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NPA Blog: Digital Nomad

	Lance Cody-Valdez is a freelance writer who grew fed up with corporate marketing and decided to put his experience and professionalism to better use. Writing for the NPA, Lance explores the boundary between IT and entrepreneurism. Ready for positive change? Check out Lance Cody-Valdez's blog! Lance Cody-Valdez free-lance-now.com lance@free-lance-now.com

Launch Your IT/Networking Business on a Small Budget: Clever Techniques

Structures and Benefits That Your Company Can Put in Place to Attract Disabled Candidates

The Importance of Good Interdepartmental Collaboration for a Business and the Best Ways to Improve It

4 Types of Consultants Your Business Should Be Utilizings

How to Make the Leap from Freelancer to Small Business Owner

Source - Photo by Pexels

Launch Your IT/Networking Business on a Small Budget: Clever Techniques

When the spark of an entrepreneurial idea ignites, one might assume that huge capital is required to turn it into a reality. Yet, many successful IT businesses began with limited funds and an abundance of creativity. Contrary to popular belief, a massive budget isn’t always necessary. With smart planning, dedication, and innovative strategies, it is possible to launch a business on a shoestring budget. In today’s blog post for the Network Professional Association, we delve into eight effective and practical steps to start and scale your venture without breaking the bank.

1. Start Simple

It is tempting to launch a product with all the features you want, but, it is smarter to start simple. Productboard, the product development management tool, suggests beginning with a minimum viable product (MVP) to see how the market reacts and learning from it. Focus on essential features that solve core problems for users. This will let you enter the market quickly and affordably. After getting feedback and achieving some success, you can improve your product and add more features. This step-by-step method lowers the risk of losing money.

2. Seek Out Free Software

There are many digital tools can help in streamlining business operations, and some, such as Zapier, offer free versions or have minimal costs. Capitalize on free trials of software applications. Many platforms, such as CRM tools, offer extended trial periods. Open-source tools can also be powerful allies.

3. Consider Artificial Intelligence

As much as you might want to, when it comes to starting a business, you cannot do it all yourself. But there are free AI tools, such as ChatGPT, that can help. Whether you need an outline for a presentation, marketing ideas or solutions to a problem, AI is a tool that can tap the aggregated resources of experts to give you ideas and point you in the right direction. However, be careful to not simply copy what an AI engine tells you - it may provide some options, but nobody knows your business as well as you do.

4. Budget-Friendly Marketing

When launching a business without an advertising budget, a savvy and cost-effective marketing strategy can be your greatest asset. One approach is to harness the power of digital platforms and social media. These channels offer a plethora of opportunities to connect with your target audience without breaking the bank. Utilize free or low-cost tools to create engaging content, such as informative blog posts, captivating social media posts, and even short videos that showcase your product or service's value. But be sure to strategize how to use these tools effectively, or you will just throw what few funds you have down the drain.

5. Embrace DIY Design

Thanks to an array of free online design tools, crafting professional visuals aligned with your target audience's preferences is easier than ever. For example, consider using Google Docs to create a DIY brochure to effectively showcase your products or services. Leverage free, customizable templates and design assets offered by platforms that provide an extensive range of layouts, fonts, images, and graphics that you can mix and match to align with your brand's identity. With a pinch of creativity and a dash of effort, you can produce a polished brochure that highlights your offerings, effectively communicates your value proposition, and captures the attention of your potential customers.

6. Utilize Flexible Work Options

In the early days, consider working from your home. It is cost-effective and eliminates commute times, allowing you more time in the day to focus on your business. As you expand, co-working spaces can be an excellent solution. They offer shared office facilities and business services without long-term commitments. Virtual offices can amplify your professional image by providing a business address and other support services, sans a physical workspace. Remote offices can enable you to add employees without costly overhead.

If you're considering working from your own brick-and-mortar office space, consider purchasing a fixer-upper to save money. Even if it is not currently zoned for business, you can look into what it would take to have it rezoned. Usually this is accomplished with filing some simple paperwork with your local government.

7. Don’t Underestimate Bartering

Leveraging skills and services with other budding entrepreneurs can be a boon. This age-old system of bartering can significantly cut down your operational costs. Networking events or community forums can be goldmines to discover businesses open to bartering services. Mutual growth and saving money make bartering a win-win for both parties involved.

8. Outsource Intentionally

Smart outsourcing is a strategic move for any growing business. Start by pinpointing tasks that are not core to your operations, determining which ones can be handed over to others. Hiring freelancers offers a solution to getting expert assistance without tying yourself to long-term obligations. For example, a freelance accountant can teach you foundational financial strategies that may be outside your area of expertise. By delegating tasks that are tedious or time-consuming, you free up your schedule. This extra time allows you to concentrate more on the essential aspects of expanding your business.

In summary, the essence of entrepreneurship lies in its ability to innovate and adapt. While having abundant funds can be helpful, it isn't a strict prerequisite for business success. By harnessing the strategies mentioned above, you can set your entrepreneurial journey in motion without waiting for a hefty investment. After all, determination, creativity, and delivering unmatched value to customers have been the cornerstone of many success stories. Let yours be the next one.

 The Network Professional Association is made up of and for IT/networking professionals who share the common core pillars of career growth, professional development and ethical integrity. Contact us today to learn more! membership@npa.org

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Structures and Benefits That Your Company Can Put in Place to Attract Disabled Candidates

Everyone deserves a chance to get a job and prove their worth, and that goes for disabled people who simply want to get hired and make a difference. As a company, you should do your part to ensure that you are giving everyone a chance, and you can do that by improving your company culture and by creating inclusive programs. Here at the Network Professional Association, we want to see your company hire the best and brightest, so we have some advice on how to make your hiring more inclusive to those with disabilities.

Create an Inclusive Recruiting Document With a PDF Editor

The first step that you should take is to draft a recruiting document that you can show to upper management and new employees that dictates the reasons why differently-abled employees should take notice of your company and apply for a job. It should mention that you are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive culture. Once it is complete, you can post this document on your website and attach it to your job listings.

It is a wise idea to draft this document and then convert it to a PDF so it can be easily accessed, downloaded, and read by all interested parties. If you do, then you can edit a PDF online easily by using a tool that allows you to upload your document, convert it, make any necessary changes, and then download it to your computer. You can make as many changes as you want. It is an easy way to ensure that the information is accurate and shareable.

Design an Internship for Differently-Abled Employees

An idea that is sure to excite many potential candidates is an internship or an entry-level opportunity that is designed specifically for those who have a disability. There are many different positions that you can offer, starting from the mailroom and beyond, leading up to executive assistant positions. Of course, it is okay to expect certain requirements and skills in order to hire the right person, but remember that this is a starting position that could eventually lead to something bigger, and there is plenty of time to teach the new recruit.

Set Up Your Office Accordingly

Once your organization commits to being more inclusive to those with disabilities, you should ensure that your office is properly equipped so that everyone can do the job properly. For instance, if your building is elevated, then install a ramp and make sure that your bathrooms are equipped with grab bars and other necessities.

Your technology also needs to be accessible. Research disabilities and determine what tech you should provide so your employees can work. That may include programmable standing desks, proper keyboards and mouse, and computer screens that can be modified for those that are visually impaired. When the new employee begins work, ask if they are comfortable and if there is anything you can provide to help them to do their best work.

Create a Welcoming Company Culture

While you can buy all of the assistive technology in the world, if your company culture is not right, then your new employees may be uncomfortable in the office. That means having a sense of empathy throughout the workplace and accepting feedback from all employees. Also, make it a point to celebrate employee differences and reward positively. Most importantly, your office must always be evolving, so that everyone feels comfortable regardless of their background.

As you can see, there are various ways that management can make a more inclusive environment and welcome employees with disabilities. Remember to draft an expansive recruiting document, create internship opportunities, and make the proper adjustments in your office, and you'll be on the right track. If you would like to know more about the Network Professional Association, then contact us at information@npa.org.

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The Importance of Good Interdepartmental Collaboration for a Business
and the Best Ways to Improve It

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Interdepartmental collaboration is more than team members sharing updates. Strong collaboration across the organization requires all teams to be on the same page regarding goals, expectations, procedures, and policy. In this article by the NPA, we’ll explore the common collaboration challenges faced by networking professionals and how to overcome them.

Challenges Affecting Interdepartmental Collaboration

Here are three types of problems that can hinder collaboration within an organization:

1. Over-dependence on Others

Whether it’s after the launch of a project or a brainstorming session regarding a system update, formal communication needs to be shared among all stakeholders regarding its details. More often than not individuals assume that someone else will handle this responsibility, which inevitably creates a gap in communication between all departments.

2. Ineffective Management

Organizations having managers who do not prioritize clear, timely communication suffer the most from delays and loss of revenue and effort. Networking individuals in managerial positions need to lead from the top and instill a culture of communication among their team.

3. Lack of Fixed Communication Channels

Remote working teams use multiple channels to communicate daily, such as messaging apps, email, video calls, etc. Not having a fixed channel to share updates leads to information being lost in communication and confusion among teams.

Need for Good Interdepartmental Collaboration

Before we get into the best strategies to improve cross-team collaboration, let’s take a look at why these are important and the major benefits it provides to an organization.

4. Higher Productivity

As reported by Pumble, 97% of employees consider sound communication an important factor for performing well in the workplace. Additionally, good interdepartmental communication can increase business productivity by 25%.

5. Increase in Employee Satisfaction

Clear communication strategies and channels significantly reduce confusion among workers. This leads to employees having a clear idea regarding expectations and smooth collaboration on cross-team projects. In the long run, this helps a business retain talent and develop a positive workspace.

6. Greater Customer Trust

All teams of the organization working in synergy results in customers receiving the best service possible. For instance, customer feedback regarding the website collected by the marketing team will be promptly integrated by the IT team. Similarly, system upgrades led by the IT team can be rolled out with minimal disruption to customers and normal business operations.

Best Strategies for Good Interdepartmental Collaboration

Here are three strategies managers, team leads and employees alike should implement to achieve the highest level of collaboration within the business.

Set Clear Goals and Communicate Properly

According to Atlassian, using the SMART method of goal setting helps remove ambiguity regarding expectations and timelines. This method is highly useful for projects of high importance that will closely be tracked by management. Once goals are set, share a concise email to all stakeholders across the organization.

Take the Lead

Rather than depending on others to provide updates, undertake the responsibility of being the point of contact. For instance, if an important investor meeting is coming up, take the onus of gathering information from all departments, creating an email thread, and tracking timelines.

Utilize Collaboration Tools

There are various collaboration tools on the market that make it simple for teams to collaborate. If your organization does not use them yet, push for the implementation of the following tools:

7. Google Workspace: This includes popular cloud-based apps such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Documents created on google workspace can be shared with all stakeholders in just a few clicks. Additionally, individuals can make required changes that are implemented in real-time, making it the best way to manage cross-team projects.
8. BPM Software (BPM): A BPM tool acts as a connector between software used by all teams. Instead of employees having to manually share updates, a BPM tool can be used to check up on the progress of other teams. Additionally, when starting new projects, the tool can be used in the early stages of the process to create a business-wide workflow and highlight areas of inefficiencies that can be addressed to reduce delays and productivity issues in the future.

The importance of good interdepartmental communication for a business cannot be stressed enough. The better the collaboration between teams, the better the business will perform and meet the expectations of customers and investors.

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4 Types of Consultants Your Business Should Be Utilizing

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Running a business takes a lot of hard work. Even if you’re an expert in your field, sometimes it can be overwhelming to tackle every aspect of daily operations while managing employees. That’s why it’s so important to seek quality advice and guidance from consultants across many areas; not only can they help you grow your business exponentially, they can assist in making sure that you’re able to run things to the best of your ability, reducing stress and creating a cooperative and healthy work environment.

You can look for top leaders in these fields to help guide you through some of the most important facets of business.

Financial

A financial consultant will take a look at the big picture for your business, assessing debt and expenses, as well as income, to get a feel for what type of goals you should be setting and how to get there. They can also help manage investments for their clients and give advice on what type of business entity is best for their needs.

If your consultant recommends forming an LLC--or limited liability company--due to the flexibility and tax benefits it will afford you, do some research to find out which steps are involved as each state is different. You’ll need to start by making sure your business’s name is unique and available in the system. If you don’t have time to research the process, hire a formation service like Zenbusiness to help.

IT

Like a financial consultant, an IT consultant can help in several areas, from finding and analyzing security threats to your company to improving the efficiency of the systems you use for inventory, payment, email, and more. If your company relies on any kind of technology, it can be extremely beneficial to have a consultant who can help implement new projects and support in-house IT staff. In some cases, they may even be able to provide training to your employees. They can also provide a financial overview for your tech ideas, letting you know how much you can expect projects to cost.

Human resources

Just as important as your business’s finances and tech are your employees. Sometimes, even if everything is running smoothly, it can be helpful to have a consultant who can handle things like onboarding or managing teamwork. An HR consultant can also assist with making changes to management or creating a plan for reorganizing different departments, which can be tricky or overwhelming for business owners to navigate. If you believe your company needs help with making workflow and productivity more efficient, an HR consultant can be of great help.

Legal

No matter how big or small your business is, it’s a good idea to have someone on your team who understands legal matters and can help you navigate issues related to contracts and other documents, legal disputes, banking, or employee matters. They can also assist with things like debt collection, an unfortunate but sometimes necessary action that most companies must face. As a business owner, it’s important to protect your company, assets, and employees, and a legal consultant can do all that and more.

Finding the right consultant could make a big difference for you and your business and could save you quite a bit of time and money. Do some research to find out what a specific consultant will bring to the table and make the most of their services.

If you’re an IT professional, join the Network Professional Association to improve your skills and network with like-minded IT professionals.

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How to Make the Leap from Freelancer to Small Business Owner

The best freelancer treats their career as if it were a business. Adopting that business focus helps you keep your clients satisfied and ensures you dedicate time to planning for the growth of your freelancing project. But what if you want to take the plunge and transform your humble gig into a full-fledged business? With the skills you developed as a freelancer, running a business should be no problem! The Network Professional Association shares a few things to keep in mind as you venture further down the path toward entrepreneurship.

Keep Your Costs Under Control

It can be tempting to put a lot of money into your new business, but try not to get carried away. Launching a small business doesn’t have to drain your savings. If you’ve been freelancing from home all this time, consider running your new business from home, as well. You can always rent an office space or meeting room if you need more space for your business activities. 

Generally, it’s always better to rent an office than to buy one. This is because you never know what could happen with the future of your business, and it’s good to have the flexibility that a rented space affords.

Make Use of Time-Saving Tools

As you start taking on more clients and hiring freelancers of your own, you will need to find ways to manage the growing demand on your time. Fortunately, there is no shortage of automation tools at your disposal. As one example, an online invoice generator can help you regulate your cash flow by ensuring that you get paid the right amount on time. When using an invoice generator, fill out all the invoice details with your business information including company name and contact information (e.g., email, phone number, and address), then preview it to make sure everything is correct. Make sure you don’t leave out any important particulars like your billing terms and any sales tax or shipping costs.

As you onboard any team members, look into other time-saving tools like collaboration apps (e.g. Trello, Monday.com, Asana, and Slack) to help you manage projects and keep everyone on the same page. 

Prioritize Content Marketing

Whether you’re trying to keep your marketing costs under budget or you want to position yourself as an expert in your niche, content marketing is your answer. It’s cheap, effective, and popular among consumers. Content marketing will allow you to deliver specific messages to different client demographics and truly personalize your marketing approach. This is a great way to expand your client reach and land bigger projects for your growing business.

Not sure how to get started? Host a podcast, start a blog, create informative YouTube videos, or launch an Instagram page to showcase your work. 

Don’t Neglect Your Existing Clients

As your business grows, it’s important to look to the future. Just don’t forget about your current clients! Throughout your freelancing career, you’ve developed some great professional relationships. Reach out to your clients, let them know that you’re launching a business, and ask if they would refer you to others who would benefit from your services. These referrals might just be your biggest source of qualified leads as you get off the ground.

Be Honest

Many small business owners try to hide the fact that they’re operating as a one-person show. But masquerading as a much larger business could actually hurt your brand. In reality, itty-bitty businesses like yours are in a great position to connect with clients on a deeper level. Today, big businesses are constantly rebranding to appear smaller, more approachable, and more friendly to the everyday consumer.

Be honest and confident about your small size, put your face on your brand, and let your personality shine through in your communications. Your clients will appreciate it more than you may think.

If you feel like your freelancing career has reached a plateau, launching a business could be a great next step. Making the leap from freelancer to business owner is a lot easier than starting a business with zero entrepreneurial experience. With the skills you picked up through freelancing, you should be well-prepared to run a business of your own.

The NPA gives IT professionals the opportunity to improve their skills and network with skilled IT professionals across the globe. Join us today!

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