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For small businesses looking to increase their social media marketing in the new year, there are many social media platforms that could be a great fit. There are many popular social media platforms out there with an active user base, making it easier to find your target audience. We’ll look at some of the top social media sites to help you develop your social media plans. Most Popular Social Media Sites Social Media PageDescription FacebookThe largest social media site, known for its steady growth and wide reach for businesses. Facebook Messenger is also popular for its advertising opportunities. YouTubeA video-sharing platform great for long-form content. Offers businesses a promotional avenue to build a following. It is one of the most frequently visited sites with a billion monthly active users. LinkedInA professional networking site best used for personal and professional support and connecting with other users. Especially valuable for B2B businesses in building awareness and generating leads. TikTokA newer social networking site that has skyrocketed in popularity. It focuses on short-form video content and is especially popular among younger users. An excellent platform for businesses looking to build their brand in a fun, exciting way. InstagramAn excellent platform for building an online community and promoting a brand. Supports both video and image content and offers opportunities for influencer marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness. PinterestA visual search engine and publishing platform allowing users to 'pin' images they like. A useful tool for businesses looking to increase brand awareness and create easily discoverable content. WhatsAppAn instant messaging platform that has become popular for business use. WhatsApp Business includes features for businesses to send messages to customers and create a fast communication channel. TwitterA microblogging platform that lets businesses tweet short informational bites, updates, and promotions. It is primarily used as a customer service channel, but due to the active user base, promotional activities should also be considered. SnapchatKnown for its quick and easy use, Snapchat allows businesses to share promotions, updates, and other visual content to engage with users. Despite slower growth compared to other platforms, there are still millions of active users that businesses can connect with. VimeoA professional video platform that shares content. It's a paid platform, perfect for professional videographers and creatives to showcase work. Offers high-quality features for long-form, gated videos for communication and marketing. TumblrTumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that allows users to post multimedia content and other short-form content. It is known for its highly visual and creative content, as well as its strong community of users who share similar interests. Tumblr provides a platform for artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives who want to share their work. QuoraQuora is a question-and-answer platform that allows users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. It is known for its high-quality content and its community of experts who provide insightful answers to users’ questions. Quora is for anyone who wants to learn more about a particular topic or share their knowledge. RedditReddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that allows users to submit content and vote on it. It is known for its highly engaged community of users who are passionate about a wide range of topics. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, as well as connect with like-minded individuals Reddit is for you. The great thing about social media platforms is that they come with a social networking app. That means you can reach users on a variety of devices to raise brand awareness, including mobile devices. The most popular social media platforms include: Facebook Facebook is the largest social media site and has seen steady growth over the years. It is the most popular social media platform with an active user base and wide reach for businesses. Facebook Messenger, which is Facebook’s messaging app, is incredibly popular as well and offers advertising opportunities. YouTube YouTube is a video-sharing platform that is great for long-form video content, and its parent company is Google. A YouTube channel is one of the best promotional avenues for businesses and can be a way to build a following. With a billion monthly active users, there is a lot of potential to build a social media presence and connect to YouTube users. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a professional social networking site with a large subset of active users. LinkedIn is best used for personal and professional support and connecting with other users. If your business is B2B, LinkedIn can be immensely valuable in building awareness and generating leads through your professional network. TikTok TikTok has been a more recent addition to social networking sites and has skyrocketed in popularity. It’s currently one of the most downloaded apps on both the Google Store and the App store. TikTok is a video-sharing platform similar to Youtube but more focused on short-form video content such as music and lipsync videos. For businesses looking to build their personal brand in a fun, exciting way with younger users, TikTok is a great platform to add to their social media strategy. Instagram Instagram is another social media website that is an excellent platform for building your online community and promoting your brand. You can reach potential customers in many ways on Instagram, as it supports both video and images. For example, you can use your business page to post images and short videos and repost user-generated content. You can also create influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram to increase brand awareness. Pinterest Pinterest serves as a visual search engine and publishing platform where users can ‘pin’ images they find appealing, organized by themes and groups. For businesses, Pinterest offers an excellent opportunity to enhance brand awareness and generate content that users can easily discover and pin. This content can encompass DIY tips, inspirational visuals, and other unique images that users will want to ‘pin’. Whatsapp Whatsapp is an instant messaging platform used by people all over the world. With WhatsApp, users can send text messages, voice and video calls, and group video chats over Wi-Fi. Many businesses have now started using WhatsApp Business and have created their own Whatsapp business accounts to enable easy communication with customers via instant message. Whatsapp for Business also includes features to make it easy for businesses to send messages to customers and create a fast communication channel. More Top Social Media Platforms Many other social media platforms have an active user base and are used by businesses for promotions, marketing, and customer communication. These include: X X is a microblogging platform used by users and businesses. With X, companies can quickly tweet out short informational bites, updates, and promotions and easily communicate with customers. It’s primarily used as a customer service channel, but X users are very active, so promotional activities should also be considered on the social networking platform. Snapchat Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms because it is so quick and easy to use and has a lot of visual user-generated content. In addition, Snapchat has a social networking feature that allows businesses to share promotions, updates, and other visual content to engage with users. Although growth has slowed for Snapchat compared to other platforms, there are still millions of active users that businesses can connect with using the platform. Vimeo Like YouTube and Twitch, Vimeo is a professional video platform that shares content. It is a paid platform, so monthly fees are associated with it; it is excellent for professional videographers and creatives to showcase work and provide information. In addition, Vimeo has some great, high-quality features regarding videos, so it is beneficial for long-form, gated videos for communication and marketing. Tumblr Tumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that allows users to post multimedia content and other short-form content. It is known for its highly visual and creative content, as well as its strong community of users who share similar interests. Tumblr provides a platform for artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives who want to share their work. Quora Quora is a question-and-answer platform that allows users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. It is known for its high-quality content and its community of experts who provide insightful answers to users’ questions. Quora is for anyone who wants to learn more about a particular topic or share their knowledge. Reddit Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that allows users to submit content and vote on it. It is known for its highly engaged community of users who are passionate about a wide range of topics. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, as well as connect with like-minded individuals Reddit is for you. Why Should Your Business Use Social Media? Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to reach new customers, build relationships with existing customers, and promote your business. If you’re not using social media, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to grow your business. There are many benefits to using social media for business, including: Reaching new customers: Social media can help you reach new customers who may not have heard of your business before. You can use social media to target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Building relationships with customers: Social media is a great way to build relationships with your customers. You can interact with them directly, answer their questions, and get their feedback. This can help you improve your products and services and create a more loyal customer base. Promoting your business: Social media is a great way to promote your business. You can share news about your company, your products, and your services. You can also run contests and giveaways to generate excitement and engagement. Gathering customer feedback: Social media is an excellent tool for collecting customer feedback. You can pose questions, request suggestions, and receive input on your products and services. This feedback is invaluable for enhancing your business and driving its success. Building brand awareness: Social media can help you build brand awareness. When you share interesting and informative content on social media, you’re putting your brand in front of potential customers. This can help people become more familiar with your brand and what you have to offer. If you’re not sure how to get started with social media for business, here are a few tips: Choose the right platforms: Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some platforms are better suited for certain businesses than others. For example, if you’re a B2B business, LinkedIn is a great platform to reach your target audience. If you’re a retail business, Instagram is a great platform to showcase your products. Create a strong social media presence: Once you’ve chosen the right platforms, you need to create a strong social media presence. This means creating a professional profile, sharing interesting and informative content, and interacting with your followers. Run social media ads: Social media ads can be a great way to reach new customers and promote your business. You can target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Measure your results: It’s important to measure your results so you can see what’s working and what’s not. You can use social media analytics tools to track your followers, engagement, and website traffic. Here are some additional tips for using social media for business: Be consistent: The key to success on social media is consistency. You need to post regularly and share interesting and informative content. Be authentic: People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be yourself and let your personality shine through on social media. Be responsive: Respond to comments and questions from your followers as quickly as possible. This shows that you care about their feedback and that you’re engaged with them. Have fun: Social media should be fun! If you’re not enjoying yourself, it will show in your posts. So relax, have fun, and let your personality shine through. READ MORE: Social Media Channels You’re Probably Not Using Now Analyzing Social Media Trends and Metrics Understanding and analyzing trends and metrics on popular social media sites is essential for businesses to effectively navigate the constantly changing social media landscape. Here’s how you can use this data to enhance your marketing strategies and boost engagement: Identifying Key Metrics: Different platforms have different metrics. Key metrics typically include engagement rate (likes, comments, shares), reach, impressions, follower growth, and click-through rate. Identify which metrics are most relevant to your business goals. Utilizing Analytics Tools: Most popular social media sites provide built-in analytics tools. Leverage these tools to collect data on audience demographics, engagement patterns, and content performance. Additionally, third-party tools can deliver more comprehensive analyses and comparisons across different platforms. Monitoring Trends: Stay updated with the latest social media trends. This includes understanding popular content formats, hashtag usage, and emerging platforms. Tools like Google Trends and social listening software can be invaluable in tracking these trends. Competitor Analysis: Examine the social media presence of your competitors. Assess their content strategies, engagement rates, and follower growth. This analysis can offer valuable insights into successful approaches in your industry and help you pinpoint opportunities to set your brand apart. Content Performance Review: Consistently assess how your content is performing. Determine which post types generate the highest engagement and modify your content strategy based on these insights. Also, consider the days and times when your posts attract the most interaction. Audience Feedback: Beyond quantitative metrics, qualitative feedback like comments and messages can provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and perceptions. Use this feedback to refine your messaging and content. ROI Measurement: If you’re running paid social media campaigns, calculate the return on investment (ROI) by measuring the cost per engagement and the conversion rate. This will help in assessing the effectiveness of your ad spend. Adaptive Strategy: Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Use the insights from metrics and trends analysis to continually adapt and refine your social media strategy for better alignment with your audience’s interests and behaviors. READ MORE: Social Media Channels for Marketing Your Business: The Ultimate Guide FAQs What is the best social media site for businesses? The best social media site for businesses depends on the type of business and the target audience. However, some popular social media sites for businesses include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. What are the benefits of using social media for businesses? There are many benefits to using social media for businesses, including: Reaching new customers: Social media can help businesses reach new customers who may not have heard of them before. Building relationships with customers: Social media can help businesses build relationships with their customers by interacting with them directly and answering their questions. Promoting products and services: Social media can help businesses promote their products and services by sharing photos, videos, and blog posts. Gathering customer feedback: Social media can help businesses gather customer feedback by asking questions and soliciting suggestions. Building brand awareness: Social media can help businesses build brand awareness by sharing interesting and informative content. What are the risks of using social media for businesses? There are also some risks associated with using social media for businesses, such as: Negative customer feedback: Businesses can encounter negative feedback from customers on popular social media sites, potentially harming their reputation. Cyberbullying: Businesses may be the target of cyberbullying on social media, which can damage their reputation and morale. Data privacy: Businesses need to be careful about how they collect and use data on social media, as they may be subject to data privacy laws. Security risks: Businesses need to be careful about the security of their social media accounts, as they may be hacked. What are the most popular social media platforms for different age groups? The most popular social media platforms for different age groups vary, but some general trends include: Teenagers: Teenagers are most likely to use social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Young adults: Young adults are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Middle-aged adults: Middle-aged adults are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Seniors: Seniors are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. How can businesses use social media to reach different age groups? Businesses can use social media to reach different age groups by: Using different social media platforms: Businesses can use different social media platforms that are popular with different age groups. Creating different types of content: Businesses can create different types of content that appeal to different age groups. Using different marketing strategies: Businesses can use different marketing strategies to reach different age groups. What are the future trends for social media? The future trends for social media are difficult to predict, but some possible trends include: Increased use of video: Video is becoming increasingly popular on social media, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. Growing popularity of live streaming: Live streaming is gaining traction on popular social media sites, and this trend is expected to persist moving forward. Increased use of augmented reality and virtual reality: Augmented reality and virtual reality are still in their early stages, but they have the potential to revolutionize social media in the future. Enhanced personalization: Popular social media sites are becoming more tailored to individual users, and this trend is expected to persist moving forward. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Top Social Media Platforms to Elevate Your Marketing" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For small businesses looking to increase their social media marketing in the new year, there are many social media platforms that could be a great fit. There are many popular social media platforms out there with an active user base, making it easier to find your target audience. We’ll look at some of the top social media sites to help you develop your social media plans. Most Popular Social Media Sites Social Media PageDescription FacebookThe largest social media site, known for its steady growth and wide reach for businesses. Facebook Messenger is also popular for its advertising opportunities. YouTubeA video-sharing platform great for long-form content. Offers businesses a promotional avenue to build a following. It is one of the most frequently visited sites with a billion monthly active users. LinkedInA professional networking site best used for personal and professional support and connecting with other users. Especially valuable for B2B businesses in building awareness and generating leads. TikTokA newer social networking site that has skyrocketed in popularity. It focuses on short-form video content and is especially popular among younger users. An excellent platform for businesses looking to build their brand in a fun, exciting way. InstagramAn excellent platform for building an online community and promoting a brand. Supports both video and image content and offers opportunities for influencer marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness. PinterestA visual search engine and publishing platform allowing users to 'pin' images they like. A useful tool for businesses looking to increase brand awareness and create easily discoverable content. WhatsAppAn instant messaging platform that has become popular for business use. WhatsApp Business includes features for businesses to send messages to customers and create a fast communication channel. TwitterA microblogging platform that lets businesses tweet short informational bites, updates, and promotions. It is primarily used as a customer service channel, but due to the active user base, promotional activities should also be considered. SnapchatKnown for its quick and easy use, Snapchat allows businesses to share promotions, updates, and other visual content to engage with users. Despite slower growth compared to other platforms, there are still millions of active users that businesses can connect with. VimeoA professional video platform that shares content. It's a paid platform, perfect for professional videographers and creatives to showcase work. Offers high-quality features for long-form, gated videos for communication and marketing. TumblrTumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that allows users to post multimedia content and other short-form content. It is known for its highly visual and creative content, as well as its strong community of users who share similar interests. Tumblr provides a platform for artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives who want to share their work. QuoraQuora is a question-and-answer platform that allows users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. It is known for its high-quality content and its community of experts who provide insightful answers to users’ questions. Quora is for anyone who wants to learn more about a particular topic or share their knowledge. RedditReddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that allows users to submit content and vote on it. It is known for its highly engaged community of users who are passionate about a wide range of topics. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, as well as connect with like-minded individuals Reddit is for you. The great thing about social media platforms is that they come with a social networking app. That means you can reach users on a variety of devices to raise brand awareness, including mobile devices. The most popular social media platforms include: Facebook Facebook is the largest social media site and has seen steady growth over the years. It is the most popular social media platform with an active user base and wide reach for businesses. Facebook Messenger, which is Facebook’s messaging app, is incredibly popular as well and offers advertising opportunities. YouTube YouTube is a video-sharing platform that is great for long-form video content, and its parent company is Google. A YouTube channel is one of the best promotional avenues for businesses and can be a way to build a following. With a billion monthly active users, there is a lot of potential to build a social media presence and connect to YouTube users. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a professional social networking site with a large subset of active users. LinkedIn is best used for personal and professional support and connecting with other users. If your business is B2B, LinkedIn can be immensely valuable in building awareness and generating leads through your professional network. TikTok TikTok has been a more recent addition to social networking sites and has skyrocketed in popularity. It’s currently one of the most downloaded apps on both the Google Store and the App store. TikTok is a video-sharing platform similar to Youtube but more focused on short-form video content such as music and lipsync videos. For businesses looking to build their personal brand in a fun, exciting way with younger users, TikTok is a great platform to add to their social media strategy. Instagram Instagram is another social media website that is an excellent platform for building your online community and promoting your brand. You can reach potential customers in many ways on Instagram, as it supports both video and images. For example, you can use your business page to post images and short videos and repost user-generated content. You can also create influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram to increase brand awareness. Pinterest Pinterest serves as a visual search engine and publishing platform where users can ‘pin’ images they find appealing, organized by themes and groups. For businesses, Pinterest offers an excellent opportunity to enhance brand awareness and generate content that users can easily discover and pin. This content can encompass DIY tips, inspirational visuals, and other unique images that users will want to ‘pin’. Whatsapp Whatsapp is an instant messaging platform used by people all over the world. With WhatsApp, users can send text messages, voice and video calls, and group video chats over Wi-Fi. Many businesses have now started using WhatsApp Business and have created their own Whatsapp business accounts to enable easy communication with customers via instant message. Whatsapp for Business also includes features to make it easy for businesses to send messages to customers and create a fast communication channel. More Top Social Media Platforms Many other social media platforms have an active user base and are used by businesses for promotions, marketing, and customer communication. These include: X X is a microblogging platform used by users and businesses. With X, companies can quickly tweet out short informational bites, updates, and promotions and easily communicate with customers. It’s primarily used as a customer service channel, but X users are very active, so promotional activities should also be considered on the social networking platform. Snapchat Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms because it is so quick and easy to use and has a lot of visual user-generated content. In addition, Snapchat has a social networking feature that allows businesses to share promotions, updates, and other visual content to engage with users. Although growth has slowed for Snapchat compared to other platforms, there are still millions of active users that businesses can connect with using the platform. Vimeo Like YouTube and Twitch, Vimeo is a professional video platform that shares content. It is a paid platform, so monthly fees are associated with it; it is excellent for professional videographers and creatives to showcase work and provide information. In addition, Vimeo has some great, high-quality features regarding videos, so it is beneficial for long-form, gated videos for communication and marketing. Tumblr Tumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that allows users to post multimedia content and other short-form content. It is known for its highly visual and creative content, as well as its strong community of users who share similar interests. Tumblr provides a platform for artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives who want to share their work. Quora Quora is a question-and-answer platform that allows users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. It is known for its high-quality content and its community of experts who provide insightful answers to users’ questions. Quora is for anyone who wants to learn more about a particular topic or share their knowledge. Reddit Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that allows users to submit content and vote on it. It is known for its highly engaged community of users who are passionate about a wide range of topics. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, as well as connect with like-minded individuals Reddit is for you. Why Should Your Business Use Social Media? Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to reach new customers, build relationships with existing customers, and promote your business. If you’re not using social media, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to grow your business. There are many benefits to using social media for business, including: Reaching new customers: Social media can help you reach new customers who may not have heard of your business before. You can use social media to target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Building relationships with customers: Social media is a great way to build relationships with your customers. You can interact with them directly, answer their questions, and get their feedback. This can help you improve your products and services and create a more loyal customer base. Promoting your business: Social media is a great way to promote your business. You can share news about your company, your products, and your services. You can also run contests and giveaways to generate excitement and engagement. Gathering customer feedback: Social media is an excellent tool for collecting customer feedback. You can pose questions, request suggestions, and receive input on your products and services. This feedback is invaluable for enhancing your business and driving its success. Building brand awareness: Social media can help you build brand awareness. When you share interesting and informative content on social media, you’re putting your brand in front of potential customers. This can help people become more familiar with your brand and what you have to offer. If you’re not sure how to get started with social media for business, here are a few tips: Choose the right platforms: Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some platforms are better suited for certain businesses than others. For example, if you’re a B2B business, LinkedIn is a great platform to reach your target audience. If you’re a retail business, Instagram is a great platform to showcase your products. Create a strong social media presence: Once you’ve chosen the right platforms, you need to create a strong social media presence. This means creating a professional profile, sharing interesting and informative content, and interacting with your followers. Run social media ads: Social media ads can be a great way to reach new customers and promote your business. You can target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Measure your results: It’s important to measure your results so you can see what’s working and what’s not. You can use social media analytics tools to track your followers, engagement, and website traffic. Here are some additional tips for using social media for business: Be consistent: The key to success on social media is consistency. You need to post regularly and share interesting and informative content. Be authentic: People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be yourself and let your personality shine through on social media. Be responsive: Respond to comments and questions from your followers as quickly as possible. This shows that you care about their feedback and that you’re engaged with them. Have fun: Social media should be fun! If you’re not enjoying yourself, it will show in your posts. So relax, have fun, and let your personality shine through. READ MORE: Social Media Channels You’re Probably Not Using Now Analyzing Social Media Trends and Metrics Understanding and analyzing trends and metrics on popular social media sites is essential for businesses to effectively navigate the constantly changing social media landscape. Here’s how you can use this data to enhance your marketing strategies and boost engagement: Identifying Key Metrics: Different platforms have different metrics. Key metrics typically include engagement rate (likes, comments, shares), reach, impressions, follower growth, and click-through rate. Identify which metrics are most relevant to your business goals. Utilizing Analytics Tools: Most popular social media sites provide built-in analytics tools. Leverage these tools to collect data on audience demographics, engagement patterns, and content performance. Additionally, third-party tools can deliver more comprehensive analyses and comparisons across different platforms. Monitoring Trends: Stay updated with the latest social media trends. This includes understanding popular content formats, hashtag usage, and emerging platforms. Tools like Google Trends and social listening software can be invaluable in tracking these trends. Competitor Analysis: Examine the social media presence of your competitors. Assess their content strategies, engagement rates, and follower growth. This analysis can offer valuable insights into successful approaches in your industry and help you pinpoint opportunities to set your brand apart. Content Performance Review: Consistently assess how your content is performing. Determine which post types generate the highest engagement and modify your content strategy based on these insights. Also, consider the days and times when your posts attract the most interaction. Audience Feedback: Beyond quantitative metrics, qualitative feedback like comments and messages can provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and perceptions. Use this feedback to refine your messaging and content. ROI Measurement: If you’re running paid social media campaigns, calculate the return on investment (ROI) by measuring the cost per engagement and the conversion rate. This will help in assessing the effectiveness of your ad spend. Adaptive Strategy: Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Use the insights from metrics and trends analysis to continually adapt and refine your social media strategy for better alignment with your audience’s interests and behaviors. READ MORE: Social Media Channels for Marketing Your Business: The Ultimate Guide FAQs What is the best social media site for businesses? The best social media site for businesses depends on the type of business and the target audience. However, some popular social media sites for businesses include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. What are the benefits of using social media for businesses? There are many benefits to using social media for businesses, including: Reaching new customers: Social media can help businesses reach new customers who may not have heard of them before. Building relationships with customers: Social media can help businesses build relationships with their customers by interacting with them directly and answering their questions. Promoting products and services: Social media can help businesses promote their products and services by sharing photos, videos, and blog posts. Gathering customer feedback: Social media can help businesses gather customer feedback by asking questions and soliciting suggestions. Building brand awareness: Social media can help businesses build brand awareness by sharing interesting and informative content. What are the risks of using social media for businesses? There are also some risks associated with using social media for businesses, such as: Negative customer feedback: Businesses can encounter negative feedback from customers on popular social media sites, potentially harming their reputation. Cyberbullying: Businesses may be the target of cyberbullying on social media, which can damage their reputation and morale. Data privacy: Businesses need to be careful about how they collect and use data on social media, as they may be subject to data privacy laws. Security risks: Businesses need to be careful about the security of their social media accounts, as they may be hacked. What are the most popular social media platforms for different age groups? The most popular social media platforms for different age groups vary, but some general trends include: Teenagers: Teenagers are most likely to use social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Young adults: Young adults are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Middle-aged adults: Middle-aged adults are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Seniors: Seniors are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. How can businesses use social media to reach different age groups? Businesses can use social media to reach different age groups by: Using different social media platforms: Businesses can use different social media platforms that are popular with different age groups. Creating different types of content: Businesses can create different types of content that appeal to different age groups. Using different marketing strategies: Businesses can use different marketing strategies to reach different age groups. What are the future trends for social media? The future trends for social media are difficult to predict, but some possible trends include: Increased use of video: Video is becoming increasingly popular on social media, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. Growing popularity of live streaming: Live streaming is gaining traction on popular social media sites, and this trend is expected to persist moving forward. Increased use of augmented reality and virtual reality: Augmented reality and virtual reality are still in their early stages, but they have the potential to revolutionize social media in the future. Enhanced personalization: Popular social media sites are becoming more tailored to individual users, and this trend is expected to persist moving forward. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Top Social Media Platforms to Elevate Your Marketing" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

DOGE's erratic approach may jeopardize efforts to weaken the agency, anonymous sources warned. The Musk team's unpredictable actions could face legal challenges—potentially paving the way for a resilient CFPB to endure. View the full article

Gasoline prices across the U.S. remained largely unchanged over the past week, with the national average for a gallon of gas holding at $3.16, according to AAA. The price per kilowatt hour of electricity at public EV charging stations also remained stable at 34 cents. Gasoline Supply and Demand Trends The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a decline in gasoline demand, falling from 8.57 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.23 million b/d. Total domestic gasoline supply also dropped slightly, from 248.1 million barrels to 247.9 million barrels. Gasoline production saw a decrease, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day. The current national gas average is 4 cents higher than a month ago but 11 cents lower than a year ago. Oil Market Overview Crude oil prices saw a slight increase, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rising 40 cents to settle at $72.25 per barrel. Meanwhile, crude oil inventories grew by 4.6 million barrels, bringing total U.S. crude oil stockpiles to 432.5 million barrels—approximately 3% below the five-year average for this time of year. Most Expensive and Least Expensive Gas Markets Top 10 Most Expensive Gasoline Markets: California – $4.84 Hawaii – $4.55 Washington – $4.14 Nevada – $3.87 Oregon – $3.77 Alaska – $3.45 Arizona – $3.41 Pennsylvania – $3.36 Illinois – $3.27 Washington, D.C. – $3.25 Top 10 Least Expensive Gasoline Markets: Mississippi – $2.67 Louisiana – $2.75 Tennessee – $2.76 Texas – $2.76 Oklahoma – $2.78 Kentucky – $2.78 Alabama – $2.79 Arkansas – $2.82 Kansas – $2.83 Missouri – $2.84 Electric Vehicle Charging Costs Top 10 Most Expensive States for Public Charging (Per kWh): Hawaii – 55 cents West Virginia – 47 cents Montana – 44 cents Idaho – 42 cents Tennessee – 42 cents Arkansas – 42 cents New Hampshire – 42 cents Kentucky – 41 cents Alaska – 41 cents South Carolina – 41 cents Top 10 Least Expensive States for Public Charging (Per kWh): Kansas – 22 cents Nebraska – 25 cents Maryland – 25 cents Missouri – 25 cents Iowa – 28 cents Texas – 29 cents Utah – 29 cents Michigan – 29 cents North Dakota – 30 cents South Dakota – 31 cents Image: AAA This article, "Gas Prices Hold Steady as National Average Remains at $3.16" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Gasoline prices across the U.S. remained largely unchanged over the past week, with the national average for a gallon of gas holding at $3.16, according to AAA. The price per kilowatt hour of electricity at public EV charging stations also remained stable at 34 cents. Gasoline Supply and Demand Trends The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a decline in gasoline demand, falling from 8.57 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.23 million b/d. Total domestic gasoline supply also dropped slightly, from 248.1 million barrels to 247.9 million barrels. Gasoline production saw a decrease, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day. The current national gas average is 4 cents higher than a month ago but 11 cents lower than a year ago. Oil Market Overview Crude oil prices saw a slight increase, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rising 40 cents to settle at $72.25 per barrel. Meanwhile, crude oil inventories grew by 4.6 million barrels, bringing total U.S. crude oil stockpiles to 432.5 million barrels—approximately 3% below the five-year average for this time of year. Most Expensive and Least Expensive Gas Markets Top 10 Most Expensive Gasoline Markets: California – $4.84 Hawaii – $4.55 Washington – $4.14 Nevada – $3.87 Oregon – $3.77 Alaska – $3.45 Arizona – $3.41 Pennsylvania – $3.36 Illinois – $3.27 Washington, D.C. – $3.25 Top 10 Least Expensive Gasoline Markets: Mississippi – $2.67 Louisiana – $2.75 Tennessee – $2.76 Texas – $2.76 Oklahoma – $2.78 Kentucky – $2.78 Alabama – $2.79 Arkansas – $2.82 Kansas – $2.83 Missouri – $2.84 Electric Vehicle Charging Costs Top 10 Most Expensive States for Public Charging (Per kWh): Hawaii – 55 cents West Virginia – 47 cents Montana – 44 cents Idaho – 42 cents Tennessee – 42 cents Arkansas – 42 cents New Hampshire – 42 cents Kentucky – 41 cents Alaska – 41 cents South Carolina – 41 cents Top 10 Least Expensive States for Public Charging (Per kWh): Kansas – 22 cents Nebraska – 25 cents Maryland – 25 cents Missouri – 25 cents Iowa – 28 cents Texas – 29 cents Utah – 29 cents Michigan – 29 cents North Dakota – 30 cents South Dakota – 31 cents Image: AAA This article, "Gas Prices Hold Steady as National Average Remains at $3.16" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Unlock the secret to non-stop entertainment with our easy guide on how to loop YouTube videos on any device! Whether you’re replaying your favorite tunes or a handy tutorial, we’ve got you covered from desktop to mobile. Get ready to elevate your viewing experience with simple steps and pro tips – endless enjoyment is just a click away! What is a YouTube Video Loop? Looping a YouTube video means playing it on repeat, a handy feature for those who want to enjoy a song, a scene, or a tutorial over and over. It’s perfect for uninterrupted viewing, learning new skills, or simply for keeping a great track on loop. How to Loop a Video on YouTube Want to keep your favorite YouTube video playing over and over? Here’s a quick guide on how to loop YouTube videos, whether you’re using a desktop or a mobile device. How to Make a YouTube Video Loop: Desktop Version Looping a YouTube video on your desktop is simple: Open a Web Browser: Start by opening your preferred web browser on your computer. Visit YouTube: Go to YouTube’s official website. Select Your Video: Search and select the YouTube video you want to loop. Right-click to Loop: Right-click anywhere on the video and select “Loop” from the pop-up menu. Enjoy Continuous Play: Your video will now play in a continuous loop. To stop looping, right-click the video again and uncheck the “Loop” option. Remember, this setting resets when you reload the page or visit another video. Also, the Loop option won’t appear if an ad is playing, so wait until the ad finishes. Additionally, if you’re looking to advertise your business on YouTube, understanding these features can be quite beneficial. Loop YouTube Videos: Android Version Looping a YouTube video on Android devices through the YouTube mobile app is straightforward and slightly different from the desktop version: Open YouTube App: Launch the YouTube app on your Android device. Choose a Video: Navigate to the video you want to loop. Access Settings: Tap on the video, then tap the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner. Find Additional Settings: In the settings menu, select “Additional settings.” Enable Loop: Tap “Loop video” to start looping the video. Unlike the desktop version, the loop option is located in the video settings rather than a right-click menu. This process is consistent across different Android models, ensuring a uniform experience. Looping YouTube Videos: iOS Version To loop videos on an iOS device is easy and similar to Android: Open YouTube App: Start by opening the YouTube app on your iPhone or iPad. Select Your Video: Search for and select the video you want to loop. Access Settings: To access the settings while watching the video, simply tap on the screen and then select the gear icon (Settings) located in the top right corner. Go to Additional Settings: In the settings menu, choose “Additional settings.” Activate Loop: Select “Loop video” to enable looping. This method is designed specifically for iOS devices and applies uniformly to different iPhone and iPad models. The steps are comparable to those on Android, with slight variations in the interface because of the iOS platform. AspectDesktopAndroidiOS Opening App/WebsiteOpen preferred web browser and visit YouTubeLaunch YouTube appOpen YouTube app Selecting VideoSearch and select the desired videoNavigate and choose the videoSearch for and select the video Accessing Loop OptionRight-click on the video, select "Loop"Tap video, then gear icon, go to "Additional settings"Tap on the screen, then gear icon, choose "Additional settings" Activating LoopSelect "Loop" from the pop-up menuTap "Loop video"Select "Loop video" Stopping LoopRight-click and uncheck "Loop", resets on reload or new videoUnselect "Loop video" in settingsUnselect "Loop video" in settings Ad InterruptionsLoop option unavailable during adsLoop option unaffected by adsLoop option unaffected by ads Keyboard ShortcutsUse right-click and Shift for more optionsNot applicableNot applicable Looping PlaylistsCreate a playlist with a single videoUse "Add to playlist" featureUse "Add to playlist" feature Third-Party ToolsUse browser extensions for advanced loopingUse specialized apps for customized loopingUse apps for additional looping features Offline ViewingDownload video if needed (requires third-party tools)Use YouTube Premium or third-party appsUse YouTube Premium or third-party apps The Loop Icon and Looping Video on YouTube The loop icon is a crucial tool that allows users to play their favorite YouTube videos repeatedly. On the desktop, it’s accessed by right-clicking the video and selecting “Loop.” Mobile users can find it under Settings in the YouTube app. Its placement varies between platforms but serves the same purpose of enabling continuous playback. For those seeking additional methods, third-party applications and desktop mode on mobile devices offer alternative looping options. This feature transforms the way we enjoy videos, making endless replays a breeze. For more advanced users, learning how to download videos on YouTube can be a useful skill, especially when you want to watch videos offline or use them for educational purposes. Pro Tips on How to Loop a YouTube Video To enhance your looping experience, consider using keyboard shortcuts such as right-clicking and holding Shift for more options. You can also create a playlist that includes just one video for automatic looping. If you’re using a browser, look for extensions that offer advanced looping features, such as the ability to select specific sections to loop. Third-Party Applications to Loop YouTube Videos Third-party applications offer more control over looping YouTube videos. These tools often include features for customizing loop intervals and creating seamless playback experiences, expanding beyond YouTube’s native capabilities. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jz27T9spOzs?si=ehezQKnKF9TMX_Uo” FAQs: How to Loop a YouTube Video What considerations should creators keep in mind when producing loop-friendly YouTube videos for the mobile app? To create loop-friendly videos for mobile, prioritize short and engaging content that features smooth transitions. Make sure the video has a distinct beginning and end that flows seamlessly when repeated, keeping viewers captivated. Does the loop video feature have any implications for the view count on a creator’s YouTube account? Looping videos does not inflate view counts. YouTube’s algorithm detects repeated plays as a single view, preventing an artificial increase in view statistics from continuous looping. Can a creator prompt the loop option to be the default for my YouTube videos? Creators are unable to set the loop option as a default for their videos. Instead, viewers need to manually enable looping for each video, which allows for a tailored viewing experience. Does making use of the loop feature have an impact on viewer retention rates for YouTube videos? Using the loop feature can enhance retention rates, as viewers tend to rewatch content they like, resulting in longer engagement with the video. How does the loop button influence the overall user experience for viewers of a creator’s content? The loop button enhances user experience by providing control over playback, allowing viewers to repeatedly enjoy content without manual intervention, thus fostering longer engagement. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Loop a YouTube Video: An Easy Guide for All Devices" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Unlock the secret to non-stop entertainment with our easy guide on how to loop YouTube videos on any device! Whether you’re replaying your favorite tunes or a handy tutorial, we’ve got you covered from desktop to mobile. Get ready to elevate your viewing experience with simple steps and pro tips – endless enjoyment is just a click away! What is a YouTube Video Loop? Looping a YouTube video means playing it on repeat, a handy feature for those who want to enjoy a song, a scene, or a tutorial over and over. It’s perfect for uninterrupted viewing, learning new skills, or simply for keeping a great track on loop. How to Loop a Video on YouTube Want to keep your favorite YouTube video playing over and over? Here’s a quick guide on how to loop YouTube videos, whether you’re using a desktop or a mobile device. How to Make a YouTube Video Loop: Desktop Version Looping a YouTube video on your desktop is simple: Open a Web Browser: Start by opening your preferred web browser on your computer. Visit YouTube: Go to YouTube’s official website. Select Your Video: Search and select the YouTube video you want to loop. Right-click to Loop: Right-click anywhere on the video and select “Loop” from the pop-up menu. Enjoy Continuous Play: Your video will now play in a continuous loop. To stop looping, right-click the video again and uncheck the “Loop” option. Remember, this setting resets when you reload the page or visit another video. Also, the Loop option won’t appear if an ad is playing, so wait until the ad finishes. Additionally, if you’re looking to advertise your business on YouTube, understanding these features can be quite beneficial. Loop YouTube Videos: Android Version Looping a YouTube video on Android devices through the YouTube mobile app is straightforward and slightly different from the desktop version: Open YouTube App: Launch the YouTube app on your Android device. Choose a Video: Navigate to the video you want to loop. Access Settings: Tap on the video, then tap the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner. Find Additional Settings: In the settings menu, select “Additional settings.” Enable Loop: Tap “Loop video” to start looping the video. Unlike the desktop version, the loop option is located in the video settings rather than a right-click menu. This process is consistent across different Android models, ensuring a uniform experience. Looping YouTube Videos: iOS Version To loop videos on an iOS device is easy and similar to Android: Open YouTube App: Start by opening the YouTube app on your iPhone or iPad. Select Your Video: Search for and select the video you want to loop. Access Settings: To access the settings while watching the video, simply tap on the screen and then select the gear icon (Settings) located in the top right corner. Go to Additional Settings: In the settings menu, choose “Additional settings.” Activate Loop: Select “Loop video” to enable looping. This method is designed specifically for iOS devices and applies uniformly to different iPhone and iPad models. The steps are comparable to those on Android, with slight variations in the interface because of the iOS platform. AspectDesktopAndroidiOS Opening App/WebsiteOpen preferred web browser and visit YouTubeLaunch YouTube appOpen YouTube app Selecting VideoSearch and select the desired videoNavigate and choose the videoSearch for and select the video Accessing Loop OptionRight-click on the video, select "Loop"Tap video, then gear icon, go to "Additional settings"Tap on the screen, then gear icon, choose "Additional settings" Activating LoopSelect "Loop" from the pop-up menuTap "Loop video"Select "Loop video" Stopping LoopRight-click and uncheck "Loop", resets on reload or new videoUnselect "Loop video" in settingsUnselect "Loop video" in settings Ad InterruptionsLoop option unavailable during adsLoop option unaffected by adsLoop option unaffected by ads Keyboard ShortcutsUse right-click and Shift for more optionsNot applicableNot applicable Looping PlaylistsCreate a playlist with a single videoUse "Add to playlist" featureUse "Add to playlist" feature Third-Party ToolsUse browser extensions for advanced loopingUse specialized apps for customized loopingUse apps for additional looping features Offline ViewingDownload video if needed (requires third-party tools)Use YouTube Premium or third-party appsUse YouTube Premium or third-party apps The Loop Icon and Looping Video on YouTube The loop icon is a crucial tool that allows users to play their favorite YouTube videos repeatedly. On the desktop, it’s accessed by right-clicking the video and selecting “Loop.” Mobile users can find it under Settings in the YouTube app. Its placement varies between platforms but serves the same purpose of enabling continuous playback. For those seeking additional methods, third-party applications and desktop mode on mobile devices offer alternative looping options. This feature transforms the way we enjoy videos, making endless replays a breeze. For more advanced users, learning how to download videos on YouTube can be a useful skill, especially when you want to watch videos offline or use them for educational purposes. Pro Tips on How to Loop a YouTube Video To enhance your looping experience, consider using keyboard shortcuts such as right-clicking and holding Shift for more options. You can also create a playlist that includes just one video for automatic looping. If you’re using a browser, look for extensions that offer advanced looping features, such as the ability to select specific sections to loop. Third-Party Applications to Loop YouTube Videos Third-party applications offer more control over looping YouTube videos. These tools often include features for customizing loop intervals and creating seamless playback experiences, expanding beyond YouTube’s native capabilities. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jz27T9spOzs?si=ehezQKnKF9TMX_Uo” FAQs: How to Loop a YouTube Video What considerations should creators keep in mind when producing loop-friendly YouTube videos for the mobile app? To create loop-friendly videos for mobile, prioritize short and engaging content that features smooth transitions. Make sure the video has a distinct beginning and end that flows seamlessly when repeated, keeping viewers captivated. Does the loop video feature have any implications for the view count on a creator’s YouTube account? Looping videos does not inflate view counts. YouTube’s algorithm detects repeated plays as a single view, preventing an artificial increase in view statistics from continuous looping. Can a creator prompt the loop option to be the default for my YouTube videos? Creators are unable to set the loop option as a default for their videos. Instead, viewers need to manually enable looping for each video, which allows for a tailored viewing experience. Does making use of the loop feature have an impact on viewer retention rates for YouTube videos? Using the loop feature can enhance retention rates, as viewers tend to rewatch content they like, resulting in longer engagement with the video. How does the loop button influence the overall user experience for viewers of a creator’s content? The loop button enhances user experience by providing control over playback, allowing viewers to repeatedly enjoy content without manual intervention, thus fostering longer engagement. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Loop a YouTube Video: An Easy Guide for All Devices" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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Trump-Duda meeting boosts hopes that co-operation will continue despite tensions over UkraineView the full article

Call centers are important to small businesses because they are a point of contact for customers. A small business gets a more professional image when they use one of these business services. These outbound services also allow a business to expand. There are even options for an in-house call center. This blog will walk you through all of your options for call center services and answer important questions. You’ll know what to look for and even the names of some of the industry leaders when you’re done. If you’re considering starting one of these businesses, call center services do pay off. In fact, the industry is projected to be worth $21.8 billion in the near future. The Importance of Call Center Services Call center services can play an instrumental role in the growth and success of small businesses. The role of contact centers extends beyond just answering calls; they provide holistic customer service that can lead to improved customer satisfaction, loyalty, and, ultimately, business growth. Below are some key points elaborating on the importance of call center services for small businesses: 24/7 Support: This allows businesses to provide round-the-clock assistance to their customers, which is especially crucial for serving international clientele across different time zones. Immediate Assistance: Many call centers offer immediate support for diverse areas such as IT, helping resolve issues quickly and efficiently and enhancing customer satisfaction. Order and Payment Processing: Inbound call centers typically manage order taking and payment processing, enhancing the convenience and smoothness of the customer’s purchasing experience. Scheduling and Technical Support: Advanced call center services address inquiries, arrange appointments, offer technical assistance, and oversee the customer’s entire experience with the brand. Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Features like IVR allow businesses to direct callers to the appropriate departments based on their needs, ensuring efficient and effective service. Scaling Operations: By taking care of aspects such as warranty inquiries, account updates, and other administrative tasks, call centers enable small businesses to focus on their core operations and scale up effectively. Building a Reliable Brand: By providing consistent, high-quality customer service, call centers help small businesses establish themselves as reliable and trustworthy brands. In summary, call center services can greatly improve a business’s customer service experience, resulting in better customer retention, enhanced operational efficiency, and ongoing business growth. Understanding Call Center Services Call center agents are equipped to manage complaints, requests, and customer inquiries effectively. Outbound call center services may also encompass conducting surveys. The most effective call center service can assist businesses in outsourcing and scaling their customer service operations. Additionally, call centers can provide social media communication options for both low-volume and high-volume calls. Role of Call Centers in Business These contact center solutions also include outbound messaging. For your business, they provide more than just an answering service. Dedicated agents can perform market research and handle customer service calls for technical assistance. Additionally, they can offer cold calling services. Call Center Services and Customer Relationship Management Delivering great customer service is essential. Effective call center services prioritize customer needs, such as order processing. This direct response approach can effectively address customer inquiries. These call centers manage important aspects like sharing information about company procedures and policies while simultaneously handling both outbound and inbound sales calls. Importance of a Call Center Service for Customer Support Inbound call center services are done properly to answer calls from existing customers. They can supply customer care and assistance 24 seven with the right center software or staff. They enhance customer satisfaction by resolving issues and providing knowledge about services and products. You can have a centralized department on the premises for this service. Where to Find Reliable Call Center Services Finding the right call centers will help your small business. Following are some of the top outsourced call centers you can use to full advantage. All those listed provide customer service that includes service and/or product troubleshooting. AMBS This call center service provider operates around the clock. Their center software has a dashboard and web portal that runs reports in real-time. The best software does a few different things well, including call routing so customers get the most appropriate responses. Real-time dashboards also allow managers and supervisors to monitor important analytics. Signius Communications This company provides a specialty answering service and call center outsourcing for businesses. Their answering services operate only in the United States and look after overflow calls and emergencies. Ring Central This is one of the contact centers that offers unlimited domestic calling. They include phone calls and video on any device. Ring Central has been recognized as one of the top outbound call centers. Additionally, it has been acknowledged as one of the leading automated answering services. GetCallers More than another telephone answering service. This company offers center outsourcing that includes virtual assistants. Uassist.ME This company offers call center outsourcing and even graphic design. They offer other services like appointment setting with contact center software. AnswerConnect This company focuses on lead generation. Get inbound and outbound calls that plug into Salesforce and other core business partners. Call volume doesn’t matter. The inbound services here answer in one to four rings. Magellan Solutions Magellan Solutions focuses on inbound calling services. Their contact center software features a virtual receptionist that handles both inbound and outbound calls. This service is available in multiple languages, making it a multilingual call center service. NexReP This is one of the contact center services that focuses on a work-from-home model. NexRep offers tasks to outsource to independent contractors from Portland, Maine. RSVP Communications This is another contact center offering fulfillment and marketing support. RSVP Communications is a top-notch outbound call center that handles incoming calls too. Fivestar Call Centers This company has been looking after outsourcing customer service for 35 years. This contact center offers multilingual options. The center locations are offshore and onshore. CompanyHours of OperationDomestic/InternationalSpecialtiesExtra ServicesCall Management AMBS24/7Not specifiedReal-time reporting, Call routingWeb portal, DashboardYes Signius CommunicationsNot specifiedUS onlySpecialty answering service, Handles overflow calls and emergencies-Yes Ring CentralNot specifiedUnlimited domestic callingPhone calls, Video calls, Top automated answering services-Yes GetCallersNot specifiedNot specifiedCall center outsourcingVirtual assistantsYes Uassist.MENot specifiedNot specifiedCall center outsourcing, Appointment settingGraphic designYes AnswerConnectNot specifiedNot specifiedLead generation, Inbound and outbound callsIntegrations with Salesforce and other business partnersYes Magellan SolutionsNot specifiedNot specifiedInbound calling servicesVirtual receptionist, MultilingualYes NexRePNot specifiedNot specifiedWork-from-home modelIndependent contractor outsourcingYes RSVP CommunicationsNot specifiedNot specifiedFulfillment, Marketing support, Outbound call center-Yes Fivestar Call CentersNot specifiedOffshore and onshoreCustomer service outsourcingMultilingualYes Frequently Asked Questions About Call Center Services People have questions about their contact center outsourcing options. Here are some of the common ones about how these centers work. What are call center services? Call center companies handle communications for one or several businesses. They can route calls or answer questions. Some look after customer surveys and other marketing services. How can call centers help my business? Contact center software and employees can do a variety of things like market research. A good call center solution can schedule appointments, troubleshoot complaints, and process orders. A virtual call center can even make outbound calls and follow up on leads. What is the role of a call center in customer support? A call center frustrating customers isn’t accomplishing the goal. Their primary role is to look after customers who are seeking assistance or support. Call center services fall under the heading of the complaint department. Part of the support system they offer is about resolving issues. Where can I find reliable call center services? The best call center locations are international. The United States, India, and The Philippines are popular choices. Here is some information on the best software features to look for when you’re putting together or looking for a call center program. This information can help you to narrow down your choices. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Where to Find Call Center Services for Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Call centers are important to small businesses because they are a point of contact for customers. A small business gets a more professional image when they use one of these business services. These outbound services also allow a business to expand. There are even options for an in-house call center. This blog will walk you through all of your options for call center services and answer important questions. You’ll know what to look for and even the names of some of the industry leaders when you’re done. If you’re considering starting one of these businesses, call center services do pay off. In fact, the industry is projected to be worth $21.8 billion in the near future. The Importance of Call Center Services Call center services can play an instrumental role in the growth and success of small businesses. The role of contact centers extends beyond just answering calls; they provide holistic customer service that can lead to improved customer satisfaction, loyalty, and, ultimately, business growth. Below are some key points elaborating on the importance of call center services for small businesses: 24/7 Support: This allows businesses to provide round-the-clock assistance to their customers, which is especially crucial for serving international clientele across different time zones. Immediate Assistance: Many call centers offer immediate support for diverse areas such as IT, helping resolve issues quickly and efficiently and enhancing customer satisfaction. Order and Payment Processing: Inbound call centers typically manage order taking and payment processing, enhancing the convenience and smoothness of the customer’s purchasing experience. Scheduling and Technical Support: Advanced call center services address inquiries, arrange appointments, offer technical assistance, and oversee the customer’s entire experience with the brand. Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Features like IVR allow businesses to direct callers to the appropriate departments based on their needs, ensuring efficient and effective service. Scaling Operations: By taking care of aspects such as warranty inquiries, account updates, and other administrative tasks, call centers enable small businesses to focus on their core operations and scale up effectively. Building a Reliable Brand: By providing consistent, high-quality customer service, call centers help small businesses establish themselves as reliable and trustworthy brands. In summary, call center services can greatly improve a business’s customer service experience, resulting in better customer retention, enhanced operational efficiency, and ongoing business growth. Understanding Call Center Services Call center agents are equipped to manage complaints, requests, and customer inquiries effectively. Outbound call center services may also encompass conducting surveys. The most effective call center service can assist businesses in outsourcing and scaling their customer service operations. Additionally, call centers can provide social media communication options for both low-volume and high-volume calls. Role of Call Centers in Business These contact center solutions also include outbound messaging. For your business, they provide more than just an answering service. Dedicated agents can perform market research and handle customer service calls for technical assistance. Additionally, they can offer cold calling services. Call Center Services and Customer Relationship Management Delivering great customer service is essential. Effective call center services prioritize customer needs, such as order processing. This direct response approach can effectively address customer inquiries. These call centers manage important aspects like sharing information about company procedures and policies while simultaneously handling both outbound and inbound sales calls. Importance of a Call Center Service for Customer Support Inbound call center services are done properly to answer calls from existing customers. They can supply customer care and assistance 24 seven with the right center software or staff. They enhance customer satisfaction by resolving issues and providing knowledge about services and products. You can have a centralized department on the premises for this service. Where to Find Reliable Call Center Services Finding the right call centers will help your small business. Following are some of the top outsourced call centers you can use to full advantage. All those listed provide customer service that includes service and/or product troubleshooting. AMBS This call center service provider operates around the clock. Their center software has a dashboard and web portal that runs reports in real-time. The best software does a few different things well, including call routing so customers get the most appropriate responses. Real-time dashboards also allow managers and supervisors to monitor important analytics. Signius Communications This company provides a specialty answering service and call center outsourcing for businesses. Their answering services operate only in the United States and look after overflow calls and emergencies. Ring Central This is one of the contact centers that offers unlimited domestic calling. They include phone calls and video on any device. Ring Central has been recognized as one of the top outbound call centers. Additionally, it has been acknowledged as one of the leading automated answering services. GetCallers More than another telephone answering service. This company offers center outsourcing that includes virtual assistants. Uassist.ME This company offers call center outsourcing and even graphic design. They offer other services like appointment setting with contact center software. AnswerConnect This company focuses on lead generation. Get inbound and outbound calls that plug into Salesforce and other core business partners. Call volume doesn’t matter. The inbound services here answer in one to four rings. Magellan Solutions Magellan Solutions focuses on inbound calling services. Their contact center software features a virtual receptionist that handles both inbound and outbound calls. This service is available in multiple languages, making it a multilingual call center service. NexReP This is one of the contact center services that focuses on a work-from-home model. NexRep offers tasks to outsource to independent contractors from Portland, Maine. RSVP Communications This is another contact center offering fulfillment and marketing support. RSVP Communications is a top-notch outbound call center that handles incoming calls too. Fivestar Call Centers This company has been looking after outsourcing customer service for 35 years. This contact center offers multilingual options. The center locations are offshore and onshore. CompanyHours of OperationDomestic/InternationalSpecialtiesExtra ServicesCall Management AMBS24/7Not specifiedReal-time reporting, Call routingWeb portal, DashboardYes Signius CommunicationsNot specifiedUS onlySpecialty answering service, Handles overflow calls and emergencies-Yes Ring CentralNot specifiedUnlimited domestic callingPhone calls, Video calls, Top automated answering services-Yes GetCallersNot specifiedNot specifiedCall center outsourcingVirtual assistantsYes Uassist.MENot specifiedNot specifiedCall center outsourcing, Appointment settingGraphic designYes AnswerConnectNot specifiedNot specifiedLead generation, Inbound and outbound callsIntegrations with Salesforce and other business partnersYes Magellan SolutionsNot specifiedNot specifiedInbound calling servicesVirtual receptionist, MultilingualYes NexRePNot specifiedNot specifiedWork-from-home modelIndependent contractor outsourcingYes RSVP CommunicationsNot specifiedNot specifiedFulfillment, Marketing support, Outbound call center-Yes Fivestar Call CentersNot specifiedOffshore and onshoreCustomer service outsourcingMultilingualYes Frequently Asked Questions About Call Center Services People have questions about their contact center outsourcing options. Here are some of the common ones about how these centers work. What are call center services? Call center companies handle communications for one or several businesses. They can route calls or answer questions. Some look after customer surveys and other marketing services. How can call centers help my business? Contact center software and employees can do a variety of things like market research. A good call center solution can schedule appointments, troubleshoot complaints, and process orders. A virtual call center can even make outbound calls and follow up on leads. What is the role of a call center in customer support? A call center frustrating customers isn’t accomplishing the goal. Their primary role is to look after customers who are seeking assistance or support. Call center services fall under the heading of the complaint department. Part of the support system they offer is about resolving issues. Where can I find reliable call center services? The best call center locations are international. The United States, India, and The Philippines are popular choices. Here is some information on the best software features to look for when you’re putting together or looking for a call center program. This information can help you to narrow down your choices. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Where to Find Call Center Services for Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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You might be surprised and unhappy to learn that hazard insurance is not included in your existing business insurance policies. Business hazard insurance is often included in your commercial property insurance policy. If you have a mortgage, obtaining business hazard insurance is likely a requirement. Check the specifics of your policies with your insurance company. What is Hazard Insurance for Business? A hazard insurance policy protects small businesses against accidents. Accidents can encompass natural disasters like those resulting from wind damage or wildfires. Business hazard insurance can also safeguard you against associated damages, including losses from power outages, explosions, theft, riots, and vandalism. Benefits of a Hazard Insurance Policy for Small Businesses If you own a business property, your worries don’t end when you lock the doors. Business insurance should cover you for things – like accidents – that are beyond your control. That’s where hazard insurance cost is worth its benefits: Peace of mind Protection of business property Protection against natural disasters Ability to recoup the business property damages due to looting and vandalism Financial protection – Through the insurance company, less time to wait before being reimbursed. How to Find Out if You Already Have Hazard Insurance Hazard insurance may be included within existing policies. Check your commercial property insurance policy and/o your business property insurance. If you operate your business from home, review your homeowner’s insurance policy to determine if it includes business hazard insurance. In addition to your homeowner’s insurance, you will also need general liability insurance. If your homeowner’s insurance does not cover business hazard insurance, you may need to purchase it separately. Check with your insurance company. What is Covered by Small Business Hazard Insurance? What does business hazard insurance cover? Business insurance coverages with a hazard policy include: Costs for equipment repair and replacement – Coverage may extend to damages resulting from building collapses or interior flooding caused by hurricanes. Property damage – Coverage can include repairs to the building exterior and entryways. Inventory damage – Inventory can include finished products, such as clothing, as well as the materials to make the products. Damage to outdoor landscaping, including fencing and lighting. Lost income – if you can’t open your business due to damages, you may be able to make a claim to recover financial losses. What is Not Covered by Business Hazard Insurance? Equipment breakdown coverage – If a machine malfunctions and you experience production delays, that situation is not covered. However, if a tornado or severe windstorm leads to a tree falling on the building and damaging the machine, hazard coverage would apply. To protect against production losses due to breakdowns, you can obtain business interruption insurance. Damages to personal property. For example, your personal vehicle is parked at the entrance, and a windstorm causes a tree to break and fall on the vehicle. Your personal auto policy would cover that. If it’s a business vehicle, it would be covered. Injuries sustained on your property, bodily injury suffered by clients or visitors, and ensuring medical bills. Injuries or damages caused by your products or services. For that, you’ll need professional liability insurance. That type of insurance is often called Errors and Omissions insurance. Any “unnamed” hazards. Your business hazard insurance policy will specify certain hazards. If an accident, hazard, or natural disaster occurs that is not specified in your policy, you will not be covered. Read More: how much does business insurance cost How Much Does Hazard Insurance Cost? When you begin to shop with an insurance company, you’ll be pleased to learn that hazard coverage isn’t very expensive. As a general estimate, you can anticipate a monthly payment of approximately $60, accompanied by a $1,000 deductible and a claim payment limit of $60,000. The cost will be higher if you live in a high-hazard area, such as a coastal area. How to Choose the Right Hazard Insurance Company for Your Business As previously stated, start your research with a call to your insurance company. See if you already have hazard insurance through your existing business property insurance. Business owners need hazard insurance and often have enough through existing policies. If you don’t have hazard insurance coverage, start a list: Analyze your risks, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and/or flood insurance. Through area business organization, network with other small business owners. Find out how they handle this issue, and which insurance company they use. Seek insurance advice. You may find a small business insurance specialist who bundles commercial property insurance with general liability coverage, workers’ compensation insurance, property coverage (including business equipment), business owner’s policies, cyber insurance, professional negligence, and other types of business insurance. With just a phone call, you can shop amongst insurance providers and find your best fit. Schedule an in-person meeting with your insurance agent. While property insurance coverage is crucial, having an attentive and responsive agent is equally important. Analyze the policies offered, comparing costs involved such as deductibles. Also, pay close attention to how loss or damage to business equipment and/or inventory is covered – would be receive the actual cash value or the replacement cost? How to Get Hazard Insurance If you shop online, you can use tools to easily compare insurance policies. With the policy’s benefits and costs displayed side by side, you can more easily choose the right coverage as a small business owner. Check with several reputable providers, including State Farm, Nationwide, Travelers, Allstate, and Farmers. In just a few clicks, you can review the details of what each company provides. Is Hazard Insurance the Same as Commercial Property Insurance? No, it’s not the same. It may be included within a commercial property insurance policy, or you may need additional coverage. Is Hazard Insurance Essential? Yes. You can’t predict or prevent an accident or natural disaster. As your business grows, you’ll have more reasons to add Hazard coverage options. If you’re applying for a mortgage or leasing business property, often hazard insurance will be required. You can add it to your business owner’s policy. Does SBA require hazard insurance? Yes. When applying for a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), you are required to provide evidence of your Hazard Insurance coverage. Without this coverage, your application for an SBA loan will not be approved. Read More: best small business insurance companies Image: Depositphotos This article, "Do You Need Business Hazard Insurance?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

You might be surprised and unhappy to learn that hazard insurance is not included in your existing business insurance policies. Business hazard insurance is often included in your commercial property insurance policy. If you have a mortgage, obtaining business hazard insurance is likely a requirement. Check the specifics of your policies with your insurance company. What is Hazard Insurance for Business? A hazard insurance policy protects small businesses against accidents. Accidents can encompass natural disasters like those resulting from wind damage or wildfires. Business hazard insurance can also safeguard you against associated damages, including losses from power outages, explosions, theft, riots, and vandalism. Benefits of a Hazard Insurance Policy for Small Businesses If you own a business property, your worries don’t end when you lock the doors. Business insurance should cover you for things – like accidents – that are beyond your control. That’s where hazard insurance cost is worth its benefits: Peace of mind Protection of business property Protection against natural disasters Ability to recoup the business property damages due to looting and vandalism Financial protection – Through the insurance company, less time to wait before being reimbursed. How to Find Out if You Already Have Hazard Insurance Hazard insurance may be included within existing policies. Check your commercial property insurance policy and/o your business property insurance. If you operate your business from home, review your homeowner’s insurance policy to determine if it includes business hazard insurance. In addition to your homeowner’s insurance, you will also need general liability insurance. If your homeowner’s insurance does not cover business hazard insurance, you may need to purchase it separately. Check with your insurance company. What is Covered by Small Business Hazard Insurance? What does business hazard insurance cover? Business insurance coverages with a hazard policy include: Costs for equipment repair and replacement – Coverage may extend to damages resulting from building collapses or interior flooding caused by hurricanes. Property damage – Coverage can include repairs to the building exterior and entryways. Inventory damage – Inventory can include finished products, such as clothing, as well as the materials to make the products. Damage to outdoor landscaping, including fencing and lighting. Lost income – if you can’t open your business due to damages, you may be able to make a claim to recover financial losses. What is Not Covered by Business Hazard Insurance? Equipment breakdown coverage – If a machine malfunctions and you experience production delays, that situation is not covered. However, if a tornado or severe windstorm leads to a tree falling on the building and damaging the machine, hazard coverage would apply. To protect against production losses due to breakdowns, you can obtain business interruption insurance. Damages to personal property. For example, your personal vehicle is parked at the entrance, and a windstorm causes a tree to break and fall on the vehicle. Your personal auto policy would cover that. If it’s a business vehicle, it would be covered. Injuries sustained on your property, bodily injury suffered by clients or visitors, and ensuring medical bills. Injuries or damages caused by your products or services. For that, you’ll need professional liability insurance. That type of insurance is often called Errors and Omissions insurance. Any “unnamed” hazards. Your business hazard insurance policy will specify certain hazards. If an accident, hazard, or natural disaster occurs that is not specified in your policy, you will not be covered. Read More: how much does business insurance cost How Much Does Hazard Insurance Cost? When you begin to shop with an insurance company, you’ll be pleased to learn that hazard coverage isn’t very expensive. As a general estimate, you can anticipate a monthly payment of approximately $60, accompanied by a $1,000 deductible and a claim payment limit of $60,000. The cost will be higher if you live in a high-hazard area, such as a coastal area. How to Choose the Right Hazard Insurance Company for Your Business As previously stated, start your research with a call to your insurance company. See if you already have hazard insurance through your existing business property insurance. Business owners need hazard insurance and often have enough through existing policies. If you don’t have hazard insurance coverage, start a list: Analyze your risks, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and/or flood insurance. Through area business organization, network with other small business owners. Find out how they handle this issue, and which insurance company they use. Seek insurance advice. You may find a small business insurance specialist who bundles commercial property insurance with general liability coverage, workers’ compensation insurance, property coverage (including business equipment), business owner’s policies, cyber insurance, professional negligence, and other types of business insurance. With just a phone call, you can shop amongst insurance providers and find your best fit. Schedule an in-person meeting with your insurance agent. While property insurance coverage is crucial, having an attentive and responsive agent is equally important. Analyze the policies offered, comparing costs involved such as deductibles. Also, pay close attention to how loss or damage to business equipment and/or inventory is covered – would be receive the actual cash value or the replacement cost? How to Get Hazard Insurance If you shop online, you can use tools to easily compare insurance policies. With the policy’s benefits and costs displayed side by side, you can more easily choose the right coverage as a small business owner. Check with several reputable providers, including State Farm, Nationwide, Travelers, Allstate, and Farmers. In just a few clicks, you can review the details of what each company provides. Is Hazard Insurance the Same as Commercial Property Insurance? No, it’s not the same. It may be included within a commercial property insurance policy, or you may need additional coverage. Is Hazard Insurance Essential? Yes. You can’t predict or prevent an accident or natural disaster. As your business grows, you’ll have more reasons to add Hazard coverage options. If you’re applying for a mortgage or leasing business property, often hazard insurance will be required. You can add it to your business owner’s policy. Does SBA require hazard insurance? Yes. When applying for a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), you are required to provide evidence of your Hazard Insurance coverage. Without this coverage, your application for an SBA loan will not be approved. Read More: best small business insurance companies Image: Depositphotos This article, "Do You Need Business Hazard Insurance?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Wi-Fi chipset leader MediaTek is sharing its Wi-Fi 8 vision for boosting performance in everyday environments. The post New white paper: MediaTek highlights Filogic Wi-Fi 8 features for enhancing reliability & real-life performance appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Middle managers have had a hard go of it over the past five years. There was the upheaval of the pandemic, followed by ongoing changes in the workplace as companies adjusted to remote work and then, in many cases, eventually brought employees back into the office. Amid all these fluctuations, managers have been tasked with mitigating low morale, parrying employee discontent, and juggling their mounting responsibilities, especially as recurring layoffs thin their ranks. It doesn’t seem like the challenges middle managers are facing will disappear anytime soon, which could lead to high rates of turnover in the very near future. And it’s also not clear whether a new generation of workers is ready—or willing—to take their place if managers leave their posts. In surveys, Gen Z workers have indicated they have little interest in middle management and that high rates of anxiety might keep them from taking on those jobs. “As managers struggle, Gen Z sees the toll of the job and backs away, leaving fewer employees to rise into management roles,” writes entrepreneur Jan Bruce. “This puts more pressure on remaining managers.” Bruce argues that many companies could be facing a “manager crash” this year that would have far-reaching effects, particularly if younger employees don’t want to step into those roles. But there are some things employers can and should do to help support their current middle managers, as well as those who might take their place in the future. Invest in programs that support middle managers One thing leaders can do is evaluate psychosocial risk, according to Bruce, which can identify some of the biggest stressors facing managers at the company. That can include everything from tight deadlines to workplace conflict or excessive workloads. Managers are also often expected to oversee day-to-day tasks while also taking on more strategic, long-term projects. Being explicit about mental health resources and other workplace benefits can also be an important aspect of supporting middle managers, who often report feeling invisible and underappreciated. Mandatory vacations or “disconnect periods” can help alleviate some of the burnout and stress that managers are likely feeling. Beyond that, however, they also need adequate support from their higher-ups. “Making sure managers have consistent, supportive check-ins with their own supervisors can help reduce isolation,” Bruce writes. Train the next generation of managers In order to make middle management more appealing, companies also need to think about how to cultivate a new crop of workers who are equipped to step into those roles. Bruce notes that it is important to focus on some of the skills that are most valuable in managers and perhaps underdeveloped among Gen Z employees. “We have found the employees most skilled in handling change and challenge—the realities that managers deal with daily—have the highest levels of those very skills: emotion control, stress management, engagement, and positivity,” Bruce says. “These are the specific, actionable areas to focus Gen Z training efforts on in order to improve their ability to handle management demands.” What managers can do If you’re a manager looking for guidance, there are also steps you can take to better manage your workload and schedule. To avoid toggling between different tasks, management expert Lia Garvin recommends scheduling similar meetings on the same day. “When our calendar looks like Swiss cheese, we can get in the habit of slotting in meetings whenever we have a free moment, but this reinforces the overwhelm of having to operate at so many different levels in one day,” she writes. Since managers are often hopping from meeting to meeting, it can be difficult to accommodate more strategic work or long-term projects. It can help to pencil that work into your schedule instead of assuming you’ll be able to carve out time in your day. Senior leaders can also help address this pain point by limiting meetings to certain days. “Instead of fitting work in where you can, plan for it,” Garvin says. “Find and schedule one to two hours every week for project time, during working hours, that you don’t schedule over.” Perhaps the most important strategy managers can adopt, however, is to delegate more and spend less time involved in the details of projects that don’t require close attention. Think of this as a way to give your employees new opportunities while also freeing up time in your day—and hopefully making your job the slightest bit easier. “Ultimately, the middle manager’s role is to empower their teams to grow,” Garvin adds. “It’s impossible to do this when we’re too stuck in all the details and barely able to come up for air.” View the full article

Longevity with freelancing is entirely possible if you’re intentional, adaptable, and development-oriented. Freelancers should think of themselves as a business of one as opposed to an outsourced employee for other companies. And it’s import to always be improving that business. As E-Myth Revisited author Michael Gerber once wrote, “Most entrepreneurs fail because they are working in their business rather than on their business.” There’s always going to be more competition, new technology, shifting market conditions, and stuff happening in your life that will impact your career as a freelancer. After nearly 12 years of freelancing, here are my recommendations on how to level-up your approach and ensure self-employment remains a sustainable option in 2025. Look for new sources of leads You don’t need to be everywhere, but building a consistent flow of outreach from clients who want to hire you happens when you’re visible on multiple platforms. Any marketing channel or relationship that’s led to you landing a project will ebb and flow with time and at some point become less reliable as a way of attracting clients. To offset the risks of a downturn in client outreach, I’ve found that actively using two different promotional platforms makes all the difference. A promotional platform could be a Slack community, social media network, local networking group, hosting a podcast, running a newsletter, or freelancer marketplace. What matters is that it’s a place where clients are looking for your products or services, and you can show up consistently to communicate the value of your offerings and expertise. Marketing yourself takes time and resources, so identify another promotional avenue where you don’t need to start from scratch and could repurpose existing insights there. Provide certainty and reliability It’s fair to feel like we live in uncertain times. Now more than ever, you can help offset this shared feeling by aiming to make your engagements and interactions with clients and partners frictionless. Showing up as a source of certainty and reliability can help others see you as a valuable partner who’s easy to work with and makes their jobs easier. This can play out in small ways like always showing up on time or sharing meeting invites in a client’s time zone to save them the effort, so engaging with you is seamless. And of course, this can be expressed in big ways like delivering outcomes you’ve promised on a project and when possible, exceeding those expectations. Getting hired again by a past customer is often because you were enjoyable to work with the first time, delivered as expected, and helped them look good for hiring you. Check-in with past clients It’s up to you to stay in touch with past colleagues and clients. Often that’s the touchpoint needed for them to remember to hire you again and retain your services. Be intentionally persistent by following up with them in non-invasive ways like inviting them to a coffee, interacting with their LinkedIn content, or sending them an email. Sometimes you’ll pitch them on how you can provide them value through another project, but most of the time that’s not the goal. Most of this outreach should be checking in on their progress, delivering them help like free advice or support of some kind, and genuinely maintaining the relationship. Long-term, these connections you’ve built can deliver more client referrals, provide partnership and mentorship opportunities, and help you grow professionally. Find your own networking style Networking doesn’t have to be awful like many make it out to be. In fact, it’s one of the ways you’ll be able to sustain a business as an independent contractor when done right. But don’t wait until you’re between clients to start—that’s what’s most important. It doesn’t need to be cringy or self-serving: Just staying in touch with people you actually like or have common interests with, or ideally both. It’s up to you to make it happen though. Most people put it off at all costs, so take the lead here. Don’t have clients you actually like or have anything in common with? Put yourself out there and fix it so networking is more enjoyable and less of a cumbersome task. Reach out to someone connected to a colleague, attend a workshop in your area, or tap into your alumni network. There’s no shortage of options. Just get started. Befriend other freelancers Working on your own brings a lot of benefits, like having more control over your schedule. But one downside is that you can feel isolated. It’s helpful to connect with other freelancers. Whether they do the same work you do, or provide adjacent services and skills, these relationships can provide you with motivation, friendships, or opportunities to learn. Sometimes these connections can even refer you to relevant projects or keep an eye out for opportunities you should consider—just don’t go into this looking for that directly. Re-examine your offerings Once or twice a year, I take a look at how I’m framing my services in terms of the structure of packages, pricing options, and how I’m communicating the benefits. Early in my freelancing journey I’d set standards like, I’m not taking on this type of work for less than this dollar amount or unless it’s a project of this kind of duration. It can be helpful to set limits on the kinds of work you’re open to so you’re not inundated with low-paying engagements or misaligned clients. But sometimes, these self-imposed limitations can be too rigid or misaligned to what the market is currently interested in. As a result, you could miss out creatively and financially. For a while, I only took on marketing consulting projects where I worked with a client on a month-to-month basis and partnered with their team to build out a strategy. Each month was centered on completing a set of agreed upon deliverables from making the marketing plan to training their team to execute on the programs over a few months. While this was a successful way to frame this kind of project for large companies with the budget and resources to collaborate in this way, many other firms couldn’t afford to work with me in this capacity. To capture this business, I reframed this offering to include two options, one is high-touch and low-touch consulting. High-touch was the original offer where I worked closely with the company over a few months to build out their strategy, best suited to large, well-resourced teams. The new option—low-touch consulting—offers similar support but at a lower cost and provides advice and counsel across a set number of meetings per month. Instead of working closely with the team on deliverables, I’m providing them with strategic direction across select meetings, and it’s up to them to put our work into action. As a result, I was able to land more of these clients when I offered more options suited to businesses with a wider range of circumstances. And at the same time, I’m protecting my bandwidth and ensuring I’m not taking on more than I can handle by setting different constraints for these kinds of projects. Structure and limitations are essential to a smoothly running business, but get more creative with how you’re framing your projects to adjust them to your client’s circumstances. Look beyond social media Social media is often the go-to method of promoting your work as a freelancer, but it’s far from the only choice. More professionals, for a variety of justified reasons, are trying to spend less time using social media personally or for work. There’s many other options out there as long as you choose destinations where your audience is spending time and that align with the way you prefer to share your ideas. If you’re more of a talker than writer, create your own podcast or become a regular guest of podcasts in your industry. If writing is your strong suit, you can contribute thought pieces to a trade publication. If you enjoy being in front of the camera, you could periodically host webinars. Look out for AI susceptible projects AI hype is exhausting at times. Don’t let it lead you to tune out. What’s important to focus on is areas of your work that are most likely to be disrupted by AI so you know where to scale back or adjust. Review what you offer to clients and identify any aspects of your work that are execution-based, repetitive, formulaic, or require a little active thinking. These are the types of tasks most likely to be entirely replaced or change significantly with the integration of AI, and it’s necessary you’re not overly reliant on this kind of work. For a freelance web designer, this might be a task like creating the initial wireframe for a website, which is an outline of sorts that details a site’s structure and hierarchy. While critical to the early stages of planning the design of a website, AI can create a comprehensive wireframe quickly and adapt it to a particular client’s needs. Combining your expertise and AI might help you deliver quality wireframes at a faster pace and streamline the design process for clients in the process. However, if a majority of your freelance work is wireframing without AI, I’d strongly recommend reducing your focus on this output and diversifying your offerings to clients. That’s one instance of the kind of work that is likely to dry up in the not so distant future, and the goal is to avoid being in that position. Instead, prioritize delivering work that’s centered on strategic problem solving, leverages your unique perspective shaped by your experience and skills, taps into your relationship building capacity, and draws on your emotional intelligence. And of course, consider hybrid services where you’re using AI-powered processes and your professional expertise to deliver outcomes with more speed, efficiency, and accuracy. Always be learning The number one way to maintain a career as a freelancer, and really most career paths, is prioritizing ongoing skill development. No matter the industry, enhancing your existing skills and acquiring new, complementary ones is what ensures you remain relevant in the workplace. Change has always been a constant across industries, but the speed at which conditions are shifting is intensifying and requires you to make learning a regular habit. Direct your efforts towards passive and active learning, two modes of professional development that’ll better equip you to stay ahead of the curve. Passive learning is one-way engagement with educational materials where you’re not immediately applying the learnings, getting hands on, and engaging with others. This involves asynchronous courses, reading articles, listening to podcasts, and consuming newsletters, and should be a daily or weekly practice of absorbing new information. Easier to incorporate into your workday and completely self directed, you create the curriculum that aligns with your expertise as a freelancer. Active learning is two-way interactions with instructional materials through engaging with others by discussing, analyzing, and applying the lessons learned. More time-intensive, active learning happens in cohort-based courses, networking, masterminds, group workshops, coaching, and educational bootcamps. Its deeper immersion into the subject matter and focused on collaborating with other learners, instructors, mentors, or coaches to help explore and integrate the material. Aim to incorporate active learning once a quarter or every few months to explore new skills more comprehensively. Adding both to your routine will help make you a more adaptable and dynamic freelancer better suited to meet the ever-evolving demands of your industry. View the full article

Whether you’re already a sticker enthusiast or you’re looking for a unique niche to start your own small business, starting a sticker business offers a variety of opportunities. The sticker market is larger than you might think, and just about anyone can learn to create stickers. Not only are they a popular hobby for collectors of all ages, but stickers are a valuable marketing tool used by businesses around the world. Read on for everything you need to learn how to start a sticker business: Key Steps to Starting a Sticker Business So, you’ve decided to start a sticker business. Congratulations! But while it might seem like you can just buy some paper and a printer and start selling, starting a successful sticker business is more involved. The following key steps are necessary as part of the startup checklist for your sticker business on the right foot. Choose Your Niche All stickers are not created equally. Sure, there is value in most stickers, but the market is huge, and you can’t possibly target every type of customer. After all, more than 3 million sticker products are sold on Etsy alone… that’s a lot of competition. Instead, try to target one or two slices of the sticker market and choose the type of stickers you will sell, or your business niche, whether they be colorful decals marketed to kids or standardized shipping labels created for a manufacturer. Know Your Target Audience Just as you want to choose a niche of stickers to sell, you also should determine your target customer. To whom will you primarily market your stickers? Will you sell them to consumers, and if so, what demographic? Or, will your sticker business market toward a commercial target audience, creating stickers for other small businesses? Name Your Sticker Shop Your sticker business is no different from any other small business, and it needs a name to succeed. Your business name is important because it serves as customers’ first introduction to your company, it makes your business stand apart from the competition, and it tells people what your small business is all about. Design a Logo Branding is important to survive in a competitive market, and the first step to branding your sticker business is designing a logo. The logo will visually represent your company to the market, so its design should signify your small business’s products, values, and vision. With an artistic eye, you can design your own logo, or you can rely on a variety of logo design tools and logo design services to help you create the perfect logo for your sticker business. Create a Business Plan Before you can acquire funding for your sticker business, you’ll need to establish a business plan. Even if you plan to start small without help from a bank or investor, writing a business plan will help you define your business, identify your target market, and create effective business strategies. Part of a business plan for your sticker business should include an overview of your business, including a general description of your company, products, and financial projections, as well as a description of your target market, the products you will sell, and your general marketing plan. Include a Financial Projection Create detailed financial projections, including startup costs, pricing strategy, revenue forecasts, and break-even analysis. This will help you understand the financial viability of your sticker business and plan for future growth. Buy the Necessary Equipment Technically, you can start selling stickers with little more than certain paper and a basic printer, but if you want a successful sticker business, you probably want to provide higher-quality products that require better equipment. Therefore, some new business owners will opt to outsource their printing until their business becomes profitable, as opposed to risking the initial investment before the business is established. When you are ready to invest in the type of equipment needed for creating high-quality stickers to sell, you’ll need to buy: Printer – While just about any basic printer will print stickers, a small business owner typically will want a higher-quality printer that not only works with multiple types of paper, but also uses high-quality yet affordable ink and includes other advanced features. Cutting machine – Without a cutting machine your stickers are nothing more than printed paper. A plethora of electronic cutting devices are available to make stickers, each with its own features, functions and capabilities. Sticker paper – There are no stickers without paper, so of course, you’ll need an ongoing supply of this basic material. Determine what types of sticker paper you want to offer to your customers, including choices like what material and whether you want a matte or glossy finish. Packaging – Even if you outsource the printing of your stickers, you’ll need packaging supplies to deliver them. Most sticker businesses send their products to customers using the mail or a delivery service like FedEx or UPS, so you’ll need packing materials like envelopes and tissue paper for each order. You might also want to include marketing materials in your shipments to promote business growth. Other materials – To offer professional-quality stickers to your customers, you’ll want a few other basic materials, including a cutting mat and clear vinyl laminate to protect your products from damage. Create Sticker Designs Will you create your own sticker designs, or will you purchase designs from another artist or graphic designer? If you choose to create your own designs, a variety of visual design and digital imaging software programs like Circuit and Sillouette are available to assist you. Other software options include Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator. Artists can choose whatever program they prefer, as long as the software can create a JPG or PNG file. Explore Design Trends and Customer Preferences Keep abreast of current design trends and customer preferences. Consider offering personalized or custom stickers, which can be a unique selling point. Use customer feedback and market research to continually evolve your design offerings. Set Your Prices No matter where you decide to sell you stickers, you’ll need to establish how much they will cost. Will you charge the same price for all stickers, or will your prices vary based on a sticker’s design or size? Will you charge customer’s separate shipping charges? If not, be sure to consider this cost when determining your pricing. Look at the market and see what competitors are charging for similar products if you’re unsure what to charge. Choose Your Packaging How will you send your stickers to your customers? Will you use a simple envelope, or will you invest in custom shipping materials for your sticker business? Keep in mind that packaging can serve as an important marketing and branding asset. Sustainable and Attractive Packaging Options Consider using eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing packaging. This not only appeals to environmentally conscious consumers but also enhances the overall customer experience. Branded packaging can also serve as a marketing tool. Set Up a Business Bank Account Before you start sending or receiving money as a business, be sure to open a business bank account. A business bank account offers a level of professionalism to your small business. It separates your business and personal finances, which helps to protect the business and keep it legally compliant. Similarly, a business credit card can assist in financing your business during slow times and allow you to purchase inventory before you start making a profit. Register for Taxes To keep your business legally compliant, it’s important to ensure that you and your customers are paying the appropriate taxes. Small businesses can be subject to a variety of local, state and federal taxes, including property taxes, state and federal income taxes, sales tax and employment taxes. Be sure to register for a Federal Tax ID and any applicable state tax IDs. Get Business Insurance Inerent risks accompany running a business. What if there is a natural disaster that destroys your inventory? What if you hire an employee who gets injured on the job? What if an artist sues your sticker company for selling a design similar to their own? You’ve likely invested a lot of time and money into the success of your business, so you’ll want to obtain business insurance to protect that investment. You might want to consider insurance types including property insurance, liability insurance and cyber insurance if you are selling stickers in the online marketplace. Apply for Permits and Licenses Will you need any permits and licenses to operate your sticker business? Because requirements for businesses to obtain various types of permits and licenses vary by state and locality, there’s no simple answer to that question. Be sure to check on the business requirements in your locality and apply for any applicable permits and licenses. Compliance with Online Sales Regulations If you plan to sell stickers online, ensure you’re compliant with e-commerce regulations, including sales tax collection and privacy policies. Stay informed about laws governing online businesses in your country and in any international markets you serve. Create a Business Entity What type of business entity will you create for your sticker business? What is the structure of your small business? Do you plan to operate your sticker business as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an LLC, or a corporation? The type of business entity can determine precisely how your company is taxed and the overall structure of the organization. The business entity can also impact what happens if the business is sued, how easily you can get a loan or investment to support the business, and how the business is insured. Market Your Business How will you tell your target audience about your new business? You can’t just set up your own sticker shop on Etsy or launch a website to sell stickers online and expect customers to automatically find you. You have to market your stickers for your online business to succeed. Social media offers a simple platform to advertise stickers, and business owners should be sure they establish profiles on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other relevant social networks. Sticker business owners can also use traditional advertising methods to market their sticker sheets, including paid advertisements and even attendance at shows, fairs and conventions. Include a Robust Online Marketing Strategy Use digital marketing techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing (blogging about sticker design, usage tips, etc.), and email marketing campaigns to reach a wider audience. Utilize social media platforms to display your stickers, highlight customer reviews, and interact with your audience. Scale Your Business How will you scale your business? It doesn’t take much to start your own sticker business, but once you start to turn a profit, you’re going to want to expand and increase your earning. Perhaps you started off selling physical stickers, but you decide to expand into the digital sticker realm. Or maybe you started off selling stickers on Etsy, and you’ve become so successful you want to open a series of your own sticker shops. Maybe you started off selling a specific sticker design, and you’ve found so much success you want to start offering custom sticker printing, too. The sky is the limit for your sticker business, so be prepared to scale. Explore Additional Sales Channels Beyond your primary sales platform, consider additional channels like craft fairs, local boutiques, or collaborations with other businesses. Partnering with influencers or artists for a limited-edition sticker series can also expand your reach. Continuously Monitor and Adapt Regularly analyze your business performance using metrics such as sales data, website traffic, and customer feedback. Be ready to adapt your strategy, whether it’s adjusting your product line, exploring new marketing tactics, or scaling up your production capacity. Types of Stickers You might have a specific vision in mind when you think of a sticker, but it actually comes in a variety of forms. Stickers can be made from a variety of materials, take a variety of shapes and be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from standard manufacturing labels to designer custom stickers. What types of stickers do you plan to sell? Some of the most common types of stickers include: Vinyl Stickers – Vinyl is one of the most favored materials among sticker artists because it is weatherproof and durable. Additionally, vinyl adheres to nearly any surface, making vinyl stickers highly versatile options for customers. Bumper Stickers – If you have a statement to make or a quick wit to share, you might sell it on a bumper sticker in your sticker shop, which customers can use to decorate their cars or other surfaces, sharing your eloquent words with the world. Planner Stickers – An entire community of planning enthusiasts use stickers to decorate their schedules, planners and calendars, mapping memories and expressing emotion through colorful decals. Die-Cut Stickers – These colorful cut-outs are popular among sticker hobbyists and can be stuck to practically anything. Die-cut stickers are cut to the shape of the design, and so customization options are endless. Logo Stickers – Brands love to buy logo stickers to market their companies. Most logo designs are perfectly suited for printing on stickers, and some sticker businesses specialize in supplying these commercial labels to fellow organizations. Photo Stickers – Photo stickers are a popular custom sticker option for customers to paste their favorite memories to notebooks, bottles, laptops, phone cases and practically any solid surface. Sticker TypeDescriptionPreferred MaterialVersatilityCustomization OptionsPopular Use Cases Vinyl StickersPopular medium for sticker artists, weatherproof and durable, sticks to almost anything, versatile choice for customers.VinylHighLimited by design shapeDecorate laptops, water bottles, phone cases, car windows, and more. Bumper StickersStatement-making and witty, used to decorate cars and surfaces, share messages with the world.VinylMediumLimited by design sizePersonal expression, political messages, humor, advocacy, and more. Planner StickersUsed by planning enthusiasts to decorate schedules, planners, and calendars, express emotions through colorful decals.VinylMediumLimited by design sizeOrganizing, memory mapping, expressing emotions in planners and diaries. Die-Cut StickersColorful cut-outs, popular among hobbyists, can be stuck to almost anything, endless customization options.Vinyl or PaperHighWide range of shapesCrafting, DIY projects, personalization of belongings. Logo StickersBrands use to market their companies, perfect for printing logos, some businesses specialize in supplying commercial labels.VinylMediumLimited by logo designBrand promotion, product packaging, marketing materials. Photo StickersCustom option for customers to paste favorite memories on various surfaces like notebooks, bottles, laptops, and phone cases.VinylMediumLimited by photo sizePersonalizing belongings, capturing memories on everyday items. Where to Sell Your Stickers What should you do once you’ve finished printing your stickers? Where will you establish your sticker shop? Those days of needing a physical space in a local mini-mall or community marketplace are long gone. In fact, the era when sticker sellers were required to sell physical stickers at all is also over. You can sell stickers your own stickers online through a variety of platforms, including your own website, social media pages, and online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon. While these platforms typically charge sellers a fee for listing or selling their products, they are highly cost effective compared to designing, establishing and marketing an individual website. Etsy Etsy is a global online marketplace where people can sell their arts and crafts, although the community has expanded far beyond cross-stitch and paper mache to include unique products of all types. Etsy features an entire section of its platform devoted to sticker shops, where sticker businesses can set up an Etsy shop to sell stickers online. Amazon Handmade Amazon Handmade is an online marketplace where artists can sell their products to a world audience. Everything sold on Amazon Handmade must be made by hand or altered by hand, no mass-produced products allowed. Therefore, it’s the perfect place to set up an online shop for your sticker business. Sticker You Sticker You is a sticker-dedicated platform where people can buy and sell their favorite decals. It offers a great place for sticker businesses to sell their wares at the Sticker You Store, a free marketplace that is connected to the Sticker You website and the Sticker You physical retail store. Redbubble Redbubble is an online print-on-demand marketplace where artists can list their designs, and customers can order them printed on all sorts of products. The artist is then paid a royalty on the use of their artwork. A sticker designer can spend their time designing stickers and listing their works on Redbubble without the need to manufacture their own stickers. eBay eBay might have started off as an online auction website, but it is now a global online marketplace where people can buy and sell almost anything under the sun… including stickers. Sticker businesses can list their products on eBay, knowing the brand recognition of the platform will attract buyers. Shopify If you don’t want to rely on online marketplaces for your sticker shop location, you can set up your own online store using a platform such as Shopify, which offers a variety of web-based tools to help small businesses run their online stores. By establishing your own online sticker store, you gain even more control over business aspects like operations, branding, and marketing. Understanding Copyright and Licensing for Sticker Designs As you venture into the world of sticker business and start creating designs, it’s crucial to understand the complexities of copyright and licensing. While designing stickers can be a creative and enjoyable process, it’s essential to respect the intellectual property rights of others and protect your own designs. Here’s what you need to know about copyright and licensing for sticker designs: Copyright Basics Copyright law protects original creative works, including art, designs, and graphics, as soon as they are created and fixed in a tangible medium (e.g., paper, digital file). As the creator of a sticker design, you automatically own the copyright to that design. This means you have exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works based on your design. Licensing Your Sticker Designs When you want to sell or distribute your sticker designs to others, you have the option to license your work. Licensing allows you to grant specific permissions to others while retaining your copyright. There are various licensing models you can choose from, each with its own terms and conditions. Some common types of licenses include: Personal Use License: This allows customers to use your stickers for personal purposes only and prohibits commercial use or redistribution. Commercial Use License: This permits customers to use your stickers for commercial purposes, such as on products they sell, as long as they adhere to the terms of the license. Royalty-Free License: Under this type of license, customers pay a one-time fee to use your sticker design without ongoing royalty payments. This is common in stock image and design marketplaces. Exclusive License: With an exclusive license, you grant a customer sole rights to use your sticker design, and you cannot sell or license it to anyone else during the specified term of the agreement. Using Others’ Artwork and Designs As you build your sticker business, you may come across artwork or designs created by others that you’d like to use in your stickers. It’s essential to remember that using someone else’s copyrighted work without permission is illegal and can lead to legal consequences. Always seek permission from the copyright owner before using any artwork that you did not create yourself. Protecting Your Own Designs To protect your sticker designs, consider taking the following steps: Register Copyright: Although copyright protection is automatic, registering your designs with the copyright office provides additional legal benefits and remedies if your work is ever infringed upon. Use Watermarks or Copyright Notices: Adding watermarks or copyright notices to your digital images can deter unauthorized use and remind people that your designs are protected. Terms of Use: Clearly outline the terms of use for your sticker designs on your website or selling platform. This will help customers understand the permissions they have when purchasing your stickers. Watch for Copyright Infringement: Consistently check online marketplaces and social media platforms to confirm that your designs are not being utilized without your consent. By understanding and respecting copyright and licensing principles, you can build a successful sticker business while protecting your intellectual property and respecting the rights of others. Remember to consult with a legal professional for advice specific to your situation and jurisdiction. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Start a Sticker Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Whether you’re already a sticker enthusiast or you’re looking for a unique niche to start your own small business, starting a sticker business offers a variety of opportunities. The sticker market is larger than you might think, and just about anyone can learn to create stickers. Not only are they a popular hobby for collectors of all ages, but stickers are a valuable marketing tool used by businesses around the world. Read on for everything you need to learn how to start a sticker business: Key Steps to Starting a Sticker Business So, you’ve decided to start a sticker business. Congratulations! But while it might seem like you can just buy some paper and a printer and start selling, starting a successful sticker business is more involved. The following key steps are necessary as part of the startup checklist for your sticker business on the right foot. Choose Your Niche All stickers are not created equally. Sure, there is value in most stickers, but the market is huge, and you can’t possibly target every type of customer. After all, more than 3 million sticker products are sold on Etsy alone… that’s a lot of competition. Instead, try to target one or two slices of the sticker market and choose the type of stickers you will sell, or your business niche, whether they be colorful decals marketed to kids or standardized shipping labels created for a manufacturer. Know Your Target Audience Just as you want to choose a niche of stickers to sell, you also should determine your target customer. To whom will you primarily market your stickers? Will you sell them to consumers, and if so, what demographic? Or, will your sticker business market toward a commercial target audience, creating stickers for other small businesses? Name Your Sticker Shop Your sticker business is no different from any other small business, and it needs a name to succeed. Your business name is important because it serves as customers’ first introduction to your company, it makes your business stand apart from the competition, and it tells people what your small business is all about. Design a Logo Branding is important to survive in a competitive market, and the first step to branding your sticker business is designing a logo. The logo will visually represent your company to the market, so its design should signify your small business’s products, values, and vision. With an artistic eye, you can design your own logo, or you can rely on a variety of logo design tools and logo design services to help you create the perfect logo for your sticker business. Create a Business Plan Before you can acquire funding for your sticker business, you’ll need to establish a business plan. Even if you plan to start small without help from a bank or investor, writing a business plan will help you define your business, identify your target market, and create effective business strategies. Part of a business plan for your sticker business should include an overview of your business, including a general description of your company, products, and financial projections, as well as a description of your target market, the products you will sell, and your general marketing plan. Include a Financial Projection Create detailed financial projections, including startup costs, pricing strategy, revenue forecasts, and break-even analysis. This will help you understand the financial viability of your sticker business and plan for future growth. Buy the Necessary Equipment Technically, you can start selling stickers with little more than certain paper and a basic printer, but if you want a successful sticker business, you probably want to provide higher-quality products that require better equipment. Therefore, some new business owners will opt to outsource their printing until their business becomes profitable, as opposed to risking the initial investment before the business is established. When you are ready to invest in the type of equipment needed for creating high-quality stickers to sell, you’ll need to buy: Printer – While just about any basic printer will print stickers, a small business owner typically will want a higher-quality printer that not only works with multiple types of paper, but also uses high-quality yet affordable ink and includes other advanced features. Cutting machine – Without a cutting machine your stickers are nothing more than printed paper. A plethora of electronic cutting devices are available to make stickers, each with its own features, functions and capabilities. Sticker paper – There are no stickers without paper, so of course, you’ll need an ongoing supply of this basic material. Determine what types of sticker paper you want to offer to your customers, including choices like what material and whether you want a matte or glossy finish. Packaging – Even if you outsource the printing of your stickers, you’ll need packaging supplies to deliver them. Most sticker businesses send their products to customers using the mail or a delivery service like FedEx or UPS, so you’ll need packing materials like envelopes and tissue paper for each order. You might also want to include marketing materials in your shipments to promote business growth. Other materials – To offer professional-quality stickers to your customers, you’ll want a few other basic materials, including a cutting mat and clear vinyl laminate to protect your products from damage. Create Sticker Designs Will you create your own sticker designs, or will you purchase designs from another artist or graphic designer? If you choose to create your own designs, a variety of visual design and digital imaging software programs like Circuit and Sillouette are available to assist you. Other software options include Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator. Artists can choose whatever program they prefer, as long as the software can create a JPG or PNG file. Explore Design Trends and Customer Preferences Keep abreast of current design trends and customer preferences. Consider offering personalized or custom stickers, which can be a unique selling point. Use customer feedback and market research to continually evolve your design offerings. Set Your Prices No matter where you decide to sell you stickers, you’ll need to establish how much they will cost. Will you charge the same price for all stickers, or will your prices vary based on a sticker’s design or size? Will you charge customer’s separate shipping charges? If not, be sure to consider this cost when determining your pricing. Look at the market and see what competitors are charging for similar products if you’re unsure what to charge. Choose Your Packaging How will you send your stickers to your customers? Will you use a simple envelope, or will you invest in custom shipping materials for your sticker business? Keep in mind that packaging can serve as an important marketing and branding asset. Sustainable and Attractive Packaging Options Consider using eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing packaging. This not only appeals to environmentally conscious consumers but also enhances the overall customer experience. Branded packaging can also serve as a marketing tool. Set Up a Business Bank Account Before you start sending or receiving money as a business, be sure to open a business bank account. A business bank account offers a level of professionalism to your small business. It separates your business and personal finances, which helps to protect the business and keep it legally compliant. Similarly, a business credit card can assist in financing your business during slow times and allow you to purchase inventory before you start making a profit. Register for Taxes To keep your business legally compliant, it’s important to ensure that you and your customers are paying the appropriate taxes. Small businesses can be subject to a variety of local, state and federal taxes, including property taxes, state and federal income taxes, sales tax and employment taxes. Be sure to register for a Federal Tax ID and any applicable state tax IDs. Get Business Insurance Inerent risks accompany running a business. What if there is a natural disaster that destroys your inventory? What if you hire an employee who gets injured on the job? What if an artist sues your sticker company for selling a design similar to their own? You’ve likely invested a lot of time and money into the success of your business, so you’ll want to obtain business insurance to protect that investment. You might want to consider insurance types including property insurance, liability insurance and cyber insurance if you are selling stickers in the online marketplace. Apply for Permits and Licenses Will you need any permits and licenses to operate your sticker business? Because requirements for businesses to obtain various types of permits and licenses vary by state and locality, there’s no simple answer to that question. Be sure to check on the business requirements in your locality and apply for any applicable permits and licenses. Compliance with Online Sales Regulations If you plan to sell stickers online, ensure you’re compliant with e-commerce regulations, including sales tax collection and privacy policies. Stay informed about laws governing online businesses in your country and in any international markets you serve. Create a Business Entity What type of business entity will you create for your sticker business? What is the structure of your small business? Do you plan to operate your sticker business as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an LLC, or a corporation? The type of business entity can determine precisely how your company is taxed and the overall structure of the organization. The business entity can also impact what happens if the business is sued, how easily you can get a loan or investment to support the business, and how the business is insured. Market Your Business How will you tell your target audience about your new business? You can’t just set up your own sticker shop on Etsy or launch a website to sell stickers online and expect customers to automatically find you. You have to market your stickers for your online business to succeed. Social media offers a simple platform to advertise stickers, and business owners should be sure they establish profiles on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other relevant social networks. Sticker business owners can also use traditional advertising methods to market their sticker sheets, including paid advertisements and even attendance at shows, fairs and conventions. Include a Robust Online Marketing Strategy Use digital marketing techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing (blogging about sticker design, usage tips, etc.), and email marketing campaigns to reach a wider audience. Utilize social media platforms to display your stickers, highlight customer reviews, and interact with your audience. Scale Your Business How will you scale your business? It doesn’t take much to start your own sticker business, but once you start to turn a profit, you’re going to want to expand and increase your earning. Perhaps you started off selling physical stickers, but you decide to expand into the digital sticker realm. Or maybe you started off selling stickers on Etsy, and you’ve become so successful you want to open a series of your own sticker shops. Maybe you started off selling a specific sticker design, and you’ve found so much success you want to start offering custom sticker printing, too. The sky is the limit for your sticker business, so be prepared to scale. Explore Additional Sales Channels Beyond your primary sales platform, consider additional channels like craft fairs, local boutiques, or collaborations with other businesses. Partnering with influencers or artists for a limited-edition sticker series can also expand your reach. Continuously Monitor and Adapt Regularly analyze your business performance using metrics such as sales data, website traffic, and customer feedback. Be ready to adapt your strategy, whether it’s adjusting your product line, exploring new marketing tactics, or scaling up your production capacity. Types of Stickers You might have a specific vision in mind when you think of a sticker, but it actually comes in a variety of forms. Stickers can be made from a variety of materials, take a variety of shapes and be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from standard manufacturing labels to designer custom stickers. What types of stickers do you plan to sell? Some of the most common types of stickers include: Vinyl Stickers – Vinyl is one of the most favored materials among sticker artists because it is weatherproof and durable. Additionally, vinyl adheres to nearly any surface, making vinyl stickers highly versatile options for customers. Bumper Stickers – If you have a statement to make or a quick wit to share, you might sell it on a bumper sticker in your sticker shop, which customers can use to decorate their cars or other surfaces, sharing your eloquent words with the world. Planner Stickers – An entire community of planning enthusiasts use stickers to decorate their schedules, planners and calendars, mapping memories and expressing emotion through colorful decals. Die-Cut Stickers – These colorful cut-outs are popular among sticker hobbyists and can be stuck to practically anything. Die-cut stickers are cut to the shape of the design, and so customization options are endless. Logo Stickers – Brands love to buy logo stickers to market their companies. Most logo designs are perfectly suited for printing on stickers, and some sticker businesses specialize in supplying these commercial labels to fellow organizations. Photo Stickers – Photo stickers are a popular custom sticker option for customers to paste their favorite memories to notebooks, bottles, laptops, phone cases and practically any solid surface. Sticker TypeDescriptionPreferred MaterialVersatilityCustomization OptionsPopular Use Cases Vinyl StickersPopular medium for sticker artists, weatherproof and durable, sticks to almost anything, versatile choice for customers.VinylHighLimited by design shapeDecorate laptops, water bottles, phone cases, car windows, and more. Bumper StickersStatement-making and witty, used to decorate cars and surfaces, share messages with the world.VinylMediumLimited by design sizePersonal expression, political messages, humor, advocacy, and more. Planner StickersUsed by planning enthusiasts to decorate schedules, planners, and calendars, express emotions through colorful decals.VinylMediumLimited by design sizeOrganizing, memory mapping, expressing emotions in planners and diaries. Die-Cut StickersColorful cut-outs, popular among hobbyists, can be stuck to almost anything, endless customization options.Vinyl or PaperHighWide range of shapesCrafting, DIY projects, personalization of belongings. Logo StickersBrands use to market their companies, perfect for printing logos, some businesses specialize in supplying commercial labels.VinylMediumLimited by logo designBrand promotion, product packaging, marketing materials. Photo StickersCustom option for customers to paste favorite memories on various surfaces like notebooks, bottles, laptops, and phone cases.VinylMediumLimited by photo sizePersonalizing belongings, capturing memories on everyday items. Where to Sell Your Stickers What should you do once you’ve finished printing your stickers? Where will you establish your sticker shop? Those days of needing a physical space in a local mini-mall or community marketplace are long gone. In fact, the era when sticker sellers were required to sell physical stickers at all is also over. You can sell stickers your own stickers online through a variety of platforms, including your own website, social media pages, and online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon. While these platforms typically charge sellers a fee for listing or selling their products, they are highly cost effective compared to designing, establishing and marketing an individual website. Etsy Etsy is a global online marketplace where people can sell their arts and crafts, although the community has expanded far beyond cross-stitch and paper mache to include unique products of all types. Etsy features an entire section of its platform devoted to sticker shops, where sticker businesses can set up an Etsy shop to sell stickers online. Amazon Handmade Amazon Handmade is an online marketplace where artists can sell their products to a world audience. Everything sold on Amazon Handmade must be made by hand or altered by hand, no mass-produced products allowed. Therefore, it’s the perfect place to set up an online shop for your sticker business. Sticker You Sticker You is a sticker-dedicated platform where people can buy and sell their favorite decals. It offers a great place for sticker businesses to sell their wares at the Sticker You Store, a free marketplace that is connected to the Sticker You website and the Sticker You physical retail store. Redbubble Redbubble is an online print-on-demand marketplace where artists can list their designs, and customers can order them printed on all sorts of products. The artist is then paid a royalty on the use of their artwork. A sticker designer can spend their time designing stickers and listing their works on Redbubble without the need to manufacture their own stickers. eBay eBay might have started off as an online auction website, but it is now a global online marketplace where people can buy and sell almost anything under the sun… including stickers. Sticker businesses can list their products on eBay, knowing the brand recognition of the platform will attract buyers. Shopify If you don’t want to rely on online marketplaces for your sticker shop location, you can set up your own online store using a platform such as Shopify, which offers a variety of web-based tools to help small businesses run their online stores. By establishing your own online sticker store, you gain even more control over business aspects like operations, branding, and marketing. Understanding Copyright and Licensing for Sticker Designs As you venture into the world of sticker business and start creating designs, it’s crucial to understand the complexities of copyright and licensing. While designing stickers can be a creative and enjoyable process, it’s essential to respect the intellectual property rights of others and protect your own designs. Here’s what you need to know about copyright and licensing for sticker designs: Copyright Basics Copyright law protects original creative works, including art, designs, and graphics, as soon as they are created and fixed in a tangible medium (e.g., paper, digital file). As the creator of a sticker design, you automatically own the copyright to that design. This means you have exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works based on your design. Licensing Your Sticker Designs When you want to sell or distribute your sticker designs to others, you have the option to license your work. Licensing allows you to grant specific permissions to others while retaining your copyright. There are various licensing models you can choose from, each with its own terms and conditions. Some common types of licenses include: Personal Use License: This allows customers to use your stickers for personal purposes only and prohibits commercial use or redistribution. Commercial Use License: This permits customers to use your stickers for commercial purposes, such as on products they sell, as long as they adhere to the terms of the license. Royalty-Free License: Under this type of license, customers pay a one-time fee to use your sticker design without ongoing royalty payments. This is common in stock image and design marketplaces. Exclusive License: With an exclusive license, you grant a customer sole rights to use your sticker design, and you cannot sell or license it to anyone else during the specified term of the agreement. Using Others’ Artwork and Designs As you build your sticker business, you may come across artwork or designs created by others that you’d like to use in your stickers. It’s essential to remember that using someone else’s copyrighted work without permission is illegal and can lead to legal consequences. Always seek permission from the copyright owner before using any artwork that you did not create yourself. Protecting Your Own Designs To protect your sticker designs, consider taking the following steps: Register Copyright: Although copyright protection is automatic, registering your designs with the copyright office provides additional legal benefits and remedies if your work is ever infringed upon. Use Watermarks or Copyright Notices: Adding watermarks or copyright notices to your digital images can deter unauthorized use and remind people that your designs are protected. Terms of Use: Clearly outline the terms of use for your sticker designs on your website or selling platform. This will help customers understand the permissions they have when purchasing your stickers. Watch for Copyright Infringement: Consistently check online marketplaces and social media platforms to confirm that your designs are not being utilized without your consent. By understanding and respecting copyright and licensing principles, you can build a successful sticker business while protecting your intellectual property and respecting the rights of others. Remember to consult with a legal professional for advice specific to your situation and jurisdiction. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Start a Sticker Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It’s almost time for the most heartfelt accolades of Hollywood’s award season. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, hosted by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), is set to take place tonight (Sunday, February 23) at 8 p.m. ET. This tribute to actors gets its emotion from the fact that it is put on by actors. For the nominees, there’s something extra moving about being honored by a group of your peers who have been in the same foxholes as you. So grab the tissues—especially for those “I am an actor” opening monologues—and keep reading so you know how to tune in and go into the ceremony prepared. Who are the SAG Awards nominees this year? Like the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards honor performances in television as well as films. For movies, Wicked leads the pack with five nominations. Shōgun is the most celebrated television series, also with five nominations. Because of its performance focus, the SAG Awards nominations also honor actors whom the Oscars have overlooked or snubbed, such as Queer’s Daniel Craig, The Last Showgirl’s Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis, and Wicked’s Jonathan Bailey. Stunt personals also get some love here with shows and films such as Fall Guy and The House of the Dragon up for awards in these categories. You can find the full list of nominations here. Beyond the competitive categories, actor and activist Jane Fonda will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Her impressive resume already includes two Oscars, two BAFTAs, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. What about the SAG Awards pre-show? Since 2023, Netflix has been responsible for airing the ceremony. It also has the official pre-show coverage. This kicks off one hour before the official awards show, so tune in at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT to catch it. Hosts Lilly Singh and Sasheer Zamata will guide viewers through all the fashion and interviews, and even announce the stunt award winners. Another alternative is to stream People and Entertainment Weekly’s live-streamed coverage on YouTube. This will feature Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Bronwyn Newport’s hot take on the evening. She will be joined by People editor at large Janine Rubenstein, EW general manager Patrick Gomez, and EW editorial director of TV and music Gerrad Hall. Who is the host of the SAG Awards? The SAG Awards don’t always have a host, but this year Kristen Bell is stepping up to the plate. This isn’t her first rodeo and she initially balked at the idea of having awards ceremonies after the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that greatly impacted large portions of the Los Angeles area in the beginning of the year. She later had a change of heart and saw the bigger picture. Beyond the glamour and spectacle, award shows create and drive a massive ecosystem of professionals and services. “I realized these awards shows are a huge part of Los Angeles’ economy, employing hundreds, if not thousands, of gig workers: drivers, hair and makeup artists, musicians,” Bell stated to USA Today. Tune into Netflix at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT to see Bell and the rest of the acting community in action. View the full article

Your insurance needs change over time. The policies that work for a single, 20-something professional renting an apartment with three roommates may be completely wrong for the same person after marriage, babies, and a cozy mortgage in a good school district. If you’re struggling to determine how your coverage should change over time, the following guidelines can help. Auto insurance: Follow the bell curve Basic car insurance offers liability coverage, in case you cause an accident that injures a third party or damages their property. This is the kind of insurance that nearly every state in the nation requires drivers to carry. While liability coverage protects your finances if you cause an accident, it’s legally mandated because it offers protection for accident victims. But drivers can also purchase “full coverage” car insurance. This typically includes collision coverage, which pays for damages from a collision that doesn’t include another vehicle (such as running into a tree), and comprehensive coverage, which pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged by something other than an accident, such as extreme weather or theft. Deciding how much auto insurance you need can feel overwhelming, especially considering the high cost of car insurance coverage. While all drivers must carry no less than the minimum required liability insurance—and should also consider increasing the liability limits to further protect themselves and others—it can be difficult to figure out if you need full coverage or other optional add-ons. To help you figure out your changing need for auto insurance coverage, think of this kind of insurance as a bell curve that corresponds with age. Young drivers Young drivers pay the highest premiums of any age demographic—since these wet-behind-the-wheel motorists are the most likely to get into accidents. That means purchasing full coverage when you’re young is going to cost a pretty penny. In addition, teens and 20-somethings are more likely to be driving beater cars. (No, your cousin’s 1992 Buick Le Sabre is not vintage even if it does qualify for historic plates.) These vehicles have low actual cash values, which means a minor fender bender could render it a total loss. In other words, if your vehicle’s cash value is lower than the cost of your favorite Starbuck’s order, there’s no reason to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage. Midlife motorists The auto insurance calculation changes as you hit your 30s and beyond. To start, the cost of auto insurance starts to go down for most middle-age drivers, provided they have a clean driving record. Midlife also represents your prime earning years, as well as the time you’re most likely to be starting a family. Not only does that mean the interior of your vehicle will be permanently covered in a thin layer of crushed Goldfish crackers, but you’re also more likely to be driving a car that is worth the cost of fixing. In other words, you have more to lose financially as a midlife driver than you did while you were still rocking the Le Sabre. That means carrying higher levels of coverage makes more sense in midlife than it did in your 20s. Seniors on the road Since older drivers tend to have the most experience and are least likely to make impulsive driving decisions, they enjoy the least expensive auto insurance of any age group. Seniors are also more likely to have a higher net worth and easier access to cash, which means they’re in a better position to pay out of pocket for a car repair (or even replacement) after a collision. All of which is to say that most senior drivers have a lower need for auto insurance coverage than their middle-age counterparts. Adjust your deductibles Your insurance deductible is the amount of money you’re responsible for paying before the insurance coverage kicks in to pay for the rest. Nearly every type of insurance has a deductible, from health insurance to auto insurance to homeowners, renters, umbrella, and business insurance. And for each type of insurance you carry, you need to be prepared to pay the deductible if you make a claim. But insurance policyholders have some control over the size of their deductible. You can lower your deductible—meaning you’d pay less before your insurance company has to open its own wallet when you make a claim—by paying a higher premium. You can also lower your monthly premium by increasing your deductible. Typically, most people will opt for the higher premium and lower deductible when they are young, since dealing with a monthly premium cost that’s a little higher is easier than keeping a spare $1,000 (or more) kicking around in case of an emergency. But as you age, you are likely to become more financially settled, which includes having a more robust emergency fund. Once you’re in a place where you can afford a higher deductible, you can lower your premium–which reduces your monthly outflow. Since we can all be victims of set-it-and-forget-it thinking, it can be easy to forget to check the deductible levels on long-standing insurance policies. But there’s no need to pay your insurance company a higher premium when you can easily afford a higher deductible. Self-insurance Just as your financial stability can help you outgrow the need for a low deductible, increasing wealth may also allow you to self-insure instead of relying on insurance policies. With this strategy, which is similar to creating an emergency fund, you set money aside to use in case of an unexpected loss, rather than paying a premium to an insurance company to assume the risk for you. If you don’t experience a loss, self-insurance saves you money, since you’re not out the cost of premiums and you still have the full pot of self-insurance money available to you. Additionally, you can potentially invest your self-insurance money—as long as it’s in an investment that you can liquidate in a hurry—and let the money grow for you. Self-insurance can be a risky strategy for any kind of serious financial loss, such as liability, flooding, or healthcare. But depending on your financial situation and assets, you may choose to self-insure for things like long-term care or full-coverage auto insurance. Know your insurance needs Recognizing how your coverage needs change can help you get the insurance you need while saving money. For auto insurance, remember that your coverage level will probably look like a bell curve, with younger and senior drivers purchasing lower levels of coverage while middle-age drivers go for more comprehensive coverage. For all of your insurance policies, remember that your ability to afford a higher deductible as you gain more financial stability means you can reduce your premium. And a higher level of wealth can open up the possibility of self-insurance for some types of hazards. View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Economic forecasting has never been an easy task, and it becomes even more challenging when confronted with unprecedented economic events like COVID-19 lockdowns and unparalleled levels of government intervention, followed by a rapid cycle of interest rate hikes. Look no further than recent mortgage rate forecasts. Last year marked the third year in a row that mortgage rates ended the year higher than forecasters expected. Will they finally get it right this year? ResiClub’s latest roundup of quarterly mortgage rate forecasts shows that most forecasters still expect mortgage rates to gradually decrease over the next 18 months. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as of Thursday was 6.96%. By the final quarter of 2025, Fannie Mae expects that to slide to 6.6%. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo’s model expects 6.5%, and the Mortgage Bankers Association estimates 6.5%. But even if those forecasts are right, it would mean that housing affordability would still remain strained in 2025 and 2026. View the full article

German carmaker’s review follows UK plant closures by Honda, Ford and JLR over the past decadeView the full article

Police in Munich are investigating a mystery: More than 1,000 stickers were put on gravestones and wooden crosses at three cemeteries in the German city, without any indication of where they came from or why. The 5×3.5-centimeter (1.95×1.2-inch) stickers are printed with a QR code, that, when scanned, shows the name of the person buried in the grave and its location in the cemetery — but nothing else. “We haven’t found any pattern behind this yet. The stickers were put both on decades-old gravestones and very new graves that so far only have a wooden cross,” police spokesperson Christian Drexler told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “People who have witnessed anybody putting the stickers on the graves are asked to reach out to the respective cemetery’s administration,” Drexler said. The stickers surfaced in recent days at the Waldfriedhof, Sendlinger Friedhof and Friedhof Solln cemeteries. Police are not only trying to find out who is behind the stickers, but are also investigating property damage, because the gravestones were partially damaged and discolored when the stickers were removed. View the full article