Category: Business Tips

Advertising vs Marketing: What’s the difference?

Posted on by Gary

Business owners often overlook the monumental difference between marketing and advertising. From colossal highway billboards, full-page print ads, recurrent radio ads, and primetime television airtime, there seems to be a lot more advertising than marketing strategies. While we acknowledge that both are of equal importance, a sense of balance and a strong distinction is necessary to come up with calculated strategies that will ultimately address the growth of any business.

Delineation: Advertising vs. Marketing

Advertising is a single constituent of the whole marketing plan. If marketing were to be a metaphor, it would be that big pie, and advertising is but a slice of the whole piece, together with other slices such as promotion and branding. Advertising is the clear articulation of the promises that you want to tell your customers. You advertise to create interest in your product or service. You make the customers want or need what you’re offering. Effective advertising will initiate the ultimate action plan – buying your product and generating repeat customers. It HAS to invoke a purchase or the actual consumption of your goods or your services. This will be the measure of its success.

Advertising involves ad placement in different mediums such as TV, radio, newspaper, direct mail, and the Internet. The placement, frequency, layout, and content should be concise, clear, and commercially captivating. It should make your product stand out and be memorable at the same time.  With the plethora of competitors in the market, appeal is definitely imperative.

Marketing, on the other hand, is the bigger picture. Marketing is a system of strategies that are geared towards knowing your market better. It is a process where you focus on why people buy. What makes them shell out 100 dollars on lingerie and only 10 dollars on food? What kind of branding will get their attention? Will gold packaging really make them get your product when placed right next to a competitor in the supermarket? Marketing entails a closer look at your target demographics and their buying motives. Before you even advertise, you need to lay the basics of an effective ad that will capture your target market. From competitor research, sales strategies, media planning, pricing, advertising, distribution, and customer support, every detail needs attention and research to come up with a seamless marketing plan. All these factors should have a unified purpose to reach your business’s bottom line.

The Cliché Syndrome

In both advertising and marketing, you simply can’t use any more clichés and platitudes. A lot of advertisers and marketing professionals get stuck in hackneyed taglines like “We go the extra mile” or “Best in Business since 1910.” These are empty words that have become so trite that consumers are not buying them anymore. If you are in the process of making a marketing plan, be sure that you stick to concepts that will differentiate you from the rest of the people offering the same thing in the market.

Another common clichéd indication in a business is the use of seemingly important announcements with absolutely ZERO market value. For instance, a restaurant spends on advertising by displaying a big banner that says “Under New Management” or “Newly Renovated.” To the owner, this might seem like a significant feat or maybe even a big difference in customer perception. But to ordinary bystanders, this sign says nothing more than management troubles in the past. If the owner had taken the time to do market research, he would have known that people who eat in his restaurant come back because of the organic produce or the freshly squeezed juices that they don’t find in nearby food establishments.

This is the best example of poor advertising without market research because there’s definitely no market for “Conveniently Located,” “Newly Renovated,”  “Wide Selection.” Not even for “Under New Management.” J

Five Ways To Protect Yourself Against Cyber Threat

Posted on by Gary

As the summer season is underway, people are increasingly taking holidays. Whether holidaymakers have chosen the beach, the countryside, the mountains, or an urban setting, one thing is certain: no one is immune to having their devices stolen or hacked while away from home. Cybersecurity experts at NordVPN provide travelers with seven tips for a cyber-secure holiday.

Back up your data

“My whole life is on my phone” — if this phrase sounds like something you would say, remember to make sure you have your phone’s contents backed up before you leave. After all, no one is safe from losing their phone or having it stolen. This also applies to the SD cards of your cameras.

Safe payment methods

Instead of your main bank card, use a separate prepaid debit card abroad. This card can be topped up with any amount you want. That way, if your card details are stolen, you won’t lose all the money you store there.

Take a portable charger with you

Don’t go out without your portable charger or a charging cable. Why not? Simply because charging stations can be a playground for cybercriminals. A USB/lightning cable can be modified by a malicious person, like in this demo made by a hacker in 2019.

Avoid public Wi-Fi

Using mobile data while traveling is always a good idea because it is encrypted. However, if you have no choice and need to use public Wi-Fi, don’t forget to use a VPN. This tool will protect you from cybercriminals, who can retrieve your personal data through a public network. They later sell the stolen data on the dark web.

Do not post your photos in real-time

Posting a picture of your plane tickets can make your social media followers jealous. But more than that, doing so puts you at risk. It’s a perfect way for cybercriminals to find out your personal data and use it later for various malicious purposes. It’s also worth remembering that posting your holiday photos while you’re still away can be dangerous and can lead to robbery in your home. Whether your account is followed by hundreds of thousands of people or just a few, stay vigilant in all circumstances.

Keep your documents secure

Many people make a photo or a copy of their ID or passport in case they lose their documents. But this is not the most secure way to deal with your documentation. Unencrypted ID or passport scans and photos that you store on your phone can get leaked. Then you run the risk of your identity documents ending up on the dark web. A recent study by NordVPN showed that the American ID card had an average price of $76.45 on the dark web. The average price for an American passport was worth $20.77.

Use unique passwords

Create new passwords before you go abroad. If you have used the same password for all your accounts and one of them gets hacked, it puts the others at risk. Don’t hesitate to use a password manager such as NordPass. It will help you create sophisticated passwords to make life difficult for hackers.

“No one is safe from hackers, who are becoming increasingly creative in stealing and selling your data. It is worth remembering that a data leak can also happen to the service providers you use (hotels or transportation companies often get hacked). So don’t hesitate to ask how they store your data or what kind of encryption and other cybersecurity tools they use before giving your data to these companies,” Daniel Markuson, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, recommends.

5 Things To Consider Before Investing In A New Business

Posted on by Alex

For any investor, the essential thing is to see a return on their investment. The primary reason why investors put their money into a business is to make more money. However, the company investing data demonstrate that this is not always the case. Many investors have lost money as a result of a company concept that appeared to be “infallible.”

Investment is a business facet that necessitates meticulousness and a broad basis of financial understanding. Anyone who enters this profession must be willing and prepared to learn many vital measures for successful investing. This post will go over “5 things you need to know before investing in a new business.

1.    Understand The Business Structure Completely

One of the essential things to know before investing is understanding business structure. A thorough grasp of the business structure is one of the things to know before investing in a new firm. This is significant because it will impact how the IRS and legal system evaluate liabilities and earnings.

When you begin to understand the company structure thoroughly, you will be able to predict the likelihood that the firm will fail. According to the Business Administration – about half of small enterprises fail within their first five years.

Understanding the business structure will assist you in determining if you will be personally liable for any unpaid debts or liabilities if the firm fails. As a result, we usually urge potential investors to consider carefully minimizing their responsibility.

2.    Recognize The Importance Of Patience

Before investing in a firm, you should know that you may not see any profits for several years. That’s why we refer to it as comprehending the essence of patience. Any prospective investor must realize that investments are similar to seeds planted in a firm.

They, like seeds, require a certain amount of time before they begin to produce excellent harvests. You should be aware that the longer your cultivation period, the greater your profits. When you invest as a new investor in a business, you should know that the startup will require all the funds it can receive. That’s why patience is something significant that an investor must do before investing in a new business.

3.    Conduct Your Research

Knowing the importance of all factors to consider before investing in a new business is essential. Before investment, do as much research as you can. This implies you must be familiar with the background of everyone involved in the business’s management. Before investing essential resources in a firm, you should research the industry and market competition.

In reality, you should request a thorough written business plan that includes the company description, market study, SWOT analysis, financial strategy, marketing methods, and so on. Making your study will assist you in determining whether the company has an actual plan to carry out its grandiose aspirations.

4.    Interacting With Customers

Besides financial factors to consider before investing, interaction with customers is also essential. It is also beneficial to converse with consumers or customers. Collect as much consumer information as possible. First, we recommend speaking with at least 3 to 5 people who use that business or product.

The explanation for this is straightforward. You’re attempting to gain personal knowledge of how that thing feels and how valuable it is. You would also receive pertinent information on any flaws in the product or service that should be addressed.

5.    Make A Diversification Strategy

It is essential to develop and implement a diversification strategy. As a private investor who only invests in two or three firms, your chances of success are small. According to Kauffman Foundation research, the standard technique is to have roughly 7 to 10 investments.

As a result, it is critical to determine how much you plan to devote to your asset class. The objective of diversifying your assets is to reduce risk while increasing your chances of success.

Last Thoughts

Follow the above five things you need to know before investing in a new business. The secret to successful business investment is avoiding investing money you cannot afford to lose. As a result, we recommend that you should not invest in a company where the only way out is through an initial public offering. Before investing, you should learn how to invest wisely.

5 Surefire Ways To Take Advantage Of A Falling Property Market

Posted on by Alex

Challenging economic circumstances, including rising inflation, steep interest rate hikes, and a looming recession ahead, have caused the property market to decline. The buying ‘frenzy’ of the pandemic property boom is over, and home buyers and investors alike are feeling wary about making the life-changing decision to purchase property in this economic climate.

Lloyd Edge, Founder and Managing Director of Aus Property Professionals, says, “Already property prices have fallen in major capital cities like Sydney and Melbourne, and we should expect to see the market slow by a further 10 percent to 15 percent in the next few months. For savvy property investors and home buyers, the declining market presents an opportunity to get better value for their money.”

Lloyd has recently launched his second best-selling property book Buy Now: The Ultimate Guide to Owning and Investing in Property, which includes practical tips for people looking to buy a house, whether in a boom or bust market and strategies for how to make the best of the economic circumstances that you’re in and use it your advantage.

Lloyd says, “I began my own property journey at the age of 28, buying a one-bedroom flat on a teacher’s salary of no more than $70,000 per year. At the time, I had no idea I was going to become a serious property investor. Fast-forward almost two decades later and I’ve grown my portfolio to 18 properties worth $15 million. I had to persevere and learn a lot of hard lessons along the way, and now I want to share my knowledge and help people find the same success in property as I have.”

For prospective buyers, particularly first home buyers or aspiring property investors, Lloyd shares his top advice from Buy Now that will help you to break into the market and get better value for your deposit:

  1. Look for below market value properties: A buyer who pays under the perceived market value of a property will have made instant equity on the property, meaning that they’ve made a profit from day one and can use this equity to keep building their property portfolio. To find a below market value property, one way is to use a buyer’s agent. A buyer’s agent can help you buy under market value because of their negotiation skills, contacts with local real estate agents in their areas of expertise, and their ability to uncover off market gems. However, you can also do it yourself by researching the recent sales of similar properties in the same area and seeing if you can negotiate a better deal with the real estate agent.
  1. Motivated sellers: So how do you find a below market value property and snap it up quickly for a bargain price? One way is to buy a property from someone in need of a quick sale. It could be because they’ve bought another house and need to close the sale on their current property quickly, or they could be a developer looking for a quick sale to pay off outstanding debts. However, this advice comes with a word of warning, as some sellers may want to sell fast because there is something wrong with the property, so it’s always advisable to do an in-person inspection and commission a full property report and pest inspection.
  1. Be willing to negotiate terms: In cases of motivated sellers, if you can be flexible on the settlement terms of your contract, this can put you a head above other potential buyers, as flexibility is a strong negotiations tool to bring to the table. If you are able to settle in as little as 21 days instead of the standard 35 or 42 days or offer an unconditional offer with no cooling off period at all, you could find yourself getting a much better deal on a property, and it will make your offer look far more attractive, even if you’re not necessarily the highest bidder.
  1. Be proactive with finances: Before you begin your property hunt, the first person you should speak to is a mortgage broker. A mortgage broker will be able to tell you what your borrowing capacity is, as well as help you secure pre-approval on your loan- this will ensure you don’t miss out on properties while submitting your paperwork and waiting for the banks or brokers to get back to you. If your finance is ready to go, you’ll have the option of making an unconditional offer. You’ll also be aware of any other conditions the seller has included in the contract, so where possible you can accommodate these for a greater chance of success.
  1. Be known to local agents: If you’re ready to go, reach out and get in touch with local real estate agents. Let them know your buying criteria and budget, ask to be contacted with off-market opportunities and when new properties are listed. Ask to be added to their mailing list, so you’re one of the first to know about new listings and to inspect a suitable property when it becomes available.

Lloyd says, “One of my favourite mantras is ‘No-one ever got ahead by waiting.’ Too often I’ll meet people who say they’re not quite ready to buy just yet, they’re waiting for property prices to drop or interest rates to go down. Meanwhile, while they’re waiting property prices start to rise again, and they’ve missed out on the opportunity to get better value for their money. My advice to people in this situation would be buy when you can afford to, when your finances are in order, and ultimately, you’ll be better off in the long run.” 

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Kathleen Quere @agent99pr.com

Five Strategies Businesses Can Implement To Adapt To The New Normal

Posted on by Alex

SKYBIZ, the business solutions arm of SKY Cable Corporation, partners with Microsoft’s Crayon Software Experts Philippines, Inc. to help entrepreneurs and enterprise owners shift and grow amid today’s digital age of doing business as it conducted a special webinar event, showcasing the features of the all-in-one business suite Microsoft 365.

Alongside the introduction and demonstration on how to use Microsoft 365 to help in aiding business operations in today’s times, the event, in line with SKYBIZ’s ongoing Grow Together campaign, shared business tips and factors to consider to sustain work progress and productivity.

Here are some key takeaways from the webinar hosted by SKYBIZ and Crayon Software Experts Philippines, Inc. that would help small, medium, and large enterprises grow their ventures to new heights in today’s age of digital transformation:

1) Business alteration and reset

Indeed the pandemic has changed our way of living, including how we do business.

According to Crayon Philippines’ solutions architect Danica Francisco, many businesses are finding ways to make their businesses thrive amid these uncertain times, ushering the new normal in how we communicate and transact with our clientele.

“We’ve seen how businesses changed and shifted focus on making their ventures thrive. I’m not only talking about the large enterprises, even the small businesses. Here, we could see the resiliency of these businesses, some didn’t make it, but others thrived in today’s times,” Francisco shared.

Shifting to digital could be beneficial for many business owners in order to cope with the ongoing new normal set-up and make operations accessible and run more smoothly.

2) People are the driving force behind progress

Despite the ongoing shift in today’s digital transformation, people are still pivotal in driving success for all businesses.

With this in mind, companies and smaller businesses alike should continue addressing the needs of their employees to establish trust and bolster rapport in boosting work productivity.

Plus, considering a more work-friendly set-up for workers, including the implementations of work-from-home or hybrid arrangements, would be beneficial in promoting work productivity and safety.

“It is important for organizations and companies to address their current needs. We know that it is difficult to go to work due to these uncertain times with COVID affecting the transport sector. We need to think of how we can help our people to stay motivated at work,” Francisco added.

3) Real-time collaboration

One of the worries of business owners is how flexible working set-ups would hamper real-time collaboration, with employees now working apart from one another to maintain their safety.

But with the help of modern technology, including the Microsoft 365 business suite, businesses can run smoothly as usual with real-time collaboration applications that would help them interact with one another and continue doing their work together virtually.

Another vital factor to note in virtual real-time collaboration is to introduce a user-friendly interface so all employees, whether tech-savvy or not, can seamlessly conduct business activities without the worry of being left behind.

4) Strengthening digital security

Going digital may also introduce new risks, including cyber threats that would potentially affect one’s business.

From stealing personal information to breaching bank funds, investing in additional digital security measures is key to protecting all crucial data from hackers and other digital perpetrators alike.

5) Taking note of costs

Shifting to digital may also be heavy on the pockets of most businesses.

With costs in the equation, it is apt to find an all-in-one solution to cut costs while enjoying the benefits of virtual real-time collaboration and digital security.

This is where Microsoft 365 enters, providing a business suite for collaborating through its Teams app with access to all of the essential Microsoft Office applications, which is helpful in documenting and presenting their day-to-day progress.

Plus, its security features also ensure companies and business ventures that their vital information is locked in within their system to avoid potential digital threats, whether on mobile or on their computers.

Together with SKYBIZ’ reliable internet connectivity, users can fully utilize Microsoft 365 and integrate it in their day-to-day activities at ease.

Upon subscribing to SKYBIZ’s BIZBB PRO Fiber, it comes with speeds of up to 200 Mbps and free access to Microsoft 365, plus gift vouchers from Grab or ABS-CBN Dash to help in sustaining business growth in today’s digital age.

Business owners can also subscribe to SKYBIZ’s BIZTastic Bundeals, which also come with fiber business internet connectivity, plus access to Microsoft 365 and a free ABS-CBN Dash voucher. Promo is extended until June 30, 2022.

To know more about SKYBIZ’s internet plans and promo updates, visit www.skybiz.com.ph.

5 Effective Ways To Market Your Website In 2022

Posted on by Gary

Now that you’ve got your website up and running, the next issue on your mind will undoubtedly be how to advertise your website. Is it possible that if a website is made on the internet but is not connected anyplace, no one will ever see it?

Suppose you’re curious about how to advertise a new business website, and you’re still in the early phases of your business. In that case, you’re probably scared that the only efficient approach to increase visitors will be to spend a fortune on ads.

Fortunately, there are several ways to advertise a business site available. This piece will look at a few ways to promote your business website in 2022.

1.    Search Engine Optimization

The most important bit you can do to promote your website is to use SEO or search engine optimization. If you don’t keep your website search engine friendly, you risk it becoming lost in the flow of information. There are over 2 billion websites on the internet, and more are being created every second.

There are thousands of online ways to promote a business that may help you enhance your website’s SEO, so you don’t need to pay an SEO consultant. Most SEO issues on your website may be resolved by yourself with a few basic tweaks.

There are two significant factors to consider when it comes to your website’s SEO: on-page SEO and off-page SEO.

Everything viewable on your website is referred to as on-page SEO. This includes content, pictures, videos, meta descriptions, responsive design, and even your website’s structure.

Off-page SEO refers to what goes on behind the scenes of a website. This includes things like who is linked to your site, how authoritative it is, and how engaged readers are with it.

2.    Social Media

Social media is the most popular free means of marketing new websites for a good reason. Platforms with billions of users, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, make it simple to interact with other local companies and advertise your own. These all social media platforms help you with how to advertise your business website.

However, before you begin using social media, you should examine your company’s brand voice, whom you’re marketing to, and whom you’re attempting to reach. If you have enough money to spend on advertising your website, Facebook Ads are the best way to market your business on social media.

Facebook Ads include many targeting choices, making it simple to narrow down your target demographic. You may also opt to target folks who are friends of your existing followers or who follow specified other pages.

3.    Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a terrific strategy to promote your business and get connections to your new underused website. To demonstrate your competence, you publish a guest post for a reputable blog in your sector (or a related one). You’ll be able to route traffic from a trustworthy source back to your new website by linking back to it at least once in each guest post.

Whether you’re a new business or in marketing, you may find it tough to get a guest posting place on some websites due to circumstances beyond your control. Given that guest blogging for other publications used to be a hugely popular SEO practice, many websites either thoroughly scrutinize who guest writes for them or don’t accept entries.

The most important thing to remember with guest blogging is that it is less about SEO and more about developing connections with the publication and your audience. This is one of the best ways to promote your business website.

4.    Content Marketing

Information marketing is one of the best ways to advertise your business site since it boosts your SEO while also producing content that your target audience will find beneficial. A popular fallacy is that to perform content marketing, you must blog, but this is not always the case. While blogs are the tried-and-true content marketing channel, you can also make videos, launch a podcast, or even start a newsletter centered on your work.

An important point to remember about content marketing is that the information you publish must be helpful, intriguing, or entertaining to your target audience. Doing a lot of keyword research before you start is the most significant way to ensure you’re answering people’s queries.

5.    Email Marketing

If you want a tried-and-true way to promote directly to your consumers, email marketing is a terrific alternative. Establishing an email marketing campaign is simple once your business site is fully operational and many email marketing services are available for free or at a small fee.

The amazing thing about email marketing is that people don’t even have to visit your website to sign up for your email newsletter, so you can start advertising your new website before it ever goes live. Most email marketing programs let you share a signup URL with your subscribers so they may join your email list without having to visit your website.

Final Words

Now you don’t have to worry about how to advertise a new business website. Some of the methods discussed above will be more appropriate for your website than others, but they should all help you take it to the next level. Every website marketing approach we’ve covered will assist you in getting the word out about your site.

Photo by picjumbo.com

Top 3 Best Business Ideas For Every Aspiring Entrepreneur For 2022

Posted on by Gary

Being your own boss sounds just so enticing that most people leave the corporate world to start their own business. With the promise of time flexibility, an ideal effort-to-income proportion, and the chances of limitless growth, more and more individuals are venturing into the business scene and tinkering with their entrepreneurial instincts.

If you have been considering starting your own business but don’t know where to look for ideas, then this should be a good read.

Make Money from your Hobbies

There’s probably nothing more fun than making money from something that you already enjoy doing for free. Hobbies such as photography, sewing, cooking, and even gardening are a few niches that can turn into promising businesses. The key is making time to learn beyond the basics and to hang out with people who can help you improve your hobby and turn it into a moneymaking craft. If you simply like taking photos, then you may want to take extra photography workshops and become an events photographer in the long run. Occasions like birthdays, showers, and weddings happen all year round so if you take it seriously, your hobby may just land you frequent bookings for the whole year.

Craig Jenkins-Sutton, the owner of Topiarius, considered himself a green thumb and did gardening only as a hobby. He had no formal landscape training but his love for designing gardens has turned into a business with average annual revenue of $1.2 million. Megan Duck had a similar story from sewing. From her first project of sewing ornate linings for the coffins of her employer’s Halloween décor to the silk chandeliers that she made for The Mirage in Vegas, her average annual income from her sewing and rental business is now at $6 million. Both have been featured on the site Entrepreneur.com, and they continue to inspire new breeds of entrepreneurs across continents.

Turn your Network into a Pool of Talents

The 21st century has definitely changed the business landscape in terms of offshore and outsourced projects. From BPOs building operations facilities in Asian countries, to Western brands banking on offshore talents for services like accounting, design, translation, IT jobs, etc., you cannot argue that there is indeed a growing demand for a diverse and competent workforce who can get the job done without having to think of added operational expenses and employee benefits.

If you are one of the rare people who have quite a diverse network of skilled people, then this simple “advantage” can be turned into a thriving business. Third party vendors like agencies are becoming lucrative businesses because they bank on a local pool of talents those offshore providers are looking for. For instance, if you are an engineering major, you may have a lot of connections with a similar crowd. You may find it surprising that there are actually dozens of real estate companies who are looking for freelance teams who can do structural drawings and renderings on their behalf. A lot of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean students also run online to find English teachers who can teach from home. If you have friends or relatives who fit the bill, then you may want to connect them with these students. The trick is finding legitimate providers and matching them with the skills of the people who are already in your existing network. Just be sure that all terms and fees are set at the beginning to maintain a smooth and professional workflow for everybody. Remember, you want to build bridges while helping people and earning in the process. The last thing on your list is a fatal mismatch that can give your “agency” negative publicity. If your “hires” provide quality service, then referrals can come pouring in. Good output always translates to better business transactions.

A Pocketful of Passion

Most of us have passions. Genuine passion means loving something on a deeper and more profound level than just a hobby that you simply enjoy. Some develop a different passion for vintage cars and end up with an auto shop that specializes in car restoration. Your passion for instruments or the performing arts such as dancing, acting or singing can be turned into conceptualizing a small school where you can help more people share and develop the same passion as yours.

Terry Finley had an intense passion for horse racing which prompted him to buy his first horse at $5,000. With a lot of learning and advice from the pros, he has managed to build a business with 55 syndicated horses and 550 investors who also earn when their chosen horses are sold, bred, and even when they win those infamous horse races. Terry has mastered the art of the trade and decided to share his passion with the same people who loved the things that he was into. In the process, he was able to start West Point Thoroughbreds, a label that now earns around $6 million annually.

While being an entrepreneur takes a lot of technical strain in terms of cash flow, permits, and marketing strategies, newbies have to realize that they definitely need to start somewhere. They can start small, but at least take the first step and test the waters with one foot. Starting a business and building a label empire does not happen overnight but when you start to take off, you’ll realize that you’ve built a business that will be positively rewarding even after retirement age. By then, you’ll realize that those paperwork, sleepless nights, and zero months have finally become worth it.

Top 5 Things All Small Business Owners Should Be Doing Every Single Month

Posted on by migration

At the end of each month, every business owner should be reflecting on what they have accomplished and then planning for the next month’s success. This applies to both their personal and professional lives.

If you’re a business owner wishing for an even more successful year, consider adopting each of the things every business should do listed below.

1.    Recognize Your Value Drivers

One of the main points of small business must-haves is understanding your value drivers. Understanding what resonates with your audience, whether you’ve been in the company for five months or five years, is a significant element in deepening engagement, brand loyalty, and repeat buyers, readers, or watchers. Knowing what works doesn’t feel evident at times, but don’t scrimp on the facts.

Examine your previous six months of business—where did your clients or viewers come from? Which of your products, services, or blog posts was the most popular? Make a comprehensive list of all the places you collect data, such as social media, email marketing, accounting software, and your website.

2.    Create Client Personas

You’re in a better position to revisit your dream customer now that you have a more profound knowledge of your value drivers. You most likely did this to some level when you first started your firm. However, as you gain experience, your clientele will alter and adapt. In those first few years, you learn a lot and have a much better feel of who your primary consumer is.

3.    Refresh Your Digital Presence

Now that you’ve got an amazing idea of who your ideal customer is, it’s time to align your digital presence accordingly. Your social media, website, and message come in the list of things needed to start a business. All should be entirely consistent with your primary mission, target audience, and overall business objectives. If you’ve been in the game for a long, or if you’re swiftly developing a better understanding of your target audience, it’s time for a refresh.

4.    Invest in the CEO

One of the best things every business should invest in is the boss. As a business owner, it’s tempting to place yourself at the bottom of the priority list. You’re a one-woman show for many of us, the Chief Do-er, planner, Executive Assistant, and so on. When that is the case, and everything relies on you, it is even more critical to invest in yourself.

You are your own company. This can take a variety of forms, but now is a good moment to consider what investing in your company’s CEO entails. It might indicate that you’re ready to set new boundaries.

5.    Carry Out Your Accounting

Nothing is worse than arriving at the end of the year and having to slog through an entire year’s worth of accounting in one sitting. Adding this to your business monthly checklist will make your future self pleased. Sign up for Quick books and establish a separate bank account and Paypal account to keep your company and personal costs separate.

If you plan to sell anything on your website, you should use a separate payment gateway such as Stripe. Use a scanning app to scan your actual receipts as soon as you get them. Make accounting files separated by year, then a month.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, the things listed in this article can assist you in developing and implementing successful plans to help your company succeed this month. The stronger these five variables are, the more likely you are to succeed.

Top 5 Ways To Raise More Funds For Your Business In 2022

Posted on by Gary

Finding the required capital to build their enterprises is one of the most challenging issues entrepreneurs confront. Startups must cope with various charges, whereas established organizations must fund development and working capital. Because money does not grow on trees, you may fund your business in multiple ways.

We will love to see your business flourish and make a big difference, which is why we’ve listed five specific ways to raise more funds for your business in this article.

1. Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping is a popular way to raise money for a business. This entails gathering together any personal assets you may obtain to fund your firm. Using what you have rather than borrowing or generating money is a good strategy in many circumstances. In fact, several entrepreneurs continue to bootstrap their businesses until they become successful.

This can be advantageous since it eliminates the need for large loans and monthly payments. Investing some of your own money generally makes investors and lenders more inclined to cooperate with you.

2. Family And Friends

If your money is insufficient, you can turn to those closest to you. Before pursuing external finance, this is frequently a practical first step. Because they are less likely to demand tight repayment conditions or high-interest rates, family members and friends may be simpler to persuade than anonymous lenders. They are the best sources of funding for the business.

Borrowing from friends and relatives entails its own set of dangers. Your connections may suffer if the enterprise fails or takes considerably longer than expected to return the debt. Before approaching your friends and relatives for funding, you should complete a business strategy. In this manner, you can explain exactly what you’re doing and how you’ll generate money for them.

Ensure that you have all of the loan conditions written out. This contains the amount you are receiving, the interest rate, and the needs and deadline for repayment.

3. Angel Investors

Angel investors can also help you to raise more funds for your business. Angel investors are groups or individuals that put their own money into the enterprises of others. They stand apart because they prefer to invest in firms in their early phases of development and are constantly on the lookout for the next business to invest in.

Angel investors have backed many of today’s most successful technology businesses, including Yahoo and Google. An angel investor is regularly somebody who has made progress in one region and looks for new possibilities in a similar field or different organizations. Angel investors might not only provide funding to get your firm off the ground, but some may also opt to advise you. They may also use their current industry relationships to open doors for your company.

4.  Crowdfunding

Since the 1990s, businesses have used the internet to promote and sell their products. However, during the previous ten years, the internet has also become a new source of finance, and it has become one of the most acceptable methods to raise more funds. This allows you to obtain cash from websites where investors worldwide may support your business.

You will be asked to start a campaign, set a fundraising goal, and provide rewards for donors who pledge a particular amount of money, such as early access to items, discounts, etc. You then generate funds for the campaign over a set period.

5.  Loans

Banks and other financial entities can provide loans. This is one of the oldest ways to raise money for business growth; however, many people dislike it. To obtain a loan, somebody may ask you to demonstrate that you have begun developing traction and making money. You may also be required to show a thorough business strategy.

Lenders can be confident in your capacity to repay loans, including interest, based on your company’s financial projections.

Final Words

There are several ways to raise more funds. Entrepreneurs must assess the pros and drawbacks of several funding alternatives to determine which one offers the most flexibility at the lowest cost. There are several choices for funding your business, so don’t be disheartened if one does not work out. You may quickly get the financing you need to take your business to the next level by exhibiting diligence and resourcefulness.

5 Surefire Tips To Set Yourself Up For Success Every Single Day

Posted on by Gary

Do you feel unsatisfied with your life or career? Maybe you’ve been on the road for years that just doesn’t seem right. Take some time to think about what is most important to you. Whatever your definition of success is, there are some daily routines that might help you attain it. Success, on the other side, does not come without work. When we have a good attitude, we can do so much more. Here are five things that will set yourself up for success every day.

1.    Make A Morning Ritual For Yourself

Creating a morning routine that you complete every day upon awakening is one of the most efficient strategies to set yourself up for success every day. Choose activities that will help you feel focused and balanced so that you may start your day from a position of inner peace (Yoga, Breathwork, meditation, journaling, and stretching are great ones to play around with.) Your morning routine might last as little as five minutes or as long as an hour.

2.    Consume Healthy Foods Throughout The Day

That’s not to mean you should abandon your good eating habits after breakfast. While there is no such thing as a perfect diet because everyone’s body is different, it’s safe to say that most of us function best when we consume a lot of plant-heavy, unprocessed meals. Add healthy foods daily routine to become your best self.

3.    Follow A Schedule

Set limits on how much time you spend working and, more significantly, avoid working every day as much as feasible. Its obvious that set goals and achieve success. Make time to exercise, meditate, cook, spend time with loved ones, get some fresh air, and do whatever else is essential to you. This will make you more efficient and effective when you spend time at your desk and help you to set yourself up for success.

4.    Avoid Procrastination And Multitasking

Concentrate on one activity at a time and give it your undivided attention. Put your phone in another room when you’re working, so you’re not tempted to check social media. Don’t check your email when you’re out with pals. As a consequence, you will feel a lot more productive and empowered.

5.    Move Around Often

Moving your body may provide you with the energy and confidence you need to succeed in all aspects of your life. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym every day; focus on one sort of action that you love and stick to it.

Taking pauses during the workday to go for a bit of stroll around the block can help give your mind a rest and refresh your body. Often, the best ideas arrive when you’re on the move and away from the computer. Moving around is the best way of setting up for success.

Final Thoughts

Make the productivity mentioned above ideas a part of your routine. Practicing these consistent behaviors will assist in setting the tone for a good day. If you follow these suggestions, you will notice your physical and emotional health benefits. We are confident that these suggestions will help you live a better life.