How to communicate the value of your services to the client: 5 tips for freelancers

As a freelancer, you're more than just a provider of services — you're an expert in your field with a unique set of skills to offer. However, conveying the value of your services to clients can be a challenge.

Here are five tips to help you communicate your worth and build a thriving freelance business:

🤝 Clearly articulate the benefits. Focus on the advantages of your services, not just the features. Identify the unique value you bring to the table, and explain how it can solve the client's problems or help them achieve their goals.

🤝 Use social proof. Share testimonials, case studies, or success stories from previous clients to demonstrate the effectiveness of your services. This can help build trust and credibility with potential clients.

🤝 Be transparent about your process. Share your approach to working with clients, including how you communicate, your turnaround time, and any other important details. This can help clients understand what to expect and feel more confident in working with you.

🤝 Show your expertise. Demonstrate your knowledge and competence in your field by sharing relevant articles, blog posts, or other resources that showcase your thought leadership. This can help position you as an authority in your niche.

🤝 Provide personalized solutions. Take the time to understand the client's unique needs and tailor your services to meet those needs. Show that you're invested in their success and committed to helping them achieve their goals.

By putting these tips into practice, you can connect with clients who understand and appreciate your expertise. Remember that every successful freelancer started somewhere, and with hard work and determination, you can achieve your goals and create a fulfilling career doing what you love.

❓ Are there any things that usually help or hinder you from getting a freelance project?

Tips To Offer People New To Investing

Entering the stock market is a gamble for anyone. With market highs and lows to contend with, it can be frustrating for a first-time investor to weather the changes the market brings on a daily basis.

As a finance professional, it is your job to assuage those fears and help your investor see the value in placing their money in the market, even when it is volatile or not as beneficial as one would want it to be. Keeping your clients patient, calm, and on the lookout for long-term returns can help them realize the benefits of entering the market for the first time.

1. Start Investing With A Game Plan

Before you invest your first dollar into the stock market ask yourself, “Why am I investing, and what do I want to achieve?” Having a game plan is the most important step in the process, and it will help you achieve your goals.  For example, if your goal is to save $100,000 in 10 years, start with the end in mind and figure out how much you will need to invest monthly to reach your goal.

2. Diversify

Investing is about more than just the stock market. Trying to get rich quick by putting all your money into a few hot stocks will almost certainly fail in the long run. Despite all the hype around stock picking, the path to long-term wealth creation is building a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and a range of other asset classes.

3. Define Your Goals

Investors should be investing in the stock market in order to achieve specific goals. These can range from buying a second home to keeping up with inflation to leaving a specific legacy. Once goals are determined, one can project how much expected growth they need to achieve these goals. That, along with risk tolerance, will drive asset allocation and exposure to parts of the stock market.

4. Stay Committed

Dopamine hits from second-by-second movements of public stock markets can get addictive. If you are new to stock investing, three things may keep you out of trouble: Invest for the long term and avoid trading more than once a quarter, pick diversified products like ETFs rather than individual names, and most importantly, before you begin investing, don’t change your strategy based on daily news. - Atish Davda, EquityZen
Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms.

Starting a business at a young age: worth it or not

Starting a business is no easy feat, and doing it at a young age can be even more challenging. But for those who are up for the task, the rewards can be significant.

In this post, we'll examine the benefits and challenges of starting a business at a young age, and provide some advice to help you succeed.

🤩 Benefits:

More time to learn. Getting started young provides the opportunity to learn from mistakes and gain experience while you still have time to recover. Such entrepreneurs have more time to take risks and experiment with their ideas, without the same level of financial and personal obligations that come later in life.

Developing valuable skills. Running a business can teach valuable skills such as leadership, communication, time management, and problem-solving. Young entrepreneurs have the chance to develop these skills and apply them in their future careers.

Building networks. An early start means you have more time to build relationships and networks that can help you in your future projects. Young founders can use their early years in business to network, meet mentors, and form partnerships that can last a lifetime.

🫠 Challenges:

Lack of experience. Starting a business requires a level of experience that young entrepreneurs may not have yet. Without the right skills and knowledge, it can be challenging to successfully launch and grow a company.

Financial constraints. Getting your business off the ground takes investment and financing. Young entrepreneurs may find it challenging to secure the necessary funding for their businesses, especially if they lack collateral or credit history.

Balancing work and education. Starting a business needs a lot of time and effort, which can be challenging to balance with education and other responsibilities. Young entrepreneurs must find ways to manage their time effectively and prioritize their tasks.

In conclusion, it's not just about making money, but about following passions, taking risks, and learning valuable lessons along the way. Young entrepreneurs do face many obstacles, but they also gain much by having a fresh perspective, being open to new ideas, and having the energy to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

Whether you're already on the path to becoming a young entrepreneur or just exploring the idea, remember to stay focused, be persistent, and never give up on your dreams. With hard work, determination, and a bit of luck, the sky's the limit.

How to boost restaurant sales: 11 proven tactics

Running a restaurant business is tough, especially in a competitive market. While great food is important, it takes more than that to attract new customers, retain loyal ones, and make great profits.

That's why we've compiled a list of 11 tips to help you drive sales and create an exceptional dining experience for your customers. They will help you stand out from the competition and take your restaurant business to the next level.

🍕 Improve your customer service. Ensure that your staff is well-trained and equipped to handle customer complaints or issues. Encourage them to be personable and engaging. Consider offering a feedback mechanism on your website or in-store to get customer feedback.

🍕 Optimize your menu. Analyze which menu items are selling well and which are not. Consider removing the low-performing items or modifying them to make them more attractive to customers.

🍕 Upsell strategically. Train your staff to suggest add-ons, upgrades, or complementary items that pair well with the customer's order. For example, suggesting a side dish, dessert or beverage to complement the main dish.

🍕 Enhance your online presence. Make sure your website and social media accounts are up-to-date with accurate information about your restaurant, such as hours of operation, location, menu, and specials. Add it to online maps and review platforms like Yelp.

🍕 Offer online ordering and delivery. Make it easy for customers to order from your restaurant online and have their food delivered to their door. Utilize popular food delivery apps and services to expand your reach.

🍕 Host events and collaborations. Host special activities with other businesses to attract more customers. For example, you could offer live music or partner with a local brewery to offer a beer-pairing menu.

🍕 Offer specials and promotions. Create daily or weekly specials that are only available for a limited time. You can also offer discounts for customers who refer a friend or sign up for your loyalty program.

🍕 Implement a loyalty program. Create a loyalty program to reward customers for their repeat business. For example, you could offer a free item or discount after a certain number of visits or purchases.

🍕 Utilize local advertising. Advertise your restaurant locally through channels such as radio, print, or online ads. Target your advertising efforts to customers in your local area to increase visibility.

🍕 Offer catering services. Consider providing catering to local businesses, events, or parties. This can be a great way to generate additional revenue and reach new customers.

🍕 Maintain a clean and inviting environment. Ensure that your restaurant is clean and inviting to customers. This includes keeping the floors and tables clean, ensuring the lighting is adequate, and playing appropriate music to create a welcoming atmosphere.

How to build an email list for your business: 7 easy-to-implement tips

Unlike other channels, email marketing allows you to communicate directly with your audience without worrying about algorithms or other barriers. It also allows you to target your messages to specific segments of your audience, ensuring that your messages are relevant and timely.

Building an email list is a must if you're looking to promote your business, build brand awareness, and engage with your customers in a meaningful way. Stay tuned for some tips on how to get started and build your own email list.

💌 Offer a lead magnet. Create a valuable resource, such as an e-book or white paper, and offer it for free in exchange for someone's email address. Make sure your lead magnet is relevant to your target audience and provides value.

💌 Optimize your website. Make it easy for visitors to sign up for your email list by placing a prominent opt-in form on your website. Be sure to include a clear call-to-action and a compelling reason to sign up.

💌 Host a giveaway. Encourage people to sign up for your email list by offering a prize or giveaway. This can be a great way to attract new subscribers and generate buzz around your business.

💌 Use social media. Promote your email list on your social media channels and encourage your followers to sign up. Share your lead magnet and other exclusive content to entice people to join.

💌 Attend events. Collect email addresses at trade shows, conferences, and other events. You can offer a prize or giveaway as an incentive for people to sign up.

💌 Leverage paid advertising. Use paid advertising to target potential subscribers and drive traffic to your opt-in form. Be sure to include a clear and compelling offer in your ad copy.

💌 Partner with other businesses. Collaborate with other businesses in your industry to cross-promote each other's email lists. This can be a great way to expand your reach and attract new subscribers.

❓ Do you use email newsletters? How did you build your email list?

Why is influencer marketing especially important in niche industries

Influencer marketing has become a popular way for businesses to promote their products or services. While it is commonly associated with mainstream industries like fast food or retail, it is a much more effective strategy for niche industries such as pet accessories or vegan products.

Here are some benefits of using influencer marketing in niche industries:

🙋‍♀️ Targeted audience. Influencers in niche industries have a dedicated following of people who are interested in that particular niche. By partnering with them, you can reach a highly engaged and relevant audience that is more likely to convert into customers.

🙋‍♀️ Authenticity. Such influencers are often highly passionate about their niche and have built a loyal following by sharing their expertise and experience. This authenticity can be extremely valuable for businesses looking to build trust with their audience.

🙋‍♀️ Cost-effective. Niche influencers typically have smaller followings than mainstream influencers, which means they may charge less for their services. Additionally, since niche influencers are highly targeted, you can reach your desired audience with fewer influencers, which can further reduce costs.

🙋‍♀️ Creative content. They often have a unique perspective on their niche and can create highly engaging and creative content. In such a partnership, you can tap into their creativity and use their unique perspective to create compelling content that resonates with your audience.

🙋‍♀️ Long-term relationships. Because niche influencers often have a smaller following, they may be more willing to establish long-term partnerships with businesses. It can be highly beneficial for both parties, leading to increased brand loyalty and continued growth for the business.

The truth is, influencer marketing is not a one-size-fits-all solution and each industry and business will have its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. By taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to it, businesses can harness the power of influencers to engage their audience and achieve their marketing goals.

You work hard all the time, and you make money, but somehow that money seems to be leaving much faster than it’s coming. If you found yourself in the sentence then you lack managing your finances and this article is for you.

If you want to get better at managing your money, here are some tips that can help you take care of your finances like a pro.

1. Know when a loan can help

If the bills are overwhelming you or unexpected expenses have come up, you may want to consider a loan. Loans can help you to make it through a rough time, like, for instance, if you’re faced with an unexpected medical bill or your car breaks down. 
As with any kind of financial situation, make sure to choose your loan carefully, so that you avoid getting into debt that is a bit too tough to pay off. Whether you’re trying to start a business or renovate your home, look into loan options suited to your needs. For example, in those two cases, you might research business loans and home equity loans that can provide you with adequate financing.  

2. Cut back on what you spend

When it comes to moving forward financially, you may need to use an expense tracker app that helps you see where you spend your money. This can allow you to identify areas where you could be overspending or even paying for things that you don’t use. Think about everything from your streaming subnoscriptions to your grocery shopping—you could be throwing away money that you could be saving. 

3. Learn how to shop frugally

If you want to spend less and save more, learn how to shop frugally. From using coupon apps that help you to find the best savings in your area to look for more affordable alternatives when at the store, there are a variety of ways to shop for less. While learning how to find discounts and deals may seem time-consuming, when you’re saving more money and making moves toward a better financial future, you’ll find that it’s worth it.