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Is Moonlighting ok or not?

Moonlighting ok if no conflict of interest and with transparency

Moonlighting refers to an employee involved or engaged in secondary jobs/activities besides being on-roll in a company. These are mostly done to earn a secondary (or multiple) stream(s) of income besides the regular salary. The big debate is, should it be allowed or should it not be, though there are justifications to both sides of this story.

The supporting point is that employees undertake these activities after their office hours and/or over the weekends. In my opinion, in today’s world, the lines are blurred with reference to work life and personal life. It has further diminished over these last couple of years with a large part of workforce working remotely. In such circumstances it is difficult to ascertain whether or not these works are actually done over the weekend or does it interfere in the regular works; it is tough to implement a robust monitoring mechanism with no transparency on such activities. Besides, employees can get distracted and it can dilute their focus at work.

At the same time, I do support the secondary stream of income, provided there is no-conflict of work/company’s interest. If the same/similar works are performed with the company as well as with others (can help with skill enhancement) then work ethics will be a bigger challenge to address and so should be avoided. However, an IT professional can perform music/arts over weekend as a secondary income; a manufacturing professional can coach students preparing for professional exams, and likewise. That way the balance of personal and professional life, and financial aspects as well, can be balanced effectively. You can also read the article here: https://epaper.bizzbuzz.news/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=2897b24054a

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Startup Expert Shyam’s Exclusive interview to Bizz Buzz

In an interview with Bizz Buzz, Shyam Sekar S (Founder of Startup Xperts) shared insights on startup world and the support to build a better ecosystem.

“Startups don’t need gyan, 360-degree support to scale up is the key”

The ecosystem needs to be built in India considering the 360-degree support that is required at various stages of creation, developing, building, mentoring, funding and scaling-up of startups by budding entrepreneurs, feels Shyam Sekar S, a business growth enabler, virtual CMO and digital marketing and startup expert. A product of Malaviya NIT, Jaipur and Harvard Business School, Shyam Sekar, a well-known Startup Mentor and Virtual CMO, is the Founder, Chief mentor, at Startup Xperts, a business growth and consulting company. In an exclusive interview to Bizz Buz, he says the present ecosystem needs a lot of changes to encourage innovation among youngsters”

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Digital Marketing
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Digital Marketing for Startups – 8 things to do before launching a product/service | Startup Xperts

The world is witnessing the emergence of startups that was never seen before, in this scale. The biggest question that most entrepreneurs face is that of how to launch their product or service quickly into the market place. As we all know, startups are meant to be ‘lean’. So finance is going to be one of the biggest challenges for most of them. Does digital marketing cost a lot of money? Or can be done ‘cheap’?

Answer is yes and no! Confusing?

If you get into wrong hands in pursuing your digital marketing initiatives, your money can be getting into a bottomless pit. But then yes, if you work with a digital marketing evangelist, or a digital marketing firm that understands the startup mindset well, then you could be in safe hands. Not just safe, but you are creating yourself some extra room to succeed, right at the start itself!

Can it be done cheap? Certainly no! As the saying goes, if you throw peanuts, you will get monkeys! Well, it can be done in a very cost effective way, and one that can deliver results for you.

Let’s quickly look at what are all the right steps that you need to take, to launch your product or service.

  • Get your presence online:You can do this by registering your domain name (preferably .com) and get your website up. Gone are those days when you wait for over a month to see the first cut version. Today, website can be launched in a few days or in weeks, depending on the functionality that you would like to build in. There are numerous domain and hosting companies to choose from. Check their service credentials as the big names that we have experienced have offered poor customer service. Another important point – just make sure that your site is mobile-friendly!
  • Social Media Marketing: The world is becoming more and more socially connected. Depending on whether you are a B2B, or B2C, or B2B2C, create social media accounts as need be. For B2B, you got to have LinkedIn and Twitter accounts; for B2C, have Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
    Creating accounts does not take time. But engaging through these social media platforms will demand your quality time. Here again, content is the king. You can publish, or share content (preferably original) else you can work with your digital marketing consultant to help you create those contents that are worthy to read/share.
  • Build database:You can start to build database with the help of database subscriptions, through web research, and through your website too. This will be an ongoing activity and can start anytime.
  • Email campaigns:In one of the reports that I had read some time ago, it mentioned that email campaigns have the effect of almost 40x times than Facebook and Twitter combined. If you know to use the right CRM, you will be able to track the mail opens, understand what your prospect needs/wants, their interests, etc. Email campaigns can be a very powerful strategy and so do not underestimate its power. So keep sharing interesting articles (original content) with your network constantly. This can help create your brand, and establish you as a thought leader in this space.
  • SEO:Search Engine Optimization, is usually not done as many does not know or think that it is not for them. In many of my engagements, I have made my clients realize the value and importance of doing SEO for their website. It is more a strategy, and not just an activity that can be given to someone who just knows ‘tagging and coding’. This means you are outsourcing your online brain to that lower level.
  • SEM:Search Engine Marketing is suggested to go hand-in-hand with SEO. If you have not optimized your site, then the money that you spend in SEM can go down the drain. Startups need to conserve cash and do it effectively (e.g. Google Adwords, LinkedIn ads, Twitter ads, Facebook ads, etc.) so that they get the bang for the buck. I have suggested some steps as to what to do when (pre-launch, during launch, and post-launch), while launching your product or service, in one of my earlier posts.
  • Analytics:Google analytics’ basic version is free. So get this integrated along with the Webmaster tool. These analytics can give you significant insight as to what’s working and what’s not working. It is very simple and easy to use, and you may not need an expert to get those insights if you are savvy enough.
  • Monitor, fine-tune, and build your startup to scale.

It is not about doing all things right; It is about doing right things.

Happy launching!

Startup Xperts is a management consulting firm with an objective to transform companies into the next level of growth. Our mission is to help companies to steeply accelerate their growth. Be it family run business, small or medium enterprise or a boutique firm, Startup Xperts have all the right answers to step up their growth. Startup Xperts help clients in a range of service areas including business consulting, strategic consulting, sales and marketing consulting, digital marketing, HR, Operations and leadership training.

To know more about Startup Xperts, visit us at www.startupxperts.com or write to us at info@startupxperts.com

The views expressed in this article are that of the author’s and Startup Xperts is not responsible for this content. In case of any objection in content, IP violation, incorrect or inappropriate information, please inform us at ceo@startupxperts.com. We will do our best to act on it at the earliest.

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7 ways to build your small business as successful brand | Startup Xperts

How to make your company, a brand?

by Shyam Sekar S

From about a century ago where we called it the ‘age of manufacturing’, to a decade back we termed it as the age of information, today we are at the ‘age of the customer’.

In some of my conferences, as a speaker, I have highlighted this – many entrepreneurs feel that branding is only for large companies; branding is a big budget exercise; branding involves huge time and effort and we cannot afford both.

But ‘why branding’ has become a no-brainer today. Why? Branding is essential to position you and your company in the right space/right perspective; branding helps to win clients; branding helps to beat your competition; and simply put, if you aren’t creating a ‘brand’ you are losing opportunities.

Well, most consider branding as ‘marketing activities’ that big brands pursue today – be it Coca Cola, Merc, Amazon, Flipkart, Nestle, to just name a few. But the key point that I would like to suggest you is that you don’t do what they are doing today. Do what they did when they were a startup like you; replicate or improvise what they did when they were a small business like yours.

With this important take, let’s move swiftly to how and where we can start. Branding can be done in a traditional and/or digital way. Today, in a connected world, branding can be done at a far higher pace and reach, and can shake established/traditional enterprises. Look at Facebook, or LinkedIn, or Google, or Uber, or Flipkart. All these brands moved into the billion dollar club in quick time. Unlike traditional industries that took decades to reach that mark. So leverage the power of digital to build your brand.

Branding is a continuous journey. It doesn’t happen by one activity, or one action, or one time. You have to build your company, your brand, through all of the available resources, both internal and external.

It all starts with a focus – focus on customer and customer’s need. All your actions, your mission, need to be centered on this. I understand that when Amazon tries to launch a product, or enhancement, the managers need to come up with a convincing answer to a basic question – how does this benefit or positively impact our customers? If not convincing, the idea gets dropped.

Get to work with a smart digital marketing company/consultant, if you do not have a specialist in your firm. Getting to identify them is tough, but worth your pain, as we are talking long term here.

• Build a robust digital marketing strategy.

• Balance your inbound and outbound strategies, depending on how and what your business is (B2B or B2C or both).

• Use analytics to power your business decisions.

• Email marketing can be used effectively (note, I am not referring to sales mailers here) to build reputation, position yourself as a thought leader, and more importantly helps to build ‘trust’ (an essential ingredient to build your company, your brand).

• SEO, SEM, SMM to be executed in perfect sync, as you do not want to throw your money, your precious resource, in a bottomless pit.

• Brand awareness leads to engagement; engagement leads to trust; trust helps you win customers and grow your businesses.

• Finally, build the right DNA across all stakeholders – your employees, customers, vendors, partners, investors, etc. Build your brand brick by brick through all of these stakeholders; understand that this is a long drawn, continuous and consistent, effort. Your aspiration and passion has to be communicated to all stakeholders and there can be no deviation between what you believe and what you do.

Happy branding!

Happy branding!

About the author:

Shyam Sekar S, is the Founder, Chief Mentor and Strategist at Startup Xperts Business Consulting Pvt. Ltd. , a business growth consulting firm. Shyam is a serial entrepreneur and helps many entrepreneurs in building up their enterprises, thereby building our entrepreneurship ecosystem. He passionately involves by giving shape to an idea and idea to execution; helps build startup and small medium enterprises by accelerating their revenue growth. Supports them through developing and most importantly, implementing smart business strategies, digital marketing, smart sales, brand building, mentoring, coaching, and leadership development. He can be reached at shyam@startupxperts.com

or his mobile +91 99401 36667.

Startup Xperts is a management consulting firm with an objective to transform companies into the next level of growth. Our mission is to help companies to steeply accelerate their growth. Be it family run business, small or medium enterprise or a boutique firm, Startup Xperts have all the right answers to step up their growth. Startup Xperts help clients in a range of service areas including business consulting, strategic consulting, sales and marketing consulting, digital marketing, HR, Operations and leadership training.

To know more about Startup Xperts, visit us at www.startupxperts.com or write to us at info@startupxperts.com

The views expressed in this article are that of the author’s and Startup Xperts is not responsible for this content. In case of any objection in content, IP violation, incorrect or inappropriate information, please inform us at ceo@startupxperts.com. We will do our best to act on it at the earliest.

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Top 10 Tips How to do Business in Difficult Times? – Startup Xperts

There is enough negative news in the media and that’s what sells for them in improving their TRPs!

Be cautious, be responsible, and take precautions; but don’t get into negativity; shut your negativity door as otherwise that will shut you!

As business owners, entrepreneurs, you will need to rise above the situation as your employees and the world around are looking forward to it!

In these tough times businesses predominantly look at these 2 choices

  • Close down operations and save cost or
  • Press pause button and wait for things to change on its own!

Either of these 2 choices can kill your business.

  • But then there is a 3rd choice, that can take your business to higher levels even during this lockdown period!

Here are 10 Powerful tips, to know what businesses can do in these tough times!

Do you recall – how businesses emerged stronger after every big problem that the world had seen? Remember the dot com bubble in early 2000, the financial crisis during 2008-09 period, and impact of it in India around 2012-13. See this as yet another business opportunity that presents itself before you – with another chance!

  1. Discuss with your Business Consultants / Business mentors and Build solid business strategies and execution plans; revisit to see how it can be made smarter and better, if you already have one done recently
  2. Do some research – understand current market, customer, competition and trends in more detail which you possibly might have done long ago
  3. Innovation. Usually innovation gets bracketed to Intellectual Property or Patents. But then, anything new, that adds value to your customers and to your business, doing things differently that makes better sense for business growth is innovation too!

This is the time to do……

Innovation in sales and marketing strategy, product development, branding and packaging, building customer experiences, etc.

  1. This is the time to analyse and understand what went well and what did not work for your business. Time to do TDR (Tear-Down-Reengineer)
  2. You can look at Training the customer teams wherever required for them to improve performance
  3. Monitoring the execution to identify gaps and areas of improvement
  4. Finding right Leadership material. Tough times will help identify the grains from the chaff as to who stands tall and go that extra mile for the benefit of organization and customers
  5. On operations front, spends that was unnecessary will now pop up in front of you; essential spends and investments will be looked from a different perspective; time to bring in lean-startup principles if not already practiced before
  6. Most importantly, drive your strategic marketing initiatives. Prepare your collaterals, marketing materials; practice your pitch and fine tune your sales.

Time to create that brand recall!

Digital marketing for startups and small business, is a great way to showcase products and services. You now have Google (SEO, SEM); social media (SMM) platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. which wasn’t the case in your previous recessions and tough times in economy! So, time to Take your brand digitally to your customers — and your business deserves that!

  1. Accelerated technology adoption is the key to survive.
  2. Use SMAC – Social Mobile Analytics and Cloud to enable your business better and smarter

In short, this is the time to Invest in your business!

As we all know — Tough times don’t last forever, but tough people do!

Business owners, entrepreneurs – Make the best use of these tough times.

Reach us in case you need any help or support in any of these!

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