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3 Tips to Maximize Your Small Business Marketing Budget Women of Diversity Initiative
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Over the years, I have sought many opportunities to empower women so they may become innovators and agents of change within their lifetime One of the ways that I accomplish this is through my organization and by launching a business-minded magazine company
The foundation of our organization and publications is tied to its unique humble beginnings The Ladies Club Magazine actually began over 15 years ago in Los Angeles, CA as a form of socializing during the weekends by inviting ladies to my home. As I continued to host these gatherings, I began to notice a pattern For one, women always showed up at my Ladies Club meetings would stay for hours Secondly, the conversation always drifted towards work education and business
Over the years, the in-house gatherings evolved into outside venues Then, I began to host and speak at each event and eventually add regular guest speakers Furthermore, I was inspired to take it a step further and introduce an actual product to enhanceThe Ladies Club experience It was then that The Ladies Club Magazine was born!
Because I have always been interested in helping women, I wanted to do some thing with purpose, and I wanted to be strategic about it
Today, this magazine strives to feature content on issues and ideas for women in business and education We also explore topics and solutions that are relevant to women as well as feature content which includes in-depth research, informative links and other digital sources
I would love to tell you, that from this point on the journey was smooth and easily attainable From establishing starting funds to sustaining revenue, these are challenges which successful people need to overcome
To those unstoppable entrepreneurs, we all know that some opportunities must be created, and then one must be intentional about pursuing it to the fullest! Despite the numerous obstacles and at some times, lack of resources, quitting was never an option
Here we are, in our fourth year and I am grateful that I did not give up Every woman has a great story thank you for reading mine.
Yvette Paez YVETTE PAEZ, Publisher
Art of Research and Entrepreneurship
22
g p g p For A Degree
In spite of many continuing education options, many individuals opt to forgo college or dismiss the value of a graduate degree, however today others are discovering a better way
As part of our article series focused on reading materials related to closing gender gaps for women, this article takes a look at the technology sector
Our most recent initiative celebrates diverse women of all racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We share and co-exist with one another in a space of mutual and utmost respect. Our WODI initiative takes a very real and serious look at some of the challenges that women need to come together to discuss.
Women are the Future:
They are great contributors to our population. From artists, leaders, inventors to scientists, women have made an indelible mark in American history as well as helping to shape our modern-day civilization.
In short, this is the platform for numerous conversations to take place — from balancing their work and family life to learning how to interact and be productive in different environments.
Others may simply want to portray their diversity through entrepreneurial endeavors and demonstrate how they were able to overcome barriers that led to their success. Mostly, this new initiative breaks down barriers and offers great support to working women and those pursuing an education.
Regardless of how society and the business world refers and relates to the terms “women” and “diversity,” here we welcome these words as genuine expressions and a very positive force.
Through this channel of communication, we hope to leave a door open for women all over the globe to share their testimonies of victory and resilience. We need your help! Please share this post with other amazing and powerful women like yourself! #WODI Initiative.
Send us your personal story at: info@tlcusercommunity.network. Subject line should read: WODI Initiative. To hear full audio from Daisy Paez | NYC District Leader 65AD Part B: Speaks out during one of our TLC events on women of color and some of their struggles, mindsets and obstacles women must learn to overcome. Visit TLC page at: https://tlcusercommunity.network/2022/02/07/wodi-initiative/
The effects of the global pandemic have led to economic uncertainty, and small businesses are the most vulnerable due to their lack of resources According to a survey by Goldman Sachs, 89% of small business owners say broader economic trends, such as inflation, supply chain issues and labor shortages are having a negative impact on their business Due to a variety of issues related to these trends, consumers are also spending less
With consumer spending trending downward and operational costs going up, small businesses will need to reduce costs and attract new customers to stay competitive Digital advertising is a costeffective way to achieve these goals and you don't need to be an expert to get impactful results Here are three tips to make the most of your marketing budget:
Modern consumer behaviors have changed drastically over the last few years, including how people shop and make purchasing decisions Whether your customers have switched to working from home or embraced new tools and technologies, it is important to understand these trends
Put yourself in your customer's shoes Where are they spending their time - and are they making purchase decisions at different times of the day? What do they care about most in today's environment? For example, 85% of consumers say they'll only consider a brand if they trust the brand As you think about your ad strategy, look beyond just product features and pricing Using advertising tactics that reflect your values helps create meaningful connections with potential customers This could include everything from audience targeting to keyword selection to ad copy And staying connected to your customer also means incorporating social media into your strategy Having a social media presence and creating a schedule to post regularly will allow you to reach your customers where they are spending time
To learn more about your customers, ask for feedback through surveys, in-person, email or even social communities Also, leverage insights from sources like your own website traffic reports and industry reports on consumer trends Keeping these learnings in mind will help you make more informed decisions on what messaging will resonate and where your marketing dollars should be spent
Small businesses need to be strategic about how and where they advertise to reach those most likely to purchase their product or service by showing up at key points in the decision-making process These can often span more than a dozen points across devices (PC and mobile) and websites or apps and take place over days, weeks or months
This requires businesses to take a multi-channel approach to their digital advertising, placing advertisements across search engines, websites, video and social to reach people at different points in their shopping journeys
Building and managing campaigns across these different types of ad products and sites, not to mention learning the ad tools that power these, may sound complex However, it can be a lot easier than you expect thanks to modern tools that help you build and manage campaigns across different websites and apps
You can save time and run multi-channel campaigns with a one-stop solution like Smart Campaigns from Microsoft Advertising, which helps small businesses get started with digital advertising and connect with the right customers online Its new redesign provides a simple and efficient way for advertisers of all sizes and budgets to run ads across devices on Microsoft properties such as MSN, Bing and Outlook com, and partner properties, including sites like Yahoo, AOL, DuckDuckGo and more Plus, the new Multi-platform feature makes it easy to run ads across leading advertising and social media platforms, including Google Ads, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, all managed from one convenient place
Time is a limited and diminishing resource, especially for small businesses To save time and help reduce the stress of promoting your business, consider automated marketing and advertising tools that require minimal maintenance and help streamline the process. These tools often work within a certain set of parameters that you define, along with your desired outcomes They use various signals and machine learning capabilities to make adjustments in real time to give your ad the best chances of showing to the right person at the right time in the right place Tools that use automation take the complexity out of daily advertising campaign management to allow you to focus on other business priorities like quality, customer satisfaction and retention
Maximize your time and resources while growing your business by leveraging these three tips in your digital marketing
Article Provided by Brandpoint Content
The ability of searching for information, whether in a brick-and-mortar library, online resource, or specialized platform is similar to a form of art
Obtaining the exact desired results of an initial query can be quite daunting and time consuming. In many cases, several searches must be conducted in order to pinpoint the precise data and yet an individual may not be able to fulfill this task successfully.
My creative journey with research began during intermediate school, when I first discovered my love for books appreciating the text as I read with great expectation for the final outcome. During high school, I was able to practice the gathering of pertinent facts by writing the main ideas, discovering the plot, and the author’s intentions.
Specifically, many often refer to the concept of using research for academic purposes. However, research methods contain several components in that finding a viable solution depends on the results. For example, let’s say someone is looking to start a business. There are plenty of resources online, but credible sites are of upmost importance that end with the last three letters of the site’s domain name. The extension of that site is significant in order to determine credibility. For instance, “edu” stands for educational, “ gov ” for government and “ org ” for nonprofit. Sometimes sites use these suffixes to mislead, so please be aware of such websites.
In making a connection with opportunities to track down materials and documents online for free, the same advice should be followed for all areas of factfinding practices in navigating a business venture and achieving personal life goals.
The following are 10 samples of trustworthy sources:
1) https://sbtdc org/sbtdc-pvo/sbtdc-pvo html
2) https://www1 nyc gov/nycbusiness/startabusiness
3) https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ca/santa-ana
4) https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/10-steps-start-yourbusiness
5) https://www uschamber com/co/start/strategy/resourcesfor-women-owned-businesses
6) https://openstax org/books/entrepreneurship/pages/2-1overview-of-the-entrepreneurial-journey
7) https://www bdc ca/en/articles-tools/start-buybusiness/start-business/sources-financing-business-project
8) https://www bdc ca/en/articles-tools/start-buybusiness/start-business/get-startup-businessloanentrepreneur.com
9) https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/how-to-start-a-business
10) https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-yourbusiness/minority-owned-businesses
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: As the COO of Modern Miracles Enterprises, I bring a wide array of diverse skills to the publishing industry, having 40 years in the legal field I specialize in areas such as administrative support, current awareness, electronic and ready reference resources as well as familiarity with the news aggregator tools such as Bloomberg Law, Capital IQ, Lexis News desk and more
Increasing tuition and mounting student debt is making a college degree more difficult to achieve While policymakers are implementing debt forgiveness, nothing is addressing the root cause of the problem - traditional colleges and universities have built unsustainable cost models that can only be supported with ever increasing tuition This leads to students believing they have no options, so they continue to willingly incur mountains of debt
While some students choose to forgo college or dismiss the value of a graduate degree, many students are discovering a better way One that doesn't sacrifice the proven value of education to provide career-enhancing skills and advancement Fully online institutions provide low-cost tuition models, largely due to lower operational costs without sacrificing quality of education Further online higher education remains an affordable and attainable option for many students or working adults wanting to advance their career paths affordably
High-cost education is often confused with quality, especially regarding four-year or advanced college degrees But with historic levels of student debt combined with a significant shortage of skilled job applicants, isn't it time to redefine how we measure the worth of a college degree?
Online higher education institutions offer degrees that are significantly less expensive than traditional colleges or universities and offer substantial value and quality A reflection of that value and quality is within graduation rate statistics where the norm for institutions is around 46 to 64 percent, according to Education Data Initiative and the National Center for Education Statistics
The New York Times' The Daily podcast recently aired "The College Pricing Game," that suggested federal student aid programs, which are covered under Title IV, unfortunately exacerbate the affordability of education In fact, one could argue that these programs have caused the student debt crisis because they have made students and parents desensitized to cost
At the same time, these federal loan programs incentivize institutions to raise tuition year after year Student loan forgiveness, which has been touted as a potential saving grace, is at most a temporary solution and doesn't truly address the central issue: traditional colleges and universities are too expensive
Tuition, fees and housing at many state-funded universities range from $10,000 to almost $30,000 a year, depending on whether students are in-state or out-of-state Including student loans and loss of income the cost of a bachelor's degree can exceed $400,000
Fully online and non-traditional colleges and universities are filling that widening gap within the fractured education system, allowing students from all backgrounds and financial means to achieve success
Leading Online College American College of Education (ACE) breaks the link between the cost of tuition and the quality and accessibility of education ACE's funding is rooted in how much it costs to deliver a quality education rather than the maximum amount of government loans accruable through Title IV
Global insights from HolonIQ Smart Estimates are projecting online education to grow by more than 12 percent annually through 2025 While it's easy to directly correlate this growth with the COVID-19 pandemic, online (not remote) education has been growing for years, and there is a larger shift that needs to be recognized and addressed Higher education should be accessible rather than exclusive and online colleges are pioneering the use of technology to increase academic quality and reduce cost Without significant real estate and overhead expenses, these universities offer high-quality education programs, from micro-credentials to doctoral degrees, at a fraction of the cost of traditional colleges and universities With affordable programs, fully online universities offer graduates the ability to cover the cost of their degrees within the first year or two of graduating
"ACE has an unwavering commitment to putting students first, and this involves intentional attention to their concerns from cost to quality to flexibility," said Geordie Hyland, ACE President and CEO "Our low cost doesn't require sacrificing quality, and we want to be a solution to the student-debt crisis and not a contributor At the end of the day, many of our students graduate with minimal or no debt while earning a quality education that enhances their career development and contributions to society We hope our efforts can inspire other institutions to do the same "
While women make up approximately half of the U S workforce they are underrepresented in the technology sector making up 28% of the industry These numbers are even lower for women of color seeking opportunities in the field, with 3% of computing-related jobs being filled by African American women, 6% by Asian women and 2% by Hispanic women
Over the course of February and March, Black History Month and Women's History Month respectively, conversations often focus on empowering diverse voices to ensure they are represented in society While these conversations raise awareness they may not result in action and shifting the narrative surrounding diverse hiring practices Diversity becomes a guide for program development to ensure diverse and female students feel supported in their pursuit of tech-related jobs, helping to address the gender gap in the industry
To address the gender and diversity disparities, women must have access to resources and learning opportunities that give them the skill sets and confidence to pursue tech careers Higher education institutions can play a significant role in bridging the gap Creating greater awareness of job opportunities in the tech industry potential career paths and sharing how to attain the necessary skills provides emerging talent with a clear trajectory for a future career in tech
In higher education, diversity is often thought of as the physical makeup of the student body But diversity also extends beyond demographic data to how students learn - taking into consideration the tools they need to succeed These tools can come in the form of academic success teams or programming rooted in uplifting diverse students to help them achieve their academic and professional goals
Higher education institutions are tasked with providing the most current and industry-relevant education to students to augment a work-ready pool of talent To be successful in this mission for all students, institutions can use adaptive programs to close the opportunity gap for female and diverse students
An example of a curriculum informed by student need is DeVry University's Women + Tech Scholars Program which was established to increase female representation in the tech field by providing women with tools, support and resources such as: access to mentors, early access to industry-related internships and job opportunities and industry association memberships
Despite increased efforts to diversify a traditionally homogenous workforce, nearly 70% of tech companies report a lack of diverse representation in
their workforce In 2020, Google reported that 5 5% of new hires during that year were Black
Creating a more diverse tech workforce can lead to greater opportunities for ollaboration because new perspectives are brought to the forefront that were previously unrepresented - driving innovation, creativity and productivity
"Considering the current workforce and the growing need for tech talent, the share of diverse and female tech employees remains at alarmingly low levels," said Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media "Programs like DeVry University's Women + Tech Scholars Program help create greater awareness of tech careers and give women of all backgrounds the tools they need to persist in this academic path and obtain the skills they need to pursue tech-enabled careers "
Diversity of thought enhances problem-solving exercises because teams are mitigating the potential of finding themselves in an echo chamber of a singular thought derived from similar opinions Studies suggest that companies that prioritize gender or racial and ethnic diversity are more likely to see financial returns that are above national industry averages
Higher education institutions have an opportunity to create supportive networks and communities
Seeing someone from a similar background succeeding in a career path builds awareness Higher education institutions that create opportunities for women to network and build connections with leaders they can identify with increase the chance of success in these highly sought-after, influential industries
"Access to education alone is not enough Students, particularly those from underrepresented communities, need support, opportunities and resources throughout their education journey," added Veronica Calderón, DeVry University's chief inclusion, belonging and equity officer
Carving out unique, defined spaces in which diverse and female communities can feel a sense of belonging helps increase overall academic performance persistence and academic success which can translate into professional success post-graduation
As diversity in tech remains a topic of critical importance, comprehensive and agile programming that focuses on female learners allows women, particularly women from diverse backgrounds, to break down barriers that have persisted in the tech industry for decades
Dear Reader:
Modern Miracles is an organization which serves as a hub in providing information for women related to business and education. We have created several initiatives, currently working on establishing a college scholarship fund and also publish 2 magazine brands.
The Ladies Club (TLC): Exclusive User Community for Women to learn and obtain information in education and business. A networking platform for the mutual exchange of ideas and creative activity via private invitations to exclusive events. Members receive a subscription to The Ladies Club Magazine and a membership gift box twice a year. Visit https://tlcusercommunity.network/membership/.
Publications: The Ladies Club Magazine - a digital and print publication with scholarly articles, links and other sources centered on hot topics pertaining to women and entrepreneurship and a faith-based edition, Modern Miracles Magazine.
Faith & Spirit Initiative (F&S): Platform for women to reflect, meditate and focus on managing a more well-balanced life. Visit https://faithspiritinitiative.com to learn about our faith-based publication, Modern Miracles Magazine.
Modern Miracles Scholarship Fund (MMSF): Our organization is currently in the process of donating financial gifts in order to create a fund for female students with a financial need. Visit https://modernmiraclesllc.com/education.
Exclusive Membership: Consider supporting us by purchasing one of our membership options either for yourself or as a gift for someone else for The Ladies Club. Yearly Membership begins at $249 00. Visit https://tlcusercommunity.network/membership/.
Professional Business Services: Hire Modern Miracles to assist with logo designs, business website and specialized research with locating women’s grants. Visit our business page at: https://modernmiraclesllc.com/business-services/ to inquire about our services.
Advertising Benefits: Reserve space or sponsor one of our publications by visiting: https://tlcusercommunity.network/advertising-agreement.
A Special Promotion: Publish your own bio with 250-word limit for inclusion in upcoming issues of The Ladies Club Magazine (for only $300.00); Visit https://tlcusercommunity.network/publish-your-bio/.
Please consider the following:
YES! I would like to become a member of your organization
(As a member, I would like to receive my bi-annual subscription of The Ladies Club Magazine)
___ I would like to support your Faith & Spirituality Initiative by visiting:
https://faithspiritinitiative.com/
___ I would like to designate a donation to the Modern Miracles Scholarship Fund by visiting: https://modernmiraclesllc.com/education/
(This scholarship is an educational incentive to female students with a financial need)
$ ___________
$ ___________
$ ___________
Contact Information
Name_________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address_____________________________________________________________________
Email ____________________
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Membership Benefits
● Members receive an annual subscription of The Ladies Club Magazine;
● Private invitations to exclusive events;
● Access to specialized websites:
● Discounted rates for business advertising and rental to product tables at yearly events.
Thank you in advance for helping us to empower women by supporting our creative initiatives
