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COVID-19 has shaken up the world economy on an enormous level, and we are all struggling to fight the consequences of this global crisis. As it progresses, businesses are expected to be slow and will not in their normal state for quite some time. Even consumers have gotten new habits and behaviors since the pandemic hit. They are hesitant to go out and shop, which is mainly why brick-and-mortar stores, offices, and businesses are tremendously affected.

For the past months, traffic has decreased, but online traffic certainly hasn’t, and this has given us the perfect opportunity to start our own online business. Despite the present circumstances, moving forward with an online store or brand will be a win-win for you (like me!).

Below are some things you need to know about setting up your own business right in the comfort of your own home.

Open your online consultancy firm.

If you have creative skills in photography, music, or baking, opening a home-based consultancy business online won’t be as hard as you think. You can reach out to your clients online through various digital platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others. Other niches you can provide services for include diet consultancy, workout practices, and personal advice.

Why would this be a great business idea? As all of us are aware, most if not all, people have been stuck at home for about two months or more, and they have been accustomed to doing their daily routines from home. They work out at home, dance and learn instruments from home, or find a chat mate who can be a friend or adviser while they’ve been quarantined. So undeniably, they would be more interested in seeking online services rather than go out and risk getting infected with the coronavirus.

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You can set up your new business by investing in a small workspace to start with. Then depending on what kind of consultation you’ll be doing, you need to purchase a good quality instrument, gadget, or utensil. If you’re into photography classes, use the classic one you have in your drawer. You don’t have to buy if you still have one that you already own. If you want to help others learn how to bake, then just get a new pair of hats and aprons that will make you look good online.

Find a job in an online freelance workspace.

Many websites offer jobs for freelancers with different skills, and you can choose from hundreds of job postings available on the platforms. Writing, email support, and customer service are some of the most popular jobs that perhaps you are qualified to apply. Search for sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and 99Designs, among others. If you’re more tech-savvy, then luckily, there are thousands of careers in web design, programming, and digital marketing waiting for you.

Start an online delivery business.

Online grocery and retail shopping are currently at the height of its popularity. With people still afraid and hesitant to eat out and shop at malls and supermarkets, the online shopping platform is the most preferred way of acquiring basic needs, the most famous being online food delivery service. If you want to start strong but think that the food business has a lot of competition, then go for the next best thing – pharmaceuticals and personal care needs. Deliver your customers’ medicines, alcohols, masks, etcetera, right at their doorstep. Once you’ve established a name for online delivery, you can add everything else that people need and want – food, groceries, and even clothes and shoes!

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Start an online marketplace.

This involves connecting employers with employees and getting a percentage out of the transactions they will be making from their contracts. This might be a little tedious to initiate and you might experience business startup issues, but as you get the hang of it, you’ll just be waiting for contracts to be placed and money to get in.

Keep the faith and hope for the future.

None of us anticipated a disaster such as this, but then amidst the challenges in many aspects, we have all tried to survive and thrive – and we are doing that. We may be confronted by several drawbacks and pitfalls right now, but we must keep the faith and hope for a better future, where we are ready to live the new normal in a productive and meaningful way.

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The 2019 Local Brand Conference was a showcase of trends, technology, and fresh ideas from talented global marketers and suppliers across the United States. Companies big and small filled the venue, as through the years they have seen how these conferences have tremendously helped their industry and their people improve and succeed. Online publishers, advertisers, traffic sources, worldwide brands, and media owners were also present to grace the event and to fill in their articles, blogs, and other media platforms. All the speakers had interesting things to say and topics to discuss, all of which were beneficial to those who attended the conference. One of the discussions that came up was how advertising conferences like this one can benefit you.

Industry conventions have a lot of benefits. They can differ depending on one’s personal goals for taking part in a specific event. But the primary benefits that they bring with attending the best marketing conventions are mostly the same. First, by attending such events, you get the opportunity to be updated with the current trends in the industry. You get to listen to marketers and advertisers who discuss new strategies, technologies, and fresh insights. You can take these ideas to your company and implement them or simply base some of your own approaches on them.

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In addition, events like these are also great opportunities to get to know fellow colleagues in the industry. This way, you broaden your list of business acquaintances, build new friendships, and share experiences and information about different things. Finally, being present at various advertising conventions throughout the year establishes your brand – just by attending. How much more if you were given the chance to present your brand among thousands of participants? These conventions are promotion channels that are easily grabbed. You can choose which conventions you want to attend at the start of the year. Select the ones that help you the most, and then you can pick the minor events if you have extra funds. It’s really worth investing your time and money.

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Undeniably, we are presently going through devastating times, and at times like these, marketing brands struggle with what to do next, specifically on social media. Do you continue with your old strategy and just pretend that there’s nothing wrong? Of course not! Do you limit your posts to only those that are coronavirus-related? Perhaps not.

We can’t decide for you, but we can provide you with a guide that might help you strike the correct tone for your marketing brand and your audience as well. We will give you some tips, questions, and suggestions to help you decide which social media strategies would be suitable for your brand in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

What is the importance of social media during these times?

• The eMarketer reports that Facebook reached up to a 70% increase in apps usage for the month of March. This means that since the pandemic began, more and more people started to turn to these applications for entertainment, information, and keeping in touch with family and friends while they were stuck at home.
• The audience chooses various channels to search for exciting content. For example, Snapchat and TikTok have become the new sources of entertainment and distraction from the stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic.
• A lot of marketers are cost-cutting in almost all areas of marketing, and this includes social media. However, email and other forms of social media are still being utilized for brand improvement and customer engagement.

If you are willing to explore the new world of marketing and social media, here’s a list of tips that you can read and be guided with.

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Focus On Them More, Not On You.

Yes, you are a business looking to earn to survive. We’re not saying you forget that completely. It’s that the global crisis is not the best time to push on your key performance indicators. Evaluate what success is now and modify your old approach. Remember these.

Then: You calculate and make a report on the essential metrics monthly and yearly.

Now: That’s still not going to give you complete details. You can report it the same way you did, but now present it along with the comments, non-KPI testimonials, and the red flags.

Then: ROI is the top priority.

Now: It is, of course, important, but shares, likes, positive comments, and engagement measures are better priorities now since people these days can’t buy everything that they want.

Know And Understand Your Audience.

This has been and always will be a crucial piece of a marketing strategy for all seasons and crises. Marketing, for the most part, depends on empathy, which subsequently depends on understanding the audience that you’re trying to communicate with.

If you think you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, you might want to ignore this tip saying, “I already know my audience.” Perhaps, but do you think you know them now, in this outbreak? Could there be more customer opportunities that you haven’t thought of that you could consider now?

Gather basic details. Collect essential data like age, gender, location, income status, and others. Then once you have these data, ask yourself what you’re going to do next. Forget about what you used to do. Now, think about fresh ideas on how to capture your audience that has pivoted since the outbreak. Adapt to the changes to meet the needs of your audience.

This comprehensive knowledge of your audience will kickstart the tone for whatever you do next during a global crisis like coronavirus and beyond that. The bonds that you establish successfully knowing and capturing your customers’ hearts will last long after the outbreak has subsided.

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Expect The Unexpected.

Nobody can ever give you a precise forecast of what the future will be for marketers and their brands. All we know is that this pandemic will end in due course and that right now, there is a lot of ambiguity on a lot of fronts. Thus, we cannot plan our future as we have before these circumstances. We must be careful and take slow but sure approaches to adapt to what beholds tomorrow. Today is a good day to start.

As a certified marketer, attending events like the 2018 Branding Conference is a part of my job. Sometimes, I go there to meet potential sponsors or partners. Other times, I do it to speak and motivate other young marketers to work hard and reach for their dreams.

On many speaking occasions, though, one piece of advice that I often say is to make a promotional shirt. I won’t hate you if you think that it’s too cheesy or too old-school because both can technically be true. However, it does not mean that it won’t market your business as well as other marketing items.

These are a few benefits of using a promotional shirt for your business:

It Builds Up Curiosity
A wearable marketing product can be as enticing as a gigantic billboard. If someone dons it and walks on the street, passersby may think, “Why does this person promote this brand?” That may cause them to feel curious enough to go online in that instant to know more about the company.

It May Be Better Than Word-Of-Mouth
Using a shirt to market your merchandise may be better than relying on word-of-mouth. People have far too many things in their heads to think of promoting your brand to them, you see. Despite that, if they go to public places with their customized shirts on, there is no need for words anymore.

It Can Increase Your Sales
A lot of curious folks do not typically stop at researching brands. Considering they find your products interesting, they will look for a way to buy one. If you get lucky, an influencer may feature them in their social media channels or vlogs. Thus, your sales will undoubtedly go up.

In Conclusion
I tend to use a promotional shirt whenever our company has a new product that is too out-of-the-box for people to like at once. And guess what? It. Always. Works.

Start thinking of what to print on your promotional shirt now if you want to try it!

If there is one thing that you must never forget about doing business, it is the importance of hiring a marketer who will help you raise brand awareness. Take note that marketing and advertising are two significant aspects of entrepreneurship that you must never neglect. In today’s article, we are going to give you the top reasons why you must invest in looking for an effective marketer. Our goal is to encourage you to set aside a budget for the professional services of a marketer. Once you have this person on your team, you can enjoy the following:

It Announces Your Existence

One of the common challenges of business owners is not having the capacity to make known their products and services. When this happens to your brand, there is a high chance that you will not be able to earn profits from your operations. If this continues to occur for an extended period, then your company can go underground. You will be surprised to find out that you are already bankrupt. Because of this, you must find a marketer who can help you raise brand awareness.

It Connects Your Customers

Another concern that you must look into is the importance of connecting your company to your target market. Take note that your customers must be your number one priority. They must feel that you are thinking of them through your marketing strategies. Let them feel that all your actions are tailored to please them. Once they experience this, it will be a lot easier on their part to patronize your products. In the long run, it can lead to increased revenue for you. All these can be possible with a marketer.

It Elevates Your Brand

As you probably know by now, the market is highly competitive. It means that there are tons of companies operating in the same industry where you are present. For this reason, you can expect them to outshine you in some marketing efforts. If you want a solution to this problem, all you have to do is to search for a marketer. Let this professional create tactics that can elevate your brand above the rest. He can help in outshining your competitors.

It Increases Trust For Your Company

Another great advantage of having a marketer is that he can help increase the trust that people have in your company. Take note that the goal is to see to it that your target market associates your brand with something they love and trust. Once you succeed in making this happen, it will be a lot easier on your part to promote your products. More people are going to start to love your brand to the point that they will also help in developing it for others. In the long run, it can bring in more sales for your business. As long as you are smart in making a wise decision for your products, everything is going to be okay.

There are many things that you are going to become problematic because of your business. No matter what you do, there will always be a challenge that will test your capacity to handle stress and anxiety. For this reason, you must take the necessary steps to overcome business-related stress. Keep in mind that as long as you feel stress in your life, you will never experience success.

For today’s post, allow us to share the essential tips to remember so that you can avoid dealing with stress. Make sure that you will read the article from top to bottom. If you do, there is a high guarantee that you can eliminate stress in an instant. According to Nancy Goldov, PsyD, “By understanding what you’re doing to keep the stress going, you can experiment with pausing, slowing down, and learning to stop adding more stress to what is already happening. People are relieved to discover they can find their sanity and calm down instead of getting more worked up or escalating their stressful situation.”

Exercise Regularly

As much as possible, make sure to find time to perform physical activities that can increase your blood flow. Avoid sitting all day in your office, not doing anything. The right thing to do is to go to the gym or perform home exercises. Take note that your body releases dopamine whenever you engage in these kinds of activities. All you need is at least thirty minutes or one hour a day to complete it.

Confide In Someone

If you think that your stress is making your life more miserable, be sure that you will find a way to connect with another person. Take the time you need to talk to someone who can listen to what you are going through. If you take time to talk to someone, you will be surprised at how relieving it can be. What you must do is to talk to a close friend or a family member. Do not be afraid to share your problems.

Go On A Vacation

Do not feel guilty if you see the need to run away for a little while. Going on a vacation can actually help you solve your problems. Make sure that you will take the proper steps to book your ticket ahead of time so that you can block your schedule immediately. Take note that going on a vacation can help in taking the stress in your life away. When you go on vacation, you are giving yourself a chance to have fun.

Talk To A Therapist

Another option that you may want to consider is to talk to a therapist. Do not be afraid to look for a mental health professional who can help you assess your current situation. Sometimes, you need expert advice so that you will know what to do with your life. Encountering stress in your business can be heartbreaking, especially if it can affect your sales. However, once you talk to someone who can help you in therapy sessions, you will start to feel better. Remember, “We do not have to be slaves to our own minds. We can make changes at any time,” states Dan Guerra, PsyD.

Make sure that you will never get tired of reminding yourself that what you are going through at the moment is only temporary. Lynn Bufka Ph.D, says “We’re all going to experience stress. It’s a normal part of our day, but we have a choice in how we respond to it.” Do not forget to follow our tips above for a worry-free entrepreneurial life. Enjoy your business!

There are many things that you have to take into consideration when it comes to building your own company. It is crucial on your part to slow down in making business decisions. Do not be stupid enough to wait for things to happen without any action on your part. Keep in mind that the only way to take your company to the next level is to be smart in choosing the right business strategies. In today’s article, we are going to provide you with some tips and tricks that can guide you on how to start your own business from scratch.

Conduct A Feasibility Study

Make sure that you know the significance of conducting a business plan before moving forward in building a company. You cannot be careless or negligent in selecting the industry to focus on. As much as possible, hire a business analyst or marketing expert who can conduct a feasibility study of the type of firm that you want to build. Let that professional tell you whether your business idea is feasible or not.

Learn About Entrepreneurship

Another essential or great tip to keep in mind is the fact that doing business is not an easy thing to do. There are tons of challenges that will come along the way. Because of this, it is best if you will equip yourself with the right level of knowledge about entrepreneurship. Take note that the more you know about the ins and outs of doing business, the easier it would be on your part to move forward with your plan.

Talk To An Expert

Do not be too proud of your capacity to the point that you will stop listening to the suggestions of other people. Keep in mind that there are still tons or several things that you have to know about conducting business operations. For this reason, you must see to it that you will connect with other individuals who are also knowledgeable in the field of entrepreneurship. Feel free to ask them a question so that you will find a way to improve how you do things.

Never Rush

For sure, you are excited to build your company. However, you must never forget the importance of taking things low. As much as possible, think twice before you will take a necessary step in conducting your operations. Never be too excited to the point that you will no longer become mindful of the possible consequences of your actions. Failure to do this can lead to major issues or problems in managing your upcoming firm.

Conclusion

Make sure to follow the tips and tricks mentioned above so that you can have a worry-free start for your business. Take note that not everything is going to be easy, but things will soon improve as long as you do not give up. If ever you encounter problems along the way, make sure to keep going. Every effort that you put into your company can be worth it in the long run.

If there is one thing that every business person like you needs to understand, it is the importance of implementing marketing strategies for your firm. Keep in mind that there is a necessity on your part to think of the advertising aspect if you want to take your company to the next level. When you engage in marketing, everything is going to be a lot better for your firm. If it continues to happen for an extended period, then you can continue to expect your profit to increase over time.

For today’s article, we are going to provide you with the top tips to remember if you want to experience success in the field of marketing. Be sure to keep these tips in mind so that you can achieve your business goals as soon as possible.

Keep Yourself Updated

Take note that there are marketing trends that always change now and then. For this reason, you need to focus on updating yourself about these changes. Do not be complacent and believe that the marketing tactics of today will remain the same tomorrow. Failure to do this can lead your business to be left behind by the top players in the industry.

Focus On The Customers

When thinking of the best marketing techniques to implement for your company, be sure to look after your target market. Everything you do must be for the sole reason of pleasing them. Do not forget that the reason why you exist is because of them. As much as possible, get to know the demographics of your target customers. Once you know what they want, it will be easier for you to think of marketing techniques.

Have A Schedule

Another essential thing to take into consideration is the need to create a schedule for your marketing plan. You cannot just think of strategies without plotting the date and time when you have to implement them. For example, you can create a content calendar ahead of time, where you will place all your planned posts for a given week or month. In so doing, it will be a lot easier on your part to focus on another aspect of the business.

Be Patient

At the same time, you must also see to it that you will remain patient and steadfast in implementing all your marketing strategies. Take note that your success in this field is not going to happen overnight. You must not worry right away if you cannot see the fruits of your efforts. Try harder until you meet your company’s goals and objectives. As long as you do not give up, everything will soon be okay. Just be patient in waiting because things are going to be alright soon.

Conclusion

Marketing is a big aspect of any business. As such, you must never take it for granted. Be open to learning new things about growing your business. Good luck with all your actions in building your company.

People might think that entrepreneurs are lucky because they have a stable business. And that these people’s networks are well-developed and well-established. But what people do not know is the number of sacrifices, hard work, sleepless nights, and judgments that these entrepreneurs had to endure.  That is, of course, only to get their business working on the right path. Not because these people are now experiencing success in their field, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t experience loss, heartache, and exhaustion. Michael A. Freeman, MD, wrote, “People who are on the energetic, motivated, and creative side are both more likely to be entrepreneurial and more likely to have strong emotional states.” So, to understand how things are with these individuals, psychologists attempt to explain how entrepreneurial stress becomes a turning factor.

Every Business Is A Gamble

The world of business is not that exciting. Honestly, almost 90% of these aspiring businessmen fail. There is a struggle to make it work, and some of them can’t handle the timing of the pressure. Sunitha Chandy, PsyD, wrote, “We often confuse motivation with stress. While they both get us going, one serves to build us up and one depletes us.” There are instances that these people, even if they are well-driven by their goal, end up not having anything. In some unfortunate cases, they lose everything also before they realize that the business will not and will never succeed. Yes, it is okay to dream big because that is the start of every goal-oriented business endeavor. However, one must realize that every little thing about it is a gamble. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. As far as businesses are concerned, there is no consistency in it. No one can tell if it will make it up to the top or lose its potential at the start. Nobody can tell what may not or may happen to the whole progress of the entrepreneurial battle. However, since it is all about risk-taking, one can only determine the success of a business through motivation, determination, and perseverance.

The Legitimate Part Of Business That Everyone Ignores

Starting a business creates a lot of friction. There are crises everywhere, such as financial instability, negative societal response, stress and pressure, and even inconsistency. There is no way that when an entrepreneur enters it, the whole process goes up instantly. It takes time and lots and lots of hard work. And that is the problem. Not everybody looks upon its struggle positively. Usually, most of the businessmen that fail question themselves. There is this mental block that makes people think about their failure more consequently and blame themselves. That is the reason why they often regret every decision they make. Hendrie Weisinger, PhD, wrote, “Stress builds when there are too many demands, but not enough time, money or other necessary resources.”

These people begin to doubt their skills and capabilities. Some of them even overthink about what others might say. With that, there is fear that crawls inside them. That particular fear tries to feed their mind with tons of “what ifs.” Fear makes them lose control and eventually cripple them, so they won’t be able to maintain emotional, physical, and mental balance. Entrepreneurs are risk-takers. But when fear gets in the way, it is a dead end.

What To Expect In A Business Startup

Most entrepreneurs think only about one thing, and that is going straight to the top. No one opens up a business and feels satisfied with their small success. There is always a bigger dream of reaching the peak of success. However, it is not possible when these people are afraid to work hard on their goals. Therefore, it is clearly and utterly essential to expect unfortunate circumstances.

Most business-minded people who start a business end up messing it all up because they don’t value the longer process of getting the right method toward success. There is this assumption that once the best way does not work, the rest will never work as well. They didn’t try to understand that businesses sometimes do not follow the detailed process. Instead of creating a standard, they forget the idea that some basics can work better than the latter.

Worst Case Scenario

Leaving a business in a pile of problems will not help. However, always thinking about the worst-case scenario might be useful at some point. That is where the entrepreneur begins to imagine things that are relatable to reality. From there, these people can end up summarizing details and enumerate solutions in their head. That is the time these businessmen will understand how important it is to become prepared.

In handling a business, its failure will suck. But that is not the whole idea of the experience. Honestly, it is the acceptance that it lacks what it takes to be on top. But should these entrepreneurs stop working on it? No! These people need to come back and start processing and handling the business way more differently.