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Gen Z: The Changing Face of Business

Gen Z

Gen Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, is quickly becoming the world’s largest and most influential group of consumers. Their unique values, preferences, and digital savvy are changing how businesses market and operate. In this article, we’ll explore the key characteristics of Generation Z and how companies can adapt to meet their needs and expectations.

Digital Natives

Gen Z is the first cohort to have grown up with technology as an integral part of their lives. They are digital natives comfortable with technology and have never known a world without it. This means businesses must be present on the platforms where Generation Z spends their time, such as social media, messaging apps, and mobile devices.

For businesses, this means developing mobile-friendly websites and applications, using social media as a marketing tool, and providing easy-to-use online customer service channels. It also means being agile and adaptable to new technology trends as they emerge, such as virtual and augmented reality.

Socially Conscious

Gen Z is also highly socially conscious and passionate about causes such as climate change, social justice, and equality. As a result, they are more likely to buy from companies that align with their values and beliefs, and they expect businesses to be transparent about their social and environmental impact.

For businesses, this means being authentic and transparent about their values and purpose. It means being responsible in their business practices, such as sourcing materials ethically and reducing their environmental footprint. It also means supporting causes important to Generation Z, such as gender equality, racial justice, and ecological sustainability.

Authenticity

Gen Z values authenticity and honesty above all else. They are highly skeptical of traditional advertising and likelier to trust friends’ and influencers’ recommendations. This means that businesses must be genuine and honest in their marketing messages and customer communication.

For businesses, this means building genuine relationships with customers and focusing on the quality of products and services. It means creating marketing campaigns that feel authentic and relatable rather than manipulative or insincere.

Personalization

Gen Z values personalized experiences and expects businesses to tailor their offerings to individual preferences and needs. They want companies to understand their unique tastes and preferences and to offer personalized recommendations and experiences.

For businesses, this means using data and technology to provide personalized experiences for customers. It means using customer data to understand their preferences and behavior and to offer customized product recommendations and experiences. It also means using personalization to create a sense of exclusivity and uniqueness, such as limited-edition products or personalized packaging.

Conclusion

Gen Z is changing how businesses market and operate, and those that fail to adapt risk falling behind. By understanding this generation’s unique values, preferences, and behaviors, companies can tailor their offerings and marketing strategies to meet their needs and expectations. This requires being digitally savvy, socially conscious, authentic, and personalized in their approach. As Generation Z continues to grow and influence the marketplace, businesses prioritizing these values will be well-positioned for success.

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Creating A Positive Reputation For Your Business Startup

Reputation

The reputation of your business startup is an important factor to the success of your company. For most businesses that are starting out, it is the lack of a reputation that is troublesome. Creating a positive reputation from the get-go is the first step in being a recognizable brand that connects with customers. By focusing on your reputation early on, you can ensure your business startup resonates with consumers as well as with angel investors as you look to get off the ground.

Create A Strong First Impression

Start with creating a good first impression. While this goes without saying when you meet with anyone you do business with, it also extends to the appearance of your company. From your product packaging to your office location, everything needs to be pristine and show customers and clients that you are a serious business owner that cares about your company. Your reputation starts from within, and you need to make sure you look the part before you can expect customers to identify with your brand. Give your business startup the recognition it deserves and tidy up its appearance inside and out. When you look good, you feel good, and others will take notice.

Rely On Word-Of-Mouth

One of the single biggest ways that your business startup can expand and grow its reputation is through word-of-mouth. Uber is a prime example of using this strategy as the come used this technique to increase its recognition with customers. In the very beginning of its startup,it appealed to Silicon Valley techs that it knew would recommend them to others. The strategy paid off, and the company grew in monumental proportions.

Using word-of-mouth to spread the reputation of your business can be advantageous as you look to build your brand. Positive remarks about your company can ensure you reach the masses and help your business startup grow in popularity among consumers.

Empower Your Employees

Your employees are your biggest assets, and they can go a long way in supporting the reputation of your company. Encourage your employees to sing the praises of your business and the products and services you offer. If they like what they sell, they are more likely to tell a friend, family member or neighbor. This adds to your overall reputation as most consumers rely on others to help them with their buying decisions.

Also, be sure your employees are symbols of your business startup and a reflection of your values. As your staff interacts with customers, they can portray the brand of the company and help to bolster your business reputation. Good customer service is a mark of a solid reputation that can help you be a favorite brand of consumers far and wide.

Use Your Website As A Weapon

You literally have a few seconds to garner the attention of a customer on your website. Use this time wisely and be sure to make your message effective. Make your site as appealing as possible and ensure it is a reflection of your values and vision. Your customers should easily be able to tell what type of business you are and what you stand for in the mere seconds they are on your site. If you can grab their attention early, they will stay on your site and come back often to see what’s new and buy from you in the process.

Keep in mind that your customers are savvy and they use mobile devices daily. Your website should be optimized to work with these devices so that a client can purchase from you immediately on the go. Being known as a business startup that is easy to buy from will give you a strong reputation and increase the potential customers that purchase from you on a regular basis.

Realize The Power Of Networking

There is a power factor to networking, and you need to take advantage of it. The more influential people you can associate and align yourself with, the higher your brand will soar. Having power figures support your business startup, and the products and services you carry can help you become more recognizable with consumers as their opinion matters to consumers and gives value to your brand.

You can easily accomplish this by introducing yourself to professionals wherever you go. Try attending networking events and reach out to executives at likeminded companies to strategize. Take advantage of the opportunities before you and be proactive in your approach to learning and meeting someone new.

Make Your Presence Count

You are the ultimate ambassador for your business. You need to ensure that you represent your business startup in a positive light and tout its existence to everyone and anyone. Your brand needs to become recognizable to consumers, and the only way to do that is through promotion. You need to sing the praises of your business startup and not be afraid to share the secret that your company holds. Reach out and grab the spotlight. Take the mic and let your voice be heard.

There is no fear in showing value in your business startup early on if you have a strong vision and values to back it up. You need to show your company appeal and build your positive reputation early on using every tool available to you, which means you are the speaker box for that message. Don’t be afraid to boast about your products and services, you never know who is listening, and you just might gain a loyal customer in the process.

By focusing on your business reputation at the very beginning of the formation of your company, you can easily create a brand that consumers relate to and want to buy from. Your products will become recognizable on the shelves, and your services will be sought after by the masses. Concentrate on using the variety of approaches that are available to you to build your brand and create that positive reputation that your business startup will be known for now and into the future.

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The Power of Purpose: Businesses are Finding Success by Aligning with Social and Environmental Causes

Environmental

In recent years, we’ve seen a growing trend of businesses aligning themselves with social and environmental causes. From reducing carbon emissions to supporting social justice initiatives, these companies use their resources to impact the world positively. But beyond altruistic motivations, many businesses find that aligning with a purpose beyond profit can lead to tremendous success and profitability. In this article, we’ll explore the power of intention and how businesses leverage it to succeed.

Why Align with a Purpose?

At its core, aligning with a purpose is more than just doing good. It’s about creating a sense of meaning and shared values that unite employees, customers, and stakeholders around a common goal. When a business is aligned with a meaningful and relevant purpose to its stakeholders, it can create a sense of purpose beyond the bottom line. This, in turn, can lead to greater employee engagement, customer loyalty, and long-term profitability.

Research has shown that purpose-driven companies are more successful than those focused on profit. According to a study by EY Beacon Institute and Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, purpose-driven companies outperform their peers regarding revenue growth, job creation, and stock performance. Additionally, employees of purpose-driven companies report higher levels of job satisfaction and engagement.

How to Align with a Purpose

Aligning with a purpose requires more than a catchy slogan or a one-off CSR initiative. It requires a deep understanding of the values and needs of your stakeholders and a commitment to embedding purpose into all aspects of the business.

Here are some critical steps to aligning with a purpose:

Identify your purpose: What is your business’s overarching mission or purpose? What values and principles guide your decisions and actions?

Engage stakeholders: Who are your key stakeholders, and what are their needs and values? How can your purpose align with their interests?

Embed purpose into strategy: How can your goal be reflected in your business strategy and operations? What changes need to be made to align with your purpose fully?

Communicate purpose: How can you effectively communicate your intention to stakeholders internally and externally? What channels and messages will resonate most with your target audience?

Case Studies: Purpose-Driven Success Stories

Countless examples of businesses have successfully aligned with a purpose beyond profit. Here are just a few examples:

Patagonia: This outdoor clothing company has long been a leader in environmental activism, with a mission to “use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” Its “Worn Wear” initiative encourages customers to repair and reuse their clothing, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Ben & Jerry’s: This beloved ice cream brand has been committed to social and environmental causes since its founding in 1978. In addition to sourcing fair trade and non-GMO ingredients, the company has advocated for issues like marriage equality, climate justice, and racial justice.

TOMS: This shoe company’s “One for One” model donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes sold. The company has expanded this model to include eyewear and other products and has donated over 100 million pairs of shoes.

Conclusion

As consumers become increasingly conscious of social and environmental issues, businesses that align with a purpose beyond profit will likely have a competitive advantage. By embedding purpose into all aspects of the business, companies can create a sense of meaning and shared values that can lead to greater employee engagement, customer loyalty, and long-term profitability. While it may require a shift in mindset and strategy, the power of purpose can transform businesses and society.

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Manage Your Fears: Six Exercises for Startup Owners

fears

At any given time, establishing a startup is never an easy task. This, however, becomes more difficult and fears for first-time entrepreneurs who do not have much background and experience in managing a company.

Because of the uncertain and ambiguous nature of most startups, would-be entrepreneurs usually find themselves facing a number of fears and misgivings about starting a business. These fears – which are often tied with the need to perform unfamiliar chores and tackle unforeseen challenges, among others – affect one’s performance and would usually lead to a rather disastrous outcome.

Fears are always present, that is the reality. And in order to overcome them, entrepreneurs should keep in mind that their goal is not to get rid it. Instead, they need to have the ability to transform the adrenaline that naturally arises from fears into an energy that can inspire them to move forward. Unmanaged, fear can be destructive. But with proper control, it could turn into a motivating force. 

In an address at the University of California at Santa Barbara, entrepreneur Seth Epstein – an owner of a popular clothing line and the Founder-CEO of broadcast design firm FUEL – talked about fear management and provided several exercises that could help entrepreneurs, first-time or not, harness their fears.

The exercises try to deal with common trepidations faced even by those who are not in entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, Epstein notes that following the suggested tasks would increase one’s chances of being a successful business owner. He said that in order to thrive and enhance their capacity to deal with problems, entrepreneurs must face and do things that they are afraid of.

Following are Epstein’s list of exercises to help startup owners manage their fears:

Go out on a date. Inviting someone to have dinner or watch a movie is one of the most common fears in town. This, therefore, should be on the top of the “face your fears” list. Unfortunately, this exercise is only for those who are still available.

Talk to strangers. People are usually afraid of conversing with unfamiliar people. This is understandable, considering the popular warning that parents often say to their children. Grown-ups, however, must keep in mind that it is important to talk to others, especially in social gatherings and other events.

Engage in an extreme challenge. A lot of people do not participate in extreme physical activities because they are afraid of falling, drowning, or simply losing control of themselves. If you want to know how to manage your fears, then start engaging in activities such as parachuting, bungee jumping, surfing, diving, etc.

Connect with our idol. Try to contact a very important person that you really admire. Look for his or her e-mail address or send a note via regular means. This does not only give you an opportunity to connect with your idol, it also prevents you from being intimidated whenever you face a high-profile person.

Go out and have an adventure. Participating in a challenging trip to an unfamiliar location will help you get used to unfamiliar circumstances and develop your resourcefulness – a very advantageous exercise for entrepreneurs.

Say yes to every opportunity for a week. People are afraid of grabbing opportunities because they are afraid that it will disrupt the status quo and will eventually lead to disasters. For a week, try to keep an open mind and say yes to every relatively safe opportunity that you come upon. This will help you discover things that you will never learn every time you say no.

 

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Working Without an Office: Can Business Startups Pull It Off?

office

One thing that would come to mind when we talk about business startups and small businesses is the idea of having a small office crammed with idealistic people who want to succeed in their chosen field.

In recent years, however, there has been an increase in the number of businesses function well despite the lack of an office. For the owners of these businesses, having a remote team is not so different from having a group of people work together in the same room. In fact, for many of them, they believe that these setups might even help in the success of their companies.

So what is the reality behind this trend? More importantly, can business startups really succeed if they adopt this kind of setup?

The answer, of course, is dependent on the nature of the business. Sometimes, businesses would require having a physical space where the employees can function efficiently. Others, meanwhile, are okay with the idea of working together via the cyberspace.

Entrepreneurs, therefore, should look into the status of the company before approving any plan of shutting down the office and hiring a remote team.

There are advantages in this kind of setup. For one, the company would not be limited to a group of people who live in the same city. They could even hire a competent consultant from another country since he would not be forced to go to an office every day.

Despite the advantages, there are downsides in not having an office. For instance, Continue reading “Working Without an Office: Can Business Startups Pull It Off?”

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Creating a Good Website

website

Making a website can be a daunting task. Still, anyone can create a beautiful and functional website with the right tools and guidance. Whether you are making it for personal use or a business, you should follow a few key steps to ensure that your website is effective and meets your goals.

Step 1: Choose a Platform

The first step choose a platform. Many different platforms are available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most popular platforms include WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace. When choosing a platform, consider your technical skills, budget, and the features you need for your website.

Step 2: Select a Domain Name and Hosting Provider

Once you have chosen a platform, the next step is to choose a domain name and hosting provider. Your domain name is the web address that people will use to access your website, so it’s important to select something memorable and relevant to your website’s content. Your hosting provider is the company that will store your website’s files and makes them available to visitors. Look for a hosting provider with reliable service, fast speeds, and excellent customer support.

Step 3: Plan Your Website

Before you start building your website, planning out your content and design is important. Consider what pages you will need, what content you will include on each page, and how you want it to look. It can be helpful to sketch out a rough design or create a wireframe to guide your design process.

Step 4: Choose a Template or Theme

Most platforms offer a variety of templates or themes that you can use as a starting point for your website. Choose a template or theme that fits your needs and customize it to match your brand and content. Remember that your website’s design should be consistent and visually appealing to visitors.

Step 5: Add Content

Once you have your website’s design, it’s time to add content. This can include text, images, videos, and other multimedia. Ensure your content is high-quality, relevant to your audience, and easy to read and understand.

Step 6: Optimize Your Website for Search Engines

Search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing your website to rank more increased in search engine results pages (SERPs). This can help you attract more visitors and increase your visibility online. Some key SEO strategies include using keywords, creating high-quality content, and optimizing your website’s structure and layout.

Step 7: Test and Launch Your Website

Before launching your website, it’s important to test it thoroughly to ensure everything works properly. Check for broken links, missing images, and other errors. Once you are confident that your website is ready, launch it and promote it to your audience.

Creating a website can be a time-consuming and challenging process. Still, with the right tools and guidance, anyone can create an effective website that meets their goals. By following these steps and focusing on creating high-quality content and a visually appealing design, you can create a website that stands out and attracts visitors.

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5Ps for Marketing your Home Business

Home

Running a home-based business comes with several benefits, among which include being your boss, choosing where to work from, and setting your hours. However, this does not mean it does not come with some challenges. You only experience success with a home business when you offer a quality product or service to a target market.

This might sound easy, but most often, business owners are ineffective and inconsistent in their marketing because they lack in-depth knowledge of the area. Having an understanding of how the five Ps work together and marketing mix will go a long way in helping you find your target market and enticing them to buy. The five Ps of marketing refers to Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and Place. If you want to understand and reach the target market for your home business.

The more you target and understand your consumers, the more effective the time and money you spend to reach them will be. Even more interesting, focusing on these 5Ps will give you an awareness of what is working and what is not when it comes to marketing your home business.

To help you achieve maximum results from your home business, we’ll explain these 5 Ps and how you can apply them to your home business.

Product

First P refers to the products and services you provide. You need to be able to tell your audience about what you’re trying to sell to them. Be clear and specific. What are the details of the service or the physical attributes of the product? Explain how the features and functions of your product or service positively affect your audience in specifics.

Even more, highlight what differentiates and sets what you provide apart from what your competitors offer. Develop the habit of considering your product as though you are an outside marketing consultant brought in to decide if it is the right business for the period. Ask crucial questions such as “Is your current offering or mix of products suitable and appropriate for the customers and market today?” Assessing your products and services honestly is extremely crucial to success as a home-based business owner.

Price

The second in the 5P formula pertains to what you charge for your product or service. Your pricing should be sufficient to cover the expenses you incur and also make a profit. But, it also has to fit in with what the market is willing to pay for.

To find a great pricing range, you should conduct thorough research to know what your competitors are charging. You want to make sure your prices are competitive, and that you are also not undervaluing your product.

Beyond these, you should also assess and keep assessing the prices of the products and services you offer to know if they are in tune with the current realities of the market. Sometimes, you might need to raise your prices. At other times, you might need to lower your prices. What’s more, you might even need to combine your offerings with special promotions and offers. You could even include free extra items that cost you very little and make your prices appear far more reasonable and attractive to your customers. Also, whenever you experience frustration with your pricing, be open to revisiting your prices.

Place

No matter how many consumers hear about your products or services, they won’t be able to buy if they don’t know how to find it. Where are your products and services are sold? How will you get your offerings to your clients and customers? For instance, do you distribute your products through an autoresponder system or are they digital goods sold online? Or do you utilize a third-party such as Amazon?

It is important to consider the buying habits of your consumers to know where your products should be sold. The key is reaching your potential customers where they like to spend time. Review the exact locations where your customer gets your products. Sometimes, what you need for a rapid increase in sales is a change of place. Besides, you can sell your product in various places. Many companies use a combination of direct selling, telemarketing, selling through mail order or catalog, selling in retail establishments or at trade shows, and selling as a joint venture with similar products.

Promotion

How does your target audience get to hear about your products and services? After figuring out the essentials, you have to figure out how you tell potential consumers and clients about your offerings, how you market and then sell to them. Know the best methods to promote your products and services. To do this successfully, you need to understand where your market can be found, such as print, social media, television, or radio. In your marketing messages, you can point out the problem your product or service solves.

However, you should always keep at the back of your mind that whatever marketing and sales method you are using today, they will stop working sooner or later. Sometimes you might be aware of why they stopped working, and at other times, you might not. Whichever way, you have to develop new marketing, advertising, sales offerings, approaches, and strategies.

People

Previously, we only had the four Ps of marketing, until this last factor was added. If you hire employees to help you with your home business, you have to be very selective about whom you choose. While the quality of your products or services will impact your sales, if your salesperson is rude, you will lose clients and customers. There is serious competition in the market today, and consumers have diverse choices. And they always opt for businesses that provide attentive, responsive, and quality customer service.

Bottomline

By employing the five 5Ps in your marketing strategy, you can effectively reach your target market with precise and clear messaging about your products and services. It would also help if you can put yourself in your customers’ shoes and try to picture the steps they would take to locate a product or service like yours and the information they’ll require to finally buy from you. Time and money are precious commodities, and using these 5 Ps in your home business ensures that you don’t waste them on unproductive marketing approaches.

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Things That a New Small Business Owner Must Expect

Business Owner

Many people dream about starting their own business, but very few are actually able to live their dreams by executing them, and even fewer make it past the first five years. This is mainly because a large number of times, some business owner don’t really know what to expect.

There are no words to describe what it feels like but in simple terms; it’s fun but scary at the same time. A large number of small businesses fail because of an inability to successfully make it past year one.

Many business gurus believe that with the right knowledge of what to expect, a new small business owner will know how to prepare for upcoming challenges. Here are a few things that any new small business owner should expect.

Be Ready to Hustle When You’re Tired

Isn’t that what being a small business owner is about? You may be thinking that as a small business owner, you can take a day off when you feel like it but that’s not the case. As the brains behind the entire operation, you need to hustle even when you feel like you’ve done enough. That’s the difference between being an employee and a business owner; you’ve never done enough.

There will always be paperwork that you need to sign, orders that you need to make and customers whom you need to talk to, especially in the first year. Just like in every other phase of life or an industry, the initial period is always make-or-break, and the end result highly depends upon how much work you put in.

You can spend each second checking and rechecking your plans and improving them, working on ideas and developing new strategies. After all, there’s so much on your plate (marketing, product development, vendor contracts and employee training)

You Can’t Make Every Customer Happy

It’s true that as a business owner, you need to retain a sense of balance in everything you do but when it comes to satisfaction, you can’t make everyone happy. As a small business owner, you’re bound to make quite a few customers unhappy and the truth is, you don’t really need to make everyone happy, either.

It’s important that you remember that the key is to have a consistent customer service policy and handling complaints carefully. If your product doesn’t impress a customer all that much, then the way you handle a complaint is sure to make them a loyal customer.

A major factor that differentiates your small business from that of a larger conglomerate’s is that you, as the owner, can give customers the attention they want, which is why they are likely to approach your brand in the first place.

Be the Master of All Trades

When you first thought of starting a business, you may have guessed that you’d only have to sign things and the wheels of your business would turn themselves. Wrong. In year one, you should expect to be able to do everything and know how every process works.

Along the way, you’ll think ‘they didn’t teach me this at business school’ as you try to find a good web hosting company for your company website or take aesthetic pictures of your products so you can post them on a social media account. You don’t learn everything about starting a business; you have to experience it hands-on.

From managing office operations during the day to writing content for your website at night, you’ll have to do most of it in the first year. You’ll be lucky to have friends or family who’ll be willing to help around but in year one, you can’t afford to hire many employees. In addition, even when you do get people on-board, you’ll have to know how to do things yourself before teaching them the basics.

Be Familiar with Laws

No this is where it gets interesting. Staring a small business will require you to be familiar with laws about hiring and taxes so that your business will genuinely be able to help people in the community by offering employment.

There are a number of regulations, laws, and licenses you need to know about before you can officially carry out operations as a business. In the beginning, you should expect to hire a lawyer for such needs because it’s impossible for you to know all the complex regulations that surround the startup of a small business.

This is crucial because no matter how hard you work on your business, it’s likely that even a small detail or legality can be held against you. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by investing in proper legal advice and obtaining all the licenses you require. Nevertheless, legal counsel isn’t cheap so you should expect to have enough financial resources.

There Will Be Some Bumps along the Road

Failure, no matter how big or small, is an inevitable part of running any business, whether big or small. You could make a product that doesn’t turn out as successful as you thought, your marketing strategy may backfire or worst-case scenario, you get a wave of negative feedback.

The first year won’t be failure-free but that doesn’t lessen your chances of reaching success. To keep yourself prepared for these situations, business experts advise that before you should quit your job, you need to have some savings. To be more specific, you should have enough money to support yourself for a year.

You need enough savings because no matter how well you plan the first year of your business, you can’t predict the future so there is always a chance that you might fail. There’s nothing wrong in preparing yourself for the worst-case scenario while planning for the best.

Conclusion

These are just some of the things that every small business owner must expect, especially during the first year after launching their business. Of course, no amount of expectation and preparedness can actually make you battle-ready to start a business but knowing a few of the most common symptoms will help you diagnose and reassure yourself that this is supposed to happen.

 

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Profitable Small Businesses that are Worthy of Your Investment

Investment

Starting up a business is a challenge. Whether it is small or big, you need to follow a series of steps along with different strategies to make it a profitable venture. To make a business worthy of your investment, it is necessary to perform thorough research on each aspect such as a business idea, market, competitors, and finances etc.

Once you find the best idea, your next step should be based on logistics of your business along with a well-crafted plan. These steps are fundamental and crucial. This way, you will create a strong base for your business as well.

So, if you are looking for a small startup that is worthy of your investment, have a look at these 10 fantastic business ideas.

1.    Real Estate Broker

Working as an intermediary between sellers and buyers, real estate brokerage is one the most profitable businesses. You will only require a brokerage license. This is also a cost-effective business idea, which means you can run it without an office as well.

However, you need to know the industry and your competitors before beginning and then you are good to go. Plus, real estate brokering is all about contacts; make sure lots of people know about your business so you can achieve your milestones.

2.    Catering Service

Catering is ideal if you are looking for a small but profitable business as you can provide these services from your home. Many people and even businesses do not think twice to pay high-quality caters. With reliable catering services, you are sure to make a handsome profit, especially on different special occasions.

If you are a hard worker and determined to build a successful small business, catering seems a decent business idea.

3.    Online Tutor

Online tutoring involves creating professional social media profiles and letting people know about your skills. Whether you love to play musical instruments or know different languages, you can teach anything online and become an online tutor.

Online tutoring neither requires extra expenses nor time. So, you can consider it if you can speak fluent French or play different piano tunes.

4.    Food Truck

Food always stays in demand and attracts people. Therefore, you can never go wrong with a food truck, especially if you provide high-quality food and beverages. Take note that opening a small restaurant requires a considerable amount of money.

Plus, there is a risk of loss because of intense competition in the food industry. In this case, a food truck seems an interesting idea. You do not need space or extra staff which makes it a profitable small startup venture.

5.    Personal Trainer

People who love to stay fit and healthy never mind paying their personal fitness trainer. Also, getting certification in personal training is affordable as well. Thus, you can get the required qualification and start offering personal training services.

This is one of the small businesses that are worthy of your investment as in current times people know the significance of a healthy lifestyle. Since this industry is competitive, you should use the internet to market your services and to build your client network.

6.    Web Designing

Technology companies are always looking for web designers who can make top-notch websites. Web designing entails developing value-driven, intuitive and beautiful websites.

If you have got an eye for website designing, you can offer these services to various companies and brands and start your web designing business. If you are new to this field, you can even learn the basics of website crafting and become a pro. Moreover, there are many online courses available that can teach the latest website trends as well.

7.    Social Media Marketer

Social media platforms have become a part of our daily life. Not only this, many people are running their businesses online on these platforms. You can start marketing on your social media profiles as well. For instance, you can use your Instagram account for marketing purposes.

All you need to do is decide the type of content you are willing to share such as technology, beauty, or health etc. and build up a considerable following on your account. Brands often look for social media accounts with a huge following to market their products. If your content is related to their business, they are likely to approach you.

8.    Local Business Consultant

New startups are always in demand of consultants who can solve problems related to their business and provide solid advice. Therefore, if you have developed the right skills or are a pro in your industry, you can become a consultant.

Whether you are a business strategist, marketer, or have other skills, feel free to offer your services to local businesses. Plus, you can take help from online courses on how to get clients and build your brand that is worth your investment.

9.    Travel Consultant

You can turn your love for traveling into a profitable small business. You can begin by creating official groups on Facebook or LinkedIn. This is an effective way to attract travel enthusiasts. In the group, you can share cheap flight rates and even recommendations for next traveling destinations.

Travelers are always in search of different recommendations to explore different places. In this case, they can count on you and you can teach them how to turn their dream trip into a reality.

10.    Become a Photographer

Turning your skills into a small profitable business is easy if you have a passion for photography and you own a camera. All you need to do is learn top-notch editing skills which are crucial in this industry along with finding a suitable niche, such as food photography or travel photography etc.

To build an impressive online portfolio, you should do photo-shoots frequently so people will know about your skills. For this, you should not hesitate to capture a few photographs for free. With a professional portfolio, you are likely to get clients in a short time.

Bottom Line

There are plenty of ideas that are worthy of your investment. However, the competition in different industries can give you a tough time. You can overcome this part if you focus on the quality of your services.

 

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The Building Blocks for Great Marketing Copy

Marketing

Marketers and copywriters craft the best marketing copy to guarantee more conversions and sales.

But how do you write the best copy that convinces even the most demanding consumers?

What is Marketing?

Marketing refers to creating the image a business wants to portray to their consumers and stakeholders. Marketing is all about representing your image and establishing your unique identity in the market.

Marketing content is not restricted to your products and services. A company can market its work culture to attract the best pool of talented employees. A business can also market its eco-friendly operations to show that they care for the environment we live in.

Common formats of marketing copy include:

  • Blogs
  • eBooks
  • Social media posts
  • Landing pages
  • Whitepapers
  • Video scripts
  • Infographics
  • Paid ad copy
  • CTA copy
  • Email
  • Case studies
  • Webinars

Now that you know what marketing copy is all about, here are the best ways to write an attention-grabbing marketing copy.

Focus on a Single Message

The best copy revolves around a single subject. While copywriters and marketing gurus are multi-taskers, they strongly recommend focusing on one message that is the crux of your campaign.

For instance, if you are writing a copy for a company that sells Bluetooth earphones along with other accessories, such as speakers, create unique content for each product. Whether you’re writing a blog post or creating a landing page, there should be separate information available for every product.

Brainstorm

There’s no copy without understanding the philosophy behind producing and selling a product. If you run a small business, here are a few factors to consider:

  • What are your strengths?
  • Why is your product different than other products in the market?
  • How do you aim to serve your consumers?
  • What are the channels or mediums that you want to use for your marketing campaigns?

Once you’ve identified the goals you want to accomplish with your copy, crafting the best marketing copy becomes easier. The best way to capture your audience is to address a current problem that needs to be dealt right away.

If you’re a web design and development company, base your marketing copy on statistics that reveal how much online traffic has shifted to mobile devices. This way you can pitch companies that are in need of responsible websites.

Keep it simple

No need to complicate things when all your consumers want to read is simple information. Owing to an exponentially decreasing attention span of today’s busy online visitors, the simplest copy gets the most views and shares. This is because an average user is unaware of the technical terms and jargon you might be tempted to use in our copy.

Keep it short and simple and avoid long-run sentences. Make sure you come up with adjective-rich copy that sums ups the best part of your products in just one word.

Use catchy headlines

Boring headlines and clichés are just a big turn-off.

What’s marketing without any creativity? Interesting headlines ignite interest and push your audience to skim through a blog post or open an email. A few effective ways to create your headlines are:

  • Pose a question to pique your visitors’ interest
  • Compile “Top 10” like lists related to your products and services
  • Include a current or trending subject in your headline
  • Make an irresistible offer if you’re writing a copy for your social media pages

Value-added services include complementary products and discounted services to first-time and loyal customers. We all love free offers and consumers are always looking for something they can try out for free before investing. The fun part is that a great copy makes even the smallest of offers tempting and popular among customers.

Target the Fearful Customer

Copywriters are known to play off the customers’ fears. For instance, if you’re marketing an insect repellent spray, make your reader imagine a situation where his bed is infested with bed bugs. Nobody wants to imagine ugly crawling insects making their way to their children’s beds.

You’re not doing anything wrong here. You’re just identifying a current or potential problem and offering a solution. Basically, you’re playing off the masses. Needless to say, this is one of the best ways to push more sales.

Again, do your home work to identify what troubles your target audience. What drives them during the day and what keeps them up all night.

Convince not Converse

A customer only buys a product once he’s convinced that the product is going to solve his or her problem. Let’s say you are writing a copy to sell a dietary supplement. Listing ingredients and compounds is not enough to lure someone into buying the supplement.

Make sure you also list the benefits of each ingredient. Even if your marketing copy proclaims that a product solves a specific problem, consumers will remain doubtful. However, if you tell them ‘how’ it takes care of their problem, you convince challenging customers.

Call to Action

All great marketing copies come down to a clearly visible call to action. One deadly mistake that most marketers and copywriters commit is to keep CTA at the bottom of the page. While placing the call to action button in the end is a common practice, there is no fixed rule that prevents you from initiating customer activity during any part of your copy.

Whether it’s providing free consultation, receiving a free eBook or signing up for a newsletter, remember to incorporate CTA’s throughout your copy.

Test your copy

There are plenty of ways to test your marketing copy. The best method to track success is to conduct A/B tests. These tests can be done for any landing page, blog post or infographic. A/B testing helps businesses expand their outreach to a wider audience. It also helps marketing teams tweak suitable changes to their current and future campaigns.

Final Thoughts

Today’s smart consumers can tell the difference between functional and fad products. Great marketing stems from incredible products. If your products don’t add any value to your customers’ lives, not even the best marketing copy can save you. Focus on creating amazing products and let your marketing copy take your business to new heights of success.

Who we are:  Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB rated over 10+ years. Access our network of Investors, get instantly matched with a Lender, or get a business plan by visiting us Funded.com

You can review our featured partners to help your success with your business or project.