Author Archive for Christopher Haymon

Leaving college and entering the “real world,” Christopher Haymon learned a valuable lesson in the perils of not budgeting or saving. He writes about finances in his spare time in an effort to help others. He created Adulting Digest to help others who need help navigating the world of adult finances

rss feed

How to Handle Your Business Marketing In-House

May 2, 20220 Comments
Share

How to Handle Your Business Marketing In-House

Countless marketing strategies have proven to work for companies worldwide. But if you’re like most business owners, you don’t have unlimited time or money to spend on building a juggernaut marketing department of new employees.

Fortunately, you don’t have to. As long as you and your team learn marketing basics, you can develop effective strategies that take your company to the next level. Defining your goals and target market, identifying what your customers want, and utilizing online marketing are just a few ways to set your team up to flourish. Below, we’ve outlined the fundamentals of any successful marketing strategy.

What Are Channels?

You will often see two terms related to marketing: “channels” and “messaging.” In the simplest terms, a marketing channel is a tactic or platform you use to communicate your marketing message to your target audience. It will help to understand that all successful marketing is built on the foundation of determining your audience’s needs and wants, identifying the appropriate channel for each target market, and effectively distributing your message.

What Are the Best Channels for Our Company?

There are many channels that you can use for your marketing message these days. While that is a good thing, it can also make it challenging to choose the proper channels. Among other factors, your marketing budget and your team’s abilities will influence which channels you utilize.

Choosing marketing channels comes down to frequency and reach. Frequency is how often your message is distributed, while reach is the potential size of your target audience. For a combination of channels to be effective, a channel must reach your target audience and you must broadcast your message frequently enough.

As discussed, there is no shortage of potential channels to consider. You will likely want to focus on digital solutions like:

● Social media marketing
● Internet marketing
● Copywriting
● Email marketing
● Graphic design
● Webinars
● Search engine optimization (SEO)

If you’re creating webinars, consider starting a YouTube channel to showcase them. Personalize your channel and videos by using a YouTube banner template to create a banner that incorporates your brand and logo.

Don’t count out the possibility of print marketing working in your company’s favor. Many companies still benefit from using traditional channels like billboards, telephone poles, and community bulletin boards.

What Is Messaging?

Now, to our second marketing term. Marketing messaging refers to how a company communicates its value to its customers. You will use messages to inspire feelings and emotions through words and phrases, which your target audience will ideally associate with the products or services you offer. The way you craft your brand messaging will influence the effectiveness of all your marketing channels and vice versa.

How Can We Craft the Right Messaging?

Your first consideration when developing messaging that will positively impact your company is your target market. Take time to research and identify your customers’ needs, and speak to those needs through your message. For example, many companies prioritize these qualities when crafting their messages:

● Comfort
● Usability
● Affordability and value
● Functionality and longevity
● Style
● Peace of mind
● Sustainability and ethics

The second consideration is the channels through which you will send your messages. You may need to tailor each message to the specific platform you are using according to the conventions of that platform and how customers engage on that platform.

Is Our Marketing Strategy Working?

Finally, it’s best practice to evaluate whether or not your marketing strategies are regularly working. There are a few practical ways to gauge the impact of your efforts:

● Using data and analytics tools.
● Sending online surveys to your target audience.
● Organizing focus groups.
● Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).

If you have decided to become your own marketing department, learning the basics of marketing channels and messaging is essential. The information and advice above can get you off to a strong start. But keep researching to learn more tactics and platforms that can help you turn your small business into a marketing powerhouse!

Improve your social media strategies and get more customers by working with social media specialist Patrick Clarke!

Share

5 Tips to Start and Run a Business in Your Apartment

April 11, 20220 Comments
Share
5 Tips to Start and Run a Business in Your Apartment

Photo by Unsplash man in gray hoodie using laptop computer photo – Free Image on Unsplash

According to the SBA, up to 50 percent of small businesses are home-based. This means you can run a successful business from a small space in your apartment. It’s also a suitable option if you want to become your own boss. One of the concerns people have about running a business from home is the legal paperwork involved in getting things set up. There’s also the fear that they might be hit with a cease and desist letter from their landlord or the condo owner’s association. The key to running your business successfully in an apartment is first discussing the matter with your landlord.

Here are tips to help you start your business in your apartment.

Sort Out Legal Issues

While you can run some businesses from your apartment, there are zoning regulations that might slow your progress. It’s important to know if your local area has an ordinance that highlights home-based businesses. Zoning and ordinance regulations can vary widely, but most of them are designed to prevent people from running commercial enterprises that could harm the area. For example, a business that receives a lot of car and foot traffic will not be allowed in a condo that wasn’t designed for this type of activity. If you must meet your clients at your home, you can set up a space where you can host them.

Besides arranging a space in your home for the business, also think about forming an LLC. An LLC ensures limited liability, you have less paperwork to deal with, and you also enjoy tax advantages. If you want to avoid lawyer fees, use a formation service, but check the regulations in your state before you get started.

Build a Clean Working Space

If your space is cluttered, it will lead to a cluttered mind. Having too many things in your office will distract you from work and can make it difficult to relax. To be effective and productive, create a space that’s ready for work. You don’t need a lot to set up your office. A separate room or a corner in your apartment is ideal.

Set Up Your Website

Having a website is crucial for businesses in this day and age. As important is the site’s functionality, ease of navigation, and professional appearance. You can hire someone to build the website in-house, or you can outsource it to a freelancer.

In addition to outsourcing such talent, YouTeam suggests hiring overseas freelancers to handle other aspects of running your business, such as a virtual assistant. Overseas freelancers like those in Nepal are a great way to acquire talent at an affordable price. Nepal is an Asian-Pacific country, and that region is known for being especially low cost. You can pay them in minutes using a money transfer service.

Find Productive Hours

While working from home, you might need to adjust your working hours, as you will not be working on the 8-to-5 schedule. Determine when you’re the most productive and structure your workday around that time. Create a new schedule that suits your business, and remember your schedule for the best results.

Make Time for Networking

Running your business from a small space in your home does not mean you should lock yourself in every day. It’s important to find time for networking, which can boost your business and keep your social skills sharp. Through networking, you can connect with like-minded people who can offer a fresh perspective or new ideas.

Use these tips to start and run a successful business from your apartment or any small space in your home. Create a space that can help you be productive. Also, draft a schedule that will help you work at your most active hours. You’ll be on your way in no time!

Share

Back to Top