7 Times When You Need to Call Your Accountant

Small business owners don’t have time to waste on tasks that other people could do just as well. As the leader, your days could be better spent finding new clients and building up your business than mucking around in the administrative weeds. 

While you may not have enough cash on hand to hire someone new for every little thing, you must be able to recognize when you need help. Working too many hours, feeling frantic, or having to choose between key meetings are sure signs that you need another hand on deck.

What is one task that can quickly get out of control? Managing your accounting and bookkeeping. The bigger your company grows, the more difficult things like payroll and compliance become. If you aren’t sure whether your situation merits a call to an accountant, look for these seven signs:

When You Don’t Know How to Classify an Employee

Misclassifying, a full-time employee, as a contractor, carries serious consequences. Even if you mean no harm, you and your business could face stiff penalties if you make the wrong call. Online payroll company OnPay outlines how to determine the correct employment classification, the potential consequences of your decision-making, and the paperwork you’ll need to complete. Regulations on contractor status vary by state, so bring in a professional if you aren’t sure. An accountant can help you figure out which employees qualify as contractors, which ones don’t, and what to do when you need to convert an employee’s status from one to the other. 

When You Need to Formalize Your Company’s Structure

Maybe you began your company as a freelancer, hired a few contractors to help, and now find yourself working out of a downtown office with a growing team. Plenty of others have followed the same path. Legally speaking, you can’t continue to operate as the same entity after you surpass a certain level of growth — or, if you can, you’ll miss out on serious tax savings. An outsourced accounting company, The Hell Yeah Group, outlines a few of the pros and cons of formalization. Once you grow large enough, work with an accountant to formalize your company’s structure, and start saving money. 

When You Want to Create a Business Plan

For business owners in the early stages, investors typically want to see more than good ideas and enthusiasm. Smart investors demand smart business plans. You may know how you expect to make money, but an accountant can help you fill in the gaps to create a more detailed picture. With a solid business plan, you can better anticipate what your cash flow will be, how much runway you have, and what kind of day-to-day growth you’ll need to see to reach your long-term goals.

When Your Company Faces Challenging Regulatory Requirements

Not all businesses operate on the same playing field. Businesses in specific industries face different regulations than others. Companies that ignore the rules, deliberately or not, can face massive penalties and punishments from government agencies. To make sure you don’t accidentally cross the line, get with an accountant who has worked in your industry before. The ideal partner will provide both legal and financial advice to keep you and your business on the right side of the books. 

When a Bookkeeper Is No Longer Enough

Bookkeepers manage the daily grind of company finances. Accountants, on the other hand, look at the bigger picture, often working alongside or in place of legal teams to handle certain tasks. Many small businesses employ full-time bookkeepers, but if you find yourself always calling an outside accountant for help, consider bringing in a full-timer to supplement your team. QuickBooks provides an excellent guide on the differences between the two professions and how to know what you need. 

When the IRS Comes Calling

Whether you worked with an accountant in the past or did everything yourself, don’t leave your company’s future to chance when the IRS comes calling. From full-scale audits to everyday conversations, contact your accountant the moment the IRS starts poking around. You might be able to handle it yourself, but if not, the consequences could affect your business for months or years. As soon as you get that letter from the taxman, pick up the phone and set up an appointment with your accountant to ensure you have nothing to worry about.  

When You Want to Scale Rapidly

Whether you’re a startup or an established small business, growing by leaps and bounds requires additional investment. Accountants can help you understand how much money you’ll need, where to allocate it, and how quickly you can burn it. They can help you understand the tax implications of taking a loan or giving up equity. Although your accountant probably can’t help you pitch an investor, he or she can help you do your homework. And if there’s one thing investors want to see, it’s that the person they invest in has a plan to spend the money wisely. 

Bonus: Before You Want Your Taxes Completed on Time

Business owners with plenty on their plates don’t always prioritize things like tax deadlines. Accountants do, though, which means they can help you stay on track and avoid late payment fees. And if you do incur a fee, an accountant can help you work with the IRS to reduce or eliminate it. 

Talk to your accountant as soon as you have everything you need to file so you don’t get caught up in the crowd of other clients, hoping to beat the deadline. People who submit all their documentation the day before their taxes are due rarely make it in on time.

Even if you don’t need a full-time accountant on staff, keep the number of a trusted partner on speed dial. Running a business presents different challenges every day, and an accountant can help you navigate the treacherous waters of regulations and tax codes more easily. Once you find the right person for the job, that relationship will become one of your company’s most valuable assets.

 

Businessman making call – DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/finance/accountancy/when-to-call-accountant

How to Make Your Website Pop

Think your website is just a formality? Think again! Your site is the starting point for prospective clients on their customer journey. It’s also a vehicle for selling your services or products. With such goals, it makes sense that your website needs to stand out to keep people coming back for more.

Making your website pop requires the expertise of an experienced front-end developer. However, your input and the right aesthetic also matter, even if you’re not a very “visual” person. After all, this is your business and the materials and advertising you put forth reflect on you. Not sure where to start? Here’s what to do to make your website shine. Hire a skilled front-end developer

Search for JavaScript developers who know other front-end and scripting languages, including HTML and CSS, to create the customer-facing aspects of your website. It doesn’t hurt for you to learn the basics of these and other related languages, too. That way, if you want to make minor adjustments or improvements in the future, you can do it yourself rather than calling up your JavaScript development services to do it for you.

Make Good Use of Videos and Images

Focus on high-quality visual elements, including eye-catching videos and images. If you do add videos, make them short — just a few seconds — to prevent people from losing interest. Remember that people have short attention spans, after all.

When including images, try to use original pictures and graphics rather than stock photos to keep the appearance of your website fresh and unique. You might hire a photographer or take pictures on your own if you’re adept with a camera. Choose images that fit in with your overall branding and company aesthetic.

Add Interactive Elements

JavaScript is a great language to use for adding interactive elements, such as maps, animated content, menus, clickable buttons, and other features to your website. Work with your JavaScript developers to include elements that will appeal to your customer base and fit in with the rest of your website. Don’t overdo it, because there is such thing as too much — if you have animated graphics all over your front page, it will appear busy and overwhelming.

Simplify Your Layout

By the same token, keep your layout tidy and clean. Your website should be easy to navigate and free of extraneous clutter. The call to action (CTA) should be obvious: What do you want your user to do? How can they do it? Keep that in mind as you consider the design for your site, especially the front page. Organize it in a way that makes sense structurally.

Choose a Color Scheme That Complements Your Brand

Keep your colors consistent with the image you’re projecting. For example, bright colors might be appropriate for a fun clothing brand, while a law firm should include more neutral hues. Whatever palette you choose, make sure to avoid colors that clash or are overly dull. Pay attention to what they say about your brand and company.

Don’t be afraid of white space, either. Too much color can be overwhelming, and blank space will make more vibrant colors pop.

Think About Fonts

As with colors, fonts should be appropriate for your brand. Serif or sans serif, fancy or more basic — there’s a lot to consider. Pay attention to the vibe different fonts give off and how they fit in with your image and industry. No matter what, make sure the text is easy to read and understand.

Pay attention to licensing requirements associated with certain fonts, too — you don’t want to end up in legal trouble because you didn’t know you had to pay to use them.

There’s a lot to think about when conceptualizing the design for your website. What will make it stand out against competitors’ sites? How will prospective customers view and navigate it? What will appeal to different types of clients?

Consider multiple views and devices, especially mobile. Your website should look as good on your smartphone as it does on your laptop. At the end of the day, the site’s visual appeal has a huge impact on attracting and keeping customers and clients, and it requires careful analysis and planning.

computer screen website – DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/content-marketing/make-your-website-pop

An Employer’s Guide to Printing Paychecks for Employees

While many people in the US live digitally and choose to be paid through direct deposit, some employees prefer printed checks. Which is still okay.

Gone are the days when people’s only option was to order printed checks from commercial institutions and third-party vendors. The major downside of pre-printed checks is that they are expensive, inconvenient, and sometimes not secure.

In this article, you’ll see the type of employees that would prefer printed checks and what you need to print your own checks.  Read on and learn more.

What Type of Employees Would Prefer Printed Checks?

There are a lot of reasons that would make an employee choose physical paychecks over a direct deposit. They include:

• Uncomfortable with digital banking
• Don’t have a bank account
• Business uses checks and a dated accounting package geared to print checks.

Whatever the reason that makes an employee want a paper paycheck, you’ll need some unique supplies to print your payroll checks.

Here’s what you need before printing your own checks:

Software for Printing Checks

To print your own paychecks, you’ll need to have an accounting software like Quickbooks. Remember, you need to find checks compatible with your accounting software. The check printing software will help you in formatting your checks the right way. It is relatively cheap, especially when producing high volumes of checks.

Most payroll and bookkeeping programs can connect directly to your printer and can help you through the printing process, so you’ll not need to look for an outside stub template.

If you’re doing payroll manually, you can take advantage of the many templates available online. Note: when developing your own model, you’ll require MICR – a unique font that makes it possible for banks’ automatic scanners to read account details easily. 

Check Stock Paper

Check stock paper is a unique paper that helps prevent people from altering your checks or producing fake checks using your business details. The best thing is that they are compatible with most check printing software and printers.

It comes with additional security features such as security warnings, micro printing, and watermarks. Some check stocks are pre-perforated to ease the cutting process.

You can order check stock paper from online retailers or office supply stores. Of course, they come at a higher price than regular paper due to improved security features. But the cost is justified considering the peace of mind that comes with it.

Magnetic Ink

Magnetic ink allows a computer to read the MICR even when other markings partially obscure it. But, you’ll not need this ink for mobile check deposits, where users snap a check’s picture to make a deposit.

If you print checks with normal ink, the bank will have to process the check manually. In this case, the bank will require you or the employee to pay the processing fee.

MICR

You’ll type your account number and routing number in MICR font at the bottom of your check. The MICR code is vital to the character-reading technology used by computers that process checks.

Printer

You don’t necessarily need to go for expensive printers when printing paychecks. Many check printers offer unique features that improve the security of your checks, such as thermochromatic ink or watermarks. You can also use an office printer too. Just make sure that the printer is compatible with the magnetic ink.

You can also opt to hire a printing company to print your paychecks. You’ll then drop your pre-printed checks into your printer so you can add your employee number, date, amount, and any other details. Through this option, you don’t need the MICR font or the special ink.

Envelope

A standard #9 double-window envelope will help you mail the check quickly and conveniently. They display the names of your employees, their address as well as your address.

While choosing the right envelope  may seem simple, the selection should be made carefully. For instance, choosing the right envelope will allow the name of the payee and their address appear in the envelope window. It will make your paychecks more legitimate, making your employees more confident in your company.

If not done well, it can be difficult for banks to cash your paychecks. Thus, it is vital to ensure that checks are printed in the right way.

Printing Paychecks with Payroll Software

A lot of payroll providers allow employers to print paychecks directly from payroll software using a template. Typically, you have the option of printing your paychecks on blank check stock or pre-personalized check stock.

DepositPhotos

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source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/printing-paychecks

Benefits of Cloud Accounting

Effective cloud accounting for business growth with assistance from Online accountants

Constant digital evolution accompanied by the development in technology and processing power has resulted in a huge data explosion. This data is waiting to be exploited in limitless ways to make intuitive, smart and creative decisions. Online Accountants and Software Providers are tirelessly working with businesses to find creative tools, solutions, and methodologies to extract maximum value from this new era. 

This development has resulted in the transformation of a traditional finance function to a digital finance function, with support from various cloud solutions, online accountants and experts. A survey conducted by Xero in 2017 confirmed that businesses that rely solely on cloud accounting have five times the number of customers than businesses that do not.

Related: Why not review the Top Cloud Accounting software

Does the use of online accounting software outweigh the benefits of using traditional software? Small businesses found it extremely hard to afford high-level encrypted software with the same features as an ERP, before the launch of cloud accounting software. 

Businesses are now able to afford software which is not only cheaper to implement but also scalable as they grow. It lets owners and their employees access their business information from anywhere in the world and at any time, allowing them to excel at their business performance, all the while identifying tremendous new opportunities to grow and expand. 

Related: How Cloud Accounting Can Benefit Your Small Business (Visual Infographic)

Cloud! What is the hype all about?

Cloud technology has enabled businesses to access complex data securely with the added protection from data loss through hardware malfunctions by using multiple network backups.

In addition, the cloud has helped entrepreneurs save a tremendous amount of time and effort, through intuitive dashboards, realtime reminders, effective automation, visual snapshots, effective communication with their online accountants and much more, granting them the opportunity to implement their ideas with effectiveness and creativity like never before.

Why you should think about getting rid of your traditional accounting system?

We will look at 5 significant reasons why you should discard your traditional accounting system and embrace the new cloud accounting system:

1. In a traditional system, you will rely on a technologically outdated database, increasing your chances of error in financial reporting, resulting in poor decision making.
2. Data is stored locally restricting access to a single location by a single user, multiple users will cost extra in infrastructure and security. This will prevent the key decision-makers from accessing valuable financial and customer data.
3. Traditional accounting software is somewhat high maintenance and complicated to back up, it also demands a lot of time and resources to update.
4. Data transfer from the source user to other users in the company requires hard drives and USB. These devices are not trustworthy and hold a significant probability of malfunction anytime.
5. Traditional accounting software might not offer comprehensive or satisfactory customer support, potential problems might also not be resolved remotely, delaying key processes.

If your online Accountants are not adding value to your business by utilizing your cloud accounting software, you should speak to them to understand why or think about switching accountants.

Security on Cloud Accounting Software

Losing your office infrastructure due to an incident, say a fire, is not as heartbreaking as losing your financial data that your business has gathered over a number of years.

Cloud technology will keep you backed up and running due to its shift of storing data from a local device to multiple storage locations around the globe. All you require to access your data is an internet connection. PC Mag explains in detail how cloud computing works.

As long as you keep your login details safe, you don’t have to worry about anyone breaching your business data. 

Cloud technology allows data owners to control the level and type of access their employees have to the software. Cloud Accounting software uses bank-grade encryption so it is as secure as your bank if not more. 

Research carried out by Kaspersky Lab revealed that 90% of cybersecurity issues arose as a result of human errors rather than a glitch or weakness in the technology itself.

Perks of having the cloud and your accounting software integrated

You can access your data in real-time, at any time and from any computer device around the world but at a fraction of the cost compared to having in-house data servers. This usually results in effective communication between entrepreneurs, their accountants, and managers. 

The intuitive infrastructure of a cloud software prevents businesses from purchasing and installing expensive applications on their local devices, a simple monthly subscription is all that is required. The software comes with security, safety and a vanilla structure that can be built upon using addons and APIs.

You should speak to an online accountant who understands your business and its needs before setting up a good cloud accounting software. Your online accountants will make sure they help you find the right software based on your business type, your specific needs, and the future business goals.

Learn how you can grow your business by employing cloud accounting software?

1. A good cloud accounting software allows multiple users to work simultaneously together, thus making the overall communication and productivity highly effective.
2. With the feature of automatic updates, individuals save more time which can then be invested in other time-consuming and value-adding activities.
3. Accessibility of data regardless of the location or time zone allows entrepreneurs to assess their company’s financial position accurately, while instantly identifying the weak performing areas of the business.
4. Cloud software are extremely cost-effective because they require reduced maintenance for upgrades and administration. The complete managed service prevents major server failures as these are dealt with by your cloud service provider.
5. Cloud technology has employed automated features in its functionality that allows its users freedom from stressful administrative tasks.
6. Other than security, automation, ease of access, etc. the scalability cloud accounting software provide add immense value to growing businesses.

Expert Online Accountants will make sure that they help you select the best system for your business, set it up effectively and train you on the most efficient way to use it.

The post Benefits of Cloud Accounting appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/business/accounting-software/cloud-benefits

Exciting Email Design Trends to Look Forward to in 2020

As 2020 is almost here, it is time for us to analyze the email design tricks that worked in the past year and the trends that we can expect to see in the coming year. To cut through the noise in your subscriber’s inbox, you need to stay in the know with the top email design trends that will make it to 2020.

Here, we have curated a few trends that we believe need to be part of the email you will be sending in the new year for better conversions.

#1 Design for the Dark Mode

The new devices and the operating systems have implemented the dark mode. As the name suggests, it flips the colors to make it more effective for night reading. Those who have a habit of viewing their phones in the dark can spare their eyes with the dark mode.

What happens in here? Simply put, the regular black on white gets transformed into white on black.

If your emails are not designed for this mode, then the subscribers might not be able to enjoy them in the dark mode, which eventually reduces the engagement.

You will need to experiment with the background colors to impart a pleasant experience in the dark mode. You need to activate the accessibility switcher in the emails so that users can switch between the light and dark mode easily.

Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook have already adopted dark mode for emails. By 2020, you will see some of the major email clients switching to this mode.

#2 Implement the Minimalist Design

When we say minimalism, it is where the design and copy have minimum elements to communicate a message with greater clarity. This trend, which was quite a thing in 2019, is here to stay in 2020 as well. You will see that the well-organized design and content with plenty of white space will help engage readers and increase your conversions.

Take a look at the email by Harry’s that demonstrates minimalistic design in the best way. The purpose of the email as well as the CTA clearly stands out and encourages the reader to convert.

#3 Gamification in Email Designs

Gamification in emails works on the principle of incorporating game mechanics into non-gaming realms so that you can encourage the user to take the desired action. It will be a popular trend in 2020 that will establish deeper customer loyalty and satisfaction with playful interaction. It will smarten up the email campaigns, thereby bringing higher subscriber engagement and more visits to your website.

Here’s an example to inspire you. Fabiani has sent some interesting riddles in their email to drive subscriber engagement and make them convert.

#4 Inclusion of APNG Designs

GIFs have been a part of email designs for a while now. They make emails more interactive and interesting for users. They will continue to be a trend in 2020 as well. However, animations will see a new phase in the coming year with APNG images.

From the conventional GIF images, the animations will move towards high – resolution images with this trend.

Generally, GIFs tend to support 8-bit non-transparent images. However, with APNG format, you will get 8-bit alpha transparency and 24-bit colors.

Take a look at the image below to understand the drastic difference between APNG and GIF images.

#5 Dynamic Personalization for Better Engagement

Personalization of emails is a necessity if you want to engage the users and ensure a good open and click-through rate. Dynamic personalization of the content is a step further than remarkably improves the experience of the users.

With this, you can embed live Twitter or any other social media feed, include a timer, and get it updated in real-time. The user’s excitement level and their interest in the email will go up as a result, which will eventually impact the open and click-through rates for your emails.

#7 Add Speed with AMP

It is time to make the users complete the action in the email itself. Not many people have the patience to go to the landing page, complete the process there, and then move ahead.

The process is not only long but also involves a lot of clicks. If you could speed up the process, it will certainly make the experience better.

You can add AMP in an email to make this dream a reality in the year 2020. You can get them to fill out a form, purchase a product or even complete a booking with this technology.

Take a look at the example below in which Booking.com has allowed the user to see the deals and have a look at the hotel rooms from the email itself.

AMP is currently supported by Gmail for Desktop and Gmail App for Android and iOS. Other email clients are likely to extend support for this new interactive technology in the year to come.

#8 Move Beyond Conventional Layout

The conventional layout includes the header image, the hero image, product description, and other elements. However, all emails look similar as a result of this practice, and there remains no difference between the emails sent from different brands. This has resulted in a reduced conversion rate for the users.

2020 will see email marketers reducing the usage of column layouts and improving the email design by breaking free from grids. You don’t have to necessarily add all the elements. You can use the necessary elements only and do away with the unnecessary columns in the layout, thus refining the experience.

Here’s an example of broken grids layout by camiah.com.

Wrap Up

Email design keeps evolving to match the new era and needs of the subscriber. If your email is designed keeping the customer in mind, it helps engage better and improves the conversion rate.

Let us know which trend according to you will help you capture maximum attention from the subscribers, and which trend will not work for you? Also, tell us if you have used these elements in the past to attract subscribers and convert them.

Email Marketing – DepositPhotos

The post Exciting Email Design Trends to Look Forward to in 2020 appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/e-mail-marketing/design-trends

6 Mobile Marketing Trends To Be Mindful Of In 2020

If you stumbled across this article online there’s a good chance you are reading it on a mobile device. And just like you, millions of people worldwide are engaging with content on the web at their leisure on a daily basis through IOS or Android. In fact, people are known to spend up to 5.5 hours of every day on their mobile devices. Mobile content consumption is now such an accepted behavioral trait that it simply cannot be ignored as one of the main drivers for nurturing customers to they key touchpoints within your online business ecosystem.

If you are thinking of expanding your current digital roadmap to include mobile as a core acquisition channel, or are actively testing and reporting on existing mobile engagement tactics then the following trends may inspire your next steps to continue to grow in 2020.

1. Domination of mobile video

Google is making a hard play for YouTube as one of our social media staples to capture the lion share of video consumption on mobile. After all, nearly 40% of YouTube video views are via mobile. This sets a precedent for how video is quickly becoming the preferred mode of content distribution not only for brands but by the general public also, particularly those who are attempting to grow a personal brand online and earn a living off of collaborating with brands.

Because video is such a fierce mobile traffic driver, businesses can utilize video to be more personal and transparent thus building a stronger rapport with their audiences. Fully automated environments within Instagram and Facebook whereby video messaging serves as the top sales funnel entry point should not be ignored as cost-efficient ways to test out video content marketing strategies.

2. Pop-up penalization

This is officially the era of ad-overload. Launching pop-ups was once commended as a means for ushering customers through to the sales funnel seamlessly however, in recent years as mobile growth has spurted those same tactics have become out-dated and invasive. Google now frowns upon showing a popup before users can glean value from the web page or app they land upon., Brands who fail to recognize these trends run the very strong risk of a slap on the wrist from Google, which in e-commerce terms can equate to an SEO penalty. The risk is even greater for mobile websites, in the wake of Google’s mobile-first indexing guidelines.

Rather than interrupt the user’s journey, ad pop-ups should now pay heed to best practice for the most relevant and convenient moments when they can be presented to the user.

3. SEO mobile search listings

Gone are the days when 10 organic results would appear like clockwork for any given search query. Google invested a significant amount of time in 2019 testing a restructure of SERPs of up to 14 ads in a single mobile search results page. It’s a generous amount of real estate to reallocate to paid ads no matter how you look at it. What we are likely witnessing is Google experimenting with how ads using keywords with higher buyer intent are faring when placed in greater view of the consumer. A multitude of testing variants has been rolled out for different industries over the last six months.

This spells good news for brands heavily leaning towards PPC but not such a great forecast for businesses that depend on SEO for sales or leads. It’s hard to imagine Google not reverting to the previous balance of organic and paid within mobile we are used to, however, if this trend is anything to go by it’s that digital channels out of your control can turn on their head overnight; and those without a contingency plan may risk losing out on business to competitors with a more diverse marketing mix.

4. Mobile app burnout

The market is oversaturated with apps and that’s a fact brand must contend with if they are to compete in this space. Apps are relevant but often ignored; the average smartphone user downloads approximately 25-40 apps for keeps but is prone to using only a handful of those on a regular basis. It’s fair to agree that a serious case of mobile app burnout is just around the corner. If so, it bodes the question as to whether your brand should invest a huge amount of time, resources and capital into developing an app when it can be better spent elsewhere, such as Facebook or Instagram marketing. If you do continue down this path be wise to offering a pragmatic reward or incentive to users who download your app in order to reap the benefits through your online business.

5. Evolution of social media apps

Social media a great way for businesses to reach consumers through mobile and learn of their buying habits to refine tactics for growth time and time again. It is estimated that two-thirds of smartphone and tablet owners connect with their social network accounts from mobile devices, with Facebook being the top smartphone app accessed. If you are not leveraging social media in 2020, namely emerging platforms like TikTok you are simply alienating a potentially large chunk of your audience.

The app formally known as Musical.ly was acquired by the Beijing-based internet company ByteDance but morphed quickly into a virtual realm for sharing content. Few brands have managed to penetrate the social media site with unbridled success as yet however this may change in early 2020.

6. Security compliance

Whilst the majority of trends carry a silver lining for marketers there are those that require some general housekeeping as a matter of damage limitation. A case in point is maintaining a secure website – not only for mobile users – to help shut out the risk of activities that fly in the face of a positive online experience. We all may know someone who has had their identity stolen after shopping online or become a victim of online fraud and these are two examples of murky tactics that remain a constant threat.

A recent survey indicated that roughly two-thirds of consumers are too nervous to shop on their mobile device in fear of being hacked. Another report highlighted that over half of the online shoppers refuse to use a mobile app due to security concerns. And 58% won’t use an app out of fear of compromised privacy.

If you have an online store it’s your duty to install rigorous security systems and reassure your customer base measures have been taken to care for their online security.

The post 6 Mobile Marketing Trends To Be Mindful Of In 2020 appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

source https://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/marketing-strategy/mobile-trends-2

How to Get Your Side Hustle Off the Ground in 2020

Side hustles are pretty common these days. In fact, according to MarketWatch, one-third of Americans need a side hustle to pay expenses. Starting a side hustle can be intimidating though, especially for people that have little experience with freelancing or running their own business.

Luckily, with just a few tips, you can easily turn your side hustle idea into a reality. But, let’s not stop there. With these tips, you can actually turn your side hustle into a profitable, full-time business.

Here’s how to get your side hustle off the ground in 2020.

Change Your Mindset

First things first, if you want to get your side hustle off the ground, you need to change your mindset. Many people who have a side hustle see it as just that, a side hustle; something they do in their free time that makes them a little extra money. But, if you want to turn your side hustle into a fully-fledged business, you need to stop thinking of yourself as a side hustler or freelancer and start thinking of yourself as a business owner.

So, instead of saying to yourself and others “I do graphic design on the side,” say “I have a graphic design business.”

When you start to think of yourself as a business owner, you’ll be more confident in your ability to take your side hustle and turn it into a successful, full-time business. Plus, when you think of yourself as a business owner, other people will think of you as a business owner, which will help you gain the confidence and trust of potential clients and customers.

Create a Schedule and Stick to It

After coming home from your day job, it can be hard to sit down and start working on growing your side hustle. But, you need to make time for it if you want to grow it into a successful business. So, you should create a schedule and stick to it. By making a schedule to follow, instead of coming home and saying “I’ll work on my side hustle tomorrow,” you’ll be able to hunker down and get things done easier.

You can mark off an hour each weekday or you can set aside 4 hours on the weekend, whatever works for you and your lifestyle. In fact, Chris Guillebeau, the author of Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days, says that with just 30 minutes per day you can create a successful side hustle. Remember, when creating your schedule, set a notification alarm for it. That way, when you’re dealing with day-to-day distractions, you won’t forget to work on your side hustle.

Get Organized

Next, your side hustle isn’t going to be successful or turn into a full-time business if your to-do lists are scattered all across your work area.

To get organized you can use a tool like Trello or Asana. Asana is a web and mobile application that will help you organize, track, and manage your work. With this tool, you’re able to lay out all of the tasks that need to be done and set due dates for them to help you stay on track.

Image Source

You also need to make sure that you’re not spending hours manually completing repetitive tasks that could be automated with the help of some online tools.

Check out some of these online tools to help you automate processes and get organized:

• Hubstaff – Automates time tracking, reporting, and invoicing.
• Zapier – Connects all of your apps and automates your workflow.
• Buffer – Schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more.
• Bidsketch – Create professional proposals in minutes with their proposal software.
• HubSpot Meetings – Allow your prospects to automatically schedule meetings with you.

Implementing just a couple of automated tools like these will help you save a few extra hours each week. You can then use that precious extra time to work on growing your business.

Present a Professional Image

When you look like a hobbyist, clients and customers won’t give you their business because they’d rather go to a professional. So, if you want your side hustle to be successful, then you need to present a professional image.

The first step to presenting a professional image is to create a website. Not just any website though. If you want to look like a real business, you need your own domain name. A free website such as www.wix.com/mybusiness doesn’t look as professional as a domain name like www.mybusiness.com. With your own website domain, you’ll also get a professional business email address, which also looks better than emailing potential clients from your Gmail account.

And don’t worry, you don’t need to hire a web designer to create a great-looking website like the one below from copywriter Tyler J. Koenig.

Image Source

With WordPress and many other website builders, you can get free or affordable website templates that will give your site a professional look in an instant.

On your website, be sure to post any glowing customer testimonials you have to show potential clients that they should work with you.

Start Marketing Your Business

Now that you’re starting to treat your side hustle like an actual business, it’s time to start marketing it like one too. But aside from printing business cards and handing them out to family and friends, get online to promote your side hustle.

Social media is a free and very effective way to promote your side hustle business to a wide range of people. For example, check out how Stitch and Wick promote their hand-crafted products with this eye-catching Instagram post.

Image Source

Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags on your social media posts so you can attract more potential customers and clients. In the Instagram post above, Stitch and Wick use hashtags like #SoyCandles, #GirlBoss, #SideBiz, and #BuyLocal to attract customers that are interested in buying soy candles from locally-owned small businesses.

Conclusion

Don’t be scared to dive into your side hustle headfirst in 2020. With these tips, you’ll not only get your side hustle off the ground, but you can reach a level of success that you could have never imagined. And maybe in 2021, you can quit your day job and run your business full-time.

Entrepreneur – DepositPhotos

The post How to Get Your Side Hustle Off the Ground in 2020 appeared first on Tweak Your Biz.

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