Author: anwaryusef

Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath. Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics. Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.

My Experience Taking One Of The Covid-19 Vaccines

Openly Discussing Getting Vaccinated

As many of my readers and YouTube subscribers know, here on the Big Words Blog Site, most of the content published is now coming from collaborators and customers in the form of shorter informational pieces. With multiple YouTube channels and now another blog for more literary writing, I only have time to write and publish a few pieces of my own here. While others opted for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, I took the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine within the last month and as a scientist, I wanted to write something about it.

As described in my initial submission on the new ScoonTV publication, one of the videos on my science and technology YouTube channel was taken down for ‘violating community guidelines’. I have since been hesitant to talk about the vaccines in any way, but with this platform belonging to me, I can discuss whatever I want to. Whether or not the social media platforms allow it to be shared, remains to be seen.

As you know there was a lot of controversy surrounding the Covid-19 vaccines, in addition to the pandemic itself. When talking with a good friend, I pondered that the pandemic may have been the younger generations’ World War 2 or Vietnam, in addition to maybe the 911 attacks. That is no disrespect to anyone who lived through those wars and tragedies or participated in them, but none of the younger generations have lived through a crisis like this.

My Reasons For Getting Vaccinated

I decided to take one of the Covid-19 vaccines for a number for reasons. As described, for a period I uploaded several videos on the pandemic on my science and technology YouTube channel. In short, I honestly was not one of the individuals who was in a rush to get vaccinated. In my opinion there were some very peculiar circumstances surrounding the pandemic which I will not go into here, but to some degree, the need to vaccinate everyone did raise my antennae along with those of other people. In short, I wasn’t going to be one of the first to get vaccinated and took a “wait and see approach”.

In that regard, seeing my relatives get vaccinated with no adverse reactions helped allay some of my concerns. Other individuals who were close to me received their vaccinations was also another line of evidence for me. Ultimately, like most everyone else, I wanted to be able to move about freely without concern and get back to a level of normalcy.

Returning To Normalcy

On that same vein, the featured image for this story is from my trip to the Albany area for Father’s Day 2021. Prior to the pandemic, I made two to three trips a year to New York State’s Capital Region to visit my father via train. During the pandemic, I defaulted to making the five-hour drive to the Albany area and the eight-hour drive to Buffalo to see family. Needless to say, that driving is more work than simply closing one’s eyes, or looking out of the window and daydreaming on a train or an airplane.

Going back to the featured image, it was taken trackside next to my Northeast Regional Train in Alexandria, VA. Amtrak did not mandate its passengers to be vaccinated, though we did have to wear masks once boarded, a rule that was respected by some and not by others. The first leg of my trip from Washington, DC to the New York City area got a little more crowded than I was comfortable with. The second leg from New York City to Albany was relatively empty though. The same was true for the return trip.

What’s In The Three Vaccines?

Now in terms of the vaccines themselves, having backgrounds in Pharmacology and Toxicology, my focus was always on what was in the vaccines in terms of ingredients (active and inert). I wanted to get a feel for their “pharmacodynamics” and potential side effects. In today’s information age, there were lots and lots of rumors and theories floating around about nanotubes and microchips being injected into us. My mother told me that someone in her circle believed that the vaccines would ‘magnetize’ our bodies. It was like the hysteria surrounding 5G technology when people attempted to make it the cause of the pandemic.

While many people are skeptical about the work done of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), their mission from the regulatory context is to protect the health of the nation and to make sure that the foods and medications we take are safe. The vaccines thus had to go through the FDA for approval for “emergency” usage. To determine the safety of the vaccines, I pulled the memoranda for each of the three vaccines approved in the United States from the FDA’s website to ascertain what was in the vaccines.

The following are the ingredients contained in the vaccines. The verbiage and characterization were lifted directly from the FDA memoranda which are hyperlinked in case readers want to go and look for themselves. The “efficacy” and side effects are also characterized in each memorandum.

The Moderna Vaccine

The Moderna vaccine is an off-white, sterile, preservative-free frozen suspension for intramuscular injection. The vaccine contains a synthetic messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) encoding the pre-fusion stabilized spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine also contains the following ingredients: lipids (SM-102, 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero- 3-methoxypolyethylene glycol-2000 [PEG2000-DMG], cholesterol, and 1, 2-distearoyl-sn-hocholine [DSPC]), tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sucrose.

The Pfizer Vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is a white to off-white, sterile, preservative-free, frozen suspension for intramuscular injection. The vaccine contains a nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) encoding the viral spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine also includes the following ingredients: lipids ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2- hexyldecanoate), 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-distearoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol), potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and sucrose.

The Johnson And Johnson Vaccine

The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is a colorless to slightly yellow, clear to very opalescent sterile suspension for intramuscular injection. The vaccine consists of a replication-incompetent recombinant adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) vector expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein in a stabilized conformation. The vaccine also contains the following inactive ingredients: citric acid monohydrate, trisodium citrate dihydrate, ethanol, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBCD), polysorbate 80, sodium chloride.

Getting My Shot

Assuming none of the ingredients were intentionally omitted, nothing I read personally in any of the vaccines alarmed me. I chose the Johnson and Johnson vaccine because I liked the mechanism of action more (a DNA Adenovirus vs micro RNA), and I just wanted to take one shot and be done with it. I was discouraged, though, after the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was initially pulled for a rare side effect, blood clots, I believe. When I decided to get vaccinated, I could not find it initially and then one day when doing a random search online, I saw that the CVS pharmacy that I frequent at Pentagon City was, in fact, offering it. After making a reservation, I went and got it on a Friday around noon.

I was cautioned from the nurse or pharmacist that I might experience symptoms of some sort over the next 48 hours. There was the inevitable pinch/sting from the needle and then I felt a sensation in my shoulder which radiated up towards my neck. That went away quickly. I hung around in the pharmacy area for the next 15-20 minutes as instructed. I then took my complimentary 20% off coupon, purchased something and left the store. I did not expect any adverse reaction(s) as I keep myself healthy and have faithfully taken vitamins C, D, E and Magnesium since the pandemic started.

Abandoning Our Masks?

And that was my vaccine experience. I did not write this to sway anyone. Again, as a member of the science community, I just wanted to share my story. I am happy that I got the vaccine I wanted, though I saw an article on Yahoo that said that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine has not rebounded from the initial pulling in terms of popularity. I do not know if this means that it will be abandoned altogether, but I hope not, especially if it has efficacy against the new “Delta Variant”.

I have not completely abandoned my masks. I honestly will have to get used to not using them again. As described earlier, Amtrak insisted on its passengers using them and at least initially and when I fly, I am certain the airlines will also err on the side of caution. For the type of mask I had, it was not that bad for the seven hour ride.

Some stores and proprietorships are still mandating mask. Interestingly, before making my Father’s Day trip, New York State, one of the most vigilant of all the states during the pandemic, lifted all its restrictions. I met up with some old friends at Latin Dance Night in Albany, and no one wore masks as they danced up a storm, respired all over the place and socialized that night.

Do you have a vaccine story? Please feel to leave some comments below this piece. Also please subscribe to my science and technology YouTube channel to hear more science-related discussions like this. I am about 225 subscribers away from the holy number of 1,000.

4 Ways Technology Has Completely Transformed The Way Your Brain Works

Two focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Technology. While all of our new technology has added to our lives, the question must be asked as to whether or not it has hurt us as well. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Ways Technology Has Completely Transformed The Way Your Brain Works.

* * *

There’s no denying that technology has improved our lives in a lot of ways. The internet has given us access to more information than ever and connected people across the globe. Businesses have benefited from technology that helps them improve productivity and save money. But there are some big downsides to technology too.

Source – Pixabay CCO License

Over-reliance on technology has actually changed the way that our brains work in a number of ways. It’s important that we are aware of this so we can take steps to combat those effects. These are some of the ways that technology has completely changed the way our brains work.

The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)

The fear of missing out, or FOMO for short, isn’t a new concept but it’s one that has been made much worse by social media. In the past, if people spent a weekend sitting at home relaxing, they might have had some sense that they were missing out on some fun by not going out. However, they also enjoyed the time to recharge their batteries and relax. But these days, we are constantly bombarded with images and videos of people out doing things and having a good time. This leads to a lot of anxiety and guilt when people decide to look after themselves and spend a night in. Over time, this can contribute to wider mental health problems, so it’s a serious issue.

A Decline In Spelling Abilities

When you were at school, you were probably pretty good at spelling because you did regular tests and you were always writing by hand. But how good are you at spelling these days? A reliance on technology and autocorrect software means that spelling ability is getting worse. In order to combat this, you should try to write by hand wherever possible or consider turning spell checkers off to see if you can do without them. You can also improve your spelling by doing puzzles like crosswords, so consider getting a subscription (see more here) and doing them regularly. As long as you are proactive about testing your spelling skills, you can counteract the negative effect of technology.

Poor Sleep Patterns

The blue light emitted from phone and laptop screens can change our brain chemistry and make it harder for us to sleep. This is because it interrupts the body’s normal light cues, making it think that it’s still daytime. As a result, your body produces less of the hormones that cause you to go to sleep, and your natural sleep cycle is disrupted. This is a huge problem because lack of sleep does a lot of damage to your health. Improved sleep patterns are one of the biggest benefits of taking a break from technology for a while.

Phantom Vibrations

Studies show that our brains have been hardwired to be on the lookout for our phones ringing, even when they are not. Research into phantom vibrations found that many people experienced a sensation of their phone vibrating in their pocket throughout the course of the day when it wasn’t. Even though this isn’t a huge problem, it just goes to show how much impact technology can have on our brains.

If you want to develop a healthy relationship with technology, it is important to recognize the ways that it has completely transformed the way your brain works.

How You Can Protect Yourself In The Workplace

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Workplace Discussions. No matter which workplace you’re in, it’s good to know how to protect yourself in necessary. The following contributed post is entitled, How You Can Protect Yourself In The Workplace.

* * *

Whether you have an employment contract or you are considering an ‘at-will’ worker, you need to make sure you know all your rights. They will be different depending on your employment status, however, when it comes to being fired, it is illegal to be fired for reasons such as disability, gender, race, and other types of discrimination, all are forbidden by law.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

How can you protect yourself in the workplace? Let’s have a look below:

Information Is Invaluable

Information is the key when it comes to protecting yourself. If you do find yourself in any sort of employment dispute, you will be thankful for learning the rules and information before you fight your corner. You cannot protect yourself if you don’t know you are in the position to do so. Make sure you read any employee protocols and read the information relevant to yourself such as talking to San Diego Disability Law Group if you are entering the workplace with a disability.

Make Sure you Keep Records

It can be easy to become overwhelmed or tired at work and not have a clear memory of important facts. This is why it is essential for you to keep contemporaneous records. You hold onto any letters, employment handbooks, pay records, employment agreements, and make sure keep a record of any conversations about unfair treatment or disciplinaries. If the conditions and terms of your employment change without justification occur you need to make sure you take action promptly.

Companies will always conduct performance reviews to evaluate employees’ performance and look at their pay and promotion. You need to make sure you have a copy of your written performance review and know how to handle feedback or any disagreements about your performance. If you do have a disagreement with any of the comments that you received, you should ask to insert your notes documenting your disagreement, this can then become an essential part of your performance review and your personnel file.

There is one way of keeping these, however, they need to be clear to see when and where each incident occurred, the parties involved, and any of the details of the incident. You should also show how it was resolved.

Talk To An Employment Lawyer As Soon As You Can

Last but certainly not least, it is essential for you to seek legal advice from an employment attorney as early as possible. They are able to help you assess whether an employer’s conduct constitutes a violation of employment laws and if you can think about legal action. They are able to run through many different options, whether it is to use the company’s internal complaint mechanism or handle things separately.

Many employees may feel as though it is a tough battle when they run into issues with their employer. But that doesn’t need to be the case. If you take the steps above and research properly, then you can rest assured you are handling things properly. Make sure you always look at all your options and get help when you need it.

How To Simplify Your Business & Grow As A Result

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Running a business can be complex at times. Simplifying it can actually increase your profits, productivity and results. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Simplify Your Business & Grow As A Result.

* * *

https://unsplash.com/photos/V7dZJybxhgc

When it comes to your business, you’re always going to want to do anything and everything that you can to grow and stand out. But that doesn’t always seem that easy to do. In short, you may find that you are constantly worrying and struggling about how you’re going to get to where you want to be, but really, you just need to have a plan and take action.

When you’ve spent some time working out what you want to do and what needs to be done, all you have to do is get started. Even if it seems like there’s a lot to take on, moving forward with your plan can revolutionize things. And really, you want to be sure that you can simplify your business and start to grow.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which you can do that.

Don’t Overcomplicate Things

Firstly, don’t overcomplicate things. It can be as simple as stripping things back and making the process of your customers finding you easier. Through one social platform or marketing tactic, you could master it and find growth rather than trying to stretch yourself too thin.

Offer Different Options

From here, you might also want to make sure that you’re thinking about your customer first. As much as simplifying your business seems like it will be streamlined, sometimes that means offering more to make things easier for your clients. From delivery to pickup in store to online downloads, be sure to give them what they need from you, so they can access what you have in a range of ways.

Get A VA To Help

If you’re trying to do everything, it can be super hard. Instead, think about getting a virtual assistant to help you. You’ll be stripping things back, getting expert help in, and allowing yourself to drive the business forward.

Stick To Your Niche

Above all else, you have to hone in on your niche. Don’t worry so much about trying to please anyone. Instead, when you can narrow down on things so much more, it’ll help you to serve your audience and start to get noticed so much more!

Always Go Back To Your Goals

Finally, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re always going back to your goals that you have in place. Whether we’re taking financial goals or overall objectives, your decisions should feed back into that. Simplifying your business should definitely make the idea of achieving your goals easier. So if you’re not sure what move to make next, refer back to your goals. This could inspire action in you and allow you to achieve what you want.

Why it’s important to incorporate technology into your business

No industry or business can survive the test of time without constantly adapting to market changes. One way for organizations to keep up with these changes is by implementing technology into their daily operations. Technology hones in on businesses’ strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to stay one step ahead of competitors. Not only do technological advancements benefit companies, but they also positively impact workers, making business more efficient and helping people perform better at work.

If you know that you want to streamline things with your business and be able to stand out in the right way, it’s time to do something about it. Thankfully, you should find that these tips help you to do exactly that in no time at all.

Let’s Talk About All Things Personal Finance

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Though you would think it’s common knowledge, there is a lot that the lay person doesn’t know about personal finances. The following contributed post is entitled, Let’s Talk About All Things Personal Finance.

* * *

Personal finance is something that everyone needs to talk about at some point. If you have never had any advice on personal finance, then it’s a good thing that you have come across this guide. We’re not going to go too in depth on any one point, but rather we’re going to just look at some of the basics that you need to know, and you can learn more if you find yourself interested. Keep reading down below to find out our basics!

Pic Link – CC0 Licence

Managing Your Money

First, you need to know that managing your personal finances is essential. You need to know how much money you have, what it is tied up in, what you have in any given bank account and so on. We suggest that you go over your budget once per month to ensure that everything is on track, and if it isn’t, sort it out. If you find that you aren’t very good at this or you don’t have the time, then you need to think about hiring someone to take care of it for you. There are professionals who work in managing personal finance so that you don’t have to. While it might be another expense each month, it may also be worth it.

Making More Money

Another thing that you need to know about is making more money for yourself. You can do this through a side hustle, or through something like investing. We do recommend that you look into US clients Forex brokers before you get started though as they are the experts. The last thing that you want is to start something like this blind, and without the tiniest of clues as to how to proceed. Using a professional will make your life that little bit easier, and make you more money than you ever thought possible from something like this.

Trust us when we say though, that there is more than one way to invest and even more ways to make money. It’s up to you which of these you choose, as long as you are choosing the option that is best for you.

Saving Money

The final thing that we are going to look at involves saving money. You need to know that you have got a little blanket of safety if things ever go wrong. Not that they are going to, but if you lose your job or need to make an urgent repair, savings will be a lifeline you didn’t know you would need. You might think that this is going to be hard, but if you include this in your budget then it is actually a super easy thing to do, just don’t touch the money in the savings account!

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to know about your personal finance. There are a lot of little things that come together to make up this category, and we wish you the best of luck when it comes to managing yours!

Taking The Best Care Of Your Finances During A Bad Financial Patch

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Everyone will fall upon some financial hard times. The key is navigating that rough patch and coming out healthy on the back end whether that be saving money or finding another job. The following contributed post is entitled, Taking The Best Care Of Your Finances During A Bad Financial Patch.

* * *

Photo: Unsplash

Managing finances is often a difficult task. Even more so during these turbulent times of Covid-19. One of the worst situations that causes economic crises is unemployment and the current case is no exception. Crises do not warn and often catch people off guard and without a plan of action. Hence the importance of having, among other things, an emergency fund and a plan to reduce some non-essential expenses. However, Covid-19 among all the bad has left us many lessons for humanity, and has made us realize that no one is guaranteed anything. While we can’t control losing our jobs, we can control our financial situation in that scenario. In this article we will give you some recommendations to take care of your money if you are going through a bad financial patch.

1. Make a survival budget

First of all, if your income has decreased or stopped, you must immediately reduce the expenses that are not essential. Keep those that are essential for your day to day. This budget should not be a regular budget, like the one you used to do when you had a fixed income, where an impulsive purchase was possible. Now, it is crucial to think only about what is essential to live as food and shelter. You can also reduce some services such as cable or the gym and look for low-cost fun alternatives such as free events on social networks. This budget should last you for at least three months. This will give you enough time to steady yourself and get things back on track.

2. Be aware of what is coming in and going out

Oftentimes we have credit card repayments, other bills and utilities and may not be fully aware of what they all are. We may have signed up to a subscription years ago and we are still paying the monthly fees for it. Go through everything with a fine tooth comb. This is vital for finances. You may see something on your statement such as Best uber technologies and want to double check what this is. Each item can be broken down so you are on top of your outgoings.

3. Actively seek sources of income

Looking for a job is a full-time job and requires a lot of discipline. Remember that doesn’t mean you have to spend all day sending your CV everywhere. You can opt for alternative jobs while you find the opportunity you’re waiting for. For example, offer your services as a freelancer. Do consultancies or if you have the possibility, undertake. In addition, you can take advantage of the “free” time studying, developing your skills or doing activities that help you enhance your resume in the meantime.

4. Your assets can help you

If the situation gets complicated and debts increase, one option may be to liquidate some of your assets to get the cash you need to cope with the crisis. You can consider non-essential goods that allow you a respite for the time being. Rest assured, when you are in a better situation you will be able to recover them.

5. Claim what’s yours

Finally, this might be the time for you to seek what you’re owed. It might be the case that you’re entitled to workers compensation from a previous employer. If you have been in a position where you feel that’s the case, you should claim what’s yours. This could really help you out of the stressful situation that you’re in right now.

Get “Reel!” How Fishing Can Really Improve Your Life

Two focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. Fishing is underrated sport many people have no knowledge of. It can fuel the competitive spirit and provide therapeutic benefits as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Get “Reel!” How Fishing Can Really Improve Your Life.

* * *

Pixabay – CC0 License

It’s one of those pastimes that is tranquil and challenging in equal measure. Fishing is good for you in so many ways. Let’s show you some of the benefits of fishing, and why you should start bringing this very simple thing into your life.

It Improves Your Concentration

There’s a lot at stake when you go fishing. You start to take notice of the environment; you need to make sure that you are in the right spots to get a catch, but also, you start to think in a more lateral sense. You are trying to ensnare a fish using a multitude of gadgets, not just rods and bait, but fish lights, dock lights, lures, bobbers, sinkers, and the list goes on! When you invest in the various tools it takes to trap a fish, it forces you to start thinking differently. And in a very basic sense, when you spend time in nature, it’s going to make changes to your brain and improve your levels of concentration. Who would have thought that fishing can make you cleverer?

It Keeps You Fit

We think of fishing as this solitary, yet lazy pursuit. However, it is one of the great ways to give your muscle groups a workout. You could make things a bit more challenging for yourself by choosing a fishing spot that is far away from the car, which gives you an aerobic boost but also the tasks of setting up the gear, casting off, and winding in fish require you to strengthen up. And this is just for the smaller fish. If you are trying to reel in a pike or a carp, you’ve really got to engage your back, arms, legs, and core or you won’t get anything! If you are someone who doesn’t really like hitting the gym, just go fishing every day, because it’s a fantastic way to strengthen that mind-muscle connection, developing strength that everybody has within them. While it won’t give you definition on your muscles, that’s something that you can fix later on, you’ve got to have the strength first if you really want to get fit, so get fishing!

It Teaches You New Knowledge and Skills

Fishing and activities on the water can consistently widen your knowledge and improve your skills in various areas. You’re going to have to learn a lot to maintain a boat, sail it out onto the water and to actually catch a fish. From understanding ultrasonic antifouling to which bait is best, this is going to be one big and exciting learning curve. It will prove greatly rewarding in the end.

It Improves Your Self-Esteem

Probably the most important reason we should all go fishing is about setting up goals in life. Fishing is the very essence of setting yourself a challenge and meeting the demands. When you achieve those goals, you are going to improve your self-esteem. Because it’s a wonderful skill that you learn and improve on, combined with solitary practice, it helps you to work through certain emotional problems in your life. And when you spend time with someone you love quietly on the water, it becomes a shared experience that promotes feelings of well-being and security.

Your mind is as important to your health as your body, and if you are looking for some form of pastime that is away from the gym, gives you challenges, mentally and physically, fishing is undoubtedly one of the best out there. It’s not just for people on approach to retirement! If you find yourself struggling with the modern world, unplug, suit up and get reeling!

7 Creative Ways To Get Your Business Noticed In 2021

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When running a business, one of your goals is to get your business noticed and to keep it noticed. The following contributed, 7 Creative Ways To Get Your Business Noticed In 2021.

* * *

No matter what business you are in, there are always bad days. Such a time is the perfect opportunity to review your strategies, and what better way than marketing. Regardless of the size, making your business get noticed is essential for its success. It makes people find and hire you. However, the current business environment is very competitive. So, how can you get your business noticed in 2021? Let’s dig in.

Pixabay – CC0 License

Be Unique

If all businesses are going right, turn left. It is always advisable to find a unique niche and avoid copying what every person does. Being different is already a value proposition that every client would love. The best way to be different is by figuring out what other businesses are not providing. For instance, you can do your research to determine what customers want but missing in the market.

Start a Challenge

Do you know of a better way to interact with potential customers than to create an online challenge? You should consider a web challenge that gets people closer to your brand. The best way to do this is by finding out what customers love and using it for a challenge. For instance, if customers like a specific product, create some online quiz about that product and reward customers that get the questions right.

Create Social Media Profiles

Social media campaigns are an excellent marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes. However, you should ensure that you connect with potential customers the right way without bothering them with too many ads. You should also consider outsourcing services to experts like Unruly Agency to help you manage your social media campaigns with greater success.

Create a Newsletter

Publishing newsletters regularly is a great way to connect with customers. With their permission, you can constantly update your clients about new products and services. This is an excellent way to keep the business on customers’ radar.

Use Email Signature

Creating content that links to your web helps you drive traffic to your business. However, you can also add a signature to all your social media posts and emails. This allows customers to notice your company logo and business. This is an opportunity to remind potential customers what your brand is about.

Sponsor a Community Event

The easiest way to get your business noticed is by getting involved in community projects. Social work offers an opportunity to raise your profile and brand name.

You should consider sponsoring a sports tournament every year or a fundraiser to help develop the community. For instance, using a tournament to raise money for a community hospital makes you a darling in society. Customers are nowadays more aware of socially responsible brands than ever.

Create a Network

Partnering with other businesses can be the perfect way to promote your business. Networking helps you establish connections that raise your company profile in the market. Partnerships will also help you share your posts and links to your website using other businesses.

There are many ways of promoting your business regardless of its size. Implementing these tips will help your business get noticed and attract new clients. Additionally, you may need to invest in other marketing methods for better results.

3 Effective Ways To Encourage Customer Loyalty

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what you business is, you want to maximize your customer retention. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Effective Ways To Encourage Customer Loyalty.

* * *

Image Credit: Free-Photos from Pixabay.

The goal of any business is to sell products and make money. Traditionally, that’s been done by selling to anybody willing to buy your products. Over the past few years, however, the concept of customer loyalty has become increasingly prominent.

That’s because focusing on it can reap quite a few benefits, notably increased business from repeat customers. As a result, an increasing number of companies have been focusing on it. Other firms are still on the fence, though, and aren’t completely convinced about it.

Should it be something you focus on and, how can you actually increase customer loyalty?

Why Is Customer Loyalty Important?

Customer loyalty improves the chances of customers coming back to your business. As a result, it could mean repeat sales over time as customers begin seeing you as a preferred brand. With that, you will generate more sales and make more profit over time.

How To Build Customer Loyalty

Have Loyalty & Referral Programs

As the name would suggest, customer loyalty programs are an effective way of encouraging repeat business. That’s also the case with referral programs, which can help build trust with your potential customers. There are quite a few customer loyalty solutions that you can use to that end.

These typically have a few terms and conditions attached. For example, customers might have to buy X number of products per month to qualify for a small prize. For the customer, they’ll be getting a surprise, while your company gets that increased spending.

Through this, your customers will also repeatedly come back as a force of habit. That will continue to encourage brand loyalty over time.

Play To Your Values

Customers gravitate to brands whose values reflect their own. That also means focusing on what makes your company stand out amongst its competitors. What makes it different, and why should potential customers pick it?

Play up these strengths while working on any weaknesses, and customers will start to see you as reliable and trustworthy. Over time, this opinion of your business will become increasingly more positive, especially if you keep to your word.

In turn, that means giving customers a positive experience each time they interact with your brand. That will then help convince customers to keep coming back.

Encourage Feedback

Your customers want to feel value. One of the easiest and most effective ways of doing this is by asking for their feedback. By listening to them and acting on their opinions, you show them that you care about them. There are a few ways that you can do this.

On your product’s packaging and website, for instance, you can provide directions on how customers can contact you. Explicitly ask them for their opinion. While not every customer will take you up on the offer, enough of them should so that you can find actionable improvements to your brand.

The practice also means that you can find areas of improvement that you might not have thought of before. It allows you to adapt to your customers’ needs.

By implementing the above, your company will be well on its way to developing a loyal and active customer base. The profits that this can generate will make the efforts well worth your while.

5 Unique Outdoor Ideas That Improve Your Property’s Value

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There are many aspects to properties. Some of them are outdoor while others are indoor. It turns out that there are numerous things you can do to the outside of your property to raise its total value. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Unique Outdoor Ideas That Improve Your Property’s Value.

* * *

Image Credit: Pexels

Even the best-looking homes have room for improvement. With the real estate market on a forward gear, the value of a property can change in the blink of an eye. Your home price one year ago can be significantly higher or lower, depending on the steps you take to improve different quarters within the household.

If you want your property’s value to rank among the best in the market year after year, these four outdoor improvements should be a necessary investment.

Make Your Outdoor Fun and Functioning

Your outdoors should be enticing enough to capture people’s interest but functional such that external processes run smoothly.

To improve your home appeal and value takes more than planting flowers by the gate or nurturing a garden. Instead, consider making these minor adjustments to get the most of your land.

Erect a Storage Room

An outdoor storage space saves you from keeping outdoor equipment inside the house. It also improves your outdoor functions as you can easily trace back items to the room.

A storage facility such as a barn where you can keep your equipment is a worthy investment if you farm. You’ll, of course, have to get a pole barn contractor to do a survey and determine where the structure can fit.

Outdoor storage can also efficiently serve as an extra room when you have many guests in the home.

Invest in Quality Furniture

If you have a small outdoor space, you may not be able to do significant construction. However, you can make simple renovations like adding quality outdoor furniture to illuminate the area.

Outdoor furnishing goes beyond having a built-in bench in your backyard, as it also includes having multifunctional pieces that serve multiple roles for space management.

Maintain the Landscape

Whether you have a large, average, or small outdoor area, landscaping techniques can help improve its image and value.

By doing simple tasks such as mowing the lawn, pruning the overgrown plants, and planting different trees, you drastically improve your property’s value as many homeowners ignore this part of the house.

If you have a garden, look for species that can survive within the existing environmental conditions to avoid having dead plants all over.

Ensure there’s sufficient lighting, especially at night, as a well-lit landscape looks more beautiful, and it also reinforces the home’s security.

Take Good Care of the Driveway

Regardless of how small the traffic your driveway gets, it may develop dirt from falling leaves or tire marks left over time. This is why it is essential to clean your driveway at least once every week and do a routine check for potholes that may develop on the surface.

Fix the Broken Pieces

Exposure to the environment can cause wear and tear to some of your outdoor features. You can have broken windows, a hole on the fence, or dull paint.
You must identify such weaknesses on your terrain and know whether you can fix the problem yourself or ask for professional help.

Conclusion

The fate of your property’s value rests as much on the exterior as it does on the interior. It would be best to focus on improving the outdoor space for your home to have the right appeal and command the highest value before moving to the interior spaces.