Improving Your Client Reporting with Reliable SEO Software

Excellent customer service is the cornerstone of all great companies, even search engine optimization providers. According to a recent survey on the importance of customer service, 55 percent of the respondents say that they’ll pay more if a company will guarantee great customer service. Furthermore, 86 percent of these respondents also said that they were willing to increase payments if their customer experience would similarly be upgraded.

How can you provide your SEO company’s clients with a better customer experience? You can use search engine optimization software for agencies to expand the services your business provides. Aside from offering website design services, SEO software allows you to offer unparalleled client reporting, which can be your ticket to enhanced customer experience. 

SEO Software and Client Reporting

Search engine optimization software is a program that helps you effectively manage your campaigns. These programs are also unmatched in helping you analyze data from your SEO efforts. These programs can show you data on keyword rankings, create graphs on traffic summaries to client sites, and analyze the effectiveness of your backlinks. Using the information gathered and analyzed by a program, you can upgrade your client reporting capabilities.

Excellent client reporting can be the cornerstone of a new and improved customer experience. Client reports aren’t just routine protocols you offer customers, they’re important opportunities for building stronger relations with them. Here’s how SEO software can change your client reporting abilities and improve customer relations along the way.

Increased Customer Interaction

You can’t build a functional relationship with clients if you don’t interact with them enough. In 2019, a report on marketing agencies revealed that 59 percent of respondents spend only an hour reporting to their clients every week. You can increase your interactions with clients and make sure they’re meaningful with enhanced reporting. SEO software can provide you with a continuous stream of data, presented in easily digestible chunks, that you can use to make client reports more engaging and frequent.

Accurate Data

Of course, no matter how often you report to your clients, it won’t matter if the data you present is misleading or inaccurate. Collating this data, much less analyzing it, can be difficult without a centralized platform. Thanks to SEO software, you can present your clients with completely accurate data gathered in real-time. Great SEO programs can easily show you and your clients how your keywords are doing, whether people are searching for your targeted keywords, and the source of your leads.

 Improved Accountability

Occasionally, you may run into issues regarding whether it’s you or your client who dropped the ball. Client reports make the process of determining accountability easier by providing you with the raw data needed to craft reasonable and achievable key performance indicators. When you use the SEO software, you sort through the data provided to determine which areas your campaign needs to improve. You can also monitor these KPIs effectively through the software, so your client reports can instantly reflect whether you’ve met your goals.

A Chance to Educate

Unless they’re particularly savvy with digital marketing techniques, the majority of your clients will only have the vaguest clue of what it takes to achieve their goals. Simplifying the explanation for search engine optimization requires narrowing it down to some easily digestible digits and information. An SEO software can readily provide both of these, thanks to their streamlined displays and built-in analysis. You can use it to make your client reports more enlightening for your customers. By giving them enough information, your clients can understand what you do and enhance your ability to cooperate.

Enhanced Transparency

Without accurate client reporting, it’s harder to build trust between you and your customers. Trust is the foundation of any strong business-client relationships. You’ll have an easier time fostering trust with your clients by providing constant reports containing accurate data. The numbers on your client reports will also reflect which areas your campaign needs work on and which ones you excel in. This enhanced transparency is possible thanks to the different data streams SEO software can collect and present to you and your clients when you report.

Sets Expectations

Your client reports can do much more than present what you’ve done so far with SEO software. You can include accurate projections that help you set client expectations. With the numbers the program gathers, it’s easier than ever to determine whether you can meet the goals set by your clients. Study these numbers carefully and make sure to include in your report whether you can achieve what your customers want. Setting their expectations prevents creating false hopes and helps make your company more reliable.

Why Invest in Client Reporting?

Thanks to all the features of SEO software that allow it to improve your client reporting abilities, your company can provide customers with a much better experience. Fostering this kind of loyalty with client reporting-enhanced customer experience is key in improving your business’ profitability. According to a survey on brand loyalty, 58 percent of respondents from around glove said that excellent customer service is very important in deciding their brand preference.

With weak client reports, improved transparency, and proper accountability afforded by SEO software, your agency will be able to enhance your relationship with clients effectively. This in turn can increase your customer retention. A study discovered that just increasing your business’s customer retention by as little as 5 percent can lead to a whopping 25 percent rise in profits.

When you’re ready to take your SEO agency to the next level, you should look into integrating reliable SEO software with your services. Not only will this move improve your systems and enable you to streamline your operations, it can also foster great customer relations thanks to great client reporting capabilities.

Don’t hesitate to upgrade your digital marketing agency today and build a strong and reliable customer relationship.

Website SEO (search engine optimization) analysis -DepositPhotos

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How To Secure a Loan for Your Business With Increasingly High Financial Security

If you’re planning to start or expand a business you’ll need more than just dreams to make it happen. You need cash, but where do you even begin? Small business loans are not easy to secure especially if yours is a start-up. 

Many start-ups do however find the funds that they need. The secret to getting a loan is to prepare well in advance. It’s the only way to ensure that you have the best options for start-up business loans.

Planning for the Loan Application

Before you even approach the bank or lender, a good credit score will serve you well so it’s a good idea to keep the family finances in order to. Not only will this make it easier to secure the loan you’re looking for, but it also plays a part in the interest rate that you will pay. The higher your risk profile, the higher the interest rate.

Your lender will also take account of your debt to income ratio, as this is a good indicator of your ability to service your loan.

Commercial banks have more stringent requirements than private lenders. If you’re having difficulty getting loan approval, it may be time to broaden your horizons and seek funding from a private lender instead. If all else fails you may even consider financing your business using a personal loan.

Here’s how to prepare

Write a Business Plan

A business plan shows that you’ve really thought about the future of your business. A good plan will set clear goals, define your product, the market, and the competition. It will also set out how you plan to attain those goals and in what time frames. 

Your business plan should also define long-term growth prospects and indicate clearly to the financier how you will make a return on investment. 

A cash flow plan will also serve you well as many businesses fail because they run out of cash. Understand your monthly costs and be sure to include them all from salaries to utilities and rent. 

Prepare for the Meeting

Gather together all the paperwork that you’ll need to present to the financier. Aside from your business plan, these should include your tax returns, bank statements, and any business documents that you may already have. If you haven’t registered your business, now’s the time to do it. Include patents, letters of incorporation, insurance, franchises, and business licenses. You may also need proof of collateral.

Some lenders will ask for collateral in the form of assets that secure the loan. The assets may include fixed property, equipment, or stock. Be aware that failure to make repayments will put the collateral assets at risk.

Debt Finance Considerations

Before applying for a loan you must consider the type of finance you require. Reflect on the answers to the following questions.

•         How much do you want to borrow? You must be realistic. The bigger the loan the higher the cost of servicing it.
•         What will you use the money for? Your lender will want a detailed plan of the proposed investment.
•         How and when do you plan to pay the money back? Over what term? How much can you afford in monthly repayments?
•         What type of loan will serve you best?
•         What will you do if you don’t get the money you need?

Types of Debt Financing

There are several types of debt financing that you can choose from. These include:

•         A term loan is a lump sum payment that you’ll have to pay back over the agreed term. This type of loan carries the lowest interest costs and is typically used for longer term costs of expansion.
•         A business line of credit is particularly useful for businesses that need additional financing due to seasonal cash flow requirements. This is a revolving credit plan so you draw off what you need and you pay interest only on the amount that you use.
•         A business credit card works the same as a personal credit card and is used to pay for operational expenses. The credit limit on a business credit card is usually higher than on a personal credit card and the interest rate is lower.
•         Equipment loans are used to buy assets. The assets act as collateral so these are secured loans and hence easier to obtain than an unsecured loan.
•         Invoice loans use your accounts receivable as collateral on the finance received.

Approved small business loan application form -DepositPhotos

The post How To Secure a Loan for Your Business With Increasingly High Financial Security appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/business-finance/securing-smb-loan

5 Tips to Keep Employees Safe While Working From Home

Workplace safety should be one of the top priorities of an organization. Every company must ensure that every individual feels safe and free from any hazards while staying inside their working establishment. 

Since the pandemic’s onset, many businesses have shifted to remote working or working from home. Now more than ever, companies are facing a big challenge in terms of keeping their employees’ environment safe and comfortable. What can a business do to protect its employees while they’re physically distant from one another? 

While it may seem extremely difficult to manage and implement, businesses should always be accountable for their employees’ safety and do their best to make their people work comfortably. With this in mind, here are five tips to keep employees safe while working from home.  

Provide Technical Resources and Support 

Assume that some of your employees aren’t ready to work from home. Make sure to check on your employees if they have reliable equipment and internet connection to accomplish their work tasks at home. Before starting the work-from-home setup for your organization, deliver these technical devices and resources safely to your employees’ homes. These devices should also be pre-installed with the necessary software required for their tasks. 

Whenever a staff member experiences technical issues, your company should have a designated technical support team. Some companies, even before the pandemic, have already hired IT services to help their business work efficiently. As a client of these IT companies, you should demand technical support delivered to your staff whenever they need help with something technical. 

In case the devices provided to your employees encounter any issues, you can assist them by asking help from companies like Bristeeri Technologies, which offer excellent desktop and laptop repair. If your company hasn’t availed of online security services yet, they also provide a plethora of tech services such as cybersecurity and virus and spyware removal. 

Keep Them Secured Online  

The internet has become a home of information on many different topics, including safety in the workplace. Many resources can help employees feel safe and secure when they’re working from home. One of the most important ways to keep employees safe while they’re working remotely is to train them properly on how to use the computer safely. This may sound obvious, but it is easy to overlook.  

While it’s easy to think that your employees already know how a computer works because they’ve been using it before, remember that they’re operating in a new environment. They will still need help and you have to be ready to give them that.  

Online security for online work requires an understanding of cyber threats to information systems, and how to prevent cyber attacks and data loss. Cybersecurity tips for work include the proper use of electronic devices, internet usage, and data security training. Here are some basic cybersecurity tips for keeping your business safe while working from home: 

Lock it down. Modern workplaces can contain multiple locations, multiple employees, and sometimes even multiple locations at once. In this case, your workplace can be attacked, monitored, and potentially affected. No matter where your work is housed for the day, make sure that devices are securely locked up. In addition, ensure that your computer has the latest anti-virus software installed. 

It would also help to conduct a web security training program. Employees who are aware of the dangers of the internet and are equipped with the knowledge of how to protect themselves are more likely to keep their personal information secure. 

Be More Considerate in Working Hours 

There are a variety of things that you can do to make sure your employees are happy and healthy while they’re working from home. One is to maintain a regular schedule for them to follow and be more open and considerate for any shortcomings on their side.  

Normally, employees are required to meet 40 hours per week. You can choose to keep this requirement for your employees weekly, but it would help if you allow them to work in intervals, as long as they meet 40 hours. Since your workers are staying at home, they have more responsibilities outside work, such as taking care of children, looking after the house, and the like.  

If the work day is taking too much toll on your employees, it may be a good idea to dismiss them early to take care of their other tasks. You may also allow a grace period once the workday starts. This way, they’ll feel more comfortable about reporting to work. If they know they can talk to you about their concerns and still enjoy your company at the end of the day, they’re more likely to do so. Once your employees feel safe and appreciated, they are more likely to want to do their best work at home and contribute to your success. 

Give Your Employees A Boost of Motivation 

In some instances, a more relaxed environment could cause issues with the work ethic and productivity. Some employees may take advantage of your kindness, and instead, use it to slack off or neglect their responsibilities. Just remember to draw a clear line and inform them of their limits, but make sure that they will not feel threatened or uncomfortable. 

Instead of creating a strict and intimidating work-from-home workplace, find ways to motivate your employees in these stressful times. First, ensure a clear line of communication between you and your employees. Encourage them to be more transparent and vocal, especially during virtual meetings. 

Do not forget to address employees with urgent concerns. You can invite them individually or as a group for virtual lunch meetings, morning exercises, counseling sessions, or if possible, movie nights. Anything that would make your employees feel more relieved at work will greatly help them cope with the current situation.   

Let Them Stay at Home 

Lastly, the essence of remote working during this pandemic is to prevent people from contracting and spreading the disease. Some countries around the world have already loosened up their lockdown measures which mean companies are also now encouraging their employees to return to the office. However, even with strict implementation of guidelines and protocols, some might still not be comfortable going out and about. Consider this factor and if physical presence isn’t necessary, just let your employee do their work at home and discuss any special arrangements.  

Bottom Line 

There are many ways to keep employees safe while working from home. Employees often feel intimidated or threatened by the online environment, and this can often lead to an increased level of frustration on their part. This frustration, when it becomes too much, can lead to negative feelings toward the company and to a feeling that this kind of setup isn’t worth working for. The last thing that your employees should feel is that they’re alone at work in these dark times. 

About the Author

Brian Jefferson is the president of Bristeeri Technologies. Started in 2006 as a Computer Renaissance selling computer equipment and cables, Brian began receiving more and more requests for computer repair and small business IT solutions. He envisioned his business helping residents of Columbia save money while getting the services they needed for their computers and laptops. Today, Bristeeri Tech’s solutions include Managed Services for business and residential customers in the Columbia SC area, voice over IP and even network security plans that include firewalls to protect your IoT.

Woman on video conference work meeting -DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/remote-working/employee-safety

5 Best Practices for Remote Employees

Working remotely hasn’t been the easiest experience for most of us. For those of you who are new to it, you might be experiencing a bit of a learning curve when it comes to making your day run smoothly. Transitioning to a work-from-home environment has its set of challenges, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still be productive and safe while working from home. Use these best practices to create the best work-at-home experience.

1. Limit Your Distractions

This is easier said than done, especially if you have little ones running around the house, but do your best to limit your distractions while you’re on shift. Ask your spouse or family members for help or, if it’s in your budget, hire a nanny to care for your kids while you’re working. If you and your spouse both work from home, you may even consider working in opposite shifts so that one of you can work uninterrupted with the other focuses on the kids. 

2. Secure Your Home Network

Working from home means more of a risk of security threats when it comes to online activity. There’s always the potential that a hacker could try to gain access to your network to slip into the company’s network. To prevent these things from happening, secure your tech at home by investing in an identity theft protection package that helps enhance your online security. Be sure to use stronger passwords on all of your devices (and avoid using identifying personal information like birthdates and addresses). Install a firewall and antivirus software for the ultimate protection. Multifactor authentication takes things a step further and makes it harder for thieves to gain access to your network or your employer’s network.

3. Get Organized

One of the biggest culprits of poor productivity is disorganization. Now that you’re working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s time to get organized. Everything should have a place. What do you need to complete your work for the day? Pens, paper, paperclips? Whatever it is, give everything a place. Make a trip to the office supply store (or have it delivered via InstaCart) if you have to. But get your workspace organized so that you can be the most productive employee possible. You should also keep task lists so you know what you’re supposed to be working on at all times.

4. Take Frequent Breaks

Transitioning to a work-at-home environment might be a challenge for those who torpedo through their work and have to be reminded to take breaks. If you’re in that boat, you might need to set a reminder to take breaks. Take breaks just as you would at the office. Take a 15-minute break after four hours, a lunch after six, and another 15-minute break towards the end of the day. You can use your phone’s timer or use a time management app to boost productivity.

5. Eat Plenty of Brain Food

Eating foods that are good for the brain can help you function better during the workday. Just some of the foods you could try include:

• Salmon
• Blueberries
• Whole grains
• Avocado
• Nuts and seeds (almonds, flax seeds, walnuts, sesame seeds, peanuts, hazelnuts)
• Spinach
• Pomegranate juice
• Tea
• Dark chocolate

Stock up on a few of these foods and keep them handy when you’re working. Snack on something healthy while you’re working instead of empty calories that’ll make you crash – or further contribute to your cognitive decline as the day goes on.

Making Working From Home Work For You

Working as a remote employee is proving to be quite a challenge. For those just entering the wonderful world of working from home, the above tips can help keep you on track and improve productivity and focus.

Millennial African American man  -DepositPhotos

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How To Make Money With Product Testing Online

Many people are looking to make some extra cash these days, and with the recent boom in the “gig economy,” it is easier than ever to do so.

One such option is to become a product tester online. To find out more about how to begin this type of job, you can check out Testerheld, who specializes in this particular employment field.

However, read on to understand exactly what product testing is and how you earn money from it.

What is product testing?

Product testing, also known as comparative testing or consumer testing, evaluates the characteristics or performance of new products, services, or innovations before they are released into the marketplace.

The concept is simple; the business uses a systematic approach to evaluating and quantifying a new product or service.

There are several ways a product can be tested depending on if it is an actual product or software.

However, as the name suggests, a product tester tests new products. A product is analyzed from various perspectives, such as determining how well a particular target group receives it and how well it functions.

This is attractive for companies because it gives them direct knowledge of their target group.

However, electrical devices are also presented to consumers for testing if they want to check whether they can be operated easily. This kind of feedback is vital for businesses as it can mean the difference between a successful product launch or a complete failure.

After receiving the product, the tester takes a close look at the device and gives comprehensive feedback. For this purpose, a detailed text is usually written, including an evaluation of various categories.

Offline product testing

Such testing results are then used to improve the quality of the product to determine its cost-effectiveness and, where necessary, to conduct market research that can be useful for marketing decisions.

There are several ways to conduct product testing, and each method has advantages and disadvantages.

The most commonly used method is a qualitative technique. In this method, the objective is to establish the reliability of the new product in terms of its performance in the tests and establish a baseline against which improvement can be measured.

This approach is particularly useful in situations where the business wants to evaluate a new product but cannot afford to have it tested in real conditions by a third party, such as a university or government agency.

Alternatively, the other method of product testing that is most often used is the quantitative technique.

The objectives for this method are more complex, as they need to be established to assess the quality of the product, its durability, efficiency, effects on users, in addition to its cost-effectiveness.

Such testing needs to be interpreted in terms of the data collected, and there is some evidence to suggest that product development companies should use this method rather than the qualitative technique.

This method has the advantage of allowing them to focus their attention on all aspects of a particular product, rather than concentrating on a single element.

In addition to being easier to conduct, quantitative testing also allows the company to create a more definitive set of findings.

Online product testing

This type of product evaluation is more accessible to the average person as it can be done with just an internet connection and a computer.

You can test the usability of a website, sofware or your online store, also known as web usability testing, online usability testing, web usability testing, and testing.

Web usability testing is done to determine if a site or an e-commerce site is useful to its target audience. You need to understand the purpose of testing the site so that you can conduct it properly. The testing will help you identify the weaknesses in your website and improve on them.

What are some things that can affect your web usability?

Many things can affect your web usability, such as graphics, content, images, audio, video, navigation, etc. All these things can easily affect the usability of the site.

You can even use software to run tests on the site so that you can identify the potential problems that might come with a website and the best ways to fix them.

How do I conduct web usability testing?

This is something that is best done through a testing service provider. You can get the services from your web host or search engine optimization company. However, you need to ensure that the test is only for a small scope and not too extensive before doing this.

This is also to prevent the service providers from finding out about your testing scope and doing it on the other sites.

How do you make money?

When the individual tests a new product, they are usually paid for their time.

These days, people do not have the time to sit in front of the television and read reviews before buying something. Many online surveys are available on the internet. They are simple, easy to understand and require some effort from the person taking them.

When a person decides to take one of these surveys, they have to create an account on the company website.

The account will allow the company to send someone who specializes in this field to answer questions. This is called product testing, and the person answering the questions will be paid.

Sometimes the product testing will happen on the day of the product launch. Other times it will happen weeks or even months later. The only thing the person taking the survey must have is the ability to talk and understand.

How can you become a product tester?

To be a successful product tester and earn some decent money, you must be aware of the requirements and what is expected of you.

As a product tester, your voice counts to collect information and improve developed products.

The prerequisites are that you enjoy writing and want to give comprehensive feedback is, therefore, inevitable.

The more detailed your assessment, the helps the manufacturer to improve their product. This is important as it makes it more likely it is that they will send you another product.

So take your time for your feedback, and above all, only write what you think about it. Made up facts will get you nowhere.

The post How To Make Money With Product Testing Online appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/technology/make-money-product-testing

How to Launch Home Decor Business?

For everyday life, the human lifestyle is getting changed and involves many practices to make them and their surroundings clean and perfect. Home is one of the emotionally attached things for human lives. Many of them spend their revenue to buy a new home or construct the home as per their wish. But, maintaining their look in an appreciable way with a lot of décor items available is the critical one.

If you own a home, then searching for the best decorating and needed items are a tiresome job. Once you find it, you must be careful in selecting the right home décor items as per the structure of the home. One of the recently evolved and especially dedicated to residential property maintenance is the home décor platform where many suppliers are participating to provide the decor items to the customer.

Home Decor-Innovative Platform to Keep Liveliness of Home

Normally, the décor items available in various ranges right from small to large size. The items accumulated in the home décor industry are attractive carpets, arts and craft items, showpieces, furnished items, etc. 

Customer preferences are also towards handmade items, environmentally friendly, etc. in recent days. Hence, the creation of a common domain to aggregate all the items in one domain simply called home décor is the essential one for the latest demands.

If you are already running standalone stores with a wide range of items, then bringing them to the customer’s viewpoint, assemble them as per their preferences are the tedious tasks.  But, the trend is now shifted towards a feel-free home decor business with advanced aspects. 

Partnering with the experienced people in the assembling and organization field of the home décor industry allows you to assemble those items in an attractive way. Their role is mainly collecting the home décor items from the shops, performing the trip to your location, and organizing all the décor items in a respective place for you.

Hence, home décor is not the only feasible option for you alone. The assemblers, creators of home décor items also have the benefits from this platform. Many of the residential property owners have various questions, doubts when it comes to keeping the liveliness of the home.  They also worry about the home décor plans, whether it is affordable, etc.

Sad to say, they don’t know the benefits of online platforms for the home décor industry. Here are a few steps you need to focus on while doing home décor within the home itself.

People’s Interest in Home Development

Though customers are always busy with their daily work schedules, diversifying their minds into home development is a necessary one for you. Through the use of social platforms, making interests in this is the easy one for you. 

Allow them to spend some time on internet platforms to know how the interior of modern homes looks like, how to prepare yourself with the recent items, etc. Providing knowledge about the latest business practices followed in home décor item suppliers is also essential for you.

Show Latest Decor Items

Being updated with the new products evolved in the market is the energized practice for home improvement. In a market, several new items are aggregated day by day. Listing of products as per the home needs is an advanced option for you to get customer attractions immediately. Filtering or selection criteria further adds value to the customer regarding the feasible selection. 

With the focus on affordable and high-quality décor items, customers can make a smart decision when purchasing the décor items. Compared to the store-based purchase, making them purchase via the integration platform brings more users at a time. 

Focus on Design Patterns

Stand-alone purchases are limited since the products available in the store contain minimum patterns. But, the customer’s intention is to acquire more design variations to meet home needs. This contradiction makes the sales value is falling down from the nominal value. 

To sort out this, partnering with the digital modules is the necessary one for the home decor item suppliers to show the number of designs in a single window. The custom template associated with each home decor item containing enough details about products, designs, and the price is the attention gathering option for you. 

Hire Suitable Delivery Partners

Once preliminary things are met, the next immediate idea strikes on your mind are the build-up of the partnership with the DIY or by the experienced logistic players. One of the smart suggestions is to hire the perfect-fit delivery player in the region-wise in order to complete the product delivery in a fast manner.

According to the recent market trends and customer preferences, the one who holds the well-manageable digital platform is the ultimate choice for customers. While you hire the home décor items delivery players, make sure that they must cover up a wide range of customer needs on time like scheduling and instant chat availability, etc. With a deep understanding of customer locational information, they should deliver quality products directly to the doorstep.

Fulfill the Demands Clearly

To act as the best-fit home décor suppliers, covering all customer demands is the necessary one. Nowadays, conveyance platforms are as varied as phone calls, chat, social platforms, etc. If you are utilizing those options in an appropriate manner, then this will bring satisfying home décor services to the customers. 

While conveying, the customers are requested to convey their location, pattern interests, branded products, environmentally friendly products, and the handmade items all are clearly mentioned prior to booking any home décor suppliers. This prior strategy reduces the common risks and collapses in the décor items organization for both the suppliers and delivery players.

Affordability Needs

You are coming to an important stage here. Due to the availability of home décor items suppliers largely, the selection of you is surely based on two metrics like how you provide quality products and the optimal price value. Since the décor items are high-valued things as per the quality, the prices also high.

With the deep comparison of you and other suppliers available in the market before purchase, the customer selects you. Hence, the deep analysis of the competitive players in the launching region and deciding the price value accordingly are the necessary things for you. 

Professionalism in Services

Right from the initial stage till the completion of home décor assembly, professionalism on each task is the major driving force for retaining the potential customers and bringing new customers towards this business. But, achieving professionalism is not an easy one.

But, the technological practices followed nowadays in the market allowed the new options for you such as ratings and reviews. From the already purchased customers, you can easily identify your professionalism. By getting more positive reviews and ratings, the services offered by you are getting into top-level in the market. Hence, the digitized platforms you partnered must contain such options to acquire more customers. 

Conclusion 

Treating home as a precious thing and it decides the professional value of the human nowadays. Either new residential property or the already purchased homes, bringing the look into high-class depends on how the items are filled within the home.

A home décor platform is an innovative one that contains numerous items to bring the perfect look to the homes. Launching the home decor business is a dreamy idea for many professionals. If you are having an idea to launch, surely the steps listed here are helpful. 

Vintage home decor -DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/start-ups/home-decor

New and Emerging Drinking Water Treatment Technologies

Drinking water sources are being contaminated due to the increase in pollution; thus, water treatment has been subjected to many demands and challenges. It is facing complex issues like an increase in contaminants, salinization, and anti-microbial resistant bacteria in drinking water sources. The below article includes innovative water treatment technologies that will help strengthen the innovativeness, efficiency, and sustainability of drinking water or wastewater treatment.

Heavy Demands Require Innovation

Due to contamination, the quality and availability of clean drinking water are declining day by day across the globe. The new and innovative water treatment processes are introduced to supply healthy and fresh drinking water to cope with the increasing needs, at cost-efficient and low energy consumption levels with the minimum waste and by-products. In response to such rapidly changing circumstances, the pioneering and emerging drinking water treatment technologies need to be adapted.  The development and application of creative processes is the need of the hour so that the water sector can continue supplying clean drinking water.  The most used technologies are membrane filtration, UV irradiation, advanced oxidation, nanotechnology, and RO purification. However, these are not only technologies being considered by the water treatment industry because everyday new and innovative technologies are being added. Yet, these have come a long way toward demonstrating their reliability in better water treatment. With the decrease in the cost of these technologies, their applicability will resultantly increase.

Below are the few modern technologies used in water treatment.

The Use of Nanotechnologies

For most of you, this method may sound scientific and bit technical. However, it is the most accessible water treatment process which uses titanium dioxide for nanotechnology that assists in eliminating bacteria and other toxins present in water. It also helps to break down unrefined compounds with the help of ultraviolet rays passed through it. This innovative nanotechnology method does not use the polymer-based water treatment membrane, that is why it is an exceptionally affordable, easy to use, and environmentally friendly method, as it reduces the buildup of microorganisms, which proliferates on moist surfaces.

Membrane Filtration Technologies

Membrane filtration technology is one of the new and emerging water treatment technologies, thus is increasingly being accepted in the water treatment industry as well. The low-pressure membrane filtration method is also replacing conventional filtration for surface water treatment, such as distillation that was commonly used before to purify water (easy process with step-by-step guide on how to get distilled water. The other way i.e., High-pressure membrane filtration is used for softening (check various ways of softening the hard water) when there were no other developed technologies available. Everybody relies on the available substitutes. Total Dissolve Solid reduction method is being used for the removal of naturally occurring organic matter in water. Although it is quite expensive; therefore, its capital cost is the major obstacle to large scale implementation of membrane filtration. However, the recent changes in the design of Large Scale Membrane water filtration system are lowering their capital cost, hence making it cost-efficient as compared to conventional methods.

The RO Purification

RO purification, also known as the reverse osmosis method, is one of the most used water treatment methods. In this process, membrane technology is used to remove dissolved salts and other impurities in water. The membrane comprises too minute pores, which allow only water molecules to pass through it. In this way, the water leaves behind all the impurities, chemicals, and poisonous substances present in the water. You must be very careful while purchasing the right RO system as the best and efficient system will remove every type of impurities, in the most precise way, so that it does not remove the vital minerals in the water, which are beneficial for the human body.

UV Purification

UV purification method is also known as the e-boiling method. In this water purification method, ultraviolet light is used to kill bacteria and other harmful and poisonous substances present in the water. Also, a straightforward process used to filter water (Read the article on: How to filter water). The UV water purifier contains a tiny mercury lamp in it. This mercury lamp manufactures small waves called UV radiation. These radiations help to irradiate the water. They pierce through the cells of the microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses, which in turn destroys their ability to reproduce. This method also requires many other filtration processes, which help remove the dead germs left in the water. A separate filtration method is used to remove the germs killed by UV radiation physically.

Acoustic Nanotube technology

NASA’s Johnson Space Centre introduced acoustic Nanotube technology for the water purification method. It helps to eliminate the contaminants and microorganisms present in the water by using a nanotube of a tiny diameter, which is usually surrounding the sieve. This helps push the water away from the contaminants, which results in purified water.

Sun Spring System

Sun Spring System is environmentally friendly and a cost-efficient water treatment method. In this water purification system, you can distill up to 5000 gallons of drinking water in a single day. This system uses a battery that runs solely on renewable energy such as the sun.

Conclusion

Above mentioned modern technologies will help you treat water quickly and cost-efficiently at the comfort of your own home. No doubt, The Acoustic Nanotube Technology can be a bit tricky to use at home. Moreover, you do not need to worry about using any chemicals in the purification methods. In the past, the water industry has adapted too many innovative technologies at a plodding pace. However, in the past few years, there had been a rapid increase in new technologies that are introduced not only into the municipal water treatment market but also at home. There is almost no contaminant that cannot be removed from water using these water treatment technologies. The question becomes that of cost, which will be tackled with time.

Water filter -DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/technology/technology-trends/water-treatment

Clearing the Social Clutter: How eCommerce Can Benefit With Harmonized Retail

Retail stores had been the backbone of a location’s economy for well over a few centuries. And up until 1994, they still were, but then something changed. 

The world saw the potential of the .com channel. Cash flowed into businesses adopting the internet like never before. Retail followed the example and you soon got your first eCommerce stores. 

Customers fell in love with the convenience eCommerce stores provided and soon the belief that retail stores were dying was born.

However, one aspect where eCommerce business was yet to match with the retail stores was the purchasing experience. The moment customers arrived, the store manager or an attendant was always present to help customers find that one product that matched their needs. And, the eCommerce industry was yet to catch up with the personal touch that retailers offered seamlessly.

Companies started adopting new technologies like live chat, cold calling, discounts, customer loyalty plans, and many other strategies to provide an in-store experience to online customers. But as effective as they are in engaging customers, companies still fell short of providing the human connection. 

That’s when the eCommerce businesses decided to walk that extra mile and offer seamless customer experience along with convenience. And this led to the coining of the term, Omnichannel.

The Rise of Omnichannel

The rise of social media channels and communication boards meant that now customers didn’t raise their problems only through a single channel. It also meant that eCommerce merchants were not limited to selling their merchandise only on their own website, they had access to other customer touchpoints too. 

These factors contributed to the rise of Omnichannel support. Every organization-defined omnichannel marketing in their own way, some of them being:

1. HubSpot: “the ability to deliver a seamless and consistent experience across channels, while factoring in the different devices that consumers are using to interact with your business.”
2. Google: “ensuring [retailer] marketing strategies are geared toward enabling customers to convert on any channel.”
3. Frost and Sullivan: “seamless and effortless, high-quality customer experience that occurs within and between contact channels.”

The bottom line is that companies aimed to deliver a seamless customer experience across all channels without the customer feeling any difference in the service provided. For this, companies started following their customers wherever they appeared. Winning in an omnichannel world for companies was about making their presence known on all communication channels their audience flocked to.

Dilemma: Is Omnichannel Still Relevant?

One of the priorities for marketing executives is to create an effective omnichannel strategy to convert prospects into customers.

Question is, how long can you beat the “one brand, many channels” drum in the market to capture the attention of your audience?

Steve Dennis in one of his posts comments that “While many brands were slow to drink the omnichannel Kool-Aid, failing to recognize a fundamental shift in consumer behavior that began over a decade ago, most are now throwing gobs of money at various cross-channel marketing and ‘seamless integration’ initiatives.”

Social media platforms, no doubt, are a great way to let your customers know about your presence and where they can reach you out. That’s why keeping a tab on all your social channels becomes essential. However, bringing an excellent customer experience isn’t about being everywhere at once, but being at the right place for the right people.

Companies need to keep in mind that the shift towards digital communication was done not with the sole intention of making it an all-encompassing customer touchpoint. It was done to help gather customer data which could then be used to improve the eCommerce customer’s experience; it was done with an aim to maintain a personalized human touch, which is now being ignored in the rush to be omnipresent.

So, coming back to our question – Is the relevance of omnichannel waning?

If we’re being honest, in the sense that it is being used now, the relevance of Omnichannel has been affected. Be it through chatbots, social mentions, or even on-page live chat operators, omnichannel communication is an overused and under-sold buzzword, being used just for the sake of being relevant. Omnichannel is still an effective form of communication with the customer, but limiting its purpose to only being a touchpoint will lead it to eventually being nothing more than a buzzword that marketing talks about. 

The Need for Harmonized Retail

The modern customer is no longer a bystander waiting to learn about the latest trends from the retailer. The modern customer is an educated, tech-savvy, informed decision-maker who is up-to-date with the latest trends. Customers are no longer logging in to websites with the intention of making their purchase decision after viewing all the products available to them, they go with a focused determination to make an informed choice. The same goes for brick and mortar stores.

A research paper published in 2014 by Forrester found that: 

• 56% of consumers have used their mobile device to research products at home 
• 38% used their mobile device to check inventory availability while on their way to a store 
• 34% used their mobile device to research products while in a store.

This just shows that the customer has made their purchase decision before they even walked into the store. An omnichannel experience limited to only resolving post-purchase issues adds no significant data to this stage of the purchase life cycle even though this stage is where the customers actually form their view about the experience provided. 

Customers have moved past the point where they only wanted the convenience provided by online stores. They still long for the personal touch when they go shopping and as such, they still look for brick and mortar stores. Research by Google in 2014 showed that 3 out of 4 people who find local information in search results are more likely to visit stores. The digital age is not driving customers away from physical stores, but bringing them back.

In short, the digital experience influences the sales of a store and vice versa.

Sephora: The Harmonized Retail Brand

In a podcast, Sephora’s EVP of Omni Retail Mary Beth Laughton discusses the success formula of winning at customer experience.

Mary Beth talks about meeting the needs of savvy customers and creating a modern retail organization. But first, she talks about keeping the teams aligned across all channels and how teams (both offline and online) forecast the growing needs of the customers. So, she made sure that the teams across the channels had just one goal in mind – the overall sales of the brand, and not the sales through their particular channel.

Mary Beth shares how Sephora wanted to build an attitude and a mindset across teams to make the customer the center of their marketing practices. That’s how they coined the term ‘Omnitude’. The idea is that the teams will do whatever it takes to build a seamless customer experience no matter wherever, however, and whenever they make a purchase for their products.

What really strikes in her conversation is how online returns increased and that too at their physical store. They prompted their customers to return their products to the store rather than submitting a request online. 

The company saw it as an opportunity to engage with customers and help them find beauty products that matched their skin tone. Basically, product returns became an opportunity for Sephora to upsell their other products and improve the existing ones as per the growing needs of the customers.

Mary Beth also answered the question, “is brick and mortar dying?”

She says that stores are playing a more important role – providing a personalized human touch. And how it is missing across all other touchpoints. So, a physical store becomes a channel for peer-to-peer connection where a customer can get help on, let’s say choosing a foundation. Mary Beth says that many customers normally make mistakes while purchasing a foundation shade according to their skin tones.

To help customers find the right foundation color, they have virtual artists at their stores. All customers have to do is stand in front of the screen and click the type of product they are looking for that matches their skin tone.

Sephora also encourages free makeovers at their stores to prompt customers to take a look at their other products. So, once the makeover is complete, the beauty advisor informs the customer about the products that were used during the process. This approach increases the interest of the customers and prompts them to make a purchase at the store.

Now, makeovers help them achieve two goals:

• One, boosting the confidence of the customer for their products and convincing them that the products used are what they should opt for. This helps them upsell their products.
• Two, learning more and more about the customers and developing their services at the physical, and online stores to make sure they exceed their expectations every time.

Mary Beth also talks about how social influencers online have made it necessary for the brand to evolve. There are many YouTube channel videos where people tell viewers about how to do contouring or how to perfect the technique of applying a liner. This goes to show that, customers already know about the latest trends, but they want to learn how to adopt them. And, that’s where social influencers and brand advocates play a pivotal role in the chain.

Omnichannel Isn’t Dead, It Just Needs to Evolve

Many industry experts have been raising the claim that omnichannel is dead, but it is not dead, and probably never will be. The only change that needs to happen is that omnichannel support needs to evolve. The same definition of omnichannel that was applicable a few years ago cannot be applied now. The internet has evolved since then, and so has the customer base, their definition of customer experience has evolved and like all of those factors, omnichannel support needs to evolve as well. 

The point isn’t to chase after the customer at every channel through social monitoring, mentions, and social media handles that the customer prefers. Omnichannel support needs to evolve to bring the customer what they want when they want, irrespective of the channel used. It’s about bringing experiences to life across all touchpoints. The human aspect that tends to get lost in the midst of automated messages, mass mailing devices, etc., needs to be found again. 

Providing a store experience within an eCommerce customer service portal is made simpler with the use of personalization tools like live chat. However, your support operators shouldn’t wait for the customers to approach them. Follow a proactive approach with the customer the same way you would, when a customer walks into your physical store. 

Omnichannel support is about providing a physical store experience to your customers by improving your eCommerce customer service. The customer does not expect you to be everywhere at once. They just need you to provide the same customer experience on your website that they would find at your physical store. This is our definition of the new evolving omnichannel support.

Businessman with omnichannel on a tablet -DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/retail/omnichannel

8 Ways To Create Engaging Social Media Content For Your Brand

If you are here, you are likely looking to create content for social media that attracts and engages your target audience. 

With over 3.08 billion social media users globally, social media surely plays a vital role in business promotion. However, not every content goes viral or engages a lot of people. 

There are certain types of content that work better than others (in terms of engaging users). 

Let’s look at the eight best ways to create engaging social media content for your brand. 

1. Go for Pictorial Representation

Pictures are more liked and shared on social networks when compared to texts or attachments. Photos also tend to receive more comments than text-only content. That indicates social media users want to see visuals more than texts. 

The chances of pictures getting viral are also high because they are easy to share (even outside the platform). You can leverage the power of data-driven storytelling to effective visualization. 

When designing your brand’s images for social media, ensure that it is unique and represents your brand’s personality. The writing matter should be appropriately placed within the design. 

For example, Mercato, an online grocery delivery provider, makes sure any picture it uploads reflects its brand voice. They also encourage users to engage with their content by adding a question at the end of the post, such as “have you snagged any delicious seasonal fruits from Mercato recently? Tell us your favorite find and tag the store below”.

2. Convert Your Best Content Into Infographics

Infographics are a visual depiction of information intended to provide knowledge to an audience. Infographics are more liked and shared than any other form of visual representation.

Whether you are promoting your products via infographics or sharing valuable insights with your target audience, make sure to add your brand’s logo at the end of the image. 

Include graphs, various colors, charts, etc. to make the infographic unique and more appealing. If you have any previous article, convert it into an infographic. It will be easier than creating new content altogether. 

3. Ensure Your Images Are of High Quality

The photographs that you post on social media should be of high quality.  Never compromise with the quality of the photo when it comes to promoting your brand. 

18% of marketers report finding individuals with designing skills is difficult. 

You may search for images at Google. However, make sure the picture you pick from Google is not “subject to copyright.” You can browse other websites as well that provide royalty-free images, such as Shutterstock and Pixabay.

4. Get More Reviews on Social Media

Your satisfied customers can help you increase your sales at no extra cost. All you have to do is request them to post reviews on your social handle. 

You can also post reviews from your websites on social networking sites.  

Most of the clients, to date, keep their faith in customer testimonials. So these reviews will work as a recommendation and can engage more audiences.

You can generate reviews through social media campaigns also. Then post them from your business web-page.

5. Run Contests on Social Media

Hosting contests on social media is yet another effective way to boost engagement. Announce lucrative deals, offers, or gifts on Facebook or Instagram. Invite more people through emails and paid ads. 

However, make sure that the deals you offer don’t make a hole in your pocket. 

You will definitely get a considerable amount of subscribers. The percentage of people liking business pages to participate in such competitions is quite impressive. 

6. Tag Your Satisfied Customers

Whenever you are posting something on social media, tag your satisfied customers. Your satisfied customers are your best bet to increase real customer engagement on social media. If your loyal customers start to convert to your brand, other customers will start to replicate them resulting in higher overall engagement.

You may tag your known contacts also, whom you find as your genuine well-wisher. 

If you quote any blogger, don’t forget to tag him. This will raise appreciation for your brand and act as social proof. 

7. Include Social Media Icons in Your Email Signature

If you haven’t been linking your social media accounts in your newsletter, you are losing out on a great opportunity. 

Many people think that social networks and email are competitors of each other. Instead, they work together. Adding your social accounts in email signatures might encourage your subscribers to follow you on different networks. 

Also, request your email subscribers to share your promotional content on social media to increase engagement. 

8. Leverage Hashtags to Your Advantage

The most popular trends on social media now are hashtag posts. Hashtags allow you to reach more customers on social media.

You can promote your taglines more than one time with hashtags. Just keep on changing the headers. This is a very efficient way to promote your brand.

Additionally, check trending hashtags in your industry and think of how you can create content that reflects both your brand and niche. 

Prime concerns:

While following the mentioned strategies, you need to remain particular about some matters:

• You need to choose appropriate social networking sites and have to stay active on it. Analyze customer demographics before you decide which social platforms to use. 
• Use social listening tools to identify what your target audience is talking about. You can improve your content according to the different needs of the clients to get a massive number of dedicated buyers.
• Focus on providing information and adding value to your target audience’s lives. They are the initials to design engaging content.
• Create a variety of posts according to the need of the specific social networking channels. 
• Set controllable KPIs. It will help you determine which content resorts best with your target audience. 

Conclusion

The tips mentioned in the article can help you boost engagement in your social media account. Remember, the online community will always wait for your coming up social moves. Read the comments and revert to assist, support, and engage prospective customers. Last but not least, maintain a robust social bonding with your followers.

Social media -DepositPhotos

The post 8 Ways To Create Engaging Social Media Content For Your Brand appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/social-media-marketing/creating-engaging-content

Link Building: What an SEO Specialist Needs to Know

Recently, many SEO specialists have thought about expanding the geography of their clients. To work successfully with Google, you can’t do without a strong knowledge of link building. We collected ideas on what links will be relevant in 2021, what an SEO specialist needs to know to work productively with links, and what link building methods they should use.

What Is Link Building?

Link building is the process of getting external links to a website using a variety of methods, from crowd marketing and press releases to outreach and multi-level links. This allows you to improve your site’s position in SERP and get more organic traffic.

For an SEO specialist, knowledge of link building is a prerequisite for professional growth. In many companies, the experience of building a link profile makes it possible for an SEO specialist to apply for a higher salary and job position. In this regard, we don’t mean using only the check my links plugin, but understanding the theory and using it in practice. So, let’s find out what the experts have to say about link building.

What Links Will Be Relevant in 2021?

Traditionally, anchor links from powerful thematic sites will work best. But there are not so many such sites, and it is expensive to put links there, and it is difficult to do this quickly. Besides, the risk of falling under the search engine filter is growing. Therefore, secondary donors will still be relevant: crowd, multi-level links, non-anchor publications.

In the coming years, the following trend in link building will be relevant: the more difficult it is to get a link from a site, the more efficiently it will work. With the right approach, any link acquisition method works.

Methods such as outreach, blogs, redirects, scholarships, donations, press releases, as well as links from educational (.edu) and governmental (.gov) sites. Safe, natural, authoritative are the main characteristics of links that will always be relevant.

The Value of Links for Search Engines

There are two main reasons why links are important for search engines:

1. To search for new web pages.
2. To help determine the place of the page in the search results. Once the search engines have indexed the pages, they can extract the content from those pages and add it to their indexes. Thus, search engines conclude about the quality of the page and whether it deserves a place in the search results for certain queries.

However, search engines pay attention not only to the content but also to the number of links leading to this page, as well as their quality. In other words, the more quality resources refer to your website, the more likely you will raise your site’s position in SERP.

Links as a ranking factor is what allowed Google to grab the biggest share of the market in the late 1990s. Larry Page, one of the founders of Google, invented PageRank, which Google used to determine the quality of pages, so the number of links leading to the site was taken into account. Later, such a metric turned into a powerful signal and has already become widely used as one of the components of the general search algorithm. This method was a fairly reliable way to determine page quality.

Later on, SEO specialists found a way to manipulate PageRank and search results with keywords. This is the reason why Google changed its attitude to links in terms of SERP, so now most attention is paid to authoritative organic links. In this context, the link bait technique is exactly what is needed.

What Is Link Baiting and How to Use It?

Link baiting is a promotion method based on creating and distributing backlinks to a web resource on the initiative of Internet users. The marketers use the content as bait to attract users, so these users are motivated to share links on the material that they consider valuable. You can find some link baiting examples by following the link.

A link baiting method is an effective tool for website and online stores’ promotion. It can appear in the following forms:

•  Product reviews;
•  Online tests and various checks;
•  Free expert advice;
•  Convenient services and video materials;
•  E-books;
•  Free software.

Link baiting is widely used on social media, blogs, groups, so the post instantly spreads across the network, increasing the website traffic. Link baiting is all about getting natural links, i.e., the links that are placed voluntarily because people like the content and want to share it.

In the SEO community, there are a lot of controversial opinions regarding link baiting techniques. For example, there is a category of people who have a very negative attitude to it, but there are those who consider it as another method of promotion and even compare link baiting with spam. Meanwhile, many people still believe that that link baiting is an excellent panacea.

How Can Link Building Help Your Business?

Increasing the volume of quality links that link to your site significantly increases your chances of getting a better position in search results. However, there are other, less obvious benefits of link building for your business:

1. Building Relationships

Link building often provides coverage to other industry-specific sites and blogs. The main goal of it is to get a link, but it also helps build long-term relationships with key players in a specific industry.

2. Referral Traffic

A good link from a reputable site can also lead to more traffic. In this situation, the link is valuable not only in terms of SEO but also in terms of customer engagement. A good example of this is the so-called guest blogging. Michael Elsberg explained how valuable a guest post can be in his Forbes article.

3. Brand Building

Advances in link building can help a brand build credibility in a specific niche. For example, you can demonstrate the competence of your company through target audience content. Creating content that is based on data from a particular industry is an opportunity to gain visibility in a specific area of ​​business.

Now it is time to draft your link-building strategy. Good luck!

Link Building concept -DepositPhotos

The post Link Building: What an SEO Specialist Needs to Know appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/digital-marketing/seo-specialist-link-building

4 Tips to Picking a Side Hustle That is Profitable and Aligns With Your Skills

I’ve always had a passion for entrepreneurship — well before I ever started Catena Media. After failing to make any real money on side hustles like DJing and reviewing local restaurants, I eventually found my way with affiliate marketing.

I found passion in learning the world of affiliates and building relationships. You see, one of my best skills is networking — and this side hustle of running an affiliate marketing Bingo site was the first time I was able to really turn a profit doing something that aligned with my skills.

Side hustling has come a long way since then, and today’s entrepreneurs have no shortage of opportunities to earn extra money on the side. Best of all, you aren’t just limited to part-time jobs at restaurants or call centers. Thanks to increasing technologies, you can find a side hustle that is profitable and aligns with your skills — and passion.

Here are four tips to help you find a side hustle that fits your interest and expertise.

Ask For More Work From Your Employer

It might sound boring, but a great way to pick up extra work is to start at your full-time job. If you enjoy what you do for a living and your work has extra tasks to complete, consider picking up some additional hours for extra money.

Ask your employer if there are opportunities to take on more work — even potentially outside your day-to-day role. Not only can this technique help you earn some additional money, but it might open more doors and show your company that you are committed to growing with the business.

Most employers are willing to contract work to their employees; especially those who are performing well.

If your current job doesn’t have any available opportunities, you may want to reach back out to previous employers to discuss contract work. As long as your full-time job doesn’t have any restrictions for working with competitors (assuming your old job was in the same industry), you may be able to leverage past working relationships to find a side hustle.

Look at Going Rates For Different Gigs

One of the major caveats to finding a side hustle is that you want it to be worth your time. While you might love playing poker, it can be hard to turn that into a legitimate side hustle.

Instead, you want to find a way to actually earn real money from your side hustle. A great place to start with knowing whether a side hustle is profitable is to look for going rates online for that task or job. You can research pricing through freelancing platforms like Upwork or look for rates on other websites or research reports.

Most side hustlers tend to find work online. While you could become an Uber driver or Airbnb host, the majority of freelance workers are turning to online skills like writing, web design, or helping as a virtual assistant.

When you’ve narrowed down a few gigs that you like, start researching that job and determine whether it’s something that you can legitimately earn revenue doing. While money isn’t everything, if you are deciding between two jobs that you enjoy and one earns more than the other, that could be enough to sway your decision.

As with everything in life, if the time you’re putting into it isn’t reciprocated with an equal or greater value, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it. Knowing the rates for work can help you as you grow your side hustle — and even if you do decide to start out doing free work (which is a great way to land leads), you should always know the value of the work you do and be willing to stand by it whenever necessary.

Be Honest About Your Skill Set and Commitment

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m not the most organized person. Knowing that I struggle with an organization means that I would make a pretty lousy virtual assistant. However, I love networking and talking to others — so sales is right in my wheelhouse.

Before you pick a side hustle, take a few minutes to reflect honestly about your expertise and your pitfalls. You may even want to write them down or answer questions such as:

• How many hours a week do I want to work on this side hustle?
• What are some activities that I enjoy doing?
• Can any of these earn me consistent income?
• Is there a demand for any skills or expertise that I have?
• If not, are there ways for me to learn a new, profitable skill?
• What am I willing and not willing to sacrifice with this side gig?

Equipped with this information, you can now take a deeper look into what side hustle makes the most sense. It’s important to remember that when you take on a side gig, you are taking yourself away from other activities. This opportunity cost should not be taken lightly, and it — along with many other considerations — are important for you to weigh when deciding on a side hustle.

The more honest you are about side hustling, the more you’ll enjoy it.

Know-How to Get Started

Most of the tips above are focused on research and self-reflection. However, now that you’ve decided on what side hustle you want to do and you’re confident that you can earn money doing it, it’s time to get started.

When it comes to landing side work, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Start by researching the most accessible platforms for your skill. For most side hustlers, this will mean joining a freelancing site like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. These, and many other platforms, allow you to sign-up, create a platform, bid on projects, and manage work directly within their system.

While these freelancer platforms often take a percent of your pay for the convenience of their service, it can be an excellent option for those who are just getting their feet wet with freelancing. Eventually, after you have built a portfolio of work and established a consistent client base, you could try branching off on your own and starting a website for yourself.

Regardless of how you get started with your side hustle, the important part is that you jump right into it. Don’t be afraid to join Facebook groups, scour job boards, or pitch companies (including your own) for work.

Starting a side hustle is a great way to build your financial stability and professional expertise. While you may be completely satisfied with your traditional 9-5, what could you do with an extra $200, $500, or $1,000 a month? My guess is that most people wouldn’t mind putting in a little extra work for some disposable income.

If you do decide to take the plunge and become a side hustler, keep the four tips above in mind so that you can not only find freelancing work that is profitable, but you can also make sure that it aligns with your skills and interest.

Erik Bergman is an entrepreneur that made his name through his marketing company Catena Media. Today Erik’s big passion is Great.com which he also founded, with the idea that all profit will go to charity. Learn more about Erik.

Pocket Money -DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/growth/personal-growth/profitable-side-hustles