Latest news with #EntrepreneurEurope
Entrepreneur
05-08-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Earth Observation: A New Frontier of Resilience for European Entrepreneurs
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Europe, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Our fast-changing climate is hitting businesses hard. Every three weeks, a billion-dollar extreme weather event hits, wreaking havoc on global supply chains and denting business for large and small companies alike. It's a risk that European business owners can't continue to ignore as Europe is the fastest-warming continent. The devastating floods that hit Spain late last year also put a huge strain on its economy, costing the Spanish more than 10 billion euros. Over a year's worth of rain hit in eight hours, creating a nightmare situation for businesses and residents alike, whose properties were destroyed. Entrepreneurs need to take a proactive approach to managing challenges like these. There's a clear business case for being prepared before disaster strikes: According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, every $1 invested in climate resilience saves businesses $13. That's where Earth Observation (EO) data comes in. EO is the science of using sensors found in satellites and other devices to unveil vital information about our planet's surface, such as climate change patterns, land conditions, marine life, security, and more. Governments around the world have been heavily investing in EO given its potential to solve a wide range of problems that plague us here on Earth. The EU's Copernicus is a globally leading EO programme, set to generate up to €131 billion for the European economy. The European Space Agency (ESA) has also made headway in its 'Space for Earth' initiative. Just last month, it launched its groundbreaking satellite, Biomass, to uncover new data on how much carbon is stored in our forests and to 3D map them for the first time. Using Earth Observation data to stay ahead of the curve Yet it's not just governments and big organizations that stand to benefit from the capabilities of EO. Entrepreneurs and smaller businesses can also leverage it to answer real-world challenges, like risks to operations and assets. In fact, platforms like Copernicus aren't off-limits for smaller businesses: It's freely accessible for commercial use, combining information from satellite and in-situ (non-space) sources alike. These tools are made of high-quality imaging technology that analyse topography and weather patterns in unparalleled detail, capturing resolutions of 0.3m². What does this mean for entrepreneurs who access these data sources? They can tap into insights to take pre-emptive action for risk management, such as forecasting an otherwise unexpected flash of heavy rain which could cause flooding and destroy warehouses in that area. "It's interesting to see the ways that AI is helping to support the development of Europe's space industry and how it plays a key role in underpinning the convenience and security of our lives on Earth," says Daniel Smith, founder of AstroAgency, a consultancy for the space sector. "Earth Observation data, which comes from sensors on satellites, provides insights to support our economies through business sectors like energy, finance, agriculture, maritime, forestry, and more, as well as broader environmental monitoring efforts." Let's take a look at that in action. An entrepreneur with a small wine company, for instance, can tap into crop yield data at scale via EO data, allowing them to better forecast how much fertilizer and water they will need ahead of the planting season. The European wine industry, as well as the agriculture sectors, is being hit by continent-wide droughts; the use case of EO technology in these industries could be highly useful for business owners shuffling budgets, planning logistics, and trying to predict harvest yield. A founder operating in construction can benefit from EO data, too. A small business owner specialising in recycled concrete for buildings relies on rail to transport materials between regions or even countries. However, a key challenge is keeping a pulse on transport progress and being notified immediately if there are any delays or disruptions so they can act accordingly. Here's where EO insights can improve business operations with satellite-powered radar technology to get instant updates on rail freight. Tapping into those insights also benefits SMEs from a financial standpoint. It's no secret that European banks have some of the most stringent standards for risk management, including climate impact, when issuing funds and loans. Business owners need to prove that they're aligning activities with sustainability goals, but often struggle to uncover the insights needed to guide their steps in doing just that. According to a report from Morgan Stanley, 77% of investors are interested in sustainable investing. That's where companies like D-CAT come in, providing monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) services via satellites and machine learning (ML)-powered platforms. They're helping businesses understand where they can make more sustainable choices and show investors how they're slashing risks like climate impact. Be strategic with EO data use While EO data is not an absolute necessity for all entrepreneurs—especially those just starting out—the insights it yields can give a significant competitive advantage. With that in mind, entrepreneurs should be intentional in terms of investing in and prioritising the use of such information. That means having a blueprint in place to guide how these tools are implemented' here's how to do that. First, map out business goals and weaknesses in existing processes. This will enable entrepreneurs to gauge which challenges and opportunities EO data and relevant tools will answer. Next, it's critical to get digital infrastructures ready. Too often, businesses are quick to adopt technologies like AI tools without addressing existing gaps in their digital ecosystem, whether that's poor data management or poor interoperability between existing applications. There's nothing more frustrating than investing time, money, and energy into implementing a new technology, only for it to cause more friction than benefits. Assessing these aspects will also mean business owners can narrow down the EO data tools and solutions most relevant to their business needs—ensuring they bring tangible impact, whether that's fortifying resource availability, safeguarding facilities that are otherwise at risk of extreme weather events, or strengthening risk reporting for investors' assessments. An economic opportunity orbiting overhead EO data could pave the way for a $3.8 trillion economic opportunity, transforming how businesses propel growth while empowering their ESG efforts for stronger risk management. What once was a field viewed as exclusively for astronauts and astronomers is now a frontline for tackling key challenges like climate change head-on. Entrepreneurs who tap into this latest frontier aren't just going to be resilient to risk, but ahead of it, too.
Entrepreneur
06-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How to Grow Your Business with LinkedIn Company Pages
Let's review LinkedIn features and strategies to help make company pages even more valuable. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Europe, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. When you see the heady heights that company pages such as Microsoft have achieved, it can seem like a mountain that's just too difficult to climb. The follower numbers grow notoriously slowly compared to personal profiles—unless you know how to leverage them effectively. Yes, personal profiles generate 10 times more engagement than corporate content on the platform, but this doesn't mean LinkedIn company pages aren't valuable. When used strategically, they can become powerful growth engines for your business and LinkedIn has recently rolled out a host of features to make them even more valuable. Here are some key tips to help you transform your LinkedIn company page into a growth catalyst for your business. Set up and optimise your LinkedIn company page Essentially, your company page serves as a digital business card and content hub where potential clients, partners, and employees can learn about your organisation. For optimal results, complete every section of your profile as LinkedIn rewards fully completed profiles with 30% more impressions. Add a clear description and branded visuals You will have heard it before, and you will now hear it again: First impressions matter. There is nothing worse than seeing a little grey box next to someone's company name and companies with logo images get six times more traffic to their pages, so prioritise uploading a professional logo (recommended size: 300 x 300 pixels). Furthermore, create an eye-catching cover image (646 x 220 pixels) that effectively represents your brand. Consider refreshing this banner at least every six months to keep your page up to date. When crafting your company description, focus on keywords that are relevant to your industry. Since LinkedIn pages are SEO-friendly, Google previews up to 156 characters of your page text, making it vital to lead with powerful, keyword-rich copy. Use this space to articulate clearly: Who you are What you offer Your values and brand voice How can people contact you Connect your personal profile to the company page A critical step many overlook is properly linking your personal LinkedIn profile to your company page. This connection provides a direct path for visitors to explore your organisation and ensures your role displays your company's logo rather than the aforementioned generic grey box. To link your profile, edit your current role in the Experience section, begin typing your company's name, and select your company's LinkedIn page from the dropdown options. This simple action increases discoverability and creates a more professional appearance. Subsequently, as your company page super admin, you can assign others to manage the page and grow your follower base by inviting your first-degree connections. Build early momentum as a solo founder Share your founder story and mission Your founder story should blend emotional elements with visual components, creating a memorable experience that builds association with your brand. You might be tired of your story, but others are not. Seven years later, I am still asked about my pivot from law to LinkedIn marketing and training. Consider these effective storytelling approaches: The "Process Breakdown." Share your journey, including challenges and setbacks. Share your journey, including challenges and setbacks. The "Behind the Decision." Explain your thought process behind pivotal business choices. Explain your thought process behind pivotal business choices. The "Mistake Analysis." Discuss lessons learned from failures that shaped your business. Use personal posts to drive traffic to your page This is a hidden trick that many miss: Begin by @mentioning your company page in your personal posts. This creates a direct link for followers to discover your page. Additionally, share company page content with added personal commentary to provide context and humanise the information. By combining authentic storytelling with strategic cross-promotion, you create a powerful pathway from your personal profile to your company page, establishing momentum that grows as your business scales. Scale with content and community Consistency trumps frequency when building your LinkedIn presence. To maximise impact, develop a comprehensive and varied content calendar including: Company news and milestones Industry insights and thought leadership Employee spotlights and culture content Educational resources and how-to guides For optimal reach, aim to post three to four times per week and engage with followers through post comments to establish your brand as a reliable industry voice. LinkedIn recently rolled out a feature called "Join Conversations" which allows you to choose key companies to follow and then comment on as your company. I would be bold enough to say that this is now the best way to increase visibility of your brand. Use video, polls, and carousels to boost engagement Different content formats drive different types of engagement on LinkedIn. Videos generate 20 times more shares than any other content type, while weekly video views increased sixfold between July and October last year. Polls likewise outperform standard posts, delivering 1.46 times the median reach. They work brilliantly for gathering insights and increasing visibility because they encourage easy participation. Carousel posts (created by uploading PDFs) receive five times more clicks than other formats. These document-style posts are perfect for breaking down complex ideas into digestible slides that encourage swiping and save actions. Activate employee advocacy and internal influencers Your employees are the honey to attract your ideal clients as people are three times more likely to trust information shared by employees compared to content from CEOs. Although only 3% of employees typically share company content, these shares have been shown to drive 30% of total engagement. To develop a successful employee advocacy programme: Identify "social superstars" within your organisation Provide ready-made content that employees can easily share Recognise and celebrate active participants publicly Provide incentives and training to that staff are comfortable and enthusiastic to get on board with the program. When employees actively engage with their colleagues and organisation, they become 60% more likely to engage with each other's posts and 14 times more likely to share your company's content. Premium upgrade If you have the resources available, consider upgrading to a Premium Company Page. It can be worthwhile, but its value depends on your business goals, target audience, and how you plan to use LinkedIn for growth. These are the top advantages: Auto-invite Content Engagers: Automatically invite users who interact with your posts to follow your page, expanding your reach beyond existing connections. Automatically invite users who interact with your posts to follow your page, expanding your reach beyond existing connections. Custom Call-to-Action (CTA) Button: Add a tailored CTA (e.g., "Visit Website," "Contact Us") to drive traffic and conversions directly from your page and posts. Add a tailored CTA (e.g., "Visit Website," "Contact Us") to drive traffic and conversions directly from your page and posts. Custom Testimonial: Showcase a client testimonial (with some character limits) for added social proof and credibility. Showcase a client testimonial (with some character limits) for added social proof and credibility. Visitor Insights: See who has visited your page, providing valuable lead information for sales and marketing teams. See who has visited your page, providing valuable lead information for sales and marketing teams. Premium Badge: Display a gold LinkedIn logo to signal credibility. Collect leads with Services for company pages Last but not least, this latest feature is key to gaining leads for your company page: To enable this, go to your company page in super admin view, click Create, then Add services. Choose the relevant service categories, add a short description, set your location, and indicate if you're open to remote work. You can also include a starting price or ask users to contact you for pricing. Optionally, upload supporting media like case studies or videos to add credibility. Once saved, your services will appear on your page and those companies that have set up this page rank higher in searches. You can further boost visibility by setting Request Services as your custom call-to-action. It's a simple but powerful way to turn profile views into real leads. Remember that LinkedIn success doesn't happen overnight. Regular monitoring, testing different approaches, and adapting your strategy based on performance metrics will help your business grow steadily on the platform. Focus on building genuine connections and providing value—your audience will grow naturally as a result.
