ICOF Business Consulting

BUILD VALUE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH NETWORKING. Networking: We all know we should do it, but approaching someone you don’t know is sometimes a scary and daunting task. When you view networking as a more informal process of building relationships, you can mentally overcome this challenge. In reality, networking is a 24/7 activity, and you can network without even realizing it. CREATING YOUR NETWORK...Continue reading

HOW TO MAKE A WEBSITE We can rightly refer to the present time as the digital era in the history of Humankind. Anything around is linked to the world of the internet. With almost all forms of tasks completing online, it sure is a wonder to know how it all works. In recent time, almost everything has an online presence either through a dedicated website or part of a social platform. Websites have undoubtedly taken over as a key component of any initiative, business, work, and...Continue reading

How to Turn Your Side Hustle into Full-Time Freelancing Online Work Tips & Best Practices A steady stream of clients for your freelance business means a steady stream of income. You’re beginning to see that the earning potentialand personal fulfillmentis real. You’re starting to consider the leap from side hustle to full-time freelancing. For many freelancers like you, self-doubt and lack of clarity can get in the way....Continue reading

How SEO is Crucial to Your Digital Marketing Plan in 2019 By Eric Turner, Manta Contributor - February 12, 2019 Search engine optimization, as always, should play a key role in your Digital Marketing plan for 2019. SEO is in and not going out of style. In the early days of digital marketing, your business lived and died by SEO. Search engine optimization, whether keyword stuffing or grinding away with a blog, allows you to siphon traffic from Google and other search engines. ...Continue reading

How Millennials and Gen Z are Reshaping the Future of Work: The Future Workforce Report Millennials and Gen Z are the future, so it’s no wonder that they’re shaping how work gets done. By 2028, these generations will make up 58 percent of the workforce. And they’re thinking ahead: Millennials and Gen Z managers are three times more likely than prior generations to prioritize future workforce planning. The third annual Future Workforce Report from Upwork explored these generat...ional impacts on the workforceand more. We know already that the most in-demand professionals place high value on flexibility, said Stephane Kasriel, CEO of Upwork. For example, the youngest generations are most likely to freelance. And professionals craving flexibility will increasingly have managers who not only understand this priority but will themselves expect it. Millennial and Gen Z managers are reshaping the workforce in a multitude of ways. The Future Workforce Report also found they Support remote work: 69 percent of Millennial and Gen Z managers have team members that are allowed to work remotely. Recognize the need for reskilling: They’re nearly three times more likely to say that individuals should be responsible for their own reskilling as compared to Baby Boomers. Embrace an agile future: Millennials and Gen Z managers are nearly two times more likely than Baby Boomers to have made significant progress in developing a flexible talent strategy as well as in investing in technology to support a remote workforce. Utilize freelancers for strategic projects: They are more than twice as likely as Baby Boomers to engage freelancers for ongoing, strategic partnerships across multiple projects vs. one-time, one-off projects. With the various opportunities this generation has at their fingertipsfreelancing, remote work, entrepreneurshipcompanies can no longer assume this generation will settle for the status quo, said Matthew Mottola, Future of Work and On-Demand Talent Program Manager at Microsoft. The good news for companies is that if they embrace this agility and flexibility they can drive innovation and change with Courtney Buchanan Courtney Buchanan is the content marketing manager at Upwork. By guiding the editorial strategy, she highlights important trends impacting the future of work and the freelance economy. 2015 - 2019 Upwork Global.

Published on March 4, 2019 Adam Bryant Managing up can be a big challenge. Your boss is busy, and even when you do have time with them, they can seem distracted or impatient. But here's a smart tactic to get their attention from Mark Gumz, the former CEO of Olympus Corporation of the Americas and a colleague of mine at Merryck & Co., where we do senior leadership development and executive mentoring. In our conversation, Mark also shared smart insights how to be a better team ...Continue reading

Tip of the Day 4 Things to Consider When Buying Equipment for Your Business By Larry Alton, Manta Expert - February 15, 2019 4 Things to Consider When Buying Equipment for Your Business...Continue reading

How to Choose a Cyber Insurance Policy Online Work Tips & Best Practices June 12, 2018 by Rebecca Hosley This story was submitted by Rebecca Hosley and does not constitute the views or opinions of Upwork....Continue reading

Tip of the Day Authenticity is Key By Tori Heppermann, Manta Contributor - February 25, 2019 Authenticity is Key... Consumers want to invest their money in companies that make them feel something real. Authenticity should be a top priority. With millions of businesses competing for their attention every time they open web browsers, inbox, and social media, consumers have to be selective about where they are going to spend their money. Why in the world would someone choose your business over another? If you have trouble answering that question, it might be time for you to reevaluate your goals to make sure you are aiming to create a business focused on more than just making a sale. Be Authentic Authenticity should be a top priority. Consumers want to invest their money in companies that make them feel something real, whether that is inspired, happy, sad, excited, they want to feel emotion. If your goal is to elevate your business above the competition, you must first prove to your customers that you genuinely want what is best for them. Strive to provide more than a product or service. Strive to give them an experience that digs deeper into their emotions. How to improve authenticity? Be honest. Consumers are tired of spammy emails and clickbait. It might seem obvious, but tricking your customers into buying something from you is not going to help your reputation. Instead, tell them a real story or share something about your company that allows them to relate to you. Be consistent. Your customers will lose trust in your business if you start to confuse them. This is why branding is crucial. Make sure you are using similar messaging, fonts, and colors everywhere possible. A customer should be able to look at your website, social media, and advertisements and immediately know it’s your brand. Be responsive. When someone reaches out to you, whether a question, concern, or compliment, you should ALWAYS respond. No, we’re not talking about an automated robot response, we’re talking a genuine response from a real human being. Be kind and understanding. They want their voice to be heard, so show your customers that you are there to listen.

How to Empower Your Employees and Boost Morale By Lexie Lu, Design Roast - July 25, 2018 How to Empower Your Employees and Boost Morale Happy employees are productive employees. The concept seems simple but every business is unique and requires its own recipe for increasing and maintaining morale....Continue reading