It is evident today how many start up and small businesses begin and continue operating their businesses from the comfort of their homes. As convenient as it is, it is important to consider having a different address for your business apart from your own personal home. Setting apart your business from your personal life and space can do wonders in organization of your company and personal life, privacy, and most of all, professionalism.

PRIVACY
Privacy is one of the many important issues that need to be addressed by an entrepreneur who is operating his/her business in the premises of his/her home. Business addresses are public, and should be available to not only your current clientele but also to everybody who might be considered as your “potential” customer and it is most probable that you prefer to keep your home private. Using your home address as your business address means you would have to put the same address to your business cards, website, advertisements and just about everything to help spread the word about your business. This means your home address is known to the public, just about anybody can have access to this information.

ORGANIZATION
Setting your business and personal home and space apart will aid you in keeping everything in order. It is beyond your control how many mails will end up piling on your address. Just imagine, if you have a separate address for your business, you can have your business documents stay all together and separate from all your personal ones. It will also save you time to scan through all the mails and separate and organize them one by one.

PROFESSIONALISM
Although first impression doesn’t always last, first impressions still matter. Companies who would like to work with you, whether for a collaboration, or get your company as a vendor, giving them your home address would not give a good image. It will, in fact, give them the notion that you are a small time business and may not have the capacity to provide them the services or products they need, especially if the demand increases. By having a professional business address, you will have the advantage of making your business look more official and trustworthy. It will send out an image that says you are established and that whatever mails they send you will be handled professionally and answered quickly.

Having a professional business address (and a prestigious one at that), is one of the many steps you must consider to take if you are setting up your business for the big jump. The small effort to finding yourself a virtual office that offers prestigious business address could help you greatly in the long run.

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When putting up a business, a business plan is a must. It should contain an in-depth plan with complete and specific details on how you will attack the possible challenges and difficulties your business will come across with ahead. Your business opportunities should be defined, your business mission should be stated as it will be a your guide for the rest of your business life, know your target and describe them in details, establish measurable goals, and most importantly, set deadlines and follow them. You should also keep in mind that while it is vital to have a plan, you should also be equally flexible enough to adjust when a business slump is met along the way.

However, more than having a good business plan, one must have a great brand identity and positioning – a professional and reputable company image that can bring success automatically.

How do politicians win? How do movie celebrities become recognized as successful actors and actresses? It is initially their public image in media and in the public that is assessed by the audience. What they see is what people think they are. They can prove otherwise though but what is vital is that the first impression – it is a make or break situation just like any PR practitioner would say.

Just like in any company, the brand image that you create should be reflected in all your marketing activities and dealings with the public. Most of the time, we create a perfect brand image of who we want to become and we strive to become it as we go along in the business. It can in fact be the vision of your company. And one major factor that contributes to this corporate image is the business location or your company headquarters’ address. Imagine if you put a business in the slum area, would you expect your clients to call you if on your website and business cards, what they see is a very shady office address?

Choosing a prestigious and professional location and facilities for your company has a great impact in the creation of your perfect company image. You can be a small business entity but use a highly reputable business address at an iconic building in the CBD area, and your potential to attract new clients are much greater than one working from home and using a residential address on the website. And who says you need a big amount of budget to have a prestigious CBD office of your company? Given the proliferation of one-stop serviced office solutions globally, you can get a 5-star standard office for your business at minimal fees for a few months or even a year. Everything is plug and play, just bring in your laptop and do your work. High speed WIFI, receptionist and secretarial services are available, including messenger services, access to complimentary beverages in a modern business café within a few steps from your office, meeting rooms with video conferencing facilities are also there for use by renting by the hour, business lounges for more relaxed working, document printing and scanning facilities, and any other business support that you may require.

In Asia, you can never go wrong if you get your business address or office at CEO SUITE that has the most prestigious list of business centres and serviced offices in Singapore; Makati, Philippines; Hanoi, Vietnam; Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Beijing and Shanghai, China; and Seoul, Korea.

Learn how CEO SUITE can help you on your business, visit: www.ceosuite.com.

The post Why Perception is Vital to Business Success? appeared first on CEO SUITE.

Starting your own business requires wisdom. That is why, business consultancy and advising is common to new business owners, or those who are planning to start their own companies. Turning to the Internet for research could be a good thing, but horde of articles and lengthy lists on the subject might also overwhelm you. The proper approach to this situation is to not let overthinking and overanalyzing get the best of you. In fact, only a few simple steps can help you start your own business towards the road of success. Here is an outline of basic tips you can follow and apply to help you get your business running in no time:

1. Prepare a detailed plan and start with it.

A business plan is a must. It should contain an in-depth plan with complete and specific details on how you will attack the possible challenges and difficulties your business will come across with ahead. Your business opportunities should be defined, your business mission should be stated as it will be a your guide for the rest of your business life, know your target and describe them in details, establish measurable goals, and most importantly, set deadlines and follow them. You should also keep in mind that while it is vital to have a plan, you should also be equally flexible enough to adjust when a business slump is met along the way.

2. Put yourself out in the open and grow your network.

Start your momentum by making yourself available, reachable and known through attending a wealth of events, trade shows, networking groups, business social get-togethers. Through attending events like these, you can gain initial connections who can lead your to future business partners, investors, client prospects, and mentors with bigger network reach and years of knowledge about business to help you succeed in your business too.

3. Get an office.

While it may seem a costly decision for start-ups, it is important to have your business addressed at an impressive business location. Today, traditional offices are no longer the only choice for new business owners. Serviced offices and virtual office have now paved the way to better, easier, and more cost-efficient business operations for entrepreneurs. Like CEO SUITE who offers fully furnished serviced offices with complete amenities necessary for basic business operations at customizable options and flexible lease terms, there are also many others whom business owners can check out.

First impression lasts, so it is best to have your business look as an established one through getting a virtual office, or a serviced office. Everything else will follow and your business success is almost guaranteed.

The post How to Start a Successful Business appeared first on CEO SUITE.

1. Get in the social media game.

It doesn’t matter if your business is very corporate, or very lenient. Social media has now become a huge part of people’s daily routine- checking and opening their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat accounts every now and then without even thinking. With reportedly over 1.71 billion monthly active users on Facebook alone, it is evident and a no-brainer that every business should invest and consider using these platforms to reach their audience.

2. Blog!

If you have already been thinking about hitching on the blogging rides, now is the perfect time. Writing a blog provides many benefits such as boosting your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for your website, or explaining who you really are, what you really have to offer. Needless to say, it helps a lot on your branding as well.

3. Go out in the open

The problem with so many businesses today is how they have fully embraced the digital world. It still pays to go out and live a little! Many businesses get so turned up in the success of their online presence that they forget to also invest and allot time in being physically available for many other markets, or potential customers/clients. There are still many business relationships that are formed through face-to-face meetings. Meeting people personally is still essential to get people to understand more and be interested more on your business.

4. Host events!

Take opportunities right in your doorstep! Make it happen by hosting a networking event, or a grand socialization party while spreading the word about your business. Giving them firsthand experience or information is still one of the best ways to win projects!

5. Be in the know and stay up to date!

Social trends tend to change all the time. It wasn’t so long ago when Facebook was the only one everybody was talking about. Now, there’s dedicated platforms for each type of people, there’s LinkedIn for straight professionals. Now Snapchat’s the next big thing. We’ll never know when the tables will turn again, but it is best to be able to be in the know all the time. It will help you figure out which channels your clients are mostly using and with that, you will know where to bring and invest your efforts!

The post 5 ways to up your business game this 2017 appeared first on CEO SUITE.

It has been 2 decades when financial crisis stunned Asia’s business foundations- the time when CEO SUITE had started with only one business centre in 1997, and has since then grown and considered to be the industry leader and the first choice for global workplace with Premium Business Centres across Asia, catering to various industries.

Ever since being established in 1997, CEO SUITE has devoted its life and existence to incomparable hospitality- wherein hands-on management mainly focuses on clients’ needs and details. The company believes that to remain the best in the industry and to incessantly grow even more, clients’ satisfaction is of top most priority.

Now with over 20 years of service, CEO SUITE continues to ensure clients’ satisfaction through providing value in service experience, offering the best business locations, investing and providing luxurious and state of the art facilities and technologies, and delivering highest quality of care and reliability towards CEO SUITE team across all Premium Business Centres in Asia. Hundreds of Blue Chip Multinational companies have witnessed and experienced the CEO SUITE difference.

Living up to its vision to be come the first choice for global workplace solution, and its mission to be an enabler of excellence for clients, their team and the community, CEO SUITE holds dear the company values in each tasks for every client: Sense of Urgency, Care, Openness, Ownership, Trust and Teamwork.

Now with larger network base and reach, CEO SUITE provides different services for all client needs- whether it is serviced offices, instant offices, virtual offices, meeting/boardrooms, and professional services for their businesses, CEO SUITE has it. The variety and flexibility of CEO SUITE offerings range from an office space good for one person, or a larger office fit for a requirement of 50 employees to work in at. CEO SUITE Premium Serviced Offices offers layouts for private managerial suites, to open space plan layouts and customized arrangements for a more cost-efficient approach fit for rising and new businesses.

Enabling not only large scale businesses to grow, but also providing better opportunities for small scale and new companies to excel, CEO SUITE furnished offices are offered in customizable options- can be rented daily, weekly, monthly or on a yearly basis- whatever is the most suitable for any business.

For businessmen with sophisticated tastes and only aim for perfection, CEO SUITE is the perfect solution. Experience the CEO SUITE service excellence, enquire now at www.ceosuite.com.

The post 20 Years of Providing Premium & Luxurious Serviced Offices in Asia appeared first on CEO SUITE.

If you are a small business, and you are having a hard time getting more customers, do not fret. It is totally normal. You are not alone. It is, in fact, a very common challenge for new businesses. All businesses are always looking for ways to expand their customer base so they can sell more. It is important to grow it because having a robust customer base is more dependable when it comes to sales than trying to acquire sales from first time or new customers. Question remains, “how do you get more customers?” Here at CEO SUITE, our global perspective, with our Premium Business Centres in 9 countries, enables us to realize what usually works for many companies. Here are a few tips that any business owner can use regardless of their company size, or budget:

1. Proposition an irresistible offer.

There are many ways to create an irresistible offer. One way is to give free trial of your services for a duration you think is fit for your timeline, and budget too. Another way is to provide many freebies inclusions on the package you are selling; you can also provide return/refund policies. Investing more on your current customers is the way to go. It costs less to generate sales from existing customers than to create new customers. If the case is opposite, then you should come up with an offers that’s irresistible to your potential customers. If you’re confident about the quality of your product or service, you can feel confident knowing that many of these potential customers will convert into actual customers. That pretty much sums up the whole idea for you.

2. Get closer to your clients.

Forming partnerships even beyond business with other related business owners is one of the best ways to grow your customer base. Proximity also plays a great role here, the closer you can get to your customers, the easier and more convenient it is to get to know them better as a company, a business, a client and as a friend. In this way, you will learn how you can help them better and meet their needs and expectations. This is also one way to know how you can improve and develop your products or services more.

3. Provide newsletters.

A newsletter may just be a very small thing, but newsletters are like your informants to clients. You can provide them for free. Through newsletters, you are letting both your current customers and potential customers that you are willing to provide them free and relevant information about your business, your products and/or services.

4. Take advantage of social media and online promotions.

Social media have now also evolved into something greater. You can consider them as an excellent tool to get insights of your audience, and an excellent hand to reach out to new and potential customers. What’s good about this is, you can promote everyday for free or without cost as long as you allot enough time to take care of it. It is also a good way to interact with your audience in real time without having to ask them to visit your official website since a big percentage of population today stays the whole day lurking on their social media accounts.

5. Think BIG!

Many small businesses find it intimidating to make contact or work with big companies. If you are always asking if you can do it despite having such a small company, the answer is simply, YES! We now live in a world where businesses have started thinking differently. Gone are the days when big corporations think suspiciously of small-scale businesses to be their providers. Now, big companies have started recognizing and considering small companies because they usually offer value at much lower costs.

The post How to Grow Your Customer Base appeared first on CEO SUITE.

In this day and age, the digital industry in Jakarta is now dominated by young entrepreneurs who have slowly turned their small business into multi-million dollar businesses. They have all formed a bandwagon with a community of young successful businessmen who share the same interests in technology and have an aspiration for being industry leaders.

This advent has resulted to the rise of “co-working offices” that are spacious, open-plan and modern-designed working areas that foster creativity and personal interaction amongst colleagues or even non-colleagues. These unique office spaces are occupied by employees in their early 20s or 30s who already boast of high positions in their organizations. The “open layout” is conducive for free-thinking and exchange of ideas derived from the social networking that the place promotes.

“Co-working offices” bring together like-minded entrepreneurs from various lines of expertise who collaborate on business projects, share jobs and assist on each others’ client needs. The new generation of businessmen possess a unique interest in working techniques that are not limited to the conventions of traditional corporate life. They have a different lifestyle which is most of the time, the “work hard, play hard” attitude who love to celebrate small victories and enjoy travelling a lot whether for work or leisure.

This modern type of office space has proliferated in Jakarta now because of the increasing number of these ambitious young I.T.-savvy entrepreneurs who require more flexibility on office space costs and rental periods. They are more transient but require co-working office locations in the CBD areas that are accessible to main public transportation and commercial hubs including retail establishments.

Majority of “co-working” spaces are “hole-in-the-wall” types that have very crude interiors and basic furnishing – they do not exactly depict a reputable company name or business address and serves more like a coffee shop with bigger desks and with printing facilities.

However, there are a few of those who provide the same workspace concept but carry a more reputable name, have a prime CBD address and a more decent work environment, that can help your business a lot in terms of publicity and establishing a more professional corporate image. One of them is CEO SUITE that has business centres with “co-working” spaces in prime CBD areas in Jakarta that include: AXA Tower, One Pacific Place, Sahid Sudirman, Indonesia Stock Exchange Tower and Wisma GKBI. CEO SUITE also has modern meeting rooms for small and big groups with video-conferencing facilities for hourly or daily rent, a fully-equipped pantry with free-flowing coffee and tea, printing and scanning facilities, a VIP business lounge and private office suites.

If you think you are not ready yet to have a private office that may require higher fees and longer commitment on rental period, “co-working” office solutions might work better for you. Learn more about “co-working” offices by visiting: www.ceosuite.com/co-working/.

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There are so many tricks and tips you can use when you are in search for an office space.

Having an office space can drain your company’s resources. For start-ups, it may not be advisable to pursue except for unique business solutions that may be available.

Standard commercial real estate companies usually demand 5-20 years of lease terms, not so much of an ideal requirement to new businesses who are in need of more growth opportunities and do not need extra and binding liabilities.

Although there are other factors and things a business can consider to minimize cost and maximize profits, such as downsizing personnel, the office space plays a major role in the financial budget of any company.

Any startup entrepreneur or business should know that nowadays, leasing covers and talks about more than just getting a workspace. Just like times have changed, business’ needs aren’t always now fit to operate in a plain and bare commercial space.

The rise of serviced offices and virtual offices have changed the way people and business work and function. There are also shared offices, which some call Co-Working Spaces, where terms of payments and leasing requirements are flexible while also giving better opportunities for other business networking matters. Many big companies today have also started their way from leasing co-working spaces, some even started on sticking to working at home and just getting their companies a virtual office while continuing to work on the growth of their businesses.

The main reason startup businesses should not commit to a conventional office space is the big chunk of liquidity lost. Imagine a small business, having just enough to continue operating everyday with high hopes of many opportunities to open being required to give away half, sometimes even more so, of their liquid cash just for an office space, which still needs so much work to polish with furniture, facilities, and appliances every office needs. Getting rid of high operating costs like this is a big breather for small companies, which in return frees up capital and enables these small and start up businesses to do more and stay liquid.

Commonly, many businessmen mistake these types of offices (serviced offices, virtual office, shared offices) as only an office for certain types of businesses, such as small ones, startups, businesses that are offering services too. Truth is, these types of offices cater even to big and multinational companies, as these types offices offer them chances to branch out internationally with more ease, comfort and assistance. These types of offices are usually equipped with a workforce that is hired to focus on aiding your needs. Also, these types of offices are usually present in prestigious business addresses and places, better computers, communication technologies than what you or your company could afford alone. These types of offices are like an “easy in, easy out” set-up between companies and themselves, offering less hassle and faster turnover which enables companies to start working, functioning and operating in no time. It is simple a commercial space that delivers you value and truth in “start working right away” promises, getting you equipped straight down to business.

Settling in for a serviced office, or a virtual office, or a shared office space is a cost-effective solution to your office space dilemma, especially when you are the type of business or company that needs to avoid the trials and ordeals of a traditional / conventional property letting such as a wowing 20 years of lease contract, getting reliable references, big amount of deposit requirements, personal guarantees from directors, min. size requirements you have to lease, cost of equipment and furniture to fill in the bare office space. Most of all, beyond the budget you need to allot for your serviced office / virtual office, or shared office space, do not forget that what you paying for goes beyond just the physical aspect of it. You are buying time, paying for more time you can well use for other things — say more important ones, like sales, networking, partnerships, and the likes, than allotting those time for setting up a plain and bare office space.

The post Your Ultimate Guide on Office Space Leasing appeared first on CEO SUITE.

For the past two years, Vietnam has proven its potential as one of the most lucrative countries in Southeast Asia to do business in with its steady GDP growth and growth in direct foreign investments amounting to almost US$2.5 billion in the first 9 months of 2016.

Despite the decline on the agricultural front, Vietnam has emerged on top in the manufacturing sector with foreign business flocking in Hanoi’s industrial zones for its factories, and I.T. corporations setting-up their presence everywhere in the country for the past two to three years.

According to the report of the British Business Group Vietnam (BBGV) on September 26, 2016, “Although GDP growth for the year is a little under budget for 2016, Vietnam is still the leading one of the top countries in SE Asia for GDP growth, and ahead of Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore (commonly referred to as the ASEAN 6). Whilst lower oil process and depressed agricultural output because of changes in climatic conditions have depressed growth, manufacturing output has grown robustly and confidence is strong buoyed by increased foreign direct investment.”

BBGV has also indicated other success factors that include the significant increase in foreign direct investments in 2016 as compared to 2015 at US$ 15 billion as of September; a 10% increase in exports on 2015; and a trade surplus of US$ 2.5 billion compared to a deficit of US$ 3.7 billion in the first 8 months of this year. It is also projected that export growth will continue in 2017 because of expected inbound investments resulting from the AEC and EU Vietnam FTA that will be implemented in January 2018, as well as the pending approval of the TPP agreement after the local elections.

Even foreign exchange reserves are high with US$ 40 billion that ensures the safety level of imports plus the trade surplus helped strengthen and stabilize the VND/US$ exchange rates. Furthermore, Vietnam has been named as one of the World’s Top 20 Manufacturing Locations in Deloitte’s 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitive Index.

Global businesses have shifted to Vietnam mainly because of the following:

• Low Manufacturing Costs
• New Foreign Trade Agreements Signed
• 100% Foreign Ownership of Businesses Now Allowed

VN Express International reports on August 22 that it is the low cost of manufacturing in Vietnam that lures foreign companies to move to Vietnam. Even in the report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, it clearly shows that global investors are still looking on “emerging Asian countries” for business with a US $541 billion in foreign investments generated for Asia in 2015.

As compared to previous years, global companies have shifted from China to Vietnam due to high labor costs and geopolitical concerns in the former business hub.

Barriers to entry in the Vietnam business community have been alleviated by global corporations through mergers and acquisitions evident from the increase in foreign shareholders in more than 1,700 local companies from 2015 to 2016. These has also been made feasible via the new Foreign Trade Agreements that the Vietnam government has signed with other nations together with the lifting of the 49% limit to foreign business ownership in the country and allowing them a 100% stake even for listed companies in various sectors: consumer, property, transport, construction, manufacturing, financial services and agriculture.

Vietnam has very well prepared for the influx of foreign business investors with its modern public roads and office infrastructure including instant office solutions like premium serviced offices offered by professional companies like CEO SUITE which has complete and ready for use private offices, meeting rooms, business lounges with five-star quality staff support system at the iconic Lotte Center in Hanoi, the country’s capital.

To enquire on CEO SUITE Lotte Center Hanoi serviced office and business solutions, please send us an email at: [email protected] or call +84 4 3267 3999.

The post Why Foreign Investments Are Flocking-In to Vietnam appeared first on CEO SUITE.

Business networking is usually shortened to “networking”, which usually is confusing to many with computer networks, relating to net connections and accessibility to multiple computer systems. Business networking is different. It is an effective (proven through time by many businesses) low-cost marketing approach for developing or growing sales opportunities through contacts, referrals and introductions. These are usually done face-to-face, or through physical interactions through meetings, events, gatherings, and sometimes through phone calls, emails and now, through the increase of heavy users on social media and business networking platforms online.

Business networking is one marketing method wherein you make the saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” work for you.

Here are tips you can use for to make your networking efforts work:

1. Be prepared.

Opportunities for networking may present themselves anytime, anywhere. It is important that you are always ready to meet new people. You have to know by heart what you can offer to these people. And not only that, you also have to know what information you actually need, so you don’t get lost in the middle of the conversations you’re going to have with the people you’re going to meet. You can start your preparation by keeping an open mind. Plan your networking events in advance; write down your schedules and whom you’re meeting. Be aggressive in knowing the next “it” events from the people you meet. Seek out like-minded individuals from the events you attend, as well as more experienced peers. Always have a business card on hand. Having a card available makes it so much easier for you to follow up with these people you meet, and for them to really remember who you are. Add keywords at the back of their name cards on topics you have discussed when you met personally for better recall in your next interaction.

2. Give.

All great relationships are built on give and take. To be able to play and work effectively at the same time, you must be willing to give. Humans are wired and driven by their desire to be reciprocal. As best-selling author and Professor Cialdini puts it, “reciprocity is one of the most powerful influence and communication techniques. The power of reciprocity, and our human desire to want to give back to others who have first given to us, is one of the most effective ways of building a supportive network.” Invest in giving and reap back its rewards in time.

3. Be in the right places.

Networking’s end goal of course, is closed sales. It is impossible to be able to do this by just depending on phone calls, and digital marketing efforts and staying in your office. It pays to actually get out in the open- to be where your customers are, or are likely to be. Determining which fields of businesses can best help you can be a great start, and then go where you see it is most likely to find the people you want to meet to reach your goal. Make sure you are subscribed to the e-newsletters of the biggest business associations in your industry or foreign chambers of commerce groups and take part in their regular activities. That is when and where you meet the right people for your business.

The post What Networking Techniques Work? appeared first on CEO SUITE.