Sohrab Vazir
Consultant | Founder | Global Citizen | Writer
Tag Archives: Entrepreneur
6 useful AI tools for founders & businesses
AI tools are revolutionising the world of work for founders and businesses. From customer service to content creation, AI-powered tools have simplified many of the old processes. In this article, I will highlight 6 AI tools that are super useful for founders and businesses. As a founder or a business, you must use your time and resources efficiently. AI-powered tools help you do so. The world of AI has advanced rapidly, and new ways of using it evolve every day. Now let’s talk about some of those awesome AI tools that will help founders and businesses maximise their offer. Canva Canva has added various AI functionalities to enhance its content creation features. For those who don’t know Canva: it is one of the entrepreneurship world’s biggest gifts to humanity. Canva is useful for both founders and other members of businesses for content creation. Recently it has added several useful AI functionalities, making it even more awesome. The YouTube video below highlights some of these really well, so make sure to check it out! Grammarly In this day and age, grammar and spelling mistakes are becoming a thing of the past. We may partially thank the education system for that. However, a big chunk of this progress is thanks to the power of technology. Grammarly is a reflection of this. It is powered by AI and improves your text and writing. Personally, I’m the type to write typos all the time, personally because I have 50 tabs open on my browser, so Grammarly has been a real treat for me! Tidio Chatbots have become increasingly popular in the last few years. Moreover, many chatbots are powered by AI, including Tidio. Tidio offers a range of benefits, including: -Easy-to-use & simple interface -Integration with various platforms such as WordPress, Shopify & Wix -Customizable AI-powered chatbots & lead generators Personally, as a founder and business owner, I am a big fan of Tidio as an AI-powered tool, and it also comes with a free version. ChatGPT I was not sure if I should mention ChatGPT, given all the hype surrounding it and its parent company, OpenAI. However, a list of AI tools for founders and businesses would be incomplete without ChatGPT. There are so many things that founders and businesses can do with ChatGPT, including (but not limited to): -Content creation -Editing written content -Provision of information -Code: generation, debugging and more Synthesia Another one of my favourite AI tools for founders and businesses is Synthesia. Synthesia is a video creation and media generation platform powered by AI. It helps you create professional videos and use AI-based characters as narrators, who look (too) similar to real humans! Notion AI Using your time and resources efficiently is crucial as a founder and/or a business. Therefore, the last few years have witnessed the emergence of many task management and teamwork tools such as Notion or Trello. Notion reserves a unique spot, as it has gone a step further by harnessing the power of AI. This functionality helps founders and businesses to use Notion AI for tasks such as: -Information management and categorisation -Translation -Content generation -Simplification of information -and much more…….. These are 6 useful AI tools for founders and businesses. As a founder, it’s important to keep yourself updated with the latest tech innovations and leverage them to your benefit. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size across several domains. For my credentials, please see here.
8 skills that will help you succeed in business and employment
The business and employment skills landscape is constantly evolving. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep on top of your game and ensure you develop the right skills to succeed in business or employment, regardless of being an entrepreneur or employee. You have probably wondered what skills makes people successful in business and employment. And there is never a straight forward answer as it is a combination of multiple factors. However, it is indisputable that you need to have the right skills to succeed in either business or employment. In this article, I will highlight 8 skills that will contribute to your self-development and ultimately succeeding in business and employment. Articulation & communication Almost every aspect of business and employment boils down to communication and the “people” factor. Whether it’s sales, leading a team or a job interview, communication is a core element. Success in business and employment is highly dependent on fostering mutually beneficial relationships. Therefore, it’s a skill that you must actively develop. Now you notice that I used the verb “articulation” here, and it’s because you may be a good communicator, yet lack articulation. Being articulate is an evolving progression that will come with time, and it encompasses both verbal and written communication. Moreover, being articulate is subjective. For instance, the use of the correct words is fundamentally important to being articulate. Your choice of words will significantly differ if you are presenting at a sustainability conference, in contrast to presenting to a team of junior salesmen. Articulation boils down to identifying the correct language for your audience and applying it with confidence. Cultural awareness We live in a globalised world, whether you like it or not. Being culturally aware not only opens doors to new opportunities, but it is also important in being a good communicator (refer to the first point above). If you live in a multi-cultural society, which applies to most developed countries, cross-cultural awareness is a vital skill to master in both business and employment. Critical thinking Success in business and employment is, in many instances, reliant on problem-solving. Unfortunately, one shortcoming of educational systems is not enabling pupils to develop this skill, and encouraging a one-dimensional perspective. Critical thinking skills enable you to see the bigger picture, identify problems and solutions and subsequently influence others, whether in business or employment. Confidence Ever heard of the phrase “nice guys finish last”? Well let me elaborate: niceness is not bad in itself. However, in many scenarios, niceness derives from a lack of confidence. Sadly, I had to learn this one the hard way, as I was a “nice” person before and it only allowed others to cross my (non-existent) boundaries and take advantage of my “niceness”. Again, I am not telling you to be a jerk. However, it is important to understand your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and build relationships based on mutual value. Remember: today’s world is extremely competitive and there are many not-so-nice people out there. By mastering confidence as a skill, you will set better boundaries and form better relationships. Financial literacy Financial literacy is a skill that is mostly relevant to business and entrepreneurship in a professional context. And it really does not need to be explained in detail as any venture’s success will ultimately depend on its financial health. However, this does not mean that it is not applicable to your personal life. Being financially literate will enable you to avoid stress, create more opportunities and achieve better health. Legal competency Okay, now I am not asking you to do a law degree or read every single legislation that exists. However, both business and employment operate within legal frameworks, and it’s a skill that will get you far. The key principle here is awareness of the existing legislations, your rights, obligations and applying critical thinking to them (see above) Sales I have run two businesses over the last seven years. One lesson that I have learned is that “cash is king”. The purpose, or one of the primary purposes, of business and employment is making money. Nevertheless, allow me to be clear that “sales” skills is not just limited to selling products/services. I am also referring to sales in an interpersonal context. I’ll break it down by asking and answering these two simple questions: How do you make money? By selling How do you land your dream job? By selling yourself and your competencies Writing Writing skills are, in most cases, crucial for succeeding in business and employment. Writing competencies are vital in becoming a better communicator, and communicating your thoughts, values and skills. Whether it’s writing your resume, cover letter, a blog article on your website or an email to a client, writing skills will help you a lot. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content.
3 things to consider when hiring SEO copywriters
You’ve decided to look into hiring SEO copywriters. The word “saturated” would perhaps be an understatement to describe this sector. Hence, finding the best SEO copywriter(s) can be challenging. SEO is crucial if your business has a digital presence, which it most likely does. The obvious reason is that online searching, particularly Google, is where customers will find your business. However, another key importance of SEO is that it helps you communicate with your audience through content. With the latter in mind, I will emphasise the “content” aspect as it will be a major factor in hiring SEO copywriters. The purpose of hiring SEO copywriters should be the creation of content that: Personally, during my time managing my PropTech startup, StudyFlats, I made several mistakes with hiring SEO copywriters. I worked with both freelance writers as well as my own in-house marketing team. These are the three things that I’d recommend considering when hiring SEO copywriters: I. Writing portfolios An obvious one. Past work is a good indicator of the type of standards that you can expect. There are external websites such as Contently that freelance SEO writers use to create their own portfolios. Check mine HERE. II. Familiarity with your industry This may not be the ultimate deciding factor. Creating SEO-optimised content mainly requires expertise and superb writing skills. Hence, a skilled SEO copywriter should normally be able to create engaging content regardless of their past experience. However, it is undeniable that past work and experience specifically in your industry is a positive factors when hiring SEO copywriters. III. Demeanour and attitude Hiring SEO copywriters may be far from being similar to hiring employees. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that working with a copywriter is still a business relationship. Moreover, you do not want to work with a professional who may be good at what they do but have a negative attitude. Let’s look at some of the attitude green and red flags in a copywriter: Green flags Red flags Respectful & professional behaviour Rude & unprofessional (e.g. late responses, general bad attitude) Client testimonials & reviews No reviews or testimonials from previous clients (albeit there are exceptions) Takes time to understand your business & allows you to explain your issues in details Does 95%of the talking / Asks little or no questions about your business / Self-centred & one-sided dialogue These are the three top things to consider when hiring SEO copywriters. Need help with SEO and copywriting? Contact me today (and you can test me on these three factors too). About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content.
How to boost your networking skills as an entrepreneur?
Networking skills are crucial in all walks of life, especially as an entrepreneur. Why? It’s hardly a surprise; First, humans are social creatures. We need human interaction to survive. Second, genuinely succeeding as an entrepreneur is primarily determined by who you know and your sales ability. Trust me: it all boils down to sales. For those who do not know me: I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) company, StudyFlats, when I was only 22 years old. As the sole founder and director, I scaled the business to over 30 UK cities. Okay, enough with the self-marketing, but feel free to read more about me here if you wish. In my years as an entrepreneur, I realised that one of the key determinants for an entrepreneur’s success is their networking skills, as well as their existing network. Personally, I always thrived on meeting new people and generally interacting with others. However, I did have my periods of being shy and introverted and therefore can relate to others who feel similarly. Building my own business helped me turn my outgoing personality, as well as my flaws, into effective networking skills. Today, I want to share 3 hacks that you can start implementing RIGHT NOW to improve your networking skills. 1. Get out there & talk to people I don’t care what it is, nor does it have to necessarily be business/networking events at first. Of course, business and networking events are essential for building a network relevant to your business. However, at this point, the purpose is to get in the habit of talking to ANYBODY. The best way to start is to take part in activities that you resonate with on a personal level, such as sports. Start getting comfortable with the idea of talking to anyone and shake off any discomfort/anxiety that you have about it. 2. Surround yourself with effective networkers | “ Your network is your net worth” One of the best ways to learn networking skills is by being in the company of effective networkers. “Your network is your net worth” is a golden quote and one that is particularly relevant to any entrepreneur. Moreover, simply being in the presence of those who possess a skill that you desire will enable you to adopt their positive traits/approach/mindset. 3. Approach and talk to influential people, especially if it makes you uncomfortable I grew up in an environment where I interacted with people who were either celebrities or nationally known within their fields of expertise. Initially, I recall that sense of anxiety when being surrounded by such people. However, since being a teenager I pushed myself to start conversations with such individuals. Interestingly, those conversations were always very positive despite feeling uneasy in the beginning. Remember this: “everyone is a human being with their own flaws and imperfections, including yourself”. Once you truly realise that, social pressure will have far less impact on your networking skills as an entrepreneur. As an example of this, in 2019 I was shortlisted as a finalist by NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards for North East England. These 3 simple hacks will help you take your networking skills to the next level. As an entrepreneur, your social and professional circle is paramount to your success. Therefore, developing your networking skills should be a key priority for any prospective and current entrepreneur. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting, and content.