Few Important Reads on Doing Business and Making it Profitable

I am glad to share some useful reads I happened to catch lately. Though I read a lot more, following are the ones I feel are truly share worthy.

• Content marketing; on recycling content and avoiding digital content rot. http://www.convinceandconvert.com/content-marketing/recycle-old-content/
• What you need to focus on in order to make your website perform great https://www.catswhocode.com/blog/12-points-to-improve-your-website-in-2018
• On improving Facebook ad results https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-improve-facebook-ads-results/
• Increasing online sales https://www.inc.com/john-lincoln/how-to-use-broad-match-modifier-to-increase-your-online-sales.html
• Just interesting read on how much one can make from uber and other similar services. http://www.equitybusiness.us/business-service/how-much-can-an-uber-driver-make.html
• Quick guide for students to start their own business http://www.smallbusinessclan.com/6-steps-for-students-to-start-their-own-business/
• Small business loans and grants guide for female entrepreneurs. http://www.laudablebits.com/small-business-loan-tips-resources-for-female-entrepreneurs/

Even if just one of the above is useful to you too, do share it with others.

Transforming Your SEO Expertise into a Successful Online Marketing Business

There are tons of SEO experts who claim to bring any business on first page in Google, but the bitter truth about online marketing is that, it's not just about pleasing Google.

There is more to it than just knowing how to please Google and so, whether or not your job is just about SEO, you should explore other arenas of online marketing too.

Once, you have hands on experience of multiple dimensions of online marketing, you can start your own online marketing company by offering a full range of value-added service to your clients. To get a detailed insight on how to start online marketing business, you will, however, need to do lot of research.

Most of the online marketing business owners have started with very low budget, so think of ideas and actions that do not require major investment but can generate good profits.
Some ideas can be:

• Start a home based business.
• If you have a circle of friends who can offer web design, hosting, copywriting etc, do take them onboard as strategic partners. 
• Offer referral discount to get more clients.

To read more about starting online marketing business on budget, check out this guide on How to Start an Internet Marketing Business on a Budget.

How to Develop a Recession Proof Marketing Plan for Salon Business

Unlike a bakery business and a laundry business, salons are more vulnerable to recession. Salon businesses, face the direct impact of economic behavior prevailing in the country.

But, being more vulnerable to recessions doesn't mean you should not get into the industry. Rather it means to have a recession proof marketing plan that is part of your beauty or hair salon business plan.

See, when the economy is riding high, people are willing and able to buy more or your services and they don't care if they are bit expensive;  so offering and highlighting services like luxury spa services like detailed hair treatments, relaxing massages etc during these times can work like a charm.

On the other hand, special discount packages during low times can work great. One way to create a great marketing plan for your salon is to research your target market's economic base carefully.

Knowing the income slabs, you can easily design all in one services plan that caters the need of each slab. This way just in case the economy fluctuates, the high end customers have the option to find an alternate on budget.

11 Ideas to Grow Your Small Business Startup

The biggest challenge for any startup is to survive and those who successfully make it happen comes another big challenge, i.e. growth.

If you have survived startup and built successful business; the only thing covering your mind at this stage is how to grow small business faster. Looking for business growth is a requirement and growing it faster is your ultimate goal.

There are numerous possibilities to grow your business, some a faster ways and some are comparatively slow and steady. I am going to list a few I know well about.

1. Opening another location: Aiza discusses, Opening Another Location: Is It the Right Way of Business Expansion?
2. Franchising: Sundus has word on it, Franchising; Is that the Right Way for My Business Growth?
3. License your product. This can be an effective, low-cost growth medium, particularly if you have a service product or branded product.  Unlike complete franchise rights, you can license individual products whereby you can receive upfront money and royalties from the continued sales or use of your software.
4. Affiliate Program: It's very popular in online sales of services and non-tangible or digital goods. You have to pay to the affiliate only when he makes sale.
5. Strategic Partnerships: Sarah outlines details as Strategic Partnership: A Virtually No Cost Startup Growth Option.
6. Diversifying: Bianca explains how Diversifying Your Business Can Let it Grow Faster.
7. Targeting other markets: If your consumer market ranges from teenagers to college students, think about where these people spend most of their time and take your business there. By offering special discounts you can grab a share of other markets too.
8. Winning a government contract: Well, it's not that easy, but if your business can serve a government department in anyway, that's a big plus.
9. Mergers and Acquisitions: Sam details some Success Factors for Business Growth Through Mergers & Acquisitions.
10. Global Expansion: Starting export can be really beneficial, if you think you can remain cost effective in production and transportation.
11. Expanding Over the Internet:  Probably cheapest and the fastest way to reach customers in any corner of the world, however, you need highly professional online marketing experts for this option.

The above list is just my brainstorming; you can come up with more ideas by simply twealqc4

Landing Page Optimization Fundamentals

Knowing the basics of landing page optimization can turn you terrible landing page into a lead generation machine.

I'll be kind of to the point here, so if you are looking for the details about each fundamental, do check the landing page optimization best practices by StartupGuys.

I hope, you can get some instant ideas with my quick list, so do not hesitate to apply them vigorously as you get started. Try these first and then enhance your pages by digging into the areas discussed in the link i mentioned.
Here it goes:

• Send people to a relevant and targeted page only. (use PPC and other promotion wisely).
• Provide a consistent experience; keep relevant content on the page.
• Don't bore them; add some spice to engage them.
• Make the headline clear, easily noticeable, and in a relevant position on the page.
• If you have multiple user types, create a landing page for each segment and drive traffic via separate sources. 
• Remember that ad campaign that had a single button proclaiming “Don’t click me”? Nobody could resist that. 
• Remove the unnecessary items from the navigation.
• Keep reading to a minimum.
• Experiment with different media types; videos, presentations and more.
• Enable sharing on viral landing pages.
• If you are asking your visitors for personal data (name, email etc) on your landing page, duly thank them when they provide that.

So, got your idea? Apply it now!

Attract More People to Your Business with Better Facebook Ads

Did you know that visuals grab more attention that of text. When it comes to better visual appeal in advertisements, Facebook ads make a more intelligent experience than that of pay per click promotions that you run through Google or Yahoo Ads. If you have not started Facebook advertising till now, you must start it now or at least test it with a free facebook ad coupon.

Targeted audiences have the alternative to like promotions, and it is demonstrated when your companions have loved the ads too. Seeing an advertisement that somebody you know enjoyed includes social insurance, giving others motivation to navigate and perspective the site.

Furthermore, when you sync your fan page with the ad, it can make individuals to join and energize connection inside specialty bunches, which goes a level above what conventional promoting systems can offer.