Do You Find Agile Epics a Fuzzy Concept? Here’s A Guide.

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Do You Find Agile Epics a Fuzzy Concept? Here’s Your Cheat Sheet

For many it might seem that Agile has some pretty confusing and frankly odd terminology. If you feel included in this group, let us give you a hand. In this article we give you some clarity regarding some of the methodology’s essential terms, in this case, Agile epics.

What Is An Agile Epic?

Essentially, the term user stories means requests from users regarding a given product. Though ’requests’ might not exactly be the best word to describe them, think of each as a small unit of functionality. Let’s say you are developing an app that is basically a map. One story could be a feature that allows users to calculate the optimal route between multiple points on the map, while, if your company offers trips abroad, another may be utilized for arranging accommodation. Stories are basically sub-tasks within a larger, more comprehensive unit.

You probably guessed it right, this larger unit is what’s called an epic. Within that, epic stories are related to each other as they are all pointing towards the same goal. Agile often works with independent yet connected teams, meaning each team can have their own Agile epics. These large chunks of work are parts of initiatives, which are the sub-groups of themes, which could be considered as a kind of overarching goal of the company.

Related: Agile QuickTip: User Stories and Product Ideas Should be Born on Index Cards

What’s The Benefit Of Agile Epics?

To put it shortly, clearly defined objectives and priorities. Agile is about continuous improvement and catering to customers’ needs. Large pieces of work and their smaller units help you exactly with that, giving your team a clear picture of the direction you need to go.

Another benefit is simply organization. A final product could be insanely complex, meaning there are plenty of small units of work to be taken care of. Stories that are more closely related to one another should be included in a category one level above them, and that’s where their epic counterparts enter the picture.

Last but not least, your time management might see some improvement. Agile epics contribute to planning sprints more effectively, thus giving your team a better estimate of how long the project is going to take. They are a great item in the toolbox that could be real game-changers.

Skipping Scrum Retrospective Meetings? You May Want to Reconsider

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Scrum Retrospective Meetings – To Keep It Or Leave It?

How many times have you heard or said that retrospectives are useless? Project management can mean that we deal with problems on the go; so why waste our time? Guess what. Retrospective meetings are not about solving problems. Let us explain.

First, take a look at the Agile Manifesto, namely its 12th principle.

’At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.’

Noticed there’s no mentioning of any ’problems’ in there? Retrospective meetings are indeed the most widespread ways that support this principle, during which team members discuss how they can improve on operations. Obviously, if there are problems concerning daily tasks, by definition they hinder effective work; therefore, solving them is a pre-requisite for development. It’s a pre-requisite, not an end goal.

Very simply put, the goal of a sprint retrospective meeting is to improve and create efficiency throughout the product dev and release processes for the upcoming sprints. Development teams achieve this by discussing what went well and what did not during the previous sprint. In this way, an  inspect and adapt mindset is leveraged during sprint reviews and helps in the way of continuous improvement.

It All Boils Down To Concentration

Dealing with problems on the way is good indeed, so much so that postponing a problem until the retrospective meetings is a huge mistake. But why do scrum teams need to dedicate a separate ceremony to development itself, why can’t we just do that underway? The word you’re looking for is focus…

During ongoing projects, one must pay attention to opportunities for fixing issues; however, if there’s no dedicated time for that, these will simply get lost in the sea of urgent matters. Time presses us to solve things ASAP, meaning we tend to think in short-term solutions, creating just as much value as we possibly can in that short period of time.

Related: Agile QuickTip: Vegas-Style Retrospective

If we focus on and dedicate time to issues hindering us, however, we can create maximum value as per our creativity and individual talents. Additionally, this way we plan for the long-term, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of solutions we come up with much longer. A long-lasting reward for a short period of time spent on it. It’s not too hard to realize that long-term value outperforms clumsy, short-term solutions.

Final Thoughts On Retrospective Meetings

To sum it up, we need to keep dealing with problems constantly, but this cannot replace retrospective meetings. Smaller, menial problems could wait until the ceremony, but keep in mind that having no issues is the beginning of development, not its final goal.

To add to the myriad of benefits scrum retrospectives have for the scrum team is included its reputation in building consensus among development team members.

Ponder about it. Do you hold retrospectives with the above mindset? Do you even care to hold it? If not, are you aware that having no retrospective goes right against the definition of Agile and the scrum framework, as well as continuous adaptation and development?

How To Conduct a SWOT Analysis in Agile

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The WHYs and HOWs of Agile SWOT Analysis

A common mistake during switching to Agile is that an organization throws the baby out with the bathwater, discarding business strategy, values and practices that have benefited them so far. In order to avoid this, a SWOT analysis might come in handy.

Though used in traditional management, SWOT analyses in Agile is equally beneficial and advised. Using it properly can help prevent this mistake.

What is a SWOT analysis?

Coined by Albert Humphrey in the 1960s, the term SWOT analysis is an easy-to-understand tool for strategic business planning, used often in traditional ways of management; often prior to but also during decision making. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The goal of the SWOT framework is to identify internal and external factors that could help or hinder the organization in achieving its goals, be it on the project level or above, business operations, competitive advantage or other area.

Internal factors:

  • Strengths
  • Weaknesses

External factors:

  • Opportunities
  • Threats

Results are summarized using the SWOT matrix.

You might also be interested in: For High-Definition Planning, Plan Sprints Backward

How to conduct a SWOT analysis?

The two main steps are analysis and decision making/planning.

The main and most difficult objective of performing a SWOT analysis is mapping out the whole situation as accurately as possible. Practically there’s just no way to identify every single strength, weakness etc., so here’s a couple of tips that could help.

Define the objective as clearly as possible: Categories used by SWOT are too general; they need to be narrowed down.

Start with the external factors: Market factors can determine whether something should be considered a strength or weakness. Start by asking “what opportunities and threats exist?”

Extensive participation: Creating a SWOT analysis is not a one-man job. The more viewpoints are expressed, the better the results are going to be.

Dialogue: Dialogue is an essential part of a good analysis, so spare no time and effort allowing for it.

Balance: If the matrix is suspiciously one-sided, it’s worth going with at least 5 elements per category.

Decision making

The matrix you get by conducting the analysis is still not enough for success. You need to assess the results as well. The ways to do that are plenty with their usefulness, depending on the original question that made the whole analysis necessary.

If it was an open question (like what kind of product should we develop), there’s a wider variety of possible questions based on the matrix. For example:

  • What opportunities are made easier to use by our current strengths? Identifying these could get us ahead of competitors.
  • How can we avoid threats? How can we avoid having to face our weaknesses? Questions like these can point towards strategic change, even perhaps entering a new market.

If the analysis is conducted after the decision, questions should focus on implementation.

  • What particular strengths are important to reach a given objective?
  • Which of our weaknesses constitute the biggest threats and what are we doing against them?
  • Which opportunities must be used at all costs to reach our goal?

All questions should be examined in the context of the whole matrix, even though they might seem to focus on particular areas. A SWOT analysis is not just another meeting. It always shows the organization’s knowledge at the moment it’s being conducted. Given this, it’s worth repeating it regularly, especially in an environment that constantly keeps changing.

SWOT analysis in an Agile environment

Even though it is a tool used primarily by traditional management, Agile can benefit from it as well. SWOT analysis in Agile can be used when transitioning to Agile, at the beginning of product development, before new releases, or during product or team level retrospective meetings.

Additionally, SWOT analysis in Agile can be of great use when we as Scrum Masters or product Owners feel like our team is out of balance either because of being overly confident or due to the lack of motivation. Emphasizing internal strengths and weaknesses can help re-balance the team.

Top 10 Most Common Agile Software Development Questions

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Your Most Frequent Agile Software Development Questions Answered

As you may know, for most companies today, agile software development is essential, given the environment of ever-changing expectations. More and more companies realize the value of Agile methodologies. In contrast to traditional methods, agile frameworks allow for fast adaptation to customers’ expectations; provides a framework for products of the highest quality and helps to develop a viable version of a product relatively fast. Sounds good right?

Should you be intending to give it a try, or just get to know a little more about it, we got you covered. Here are some of the top Agile software development questions that help you get a better picture about the agile process.

  1. Is Agile only used in IT?

It originates from IT; however, several diverse industries have adopted the methodology in some way and shape, including but not limited to the finance, automotive, healthcare & pharma, and engineering industries.

You might also be interested in: 7 Companies in 7 Industries That Have Successfully Adapted to COVID-19

  1. What is Agile?

Simply put, Agile software development is a collection of best practices; namely, that the development process is broken down to pieces in a way that each development cycle adds an additional functional feature to the software. The methodology has 12 basic principles, laid out in the Agile Manifesto.

  1. Are there multiple Agile methods?

There are indeed. Agile has various flavors; some of the more popular ones include Scrum, Lean, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP), Crystal, Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) and Feature-Driven Development.

  1. Which one suits my project best?

This always depends on your specific goals, the product and the company itself. There’s no one-size-fits-all here; you should take the time to examine which methodology is the most appropriate for your project.

  1. What makes this approach better than traditional methods?

Agile software development allows for a user-centered development process therefore lending itself to increased customer satisfaction. The software is quickly released, and customer feedback can be built into subsequent versions. Due to this continuous improvement there is also a higher chance of having a product of greater quality. 

When using an agile approach, you’re working in smaller sprints making it easier for teams to recover parts of the development project if things are not working as planned. In this way the risks are reduced too.

  1. Is it the customers who tell what the product should look like?

Yes and no. They’re not telling what and how you should develop, instead what they need and consider important in a given software. That feedback should define the product itself. Agile helps by shifting the development process from feature-centered to user-centered.

7.Is this method faster than other ones?

Chances are it is, especially in contrast to more traditional systems. Agile software development allows you to build a functional raw version, that could be used to gather feedback from users that will later be built into the software until it meets their maximum satisfaction. In essence, Agile software development allows for value to be delivered sooner. The methodology enables teams to focus on the right things, so reaching the outcome  is more efficient and faster. 

  1. Do customers get a half-baked product?

They don’t. What they get is a minimum viable product (MVP) with usually one initial feature. MVP is a concept taken from agile scrum to describe a product with minimal features  that are just enough to meet the needs of early stage customers. Customers are then able to validate and provide feedback for further development of the product. 

Think of sharing photos as a feature on Instagram. One basic, yet fully viable feature is not much, but can be used as a starting point for further development.

  1. How long does the Agile software development process take?

It always depends on the very complexity of the thing that’s being built. Custom development can be anything between 4 to 12 months, with iterations of 2 to 4 weeks in length. The advantage here is that an early version can quickly be released to the public.

  1. Can you save money with this project management methodology?

Most certainly you can, though in an indirect way. Since Agile software development allows for releasing a very basic version of a product, no time and money is spent on developing features that eventually will turn out to be useless. Continuous feedback helps you better understand your target audience, thus making marketing more effective and simultaneously cutting its costs.

Closing Words

Agile is indeed an effective method of running projects, and not just in software development. However, there are some prerequisites for it to work. One is a company structure that allows for cross-functional development teams. Another is choosing the right framework for a particular project. In order to make things nice and smooth, try implementing the approach in smaller tasks to see what issues arise that need to be changed or improved upon. 

Guide To The BCG Matrix and Its Relation To Agile

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Introduction To The BCG Matrix And Its Connection To The Agile Method

Though Agile is a product-oriented approach, for a long period of time, it was only focusing on a single product. Scrum, the most widespread of Agile frameworks, is no different. It’s a great framework for a product development and cross functional teams, but its shortcomings become all the more obvious when it comes to multiple products being developed in parallel. 

You don’t need to be a huge company to have multiple products; even two are enough to make you ask which one is more important right now? Which one should be developed? How should we prioritize product development tasks in conjunction with each other?

You might also be interested in: Agile Leadership Has the Power to Transform Your Business

The above questions became increasingly important as the need for scalability of Agile frameworks showed high growth rates. Even some scaled frameworks are unable to adequately answer them. Perhaps SAFe provides the best solution, where separate levels are given to the product portfolio, allowing for an agile management of it.

A simple way to handle the product portfolio is provided by the so-called BCG matrix (also known as growth-share matrix), which got its name from the Boston Consulting Group. The matrix shows two factors that organizations must consider when deciding where to invest:

  • competitive advantage
  • market growth 

Based on these, the products are classified in a two-by-two grid, with the categories being question marks, stars, dogs and cash cows.

The goal of the BCG matrix

The goal of using a BCG matrix is to

  • Identify each product’s place on a product life cycle curve
  • Find the optimal development strategy and market positioning based on its current position in its life cycle
  • Examine products’ relative position to each other and adjust the product portfolio accordingly

In order to understand the matrix, it’s important to revise what we know about the product life cycle. The curve splits a product’s life into four phases.

  1. Introduction: With the product being new, its success is questionable. Main objective is bringing it to the market and testing unique selling points and the product itself under market conditions.
  2. Growth: In case of a successful introduction, the product finds its buyers. Early majority comes after early adopters, interest in the product grows and competitors along with followers emerge.
  3. Maturity: Usually the longest of all phases. By the time the product enters this phase, competition becomes more intense. In order to hold its market position, the product requires constant development and innovation.
  4. Decline: The market for the product shrinks with the product becoming obsolete. Once the development is finished, the organization focuses on other products.

Categories of the BCG Matrix

The are 4 categories which are dogs, cash cows, stars and question marks – 1 for each quadrant.  This helps organizations to prioritize their business activities.

  • Stars 

 The product has a high market cap in a growing market. This is the growth phase. Stars have high business potential with this being the best strategic position. Challenges here are catering to growing needs and preserving advantage over competitors, which usually leads to more development being needed. Stars are in an especially important position, as their goal is to preserve their success and turn into cash cows down the road.

  • Cash cows

Products with a high market cap in a slowing market. These products are in their mature phases. The goal is to prolong this phase, maximizing profit. Development costs here are low, but nevertheless they’re still there. Tracking, support and updates are crucial. Cash cows generate large profits that could cover the costs of developing new products.

  • Question marks

Lower market cap products on a dynamic market, being in their introductory phase. Huge potential to turn into stars, even though this might require hefty investments. Agile plays a vital role here: incremental development, customer feedback and regular delivery can all contribute to learning whether or not they’re capable of fulfilling their potential to become stars or they’re not worth the effort.

  • Dogs

Slowing or shrinking market, low market cap. This is the decline phase. These products are often unprofitable, and from a portfolio management standpoint; terminating these products is often the way to go.

The above system can be applied to numerous international companies, such as Toyota, Samsung, Apple or Nestlé. Apple’s matrix-plotting is especially spectacular, as the brand has several top selling products.

Advantages and disadvantages of the BCG matrix

The matrixes are quick and easy-to-use tools for analysis. Like similar tools, they are somewhat restricted in their use, as the number of factors examined is few. It could come in handy when a quick overview is what’s needed; however, more complex portfolios require some more advanced tools. The greatest disadvantage of BCG matrix is that its static, meaning they only reflect the state of things in a given moment; therefore, it’s worth conducting the analysis multiple times during a period of time.

Music In Virtual Meetings Is The Way To Boost Engagement

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It’s High Time You Played Music for More Engaging Virtual Meetings

Given the rise of virtual teams, it’s safe to say that virtual meetings are here to stay. Popularized during the lockdown, this form of meeting can be pretty effective with a growing number of remote workers, even though it certainly has some drawbacks. If online meetings are not going anywhere, maybe it’s time to start thinking about how to make them interactive and engaging by spicing them up a bit.

According to a study conducted by VPNoverview, employees deem virtual meetings emotionless, after which they feel kind of blue. Real life meetings naturally contain those subtle human emotions and energies that simply don’t come through the screen. One way to artificially re-introduce them is by using music in virtual meetings.

Although it could be a fantastic tool to fire up those virtual get-togethers, don’t overdo the magic with consistent background music. Remember, music is just a tool and not the main objective. It’s still a meeting with tasks to focus on, so save your DJ skills for another time.

While music can be great during face-to-face, fun activities like scavenger hunts and as ice breakers, during more focused, serious Zoom meetings, timing is important to make virtual meetings more engaging. Integrate the music into your meeting agenda when team members are talking, during breaks and screen shares, beginnings, endings and reflection periods, or even to break the ice.

Music In Virtual Meetings – What To Choose?

Music is a wonderful thing that can affect your emotions, something that has been known since the dawn of time. Even when you’re actively listening, a significant portion of music is only perceived by your sub-conscious, a fact known and exploited by many musicians. Even if you’re not actively listening, it still evokes feelings in you, and that’s exactly the thing you’re aiming for during remote meetings and among remote team members.

Fun fact, the late 19th century French composer Erik Satie invented a style called furniture music, which according to him was not meant to be listened to consciously. This is pretty similar to what you’re going to need when playing music in virtual meetings.

Firstly, you need to be clear about what mood you want your audience to get into. Is it calm and relaxed? Pumped up and energetic? Exploratory and curious? 

If your team is brainstorming, then you might want something experimental, something that helps new ideas pop out of your head more easily. If you already have a set of well-defined goals, and you’re basically revising them, something more energetic and motivating is the go-to choice. To answer the main question, metal could be one of these; however, it’s a pretty controversial genre, so be careful with it. Something more melodic could be the way to go.

Related: Agile QuickTip: A Minute of Fun

Pay Attention To The Details

Music in virtual meetings is definitely something to give a shot to if you want to bring teams some entertainment and get more engagement. There are many royalty free music options available online to use during online meetings. To ensure a smooth flow during the meeting, make sure to prepare your tracks beforehand, and also do a quick practice session with someone, to learn and test how to properly use computer audio without the music being played both from your computer and as an audio input from your mic simultaneously.

Tips For Building Consensus in Your Scrum Team

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The WHYs and HOWs of Building Consensus in Your Scrum Team

As Scrum Master, your task is to lead a Team towards a common goal, assign and monitor the completion of tasks, facilitate progress, run the daily scrum, set milestones and ensure timely delivery. Not an easy task, even with Team members who fully agree on everything. Let alone if they don’t…

In this article, we give you a few tips on building consensus in your Scrum Team. But why even bother, when you could just tell everyone what and how to do? After all, you are their true leader, right? Well, let’s dive in then.

Why is Building Consensus In Your Scrum Team Is So Important Anyway?

On the surface, consensus among scrum team members might seem negligible, as technically speaking one does not need to agree with or like what they’re doing, in order for it to be done. Yet reaching consensus has some benefits you may not be aware of.

First, it helps strengthen and maintain inner cohesion. If Team members are not on the same page, they’re likely to start forming groups that will eventually lead to the disruption of integrity.

Besides that, building consensus in your Scrum Team requires discussions, through which hidden flaws in ideas might surface easier. If all teammates were given the opportunity to evaluate proposals, the final outcome might be a more viable solution. 

You might be also interested in: Increase Team Engagement with a Done Bell

So, here are a few quick tips on how to build consensus in among your Scrum Team members:

  • Improving consensus is best done through open discussion; therefore, being a scrum guide, you need to hold one. This allows each member to voice their concerns in a transparent manner, helping to minimize the chance of groups being formed.
  • Before discussing the issue, you might want to do a quick poll to see if there is any disagreement regarding the path forward. Who knows, there might not be any.
  • If there is disagreement, however, spare no effort to identify the root cause. In everyday life, a great portion of arguing happens because parties are talking past each other and taking things personal. We’re all humans, so these unfortunate practices infest our work as well, and as Scrum Master, part of your job is handling that effectively.
  • During the discussion, try to implement timeboxing to save yourselves from being stuck on non-essential matters.
  • Listen to clash of views, and if possible, incorporate them into the final decision. Think of it as political parties giving concessions to opposing parties in order to get their vote.
  • Be clear about the issues that need to be decided on. Transparency and honesty are values with immense long-term benefits, so don’t sacrifice them for a quick victory. Need further convincing? Well, according to an Employee Engagement Survey conducted by TINYpulse, employee happiness is closely linked to transparency. So, always be upfront and tell the Team the good, the bad and the ugly as well, so that everyone knows what needs to be solved.

Conclusion

Building consensus in your Scrum Team can be a real challenge sometimes, but as a true leader you cannot afford to neglect it. Differences among teammates should not be looked at as something inherently negative. Dissent can be leveraged and turned into an instrument that is not only useful for uncovering flaws during negotiation but is also great for monitoring task completion by providing a constant flow of constructive criticism.

Not Big On The Remote Business Idea? Give It a Second Thought

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Running a Business Remotely – Embracing What Cannot be Conquered

When the pandemic hit two years ago, companies, stores and the whole business world were in shock. With lockdowns having been implemented in an instant, companies found themselves in deep waters, having had little to no time to switch to a new way of operating. This was not the dawn of remote work and remote companies, but it certainly was its moment of becoming mainstream.

Related: Survival of the Fittest: How Agile Organizations Thrived Through the Pandemic

Fast forward to the present, when employees are reluctant to go back to office work environments, demanding partial home office or fully remote options. Employers, on the other hand, are less than enthusiastic about it, some even threatening employees with layoffs, if they don’t show up in the office. Why? Because they think efficiency will inevitably plummet if their team members work from home.

However, statistics state the contrary. According to a Stanford study conducted with 16,000 employees over a 9-month period, productivity improved by 13% by the end of the research period. Therefore, you might actually benefit from running a remote business.

Here we give you a couple of reasons why embracing this concept rather than fighting it tooth-and-nail might turn out to be better for your business.

  1. The talent pool

When thinking of a brick-and –mortar kind of business, your options are quite limited in terms of workforce. Basically, you need to find employees with adequate qualifications, willingness to work for you (instead of other employers), and within a radius of a couple of miles. Not impossible, but certainly not easy. 

A business that fully embraces remote workers, however, has it way easier, as they have a talent pool the size of a planet. The remote employee has what it takes, speaks your language, is capable of doing the job, but happens to live on the other side of the world? Not a problem for a remote business.

  1. Saving costs

Another advantage of a fully remote business is that offices become completely useless for them. No utility costs, no rent, no renovation costs… The money otherwise spent on these could go to either product development, or alternatively it could be used to raise wages, as wages are crucial in getting and keeping talent. An ideal scenario for small businesses looking to save money or those looking to reduce startup costs.

  1. The environment

With no physical office spaces there’s no need to commute on a daily basis either. This decreases the carbon footprint of your company, which in the long run is much more than a simple marketing gimmick for you to boast in the present. Also, with gas prices skyrocketing, this leaves a lot of money in your employees’ pockets. Make no mistake, employees do appreciate forward-thinking employers, and a remote business model currently seems to be the path forward.

  1. Being futureproof

The pandemic hit a few businesses so hard they did not manage to recover. A lot of them went bankrupt. What if these businesses had been more open to remote work in the years prior? Nothing is certain, however, their chances of staying afloat would have been much higher if switching to remote work hadn’t come as a nasty surprise. You might dismiss this as a black swan event, but think again. Is it that unlikely for an event like this to happen again?

Final Thoughts on Running a Remote Business

A remote business is not some fringe phenomenon anymore. The question is, whether your company is ready to jump on the bandwagon and embrace the new norms, or keep walking the beaten path. No one can predict the future, however, one thing is certain. Remote work is on the rise, and employees – many talents among them – are choosing those that embrace it instead of fighting it.

Top 6 Tips For Growing Your Business Using Youtube

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6 Ways To Use Youtube To Grow Your Business

Using social media platforms is a no-brainer when it comes to growing your business. It’s not that you are doomed without an online presence, but close to that. For this reason, you cannot afford to miss out on opportunities like YouTube to grow your business.

Chances are you’re already familiar with video formats one way or another due to online meetings; why not take this digital tool to another level, and use it to benefit your business growth?

Related: 11 Ways You Can Inject Some Joy into your Videoconferencing

Below we give you a couple of tips towards your growth strategy on YouTube channels.

  • Upload Awesome Content

Self-explanatory. People use YouTube to watch video content that is interesting and captivating in some way. If you don’t have a clue about what to do, just take a look at what your competitors are doing. What works for them could be a great starting point for you. On that note, however, don’t just blindly copy their ideas. Add some uniqueness to your videos to stand out from the crowd.

  • Generate Potential Customers

Since the range of products and services one can market on YouTube is endless, it’s hard to give a personalized strategy. In general, however, a great way to grow your business on YouTube is by shooting videos that fit your product and customer base. You could do videos on youtube that explain how it works as well as buyers trying it out. You could also share customers’ stories through your videos, how the item or service helped or worked for them. Another type of content could be webinars educating your audience on certain topics.

  • Invite Relevant Guests

Staying at webinars, a great way to grow your business on YouTube is by featuring industry veterans and experts on your show. Think about it. If your average garage band made a song featuring Guns N’ Roses or any big name, wouldn’t it drive some traffic their way? Inviting credible and/or popular figures who are relevant to a certain topic is certainly a great way not only to give your business some exposure but also a good customer service action to help customers trust you..

  • Build Trust

This simple, yet powerful thing can be a make-or-break when it comes to purchases. People have a tendency to stick to well-known and tested items, and are afraid of the unknown, which in this case happens to be your product. Building that trust is way easier when people have a couple of videos to watch not only about your goods but your team as well. It helps customers to see the human factor behind your wares, which is key to establishing trustfulness.

  • Recycle Existing Materials

Recycling is becoming more and more prevalent, not only in case of tangible items but also in terms of intangible things. Or if you compare works of the giants of literature with modern movie storylines, you realize it always has been. Anyway, if you have a blog with engaging posts, why don’t you give them a video format as well? Could be in the form of an informative, easy-to-understand presentation or a soothing voice reading it aloud.

  • THE Ultimate Weapon For Growing Your Business on YouTube: Influencers

Last but not least, another great way to grow your business on YouTube is by influencers. These popular and well-known individuals are pretty sought after by companies; some earning a hefty sum for featuring certain products in their videos. You can hire one or alternatively, you yourself can become one. For this, you must have a thorough understanding of your potential customers. 

Take their age for example. Gen Z is more likely to watch your content if it has memes in it, or at least is catering to their sense of humor which is vastly different from that of older generations. Actually, according to research conducted by Channel Factory, 93% of Gen Z adults (18-29 year olds) prefer using YouTube over any other video sharing platform. 

However, if your new or existing customers are middle-aged or elderly people, you must stick to their taste. Whatever the case is, you need to make sure that your content is optimized for your target audience. This way it has better chances of generating leads for your business.

Closing Words

So, these are our tips on using YouTube to grow your business and eventually impact your bottom line. They may require a lot of preparation and studying, but they are definitely worth the effort. What are your thoughts on the topic? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!

The Scrum Master Salary in Actual Numbers

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Let’s Talk Numbers – How Much Is A Scrum Master’s Salary?

When it comes to job opportunities, many points are to be considered. Proximity (if it’s not remote), home office availability, how fulfilling or meaningful it is, future colleagues, etc. However, it would be quite hypocritical to leave out another crucial aspect. Many companies like beating around the bush as long as possible, leaving you with a mere ’competitive’ when it comes to your salary. 

For this reason, we bring you some actual data on Scrum Master salary, so that you can have a more realistic picture, in case you were fancying a role as a Scrum Master or wish to start your scrum master certification.

Some Concrete Data

According to Glassdoor statistics, salary for a Scrum Master ranges from about $95,000 to $109,000 per year. These numbers are not carved into stone. Additional bonuses, commissions, number of years experience, etc. can give you a decent boost, and so can experience or expertise in a given field.

BuiltIn data gives a higher estimate, roughly between $97,000 and $167,000 per year. As per their estimates, these professionals’ average income in the US is about $103,000 per year.

Payscale determines that the average wage for scrum roles in the US is approximately $90,000. Note that this figure is the base salary without any additional bonuses. 

Additional Thoughts On The Scrum Master Salary

It’s a question only you can answer. Being a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) comes with a more than reasonable salary, especially compared to non-qualified peers. Truth be told, if you have some well sought-after skills in project management and IT, there are more and better opportunities waiting for you.

Related: Boost your Career with a CSM Certification

Thoughts For Takeaway

Becoming a Scrum Master requires determination, discipline, transparency, great communication and problem-solving skills, and confidence. It’s definitely great if you have all the technical know-how of scrum frameworks and scrum methodology down, but it’s those indispensable interpersonal skills that will get you far in a scrum master role. If you have what it takes to master both or have the ability for cross functionality, you can expect great demand on the labor market along with a decent Scrum Master salary.

Are you interested in becoming a Certified Scrum Master? Or you just wish to update your existing knowledge? Great! Check out our available courses and pick whichever option is the most comfortable for you.