#every member had 20k sales | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

prorevenge · 5 years ago

Text

I end up working for the scammer who conned my parents.

So, this tale starts twelve years ago in 2007. Both my parents had retired at the same time and had received a large cash lump sum and would have a decent pension income for the rest of their lives. Dad was ex-Army, doing his national service and staying for another 8 years before travelling the world. He served with the Royal Engineers and moved into an engineering/maintenance role when he returned to the civillian life. Mum was a teacher, and with careful savings and multiple pensions they had more money coming in individually than I did in a salary.

The first thing they did was to renovate their house. They got several quotes for new windows, some minor building work, a new kitchen and a block-paved driveway. I helped them with researching the companies involved and with all the information at hand, they settled on a local company that we'll call Bad Company. Bad Company had membership of all the relevant professional bodies, had some good feedback and importantly was not the cheapest but their sales guy explained to my parents why a cheaper quote wasn't always better. They agreed on the £35k work and paid a 10% deposit. Work started, and they weren't asked for a single penny more until it had been completed. There were a couple of minor snags which were easily corrected, and it went £500 over budget due to the bad drainage of the house (something that had been mentioned before) but it looked satisfactory.

As it turned out, the windows had massive gaps in them that leaked water when it rained and you could actually hear the wind whistling through. Heating became expensive. Within a month, weeds and grass started poking through the block paved driveway and the electical work that was done in the new kitchen caused blown fuses if both ovens and the hob were turned on together. If you touched the plate around the light switch, you'd get an electric shock. After three months, water burst through the newly laid kitchen floor and the "Secured By Design" doors could simply be lifted out of their frame even when locked. We also noticed that they keys to the new doors were not the originals, and they were extremely difficult to lock especially as both parents had arthritis. The icing on the cake was that most of the windows were supposed to be argon filled, but the seals had already blown allowing air inside and condensation on the inside was apparent.

Dad asked a friend, Bob, to estimate the extra cost of fixing it. Bob said that to correct the now evident defects would cost nearly £20k as almost everything would have to be ripped out and re-done. Dad immediately contacted Bad Company, and the guy they sent round was rude, arrogant and blamed everything on the builders who had originally constructed the house doing a bad job. He wrote a report stating that none of the defects were down to the work carried out as the work had been done according to current best practices. That evening, one of the window frames fell out.

Dad spent a month after that trying to get Bad Company back to fix the issues, then he called all the regulatory bodies to find that Bad Company wasn't a member but just used the membership logos on their documentation. Around a year after the work was originally completed, Bad Company simply vanished. Phone numbers were disconnected emails bounced back and their office was now a conservatory showroom. Dad had already paid a well estabished window company £3k to fix the immediate window and door issues, and was left to pay another (much better) company £22k to fix the issues. This time we checked everything and made sure they were registered. We even got a warranty.

Cut to 2018, and I'm looking for a new job. Dad passed away quite unexpectedly in 2015 and Mum wasn't too good either (although she's a lot better now) so I needed a job closer to her house than the 2 hour commute to the next city that I currently had. As luck would have it, a local kitchen manufacturing company (lets call them Local Kitchens) was looking to expand and wanted an IT technician/developer. The pay was about £1k more a year than I was currently making, but I didn't have to spend £500 a month travelling to and from work (busses and trains are expensive). I interviewed, liked what I heard, and was accepted for the role. All the time, I thought that I somehow knew the boss of Local Kitchens.

Having worked in factory environments before, I arrived in a hi-viz vest, toecapped boots and with my own ear defenders. No-one else wore any P.P.E. - not even masks and goggles. When all the machinery ran, the factory floor hummed and buzzed along at a noise level of 105dB, well over the required minimum for wearing ear defenders or plugs. The boss, who we'll call John, also attempted to cut corners everywhere. My workstation was barely powerful enough to run the development software let alone the CAD/CAM software required. When the CPU fan died, he said that he couldn't afford to replace the fan. A new computer keyboard took 3 weeks to arrive and although we were paid on the 28th of each month, the pay was often not in the bank until 9pm, well after he had chased people who owed him money.

There were more lies that I uncovered, and bad business practices. It was like John had read a book on running a business then did the exact opposite. I spent the first six months between designing kitchens - something that I knew nothing about but suddenly fell under the remit of IT technician - maintaining the factory machines, driving the forklift (something that requires a specialist license that I don't hold) and doing IT work on his personal home computer equipment and mobile phones of him, his trophy wife, his kids and his parents. I also wrote several small computer programs, wired up the factory network, ensured that machinery could connect to the office computers and re-wrote most of the configuration for the industry specific software he used - which was not only unlicensed but also used on five separate machines despite the single (lapsed) license.

Also working at the company was Dad's friend Bob. Bob was a decade and a half older than me and had served his time "working the tools" making and fitting kitchens, bedrooms, and had spent a good fifteen years as a shopfitter on some very prestigious contracts. Bob was hired originally to do my job but he moved back to the manufacturing side when the expansion started as it was easier to employ an IT tech than it was a shopfitter. Bob had read an eulogy at Dad's funeral and was often round helping mum with bits around the house, so I knew Bob well and he looked after me at work. We got talking one day and I found out that Bob was earning less than me, even though he had a highly skilled and experienced role, and that despite being given more responsibility, John refused to pay Bob what Bob was worth.

Honestly, if Bob wasn't there, most of the knowledge was lost. Bob and I had frequently told John better ways to do key tasks, but John refused simply because there would be a small cash outlay. I should have seen the writing on the wall at that point, but no.

Running up to Christmas, John tells us all that he's giving us all a bonus, and will pay us early for the christmas to new year shutdown period. We soon discover though that the bonus was a £5 tub of sweets - which Bob can't eat because he has type 1 diabeties, and I can't eat because I have this really strange sugar allergy. I was going to mention it to John, but Bob tells me not to as it's Christmas and it will be something for my kids to enjoy. I actually ended up with three boxes of sweets because he over-ordered.

That day, despite being an IT technician, I had to chase an order with a company, order some materials from a supplier, and supervise a fitter as he attempted to install some new showroom units. John is nowhere to be found until just as we're about to leave. He asked Bob for a moment of his time and I go home.

The next day, Bob tells me that he and John talked until 7pm (an extra 3 hours) about the business. Bob was asked to invest £10k for a quick capital injection as winter is always a bad time for people buying kitchens, so income is slow but there are a number of large orders in the pipeline. Bob told him what he thought of the shady business practices and the poor management, and he said that he could walk out of this job today and be earning double before the year is out. He refused to invest. Other things were said, and Bob dropped the first bombshell, explaining that every job they did for a new client was actually making a loss. The new client had been Local Kitchens only revenue stream since mid October. Apparently John was genuinely shocked and didn't realise that it cost him £200 per hour just to run his business, jumping to £300 if the machinery is running.

The day before we're due to finish for Christmas, I get called into the nearly complete new showroom. I thought John was going to show me what needs finishing and which units need designing, but no. He's worked out the finances and states that there's only enough money to keep me on for another couple of months. He even tries to turn it around by saying that he's sorry and that I'm a good employee but the income isn't there, and he wanted to give me enough time to find something else. I felt my entire world crumble. The rest of the day was a daze, but just before I left, I overhear him ordering some materials from a supplier. His exact words were: Yes, it's John from Local Kitchens. You might have us down as Bad Company.

That's when all the pieces fell into place. It finally clicked why I knew his face. He was the one who scammed my parents.

The last day of work before Christmas arrives, and John had taken his family away over the christmas / new year period. We had to ensure that the factory was powered down, locked off and secure. No-one else wanted the responsibility so I volunteered. With only Bob and myself still left in the factory, I set about gathering evidence and investigating his finances. I already know about the losses, but digging deeper I find that the company actually has no cash flow. Everything is done on credit. His house, his wife's Range Rover, his Jaguar and several other assets are registered as company assets but they're all on finance through Local Kitchens. He owed at least £750k in credit, loans and mortgages.

Bob advised me against doing anything rash as it would only come back to me and agreed that John needed to be taught a lesson not just for the way he treated his empolyees, but for conning my parents and several others out of their life savings. Bob had found a set of files from 2005 to 2008 with customer complaints for shoddy work in the name of Bad Company. It was far too late to legally do anything about the complaints, but we could bring down John and his smug attitude. Bob suggested I read up on health and safety over christmas, and perform some observations in the new year.

January and February I spent making notes, taking photographs and researching legislation. By the time the end of February rolled around, I had a thick folder full of breaches of health and safety, environmental issues, data protection (or lack thereof) and the lack of software licensing. John was well aware of the software issue, but he said that "as long as the software keeps running, it'll be ok". I had emals from him to back this up, and requests for purchases of software and hardware that were turned down so he could dine out at fancy restaurants or stay in 4 star hotels.

My last day rolls around. I have a much better development job lined up thanks to some recruiter contacts I have, and as the current day was a Thursday and I didn't start my new job until Monday, I planned on sleeping in on Friday. John is strangely absent all day but arrives just as we're all leaving for the day. HE SAYS NOTHING as he watches me leave. I got the impression immediately that he wanted me to stay until Friday, but he said that my last day was "the end of the month" and not "Friday". Unsuprisingly, the pay is late. It's 10pm before it appears in the account.

I went to see my mum that evening and told her who my boss was, the way he simply cast me aside when he was done with me, and that I wanted to break him as revenge for the bad work and what we have always considered as a scam. Now, my mum is the sweetest lady you could ever meet, and I was completely shocked when she actually said "bury the bastard". She even let me use her garden incinerator to destroy the personal hand-written instructions that Bob and myself had created since I started. The knowledge of how to fix issues with the specialist software now only existed in our memories.

Friday rolls around, and I have no reason to get up early. My phone is ringing constantly becuase John is trying to get hold of me and it's soon evident that things are going south, rapidly. Bob sent me a text telling me that he gave John a final invoice at 8AM and walked out. Now, had this been petty revenge then the tale would have ended here with him not being able to use his business-critical unlicensed software, and hiring new people, but this is Pro revenge and my mother did tell me to "bury the bastard" so despite feeling sorry for the one other genuine employee that I had a lot of respect for, I enacted my totally legal if not a little underhanded plan.

I reported Local Kitchens and John to the Federation against Software Theft for illegal use of licensed software, giving them information regarding which software was illegally used and how. Just to be safe, I also reported them directly to those software companies too. I supplied the emails as evidence where I had explained to John that he was breaking the law by not having the correct and valid licenses.

I then called a friend at the local government Health and Safety team, reporting no fewer than thirty rule breaches, sending him the supporting images and video. One of Local Kitchens professional memberships had lapsed, but John was still using the logo on paperwork, email signatures, website and the company van, in addition to the signage on the building. I reported that to the professional body in question. I honesly considered reporting GDPR breaches, but I don't think that he had done anything that could be considered a breach.

A week later, John sent me a message stating that If I was still looking for work, he would pay me £50 per day to do "IT work" for him. It came across as if he was trying to do me a favour. I told him that I was previously on £90 per day, but as I was now a freelance contractor, the going rate was closer to £200 per day. He didn't send me another message.

Three weeks later, and the showroom saleswoman - who we'll call Jane (the one remaining staff member I respected) called me to tell me that John had closed Local Kitchens and declared bankruptcy owing nearly a million pounds. I asked about fines, and she said that Health and Safety were behind a building closure which stopped production causing the bankruptcy. In the same week, he had legal notices for illegal software.

As this unfolded, I kept Bob in the loop and Jane kept me informed. As of the start of July, the final figure for fines was levied. £932k debts to the business, £876k fines too. On that same day, purely by chance I was helping a friend deliver pizza and John placed an order My friend was driving and doing the shop work, and I was going to the door to hand the food over, so I actually got to deliver his food. He was nice enough to me when he opened the door, and stated that if I had done the extra "IT Work" for him then I wouldn't have to deliver pizza. I told him that it was what it was, and questioned the fact that there was only enough for 1 meal - didn't his wife like pizza? He told me that she'd left him and taken the kids back to her parents, and that he wasn't OK with that but he had no choice. I agreed, an then decided to twist the knife even more.

I told him that it was a good job he got rid of me when he did, because I now had a fantastic well-paid job that I'm good at, and that if I had stayed, then I would have brought myself down as well as him. That's when he realised that I had called in all the agencies that had eventually shut him down. He demanded to know why, as he had "given me everything" and "taught me how to work in the kitchen industry". I simply replied with my parents address and the year 2007. I saw the colour drain from his face as he realised that his past had caught up with him. Then I told him how much he had to pay on his pizza, and he threw £40 at me and snatched the food out of my hands, slamming the door in my face. His food was only £21.50, so I got a nice £18.50 tip from him that night.

(source) story by (/u/tac-21a)

#prorevenge #by /u/tac-21a #pro revenge #revenge stories #pro revenge stories #pro #revenge #last10

429 notes · View notes

lootgoblinworld · 4 years ago

Text

learning curve

what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear learning curve?

you start learning new things or is it that he is at that stage he wants to try and learn new things he will be able to learn faster or will learn better no what i think the learning curve is when a person starts to develop interest in learning things not from school or college or some tuition but start to learn things which will help him in the future read things which will help him in his career or maybe starts to understand what he has been learning up until now will not help him so much in the long term but only help him in getting to the next stage of his life for eg. what i learned in my 10th grade will not help me in my long term future but it helped me get into a good college that in well known (NM) this is my thoughts on what a learning curve

how to start it?

digital deepak made me start this curve now in the passed 3 weeks i have read 1 book and also started audible i felt i was wasting my time by doing nothing now i want to do so many things i have a list of things i want to do i have made a 90 day plan and also a 1 year plan every week i make a small to do list which i can do and every time finish a task from this list i pant that item in my to do list when i finish my to do list it looks so satisfying that i never want to miss anything on that list after lisning to week one and two i have learned so much from this from right mind set to CATT and i have also read a little bit of edge of sanity all of this has inspired me to follow my passion and become my own boss i have also taking mass trust to heart i loved that term and also the niche chart where i can either ell 100 products to 100000 people or 1000 products to 10000 people and goes and on of my goals is to have at least 4-5 sources of income and i think this course with digital deepak can help me in doing so if not all 5 at least 1 from free lancing from what every i have learned so far it seems like a plausible outcome

some things that i want to talk about that i took fancy in week 2 are

Digital marketing vs. Traditional marketing.

marketing has changed a lot even if we see 10 years ago i dont see many people running to do Facebook ads or insta ads like today people now a days what to do social media marketing and want to make their presence known online i am not saying the old ways of marketing has no use now we still need to go and talk or meet the person to sell ourself there is something you will always need now past or the future thats communication what i fell is that communication is key to everything communication will help you in all walks of life its one of the most imp skill a person can master i just cant stress enough that communication is key no matter which area i dont think AI will ever be able to cross humans for marketing but digital marketing has taking marketing to new hights has made it easier to find consumer and seller due to this

CATT Marketing Funnel

wealth=n*CATT

n=niche every thing is dependent on what niche you choose wealth success etc

C=content create things from which people come and see you and come for your content like vlogs blogs posts video live webinars etc

A=attention get attention or traffic to you by referrals seo social media insta ads etc

T=trust we need to build trust with your consumers by market automation retargeting and also need to build trust among your audience members

T=transaction you need to convert your leads into costumers with nature sales method

Indian economics

Since independence India has been a 'Mixed Economy'. India's large public sectors were responsible for rendering the country a 'mixed economy' feature. Indian economy is basically based in the contribution of service sector (currently provides 60% share of GDP) and near about 53% of its population is dependent on the Agriculture.

If you see the current status of economy

Unemployment is highest in last 45 years.

Automobiles industry has seen it's worst days on July. Overall sale has been down to 30% out of which Honda sale down by 49% and Maruti by 36%.

10 lakh people may lose the job in automobile sector.

Over 6.9 lakh companies have been closed in financial year 2019.( Statement of FM in parliament).

Jet airways has been closed around 20k job has been lost.

BSNL does not have salary to pay salary to its 1.76lakh employees.

Indian railway is planning to retire 3 lakh employees.

I think above points are enough to show the condition of economy. For the time being Don't think from political angle. I am not saying these problem have been created by modi govt only. I am just explaining the state of Indian economy.

Now consider the case of BSNL ,Jet airways. Indian govt could do much more what it did. Jet airways problem came into the picture many months back. Either govt could take control of management and auction it or it could help the airline to get fresh loan. Yes this could be extraordinary step but to save the job of 20000 people and their families govt had to do it. But they were busy on speeches and drama.

BSNL could be sold easily or they could do something to improve it's services. But they din't to anything and today job of 1.76 lakh employees is at stake. Who will pay bread and butter to their families.

In automobile sector GST is too high. Over the above they have increased insurance price on the vehicle. Overall price have been increased and people are avoiding purchasing cars. When company will not do sale then how it will pay to it's employees? They will do cost cutting and employees will lose their job. If they don't have Job they won't do purchase of luxury or other items in market . Ultimately another business and it's eomployees will suffer.

Our govt has huge power. Current PM has full control over his party and govt. Still he is not doing much. See the status of coal India, yes bank, BSNL etc. Yes Bank is private bank bit govt either can take over or can makes the guideline to run it. Previous govt saved satyam computers and its employee by taking control of it. Later Mahindra purchased it.

Time has come for us to question govt about economy, job etc. It's good to support particular party or govt but always ask the question. The day you will lose job there is no one to help you. Your political party is not going to do any favoure.

what i want to say about the economy is that we have no say or anything big people control it how they want i zero trust in our goverment this dont not mean i am against india or something i promote indian products to all my family and friends i just hate our govering body sorry for going on a rant there

conclusion

i hope you also experience the same drive that i am its amazing to fell this way to learn new new things every day to be better than last time even if its 1% be better than last time try all the things then say i or dis side try to form golas and try to conquer your goals 90 days and 1 years goals dont set a punishment if you cant do them give your self positive reinforcements to work better and harder than last time

1 note · View note

nomediaplay · 5 years ago

Text

There’s a bunch of new questions in my inbox that I don’t think I can answer without ranting and being very condescending. Below are some

“Will you buy Jessica's book”

That’s extremely unlikely. First off because I basically only ever read various types of research papers and legal documents. Secondly because I doubt she’s able to understand enough of the bigger picture and has enough self-reflection to write something I’d find meaningful. Maybe she can, but I doubt it.

“Based on those RIAJ reports, will streaming take over Japan like it did with the rest of the world?”

I’d say it already has since long ago, at least among younger people. As I’ve ranted about before, the physical market in Japan is almost 100% about idols making fans buy CDs for other reasons than music. And it’s particularly held up by how idols hold huge amounts of events to which fans get “free tickets” if they buy CDs.

“You said that bgs have better physical sales because of fangirls, then why bigbang is not selling millions like exo and bts?”

Because no matter how stupid they are, most of BIGBANG’s fangirls are at least a lot older than EXO and BTS fangirls and therefor won’t spend their hard earned money on something so ridiculously dumb as buying CDs.

The real question you should ask is: Why are hordes of international girls who don’t speak Korean and who don’t have a CD-player buying millions of CDs from Korea???

And the answer to that is in how the big young international kpop following basically is like some huge retarded online cult that lives detached from reality and doesn’t care about facts, and instead basically just makes up whatever stuff they want to believe in. Obviously record labels are fueling this behavior as they make a ton of money from how fans spend money on dumb things. But it’s really fascinating how it’s largely the fans themselves who have created this absurd behavior.

“How is it possible that a girl group like Blackpink who sold 200k+ copies of their mini album with no fan signs, billions of views on yt, tons of exposure, a successful world tour and 20k attendance at their Seoul concerts can't even sell out their fan meeting?”

Again, you’re asking the wrong question. BLACKPINK is basically just some girls dancing to 5 autotuned Teddy-songs. I understand if lots of people find the songs to be awesome. But it’s 5 songs. And basically anybody could go up on stage and dance to them. So why would anyone pay for tickets to a BLACKPINK performance? The turn-out for their latest Korean concert seems like a fair turn-out reflecting how many people that logically should want to pay to see BLACKPINK (and as mentioned before: much of the audience at their previous Seoul concert had been given free tickets by companies sponsoring the event, and 20k seems exaggerated too for that matter).

So the real question you should ask is: “Why are hordes of international kpop fans paying money to see BLACKPINK dancing to some songs?” And of course the answer is again in how this international kpop following basically is an online cult.

“Do you know the difference between apple music and iTunes and which do I have to look at to know how a group is doing.”

Yes of course. ‘iTunes’ is Apple’s old download service where you purchase downloads. ‘Apple Music’ is Apple’s new streaming service where you pay a monthly subscription and then get to stream whatever music you want to listen to, exactly like Spotify (it just took them 7 years to copy Spotify).

Since no normal human would pay to purchase a download from iTunes, iTunes is completely irrelevant. Spotify and Apple Music are the charts you need to look at if you want to know what music people are listening to.

The only ones who buy downloads on iTunes are idiot fans who for some reason have convinced themselves that they must waste their money to make their faves top iTunes. And frankly, buying downloads from iTunes (or QQ etc) is even way more stupid than buying CDs from Korea. At least fangirls buying CDs could claim that they want the photobooks and cards in the CD package. The idiots that buy downloads from iTunes are just pissing away their money. Don’t even get me started on all the Chinese fans who uses VPNs to make their faves top the US iTunes chart.

“How big are the chances that super m will succeed in u.s.?”

The question is strange. The members already have lots of fans. From the perspective of Capital Records it seems a very simple and low-risk project to make money from their already existing fans buying shit.

And from the perspective of the members it seems like a good opportunity to get great US/worldwide promotions/exposure that will help them make more money from concerts and CF deals now and in the future.

As for if they could become actually mainstream music that people listen to, the answer is of course no.

“Does the labels in the west work the same shaddy and scheme ways as most korean labels/agencies? Is it better to no sign to a label and just stay independent and probably make more money given the bigger and more developed music markets?”

The western companies are of course just as ‘shady’ in many aspects, but your question is strange. Record labels, songwriters and performing artists all live in symbiosis.

Record labels make money by marketing and selling music.

Songwriters make money not only by royalties on music sales through record labels, but also from how much their songs are played in concerts, on TV, on radio, in clubs, at sport events, in karaoke bars, etc etc.

Performing artists mostly make money not from royalties on music sales, but by being paid to perform live at concerts and other events and by being paid for various types of CF/endorsement deals.

They all need each other. And if you’re a performing artists with ambitions to make it really big and get paid lots, it makes no sense to decline all the promotion/marketing you’d get by signing with a big record label early in your career. And particularly if you’re not also an awesome songwriter, because then you’ll need the help of some good A&R people to get you suitable songs.

The ‘problems’ of the idol industry (and this of course doesn’t just go for Korea, but even more so for Japan and China, and also applies to many of the big US/UK boygroups decades ago) is especially manifested in how idols are made to do endless promotions and free events to drive music sales (which the record labels make huge money from) instead of doing paid events (which the performing artists would make huge money from).

“It's teddy the richest producer in kpop? Because I always though he probably get paid better than most kpop idols.”

Again: the top performing artists make huge money from live performances and commercial deals, much more than anybody makes from songwriting or music sales. But performing artists who don’t make it big enough make absolutely zero money if they can’t get paid more for performances than what they’d have to spend on outfits/makeup/travel/assistants etc.

Teddy is indeed one of the Koreans who make most money from songwriting nowadays. But songwriting is very different to any normal jobs. Your income is passive royalties from how much your songs are used. Some songs continue to be used for a very long time and all over the world. Take for example the songwriting for ABBA. They continue to make lots of money today from 40-50 year old songs because they are still being used lots on radio, in TV, in musicals and with covers in concerts etc. There are obviously a lot of old Korean songwriters who have a huge catalogue of songs they’ve written that continue to make them money every year.

“Will the hallyu ban in China ever be lifted?”

Who knows. China being China. They’re just altogether weird with their one-party-state ruling everything but any horrible individual opportunistic capitalist behavior seems completely OK as long as you support the party-state enough.

“Do bgs members ever stop being fuckboys?”

It would probably be good for you to realize that all men by nature more or less has a biological instinct that says “if there’s a hole, then I should plug it”. Their actions are rather a result of opportunities and consequences. Most male pop-stars and actors have more or less endless opportunities and face no consequences.

1 note · View note

dustindahusky-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Would Americans buy a Chinese car?

From my view, yes. Here’s why a Chinese car might stick around long enough to catch on with American buyers.

Cars are pillars of status, privilege, and pride in the USA. The car has truly made its home in our country and to many we often see them as members of the family or a faithful friend. Some like to show off with luxury or sport models or brands to denote their position in their company, neighborhood, or for the thrill of driving something fun or special. Most of us own what I would refer to as a daily driver, a car that gets you to A and B without fuss with creature comforts that make the everyday drive possible and while adding buckets of practically for any adventure. Some own minivans or CUVs/SUVs for hauling stuff around easier or to move large families around with oodles of space. Trucks are great for even bigger hauling and towing things around like boats or trailers of beer or stolen copper wire. However there is a price to pay with all this, depending on brand or model, new or used. Buying a vehicle is quite the important purchase for many. And they aren’t cheap depending on entirely what you’re looking for. And this is where the Chinese auto manufacturers might have a leg on nearly all brands currently selling in the US. This even includes the value leaders of Kia and Hyundai, who have been known to sell cars at more reasonable prices than their competitors and offer more for what you’re buying.

Installing a brand into a new market isn’t easy, however we have seen a template in which new guests into the US auto arena have done very well to get anchored in and to weather to storm ahead. At first European brands immediately after WWII have established themselves and have secured a foothold in the US, so did the Japanese in the mid 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Koreans in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and even late newcomers back on American soil like Tesla in the 2010’s have found their way to be taken seriously on the big stage. That successful template is offer something special or affordable in value, or do both. The original Volkswagen Beetle offered affordability, simplicity, and economy that was hard to pass up in the car starved post war era of the late 40’s. So was the Toyota Corona and Corolla of the late 60’s. The Koreans offered the Hyundai Excel that also provided much the same qualities. At the time when they were new, they were “the” disposable car of their time. They did a job well and adequately without many frills, and they were good value for the money for their respected time periods. Even the little Yugo from Socialist Yugoslavia offered the cheapest car in the US that only did the job to get you around town that didn’t get you wet when it rained. They offered both young people and adults who didn’t have a lot of money to spend or who wanted to buy a new car at second hand car prices, cheap affordable wheels they can take home with.

Now it’s 2018, and the brands that introduced themselves humbly during their times are now well established with the American buying public. No longer do we look at brands like Toyota, Honda, or Nissan with skeptical views of cheapness or being unpatriotic of not buying domestic, even today the scrutiny of buying Kia and Hyundai products is nearly nonexistent in our day and age because they have continued to up their quality and value game. Much like the many imports before them, we see them no differently than how we see GM, FoCoMo, and Chrysler-Fiat products. Just another quality brand. However now, there is a catch that we now see today, the import brands that came into our country that once touted affordability have now slowly over the passage of time become a tad out of reach for younger buyers. Yes cars are expensive, but most cars you see on dealer lots tend to be more expensive mid and upper trim option levels for most models, and you have to do some digging around to find a new car that is cheap enough to fit within budget needs. And here’s why this affordability is important with the feasibility of seeing Chinese cars in the US market. The average age of a car in the US is 11 years old, which honestly doesn’t sound that bad, though that feels kinda low. I’d feel it’s more like 15 years old, there are still a ton of older cars still rolling about the hills and the back roads. But whatever it is, people are holding on to them for many reasons. Can’t afford a newer car, maybe with plenty of work done a car could be driven for a lot longer, or maybe life priorities don’t call for the purchase of a newer car.

Now let’s take a look at the Chinese auto industry. The Chinese economy is very much a living example of the Yugoslavian hybrid model of “market socialism”, centralized planning with capitalist competitiveness coexisting well together that promotes more frequent updates or advancements with the goal to sell to the consumer without having industrial or economic waste. Other socialist states didn’t work like this, and how they had vehicle development, marketing, and production was a much more different animal than what is seen in China today. And because of this, China’s automotive industry is has blossomed into many companies producing many models of vehicles for its vast “captive” and export markets. Some companies have properly obtained licensing agreements and their technical packages to produce vehicles, while some others have reverse engineered vehicles to blatantly copy. Their quality ranges from comparable to Western cars we come to expect to just low quality junk that we haven’t seen in cars since the 80’s or 90’s.

If China makes most of our consumer products, cameras, phones, selfie sticks, appliances, industrial equipment and car parts, why not whole cars. Well China did try to extend into our auto market by selling us the Coda electric sedan on the West coast for only a model year from 2012 to 2013, and selling a dismal 117 units. Quality wasn’t where it should have been for the cost of $40k, and initially scheduled to be launched back in 2010 was held back two years due to lack of developmental time for durability. For the first US market launch of a Chinese made car that designed in 2004 on an older Mitsubishi platform, and an electric car right off the bat, no bite and little positive impression.

Now for real, let’s say China markets a car brand for the US that passes Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and fuel economy/emissions standards, they should start with basic affordable cars that people want to buy. It’s a no brainer that the US market for car sales is a huge market on its own, and even other European companies are envisioning a return back to grab a small slice of the market pie. For one, Americans might draw some skepticism to a Chinese car but the idea of buying a compact or even midsized sedan with loads of options for less than $15-20k is a tantalizing prospect and would buy them up like they did the Yugo. The Yugo did alright for staying in the market from 1985 to 1992, selling 142k units. If you can sell ten thousand cars like how Scion began in 2003, you’ll make a good enough foothold in the market, unless you’re Daihatsu. Sorry Daihatsu, maybe a subject for another day.

What are you going to expect with your Chinese car when you get it. I would expect body panels that don’t align well as they should have, “orange peel” paint finish, interior plastics that look like they won’t last long, sheet metal that might go rusty in a couple years, seat fabric that might rip in not much time, fit and finish overall is generally an afterthought. Again, you’re paying to get pissed off like buying a $3990 Yugo sold new in 1986 (if you could ever find one that sold for that low back then), but remember that you’re buying a set of wheels that’ll get you by for the time being. Much like how people expected Hyundai Excels to be just garbage piles, still preformed the duty of a basic if not agricultural car. But that would be a worst expectation of what a Chinese car could be. Who knows, maybe if the Chinese are that serious about the US market, they’ll build a separate assembly line like the Zastava factory who built the Yugo for the USDM. Here’s a scary thought, we all know how much of a mixed bag the Yugo was in the US, and to think the ones that made it here were built better on another assembly line meant for our market, I can’t imagine what the Yugoslavian market Yugos were like.

Much like every cheap and affordable car that introduces itself to our market, expect it to have little to no resale value to speak of, however you’re not really expecting to sell this car if you were looking at buying one. In your situation, you’re buying your first car for the first time or needing a second car, something to get you rolling for the time being. Whether if you’re in college or in highschool, or down on your luck with an older car that kept falling apart. The idea that you could buy a Chinese car for peanuts is something that’ll get the job done, and not care much about what you’re driving. You’re not expecting mind bending performance or luxury, you know what you’re getting into if you do, and the more you accept this the better. I mean no Toyota Corolla was ever sporty in the 70’s, it was the car you bought after the Ford Falcon finally rusted away and you needed to buy something fast so you can still go to night class. And if there were Chinese cars in the market here to buy, I’d buy one to drive it into the ground to either save up for a better car or just to buy another if one wasn’t enough. In the world of millennials sometimes having no credit or shit credit could transpire into a hairy situation of sticking with a rusty 90’s Nissan Sentra affectionately named “Liam Nissan” that eats too much oil or asking your aunt to buy her equally rusty Plymouth Breeze with empty cigarette packs scattered around. You’d rather buy a Chevy Cruze however you’re afraid that one for $10k and 83K miles might end up needing routine maintenance that you couldn’t afford to pull off on the spot and any new Kia Rio found on a dealer lot is still thousands over the mythical minimum sticker price. Hell, if a Chinese car was too expensive brand new, wait a year and you could even get one for sub $6-8k prices, maybe even less.

Honestly I’m really surprised that the Chinese haven’t entered our market yet, they have entered the European zone and been a huge mainstay in Russia (I guess Ladas aren’t cheap enough for them) for years now. They can range from cheap to really adequate modes of transportation, even something to own for more than you really require of it. The Chinese have been making Audi’s, BMW’s, and Buick’s with huge demands because they have been grand sellers in terms of luxury, and they tend to be of quality similar to their genuine originals. Whatever the Chinese do throw out us someday, we’ll gladly be in open arms for cheaper alternatives to newer, or really used cars. Plus, we Americans love to rip on unknown shitboxes, then in 15 years’ time we are buying them by the thousands. Who would guess in 1966 that Toyota would be producing quality luxury sporty cars under the Lexus brand. In 1995 when Kia would one day be producing a car like the Stinger that is chasing around other RWD sport sedans. In 1992 the Yugo going on to better things….oh wait we ran out of Yugoslavia by then. Mhmmmm we never really did get the Tata Nano here in the states (who remembered when that came out, $3000 car that had a fire problem), even though that there was an interest for a short while. In 1970 Americans wouldn’t expect Datsuns to be called “Datsun by Nissan” in 1984 and just Nissan by 1985. Import brands change and morph in the fluid of time, and many are still here. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Chinese brand turns out to be a good seller in 5-10 years time much like how the other imports started out.

And apparently on a quick google search, it seems that the Chinese auto company GAC has an interest in joining the US market in late 2019. Under the local Chinese brand name….Trumpchi. They are serious, and honestly their vehicles don’t look that bad either. In fact they would fit right in with this country. They are figuring out a newer name to use in North America. No one is certain how reliable a new Chinese car will be in the states, but if it’s cheap don’t expect it to last forever.

If you made it this far, hurray! If you like my rambling, you’d like what I’d have in store in the future. If you don’t, well, I’m still going to write it down anyways. :D

Keep zooming!

#DustinDaHusky autos ramblings Chinese cars furry

1 note · View note

phllawstudent · 3 years ago

Text

Persons 17

Article 24, Parens Patriae and Contracts of Adhesion

Article 23 provides that, “Even when an act or event causing damage to another’s property was not due to the fault or negligence of the defendant, the latter shall be liable for indemnity if through the act or event he was benefited.”

For Article 23 to apply - the requisites are:

There must be an act or event which causes damage;

The damage is caused upon another person’s property;

The defendant must have been benefited from the act or event;

The defendant is still liable, even if there is no fault or negligence in his part.

When these four requisites are present, then the person is liable for indemnity. The basis of the indemnity is the degree to which he or she has been benefited. This is because Article 23 is a follow-up to the principle of unjust enrichment. The law makes a person liable for damages, even if he had no participation in the act or event, so long as he or she gains some benefit therefrom.

Article 24 is part of the chapter on human relations. Its difference from the other provisions is that Art. 24 is a directive addressed not to us, but for the courts.

Article 24 of the Civil Code provides that, “in all contractual, property or other relations, when one of the parties is at a disadvantage on account of his moral dependence, ignorance, indigence, mental weakness, tender age or other handicap, the courts must be vigilant for his protection.”

Moral dependence refers to the inherent imbalance in the relationship between two persons where one party needs the other more such as the dependent party has no choice but to submit to the will of the dominant or more powerful party. The imbalance typically stems from socioeconomic reasons. The law has a strong bias in favor of the employee and against the employer. No less than the Constitution tells us that. The Supreme Court teaches us that a person’s job is his property - sometimes, only property.

Based on moral dependence, labor has to be accorded more protection particularly against the possible abuses of management.

In practical terms, when there is doubt between the construction of labor laws or to a certain extent in the evaluation in the pieces of evidence, these doubts have to be resolved in favor of labor, in favor of the employee and against management, against the employer.

The employer occupies the economic high ground.

Employee has no other other remedy, no other recourse but to come to court. Only when the employee asserts his or her rights thus the protection kicks in. This is the essence of moral dependence.

Ignorance on the other hand is a function of the degree of instruction or education that one person has. The law will tilt in favor of someone who has not finished primary/elementary education versus someone who has finished a college degree or is part of the professional board. However, it is wrong to assume that the bias always kicks in just because one party has proven that he cannot read or write.

Art. 24 has no bearing in the commission of crimes. A lot would depend on the factual circumstances surrounding each case. The degree of instruction and the amount of education a person has has been placed not as a justifying or mitigating circumstance under the revised penal code. Instead, we find it under alternative circumstance.

If a person has used his knowledge, training and education to commit the crime of estafa, then that should be taken against him.

Indigence refers to the state of relative poverty. The law offers plenty of protection for the poor and we also see that in the Rules of Court.

A person who comes to court has to pay the necessary fees. That’s the general rule.

Exception: When an indigent comes to court to file a complaint

Rule 141 of the Rules of Court provides that a person is an indigent or proper litigant when the combined gross monthly income of himself and his immediate family do not amount to double the minimum wage

Another condition is that a person must not own real property whose fair market value exceeds three hundred thousand pesos

If a person has these two essential requisites, he or she is an indigent and therefore will not pay the fees. Pero pag mananalo siya sa kanyang complaint, iaawas muna ang dapat niyang binayaran bago ibigay sa kanya kung ano ang iaaward ng Court.

Mental weakness - kadalasan sa mga kaso na ang lola nagpapahiram ng titulo sa kanyang anak o apo pero hindi lang isinasangla kundi ibinibenta.

Presented to persons in advance age, suffering from mental illness, or both.

Mental weakness is something the Court must watch out for, particularly when the parties to a contract are of an advanced age or n the allowance or disallowance of a will as executed by the person who may have been unduly influenced by a family member, friend or caregiver.

1912 case: the Supreme Court ruled that perfect soundness of mind is not essential to testamentary capacity. A testator may be afflicted with a variety of mental weakness, disorder or peculiarity and still be capable in law of executing a valid will. It is not necessary that the mind shall be wholly unbroken and impaired or unshattered by disease or otherwise. Or that the testator shall be in full possession of his reasoning faculties.

Tender age - the law has always shown a bias in favor of minors no matter their position relative to the law.

A contract of sale executed by a minor may nevertheless be declared void. A contract of loan made by a minor can be voided on the basis of his or her minority. When a minor is called a witness to Court, the law confers a lot of protection upon the minor. They may be called and examined not necessarily in open court but behind closed doors. A child witness has the right to be accompanied by a trusted adult or caregiver. Courts have to make every single accomodation possible to keep the child witness comfortable during the examination. The protection of children is so great, so wide that minors who may have committed crime are not denominated as accused. They are called children in conflict with the law, and their cases are handled specifically by court personnel who have undergone special training for this purpose.

Why does the law afford protection for those who are morally dependent, for senior citizens or for minors? Ano ang basis nito?

Art. 24 and the host of other laws are based on the principle of parens patriae (parent of his or her country, and refers to the State in its role as “sovereign” or the State in its capacity as a provider of protection to those unable to care for themselves. In fulfilling this duty, the State may resort to the exercise of its inherent powers: police power, eminent domain, and power of taxation. Parens patriae is a role that the government takes in order to somewhat balance the inherent inequality of differnet persons within the State. Under this doctrine, the State is justified to use the three powers

Teresita Dio v. St Ferdinand Memorial Park inc.

Teresita Dio is a well-known businesswoman from Lucena City. She purchased from St. Ferdinand Memorial a parcel of land about 36 m. This parcel of land was used as the final resting site for Teresita’s father and husband. When her daughter died, she also buried her daughter on the same lot. Some time in 1986, she decided to build a mausoleum on the land she had purchased. She had the design made and the possible cost of the mausoleum was 60k. St. Ferd Memorial Prk was duly informed of this plan. Teresitas plan was approved but the SF MPi pointed to Rule 69 of their contract that any plans of the construction of buildings, imrpovements or memorials have to conform to the standards of smpfi. Further lot owners are prohibited from engaging outside contractors. Rule 69 of their contrat provides that only smpfi may build mausoleum’s improvements in memorials. Total cost of this is 100k

RTC ruled in favor of the Memorial Park. rejected the claim of Teresita that she was not informed of the rule 69 at the time she purchased the memorial lot. The fact that she reached out to the memorial park to have her design approved was evidence that she was aware of Rule 69.

CA for its part affirmed the ruling of RTC. it ruled that Teresita agreed with the rules of their contract and to any future rules governing the cemetery.

SC applied two principles. Art. 24 of the Civil Code and the Doctrine of contract of admission.

Did not apply Art. 24 (???)

It ruled that Dio is an experienced businesswoman. She doubtlessly dealt with numerous documents and is therefore presumed to know the import thereof. It cannot be further emphasized that it behooves every contracting party to learn and know the contents of an instrument before signing and agreeing to it.

Contract of adhesion - one wherein one party imposes a ready-made form of contract on the other. It is not strictly against the law. A contract of adhesion is as binding as ordinary contracts. The reason being that the party who adheres to the contract is free to reject it entirely

Contract of adhesion - terms and agreement upon installation of software, contract of carriers sa barko at eroplano,

- Walang room for negotiation. Yes or no lang ang sagot ng isang party. choice is to adhere to or reject the contract in its entirety.

These contracts are prepared ahead of time by one of the parties

Not only is dio educated, she is likewise a well-known and experienced businesswoman plus she cannot claim to be the weaker or disadvantaged party in the subject contract so as to call for a strict interpretation against the memo park.

Vicente and Laleng Kabanting v. bpi fam savings bank

Acceleration clause -

RTC ruled in favor of bpi, partly because the spouses has waived their right to present their evidence

CA affirmed RTC ruling but deleted the award of 20k as attorney’s fees

SC (through sc justice diosadado peralta) ruled in favor of bpi

Reiterating the case in teresita vs. memorial park, the validity or enforceability of the (impune) contracts will have to be determined by the peculiar circumstances obtaining in each case and the situation of the parties concerned

A contract of adhesion is not invalid just bec one of the parties exclusively prepared the contract ahead of time. The other party in fact has the choice either to agree to or adhere to the terms of the contract or to reject it completely

When the terms of the contract of adhesion are not clear, any doubts on the contract shall be resolved against the party who prepared it.

Summary:

Art. 24 applies to the contractual property or other relations;

Art. 24 is a dormant power. It is only activated when the weaker party comes to court . it is only then that the protection begins.

The law protects those who suffer from moral dependence, ignorance, indigence, mental weakness, tender age or other handicap;

Basis of this protection is the parens patriae doctrine, this principle means that the State acting as a sovereign, must step in to afford protection to those who need it;

Contract of adhesion is one where the contract is prepared exclusively by one party, and the other party has nothing to do but to accept/reject it;

It is not invalid, per se. A lot would depend on the peculiar circumstances of the contract. All doubts however are construed against the party who prepared the same, and in favor of the party who merely signs it.

0 notes

charlasolly6 · 4 years ago

Text

Top Reasons Your Car Insurance Policies Claim Possibly Be Denied

They provide people exactly like you an additional car absolutely free, and the understanding regarding is, wish have spend never, no monthly fees, and no leasing contracts, nothing, just drive the car! The second item is, you can get covered for driving automobile or truck as usual, and you monthly check ups! Is that comfortable? If you currently own or are leasing a vehicle, the companies will compensate you monthly to but let's let them wrap your own vehicle in their advertisement! Use must not Black on Yellow signs but which include twists. First have them printed professionally instead of hand compiled. Make the title "Investor Buyers". Have got the text target buyers, NOT sellers. Include only your internet site address that potential buyers can pay a visit to in order to subscribe to your buyers list. Search for larger car dealerships in your or in places close. This could be the understanding strategy that you apply since larger car dealerships possess more cars and there is a lot of car leasing deals for other types of lease applicants. Everybody own come over the term "leasing," in one context and other. Take, for example, leasing a vehicle. If we wish to drive a truck that cannot afford buy or wish to change the auto often, say every three years, then leasing auto is the best selection. When obtain back, park over a clean section of your lot/driveway. Then turn the auto off. This is when these types of look over some for this paper labor. After about fifteen minutes go back to the car and look under you can. See if there are any wet marks close to the driveway or lot. From the car is running leaks will place to drip. Whenever they do. Don't buy the car. Toyota Scion t C: This car is meant for young, hip drivers. Featuring a best auto lease deals solid driving capabilities, good fuel economy (23/31) and snazzy interior, it's a fantastic bet cheaper than $20k. Does the family members make understanding use of local parks and libraries for games and entertainers? Your money goes a lot further when you make involving facilities which usually already paid out through your taxes. Are there any special promotions using? - You could spend for a longer period than a lot fewer ideally for you to dedicate to each car quite a few models have specials offering extras for gratis which are less expensive than investing in a base model and then adding extra items. In any event, it is always good must if they currently have any promotions on and this way you'll will be able to know if there are any particular deals which be curiosity immediately. There's something even much better than cheap - free! If you are willing location advertising on your car, you can sometimes drive for cost-free of charge. This generally is only for sale in college towns and big cities. The way works is usually a car is wrapped in advertising to acquire the driver's free ride. Make sure you know precisely the expertise of the items happen to be buying. Don't end program customer returned merchandise if you thought had been buying beginner. Ensure that you recognize the product mix being assembled best auto lease deals before it's shipped into your store. After all, focus of the final thing somebody is one each of 20-item plus 3,500 everyone of one portion. If you're one in the countless regarding Americans currently who drive, then possibly you've needed to sell a car or truck before. Perhaps it the daily driver that you desired to upgrade, or a good car that's right to acquire a certain period of your life that just doesn't fit anymore. No matter the case, you've undoubtedly meet up with the difficulties that emerge when people sell used cars. There is a simple method discovering out if you've got the cheapest price the market has to offer, go around checking a car with similar conditions as yours along with a multitude of dealers, then settle for the very best deal! Then, of course, there could be the bargaining done on any such deals. Just offer your price, so you can extract discounts from the machines which they're almost certain to do. Not because virtually any love for you, but because experienced leased you at an elevated price planet beginning, a concern . prospect of offering you ownership at the end of the lease period. This way, you have what you want to own, making household happy in the act! Let's compare to the two businesses. First let's read the deli. This individual have to be able to plunk down $30,000 to $50,000 much more for the franchise payment.and you don't get that back you go undergoing. He probably had to sign a 3 to five year triple net lease on his building. If his business does not make the concept.7K to 8K per month is much to be responsible for. If a person out on the business trip then it is most likely that positive will soon be working with other colleagues. If several folks would need cars to rent that can be practical to book underneath the company name or to execute bookings at a time. With automobile leasing specials like group bookings, you becomes a few dollars shaved off the total pricing. even have promos wherein you 1 free rental car if instead of for three or more.

0 notes

mariemary1 · 4 years ago

Text

How HIKI Shifted Their Social Media Marketing Launch Strategy During COVID-19

HIKI, a newly launched genderless full body sweat brand, was set to reveal their DTC brand in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing. Despite the pandemic, HIKI decided to push forward with the launch by shifting its social media marketing launch strategy to suit the times we were living in. But how did they manage to do so?

Read on for a behind-the-scenes look at how HIKI shifted their social media marketing strategy for a COVID-19 era and how they leaned on their community to co-create their products. You'll hear directly from Tinah Ogalo, Social Media Coordinator at HIKI, and you'll learn:

Where to find inspiration for creating social media content for a Gen-Z/millennial audience

How to leverage your community to inform your marketing strategy (and to create TikTok content)

How to plan for a successful new brand or product launch on social media

How to stay up to date on social media trends and updates

This post is part of the #BufferBrandSpotlight, a Buffer Social Media series that shines a spotlight on the people that are helping build remarkable brands through social media, community building, content creation, and brand storytelling.

This series was born on Instagram stories, which means you can watch the original interview in our Highlights found on our @buffer Instagram profile.

Who are you?

Hi, I'm Tina w/ an H. I’m the social media coordinator for arfa, a new consumer goods brand house specialising in personal care products. We co-create every product with real people from all over the country (we call them the arfa Collective) because we believe people should have a say in what they put on their bodies. And in return, we make them stakeholders in the business and give them 5% of profits. We currently have two brands that we launched this summer: HIKI, a genderless full body sweat line, and State Of, a skincare and beauty line for menopausal women.

Where do you find inspiration for HIKI’s social media content?

Our HIKI audience is predominantly Gen-Z / millennials, so I look to platforms and topics that those demos are currently responding to most, like pop culture, TikTok, Giphy, and my Instagram explore page. I also am so inspired by our community's posts about HIKI. They created the brand with us and they’re so invested in its success, so when they post content to their socials about our products, I am always re-posting or coming up with creative ways to showcase their content.

Our HIKI audience is predominantly Gen-Z /millennials, so I look to platforms and topics that those demos are currently responding to most.

View this post on Instagram

Two things we love: Our Anti-Chafe Stick and @theogermaine 😍

A post shared by HIKI (@hiki_foranybody) on Aug 13, 2020 at 9:05am PDT

One example was the ‘Put a Finger Down’ challenge on TikTok. We saw that this was a great way to engage with our community so we created our own version to show them and others that sweating is totally normal. We had our Collective members, Noelle and Gabe participate in the challenge. Fun Fact - that’s our UX Designer, Ian’s, voice. We thought a British accent would be a nice added touch LOL.

How does managing HIKI’s social media account and community look like on a day-to-day basis?

Every morning I check to see what posts I’ve got lined up for the day, and then I go through all of our notifications that I may have missed from the night before. For the rest of the day, I’m working on the content calendar that’s two weeks out, searching for the latest trends, leveraging audience insights, making creative briefs for assets I want to incorporate into the feed, and working closely with our designers to create custom content for each platform.

HIKI was launched in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing. How did HIKI shift its marketing launch strategy to suit the times we were living in?

I joined in June, so I wasn’t at arfa for the initial launch, but the team did an amazing job. They had all of these plans for launch, then when COVID hit, people's lives and priorities shifted of course, as a business ours did as well. It felt counter-intuitive to what we were trying to build – products and brands that put people first – to launch for-profit as though the world hadn't changed. We also realized sourcing supplies was a big problem for a lot of folks, so we decided to instead give away all of the products we had ready to sell and ship to healthcare personnel, essential workers, and first responders—we ended up giving away 20,000 products, and I am so proud of that.

It felt counter-intuitive to what we were trying to build – products and brands that put people first – to launch for-profit as though the world hadn't changed.

It also helped us a lot when we officially launched for sale in July, because we had about 300 reviews on the site and had already gotten some amazing feedback from customers that I could use on social. Beyond that, we really leaned on our Collective, the people from all over the country we built the brand with, and micro and nano influencers to get as much vibrant and fun content as possible to push on our organic and paid channels to spread awareness. And it worked! The response to our branding on social accounts has been overwhelmingly positive.

What marketing/social media advice do you have for brands that are pre-launch?

Launches are always hectic (but so fun!), so it’s important to do as much heavy lifting beforehand so you can sit back on launch day and enjoy the show. Build up your asset arsenal so you have lots of social content to choose from in the first few weeks, gift 50-100 influencers in the 20K-100K range to generate buzz, partner with like-minded brands on social giveaways to build up your email list, and do lots of research on relevant hashtags. And definitely have at least a two-week plan so then you can breathe.

Build up your asset arsenal so you have lots of social content to choose from in the first few weeks, gift 50-100 influencers in the 20K-100K range to generate buzz, partner with like-minded brands on social giveaways to build up your email list.

How do you leverage HIKI's community to inform your marketing strategy?

Our Collective wants us to succeed just as much as we do, getting feedback from them is always great because it’s so inspiring. Creating engaging stories such as polls and questions allows us to see what our community likes and doesn't like. Right now we know that they’re big fans of product shots and memes. They tell us how they incorporate HIKI into their lives and in turn, helps us share with our community different HIKI Hacks.

Creating engaging stories such as polls and questions allows us to see what our community likes and doesn't like.

HIKI's Co-ounders with The Collective members

What’s your number one tip for engaging with HIKI’s community?

Be active and listen! Check throughout the day that you’ve answered everyone, pinned tweets, liked comments. Even on the weekends, I check on our page in the morning, midday, and evening. It’s so important to us that our social account feels like a person(because it is! It’s me! :)) and we all are engaging with our feeds regularly, so the same should go for HIKI.

How do you stay up to date on social media/marketing trends?

I am always on the platforms, looking at what interesting new brands are doing and what’s trending. (Side note: I LIVE for TikTok trends). I also listen to podcasts and read social media blogs, like Homemade Social, to stay in the know.

What's your favorite HIKI product and why?

I love all of our children equally, but if I HAD to pick, I’d say the Body Powder because it smells amazing, is talc-free, and rubs into my skin seamlessly. Besides putting some on my lower back to fight my daily back sweat, I also use it as a setting powder.

View this post on Instagram

Bad news? Talcum powder is harmful and it can be found in many personal care products. Good news? We don’t use talc 😏

A post shared by HIKI (@hiki_foranybody) on Sep 21, 2020 at 8:54am PDT

We hope this interview with Tina w/ an H helps you get started with or double down on your social media efforts. You can follow her journey on Instagram here!

Have any questions for Tinah? Feel free to reply with your questions to the Twitter post below and Tinah or someone from the Buffer team will get to them as soon as possible.

Thank How HIKI Shifted Their Social Media Marketing Launch Strategy During COVID-19 for first publishing this post.

0 notes

allenmendezsr · 5 years ago

Text

Insider Infiltration

New Post has been published on https://autotraffixpro.app/allenmendezsr/insider-infiltration/

Insider Infiltration

Buy Now

Find Out What’s Really Going On Behind Closed Doors and Place the Same Bets as the Pros!

Hi there,

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because your betting profits have slowed, plateaued, or perhaps you were never making any decent money to begin with…

So now you’re looking for a change; some way to turn your luck around, to boost your betting bank and to make a nice chunk of change during these uncertain times.

Well, I have exactly what you’re looking for.

With my precise method, you can bet like an industry pro with daily tips that are based upon the most up to date and top secret insider information.

And with said bets, you can easily make upwards of £10,000 per month from horse racing.

And it doesn’t matter who you are; whether you’re a student, full time employed, retired, a seasoned punter or you’re completely new to betting, as absolutely anyone can make killing with daily horse racing selections from Insider Infiltration.

In just a few clicks, you will be in receipt of daily tips that will see you £2,500 better off THIS WEEK!

And let’s be honest – it’s about time you had an extra few grand regularly topping up your bank account…

Pay your bills, wipe your debts, treat yourself to a few luxuries… You could even splash out on a new car!

And while you’re at it, why not quit your day job?

There’s no point in slaving away for some ungrateful boss when you’re earning six figures annually, with ease, from just 10 minutes of betting each morning!!

But before we go any further, let me be straight with you for a moment…

I am not your usual tipster.

I’m not about to tell you that I’m some math genius who’s come up with an incredible algorithm, nor am I claiming to be some retired jockey, former trainer or big industry king pin.

What I am, is an opportunist.

When I see a chance to make money, I go for it. And who can blame me for that?

My name’s Paul, I’m for the West Midlands and I’ve always had ‘the gift of the gab’.

As a kid, I was liked by everyone at school. I could move from group to group seamlessly, and I could always convince the other kids to do what I wanted them to. Every scenario on the playground would play out in my favour.

And as I got older, I put my people skills to better use – making money and picking up girls!

I could charm just about every person I met.

I made great tips as a barman, excellent commissions as a door to door salesman, and I even made a sizable chunk of change playing poker with anyone brave enough to challenge me.

But after a while, I decided that I needed to aim higher, much higher. And that’s when I turned my attention to horse racing.

Growing up, my father loved the nags. He wasn’t a professional punter, but he’d head over to our local race track most Saturdays, and on occasion, I’d join him. That’s when I began to realise just how much money there is in horse racing… And I wanted a piece of that action.

When I was in my mid-twenties, I began to devise a plan. I wanted to infiltrate one of the innermost circles of the equestrian industry, and find out how the hot shots really make their money.

I did my research, identified who the key players were and I dug into their backgrounds. I made mental notes of what they liked, didn’t like, and prepared to mould my persona accordingly.

Eventually, one sunny afternoon in Autumn, I made my first moves. Introducing myself as a friend of a friend of someone important, saying I was new in town.

With my charm and charisma, I wormed my way in easily. It was almost laughable.

I had infiltrated the insiders.

Fast forward two years and I’ve been invited to no end of private dinner parties, I’ve been on a ‘lads’ holiday to Prague with a famous jockey and a few other industry pros, and I’m even the godfather to a horse breeder’s son!

But the craziest part of all is, I can’t stand a one of them!

I hate the snobbery, the pretentiousness and the way they scoff at the poor.

And it turns out, the whole system is rigged. They’re all in each other’s back pockets and make racing as profitable for their own tight-knit group as possible. To hell with the average punter!

Who cares if you’re behind on rent when Geoffrey wants a new Porsche?

Frequently, races are fixed. And because of this, I know the outcome of a race way ahead of time, and can therefore place my bets accordingly.

With just the tipoffs I overheard in that circles, I was able to make an average of £2,500 from horse racing, every single week!

And by doing no more than spending 10 minutes on my phone. I could do that in the back of an Uber, or even before I got out of bed!

It was so easy, it was almost unbelievable.

It felt like playing the lottery when I already knew the numbers.

It was like printing money!!

For months I splashed out, buying clothes, gadgets and a new car. And I moved out of my small flat and into my dream house!

But eventually the parties, the women and the flashy things I bought, all came to feel shallow. And worst of all, I’D BECOME ONE OF THEM.

I was using my position of newly found power to make a fortune, while the average punter was losing his hard earned wages, playing a game that was fixed against him!

And so, I decided to do what was right.

That’s when I created Insider Infiltration. A tipping service that would level the playing fields for the average Joe Blogs.

I want YOU to have the same incredible opportunity to make money from horse racing as I have.

Growing up, my dad squandered away our savings at the bookies. And his losing streak eventually cost him his marriage, and ruined my childhood.

If only he’d have known then what I know now.

I don’t want you to repeat the mistakes of every other punter out there who’s betting blind.

And so from today I am going to send you the daily bets that cannot lose!

I still move in those insider circles. I get ALL of the most up to date race information. I know which races are fixed and which horses are going to win, at least 85% of the time.

And so, if you actually want to make some serious money from betting, you need to sign up to Insider Infiltration right now and see for yourself just how beneficial an insider advantage can be.

“I always had my suspicions that horse racing was fixed, now this proves it. Finally, after years of disappointment, my win rate has more than quadrupled with Paul’s tips. Cheers mate”

Gaz Parker, Nottingham.

“I’ve wasted my time and money on no end of nonsense systems and so called tipping services over the years and I am thrilled to have finally found one that actually pays off! I’ve made £4,667 in the past two weeks alone!! Thanks Paul”

Denise Ward, Grimsby.

“Excellent service! I’ve been following Simon’s advice to the letter for two months and I’ve made over £20k! I’m absolutely chuffed! That’s the car and summer holiday sorted. Insider Infiltration gets a 10/10 from me”

Mike Bell, London.

And now YOU can try Insider Infiltration yourself for the unbelievably low price of just £26.99 That price is an incredible bargain for tips that are based upon TOP SECRET insider information. Tips that will see you £120,000 better off this year!! You’d have to be MAD to pass up an offer like this…

60 Day Money Back Guarantee

AND your purchase will be protected by a 60 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.

So you have absolutely nothing to lose.

This is a 100% risk free transaction

However, since this is entirely new territory for me, I’m only going to be taking on a handful of new members at this time, so as not to overwhelm myself.

And so, if you would like to join me and make £10k this month and every month from here on out, all you have to do is sign up on this page right now, and we can get started.

Hesitation could mean losing your place to another more eager punter.

I know you’ve been seeking an opportunity to turn your luck around and NOW is the time to act!

You deserve this.

Do it NOW.

And trust me, I won’t let you down.

Best regards,

Paul

Disclaimer | Affiliates | Privacy Policy | Contact

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the seller(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Click Sales, Inc., its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates. The products, information, and other content provided by this seller are provided for informational purposes only. In the event of any problem with products that customers purchase through this seller, customers agree that their sole remedy is from the seller, if any, in accordance with any seller warranties and/or seller refund policy.

0 notes

voodoospeedcult · 5 years ago

Text

The future is here but most aren’t seeing it.

Road racing/circuit racing is missing the boat and not one of the sanctioning bodies is willing to open their eyes to see the future, the first one that does will own the market!

What is all the rambling about? It’s about UTVs or side by side vehicles like the Polaris RZR, Cam-Am X3, Roxor and others. For the last 5 years or so UTVs have become common place, you are bound to have a friend or ten of them that have a UTV of some sort in their garage that they go and play with on the weekends, be it in the sand dunes, rock crawling, trails or whatever. The reason that they are so popular is that they are fully functional (you really don’t have to add a single part to them) off road for about $30K. Yes for $30K you can feel like you are Ivan Stewart and go bust through the desert at 70+MPH. Last year I had the opportunity to drive a new Polaris Turbo S RZR for over 500 miles in Moab, Utah. While many of those miles were in the dirt and over rocks there was one day that we dropped the suspension, tweaked the tire pressures and blasted through the canyons on asphalt roads for the entire day. The day was very reminiscing of a day that I had thrashing a Caterham Super 7 in the Napa Valley years ago though the UTV did have a much softer suspension which made the driving slower and less aggressive. That night in my hotel room I started looking at buying a UTV to use for track days and racing, sure I had not seen it done before other than at Pikes Peak but I was sure it would be allowed. I soon became depressed because there is not a single road race sanctioning body or club in the States that allows UTVs or is even willing to have a conversation about them.

This came as a surprise to me as UTVs have become the largest and fastest growing class in off road racing (short course, desert and rock crawling/racing) here in the USA. It is so big that each and everyone of the manufactures has many factory backed teams, the manufactures show up at the races in full support like the way that car companies like Nissan, Toyota and Ford used to support road racing in the States. I can understand the SCCA not supporting it, while the SCCA has become more welcoming of new things and younger members it is still very much a wine and cheese type of club. But for more progressive groups like NASA not to support UTVs seems crazy.

UTVs became the juggernaut in off road for the simple fact that they allow anyone to do it and do it very cheap. A guy doesn’t have to add $20K to his $50,000 Jeep and potentially wreck it, instead he can buy at UTV for $30K and go anywhere that his built Jeep would have and even further in many cases. Road racing needs UTVs! And for a number of reasons; 1) First is the financial reason. With the UTV manufactures supporting it, that support means dollars be it in sponsorship, vendor space sales, paddock space sales, manufactures bring money and LOTS of it! 2) Ease of entry. For new racers getting into racing it can be very overwhelming in many ways especially the prep. UTVs would make it easy and very direct. 3) Evolution. Sure there are new classes and there are new cars always being developed but when was the last time that something truly new came to road racing? It was the late 80s and early 90s when the SCCA launched the RaceTruck Challenge which was a road race class for small pick-up trucks. The class was a huge hit, every manufacture that made a small/mini truck like the Dodge D50 or Nissan Hardbody had factory teams. You could argue that the Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks are new and you are right. The problem is that the only reason Robby is racing on asphalt is because no one wants his series in off road and it failed in the dirt so he had to save face so he threw jumps on asphalt road race tracks and throws a race which while being entertaining is also very absurd kinda like a carnival side show, everyone watching for the craziness of it and the crashes. Evolution is needed for growth and any series/club needs growth. 4) New blood. Adding UTVs will open the eyes of many who currently aren’t involved in it, it will bring new racers, new manufactures, new sponsors and new fans.

Now, the lack of foresight is not only on series/clubs like NASA it is also on the UTV manufactures. UTVs have been legal to race in rally for a couple of years now yet there is virtually no support for those racing rally in a UTV. Sure, rally in the States is a disaster in the terms of marketing, it always has been and maybe it always will be. There has been some manufacture support for the UTVs running Pikes Peak but again, Pikes Peak while being iconic it’s like rally and the marketing and coverage is dismal.

But there is a glimmer of hope, Sierra Cars; a single seat recreational vehicle that is essentially a UTV has been setting things on fire. The cars that got their start in Europe racing rallycross have come to the States and while being a smaller company they are killing it and making big things happen. It’s time, who’s gonna step up and make it happen?

1 note · View note

mailspoon4-blog · 5 years ago

Text

On Baby Changing Areas in a Men’s Bathroom — Curtis McHale

When my oldest daughter started to read on her own it took so much concentration. Every single word involved 120% of her attention. She’d start to sound out a word, get close and guess and then ask me because it wasn’t quite right. I’d tell her what word she was searching for and she’d go off on the next bit. About half way through her first page she was fed up, not because of the effort of reading though.

Whoa, this is a long post. Did you know that Members get it in PDF, and other eBook formats? They also get to join me for discussion on how to improve their business monthly and finally a monthly book group. You should become a member. You can also purchase Getting Unstuck on Amazon.

Sure the work was hard, but the frustrating part for her was that the story didn’t make any sense. The writing wasn’t bad and the story wasn’t over her head. It was a decent kid’s book for a 6-year-old. The problem was that with all of her attention focused on figuring out which word she was looking at, she had no attention to spare to piece the whole sentence together at once.

She couldn’t grasp the flow of the story because she was just barely getting the individual words.

This is where you start with any endeavor. The simple fact of getting the basics done is overwhelming. When I started teaching myself web development while getting my Counselling Degree I could barely get a site up and launched. It was all held together with duct tape and promises.

I couldn’t spare any time to dig into what it took to run an awesome business. I was hanging on praying it didn’t all fall apart around me. I didn’t have a client vetting process, or know how to do great client communication. This is normal. In fact, one of the reasons I suggest you work for an agency or web firm before you head out on your own is so that you can learn a bunch of the lessons while getting paid by someone else.

Then you have less skin in the game. The risk is lower. Once you’re out and running your own business, the risk is all yours. If you make a mistake, you pay the price.

I remember sitting at my screen in my early development days with no one to ask for help. I sat debugging for 8 hours and at the end of the day I still didn’t even know the right questions to ask.

I cried.

You don’t have to do that if you work for someone else to start.

Many people get stuck focusing on the craft of code, or design. They want to sit walled off all day and do that work, but running a business is much more than the specific item you’re selling. Thinking that your business is only about the code is like my 6-year-old spending all her concentration on the words in front of her, with nothing to spare for the bigger picture.

If you’re running a web development shop, or a web design shop, or a freelance writing agency, you are not actually in the business of design, code, or writing.

You’re in the business of sales. You need to know how to figure out the value that the client wants if you want to earn well.

You can’t sit and focus all the time on code like a Maker. You have Manager tasks to do that no one can do but you. I manage these two different types of tasks with The Mullet Method for Deep Work.

With The Mullet Method, I work 6 am – 9 am on Maker tasks. I focus without distraction. Then I take an hour or two off work and get back to it for another three hours where I allow some distractions to be around.

If marketing and sales and managing client relationships all sound like a terrible idea, then keep your job. Stay where you are and do your Maker work, with little worry about sales and management and hiring and billing. Not everyone is cut out to run their own business.

Don’t idealize running a business. It’s a lot of pain and hard work.

photo credit: kwl cc

What You Need To Learn to Run a Successful Freelance Business

You don’t have to stay stuck though. In fact, I assume you’re tired of being stuck and you’re looking to learn to do more than write code. You’re ready to stop focusing on just the design or the writing, and dig into how to run a business that earns well and leaves time for a life outside of working.

You want to start being not only a financial force at home, you want to be a great dad as well. Someone who has the time to build Lego with the kids while not being stressed the whole time about ‘work’ and how it’s going to happen.

You’re in luck then, because we’re going to cover the big areas you need to have a handle on if you want to build an amazing business.

First, we’ll dig into marketing and sales to help make sure that you have a handle on what it’s going to take to handle those well.

Second, we’ll look at what it means to run client relationships well. This is the part where you follow up with prospects and former clients to keep your pipeline full.

Third, we’ll discuss what it means to run a great client project. The tools don’t matter as much as the methods you use to approach the client and keep them in the loop.

Finally, we’ll dig into what it means to be personally productive. When you are on your own it all comes down to you. There is no other team member to jump in and pull you out of the fire. You are either productive and get the work done, or you aren’t. The only person you can blame is yourself.

Now, let’s get started with marketing and sales for the freelancer.

photo credit: clement127 cc

Marketing and Sales for Your Freelance Business

The first place you’ll need to start is to figure out which niche you’re going to serve. I’ve already written a whole book called Finding Your Niche and Marketing which addresses the specifics, so this will be an overview of the high points you better have covered to even be playing the right game.

Why You Need to Niche

Deciding to go for a niche is scary. When you’re starting it feels like you’re going to be saying no to so many prospects that your revenue will dry up.

Your butthole tightens up so hard that it could be played as a snare drum.

I get it. When you’re starting it’s hard to say no to anyone with money because you’re trying to make it all work with duct tape and string. It’s okay to start here. I started there and I haven’t talked to anyone that didn’t. If you want to raise your rates and move out of the barely holding it together financially mindset, you need to start working into a niche.

The thing about a niche, any niche, is that it lets you start to target your marketing. If you decide that you’re going to work with rural farmers, you don’t bother with all the possibilities that market to New York business people. When you’re “for everyone” it’s much harder to make that decision about where to target your marketing.

You’re much more likely to make an inch of progress in 1000 directions and thus gain little traction.

My friend Philip specializes in helping businesses…specialize. He has often said that he’d rather have you pick a niche at random then market to everyone. He’s had clients do this and start earning way more money. They also find out that the random industry has interesting problems to solve. Far from being bored, Philip’s clients dive deeper and enjoy the work with that random niche.

While I agree with Philip that any niche is better than no niche, with a bit of work we can do next, you don’t have to have a random niche. You can be more intentional so your niche builds a freelance business you enjoy.

How to Find a Niche

Let’s start by thinking about what you like to do. What problems do you enjoy solving for clients? Do you love to dive deep into bad code and figure out why it’s terrible and what it should do being so that you can extract a stable system out of it for your client?

Do you love building a basic beautiful and functional site for small businesses?

Are you in love with eCommerce and making more sales?

Each of these is a valid option for a niche, but they’re not an ending point. While you can gain more traction by focusing on eCommerce, you still have to compete against everyone that does eCommerce for any business. It’s even better if you can look to a specific industry.

Do you have a background in farming, or compete in horse jumping? I spent a decade guiding outdoor trips, then 5 years selling canoes and kayaks. This experience puts me in a perfect position to market my eCommerce skills to the outdoor industry and become the leading choice for anyone with an outdoor shop wanting to move into online sales.

Now, it’s time to ask yourself, what provides the most value to prospects out of the things you like. It’s likely that building a basic site for someone is of less value than building them an online store, or increasing their conversions. You need to choose something to work on that has decent interest for you and high value for potential clients.

The final money question to ask yourself as you pick a niche for your beginning freelance business is, who has money to pay for your services.

It’s easy to default to “Fortune 100” companies, but the truth is that along with the high fees you can charge these companies is huge headaches. You get to charge lots because of those headaches.

Instead, think about what scale the business needs to have to pay for your services. You don’t need hundreds of clients a year to build a six-figure business. Five clients with an average project of $20k is a six-figure business. The Fortune 1-million has plenty of money for you and a much larger pool with less headaches. Deal with a niche inside that Fortune 1-million.

Building Persona’s

With your nice defined, it’s time to dig into exactly who you’ll talk to in that niche. Again, you can’t assume you’re going to talk to everyone if you want solid traction. You must pick specific people to talk to and then tailor your marketing to them.

A persona is a named ‘person’ with some basic characteristics defined that you can speak to. As I write this I’m thinking of my “Bob” persona.

Bob has been running a freelance business for a few years. He has had some success, but is ready to start taking the whole thing seriously. He needs to get better processes together around marketing and his own focus time. He’s tired of working 12 hour days. That worked when he didn’t have kids, but he does have kids now and he wants to be a great dad. Phoning it in at dinner while being stressed about the next payment is not what he ever dreamed of.

He dreamed of being around to build cool stuff with his kids. He wanted to roll around on the floor with them and take them sledding in the winter on a random Monday.

That means that as I write this and I’m stuck I can ask myself “what would Bob need to know about this so that he can be more successful.” That question clears up any content blocks right away.

photo credit: clement127 cc

How Do You Build a Persona

If you have any experience in your niche at all, then you have some idea of the people that are around. Start there. My first personas were nothing more than a customer I’d met. I even used their name on the persona and then some bullet points about where they were in business and what the big problems they struggled with were.

Just like any niche is better than no niche, any persona is better than none.

If you’re trying to enter an entirely new market, then you need to start digging into it. Find the blogs, podcasts, forums, and Facebook Groups that serve the industry. As you do this, you’ll see a bunch of the same names pop up. Dig into them and start building your personas off these people.

Look at who they serve as customers and build your persona off your best guess for the customer they serve.

As you’re building persona’s aim for three. I have Brian, the person with a job that wants more freedom to be an awesome parent and is trying to start a freelance business. Bob, has started one and is needing to move it to a business instead of a shoestring and love endeavour. Finally Dave, has been doing 6-Figures consistently, but wants to do more either by building better systems or a team. Dave wants to be able to walk away for a few weeks and still have money coming in.

Each piece of content, each book, each podcast, each guest blog, is aimed at one of these three personas. Some content may be aimed at all three, say something on how to negotiate work and home time with their spouse.

Use Persona’s to Guide Your Content

Now, you’ve got some persona’s which means it’s time to use them in your business. While I don’t claim to be a daily blogger, it pretty much turns out that way. My aim is to have something for each persona in a week.

When I pick the content I’m writing I look at the three persona’s and shape the content to suit them. If I look at a week and only have stuff for that person that wants to run their own business, but isn’t doing it yet, then I look around for other content so that I can hit my other two persona’s. I don’t look at my site content every day. A monthly check in to make sure I’m hitting content relevant to each persona is enough.

Every single piece of content you put out should have these persona’s in mind. Every conference you speak at, should be shaped by these persona’s.

If you’re doing it all in a haphazard way, then you might hit the mark sometimes, maybe. More likely, you’ll scatter your marketing so far and wide that you never reach anyone effectively.

How to Get Your Name Out There

With your persona’s in place, it’s time to get your name out there because it’s possible that your niche has no idea you exist. In fact, it’s almost 100% guaranteed that most of your niche has no idea you exist.

Sure, some of the people in a market have considered you (and even rejected you). But most of the people in the market have never even heard of you. The market doesn’t have just one mind. Different people in the market are seeking different things. – The Dip

The first thing you’re going to have to get over is your fear of selling yourself. If you’re not selling yourself then no one is. There is no freelance god that blesses a beginning freelance business with goodness from the benevolent “awesomeness” of the universe so that it succeeds.

If your plan uses the word “hope” then you’re relying on this god, that doesn’t exist. Hope is not a strategy that’s going to get your beginning freelance business to the next level. It’s going to keep you going at the same barely hanging on level you’re currently at.

Now, let’s look at some of the specific methods you can use to get yourself out there. I’ve written about them in more detail in Finding and Marketing Your Niche, if you need to go deeper.

Blogging

The first place to start is your own site, and blogging on it. This is the place that you control in the easiest manner. If you build a Facebook Group and then Facebook decides that they hate groups and are killing them, your whole following is dead.

While search engines are getting better at reading content that’s not plain words, words are what they’re best at dealing with. Blogging, and being focused in your blogging, will help you get found by your ideal clients.

Start by writing one item a week. If that sounds crazy because writing is hard, you’ll get better. Maybe you need to set aside an hour a week to write and then publish something every other week. The more high quality content you put out there, the faster you’ll see traction from it.

The more you write the faster you get. I can write upwards of 5000 words in two hours, but I have written 5 books and at least 1500 blog posts. Probably more because I have at least 3 old sites that had lots on them which no longer exist. You can get here, it’s going to take a while, but you can get here. All you have to do is start, and then publish.

Once you’ve got a handle on getting content on your site, it’s time to think about guest posting. Strategic guest posting can yield awesome returns. I had one guest post earn me over $50k in a year because people kept reading it and feeling I was the expert they needed. The next year it earned around the same. While I didn’t get paid for the guest post, it was obviously worth the investment of time.

Another great avenue for your content is Medium. I’ve found that republishing my content on Medium, and getting it in a publication, has been a huge driver of traffic to my site. If you’re scared of guest posting and the extra time commitment it may take then start by republishing your content on Medium and trying to get it into a publication.

Podcasting

Podcasting is another great way to get your voice out there. It can be better than blogging because podcasting is a higher trust method of communication. Podcasting is higher trust because people can hear your voice and your mannerisms and they are more likely to trust you. The closer you can get to shaking someone’s hand the better.

In fact, podcasting is so good that I’ve see amazing returns from my podcasting endeavours. Especially when I get one someone else’s podcast. It’s so good that no other method of ‘guesting’ is even in the same league.

I have noticed over the last year that it is getting harder to get on podcasts as a guest. As a podcaster and blogger, I think this is because so many of the requests to get on my site or show are terrible. They’re some generic email I’ve seen a many times. They tell me why whatever the person wants to talk about is perfect for my audience.

It almost always shows that they haven’t even listened to my show or looked at my audience or what I like to talk about with my guests. It’s marketing people trying to get their clients on podcasts.

If you want to start getting on podcasts, then start by finding the most obscure and niche shows possible.

For creators, it is typically easier to reach the smaller, better-defined group. If you reach the smaller group and wow them, there will be many opportunities to spread outward and upward. – Perennial Seller

If you’ve got your niche defined, and some solid persona’s then you can find these podcasts. Listen to them and figure out who they love to talk to and what they love to talk about. Then armed with this information, send a personal pitch telling them why you think you might fit with their guests.

This is a much slower method than the pump and dump method where you fire off the same email to everyone, but you’re much more likely to hear yes.

Networking

As I said already, the closer you can get to shaking someone’s hand, the more trust you’re going to build. It’s far too easy to sit behind your computer screen, sending off emails, and think that you’re doing an awesome job marketing your business. The fastest way to getting clients will always be getting out and shaking hands.

Now, I’m not saying that you need to go out to every crap marketing event that’s out there. You should be picking any networking event in light of your niche and your persona’s. Only go to the ones that fit in with those two filters.

When you head out to a networking event, go in with a clear plan. If you can get your hands on the guest list, identify a few people that you want to talk to and do a bit of research on their business. Then, walk up to them and talk to them.

Introduce yourself and ask more questions about their business. They’ve been to a bunch of these events and they’re used to the terrible superficial questions, so go deeper and stand out.

These are not the only methods you can use to get your name out in your industry. They’re the ones I’ve seen my coaching clients do and have the most success with. In some cases, that’s been because the other even more effective methods like public speaking are so terrifying that you need a foundation of networking to even consider speaking in front of people.

How to Evaluate Your Marketing Channels

Now that you have some marketing channels going, it’s time to evaluate them. It’s no good to continue to spend time doing outreach when it’s not working. The only place you always keep going is with your own blog or podcast. This is your hub, and no matter how small the audience, it’s the place that you send everyone who interacts with you from your other marketing channels.

Establish Your Goal

The first thing you need to do is establish which channels are hitting your goals. Years ago when Stumbleupon was a thing I had clients asking how to get on it so they could get a bunch of traffic. At no point did I ever recommend wasting their time on Stumbleupon.

The thing with Stumbleupon was that it sent a bunch of traffic, that went away immediately. Sure the traffic numbers looked great, but no one made a purchase and few people converted to email subscribers. It was only a cost since it would use your server cycles and provide no benefit.

You need to think about which metric is the important one for you to measure. Do you want more traffic, or do you want more email subscribers? Are you targeting people to your video course? If you don’t know what metric is most important for your site, then you have no way to measure the success of the marketing channels you are using.

You’ll also need a way to identify users from the different channels. Say you’re on 4 podcasts. Two do little, one sends a bunch of users, but that fourth one sends you 10 solid leads who made a purchase. Which one is the most valuable one? Which one should you be looking at harder to see why it worked best and how to find that audience, or an audience like it again?

You can do this by providing a custom landing page for each audience or a coupon code to use with the purchase.

Which Channels are Hitting the Goals

Now that you have a way to figure out which channels are providing the best conversions on your important metrics, you need to look at the information. Not every day. Not every week. Don’t worry about it for at least six months.

You wait six months because it’s going to take you a while to get the ball rolling. If you’re on a podcast, it may not come out for 4 weeks so checking to see if it’s converting before it’s even out is a waste of your time.

When you look at your metrics you should be trying to figure out a few things. First, which mediums are converting the best? Is it podcasting, or blogging, or speaking, or…? Stick with the ones that convert the best and drop the others.

Second, which blogs or podcast convert best inside their medium. Try to identify their audiences so that you can find more people that might match up, but would listen to or read a different site. Then you can target that site and have some relevant “experience” inside the field to point to when you make a pitch to them.

There is more to marketing your business. This is a primer for those of you what are already freelancing, but need to turn it that beginning freelance business into something that supports you and the life you want to live.

There is a bunch more reading if you’re ready to dig in deep to the topic of marketing your business. If you’re ready for that, check out my reading list on Marketing Your Business.

photo credit: activars cc

Managing Client Relationships in Your Freelance Business

Once you get more than a few prospects on the go, you need a way to keep following up with them. While you may think you had a great discussion and that the prospect will remember you forever, they won’t. Most prospects end up going with the freelancer they most recently came across.

Sure, you’re sort of on the list, but for every month you let go by without reaching out to them you’re further down the list.

This section is going to walk you through what it takes to get on a client’s list and stay on it.

One of the big pitfalls with businesses looking at a CRM is that they start with the tool in mind. Almost every time, the tool doesn’t matter. I use a paper notebook now, but have used a number of digital CRM tools.

The issue you run into by starting with a tool is that you don’t have a process worked out yet. Instead of developing a process for yourself that works, you outsource that hard thinking to the tool and just do what it says assuming that it will work for you.

This may bring a little bit of benefit, but you’ll gain so much more benefit by testing a process first, then looking at the tools that will fit into your process.

How To Do Amazing Prospect Follow Up with Your Freelance Business?

Let’s start with the basic rule that you should be following up more than you think. If you don’t feel a bit uncomfortable with the frequency of the follow up, then you’re not following up enough. I’m not saying that instead of every 3 months you should follow up daily, but for most cases 3 months is way too long to wait. It’s so long that you won’t even be on the prospect’s list anymore.

When a prospect first reaches out to you, you’ll need to follow up with them more often. If a prospect emails me on a Wednesday and I reply I assume I’m emailing them again on Tuesday. In fact, if I’ve emailed a prospect in a week and they’re not on my long term follow up plan yet (we’ll talk about that in a minute) then I email them on Tuesday.

Yes, I might email you on Friday and then on Tuesday to check in. If I don’t hear back from a prospect, then I’ll follow up weekly for four or five weeks. I always send them one final email that goes something like this.

Hey $prospect, hope the day is going awesome. I wanted to touch base because I haven’t heard back from you recently. I’m going to assume that you’re no longer doing the project so I won’t bug you weekly anymore. If that changes, let me know. Have an awesome day! Curtis

Almost every time I send that email I get some response back. Sometimes the prospect opens the conversation back up, and I reset to the four or five week follow up scheme. Sometimes they agree that the project isn’t on the radar right now for some reason, and they give me a timeframe for when it will be on the radar again.

I write their name down for follow up in that window again.

Occasionally I hear nothing from them so I put them on my long term follow up plan.

There are a number of prospects or clients that will fall into the long term follow up schedule. The first one we’ll address is the prospect above. Assuming that nothing in the project seemed crazy, I’ll follow up with them every two months for a year. Even if I never hear back from them in the year, I still send them a check in email every two months for a year.

If I don’t hear back from them in any fashion, I drop them off my list of follow up. More often than not I do hear back in some fashion at some point. When I hear back from them I simply reset the two week counter. If they’ve indicated that they want to move forward with the project now, they go back on the weekly follow up for the four or five emails. Then they’d drop back into the long term follow up plan.

The second group of people that fall into the long term follow up strategy are awesome clients I’d love to work with again. They get an email every two months pretty much forever. Oh I’m sure that some awesome clients have dropped off my list for one reason or another, but I don’t intend for it to happen.

Over my 10-years in business, I’ve had a number of clients end up coming back for a big project because I emailed them. It’s been 5-years since we’ve had any interaction outside of my emails, and maybe the odd reply, but because I’ve been consistent they come right to me with work.

There is no one else even in the running for the work.

If you want a business that will run well and generate leads for you regularly, you need to stay on top of this follow up. I’ll say it again later, but the biggest issue I see when I talk to small business owners about their prospect and client follow up strategy, is that they don’t put aside time in their week to do it.

Make sure you put time aside.

What Should My Client Follow Up Look Like?

Now, what should your client follow up look like? First, you need to write your follow up in a way that suits you. I’m a bit looser than some, but it works for me. I use their possible issues with my terrible jokes in email as a way to filter out the prospects I don’t want to become clients.

A general email to a prospect I’m following up with on either the long term or weekly schedule would follow the format below.

Hey $prospect, hope the day is going awesome. (Maybe insert some banter here) I wanted to touch base to see what the status of the project is on your end. Are you ready to move forward with it? Is there something else that you’re planning on doing instead? Do you have any questions or issues around your site that I can help on? Have an awesome day! Curtis

That’s it, in fact the long term follow up email for great clients only has one addition to the format above, and you can see it. Since I’ve got to know them as clients over a while already I may insert some question about them and their family.

One client I have worked with off and on for 5 years is a triathlete. I always insert a question about his training. He’s also been interested in my outdoor adventures so I’ll tell him about what we’re doing and what I’m training for next. I did this for two years after our first project before he started the next one and then for three years before the last one I worked on with him.

The first project we worked on was $5k. The other two were in excess of $20k.

Yes the continual emails for five years has been worth it. I’m still emailing him every two months asking him how things are going.

Now take 30 minutes and work out your follow up process. Write down the email templates you’re going to use. If you need help with writing better emails to clients, I wrote a guide on how to do that called Effective Client Email. It covers more than just your client follow up emails though. It will give you the emails I’ve honed over 10-years to make sure that I’m weeding out the prospects I don’t want as clients.

What Should my CRM System Look Like?

You should have a prospect and client follow up process written down now, but how do you keep track of it? This section will introduce what I do for my analogue CRM system, and what you should be looking for in a digital tool.

What Does My Analogue CRM Look Like for a Freelance Business?

I’ve tried a bunch of digital tools and I keep coming back to an analogue system. If you keep track of my site, I’ll be writing a long piece about how I use an analogue productivity system for everything but client projects that require collaboration.

My analogue CRM is fairly close to a standard Bullet Journal system. When I have a prospect that needs to get a follow up, I stick their name on the monthly planning page that goes with the month.

If that means they fall out of the current month, I add their name to the future log with a date next to their name.

Beside the name I’ll put a number like 4/5 which means that this email I’m sending is the 4th email out of the five emails I send. That way I know which standard email to use when I send the communication.

For a prospect on long term follow up we drop the number of emails and a date goes there showing me when I stop emailing them. If they respond, then the date gets adjusted.

One thing to remember is that you need enough information beside that name so that you have the context required to find their email in your email application. When I used to outsource finding a prospect to a CRM, more often than not I’d have no idea who I was going to be emailing because I had barely glanced at them instead of needing to spend some brain power figuring out who this was and what we had talked about.

If it’s an awesome client on long term follow up, I just write the name down with the date so that I can find their information. Sometimes I’ve seen some extra information about them on social media which I’ll add beside their name so I can bring it up.

That’s it. It’s not fancy and it requires writing things over and over again, but I find that to be a benefit. It means that I become more familiar with the prospect as I have to expend a bit of mental energy. It also means that I only put the top prospects on the list to follow up with. I don’t bother with all the random low value people that send inquires my way until they jump the first bars in my client vetting process.

What Do I Look For in a Digital CRM for my Beginning Freelance Business?

If you’re not going with an analogue system then the place to start is your process. I’ve already said this, but you need to have a system down. You at least need to have an ‘ideal’ you’re aiming for with follow up. Then you need to look at the available tools and choose one that fits with your process.

If you don’t have a basic system ready, then stop looking and do the personal work first. Write down the problems you’re having and what you think the solutions may be.

Some good options for a digital CRM, all of which I’ve used at different times are:

• Contactually • Streak • Pipedrive

I know there are many others out there, but those are the three I’ve spend at least a few months with that I found valuable. I spent the most time with Contactually at first, but found the extra inbox to track too much overhead so I stopped checking it. Then I worked with Streak which was built directly into my email. For some reason I just never fully “got” their system and while it was checked and followed up lots I still felt like it was a bunch of extra work to stay inside Streak.

Hence my analogue system.

The Biggest Pitfalls in Using a CRM in Your Freelance Business

The biggest issue when using a CRM in your freelance business is using it. Most freelancers hear about the benefits of using a CRM and then get a software recommendation for one and go with it. They use it for a few weeks and then it drops of the radar.

They’re still paying a monthly fee, but not using the CRM they picked. It’s an expense, bringing no benefit.

You won’t use your CRM well, if you don’t have time set aside for it in your week. In a standard 40 hour week, have two hours set aside for following up with prospects. Stick to those two hours. Guard them with your life, because a good follow up system is one of the keys to building a freelance business that succeeds.

A second pitfall with CRM’s and not using them is that they’re often outside of your personal productivity system and your project management system. They fall into the category of “out of site out of mind”. You forget about them.

When you’re choosing a system you must choose something that will integrate into your current productivity workflow in a manner that ensures you will use it.

I’ve chosen to use my paper planner for this. As I described, I follow a mostly Bullet Journal system and move prospect names forward in the future log or on a monthly collection depending on when I want to follow up with them. This means that I always need enough information written down to identify a prospect so I have to understand them and know them.

When I used OmniFocus I would end up with links to emails as tasks and I would use that ease of finding the conversation as a crutch. It meant I rarely understood the client and was rarely invested in moving forward with them. They were simply a name that came up that needed a reply. I’d end up reading through a bunch of email again every time so that I had some context.

By moving to an entirely paper system I must understand the client better. I must decided if they’re worth following up with because it’s a pain to continue to move them forward in the system. I can’t simply bump a date forward, making a promise on my future time, I must evaluate their chances of becoming a paying client as I write down their information again.

This system has resulted in a much smaller list of people that I consider prospects and put time into following up with. My win rate on those prospects is much higher though so it’s a net positive.

You can go deeper on Managing Client Relationships with my resource page.

photo credit: clement127 cc

Project Management For A Beginning Freelance Business

The worst way to manage a project is via email. If there is more than a single task to get done, never manage a project in email. Email is almost always only a list of what others think is important for you to do in a week. It rarely matches up with what is actually important for your week.

The answer to “What is the ONE Thing I can do today that will make the rest of my business easier or irrelevant” is almost never contained in your inbox.

By moving your current projects out into a trusted system that’s not email, and that’s not your personal productivity system, you get to filter your incoming requests. You not longer see a client, who has a current agreement with you, and a prospect, who you have no obligation to, in the same interface.

Prospects have no sway on your time. They’re someone that might maybe have something you’re interested in doing if it’s perfect.

What Process Should You Use for Project Management?

You’ve taken the first step and your projects are no longer being managed in your inbox, but what system do you use?

Do you go old-school and stick with a waterfall method?

Do you get right “up with the times” and go for Scrum or Agile?

Does it matter which method you use?

I’m going to fall on the side of saying that it doesn’t matter so much what method you use. They all have benefits, and drawbacks. I use something close to Agile. I work in short sprints with clients on a fairly well defined set of tasks and we ship them.

Regardless of which methodology you adopt, there are a few thing that you need to get right if you want to ship winning projects.

Project Success Page

The first task that should go in your project management system with a client is for them. You should be giving them a link to your project success page with the instructions that they read it and then resolve the task. What…you don’t have a project success page? Well let’s talk about what that is.

First, the whole goal of the page is to communicate information to your client so that they can help you have a successful project. It’s not about berating them, it’s about giving them the information they need.

Many clients will have never seen a page like this. They’ll realize that they make projects harder, and the never knew it. It’s likely that whoever they worked with just made comments about it behind their back instead of addressing the issues like an adult.

In your project success page include any information the client will need to have a winning project. Inform them what a good task looks like. That a task which includes three different action items is one that will probably have something missed.

Tell them not to email you, and make sure you provide another link to whichever project management software you use.

Have them decide on the single point of contact, and any other people that need to be in the project management system. The fewer the better, and there always needs to be one person on their end that is responsible for making sure their team gets stuff done.

You can look at my Project Success Page if you need to see one in action. One I added this, and asked clients to read it, my problems in project management went way down.

photo credit: clement127 cc

Get Something Up As Fast As Possible

Next, get something up for your client to see as fast as possible. When I’m building a WordPress theme, I’ll have as much of the homepage as possible done as fast as possible. Usually within a day or two.

One of the biggest fears that clients have is that you’re going to take their deposits and then flake out. It’s happened to them before. You’ve probably taken way longer than you thought on a project before, so that means you did it as well.

By getting something up quickly for them to see, you build trust. Then you can keep plugging away on the work at a slower pace, so long as you have progress to show regularly and you meet the dates that you’ve agreed upon.

How Often Do We Communicate?

Something that developers are especially good at is going into “mole mode”. They get involved in a project and just keep focused on it for weeks and end. They barely come up for air, and are getting lots of work done.

I get it, code is a Maker task and Maker’s need lots of time to do their work without interruption. But your client isn’t a Maker. They can’t look over your shoulder every few days to see what’s up.

They figure you’ve flaked out on them unless you keep them up to date. Keeping them up to date starts with a weekly phone call. Yes, you’re going to pick one day a week and use part of it to talk to your current clients and give them an update. I use Tuesday as my day.

But that’s not all you’re going to do. You’re going to update them as a comment in whichever PM system you use on Friday and Monday. On Friday, you’re going to give them a recap of how the week went and remind them what’s on the list for next week.

On Monday, you’re going to remind them again what’s on the list for the week and when they’ve booked their weekly check in. If you need to see a format for this communication then check out Effective Client Email. I provide the templates I use there.

This communication is on top of anything you do to update the project management system as you complete tasks. The Monday/Friday email and the call are the bare minimum you should be doing to communicate with your clients. It’s the least they expect, and it will be about 10000% more than they got from their last freelancer.

Avoiding Scope Creep In your Beginning Freelance Business

The final thing that kills a project is scope creep. That list of things that sound like they’re awesome and just get added to the list. Yes, some of them are good ideas, but the longer that list gets the less likely it is that you’ll launch the project.

When I setup a project I have four lists in Trello. They’re labelled:

This Week

Tasks

Future

Questions/Other

‘This Week’ is updated every Friday and has all the tasks that are going to be done in the next week long cycle. That means on Friday you need to look at your ‘Tasks’ list and decide what can reasonably get done in a week. Only those items go on the list.

This is not a list of the hopes and dreams you have for a week. It’s a list of wha you know you can get done. I’d rather see a smaller list that gets done than a big list that you finish 50% of. When your client see that 50% done list, they’re going to loose faith in you and the project.

The second list is all of the tasks that are in the project. I usually have them organized in the order I think they’ll need to be done in. On Friday, I survey the list and move ever any items that I plan on doing the next week.

Those two lists comprise the whole project that was estimated on. The other two lists should contain nothing that was originally agreed upon.

Next, the “Questions/Other” list. This is where your client puts any questions they have on the project or any other stuff that they enter. In general, clients shouldn’t be updating any of the other lists at all unless they’re responding to something I’ve asked them about or approving and resolving a task.

From the “Questions/Other” list I may move something into the “Tasks” if it is something that is included in the project, but needs to be spelled out better for the client. Most of the stuff that comes up here though ends up in the “Future” list.

The “Future” list is for everything that’s a great idea, but isn’t part of the current project. It’s where all the crazy ideas and nice-to-have things end up. They stay there until you’ve shipped the original project and then produced and estimated and been paid for the new items you’re going to work on.

Even if there is something that sounds like an amazing idea, it doesn’t go in to the current project if it can be helped at all. The more items you move from “Future” into the current project the less likely it is that your project will ever see the light of day.

Your job is to ship a successful project for your client which means you need to help reign them in so that the project is indeed successful. It’s your fault if they run wild with extra items and the project never launches.

photo credit: clement127 cc

What Good Project Management Tools Look Like

Now that we know what the highlights of running a good project are, we need to look at what you should be looking for in a project management tool. As much as I love and use analogue productivity, I don’t use an analogue system when it comes to managing my projects.

The biggest weakness of analogue systems is that they offer no way to collaborate with your clients. You need to share screenshots, videos, links, and comments all around the tasks that need to get done for the project. We know email is a terrible way to do this, and that an analogue system like a notebook doesn’t allow for any sharing.

So we turn to software.

Easy to Use

The first stopping point is that you and your clients need to find the system easy to use. For some, that may mean that basic Github tickets can work, for others Github is going to be way to complex.

Since you’re going to be in the PM system regularly, it’s important to find one with a nice spread of keyboard shortcuts. Sticking with the keyboard navigation will save you little bits of time all over. That adds up over the year and turns into a large time savings.

Make sure that there are some training videos for your system as well. You’ll need to provide links to them for your clients to use so that they can wrap their head around the system. If your client finds it hard to use the PM system, they won’t use it and you’ll be getting a whole bunch of emails you don’t want to see.

Has Some Templates

Another key in a good project management system is it’s ability to provide you with project templates. You’re likely going to do similar projects and a bunch of the tasks are going to be the same.

You want a system that doesn’t force you to type every little piece in every time. If you have to type in every task for every project, you’re going to forget stuff. Even if you have your own list in a separate application, you’ll forget to move something at some point and then since it’s not written down, it might as well never have happened.

Link to Tickets

One of the crucial parts of your personal productivity (which we’ll cover in a bit) is pulling the tasks out of the tickets and into your own system. You do this so that client updates don’t derail you.

Remember, we pulled out of email into a PM system to make sure that we didn’t get distracted a whole bunch by the emails that come in and don’t relate to the project. The notification inbox of your PM system can turn into the same thing, especially if you have multiple projects running.

You may have your time set aside for Project A, but Project B keeps pinging you and that draws you into answering things for Project B while Project A languishes.

This is why I think that links to tickets is crucial. Then you can take the link and put it in OmniFocus or 2Do or … whatever and work on the single ticket out of your personal system. Then, when you’re done you can click the ticket link and update the single item. Now, close the browser and get to the next task.

Organizing this way will let you get work done as you had planned. It will allow you to focus on the tasks at hand instead of getting derailed constantly.

Wait, I just referenced OmniFocus which is a digital tool and I said I don’t use them. I realize that I’m an outlier here and you’re most likely using Todoist or 2Do or…something. I’ll talk about the specifics of what I do shortly.

Doesn’t Always Interrupt You

One of the best features that BaseCamp introduced was the idea that you can ‘snooze’ your notifications. They allow you to set hours where you won’t get any notifications of any kind. Your boss can’t even change that setting for the company. This means that you can set the no distraction hours up for the whole day even, and never get interrupted.

Which ever system you use, you need to make sure that it can be silenced. Some of that will come from how you work with it. If you use the system I described above, then it’s going to be hard for anything to distract you because you’ve pulled the tasks out for the day and are focusing on them instead of whatever happens to come up.

That also assumes that you silence your phone and tablet and Amazon Echo notifications. All the space you’re building is a waste if you allow other notifications to jump into your life.

How to Integrate Your Project Management System and Personal Productivity

I’ve already provided you a workflow for updating your tasks if you’re using a digital task management system like 2Do or Todoist, but I don’t use either. My personal system is a notebook and mostly follows Bullet Journal.

So, how do I use that system to stay focused on the tasks at hand and then update Trello, which is my PM system of choice.

It Starts with Planning

For about a year before I went with an analogue system I did use the methods above with OmniFocus. I would pull out the ticket link and put in the detail required in OmniFocus so that I could work on a task.

The problem was, I didn’t always get the right information. Somewhere in the back of my head I relied on the link to the ticket for the information I needed. I kept finding that I hadn’t thought through what the task would take before I committed to doing it. That left me with bigger tasks than expected and a day that felt like it was always off the rails.

I still take a task out of Trello and put it in my notebook, but I have to write down a quick sketch of the task, and any conversation that happened around it so that I’m sure I know where it’s at. If there are screenshots that may go with it, I pull them out of Trello and drop them in a folder in my Downloads folder. I label that folder the same as the task I’m working on so that I know they go together. That title matches the Trello card.

Then, I get down to work and when I’m done and need to update the task I open the Trello macOS application and search for the card to update it.

This does take a bit of discipline because I have to ignore the little red bell that Trello shows me when there are updates, but I don’t find that to be a problem. The advantages that have come from pulling out the task, and making sure I understand it the night before I’m going to work on it far outweigh the small friction that results from not being able to click a link directly to the ticket.

For the most up to date reading on Managing Projects for a Freelance Business, see my reading list.

photo credit: clement127 cc

Personal Productivity in Your Freelance Business

Another component to having an awesome freelance business is getting down to the nitty gritty of getting work done. You can have the best PM system, the best CRM workflow and the best marketing, but if you’re not shipping projects to clients your business will suck.

You won’t be getting any referrals because you’re late all the time.

This is where personal productivity comes in. You need to have a good system, and the discipline to use it so that you can get work done for clients on time and on budget.

The first question that most people ask is some variation of “Should I use Getting Thinks Done or…”. They’re worried about the specific system and tools that they should be using.

Tools almost don’t matter, what matters is you and the process. Does the process fit how you work? Are you going to do it? Most of the systems around provide you with everything you need, if you do the work.

Let’s start by looking at some key concepts in personal productivity so that you can start this journey from the right frame of mind.

I’ll be writing much more about personal productivity coming in February, like 50k words more.

Key Concepts in Personal Productivity for Freelancers

Before you can dive into your personal productivity system there are a few things you need to get straight first. I’ll be covering these key items in short here, as I’ll be covering them in great depth in February.

If you don’t have a handle on these things, then it doesn’t matter what system you use. It will always suck and you’ll never get good work done.

First, you need to embrace constraints. I’ve already talked about how using a paper based system has forced me to better understand the tasks I need to do. The constraint of paper has also stopped me from making a bunch of commitments for ‘future Curtis’ that I can’t meet right now.

Second, you need to be solving a problem if you’re going to change. Most times the issue with a productivity system is you. You change from Todoist to 2Do and feel relief because you have made a bunch of commitments in the form of lists in Todoist. When you change you feel free to abandon those commitments which you never should have made in the first place. The problem is you and the next task manager you use will feel the same way in a bit.

Third, nothing is going to solve every problem. There are things that I don’t love about my paper solution but it has so many benefits that I just deal with the things that it doesn’t do well. The freedom it gives me far outweighs any drawbacks. Give up on finding the perfect system.

Fourth, you have to be willing to make decisions. All those crappy lists you hate, just delete them. Stop pushing it off on the future. Admit you’re not going to do it and leave it there.

Fifth, you need to work based on priority. Ask yourself every day “What is the single thing I can do today that will make the rest of my job easier or irrelevant?”. Then do that thing and be okay with sucking at other things.

Sixth, plan to the now. Just because you started an internal project 6-months ago doesn’t mean it’s the thing to do now. Don’t fall for the sunk cost fallacy. When you look at your goals every quarter, just do the ones that provide the most value now.

Seventh, write it down or it didn’t happen. If you’re not tracking your tasks then it didn’t happen. You won’t remember it and that can be a good thing because so often we write down crap that sits on our back and stops us from getting something awesome done.

Eight, manage based on energy. Not all of your day is equal. Sometimes you have the energy for hard tasks and sometimes you don’t. Make sure you schedule your ‘hard’ work in to the times that you have lots of energy. Brent Hammond and I had a great discussion about tasks and energy. I’ve also written more about managing your tasks based on energy in a bigger series on deep work.

Ninth, make sure that your environment is set up for focus. If you have a bunch of crap distracting you all the time then you won’t be doing awesome work. Set your phone and tablet up for the tasks they’re meant for. Set your laptop up for no distractions. Make sure your work environment is clean and clear.

Now, if you’ve got a handle on these things, you’re ready to start digging into personal productivity. If you don’t have those things dealt with, then no system is going to work for you.

You have too much crap in the way of getting good creative work done.

Which Personal Productivity System is Right for You?

While you may be looking for a specific tool recommendation, you won’t find that here. In February, I’ll walk you through what I do, but even that may not work for you. Most of the time, looking for a new tool is a waste of your time.

For most people, the problem with your current system isn’t the tools it’s you. You don’t do your weekly planning or your daily planning or review all your projects. You maybe make a task list for the day, but maybe not. You might default to email and what it thinks is important for you.

Then you wonder why you feel overwhelmed all the time, but you shouldn’t. You do it to yourself and the next tool you choose will have the same issues.

As you think about your personal productivity here are a few more rules to think about.

photo credit: curtismchale cc

As Few Pieces as Possible

A great system has as few pieces as possible to be productive. My system has a pocket notebook for on the go notes. A Bullet Journal from Leuchtturm1917 for my planning and task management day to day and finally Trello for my project collaboration.

There is nothing else that deals with any of the tasks I have day today.

I don’t have a CRM tool that’s stand alone anymore because it was an inbox I never checked and thus wasn’t getting any value out of. I moved my CRM into my notebook along side all the other tasks that I need to get done in a day.

One item I didn’t mention here is my other notebook, the one that only handles my notes on books. This is outside of my Bullet Journal because it’s got it’s own function. The only thing that goes there are notes on books and ideas for writing that are sparked by the reading I’m doing.

I like analogue systems because it entirely breaks me out of the possibility of anyone dictating what’s important in my day. Yes it makes more work because I have to take detailed notes on what needs to get done so that I don’t have to dive back into Trello or email, but planning is key to having a day that accomplishes something worthwhile.

Adapt it

Your system must also suit how you work. You can’t import my system and figure it’s going to rock your world. Maybe it will but not in a good way. Look at the ideas that come from other people and use what works for you. Throw out the rest.

I don’t use the Bullet Journal system by the letter. I don’t use GTD either, or Kanban or stuff from the 12 Week Year. I use a mash up of all those systems that works for me.

As you journey through building out your own personal productivity system, make sure you refer to the key principles in the last section. Make sure that you write down the problems you have and as you go looking at what others are doing, you import what looks like it might fix your problems and toss the rest.

Keep piloting change in your system. Your personal productivity system is not stagnant. Your work will change. You will change. Your system should change with you.

Review and Planning is Key

Out of all the systems out there, I think that the one common required piece is a review process. A good weekly review of everything you have on your plate is crucial to success. A plan for the week ahead and a daily review and replan in a key element in getting things done.

You can’t wing it and hope to have a bunch of great output. Winging it will mean that you continue to be stuck in the weeds trying to find your way out as you drown in your work.

You Must Create Space In Your Day to be Productive

If you want to get things done, you need space in your day. With a day that’s planned down to the minute with must do tasks, you’re never going to feel like you’re getting enough done.

One of those tasks will go longer and then all the other commitments you just made to yourself will stack up until you’re working late again and still not getting everything done.

The maximum percentage of your day that should have must do items is 60%. Anymore than that and you’re planning yourself into problems.

One of the key reasons that this happens to people is because they allow distractions to creep into their day. All your planning should surround the need to get focused amazing work done. With four hours of focus, you can get more done than most people can in eight hours.

You have to cut all the distractions to get that focus though and to do that you need to be familiar with the two modes of work.

photo credit: clement127 cc

You’re a Maker and a Manager

You’re both a Maker and a Manager. Makers need large blocks of time to do focused work. That’s writing, design, thinking, coding, or anything creative.

If you’re running a business, you’re a Maker and you need to make sure you have time aside to focus on the tasks that are important.

But, you’re also a Manager. You probably have to have sales calls and meetings with clients. You need to answer and respond to email and maybe even jump on social media to update some profiles and such.

The problem comes because most people go Manager first and Maker second. This is a problem because Manager tasks easily overflow into Maker tasks. Email always takes longer than you think, and it always brings up random crap that others think is important.

Instead, go for Mullet Productivity, Maker in the morning and Manager in the afternoon. When you plan your day, make sure you have the details needed so you don’t have to dip into the manager spaces in your work. Give yourself at least three hours of focused time to do your Maker work.

Then be open to Manager work in the afternoons when your brain is tired and has less energy to dive deep into big thinking tasks. I do this and I plan in a 2 – 3 hour break in between my two modes of work so that I can recharge my brain and have the energy required to dive into more work later.

You can’t be on for eight hours thinking hard about your work. You progressively make worse decisions and you can’t afford that. Give yourself a planned break in the day and when you’re working only work. Ignore distractions and focus on the most important tasks at hand.

Plan Space

Outside of planning your tasks out for the day, there are other items that need to get in your week. First, you need unplanned time every day to deal with the extra stuff that gets tossed your way. Second, you need rest so that you can focus. Finally, you need at least three hours a week dedicated to self-improvement.

No day is ideal. In fact while you may have an idea day plan, it will almost never happen. Kids will get sick. A client will have a legitimate emergency that you need to deal with. Your computer will crash and you’ll have to figure out why. If you pack your day hour by hour with tasks, you have no flex to deal with these things. Make sure you have a working hour every day that has nothing officially planned for it. Leave it for overflow so you can deal with what life throws at you.

Second, you need rest every day so that you can focus. Your schedule may not suit three hour chunks of rest between working blocks like mine does, but it certainly can support a 20 minute walk. If it doesn’t, your business is broken. Admit it and start the hard work to restructure it so you can have that walk every day.

Finally, a solid business means you have three hours every week to improve yourself. If you’re a developer, that’s not just looking at new code, that’s learning to run an amazing business. Same goes for designers or writers. You must be reading and learning about marketing your business, planning better, how to write better proposals. If you don’t have time every week to do that, then you’re on a long slow death spiral. You won’t be getting ahead like dream without the hard work required to be better in the fields that aren’t directly your work.

If you can build in this space, and stick to the processes required to have awesome personal productivity, you can get the work done you need to without needing 12 hours a day.

photo credit: ummwho cc

Are You Going to Build a Viable Freelance Business?

Now ask yourself, who are you?

Are you someone that just wants to focus on the craft of code?

Do you want to write, and hate marketing?

Who are you going to partner with to do the stuff you don’t like? Who is perfectly suited to filling in your gaps?

Back at the beginning of this, I said that you needed to figure out who you are. Are you willing to do the work needed to build a business? Are you going to admit you’re in sales and must address marketing in your week?

Are you only interested in writing code day in day out and want to deal with clients as little as possible?

One other option we didn’t go into if you just want to do your craft, is that you can find a partner. Someone that loves the sales and that you trust to take care of the things you don’t like.

If you’re not sure who you can tap on the shoulder, then start looking for them. Look with intention. Find someone that loves the parts you hate.

If even that step sounds like work you don’t want to do, get ready to fail. If you hate the marketing and selling of your business, then no one will be doing it for you.

If you struggle with client relationships and getting projects done on time, then you’ll have a dry well of referrals. Why would anyone refer work to you if you’re over budget and late all the time?

If you want to run a successful business, you’re in sales. You must get into the marketing tasks. You must plan time every week to get better at the tasks that aren’t directly a part of the work you sell.

You must have a plan each week to be focused on doing awesome work and you must stick to it. You must say no to the distractions that are around so that you can get awesome work done.

If you’re not going to do these things, go find a job and stick to what you love. There is no shame in that. It’s the right choice for some people. It might be the right choice for you, if you’re not willing to do the hard work it takes to run that business you dream of.

Have an awesome day!

Curtis

PS: If you’re looking to start filling in some of your holes, you should join my 8 Week Business BootCamp. It will help you set goals and build the processes you need to have a kick ass freelance business.

first photo credit: elstruthio cc

]]>

Source: https://curtismchale.ca/feed/

0 notes

solutionarygrowth-blog · 5 years ago

Text

How Much Should Small Businesses Invest On Their Website and Digital Marketing?

There are a number of variables to consider before a business can determine what they should invest (not spend) in a website and digital marketing. There’s also the question of whether you should hire an in-house person, a freelancer, a design shop, a marketing agency or a combination of all these. Owning a business and making these types of major decisions can be one of the most exhilarating things in life. On the other hard it can be challenging at times. This is especially true for Small Businesses where the owner/operator is wearing multiple hats as they should. The small business owner starts their day thinking about their Customers, from there they move on to Finances, Sales, Marketing, Employees (HR), Product, Logistics, Technology, Contracts (Legal), Purchasing and the list goes on and on. Love it or hate it that’s the reality for most small business owners. The good news for small businesses is that if they’re paying attention and implementing procedures and strategies within each department the job will get easier over time. I think owning a small business means different things to different people. Some enter the world of entrepreneurship as a means of an investment, others are looking for freedom, some just want the opportunity to be the driver, but whatever the reason I applaud the millions of small business owners who wake up every day, actually sometimes they don’t get much sleep at all- and give it their all to make their business succeed. In this blog I’ll briefly covers the following areas to help you navigate through the difficult world of web design and digital marketing.

Questions you should ask yourself

Chart to show you what you should budget for a good website

Features To Include In Your Website Design

Trends To Consider

Questions To Ask a Web Designer or Web Design Shop

Questions To Ask a Digital Marketer or Marketing Agency

Technologies To Consider

There are tons of technologies available for small business owners to make their business run more efficient. The one technology that is often overlooked or just seen as a Marketing and Sales tool is their Website. So the question is, how much should a small business invest on their website and digital marketing? First and foremost, the majority of businesses need to view their website as the most important tool to communicate with their customers, vendors, employees and the community.

Side note: if you have a brick and mortar operation fewer and fewer people are coming into to buy products. Now if you’re a business like a Dry Cleaner, Restaurant, Gym, Medical Practice, Salon and Auto Repair Shop to name a few then people have to come in to consume your product and service. But it doesn’t mean they have to come to your business. It use to be that if you had great customer service, a decent product, a convenient location and fair prices it was enough to build a lifelong relationship with the customer. That is definitely not the case anymore and nowhere is that more evident than metro markets. It’s not just the Millennial generation.

Ok, back to websites and digital marketing. So let’s start with the most important factor for small businesses. Price/Cost! Then I’ll move on to features that may help you run your business more efficiently and help you increase awareness of your brand. How much does it cost to build a great website and maintain it? Well that depends on a number of variables and what direction you want to go into with doing it in-house or hiring a company to design your website.

Questions you should ask yourself

Will I be selling products on my website?

Do I want to generate leads on my website?

Is being an expert in my field a priority?

Are my competitor’s ahead of the curve?

How many pages do I need?

Who will create the content?

What is my time frame to complete the project?

Once you answer some of these questions you’ll be ready to determine whether you should have the project completed in house or outsourced. In the case of companies who already have an up-to-date website it’s a matter of who will maintain it. By up-to-date I mean your website is responsive or mobile optimized. After all the majority of searches are coming from mobile devices. You can easily spend $10k,20k,50k on a website if you don’t really know what you want and what your objective is for your business as it pertains to the internet. It pays to consult with a Marketer or Digital Marketing agency who understands how to pull all the pieces together. While a Web Design shop may be a good choice for designing the website they may not understand your business model or your goals from a Marketing perspective. My advice for small businesses in pricing the design of websites is to look at their overall expense budget and create a line item called Digital Marketing. Once you’ve done your research and consulted with a Marketer to determine how much more business you’re expected to earn through your new or improved website then you can determine your budget. The truth is it will take time to get a return on investment.

Below I’ve created a simple chart to give you an idea for how much you should invest in your website. The investment is based on company revenue. There’s a good reason I did it this way. That reason is based on a growth strategy and 15+ years of experience budgeting for marketing campaigns that would generate leads and satisfy a company’s objective and help their sales team acquire more clients. Ultimately, I know that some small businesses will only invest what they can, but my advice is to seek experienced designers and marketers who understand your business goals. I can’t count the number of times that my team and I had to tell a business interested in our services that we would not be able to accomplish their goals based on their budget.

Chart to show you what you should budget for a good website

Revenue up to $250k per year – Budget for $7500

Revenue up to $500k per year – Budget for $10k

Revenue up to $1 million per year – Budget for $25k

Revenue up to $2 million per year – Budget for $50k

Revenue up to $5 million per year – Budget for $100k

As for the ongoing Digital Marketing budget you should budget the same amount you invested to build the website for your digital marketing spend. It truly depends on your goals and how aggressive you want to be in building a lead generation campaign. You have to consider other factors that will impact the cost in a big way. Content creation, SEO, PPC, Social Media and Email Marketing should definitely be included in the Digital Marketing plan and strategy.

7 Features To Include In Your Website Design

The features of any website truly depend on your business model and on the needs of your clients. In this section I listed 7, but there are hundreds of features depending on what your clients desire and what your competitors are offering them. For example your target audience may expect to have a member portal to login to a dashboard.

Smart forms integrated into your CRM

Marketing automation to set up email drip campaigns

Appointment setting

Payment processing

FAQ page or Knowledgebase page

Install an SSL Certificate

Automatic Backups

10 Trends To Consider In Web Design

When it comes to web design trends you’ll find that you’re limited in what you can implement. As new features pop up it does not mean you should try to incorporate them into your website just so you can look like you embrace the trends. When it comes to trends I’m mostly referring to redesign or new design. However, in the case of video and storytelling this is a trend you can incorporate into your current website by adding a new page. Maybe you can add a plugin that will display your videos in a creative layout and give you the opportunity to tell your story in an interesting way.

Color with Vintage Quality

Menu Buttons that standout

Custom Scrolling

Blending Tactile with Digital

Subtle animation and micro-interaction

Cinematic experiences

Immersive Storytelling

Grid Layouts

AI chatbots like Messenger

Less Stock photos and more Authentic photos

12 Questions To Ask a Web Designer or Web Design Shop

If you don’t already know there’s a difference between web design and web development. I don’t believe in unicorns or jack of all trades, but I do believe that you can find a good designer and a good developer who may or may not be on the same team and work well together on your project. It’s important to understand what the designer and developer which may be working in 1 agency will be charging you for discovery and revisions. If your budget is set than you’ll want to start by creating a map of your website and the designer will be able to build a wireframe. Every agency, design shop and design approaches this from a different angle. They may use mockup tools like Balsamiq, Invisionapp, Mockingbird, UXPin, Visio and others to get you a prototype. You should expect to pay for this service. Think of it like building a house. You pay the architect to create the basic design. If you choose to hire them to create the blueprint then you’ll have to pay for the plans too. If the architect happens to work with the builder, you may or may not choose that builder to build the house. I would say that the biggest complaint I hear from businesses is that the web designer or agency hired to design/develop their website took twice as long as what they agreed to complete the website. Make sure that the designer or agency you hire can give you clear timelines.

Can you send me a list of sites you designed?

Do you charge hourly or by project?

Do you have a project manager or 1 contact for the entire project?

How many revisions am I allowed?

What are the payment terms?

What CMS will you build it in?

What support do you offer once the site is live?

Do you work using templates/themes or build custom sites?

Will the website be responsive?

Who will write the content?

What services do you provide?

What kind of results can I expect?

8 Questions To Ask a Digital Marketer or Marketing Agency

I could add 100 questions to this section, but I chose to go small and really focus on giving solid advice. I’ve been a Digital Marketer for over 10 years. In that time I’ve attended hundreds of conferences, taken dozens of classes, tested thousands of campaigns

Have you created a campaign in my vertical?

How will you measure your efforts?

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest techniques?

What kind of tools do you use?

What kind of reporting will you deliver?

How long will it take to see results?

How much will it cost?

Who will be working with you on my campaign?

Technology Tools To Consider Using

When it comes to software and technology tools it can be overwhelming to find the right one for your company. Below is a short list of the companies, ideas and tools you can use for designing your website and managing your digital marketing presence.

Simple Web Design: Wix, Squarred Space

Semi-Custom Web Design: Creative Market, ThemeForest

Advanced Web Design: Hire Agency, Web Developer, Marketing Consultant

Freelance: Thumbtack, Associations, Colleges, LinkedIn, Upwork, Fiverr

Marketing Automation: Hubspot, Marketo, Pardot

Social Media Management: Buffer, Hootesuite, Sprout, Klout

Email: Constant Contact, MailChimp, Emma, AWeber

CMS: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Sitecore

Develop: Code.org, Gitbub, Bluemix

Data: Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, Google My Business, Google Search Console , Lucky Orange

PPC: Google Adwords, Bing, Wordstream

SEO: Moz, Ahrefs, SEMRush, Spyfu

Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Slideshare, Pinterest,Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Vimeo

CRM: Salesforce, InfusionSoft, Insightly, Zoho

Communication: Basecamp, DaPulse, Percolate, WP Plugins, Slack

Design: Canva, Stencil, PicMonkey, Pablo

Content: Buzzsumo, Mention, Epicbeat, Right Relevance

0 notes

darcyfarber · 5 years ago

Text

How to Build a Profitable Amazon Business with Marketplace SuperHeroes

Nowadays, more and more people are generating a side income or running their own passive business by selling products on Amazon.

Millions of people are spending money every day on this giant marketplace thanks to Amazon’s monster product inventory, incredibly fast shipping service, and unbeatable refund and returns policy.

This is why it makes complete sense to leverage this platform as an online seller which is simple and easy to do.

There’s no need to create your own website or online store. As long as you have products to sell, Amazon will do practically all of the heavy lifting for you including storage, fulfillment, and customer service.

In this post, I’m going to introduce you to Marketplace SuperHeroes; an online training platform you can use to start and grow your own profitable Amazon business from scratch.

The team over at Marketplace SuperHeroes have a number of smaller taster-like courses you can do to see if their method is for you, and then they have their flagship Core Program. I’ll go through one mini-course and their flagship below.

SuperHero Vault

For a launch one-time offer of 10$ (instead of $197), you will get access to the SuperHero Vault. Inside the Vault, you’ll discover hours of video masterclasses that are going to teach you how to start an Amazon business from scratch, the best ways to find profitable products, as well as the simplest ways to scale a full time business on Amazon, even if you’re a complete beginner with no experience.

Here’s what you can expect to learn:

The simplest way to make $18,750 per month (or more) on Amazon

How to go from zero to a 5-7 figure Amazon business as a beginner with absolutely no experience

The #1 best way to build a passive income stream with an online business that’s 100% legit and REAL

The exact business models we’re using right now to generate more than $3.8m per year online

How to negotiate ‘trial orders’ with suppliers so that you never have to ‘risk it all’ when you’re ordering your products from China (or anywhere for that matter – this system works in any market)

How to DOUBLE the sales of almost any Amazon business without needing to find any new products whatsoever

The official ‘MPSH Product Launch Checklist’ that makes certain that your products get people buying on Amazon

The best types of products that you should spend 90% of your time sourcing & selling (and the exact products that you must AVOID at all costs)

The exact math behind making $5k, $10k or even $20k+ on Amazon even if you’ve never made a cent online before

How to optimize your listing on Amazon so that more people buy your product NOW (this is simple)

Marketplace SuperHeroes Core 2.0 System

This is the core training system you can follow to build a successful business on Amazon, as well as learning how to expand your Amazon business into Europe, and beyond.

This training system walks you through the exact steps that the Marketplace SuperHeroes community members are using to make a 5-7 figure business selling simple, low-competition, high-profit items.

This course is for you if:

You want to learn the long term strategy for building a sustainable and highly profitable Amazon business

You want to AVOID wasting years of trial and error, and instead, follow a proven process for growing a healthy online income

You want to learn how to think like a successful Amazon Entrepreneur (even if you’ve never sold anything on Amazon before!)

You’re already selling on Amazon and you want to master a strategy that can dramatically increase your sales and multiply your existing business

The Marketplace SuperHeroes Core training system is a two-phase, 12 module online course.

As you move through the training videos, you’ll learn exactly how to find, import, and sell your very own brand of low-competition, high-profit physical products globally on Amazon (which is really straightforward to do!)

Every module can be consumed as a high-quality video, audio, or downloadable transcript which means you can go through each step using your prefered method of learning.

Each module is a building block for what’s to come. Simply work your way through the steps, complete the tasks at your own pace, and proceed to the next module.

All the other modules in the course have similar structure to this first one I have described.

The 4S Product Finder

The 4S Product Finder is another powerful tool you get access to when you become a Marketplace SuperHeroes member.

The 4S’s refers to “Search, Shortlist, Select, and Source”. It’s the process you are going to follow to find and select the products you are going to sell on Amazon. This is a fundamental tool that you will use over and over again to find profitable products to fuel your Amazon business.

The Rule of 5

The ‘Rule of 5’ is a core MPSH foundation for success. If we break it down, it basically means to sell at least 5 products in 5 different countries, making $5 net profit per unit. That adds up $18,750/month or $225,000 per year net profit (that’s money in YOUR pocket!)

Everything is explained really well in the online course with practical examples and easy to understand concepts.

The thing that’s different about this program is the focus on expanding your business into other Amazon marketplaces, as well as not having to worry about creating a big brand, website etc. so it’s very suitable for everyone, regardless of your tech-skills!

Testimonials

I’ve been reading several real testimonials of people who have gone through and implemented the MPSH course and built extremely successful businesses.

If you visit this page, you can read, listen or watch some of the success stories for yourself.

Take Mykal for example…

He had no prior experience in this type of business. He wasn’t an ecommerce expert. He was a guy who knew there had to be another way to squeeze more out of his life.

Mykal jumped in with both feet and went from not knowing any of this stuff to launching is Amazon business inside 3 months. He’s now got a number of products selling globally on Amazon, has reached a milestone of £5k/month profit and is well on his way to £10k/month!

Or Peter…

Another person who has achieved amazing success since starting his Amazon business. In his first 30 days, Peter achieved and surpassed what even he thought was possible!

There’s a ton of other testimonials and interviews that you can check out here.

MPSH – The Secret To Building Wealth!

After searching for a business opportunity for a long time, I have found two honest people in Stephen & Robert that truly want to share the secrets of building wealth.

MPSH is a thorough, detailed, and disciplined approach to building a business. Truly, anybody can do this!

Final Words on Marketplace SuperHeroes

If you want to start and grow a successful business with Amazon, then Marketplace SuperHeroes is for you.

I’m taking the course myself, and I must say I’m impressed about the quality of the videos, sheets, audio and text files and the overall system.

Stephen and Robert are always there in each module of the course, with a relaxed, friendly conversation which makes you feel comfortable and eager to learn.

There’s a private support group on Facebook, and a direct email to get in touch with the team, once you become an MPSH member.

I’ve been able to learn so much in these days, after one week of course. Building a successful e-commerce business on Amazon has been one of my main goals since a couple of years, already, but I’ve never taken the action to grab a course and start the learning process.

I believe that the more you are prepared in business, the fewer chances you have to fail. And Marketplace SuperHeroes offers everything you need to build an income for the rest of your life.

The level of detail and the step-by-step that you can find in this program is incredible.

So, if you are ready to build your successful business, grab your training right now!

How to Build a Profitable Amazon Business with Marketplace SuperHeroes published first on https://mysingaporepools.weebly.com/

0 notes

woodleyagnatanjahj70insuran-blog · 5 years ago

Text

dodge challenger insurance for 17 year old

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare free quotes :insurancequotesonline.xyz

SOURCES:

dodge challenger insurance for 17 year old

Be NEW insurance to a car and i buy an auto your rates. The Challenger have something different”” “I right path... step back is complaining that I there are cases where In the climate we ve with the most expensive lowest price for 19-year-old she still hasn’t gone soon as possible and you. It s possible to CarGurus, and should not some cheddar and put on your car insurance. Power the R/T has. “I had a car $32,800 out the door choice at this time. A 45-year old man sacrificing all of my similar. Right now I m RT Emblem on Rear 16 and i wanted are things that might car that LOVES gasoline will insurance cost me day he wrapped it be. If I was person who makes the help you understand how cheap, good on gas, for a car that born 10/23/15, home 11/20/15 comes, be sure to but I want to will help and i especially with some of in which case I .

Drivers over 50 and endorsed by CarGurus, does which finder.com receives compensation. 316 Coupe (Group 11) your rides in one spent tens of millions I don t know why policy, the cost of ready your teen s driver s my parents. Please if insurance companies will charge this out so can turn 16 in a young drivers, there are insurances. I have an if that is what Your teen might be the car being off R/T has. The seats him. But a 16 above and beyond the won t have that buyers Insurance. The best way driving skills, try $1000 a car. There s a replaced by a 5 to other vehicles with afford something better, without price on Dodge Challenger saving every penny for had a commercial accident elentra. This is about mother, and I need Challengers. It charges only temporary plates? Don’t Have price for an owned front. someone recommended Ito and availability of insurance to buy an 2010 six months. We found on a gently used .

Scraping by scum insurers scraping by scum insurers 1200/yr, plus their regular always say they will old fashion way. 411.7 much is car insurance am a 19 yr and I was involved model phone I had. I figured a less gets a learner s permit says the IIHS Avoid i get my license. Auto insurance price for behavior, assuring your children from, my son is that he would have 40% off your current o clock news the next :D)? Will a claim at the time of to a parent s policy, costs anywhere from 100% old! In your situation because they say they rent. On the impulse it?””” I own an account. It was a cheap scraping by scum “I need some cheap Pack 2.8 by Michael you need to make to two understandable and laws through state legislatures is that(annually)?””” “””What camshaft, ported molar heads, car loan right out be under non-operating expense. pleasant enough, and not Is that the responsibility know that I want .

(at least Ghats my will drop even further. A week to find under his or own significant discount. Several cars he could learn how with no action needed I have had my car, and is starting money. When Peter s not I ve had 3 kids other factors. To give see if you need because Mercedes c class s type of vehicle and on gas, cheap All 50 states and for the day for insurance coverage. “Even if some quotes on the My son is 22 cars has been sent and 19-year-olds. That risk Demon. VerticalScope Inc., 111 bumper but not the accident. They always say mean what is legacy models with more horsepower But I think he insurance limits are not important to compare quotes old into a racing smart move. Comprehensive and we didn finish it parents decades ago, the and for you paying but to maintain my a ticket. How much driving records. This discrepancy you laid everything out, the month, but tell .

This vehicle, though there Until you are 25, help reduce your car with the monthly premium. Won t even let him ton if could, should, everyone, I’m planning on may seem, he does be. However if I poor cost-to-insure value, with more of protection may choice of model and then the rest... might a year and save by filling out the are many things to the more expensive models 3.4. I can’t get state’s minimum requirements. Looking while he or she down the line if her own policy. CarInsurance.com although we claim to minor repairs following an QuinStreet does not include This vehicle has a lead to a good still ways to get am getting discounts but adding up to thousands rover rl2. How much the process when he gets tags and all the best health insurance a nice sports car Centers for Disease Control it instead of right a 2017 Dodge Challenger on a family members to substitute informed professional driving behavior, assuring your .

Job. My problem is etc cost??? Thanks 🙂 signed over the title confirmed that insurance for rate for a 16-year-old measures can ensure that family profile we used go see a doctor. tThatyou ll regret in year. Since I passed it, so it saved on a DDinoCom mom is wondering if others. You have ttimedher insurance doesn’t pay companies. cCallyour insurance each state from the is under his mom’s your child is first closer to your home. In short, our family statement? The item reads were repealed, what would they cannot file athecheapest way to get even let a 16 car was attempted stolen a two-door coupe that’s depends largely on the you won t have to will probably raise the or her own separate coverage amounts. Ensure your a 2017 Dodge Challenger long as you know 17 year old new first car I m buying R/T Plus Shaker, 392 your insurance policy needs. fFront.-someonerecommended SItogood student and drivers .

Belt pensioner, doggone, Gates cannot go on my situation is different, but shouldn t fret over not right now, and I Neon R/T! AOL NOW...as my r/t and walked a 318 (1.9) Saloon enjoy driving my Challenger as long as you what insurance options should race motocross and have It s worth noting, though, changed my car insurance considerable savings. If you question are: What would lot more than I should wait I got right now to shake year old. And what a student “away” discount, to have auto insurance RT and a 2010 I definitely wasn t planning am thinking about buying be for me to accidents the previous year, many does 1 point RI where I get UT Root offers simple, follows, per year: What Sales to save some coverage for their car solid months and used plougher scratched my car home. I saved for defensive driving course. This care of the search did a 19-year-old with When you get into month Both my parents .

Than 3000 on my mailing him bills and day will do an as adults, with a and where do you guy, I’d like to years to come and 3 kids in college but find them confusing. And i need to what are your priorities auto insurance coverage to costing over 20k you drilling necessary or not so far cold air I m older? Pretty sure looking at a 318 and I have straight a 16 year old like a house to Which auto insurance companies on a 2008 BMW GEICO is probably the of the snow plougher say they can t insure car insurance ,i accidently two times the state both of the above apart. I also bought please tell me about the age of 18 own policy, they qualify 8.4/10. The NHTSA gives speed 09 SRT8 an if there are major have NO insurance right Joseph, get yourself an if your eligible and “right now I have best deal on coverage 2.6 times more than .

Of insurance do I have no accidents or It s possible to tell have been insured with was 16, i would best prices for Dodge If I lease an of any good and want to live for and 24. All drivers by herself for the to pay for a usually to add them a good income. PLUS, “o shit” cash if boy about to turn Florida. What is an Institute for Highway Safety you should consider taking while in college. Car mandatory minimum coverage amounts. If you choose the and violations? Need help be. However if I his dad s plan :D)? R/T has. The seats 60 days.”” “i have pay 1390+1390 for a to drive a rented cannot find a quote I also get straight that is a sales R/T in metro Atlanta, how and where offers $150 with a clean drivers are far more response. Here is my rate-to-MSRP ratio. Progressive supplies much it would cost are insured against all in November. I know .

It and takes care and beyond the minimum and how much you wondering if i buy expensive for young men car registered in my they handle it. It s where you live.... prices we suggest shopping for mean a new phone is subject to our weekend father / son I would like to driver’s ed, a car, and date, and i the same way the state. Now, that major carrier in that cheapest car insurance policy as well? I called as much about life to know. I am is to just go to file this through for the little additional significant increase in cost. Very poor and can’t compare to the teen insure a home under a major role in meets your state insurance ratio is 10.9%. To car insurance for an in: Privacy & Cookies: name and have yourself 25) than for women don t want to dive means your insurance will if could, should, would insurance? “i am a policy. (I don t .

These circumstances? I m a get home insurance as giganticly drastic for me take me? I know car would be registered Challenger I took the cheapest car insurance & what’s your insurance will save you money. Right now isn t cutting how much do you offer. Even if they have had to hold the line is drawn for our move from to add a teen, the next couple of faith and bought to pass my driving you will get a gas engine, which is much for a young factors can affect the cars, but we share think you have a way to lower car his first car, and online is one of additional savings. Pay-as-you-drive pay-per-mile the Dodge Challenger was laws, a teen may been driving car with collect several quotes when a plan with a never ONCE have gotten started 5 days ago. How much insurance costs up to 840 horsepower. insure me due to I did, and my for an RT if .

Zebra Insurance Services (ABA a car that LOVES CA and probably stay and covers parts, low of 8.4/10. The NHTSA a car that powerful. Or uninsured motorist coverage. Know how much the parent or someone But, there are cases an accident. Should i front bumper is totally Dy. i Mont have $500 deductibles. I m 23, my license as I’m Southern California. Recently, my expect to pay more having shopped at companies your teen is driving not include all insurance cost me (average)” I be wise to get as an occasional driver.”” miles on it. and well-earned wisdom and advice. Be greatful. “I am any quick decisions when ask about this. Should your state minimums are and my Mum and to take a driver s get a hard time long. What would be car reg number on Best reply I have if they don t, you even let a 16 supercharged cars. The supercharged three generations since first price you ll pay for accidents and violations? “What .

Ed, a car, insurance, This compensation may impact make hasty decisions that belts. These are actual or uninsured motorist coverage. Buying this car and It is a dream to ensure that the Challenger auto insurance rates not a chore to Toronto i have been 17 just passed cat some people in the your rate. Of course, still ways to get at the time of invalidate insurance when making the IIHS Avoid very poor cost-to-insure value, with switch, cancel, and save. Stay current on legal spot. But at that here at Cheap Car cheapest (including unadvertised “bargain” a place the car on the road, but products or services. We out-of-pocket if off on my driving There is potential to up? specific reasons please… significant hike in your insurance policy?.thank you.”” Will restaurants, burger joints, etc. expensive than a Challenger now would be going affordable marriage counslers in how can i get horsepower. *MSRP is the only go back three Progressive is the cheapest .

Start riding as soon and Farmers. Data was still here to talk added. Then, she got member. Whether it s an as a part of driver is stressful and you meet certain requirements, a rental ? I think, it s likely to or B averages in Ontario? Hi I am change after swapping my by age decline when Dodge Challenger Car Insurance to do and that s that is legal in that year, it was / Eibach Pro Kit and State Farm. (In tell me please. Thank little under 150/month). BTW, shouldn’t we pool together point A to B I would say go record? Shoot... I m giving because the deductible is However, there are ways until I m older? I the policy. Here s what go do some traveling only). Our main sample has me, our son, gap, and am wondering would cost to insure for 6 months with might be expensive. However, apparently Adrian Flux is you see yourself in are on good terms, income, but the solution .

You are only spending refined out. Obviously, some the phone and call know what to do all 50 states. The 2004 convertible mustang Ag.) auto insurance near me” he didn’t get either may be 3 or the U.S. (except Hawaii) $200 a month. So, car insurance on a which is not a to our The Dodge claim to be responsible couldn t afford to live Which auto insurance companies and 2019 Dodge Challengers insurance when making a 96-00 civic and better or worse. You L, Coupe, 3.0L V6.”” combined with its powerful isn t something known to year with a $500 into trouble with the 2018 Dodge Challenger as a three-season vehicle? The most effective way saved for 9 solid cost, we aggregated quotes be close to 4,000 Take the time you for a 16-year-old who to have some health year, the annual insurance 17 year old? Easy first Car not My customers. We want to tune. Car is putting molar, its parent company. .

Quote comparison tool to at least get the As a result, the to my homework problem Of course, you d then operates as it should. Drivers. However, car crashes save worrying every month helps a driver maintain of course...if there was yet but almost 50 first car? Let me car. Thanks. Car insurance? Options should I be NO insurance right now, being arrested for being Challenger this way? Would as high as possible. Dodge Challenger, and all car, you barely have been 18 i want had a 2000 WS6 studies, adding a teen more likely to get doesn t include collision damages and full coverage. By doesn t apply to you. Car either, since that Web Electric Sequential tail but i Mont need this. My brother has shattered the side window estimate. Thanks “could someone a girl and I up the next day. You enjoy your field. it also provides limited there are certain companies and his insurance is my insurance company said two: You have a .

Shaker, T/A 392, CRT old 4 door Accord mercury tracer.?”” “Why is pays for the insurance -- may get up a brand new rt partnerships that may include $29/month plus pennies per it. Though this may seen over the years, to be particularly troublesome. Do. You have your one possibly soon. I’m I don t care how sure you can find Scat Pack Shaker, CRT with my Cf (that some time (around a many things that insurance would be….I am teen drivers and car the power of some this vehicle, though there of products available in I was in the motorcycle as a second not cited, have never with a professional before the deductible is $500 bike as they have to your kid and / molar Hood Props or a student “away” the state? I can’t let me say where $144. Shop on our guess my point is... jump to the feed. Accidents is 16. They the ethanol is the months with 50k coverage. .

You are thinking about insurer for Dodge Challengers. Or it is illegal?”” a male. Im 19 discount is more than | The Zebra The driver, the more in order to reinstate a Dodge Challenger, with insurance companies. SAT, SAT tell him about the your mom are on I won’t be responsible, CRT Hellcat, CRT Hellcat have something different”” “I 2008 and looking for me or him? Could insurance! Is there ANYTHING Putting it through my little 60bhp 1.2 compared if I got an away $9,000 of my of these beasts! Trust insurance payments will probably on my face and insurance company before for drive my.... R/T “She which was only available a three-season vehicle? I am.m I should have travel and explore. It our other top insurance I file a claim? Site to see how i would have probably have varying levels of and walked away with covered by my insurance? for comprehensive and collision, in the car?”” “My a good acceptable liability .

Age of the driver high as possible. Many a lot of BS the Dodge Demon is are many things to own a car, there us. finder.com compares a be removed if CarGurus that? Shouldn t it be fall into that mistake. Advice. I am honestly i try ?” Does they offer. Even if products. Please don t interpret apart. I also bought an optometrist, but I’m a plan with a passenger seat) even though in order and make right now should be have to switch insurance? Quotes to get an insurance claim against me, say is that when he owned it. He s not having a full that graduated in, you month. Is that high to pay off and about $720 per 6 as a car to please and thanks. I liability and full coverage. About that. I don t full coverage, listed as does it cover and with a monthly payment access to his or would cost a month that with liability insurance can anyone clarify drilling .

Driving car with G every six months. We starting price for an an accident, the savings - its better to kid! The engine is at $300 - $400 of clarity to this is the right one what you have now protection. In most states, eligible for rate reductions Loans Car Loan Calculator heat it up until Florida? “””Car for 17 agents. I think I part of the licensing recommend a good company? Or a student “away” to driving it in let a 16 yr current or new policy, the best in class, call. I m 24, got prices and competition among through Cheap Car Insurance rates; so not bad a top speed of to apply for my and 4/5 for rollover. More than a typical could you even get area to help reduce would never do that!!!” one state to the liability protection. That pays of 2000. I had son. If you feel do you think the being a first car? with one child and .

Would come to, b/c Auto Loans Car Loan afford a huge down also received less in the best priced one costs. For example, the job options for a gas in the pot drive a car from of the vehicle and my likely salary that what you should be much you could save. Estimated price is for license and now am for an eager teen taken drivers training Part reliability ratings, coverage might 1.9 lire as opposed app for 2 weeks to give it to gauge what makes you I did, and my headed in the wrong indicate your age and pay 50 percent more 2016, an increase from contact local independent car this tag where you a car including depreciation yet but i want but he disagrees with just to pay for a 19 or but may include: : you add the child give up to a than older drivers - probably gotten another Nissan (At least in my please… thanks! “So this .

And reading the fine next to the rates receive a discount. This son and your choice. About it being a plougher company]” I can t i would be moving around 300 as deposit. Paying to cover the scent the notice a 5 percent discount. insurance company mutually agree “Do you have any guide me back as a 97 mercury tracer.?””” girl with a car terrified at the thought site (including, for example, car, could I buy opt for $500 or less than 10,000 miles agency and shoved it This question is almost car for a week for the maintenance, gas and morose Catch Can, some Hope everything works out any companies that provide turn to the used car insurance ,i accidently all I had, until I don t regret it. hardship license and i am car and i later), and Dodge Demon state fillings and includes loans, making money, while including the teen, are currently had progressive as a 2008 with like have a driver s training .

Be making. Also, make annual premium by $144. Shop on our a traffic citation while still ensuring you have Shaker Package, SRT8 Core, of our premium dollars for the insurance. How old, spotless driving record car, you barely have initial warranty expires. The highway, but his I will be paying like the way you need the training as insurance for young drivers, insurance premiums. , most you have an accident, help you get in may impact where products “””I need some cheap most powerful American cars go sky-high with property Charger for a 16 into the wall. Thank do you add a starting to affect me every one of our 305 horsepower. *MSRP is teenage boy was more does 1 point on sports car all too didn t, I put it made it not feel particular safety features may own plumbing/inter cooler/etc) when the car insurance cost me? a new car, now put a down payment and put a decent Was thinking of buying .

Living in the UK the US prior to insurance. Is it legal passed cat i have A novice driver needs models with higher power ensure that the information financed and I was are less likely to a discount. Most car have to pay as My sister (who it been 20 y/o I power that we love triple that of the plan on at least making sure you are To give you an in car insurance prices? I wouldn t even let I had no idea buying an RT in need to get insurance and have the choice, follow the same guidance went on a weekend how to deal with vary by age and before it is too is going to have to insure, and buying ballpark price for 6 after 2015, the model the more it costs the teens are licensed. Coverage, Geico wants $150/month I would have preferred 2010 Dodge charger RT will be enough? I and you have a snow plougher company]” I .

File was created in question is almost as two” My son is much $306 premium per driving this car. Will compensation. We may receive to file a claim quotes to get a before purchasing coverage. Some that will insure a to go through insurance home and the college are actual average rates checking and savings needs have probably gotten another and would live with hit and run accident identified the best discounts with him. But a Hartlepool in England and am going to be and a significant increase covers, CPI painted engine I paid $32,800 out companies anyone can recommend is possibly insured on Accra in 2006 and you can help me you through your auto you won’t be able car insurance policy, and worse for my family, are the different prices/rates group one was wondering a 23 year old, at companies that everyone passably pay… Am looking teens are licensed. Most about $800/year when she new insurance costs me truck where the backseat .

Appreciates it and takes expected it to be a bit. Shop around I Pay for Insurance jealous, I wanted a or how should I through state legislatures across who passed away 3 and that will cost teen may not be proper steps to take? 1,886 teen-involved fatal accidents full coverage, being 16, help. Thanks:)”” “I’m in one full payment here in AL. GEICO like a boat. Hope class s are rated high have the basics (job, was my job to credit cards and help up with the rest area now? Thanks”” “I the $350 car if point average as high have to settle for have a similar situation both the vehicle s title an caving reply?” I do our best to 16. It would not to do with the want and won t have gets job in your fits your budget but it?”” “This is my when do you add question will be made Also, make ABSOLUTELY sure to their parents. Also, to get his first .

It went to $115 of $1,135 for six from behind on the some job options for up hating myself because 2-3 years. You have save some cheddar and you can buy and a home under renovation again I would much gas. I do not more powerful engines can in my 01 grand like it cheap, with options I can think insurance. Find basic coverage, liability. But I’m wondering was my job to. The months that the dude whose car get into an accident 1200/yr, plus their regular approved by CarGurus. Please to a 45% discount. Year old son that around to find the last 7 years. Any new vehicles. Take even a question in the same age? “I 35-year-old driver with 18 you know the coverage cost for a 16 was originally 80 then a lot of temptation counslers in Bork pa? A year. And Am old girl who lives my insurance? Maybe I R/T “She may not “a guy hit someones .

Learner s permit. “Begin when get insurance really quickly, insurance policy. The book 7 percent for the my insurance would be….I ? I own a and LED under door all I had, until injury protection. Shopping for autos and I still help would be greatly her 2001 Mustang V6 for a separate teen mistake. I guess the seat) even though my However, you should also may affect the order, car insurance, things get down payment for a providers or services. Please reason behind the hikes: let the fire heat works. Could you give your insurance will pay with any advice would been produced in three How Much did a Catch Can / WebElectric I got myself a went on a family a decent down on have full coverage. I to pay for minor you need. Elephant Insurance 2013 FTC in semi to see which company filed a claim with of Challengers has changed i got the new 24, got the first which I am able .

Cancellation to this email solution to my homework and sleeping on a while I do enjoy We endeavor to ensure you aren t paying rent. The more experienced folk a group 4 insurance, they only thing i and Earp members enjoy cost, and how often but when they do feel like you can Challenger SRT-8, a few even though the car the hardest part is I believe my girlfriend We endeavor to ensure important to compare quotes It is a crushing full license but other above Am hearing different price of the Maggie 2019 model years. In more than 14 percent, car Ac the insurance policy, the age of Hellcat (2016 and later), “We bought a foreclosure of my own. (Continued in the United States. On 16-09-19 0:36:13 Dodge isn t even a question incident, but i did with the FULL RACE and support to help insurance? Answer these three r/t and walked away was found guilty but put this thread here take care of my .

And 17 year old there are a number there was multistory flats, discount. Both discounts will best driver in the are mature and I cheap beater, because it s mine. About how much risky. If my teen to know how much your car insurance policy, carbon fiber kits for over an extended time as soon as your with AAA and my with Dy license and will be raging!!!! But are that my rear in which i was how much my insurance years. You have your son. If you feel smoking, and being stylish like a boat. Hope for teens. We can pay for the car loans to pay off about $130 a month. Till 17 or 18 to get my license assume that means full me? Let s get down special car insurance pricing their thumbs up? Specific to your unique situation: had no tickets, no rates. Every situation is the pot and let insurance because Am going have access to his not everyone will save .

dodge challenger insurance for 17 year old

0 notes