Month: May 2018

Launching your first business can be a fun and exciting venture. Not only do you get to practically enter any industry you want but possibly make a big impact on it. Who knows? You may even change the world. Although a lot of people assume what’s holding them back is the price, starting a business doesn’t have to be expensive; which is why I’m going to show you how to start a business on a budget below.

Know Your Costs

If you’re going to be starting a business, then knowing how much you’re going to have to invest in it will be crucial. Depending on the type of company you’re trying to launch, the cost of this can vary tremendously. For example, as noted by the MBDA, the estimated cost for your average business is around $30,000, which is a pretty significant figure considering what goes into that price tag. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your efforts will cost nearly as much, especially if you know how to go about this thing head on.

To begin, map out all the costs that are going to be associated with your business, no matter how big or small. Furthermore, it’s also important now to decipher how much you’re going to need to live off of, as well as how you can reduce that runway starting out. A good rule of thumb with your budget is to give yourself a conservative estimate that protects your foundation rather than the stressful position of having to catch up. Take your time in developing your budget, as this is going to be the foundational bedrock to your future success.

Research. Research. Research.

Once you’ve got a good grasp on your budget, the next step is going to be researching how you can tackle the market. While you most likely have a rough idea of where your market stands based on your interactions with it, actually coming up with a plan on how to go to market is an entirely different ball game. After all, as noted by Entrepreneur, with 82 percent of businesses failing due to cash flow problems, it’s imperative you know how you’ll make money from day one rather than merely relying on guesswork.

Take a look at not only your current demographic but how you plan on approaching new avenues as well. This includes reading things like ebooks and paying attention to other marketing materials, honing in on what could help you grow. The name of the game here is to be calculated, speaking in terms of what KPI and ROI you’re after, as well as getting those numbers up over time. Because although there is a particular realm of trial and error you’re allowed, it’s also a very limited window, and one you want to be prepared for sooner rather than later.

Define Your Place In The Market

As you’ve started to cultivate what type of audience you’re after, we now need to figure out what separates you from the competition in reaching them. This is perhaps one of the hardest hurdles for a lot of new businesses to figure out, but one that could potentially make or break you. In short, the practice we’re aiming for is defining your niche, which can be a little bit more of a challenge than you might assume.

Your niche is essentially the product differential you have over your competition. Whether you’re looking to scale an app internationally or be the only place in your city that serves pizza by the slice, it’s important to not only know where you stand amongst the competition but how you can stand out. This will be especially useful in things like SEO, which as noted by Search Engine Journal, with 93 percent of online experiences beginning with search, owning that keyword term “(city)+pizza+by+the+slice” or whatever niche you have could be huge. However, this comes with taking the time to hash out what makes you different and why.

Keep Your Outreach Consistent

Finally, as you near closer to launch, it’s important to establish patterns that you can adapt to consistently. As noted by Zimmer Communications, consistent presentation of a brand increases revenue by 23 percent, which is a pretty staggering figure if you know how to capitalize on it. And although you might be thinking this is simply posting consistently online, there’s a certain science in how to be effective.

Create a marketing mix for your business, including items like social media, email marketing, SEO, and any other mediums you consider essential for your industry. Additionally, it’s a smart move to create a calendar to know when you should hit these aspects, honing in on testing when you’re most effective. Granted, this will take a little bit of time to figure out, but once you do, you’ll …

Digital marketing has perhaps one of the best returns on investment. While you are most likely already using some popular digital marketing mediums, using them to effectively grow your business is an entirely different battle. This doesn’t have to be an overly complex operation, but rather something that with a little bit of planning and investment could be generating more sales for you in no time. Here’s how:

Invest In Branding

One of the first steps you should take if you want your digital marketing to take off is investing in branding. Not only is this the primary way people look at who your company is, but what they represent as well, which is a significant portion of why people buy your product or service in the first place. Whether you feel like your brand is in it’s prime or not, it’s always good to do a reassessment.

When assessing your brand, one of the first things to consider is grabbing an objective opinion of what others think and feel when they see it. Branding is part science and part visual storytelling. For example, as noted by Curatti, color increases brand recognition by 80 percent, which is why a company like Samsung you’re able to point out their sharp tones that match their type. Start studying cases like this when seeking out the designer for your brand, as this will be a crucial element to having a recognizable presence online.

Hop On Social

Another important factor to establishing a digital marketing presence is getting yourself a solid presence on social media. While most of us have experience with social media as a medium we use in our personal lives, it’s also an excellent strategy to use for your business if you know how to strategize. After all, social is a pretty delicate medium, as it requires quite a bit of persistence as much as it does creativity. However, that’s why it’s crucial to get started on finding your audience ASAP.

Finding your audience for social will largely be determined by the type of target market you’re after, starting with if you’re a b2b business or b2c. For example, b2c companies that provide a product will see much more success making money on Instagram. However, with 800 million users currently on the platform, honing in on a target audience you’ll get an ROI from will require quite a bit of engagement. And while that might sound like quite a bit effort, remember to keep your outreach organic as a means to learn both about your community as well as your business.

SEO Is A Must

Of course, if you’re going to be talking about digital marketing, then SEO has to be a part of the conversation. This is not only one of the most prominent forms of inbound marketing, but when done right, also one of the most efficient. Because as noted by Junto Digital, with 93 percent of online experiences starting with search, this is a primary funnel almost all of us use to find things, with the main goal being that your company is at the top of the results.

The name of the game with SEO is how quality you can make your keyword search terms. This practice is all about specificity, which is essentially how niche you can make your research items. For example, if I’m one of the only coffee shops in a neighborhood that serves breakfast, then owning the keyword combination of “breakfast+coffee+(neighborhood)” would be an advantageous move. Take the time to work through which search terms could be the most beneficial to you, as this is one strategy you don’t want to miss out on.

Content Is Still King

Finally, as you may have heard before, content is one of the absolute best methods of digital marketing out. While most generally think of this as strictly writing blog posts, this can go well beyond that. Because while it’s great to have long-form posts of copy, that’s not the only way to deliver content, where length actually can play more of a significant role; for example, as noted by SnapApp, long-form blog posts generate nine times as many leads than short form. And no matter if your talent is photography, writing, or design, try to create content that will lend to you being able to produce captivating work consistently, ensuring you’re garnering an audience that will stick with you for the long haul.

What are some digital marketing strategies you’ve used to help your business grow? Comment with your answers below!…

Finding the perfect wedding dress, sorting through various vendors, and navigating the many personalities of your wedding attendants is sure to create a little stress over the course of the many months devoted to wedding planning. If you’re like most brides, you’re also worried about staying within your budget, planning for the honeymoon, and maybe even preparing to move into a new home or apartment.

If all the stress from preparing for and starting your new life is becoming overwhelming, you’re probably looking for some fun and easy ways to de-stress and relax. Here we’ve compiled a list of suggestions for brides who are looking to manage their wedding stress and feel better during the pre-wedding preparations.

Take a Break. As one of the most important days of your life, it is very easy to become consumed by it and think about your wedding all the time. But to avoid the stress associated with obsession, it’s important to think about and remember all of the other wonderful things going on in your life. One way to do this is to set aside specific days each week devoted to the wedding and plan other activities for the other days. Take frequent “breaks” from wedding planning, which means avoiding talking or thinking about the wedding with anyone.

Do Something New. Concentrating on learning a new skill is a wonderful way to focus your attention elsewhere and helping you alleviate wedding-related stress. Maybe you have always wanted to take a cooking or painting class, or maybe you used to dance, and there is an adult class being offered locally. Focusing on the project or activity at hand will force you to think fully about something other than wedding planning and help you relax.

Exercise your Stress Away. Working out is beneficial for a number of reasons. In addition to helping you get fit or even losing a few pounds for the wedding, it can be helpful in reducing your stress levels. Exercise has positive emotional and psychological effects, and any physical movement will help produce more uplifting and stress-stabilizing endorphins. Find a workout buddy and try to get active. Maybe that means a trip to the gym with your future spouse, a cycling class with a friend, or a few laps around your block with a relative. Maybe you can join a recreational sports team and have one night a week where you socialize and exercise your worries away!

Meditate to Relax. Meditating is a great way to increase your mindfulness and relax. Meditation techniques can help us transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy. Using meditation can assist you in overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts that help us become more efficient and effective in our everyday lives.

Get Out of Town. Sometimes a quick weekend getaway can make all the difference in your stress levels. Take a quick trip to a nearby family member’s house or stay at a local bed and breakfast. Maybe a full vacation out of town can help you and your future spouse take a break from the craziness of wedding planning and reconnect. Simply getting out of your routine and seeing someplace new can help you refocus and relax. You may even be able to get in a little time outdoors!

Engage in Self Care. Self- care can take many forms. A massage, a facial, or even a manicure and pedicure in a spa setting can work wonders for your stress levels. Don’t think of these as indulgences, but consider them necessities for staying well-balanced. If you can’t afford a spa, settle into your tub from time to time with bubbles, Epsom salts, or even softening scents. Light a few candles and bring a great book to the tub, allowing your worries to melt away.

Talk or Write About It. Sometimes venting to a family member or friend about the particulars of our stress sources can be helpful in reducing them. Keeping feelings of worry or anxiety bottled up can make things even worse, so when you’re feeling the stress, don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and feelings with trusted family and friends. They’re there to help! If confiding your concerns creates even more stress for you, think about keeping a journal or log. Jot down those feelings and leave them in the pages where no one can read them. Unloading the negative thoughts may help you reduce those feelings of being overwhelmed and help you move on with your day.

Delegate. Remember that you don’t have to do it all! Family members and friends often want to help, but don’t know how. Assign tasks to trusted loved ones and relieve yourself of some of …

Shoes can either make you feel like you are on top of the world or make you feel miserable. The way you feel is interlinked with the quality of shoes you wear and how they treat your feet. Everybody knows woodland shoes are the one of the best when it comes to shoes adaptable to the outdoors. The company offers a wide range of shoes for different kinds of activities. They have also started dabbling into shoes for formal wear. Not only can you can you buy woodland shoes on their website but also in any of their stores dotted all over different cities in the country.They have shoes that are made impeccably and are of great quality. They make shoes that can stand wear and tear and protect you on your big nature adventure. Also, if you want to buy woodland shoes right now, there are many sales available on their site as well as other sites they have partnered with.

Here is a list of 5 woodland shoes that you should consider before buying any others.

• GC 1337113
  This pair of slip-on shoes is perfect when you need to leave in a hurry. They are available in two colours, tan and khaki. The rubber sole offers the perfect amount of cushioning for the optimum amount of comfort. They are extremely light and would help you tread along for miles on end. They are quite affordable in terms of shoes for the outdoors.
• GC 1389114
  This bulked up shoe is the perfect choice for hiking as well as roaming around through the unexplored forests and deserts, if that’s something you want to do. This pair is available in four different colours to cater to your ever-changing moods and styles. The comfort level is extremely high on this pair of shoes.
• GC 1617114
  Khaki and camel are one of the most popular colours when people want to buy woodland This pair of glorious shoes are recommended for those people who are just venturing out into the world of outdoor activities. The material the shoes are made out of is exquisite. These shoes tend to make the wearer look extremely put together and also tends to create a very good first impression.
• GC 1497114
  You might not have a choice in terms of colour when it comes to this pair but what the shoes convince you with is the level of comfort and style. A few lines of blue stitched on offers a great style factor. The sole has a cushion effect and hence is perfect for walking in for long distances. I can see myself wearing these while on a trek to the hills. They are also very versatile.
• OGC 1991116
  These look the most casual, among the ones on the list. They can be worn as a style statement as well but they are great at serving their purpose. Perfect to be worn for walking and running on concrete. They don’t let your feet get tired easily. They really are a great choice when it comes to buying new shoes.

Woodland shoes always live up to their name. They last for a long time and are one of the most comfortable and value for money shoes available in the market. There are many companies that offer similar types of shoes at cheaper prices but their quality can never compare to that of a pair of woodland shoes. Keep this article handy whenever you are going shoe shopping, it is surely going to help you. Have fun shopping!…