Tag: Professional service

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News & updates

How to attract your ideal customers and avoid time-wasters

Sooner or later, every small businessperson runs into that customer they regret getting involved with. When time is money, you need to draw the line between being knowledgeable and helpful, and giving away too much billable information. The best strategy is to learn to spot these types of customers and set boundaries in the beginning so that you can spend your time with more valuable prospects, but how do you do this?

How to identify a time-waster

Everyone knows how valuable customer relationships are to growing your business. While it is always best to be courteous, how do you navigate a difficult client without sacrificing your professional reputation? The first step is to learn to recognize them in the first place. Here are a few of the more common things you should look for in potential time-wasting customers. 

  • They ask about lowering your price or striking “deals’

This is probably the biggest clue. This is a sign that they do not see the value in what you have to offer. If they are bargain shopping, they are not serious. 

  • They keep asking for industry information

 It is a sad reality that some customers only want you as a resource for industry knowledge. They might try to “impress” you with their knowledge of the industry by telling you things any beginner would know. You must set boundaries in the beginning and suggest that they hire your services if they would like a consultant. 

  • They’re delay in responding

 If a customer takes too long to respond, they are likely testing you to see how desperate you are for their business. You can bet that if you chase them, they will take full advantage of your vulnerability. If the client is a big company or influencer, you might want to ease up, but if this is not the case, you are probably better off moving on. 

Ways to attract the ideal customer

Now that you know a little more about avoiding the time-wasters, you need to know how to attract your ideal customer. Here are a few tips. 

  • Use a customer contact form 

Put a contact form on your website or email using Survey Monkey or Google Sheets. This technique allows you to ask a few prequalifying questions and to get a better idea of their needs. This takes up much less time than answering the phone and spending your time talking to “browsers.” 

  • Position yourself

Use your online presence to define your target market. This comes under the category of knowing your brand, knowing the value of your brand, and knowing as much as possible about your target market. 

  • Charge an initial consult fee

Your time is worth something. If they are serious, they will understand this and be willing to pay for your services from the beginning. 

  •  Free 10-minute consultation

Advertise a free consultation time and charge for anything after this, it’s an excellent way to set boundaries and limit your losses from those who only want what you know for free. Set a timer and be ready to politely end the conversation if the person wants too much. Also, keep in mind that people often do not value what they receive for “free.” 

  • Name your price

By advertising average prices on your website for standard services, you create transparency and can save time discussing via email or telephone. Being upfront about your pricing helps to attract those who are willing to pay what you are asking. If your pricing is clear, bargain hunters will probably not even call. 

Ways to steer a free conversation into a billable conversation

You can screen potential customers and take steps to try to eliminate those who are not serious, but sometimes, you still end up in a conversation with someone who sends up a red flag. What should you do if you find yourself in this position? 

  • Express the limitations of your call early in communication

If you are giving a free 10-minute consultation, be clear about that at the beginning of the conversation. Also, let them know when the clock begins. If the potential client begins asking things that are too in-depth for an initial conversation, politely state that this topic is beyond the scope of an initial consultation. If they will not allow you to end the conversation when the time is up, do not be afraid to break in and let them know that from this point forward the time is billable. 

  • Be knowledgeable but don’t give away all the answers

Express the need for more information or documentation to know the whole picture. It is good to let them know that you know what you are doing, but do not be too free with giving away trade secrets. It took you many years to get where you are now, and those who want to be where you are will have to put in the time, too. There is value in the knowledge that you bring to the table, and you should never give it away for free. 

  • Ask to set up a follow-up conversation 

When the time is up for the initial consultation, you should politely ask if they would like to have another conversation at the billed rate? Always keep the end of the conversation upbeat, even if you have a feeling that the person never intends to purchase services because you never know. 

  • Use customer-centric language

Be aware of your boundaries, but you should always give the customer the impression that you put them first. Keep the conversation focused on what they need and suggestions of how your services can help. Your goal should be to understand their needs. 

Unfortunately, these types of customers are a part of doing business. Having a solid plan for spotting them and understanding how to handle them if you do encounter them, is the best advice. The best strategy is to understand how to attract the ideal customer and avoid them in the first place.

Categories
Design & technology

9 contactless services to hire

Here we are again, seeing the effects of COVID-19 all over the country. Over the past year, the majority of us have spent a lot more time at home, seeing our houses transform into offices, schools, restaurants, gyms and more. With this shift, some Aussie’s are using this time to learn new skills, indulge in some long-standing hobbies and tick off long-overdue tasks. And let’s not forget the healthy dose of TV streaming of course. To give you some inspiration on some projects to embark on, we’ve rounded up the top 9 service categories we’re seeing an increase in jobs being posted over the last couple of weeks. 

1. Web Design & Graphic Design

With this time spent at home, often with a lighter workload, many are turning their attention to their “side hustle”, or in the case of the self-employed, their online presence. Physical stores and services have had to rapidly up their internet ante, and many are now are taking the opportunity to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into a reality. 

Whether you want to spend this time giving your existing online business a makeover, a new logo or start a new brand from scratch – you can find a web design expert or graphic designer on Oneflare. 

2. SEO & SEM

While we’re on the “side hustle” bandwagon, don’t forget about the powerhouse that is your Google ranking. Improving your ranking can be a time consuming and complex process, which is often why it’s left in the “too hard basket”. Since many are now finding themselves with more time on their hands – you can always give it a go yourself, or alternatively, find yourself a pro. 

3. Fencing

Another one of those long-forgotten house projects – fencing. It’s no surprise Aussies are starting to focus on ensuring their homes are safe, secure and homely – because we’re all spending a lot more time there. Sort out your own fence now with one of our experts, or read up on how much it should cost you with our cost guide.

4. Accounting & Bookeeping

We’ve noticed that over the last few weeks, many small businesses owners have (finally) had the time to take stock of their suppliers and ask if it’s the best deal they can get. No matter what industry you’re in, keeping a close eye on your balance books is important now as ever. If getting your money matters in order has been on your to-do list for a while, now is the time to tick it off.

5. Courier

It’s not really a surprise to find ‘courier’ on this list, considering so many of us are social distancing and staying home as much as we can. With many stores shutting their physical presences, and online shopping on the rise – not to mention food delivery services – it’s no surprise many are offering no-contact services to pick up and deliver goods. Did you know you can find a courier on Oneflare? 

6. Roofing

One of the most popular categories over the last few weeks has been “roofing” jobs. Whether you need urgent repairs before the next downpour or have some regular maintenance or enhancements in mind, these jobs are completed entirely on the exterior of your home. That means, you can successfully limit contact to almost nothing. 

Find your own roofing expert today, or brush up on how much it should cost with our roofing cost guide.  

7. Gardening & Landscaping

If all this extra time spent at home has given you cause to examine the trees and gardens around your home in a bit more detail – you’re not alone. Landscaping, gardening and arborist are some of the hottest categories on Oneflare right now. If you can’t really venture out into the great outdoors, you may as well ensure your own slice of paradise is looking lush. 

8. Car Painting

While this might sit as a low priority in your regular life, now is the time to tick off those to-do list tasks that would otherwise fall by the wayside. In fact, we’ve seen searches for car painters increase over the last few weeks and with our car respray cost guide being one of our most popular cost guides at the moment. 

9. Interior Designer

Has all this extra time spent at home realised how much you can’t stand your wall colour? Or that you actually want to completely start again in the kitchen? The good news is – many interior designers are offering remote consulting, so you can start creating your dream home from the comfort of your couch. Go on, hop on Pinterest today and get those inspirations flowing! 

Are you feeling inspired to tick off your to-do list? Post a job today, or show us your home projects on Instagram. 

Categories
Design & technology

How to troubleshoot your poor internet connection

Technology might be moving at a fast pace, but sometimes your Internet connection loves nothing more than slowing down. This can occur for a variety of reasons, from viruses to broadband configuration errors. We suggest you go through the following troubleshooting steps to ensure your internet speed is running at the optimum level.

1. Test your speed

  • Test your broadband speed

When you are experiencing lagging web pages or it’s taking a long time to download files, check your broadband speed using speedtest.net. This online tool helps to accurately measure network speed. Simply complete a click test and you ’ll be shown what download and upload speeds are. You can also determine your ping time, this means how long it takes to get a signal to your nearest location and back.

To put this into perspective, you’ll need 0.5 megabits per second (minimum) to watch Netflix in real time. DVD quality episodes of your favorite shows, you’ll need three megabits per second.If you’re watching in HD, you’ll need five megabits per second. Just remember not to compare your actual results with your ISPs maximum expected speeds. Depending on where you live (e.g. far away from a node or in a congested area), you might not always be able to get the best speeds possible – especially during peak times.

  • Understand Internet shaping

Your Internet is slower when your downloads exceed your monthly internet bandwidth allowance. Once you go over the limit, your internet service provider (ISP) either charges extra money on per-megabyte basis or slows down the internet speed to 64Kbps.

How much data do you need? How important is it to have a realistic estimation of your monthly data usage? Think carefully about your downloading habits and consult your broadband providers for the best option. In general, having 10-20GB per month is suitable for those who do general activities, such as web surfing, checking social media, watching Youtube. But if you are a heavy downloader and enjoy watching live stream TV, it is safe to go with 50-100 GB plans.

  • Check NBN connection

For those who have a real need for speed, having NBN is the best option to ensure your speed needs are met. It is consistently fast and more than capable of providing a faster speed than other broadband options. However, as noted, it is only available in certain areas. Check here to see whether NBN has been made available in your area.

Home desk with modem & devices / Source: Tattwa Networks

2. Free up some space on your computer

  • Remove unnecessary programs on your hard drive  

Are there any programs you installed but haven’t used for a while? Now it is the time to hit the uninstall button. Not only will removing unnecessary or old programs free up space on your hard drive, but it will also improve the overall health of your computer – including your Internet speeds.

Installed programs can run on the operating system even if they’re not being used. The more connections there are, the more work your OS (Operating System) has to do. Computers are certainly advanced, but just like us, multitasking can slow things down.

  • Use 3rd party installer to remove stubborn programs

A good rule of thumb: the leaner the better. If you’re having trouble removing certain software, it might be a smart idea to find a dedicated third-party installer that allows you to scan quickly for programs and delete at the click of a button. Problem solved.

3. Conduct a computer health check

  • Invest in a reputable anti-virus program

If you don’t have one already, it’s time to invest in an antivirus program. While Mac and Windows have their own inbuilt virus protection (which often does the trick), it’s still worth considering an extra/alternative option. There are many to choose from, but going with a reputable program such as Norton, McAfee or Kaspersky is your best bet.

  • Run a anti-virus program on a regular basis

When was the last time you ran an antivirus scan? If the answer is, “I can’t remember,” – then it’s probably time to do something about it! There are viruses, worms and bugs that often perform malicious acts, such as deleting files, accessing personal data, or using your computer to attack other computers. And the truth is, malicious software can hijack your network and slow your connection.

Contact local computer repairers

4. Seek and destroy adware

  • Check your cookies to spot adware and spyware

Ever been bombarded by pop-up windows after clicking a link? Or installed a free download and noticed your computer has slowed down? Welcome to the frustrating world of adware and spyware. These programs range from being mildly annoying to completely invasive – and they always hijack your bandwidth.

  • Install programs and extensions with care

Prevention is better than fixing a problem once it is there. It is important to take extra caution when you decide to install a free tool. Legitimate sites will not force their users to install a “toolbar” or any other extra program as part of a file download.

5. Extend your Wifi network by boosting router

  • Tweak software to maximise performance and speed

Upgrading your firmware depends on your device manufacturer and model. Most up to date routers have the process built right into the administration interface, so it’s simply enabling the firmware upgrade button. However, older models you need to first find and download the firmware from the router manufacturer’s website. It’s tedious, but the benefits really do outway the work required.

  • The faster the better

While it’s a sad thing to say, many people’s lives now revolve around the Internet – researching, buying things, booking travel, setting up businesses, finding work, developing our skills. Productivity is the key to organise our busy lives. So, when we can’t do these things efficiently, it can be frustrating. If your connection is jumping about or your speed is slowing you down all the time, look to need the following steps to troubleshoot and speed things up.

If the problem has gone beyond your control, speak with a computer repairer to solve it immediately.

Categories
Legal

Find the best family lawyer for your case

Are you considering having a family lawyer to help you through a divorce, child custody, or even prepare a prenuptial agreement? If yes, then you must have figured out that finding the right legal adviser is not easy. Legal representatives are not equal, and every family dispute or agreement has a unique twist.

Due to the intricacies in these cases, finding the best family court lawyer is the best guarantee for an amicable solution and optimum benefits. The legal officer will help you navigate the murky waters of family disputes and even the healing process. Below are tips on how to find the right family lawyer for you.

Understand your needs

Understanding your needs is not only necessary knowing if you need a legal representative, but also the specific qualifications to look for in a legal representative. You certainly need a family lawyer for any of the following situations:

  • You are preparing a prenuptial agreement with your spouse.
  • You plan to adopt a child.
  • You are contemplating divorce, separation, or annulment.
  • You or your partner wish to amend a divorce agreement.
  • You are dealing with or need a restraining order.

Family-related decisions have long-term consequences, especially when children are involved. Therefore, no issue is too small for the best legal counsel. Besides, people change, which makes a legal agreement more necessary.

Understand what a family lawyer does

Family lawyers specialise in domestic relations. However, even within this already specialised niche, there are further specialisations. They include marriage and divorce, child support, child custody, surrogacy, adoption, paternity conflicts, and much more. Your family issue may fall into one or two of these categories.

A competent family lawyer often specialises in only one or two areas of family law. A jack of all trades kind of legal officer might not be up to date with the latest rules and occurrences in the area that affects your case.

Consider the location

Legal cases are often handled in the plaintiff’s (the person filing the claim), county of residence. If you are the defendant, and your spouse lives in a different county, then you will have to incur additional travelling expenses.

You should choose a divorce lawyer that resides or practices in the city or county where the case is being handled. First, it will reduce the cost you will be paying for the legal counsel. The most significant benefit, however, is the familiarity factor.

A legal adviser who works within the same location as the case understands the local custom, court judges and staff, as well as other judges in the case. The knowledge can be handy, as your family lawyer will be navigating familiar waters, hence can give you the best counsel on your case.

The right lawyer for you will help make the process easier / Source: Causidicus Legal

Seek relevant experience

Track record usually says more than the time spent as a qualified lawyer. Therefore, while you should pay attention to the years of experience a lawyer has, their case history can be more important. Some of the questions to help you decide if a family law adviser has the right experience are:

  • How many cases similar to yours has the officer handled in the past?
  • What were the outcomes of those cases?
  • Has the legal officer written on legal matters relevant to your case?
  • Can the lawyer refer you to any of their past clients?

Often, many family lawyers who claim to have years of experience turn out to have very little when tasked with these questions.

Please remember not to use writing on legal matters as a deal-breaker, though it is a good indicator of a legal officer’s authority in the legal community. Some excellent legal writers do not have what it takes to argue a case successfully.

Check for an understanding of financial statements

This is very important when dealing with divorce, child support, prenuptial or funeral agreements. A child support lawyer and a property dispute lawyer should be able to understand and recognise issues concerning taxation, trust, and corporate practices. Some family law practices hire qualified financial advisors to help with complicated cases.

Seek the opinions of past acquaintances

Once you have a list of legal advisers that meet the primary considerations above, the next step is to seek the views of those who are familiar with them. Since family issues are sensitive, you should only consult people you can trust. Do not seek the opinions of people who met the legal officer as opponents, as their views might not be entirely objective.

Your friends’ experiences should tell you whether the legal officer:

  • Was available for consultations
  • Was punctual for appointments
  • Was transparent about services and fees
  • Was informed and supportive

Contact local family lawyers

Interview your potential legal representatives

Call all the family lawyers on the top of your list and book an interview. Since lawyers charge for their time, most of them will opt for a face to face interview. Use the meeting to get the details about their experience, and the possible cost of your case.

While you should not share everything about your case during this interview, an overview will be helpful to the lawyer. Ask about the useful information you need to have, the possible outcomes of the case, and the responsibilities that come with it.

Even more, inform the lawyer that you are interviewing other lawyers as well. While they expect you to do that, being open about it creates an environment of trust from the onset, which will come in handy if you choose to hire the firm.

Watch out for self-centred litigators

Family cases such as divorce are riddled with hate, anger, and emotions. Looking through such a glass makes a legal officer who prides in being a fierce litigator seem like a good option. However, if you have children, this might not be a good decision.

Most family court judges focus on what is best for the children. Therefore, they will ignore and reject proposals and arguments if these are actuated by selfish motives and the sole desire to win.

Besides, most marital issues have brewed for years before reaching the corridors of justice. Therefore, understand you need a more solution-focused approach to achieve a lasting solution. A competent divorce, child support, or child custody lawyer should understand this.

Find a family law representative who will not fuel your rage, or encourage you to compromise your integrity to get even. Being honest and sincere with your family law issues will also earn you respect from the judges.

Therefore, while it is good to have a powerful advocate, ensure your legal adviser is advocating for something greater than your own or their ego.

Conclusion

Family law is an intricate affair that involves finances, strong emotions, and grave consequences. Consequently, you need to choose your family lawyer correctly. Opt for one with sufficient experience and affordable fees. Most importantly, select a legal adviser who will focus on solutions, not your emotions, because that is what wins in a family court.