Posts Tagged ‘Business Ideas’

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Finding The Best Hashtag To Use On Twitter

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

Twitter is that beloved social media platform that asks you to sum up your thoughts in 140 characters or less. It forces you to keep the message short and sweet, and arguably stimulate your creativity. And when it comes to creativity, hashtags are in a class all by themselves. After all, if you want people to click on the hashtag and follow, you need to make it interesting enough. Read on …

What The Heck Is A Hashtag?
A hashtag is a metadata tag that lets people search for and label social media updates. If enough people follow and promote it, the hashtag can trend, which means more people follow it. A hashtag can also be used as a means of describing a particular promotion or deal.
HashtagWould this be hashtag hash? – (Photo Credit: powerplantop)

Hashtag construction is simple and straight-forward; it’s a pound sign followed by characters. So for instance, #hashtagsrule could direct people to a discussion on your website about how awesome hashtags are. Using it in a tweet could look like this: “We have some great ideas about using hashtags! #hashtags rule”.

Getting The Most Use Out Of Hashtags
Okay, so now you know what a hashtag is, but how to put it to the best use?

You can use a hashtag for your own branding purpose. For instance, Ed Young Jr Ministries uses #hecknology as their hashtag and their brand. Make the hashtag unique to your brand. You should do a search for it on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, GooglePlus, Instagram, and Pinterest, to see if anyone else is using it. If possible, keep the hashtag short and sweet (easier for people to remember and spell!). If your hashtag pertains to a particular campaign, then make sure the names complement each other. If your bar decided that instead of holding a Happy Hour from 4 to 6, you’d have a Crappy Hour from 2 to 4, you could do #crappyhour2to4.

Just in case you think that hashtags are all branding and trending, let’s bring up the concept of content hashtags. These hashtags point to content that helps to raise exposure of your business and improve SEO. For instance, if you run a hobby shop, your tweet may have hashtags that reference content on #modelwarships, #electrictrains, or #noroyarn.

There are no restrictions or guidelines in using hashtags over and over, but still, try not to overuse them; too much of a good thing, and all that. When you’re tweeting on Twitter, don’t exceed three hashtags. Furthermore, try to stay relevant to the topic at hand. Check out popular keywords and try to create hashtags based on them, but don’t ride the coattails of other trends; start your own!

And finally, avail yourself of some nifty tools, and speaking of which …

Tools You Can Use
… it just so happens tools are being discussed right here. Wow, you’d think this was planned somehow! Here are some cool tools for making better hashtags.

Hashtags.org- This free service shows what hashtags have been trending over the last 24 hours. Any heavy duty function like storing or monitoring hashtags will cost you.

What The Trend- This Hootsuite-owned resource lets you see global trends based on nation and city data. You can even track individual hashtags as streams in Hootsuite. The global trend tracking can be done either daily or monthly. While What The Trend is free, Hootsuite Pro has a monthly fee (though their basic service is free, and has fewer functions).

Trendsmap- This site visualizes the local use of hashtags and places them on a world map. This enables you to see trends by city, country, or even continent. If you own a local business, this tool is just right for you. There’s Free, Basic, and Plus levels of membership, each granting more functions. The Free level really just gives you the bare minimum, and is not meant for heavy use anyway.

All in all, hashtags help people find you online, alerting customers to a business that they otherwise may not have known about. Keep your hashtags informative, don’t overdose on them, and use trend-spotting tools to get some idea of what topics to link up with. Learn from others’ mistakes, and you’ll remain competitive. Good luck!

Byline: John Terra has been a freelance writer since 1985. He writes about everything from SEO strategies to home maintenance, and everything in between.

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8 Points That Could Save a Start-Up from Messing Up

Thursday, February 20th, 2014

This article is built on the experiences of entrepreneurs who had fallen flat on their faces while trying to manage and host their start-up ventures.

We think of a mind-boggling business idea and expect it to spark up as soon as we prepare a proposal. Well, it never works that way. However good or bad an idea is, there are certain steps that need to be followed.

Before putting your idea into a set of plans and procedures on paper, here are a few things that need to be understood.

Business Startup

Business Startup

Is my idea functional?

Before getting caught in the excitement of your brilliant idea, spare a thought: can the idea be put into execution?

The concept needs to be grounded in bigger ideas for you to be able to sell it. Don’t tangle up too many ideas, focus on one at a time, and build different techniques to make them happen.

The objective here is to make sure that your idea can be pinned down to work out for the market.

Scoring funds isn’t easy

Take my word; capital will not come to you effortlessly.

You may have to pitch time and again to win investors to your side. Pitching is extremely significant. The dumbest idea can pass if the pitch is awesome.

Do thorough researches, take your time to prepare each slide to be presented, and propagate how unique your business proposition is.

If you feel it is taking too long to get funds and time is running out, pitch in your investments. It can help your business, and play the credibility factor when pitching to investors at the same time.

Be prepared to touch the highs and lows

The business is not going to flourish as soon as you start. It will take time to accomplish each milestone.

Additionally, it is important for you to be prepared in case the plan doesn’t work. Amend your strategies, be focused and push your organization to reach the targets.

If every move is drawing the results you desired, you can go for that extra mile to make your business better. But don’t be too hard on yourself or your employees.

Hire carefully and appreciate candidly

Only a good team, which believes and backs your idea, can let you take over the market.

Hence, hiring is going to be a challenging job for you. Ideally, your team should have skilled professionals, men and women with industry experience and members who have prior understanding of successfully managing a start-up.

Employees at every level need guidance, assurance and motivation, which are to come from you, the person who leads. A lot of effort is taken to build a start-up, so don’t miss out on appreciating employee efforts.

Work individually, but work more as a team

Needless to say, your team is vital to the success of your business.

The objective of the business can be reached faster and smoother if you are held together as a team. Organizational growth comes through sheer team work, and hence it is important to keep your employees as content as your investors.

Hear out the needs of the employees, provide them with adequate requirements and channelize them to use the limited resources available.

Bring the focus to limelight

With a considerable amount of work being allotted daily, it is easy to get carried away and slip into a whirlpool of confusions and heated exchanges.

It is definitely better to acquaint each team with the other ones, mainly to have them understand where they are heading in the middle of a mission. As a leader, you should take up the responsibility of constantly reminding (of course not nagging) them about the objectives of the business.

Time is precious – start acting!

When you are done with thinking and researching, the next step is to start acting, whichever small way possible.

It takes quite some time to build the brand; the earlier the better. You don’t need to wait for investors to fund in order to start your business. Begin with limited costs and resources.

Build networks and relationships

Bond with everyone – investors, employees, suppliers and stakeholders.

Start-ups usually tend to make mistakes or face hurdles frequently. Be it with resources, technology or monetary issues, it doesn’t matter. Building reliable relationships can actually help your company cope with such setbacks.

Most of these tips might have passed your thoughts, but it’s easy to forget them. To keep it simple, make a journal of everything that you did and things you have to do.

Your start-up can go terribly wrong if you don’t have these pointers on your mind. These are simple steps. Without them, you will end up pushing costs too high and fail to impress.

Author bio:-

Matt Davis a partner at Empire commercial Finance, a firm specializing in business mortgage Chester seeking to serve client of UK with ease.  A company with expert professional commercial finance brokers providing financial support for all start-up business 

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Posted in Entrepreneur, Guest Post, small business | 2 Comments »

Why Economists Love Cloudsourcing

Saturday, April 6th, 2013

“The cloud” is the phrase on everyone’s lips this year, but not all new ideas stick with us—Segways, zip drives, and HD-DVD were all the hot new tech at one point, and they’ve all gone the way of the dinosaur. Will cloud computing wind up on the scrap heap of tech history? We don’t think so, and neither do many economists. Here’s why:

1. Cloud computing massively lowers fixed costs

Drumming up initial investment is one of the biggest hurdles that small businesses face. The larger fixed costs are, the harder it is to get started—and the more likely entrepreneurs are to get stuck in an exploitative contract with investors. All startups endure a zero-profit phase while they build customer base and pay down their fixed costs, and the longer that period is, the more likely a business is to fail. Cloud innovations like virtual desktops, storage, and money management lower the need for startup cash, shortening the window of zero-profit, and allowing more good ideas to turn into successful businesses.

2. Global cloud networks spur investment in developing countries

Until quite recently, people in developing countries had very few opportunities to connect with the world of global business; if you couldn’t afford to go to college overseas, you were stuck. Now, cloud networks connect hospitals in Europe with x-ray technicians in Bangalore, and American corporations consult with engineers in Nigeria; the human capital of the entire planet is increasingly connected in an efficient, wealth-generating network that is far more than a passing fad.

3. Cloud services give small firms access to economies of scale

Most production processes get cheaper as they get larger, and in the past, that fact has strangled small businesses who attempted to compete with the bigger players in their industries. A mom-and-pop grocery store simply can’t match the massive, fine-tuned supply chain of a global supermarket franchise. For services like data storage, web hosting, and accounting, the cloud has given small firms the same “bulk discount” that big companies receive—which makes markets susceptible to disruption and innovation on an unprecedented scale.

4. Comparative advantage is everything

Comparative advantage is the first principle of economics: it states that economies run better when everyone concentrates on their strengths, instead of trying to do everything themselves. Until recently, most entrepreneurs would have to serve as accountant, lawyer, analyst, customer service, and IT, all at once—a very inefficient and exhausting way to do business. Today, cloud services allow entrepreneurs to focus on idea-creation and execution where they have expertise, and use cloud services to store their data, track financial goals, and hire customer service and tech support at minimal cost.

5. Cloud networks broaden the labor market

Only fifteen years ago, companies were limited to the workers they could hire in-town, or persuade to move. Now, about three-fourths of businesses in the US hire part or full-time telecommuters, meaning they can select the best employees from all over the world to meet their company’s needs. Cloud file structures like Dropbox and Google Docs allow firms to collaborate seamlessly across the world. Not only does this allow for firms to save money and run more efficiently, but it also allows workers to find employment without the massive cost and commitment of moving across the country or the world.

 Tara Wagner is a staff writer for TechBreach. She has worked from home for over a decade, and loves sharing news and advice with fellow telecommuting moms and dads. She’s fascinated by new tech and new ideas; and when she finds time to unplug, she enjoys long hikes in the mountains near her home. She lives in Denver.

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Posted in Entrepreneur, Guest Post, small business, Tips & Tricks | 1 Comment »

How to Buy Gold and Avoid Scams

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

The continent of Africa continues to be the world’s fastest gold-producing region. The history, and events of today as they pertain to the continent are quite telling as to gold’s monetary value regardless of market conditions. Mali and South Africa have been two of the world’s top gold-producing countries for quite some time. Gold prices have risen by more than 500 percent since 2002, and will continue to rise as the global central banks continue their policies of liberally printing and debasing the value of world currencies. Wealth attracts criminal opportunity as we’ve seen with the country of Nigeria unfairly targeted in the well-known “Nigerian prince” scam. The following are some tips on gold investing and how to avoid being scammed.

Gold Investment

Gold Investment

Mining

The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 prohibits “unauthorized” exploration and excavation of minerals from the ground, including gold. The federal government has issued permits and titles to several individuals and companies to begin mining. But the process has been slowed because villagers, who’ve lived on the lands for centuries, aren’t leaving quietly, according to the Global Post. Locals are well aware of the precious metal’s presence all around them, but in the past haven’t pursued mining because of small returns on their time investments. This has all changed now that gold is selling on international markets for about 10,000 Naira ($60 U.S.) per gram.

Nigerians are forming local associations and unions to pool resources and slowly buy back the right to mine their lands, according to Voice of America News. Lead poisoning is common, however, for miners who don’t take the necessary precautions. Any associations and unions looking to mine should invest in a supply of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), which removes lead from the body in case of poisoning.

Buy Bullion

Gold is now far too expensive for most Nigerians (and most others around the world) to buy at market prices, but is a great investment for those with the means. The main concern with buying gold bullion bars is, of course, being ripped off. A reputable online seller, such as US Money Reserve, will have disclosures and any risk factors on their website. The premium which any company charges over market value should never exceed five percent. The company should also have a verifiable address and phone number.

Gold Exchange Traded Funds

The best thing about gold ETFs (stocks) is that you can generally purchase shares for far less than on the per ounce gram basis bullion is sold. The Nigerian Stock Exchange added the NewGold ETF to its index in December 2011, which enabled investors to diversify without buying the physical metals. The fund has done relatively well in the subsequent 13 months after starting off slowly.

If you are trading in gold, do well to share with us in your comment. Cheers.

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Posted in Entrepreneur, Investing, Nigerian, small business | 2 Comments »

Goal Setting As An Entrepreneur

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

Every entrepreneur has a vision. Some visions are better than others, but even bad visions can turn into something special. If the entrepreneur pays attention to market conditions and measures the company’s progress compared to the vision, many opportunities will be created.  This explains why entrepreneurs must be flexible. The ability to adapt to the marketplace is an essential ingredient in entrepreneurial pursuits.

As Naija Ecash explains in a recently published post Who is the Boss, a large number of baby boomers are retiring from their present jobs and starting new businesses with the knowledge they accrued as an employee. This makes for a competitive environment where the most fit entrepreneurs will survive and flourish.

As diverse as their personalities may be, all successful entrepreneurs share certain qualities; a vision, a plan and research. These three considerations are interwoven into the culture of the endeavor and can serve as pillars for many years.

But, there is one more quality that successful entrepreneurs share. That is the ability to set ambitious but attainable goals. Having a dynamic vision, a solid research-driven business model and the commitment to reach goals is the measure of success and is the quality that makes some enterprises durable for many years.

Proper goal setting is a positive activity that can right the ship, maintain the current profitable course or expand the business. In a small business, goals are often set by the owner. In medium businesses, company goals are often set by a committee with the founding entrepreneur’s input.

According to Entrepreneur.com, at its simplest, a goal is just something you aim for. But goals are powerful contributors to successful business growth in several ways. To begin with, the process of setting goals forces you to think through what you want from your business and how growth may, or may not, provide that. This process helps suggest directions for pursuing that growth, which can greatly improve your chances of achieving those goals.”

When setting business goals, the entrepreneur should follow the following disciplines:

Specificity – Set specific, quantitative goals, not general goals. Selling more widgets is no a specific goals. Selling 10,000 more widgets than last year is a specific goal.

Be Realistically Optimistic – Being positive is a quality that encourages the entrepreneur’s staff. Being optimistic means setting goals that will increase profitability and efficiency. Follow up with a means to the end.

Set Short and Long-Term Goals – The reason we set goals is because we want to improve operations. Set your long-term goals, identify the milestones needed to get there and define them as short-term goals.     

Set Action Steps – For the driven entrepreneur, short and long-term goals should be reached through a series of company milestones. After you have identified the milestones, set a course of action to accomplish each step on the road to long-term goals.

For establishing realistic, attainable goals, there are several considerations and practices for which every entrepreneur must consider.

Keeping An Accurate Scorecard – Your short-term goals will be accompanies by your action plan. Be diligent and disciplines about tracking your progress. If the numbers are ahead of schedule, don’t be afraid to raise the bar. If the numbers on your scorecard are lagging, you have some work to do. Never give up on a goal as long as it is part of a larger plan. Never forget your quantitative target.

Visualize Your Goal – Successful entrepreneurs visualize the business after the goals are achieved. This visualization is often shared with co-workers and employees. Good workers respond to a visual, quantified challenge.

Verbalize the Goal – The entrepreneur should be able to verbalize the goal and the process to get there. If you cannot verbalize the goal, how can you present it to employees.

Entrepreneurs realize that success comes at a price. Very often the entrepreneur’s biggest investment is their time. When setting goals, be realistic about the time required to accomplish to cross the goal line.

Author Bio:

Lewis Edward is one of the owners of The Office Providers. He loves writing on various online publications about serviced offices, general business matters, office space for rent and much more.

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