Odette Fernandez, Author at Utility Avenue

Social Media as a Marketing Tool

Posted on August 16, 2020August 16, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Social media as a marketing tool.

Marketing is essential for the success of a business. It helps you promote your goods and services and draw clientele. Hiring a marketing team should be seen as a cost-effective investment. However, some small businesses and solopreneurs need to focus on DIY marketing, which involves a lot of learning and time. They have to do the marketing themselves while also running the business.

What is social media as a marketing tool?

According to Wikipedia, “Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service. Although the terms e-marketing and digital marketing are still dominant in academia, social media marketing is becoming more popular for both practitioners and researchers.”

Social media as a marketing tool is essential, because online marketing will not function without social media. Marketing teams aim at attracting clients on all the different social media platforms.

Why should we use it?

Marketing is a necessary must for companies worldwide. No matter how reliable a marketing team or strategy may be, social media as a marketing tool will increase your possibility of success exponentially.

An article in LYFE Marketing offers 15 reasons to use Social Media Marketing.

1. Your customers are on social media:

Social media is where many people spend time, get information, and socialize. Having a social media marketing strategy provides visibility. The LYFE Marketing piece says that “According to Statista, 70% of the U.S. population has at least one social media profile. And by 2021, the number of worldwide social media users is expected to reach about 3.1 billion people.” Such an increase in the number of social media users also increases the possibilities of people finding your business.

2. Consumers will be more receptive to your messages:

The casual and fun way in which social media interactions occur. Although most users are on these social media to keep track of their friends, they also follow the things they are interested in.

3. Marketing through social media can help increase brand recognition:

The key is that promoting through social media gives you more visibility and makes you more accessible. It also allows them to share your content with their friends and followers, granting you more potential followers.

4. Marketing through social media increases your inbound traffic:

According to the piece by LYFE Marketing, your social media profiles give you “… another way to get more inbound traffic to your website. This makes marketing through social media an excellent strategy to complement your search engine optimization efforts. Each piece of content that you post to your social media profiles is another opportunity to bring new visitors to your site.”

5. Different social media channels help you reach specific audiences:

When you are marketing, you can target different audiences. Your followers might be the same on Facebook, or Instagram, or LinkedIn. But there is a high percentage of them that only follow you on one of the platforms. Therefore, if you use more than one platform, you create an opportunity to increase and diversify your audience.

6. Social media advertising allows you to target and retarget ideal consumers:

As per LYFE Marketing: “Though social media advertising does require a bit of an up-front investment, social ads can do a lot to complement the organic campaigns that you are running on your social media channels. With sophisticated targeting capabilities, social media platforms like Facebook help you target your ideal buyers, which allows you to drive more relevant traffic to your site.”

7. Marketing through social media is cost-effective:

You don’t need to spend too much money to market on social media. Instead, devote time to study and generate content, and you will probably get good results. Of course, you can spend money on ads to promote content, but generating appealing material and publishing at the right moment can be very helpful.

8. Social media marketing may help improve your search engine rankings:

When you have a strong social media presence, search engines use that for your ranking. If your social media activity is robust and engaging and has good feedback, you get reliability. This translates into a good reputation and might be a factor for search engines to rank your business.

9. Your competition is on social media:

Since all of your competition might already be on social media, your potential customers might be there as well. Your competitors might have been on social media for some time now, which means there are already a lot of possible clients for you as well. Promoting the right way may help you attract those customers to you.

10. Marketing on social media leads to higher conversion rates:

LYFE Marketing says that “According to HubSpot, social media has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing tactics. That could be because every post you make and each interaction you have on your social media channels is an opportunity to convert an interested lead into a happy customer. By building a report with your leads and customers and posting valuable content consistently, your brand can work to improve trust and credibility, which leads to more conversions.”

11. Social media marketing helps improve brand loyalty:

Engaging with your customers and target audiences on social media help you increase customer loyalty. Social media allows you to generate leads. It also provides an easy way to interact with them and get feedback. This can translate into loyalty, as clients will feel more pleased with your customer service and the way you respond to their requests, questions, and complaints.

12. Consumers are looking for recommendations on social media:

Social media is a space where people share their thoughts and opinions. Among those opinions, the one they have about your service can have an impact on your potential customers. It is the new word-of-mouth marketing, and having a social media account for your business will help people recommend you.

13. Social media helps connect your brand with customers you didn’t know:

You may follow specific keywords or analyze the trending topics related to your type of business. This can get you access to people who are making comments on those topics. These people are your potential clients, and you can engage with them thanks to social media.

14. Marketing through social media can help you improve brand authority:

Having valuable content on your social media helps you create brand authority, making you a reliable voice and even a reference. More valuable content will mean more evidence of your expertise, more traffic, and more clientele.

15. Social media marketing allows you to gain new customer insights:

Quoting LYFE Marketing, “… social media marketing gives you the valuable opportunity to gain new insights into your customers. By interacting with leads and current customers on social media, you can see what your customers are interested in and what drives them.”

Which Social Media platform should you use?

Many sites agree that the top Social Media use in marketing include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others. Web FX provides a list of the top 10, which are pretty much the same as the lists offered everywhere else:

1. Facebook

Daily active users: 1.45 billion

Monthly active users: 2.20 billion

Best use: Engaging your audience, Collecting reviews, Customer service, Advertising

2. Twitter

Monthly active users: 320 million

Best use: Building industry authority, Real-Life updates

3. LinkedIn

Registered users: 562 million

Best use: Reaching B2B prospects and potential employees

4. YouTube

Registered users: Over 1 billion

Best use: Highlighting company culture, Tutorials, Demonstrations

5. Pinterest

Monthly users: Over 175 million

Best use: Sharing products

6. Instagram

Monthly active users: Over 400 million

Best use: Building your brand

7. Google+

Monthly active users: 395 million

Best use: Managing your Google My Business listing

8. Snapchat

Daily active users: 187 million

Best use: Real-Time updates, Promoting events

9. Tumblr

Registered users: 412.8 million

Best use: Reaching a young audience

10. StumbleUpon

Registered users: 25 million

Best use: Increasing site traffic

Don’t forget blogging!

Please, don’t forget blogging! An excellent blog is a good means to draw attention to your goods and services. Blogs generate reliable content you can create on social media. Keep your blog active with engaging content. You will get more traffic into it, and more people knocking on your virtual door to do business with you.

Final thoughts on Social Media as a Marketing Tool

Marketing through social media can be done either by your marketing team or by yourself. The advantages are limitless, and the reach you can get is enormous. It would be helpful if you created your content intentionally and targeted your audiences effectively. Remember marketing will be more effective because of the quality of your content and the feedback provided on your social media platforms by happy customers.

So, choose what social media you want to use for your business and start promoting and engaging. It would be useful if you chose those you are more comfortable with to make your work easier. You can get a lot of clients through that.

Building Connections

Posted on August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Building connections.

We talked about networking a while back. For more about building connections, read on. This time, in Utility Avenue’s Spotlight, we feature Victoria Allison — Business Entrepreneur, a virtual assistant, and founder of Slow Dancing With Alzheimer’s.

Have you ever wondered what it means to build a connection? Do you market your business right off the bat, or do you wait until someone asks you a question about your business? There are many avenues to take, but it takes the right one to make a lasting connection.

In today’s world, we crave human connection. It is not enough to be seen; we need to be heard and understood. We need to know that people care about us as individuals. When you are pitching your business, it is not about you. It is really about your potential client and his needs. That potential client has an unmet need, and it is your job to find out what that need is. Get to know their why.

Often, building connections is about getting to know others on a personal level. This is why Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can be effective when marketing. Other professionals post about what gets them excited on a personal level. Questions are asked, and answers are given. Somewhere in between this interaction, tidbits of personal information are retrieved from both parties. Live streaming videos have become popular in the last few years and especially now in a COVID stricken world. The one reason? Personal connection.

How can you promote your business on social media platforms, you ask?

Join Facebook groups that pertain to your niche.

Introduce yourself, and spend time answering questions in the group. It will go a long way. A suggestion would be to answer at least ten questions before even thinking about promoting your business.

This is organic marketing. Building a connection with someone comes first. You become more valuable when you can share your ideas.

Post Instagram pictures of both things that interest you and things that involve your business. Make sure to insert your links on your posts so people can easily find your website. Pinterest is another excellent tool to direct people to your website. Your rich pins can generate clicks and bring traffic to your site.

Lastly, when you have subscribers, it is helpful to thank them for following you. After all, if it weren’t for them, your business may not be as successful without them. This can be sending them a personalized email saying thank you, a mailed birthday card or anniversary card. You can also find small giftables to send them through the mail. This will ensure that they will stay with you, and your subscribers will feel special. This is how you keep loyal clients.

Final words about building connections

As you can see, building connections takes work and a lot of it.

You may need to block off time during the day just to build relationships, but you will see that it is so worth it! When you genuinely listen to your client, provide them with real solutions and make them feel special, you are sure to not only create new connections, but you will keep those that you have already made a connection with.

More about Victoria Allison

Victoria is currently a Dementia and Alzheimer’s Program Manager with experience in sales and marketing in the Senior Living community. She has been in the Senior Living Community for 3 years. Her favorite thing about her job is building relationships. Building relationships is what Victoria does in her Virtual Assistant business. She loves following through on tasks that give clients that special personalization!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/victoria.allison.985

Pinterest www.pinterest.com/vallison352/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/victoriaallison91

_______________________________________
Utility Avenue’s Spotlight focuses on promoting inspiring businesses every week. For a chance to be interviewed, contact us at support@utilityavenue.com with the subject Spotlight.

Why should you hire marketing experts?

Posted on August 9, 2020August 8, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Marketing experts, are they necessary?

Should You Spend Money in Marketing?

Imagine you are starting a small business and need to invest carefully to avoid wasting money. You have done all the numbers and your small company needs to take off. For that, you need to attract people to hire your services, buy your product, or visit your place.

How can you achieve that?

It will help if you market your business.

Marketing might not be something you want to spend money on, especially if you don’t have a lot of resources. You don’t want to spend on advertising or hiring marketing experts in case you fail to generate the necessary revenue. However, without a big initial budget, it is possible AND essential to pay for ads, hire marketing experts, or both.

Why use experts?

To make a new business grow, you need to attract clientele. Whether it is a restaurant, or a car dealership, or a hair salon, you can promote your biz by word of mouth. But today’s world is highly competitive, and entrepreneurs are no exception. Word of mouth and fliers alone will not lure customers into your business. DIY-ing your social media might not give you the desired results.
If marketing were easy, there would not be marketing careers, online courses, or marketing experts. They exist for a reason: to spare you of the painstaking process of having to organize ideas, generate content, create organic followers, and attract clients. Big billboards, bench signs, bus signs, and taxi signs still work. But the internet has revolutionized the marketing world as well.

Why pay for marketing?

Business.com, Inc.com, and Digital Entrepreneurs stress the importance of marketing. You should keep in mind that it’s better to hire experts to do a job you are not familiar with.

We share some of those reasons:

Experts will use modern marketing methods and strategies.

Modern marketing is continuously evolving and it requires many different skill sets. Running a business, especially if you are a solopreneur, makes it harder to do everything by yourself. You would have to learn it all and take time to practice. In the end, you would have to devote more time to market the business than to run it.

Experts will develop creative and interactive resources.

Creating engaging text, although important, is not enough. There are resources, like videos, podcasts, infographics, banners, and headers. All of that, coupled with the text (which should be truthful, well-written, and SEO-friendly), requires additional training and skills. Depending on the complexity of the message, this can be even harder for the average person. That’s why marketing experts are necessary.

Experts are cost-effective

If you choose to do it yourself, it could be a slow process. You would have to learn how to work with different tools, and you might not be able to focus on your role as a business owner. Appointing a person without proper qualifications could be even more harmful and end up being very costly.

Whether you hire a marketing company or create your team in-house, you would be saving money. Hiring the right professionals for the job will bring you good results. It is an investment, and the outcome would translate into more customers, more business, and more money.

Experts will help you build your brand.

Even many social media addicts fail to comprehend the tricks of Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. A single mistake can end up being unfavorable for your business reputation or your social media engagement. That’s why it comes handy to have a team member in charge of monitoring engagement, interacting with your audience and exploring the trends.

Experts will help you develop your website concept.

Business.com says: “A marketing campaign will fail if the business doesn’t have a well-designed website and a carefully crafted brand presence. A website is the foundation of all marketing campaigns and needs to provide a good user experience to visitors, regardless of the platform they approach it from.”

It also adds “Your website should be easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, SEO-friendly, quick to load on all platforms, aesthetically pleasing, and informative. It should be designed following your branding to ensure it conveys the right message to your target audience.”

The role of Utility Avenue

When you think of it, Utility Avenue is a marketing tool. It is free advertising. As more people use the app, there are more and more potential clients for those who promote their business or side gigs through our platform. So, Utility Avenue is a marketing tool that is free to use and charges you ONLY fifty cents when you sell a service.

Final thoughts on using a marketing team to scale your business.

According to Web Strategies Inc., Business-to-consumer (B2C) service companies devoted 15.6% of revenue to marketing, while business-to-business (B2B) ones did 8.6%.
If the numbers are so high, it’s because marketing brings clients and creates business opportunities. Whether you build in-house or hire an outside team, discuss your goals with the marketing team. Also, please pay close attention to their suggestions. They might have ideas to improve the business that you hadn’t thought of.
So, as a business owner, think about marketing as a way to scale your business and be limitless.

Spotlight: Victor Cardero Wins Adobe XD Contest

Posted on August 6, 2020August 7, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Victor Cardero, congratulations! We are so proud of you!

The Utility Avenue team is celebrating today. One of our own, Victor Cardero, just won an Adobe XD contest in the Dribbble platform.

In our Weekly Spotlight, we share his journey as a designer, and in the words of our CEO, Norge Matos, this is Victor Cardero.

“You rarely find someone who works faster on a project than the head of it. When this occurs, their work is rarely quantitatively and qualitatively good. If that ever happens, you have found someone who deserves trust and support. I have had the good fortune to find rare individuals with these characteristics, and Victor is an excellent example. He is one of those colleagues you should never let go.”

What can you tell us about yourself?

I am Victor Cardero. I am passionate about the relationship between humans and technology.

How did you start in design?

I started while taking Web Programming in the university (UCI: University of Informatics Sciences, an IT center of higher education). After a month, I made an extra effort for what I programmed to look aesthetically beautiful, but I didn’t succeed. Even so, I won a contest on fast layout, only in HTML, in which they took into account both speed and creativity.

A former classmate used to help me clear my doubts. One day, he said: “Install Adobe Photoshop, check this tutorial and follow the instructions. I can’t do things for you.” I thought he was trying to get rid of me, but he was training me. That led to a deep friendship and brotherhood. His name is Pedro Alejandro Hernández, and he greatly influenced me as a designer.

What aspects of your life have influenced your professional goals?

My mother is a born fighter and warrior. Other important figures are my little brother (that’s how I call Pedro, my best friend), Carlos Miguel, and Norge Matos, a mentor, a leader, and a friend at all costs. Plus, the tests I have overcome in this field of UX/UI Design and Creative Design.

What type of design do you like the most?

Web Mobile technology. The design of products and services brings me great passion. I am now more focused on startups.

How does Design complement arts like painting, drawing, photography?

The design of experience in the user interface is the creation of a solution to specific problems that are represented in several shapes or shades. These include the identity colors of the client or the target culture or area. Every element integrated with design has a leading role. It can be a photograph, a text, a button, or a line. Everything has an impact.

How important is Design for the success of a company or project?

A lot. Design is not only visual but also a solution. I recently watched an analysis by an influencer on Instagram about a traffic sign. The sign in question established that no vehicles with trailers could park on the spot. However, the design did not include the elements of prohibition. That confused drivers and made them believe that it WAS OK to park vehicles with trailers in the area. The smallest thing can either be a success or a disaster. That’s why design is essential for everything, from creating the experience to making it visually correct.

How did you get to participate in the Adobe contest?

I check Dribbble every morning. The top bar of ads mentioned Adobe XD, and the link took me to the contest. With only five days left, I wasted one deciding whether to participate or not. Four days before the deadline, I decided to give it a try.

When I set up the design, I didn’t want to create something static. I wanted to represent my design with an animation, which made the challenge even higher. I spent two nights working the interaction, and every single detail. One day before the deadline, I tried to post it, but I got an error message because of the file size allowed by Dribble. This all made me nervous. Fortunately, I was able to lower the size without affecting quality, and I published my project. After days and nights barely resting, I slept for several hours.

How did it feel to win an Adobe contest?

Design is a very competitive field. Seeing the works in the competition and the quality of the participants makes your adrenaline pump. You challenge yourself. Getting the email with the confirmation as the winner of the contest was surprising and gratifying. It made me understand that the jury was pleased and impressed by my presentation.

All the effort was worthwhile.

Do you have any other passion?

I feel passionate about graphic design, technological devices, and their novelties. I love reading and getting lost in the music and its sounds.

If you were to change something from your professional career, what would it be?

I don’t think I would, but I would get and improve business skills. Design will always be there for me. It is part of everything, from everyday life to the most complex aspects of the job. People mock designers by saying: “You see everything in layers.” (Chuckles).

What is your main professional dream?

To influence my generation as much as I can with my skills, gifts, and opportunities. Serving other people brings a level of satisfaction that cannot be compared to anything.

Future plans?

There are many ambitious projects in the oven.

What challenges lay ahead for you?

To keep growing, maturing, perfecting, learning, and working very hard for the goals I have set for myself. This includes not only the professional part but also my family, which is a fundamental foundation.

Anything you would like to add?

Never stop dreaming and working to make those dreams come true. Discipline and consistency open doors that cannot be opened otherwise. I want to thank God for all these opportunities in my life, and also the Utility Avenue Marketing Team. You guys are an essential influence with your effort, consistency, and unconditional love.

Victor Cardero’s Contact Info

Website: https://www.dribbble.com/victorcardero/
Email: vmcardero@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorcardero/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorcardero/

______________________

Utility Avenue’s Spotlight focuses on promoting inspiring businesses every week. For a chance to be interviewed, contact us at support@utilityavenue.com with the subject Spotlight.

Thriving Businesses in Times of Coronavirus

Posted on August 2, 2020August 2, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Thriving businesses in times of coronavirus.

Last week, we addressed how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the economy both in the US and globally. We also spoke about its impact on the small business industry and the entrepreneurs. Many of them found themselves in a logjam. Yet, individual businesses have managed not only to stay afloat but also to thrive and grow. In many cases, consumer interest skyrocketed, provoking spikes in sales and services. Some of these businesses will remain even after the pandemic is controlled.

This week, we would like to focus on thriving businesses in times of coronavirus.

Some of them were simply Johnny-on-the-spot. Their products and services became essential during the times of outbreak, confinement, social distancing, and recovery. Others managed to thrive because they were resourceful enough to change their strategies and reshape the focus of their business.

The pandemic put the world at risk. The measures taken by governments to control the infection took a toll on both big and small industries. It took a lot of courage, drive, and imagination for them to find ways to thrive through a health crisis.

Thriving businesses in times of coronavirus.

The US Chamber of Commerce offers a list of 15 small businesses that managed to thrive during the pandemic. In a scenario that has seen many companies take a nosedive, others have managed to bloom.

Cleaning services

The outbreak increased the demand for professional cleaning services to sanitize spaces like offices, business locations, and houses. Commercial buildings and medical facilities also started demanding such services, which led to a growth in business. Of course, safety measures were strict: the health of workers and clients and the reputation of the company were at stake.

Delivery services

Fear of contagion, lockdown, and shelter-in-place measures forced people to stay home. Delivery services were the best choice for those who could not or did not want to leave their houses. Although big delivery companies have benefited from this, small local delivery services also experienced growth because of the high demand.

Drive-in movie theaters

According to the US Chamber of Commerce: “One of the most peculiar small business categories that have recently seen success in the coronavirus era is drive-in movie theaters. People can watch a show from their car and provide a way for families to get out of the house.

Owners of drive-in theaters in California, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri all told the Los Angeles Times recently that business had increased in light of coronavirus. While it’s not clear if these drive-in theaters will remain open as many “non-essential businesses” are closed, the coronavirus crisis may reinvigorate these types of businesses in a new period where keeping your distance is encouraged.”

Grocery stores

The social distancing measures included a lockdown for restaurants everywhere. People who were used to eat in restaurants started stacking up on goods to be able to have a good meal at home. Disregarding the size of the business, grocery stores saw an increase in the demand for their products. Also, people have learned their lesson: they will try to have enough groceries at home for this type of emergency.

Liquor and wine stores

The closing of many bars led people to “build” their own at home. That is, stacking up on wine, liquor, and rum to make cocktails, sip or simply have a shot or a nightcap. Although high alcohol consumption is never recommended, a drink every now and then has proven to be effective in dealing with stress. Interestingly, liquor was also useful for making hand sanitizer because of the alcohol contents.

Meal prep delivery services

Those people who did not want to spend too much time in the kitchen and had to stay at home during the pandemic were the main clients of this type of service. Others who had to work remotely and had to deal with children at home found it very difficult to get to cooking as well. As a result, meal prep businesses, whether big or small, saw a significant surge in their demand. This will probably be a trend even after COVID19 is gone because some people who had never used such services before might become clients.

Canned and jarred goods companies

There is no secret for anyone that canned and jarred goods transmit a sense of sterilization. This increases the level of trust consumers may have, and this causes a high demand. Also, canned food lasts much longer than fruit, vegetables, or meat. As long as you keep an eye on the expiring date, it is genius to stack up and store it for a rainy day. When the pandemic struck, some grocery stores had shortages in supplies and canned and jarred products came to the rescue.

Board Game makers and sellers

Confinement led to family time. Many of the people who are parents today grew up without the privileges of cell phones, internet, social media, or Netflix. For many, it was time to remember some of the adventures they had as children. Board games do foster family and friendship bonds and make people relax and enjoy while spending time together. For the more modern type of consumer, video games—mainly the online ones—became a way to escape the realities of quarantine and also interact with people.

More thriving businesses in times of coronavirus.

However, these small businesses are not the only ones making it through this challenging moment. There are other types of companies that are adapting, reassessing, and some even starting as solutions for the everyday problems people face amid the crisis.

Scrubs, gloves, face masks, etc.

Thriving business: mask makers — Face masks, by Sub Dog Design.

The need for protective gear for medical staff and people doing risky jobs is permanent. As concerns over the disease increased, people not related to the healthcare system also started using protective gear. Also, some of the businesses that remained open started needing gloves and face masks. Some people will prefer a beautiful looking mask, and will thus pay more money to look cool while protecting themselves.

Wellness

thriving business sprinkle grace — Wellness Kit, by Sprinkle Grace Co.

Okay, maybe some people were not inclined to put perfume on. But what if these manufacturers are offering them something else, something they need, like say, hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer sales skyrocketed during the first stages of the pandemic, and there is still need. As countries begin to reopen, people have incredibly altered their daily routines, and that includes what they carry when they leave the house. For those who did not have a habit of packing hand sanitizer already, now they do. Businesses that deal with the public directly also need this product. At the same time, some clients will pay more money for a locally-sourced hand sanitizer that is exclusive and on fashion.

Fitness gear and instructors

One of the main concerns was precisely the lack of exercise and physical activity. Others were worried about how obesity could impact their health if the virus struck them. So, fitness instructors and people selling fitness gear had a lot of attention these past few months. For the instructors, given the social distancing measures, it was possible to do their sessions online.

Online book stores

Thriving business: online book store — Built to Serve, by Evan Carmichael

A book is, without question, a great friend. Reading a good book has always been useful for relaxation. It has a good effect on people in both their intellect and their mood. In times of pandemic, reading has become a favorite even for those who thought it was a lost habit. People are reading more. Books are being massively purchased either in digital format or in print.

Therapist

Days, weeks, and months in a lockdown can bring very worrisome side effects. Those might include depression, anxiety, mood swings. So, therapists and counselors became more sought-after. Either by phone or video chat, even group sessions can be carried out on video conference calls.

Final thoughts about thriving businesses in times of coronavirus.

Businesses that have less interaction with clients and whose goods or services became crucial during the pandemic are going to succeed. Online entertainment has seen a peak in consumer interest and consumption as people are home. Protection and safety have also skyrocketed, along with the substitutes for daily leisure activities such as restaurants, cafés, and bars.

However, they are not the only thriving businesses in times of coronavirus. Success will always depend on how well they market themselves, how well they understand people’s needs to meet them, and how well they follow safety measures. The latter is arguably the essential key to success for any small company right now. Some business owners and entrepreneurs have refused to let the pandemic defeat them, and have found alternatives to stay afloat. They are thriving in times of coronavirus.

As long as your business understands the importance of following protocols, you will succeed. Your reputation as someone who values the safety of the clients will be as high as the reputation of your service.

You will get more clients and make more money.

Podcasts for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Posted on July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Podcasts for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners

Podcasts are a very easy way to consume knowledge on the go. If you are working out, or commuting, or driving, it’s easy to get your daily source of inspiration. These are our suggestions.

Podcasts for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Hyper Conscious Podcast, with Alan Lazaros and Kevin Palmieri

Alan Lazaros and Kevin Palmieri genuinely want to help us become the best version of ourselves. They interview top entrepreneurs and thought leaders and share their life stories. The best lesson is that, when we change the way we think, we change the way we act and the way we live.

Episodes:

#372. Creating your System of Success – LIVE Mastermind.

#380. Dean Graziosi – The Underdog Mentality.

#392. Selling with Integrity – LIVE Mastermind.

#369. Revisiting your 5 Favorite Episodes.

#402. Overcoming Overwhelm – Breath Work Mastermind with Samantha Skelly.

If you want to live a life by design and be the best version of yourself, this podcast is for you.

Building a StoryBrand, with Donald Miller

Donald Miller has carved a name for himself with his marketing approach. In his podcast, he teaches how to clarify our message to improve our business. Right now, we are following his Storybrand framework to update our website (www.utilityavenue.com), and I use his actionable content to update our marketing strategy. The most valuable lesson is that unclear marketing costs because a confused mind says ‘No.‘

Episodes:

#197. Joel Peterson – How to Rebuild your Business After a Crisis.

#187. How to Create a Magical Brand.

#181. The Best of 2019 – Our Biggest Takeaways for Business Leaders.

#130. Aaron James – How to Define What Your Customer Really Wants.

#65. The Framework that Makes Marketing Easy.

If you are a business owner and you want your marketing message to be clear, this podcast is for you.

Youpreneur FM, with Chris Ducker

Youpreneur FM is a weekly podcast that introduces top online business leaders and personal branding entrepreneurs. Topics include how to build a personal brand, how you can market yourself as an industry expert, and how to launch online products and services.

Episodes:

Rank #1: How One Youpreneur Made $100K in 30-Days, with AJ Jomah

Rank #2: How to Create Your First Online Course, with Amy Porterfield

Rank #3: 8 Ways to Finally Start Monetizing Your Personal Brand!

Rank #4: The Quick-Start Guide to FINALLY Getting Started with Your First Virtual Assistant

Rank #5: How to Use Instagram Stories to Build Your Brand & Business

If you are a solopreneur, consultant, blogger, or freelancer, you will love this podcast.

Humans 2.0, with Mark Metry

Once upon a time, Mark Metry couldn’t make direct eye contact with anyone and suffered from social anxiety from health issues & not living the life he was designed to live. Today, he interviews the world’s most successful renowned experts, athletes, CEO’s and talks about mental health, self-improvement, and entrepreneurship. His podcast ranks #96 in the entire world.

Episodes:

289. Gary John Bishop | End Self-Sabotage and do the Work

282. Ishveen Anand | Journey to Inc 100 Top Female Founders

Live Q&A #3 – Mental Health, Side Hustle, and Food.

266. Nir Eyal | Becoming Indistractable in the Age of Distraction

257. Patrick Bet David | Changing the World with Entrepreneurship

If you are shy, or ever suffered from social anxiety, and you want to change that, and take the world by storm, you will love this podcast.

Final words

This is our list of podcasts for entrepreneurs and business owners, but what’s YOUR favorite podcast?

What should we listen to next?

COROrecession: Impact of the Pandemic-Caused Recession

Posted on July 26, 2020July 26, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Impact of the Pandemic-Caused Recession

COVID19 has caused a challenging situation worldwide, with over 15.5 million confirmed cases and over 634,000 deaths. The United States, for instance, stands at 4.12 million cases and 147,000 casualties (as per last Friday). Although recovering, the US is facing a severe economic problem, which reflects on the rest of the world.

With social distancing measures and the closing of businesses, some people found themselves looking for a way to make ends meet. Some were able to work from home, find side gigs to perform remotely, or had reduced working hours, but continued to make some money. For those who were not considered essential workers, the government approved a relief package. Nevertheless, the economy of the nation needs people to work. The more people are going back to their normal lives, the better for the economy and the faster the recovery.

Impact of the Pandemic-Caused Recession

According to a UN report, the global economy “is projected to shrink by 3.2 percent in 2020. Under the baseline scenario, GDP growth in developed countries will plunge to –5.0 percent in 2020, while the output of developing countries will shrink by 0.7 percent. The projected cumulative output losses during 2020 and 2021—nearly $8.5 trillion—will wipe out nearly all output gains of the previous four years.”

And adds:

“Lockdowns and the closing of national borders enforced by governments have paralyzed economic activities across the board, laying off millions of workers worldwide. Governments across the world are rolling out fiscal stimulus measures—equivalent overall to roughly 10 percent of the world GDP —to fight the pandemic and minimize the impact of a catastrophic economic downturn.”

Is every country affected?

Nations with strong economies will get severely damaged, but they will find their way back to the right track, as long as they manage to control the pandemic. However, those countries will have worrisome numbers in terms of unemployment and the damage inflicted upon small businesses.

Developing countries, on the other hand, will suffer even more. With the pandemic came travel restrictions, and trade was severely affected. Some small countries, mainly islands in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, etc., will rely on tourism to increase their GDP. No tourism, no growth. No growth, more crisis.

This situation is not exclusive to countries that have reported cases of the virus. If the economy gets almost paralyzed in most of the planet, there is little to zero chance that any nation will come out of it unscathed. Nearly every state needs trade to survive.

As a result, some countries or regions had to open up for tourism without having completely eradicated the disease. What followed for many was a resurgence of contagion and a return to the lockdown measures.

According to a World Bank report entitled The Global Economic Outlook During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Changed World:

“In the face of this disquieting outlook, the immediate priority for policymakers is to address the health crisis and contain short-term economic damage. Over the longer term, authorities need to undertake comprehensive reform programs to improve the fundamental drivers of economic growth once the crisis lifts.”

How has this affected the US?

The number of cases in the United States increases dramatically with the day, while mortality rates have gone low. The situation has led to a very high level of concern in America. The government took measures that included a stimulus check. A relaxation of the quarantine made it possible for people to go back to work. Besides, the government announced a second stimulus bill.

CNET offers a list of coronavirus updates in Coronavirus recession: When will recovery start and what it means for you:

Latest coronavirus recession news:

– An average of about 1.5 million people per week filed for state and federal unemployment benefits in June, according to the Labor Department, marking 16 straight weeks of over 1 million unemployment applications. Before coronavirus, the record was nearly 700,000 claims in 1982, the New York Times reported.

– According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate, which had surged to 14.7% in April, fell to 11.1% in June, which is still higher than in any year since 1940.

– The Federal Reserve predicts US gross domestic product will shrink by about 35% for the second quarter of 2020.

– We’re still waiting on new numbers to confirm two consecutive quarters of economic contraction — the definition of “recession” used by most economists.

– According to the World Bank, humanity has experienced 14 global recessions since 1870, the last being the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009. The organization projects that this one will be the worst since World War II.

What to expect? What to do?

With these things in mind, there is room for concern, but also a reason to push forward. The pandemic has generated despair not only because of the infected people and the many casualties. Both the global and individual economies are taking significant hits. Entrepreneurs are among the most affected since some made considerable investments to start or expand their businesses.

Countries that have relapsed should reconsider their reopening strategies and measures because obviously, they did not work—the examples of those that are successfully reopening stand for others to follow.

Without a vaccine, the reopening of the countries should come along with measures in terms of restrictions, social distancing, and sterilization, whether we like them or not. Entrepreneurs will need such measures to resume their business operations. The longer it takes for them to open, the more money they fail to make, and the longer to recover financially.

Some entrepreneurs have found success during the pandemic. This happened because their businesses worked remotely or because they focused on trading essential goods or services. Others decided to readapt to the new reality and add safety protocols so they could stay active. Restaurants, for instance, turned into food delivery, something they can add to their services once the crisis is over.

Others have stopped providing services, but are working on strategies to reopen successfully and with better safety measures. Small business owners always try to figure out ways to get better. This downtime has allowed them to regroup. It has also been useful to find better methods to advertise, provide their services, and make more money.

Final Thoughts about the Impact of the Pandemic-Caused Recession

The impact of the pandemic-caused recession is evident. It is essential to understand that, for the time being, we need to learn to coexist with Covid-19. Even after they find a vaccine, there will continue to be contagion for a while. What is also worth noting is that even with the spread still active, the number of casualties has dropped. This shows that most countries are doing a better job with contact-tracing and testing to stop the disease.

A vaccine will come one day.

This crisis is not going to be over soon. We need to find a way to cut the spread so that we can go back to normal. In the meantime, it is time to plan, redesign, and restructure business strategies, focusing on a post-pandemic scenario. Finding an online side gig might also be a solution, at least for as long as this crisis lasts.

If you find yourself in any of these situations, do not let any of this discourage you.

You are alive, and you are healthy. As challenging as this might be, there will be a way out.

We just need patience, determination, creativity, and drive to find it.

5 Lessons to Become a Confident and Profitable Entrepreneur

Posted on July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Khadejah is a devoted wife, mom of two girls, and owner of Thrive Virtually, a virtual assistant agency. After Khadejah recognized she had a gift in administration and wanted to spend more time with her kids, she decided to start a virtual assistant business. In Utility Avenue’s weekly spotlight, she shares five valuable lessons to become a confident and profitable entrepreneur.

Lessons to become a confident and profitable entrepreneur

Confidence is a word that we often hear today. We’ve been taught that confidence can help you stand out and land a job. This is all true, but no one ever shows you the process of becoming confident. The truth is, confidence comes with experience. Some people magically have the gift, and others work towards it. I started a virtual assistant business in 2018, and after almost three years, I have recently become a confident business owner.

Let’s talk more about the virtual assistant industry.

A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who provides administrative, creative, or technical support services for online business entrepreneurs. A virtual assistant can work from anywhere as long as there is access to wifi. However, some virtual assistants have clients who own brick and mortar companies but work virtually. Since starting, I’ve created an ebook to help other women start their virtual assistant business, scaled into an agency, and secured multiple bi-annual contracts.

Now that you have more of an idea of what I do, I want to share with you five lessons to become a confident and profitable entrepreneur in my industry.

Become confident in your WHY

You need to know your why when starting a business. Your why will keep you in business even when things get tough and lonely. When you know WHY you started your business, you can operate in confidence even when you feel like giving up. My WHY was because I wanted to make an income from home and still spend quality time with my kids.

Become confident in your offering

When you’re deciding what you want to offer, it’s essential to provide a service that you enjoy rather than just because it makes a lot of money. I’m pretty good at making websites, but I don’t offer it to my clients because creating sites for other people stresses me out. However, I provide website updates, and I enjoy that. Once you master the service you choose to offer, you become confident in your skillset. When you become confident in your skillset, you’re able to sell yourself and the results you can deliver. You’re ready to articulate how you can solve someone’s problem during a sales call. Speaking of sales calls, let’s talk about that next.

Become confident in your sales calls

Once you niche down to a service you enjoy doing, you’re able to sound excited and confident during sales calls. Let the client explain their pain point and communicate what you’ve done for other clients and how you can help them. When you are passionate about what you offer, your calls will naturally flow. Before getting off the call with the client, be sure to let them know what they can expect after the phone call.

Become confident in your onboarding process

Before I end a call, the leads know precisely what to expect. I communicate that they will receive an email with a proposal from me within 24 hours. I let them know the next start date I have available, and I even tell them when I’ll be following up. When you set structure upfront, it gives the client an idea of what it looks like to work with you. I have my process documented of what happens from whenever someone books a sales call to when they sign. This came with experience and trial/error. I’ve done it so much that I’m very confident in my onboarding process.

Become confident in your prices

Last but not least, it’s imperative to become confident in your prices. Don’t worry if someone else is charging less or more than you. You have to become confident in what you charge and know the value of the results you provide to clients. It took me forever to become confident in my prices and sometimes. I still question myself, lol. What keeps me confident in my prices is hearing fantastic feedback from my clients on how I have transformed and helped their business. They are happy to invest in me monthly.

Final words

I hope these tips will help you become more confident as a business owner.
Whether you’re a virtual assistant, photographer, or a service provider in a different industry, this can apply to you.

If you’re looking for a community to help you become a more confident virtual assistant, join her free FB group, “The Confident Virtual Assistant.”

Thrive Virtually’s Contact Info

Website: https://www.thrivevirtually.co
Email: khadejah@thrivevirtually.co
Instagram: @thrivevirtually
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrivevirtually