Tag: hiring

Employee Milestones Worth Celebrating

December 26, 2023

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Senior Marketing Communications Strategist As the year draws to a close, we naturally reflect on achievements, challenges, and triumphs. Recognizing personal and professional accomplishments is crucial for growth, and if goals weren’t met, the year’s end offers a prime opportunity for future planning. Business owners, responsible for managing and inspiring employees, should celebrate both company and individual milestones to foster a driven and collaborative work environment. While acknowledging accomplishments is vital for employee retention, creative ways to celebrate don’t always come easily. Here are some often-missed opportunities to show your team appreciation: Types of Milestones Worth CelebratingNot all milestones require earth-shattering career shifts. Several everyday moments offer managers a chance to recognize hard work, creativity, and innovation: Individual Milestones: Team-wide Milestones:Celebrate team-wide achievements to build morale and camaraderie. Depending on your industry and structure, individual roles might blur, but acknowledging shared wins is vital. Company Achievements:Don’t overlook celebrating company-wide milestones. Reaching significant business anniversaries, exceeding targets, developing new products/services, or receiving media recognition are all opportunities to showcase collective effort and its tangible impact. Celebrate reaching revenue goals, launching new offerings, or media features to further motivate and engage your team. Doing so reinforces that

6 Traits To Look For When Hiring A Marketer

November 21, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Entrepreneurs tend to start off their business solo, or if they’re lucky, they can tap into spouses or family members for help. Eventually, as business picks up and they begin to struggle to keep up with the demand, marketing efforts tend to be some of the first activities that begin to fall off. This situation isn’t all bad, of course! But once a business pulls back on marketing, that inevitably means that they’ll end up missing out on opportunities for further growth – leaving work either on the table for the competition, or leaving would-be clients’ needs unmet. Of course, business owners aren’t simply doomed to fall into this trap! They have options: first, to allow software to take marketing efforts off their hands, such as through scheduled social media posting, recurring email campaigns, or automated review gathering. Once these routes have been explored, though, it’s time to face the facts. It’s time for some extra help. Inviting a new voice into a small business can be incredibly exciting, and somewhat terrifying at the same time. After all, a bad hire could result in a time, effort, and money investment loss

Got Your Six: The Veteran’s Guide To Re-Entering The Workforce

October 24, 2023

By Sammi Marcellus, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator Enlisting in the military is a great opportunity for many to learn practical, real-world skills, all while serving their country. With that said, many struggle with making the move from the structure that military life provides, to the seemingly chaotic nature of being a civilian. Finding a career that’s fulfilling while also featuring these same benefits of a position in the military can be a tough ask, but that doesn’t mean veterans should be caught with application paralysis. Veterans looking to find a good job fit for themselves should recognize their strengths and the challenge ahead. To move forward with confidence, here are just a few notes to consider when pursuing the next chapter. Acclimate to Civilian LifeOne major struggle that Veterans experience upon transitioning away from the military is their daily schedule. In the military everyone has a specific job and their days are planned out extensively for them, which frees them up to focus solely on their duties rather and reduces the need for self-management. In the majority of civilian workplace settings, this strict schedule is gone, which can be jarring for many to adapt to. Veterans should decide early on

5 Common Interview Answers That Are Red Flags For Hiring Managers

July 25, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach One skill that can be difficult to develop for small business owners is how to recognize red flags when they show up. Red flag interview answers aren’t just bad answers, they are the types of responses that should alert hiring managers that it might be time to move on to the next candidate altogether. All hires are important for small businesses, but nailing those early hires is pivotal when it comes to long-term success. This is why good business owners place so much focus on their early interviews. Entrepreneurs likely don’t have extensive experience with interviewing prior to starting their own businesses, so they often can’t reflect on the early warning signs of lousy employee behavior. While candidates who have a talent for answering interview questions aren’t necessarily always the best people for the job, there are some seemingly innocuous interview answers that should actually be major red flags for hiring managers. But First, A Few Thoughts On Delivery (A Message to Job Seekers)Interviews can, admittedly, feel intense, nerve-wracking, and anxiety-inducing. Although this might add even more pressure onto job seekers, there are a few behaviors related to anxiety that can

Conducting Great Interviews as a Small Business Owner

June 27, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Starting a business is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, but making that first hire might be the most important part of a small business’s track for growth. The amount of time and effort that goes into a brand new hire is considerable, and costs incurred when it goes wrong can feel like a gut punch. But these mistakes can be avoided! Business owners who invest into their interviewing skills can discover potential issues far in advance, and determine which candidates have the perfect complementary skill set they’re looking for. The right candidate will feel like the missing puzzle piece for your business. To identify these partnerships with expertise, there are three important questions to answer during an interview. Does the Candidate Fit the Position?The first determination that a good interviewer needs to uncover is, of course, whether the candidate would have the ability to do the job for which they are applying. Candidates usually come to the table with varied experiences, and often their work history won’t include the exact position that they are applying for. This is where strong preparation from the interviewer comes in. Drilling the position down to

Level Up Your Digital Marketing with LinkedIn

May 9, 2023

By Zach Vesper, Senior SEO and Marketing Strategist We’ve previously discussed best practices for getting set up on LinkedIn as a small business, but as new features and opportunities become available, it can be difficult to know how to navigate through LinkedIn’s tools effectively. LinkedIn stands out from the crowd due to its focus as a business-oriented digital networking platform. As such, LinkedIn should not always be treated the same as platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. If you are looking to expand the use of your LinkedIn Business Page, it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of LinkedIn as a platform. To optimize our efforts, let’s take a minute to explore LinkedIn’s unique features and how you can use them to strengthen your business’ presence online. Reviewing the Strengths of LinkedInIn many ways, LinkedIn is set up similarly to other social media platforms. LinkedIn allows users to post content and build an audience over time, it promotes engagement, and it invites users to interact with relevant content based on what their interests are as determined by LinkedIn’s own algorithm. The main distinguisher of LinkedIn is its intended function as a social platform for businesses and business owners

Diversification In Small Business: Why It’s Important To Try New Things

May 2, 2023

By Chris Bates, Vice President of Sales & Development When entering into a new industry or starting a small business, sometimes it can take time to find your footing. It’s important to learn the business, establish relationships in your area, and refine your service quality, but sometimes breaking through can still be difficult. With that said, one of the most frequent mistakes business owners make when they’re slow is avoiding trying new things. Opportunities frequently come knocking at the door, but a fear of losing what little market share they have, or concerns related to their ability to recoup from an unsuccessful investment too often lead to inaction. One of the biggest benefits of owning a franchise is access to a network of industry professionals who are plugged into the latest trends, technology, and business strategies that can help you pull ahead of your competition. Additional add-on services and opportunities to access new leads come up every day. The only way to guarantee that things stay slow in your business is to refuse these new opportunities. If you find yourself stagnating in your business, then the time is right to take action. Whether you’re busy and looking to expand or

When Is The Right Time To Hire?

February 21, 2023

Every small business owner or entrepreneur needs to develop a system for conducting business that works for them. For some, this comes naturally! They know the right things to say, they’ve connected with the right people, and they know how to develop relationships. For others, their business has to be built up through plenty of trial and error. Running a small business solo can be incredibly rewarding—at the same time, incredibly demanding. The best way to handle these mounting demands (and to manage your sanity) is to finally expand your team. With a co-pilot at your side, your small business can reach new heights and expand beyond what you ever imagined! But when do you know the time is right to hire? Here are a few signs that say you should hire sooner rather than later. 1. Your Are Turning Down New BusinessThis one may seem obvious, but if you’re reaching the point where you can’t keep up with the demands of your business, you need to make a hire asap. Successful entrepreneurs should be able to anticipate this situation and be able to make their hires before they reach their breaking point. However, sometimes business can accelerate beyond expectations

The Secret To Employee Retention

February 7, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Any good business manager will be able to tell you that the key to real success is a strong team. It is difficult to find a good support system, so when you’ve finally secured reliable partners that perform their jobs well, there is a new challenge to overcome. Employee retention has become more difficult than ever in recent years. In 2021, the “Great Resignation” sent companies scrambling as they attempted to recover from record-high “quit” rates. Standards of workers have raised since then, and PEW researchers cite a laundry list of reasons that employees have decided to leave in a recent study. The secret to keeping your best employees on your team is simple: give them a reason to stay. Understand what your workers want, and show them that working for you is a great way to achieve those goals. Pay Your Employees More The most straight-forward technique to retain employees is to simply pay your workers more to reliably show that their value is recognized and their time is appreciated. This tip likely isn’t a surprise, but business owners should give this option serious consideration when it’s available. According to

Flat vs. Tall: What’s The Best Organizational Structure For Your Small Business?

November 29, 2022

By Michael Trimble, NPI, Inc.’s Content Marketing Coordinator As your small business grows into a not-so-small business, you will have to make new decisions as a business owner. You have hired great people who are helping your business reach new heights, but as your team expands, so do your responsibilities as owner, manager, HR representative, you name it! Before drowning in your expanded duties, consider how you can organize your business to run as effectively as possible. In the business world, the two most popular forms of organizational structures are the Flat structure and the Tall structure. Both have their strengths and their weaknesses, and determining which style is best for you can depend on a number of factors. From your personality and leadership style, to your industry and company size, here we will break down the differences to help you determine what structure is best for you! FlatFlat organization structures might also be called a “Short” organization structure. This style consists of employees all working at (more or less) an equivalent level in regards to decision-making, idea-sharing, and total investment in the company, all reporting to the owner. You could imagine this sort of structure as two-tiered, with the

Daily Videos: Reaching Tomorrow’s Homebuyers with Social Media

September 24, 2024

How can inspectors can utilize short-form video content creation on social media to boost their presence? We’ll discuss realistic ways that won’t overwhelm their busy schedules.

Responsiveness: The Traits of a Successful Property Inspector

September 10, 2024

Being responsive is a valuable quality in any professional industry, but we’ve found that property inspectors who prioritize this trait separate themselves from their competition and set themselves up to leave a lasting first impression.

Viewing a Hire as an Asset, Not an Expense

August 27, 2024

It costs time and money to find the right candidate. How do you make the shift from looking at the cost of a new hire to seeing the opportunity for growth that they bring?

Inspection Insights: How to Stand Out with Sample Reports

August 13, 2024

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical & Training Director In any industry, success often comes from separating yourself from the pack. Some businesses have exceptional communication skills, prioritizing customer service above all else. Other business owners invest in a diverse array of add-ons, making them a convenient one-stop shop for their clients. Then, of course, veteran business owners might trust that the quality of their products and services will naturally trump all in the end. Dedicating your attention to becoming the best among your competition is an excellent goal, but proving yourself to clients takes work, too! We’ve talked about how to get more reviews by prioritizing Google business listings for better online searchability, but there is another powerful tool that too few home and property inspectors utilize: sample reports. Home inspectors who host a sample of their inspection report on their website can display the quality of their product for any prospective clients and answer many of their burning questions before they even pick up their phone. If you’d like to start using sample reports on your website but you’re not entirely sold on the concept yet, let’s review a few of the benefits and discuss some of the

Expanding Your Audience by Becoming a Bilingual Business

July 30, 2024

New business owners often feel that they are racing to find a client base and develop trust with their local community. Finding leads, converting them into sales, and creating advocates to spread the word of all the good work that they do – the fight to gain credibility in a market takes plenty of guts and hard work. But after that growth slows, it can be difficult to find a new client base to tap into. Language barriers in diverse populations can limit a business’s market reach, posing a significant challenge. There’s certainly an opportunity to expand by becoming a bilingual business, but making this change involves more than simply translating a flyer into Spanish and calling it a day. Owners who learn a second language or hire employees with language skills may be able to grow their business, but that’s only the start of the story. If you’re wondering what it would look like to start marketing in a second language as a small business, here are a few of the considerations to take into account first. Learning a Second LanguageOne strategy that business owners may consider if they’d like to start marketing in multiple languages is to learn

Franchise Planning: The Importance of an Exit Strategy

July 16, 2024

Without proper planning and vetting, businesses can get mismatched to new owners with the wrong industry knowledge, the wrong skills set, and the wrong expectations.

Keeping Up to Date as an Entrepreneur

July 2, 2024

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator When running a business, owners work extremely hard to find their unique strategy for consistent success. Winning over a share of the market takes time and plenty of energy, but one common pitfall that entrepreneurs frequently encounter is losing that initial fire to learn and experiment. Too often, professionals find a comfortable place in their industry and then fall further and further behind while competition follows trends and implements what works into their businesses. So, what’s the solution? How do small business owners stay up to date in their industry? In the home inspection industry, some may point towards licensing requirements in each state as a solution, but this doesn’t resolve the problem for a couple of reasons: Ultimately, keeping up to date with your industry has to start with an internal desire to improve your services and elevate your business. Required courses will not cut it! So, for any property inspectors out there who want to keep their business practices and their personal knowledge on the cutting edge, let’s discuss a few of the top strategies. 5 Ways to Stay Up to Date in the Home Inspection Industry 1.

Ranking Up: Debunking the Service Area Myth on Google

June 18, 2024

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Senior SEO and Marketing Strategist As a multi-national property inspection franchisor, our marketing team gets a lot of questions about how to increase ranking on Google. Of course every small business’ marketing efforts should be multi-faceted, with a mixture of in-person relationship-building efforts and digital campaigns. With that said, there is no question that Google is king for digital marketing, and that all starts with optimizing your Google Business Profile. There are many features on a Google Business page that can be utilized to improve visibility and ranking, but we commonly see people turn to their service areas for answers. Many business owners seem to think that slight changes to the service area field could create the presence bump they need in certain areas. But we’re here to say that this probably won’t be the solution to any Google ranking frustrations. To better understand why this is the case, let’s discuss what service areas actually are, how they should be properly set up, and which strategies are the real secret for ranking up on Google. Defining Service Area BusinessesGoogle Business Profiles can be created for free and are broadly set up in one of two

Game Plan for Growth: Stop Selling & Start Making Connections

June 4, 2024

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach People become entrepreneurs for many different reasons, whether it’s the freedom to control their schedule, the direct impact they have on their business growth, or the prospect for financial independence. For many, “being your own boss” can be a career goal all by itself. However, despite the benefits, there are aspects of business ownership that can be intimidating as well. One challenging aspect that comes up again and again? Sales. Despite your skillset or previous experience, the need to sell yourself, your products, and your services can stop you in your tracks. Maybe you don’t think you’re charismatic enough, or the thought of selling things feels deceptive, selfish, or “slimy.”. The truth is, though, that “sales” has a worse reputation than it deserves (maybe thanks to one or two too many pushy telemarketers or sales clerks). Whether you’re extroverted or introverted, everyone has a unique way to relate to people so that they can become effective “salespeople” and set their business goals in the right trajectory, in a way that’s actually enjoyable. So, to all future entrepreneurs out there: stop selling. Instead, let’s discuss how important it is to invest in

Is Social Media the Right Platform for Political Commentary by Your Small Business?

May 21, 2024

By Michael Trimble, NPI, Inc.’s Content Marketing Coordinator You probably haven’t noticed, but 2024 is an election year! Okay, so maybe you have noticed. In the midst of heavy polarization, heated disagreements, and the general anxiety that comes with national elections, it’s understandable if you want to distance yourself from the political dialogue sometimes. Navigating political discussions in your personal life can be tough, but small business veterans understand how much trickier it can be in the professional sector. Despite this, many feel compelled to jump on social media and add their two cents, either on their personal profiles or through their business pages. The temptation is clear. As a small business owner, you’ve worked hard to build your social media following. Now that you have a platform with people interested in what you have to say, it can seem natural to use it for everything. Some business owners may feel it’s their social responsibility to speak about a particular topic, while others argue they’re exercising their rights. Some may even argue that staying silent is a statement in itself. Before you hit send on your next political post using your small business as a platform, here are a few