Category: Local Branding

Legal BrandingLocal Branding

Real Estate Revolution through Blockchain

Traditional real estate sector is quite hectic for both agents and customers. People are trying to find out a reliable means of investment.  Innovation in blockchain technologies means that the real estate sector has no need to rely on traditional documents procedure and sales procedure.  The reason behind this is that property ownership, titles, insurance, and escrow processes are moving onto the blockchain. Dubai real estate sector is shifting towards a blockchain that will be much flexible compared to the traditional approach of investment.  All you need is just to search and purchase on a single click. For example, if you want to know about apartments available in creek harbor for sale, you can simply click Apartments for Sale Creek Harbour and the list of apartments will appear.  Technology has made life easier and reduced complexity to a great extent.

Blockchain, an appealing force

It is an encrypted electronic record of data on a distributed archive where data is stored over a variety of system and shared simultaneously. The business process can be streamlined within the real estate sector and much more. 

 For instance, real estate property is to be transformed. Blockchain creates different methods for real estate investors and agents.  

Blockchain creates New Methods for Real Estate

  • Various land registries projects have been proposed by different countries that make use of smart contracts and blockchain technology.
  • Blockchain will ensure trust and transparency in property transactions that will improve real estate systems and bring liquidity to the real estate market. 
  • This technology will increase liquidity in terms of property fractionalization which is a radical new approach. It will gain momentum by keeping tokens or units in the residential era.  
  • Blockchain will set up a market for people who are interested in investment but not have resources. 
  • Tokenization will lead to a positive impact on the market. Properties can be sold out on a single click.
  • Moreover, property agents can have a broader range of roles and dealing the customers about the investment process and how to make use of fractionalization property approach. 
  • Not only the current methodology of buying and selling will be improved through blockchain but also it will result in a positive attitude of customers. How we invest, how we live, how we pay for accommodation all this will be reliable through blockchain.
Local Branding

How to Choose Computers for Your SME

Starting a small or medium-sized enterprise is a stressful process, but people all around the world are still doing it. This could be a way for you to realise all your business potentials and play in the big leagues. So, start your SME right now, but don’t forget to equip it with some new computers too. Choosing equipment can be rather hard, especially when it comes to computers, and most people don’t know what to do. So, if you’re in a dilemma as well, here’s how to choose computers for your small or medium-sized enterprise.

Spend as much as you have to

With so many options out there and more models than you can imagine, buying a computer has never been harder. But, there’s one aspect you can always rely on – the prices. More expensive computers often offer better performance and enhanced longevity, so don’t be cheap when purchasing them. Reliable computers for your business can easily cost anywhere from $200 to $1000, but are an investment worth making. So, be prepared to spend a bit more money than you’ve planned, and you’ll be making the right choice.

Choose a great operating system

Again, there are so many operating systems you could use, and picking the right one might not always be easy. Most people opt for Microsoft Windows or Linux, but you can always go with Apple Mac as well. That’s why thinking everything through is vital, especially for a small or medium-sized enterprise. Also, once you’ve made your decision, be sure to stick with it. Use the same operating system for the entire company and don’t confuse your employees.

Get the right size

This is another dilemma you’re going to face – picking a desktop or laptop computer. In the end, it doesn’t really make any difference, as long as it’s working, but what about the size? Desktop computers are bigger and less discreet, while laptops can be easily stored away in any office space. You can also go with those mini PC’s that are even smaller and more silent. A powerful mini fanless PC is quite enough for your small or medium-sized enterprise, and will get the job done. It’s tiny, powerful, silent, and clean – and these are the things businesspeople all around the world are looking for.

Insist on processors and RAM chips

Whatever model you opt for, these are two things you need to insist on. The processor is the most important component in your computer, and making sure it’s great is crucial. Don’t be afraid to spend more money on that, and you’ll get faster computers that do more in less time. When it comes to RAM chips, the more the better – use every slot your computer has, and boost its power. This will speed it up, which will give your employees a chance to work uninterruptedly on a daily basis.

Avoid old models

Trying to save some money here and there is quite all right for new businesses, but not when purchasing computers. That’s why you shouldn’t buying last year’s models, if possible. These may not be outdated per se, but certainly aren’t the best ones you can afford. All computers have a certain lifespan while buying an old model will put you significantly behind, and that’s never good. So, look into new models, explore their prices, and make a choice you can afford.

Consult your employees

In the end, computers are essential for every SME, and they should be treated as any other tool. This means they’re supposed to be used all day every day, by a number of people. That’s why you might want to consult your employees when buying new computers because they’ll be the ones using them. After all, modern companies are generally spending more money on equipment than workers, and that’s quite dehumanizing for your employees. That’s why you should talk to them and hear them out before getting them a computer. They’ll feel validated and be happier to bring their A game to the office day after day.

 

As mentioned before, buying computers for your small or medium-sized enterprise isn’t the easiest thing in the world. But, if you do your research and take your time, you’ll surely find a model that will work for you.

Legal BrandingLocal BrandingPersonal Branding

Experts Discuss Small Productivity Tips That Bring Big Benefits

As an entrepreneur, you have a lot to juggle every day. What takes more time and energy? Those big tasks that you do once in a while that bring big results to your business, like meeting clients or planning your next venture? Or the small stuff that seems to creep in all day long? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, it’s the latter.

Those small things take our valuable time and energy. In this marketplace, energy is the most valuable resource we have. If you’re wasting this precious energy every day on time-consuming tasks that don’t amount to huge growth for your business, this is something you need to fix.

Luckily, you’re not in this alone. We’ve talked to the best entrepreneur and business experts around to see what they do that makes the biggest difference. Unsurprisingly, it’s not the big changes that add up. It’s those small changes that leave the biggest impact. 

What would you do with 10 more minutes each day? What about an hour? While it might not seem possible, learning to use your time more effectively and to use the right tools will make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll share the top small productivity tips for 2019 that bring big benefits. Some of them might surprise you, but they’ll all make a difference if you give them a chance. 

This isn’t a static list. We plan to keep it growing and evolving as we learn more about what works for leaders and productivity experts across the globe. It’s time to reclaim your lost time to supercharge your day. You have nothing to lose and so much time to gain!

Master Your Scheduling

Fletcher Wimbush from The Hire Talent states that our time as professionals, endless back and forth to nail downtime is super annoying. However, most people don’t approach using self-scheduling tools in the right way. It is critical to use these tools for the OTHER person’s benefit and not just yours. Also, the placement of these tools in your emails matters.

For example, I place this before my signature and salutation after I request a time to meet with someone:

Great I would love to schedule a time to meet with you is there a good time for us to connect this week?

If it is more convenient for you please feel free to choose a time for us to chat using this easy scheduler link.

9.5 / 10 times people use the self-scheduling tool when I do this!

Walking

Our partners from HR Management App suggest “walking breaks”.

Office work is characterized by prolonged and uninterrupted sitting time. This can result in not only physical, but also cognitive fatigue which poses a threat to your productivity levels. Walking is the best way to smash through this fatigue and boost your creativity. The best part is, you will receive benefits regardless of how long you walk for.

Introducing 5-minute bursts of moderate intensity walking into your routine will improve productivity, energy levels, mood, and cognitive performance. It requires no skill and can be performed at any time within your office without sacrificing your break time – all you have to do is get up and walk around your office building.

If you’re finding it difficult to solve a problem or are starting to feel a mid-afternoon slump, take longer walks during your lunch break. This will improve your creativity by up to 60%, enabling you to come back to the problem re – energized and with a more innovative mindset.

Prioritisation

Our partners from Ripple CRM suggest “Prioritisation”

It’s an obvious one – we all know we have things todo everyday in business. Most people have a list of things that they need to work through. A long list can become overwhelming if you have a lot to do.

Many people just start with the first thing they put on their list and they don’t think about the priority order of tasks. Also people tend to prioritise tasks on what they think is the highest priority for them and not necessarily for their company or clients.

So when trying to prioritise tasks, think about it in this order and state of mind:

1. What tasks are high priority and must get done today? Or another way to think about it is if these things don’t get done today I am definitely going to get in trouble with my boss or my client.

2. What tasks are high priority but do not need to be done today?These are the things you should be focusing on but are not essential for today’s priority.

3. Low Priority Tasks Things that need to get done but are not as urgent as the two categories above.

Each day spend 10 minutes of your time categorising your tasks into the above categories. You should know how to do your work – otherwise you wouldn’t be good at your job right? But knowing whatto focus on, is essential to any business’ survival. Small changes like focusing on high priority tasks first could mean the difference between achieving a higher revenue turnover this month instead of next month. It all makes a difference.

Take mini breaks regularly

Our partners from Insights For Professionals suggest to “Take mini breaks”.

Working for long periods without breaks can often lead to increased stress and fatigue. So why not schedule mini breaks periodically to stretch, walk around and have a glass of water? In return, you’ll feel rejuvenated both physically and mentally, allowing you to think more creatively.

https://www.insightsforprofessionals.com/management/leadership/10-top-tips-for-improving-productivity

Utilize proper productivity tools

Our partner Mehmet Akyol from Startup Buffer suggest to “Utilize proper productivity tools”.

Being a single founder, maintaining motivation and productivity requires some additional work. Using different products and services, you can increase your productivity. Pomodoro technique is one of the secret weapons that I was using for a long time. Additionally, recently I have discovered Focusmate to find accountability partners for 50 minutes of sessions. So, using both Pomodoro apps and Focusmate can help any other solopreneurs to increase their productivity.

Accomplish more of what’s important to you

Our partner from Lead Grow Develop suggests to “Accomplish more of what’s important to you”.

Investing in productivity in your career will significantly increase your chances of achieving productivity in other areas of your life. If you are living a life out of balance, then you are not living a life of full potential. Someone who plans their day intentionally can get more things done in 5 hours, then someone who works 9 hours without a plan. Without the right habits, you will find yourself returning to the starting line, over and over again.

Write a to-do list every day

Our partner Julia Mankovskaya from Daxx Blog suggests to “write a to-do list every day”.

“It may seem as easy as pie, but I would recommend you write a to-do list every day. This helps you not to forget about something on a daily run. Additionally, it is a kind of motivating stuff to criss-cross every task you did from your list. You can also put some fun and attach an entertaining picture to the tasks you consider the most complicated or difficult. After all is done – rest well.”

Prioritize your activities

Our partner Haley Gray from Leadership Girl suggests to “Prioritize your activities”.

My best tip for productivity tips is to prioritize and do the things that are most important to you, saying “no” to the things that are not important, that don’t bring you pleasure, satisfaction, or move your business or career forward. So many times we say “yes” to too many volunteer activities. It’s how I ended up as a leader to 4 Girl Scout Troops. I loved it, but it was also a huge amount of time for me, taking time away from my children, and other things that I really needed to be doing. When I started learning to say no to volunteer activities, to job opportunities that weren’t a good match, and things that just don’t make sense for me to do, life got a lot easier.

Avoid getting caught up in the work of others

Our partner Dorothy Dalton from 3Plus International suggests to “Avoid getting caught up in the work of others”.

We all know the phrase “If you want something done, ask a busy person”? Don’t let that person be you.

One of the best ways to increase your productivity is to avoid getting caught up in the work of others. Also known as being “dumped on.” Learning to create boundaries in a constructive way to avoid assuming the work of others is vital. It could be taking on the work of a boss or peer or micro-managing a report. For women making sure the office housework such as buying leaving gifts, organising baby showers or setting-up the staff outing is rotated amongst all staff regardless of gender.

Equip yourself with practical skills

Our partner from Jobstore Blog suggests to “Equip yourself with practical skills”.

Working towards learning new skills to improve your expertise and knowledge can lead to enhancing and increasing work performance. Some of the core practical skills include public speaking, writing, self-management and networking. Besides that, decision-making, stress management and basic accounting skills are equally vital and practical to learn. Adopting and exercising any of these skills can bring a measure of the change in your life and what’s more, would turn your career’s to a greater path.

Start a time-use journal

Our partner Eric Taussig from Prialto suggests to “Start a time-use journal”.

Begin 2020 by starting a time-use journal, logging any activity that you repeat daily and noting how much time it takes you. If/when you find that a combination of any three of these activities requires 2.5 hours or more of your time, look for ways to automate these tasks. If they can’t be automated, hire an administrative assistant to whom you can delegate this work.

Stop multitasking

Our partner Alan Hosking from HR Future suggests to “Stop multitasking”.

Stop multitasking and do one thing at a time – properly. While multitasking sounds like the right thing to do to cope with increasing work pressures, few realise that it simply results in a number of things being done only half as productively as they should be.

Learning To Say No and Mastery of the 95%/5% rule

Our partner Cavakia from Infooomph suggests to “Learning To Say No and Mastery of the 95%/5% rule”.

My best tip for boosting productivity in my personal and professional life is learning say no and mastery of the 80/20 rule. Coming from a low conscious country like Haiti, I was programmed to say yes to everyone and every demand I perceived to have authority over me. Luckily things change when I met two mentors who raised my consciousness. One mentor thought me that NO was the most important word  in the universe, and that I should develop the courage to use it more in order to achieve high levels of success in life.

The second mentor thought me the 95%/5% rule. A method of devoting your precious time to only perform the 5% task that requires your physical presence while delegating the 95%. I used to implement this concept to get amazing result with clients when I was a trainer. Instead of limiting my potential to the amount of clients I could train in one hour, I started saying NO to one on one traditional personal training, and graduated to group training to help more folks in that single hour. From there, I started teaching and delegating the 95% by hiring other trainers.

Plan your days in advance

Our partner Kelvin from Fuzu suggested to “Plan your days in advance”.

Knowing what you need to accomplish during a particular week will enable you to plan for the week. List all the tasks you’ll need to do in order of the urgency they need to be done and the amount of time it would take to complete each. This will make it easier for you to plan your calendar for the week while prioritizing the work that matters most.
Legal BrandingLocal Branding

Investment Plan when Building a Home 

While most people prefer buying a fixer-upper and then renovate it, others don’t mind building homes from scratch. This gives them a chance to build their own dream home, and that’s something you can’t put a price on. Still, this sounds like the hardest thing in the world, but it’s really not as complicated as people generally think. It’s all about making a plan, defining your budget, and trying to stick to it as much as you can. So, if you too are building a new home, here are a few financial tips you should follow.

Invest your time in your budget

First, you need to figure out how much money you’ve got and how much you can really spend. Going broke and spending every cent you have is never fun, so avoiding that situation is a must. That’s why you have to define your budget first and know how you’re spending every single dollar. After that, you need to try to stick to your estimate and not spend money you don’t have.

Hiring designers and contractors who understand your budget and respect it is a must. These people will help you save money, if possible, during every step of the process. Also, think about using second-hand materials and resources that are more cost-effective. Finally, don’t forget to create a contingency budget too, in case something bad happens. Unexpected situations can’t be avoided, so you’d better be ready for them. Anything from weather disasters to soil quality could set you back and cost you money, so get prepared in advance.

Invest your money in a proper kitchen

While most people think the living room is the center of every home, the kitchen actually receives more attention. This is where you’ll spend a few hours of your day, preparing healthy meals for your family. It’s also space where you can hang out with your loved ones and even receive your guests. In short, this is an area that makes your house a home, and it deserves a ton of attention.

When it comes to creating a perfect kitchen, it’s all about maintaining the balance. Make sure your cabinets aren’t too huge but are still big enough for all your essentials. Also, pick the right pattern for your countertop because it could easily turn into the focal point of your kitchen. Finally, invest in some new appliances that will make your cooking process easy, enjoyable, and successful every single day.

Invest your energy in the design

Building a home for yourself and your family is something you’re probably going to do once in your life. Therefore, you should make sure this home has everything you need and is perfect in every sense of the word. This means it has to be practical, functional, and, above all, visually appealing. That’s why the design is so important, especially if you’re planning on spending the rest of your life here. Homeowners all over the world, from Australia to the USA, know that and pay attention to their home’s visual appeal.

Creating the perfect design isn’t that easy, though, and you need to get inspired. Follow the latest trends, talk to designers, or consult your friends who have already gone through this process. You could also look into project homes, which is quite a popular idea with the aforementioned Australian homeowners. They could get explore ideas presented by those creative project home builders from Sydney who know everything about building homes. Checking their floor plans and solutions could help you define a design of your own, so look into them ASAP.

Invest your patience in the project

Unlike purchasing a turnkey property that you can move into straight away, building your own home takes time and patience. Houses can’t be built in a day, and the entire process might end up taking several years. This will test your patience in more ways than one, but you should stay cool and committed to your goals. 

Building a home from scratch involves a number of different projects, from designing to decorating it, and everything in between. Depending on the size of your construction, you could even be done in a matter of months, if you’re lucky. If not, you could run into problems and holdups, and waste weeks dealing with them. This is why being patient is so important – otherwise, you’ll be under a pile of stress all the time. 

Building a home of your own is a big, serious, and complex project. It’s a dream project for people around the world, and something that will give them a home they deserve. However, it’s a project you should definitely not try to complete on your own, especially if you have no experience. But, if you invest your time, money, energy, and patience into this project, it will surely turn into a success!

Legal BrandingLocal Branding

Real Estate: Risks and Opportunities Associated with it 

Real estate industry is a huge business today and making billions of dollars in revenue. The industry has also enabled thousands of entrepreneurs to earn massive profit in their startups. Real estate is any property comprising of land and improvements like buildings, road structures, and utility systems. Some of the best examples of real estate are Dubai Marina Apartments, Palm Jumeirah Villas and Business Bay sky-scrappers.  

Types of Real Estate

Real estate can be divided into four major categories based on their utilization and purpose. The main types are Land, Residential, Commercial and Industrial.  

  • Land is the foundation for any kind of real estate, be it residential, commercial or industrial. Land is an unconstructed and vacant piece allowing for the construction and its value is associated with zone and combination with other properties. Property developers buy this kind of property and rezone it with other properties to increase its worth and density.
  • Residential property refers to the property that is especially meant for residential purpose. This kind of property is attractive to professionals, family-oriented buyers and investors. This is the most common type of real estate. 
  • Commercial property refers to any kind of land and constructed buildings that are used for commercial purpose. This kind of real estate is a center of attraction for business investors and play a vital role in revenue generation and employment opportunities. Examples include shopping malls, retail outlets, restaurants, and cafes. 
  • Industrial property is the one used for industrial and manufacturing purposes like factories, research, and development, warehousing and logistics. This kind of real estate is also a vital role player in proving investment and employment opportunities.

Risks

  1. Real estate responds to the macroeconomy. This risk, involving scenarios like downturns in the local or national economy is beyond the control of the business owner.
  2. A location once preferred for real estate investment might turn less preferred and vice versa. 
  3. An increased supply, for example, the construction of new and better projects in the vicinity might depreciate the value of a property.
  4. Building management companies might change their priorities and requirements, specifically probable for aging properties.

Opportunities

  1. Brokers can use technology to enhance selling experiences like virtual tours, personalized recommendations, and tracking.
  2. Buyers can be more educated by speeding up the sales cycle by knowing what they want and need.
  3. Brokers have many opportunities to earn good money, hence promoting employment.
Local Branding

Starting a Business in Dubai – 4 Tips You Should Be Aware Of

Dubai is the corporate capital of the UAE – the United Arab Emirates. Its economy is expected to expand at a quicker pace this year, outgrowing the levels achieved in 2018, despite the global economic slowdown. GDP – gross domestic product – is expected to grow 2.1 percent in 2019, further accelerating to a staggering 3.8% in 2020.

This city provides ample business opportunities and innovative commercial modules for corporations all around the world. The investor-friendly environment and international exposure are just some of the factors that propel entrepreneurs to start their businesses here. Yet, it isn’t easy for a new entity to understand the process of setting up a company. Here’s a list of the top-picked tips to be aware of before starting your own business in Dubai.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-city-lit-up-at-night-325193/

Know your business

For a successful business venture, you will need a sound knowledge of the region, in-depth research of the viability and demand for your service or product and a solid business plan that can attract investment partners. You may have an amazing idea, but if there is no demand for it, what would you stand to gain?

Researching competition will allow you to have a business offering that is a notch above theirs. Initial research should include spending some cash on marketing to feel out the demand for your product, which will probably save you thousands of dollars in the future. You can also gauge the interest in your service or product by utilizing Facebook, Google and other social media and search engines to ask people for their opinion.

Find a local partner

The law in the UAE states that your company must have a local partner who holds the majority interest and can thus control your business, which includes closing it, if necessary. The partner will own 51% of your enterprise, so they can call all the shots regarding it. Whether this partner is a company or a person, they don’t have to contribute to the business investment or participate monetarily at all.

When self-employment is in question, there are numerous ways that a partner can be remunerated. This local partner requirement is currently under review in certain states, to encourage foreign investment.

Hire consultants

For starters, you can hire two or three finance consultants to help you sort out all the expenses and predicted income regarding business development – to ensure you will grow in the right way without making mistakes. Or find specialists on business deregistration, they always know the reasons why a business closes in every industry as they go through that same process with their clients.

Other than that, you can also consult professionals for company setup in Dubai who can provide you with expert advice and solutions about business restructuring. This will safeguard and maintain the control of your corporation’s presence through the UAE. They, like the previously mentioned financial consultants, can offer you a range of corporate structuring and consulting services that are suited to your company’s activity and expansion plans.

Registration and external approvals

You will have to register your trade name with the DED. Standards from the DED – Department of Economic Development – state that you will have to give a name to your business. This trade name will act as an identifiable trait of your company, and hence DED emphasizes associating the name as per the license type. It usually takes around three days to register a trading name, that is afterwards valid for a period of six months.

Besides this, you may also need external approvals for your company in Dubai. DED dispenses trade licenses to companies and works with investors. However, at times you may also need external approvals to start your business. Typically, such permissions are acquired by semi-governmental and non-governmental bodies.

Based on these details, it is obvious that starting your own business in Dubai is an extensive process. Nevertheless, you can ensure that it is fast and cost-effective by having a company setup consultant. With an expert business consultant, you won’t waste time and money on unnecessary items and documents.

Digital BrandingLocal Branding

How Can You Drive Business to Your Website?

https://unsplash.com/photos/5fNmWej4tAA

 

Have you ever developed a website? I mean not literally with coding and stuff but have you ever had to hire a team, work with them to get a website developed. If yes you would know it’s not as easy as fishing in a barrel. There are plenty of factors that affect website development like cost, delays, and team management. It’s better to understand these things before you hire the website development company or a freelance developer.

When you don’t exactly know the requirements of your website, there is a high probability of making blunders. That can be a set off for bringing the business to the website. Here are some of the ways to save your website from that and help drive business to it.

Pick Your Functionality

Developing a website is a bulky and time-consuming thing unless you are just picking a template and launching it. It takes a considerate amount of time in building it from scratch, finding the right partner to do it for you, and by the time you launch it, the precious time has gone.

To cut down the delay, decide the most important functions of the website before passing through the development phase. Let me put it this way, a good website is way better than having a perfect website in far in the future.

Sometimes, it’s the time you need to take the most advantage of. Start with an MVP model and get in the digital world at the earliest.

Design That Everyone Can Connect

“Design is not just about how it looks and feels but it is also about how it functions.”

So, instead of scrutinizing the design images in the jpg format and have a lot of discussion and improvement in those images and then do it all again in the functional website. It is better to be able to see the design live in the browser, have a discussion and make the changes accordingly. A functional website is way better than static images. It would be easier to make a decision with a live website.

Newer Needs, Higher Cost

If you hire a company that has adequate experience in website development, they will help you figure out the essential features or the ones you are missing out and a fair estimate of the same. In the absence of that, there might be a chance of missing out key features which you have to add at a late date and have your budget all up and down. They can help you review and show you what’s best for your website and the best ways to drive the appropriate amount of traffic to your site.

Security Blunders

One of the reasons for losing traffic from your website can be security issues. Make sure that the developer keeps the backup or copy of every single thing. The CMS and the code have to be kept as secure as possible. Try to set a complex password, versions updated, and several layers to security for utmost security. The help of a professional is always appreciated.

Mobile Compatibility

The website must be mobile compatible as a large amount of traffic is driven from a mobile device. The design has to be such that it works on the device with every type of device and screen size. Make sure that it does not crash when it opens on the mobile device and avails the user with great user experience. Also, the loading time should not be too long. Long loading will definitely drive the user away instead of inviting them.

 

Authors Bio:

I am Pratik Kanada, founder & CEO of 360 Degree Technosoft, an iPhone and Android app development company which makes app ideas into reality. We also provide unique design and development services globally. I generally write blogs on mobile technology, app development services, app marketing, website designing, and development. 

Local BrandingPersonal Branding

How to Design a Splendid Outdoor Setting for Your Restaurant

When designing your restaurant, what surely comes first on the list is a modern and functional kitchen, a great bar area, a comfortable and inviting dining room, but you mustn’t overlook another important part and that is the outdoor dining space.

With the alfresco entertaining season already upon us, most diners prefer enjoying their meal in the fresh air so it’s obvious this area deserves your full attention. Your guests will certainly have to pass first through the entry and the front part of your restaurant so naturally, you have to leave a great impression there, but leave something for the end and charm them once they step outside into your splendid outdoor space.

Here are several design aspects you need to consider when designing your restaurant.

Outdoor brand signage

First impressions count a great deal so right at your entrance, you need to have your business sign to catch people’s attention. Be sure to do your research into regulations of your area as many cities and business districts have strict rules about the type of outdoor signs restaurants and other business can have.

Once you know exactly what you can and cannot do, hire a professional sign designer to produce something that is unique and reflective of your restaurant. Whereas you could probably come up with your own design for the menus, it’s recommendable you leave the outdoor sign design to experts. The reason is simply – an amateur, hand-made sign on a piece of plywood with spray paint will definitely send the wrong message!

Outdoor lights and signs

In addition to your business sign, the outside will benefit from other signs, such as available parking, open/close times, no smoking and others that give your guests valuable information. These should also be professionally done and with adequate lighting, you’re not only ensuring the right ambiance but your customers’ safety as well.

Strategically placed outdoor lights will make your customers feel welcome whereas string lights placed overhead to give a magical touch to the outdoor dining space, especially in the summer. It can all be combined with torches along the pathways, stylish table lamps or candles for an intimate atmosphere and a vintage, glass chandelier in the center for a touch of old-time elegance.

Seating options

Providing plenty of seating options in the entire restaurant is a priority so you can accommodate for everyone, including those who wait. In front of your restaurant, you could set up a bench and maybe a couple of small tables and chairs like the French cafes do but make sure you pick both attractive and durable furniture.

The same rule applies for your outdoor dining area – all the furniture pieces need to be aesthetically pleasing and designed to withstand the weather and wearing. You need to find a reliable restaurant furniture supplier who offers great, sturdy patio furniture for commercial use in various styles, so you can easily find something that fits into your restaurant theme. Depending on what you’re going for, outdoor furniture trends in Sydney demonstrate the choices you can make, from a refined, classy aesthetics, a fresh coastal theme to an ultra-contemporary vibe.

Restaurant information

Outside menus next to the entrance of your restaurant in the form of an old-style chalkboard or a glass menu case are an excellent way to advertise your delicacies and attract guests. However, not just any menu will do. It needs to be well lit and clearly written so the customers can read it easily at any time of day or night.

In addition to a wall-mounted menu board, you can also put up a sandwich board on the pavement to advertise your menu specials and maybe even write an inspirational quote or an appropriate joke!

Alfresco area decor

Extending your restaurant ambiance to the alfresco area will create a full circle in your restaurant design. Take similar décor details you have inside and incorporate them in the outdoor setting. It can be the same light fixtures, table cloths, seating cushions, and music, just make sure it isn’t too loud so the guests can easily converse while they enjoy their meal.

Don’t forget the power or plants and flowers to dress up even the plainest setting. Place stylish planters and window boxes both at the front entrance and back patio entrance, but make sure there is at least one designated person to take care of the plants so they stay fresh and beautiful at all times.

Hopefully, the tips listed here give you enough incentive to start designing your dream restaurant space!

Digital BrandingLocal Branding

How Technology Can Help You to Decorate Your Apartment?

Technology surprises us in so many ways. If you think that there’s no way an application or software could help you in things which are traditionally manual, for example, house decoration, then that’s where you are completely wrong. In fact, interior designing or house decoration is facilitated by different kinds of software and applications. When you’re decorating your apartment for the first time or just updating your style, it can be tough to figure out where to start. There are so many different styles and color palettes to choose from that it can be overwhelming to try and decide which direction to go in! For example, if you check out apartments for rent in Columbia and you want to decorate them to perfection, then you shouldn’t be worried anymore. In this blog, you’ll find out about some of the very beneficial applications which can help you to decorate your apartment just the way you want it to decorate. Above all, you can get unbiased and free consultancy from technology in the form of mobile applications. If you have a cool apartment of your own then go ahead and gear up to decorate it, however, if you haven’t bought an apartment of your own, in Palm, then buy an apartment in Palm Jumeirah and decorate it with the best.

Here are some of the applications which can help you to decorate your apartment:

1. Houzz Interior Design Ideas

If you are tired of stacking interior magazines, then this app is just the right thing for you. This application is very simple to use and it will definitely get you out of your confusions. If you are not sure that how that sofa you liked will look in your drawing room, then don’t worry because this app has got you covered. All you need to do is take the picture of that sofa and click the “view in my room” option. This way, you’ll be able to see either if it’s going to look good or not.

2. Hutch

This is another amazing app with very exciting features. If you want to upgrade your place and you are also on a budget, then Hutch is your solution. Just take the picture of your room, decide your budget and just like that Hutch will do the rest of the job. It will show you hand-picked options for furniture according to your budget. Isn’t it great? The best part about this app is that you can shop through this app too if you don’t want to go through the hustle of shopping.

3. Mosss

If you want someone to guide you according to your taste and you want them to magically know what you exactly need to do with your place, the Mosss is something you need to try right now. It is an artificial intelligence based program which uses machine learning to know exactly what you need and what your requirements. You can say goodbye to all those expensive consultancies with Mosss. Above all, Mosss uses a deep learning mechanism to learn designs and processes of all the best interior designers out there and then creates a design for you which is inspired by great designers.

4. ColorSnap

Interior designing is not all about furniture and accessories. If you want your room or house look great, then you need to make sure that you are following all the rules. Color of walls is more important than you think it is. Therefore, you have to make sure that you select the right color. Watching color cards can be extremely boring and most of the times you don’t know how it will look if after being painted on the wall. ColorSnap has a solution to your this problem. With this application, all you need is take a picture of the room, select the wall you want to paint and apply the color of your choice. It will give you a perfect realistic picture of the end results.

Local Branding

Retirement Community: Smart Strategies for Boosting Occupancy

Retirement communities have always been popular all over the world, giving seniors everywhere an opportunity for a new life. However, their occupancy has been dropping in the past several years, and the reason for that is still unknown. So, what can we do about it and how can retirement communities boost their occupancy in the future?

Create a new website

People in this industry feel that they don’t need a website in order to get the word out, but the fact is that a website is a must in this day and age, no matter what you do. However, not just any website will do as only an optimized website that’s as good as your competitors’ – or even better – will attract the attention of potential residents. Optimizing your website isn’t as hard as people think, and this will make your website visually appealing, interesting and, above all, useful.

Pick out “brand ambassadors”

Although this may sound like the craziest idea in the world, this might actually work better than you could imagine. Choosing “brand ambassadors” – these are the people who will represent your brand and promote it – is easy as long as you have a few residents who are happy with your services and ready to share their positive experience with the world. Relying on word-of-mouth marketing can really make a lot of sense in the long run, while showing faces who represent your brand to the world is even better.

Insist on quality

However, in order to find your “brand ambassadors”, you need to provide them with quality services and proper care. That’s why you should insist on comfort, coziness, proper organization, and a modern look of your retirement community because only such enterprises can keep boosting occupancy. At Mark Moran Vaucluse retirement properties, for example, retirees are able to enjoy everything from an ocean view and private reading spaces to outdoor atriums and wellness care, all while being surrounded by freshly renovated rooms equipped with various appliances and beautiful fixtures. These are the things that attract people and encourage potential new users to come aboard right away.

Train your staff

All retirees need someone to depend on, and your staff is in contact with them the most. That’s why your employees have to be trained properly and possess all the necessary knowledge that will help them deal with different kinds of people on a daily basis. Being familiar with various nursing techniques and sales strategies is vital, and this will separate your retirement community from the others.

Listen to the people

One of the reasons why senior living communities are struggling with occupancy is the fact that they don’t know what the people really want. Giving them a basic treatment and not being ready to think outside the box isn’t enough anymore. That’s why you need to talk to potential residents and hear them out. Discover what they want, and find a way to provide them with that, and you’ll start boosting your occupancy straight away.

Invest in a CRM system

Tracking your clients and all their needs can be a challenging job, and relying on a customer relationship management system is just the thing you need. This may sound unnecessary first, but a proper CRM system comes with a ton of benefits. It helps you reach more people in less time, tracks all their needs and inquires, and adjusts your marketing strategy in accordance with their wishes, so it’s definitely worth investigating.

Boosting occupancy in a retirement community is never easy, but if you explore these ideas and put them into practice, you may be able to attract more people that you’ve hoped quite quickly.