Navigating The Path to Business Growth: Innovate or Die

Innovation is a key component of a business. For a business to grow appropriately, the key decision markers and business managers have to think innovatively and creatively. The benefits of innovation on business are already well-documented, so there isn’t really any need to go over it again. In any case, you can read about them here.

How exactly can you think innovatively? Here are a few tips:

  • Clear your head: This should be the first thing you do. Make sure you are relaxed and do not feel pressured. The best ideas are formed in a relaxed and calm atmosphere. If you find it hard to stay calm or keep a clear head, you can complete some relaxing activities like taking a walk while listening to calming music, preferably classical. It works for me and should work for you too.
  • Ask questions: ‘Curiosity kills the cat’ a common phrase. But this does not work when it comes to business. Prime your mind to observe, inquires, question and understand concepts around. Remove any constraints that might inhibit your inquisitive nature. Challenge old ways of doing things and try to imagine new ways that they can be done.

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  • Increase your exposure: Make sure to put yourself in a position where you will be able to observe a wide variety of things. Never assume that any knowledge is useless. Note that ideas are usually birthed from other ideas. Henry Ford got his idea of the assembly line technique of mass production from observing a meatpacking plant. The more exposure you have, the more likely you’re going to pick up ideas for your ideas.
  • Be imaginative: You should be creative. Don’t squash that random idea that comes to you prematurely. Allow your imagination run wild. Think of ways things can be done differently. You can follow some tips to boost your creativity.
  • Exceed boundaries: Don’t feel caged or forced to follow the status quo. Be ready to think outside the box. Learn to deal with and learn from past failures; be ready to take risks to find out what works and what does not.
  • Welcome feedback: Ask for people’s opinions and ideas and gather these to come up with a better idea for your venture. Also, feedback is important to know if a current idea you implemented would be a hit. Never disregard this.
  • Run brainstorming sessions: This can be done individually or in a group, although it is usually more effective when done in a group. This would involve coming up with a large number of new product ideas. Make sure to have people from diverse backgrounds if you plan to have a group brainstorming session. You will be better served if you include a provocative outsider, like a consumer or supplier.

BREAK THROUGH THE NOISE IN THE MARKET – EXHIBIT AT TOSSE 2020

  • Adapt old solutions for new problems: You could do this by applying an existing product to a new need available. You could look for new uses of your product. For instance, De Beers produced industrial diamonds but found a new use for diamonds when they introduced the concept of engagement rings. It opened up a large new market for them.
  • Watch your competition: This does not mean to blindly follow whatever innovation they come up with. Instead, observe them intelligently. See if there are any of their ideas you can refine and adapt and even possibly license as your own. You can also acquire smaller profitable businesses if possible!
  • Look outside: You can outsource your new project development to external companies to work on this. Company like Edumark Consult can help us engage actively within the education community.  If that seems like a risk for you, you can ask individuals to come up with novel ideas for innovation. Countless big companies have been known to do this successfully.
  • Go back in time: Look back at older business models and products. Try to ascertain which of these models can work for the present market. Be sure to refine it, however, to fit into the current market trends.

The tips above are in no way exhaustive of all the tips that can be used to improve innovative thinking. Also, not all of them might apply to your business model. Whatever the case, use the tips as a guide to building your business even further through innovation.

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HAND FLYERS ARE SPECIAL TOO, TOSSE 2019 WILL BE A PROOF

TOSSE is all about exposing your brand (alongside your products & services) to a specialized audience in the Education community. Handbills distribution is one of the best ways to take your products/services farther than your marketing team can. Start designing and redesigning your flyer for TOSSE 2019.

EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

Organisations like yours try in all possible ways to develop marketing strategies to sell their products or services and also build their images around certain percentage of market shares they currently occupy while aiming to expand beyond their present status.

Let’s talk about utilizing the marketing tools at your disposure.

Have you asked yourself;

  • How do I make my marketing/ads connect to my customers?
  • How do I make my product the best?
  • How do people perceive my product?

How do I get to retain my customers and get them to make referrals?

EXHIBITION STANDS

Handbill distribution might just be one of the tools that will take your products and services farther than your marketing team can. 

A flyer or handbill is a form of paper advertisement intended for wide distribution. It is posted or distributed in a public place, handed out to individuals or sent through the mail (e-flyer). In 2010, small scale businesses and organizations start using flyers to gain more market traction.

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Flyers range from inexpensively photocopied leaflets to expensive, glossy, full-colour circulars depending on your budget and taste for a design.

TOSSE provides you a platform where you can distribute your flyers to a large audience. Take advantage of this opportunity by calling us now to book a space at the 10th Total School Support SeminarExhibition.

VISITOR INFORMATION

TOSSE 2019 Is All About You!

TOSSE offers; the best networking opportunity, largest gathering of Education professionals, spacious exhibition stands, strategic meetings with key stakeholders ,market to prospective buyers, and an avenue to generate more leads to grow your business APPLY FOR A STAND Early registration attract periodic promotions on TOSSE social media handles (facebook, Instagram & Linkedin).

We advise you take advantage of our early bird registration and get 5% discount off. Offer elapses on 28th of February 2019.

Today, networking has become an essential aspect of business. We look forward to “The Future of Education in Africa” at TOSSE 2019.

Having a well-established network has become an important part of our business and our lives. The easiest way to expand your network is to build on the relationships with people you know.

Becoming Our Sponsor Will Put Your Brand At A Vantage Position

  • Vantage exhibition stand
  • Presentation opportunity
  • Venue branding right         
  • Company profile would be included on the event brochure
  • Special recognition during exhibition
  • Strategic marketing opportunity

For inquiries call: 08028399138, 07088406732 or email info@tosse.com.nginfo.tosse2017@gmail.com

Creating Virtual Opportunities in Business During Lockdown

Quite a number of places had some degree of lockdown imposed on them in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has sorely affected most businesses, big or small. In a previous article, we visited the possibilities of making social media a veritable tool for your business marketing and visibility. This article will discuss important steps to digitise your business.

Working from home has gained popularity over time, however, it has been a slow process. Running a virtual business has numerous benefits, not least of which is that it costs arguably less to run. Despite reservations about the idea from many, it has become a necessity for businesses to explore this mode of running a business as the restrictions to movement lingers. The following are some steps that can be followed in creating a virtual workspace.

Create Online Awareness

This is a very obvious step, so it goes right on top. For the same reason you would expect your physical business to be known around its physical location (unless you run a shady business of course 😉), your virtual business can do with online publicity. Social media remains a primary tool for this. This space gives you visibility and engagements, as has been discussed earlier.

Social media does not do it all, though. Your business needs its own private space, space where all your offerings and information can be seen. You need an up-to-date website that is easy to navigate. Websites do not personalise your business, however. For this reason, it is encouraged to run a blog also. Blogs provide a personal feeling about your business. People are more likely to patronise you if they feel there is a person behind it and not just a “mindless bot”.

Create a Business Plan

You need to identify what your business offers in terms of goods and services – what your business CAN offer. You need also to have a clear vision and set boundaries, create an effective working process, and have realistic targets. This helps you and members of your team to be able to be effective and have the best possible ROI in the shortest possible time.

Let all employees understand how working remotely differs from working in an office environment. Be selective when picking members of your team; not all are well suited for remote assignments and not all tasks can be handled by all members of your team.

Keep the Communication Line Open

This works for both customers and employees. There should be an open channel of communication across the designated hierarchy of your organisation. All members of your team should be comfortable coming up with ideas and putting them to those higher up the ladder. This gives them a feeling of belonging and drastically improves their input as they feel like a part of the system and not a misfit.

Regular meetings should also be set up. This will help to keep tabs on the progress of the team, communicate new plans to all, and maintain a personal relationship. Virtual meetings can be held using various platforms. Popular ones include Zoom, Skype for Business, Slack, Zoho Meeting, and WhatsApp.

Measure Productivity

Your business must first and foremost be productive. So you must have set down metrics to analyse the productivity of your business. Try not to only focus on the final outcome of a particular process. Evaluate various stages of the process. Use quantifiable data to measure how well you are doing. Analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) diligently and be willing to make changes to certain areas that seem to be lagging.

For every observation, you need to be willing to train members of your team to make them improve in that area. Do not stop at measuring the team as a whole, observe individual members of the team and help any such who might be behind to keep up. Make sure to have a rewards system as well as extra motivation.

Be Realistic

It will not be easy getting used to the remote working system for sure. There might be some losses along the way, maybe more. But with proper planning and determination, a virtual workspace will yield dividends. Overall, it’ll pay off!

Let Reach360 help you with your designs, we have expertise in:

  • Logo design
  • Letterhead
  • Business card
  • Brochure
  • Book cover / E-book cover design
  • Handbill
  • Poster
  • All kinds of e-flyers for social media post.

Take advantage of our low-cost design offer. Call/WhatsApp 07088406732