk is:
When sending money to be picked up as cash, how long does it take for the money to become available for pickup?

Money is typically ready for cash pickup within minutes after the transfer has been sent successfully, regardless of the payment method used, subject to operating hours, availability, local laws/regulations and compliance requirements.
- GOOD OL’ WIRE TRANSFERRING – From your online banking portal you can initiate an international wire transfer. Usually $45 per transfer. Once money is sent – you have no control over it. Subject to review by the Federal Reserve. A comfortable option for B2B. There is no need to wait for the funds to load into some intermediary system. After the first transfer, which might take a little longer, the consequent transfers usually go out fast: within 2 – 3 days money is on the recipients side.
Please note, that all the services described above allow your recipients to receive USD on their side. There are also newer fin-tech services that use blockchain, bitcoins and currency exchange rates. These services would allow you to send money to your recipients in their local currency and at a very low rate. This is a very new field for me and I will be exploring it more. One of the services is:
- TransferWise –
If you’re sending up to 5000 USD, it will cost ( 1% per transaction) with 0 USD hidden charges in the exchange rate.

If you’re sending over 5000 USD, it will cost ( 1% on initial 5000 USD, 0.7% on anything over per transaction) with 0 USD hidden charges in the exchange rate.

OVERALL:

Don’t want to deal with international payments or hiring and managing freelancers? We can help you take outsourcing to the next level. Email us at hello@buildateam.io to get a free quote.
September 27, 2016
How to Use Confirmation Bias to Close More Sales Deals!
You’re biased.

Yep, we said it. You, and everyone else you’ve ever met have preconceived notions of what you believe to be correct or incorrect. These inclinations influence your decision-making process, whether you are aware of them or not. Your customers behave exactly the same way. Have you ever heard of Confirmation Bias? It’s one of the strongest biases you can have, because you don’t know you have it!

Now, all people have biases, and they’re not all bad. That’s why we say that BuildaTeam is the best web and mobile development solution out there, we’re biased! One of the most common biases is “confirmation bias,” which is how we interpret information in a way that reinforces what we already believe. It’s frequency and power is connected to our addiction to self-worth.

A great example of confirmation bias is how voters act during a United States Presidential election. The more people read and inform themselves about the presidential candidates, the more they tend to believe their candidate to be the correct choice, not realizing that they are subconsciously biased to absorbing information that furthers their existing stance. Salespeople can also fall victim to their own confirmation bias when they ask clients questions whilst pushing them in the direction of the answer they want to hear, instead of letting the client tell them what they need.

These deeply rooted, subconscious, cultural assumptions drive all purchasing decisions, and reinforce those decisions even after they have made a purchase. Talented Salespeople learn to utilize these subconscious cues to boost their deal closing power. Here’s how:
- 1) Give a Great First Impression: Successful salespeople focus on giving a great first impression. Your mom may have always told you that a first impression is everything, and that’s never rang truer than in sales. If you’re first impression is stellar, you’ve influenced your prospects to subconsciously continue to look for the positive in you or your product/service. Their brain will naturally seek out reaffirming information to the original assumption that you and your company are amazing.
- 2) Be Affirmative: Smart salespeople use affirmation messages within the customer journey to foster confirmation bias. By saying positively affirming messages to the prospect throughout the journey, you can subconsciously push them towards greater loyalty. Examples of this are: Our products are exceptional quality, or we have the highest standard in the industry.
- 3) Compliment Your Prospects: By rewarding your potential customers’ micro-decisions with praise as they progress towards purchasing, you can reinforce their confirmation that you’re the best person to work with. Tell them what a smart decision this is, or how impressed you are with the speed they work at. However, be cautious not to be overly flattering and ingenuine.
- 4) Emphasize the positive: Positioning things in a positive light, sometimes even trivial things that the customer wouldn’t even notice can go a long way. Examples: Is your product /service process painstaking, don’t say how hard it is, rather talk about how diligent your team is, or how it’s the most detailed product/service on the market.
- 5) Encourage Customer Reviews: Even after you’ve closed a sale there are ways to use confirmation bias to your advantage. If you encourage customer reviews and sharing post sale, not only will it help acquire new customers, but it will also increase subconscious brand loyalty in the review writer. Think about it this way, if a previous customer spends 10 minutes writing about how much they enjoyed working with you, you better believe you’re going to be top of mind for a while.
Always keep in mind that overdoing any of the above suggestions can put you at risk of sounding inauthentic and that you will not all of a sudden become a mind reading master simply by harnessing people’s confirmation bias. These strategies take some time to become accustomed to and should be tested thoroughly. .Let me know if these strategies have worked for you in the comments below. Best of luck out there.
September 23, 2016
7 Simple Tips for Increasing Online Sales
Are you in Ecommerce? Sell anything online? Well if you have an online store already we found some awesome simple tips for improving your revenue. Some of them may be “no brainers” but each are proven initiatives that will result in steady boosts in sales. If you don’t have your online store built yet, well we can help you get that done! Email us here for a free quote! We’d love to help. Check out the tips below:
1. Navigation: We must also ensure that the navigation links are correctly placed and help the visitors to go through the website quickly. We must try to reduce the complexity of the site, so as to make it more user-friendly
2. Validation & Testing the website: To avoid any types of code issues, validation of the website as well as site testing needs to be done by using different browsers to ensure that the website load is excellent for all the visitors.
To read the entire original article click here: http://staugustine.com/interact/blog-post/twyher/2016-08-06/7-essential-web-development-tips-increase-online-sales#

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August 18, 2016