Emma Grace Brown | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

Is a Career in Commercial Real Estate Development Right for You?

July 27, 2022 by Emma Grace Brown Leave a Comment

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The prospect of moving into the highly-

competitive world of commercial real estate development may be an intimidating one. However, it doesn’t have to be, and there is nothing wrong with at least considering a new career, especially if you have experience in construction or real estate. Here’s some insight on how to break into this fast-paced profession.

Learn About Your Options

First, it’s important to know that you can have a career in commercial real estate development without actually being a developer. There are plenty of different careers that can help you enhance your family’s income and fulfill your life. Real estate company Crexi lists appraisal, asset management, and investor communications as a few of these.

Obtain Your License

You might want to start by becoming a commercial real estate agent. For this, you’ll need to obtain your license, which will have different eligibility requirements, depending on your state. You also have to take a pre-licensure course, pass your exams, and then find a brokerage that’s willing to hire you right out of school.

Get Familiar With Safety Protocols Like Lighting

There are dozens of ways to violate safety standards, and you should be familiar with both what is legally required and extra things you can do to keep your clients happy. One example, adding lighting in the parking garage. Parking garages are, by nature, dark, scary, and usually accessible to the public. The more light you can provide, the better off your clients staff and/or residents will be. A parking garage is ideal for a canopy or tunnel lighting system, which can help drivers and pedestrians alike see where they’re going. This can reduce accidents and adds to other measures to reduce crime.

Understand Marketing

Any time you’re building a new business, you have to create marketing materials. Creating a real estate development firm is no different. Start with an excellent logo, can be created online with a free or paid logo making software. Even if you don’t have visual design experience, it will have access to lots of complementary icons, text, and colors that can help you create the perfect brand for your new business. Remember, as Tailor Brands explains, the purpose of the logo is to grab attention, create a strong first impression, and to bolster your brand identity.

Understand Local Laws

Commercial real estate is full of legal issues that can stop some less-than-enthusiastic future developers in their tracks. We tell you this not to scare you off, but so that you are positioned to be more aware of the subtle ins and outs of commercial real estate. GetLegal offers lots of real estate resources, including information on real estate finance, land-use, construction law, and tenancy.

If the idea of making $3 million in gross profit every year sounds appealing, you might be motivated to begin a career in real estate development. But, you can’t let money alone decide if you are ready for a new career. You also have to be familiar with everything from laws to lighting and safety to marketing if you want to be successful. If you’re willing to do the research, go through the proper channels, and learn the ins and outs, you might just find the commercial real estate was your calling all along.
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5 Essential Business Promotion Tips for Senior Entrepreneurs

July 6, 2022 by Emma Grace Brown Leave a Comment

Maybe you’re thinking about retiring in the next few years, or perhaps you’ve just retired recently. Either way, you might be wondering how you could go about earning some side income when you’re no longer working full-time. Here are a few tips to help senior entrepreneurs get started on the path of business ownership.

Conduct Market Research

Perhaps you have a particular business idea in mind, but you’re not sure who your customer would be. Conducting market research can help you answer this crucial question. Get in touch with people you know who use products or services similar to the ones you plan to offer. Ask them how they discovered the companies they patronize. Was it through word of mouth, an internet search, a direct mail flier, or some other method? Their responses can help you determine which marketing techniques to prioritize.

Focus on Networking

In addition to talking to friends and family who might be interested in supporting your future company, you can engage in other networking efforts. For instance, Olympia Benefits states that networking can help you generate business leads, learn about new trends in your industry, and make new friends who can support you as an entrepreneur. You can never predict when you’ll bump into someone who could let you in on a new business venture! You may want to attend local conferences or workshops or join networking groups online.

Join Your Chamber of Commerce

Becoming a member of your local chamber of commerce is also a great way to network! Why should you join your city’s chamber? OnlineMBA states that you’ll be invited to events with other entrepreneurs, and you’ll generally have the chance to promote your business in marketing materials produced by the chamber. You’ll also have access to member directories, which you can use for lead generation and general networking purposes.

Print Marketing

Print marketing has not gone out of style! No matter what kind of business you’re running, you can reach new customers through a print marketing strategy. You can design direct mailers, place ads in local newspapers or other publications, and even put up business cards on coffee shop bulletin boards. In order to best target your print marketing strategy, take some time to think about where your typical customers congregate in person. You want to make sure that the right people are seeing your marketing materials.

Digital Marketing

Today, plenty of seniors are very tech-savvy, and entrepreneurial retirees leverage various digital marketing techniques to grow their businesses! Even if you don’t feel very confident in your tech skills just yet, you can ask a younger relative for assistance, or you could look into digital marketing courses through a local community college or online university.

You can also outsource certain projects or tasks to contractors. For instance, you could hire a web designer to build a company website for you, or you could hire a social media manager to schedule content for these platforms and engage with your followers. Remember, part of being an entrepreneur is being willing to learn as you go, so ask questions about tech platforms that you’re not familiar with. Within a few months, you’ll feel much more comfortable navigating different digital marketing methods.

You can also utilize some free tools as well. For instance, you can design your own logo or business card using online tools. Or you can utilize a banner generator to create an eye-catching image or advertisement on your site. Select an editable template and personalize it with your own images, design assets, and text.

The prospect of running a business in your golden years can be exciting! You don’t have to wait until you’re officially retired to start making business plans, either – you can get the wheels in motion now. With these tips, you’ll be ready to launch a business and make extra income as a senior.

Whether you need to create a stellar resume or just need to showcase your talents and skills, Mike McRitchie can help you move to the next level in your career or business!

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Finding Work While in Recovery

June 22, 2022 by Emma Grace Brown Leave a Comment

When you’re searching for that first job opportunity after a stint in recovery, you need to take it one day at a time. There’s plenty to do in the interim to keep a steady flow of income, you just have to be clever about finding those opportunities. You’ve worked at creating a new beginning, and have all the tools at your fingertips to navigate your emotions if you feel overwhelmed. There are a lot of jobs out there; you just have to put in the work. Here are some tips to get you started.

Creating an Appealing Resume

Your first step to finding work is to create a resume that stands out.

Use Canva. The free online graphic design program contains hundreds of modern resume templates that can be modified and downloaded as PDFs.
Hire a resume writer. A skilled resume writer like Mike McRitchie can customize your resume to make sure it’s industry-specific.
Contact a job agency. A local agency will have plenty of handy tips and hints about how to create the perfect resume. While you’re there, establish a relationship and get yourself on their books.

Part-Time Job Ideas

After your time in rehab, it’s essential to find work that feeds your soul and pays the bills. Don’t sign up for a job if it goes against the work you’ve done on yourself in recovery. Your recovery is—and always will be—your priority. Don’t take on anything you can’t handle, especially when you’re at the beginning of your recovery. Take into consideration that part-time work that fills the gaps can often lead to new career interests and your first major job opportunity.

These part-time gigs usually pay well and might be a good place to start:

House sitting. Contact friends and family or look on notice boards for house-sitting jobs. Some people have made a career of house sitting.
Dog walking. If you’re an animal lover, consider dog walking. Animals have a naturally therapeutic effect and teach humans about responsibility.
Counseling. With your experience in rehab and understanding of common struggles, consider helping others find their way.
Online teacher. There’s a number of free TEFL courses online that will qualify you for becoming an online English teacher and most sites that offer them feature job boards.
Content writer. If you have a passion for writing, then consider becoming a freelance content writer. You can create a profile on one of the several reliable writing platforms out there, and search the job boards for work.
Teacher’s assistant. Consider completing your 10-month college program to become a teacher’s aide. This is a great entry into the field of teaching if that’s a path you’d like to follow.
Transcription services. If you have plenty of writing and editing skills, plus a good headset and computer, you can get paid to translate audio files into text.

Start Your Own Business

It’s not as tough as you think! All you need is some dedication and hard work. To get started, research your target market, choose a business name and structure, and determine your funding needs.

Take advantage of helpful tools and software. For example, if you’re in the construction industry, cloud construction software can help you manage your jobs, payroll, and finances. Look for software that also allows you to categorize income and expense reports so you can gain insights into your business’s financial health.

Seeking New Opportunities

As you search for work, be open to new ideas and opportunities. Always be mindful that sometimes what you want is not what you need. Keep pushing and trying, and don’t close any doors. Do your research before interviewing with potential employers or job agencies, and you’ll be back on top in no time.