Contributed Post | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

The Hardest Parts Of Running An Online Business

July 25, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

When you have an online business, you’ve got a lot to keep up with: a whole roster of clients and their details to keep secure on a server, a 24/7 customer complaint line that can build up when you’ve got service form after form to get through, and orders to keep track of day in and day out until they reach the customer on the other side of the world. You can see there’s a lot there a physical business won’t have to deal with on a regular basis!

So all in all, it’s hard to run an online business, especially if you’re doing it alone. But it’s a worthy feat filled with risk and reward that is attractive to a lot of people in the corporate world. And if you’re considering becoming one of those people, here’s a couple of the hardest parts you’ll have to cope with.

Running an online business won’t be as easy as you think, but you can always prepare yourself well for the numerous difficulties in a virtual marketplace.

Running an Online Business

Delivery Can Be Unreliable

No matter the amount of shipping containers you have to your name, there’s no guarantee you’re always going to have the room to send out all the items you need to at once, and there’s no guarantee your products are going to have a safe trip. And that’s something that can really hurt a business, and why any reliable online retailer is going to clearly label their refunds and returns policy.

But you can package up these parcels as best you can, and make sure the delivery times are always kept to a minimum to make sure a customer’s item is never too long in transit. Of course a deal like this can be hard to cut with couriers and other services, but it’s going to be worth it considering the amount of money you’ll save in having to send out replacement products. Make sure you’re investing your shipping costs properly.

You Can’t Always Be Available

When you’re running a business that seems to be available 24/7, seeing as the face of it is on the internet, with a flashy homepage to draw customers in, the customers expect you to be just as available whenever they want you. This is different to a more traditional business, with opening and closing times for them to shop by; it’s why a lot of negative reviews can seemingly come out of nowhere.

People can be impatient, and there’s not a lot you can do to fix this. But you can make your phone line and customer service chat hours clearly labelled and available to anyone who scours your homepage. When you do this, you’re not going to get any errant calls out of hours, and you’re going to get far less aggro from customers who expected you to answer their query at 9 o’clock at night.

If you’ve got an online company, congratulations on all your hard work; here’s to easier business!

Can You Make Money With A Magazine?

July 24, 2018 by Contributed Post 3 Comments

Magazines have been around for years now. Think of just about any niche or topic, and there’s likely a magazine out there dedicated to it. Knitting? Check. Cars? Check. Celebrity culture? Check. These magazines provide readers with valuable information each week or each month, and not only that, they make a profit. They can be big business.

You’d think that people are put off creating their own magazines these days, what with the rise of blogs and the online world, however, magazines are still going strong. Around 1,000 new magazines are launched every month. 9 out of 10 new magazines fail. Even Benjamin Franklin’s own magazine, ‘General Magazine’, was cancelled after size issues.

They are certainly tough business – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it if this is something you want to do. With your magazine you can share information on a topic you’re passionate about, as well as make a living, providing it’s successful. The three ways that magazines make money are circulation and subscription, classified advertising and print advertising.

So, can you make money with a magazine? Yes – but read this first.

Ways Of Making Money With Your Magazine

Gaining Subscriptions

Buying a single magazine may help to make a little money for the publisher, however, when you factor in things like cost to make the magazine, as well as transport to the news stand or store, they actually aren’t making much money at all. Subscriptions are the most effective way for magazines to make money, as they are cutting out the middleman and getting the publication to the consumer.

Companies also collect subscribers addresses, which can be used to advertise new products of interest or to encourage to re-subscribe.

Classified ads can be quite expensive for companies to purchase, even in small time magazines. Magazines also usually allow advertisers to take advantage of unused space in the front and back cover. This helps to fill up pages, make the magazine look better, and allow them to make the most money.

Magazine Business

Knowing The Risk And The Cost

It is estimated that 86% of adults read magazines, so if you create something compelling enough, there’s a good chance that people will buy it. However, having a solid plan and a great idea for your magazine is important. In terms of other business startups, it can be inexpensive. Experts claim you could get your first copy to stands for as little as $15,000. However, it’s then up to you to sell that magazine and keep it profitable so you can continue making a profit and making the magazine. It takes work.

Doing your homework and planning well will give you a better chance of survival. Knowing the magazine business is essential. Read books, check out websites and associations, and head to professional gatherings. Learn as much as you can. Even spend a little more time at the newsstand checking out the magazines there! Make sure that what you provide is totally unique.

Only after doing as much research as possible should you create your business plan. Make sure you cover industry analysis, your competition, your ideas for marketing, finances, and other relevant information. This will take time, and isn’t the sexiest part of coming up with a magazine, but it can indicate your commitment levels.

It’s important to note that even once you’ve launched your magazine, done all of the advertising work and done pretty much everything you can, you can’t expect it to fly off the shelves. A 40% sell rate considered excellent when it comes to newsstands. Make sure you know your numbers and figures so you don’t get disappointed.

This isn’t just about your passion. It’s a business, and all successful magazine businesses were founded with a plan. Knowing your figures and knowing the magazine business, not just the niche you want to start a magazine on, is a must.

Getting The Finances Together

Funding for your magazine is going to be one of the hardest things to secure. Getting funding is much easier than a prototype, however, you’re going to need money for a prototype too. It can be a good idea to use your own money to begin with, and only secure funding once you’ve proven that you’re willing to invest in this yourself. Many people who go about creating their first magazine use personal investment, get a small loan, and even ask friends and family.

Printing, paper, and postage are the biggest expenses when starting a magazine, so keep that in mind. Figures will depend on publication frequency and circulation of course, so we can’t give you an exact here. It’s up to you to do the math.

Now, it can take 6-12 months before you see any cash returns, so cash flow is key. This is why most magazine entrepreneurs fail; because they didn’t think about how long it would take to get money back in the bank. They did all they could, came up with a great magazine and a great plan, but they didn’t think about cash flow. You need to plan for slow cash flow in the beginning so you can keep things going while you’re waiting to turn a profit.

Build Your Prototype

A prototype is going to look much more attractive to advertisers and investors. It doesn’t have to be too complicated – this doesn’t need to be the legitimate first copy of your magazine. It should have the design and substance of the magazine overall, and display your level of commitment to getting it off the ground.

Making Sure You Attract Advertisers

Making sure you’re landing big advertisers means finding them first. It takes work. You can contact regional advertisers directly to begin with, but be ready for a yes by having everything you need ready for your sales pitch. Prepare yourself by practicing regularly.

Using The Internet

Now, people think because they are starting a physical magazine, they don’t need to think about the internet. This is false. The internet is still important, especially when it comes to things like media kits, gaining subscriptions, ads, and content. It has a lot of potential to help you to build your brand, spread news of your magazine, and more. Don’t be afraid of the internet or snub it, because you’ll miss out big time. Be smart and know just how to use it to your advantage.

You can only go to print when you’ve figured out all of these elements. You’ll also want to look at sites like www.printsafari.com so you know exactly what size your magazine will be – have every single thing in place so all that needs to be done is print your magazine. It should be real in your head before it’s real in the physical.

Remember, it’s up to you whether you wait until you have all of the cash you think you need, or you start with what you can get and cross your fingers. You may have to take a leap of faith, like manay magazine entrepreneurs do. It’ll mean using the money you do make smartly, making frugal decisions, and keeping track of absolutely everything. However, getting started sooner is often better than waiting.

Conclusion:

Yes, you can make money with a magazine. However, you need to consistently prove your level of commitment. Putting your own money into the magazine, building prototypes, searching for advertising, and making sure you utilize the internet are all important aspects of getting it off the ground.

Good luck!

How to Personalize Your Online Store and Improve Customer Experience

July 24, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Running an online business is challenging. You will have to make sure that you are updating your offers, reaching out to your customers, and are differentiating yourself in the marketplace. If you have an online store, you have to choose the right platform, shopping cart software, plugins, and personalization options. Not all online retail companies make it on the internet, and this is due to the lack of branding and customer engagement. Personalizing your online store will have several benefits, and automating your customer service while measuring satisfaction can get you noticed on the internet. Find out more below.

Product Images

You need to appear professional in whatever you do online to be trusted by new visitors. While your graphics and blog posts matter, after all, in eCommerce, your potential clients will be more interested in what you have on offer. Product photography is a skill that requires specialized knowledge and equipment. If you are not selling other people’s products, and are creating personalized items for clients, you might want to look into the in-house product photography cost calculations, so you will be able to work out your profit margins. Calculate the cost of hiring the equipment, specialist, processing your images, and getting the right studio that will help you create stunning images.

Quirky Descriptions

When it comes to product descriptions, there are some standards. You will have to be professional and deliver all the important information for your visitors, However, there is no reason why you cannot use your own brand’s voice when creating these descriptions. Talk about your personal experience, make the products appear unique and desirable, and use this space to build your brand persona. Find your voice and personalize your content to engage with your market.

Social Media Integration

People today shop on social media more than you would think. If you don’t integrate social media posts and marketing in your website, you are losing out. In case your site was designed a few years ago, it might be time to make redesign your pages and make them responsive. Whether you want people to like your Facebook page, follow you on Instagram or Twitter, you need to let them know on your site that you are present on these platforms. Add your latest post and allow your website visitors to ask questions through social media messaging.

Profile Creation

If you allow your customers to personalize their own experiences, you are instantly delivering more value than your competition. While you will need to get a security feature and an SSL certificate to create membership options, your brand and your customers will benefit from the feature. People can favorite items, save them for later, add notes, recommend products through social media, and proudly share their purchases with their friends. Add this feature to your online store, and you will be able to deliver a better service.

Mobile Friendly Features

An increasing number of people now shop online, too. Instead of ignoring the mobile traffic, you will have to accommodate it. Get a popup that offers instant discounts, integrate online payment services and mobile payment, and create an app so your visitors can stay in touch with your brand. No matter if you are selling high ticket items, fashion accessories, or birthday gifts, you want individuals to find exactly what they are looking for without having to click too many buttons on their phones. Add a call now feature and a messaging app to your mobile site, so they can engage with your online store.

Customer Reviews

One of the main drivers of buyer decisions today is credibility. You will need to have enough social proof for people to trust you with their business. If you can make it easy, simple, and fast to leave a feedback, and can reward your customers for taking their time, they will do the word-of-mouth marketing for you. Encourage them to rate their latest purchases, and set up a reward point system that gives them discounts for their reviews. The more social proof you have out there there more likely your new website visitors will be converted into buyers.

Color Psychology

Whatever your brand represents, you can communicate through colors. When talking to a web designer about your new website, it is important to pay attention to the color scheme and the buttons, banners, and popups. The color needs to reflect trustworthiness and professionalism. Nobody is interested in a shop that doesn’t even have a color scheme and the text is hard to read. Green is likely to release the anxiety of your website visitors, while red communicated urgency and exclusivity. Choose a scheme that represents your brand’s style and personality.

Stock Updates

To improve your visitors’ experience, it is also important that you put a good inventory management system in place. There are plenty of open source software and cloud-based apps that will allow you to update the stock and give your visitors an updated information on when the item can be expected to be delivered to them. There’s nothing worse than ordering an item, paying for it, and finding out that you have to wait two weeks for delivery.

Contact Options

One of the most important parts of your website is the contact page. However, you don’t want to sit by the computer 24/7, waiting for people to get in touch. You have two options. First, you can integrate a system that will answer queries automatically, however, this can be expensive to develop. Alternatively, you could find a virtual assistant or two to manage your online chat, provided that there’s enough traffic to your web store, so you never lose a customer again. It is also crucial that you take your time developing your FAQ page, so your visitors can find the answers to their questions without having to contact you.

Self-service Features

In some cases, you might want people to do the shopping and research themselves. Allow them to create their profile, post updates on your site, and share their latest purchase details. They can even change the color or the text size on their mobile or desktop computer, so they can make the most out of their shopping experiences. If you want to further improve customer experience, you could even let them filter the products based on their budget, needs, and location.

Loyalty Discounts

It is always easier and cheaper to look after your existing customers than to find new ones. This means that your clients need to feel valued and respected. If you can add a loyalty discount scheme to your online store, and market it the right way, you will be able to encourage your customers to come back and buy from you again. Utilize newsletters and social media accounts to create awareness about your program. Clearly explain the benefits of joining the site and signing up for the updates via the site or email.

Easy Sharing

One of the latest features that many online store owners forget to implement is videos, images, and infographics that are easy to share. Make every piece of content shareable on your website, so you can benefit from the traffic your existing customers are driving to your site. Add a sharing button to every page you have, every item photo and description, so you can engage with your visitors’ and customers’ friends and social media connections for free.

Test the Buttons

To make sure that your website works as well as you want it to, you will have to regularly test the buttons and the customer experience. Put yourself in the shoes of your website visitor, and map their journey. It is also important that you automate your marketing messages and your sales funnels, so you can convert more visitors into returning customers. Check the journey of your customer from the first time they land on your site until they have ordered. Make sure you follow up orders and communicate clearly.

Build Trust

One of the main reasons why most online stores don’t make it is that they don’t actively manage their brand’s reputation and build trust. Be honest, open, and communicate with your clients. Don’t neglect your social media followers, and do send out updates. If you are going on holiday or there are expected delays in your delivery schedule, let them know before they hit the order button. Deal with complaints quickly and efficiently, and contact customers personally if necessary. Get brand ambassadors and customers on board to help you build a strong brand by providing honest reviews.

If you are looking to sell goods through the internet, your biggest challenge will be to make people find you. Further, you will have to get your visitors to engage with your brand, communicate with you, and trust you enough to place an order. It is important that you pay attention to the functionality and appearance of your site, manage your online reputation, and show your buyers how valued they are, so you can benefit from increased visibility and word-of-mouth advertising.

How To Take A Step Back From A Stressful Career

July 24, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Is your job stressful? Do you find yourself working later hours, feeling tired and generally dissatisfied with your job? It’s a common feeling, and many people who have entered high-pressure careers soon find themselves wanting to take a step back.

Taking a step back doesn’t have to mean completely giving up your career. There are ways you can regain your work/life balance without having to sacrifice everything you’ve worked hard to achieve. Take control of your career and enjoy less stress with these suggestions for taking a step back.

Take a career break

It’s easier than you think to take a formal career break from work. Many employers have a policy that allows a career break of up to a year, which is common for mothers on maternity leave or those looking to pursue other options. Provided you’ve got the savings to cover you for a year, you can enjoy a career break to help you get your life back on track and take an extended holiday. When the year is up, you’ll hopefully realise what’s important in life and adopt a new approach to your working life.

Reduce your hours

Do you need to work as many hours as you are? Perhaps going part-time or trying flexible working could help you ease the stress of your career. High-pressure professions such as doctor or lawyer come with a lot of hours, but there are opportunities to take on part-time working.There will be times when life forces us to think about just how much work and time we are giving to our employer. If a parent or loved one is getting older and they need more support, you may need to reduce your hours to be a caregiver for elderly relatives or loved ones. Family should come first. Speak to your manager about reducing your hours and enjoy taking a step back while you free up more time to focus on your life outside of work.

Go freelance

Freelancing is becoming more and more popular as people look to design their own working lives. When going freelance, you start working for yourself and get to choose your own working hours and projects – leading to greater job satisfaction. Make the smooth transition into freelance to help you regain control of your career. As you approach retirement, freelancing can be a great way to step back and enjoy your last working years. Start off with a side hustle to see how things work out, before making the move into full-time freelancing.

Try something else

If your only option is to take a complete step back from your career, you should go for it. After years of working hard in one profession, choosing something with less stress and less responsibility can help you be happier while still giving you purpose. If you love being on the open road, consider truck driving as a new career – you’ll need a heavy rigid truck licence, but it’ll be worth it for a change of pace. Find something you enjoy that you know can pay your bills and don’t be afraid to sacrifice your career for your happiness.

Most of us deal with stress in our jobs, but if it’s getting too much, you need to make a change. Look at your available options for stepping back from your career to achieve that work/life balance that will keep your stress levels down and leave you happier in your job.

3 Tips For Developing a Killer Website as a Freelancer

July 23, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Website Marketing

There’s a lot that goes into making a success of yourself as a freelancer. You’ve got to develop a good collection of professional contacts who can confirm your credentials, you need to be devastatingly good at time-management, so as to avoid the crisis that all too often strikes new freelancers — the realisation that no one is going to check up on them, and the subsequent lapse into mass procrastination — and more.

One thing that all expert freelancers will agree on, however, is that having a good website — a killer website, in fact — is critical in playing the game the right way, winning clients, and being taken seriously in whatever field you plan to work in.

After all, in the digital age, a website is kind of like a store-front, a billboard, and a recommendation, all built into one.

Here are some tips for developing a killer website as a freelancer.

Don’t be afraid of spending money where necessary

As a freelancer, you should certainly be wary of the idea that throwing money at a problem will make it go away. You do, inevitably, have to put in a certain amount of hard work in order to secure success.

That being said, there are areas of your professional life where you simply do need to spend money “in order to make money”, and where trying to be too frugal can really do you harm.

One of these areas is your website, and web presence, generally. It may be a good investment for you to buy network monitoring software, but it’s certainly essential that you hire a professional website designer if you, yourself, aren’t able to create a polished and professional site.

Be ruthlessly honest with yourself here. An amateurish looking website can do your professional image a world of harm.

Convey your message with clarity and a good narrative

A website is, fundamentally, a platform for communicating directly with your target audience. It’s the first impression you make, and the chance you get to pitch them your services before they wander off to another corner of the internet.

For these reasonings, crafting the right narrative on your site is essential. You need to distil your message, and put it out there, in a way that is directly appealing and enticing to your prospects.

Think about what your target market wants and needs, and position yourself as the person who understands their struggle, and has the right solution at hand.

Include professional photos, testimonials, and links from clients

Testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools you have at your disposal, so you’d better begin accumulating them as early as possible, even if that means doing a free project for a client in exchange for a sample piece for your portfolio, and a testimonial from them.

A good testimonial pre-qualifies you to all your other prospective clients, and helps to build confidence in you.

But don’t even dream of faking testimonials, or of doing what some people do, and using text-only testimonials on your site attributed to people like “Bob”.

Your testimonials need to include pictures of the people who gave them, along with their job descriptions, and links to their company websites.