Category: Business

ContentRally is a leading source of reliable news and trending topics on Business. Get hard-to-find insights and advice on Business from industry-specific leaders.

Advertise Coupon Codes

Ways On How to Advertise Coupon Codes in Social Media

For most e-commerce websites today, be it a small one or a big one like Verizon Wireless, Coupon Codes are essential to have the business advertised on the right portals. Most coupon sites promote your brand and keep it top in the competition with similar brands. If you thought that coupon codes essentially sacrifice your revenues to get more sales, you could be quite wrong. Sometimes, even a huge discount coupon code could help drive a major sales hike. The best way to get more traction with your audience and stand out is by using effective social media strategies. Wondering how to get it done? Check out here Set Your Goals : Before you start working on your promotional campaign on social media channels, it is crucial to set your goals. Apart from getting you new customers, coupon codes can also retain existing customers when you place them right on social media. There are many interesting ways to set up your social media promotional coupons. If you are intending to clear out stock, you could start a buy one get one offer. If you would want to do it on a regular basis, the best way to do it is by setting a weekly or monthly clear out sale for your social audience. Your weekly or monthly promo cycle could help your audience look forward to your posts on social channels. This also aids customer retention. By offering a promotion on the most popular product in your shop, you can attract new customers. Set specific goals and plan your coupon code offer that suits best. Here are some of the most popular offer types: Offer Types using coupon codes: Percentage off on a specific product - 20% off all shirts Percentage off on a sale cart - 5% off on your cart at checkout Dollar off on a specific product - $10 off on your first product purchase Dollar-off on a sale cart - Buy for $100 or more and get $10 off Free shipping coupon code Buy Two Get One offers or Buy One Get One offers Coupon codes promotion on social media at regular intervals would make your brand more popular and sought after. With short-life coupon codes, you can get a good brand following. Promotion helps you fix any market gaps that your brand might face. A perfect promo plan can help you work positively towards your goal. Create Your Coupon Codes : If you are using Shopify or Bigcommerce, creating your coupon codes is pretty simple. Amazon also offers a promo code feature that is designed for social media platforms. You might also consider using tools like Snipcart to create your coupon codes and promoting them. Platforms like Rignite offers one-stop for coupon codes on social media, you can create, share as well as track the effectiveness of your coupon code that you use. It does not matter how you create your coupon codes, what matters is tracking and monitoring the campaign to derive results. Designing Your Social Media Posts : It is important to create engaging and interesting social media posts to promote your coupon codes. When you schedule your posts, make sure that they go live at the same promotional period that you have set in the system All About Creating Your Promotional Posts : When you create promotional posts for coupon codes, place your coupon codes both on the image as well as text. When your audience sees your promotion, make it clearly standing out to help them see the value. Adding a sense of urgency like short-life coupon codes or setting up a set number of codes can help to make better conversions. Adding relevant hashtags also help to promote your posts and taking them up in the right direction. Spend On Social Media Advertising : Paid promotion on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter help reach your campaign to a specific target audience outside your main followers base. Micro-Influencers Promote Your Business : Micro-influencers are a great way to promote specific niche related coupon codes. Although their audience may be smaller in number they are usually more involved and attentive to posts. Promoted posts hold more value as the base audience are usually peers who trust the micro-influencer. To partner with micro-influencers, you can use Dealspotr to find your perfect match. Branded Videos Impact On Promotion : Another effective way to promote your coupon code is by creating relevant branded videos. One of the overlooked platforms to advertise your product is YouTube. If you find creating a video difficult, you could also contact a micro-influencer from YouTube to promote your brand. Famebit is one of the popular channels to connect you with the right influencer. Tracking and Measuring ROI : Always monitor your social media promotions to find out what works best for you. Tracking down the platform that brings you more conversions is one of the most effective ways to focus your time and money on what's most effective for your brand Social media is one of the places to find the right target audience for your brand. Instead of using bargain shopping websites like Groupon and Coupon.com, promoting your coupon codes on social media is the right way to target potential buyers. Read Also : Advantages And Disadvantages Of Coupon Codes In Your Business Ways To Spice Up Your Online Shopping Of Apparels 5 Actionable Mobile Marketing Tips That Drive Sales

READ MOREDetails
Coupon Codes

Advantages and Disadvantages of Coupon Codes in Your Business

There are two sides to offering coupon codes in your business. One side shows that you could make more sales with coupons while the other side shows you could lose profits after discontinuing the coupon purchases. Both sides have a point, and you should pay attention to these things while coming up with a discount strategy. Many businesses still view couponing as a perfect way to drive customers and sales without experiencing revenue losses. If you are considering using coupon codes on your business, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the idea. Advantages of Offering Coupon Codes : Businesses like Vistaprint have been offering coupon codes with the idea of attracting first-time buyers and it is working really well. You could also attract customers with this method without having to give them more discounts on future purchases. Use it as a customer acquisition strategy. If you have inventory that you want to unload quickly, offering coupon purchases is the best way to trigger quick sales. It will influence more people to prefer your products over those on other stores as long as the quality matches. You could also use coupon codes to encourage brand switching where buyers from another brand are encouraged to buy from your brand because of the pricing lure. Getting customers to make the first purchase might lead to add-on sales for products that were not discounted, which could help to raise revenues. Disadvantages of Offering Coupon Codes : This is a costly decision. You need to estimate the correct amount you can afford to give away. If the profit margin is not impressive, you won't find coupon sales profitable, so it’s only sensible to use coupons on products that have a good margin. Not sustainable as a promotional strategy because customers may only choose the discounted product and never come back. Some businesses have experienced unprofitable Groupon promotions because customers only pick discounted items and only return when there are more discounts to be exploited. Could affect the image of the business as this in some cases may make it look cheap, which in perception may send a message that the quality offered is not good. This strategy could also encourage customers to always wait for discounts and only buy when you are offering discounts. Also remember that offering discounts, especially to first-time buyers, could alienate loyal customers who are made to feel they deserve the discount more for sticking to the brand. Conclusion With the points discussed here, you can see how adding coupon codes to your business could affect its performance. You need to be careful with offering discount codes as this could also damage the business by lowering profitability even with more sales. Only use this strategy if you are sure the revenues to be gained are enough to get the business running smoothly. It is a perfect way to raise cash and you can clear inventory that has been stuck for a long time. Just make sure it does not lead to losses. Read Also : 8 Key SEO Strategies For E-Commerce Websites Oh, Crop! Killer E-Commerce Mistakes You Need To Conquer 9 Ways To Use Pinterest To Promote Your E-Commerce Store

READ MOREDetails
Anti-Theft Devices

Choosing the Right Anti-Theft Devices For Your Car In Houston TX

Although there's no foolproof way to protect your car from being stolen, you can certainly reduce the chances of it becoming a target without spending more than you can afford. Outlined below are a few tips and tricks on how to keep your beloved motorcar protected. Use A Mechanical Immobilizer: A mechanical immobilizer is designed to restrict movement or access to the vehicle. Unlike most anti-theft devices that remain hidden, this device is highly visible, hence an excellent choice for deterring amateur car thieves. The police recommend using one of these alongside other anti-theft devices to keep car thieves at bay. 1. Steering-Wheel Lock: This is the least expensive anti-theft device you can invest in. As the name suggests, the steering-wheel lock makes it impossible to drive the car, hence one must unlock it to be able to navigate. 'The Club' is a good example. 2. Tire Lock: Having a tire lock in place can help deter thieves from targeting your car. Tire locks, however, require time to put on and off, which is why you may want to try other options if you use the car daily. Electronic Immobilizer: Most modern cars today come with built-in microchips and transponders capable of sending a signal to the built-in anti-theft system. Trying to start the car without its keys and fobs simply mean the engine will not start.  Most car thieves will avoid vehicles equipped with electronic immobilizers. Have a 'Kill Switch' installed: This device is normally installed in the engine's electrical system.  As the name suggests, it sends a signal that turns the engine off when activated. Although most modern cars have this anti-theft feature installed, you can have one installed on your vehicle for as little as $10.  The most expensive option goes at $200. The Master Lock Starter Sentry is a good example (and popular model) of a kill switch capable of disabling the ignition system, as well as the fuel wirelessly.  The best kill switches disable all other functions of the car until the signal is deactivated through a series of tasks. Install a Car Alarm: Car alarms are considered the most effective visual anti-theft devices there is today. The alarm is however only activated should one attempt to gain entry to the car forcefully, perimeter breach, sudden movement, or the breaking of glass. The system works with several sensors that pick up the slightest sign of forced entry or breach sounding an alarm at over 120 DBS. This alerts the driver immediately and anyone else within a hearing distance. Consider VIN Etching: All vehicles have a 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) mostly printed on the dashboard, registration, and insurance cards. 'Branding' all parts of the car with its VIN Number can help deter car thieves from targeting your car. This is particularly useful if you can have all windows and glass parts imprinted with the VIN. Most car thieves will avoid vehicles with their VINs etched on all visible parts. This is mostly because disposing of parts with VIN exposed is considerably much more laborious and costly. Have a Vehicle Tracking System Installed: Although an expensive anti-theft device/feature, a vehicle tracking system not only deters thieves from stealing your car but also provides real-time data on the car's location should it be stolen. These systems use GPS (Global Positioning Systems) to pinpoint the car's exact location for easier retrieval. One of the advantages of investing in a vehicle tracker is that the system can be integrated with other anti-theft features to keep the car protected. You, however, need to subscribe to this service to get real-time updates on your vehicle whenever you need it. You can contact an automotive locksmith Houston Tx for immediate services. Read More : 5 Ways Camera Monitoring System Will Enhance Vehicle Safety There Is A Pothole Problem In America – How To Protect Your Car From Damage?

READ MOREDetails
Credit Report

What Are the Important Parts of a Free Business Credit Report?

Did you know that small businesses make up 99% of employer firms in the U.S.? Small businesses are an important part of the economy. Everyone knows it's important to have a good personal credit rating. But, did you know that it's also important for your business to have good credit? If you own a small business, read on to learn how you can get a free business credit report and why it's important. Why is Good Credit Important? If you've ever applied for a home or auto loan, you know that good personal credit is important. If you don't have credit, it's difficult to get a loan. No credit doesn't always mean you have bad credit. It means you haven't established a credit record. If you've handled credit poorly, then you have bad credit, and you might not get be able to get a loan. Lenders check your credit score to ensure your ability to pay back your loan. It's critical to build and maintain a good business credit rating. How to Build Credit : Not everyone carries a credit card, but it helps to have one if you want to build your credit score. Too often, college-age kids get one or more credit cards and find themselves in debt and are unable to pay it back. It's important not to overuse a credit card. Credit cards charge high interest on the money they loan. It's okay to buy things with a credit card, but make sure you pay the entire loan off monthly as much as possible. If you don't pay the entire loan monthly, the interest you pay adds a significant amount of money to the cost of your purchase. Unfortunately, if you don't use a credit card, it's harder to build credit. In addition to paying your entire credit card balance on a regular basis, be sure and pay all your other bills on time as well. Late charges aren't the only problem you'll have if you pay your bills late. Late fees also hit your credit report and lower your score. There are other ways to help build your credit as well. Getting a Free Business Credit Report : It's important to know how to check your free business credit report and to understand what it contains. According to the law, it's possible to get your personal credit report for free on an annual basis. The law doesn't say a business credit report has to be free on an annual basis. But, it's possible to get a free business credit report. Here are a few ways: CreditSignal : Dun & Bradstreet offers a free business credit report at CreditSignal.com. This is a great place to get your business credit report because it also has a learning center. It's an easy service to use, and it comes with a mobile app that'll alert you to changes in your Dun & Bradstreet credit score. The service gives you fundamental information about your score. To get the full service, you'll need to get the paid subscription. Try Nav : Nav.com is another service where you can find your personal and business credit scores for free. While CreditSignal only tells you about your Dun & Bradstreet score, Nav offers information regarding your Dun & Bradstreet and Experian score. Free Trial Demos : You can also get a free business credit score if you want to sign up for a free trial from companies such as Credit.net, CreditSafe.com or Scorely.com. Remember that once the free trial is over, you'll be charged for a subscription. What Does It All Mean? Now that you have your free business credit report, what does it all mean? When checking your personal FICO score, look for a number between 300 and 850. The higher the score, the better your credit rating. Don't panic when you check your business credit score and the number is under 100! Unlike the FICO, business scores range from zero to 100. Business credit reports are confusing because they're not all calculated the same way. The Big Three : There are three major companies where you can check your business credit. These are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. Dun & Bradstreet calculates your credit score based on information from partner companies or payment info reported to directly to them. They use a Paydex score that ranges from zero to 100. You'll need to file through the Dun & Bradstreet website to obtain a DUNS number before you can get your score. Your report will show you creditworthiness, payment history and trends, and public filings. Experian offers a business credit score between zero and 100, as well as a financial stability risk rating. You'll also see a credit summary and payment trend summary. The payment trends are thorough, including monthly and quarterly trends. If your company has any judgments are liens filed against it, these will also show on the Experian summary. Equifax also uses the zero to 100 score. But, you'll also see a business credit risk score that ranges from 101 to 992. This score determines the likelihood that your company will fall behind on payments. With all three of the large credit bureaus, the credit summary is easy to read and self-explanatory. It's important to pay close attention to everything in the report so that you can correct any incorrect items that could hurt your credit. Obtaining a Loan : One of the most important reasons to maintain good business credit is so you can obtain a small business loan. Whenever you open a line of credit, such as a credit card, there's a hard hit to your credit report. This means that applying for any sort of loan is actually bad for your credit score! This is one more reason to make sure you maintain good credit, in case you're in need of a loan to purchase necessary company equipment. It's sometimes possible to obtain a small business loan without a hard hit to your credit. Read more now to learn about one of these loans. Learn More About Business and Finance : Business can be complicated, but don't let the details scare you. Work on building and maintaining good credit to help with your personal and business finances. Looking for more great articles on business and finance? Take a look at our many resources here. Read Also : 5 Smart Ways To Boost Your Credit Score Are Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended For Credit Card Consolidation Credit Card Fraud The Holiday Season: Things To Consider For Next Year

READ MOREDetails
LIC Portal

How New User Do Online Registration at LIC Portal

Life Insurance Corporation of India has been one of the most trusted names since its incorporation in the year 1956. This state-owned insurance company is also the largest insurance company in India- have been by the years and still gaining customers patronage with quality products and ease and simplicity of operations. To bring about a simpler access to their policies by the customers, LIC has recently introduced LIC e-Services which would enable LIC customers to get an access to their policies and every other thing related to it get done online such as paying monthly premiums, keeping track of the policy status, keeping track of premium dues and more such stuff online without having to approach any branch office. It is to the utmost benefit of the customer that they can have a transparent view of the policies and plans that they have opted for and get things done with just a click avoiding long queues in the branch office. While availing e-Services might seem like an amazing idea, some people are surely yet to figure out how to get themselves availing these services. If you be among them, worry not. Here we have for you a complete guideline on what exactly LIC e-Services are like and how to get yourself registered on the LIC login portal if you are a new user. All you have to do is to stick to the article until the end. How New User Do Online Registration at LIC Portal: What is LIC e-Services? LIC e-Services is the recently launched online service provided by LIC to its customers. LIC with integration with all the latest digital initiatives comes with its own e-Services to enable wider access to unlimited policy-related information to its customer with utmost simplicity and ease. There is a myriad facility one can derive from availing these e-Services. These benefits include: Online Payment Facility Policy Status Bonus Status Loan Status Claim Status Premium Due Calendar Revival Quotations Premium Paid Certificate Claim History Policy Bond Various devices and online forms available Locators and FAQs Who Are Eligible For Availing LIC e-Services? Of course, anyone who is a policyholder with LIC can avail the benefits of LIC e-Services. For the same one has to register themselves at the online portal. The ones who have already had their registrations done can just simply register the policies held by them in the portal to get all the information and updates on the respective policies. How To Register For LIC e-Services? Now, that you have already had an idea about LIC e-Services and the benefits that you can avail from it, you need to know how to register yourself at the portal for availing the same. The process is rather simple, definitely for the ones who have already had their registrations done and also for the new users who are yet to get themselves and their policies registered. If you are already registered at the portal, all you need to do is click on e-Services. You will find the button somewhere to the right of the official  LIC webpage. Click on Registered User button and log in with your User ID and password. Then you need to fill-up the form provided so as to register your policies at the portal. Take a print out of the form, sign it and upload the scanned copy of the form. Also upload the scanned image your Aadhaar Card, PAN card or Passport. The officials would take some time to verify the same and after the verification process has been completed you will receive an SMS or an email stating that you are prepared to use the e-Services. For the Ones Not Yet Registered at the Online LIC Portal: In case you be among the ones who have not registered already at the Online LIC portal, go through the registration process which is very simple to get through. All you have to do is to click on the New User button on the right of the official LIC web page and select your User ID and password. On the completion of the simple process, you are a registered portal user. You need to register your policies in the portal and therefore all you need to do is to click on e-Services and log in with your User ID and password. For the registration of your policies, you need to fill in the form provided with all the necessary details. Print the form, put down your signature and upload the scanned image of the same. Note that the size should not be below 100 KB. Also, you need to upload the scanned image of the Aadhaar Card or Passport or PAN card or any other equivalent document that works as your official ID proof. Once you are done with the process you need to leave it to the officials to verify it. Once your application is duly verified, you will receive an email or an SMS dating that you are good to go with availing the e-Services at the LIC portal. Read More : Get A Return On Investment With Your SEO. Six Low-Investment Business Ideas You Can Start Today

READ MOREDetails
Business Reports

The Importance of Writing Business Reports in College

A business report is an important document because it reveals specific information about the organization. Entrepreneurs write these reports with the aim of attracting investors to their organization. Business reports also keep employees aware of the goals of the organization as they strive to achieve them. As a student, you need to have a clear understanding of the operations of the real business environment. It beats logic to finish college yet you cannot write a business report. Remember you are preparing to work in the actual business environment. Therefore, you need to gain practical skills in addition to the theory that you learn in class. One of the critical practical sessions in college is to write business reports. Currently, most organizations are under pressure to enhance their reporting processes. As a student, you will be expected to undertake this responsibility once you get to the field. The information you provide has to be reliable and sufficient. Remember everyone will be looking for you to meet these requirements with a high level of precision. The best way out is to present your facts in the form of a business report. Most modern organizations rely on the finance department to assist in the decision-making process and offer critical support to the business. There is an increase in the demand for fast and transparent reporting and most finance practitioners aim towards minimizing the time they use in compiling data to provide high-quality information at a fast pace. However, they cannot meet this objective unless they have a deep understanding of the concept of business report writing. You need to gain these skills at the college level and then sharpen them once you go to the field.  Here are some of the benefits of writing business reports in college. Business Reports Provide Students with Deeper Insights : Business reports have an integral role to play when it comes to the active management of organizations. The management team uses them to track progress and attain organizational goals. Business reports can also help managers in controlling business expenditure and increasing revenue. Analysis of business reports will help both students and managers gain useful insights into the prevailing business trends. This knowledge ultimately helps business practitioners to put in place effective strategies that enhance the overall performance of the organization. Managers normally review the business reports and check for any abnormalities. Students need to have these insights from the onset for them to become better managers in the future. There is a definite format for writing business reports. Students should learn this before they get into the field. You have to understand the various sections of a business report and the information to include in each paragraph. As students write a business report, they get to understand the importance of this document to the management.  No one will have the time to teach you all this information while at work. It's important to write business reports in college so that you don’t struggle later in life. Reporting That is Aligned with the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) of the Organization : It is meaningless to provide a report that is not aligned with the overall strategy of the entity. You cannot achieve this objective unless you practically engage in writing business reports in college. You should bore the KPIs in the mind during the reporting activity. The advantage of providing accurate business reports is that they offer decision support and assist incorporate strategies of the entity. These are some of the things that you need to learn in both practice and theory. Business reports that are aligned to the KPI’s of the organization help in the attainment of the organizational goals. There is no better way of learning these skills unless you do it practically. No wonder you will find most professors insisting that college students must write a business Help in Highlighting the Current Position of the Enterprise: Some business reports are crafted with the aim of highlighting a particular problem that the company has been going through. The reports should contain effective solutions that help in bringing the problem to an end. For instance, suppose an organization is planning to downsize, this decision will ultimately affect the employees. In this case, the business report has to state the position of the business and the reasons behind the downsizing. The report should suggest the strategies that the management team can adopt so that the downsizing does not have adverse effects on the employees. The best time to gain such skills is at the college level. Business Reports Help in the Adoption of the Right Marketing Strategy: Companies find business reports to be used when setting up their marketing strategies. If a company is targeting a particular section of consumers with the aim of entering a new market, it can give its report to an advertisement agency. The best time to learn to write such a business report is at college. The report will help the marketing agency to develop a successful and effective marketing strategy for the organization. Business Reports Assist in Decision Making: Finally, college students should learn the various approaches to making decisions. One of these techniques is writing business reports. An annual report can help investors, employees and customers get the true picture of the organization. The business report is a critical step in the decision-making process and college students should gain these skills. An accurate and high-quality report will help the organization to track its expenses, improve its operations and also set new goals. As you read the business report, you should be able to identify the bottlenecks and come up with the various strategies that you can use to eliminate them. In summary, business reports play a critical role in the day to day running of the organization. College students can’t gain these insights unless they learn how to write a professional business report online. Lecturers should give college students business report assignments from time to time so as to prepare them adequately for the job market. Read Also : Why Every Business Needs Digital Marketing Small Business Guide To Private Health Insurance Exchanges Get The Details On How Sferic Protect Can Benefit Your Business & Its Safety

READ MOREDetails
free money

Easy Ways To Make Free Money Without Doing Much

Being in need of extra cash and not having the time to do something about it can put you in a pretty tough position. Luckily there are some things you can do to make free money without putting in much effort as well as save free money without even knowing it. Check out the tips below to grab that extras cash ASAP. Easy Ways To Make Free Money Without Doing Much: Fill out online surveys There are tons of websites out there that will pay you to take surveys or answer just a couple of questions. Some of these websites include Swagbucks Toluna Vivatic MySurvey YouGov Panel Opinion These surveys usually don’t take too long and definitely don’t take too much brainpower to complete. Check out one of these sites if you’re bored and make a few extra bucks in the process Sell your old clothes Everyone has clothes still hanging in their closet or folded in their drawers that they either forgot they had or haven’t worn in years. If this is the case, sell them! You can either physically bring them to a spot like Plato’s Closet where they’ll assess the value of your clothes or then hand you cash, or you can post them online. One great online clothing selling platform is Poshmark. All you have to do is upload a picture of your clothing item, answer a few questions, set a price, and wait for it to sell. Once it’s sold, Poshmark will provide you with a pre-paid shipping label so that all you have to do is pack the box and send it on its way. Sell your things So maybe you don’t have a ton of clothes you’re willing to sell. In that case, check out some of the old stuff you have hiding away in your basement or attic. As they say, one mans garbage is another man's treasure. Check out sites like eBay or LetGo for a platform with a huge audience. Sell your old gift cards Sites like GiftCash make it easy to check the balance of your gift cards and then sell them on their site. You can check any gift card balance from Abercrombie to a second cup gift card balance. This is a great way to make some quick cash if you’re not going to use the gift cards. Stop buying coffee  If you’re tight for cash, you need to make those trips to Dunkin or Starbucks a treat rather than a necessity. Not that coffee is particularly expensive, but if it’s an everyday expense, it’s definitely adding up over time. Try cutting this down or out completely and watch your bank account grow slowly but surely. Cut back on subscriptions There’s going to be some things where you’re just not willing to budge, but do you really need Netflix, Hulu, and HBOGO? Maybe it’s time to pick and choose which subscriptions are really a priority for you. Or maybe you should stop watching TV altogether and get another job. Write online This might not be a gig for everyone, but you have any ability to write, it’s not too tough to find a job online. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer offer platforms for you to advertise yourself as a blog writer, article writer, or any other professional talents you may have. You can sell photography, design websites, or just about anything else you can think of through these sites, and get paid for it! When you’re in a pinch for free money, things can get pretty frustrating. No matter what though, there’s always something you can do about it. Even if you’re not working some fancy job, for the time being, there are totally ways to get that extra cash into your pocket. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box in order for it to work. Read More : Top Apps to Help You Manage Your Money. Substantial Tips On How To Invest Your Money Responsibly.

READ MOREDetails
business-3365365_960_720

People Management Tips from a Successful UK SME

Many business owners excel at the core activities of their company but can struggle with the supporting functions that come with it. It’s certainly true to say that not every business owner is a natural leader and manager of people, and nor would they consider themselves to be. However, this is something that must be learned, at least until the business is large enough to hire someone who is if the SME is to be a success. So what are the realities of people management for business owners? We spoke to Vasco de Castro, the co-founder and business development director to find out what he has learned about people management during his time at the helm of the new international workplace fruit provider Fruitful Office. 1. Make your team the focus of the business It’s the business owner who has grown the company from the ground up, so it can be difficult to let go. However, once you start taking on staff, it’s important to step back and play a supporting role. The tendency is to think the business is all about you, but it’s the people who work for you that play a key part in creating the business’s culture. Making time for your team on a personal and professional level and listening to any problems or issues they may have is central to the perceptions they form about the business. It’s also important to acknowledge that in their specialist areas, employees may well be more knowledgeable than you. Asking for their input and acting on the insights they provide will help them become a valued part of the business. 2. Let them shine The reason you’ve hired the workers you have is hope that they have the specialist skills you lack, so it’s essential you give them the support and space they need to put those skills to good use. The tendency to micromanage is something business owners should resist at all costs. Understandably, you will be protective of your business, but once you’ve provided clear direction and made your expectations clear, it’s time to step back and let them shine. As Vasco de Castro explains: “In my view, it is the role of the leader to provide the vision for the business and communicate it clearly to employees. It’s then down to the employees to make it happen.”   3. Remember the bad bosses you’ve had in the past When you’re finally in the position to be in charge, remember all those horrible bosses you’ve had along the way and make sure you don’t become them. There are a number of small and simple steps you can take to make your business somewhere your employees actually want to work. Recognizing their achievements, giving them the freedom to make their own decisions, trusting them and actually getting to know them on a personal level all help. However, simply allowing yourself to relax and enjoy what working life has to throw at you has an important part to play in creating a loyal and energized team. What do you think is the key to successful people management in an SME? Do you agree with Vasco de Castro? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

READ MOREDetails
Top Tips for Flipping Homes

Top Tips for Flipping Homes

House flipping is buying and selling houses to make a fast profit. If you are just starting to think about going into the home-flipping business, you need to start small with an entry-level house that doesn’t need a great deal of work to make it saleable and then move on from there. If you have taken half an hour to watch any house flipping show on television, it seems like it would be pretty simple to buy a house for a small price, fix it up a little with some fresh paint and a few repairs and sell it to make a fortune or even buy a home that is in great condition, wait a few months and resell it for more than you paid. In real life, however, it just doesn’t go as smoothly as you see on tv. It’s a good idea to gather a little information before you start buying homes by flipping in mind. While the following tips for flipping homes won’t necessarily make you feel like you won the lottery jackpot overnight, but they can help you buy and sell homes quick while avoiding some of the critical mistakes others have made in the past. Too Good to Be True : As the saying goes, “If it looks like it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” When you are new to house flipping, you’re going to run across many deals that seem great only to find out they were a money pit. It’s not a wise decision to go after every deal you see, and lenders catch on quickly to those who will buy anything. If you want to make money on a flip, then you need to take time to research the home, the area it is in and make sure you have it thoroughly checked out to make sure you aren’t going to be sucked into a beautiful home with faulty wiring or poor plumbing that needs replacing. The less you spend on a flip, the more you will profit when you make the sale. Bring Cash to the Table : If you want to be able to buy a home quickly and have a short turn-a-round before you sell it, you need to come to the table fully prepared to go against those cash buyers who want the house. If you don’t have the cash upfront, then you need to make sure your credit score is high enough to go to a hard money lender and get the cash you need fast. Curb Appeal : Most people take time to think about what the tile in the kitchen looks like or whether the bathroom has the right lighting. Many people tend to forget about the outside of the home when they are trying to sell a house. The first thing a potential buyer sees is the outdoor space of the home, therefore, it needs to look nice! Be sure to have the lawn maintained, trees and shrubs trimmed and make sure the exterior of the house itself looks good. Peeling paint, broken soffit or damaged gutters can deter someone from buying a home even when the interior looks good. Curb appeal is what will get buyers into the home, so make sure your home has what is needs outside to entice people. Know Your Market : To flip a house successfully, you must know your market. To get a truly good feel for the market in your area, talk to a real estate agent who has many years of experience and can guide you to the right homes that will need little to no repair and will be priced right for the market. You need to know how to price a home accurately to sell fast and make a profit and if you pay too much for the home when you buy it, you’re not going to make anything when you sell it. Renovate Wisely : You must watch your budget when it comes to renovating a home. Considering installing beautiful hardwood throughout the house or remodeling the kitchen? These can be costly renovations and you’re going to have to be careful with the amount of work you put into things. If the house needs a new roof, then, by all means, hire a professional roofer to have a new one put on, but don’t sink $50,000 into renovations when you can get by with spending half that and still have a beautiful home to sell. Once you have the home and the renovations have been completed, list it. Price the home lower than market value but not too low or you will lose money. The biggest thing is to market the home and do what you need to do to sell it fast. The shorter the time it sits, the more profit you are going to make. Read Also : 6 Things You Must Know Before Selling Your Home Buying Or Selling A Home In Seattle? Ideas To Help Find Your Dream House On A Budget

READ MOREDetails
The Best Stocks to Buy Now That Will Pay Big Later

The Best Stocks to Buy Now That Will Pay Big Later

An astounding 90-95% of day traders lose money and fail in the stock market. That's a pretty scary statistic for someone wanting to get involved in day trading. Learning what the best stocks to buy now is going to save your bank account as well as lower your stress levels. Buying into stocks is both nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time, and can either make you jump with joy or crumble into misery. Making the right moves is going to better your chances of being in the top 5% of successful traders. The biggest problem is, with over 1.46 billion shares a day, you could go cross-eyed when trying to figure out where to start. How do you know which are the best stocks to buy now? Have no fear, we have constructed a list of the best stocks to buy now, so you do not have to stress about that part. Read on to find them out. Amazon (AMZN) : The fact that Amazon has its hands in so many cookie jars, makes its future look unfathomably large. There is Amazon Prime, Cloud, Alexa, annual subscriptions and so on. In fact, more than 100 million people subscribe to Amazon with a $99 subscription fee every year. Apple (AAPL) : A lot of people seem to have a negative opinion about Apple products, say what you want but it seems like their stocks are going to continue to rise. The iPhone just keeps getting better and better, plus their newer products such as the Apple Watch or the Apple tv are just too awesome to ignore. ResMed Inc. (RMD) : ResMed creates medical equipment and cloud-based medical software for medical professionals to treat sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). So far they have treated 2 million patients daily and helped those patients reduce healthcare costs by minimizing the chronic disease effects. With opportunities for growth located in India, China, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, it seems that they will be busy on the incline for at least the next decade. Alphabet (GOOG) : Arguably the first investor into artificial intelligence in comparison to its tech competitors. From helping Android users to now operating their own AI "Google Home," it seems like they are going to be neverending in their development of new and exciting AI-based software. Laureate Education (LAUR) : Laureate Education is the biggest network in the for-profit high-quality educational institutions. This stock has already climbed massively and analysts say that it is just getting started. Owning over 200 programs and operating in over 29 countries and counting, this stock is destined to climb high. Invest now while the initial buy-in is still low. More About The Best Stocks To Buy Now : It can be overwhelming knowing where to start, especially when investing in your first stocks. Deciding between NASDAQ and the top Japan ETFs can be difficult. Investing in any of the above-mentioned stocks will gear you towards success in your trading career. Feel free to contact us at any time with any questions and share your comments below. Read Also : How To Start Trading On The Stock Market And Profit? Buying Stocks For Beginners: A Guide

READ MOREDetails
branding

Role of Promotional items in branding

Whether you have a small business or a multinational corporation, promotional giveaways can be the most suitable option. The benefits of promotional giveaways cannot be ignored not only because they are versatile, but also because they are quite profitable. Who wouldn’t want a quality giveaway, like a pen, t-shirt, water bottle, mug or other branded advertising products? When using promotional giveaways for your business, you will create a personal touch with customers, improve their awareness and knowledge, as well as make them loyal at the same time. With this personal touch : With this personal touch, your business will increase its brand recognition, market reputation as well as establish itself as a major player in the niche. In this way, you’ll always remain a step ahead of competitors and have a shiny position in the market. Customers also find it easier to recognize the name, objectives, and logo of your company. With this form of advertising, customers will not only know the name of your brand and memorize it for a long. In fact, this type of marketing technique is quite popular and can improve ROI. People often become : People often become disinterested when hearing a similar radio plug or seeing similar notices for organizations in their group. While these standard showcasing approaches do prove to be useful, special giveaways give an edge and an essence of something other than what's expected for customers. A rehashed introduction is additionally basic for advertising to be solid and valuable. In the event that a man is utilizing a written work utensil from your organization, this guarantees your organization is in the back of their brain. There are additionally numerous focal points to marked attire, notwithstanding like pens, tote sacks, or brandishing merchandise. Promotional items : Promotional items can make incredible presents for anybody! Regardless of whether your business isn't in the run of the mill "occasion blessing" class, an all-around coordinated blessing can influence a client to consider how your item or administrations could be valuable as a present for somebody they know. You can likewise make an environment of generosity with individual endowments that demonstrate that you think about your clients. A branded mug : A marked mug with the treat inside offers incredible a minute ago blessing alleviation to worried customers. Indeed, even easily overlooked details like a parcel of mints or a pressure alleviation ball can help shoppers to feel that you are contemplating them and their prosperity, along these lines expanding the merry sentiments of altruism amongst you and your clients. Also, special items are kept for about a large portion of a year, so that is a long time of promoting just from the nearness of a little, economical thing! You can contact It’s All Custom to get something extraordinary in order to do branding. For some independent : For some independent company simply beginning, the sticker price for limited time giveaways may seem, by all accounts, to be steep. Contingent upon the items that you put resources into, the cost can be altogether different. The influence of limited-time giveaways can to a great extent exceed any cash snag. The enduring effect of limited-time giveaways makes them an exceptionally profitable venture. The occasions are an incredible time to provide for other people who are in require. Amid the riotous season, it feels great to stop and help another person. Demonstrate to your clients that you give it a second thought and give them an approach to help other people by supporting philanthropy this season! You can give to any Foundation by offering a wide range of pink-marked things. Be considerably more honest by offering naturally amicable items and giving the returns to an untamed life reservation or an eco-accommodating non-benefit. This is an incredible method to connect giving and great deeds with your image, to get the message out about your business, and to help to merit philanthropy. Read Also : How Personal Branding Online Can Help Your Job Search Why Every Business Needs Digital Marketing Building A Brand For Your Small Business

READ MOREDetails
Invest Your Money

Substantial Tips On How To Invest Your Money Responsibly

You can do a lot of things with your hard-earned cash. For instance, you could purchase expensive smartphones or even your dream car. And that is not all. Apart from buying gadgets, you can choose to visit various destinations around the world. On the flip side, you can also be practical and invest your funds in areas that it will work on your behalf. Presented below are substantial tips on how to invest your money responsibly. Real Estate : The real estate is one of the most profitable fields that you could venture into if capital is not the issue. The income is predictable and quick to collect to your advantage. If you construct rental units then you will know how much you can expect at the end of the month unlike with other businesses where the fluctuations in prices affect income. With real estate the variations will be to your advantage as the value for your property will keep rising. Stock Markets : Next, you can invest your wealth in the stock market with huge pharmaceutical companies. It's true that such firms are more established and are less riskier to invest in compared to other businesses. Before you get into biotech investing you should ensure that the aims of the firm you wish to invest in are achievable. Have a look at the top biotech businesses to make sure that you work with a company with a proven track record of success. Bonds : Long term or short term bonds are investment options managed by an expert financial advisor. It's true that they are stable and offer investors an opportunity to earn lots of profit. You will earn monthly depending on the current market inconsistencies. Go for short-term bonds if you want back your cash plus the profits fast. Peer to peer lending : You can join the peer to peer lending clubs to save some of your cash. These groups can loan you money like the banks without asking for lots of interest. It will be comforting knowing that you are lending people you know huge sums of money. Some people prefer investing in peer to peer lending platforms than stocks because its easy to start, low-interest rates and you don't need lots of cash to begin. Highly-priced Metals : Apart from the options mentioned above, you can decide to spend your money in commodities like valuable metals. The value of gold, silver, and other valuable metals doesn't fluctuate much like other products meaning that after purchasing them you can wait to sell them at your local jeweler when their prices rise. When purchasing precious metals like gold you must sidestep high premium charges otherwise you won't make handsome profits from your investment. Many other investment options that can make you lots of cash are available. This post was just highlighted a few of them. You should research more about the others to discover those that are ideal for your case. If you do a proper investigation then, you will make sound options when investing your hard-acquired cash. Read Also : Is Property Investment Still A Good Way To Make Money? Six Low-Investment Business Ideas You Can Start Today Investors Agree: Gold And Silver Is The Way To Go

READ MOREDetails