But people know that it is not always rainbows and sunshine for every company. Even the most successful businesses have their fair share of ups and downs before reaching their current status.

And what do these businesses have in common? The power to focus on the future of the company by continually improving and learning through day-to-day experience. In this article, find tips and strategies to help every business to keep moving toward success.

1. Sharpen Skills through Training

Businesses have their own niche or field of expertise, but no matter how proficient they think they are in the industry, they should always be open to learning and improvement. The success of a business does not only rely on the numbers game, but also on investing in honing the skills of the whole team. 

If the company doesn’t have time to organize professional training and lectures, why not try free online courses that are accessible at employees’ own pace and time? Some of these courses offer blogging training, internet marketing 101, customer service improvement, among others.

Also read: Latest Technological Trends in the Business Industry

2. Keep Reading

Be surprised by how reading business books, articles, and magazines will help broaden knowledge. Encourage employees to read small business magazines that will not just sharpen their minds but also be a source of inspiration and motivation.

3. Promote Healthy Habits to Increase Productivity

It has been said a million times already, but health is wealth. The business will not be up and running if the leader and the rest of the team are not physically and mentally healthy. 

Having good health starts by establishing healthy habits, but it does not happen overnight. Leaders should lead by example in promoting healthy habits like working out, packing a healthy lunch, or avoiding office gossip and idle time. Start programs for drug prevention and full-body detox and rejuvenation in the workplace through random tests. These simple tricks will undoubtedly result in a more energetic, efficient, and productive team. 

4. Take R & R Seriously

It may be challenging to forget about work when surrounded by the same people from the office. However, the key to having a worry-free rest and recreation with the team is to have a clear mind.

Take the opportunity to strengthen the bond among teammates, and don’t look at it as a waste of time and energy or just another additional expense to the company. Never underestimate the benefits of spending some time away from work and just focusing on rest and relaxation. 

Also read: Recent Innovations That Can Help Improve Your Business

5. Improve Online Visual Collaterals

Nowadays, having a visible social-media presence is already a must in every business. Engaging posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are helpful in getting customers. 

However, social media presence alone is sometimes not enough. Having an ecommerce website to showcase your products can make your company stand out even more. Setting up an online shop to sell things is also easier nowadays. Non-techie entrepreneurs can conveniently build out their website with a few clicks thanks to online store builders. 

To maximize the benefits of having a website, invest in talented graphic artists who are not just creative but also understand the basics of marketing designs. They can help you bring in the customers with their intuitive website designs.

6. Allot Budget for Marketing Programs Wisely

Not all marketing efforts need money, and not all are effective. Make sure to brainstorm and plan all marketing efforts wisely to ensure the return on investment. 

There is no harm in joining the latest trend in marketing, specifically on social media, but make sure to study it first before applying it to the business. Set a reasonable budget for each marketing effort.

7. Gear Up the Sales and Marketing for the Holidays

Holidays are the season to be jolly. Make sure the company’s products and services are also ready for the various marketing gimmicks and unlimited foot traffic in both physical stores and online stores.

Whether it’s Christmas, Boxing Day, Valentine’s Day, or Black Friday, remember that a busy holiday is a good business problem. 

Wrapping Up

Distractions and challenges will always come knocking on the door of every business. That is why it’s important to have tips and strategies that the whole team can use to move forward and stay true to the company’s vision.

Also read: Must-Have Tools For Better Business Management

The post 7 Tips to Keep Your Small Business Moving appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

As per the professionals’ recommendation, you can apply for SBA loans after meeting the specific criteria for application. SBA loans are similar to bank loans, however, they provide more accessibility for working capital, investments and other loan terms. Those business owners who are seeking simple and best finance options can opt for SBA loans for financial support. For that, let’s discuss some benefits of SBA loans. 

BENEFITS OF SBA LOANS

The SBA loans offer various benefits for the working capital as well as the loan terms. Moreover, the benefits depend on the amount required, the operations on the cash as well as the repayment. Apart from conventional loans, SBA loans are proven for successful business practices where instant cash is required. 

Also read: Building a Construction Business in 7 Steps

• LOW-INTEREST RATE

Calculating the interest rates is a good practice before getting a loan for your business. But the interest rate must not disturb your finance later. Many business owners fear the high-interest rate and avoid loans. However, SBA loans are the only loans services that are dependent on the credit and benefits of the business operation. 

You will have to bring every detail of the business operation to increase the worthiness of the loan. SBA loans operate on the facts and data you bring on the table. These facts also decide the interest package for the type of loans, which is a great flexibility benefit as compared to the traditional loans. The traditional loans will rather increase the digit and can put your business on the brink of collapse. 

• FAVORABLE LOAN TERMS

As discussed earlier, SBA loans offer simple and favorable loan terms that assist businesses in countless ways. The actual reason for that is the design structure of SBA loans, which includes minimum down payments and repayments with long periods. Businesses can use SBA loans for multipurpose operations. These operations can include, purchase of new assets, real estate, or machinery, buying another business, refinancing and more. 

Many business owners ignore the facts of negotiable repayment terms and end up making a fuss. Some banks even do not allow the negotiable terms and take strict contracts for the loans. SBA loans are extremely beneficial for the negotiations on the repayment periods that eases the borrowers. 

• WORKING CAPITAL SUPPORT

The SBA loans strengthen the working capital by providing enough funds to increase the profits in the enterprise. In fact, this is the primary choice of every business owner to hold enough amount that can encourage the business towards valuable profits. Traditional loan banks put the businesses on risk with tough regulations and terms on repayments.

SBA loans allow you to borrow up to $5.5 million for the respective loan package. The SBA loans examine the financial details of your business to offer every comfortable service available in the package. Once you are qualified for the SBA loan, you can use it on any business operation. 

Also read: 7 Step Social Media Optimization Strategy For Your Business

HOW TO APPLY FOR SBA LOANS

The SBA loans may assist with many services, but it is quite difficult to qualify for the required SBA loan package. Especially the startup and export business have very rare chances to receive funds support from the SBA loans. As the SBA loans work with multiple banks and they are supported through the taxpayer’s money, it requires complete paperwork to become eligible. Let’s discuss the procedures to apply for SBA loans. 

• CONFIRMING YOUR ELIGIBILITY

Verifying your eligibility for the SBA loans is an important step to achieve the great benefits of SBA loans. You need to make sure the paperwork and other criteria are fulfilled before applying for the loan. The only thing that makes the SBA loan qualification is strict requirements. However, some of the things that you must consider in your business are:

• 2 years old business
• For-profit business
• The creditworthiness of the company
• Rejected applications for funds
• Proof of the owners for investment in the business

These requirements are dependent on the SBA program you will choose. The SBA loans will also require collateral from the business assets. 

• CHOOSE THE LOAN PROGRAM

After confirming your eligibility, you will be required to choose a loan program for your business. There are many loan programs available under SBA that you can choose for your business needs. 

• SBA 7(a) LOAN PROGRAM

The SBA 7(a) loan program is designed for general financial expenses. These include refinancing debts, salaries, and working capital. 

• SBA 504/CDC LOAN PROGRAM

SBA 504 loan program is designed to make purchases for real estate, equipment and other major assets that also satisfy as collateral. 

• SBA MICROLOANS

As the name implies, the microloans limit the loan amount under $50,000.

• FIND A LENDER

After deciding the loan program, you will have to find a lender that offers SBA loans. SBA has the loan lenders working with different banks that designs the requirement and eligibility criteria for the businesses. You can start the search for lenders online or referrals. Some lenders also take a small portion of the fee for the loan services. Always find those lenders who charge a minimum fee to avoid the expensive packages. Also, consider the customer service to go through the different details and questions about your package before applying. 

• COLLECT THE PAPERWORK

Never pass over your paperwork and gather them for your application of SBA loans. Your paperwork is the most important proof of your business establishment and ensures your eligibility for the loan. The loan package also mentions the required documents along with the application. 

• FILL OUT FORMS AND APPLICATIONS

The final step towards the SBA loan is to fill out the application and other forms to receive the loan from the lender. This application is an easy step and requires simple details about the business. These details include business plan, executive summary, ownership revenue division and use of the loan. 

CONCLUSION 

In the end, the SBA loans are the prodigious choice for business owners. No matter how hard the eligibility requirements are, there are still many small details that can be considered worthy by lenders. For that, it is important to gather all the paperwork and prepare for the procedure beforehand. 

Also read: Here’s Why G Suite For Business Is Worth Your Investment

The post SBA Loans: Benefits and Application Procedure appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

1. Write your business plan

A business plan sets out the goals you want your business to achieve in the early years with details of each stage of development. This includes how the business will attract customers, the services it will provide, market research which will inform your operation and your financial plan. Your construction business needs tools and equipment and whether you choose to rent or buy them, you will need money to do so. You will also need to consider how you will pay for marketing, wages, utilities and other services. 

2. Find the right premises 

While your business might start in your home, soon enough you will need premises to at least store the equipment and tools you are using. Having official premises which are not a residential address can also help to make the business appear more professional and trustworthy. Take a look at this guide to choosing the right business premises.

Also read: Build a Successful Trucking Business With These 10 Tips

3. Register your business legally

To show that your business is legitimate and to meet your legal obligations, you need to register your business in your local area and state. There are likely to be certifications, permits and licenses which you need in order to operate, so make sure you are satisfying all the legal requirements. 

4. Familiarize yourself with tax obligations

Find yourself an accountant who can guide you through all of your tax obligations and how you can ensure you are compliant. 

5. Get adequate construction insurance 

It’s important that your business has the right level of construction insurance to ensure that you, your assets, your employees and customers are all protected should something go wrong during one of your jobs.

Also read: Looking Forward – What to Consider When Updating Your Business Plan 

6. Consider employees or contractors

You will need to decide if you will take on full or part-time staff, or will you hire contractors on an as-and-when basis? Contractors can be the more flexible option in the beginning as you won’t have to provide benefits and they will file their own taxes, but you may need at least one or two full-time staff to handle the day to day administration and organization. 

7. Allocate a marketing budget

Some construction businesses are content with placing signage outside the sites where they are working to advertise, while others like to think a bit more creatively. There are plenty of potential advertising and marketing channels to consider but there is a big difference in terms of the costs involved. Digital marketing, i.e., having a website, social media presence, advertising on search engines and sending marketing emails can be effective for startups because they are low cost marketing methods, but traditional business cards and brochures can also be effective. 

Also read: Comprehensive Guide to Opening a Business When You Have No Money

The post Building a Construction Business in 7 Steps appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

About ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund 

The ICICI Prudential Fund is a collaboration between ICICI Bank and the UK based Prudential Plc, one of the most significant financial player in this sector. It is among one of the top AUM in the mutual fund segment. ICICI Prudential is playing a significant role in India and the last few years they have introduced various new innovative policies to suit the needs of investors. The company offers both high and low-risk investment schemes, and the return depends upon the policy.       

Also read: How to Sell a Digital Business

Why Would Investors Prefer Investing in ICICI Mutual Fund? 

When it’s about investing in a mutual fund, ICICI is being prefered by most investors for its consistent performance in the last few years. For having a better understanding here are some key factors that are given below: 

• ICICI Prudential mutual fund is among the top five asset management companies in India. 
• The mutual fund scheme of the ICICI is being designed with an investor centric approach that gives a perfect balance of resources, process orientation and investment expertise. 
• ICICI focus on simplifying the journey of the investors by helping them to meet their financial goal through consistency, experience and innovative approach.
• ICICI Prudential mutual fund has gained the trust of the consumer by providing services as per the investment objective of the investors and by delivering a risk-adjusted return. 
• The new policy and innovative approach that has been brought in by the ICICI prudential fund has made its investment policy more dynamic and custom-oriented for the investors.      

3 Best High-Risk Mutual Fund of ICICI that Offers Higher Return

ICICI offers varied mutual fund policy, but each of it comes with their terms of risk and returns. However, to count on a better return you can check out the three high-risk mutual fund of ICICI that are given below: 

ICICI Prudential Focused Bluechip Equity Fund 

This is one of the best high-risk mutual funds of ICICI that offers comparatively a high return with an interest rate of 14.36%. The ideal duration of investment on this plan is four years and above. The objective of the ICICI Prudential Focused Bluechip Equity Fund is to provide long term capital gain to the investors. Although it is a high-risk mutual fund, the best part about it is that this fund has outperformed the benchmark of Nifty50 since its launch consistently. Moreover, it is an open-ended type of mutual fund and has as an expense ratio of 1.11%. 

ICICI Prudential Equity and Debt Fund 

This mutual fund plan is designed with a hybrid approach with a mix of equity and debt. It offers a high rate on the return that is 15.71% which complements the high risk associated with the scheme. The plan was launched on 1st January 2013 and is an open-end fund. The ICICI Prudential Equity and Debt Fund have been performing consistently since its launch. It has also outperformed CRISIL Hybrid 50+50 moderate index and has been performing promisingly well. 

The scheme aims at generating long term capital gain to the investors through investment in portfolios like equity and equity-related securities. Besides, investors must also note that this type of investment schemes are flexible where the equity and the debt changes depending upon the market condition.   

ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund 

It is an equity-oriented mutual fund. Opting for this fund will offer you a higher return with an interest rate of 17.79%, which is comparatively. This plan also involves higher risk and is a five-years-old fund of ICICI. Although this policy, like the previous two, involves higher risk, it comes with a certain positive aspect. The ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund has been a consistent performer and has outperformed the NIFTY benchmark since its launch. The main objective of this investment plan is to invest in those schemes that are included in the Nifty Junior Index and to gain a return on those plans that performed well.   

To Conclude 

The domestic market for investment may look bleak, but investing in a leading mutual fund company like ICICI can give you high return even if it involves high risk. Moreover, the dynamic approach of ICICI Prudential mutual fund with a well-diversified portfolio has made it more promising to the investors. 

Also read: Reasons Social Media Marketing Is Required for Your Business

The post Here Are 3 High-Risk, High Returns ICICI Prudential Mutual Funds You Should Invest In appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

You will have to agree with the fact that this is the world of online shopping, but is it good to buy furniture online. If we will say yes and won’t give valid points related to it, we are sure you won’t agree. Therefore, here are some of the reasons that will make you realize how shopping for furniture online is a better option and could ease your struggle. 

Cost-effectiveness

There are a lot of people who think that online shopping is very expensive. However, it is not true. It is cost-effective in a way or another. If we talk, especially about the furniture, then you go to the online store and then order something of your choice. The store promises you to send that piece to your home directly. Now, this is saving your money on transportation and other things, which is not possible when you are buying them from an offline store. Apart from that, you are not paying any middle cost to anyone, which again a great thing. 

Also read: 123Movies – Watch Free Latest Movies, TV Shows, TV Series, 123movies Online or Top…

Discounts 

This is something, which is again not possible when buying things from the offline store. You can never get a discount there. However, every online store has a fixed occasion when it will give you a discount. Be it any festival or their store anniversary. The best thing about stores is that if you have shopped with them ever in the past and now you want to shop again, they even give you a discount on your special days. Apart from that, if you are shopping in bulk from them, then also there is this provision of discount. 

Reduced stress

Admit it or not, but online shopping is stress and hassle-free. In the regards of furniture shopping, then one needs to go to the market, with the entire family and then need to hop from one shop to another. On the other hand, if you are going for online shopping, you will just have to visit the store on your phone sitting comfortably at your home. If you want someone else of your family to see it, you can just forward the image of the product or can send the link to it. 

The worst part of offline shopping is that you are not able to decide the furniture according to the decor of your house. In online shopping, they give you an option of matching the furniture of your choice, like a wall-mounted tv unit from the interior of your choice. Another sorted angle of this kind of shopping. 

Also read:
17 Best Couchtuner Alternatives to Watch Movies & Shows Online in 2020

Wide range of products to choose from 

We all will agree with the fact that the offline store could not have the capacity to have more designs always present over there. Well, this is another good thing with the online stores. They are virtual but contain a lot of options for you. To find out more, you will have to go from one store to another one, which could be skipped in online shopping, as you get everything at just one app. 

Better pricing 

We are sure that you must have done some kind of online shopping in your life and if you have, you will agree with this. We know that the sale that brands normally announce is merely a strategy to attract customers, but have you ever compared the price of online and offline purchases of the same product. Well, we have seen that the same store sells the same product at a lower price when purchased online. So, one will have to agree with the fact that online stores have better pricing. 

Also read: Tips to Transform Your Online Business in 2020

Replacement policy 

Along with the free shipping policy, one thing is that it is there in online furniture shopping is that if for some reason you didn’t like the product you received, then you can return it immediately and could get a replacement of it. The best part of it is that all of this is done free of cost. Also, this is another thing that you could not expect from an offline store. 

These were all the points that prove that online shopping is not just better, but is the only option if you want to have a hurdle free furniture shopping experience. Apart from that, these points also clear out the confusion that is there in the mind of people related to online furniture shopping. 

Also read: Why You Need to Secure Your Online Identity in 2020

The post Buying Furniture Online Can Ease Your Struggle appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

Figure out Your Reasons

The first step in finally selling your business is figuring out why you want to sell it to begin with. There are many reasons why a business owner may wish to sell, not the least of which can be personal issues, the inability to continue running the business, or a loss of interest in the industry/business itself. Sometimes, business owners choose to sell simply because the market hasn’t been kind to them, and they don’t see a profitable future in sight. 

While selling your business is ultimately a personal choice, there are some “right” and “wrong” reasons to do so. When things get tough, selling the business can seem like the best way out from under something that feels like it’s failing, but often the better choice is to stick it out; especially if you’ve invested many thousands of dollars and hours of time in the business. 

Whatever your reasoning is, you must be certain you’re ready to sell before listing your business, so as not to waste anyone’s time. Not to mention, seller’s remorse is something that can occur after a sale if you choose to sell for the wrong reasons. 

Also read: Tips to Transform Your Online Business in 2020

Determine the Business’s Worth 

Before you list your business for sale, it’s important to figure out what your business’s overall worth is. You’ll need to come up with an accurate number so as to figure out the best asking price, and this can involve a bit of effort to get right. Are you basing your business’s worth on its profitability, current cash flow, or both? What you think your business is worth might very well be a far cry from the market’s view of its worth. Using a broker to help you with this part of the process can ensure your accuracy. 

You’ll need to expect some negotiation when it comes to the price you’re asking for, and that’s pretty common. Very rarely does any kind of sale fetch the asking price, especially in business or real estate. Just as you’ll haggle the price of a house or a used car, so will the buyer of your business. Be sure to be firm in your negotiations, but not unfair. You can’t expect to always get the price you’re asking for, but you should be able to fall somewhere close to the mark if you’ve valued your business properly. 

Choose the Right Platform to Sell

Selling your digital business requires a platform on which to list it, and newspaper ads simply won’t due in this day and age. A large percentage of the world’s population is online in one form or another, and listing your business on sites like BizBuySell or selling your business with a company like Business Exits can give you a significant advantage in finding the right buyer. It all comes down to the right buyer; the one who will pay the most and keep the values of the business in mind going forward. 

If you plan to work for your business after the sale, you’ll want to make sure your buyer is someone who plans to stick to the business’s course and not betray everything you’ve created. Using the right platform, you’ll be able to reach the most eligible buyers possible and thus, get the best offers from them. 

Also read: Reasons Social Media Marketing Is Required for Your Business

Use a Broker 

A business broker will have access to helpful resources that can expedite your sale process and help pair you with the best possible buyers. Brokers offer the chance to connect with qualified buyers that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to reach with listings alone. Choosing the right broker is easy when you know where to look, and many buy and sell sites offer broker services as well as listings. 

The Take-Away 

Selling a digital business isn’t rocket science, though it does require some organization and effort. Choosing the right listing platform or broker service is the best way to reach the maximum number of potential buyers, and properly valuing your business can help you decide the best listing price for both you and your potential buyers. Be as accurate as possible with your valuation process, and happy selling! 

Also read: Build a Successful Trucking Business With These 10 Tips

The post How to Sell a Digital Business appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

1.Web Scrape Your Way To Success

Have you heard of web scraping? In a nutshell, web scraping services allow businesses to better understand the needs and wants of its target audience by gathering large amounts of data from competitors or rivals. Web scraping services trawl through the internet, extracting data from your competitor’s websites, reviews and testimonials. Based on the information that is gathered, businesses are able to better meet customer needs. Based on reviews of similar products and services, companies can fine-tune their own products and services to better meet the needs of their target audience. Web scraping services can even monitor stock levels or competitor products that may be out of stock which gives your business the upper hand. 

2.   Targeted Advertisements

Chances are you’ve come across a sponsored ad or two on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Targeted ads are at peak popularity in 2020, with thousands of businesses utilising it to promote their products and services. Based on an algorithm that figures out what consumers are interested in, targeted ads have the ability to reach a specific group of people that may be interested in your products or services. Targeted ads make use of peoples demographic information or interests to post ads that are relevant to their lives. In this way, you can be sure that your ads are reaching the right people instead of being ignored by people who have no interest in your niche. 

3.   Understand Your Analytics

One of the best ways of getting to fully understand the wants and needs of your target audience is to have a look at your analytics. Fully understanding your analytics is one of the best ways to figure out what your audience is in search of and what they may not be interested in. Are certain pages or products on your website garnering more traction? Which pages have the highest bounce rate? Where are most of your conversions coming from? How long do people spend on your site? Where is your traffic coming from? Fully understanding these analytics is by far one of the best ways of understanding your target market and making changes that will help you fulfil their needs.

 4.   Create a Buyer Persona

Last but certainly not least, creating a buyer persona is an ingenious way of further figuring out the needs of your target audience. Buyer personas are a fictional representation of your target audience. Creating a buyer persona is a great way of gaining more insight into exactly what your buyers need. Using your buyer persona, you are then able to tweak your products, services and prices to further resonate with your audience. You can easily search the web to find various buyer persona templates that will assist you in getting your buyer persona up and running. 
With the aid of technology, understanding the needs and wants of your target audience has never been easier. We hope that this article has given you some valuable insight into how your business can go about further delving into your target audience.

Also Read: Contactless Cards Blowing Your Budget?

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Looking at the possible combinations of marketing a business, you’ll realize that there are a thousand ways to get the word about your business out there. What’s more, you can tailor your marketing campaigns to what works well for your business.

While you can learn from your mistakes, you can save energy, time and money by not making mistakes. Here are some costly mistakes that small business owners make that you should avoid:

Also read: Tips to Transform Your Online Business in 2020

1. Not Knowing What Makes Your Business Unique

Your business is different from other businesses you see out there. If it were the same, you probably would not have started your own business in the first place.

For you to market your business more effectively, be sure to identify what sets your business from the rest. Start by developing a unique selling proposition that you can look into when starting to market your business.

2. Not Having a Marketing Plan

Trying to market your business without a proper marketing plan is like going shopping with a blindfold over your eyes. If you’re lucky, you can get what you want, but you’re likely to waste a lot of time and money in the process.

Every business needs a marketing plan and yours is not exceptional, so be sure to have one.

3.Not Defining Your Target Audience

Sometimes new business owners can think that everyone is a potential customer. However, this is far from the truth.

Even if you have a product or service that appeals to a wider audience, when it comes to promoting your business you need to define your target audience clearly so you can develop messaging and marketing approaches that speak to them directly.

4.Not Taking Advantage of Social Media

Social media has in the recent past exploded to become one of the most effective and affordable marketing tools for small businesses. If you want to focus your efforts and maximize the time you spend on social media to get huge results, then you should consider social media marketing.

There are two tricks to getting the most out of your social media efforts. First, be sure to choose the right network, and second, define your goals clearly.

Also read: Reasons Social Media Marketing Is Required for Your Business

5.Not Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency

You might think we’re biased here, but having the right digital marketing agency can have a huge effect on your marketing efforts. You’re able to leverage the skills, experience, and perspectives of the digital marketing professionals in achieving your marketing objectives.

Here’s how you’ll benefit by hiring a digital marketing agency:

·         Gain new perspectives

·         Access the necessary marketing skills

·         Manage your budget more effectively

·         Meet all your marketing deadlines

6. Ignoring Competition

While it is important to differentiate yourself from the competition, you can still learn a lot from your biggest competitors.

For instance, you can learn a lot by checking how your competitors are behaving on social media. Once you’ve done some research, conduct a SWOT analysis for all your major competitors and then on your business to identify new marketing opportunities. 

Finding out about these factors for your business and for your competitors will help you in coming up with ways to beat your competition.

7. Not Using Word of Mouth Advertising

You can also use word of mouth advertising to promote your business. The best part is that it happens naturally and is free.

If your customers are thrilled by your products or services, they are likely to tell their friends, colleagues, or family about it.

You can get more from word of mouth marketing by encouraging your clients to spread the word about your business. This will not only bring in new customers but also bring repeat business deals.

8. Failure to Try New Marketing Tactics

Most small business owners have tight schedules. They often handle multiple things at the same time and thus the need to have routines. Having a routine can help you manage your time and become more productive.

However, routines can also make you complacent in your marketing efforts. Marketing is constantly changing and the only way you can promote your business effectively is to stay up to date with the changes and be open to trying new marketing tactics.

Also read: Build a Successful Trucking Business With These 10 Tips

The post 8 Common and Costly Marketing Mistakes You Should Avoid appeared first on TodayTechMedia.

90% of online marketers employ content marketing as their first step towards engaging customers, out of which 72% experienced tremendously improved engagement. 

If you still have doubts, know that 70% of customers prefer to learn about companies via content rather than ads. So keep refining your content so that you can deliver the very best to your customers.

Developing engaging content with consistency and greater frequency is highly essential. However, as it gets bigger in scale, it gets difficult to create, manage and disseminate content efficaciously unless your pockets are way deep. 

So, here are a few automation hacks to up your content marketing ante. 

Also read: Putlocker – Watch Free Latest Movies, TV Shows, TV Series & Best Alternatives to…

Automate the Idea Generation Part

There comes a time when you run out of ideas because your job is to keep generating them on a regular basis. Eventually, all the ideas that you come across begin to sound repetitive and tedious. It gets even more challenging when your content must be relevant to the industry and interest your audience at the same time. 

However, you can make the idea generation process much easier by utilizing tools such as:

Xia by Unmetric  — AI-backed tool that analyzes any brand’s organic and paid content, explores new ideas that resonate with the audience, discovers other brand’s successful content strategy, and what will work for you. 

Buzzsumo — Finds trending content online categorized by website or topic. 

Feedly — Gives you the latest industry-specific news and also creates custom feeds by topic.

Soovle — finds what people are searching for with a specific keyword through its autocomplete function of search engine. 

Hubspot — type in three words and it will give you blog post recommendations through Hubspot’s Blog Topic Generator. 

Reddit — Search a topic and find a number of user-generated threads covering every facet of your topic.

Optimize Content Creation Part with AI

Refining content is absolutely crucial as it communicates the brand message to your audience. With AI getting imbued in our tech, it can contribute towards better content than any other conventional tools. 

Acrolinx is an AI-powered tool that claims to actually ‘read’ your content, then it analyzes and provides metrics related to quality and efficiency. It offers useful suggestions that aligns content with the company’s guidelines and improves it greatly.  

Also read: 20 Most Amazing SolarMovie Alternatives in 2020

Personalize Content 

Through personalized emails, Starbucks managed to win its customers’ hearts because customers love content that they can relate to; it makes them feel special and is specific to every stage of their purchasing journey.

On the other hand, robotic or generic content that you create for a diverse audience and for all stages of a customer’s journey has high chances of going down the drain. 

Uberflip is a great content personalization tool as it gathers all your content from videos, eBooks, blog articles, social media, and the website. It then provides you with a number of tools that help you generate a personalized experience for each stage of the customer’s purchase process, which in turn blossoms your relationship with customers.

Moreover, the AI-powered tool makes it really easy to share and host content and is incredibly easy to use.  

Schedule and Scatter Your Content across Platforms

Now that you have created the content, let your audience know that you have something new for them. You can do this by posting on social media or sending email newsletters. 

We recommend that you do both; deliver emails, and make social media posts go live at a suitable hour of the day, and the best day of the week.  

You can determine the most felicitous timing by viewing your audience online activity analytics, and then post at that time. You can even schedule emails and send to each contact on appropriate day and time that is most likely going to get them to click and engage. You will see an almost 200% increase in open and click-through rates. 

Some email automation tools that you can use: 

Mailchimp — A popular email marketing tool that lets you collect emails from forms, conduct A/B testing, design mail campaigns. Acquire analytics report on CTR, level of interaction with each content segment, and more. 

Constant Contact — Manages an email list, creates email templates, maintains marketing calendar, tracks customer activity and develops reports. Moreover, it has built-in social media sharing options, Facebook ads integrations, and high-powered e-commerce integration for Shopify stores, email automation, conduct surveys/polls, offer coupons, request online donations, and a lot more. 

GetResponse — It comes with a drag and drop builder that makes designing an email campaign a breeze. Segment contacts, and send personalized content to select groups. Furthermore, conduct A/B testing, employ autoresponders and analytics and integrate with third-party software such as SalesForce, Google Docs, OptinMonster, ZenDesk, and more.   

For social media management:

Zapier — manage all your social media accounts at once, share data among your web apps and automate basic tasks without the aid of a Developer.

Buffer — streamlines your social media management by performing various functions via one dashboard. Upload your content in bulk. Schedule and send to different social media accounts. 

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A Kitchen Remodel

This one is tricky. While the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, and renovations will usually make the house easier to sell, it’s also easy to go overboard. 

The keyword here is modest. You don’t want to go for a luxury kitchen, and you also want to stay within the theme of the house and the neighborhood. 

Not everyone wants a professional cuisine, so it would be wiser to invest in simple things like a new range, new cabinet doors, better lighting, etc. If done right, you could get as much as 120% back on your investment.

Also read: Best Applications to Install in 2020

A New Roof

Roofing is one of those expenses no homeowner can avoid. But knowing that the roof is brand new and that you won’t have to worry about it for decades is something that will be attractive to many buyers.

That’s why you should consider replacing the roof if it’s on its way out. It has been estimated that a new roof can add around $15,000 in value to a house on average. Another study by the NARI found that homeowners could make as much as 109% return on investment on a new roof.

But it’s essential that you work with the right roofing company first. You have to make sure that they’re bonded and insured, offer a good warranty on parts and labor and are established. It’s also important that you go with a local company. This way, you’ll know that they’ll still be there 5 years from now when comes the time to honor that warranty.

If you live in Southern California, for instance, and are looking for a roof replacement company, then a company worth considering is Semper Solaris. They’ve been in the business for over 20 years, and have gained a solid reputation for top quality products and service. They’re also Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractors, and offer up to 50 years’ worth of warranty on their work. You can find more information about the roof replacement company here.

Landscaping Work

Landscaping work is also something that could end up paying once it’s time to sell the house. But you also have to make sure that you keep things simple.

Landscaping is a very personal thing, so try to not go for something that is too personalized. For some people, just keeping the lawn clean and adding a few shrubs will be enough. Adding a tree is also a winner. Anything more than that, and you’re asking for trouble.

Bathroom Remodel or Addition

The bathroom is another very important part of the house when selling, and bathroom renovations are some of the most profitable for homeowners.

But just like the kitchen, you have to make sure you don’t go overboard. You should also think twice about moving major components around. This will add a lot more to your tab, and might not be worth it in the end.

Another thing you could do is add a new bathroom. This is especially good if your home only has one. Bathroom additions are a great investment. As a matter of fact, you could make as much as 130% back on your investment by adding a bathroom. If you’re looking for spots for the bathroom, you can consider closets, or look to see if you have extra space under the stairs.

Energy Efficient Windows

Depending on where you live, eco-friendly additions could not only help you sell your home but actually be expected by buyers. This means that you should do everything you can to make the house as eco-friendly as possible, without breaking the bank.

One of the most cost-effective ways to do so is to go with energy-efficient windows. These types of windows will provide extra insulation and will allow you to use the power of sunlight to heat your house. Less heat getting out in the winter, and less coming in in the summer will translate into savings for you and future owners.

If you want to add value to your property and sell it fast, then we strongly suggest you give those renovations a closer look. Whatever you do, always make sure that you work with a smart team, and don’t make renovations based on personal taste.

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