Online Marketing your Small Business
For many small business owners, one of the most time sucking experiences is having to deal with the email or phone call from an online marketing company.
These can come in several forms – the unsolicited email that drops into your inbox offering to get your site ranking at the top of Google with the addition of a large number of back-links. Search Engine Optimization is the name of their game and their touting for your business, playing on your insecurity about the current position of your website for the keywords you have chosen.
Or it could be the telephone call from a local listing directory. Initially these are to ‘confirm the details of your free listing’, but the conversation soon moves on to ways in which you could improve the visibility of your company on the internet with one of their enhanced listings. Hold out against signing up for the first offer and you will find yourself pressured into accepting a much better offer, including a whole raft of keywords and areas, for a greatly reduced price. They’re so desperate to get you signed up that they’ll promise you the world in return for a monthly payment.
The thing about online listing directories is that, even though they say they have lots of regular visitors, if their site does not rank on the front page of Google for your search term, then it is unlikely that many people are going to find your company through their auspices.
The thing to remember is that any good online marketing company will not be ringing round or emailing touting for business, these will work on recommendation and referral as one contented business owner pass their details to his friends – although not necessarily his competitors.
The cold callers will offer you all sorts of ways to get onto the first page of Google, all of which will involve you giving them money. But one thing they won’t mention is probably the most effective things you can do to market your own small business online – grabbing yourself a Google Places page.
These are free websites given away by Google to local bricks and mortar companies and which show up with a little red balloon marker at the top or sprinkled in amongst the search results for a particular keyword in a specific location.
The issue of keywords is something that they will talk about, but they will try to push you into phrases for which they already have categories, and probably a large number of free subscribers so that you are encouraged to pay for a premium listing to rise above your competitors.
It’s a good idea to choose your online marketing company wisely because when it comes to marketing your small business, some do not always have your best interests at heart.
Interest Rates and Inflation both are very strongly linked
Everything in an economy in interlinked with each other and in a broad sense the economies of the world are linked with each other as well. Countries export and import with each other and this is why if one country has a problem in its economy the other country will get affected as well. Just look at how the whole world felt the ripples of the effect of the collapse of the US housing market. This phenomenon is known as the ripple effect or the multiplier effect. Likewise, interest rates and inflation both are very strongly linked.
Lets first define inflation and interest rates just so that everyone is on the same page; inflation is defined as a general increase in the prices of commodities over a period of time. Interest rates are the percentage at which you borrow money, meaning if you borrow a set amount of money you will have to pay back more than your borrowed amount, this is because the value of money decreases over time.
The best way to understand the concept of the relationship between interest rates and inflation is with an example, so let’s say interest rates in your economy have fallen, it gets cheaper to borrow from banks, getting credit cards, loans, and everything. You see people around you getting loans and using credit cards, and it compels you to think, why shouldn’t I? As a result, you get involved in bank borrowing as well, taking advantage of the interest rates, life seems great initially, you are able to pay your debts and monthly payments on time and you get used to it. However, after sometime the case doesn’t remain the same due to changes in demand and supply. You need to realize that time changes and as it passes, demand for everything will be so high that there wouldn’t be enough supply to meet that demand. For example everyone now has a car or a motorbike, and the demand for petrol has risen so much that supply becomes inadequate, and when this happens we see an increase in price because people are be willing to pay higher prices to get it, and this is when things start to go wrong. Now imagine every good and service starts to face this same problem, everything will become expensive and even if some commodities do not face this problem of increased demand they will have to increase prices because in general prices have risen and that’s affecting their income as well. This is known as demand pull inflation.
Similarly when interest rates increase, borrowing becomes expensive and people save rather than spend because when they save, the same interest rate applies to their savings and saving seems a better option. This eventually results in a decrease in demand and when there is less demand in the market it leads to an excess of supply which force prices to decrease and inflation levels go down. And that’s how interest rates and inflation are connected with each other.
Financial Tips that will help you establish yourself and ensure that you will achieve your Goals
First of all, congratulations! You graduated from high school and you are ready to begin a new chapter in your life. Whether you have decided to attend college and work part-time, or work full-time for a year after high school, these financial tips will help you to establish yourself and ensure that you will achieve your goals.
1. Develop a positive relationship with money. That may sound really strange, but you need to realize that money itself is simply neutral. It’s how you handle it that determines whether money is going to serve you or you are going to serve it. The way to develop this positive relationship is to make sure that you are always in control of your money. The key to staying in control is to never spend more than you earn and to get into the habit of saving wisely.
2. Think before you spend. You are now on your own. No one is looking over your shoulder and asking you how you are spending your money. It is up to you to be responsible with your money and only buy the things you really need. Sure, you can treat yourself once in a while, but remember, only spend money you actually have, and never buy things on credit that you can’t afford to pay back.
3. Start saving regularly and automatically. The best way to save is to think about what you want to save for. You will never be motivated to save until you have a definite purpose for saving. Once you have a goal in mind, the next step is to set up a savings account or a Tax Free Savings Account and set up pre-authorized payments into the account. This way you don’t even have to think about saving, it will literally happen automatically.
4. Apply for a credit card to build your credit. In Canada, it is very important that you build your credit. If you don’t have any credit history it is very difficult to be approved for a loan or mortgage down the road. The best way to build a good credit history is to get a credit card with a low limit. Use it once or twice a month for a small purchase, and then pay off the full balance every month. This way it won’t cost you anything in interest but you are showing the Credit Bureau that you can handle credit responsibly. Note: Just simply getting a credit card and not using it will not help you build credit. Note #2: Carrying a balance very close to your limit is not a good idea either.
5. Ask people you trust for advice. Not everyone has a good financial role model. Sometimes parents can teach you bad habits rather than good ones. Seek advice from someone you trust who you know is financially responsible. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistakes instead of having to learn from your own, so don’t be afraid to ask for guidance.
If you can follow these tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a financially responsible adult, and you will be far more likely to achieve your goals, whatever they may be. Good luck!
Taking advantage of the Holiday Season by applying a few Tax Strategies
Once again, the holiday season we all look forward to, is finally here. Your expenditure is set to aim for the roof. However, you can take advantage of all this by applying a few tax strategies.
Reports from the Internal Revenue Service indicate that more than 102 million people received average tax refunds of $2,805 in 2011. If you are entitled to more than $500 come springtime, then in essence, you are giving the government an interest free loan on your earnings.
With 2012 fast approaching, this appears to be the ideal way to save some bucks, but still, you could opt for to plan for a slightly smaller refund and instead maximize your holiday time paychecks. In the end, you either end up free of debts or have a huge credit bill after the holiday.
You can still safely lower your withholding tax for December without creating a tax bill in spring. It is time to get your pay stub and W4 form. Use an online calculator to quickly revisit the number of withholding you are making and your tax status.
According to Lindsey Bucholz, a tax research specialist with H&R Block’s Tax Institute, a single person making $3000 per month and without exemption claims pays $391 in Federal taxes, every single month.
However, if you qualify for a single exemption, you can salvage $46 and almost $ 100 or more for two exemptions every month. In case you have kids but you are yet to take maximum allowances, then you could add up to an extra $185 in your take-home pay.
Lindsey cautions however that these situations vary from person to person. If for example you got some refund in 2010, then you can channel more funds into your income. But if you owed taxes last year, then you should not cut your withholding lest end up with a tax bill in April.
In cases your state of affairs change this way in one way or the other, maybe you finally tied the knot, or divorced, acquired a new home or got a baby, then it is highly recommended that you revisit your w4 forms. By just using a worksheet, you may actually realize that you actually entitled to some allowances that can help you pay down the high interest credit card debt that pending from either your wedding or the purchase of your new home. The only worry would be how to spend the money on buying your loved ones presents without administering a debt punishment to your pockets.
The more allowance you claim, the less tax is withheld. However, this only works if you have been receiving a considerable amount in refunds each year.
Time is indeed ripe for you to get in touch with your human resources department to ensure a speedy processing of your resubmitted form. If you later, like next year, opt to return to a higher withholding level, all you have to do is submit another W4 form after the New Year.
Personal Business Plan clarifies what you want the future to be and how you are going to get there
Are you business owners tired of racing from one action item to another? Are you running to get a business license at city hall, and then rushing to create a new checking account and then calling potential clients on your cell phone while driving in crazy rush hour traffic?
Stop if you do not have a personal business plan. A personal business plan clarifies what you want the future to be and how you are going to get there.
This advice might feel overwhelming and just another item on your already full to-do list. A personal business plan creates a view of the future. It provides focus on critical activities needed for success. You can not start a business without a written picture of what success might look. When you launch a business you need to know your destination.
You might think that you don’t need money from bank or from a venture capital group so you don’t need a business plan. A personal business plan does not create a document that impresses the financial community and is never used again. A personal business plan is your vision of the future and a specific roadmap for how you want to step into your future. You use it to plan your day.
Spending time writing down your business dream on paper will make it “pop” for you as you recognize “Yes—that is what I want to do with my life.” Your pulse will quicken as you recognize the impact you can make. When you have a clear vision of the end results of your business, you’ll be inspired to press through to the finish line. When you’re at a family picnic, you’ll share in a way that relatives “get” what you’re doing vs. just act politely to another eccentric family member. When you’re falling asleep at night, you’ll notice that the panic in your thoughts won’t be there because you understand what you can do and can not do at this time.
Critical Elements of a Personal Business Plan.
Your will create your business vision. This is your desired future. You can create a business vision by writing down what you want the business to be. The vision must identify the customer, the geographic scope and your product or service.
You will clarify your business mission. This is the vision of the business that you share in your business communication on your website, and in your sales and marketing literature.
You will construct critical success factors. These are your business priorities that you need to focus on to create a powerful brand that customers love.
You will compose business results needed for profitability. These are your measurable outcomes. Business results are your goals and objectives.
You will complete project plans for critical activities. These are your plans to get the results you want.
Create a personal business plan to clarify for you and your customers what you want the future to be and how you are going to get there.
