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August, 2018

4 Ways to Make a Positive First Impression in Business

Submitted by April Sutphen on Fri, 08/10/2018 - 06:47

There are certain things in life you just can’t get back. And a first impression is one of them. No matter how hard you try, your initial interaction with someone leaves a lasting impression. It’s how they see and judge you for the foreseeable future. This is true not only in your personal life but business as well. If you’re a new business owner you want to make a memorable, positive first impression with customers. Sadly, all it takes is one bad experience for a customer to write you off as just another shim-sham operation. And even worse, they’ll likely tell their friends about their terrible experience, keeping those people from ever stepping foot inside your establishment. So how do you make a good, lasting first impression as a new business owner? Read on to find out.

Are You Making It Hard For Me To Hire You?

Submitted by Michael Katz on Mon, 08/13/2018 - 08:56

We moved into our house 10 years ago. At the time, I made one promise: “I’m never moving again. They’re carrying me out of here in a box.”

“Why move?,” I thought. “The neighborhood is great, the schools are nearby, and the house has everything we want.”

Besides, it was such an ordeal to move that I did the math and quickly determined that death was preferable to packing boxes, painting bedrooms and killing/trapping whatever appears to be living beneath the back deck.

Security Trends: Get On Board with HTTPS vs. HTTP for SEO

Submitted by Kelly Shelton on Mon, 08/13/2018 - 21:27

If you’re a business owner, somebody’s probably already encouraged you to change your website over from HTTP to HTTPS encryption.

Why is this so important? What’s the difference between HTTP and HTTPS, anyhow? What sort of benefit does HTTPS bring for your company’s search engine optimization? How does that one extra letter make any kind of difference?

Let’s talk.

Birthday Gift: #1 GRAPHIC DESIGN TOOL To Help You Make Eye-Catching Graphics With Ease

Submitted by Elena on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 16:56

We're celebrating Idea Cafe's birthday in a big way... For our 23rd birthday we are partnering with DigitalOcto to bring some exciting gifts to fellow small business owners who need to boost their social media presence.

If you've been struggling with making great quality graphics to grow your social media brand, then you need DesignPro, because it will help you astound your audience with ease.

DesignPro is an easy, drag-and-drop graphic design tool with more than 1500 pre-made templates based on the latest social media trends, business niches and holidays.

Business Tips for Landlords or Property Managers

Submitted by Brooke Faulkner on Wed, 08/15/2018 - 12:13

It’s official: the sharing economy is booming. Companies like Airbnb, Homeaway, and VRBO have made it easier than ever to capitalize your properties when you’re not occupying them. This can net a tidy profit, but what if you want to take the next step and make your living renting out your properties? Becoming a landlord or property manager is a fantastic way to generate income while also being your own boss, but navigating the business itself may be daunting for some.

The recipe for creating compelling and valuable content that perfectly complements SEO

Submitted by Sujain Thomas on Thu, 08/16/2018 - 08:52

Content is at the heart of SEO, but not the run of the mill type of content created just for the sake of it. When creating content, you must be clear about what SEO goals you want to achieve through it. Content connects businesses with the audience and builds relationships with them and turn them into loyal followers of the brand.  Therefore, you have to create content that goes viral and enjoys wide sharing so that it creates a buzz for business. Since you want to create viral content, you have to know how to ensure at the time of content creation that it would create a stir.  The content has to impress the audience, leave a lasting impact and encourage them to share it.

Actionable Improvements That Will Bring More Exposure to Your Startup

Submitted by Dan Radak on Thu, 08/16/2018 - 10:10

Running a successful business is not easy. There are numerous factors that can affect your business success, especially if your business is still in the startup phase. The online market is highly competitive and overcrowded, which means you need a way to make your startup stand out from the others. Another important thing to understand is that, in order to make sure your business reaches success, you can never stop improving it.

Tips to Get Your Solar Power Business Off the Ground

Submitted by Derek Lotts on Fri, 08/17/2018 - 08:51

Starting a solar power business is one of the most lucrative business decisions you could make. The technology needed for creating and storing solar energy has changed and evolved over the years, and now it’s available to the average household.

At the same time, an average homeowner is much more aware of the importance of using alternative energy sources. This is partly an environmental concern and partly a way for the homeowners to save on energy costs at least in the long run.

Tips to Manage Your Small Business Cash Flow

Submitted by Elena on Sun, 08/19/2018 - 02:55

It’s no lie that if you want to make money, you need to spend money. Imagine your business’ cash flow as a digestive tract. The capital your business feeds on gets dispersed into smaller reserves that go towards funding your essential components.

Successful business thrive when their generated income is used to improve their brand.  Listed below are a few ways you can manage your small business’ cash flow.

Tips for Understanding Price Movements When Trading Cryptocurrency

Submitted by Elena on Mon, 08/20/2018 - 10:42

The world of cryptocurrency trading is much more volatile than stocks or securities, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to predict price patterns for currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin based on technical analysis of their trading patterns. Follow these quick tips to help you get a proper trading plan in place for your cryptocurrency moves.