Biz Penguin - Small Business Ideas, Tips and Tools

Gamification: A Rising Trend in Business Solutions

Gamification is a popular word that has been used in the last couple of years; however, the word and its meaning has been used for years by credit card companies and such famous websites as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The word gamification basically means when companies integrate game mechanics into their non-gaming product or service to engage and pursue users.

Two Types of Gamification
According to Karl Kapp, author of the book The Gamification of Learning and Instruction: Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education, there are two types of gamification: Structural Gamification and Content Gamification.…

5 Things to Consider When Naming Your New Business

Depending on how your brain works, the name of your new business is likely to come to you very early in the research process, or not until the end. Most people would suggest coming up with the name last — but, as long as you’re flexible and don’t make any commitments until the business is ready to launch, you’ll be fine either way. Here are five things to consider when naming your new business:

Do your research
If you’re starting a new business, you’re bound to be knee-deep in market research.…

You Want to Start a Business, but in What Industry? Part 1

That’s probably the first question any entrepreneur ever asks before even thinking of an idea for a startup business. That’s okay, though. It’s strategic. Typically, you’re going to want to consider the industry.
No matter how well you play your cards right — everything from the location, to regulatory compliance, licensure, certifications, hiring, taxes and paperwork, and maybe you’re just plain that good at being a businessman — it ultimately doesn’t matter and your business will fail if the industry isn’t profitable.…

Women: Want Equal Pay? Be a Man

Sweden is considered as one of the most progressive and gender-equal countries in the world. But still, women earn a quarter of a million dollar less than men over the course of their work life.
According to statistics – at current pace – it would take more than 100 years for women’s salary to equal men’s. Waiting is not an option; something is needed to be done.
So, what a woman should do to get equal pay as a man? Kommunal, Sweden’s largest union, has the answer to the all-important question: Be a man.…

How can Big Companies Offer Good Work-Life Balance to Their Employees?

The typical stereotype I know when working for a big corporation is long hours. Fortunately, some big corporations know how to motivate their employees through various programs which allow them to grow personally and professionally.

A relative of mine is working as an Engineer in one of the largest company in the Netherlands. She told me that one of the major perks of working with the company is the ability to ‘customize’ the working hours to best-fit individuals’ needs.
For instance, suppose your minimum work hours for a week is 40.…

A Marketing Beast With Many Names: The Magic of Animated Whiteboard Explainer Videos

The biggest trend in marketing videos right now is hard-draw, “doodle”-style videos. These videos capitalize on a very basic idea: people like to feel connected with the people they buy from. Said another way, people only buy from people whom they like and trust.

Explainer videos that employ a white-board scheme satisfy that need by putting a human touch on an often very stuffy or impersonal media format.

The Way Most Companies Do Them
Most companies will allow you to download their whiteboard video using software programs like the one at http://www.youtubedownloadersite.com.…

Funny Internet Baby: How to Attract Tech-savvy Market via Videos

On YouTube, I’ve watched too many funny cats and babies videos – and sometimes goats, too – but for some reasons, I just can’t get enough of ‘em. Why?

Well, they are funny. And funny vids make my busy day; sometimes, they do steal my productive time, but hey, some videos are just hard to miss – and some are too inspiring to skip.
Fun aside, as I am in online business and marketing game, I am always looking at how companies are doing with their Internet marketing efforts.…

The Secrets of Getting People to Buy From You: It is Not What You Think

Want someone to buy something from you? Then you need to create a great product and use lots of marketing to make sure they see it right?
Well actually no. That is one way to get people to buy for you sure, and neither of those things are going to hurt, but actually people don’t always buy the ‘best things’ and often they spend money for reasons that are completely unfounded in logic and actually don’t make that much sense when you break them down.…

Crucial Contingency Plans You Need for Your Business

One of the biggest keys to success in business is successful and careful planning. Ultimately the market, the industry and your organisation are going to change countless times over your organisation’s lifespan and if you don’t have plans in place to help you cope with those changes then your business won’t last. In many ways the winners in business will often be dictated simply by who is the most prepared.

The trick then is to ensure that you aren’t waiting for bad things to happen before you come up with your plans.…

The Legal Rules Associated with Blogging for Your Business

There was a time when the blog was nothing more than a fun diary to keep on and go viral throughout cyberspace. Long have the days been gone where you maintain your thoughts under lock and key beneath your bed. The demographic has changed: we adore putting our words on the digital page for everyone to see –

That’s so the truth to the point that even companies do it! Blogs have gone corporate, yes. Bear in mind this one important fact, though: there are now copyright laws to FTC regulations you must abide by when it comes to your blog.…