Category: Local Branding

Make A Sale! 7 Eye-Catching Ideas In Making A Convincing Poster Ad

Steven on August 10, 2018

If you are going to look around, you will see that the world is full of visual representations. You’ll see different designs, aesthetics, structural images, beautiful sceneries, and so on. You feed your eyes with different things you see wherever you look.

In line with that, you’ll see that the business industry is no different. It disposes of different visual marketing strategies to boost publicity and sales. They invest in creating banners posters, and other signages for every sales event that they conduct to make sure they attract a lot of prospective customers.

That said, it is always right to follow general rules to make sure that your design stands out and is different among others. Here are some of the few things you may contemplate when designing your promotional medium.

Work on Typical Poster Sizes

It is a must that before you start planning and working for the design and content of your poster, you have to decide the appropriate size you are going to use. Examine the type of business you have and check your audiences so you’ll have an idea what to use.

You have to remember that if your poster size is too small people can hardly read it and if it’s too big then people will pass by it because it’s a nuisance to them. Always consider picking the right size so that you can quickly draw people’s attention.

Moreover, for posters and signage that you want to put on sidewalks, then you may consider using a larger size. If you’re going to get the attention of people in passing cars, then you may choose a larger scale.

Make it Easy

Most business owners think that the more content and design they put into their ads the more it is compelling. Indeed, it’s not.

Always make sure that your designs are easy and straightforward to look. Bear in mind to choose bold and large letters for signs and easy graphics so that people can quickly read it and will not be puzzled of what you are advertising.

Colour Preference

It is one of the essential ingredients when captivating the eyes of your prospective clients. You have to choose colors that are striking, eye-catching, and of course, money-making signs.

With regards to your colour preference, you can use bold, bright, and contrasting colours. Yellow and red are the best choices because they can be seen at a distance. Also, prefer colours that connect with your brand so that your customers won’t be confused.

Naturally, Attention Seeking

Your purpose of making your poster advertisement is not just for public display but for people to look at it and understand it. So, it’s essential that you have to make it naturally attention seeking. You don’t just place it at any corner of your establishment and let it stay there.

When you place on a sidewalk or in the front of your store, put them lower because people try to glance down as they are walking. On the other hand, if you want to catch the attention of people from afar, then you have to hang it.

The primary key to your poster replacement is to study and know where your customer’s eyes naturally go.

Offers and Promotions

Signage and poster are not enough for people to see what you are trying to sale, but people are looking at the offers too. Bear in mind that customer’s priority and interest are looking at promotions, suggestions, and discounts which drive more sales

Bear in mind that you have to be prudent with your offers and discounts when you include it in your poster advertisement so your sales won’t decline and still get the profit your aiming.

Durability and Resistance

When making and designing poster ads, you can save money, energy, time, and effort if you consider its durability. Printing the poster ad and signage using high-quality vinyl banners can help you recycle in case you want to use them again.

Do it Right

Always put your 100% dedication and passion when designing for your poster ad. A well-crafted and thoughtfully-designed poster can wildly and successfully promote your business. Once you put significant attention to detail, your sales can boost anytime.

Takeaway

In the world of business where competition is tight and earning a high profit is the only way to make it last, it is always a must that you create and think out of the box marketing ideas.

Lastly, with a few artistic skills and incorporating them using typical poster sizes for people to see, surely your business will grow, and profit will inflate effortlessly.

Local Branding

Select Custom Designed Lighting Fixtures for Wet, Harsh, and Industrial Locations

Steven on August 8, 2018

The past few years have seen groundbreaking innovations hit the world of LED technology. Recent advancements are bringing about lighting solutions that cut across wet, harsh, and unique industrial settings. Most innovations are largely attributed to the increasing ability to create new form factors when LED technology is been utilized. These recent advancements in the lighting fixtures are bringing a revolution to the lighting world that was not possible with the traditional lighting sources available before this time.

In the past, it was very difficult to achieve significant light output as such a task required big and bulky fixtures, causing a limitation in innovation. Manufacturers have now been gifted with easier ways to develop fixtures that are customized to their specific application needs, as opposed to trying to manipulate an existing design to fit in. Resultant from this, the market has now been saturated with a lot more lighting fixtures products that are application specific, creating a scenario where it is easier to find the right product that will match your environment.

There are a number of factors that deserve consideration when making your choice of the best LED lighting fixtures that will fit into your wet and/or harsh industrial environments. The importance of these varies depending on the application, but here are some important points that should be considered and understood.

The first is the IP rating.: IP ratings are units used to define the level of sealing a light fixture has against any form of intrusion. The sealing level is specifically against external bodies like dirt and moisture. The IP rating in most industrial fixtures range between IP65 and IP69 – higher numbers show a higher level of ingress protection. The revolution on LED technology has caused new housing designs to their fixtures equipped with higher IP capability. Industrial settings are quite different, you just simply can’t have a fixture with an excessively high rating.
Another major factor that is often overlooked is chemical resistance. This is especially important in high chemical dense areas where wet and hose down applications is required. Polycarbonate has grown into becoming most popularly accepted materials for lenses because of the level of workability they bring and the durability that they offer. Despite its level of durability, Polycarbonate is still prone to minor stress cracks, crazing, and color change when exposed to certain chemicals (especially acid based) for a long period of time. Since exposure to Chemical is a potential risk factor, you should be careful enough to check and be sure of compatibility with the manufacturer.
Other important factors of Industrial LED fixtures that deserve serious consideration include lifespan rating and maintenance issues. The lifespan of the LED is a direct reflection of two constituents: the quality of components used and the care paid during construction. The ability to control the level of heat generation by the LED will go a long way to determine how long the fixture will last. Lighting fixtures that are manufactured at the highest industry standard and can control heat are typically rated to last up to 100,000 hours. This extended lifespan generally results in lower stress of maintenance and improved payback over time. Other potential cost reduction maintenance features that deserves been looked out for include: the ability to daisy chain fixtures and quick connect cabling.

With an increased potential go change the definition of energy saving and the increased ability for the development of application-specific fixtures, it seems so obvious that we are in the best time to consider LED lighting fixtures for Industrial Environments.

Local Branding

Deepen your Client Relationships with These Key Gift-Giving Strategies

Steven on July 16, 2018

There have been so many popular stories written about gifts like “The Gift of Magi” by O. Henry, “The Elves and the Shoemaker” by Brothers Grimm, or “The Nightingale and the Rose” by Oscar Wilde, each story revolves around the perfect gift and each story touches the soul in its own way. There is something about this gesture that makes everybody happy and elated.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/sM2nqDvg0AM

A gift is a gesture that automatically lets the receiver know what you intend to say even without saying a single word. It is a silent way of saying thank you, we care, we are happy, we love you, etc.

Gifting is not just limited to family and friends but it is prevalent even in the world of business. Corporate gifting is not just limited to pens and notepads anymore. Businesses are going out of their way to show their appreciation towards their clients which helps them build a loyal customer base. Gifting is one of the most efficient ways to deepen client relationships. Corporate gifting has evolved into an art, and there are consultants and companies that have been set up to help and aid other businesses, to guide, suggest, and provide apt gifts for their clients.

In order to deepen client relationships, retain them, and get new leads through them, you need to know a few key gift-giving strategies.

Although one is grateful towards the client, they may not have an idea how to show the appreciation. It is a kind of deficit that many faces, and it can sooner or later show its effect on the business. By cultivating a habit of gift giving, you stand a chance to be different from everybody else. Investing time and money in choosing an appropriate gift for your client is where everything lies at.

1. Invest Your Time and Not Just Money

Although everybody gives a gift, what will make you stand out is a gift that is thoughtful, which will matter to the recipient. It should be a useful gift, rather than something that they will just throw it in their attic or simply pass it on to somebody else.
By investing time to know what kind of person your client is or who they are and what they are interested in, what they like, what their soft spots are, you may be able to zero in on a perfect gift that will make them sit back and notice you. It should not always be about promoting your business, sometimes it should just be about the client and how you show your appreciation in your own unique way that will strike a chord with them. Take them to a game of their favourite team, gift them their favourite wine, or it can be as simple as taking them for a lunch at their favourite restaurant.

2. Focus on Your Top Clients

You can go overboard splurging your money in buying gifts for your entire client base. Instead, you can opt to focus on a small but very important group of clients who really matter for you and your business, they are your top clients on whom your success relies. A meaningful gift for your top 20 clients is far better than inexpensive pens sent to all 3000 of your clients.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/HWbxSLvmSww

3. Customization

Customer-relationship management software is great for maintaining a list of client hobbies, achievements, and milestones which can help you offer personalized gifts on their important occasions. Even following them on social media can help you in coming up with brilliant ideas for a customized gift as you will come to know what they like and things that they don’t like. Always add a personal note along with your gift to show that you remembered the conversation that inspired the said gift.

4. Personalized Acknowledgement

If you know of any favourite charity that is close to your client’s heart, you can make a gift to it, or you could also make a donation in their name to one of your favourite charity too.

5. Consider Family

Sometimes a client could have shared some personal details about his family and what they like and don’t. You can even surprise your client by gifting something for their family. It could be something that they have been planning on doing or getting.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/f94JPVrDbnY

Ultimately whatever you plan of gifting your client, see to it that it is useful, helpful, meaningful, and fun that they will think of you in a pleasant way. Click here to know more about corporate gifting or to hire a corporate gifting service.

Local Branding

How to choose the right front door lock

Steven on July 14, 2018

Your front door is the primary target for anyone who may try to violate your home. In addition to choosing a heavy, solid door, you need to put extra care into your choice of front door lock. The wrong lock could leave you open to burglaries, vandalism, or a home invasion. The right lock will help you to sleep well at night, secure in the knowledge that your door has the proper protection. Your skilled locksmith can help you to narrow down the best choice for you. First, consider your possibilities for a front door lock.

Think About Embracing Technology

Thanks to advances in technology, you may want to consider an electronic option for your front door lock. You may want to choose a lock that is opened through the use of a keypad or a touch screen. Another alternative is a blue tooth door lock that is opened through the use of your smart phone, tablet, or other electronic device. A biometric lock will only open by the use of an authorized fingerprint. Radio frequency identification is another option that allows access through the use of a key fob. You can have a traditional key access for your front door as well in case technology fails.

Try a More Traditional Approach

You may prefer to go with a more traditional front door lock. Whether you go with a round knob or a handle that simply pushes down or pulls up, you need to remember one important rule of thumb. Always include a deadbolt with this type of lock. Locks in your doorknob or handle can be broken in order to allow unwanted strangers into your home. You don’t want to make it easy for anyone to go through your front door. At the same time, don’t choose a system that needs a key to open the door from the inside. Otherwise, you could be trapped during an emergency.

Turn to Your Trusted Locksmith as Your Go-To Resource for the Right Front Door Lock

Your experienced locksmith has a wealth of knowledge about front door locks and what works best. Consult with your locksmith during a home visit to choose the next lock for your door. Your locksmith will perform a thorough inspection of your current lock to determine any improvements that should be made. If you have a lock that is damaged, always call your locksmith to determine if your lock can be repaired of if it needs to be replaced. Once your locksmith has assessed your needs, you can discuss the best front door lock that will give you peace of mind. Whether you are away, sound asleep, or enjoying the privacy of your home, you should not have to worry about intruders coming through your door. You can choose a traditional lock in your door knob combined with a deadbolt or choose a modern approach. Your locksmith is a great resource to keep you up to date on your choices for a door lock.

Local Branding

How to manage Your Rebranding

Steven on June 25, 2018

Rebranding your company can be a very important but very stressful process. If you are currently going through this process, then you have probably spent the last few months in the planning stage, trying to figure out how to go about it in the best way. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by the amounts of things that need to be done during the rebranding process which is why we have written this article to give you some tips on how to manage it. Keep reading if you’d like to find out more about this.

Plan Carefully

Before you get started on your rebrand, you need to plan carefully. You need to know why you are rebranding and what you are trying to change. If you don’t do your research properly then you might find that your rebrand will be a waste of time and you would have been better off sticking with the same branding. Plan accordingly and establish a clear strategy of how you want everything to happen. Don’t let yourself get carried away with rebranding before thinking through the consequences of your decision.

Manage Tasks

If you are rebranding a large company, you might find that there are a lot of things that need to be changed and a lot of things that need to be organized. For a company with a large team of people, it can be difficult to ensure that all tasks have been completed in time for the rebranding launch date. This is why you should consider making use of a workflow system like a Kanban board. So, what is a Kanban board? Well, a Kanban board uses different columns to organize tasks into things that need to be done, things that are in progress and others that have been completed. Make sure to do some more research about how a Kanban board works before getting started.

Create A Timeline

If you are going to rebrand your company, then you need to make sure that you create a timeline of how you want everything to go. You’ll need to make sure that you get all of your tasks completed on time and creating a timeline will help you to organize your tasks. Make to create a realistic timeline as if you try to rush things you might find that your rebranding does not go as well as you’d like. If you need some extra help with this, you could download some software that can take you through the steps in order to complete a good timeline that is easy to follow. Make sure to share your timeline with everyone who needs it in order to keep everyone on the same page with what needs to be done first.

Market Research

Before your rebranding gets underway, you should ensure that you are going in the right direction. If you are able to do extensive market research before the process begins, you can trust that you will have a successful project. You should also ensure that you conduct more research as the process goes on. Talk to your clients, find out if they will continue to use your services after the rebrand and find a good middle ground. Working with others on the rebrand will ensure that you are happy with your end result and you won’t have to do it all over again anytime soon. If you do your research properly then you’ll be able to manage your rebrand a lot easier.

Establish A Clear Budget

If you don’t set yourself a budget before the rebrand then you might find that you spend a lot more than you need to on the project. You need to set yourself a budget and try to stick to it where you can. This will help you to manage the whole project a lot easier and you can ensure that you will be happy with the process that you have undergone. When you are setting yourself a budget you should also remember that not everything goes to plan,and you should account for any issues that might arise in the rebranding process. Try your best to stick to the budget to ensure that you don’t end up spending more than you’ll make back over this whole process.

Final Thoughts

Deciding to rebrand your company is not a something which should be taken lightly. You need to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting yourself in to and you need to know what you need to change about your company. Don’t let yourself get carried away with the whole process, stick to your timeline and you’ll soon have your company back up and run. Organise yourself and your team effectively and your rebranding will be a success.

Local Branding

5 Business Risks You Take When You Become a Sole Proprietor

Steven on June 22, 2018

As a sole proprietor, you take on many inherent risks alone. There is nobody else to share the responsibilities, and any results of economic rewards or challenges would be only yours. It’s not easy to run a solo enterprise, but Gov Doc Filing makes it easier by providing the forms needed to apply for an entity and offer fast, simple, and secure processing through their simplified sole proprietor, S-Corp, C-Corp, and LLC forms online. They also provide forms to apply for an Employer Identification Number if needed.

Top Risks of a Sole Proprietor

Limited Earnings – There are only you and a limited number of hours in a day. You also need to eat and rest. Even with hired help, the majority of the work lands on you. Your earnings are limited on how much you are able to accomplish each day. It is common for people with financial problems not to be clear about what they are pursuing (absence of goals) and, if they have them, they are vague, unrealistic or incompatible with their budget. What is not measured is not controlled.
Poor Credit – When deciding to extend credit as a sole proprietor, lenders take your personal finances into account. All your personal spending habits have an impact on your ability to gain credit. It is important that you maintain an excellent credit rating as a sole business owner. It is associated with the possibility of defaults occurring in the established time and manner, which may involve loss of principal and interest, a decrease of cash flow, generation of expenses associated with the recovery processes, etc.
Financial Errors – In addition to completing work for your business, you must also carefully monitor your finances. As a sole proprietor, managing your own books can be risky. Consider hiring an accountant or make it a habit to enter your income and expenses in a daily log or spreadsheet.
Being Sued – A great benefit of incorporating your business is the layer of protection it provides. It is possible to lose all your personal property if you are sued.
High Tax Bills – Although most expenses related to your business can be deducted on your income taxes, your tax burden may be increased from the self-employment taxes you must pay. Your habit of saving is deficient or nonexistent, you do not pay your credit cards, pay loans, understand how normal to acquire everything on credit, as well as paying delinquencies for overdrafts and late payments.

Before wanting to make any comment about it, it is necessary to know the variable and the risk concept with which we live in a day-to-day in a financial institution. In very simple terms there is risk in any situation where we do not know exactly what will happen in the future. Elsewhere Risk is synonymous with Uncertainty, it is the difficulty of being able to predict what will happen. Risk is part of life itself, it is up to us to manage it by becoming aware of the situations that lead us to it and applying the corrective measures to avoid them, as long as it is within our reach.

Local Branding

How To Hire The Perfect Candidate

Steven on May 2, 2018

The U.S. unemployment rate has plummeted to right around 4 percent in recent weeks. And while that’s great news for the economy, it’s definitely not ideal if you’re trying to find the perfect candidate to fill a job at your company.

Whether you’re looking for someone to serve as a receptionist and greet visitors at the entrance to your office or you’re in search of a CEO with the right personality traits to be the face of your company, you’re likely finding it more difficult than ever to fill open jobs. Obtaining the right business skills is never an easy task, but when done properly they can really make a difference. There’s plenty of quality resources online like Businessstudynotes where you can get free exam material and see where you stand.

If you need a hand, here are some tips that will help you track down the perfect candidate for any position.

Create a Detailed Job Listing

The first thing you’ll need to do when trying to fill a position at your company is to create a job listing and post it on job sites. This job listing should serve two purposes:

It should clearly outline the skills you want the perfect candidate to possess
It should give all candidates a rundown on what your company is all about and what you have to offer to those seeking a job

This job listing should be as detailed as it can possibly be so that you only attract the right candidates for the position.

If you want candidates to have X amount of years working in your specific industry, you should include that. If you want them to have X amount of years of college education, you should include that, too. You should lay out exactly who you want your ideal candidate to be.

Additionally, you should provide interested candidates with what you’ll be looking for from the person who earns the job. You don’t want there to be any confusion in the future about what the job entails.

Avoid Setting Up Standard Job Interviews

Is there anything more boring than sitting down with a candidate and asking them a bunch of stock questions about their education and work experience? They’ll likely provide you with the same answers over and over again. It won’t give you a chance to find your perfect candidate if you take this approach.

Instead of going the standard route, how about taking a more creative approach to the interview process? You can:

Provide the best candidates for a job with a tour of your office or facility and ask them questions along the way
Invite the best candidates to lunch or dinner and pick their brains as you enjoy a meal together
Take a walk around the block and see how the best candidates interact with the outside world to give you a better idea of what kind of people they really are

While you will obviously need to get down to business at some point and ask the perfect candidates questions about themselves, that doesn’t mean it has to be done in your average interview setting. It also doesn’t mean you have to ask the same old interview questions.

Get as creative as you can with your questions and really get to know candidates before you narrow down your search. You will be doing yourself and your company a favor by going all out with your interview questions.

Place Candidates Into Real-World Scenarios

In addition to asking job candidates questions about themselves and their work experience, you should also try and put them into real-world scenarios and ask them how they would react to certain situations if they were hired by your company.

Role-playing is a great way to find out more about a person who has applied for a job. For example, if you’re trying to hire someone to be a magazine editor, you might ask them something like:

“You just got a big scoop from an anonymous source. The source told you that a famous celebrity is pregnant and ready to give birth any day. One of your coworkers tells you that you should write a story about it immediately and publish it on the magazine’s website. What do you do?”

The candidate won’t actually have to sit down at the computer and decide whether or not to write the story. But their answer will tell you a lot about what you can expect from them if and when they start working for you.

Give Candidates Optional Homework

There are more and more companies who are keeping the interview process open long after the actual interview ends.

If you really want to find out what a candidate is made of, send them home with a homework assignment and ask them to send it to you when they’re finished.

This will show how committed candidates are to a job, as many people will opt against doing additional work after an interview. These are the kinds of people you probably don’t want working at your company in the first place.

Ask Colleagues for Second Opinions

Once you have done all of your interviews and sifted through the choices you have, it will be time to narrow down your search.

Usually, there will be a handful of people who will stand out to you. Whether you liked the answers they gave during their interviews or they blew you away with the response they gave to your hypothetical workplace scenario, you’ll have a few favorites.

At that point, you should ask your colleagues to share their thoughts on specific candidates. You shouldn’t be trying to find the perfect candidate alone. Instead, you should trust those who work with you to lend a hand.

Sit down with a few colleagues and tell them about the best candidates. You might even want to bring those candidates in for second and third interviews with others in your company.

Your colleagues will be able to pick up on certain things you might have missed. It will be well worth your time to include them in the decision when searching for a perfect candidate.

Make Diversity a Priority in Your Hiring Practices

While you shouldn’t hire candidates based solely on gender or race, you do want to keep diversity in mind when trying to find the perfect candidate. You want to have people of all backgrounds working in your office or facility to make it the best it can be.

Diversity should be something you strive for, and it should also be something that is discussed at the highest levels of your company.

Always Check References Provided by Candidates

All employers ask candidates to include references when applying for a job. The majority of them then follow through and use those references during the hiring process.

But it’s kind of surprising to hear that not all employers check references. References can be an invaluable resource for companies hiring new employees.

Before you offer a job to someone who seems like the perfect candidate, you should call at least one of their professional references and ask questions like:

What was it like working with this person?
What did they bring to the job when you worked with them?
Did you have a pleasant experience working alongside them?
How did they improve your company’s culture?
Would you recommend them to another company looking to hire the perfect candidate for a job?

The answers you get when checking a person’s references will tell you just about everything you need to know about them. If the references hesitate to give a person a glowing review, you probably have a cause for concern.

Trust Your Gut Before Offering Someone a Job

There are going to be times when you interview someone and they look and sound like the perfect candidate.

They have the right education to do the job you need them to do. They have plenty of experience in your field. They might even have great references from their past employers.

Yet, for whatever reason, you still have this nagging suspicion that they just wouldn’t be the right person for the job.

While you obviously don’t want to overthink your decision and spend weeks and weeks trying to make it, you also don’t want to ignore any gut feelings you might have.

If you think someone might not be right for a position at the end of the interview process, try your best to confirm your suspicions. Go back and interview another reference or use social media to see what you can find about a candidate.

In 2018, there are so many ways that you can do extensive background checks on people to see if they’re definitely the best fit for a job. Use everything you have at your disposal to decide if you’ve found the perfect candidate. While not every company can follow these tips, many of them can be adopted. The sooner you implement these interview tips into your hiring process, the sooner you’ll be able to make sure you’re making the right hire for years to come.

And if you’re not convinced that’s the case, then keep looking until you find someone who is perfect for the position.

About the author:

Friddy Hoegener is the Co-Founder of SCOPE Recruiting a boutique Supply Chain, Operations, and Executive recruiting firm. Friddy holds a Master of Social Entrepreneurship from HULT international business school in London, UK. He started his career in Supply Chain Management with ABB Germany before moving to the United States where he worked for Thomas and Betts as well as Kohler where he left a successful career in the supply chain to join the recruiting world. Today, Friddy and his team utilize their networks and knowledge to match some of the best supply chain and operations talent with exciting opportunities from Start-ups to Fortune500 companies.

Local Branding

MBA Application Deadlines Are Fast Approaching

Steven on February 23, 2018

The holiday season allowed many working professionals to take some much-needed time away from the office to focus on their personal lives, create resolutions, and restructure their goals in time for the new year. Part of hitting the ground running in 2018 means getting organized and creating practical plans that will take business people to the levels they’re aspiring to. If career advancement is one of the goals, or finding a better paying position with a greater amount of responsibility, then emerging professionals might consider pursuing MBA degrees to help them qualify for these roles faster. It’s important to bear in mind however that deadlines are fast approaching!

Before applying, prospective candidates should make a list of schools they feel would be a good fit along with deadlines, application requirements, and all the important supporting documentation they must collect. Deadlines for consideration into the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, for example, start as early as February 1^st for the part-time program in downtown Toronto, however admissions are also awarded on a rolling basis for the 2019 deadline. Fortunately, those intending to pursue the full-time MBA program in Waterloo this coming September have until April 6, 2018, to get their applications in; this gives prospective students plenty of time to prepare.

The key to sending off a strong application lies in careful planning. To begin with, all MBA programs demand that applicants receive an accomplished score on the GMAT test which is designed to assess certain reading, writing, verbal and analytical skills; most programs require a score of 600 or higher. Candidates can achieve top scores on the GMAT by taking practice tests, and there are a variety programs and services offering comprehensive GMAT coaching.

As well, it is recommended that those interested in applying set aside time to devise a strong statement of intent; this is what will help them stand out from all the other applicants by allowing them to share their own unique experiences and the goals they have going into the program. A solid statement will be strategic and selective about what it includes, incorporating keywords the admissions council is looking for. Those applying should also consider receiving feedback for their writing from current students or alumni of the program they’re hoping to get accepted into.

Many schools will also ask their applicants to choose an area of specialization right from the get-go; candidates should choose a stream they’re passionate about and speak to the reasons for their selection in their statements. The program above offers ten different options including accounting, marketing, finance, strategic management, operations management, supply chain management, entrepreneurship and more.

It’s never too early to get a leg up on the competition and to bring plans for the future to fruition, especially when there is much preparation to be done, including external testing or requesting letters of reference that can take applicants time to gather. With newly found purpose after ringing in 2018, and MBA admission deadlines coming up soon, there’s never been a better time to start prepping for desired career success.