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What to Know When Starting an Import/Export Business in Hong Kong

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International trade has been a cornerstone of humanity almost since inception. It’s allowed ancient civilisations to prosper from local resources, while accessing what they didn’t have the supplies or means to produce themselves. In a modern context, it’s how we’re able to consume goods – food, clothes, furniture etc. – from all over the globe.  

Today, a complex web of import and export businesses, small and large, are responsible for the sale and distribution of a variety of products and services. Each business could handle importing, exporting, or both, operating as manufacturer representatives or independent merchants. 

It’s big business too – accounting for billions of dollars moving between economies every year. Whether due to availability, reputation or price, countries clamour to import goods that are produced more efficiently elsewhere.  

So where do you start? One hotspot you may look to establish an import/export business in is Hong Kong. But what is its status on the international trade market, and what factors should you consider when setting up?       

Hong Kong’s status in international trade 

Figures released in late 2019 highlighted how Hong Kong’s merchandise trade increased by almost 8% in 2018 to the value of $1,138 billion. The import and export sector accounts for 17.5% of the region’s GDP – employing close to 475,000 people across nearly 100,000 businesses.  

Trading firms are active in a variety of profitable markets, including raw materials, machinery, and consumer goods. Products are sourced locally, from around the region for re-exporting, as well as from other countries to be shipped elsewhere without passing through Hong Kong. The region’s offshore trade was estimated at $571 billion in 2017. 

Hong Kong’s geostrategic location is a key reason for its popularity with global brands and traders, offering access to both mainland China, a global superpower, as well as the up and coming ASEAN region.

It boasts one of the world’s busiest ports as well as what is widely regarded as the best international airport. It’s also a leading financial center, thanks in part to its low taxation and open economy. In summary, there’s lots to like for manufacturers, importers and exporters.    

What to cover before launching your import/export business venture

There are various steps any import/export business will need to take to stand a chance of success in Hong Kong. First things first is to register your business in the region and acquire local licenses. 

You’ll then need to pick a product to import or export. Firms in Hong Kong tend to specialise in an industry and represent one or more international brands. Remember, it could be worth monitoring currencies with a trading platform as your transactions will be sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations.  

Next is to build relationships and find the suppliers you want to buy from or represent. From here you can price the product itself as well as the value of the services you plan to offer on top. Finding customers is next on your agenda, so it’s a good idea to contact Hong Kong’s trade consulates, embassies and so on.  

The final step is to get the logistics down. Your best bet will be to hire a local transport agent – of which Hong Kong has many – to handle shipping agreements while abiding by local regulations.

Where will your import/export business take you?    

Best Contactless Ordering Options for Restaurants

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Best Contactless Ordering Options for Restaurants

Technology has become a key part of many people’s lives in this day and age. So, if you’re looking to boost your restaurant and improve your reputation, then you’re going to have to embrace newer methods that will probably involve significant use of technology. 

In 2021, contactless ordering options are a popular method. This is due to the convenience, of course, but also due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has limited our collective ability to do most things as a close-quartered group. 

The biggest and most popular restaurants of today all utilize contactless means of purchasing and fulfilling restaurant orders. Here are some of the best options for doing so: 

A Custom App

Many different hospitality establishments will have an in-house ordering system that can be used via an app on one’s smartphone. Options for checking in, stating the table number, and requesting an order are good things to include in your app. 

A restaurant ordering app seems to be a staple in a successful modern business. Work with a developer that can help to create an app that is exclusive to your restaurant- it’ll make work easier and it’ll enhance your reputation. 

Working With A Third-Party  

If you team up with a company like Postmates, Doordash, Just Eat, and other food delivery firms, then you’ll be able to acquire top-quality means of delivery and even some added marketing.

These third-party delivery companies will do the hard work for you in terms of distribution while you take care of things on your end. It helps productivity while satisfying a wider range of customers.

Improve Traditional Delivery Methods

If your restaurant already delivers without third-party involvement, then you could consider improving the delivery service your business offers. 

Consider adding a food tracker so that the customer can know their order’s progress while they wait for arrival. Be as detailed as you can- there’s no such thing as too much communication with regard to getting a customer what they need. 

Also consider a commitment to fast delivery, or extending your delivery radius. This can help your restaurant to appeal to more customers.

Curbside Pickup 

Curbside pickup has become a popular method of restaurant service. Allowing customers to drive up to a designated parking spot and having an employee bring their food out to them increases customer convenience, especially if they are already out and about.

While home delivery might seem like the best option, there are many different circumstances. If you’re able to utilize curbside pickup in a multitude of ways, then you’re going to be able to appeal to a variety of different customers. 

In-Store Contactless Pickup 

Allowing customers to order at home and pick up their goods in-store is another important method. Creating a collection point for people to grab their food and go allows customers to get what they want when they want it, without having to wait in line. 

COVID-19 will be around for a little while longer, so contactless pickup will be necessary for at the least time being. It’s a swift method of transaction and one that will be used more and more frequently as we move forward. 

Dating and Your Look: How to Improve Your Prospects

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Dating and Your Look: How to Improve Your Prospects

The dating world seems to have slowed immensely with social distancing restrictions being enforced. People that are just getting back on the dating market might need to change their look a bit. A person that has not been on a date for a decade due to being in a long-term relationship might be a bit rusty. Presenting the best version of yourself is important as competition levels are high due to online dating apps. The odds are that you will just have to make a few changes to your daily routine to improve your health. Focusing on your look will see it improve over time. The following are ways to improve your prospects when dating by improving your look. 

Start Eating Right

The first step of getting into shape is starting to eat in a healthy manner. People getting out of relationships might have gained weight over the course of time. Now that you are single, you need to tone your body up. The right diet can help immensely with the health of your skin as well as your hair. See a nutritionist and express your goals so they can put you on a realistic meal plan. You would be surprised as to how much better that you feel after eating healthily. There are so many challenges that you can take part in online that will help you jumpstart your diet.

Exercise Daily

Getting into shape can be a nightmare for some that do not enjoy going to the gym. Finding something that you enjoy doing that is also active is important. Swimming can be a great workout that incorporates all of your muscle groups. Pickup sports games is another way to stay in shape as competing can make you forget you are exercising. The most important part of exercising is making sure that you are doing it consistently. Sporadic exercise will not generate the results that you want like sticking to a workout program. Start slow as you do not want to do too much too quickly and injure yourself. Recovery is just as important as exercise so make this a priority to take your workouts to the next level. 

Whiten Your Smile 

Brushing your teeth for a few extra minutes per day can make all of the difference. Seeing a dentist in Cary or another part of the Triangle Area biannually for cleanings should be done. You can stay proactive when it comes to your dental health. Start using mouthwash regularly as this can reduce the chances for any gum conditions. Flossing is something that you can do daily that will become better with time. Flossing could hurt when you first start doing it as your gums might not be in the best health. Avoiding excessive tea or coffee drinking is also important as these drinks can cause stains. 

Dating will improve with time as you become more experienced in dating in today’s digital world. Put your best foot forward by improving your look. 

Tools and Tactics to Double your Search Traffic

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In the current online marketplace, stiff competition demands that marketers get more creative to tap more traffic onto their websites. There are lots of tools and techniques to use for this purpose. Without a clear roadmap and an understanding of various factors that affect and influence online presence, your effort to increase traffic will not be efficiently fruitful. 

The most basic role that your website must play is helping you to connect with your audience according to hostingfoundry.com. It should also help you to recruit more prospects and increase interactions. These objectives cannot be achieved without work and effort. Knowing what to do at each point of online growth is key to your overall success. In the discussion that follows, we look at various tools and tactics available for use by marketers working to increase traffic to their websites.

Firstly, let’s see some tactics that work the magic.

Conduct a thorough SEO Audit

An SEO audit helps you to understand your website needs inside-out and you need to make it frequent. This strategic examination of your website gives you a clear picture of what needs to be done to improve performance. Here are key SEO aspects to look out for during your audit.

Keywords choice and placement

 keywords remain one of the most important SEO factors that influence ranking, performance, and traffic. During your audit, evaluate how various keywords have been used and their effectiveness on your posts. Find out whether your audience is searching for content using the particular keywords and also evaluate what competitors are using to drive traffic to their websites.

  • URL

The URL is the web address or internet address that correctly directs your audience to your website and to particular posts within your websites. Properly formatting the URL is key and essential part of visibility.

  • Site Speed

With thousands of websites competing for similar audiences, site speed becomes a critical defining factor. Web visitors will quickly move to a site that loads faster and gives relevant answers to their queries. Ensure that photos, videos, infographics as well as plugins used on your website do not slow down site speed.

Understand What Your Target Customers Want

You will get ahead of your competition if you have a clear understanding of your audience. This allows you to address their needs and create content that is relevant to them. It’s the only thing that will make them come back for more and tell others about it. Address your audience in a manner that feels personal to them so that your message provides a solution to their problem.

You will only double the traffic to your website if it helps solve a given problem for your target audience in a timely manner. Make every effort to be solution-oriented. Most website visitors are very clear in mind on the kind of content they are looking for, and they know when they land on it. This underlines the importance of profiling your target audience in order to cater to their desires more responsively.

Optimize Your Landing Pages

Landing pages help to take conversations to a higher level. Using landing pages, you are able to provide elaborate information and even gauge customer’s interests in particular subjects. 

Social media pages, blog posts as well as home pages help to kickstart the conversation and hook your audience to the discussion. If you have to create landing pages where you direct web visitors, ensure they are more detailed and add value to your content. This is where the curiosity of your clients is settled as they have a chance to read more and engage with your content.

Social Media Posts Should Give Value to the Site

Leverage on social media to give your website more visibility and traffic. Social media is indeed a powerful tool that can be useful in reaching the right target audience. It’s also engaging and good at giving important highlights before sending the audience to your website.

Social media platforms and websites work symbiotically; you use social media to promote and send potential clients to your website, but you also ask web visitors to share content through social media platforms. This is how you add value to the website using social media. Take advantage of authoritative sites such as Quora, Blogger, and Slideshare to promote your brand.

Understand Your Audience 

The success of any online business lies in understanding your audience. Once this is done, you are able to connect in a way that helps you to engage. As your business grows, you will need to categorize your audiences appropriately for you to provide exactly what gets them interested. 

Define your audience by age, gender, education level, geolocation, hobbies, among other metrics. Experienced Adelaide SEO Consultant and other online gurus observe that although it takes time to completely define and identify your audiences with specificity, these efforts eventually pay off and you steadily see your numbers double the number of visitors to your site.

Optimize your Website for Mobile

More than 60% of web searches today are performed over mobile devices. This underscores the need to have your website working well on mobile devices just as it would on desktops. 

Important aspects to take care of and ensure they have proper visibility and fast loading speeds on mobile include videos, photos, and infographics. Also, ensure that your site is well organized and easy to navigate on mobile. If you have an e-commerce site where payment is needed, make sure it is as easy on mobile just like on a desktop.

Tools to help you increase traffic

There are several useful software that can help you accelerate traffic to your website. Here are just a few to light up your online success journey.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs provides a selection of well-enhanced toolset that is can help you enhance the performance of your site. With Ahrefs tools, you are able to conduct a website audit, analyze competitors, tranking your ranking, and even evaluate your keywords. One of the latest additions to this toolset is Content Explorer which allows you to identify topics that are widely shared on social media in any niche. With this, you can refresh ideas for your content and get to see what audiences are most interested in.

UberSuggest

Ubersuggest helps content creators to generate new keyword ideas, pick out the things you aren’t doing right on your website, and also give suggestions on ways to increase traffic. In recent times, this SEO tool has significantly expanding to give creators an insight into important approaches to their content journey.

This site is quite insightful as it also provides competitor reports using measures such as top domains as ranked through traffic reports. Such highlights are critical to the online success journey, particularly when seeking ways to increase traffic and improve your content marketing approaches.

Google Analytics

Since 2005, Google Analytics has been a distinguished tool for content marketers seeking to leverage on traffic, advertising as well as social networking.

This tool provides an in-depth analysis in terms of web visitor behavior. In other words, Google Analytics allows you to gauge how your customers interact with your content, picking out elements such as bounce rates, new visits, and the average duration per visit, and so on. All these factors aim to give you a clear picture of how your content is performing and what needs to be worked on for you’re website to perform competitively.

PowToon

Video has now become a crucial part of content creation. Whether you use it as the only way to build your content or use it to compliment your content marketing strategies, video today is highly valued and completely changes the way audiences interact with your content online. 

PowToon is a tool used to create animated videos and presentations. The cloud-based animation software helps creators to make explainer videos even if they don’t have advanced skills in video making. 

The growing interest in content based on video should encourage content creators to invest more in this game-changer. One study revealed that 59% of site users and prospective customers might choose to watch a video rather than read plain text. Providing this option nearly guarantees you increased traffic to your site and more time spent perusing your content.

TrendSpottr

For content creators, TrendSpottr is a good predictive tool that brands, marketers, as well as PR professionals, can use to identify emerging trends, viral topics as well as the most suitable influencers in particular topics. This intelligence-based tool helps marketers to point out what audiences are desperately looking for, placing you in a position where you create content that responds to their immediate needs. Such a tool puts creators in a position where they understand audiences better, thus helping to create content that is relevant and timely. This is crucial for online success.

Conclusion

Online success requires a deliberate combination of factors all aimed at a single objective; to attract increased traffic. This also means that there is no single way to scale up your online journey. The tools and tactics discussed herein offer a simplified way of increasing web visitors and effectively raising your chances of converting prospects into paying customers.

7 Awesome Benefits of Couples Therapy

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7 Awesome Benefits of Couples Therapy

Couples who undergo counseling together before marriage have a 30% higher marital success than those who don’t. 

Couple therapy is a dedicated time to clear the air, strengthen your bond, and find practical ways to move forward. Perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the benefits of couples therapy and want to learn more.

Sounds familiar? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. Here are seven to consider.

What Is Couples Therapy?

“What is couples therapy?” You ask. 

Couples counseling is when a therapist with clinical experience helps two people gain insight into their relationship, resolve any issues, and improve their quality of life together. You needn’t be in a romantic relationship to benefit from couples therapy, it’s also useful for siblings, parents and child, and even business partners. 

Wondering “How does couples therapy work?” 

The couple will ask standard interview questions about the history of the relationship as well as the partner’s values, cultural background, and history. The therapist will then help couples identify the problems and create goals so they arrive at a solution.

You’re still on the fence about couple therapy. To help you, check out these benefits of couples counseling. For example:

1. Helps You See the Other Perspective 

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the other side of the argument when you’re deep into it. Mixed communication is the cause of many conflicts so it’s good to be in a space where each partner can discuss what has been troubling them. 

Here, the therapist will help you navigate your partner’s emotions and thought process so you understand where they’re coming from. If this is a recurring issue, then consider a couple’s retreat where you can discover more about your partner and find ways to strengthen your bond.  

2. Resolve Obstacles Early On 

Arguing in a relationship is healthy in small doses but consistent fighting eventually weakens your relationship. Many couples go to therapy once these small issues have grown into massive ordeals whether it’s about starting a family or a lack of trust.

But you should consider couple therapy early on to pinpoint problems. It’s easier to work through the smaller issues so they don’t threaten your relationship later on. 

Further, it’s key to solve any issues if you’ve got children around. Kids pick up traits of what they see and hear so you must find ways to remove conflict from your relationship.

3. Strengthens Intimacy and Connection

The start of a relationship is filled with feelings of warmth, love, and generosity for your partner. Naturally, the “honeymoon period” subsides as you learn more about your partner and relationship dynamic against the backdrop of your lives.

Many people forget to prioritize quality time while others feel too exhausted to work on their relationship. This makes couples therapy invaluable because it reminds partners to spend more time together and reignite the spark.

4. Promotes Self-Awareness 

Couples therapy also looks at you both individually. Meeting your therapist will highlight your unique personality, thought processes, and what motivates you in life. 

Although couple therapy mainly focuses on your relationship, it also reveals how you treat other people like friends and coworkers. As a result, you’ll transform other areas of your lives simply by attending couples therapy. 

Plus, having space where you can be honest about personal problems will make you happier in the long run. You’ll be at peace which means you can be present with your partner and treat them better.

5. Lets You Clarify Your Feelings 

Sometimes we don’t know how we feel about our partner and if we want to move forward in the relationship. But when you have a set time with a licensed therapist, you can deconstruct your thoughts and feelings so you know the next step. 

Plus, your therapist will shine a light on parts of your relationship you’ve overlooked which gives you a fresh perspective.

6. Improved Communication 

Around 57.7% of couples divorce because of arguing and a lack of communication. 

It’s important to voice our needs and fears while acknowledging our partners’ voices. But realistically, it’s difficult to have perfect communication which is why couples therapy is crucial.

A reputable therapist is trained to highlight poor communication habits and teach both partners how to communicate effectively. Attending a therapy session is a great start because you’re both talking openly and honestly about your relationship. 

Eventually, you’ll both learn to resolve problems so your bond stays strong even during tough times.

7. Reestablishes Your Commitments 

Couples therapy lets you discuss any worries you have about commitments. These could be having children, financial, or a general commitment to nurturing the relationship.

Your level of commitment can be influenced by personal interests, concerns, and fears so you must both be honest about them. The therapist will explain what commitment means and why you can’t be vague with it as it could upset the other party. 

During the session, both partners should air their fears and reach a practical agreement so everyone leaves happy.

Those Are the Benefits of Couples Therapy

Hopefully, after reading this article, you now know the benefits of couples therapy. 

Couples therapy lets you listen, empathize, and deal with any issues in the relationship. The licensed therapist will help you reestablish your commitments, improve your communication, and eliminate problems that could arrive in the future. Make sure you use the time wisely and work with your partner towards a better relationship. Good luck!

Did you find this article helpful? If yes, check out our posts on everything from Business to Relationships. 

No-Nonsense Guide to Failed Payment for Businesses

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No-Nonsense Guide to Failed Payment for Businesses

Have you ever gotten an angry email from one of your company’s vendors? These are the emails reminding you that you have an outstanding balance that’s still due.

But you think to yourself, hey, didn’t I make that payment? Don’t we have automatic payments set up?

It’s likely that your business experienced a failed payment. This happens on occasion and can have serious consequences for your business.

Most fledgling startups might think of a payment failure as a minor inconvenience.

However, it’s imperative to set systems in place to avoid future instances of payment failures. 

Here’s what you need to know about a failed payment in your business:

1. What a Failed Payment Does

This happens when a payment is unable to reach its intended recipient. It doesn’t mean that the payee doesn’t wish to make the payment.

There might be a connection issue, a bank error, or any other issues for the failed payment.

Usually, the payee gets informed of the failed payment. Afterward, the payee can figure out how to rectify the payment.

But why are failed payments such an issue? It can result in involuntary churn. For example, a vendor might cancel an order as a result of a failed payment.

You’ll have to go through the hassle of placing an order from scratch. This can delay you providing your products/services to your customers. 

We’ll discuss more details about involuntary churn later in this guide.

As a result, you want to figure out how to reduce failed payments as much as possible. Let’s have a look at what you can do.

2. Insufficient Funds

For many of your services, you’ve likely set up automatic billing. The vendor will deduct the funds on a set date from your funding source — such as a bank account.

As a result, you want to make sure you always have sufficient funds. One of the best ways to do this is to write down your expected expenses each month.

Here’s an example of a company’s monthly expenses:

  • $1000 for ordering goods from the manufacturer
  • $200 for internet connection
  • $100 for web hosting services
  • $700 for labor costs

In total, this company spends $3,000each month for its expenses. It needs to make sure that its funding source always contains a minimum of $3,000 at all times.

To be on the safe side, it’s best to have extra funds in case of emergencies. 

3. Incorrect Information

You also want to make sure your funding information is always correct. One of the most common reasons why a payment fails is because you forget to update your new bank account information. 

Your first step after opening your new business bank account is to update this information for all your vendors. What if you get a new business credit card? Make sure you update this information with all your vendors.

If you use payment authorization services such as Stripe and PayPal, make sure you update them with your new funding sources.

With bank accounts, it might take a few business days to update with payment authorization services. As a result, you want to do this as soon as possible.

4. What Involuntary Churn Does

Let’s look a bit deeper into involuntary churn now. If your vendors get regular failed payments from you, they might lose trust in your company altogether.

This can mean that you lose vendors that provide the goods you sell. It can take weeks or even months to find the next vendors for your brand.

In the meantime, you can expect your customers to get frustrated with your low inventory. What about your customers? How does involuntary churn affect them?

Think about the major online retailers today. How often do you have issues making payments on Amazon?

Most likely, these incidents have been rare or you haven’t experienced it at all! This reliability is what keeps Amazon’s dominance as the foremost online retailer.

But what if you dealt with a smaller online store? What if you received an email stating “Sorry, your order didn’t go through. Please try again!”

Eventually, you’ll get tired of trying and the online store has lost a customer.

You want to make sure this doesn’t happen to your business. You have to expect that most customers will be impatient and will move onto the next retailer.

5. Dunning Software

If you want your business to run efficiently, you want to find a way to reduce payment failure as fast as possible. The best way is through use dunning software.

Dunning software makes it faster to address payment failures without you having to do it manually.

For example, you can set up automatic retries with the dunning software. This means that if a payment fails, the software will attempt another payment a few times. If one funding source fails, the dunning software will use a backup funding source for payment.

If your customer’s make a failed payment, the dunning software will send them reminder emails to retry the payment. This is the most efficient method to improve your payment success rate.

6. Failed Payment Recovery

The final step is to set up a process for failed payment recovery. Make sure you assign at least one team member to handle this process.

The first step is to make sure you have at least two funding sources. If one bank account has insufficient funds, there should be another with sufficient funds.

To return to the previous example, consider having two bank accounts that have enough funds to cover the monthly expenses.

Make sure that your company has at least two credit cards for making payments. Use at least two payment processing services to receive payments from customers.

You should also diversify payment options for your customers. These include credit card payments, ACH payments, eChecks, and cryptocurrencies.

The more choices there are, the greater the likelihood of a customer retrying their payment if one payment option fails.

Reduce Payment Failures

Now you know the issues surrounding a failed payment and how to prevent these for your business. Start by keeping records of how many expenses you owe each month. Keep track of how many failed payments have already occurred.

Create multiple funding sources for sending and receiving payments. Choose a dunning software to ensure you can always collect payments from customers.

Please share this guide with other business owners. There’s more great content on entrepreneurship on our website.

How to Effectively Negotiate the Salary You Deserve

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How to Effectively Negotiate the Salary You Deserve

With so many people either out of work or in jeopardy of losing their jobs, it’s not surprising that when you finally get a job offer you might be hesitant to ask for a higher rate of pay. However, if you have special skills and an impressive resume, you can still demand competitive wages. Here’s how to effectively negotiate the salary you deserve.

Do Your Research to Get The Highest Salary You Can

A recent survey of employers found that 53 percent are willing to negotiate salaries with entry-level employees during an initial job offer, and 52 percent of employers usually offer lower than they’re willing to pay during an interview. 

This means that there’s typically room to negotiate, so know what you’re worth and don’t be afraid to make a counteroffer. If you’re negotiating while employed by same employer, don’t fear retaliation because it’s against the law. This San Francisco wrongful termination attorney has aided plenty of workers fired for simply negotiating their salary. 

Go into Salary Negotiations With A Positive Attitude

The last thing you want to do is come off as confrontational or with a defensive attitude. Remember that you and your potential employer are on the same side and a cooperative attitude will go a long way to making you both happy. Show enthusiasm, be pleasant and present a successful mindset, and things will be more likely to go your way.

Remember to Factor in Perks And Benefits

Salary and take-home pay are just one factor in your total compensation. Don’t forget to factor in benefits such as health insurance, vacation time, personal days, bonuses, retirement plans, and other benefits so you can make an informed decision. 

You’ll also want to factor in professional development opportunities and job growth potential before you make your final decision. Also, make sure all of these promises are met by your employer. You can rely on a wrongful termination for seeking payment of wages attorney if they are not. 

Don’t Fail to Build Your Case for Why You Deserve A Better Salary

If you receive an offer, you don’t want to simply counter with a higher salary. You should be prepared to explain why you are asking for a higher salary. Before you go in, jot down your strengths and special skills, and tie them to the new job you’ll be doing. By explaining how you will benefit the company, you can make a solid case for an increase in pay.

Don’t Make It All About You

Most employers are just as uncomfortable negotiating salaries as you are, so keeping a positive attitude is important for effectively pleading your case. All too often job seekers settle for the first offer they’re given out of fear of speaking up, but if you’re not happy with the starting offer the only way you will be happy is to ask for what you want from the get-go.

Don’t Forget To Get It In Writing

After you and the employer settle on a compensation package that you are both happy with, you’ll want to get it in writing. This is a binding document that should include your salary, as well as your complete job description, responsibilities for your new role, signing bonus, moving expenses, and other benefits. Get a signed copy by both you and your new employer.

Bo Parfet’s Best Health Advice: Be Kind to Yourself

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Bo Parfet’s Best Health Advice: Be Kind to Yourself

A successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, naturalist, author, and mountaineer, Bo Parfet has earned his stars through hard work, dedication, and developing the courage to take calculated risks. Having grown up facing many personal challenges, including overcoming a learning disability, and having taken non-traditional paths throughout his professional career, Parfet is no stranger to criticism.

Often, when people are criticized, whether for things within or outside of their control, they shut down, often becoming anxious and self-conscious. They might lose a small part of themselves and their drive for success, opting for the path of ease and comfortability. That’s not what Bo Parfet did. 

Parfet is a man of strong will and determination. He takes risks, and he succeeds. He attributes much of his success to the positive mindset he has tirelessly worked to cultivate and to the people with whom he surrounds himself. While he is an advocate of holistic health–healthy mind, healthy body, healthy spirit–Parfet shares that the most important thing one can do to ensure success and health is treating one’s self with kindness.

Being kind to yourself is a critical component in building an adaptive attitude towards both challenge and failure. Self-compassion allows for better recovery from unexpected inevitable setbacks and disasters life throws in the way. Bo Parfet has worked hard to build his physical and mental health, and he shares three questions that we can ask ourselves to become more self-compassionate.

What is the problem, and how am I feeling?

It’s often tempting to push aside feelings of resentment and negativity, thinking that they reflect weakness. In fact, the only way that we can truly move forward and succeed is by learning from our mistakes. What is it that led to this setback, and how does it make me feel? Taking time to grieve in our misery allows us to understand what makes us tick and how to move forward.

Remember that we are human beings and that making mistakes is not only inevitable but is an important key to fostering self-compassion. Do not ignore the negativity, but embrace it and move ahead. 

How would I advise a friend or colleague in this situation?

Many times, it is easier for us to give advice to others than to heed our own advice. As challenges arise, we can help ourselves grow by looking at the situation from the outside. Take in knowledge, lead with your head over your heart, and understand why things turned out as they did. Give advice to yourself, and show yourself compassion, as you would to a respected colleague or good friend. 

What have I learned from this?

Every challenge presents an opportunity to learn, grow, and build. Learn what soothes you and strive to understand how you can improve your reactions in the future, rather than the situations themselves. Give yourself time to heal from the negativity and remember how you’ve moved forward after past disappointment.

Give yourself time to plan for various challenges and situations that might arise and lead to negative feelings. Identify different scenarios and willfully plan out how you will react in a way that shows yourself kindness and compassion.

About Bo Parfet

Bo Parfet is the CEO and co-founder, alongside his wife, Meredith, of Denali Venture Philanthropy (Denali). Denali is an impact investment organization that seeks out investment opportunities focused on positive social impact, fostering social, economic, and environmental change in communities around the world. 

Parfet grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and holds an MBA from Northwestern University, a Master of Arts in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science in economics from Colorado State University.

In addition to his work at Denali, Parfet is the current managing director at DLP Real Estate Capital. His career in finance began as a research fellow at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and he then joined J.P. Morgan as a financial analyst on Wall Street. In 2007, he founded Iconic Development, which earned the Inc. 500’s Fastest Growing Companies distinction that same year. 

Parfet is an avid mountaineer and naturalist, claiming recognition as one of about 85 people to conquer all Seven Summits. He is an author, philanthropist, and community activist. He received the esteemed Presidential Volunteer Service Award for completing more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service worldwide. 

Parfet is a member of both the Explorer’s Club and Young Professionals Organization, two organizations known for their commitment to building a better future. He is an advisory board member for the nonprofit Adventure Scientists and sits on the board of his family’s legacy, the Gilmore Car Museum.

Parfet lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and two children, where they enjoy exploring the great outdoors and making memories together.

How A Person Can Get Their Home Ready to be Rented Out

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How A Person Can Get Their Home Ready to be Rented Out

The investment property can be a great way to earn truly passive income. Passive income will be possible when hiring a property management company. The fees for these companies are reasonable and they handle all interactions with the renter. They will do rental checks to make sure tenants left all of their other rental properties in working order. You do not want to have a person do more in damages than they paid in rent which is possible with a nightmare renter. A person could want their current home to pay for their new home which is more than possible. The rental market should be extremely healthy and homes that are increasing in value are a great investment. The following are tips to get a home ready when you are going to rent it out. 

Get Your Home Staged 

Getting a home staged can help drive up rental prices that a property can be listed at. People that are not currently living in a home have an advantage in this circumstance. A large family can make a staged home look messy in a matter of days. Renting a home out furnished is a great option if you want to maximize the rental income of the home. Your new home might be a far different style that your old furniture simply does not fit. Some homes may need a certain amount of home remodeling before they can be properly staged.

Work With A Real Estate Professional 

Working with a real estate professional or property management company will make the rental process seamless. An agent could work with different programs that consistently need rentals. An agent that works with residents of medical programs can be ideal candidates. They earn an income while working long hours and are extremely responsible as their jobs require it. Take a look at reviews for property management companies in the area and other properties they manage. You want to see positive reviews from tenants as they are representing your rental property.

Perform Maintenance on the Entire Property 

The landscaping of a property being top-notch is something that renters will look for. People want to rent out homes that are taken care of. Even if there are a few things wrong with the home, these might be overlooked as the home has so much curb appeal. Doing something unique like investing in garage floor epoxy Raleigh can make the garage appealing for things other than car storage. Garage epoxy can also be perfect for renters that want to spend large amounts of time working on their cars. Getting the home painted is also a good idea as it can help increase rent received. The right property management company can handle all of this but it will come at a price. 

Getting your home ready to be rented is all about being proactive. You do not want to be scrambling at the last minute due to putting off staging your home or hiring someone to help rent the property out. Investment properties are a great way to generate cash especially when you are close to retirement.

Why SEO Marketing is Extremely Important to HVAC Businesses

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Why SEO Marketing is Extremely Important to HVAC Businesses

Did you know that after typing into a search engine looking for a local business, 72% of people will physically visit that business? 

When it comes to your HVAC business, it’s important to know that the likes of the yellow pages are dead, and SEO marketing is the way forward. Understanding the importance of SEO marketing is absolutely vital to the success of your business. 

So, how can your HVAC business benefit from SEO? How will SEO digital marketing help you bring in more customers? Keep reading to find out! 

Understanding SEO Marketing 

SEO marketing is fundamental to not just the survival but the success of every business in 2021 and beyond. Let’s have a look at what SEO marketing is:

SEO is the act of optimizing for search engines. Basically, it’s all the tactics that go into increasing the quantity and quality of the traffic that your website gets from search engines, and other websites. 

SEO marketing is how you combine your SEO efforts with strategic intent, it’s about understanding your audience, what they’re doing online, how you’re going to find them, and how they’re going to find you. Once you understand your audience, you’ll be armed with the right information to create an effective SEO plan. 

Why SEO for HVAC? 

It may sound like SEO is good for all companies, and this is true, but HVAC SEO means one thing, you’re in a niche market. 

What does that mean?

Well, to put it simply, many companies will try to shoot many targets with one arrow when it comes to their SEO digital marketing. But being in the HVAC industry means that you can really target your audience with relevant and quality content, which in turn, means that you can generate the right leads for your HVAC business. 

Local SEO And HVAC 

Going into a bit more detail, focusing on local SEO can truly catapult your HVAC business in the right way. 

The thing is, most business owners don’t have the time to run their day-to-day operations and look after their online presence, it’s just too much. 

With a focus on local SEO, you’d be taking some of this strain away. You can be top of search engine rankings when someone types in, “HVAC near me”, and that’s all you really want for your business. 

Why? Because then that 72% of people that we discussed earlier, will most likely be talking to or visiting your business soon. 

Finding HVAC SEO Success

It’s important to note that HVAC SEO marketing is not going to be an overnight success. The thing about search engine optimization is that it takes time to work and to show results. 

You’re going to need to be committed to the journey, and be willing to adapt your SEO strategy as time goes on. Focus on the search terms for the HVAC industry in your area, and you’ll be well on your way to success. 

Need more great business advice? Head on over to the business section of our website to get your fill. 

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