Category: Contributed Posts

Advancing Forward In Your Career

Two key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Professional Development/Skills. Everyone has to think about how to advance their career forward. Many people have the desire to do it, but don’t know how. The following contributed post is entitled, Advancing Forward In Your Career.

* * *

There often comes a time in your employment that you get a little bored of your surroundings – your role may no longer challenge your abilities or interest you as it once did, and you may be unhappy with the amount of responsibility you have as well as the amount of money that you earn. Researching ways in which you can advance your career will aid you in opening up new opportunities for you to advance forward and reach new heights, and it couldn’t be easier to get started and improve yourself for the benefit of your employment situation. There are several simple tips that you can make the most of to ensure that you can break free from your dull 9-5 to reach ultimate job satisfaction in no time at all, so if you would like to find out more then read on for some of the best tried and tested steps that you can utilise now.

Image Source – Pexels

Seek Out Extra Qualifications

One of the best things that you can do to enable yourself to reach your career goals is to seek out extra education and qualifications that you can add to your resume. Showing your commitment by heading back to school will allow future employers to see that you are dedicated to self improvement and willing to put in the time and effort to learn new skills and advance forward. Whether you decide to attend school full time to achieve an integrated design degree, or opt for a remote learning course that fits around your current lifestyle, just do a bit of research online to identify which pathway will best suit your current needs. Having those extra qualifications on your file may just give you the upper hand over another candidate, so it’s vital that you can grab any education opportunity with both hands.

Network Among The Right Circles

Another great concept that can really support you in advancing your career involves networking among the right circles to gain new industry connections. Getting yourself out there to build a positive reputation and meet with other professionals will allow you to essentially ‘get your foot in the door’, or get noticed by potential future employers. If just one of the reputable people you converse with sees your capabilities then they may decide to invest in your career and offer you guidance and support, so it’s definitely worth the effort you have to put in. Networking can be done in several different forms, such as visiting industry conferences and events, joining business groups on social media and blog sites, and so much more. You may have to work on your confidence before deciding to take up such a feat, as it requires you to strike up a conversation with many people that you might never have met before, whilst really selling yourself and pushing your own personal agenda.

Advancing forward in your career has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the information detailed above.

Is Your Home Keeping Your Healthy Or Making You Sick?

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. While our homes are supposed to be safe spaces where we can retreat from the world, they can also be sources of injury, pain and sickness. This is something most people don’t think about. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Your Home Keeping Your Healthy Or Making You Sick?

* * *

When it comes to improving our health, we need to think about more than just the changes we make to our own bodies. We need to think about how our environment affects our health as well. For that reason, we’re going to take a look at the impact that our home can have on us, how it can make us healthy, how it can make us sick, and how to make better use of it.

Link – Pixabay License

You may have more guests than you realize
No one wants pests in their home. That much should be a given. However, many may underestimate just how much harm pests can really do once they’re inside. Their droppings, urine, and other dander can lead to a major risk of allergies and respiratory illnesses. Other pests are disease carriers. Read more here about how to identify whether you might have pests in your home, and what to do about them if you do. There are many pests you may be able to ward off without professional help.

How clean is clean?
If you’re very health conscious, then you’re also likely to be very clean conscious. You want to get rid of bacteria that could get you sick, but what do you use to do it? Common household cleaning products could contain more dangerous ingredients than you might realize. Some can cause irritation, others can exacerbate respiratory issues, and some are even linked to cancer. Learn here about the household cleaning ingredients we should all be much more aware of, as well as some the alternatives that could be much healthier for you and your home.

How well do you manage your air quality?
The very air we breathe is going to have an impact on our health. As such, the home plays an important role in creating a boundary between us and the outside world. If that boundary fails, we can let in all the allergens, not to mention the damp, that can slowly make the air in our home more dangerous. Learn more about keeping the roof repaired and sealing off air gaps to protect the boundary of your home. You shouldn’t simply let the outdoors come in when it wants.

Home is where the head is
When it comes to your mental health, the home can have just as profound an impact on that, as well. For instance, a cluttered, messy home has been shown to increase symptoms and feelings of stress significantly in people. More importantly, the home should act as a comforting haven that you’re glad to return to after a day of dealing with work and other responsibilities. Ways to make your home more welcoming can include incorporating more personal aspects of decor, such as photos, and making use of aromatherapy candles to help relax.

You can’t avoid every malady with the tips above, but it does raise the important question of how our homes contribute to our health. Make sure you take care of your home and it will take better care of you.

Avoid These Mistakes When Closing That Big Deal

Two of the principles of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key aspect of conducting most forms of business is striking deals. Some are better at this than others and there are mistakes that prevent closing deals. The following contributed post is entitled, Avoid These Mistakes When Closing That Big Deal.

* * *

Pexels – CCO Licence

Striking any type of business deal can be tough, particularly if you lack confidence or experience. Whether you’re acquiring a new client or discussing a potential promotion, it’s important to have the right skillset.

As well as knowing what to do in the boardroom, it’s equally important to understand where you’re going wrong. If you want to improve your deal-making skills and succeed in business, be sure to avoid these mistakes…

Poor preparation

If you’re underprepared, it’s going to be apparent when it comes to striking a deal. No matter who you’re meeting with, it’s essential to take the time to research them, their company and the potential contract you’ll be entering into.

As well as giving you the background information you need to strike a good deal, proper preparation shows that you value their time and business. With a personalized pitch or knowledgeable presentation, you can showcase your abilities and successfully secure your deal.

Missing deal coaching opportunities

Few people are born with exceptional deal-brokering skills. In fact, it requires a great deal of expertise to become a successful dealmaker. If you want to ensure you’re at the top of your game, deal coaching is a must.

If you have a big opportunity coming up or you want to improve your skills, getting expert help can be a great option. With a good negotiation consulting company, you can access the specialist skills you need to create the perfect pitch and strike a lucrative deal. What’s more, you can access practical and professional negotiation support for upcoming meetings, pitches, and presentations.

Talking too much

When you’re brokering a deal, it’s easy to talk too much when you’re trying to persuade the prospect to sign on the dotted line. However, this is one of the most common mistakes when it comes to negotiating. Sometimes, it’s best to be silent and listen to what the other party has to say.

As well as garnering useful information that could help you to subsequently close the deal, this affirms that you care about their concerns and queries. By giving them the floor, you’ll have the opportunity to incorporate a more targeted approach to your pitch in the future.

Lacking confidence

Brokering a deal can be nerve-wracking, especially if you don’t have much experience. However, being underconfident can cause a prospect to waiver, which may mean you miss out on a deal altogether. Although it’s natural for your confidence to increase as you gain experience, boosting your confidence now could lead to greater success.

Practice makes perfect, so be sure to run through presentations and pitches numerous times. Additionally, try confidence-boosting techniques, like meditation, mindfulness and neuro-linguistic programming, to ensure you come across as poised and self-assured.

Brokering the Best Deals

Having good negotiation skills and being able to broker deals is extremely advantageous and it’s something employers are always looking for. If you want to enhance your own career prospects or boost your workplace performance, enhancing your deal-making skills will put you on the road to success.

How Savvy Business Invest In High Markets

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Just like individual investors, businesses have to make wise investment decisions. Many of those decisions involve deciding which markets to invest in. The following contributed post is entitled, How Savvy Business Invest In High Markets.

* * *

Pixabay – CC0 Licence

Investments are imperative for businesses. Any leader who wants to increase the wealth of an organization needs to secure healthy ROIs. Unfortunately, it won’t happen if you put your rainy day fund in a savings account. The interest rates are too low compared to the returns of an investment.

A big problem lots of entrepreneurs run into regularly is a high market. When the money you need to pump in upfront is considerable, it makes you think twice. Still, you shouldn’t pass up an opportunity for the sake of liquidity.

Dealing with high markets is possible and lucrative as long as you’re careful. Here are the tips that will ensure you put safety first.

Search For A Broker

A broker is an excellent resource for your company because these agencies have knowledge and experience in abundance. Sadly, too many businesses don’t trust them, which is why they try to dip their toes in the market alone. Please don’t make this mistake. Without any relevant qualifications, you’ll only increase the odds of losing your investment. Plus, whether it’s Forex or foreign currencies, brokers help clients to secure the best market prices. You don’t even need to deal with one face-to-face – software is available if you prefer your insights from an AI-powered computer program.

Feed-In Resources Gradually

Putting in your resources bit by bit is an excellent tactic for limiting damage if there are unforeseen circumstances. The reason is simple: you never have too much of your finances in a high market at one time. This might seem as if it’s a cautious measure considering the market is booming, but it’s a smart way to mitigate risk. All you have to do is divide the pot into payment segments and figure out payment dates. The even better thing about this technique is that you can stop payments if you feel as if you need more control.

Buy The Same Amount

When markets are high, it’s tempting to pull back in case the worst happens. However, this is a bad idea because it goes against your original plan. There is nothing wrong with re-evaluating, yet you shouldn’t do it on a whim. An investment is a long-term strategy, so there’s no need to panic at the first sign of trouble. And, if there are no signs, then you should carry on as usual. If money is an issue, remember to feed in your budget gradually to mitigate the risks.

Avoid Linked Investments

Diversification is a tried and tested way to protect your assets. That way, should anything go wrong, you’d still have investments that are untouched. Of course, this doesn’t happen when projects are linked. Right now, for example, US index tracker funds are connected to the most expensive stocks, making them very vulnerable. Therefore, it’s imperative to do due diligence and ensure there aren’t underlying features that will have a knock-on effect. You can diversify by investing in two separate markets if you have the knowledge.

Are you going to use investments to expand your business? What are the biggest risks?

The Factors That Could Impact Your Online Sales

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In today’s digital world, more business is done online than ever before. There are factors that can impact your online sales. The following contributed post is entitled, The Factors That Could Impact Your Online Sales.

* * *

(Pixabay CC0)

Perhaps you’re a business owner using sites such as Amazon to increase sales within your business.

Or perhaps your business is based entirely online.

Whatever the case, you need to know those factors that could affect your ability to make money online with your business. In this article, we will list just a few.

#1: Your expertise

If you are adept at designing your own website, have a deep understanding of e-Commerce sites such as Amazon and eBay, and know how best to market your business online, then great, you are good to go! However, if you lack in expertise in any area, then don’t rely on your limited abilities alone. Hire a website designer, and give yourself an online presence that appeals to potential customers. Consult with the Amazon experts at awesomedynamic.com, and benefit from their expertise if selling on this particular site. And hire a marketing team, as they will help you with your branding, increase your SEO, and support you with your promotional efforts. By working with the professionals in each area, you are more likely to make greater sales within your business.

#2: Your online reviews

A lot of customers rely on online reviews before making a purchase. You have probably done the same, especially when purchasing something on Amazon and eBay. Your potential customers will look at your product reviews if you’re selling on these particular sites, and they might also research your products on business review sites online. If you have great customer ratings, then you are guaranteed to get more sales. If the reviews are less than flattering, then your sales are bound to drop. So, work hard to ensure your customers like your business, and use these tips for getting five-star reviews to improve your selling chances.

#3: Your competition

Of course, if you are selling a product that is completely unique, then you have less need to fear the competition. The chances of this being true are, however, quite unlikely, as there is bound to be some competition in your line of business. So, keep this in mind when selling online. Your prices need to be competitive, so don’t inflate your prices too highly, as people generally go for the cheaper options when buying online. Think about your shipping and return policies too, and research what your rivals offer so you can then make any adjustments necessary to improve your service to your customers. And look at the products your customers are selling. If you can improve on what they are selling, then you are bound to make more sales than them. So, commit to research and make every effort to improve your business for the benefit of your product sales.

Finally

You aren’t in business to make a loss. You don’t want to waste either time or money within your business. So, consider our suggestions, as each factor will affect your online sales. Do what needs to be done, and then watch as more customers come to your business, and enjoy the profits that will be yours as a consequence.

How Can You Get The Most Out Of Your Employees?

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In any business, a key is getting the most out of your employees. Getting the most out of your employees will assure your business stays open for years to come. They are more than simply workers for your purposes. The following contributed post is entitled, How Can You Get The Most Out Of Your Employees?

* * *

Image Source

There’s no denying that your employees are right at the heart of your business. Without them, it’s likely that the entire thing would come crumbling down pretty quickly. Far too many business owners simply think of their employees like one of many resources to be used to improve their business. But the problem with this attitude is that it forgets one very simple truth: your employees aren’t machines, they’re people. This might seem obvious, but it’s amazing how often it gets overlooked. People have needs and limits, and they can’t simply be expected to deliver amazing work time and time again with no support or reinforcement. With that in mind, here are some simple ways that you can get the most out of your employees.

Give them a positive work environment

One of the most common mistakes that a lot of businesses make is that they simply don’t think about the ways that they can really help their employees feel as happy and comfortable at work as possible. There are plenty of ways to do this. From making sure that your office space is as spacious and well lit to incredibly simple things like installing glass doors so that you break down some of the barriers between the different areas of your office. Creating an environment where your customers actually want to turn up and work is going to not only increase productivity but is also going to make sure that your employees are as positive as possible about your business at all times.

Provide clear goals

Nothing is more dangerous to productivity than employees who don’t know what they’re actually working towards. You need to make sure that your employees always know exactly what their goal is. Once they know that it’s their duty to figure out the best way to achieve it. Rather than focussing on hand holding and guiding them too directly, by providing them with clear, achievable goals you’ll be able to create an environment where your employees are able to take the initiative and find the best possible solutions. Over time, you may find that the best employees begin setting their own goals as they come to better understand the business and their place within it.

Support them

As previously said, your employees are not machines, they’re people, and people have their limits. You can’t only ever expect your employees to perform without also understanding that they require your support. It’s so important that you create an environment where your employees feel comfortable talking to you about things that might be bothering them, whether it’s in regards to their work, the people around them, or something about the company as a whole. By adopting an open-door policy then you create a culture of trust and camaraderie that will help to build incredibly strong bonds between you and your employees.

The reality of running any business is that without the right people, you’re never going to be able to get the most out of it. Your relationship with your employees must always work in both directions.

Are You Ready To Hire Your First Employees?

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Once your business is ready to go to the next level, you have to decide if you’re ready to hire help. It’s a critical stage for any business. When hiring employees for your business, there are few keys to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, Are You Ready To Hire Your First Employees?

* * *

Pixabay. CCO Licensed.

Hiring your first employees is a big step. Before you start recruiting, you need to be sure that you and your business are ready. While employment verification is critical for onboarding new employees is important for example, there are other important steps as well. This is especially true for new employers. Here are just a few ways to equip yourself for becoming an employer.

Hone your leadership skills

Few of us are born leaders. If you’ve never been in a leadership role before, it could be worth taking a course to develop your leadership skills. On top of building your confidence, such courses could teach you important skills for motivating and organising your team. You can also read self-help guides and watch YouTube videos for leadership tips.

Get registered and insured

You’ll usually need to register with your state and apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to be legally classed as an employer. On top of this, you’ll need to apply for worker’s compensation insurance, which can help to provide compensation if workers are injured or become sick at work. Make sure to shop around for insurance rates.

Set up a payroll

Next, it could be worth downloading payroll software to help manage your employees’ wages. Alternatively, you could outsource an accountant to handle your payroll. Both are better options that trying to manually manage your payroll, which can be time-consuming.

Work out all the costs

There are lots of expenses that come with hiring employees. On top of their wages, you may want to consider employee benefits such as annual leave and bonuses. You may also have to pay to supply employees with equipment – this could be anything from a PC to a company car, depending on how generous you’re feeling. Make sure that you have a clear idea of all the costs that will be coming out each month so that you can budget effectively.

Create an employment contract

An employment contract isn’t compulsory, but can be beneficial when hiring employees. It can help protect your rights as an employer and outline the duties that are expected. Such contracts are best written up with the help of a legal professional.

Write a winning job ad

To help attract applicants, you’ll need to put out a job ad. This advertisement should list all the requirements needed to work at your company, the duties you expect of that employee and the perks that they will gain by working for you. There are plenty of platforms that you can use to post job ads – consider using multiple platforms to attract a variety of talent.

4 Clever Ways to Utilize Your Land Investments

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. An important aspect of real estate investing is land. Selling and acquiring land can result in come very lucrative investments. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Clever Ways to Utilize Your Land Investments.

* * *

You have always been super savvy when it comes to investing your money. Land is something you have always been enthusiastic about, simply because there are so many options to choose from. When you invest in land you have a huge decision to make; you need to choose the investment that is going to be worthwhile to you as an individual. You don’t necessarily have to build a house when you invest in land, so it’s worth exploring all of the ideas available to you. So many business minded people end up keeping their savings stashed away in their bank account without making any true investments that are going to boost their income. Here are just a handful of ways in which you can use your savings to make a land investment.

1. Farming

Buying land for farming purposes is a very worthwhile investment, especially if you have a keen interest in animals. Livestock need plenty of hay bales to flourish and produce their product. There is a growing demand for hay, so you will need to buy in bulk in order to satisfy the needs of your farm. High quality products are essential for thriving animals, so make sure you do your research. Going into farming won’t be easy; you will have have to work to make your investment back but it can be incredibly rewarding.

Image from Pexels – CC0 Licence

2. Real Estate

When you think about investing in land this is probably the first idea that springs to mind. Going into property investment is hugely popular, especially because you have complete freedom to do whatever you want with it. You can maximize on your investment by saving a lot of money during renovations and construction. Make sure you build the type of property that is going to popular on the market for years to come. You don’t want to spend a tonne of money building a quirky property and watch it sit there on the market.

3. Solar Energy

If you choose farming as one of your investment ideas, you could expand upon that even further. You could turn part of your land into a solar farm simply because they are extremely profitable. Renewable energy sources are up and coming so you know it’s not going to go out of style any time soon.

4. Vehicle Parking and Storage

Charging people to park on your land or installing storage units is another savvy ways to invest your money. People will definitely pay money to keep their vehicles safe and this will involve very little effort on your part once everything is up and running.

After reading through some of the following options, you’re probably quite clear on how you’d like to spend your savings on a land investment. If you still aren’t enthused by any of the ideas mentioned above, you could always look into other methods. Just remember that investing in land can be hugely profitable, so it’s work looking into as many possibilities as you can.

Do You Know the Secrets to Selling Success

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Whatever you business venture is, a key is selling. Selling isn’t something that comes easy to everyone and there are a couple of secrets to it. The following contributed post is entitled, Do You Know the Secrets to Selling Success.

* * *

When you’re running a business, making sales is always on your high priority list. You don’t want to spend hours of your time and see no results. There are a handful of secrets to selling that you might not know about. Some may seem quite obvious when they’re explained and others are more innovative. All in all, you want to make life easy for your customers so that they checkout without any hassle. Here are some of the best secret to selling, so take note!

Do Your Research

Making sales is one thing, but if you’re not actually making a profit, this is not going to be very beneficial to your annual turnover. If you’re an Amazon seller it can often be very difficult to find good deals in your niche. When you use tactical arbitrage the process is so much easier as they will source the products for you. Spending a little bit of extra time and money researching the best of the best will really benefit your business in the long run.

Image from Pexels – CC0 Licence

Understand Your Ideal Client

Getting inside the mind of your ideal client is so important, especially when you’re looking to make more sales. You need to know exactly what they’re looking for and give it to them on a plate. Carry out plenty of market research in order to find out what the pain points and problems of your ideal client are.

Make Their Lives Easier

When your ideal client clicks onto your website, are you making their life smooth and simple? Do they know exactly what they need to do next? Place clear calls to action on your website so that it is very clear what your customer path is. Lead them seamlessly to your product page, explain everything they need to know and you are more likely to turn them into a paying customer.

Tell Your Story

People buy from people, so if you’ve got an interesting story to tell, you need to be sharing it. Perhaps there is a reason why you started the business you’re in now. Your potential clients and customers would love to hear about your story, because many of them will probably be able to relate to you.

Get on Social Media

You have probably been told this so many times before, but social media is the key to business success. When you utilize social media consistently, you will start to see increased engagement and enthusiasm around your product. Without platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, you are actually doing yourself a huge disservice. Most of your leads will probably come from social media platforms so it is so important to find a social media strategy and stick to it.

You may already be working on some of the ideas mentioned above, but it is very important to remain consistent. If you put a lot of work into something for one week and then neglect it the next, you’re not going to see the long term growth you’re looking for. Keep an open mind when it comes to implementing these strategies and you will soon go from having a sales slump to a sales skyrocket.

How To Make Money Online With Your Business

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital world there are so many ways to leverage the available online tools to make money. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Make Money Online With Your Business.

* * *

When it comes to your business, you want to exhaust all the opportunities that come your way to make money. And when it comes to the online world, there are plenty to sink your teeth into. Regardless of where your business stands right now in the real world, here are some tips to make money online with your business.

Image Source

Take Advantage Of Video Content

Video content is a hot commodity right now and something you should definitely be using for your business not only to make money but to get a boost to your traffic. Video content can become profitable when using platforms like YouTube to advertise that content. So many of us are now watching videos on a daily basis and it’s because they’re usually bite-sized content that you can keep scrolling through and watching for hours on end. You want to help relieve people’s boredom but also get them engaged. So think of how you can engage with your customers and potential customers, through video content. For example, it might be a look into the manufacturing process of a product in a documentary style way. Get creative with your ideas and start posting content as regularly as possible.

Make Use Of Paid Advertising

Paid advertising is a great way to make some extra dosh and you should be using it where you can to help generate leads. When doing online advertising, it’s more of an investment in order to buy potential leads that could convert into customers. That’s one way of doing it and the other is by making full use of your company’s website. Does it bring in a lot of traffic? And if so, then it’s a good idea to reach out to the other businesses and offer an advertising slot for a certain amount of money or based on however many click-throughs they get from your website. These ppc management tools can be really handy if you need some guidance.

Build A Shop On Your Website

When you’re bringing in traffic, depending on your business, you might find it beneficial to have a shop on your website. This could be selling merchandise or products that you may be selling in a physical store or via another website. It’s important to try and diversify your selling points and online is a great way of doing that. Get your website set up with a shop by using any of the ecommerce companies that are available and start selling your branded products directly through your website.

Offer Exclusive Subscriptions

When it comes to your email marketing or selling your services, it’s a good idea to try and offer this in the form of exclusive subscriptions. It could be a few dollars for your existing customers to subscribe to and then you can offer them content, freebies or whatever you want that is worth the amount they’re subscribing for.

Making money online with your business is a must-do, so start looking at what you could do with your company.