Spring 2019 Home Business

H O M E

225+ HOME-BASED BUSINESS START-UPS

B U S I N E S S

GET STARTED TODAY! Home Business TV / Podcast – Pg. 42

Home-Based Business & Opportunity Magazine

Spring 2019

Special Ecommerce Issue

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Put Your Business on Autopilot with the Right Social Media Connections

MARKETING TOOLS Online/Offline Tactics START-UP CHECKLIST! Launch a Venture HOME OFFICE TECH Digitize Your Workspace INSTAGRAM-PRENEUR She Reaches Celebrities!

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INTERVIEW: JOHN KRASINSKI Balancing Work & Family — Pg. 16

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®

Home-Based Business & Opportunity Magazine

Magazine

Contents

Spring 2019 FEATURES

10

16

Interview with John Krasinski. On His Current High-Pressure Role on Amazon as Action Hero Jack Ryan, How the Show Explores Terrorism, and Balancing Work with Family.

18

John Krasinski: “One of the fun 20+ Startup Opportunities. Launch things you get to do is investigate how difficult it is to be moral and do a Business This Spring. the right thing in these situations.”

WORK-FROM-HOME SUCCESS STORIES

BUSINESSES & OPPORTUNITIES Bootstrap a Business. How to build a 9-figure company without raising capital.

40

Small Biz Ad Marketplace.

41

Classified Ads.

26

22

Tactical Techniques.

Behind the Bowl.

37

Reaching Celebrities via Instagram.

M k i I iin strategies i Marketing: Invest that increase brand visibility.

MONEY CORNER Maximize Personal Finance. How entrepreneurs

32

Product Review.

Valuable home office product for the entrepreneur.

34

Digitizing the Workspace.

Essential tech for increased efficiency in your home office.

36

Valuable Equipment.

Tools that will support work H h l Home Offi Office T Technology: output.

Get more freedom and flexibility in the way you work.

24

can self-fund a new business.

Taste the Tradition.

Podcast Success: Woman spotlights unconventional choices that mothers make.

HOME OFFICE

Advertise with Emails. Make your next email campaign a smashing success.

Strive for Business Success.

An Unmatched Aesthetic Diversity.

30

Integrate these online and offline.

24

22

28 33

40

MARKETING & SALES

31

Struggles of Motherhood.

Making Adaptability a Mainstay.

Business Launch: Find efficient ways to scale.

30

Courtesy of ©Reuters/The Interview People

10

Social Media: Take advantage of new tools at your fingertips to streamline your social media efforts.

26

16

Social Connect!

Supercharge Business Growth with a Social Media Action Plan.

34

Q it l Fi Questt ffor C Capital: Finance a business on your dime.

Spring 2019 | Home Business

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Magazine M i Volume 26 Issue 2 Spring 2019 www.homebusinessmag.com

The Home Business Team ®

Publisher Richard Henderson United Marketing & Research Company, Inc. Editor-in-Chief Stacy Ann Henderson Managing Editor Sherilyn Colleen Publicity Editor Shannah Carol Graphic Services Slice, Inc. Production Manager Jon Crossley, Ultra Graphics Digital Ad Production Angel Macias, Ultra Graphics Art Direction Richard Rabil Advertising advertise@homebusinessmag.com Phone: 800-734-7042 Shayla Christine homebusinessmag.com/magazine-advertising

homebusinessmag.com/online-advertising Distribution Manager Chris Reardon, Curtis Specialized Circulation Bob Kennedy, Cavendish Media Circulation Manager Dennis Porti, Curtis Michelle Ingenito, Curtis Subscriptions Publication Fulfillment Services Int. Call 888-881-5861 - M - F 8am-4pm PST. For International, call 714-226-9782.

Fax: 714-226-9733 Email: homebusinessmag@pfsmag.com Print Manager Keith Oelke, Quad Graphics Mark Quartaroli, Quad Graphics Reprints Betsy White, The Reprint Outsource, bwhite@reprintoutsource.com Mailing Lists www.homebusinessmag.com (Click on “Mailing Lists” to order) Mailing List Manager Danny Grubert, Danny.Grubert@lakegroupmedia.com List File Manager Travis McMillian, Lee Coats Newton Digital Media Manager Jim Clark, GTxcel E-Readers Bob Mehta, Supremus Group Rachel Unclebach, Libre Digital Internet Manager Sam, Fixrunner SEO Janice Johnson Social Media Shelby Cara At Your Service Portal Lisa Schneegans, Buzz 360 IT/Computer Operations Jim Easton, letmefixyourpc.com Virtual Operations Mike Davidson, VDI Networks Customer Service customerservice@homebusinessmag.com Phone: (800) 734-7042 Fax: 714-388-3883

Editorial Thomas Asseo, Laureen Asseo, Ruby Clarkson, James Lintzer, Johannes Kanter, and others.

Distribution Curtis Circulation Company 730 River Road New Milford, NJ 07646 Tel: (201) 634-7400 Fax: (201) 634-7499

Home Business® Magazine Home Business Magazine (ISSN 1092-4779) is published by United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., 20664 Jutland Place, Lakeville, MN 55044.

4-issue Subscription Rates: Domestic $15.

Canadian $31. Foreign $47.

For Subscriptions: 714-693-1866, M–F Periodicals Postage Paid at Lakeville, Minnesota, and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Home Business® Magazine, 20664 Jutland Place, Lakeville, MN 55044.

Printed in the United States

8 Home Business | Spring 2019 ®

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LETTER FROM PUBLISHER

®

Making Social Media Work When You Have No Time Techniques and Tools to Make SM Easy Juggling a home-based business, perhaps around a full-time day job, already soaks up most of your free time. With this issue’s cover story in mind, how will you ever find time for social media?

First, set priorities. Yes, there are dozens of social media channels to cover. But get started with the Big Six: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn. When posting content, you can pretty much take the same post and push it out through each of these social media channels, with minor edits for each platform.

A special note on Instagram, which is growing to be the top platform for younger clients. Keep engaged with Instagram daily and respond quickly to comments. Instagram monitors user activity closely; I’ve heard rumors of accounts getting “ghosted” who don’t keep up. To boost Instagram reach, consider an Instagram marketing service.

Overall, keep engaged with social media communications daily. You can’t put social media off. Set a time each day to review and reply to social media (SM) comments.

Social media is difficult to monetize, but your SM reach and engagement can reap huge benefits by bringing in new clients, or in developing business with current clients. SM is part of your brand!

Publicize your pages wherever you can. Put SM images on your website, with links to channels. Add these links to your email signature. Use your SM distribution lists to publicize your business, such as interesting news and updates. But avoid using SM to market, as that will turn off your clients.

To make SM easier, consider using an online social media manager. These platforms give you a one-stop-shop for posts to your entire network, streamline the posting process, consolidate posts, enable pre-scheduling, and allow you to measure SM reach. All in one portal! Most SM managers offer free, limited plans. I use Buffer.com, but there are many other options.

If you’re good at math, you’ll note that I said the big six SM channels, but only listed five.

The sixth is YouTube. As your business expands look for ways to grow into video. For my business, we publish video articles and record video podcasts. You can at least set up a YouTube channel, and use it to share other interesting videos in your niche.

Richard Henderson Publisher, Home Business® Magazine

Notice to Readers HOME BUSINESS® Magazine is sold as information only. The publisher, United Marketing and Research, Inc., considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, although reporting inaccuracies can occur; consequently, readers using this information do so at their own risk. The publisher has not done a background check on listed companies (which includes advertisers), nor does it know people at all the companies. The publisher cannot assume any responsibility in any manner for the actions of any of the listed companies, and the publisher cannot guarantee the outcome of any correspondence, arrangements, or subsequent transactions the reader may make with any of the listed companies. HOME BUSINESS Magazine is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering medical, legal, financial, accounting, tax, or other professional service. If medical, legal, or other expert advice and assistance are required, the services of a competent qualified professional person should be sought.

The publisher, United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., assumes no responsibility for any changes of offers, nor for any companies/advertisers that may go out of business. All correspondence regarding questions or problems on a company’s (including advertisers) program, products, or services should be directed to the company, not to the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all contents of advertising and for any claims arising therefrom. It is up to the user of this publication to investigate the product or service offered, and to make sure the company is reliable and that the product or service meets the user’s requirements. United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., is not responsible for the delivery of merchandise, starter kits, supplies, or other products and services ordered from advertisers. ©1993-2019. Reg. # 4180563 and 4145799. TRADEMARKS: Home Business, Serial Number 74/713646 and Home Business Magazine, Serial Number 75-086596, issued by the United States Department of Commerce, Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks.

Mark Type(s): TRADEMARKS: Conform to the minimum requirements set forth in 37 C.F.R. Sec. 2.76 (e); and formal requirements set forth in 37 C.F.R. Sec. 2.76(b) and (c). All rights reserved. No part of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing of the publisher, United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., Lakeville, MN 55044.

Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions, experience, and research of its authors and not necessarily the opinion of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine. ®

www.homebusinessmag.com

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Social Connect!

Supercharge Business Growth with Social Media Action Plan

By Industry Experts

F E AT U R E

I

t won’t come as a shock for home business owners that social networking platforms can transform a business, as social media has been a staple ingrained in our online and physical communities for more than two decades. Even with its pervading relevance, many are still unclear on how to start or stand out in a saturated online landscape. We spoke with experts in various industries about how to get involved in this marketing and sales phenomenon. They enlighten us in this article with actions you can take as a business owner to supercharge your social campaigns in 2019.

Make sure to check the sidebar at the end of this story for tools you can use to streamline your social media efforts. Take advantage of the new tech at your fingertips that can simplify the entire process.

Let’s get started by going over the value of social media, actionable steps to take on specific platforms, diving into influencer marketing, and upholding your brand’s authenticity while reaching optimized growth. These industry experts will be sure to set your marketing mindset in the right direction.

Value of Social Media for Home Businesses What social media does to your brand is bolster the brand awareness and visibility without much ado. Apart from this, it offers a brand recall value like no other platform and acts as a catalyst for a lot of inbound visitors. Especially for the B2C business, social media is meant to be precisely targeted towards the audience. If a business is driven or at least fortified by impulsive purchases and emotional spending, it’s icing on the cake as nothing drives more impulsive purchases than Facebook.

Other than this, social media turns out to be the platform for the greatest number of conversions of leads into customers because that’s where the people are. People spend a lot of their waking hours on social media and if they are targeted well, traffic and traction are easy to garner.

The above section was provided by Ketan Kapoor, CEO & Co-Founder of Mettl, https://mettl.com.

Facebook Marketing Start campaigning on Facebook with organic and paid ads. During the initial

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®

Take advantage of the new tech to streamline your social media efforts.

People spend a lot “ of their waking hours on social media and if they are targeted well, traffic and traction are easy to garner.

”

days of running the campaign, there won't be enough traction and organic traffic flowing to your website. Gradually, on the back of paid ads and targeted marketing and advertising, you will easily build an organic following on Facebook.

A prerequisite for this is having a convincing website where visitors can land and post their Facebook interactions. They must be convinced of its business authenticity, should be able to trust you with the payment, and be sure of the delivery of their orders.

The above section was provided by Ketan Kapoor, CEO & Co-Founder of Mettl, https://mettl.com.

Twitter Marketing A unique way to leverage Twitter is to join or host a Twitter Chat. This is a Q&A format on Twitter hosted at a set time. Users reply to the host's questions and tag each tweet with the chat-specific hashtag. This brands your

business to the hashtag and encourages others to use it. It also establishes you as the authority figure in the Chat topic and participating in one can build your brand awareness. As a visibility consultant, I have used Twitter Chats to go viral and start trending on the sidebar of Twitter organically. This is an underutilized marketing strategy and can help online businesses grow in thought-leadership.

The above section was provided by Jenny Hale, JH Marketing Results LLC, https://jhmarketingresults.com.

Instagram Marketing If you have a product or a service targeting Millennials or Gen Zers, Instagram is your best bet. You will be successful on Instagram if you can create high-quality content that relates to your target demographic. Think of Instagram as another extension of your brand where your consumers happen to be located. Use Instagram as a base where you can retarget your consumers at will with new products, interesting information, or stunning imagery. When creating content, avoid stock photos at all costs. Instead, create organic content that reflects what your brand is about.

Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags each post. Spend some time searching hashtags that you think would make sense. Most of the time, other people have already thought of them and are actively searching them now. Mix high-volume, medium-volume, and low-volume hashtags, Continued on page 12

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Social Connect!

Continued from page 10

and watch your engagement skyrocket.

F E AT U R E

The above section was provided by Cain Castor, Digital Business Expert, https://weRgoodpeople.com/.

Snapchat Marketing Snapchat is best when targeting teens and generating brand awareness during live events. Currently, the most popular advertisements running on Snapchat are by TikTok. The two platforms have a similar format (short form video) and share a target market of Gen Z. If you have an interesting game on the App Store, or something free and digital, Snapchat is a good place to market.

The organic reach on Snapchat isn’t the best, because people must add you directly to find your account. To make a significant impact, you will need to pay for advertising. When creating these ads, be sure they are videos 10 seconds or less that are straight to the point.

The above section was provided by Cain Castor, Digital Business Expert, https://weRgoodpeople.com/.

YouTube Marketing YouTube is great for businesses that have longer sales cycles. When it comes to purchasing a consumer product,

Start campaigning on Facebook with organic and paid ads.

the consumer only needs a few impressions to be swayed into making a purchase. For B2B services, there are usually multiple decision makers that need convincing you are the right business for the job. In this case, creating high-value informational content about your sector on YouTube can help generate leads and nurture those leads into sales.

Google owns YouTube, so all advertising is run straight through your current Google Ads Account. You have multiple ad choices from 5 seconds to 5 minutes. Unless you’re willing to pay a premium, all ads will have a “Skip Now” button after 5 seconds, so create your video to grab

attention immediately.

The above section was provided by Cain Castor, Digusiness Expert, xp https://weRgoodpeople.com/. itall Business Reddit Marketing Reddit is a website built out of subcommunity forums. There’s a subreddit for anything from Space to people who photoshop arms onto birds.

Find a community that relates the best with your brand. If you run a company that sells glasses that protect your eyes from prolonged exposure to computer light, then r/gamers is your place to go. The rules of Instagram content creation apply here too. You need to create something

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of interest or value to stand out from the other posts. If you can portray your product in a fun way that shows how useful it is, you will generate sales.

Social Media Engagement Tips Post Appealing Content: Select the specific times of the day you have to post content at. There are various stats available about the optimal time to gain increased traction to your posts. Remember that separate platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat have different best times.

Since it is a community forum, it helps to stay and interact with the community. As you build rapport and authority, people will respond better to each of your posts.

Use Hashtags: Letting the target audience know that you are posting some content related to a specific niche is indispensable to have a great following; you can effectively do this by using hashtags.

The above section was provided by Cain Castor, Digital Business Expert, https://weRgoodpeople.com/.

LinkedIn Marketing If you're a B2B business or selling high-ticket products and services, LinkedIn is the tool that will help you grow your business. If not, you're likely leaving opportunities and cash on the table. You can use it for generating new business directly, creating new strategic partnerships and collaborations, attracting investors, speaking opportunities, and top talent that you may want to recruit now or in the future, finding PR opportunities, and more. A lot of people gravitate towards LinkedIn because they see the potential for lead generation which is just the tip of the iceberg.

conversations and growing your network will help you go far and achieve long-term success.

Don't collect connections or hope the right people see your content; instead, focus on having quality conversations and discussions. Your network is an asset, and you should be proud of the people in it.

When you approach LinkedIn with the goal of developing strategic relationships with the people that will help you grow your business, starting

The above section was provided by Charlie Whyman, LinkedIn Trainer and Business Development Strategist, https://charliewhyman.com/.

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Create high-quality content that relates to your target demographic.

Connect All Your Social Media Platforms: Nobody has a single social media platform that he or she is present on — not the followers and certainly not the influencers. This is a truth that makes you available for them at multiple customer interaction touchpoints, building followers and greater visibility. Connecting various social media accounts helps the audience find you on multiple platforms or the one they use the most.

Call-to-Action: Always have a call-to-action on your posts, which can be anything if it gets them to click — asking questions in the captions, conducting a poll, asking people to post their stories, conducting contests or offering giveaways Continued on page 14

Spring 2019 | Home Business

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Social Connect!

Continued from page 13

to the audience in exchange for them tagging their friends.

F E AT U R E

The above section was provided by Ketan Kapoor, CEO & Co-Founder of Mettl, https://mettl.com.

Influencer Marketing - Introduction The new wave of social media connectivity has brought a plethora of changes in the way customers interact with different products and services, upending how promotions and brand visibility strategies work. It has given birth to a lot of new leaders who command massive respect and admiration from their followers. Brands also find it convenient to reach their customers by bringing these influencers on board to promote for them. The different kinds of influencers are broadly classified into: Influencers are those who have a massive following of more than 100,000 people who, in turn, come from different geographies and have many interests. If you are planning to leverage their help to enhance your brand visibility, targeting the right audience can be a little difficult.

Micro-influencers are those who have a following of 1000+ people, but they can offer you high segmentation and targeting of the audience.

Use similar color schemes and visuals across different platforms.

Nano-influencers are those who have a following of 100+ followers and command an audience which is highly segmented and extremely targeted. Most of the followers of nano-influencers know the latter personally or possibly live in the same locality. The nano-influencers' followership comes from a real connection, and that’s why it can offer you a very high degree of engagement.

The above section was provided by Ketan Kapoor, CEO & Co-Founder of Mettl, https://mettl.com.

How to Partner with an Influencer to Grow Your Business Increased online competition really puts the squeeze on brands. If things weren’t already difficult, marketing budgets are stretched thin.

The good news is that you can still successfully promote your business online without busting the budget. The answer is influencer marketing.

Influencers are advocates for your brand.

Influencers are a digitized version of word-ofmouth marketing, which is still the most effective form of marketing. They have a readymade audience of loyal followers who are primed to absorb and trust your brand through an influencer.

Influencers help you reach thousands of potential customers without a huge campaign or highdollar budget.

Not sure if influencer marketing is for you?

Consider this: Influencers are cheaper and more effective than any other brand promotion strategy.

Influencers help you: 1. Promote your brand without being spammy.

2. Become more discoverable on social media and search engines.

3. Collect valuable feedback.

4. Boost your authority.

Most brands are new to influencer marketing.

And that’s okay! Follow these steps to partner with quality influencers to grow your brand.

1. Do Your Research Not all influencers are equal. Poke around online to find the most effective, trustworthy influencers. Look at their websites and social media platforms. Note how many followers they have and how engaged they are with their community.

2. Contact Them After narrowing it down to your top three

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A unique way to “leverage Twitter is

Stop throwing your precious marketing dollars out the window. Put your budget to its best and highest use by partnering with trustworthy influencers.

to join or host a Twitter Chat.

The above section was provided by Lydia Vargo, Senior Director of Strategic Accounts at ChicExecs Retail Strategy Firm, http://www.chicexecs.com.

influencers, reach out to them. Remember to be respectful and to communicate privately with the influencer.

Creative and Consistent Content At OpenSponsorship, we try to create content that engages our followers while clearly displaying our mission. The main tips for engagement are consistency and creativity with your content.

”

Be prepared with an outline of how you’ll partner up on a campaign. Know your budget and let them know your number.

3. Partner on a Campaign After signing a contract with your influencer, it’s time to get to work. Always follow FTC guidelines about disclosure when partnering with your influencer on content. Remember to build a full campaign with your influencer.

A one-and-done tweet isn’t enough to connect your brand with their audience. Let the influencer do their thing, too. Build a trusting, professional relationship without micromanaging.

Consistency is key in making sure your users are familiar with your content that they will interact with. Using similar color schemes and visuals across different social media platforms helps engage followers and recognize your brand. When that recognition has been built, users may be inclined to explore your other platforms and engage with content on there, such as videos, photo galleries, etc. Create a hashtag or a popular sign-off statement that users will recognize to help create a movement around your brand. Drake had his fans tweeting #YOLO, and that created an entire

GROWING ECONOMY

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Spring 2019 | Home Business

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Interview with John Krasinski

F E AT U R E

H

apless sitcom character, romcom star, horror film director... John Krasinski has never been one to pigeonhole himself. He jumped at the chance to reinvent the action hero Jack Ryan, a character he’s been a fan of since he was a kid for a new Amazon Prime series. And while the 38-year-old may be “nervous” about tackling a role previously played by Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine, it's pretty much a dream come true.

“I know it sounds corny, but he doesn't have a cape, he doesn't fly, he’s actually a real person — so I think probably as a kid, I even said the words, 'Maybe I could be Jack Ryan one day',” says the Massachusetts-born actor.

In the series, novelist Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the titular hero — a CIA analyst — is thrust into a dangerous field assignment for the first time. After uncovering a pattern in terrorist communication, he’s launched into the middle

By Suzy Maloy / The Interview Feed of a dangerous gambit, with a new breed of terrorism on his hands.

Krasinski — perhaps best known for playing Jim Halpert in the US version of The Office — was attracted to the idea of long-form storytelling. “The pitch to me from the show runners was that maybe movies aren’t the best medium for Jack,” he explains. “The books are so rich with detail that slamming all that stuff into two hours is really difficult to do. If you do it over several episodes, you can really delve into the details and the specifics of who Jack is and the world around him,” he adds. In the end, he felt at ease with portraying such an iconic character. “I felt like I got a free pass,” he says, “because not only is my take going to be different, but the whole reinvention of the character and how we're telling the story is different.”

For Krasinski, it was important to explore the

Courtesy of Reuters/The Interview People.

On His Current High-Pressure Role on Amazon as Action Hero Jack Ryan, How the Show Explores Terrorism, and Balancing Work with Family Life

For John Krasinski, it was important to explore the issue of terrorism in a different way.

issue of terrorism in a different way.

“I think the whole 'white hat, black hat' way of storytelling is a bit boring, a little outdated — the idea of just a good guy and a bad guy,” he elaborates. “In the real world, it's all very complicated, and that goes for Jack as well. Jack has always been a character who's extremely moral

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SPRING START-UPS – Pg. 18

Grow A Business By Going Green – Pg. 10

SAVVY START-UP: Key Profit Points STELLAR SEVEN h Tips Marketing Growt ECO-FRIENDLY Home Office AL VENTURE CAPIT es Sourc ng Fundi

SAFE PROFITS Online Safety Home Biz

tes Tree Hugging Genera28 Pg. Green Dollars — 18

Display Until 7/3/20

es Engineer Launch — Pg. 37 Booming Baby Biz

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s& Home-Based Busines ne Opportunity Magazi

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GO GREEN Special Business

Reinventing Yourself 16 Opportunities — Pg.

Home Business Spring 2019

TODAY

Spring 2018

HEMSWORTH INTERVIEW: CHRIS to Conquer New

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family life. “Emily was away shooting Mary Poppins here in England, and I was in Montreal a lot,” he says. “I had to fly back to see the kids every week and that's non-negotiable — I do whatever it takes to be with them.”

take going to be different, but the whole reinvention of the character and how we're telling the story is different.

”

— John Krasinski

and in our show. One of the fun things you get to do is investigate how difficult it is to be moral and do the right thing in these situations.”

The friendly star also points out that the series doesn't “humanize a terrorist”. However, you do get to “see where he's coming from and what led to the decisions he makes. What we do really well is show the collateral damage of family, friends, and communities that are affected by these people who make these decisions to do evil things,” he continues. “They had no part in it, and they're lumped into the same category unfairly. So, I think showing a wife and

“One of the fun things you get to do is investigate how difficult it is to be moral and do the right thing in these situations.”

– John Krasinski

a mother fight for their own family is a really important part of the show.”

Krasinski is married to British actress Emily Blunt, whose star credits include The Devil Wears Prada and The Girl On The Train. They have two daughters (Hazel, four, and twoyear-old Violet), and Krasinski readily admits it was difficult balancing filming Jack Ryan with

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like I got a free pass “…I felt because not only is my

The couple recently worked together for the first time when they took on lead roles in near-silent thriller A Quiet Place, released earlier this year, which Krasinski also directed. The movie became a critically acclaimed box-office hit. “It was a really special and unique experience on every level, certainly doing it with my wife and having it be that personal to me,” he recalls of making the film. “It really makes us feel good that people are seeing what we saw — that idea of parenthood and what you would do for your kids, which seems to be a universal theme that everybody connected to.”

Krasinski currently relishes every moment of bringing Jack Ryan to life.“I hope everybody likes to know that there's a good guy represented out there, a guy who's very moral and trying to do the right thing,” he says. “That's awesome, especially in today's world, to know that's the person who's on the front line for you. I think there's some comfort in that — at least there was for me.”

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20+ Startup Opportunities You Can Launch This Spring

1. Affiliate Marketing: As an affiliate marketer, you will be promoting products or services offered by another entity. You can make a decent amount through commissions provided by the companies. The exact commission percentage varies from one product to another, and you can try to negotiate fair rates. You’ll need to have knowledge on social media and SEO tactics. Select a top-rated product after conducting market research to optimize your efforts.

to garage sales in your area and purchase good finds for cheap, then sell for a higher rate at the markets. Go through your house as well and find items you no longer want.

4. Dog Training: If you know how to train a dog, start a home-based business with our furry friends. You can acquire the skills needed to become a dog trainer by going to a school and getting certified. You can assist dog owners in your neighborhood on training their dogs. It is a great mobile business opportunity where you’ll be on your feet interacting with people (and pets).

2. Bartending: You can work as a freelance bartender if you have knowledge on how to mix drinks and make cocktails. It’s a side-business opportunity which you can engage with without spending a lot of money up front. You’ll need to work late night shifts so be prepared to adjust your sleep schedule.

Successful bartenders know how to handle rude or aggressive people and should have a confident personality. Good service will often lead to good tips.

3. Consulting: Become a consultant and share the knowledge that you have with others. You’ll need to spend less than $30 to get some business cards printed. Once established locally, set up a website and offer your consulting services to a bigger audience. Assess your skillset and select a niche to take on based on your experience. Join professional groups in your locale to meet possible prospects.

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5. Drop-shipping: Drop-shipping is a home-based business in which you don’t have to spend your own money to purchase inventory. From the comfort of home, you can sell products, collect payments and make the payments to the suppliers. You would act as a middleman and earn a decent income without having to do the manual labor of packaging and shipping products. Set up an ecommerce store with a platform like Shopify or Magento.

6. Errand Services: A huge demand that has developed is for running errands and grocery and takeout delivery. If you have a safe vehicle and an urge to be out and about, choose this niche. Many people are too busy managing their careers and need help getting laundry cleaned and a trip to the store taken care of. Charge per hour and figure in gas mileage/usage so you’re getting reimbursed.

7. Flea Market Vending: Flea markets are still thriving, and you can become a vender at events in your city and surrounding cities.

You’ll need to have items worth selling, so go

8. Flooring Specialty: You can study online and become a flooring specialist for both residential and commercial property owners.

You’ll need knowledge on the tools required for installing flooring, the process of doing it, as well as the different flooring materials available.

9. Homemade Soaps: It is possible to gain basic knowledge to make soap by watching online tutorials and going through test runs.

Once you have the technique mastered, try out different ingredients until you come up with pleasing scents and textures. Start this business right out of your kitchen by purchasing a small number of tools and materials.

10. House Painting: In most areas, you are not required to obtain a license to become a house painter. You’ll need to invest initial money in equipment, but it will pay off largely as you’ll make hundreds of dollars per room of a house. Once you become proficient, you have the potential to make serious income if you can book a house or two a week.

11. Logo Design: An individual with basic skills in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator will be able to become a logo Continued on page 20

www.homebusinessmag.com

3/1/19 6:38 PM

AAJudgment JudgmentRecovery Recovery Business Business isis Hot and andininDemand.

Demand.Here’s Here’show how to to start start your your own... own...

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ave aveyou youever everwatched watchedJudge JudgeJudy Judy or or any any of of those those mid-afternoon mid-afternoon court courtTV TVshows showswhere wherepeople people sue sue each each other other for for unpaid unpaid rent rent or services? services?InInmany manycases, cases,Judge JudgeJudy Judyslams slamsdown down her her gavel gavel and and barks barks orders ordersatatthe thedefendant defendanttotopay payup, up, but but here's here's aa little little known known fact: fact: the the court courtdoes doesnot notenforce enforcethat thatjudgment. judgment.And And that that goes goes for for non-televised non-televised court courtcases casestoo. too.

That's That'sright, right,just justbecause because aa judge judge orders orders someone someone to to pay pay aa debt debt doesn't doesn'tmean meanthat thatperson personisisgoing goingtoto do do it.it. Imagine Imagine ifif someone someone owed owed you youa afew fewthousand thousanddollars dollarsand anddecided decided not not to to pay pay you, you, regardless regardless of what whata acourt courtofoflaw lawordered. ordered.Would Wouldyou youknow knowwhat what to to do? do? Most Most people people don't, don't,sosothey theywait waitininfrustration frustrationfor forthe thedebt debtto tobe bepaid. paid.

Christina ChristinaSmiley, Smiley,founder founder ofof Sierra Sierra Judgment Judgment Recovery Recovery and and selfselfproclaimed proclaimedopportunity opportunity junkie, junkie, learned learned how how to to profit profit from from this this little little known knownmarket marketofofunpaid unpaiddebt debtby byhelping helpingjudgment judgment holders holders collect. collect. She She explained explainedthere therewas wasvirtually virtuallyno no one one who who was was providing providing this this service. service.

And And that that once once people people had had been been awarded awarded these these judgments... judgments... 80 80 percent percentofofthem themwere werenever neverpaid.” paid.”

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And Andthen thenshe shelearned learned about about the the big bigmoney moneyininsmall smallclaims. claims.Christina Christina focused focusedononlearning learninghow how toto recover recover judgments judgmentsfor forpeople. people. She She says, says, "It "It was wastrial trialand anderror errorfor forsix sixmonths monthstotoaa year. year.I buried I buriedmy mynose noseinincivil civilcodes.” codes.”

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service service isis there's there's no no up-front up-front cost to her her customers. customers. Any Any filing filing fees or costs costs incurred incurred by

by Christina Christina are reimbursed reimbursed to to her her out out of the judgment judgment once once it's it's collected. collected. The customers customers don't don't have have to pay anything anythingout out of of their their own own pocket. pocket.

From From what what she she says, says, this is primarily primarily behind-the-scenes behind-the-scenes work, which which makes makes itit an an entirely entirely nonconfrontational confrontational business. business. She She does everything everything through through the the court court system from from seizing seizing debtor debtor bank bank accounts, accounts, garnishing garnishing wages wages and and other other income, to toplacing placingliens liens on on property. property.

One One year year after after starting starting the judgment judgment recovery recovery business, business, Christina Christina and and Terry Terry closed closed the carpet carpet store. store. Finally Finally they they could could work at at home home and and have have money money left over at at the the end end of of the the month. month. They've been been running running Sierra Sierra Judgment Judgment Recovery Recovery for for over over 10 10 years years and are bringing bringing in in aa five-figure five-figure paycheck paycheck each eachmonth. month. And And the the most most important important aspect aspect isis they've they've got got more more time for their their kids. kids. “I“I can can attend attend their their events and and my my husband husband gets gets to to go go on field trips trips now now -- he's he's usually usually the the only dad on onthem.” them.”

But But the the story story doesn't doesn't end end there.

Christina Christina wants wants to to share share her knowledge knowledge with with others others across across the country country as as aa home-based home-based business opportunity. opportunity.

She She has has put put together together aa judgment judgment recovery recoverytraining training course. course. In In addition, students students have have access access to to aa National Network, Network, which which can can be be extremely extremely helpful helpful in in cases cases where where the the debtor has has moved moved out out of of state. state. Christina also alsoincludes includes unlimited unlimited support. support.

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Christina Smiley Smiley

contact judgment judgment holders holders how to contact their business, business, the the steps steps to to to get their down aa debtor debtor and andsorting sorting tracking down the paperwork paperwork from from the the through the court.

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Christina. future," says you’d like like information information on on If you’d your own own home-based home-based starting your judgment recovery recovery business, business, judgment for their their free free guide guide at at register for www.recoverycourse.com. You You www.recoverycourse.com. also contact Sierra Sierra may also contact Judgment Recovery Recovery directly directly by by Judgment them at at (912) (912) 882-8190 882-8190 calling them email Customer Customer Support Support at at or email Support@recoverycourse.com.

Support@recoverycourse.com.

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20+ Startup Opportunities You Can Launch This Spring Continued from page 18

designer. There are also programs like Canva that make design easy. You’ll need to have a creative mindset and knowledge of attractive colors and fonts. A talent for drawing would also be useful. Research must be done to guarantee that you’re not copying a logo already on the market.

12. Online Courses: There is a high demand for online courses as many people wish to transition careers or become knowledgeable in a certain subject but don’t have time or the finances to go to college. You can prepare courses with set lesson plans that each student will follow and do on their own time. If you prefer a hands-on approach, charge extra and have one-on-one tutorial sessions.

13. Pet Sitting: People can make around $80 per pet watched overnight. When people need to rush to a long meeting or run errands all afternoon, some pets will require constant attention and so they hire pet sitters. Put fliers up around your neighborhood and start a Facebook page advertising your services.

Post frequently and comment on local posts so your business gets visibility.

16. Selling Used Books: If you are a book lover, you must have a lot of used books around your home that will continue to gather dust. There are plenty of online marketplaces which you can access in order to sell the used books that you have. There is a high demand for books, even in today’s digital world, as many still crave the smell and the feel of turning a page.

17. Social Media Management: Businesses seek the assistance of social media managers to get their channels up and running. As a social media manager, you will need to manage multiple social media accounts, schedule posts, and engage with followers. This can be a long-term profitable business, as clients will need ongoing work since social media success is found through consistency.

18. Tax Preparation: Tax preparation is an area that most people need assistance with.

If you are a person who is good at accounting and bookkeeping, utilize your passion for numbers and get busy during tax season. You will need to get certified by obtaining a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).

14. Scrap Metal Recycling: Scrap metal recycling is a home-based business opportunity that you can start from your garage. Keep in mind that aluminum and copper are the most common metals, which you can find in your neighborhood. Check Craigslist on the free stuff page as many people give away their scrap materials there.

15. Selling on eBay: Begin an eBay business by simply walking around the home and looking for unused or unwanted items. Thrift shops often have many treasures that can sell for great amounts. Savvy people with skills for finding antiques and expensive obscure brands will do well selling on eBay. When you become a stable seller, start your own store and make it a full-time gig.

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19. Tutoring: Take your high proficiency in a specific subject directly to the students and become a tutor. Advertise your tutoring business at high schools, at college campuses, and at large companies. Many parents

are on the lookout for good tutors so set up brochures at their places of work. Get registered on tutoring platforms like Varsity Tutors or TutorRoom.

20. Virtual Assistance: Business owners in today’s world don’t have a lot of time to get their tasks done. As a result, many hire the help offered by virtual assistants. As a virtual assistant, you may be asked to prepare reports, manage social media accounts, edit content, research new content, perform data entry, do product research, schedule appointments, and provide other services. Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer are great platforms for finding work.

21. Window Cleaning: As a window cleaner, you’ll help residential and commercial property owners keep their windows clean.

Send marketing mail to residents and offices in your area. Offer a first-time discount and monthly rates. Once you have an office hooked on your services, you can continue working for them on a weekly basis and pack your schedule with regulars.

22. Writing an eBook: With the knowledge that you have, you can write an e-book. It isn’t too difficult for you to sell them with the assistance of platforms such as Amazon Kindle. If you need help getting it developed, find a freelancer on the web to take on the project for a flat rate. Do intense research and cite your sources so your e-book stands out among competitors. Post about the book in relevant Facebook groups, and recommend friends and family to share it as well.

Enter the world of entrepreneurs and be the boss of your future. The 22 options listed in this article are a handful of the vast number of opportunities available. Pick one that inspires confidence and excitement. For additional information on starting a home-based business, visit https://homebusinessmag.com/ and https://www.homebusinessexpo.com/. www.homebusinessmag.com

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SUCCESS STORIES

Struggles of Motherhood Mompreneur Creates a Judgement-Free Zone for Moms with Podcast

By Leah Cybulski

S

ri Bodanapu is creating waves with her judgement-free podcast, Big Little Choices — spotlighting unconventional choices that mothers make for themselves and their families. Sri’s desire to start this podcast came from her own journey as a new mother and not finding enough audio resources on these difficult choices. In addition, she also heard from other moms who often felt lonely and judged when making unconventional choices.

It was very important for Sri to create a space where women could open up about their lives and not fear being shamed or judged. Sri also wanted to hear and share stories from women who didn’t look or think like her so she could offer a broader worldview on what it was like to be a mother and a woman. So far, Big Little Choices has 15 episodes, and the podcast has covered a variety of topics such as divorce, intercultural marriage, single parenting, gender fluidity, and career changes — all in the context of being a mother.

Sri is Indian, and she grew up in a traditional family. With Big Little Choices, she shares her own perspective on the norms she had to reject in order to make the choices that were best for her and her family. Each podcast guest is a courageous and inspiring woman who is not afraid to make unconventional choices. Each podcast episode typically has a strong takeaway on how women must create lives that are right for them without conforming to societal or cultural norms set by others.

Big Little Choices grew from a very organic and grassroots approach; Sri started the launch of her podcast by interviewing women in her own social circles about the big and small choices they are having to make. Her listeners soon came forward and shared their unique stories. The podcast now has thousands of downloads and is on its way to exploring more unconventional topics this year, such as raising a child with a disability, having

Sri Bodanapu, Founder of Big Little Choices

6+ children, and egg freezing. Sri’s goal for 2019 is to create community around the podcast. She wants to bring women of all backgrounds together in physical spaces, help them talk about any choices they are making, and inspire them to live their best lives.

Visit https://www.biglittlechoices.co.

Making Adaptability a Mainstay Denver-Based Entrepreneur Responds to Growing Industry Need with Launch of Nationwide Confidential Onsite Transcription

By Kirsten Clodfelter

E

ntrepreneur Ben Walker has been providing remote transcription services for the better part of a decade. After an early career in the banking industry, Walker saw a growing need for high-quality remote transcription for businesses. He launched Denver-based Transcription Outsourcing in 2010, and since then the company has aided clients in almost every industry, from legal and medical to law enforcement and academia.

As the company’s grown, transcription needs have continued to evolve as well.

While becoming a staple provider of remote transcription, Walker has also kept a sharp eye on his company’s responsiveness and his team’s ability to meet market demands. He explains, “More and more companies all over the U.S. were asking us to go to their offices and provide secure, confidential, onsite transcription services for them.”

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Walker was eager to create a solution. “Many of our clients find us online, read our reviews, and see who we’ve worked with. They want to partner with us based on that history.” Walker saw an opportunity to take his company’s existing commitment to high-quality, affordable transcription and deliver that same model directly to clients’ doors with an onsite solution.

This new confidential onsite transcription service provides the same exceptional level of performance with more security measures than remote transcription allows. As with their remote offering, Transcription Outsourcing’s expert team prioritizes accuracy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance for every field.

Walker launched the company's new service with strict attention to flexibility, a key element that made his remote transcription so successful. For onsite services, the company’s experienced transcriptionists are available on an as-needed basis, including for projects that fall

Ben Walker, Founder and CEO of Transcription Outsourcing

outside of standard business hours or require quick turnaround. By making adaptability and accessibility a mainstay of his business, Walker remains a go-to provider for Transcription Outsourcing's many clients — no matter where they may need transcription to take place.

After launching his new onsite confidential transcription service, this year Walker is renewing his focus on continued growth. “We’re starting to implement objectives and key results that will grow organically through SEO by 50 percent,” he says. For Walker, this means bringing cost-saving, accurate transcription to more clients than ever before. Learn more at https://www.transcriptionoutsourcing.net. www.homebusinessmag.com

3/1/19 6:39 PM

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Maximize Personal Finance How Entrepreneurs Can Self-fund a New Business

By Amad Ebrahimi

MONEY

N

ot every new business venture is going to be attractive to angel investors; likewise, the idea of others having a stake in your company may not be attractive to you. But if you are starting a new business, there are ways to self-fund using lending institutions and credit cards. The trick is to reduce risk by knowing what you need to borrow and the best way to borrow it.

Plan Your Business, Work Your Plan Every successful business starts with a solid plan. The more effort you put into your plan, the more risk you will understand and be able to mitigate. There are many business plan templates available online, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers some insight into which format may fit your needs.

Once you have your plan established (remember a business plan is a living document that requires attention and updates), you are ready to determine how much you need to borrow.

Next, you will need to know your credit score and from whom you should borrow.

As you are starting a new business, and most likely your first one, lenders will rely on your personal credit score to determine your worthiness. Loan calculators can help you determine the potential cost of the loan, and when you’re ready to apply, there are several options available to you, including, but not limited to, SBA loans, business lines of credit, short-term loans, merchant cash advances, and credit cards.

Alternative Loan Lenders As many banks are reluctant to lend to startups, you may want to explore alternative loans. While bank loans are available only through banks, alternative loans are available through financial groups, nonprofit organizations and community groups, or even individual investors.

Bank loans can only be obtained through a bank branch. This often requires an in-person visit or at least a phone call from the applicant.

On the other hand, alternative business loans can typically be completed online from start to finish. The application process, submission of documentation, and even approval and funding can be handled via email or secure online portals.

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Qualifying for an alternative business loan is typically easier than qualifying for a bank loan because requirements are not as strict. There are fewer paperwork requirements and more flexibility. Alternative loans are also approved and funded more quickly than bank loans.

Business Lines of Credit vs Credit Cards Business lines of credit and credit cards share many characteristics. Credit cards are technically revolving lines of credit, though they aren’t often called that. As you pay off your balance, more credit becomes available to use again. Compared to traditional business loans, lines of credit and credit cards are both convenient for small and recurring purchases.

In some cases, you may even be able to use your line of credit at the point of sale, similar to a credit or debit card.

As many banks “ are reluctant to lend to startups, you may want to explore alternative loans.

”

Beyond those similarities, both credit cards and lines of credit accrue interest on any outstanding debt, not unlike business loans.

You’ll also have an easier time qualifying for the best line of credit or credit card if you have a strong credit score.

The most obvious difference is that not all lines of credit are revolving credit. When a bank extends you a line of credit, it may be a onetime offer. Usually, when a financial institution extends non-revolving credit, it’s to cover a specific expense the borrower is seeking to fund. Unlike a loan, a line of credit gives the borrower some extra flexibility to negotiate a price with vendors.

The differences between revolving lines of credit and credit cards are a bit more subtle.

For starters, a line of credit often comes with more fees than does a credit card. You may, for example, have to pay a monthly or annual fee to keep your line of credit open. While some

Consider using lending institutions and credit cards. credit cards (particularly business credit cards) do come with annual fees, it’s not hard to find ones that don’t. Some lines of credit will also charge a fee every time you make a withdrawal.

Regardless of the type of loan you chose, It's important to know whether it offers a fixed rate or variable rate. If your loan has a fixed interest rate, the rate will stay the same for the life of the loan. On the other hand, if your loan has a variable interest rate, the rate will rise or fall in accordance with market forces. Lenders can use one of three base rates to calculate your interest rate: ■ Prime Rate: The lowest rate banks set for

lending. The most commonly used prime rate is published by the WSJ. ■ One Month LIBOR + 3% Rate Adjustment:

The London Inter-bank Offered Rate, a rate used for inter-bank lending in London.

■ SBA Optional Peg Rate: A metric which

the SBA defines as “a weighted average of rates the federal government pays for loans with maturities similar to the average SBA loan”.

Remember, it's a business so choose wisely.

Proper planning and research will help to reduce risk and allow your business to grow.

Amad Ebrahimi is an entrepreneur, business owner and founder of Merchant Maverick, a highly successful business and financial review site which has helped over 1 million business grow since 2009. Visit https://www.merchantmaverick.com/.

www.homebusinessmag.com

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BUSINESSES & OPPORTUNITIES

Bootstrap a Business How to Build a 9-Figure Company Without Raising Capital

By Thomas and Laureen Asseo

I

n a market saturated with unicorn startups, it’s tempting for entrepreneurs to give up large chunks of their company for a boost in capital.

The idea of upfront funding may sound alluring, but truth be told, turning to investors in the early stages isn’t necessarily the right approach for everyone. It could even be argued that if you have the grit to bootstrap your business and fund things yourself, you’ll be much better off further down the line.

Fresh n’ Lean (www.freshnlean.com) is a perfect example of that. Brother-sister duo Thomas and Laureen Asseo entered the untapped food delivery space in 2010 and bootstrapped a 9-figure meal delivery startup out of a 100 sq. ft. kitchen.

Today, Fresh n’ Lean operates out of a 55,000 sq. ft. facility with 100 employees, and has delivered over 4.3 million meals nationwide.

Turning down offers from venture capitals was a difficult decision for the duo, but the limited budget raised from personal savings forced the company to innovate and find efficient ways to scale. If you’re a budding entrepreneur unsure whether or not bootstrapping is right for you, the lessons from Fresh n’ Lean provide some useful insight and serve as a refreshing reminder that raising capital isn’t the only way to grow a brand.

Weighing Up Risks vs Rewards Any business owner knows that there’s an element of risk involved in starting a new venture, but forking out your own hard-earned money and bootstrapping your company can feel extra daunting.

“When I was making food out of a 100 sq. ft. kitchen, I never imagined growing to a 55,000 sq. ft. facility,” says Laureen. “We took a huge gamble and poured all of our savings into the business. But we were passionate about our mission and knew that we were doing something impactful.”

If you can make it through the uncertainty and your risk pays off, one big advantage of going it alone is that it can often lead to greater rewards and more flexibility with your business in the long run.

“Raising capital is great and I can see how it 26

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would make a world of difference to us,” says Thomas. “But I’m glad we didn’t take it because we didn’t have to give up most of the equity of the company. Now when we are looking for strategic partners we don’t have to worry about a venture capitalist potentially getting in the way by trying to inflate the value (strictly because they are worried about their exit strategy).”

Whilst there really is no definitive way of knowing whether or not a risk will pay dividends, by assessing the situation, gathering as much info as possible and learning from the mistakes of others, you can maximize your chances of success.

cash flow “andLowcapital can often seem like an obstacle, but in many cases, it can lead to more innovation and creativity.”

Limitations Promote Efficiency Low cash flow and capital can often seem like an obstacle, but in many cases, it can lead to more innovation and creativity. This was definitely the case with Fresh n’ Lean: “We passed on many offers from venture investors,” states Thomas. “Bootstrapping the business was painful, but in retrospect, we now own 100% of our business and don’t have to answer to any investors. If we had raised capital, our business would have grown faster, but our limited budget painfully forced us to innovate and find more efficient ways to grow.”

Business owners are increasingly aware that too many choices can actually be a bad thing, leading to decision-fatigue, less free time to devote to business development, and poor decision-making further down the line.

“A real advantage [of bootstrapping] is that it is going to make you more resourceful with money,” Thomas continues. “The danger of having a

Finance a new startup without outside help. lot of capital is wasting it because you are worried about development and not running out of money. I would credit some of our best logistic innovations directly to the fact that we did not have any resources to waste.”

Know Your Audience With any business, it’s crucial that you know your audience. Due to the inherent risks of bringing in your own capital, this is especially true when bootstrapping.

“You’re going to need to define your audience and continuously get to know them in order to develop and deliver a product that will work for them,” says Thomas. “With that, if you can find yourself in a position to develop a product that you truly want for yourself, you'll be in a better position. If you’re your own customer, you’re in a much better place to gauge how to keep your products, services, and company moving forward."

A few ways to get in touch with your customer base: ■

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Carry out in-depth market research via social media, Google Analytics, and tools like YouGov to define and locate your ideal customer.

Occasionally send surveys to your existing customer base to create and update your customer avatars and personas.

Map out content and any key business decisions around your target personas. How will it benefit them?

Evolve or Die Business development is a key factor that many entrepreneurs mistakenly place on the backburner. But without investors to turn to, things www.homebusinessmag.com

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“You want to put more time into developing the business than keeping it afloat or else you’ll fall into a vicious cycle of just trying to keep it afloat,” says Thomas. “If all you are doing is keeping your head above water, you aren’t going in any direction. The more you’re in survival mode, the more aggressive you should be with business development, or you will slowly die.”

The key to success is to make business development a priority, carving out time each day to make improvements. Thomas explains: “When you are fresh, you are most likely more optimistic so it may be best to start your day doing business development so you don’t get beat up with the negativity of trying to figure out poor cash flow.”

What to focus on? At the end of the day, it all comes down to improving the customer experience. “In terms of focusing on development, a good aspect of that is to prioritize improving the quality of your service and product above most other things,” says Thomas.

Either Way, Be Resourceful There are times where it seems like bootstrapping might not be possible. If you’re in a market that is highly competitive and growing extremely fast, it may seem like you've missed the boat. But the truth is that with a little thinking outside the box, there’s almost always a way to make it work.

Many solo-preneurs and bootstrap startups have great success with guerrilla-style tactics, getting innovative down in the trenches. An example of this is to capitalize on the decisions made by bigger businesses. Companies with larger budgets often pour money into branding.

You may be able to take advantage of the fact that they’re effectively bringing eyes into a new space. If you’re clever and resourceful through social media and SEO hacks, you may be able to position yourself so that people find you as well when searching for your competitor.

The guys at Fresh n’ Lean also stress the importance of flexibility: “It’s important to be flexible with your model, and always open to change. As well as selling to your customer base, how else can you market your skill set and your services? For example, if you’re producing a physical product you may have space, equipment, and methods available that are interesting to others.” www.homebusinessmag.com

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BUSINESSES & OPPORTUNITIES

can quickly take a turn for the worst. This is why it’s so important to stay on top of development from day one.

BUSINESS STARTUP CHECKLIST: LAUNCHING A VENTURE Starting a business can be one of the most exciting and rewarding endeavors you can take on during your life. However, it’s by no means going to be an easy task.

It will require a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, but if you have the basics down before you get going, it can ensure that you start something successful and stable which you can then build on even further.

1. A good idea is the foundation of every successful business. If you think you found something that’s original and has potential, you should do some research in order to find out if it’s something that people are actually willing to give their money to. This will also help to develop your expectations, and you'll see just how easy it would be for you to turn your idea into reality.

2. Decide what kind of business you want to be. Are you satisfied with being a small local business or do you have bigger plans in mind? Do you want to go at it alone or do you have potential partners that you can build a business with? Asking questions such as these will help you decide the type of business you are going to run and give you the ability to structure your business accordingly.

3. Have a vision of what you want your business to become. Make a plan to get there. This will help you have a constant goal to aim for, and will also set you apart in both the eyes of your customers and your potential investors. It’s also important to remember that a business should always be improving and adapting to its needs, which is why you shouldn’t be afraid to readjust your visions and plans in order to make the best out of it.

4. Find a stable source of funding for your business. This is going to be one of the key factors to its success. A lot of startups undervalue the amount of money they are going to need to start being profitable, and it’s one of the main reasons they fail. There are a lot of ways to get outside capital for your business, but no

By keeping your eyes peeled and always being open to exploring new opportunities, you can stay ahead of the curve and develop a brand that continues to evolve with technology and changing trends.

matter which way you choose, you should try to start putting money back into your business as soon as you can. This is going to make you more financially independent, and will also be a lot more profitable for you in the long run.

5. Start and register the business. This step can prove to be somewhat challenging when it comes to the legal and technical side of things. This is why you should consider hiring an attorney or asking advice from someone with prior experience, as this will make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

6. Establish an online presence. A website is something that no modern business can go without. Because of this, you should make sure that you have yours up and running as soon as possible, while also avoiding mistakes such as overloading it with information. It should be inviting and only contain the things your potential customer may find useful, while still maintaining the reflection of your company as a whole.

7. Hire the right people to work for you. Simply put, if you want your business to grow, you are going to need to find people to work for you that will invest themselves into your company and want it to succeed as much as you do.

Keith Coppersmith is a business consultant with experience in numerous small businesses and startups. A regular contributor at BizzMark Blog, he enjoys giving advice on both traditional and digital marketing. Visit https://bizzmarkblog.com.

Founded in 2008 by brother-sister duo Thomas and Laureen Asseo, Fresh n’ Lean is an organic food delivery service. Their mission is to bring healthier choices and better ingredients to homes all across the USA. Started from scratch in a small home kitchen, the brand is now a 9-figure company and has delivered over 4.3 million meals nationwide. Visit https://www.freshnlean.com/.

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SUCCESS STORIES

Behind the Bowl Businessman Starts a Company Providing Customers with Açaí, a Healthy Superfood

By Jacqui Somen

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ill Anderson doesn’t have your average health food entrepreneur story, but it’s a good one. After earning his MBA from Fordham GSB, Will provided valuation services in the Tech, Media, and Telecom (TMT) space with Deloitte’s Advisory practice. He worked with Fortune 500 companies to value their assets for the purposes of mergers and acquisitions.

Though he excelled at working with TMT clients, he had the opportunity to work with one food and beverage client, Constellation Brands, a beer, wine and spirits company that changed the way he looked at business. It was during this project that Will realized his true love was for consumer-packaged goods.

“Food is simple, and it brings so much joy into people’s life,” he says.

It took a few years for Will to find his true calling, though. Will always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but he wanted to make sure that anything that he took on would create true value — value for consumers, value for suppliers, and value for his own business.

Will made a personal visit to Brazil in 2012.

On this trip, everything began to click into place. He visited the Amazon river basin and had his first encounter with the açaí berry, which has been a staple of the Amazonian diet for thousands of years. The locals told him of the incredible health benefits of eating açaí — namely that it is incredibly high in 28

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antioxidants, which help the body fight against free radicals that contribute to cardiovascular, inflammatory, and cancerous illnesses. He almost immediately recognized this super berry as his path towards creating value for the world.

After returning from Brazil with the Amazonian flavors still tingling on his tongue, Will learned that his uncle by marriage coincidentally spends half of his time in the Amazon. His uncle introduced him to an açaí producer, and Will’s journey to becoming one of New York City’s most successful açaí distributors began. A few months later, Açaí of America, now a leading distributor of highquality açaí berry pulp to top food service establishments, was born. From a business perspective, Will found everything he needed in açaí: It was a niche product that he could gather straight from the source, and Americans had just begun to develop a taste for this superfruit and its powerful health benefits. In his home of New York City, there was a huge market waiting to be tapped.

Will’s focus is to provide the highest quality açaí to Americans. After almost a decade in the industry, Will knows the ins and outs of açaí. He knows the best area to harvest açaí and has developed deep relationships with the producers in that region. He knows how to freeze the açaí berry at just the right moment as to maintain its peak nutritive value when it reaches the blender at your favorite cafe in New York City. Will knows that açaí is at its best when it is unsweetened. The açaí berry has rich flavors that do not require enhancement.

Pure, unadulterated açaí berry, which is the favorite smoothie bowl base amongst true health enthusiasts and athletes, delivers robust undertones of chocolate and earthiness.

Importantly, Will also has a great deal of intricate knowledge about the soil in which his açaí is grown. He knows that a Fair-Trade system is embedded in the industry and that producers are enthusiastically upgrading their manufacturing standards to be able to supply açaí globally.

One secret to Will’s success is that he is constantly learning about his industry and his product. As his knowledge and relationships

Will Anderson, Founder and CEO of Açaí of America

grow, he refines his operations and product.

Will visits the Amazon river basin every few months with the objective of learning as much from the locals as he can. The producers are eager to teach him, just as they are eager to learn from him how to bring their exceptional product into the United States.

When Açaí of America was first founded, Will knocked on doors of restaurants himself. He drove the streets of New York City selling his top-quality product directly from his truck. He knew that he wanted to become the leading distributor of açaí in New York City. Today, demand for Açaí of America’s top-quality frozen açaí berry is so strong that Will has been able to hand distribution to nine distributors in the tri-state area within the past year. Açaí of America is widening their net with new accounts growing across the country every day.

Though he has become an açaí expert and enthusiast, Will is first and foremost a businessman. His business acumen paired with persistence and tirelessness has allowed Açaí of America to grow exponentially.

Importantly, Will has been able to achieve his goals of creating value throughout his entire supply chain — Açaí of America customers are receiving the best açaí with healthy superfood benefits, while the producers have thriving businesses. Visit https:// www.acaiofamerica.com. www.homebusinessmag.com

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The 30-Day Success Formula We Are Getting 3% to 8% Sign Ups! Join at Any Level and Receive a 200-Piece Mailing for FREE!

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Day Success Formula For More Information Email Me Personally at: ejidd@yahoo.com (your email address is kept confidential!)

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MARKETING & SALES

Online and Offline Techniques Accelerate Your Marketing Milestones with a Minimalistic Budget

By Ruby Clarkson

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e like to broadcast the notion that marketing is an investment rather than a cost. Each dollar you put in should be working towards increasing revenue in the form of drawing in more traffic, more conversions, or improving brand visibility. When faced with reduced marketing budgets, business owners need to find ways to become more efficient, and invest their resources in the strategies that demonstrate the best returns. No matter how big or small your budget is, you will see great results from your marketing campaigns, so long as you make sure that you’re deriving the optimum value from every dollar you spend. Here are our top ways to achieve better results with lower budgets.

Use Social Media as Free Marketing Business experts on Informi explain how you should “take advantage of social media and get creative with content marketing.” In today’s digital age, social media plays a huge part in online marketing, so don’t underestimate its value. Social media accounts are free to set up and offer vital exposure to your target audience on a daily basis. You should also be publishing regularly and contributing to online content, both on your website and through third-party websites. This will boost your business's credibility and help you appear higher on popular search engines such as Google. Remember that visual content is fantastic for sharing on social media accounts, as it can generate up to 94% more views (statistic according to Econsultancy).

Consider hiring a professional content writer if you’re struggling to find the time to write regular, engaging content for your website.

n l

Have an SEO Strategy Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is critical to having a successful online business.

Incorporating strategically chosen keywords in valuable content can dramatically increase traffic to your website and improve your online presence. Before you write content, make sure that you take the time to research SEO keywords and look at the content posted by your competitors. Find out which keywords people are searching for and create an SEO keyword spreadsheet with phrases you want to include. You then need to use 30

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the right tools to track where you rank for the keywords you target.

Write High-ranking Content Your goal should be for your content to rank on the top pages of search engines. If you’re searching for your own website on pages 10+ then you need to change your content and get it ranking higher. Here are our top ways to write high-ranking content: ■

Quality — The average person spends only 15 seconds on a web page and less than one minute on a site before moving on. There’s no point getting people to your website if they don’t stay long enough to see what you do and offer. With quality content, you can engage your users and ultimately convert them from a visitor to a customer.

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Incorporating strategically chosen keywords in valuable content can dramatically increase traffic to your website and improve your online presence.

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Keyword placement — It’s most effective to include keywords in the title and first 300 words of any content, but make sure that your keywords appear naturally in your writing.

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Understand your audience — Once you have identified your target audience, it’s important to create content strategies that are tailored specifically to that group. For instance, if you’re targeting young professionals who will be at work all day, then it would be best to post new content over the lunch period or in the evening, to try and increase visibility.

Try Contest Marketing Contests are a fun and interactive way to capture your audience’s attention, drive traffic to your site, and build a fan base. The lure of a prize also means that many people are prepared to share information with you as part of

Publish engaging content on your website.

the entry process. This is a great way to gain valuable information on your customers and audience. Contest marketing is a smash hit on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Host contests on your blog or directly from your website. Choose any topic you want, but make sure that it connects with your target audience as well as business products.

Don’t Forget About Offline Marketing Techniques Marketing can happen without technology.

Vary it up and see results when you leave your laptop and spark connections in real life. The power of face-to-face interaction is huge and we remember the conversations we have in person much more than the conversations we have online. Networking events present the perfect opportunity to connect with real people in a physical space. Research local industry events and go along to meet new people, share your ideas, and build brand awareness.

You could also try engaging in guerrilla marketing, which is a generic term for the use of unconventional marketing techniques. This includes things like using chalkboards to advertise promotions on sidewalks, leaving branded pens, bookmarks, etc. in random places, and dropping business cards. This type of marketing can be a simple, cheap, and effective way to build brand awareness and increase product exposure. www.homebusinessmag.com

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HubSpot — An ‘all-in-one marketing software’ that provides tools that can help your company with blogging, SEO, social media, email, landing pages, marketing automation, scheduling content, and web analytics.

RankActive — A toolkit designed to help businesses track their online presence, monitor the competition, follow their brand on the Web and enhance their visibility in the search engine rankings.

This is one of the best ways to see where your website is placed in all leading search engines.

Moz — An SEO solution designed to improve search rankings, drive traffic, and get customers. It provides tools to improve your search engine optimization, including keyword research, an SEO keyword generator, site audit, and link analysis that gives detailed data on your inbound links and quality.

Enlist an Expert Remember that you will optimize capital over time by hiring a marketing expert with proficiency in the tasks you want completed. Delegate certain campaigns rather than taking on every project. Experts have received specialist training on marketing techniques, have connections to in-depth resources, and will be responsible for the outcomes of your marketing campaigns.

When you connect with a professional who delivers results and is worth the investment, keep them on board.

Final Thoughts When faced with spending cuts, business www.homebusinessmag.com

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MARKETING & SALES

Use Marketing Software Systems Companies now realize the importance of marketing software and are investing heavily in these systems. In fact, almost £25 billion was spent on this type of software in 2018 alone, according to Finances Online.

Marketing software provides you with the tools and resources to keep up with changing customer buying behavior, so that you can match your marketing campaigns with current consumer trends and tastes. It also allows you to assess the effectiveness of your marketing strategies by analyzing and measuring outcomes. This will help you to determine where to invest your budget for the greatest return. Here are our top marketing software systems:

How to Make Your Email Campaign Successful

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hether you’re starting your own business for the first time, or you’re a small business owner in need of a refresher, let us help you make your next email campaign a smashing success!

1. Understand what an email marketing campaign is.

An email marketing campaign is an email that a business sends out to prospective customers and/or regular customers. The point behind them is to spark interest in your business and help to bring forth sales. Statistics have proven that a successful email campaign can increase your sales and product engagement by a noticeable amount.

2. Understand and create obtainable goals.

Knowing what you want is good, but breaking down your wants into concrete, obtainable goals is essential. Consider the following: • Address the new people coming into the fold. Welcome them and tell them what you’re selling. Build a relationship with them. Do this by being transparent about your values.

• Don’t alienate or forget your current customers. Continue to engage with them. Know which values they appreciate from your products.

Consider their feedback carefully.

• Don’t be afraid to divide your emails into smaller groups based on whether they are new or prospective customers.

3. There are different types of emails. Learn the differences between them.

First, there are "promotional emails."

These are geared towards promoting a product to prospective customers.

Next is the "relational email." This email is more of a follow-up email. You'll send stuff like small discounts and newsletters talking about all the cool things happening. Finally, there is the "transactional email." These emails

owners need to think smarter about how to get the most out of their budgets and find ways to make their marketing strategies more effective. Making decisions about how to run successful marketing campaigns on a smaller budget can be a challenge, but represents the opportunity to improve efficiency

include signup and order confirmations and may address changes being made to terms of service or subscriber information.

4. Technology is your best friend!

Email marketing services tend to integrate well with other pieces of software essential to small businesses such as WordPress. Many people swear

by MailChimp and love the easy-to-read analytics and other helpful beginners’ tools added in. They're a surefire way to help you respond quickly to inquiries so you can make a lasting impression.

5. Remember D. T. T. (Design, test, and track your emails) a. Design: Be professional but also personable. Products and audiences vary widely. For instance, an email geared towards a senior citizen demographic wouldn’t read the same as one geared towards a 20-something’s crowd. Older audiences may not react the same way a younger audience would to memes or GIFs, as they would say standard pie graphs or visuals in general. b. Test: Testing an email doesn’t mean just sending it out and looking at the general reaction. Consider all aspects of the email like subject line, calls to action, marketing copy, layout, and design (font, colors, etc.) —all of these will give you an overall picture of how engaging (or not) your emails are to your customers and prospective customers. c. Tracking: Tracking is where the email campaign software really shines!

With the right software, you’ll get a breakdown of things like how many people opened the email, how many people unsubscribed, forwarded, clicked on links, etc. These statistical breakdowns are essential in helping you understand what to keep the same and what to change.

while protecting future growth goals. By focusing on the right areas, you can get a clear idea of the effectiveness and improve output to see the highest results.

Ruby Clarkson is a freelance writer who is passionate about helping people succeed. When she is not writing, she is either out in the garden or wrapped up in a blanket with a good book. Accompanied by a cup of coffee, of course.

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PRODUCT REVIEWS

Jabra Evolve 65t — True Wireless Earbuds for Business Owners on the Go

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ome-based business owners craving some favorite tunes during their workday will benefit from new tech on the market. Jabra, a leading provider of UC sound solutions, developed Evolve 65t.

Mobile entrepreneurs will value this fresh edition to the market-dominating Evolve line of professional headsets. These are true wireless earbuds which attained Skype for Business certification.

A simple touch of a button sends voice commands to their preferred digital assistants, so they’ll stay connected at any point in time. Users have the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously, guaranteeing that their professional presence is maintained when out of office and mobile.

The innovative earbuds, which have Its great sound, UC-compatibility and 4-microphone technology, hold a dual connectivity for smartphones and battery-life of up to 15 hours, and laptops, and wireless freedom make it a include a charging case. Its fastJabra Evolve 65t gamechanger for business owners rushing charge feature powers 1.5 hours of to their next client meeting or conference. Risks of call and music supplemental use after a quick fifteen minutes of being plugged in. This dropouts are reduced with its wireless stability. The comfort is top- offers extra convenience when last-minute obligations come up and notch along with the quality of sound. entrepreneurs need a quick power boost so they can get out the door.

The Jabra Evolve 65t has flexible functionalities — perfect for travel or enjoying at a desk. Perhaps a prospect’s phone call comes in during a trip on the crowded subway. Entrepreneurs will catch important words spoken during sales calls with the high-quality audio experience.

Employees will be able to reach out and get answers from their business leader right when they need them. Business processes can go smoother with this must-have technology.

The Jabra Evolve 65t includes multiple fitting options for perfect optimal seal and hear-through functionality. Its adjustable Passive Noise Cancelation experience enables clear mobile concentration for users. With the Jabra Sound+ app, music lovers can personalize their sound and user experience, and hear their songs exactly how they wish. Discover more about Jabra Evolve 65t at www.jabra.com/evolve65t.

FIND YOUR BUSINESS! Worlds Largest Directory of Home-Based Businesses, Franchises and Opportunities.

www.HomeBusinessExpo.com

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Strive for Business Success

By Farrow Communications

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orn in Brazil, Marcos Jacober moved to the U.S. in 1998 with a dream and just $100 in his pocket. He spent his early days working in the construction industry, washing dishes, driving a truck, and serving as a chef and a FedEx worker.

After a few years, Jacober began investing in real estate in 2000. He eventually owned 17 properties, but he lost all but one during the real estate crisis of 2008. Following this, he moved to Texas where he discovered Tax Liens and Tax Deeds. Now, with more than 500 transactions in his portfolio and success as an Airbnb host and other smart “side hustles,” Jacober is an authority in real estate, an investor, a teacher, an international speaker, and a best-selling author of the book, Eat This Mr. President.

Jacober attributes his success to innovative techniques that he says have allowed him to put his various businesses on autopilot. “A critical aspect to small business success is finding opportunities that leverage your abilities or

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resources, not just your time. This allows you to balance several gigs at the same time, and it doesn’t require more money,” he says.

Jacober notes that some gig platform opportunities are better suited for his strategy than others. For instance, when it comes to ride sharing, platforms like Uber and Lyft require you to spend time in the car, while others, like Turo, allow you to leverage your resources by renting your car out to other drivers. Another example, he says, might be to create a unique educational course, podcast or training that leverages your knowledge or personal experiences.

Jacober offers several tips to make money by way of small business opportunities: • Ask yourself, “What assets do I have that could be making me money now?” Do you have a car sitting in the driveway that you don’t use? Do you have a spare room?

• What skills do you have that are unique?

If you’re good with numbers, it might be

Marcos Jacober, Real Estate Investor and Best-selling Author

SUCCESS STORIES

Business Expert Says, “Leverage Resources, Not Your Time”

easy to take on online accounting work.

Or, if you are a “people person,” consider tutoring or mentoring.

• Value your time. Jacober urges people to not trade their time for money but instead use assets they already have (like a car or room). Visit www.marcos.jacober.com.

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Digitizing the Workspace HOME OFFICE

Essential Tech for Increased Efficiency in Your Home Office

By James Lintzer

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ome business owners being tied to their desk is thankfully becoming a thing of the past.

Technology has opened the door for homebased entrepreneurs, giving them more freedom and flexibility in the way they work.

However, to stay ahead of the game, it's no longer just a computer that’s needed to run a small business from home efficiently.

As the world becomes more and more digitized, customers expect more from businesses when it comes to how they interact with a company, be that through offering their preferred contact method, being given a choice of ways in which to make a payment, or a streamlined way of managing projects.

While there are countless gadgets and apps claiming to improve and enhance a home office, there are very few that will be genuinely helpful, rather than a hindrance or distraction. Depending on your occupation, just a few pieces of essential tech are all a home-based business owner needs to keep things running efficiently.

Smartphone Smartphones have become such an intrinsic part of everyday life that it’s sometimes difficult to recall how we coped without them. For a business owner, a smartphone is an essential bit of tech. Communicating with customers via phone, email, and social media can be done just as easily sitting in a coffee shop as sitting at a desk.

For those who work exclusively from a home office, there is now no need to pay for a second mobile phone, or have a landline installed to take business calls, as local, national, or even international virtual phone numbers can be easily rerouted to a smartphone. Not only does it look more professional than providing customers with a cell number, but personal and business calls can also be managed seamlessly from a single device.

But smartphones aren’t just beneficial when it comes to working on the go. There are a huge number of apps available, from financial to wellness, that can make running a business easier. Want to upload receipts to your business expenses? There’s an app for that! Need to take five minutes to chill out?

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There’s an app for that, too.

Sometimes typing is impractical, as well as being time-consuming. Voice technology can be used to conduct web searches or to dictate messages hands-free — and fast.

Smartphone cameras have improved leaps and bounds in the last few years. Coupled with a plethora of editing apps and filters, businesses that rely on aesthetics have a host of tools to make images look professional at their fingertips. For those selling products, images and video can be quickly posted to social media or uploaded to marketplace sites like Etsy straight from a mobile device.

as a home “offiAscelong has a reliable internet connection, word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations can all be created and stored in cloud apps such as Google Drive.

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Cloud Storage and Document Management Thanks to the internet, accessing and managing documents in one place has become easier than ever. Paid office software that required the purchase of licenses is no longer necessary. As long as a home office has a reliable internet connection, word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations can all be created and stored in cloud apps such as Google Drive. These documents allow for collaboration too, making real-time feedback possible and removing the need to edit and save multiple versions of files each time.

Cloud storage means that files can be managed across multiple devices without taking up any physical storage space — a great help for businesses that are traditionally heavily reliant on paper, as it reduces the need to use printers and filing cabinets, saving both space and money. It also increases productivity by making it faster to locate files from a single interface — no more digging around in stacks

Download business apps on a smartphone.

of paper or trying to track down which folder a document is saved in digitally!

Been to an event or meeting? Having to manually input contact data from business cards and even typing up handwritten notes can be eliminated with document management apps, saving time on admin tasks and letting business owners focus on more important tasks.

Storing important documents on a device’s hard drive means data is at risk of being lost.

If a laptop were to be broken, retrieving data from the hard drive is costly, and if a device that stores a customer’s data is lost or stolen, a business owner could find themselves in legal trouble, particularly if the data is not password protected or encrypted.

Many cloud storage providers offer a number of security features, such as tiered user management so only specific people can access files. And multi-factor authentication asks a user to confirm their identity using a code sent to a phone number or email address to ensure sensitive data is kept safe.

Credit Card Reader Many home-based businesses provide a service that requires payment to be made from a customer or client. Cash and checks remain popular payment methods, but are often impractical for small business owners and customers alike. Offering credit and debit cards as a payment option was previously expensive as a terminal needed to be purchased and processing fees were costly. Payment service providers such as iZettle, PayPal, and Square have met the needs of small businesses by Continued on page 36

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HOME OFFICE

Digitizing the Workspace Continued from page 34

providing free or cheap card readers with low, transparent fees.

This new breed of readers, which are paired with an app, remove the pain points from taking card payments. In addition to completing transactions, payment data is stored within the app, allowing business owners to keep track of payments and earnings, and its customers’ receipts all in one place.

Online Fax While fax may seem like an outdated technology, many businesses still rely on it to transmit information every day. This doesn’t mean that you need to rush out and purchase a fax machine for your home office, though!

Cloud fax providers, like eFax, are providing home-based businesses with a convenient and affordable way to send and receive faxes online through both computers and mobile apps.

The use of online cloud fax is growing, according to a market research report by Wise Guy Reports. For some industries, fax is still an essential method of communication, and by dismissing it as being irrelevant in 2019, there is a chance that you may not be able to do business with customers who prefer to send faxes instead of emails. This is especially applicable to businesses who have customers in other countries, as well as those who deal with sensitive financial or legal information.

Receiving large documents can be difficult via email due to spam filters and maximum file size restrictions — not so with fax. Fax machines are also expensive to run and maintain, take up a lot of space, and are not good for the environment either.

Time to Take Advantage of Tech New home office technologies are allowing business owners to save space, time, and money, while providing added value to customers via improved connectivity and communication.

Home offices can be outfitted with essential tech on a shoestring budget, leaving more money to be invested back into the business, or to be spent making the working environment more pleasant.

James Lintzer develops marketing communications strategies and programs for a variety of j2 Global cloud brands, with a fo cus on eFax and eVoice. As a business and technology enthusiast, he provides valuable insight and experience across j2’s North American SMB services. James is also an avid paintballer and collects vintage anime figurines in his spare time. Visit https://www.efax.com/ and https://www.evoice.com/.

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5 Tools That Can Improve Your Home Business's Productivity Staying motivated when working from home can be a challenge. But technology can make it easier to stay organized, and therefore more focused and productive. Here are five ways that tech can improve your home business’s efficiency at little to no cost.

1. Cloud Document Management There is a huge range of cloud document management apps available, with Google Drive and Dropbox being popular choices for small home-based businesses thanks to their generous free storage options.

If you are working on projects where collaboration with clients or remote team members is important, cloud document management can be a great solution. It allows multiple users to edit or provide feedback without having to update and save and resend lots of amended versions, which can get difficult to keep track of!

2. Project and Task Management Project and task management software can help businesses to banish spreadsheets, post-its and checklists as methods for staying on top of client work once and for all.

Asana, Basecamp, and Trello are popular choices, as they have simple-to-use interfaces that allow work to be broken down into clients, projects, and tasks in a way that is easy to understand. As typically all communication with clients and team members can be conducted through the interface, it keeps everything in one place, cutting down on time spent searching through and organizing emails.

3. Time Management If you bill clients by the hour, it can be difficult to keep tabs on exactly how much time you’ve spent on tasks. If a client accuses you of not fulfilling the agreed-upon hours, and you’re not monitoring it, you don’t have a leg to stand on. Equally, if you’re over-delivering every month without realizing it, effectively, your business is losing money!

Time management software such as Freckle and Toggl eliminates this issue by keeping track of exactly how long tasks take to complete. Reporting in these tools can show you which tasks are taking the longest to complete, which can then help to plan ahead in the future to ensure that your clients are getting the time that they pay for. It can also help to uncover inefficiencies in the way you work, which would have otherwise gone unchecked!

4. Communication In any business, communication with customers is key. Email is going to be the preferred method for the vast majority, but this doesn’t mean you should limit the way in which your customers can get in touch with you.

Having a business contact number, which can be set up easily to reroute calls from your mobile by using a virtual phone number provider such as eVoice, makes your business appear more professional. Plus, who really wants to give clients their personal cell phone number?

Finally, if your business is using social media, use a tool that allows you to monitor and manage communications across multiple channels from a single platform. Hootsuite and Buffer both offer great social media management platforms for home business owners on a budget.

5. Update Legacy Technology One of the quickest ways to improve efficiency is to update outdated technology. Although replacing ageing hardware comes at a cost initially, in the long run, it will save your business money. Fax machines can be replaced with online faxing. Using a printer and scanner? Try a multifunction device that can do both!

James Lintzer develops marketing communications strategies and programs for a variety of j2 Global cloud brands, with a focus on eFax and eVoice. Visit https://www.efax.com/ and https://www.evoice.com/.

www.homebusinessmag.com

3/1/19 6:42 PM

Reaching Celebrities via Instagram

By Amanda Solieri

G

rowing up in Brooklyn, NY where hustling is the norm, Adina Kamkhatchi had to find a way to build a promising future for herself. Adina wasn’t sure of the path she wanted to choose, so during her first year in college, she decided to major in psychology as she was fascinated by the idea of helping others and wanted to focus on giving back.

It all started from her home in Brooklyn, New York, when Adina decided she wanted to do something more with her extra time. She always had a love for jewelry, but couldn’t afford fine jewelry and what she could afford were terrible quality. She decided to take matters into her own hands and purchased the materials needed to begin making her own jewels.

When selling jewelry part time became a full-time job, Adina sought help from her brother, Mayer Kamkhatchi, to help manage, market, and further expand the already rapidly growing company. As the children of two

immigrants, Adina and Mayer followed in their parents’ footsteps to pursue the American Dream. They quickly learned that building a business was no walk in the park, but by inheriting their parents’ work ethic, they took the necessary steps to build the business.

Living in the era where social networks set trends and are the primary source of communication, the siblings realized this would be a useful tool to leverage business. By using the power of social media, Adina’s Jewels was able to showcase their pieces on multiple platforms. Visual content is crucial for brands to succeed on Instagram, but without enough money to afford photographers and models to wear their jewelry, they began taking the pictures themselves and using family as models. People liked this aspect of their business because it made it more relatable and affordable to the consumer. After only a short time, they cultivated a major following amongst influencers and celebrities. Before they knew

Mayer and Adina Kamkhatchi, Founders of Adina’s Jewels

it, they had the likes of Ariana Grande, Kylie Jenner, Mariah Carey, Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski wearing their pieces.

SUCCESS STORIES

Sibling Entrepreneurs Launch Multi-Million Dollar Jewelry Brand Built from Home

Adina’s Jewels has now grown into a behemoth in the jewelry industry with a wide array of designs, at affordable pricing, and with over 300 thousand followers across all social media networks. The siblings currently work together daily hand in hand, continuing to expand Adina’s. Visit https://adinasjewels.com.

An Unmatched Aesthetic Diversity Mompreneur Launches Design-Forward Pet & Baby Safety Gates That Fuse Style & Security

By Alicia McCarthy

W

hen Donna Potter adopted her first dog after renovating her house, she had to purchase pet gates that really disrupted her home’s design aesthetic. The gates were white mesh barricades and vertical bar contraptions that were difficult to install, operate, and climb over or walk through without tripping.

She wondered, was there a better alternative?

After she saw that other house-proud pet owners also didn’t want to negatively impact their home’s aesthetic, the idea for Fusion Gates was born.

Fusion Gates are modern pet and baby safety gates engineered for security but designed as a work of art. They feature a patented interchangeable art screen system and a collection of lovely screens ranging from trendy to traditional. Fusion Gates fuse together intuitive design, uncompromising commitment to safety, and an aesthetic diversity unmatched by any other safety gate brand. The Fusion Gate is easy to install, easy to use, and adds a great decorative flair to your home.

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Prior to founding Fusion Gates, she started a small business to help previous professional women catch up on the exponential growth of technology and social media. Now, she manages many aspects of Fusion Gates (including all of the product testing) at home. “When a customer is having an issue with their gate, I often try to recreate the issue on my own gates and will FaceTime to ‘show’ them what to do to fix the circumstance,” she says.

She markets to her main customers, modern parents and pet parents, via her established social media channels, where she boosts posts at least twice a month to key market areas. She also hired a PR firm that has helped them get placements in both national publications and local publications in key markets. Another great tactic has been working with influencers to validate their product and spread the word.

Potter’s biggest business achievements so far have been getting two patents on her product,

Donna Potter, Founder of Fusion Gates

achieving JPMA certification, and going from a design she drew up at her kitchen table to seeing a warehouse full of product. In the future, she hopes to become the world's leading provider of premium lifestyle products that encourage harmonious living. “I want to develop more products that add confidence and promote living your best at all stages of life. Think sleek, sexy walkers for seniors!” she says. Visit https://fusiongates.com.

Spring 2019 | Home Business

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Social Connect!

Continued from page 15

movement across social media platforms. Find a symbol or hashtag, something that resonates with your target market for them to engage with your content and share it on their own pages.

While maintaining that, coming up with creative ad campaigns that ask questions or pull users in to your content with visuals is a way to boost engagement. The content has one purpose but should be displayed to the platform's strength.

Posting tutorial videos or photos with quirky captions on Instagram, survey/guide questions to respond to on Twitter, and click-through articles on Snapchat are popular ways of getting that initial grasp of attention from a user and have them spend time really looking at the content you've created. Play to the purpose of the social media's platform to create your creative content that boosts engagement.

The above section was provided by Ishveen Anand, CEO and Founder of OpenSponsorship, https://www.opensponsorship.com.

Stay Authentic, Never “Sell” With Millennials and Generation Z (also known as Zillenials) as most of your audience on social media platforms, you can foster engagement by

Always have a “ call-to-action on your posts, which can be anything if it gets them to click.

”

being authentic. If you are trying to "sell" something, users will see right through that. Be yourself and talk as if you are speaking with a close friend. If something funny happens during the day, post about it! If you try a new recipe or see something interesting, throw it on your Instagram story or tweet it out. As you gain viewers and get messages, write back to users, letting them know that you value them. Tell them you appreciate that they watch your content daily.

Streamline Your Social Media Efforts with Online Tools If you could describe social media with one phrase in 2019, it would be “All Over the Place”. It’s imperative to know how to work smart and take advantages of tools and methods of modern social media management. Here’s a list of our favorite tools and how they can give you and your team superpowers.

1. Canva for Design Images and visuals in general have a really important role nowadays. If you want to get someone’s attention, you need to impress with visuals. Canva makes it easy for non-designers to create awesome visuals. Ads, posts, covers, cards — you name it. It’s a simple dragand-drop interface. The best part? It’s free to use with acceptable limitations.

2. Combin for Instagram Growth I’ve tested and researched dozens of tools for Instagram. Combin is one that stands out in my mind. It’s simple to use as it allows you to manage your Instagram engagement from your PC. Instagram content ranking algorithm is changing all the time and being active on the platform and interacting with your followers and new accounts have never been more important than they are today. Posting a lot of content isn’t the only driver anymore. There are several activities you need to do. In fact, I’ve published an article on how to get famous on Instagram, that you might want to check out as well. If Instagram is one of your go-to platforms, then I highly suggest trying out Combin.

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3. Buffer for Scheduling There are a lot of different scheduling apps out there. Scheduling your content is really the key to doing social media on a bigger scale. The trick is to produce in bulk and schedule it so that you don’t need to worry every day what and when to post. Ideally, you would create a week’s worth of content and schedule it to be published automatically at certain times. I’ve tried several different ones, and I think Buffer is one of the most flexible ones if you’re using multiple platforms. If you’re just focusing on Instagram, there are a few others that I think even work better (Later, HopperHQ). These platform-specific ones usually give you analytics and more features than just scheduling.

4. Grammarly to Avoid Embarrassing Copy Mistakes I think I don’t need to emphasize this, but writing great content is done without grammar mistakes. If you’re writing fast and creatively and tend to misspell words, then you need to get Grammarly. Again, the free version is already flexible, but if you’re somewhat serious about writing copy, then the paid version is worth your money.

5. Pexels for Awesome Images Like mentioned before, social media is mainly about images. Lucky for you there are a lot of different free sources to download highquality images. Pexels is one of my favorite sources. You’ll get to download unlimited royalty-free images to use.

Johannes Kanter is a social media marketer. He is a co-founder of the agency WINK and blogs about Instagram. He has worked with over 3000 students and helped over 100 clients succeed online with various marketing strategies. Visit https://gettinggrowth.com.

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F E AT U R E

Analyze, assess, and improve your campaigns on a regular basis.

This fosters a personal connection, which will make users want to engage more regularly.

The above section was provided by Danielle Hannah, Owner and Inventor of Mantra Magnets, https://www.mantramagnets.org/ store/products/125086-mantra-mesh.

Social Media in 2019

Analyze, assess, and improve on a regular basis.

Ramp up your social media efforts in 2019 by implementing the above tips. Remember to have a unique value proposition that encourages customers to try out your brand. The key to success with social media is consistency with your campaigns.

Check out our website http://homebusinessmag. com for further helpful information about growing a social media presence.

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Taste the Tradition Family-Owned Restaurant Shares Culinary Heirlooms with the World

SUCCESS STORIES

By: Amanda Solieri

I

n the wake of putting his architecture career to the side, Giuseppe Viterale decided to move to the United States from Rofrano, Italy to follow his passions in the food industry. Upon arriving, he industriously stirred his way through the restaurant industry — from busboy, server, and manager, to later opening his own restaurant, Ornella Trattoria.

Ornella Trattoria is an Italian food restaurant located in Astoria, Queens. After opening their doors in November of 2009, Giuseppe and his 3 sons have had a mission to put as much passion in serving the public as they do in their own family. Ornella was named after his wife of 25 years. He spends a good amount of time at his home in the Catskills, perfecting new recipes and curating his own meats at his pig farm.

For the last few years, he’s been making his own prosciutto, fresh sausages, cured sausages, nduja sausages and other delicious meat items that end up on the seasonal and

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special menus at Ornella. As you can imagine, the result is a restaurant that is very meatcentric, fresh, dynamic and locally sourced.

Their diverse menu shows a sizable vegetarian selection and boasts an array of authentic Italian dishes. Their homemade pastas are made with inventive sauces like pistachio cream sauce (for the chestnut pasta) and orange brandy reduction sauce (for the duck meatballs), and interesting pasta dishes made from hemp, buckwheat and chestnut flour that are all made fresh in house.

An incredibly magnetic personality is one way to describe Giuseppe. He is overflowing with information and a desire to impart his knowledge of food history, his food philosophy and his ideas about food culture onto everyone around him.

But what exactly is his philosophy? That food, what we eat, how we eat it, and the quality and history of our dishes, is central to everything.

Our humanity, our health and well-being, our

Giuseppe Viterale, Founder of Ornella Trattoria, and his son Angelo Viterale

economy, our interpersonal relations, and our understanding of one another. And he’s right.

The kitchen is the center of any home. The table is where people congregate as a family and actually interact with one another. In a living room, people simply stare at the television. One thing that crosses cultural, visual, and audio-linguistic barriers is the common need and desire for food. Giuseppe strongly believes that food brings people together.

Visit https://www.ornellatrattoria.com. www.homebusinessmag.com

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Spring 2019 | Home Business

®

41

3/1/19 7:11 PM

Home Business Podcast/TV Show

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3/1/19 6:59 PM

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3/1/19 7:01 PM