Some of the reasons that cash-strapped businesses hesitate to start hiring, even when they need employees, is due to the actual costs involved with hiring. While recruiting, employers incur advertising costs, and go through thousands of resumes, calls, interviews, background checks, etc. in order to find the right talent but, this process is expensive.
It's almost impossible to find a business that runs without a website nowadays. In fact, the biggest challenge for most startups is deciding what sort of operations they will run - for instance, whether to start an e-commerce or a brick and mortar operation.
Managing a business, regardless of it’s size can be an extremely challenging exercise. Each business, even the small ones wants to minimise risks, capitalise on strengths and exploit market opportunities.
Every business does it! We sit in sprint planning sessions, examining road maps, reviews, going through one user story to another and wondering how we can bring a designer's vision of a product/service to life.
Psychometric testing is the process of measuring a candidate's cognitive abilities and personality/behavioural style.
Every year, we witness holiday marketing campaigns popping up everywhere during Christmas holidays. With countless number of businesses rushing to cash in on a spending frenzy, we see holiday emails, social media posts and TV ads - and the list goes on!!
Setting up KPIs is an easy subject to talk about, yet defining exactly the right KPIs for a specific business can be dreadful at times.
A lot of exciting trends are awaiting us in the world of web design at the brink of welcoming the year 2017.
Gone are the days that door-to-door selling simply isn't going to cut it with B2B marketing.
Modern organisations of our times believe that diversity of staff brings more value and productivity to a company. To form an ethnically diverse workforce, they provide equal opportunities to individuals from all walks of life.
When listening to brand experts about how to market and promote brands across cultures and continents the recommendations are often one of balance of opposites.
Many organisations, especially the small scale ones, often tend to underestimate the importance of employee performance appraisal, as it’s considered a waste of time and money.
Customers are the lifeblood of any commercial organisation. Most businesses, whether they run a local or global operation, understand the importance of keeping their customers happy and know how poor customer service can quickly lead to a drop in loyal customers.
Social media is a wonder tool for small businesses; it allows you to market your business in various customised creative ways at a relatively low cost. Having a solid social media presence gives any company a definite competitive edge, on the other hand, creating an impressive social media presence can’t be done overnight.
Organisations are constantly changing for two prime reasons – the need to increase revenues/ decrease costs and the need to be more effective. The purpose of transformation is to turn around a present state to a projected higher state.
This infographic will illustrate how Snaptchat is used and how it can be used in Higher Education.
“Words should be used as tools of communication and not as a substitute for action. - Anonymous”
Communication is the basis of all human relationships. Whether it’s personal or professional, you just can't do without communication. In order to build a good relationship with your clients, suppliers or employees, effective communication is essential.
One cannot rate an employee for performance shortfalls without a performance review, and all performance reviews insist that the employee is responsible for achieving agreed objectives. Employee performance is tied to organization wide targets and key performance indicators. Words used to describe performance are monotonously repetitive.
Selling a product or a service to another business today is a tough row to hoe. One might argue that it is easier than catering to B2C markets; still, you'd find it isn’t a simple activity.
Setting up and running a small business, no matter how small, is tricky business. To gain and maintain that competitive edge, having a solid foundation and a smooth operational system in place is essential.
The growth of technology and social media in the 21st century has changed how we shop, connect, socialize, play and most importantly, how we learn.
You are convinced you do not suffer from job burnout. It makes you mad if someone were to even suggest it. You have probably missed all the simple signs that you were coming in for job burnout. Why?
It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them. - Leo Buscaglia.
There could be no truer statement! Whom have you motivated? Your kids, adolescents, domestic staff, departmental staff or possibly the spouse! There are so many skills involved in each of these spectrums, never the same ladle for every dish.
Back in the young ages of the internet, email was “the thing”. Everyone loved it; everyone felt super hip using it, and it was the latest tech in communication.
Adults are learning the hard way that life’s challenges do not stop with completing college.
You are just about to launch a profit generating venture that you have dreamt about all your life.
Talk of collaborative management skills and one’s mind immediately projects to the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Theresa,who managed to gather large masses of people towards one goal.
Generation Z is being influenced and is influencing a wide spectrum of society all over the world.
“Now your next assignment is to draw up strategies and come up with a plan to increase online market share for the next quarter”
Mr. Martenstyn was bright, smart, perhaps a bit brash, but a real go-getter.
Today’s learning landscape is volatile and has grown by leaps and bounds.
Interesting title, but there is more to it than meets the eye.
When was the last time you looked at a product that you bought online and thought to yourself,
People (well, the majority at least) tend to judge quickly based on very little. We, humans, are a very complex bunch, and our feelings and emotions play a major role in everything we do, regardless of how objective we try to remain.
Everyone has “to-do” lists. They tell us what we should be doing.
“There’s something you need to know ….” hissed the neighbor secretly to the returning parent.
Just as your website represents your business 24/7 365, digital signage is a creative avenue to deliver updated information to an audience that is on the move.
Employee disengagement? That’s a horror word for employers and definitely one they would not associate with their organization, no matter how many employees come and exit their doors in short succession.
This infographic will give you tips to curb the possibility of mails ending up in the spam folder.
It is irritatingly true that no manner how hard we try, time wins the day, and we tend to lose, lagging behind with at least two of our target tasks for the day.
How straightforward it would have been if all Universities had to do was establish a panel of educators, call for students and carry on with being engaged in teaching and research.
Blended learning is one of the contemporary learning styles that many colleges and universities are adopting in their curriculum.
With distant learning, webinars, podcasts and eBooks learning has become increasingly a web affair.
We live in a day and age when people are looking to be entertained even when getting the most regular task done.
In a fast and volatile world of trends, improvements and advancements, it is important that you are at the top of your game.
In a day and age where opportunities, possibilities and outcomes have all got to be predetermined weighted and predicted, it has got to a point where it has become a profession for some to provide proper ‘analysis’.
OK, so after months and weeks of hard work, you have a brand new shiny new website, and you can’t wait to let the world know about it.
Social media has become an integral tool for businesses today to reach an ever-evolving customer base.
Here’s a little inspiration from industry experts to keep your creativity flowing and you content marketing strategy rocking!
The words “quality content” have made quite an appearance in the past couple of years, but few truly understand what that means.
Early last month, Google launched DeepDream, a software that will turn any image into an (awesome, might we add) psychedelic illustration.
The art of storytelling goes backs to centuries and is one the most powerful tools a content marketer can capitalise on.
Email marketing is a great tool to incorporate into your inbound marketing strategy.
Everyone talks about them, everyone tracks them, everyone is after them…What are we on about?
Video marketing is no doubt a power tool in any content marketing strategy.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Universities need students to survive against competitive forces in higher education worldwide if they are not to face extinction.
It is common and human for any employee to wish for an easy day.
Unlike it was a couple of years ago, Hashtags are now very much a norm in Sri Lanka.
Instagram is a great tool to incorporate into your digital marketing strategy.
Social Media curation is an excellent addition for your digital marketing strategy.
The number of Sri Lankan websites are increasing by the day, and though this is good in a way (the more content, the more variety, right?)
With automation and the ease of use in technology, age-old methods of acquiring knowledge have been replaced with new ones.
A simple way to establish credibility and attain achievement as an individual is to publish a piece of content that you can call ‘your own.'
When almost every aspect of our lives is being sprinkled with the dust of new invention and eased out methods, the growing span of globalization has also interfered with education vastly.
How many times have you found yourself trapped in a situation when you are looking into avenues to figure out how to get across convincingly, a piece of ‘good content.'
Reading is one of the habits that our parents attempt to inculcate in us from an early age, in view of laying the foundation for a well-rounded, educated citizen for the future.
Are you looking for a loyal friend to accompany you not only when you’re top of the mountain but at times when you are destitute and down?
“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” — Joyce Carol Oates
The power of the written word has the ability to anger the masses and create controversy.
Ever since you were little, you always dreamed of travelling around the world.
Book dedications are great, and most of them are truly deep and heartfelt, written with lots of love and caring.
The English language is beautiful, here are 20 words we think everyone should know.
Life has it’s ups and downs, and sometimes it's harder to get back up when we go down.
Reading a book not only enriches you from within, but also gives you little pearls of wisdom to live by.
With the rise in popularity of mobile, tablet and e-readers, eBooks are gaining more popularity than ever.
On Saturday 25th April, tragedy struck Nepal in the form of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, causing massive destruction and affecting over 8 million people all over the country, as well as in the neighbouring India and Tibet.
The Sri Lankan e-commerce sector is without a doubt blooming.
New apps are being introduced at an unbelievably fast pace, and there is an app for pretty much anything you could think of.
Typography is an aspect you cannot overlook if you really want to make your website stand out.
Books are without a doubt among the most precious things we have in the world.
eBooks have been around for a few years now, and their popularity is undoubtedly increasing.
Social media marketing is without a doubt one of the most powerful ways to promote your brand and create long-lasting relationships with your customers.
Business Research: Some of us love it, and some of us flinch only at the idea. Although this subject may sound complicated, if taken one step at a time it can be fairly straightforward.
Undeniable truth: Your website is your company’s best representation on the web.
We can all agree on the fact that Twitter is a great platform to promote your business.
The phrase “there is an app for that” has become a very common adage in the recent past, describing quite closely the reality we live in.
Online surveying is a survey method which is conducted via the internet, and with the growth of technology it has become one of the most efficient methods for businesses to research their target audience.
The streets are lit up, shops are filled with people rushing to buy presents, the excitement in the air; the holiday season is finally upon us!
Digital marketing has been growing rapidly in the last few decades, and it has now become a significant marketing communication medium in achieving brand objectives.
Responsive web design is the approach of providing the optimal user experience across a wide range of devices from desktop computers to mobile phones by minimising activities of altering, swinging and scrolling.
Content marketing: What is all the fuss about?
We have heard the big buzz about Facebook being an excellent channel to promote your business and build your brand image; there is no doubt about that.
Instagram is an extremely popular social media network that allows users to upload photos and videos and publish them adding various filters and effects to the pictures.
“Information” is one of the most valuable assets of the company!
To automate the job alerts sending process, you need to have an RSS feed of your site.
It is a rule that any business email or email targeting consumers should have an unsubscribe link.
We humans are creatures of comfort. We are also a critical lot.
Is project management just a fancy word for getting a job done? A project could be anything from complex to simple.
It’s an inherent attribute we brought with us, the knowledge and awareness that cheating of any form is bad.
Are you an entrepreneur of any sort – hardcore, running your own business for long, someone new to the area, someone who is mulling over the thought of becoming one?
Here’s an interesting question. Firstly, do students miss anything by being part-time students and therefore is regular attendance important for them?
Everyone in a managerial position knows that feeling: deadlines to be met and errant staff.
“A lead is a person who has in some way, shape, or form indicated interest in your company’s product or service” (Hubspot).
It is basic arithmetic that Universities need students in order to survive, especially in the present challenging environment of worldwide competitiveness among universities.
According to all Sleep Educators and Therapists, night owls are not so due to a desire to keep their eyes open with clips however late and resolutely go on and on, but those whose natural physiology predisposes them to later sleep/wake up times.
The dilemma begins when the student approaches the age of university entrance.
Customer Analytics is the process by which information and data gathered about customers provides insights that may predict customer behaviour.
Business research has changed throughout the years, and with the advancement in technology, the way information is gathered, analysed and presented has changed even further.
Mashable shared an interesting article about terms and conditions that we rarely read of the social media platforms.
When thinking about Computer Science, the first few things that come to the mind is standard desktops, movies like transformers, software and Bill Gates. Among all, one of the most interesting elements is Application Development.
With the development of the Internet, IT and all IT professionals are key to the success of many firms today.
The internet is linking people across the world,meanwhile all types of business-big and small are moving on to the web.
Social media in Sri Lanka is still very new to businesses, and most rely on agencies and IT professionals for the right answers.
For an online marketing campaign to be successful, it needs to direct traffic to the the business website and lead to revenue.
Twitter is used by many businesses as part of their social media marketing efforts.
Digital Marketing is an ever-evolving aspect, and with time, the tips and tricks needed to succeed in it will evolve and change according to the adoption of technology.
Twitter is a widely used social media network, the second most popular, after Facebook.
Each social network is unique in its own way, and with the large number of social media platforms coming up, Google Plus is one of the leading competitors for other networks today.
It is safe to say that the response and the engagement a website received depends heavily on the interface of the site.
Online Marketing refers to the art of performing marketing activities through non-traditional or digital mediums.
The use of online surveys as a primary research tool is on the rise, and their popularity may be accredited to the convenience and cost – effectiveness they offer.
Email Marketing has been a very popular online marketing method, and many Sri Lankan companies are now seen to practise email marketing.
Are you one of those people who pat themselves on the back that “everything is in perfect order before I leave…” or one of those people who think “OK, the sky will not come down because I was a bit late…” and leisurely attend to their tasks with no sense of urgency at all, whether it is feeding the dog or out on a quick exercise run?
As addressed in the previous blog article,Customer Loyalty and Best Practices used in Sri Lanka, CRM – Customer Relationship Management refers to managing the relationships with your customers.
Customers are the biggest asset that a company has, and nurturing customers is important for several reasons:
Newsletters are not just about sharing articles on the latest industry happening, or the news about your brand. It is a great online tool for creating engagement with your customer base, and a way to increase your brand awareness.
Business thrives on a better understanding of what its potential customers want and like, what their competitors are doing and identifying the key drivers of profitability for its business.
Inbound Marketing refers to gaining more customers organically rather thank through buying them over.
Surveys are questionnaires you send out to target audiences to get information. They are extremely helpful tools in collecting opinions and feedback, suggestions and criticism from the general public and customers.
RAD stands for Rapid Application Development. Today in the technical world Rapid application development is a common thing, and it is a very popular software development methodology.
Marketing and creating a positive presence in your past, current and future client is vital in this highly competitive and cluttered world.
Is you brand ready for advertising online?
Email marketing is on the rise in Sri Lanka. Many companies are now seen to promote their products and services via email and there are many new providers of email marketing services, sending emails at times to over 100,000 contacts.
Would you know if your social media activities are actually generating results?
It is a well known fact that advertising is a must for any business to initially be launched/established, then to grow, and also to be sustainable in the long run.
Today Facebook is the most common name among social media platforms.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) audit helps you to keep your site ranking well in search engines. The main goal of the SEO audit is to identify the challenges and opportunities in a site in terms of ranking high on search engines .
As users start to change their devices, it becomes important that your website changes to suite your customer’s platform.
Have you noticed lately that everywhere you turn there is a new “Coffee Shop” or franchised network of restaurants? So does Sri Lanka really have a market potential for restaurants?
BQu Services conducted a training for the BQu Team on Google Adwords. The presentation focussed on introducing Adwords to beginners and contained a brief introduction to the keyword selection process.
Sri Lanka witnesses hundreds of new business ventures every day, in both product and service industries. While some of them bloom and blossom, others do not succeed and close shop. At the end the best performers survive.
Google analytics is a free service that provides monitoring and analysis of traffic on your website. This tool can be used for monitoring website performance, in particular for search engine optimization (SEO).
What is a Website Migration?
This is when you or your client decide to change their website domain name to a sub-domain, a completely new domain, a new location, or introduce new pages that are completely different from the previous site pages.
What is social media marketing?
Social media marketing is a process of getting traffic or attracting people/clients through social media sites for business purposes.
Branding is an important topic any marketer would be interested to learn more about.
What is Video Sharing?
Video Sharing involves the process of uploading, publishing and sharing video clips online. People today love to share their creative production and even home videos.
If you have wanted to update your blog or website by yourself without technical support you might have heard of the benefits of CMS or content management systems.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in the UK, defines student engagement as “involving and empowering students in the process of shaping the student learning experience.”
Staff attendance management requires organizations to focus on their overall strategy for absence management of employees within the workplace.
Sri Lanka is now seeing many new companies emerge on Facebook, be it in fashion, electronics or food. It is also worth noting that some of these companies do not have their own website.
If you are a small business starting up with limited resources in marketing and branding, you should be aware about creating your own brand and logo.
Online surveys are increasingly popular tools for gathering information and their popularity stems from the cost-effectiveness and convenience they offer.
Infographics are becoming increasingly popular methods of displaying information visually.
BQu Services conducted an online survey in March 2013, which focussed on the booking patterns shown by Sri Lankans in booking their domestic holidays.
Did we see it coming? Times Higher Education World Rankings 2014-15 report that only seven UK universities were among the top 50 Universities.
Infographics are becoming increasingly popular methods of displaying information,so much so that certain sources refer to them as “Revolutionary Marketing Tools”.
A survey was carried out by BQu Services to determine the attitudes of Sri Lankans towards ‘Holiday Planning’,
A free webinar was held on Creating your own email campaign using email tools for the Sri Lankan workforce by BQu Services.
Online surveys are very useful tools in the recognition and addressing of consumer preferences, and have several accompanying benefits, such as
Do you have the following in place for your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Plan?
