Blog – Global Impact Podcast

Improving the nutritional status of orphans and vulnerable children in Domboshava

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 11:19:42 +0000

The sinking of a water well at Triple S Centre of Hope ensured access to clean water for the children at the centre. But children do not survive on water alone, they need food. Though we have been blessing the centre with basic food items from the grocery stores we felt the importance of establishing a nutrition garden at the centre. Nutrition gardens play an important role in enhancing food security and dietary diversity. The Nutrition Garden will impact the centre in a meaningful way because it is a strategy to combat malnutrition at the centre. We got funding for this project through Global Impact. We started off with fencing and clearing the area. This week the guys at the centre are busy making ridges in preparation for the installation of the Drip Irrigation system. Drip Irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation system that preserves water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants. If water is placed directly into the root zone evaporation is minimized. The centre has access to the local Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO). This is a huge plus for them. The Agricultural Extension Officers are resource persons in the communities and they assist with advice on which types of crops to plant at any given time. We are working in close collaboration with the AEO to ensure maximum benefit for the children. This nutrition garden will make Triple S Centre a shining beacon in Domboshava, making it a centre of hope not just for the orphans and vulnerable children but for the community in its entirety. This is a developing story. The next step is the installation process then the planting…..

Affiliate yourself to the Excellence Club

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:29:37 +0000

Excellence is both a choice and commitment. It is a choice to being the best version of yourself and a commitment to applying yourself to the best of your ability. Excellence is sustained by the application of the principle of kaizen- a Japanese philosophy of changing for the better or constant improvement. To stay true to the choice and commitment we need to shake off what militates against EXCELLENCE. For instance, the lukewarm attitude of complacency. I would like to bring to your attention, two major symptoms of complacency: 1. Satisfaction with things as they are. Writing to Philippians, Paul says “Not that I have already grasped it all or have become perfect, but I press on…” Phil 3:12. Complacency convinces you that you have already grasped it, there is no need to press on, Excellence beckons you to keep striving and pressing on. Are you affiliated with complacency or excellence? 2. Rejection of things as they might be. With complacency, good enough becomes today’s watchword and tomorrow’s standard. Fear of the unknown, mistrust of the untried, and abhorrence of the new are hallmarks of complacency. Complacent people take the path of least resistance, like water they follow the easiest course – downhill. Commit to Excellence: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” Ecclesiastes 9:10. Change your mindset about Excellence: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” Aristotle. Meditate Excellence: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise, dwell on these things” Philippians 4:8. Clive Staples Lewis writes “It is hard, but the sort of compromise we’re hankering after is harder it is impossible. We are like eggs at present. And we cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.” You can’t just go on being an ordinary, decent Christian, giving God part of your life and effort while holding back the rest. Either you are hatched and learn to fly or you are a dud that will soon start to shrink.

Let Them Trust

admin — Mon, 24 May 2021 09:35:46 +0000

Global BP Solutions / ZimWorX continues to positively impact the community. The organization recently partnered with Ms Chido Gutu who is, the Lead Recruiter at Global BP Solutions and founder of Let Them Trust at an event held in Gutsa Village in Domboshava. During this event, two programs were running simultaneously. 33 Adolescent girls received reusable sanitary wear to combat school absenteeism and period poverty. 15 women were trained on beekeeping and honey production, to build their income generation capacity and skills development. This program was designed to facilitate intergenerational learning as these women will teach the younger generation whilst earning an income from their skill. Global BP Solutions takes pride in growing together with the community as well as their staff by partnering to improve the lives of the marginalized and participating in philanthropic work in different communities.

Ministry within the police force.

admin — Wed, 12 May 2021 14:55:25 +0000

At the end of the last quarter, we embarked on a process of extending our sphere of impact to the policing fraternity. Today, 5 May 2021, saw us cementing our relationship with the Zimbabwe Republic Police by donating some musical, information and technology equipment and groceries to the Police Headquarters National Chaplaincy Department. Part of the chaplaincy duties includes taking care of orphans and widows of the departed members of the police. We noted that some orphans and widows travel long distances to access help at the National Chaplaincy. During our many visits to the chaplaincy offices, we observed that the Chaplain General’s office had no teas or refreshments to offer these widows and orphans who would have travelled from far away places- some travelling overnight. So, we made sure that among our donations there was a package for teas and refreshments. The Chaplain General, Rev Dr Doyce likened ZimWorX to the Biblical good Samaritan, who did not only see the plight of the man who was left for dead by the brigands on his way to Jericho but generously helped the man. The Zimbabwe Republic Police, like everyone else, has not been spared of the economic sting. Operating in an environment characterized by public hostility and scarcity of resources, they are still expected to execute their mandate with diligent professionalism. ZimWorX, through the Ministry arm, saw the plight of the police force and generously reached out with a helping hand. The ripple effects of this donation will reach close to 50 000 members of the police force. The police chaplaincy department plays a pivotal role in the organization. It is the department that offers spiritual and welfare services to the police force and their dependents. It is also the department that oversees the Commissioner General’s welfare fund, a fund that caters for the orphaned and vulnerable members both within the police force and in society at large. Most important of all, the chaplaincy department takes care of the police forces hearts, spirits and souls. In his address, our General Manager, Bradford Smith underscored the indispensable role that chaplains play in the force; “The police’s heart, the police’s spirit, the police’s soul, are everything. Unless the police’s soul sustains him, he cannot be relied on and will fail himself and his commander and his country in the end”. As ZimWorX Ministry we have taken this step as an exhibition of faith in action. This was reiterated by the Commissioner-General in his address when he quoted James 2: 14-17 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”. The chaplaincy department has been heavily incapacitated. Our intervention was timely and it will go a long way in motivating, not just the chaplaincy department but the entire police force. We deliberately targeted the chaplaincy department because our donation was not just a charitable gesture but an exercise in Ministry- an exercise deeply rooted in our Growing Together Culture.

5 step checklist on growing your business

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:42:54 +0000

Growing means moving from one stage to a better one, and that’s what you definitely want for your business. Growth for your business means more than just profits and sales, it encompasses more things that allow your business to be considered a success. Growth is aligned with economies of scale, this means as the business becomes more efficient it gains some advantages, such as decreasing costs. Business Growth is a stage where the business reaches the point for expansion and seeks additional options to generate more profit. Business growth is a function of the business lifecycle, industry growth trends, and the owner’s desire for equity value creation. Growth is crucial to the long-term survival of a business. It makes it easier to acquire assets, attract new talent, and fund investments. It also drives business performance and profit.

Why is growth in business important?

Growth can be good for business for many different reasons. For example, it may allow you to:

take advantage of new opportunities
expand your products or services
attract more customers
increase sales
employ more staff

Reasons for business growth

Most businesses grow to become bigger, perhaps through increased sales or market share, but the size isn’t the only driver. Many other benefits motivate businesses to grow. For instance:

greater sustainability or resilience in the market
lower costs – due to economies of scale
greater market dominance
increased buying and bargaining power
ability to mitigate commercial risks – eg through diversification
reducing the threat of competition
surviving market fluctuations and downturns
attracting the best talent and staff

How to grow your business:

1. Check your cashflow Cashflow is the total amount of money that moves in and out of the business. Knowing and understanding your business’s cash flow gives you the ability to forecast financially. If you want your business to grow plan and invest wisely. 2. Review your day-to-day processes Understanding your business system allows you to make your business more efficient. Improvement in processes is relevant in growing your business. 3. Scout your competition It’s important to know your position within the market. Doing a S.W.O.T analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) maps out your direction and how you can work around the competition. 4. Prepare your team Having a team of committed and skilled employees is an essential part of any business, particularly one that plans on expansion. If you want to grow your business, first take a step back. Ask yourself: • Is the right team on board? • Are my people skilled? • Do they feel sufficiently rewarded? • What can I do to keep staff and help them feel more committed? • Have I planned for staff turnover? Think about how you can prepare your team for change and company growth. 5. Bring in external experts It’s always good to get a fresh perspective from a trusted outsider. Ask an expert to review your business operations or your marketing strategy. Get someone skilled and knowledgeable who is comfortable giving honest, constructive feedback you can use to improve your business. There’s no easy shortcut when it comes to growing your business. Instead, it takes hard work and plenty of research, planning, and investment. Use this checklist to grow your business and succeed.

Customer care in the digital era: creating a safe space for customers.

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:44:04 +0000

Companies need to become adaptable and adjust their business models to reflect the changes brought by the digital era. Customer experience is a core component in today’s evolving digital economy. Customer demands are increasing day by day. These demands are increasingly focused on speed, digitization, reliability, convenience, and accessibility, influencing organizations to rethink customer experience. To meet those demands, companies must offer an exceptional customer experience. Placing effort into producing a better experience will produce more clients, more sales, and encourage loyalty. Businesses need to see the value in focusing on the digital customer experience when it comes to achieving their business goals, significantly reducing costs, and creating more satisfied customers.

What is digital customer experience?

Digital customer experience is the sum of the interactions between customer and brand taking place on digital platforms such as mobile, desktop, iPad, or other tablets. It may start with your company website but could also include mobile apps, chatbots, social media, and any other channels where the touchpoint is virtual. The more digital the journey, the higher the customer satisfaction. “We cannot promote our brands as responsive, caring, and customer-focused while ignoring too many of our customers’ needs and complaints in social media.” – Augie Ray Digital technology has transformed customers’ habits. They expect to get what they want almost the exact moment they want it. Customers are market-savvy, comparing the prices of products, or checking reviews, all within seconds thanks to this digital era. Making customer service functions digital means more than just creating a company Twitter or Facebook account for customers to tweet complaints or leave reviews/ratings. To offer a great customer experience, you need to implement an airtight strategy that reflects the requirements. With proper planning, streamlining customer processes, and eradicating inconsistencies and errors, you can build strong customer support.

Poor service = bad feedback

The digital era has given customers a wider forum to discuss, and vent about varying experiences. With Facebook groups, yelp reviews to name a few, customers can be candid about their experience with the brand.

Keep Customers Happy

The concept of customer service is not new. The stakes are higher than ever in today’s transparent marketplace. Businesses need to restructure the customer experience to drive loyalty and advocacy. As customer care fuses itself in the digital era it has given room for competitors to have a vantage point. When your brand incorporates outstanding customer service as part of its marketing strategy, you benefit from long-term results and distinguish your brand from your competition. Great customer service produces happy consumers who will continue to buy from you, and more importantly, refer others to your company. People are 4x more likely to make a purchase when referred by a friend, and there’s an 18% boost in loyalty from a referred customer versus the ones acquired via a different method. Bad customer service interactions with your company – whether in-person, on the phone, via live chat, or over email – are what your customers will remember vividly; 70% of buying experiences are based on how the customer feels they are being treated.

Moving from expense to growth engine

Outsourcing a virtual team to a large and ‘cheap’ call center is often no longer the right strategy. Customer service is a prominent part of the customer experience, and therefore deserves a fully-fledged role within the organization. It increasingly forms the foundation for growth: satisfied customers are returning and loyal ones. A customer base cannot grow if more clients leave than come.

Use modern technology

CRM from the cloud, intelligent chatbots, and big data analytics: a modern customer service agent has many tools for boosting services. Use these tools, or else your competitor will. Advanced tech solutions are simply essential for many of the points mentioned here.

Do a complete customer view

The most important aspect of proper services is a comprehensive customer profile. It has to have information on purchases, personal preferences, messages on social media. This helps give customers personalized service which is an automatic positive for the business. Customer care in the digital era is sensitive as everyone has an opinion and a platform to express it. Visualize yourself as the customer in order to understand what they truly need. An unhinged perspective allows you to create systems that put the customer first, as they say, ‘Customer is king’.

Easy Dental Billing : Outsourcing for Dentists

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 15:22:37 +0000

What matters when taking care of others is being the best at what you do. As a dental office, your number one goal is to serve your patients. Providing the best care possible is your number one priority. Outsourcing for dentists is a step you need to take for your Dental Practice. Dental insurance and billing are enormous tasks. Handling these correctly helps the dental practice become profitable. As your dental practice grows, so does the need for resources. Specific tasks arise that require human, time, or financial resources that come at a high cost. This is not sustainable for the news practices. However, outsourcing dental insurance verification and dental billing solutions provide a way for practice owners to find international top talent. At a considerably low-cost outsourcing cuts on the trouble of employing locally. Outsourcing dental insurance verification and billing saves you and your staff from the tiresome processes. Verification can take up enough time that may be needed to focus on patients SupportDDS is an outsourcing company with experts in various dental back-office duties. Their jobs involve easing dental practices administrative responsibilities. Handing your dental insurance verifications over to an offsite team makes it easier for you and your team members to focus on patients. You also save money on hiring a dental insurance expert, allowing for additional revenue. Outsourced insurance verification services do not require the training, salary, benefits, or taxes of a traditional employee. You also do not have to worry about the turnover rate or absences since you have an entire office working for your practice, not simply a single individual. When choosing an outsourcing company, it’s important to make sure that they only focus on dental services. In many cases, outsourcing companies are really just expensive answering machines that don’t make an effort to learn the nuances of your field. This could result in poor patient experiences that reduce your overall base. Furthermore, calculations of patient benefits, their entitled claims, co-payments, and many more all make up the repetitive often-long dental insurance verification process.

When should you start outsourcing dental insurance verification and billing?

What would be the impact of a 75% saving, in your monthly payroll, on your dental practice? If your answer is a huge impact, then you might want to continue reading. Knowing when to outsource dental billing and insurance verification services can set your practice apart from the rest if you act on it. Fortunately, there are several ways you can determine if your practice needs to outsource some tasks such as insurance verification and billing to dental outsourcing companies. Ask yourself this:

How many insurance verifications does my team do daily?
How many successful claims go through?
Is this affecting my team’s productivity?
How can I improve the process?
Do I need help?

These questions are a great starting point and will help you have a clear picture of what is going on and how it can be improved. You will then be able to find a team dedicated to the process of outsourcing for dentists. You should consider outsourcing dental insurance verification and billing when;

2 reasons why outsourcing for dentists is important

1) Control

The dental industry like any other business is subject to negatives like embezzlement, fraud, and other crimes. Outsourcing this part of the dental practice is one step toward protecting you and your interests. Having someone outside the office handling the insurance money and billing without physically touching the check seems to diminish temptation. It keeps your office team honest because they’re aware there is a third party watching the insurance claims going out and checks to come in, so there’s an increased chance someone will catch anything suspicious.

2) More focus from the staff

Verifications and billing are like a whirlpool. Once you are in it’s difficult to come out. Dental employees can get on the phone and spend hours with insurance companies, which is not fun and can frustrate the team, and that attitude projects to patients. Outsourcing for dentists keeps your on-the-ground team in good spirits to deal with clients. I prefer to keep my staff off the phone with insurance companies as much as possible so I can keep them focused on what’s important and not bring down the office morale. At Support DDS, we understand that growing dental practices can get inundated with repetitive tasks such as Insurance Verification. That’s why we provide trained team members that are dedicated to your practice alone. This frees up your time and enables you to provide the best patient experience.

Ways to invest and improve your small business

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:02:18 +0000

As a startup, it is important to understand the concept of investing. To invest is to allocate money in the expectation of some benefit in the future. In finance, the benefit of an investment is called a return. Why is it important for you to invest in the elements of your business? Simple to get any form of return you have to invest. Here are some of the best ways to invest and reinvest your company’s first profits.

Two Types of Investments You Can Make in a Small Business

Business improvement

A lot of startups spend their initial profits in reinvesting, and your company should be no exception. The key element to reinvesting is to have a solid strategy, not to necessarily devote a certain percentage of your profits. Your reinvestment efforts should be in line with your current strategic business plan. Most business owners choose to reinvest their profits in business improvements. Examples are infrastructure, equipment, streamlining business processes, or finding ways to improve the customer experience. These are all valuable strategies because they can increase your profits in the long run, allowing you to expand business operations.

Marketing

Digital marketing is a smart investment of profit when it’s done well. Many of the startups wait several months before they do any real investment into marketing. This is because they just don’t know where to start. You can’t lose by investing in performance metrics. Always keep track of your campaigns and adjust them accordingly. If you have little experience with marketing, consider outsourcing to an agency.

Invest in your team.

Building a better workforce will streamline your business, improve productivity, and create the kind of company culture that will attract hard workers. Reinvest profits in human resources initiatives such as training and continuing education. As your business grows, you can expand to include benefits packages and other discounts. Investing in your employees early on will help you reduce turnover. Keep in mind, hiring a new employee costs a lot of money – about six to nine months of a lost employee’s salary, on average. So insourcing a virtual team can help minimize costs.

Invest in yourself.

Find ways that you can improve yourself in subject matter expertise. Many startups are spearheaded by people with a good eye for innovation, but who don’t necessarily know how to manage people. This is actually one of the most common criticisms founders face. Classes on management or basic business operations can be invaluable for people who don’t come from a formal business background.

Hire help

To that end, entrepreneurs are also guilty of trying to wear all of the company hats. Recognize when you need help, and ask for it. New hires can provide the technical skills and know-how to keep your operations running smoothly. This is one of the best investments you can make in the long run.

Consider coaching

If you’re unsure of how you should create your strategic plan, consider using some of your profits to hire a career coach. These professionals can provide guidance on executive leadership, creating a business strategy, talking to investors, and handling conflict between employees, among other things.

Outsource your least favorite tasks.

We all have a dreaded task that sucks some of the joy out of running a business. For some, it’s balancing the books or running payroll. For others, it’s assessing and tracking the efficacy of marketing campaigns or content creation for the company blog. Fortunately, you can outsource most of these to third parties. Find someone qualified and hand over the task.

Improve your SEO.

Spend some time, money, and energy getting that website to the top of Google’s Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs). For the uninitiated, Search Engine Optimization can be tricky, but you’ll get the hang of it. The small business administration offers a useful primer on the topic, as well as other resources. If you’re looking for a way to see a significant return on investment in a relatively short time, this is one way to do it.

What to consider when insourcing back office processes.

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 12:19:57 +0000

Insourcing or Offshore managed services is when a third-party provider gives your business virtual assistance in varying office tasks, for example, insourced office assistants. This is typically it is when the back-office processes are delegated to a remote team as a way to save money. Some of the processes are not money generating but remain vital to the standing of the business. Entrusting them to an insourcing partner is not something that should be undertaken lightly. As you enter into an insourcing contract after extensively vetting them, it is important to have a full understanding of your insourcing partner. You have to understand the opportunities that exist as a way of minimizing the impact of possible problems. In business, there are two types of roles that the team has to carry out. These are; customer-facing roles and back-office roles. Back office tasks include a wide range of administrative tasks like order processing, accounts, and billing, data processing, data scrubbing, logistics, etc. These back-office tasks are incredibly important to the effective functioning of the organization. Even though they are essential, most companies choose to outsource these tasks to BPO companies to reduce operational costs. There are some criteria that every company has to consider in order to choose a company that they will outsource or offshore their back-office processes.

Language Barrier

Ensure that the staff of that country speaks and understands your native language. It is not just a matter of the language but also terminologies. If you work in a specific sector, your insourcing partners should be able to understand all the required business terminologies. This helps make sure the back end processes and documentation are carried out without a glitch that may end up costing you. At ZimWorX we ensure that your team members are not only fluent but eloquent in speech. Team members are all Zimbabwean which is a former British colony, hence the great grasp of the English language.

Complete Data Security with insourcing

Your company’s data is something that is absolutely confidential. One of the biggest concerns that businesses have while insourcing their backend tasks is the security of their data. While choosing which company to outsource to, ensure they have a good track record of data security and you get a written agreement ensuring complete data confidentiality. Check to see if they follow data protection policies and use a VPN to ensure extra protection.

Domain Expertise

Whatever industry you serve there are certain standards that exist in all these sectors. While outsourcing, you cannot compromise on quality. Hiring an insourcing company that has expertise in that particular sector will always be an added advantage. If you are offshoring, make sure that the insourcing company is aware of the standards and practices of your country.

Cost Benefits

Cost reduction is the key advantage of insourcing back-office processes. Pick a company that offers you the best price in terms of cost reduction. Normally, by offshoring businesses can get the work done at just 1/3rd the cost of handling a process in-house. Some number crunching will be required to come to the conclusion that which company offers the best cost benefits for your company.

Conclusion A responsible insourcing company can help take your back-end processes and streamline them to give your business real benefits and improved profitability. With ZimWorX you are guaranteed quality service that allows for your business to excel.

Content Marketing: eliminating redundancy in your marketing activities

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:55:40 +0000

As a business your number one focus is SELLING, right? Wrong, there is so much more than getting profits. When it comes to business you need to focus primarily on the relationships you build with your clientele. Fostering the idea of profit and relationships is delicate and needs to be handled with care. Content Marketing is vital in making your business a voice worth listening to in the industry it operates in. Marketing is essentially the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising. It is the conscious decisions made by a business to create a relationship between them, their potential, and existing clients. It is important as it highlights the entity as more than just a business. Marketing is important because it helps you sell your products or services. The bottom line of any business is to make money and marketing is an essential channel to reach that end goal. Creatives explained that without marketing many businesses wouldn’t exist because marketing is ultimately what drives repeat sales. Traditional marketing has become less effective; as a forward-thinking marketer. Now let’s talk about an important element in marketing: Content Marketing. “Content Marketing is all the Marketing that’s left.” ~Seth Godin

What is Content Marketing?

Content Marketing Institute research shows the vast majority of marketers are using content marketing. They further define Content Marketing as a marketing technique of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and acquire a clearly defined audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action. Content marketing is about showing the world that you’re awesome at what you do, unlike traditional marketing which highlights that this is what we do. The practice of creating great content for use in online marketing activities as content marketing. The ability to create great content on your website is a powerful tool. Because when you create your own content for your own website – it’s yours. The key elements are planning, creating, distributing, sharing, and publishing content to reach your target audience. It can boost factors like brand awareness, sales, reach, interactions, and loyalty. Content Marketing is the strategic relationship building a business can use through creating relatable content. This means that a business will generate content that aligns with its target audience, for instance, if a business is targeting individuals in the construction field content around the building, town planning, or even real estate will be created. Take away factors for the definition is that the business must create content that is relatable, this ensures that the targeted audience is captivated and convinced to make a decision that will benefit the business. The information must be both valuable and relevant for your target customers. It takes a commitment to consistency with content.

Why is a Content Marketing Strategy important?

A tailored strategy that suits your brand and target audience is how you stay true to your image, and make marketing activities effective as possible. It is essential to evaluate every asset for the value it adds to your strategy as a whole, and then make adjustments as needed. If you adopt a 360-degree content marketing strategy educates customers, nurtures prospects, and closes sales. Structured content marketing enables our ideal customers to find us. The critical importance of content marketing is that it connects and supports all the elements of your digital marketing strategy. The content that you create can be used for your blog, your email marketing, your social media, and PPC ads. With a solid content marketing strategy in place, each channel uses the marketing tactics you deem best to achieve your marketing goals and sales revenue targets. Your business creates engaging, high-quality content, that is then built into and supports each of your digital marketing campaigns. A perfect formula for making your business profitable and relatable.

Benefits of Content Marketing

The benefits of content marketing are not just limited to getting audiences and generating revenue but there are some other benefits too which cannot be measured in terms of monetary benefits.

Builds Brand Awareness

Good content allows you to show your clients who your company is, and what your brand represents. Brand awareness is not just about whether your audience knows the name of your brand, but it’s how well they understand the qualities that make your brand unique. To create this distinction, your content needs to highlight the qualities that set your brand apart from your competitors. Share the details about your company that make it clear makes you different from others in your industry and show potential customers why they should choose you over your competitors. Understanding your audience is the first step in creating any marketing strategy. They’re the people you need to connect with, so all of your content needs to be catered to them. There are a few key questions you should ask about your audience to ensure that you’re writing for them.

Helps build relationships

Great content allows you to foster relationships with important people to your business. What does this mean? As a business you need people to come back over and over, repeat purchases are what fuel customer loyalty, and boost word of mouth referrals. These relationships are important as your clients feel seen and heard. The type of content here should be authoritative in order for people to actually visit your website on a regular basis. Once your content is good enough for people to believe in you then you have your fan base right there. After that, the more the content you share with your esteemed followers the stronger the bond gets, making you and your marketing strategy unbreakable.

Great For Digital Marketing Solutions

Content is the foundation on which all Digital Marketing Solutions and services are built. For example SEO (Search Engine Optimization). To start with, SEO, the first thing that comes into one’s mind is a keyword, which is a part of the content that is to be inserted into the website (Web Content). An image or a video are also types of content, which are used especially for social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to promote a product or a service in a better way through Social Media Marketing. Expert content is necessary when it comes to providing results for the Digital Marketing techniques one is using for their business. Search engine algorithms are changing from time to time but the only thing that remains constant is the dependency on Content especially the text Content for a better-ranking website.

Educates

Content is especially be designed for the sole purpose of educating your visitors. After all, a visitor is curious and has come to your website to find answers to his/her questions. With such type of informative content, you are not only providing them what you need but also building a strong relationship with them in the process. People only return to websites that they can trust.

Content Marketing Great for sales and lead generation

The most important aspect, of course, Lead Generation. After all Digital Marketing is all about generating leads and driving traffic to the customers (Of course, it is much more than that). Businesses always need new leads to generate revenue and to keep the business going on. Content marketing helps your business to be found by the users who are searching for your particular products on the web. People refer to your website content before they decide to even buy your products or even avail of your services. Using different techniques like giving eBook free download and many other things also lead to an increase in web traffic leading to an increase in sales perhaps.

Helps you stay relevant and trendy

The idea of content marketing is to simplify everything. It eliminates all redundancies, and it makes marketing processes more adaptable and able to reach wider audiences. This means that it gets rid of the redundancies of traditional marketing.

Conclusion:

Content Marketing is here to stay for a very long time. With increasing competition between businesses, Content Marketing will grow at a faster pace. It is affordable! A study by DemandMetric revealed that content marketing costs about 62% less than traditional marketing tactics, and it generates about 3 times as many leads! This fact should capture the attention of any small business that wants to grow. It is less expensive than many forms of traditional marketing and more effective as well. It’s important to note that content marketing is time-intensive, and it can also take a while to see the results of your efforts. This is especially true when it comes to SEO. However, when it comes to creating quality content, a little can go a long way. Ready to insource your Content Marketer today? Contact the ZimWorX team today and create exclusive content that will help you grow and scale.

Africa Set to Become One of the Best Outsourcing Destinations

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:01:06 +0000

Choosing the best outsourcing destination has become a strategic decision for businesses. In order to reduce overhead and operational costs, small to medium business owners are turning to outsourcing their tasks, and Africa is fast becoming an outsourcing destination of choice. When considering the cost of hiring full time qualified employees, the option of outsourcing is becoming more feasible for many businesses around the world.

Especially for businesses looking to scale, outsourcing tasks to qualified people is adding value and allowing them to scale faster. Businesses can leverage qualified software engineers, IT support, marketing, accounting, and administrative support at the fraction of the cost it would take to hire full-time employees.

Africa has a talent pool that has become lucrative to businesses looking for growth and savings. Even though India remains a top leading destination, Africa ranks as the 2^nd best outsourcing destination and this growth is due to the advancements in technological infrastructure and an increase in the number of skilled labor.

Why Do Businesses Outsource

Cost reduction and the need for enhanced efficiency are the primary reasons why businesses outsource. As costs and competition rise, businesses are now adopting outsourcing as a strategy to reduce costs and increase efficiency, by allowing other companies with expertise to complete tasks on a project by project basis or as an on-going agreement.

According to Deloitte, 59% of business choose to outsource in order to reduce costs while 57% of business choose to outsource to allow them to focus on core business. Other reasons why businesses outsource include;

To solve capacity issues
To enhance service quality
Because it’s critical to business needs
For access to intellectual capital
To manage business environment
To drive transformational change.

The affordable labor and growing economy of Africa are the major factors that fuel the outsourcing of business functions to the region.

What is insourcing?

Insourcing is a business practice performed within the operational infrastructure of the organization. In definition, this is when a business practice is performed within the operational structure of the organization. Insourcing is inclusive in nature. This means that hired personnel becomes part of the organization even if they work remotely. For example; Productive Dentist Academy has insourced individuals who work from Zimbabwe. Unlike outsourcing that treats the hired personnel as a third party, insourcing says that the employees are part of the organization no matter where they are.

Why Africa Is The Next Best Outsourcing Destination

No language barrier

Some outsourcing destinations have different cultural and linguistic abilities. However, some countries in Africa are former British territories, which means their culture and English-speaking skills are good for business.

Language is key to building a strong relationship with your virtual assistant team. Destinations like Zimbabwe are official English-speaking countries with a high literacy rate. Which means that communicating is a lot simpler than what you’d anticipate.

2. Time flexibility

Time varies with regions; however, outsourced virtual team members are able to work according to your schedule, allowing them to integrate with your local team and performing tasks efficiently.

For instance, if you are in Texas U.S.A your day would start at 08.00 hrs. which is 14.00hrs. in Zimbabwe. This does not affect your normal working schedule as the virtual teams are equipped with high-speed internet and office space in a high rise building with all the necessary amenities needed to help your business function well regardless of time zone differences.

African student

3. Education

Another reason to choose Africa as an outsourcing destination is that people in Africa value education and with the growth of online learning platforms, it is easier to for them to get certified in key competencies. Zimbabwe has one of the highest literacy rates within the Sub-Saharan region, with at least 86.9 % of its population educated up to college level. With over 20 universities, there is a huge pool of talent that is qualified to take your business to the next level.

The pool of educated professionals is large, allowing your business to benefit from skilled individuals who will prioritize your needs and, help your business scale.

4. Cost efficiency

Saving money is always a priority for any business. Insourcing can save your business up to 70% on payroll costs.

Statistics show that the added annual cost for a new position can be equal to, or more than 150% of the actual pay. By adding a position at an annual salary of $36,000, the “real” cost to the business could be in the $54,000 range. The option to add a Virtual Team to your business can reduce this by as much as 70%.

By outsourcing to a destination like Zimbabwe you are guaranteed a big save on your finances.

Here’s a guide on how to start outsourcing from Africa.

5. Sustained Quality

As a business, you want to maintain your standards and improve on them. Your product and your brand are the reason your business stands, finding a team that will help you add value to your product offering is important.

Insourcing ensures that your quality is not compromised. Virtual team members are trained, professional and well equipped in various areas of relevant industries. This plays a part in keeping your performance at its A-game.

6. Embracing technology

Africa by January 2018 had an urbanization rate growth of 55% and a technology penetration rate of 53%. This is evidence that as an outsourcing destination Africa is able to elevate your business and help you scale, with an understanding of technological trends.

7. Flexibility

Insourcing tasks, allows your business to maintain financial flexibility, especially when there is an uncertainty in demand. Some business process providers offer short-term service removing the stress of a lengthy contract.

As mentioned before Insourcing to places like Zimbabwe gives you a competitive edge, to focus on your core competencies.

8. Cultural adaptation

The disparity in culture is not a problem when it comes to insourcing to Africa. African people are known to blend in well with new and diverse cultures. With clear and concise command of the English language, it makes it simpler for you to understand and connect with your virtual team.

9. Frees up your time

You can insource general repetitive tasks to your outsourcing partner in Africa. This allows you to focus on the core areas of your business. Dental practices, for example, insource tasks such as insurance verification and patient scheduling, allowing the dentists and other staff to focus on other key areas.

10.Data Security

Data security is a huge element when it comes to outsourcing and the constant sharing of sensitive data. Insourcing partners have to have security protocols is put in place that is robust, to ensure that all your data is secure.

Think about it, Africa is the next big thing, and you could be missing out on making your business a success. Get in touch with us today, and get the ball rolling to scale your business.

Africa is a culturally diverse continent that has shown substantial growth in relation to technology, cultural adaptation, and education.

This growth has given businesses from other continents the opportunity to benefit from talent through virtually insourcing Africa. Outsourcing is utilized by companies to dial down and focus on the core aspects of the business, spinning off the less critical operations to outside organizations.

Choose Africa as your next outsourcing destination.

ZimWorX is a leading Texas-based insourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual insourcing services customized to suit your business process needs.

Contact us today

Online Reputation Management And Its Impact On Your Business

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 16:54:08 +0000

Reputation is the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. A brand’s reputation is what its clients and competitors say or think about it. It is important that a business achieves or maintains a good reputation.

There’s numerous factors that contribute to the standing of a business, such as your social media presence, customer service and, product quality.

What is Online Reputation Management?

Your online reputation determines how others perceive your business when they search for or come across it online. Consequently, online reputation management (ORM) proactively influences the information people find on your business.

Online Reputation Management, or ORM, is a multi-faceted concept that is aimed at creating a positive public perception of a brand, business, or person. Reputation management includes monitoring reputation, addressing any content or customer feedback that could damage the brand, and using strategies to prevent and solve problems that could damage an entity’s reputation.

Online reputation management is the practice of monitoring the Internet reputation of a person, brand or business, with the goal of eliminating negative mentions entirely, or pushing them lower on search engine results pages to decrease their visibility.

The primary goal is to suppress any negativity directed towards your company.

For example, different strategies can help you push damaging and harmful content further down the Google search engine results pages (SERPs) by ranking your own or third-party more desirable material above it. Why is this important? Because the top five listings in Google’s search results receive about two-thirds of all clicks.

ORM is not only about managing or optimizing content in search engines, it’s also about managing negative business reviews and encouraging happy/satisfied clients to contribute more positive feedback.

85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

The age of direct advertising where companies sell their products or services to a passive audience is in the past. Now it is all about engaging with your clients, listening to what they have to say, and learning/growing as a result

What does reputation management actually involve?

Addressing criticism publicly
Publicly asking for feedback
Allowing employees to engage with your audience
Speaking with your audience directly

Here are the four distinct digital marketing channels involved in ORM, channels also referred to as the PESO Model (paid, earned, shared, and owned.).

Paid Media

Paid media includes all marketing efforts that require payment to feature your business on external websites and networks. This includes PPC advertising with Google AdWords, display ads on Facebook, and sponsored posts on industry/influencer blogs. Paid media extends your reach and drives traffic to your web properties by building new relationships with partners and customers.

Earned Media

Earned media describes the coverage of your business on external web entities for which you didn’t pay. It requires you to stand out from your competition with great content, products, or services that users consider worth sharing, mentioning, reposting, and reviewing.

Social Media

Pages and profiles on social media are “an extension of your brand and create additional avenues for people to interact.”

Owned Properties

Your business websites and blogs are properties owned by you, which means you have full control over them.

Where to start with Online Reputation Management

In a time when brand crises hit the mainstream media news after they spread like wildfire on social media, understanding brand reputation management can protect your company.

Online content adds a dimension to your brand – and ultimately your reputation – because the same brand can be perceived differently by online and offline audiences. The best way to manage brand reputation is to tell a cohesive story – to a receptive audience. While controlling the message in an age of social media is no longer an option, you can still steer the dialogue.

1. Become well respected

According to numerous business experts, trust is a perishable asset and it is hard to gain. Making people respect you and your brand is far more important than any other online reputation management commandment. Gain the respect of your audience and in some aspects gain the respect of your competitors.

2. Be transparent

Honesty is the best policy. Telling the truth helps cement the relationship you have with existing clientele. Ethics of business dictate that you maintain transparency.

3. Keep an ear out on what they are saying about you

Social media monitoring can bring business! These days, lots of people ask questions via Twitter and Facebook because they are evaluating whether or not they should buy from you. Word of social media mouth moves faster than you think, a bad tweet or review about your business can go viral damaging the standing of your business.

4. Address criticism

Constructive criticism is important for any brand. Addressing criticism from clients allows you to come out as an industrial leader or makes your brand relatable.

5. Your Google page is your business card

First impressions count, and we do judge many books by their cover. If the words “scam” and “rip off” are associated with your brand, then that is something you should worry about.

6. Ask for help if necessary

If your online reputation management efforts are not enough to protect or restore your brand image, you have the choice to request help from a professional.

The Virtuous Cycle

Virtuous Cycle: Take care of your online reputation and you create a virtuous cycle of positive, quality materials that reflect well on you.

The Vicious Cycle

Vicious Cycle: Ignore your online reputation and you risk falling victim to a vicious cycle of misinformation and rumors.

Why you should care about your online reputation

Online reputation is becoming so pervasive, it’s almost time to drop the word “online”

1. Perform an Audit of Your Online Reputation

Before applying Online Reputation Management processes, you have to conduct an extensive online reputation audit.

The idea of an online reputation management audit is to uncover how people see you online and what kind of issues you are facing in challenging that view. To do that, you have to do some brand monitoring.

Brand Monitoring

There is a way to conduct some quick audit of your brand reputation manually:

Just open up an incognito window and enter your brand name into Google search.
Take a good look at the sites that appear on the very first page.
Identify what Google My Business-related features come up on that page and evaluate your presence there: ratings, comments, reviews, user-generated photos, etc.
Separate the websites into the ones you control and the ones you have limited power over. With your social media accounts, they are highly manageable; with third-part listings, you can reach out to site owners and add/remove misleading bits. With a critical news piece, you can reach out to the author and try to talk to him about his dissatisfaction or convince them that they have got a wrong perception of your company or product.
Read through the reviews on these sites and try to understand the general sentiment; this is an important step for further prioritization over the platforms that require the most urgent attention.

Certainly, at this stage, this may seem like an exhausting process to conduct the audit manually. Below you will see how SEMrush’s Brand Monitoring — a tool designed to help you manage online reputation — can give you a helpful overview at the end of an audit.

2. Establish an Online Reputation Management Strategy

Now when you know what the online landscape around your brand is, it is time to set up an online reputation management strategy. However, before we get into details about it, you have to get your priorities straight.

ORM Prioritization

Getting started with online reputation management can seem overwhelming. Thus, prioritization is important, as you cannot jump on every single mention. Once your audit is complete, it should be easier for you to prioritize what you should focus on first. Try to balance out a few factors that should impact your decision:

Set up your online reputation management goals:If it is about response time, it is wise to focus on platforms you have direct access to.
Define your boundaries and limitations: Review how many resources you can allocate for the ORM project. Bear in mind that this is an ongoing process. Be realistic in your assessment.
Prioritize your ORM by impact:Be realistic about the scope of the job. Impact is the biggest criterion for your choice as you have to try and allocate your resources into the channels with the highest stakes for your business.
Prioritize tasks: Which tasks are critical and must be addressed first? There should be a plan for handling critical and challenging tasks. Choosing the easier tasks to get done first isn’t always the best option.

Have a Crisis Management Strategy in Place

You can never anticipate a crisis, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t prepare for one. So, a sound crisis management strategy should always be in place as things escalate online at an unprecedented speed.

The Internet is our first stop for everything

Not only do people view the Internet as their first source of information, but they also trust what it tells them. More importantly, they make decisions based on what they find online.

Two out of three people see the Internet as the most reliable source of information about a person or a business (Edelman Insights)
70% of hiring managers have rejected a candidate because of something they found online
When looking for a local business, 97% of people read online reviews
Over 80% of reputation damage comes from a mismatch between the buzz and the reality

Looking at statistics like these, it’s clear that what happens online affects your entire existence.

Online and offline are blending

As we globalize, the online world becomes more and more enmeshed with the rest of our daily activities. From smartphones to smart TVs, from the “Internet of things” to the self-driving cars of the future—you are living each day increasingly online, even if you never touch a computer.

That means there are more and more ways for you to leave an online mark, positive or negative.

Now, you might not think that people are searching for you, but chances are they are. Common reasons include:

Employers doing pre-interview research
Insurance companies doing risk assessments
Customers looking for recommendations

No matter how “under the radar” or “low-tech” your lifestyle, there is a good quantity of information about you online—and people are seeing it.

Your online reputation sticks with you

If someone writes something negative about you online, it can put you at a serious disadvantage over the long term—especially if you’re not aware of it. You might never know why you didn’t get that apartment you wanted, or why a job offer never materialized after that phenomenal interview.

Search algorithms prioritize popularity

No algorithm can tell whether information precisely reflects you or not, so popularity becomes the main measuring stick of what makes a good search result.

That’s why embarrassing photos, frivolous lawsuits dismissed years ago, and other kinds of irrelevant but intriguing “clickbait” often dominate online reputations.

Global BP Solutions is a leading Texas-based insourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual insourcing services customized to suit your business process needs. Contact us today

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27)

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 15:31:03 +0000

The urgent need for today’s world is not wealth but people who, by living selflessly and giving generously, stand up and add value to other people’s lives. At the end it’s not really about how much (quantity) you have given. It’s about who you’ve lifted up and who you’ve made better (quality).

On 27 & 28 June 2020 GBP Solutions Pastoral Care Department, in collaboration with ChengaOse Association, successfully distributed food hampers to over 360 families in Epworth, Ruwa, and Murehwa. This is the second round of food distribution in response to the ‘Covid-19 induced’ food crisis in communities. The Covid-19 pandemic has left a lot of families in dire need food as they totally rely on the informal sector, which is currently on an indefinite shutdown.

The food distribution exercise could not have been successful without the generosity of our benefactors, the selfless GBP Solutions staff who gave their time and energy to be part of the exercise, and lastly but not least, Pastors Lucia and Davis Mambure whose hearts are large enough to accommodate the mothers and their children living with mental and physical disabilities. God bless you all.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27)

Top 10 Reasons to In-source When in Crisis

admin — Wed, 20 May 2020 13:54:12 +0000

In the midst of crisis, your business faces a variety of unforeseen problems, and you might end up thinking that your business may not make it through. However, in-sourcing is one way that can help you minimize the effects of a crisis.

The biggest questions most business owners are asking themselves are:

Will my business survive?
Can I afford to keep my business open?
How can I help my business during a crisis?

What is a crisis?

A crisis is an event, or a series of events, that causes major disturbance for a business. A crisis typically occurs suddenly and poses intense difficulty or danger for the business, usually in a situation where time is short and decisions have to be taken quickly.

Some disasters are inevitable and some are surely unavoidable, but there’s always a solution that can help your business get out if stronger and better than it was before.

What is in-sourcing?

In-sourcing is a business practice performed within the operational structure of the organization. This means that hired team members become part of your business even if they work remotely.

The greatest advantage of in-sourcing is that it gives you the chance to be on top of things.

How can in-sourcing help you in a crisis?

In-sourcing allows you to choose from a pool of highly qualified individuals that have a range of expertise. This not only elevates the personnel in your business but gives your business a competitive advantage as your rivals might not have the same expertise.

In-sourcing gives you the innovation card as you are able to find new processes that help you adapt to the globalizing world.

Why is in-sourcing the answer to my crisis?

Low operating costs

According to Investopedia Operating costs are expenses associated with the maintenance and administration of a business on a day-to-day basis.

Lower operational and labor costs are one of the primary reasons why companies should choose to in-source. If properly executed it has a defining impact on a company’s revenue recognition and can deliver significant savings. In a crisis the last thing your business needs is to spend money it probably doesn’t even have.

Focus on core competencies

Businesses also choose to in-source so that they continue focusing on their core business processes while delegating mundane time-consuming processes to remote team members.

Global reach and expertise

In-sourcing enables businesses to tap in to and leverage a global knowledge base, having access to world-class capabilities

Risk management

It helps businesses mitigate risk and is also among the primary reasons embarked upon. In-sourcing gives protection from natural calamities, accidents, market fluctuations, or technical crises. Disaster recovery mechanisms and detailed backup plans provided by the offshore partner will help you to respond rapidly and get operations back on track quickly.

Newmarket expansion

It helps businesses expand and gain access to new market areas, by taking the point of production or service delivery closer to their end-users. Have processes delivered by dedicated teams that have operational and domain expertise.

Accelerate migration to new technology

Migrate to new technologies with minimum downtime and increased productivity and quality by in-sourcing IT processes. Enjoy enhanced productivity and quality.

7. Curb talent shortages

Overcome talent shortages and increased demand for skills in countries like the U.S.A. In-source to offshore locations such as Zimbabwe which have a large pool of qualified, English-speaking professionals.

8. Run your business 24X7

In-sourcing to a country like Zimbabwe, which is in a different time zone, gives you the added advantage of making full use of your 24 hour day. Your in-sourced team can take over and continue work even after the business has closed. They can complete critical tasks and send it back for your review the next day.

Improve customer

In-sourced expertise will produce quality deliverables faster, increasing your turn around time to the customer. With on-time deliveries and high-quality services your customers will be delighted! In-sourcing can help you benefit from increased customer satisfaction and thus creating a stream of loyal customers.

Gain competitive edge

In-sourcing helps your business gain a competitive edge in the market. Through strategic in-sourcing, you are not only providing your customers with great services but increasing your productivity while managing your in-house resources intelligently.

In the midst of a crisis, the most important thing your business needs to do is to stand firm and show that as a brand it is able to carry on no matter the adversity.

9 Actions Your Remote Team Members Can Be Doing Now

admin — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:41:59 +0000

Your office may be closed but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be productive. You can leverage remote team members to ensure that your business survives and thrives. Now is the time to activate your resources to come back to clean reports and more efficient systems.

Outstanding claims

Your remote team member can be checking the status of outstanding claims. Insurance companies are still working. Online access is still available to insurance companies. Your remote team member could be able to resend claims that were not received, close claims that have been previously paid, and send the additional information that the insurance that has been holding up the claim.

2. Clean up the employee’s list

Your remote team member can clean up the employee’s list. Certain software companies, Eagelsoft is an example, help clean up the insurance that is attached to the employees. If you look at this report and see multiple employees with the same insurance and same group number then these duplicate employees should be condensed into one plan. This will eliminate the need to get run down of benefits on multiple plans that are the exact same.

3. Can contact inactive patients

Your remote team member can re-activate patients that haven’t come into your office in the last 18-24 months or (whatever time frame you decide). Keeping them inactive is costing your practice money through re-care systems and inaccurate patient counts.

4. Complete chart audits

Your remote team member can complete chart audits on patients that have credits. They can review EOB’s (most are found online) to determine if the patient’s credit is a legitimate credit balance.

5. Complete benefits rundown

Your remote team member can complete a full rundown of benefits on larger employers in your system. Make it perfect and accurate. Then make sure the plan is in the system correctly using coverage books or blue books to make sure that a treatment plan clearly reflects the correct estimated patient portion.

6. Cleaning up your re-care system

Your remote team member can assist with cleaning up your re-care system. Those systems that allow multiple re-care systems may be being used incorrectly. You might need to remove some re-care from a patient or you might need to assign a re-care system.

7. Social media posts

Your remote team member could help with your social media posts. Get yourself set up for the next few months with outstanding posts that promote your practice and make your practice unique from the other cookie-cutter posts.

8. Auditing accounts for the A/R reports

Your remote team member could be assisting with auditing accounts for the A/R reports. Do you know for sure the account balances are accurate before you send out statements? Sending out a statement with an inaccurate balance will create a major headache for your team.

9. Collecting information

Your remote team member can help you gather the information you need to renegotiate your PPO contracts. Ask them to determine the process for negotiating and get an action plan. Provide them with your Provider Relations Representative contact information or they can simply reach out to each insurance company to ask the difficult questions.

Take advantage of this downtime to maximize your remote team members so when your team returns the practice reports and systems are in a better place than where they were when your doors closed.

If you need additional information on how to implement any of these 9 tips you can reach out to us.

How Small Businesses Can Get Money from the Stimulus Package

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:48:05 +0000

Here’s a guide on how to access the $360 billion in loans and grants that the stimulus package allocates for small businesses.

Congress has allocated a significant amount of money to support small businesses, as the latest Corona Virus stimulus package. Getting the know-how or the correct information on accessing it can be somewhat difficult.

The funds from the CARES Act stimulus package, which President Donald Trump signed into law on the 27^th of March, are divided among three Small-Business programs that offer forgivable grants and loans, as well as loan deferral. These Small Business Administration programs are also applicable to Non-profits that meet the necessary size requirements.

This guide will focus on the two that allow businesses to apply for new loans, though the full menu of relief options is available on the SBA’s website.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

The first is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which allows organizations to get up to $10 million in loans that are 100 percent forgivable if they do not lay off any employees or if they rehire employees they’ve already laid off.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)

The second is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), which includes a $10,000 grant that businesses can apply for and they do not need to pay back. The rest of the EIDL loan, which caps out at $2 million, is not forgivable but can be more flexible than PPP in the types of expenses it covers.

According to some experts, it’s possible for businesses and non-profits to apply for both. “We encourage you to apply as quickly as you can because there is a funding cap,” reads a statement from the Treasury Department. Both programs also have a limited amount of funding, applying sooner is also important in case their allocated funding is fully used.

Currently, the EIDL application is already live and accessible here. The PPP application has been live since the 3^rd of April, and the Treasury Department released an example of what it would look like.

This guide is will give a broad overview of both programs, but for specified questions, organizations can reach out directly to the Small Business Administration via a new 24/7 phone helpline: 1-800-659-2955. Businesses are also encouraged to connect with advisers at small-business development centers, women’s business centers, and SCORE, who are available to provide free guidance. (Contact information for the closest regional advisers can be found on their websites.)

What does the stimulus package include?

The Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program are the main options for small businesses and non-profits to obtain financial support during the Coronavirus Pandemic. (It’s worth noting that organizations can receive both loans and that an EIDL loan can also be refinanced into a PPP loan.)

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The bulk of the funds in the stimulus package, roughly $349 billion (for small businesses), is dedicated to establishing the Paycheck Protection Program, which is intended to guarantee businesses the loans they need to cover eight weeks of payroll, along with some utilities and rent costs.

If businesses adhere to the conditions of keeping employees on payroll, or rehiring them by the 30^th of June, the loans are likely to become forgivable. Businesses are able to request 2.5 times their average monthly payroll costs for this loan.

Organizations can apply for PPP by contacting their banks and other lenders, or through this form on the SBA website.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and Advance (EIDL): There is $10 billion in the stimulus bill allocated for the EIDL, a program that has existed for some time.

This money will go towards two things: It sets up a grant program that would provide a $10,000 emergency “advance” that businesses won’t have to pay back, and it funds low-interest loans organizations can use to cover operating expenses, which will have to be repaid. The loan amount that organizations can request will be based on the amount of “economic injury” that they have sustained because of the pandemic.

Businesses and non-profits can apply for the EIDL directly on the Small Business Administration website.

When do applications open and when can I expect relief?

The EIDL application is already up and running, while the PPP application was just opened on the 3^rd of April, for small businesses and non-profits. Another PPP application will go live on Friday, 10^th of April, for independent contractors and self-employed individuals.

The PPP is an entirely new program the SBA is trying to get off the ground, which raises uncertainty. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said that the goal is same-day approval for loans, but it’s not yet clarified how quickly the entire effort will be fully functional. Banks have raised concerns about the rushed rollout, and some have limited who they are accepting loan applications from.

However, the EIDL program is already actively fielding applications, and the $10,000 grants that are part of it are likely the fastest way for businesses to obtain relief at this point. Once a business is approved for these grants, it will be able to receive them within three days of approval, according to the SBA.

Any business or non-profit that applies for an EIDL loan can specify that it is interested in this emergency advance, and organizations can still receive it even if they aren’t approved for the full loan.

According to Michael Chaslow founder of the USC Small Businesses Clinic “Businesses applying for EIDL loans are eligible for an emergency advance of up to $10,000 that does not need to be repaid,”. He goes on to say “It seems that a business in need of immediate cash should pursue this option.”

First, determine eligibility

The first step for companies and non-profits interested in the stimulus package is to figure out whether they’re eligible for these specific loans, which are predominantly focused on helping organizations that have suffered hardships because of the coronavirus outbreak.

In addition to meeting the size standards that are set by the SBA, businesses and non-profits need to show that they’ve been negatively affected by the coronavirus.

Businesses and non-profits eligible for the PPP program are required to have been operational on February 15, 2020, and to demonstrate that the economic fallout from the coronavirus has hurt them.

These include:

Any business with 500 or fewer employees
Any 501(c)3 non-profit that has 500 or fewer employees, or otherwise meets the SBA’s size requirements
Restaurants, hotels, or other businesses categorized under “Accommodation or Food Services” that have 500 or fewer employees at each independent location
Tribal businesses and 501(c)9 veterans organizations
Independently owned franchises
Self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig workers, and sole proprietors

Businesses and non-profits eligible for the EIDL program are required to have been operational on January 31, 2020, and to have experienced negative economic effects because of the coronavirus crisis.

They include:

Any business with 500 or fewer employees
Any private non-profit that has 500 or fewer employees — or otherwise meets the SBA’s size requirements
Sole proprietorships and independent contractors
Tribal businesses, cooperatives, and employee-owned businesses

Next, figure out which loan makes the most sense for your business state

Organizations have to evaluate which loan program makes the most sense for their immediate needs.

Applying for both loans in the stimulus package is encouraged to make sure that businesses have more options — as long as they don’t use the two loans for the same purpose. (An EIDL loan could not be used to pay employees for the month of March if a PPP loan was already being used to do that, for example.

The focus of the two programs, ultimately, is slightly different.

Under PPP, the loans are predominantly aimed at covering payroll costs (up to $100,000 per employee) but can be used to address other expenses as well, including utilities, rent, and interest on mortgage payments. Loans used to cover these costs are 100 percent forgivable at the end of the eight-week period during which they are used, but if the money is used for other expenses, that portion of the funds will not be forgiven.

Under EIDL, the grants and loans can be used for a broader array of costs, including rent and mortgage payments, salaries, workers’ paid leave, and the business’s operational needs. This is because small business owners don’t have to worry about as many rules around loan forgiveness, there’s slightly more flexibility regarding these funds.

If a business or non-profit is looking for a more rapid influx of cash, the EIDL route is better — as it includes quick approval of the $10,000 emergency grant.

“Everyone should be applying for the disaster loans, that’s where there’s a potential for $10,000 in grants, as soon as the provision gets authorized,” says Cynthia Wikstrom, the campaigns director for the Main Street Alliance, an organization focused on advocating for small-business interests.

The difference between the two programs is that the PPP loans are entirely forgivable if companies meet a specific requirements, while EIDL loans (except for the $10,000 grant) are not. The cap for PPP loans is also higher, at $10 million per organization, while the EIDL loans cap out at $2 million.

What are the application processes?

Applications for these loans will go through two different channels.

To apply for the EIDL loan and the $10,000 grant: Small-business owners and non-profits can apply directly with the Small Business Administration at this website: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/. When small businesses submit their applications for the EIDL loan, they can indicate they are interested in the emergency grant at the same time.
To apply for the PPP loan: Organizations can call their current bank or lender directly, and the application is now live at the SBA website. At this point, banks are just beginning to accept applications, and calling now to indicate interest in the loan can help businesses get in the queue quickly.

The 1,800 banks that currently participate in the SBA’s 7(a) loan program are expected to participate in the PPP option also, and the Treasury Department is poised to approve additional lenders in the coming weeks.

Participating institutions include hundreds around the country such as TD Bank and Bank of the West, although some institutes — like Bank of America — may require businesses to have an existing credit card account or loan with the institution to be considered for PPP.

A comprehensive list of banks that currently offer 7(a) loans can be found on the SBA website. In order to move the process along quickly, SBA is not expected to be involved in the approval process, and banks will be able to move forward with candidates independently.

Businesses and non-profits need to provide information about their payroll costs. The requirements across the two programs differ slightly, though both have relaxed the need for a personal guarantee of the loan:

PPP: Businesses are able to obtain 2.5 times their average monthly payroll costs for this loan, up to $10 million per organization. Costs that can be included as payroll costs include worker salaries, paid leave, health care benefits, commissions, and tips.

Average monthly payroll costs will be calculated using either monthly costs the business experienced from February 15 to June 30, 2019, or average monthly costs the business experienced from January 1 to February 15, 2020, if the business did not open until this year.

Businesses should begin preparing documents that demonstrate their monthly payroll and operational costs including payroll tax filings and rental contracts.

EIDL: There are no personal guarantees needed for loans less than $200,000, according to Forbes. Businesses should have documentation that shows their operating expenses and revenue.

Be aware of the terms for loan forgiveness and for repayment

Components of both the EIDL offering and the PPP program are entirely forgivable, and each offers its own unique terms for repayment, which businesses should keep in mind as they are weighing the two.

PPP Terms

The PPP loans are forgivable, depending on whether businesses lay off workers and how they use the money.

The loan will be completely forgiven if businesses do not lay off workers at all or if they rehire workers by June 30, 2020.
If a business lays off workers and does not rehire them, a portion of the loan will not be forgiven. If a business reduces the wages it pays out to a worker by more than 25 percent during the time that it is using the loan, part of the loan will not be forgiven.
If the loan is used for costs that are not approved by the bill, those portions will also not be forgiven and will have specific repayment terms.
Repayment could be deferred for six months and will have an interest rate beginning at 1 percent. The maximum term of repayment is two years.

EIDL Terms

The $10,000 EIDL grant that businesses and non-profits can apply for is forgivable and can be used for a wide range of business needs.
Aside from the $10,000 grant, the rest of the loan is not forgivable.
The loan will have a 3.75 percent interest rate for small businesses and a 2.75 percent interest rate for non-profits, and repayment can be deferred for six months. The maximum term of repayment is 30 years.

Will this stimulus package who were already laid off?

The rules (1) require businesses to spend 75 percent of their loans on payroll in order to qualify for forgiveness, and (2) clarify that firms that have already done layoffs can secure forgiveness by “quickly” rehiring laid-off workers. Taken together, this provides a powerful incentive for businesses to bring staff back on, since (essentially) any money you save by lowering your monthly payroll costs will just end up going to the government.

In summary, the loan facility allows for business continuity. Strategize and see the best way your business can utilize these loans. Prioritize your team member’s well-being and your business will stay afloat in this trying time. Leverage this stimulus package.

Source: VOX

In-sourcing During and After this Covid-19 Pandemic

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:15:48 +0000

Insourcing is the business practice of contracting remote team members to take care of certain tasks instead of assigning those tasks to internal employees. During this pandemic, companies that were not prepared to go fully remote can turn to in-sourcing to ensure that business continues.

Insourcing is a business practice performed within the operational structure of the organization. The biggest difference between outsourcing and insourcing is the methods in which work, projects, or tasks are performed between various companies and departments.

Insourcing is inclusive in nature. This means that hired personnel becomes part of the organization even if they work remotely. For example; Productive Dentist Academy has in-sourced two individuals who work from our business process center in Zimbabwe.

Unlike outsourcing that treats the hired personnel as a third party, in-sourcing says that the employees are part of the organization no matter where they are.

Insourcing is a business decision that is often made to maintain control of critical production or competencies.

As a business owner, you can use in-sourcing to keep your business running during and after this pandemic.

Why choose insourcing?

In-sourcing is a business arrangement that is designed to control critical business processes and service quality as well, such as digital marketing, bookkeeping services, and outreach coordination.

In-sourcing revolves around your agreement with your insourcing partner.

This delivers the lowered cost access to lessen the labor rates. This also provides complete flexibility.

Insourcing is one of the best solutions for businesses that are concerned with culture, security, compliance or client needs.

Global BP Solutions as an insourcing partner gives you a chance to expand your team with professionals at an affordable price. The companies that prefer keeping their intellectual property and confidential information in their hands only, insourcing is the option best for them.

Advantages of in-sourcing

Competitive Advantage

In-sourcing offers you to build exclusive competitive advantages. This means that because of the exclusive services you receive through in-sourcing you are able to give value to your customers.

Organizational Culture

The element of inclusion in in-sourcing makes it easy for your virtual team to blend in and become part of the culture. This helps the organization have an easy way of communication.

Cost-Effective

Using existing employees, resources, business skills or equipment to do a job may be cheaper. This works best if you already have the ability or capacity to do what you need internally or if the benefits outweigh additional overhead costs.

In-sourcing is a wise business move, as it allows you to gain professional team members who will adapt and bring benefit to your organization.

Working Remotely During the Corona Virus Pandemic

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 17:00:29 +0000

The novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has rapidly changed the way global citizens live and work, with many employees now working remotely (from home). Remote work situations vary for employees. Some stay alone and work in an empty house, in the same space as their roommates, or with spouses and children present. The coronavirus, however, has limited the options for remote workspaces to the home.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic, impacting countries, citizens and businesses around the world. Across the globe, citizens are being encouraged to practice social distancing and to avoid social gatherings of 10 or more individuals. Other countries have opted to close bars and restaurants, schools have closed, and many companies are allowing employees to work from home.

Remote work isn’t a familiar space for many workers, so this uncharted territory may be difficult to adapt to.

Remote working situations differ and making those environments conducive might prove to be difficult.

Are they any steps you and your team can take to make the situation bearable?

Yes, here are a few steps you can take:

1. Schedule chats with team members on the phone.

Today’s technology has allowed team members to stay connected seamlessly. You can use platforms such as Zoom and Zoho to host and join video conferences, share documents.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn help you stay in touch and give you a chance to be up to date with industry news as well as other relevant news.

Despite all these apps and platforms, sometimes loneliness might kick in.

You might want to hear a trusted colleague’s or employee’s voice rather than just messaging all the time. Share your phone number with your team members, but don’t call them randomly, especially when they might be busy.

Instead, schedule a time to chat with a team member, one on one, if you have a question or would like to discuss how things are going on their end.

2. Make the most of this time and plan.

During your work and increased downtime, consider possible ways to maximize the time, making it count for the future.

Pick up a project that you felt like you simply never had enough time for. You may have several items you’ve pushed to the side over time that are waiting for you to work on them. Focus on finally completing these side projects.
Make plans with colleagues for future initiatives you’d like to start up that could be big wins for your business. Maybe there’s a way your business can focus on a product the world needs right now and help produce it. If not, perhaps you can partner with a company working toward that goal and offer your support in achieving it.
If you recently canceled a planned event your company was helping put on or is no longer able to attend, consider what you can do in its absence to bring in an audience. Maybe you’ll start a podcast for your company. Here’s why: You would be able to reach hundreds of people all at once and share your message without ever having to travel or share the same space. You might also volunteer to host a webinar or host a Twitter chat. Brainstorm with your team to see what their ideas are, and welcome as much creativity and fun as possible.

Revisit your initial goals for the year. Some of these goals may be irrelevant now, but don’t let that get you down – plans are always subject to change. Update the document accordingly and create new goals to reach instead.
Always put the customer and their needs first. Return emails and take calls as they come.
If you have any difficulty working remotely, such as issues with your Wi-Fi, let your team know as soon as possible. Don’t leave them wondering where you went!
Great writers, artists, and creatives often isolate themselves to produce original works like books and music. You could take advantage of your increased free time after work for personal development, such as learning how to knit or play an instrument.

3. Stay at home.

Staying home doesn’t only protect you it protects the community; it avoids the virus from spreading like a domino effect. If you stay at home you are avoiding contracting the disease, thus saving your loved one and the community at large.

Stay at home if you work remotely. Do not go out to a party or take a trip down to the beach. Make coffee at home, and only go out for necessary items at pharmacies and grocery stores. It may seem annoying now, but it will mean everything to countless others and yourself.

A pandemic is a phase and if necessary, precautions are taken it will be over soon.

Don’t forget to wash your hands, cover your coughs and consult your doctor if you are not feeling too well.

Learn more about outsourcing. Global BP Solutions is a leading Texas-based insourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual insourcing services customized to suit your business process needs. Contact us today

Dealing with Toxic Team Members in 4 Easy Steps

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 17:11:22 +0000

How to identify Toxic team members

Every environment has toxic team members, whether corporate or social. However, there is a difference between difficult team members and toxic team members. A toxic team member is anyone who is abusive, unsupportive, or unhealthy emotionally—someone who basically brings you down more than up.

There is always that one person on your team who has nothing positive to say, riles up other team members, and makes work life horrible.

If you can’t fire them, how do you deal with their behavior?

What feedback do you give? How do you mitigate the damage they inflict?

There’s a pattern of de-energizing, frustrating or putting down teammates,

according to Christine Porath, an associate professor at Georgetown and the author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace.

Five kinds of Toxic Teams

Toxic team members are in the habit of making every situation worse than it already is and desensitize their teammate’s feelings or thoughts. This behavior usually distracts the team from their goals.

The goal, of course, is to unlock the promises of team dynamics: better decisions, increased productivity, more innovation and higher levels of engagement.

According to Liane Davey, an organizational psychologist and consultant, a toxic team can be fixed, and anybody on the team can fix it, even without the initial support of the team leader or peers. In her latest book, You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done, Davey explains that there are five kinds of toxic teams:

The Crisis Junkie Team—stalled by unclear priorities and lack of role clarity, this team lurches along until a crisis forces it to unite around a common goal.
The Bobble Head Team—amalgamated by shared values and perspectives, this team maintains harmony at the cost of little innovation.
The Spectator Team—fragmented by team members who have “checked out”, this team sinks into apathy.
The Bleeding Back Team—plagued by underground conflict and personal histories, this team keeps the peace in public but fights in private.
The Royal Rumble Team—scarred by attacks and emotional outbursts, this team swings back and forth without ever moving forward.

We’ve all experienced these types of teams at some point, and have never know how best to deal with toxic behaviors. Most of the time people don’t realize that they’re destructive.

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How to deal with Toxic Team Members:

Make sure all feedback is direct

Toxic team members are occasionally ignorant to their behaviors and to the effects they have on others. They are usually defensive and quick to respond when questioned on certain things.

Discuss what kind of behavior you’d expect to see instead and develop an improvement plan with the employee.

What do you expect them to change?

Strive for clearly defined, measurable goals. This allows the team members to have a positive impact on their peers.

Be clear about the consequences

People tend to respond more strongly to potential losses than they do to potential gains, so it’s important to show offenders what they stand to lose if they don’t improve.

Toxic team members need to be made aware of the results that come from their actions.

For example, if a team member says something out of line to a peer a warning letter must be issued. This should also be communicated prior to any conflict.

Understand your team members individually

Take time to see how each of your team members function. Comprehend your team members individually and see what makes them tick. This allows you to find a compromise or solution to any rising conflict.

For instance, knowing that team member X does not like taking much will help you navigate a way around them without infringing on their work or how they interact with others.

Separate the toxic from the non-toxic

Even if you can’t get rid of a bad apple, you can isolate it from the rest of the bushel so the rot doesn’t spread. People close to a toxic employee are more likely to become toxic themselves, but the good news is that the risk also subsides quickly.

Principles to live by;

Do:

Speak with the person to try to understand what’s causing the behavior.
Give concrete, specific feedback and offer the opportunity to change.
Look for ways to minimize interactions between the toxic employee and the rest of your team.

Don’t:

Bring the situation up with your other team members. Allow them to mention it first and then provide suggestions.
Try to dismiss the person unless you’ve documented the behavior, its impact, and your response.
Get so wrapped up in handling the issue that you ignore more important work and responsibilities.

Behavior in an organization is a key element to note. It affects many areas either negatively or positively, so just make sure that you understand your team.

At Global BP Solutions, we select the prime of teams to do all your work virtually. Through our training programs we equip each team member with emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. In-source with us today and get a team member dedicated to making your business smart.

Contact us today

How To Increase Virtual Team Productivity

admin — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:30:14 +0000

A virtual team has become the new human capital trend that has taken many industries by storm. The idea of having a team working remotely seems unorthodox and difficult to handle, especially if your business is fast-paced. As your business owner, you might be worried about how to manage virtual team productivity.

However, a virtual team consists of colleagues working from different locations working together as one team and towards the same goal.

Through insourcing, many companies have grown their teams substantially and have seen the cost-benefit of having a virtual team. Insourcing incorporates a selection of professional minds from anywhere around the globe at the lowest possible investment.

Read more: Insourcing vs Outsourcing

With cloud computing becoming prevalent, the idea of virtual assistants has slowly risen and become more apparent, because companies are finding new ways of expanding and entering new territories. As your team grows, you will need to find apparent ways to keep everyone motivated and ready to work efficiently.

Productivity within the organization is determined by numerous factors. Identifying a lack of productivity usually begins by noticing goals that haven’t been met, low team morale and seeing a shift in the work systems.

What causes low virtual team productivity?

Lack of clarity and direction
Poor communication
Difficulty with delegation

How to ensure that your virtual team productive and motivated?

Plan

Having a detailed route or way of executing tasks is very important.

A team with no direction will never be able to achieve its goals. Your virtual team understands the importance of time and the essence of getting tasks completed rightfully. One way of planning is defining a working system that allows you to plan ahead and have a forecast of what your virtual team is meant to do. This will help your team understand the work process.

Communicate

Communication is the lifeline of any team to survive your team and you need to have seamless communication.

The best way of having a good communication system is to understand your team member’s abilities, weaknesses, and strengths, so you can see which way of communicating is more effective.

Even though communication is vital for remote teams, information overload can quickly become a problem. Endless emails, project management system updates and non-stop messages combine to create a backlog of correspondence for people to sort through.

It’s a must for information to shared freely in virtual teams, but no one should be forced to go through messages that don’t apply to them or their work.

It’s critical that virtual team members highlight their preferred means of communication and make it clear when they’re busy or otherwise unavailable.

Productivity and clarity in communication go hand in hand, keeping lines of communication as clean as possible ensures that team members will be focused on their work.

A virtual team is non-traditional, which means how you communicate is definitely different from how you would team members you share an office with.

Effective communication makes it possible to get the best out of your team. Making a wise investment in modern technological tools that simplify the communication process allows you to have a seamless line of communication.

Virtual communication technology refers to any technology used to communicate with each other when they can’t be face to face. It favors the ability to see and hear one another in real-time, simulating the experience of a physical visit. Through tools such as Zoom and Skype, teams are able to always be in touch regardless of time differences or other geographical factors.

According to Techwalla, Video conferencing uses a similar VoIP protocol with audio and video applications to allow companies to conduct virtual meetings. With video conferencing, employees from anywhere in the world can sit in on a single meeting and interact visually and verbally with their coworkers.

This technology can save companies millions of dollars in travel and productivity costs. Developments in collaborative technologies ranging from shared workspaces to multi-point video conferencing unquestionably are making virtual teaming easier.

Develop a charter that establishes acceptable behavior when participating in virtual meetings, such as limiting background noise and side conversations, talking clearly and at a reasonable pace, listening attentively and not dominating the conversation. The charter also should include guidelines on which communication modes to use in which circumstances, for example when to reply via email versus picking up the phone versus taking the time to create and share a document.

With numerous ways of communication aforementioned, people often choose a communication tool according to how convenient it is, but in some cases, certain tasks are more aligned to particular tools, and if a wrong tool is chosen then tasks may take longer to be done.

According to the Sloan Review, the purpose of communication should determine the delivery mechanism.

Again, clarity is the foundation of any form of communication. Make intentions clear, leave no room for assumptions or personal interpretations. Prioritize keeping everyone in the loop. Maintain constant communication with your Virtual Team.

For your team to feel noticed and to be productive, be responsive and supportive. Trustworthiness equals to openness, which allows for transparency. Virtual Teams are likely to have members from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Creating communication systems that are inclusive and open allows for productivity and understanding.

Have a systematic work process

Lack of systems in place, a virtual team can fall apart very quickly. While virtual team members will all have their own set of work habits, the team must have a standardized approach to make decisions, share information, and solve problems.

Remember the Big Picture

Working in Silos is always an issue. Isolation can often cause remote workers to lose sight of the team’s overall goals. It becomes easy to focus on a specific task sitting before them rather than thinking about how their work affects the rest of the team. Virtual team productivity is a key piece to the big picture.

Communicating goals and highlighting accomplishments that push the team closer to those objectives are important not just for raising awareness, but also for reminding team members that they are there to support one another.

Regular virtual meetings, as well as the occasional in-person meeting, constantly remind team members that they are all working together to accomplish something meaningful. taking proactive steps to boost team member engagement, companies can leverage high-functioning virtual teams to deliver results.

Nurture Virtual friendships

Your team are human beings wired to connect with others.

People can get connected from outside of work but it’s great to fill some of this need at work as well, much more in a virtual team. Just like on the third tier of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs as humans a sense of love belonging is needed, so building friendships allows for this to take place.

Having a virtual team means having to compromise in order to get things done in the right way. Some emotional intelligence goes a long way, this means that understanding how people deal with things emotionally helps your business grow and your work environment becomes conducive.

Mastering Virtual Team Productivity

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At Global BP Solutions, we believe that growing a business requires hiring people that are motivated and skilled enough to help you build and maintain this growth. Managing your remote assistant and ensuring that he os she is productive can be made easy because by using platforms designed to work with virtual teams.

Furthermore, your team works according to your schedule and time zone. As a result, you are able to scale efficiently.

Recruiting qualified virtual assistants enables business owners to focus time and resources on other key business development areas.

We offer a wide range of customizable services, that include virtual customer service, graphic design, insurance verification, digital marketing, bookkeeping and accounting to mention but a few.

How To Improve Your Team’s Customer Service Skills

admin — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 12:37:46 +0000

Teamwork makes the dream work!

An ideal working environment is what everyone wants. Being able to feel comfortable with the people you work with allows the team to improve its work and to get work done effectively. Working environments also influence work culture which can translate to employees to naturally offer great customer service.

Team dynamics differ with every business. This means that you have to structure your communication in a way that helps improve your relationships with your clients. Improving your team communication is based on a few things such as understanding what makes your team productive, finding a communication model that works, and implementing it.

Communication is one of the things you cannot afford to compromise on as a business. Why? Communication by definition is the exchange of information, which means that as a business you revolve around varying information. This information must be handled well and passed on effectively.

Nearly 75% of employers rate collaboration and teamwork as “very important,” yet only 18% of employees actually get communication evaluations during their performance reviews, and 10% actually get a form of training in regards to effective communication.

How do you improve your team’s customer service skills?

You can start by improving your communication.

Have an open-door policy:

An open-door policy means that as the leader you have given your team the opportunity to freely talk to you about issues that affect the business. This means letting your team know you are open to discussing work projects, goals, and anything else at any time.

According to an article by Forbes keeping an open-door policy means literally having your door open. In the case of virtual teams, it means dedicating a good part of your time to the needs of your employees. Through this, you are promoting a culture of openness and transparency. It also gives fast access to information; for instance, if a client is unhappy their query is able to be resolved in good time. The open-door policy provides for accessibility.

Allow reciprocal feedback

Constructive criticism is a must if your business is ever going to be productive. Allow your team to make suggestions, discuss and criticize elements within your business that might need improvement. This allows your team to make an impact on how the business is run. Just simply saying “fix this” in response to a submitted project isn’t helpful to you or your team. To be effective, feedback needs to be clear and detailed, as well as easy to comprehend. This facilitates the active improvement of customer service skills.

Decide which communication model works best for you

Different situations require different ways of communicating. For a project involving virtual team members working remotely, a video conference is an excellent way for everyone to keep in contact about progress and milestones.

Be open and honest with your team members

Honesty is the best policy. Being upfront helps with transparency within your organization. The single most effective way to improve interpersonal communication in the workplace is to instill a sense of trust among your team members.

5. Take Ownership for Mistakes

The best managers can relate to their team members. That includes owning up to the decisions that you make and admitting when you could have done something differently. Everyone makes mistakes, so by confessing your flaws, you are showing your employees that you are just as human as they are.

Communication requires clarity and understanding. Good team communication is imperative to your success. The above steps will help you improve communication with your virtual teams which will result in successful or good customer care.

Contact us today

6 Useful Apps to Boost Your Productivity

admin — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:05:44 +0000

There are a number of apps that can help boost your productivity, from reminders about important deadlines and taking notes, to communicating and collaborating with your team. These apps can help you to get it done quicker and more efficiently, which increases productivity.

Evernote

Evernote is a digital notebook that allows you to jot down the important bits of your life. It allows you to upload pictures; audio files and documents for reference, which makes it easy to track progress and thoughts. It is accessible on smartphones and computers.

The app allows you to track your to-do-list. Creating to-do-lists can boost your productivity by ensuring that you stay focused.

ZOHO

Zoho is a web-based online office suite containing word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, note-taking, wikis, web conferencing, customer relationship management, project management.

It allows you to collaborate with your team on projects and track their progress.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a file hosting service. It allows you to save various files in a cloud, these can then be retrieved at any time.

Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing, online meetings and group messaging integrated into one easy-to-use application. This allows you to have ease f access to your workforce and communicate effectively.

Hootsuite

A social media management platform. Hootsuite allows you to schedule content, get analytics and interact with your clients.

Basecamp

This is a project management app, that provides a map of tasks and how best they can be completed. Basecamp is an easy way to see where you could be going wrong with your projects.

These apps help you put work into motion and help you achieve your goals. Insourced virtual teams can help to boost your productivity, free up your time and save you up to 75% on payroll costs.

Why You Should Insource and Not Outsource

admin — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 12:00:35 +0000

There is a fine line that distinguishes insourcing and outsourcing and how it functions within the business process. A lot of people with experience with virtual assistants will tell you to outsource and sometimes the two are confused for each other and often misused in the definition. In this post, we discuss why you should insource and not outsource.

What is to Outsource?

Outsourcing is the process of hiring an outside organization that is not affiliated with the company to complete specific tasks. It is the business practice of having certain job functions done outside a company by engaging an outsourcing partner, instead of having an in-house department or employee handle them; functions can be outsourced to either a company or an individual. Outsourcing appoints the help of outside organizations not affiliated with the company to complete specific tasks.

Outsourcing in a way dictates that the hired externals are not part of the organization. They are a temporary solution to a workflow issue.

Why you should insource?

Insourcing, on the other hand, is a business practice performed within the operational infrastructure of the organization. In definition, this is when a business practice is performed within the operational structure of the organization. Insourcing is inclusive in nature. This means that hired personnel becomes part of the organization even if they work remotely.

For example; Productive Dentist Academy has insourced individuals who work from Zimbabwe. Unlike outsourcing that treats the hired personnel as a third party, insourcing says that the employees are part of the organization no matter where they are.

Benefits of Insourcing:

It gives you control over your personnel. This means that you can watch over their work and see if there is progress. There is limited interference from external partners.
Insourced employees are better connected to the day-to-day operations and culture of the business, they are more likely to elevate it as a great place to work, helping you attract more talent.
The experts focus on their core business and you focus on yours. Insourcing means that you’ve selected the right individual to perform certain tasks.

How insourcing works

You send in a job brief to us, we find suitable candidates, an interview is done, a candidate is selected and, voila! You have a new member on your team solely dedicated to your organization.

Insourcing with us to get:

A full-time, dedicated team member.
A team member that works hours that are aligned to your office.
Contracted rates, saving 75% off traditional costs.

What will your company gain?

Elevation of your current team.
Focus on high return/priority tasks.
Improvement of office efficiency.
Expansion potential.
Improved bottom-line profitability.
Virtual team members integrated into your culture and become part of the family.

Insourcing Opportunities:

Marketing
- SEO/PPC
- Web Development
- Creative Design
- 2D/3D animation
Accounting
CRM Manager
Human Resources
I.T. Support
Logistics
Customer Service/Help Desk
Sales Support
Lead Generation
Data Entry

Your business is important, and adopting a great recruitment strategy is key. Our job is to help you find the perfect team members to join your organization.

Partner with us, save and scale for your business.

Insourcing Africa: 10 Reasons Why Africa Is The Best Destination

admin — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 14:25:46 +0000

Africa is a culturally diverse continent that has shown substantial growth in relation to technology, cultural adaptation, and education.

This growth has given businesses from other continents the opportunity to benefit from talent through virtually insourcing Africa. Insourcing is utilized by companies to dial down and focus on the core aspects of the business, spinning off the less critical operations to outside organizations.

Here’s why insourcing Africa is about to shift your business from good to AWESOME!

No language barrier

Some insourcing destinations have different cultural and linguistic abilities. However, some countries in Africa are former British territories, which means their culture and English-speaking skills are good for business.

Time flexibility

Time varies with regions, however, insourced virtual team members are able to work according to your schedule, allowing them to integrate with your local team and performing tasks efficiently.

For instance, if you are in Texas U.S.A your day would start at 08.00 hrs. which is 14.00hrs. in Zimbabwe. This does not affect your normal working schedule as the virtual teams are equipped with highspeed internet and office space in a high rise building with all the necessary amenities needed to help your business function well regardless of time zone differences.

Education

Another reason to insource Africa is that people in Africa value education and with the growth of online learning platforms, it is easier to for them to get certified in key competencies. Zimbabwe has one of the highest literacy rates within the Sub-Saharan region, with at least 86.9 % of its population educated up to college level. With over 20 universities, there is a huge pool of talent that is qualified to take your business to the next level.

The pool of educated professionals is large, allowing your business to benefit from skilled individuals who will prioritize your needs and, help your business scale.

Cost efficiency

Saving money is always a priority for any business. Insourcing can save your business up to 70% on payroll costs.

By outsourcing to a destination like Zimbabwe you are guaranteed a big save on your finances. Here’s a guide on how to start insourcing from Africa.

Sustained Quality

Embracing technology

Flexibility

As mentioned before Insourcing to places like Zimbabwe gives you a competitive edge, to focus on your core competencies.

Cultural adaptation

Frees up your time

Data Security

Think about it, Africa is the next big thing, and you could be missing out on making your business a success. Get in touch with us today, and get the ball rolling to scale your business.

Insource Africa!

Global BP Solutions is a leading Texas-based outsourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual insourcing services customized to suit your business process needs. Contact us today

Payroll costs driving you up the wall? Here’s how to Save up to 75%

admin — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 12:12:39 +0000

Money, Money, Money, that’s probably the first thing you think of when it comes to your business.

The biggest question as a business is, “what are some of the key areas we are spending money on that we shouldn’t?”

Whether your business is small or big, hiring new personnel that’s qualified puts a strain on your business’ finances.

You are probably wondering how you can cut your payroll costs?

The real cost

Typically, you’d think that hiring a person just means getting them a space they can work in and that’s it.

Hiring someone goes beyond sourcing their salary. Statistics show that the added annual cost for a new position can equal up to, or more than 150% of the actual pay. By adding a position at an annual salary of $36,000, the “real” cost to the business could be in the $54,000 range.

A survey by glassdoor indicates that US companies spend $4000 on hiring a new employee alone. This includes the hiring process and the procurement of equipment the employee will use. For a small business this is not sustainable.

Insourcing to Africa allows your business to have their work done in an efficient manner at a lower cost. The option to add a Virtual Team to your business can reduce this by as much as 75%.

There are tangible and intangible implications of hiring internally, which are often misconstrued.

Payroll costs also include:

Salary or Hourly rate
Health insurance
Workman’s Compensation Insurance
Retirement account
Office or workspace
Computer
Software
Training

Finding an Insourcing partner is key to saving a chunk on your payroll. This allows you to have a great and dedicated Virtual Team that is not only affordable but is professional. However, insourcing from a location such as Zimbabwe can lower your payroll costs by up to 75%! Now that’s a bargain.

Global BP Solutions is a leading Texas-based outsourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual outsourcing services customized to suit your business process needs. Contact us today

Insourcing versus Outsourcing

admin — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:04:31 +0000

There is a distinctive difference between “outsourcing” and “insourcing” that should be clarified. It’s important to understand the difference as you look to leverage it as a part of your business. Both have a specific function and fit in the business marketplace, but it is important to understand your objective and long-term goals.

Outsourcing is hiring an outside organization to complete specific tasks. Insourcing is a business practice performed within the operational structure of the organization. The biggest difference between outsourcing and insourcing is the methods in which work, projects, or tasks are performed between various companies and departments.

Insourcing at Global BP:

Full-Time, dedicated team member
Hired thru resume review and video Interviews
Work the same hours as your office
Contracted rates, saving 60-75% of traditional costs
Virtual, saving brick and mortar space

Benefits of insourcing:

Elevate current team to focus on high return/priority tasks
Improve office efficiency
Leverage growth/expansion opportunities
Improve bottom-line profitability
Embrace virtual team members into their culture/become part of the family

Insourcing Opportunities:

Marketing
- SEO/PPC
- Web Development
- Creative Design
- 2D/3D animation
Accounting
CRM Manager
Human Resources
T. Support
Logistics
Customer Service/Help Desks
Sales Support
Lead Generation
Data Entry

From your first call to onboarding your virtual team member, the timeline can be as quick as 5 business days. You are just a week away from experiencing the WOW factor of a Virtual Team member and changing lives in the process.

J.W. Oliver is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP center in Africa. A Christian based business with a desire to help business and ministries be their very best while helping support others globally.

How Pink Became the Color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

admin — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:11:27 +0000

The month of October comes with it a campaign that is very close to our hearts, Breast Cancer Awareness. The whole world turns pink in support of one of the biggest campaigns in the world.

Why pink though? Is it its feminine association? A random pick? Or did the color come by mere accident?

How pink came to be a symbol of fighters, hope, and health.

Colored ribbons were first used in 1979 when the wife of a hostage taken in Iran would tie yellow ribbons around the trees in her front yard. This signaled her desire to see her husband come home again.

Eleven years later the yellow ribbon became a symbol for the support of military personnel during the gulf war. It didn’t take time for the power of color to gain traction, red ribbons soon became a symbol for the fight against AIDS.

With color ribbons becoming powerful symbols breast cancer awareness followed suit. You should know that the first breast cancer awareness ribbon wasn’t pink but light peach in color.

In 1991 Charlotte Haley , a grassroots activist and cancer survivor was trying to raise awareness about the lack of federal funding for cancer prevention. Ms. Haley sent out thousands of cards with a peach ribbon attached resulting in her message reaching too many people to be ignored.

It would be Susan G Komen through her Breast Cancer Foundation who would be the first activist to incorporate pink in her campaign. She did this by having pink visors handed to runners in her Race for the Cure.

With the success colored ribbons had seen for the gulf war and the fight against AIDS, Pink ribbons were handed out during their New York City race. Though Ms. Komen was the first to use the pink ribbon she wasn’t the one to popularize this powerful symbol.

The color pink gains its power

Self Magazine created their inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue which featured Evelyn Launder the then Senior Cooperate Vice President of the cosmetic giant Estee Lauder and cancer survivor. In 1992 Self Magazine reached out to Lauder again for the same campaign.

Self magazine editor at the time Alexander Penny wanted to join the ribbon revolution and reached out to Ms. Launder to help her make this a reality. With that, the pink ribbon was to be handed from every counter of Estee lauder shops.

As Penny and Lauder’s campaign grew they approached Charlotte Haley to join their cause but she turned them down siting Self Magazines commercial ties as a problem.

Undeterred they continued and came up with what they coined “150 Pink” a standard yet elegant shade of the color. Over 1.5 million ribbons were handed out that year.

Also, 200 000 pink ribbon petitions were produced that urged the white house to put more funding into Cancer Research.

At Global BP Solutions, we are proud to help spread awareness of Breast Cancer this year. We hosted an in house Pink Friday where our staff came wearing pink joining the world in the fight for the cure to Breast Cancer.

What pink means

Several studies show that the color pink doesn’t only show femininity (though that was a big factor in it ending up the symbolic color) pink is thought to be;

Calm
Stress relieving
Quieting
Life-affirming

Global BP Solutions is a leading Texas-based outsourcing company that provides virtual assistants and virtual administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual outsourcing services customized to suit your business process needs.

Contact us today.

Communicating with Virtual Teams

admin — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:54:05 +0000

Virtual Team members work remotely from a different geographical location. This requires them to leverage technology to ensure consistent communication is maintained with their employer. Communicating with virtual teams is key to the success of any business that is outsourcing. The most commonly used methods to communicate with virtual team members are phone and video conferencing. At Global BP Solutions, we use Zoom and Ring Central Meetings for video conferencing. Ring Central is also our preferred phone service provider.

Communicating with Virtual Teams Through Video Conferencing

Zoom Meetings is an industry-leading online video and audio conferencing meeting platform. It works on mobile and desktop devices. A single meeting can host up to 100 participants.
Ring Central Meetings is a powerful, high definition, cloud web conferencing application. It allows up to 200 participants to do face to face meetings, share files and documents anytime anywhere.

These fantastic platforms make easy communication with your virtual team in Zimbabwe a reality. They give you the opportunity to have regular meetings with your team members from a car, airplane or in the comfort of your home. All that is required is a good Internet Connection. Phone

Ring Central offers a cloud phone service that allows your VT to call you from Zimbabwe using a local USA area code and phone number. Starting at $15 per month per user, your VT can make unlimited phone calls across the United States and Canada. This also includes 100 toll-free minutes per month. Ring Central is your perfect all in one cloud phone, video conferencing and team messaging platform.

These two platforms ensure consistent communication with your VT, helping to create that face-to-face bond that ensures you sustain a meaningful relationship 10,000+ miles away. Through the use of technology, distance is no longer a barrier to communication or the successful development of a relationship with your virtual team. Technology brings you closer together.

Click on the link below to view our virtual team members in Zimbabwe on a video conference-meeting call with their employers in Dallas, Texas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FcazgprSa8 Ruvarashe Florence Chirimuta works as a Marketing Coordinator for Global BP Solutions LLC at its BP Centre in Zimbabwe. Global BP Solutions is a Christian based business with a desire to help businesses and ministries to be their very best while helping support people and ministries Globally.

Managing Outsourced Virtual Teams

admin — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:46:13 +0000

Recruiting virtual team members is becoming a leading trend globally. Having outsourced virtual teams that work remotely has become a favorable and cost-effective alternative. Developments in technology mean searching for talent is no longer restricted by geography. This comprehensive guide to outsourcing can help you better understand how virtual teams are the future of efficient businesses. Below are 3 strategies that can be applied to help outsourced virtual teams to be high performing and results-driven: 1) Frequent Meetings Having frequent meetings with a VT helps to ensure each team member is on the same page and up to date with the tasks that need to be completed. Most high performing VT’s meet at least once a week via video conferencing. These meetings help members to discuss new ideas and receive feedback. Weekly meetings also ensure that no crucial tasks are overlooked. 2) Technology A VT will fail to perform to its full potential when working remotely if it does not have the correct technology. High-speed Internet, communication technologies like Zoom and online collaboration software such as Zoho are must-have software’s that can help the team to collaborate and get work done remotely. 3) Celebrate Triumphs Even if a VT is in a different geographical location, celebrating good news and rewarding the team is an effective way to keep members motivated. Developing a culture of recognizing good performance energizes team members and propels them to go the extra mile to get the job done. Always recognize your VT team for a job well done.

This article also highlights the challenges of managing a virtual team and how to overcome them.

Ruvarashe Florence Chirimuta works as a Marketing Coordinator for Global BP Solutions LLC at its BP Center in Zimbabwe. Global BP Solutions is a Christian based business with a desire to help businesses and ministries to be their very best while helping support people and ministries Globally.

It’s more than just payroll

admin — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:34:30 +0000

In the hiring of a new or replacement position, as business owners we fail to compute the added expenses both tangible and intangible. To accurately budget for each new position, we must consider many of the fixed and variable costs we will incur:

Salary or Hourly rate
Matching of FICA
Health insurance
Workman’s Compensation Insurance
Retirement account
Office or workspace
Computer
Software

Statistics show that the added annual cost for a new position can equal up to, or more than 150% of the actual pay. By adding a position at an annual salary of $36,000, the “real” cost to the business could be in the $54,000 range. The option to add a Virtual Team (VT) to your business can reduce this by as much as 70%. This enables you to minimize or eliminate;

Annual payroll
Intangible and Tangible costs
Office “Drama”
Difficult employee interactions

Consideration of a Virtual Team member can offer the benefit of a more efficient organization, increased “Horsepower” from your current team by elevating their positions, and a happy, more relaxed work environment. J.W. Oliver is the founding and managing partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP centre in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help businesses and ministries to be their very best while helping support people and ministries Globally.

Global & Mobile

admin — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:27:53 +0000

Dream Big. Set goals. Make plans. Live life. Love Jesus. In today’s global and mobile economy, you can live where you want, travel where you choose, take in the beauty of this world, and still perform your daily work responsibilities. With the advent of mobile technology, outsourcing, flexible work environments, proper planning and selection of careers, one can live almost anywhere. Imagine wandering the streets of Rome, watching the sunsets of Santorini, or cruising along the Croatian shoreline. Enjoying seeing the sights, sipping the vino by day, and starting your workday in the late afternoon and not missing a beat. How about waking at 500am in the Hawaiian Islands, busting your tail until noon, then off to enjoy the surf, sun and fun the rest of the day. Shaka! Africa! Up to enjoy the migration of the elephants, the roar of the lion, or the beauty of the Pangolin…then start your workday and keep up with your team. It’s all possible. Here are a few tips, tools, and suggestions I have utilized, and they work:

Outsourcing

Spend 6-8 months training your virtual team to handle the daily tasks, generate leads, or even close sales. They can handle logistics, accounting, your CRM, customer service, etc…

CRM

Pick one that is dynamic for your industry. These tools can impact your performance and efficiency like none other. I use Zoho in one of our companies, and SalesForce in another. Both are great resources.

DropBox

This is a great resource for sharing files, photos and documents. Easy and relatively inexpensive.

Zoom

A great tool for video-conferencing and group calls. Free version available, or a higher-end for around $15 per month.

Laptop

Get the best one you can afford. I choose Apple/MAC 15’ (large screen because I’m old) Don’t go “tightwad” on technology. Don’t wait until you are too old, too broke, or too small-minded to work as a Global Citizen. Dream Big! J.W. Oliver is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP centre in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help business and ministries be their very best while helping support others Globally.

No Talent Required

admin — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:14:02 +0000

University education, Masters’ degree, PhD, advanced certifications, more CE credits! These are all great and valuable, but here are 10 things that will advance you FAR MORE than any degree or certification. They require no talent, only drive, determination and perseverance. Anyone can master them and be an employer’s DREAM! You will gain the respect of your boss and the admiration (or despise) of your co-workers.

Be on time

One of my favorite lines. “If you’re on time your late, if your early you’re on time.”

Work Ethic

Lost along the way somehow. Win it back.

Effort

Tackle the issues. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Body Language

Worth a thousand words! You know what I mean!

Energy

There is good and bad. Be the Good stuff!

Attitude

If you are unsure, then you don’t have kids! Positive attitude = positive results.

Passion

I may not be the one with the biggest paycheck. Choose the one you have passion for!

Be Coachable

Turn off the “know-it-all” switch. Listen! We all can be better at everything we do.

Go the Extra Mile.

Stay late and finish the project, arrive early, do what it takes. Stand out among the crowd.

Be Prepared.*

Every day, especially the first day. Learn about the business, your boss, your work, the industry. Be ready! J.W. Oliver is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP center in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help business and ministries be their very best while helping support others Globally.

Cashflow Insomnia: How Outsourcing Helps You Sleep Better

admin — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 10:13:34 +0000

Fast-growing businesses can be exhilarating as well as exhausting! The excitement is seeing revenue growth, an expanded customer base, product development, and growth of your team. The downside is CASH FLOW! However, outsourcing helps business owners around the world to sleep better at night. *It is estimated that cash flow;

Keeps 35% of business owners awake at night

and

65% feel “regularly stressed” or “Anxiety”

These stats are not for a lack of experience. The survey average respondent had 10+ years of running a successful business. Partnering with an outsourcing company can help alleviate the sleepless nights and anxious days in multiple ways. Here are three areas that can have an immediate impact on cash flow and efficiency;

Learn more about how outsourcing helps business owners grow their businesses.

Outsourced Payroll

Utilizing a well-trained, experienced virtual payroll team member, can reduce your cost by 75% while having a dedicated person managing all processing and reporting. additionally, your virtual assistant will be working your hours, so there is no need to worry about the timeszone differences.

Outsourced Accounts Payable

Hire a full-time accounts payable manager while utilizing some amazing and efficient apps like Bill.com or Expensify.com can make your processes much more accurate. You can also use your team to negotiate discounts.

Outsourced Inventory Analyst

Analyzing and maintaining the correct inventory as well as the proper levels can significantly improve sales as well as reduce cash flow drains. Having a trained, outsourcing solution is the answer. Another important aspect, your virtual team member, is dedicated to your company only. That way you only deal with one person. J.W. Oliver is the founding and managing partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP centre in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help businesses and ministries to be their very best while helping support people and ministries Globally.*Per June 2019 INC Magazine

5 Keys To Virtual Team Success

admin — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 16:10:38 +0000

Increase productivity and get a return on investment on your outsourced virtual team.

Recruiting virtual team members is becoming a leading trend globally. Business owners and entrepreneurs with remote staff have reported it as being a favorable and cost-effective alternative. Dell is just one of the many companies opting to make use of virtual teams and is reaping significant benefits. In short, outsourcing virtual team members is an affordable and effective way of achieving and exceeding business objectives.

The use of virtual teams can help organizations cut on real estate, office space, utility and remunerations costs. In addition to these benefits, outsourcing virtual teams from regions with qualified, English speaking individuals can set businesses apart from the competition.

Distance is no longer a barrier to workplace productivity.

High-speed Internet and online collaboration tools such as Zoho, enable virtual teams to get work done remotely. In other words, the virtual workplace model is here to stay and can be applied to various industries, producing amazing results.

This FREE guide outlines 5 proven keys to achieving success with your virtual team!

Global BP Solutions is a leading Texas-based outsourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for businesses. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual outsourcing services customized to suit your business process needs.

Download this easy to use guide and start managing your virtual team effectively.

Distracted From Success

admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:22:12 +0000

We are inundated with interruptions “disguised as opportunities” every day. They keep us distracted from that “ONE THING” or the “BIG GOAL” we are looking to conquer!

Here are a few of mine, yours may be similar;

Smart Phones
- That all-important DING of the text that drives our instant curiosity
Social Media
- The bombardment of negative news and politics.
Tasks
- Phone calls, the appointment to make, bills to pay, or email to send.
Team Member/Employee/Co-Worker
- Question on an assigned task, personal issues, or projects.
Email Replies
- Sales, products, pricing, or service oriented questions/inquiries.
Customer/Patient/Vendors
- Important to the, yet simple answers that are recurring.
Accounting
- Bills to pay, collections or accounting to review.

These tasks can be delegated and can take up 50% or more of your available time. Time spent distracts you from your family time, personal time, creative thinking, important projects, and your goals. Delegating is not easy for many, we think to get this done right I’ll just do it myself (finger pointing at me). Hiring good, solid TEAM MEMBERS can free up to 50% of your time while elevating those on your TEAM to target their projects.

The use of a V.T. (Virtual Team) member is a super effective and cost-effective solution (think 70% savings) to get you back on track. Instead of “Distracted from Success”, you can be “Focused on your Future”.

J.W. Oliver is the founding and managing partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP centre in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help businesses and ministries to be their very best while helping support people and ministries Globally.

More Time

admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:21:00 +0000

More time is what we all desire as Managers, Business owners, CEO’s and entrepreneurs. The use of Virtual Teams (VT) and Outsourcing is one of the most effective ways to grow your business, elevate your existing team, and find you more time to work “On” the business not “in” the business.

There are five keys to achieving success with your VT.

Identify
- Define the resources you need and be specific. Your VT firm can only recruit as well as the details provided. Be specific with:
  - Title/position
  - Work hours
  - Skill set
  - Expected reporting
  - Detail of daily/weekly work
  - Goals and objectives
- Train/Train/Train
  - Then train some more. Don’t expect to achieve results unless you spend proper time showing them your vision. Your VT is no different than physical team members. Train them for success!
- Micro-Manage (Don’t)
  - Once you have selected and trained, let your VT go to work. Will they make mistakes? YES, but don’t we all. Allow them to soar.
- Reporting
  - Develop a weekly/monthly system for feedback and reporting.
- Communicate
  - Critical that you have good, open means of communication with your VT. Phone, email, video conferencing, etc. Set regular meetings to review their reporting and progress and to direct and redirect as needed.

With some advanced thought, intentional training, you will free you and your team up to focus on your business and free up time for planning, projects and family.

J.W. Oliver is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP centre in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help business and ministries be their very best while helping support others Globally.

From Dream Team To Reality

admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:20:14 +0000

Ready, Set…

We often need help like yesterday, but the “traditional” time from job outline to onboarding can be a time consuming and arduous task for even the most experienced people. Adding a Virtual Team (VT) member to your organization doesn’t have to be difficult if using the right offshore provider. Onboarding can be as quick as one week if the necessary steps are thought through and communicated from the start.

Provide a detailed; job title, duties list, skill sets, degree/training required and level of prior experience for your VT.
Within 2-5 days the top two or three VT candidates will be selected by our HR team in Harare.
Video interviews are set-up for “back-to-back” time slots based on your schedule. You should allow 30 minutes for each VT candidate, typically these each takes 15-20 mins on average.
The best VT is selected by you and your team and an official offer is made on your behalf.
Your VT will go thru one day of orientation in our Harare office with our HRT team.
Onboarding begins with your VT and your office contact/for specific training. We strive to see the entire process is simplified and completed within 6-10 business days. Our success is your success. We will assist you in any way we can with the training process and integration of your VT with your office. You will quickly see them as part of your extended work family as well as an important member of your team.

J.W. Oliver is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner for GlobalBPsolutions.com based in Texas with a BP centre in Africa. They are a Christian based business with a desire to help business and ministries be their very best while helping support others Globally.

Blog – Global Impact Podcast

Improving the nutritional status of orphans and vulnerable children in Domboshava

Affiliate yourself to the Excellence Club

Let Them Trust

Ministry within the police force.

5 step checklist on growing your business

Why is growth in business important?

Reasons for business growth

How to grow your business:

Customer care in the digital era: creating a safe space for customers.

What is digital customer experience?

Poor service = bad feedback

Keep Customers Happy

Easy Dental Billing : Outsourcing for Dentists

When should you start outsourcing dental insurance verification and billing?

2 reasons why outsourcing for dentists is important

1) Control

2) More focus from the staff

Ways to invest and improve your small business

Two Types of Investments You Can Make in a Small Business

What to consider when insourcing back office processes.

Language Barrier

Complete Data Security with insourcing

Domain Expertise

Cost Benefits

Conclusion A responsible insourcing company can help take your back-end processes and streamline them to give your business real benefits and improved profitability. With ZimWorX you are guaranteed quality service that allows for your business to excel.

Content Marketing: eliminating redundancy in your marketing activities

What is Content Marketing?

Why is a Content Marketing Strategy important?

Benefits of Content Marketing

Builds Brand Awareness

Helps build relationships

Great For Digital Marketing Solutions

Educates

Content Marketing Great for sales and lead generation

Helps you stay relevant and trendy

Conclusion:

Africa Set to Become One of the Best Outsourcing Destinations

Why Do Businesses Outsource

What is insourcing?

Why Africa Is The Next Best Outsourcing Destination

No language barrier

2. Time flexibility

3. Education

4. Cost efficiency

5. Sustained Quality

6. Embracing technology

7. Flexibility

8. Cultural adaptation

9. Frees up your time

10.Data Security

Choose Africa as your next outsourcing destination.

Online Reputation Management And Its Impact On Your Business

Where to start with Online Reputation Management

1. Become well respected

2. Be transparent

3. Keep an ear out on what they are saying about you

4. Address criticism

5. Your Google page is your business card

6. Ask for help if necessary

Why you should care about your online reputation

1. Perform an Audit of Your Online Reputation

Brand Monitoring

2. Establish an Online Reputation Management Strategy

ORM Prioritization

Have a Crisis Management Strategy in Place

Online and offline are blending

Your online reputation sticks with you

Search algorithms prioritize popularity

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27)

Top 10 Reasons to In-source When in Crisis

What is in-sourcing?

How can in-sourcing help you in a crisis?

Why is in-sourcing the answer to my crisis?

Low operating costs

Focus on core competencies

Global reach and expertise

Risk management

Newmarket expansion

Accelerate migration to new technology